Martial Arts Insight

It has been over a decade since Wang Ming died in the world of "The First Under Heaven."

Protected by the system, his soul didn't truly perish. He escaped death, but lost one chance to revive.

Regardless, being alive was the best outcome.

His only unhappiness was the inability to get revenge on Zhu Wushi. However, he figured Zhu Wushi would be well taken care of by his filial sons.

Hmm…

Heartfelt filial piety! Piety hiding a knife! Resolving everything with piety! Growing stronger through piety…

Thinking this, Wang Ming instantly found peace.

·

Upon waking in this world, Wang Ming immediately began to review his past mistakes.

He ultimately concluded there were three reasons Zhu Wushi had hunted him:

One, his intelligence gathering was too effective. Zhu Wushi was not clean, and he panicked!

Two, he foolishly tried to trade with Zhu Wushi for the "Heaven and Earth Great Shift," drawing his attention.

Three, the "Indestructible Vajra Body." Zhu Wushi rose to power using the "Great Art of Absorbing Power," one of the two inheritances of the Mysterious Hero of Tianchi, and had suffered losses at Gu Santong's hands. Thus, this martial art was his absolute taboo.

And he was too reckless.

His mind told him to lie low, but his heart couldn't help but act out.

He thought his martial arts exchanges were secret and steady, but in reality, he was dancing before a tiger, every move monitored by Zhu Wushi.

Shangguan Haitang, Guihai Yidao, and Duan Tianya were all cultivated by Zhu Wushi from a young age.

When Wang Ming sought to exchange martial arts with them, Shangguan Haitang and the others would definitely report to the old fox.

Even if they didn't, what about Ryūyō Hyōsu? That woman had seen Wang Ming exchange the "Illusion Sword."

In the end, Wang Ming couldn't help but sigh, "I was still too arrogant. One slip-up and I was done for. Ancient people might not have had modern information, but their intelligence was no less, especially someone like Zhu Wushi, an old politician."

Although Wang Ming had courted his own demise in his last world, he didn't regret it.

In the "The First Under Heaven" world, he had no choice but to take risks.

The system only gave him the ability to travel between worlds.

Unlike those overpowered systems with sign-in, quest systems, and other functions, where the host only needed to lie low and sign in to become stronger.

During his time in "The First Under Heaven," Wang Ming's only advantage was his familiarity with the plot.

But plot knowledge expires and becomes useless if not used in time.

If he didn't take risks to get ahead?

Was he really supposed to cultivate using Zhang Jinjiu's body, that middle-aged trash?

The fact that Ryūyō Hyōsu could easily kill him showed that this body's potential was average, and its martial arts inheritance even more so.

He missed the plot.

Where else could he find a good martial arts inheritance in that world?

No need to think about it, it would undoubtedly be as difficult as reaching the heavens.

Wang Ming was self-aware. He wasn't a destined protagonist, nor was he an arrogant, overbearing character. Martial arts wouldn't come to him on their own, nor would he be gifted with an old master to teach him.

Thinking of the scrolls of secret manuals in his mind, Wang Ming felt a sense of security.

The martial arts he collected in his last world would be his greatest asset for rising in other worlds.

If the system was too trash, he would build his own advantages.

Otherwise, if he was just an ordinary person in a new world, how could he catch up to "seniors" who had been cultivating for decades and the disciples of famous sects?

Wang Ming pondered in his heart. He was currently only traveling through martial arts worlds, but he hoped to eventually travel to worlds of gods and immortals.

Perhaps, He could one day return to his hometown, Earth.

After all, that was his home, where his parents were.

Unfortunately, Although the system could traverse worlds, it wasn't as if Wang Ming could go wherever he pleased. If he could, Wang Ming would have returned to Earth directly.

Putting that aside for now…

·

In this life, Wang Ming obtained the identity of a fifth disciple of the Mount Hua Sect.

He was an orphan brought to the mountain by Yue Buqun when he was about five or six years old.

Wang Ming didn't know if it was reincarnation or soul possession in this life, but he had no memories.

Because he was an orphan, when Old Yue asked for his name, Wang Ming directly gave his real name.

Old Yue didn't think much of it; he didn't particularly care about Wang Ming as a disciple in the first place.

Linghu Chong's talent was truly exceptional. Wang Ming and the other disciples were merely hired muscle that Old Yue was cultivating for Linghu Chong.

Naturally, he wouldn't care whether this disciple was named Wang Ming or Wang An.

