I Can Replicate Martial Arts

At last, they could escape the danger.

As they spoke, the massive steel ship slowly approached. It kept a considerable distance from the shore, however, as there was no suitable harbor.

Running into a hidden reef would be a disaster.

However, this small problem was no obstacle for the members of the various Sects. While not everyone could walk on air, treading across the water was a simple feat.

"Everyone, board the ship at once! To delay is to invite disaster."

Seeing the ship’s arrival, Hui Kong shouted out.

Hearing his words, the crowd hesitated no longer. One after another, they performed their Lightweight Skills, leaping onto the sea’s surface like dragonflies skipping across water. They ran across the waves, making for the massive ship.

Family members with weaker Martial Arts were helped by those nearby. It was a simple matter for Dharma Masters, like the Shaolin Abbot, to carry dozens of people and fly through the air.

As the people from the various Sects rushed toward the ship, the crowd on the shore grew agitated.

The former nobles of the Great Song, in particular, began inciting the common folk around them to surge toward the shore.

In the ensuing surge, many people at the front were involuntarily shoved into the sea.

"Everyone, calm down! Wait peacefully. A ship will come to pick you up."

Seeing this, Hui Kong quickly unleashed the Buddhist Lion’s Roar, the sound shocking the crowd into submission.

"Easy for you to say! Your Sects are leaving first. Who knows if you’ll even come back for us? We’re getting on this ship too."

Just then, an old man with one eye flew out from the crowd. The great saber in his hand gleamed coldly as he fixed Zen Master Huikong with a piercing stare.

"One-Eyed Demon Monarch, you’re still alive?"

Hui Kong was taken aback, his expression growing solemn.

"Of course," he said. "I now serve in Prince Rui’s Mansion. Prince Rui is of the imperial family. Does he not have the right to board this ship?"

"That’s right, Grand Monk. As long as you let this prince board the ship, I will surely reward you handsomely once I escape."

A young man stepped out from the crowd. Though dressed in common clothes, he still looked regal as he spoke in a clear voice.

Hearing their words, Hui Kong fell silent.

He said nothing, but his silence spoke volumes, revealing his true intentions.

’I can save anyone, but these nobles of the Court... I absolutely cannot.’

’Let these remnants of the old regime go back and bring ruin to the Central Plains?’

’The people from the Central Plains never said it explicitly, but we who are asking them for this favor must understand the situation.’

"You dare..."

Before Prince Rui could finish his rebuke, a sudden panic erupted from the rear of the crowd.

Everyone instinctively turned to look, only to see a large mob of routed soldiers charging in their direction.

These deserters killed indiscriminately, looting their victims’ belongings. The rear of the crowd immediately descended into chaos, filled with cries for help and the sounds of slaughter.

"This, this!"

Prince Rui’s voice trembled. "A mutiny!"

At his words, everyone panicked.

Seeing the chaos, Hui Kong waved his hand, unleashing a blast of Infinite True Qi that instantly struck down a group of the deserters in the distance.

"Board the ship, now!"

Hui Kong yelled urgently to the Outer Disciples from the various sects behind him, who had not yet evacuated.

"Amitabha Buddha, what crime have the common people committed? Uncle Master, please forgive this disciple for disobeying your command!"

Just then, a Monk who still had his hair suddenly turned around. He drew his Precepts Saber, offered a bow with his palms pressed together, and charged toward the deserters.

"Boundless Celestial Venerable! If a Monk can do it, why can’t a Daoist like myself? It seems I am not fated to achieve the Dao in this life, so I might as well use my path to save lives!"

A middle-aged Daoist let out a great cry, brandished his Floating Dust whisk, and charged forward as well.

Witnessing this, the Outer Disciples who had been about to board the ship turned and charged toward the onrushing deserters instead.

At this sight, Hui Kong slowly closed his eyes. Suddenly, his mind became as clear and bright as a flawless mirror.

A wheel of Buddha’s Light bloomed from his body, instantly engulfing the entire coastline.

All who were touched by the Buddha’s Light froze. One by one, they turned to face Hui Kong and bowed with their palms pressed together.

Even the distant deserters began to lower their weapons, slumping to the ground in a bewildered daze.

Seeing this, the One-Eyed Demon Monarch was horrified. His figure shot backward as he cried out, "This is a Zen Light Domain! The Grand Monk is terrifyingly powerful."

The other Dharma Masters hidden in the crowd also leaped out, keeping their distance from the Buddha’s Light.

With Hui Kong’s Zen Light Domain, the entire coast fell silent in an instant.

Those with good intentions bowed with their palms pressed together; those with malice in their hearts wore twisted, conflicted expressions.

「One hour later.」

The massive ship, filled with people from the Song Realm, sped toward the ocean’s depths.

