Martial Codex

Time flowed on. By the shores of the East Sea, more than ten years had passed amid the rising and falling tides.

Under the guidance of the three "Sages," the human race was like tenacious vines, stubbornly taking root in this fertile yet perilous land.

Leaning against the coast and hills, they used boulders and massive trees to build crude clusters of dwellings, sufficient to shield them from wind and rain.

The hunting parties grew increasingly capable. Their stone spears and bone daggers had been sharpened until they gleamed coldly, and with the combat techniques Dao Xuan had taught them and their understanding of fierce beasts' habits, ordinary predators no longer posed a fatal threat.

Their gathering range continued to expand as they identified strange shellfish along the shore, resilient seaweed, and more edible fruits and roots within the inland forests.

Dao Xuan sat upright atop the highest peak beside the human settlement.

The mountain had no name, yet it was blessed with spiritual beauty. Clouds and mist often coiled around its waist.

Dao Xuan sat cross-legged upon a smooth dark-green boulder. His Blue Gauze Headband did not stir, and his Apricot Yellow Eight Trigrams Robe remained spotless.

His face was like Mutton Fat Jade, his eyes as deep as cold pools. His aura faintly merged with heaven and earth, becoming ever more profound and unfathomable.

His mind sank into his Purple Mansion as he comprehended the mysteries of the Quasi-Saint realm.

The phenomena of Three Flowers Gathering at the Crown and Five Qi Facing the Origin had long since withdrawn inward. His auspicious cloud was chaotic, containing within it the cycles of the Four Symbols.

The four figures formed from his Good Corpse silently comprehended the origin Great Daos of earth, fire, wind, and water within the depths of the auspicious cloud, nourishing the main body in return.

His mana was as deep and vast as an abyssal sea, flowing ceaselessly through his meridians. Every circulation of the heavenly cycle seemed to inhale and exhale the boundless primordial qi of the prehistoric world.

His divine sense enveloped the entire human settlement by the East Sea like an invisible net of heaven.

The humans' daily hunting, gathering, construction, and even their minor disputes did not escape his notice.

He watched in silence, like the Heavenly Dao looking down upon all living beings.

But in the prehistoric world, where could true peace be found?

"Awoo—!"

A wolf howl that shook the mountains and forests rang out from the vast woodland west of the settlement, carrying a heart-palpitating Fierce Sha Qi!

Immediately afterward, dozens of weaker yet equally vicious howls answered it!

The earth trembled faintly!

A dense Demonic Aura soared into the sky, stirring the wind and clouds. It had astonishingly reached the early Grand Unity Golden Immortal level!

"Not good! It's a pack of Howling Moon Demon Wolves! The wolf king leading them has broken through!" Golden Peng, who was on patrol, gave the warning at once and turned into a streak of golden light as he rushed westward!

The human settlement immediately erupted in turmoil.

A Demon King at the Grand Unity Golden Immortal level! This was absolutely not something human warriors could contend with through courage and crude weapons alone!

"Don't panic!"

A clear child's voice rang out, carrying a calming force.

Seven-colored radiance flashed, and Gourd Baby was already standing atop the Seven-Colored Gourd, floating above the human settlement.

His little face was taut, but there was no fear in his eyes. Instead, they gleamed with eagerness.

"Teacher said that trouble at the Grand Unity Golden Immortal level is ours to handle!"

Before his words had faded, an enormous wolf the size of a small hill charged out from the edge of the forest!

Its entire body was silver-white, its fur like steel needles. A crescent-shaped silver marking on its forehead shone brilliantly. Its blood-filled maw gaped open, its fangs white as swords, spewing out foul demonic wind!

It was the Howling Moon wolf king!

Behind it followed dozens of slightly smaller blue-black demon wolves, each with green light glowing in its eyes and murderous aura surging from its body!

The wolf king's emerald vertical pupils locked onto Gourd Baby in the air. With vicious light flashing in its eyes, it released a heaven-shaking roar, kicked off the ground with all four paws, and its huge body leaped into the air like a silver bolt of lightning!

The demonic wind transformed into blades that tore through the air!

"Good!"

Gourd Baby neither dodged nor retreated. He slapped the Seven-Colored Gourd beneath him with his little hand.

"Receive!"

Buzz!