However, Wang Ming was quite satisfied with the identity of a Mount Hua Sect disciple.

After entering the Mount Hua Sect, Wang Ming received systematic and comprehensive education and training from Yue Buqun.

From reading, writing, literacy, dialects, accents, to the identification of meridians and acupoints, everything was taught to him.

Having learned from his previous life, Wang Ming concluded:

"I have plenty of time, there's no need to be too conspicuous. I should adhere to one principle – just lie low first."

Therefore, Wang Ming had been hiding his true abilities.

Except for when he really didn't want to recite the Three Character Classic with Linghu Chong and the others, where he showed decent memory, everything else was just mediocre.

Linghu Chong's talent was truly outstanding, both in comprehension and physique.

Wang Ming's physical talent was average, and his comprehension was also average.

Of course, with his mature mindset, becoming the second-in-command at Mount Hua was not a problem.

But, If he couldn't surpass Linghu Chong, Old Yue wouldn't focus on cultivating him, and his resources would be no different from those of ordinary disciples.

He would just be another tool.

Wang Ming never thought about killing Linghu Chong and then monopolizing Mount Hua's vast resources.

This way was good.

It meant he wouldn't owe too great a debt to the Mount Hua Sect and Yue Buqun in the future, a debt he couldn't repay.

So, he tried his best not to draw attention to himself.

Over ten years passed, and he was like an invisible person at Mount Hua. No one targeted him, and no one cared about him.

In his fifth year on the mountain, He began cultivating internal energy.

At that moment, he realized how ridiculous his past thoughts were.

How unreliable it was for ordinary people to fall off a cliff and pick up a secret manual to learn it.

The secret manuals contained many professional terms. In his previous life, he had memorized many secret manuals, but because he didn't understand the meaning, he just recited them whole, completely ignoring the hidden messages.

It was only in this world that he understood. It was fortunate he hadn't practiced randomly back then, or he might have ended up like Mei Chaofeng practicing the Nine Yin White Bone Claw, becoming neither human nor ghost.

When first practicing qigong, it required a master to "plant the qi," guiding the disciple to sense the flow of true qi.

Wang Ming had also asked Old Yue, "Can one cultivate internal energy without 'planting qi'?"

Old Yue replied, "If one has exceptional talent and good luck, and doesn't falter during qi circulation, they can cultivate a 'qi seed' themselves in three to five years."

Upon hearing this, Wang Ming couldn't help but marvel at how amazing the person who first created qigong was.

Exceptional talent, good luck, three to five years?

Initially, faltering during qi circulation would at most cause abdominal bloating and pain.

Once a slight qi sensation developed, a bad falter could directly cripple a person.

During his time at Mount Hua, Wang Ming didn't immediately practice the Indestructible Vajra Body.

It wasn't that he didn't want to, but that he couldn't.

For the first five years, Wang Ming couldn't understand what the secret manual was talking about.

At the same time, Old Yue would periodically check the progress of internal energy cultivation for Linghu Chong before he turned fifteen.

Yue Buqun was a suspicious person by nature. If Wang Ming's body emitted other true qi...

Wouldn't that be the end of him?

However, The treatment at Mount Hua was also quite good.

After practicing introductory basic mental techniques for one or two years, all inner disciples would switch to cultivating the Primal Chaos Technique.

To be honest, the treatment at the Mount Hua Sect was really good. Starting with the Primal Chaos Technique, Yuan Chengzhi received the same treatment!

Thinking about switching cultivation methods after not even ten years of practicing basic techniques from other sects?

Don't think this is unusual.

At this time, the Mount Hua Sect's "Purple Cloud Manual" is their foundational martial art.

"Primal Chaos Technique" only became prestigious after the "Purple Cloud Manual" was lost.

Furthermore, Mount Hua is currently short on manpower. There's no need to hoard resources; fostering disciples quickly is the key.

After turning fifteen, Wang Ming only began cultivating the "Indestructible Vajra Body" when he realized Old Yue would no longer monitor his internal energy cultivation progress.

Unlike "Primal Chaos Technique," which stores energy in the lower dantian, this martial art stores true qi in the Zhongwan acupoint in the chest, in the middle dantian, completely unaffected by the cultivation of "Primal Chaos Technique."

·

Wang Ming cultivated diligently.

However...

What he didn't know was that very few martial arts obtained from the "World of The First Under Heaven" were actually usable.

