Header Background Image

    Edict of Peace 114

    Read Advanced Chapters on Patreon: patreon.com/fantasystories797

    Chapter 114: The Chen Kingdom Royal Family’s Supreme Martial Art! (Three Updates, Seeking Monthly Tickets)

    The moment Li Guanyi thought of that name, a surge of energy erupted.

    The surrounding trees moved instantly.

    They swayed towards the wooden house.

    Chen Chengbi, who could pursue Yu Qianfeng, let out a strange cry and dodged to the side, but still couldn’t avoid it. He slid towards the house like a rolling stone down a mountain, taking a blow before falling to the ground. He stumbled back several steps, leaving footprints on the bluestone slabs beneath his feet.

    The old man looked slightly flustered, but didn’t mind. He simply brushed off his clothes and laughed heartily, “Hahaha, my great-niece, your martial arts have truly become more and more amazing! This ‘Misty Cold Shengxiao’ (a fictional martial art name) is truly exquisite, seemingly sealed yet open, perfectly nuanced!”

    “Come, come, young master Xue, come over here.”

    “Let me introduce you.”

    Chen Chengbi pulled Li Guanyi over. Li Guanyi saw a tall woman in white inside the wooden house. Her expression was cold and calm, her face as white as jade, and her black hair cascaded down to her waist, only her temples showing white hair. She appeared very young, but if she was the current emperor’s elder sister, she would likely be in her thirties or forties.

    Chen Chengbi pointed at Li Guanyi and said:

    “Qingyan, this young man is the Xue family boy I told you about.”

    “Now, now, this one is extraordinary! He’s Chen Kingdom’s number one genius back in the day, the first direct disciple of the Hu Guo Mountain Villa (a fictional martial arts school), and he made a great name for himself in the martial arts world. When he was just over ten years old, he was ranked among the top ten on the nation’s list of renowned martial heroes. The Tujue (ancient Turkic tribe) Crown Prince coveted his skills but couldn’t obtain them.”

    “He’s unparalleled with both gun and sword, and invincible with his fists and feet.”

    “He’s only ever lost to one person in his whole life.”

    “Back then, he traveled the rivers and lakes with Li… Li Wanli that brat, facing life and death situations. Humph, later on, if it weren’t for that brat being blinded by infatuation and having no eyes, and actually going to find the Murong… My…”

    The old man’s words were loose, and Li Guanyi felt a chill.

    This chill wasn’t an illusion.

    Fragmented ice crystals formed in the air, ice and snow appeared on the ground. It was almost summer, yet snowflakes fell from the sky, covering the entire area of the library pavilion. This area was quite large, several li (approximately 0.5-1 kilometers) in radius, all blanketed in snow.

    The woman in white stood quietly, doing nothing, yet she had altered the weather within several li.

    Chen Chengbi paused, then cursed, “Damn Li Wanli, blind fool! If he had agreed back then, none of this would have happened!”

    “This military ruffian, this brainless idiot, as stupid as an ox!”

    “I…”

    The old man realized he’d said too much. He always preferred practicing martial arts, so he pushed Li Guanyi forward and waved his hands repeatedly, “I won’t say it, I won’t say it anymore! This kid was struck by Yu Qianfeng’s Crimson Dragon Force.”

    “That Crimson Dragon Force is intensely yang (masculine energy in Chinese philosophy). Your Kunlun Heart Technique (a fictional cultivation technique) can suppress it.”

    “I leave him to you.”

    Chen Chengbi turned and jumped into the pond.

    Ice immediately sealed a thick layer of frost over the old man’s head.

    Li Guanyi watched as the old man blew bubbles underwater, then reached out to smash the ice, but the ice was thick and difficult to break. Li Guanyi guessed that the old man was doing this on purpose, to calm the princess down.

    Li Guanyi looked at the woman. Even though Li Guanyi hadn’t fully grown yet, he wasn’t short, but the princess seemed even taller than him. Her brow was cold, and she looked at Li Guanyi and said faintly, “Your surname is Li?”

    Li Guanyi bowed, “Yes.”

    “Junior Li Guanyi, greets Her Highness the Princess.”

    The princess reached out.

