"Of course, it’s martial artists clashing."
Zhao Douan sat in the tea house, looking down upon the crowd below that was embroiled in a fight, paused, then critiqued:
"A pretty bad one at that."
As recent days passed, the number of Jianghu people in the Capital had increased, leading to more friction and conflicts.
The saying "It’s better to guide than to block" held true; simply suppressing and stopping them would not provide relief but might instead build up to greater chaos.
Therefore, the court, following past precedents, set up an "arena" in a specific section of the Capital.
If two Jianghu people started a conflict and wanted to come to blows, they could fight within a designated area.
Nearby imperial guards were responsible for control and would not take sides.
But if there was a fight or strife outside the permitted area, that would be a violation of the court’s explicitly forbidden laws and would incur a thunderous strike.
Zhao Douan knew that the entire street the tea house was on was a "legal fighting zone" demarcated by the court.
One reason for choosing this location was also to facilitate the Capital’s people to watch the excitement.
Just like at this moment, the two people in the field clanged swords and daggers fiercely, fighting intensely.
Outside the "ring," there was an abundance of onlookers.
Crowding around to watch... it’s practically etched in human genetics...
"Sir has brought me here for three days straight, but those fighting here, none are masters. The Cultivators at best are mortals, and many haven’t even commenced Cultivation," Zhao Douan said from his superior position, offering a cool critique:
"I’ve watched for several days and haven’t discerned any techniques or practices, please... Mr. Hai, enlighten me."
Eunuch Hai chuckled:
"What do you think is crucial for breaking through to the Divine Chapter Realm?"
Zhao Douan answered, "It’s the Heart Realm, I presume."
This was Zhenbao’s teaching.
During this period, he had fully digested the "seed" given by Zhenbao.
He felt like a bottle filled with water, swollen and ready to burst, with a sense of frustration as if wanting to release but unable to escape.
He suspected this was the "bottleneck."
Eunuch Hai nodded gently, making a startling statement:
"But did you know, for a common martial arts Cultivator breaking through, unless they reach high places, they often don’t need any Heart Realm.
As long as the Inner Qi within the body is full and reaches the limit, the breakthrough will come naturally.
Only our lineage, the path handed down by the Grand Ancestor Emperor, requires elevating the Heart Realm even at the Mortal Realm."
Damn... that’s a real pitfall, you never mentioned that before... Zhao Douan silently complained to himself.
Sitting up straight, he asked:
"Is it due to Dual Cultivation with magic and martial arts?"
"Clever!"
Eunuch Hai’s face brimmed with a smile; he enjoyed conversing with the intelligent:
"The Grand Ancestor Emperor’s Cultivation Method combines the strengths of both the Magician’s and the Martial Artist’s paths, and Magicians looking to advance often value affinity with deities.
But a Martial God is his own deity, thus one needs to repeatedly introspect and concentrate on improving the Heart Realm.
Of course, while different paths converge in the same destination, even the pure martial cultivation route advocated by the Martial Emperor Lord considers the Heart Realm only until reaching the Worldly Realm, focusing solely on refining martial arts.
As one enters the path with martial arts, the Heart Realm becomes a hurdle later on... but because the Martial Artist doesn’t focus on the Heart Realm earlier, the higher they climb, the more difficult it becomes."
No wonder...
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Of the four "Celestials," only Wu Xiankui was a pure martial artist, even Zhenbao was only a "Fake Celestial"...
Zhao Douan furrowed his brow:
"But can watching these low-strength Jianghu people fight truly improve one’s Heart Realm?"
He found it a bit far-fetched.
Eunuch Hai picked up his tea bowl, speaking slowly and deliberately:
"What is a breakthrough in the Heart Realm, if not a sort of sudden enlightenment, and as for such enlightenment, it’s nothing but an accumulation of countless experiences breaking through at one moment.
Everything you’ve seen these days may seem useless, but is, in fact, necessary accumulation.
As you watch more, you will naturally gain insights. Maybe you’ll have a personal epiphany, or maybe our family will help you tear through that layer of ’window paper.’
Just like a Buddhist’s sudden shout, only through this, can you step forward."
Accumulation, huh... Zhao Douan pondered thoughtfully and started to watch more intently.
...
At that moment, the overcast sky clouded further and began to drizzle with autumn rain.
It dispersed quite a few of the onlookers.
But still, many people took shelter under the eaves of the buildings, watching from a distance.
Inside the tea houses lining both sides of the street, there were also those who enjoyed watching the spectacle.
"Clank..."
"Ping..."
In the piercing cold of the autumn rain, both Jianghu people on the field bore wounds yet still refused to yield.