A powerful suction force suddenly erupted from the mouth of the Seven-Colored Gourd!

A seven-colored vortex formed in an instant, enveloping the charging wolf king!

The demonic wind blades that could tear apart a Golden Immortal crashed into the seven-colored vortex like clay oxen entering the sea, instantly swallowed and dispersed!

The wolf king's enormous body also faltered, as though it had sunk into an invisible swamp!

"Bind!"

Gourd Baby shouted again.

The seven-colored divine light flared, transforming into seven condensed cords of light that wound upward like spiritual snakes, instantly tying the wolf king up tight!

"Awoo!" The wolf king was both shocked and enraged. It struggled madly, its Grand Unity Golden Immortal demonic power bursting forth in a violent surge that made the seven-colored cords flicker unstably!

"Hmph! You little wolf pup, and you still dare struggle?" Gourd Baby curled his lips and formed hand seals.

"Suppress!"

The Seven-Colored Gourd itself blazed with light, and an even heavier, more majestic Suppression Power crashed down!

It was like a Primordial Divine Mountain pressing down from above!

"Whine..." The wolf king let out a mournful cry. Its struggling force was instantly suppressed, and its enormous body, tightly bound by the seven-colored cords, smashed into the ground with a boom, kicking up dust that filled the sky!

"Your Majesty!"

"Roar!"

Seeing their wolf king captured, the dozens of demon wolves behind it immediately went red-eyed and charged forward without regard for their lives!

"You feathered beasts, do you think I don't exist?"

Golden Peng's cold voice seemed to come from the depths of the underworld.

Golden light flashed!

Golden Peng's true form appeared, its wings hanging like clouds and blotting out the sky!

"Golden Feathers Tear the Sky!"

Countless solid golden feathers shot toward the wolf pack like a torrential downpour!

Sizzle! Sizzle! Sizzle! Sizzle!

Blood flowers burst forth!

Those Golden Immortal demon wolves were like paper beneath Golden Peng's furious strike. Their heads and hearts were instantly pierced through, and they fell in droves with miserable howls!

The few fortunate enough to survive were also torn apart with ease when Golden Peng swooped down and struck with his massive talons!

The battle ended in the blink of an eye.

From the wolves' appearance to the wolf king's capture and the extermination of the pack, only a dozen or so breaths had passed!

The human settlement fell silent for a moment before erupting in thunderous cheers!

"The Sages are mighty!"

"The Sages are invincible!"

Gourd Baby smugly clapped his hands, rode the gourd down, and looked at the wolf king on the ground, tied up like a dumpling and still growling as it struggled. He said to Golden Peng:

"Little Gold, what should we do with this wolf king? Roast it and eat it?"

Golden Peng transformed into a human youth. His fitted outfit decorated with golden feather patterns made him look valiant and heroic. Hearing this, he glanced at the wolf king.

"A Grand Unity Golden Immortal demon wolf's flesh and blood contain vital essence. Its tendons and bones can be used to refine artifacts, and its fur is valuable as well. Killing it would be wasteful. We should suppress it and take from it gradually."

"Good idea!" Gourd Baby's eyes lit up.

As for the human race's trivial affairs, there were naturally Sages to handle them.

"Sage Six-Eared, the eastern hunting party and gathering party are arguing over ownership of an Ironclad Rhinoceros they just killed!"

"Sage Six-Eared, the fruit in that newly discovered wild orchard is nearly all picked. The clansmen who arrived later are dissatisfied!"

"Sage Six-Eared, several children at the shore were pricked by a kind of spiny sea snail. They're in terrible pain!"

The figure of the Six-Eared Macaque flashed through every part of the human settlement.

He wore a small fish-tail crown and a black short Daoist robe. His six ears twitched faintly, taking in every request, dispute, and difficulty.

"The Ironclad Rhinoceros was hunted by the hunting party, so they shall receive seventy percent of its flesh, blood, tendons, and bones. The gathering party discovered its tracks and led away its young, so they shall receive thirty percent of the organs and rhinoceros horn! No more arguing!"

"As for the wild orchard, tomorrow I will mark out gathering areas, and everyone will take turns going! Those who picked more today must give thirty percent to clansmen who received none!"

"A spiny sea snail? That is called a Poison Thorn Snail. Its spines contain a paralyzing toxin. Crush the Blue Moss growing on the seaside reefs and apply it externally. The poison will be cured in half an hour!"

