The Legend of the Condor Heroes: From Being Expelled from Peach Blossom Island

Chapter 348 The Main Course is Served
Wu Chengyu's face was full of shock at this moment. This time it was not an act, but a genuine shock. At the same time, he was reassessing the old monster's strength in his mind.

A century-old monster with superb martial arts skills is already terrifying, but Wu Chengyu always believed that he had the ability to protect himself. However, if it is a century-old monster who has cultivated the Beiming Divine Art, its terrifying level is raised to an even higher level.

Wu Chengyu couldn't guarantee whether his Innate Skill would be able to resist the Northern Darkness Divine Skill. He hadn't expected it just now, but if it happened again, he didn't know if he could resist the Northern Darkness Divine Skill.

Fortunately, the old monster only absorbed a little bit, seemingly just to assess Wu Chengyu's internal energy attributes.

Wu Chengyu could only stand there blankly, not daring to make a move. Fortunately, the old monster's attention returned to Princess Yuzhu and the other two.

"Since ancient times, there have been many types of internal energy cultivation techniques and countless divine skills. However, the Buddhist and Taoist schools have the most profound research on internal energy cultivation techniques. The divine skills that you and I have practiced also belong to the Taoist school. This kid's skills are also the same, and at a high level."

However, forcibly abstaining from desires is actually a poor approach, especially for Taoists, as it contradicts the Taoist principles of non-action and following the will of Heaven. Forcibly practicing such methods will only cause hidden dangers to the body.

This kid is quite skilled, not much worse than you guys, but his future achievements will be far less than yours. He might even die young, so there's nothing to worry about.

As for cultivation methods that require abstinence from sexual desire, although they are not common, they are not too few either. The most famous are Shaolin's Boy's Skill and the Innate Skill created by Wang Chongyang of the Quanzhen School.

As soon as he finished speaking, Princess Yuzhu and Wu Qianyu's eyes lit up. Shaolin Temple was one thing, but it had been closed for many years and its status in the martial arts world had declined somewhat. However, although Wang Chongyang was dead, his title as the number one martial artist in the world was still deeply remembered by every martial artist.

Princess Yuzhu asked first, "Grandma, you said that the method of abstaining from desire is inferior. If Wang Chongyang's innate skill is also inferior, then how could he become the number one in the world?"

The old monster sighed and said, "I originally didn't think much of Wang Chongyang's reputation, he was just a junior. But many years ago, I infiltrated the Jin Kingdom to do something and accidentally ran into Wang Chongyang, and we had a big fight."

“My dear teacher, I think you have won. In my heart, you are the best in the world.”

"You're wrong. On the surface, it seemed like Wang Chongyang and I were evenly matched in that battle, but in reality, I lost."

This junior is indeed a prodigy, a person of extraordinary talent. In all the people I have seen in my life, only Qiao Feng of the North from a hundred years ago can compare to him.

I don't know why his Innate Skill had the flaw of abstaining from desire, or why it broke through the limitations that should exist because of this flaw, but its power was definitely not inferior to any of the divine skills I knew. Moreover, even though his body was already in trouble at the time, I still couldn't gain any advantage over him.

I've cultivated for so many more years than him, yet we still ended in a draw. Naturally, I lost. The Central Divine Power truly lives up to its name.

"But don't be discouraged. Our sect's most powerful divine skill was shattered back then, and I haven't yet restored it. Once it is restored, even Wang Chongyang won't be my match. The only pity is that he's already dead."

"Now that he is dead, my mentor is the greatest in the world."

"Haha, you're wrong again, my disciple. Remember this: the world is vast, and there are always reclusive masters. No one dares to claim to be the best in the world."

Not two years later, I heard the news of Wang Chongyang's death. He first faked his death and ambushed Ouyang Feng, but then he really died.

I wasn't interested in his innate skills, but at that time, there was also the Nine Yin Manual in Zhongnan Mountain. This Yin-attribute skill would be of great use to me in completing my sect's divine skills, so I immediately went to Zhongnan Mountain, thinking that there would be no master there who could stop me.

