High Martial Arts: Enlightenment after Practices

The Great Success Chapter detailed three applications of Innate Level Martial Arts.

The first was the ”Melting Furnace Domain.” It used the Heart Image as its core to create a Domain of flame. Inside this Domain, an enemy’s Qi and Blood would be constantly incinerated, while the user’s own power would be amplified.

The second was the ”Heart Fire Seed.” This technique involved planting a wisp of Heart Fire into an enemy’s body to continuously burn their Qi and Blood and Spirit. It was like an upgraded version of the Blood Burning Seal, but far more subtle and enduring.

The third...

Xu Wuyi’s gaze lingered on the third application.

”The Burning Blood True Seal, directly activated by the Power of Heart Image, can apply a mark across space. Wherever the Heart Image’s radiance reaches, the True Seal will manifest on its own.”

This description made Xu Wuyi’s heart skip a beat.

’This is clearly the Innate Level version of the Blood Burning Seal.’

He read on, taking in the specific cultivation method and energy circulation paths. As he reached the final section, a sharp glint flashed in Xu Wuyi’s eyes.

”The final form of the Burning Blood True Seal can be combined with one’s Heart Phase Traits to evolve into an exclusive divine ability. If the Heart Image contains the True Intention of Flame, it can be transformed into a ’True Flame.’ Wherever the Heart Image’s radiance shines, the True Flame will incinerate the enemy’s Qi and Blood and sear their Divine Soul, unceasing until death.”

True Flame!

’This is exactly the ability I need most right now.’

Although his Undying Flame was powerful, it had a fatal flaw: it had to make physical contact with a target to take effect.

In battle, if an enemy created distance or blocked with protective energy, the flame was difficult to apply.

But if he could upgrade the Undying Flame to the Undying True Flame, releasing it directly from his Heart Image, he could apply the flame mark anywhere its radiance could reach.

What did this mean?

It meant his attack range would increase dramatically. It meant he could mark multiple targets at once in a group battle. It meant... his threat Level would grow exponentially.

’I’ll start with this.’

Xu Wuyi closed the light screen and sat down cross-legged.

He began following the method recorded in the Great Success Chapter, attempting to merge the Blood Burning Seal with his Heart Image.

In his sea of consciousness, the Dark Gold Mountain Body Heart Image trembled slightly.

Xu Wuyi mobilized the Power of his Heart Image, circulating it along a specific path.

His first few attempts failed. The Power of Heart Image and the energy structure of the Blood Burning Seal were incompatible, like oil and water, refusing to merge.

But he didn’t give up.

Having survived a life-or-death battle with Celestial Wolf Four, Xu Wuyi’s will had long since been forged into something incredibly resilient. If he failed once, he tried again. If he failed ten times, he tried ten more.

Time slipped by quietly during his cultivation.

Outside the window, the sky darkened, then brightened once more.

As the first rays of dawn shone into the Cultivation Room, Xu Wuyi finally achieved his first successful fusion.

He held out his hand, and with a mere thought...

A wisp of dark gold flame ignited out of thin air above his palm. It resembled his previous Undying Flame, but with a subtle difference: at its core, a tiny, mountain-shaped seal flickered in and out of view.

It was a manifestation of the Power of Heart Image.

Xu Wuyi could feel that this wisp of flame was directly connected to his Heart Image. With just a thought, the flame could traverse space and attach itself to any target within his line of sight.

’It worked.’

He dismissed the flame and let out a long breath.

Although this was just the first step, and he still had a long way to go before truly mastering the Undying True Flame, at least he was on the right path.

Xu Wuyi stood up, stretching his stiff body.

Over ten hours of continuous cultivation had left his spirit somewhat weary. But the joy of his breakthrough to the Innate realm, combined with the anticipation of his new power, washed away the fatigue.

...

For the next half month, Xu Wuyi’s life was regular and fulfilling.

During the day, he would be in the Cultivation Room, studying the Great Success Chapter of the *Hundred Refinements Melting Furnace*. At night, he would research the Fire Source Stone, attempting to unlock its secrets.

The two practices alternated and proved to be mutually beneficial.

A deeper understanding of the *Hundred Refinements Melting Furnace* intensified his insight into the True Intention of Flame, while the ancient, profound aura of the Fire Source Stone, in turn, gave him new ideas on how to temper his Heart Image.

This particular afternoon, Xu Wuyi was trying to further extend the casting range of his Undying True Flame.

He stood in the center of the Cultivation Room, closing his eyes and concentrating his spirit.

In his sea of consciousness, the Dark Gold Mountain Body Heart Image slowly rotated. At its peak, the Golden Crow Illusion spread its wings, the flame runes on its feathers glowing brightly.

Xu Wuyi opened his eyes.

He extended a finger and pointed gently toward a practice target ten meters away.

A wisp of dark gold flame materialized on the bullseye, blazing fiercely. The target’s energy readings began to plummet—it was the Undying Flame, continuously burning the simulated Qi and Blood within.

’Ten meters. That’s my limit for now.’

Xu Wuyi retracted the flame, his brow furrowed.

According to the Great Success Chapter, the Innate Level Undying True Flame should have a range of a hundred meters, or even more. He could only manage ten, which was obviously insufficient.

’Where’s the problem?’

He brought up the contents of the Great Success Chapter again, carefully comparing it to his own cultivation process.

’Wherever the Heart Image’s radiance reaches, the True Seal will manifest on its own... The key is the ’Heart Image’s radiance’.’

Xu Wuyi was lost in thought.

When he cast the Undying True Flame now, he was still using his own Qi and Blood and Spirit as a medium, channeling the effect out through his finger. This was, in essence, still a Martial Master Level application, just with more power.

A true Innate Level application should involve the Heart Image directly communicating with the world, using the Power of Heart Image as a catalyst and Heaven and Earth Energy as fuel, allowing the flame to manifest naturally at the target’s location.

’So the key isn’t ’releasing,’ but ’sensing’.’

Xu Wuyi closed his eyes and tried again.

This time, he didn’t point his finger. Instead, he submerged his entire Heart and Spirit into his Heart Image, letting the Power of Heart Image spread outward like ripples.

The Dark Gold Mountain Body Heart Image trembled in his sea of consciousness, and an invisible wave spread out from Xu Wuyi, expanding in all directions.

The wave swept over the entire Cultivation Room, across the walls, the floor, the ceiling, reaching into every corner.

Xu Wuyi could ”see” every detail within the Cultivation Room—the flicker of the flame in the Earth Fire Marrow Lamp, the energy circuits inside the practice target, and even the minuscule energy particles in the air.

This was Heart Image perception.

The reason Innate Martial Artists were so formidable was not just the offensive power of their Heart Image Manifestation, but also this perception that far surpassed that of ordinary people.

Xu Wuyi focused his attention on the practice target ten meters away.

With a single thought.

The dark gold flame ignited directly on the bullseye. There was no trajectory, no warning—it was as if it had simply always been there.

’Success!’

A thrill went through Xu Wuyi.

This time, he hadn’t used any of his own Qi and Blood. He had relied purely on the Power of Heart Image to channel Heaven and Earth Energy and generate the flame at the target’s location.

’This is the true Undying True Flame.’

He tried again, turning his attention to another practice target fifteen meters away.

The flame once again ignited from nothing.

Then twenty meters, twenty-five, thirty...

When the distance reached forty meters, Xu Wuyi felt a wave of dizziness. The consumption of his Power of Heart Image was too great, and his perception began to blur.