Zen and Martial Arts as One

[Arhat Demon-Subduing Divine Skill], [White Rainbow Palm Power], [Snow-Treading Traceless], [Formless Tribulation Finger].

Wang Xuan took a moment to scan the skill names that had suddenly appeared on his panel, his gaze sharp as lightning as it instantly locked onto the first one: [Arhat Demon-Subduing Divine Skill].

As the supreme Buddhist internal energy technique from Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils, its level of refinement was considered the pinnacle of Shaolin's historical internal arts, far surpassing ordinary martial arts.

With almost no hesitation, Wang Xuan shifted his thoughts and immediately maxed out the proficiency of this skill.

In the next second, a warm, mellow current surged from the depths of his dantian, sweeping through his meridians and across his entire body.

This sensation was completely different from any technique he had practiced before. The Energy Absorption Technique's yin-soft, lingering qi, which felt like a winding stream, and the Indestructible Diamond Divine Skill's yang-hard, furnace-like qi had always remained distinct and separate within his meridians. Now, struck by this Buddhist warmth, they felt like fine wine blended by the nimble hands of a master bartender; the two opposing forces trembled violently for a few moments before intertwining and merging into a seamless, natural harmony.

The baleful energy from days of constant slaughter, the irritation of being besieged, and the restless agitation of the qi within his meridians all dissipated in this moment.

Wang Xuan felt his mind become clear and lucid, capable of perceiving every subtle movement around him. Yet, this was not a cold, indifferent state, but rather a sense of grounded clarity bolstered by Zen—a state where his heart was free of attachments and all thoughts returned to their source.

The skill description on the panel slowly emerged in clear text: [Skill: Arhat Demon-Subduing Divine Skill. Characteristics: Mind-Absorbing Origin Return, Yin-Yang Harmonization, Zen and Martial Arts as One.]

Mind-Absorbing Origin Return could banish all worldly distractions, keeping the mind as steady as a rock regardless of the blood and carnage outside; Yin-Yang Harmonization allowed internal power to balance hardness and softness, ensuring they generated and restrained each other, completely eradicating the risk of qi deviation caused by an imbalance of yin or yang; Zen and Martial Arts as One used a Zen heart to nourish qi, and as the qi grew stronger, the Zen heart grew firmer, while the martial intent protected the Zen heart, keeping it clear and sharpening the martial intent.

As for the hidden dangers of qi congestion or internal conflict that might arise from practicing multiple techniques, Wang Xuan feared nothing.

His unique-grade talent already granted him immunity to all negative effects from any skill. Whether it was qi conflict or qi deviation, he would practice whatever skill he obtained, absorbing all the benefits while discarding all the drawbacks.

Opposite him, the remaining dozen or so master-level players watched as another companion turned to ash under Wang Xuan's palm, leaving only a blood-stained garment that drifted lightly onto the bluestone floor, rolling with the wind.

The previously numb, ash-like eyes finally rippled with an imperceptible tremor, like a stone cast into stagnant water. Yet, they did not retreat. With palm winds like blades and fist force like hammers, they rained attacks down upon Wang Xuan, each strike carrying the desperate resolve of someone seeking mutual destruction.

In the heat of the battle, a bearded master seized a gap between punches to squeeze out a whisper from his throat. His voice was as raspy as a broken gong, yet it reached Wang Xuan's ears with perfect clarity: "What a pity... if only this were happening outside the plot world! If I died there, it would be real, and I could finally go see my Nannan..."

Nannan was his daughter's nickname.

Wang Xuan's figure faltered for a split second. Even in that momentary trance, five powerful palm and fist strikes slammed solidly into his chest. While the barrier of his Indestructible Diamond Divine Skill remained unbroken, the massive impact was like a crashing wave, forcing him to stumble back several steps. The bluestone beneath his feet shattered with a crunch, sending stone shards flying and leaving deep footprints.

That sentence was like a thin needle, unexpectedly piercing the softest corner of his heart. He had been reborn into this world, possessing clear self-awareness since childhood. Before the age of three, his parents' love had been etched into his very marrow. That warmth was the only solace he had during the decade of wandering that followed. But they had disappeared without a trace; thinking back on it now, it was entirely possible they had been secretly controlled by the Royal Clan, their fates unknown.

This whisper seemed to strike a chord with the other master-level players as well. Their faces remained numb and dead, but their eyes gradually turned red. Large, bean-sized tears spilled uncontrollably from their sockets, rolling down their blood-stained cheeks and hitting the ground, creating small, wet spots.

