Chapter 11
Time passed by.
In a blink of an eye, half a year had gone.
During this period, Lin Yuan's feat of subduing the imperial palace with a single roar spread like a hurricane throughout the world. Although the commotion within the palace was kept hushed by the palace guards and maids, the martial experts outside the palace couldn't turn a blind eye or a deaf ear to it.
Even the middle-aged monk could sense the changes in the palace's aura.
Naturally, other martial experts could as well.
Moreover, with the Emperor of Great Dali voluntarily stepping out of the palace, bowing to Lin Yuan, many witnessed the scene. Connecting the dots, it was easy for people to speculate on the general truth— the imperial palace of the Great Dali Dynasty had been penetrated by a mysterious monk.
Even the reigning emperor had to bow down and admit his mistake.
Although the Great Dali Dynasty wanted to downplay the incident, it was impossible. The news had already spread, and the people were eager to discuss it. For nearly two centuries, the Great Dali Dynasty had ruled the world, suppressing all martial experts due to their founding ancestor's overwhelming strength.
Now, witnessing the dynasty's setback and even the current emperor bowing his head in apology, everyone was delighted.
After discussing the fate of the Great Dali Dynasty, the attention of the people immediately shifted to the mysterious monk from the Buddhist sect.Was the Great Dali Dynasty weak?
Certainly not.
In fact, it was terrifyingly strong.
Even with the passing of the great grandmaster founder over a hundred years ago, the dynasty's power still dominated the world.
However, the fact that the palace was penetrated by a mysterious monk meant something ominous. Upon careful consideration, people felt a chill down their spines.
Undoubtedly, the strength of that mysterious monk had reached the level of a grandmaster.
Inside the martial hall of the Great Dali Imperial Palace, Lin Yuan sat cross-legged with a calm expression. Since entering half a year ago, he had not left the premises.
The Emperor of Great Dali had the insight to declare the martial hall a restricted area, forbidding anyone from disturbing Lin Yuan. The daily meals were meticulously prepared by the royal chefs, not only replenishing his energy but also crafted with exquisite taste.
However, Lin Yuan sighed lightly in his heart, "Not enough, these martial arts are still far from enough."
In just half a year, Lin Yuan had comprehended and understood numerous martial arts within the martial hall of the Great Dali Imperial Palace. It wasn't that the martial arts within the hall were inferior to those in the Buddhist temple's scriptures. In fact, the collection of martial arts in the palace surpassed that of the temple.
But the circumstances had changed.
Now, Lin Yuan was at an unprecedented mythical realm. In this superior state, the efficiency of his enlightenment naturally far surpassed the grandmaster realm.
However, despite grasping all the martial arts within the hall, combined with his transcendent enlightenment and elevated understanding, Lin Yuan had yet to break through the mythical realm.
"All martial arts in the world, those that are recorded and passed down are only a few. More martial arts are dispersed among every martial practitioner in the world," Lin Yuan thought silently in his heart.
These martial arts might not reach the level of superior martial arts, but they excel in their unique perspectives. They are even fundamentally different from the current martial arts training system. If Lin Yuan can comprehend martial arts from different angles, it should be helpful for him to break through the mythical realm.
"Come in," Lin Yuan said as he looked towards the entrance of the martial hall.
"Yes," the slender old man immediately walked over respectfully.
As the highest-ranking and strongest ancestor of the Great Dali Royal Family, the slender old man shouldn't have been stationed outside the martial hall personally, waiting for Lin Yuan's orders. However, ever since Lin Yuan casually gave him guidance shortly after entering the hall, the slender old man had stayed put.
That casual guidance made the slender old man realize that even if he cultivated diligently for ten, twenty, or fifty years, it wouldn't compare to a single sentence from Lin Yuan.
"I plan to host a martial arts convention for the whole world, right here in the capital. Any postnatal or prenatal martial artist can participate. The top ten participants can choose any three superior martial arts," Lin Yuan announced.
With his extraordinary comprehension ability, Lin Yuan didn't need to learn martial arts conventionally. He could simply watch others demonstrate their techniques and gain insights. Over a decade ago, watching the monks of the Great Zen Temple practicing the Arhat Fist allowed him to comprehend the superior martial art, Arhat Buddha Fist.
Having martial artists reveal their unique skills wasn't realistic. Many wandering martial artists, without any sect affiliation, could easily retreat into the deep mountains and forests, beyond Lin Yuan's reach.
However, by organizing a martial arts convention, Lin Yuan could attract them. With his extraordinary comprehension, he could silently grasp their martial skills.
Whether or not those wandering martial artists would come...
People generally pursued one of two things: fame or fortune. For martial artists, there was an additional factor—personal martial arts proficiency. With superior martial arts as bait, Lin Yuan wasn't worried that those wandering martial artists wouldn't take the bait.
Superior martial arts weren't just common, and each one could serve as the foundation of a legacy. Even the Great Zen Temple, a sacred place of Buddhism, only had seventy-two superior martial arts.
Moreover, with the martial arts convention led by the Great Dali Dynasty, gaining a bit of recognition could propel a martial artist to fame.
"Also, for the masters," Lin Yuan rubbed his chin, "If masters come, they can challenge me. Regardless of the outcome, they will receive a mental martial art."
