[The Wutong Xie Clan, before the ancestral hall, Xie Qiaoxuan, against much opposition, inscribes your name into the clan records. Henceforth, the name 'Song Chai Xin' becomes the first direct bloodline with an outside surname within the Xie Family in a hundred years.]
[Xie Qiaoxuan values your bloodline, but even more so your future.]
[Therefore, he wants you to participate in the 'Wutong Prefecture Examination' held in Wutong Prefecture City six months from now, and secure a top ten spot, thus entering the Great Zhao Government's 'Military Examination Records'.]
[The Wutong Prefecture Examination, established by the Great Zhao Government, has very high entry barriers. Participants must come from a line of nobility, or hail from noble clans or officials within the city, and require a recommendation from a superior. Additionally, they must be proficient in archery and horseback riding to participate.]
[Those who make it to the top ten will not only earn the title of 'Military Examination', but also enjoy preferential treatment in the prefecture city, receiving olive branches from the Demon Hunting Department and the government, leaving their names in the Great Zhao 'Ancestral Records' with opportunities for further advancement!]
[Those who receive the government's nurturing as 'Military Examinees' will also be granted a secret pill by Great Zhao after completion. Consuming it when entering 'Great Innate' can increase the odds of reaching 'Great Innate' by thirty percent, which is extremely extraordinary.]
[Considering both the future development of the Xie Mansion and your own prospects, you agreed to this matter.]
[Only by making your mark in Wutong Prefecture, and perhaps even becoming a significant figure in the Demon Hunting Department and the government, can you stand proud before Yunluan Mountain and make those who once looked down on you change their views.]
[Fortunately, the Great Zhao's laws do not discriminate against Half-Demons, so you managed to secure a spot in the 'assessment' in Wutong Prefecture City through the Xie Family's recommendation eligibility.]
[However, the clansmen of the Xie Family seem to have quite a few criticisms about this.]
[But soon, you proved yourself with facts.]
[Now, the autumn winds have passed, approaching the cold of winter, the Xie Family holds a grand ancestral worship ceremony, gathering all the descendants of the main and branch bloodlines.]
[Among those under thirty, the young martial artists who have cultivated Golden Flesh and Jade Veins, Mercury Blood, and Silver Marrow are countless.]
[And those who have donned the Water and Fire Immortal Robe, refining their skin to be like iron and stone, number seven.]
[Originally, they were strong contenders for the 'recommendation' eligibility, but due to your emergence, they see their path obstructed and are hostile toward you.]
[However, as time passes, with your mastery of Mercury Blood Silver Marrow and successfully grasping the fist intent, ready to capture the essence of 'Sun and Moon Shine Together' at any moment, you are no longer the frail Half-Demon youth of old.]
[This day,]
[upon the sacrificial altar, before the ancestors in heaven and earth, your fist intent transforms, executing the 'Sun and Moon Shine Together' from the Meteor Chasing Moon Fist Scripture in succession seven times.]
[Even when finally exhausted, you still managed to deeply imprint this 'famous fist art' into the hearts of every Xie Clan member, ensuring that as long as they live another fifty years, they will never forget the awe-inspiring scene of today.]
[Heavy snow in mid-winter, the fifth day of the last month!]
[A youth has practiced the fist for half a year, with fists like dragons, qi and blood like a furnace, clad in sunlight and moonlight, radiating like a brilliant sun, suppressing the contemporary Xie Mansion... invincible!]
Wutong Prefecture, Xie Family!
The fifth day of the last month, heavy snow in mid-winter.
Woo woo~~
The north wind howls, swirling layers of auspicious snow.
The Xie Mansion on the martial platform for the winter ancestral worship.
The eldest son of the direct bloodlines 'An, Ping, Yuan, Wei' descended from Xie Qiaoxuan, Xie An's offspring.
A cousin seven years older than Jixia, Xie Bridge.
At this moment, panting heavily, exhaling layers of white mist from his breath.
Originally, Xie Bridge was the most outstanding young generation in the entire Xie Mansion.
Although he may not rank in the top ten throughout the whole Wutong Prefecture,
with his mastery of the Water and Fire Immortal Robe, about to draw qi into his body, and perfection of a 'famous' sword skill, the Shadow-accepting Sword...
Among the three main bloodlines besides 'Xie Wei' and various branch lines!
There is no second person with such accomplishment in their twenties.
But at this moment, Xie Bridge's hand gripping the sword hilt begins to tremble slightly.
The handsome young man in splendid attire looks up.
Looking at Song Chai Xin not far away, stepping on the accumulated snow, his qi and blood boiling, black hair flying, with a great sun rising behind him,
then glancing at the several pale-faced peers, previously defeated by six punches, among the surrounding spectators, he shakes his head with a bitter smile:
"Song Chai Xin, Song Chai Xin..."
"I, Xie Bridge, have practiced swords since the age of six, bringing three sword skills to perfection, one of which being a 'famous' legacy, yet after searching for seven years, I have not grasped even a trace of 'intent'."
"But you've only studied punching and kicking for half a year—how can you understand the fist intent of 'Sun and Moon Shine Together,' and even enter the first level of the fist intent 'Transformation,' able to manifest it anytime, anywhere, at will?"
Xie Bridge finds it utterly perplexing.
He initially thought that the talk of Song Chai Xin's aptitude in fist arts was merely exaggerated.