    Her fingers brushed a strand of hair from Li Guanyi’s temple, looking at the young man’s teardrop-shaped birthmark. She withdrew her hand and said faintly, “Your cultivation isn’t bad.”

    “Second Level?”

    Li Guanyi didn’t know what the woman meant, whether it was his martial arts realm or the method his aunt taught him. However, Murong Qiushui had said that as a last resort he could seek out the princess. Out of caution, Li Guanyi didn’t reveal his identity, simply saying:

    “Junior has just broken through to the Second Level.”

    Chen Qingyan neither confirmed nor denied it. Holding a scroll behind her back, she said faintly, “Come closer.”

    Li Guanyi obediently approached.

    Chen Qingyan asked about the origin of his injury, and Li Guanyi recounted everything honestly. The princess said calmly, “Extend your hand.” The young man extended his hand, and Chen Qingyan gently placed two fingers on his wrist. A chilling aura flowed into Li Guanyi’s body, sweeping through him in an instant.

    Her eyes scanned Li Guanyi, and she withdrew her hand, saying faintly, “Do you know why my third uncle said that the Crimson Dragon Force would injure your lungs and affect your cultivation realm?”

    Li Guanyi shook his head honestly.

    Chen Qingyan casually threw two scrolls at him, saying, “Read these.”

    Li Guanyi grimaced. He had no power to resist. He took the scrolls and, maintaining the etiquette of an outer relative, said, “Thank you, Princess, for the gift of these books. This junior will take them back to read.”

    Chen Qingyan said indifferently, “Read them here.”

    Li Guanyi felt a headache coming on, and could only obediently sit down.

    He quietly read. The two scrolls recorded the general principles of martial arts cultivation, penned by famous masters. They were clear, understandable, and easy to grasp. Li Guanyi usually enjoyed reading, but at this moment he felt restless, with the princess sitting not far away.

    Chen Qingyan didn’t speak, but quietly watched him.

    Li Guanyi suppressed his emotions, quietly reading, slowly absorbing the content.

    The books weren’t thick. After an hour, Chen Qingyan said indifferently, “Do you understand?”

    Li Guanyi replied, “Yes.”

    Chen Qingyan nodded slightly and said, “Explain.”

    Li Guanyi organized his thoughts and answered Chen Qingyan’s questions.

    The cultivation of the Second Level of martial artists is different from the First Level. The First Level is about refining the body and physique and externalizing internal energy. The hallmark of the Second Level is sword energy and blade aura, while internal cultivation delves into the “窍” (qiào, acupoints or orifices).

    Indifferent to the external world, seeing without seeing, hearing without hearing, eating without knowing the taste.

    Humans have nine orifices, seven of which are considered pure, while the front and rear yin are considered impure.

    The Second Level cultivates acupoints and the five internal organs.

    The Third Level gradually exhibits superhuman characteristics.

    Not to mention even higher realms of martial artists.

    Like Xue Daoyong, the old man could shoot an arrow through a target ten li away. If one’s eyesight was insufficient, one wouldn’t even see the target; while Third Level martial artists are so fast that ordinary people can’t even catch them with their eyes. If one’s perception isn’t strong enough, even such a martial artist wouldn’t be able to fully utilize their speed.

    These are the problems that the Second Level cultivation needs to address.

    Refining the eyes, nose, ears, and mouth connects Qi and Shen (Spirit).

    Therefore, martial artists develop various superhuman abilities.

    Extremely strong eyesight, the ability to distinguish many smells and block poisonous gases, hearing sounds from several li away, and the ability to consume various beasts and herbs, transforming them into vital energy.

    Some pills consumed by Third Level martial artists are poisonous to ordinary people.

    Ordinary people cannot metabolize such medicinal power, but for martial artists, it’s perfect.

    This is why only those at the Third Level can become generals commanding thousands of troops.

    Their eyes can see extremely far, their noses can smell poisonous gases and the fishy smell of water, their perception is not affected by extreme weather, and their internal organs are so strong that they can maintain combat effectiveness and morale even by eating tree bark.

    At this stage of cultivation, the core lies in the nine orifices and internal organs.

    These areas are extremely fragile and require slow refinement with internal energy, connecting with the spirit.

