Volume 2 - Chapter 22: One Move to Suppress the Grandmasters of the World - Part 1
Li Hao's calm smile caused Li Wushuang to momentarily lose herself in thought.
Apart from his expression of concern, she suddenly realized there was a sense of unfamiliarity between them, as if they had never truly been close.
After exchanging a few polite words, there was nothing else to say.
By blood, they were cousins...
Yet in terms of their relationship, they seemed less natural and intimate than the disciples of the Tangong Academy who surrounded Li Hao.
After a brief silence, Li Wushuang thought of her father's words and the hidden dangers in Liang Province. She immediately used a sound transmission technique to say:
“The demons and devils outside the borders of Liang Province are restless. You must be careful. If you encounter danger, you can send a distress signal. My father is stationed in Liang Province and can come to your aid at any time.”
“Mm, you too,” Li Hao replied, nodding, as he recalled the military report.
Li Wushuang gazed deeply at him. She could faintly sense that this young man standing before her could not be confined, not even by the illustrious Divine General Mansion.
“If there’s a chance, I hope we can meet again in Qingzhou,” she said softly.
Li Hao's expression remained composed, and he did not respond.
With a sigh, Li Wushuang bid him farewell and returned to her seat.
Even after she left, the gazes of others lingered on Li Hao, accompanied by whispers.
Before long, several grandmasters approached him, engaging in polite conversation, clearly intending to forge connections.
They had all heard of what had happened in Qingzhou, knowing that this young man had severed ties with the Divine General Mansion. However, no one took it seriously.
After all, the threshold of the Divine General Mansion was something everyone aspired to cross. Who would be foolish enough to voluntarily step away? They merely assumed it was youthful impulsiveness and believed he would eventually return.
Forming ties with him now was considered an act of goodwill during his adversity, and in the future, it could mean the fortune of providing shelter to the younger generation.
Li Hao easily discerned the calculations of these grandmasters. He felt neither disappointed nor surprised, responding with polite indifference. His aloof demeanor eventually discouraged further approaches.
Grandmasters may be detached from worldly affairs, but they still have families, disciples, and sects.
With these ties came weaknesses.
With weaknesses came the need to mask them, which led to forming alliances and exchanging pleasantries, inevitably stepping into the world of fame and fortune.
When one climbs, it’s only natural to encounter obstacles along the way.
The era of solitary heroics had long passed. Even the Four Pillars Realm experts who roamed freely across the world had to bow their proud heads before the overwhelming power of the Great Yu Divine Dynasty.
Otherwise, they, too, would be driven away like stray dogs.
...
As the sun passed its zenith, a figure flew across the river from the opposite bank of the Long River, landing upon the platform prepared for the grandmasters’ gathering.
The man was dressed in a long white robe that billowed against the wind and waves above the river. He wore a snow-white hood, and his hair and beard were as white as frost, giving him the appearance of an immortal with a serene and dignified bearing.
“Tianji Hermit!”
The waiting grandmasters instantly recognized his identity.
After landing, the Tianji Hermit lifted his hood, revealing his flowing white hair. His rosy complexion radiated vitality as his gaze swept slowly across the crowd. He smiled and said:
“Grandmasters from far and wide, who have traveled from across the provinces to attend, I am deeply grateful!”
“Not at all.”
“You’re too kind, Hermit.”
The grandmasters below the platform exchanged pleasantries in response.
Li Hao glanced at the grandmasters gathered; there were at least two or three hundred of them.
Including their entourages, the crowd numbered nearly two thousand.
However, with the arrival of the Tianji Hermit, the previously noisy atmosphere had fallen into a quiet reverence.
After the opening courtesies, the Tianji Hermit began to speak about the rewards for this gathering. Beyond the benefit of exchanging insights and deepening martial comprehension, there were also additional prizes provided by the Tianji Tower.
These included techniques, treasures, and spiritual medicines—things most desired by martial artists.
Moreover, the grandmaster voted as the top contender after the discussions would receive not only spiritual treasures and divine weapons but also the rare opportunity to enter the Tianji Tower’s Dao Repository Hall and select a supreme technique of their choice.
The rewards were undoubtedly enticing.
After all, the Tianji Tower’s Dao Repository Hall was famed for its extensive collection, rivaling even the Tingyu Pavilion of the Li family, and perhaps surpassing it.
The supreme techniques within could benefit even those who had reached the Four Pillars Realm, provided they could fully grasp them.
With the talk of rewards concluded, the Grandmasters' Dao Discussion formally began.
The format was relaxed, with no requirement for every grandmaster to participate. Whether they chose to ascend the platform or not was left to their discretion.
However, most of the grandmasters present sought to use this rare occasion to exchange insights and refine their understanding of martial arts.
Soon, an elder grandmaster stepped onto the platform first. After a few polite remarks, he began expounding on his grandmaster’s dao.
His Dao was the Yin-Yang Dao, derived from the interplay of the sun and moon and the balance of yin and yang.
As he explained, the audience gained a deeper understanding of his martial philosophy. However, he refrained from revealing his ultimate techniques or signature moves. Instead, his discourse served as a means to promote the principles of his sect.
Listening to this grandmaster, Li Hao thought of the Yin-Yang Dividing Sword.
He had mastered this sword technique through his comprehension of the Dao of the Sword, naturally integrating the Yin-Yang concept within it.
This philosophy was essentially the same as the grandmaster's Dao.
However, mastering the Yin-Yang Dividing Sword didn’t necessarily mean one could use its yin-yang philosophy to step into the Grandmaster Realm.
