The air was dry, yet despite years of no human presence, breathing was not difficult.
Chen Zong carefully examined his surroundings by the light of the brazier, his eyes widening in surprise.
After walking through a short corridor, he entered a stone chamber. Yes, the walls were constructed of dark green, smooth, and neatly fitted stones.
The chamber was roughly ten to fifteen meters wide and tall, and Chen Zong's gaze quickly settled on the center, where he was immediately drawn.
There stood a dark green stone table, and behind it sat a figure in a brown robe.
"Senior..." Chen Zong called out tentatively, but received no response. He took a few steps closer for a better look and was startled.
The seated figure was a desiccated corpse, its age of death unknown.
Behind the corpse stood a row of bookshelves, neatly lined with over a hundred books. On the stone table before it lay several objects.
Chen Zong moved with caution.
After confirming there were no traps, he approached the stone table and stared at the items spread across it.
Five rolls of parchment made from animal hides lay there, along with an unrolled sheet covered in small, black script. Beside it rested a brush and an inkstone dried of ink.
"I, Xu Zhengji, known to the world as the Subduing Dragon True Person..."
Chen Zong carefully read the black characters. This was a will, and its contents left him increasingly shocked and excited.
The Subduing Dragon True Person Xu Zhengji was a martial artist far more powerful than even the clan elders.
Chen Zong already knew that above the Qi Blood Realm lay the Trained Force Realm, and above that, the True Martial Realm. Not only was this Subduing Dragon True Person a master of the True Martial Realm, but he stood at its very pinnacle.
"The pinnacle of the True Martial Realm..." Chen Zong's heart surged with excitement.
Throughout all of Wind Martial City, the strongest cultivators were at the Trained Force Realm, while the True Martial Realm seemed like mere legend. Yet here he was, encountering a True Martial Realm expert—even if he was now nothing but a desiccated corpse.
"...The five scrolls on the table contain two of my lifetime cultivation techniques and martial arts, two left by the Hall Master detailing cultivation methods and medicinal formulas, and one map I drew. If fate decrees it, you may perform a master-disciple ceremony to inherit my techniques and martial arts..."
"Master-disciple ceremony?" Chen Zong pondered briefly before dismissing the idea.
Subduing Dragon True Person Xu Zhengji was indeed a formidable martial artist, standing at the pinnacle of power in the Eastern Continent. When such a master sought disciples, the announcement alone would draw countless talented individuals, leading to fierce competition.
Chen Zong's refusal to take Xu Zhengji as his master was equally clear: the Subduing Dragon True Person did not practice swordsmanship. The will stated that Xu Zhengji excelled in palm techniques, but Chen Zong had no intention of abandoning the sword for palms. However, he wasn't opposed to cultivating both simultaneously.
"...If you refuse to take me as your master, please bring my cultivation techniques and martial arts to True Martial Main City and deliver them to my Xu Clan descendants. As compensation, you may freely study, comprehend, and practice the techniques I have left behind. But remember, these must not be divulged to anyone outside yourself and my Xu Clan descendants..."
The will contained much information, and Chen Zong read it carefully, taking considerable time to finish.
"True Martial Main City..."
Chen Zong was no longer the novice he had been when he first left Small Lake Town. He now understood the Eastern Continent far better.
On the Eastern Continent, there were five main cities, with True Martial Main City at the center. Wind Martial City, on the other hand, was merely one of the garrison cities subordinate to Supreme Martial Main City.
The Xu Clan's ability to establish itself in True Martial Main City, the heart of the five major cities, speaks volumes about its extraordinary status.
The will revealed that this stone chamber wasn't built by the Subduing Dragon True Person himself, but rather discovered by chance. It may have been left by his predecessors and contained no martial arts manuals or cultivation techniques, only over a hundred miscellaneous books and two scrolls detailing cultivation methods and medicinal formulas.
He wrote that he intended to venture into Hundred Beasts Mountain, leave the Eastern Continent, and journey to the legendary vast world beyond. However, he encountered a powerful demon beast, suffered injuries in the battle, and was pursued relentlessly. He fled into Subduing Dragon Mountain, realizing his time was running out and there was no time to return to his clan. He retreated into this stone chamber, recorded his cultivated techniques and martial arts, and penned this final will.
