427: Chapter 427 Using Martial Arts to Practice One's Will

At dusk, the water prison deep within the mountain belly.

A wisp of setting sun squeezed in through the gap in the cave ceiling, casting a skewed patch of orange light on the damp stone wall.

As the twilight deepened, the patch of light slowly faded from warm orange to dark red, and its outline became increasingly blurred.

In the end, it was completely swallowed by the boundless night.

Once the light disappeared, this realm was left with only pure darkness and dead silence.

Wisps of chill rising from the deep pool spread along the rock wall to the entire space, turning this place into a veritable ice cellar.

The flow of air seemed to be frozen, and even breathing carried a biting chill.

On the stone platform in the center of the deep pool, a figure sat cross-legged.

He was bare-chested, and his bronze skin outlined rock-like muscle contours, harboring powerful strength that could erupt at any moment.

But at this moment, his eyes were tightly closed, motionless, and even his breathing was so weak that it was almost imperceptible.

It was as if he had long since integrated with the stone platform beneath him and the surrounding darkness, becoming a part of the water prison.

Suddenly, this ultimate tranquility was quietly broken.

At the exact center of the figure's glabella, a faint red light penetrated the skin and flesh, faintly blooming in the darkness.

That light was faint yet firm, like a fire seed deeply buried under ten-thousand-year cold ice, struggling to break free from imprisonment and attempting to awaken.

...

The dark and boundless Sea of Consciousness.

There was no up, down, left, or right here, no distinction between heaven and earth.

Only a cluster of crimson-gold flames burned quietly in the Void Realm.

Fang Cheng's will was immersed in this.

What he was performing Visualization on was precisely this Flame of Spirituality symbolizing the core of the self.

The Visualization Technique taught by Ma Jianguo had the first step as "Establishing Intent".

What was intent?

Intent was the Foundation, the core, and the condensation of a Martial Artist's lifelong spiritual will and martial arts philosophy.

For ordinary Martial Artists, establishing intent required gradually exploring and comprehending through the process of tempered cultivation, beginning to focus and imagine from the ethereal.

But Fang Cheng was different; he had long since condensed the embryonic form of his own "intent" through countless Meditation cultivations and life-and-death battles.

That was this undying "flame" in his mind!

At this moment, theory and reality mutually verified each other, and Fang Cheng instantly attained enlightenment.

Next, what he needed to do was to thoroughly forge and purify this existing "intent" in the way of a Martial Artist.

According to the cultivation essentials described in the Cultivation Technique, the process of establishing intent was essentially seeking inward.

To put it simply, the visualizer needed to actively stimulate the negative emotions hidden deep within consciousness and the cluttered thoughts tainted from past experiences.

Then, with the most unflinching martial will, shatter, burn, and refine them one by one.

Therefore, during this period, Fang Cheng had to deliberately suppress the operation of True Qi within his body, relying solely on pure Mental Energy to suppress all Heart Demons.

Until this "intent" became pure to the extreme and could truly stand up, then in one fell swoop break through the shackles and govern his entire essence, qi, and spirit.

This process was stimulation, purification, and also a war deep within the Soul.

As Fang Cheng's Visualization deepened, his consciousness touched that deep blue flame core.

The crimson-gold outer flame suddenly trembled violently.

In an instant, it was like dropping a bomb on a calm lake surface.

Hidden deep within the core of the flame, those cluttered thoughts that had been forcibly absorbed and suppressed were completely detonated.

The dark conscious world was instantly swallowed by distorted light and shadow, evolving scenes of treacherous illusions.

Rumble—

The first trial suddenly descended.

Fang Cheng stood in an unprecedented primitive jungle.

Towering giant trees shielded the entire sky, and thick vines hung down like giant pythons.

The air was filled with a damp smell mixed with humus and blood.

Suddenly, the ground began to vibrate violently.

A giant beast comparable in size to a mountain parted the woods and walked towards him with heavy, drum-like steps.

Fang Cheng's gaze condensed, instantly recognizing that this was precisely the ancient remains from which he had once absorbed life energy.

What was manifested at this moment was the strongest will imprint of that ancient creature during its lifetime.

The giant beast was covered all over in scales flashing with a cold light, breathing out sulfurous aura from its nostrils, and its pair of vertical pupils were filled with contempt and brutality towards weak creatures.

It suddenly opened its giant mouth and let out a heaven-shaking roar!

Under the impact of the air wave, Fang Cheng's body trembled violently, but his gaze did not change a bit.

Facing this top-tier predator from ancient times, he chose the most direct response.

Bang!

The earth beneath his feet cracked in response, and his body rushed forward defiantly like a cannonball fired from a chamber.

Man and beast collided crashingly in the jungle.

There were no techniques, only the most primitive duel of strength and will.

Fang Cheng's fist smashed against the giant beast's hard skull, producing a sound of metal clashing and numbing his arm.

And when the giant beast's sharp claws swept across, they also left scars deep enough to see bone on his body.

But Fang Cheng didn't care at all, instead becoming more frantic the more he fought.