To my surprise, I was stopped by an old Taoist priest as soon as I went up the mountain. The old Taoist priest should have been a contemporary of me, but I had never heard of him before.

The old Taoist's martial arts skills were unfathomable. I exchanged less than a hundred blows with him before realizing I was outmatched and had to leave. From then on, I could no longer harbor any designs on the Quanzhen Sect.

Upon hearing this, Wu Chengyu was filled with mixed emotions, and he finally had a general assessment of the old monster's abilities.

In the world of The Legend of the Condor Heroes, the martial arts skills of ordinary martial artists vary greatly. Whether they are second-rate, third-rate, or even eighteenth-rate, it is actually difficult to define them. The difference is not that great; you can only know by fighting them.

Among them, the Seven Heroes of Jiangnan are considered to be somewhere between second- and third-rate. Later figures such as the Thousand-Handed Butcher, the Ginseng Immortal, the Spiritual Wisdom Master, the Ghost Gate Dragon King, or Hao Datong and Sun Bu'er are considered to be top-tier second-rate.

Qu Lingfeng, Qiu Chuji, Wang Chuyi, Ma Yu, Chen Xuanfeng, and Mei Chaofeng are considered first-rate masters. Even first-rate masters would fight for a while against top-tier second-rate masters, and neither would have an overwhelming advantage. Therefore, it is inappropriate to distinguish them as first-rate or second-rate.

Beyond that, a precipitous gap appears. Wu Chengyu refers to these as top masters, such as Qiu Qianren, Huogong Toutuo, and Zhou Botong before he cultivated the Nine Yin Manual. These people have enough skill to crush ordinary first-rate masters, but they have not reached the subtle realm and are always just one step behind.

Above them are the top masters, possessing divine skills, profound power, and a subtle level of understanding, such as the Eastern Heretic and Western Poison, the Southern Emperor and the Northern Beggar, and Guihua, who was tricked to death by Wu Chengyu after being given a drug. These people are the pinnacle of the martial arts world.

Wu Chengyu's current level is equivalent to above the top-tier masters, half a step into the pinnacle. However, with his pinnacle-level lightness skill and various unique techniques, he can protect himself even when facing a pinnacle master. But what about above the pinnacle? Don't forget Wang Chongyang, who single-handedly subdued the other four masters. They are clearly not in the same realm. Therefore, according to the settings of online novels that Wu Chengyu read later, top-tier masters are at the Great Acquired Realm, pinnacle masters are at the Great Perfection of the Acquired Realm, and above that is the Innate Realm.

Those below the top masters, whether first-rate, second-rate, or third-rate, can all be considered to have acquired skills; it doesn't matter who is better or worse.

This world must have its limitations; one's innate potential is the limit.

During the month he served his grandmaster Zhenxiang in Zhongnan Mountain, he did receive some guidance, though not in detail. Zhenxiang simply told him what the limit of martial arts in this world was, and that Zhenxiang had probably reached the point where he could not progress any further.

The old monster in front of them was evenly matched with Wang Chongyang, who had health problems, but they were still at the same level. Therefore, both the old monster and Wang Chongyang were innate.

The old monster encountered the even more monstrous Zhenxiang. He was suppressed but still considered to be at the same level. Zhenxiang was considered to have gone further in the innate realm.

Wu Chengyu didn't know if there were other hidden masters in this world. At least Bai Yuchan, whom he had met before, the founder of the Southern School of Taoism, who was recorded in history as having become an immortal, seemed to him to be no less capable than Zhen Xiang.

Wu Chengyu suddenly felt a heavy responsibility. He had been quite proud of himself for reaching his current level at such a young age, looking down on all the masters in the world. But who would have thought that a Xiantian master was lying in front of him at this moment?

