Free Web NovelChapter 13: Chapter 13: Epiphany
Amidst this convergence of heaven and earth, Gu Yun entered a state of profound and mysterious enlightenment.
Gu Yun swung his saber endlessly, dancing with his blade in the wind and rain.
The Thunder Listening Saber vibrated wildly, letting out a buzzing clamor before transforming into a continuous stream of blade light that tore through the air!
The storm raged and the river churned. Within a radius of hundreds of feet, the Blade Momentum pulled at the river itself, drawing up water and fish layer by layer. It was as if a pale blue Flood Dragon had risen from the depths, ready to overturn mountains and seas, roiling the curtain of rain that connected heaven and earth!
If any mortal had passed by, they would have mistaken it for a Flood Dragon emerging from the river. They would have been shocked into prostrating themselves, and the sight would have become the most unforgettable memory of their lives.
Gu Yun had now entered a state of self-forgetfulness. He followed the feeling, swinging his saber over the river, whipping up a torrential tide and transforming it into a boundless torrent of blade light.
Deep in his mind, lines of text frantically scrolled across the Skill Level panel of Heaven Rewards Diligence:
[You have observed the mysteries of heaven and earth. You have comprehended the Momentum of the wind, rain, and thunder. Your state of mind resonates with the profound realm where wind, rain, thunder, and lightning converge. Your Celestial Thunder Technique Skill Level +10%]
[You have observed the mysteries of heaven and earth. You have comprehended the Momentum of the wind, rain, and thunder. Your state of mind resonates with the profound realm where wind, rain, thunder, and lightning converge. Swinging your saber in the storm has brought great rewards. Your comprehension of Blade Momentum has deepened. Your Blade Momentum Skill Level +10%]
[You have observed the mysteries of heaven and earth. You have comprehended the Momentum of the wind, rain, and thunder... Your Celestial Thunder Technique Skill Level +10%]
[You have observed the mysteries of heaven and earth... Your Blade Momentum Skill Level +10%]
...
In this environment of wind, rain, thunder, and lightning, Gu Yun’s Essence, Qi, and Spirit fused. A thread of profound, mysterious inspiration from the unseen world dramatically increased his comprehension, allowing his understanding of Cultivation and Martial Techniques and Blade Momentum to advance by leaps and bounds.
The right time, the right place, and the right person—all three were present, and not one could be missing. This allowed Gu Yun to achieve a moment of epiphany, an epiphany that the vast majority of Cultivators might never experience in their entire lives.
Not long after, the sky began to clear, and sunlight shone in all directions.
By now, Gu Yun had emerged from his state of enlightenment. Propelling the bamboo pole he stood on with Spiritual Qi, he shot across the great river like a flash of lightning, traveling for hundreds of li downstream.
Gu Yun felt elated. ’Coming out for this mission was definitely the right choice.’
’I know an opportunity for this kind of enlightenment might not come again for many years.’ But he wasn’t discouraged at all. ’With the Heaven Rewards Diligence panel, as long as I don’t go looking for death, I believe I can reach the pinnacle in this life and become one of those true powerhouses who roams the world freely, looking down on all of creation.’
This epiphany had increased Gu Yun’s overall strength by at least twenty percent.
’When I get back to the Sect, I’ll stay and cultivate for a while. I need to convert these remaining insights into real strength and prepare for the Profound Celestial Sect’s Outer Sect competition, which happens once every three years.’
...
「Profound Celestial Sect, Miscellaneous Affairs Hall.」
Gu Yun completed the mission handover, collected all the rewards for killing Bloodman Slaughter, and then left.
Returning to the Seventh Institute, nothing major had happened, just as he’d expected. His fellow disciples were all training hard for the upcoming Outer Sect Grand Competition.
Back in his room, Gu Yun sat cross-legged on a meditation cushion and began to take stock of his gains: 100 Sect Contribution Points; over forty Spirit Stones in total from the mission reward and from Bloodman Slaughter and Wang Teng; and the Human Tier Top Grade Technique, Earth-Bursting Heaven-Shaking. Most importantly, the enlightenment he’d experienced on the river—a product of the perfect time, place, and person—had massively boosted his strength.
Name: Gu Yun
Realm: Spiritual Martial Ninth Layer Middle Stage
Cultivation Technique: Celestial Thunder Technique (3rd Layer 99%)
Martial Techniques: Wind and Thunder Saber Technique (Perfection), Mountain-Breaking Fist (Great Success 80%), Wandering Dragon Step (Great Success 90%)
Techniques: Breath Concealment Technique (Beginner 50%), Celestial Thunder Technique (Minor Success 55%)
Blade Momentum: Minor Success Blade Momentum (50%)
Gu Yun planned to enter secluded cultivation for a period of time.
