Lying Low in the Martial World to Become a Saint

Chapter 430: Chapter 194: Peerless, Part 2

He clapped Chen Qing’s shoulder. "As your martial uncle, let me tell you one more thing. The Celestial Treasure Upper Sect’s foundation is so profound, it’s beyond anything you or I could possibly imagine."

Chen Qing nodded. "Thank you for the information, Martial Uncle."

Shen Xiuyong was in high spirits. After chatting for a few more moments about recent events and sharing some Cultivation Insights, he got up to leave. He still needed to contact others to make arrangements early.

After seeing Shen Xiuyong off, Chen Qing packed up his fishing rod. He stared at the rippling turquoise water, but his mind was no longer on fishing.

’Xu Wang Mountain... Celestial Treasure Upper Sect...’

He picked up his fish basket and turned, heading for the Cyan Wood Institute.

Just as he returned to the Cyan Wood Institute’s Transmission Square, many disciples who were practicing their skills saw him. They all stopped what they were doing and respectfully clasped their fists in greeting. "Chief Senior Brother!"

Chen Qing gave a slight nod in return.

Just then, Yu Bao’Er hurried over. "Senior Brother, Master Li is out of seclusion! I just saw the gate to his courtyard open, and he even ordered a disciple to go clean."

"Oh?"

Chen Qing’s interest was piqued.

He had previously instructed Yu Bao’Er to inform him immediately if Li Baichuan came out of seclusion.

"I understand."

Chen Qing nodded to Yu Bao’Er, then returned home to grab a few things before heading to the rear courtyard of the Cyan Wood Institute.

The courtyard was as quiet and desolate as ever. A game of chess was laid out on the stone table.

Li Baichuan was sitting cross-legged on one side, facing the board alone. He twirled a black chess piece between his fingers, seemingly lost in thought.

"Disciple pays his respects to Master Li!"

Chen Qing took a few steps forward and clasped his fists respectfully.

Li Baichuan didn’t even raise his eyelids, merely letting out a soft "hmph" through his nose as a response.

Chen Qing took a Jade Box from his robes. Inside were several stalks of Treasure Medicine found during the cleanup after the battle with the Xuanjia Sect.

"A small token of my sincerity. I hope Master Li will accept it." Chen Qing pushed the Jade Box to an empty spot on the stone table.

Li Baichuan’s gaze swept over it casually. "Just leave it there," he said flatly.

A thought stirred in Chen Qing’s mind. He couldn’t help but lower his voice and ask tentatively, "Master Li, your seclusion this time... did you achieve a breakthrough?"

There was not a single ripple in Li Baichuan’s murky eyes. He simply stated, "I made some minor gains."

Chen Qing’s curiosity grew. He found Li Baichuan more and more unfathomable, but he also understood that a man like Old Deng would never easily reveal his true capabilities.

"You brat, you didn’t rush all the way over here just to give me this little thing, did you?"

Li Baichuan returned his gaze to the chessboard and asked slowly.

Chen Qing seized the opportunity. "This disciple does indeed have some questions about my Cultivation that I hope Master Li can provide guidance on."

"Speak."

"In my recent Cultivation, I’ve had some confusion regarding the use of True Astral. I feel that in the Inner Astral Realm, although my True Astral can project from my body, it lacks versatility and agility. Yet when I observe Outer Astral experts like the Sect Leader, their True Astral leaves their bodies and moves freely, like an extension of their own limbs. Its power and variability far surpass that of Inner Astral. I wonder if the key lies in the fine control of True Astral?"

Hearing this, Li Baichuan nodded slightly. "To have thought of this, you have some aptitude."

He set down the chess piece and extended a withered palm. A wisp of pure, condensed Cyan Wood True Gang appeared in his palm, swaying gently like a living thing.

"In the way of Astral Force, the accumulation of True Astral is the foundation, but the true subtlety of its use lies within the mind. Those in the Inner Astral are just beginners. They can coat their bodies with True Astral and begin to draw upon the Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi, but their control is crude, mostly relying on brute force."

As he spoke, the wisp of Cyan Wood True Gang in his palm began to change its form at will, moving with extraordinary agility as if it had a life of its own.

Chen Qing watched this and thought to himself, ’Master Li’s control over his True Astral has reached a state of divine mastery, moving as if it were an extension of his own limbs.’

"As for Outer Astral,"

Li Baichuan continued, "one’s control over True Astral can finally be considered proficient. With a mere thought, True Astral can leave the body to attack and defend, changing form at will and multiplying its power. And those at Astral Force Perfection can divide a single wisp of True Astral into a thousand strands, achieving microscopic precision."

As he spoke, the wisp of True Astral in his palm suddenly dispersed, transforming into hundreds of cyan threads as fine as ox hair. They coiled and danced between his fingers, emitting a heart-palpitatingly sharp aura.

"There are Astral Force Perfection masters who specialize in this art. With True Astral threads blanketing the sky, it’s not difficult for them to take a hundred lives with a wave of their hand, all without a trace."

Chen Qing was dazzled and mesmerized. His understanding of the Astral Force Realm deepened. ’So the application of True Astral can be this exquisite!’

He couldn’t help but ask, "Master Li, this technique you just demonstrated, Transforming Gang into Silk and creating myriad changes—what kind of profound Martial Arts is it? I don’t believe I’ve ever seen it in the Tingchao Armory."

