The Martial Path

-

Seeing the woman behind their grandfather, Huang Xiaolong and Huang Wei moved forward and said, "Grandma."

Yu Tao followed their actions and paid his respects to the old woman. He said, "Manor Lady." 

The woman was Chen Jiao, the manor lady of the Huang Clan and the wife of Huang Qide. She is a Peak Late-10th Order Houtian Realm cultivator with a Low Grade 9 Jade Thorn Vine Martial Spirit. 

Chen Jiao gave a nod of acknowledgement and smiled at them as she followed Huang Qide behind his desk and stood next to him. There was a glint in her eyes when she glanced at Yu Tao; a glint that he noticed and used to remind himself to remain vigilant even in the presence of allies. 

Huang Qide spoke, "In the short time I've been gone, I hope you three have chatted among yourselves and have gotten to know each other a little better."

"It was cut short, but we have," Huang Xiaolong said and Huang Wei and Yu Tao confirmed with a nod.

Huang Qide's smile brightened. He continued, "That's good. There are innumerable organizations that have vanished or are vanishing in the sands of time due to their people's lack of fellowship. Our Huang Clan was built on fellowship, and this allowed us to rise in power and even compete with organizations that have existed longer than us. However, it is but a matter of time until we, of the Huang Clan, stand at the top of the Luo Tong Kingdom and perhaps even near the top of the Broken Blade Empire." 

It was evident that Huang Qide was excited at the rise of the Huang Clan in the near future.

The Huang Clan was one of the major forces in Canglan County alongside the Canglan City's Li Family. Still, when compared to the rest of the Luo Tong Kingdom, the Huang Clan and the Li Family were merely but third-rate forces that were abundant in the kingdom's royal capital.

However, because of the presence of a certain genius that the Huang Clan produced, the Huang Clan was able to stand side-by-side with the kingdom's major forces. 

However, the birth of Huang Xiaolong, Huang Wei, and Yu Tao have changed their situation for the better. Thus, there would be no effort spared in nurturing them into Xiantian Realm experts as quickly as possible!

"Now then..." Huang Qide placed his hand on the table. "... Let's begin." 

The three didn't understand what Huang Qide meant, but before either of them had the chance to question him, he revealed the aura of a Xiantian Realm expert. 

'So this is what a Xiantian Realm expert's aura feels like when it's directed at you!' Huang Wei thought as he started sweating. 

High-ranking or not, the people of the Huang Clan are privileged to watch the spars of the clan's strongest cultivators on special occasions.

As a member of the Huang Family*, Huang Wei possesses even greater privilege. Roughly a year ago, he witnessed his grandfather fight against most of the clan's Xiantian Realm experts and 10th Order Houtian Realm experts in a private battle.

A battle in which Huang Qide won with barely any difficulties. 

That was the first time that Huang Wei ever felt fear in his life, and at the same time, that was when he realized how insignificant he was in the Martial Spirit World. 

Huang Xiaolong, unlike Huang Wei, wasn't fazed by Huang Qide's aura. He stood there, as calm and composed as he had always been. In fact, there was even an excited glint in his eyes.

'It could be worse,' Yu Tao thought as he prepared himself in case Huang Qide gives a second surprise test.

In Yu Tao's previous life, there were wars that scaled innumerable galaxies and even the entire Known Universe, and the people participating in these wars were at least capable of destroying a whole planet with a single attack. 

He might've not participated in those wars, but he had seen enough large-scale battles to not fear Huang Qide's performance. Regardless, he remained vigilant.

If his father can throw him at a lion's den without hesitation, then what would the manor lord, a non-blood related person, do to him? 

Soon, a minute passed by.

Huang Qide stopped releasing his aura, and had an approving smile on his face as he looked at the three. 

"You three have done well. Wei'er, Xiaolong'er, I wasn't surprised by your results; you know what I'm capable of, after all. Wei'er, you were nervous at the start but you remained vigilant and calmed down within seven seconds. Good job," Huang Qide said to Huang Wei.

Huang Wei gave a curt nod. He performed well, but he believed that the results would've been different if he was facing a Xiantian Realm expert that wants to kill him.

Turning to Huang Xiaolong, Huang Qide said, "Xiaolong'er, you were unfazed for the entire minute. Outstanding." 

