23: Chapter 23 Martial Arts Originate from Nature

Inside the ancestral hall, the lamps flickered.

Lu Zhao sat alone on the green brick floor, his back against the offering table, the sheepskin map spread out before his knees.

The lines drawn with charcoal crisscrossed, marking the locations of pits, tripwires, and arrow towers, dense and overlapping like a spiderweb.

Outside the window, the moonlight was like water, spilling into the hall and illuminating his profile with a cold light.

The pale gold mark on his palm had faded, but the sensation in his spiritual platform grew clearer.

The message from the [heart of the martial ancestor] flowed through his mind like a babbling brook:

[Civilization Spark tempered by crisis, Elementary authority stabilized. Current Civilization Points: 27.]

[Deducible Directions:]

[Basic Battle Formation Map (requires 15 points) — Infused.]

[Simple Fortification Construction Method (requires 10 points) — Redeemable.]

[Crude Iron Refining Essence (requires 8 points) — Redeemable.]

[Martial Arts Optimization Deduction (points vary, depending on the level of the target martial art)]

Lu Zhao's gaze fell on the last item.

Martial Arts Optimization Deduction.

With a slight thought, the scriptures of the "Northern Dark Divine Art" appeared in his mind—transmitted by the Martial Seal stone in the cave that day, consisting of three volumes, nine levels each.

He had already cultivated the first volume to the third level, capable of absorbing the stray Origin Qi between heaven and earth, refining it into his body, and transforming it into Northern Dark True Qi.

But this Cultivation Technique had a hidden danger.

The opening of the scripture stated: "In the Northern Darkness, there is a fish, and its name is Kun... It transforms into a bird, and its name is Peng." It implies that the ocean accepts hundreds of rivers, and greatness comes from tolerance. However, during actual practice, he noticed that certain key points in the scripture contained hidden malevolence—that "ocean accepting hundreds of rivers" not only accepts the Origin Qi of heaven and earth but can also accept the True Qi of others, and even their essence and blood.

This approach was close to the Demonic Path.

Lu Zhao was unwilling to take this path.

The sensation in his spiritual platform seemed to perceive his thoughts, and the message changed again:

[Detected that the host possesses the Cultivation Technique "Northern Dark Divine Art" (Incomplete Manual · First Volume), which contains the hidden danger of 'Devouring Human Essence'. Do you wish to consume Civilization Points to perform an optimization deduction, remove the evil nature, and retain its original intention of 'accepting heaven and earth, transforming all things'?]

[Required points for deduction: 20 points.]

Lu Zhao's heart skipped a beat.

Twenty points were almost all of his accumulated savings. But if he could remove the hidden danger and make this Cultivation Technique a true "Foundation of the Martial Dao," it was worth it.

He pondered for a moment, his gaze sweeping over the marks on the map before his knees—those were the places where blood might be shed in three days.

"Redeem."

His intention was set.

Twenty Civilization Points quietly dissipated.

The next moment, his spiritual platform was hit hard!

It was not pain, but a vast, ocean-like intent flooding into his mind.

Countless lights and shadows swirled, meridian charts flickered, breathing methods changed... It was as if thousands of voices were reciting the scriptures simultaneously, and as if countless hands were dismantling, reorganizing, and evolving this Cultivation Technique.

Lu Zhao groaned, fine beads of sweat seeping from his forehead.

He closed his eyes and concentrated, struggling to endure this flood of information. The wisp of Northern Dark True Qi in his Dantian seemed to sense it and began to circulate spontaneously, moving along his Meridians, verifying itself against the incoming deductive intent.

He did not know how much time had passed.

It might have been the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, or perhaps just a few breaths.

The flood in his spiritual platform gradually subsided, finally settling into three clear formulas, accompanied by nine charts of force exertion, guidance for thirty-six Acupoints, and a general breathing guide of over three hundred words.

The three formulas had ancient names:

[Sea-Gathering Stance] — Draws stray Origin Qi from heaven and earth into the body, like hundreds of rivers returning to the sea.

[Flow-Returning Stance] — Refines and purifies the messy Origin Qi absorbed, returning it to the Meridians.

[Transformation-Life Stance] — Uses the refined, pure True Qi to nourish the Physical Body and nurture blood and Qi.

