Super Combat Soldier

Chapter 1164: Chapter 1163: The Old Fisherman

Ye Tianchen set out alone onto the vast and boundless Sea Domain to find the location of the ”Penglai Ancient Martial World,” a place known as the Immortal Island. It’s a place full of mystery and unknowns, not just for ordinary people, but even for many powerful martial artists. To name a place with the word ”Immortal” in this vast Martial Arts World without instances of Eternal Life, there are very few such places to be found.

For ten days and nights, Ye Tianchen drifted on the sea with just a plank. Of course, at his Cultivation Realm, his physical body had already reached the Peak of Late Stage Martial Saint realm, making the difference between eating and not eating minimal. Not eating wouldn’t result in death, while eating could simply satisfy his taste buds. It puzzled Ye Tianchen because, according to the vague directions given by Tian Boguang, he felt nothing unusual until thick fog appeared, obscuring everything, and four gigantic islands suddenly emerged around him. Only then did Ye Tianchen rise from the plank, astonished.

In four directions, there appeared four islands. They didn’t seem very large, comparable to small hills. What surprised Ye Tianchen was that the Penglai Ancient Martial World, or the ”Penglai Fairy Island,” should have been a single island. How did it turn into four islands? What was going on?

When Ye Tianchen extended his powerful Divine Thought to see clearly, he found that the thick fog surrounding him seemed substantial, blocking his strong Divine Thought. He couldn’t tell which of the four surrounding islands was real, or perhaps all four were real?

”Since Divine Thought can’t probe, let’s try this move...”

Ye Tianchen thought to himself, quickly mobilizing the power of his physical body. When his physical body strength reached the Peak of Late Stage Martial Saint, he discovered that he could activate more and more Martial Arts Divine Arts, as if they opened on their own. The Martial Arts Divine Skill he was about to perform was something he could only use after his physical body reached a certain realm, and it was his first attempt.

Gradually, as Ye Tianchen mobilized the power of his physical body, an energy surged forth from his whole body, shaking the Sea Domain in all directions. In the southeast, northwest, where he sat cross-legged, appeared four shadows identical to Ye Tianchen. These shadows transformed from vague to clear, and in the end, four additional Ye Tianchens actually manifested, while the original Ye Tianchen in the center snapped his fingers, and the other four Ye Tianchens charged towards different directions of the islands.

”Body Incarnation Skill!”

The secret technique Ye Tianchen performed was something he comprehended after breaking through to the Peak of Late Stage Martial Saint with his Body Realm. This was unlike the ordinary Martial Arts Substitute Skill or external incarnation, as it was driven by the power of the physical body, producing a substantive Ye Tianchen without needing to be controlled by Ye Tianchen’s strong Divine Thought. This distinguished it from the Martial Arts Substitute Skill and external incarnation, which both required the practitioner to use powerful Divine Thought for control. In such cases, if the substitute or external incarnation was destroyed, the practitioner would suffer considerable damage. However, these incarnations driven by the physical body were different—they didn’t require Ye Tianchen’s Divine Thought for control and were formed from the physical body’s power. Even if they were destroyed, it wouldn’t have much impact on Ye Tianchen, allowing them to act autonomously by relying on his willpower, marking it as an exceptionally powerful Divine Skill.

”Since I can’t see anything, I’ll break through it forcefully!” Ye Tianchen muttered to himself.

Boom!

Boom!

Boom!

Boom!

The four embodiments produced by Ye Tianchen’s physical body attacked the island shadows within the thick fog. After four loud booms, Ye Tianchen’s four physical bodies shattered, but it had some effect. The island shadows to Ye Tianchen’s left and rear disappeared, leaving just one island visible ahead, and although the thick fog started to disperse, the island could still not be clearly seen. The fog only thinned a bit, and the islands in the other three directions vanished entirely.

”If I rashly charge ahead, unexpected dangers might await. I should proceed with caution!” Ye Tianchen thought to himself.

”A song on a fishing oar, spring upon a ripple, the sky and cloud reflections free of dust, where in the world is the Immortal? Only in Penglai can one achieve Eternal Life.”

Suddenly, as Ye Tianchen cautiously tried to steer the plank under his feet toward the island ahead, he heard someone singing, which gave him a start. It was almost unbelievable to him, especially that line:

”Where in the world is the Immortal? Only in Penglai can one achieve Eternal Life.”

