Chapter 519 - 223: Demon-Vanquishing (3)
But Elder Deng Ziheng’s warning, as well as the time Luo Ziming had tested him, couldn’t help but surface in his mind.
The factions within the Sect were deeply entrenched and complex.
There were currently eight True Successor Candidates, so the competition was quite fierce.
Chen Qing began to calculate in his mind. ’At my current pace, it will take at least another two or three years to break through to the Late-stage of Astral Force.’
’At that time, I can aim directly for the True Essence Realm!’
Unlike ordinary people, Chen Qing’s greatest advantage was that he didn’t need to experience the bottleneck of Astral Force Perfection.
He knew perfectly well that the top priority right now was to solidify his foundation and improve his own strength, not to compete for the title of True Inheritance.
Chen Qing’s Heart and Spirit sank, and his status panel appeared.
[Heaven Rewards Diligence; Achievement is Certain]
[Sixth Layer of Five Elements True Astral: (165/20,000)]
[Eight Extremes Vajra Body Primordial: (3,356/10,000)]
[True Martial Seal Minor Achievement: (165/5,000)]
[Gui Cang Concealment Technique Minor Achievement: (56/3,000)]
[Nine Heavens Thunder Shocking Finger Perfection: (820/3,000)]
[Startled Swan Escape Shadow Technique: Void Evasion: (4,689/5,000)]
[Mountain and Prison-Suppressing Spear Realm]
[Mountain-Splitting Thunder Shocking Spear Realm]
[Floating Light and Shadow Hand Realm]
[Hundred Transformations Thousand Faces Chart Perfection]
[Turtle Breath Dragon Stinging Technique Perfection]
[Golden Cicada Transformation Technique Perfection]
After a moment of thought, Chen Qing decided to first go to Ten Thousand Laws Peak to check the detailed information on the Four Veins before making a final decision.
This concerned the foundation of his future martial path; he could not afford to be careless.
He arrived at Ten Thousand Laws Peak once again.
This time, his objective was clear. He walked straight to the pavilion that housed miscellaneous literature such as the Sect’s history, introductions to the different lineages, geographical records, and other accounts.
The collection of books inside the pavilion was as vast as an ocean. Chen Qing searched patiently and finally found a detailed introduction to the system of the Four Veins of the Celestial Treasure Upper Sect.
He found a quiet corner and began to read carefully.
The book recorded that the Celestial Treasure Upper Sect’s Four Veins inheritance was derived from its Four Great True Scriptures, which formed the core of its teachings.
These Four Great True Scriptures were not single Heart Methods or Martial Arts, but complete, all-encompassing systems. They covered Fundamental Heart Methods, offensive Martial Arts, protective Secret Techniques, and even Supreme Techniques for tempering one’s will, condensing True Essence, and utilizing Divine Sense.
The Nine Heavens Vein. Its core True Scripture was the Nine Heavens Thunder Control Scripture.
This vein pursued ultimate speed and explosive power. Its True Astral attribute leaned toward wind and thunder, making it swift and fierce, and it emphasized overwhelming enemies with the force of a thunderclap.
Its Yingling Chapter, the Nine Heavens Thunder-Attracting Skill, was said to be related to drawing upon the thunder qi of heaven and earth to temper one’s will and gain an initial understanding of how to use Divine Thought. It was described as exceptionally profound.
The Mystic Sun Vein. Its core True Scripture was the Mystic Sun True Understanding.
This vein followed a path of Supreme Yang and Firmness, with its True Astral being as scorching as fire, vast and magnificent.
It also had several Unparalleled Martial Arts. Chen Qing saw one Spear Technique—the Great Sun Heaven-Burning Spear. This was the Unparalleled Spear Skill of the Mystic Sun Vein. When executed, it was like a blazing sun falling from the sky, capable of burning mountains and boiling seas.
Its Yingling Chapter, the Xuan Yang Spirit Refining Chapter, focused on tempering the spirit with pure yang intent, making one’s will as brilliant and unassailable as the sun.
The Jade Celestial Vein. Its core True Scripture was the Jade Celestial Treasure Record.
This vein’s inheritance was the most ancient. Its True Astral attribute tended to be inclusive and eclectic, and it excelled in transformation and control.
Its Yingling Chapter, the Jade Celestial Nourishing Spirit Technique, was for Nurturing Divine Sense. It was subtle and silent like a nourishing rain, and had a unique approach to the growth and control of one’s will.
