The world of martial arts, the immortal swordsman in the mortal realm.

Chapter 105, 120: A Martial Arts Fanatic's Heart, A Happy Ending [Seeking Monthly Tickets!]

Small phaseless power?

This young man actually recognized the Lesser Formless Skill!
Kumārajīva was startled, and his expression changed slightly.

He possesses an incredibly broad range of martial arts skills, and can fully utilize any style or school of martial arts, even surpassing the original in power, all thanks to his ability to simulate and activate the "Minor Formless Skill".

However, the Lesser Formless Skill leaves no trace and cannot be found. Those who have not learned this skill cannot recognize it at all.

This Mr. Lu is a practitioner of the Lesser Formless Skill, which he obviously hasn't learned. So how did he figure it out?
Just as they were wondering what was going on, they heard Lu Chen say:
"What does the King of Light think of exchanging the Lesser Formless Skill for the Six Meridians Divine Sword?"

Upon hearing this, Kumārajīva forgot to ponder why the "Small Formless Skill" had revealed its "form" and began to weigh whether this deal was worthwhile.

Logically, it's definitely not worth it.

After all, the Lesser Formless Skill is a "skill," while the Six Meridians Divine Sword is merely a "technique."

What kind of fundamental techniques are used, and how are they applied in combination?
The problem is that while the Six Meridian Divine Sword is the number one sword qi technique in the world, and there are other techniques on par with the Lesser Formless Skill, there is absolutely no sword qi technique in the world that can rival the Six Meridian Divine Sword.

Kumārajīva really wanted to learn the Six Meridians Divine Sword.

For the sake of the Six Meridians Divine Sword, he did all sorts of things that disregarded his status and reputation, such as bribing with benefits, threatening with force, taking hostages, and bullying the weak... Even so, he ended up with nothing and ruined his reputation as the Great Wheel King.

Now that the Six Meridians Divine Sword is within reach, this young man is willing to trade it...

If he refused the deal, Kumārajīva felt that he would probably never sleep for the rest of his life, filled with regret and remorse every night.

With this thought in mind, Kumārajīva gritted his teeth and said:

“Exchange! Since Benefactor Lu wants the Lesser Formless Skill, then this humble monk will exchange it for Benefactor Lu’s Six Meridians Divine Sword! However, Benefactor Lu also needs to give this humble monk some benefits, after all, since Benefactor Lu has directly asked for the Lesser Formless Skill, he must also know the mysteries of this skill.”

The Lesser Formless Skill is not only able to simulate all martial arts techniques in the world, but it also has the miraculous effect of maintaining eternal youth.

Since this Benefactor Lu has a beautiful wife who is as lovely as a celestial being, the significance of the Lesser Formless Skill to him is more than just a divine martial art.

Lu Chen smiled:

"What kind of kung fu does the King of Light want?"

Kumārajīva thought for a moment and said:
"The finger-flicking skill you just displayed, the palm force that received my Prajna Palm, and the claw technique you used later in the fight..."

Lu Chen said, "The finger-flicking skill cannot be exchanged; it is my wife's family's secret technique, not mine. The palm and claw techniques are acceptable."

The palm is the Heart-Shattering Palm, and the claw is the Nine Yin Divine Claw.

Although these two skills are powerful, they are still far inferior to ultimate techniques such as the Six Meridians Divine Sword and the Flaming Blade. Kumārajīva's desire for them is nothing more than a collection obsession.

Kumārajīva didn't haggle any further and readily said:
"It's a deal! How about we each copy the secret manual now?"

Lu Chen nodded and said:

"it is good."

Kumozhi's face lit up with joy, and he couldn't wait to head towards the small building where he had just hidden. There were ready-made writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones there, which was perfect for copying the secret manual.

Lu Chen and Huang Rong followed them into the small building. They each took some writing brushes and ink, and then each took a room and began copying.

When Lu Chen was drawing the Six Meridians Divine Sword manual, Huang Rong whispered to him:

"Could that Great Wheel King have tampered with the manual? If he manipulates the key points, like changing right to left, up to down, left to right... wouldn't we be in deep trouble?"

Reverse the practice of the Lesser Formless Skill?

