I Can Replicate Martial Arts

The bald Shaolin monk’s eyelid twitched. He put his palms together and said, "This Grand Monk is not in a position to comment on the affairs of other sects, but the matter is indeed as you say, benefactor. This monk can, however, serve as a witness."

"Your word is all I need."

After speaking, Zhao Rui looked at Yu Zhengnan and said, "Daoist Yu, if there’s nothing else, I’ll be going now."

"Distinguished masters, you’re all discussing important matters. A small fry like me won’t get involved. I’ll be taking my leave now."

With that, he cupped his fist to the crowd and strode back into the Qingcheng Daoist Temple.

Everyone stared at each other. ’This guy has no self-awareness as a master. He’s already reached such a level of strength.’

’Who would dare call you a small fry?’

"Daoist Yu, this Elder from your esteemed sect... he doesn’t look very old."

A veteran from the Diancang Sect asked curiously.

"Well, he should be under nineteen, I believe!"

Yu Zhengnan said after a moment’s hesitation.

"HISS!"

"Truly a young prodigy! This is a blessing for Qingcheng, and also a blessing for the Martial Arts. Amitabha Buddha."

A slight smile appeared on the Grand Monk of Shaolin’s face as he put his palms together and spoke.

"Master, you flatter me. Everyone, the mountain wind is crisp and cold. Please, follow me into the temple to talk."

Daoist Yu smoothly changed the subject and led everyone back through the sect’s gates.

...

「On a hazy night at Emei Mountain!」

「Inside a certain thatched hut!」

Bai Xuening hung her head, standing respectfully before Nun Lejing, not daring to look her in the eye.

"Though you are a disciple from the Mortal World, once you enter my Mount Emei, you must abide by my Mount Emei’s rules and precepts. Did I not issue an order forbidding you from contacting this Zhao Rui?"

Nun Lejing’s sword-like brows shot up as she scolded her harshly.

"This disciple knows her mistake!"

Bai Xuening stammered.

Seeing her repentant look, Nun Lejing sighed and said, "Forget it. In the end, he did help you comprehend Sword Intent, which can be considered compensation for your previous escape."

"Starting tomorrow, you will enter the inner chamber of Sword Storage Peak, draw a Divine Sword, and borrow the power of the Martial Origin Stone to catch up to your senior sisters’ strength as quickly as possible..."

"This disciple obeys!"

Bai Xuening said joyfully. ’I can finally try to draw a Divine Sword!’

Within Sword Storage Peak on Emei Mountain, there were hundreds of various swords in storage, among which twelve could be called Divine Swords.

Every single Divine Sword was a peerless weapon, no weaker than the Qiushui Changtian Sword.

These twelve longswords required twelve masters who had grasped Sword Intent to draw them out through a resonance with their own Sword Intent.

But the process of drawing them was not a hundred percent successful.

Over so many years, aside from the Qiushui Changtian Sword, only a mere three other Divine Swords had emerged.

This was also why the Emei Sword Sect was willing to host the Martial Dao exchange conference, allowing students of the Martial Dao from all over the world to comprehend Sword Intent for free.

Sword Intent wasn’t what Mount Emei cared about most; the Divine Swords were the key.

Where did these Divine Swords come from?

The people of Mount Emei didn’t fully understand why they were so miraculous, but these Divine Swords were not unique.

Other sects, and even the Court, possessed similar wondrous items.

According to analysis by the Court’s research institutes, the materials of these items contained a structure similar to the quantum tunneling effect, allowing them to absorb mysterious True Qi, like Dark Energy, which would then adhere to the sword’s blade, resulting in astonishing power.

However, this had little to do with the Emei Sword Sect. That was a matter for scientists and Treasure Sword forging experts.

Seeing Bai Xuening withdraw, Nun Lejing lowered her gaze in silence. After a long while, she murmured, "Senior Brother, what exactly is happening over there?"

...

"Qingcheng Mountain connects to the lands Beyond the Mountains, moonlight scatters over the Five Cavern Heavens!

Can anyone tell me, that the number one under heaven isn’t me!"

Zhao Rui hummed a little tune, sitting slightly intoxicated on a cliffside rock on Laojun Platform.

He lacked neither food nor drink, had people to wait on him, and was even respected. When he was free, he could tour the mountains and rivers; when he was bored, he could delve into Martial Arts.

No one could control him.

’Compared to this, what kind of life was I living back on the Martial Arts Team?’

’Up top, there were the Court’s laws; below, there were the coach’s and school’s rules. And in between, there was no one to wait on me hand and foot.’

Zhao Rui really didn’t want to go back!

"Elder, Elder! There’s movement in Longevity Cave!"

Just then, a Daoist Child came panting up the mountain peak, shouting loudly at Zhao Rui.

