pappabearbooks Chapter 463 - 428: Reflection Cliff, True Man He, Sword Qi Soaring to the Sky!
Chapter 463 - 428: Reflection Cliff, True Man He, Sword Qi Soaring to the Sky!
As he came to his senses, it was already past seven in the morning, and sunlight pierced through the clouds.Many students from Huashan Martial Arts University were leaving the school, looking for a dangerous place to practice swordsmanship and martial arts.
Huashan Martial Arts University naturally adhered to the "old tradition" of the Huashan sect.
Besides practicing Qi Blood for fist and foot techniques, most focused on swordsmanship.
Huashan Swordsmanship emphasizes "sword momentum towering," requiring the aid of dangerous landscapes to cultivate a sword heart and fearless courage.
It does not establish branch schools across various locations because "the environment does not meet standards" elsewhere, unable to produce the essence of its martial arts system.
And one should know, the most perilous mountains in Great Chu lie beneath their feet.
...
The crowd saw a robust figure with an "immortal air" about him, Meng Chuan, at the edge of the cliff.
They marveled one after another:
"Who is this brother from the dao in the school, with a strong body yet an ethereal demeanor?"
"I guess he’s a new teacher at the school? Just look at those arms, terrifying! He must be a powerful martial artist dedicated to dual cultivation of life and spirit."
In the Qi Blood Martial Arts Era, for the dao to cultivate [spirit], the cultivation method of Qi needs to support it, thus enhancing spirit, disposition, and consciousness.
And to cultivate [life], it must be achieved through horizontal training.
The difficulty in practicing Hard Skills need not be elaborated, as it tests talent and perseverance.
Therefore, within the dao sects, few can achieve dual cultivation of life and spirit.
After all, one ultimately has to follow the development of the Qi Blood Martial Arts Era, focusing on the cultivation of Qi Blood.
Only those with exceptionally high talent have the time to cultivate life and spirit.
In today’s Huashan Martial Arts University, martial artists who can practice Qi Blood and also focus on both [life and spirit] are extremely rare.
When Meng Chuan turned around, the crowd finally showed an expression of realization.
"So it was True Inheritance Meng from Northern United University, no wonder."
"Why has True Inheritance Meng come to our Huashan?"
But the crowd did not expect that Meng Chuan was not only extremely strong in the path of [life], that is, in horizontal training.
One could see from the "ethereal air" beside him that he was also quite accomplished in cultivating [spirit].
In the crowd, a person with significant prestige dispersed them.
Seeing Meng Chuan walking under the plaque of "Sword Qi Through the Ages," he cupped his hands and greeted:
"I am [Crane Cloud Hand, Wang Chong], the head disciple of the Qi Sect Academy of Huashan Martial Arts University, and I have met the great one Meng."
"Hello."
Meng Chuan nodded his head slightly.
This person’s aura was revealed, likely a newly promoted martial artist who hadn’t broken through for long.
However, the fact that he was the "head disciple," considering Huashan Martial Arts University’s faculty strength, it was not surprising.
If Xu Qingfeng, that kid, came here to study, he might also be respected and esteemed among the student body...
"Qi Sect Academy... Brother Wang, does Huashan still have a division between sword and qi sects?"
"...It’s not like that, just some distinctions in martial arts practice, but no barriers between students."
Meng Chuan nodded in understanding.
It’s just like a marital relationship, separated but not estranged...
Wang Chong led him into the gate of Huashan Martial Arts University, curiously asking:
"Senior Brother Meng, when did you climb the mountain?"
"Haha, I climbed Huashan last night, it was truly a spectacular and dangerous landscape. Thinking about it now, I’m a bit scared."
"It’s nothing, for a master like Senior Brother Meng, it’s just a small hill."
Despite his words, Wang Chong still showed a satisfied expression on his face.
He then asked:
"Senior Brother Meng, are you here to see the three treasured places of our Huashan Martial Arts University?"
Meng Chuan jokingly said:
"Yes, I’m mainly here to see if I can, like Senior Linghu of the Huashan sect, comprehend the [Dugu Nine Swords] at the Reflection Cliff."