Lu Chen barely managed to suppress his laughter and said to Huang Rong:

"Kumārajīva is a martial arts fanatic, with the purest love for martial arts. He is not sincere about anything else, and even now, despite his mastery of Buddhism and his eloquence, he may not be truly devout in Buddhism. But when it comes to martial arts, he is truly sincere."

Hearing this, Huang Rong seemed to be deep in thought:
"So you mean that because of this sincerity, he wouldn't allow himself to tamper with the manual? That would be to tarnish his 'sincerity' towards martial arts?"

Lu Chen nodded:
“That’s right. To get martial arts skills that others are unwilling to give him, he can cheat, swindle, and steal, disregarding his reputation and using any means necessary. But if it’s a normal exchange, he might be more honest and reliable than the average person. Of course, one should always be wary of others. After you get the manual, I’ll practice it first. If there are no problems, then you can practice it.”

The Lesser Formless Skill is extremely inclusive and does not require dispersing one's skills to rebuild. Even with his foundation in Tibetan Buddhist internal energy, Kumārajīva could cultivate the Lesser Formless Skill. Lu Chen's "Sword Dao True Qi" could naturally be used to circulate the Lesser Formless Skill.

That being said, it seems that the reason why Kumārajīva went astray was not only because he practiced Tibetan Buddhist techniques and Taoist Xiaowuxiang Gong.

It seems he also practiced the "Yi Jin Jing" (Muscle/Tendon Changing Classic) and so many other Shaolin skills with inherent risks, which led to the conflict and ultimately caused him to go mad.

Although Lu Chen's fundamental cultivation method is the sword path, the one above the Immortal Slaughtering Sword Intent is also a Dao Ancestor.

Lu Chen could even comprehend the Yin-Yang principles that could upgrade and improve the "Yi Jin Duan Gu Pian" from the sword principles of "Sword Two". This shows that his fundamental skills not only do not conflict with Taoist techniques, but also complement each other.

Therefore, he can also practice the Lesser Formless Skill.

In the unlikely event of any problems, with his "super recovery" that ensures he won't suffer any hidden injuries no matter how hard he trains, he can simply lie down for a while and recover quickly before returning to his energetic self.

Lu Chen was not a skilled painter, and his Six Meridians Divine Sword Manual was only mediocre. Therefore, he could only provide detailed annotations on the methods of circulating true qi in the meridians and acupoints.

And these methods are precisely the most crucial.

The speed and rhythm of true qi circulation, and the subtle changes when it impacts acupoints, are so crucial that even the slightest error can lead to disastrous consequences. A slight mistake can not only prevent the formation of sword qi, but may also cause qi deviation, resulting in damage to the meridians and acupoints from the incomplete sword qi.

It was only thanks to Lu Chen's miraculous Zhuxian Sword Intent and his extraordinary comprehension of swordsmanship that he was able to figure out the method of sword energy circulation simply by relying on the feedback from the collision of qi. And in the entire history of the world, only he has been able to achieve this method of glimpsing the Six Meridians Divine Sword.

He exchanged the techniques sincerely and did not tamper with them; he recorded everything in detail.

While he was copying the sword manual, Huang Rong was also copying the "Heart-Shattering Palm" and "Nine Yin Divine Claw" techniques. She felt a little emotional, because these two fierce external skills, which were enough to make top-level masters run rampant in her time, were now only used as a bargaining chip in a transaction...

Is this still an era of "decline in martial arts"?

It's hard to imagine what a glorious scene the martial arts world must have been when martial arts flourished.

It took Lu Chen almost an hour to finish drawing the Six Meridians Divine Sword diagram, and he also wrote down all the details.

Huang Rong had already copied down the Heart-Shattering Palm and the Nine Yin Divine Claw techniques.

After checking the manual again to make sure nothing was missing, the two went out and saw that Kumārajīva was already sitting in the small hall drinking tea, with a thick stack of manuscripts on the tea table next to him.

"The two benefactors have finally come out."

Kumārajīva smiled slightly, put down his teacup, and picked up the stack of manuscript papers:
"The Lesser Formless Skill is here, and the Six Meridians Divine Sword?"

As he spoke, he glanced at the manuscript Lu Chen was holding, his eyes filled with undisguised eagerness.