Meanwhile, while the old monster lamented why Wang Chongyang's version of the Innate Skill was so powerful despite its flaws, Wu Chengyu wouldn't tell her that Wang Chongyang's Innate Skill was ultimately derived from the fundamental skill of the Quanxing Sect. Its starting point was too high, and even with its flaws, it wouldn't be inferior to the Northern Darkness Divine Skill.

At the same time, he also realized that Wu Chengyu's innate skill also came from the Quanxing fundamental skill, and it did not have the same defects as Wang Chongyang.

This point was acknowledged by Zhen Xiang, so since Wang Chongyang's Innate Skill was not afraid of the old monster's Northern Darkness Divine Skill, he himself should not be afraid either.

Next, Wu Chengyu needs to think carefully about how to resist the Northern Darkness Divine Art's ability to absorb internal energy, only in this way can he remain invincible.

Furthermore, the old monster's words revealed some information: this guy was trying to restore the Free and Unfettered Sect's cultivation method, which was probably the Free and Unfettered Wind Control technique that had been broken down into the Northern Darkness Divine Art, the Lesser Formless Art, and the Supreme Pure Yang Art. Logically speaking, this technique should be considered the number one divine art of the metal element, and the true cultivation method.

It's just unknown how far this old monster has progressed, and whether there's any real possibility of success. If she succeeds, since it's a cultivation technique, perhaps the concepts of innate and acquired will no longer matter, and then no one will be her match.

The old monster's words not only stirred up a myriad of thoughts in Wu Chengyu, but also stirred the hearts of Princess Yuzhu and Wu Qianyu.

“Master, it seems that my senior sister and I need to intensify our training.”

"You two are exceptionally talented and possess these divine skills; you will surely catch up with your master in the future."

However, Qianyu, your mental cultivation is still inferior to your senior sister's. You are too impetuous and too proud. Now, Yuzhu's skill level is already above yours.

Progress naturally deserves a reward. Since we're going to plant the Life-and-Death Talisman on this person today, I might as well demonstrate its usage to Yuzhu right here and pass this method on to you. Qianyu, your Limitless Profound Yin Skill is no less than the Supreme Pure Yang Skill; you still need to work hard.”

Wu Chengyu was wondering where the Wuji Xuanyin Gong had come from when he saw the old monster grab him again, while at the same time he grabbed a ball of water from the teacup next to him with his other hand, which immediately froze into ice.

Wu Chengyu knew that the main course of the day was finally about to be served. This was also the biggest crisis he had encountered after mastering his martial arts: a hundred-year-old monster who cultivated the Beiming Divine Art had captured him and planted a life-and-death talisman on him.

For a moment, he had the urge to run away, but he forcibly suppressed it and dispelled the fear in his heart. This was a direct confrontation between the Quanxing Xiantian Gong and the Xiaoyao Sect's techniques. Wu Chengyu had a feeling that if he could overcome this crisis, his understanding of Taoist divine skills would definitely reach new heights.

The old monster paid no attention to Wu Chengyu's current state of mind, simply using Wu Chengyu as a model to teach Princess Yuzhu. The ice block in her hand was crushed, and she picked up a piece at random, saying to Yuzhu at the same time.

"The Life and Death Talisman is the secret of the Tianshan Six Yang Palms, which consists of twelve techniques, each corresponding to one of the twelve meridians of the human body."

The Tianshan Six Yang Palm is known for its masculine power, yet it can also comprehend the workings of heaven and earth, transforming yang into yin. Just like how I condense water into ice, and then, using my technique, integrate the internal energy of the Six Yang Palm into the ice before injecting it into the human body.

For example, this move targets the Lung Meridian of Hand-Taiyin. The ice melts instantly upon entering the body, and the internal energy also attaches to the Lung Meridian of Hand-Taiyin. Unless the energy is released, the victim cannot find its source and can never expel it.

As soon as she finished speaking, the ice in her hand disappeared and entered Wu Chengyu's body. Wu Chengyu only felt a coolness inside her body, which was located on the Taiyin Lung Meridian of Hand, and then the coolness disappeared without a trace.

(End of this chapter)