The True Martial Vein. Its core True Scripture was the True Martial Scripture.
This vein emphasized balance and Momentum. Its True Astral was condensed and heavy, like a mountain, yet it concealed transformations, integrating both offense and defense.
Its Martial Arts valued intent over form, excelling at borrowing and accumulating Momentum. Once the Momentum was established, it possessed the power to suppress all in its path and purge demonic auras.
Chen Qing’s gaze sharpened. He saw the True Martial Vein’s Unparalleled Spear Skill—the True Martial Demon-Vanquishing Spear!
And its Yingling Chapter, the True Martial Concentration Technique, focused on condensing and sublimating the will, pursuing the unity of Heart and Spirit, an iron will, and the immovability of a mountain.
Chen Qing now understood. The Martial Arts he had previously seen in the exchange catalogue for Inner Sect Disciples, while valuable, were merely the branches and leaves of the Celestial Treasure Upper Sect’s inheritance. Only the systems of these Four Great True Scriptures were the true core, the main trunk that led directly to the Sect’s highest mysteries.
To learn Unparalleled Martial Arts like the Great Sun Heaven-Burning Spear or the True Martial Demon-Vanquishing Spear, one had to enter the corresponding vein and become one of its core members.
However, when he saw the specific introduction for the True Martial Vein, his heart skipped a beat!
It was clearly mentioned that due to a major upheaval two hundred years ago, parts of the True Martial Vein’s inheritance, the Core Technique True Martial Scripture, had been lost. This included several crucial core Martial Arts. A list of the lost techniques was even specially marked beside it in small, dim characters.
Chen Qing’s eyes were glued to one of the names—True Martial Seal!
"The True Martial Seal... it’s really a lost martial art of the True Martial Vein?!"
Chen Qing’s mind reeled as if struck by lightning. ’Li Lao Deng... how could he have possibly learned a core secret teaching of the Celestial Treasure Upper Sect’s True Martial Vein that has been lost for so long?’
He immediately recalled how Li Baichuan had casually mentioned, when teaching him the True Martial Seal, that he had been lucky enough to acquire it during his travels as a young man.
Looking back now, that statement was full of holes!
How could a Core Martial Art lost by the Celestial Treasure Upper Sect for two hundred years be something one could "luckily" obtain through ordinary travels in the Jianghu?
’Li Baichuan teaching me the True Martial Seal was definitely not a whim; there must be a deeper meaning behind it!’
’Who exactly is he?’
’And what is his connection to the True Martial Vein and the Celestial Treasure Upper Sect?’
Chen Qing’s thoughts raced, but Li Baichuan had always acted in an unfathomable manner, like trying to see flowers in a fog. It was truly difficult to guess his real intentions.
’The Nine Heavens Vein... there’s the matter of Luo Ziming testing me before. My instincts tell me to stay away, so that’s the first one out.’
’The Jade Celestial Vein. Although the Huo Family extended an olive branch, just as I suspected, they’ve already recruited Wu Anren. Their interest in me is more of a wide-net investment; their sincerity is limited.’
’If I choose the Jade Celestial Vein, I’ll inevitably be too deeply tied to the Huo Family, and I’ll be in direct competition with Wu Anren. I might get some advantages initially, but in the long run, it might not be a good thing.’
’The Mystic Sun Vein’s Great Sun Heaven-Burning Spear is indeed tempting, and a Steward from Profound Sun Peak did come to express some initial interest a couple of days ago, but their attitude wasn’t particularly enthusiastic.’
’In contrast, there’s the True Martial Vein. Elder Deng Ziheng visited me late at night and spoke from the heart. The protective sentiment in his words felt genuine.’
’Although the True Martial Vein’s current influence can’t compare to the Nine Heavens Vein, and there are even concerns about its incomplete inheritance, the Sect Leader, after all, came from this vein. Its foundation still remains.’
’More importantly, I possess their lost secret technique, the True Martial Seal. This connection is an inextricable one. Choosing the True Martial Vein might allow me to uncover the mystery of this seal’s origin, and it might even... be an unexpected opportunity.’
’Li Lao Deng teaching me this seal... he wouldn’t have done it to harm me... Perhaps the True Martial Vein is my best choice right now.’
Clarity gradually dawned on Chen Qing. ’My goal is to learn a True Scripture and improve my strength, not to rush into competing for the position of True Inheritance. The True Martial Vein is relatively low-key, which suits me perfectly.’
He suppressed his thoughts and returned the booklet to its original place.