Eight Nine Mysterious Art

Yang Jian! Qingyuan Miaodao Zhenjun! Yu Ding Zhenren's most outstanding disciple!

Li Su had long been mentally prepared to encounter all manner of great powers and their disciples on Kunlun Mountain, but he had not expected to meet this famed God of War so soon.

And it seemed the other party had been waiting here specifically for him.

"So it is Fellow Daoist Yang Jian." Li Su bent his bamboo body slightly in return. "May I ask why Senior Yuding has summoned me?"

He had a deep impression of Yu Ding Zhenren, another highly renowned disciple under Yuanshi Tianzun, famous for his swordsmanship and body-tempering arts.

Yang Jian's expression was cold and stern, and he went straight to the point. "Master sensed that Fellow Daoist has an affinity with the Dao of 'weapons' and 'battle,' so he ordered me to lead you to Golden Haze Cave on Yuquan Mountain for a meeting."

He paused before adding, "Master also knows of your desire to proceed to Jade Void Palace. This meeting is only to discuss the Dao and does not involve any matter of master and disciple."

Hearing that it did not involve becoming master and disciple, Li Su relaxed slightly, though he also grew curious about Yu Ding Zhenren's purpose.

An affinity with the Dao of "weapons" and "battle"? Was it because he had fought and killed his way here, or because the intent of "bedrock" aligned with some kind of battle intent?

"If so, then I shall trouble Fellow Daoist Yang Jian to lead the way." Li Su nodded in agreement.

Yang Jian said no more. He turned and took a step forward, clouds naturally forming beneath his feet as he flew toward a mountain peak deep within the Kunlun range, its sword qi piercing the heavens. Li Su followed closely behind.

Before long, they arrived before an immortal mountain shaped like a sharp sword, its entire body radiating fierce golden qi.

At the mountaintop, an ancient cave residence stood with its doors wide open. The words "Golden Haze Cave" were written above it, every stroke seemingly containing supreme sword intent that none dared meet directly.

Upon entering the cave residence, Li Su found it far from luxurious. Instead, it was remarkably simple, containing only a stone bed, meditation cushions, an incense table, and several ancient longswords hanging from the four walls.

At the center of the cave sat a Daoist in a gray robe, his face lean and refined. Sword light seemed to flicker within his eyes whenever they opened and closed. He was Yu Ding Zhenren.

His aura was not as unfathomably deep as Yuqing Zhenren's, yet it was incomparably sharp, like a peerless divine sword concealed within its sheath. Once drawn, it would surely shake heaven and earth.

"Disciple Yang Jian, acting on Master's orders, has brought Fellow Daoist Mo Xing here," Yang Jian said with a respectful bow.

"This junior, Mo Xing, greets Senior Yuding." Li Su bowed as well.

Yu Ding Zhenren's gaze fell upon Li Su, as though it could pierce through all illusion and strike directly at the essence.

Li Su felt a faint chill run through his bamboo body, as if invisible sword qi had swept across him, though it carried no hostility.

"Indeed." Yu Ding Zhenren spoke slowly, his voice like clashing metal and iron, carrying a sharp edge.

"Your foundation is unusual, and your Dao path has been fraught with hardship. Yet amid slaughter and conflict, you have tempered an unyielding 'battle heart' that waits for the right opportunity. More importantly, you have integrated the intent of 'bedrock' into your instinctive defensive stance, concealing chances for counterattack within defense.

"Unfortunately, you have not obtained a systematic body-tempering method. You sit upon a treasure mountain without realizing it."

Li Su was impressed. The other man had seen through both the characteristics and weaknesses of his fighting style at a glance.

He truly lacked a profound body-tempering art. Though his bamboo body was tough, that toughness mostly came from his innate foundation and energy tempering. He had yet to fully unleash its potential.

"Please enlighten me, Senior." Li Su humbly sought instruction.

Yu Ding Zhenren did not answer directly, instead asking, "Do you know what 'battle' is? What 'weapons' are?"

Li Su pondered for a moment, then answered based on his own experiences. "In this junior's view, 'battle' is not a love of violence or combat, but a means to protect one's Dao and survive, to cut through thorns and obstacles.

"'Weapons' are not tools of slaughter, but supports that extend one's Dao and adapt to countless changes. Attack and defense are one, existing within the heart."

A trace of approval flashed through Yu Ding Zhenren's eyes. "Though incomplete, it touches upon the essence. The Dao of battle begins with protection and ends with transcendence.

"The tools of war are extensions of the Dao and reflections of the heart. The resilience of your bamboo body, the sharpness of Stellar Evil Energy, the strangeness of soul devouring, and the transformations of formations can all become 'weapons.' Yet you lack a core battle art to command and elevate them."