The will was dated 336, meaning the Subduing Dragon True Person had been dead for sixty years. Chen Zong was the only fortunate soul to discover this place in all that time.
"Not bad luck," Chen Zong chuckled to himself, picking up the first scroll of animal skin and carefully unrolling it.
The first scroll contained four cultivation techniques:
The Subduing Dragon Principle, suitable for Blood Qi Tempering. Regardless of the practitioner, it could at least temper their Blood Qi four times.
The Minor Dragon-Subduing Art, a top-grade human-rank cultivation technique suitable for Qi Blood Realm practitioners to refine their Qi Blood Power, consists of five levels. Upon reaching the fourth level, one can condense a strand of Dragon-Subduing Force within their body.
The Major Dragon-Subduing Force, a high-grade earth-rank cultivation technique for Trained Force Realm practitioners to refine their Internal Force, is renowned for its fierce and robust power.
The Great Dragon-Subduing True Force, a mid-grade heaven-rank cultivation technique for True Martial Realm practitioners to refine their True Force, is characterized by its overwhelming ferocity, capable of subduing dragons and taming tigers.
Chen Zong could understand the principles of the Subduing Dragon Art, but the Major Dragon-Subduing Force and the Great Dragon-Subduing True Force remained incomprehensible. The mysteries of earth-grade and heaven-grade cultivation techniques far surpassed his current cultivation base and martial arts knowledge.
This did not dampen Chen Zong's excitement.
"This is indeed formidable," he thought. "If I hadn't already mastered the True Sword Heavenly Extinction Technique, I would definitely cultivate the Subduing Dragon Art."
Clearly, the True Sword Heavenly Extinction Technique surpassed the Subduing Dragon Art.
However, the Subduing Dragon Art had one advantage: it offered a complete, coherent lineage of subsequent cultivation techniques. With each technique seamlessly building upon the previous one, the power cultivated would be far purer.
Chen Zong carefully rolled up the beast skin paper containing the cultivation techniques and unfolded another sheet, revealing the martial arts.
The Foundation Establishment Martial Art, Minor Dragon Subduing Hand, consisted of eight forms, just like the True Sword Eight Forms. Achieving Great Perfection in this art could exercise eighty percent of the body's muscles, another similarity with the True Sword Eight Forms. Chen Zong was astonished.
Only now had he seen a Foundation Establishment Martial Art that could rival the True Sword Eight Forms.
Each form of the Minor Dragon Subduing Hand was ferocious, capable of splitting boulders and shattering stones, its power terrifying. Chen Zong began to study it carefully.
Ultimately, Chen Zong concluded that while the Minor Dragon Subduing Hand could match the True Sword Eight Forms in terms of depth, its power still fell short. Even if one cultivated the Minor Dragon Subduing Hand to the Subtlety Realm, unleashing its maximum power, it would barely rival a Low-Grade Human-Rank Martial Art at its first foundational level. Compared to the True Sword Eight Forms' most powerful strike, the difference was still striking.
This only deepened Chen Zong's curiosity about the True Sword Eight Forms. What was its true origin?
Next came the Top-Grade Human-Rank Martial Art, the Major Dragon Subduing Hand.
Cultivating the Major Dragon Subduing Hand required the Minor Dragon Subduing Hand as a foundation. Composed of three layers, its power was peerlessly fierce and domineering, its superiority over the Minor Dragon Subduing Hand immeasurable.
"Truly terrifying!" Chen Zong gasped.
Throughout all of Wind Martial City, one could not find a Human-Rank Top-Grade cultivation technique or martial art.
Continuing through the list, the third martial art was the Earth-Grade High-Grade Dragon-Subduing Earth-Sinking Hand, and finally, the fourth martial art was the Heaven-Grade Mid-Grade Dragon-Subduing Heaven-Shaking Hand.
Each successive art built upon the previous one, becoming increasingly fierce and domineering.
Moreover, the power of the Dragon-Subduing lineage martial arts could only be fully unleashed when driven by the Dragon-Subduing lineage cultivation techniques. Conversely, from the Major Dragon Subduing Hand onward, without the support of these techniques, not only would their power be severely diminished, but they could also cause harm to the practitioner.
