Chapter Eleven: Cultivating the Spirit

The ferocious power that could send a three-ton rockery flying, the explosive force of a fist that could smash through a double-layered concrete brick wall, the acute senses that, within thirty meters, could detect nearly any subtle movement, the sprinting speed surpassing that of a sedan—when the body, entirely enveloped in the perfected innate energy of a master, could block bullets from a handgun without harm.

Such terrifying abilities, all gathered within one martial artist.

This martial artist was not only resolute and unyielding, rich in experience from countless life-and-death struggles, but had also been fighting in deathmatch arenas since the age of twenty, surviving storms and tempests beyond counting!

In the world of Artificial Divine Realm 1909, such an existence was akin to the reincarnation of Xiang Yu, hailed as invincible.

A warrior this formidable, even when facing a squad of fully armed soldiers on an open field, could anticipate most bullet trajectories, discern the moment the trigger was pulled, easily outmaneuver and bait empty shots, then fall upon the formation like a tiger among sheep—a slaughter without contest.

Without doubt, from the perspective of ordinary people, this had already transcended humanity.

But was transcending humanity all there was?

Lan Yi had expended energy and precious spiritual force to grant him the true legacy martial art “Red Ape Tramples the Mountains.” And Huo Yuanjia, possessing steadfast conviction, had been elevated with great care. Was all this merely to deal with a squad of minor armed soldiers?

Sitting upright and suspended above the podium in the lecture hall, Lan Yi rested with eyes closed. Behind him, “Azure Radiance” had already formed two glowing rings, casting an immortal’s canopy of radiant white and blue lightning.

All unrelated persons had been cleared out.

In the spacious hall, hundreds of sheets of white paper floated before Lan Yi. Strands of “Azure Radiance” steadily released electricity, burning lines of tiny script onto each page.

From afar, the pattering sound of gunfire, like rain and firecrackers, finally ceased.

About a quarter of an hour later.

A figure slipped silently into the hall, nimble as a mountain monkey.

“After perfecting your energy cultivation, you move on to training the mind—your heart, once restless as a wild monkey, becomes both demon and sage, capable of absolute stillness or stirring up tempests,” Lan Yi said without opening his eyes, raising a single hand and pointing forward.

A thunderclap erupted indoors!

A serpent of lightning, perceptible only to living beings, struck with savage fury, lashing onto the monkey-like intruder in a flash!

Huo Yuanjia, who had concealed himself as if melded with the forest, was abruptly forced out of his unique state.

“You say this is false, but I truly was struck by lightning,” Huo Yuanjia said, raising his arm to reveal charred wounds from the electric burn.

“If you can’t distinguish reality from illusion, then what difference does it make?” Lan Yi’s eyes opened, shining silver-white, within them the circuits of “Azure Radiance” now seamlessly formed into a lotus.

The lightning of Daoist arts and the martial artist’s spirit mirrored one another!

“The Supreme Compendium of the Nine Heavens” had solidified the Daoist technique—colorless pupils now achieved.

“Solidified Daoist Arts.”

Unlike the Palm Thunder, which is cast and released instantly, a solidified Daoist art is embedded into the body, ready for use at any time. For example, the colorless pupils—so long as spiritual energy is supplied and “Azure Radiance” is not exhausted, they function as a perpetual technique, granting the practitioner a passive skill.

The colorless pupils pierce all illusions. This technique not only grants spiritual vision, allowing the practitioner to see all forms of spiritual energy, but also dispels illusions and reveals outer demons.

In Lan Yi’s spiritual sight at this moment.

Huo Yuanjia’s entire body glowed with the orange-yellow of innate energy, even his brain and lower regions already fully covered, with energy radiating outward in a steady rhythm, like a furnace burning with slow and powerful consistency.

Having perfected his energy cultivation, he was now advancing toward training the spirit.

“What must I do to unleash a spiritual attack as you just did, one so real it’s indistinguishable from illusion?” Huo Yuanjia asked, trying a punch that made the air explode with a crack.

Though the air thundered, nothing supernatural occurred.

Huo Yuanjia had yet to master the power of the spirit.

“Act as your heart desires, and it will come naturally.” Lan Yi withdrew his spiritual energy, his eyes gradually returning to normal, the lotus circuit fading from his pupils, leaving only a faint white trace.

“This is the section of ‘Red Ape Tramples the Mountains’ devoted to training the spirit.”

“When you achieve the manifestation of self, you may begin to practice the spiritual arts within.”

A few strands of white energy delivered the completed true legacy martial art to Huo Yuanjia.

Such a gift...

Huo Yuanjia hesitated a moment, then asked, “Immortal Master, have we met before?”

“We have.” Lan Yi nodded.

At that time, he had been cold and hungry, and for a mere impolite glance had his ribs broken by an eastern wanderer. Without a cultivation method for “Azure Radiance,” he had nearly become a fresh corpse by the roadside.

It was Huo Yuanjia who had saved him.

Lan Yi said no more, and Huo Yuanjia did not press further. The great master seemed much more at ease, receiving the precious manual.

“Immortal Master, just now a few dozen concession police came—they’ve all been driven away,” Huo Yuanjia said, his tone rising with pride.

Dozens of police, all armed!

They had come to arrest the notorious Lan Yi. Given his exploits today, the foreign powers would grit their teeth in rage, wishing to tear him to pieces.

Huo Yuanjia had never dreamed he could so easily dispatch them all by himself. Their aim and trigger pulls were simply too slow—slow as cotton drifting to the ground.

“They’ll come again,” Lan Yi said, well aware of the nature of the foreigners in this era.

Huo Yuanjia had only driven them off, not killed them. The humiliated foreign police would surely return in greater numbers, with more guns, perhaps even bringing artillery.

There were foreign garrisons in the concession, after all.

Huo Yuanjia was no fool; he too could foresee the foreigners’ furious revenge.

“Immortal Master, perhaps you should relocate for now?”

“No need. However many come, that many will die,” Lan Yi replied, his voice chilling to the bone. “Master Huo, tell the martial artists outside that those wishing to be granted power should line up and enter.”

To deal with the concession police, the foreign troops, even to seize control of this city and swiftly gather manpower and resources, he could not rely on himself and Huo Yuanjia alone.

Ordinary martial artists could be elevated to energy cultivation; a master like Huo Yuanjia to perfection, even to the birth of spirit-cultivating warriors.

Lan Yi did not fear them losing control.

The fierce consumption of energy cultivators could not be satisfied with ordinary food. To train, to fight for long periods, their only source of spiritual energy was Lan Yi’s “Azure Radiance.”

“As you command, Immortal Master.” Huo Yuanjia bowed.

“Tell them—if they wish to be empowered, they must first cut off the queue at the back of their heads,” Lan Yi said, his distaste for the queue obvious; he himself had been troubled by it in the past.

Huo Yuanjia was stunned.

Such a demand...

It was open defiance, a clear declaration of allegiance—few would dare accept, he thought.

With heavy heart, Huo Yuanjia left the lecture hall. Yet as he turned, he saw the corridor packed with people, each holding their freshly severed braid.

Even the foreign journalists had cut their own hair, each with eyes blazing, predatory and eager.