Free Web NovelChapter 122: Chapter 122: Speculation
Kong Sheng thought for a moment, then shook his head. "This... I must be uninformed. I did study that *Heart Furnace Lotus Planting Skill* for a time. It’s the work of an unorthodox genius, but the process is far too dangerous. The slightest mistake would result in grievous injury to one’s Qi Blood.
"I’ve also studied the subsequent *Tribulation Sea Sword Lotus Transformation Skill* and *Tribulation Sea Formless Cutting Intent Scripture*. Those two are exclusive Cultivation Techniques that match the Tribulation Sword Dao Foundation. Could it be..."
Mr. Tang then took out his phone and shared the information on the *Green Lotus Sword Nourishing Skill*. This information was even more detailed than what Yan Sea had, containing some of Mr. Lanren’s original ideas from when he created the technique.
As Kong Sheng read, his expression gradually turned grave.
"Impossible! This is the idea of a madman! Making a beginner who’s just started their martial arts journey battle a Sword Dao Grandmaster’s Sword Intent in their own mental space... Even if the Sword Intent’s power is weakened, its essence remains the same. This is murder..."
Soon, Kong Sheng finished reading all the files. With a solemn expression, he asked, "You’re not going to tell me that the little guy down there mastered Sword Intent this way, are you?"
Mr. Tang nodded. "That’s exactly right, and it’s why I’m here. At my age, there’s not much I can’t see through. My granddaughter may be a disappointment, but a piece of trash like Dust Sacrifice could never kill her. If I can use this incident to sever the entanglement between her and that young man, Yan Sea, it might not be a bad thing."
There were some things Mr. Tang left unsaid. The matter was too important; he had to be cautious.
’That boy down there is different. He’s really different...’
’When that old coot Mr. Lanren was alive, he managed to train a few Tribulation Sword successors under the protection of his own sword domain. Later research tried to replicate it, but they discovered that without the old man’s help, it’s impossible to master this method...’
’Information obtained from exploring the Ruins of Xuyuan five years ago proved that all the Cultivation Techniques of the Tribulation Sword lineage weren’t actually created by Mr. Lanren. He found them in the Ruins of Xuyuan and merely modified the introductory parts.’
’The Tribulation Sword is a key to opening the Ruins of Xuyuan, but... that old coot is dead. Stone-cold dead, without leaving a single clue.’
’Mr. Lanren’s death back then looked like a coincidence, but... who are they kidding?’
’Mr. Lanren died, and his direct disciples died too. No matter how you look at it, it was to cover something up. There’s a deeper secret here, one that could affect the life and death of someone with power approaching a Martial Saint. The implications are likely enormous...’
Mr. Tang was one of the few who knew the truth. When he learned that Yan Sea might be training a "wild" Tribulation Sword successor, he didn’t hesitate to send over the twenty-year-old Enlightenment Tea. He then dealt with his own affairs and rushed over as fast as he could, even going to the trouble of bringing along Kong Sheng, the Soul-Breaking Sword, a Sword Dao Grandmaster.
Mr. Tang’s eyes were calm. He had experienced too much in his life, made countless decisions, and always looked at the long-term. He certainly wasn’t afraid of some bald tiger.
He mulled it over. ’If Yu Fei establishes a Tribulation Sword Dao Foundation, his future potential will be immense. And if Yan Sea successfully advances to Grandmaster, given that hard-headed kid’s devotion to his master, Mr. Lanren, he won’t need any prompting to relentlessly pursue the truth of what happened back then.’
’In that case... if I pull a few strings behind the scenes, I might just be able to drag the culprits out into the open...’
Kong Sheng’s mind was still reeling from the concepts behind the *Green Lotus Sword Nourishing Skill*. From his perspective, the Cultivation Technique was nothing but a path to certain death, with zero chance of success.
If Sword Intent were so easy to master, the Yuanmo Clan would have been wiped out long ago.
On the path of martial arts, the number of Sword Cultivators who grasp Sword Intent is exceedingly small. It’s hard to find even one in a hundred thousand, let alone one who grasps a high-grade Sword Intent.
Besides strengthening a Martial Artist’s lethality on a physical level, Sword Intent also inflicts damage on an enemy’s soul, which is much harder to defend against.
Take his Soul-Cutting Sword Intent, for example. Any opponent fighting him, even if they could block the three-foot blade in his hand, would find it difficult to resist the soul-slaying attack on the spiritual level.
A first-realm Martial Artist using a shabby sword they visualized to fight the remnant Sword Intent of an eighth-realm Grandmaster in their mental space... That’s a suicidal path. No matter how minuscule the power contained within that Sword Intent, it’s not something the fragile soul of a first-realm Martial Artist can withstand.
As he thought, a sharp glint flashed in Kong Sheng’s eyes. "Unless..."
Mr. Tang noticed Kong Sheng’s strange reaction. "Unless what?"
He was very interested in the judgment of a Sword Dao Grandmaster. Not being a Sword Cultivator, it was truly difficult to understand an outrageous power like Sword Intent.
