Chapter 16 : Martial Dao Fifth Revolution
Chapter 16: Martial Dao Fifth Revolution!
Since Gu Yan broke through to Foundation Establishment, seven days had already passed.
Night, the third quarter of Zi hour.
Gu Yan’s figure moved slightly, a faint shadow blending into the darkness.
He lightly wrapped his body with spiritual power, concealing all sound and presence, heading toward the Pill Glow Peak Scripture Pavilion.
Gu Yan stopped beneath the shadow of an ancient pine eight hundred meters away from the pavilion.
His divine sense spread out, barely covering the entire Scripture Pavilion.
At the entrance of the first floor, two guarding disciples were forcing themselves to stay awake, whispering to each other.
By a window on the second floor, an elder with a steady and powerful aura sat with eyes closed, resting.
Gu Yan’s divine sense bypassed them all and went straight toward the rows of silent bookshelves.
The structure of this pavilion was similar to the one he had seen at Evergreen Market, also divided into three levels.
The first floor contained the most texts, mostly various alchemy formulas, which held little value to him now.
The second floor housed more profound martial arts manuals.
His attention, however, was mainly focused on the third floor.
There, the bookshelves were sparse, displaying only three ancient jade boxes.
His divine sense penetrated them, and their contents reflected into his mind:
One was 《Detailed Record of Southern Li Hundred Herbs》, recording numerous rare flowers and plants.
The second was 《Complete Explanation of Taiyi Basic Pills》, with a comprehensive system from beginner to advanced.
The third jade box contained a manual titled 《Taiyi Green Wood Longevity Technique》.
Gu Yan’s divine sense swept over it, and his heart stirred slightly.
The path described in this technique could actually lead directly to the Fifth Revolution!
With a turn of thought, he had already imprinted the contents of all three texts into his mind from beginning to end.
Afterward, he followed the same method.
Under the cover of night, his figure successively moved toward Sword-Resting Peak and Cloud-Mist Peak.
In both cases, he stopped far from the Scripture Pavilions, using his divine sense to probe from afar.
On the third floor of the Sword-Resting Peak Scripture Pavilion, there was only a single dark iron volume. Its name was extremely simple: 《One-Line Sky》.
Gu Yan’s divine sense swept over it. What this volume described was neither complicated sword techniques nor a complete sword art. From beginning to end, it spoke only of one move—cultivating a single sword strike.
Mm, not bad. This kind of simple technique saved him trouble.
The divine sense imprint was completed in an instant.
Arriving at Cloud-Mist Peak, the third floor of the Scripture Pavilion here was much more abundant, with five manuals arranged side by side.
Gu Yan’s divine sense swept across them. The first four were all Fifth Revolution techniques.
The final one, however, was the most core inheritance of the Taiyi Dao Sect—《Taiyi Dao Virtue Scripture》, the complete volume!
From the First Revolution to the Sixth Revolution!
This was the highest clearly recorded limit among the martial dao techniques he had seen in this world so far.
After memorizing all the techniques, Gu Yan did not linger and quietly returned to his courtyard.
Sitting cross-legged on his couch, he did not rush to read the two herbal and alchemy records, nor did he immediately comprehend the sword technique.
Instead, he compared the newly obtained Fifth Revolution techniques with the essence of 《Taiyi Dao Virtue Scripture · Complete Volume》, carefully deducing and analyzing them.
Gradually, Gu Yan’s understanding of the martial dao path in this world became increasingly clear.
The Third Revolution of martial dao still involved opening acupoints within the body.
Nine acupoints for the First Revolution, twenty-seven for the Second, and the Third required opening eighty-one, filling them with internal force.
The Fourth Revolution went further, requiring the connection of two hundred forty-three acupoints.
By the Fifth Revolution, all three hundred sixty-five primary acupoints throughout the body had to be fully opened.
Martial practitioners at this level possessed circulating internal force that cycled endlessly, almost inexhaustible.
What truly made his gaze sharpen slightly was the description of the Sixth Revolution.
At this stage, the gaseous internal force filling the three hundred sixty-five acupoints had to be tempered repeatedly and continuously condensed until it transformed into liquid true essence.
Once accomplished, stepping into the Sixth Revolution allowed one to be honored as a Martial Immortal, with a lifespan extended to five hundred years!
True essence not only brought a qualitative leap in endurance but also allowed preliminary control over external objects and flight through the air.
Its combat power was worlds apart from the Fifth Revolution.
