Martial Arts Grounds

Biodata

Power Progression

The grounds’ documented progression concerns its institutional recognition and ranking, rather than a cultivation realm.

• Possible first-rate candidacy: Mu Qingyue offers to request a nomination if Zhang Teng defeats her at full strength. The provided account does not confirm that nomination or a subsequent promotion 46 47.

Background / History

Establishment

The grounds began after Lin Bei, unable to support himself through conventional martial arts, impersonated an otherworldly cultivation master. He taught the villagers an ordinary set of Tai Chi and claimed it was an immortal-cultivation art. To persuade him to remain and teach their children, the villagers built and furnished a house overnight and set aside a large tract of land for instruction 1.

Zhang Teng joined after Niu Er recommended Lin Bei to him. His rapid comprehension transformed the instruction from bluffing into effective cultivation: his breakthroughs improved Lin Bei’s own arts through Lin Bei’s system, while his example encouraged the village apprentices to train more enthusiastically 2 3 5 7 9.

Conflict with the Six Harmonies Martial Hall

The first major conflict began when Zhao Bao assaulted Niu Er after Niu Er praised Lin Bei. Zhang Teng retaliated by defeating Zhao Bao and demanding an apology and medical compensation. Hall Master Cheng Lu then used the dispute as a pretext to challenge the grounds and capture Zhang Teng, whose past he recognized 3 4 5.

Cheng Lu arrived with more than a dozen martial artists and the badly injured Niu Er. Zhang Teng fought him, but Lin Bei intervened when the other challengers prepared to attack together. Lin Bei defeated Cheng Lu with a counterattack that ruptured his qi-gathering meridians 10 11.

Tieniu and the apprentices transported the defeated fighters through Qingyun Town. Zhang Teng intended this public display to deter further attacks on both the grounds and Nameless Village. The rout drew Mu Qingyue’s attention and led to a headquarters assessment 14 15.

Alliance Membership and the Nanyang Feud

Zhang Teng initially opposed joining a martial hall faction, considering the grounds an establishment of immortal cultivators rather than a martial school. Lin Bei persuaded him to consider the benefits for the villagers who had made its foundation possible. Zhang Teng subsequently passed Mu Qingyue’s assessment and obtained alliance membership 16 19 20 22.

The alliance’s attempted mediation with the Nanyang Zhou Clan failed. Mu Qingyue offered to relocate the grounds beside the Central Hall for protection, but both Zhang Teng and Lin Bei refused to leave Nameless Village 35 36.

Zhang Tao later invaded with thirteen attendants, assaulted an apprentice, and threatened Lin Bei and the disciples. Zhang Teng killed him, freed Zhang Xiaoxiao, and confined the surrendered attendants in the woodshed. Zhang Yong subsequently arrived to take Zhang Teng home; Lin Bei defended his disciple’s place at the grounds, and Zhang Teng defeated Zhang Yong 30 32 33 39 42.

To settle the wider feud while gaining preparation time, Zhang Teng issued a challenge against the Zhang Clan. Xiao Liuzi delivered the application to the Central Hall, which agreed to arbitrate the fight ten days later and appointed Mu Qingyue as notary 42 43 45.

Layout and Facilities

Teachings and Training

Tai Chi

• The apprentices’ foundational practice; Zhang Teng also teaches it to junior disciples 1 15.
• Lin Bei uses equal-strength sparring to teach Zhang Teng how to recognize flaws and create openings 25 26.
• Zhang Teng’s deepening understanding during a spar triggers Tai Chi’s second limit break, enabling Lin Bei’s version to draw on Heaven-and-Earth Spiritual Power 26.

Breath Absorption and Dao Body Tempering

• The Breath-Absorbing Art draws on Heaven-and-Earth Spiritual Power to temper the body. Zhang Teng’s comprehension turns Lin Bei’s invented teaching into a working method 7 9.
• The taught foundation consists of nine Dao Body temperings, followed by Dao-method wielding. The seventh tempering refines the spirit 21 38 45.
• Zhang Teng describes the first three temperings’ physical strength as comparable to blood refining and qi gathering, Bronze Skin and Iron Bones, and Indestructible Vajra respectively 21.
• Instruction is not freely disclosed: those seeking the Immortal Cultivation Method must join the grounds and receive Lin Bei’s teaching 20 22 48.

Aperture-Based Cultivation

• Lin Bei gives Tieniu an alternative route suited to his natural strength and physique rather than forcing him to comprehend Tai Chi’s yin-yang principles 29 34.
• The method trains the body’s 365 major aperture points to sense, absorb, and release spiritual power instinctively 34.
• Tieniu comprehends the Zhou Tian Acupoints Breathing Method and proposes the Extreme Yang Fist Technique and Nine Yang Dao Art 43 44.

Entry Requirements and Limits

• Mu Qingyue fails Lin Bei’s aptitude test because her commitment to martial arts and martial intent obstructs her understanding of immortal cultivation 48.
• Zhang Teng plans to open his junior disciples’ Heavenly Gates once he reaches the ninth tempering. Lin Bei initially criticizes the plan as premature and dangerous to their safety 38 45.

Associated People

• Lin Bei — Founder, master, and principal instructor; directs training and supports the grounds’ continued presence in Nameless Village 1 29 36.
• Zhang Teng — Chief disciple, instructor to junior apprentices, and representative during the headquarters’ assessment 15 18 20.
• Tieniu — Village disciple who develops aperture-based cultivation and helps recruit settlers and merchants 34 43 48 50.
• Xiao Liuzi — Apprentice, messenger to the Central Hall, and recruitment partner to Tieniu 35 42 50.
• Niu Er — Local supporter who helps build and provision the grounds and recommends Zhang Teng to Lin Bei 3 10.
• Mu Qingyue — Headquarters representative, assessor, and liaison with the Central Hall; also offers relocation protection and delivers the grounds’ certificate 19 35 46.
• Zhang Xiaoxiao — Zhang Teng’s sister; remains at the grounds after being freed from Zhang Tao’s group, then leaves with Zhang Yong 33 42.

Settlement and Commerce

• Development objective: Use official recognition to improve Nameless Village’s living conditions and recruit residents to reclaim its available farmland 16 46.
• Infrastructure obstacles: Mu Qingyue identifies roads, commerce, and supplies as major deficiencies despite the settlement’s security 46.
• Recruitment obstacle: Poor villagers elsewhere may be unwilling to abandon farmland they have already reclaimed or bear the cost of moving 46.
• Merchant strategy: Tieniu and Xiao Liuzi target businesses harmed under the weakened Six Harmonies Martial Hall’s jurisdiction 48 50.
• Tax incentive: The first ten shops to establish themselves in the village are offered a 50% reduction in their existing tax rates 50.
• Chen Family Cloth Shop: Tieniu offers help recovering seized shops and pursuing compensation through the Central Hall. Rather than accept a share of profits, the disciples ask the family to open a village branch; the shopkeeper summons the family head to consider it 50.