Is "Indestructible Vajra Body" powerful?

It's very powerful; even in a high-level martial arts world, it wouldn't be considered weak.

But, it must be cultivated in conjunction with the "Great Art of Absorbing Power." Otherwise, it's a bottomless pit, comparable to "Dragon Elephant Prajna Sutra."

Gu Santong knew the "Great Art of Absorbing Power," but even so, it took him decades to achieve mastery.

"Heaven and Earth Great Shift"!

This isn't the version from The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber. This version is a straightforward enemy-killing skill that requires extremely profound internal energy to use. Wang Ming couldn't learn it at all.

"Hegemon Under Heaven"!

Wang Ming said: I wouldn't dare practice it.

In the end, only "Illusion Sword" and "Thousand Flowers Scatter Money" were truly practical.

However, Wang Ming didn't know this at the time, or he would have regretted it immensely.

He didn't cherish Cheng Shifei, who was covered in secret manuals, when he was right in front of him. He only understood after he lost him...

·

·

Cultivating two internal energy techniques simultaneously also has its drawbacks.

His progress was much slower than others.

The most troublesome aspect was the resource consumption, which was double that of others.

Internal energy, to put it bluntly, is the refinement of essence into qi.

To refine essence, one naturally needs medicinal meals; otherwise, you're refining yourself.

One serving was clearly not enough. Fortunately, all his fellow disciples on the mountain were a bunch of unmotivated individuals.

Or rather, they were ignorant.

When they were young, seeing the dark, bitter medicinal meals, they didn't want to drink them.

Every time a large pot was stewed, the disciples would serve themselves. They weren't allowed to leave until the pot was finished. Anyone who dared to pour it away or waste it faced severe consequences.

A group of immature children didn't understand the benefits of medicinal meals; they only knew they tasted bad.

As a result, Wang Ming benefited greatly from most of it.

But in the last two years, these guys gradually grew up and realized they were good things.

This made Wang Ming's situation more difficult.

Linghu Chong's status on Mount Hua was indeed extraordinary.

He was the leader of the children. Apart from Wang Ming and Lao Denou, almost all the other disciples followed him around causing trouble.

For example, Linghu Chong often took the lead in playing pranks on the tutor Old Yue hired to teach the Four Books and Five Classics, allowing Wang Ming to witness a live-action version of Flirting Scholar.

Such behavior disgusted Wang Ming for many years.

Wang Ming really wanted to catch up on various ancient knowledge; he didn't want to experience the embarrassment of not knowing how to practice a martial art manual again.

Fortunately, Old Yue was supportive and continuously hired tutors to teach on Mount Hua. Eventually, he invited almost every available tutor in the vicinity of Mount Hua, offending them all in the process.

Old Yue found it too difficult to find tutors later on. He also figured that since there were no imperial examinations, understanding the manuals was sufficient, so he stopped hiring tutors.

Wang Ming sometimes couldn't help but sigh, Old Yue was truly unlucky!

Including the outer disciples, there were over a hundred disciples in the entire Mount Hua. The one with the best aptitude was naturally Linghu Chong.

Therefore, Linghu Chong's treatment was also different from that of ordinary disciples like Wang Ming.

For ordinary disciples like Wang Ming, the medicinal herbs used for their medicinal meals were fortunate if they were ten years old.

Linghu Chong's medicinal cuisine used herbs over twenty years old, which was one reason he could dominate his peers in martial arts.

Wang Ming and the others were trained by Old Yue as enforcers, essentially tools prepared for Linghu Chong.

Linghu Chong was the true inheritor of his legacy.

He was groomed by Old Yue as his own son and successor, arguably the young master of the Mount Hua Sect.

After Linghu Chong turned fifteen, Old Yue stopped teaching martial arts collectively and began instructing Linghu Chong alone.

Then, Linghu Chong would teach the other fellow disciples. This was to pave the way for Linghu Chong to inherit the sect leader position in the future, establishing his authority among the disciples.

Furthermore, Linghu Chong often dined with Old Yue's family. When Wang Ming and other ordinary disciples joined them at the table, it was considered a breach of etiquette.

What a pity!

Apart from learning martial arts quickly, Linghu Chong was a complete mess in every other aspect.

He couldn't distinguish right from wrong!

He had no sense of responsibility as the young sect leader!

He was ignorant and unlearned!

He spent his days drinking and causing trouble!

The only capable person in the entire sect who could handle affairs independently was Lao Denou.

