Chapter 152: Chapter 136: Cultivation
"We’ve met, I believe. I’m Yuanyuan’s grandfather."
Yan Sea looked a little nervous, his stern face appearing even darker.
"Hello, Mr. Tang!"
Tang Shengquan suddenly smiled and said playfully, "You should call me Mr. Tang, just like Yuanyuan does. I won’t oppose you two being together, even if you did leave my precious granddaughter hanging for ten years."
Yan Sea’s expression was a bit unnatural, but upon hearing Mr. Tang’s words, his heart filled with joy. He quickly said, "Thank you for your blessing, Mr. Tang, and thank you for your understanding..."
Tang Shengquan waved his hand and said dismissively, "I won’t interfere in you young people’s affairs. Just don’t let Yuanyuan down. I came to see you today about something else."
Yan Sea’s expression turned serious. "Please, go on."
"Did your master, Mr. Lanren, ever mention how he began his Tribulation Sword?"
Yan Sea thought for a moment, then said seriously, "He never formally explained it. An elder martial brother once asked about it when I happened to be present. Master joked that his Tribulation Sword was a gift from the heavens, a reward for the diligent. But that was just a joke."
Tang Shengquan stroked his beard and asked again, "What’s the name of the Cultivation Technique you’re practicing now, and where did it come from?"
Yan Sea found this strange, but he still answered in detail, "This Cultivation Technique was taught to me by my master. He said he obtained it by trading with another Grandmaster and that its contents were adjusted. I’ve been practicing it ever since the Inner Qi Realm. The Cultivation Technique is called Frenzied Blood Spirit. It follows the cultivation method of ancient Grandmasters. Master said this technique is highly compatible with me."
Tang Shengquan showed a look of interest. "I see. I’ve never heard of this Cultivation Technique. As you know, I have a penchant for rare and strange things. I wonder if I might borrow the original text of the Cultivation Technique to have a look?"
Yan Sea had no objections. Mr. Tang was a renowned master of martial arts research, famous for his work in cultivating precious plants and studying Cultivation Techniques. Countless people had sought his help to improve their Cultivation Techniques, only to be turned away.
"I’ll send the original text of the technique to you later. Please feel free to offer your corrections."
"Haha, ’corrections’ is too strong a word. But I do have a few humble opinions. Now that you’ve reached the Grandmaster Realm, you must have felt the difference between this ancient Cultivation Technique and modern cultivation philosophies..."
Yan Sea listened attentively. As he was practicing an ancient Cultivation Technique, his future path was like crossing a river by feeling for stones. Mr. Tang’s advice was incredibly valuable.
"The biggest difference between ancient and modern methods lies in the distinction between ’Dharma Forms’ and ’Domains.’ Dharma Forms emphasize ultimate purity and the self, while Domains require breadth and vastness. Conceptually, neither is superior. But you must remember one thing: the most outstanding practitioners of ancient Dharma Form cultivation often had extremely radical personalities. They were powerful, yes, but they were also prone to cultivation deviation..."
Mr. Tang’s explanation of the differences between ancient and modern Grandmasters cleared up many of Yan Sea’s doubts, which resonated even more deeply with his own experiences.
With normal Inner Qi cultivation methods, a flawed state of mind would at worst cause one’s cultivation level to stagnate, stuck in the Gang Qi Realm. But the Frenzied Blood Spirit he practiced was becoming uncontrollable. Influenced by his own negative emotions, its power was slowly but constantly rising. He had no choice but to force himself to remain in the third realm, but that was only a stopgap measure.
If not for Yu Fei’s sudden appearance and his mastery of the Tribulation Sword Dao Foundation, which resolved the flaw in his state of mind, he would now be on a battlefield, lost in a mindless, frenzied slaughter until his death.
"Well then, that’s settled. Train Yu Fei well. He’s more important than you think. He’s a good kid. I’ll be going now."
As he spoke, Mr. Tang stood up, and Yan Sea quickly saw him off.
Su Yue had been waiting at the door for a long time. When she saw her grandfather come out, she immediately went forward and linked her arm with his.
"Grandpa, what were you two talking about? So mysterious."
"Hahaha, we were talking about when you two will hold your wedding! When the time comes, Grandpa will prepare a grand gift for you."
Su Yue’s face turned slightly red, and she asked in a small voice, "So... did you two set a date...?"
Her voice was as faint as a mosquito’s buzz, shy as a young girl.
Mr. Tang said with a laugh, "It’s all been decided. Just ask Yan Sea for the date. Oh, and don’t forget to tell that yellow-haired father of yours in advance. Don’t let him ruin things."
Yan Sea, standing behind them, looked dazed and utterly at a loss. ’Did we... did we just discuss the date?’
At the mention of her father, Su Yue felt a headache coming on. Her relationship with her father hadn’t been good for years; they hadn’t been in contact for almost three years.
"Grandpa..."
"Nope. Grandpa is old. Solve your own problems."
Su Yue had just started to speak when she was cut off. Mr. Tang knew exactly what she was thinking. But as he said, though Yan Sea had his reasons for leaving without a word all those years ago, he still needed to provide an explanation.
Getting past him was the easy part. When it came to Su Yue’s father, the two of them would have to figure it out for themselves. They weren’t children anymore.
「In a hospital room on sub-level fifteen.」
Tao Lang stood before Zhang Yuanqiao. Dressed in black with a buzz cut, he had a plain and cold air about him. A black-and-red, double-bladed weapon was slung at his waist.
Zhang Yuanqiao was covered in a dense web of various wires and tubes, submerged in a giant tank five meters in diameter.
He had nearly been killed in a sneak attack by the Dust Sacrifice, but the powerful life force of a Gang Qi Realm Martial Artist allowed him to hold on until medical treatment arrived.
He was currently wearing a Holographic Mirror Helmet, which allowed him to communicate with the outside world without obstruction.
"Lang... what are you..." He had a bad feeling.
Looking at the other’s attire and aura, Zhang Yuanqiao was inexplicably reminded of the red-clothed Apostle who had relentlessly hacked at him that day. In his twenty-six years of life, that battle had been a true brush with death. Rose had brought him a terror he had never before experienced, and the threat of death had been a constant shadow ever since.
Even after so much time had passed, he would sometimes jolt awake in the tank, startled by the memory.
Tao Lang’s expression was blank, his voice cold and sharp.
Looking into his eyes, Zhang Yuanqiao seemed to once again see that red-clothed madman, and his legs began to tremble involuntarily.
