High Martial Arts: Enlightenment after Practices

The Golden Crow Illusion let out a clear, joyous cry. It spread its wings, and a rain of dark golden flames scattered down, merging into the flow of the vast marsh.

The flames no longer just hovered over the marsh’s surface. Instead, they followed the undercurrents deep into its heart, igniting clusters of undying embers within the Heavy Water.

"Weight" and "vitality," "stillness" and "motion"—at this moment, they achieved a delicate balance.

Xu Wuyi opened his eyes and let out a long breath.

The breath condensed into a white arrow that shot out three meters without dispersing. It slowly spiraled in the air before finally vanishing.

"You’ve made progress." A rare smile touched Fang Fu’s lips. "Your comprehension is truly excellent."

"It’s all thanks to Instructor Fang’s guidance," Xu Wuyi said sincerely.

Fang Fu shook her head. "You’d already put in the work. I just gave you a little push."

She glanced at the time. "Let’s stop here for today. I have a lab class tomorrow, so I probably won’t have time to meet."

"Alright."

...

On the morning of the fourth day, Xu Wuyi was in the library, flipping through a tome on ancient Body Refining techniques from the Northern Lands, when his personal terminal suddenly vibrated.

It was an unfamiliar contact ID, and the location tag indicated it was from within Black Stone Academy.

Xu Wuyi answered the call. A young but resolute face appeared on the light screen.

He had short black hair and cold, stern features. He wore the deep blue training uniform of Black Stone Academy, with an ice crystal pattern embroidered on the collar—the mark of an outstanding Black Stone graduate.

Xu Wuyi found the face somewhat familiar.

"Martial Artist Xu, forgive the intrusion." The person on the screen spoke, his voice steady and carrying the distinct, hard-edged quality of someone from the Northern Lands. "My name is Zhai Zidu, a graduating student from Black Stone Academy this year. I heard you’ve come to the Northern Lands and was hoping to pay you a visit to exchange pointers. Would that be convenient?"

Zhai Zidu.

Xu Wuyi remembered. They had fought during a youth tournament back in their second year. But now, more than two years later, Zhai Zidu’s disposition had changed so much that he hadn’t recognized him at first glance.

"Sure," Xu Wuyi said. "I’m in the library right now. Why don’t you come here?"

"Okay, I’ll be there in ten minutes."

The call ended.

Xu Wuyi closed the tome and walked to the lounge area on the library’s first floor, finding a seat by the window.

Outside the window, the snow was still falling, though lighter than in previous days. Fine snowflakes swirled in the wind.

About eight minutes later, a figure appeared at the library entrance.

Zhai Zidu.

In person, he was even more composed than his virtual avatar, his aura restrained. Yet, there was a unique rhythm to his movements—a sign that his Heart Image was approaching Perfection and he was on the verge of breaking through to the Innate realm.

He walked up to Xu Wuyi’s table and bowed slightly. "Martial Artist Xu."

"Have a seat." Xu Wuyi gestured to the chair opposite him. "No need to be so formal. We’re from the same class year. Just call me by my name."

Zhai Zidu hesitated for a moment before sitting down. "Then... Brother Xu."

"Tea?" Xu Wuyi pointed to the teapot on the table. It was a complimentary hot beverage provided by the library—a strong-flavored black tea from the Northern Lands.

"Thank you." Zhai Zidu poured himself a cup and held it in both hands, feeling the warmth spread through his palms.

The two of them were silent for a few seconds.

Zhai Zidu was the first to speak. "I heard you came to Black Stone to exchange ideas with the Static Water lineage, Brother Xu?"

"Yes, to discuss Heart Image cultivation," Xu Wuyi confirmed openly. "My Heavy Water Heart Image has hit a bottleneck, and Instructor Fang’s Static Water Heart Image has given me a lot of inspiration."

"Heavy Water..." A flash of understanding crossed Zhai Zidu’s eyes. "No wonder. My Ice Soul Heart Image is also stuck on the final step."

