Martial Arts Direction

The poison Tang Buyi had suffered was similar to Xia Xiayin's, and Xia Ci quickly eliminated it as well. The only difficult case was Tang Tianhao.

Tang Tianhao's martial power was profound, so the poison he had suffered was very deep, and after wrestling with Flying Dragon and the others for a long time, the poison had almost spread throughout his entire body.

Although Xia Ci's Nine Yang Divine Skill was life-sustaining, it wasn't endless—it just recovered faster. He didn't dare to use all his energy to drive out poison for Tang Tianhao unreservedly, and could only temporarily help stabilize his heart meridian.

"Master Tang, your poisoning is too deep. I'm afraid there's no way to completely drive out the poison in a short time," Xia Ci said.

With Xia Ci's help in stabilizing his heart meridian, Tang Tianhao could barely move. He cupped his hands toward Xia Ci and said: "Thank you, Young Hero Xia. You previously saved my son's life, and now you've saved my whole family. This kindness will never be forgotten!"

"You're too kind."

Xia Ci waved his hand, and just then, Xia Xiayin, who was looting the bodies and cutting off heads, suddenly called out: "Brother, come quickly, they all have those Moon Worship Tokens too! Hmm, Flying Dragon's is different!"

At this moment, Xia Xiayin was holding three tokens in her hand, all in the shape of ghost faces, engraved with the characters for "Moon Worship," just like the token obtained previously from killing Abbess Kuye.

Xia Xiayin knew that Xia Ci couldn't see, so she said: "Flying Dragon's token is different. It's the same shape, but the characters are different. The other two say 'Moon Worship,' but Flying Dragon's says 'Black Moon.'"

Shen Bai walked over and said: "The Moon Worship Cult has two types of followers. One type is ordinary disciples, which is easy to join, but the path to promotion is difficult, and they rarely get important roles. So, generally, powerful evildoers who join the Moon Worship Cult choose the second path—to become Moon Worship Emissaries.

These Moon Worship Emissaries are a special group within the cult, similar to special appointed officials. They can enjoy many resources and benefits of the Moon Worship Cult without having to stay within the sect and be restricted by internal rules. They only need to complete tasks, and they also have high status within the cult, possessing the authority to act at their discretion and mobilize disciples from various branch halls.

However, the entry assessment for Moon Worship Emissaries is extremely difficult. Usually, an evil martial artist holding a Moon Worship Token means they have the opportunity to be assessed to become a Moon Worship Emissary.

After becoming a Moon Worship Emissary, they are divided into several ranks: White Moon Emissary, Black Moon Emissary, Red Moon Emissary, and the highest rank, Sacred Emissary. Since Flying Dragon possessed a Black Moon Token, it means he was already a Black Moon Emissary of the Moon Worship Cult."

Xia Xiayin asked: "Then, now that we've killed Flying Dragon, will we have trouble?"

Shen Bai nodded and said: "Yes, but it's not a big problem. As long as you don't actively go into the Moon Worship Cult's territory, they won't dare to openly come after you. Well, like this, Brother Xia is also my lifesaver, and Shen Bai should repay you."

With that, Shen Bai took out a golden token from his bosom, with "Canglan" engraved on one side and "Ye" on the other.

Shen Bai said: "This token is my master's Grandmaster Token. If the Moon Worship Cult really comes to make trouble and Brother Xia can't handle it, you can hold this token and seek help at any branch of the Canglan Sword Sect. If the problem is severe, you can also go directly to Mount Canglan. Even if the Moon Worship Cult's leader personally takes action, they cannot climb Mount Canglan."

Xia Ci didn't stand on ceremony. He naturally knew about Grandmaster Tokens, which, to a certain extent, represented a grandmaster's promise and face. In the martial world, it was even more precious than most heavenly materials, treasures, or divine weapons.

"May I ask where Brother Xia is from, which sect or school?" Shen Bai asked.

"A wanderer in the martial world, now a bounty hunter, affiliated with Pursuit Tower at Notsecond Manor in Linjiang City," Xia Ci said.

Shen Bai obviously didn't believe it, but didn't pursue asking about Xia Ci's lineage, only sighing: "After meeting Brother Xia today, I've realized there are always greater heights to reach. Following my master in cultivation, I always thought I was among the best of the younger generation in today's martial world, but today I realize I've been like a frog in a well. Brother Xia has mastered both internal and external cultivation to the realm of transcendence. It's shameful that I only practice the sword dao and have only achieved half a step of sword intent, yet was so arrogant. Fortunately, today I've seen Brother Xia as this high mountain, giving me a wake-up call. When I return to the mountain, I must diligently cultivate. When my sword intent is complete and I've developed true martial intent, I will come to seek Brother Xia's guidance."

