Urban Martial Saint

After showing the Buddha’s Relic to the two, Ye Qing invited Shen Tianjun aside alone and also taught him the Innate Nine Diagrams.

As for the Innate Nine Diagrams, Ye Qing did not teach them to the Bloody Monk, because the Bloody Monk practiced the Buddhist Sect’s cultivation techniques, which were fundamentally incompatible with this Taoist Sect’s technique. Since Shen Tianjun’s learning had leaned somewhat towards the Taoist Sect, the Innate Nine Diagrams would be certainly useful for him, but for the Bloody Monk, they would be of no use at all. On the contrary, if forced to cultivate it, the Bloody Monk’s Buddhist Sect power would likely be affected, so Ye Qing did not teach him the Innate Nine Diagrams.

Upon obtaining this Innate Nine Diagrams, Shen Tianjun’s shock mirrored the situation when Fu Qingping first saw the Innate Nine Diagrams. Like Fu Qingping, he knew that the Innate Skill was the foundation of all the Taoist practices. All the Taoist Secret Techniques are based on the Innate Skill. Therefore, to learn Taoist martial arts, it is best to start by learning the Innate Skill. With the Innate Skill as a foundation, cultivating other Secret Techniques becomes much quicker.

However, since the Innate Skill was lost later, many Taoist cultivation techniques became relatively difficult to practice. The Taoist Sect gradually fell into decline, though it has many branches, the genuine successors of the Taoist Sect are few and far between, far from as flourishing as Xiaolin Temple of the Buddhist Sect.

Although Shen Tianjun learned a branch of the Taoist Sect, advancing further upon reaching a certain realm was very challenging. Shen Tianjun’s power only improved after learning the Secret Technique left by Patriarch Bodhidharma; otherwise, his power would not stand out among the Peak Masters. Now, with the Innate Nine Diagrams as a foundation, he could delve deeper into the martial arts he learned before. In this way, his power could grow swiftly. Perhaps, like Fu Qingping, he too could break through the shackles of the peak and reach a state beyond the pinnacle!

After practicing the Innate Nine Diagrams once, Shen Tianjun couldn’t help but reflect, ”Now I finally understand, it’s not that reaching a state beyond the peak is difficult. It’s mainly because many Unique Skills have been lost, leading successors to find it hard to transcend the peak’s shackles!”

”Really?” Ye Qing was stunned; he did not expect Shen Tianjun to make such a reflection. You know, in the last three hundred years, only five people have broken through the shackles of the peak. Fu Qingping might be the sixth person, but he has yet to break through, showing how difficult it is to break through the peak’s shackles.

But now, Shen Tianjun said breaking through the peak isn’t difficult, which is rather shocking, isn’t it? Could it be, as Shen Tianjun said, people mainly lack sufficiently strong Unique Skills, hence unable to break through the shackles?

”Initially, I thought there were no realms beyond the peak, believing the peak was the limit of human power. However, after practicing the Innate Nine Diagrams and seeing the power of the Buddha’s Relic, I realized, for martial artists, the peak may just be a starting point!” Shen Tianjun sighed softly, ”The existing martial arts secret manuals can only lead a person to the peak. To take a step further, one needs stronger manuals. If everyone could have enough manuals to practice, the world would certainly not have just a few beyond peerless masters!”

Ye Qing was involuntarily shocked. If more peak masters reached the realm beyond the pinnacle, the world might become even more chaotic. Moreover, Shen Tianjun’s words involuntarily reminded him of the ancient deities he had heard about before. Could it be that the deities in myth and legend were in fact individuals of immensely superior power, so incomprehensible that people referred to them as deities? If so, is the Guiguzi’s mention of gods also referring to such individuals?

Contemplating for a moment, Ye Qing still could not understand the specific circumstances, so he stopped thinking about it. He looked up at Shen Tianjun and said, ”By the way, Uncle Shen, what about the Masked Senior who was always by your side before? Will this Innate Nine Diagrams also help him?”

Ye Qing had seen the masked expert by Shen Tianjun’s side several times. Although he had never known the expert’s identity, Ye Qing knew this person had a good relationship with Shen Tianjun and was surely a heroic figure. Therefore, Ye Qing also wanted to teach him the Innate Nine Diagrams, allowing his power to improve as well.

”Recently he has some matters to attend to, handling his own affairs.” Shen Tianjun said, ”You don’t need to worry about his matters. The Innate Nine Diagrams are not suitable for him!”

Ye Qing smiled and said, ”No problem, I also have the Buddha’s Relic here. The Innate Nine Diagrams do not suit him, so allowing him to see the Buddha’s Relic might also enhance him!”

Shen Tianjun smiled lightly, looking at Ye Qing, yet thought to himself, ”The Buddha’s Relic also isn’t suitable for him, because the martial arts he practices don’t belong to the Buddhist and Taoist category!”

