Chapter 13 Against-Heaven's Understanding, Integration and Mastery, Unprecedented and Unparalleled
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Lin Yuan returned to the Great Zen Temple without causing much of a stir.
Apart from the Abbot and a few heads of the departments, no other monks were aware.
On the third floor of the Sutra Pavilion, Lin Yuan sat cross-legged.
"There are eight years left."
Lin Yuan glanced at the illusory light screen below his line of sight,
knowing that his time remaining in this world wasn't much.
"It should be enough..."
Lin Yuan nodded slightly.
He had already charted a specific direction and approach for understanding the path above the Mythical Realm,
and with an Against-Heaven's Understanding of comprehending it, eight years was more than enough.
"The path of Martial Tao..."
Lin Yuan's gaze was profound.
In this world, the path of Martial Tao was based on the human body, intertwined with spirit, continually transforming.
Although the progress was slow, the advantage was that there were no significant weaknesses.
At least it had much more potential compared to the evolution path of the 'genetic warriors' of the Cosmic Human Alliance.
The genetic warriors followed a pure physical evolution path,
and once they encountered evolutionary beings like 'super ability sorcerers' or 'mind masters'...
Without prior preparation, they were basically swept away.
The genetic warrior path of evolution was probably a route designed by the upper echelons of human civilization,
specifically created for their descendants.
Completely reliant on gene potions, one could continue to advance as long as they could purchase potions of sufficient rank.
"I wonder how Martial Tao is categorized as an evolution path and what the Goddess of Wisdom thinks of it..."
Lin Yuan thought to himself.
The Cosmic Human Alliance encourages its citizens to develop new evolutionary paths,
and the Goddess of Wisdom even offers huge contributions as rewards to attract more human citizens to invest in this area.
The value of an evolutionary path depends on two aspects,
one is its popularity,
and the other is its potential.
The popularity aspect is easy to understand,
If the path allows only you to cultivate, then it's of little value to the civilization as a whole.
As for the potential... it's the theoretical limit of that evolutionary path.
After more than a decade in this world, Lin Yuan had been using his Against-Heaven's Understanding to deduce martial arts, opening up the path above the Grandmaster Realm towards the Mythical Realm, and even beyond the mythic levels...
He was pushing the limits of the Martial Tao evolutionary path as much as possible,
in order to obtain a higher evaluation from the Goddess of Wisdom and receive ample rewards.
Lin Yuan was well aware of his priorities, this world was just a stopover for him,
Once his twenty-year stay was up, he was to return to the Cosmic Human Alliance.
"Let's continue comprehending," he said.
Lin Yuan pondered for a moment, closed his eyes, and fell back into a state of enlightenment.
This trip to the Martial Hall of Dali Imperial Palace had been of great help to Lin Yuan.
The myriad martial arts recorded in the Martial Hall, the various wonderful methods mastered by fighters around the world.
In the catalysis of the Against-Heaven's Understanding, countless inspirations exploded in Lin Yuan's mind, unwaveringly advancing towards a realm above Mythical.
...
Time passed.
Eight years flew by in the blink of an eye.
As time went on, the real identity of that mysterious monk who had broken through the Dali Imperial Palace finally came to light.
He was Hui Zhen, the Buddhist disciple from the Great Zen Temple.
Back then, Lin Yuan's words outside the palace, "This poor monk Hui Zhen," were heard by many.
What's more, the Great Zen Temple had long since distributed Hui Zhen's portrait to temples far and wide, and Lin Yuan had also shown up at various Martial Tao conventions held in the Imperial capital of Dali.
It wasn't difficult to speculate when comparing the past with the present.
The exposure of the mysterious monk's identity led to a direct consequence:
The Great Zen Temple became lively, and at the foot of Mount Shaoshi, throngs of warriors came every day in admiration.
The mysterious monk had only stayed in the capital of Dali for one year before vanishing without a trace. Many speculated that the monk might have returned to the Great Zen Temple.
The numerous warriors came to the Great Zen Temple in hopes of catching a glimpse of Lin Yuan.
After all, Lin Yuan was recognized as a Great Grandmaster and even proclaimed by several Grandmasters as the greatest Great Grandmaster of all time.
There is no first in literature, but there is no second in martial arts.
To be universally recognized by all Grandmasters without any objection meant only one possibility:
That Hui Zhen was unfathomably strong.
He had convinced all the Grandmasters.
This was what attracted so many warriors to come.
Even if they couldn't meet him, just a distant glance was considered extremely fortunate, and who knows if someone would be lucky enough to catch the eye of that unnamed monk?
Wouldn't such a chance be even greater than a carp leaping through the Dragon Gate?
As for the possibility of being valued by the Buddhist disciple and having to renounce worldly life to become a monk...
Just to step into the Grandmaster Realm, let alone renunciation, there would be a crowd willing to sever all emotional ties and take the vows.
...
On the narrow path up Mount Shaoshi, a burly man carrying a heavy sword walked slowly.
Following the muscular man was a young man in his twenties.
"Master, Master."
"Have you come here to challenge that Buddhist disciple once again?"
The young man asked curiously as he walked.
The burly man carrying the heavy sword was the Sword Saint of the Southern Sea.
If there were Grandmasters nearby, they would notice that the Sword Saint of the Southern Sea had a profound aura, and staring into his eyes, one could feel the sharp and formidable spirit as if from a sharp sword.
Great Grandmaster.
This Sword Saint of the Southern Sea had indeed taken that step and had become a Great Grandmaster.
In other times, the birth of any Great Grandmaster would be an extremely sensational event.
Greetings from all directions.
Countless heads bowing in reverence.
These would be the most basic responses.
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However, the Sword Saint of the Southern Sea found it all tasteless.