Wang Chong also laughed:
"Then Senior Brother Meng might be disappointed, Ancestor Feng Qingyang has long since left the cave."
...
Wang Chong, following his teacher’s order, took Meng Chuan for a leisurely stroll around the campus.
Huashan is much taller than Lishan Mountain, and the natural aura in the air is also denser by a fraction.
Meng Chuan was so engrossed in the walk that he was reluctant to leave, thinking that practicing the Qi Observation Skill here might advance far faster than before.
Coming back to his senses, he heard Wang Chong beside him say:
"Senior brother, across this place lies the Reflection Cliff. I’ll wait here for you, and then take you to see the other two treasured places."
"Thank you, I really appreciate your effort today, thanks a lot."
Meng Chuan cupped his hands in thanks, then looked towards the cliff with three faces and a side wall, with a cave opened in the mountain.
The morning mist was somewhat thick, making the cave entrance hard to see clearly.
He could only see, above a blackened cave entrance, the three large characters "He’s Ancestor Cave" were engraved.
This is the location of Huashan’s [Reflection Cliff].
"Indeed, it does resemble the places in storybooks where you might find martial art manuals after falling in..."
Meng Chuan muttered to himself, no longer thinking about it.
Then he leaped into the air, tapping the void twice under his feet, and landed right on the edge of the mist-enshrouded cliff.
In the distance, Wang Chong marveled, not expecting that besides having mastered Qi Blood and life and spirit,
his body technique was also so mystical, truly an all-around martial arts talent, knowing everything.
Meng Chuan stood at the edge of the cliff, observing the surroundings, finding nothing astonishing.
However, gazing into the distance, he could see peaks like swords piercing the sky, with the sea of clouds gathering and dispersing at his feet.
There was no one around, only the shadows cast by the rock walls and the sound of the wind accompanying him.
"Indeed, this is a great place for self-reflection..."
Little wonder it was the reflection spot for Huashan sect during the Ancient Martial Era, where disciples were sent for introspection...
Touching and exploring along the rock wall, not to mention Dugu Nine Swords, there wasn’t even a hint of any writing or marks.
"Indeed, just like the exaggerated rumors about Tao and Buddhist paths, this too is a story fabricated to highlight the mystique of the Huashan sect..."
Meng Chuan shook his head, not having held any hope from the beginning.
In the He Ancestor Cave.
He lifted the half-covered vine curtain and stepped inside, with only a small amount of light pouring in.
Though it was somewhat dim, with his eyesight, he could clearly see the full view of the cave.
The cave was about a zhang square, perhaps to preserve its original appearance.
Following the Huashan Sect’s conversion into the Martial Arts University, this place hasn’t changed much.
The first sight he saw was a clay sculpture missing its left ear.
The sculpture was dressed in a brand new vermilion Taoist robe, which should be periodically replaced by Huashan Martial Arts University.
Though the face was slightly blurred, Meng Chuan still recognized it.
This clay sculpture was the statue of Huashan’s "True Man He".
True Man He, originally named He Zhizhen.
He wasn’t the founder of the Huashan Sect, but he was the first recorded Martial Arts Grandmaster of the sect to reach the realm of "True Man".
True Man He once built a long plank road on the sheer cliffs, specifically for comprehending the two paths of Sword Qi.
Ultimately, he merged the Daoist Qi refining technique with Huashan Swordsmanship, creating the technique of Sword Qi Unification, thus achieving Three Flowers Gathering at the Top to become a grandmaster.
The He Ancestor Cave was established by the descendants of Huashan to commemorate his great achievements.
The clay sculpture’s creator was unknown, although it was missing an ear, Meng Chuan scrutinized it carefully.
Vividly lifelike, it subtly possessed the aura of a Sword Dao Grandmaster, awe-inspiring to behold.
He turned to look at the cave wall, which differed from the cliff outside.
Upon careful observation, someone had used finger strength to carve a bamboo grove.
Despite the passage of time, it remained vigorous and powerful, with clear veins.