In essence, masters who attended the martial arts convention could obtain a mental martial art. Although masters couldn't cultivate mental martial arts, continuous contemplation would greatly assist in stepping into the grandmaster realm.
"Yes," the slender old man swallowed nervously.
Although the Great Zen Temple's founder had left behind some mental martial arts years ago, who would reject the opportunity to have more? Different mental martial arts, contemplated simultaneously, could be used to validate the grandmaster realm from various perspectives, making it easier to reach that step.
As news of the martial arts convention spread, the entire world erupted in excitement. Just by achieving a top-ten position in the martial arts convention, one could choose any three superior martial arts? If it weren't for the personal promise of the Great Dali Emperor, nobody would have believed it.
These were superior martial arts! Just obtaining one would be incredible, but the top-ten martial artists could choose three, and freely at that. Initially, some martial artists doubted, but after the first martial arts convention, where the top-ten participants indeed obtained their desired three superior martial arts, martial artists worldwide went crazy.
They rushed to the capital of Great Dali, eagerly awaiting the start of the next martial arts convention.
While postnatal and prenatal martial artists were excited, the masters scattered throughout the land gradually changed their perspectives. They saw the announcement about the martial arts convention from the Great Dali Emperor.
Masters could participate and challenge the mysterious monk who had single-handedly pierced through the imperial palace. Regardless of the outcome, they would receive a mental martial art.
Soon, numerous masters couldn't resist and started heading towards the capital of Great Dali.
Six months later.
Imperial Palace of Dali.
Outside the martial hall, a sturdy man carrying a heavy sword appeared silently. By his side was a young boy of only fifteen or sixteen.
"Southern Sea Sword Saint, I didn't expect you to come too," said the slender old man guarding the martial hall, his expression serious.
Before encountering Lin Yuan, the slender old man considered himself invincible under the grandmaster realm. Few masters could make him wary. The Southern Sea Sword Saint was one of them.
In terms of strength, the Southern Sea Sword Saint wasn't superior to the slender old man; they were evenly matched. However, the Southern Sea Sword Saint didn't come from a martial arts sect. He had reached his current height step by step, relying solely on his own efforts.
The slender old man, on the other hand, came from the Great Dali Royal Family and received guidance from various masters since childhood. He often contemplated the insights left by the founding emperor.
Now the Southern Sea Sword Saint stood side by side with the slender old man, proving his extraordinary comprehension.
"You, have you already started cultivating mental power?" The slender old man carefully examined the Southern Sea Sword Saint and was surprised. He could sense a faint mental pressure emanating from the Southern Sea Sword Saint, a sign of cultivating mental power. Once successful, it could break into the grandmaster realm.
The Southern Sea Sword Saint remained silent, his gaze fixed on the interior of the martial hall.
"Grandmaster" the Southern Sea Sword Saint smiled, he came for a different purpose than the other masters who came here for the promise of mental martial arts.
Although mental martial arts could assist in cultivating mental power, the Southern Sea Sword Saint no longer needed them. His true goal was to challenge the mysterious monk who had single-handedly pierced through the Great Dali Imperial Palace. He wanted to use a grandmaster as a stepping stone to forge his path to becoming a grandmaster himself.
"Master, do you really want to go in?" The young boy, around fifteen or sixteen years old, was somewhat nervous.
After all, that mysterious monk was recognized by many martial artists as a true grandmaster. Besides a grandmaster, who else could single-handedly pierce through the Great Dali Imperial Palace?
"Don't worry, my disciple," the Southern Sea Sword Saint reassured him. "With my current strength, just facing the mental pressure of a grandmaster, I might breakthrough to the grandmaster realm at any time."
The Southern Sea Sword Saint wasn't too concerned. With half of his foot already stepping into the grandmaster realm, it wouldn't take much to make the final leap once stimulated by a true grandmaster. In that case, facing another grandmaster, even if he couldn't defeat the mysterious monk, he believed he could retreat unscathed.
"I'm going in, my obedient disciple, wait outside for a while," the Southern Sea Sword Saint said with eagerness, entering the martial hall.
Only a short time, equivalent to the burning of a stick of incense, had passed when the martial hall's door opened again. The sturdy man carrying the heavy sword walked out with an expressionless face.
"Master, master! Is it over so soon?" The young boy hurried over, concerned.
"Let's go," the Southern Sea Sword Saint shook his head slightly, leaving the imperial palace with the young boy. Only when they reached the outskirts of the capital did the Southern Sea Sword Saint stop.
Turning to face the direction of the imperial palace, he sat on a stone, muttering phrases like 'how can he be so strong' and 'how is such a person possible.'
The young boy, at the age of fifteen or sixteen, immediately realized that his master had likely lost. And not just lost, but lost quite thoroughly. Otherwise, he wouldn't be acting like this.
"Master, I didn't think he was that strong. When you become a grandmaster in the future, you can challenge him again and win," the young boy said, trying to console his master.
"That strong?" The Southern Sea Sword Saint fell silent for a while, unsure of what to say. After a long time, he regained his composure and said slowly, "Now, as a postnatal martial artist, your perspective is still narrow. You see him like a frog in a well looking up at the moon."
"When the day comes that you miraculously step into the grandmaster realm, or become a semi-grandmaster like me," the Southern Sea Sword Saint continued, speaking with an extremely complex emotion, "You will see him as if you are a tiny insect looking up at the vast sky."