I Can Replicate Martial Arts

A series of CRACKS echoed, as if something made of glass had shattered.

"This is impossible..."

A bloodcurdling scream echoed across the wilderness.

...

A man in black moved stealthily through a vast mountain range. He suddenly felt a chill on his head and instinctively looked up.

The once-misty sky had begun to drizzle, the fine threads of rain growing ever denser.

He muttered a curse and quickly circulated his True Qi, creating a barrier to ward off the rain as he sped into the distance.

He hadn’t run a hundred meters before a figure abruptly appeared in his path.

"Venerable Master Yan?"

The man in black froze, stunned to see the other figure. He stopped and asked in surprise, "Venerable Lord? Did you escape from that bald donkey?"

But after a long moment, Yanxing didn’t answer.

"Venerable Master Yan?"

The man in black frowned and took two steps forward. Just as he was about to circle around to see Yanxing’s face, Yanxing suddenly turned. His face was ghastly and completely drained of blood.

There wasn’t the slightest sign of life in him.

"Ah!"

The man in black shuddered in terror. His pupils suddenly reflected several flashes of sword light, which were stabbing swiftly toward his forehead.

...

On Shaoshi Mountain, the masters from the various Martial Arts Sects gradually returned. Some had captured enemies, while others came back empty-handed.

But without exception, they had all heard that defiant, unwilling roar.

"Who was that? The voice was clearly Yanxing’s!"

"Did anyone give chase?"

Hui Kong shook his head and said with some regret, "He was rescued by an accomplice dressed in black. It’s a pity, but I took a palm strike from his partner and was unable to continue the pursuit."

"A true pity!"

Everyone sighed in frustration. If they had captured Yanxing, their leader, they could have gotten clear answers to so many questions.

"Everyone, is anyone still missing? We can’t afford any careless losses. You should all contact your people at once."

Hearing Zen Master Huikong’s words, everyone nodded in agreement.

About another twenty minutes passed, and the remaining five Sect masters, including Zhao Rui, had all returned.

After tallying the results of the battle, they confirmed that five of the men in black had been killed. The rest had escaped.

"Things have come to this. The Great Zhou’s hostility is clear for all to see. We must unite and pressure the authorities. We are all in this together; if one falls, the others are in danger. This is a truth we cannot ignore."

"The enemy has had a plan to conquer the Central Plains for a long time, yet our government is still fussing over not starting a war recklessly, not giving them an excuse..."

The group immediately broke into a flurry of discussion. The current government was a world apart from the Song Realm Court.

Not only was their strength vastly different, but their entire political structure was as well. This wasn’t a problem they could solve simply by gathering a few Peak Martial Arts masters and forcing a coup in the capital.

"Zhao Zhenren, you’re a native of this land. Do you have any insights?"

Zen Master Huikong of Shaolin Temple looked at Zhao Rui and asked.

Ever since witnessing Zhao Rui’s power, no one present dared to underestimate this discreet "local" Martial Artist.

This made Master Changkong, the Sect Leader of the Kongtong Sect and a fellow local Martial Artist, swell with pride, and he stood a little taller.

"I have no great insights, but this will be a difficult war. I don’t understand military strategy, but clashes between Martial Artists will be inevitable. I believe we just need to clearly explain what has happened to the authorities. They will naturally make a decision..."

Zhao Rui had a fair amount of confidence in the current government’s power. After all, they had somehow gotten their hands on some incredible, advanced technology.

They were secretly building up their strength. The longer this was delayed, the more advantageous it would be for the Huaxia Central Plains.

"Very well. However, the Song Realm cannot be abandoned. Shaolin intends to dispatch Martial Artists to infiltrate the Song Realm and escort our people back to the Central Plains. What are your thoughts on this matter?"

"Zen Master Huikong, our sects can’t compare to Shaolin’s deep roots and profound resources. The people we have left in the Song Realm... they are our main strength. Alas..."

The Sect Leader of the Huashan Sect sighed, his voice laced with gloom.

With communications between the two lands cut off for so long, it was impossible to know the situation and difficult to determine whether those in the Song Realm were safe.

"Perhaps we can ask the authorities for help in this matter."

"I suppose that’s our only option—"

The discussion grew even more heated than before, but now it was focused on more practical matters.

The members of the various sects remained at Shaolin for the better part of the day.

Only when the sky grew dim, mist began to rise, and the night sky filled with stars did everyone finally bid farewell to the senior monks of Shaolin and descend Shaoshi Mountain.

"Uncle Master, have you been able to see through this Zhao Rui?"

In a side hall of the Great Hero Hall, Zen Master Huikong and Huai Xiang sat facing each other on prayer cushions, their eyes downcast and palms pressed together as they recited sutras in low tones.