Meng Chuan could also write on stone walls.
But to leave a mark for a thousand years, it’s likely not achievable by strength alone.
Within it, there must be a "mysterious power" hidden.
Thinking of this, Meng Chuan’s eyes brightened:
"This is the enduring manifestation of Martial Arts will, engraved in the text..."
Just like the states of shape, rhyme, and spirit in fist skills.
If one obtains its rhyme and integrates it into moves, true meaning naturally flows between fists and feet.
When portrayed on paper or in books, they leave traces of one’s understanding of martial arts.
It is called the original manuscript containing the [True Essence of Martial Path].
And in front of him, the bamboo shadow engraved on the wall.
Though lacking a cultivation technique carrier, it still retains rhyme.
[Rhyme] embedded in martial arts aids Martial Arts practitioners in grasping and mastering the essence;
And as it is now, etched on the rock wall, it also helps later generations to introspect and comprehend.
What one can obtain, entirely depends on one’s comprehension.
If one can grasp even a bit, it could be greatly beneficial.
Meng Chuan delicately traced the bamboo grove and in it found a line of hidden small characters:
[The bamboo shadow sweeps the steps, but leaves no dust, the moon disk crosses the marsh, without stirring the water.]
"What does it mean?"
After a brainstorm, Meng Chuan couldn’t fathom it.
Unable to comprehend this phrase, he couldn’t grasp the True Essence of Martial Path left here.
"Dust does not move... water leaves no trace, is it talking about the state of mind, or something else?"
He stared at the rock wall, unaware of a grandmaster coming by sword from afar.
This grandmaster was shrouded in Sword Qi, landing inside the He Ancestor Cave, startling Meng Chuan into turning around.
He sheathed his treasure sword at his waist’s storage and smiled:
"I am Yu Chenghong, Huashan’s vice principal, young friend, are you perceiving the true essence of He Ancestor?"
Meng Chuan immediately clasped his hands in salute:
"Junior Meng Chuan, greets Grandmaster Yu. Indeed, I am perceiving, but unable to find the key."
He was Huashan Martial Arts University’s top swordsmanship expert, Martial Arts Grandmaster [Sword Qi Soaring to the Sky · Yu Chenghong].
Yu Chenghong nodded and said:
"This place is where Huashan disciples, upon breaking through in Martial Arts Family, come to attempt enlightenment.
Unlike the peak of Huashan and Jade Maiden Peak, this is a true place of Enlightenment containing the True Essence of Martial Path.
The bamboo shadow and the line of small characters on the wall embody the lifetime [Dao] of He Ancestor.
Though the bamboo sways, it does not sweep away dust on the steps, just like the exterior disturbances in Martial Arts cultivation cannot shake one’s true heart.
The moon disk reflects at the bottom of the pool but does not stir water patterns, akin to the ultimate realm where Power is restrained and unnoticed."
After Yu Chenghong finished speaking, he fell silent.
These insights are the true essence content known to all Huashan students upon entry.
But Meng Chuan was different; he was not a Huashan disciple and didn’t know, naturally unable to achieve "enlightenment."
After pointing out, the rest depended on him to comprehend.
Seeing Meng Chuan turn again to stare at the rock wall.
Yu Chenghong could not help but have some expectations in his heart, whether this exceptionally famous Martial Arts genius could gain enlightenment:
"Of Huashan students who can perceive the true essence, not even one in a hundred succeeds.
If this son speaks so mysteriously, but cannot perceive anything, it would be laughable..."
In the end, he was "disappointed."
Not long after, Meng Chuan suddenly closed his eyes, and the True Qi emanating from his body spread like ripples.
Vast and mightful, rolling like waves.
Meng Chuan achieved enlightenment.
The true essence left by True Man He is indeed the Huashan Sword Qi’s technique of "not adhering to a form and leaving no trace" rhyme realm.
What does it mean?
In the midst of enlightenment, he understood:
The ultimate Martial Path is to integrate all phenomena of heaven and earth into the lift and fall of one’s hand.
Plucking flowers as darts and breaking branches as swords are the most superficial application.