Da Xuan Martial Saint

Chen Mu flipped open the first page and saw steady, confident characters leaping off the page.

"...The heart gathers and refines, the breath gathers and stills, he who is the emperor shows neither joy nor anger in his countenance, nor does his vital force reveal itself outwardly. His heart remains unchanging to accord with the transformations of all things, and his body remains still to follow the movements of all things."

As he read the text in the book, Chen Mu was momentarily lost in thought, then continued reading. He quickly browsed this volume of the Imperial Qi Concealing Technique from beginning to end, memorizing its content.

The Imperial Qi Concealing Technique, based on the Qiankun Artistic Conception, keeps one's vital force undisturbed even if the heavens and earth change color. It is one of the highest forms of the art of concealing one's vital force and can, in almost any environment, completely conceal one's vital force without being disturbed by external conditions.

Although this technique only hides the vital force and not the physical form, for Chen Mu, hiding the physical form is merely a trivial trick. Using the Kan Water Artistic Conception, he could easily conceal his form from ordinary people, achieving what is known as 'Immortal Trace' during the day. But in reality, in the eyes of high-level martial artists, it is nothing but a trick.

Only concealing the vital force is truly crucial.

Moreover, this Imperial Qi Concealing Technique does not have complicated levels. Once it is mastered, one can control one's own vital force at will, concealing or releasing it freely. It was precisely the method he needed.

Having decided on the Imperial Qi Concealing Technique, Chen Mu then moved to another wooden rack to search for movement techniques.

The techniques on this rack, compared to those for concealing the vital force, were several times more numerous, a dazzling array indeed; techniques like 'Shadowless Step,' 'Mystifying Steps,' and so on, were everywhere, seemingly very impressive. But upon closer examination, the cultivation requirement was only one type of Artistic Conception, Xun Wind, all of which were of the most basic level.

But before long.

Chen Mu found another volume.

—Abyssal Ground Shrink!

This was another movement technique based on the Qiankun Artistic Conception, and its description on the first page was quite domineering.

'Among all movement techniques under the heavens, at most, they can only equal this technique, none can surpass it!'

In terms of movement steps, all techniques under the heavens could at most equal this technique but could not exceed it.

Such boasts, which sounded like bragging, would have seemed merely absurd to Chen Mu back when he was in Yu City and encountered low-level techniques not even touching upon Artistic Conceptions. In contrast, being based on the 'Qiankun Artistic Conception,' practising this method was entirely different.

Moreover, it was explicitly marked in Abyssal Ground Shrink that one must cultivate the Qiankun Artistic Conception to the second step before one could master it.

"Very well, these two it will be."

Chen Mu nodded slightly in his heart and then browsed the volume of Abyssal Ground Shrink as well, memorizing the contents.

Having left the Hall of Transmission.

Chen Mu walked along the mountain path back to his residence.

However, as he reached the middle peak, he noticed a spacious area where many inner sect disciples were gathered in small groups, discussing something with surprise in their eyes.

Chen Mu's steps were light as he walked up the path. Although he was quite distant, he still caught snippets of the conversation, a flicker of light passed through his eyes, but he did not pay it much attention and continued up the mountain.

The topic of conversation was about the list of promising newcomers.

A year had passed.

The list of promising newcomers was updated again; this time, some newcomers entered the list while some veterans were removed. However, Zuo Qianqiu's position remained unshaken, still at the top of the list.

Zuo Qianqiu was only twenty-six years old, the same age as Yuan Yingsong and younger than both Zhou Hao and Chen Mu.

"Did you hear? Zuo Qianqiu, at the Northern Frontier, had a sparring match with Yuan Yingsong, and it ended with Yuan Yingsong slightly losing by half a move... Yuan Yingsong has even cultivated the Thunderclap Artistic Conception to the second step, lacking only Xun Wind and Qian Heaven in the Eight Phases. Yet, he still couldn't surpass Zuo Qianqiu. I thought after mastering Thunderclap, Yuan Yingsong would be able to surpass Zuo Qianqiu."n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

"It's not that simple. Just as Yuan Yingsong cultivates, so does Zuo Qianqiu. The cultivation difficulty of the Heavenly Sword Artistic Conception is almost as complex as the complete Yin Yang Five Elements. Moreover, Zuo Qianqiu, who holds the belief 'man can conquer nature,' grows stronger with every victory in his sword intent, as his sword intent and martial belief have merged. He has not been defeated at his level since he began practicing the sword; who knows to what extent he has now cultivated."

"Speaking of which, Senior Brother Zhou has mastered the Kun Earth Artistic Conception and is now ranked ninth on the list of promising newcomers. Last month he faced Zuo Qianqiu and couldn't even force out Zuo Qianqiu's seventh sword, having to dodge at the sixth."

In one corner, Linghu Shang and Shen Lin among others were sighing and discussing.

Suddenly.

Someone noticed Chen Mu walking up the mountain path and quickly nudged a nearby person, after which they all saluted the approaching Chen Mu.

"Brother Chen."

Linghu Shang and Shen Lin also saluted in turn.

Chen Mu glanced at everyone just once and did not stop; he quickly disappeared towards the upper peak.

Once Chen Mu's figure had vanished, the disciples of Spirit Profound Peak exchanged glances before resuming their discussion.

"Speaking of which, in the newly released list of promising newcomers, Brother Chen's ranking has dropped."

Shen Lin tilted her head and whispered.

