Chapter 26: Transcending the Ordinary and Entering Sainthood

  As usual, vote and collect. Then, Lan Auntie and young Mrs. Liu are both very bad! 12 teary eyes T_T

  Suddenly tears fell, dripping down

  Yang Zhao's face was not as thick as Li Shentong thought. At least, on the second day when everyone left Jianmen County and set off on the road, Xiao Wangye did not hide in the carriage with his hands tied up. Instead, he casually found a poor horse to ride on and mixed in with the escorts from Wu'an Escort Bureau, following them south. Although Li Shentong was more and more displeased with this "self-abasing" behavior, since Mingyue and Fan Qinghui didn't say anything, as a big man, he couldn't bear to show his petty side. Anyway, out of sight, out of mind, it wasn't a big deal to support another idle person, so he just let him go.

  On the other hand, Yang Zhao's infiltration into the bodyguard team was not entirely due to his thin face. To say that although his two identities before and after crossing over had perfectly merged together, deep down, Yang Zhao still subconsciously got used to viewing everyone and everything around him with an equal gaze as a modern person from the 21st century would. He wouldn't think that emperors were particularly sacred or inviolable, nor would he think that peddlers were especially lowly; in short, they were just different occupational divisions.

  Li Shentong, on the other hand, was a genuine high-born gentleman, with an air of arrogance and disdain for people of lower social status. Being around someone like that made Yang Zhao feel uneasy all over. From Ximen County to Chengdu, there were still many days of travel ahead, and the thought of spending so many days sitting face-to-face with this kind of person was unbearable. Yang Zhao didn't want to end up with depression.

  However, although Yang Zhao thought so, others could not learn from his carefree attitude. It is worth noting that since Cao Pi of the Three Kingdoms period introduced the nine-rank system, for hundreds of years, society had been divided into upper and lower classes, with no room for social mobility. The hierarchy was clear-cut and strict, impossible to transcend. Over time, this concept had become deeply ingrained in people's minds, seeming like a natural law.

  Although Yang Zhao concealed his royal identity, the fabricated sign of "Yang Su's clansman" shone brightly enough to dazzle even the rough and unrefined men who barely managed to scrape by in the martial arts world. So when Young Master Wang squeezed into the crowd of escorts at the Wu An Escort Agency, everyone was stunned and flabbergasted, unsure of what to do.

  Fortunately, Yang Zhao's personality was quite approachable. When eating and drinking, he would often not avoid suspicion, squatting with everyone to eat dry rations and drink poor wine; on the journey, he would casually show off some knowledge and point out mountains and rivers; at night, when lodging or camping outdoors, he would also tell a few old jokes from the 21st century. All of these actions made him feel very familiar to the Hanzi men in the escort agency. After two or three days, they had already become close with Yang Zhao and seemed to have a strong desire to cut off his head and burn yellow paper.

  Although the boundaries between the upper and lower classes are still deeply rooted in this era, the Han people of the escort agency feel a sense of closeness to Yang Zhao, who is from a noble family. However, during their casual conversations on the journey, they often reveal their admiration and longing for the high-ranking families. Qin Wu'an, the leader of the escort agency, said with some emotion: "Young Master Yang, you are a member of the Yue State's royal family and have such high martial arts skills. Although things may not be going well for you today, you will definitely achieve great things in the future. Our ancestors have made a name for themselves, and as their descendants, we should always take it upon ourselves to revive our family's reputation and remember not to indulge in self-destruction."

  Yang Zhao was somewhat skeptical. But the world is like this, and he can't do anything about it. He just listened to Qin Wu's words and seemed to be proud of his ancestors too. He casually asked: "It should be so. By the way, I don't know what the Chief Escort's ancestry is?"

  As soon as this was mentioned, Qin Wu'an couldn't help but become excited. But before he could even respond, Hu Jing-shui had already ridden over on his horse, laughing and saying: "Young Master Yang doesn't know, our leader's ancestors were truly extraordinary - they were one of the four great famous generals at the end of the Warring States period, the great Qin war god Wu'an Jun Bai Qi. In the Battle of Changping, he buried alive 400,000 Zhao soldiers. It was a shocking and awe-inspiring feat that moved heaven and earth, what majesty, what killing intent."