In contrast, this grandmaster could create techniques, whether swordsmanship or other disciplines, using the Yin-Yang Dao as a foundation.
The essence of the Grandmaster Realm lay in the Dao itself.
Once one comprehended the Dao, it permeated every aspect of their life. Even mundane actions like eating and walking would resonate with the Dao.
The Yin-Yang Dividing Sword was a skill that embodied the Yin-Yang Dao as sword intent.
In contrast, a grandmaster’s Dao was the Dao itself. Every move they made was a manifestation of skill.
It was easy to use the Dao to refine techniques, but attempting to use techniques to comprehend the Dao was as difficult as rowing against the current or ascending to the heavens.
However, with the aid of the system’s interface, Li Hao had already grasped the principles of the Yin-Yang Dao while training in this sword technique.
Thus, he could understand every word spoken by the grandmaster. He even noticed that the grandmaster deliberately withheld certain core concepts—his ultimate techniques—likely because they were secrets passed down with caution, even among disciples.
Once the first grandmaster finished elaborating on his Dao, he concluded with the phrase “Please enlighten me.”
After a brief moment of silence, another grandmaster stepped forward. His Dao, however, was one of the primal instincts of nature: the Ape Dao.
He named it himself, explaining that his enlightenment stemmed from years of observing monkeys and apes, uncovering martial truths and the laws of nature. His disciples, upon initiation, were also required to start by studying these creatures.
All the techniques he created were closely tied to simian movements and principles.
The Grandmasters’ Dao Discussion did not focus solely on eloquence but also involved practical demonstrations.
Before long, the two grandmasters engaged in a friendly bout. Their sparring was restrained, focusing more on showcasing their Daos than defeating each other.
The Ape Dao grandmaster wielded an iron staff, employing unpredictable and nimble movements, while the Yin-Yang Dao grandmaster seamlessly alternated between solid and ethereal attacks. Both proved elusive and difficult to counter, resulting in a match where neither could claim dominance.
The exchange allowed both participants to learn and grow. By the end, their mutual understanding had deepened. However, the bout had already consumed an entire hour.
Past Grandmasters’ Dao Discussions typically lasted anywhere from three days to two weeks, depending on participation.
Li Hao, initially intrigued, quickly found the proceedings tedious.
Each grandmaster's Dao was delivered with excessive verbosity, fearing the audience might misunderstand. Yet Li Hao comprehended their words instantly, rendering the lengthy speeches repetitive and dull.
He wished for a way to fast-forward or increase the playback speed. Unfortunately, this was reality, and time could not be manipulated.
He could only endure the tedium, restless and impatient.
As the discussion continued, other grandmasters ascended the platform.
One expounded on the Dao of Transformation, inspired by the metamorphosis of butterflies.
Another presented the Five Elements Dao, rooted in the balance of the internal organs, represented as five towering mountains that emphasized stability and renewal in both offense and defense.
Then came the Scarlet Flame Dao, derived from the destructive nature of fire, claiming that all techniques could be reduced to ash by its flames.
Li Hao listened to their explanations and quickly grasped their concepts. His vast experience with various martial techniques had already exposed him to the core philosophies of many Daos.
This understanding allowed him to cultivate a broad and inclusive perspective, as well as a deep insight into martial philosophy.
But as he continued to listen, he realized that the simpler a Dao’s concept, the easier it was to achieve mastery and step into the Grandmaster Realm.
For instance, the Scarlet Flame Dao grandmaster managed to narrowly defeat a Five Elements Dao grandmaster in a sparring match.
Similarly, the Ape Dao grandmaster had held his own against the Yin-Yang Dao grandmaster. Despite the broader scope of the Yin-Yang Dao, its practitioner had not attained a profound enough understanding to fully capitalize on its potential.
“The Great Dao is ultimately simple…”
Li Hao pondered this revelation.
This insight aligned with his purpose in attending the Dao Discussion. Although he could delve into the myriad paths of the Dao, it would consume a significant amount of time and yield diminishing returns in terms of power. Simply put, the effort would not be worth the reward.
Instead, his goal was to seek the essence of all things—a process of refining the complex into the simple.
Should he chase after the intricacies of countless Daos, he risked falling into the same trap as the Yin-Yang Dao grandmaster, endlessly expanding the breadth of his Dao while stalling his cultivation.
The principle of “One perfected technique can prevail against all” applied universally.
If it failed, it only meant that the technique had not reached its ultimate form.
However, if he could condense the vastness of the Dao into a single move, that move would become unimaginably powerful.
Li Hao continued to listen attentively, searching for that spark of inspiration that would illuminate the common thread underlying all Daos.
Regrettably, that spark remained elusive.
...
“Amitabha.”
“My Dao is rooted in the essence of human nature—one of the Three Poisons: the Dao of Wrath.”
A young man in a monk’s robe stepped onto the platform. The garment he wore bore symbols of a revered figure, prompting the grandmasters below to fall silent.
“The Dao of Wrath?”
“Is it even possible to cultivate a Dao through emotion?”
“As expected of a direct disciple of the Boundless Buddhist Lord—his perspective on enlightenment is truly unique!”
The young monk’s statement elicited murmurs of astonishment from the audience.
Most grandmasters drew their inspiration from observing the heavens, the sun and moon, or the natural world. Yet this young monk had achieved enlightenment by delving into the complexities of human nature. It was both unconventional and rare.
Li Hao noticed the monk’s robe and furrowed his brows slightly. A glint of sharpness flickered in his eyes.
Boundless Mountain.