A Long Grind to Daoist Monarch-Chapter 159 - 131: Martial Scripture’s Twelve Volumes, Visitors from Tongwen Hall

After Bai Qi delivered the thousandth hammer strike, he felt his whole body invigorated, as if achieving a significant accomplishment, filled with immense satisfaction.

At the same time, the impurities in his qi and blood seemed to gush out of his pores, and his entire skeleton and fascia stuck tighter together, as dense as a large piece of refined iron that had been forged.

"The Innate Blacksmithing Saint Body is complete!"

Bai Qi focused his mind, and his gaze swept past, seeing the ink-talisman reflecting new skills, where a towering tree belonging to a divine seed had grown a thick new branch.

Fishing, cooking, blacksmithing.

"Having multiple skills never weighs you down! No matter where I go, I'll always have a bite to eat!"

Bai Qi set down the small hammer and exhaled a breath of foul air, as the flame in the furnace slowly extinguished. The piece of Yangxiao Steel had been forged into a long strip, forming the rough shape of a Wind-listening Saber.

Uncle Hui's throat felt parched, and after licking his chapped lips, he said:

"Brother Bai, have you really never forged metal before?"

Bai Qi raised an eyebrow, tempted to say, "Since the first time I picked up a hammer, I knew I had the makings of a Divine Craftsman."

But being naturally low-key, unlike his master Ninghai Zen who loved to show off, he calmly replied:

"It's all thanks to the personal demonstrations by you, Uncle Hui, and the dedicated guidance from Master Li that I've had some moments of insight.

Today, as soon as I picked up the hammer, that strength just surged up, and the more I hammered, the better it felt. Before I knew it, I'd forged it to perfection."

Can blacksmithing really rely on enlightenment?

Could he truly be a prodigy!

Uncle Hui was stunned. Previously, he wouldn't have believed it, but that piece of Yangxiao Steel of a hundred refinements was right in front of him, leaving no room for doubt.

"This talent surpasses even Ah Jun's! His first time handling a hammer, he only managed to strike it decently seven or eight times!"

As the blacksmith who had followed Master Li the longest, he believed that Bai Qi's astonishing aptitude should catch the eye of a Master Craftsman.

Yet, when he looked up at the wooden cabin, the tall, white-haired elder stood still, as if he hadn't noticed the commotion in the blacksmith shop, remaining calm and collected.

Uncle Hui looked down and chuckled:

"Master Li has weathered many storms, and in a place like Celestial Water Prefecture, there are plenty of geniuses with top-grade martial bones. He wouldn't be easily impressed, seems I'm too naive."

Lu Shiping strode into the blacksmith shop, looking at the sweaty Bai Qi:

"Brother Bai, take a break and catch your breath. Master instructed me to slaughter a Spiritual Sheep later, saving you a meal! Though we learn pottery skills, our roasting skills aren't bad either!"

A chance to hone his cooking skills came!

Bai Qi's eyes lit up, quickly responding:

"I have to be honest with you, Kiln Master Lu, just the sight of the grill makes my hands itch, so let me handle it.

Eating the Spiritual Sheep is secondary; I mainly want everyone to taste my cooking."

His hands itching again?

Uncle Hui's mouth twitched uncontrollably, wondering why Brother Bai's hands seemed to itch at everything he saw?

Be it blacksmithing or cooking!

How could a fisherman's interests be so diverse?

Lu Shiping scratched his head:

"How can I let you do that, Brother Bai? You're the guest..."

Bai Qi took a deep breath, and the fatigue from forging seemed to vanish, eagerly saying:

"Kiln Master Lu, please fulfill this small request of mine. My hands really can't wait."

Lu Shiping was greatly amazed, seeing in Brother Bai's eyes the same hunger his own master had when he spotted excellent materials.

Not joking?

His hands are genuinely itching!

"Master's addiction to forging weapons can be explained as a Master Craftsman's devoted heart, but Brother Bai's enthusiasm for cooking and roasting is truly unexpected."