"This young man is exceptionally talented, his nature patient and discreet. Yet, he acts with lightning speed and decisiveness. One day, he will surely become a great enemy to Shaolin."

Huai Xiang said after a moment of contemplation.

"Your words are timely, Uncle Master. However, his star is already on the rise. It would be difficult to suppress him now."

"I wonder, has the Cultivation of the Arhat Demon Suppression Array by you and the other senior Uncles been successful?"

"We are already old and decrepit. How could we dare speak of success?"

"However, should Shaolin face a crisis, we would certainly not hesitate to sacrifice these old bodies of ours..."

"Amitabha Buddha!"

The Zen Sound echoed throughout the grand hall!

...

「The Celestial Mountain Sect’s Headquarters」

A figure seemed to walk on air, ascending the Snow Mountain until his silhouette gradually vanished into the vast whiteness.

Fifteen minutes later, the figure appeared in the private meditation chamber of Mr. Zeng the Elder, the Sect Leader of the Celestial Mountain Sect.

"Zhenren, it has been many days. You are as impressive as ever."

Mr. Zeng the Elder said with a faint smile.

"Rushing about from east to west, what grace is there to speak of? It is merely a life of toil."

"Haha, Zhenren, you are too modest."

This man, with his tall, straight posture and dignified bearing, was none other than Zhao Zhenren of the Qingcheng Sword Sect.

"Do you know a man named Yanxing?"

"Yanxing? I’ve heard the name. He was once an accomplished high monk at the Bai Ma Zen Monastery. For some unknown reason, he later defected, and I haven’t heard any news of him since."

Mr. Zeng the Elder said after a moment’s thought.

"Oh! He recently led an attack on the Martial Arts assembly hosted by Shaolin Temple. He claimed to be from the Great Snow Mountain Ming King Palace, under the Great Zhou Dynasty."

"This... doesn’t that mean he comes from the same source as the ones who plotted against me?"

Mr. Zeng the Elder cried out in shock.

"It seems the Great Zhou’s ambitions run deep. The pace of events is accelerating; a great war will likely begin soon."

"Alas. Since ancient times, whether dynasties rise or fall, it’s always the common people who suffer. With a great war looming, who knows how many will be swept up in the conflict."

Zhao Rui nodded in solemn agreement. Although he had already reached the Domain Realm, making it difficult for any ordinary Martial Artist to harm him in the slightest...

...he still had many family and friends in the secular world. The brutality of war was something no ordinary person ever wished to witness.

"By the way, Zhenren, people from the Wind God General’s faction of the Great Shang have contacted the Celestial Mountain Sect..."

"Their goal is to use us as an entry point to control the Northern Domain at a critical moment, allowing their grand army to press in and annex the territory piece by piece..."

Mr. Zeng the Elder spoke reservedly, but his meaning was clear.

It seemed the Great Shang had sensed something unusual and were preparing to make their move.

If that happened, the Central Plains would be attacked from both the front and the rear.

Two domains, once mortal enemies, had now set their sights on the Central Plains World simultaneously.

’There’s no way this is a coincidence. Something fishy is definitely going on.’

"For now, just play along with them. Be careful not to alert the enemy..."

After giving some detailed instructions, Zhao Rui leaped up and departed from Mr. Zeng the Elder’s meditation chamber, disappearing into the vast, snowy mountains.

「The Central Asian Great Shang Dynasty」

「Prince Chonghou’s Mansion!」

"Wuji, what in the world does the Shang King intend? Can it be that the Great Shang and the Great Zhou are negotiating for peace?"

In the council hall of the mansion, King Chonghou—a gaunt man wearing a pair of clear spectacles—frowned and looked quizzically at a middle-aged Martial Artist seated below him.

The Martial Artist’s face was lean yet vigorous, and he bore a slight resemblance to Mo Ling’Er. He was none other than her father, Mo Wuji.

"Marquis King, I have heard that this matter is not about peace talks. Instead, it seems the Central Plains are connected to certain unknown secrets, rumored to be related to the Manghuang Race of Gui Xu."

"The Manghuang Race!"

King Chonghou’s eyes narrowed. Everyone in the Gui Xu World knew that to control the Manghuang Race was to control all the power of the Manghuang.

This was because they were the strongest, and the ones who could most easily become powerful experts. They were considered the Innate God-men of Gui Xu.

Not only were they born with the ability to commune with the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi, but their comprehension was also exceptionally strong. It was as if they were born already knowing many Divine Techniques.

Many of the Peak Martial Arts in the Gui Xu Song Realm were Techniques and Cultivation Techniques comprehended from studying these Manghuang people of Gui Xu.