The Martial Artist

"The Hidden Tomb of Yun Cang"

Sheng Zhen had scored through Skyword, searching for a way to obtain Five Nirvana Pill. After an entire day and night of searching through all the leads, he was only left with one way.

He looked at the old manuscript in his hand, a document that Skyword had transformed into. It was the autobiography of Yun Cang, a Rank seven alchemist, the only one of such rank to appear in this realm in the last hundred thousand years.

He lived for a few dozen thousand years, and died peacefully at the end, a rare occurrence in the violent lives of cultivators. He left behind his legacy in his tomb, a myriad of pills, artifacts, and other cultivation resources that would make any cultivator salivate.

And among them is Five Nirvana Pill, and that too of Exquisite grade. The purity of the pill is beyond 90 percent and will be more than enough for Sheng Zhen to gain Five Elemental affinities.

'But it is not going to be easy'

The manuscript, which was written but the Celestial artificer who built the tomb, describes the entire tomb in detail, all the entrances, traps, and formations that were built into the tomb but that was not enough to get the treasures.

'The true function of the tomb is that of a trial ground. Beyond the traps and barriers lay the trial grounds, and even the Celestial Artifacer had no idea what it had.'

'And that is not the only problem, the moment the first person entered the trial grounds, the entire tomb will become visible to all, and that will attract cultivators and alchemists from all over the continent like moths to the flame.'

Sheng Zhen knew he was not yet strong enough to compete against old monsters, who could literally split mountains and vaporize oceans with a wave of a hand.

He sighed and put down Skyword. This idea was viable, the tomb was at the boundary of inner and outer regions of Indigo Beasts Forest, and he had a feeling the trial will be related to alchemy. But without being sure of success, he could not take such a huge risk.

Getting up, he heard some sounds coming from the bedroom where Daiyu was resting.

"Haah.....Haah...Haah"

His senses picked up the faint movement of air accompanied by every shout.

Intrigued, Sheng Zhen made his way up the stairs and through the door, he saw Daiyu standing beside the bed, swinging a wooden stick with all her might.

"Haah"

With every shout, she swung the wooden stick like a sword with vigor and strength strong enough to make every curtain in the house sway.

She looked better than before, with the black veins slowly becoming less visible and skin starting to gain a healthy sheen. It was minuscule but for someone with extremely acute senses like Sheng Zhen, it could not be more apparent.

Pill poisoning takes much longer to clear, especially in mortals, but in a single day, her health had improved considerably. And he could see why.

'She is a Martial Artist '

Martial Artists, the pseudo cultivators. The Martial Artists are different from cultivators, who pursue immortality by refining essence Qi; martial artists refine their bodies in battle and practice.

For cultivators, Martial artists are nothing more than simpleton barbarians who try to imitate their cultivation techniques, and the truth is not far from it. But every path of cultivation is limitless, and the Dao of Martial Artists is no different. A proper martial artist is no different from body refiners, although much superior.

But Martial Path is much more difficult, especially at the beginning and most Martial Artists never surpass the first three great realms.

"Haah...Haa..oh Zhen"

Daiyu noticed Sheng Zhen standing outside the door and stopped mid-swing.

"I never knew big sis was a Martial Artist."

"Oh that, it is nothing. Just something I picked up."

Sheng Zhen could clearly see her moments were too refined to be just an imitation but he did not call her on it.

"Then big sis must not have any internal breathing techniques."

"Um, no... I don't have any", even if her voice was shaky, that was the truth.

"Then let me give you one, it would be good for your recovery", Sheng Zhen took out a parchment and using his spiritual energy, burned in words and diagrams on it faster than Daiyu could notice.

"White Tiger's breath", Daiyu looked at the texts in wonder, "No..no, I can't take it, this...this is too precious.", she tried to return the parchment.

Sheng Zhen did not even pretend to notice her literacy, something a slave like her should not have. He just said,

"Keep it, it will help you recover."

After an internal struggle, she reluctantly accepted it.

"You are healthy enough on your own but don't overexert yourself. Stay in bed and practice the breathing exercise."

"And I may have to leave for few days, take care of Kirin for me till then."

Daiyu nodded.

Kirin was the name of the black mare he got from his uncle. It was still outside, in the garden but Sheng Zhen had noticed her gaining a faint spirituality. It is entirely possible she may awaken and gain the ability to cultivate.

And Sheng Zhen decided to help it in the process.

Leaving the house, he made his way to the side garden where Kirin was standing. Upon noticing him, Kirin Happily trotted towards Sheng Zhen

"How are you doing", Sheng Zhen affectionately rubbed her neck and took out a black pill. It was the same black pill that he fed to Blue Luan but sans poison.

Kirin's spirituality was not developed enough to know what it was but she knew that it was good for her, so she immediately gobbled it up.

"Young Master! Young Master!"

Sheng Zhen immediately turned to see the outer sect disciple that delivered him herbs running towards him.

"What is the matter?"

"Young...Young Master", The grey-robed disciple spoke between heaves, "Elder Jiang, he is calling for you."

"Why?"

"He said, it was something about Alchemist's Tomb."