“Martial Immortal…” Gu Yan murmured inwardly.
The slight disdain he once held toward the martial dao of this world had now mostly dissipated.
The Sixth Revolution of martial dao indeed had its own unique strengths and could not be underestimated.
“I wonder, with my current early-stage Foundation Establishment cultivation, how would I compare to a newly advanced Martial Immortal of the Sixth Revolution?”
After pondering for a long time, Gu Yan decided to continue cultivating both immortal and martial paths together.
Though this path carried risks—such as using spiritual power to fill martial acupoints potentially causing unknown changes during future tribulation crossings—
its benefits were also extremely obvious.
The most direct advantage was the terrifying endurance far exceeding that of Foundation Establishment cultivators of the same level, as well as his astonishing divine sense range, now reaching nine hundred meters!
In those cultivation novels he had read in his previous life, ordinary early-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators having five hundred meters of divine sense was already considered good…
Not to mention the spiritual power stored in his twenty-seven acupoints, making him feel as though he had twenty-seven additional miniature dantians.
Such a tangible improvement would be a waste to abandon.
Most importantly, he had no immortal cultivation technique!
Risk and opportunity coexisted.
With his mind set, Gu Yan no longer hesitated.
He immediately followed the method of the 《Taiyi Dao Virtue Scripture》, circulating spiritual power and beginning to open subsequent acupoints.
Acupoints that would normally require years of bitter cultivation for martial practitioners to open were broken through effortlessly under the infusion of Gu Yan’s spiritual power and the guidance of his powerful divine sense.
In the blink of an eye, a day passed.
All three hundred sixty-five acupoints throughout Gu Yan’s body had been fully opened.
At this stage, corresponding to the martial dao of this world, it was the Fifth Revolution.
He could feel that, if he wished, he could begin at any time to refine the internal energy within each acupoint into spiritual power.
Then further compress and condense it, transforming it toward a liquid state.
Once successful, that would be… Martial Dao Sixth Revolution, the realm of Martial Immortal.
Only, what he would condense would be liquid spiritual power—perhaps called spiritual essence—rather than the true essence of martial practitioners.
“Hu.”
Letting out a long breath, Gu Yan was about to press forward and comprehend the volume 《One-Line Sky》 to enhance his offensive methods.
But at that moment, his divine sense stirred, sensing two people arriving outside the courtyard.
The two wore the standard robes of the Taiyi Dao Sect, but their cuffs and collars bore unique sword-shaped patterns, darker in color.
They were disciples of the Sword-Resting Peak Enforcement Hall.
Those who could enter this hall were mostly direct disciples of elders, considered elites among disciples.
Gu Yan felt slightly surprised.
Why would people from the Enforcement Hall come to him?
He usually kept to himself and had no interaction with them.
Could it be that his nighttime visit to the Scripture Pavilion had been exposed?
The thought arose but was quickly suppressed.
No. If that were the case, it would not be just two disciples coming.
The elders of all peaks would have already surrounded this courtyard completely.
His divine sense moved again, clearly seeing the visitors.
One man and one woman.
The man was tall and sturdy, with a resolute face.
The woman had delicate and refined features.
They stood outside the courtyard gate, looking at the wooden sign that read “In seclusion, do not disturb.”
Xu Gang frowned slightly.
As a disciple of the Enforcement Hall, he had seen many situations of seclusion, but this courtyard was excessively quiet, more like it had been empty for a long time.
At that moment, the delicate woman beside him, Xu Yue, tugged at his sleeve and pointed at the wooden sign, whispering:
“Brother, could it be that Junior Brother Gu… encountered a deviation in cultivation and quietly… you know…?”
“The sect records say he entered the inner sect four years ago, yet his cultivation is still only at the peak of the First Revolution.”
“With First Revolution cultivation, being in seclusion for more than half a year? That’s not normal.”
Xu Gang scolded in a low voice, “Yue’er, don’t speak nonsense! Among fellow disciples, how can you curse someone like that?”
“Perhaps Junior Brother Gu is at a critical moment of breaking through to the Second Revolution. Taking more time is quite normal.”
Hearing this exchange, Gu Yan suddenly understood.
Previously, to break through to Foundation Establishment, he had remained in seclusion for half a year.
After succeeding, he spent another seven days stabilizing his realm.
Then came the night exploration of the Scripture Pavilion, followed by days of comprehending techniques and breaking through acupoints…
Calculating it carefully, he indeed had not appeared in public areas of the sect for quite a long time.
