High Martial Arts: Enlightenment after Practices

She paused and looked at Xu Wuyi. "What about you? What are your plans after visiting Senior Flame Venerable?"

"I’ll probably start traveling," Xu Wuyi said. "Dean He gave me a list of Grandmasters and Quasi-Grandmasters who are willing to receive visitors. I plan to travel around and see more of the world."

"Learning from everyone’s strengths?" Tana raised an eyebrow. "That’s certainly the right path. Many Innate Martial Artists do that after their breakthrough. After all, everyone’s journey is different. Listening to the insights of your seniors can help you avoid a lot of missteps."

Xu Wuyi nodded.

The two chatted a bit more about what they’d been up to. Tana talked about the changes in the West Desert over the past few years, while Xu Wuyi briefly mentioned what happened at his graduation ceremony.

When the topic turned to Zeng Bonan, Tana was a little surprised.

"Zeng Bonan is already Level 37? He’s improving that fast?"

After Xu Wuyi achieved the Innate realm, Zeng Bonan had taken his place on Tana’s team for a while, so the two naturally knew each other.

However, due to the war in the last year, the team members hadn’t gathered in a long time.

"He works very hard," Xu Wuyi said.

"Hard work..." Tana repeated the words, then suddenly smiled. "Yes, on the path of Martial Arts, talent is important, and resources are important, but the most crucial thing is that tenacious spirit that refuses to give up."

She looked out the window at the sea of clouds roiling below.

"Sometimes I wonder, if I hadn’t been born into the Royal Family, without so many resources piled on me, how far would I have come by now?"

Xu Wuyi didn’t answer.

There was no answer to that question.

Everyone has a different starting point and different opportunities. Comparisons are meaningless. What matters is how far you can go on the path available to you.

...

The aircraft was very fast.

After just four short hours, the unique landscape of the West Desert was already visible outside the porthole: a continuous Gobi Desert, exposed red rock formations, and the occasional oasis dotting the terrain.

The aircraft began its descent, finally landing smoothly at the private spaceport on the east side of the Royal Palace.

The cabin door opened, and a wave of heat washed over them.

The midday temperature in the West Desert was more than ten degrees higher than in Yuntai City. The air was dry, and the sun was scorching.

Xu Wuyi walked down the boarding stairs with his luggage, Tana following behind him.

Inside the spaceport, a familiar figure was already waiting.

It was Ta Shan.

They hadn’t seen each other in over three years. The number one genius of the Ximo Royal Family hadn’t changed much, but his demeanor was calmer, and his eyes held a sharp edge honed by experience.

He wore a modified version of traditional West Desert clothing, a deep red robe that made his figure seem even taller.

Seeing Xu Wuyi, Ta Shan strode over, a sincere smile on his face.

"Xu Wuyi, long time no see!"

He clapped Xu Wuyi firmly on the shoulder. It was a powerful blow, but Xu Wuyi didn’t move an inch.

"Brother Ta Shan," Xu Wuyi greeted with a nod.

"Just Ta Shan is fine. No need for the ’Brother,’ it’s too formal," Ta Shan said, waving his hand. He then looked at Tana. "Tana, it must have been a long journey, right?"

"It was fine," Tana said. "But you, why did you come in person? Weren’t you supposed to be handling tribal affairs?"

"When I heard Xu Wuyi was coming, everything else had to be pushed back. This is a living Federation hero we’re talking about!" Ta Shan said, half-joking.

"Let’s go, the car is outside. I’ve already spoken with Senior Flame Venerable. He’s free this afternoon, so you two can rest for a bit and visit him after lunch."

The three of them walked out of the spaceport and boarded the waiting hovercar.

The motorcade headed for the Royal Palace, and the guards along the way all saluted as the Royal Family’s procession passed.

...

The hovercar stopped in the guest reception area on the west side of the Royal Palace.

Ta Shan arranged for Xu Wuyi to stay in the same detached villa as last time and instructed a maid to prepare lunch and toiletries.