Unable to resist Bai Qi's persistent requests, Lu Shiping eventually agreed to let him handle the roasting of the Spiritual Sheep. Turning around, he noticed Li Yuan had already disappeared from the wooden cabin entrance, likely off riding his horse.

"Come to think of it, Wagang Village isn't large, surrounded for miles, why does Master take Junior Brother Chao's fine steed just to wander around?"

...

...

"What a heavy snowfall!"

Bai Ming, clad in a thick coat, bundled up tightly, reached out to catch the featherlike flakes, feeling the cold touch in his palm before it melted into water.

"Uncle Dao, when will Brother be back?"

He hadn't followed Liang Sanshui from the East Market Shop or stayed with Xiaotou's family, perhaps uncomfortable in lively settings, so he simply ended up at Tongwen Hall.

Old Dao wasn't so unkind as to drive Bai Ming away; there were plenty of spare rooms, just an extra pair of utensils to add.

The rule at Tongwen Hall was not to allow outsiders to stay long; Bai Ming, being Young Master Qi's younger brother, didn't count as an outsider, and so the old and the young got along well under the same roof.

"Soon. The New Year is just around the corner."

Old Dao still wore that sable hat, with an iron stove set up at his feet, burning a few coal stones, wisps of smoke rising to form a thin mist.

"Your brother recently settled a debt for Tongwen Hall. It's a pity the young master wasn't in Black River County, otherwise, he would surely have celebrated with a toast."

Upon hearing news of his brother, Bai Ming widened his eyes, obediently moved his small stool, and sat beside Uncle Dao, his gaze full of curiosity.

"See that plaque over there? Four characters, blood debts from the extermination of four families, all pressed upon it, with thirteen other families below, full of resentment and silent anger."

Lao Dao leaned against the beam, his eyelids slightly narrowed. He had followed the young master ten years ago when Ninghai Zen hadn't yet left Yihai Prefecture.

"Five visceral gods, eleven divine spirits, Water and Fire Immortal Robe Great Perfection, defeating those four practicers, someone like me, just a half-baked wannabe, couldn't even take three punches.

The lonely souls and wild ghosts of those homeless dogs are as afraid of Tongwen Hall as they despise it.

Young Master Qi crossing the Black Water River isn't difficult, but the waves of Nu Yun River are high, making the journey less smooth."

Bai Ming didn't fully understand the first half, his small face confused and slightly bewildered, but he understood the final sentence.

His brother stepping into County City might face great danger!

"Uncle Dao, do you think I have the talent for martial arts?"

Bai Ming furrowed his brows, worry and distress flashing in his eyes.

He wanted to help his brother.

"Your body is weak, qi and blood insufficient. Even though you consumed the treasured fish, which helped a bit, innately you're far behind Young Master Qi; just nurturing these two steps takes you several times longer than an average person."

Lao Dao spoke bluntly, without any intention of being gentle or subtle:

"Luckily, what Young Master Qi is training you in is Health Cultivation Skill, gradually filling this gap."

Bai Ming hung his head, seemingly gloomy and downcast.

He knew well that his aptitude for martial arts was ordinary, otherwise, he wouldn't have taken so long to barely catch up with Xiaotou.

"The Five Grand Captures from Tongwen Hall can't be taught to you by the young master; with your foundation, it's hard to learn successfully. Arhat Hand and Dragon Palm, all are robust and powerful superior martial arts, heavily reliant on one's base."

Lao Dao's eye wrinkles moved as he suddenly smiled:

"In my life, my martial path cultivation relies on 'Twelve Levels of Immeasurable Paradox,' too murderous for you. Besides this skill, there is another fragment from before Dao perished."

Bai Ming, being clever, immediately grasped the underlying meaning of Uncle Dao's words, promptly stood up, and respectfully said:

"Master, I am at your feet..."

