The True Meaning of Martial Arts

It was only then that Zhou Cheng learned that the experts of the Ten Thousand Stars Sect were about to set out to rendezvous with the Da Feng royal family, the Sun Moon Sword Sect, and Shaolin to eradicate the Demonic Cult.

For this campaign against the Demonic Cult, the Ten Thousand Stars Sect was mobilizing four hundred Qi Refining realm disciples and forty Xiantian experts.

"His Majesty has confirmed that the Demonic Cult's headquarters lies within the Blackwater Mountain Range and the vicinity of Hundred Flowers City in Dongsheng Province. Therefore, half a month ago, he ordered the Dongsheng provincial government to mobilize a massive army to seal off all entry and exit points of the Blackwater Mountain Range and Hundred Flowers City to prevent the Demonic Cult from committing further atrocities or escaping!" Su Huang announced in a resonant voice.

"For this eradication of the Demonic Cult remnants, the sect will reward the killing of one first-level Qi Refining demonic head with one Star Gathering Pill, one hundred taels of silver, and ten sect contribution points."

"For killing a second-level Qi Refining demonic head, the sect will reward two Star Gathering Pills, two hundred taels of silver, and twenty sect contribution points."

"And so on, accordingly."

Su Huang's voice echoed throughout the great hall.

"In addition to the sect rewards, His Majesty has decreed further rewards: any disciple from our three great sects who kills a first-level Qi Refining demonic head will be rewarded with one Azure Green Pill, one hundred taels of silver, and ten imperial merit points!"

"And so on, accordingly."

Zhou Cheng was surprised; he had not expected the rewards for this eradication of the Demonic Cult to be so generous.

The Star Gathering Pill and the Azure Green Pill were both elixirs that increased internal energy for those in the Qi Refining realm, each worth a thousand gold.

Furthermore, with sect contribution points and imperial merit, one could exchange for treasures in the sect and imperial treasuries, or, of course, exchange for martial arts manuals.

Currently, Zhou Cheng had already cultivated his Roaming Dragon White Tiger Fist to level 64; he was only thirty-six fist technique manuals away from reaching the pinnacle realm!

Once a post-celestial martial art reached the pinnacle realm, it would generate Martial Intent.

For example, once his Roaming Dragon White Tiger Fist reached the pinnacle realm, it would generate Fist Intent!

Fist Intent was even rarer than a supreme Xiantian Grandmaster. Once a fist technique possessed Fist Intent, it could be said to be virtually indestructible, with unparalleled power.

Ten tenth-level Qi Refining experts would struggle to contend with a Xiantian Grandmaster, but if one had cultivated Fist Intent, a tenth-level Qi Refining expert could even kill a first-level Xiantian Grandmaster.

Such was the power of Fist Intent.

If Zhou Cheng were to cultivate the Demon-Subduing Saber Technique to the pinnacle realm, he would generate Saber Intent!

In that case, he would possess two types of Martial Intent.

After Su Huang finished speaking, he scanned the crowd: "Does anyone have any questions?" He then addressed the various elders: "If there are no questions, notify the disciples on the list, and we shall depart promptly this afternoon!"

A few elders asked some questions before withdrawing from the hall.

Su Huang suddenly turned to Zhou Cheng and said, "To root out the strong and support the weak, to uphold justice—this is the Ten Thousand Stars Sect Rules. Little Junior Brother is now an inner sect disciple of our Ten Thousand Stars Sect, so you shall depart with us this afternoon for Dongsheng Province."

Although phrased as a question, the tone was one of command.

Upon hearing this, Xing Yao said to Zhou Cheng, "You have just joined the sect and are unfamiliar with many things. This trip against the Demonic Cult is perilous; if you do not wish to go, you need not. You may stay in the sect to cultivate."

His protectiveness was evident.

Just as Su Huang was about to speak, Zhou Cheng said to Xing Yao, "I understand Master's intentions, but Senior Brother is right. To root out the strong and support the weak, to uphold justice—this is the Ten Thousand Stars Sect Rules. As an inner sect disciple of the Ten Thousand Stars Sect, it is only right that I join everyone in this demon-extermination operation."

