Chapter 462 Part 1
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Chapter 462 Part 1: Surrounded Great Dao Sect Alone (1)
"Sun?" Founding Emperor Yan looked surprised.
"Kuafu Chases the Sun, but cannot obtain it. I am in a similar situation," Qiao Mu explained.
Integrating the essence of Divine and Demon Cultivation Method into martial arts was a grand task that he had struggled with for thousands of years, but he did not leave empty-handed.
Giant Kuafu, named Lie, spent his life chasing immortality.
Born immortal, Qiao Mu now seeks something to chase, but it is death.
Like a weary traveler in the desert, no longer hoping to cross it, but just yearning for liberation.
For over ten thousand years, he stayed true to his original intentions, never betraying his heart. Now, all he seeks is an outcome.
Without a chance of resurrection, Qiao Mu, left with just one life, feels alive.
Between the instinct to survive and the desire for death that came after exhaustion, he found a balance where both existed at the same time.
So Qiao Mu’s answer was…
"Just live each day as if it’s your last, be prepared for death at any moment, and take care of things that need to be done." Qiao Mu said calmly:
"You made sense before, this world is not just for members of the Qiao family, I won’t bear burdens that don’t belong to me. I’ll live if I want to live, and die if I want to die."
Qiao Mu extended his hand, placing it flat on his chest.
He felt as if even the beating of his heart had grown stronger since he no longer had the chance to come back to life.
Before, Qiao Mu lived recklessly.
He didn’t care about rules and did things others wouldn’t dare, since he could come back to life anyway.
But this time, he took a risk and removed his safety net, chasing death like chasing the sun.
"Treat each day like it’s your last…" Emperor Yan fell silent.
This was a mindset that he had only heard of but could not quite grasp, so he had nothing much to say.
Qiao Shuangtu in front of him truly wanted to die; there was no faking it.
However, the assessment of the situation seemed to have a subtle deviation from his initial guess.
This left Emperor Yan, who was around three hundred years old, somewhat speechless, unsure of what to say.
As he hesitated, Qiao Mu finished the remaining fine wine in one gulp and then stood up.
With a flash, Qiao Mu produced a three-foot-long lotus leaf in his hand, which shimmered with precious light, displaying a purple radiance.
"This Nine-colored Fairy Lotus is the most important treasure of the Western Province Blood Lotus Sect. The Blood Lotus Sect Leader uses it to refine a dharma body. Each leaf can refine a dharma body with a cultivation level close to the main body, nearly indistinguishable at the Soul Changing Stage."
"But us ordinary martial artists have no idea how to use this rare treasure; I only know that we cannot directly consume it." Qiao Mu handed over the golden lotus leaf in his hand.
"I heard you are a Medicine Spirit Body, naturally close to plant and medicine spirits."
"If one day you find a way to use it, you can tell Peach Blossom Villa."
"Having ten birds in the woods is not as good as having one bird in hand," Qiao Mu left these lotus leaves to Founding Emperor Yan, regardless of his reaction, had already performed Heavenly Dragon Eight Steps, stepping into the air, true strength turning into clouds, and went away gracefully.
Founding Emperor Yan held the lotus leaf in his hand, looked at the several martial arts manuals that Qiao Mu had gifted, gazed at his departing figure, his gaze momentarily complex.
Uttering softly:
"A thousand taels of gold not for sale, bidding farewell at the crossroads."
Some martial artists in the old martial arts community place a great emphasis on their martial arts manuals but treat real gold and silver lightly.
A thousand taels of gold cannot be sold for the martial arts that safeguard one’s life.
Because this is the foundation for safeguarding life!
But when they turned around, the wanderers of the martial world could then gift these real gold and silver, to the strangers they meet by chance.
Money and possessions are nothing but material things, there are indeed those in this world of martial arts who seek only modest benefits.
Yet even so, martial arts manuals cannot be freely taught…
However, Qiao Shuangtu’s actions were both a gift of treasures and a granting of secret techniques.
"Truly living each day as the last, with honesty and openness."
Founding Emperor Yan raised the wine jar, gulping down the wine in one go.
Wiping his mouth, he held a golden lotus leaf shimmering with light in one hand, and the secret manuals in the other, hurrying towards the palace.
This unexpected move turned out to be quite fruitful.
But he was feeling a bit of a headache:
With the generosity of the founding emperor, he naturally wouldn’t seek the generous gifts from the people of Great Yan, according to the customs of Great Yan, he naturally should give back an even more generous gift.
So, how would he respond next?
"Hmm… the Qiao family once had rebels who tried to assassinate the emperor. Even though I said that family members should not be punished for one person’s wrongdoing, after Qiao Jin’s death, how can I… "
Founding Emperor Yan gradually walked away.
……………………………………………….
Nan Province, Peach Blossom Villa.
In the grove, Qiao Xin sat cross-legged, as usual, demonstrating martial arts in front of the crowd.
"This is Martial Saint’s ‘Ex-human Transformation’…"
Qiao Mu not only taught martial arts, but also explained his personal understanding of Martial Saint’s ‘Ex-human Transformation’ technique.
As for martial arts like "Divine Human Transformation" and "Taotie Swallowing Heaven Skill", Qiao Mu did not spread them widely.
Martial arts may not have good or evil, but people do.
The Taotie Swallowing Heaven Skill, which involves taking and devouring others’ abilities, could bring about many troubles if it spreads.
"Even Martial Saint cannot master a technique like the ‘Divine Human Transformation’; in fact, he has not fully succeeded in practicing it."
"Although it cannot be directly used in combat, I believe it could serve as knowledge for martial arts, especially for learning how to coordinate attacks in battle formations."