If not for his deep love for the sword and sword techniques, Chen Zong's resolve might have wavered, tempting him to abandon the sword and accept this Dragon-Subduing art and martial arts inheritance.
Imagine possessing such a complete lineage of cultivation techniques and martial arts. With decent talent and relentless effort, one could be virtually guaranteed to reach the True Martial Realm, and even aspire to its pinnacle, becoming a superpower standing at the summit of the Eastern Continent.
But that would undoubtedly just create another Subduing Dragon True Person.
"It's a pity," Chen Zong thought to himself. "My aspirations lie elsewhere. I will forge a new path with my sword."
The origin of the Mysterious Sword Tip remained a mystery, but Chen Zong felt its value far surpassed that of Subduing Dragon True Person's inheritance.
Setting aside personal preferences, Chen Zong naturally chose the Mysterious Sword Tip.
Moreover, Chen Zong preferred forging his own path—a yearning, an aspiration. Even if his ultimate achievements couldn't rival those of Subduing Dragon True Person, at least he wouldn't regret it.
"Enough daydreaming. Let's examine the other three scrolls." Chen Zong shook his head, rolled up the martial arts parchment, and picked up the third scroll to unfold it.
This was a medical formula scroll.
Ice-Fire Tempering Membrane Ointment!
Effects: Tempering the skin...
Ingredients: Earth Cold Grass, Fire Rock Flower, Seven-Day White Orchid, Cold Python essence blood, Flame Tiger essence blood...
Refinement Method...
Usage Method...
The first formula, from its effects to ingredients, refinement method, and usage method, was meticulously detailed—clear and straightforward at a glance.
Tiger-Leopard Tendon Transformation Pill!
Effects: Strengthening tendons and meridians...
Ingredients: Fierce Blood Tiger bone glue, Black Cloud Leopard bone glue, Tendon-Severing Grass...
Refinement Method...
Usage...
Thunder Sound Bone Forging Pill!
Effect: Tempering the bones...
Ingredients: Thunderclap Grass, Bone-Connecting Dragon Vine Root, Silver Serpent Vine...
Refinement Method...
Usage...
The scroll contained three detailed formulas.
"The True Sword Heavenly Extinction Technique's Qi Blood manifestation becomes increasingly potent with each level of cultivation. The higher the level, the sharper the Qi Blood Power becomes, requiring an even more formidable physique to support it. Based on my current physical strength, I estimate that the third level alone will already cause me considerable pain, and attempting the fourth level might tear my body apart," Chen Zong said, his eyes gleaming with determination.
Many powerful cultivation techniques demand even greater physical fortitude. After all, the first recipient of such immense power is one's own body, which must withstand its force.
Take, for example, Subduing Dragon True Person's Subduing Dragon Art. Without an exceptionally robust physique, how could one endure such brutally overwhelming force?
"These three formulas—tempering the skin, strengthening the tendons and veins, and forging the bones—fundamentally enhance the physique, increasing its capacity for endurance. This is precisely what I need," Chen Zong thought, secretly delighted.
Compared to the cultivation techniques and martial arts of Subduing Dragon True Person, Chen Zong found these three medicine formulas to be of greater value.
Of course, this was relative.
Rolling up the medicine formulas, Chen Zong picked up the fourth scroll and unrolled it.
Body Tempering Art!
A straightforward, simple, and memorable name that instantly captured Chen Zong's immense interest.
As the name suggests, the Body Tempering Art is a method for refining the body, a concept easily understood.
Starting from the first word of the main text, Chen Zong read carefully. As he progressed, he couldn't help but grow increasingly excited. This Body Tempering Art was clearly designed to complement the three medicine formulas—or rather, the existence of those formulas was directly intended to serve this Body Tempering Art.
The Body Tempering Art was divided into four layers, with no explicit grade indicated.
The first layer, Copper Skin, as the name implies, involved refining the skin to its ultimate hardness, like ancient bronze.
The second layer, Steel Sinews, involved refining the tendons and veins to the resilience of fine steel.
The third layer, Iron Bones, involved refining the bones through repeated tempering, until they resembled refined iron.
The fourth layer, Primordial Unity Body, combined the first three layers, refining the physique to an entirely new height.