9: Chapter 9 Remains of the Martial God

In the back mountains, the night was quiet and the stars sparse. Chen Yuanji sat cross-legged on a large bluestone, with that translucent white bead spread out before him. Moonlight spilled over the bead, reflecting a soft halo, and the patterns of the human Meridians within the halo seemed to come alive, slowly flowing. Old Xuan squatted to the side, his eyes wide as copper bells and his mouth agape wide enough to fit an egg.

"This... this is..." His voice was trembling, "Martial God's Remains! It really is a Martial God's Remains!"

Chen Yuanji looked up at him: "Old Xuan recognizes this thing?"

"Recognize it? I more than recognize it!" Old Xuan grabbed Chen Yuanji's shoulder, his beard shaking with excitement, "Kid, do you know what this thing means? A Martial God of the Martial Dao Divine Court was an existence standing at the Peak of the Martial Dao in the ancient era! Legend has it that after every Martial God passes away, their entire cultivation condenses into a 'Remains,' which contains their lifelong insights into the Martial Dao!" He took a deep breath, trying to calm his heart: "However, after the Martial Dao Divine Court was destroyed, the Martial God's Remains were lost. The Tiandao Sect has searched for a thousand years and hasn't found a single one. You actually bought one for a single tael of silver?"

Chen Yuanji nodded: "Good luck."

"Good luck?" Old Xuan rolled his eyes, "You've got the luck of the devil!" He reached out to touch the remains but pulled back, a hint of wariness flashing in his eyes: "Kid, you'd better hide this well. If the Tiandao Sect finds out you have a Martial God's Remains, they'll dig up eighteen generations of your ancestors."

Chen Yuanji tucked the remains into his robes, keeping them close to his body. "Old Xuan, how do you use these remains?"

Old Xuan stroked his beard: "This... I'm not too sure either. Legend has it that only those who have cultivated the techniques of the Martial Dao Divine Court can activate the Legacy within the remains. You don't Cultivate a technique from the Martial Dao Divine Court, so I'm afraid..."

Before he could finish, the ancient jade in Chen Yuanji's robes suddenly let out a low hum. Warm energy surged from the ancient jade, seeping through his skin and into the remains. The patterns on the surface of the remains suddenly lit up, and a translucent white light shot out from Chen Yuanji's chest, forming a massive projection in the night sky. It was a light-and-shadow model of the human body, with the routes of Meridians, bones, and Qi and blood clearly visible. This projection did not show the Yuan power circulation routes of this world, but rather the cultivation system of Guoshu! Bright Force, Dark Jin, Hua Jin, Dan Power, Gang Energy, and God Realm—the cultivation methods for the six Realms, each corresponding to different parts of the body and circulation routes.

Bright Force refines the tendons and bones, corresponding to the Twelve Standard Meridians.

Dark Jin refines the membranes, corresponding to the Eight Extraordinary Vessels.

Hua Jin refines the viscera, corresponding to the five zang and six fu organs.

Dan Power refines the Qi and blood, corresponding to the Dantian and Qi Sea.

Gang Energy refines the spirit, corresponding to the Niwan Palace.

God Realm... shattering the Void Realm, becoming one with the Dao.

Chen Yuanji stared intently at the projection, light flickering in his eyes. In his past life, he cultivated Guoshu by relying on oral instructions from his master, crossing the river by feeling the stones in many places. But this projection before him presented the cultivation methods for the six Realms of Guoshu in their entirety, with every detail crystal clear.

"This... this is..." Old Xuan was also dazed, "How can the Legacy of the Martial Dao Divine Court be exactly the same as your kung fu?"

Chen Yuanji did not answer, for he was already immersed in the projection. He saw the path after Bright Force—Dark Jin. The core of Dark Jin cultivation lies in the 'membranes.' Besides tendons, bones, skin, and flesh, the human body also has a layer of 'membranes' that wrap around the viscera and connect the tendons and bones. Cultivating Dark Jin involves vibrating this layer of membrane through a special way of exerting force, gradually strengthening it. When the membranes are strong, the Qi and blood flourish; when the Qi and blood flourish, Dark Jin is born. In his past life, he cultivated Dark Jin using the 'shaking the large pole' method, taking three years just to reach the threshold. But the method recorded in the projection was even more efficient—vibrating the Qi and blood at a specific frequency to directly stimulate the growth of the membranes.