The "Xiao Wu Xiang Gong" is a purely textual mental cultivation method, which he had already copied. However, even though he was eager to learn the "Six Meridians Divine Sword," he did not urge Lu Chen and Huang Rong, for fear of disturbing them and causing them to make a mistake while copying the manual.

Now that the two have come out, Kumārajīva naturally no longer needs to hold back and reveals his longing for the Six Meridians Divine Sword.

"The Six Meridians Divine Sword Manual is here."

Lu Chen picked up the stack of manuscript papers in his hand: "The manuals for Heart-Shattering Palm and Nine Yin Divine Claw are also included. However, I must remind the Great Wheel King that the Six Meridians Divine Sword is extremely difficult to cultivate and requires a very high level of skill. My ability to master the Six Meridians Divine Sword was purely due to chance, and others may not be able to do so as well."

Kumārajīva's skill was deeper than his, and he also had the foundation of the "Flame Blade" technique, which condensed sharp energy, but in Lu Chen's opinion, he was still far from mastering all six meridians.

Kumārajīva, however, did not take his advice seriously.

He thought to himself, "You and Duan Yu are so young, yet you've mastered the Six Meridians Divine Skill. With my skill and talent, how could I possibly fail?"

Kumārajīva possessed a photographic memory and extraordinary comprehension.

Throughout his martial arts training, he has mastered almost any martial art at a glance and learned it quickly; no martial art has ever been able to stump him.

Even ordinary masters struggle to grasp the basics of the Lesser Formless Skill by following the manual, yet he was able to master it. There was no reason for him to doubt his own aptitude.

Although he didn't think much of it, he still smiled and thanked Lu Chen for his kindness:
"Thank you for the reminder, Benefactor Lu. I would also like to remind you both that the Lesser Formless Skill is extremely profound. Although I have explained the secret manual in detail, it is still extremely difficult to even begin to learn it."

The more advanced the skill, the more selective one's aptitude.

As one of the three great divine skills of the Free and Unfettered Sect, the "Xiao Wuxiang Skill" is naturally not something that just anyone can master.

Or rather, it's normal to not be able to master it, or even to struggle to get started.

"Thank you for the reminder, Your Majesty. If we cannot master it, we can only blame ourselves for our lack of comprehension."

As he spoke, Lu Chen handed the manuscript paper in his hand to Kumārajīva.

"Very well, Benefactor Lu is straightforward!"

With a radiant face, Kumārajīva handed the stack of manuscripts in his hand to Huang Rong, then took the stack of manuscripts from Lu Chen. He walked to the window and, facing the bright sunlight streaming in, eagerly began to read them.

Upon first glance at the painting, Kumārajīva couldn't help but frown. He was a genius with a photographic memory and was proficient in calligraphy and painting. In his eyes, Lu Chen's painting was no different from a child's scribbles, and was simply unbearable to look at.

However, upon seeing the extremely detailed annotations, Kumārajīva's brows relaxed again. By comparing the annotations with the diagrams, all the details became clear.

With his martial arts skills, he could tell that Lu Chen was not being perfunctory at all.

The various details of transporting true qi and condensing sword qi not only correspond to each other, but also correspond one by one with the qi circulation diagram.

Such meticulous detail, with no contradictions or abrupt changes, makes it impossible for it to have been fabricated on the spot.

"Wonderful, wonderful! So true qi can be circulated in this way. Compared to my Flaming Blade, it is indeed much more subtle and refined... Benefactor Lu is truly a trustworthy person!"

Kumārajīva repeatedly praised him.

At this moment, Lu Chen and Huang Rong were also looking through the secret manual copied by Kumārajīva.

The calligraphy skills of the Great Wheel King are naturally first-rate; his small regular script is so skillful that it looks like it's been printed.

Moreover, as he said, he not only wrote down the mental techniques, but also made annotations, explaining in detail the verses and cryptic phrases that were unclear even when referring to the manual, saving Lu Chen and Huang Rong a lot of trouble.

Of course, Lu Chen and Huang Rong wouldn't blindly believe Kumārajīva's interpretations; they would also use their own knowledge of Taoist principles to analyze and understand them.