But...

His sister was a spy, and it seemed Old Yue knew about it.

Wang Ming didn't manage anything, couldn't manage anything, and dared not manage anything.

Cultivating two internal martial arts simultaneously meant his progress wasn't fast. If he stood out too much, he might get killed.

After all, Mount Hua had a spy.

Wang Ming resolved to remain an invisible person.

As for worrying about Old Yue?

Are you out of your mind?

Why would a nobody like you worry about such things?

It's like a low-wage worker worrying if a billionaire has enough money to eat!

It's absurd!

Worrying about things that don't concern you.

He should focus on strengthening himself first!

Stealthy development was the way to go!

Once he became powerful, he could then help Old Yue.

One day, A letter was delivered to Yue Buqun, who then summoned all disciples to the Hall of Righteousness.

"Our fellow disciple Liu Zhengfeng of the Hengshan Sect has invited me to Hengshan to witness his Golden Basin Hand Washing ceremony."

Yue Buqun's gaze swept over the assembled disciples, then he continued:

"Who among you wishes to accompany me to Hengshan?"

A moment later, Wang Ming glanced at his brothers and felt a bit conspicuous.

He was the only core disciple standing still, unwilling to go to Hengshan.

Everyone else wanted to go, which wasn't surprising. They were all young men, in their prime for having fun, and it was natural for them to want to see the outside world.

In Wang Ming's opinion, there were no benefits to be gained from this trip, only a heap of trouble.

Old Yue would be watching them the entire way, making the trip truly pointless.

"Ming'er! I originally planned for your Shiniang to manage the sect.

Since you don't wish to go to Hengshan, that's perfect. You can stay and oversee the sect's affairs!

Remember to supervise your junior disciples' martial arts training." Old Yue instructed with a good mood.

"Your disciple obeys!" Wang Ming replied with a respectful expression.

Afterward, Yue Buqun called out the disciples who wanted to go to Hengshan but had low martial arts cultivation, telling them to stay and keep the sect with Wang Ming.

Then Yue Buqun dismissed the disciples, telling them to pack their belongings and prepare to descend the mountain.

In the afternoon, Wang Ming saw Yue Buqun and his entourage off Mount Hua.

"All you junior disciples, guard the sect well. I will be going to Siguo Cliff for closed-door cultivation. Do not disturb me unless it's a major issue."

The remaining disciples were junior brothers, so they naturally had no objections.

Currently, Wang Ming held the highest position in the Mount Hua Sect. Who would dare to disagree with anything he said?

The swordplay on Siguo Cliff...

Wang Ming had endured for over a decade without accessing it, and now he finally had the chance to take a look.

Initially, Wang Ming had considered telling Yue Buqun about the Five Peaks Swordplay to boost the Mount Hua Sect's strength, allowing him to remain safe and secure, and also to repay Yue Buqun's kindness over the years.

But upon calm reflection, he realized that was a suicidal path!

Firstly, there were spies on Mount Hua. Lao Denou was one spy Wang Ming knew of, but was he sure he was the only one?

Could there be other spies from the Songshan Sect?

What about spies from Shaolin, Wudang, or the Demonic Cult?

News of the lost Five Peaks Swordplay leaking from Mount Hua would only invite disaster.

There was a precedent for this: when news of the Mount Hua Sect possessing the peerless martial art, the Sunflower Manual, leaked, it led to a massive invasion by elders of the Demonic Cult.

At that time, both leaders of the Mount Hua Sect were killed in battle.

Furthermore, The martial arts on Siguo Cliff would actually offer very little improvement for Old Yue.

For experts at their level, apart from martial arts on the level of Nine Solitary Swords, other move-based martial arts offered minimal help.

Those Demonic Cult elders weren't much stronger than Old Yue. What they could break, Old Yue could also break; it was just that Old Yue hadn't systematically categorized them.

At their level, what mattered most was internal energy. Over-emphasizing techniques was merely a crooked path.

Among the top martial artists of the current era, the ones with the most formidable techniques were probably those from the Sword Faction, but their martial arts didn't even rank in the top ten of the martial world.

Look at Dongfang Bubai's Sunflower True Qi, Zuo Lengchan's Ice True Qi, Ren Woxing's Star Absorbing Great Art, Fang Zheng's Yi Jin Jing...

PS: The plot of The Smiling, Proud Wanderer is primarily based on the 2001 Zhang Jizhong adaptation.