darknovel Chapter 67 The Master of Martial Arts
Chapter 67 The Master of Martial Arts
At the foot of Wudang Mountain.
"Gulp."
Someone swallowed a mouthful of saliva first.
The next moment, a thunderous roar of cheers pierced the sky.
"We won!"
"Master Ma is awesome!!"
"It's so satisfying! That feels so damn good!"
All the pent-up frustration and resentment in everyone's hearts were released at this moment.
From the moment the Twelve Knights entered the country, running rampant and unrestrained, to their arrival at Wudang Mountain, where they seemed to have no one there, every martial artist from the Hualong Kingdom felt a deep-seated sense of shame.
Now, this shame has been shattered by Ma Cong's sword!
The old monster of Kunlun, the immortal Taoist of Longmen, and all the renowned immortals who had been cultivating their inner core for hundreds of years, all looked at Ma Cong with expressions of looking at a monster.
"Young friend Ma, no, Master Ma."
The old monster Kunlun stepped forward, cupped his hands in a gesture of respect to Ma Cong, and adopted an extremely humble attitude.
"If it weren't for the Grandmaster's intervention today, we old bones would have lost all face."
"You're too kind, senior."
Ma Cong returned the greeting.
"I will remember the kindness of all the seniors who protected me."
"If any sects need my services in the future, as long as it does not violate the principles of chivalry, Ma Cong will never refuse."
Upon hearing this, the senior members present were all overjoyed.
Their trip was, in essence, an investment.
In retrospect, the return on this investment has far exceeded expectations.
The idea that a young immortal who is not yet nineteen years old has unlimited potential is now considered conservative.
This is a unique and extraordinary phenomenon, unparalleled throughout history.
A promise from him is more precious than any rare treasure.
"Haha, Master Ma, you flatter us. We were just doing our duty."
"Indeed, the martial arts community of our Hualong Kingdom should be of one mind and one heart."
After another round of mutual flattery, everyone took their leave.
After this battle, they need to go back and digest their experiences, and also spread Ma Cong's fame throughout the entire hidden sect.
Soon, only the Wudang patriarch, the Longhu Mountain celestial master, and Ma Cong remained in the square.
"Young Ma, interested in coming to my Longhu Mountain?"
The old Celestial Master of Longhu Mountain stroked his beard.
"There is a lineage in Longhu Mountain called 'Celestial Master's Transmission'."
"It allows the successor to rise to the top in one step, directly reaching the level of attaining immortality, and on this basis, to continue to improve."
"If you are willing, the position of Celestial Master will be yours after I pass away."
The old master of Wudang standing nearby twitched his eyelids as he listened.
Good heavens, this old Taoist priest has really gone all out.
The Celestial Master's Ordination is a closely guarded secret of Longhu Mountain, passed down through generations of Celestial Masters. This is tantamount to directly handing over the future of the entire Longhu Mountain.
Ma Cong shook his head.
"Thank you for your kindness, Celestial Master."
"However, I'd like to see how far I can go in the martial arts world on my own."
"Other people's paths are ultimately their own."
"I want to create a path that belongs only to me."
His voice was calm, yet it conveyed a resolute determination.
The old Celestial Master and the Wudang Patriarch exchanged a glance, both seeing shock and admiration in each other's reactions.
Rejecting the temptation of instant success, they only aspire to reach the elusive pinnacle of martial arts.
This mindset, this spirit, is what makes a true martial artist.
"Fine."
The old master sighed, feeling a pang of regret, but mostly admiration.
"I am no match for you, old man."
He then changed the subject and offered a reminder.
"Those twelve Knights of the Round Table are not without a backup plan. They have a secret technique that allows them to briefly unleash power surpassing that of a Daoist pill. I learned this the hard way a hundred years ago."
"Although you have won today, you still need to be careful in the future."
After saying this, the old Celestial Master waved his hand and his figure drifted away. He did not return to Longhu Mountain, but continued to travel the world.
Ma Cong noted this down and turned to walk toward Zhou Tianyi, who had been treated by Master Chen and others.
"Mr. Zhou, how are you feeling?"
Zhou Tianyi was now bandaged up like a mummy, but he was full of energy.