Huang Xiaolong smiled and then looked at Yu Tao. 

Huang Wei, too, looked at Yu Tao, as he didn't see Yu Tao's reaction since Huang Xiaolong was standing between them. 

"Tao'er... Your performance was just as outstanding as Xiaolong'er. But how exactly were you able to remain unfazed?" Huang Qide asked, curious.

Both Huang Xiaolong and Huang Wei became curious, with the latter very surprised to hear that, while Chen Jiao frowned. 

Yu Tao had long made-up excuses for situations such as this, and he's a good enough liar to make people of Huang Qide's caliber believe him.

"I have hyperthymesia, a condition that allows me to remember an abnormally large number of memories in vivid detail. Because of certain memories I have clear recollections of, your battle aura wasn't really that terrifying," Yu Tao said.

This part of his excuse wasn't a complete lie, he had been diagnosed with hyperthymesia. However, that was in his previous life. He wasn't sure if he was reborn in this universe via normal reincarnation and awakened his memories when he was close to death, or if he transmigrated and merged with the soul of a dying infant's body and took over since he's the dominant soul. Still, he was going to use this excuse. 

"You have hyperthymesia? How did you find out?" Chen Jiao asked. This was the first time she spoke since she entered the room. 

Yu Tao continued, "I learned about it after visiting the library after I got out of the orphanage, but I noticed how strange I was since I was several months old, which is strange by itself. I was watching the old matron putting a new infant to sleep when I imagined a dark but warm room and the voices of people outside it. I ignored it at first, but more and more strange imaginations flashed after that." 

"What were those imaginations?" Huang Xiaolong inquired.

"The second was the sound of a woman singing a song about a merchant, a raging river, and the sky. The third were loud screams and a blinding light. The fourth was a lot of shaking and a tight, warm feeling around my body... The fifth was... when I learned that it wasn't a dream." 

A cold look could be seen in Yu Tao's eyes. 

"It was a ten second memory of... me under a collapsed house with people around me. There was a crushed woman's body on top of me, and a crushed man's body whose hands were reaching out towards me. There were other people, yes, but those two in particular were different. Their posture looked as if they were protecting me... Later on, before I got out of the orphanage, I was given a portrait of a couple, and that was when I figured out that that man and woman were my parents. Because of that experience, I barely feel any type of discomfort."

Huang Qide, Chen Jiao, Huang Wei, and Huang Xiaolong's expression morphed into shock at Yu Tao's revelation.

"You don't have to feel bad about me. I've long learned to accept it. The weak die, the strong and/or fortunate live. That's one of the iron-clad laws of the universe. Plus, it's not like most of those outlaws lived after that event. I'm content with their demise," Yu Tao said. 

After another moment of silence, Huang Xiaolong spoke, "What were the other iron-clad laws?" 

Then, he got punched on the shoulder by Huang Wei while Huang Qide and Chen Jiao glared at him.

"Idiot," Huang Wei spat.

"I was just trying to lighten the mood," Huang Xiaolong replied. 

"It's alright," Yu Tao said. 

Huang Qide spoke, "I am to blame for that. The people who were assigned to guard that area were incompetent, thus allowing the enemies to pierce through the defenses. I apologize." 

"No, it's alright, Manor Lord. It was an unexpected attack and the enemies were too prepared to begin with." Yu Tao shook his head.

Huang Qide sighed and said, "I'll make up to you sooner or later. Believe me." 

"I'm more than grateful, Manor Lord." Yu Tao relented and gave a half bow. In his mind, however, he sighed as Huang Qide and the others believed in his lie. His white lie. 

As the atmosphere returned to where it was earlier, Huang Qide placed his left hand on the table and thirty-three containers of various shapes and sizes appeared on the table.

"You might be wondering what these are, and I'll tell you. But never tell this to non-core members of the clan, understand?" Huang Qide asked with a serious expression that Chen Jiao mirrored. 

Yu Tao, Huang Xiaolong, and Huang Wei understood that this was an important secret and obeyed Huang Qide's orders. 

Huang Qide continued, "These hold the thirty-three most confidential treasures that I've discovered so far. Inside each of the twenty-three thick rectangular boxes is a book that has mixtures of cultivation techniques, training methods, martial skills, notes of their writers written in it, etc. Inside each of the seven cubes is a scroll that contains cultivation techniques either martial arts or spells, or just cultivation techniques. And the three thin rectangular boxes either have a cultivation technique, a training method, or a martial skill." 