He handled matters with clear order and fair decisiveness. With his six ears listening to human hearts, he could often perceive the finest details, leaving everyone sincerely convinced.

The human race regarded him with respect, mixed with no small degree of reliance.

One day.

Gourd Baby, Golden Peng, and Six-Eared gathered together beneath the mountain where Dao Xuan cultivated in seclusion, a rare occurrence.

Gourd Baby's little face was scrunched into a ball as he complained toward the mountaintop. "Teacher!

"The human race may be stronger than when they first arrived, but they're still far too weak! They rely entirely on the three of us to protect them!

"If one day we enter seclusion, or you send us out to handle matters, Teacher, and they encounter a slightly stronger demon beast, wouldn't they be doomed?"

Golden Peng also nodded, a trace of worry in his golden eyes. "Yes, Teacher.

"They have some combat skills, but those are ultimately mortal methods. They can deal with ordinary beasts, but if they encounter a demonic creature with cultivation—even a minor demon at the Refining Qi into Spirit realm—they would struggle to resist without sharp weapons in hand."

Six-Eared's six ears twitched as he added, "This disciple has observed the humans' reproduction. Though the new generation is spirited and intelligent, they do not possess the innate foundations that we had at birth. Their constitutions are actually less resilient than their parents'. If this continues, I fear..."

Clouds and mist swirled around the mountaintop, where Dao Xuan's figure flickered in and out of sight.

He slowly opened his eyes. Wisdom flowed within them like the birth and death of stars.

His three disciples' words were like stones cast into a tranquil lake, stirring ripples in his heart.

He looked down at the flourishing yet fragile human settlement below the mountain.

Over ten years of observation, he had seen the spirit of Constant Self-Improvement within the human race.

But the prehistoric world was cruel. Relying only on primitive courage and crude weapons truly made it difficult for them to gain a firm foothold.

Teach them the Dao? Grant them immortal methods?

No.

The human race was an acquired race, with uneven aptitude for cultivation. Moreover, the immortal path was arduous; not everyone could walk it.

Besides, this was the path for his own teacher to become a saint. He could not recklessly meddle with it.

More importantly, this was the Heavenly Dao's trial for humanity. Introducing the immortal path too early might encourage growth before its time and instead damage their foundation of self-reliance.

"Martial..."

A thought flashed through Dao Xuan's Sea of Consciousness like lightning!

The vast martial arts world from his previous life, like a boundless sea of smoke, and all kinds of miraculous martial techniques and supreme arts surged into his mind at once!

Though those arts lacked the power to move mountains and fill seas, they could develop the human body's potential to its utmost limit, allowing mortal bodies to contend against the extraordinary!

This path did not cultivate the primordial spirit or refine golden cores. It focused solely on qi, blood, tendons, and bones, excavating the endless treasure that was the human body itself!

It was precisely suited to humanity's present needs!

A brilliant light flared in Dao Xuan's eyes!

The corner of his mouth even lifted into a faint smile touched with mischief.

"What you have said is very reasonable." Dao Xuan's voice came from the mountaintop, calm yet carrying a note of understanding.

"For humanity to strengthen itself, it must possess the foundation to protect itself and survive. The immortal path is too ethereal; it is not their choice at present."

"I have observed all things between heaven and earth. Every living creature has its own principles of combat. Though the human body lacks innate divine abilities, tendons and bones may serve as a bow, qi and blood as a bowstring, and will as an arrow. They too may split mountains and shatter rocks, subdue dragons and tigers!"

Gourd Baby, Golden Peng, and Six-Eared were all stunned upon hearing this.

Tendons and bones as a bow? Qi and blood as a bowstring? Will as an arrow?

What kind of path was this?

Dao Xuan said no more.

His thoughts sank into his Sea of Consciousness. Martial arts manuals, cultivation formulas, and move diagrams from the countless martial arts classics he had read in his previous life surged forth like a tide.

The profundity of the Nine Yin Manual, the fierce power of the Nine Yang Divine Art, the marrow-cleansing and sinew-changing of the Muscle-Tendon Classic, the qi absorption and return to origin of the Northern Darkness Divine Art—of course, these would need to be altered for this world...

