High Martial Arts: Enlightenment after Practices

Xu Wuyi attempted to touch that illusion with his Spiritual Power, carefully sensing every detail.

The feathers, the sharp claws, the pupils, the flames...

Everything was perfect.

But that sense of something missing still existed.

Xu Wuyi opened his eyes and looked out the window.

The bamboo forest had completely vanished into the night; only the rustling of the wind blowing through the bamboo leaves could be heard.

He suddenly recalled what Wang Hanshan had said that afternoon.

”That sense of absence you mentioned isn’t a problem with your Heart Image. It’s that you yourself feel something is still missing.”

It was what he felt was missing. But what exactly was it? Xu Wuyi did not know.

He only knew that Wang Hanshan could not provide the answer to this question. Perhaps his upcoming journey could.

Early the next morning.

The sky was just beginning to lighten when Xu Wuyi woke up.

He pushed open the window. The morning mist in the mountains had yet to disperse, shrouding the bamboo forest in a veil-like haze. The air was fresh and damp, carrying the scent of soil and green grass.

After washing up, he stepped out of the guest room.

Wang Hanshan was already practicing his punches in the clearing.

The old man’s movements were incredibly slow—so slow that every punch and every step was distinctly visible. Yet, it was precisely this slowness that exuded an indescribable sense of power.

It was as if it wasn’t a fist moving, but a mountain.

Xu Wuyi stood beneath the eaves, watching quietly.

Wang Hanshan ignored him and continued to practice.

By the time he finished the set of punches, half an hour had passed.

Wang Hanshan withdrew his fists, let out a breath of stale air, and turned to look at Xu Wuyi.

”You’re up? Perfect, accompany this old man for breakfast.”

Breakfast was simple: millet porridge, pickled vegetables, and two steamed buns.

The two sat across from each other at the stone table, eating slowly.

The morning mist gradually dissipated. Sunlight filtered through the treetops, casting a warm glow over them.

”Are we still sparring today?” Wang Hanshan asked.

”Yes,” Xu Wuyi replied.

”Good.” Wang Hanshan smiled. ”Don’t use your fists this time; use your spear. I want to see just how heavy that spear of yours really is.”

In the clearing.

Xu Wuyi stood opposite Wang Hanshan, gripping the Liaoyuan Long Spear.

The dark gold spear shaft gleamed with a cold luster in the sunlight. The tip of the spear glinted sharply, like a drop of dew on the verge of condensing.

Wang Hanshan slowly clenched his fists, donning a pair of Dark Gold Gloves.

”Bring it on.”

Xu Wuyi did not hold back.

His spear shot forward like a roaring dragon.

The dark gold shaft tore through the air, emitting a piercing whistle. The spearhead thrust straight toward Wang Hanshan’s chest, fast as lightning.

Wang Hanshan did not dodge.

He threw out a right punch, smashing it squarely against the spearhead.

CLANG!

The crisp sound of colliding metal echoed through the mountain forest.

Xu Wuyi felt a massive force transmit through the shaft, nearly tearing the Liaoyuan Long Spear from his grasp. He used the momentum to retract the spear, twirling the shaft before sweeping it out horizontally.

Wang Hanshan raised his left arm, taking the sweeping blow head-on.

Another loud CLANG rang out.

Xu Wuyi stumbled back three steps, while Wang Hanshan retreated half a step.

”Good spear!” Wang Hanshan praised. ”It’s much heavier than your punches yesterday.”

Xu Wuyi didn’t reply, launching another thrust.

This time, he didn’t just use his spear; he also activated his Gravity Manipulation.

The Gravity on the ground beneath Wang Hanshan suddenly increased, slowing his pace by half a beat. The Liaoyuan Long Spear seized the opening to thrust inward. Just three inches away from Wang Hanshan’s chest, the spearhead was blocked by an iron fist.

BANG!

A shockwave expanded, sweeping up the fallen leaves on the ground and sending them spiraling into the air.

The two exchanged blows back and forth, battling fiercely in the clearing.

Wang Hanshan’s punches were like collapsing mountains, each carrying devastating power. Xu Wuyi’s spear moved like a slithering spirit snake; coordinated with the Gravity Field, it consistently launched attacks from the most treacherous angles.

An hour later, the battle ended.