  "Alas, it's a pity that later on, the King of Qin was deceived by treacherous officials, and Wu'an Jun ultimately died with grievances. The descendants of Wu'an Jun changed their surname to Qin to avoid suspicion due to fear of being implicated again. After several hundred years through the Qin, Han, Wei, and Jin dynasties, until now... Alas, the martial arts that once shook the heavens have all been lost. Although I, Qin, had the heart to revive our family's legacy, unfortunately, after a lifetime of hard work, nothing has come to fruition. It's truly shameful, shameful."

  Yang Zhao nodded and said, "So that's how it is. I've seen many people practice the Blood Battle Ten Forms, but this set of martial arts is easy to learn but difficult to master. Those who can grasp its essence are truly one in a thousand. The Chief Commander seems not to have received guidance from a famous teacher, and yet he has been able to reach this level through his own hard work, which is indeed a testament to his family's legacy. Moreover, the Chief Commander is the master of the situation, saying that he has accomplished nothing is truly overly modest."

  Qin Wu'an sighed and said, "Although I don't have to worry about food and clothing, opening a martial arts school again would still be a lowly endeavor. Qin wants to revive the prestige of his ancestors, but... it's probably just a foolish dream after all? Alas..." By the end, his tone had become rather desolate.

  After several days of getting along, Yang Zhao had a general understanding of Qin Wu'an's character. He was trustworthy and loyal, with a very generous temperament. Although he occasionally flirted outside, he was still very loving to his wife at home. In the jianghu world, martial arts skills were secondary; what mattered most was being familiar with the rivers and lakes and having good relationships. It was clear that Qin Wu'an was a capable person, able to gain the favor of Tang Dynasty's Duke Li Yuan and be hired as a bodyguard by the esteemed Mingyue family in Daxing City, whose young masters from noble families all vied to curry favor with him.

  Yang Zhao was initially appointed as the King of Henan and was allowed to establish his own government. However, he currently has no soldiers or generals under him, making him a mere figurehead. Someone like Qin Wu'an is capable and has connections, but unfortunately lacks opportunity. If he were to receive recognition and promotion, his achievements would not be limited to what they are now. Thinking this way, Yang Zhao vaguely had an idea. However, the timing is not right, so there's no need to rush into saying it out loud for now.

  Xiao Wangye casually comforted Qin Wu'an a few words, then asked: "The head of the escort agency is indeed from a famous family, but Hu Bingtou is not bad either? That night, I fought with the two of you and found that Hu Bingtou's skills in both sword and spear are quite impressive. But what kind of martial arts is it?"

  Ta Ba Wen Zheng spoke in a coarse voice and tone: "Yang Gongzi, you don't know that Hu Shige and I are actually both disciples of the Tianzong. He is from the Sword Gate, while I am from the Knife Gate."

  Yang Zhao was surprised this time. He turned his head and raised an eyebrow: "Tianzong? Ta Bao and Hu Bao are both Tianzong disciples? Those heroic heroes of that year..."

  "Hao Jie Shibo is the fourth generation disciple of Tianzong. We two are the fifth generation." Hu Jingyu stroked the sword on his back and sighed: "Thinking back to those days, our Tianzong was so powerful in the Central Plains martial arts world. But since that great plague... Alas, a good man doesn't mention past affairs. In short, after Master Shizu moved the main altar to Xiyu, we disciples who remained in the Central Plains have been having a harder and harder time."

  Qin Wu'an patted the shoulders of the two escorts and said, "Tianzong is a renowned sect, no matter how you look at it. The martial arts you two brothers have learned are far superior to my old Qin's crude 'Blood Battle Ten Styles'. But take a good look at yourselves! When did you ever manage to join forces with me and still can't even block one of Yang Gongzi's moves? What kind of joke is that? Don't be so arrogant anymore. From now on, focus on your training and stop indulging in those unrealistic fantasies about dual cultivation with swords. It'll save you from embarrassing yourselves when traveling the jianghu."