    In the eyes of the royal family’s experts, Li Guanyi was like needing to perform high-precision operations while having a powerful internal energy that could erupt at any time. If this energy erupted while refining his eyes, Li Guanyi might go blind on the spot; if it erupted while refining his internal organs, his internal organs would burst, killing him.

    That’s why it was said that his future martial arts career would be ruined.

    “Okay.”

    Chen Qingyan handed him another book, saying faintly, “Read.”

    Li Guanyi grimaced and could only obediently continue reading.

    This time it was a Western Region method, something called the Seven Chakra Cultivation Method.

    Different from the Central Plains style, but the underlying principle is the same: connecting Qi and Shen. Western Region Buddhists cultivate this method, different from Central Plains martial artists. Martial artists cultivate the seven orifices and internal organs to enable their kidneys to neutralize stronger medicinal power, to allow their stomachs to digest large amounts of food.

    It’s for endurance in prolonged battles, for the eyesight and perception to cleave incoming arrows with a single strike, everything is to transform oneself into a killing weapon on the battlefield. Buddhist cultivation at this stage leads to various supernatural powers.

    Such as divine eye, divine ear.

    Martial artists don’t have such flowery names; they just say that they can see far and hear widely.

    Seeing the enemy earlier allows for a quicker draw of the blade.

    Hearing the opponent’s movements earlier prevents surprise attacks.

    Chen Qingyan nodded slightly. Li Guanyi saw that she seemed to intend to give him a third book, so he interrupted, “Your Highness, it’s getting late. I am an outer official and not on duty, and must leave the palace before sunset.”

    Chen Qingyan paused. She said lightly, “No need for such formalities.”

    “Come with me.”

    Li Guanyi stood up and followed Chen Qingyan. She led Li Guanyi to the front of the library pavilion and pointed at it, saying, “You can enter and read the scrolls, find the sections that address resolving the chaotic Qi in your body.”

    Li Guanyi said, “Elder Chen asked this junior to cultivate under your guidance.”

    Chen Qingyan stood with her hands behind her back and said faintly, “I cannot teach you.”

    “Just search for it yourself.”

    At that moment, Li Guanyi heard Chen Qingyan’s voice in his ear:

    “Pay attention to the bookshelves.”

    Pay attention to the bookshelves?

    Li Guanyi paused slightly. Chen Qingyan had already walked away, without turning back.

    On Li Guanyi’s shoulder, the Xuanwu (Black Tortoise) Law Physique had appeared. This usually lazy physique, which would never appear unless there was something beneficial, opened its small green eyes, staring intently at the library pavilion in front of him, its paws clinging to Li Guanyi, eager to move towards it.

    Undoubtedly, the library pavilion of one of the two great nations.

    There must be good things there!

    Chen Qingyan walked back to her room, sat down quietly, and read the scrolls. After a long time, she looked towards the distant sky. After a long pause, she closed her eyes, and vaguely, the sounds of battle reached her again.

    Flames raged, and the palace seemed to be on the verge of collapse in the devouring flames.

    Everywhere were sounds of fighting and clashing weapons. The past dreams became illusions. Chen Qingyan looked down at the young man reading, and said faintly:

    “I opened the palace gates for you that day, but today I can no longer show you any favor.”

    “Little guy.”

    If she showed the slightest kindness, the emperor would notice.

    Besides…

    Just as Li Guanyi was pondering this sentence, intending to enter the library pavilion to look for something, he suddenly heard a series of shattering sounds. He turned and saw that the ice in the pond had shattered, and Chen Chengbi had broken through the ice, leaping up suddenly.

    The old man was clearly unharmed. He only said, “You were like this ten years ago.”

    “Great-niece, you really won’t help, won’t leave this library pavilion?!”

    Chen Chengbi was clearly angry, heartbroken for his family’s once invincible genius.

    Born with wealth and privilege, unparalleled talent and beauty.

    Everything about her seemed so natural. The biggest mistake of her life was to travel the world.

    She shouldn’t have met that free-spirited young man, who was still a wandering hero at the time.

    Chen Chengbi remembered it clearly.