This eradication of the Demonic Cult was a rare opportunity, and Zhou Cheng did not want to miss it.

Moreover, the Demonic Cult headquarters should contain quite a few martial arts manuals. Perhaps he could find thirty-six fist technique manuals, and then he wouldn't need to exchange with the sect or the imperial court to bring his Roaming Dragon White Tiger Fist to the pinnacle realm.

Seeing that Zhou Cheng was determined to go, Xing Yao did not try to dissuade him further. He knew that Qin Meng and Lin Ru, who were by Zhou Cheng's side, were both seventh-level Xiantian Grandmasters, so he had no need to worry about Zhou Cheng's safety.

However, these past few days, he had been pondering the matter of Qin Meng and Lin Ru, unable to fathom how two seventh-level Xiantian Grandmasters had come to pledge their loyalty to Zhou Cheng.

"Senior Brother, I wish to head to the Blackwater Mountain Range alone," Zhou Cheng said to Su Huang.

He still had forty-three movement technique manuals that he hadn't cultivated yet, and he wanted to take the opportunity to learn them on the road.

If he were with the rest of the Ten Thousand Stars Sect, it would be inconvenient.

Su Huang frowned: "You want to head to the Blackwater Mountain Range by yourself?"

Gao Yi, standing to the side, spoke up: "The Ten Thousand Stars Sect has its rules. If everyone acted alone, wouldn't it be chaos? Little Martial Uncle, although your status is special, you cannot disregard sect rules, can you?"

"Besides, who knows if you will actually go to the Blackwater Mountain Range? You might just go out to sightsee and then come back."

Xing Yao did not look at Gao Yi, but said to Zhou Cheng with a gentle expression: "Since you wish to act alone, then act alone."

Gao Yi looked at his master, Su Huang, and seeing that Su Huang remained silent, he had no choice but to drop the matter, though he found Zhou Cheng increasingly eyesore.

After Zhou Cheng returned to his courtyard, he and the four—Qin Meng and Lin Ru included—packed their belongings, left the Ten Thousand Stars Sect, and headed toward Dongsheng Province.

"Master, the one surnamed Zhou has already left." As soon as Zhou Cheng departed, Gao Yi said to Su Huang: "This Zhou Cheng relies on the Grandmaster's support and simply does not hold you, Master, in his eyes as the Sect Leader."

"If it weren't for the Grandmaster, I would really like to slap him."

Su Huang's expression remained calm: "To be at the first level of Qi Refining at thirteen, and to be accepted as a closing-door disciple by the five supreme Grandmasters of The World, it is inevitable that he is young and arrogant."

"Master, should I send someone to tail this Zhou?" Gao Yi asked.

Su Huang pondered: "That is fine, but do not use disciples from the sect."

"This disciple understands."

However, an hour later, Gao Yi's expression was grim. The men he had sent out had been knocked unconscious, their hamstrings severed, and they had been dumped in a patch of weeds.

Furthermore, the men didn't even know who had struck them.

The following two days.

Zhou Cheng and his companions spurred their horses on at full gallop.

To focus on practicing his movement techniques, Zhou Cheng acquired a carriage, spending his time on the road inside it, poring over martial arts manuals.

After two days, Zhou Cheng had already finished reading all forty-three movement technique manuals, and his Wind-Facing Willow Steps had improved to level 44.

As for the Spirit Monkey Hundred Transformations Movement Technique, its cultivation speed was remarkably fast; over these past seven or eight days, it had unexpectedly advanced on its own to 90 in the Entry-Level stage.

In at most one day, he would be able to break through to the Mastery stage.

Having finished learning all forty-three movement techniques, Zhou Cheng began to study sword techniques.

Among the martial arts manuals Xing Yao had given him, sword techniques were the most numerous, totaling seventy-four volumes, which was more than enough to keep Zhou Cheng busy for several days.

Of those seventy-four sword techniques, Xing Yao had specifically highlighted the Taiyi Sword Technique, urging Zhou Cheng to practice it diligently, so it was the first one he began to study.