Each stance had nine Realms, progressing step by step. When cultivated to the highest level, it could absorb the True Qi leaked by enemies during battle, the Spiritual Qi remaining in the air, and even the life force dissipated from the earth's veins, turning them into his own use.

Most importantly—all the key points in the scripture involving "Devouring Human Essence" and "Seizing the Fortunes of Others" were completely modified and supplemented, turning into "Stealing a glimmer of life from heaven and earth to compensate for one's own Innate deficiencies."

The evil nature was completely gone, leaving only the upright and peaceful Dao of "Absorption and Transformation."

Lu Zhao slowly opened his eyes.

The lamps in the ancestral hall remained the same, and the moonlight outside the window had not moved. The deduction just now had only taken an instant in reality.

He took a deep breath and circulated his True Qi according to the new formulas.

The wisp of Northern Dark True Qi in his Dantian moved with his thought, traveling along the newly deduced route of force exertion.

Wherever it passed, his Meridians felt slightly swollen but without the slightest stagnation—the Acupoints that had previously ached due to the hidden dangers of the Cultivation Technique were now much clearer.

Even more strangely, as his True Qi circulated, the thin Spiritual Qi in the air, the blood and Evil Qi remaining from the day's slaughter, and even the cold, gloomy energy faintly emanating from underground were all drawn in, merging into his Meridians in threads.

Although the amount was extremely small, it was definitely increasing.

Lu Zhao's heart was shaken.

This optimized "Northern Dark Divine Art," although lower in absorption efficiency, was superior in safety, versatility, and... truly fit the original meaning of "the ocean accepts hundreds of rivers."

He finished his cultivation, stood up, and pushed the door open to go out.

The moon was high in the sky, and the village was silent. But listening carefully, one could hear the clanging from the blacksmith's furnace in the distance, the dull sounds of moving wood and stone in the back mountain, and the suppressed conversations in the few houses near the ancestral hall.

No one was asleep.

Lu Zhao walked through the alley and came to the courtyard of Zhong Tiegu.

The furnace fire in the yard was burning brightly, and Zhong Tiegu was shirtless, swinging a hammer to strike a piece of red-hot iron. Amidst the splashing sparks, every hammer blow was steady and powerful, sweat rolling down his forehead and sizzling as it hit the scorching anvil.

"Uncle Zhong."

Zhong Tiegu looked up at the sound, and seeing it was Lu Zhao, he hurriedly put down the hammer: "Sir, why are you here?"

"Checking the progress." Lu Zhao walked near the furnace, his gaze sweeping over the semi-finished spearheads piled in the corner, "How many are still missing?"

"I can forge twelve tonight." Zhong Tiegu wiped his sweat, "Tomorrow I will melt some old pots and hoes, and put them together; thirty will be no problem."

Lu Zhao nodded and suddenly said: "Uncle Zhong, when you exert force to swing the hammer, is your breathing smooth?"

Zhong Tiegu was startled: "It's smooth. I've been blacksmithing for decades, I'm used to it."

"Habit is not necessarily right." Lu Zhao reached out and pointed to several places on his chest, "Every time your hammer falls, your Qi stagnates here for a moment. Over time, it will easily damage your internal organs."

Zhong Tiegu widened his eyes: "Sir, you... you can even see this?"

Lu Zhao did not answer, only saying: "I will teach you a breathing method. Coordinated with swinging the hammer, it can save three parts of effort and increase five parts of efficiency. Listen carefully—"

He dismantled the most basic breathing key points of the [Sea-Gathering Stance] and incorporated them into the rhythm of blacksmithing.

When to inhale, when to hold, when to exhale, all corresponded to raising the hammer, swinging it down, and completing the movement.

Zhong Tiegu tried as instructed.

At first it was awkward, but after seven or eight strikes, he suddenly felt his breath become much smoother.

The feeling of chest tightness that always occurred when swinging the hammer to a certain angle had disappeared. Even more strangely, the heat of the furnace and the scorching breath of the iron were inhaled into his body, not only not uncomfortable but actually bringing a warmth that dispersed into his limbs.

"This..." He stopped the hammer, his face full of disbelief.

"Remember this feeling." Lu Zhao patted his shoulder, "Teach it to all the villagers who are blacksmithing tomorrow."

Leaving the Zhong family, Lu Zhao went to the residence of Elder Mo.