What kind of spirit and grandeur must one possess to achieve such feats? Is it an exaggeration, or has such an event truly occurred? Penglai Fairy Island indeed is a place full of mystery and the unknown. Ye Tianchen even felt a bit regretful that he should have found this place earlier to understand the Ancient Martial World of Penglai.

Before long, Ye Tianchen witnessed an even more unbelievable sight. A wooden boat appeared before him, and standing on the boat was an old man dressed very simply, resembling a fisherman. The only thing that surprised Ye Tianchen was the old man’s white hair hanging down to his waist, along with his all-white eyebrows and beard. Such an image of a fisherman gave Ye Tianchen the feeling of a worldly wise man, prompting him to show utmost respect.

”Where are you going, young Taoist?” the old fisherman called out loudly to Ye Tianchen as he docked the boat nearby.

”Seeking Eternal Life!” Ye Tianchen thought for a moment and replied with a smile.

”Where in this world is there Eternal Life? It’s nothing but an illusion!” the old fisherman shook his head and said.

”I believe there is. The elder just sang that only Penglai offers Eternal Life. I wish to go to Penglai Fairy Island,” Ye Tianchen calmly responded.

The old fisherman looked Ye Tianchen up and down, stroked his long beard, and said, ”Throughout history, countless people have sought the immortal life, making Penglai Fairy Island a destination for many Martial Arts experts. However, one cannot arrive at such a Holy Land through powerful cultivation alone. To become immortal requires enlightenment. Does the young Taoist possess such insight?”

Ye Tianchen was momentarily stunned. He hadn’t expected the fisherman to pose such a question, yet it struck him profoundly. Indeed, immortality requires enlightenment, and although the fisherman’s cultivation realm wasn’t high—below that of Ye Tianchen himself—he exuded an aura of a transcendent sage, perhaps revealing the mysteries of ”Penglai Fairy Island,” capable of elevating one’s divine state to incredible levels.

”It seems the elder is here to guide me to Penglai Fairy Island. I request your teachings!” Ye Tianchen said respectfully.

”Hahahaha, young Taoist, you are exceptionally gifted and wise. You might become the first to reach Penglai Fairy Island in thousands of years, but first, I have some questions for you!” the old fisherman laughed heartily.

”Please share your wisdom, elder!” Ye Tianchen showed great respect for the older man. Though the fisherman’s cultivation realm was not high, he appeared to have lived for over a thousand years—a remarkable feat for a Martial Arts expert and even more so for a fisherman. Penglai Fairy Island indeed invoked shock; what secrets might it hold?

”This is a world of Martial Arts. I want to ask the young Taoist, what is ’Martial’?” the old fisherman asked Ye Tianchen.

Ye Tianchen was taken aback. He had never seriously contemplated the question of what Martial Arts truly meant. Martial Arts, Martial Arts... what do the words mean? They were difficult to answer, and realizing the depth of understanding required to grasp the essence of Martial could reveal one’s cultivation realm.

”Young Taoist, if you cannot answer my questions, it’s unfortunate that I cannot take you to Penglai Fairy Island. This rule has been set since ancient times; I’m sorry...” the old fisherman shook his head in regret when Ye Tianchen remained silent.

”From my perspective, ’Martial’ embodies many levels of meaning—not just brute strength but also life’s significance. No matter who a person is, they should express beauty!” Ye Tianchen said earnestly.

”What is ’Tao’?” The old fisherman’s eyes lit up as he continued to ask.

”Tao refers to the path one wishes to walk. Be they martial artists or mere mortals, everyone has their chosen path. This is Tao!” Ye Tianchen answered firmly.

The old fisherman pondered for a moment, looked at Ye Tianchen, and then turned to leave in the direction from which he came. Ye Tianchen was confused; did he answer incorrectly or unsatisfactorily? Yet he wouldn’t give up. Even if the fisherman didn’t escort him to ”Penglai Fairy Island,” Ye Tianchen would find his own way—though he preferred not to resort to forceful methods. Penglai Fairy Island was a mysterious place, and silently understanding the circumstances would be best. Moreover, if Shuanger’s divination was correct, the Blood Killing Organization’s base was on ”Penglai Fairy Island,” and Ye Tianchen had no desire to alert the snakes.

”Young Taoist, I’ve traveled quite a distance already; why haven’t you boarded the boat?” the old fisherman turned back to Ye Tianchen, smiled with satisfaction, and nodded. (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, feel free to vote for recommendations and monthly tickets on Qidian (qidian.com). Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com for reading.)