"After Brother Chen entered the sect, it seems like there hasn't been much news about him for a year. It's quite normal for his ranking in the Newcomers List to drop a few places. However, with Brother Chen's talent, he has most likely already initially grasped the Qian Heaven Artistic Conception, hasn't he? Just by showing some of his strength, his ranking will return, and maybe even rise a few places to reach within the top twenty pages," said Linghu Shang long after Chen Mu's silhouette had disappeared, as he looked at Shen Lin and responded.

"Hmm."

Shen Lin nodded as well.

With such astonishing talent and comprehension, Chen Mu couldn't have completely disappeared after joining the Seven Profound Sect. It was obvious that he was still diligently cultivating in seclusion. Whenever he reached a bottleneck and left the mountain for trials, Chen Mu's transformation would naturally become known.

...

Upper Peak.

Chen Mu returned to the bamboo hut where he lived.

He wasn't very interested in the discussions amongst many Inner Sect Disciples about the Newcomers List, Zuo Qianqiu, and other matters.

The Newcomers List re-evaluated by the End of the World Sea Pavilion this year, he had glanced at it before. His ranking had dropped from twenty-seventh to thirty-third, but that didn't matter to him.

The Newcomers List was just about being 'newcomers.' Gaining fame in the Cold North Path, such so-called fame was meaningless in his view; it merely made others sigh over one's high talent and quality.

Only by reaching the Wind Cloud List, or even becoming a Marrow Cleansing Grandmaster.

Only then could one truly become a distinguished powerhouse in a State, renowned across the eleven States of the Cold North Path.

Among the extraordinary talents of past generations, there were those who hadn't broken through the Marrow Cleansing Mysterious Pass and had stopped below the Grandmaster Realm. Although they could also make it to the Wind Cloud List after spending some years in the Six Viscera Realm, and not fear an ordinary grandmaster, this so-called fearlessness was just that, fearlessness. Whether they could become grandmasters was always just two separate concepts.

After all, only by entering Marrow Cleansing could one ultimately glimpse the pinnacle realm of 'Blood Exchange.'

And among those who became grandmasters, which one wasn't once a genius? Perhaps at the initial entrance into the Grandmaster Realm, dealing with a high-ranking expert from the Wind Cloud List might still pose some difficulty, but just give them a few decades to immerse at the Marrow Cleansing Realm, even if they ultimately cannot step into Blood Exchange, they could still stand above those on the Wind Cloud List.

The lifespan of a Marrow Cleansing Grandmaster was also incomparable to that of the Six Viscera Realm. Once stepping into Marrow Cleansing, one could live at least up to one hundred and fifty years, and if cultivating towards a health-preserving path, living close to two hundred years was possible.

While those in the Six Viscera Realm could live up to around one hundred and twenty years at most, and their strength couldn't be maintained for long, although slightly better than the Five Viscera Realm, it mostly just lasted to around a hundred years or so.

While Marrow Cleansing Grandmasters could reach one hundred and fifty years.

Even more.

Marrow Cleansing Grandmasters before the age of one hundred still had the hope of stepping into Blood Exchange. Though this step was very difficult, who could say that there won't be a grandmaster who could make that step?

"Zuo Qianqiu, Heavenly Sword Artistic Conception..."

Chen Mu slightly shook his head.

Perhaps having solidified his own Martial Arts will, his mindset today had gradually undergone many changes from the past. Just as a grandmaster in the Grandmaster Realm has no interest in crushing a sapling, he likewise had no interest in dealing with Zuo Qianqiu.

Everyone on the Newcomers List was no longer seen as his competitor; his eyes were already set on the Wind Cloud List.

As one who controlled the Qiankun Artistic Conception, if he still had to look back at those behind him, then how could he continue to control Qiankun?

If Zuo Qianqiu truly had the chance to catch up to him with the Heavenly Sword Artistic Conception, then let him come. Whenever he feels like swinging a sword at him, that's when he will break this Heavenly Sword. His gaze was no longer on the younger generation.

Continuing up the mountain path.

Just as the familiar bamboo hut gradually appeared in front of Chen Mu, a figure stood beside the hut, seemingly having waited for a while.

"Sister Meng, what brings you here?"

Chen Mu walked towards the bamboo hut and smiled at the figure beside it.

The person was Meng Danyun.

Meng Danyun turned around, her face devoid of any smile, instead carrying a hint of heaviness. She looked at Chen Mu with complex eyes and then spoke, "Master... "

Her words made Chen Mu's smile immediately fade.

Meng Danyun pursed her lips and finally said in a low voice, "Master said that her lucid moments are getting fewer, and this time she might sleep for a long time. She said she has always been waiting for you to ask her about Martial Arts, maybe you haven't encountered a bottleneck. She is also relieved for you, saying you probably will be able to cultivate the Qian Heaven Artistic Conception. She told me to tell you that after stepping into the second phase of Artistic Conception, relying solely on the Artistic Conception Map won't allow you to step into the third phase because those who trace the Artistic Conception Map haven't realized the third phase themselves."

"If you want to reach the ultimate in Artistic Conception, unless guided by the original Eight Phases Diagram, even finding a fragmented copy of the Eight Phases Diagram will not be very meaningful. If you want to realize Martial Arts Domain and even step into the third phase, you must rely on yourself."

Meng Danyun said this.

She then slowly took out a small jade seal and handed it to Chen Mu, saying, "This is the 'Qian Heaven Seal' Master refined for you during her lucid moments, which can block a strike from an ordinary grandmaster at your life-and-death juncture, to be used for self-defense in your future travels." Read exclusive chapters at empire