Furthermore, as Kumārajīva said, the Lesser Formless Skill is indeed extremely profound. Those who lack comprehension will find it as if they are reading a book written in heaven, completely bewildered, and unable to even grasp the basics of the skill.

Of course, this threshold of comprehension is not an obstacle for Lu Chen and Huang Rong.

After a cursory glance, the two concluded that, at least from a logical standpoint, Kumārajīva's copy and detailed explanation of the Lesser Formless Skill was perfectly valid. Lu Chen then nodded and smiled at Kumārajīva.
“I am deeply grateful for the detailed secrets written by the Great Wheel King.”

Kumārajīva chuckled:
"Each each other."

Having finally obtained the divine skill he had longed for for many years and repeatedly missed, Kumārajīva was eager to try cultivating it. He immediately clasped his hands in a respectful bow to Lu Chen:
"Please forgive me, esteemed benefactors, but I must go and study the Six Meridians Divine Sword."

Lu Chen returned the bow: "I dare not. Please make yourself at home, Your Highness."

After Kumārajīva quickly left.

Huang Rong asked Lu Chen with a smile:

"How many forms of the Six Meridians Divine Sword can the Great Wheel King master?"

Lu Chen pondered for a moment, then said:

"The Great Wheel King's skill is more profound than mine, but he doesn't have the same swordsmanship advantage as me. Therefore, mastering one style is no problem, and two styles should be possible as well. Three styles... I'm afraid that would be a bit of a stretch."

"That's still impressive. But if he tries to learn so much too quickly, it might cause problems in the future."

"Rong'er also knows that being greedy will cause problems?"

Huang Rong smiled mischievously:
"I saw that he practiced both Buddhist internal energy cultivation and Taoist mental techniques, and I felt that he would run into problems sooner or later. I would never follow his example. It is enough for me to follow the Taoist lineage for internal energy cultivation. As for the application of techniques, I would not practice the Shaolin Seventy-Two Arts, which are too closely related to Buddhist mental techniques."

Lu Chen nodded with a smile:

"That's how it should be."

Now that we've acquired the Lesser Formless Skill, shouldn't we find a place to practice it?

Huang Rong did not want to stay at Mantuo Manor.

It wasn't that she thought there were too many people lying dead in the village, but the thought of how many living people had been buried under those beautiful flowering trees on the island over the years made her feel uneasy.

Living for a long time in such a place that is outwardly beautiful but inwardly filled with corpses and eerie atmosphere, even a normal person would gradually become warped.

Lu Chen also disliked this place, and immediately nodded, saying:
"Let's go, let's cultivate elsewhere."

Although the Jade Cave of Langhuan contains many secret manuals, none of them contain top-tier martial arts techniques. Only a collector like Kumārajīva would be interested in them; Lu Chen and Huang Rong, on the other hand, are not particularly interested.

Rong'er's skills are already too much to handle; she really can't be greedy for more.

As for Lu Chen, he didn't even have time to delve into the five-level unarmed martial arts such as fists, palms, fingers, claws, and legs, so there was no need for him to study ordinary martial arts.

Furthermore, the martial arts skills of the Western Xia Underground Palace and the Lingjiu Palace on Misty Peak are even more numerous and formidable, especially the "Tianshan Plum Blossom Hand," which is sufficient to encompass all of Rong'er's skills and solve the problem of trying to learn too much at once. It would be better for her to further her studies in those two places in the future.

The two then left the small building and headed out of the manor. They did not encounter a single living person along the way, indicating that the ordinary maids of Mantuo Manor had long since escaped.

The male and female duo, who were known for killing but not burying, left Mantuo Manor and returned to the dock. They boarded the small sampan they had come in on, with Huang Rong punting and Lu Chen flipping through the Xiaowuxiang Gong manual. After studying it for a while, he began to try to circulate his true energy according to the introductory method.

After a brief attempt, he discovered that his previous guess was correct. His sword qi had no resistance to the Lesser Formless Skill, and he could move it very smoothly. He quickly gained a basic understanding of it.

Once the small boat reached the shore of Taihu Lake on the Suzhou side, Lu Chen was certain that the beginner's manual was flawless, and Rong'er could cultivate with peace of mind.

As for the subsequent techniques, just try them out gradually.

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(End of this chapter)