Elder Mo was staring blankly at a pile of bamboo strips, animal tendons, and wooden springs, his carving knife scratching back and forth on the bamboo, but he was never satisfied. Seeing Lu Zhao come in, he looked up and smiled bitterly: "Sir, this trigger mechanism... I have tried seventeen methods. Either it is too sensitive, and it rings when the wind blows; or it is too dull, and there is no movement even when someone steps on it."

Lu Zhao squatted down and picked up a bamboo strip to examine it closely.

The bamboo strip was whittled into an arc, with a thin wooden spring embedded in the middle, wrapped with animal tendons.

The principle was very simple—external force presses the bamboo strip, the wooden spring pops up, driving the animal tendons, triggering the mechanism.

But the difficulty lay in grasping the "force."

Lu Zhao pondered for a moment and suddenly said: "Elder Mo, have you heard of 'the cicada perceives before the autumn wind moves'?"

Elder Mo was stunned: "That is a perception only possessed by Martial Dao experts..."

"The Martial Dao originates from nature." Lu Zhao touched the bamboo strip with his fingertips, "The cicada perceives the Killing Intent in the autumn wind not because the wind moves, but because of the imperceptible 'chill' in the wind. Your mechanism needs to capture not 'someone stepping on it,' but 'Killing Intent'."

Elder Mo's cloudy eyes suddenly brightened.

He grabbed the bamboo strip, readjusted the arc of the wooden spring and the tightness of the animal tendons, and muttered to himself: "Killing Intent... Yes, Killing Intent has weight, has temperature, and is different from ordinary footsteps..."

Lu Zhao did not disturb him anymore and quietly retreated.

The last stop was the dense forest behind the ancestral hall.

He Shan, Yan Meng, and Han Meng were training the young men here.

More than twenty men were divided into three teams, one team practicing spear thrusting, one practicing chopping, and one practicing bows and crossbows.

Although their movements were rough, no one was slacking off, and every face was written with the word "desperation."

Lu Zhao hid behind a tree and watched for a while.

When a round of training ended and everyone was resting, he appeared.

"Sir!" He Shan saw him first and walked up quickly.

Lu Zhao waved his hand to signal that there was no need for formalities, his gaze sweeping over the sweaty faces: "How is the training?"

Yan Meng said: "The stance is there, but the coordination is unfamiliar. If we really fight, I'm afraid we'll scatter at the first charge."

"Then practice coordination." Lu Zhao walked to the center of the open space, "Three people as a group, forming a triangular formation. The spear-wielder in the front, the saber-wielder on the left, and the archer on the right. When advancing, the spear thrusts and the saber chops; when retreating, the bow and crossbow provide cover. Now, group up and practice."

Everyone grouped up as instructed.

At first it was chaotic, with spears hitting a companion's saber when thrusting, and archers stepping on the spearman's feet when retreating.

But after practicing for an hour, it gradually took shape.

Lu Zhao pointed out from the side, incorporating the coordination essentials of the Basic Battle Formation Map into simple commands:

"Advance three steps—thrust!"

"Turn left—chop!"

"Retreat—shoot!"

The commands were concise, and the movements were crisp. Although more than twenty people had not shed their farming and hunting air, they already had a faint sense of military solemnity.

Practicing until midnight, Lu Zhao called a halt.

"Everyone come over."

Everyone gathered around.

Lu Zhao sat down cross-legged and signaled for everyone to sit too. The moonlight spilled through the branches and leaves, casting dappled light and shadow on everyone's face.

"Everyone." He began, his voice not loud, but every word clear, "In three days, the Liu Family cavalry will arrive. When that time comes, blades have no eyes, and life and death will depend on fate."

Everyone was silent, but their breathing became heavy.

"But there are some things I must say first." Lu Zhao's gaze swept over every face, "We practice martial arts, set up formations, and build fortifications, not to kill people, but to survive. Therefore—"

He paused.

"When you take action, do not hesitate. But if you can repel the enemy without killing, that is best."

A young man couldn't help but say: "Sir, those animals from the Liu Family have killed how many of our fellow villagers! Why shouldn't we kill them?"

"Because if you kill them, the feud is set in stone." Lu Zhao looked at him, "We currently do not have the capital to have a blood feud with the Liu Family. Repel them, let them know we are not easy to chew on, and they will weigh their options. If you kill their people, especially if you kill Liu Zhenxiong's nephews or confidants... that is a blood feud, and it will be to the death."

Everyone suddenly understood.