Lao Dao raised his arm to block Bai Ming from bowing:

"You brothers are both the same, recognizing a master without hesitation. I don't have any clear lineage myself, what is the point of accepting a disciple."

He pressed Bai Ming back onto the small stool and explained the origin:

"Before Dao perished, there was a historically recorded unified dynasty called 'Yan.'

The Great Yan Emperor once collected books and scriptures from all over the world, compiling twelve volumes of Martial Arts Scripture and twelve volumes of Daoist Scripture, everything included but never passed down to later generations, all lost in the long chaotic three thousand-year Dao's demise.

What I possess is a fragment of the Vocabulary Scroll, and even that is only a copy, not a rare item."

Bai Ming propped his hands under his chin, resting on his knees, listening earnestly. Though keywords like 'Great Yan' and 'Martial Arts Scripture' were things he'd never heard of, not even mentioned by private school teachers, he still remembered them clearly.

"The Twelve Volumes of Martial Arts Scripture, divided into Heaven, Earth, Birth, Extinction...containing ten mysterious principles, true meaning of all phenomena. Of course, the Great Yan Dynasty is too far gone now, so we don't know how true it is; anyway, it's talked about as being quite advanced.

My copy of the Vocabulary Scroll, though called a fragment, is rather flattering, it could scarcely count as seven or eight pages of printed paper from a large book."

Before Dao perished, martial arts factions focused on nurturing life through the yang fire to establish a foundation for subsequent training. If muscle training, bone training is three parts practice, seven parts nurturing.

Thus, this fragment from the Vocabulary Scroll counts only as nurturing, not practicing, aiming to enhance the yang fire within the body; as for qi blood, muscles, skin, all can be set aside."

Lao Dao, though from a humble background, was once the Red Eyebrow Leader of Wagang Village that gathered at Fulong Mountain, and especially followed Ninghai Zen, possessing decent martial knowledge, he commented:

"Whether martial arts or Dao arts, there is no eternal unchanging method. Letting Young Master Qi train, the fragment of the Vocabulary Scroll is akin to chicken ribs, only nurturing, not practicing, gathering life energy into yang fire, cannot refine strength or increase qi and blood, wasting physical vigor.

The only advantage is its exceptional ability to heal wounds and expel toxins, either for oneself or others."

Bai Ming's eyes lit up, according to Uncle Dao's explanation, Tongwen Hall had countless enemies. If his brother were to go to County City in the future, he couldn't avoid challenges from various enemies.

If he could master the fragment of the Vocabulary Scroll to heal wounds and expel toxins, his brother's safety would have an extra layer of protection.

"Think it through clearly. Once you practice the fragment of the Vocabulary Scroll, it's irreversible, henceforth any medicine you consume, cherished fish supplement, even the qi and blood, strength generated within the body, will all turn into yang fire merged with life essence."

Lao Dao's expression was solemn, as this meant abandoning the path of martial arts of the four major practices.

"I won't regret it!"

Bai Ming nodded vigorously.

"But you have to wait until your brother returns, let him know that I've privately passed you the fragment of the Vocabulary Scroll, cutting off your martial path. He would surely be unhappy."

Lao Dao teasingly feigned a gesture, Bai Ming felt like he was being baited, pouted and said:

"My brother will definitely not agree!"

Lao Dao ruffled the little kid's handsome head:

"This proves Young Master Qi cares about you, which is a good thing. Whether to learn the fragment of the Vocabulary Scroll or not, you make it clear with Young Master Qi, he might not forbid it.

The four major practices seem to have low entry barriers, but reaching the end, becoming a perfect martial artist is rare, mostly breakthroughs occur through compromise."

Bai Ming seemed half-understood, looking up at the long line of icicles hanging from the eaves outside his house, missing his brother all the more.

Step, step, step!

Heavy, powerful footsteps sounded, the open vermillion gate of the front yard suddenly revealed a tall and sturdy white-haired figure.

"Brother Dao, after all these years, do you still remember Li Yuan from Baisheng Trading Company?"