Martial Dao Stele

"Heh, lost martial arts techniques aren't so easily comprehended—let alone divine abilities."

Shen Chong stood among the crowd and said with a smile.

Their group of scions from prominent Lineages each had allotted slots reserved by their families every year to come here and seek enlightenment.

But after all these years, people had comprehended martial arts techniques, yet no one seemed to have comprehended a lost one in more than a decade.

Wu Yuan folded his arms over his saber and gazed at the Martial Dao Stele. "Hard to say. That monster was only at Sixth Rank Circulatory Acupoints Perfection on the day of the Martial Examination, yet he reached Fifth-Grade Peak within a week. I can't make sense of it."

"..." Shen Chong was speechless.

For someone like him, even with a cultivation manual before him, talent was the sort of thing whose ceiling was set in stone.

As for nurturing the five viscera, he had only barely mastered their balance so far.

Yang Shuo, standing between them, snorted. "Tch. Maybe he used the Qi-Concealing Art before this to hide his blood qi. Maybe he'd already reached Fifth Grade long ago."

"Among the three of us, Wu Yuan, you have the greatest talent for martial arts. Tell me, how many chances would you need before you were confident of comprehending a lost martial technique?"

Wu Yuan thought for a moment before answering, "To comprehend a complete existing martial arts technique and reach the third realm of flawless mastery, three attempts would be enough."

"But for a lost technique, even if it were also a saber art, I wouldn't be confident within ten attempts."

Hearing that, Yang Shuo shrugged, spread his hands, and smiled. "There you have it. No matter how talented he is, he can't be ten times more talented than you."

When he saw Wu Yuan say nothing but merely shake his head, Yang Shuo was somewhat puzzled.

What?

Was he wrong?

Shen Chong, standing nearby, said helplessly, "You truly don't remember a single thing taught in martial class."

Facing Shen Chong's jab, Yang Shuo laughed. "Aren't you two here? What difference does it make whether I remember? Hurry up and explain it to me."

"If one wishes to travel far along the martial path, talent and innate physique are both indispensable. But that is only the foundation. At most, it lets you smash bricks with brute force. Talent in martial techniques is what reflects combat power."

Shen Chong thought for a moment and continued, "In other words, a person's comprehension of martial arts has nothing to do with their talent or innate physique.

"Talent corresponds to the absorption and conversion of blood qi."

"Innate physique corresponds to the efficiency of developing the physical body."

"Talent in martial techniques corresponds to comprehension and natural flair."

After hearing Shen Chong's words, Yang Shuo fell into thought.

On the day of the Qing Prefecture Martial Examination, he had also watched from the spectator stands. Zhou Ming had not displayed any attainment in martial arts, so he was curious how Wu Yuan and Shen Chong could be so certain that Zhou Ming's talent for martial techniques was also exceptionally high.

He immediately asked, "How can you be so sure his talent in martial techniques is so high?"

A sharp gleam flashed through Wu Yuan's eyes as he said, "That slap he gave you—I and Shen Chong couldn't react to it at all."

Yang Shuo's face fell. "So it was movement technique. I was wondering why you two just stood there watching me get slapped."

Time slowly passed.

The restlessness in the hearts of all the martial artists gradually subsided.

"Everyone, ascend the Martial Dao Stele!"

Principal Zhao Xuchu's deep, powerful voice rang out.

Then, including himself, the twelve of them activated their blood qi one after another, forming seals with their hands and sending them into the Martial Dao Stele.

As the seals entered, the entire Martial Dao Stele began to emit threads of light until it shone brilliantly.

"Within the Martial Dao Stele, strength is not considered—only talent for the martial path. Anyone may choose any martial arts technique, True Intent, or inheritance. Even martial Dao divine abilities may be chosen."

"However, the Martial Dao Stele will itself provide you with the choice best suited to you."

"Please remember: choose only what is right for you. Otherwise, you will ultimately gain nothing."

After Zhao Xuchu's voice faded, a beam of golden light instantly bloomed from the stele.

It enveloped every martial artist climbing upon it.

