Heaven’s Ultimate Eighteen Stances – The Earth-Shaking Technique

Under the pale moonlight filtering through ancient treetops, Quang Minh stood face-to-face with the infamous Seven-Scarred Marquis—a man who once dominated the martial world decades ago, now mysteriously reappearing in the secluded Han Tian Ravine. The old man's gaze was filled with cruelty, yet deep within lurked an anticipation—as if awaiting a worthy opponent to test the ultimate strike of his life.

"Young one," the old man rasped, his voice dry and coarse like wind scraping through stone. "Do you dare to receive one stance from my Heaven's Ultimate Eighteen Stances?"

Quang Minh offered no reply. He slowly raised his hand, channeling inner energy into his palm. The force gathering around him made the forest leaves tremble. From the center of his forehead, a faint light glimmered—the third awakening of his primal essence.

Stance 1: Dragon Soars, Wind Shields

Before Quang Minh could move, the Seven-Scarred Marquis lunged forward, executing Dragon Soars, Wind Shields—the first of three opening stances from the legendary technique. This move emphasized offense within defense. The force from his palm flowed like a dragon winding through thunderous clouds, each motion laced with invisible might.

Quang Minh instantly activated Vanishing Mist Steps, his figure gliding like vapor through the gaps of the incoming force. At the same moment, his left hand struck with Blazing Flame Returns to Scale—a newly comprehended counter-stance refined over months of solitary cultivation. It fused explosive speed with rebound force, retaliating before the opponent could withdraw.

"Well done, boy! You shattered my form with a single counter?!" the old man roared, his killing intent erupting like a volcano.

Stance 5: Twilight Shadows Sever the Sun

Without pause, the old man unleashed the fifth stance—Twilight Shadows Sever the Sun. This was the apex of illusionary techniques, weaving moonlight into the motion. His figure seemed to split into three, each clone exuding murderous aura, striking from different angles.

"Still mind dissolves illusion," Quang Minh murmured, activating Azure Vision Breaks the Shadows. His pupils glowed like a tranquil lake under the stars. Spotting the true body, he countered with Golden Wings Sweep the Wind—a whirling strike that shattered all mirages.

"You... you even pierced through my shadow arts?" the old man growled, now visibly shaken.

Stance 9: Demonic Wind, Vast Rain

As rain began to fall lightly from the heavens, the Seven-Scarred Marquis transitioned to stance nine—Demonic Wind, Vast Rain. Using raw inner power, he hurled a barrage of thunderous palm strikes, descending like an army of a thousand upon his foe.

But Quang Minh no longer retreated. He met it head-on.

Activating Formless Awareness, his palm energy morphed into a whirling vortex, colliding directly with the incoming storm. The sky erupted with shockwaves, as if tearing through layers of reality.

The Climactic Exchange

"Young one... how... how can you counter every stance I've thrown?" The old man fell to his knees, no longer fierce, but dazed and subdued.

"I did not counter your techniques," Quang Minh replied calmly. "I understood them. Martial arts, like the Dao, hold no absolute right or wrong—only flow and resistance. Each killing stance carries within it a meaning of survival."

"Ha... ha ha..." The old man laughed bitterly. "I spent a lifetime learning how to kill. You… learn to save. We… walk different paths."

"Different paths, but perhaps, of the same Dao."

The old man looked deeply at Quang Minh, then suddenly tossed an old goatskin scroll toward him.

"This is the Final Heaven Stance. It belongs to one worthy. You've won. Go forth… down the path this old man could never walk."