Of course, Shen Tianjun naturally wouldn’t voice this. He casually waved his hand and didn’t delve deeply into the matter with Ye Qing, shifting instead to discuss alliances. Shen Tianjun was fairly vigilant, suspecting that people from the Wanyan Family and the Sword Saint Sect would certainly not sit idly by as this alliance formed, worrying that those people might make a move on Ye Qing, so he repeatedly warned Ye Qing to be cautious.

Ye Qing nodded with a faint smile. Actually, he had already planned for this. Regardless of whether someone from the Wanyan Family or the Sword Saint Sect sought him out, he was prepared for them.

After helping Shen Tianjun practice the Innate Nine Diagrams again, ensuring Shen Tianjun memorized it completely, Ye Qing left the courtyard of the Sha Men. Upon leaving the courtyard, he saw the Bloody Monk sitting there, seemingly contemplating something. Evidently, he had gained considerable insight from the Buddha’s Relic, and was slowly digesting it. With the Bloody Monk’s level of mastery, if he could fully realize the power realm represented by the Buddha’s Relic, it would greatly enhance his power. Perhaps he too could, like Fu Qingping, gradually break the shackles of the peak and reach the realm beyond the pinnacle.

Leaving the Sha Men’s courtyard, Ye Qing then went to see Liu Mubai. Liu Mubai had been injured by the Sword Saint Sect at Chatiang Peak last time. However, upon returning from Chatiang Peak, his injuries had almost recovered. And this was without consuming the Devouring Demon Flower. Evidently, cultivating the Indestructible Demon Body had been somewhat successful, allowing him to swiftly recover from injuries, a characteristic of the Indestructible Demon Body.

Nowadays, Liu Mubai spends most of his time cultivating the Indestructible Demon Body. His demeanor has changed significantly as a result. Previously, he was a relatively dominant figure, but now, a hint of coldness has emerged within him, indicating the significant impact of cultivating the Indestructible Demon Body.

However, although his aura has changed greatly, when he sees Ye Qing, his gaze remains warm. This is his brother, someone who has saved Ye Qing many times, and whom Ye Qing has saved numerous times as well. The bond they share is life-threateningly deep. Even if Liu Mubai truly becomes a demon due to cultivating the Indestructible Demon Body, Ye Qing remains, in his heart, his brother, and that’s what truly matters!

The warmth in Liu Mubai’s eyes touched Ye Qing deeply. After inquiring about Liu Mubai’s injuries, he asked, ”Do you have any special sensations from cultivating this Indestructible Demon Body?”

”No special sensations, but it seems that the inner strength I’ve cultivated before is continually being assimilated by the power of the Indestructible Demon Body. My previous strength is being transformed into the power of the Indestructible Demon Body.” Liu Mubai paused and then said, ”Nonetheless, there’s no harm in this. I can clearly feel my strength continually increasing. Ye Zi, my current strength should already have reached a top-level state. Next time, even if I encounter someone like Wan Yan Zong Bei Wuchan, I won’t need to fear them. Although my strength might not match theirs, defeating me won’t be easy for them either!”

Liu Mubai’s words were not exaggerative. Since his cultivation of the Indestructible Demon Body primarily focuses on honing the physical body, although his physical form may not be as formidable as Ye Qing’s, it would not be easily penetrable by ordinary top-level masters. Therefore, when genuinely facing top-level masters, he has considerable advantages.

Ye Qing was surprised by Liu Mubai’s rapid advancement and was pleased for him. It must be admitted that although the Indestructible Demon Body’s secret manual is incomplete, it truly has extraordinary efficacy. Ye Qing recalled the tall figure he saw in the Tomb of the Duwang Sect Master, wondering how long that person had stood in the stone corridor of the Tomb. The bodies of others who ventured inside had decomposed, leaving only a heap of bones. Only he, with skin unchanged, like a statue, showed how robust his physical form truly was.

According to that person’s condition, Liu Mubai’s continued cultivation could certainly reach such strength. Ye Qing dared not make sweeping predictions, but should Liu Mubai attain that level, even the world’s peak masters might not be able to harm him!

”Improving strength is a good thing, but be cautious while cultivating.” Ye Qing patted Liu Mubai’s shoulder and said, ”This Indestructible Demon Body is, after all, a Secret Technique from the Demon Sect. The Demon Sect’s methods are invariably peculiar, cultivating their techniques will gradually change you into one of them. Regardless, maintain your true essence, and don’t let the power control you!”

”Hahaha...” Liu Mubai laughed heartily, also patting Ye Qing’s shoulder, ”You’re my brother; even if I become a demon, so what? You’re my brother, and always will be. No matter what I become, you still are my brother!”