He simply gave up all defense, pushing the punch speed of his Infinite Combo to the extreme.

His arms turned into afterimages, like two tireless giant siege hammers, slamming into the exact same spot on the giant beast's skull over and over again.

Finally, after enduring countless heavy blows, a clear crack burst open on the giant beast's hard skull.

"Roar!"

Severe pain drove the giant beast completely mad; it lowered its head and fiercely rammed towards Fang Cheng with the single horn on top of its head.

Fang Cheng did not dodge or evade, grinning as he pressed the five fingers of his right hand together like a blade, slashing fiercely towards that single horn.

Rumble!

The entire prehistoric world trembled because of this, and finally disintegrated inch by inch like shattered colored glaze.

Light flickered endlessly.

Countless prompt messages subsequently emerged in another dimension like running water.

[You practiced martial arts philosophy in Visualization, tempered your own will, Meditation experience + 1]

[Your spirit has been strengthened in the confrontation with the Heart Demon, increased by 0.001]

[You practiced martial arts philosophy in Visualization, tempered your own will, Meditation experience + 1]

[Your spirit has been strengthened in the confrontation with the Heart Demon, increased by 0.001]

...

The illusions dispersed, and the second trial followed closely behind.

Fang Cheng observed his surroundings, finding himself in a cold, dark, and fog-shrouded forest.

It seemed to be the scene from that night when fighting for the golden bumpa bottle on Miwu Mountain.

Rustling movements sounded all around.

Countless greedy and resentful eyes spied in the dark, flashing with eerie light.

Soon, treasure snatchers holding weapons walked out of the fog, surrounding him tightly.

"Stop pretending, Fang Cheng!"

"You are just like us, a murderous demon!"

"Isn't your cultivation to grow stronger just to kill more people and seize more treasures?"

"Might as well join us, let's kill them and grab them together!"

Filthy language was like demonic sounds piercing the ears, trying to shake his mind.

Fang Cheng was expressionless, not even lifting an eyelid.

He only slowly turned his head, his cold gaze sweeping across each distorted face around him.

"So noisy!"

The moment his voice fell, Fang Cheng rushed into the crowd instantly like a hurricane.

There were no superfluous actions, only the most simple and direct straight punches, whip kicks, elbow strikes, and knee strikes.

His body turned into the most terrifying killing machine.

Wherever his fists passed, figures shattered.

Wherever his leg shadows swept, illusions turned to empty air.

Those filthy words stopped abruptly, replaced by terrified screams before the illusions shattered.

In just the blink of an eye, the surroundings returned to silence.

Fang Cheng withdrew his fists and stood, his body immaculate without a speck of dust.

For the Heart Demons transformed from these people who deserved to be killed, completely exterminating them was the best implementation of his own martial will.

The fog dissipated, and the forest disappeared.

The scene suddenly changed again.

This time, Fang Cheng found himself sitting on a golden throne in a magnificent palace.

Below, civil and military officials and envoys of all nations knelt in a sea of black, and the shouts of long live were deafening.

Countless gold, silver, and treasures piled up like mountains, and peerless beauties held fine wine and delicacies, carefully serving by his side.

This was simply the Peak of a man's power and desire.

Obviously, seeing that slaughter could not work, the Heart Demon began to employ the tricks of temptation.

Fang Cheng glanced coldly at all this, his eyes as calm as an ancient well without ripples.

He then stood up, pushed away the beauty beside him, walked straight down the throne, and walked out of the hall.

Just as he was about to step out of the hall door, a roar came from behind:

"The fatuous ruler is without Dao, execute the tyrant!"

The officials who had been kneeling below all echoed, instantly changing their faces and turning into rebels holding sharp blades, killing towards him from all directions.

Fang Cheng let out a cold snort, stopped his steps, and immediately turned around.

The violent fist wind turned into a substantive air wave, taking himself as the center, completely leveling the entire palace along with everyone inside to the ground.

Countless prompt messages once again flowed like water.

[You practiced martial arts philosophy in Visualization, tempered your own will, Meditation experience + 1]

[Your spirit has been strengthened in the confrontation with the Heart Demon, increased by 0.001]

[You practiced martial arts philosophy in Visualization, tempered your own will, Meditation experience + 1]

[Your spirit has been strengthened in the confrontation with the Heart Demon, increased by 0.001]

...

Midnight quietly arrived, and the chill in the water prison reached its Peak, almost condensing into ice.

Yet the body on the stone platform was like a red-hot melting furnace, emitting astonishing heat.

A large amount of sweat oozed from the pores, and was then evaporated by the high temperature on the skin's surface, turning into wisps of white vapor.

The moment it came into contact with the gloomy chill in the water prison, it made a soft chish sound.

This was precisely the essence of the Thunder Fire Cauldron method.

Taking oneself as the cauldron, the Heart Demon as firewood, and the will as raging fire.

Then drawing in the utmost Yin and utmost cold qi of the outside world as quenching water, forging the purest True Self in the ultimate clash of ice and fire.

Outside, the moon fell and the sun rose.

Light and shadow cycled repeatedly on the stone wall, showing the passage of time.