Ever since the sparring with Lin Yuan eight years ago, the Sword Saint of the Southern Sea realized that there were always people beyond oneself, and heavens beyond this heaven.
What of a Great Grandmaster?
When facing that Buddha's child, even a Great Grandmaster would have to die.
"I'm just here to have a look,"
the Sword Saint of the Southern Sea shook his head.
"Also, do not compare your master with that Buddha's child."
"That Buddha's child was already beyond the Great Grandmaster realm eight years ago."
The Sword Saint of the Southern Sea took a deep breath and said softly.
Suddenly.
The expression of the Sword Saint of the Southern Sea drastically changed.
He looked up abruptly toward the summit of Mount Shaoshi, in the direction of the Great Zen Temple.
Om!!!
A terrifying aura began to shake and instantly swept over the whole of Mount Shaoshi.
And it spread to all directions at an extremely terrifying speed.
"What is that?"
The Sword Saint of the Southern Sea's face turned pale.
In his perception, an overwhelming aura rose up from deep within the Great Zen Temple, shining upon the world like the brilliant sun.
...
"Finally... finally succeeded..."
On the third floor of the Sutra Pavilion, Lin Yuan slowly opened his eyes and walked out of the Sutra Pavilion.
After nearly a decade, he had finally stepped into a level above the Mythical Realm.
Outside the Sutra Pavilion.
Elder Long Eyebrow, the Abbot, and various heads of the monastery had been waiting for a long time.
The commotion of Lin Yuan's breakthrough was too great; even the Sword Saint of the Southern Sea who was on the mountainside perceived it, let alone the many monks within the Great Zen Temple.
"Buddha's child..."
"We've seen the Buddha's child,"
As Lin Yuan emerged from the Sutra Pavilion, Elder Long Eyebrow and others immediately bowed and said.
"Hmm,"
Lin Yuan nodded, in a good mood.
"The Buddha's child's strength must have surpassed that of a Great Grandmaster by now, right?"
Abbot Huaiyuan hesitated for a moment before probing.
He had actually speculated as much earlier, but had never been sure. After all, the Great Grandmaster had always been the ceiling for martial artists since ancient times; surpassing it was no easy feat.
However, just now, having felt the disturbances of Lin Yuan's breakthrough.
Even if Abbot Huaiyuan were foolish, he realized something.
That incredible aura, not even ten or a hundred Great Grandmasters could compare to it.
The reason Abbot Huaiyuan knew this so well was that Elder Long Eyebrow had also successfully advanced to the realm of the Great Grandmaster a year ago.
"More or less..."
Lin Yuan's gaze was calm as he spoke lightly.
"Truly surpassed the Grandmaster Realm?"
Although they had already guessed as much, their hearts still stirred with massive waves upon hearing Lin Yuan's confirmation.
The saintly monk, who was already a Great Grandmaster, had an even more complex mind. He had witnessed Lin Yuan's growth step by step, and more than a decade ago, he had even taken on the role of a master, guiding him.
"What lies above the realm of Great Grandmaster?"
Abbot Huaiyuan asked, his voice trembling.
Upon hearing this, everyone immediately stared at Lin Yuan, their eyes burning with intensity.
Though they could not reach the heights of Lin Yuan, and even the realm of Great Grandmaster seemed far-fetched, they at least wanted to listen; this alone put them ahead of the Great Grandmasters of old.
"Above the realm of Great Grandmaster is known as the Mythical Realm, where Inner Qi is sublimated into 'Yuan Force'..."
Lin Yuan patiently began to introduce the many wonders of the 'Mythical Realm'.
After finishing, Lin Yuan paused for a while, then continued, "Above the Mythical Realm... I haven't thought of a name for it yet, but when vigor, blood, and spirit fuse, one can sense the Qi of heaven and earth..."
"Hmm?"
"Above the Mythical Realm?"
The hearts of Abbot Huaiyuan and others were tremendously shaken, and it took a long while for them to come back to their senses.
They were just immersing themselves in the many incredibilities of the Mythical Realm, imagining the characteristics of that state, when Lin Yuan mentioned something beyond the Mythical Realm?
Could it be that the young Buddha's child in front of them had already transcended the Mythical Realm? Otherwise, how could he know of the mysteries above it?
Next, Lin Yuan patiently explained a few points before sending Abbot Huaiyuan and the others away.
It wasn't that Lin Yuan did not want to elaborate.
But with their realm not being sufficient, more words were useless.
On the contrary, it could affect one's own cultivation.
"It should have reached the limit,"
Lin Yuan mused for a while, already faintly feeling an oppressive force from between heaven and earth.
The level he was at now had reached the ultimate of this world; proceeding further... Given his Against-Heaven's Understanding, it wasn't impossible, but Lin Yuan did not have enough time left.
...
"That should be about it."
Inside the Sutra Pavilion, Lin Yuan looked at the dozens of books piled up in front of him.
They recorded the specific process details from the Acquired Realm through the Mythical Realm and even beyond the Mythical level.
Of course, the deeper one delved into the Martial Tao, the more difficult it became for ordinary people to understand.
This was why Lin Yuan was reluctant to discuss it in detail with Abbot Huaiyuan and the others.
However, just in case the Great Zen Temple produced a disciple one day with even a thousandth of Lin Yuan's talent, these volumes might guide them.
Considering such a day, it was probably an event for centuries or millennia in the future.
...
After stepping into a level above the Mythical Realm, Lin Yuan stopped cultivating and instead began to wander and enjoy himself.
Even so, he increasingly felt the pressure from the world, as uncomfortable as a stranded whale.
Several months later.
Lin Yuan suddenly opened his eyes.
Because...
The Door to the Myriad Realms deep in his mind suddenly shone brightly.