Xu Wuyi stood in place, panting slightly. The Liaoyuan Long Spear was planted next to him, its shaft still trembling faintly.

Wang Hanshan stood five meters away, a thin layer of sweat breaking out on his forehead.

”Exhilarating.” Wang Hanshan laughed. ”It’s been years since I’ve had such a satisfying fight.”

Xu Wuyi stood up straight and steadied his breathing.

”I still can’t withstand your punches, Senior.”

”Nonsense.” Wang Hanshan walked over and patted his shoulder. ”If you could take my punches head-on, you wouldn’t just be my opponent; you’d be standing as my equal. An equal at twenty-three? Where would I put this old face of mine?

”Besides, don’t think I don’t know, kid. You haven’t used any moves integrated with your Heart Image at all. You were using seventy percent of your skill, at most.”

Xu Wuyi smiled but didn’t respond.

When sparring with a long spear, if he went all out, it would be difficult to hold back. Sparring was meant to test himself, not to win at all costs.

The two walked over to the stone table and sat down, drinking water and resting.

The sunlight was perfect, and the mountain breeze was cool.

For the next few days, Xu Wuyi stayed in Wang Hanshan’s mountain residence.

Every morning, the two would spar. In the late morning, Xu Wuyi would focus on his Cultivation, followed by more sparring in the afternoon, and quiet meditation at night.

Over the course of five days, they fought seven matches. Xu Wuyi gained something new each time, bringing him great delight.

Wang Hanshan’s punches were incredibly heavy—so heavy that every collision made Xu Wuyi’s Qi and Blood surge, placing immense pressure on his bones and sinews.

But it was exactly this pressure that deepened his understanding of ”heaviness.”

It was not an understanding born of technique, but of physical memory.

It was like forging iron: only through a thousand hammer strikes could the impurities be removed to forge refined steel.

On the evening of the sixth day.

Xu Wuyi sat by the window in his room, looking at the bamboo forest on the back mountain.

The afterglow of the setting sun spilled over the bamboo leaves, gilding the verdant green with a layer of gold.

He closed his eyes and entered meditation.

In his sea of consciousness, the dark gold marsh undulated slowly.

Deep in the heart of the marsh, the Golden Crow Illusion still hovered quietly, merging as one with the vast waters.

Yet that sense of something missing remained, exactly the same as it had been five days ago, without the slightest diminishment.

Xu Wuyi opened his eyes and sighed.

He had figured it out.

Wang Hanshan couldn’t give him the answer to this problem, nor could he find it himself.

Perhaps his upcoming journey could provide the answer, or perhaps it couldn’t.

But at the very least, he had to try.

During dinner, Xu Wuyi bade farewell to Wang Hanshan.

”Leaving already?” Wang Hanshan put down his chopsticks and looked at him.

”Yes.” Xu Wuyi nodded. ”I’ve troubled you these past few days, Senior, and I’ve gained a lot. However, I can’t find the answer to my problem here. I can only keep moving forward.”

Wang Hanshan remained silent for a moment before nodding.

”That works too,” he said. ”Your problem truly isn’t something you can figure out just by staying in one place. Walk more, see more, and meet different people. Who knows? One day, you might find sudden enlightenment.”

He raised his wine glass. ”Come, have a drink with me.”

Xu Wuyi raised his glass and clinked it against Wang Hanshan’s.

The two downed their drinks in one gulp.

”Where to next?” Wang Hanshan asked.

”There’s another Quasi-Grandmaster in Su’an Province named Shao Yu,” Xu Wuyi replied. ”The Dongjiang Battle Group has already helped me get in touch. I’ll go visit him tomorrow.”

”Shao Yu?” Wang Hanshan pondered for a moment. ”Oh, the guy who plays with swords?”

”You know him, Senior?”

”I’ve heard of him,” Wang Hanshan said. ”He’s from the Shao family of Su’an. His Swordsmanship is quite good, and he’s considered a prominent figure among the Quasi-Grandmasters. However, he has a rather eccentric temper. Be sure to bear with him when you go.”

”Understood.”

Wang Hanshan poured him another cup of wine.

”If you really can’t figure out your problem, come back and stay for a few more days. You’re always welcome here in my mountains.”

Xu Wuyi raised his glass. ”Thank you, Senior.”