Fang Cheng still maintained the cross-legged posture, motionless like a mountain.

Amidst this steaming and lingering white vapor, it seemed to form a Domain shrouded in darkness.

At the same time, in the conscious world, after successively defeating several powerful Heart Demons, Fang Cheng finally ushered in the ultimate challenge.

The entire conscious space was completely torn apart by two terrifying forces.

On one side was a deep and boundless blue.

That mysterious phantom seemed to incarnate the ocean itself, carrying the vast will to tolerate all things, wanting to incorporate this world into its order.

On the other side was a violent and bloodthirsty dark red.

A crimson eye shielding the vault of heaven, emanating the essence of destruction, pollution, and chaos, wanted to drag everything into the abyss of madness.

They confronted each other, like two poles as incompatible as water and fire, competing for dominance over this conscious space.

"Coming with this routine again, treating me like I don't exist, right?"

Witnessing this scene once again, Fang Cheng showed no fear at all; instead, the corners of his mouth curled into an excited arc.

His clenched fists made a creaking explosion sound, and under the infinite pressure exerted by these dual wills, his whole body's muscles rapidly bulged.

Strips of blue veins like flood dragons meandered and wandered under the flushed skin.

Puff! Puff! Puff!

Accompanied by tension sounds like releasing steel cables, his back muscles finally spread abruptly, presenting the appearance of a crying ghost face.

"Then I'll blow you all to pieces!"

Fang Cheng let out an angry roar originating from the Soul.

The soaring Battle Intent was suddenly detonated, turning into a raging burning flame that swept across his whole body.

Immediately afterwards, his figure soared into the sky, taking the lead to attack that giant eyeball shielding heaven and earth.

Bang bang bang bang—bang bang bang bang—

Sonic boom sounds like the continuous roaring of an automatic cannon suddenly exploded throughout the entire space.

In a flash, Fang Cheng's arms turned into countless afterimages indistinguishable to the naked eye, intertwining into an airtight net of flames, covering that giant eyeball.

The crimson eye quickly launched a counterattack, and tens of millions of tentacles lashed over overwhelmingly.

Yet when they came into contact with the fist shadow storm, they were mercilessly blasted and torn apart like being sucked into a meat grinder.

However, just as Fang Cheng was fiercely attacking with all his might, the vast blue will on the other side also launched an attack.

There was no earth-shattering momentum, only absolute tranquility.

A power carrying the meaning of order and assimilation surged over like a tide.

Fang Cheng only felt that everything around him began to solidify.

The violent sonic boom sounds became muffled, and the speed of his punching noticeably became sluggish, as if sinking into an invisible quagmire.

An extreme-cold will seeped in along his senses, trying to completely freeze his burning Battle Intent, making him accept that eternal tranquility and destination.

Under this circumstance, the two behemoths actually chose to join forces to attack himself, the primary subject.

The pressure on Fang Cheng suddenly doubled.

At this moment, the tentacles of the crimson eye had taken the opportunity to wrap around his limbs, tearing wildly, wanting to dismember him.

The blue will was coldly eroding his Soul, making his violent fist momentum increasingly sluggish.

Fang Cheng frowned tightly, falling into a perilous situation of being attacked from both front and back.

Originally fighting up to this point, his state was already at the end of its tether, and right now it was adding frost to snow.

Just at this critical moment, a strange resonance came from the outside world.

In reality, on the stone walls around the water prison, the inscriptions left by the ancestors of the Ma Family unexpectedly bloomed with soft white light in unison.

One ancient and simple character after another detached from the stone wall, turning into light and shadow, penetrating the pool water, and surrounding Fang Cheng's body.

Bursts of low and heavy humming sounds resounded accordingly, as if countless predecessors were shouting and cheering for him across space-time.

That was not a direct infusion of power, but a blessing of will, a Legacy and resonance of martial arts spirit.

This warm and firm spiritual torrent defiantly poured into the conscious world, instantly dispersing that cold tranquility.

Encouraged by this power, Fang Cheng's spirit greatly boosted, his Battle Intent reignited, and it climbed to an unprecedented Peak.

"Break for me!"

He roared upwards, and the crimson-gold flames originally suppressed on his body suddenly surged wildly.

Among them were even intertwined wisps of pure white light representing the ancestors' will.

Crack!

The scarlet tentacles wrapped around him were all broken free, and his sluggish body regained its freedom.

Fang Cheng's fist momentum suddenly became more ferocious and violent than before.

Every punch swung out not only blasted the eyeball's defense into inch-wide cracks.

The violent flame fist wind even tore through the space, impacting that deep blue into violent ripples and evaporating a large area.

Countless prompt messages suddenly flew past like a waterfall.

[You gained resonance from the ancestors' will, successfully resisted the powerful Heart Demon, Meditation experience + 1]

[Your will has undergone limit tempering, spirit + 0.001]

[You gained resonance from the ancestors' will, successfully resisted the powerful Heart Demon, Meditation experience + 1]

[Your will has undergone limit tempering, spirit + 0.001]

...

(End of Chapter)