Chapter 173: Worldly True Intent

Though it might seem insignificant, it undeniably extended my lifespan, however slightly.

Feeling the stabbing pain in his mind, Shen Changqing left his room and brewed a pot of Enlightenment Tea in the small pavilion to replenish his mental energy.

At the same time, he checked his status panel once more.

Name: Shen Changqing
Faction: Great Qin Demon Suppression Division
Identity: Earth-Rank Demon Slayer
True Intent: Hundred Battle True Intent
Martial Arts: Invincible Golden Body, Heavenly Martial Gang Qi, Iron Sand Palm, Celestial Luo Stepping Gait, Mountain Opening Palm Technique, Willow Floss Movement Technique
Slaughter Points: 3

"Invincible Golden Body is nearing the twentieth level. When it reaches that point, I can fuse it with another martial art, allowing it to transform once more. That will significantly enhance my strength."

"As for Heavenly Martial Gang Qi, internal energy techniques are impossible to fuse. Unless I can find a more profound internal energy skill and convert to cultivating it, I’ll be stuck with Heavenly Martial Gang Qi as my foundation."

Shen Changqing gazed at the martial arts listed on his panel, formulating a plan for his future.

Earning slaughter points wasn’t easy.

He had to figure out how to improve his strength with the fewest slaughter points possible.

Fusing Invincible Golden Body was a given.

After all, once a martial art reached a certain level, fusion only brought benefits.

However, internal energy skills couldn’t be fused.

Either he converted to a new internal energy technique, or he would be stuck cultivating a single one to the end.

"After stepping into the Grandmaster Realm, the physical body system is primarily based on Qi and blood, but true Qi is indispensable. The stronger the true Qi, the greater the amplification of strength."

"Heavenly Martial True Qi at the twelfth level is considered barely stepping into the threshold of Innate Outer Gang. Now that I’ve raised it to the seventeenth level, the quality of my true Qi should be at the Grandmaster level."

"So—"

"If I’m going to switch martial arts, I should at least convert to an internal energy cultivation method that directly points to the Grandmaster Realm to make it worthwhile. Simply cultivating an Innate internal energy, even one at the limit of the Innate Realm, might not compensate for my previous consumption."

He had spent a considerable number of slaughter points to improve Heavenly Martial Gang Qi.

To say nothing of other things.

Just from breaking the limit, he had already spent a staggering fifty-six points.

Fifty-six slaughter points.

That was enough to compensate for the consumption of other martial arts within the Innate Realm.

Therefore, he would either not switch internal energy techniques, or he would have to switch to a Grandmaster-level technique.

"The Martial Pavilion possesses numerous Sect Martial Arts. Grandmaster-level internal energy skills should be plentiful. I can swap for one when the time comes. As for external martial arts, I’ll find a suitable one to fuse then as well.

Nothing else is needed for now."

Iron Sand Palm was Perfected.

He also had the Mountain Opening Palm Technique ready in his panel.

As long as he had slaughter points, he could fuse the two palm techniques into an even more powerful one at any time.

But—

Looking at the Perfected state of the fifth level Iron Sand Palm, Shen Changqing hesitated whether to fuse this martial art.

When a martial art reached the Perfected state, there was a chance to comprehend its True Intent.

Now that Iron Sand Palm was Perfected, it meant that he had the opportunity to comprehend the unique True Intent of Iron Sand Palm.

"A martial artist isn’t limited to just one True Intent, but if I possess two True Intents, further improvement will be even more troublesome.

Moreover, whether two True Intents are stronger than one needs careful consideration."

Now that he had joined the Martial Pavilion, with its many Grandmasters, Shen Changqing didn’t believe that no one had ever comprehended two different True Intents.

Since he couldn’t figure it out himself, he could ask others.

"I’ll ask Zhong Ning. He should have the answer!"

Having made his decision, Shen Changqing glanced at the final two movement techniques.

Strictly speaking, whether it was a movement technique or a stepping gait, the two martial arts were common, which was why the word "fusion" appeared.

Compared to external and internal energy techniques, as well as saber and palm techniques, movement techniques played the smallest role.

But even if their role was the smallest, there would be times when they were needed.

If he had the chance, Shen Changqing decided to fuse the two martial arts and integrate them into an even more powerful one.

After brewing and drinking several more pots of Enlightenment Tea, the mental energy loss in his Sea of Consciousness was largely restored.

Then, he got up and headed towards the Martial Pavilion.

Arriving at the Martial Pavilion door, Shen Changqing discovered that the person sitting in front of the Martial Pavilion had changed from Zhong Ning to someone else.

And he recognized this person as well.

Internal Affairs Pavilion Elder, Tan Tianji.

"Huh, why would Elder Tan be at the Martial Pavilion?"

Looking at Tan Tianji in front of him, Shen Changqing had a deep look of confusion.

Normally, the Internal Affairs Pavilion was the Internal Affairs Pavilion, and the Martial Pavilion was the Martial Pavilion. The two shouldn’t interfere with each other.

Now that Tan Tianji wasn’t sitting in the Internal Affairs Pavilion, but instead had come to the Martial Pavilion, it was definitely suspicious.