Ever since Daoist Yu had come up with the title of honorary Elder, everyone on Qingcheng Mountain had absentmindedly started calling him that.

It was just a name, so Zhao Rui didn’t bother with it.

"Movement?"

Zhao Rui froze for a second, then shot to his feet and zipped down the mountain with a WHOOSH.

Reaching the Daoist Child, he casually grabbed him by the collar and carried him straight down the mountain.

"HUFF... the cave... HUFF... inside... HUFF... stones are falling out!"

The Daoist Child said indistinctly, his mouth full of rushing wind.

Before the Daoist Child could finish, Zhao Rui had already arrived at the entrance of Longevity Cave.

Zhao Rui had randomly come up with the name Longevity Cave. The cave had nothing to do with longevity; the main point was that it sounded cool and impressive.

If he had any less shame, he would have just called it the Eternal Verdant Cave.

"Elder!"

At the entrance, a disciple on guard duty bowed and saluted.

Zhao Rui grunted in acknowledgment and took a single step, his figure already inside the cave.

Inside, from the area that was like a mirror but not a mirror, intangible to the touch, and where Crystal Stones vanished on contact, a colorful, smoke-like Misty Qi was abruptly surging outward.

Upon meeting the air, this gas began to condense, turning into pieces of Crystal Stone that fell to the ground with a CLANGING sound.

Zhao Rui’s pupils shrank. He flicked out a Profound Yin Sword Pointing, his Finger Force wrapped in True Qi, and struck the Misty Qi. It was instantly devoured.

It didn’t stir the slightest ripple.

The Little Daoist Child didn’t dare make a sound, standing solemnly to the side with his eyes wide as saucers.

"Activate the Five Thunders Celestial Heart Technique! Quickly!"

Just then, Zhao Rui suddenly shouted.

The Little Daoist Child was startled but didn’t dare hesitate. He immediately circulated the Magical Power of his Five Thunders Celestial Heart Technique throughout his body.

Zhao Rui’s True Qi surged. He instantly used Cold Ice Palm, wrapping a portion of the Misty Qi in Ice Power and pushing it toward the Little Daoist Child.

"Absorb the Spiritual Qi, Guiding Essence to Truth!"

The Little Daoist Child didn’t dare hesitate, absorbing the Misty Qi—which seemed untainted by the air—through a gap in the Cold Ice True Qi.

"Such pure True Qi!"

The Little Daoist Child shuddered and began to absorb the qi as if starved, guiding it into his Dantian and Qi Sea.

After a while, the Little Daoist Child exhaled a breath of turbid air and opened his eyes.

"How is it?"

Zhao Rui asked.

"Elder, it’s amazing! It’s like a master was performing a Transmission on me. I feel like I could take on ten guys!"

"SMACK!"

"Ouch!"

The Little Daoist Child rubbed his head and chuckled foolishly.

Zhao Rui paid him no mind and leaped directly to the spot where the Misty Qi was gushing out.

He sat cross-legged and began to frantically absorb the qi.

Zhao Rui had already opened thirty-eight Acupoints; his absorption ability was immense.

But even so, he only managed to absorb less than a tenth of it.

Most of it still turned into Crystal Stones and fell into the Crystal Stone Cave.

Not daring to disturb him, the Little Daoist Child also sat cross-legged to refine the Misty Qi inside his body.

They sat like this for two hours, until the Misty Qi finally dissipated. Only then did Zhao Rui open his eyes, a complicated expression on his face as he stared at the spot where the qi had vanished.

’Is the True Qi over on that side all like this?’

’If so, just how powerful must the people over there be?’

’But those two Demons from Illusory Sound weren’t unimaginably monstrous.’

’And they cultivated normal Martial Arts, it’s just that their True Qi was a bit more profound and their Cultivation Techniques were more unique.’

Zhao Rui thought for a moment but couldn’t make heads or tails of it. He waved his palm, gathering the mountain-like pile of Crystal Stones by the edge of the pool.

Then he said to the Little Daoist Child, "Tomorrow morning, tell Daoist Yu that the rations for the Qingcheng Sword Sect have arrived."

The Little Daoist Child didn’t know what "rations" were, but he still obediently agreed.

"I’m going to sleep. You should head back too. Tomorrow morning, boil four eggs, get two flatbreads, and for porridge, I’ll have millet congee."

"Yes, Elder!"

The Little Daoist Child quickly agreed and left the cave dwelling, a joyful expression on his face.

After the Daoist Child left, Zhao Rui walked to a designated resting area in the cave dwelling, pulled out a blanket, and went to sleep.

’Sigh, the conditions here are still too poor. No shower, no toilet, and the cave is damp and cold...’

Zhao Rui mused.

’The cave dwelling isn’t as good as the mountain peak. I should find a spot by a mountain and a river to build a resort!’

...