Having long been absent from the Teaching Hall’s major lectures, it was reasonable for the sect to send people to check on him.
Gu Yan smiled helplessly and shook his head.
Then, he restrained his aura to the level of a Second Revolution martial artist, stood up, walked slowly into the courtyard, and opened the gate.
As the door opened, his expression was calm as he cupped his hands in greeting, “Gu Yan greets Senior Brother and Senior Sister.”
Xu Yue’s gaze fell on Gu Yan, and she was slightly stunned.
The man before her had a tall and upright figure, with a handsome face. Yet what stood out most was his temperament.
He was not sharp like ordinary martial artists, nor did he possess the restlessness common among young disciples.
Standing there quietly, his expression calm, he gave off a sense of serenity and clarity, like a deep pool beneath the moonlight.
Her ears warmed slightly, and she quickly looked away.
Xu Gang noticed his sister’s reaction and found it amusing. He coughed lightly and took over the conversation:
“Junior Brother Gu is too polite.”
“I am Xu Gang, and this is my younger sister Xu Yue. We both belong to the Sword-Resting Peak Enforcement Hall.”
“This time, we were ordered by the sect to conduct inspections. Seeing that you had not attended the Teaching Hall for a long time, we feared something might have gone wrong with your cultivation, so we came to check.”
“Seeing that you have safely come out of seclusion and your aura is stable and improved, you must have broken through into the Second Revolution? Congratulations.”
Gu Yan smiled slightly and followed his words, “Senior Brother Xu has sharp insight.”
“During this seclusion, I gained a little and fortunately stepped into the Second Revolution.”
“I have troubled the sect and both of you to worry. I am ashamed.”
Xu Gang nodded, “It’s good that you’re fine. In three days, it will be the day of the major lecture. If your realm is already stable, you may wish to attend. You might gain something further.”
“Thank you for the reminder, Senior Brother. I will remember,” Gu Yan cupped his hands again.
After exchanging a few more polite words, Xu Gang left with Xu Yue, who was still somewhat distracted.
Gu Yan stood at the door, watching their figures disappear around the mountain path, his expression calm.
“Major lecture…”
He shook his head lightly.
What the elders taught in the Teaching Hall was nothing more than martial dao fundamentals, cultivation knowledge, and common difficulties in low-revolution techniques.
He had already filled these gaps in his first year after entering the inner sect through attending lectures and reading the vast collection of books at Evergreen Market.
Going again would be a pure waste of time.
Gu Yan understood that the sect’s routine inspection was merely to confirm he had not died in cultivation or gone mad from deviation.
As long as he continued cultivating under the pretext of seclusion, the sect would not force him to attend the major lectures.
What mattered most now was to turn what he had learned into real methods and foundation.
Closing the door, Gu Yan walked to the window and looked out at the overlapping mountain ranges, his thoughts drifting slightly.
He had entered the inner sect of the Taiyi Dao Sect at twenty-two. Now he was twenty-four.
Without realizing it, two years had passed.
During these two years, he had spent most of his time cultivating alone, reading, and contemplating, with little interaction with fellow disciples.
There was only one person he kept in mind—the old Chen from the outer sect’s C-Grade Herbal Garden.
Old Chen had been an old acquaintance of his parents in this life and had taken care of him greatly in earlier years.
Now that he had succeeded in immortal Foundation Establishment and reached the Fifth Revolution in martial dao—
while pursuing greater strength was important, some matters could not be neglected.
Gu Yan’s gaze fell upon the two alchemy texts recorded in his sea of consciousness:
《Detailed Record of Southern Li Hundred Herbs》 and 《Complete Explanation of Taiyi Basic Pills》.
He wanted to refine pills—but not ones to improve his own cultivation.
Instead, he wanted gentle pills that could extend lifespan and nourish vitality and blood.
Old Chen was aged, with declining vitality. Ordinary potent medicines were no longer suitable; he required gentle nourishment and balance.
“Should I purchase a pill furnace and gather herbs to refine them myself, or spend sect contribution points to rent an alchemy chamber at Pill Glow Peak?”
Gu Yan pondered.
Doing it himself would be discreet and fully under his control, but the initial investment would be significant.
Using the alchemy hall would be convenient, but it might expose his extraordinary abilities, and…
He had been in seclusion for so long and had no income of sect contribution points.
Before his last seclusion, he had prepaid half a year’s rent. Calculating the time, in two more months, he would need to renew it.