  Hu Jing's face turned bright red as he loudly protested, "How can the Head of the Escort Agency say that I'm daydreaming? The founder of our sect, Xiao Lao San, was originally known for his mastery of both sword and saber, shaking the martial world. I carry both sword and saber on my back to revive the divine power of our ancestors. This is called having faith, pursuit, and ideals! Do you understand?"

  "But Master Hu, after all these years of practice, your martial arts skills seem to have not only made no progress, but actually regressed?" Ta Ba Wen's face was still thick and stubborn as ever, his voice grumbling: "In the past when we were at Tianzong, you could knock me down with just thirty sword moves. But since you started practicing both knife and sword, now it seems like you need at least a hundred moves or more, and even then it's not certain, right?"

  Qin Wu'an and other escorts burst out laughing. Hu Jing's mouth was mumbling, wanting to refute but couldn't find the words, feeling embarrassed for a moment. Yang Zhao hastily came out to mediate, saying: "If Master can do it, there's no reason why later generations can't do it either. Otherwise, wouldn't all the schools in the world be getting worse with each generation? What's the point of learning martial arts and practicing skills then? Hmm... I think Hu might not have a way to improve, perhaps he's just practicing incorrectly, but that doesn't mean it's wrong. If Hu, Tuo Ba, and Qin aren't too proud, why don't we find some time to exchange moves?"

  That night, Yang Zhao easily defeated the three of them in a row, his martial arts skills far surpassing theirs. To receive guidance from such an expert was a rare opportunity for the three escorts, and they all eagerly agreed without hesitation.

  That night, after the escort team had settled down in the inn, Yang Zhao made an appointment with three escorts to go out. Li Shentong naturally sneered and didn't care. Fan Qinghui also seemed not afraid that Yang Zhao would take the opportunity to escape again, and stayed in the inn talking to Mingyue.

  The four of them were not disturbed, and they focused on discussing martial arts. The three escorts each demonstrated their own unique skills, while Yang Zhao did not use his profound internal energy to overpower them, but instead used the Xiantian Bagua Steps and Bagua Palm, as well as the Ice Fire Mantis Fist to exchange moves with them one by one, commenting on their strengths and weaknesses, and discussing what they lacked.

  Xiao Wangye's actual combat experience was indeed countable on one's fingers. However, his foundation in the Yi Jing Xuan Jian was actually created by Zhōu Bù Fán, a divine mathematician who traveled the world and learned countless divine techniques before fusing them with his own insights. Additionally, during his days of escaping in Qinling, he had repeatedly clashed with the most skilled swordsmen of the time, the Sanzhai successor. Therefore, at this point, Yang Zhao's martial arts skills may not be considered top-notch, but his vision was extremely high. Guiding Qin Wu'an and other good hands among the third-rate experts was more than enough for him.

  Qin Wu'an actually had a good natural talent and practiced diligently. His shortcoming was that he never met a famous master to learn advanced martial arts. The Blood Battle Ten Forms, in his hands, could be performed with great skill, but no matter how skilled, it couldn't change the fact that it was a third-rate common technique. Yang Zhao didn't dare to casually teach the secrets of the Yi Jing Xuan Jian to anyone, so he taught Qin Wu'an the Pre-Heaven Eight Trigrams Step first. This set of steps was subtle and mysterious, and after learning it, Qin Wu'an's strength increased by at least 30%. Having tasted success, this descendant of Bai Qi practiced diligently every night, almost not even sleeping.

  As for Hu Jing Shui and Tuo Ba Wen Zheng, the two martial arts brothers, Yang Zhao didn't have much to teach them. After all, the Tianzong's Qi Wu Yan Tian Gong, Xiao Yao Seven Swords, Huan Yu Three Knives, etc., were also top-notch, unparalleled skills. The founder of Tianzong, Xiao Cang Sheng, was even praised as a martial arts legend comparable to Nan Gong Wen Tian, the successor of the Heavenly Crystal.

  The martial art of the Tianzong was originally a dual cultivation of sword and knife. However, to simultaneously refine both sword and knife is truly not an easy task. Over 200 years ago, there were only a few people who could do it, such as Xuan Tian's evil emperor, Nan Gong Tai Ping, and Xiao Cang Sheng. Since the second generation, the Tianzong has been divided into two branches: the Knife Gate and the Sword Gate. Although it is not forbidden for disciples to cultivate both knife and sword at the same time, most people have a clear understanding of their own abilities and only focus on practicing one or the other.