He paused, then continued, "I summoned you here today not because I wish to take you as a disciple, but because I see that you possess some aptitude. I cannot bear to see a pearl buried in dust and led down a crooked path.

"I possess a body-tempering battle art known as the Eight Nine Mysterious Art. It was passed down by my master and contains the mysteries of seventy-two transformations, bodily sanctification, countless combat techniques, and the potential for divine ability transformations.

"This art will not be directly imparted to you. Instead, I shall grant you a Sword Edict containing the foundation for entering the mysterious art and part of the essence of its transformations. How much you comprehend and how much combat power you turn it into will depend entirely on your own fortune."

With that, Yu Ding Zhenren raised two fingers like a sword. An incomparably condensed golden light, containing boundless profound information, shot from his fingertips and entered Li Su's bamboo body!

Boom!

Li Su felt an incomparably vast torrent of information explode within him! Countless profound methods concerning bodily tempering, the circulation of blood and qi, energy conversion, and imitative transformations poured into his consciousness!

At the same time, an incomparably sharp sword intent filled with endless transformations circulated within him, guiding him to understand and adapt to this entirely new way of wielding power!

The Eight Nine Mysterious Art! It truly was that legendary supreme cultivation art! Though this was merely an introductory Sword Edict rather than the complete text, its profundity had already far exceeded Li Su's imagination!

His bamboo body began to subtly adjust its structure under the Sword Edict's guidance. Stellar Evil Energy and blood qi—the essence of vegetation—circulated along mysterious routes.

The profound patterns upon his bamboo body seemed to become even more intricate and lively.

[Obtained introductory Sword Edict of the Eight Nine Mysterious Art (bestowed by Yu Ding Zhenren).]

[Beginning analysis... integrating with innate traits...] [Physical strength increased... energy utilization efficiency increased... gained a faint ability of transformation (currently limited to minor adjustments of one's own structure and imitating similar auras)...]

[Combat instinct increased... derived divine ability: Stellar Evil Sky-Rending Thrust (Beginner, combining Stellar Evil Energy with the mysterious art's exertion techniques)...]

The system notifications rang out in rapid succession.

Li Su immersed himself in those profound insights, only slowly returning to his senses after an unknown length of time.

Yu Ding Zhenren was still seated upon his meditation cushion, while Yang Jian stood respectfully at his side.

Li Su bowed deeply. "Thank you for your generous gift, Senior! This junior will remember this kindness in his heart!"

Yu Ding Zhenren said calmly, "The art has been given to you. How far you can go depends on yourself. Go. Jade Void Palace lies ahead; do not keep Master waiting too long."

Li Su knew this was a dismissal. After bowing in thanks again, he left Golden Haze Cave under Yang Jian's guidance.

After leaving the cave residence, Yang Jian's stern face seemed to soften by the slightest degree. "Master rarely thinks so highly of outsiders.

"Take care of yourself. I hope you ascend Jade Void soon." With that, he transformed into a streak of golden light and departed.

Li Su stood alone outside Golden Haze Cave, sensing the changes brought by the Eight Nine Mysterious Art's Sword Edict. His strength had not surged dramatically, but his use of power and the path ahead had become much clearer. He had also gained a body-tempering battle art with boundless potential.

Kunlun's immortal opportunities truly were unfathomable. He steadied his mind and continued climbing the steps toward greater heights.

The farther upward he went, the greater the pressure became. He also encountered fewer and fewer fellow disciples—Nominal Disciples—suggesting that many had been trapped within different trials or opportunities.

Along the way, he passed several strange places. At one, a waterfall flowed with condensed stellar essence.

In another, a bamboo grove grew spirit bamboo capable of being refined into sound-art treasures.

He even saw from afar two Daoist children playing chess atop a platform, each falling chess piece causing the stars of the heavens to shift...

Yet he did not stop. The resonance of the Bedrock Rune guided him ever upward.

Finally, after passing through dense clouds capable of making one lose all sense of direction, an enormous white jade plaza that seemed to have existed since ancient times appeared ahead.

At the end of the plaza stood a majestic palace complex radiating supreme Dao charm.

Upon the plaque of the highest palace, three large characters were written in Dao patterns—Jade Void Palace!

The sacred ground of a Saint was right before him!

Yet before the final flight of steps leading to Jade Void Palace stood someone he knew.

Immortal Yun Yao held a fly-whisk and watched him with a smile. "Fellow Daoist Mo Xing, congratulations on reaching this place.

"Jade Void Palace lies ahead. However, before entering its gates, you must first pass my final trial of 'questioning the heart.'"