Li Baichuan clenched his fist, and all the phenomena vanished in an instant, as if they had never been there.

He glanced at Chen Qing, his tone as casual as if he were discussing a trivial matter. "It’s just an Unparalleled Martial Art I happened upon by chance during my travels in my younger years."

’Unparalleled Martial Arts!?’

Chen Qing’s heart pounded! The three incomplete Unparalleled Martial Arts Secret Manuals on the Fourth Layer of the Tingchao Armory had attracted countless Astral Force masters to study them.

’And Li Baichuan has a complete Unparalleled Martial Art in his possession?’

’Just how deep does this Old Deng’s foundation run?’

"Want to learn?"

Li Baichuan looked at Chen Qing, a ghost of a smile playing on his lips as he asked.

"Disciple... wants to learn!"

Chen Qing suppressed his excitement and admitted it frankly.

Faced with the allure of an Unparalleled Martial Art, no one could remain unmoved.

Li Baichuan said irritably, "You open your mouth and expect to learn Unparalleled Martial Arts? Where in the world do you find such a bargain?"

Chen Qing immediately bowed with clasped fists, his attitude sincere. "Please enlighten me, Master Li."

He knew this Old Deng’s rules well; the man never made a losing deal.

"Hmph."

Li Baichuan seemed quite satisfied with Chen Qing’s perceptive attitude and nodded. "Teaching you isn’t out of the question..."

He paused, then said slowly, "...as long as you do me a favor."

’Just as I thought,’ Chen Qing said to himself, then subconsciously asked, "What favor?"

He still remembered how, before the battle with Xiao Bieli, Li Baichuan had dangled bait in a similarly casual manner. In the end, although he himself had benefited, Old Deng had secretly reaped even greater rewards.

"I can’t tell you right now."

Li Baichuan’s tone remained flat. "Rest assured, I won’t be sending you to your death, nor will I ask you to do anything against your conscience or harmful to the Sect. All in all, it’s something... that might even be a fortunate opportunity for you."

He looked at Chen Qing. "If you agree, I can teach you right now. If you’re unwilling, we can forget the whole thing."

Chen Qing’s mind raced as he quickly weighed the pros and cons.

’Although Li Baichuan is eccentric, his word has always been his bond. If he says he won’t put me in a fatal situation, he should be trustworthy.’

"I agree," Chen Qing replied.

’Benefits in hand are the only real benefits.’

"Good."

Li Baichuan seemed to have expected his agreement, and a faint, almost imperceptible smile appeared on his face.

He slowly rose to his feet. The aura around him suddenly became profound and immense, as if he had formed some mysterious connection with the surrounding world.

"Watch closely. This Martial Art is called the True Martial Seal. It uses one’s own True Astral to channel the Momentum of heaven and earth, giving form to the formless, and condensing myriad changes into a single seal. It integrates offense and defense and is endlessly profound."

"This Seal Technique is divided into nine techniques: Embrace Mountains and Rivers, Evil-Breaking Technique, Mountain-Suppressing Technique, Dragon-Binding Technique, Startled Swan Technique, Sea-Covering Technique, Heaven-Shattering Technique, Unity Technique, and the final True Martial Technique!"

As he spoke, Li Baichuan began to slowly perform the Seal Technique.

The opening move seemed slow, yet it felt as if it were gathering all the surrounding Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi into its embrace—as solid as a mountain, yet as fluid as water.

After finishing the set of techniques, Li Baichuan’s breathing stabilized. He sat back down on the stone bench as if he had just been casually stretching his muscles.

Meanwhile, a golden light suddenly appeared in Chen Qing’s mind:

[True Martial Seal Entry-Level: (1/2000)]

Chen Qing was utterly shocked. ’As expected of an Unparalleled Martial Art!’

’The proficiency required for just the entry-level is even greater than what’s needed for Minor Achievement or even Great Success in many Upper-Grade Martial Arts!’

’Its depth and complexity are far beyond my imagination.’

’If not for my Heaven Rewards Diligence Fate Plate, it would probably take me days just to memorize the movements of these techniques.’

Chen Qing forced a look of confusion and regret onto his face and feigned, "Master Li’s Divine Techniques are vast, but this disciple is slow-witted... I could somewhat understand the first few techniques, but the later ones... they’re too profound and complex. This disciple... hasn’t been able to fully memorize them yet."

How could a man like Li Baichuan not see that this brat was playing clever, trying to trick him into demonstrating a few more times?

His eyelids twitched as he said flatly, "I said I would only demonstrate it once. You want to see it again? Fine..."

He deliberately drew out his words, rubbing his fingers together as if by accident.

Chen Qing immediately understood the unspoken hint. ’Old Deng is implying he needs to be offered more benefits.’

He pondered for a moment, then clasped his fists and said, "How could this disciple dare trouble Master Li again? To be taught such Martial Arts today is already a monumental kindness. I will first go back and properly comprehend the first few techniques. If there is anything I don’t understand, I will come to ask for Master Li’s guidance in the future."

"Fine, I’m tired anyway."

Li Baichuan waved his hand dismissively and turned his attention back to the chessboard, no longer looking at him.

"This disciple will take his leave."

Chen Qing bowed respectfully and turned to leave, his heart already eager to go back and study the True Martial Seal.

After Chen Qing’s figure disappeared through the courtyard gate, Li Baichuan shook his head and muttered to himself, "Sly little brat..."

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