Han Meng suddenly said: "Sir is right. The Liu Family is powerful; we can only defend, not attack for now. If we hold our ground, there will be a future."

Lu Zhao nodded and changed the subject: "The triangular formation I taught everyone just now is a way to save your lives. But there is another thing that might allow us to live longer."

He reached out, palm facing up.

Under the moonlight, the palm lines were clearly visible.

"In Martial Dao cultivation, the first step is 'sensing'." Lu Zhao's voice slowed down, "Sensing the 'Qi' between heaven and earth. This Qi is everywhere—it is in the wind, in the fire, and in the earth. Although we have no Spiritual Root, our flesh and blood body is born of heaven and earth, and naturally can resonate with this Qi."

He operated the [Sea-Gathering Stance].

A trace of imperceptible suction force was born from his palm. As the night wind blew through the forest, threads of coolness gathered into his palm, traveled along his Meridians, turned into a warm current, and dispersed into his limbs and bones.

Although it was just a drop in the bucket, it was definitely present.

Everyone widened their eyes.

"Did you feel it?" Lu Zhao finished his cultivation, "This is the breathing method I want to teach you—[Sea-Gathering Stance]. Once you practice it proficiently, your breath will be longer during battle, your stamina will be more enduring, and the injuries you suffer... will also heal faster."

He stood up and began to teach.

The movements were simple—standing, breathing, focusing on the Dantian. Coordinated with a specific breathing rhythm, imagine yourself as the earth, absorbing the life force of all things.

But when they actually practiced it, it was very different.

He Shan had been hunting for years and had the keenest sense of "wind." In less than half an incense stick of time, he sensed a trace of cool airflow entering his body with his breath, his face showing shock.

Yan Meng had a military background and strong blood and Qi, but he could never calm his heart. In his impatience, his breathing became chaotic, and he was covered in sweat.

Han Meng was wrapped in Evil Qi. As soon as he tried it, it triggered old injuries, and he felt a sweetness in his throat, coughing up blood.

Granny Xue and Master Wen watched from the side. Although they did not practice it themselves, listening to Lu Zhao explain the theory of breathing, they felt their minds calm down, and the aches from their past labors lessened a bit.

A-Fei and a few other teenagers had pure minds. Sitting cross-legged and closing their eyes, they were the fastest to enter the state.

Although they did not draw Qi into their bodies, their breathing had gradually become long and slow.

Lu Zhao pointed out one by one, tirelessly.

He knew that this simplified version of the [Sea-Gathering Stance] was not intended to make people experts overnight.

It was like a seed planted in everyone's heart.

Perhaps it would never sprout in their lifetime, but at least... it gave them a possibility.

A possibility of "everyone being like a dragon."

The moon gradually tilted west.

Lu Zhao let everyone disperse to rest, leaving only He Shan, Yan Meng, and Han Meng.

"Sir," He Shan clenched his fists, feeling the trace of cool airflow in his body, "This breathing method... is truly miraculous."

"It is just the beginning." Lu Zhao said, "For the next two days, the three of you will take turns teaching all the young men this [Sea-Gathering Stance]. You don't have to force everyone to master it, but at least they must remember the breathing rhythm so it can be used in battle."

The three nodded solemnly.

Lu Zhao looked at Han Meng again: "Your injuries have not healed, do not force yourself to practice. After your injuries heal, I will have other arrangements."

Han Meng grinned: "Sir, don't worry, this life still needs to be kept to kill the enemy."

Lu Zhao nodded and turned to leave.

Yan Meng suddenly said: "Sir, you just said that this Cultivation Technique is 'absorbing the life force of heaven and earth to compensate oneself'... I always feel that there is a greater truth hidden in these words."

Lu Zhao paused.

He turned back, looked at the horizon gradually whitening in the east, was silent for a long time, and said softly:

"The original meaning of the 'Northern Dark' is that the ocean accepts hundreds of rivers, and greatness comes from tolerance."

"My previous path... was too narrow."

As his voice fell, the morning light broke through the dawn.

Lu Zhao pushed open the door, just about to return to the ancestral hall to rest, when he saw He Shan, Yan Meng, Han Meng, and others were actually not asleep, guarding the courtyard. A-Fei came running from the direction of the village entrance, his face pale: "Sir! We saw from the watchtower... The Liu Family's troops have left the city! A full day earlier than expected!"