```
Finally, one of them exhausted their strength first, exposing a flaw, and was stabbed in the lower abdomen by a sword, collapsing to the ground with a thud and abandoning their weapon to surrender.
The other stood leaning on their sword, gasping for breath, equally drained.
Nearby, a county government officer who upheld order and managed the aftermath commanded a minor official to drag the two men out.
A sparse round of applause echoed from the crowd.
Among those present, many were Jianghu people who did not rate the abilities of the fighters on stage very highly.
Although the commoners were there for entertainment, after watching repeatedly, they had become critical and felt the fight lacked excitement.
And just then, from within the crowd, a burly man suddenly leaped forth.
With a piercing gaze and towering stature, his arms wrapped in metal arm guards and brandishing a saber, his aura was immediately distinct from the rest.
Many curious eyes turned towards him, wondering where his opponent might be.
All they saw was the burly man standing in the drizzling autumn rain, suddenly throwing back his head, facing a tea house to the side, and bellowing as he raised his saber:
"I have heard of the great name of White Horse Yama Zhao, and today I seek to learn a thing or two. Please do me the honor of imparting your knowledge!"
His voice boomed like thunder, rolling across the entire scene.
A thick, crimson aura suddenly enveloped the blade in his hand as he slashed diagonally towards the ground.
"Boom—"
The layer of red energy, resembling flames that roved over the blade, streamed down along the edge.
It scorched and sliced into the hard pavement stones beneath, leaving a sinister, pitch-black gash.
A sight that was utterly alarming!
In that instant, the previously uninterested onlookers fell silent.
Cries of shock rang out:
"A high-level Cultivator!"
"An external release of Inner Qi... certainly at least a Middle Grade mortal, but the power suggests a higher-grade individual."
"The color of scorching fire; which Jianghu school’s technique is this?"
Among the crowd were those with keen perception, who quickly deduced that this burly man was a high-grade Martial Artist of the Mortal Realm.
Even within the Jianghu, he would be considered an expert.
After many days in a row, a formidable character finally made an appearance, capturing countless gazes in an instant.
...
"Mr. Hai, was this also arranged by you?"
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Above, in the tea house, Zhao Douan turned to face Eunuch Hai, greeted by the moist air.
The old eunuch, not wearing his python robe, rolled his eyes:
"Would I be that bored?"
After a pause, the eunuch who liked teasing the younger generation said with a smile:
"It’s a tradition for Buddhist Tao and Jianghu people to vie for supremacy; among them are always a few who wish to gain fame by stepping on a court expert, a rather quick shortcut.
It’s a tradition of sorts, neither big nor small, and generally speaking, court experts don’t mind for the sake of their dignity.
Your reputation is so great, and after several days, it’s not a surprise you’ve been targeted."
Gain fame by stepping on me?
Zhao Douan couldn’t help but laugh and cry, thinking to himself, where did this fool come from, not having inquired how the name Yama Zhao was earned?
If he had challenged another court Martial Artist, perhaps for the sake of face and status, they might have accepted the challenge with due propriety.
After all, most people still care about face.
But... you’ve picked the wrong person.
"Forget it, I can’t be bothered to move today; let him issue his challenge," Zhao Douan waved dismissively, not wanting to waste energy on such trivial matters.
Below, seeing no reaction, the burly man pressed his lips tightly together and spoke again, this time calling him out by name:
"Zhao Douan! Are you hiding in the building because you’re too afraid to accept the challenge?"
This time, the onlookers finally realized, their expressions changing.
"Ah, he wants to challenge Yama Zhao?"
"Yama Zhao is actually in the tea house?"
"That one from White Horse Hall? Hiss... Where did this fool come from? Right, they’ve recently come to the Capital from outside; it’s not surprising they don’t know the rules..."
"Hehe, this should be interesting. Who doesn’t know, ’The Capital is in chaos or calm, as Zhao Jun decrees,’ ’Past Juyong Pass, any matters are for Duan to address’..."
The crowd buzzed with discussion.
The county government officer who had come to watch the scene jumped to his feet, sensing trouble, and nearby imperial guards also turned their heads.
In the light drizzle.
Under the watchful eyes of all.
From the second floor by the roadside, an arm slowly appeared from a window, followed by a handsome face with a trace of softness.
Zhao Douan yawned lazily, leaning against the railing, looking down at the saber-wielding man below.
Suddenly snickering, his expression turned cold without a word more.
He looked toward the nearby armored imperial guards and said indifferently:
"What are you standing around for? Why haven’t you captured this traitor yet?"
```