For the next three months, Gu Yun trained diligently. Every day, he would practice his Magic and Martial Techniques hundreds of times. At night, he would find a place to meditate, take a sip of Monkey Wine, and focus his mind on cultivating the Celestial Thunder Technique.
He practiced his various Techniques and Martial Techniques over and over, constantly consolidating his foundation and improving his strength.
In particular, he had cultivated the Technique Earth-Bursting Heaven-Shaking to the second layer, while both Mountain-Breaking Fist and Wandering Dragon Step had been cultivated to the Realm of Perfection.
One day, Gu Yun, who was sitting cross-legged on his bed, suddenly snapped his eyes open. His gaze was like lightning. With a flick of his wrist, a jar of Monkey Wine appeared in his hand. He took a large gulp and began to furiously circulate the Celestial Thunder Technique.
The air around him CRACKLED with flashing lightning. After drinking the Monkey Wine, the Spiritual Qi in Gu Yun’s body became rich and powerful. Inside him, Spiritual Qi churned like dragons and snakes, gradually gathering in his Dantian.
Time slowly passed, and Gu Yun’s aura grew stronger and stronger.
Suddenly, with a BANG!, Gu Yun successfully broke through to the Spiritual Martial Ninth Layer Late Stage.
This Cultivation level already surpassed the vast majority of people in the Outer Sect. In the Outer Sect, the only ones who could surpass Gu Yun’s Cultivation were likely the very top disciples.
But Gu Yun believed that in his current state, he was a match for any Spiritual Martial Realm Cultivator.
Name: Gu Yun
Realm: Spiritual Martial Ninth Layer Late Stage
Cultivation Technique: Celestial Thunder Technique (4th Layer 1%) Trait: Purple Lightning
Martial Techniques: Wind and Thunder Saber Technique (Perfection), Mountain-Breaking Fist (Perfection), Wandering Dragon Step (Perfection)
Techniques: Earth-Bursting Heaven-Shaking (Minor Success 10%), Breath Concealment Technique (Minor Success 50%), Celestial Thunder Technique (Great Success 1%)
Blade Momentum: Minor Success Blade Momentum (55%)
After three months of secluded cultivation, Gu Yun’s cultivation and strength had greatly improved. Not only had he fully digested the fruits of his enlightenment on the river, turning them all into nourishment for his growth, but he had also cultivated Mountain-Breaking Fist and Wandering Dragon Step to Perfection and successfully cultivated Earth-Bursting Heaven-Shaking. His strength had increased immensely, and he was confident that few in the Spiritual Martial Realm were his match.
’Right now, I’m bursting with confidence in my own strength. I kind of wish someone would jump out and provoke me right now. You know, like someone looks down on me during a cultivation exchange, and then I use my overwhelming power to teach them a lesson, putting them in their place again and again, earning a wave of shock and praise from the bystanders!’
’Unfortunately, in the three months since I returned to the Sect, everything has been very calm. In reality, in the Cultivation Realm, without a conflict of interest, very few people would randomly go around mocking others and making enemies for themselves. It’s just an unnecessary hassle!’
’But what about all those brain-dead, trash-talking villains from the novels in my past life? What about all those cliché Long Aotian face-slapping scenes? Where are the idiotic antagonists who get told "You are courting death!" by the protagonist?’
’Sigh!’
’Sure enough, I’m not the protagonist, and novels are just novels after all.’
Gu Yun couldn’t help but sigh in lament.
At the same time, he had a feeling of déjà vu, like Dugu Qiubai emerging into the world after years of secluded training, having perfected his divine techniques, only to find he had no equal.
’Okay, I’m overthinking it.’ The thought came as quickly as it went.
With only two months left until the Outer Sect Grand Competition, Gu Yun knew it was time for him to go out for a walk and clear his head.
...
Gu Yun went to the Sect’s Marketplace to experience the hustle and bustle of a crowded area. He also planned to sell the corpse of the Nine-Tiered Monkey King, which was comparable to a Spiritual Martial Realm expert, and rake in some Spirit Stones.
’At the same time, I was also thinking about whether I could find some hidden treasures here.’ The moment this bargain-hunting thought appeared, Gu Yun wanted to slap himself. ’This damnable little get-rich-quick idea...’
’Gu Yun, oh Gu Yun, have you already forgotten the painful lesson of being swindled by an unscrupulous merchant?’ Gu Yun repeatedly warned himself.