Despite being filled with grief and their tear ducts working frantically, they couldn't even move their facial muscles to form a complete expression of sorrow.

Wang Xuan's heart sank, feeling as heavy as if a cold, giant boulder were pressing down on it, making it hard to breathe. Yet, his strikes became even more ruthless, vicious, and fast. Without a shred of hesitation, he knew better than anyone that for these manipulated, tortured players, death was never a punishment—it was the only way out of this endless nightmare.

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With a flicker of his body, Wang Xuan turned into a blurred afterimage. He pushed his Snow-Treading Traceless movement technique to its limit, leaving not a single mark on the bluestone floor beneath him.

From the moment the first master fell after having his internal energy drained, only a few exchanges had passed, yet three more masters had collapsed under his palms. As the Energy Absorption Technique operated, the thick qi and fleshly essence of all three were sucked dry, leaving behind not even a shred of their martial insights, all of which were absorbed by Wang Xuan.

Outside the long street, the Brocade Guard had already surrounded the entire area, making it airtight.

Black cannon muzzles pointed directly at the center of the street, shells already loaded. Bowstrings were pulled taut like full moons, and archers stood ready. At the command of the Thousand-Man Commander, a rain of arrows and a roar of cannon fire would flatten the entire street.

"Commander," a deputy commander in a blue bear-patterned uniform cautiously approached the lead Brocade Guard commander, his voice lowered to a whisper, carrying an unmistakable tremor. "Look at the battle... the brothers are all flesh and blood. If we throw them in, the casualties will be countless!"

He looked toward the center of the battle in the distance, where houses were collapsing and energy was surging. His legs trembled so violently he could barely stand. Such world-destroying power was not something ordinary soldiers could contend with; going in was simply suicide.

The Brocade Guard commander's face was as cold as a deep pool. His fists were clenched so tightly his knuckles turned white, and cold sweat seeped from between his fingers.

How could he not know this? His men were all born of mothers and fathers, the pillars of their families. But could he dare to defy the orders from above?

To refuse was to invite the execution of his entire clan and the nine generations of his family. Those high-ranking officials were far more ruthless than the tyrants in history books; resistance meant only death.

Just as the commander stood at a crossroads, his heart torn, the sound of rapid hoofbeats shattered the silence of the street.

A small flag officer in tight-fitting gear leaped from his horse, hurried forward, and knelt on one knee. His voice was loud but carried a hint of urgency: "Commander! The superiors have ordered: the Brocade Guard is to immediately coordinate with the masters, deploy the heavy crossbows, and fire the cannons to severely wound the rebels. No delays! Act immediately!"

The commander's pupils contracted, his heart shaken. The meaning from above was clear: do not worry about the master-level players, just fire with everything they had, even if it meant killing them all in the process!

But then he thought, those monster-like masters had such tough bodies and thick qi; these cannons and crossbows probably wouldn't be able to kill them at all! If he defied the order, his own men would be the ones to suffer in the end!

There was no time for further thought; the superiors' orders allowed for no delay, or he would bring disaster upon himself.

The commander gritted his teeth, a flash of resolve in his eyes, and ordered in a deep voice: "Fire the cannons! Release the arrows!"

Boom!

A deafening roar of cannon fire instantly echoed through the long street, followed by billowing smoke and flying debris.

Amidst the thunderous cannon fire, the sharp whistling of heavy crossbow bolts pierced the air. A dense rain of arrows, like a torrential downpour, carried the residual force of the cannon fire as they slammed toward the combatants in the center of the street.

With such earth-shattering commotion, even ordinary martial artists would have noticed immediately, let alone the peak-level masters engaged in battle.

Wang Xuan dodged the attacks of the masters before him like a ghost. Hearing the whistling of cannon fire and arrows, he shifted his thoughts and, in the gap between exchanges, tapped his fingertip on the panel to max out [White Rainbow Palm Power]!

This peerless palm technique, originating from the Carefree Sect in Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils, specialized in palm force. When driven by thick internal energy, a single strike could curve and straighten at will, like a white rainbow piercing the sun. It was incredibly fast, yet its force left no trace.

The essence of the technique was neither hard nor soft; it penetrated the hard and pierced through the soft. It never collided head-on with external force, but instead seeped through the gaps, striking directly into the internal organs and shattering meridians. It was the supreme principle of the Daoist philosophy: "Using the non-thick to enter the gaps."

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