The unmatched ferocity of the Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms, the invisible sword qi of the Six Meridian Divine Swords, the wind-like speed of Wind God's Leg, the profound footwork of Lingbo Micro-steps...

All kinds of divine arts and secret techniques were refined and simplified through deduction at his Quasi-Saint realm and the reflection of the prehistoric world's Dao laws. He further incorporated rough methods of prehistoric qi-and-blood circulation and the tempering of tendons and bones.

Dao Xuan used his finger as a brush and his divine sense as ink!

He did not rise. He merely traced through the air toward a broad region of hard stone forest beneath the mountain!

Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh!

Invisible, razor-sharp streams of force tore through the air!

They landed upon towering dark-green boulders several zhang high, hard beyond compare!

Stone chips flew everywhere, as though the rocks were being carved by the most exquisite sculpting blade!

Lifelike human figures emerged one after another!

The figures stood or sat, leaped and shifted, punched and kicked, assuming countless different postures.

Beside them were densely packed ancient Daoist inscriptions, flowing with the force of dragons and serpents!

They explained the paths of qi-and-blood circulation, the key points of exerting force through tendons and bones, the subtleties of changing moves, and even how to draw upon a trace of heaven and earth's baleful qi and earth-vein essence to temper one's body!

The first boulder:

Its image depicted a broad-shouldered man rooted in a horse stance, waist lowered, both palms thrusting out in succession. His palm wind was fierce and powerful, as if dragon-shaped streams of force wound around him as they roared!

The first line of the accompanying Daoist inscription was astonishingly:

"Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms: foremost in ferocity, never regret when the palm is released! The Proud Dragon Has Regrets; fullness cannot endure..."

As Dao Xuan carved down this name, the mischievous smile at his lips deepened.

The second boulder:

Its image depicted a graceful figure whose legs transformed into countless afterimages. Its body moved like wind and lightning, stirring the currents of air!

The accompanying Daoist inscription read:

"Wind God's Leg: swift as wind, sweeping as fire! Catching Wind and Shadows, Strong Grass in the Wind..."

The third boulder:

Its image depicted someone holding two fingers together like a sword. Six invisible streams of force seemed to shoot from the fingertips, sharp and unrivaled!

The accompanying Daoist inscription read:

"Six Meridian Divine Swords: invisible sword qi condensed at the fingertips! The Shaoshang Sword is majestic, the Shangyang Sword is ingenious..."

The fourth boulder:

Its image depicted someone using profound footwork, shifting and evading within the smallest space. The figure was elusive and uncertain, as though walking upon waves!

Marginal Dao text:

"Lingbo Micro-steps: Swift as a flying duck, elusive as a deity! Movements without fixed patterns, advances and retreats impossible to predict..."

The fifth massive boulder:

The image depicted a person sitting quietly, palms, soles, and crown facing heaven, their blood and qi circulating like mercury through the heavenly cycle, tempering tendons and bones!

Marginal Dao text:

"Muscle-Tendon Purifying and Bone-Strengthening Chapter: Circulate blood and qi, transform the tendons and cleanse the marrow! Like gold refined in a furnace, forged a hundred times into steel..."

One massive boulder after another was carved full!

Martial arts mental methods, moves, and ultimate techniques—some fierce and forceful, some nimble, some bizarre, some heavy and solid—were imprinted upon them by Dao Xuan with supreme magical power and wisdom!

Diamond Indestructible Body!

Dugu Nine Swords! (Dao Xuan mischievously renamed it Nine Forms to Break Demons.)

Dog-Beating Staff Technique! (After giving it some thought, Dao Xuan renamed it Beast Taming Staff Technique.)

Toad Skill! (Dao Xuan's mouth twitched, but he still carved it, renaming it Golden Toad Swallowing Moon Power.)

Tai Chi Fist! Tai Chi Sword!

Flame Saber! Ice Palm!

They were numerous and all-encompassing!

There were no fewer than three thousand martial arts!

They covered fists, palms, legs, fingers, swords, sabers, spears, staves, clubs, whips, internal arts, movement techniques, body-tempering arts... everything was included!

As Dao Xuan carved with growing enthusiasm, he unceremoniously appropriated those familiar names from his previous life and inscribed them upon the massive boulders.

Whenever he carved names such as Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms and Six Meridian Divine Swords, an indescribable, uniquely transmigrator-like thrill of malicious amusement rose within him.