In an instant, all the martial artists stood motionless where they were, their consciousness drawn into the Martial Dao Stele.

The moment his consciousness was drawn in, Zhou Ming completely let himself go.

He shouted, "War God Divine Ability, here I come!"

To be honest, he knew absolutely nothing about the Martial Dao Stele.

The only public information he knew was what people had discussed after entering the Imperial City Martial Academy.

But martial Dao True Intent was easy enough to understand—personal insight.

And obtaining martial Dao True Intent meant obtaining someone else's insight.

Yet Zhou Ming's goal on this trip was not True Intent. As he had said, it was divine abilities!

As his consciousness was drawn away—

Zhou Ming appeared within a white, square space.

"At the pinnacle of martial Dao lies the Supreme Realm and Transcendence; shatter delusion and seek the truth."

"Among martial techniques, inheritances, and True Intent, my will shall select that which suits thee best. Thou may also choose for thyself."

An ancient voice resounded through the space.

Without the slightest hesitation, Zhou Ming said bluntly, "War God Divine Ability. I want to comprehend a War God Divine Ability!"

"Thirty-six divine abilities detected. Only seven remain available. Divine abilities are divided into martial technique divine abilities and physique divine abilities. Please choose."

Zhou Ming looked around the tiny space and asked in confusion, "Can't I choose them all?"

"..."

After receiving no answer for a long while, Zhou Ming continued, "What divine abilities are they? Can you tell me?"

"..."

"Are you human, or are you some kind of thing?"

"..."

After a moment, Zhou Ming murmured under his breath, "What kind of thing is this?"

As soon as the words fell—

The white space flickered.

Zhou Ming froze.

"Say something!"

"Why aren't you talking?"

"Were you born introverted? Do you just not like talking?"

In an instant, the white space began to glitch wildly.

"Based on thy possession of the Immaculate Divine Ability body, a martial technique divine ability shall be selected for thee."

"To comprehend the divine ability, thou must undergo a battle replay of martial techniques, the Heart-Questioning Trial, and a test of will."

"In three breaths, Dao comprehension shall begin!"

The scene flashed.

Zhou Ming found himself atop a mountain pass.

A stream of information surged into his mind.

Vast Sea Calendar, year 145 of Ganwu.

Heaven's Lament Pass.

Beyond the towering mountain pass lay the lights of ten thousand homes throughout the Ganwu Dynasty.

Outside the pass, a horde of strange beasts rushed toward the city walls like a tide.

Zhou Ming stood atop the hundred-zhang-high pass, gazing toward the frontline battlefield.

Groups of soldiers wielding all manner of weapons fought valiantly on the front lines.

Facing the tidal surge of strange beasts, not a single one retreated. All fought with their lives on the line.

"General, the mission to withstand one hundred waves of strange beasts has been completed. Of our Ganwu Dynasty's million troops, only one hundred and eight remain."

A soldier whose armor dripped with blood rushed up the city wall.

He looked at the man standing atop the pass, motionless as a mountain, and felt a needle-like pain pierce his heart.

The man stood on the pass, gripping a long staff covered entirely in carvings.

In a hoarse voice, he asked, "Have all the civilians behind us evacuated beyond the border?"

The soldier remained silent.

Receiving no answer, the man looked toward the battlefield and said calmly, "It seems we still need a little more time. You should withdraw. I alone am enough for the front line. You are needed more in the rear."

"General, withdraw. The brothers on the front line can hold on."

The man raised his hand and spun his staff in a flourish, laughing hoarsely. "I'm not leaving. I want to see the brothers who have slept ahead of us for ten years once more."

The soldier's entire body trembled. He seemed to want to say something to persuade him, but after opening his mouth, he remained speechless for a long time.

In the end, he bowed slightly, accepted the order, and departed.

Not long afterward.

On Heaven's Lament Pass, a hundred zhang high and so wide its end could not be seen, only Zhou Ming remained.

He stood atop the pass and watched that man go.

Alone, twirling his ornate staff, the man slowly walked toward the front line.