"He won't die!"
He grinned, trying to laugh, but the movement aggravated his wound, causing him to gasp in pain.
"Damn it, seeing that bastard get cleaved in two by your sword, it was worth it!"
"I have avenged you," Ma Cong said. "The one with the gun, called the Holy Knight, has been reduced to ashes."
Zhou Tianyi was stunned for a moment, then overjoyed.
"Good! Good! Good!"
He said "good" three times in a row, his whole body trembling with excitement.
"My son is sixteen this year, and he's quite talented. When I get back, I'll have him start learning martial arts! He should be like Master Ma, bringing glory to the country!"
Ma Cong looked at him and recalled all the help Zhou Tianyi had given him before.
He took out two thread-bound ancient books from his pocket and handed them over.
"These are the Yi Jin Jing and the Xi Sui Jing."
Zhou Tianyi was stunned.
Isn't this the Shaolin Temple's most prized treasure?
"These two exercises were not created by Bodhidharma as commonly believed."
Ma Cong explained.
"They were left by a senior Taoist master. Bodhidharma obtained them by chance, secluded himself for nine years, and used them to achieve the elixir of immortality, which led to the later Shaolin Temple."
"The biggest characteristic of these two techniques is that they do not consider one's innate talent or aptitude."
"With great perseverance and determination, even an ordinary person can cultivate to the level of Transformation Realm or even Embracing the Core Formation."
"The cultivation process will be very painful, with a high chance of survival."
Zhou Tianyi gripped the two manuals tightly, the veins on the back of his hands bulging.
He looked at Ma Cong and spoke, word by word.
"Master Ma, I may not have much else, but I do have money and an indomitable spirit."
"I'm walking this road!"
Ma Cong nodded.
Zhou Tianyi suddenly said, "Master Ma, I understand now. No matter how strong you are, you are ultimately alone."
"What will your family do if some ignorant fool comes knocking on your door while you're in seclusion, cultivating your skills?"
"You need to have your own power base, people to help you with miscellaneous tasks, and people who can provide protection when you need it."
These words broadened Ma Cong's thinking.
He has always focused on improving his personal martial prowess, but has neglected the importance of power.
[Ding! Change in host's state of mind detected, triggering a major upgrade quest: Establish a sect.]
[Mission Requirements: Create a martial arts faction belonging to the host and develop it into a powerful force.]
[Mission Reward: Unlock the next martial arts section.]
The system's voice rang in my mind.
Ma Cong's heart stirred, and he was glad that he hadn't agreed to the old master of Longhu Mountain.
He looked at Zhou Tianyi and spoke solemnly.
"Mr. Zhou, I'm planning to create a sect. Would you be willing to join?"
Zhou Tianyi sprang up from the stretcher, but then fell back down with a howl because the movement aggravated his wound.
"I do! I fucking do!"
He was so excited that he became incoherent.
This isn't joining, it's a promotion! It's an olive branch from a future legend in the martial arts world!
This is an incredible opportunity!
"I'll provide the money! I'll provide the manpower! I'll provide the land! Master Ma, whatever you say, we'll do!"
"Alright." Ma Cong didn't stand on ceremony. "I'll leave the initial preparations for the sect to you. From now on, you will be an elder of my sect."
"We'll begin once we get back to Jincheng."
Zhou Tianyi nodded repeatedly, ignoring his injuries, and began to plan his future in his mind.
During the days he was recovering from his injury, he kept talking non-stop.
"Master Ma, what is the name of our sect?"
Ma Cong pondered for a moment.
He possesses a system and is proficient in all kinds of martial arts, including Guigu, Tai Chi, Bajiquan, and so on.
"Let's call him 'Martial Sect'."
"The origin of martial arts".
"The motto of my Martial Sect can be summed up in just four words."
"Education should be provided to all without discrimination."
"Regardless of background or past, as long as one's heart is set on martial arts, even if one is disabled or has joined another sect, one can join my Martial Sect, learn my Martial Sect's methods, and pass on my Martial Sect's way!"
Zhou Tianyi was thrilled.
This scale and ambition are simply to encompass all the martial arts in the world!
He seemed to see an unprecedented martial arts holy land rising up.