Advancing to the Innate Realm

The Innate Realm

The instant Zhao Hongming gave the command, his entire body trembled.

That familiar power appeared once more, enveloping his whole body.

The qi and blood throughout his body surged without cease. All his True Qi passed through the Heaven and Earth Bridge he had visualized, transforming into Eternal Youth True Intent.

An azure mark slowly condensed at the other end of the Heaven and Earth Bridge he had visualized. Mimicking his form, it gradually transformed into a human shape.

Yet at the very instant that mark took shape, Zhao Hongming felt a tremor from his Divine Soul.

The National Destiny wrapped around him seemed like a great mountain crashing down.

Heavy as a thousand jun.

Rumble—

The newly human-shaped azure mark was like Mount Tai pressing down upon its head. Cracks spread across it, as though it could crumble apart at any moment.

Zhao Hongming frowned slightly.

Some time ago, he had made a trip to the Martial Repository Pavilion. With his current memory and understanding of Martial Arts, he had memorized the Immortal Martial Arts Technique Eight Desolations Eternal Youth Technique, along with all the annotations for the techniques that matched it.

Advancing to the Innate Realm with the Eight Desolations Eternal Youth Technique would bring both flesh and Divine Soul to their utmost peak. All Eternal Youth True Qi throughout the body would transform into Eternal Youth True Intent, condensing a True Intent Mark and completely stabilizing the Divine Soul.

This would allow the Divine Soul to leave the body and produce minor divine abilities such as object manipulation.

Should the True Intent Mark dissipate, the difficulty of condensing another one afterward would increase exponentially.

However, despite such a critical situation, Zhao Hongming did not appear overly worried.

Because throughout his journey, the Martial Arts Panel of Heaven's Reward had never disappointed him.

Just as the True Intent Mark was about to shatter, a mysterious power appeared out of nowhere and continuously merged into it.

Under Zhao Hongming's gaze, every crack on the now human-shaped True Intent Mark healed and vanished.

It braced the sky with both hands and rose upright, holding back the mountain-like National Destiny.

Boom!

Zhao Hongming felt a heavy hum resound through his Divine Sense.

Vigorous life erupted from the True Intent Mark. Undying and indestructible, it gradually wore away the mountain-like National Destiny until it finally stood tall and successfully took form.

It became a True Intent Mark with both hands supporting the heavens.

After the True Intent Mark took shape, Zhao Hongming's thoughts stirred, and his Divine Soul left his body.

The invisible Divine Soul seized the long arrow hanging on the wall, pulled it free, then shot through the air and nailed the arrow into the wall.

To outsiders, it would seem as if Zhao Hongming merely thought of it, and the long arrow hanging on the wall automatically floated out and shot into the wall—mysterious beyond measure.

This was the minor divine ability of object manipulation gained after advancing to the Innate Realm.

Zhao Hongming knew he had successfully advanced. From this day onward, he was officially an Innate Realm martial artist.

He glanced at the Martial Arts Panel within his vision.

Name: Zhao Hongming

Cultivation Technique: Eight Desolations Eternal Youth Technique—Innate First Grade (131/6000)

Martial Skills: Heaven and Earth Severing Slash—Seventh Layer (700/700), Eight Desolations Secret Travel (2100/X), Mountain Shaking Fist—Eighteenth Layer (180/180)

Breakthroughable Martial Arts: None

Today's Cultivation Time: 8 hours

Physique: Excellent

Talent Enhancement: 2

From then on, his lifespan could reach around one hundred and twenty years.

Furthermore, the Eight Desolations Eternal Youth Technique was a "life-nourishing" technique. After breaking through to the Innate Realm, it also greatly strengthened the physical body.

The True Intent Mark revolved.

Streams of Eternal Youth True Intent flowed out, winding around Zhao Hongming's body. His qi and blood became exuberant, and his strength reached an astonishing level.

Moreover, this qi and blood seemed to surge forth endlessly, inexhaustible and boundless.

A silver longbow hung on the wall.

This was the Two Stone bow Minister of Works Chen Mou had given him before.