Hearing that, Yu Tao, Huang Xiaolong, and Huang Wei have gained a better grasp of the situation. 

It might be a bit of an overstatement, but it's not unfounded to claim that the knowledge that Huang Qide had uncovered is a huge part of the Huang Clan development.

"Indeed, it is a huge part of the Huang Clan development," Huang Qide affirmed their thoughts. Then, he released a bitter sigh. "However, we weren't able to use certain cultivation techniques, martial skills, and training methods to the fullest since we don't have the aptitude required for them. And for about 60% of the contents that we were able to use, we weren't able to develop much further." 

"Wow," Yu Tao uttered. He kind of didn't expect for the knowledge that the containers held to be that complex. 

"That is interesting to know," Huang Wei mumbled.

"Are there high grade and top grade heaven rank cultivation techniques and martial skills in the thirty-three containers?" Huang Xiaolong inquired, piquing Huang Wei and Yu Tao's interest.

"There could be, but the cultivation techniques that I believe to be at that level are incomplete." 

"Oh," Huang Xiaolong uttered, disappointed.

"Moving on. You three are going to choose a suitable cultivation technique and a martial skill that you'll be practicing for the coming annual clan assembly. The top-grade earth rank movement technique, the Crimson Clouds Soaring Steps, is a martial skill that you're required to learn; it isn't a choice that you can make and is therefore not counted as one of the choices," Huang Qide explained.

"If I were to assume, the Crimson Cloud Soaring Steps was used improved our clan's Dust Clouds Steps, right?" Yu Tao inquired.

The original version of the Dust Clouds Steps was a low-Grade mysterious rank martial skill.

Twenty-five years ago, the Huang Clan modified the Dust Clouds Steps into a mid-grade earth rank martial skill that was used by the high-level Houtian Realm members of the clan, which gave them an edge against other cultivators. 

Numerous rogue cultivators, clans, families, and sects tried to purchase or steal the martial skill from the Huang Clan. It wasn't until Jiang Qiao, Huang Clan's Manor's first genius, rose to fame and power did the attempts completely stop.

"Indeed. Grand Elder Iron River, Grand Elder Morning Owl, and I used the Crimson Clouds Soaring Steps to improve the Dust Clouds Steps," Huang Qide responded.

No more words were exchanged after that as Huang Qide began introducing the cultivation techniques and martial skills on the table; the lowest ranked cultivation techniques and martial skills he introduced of the earth rank.

Yu Tao soon learned the names of the three heaven rank cultivation techniques.

The first low-grade heaven rank cultivation technique was the Scorching Heat Physique Art¹, a physique-type cultivation technique. It tempers the practitioner's physique to enable them to release, withstand, absorb, and use pure various forms of heat.

This type of physique-type cultivation technique allows a practitioner to attain an artificial divine physique.

However, the Huang Clan Scorching Heat Physique Art's manual was incomplete, so reaching that stage is bound to be difficult.

Huang Jun, Huang Peng and Han Mei's son, was a practitioner of the Scorching Heat Physique. 

The second low-grade heaven rank cultivation technique was the Blood Spirit Art, a rare hybrid-type cultivation technique. It strengthens multiple aspects of the practitioner, but aside from that, it offers no other unique benefits.

Huang Zhong and Huang Ling were practitioners of the Blood Spirit Art. 

The sole mid-grade heaven rank cultivation technique was the Piercing Twilight Eyes Scripture, a rare dual soul-physique-type cultivation technique. It specializes in transforming the practitioner's soul's inner eyes and body's outer eyes into the Piercing Twilight Eyes.

To gain the true Piercing Twilight Eyes, the practitioner has to reach the third stage of the Piercing Twilight Eye, and unlike the average martial skills and cultivation techniques that improves the eyes. Stealing the practitioner's eyes won't leave the practitioner unable to use the Piercing Twilight Eyes' innate abilities, the effects would just reduce by half and the difficulty to use it would be increased by half as well.

Moreover, the stolen eyes won't function as they should and would attempt to kill the thief if implanted.