"So that's how it is," Chen Yuanji murmured. "Dark Jin isn't trained; it's 'vibrated' out." He closed his eyes and followed the method in the projection, adjusting his breathing and letting his Qi and blood vibrate within his body at the specific frequency.

"Buzz—" A low resonance came from within his body, like the tolling of a bell or the beating of a drum. Chen Yuanji felt the fascia throughout his body vibrating, a numbing sensation spreading from the soles of his feet to the top of his head.

"Is this kid... breaking through?" Old Xuan's eyes widened. He had lived for over three hundred years and seen countless people break through, but he had never seen a Breakthrough like this. There were no Yuan power fluctuations, no heavenly phenomena, only the low humming sound coming from within the body. That humming grew louder and louder, like a sleeping giant awakening.

"Bang!" Chen Yuanji's body jolted as an invisible surge of Qi erupted from within, spreading in all directions. Vegetation within thirty feet was swept by the Qi and snapped clean off. Old Xuan stood thirty feet away, his robes flapping loudly from the force of the Qi, his expression shifting from shock to awe.

"Dark Jin." Chen Yuanji opened his eyes, his gaze like lightning. He reached out his right hand and pressed it lightly against the bluestone in front of him.

"Crack—" There was no damage to the surface of the bluestone, but a crisp sound came from within. Chen Yuanji withdrew his hand, and the stone still looked intact. But when he gave it a light tap, the entire bluestone instantly turned to powder, rustling as it fell. Dark Jin penetrates the body; no injury is seen on the outside, but the inside is already shattered.

Old Xuan sucked in a breath of cold air: "If that palm strike of yours were to hit a person..."

"Yuan power protection wouldn't stop it," Chen Yuanji said calmly. "Unless the opponent's Yuan power cultivation far exceeds mine and can forcibly suppress the penetration of Dark Jin with Yuan power."

He stood up and stretched his limbs. After breaking through to Dark Jin, he could feel a qualitative change in this body. His tendons and bones were tougher, his Qi and blood more abundant, and even his five senses had sharpened significantly. More importantly, he faintly sensed that Dark Jin and the Yuan power of this world were not antithetical. If he could combine Dark Jin with Yuan power, perhaps he could create an entirely new kind of strength.

"Kid, you really are a monster," Old Xuan shook his head and sighed. "I've lived for three hundred years and never seen anyone like you."

Chen Yuanji smiled: "Old Xuan flattens me. These remains helped a great deal."

"They are Martial God's Remains, of course they helped," Old Xuan rolled his eyes. "But don't be happy too soon. The commotion you made during your Breakthrough wasn't small. Even though we're in the back mountains, there's no guarantee it wasn't noticed. Qingzhou City may be small, but it might not be without experts."

Chen Yuanji nodded: "I'll be careful." He tucked the remains close to his body and was about to say something when he suddenly heard a flurry of hurried footsteps in the distance.

"Someone's coming." Old Xuan frowned, his figure flickering as he vanished into the darkness. Chen Yuanji also restrained his aura and retreated into the woods of the back mountain. Not long after, a guard from the Marquis's Estate ran to the back mountain, looked around, and seeing nothing unusual, turned and left.

"It's a patrol guard from the Marquis's Estate," Chen Yuanji said, stepping out from the woods. "It seems they heard the noise."

"Caution is the parent of safety," Old Xuan's voice came from the darkness. "Kid, I suggest you come to the back mountain less often lately and find another place to Cultivate."

Chen Yuanji thought for a moment: "There's an abandoned woodshed in the back courtyard of the Marquis's Estate that few people visit. I can go there."

"Fine. Be careful yourself." Old Xuan's voice gradually faded, "I'm going to investigate something and will be back in a few days."

"What is it?"

"That Bagua Footwork of yours, I seem to have seen it somewhere before." Old Xuan's voice carried a tone of reflection, "If I remember correctly, it might be related to the ancient Martial Dao Divine Court. I'm going to verify it."

