Integrating the Hundred Schools Martial Arts, Creating a Divine Art

Lin Heng nodded in agreement with Xiao Rang's proposal.

Although there was no clear path to rely on for breaking through from Great Grandmaster to the Heaven-Human Realm, reading more Martial Arts Secret Manuals and enriching his knowledge of martial arts might allow him to draw inferences from one instance to another.

"What are in these Stone Chambers?"

Lin Heng briefly swept his gaze over the bookshelves, then looked toward the Stone Chambers with their tightly shut doors scattered throughout the underground space.

"These are the places where the Sect's masters of past generations entered death seclusion in their later years. When their Great Limit approached, they entered them to make one final desperate bid. If they succeeded, they would open the stone doors and emerge on their own. If they failed, they would be buried within."

Xiao Rang spoke.

Seeing the confusion on Lin Heng's face, Xiao Rang explained:

"A Great Grandmaster First Heaven has a Lifespan of at least one hundred and twenty years. Those proficient in preserving their health can live to one hundred and fifty. After that, every further Heaven of cultivation extends one's life by ten years. Take your master, for instance—even if my cultivation never breaks through again, living to one hundred and eighty will not be a problem."

"At that age, one's wife and descendants will probably have already passed on. Descendants separated by many generations can hardly be called close family, and with a diamond-indestructible corpse that will not decay for years, one might easily be desecrated. So, they simply bury themselves here."

As he spoke, he opened one of the Stone Chambers.

The walls of the Stone Chamber were carved with countless sword marks, their strokes like silver hooks and iron lines. By carefully contemplating these sword marks, one could sense an undying Sword Intent steeped in unwillingness. From them, one could comprehend peerless Sword Arts. They had all been left behind by masters who had once secluded themselves here.

In one corner of the spacious Stone Chamber stood a Cold Jade Coffin.

Through the translucent coffin, they could see an elderly man with white hair and a face full of wrinkles lying within.

If not for his bloodless face and complete lack of breath, it would have been perfectly believable to say that he was merely asleep.

"This is my master—your Grandmaster, Zhang Qing—the previous master of Cloud Sword Palace. Zhang Yuan, the one who rescued you from the Blood Pool in the underground palace of Li Hen Pavilion, is his descendant."

"Among these Stone Chambers, those with Nether lamps placed outside have already been used. You may enter and contemplate the traces left within, but remember: you must not touch the coffins in these Stone Chambers. Do not desecrate our forebears."

"One day, when your master dies, Heng'er, you will be the one to close my coffin lid."

Xiao Rang spoke calmly, long accustomed to life and death.

Lin Heng had a good relationship with Zhang Yuan.

After all, Zhang Yuan had saved his life. Lin Heng was usually close to this Senior Brother, and when they were not cultivating, they often played chess and chatted together. He had never expected Zhang Yuan to possess such an identity.

As Xiao Rang spoke of life and death, Lin Heng comforted him. "Master, do not worry. Perhaps I will soon break through to the Heaven-Human Realm. When that time comes, I may find a way to take everyone with me in ascension, to the Upper Realm to enjoy eternal life. Then there will be no more partings between life and death."

Xiao Rang smiled without taking it seriously. He merely said casually, "Then your master will look forward to his disciple breaking through soon."

Their idle conversation came to an end there.

After that, Xiao Rang left, leaving Lin Heng alone.

He bowed toward the coffin, then began contemplating the sword marks left here by the Sect's predecessors, sensing the Sword Intent they had elevated to the Peak before death.

These Sword Intents were of great help to Lin Heng. They allowed him to see the road ahead and understand the direction in which his Artistic Conception needed to advance.

At the same time, Lin Heng continuously absorbed Heaven and Earth Origin Energy to Nourish his Physique, then refined Essence into Qi and Qi into Spirit, causing his Internal Breath and spirit to grow steadily stronger as he approached the limit of Great Grandmaster First Heaven.

For the following period, Lin Heng remained underground. Even his meals were handled with Spirit Cuisine delivered by Xiao Rang.

With every passing day, Lin Heng could feel himself growing a little stronger than he had been the day before.

This strength was not merely reflected in the growth of his Physique and Internal Breath. It was even more apparent in how his spirit and Sword Intent drew nourishment from the Ancient Sages of Cloud Sword Sect, becoming ever more powerful.

After a month, Lin Heng had comprehended all the Sword Intents left behind by the many Ancient Sages in this underground space.

Next, he began reading the many Martial Arts Secret Manuals stored in the underground space.

None of the martial arts collected here were ordinary. Even some martial arts suited only to Postnatal Realm cultivation possessed their own Characteristics.

Supported by Lin Heng's peerless Comprehension—Photographic Memory, instant mastery upon learning, and proficiency upon practice—he transformed the tens of thousands of secret manuals in the underground Library Pavilion into his own foundation and accumulation at an astonishing speed.

If the former Lin Heng had merely learned martial arts, then he had now reached an entirely new level.

He had read through the Hundred Schools Martial Arts, combining his cultivation experience with vast theoretical knowledge. He had gained a truly profound and essential understanding of martial arts, begun to possess the ability to cast aside the old and bring forth the new on the path of martial arts, and truly acquired the bearing of a Great Grandmaster who carried on the past and opened the way for the future.

At this point, Lin Heng began examining the achievements he had attained throughout his cultivation.

"The current me is a standard Great Grandmaster Realm Martial Artist, cultivated through Cloud Sword Palace's martial arts training system. My martial arts possess none of my own Characteristics; they are merely repetitions of the paths walked by my predecessors."

"I can display the standard Combat Power of the Great Grandmaster Realm, but that is all."

"I need to revise the martial arts I have learned and fully adapt them to my own Artistic Conception and temperament. Only by creating martial arts tailored specifically for myself will I have the possibility of breaking through to the Heaven-Human Realm."

Lin Heng pondered, seeking to determine the path he would take in the future.

In the past, he had not possessed the ability to create his own martial arts. But now, it was no longer particularly difficult for him.

His Realm and knowledge were already sufficient.

"The essence of cultivation lies in elevating one's body and mind, in living longer and living better."

"Therefore, after ensuring the most Peak cultivation speed, the first thing this entirely new cultivation art must emphasize is survivability. Movement speed, defensive power, and recovery ability—these three attributes are the highest priorities."

"Then, while ensuring survivability, it must possess the strongest Combat Power possible."

Very quickly, Lin Heng established the general principles of this entirely new cultivation art.

Next, he began drawing upon the repository of martial arts knowledge he had accumulated over the past period, extracting its essence and filling the framework of his new cultivation art.

After constant revisions and adjustments, a new cultivation art soon emerged. It was based on the Cloud Sword True Art, Ethereal True Aura, Ethereal Sword Technique, Gale Cloud, and Primordial Finger—martial arts Lin Heng had cultivated for many years—and integrated the essence of the Hundred Schools Martial Arts.

Next, Lin Heng began putting this newly created cultivation art into practical use, adjusting it throughout the process.

He removed unsuitable parts and sought out areas that could be strengthened.

Through iteration after iteration, the cultivation art Lin Heng had created continued to improve, gradually approaching perfection.