Hearing this, Tan Tianji smiled slightly, stroking his thin beard with his withered hand.

"Old Zhong and the others were summoned by the Imperial Court last night to accompany the army to Luo’an Prefecture as support. Now that the Martial Pavilion is unguarded, the higher-ups asked this old man to come and help keep an eye on things, mainly to prevent anyone from using the secret room recklessly."

The secret room door wasn’t locked, and even if it was, it definitely couldn’t stop a Grandmaster.

If no one was guarding it, someone might sneak into the secret room for free.

That was where Tan Tianji’s role came in.

"Elder Zhong and the others left?"

Shen Changqing didn’t pay attention to Tan Tianji’s other words, but instead focused all his attention on the news of Zhong Ning and the others’ departure.

Yesterday, the other party had said that the Imperial Court might summon Grandmasters to leave.

As a result, in less than a day, Zhong Ning had really left.

Tan Tianji nodded.

"That’s right, Zhong Ning left. All the other Grandmasters in the Martial Pavilion have left. Now, you’re the only one left in the Martial Pavilion."

Only he was left in the Martial Pavilion?

All the Grandmasters in the Martial Pavilion had left, but no one had notified him.

Was it because he had just joined the Martial Pavilion, or was there another reason?

He had no way of knowing.

But accompanying the army to slay demons and evil likely didn’t yield many slaughter points, and might not even be as fast as carrying out missions on his own.

So he didn’t have any objections to no one notifying him.

Suddenly, Shen Changqing’s expression turned strange as he looked at the old man in front of him and asked.

"What did Elder Tan just say?"

"I said the Martial Pavilion is only left with—"

"Not that sentence, the one before that."

"Oh, Zhong Ning asked me to come and watch the secret room, afraid that some Martial Pavilion Grandmaster would come and use it without authorization and not pay."

Shen Changqing was expressionless.

There was nothing wrong with the sentence, but combined with what the other party said, that only he was left in the Martial Pavilion, then the meaning was clear.

Tan Tianji had come to prevent him from getting a freebie.

For a moment, he felt mentally tired.

"Ahem!"

Tan Tianji coughed lightly, easing the atmosphere.

"Actually, don’t overthink it. Although you’re the only one in the Martial Pavilion now, the fact is that other Martial Pavilion members will return at any time. After all, for so many years, most Martial Pavilion members have been training outside.

They only occasionally return to the Martial Pavilion.

Who knows when a Martial Pavilion member will come back."

"I understand."

Shen Changqing nodded. Tan Tianji’s explanation sounded so insincere, but since the decision was made by Zhong Ning, he had nothing to say.

In fact, even if the other party didn’t have someone sitting here, he, Shen Changqing, wouldn’t do anything to freeload.

He still had some principles in this regard.

"Elder Tan, please sit. I’ll go in first."

"Alright, if you feel bored, you can come down and chat. If you have any doubts about cultivation, you can also ask this old man. To be honest, Old Zhong doesn’t necessarily know as much as I do."

Tan Tianji’s expression was gentle, with a cheerful smile on his face.

Shen Changqing nodded, clasped his fist in thanks, and stepped into the Martial Pavilion.

He wasn’t very familiar with Tan Tianji.

Although the other party’s words sounded good on the surface, it didn’t mean he would openly ask him questions.

Since Zhong Ning wasn’t here, he would go to the third level to check the scrolls.

According to the Martial Pavilion Elder, the scrolls on the third level contained a lot of information about martial arts. If he carefully read them, he should be able to find what he wanted.

If he really couldn’t find anything, then he would have to swallow his pride and ask Tan Tianji for guidance.

Reaching the second level, where there would normally be some people lingering to browse the recorded martial arts, he found that there wasn’t a single person there now.

The same was true for the third level.

After scanning the area, Shen Changqing walked to the cabinets, which held scrolls.

External Energy Category!

Internal Energy Category!

Human Body Meridians!

Ancient Legends!

He walked past each cabinet, each with different labels.

Each label represented the category of scrolls placed inside.

Finally, Shen Changqing stopped in front of a cabinet.

Martial Arts True Intent Category!

"This is it!"

Looking at the label, there was a faint smile on his face.

Then, Shen Changqing pulled out a scroll from among the many scrolls placed on it and opened it directly to read.

"Worldly True Intent!"

Seeing the title, his brow furrowed slightly.

Just from the title, he could tell that this scroll wasn’t what he was looking for.

However, the "Worldly True Intent" on it attracted Shen Changqing’s attention.

"Worldly True Intent?"

Muttering to himself, Shen Changqing followed the scroll with his eyes, and was immediately drawn to the content recorded above.

In addition to comprehending from martial arts, a martial artist’s Martial Arts True Intent can also be comprehended from the natural world, such as wind, rain, thunder, and lightning, which are relatively common natural phenomena.

However, the comprehension of Worldly True Intent, in addition to strong comprehension, emphasizes opportunity. I have browsed some ancient books and seen records of powerful figures who control wind, rain, thunder, and lightning, and are revered by the people as gods.

In my opinion, those are powerful figures who have comprehended the Worldly True Intent.

End of Chapter