"You two rest up for now. Lunch will be brought over," Ta Shan said. "At two this afternoon, I’ll come pick you up to go to Senior Flame Venerable’s place."

"Thank you for the trouble," Xu Wuyi said.

"No trouble at all," Ta Shan smiled. "I’m just glad you could come. I’ll treat you to a drink tonight, and we can have a good long chat."

With that, he left with Tana.

Xu Wuyi entered the villa. The interior furnishings were unchanged from his memory, except for the addition of a few drought-resistant plants native to the West Desert, which added a bit of life to the room.

He put down his luggage, quickly washed up, and then regulated his breathing in the Cultivation Room for a while.

The Fire Attribute Energy environment of the West Desert was very compatible with him, and the Hundred Refinements Melting Furnace technique operated with exceptional smoothness.

In his sea of consciousness, the dark golden great marsh was calm and waveless. The Golden Crow Illusion floated above it, the flame runes on its feathers slowly circulating.

An hour later, a maid brought him lunch.

It was a West Desert-style meal of roasted lamb, naan bread, and a few refreshing cold dishes. Xu Wuyi slowly finished his food, feeling his body reach its optimal state.

At two in the afternoon, Ta Shan arrived right on time.

The two of them boarded a hovercar and headed for the Royal Palace East Garden.

...

The Yan Hut was as quiet as ever.

On the stone bench in front of the bamboo house, Flame Venerable was resting with his eyes closed. Hearing footsteps, he slowly opened them.

"You’re here."

Xu Wuyi stepped forward and bowed. "Senior."

Flame Venerable’s gaze fell upon him and lingered for a few seconds, a trace of surprise flashing in his eyes.

"Sit."

Xu Wuyi sat down on a stone bench, while Ta Shan stood to the side, clearly not intending to intrude.

Flame Venerable didn’t speak right away, merely studying Xu Wuyi quietly. After a long moment, he finally spoke slowly. "Over three years, from a mere Martial Artist to Level 46. That speed would rank in the top fifty in the entire history of the Federation."

He paused, his tone becoming intrigued. "But what surprises me isn’t your Level, but the ’aura’ about you."

Xu Wuyi’s heart stirred. "I ask for your guidance, Senior."

"Let’s test your skills," Flame Venerable said.

At their level, a "test of skills" was, of course, an exchange at the level of the Heart Image.

Xu Wuyi nodded and closed his eyes.

In his sea of consciousness, the dark golden great marsh rippled slightly.

He didn’t fully manifest his Heart Image, only releasing a sliver of the Mental Realm of "Weight."

With him at the center, the air within a three-meter radius suddenly grew viscous. The teacup on the stone table trembled lightly, and the surface of the water inside dipped slightly, as if an invisible weight was pressing down on it.

Standing more than three meters away, Ta Shan felt a faint pulling force emanating from Xu Wuyi, as if the Earth beneath his feet had grown more "attractive."

A hint of envy appeared in his eyes. He was still just a Martial Artist, a long way from condensing his own Heart Image. For now, he had only just found its initial embryonic form.

Flame Venerable’s eyebrows shot up.

He reached out and made a grasping motion in the air in front of Xu Wuyi. As his palm moved, he could clearly feel a resistance, like he was swiping through a thick liquid.

"This is... Heavy Water?" A sharp glint flashed in Flame Venerable’s eyes. "No, Heavy Water isn’t this ’heavy.’ Your Heart Image... it manifests the very concept of ’Weight’?"

Xu Wuyi opened his eyes and retracted his Mental Realm. "Yes. My Heart Image was originally that of mountains and a great sun. Later, after I gained insight into the Gravity Rules, the mountains transformed into a marsh, forming my current image of a great marsh and a Golden Crow."

He simply described the process of his Heart Image’s transformation, holding nothing back.

After listening, Flame Venerable was silent for a full minute.

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