"Hmm... Those who wish to master this art quickly must draw upon the ferocious blood-qi and life essence contained within Demon Clan blood essence, using it as fuel to temper themselves and awaken their potential!"

Dao Xuan deliberately added this note beside several of the most important foundational cultivation arts.

"Demon Clan blood essence?" The humans watching below the mountain, along with the three Gourd Babies, saw the annotation, and their eyes instantly lit up!

Hunting demon beasts had originally been necessary for survival.

Now, the blood essence of demon beasts had become nourishment for growing stronger!

This was simply an immense incentive!

When the final massive boulder had been carved full,

Dao Xuan withdrew his finger.

Three thousand azure boulders, each several zhang tall, stood across that open expanse like a forest of stone!

Every boulder exuded an ancient, vigorous, sharp, or heavy Martial Dao aura!

Sunlight spilled down, casting mottled shadows across the stone walls and making the diagrams and Dao text appear even more mysterious and unfathomable.

An invisible Martial Dao Will began gathering and rising within this stone forest!

Dao Xuan's voice, like a great bell and mighty chime, resounded in the hearts of every human and disciple:

"This is the Martial Codex I created for humanity! It contains three thousand martial arts and encompasses all things!"

"This place shall be called—the Martial Arts World!"

"Practice this Martial Dao without cultivating the primordial spirit. Focus solely on refining blood, qi, tendons, and bones, and uncover the great secrets of the human body! It can strengthen the body, prolong life, kill demons, and protect the clan!"

"However, those who seek swift success must use Demon Clan blood essence as a catalyst, turning external power into fuel to ignite the furnace of their own blood and qi!"

"The path of Martial Dao is also the path of self-strengthening! I hope you will cultivate diligently and never betray this opportunity!"

As his voice fell, the entire Martial Arts World stone forest seemed to be infused with a soul, and that Martial Dao Will became even more surging and majestic!

"Martial Codex! Martial Arts World!"

"The Sage Master has bestowed divine arts upon us!"

"Use demon blood to cultivate! Kill demons to grow stronger!"

The humans were silent at first, then erupted into frenzied cheers like mountains roaring and seas crashing!

Countless human warriors, their eyes gleaming, surged madly toward the massive boulders covered in diagrams and Dao text like starving wolves spotting fat lambs!

They watched greedily, memorized, and mimicked the moves!

The might of Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms! The swiftness of Wind God's Leg! The sharpness of Six Meridian Divine Swords! The profundity of the Muscle-Tendon Purifying and Bone-Strengthening Chapter... all of it deeply shook their hearts!

"Hahaha! Teacher is incredible!" Gourd Baby clapped and laughed. "Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms? What an imposing name! I want to learn it!"

A strange light also flashed through Golden Peng's eyes. "Though this path does not cultivate the primordial spirit, developing blood, qi, tendons, and bones to their utmost limit is still a great path leading to heaven! It is especially suited to newly born humanity!"

Six Ears' ears trembled as he rapidly recorded the information within the stone forest. He sighed, "Teacher's wisdom is truly unfathomable! With the emergence of this Martial Codex, humanity's path toward self-strengthening has finally been truly laid!"

Dao Xuan stood atop the mountain peak, his Blue Gauze Headband fluttering gently in the wind, while his Apricot Yellow Eight Trigrams Robe reflected the fervent and hopeful Martial Arts World below.

He watched the human warriors excitedly discussing names such as Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms and Six Meridian Divine Swords carved upon the boulders, gesturing through those moves so familiar to him from his previous life.

The mischievous smile on his face finally bloomed completely.

"Hmm... The results are not bad."

He could almost see the magnificent future scene across the prehistoric land: groups of human martial artists shouting, "Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms!" and "Take this Six Meridian Divine Sword!" as they charged howling toward the Demon Clan...

That picture was simply too beautiful.

By the shores of the Eastern Sea, within the human settlement.

The spirit of martial practice swept through the people like a prairie fire!

Hunting was no longer merely for food.

It was also for the nourishment needed to grow stronger—Demon Clan blood essence!

The Martial Arts World stone forest became the holiest and liveliest place.

A new chapter in humanity's self-strengthening, guided by Dao Xuan's Martial Codex filled with "malicious amusement," began with tremendous fanfare!