After listening to Chen Changsheng, Yuanshan suddenly said, "Brother Changsheng, since that senior left behind his legacy..."
"Why didn't he set up a trial here? Wasn't he afraid someone would just pick up his things?"
"Who said he didn't set up a trial? The entire Boundless Secret Realm is the greatest trial of all."
"It was named 'Boundless' because this secret realm is practically endless."
"It opens once every fifty years, and it was already here when the Great Qian Dynasty was founded."
"Over a thousand years have passed, yet its treasures still haven't been picked clean."
"With an inexhaustible mountain of gold before them, who would pay any attention to this beautiful but utterly useless sea of flowers?"
"We cultivate to seek the Dao. Some seek the martial Dao, while others seek the Dao of longevity."
"Whatever Dao you pursue, the most important thing is not to be led astray by worldly things."
"But look at the people who entered this secret realm. Its treasures have dazzled every one of them. Who still remembers why they started?"
"And if they've forgotten why they started, how would they ever stop to look at this sea of flowers?"
Yuanshan nodded at Chen Changsheng's words, only half understanding them.
"Brother Changsheng, what was this senior's name?"
"I don't know. It isn't written on there. Maybe we'll find a clue if we open it."
"Okay!"
At the mention of opening the coffin, Yuanshan immediately grew excited.
Creeeak!
With a grating sound that set their teeth on edge, the two of them pushed the heavy stone coffin open a crack.
The gap gradually widened. Before Yuanshan could lean over for a proper look, a beam of light shot out of the stone coffin and sucked them both inside.
After a dizzying whirl, Chen Changsheng and Yuanshan appeared in a space of boundless white.
At its very center stood a man with his hands clasped behind his back, his features indistinct.
"To receive this opportunity proves that you have not yet been led astray by worldly things."
"I excel in fist arts. This fist art contains everything I learned throughout my life. I hope those who come after me will treasure it."
With that, the figure began demonstrating his fist art without another word.
The moves he demonstrated were not complex, yet each carried an indescribable resonance.
Soon, the demonstration ended, and the figure spoke again.
"This fist art values intent, not moves."
"In my later years, I faced nine foes. Nine punches struck, and nine foes fell."
As his words ended, their surroundings transformed again, and the figure appeared atop a mountain peak.
Nine dark figures with formidable auras surrounded him.
Then the figure on the mountaintop slowly threw a punch. Though that punch moved at an exceedingly slow pace,
the surrounding mountains and rivers were shattered beneath it.
Chen Changsheng and Yuanshan were shocked speechless by the sight. They could only stare blankly at the battle.
The figure threw nine punches, each carrying a different conception.
Such a profound realm was far beyond anything Chen Changsheng and Yuanshan could comprehend.
When the battle ended, they returned to the white space once more.
"Those of later generations who learn my fist art must remember: your fist art may lose, but the force of your fists must never falter."
"When you throw a punch, you must make your opponent's liver and gall split with terror."
With that, the surrounding space began collapsing, and the figure gradually faded.
The changes around him brought Chen Changsheng out of his stunned daze.
He cupped his hands and asked, "May I ask your honored name, Senior?"
At those words, the unresponsive figure seemed to regain a trace of awareness.
"The world calls me Hundred Defeats Immortal."
"Thank you for granting us this opportunity, Immortal. May I ask what this fist art is called?"
"In my hands, it is my fist art. In yours, it is your fist art."
"Thus, it is Nameless Fist."
As the final word fell, Hundred Defeats Immortal's figure vanished completely, and Chen Changsheng and Yuanshan returned to the sea of flowers.
Looking at the familiar surroundings, Chen Changsheng felt as though he had lived a lifetime in a dream while the millet was still cooking.
"Brother Changsheng, I've formed my core!"
At his voice, Chen Changsheng turned to see Yuanshan gleefully showing off his cultivation.
Seeing that Yuanshan had advanced straight from the foundation establishment middle stage to the golden core realm, Chen Changsheng seemed to realize something and hurriedly checked his own cultivation.
He had originally been at qi refining level 9, but at some unknown point, he had reached foundation establishment perfection.
Only a hair's breadth separated him from forming his core.
"Brother Changsheng, what's going on? How did I form my core in less than two hours?"
Faced with Yuanshan's confusion, Chen Changsheng smiled faintly and said, "It wasn't two hours. We spent at least two months in there."
"Two months? Was it really that long?"
"Of course it was. When we dug up this coffin, we damaged quite a few of the flowers around it."
"But look around. Those flowers have already grown back."
"Even with the abundant spiritual energy in the Boundless Secret Realm, that would take at least a month or two."
Hearing this, Yuanshan looked around and found that it was just as Chen Changsheng had said.
"We only felt we hadn't stayed in there long because the Immortal's cultivation was so high that it distorted our perception."
"Besides, while he demonstrated his fist art to us, our bodies had already followed along and practiced it many times without us realizing."
"With such a powerful senior personally guiding us through the fist art, it would be strange if our cultivation didn't improve."
"So that's how it was!"
"If two months have already passed, does that mean we'll have to leave the secret realm soon?"
"Probably. The Boundless Secret Realm stays open for five months."
"We spent two and a half months brewing wine, then over two more months learning the Immortal's fist art."
"We'd better hurry and pack. We might get expelled from the secret realm any moment now."
As he spoke, Chen Changsheng walked toward the temporary wooden cabin he had built. Inside were ten jars of Hundred Flowers Wine he had painstakingly brewed.
Whoosh!
The Sacrificial Altar shuddered, and countless figures were spat out of the black hole.
Some were excited, some frustrated, and others had eyes filled with vicious hostility.
But everyone soon noticed something was wrong.
The elders of their sects were all gone. Only one or two people had come to receive them.
"Sixth Senior Brother, why did only you come? Where are Master and First Senior Brother?"
In response to Chen Changsheng's question, Sixth Senior Brother forced a smile and said,
"There's a crisis in the Borderlands. Master, First Senior Brother, and the others went there two months ago."
"It looks like you two both gained quite a lot. That puts my mind at ease."
"For the time being, the two of you will be in charge of the Supreme Clarity Temple. We'll be back soon."
With that, Sixth Senior Brother immediately departed using Sword Flight.
Watching the direction in which Sixth Senior Brother had left, Chen Changsheng's brow remained furrowed for a long time.
Sixth Senior Brother was famously levelheaded. What could have happened in the Borderlands to make him so anxious?
At that thought, Chen Changsheng shook his head helplessly.
For besides his master and senior brothers, he was also worried about a little monk and a girl.
Before you continue