Similar to the Scorching Flames Physique Art, this cultivation technique was also incomplete. 

'Third Elder Brother and Eleventh Elder Sister were born with very special eyes, perhaps I could recreate those in the future?' Yu Tao mused.

"Grandpa, I want this to practice the Piercing Twilight Eyes Scripture. It's the perfect match for my martial spirit," Huang Wei said.

"Excellent choice. Now choose a martial skill," Huang Qide said. He expected it though, Huang Wei is more than intelligent enough to know the Piercing Twilight Eyes Scripture's importance.

"Grandpa," Huang Xiaolong spoke. "Among these three techniques, the Blood Spirit Art is the most suitable for Yu Tao and I, but that's because it's a rather neutral cultivation technique to begin with." 

'I'll consider this as a favor,' Yu Tao thought. He wanted to say that as well but didn't because he didn't want to look rude and arrogant. 

It wouldn't take a genius to know how difficult it is to use two cultivation techniques in conjunction with each other. Especially for someone like himself, who at the first glance, should be incapable of even doing that.

"I believe that we should get to choose the Blood Spirit Art and a suitable top-grade earth rank cultivation technique." 

"That's not a bad idea." Huang Qide stroked his beard. "While I am a bit confident that you'll be able to use a low-grade heaven rank cultivation method in conjunction with a top-grade earth rank cultivation technique, but I'm not too sure about Tao'er—"

"I'll help him if need be." Huang Xiaolong turned to Yu Tao. "Don't be polite, go to the eastern mansion if needed." 

"Thank you," Yu Tao replied. 

"Don't mention it." 

"Alright." Huang Qide sighed. "You both can choose two cultivation techniques. Yu Tao, for a while, you'll be under Chen Ying's tutelage." 

"Yes, Manor Lord." Yu Tao bowed.

Yu Tao and Huang Xiaolong proceeded to choose cultivation methods. 

Yu Tao chose the Blood Spirit Art as his first cultivation technique, and the Exquisite Tree Art, a qi-type top-grade earth rank cultivation method.

The reason he didn't choose a physique-type cultivation technique was because he's going to continue practicing his previous life's family's legacy training methods.

Then, Yu Tao chose a qi-type top-grade earth rank martial skill, the Spirit Limbs Technique.

Huang Qide gave copies of their chosen cultivation techniques and martial skills, and stored the thirty-three treasures into his spatial ring. Then, Huang Qide ordered Huang Wei and Huang Xiaolong to return to their homes while he had a servant escort Yu Tao to his new residence in the central palace. 

'Nice,' Yu Tao thought as he entered his new residence. 

His residence, similar to most of the important single-person living quarters in the central palace, was located on the fourth floor. It was about 100 m²  in size and had an even larger courtyard and balcony. 

In the time he spent in Huang Qide's office and going to his new residence, the central palace's people furnished and decorated his residence with a number of ocean and space-themed decorations.

Even his and his parents' valuables were brought here.

Overall, the furnishing and aesthetic of his residence were alright.

After a five minutes of conversation with the servant that brought him here, the servant left.

'Alright. It's time to see how I can combine the Blood Spirit Art and the Exquisite Tree Art.'

Yu Tao is confident of his capabilities. In his previous life, he was one of the top ten geniuses in his family's galactic empire, and he even had a glimpse of the Flow of Creation before his death and rebirth.

Therefore, he refuses to believe that he won't be able to combine the Blood Spirit Art and the Exquisite Tree Art.

Yu Tao reviewed his chosen cultivation techniques and after a while, he began cultivating. When he began cultivating, his martial spirit emerged from behind him, and aided in his cultivation.

-

*1 - In IC's translation, artificial divine physiques or physiques obtained from practicing physique tempering techniques are referred to as 'body' to differentiate it from natural divine physiques and the universally-ranked divine physiques. However, in the RAW chapters that I did research on, I discovered that although there were three Chinese characters that used the word 'body', there wasn't a character that translated to 'physique'. Or at least that's what I've found.

The differentiation of the artificial physiques and the natural and ranked physiques aren't that good either. Since in real life, 'body' is what we are born with while 'physique' is more so what we attain via exercising/working out.

Therefore, I think for now, until things start sounding not-so-good, I'll refer to artificial physiques as just 'physiques'.