He usually used it to temper his strength and practice his archery.

After pondering for a moment, Zhao Hongming's thoughts stirred, and the silver bow hanging on the wall automatically fell into his hand.

Standing on the ground, he hooked the bowstring with one hand and drew the bow as full as the moon.

The Two Stone bow felt like a mere toy in his hands, incomparably light.

Zhao Hongming frowned. His breath sank as both arms continued exerting force.

The muscles on his arms bulged high, tangled and interwoven like old tree roots, brimming with power.

Crack, crack, crack!

The silver bow of the Two Stone bow began to deform under Zhao Hongming's pull.

He gave a low shout.

Snap!

The bowstring was pulled apart directly by him, while the bow itself had already bent out of shape.

Zhao Hongming lowered his head. The blood spots emerging on his palms merged together, changing from red to black.

His hands looked as if they were covered by a layer of black gloves.

Under such tremendous force, the bowstring had failed to leave even the slightest mark on them.

This was the ability of the Mountain Shaking Fist.

Not enough!

Far from enough!

Zhao Hongming felt that his qi and blood had yet to be brought to its limit.

Even Heaven and Earth Severing Slash, not even its final move, could consume such vast qi and blood.

"I need to find an explosive-type Martial Skill to expend all this qi and blood. Otherwise, it would be far too wasteful."

Zhao Hongming casually discarded the misshapen longbow. After changing into a black robe in his bedroom, he pushed open the door and strode toward the Martial Repository Pavilion.

Over the past few days, he had learned that the Chu Country delegation had been attacked, as well as that Chu, Zhao, and Han had declared war on Wei.

Every day, numerous ministers and the Jian'an Emperor discussed this war in court.

All of Great Wei was shrouded in a solemn atmosphere.

Zhao Hongming felt greatly lacking in security. He seized every moment to improve his cultivation, putting in no small amount of hard work.

He had already walked the road from his Clear Breeze Pavilion to the Martial Repository Pavilion countless times and knew it like the back of his hand.

About a quarter of an hour later, Zhao Hongming arrived at the entrance of the Martial Repository Pavilion with practiced ease.

The guards at the entrance were already very familiar with him. They clasped their fists and respectfully said, "Greetings, Fifth Prince."

Zhao Hongming nodded in acknowledgment and walked straight inside.

He found a Steward and asked, "This Prince wishes to find an explosive-type Martial Skill. Do you have any recommendations?"

The Steward nodded. "There are many explosive-type skills. What kind does Fifth Prince want?"

Zhao Hongming went straight to the point. "This Prince wants one that consumes qi and blood to increase strength. The most powerful kind."

The Steward was slightly taken aback.

Zhao Hongming frowned. "There isn't one?"

"There is, but this kind of Martial Skill is rather obscure, and few people practice it. I'll fetch it for Fifth Prince."

The Steward ran toward the depths of the Martial Repository Pavilion.

After Zhao Hongming waited in place for a while, the Steward who had just left returned and handed him a piece of parchment.

"This Martial Skill is called the Wrathful Mountain Skill. It is a Martial Skill that purely consumes qi and blood to obtain the power of flesh and blood. It has existed for quite some time—perhaps dating back to the middle of the Zhou Dynasty. It is relatively ancient."

The Steward of the Martial Repository Pavilion continued explaining to Zhao Hongming, "According to our repeated examinations, this technique was likely created during the time when the Immortal Path was declining and Martial Dao was just beginning to rise. It pursues nothing but brutality. In our view, it no longer has much value for further improvement."

"However, one thing is certain: the power of this technique is exceptionally great. Your Highness need not doubt that. Among all Martial Arts, few explosive bursts of power can compare to it."

Zhao Hongming unfolded the parchment in his hand. At its very top were the three bold words: Wrathful Mountain Skill.

Happy Dragon Boat Festival, everyone. The author was celebrating the festival today and got back rather late. It was almost nine at night by the time I got home, so I hurriedly turned on the computer and typed away. So tired... It feels awful having no saved chapters. I need to find a way to build up a backlog.