Ascend to Da Qian—this was the key Ao Donglai had comprehended from Zhou You's saber techniques.
It was precisely this slash that embodied Zhou You's highest level of understanding of the Da Qian Seal—at least, the highest level before he transformed into the Heavenly Pillar.
Ao Donglai's original fist martial arts came from Marquis Shen's Heavenly Pillar, but no matter how high a pillar rose, it could not reach the heavens. How difficult it was to make further progress when one had already reached the top of a hundred-foot pole.
His natural talent had originally been somewhat ordinary, but after obtaining the essence of Ascend to Da Qian, he made up for the shortcomings of the Heavenly Pillar.
At the pinnacle of the Heavenly Pillar, there was no higher summit to climb. Only by ascending from the earth could one reach Da Qian.
Adding a blade to the staff made the Da Qian Blade. Only thus could the true might of Ascend to Da Qian be unleashed.
He had comprehended this move after witnessing Zhou You slay the Calamity Bewitcher and suppress the Heavenly Maiden with his own body. Yet comprehension was one thing; integrating it with his own fist techniques and forging it into a move and secret art was the hardest part.
In the years that followed, rebels and evil fiends repeatedly tried to overthrow the Heavenly Pillar and release the Heavenly Maiden.
After Lai Hantian and Ao Donglai buried their fellow disciples, they agreed that one would travel outside to recruit disciples far and wide, passing down Marquis Shen's fist martial arts, while the other would remain within, guarding the Heavenly Pillar and striving to kill all invading foes.
Each held half of the broken blade, vowing that their hearts would not die and their resolve would