Chen Yuanji's heart skipped a beat: "Old Xuan, you..."

"Don't worry, I won't betray you," Old Xuan laughed. "I still want to learn your kung fu. I'm off." His voice dissipated into the night wind, leaving no trace. Chen Yuanji stood in place, looking in the direction Old Xuan had disappeared, silenced for a moment before turning to head down the mountain.

The next morning, at the Marquis's Estate. Chen Yuanji had just finished breakfast when a guard came to deliver a message: the Marquis requested an audience. He arrived at the main hall and saw Chen Tianxiong sitting in the primary seat, his expression grave. Several retainers and managers of the estate sat on either side, the atmosphere somewhat oppressive.

"Yuanji is here." Chen Tianxiong glanced at him, "Sit." Chen Yuanji took a seat at the end, remaining calm.

"Yesterday, there was an abnormality in the Monster Beast Mountain Range outside Qingzhou City; a large number of Yao Beasts are approaching human settlements," Chen Tianxiong said, getting straight to the point. "The City Lord's Mansion has already issued an order for each Family to send Martial Artists to the border to cull the Yao Beasts. The Marquis's Estate must also contribute men."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over everyone: "I have decided that the estate's retainer, Tie Yue, will lead a team of thirty Martial Artists from the Marquis's Estate. Yuanji, you will go as well."

Chen Yuanji was slightly startled. Let him go? His yuan pulse being crippled was common knowledge; sending him to cull Yao Beasts, how was that different from sending him to his death?

"Marquis," a manager couldn't help but say, "Young Master Yuanji's cultivation..."

"I know," Chen Tianxiong interrupted him. "Therefore, Yuanji will not participate in combat but will be assigned to the logistics team, responsible for transporting supplies. Let him go to gain some experience."

Chen Yuanji looked into Chen Tianxiong's eyes, seeing a hint of complexity in those tiger-like eyes. Did he really want him to gain experience, or was he trying to kill him with a borrowed knife? No, though Chen Tianxiong didn't care for him, even a tiger does not eat its cubs. Sending him to the logistics team should just be simple tempering.

"Yes, Father." Chen Yuanji rose and bowed.

Chen Tianxiong nodded, then looked at the others: "Does anyone else have a problem?" No one spoke. "Then it's settled. We depart tomorrow morning." Chen Tianxiong stood up, "Go and prepare."

The crowd dispersed, and as Chen Yuanji walked out of the main hall, he happened to run into Chen Yuanlang. Chen Yuanlang looked at him and sneered: "Logistics team? A waste should do a waste's work. Don't die in a Yao Beast's mouth and stain the reputation of the Marquis's Estate."

Chen Yuanji ignored him and walked straight past. Chen Yuanlang looked at his back, killing intent flashing in his eyes.

"Mother was right, keeping him around is always a disaster," he whispered to himself. "The Monster Beast Mountain Range... is a good place." He turned to leave, a cold smile on his face.

That night, Chen Yuanji cultivated in the abandoned woodshed. He sat cross-legged, the Martial God's Remains spread before him. He had already memorized more than half of the Legacy within the remains; the rest would take time to digest. Dark Jin was achieved, and next was consolidation. He vibrated his Qi and blood at the specific frequency, the membranes in his body gradually strengthening in the vibration. Each vibration deepened his understanding of Dark Jin.

"Going to the Monster Beast Mountain Range tomorrow," he calculated in his heart. "Though the logistics team doesn't have to go to the battlefield, the Monster Beast Mountain Range is full of hidden dangers and may not be safe. And..."

He thought of the look in Chen Yuanlang's eyes when he left and understood perfectly. Chen Yuanlang would not let this opportunity pass. "However, that's just as well." A slight smile touched the corner of Chen Yuanji's mouth. "I also want to test the power of Dark Jin in actual combat." He closed his eyes and continued cultivating. The ancient jade in his robes grew slightly warm, the light of the Martial God's Remains intertwining with the ancient jade, enveloping him in a translucent white halo.

Outside the woodshed, an owl flew past, letting out a shrill cry. In the distance, from the direction of the Monster Beast Mountain Range, a few low beast roars echoed faintly in the valley. It was a precursor to the coming storm.