Qiao Xin paused for a moment and sighed, saying:
"The ‘Divine Human Transformation’ doesn’t so much unify as it harmonizes, it’s more about blending than merging…the differences between the two are too vast to comprehend."
"Despite my deep contemplation, I cannot seem to succeed," Qiao Xin said.
"Perhaps only a true unparalleled genius could achieve this great feat."
Qiao Xin mentioned this, and Wu Mingkong’s ears perked up.
At the same time, the martial artists below all turned their heads, sneakily looking at Wu Mingkong, unable to hold back a slight smile and trying not to laugh.
The martial artists understood what Qiao Xin meant.
In fact, Wu Mingkong understood as well.
Isn’t it just a simple and direct way of provocation?
But the effectiveness of provocation also depends on who is using it.
When an ordinary martial artist says this, it doesn’t really spark any interest in Wu Mingkong.
But when it comes from Qiao Xin, who has repeatedly defeated her…
Hey, she is really getting fired up!
Wu Mingkong murmured to herself, "Only a true exceptional genius can accomplish the great feat that even Lord Qiao Xin couldn’t achieve. It seems that only…"
Suddenly, a calm young man’s voice sounded beside them, "Of course, only I, Wushu Shushan, can do it."
"Wushu Shushan? What are you doing here?" Wu Mingkong was shocked and turned to look at the young man Wushu Shushan who appeared out of nowhere.
Wushu Shushan smiled and said,
"I learned the ‘Dragon Transforming Step’ directly from Senior Qiao Shuangtu and hurried here to Peach Blossom Villa day and night."
Wu Mingkong frowned.
"I didn’t ask how you came to Peach Blossom Villa. Weren’t you hiding in the arsenal of Wuji Association, determined to read all its secret manuals before leaving the mountain? Why did you break your promise today?"
Wushu Shushan was not at all upset. He just smiled, recalling the time he met Qiao Shuangtu in Zhong Province.
"That day, Senior Qiao Shuangtu said, what good would it do to read all the secret manuals in the arsenal of Wuji Association?"
There are so many books in the world that Martial Saint and Wushu Shushan would never be able to finish reading them all.
It’s even harder to read all the martial arts books in the library. It’s like turning your brain into a place where ancient thoughts run wild.
No matter how much you read and practice the martial arts secrets of the past, you will always be second best to the cultivators.
Only by coming up with new ideas and techniques can you bring a fresh change to things."
"And so, here I am."
Wushu Shushan smiled.
Qiao Mu now had all the martial arts books from the Wuji Association’s library.
In the book collection of the Peach Blossom Villa in Nan Province, there were also many new techniques created by Qiao family members and Long Shankong.
So why should he stay trapped in the Wuji Association’s library?
"I don’t believe it." Wu Mingkong was a very confident person, and she would not back down in front of Wushu Shushan. Among the seventy-two wise men, Wu Mingkong was always the most dazzling jewel.
"You have simply read more books, that’s all. This time, we are going to practice martial arts and create a new combined attack strategy, which is an unprecedented achievement," said Wu Mingkong.
"Then, let’s have a little test," Wushu Shushan said calmly.
Wu Mingkong was indeed a rare genius that Martial Saint had never seen in his life.
But being a genius doesn’t mean being perfect in everything.
The seventy-two wise men each had their own strengths and unique skills.
Having a talent for martial arts and being quick to understand it doesn’t necessarily make someone better at creating new martial arts techniques.
If we talk about being proud and arrogant, who isn’t…
Qiao Xin watched the two of them arguing quietly, without saying a word, just nodding silently.
………………………………
Outside Anxi Pass in Zhong Province.
Before the checkpoint, tombstones stood in rows, and an old lady with white hair was gently wiping the tombstone in front of her.
The name on the tombstone was Li Changge.
Anxi Pass used to be a strategic location, with imperial soldiers stationed there, and the Hundred-mile Desert beyond it was a forbidden zone for the living.
Nowadays, Anxi Pass was already deserted. The former checkpoint commander, Madame Bai, had taken off her armor and become the one who cleaned the tombs of the hundred thousand soldiers under the city wall at Anxi Pass.
"…Currently, three of the Immortal Gates in Jiu Province have collapsed." The old lady carefully wiped the tiny specks of dust on the engraved marks on the tombstone and slowly said:
"And also Martial Saint, who was General Li back then… Hmm, he has also passed away."
"In the past forty years, so many changes have taken place. If you could witness the current situation, the changes in martial arts today…"
Madame Bai said these words, then suddenly felt something and looked up.
A sharp noise rang through the sky, and a faint figure swiftly flew like an eagle, leaving a long white trail in the sky.
"…..Perhaps today, it’s the turn of the fourth Immortal Gate?" Madame Bai muttered.
In the old well of her heart, emotions stirred unknowingly.
……………………………….
Forty years ago, led by Martial Saint, a hundred thousand elite soldiers known as the Western Conquering Army marched west to attack the Great Dao Sect.
Before reaching the Great Dao Sect’s sect gate, they were defeated, and the hundred thousand elite soldiers disappeared into the vast desert of Fang Yuan.
The entrance to the Great Dao Sect was actually on the western side of the Hundred-mile Desert.
If it weren’t for the barrier of the ancient formation blocking the Hundred-mile Desert from sunlight, one could have directly seen the Great Dao Sect’s entrance nearby in the desert.
Fang Yuan tried to cross the vast desert, which was an obstacle even ten thousand soldiers couldn’t pass in the past.
Today, Qiao Mu flew alone for a moment and easily crossed this barrier.