He paused, his tone frank. "To be honest with you, Brother Xu, the real reason for my visit is to ask for your advice on the catalyst for achieving Great Success in Heart Image."

"I’ve been at the peak of the Martial Artist level for three months. My Ice Soul True Intention was refined to its absolute limit long ago, but I’m still missing that final push to fully manifest my Heart Image."

Xu Wuyi looked at Zhai Zidu.

The eyes of this genius from the Northern Lands were clear, holding no jealousy or resentment—only a pure pursuit of the Martial Arts, and a trace of unconcealable confusion.

Back in their first and second years, he had been the top genius aside from Xu Wuyi. Now, more and more people were surpassing him, and it was not a pleasant feeling.

"Tell me about your Heart Image," Xu Wuyi said.

Zhai Zidu put down his teacup and said seriously, "My foundation is the Ice Soul Skills. The core of my True Intention is ’icy cold’ and ’resilience.’ My Heart Image Prototype is an iceberg, standing firm on a polar ice field—cold, solid, and eternally unchanging."

"A very typical Heart Image for the Northern Lands," Xu Wuyi nodded. "What’s the problem?"

"It’s too ’dead’," Zhai Zidu said with a wry smile.

"An iceberg is eternal, but eternity means changelessness. My Heart Image lacks ’change,’ lacks ’vitality.’ I’ve tried to incorporate dynamic imagery like cold currents and blizzards into the iceberg, but it always feels like there’s a barrier, like they can’t truly become one."

Xu Wuyi pondered for a moment.

Zhai Zidu’s problem was somewhat similar to his own: a matter of balancing ’stillness’ and ’motion.’

It was just that Zhai Zidu’s ’stillness’ was the solidification of an iceberg, while his was the stagnation of Heavy Water.

"Have you ever seen a real iceberg?" Xu Wuyi suddenly asked.

Zhai Zidu paused, taken aback. "I’ve seen them in video archives."

"Videos aren’t enough," Xu Wuyi said, shaking his head.

"An iceberg may seem static, but in reality, it is constantly changing. The surface melts into water, which then refreezes into ice. The base is eroded by ocean currents, constantly breaking apart and being reborn. Inside, there are crevasses, undercurrents, and ancient air bubbles that have been sealed away for eons."

He glanced out the window. "The Northern Lands have glaciers, don’t they? You should go see one for yourself. Don’t just look at the ’unmoving’ aspect; look at ’how’ it remains unmoving."

Zhai Zidu listened, stunned, as a light gradually kindled in his eyes.

Then he stood up and bowed deeply. "Thank you for your guidance, Brother Xu. I... think I’m starting to understand."

"It’s just a thought. Besides, I’m not familiar with this type of Heart Image; it’s just my personal opinion." Xu Wuyi waved his hand dismissively. "Ultimately, you’ll have to comprehend it on your own."

"I understand." Zhai Zidu straightened up, a new eagerness in his eyes. "But a theoretical discussion alone isn’t enough. Brother Xu, would you be willing to have a match on the Battle Network? No Heart Images, just a comparison of our martial techniques. I want to personally experience the gap between us now."

Xu Wuyi smiled. "Alright."

...

Ten minutes later, in a private training room in the Black Stone Academy’s Battle Network Zone.

The virtual figures of Xu Wuyi and Zhai Zidu stood facing each other.

They both set their Life Energy Level to 39, Zhai Zidu’s current real-world level. They would fight without using their Heart Images, relying only on Martial Techniques, Body Techniques, and combat awareness.

"I’ll use a spear." A virtual replica of the Meteor Iron Long Spear materialized in Xu Wuyi’s hand.

"I’ll use my fists." Zhai Zidu clenched his hands, and a pair of Gloves appeared, wreathed in ice-blue Power. "Ice Soul Skills combined with Northern Frost Fist. I await your guidance."

The countdown ended after three seconds.

Zhai Zidu moved first.

His Body Technique was extremely fast. With a stomp of his foot, frost spread across the virtual ground, and his entire body shot toward Xu Wuyi like an arrow.

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