Once the great ship had departed, Hui Kong’s figure flickered and vanished from the shore.

Only then did the people on the shore awaken as if from a dream, staring blankly at the rolling waves in the distance.

High in the sky, the various Dharma Masters who had avoided the Buddha’s Light exchanged a look, then chased after the great ship.

"Demon Monarch, how can you abandon me! Demon Monarch..."

Prince Rui’s terrified cries echoed across the coast, sounding exceptionally shrill!

...

「The Central Plains!」

「Taishan Peak!」

Zhao Rui sat cross-legged on a rock on Jade Emperor Peak.

His hands lightly formed Hand Formulas, resting on his knees. True Qi swirled around his body, faintly obscuring his figure.

A moment later, the eastern sky seemed to crack open. A ray of the dawning sun pierced through the gap, pouring down upon him.

Instantly, a magnificent purple qi flared around Zhao Rui’s body, giving rise to a misty aura.

If anyone from the Huashan Sect had been present, they would have been aghast, for this purple qi was none other than the Hongmeng Purple Qi generated by their sect’s ultimate guarding art, the Purple Mist Skill.

This purple qi was the epitome of hardness and yang, an ultimate form of True Qi born from emulating the Sun True Intent. Not only was it immensely powerful, but it could also improve one’s physical constitution and extend one’s lifespan.

"Open!"

Zhao Rui’s eyes snapped open, shooting out two beams of purple light. He then parted his lips, and a stream of white qi shot forth like a Long Rainbow Piercing the Sun.

It lanced directly into the distant sea of clouds.

Instantly, the sea of clouds began to swirl, forming a vortex as if it were devouring itself.

Zhao Rui flicked his fingers several times and barked, "Sword, come!"

The Tribulation-Breaking Sword by his side suddenly leaped into the air, circled him twice, then its form suddenly expanded, transforming into a giant golden dragon and charging straight into the vortex in the sea of clouds.

"Ten Thousand Swords Return to the Root!"

With a great roar from Zhao Rui, hundreds of longswords from all around Taishan Peak shot out in unison. They formed a dragon of swords that plunged headfirst into the clouds.

The two long dragons churned and coiled within the sea of clouds. Their heads and tails scissored together, accompanied by the roll of thunder and an infinite, brilliant light.

Such a tremendous commotion quickly attracted the attention of Mu Hua Zi and the others from the Taishan Sect. After they flew up the mountain and saw that Zhao Rui was the source, they were overcome with a mixture of shock and delight.

"That’s a Sword Qi Long Dragon! To think Zhao Zhenren has also reached the Domain Realm in the Sword Dao."

"Could that Misty Purple Qi be from the Purple Mist Divine Skill?"

"’When the Purple Mist does not appear, the Primordial is revered.’ The Hua Mountain Two Skills are Peak Martial Arts, comparable to the Shaolin Inner Power Heart Method. I can’t believe Zhao Zhenren has studied them too."

"Is this what they call ’one art mastered, all arts understood’?"

Everyone shook their heads in amazement, their hearts filled with endless envy.

Others would spend decades of daily practice on a single Divine Skill just to reach a proficient level.

To say nothing of someone who simultaneously cultivates several Peak Martial Arts, all to the point of mastery.

Such an accomplishment would likely take a hundred years.

But Zhao Rui, at only twenty years of age, had already mastered so many Peak Martial Arts.

How could they not be envious?

"Zhao Zhenren must possess the Martial Arts Saint Body," Mu Hua Zi said, nodding with deep emotion. "He has an Innate affinity for the Martial Dao and can learn any Martial Arts at a glance."

Just then, Zhao Rui opened his mouth and inhaled sharply. The long stream of white qi shot back from the clouds like a bolt of silk.

However, it did not return alone. Having merged with the vortex, it pulled the vast sea of clouds along with it, which swirled as it rushed into Zhao Rui’s mouth.

The 108 Acupoints throughout Zhao Rui’s body, all of which were already open, activated in an instant. An infinite amount of True Qi immediately engulfed him.

His whole body, wreathed in cloudy qi, levitated into the air. Wind Blades formed from True Qi lashed out in all directions.

Mu Hua Zi quickly unleashed a wave of Domain Power, blocking the cloudy qi to shield Master Qingyang and the others behind him.

Even so, Master Qingyang and the others were left speechless at the sight of the surrounding rock formations being sliced to pieces by the Wind Blades.

A moment later, the wind died and the clouds dispersed, and everything returned to tranquility.

Only then did Zhao Rui slowly descend and walk toward Mu Hua Zi and the others.

"Congratulations, Zhao Zhenren, on achieving Great Success with your Divine Skill."

"It’s just scratching the surface. By the way, how are things over on the Gui Xu Continent?"

After speaking in a clear voice, Zhao Rui immediately asked about the situation at Gui Xu.