  Hu Jing was loudly proclaiming that he wanted to learn from his ancestors and become a great master, but in reality, the one he truly admired was Xuan Tian Evil Emperor. After learning the truth, Yang Zhao couldn't help but feel a mix of emotions. However, upon further reflection, if one doesn't aim to be the best, how can they achieve true greatness? The only mistake, perhaps, was that Hu Jing himself didn't have the necessary talent.

  Yang Zhao once heard Mohe Ye mention that from ancient times to the present, the number of people who practice martial arts is in the hundreds of millions, but truly top-notch masters may not appear even once every few hundred years. Even if they do appear, it's unlikely they'll be from the same era, and even more unlikely they'll have a chance to cross swords. To comment on who's better or worse is actually extremely difficult. Therefore, some people divide these masters into four major classes and eight minor boundaries based on their performance during their lifetime.

  The first is the "Transcendent Saint". This type of master has an extremely high level of comprehension, and any profound martial arts can be quickly grasped and cultivated to the extreme. Mohe Ye, Chaoyang Tian Shi, Ning Dao Qi, Fan Qing Hui, Tianzhu Seng and other top masters of this generation are all of this type.

  The second is the "Super Holy Enter God". This type of master can integrate and innovate on the basis of predecessors, opening up new boundaries of martial arts with new thinking. In the past, when Shang and Zhou alternated, Wu Wang Jifah combined Xiantian Qigong with Hun Tian Baojian, Chu Ba Wang Xiang Yu created the eighth strike of Purple Thunder, Da Luo Sha's sect master Wu Yong opened up the three extremes and three limits after exhausting his wisdom, and Sword Emperor Tie Xin understood the sword emperor's secret from the magic pearl and the soul of ten thousand swords.

  The third is the Transcendent Entrance. From nothingness to existence, transforming the void into reality. In a battle against enemies, every move of the hand is an extraordinary skill that defies the world. It independently opens up a great path in martial arts, and later generations all regard it as the true Great Ancestor. Xuan Tian Evil Emperor, Nan Gong Asking Heaven, Bodhidharma, and Xiao Cang Sheng can all be classified under this category.

  The fourth is Transcendence. Upon reaching this realm, one is no longer human, but a divine being, a Buddha or an immortal saint. Throughout history, only legendary great deities have attained such a state, such as Nüwa, Chiyou, Raksha, Fuxi, and the Buddhist patriarch Sakyamuni, among others.

  Even Lian Mohui Ye was only "entering the holy" and had not yet "surpassed the holy", it can be imagined that Hu Jing Shui wanted to compare with Xuan Tian Xie Di, which is no different from a fool talking about dreams. But thinking about it, he himself also knew it in his heart. It's just that people always have some dreams, and Yang Zhao, an orphan, didn't want to hit him too hard either. He just intentionally lured him into using single sword more often during their sparring matches, rather than bringing out both knife and sword at the same time. After a period of time like this, Hu Dabiao's martial arts could finally be normally displayed, at least he wouldn't be held back by himself.

  Of course, Yang Zhao himself was not without gain. Although he didn't go out of his way to steal others' martial arts, after exchanging several thousand moves with Hu Jing Shui and Tuo Ba Wen Zheng, the two master brothers, he had unknowingly become familiar with the changes in the Xiang Yao Seven Swords and the Huan Yu Three Knives through osmosis. By incorporating them into his own martial arts, he made another great leap forward in a short period of time.

  Day and night, they practiced their skills, immersed in the infinite wonders of martial arts. Time flew by unnoticed. One evening, at dusk, a magnificent city wall appeared on the horizon, its color turned golden yellow by the setting sun. Everyone simultaneously lifted their heads to gaze at the breathtaking view, their hearts intoxicated by the beauty. After a long while, Li Shentong finally stepped back and whispered, "Everyone, that's... Chengdu City over there."

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  PS: My aunt and uncle from the countryside have arrived. It's been several years since we last met, so I'll be taking them out for dinner tonight to catch up, which means no updates tonight... Sorry ORZ