    Ten years ago, on the day of the fire in the palace, she personally opened the palace gates.

    With a sword, she brought the Murong family girl and the child through thirteen city gates, then sent them off on horseback, staying behind herself. Turning around, she held a sword, wounded, arrows falling and piercing her arm.

    On that day, the Empire’s Princess pointed her weapon at the Ye Chi cavalry.

    The frost-cold sword energy swept away countless arrows; two thousand arrows fired simultaneously failed to break through her defense. Finally, the Princess could no longer hold her sword, covered in blood. Broken arrows lay around her like a forest. She stood quietly, her spirit still as bright as flames.

    She did not kill the Ye Chi cavalry who were following orders.

    But she didn’t allow them to pass her either.

    After that, Princess Chen Qingyan seemed to disappear from the Chen Kingdom’s royal family.

    She brought the wooden house where the wandering hero had taken her to recover from her injuries back then into the palace, quietly reading and never again concerning herself with Chen Kingdom’s affairs. Chen Chengbi only hoped she would come out, and now he was heartbroken, but also felt sorry for this young man.

    The old man pointed to the wooden house, “Remember, don’t be sentimental. Even the most talented people, once their hearts are broken, will become like this.”

    “Like this old man, a body of pure Yang (masculine energy), is the true path of cultivation.”

    Li Guanyi was dumbfounded. Chen Chengbi scratched his head, feeling that it was a terrible waste if such a genius as Li Guanyi was ruined. In this chaotic world, he was a royal relative, the future prince’s brother, and possessed a loyal heart towards the country.

    The old man paced back and forth, then gritted his teeth, pulling Li Guanyi to a secluded place, “Stay here, don’t move, and don’t speak to me.”

    Li Guanyi didn’t understand.

    Chen Chengbi said, “Did you understand?!”

    Li Guanyi nodded.

    Chen Chengbi breathed a sigh of relief and left him.

    He walked a few steps and began to mutter to himself:

    “Today, I suddenly feel refreshed. I remember when I was young, when I had just reached the Second Level of cultivation. My father passed on his teachings, saying that our Chen Kingdom possesses a peerless martial art, the ‘Six Emptinesses, Four Unifications Divine Art,’ which can harmonize the Qi of the world and perform subtle actions.”

    “Various Qi, whether enemy or friend, can be used and transformed by me.”

    “Any type of strange True Qi, entering my chest and abdomen, becomes my nourishment.”

    “And it cannot harm me in the slightest.”

    “Today, I suddenly thought of this, and felt that I haven’t practiced this art for a long time, I don’t know if I’ve forgotten it. Oh, pity, pity, why don’t I practice it today!”

    “No one around!”

    “I don’t see anyone!”

    “I’m talking to myself, muttering to myself. Father, I’m not violating your teachings.”

    Chen Chengbi muttered to himself for a while, clasped his hands together, and stepped on the six harmonies, saying:

    “All things in the world, all events, are interdependent, unable to be free and unrestrained.”

    “If one rides on the righteousness of heaven and earth, and controls the six debated Qi, to roam endlessly, what can impede him? Therefore, it is said: The perfected person has no self, the divine person has no achievement, the sage has no name.”

    He raised his left hand and pressed down with his right hand, his white hair rising, elegant and unrestrained.

    The Qi around him flowed and changed, visible to the naked eye, reflected in Li Guanyi’s eyes.

    “Six Emptinesses, Four Unifications!”

    Li Guanyi memorized the operation of this martial art in his heart.

    The constantly lazy Xuanwu Law Physique appeared on Li Guanyi’s shoulder.

    It stared intently at the mysterious changes in the old man’s aura. This Law Physique, which had never matched a divine art before, finally emitted a mysterious aura, turbulent waves, like a surging sea!

    The Xuanwu Law Physique’s eyes shone brightly, then suddenly dispersed.

    The Bronze Tripod violently trembled.

    A sudden change occurred!

    (Chapter end)

    Previous Chapter | TOC | Next Chapter

    0 Comments

    Heads up! Your comment will be invisible to other guests and subscribers (except for replies), including you after a grace period. But if you submit an email address and toggle the bell icon, you will be sent replies until you cancel.
    Note