Kong Sheng revealed a strange smile. "Mr. Tang, I’ve thought of a possibility. We all know that the path of martial arts is a path of life’s evolution. It begins with Body Tempering and Skin Refining, moving from the outside in, and ultimately leads to transcendence.
"The first realm has five stages: skin, flesh, tendons, bones, and blood, progressing layer by layer. The second realm tempers the five viscera and six bowels, unifying the internal and external. The third realm condenses acupoints and clears meridians to forge the Treasure Body. From this point on, one returns from the post-natal to the Innate.
"When the Treasure Body is perfected, spirituality is born, allowing one to draw the world’s vital energy into the body and reach the Inner Qi Realm.
"The biggest difference between the Inner Qi Realm and the Treasure Body Realm is the energy level of Inner Qi versus Qi Blood. But let’s not talk about that for now. Mr. Tang, think about it, what other difference is there between the two realms?"
At this point, Kong Sheng paused for dramatic effect.
Mr. Tang asked subconsciously, "What difference... could it be?"
He reacted in a flash. "You mean the state of Subtlety?"
Kong Sheng smiled. "Correct. The fundamental reason Inner Qi Martial Artists attain the state of Subtlety is that their soul undergoes a qualitative promotion during the process of returning from post-natal to Innate. It’s an ability they grasp naturally.
"And an Inner Qi Realm Martial Artist *can* withstand that level of damage from Sword Intent."
As he finished speaking, a cold light was about to erupt from Kong Sheng’s eyes as he looked toward Yu Fei, but Mr. Tang waved his hand and dispelled it.
"You’re a dignified Grandmaster, yet you’re using a Pupil Skill to spy on a youngster? Have some shame..."
He said this while looking at Kong Sheng with disdain. Kong Sheng flushed for a moment, but then circulated his True Essence, and his expression returned to normal. ƒree𝑤ebnσvel.com
"My apologies, Mr. Tang. I just got a little excited and lost my composure for a moment. I’ve made a fool of myself. It’s just that I suspect this youngster’s soul quality might be naturally a tier higher than an ordinary person’s. That’s the only way he could have endured the killing trials of the Green Lotus Sword Nourishing Skill and cultivated Sword Intent."
Mr. Tang pondered this and acknowledged Kong Sheng’s judgment, but then his tone shifted.
"So what if it is? Kong, my boy, that attitude of yours won’t do. The reason our Yu Kingdom has come so far is that we fundamentally respect every individual’s freedom. Whether it’s a Martial Saint, a first-realm rookie, or an ordinary citizen, regardless of the difference in strength, the law and order will always uphold that they enjoy the same human rights.
"For you to unscrupulously use a Pupil Skill to pry into someone’s secrets, especially while they’re in the middle of a breakthrough—in principle, that’s against the law. Do you understand?"
Kong Sheng lowered his head slightly. "I’ve been taught a lesson, Mr. Tang. I was just too excited and forgot my place for a moment. After this is over, I will apologize to the young man."
He had no objection to Mr. Tang’s words. The Yu Kingdom’s system had been in place for eight hundred years, dating back to the first year of the New Calendar. Its current strength was over a hundred times greater than it was during the Old Calendar era.
According to records, in the Old Calendar era, Grandmasters were scarce—you could count all of them in the world on one hand. Nowadays, the number of Martial Saints alone exceeds that.
Every Grandmaster and Martial Saint was protected by this system as they grew, so they naturally supported it after reaching their full potential.
A Martial Saint may be powerful, but their contribution to the development of civilization is far less than that of billions of Martial Artists. But without billions of ordinary citizens, how could Martial Artists cultivate in peace?
The First Ancestor’s philosophy was deeply ingrained in the people’s hearts, becoming the consensus of every citizen of the Yu Kingdom.
Of course, given the sheer scale of the Yu Kingdom, it was impossible to expect everyone to be righteous and law-abiding. Some darkness existed even under the sun and could never be completely eradicated. But by and large, order was maintained, and darkness was kept in the shadows.
Kong Sheng couldn’t help but feel a surge of emotion. A man of Mr. Tang’s high status, adhering to his beliefs anytime and anywhere... Although his methods could be a bit mischievous, it was truly admirable.
’But in reality, Mr. Tang was just worried Kong Sheng would interfere with Yu Fei. In my opinion, what’s wrong with Martial Artists having a few privileges? So what if Grandmasters have some special treatment? And as for Martial Saints? All the resources of the Yu Kingdom are at their disposal. Who would dare say no?’
’If Martial Artists were truly treated the same as commoners, that’s when the world would have real problems. With great power comes great responsibility. Those who do more should receive more—much more.’
’Martial Artists guard the borders and are supported by the common people. That’s simply the way it should be.’
’Of course, when it comes to human rights, everyone must be treated equally. Lawless, irresponsible Martial Artists are parasites on society and must be cleaned up as soon as possible.’
’These are not things that can be said openly. In principle, everyone is equal.’