Xia Ci was puzzled and asked, "May I ask, what is true martial intent?"

Shen Bai looked confused and said: "Brother Xia's martial arts are extraordinary, surely from a family deeply versed in martial dao. How could you not understand sword intent?"

Xia Ci smiled lightly and said: "Forgive me, Brother Shen, but I happened to receive teachings from a master by chance, and afterward I've just been fumbling along on my own. For many years I was stuck, until recently when I experienced some things that led to a great enlightenment, and my martial dao progressed. As for the true martial intent you mentioned, I truly haven't heard of it."

Shen Bai exclaimed: "Brother Xia is truly a heaven-blessed talent, reaching such a realm without guidance.

What we call true martial intent is a direction of martial arts cultivation, cultivating one's will.

The world's martial arts, though diverse and numerous in styles, can basically be summarized into three main path directions. The first, which is the most common, takes internal energy and techniques as the direction of cultivation. For example, Brother Xia, you cultivate both internal and external arts, which belongs to this first type, cultivating internal energy and techniques.

The second type, which I just mentioned, is true martial intent, cultivating willpower. The sword dao I practice mainly cultivates willpower. Although I also cultivate internal energy and techniques, more of my focus is on comprehending sword dao willpower. Techniques and internal energy are auxiliary; mindset is most important.

The third type cultivates heaven-human resonance. This type of martial artist is rarest in the world. Their cultivation direction is essentially cultivating fate, profound and mysterious, difficult to grasp, most enigmatic. They pursue transcendence; you can also understand them as practitioners of the Way."

Shen Bai wasn't a qualified teacher, and his explanation of true martial intent wasn't very clear. If an ordinary person heard it, they might still be confused, but Xia Ci was a martial arts master after all, so he could understand.

True martial intent was a direction.

However, although according to Shen Bai, cultivation might take different paths to the same destination, with only three cultivation directions, conversely, it also meant there were countless cultivation methods, like how one generates two, two generates three, and three generates all things.

Even the same martial art practiced by different people would turn out differently.

For instance, with the Dragon Subduing Eighteen Palms, the core Xia Ci comprehended was fearless advancement, so the Six Dragons at the Right Time and Shock for Hundred Miles that Xia Ci used had enormous power, and he used them more comfortably. In the Shooting Eagle world, Guo Jing comprehended a different core than Xia Ci; he comprehended the true martial intent of balancing hardness and softness, so Guo Jing's Proud Dragon Has Regrets was more effortless for him.

Perhaps it was a matter of personality.

Xia Ci clearly knew that when he reached the mastery level of Nine Yang Divine Skill, his first reaction and understanding was that it was supremely rigid and positive. He previously thought this was what Nine Yang Divine Skill was, but now he realized it wasn't necessarily so. This included Zhang Wuji from the Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber world, who seemed to have comprehended tolerance and magnanimity as the true martial intent of Nine Yang Divine Skill.

Different martial arts, different people, have different understandings of all things.

Therefore, the so-called three directions were just three concepts.

True martial intent was one of these concepts.

"Thank you for your guidance, Brother Shen." Xia Ci bowed respectfully.

Shen Bai quickly returned the gesture, saying: "I dare not accept such courtesy from Brother Xia."

As the two were being modest with each other,

Tang Tianhao walked over, cupped his hands and said: "Young Hero Xia, Hero Shen, I have a presumptuous request. Regarding my second brother's affairs, could you both help keep it secret? He had a good reputation all his life, and now that he's dead, I don't want him to bear infamy!"

"Of course, we'll just say Tang Tianyuan was killed by an evil practitioner," Shen Bai said.

Xia Ci also nodded, agreeing.

He didn't sympathize with Tang Tianyuan. After all, Tang Tianyuan might have had a miserable life, but the several hundred lives unjustly lost at his hands had also suffered terribly.

However, now that Tang Tianyuan was dead,

Xia Ci had no interest in chasing after and sullying his reputation, and moreover, revealing the truth would also have a great impact on the Tang family.

The group didn't linger there much longer before returning to the Tang residence.