Moreover, with his father originally having some aversion to Song Chai Xin, and since the Xie Mansion had only two 'military examination' selection spots, Xie Bridge had a rather indifferent attitude toward him.
But everything that happened on the day of the ancestral worship completely shattered his prideful stance.
The most outstanding young generation of the entire Xie Clan couldn't withstand even a single move from him, a 'Mercury Blood Silver Marrow' martial artist!
"My fists were only practiced for half a year."
"But to practice those fists for half a year, I've been in seclusion for fifteen full years."
Swoosh swoosh...
Stepping on the snow, Song Chai Xin approaches Xie Bridge step by step, his qi and blood swirling due to having fought and defeated several of the Xie Family's younger generation, leaving his breath somewhat unstable.
But still, in the confrontation with Xie Bridge, he firmly held the upper hand and turned it into a winning position.
He slightly lowered his head.
Looking at the Xie Mansion's Celestial Pride before him.
Seeing no reflection of himself in his eyes.
Thus, he replied:
"You don't have the resolve to bet everything."
"Bet everything?"
Xie Wei was bewildered.
He thought he had been working hard enough, so how could he not have bet everything?
"If you weren't the Celestial Pride of the Xie Mansion, without the backing of the Wutong Xie Clan, you'd be surrounded by tigers, leopards, and wolves. One misstep, and you'd be doomed eternally."
"At that time, all you have is the sword in your hand, and all you can rely on is the sword you tightly grip in your palm."
"Perhaps when you experience such a day, your swordsmanship will advance by leaps and bounds."
"You cannot practice swordsmanship for the sake of pursuing 'artistic conception'."
"Just as I don't practice boxing for the pursuit of 'fist intent'."
Song Chai Xin, wearing the Profound Robe Cloak, spoke with a voice as calm as still water.
"You're wrong in saying that!"
"Which martial artist doesn't ultimately aim to cultivate the 'Martial Arts Celestial Form'?"
"Only those who cultivate the 'Martial Arts Celestial Form' can claim that their martial art is on par with the founders. Without understanding artistic conception, how can one reach the pinnacle?"
Xie Wei frowned. Although he was no match for the person in front of him, he instinctively rebutted.
The moment his words fell.
Song Chai Xin suddenly stared closely into his eyes and smiled:
"Martial Arts Celestial Form?"
He let out a 'humph', then shook off the scattered snow from his shoulders, looked at the ancient boulder beside the withered locust tree, and suddenly descended from the contest platform to the flat ground.
Seeing this, the people on both sides instinctively made way.
Then, with a 'bang', Song Chai Xin raised his fist in hand, as if the sun and moon were shining together, and the 'phenomenon' condensed at the fist's edge appeared again,
Then, he fiercely transformed his fist into a mark of the Fist Dao, leaving it on this stone stele!
"I practice boxing because I can only practice boxing. If I don't practice, I will die."
"If you constantly face life-and-death crises, with a fierce tiger ready to devour you, if you can't throw a million punches today, you'll die tomorrow. Let me ask you, will you throw this punch or not?"
"Fist intent and my intent are both the will of heaven!"
"What is called 'artistic conception'?"
"It is the 'flash of inspiration' that bursts forth between mind and spirit, thereby communicating with the real punch, achieving the unity of the two, a skill where thoughts burn hot, this is called intent!"
"If even this can't be understood..."
"You, what sword do you learn?"
Bang!
Like a thunderous roar, along with the 'fist intent' enveloping the fist stele, it emerged fresh in the Wutong Xie Clan.
From now on, the Wutong Xie Clan will have one more 'new legacy.'
"Ancestor, this faint fist intent, a trifling skill, here leaves a fist stele as a token for ancestor worship, for future descendants of the clan to comprehend."
Seeing the stunned Xie Wei.
Song Chai Xin did not pay attention to him but looked towards the highest observing position in the area.
That was originally Xie Qiaoxuan's observation position.
But as he looked over, he couldn't help but find that beside Xie Qiaoxuan, at some unknown time, was another person.
That person's brows were rugged, and his body was as strong as a mountain, clad in Suanni Lion Armor, just standing there emanated an aura of 'majesty without anger.'
Even... even Xie Qiaoxuan beside him had an involuntary cautiousness facing this person, as if it were instinctive.
When Song Chai Xin's gaze swept over,
that person, seeing the young man in the center like the protagonist stealing the limelight, immediately laughed heartily and suddenly slapped the table and stood up:
"Hahahahaha!"
"What an unconventional argument, I've practiced boxing for so many years, and this is the first time hearing such reasoning, it's a rarity."
"Old Man Xie, your Xie Family's ancestor worship, this trip, I didn't join in vain..."
"My name is Xiang Zhulu, Baoping State Wutong Prefecture Prefecture Demon Hunting Department's current Guardian!"
"Life and death tribulations, only then can forge the peak of boxing, this is true."
"But..."
"All kinds of martial arts, with myriad changes in artistic conception, are divided into three levels: 'Transformative State, True Realm, Ultimate State.' Breaking through these three levels is truly comprehending the essence of a martial art's 'Martial Arts Celestial Form.'"
"Kid, your ambition is not small, but your Dao practice..."
"Is still shallow!"
"Finish practicing your current boxing, even if you can comprehend the 'Martial Arts Celestial Form' of this 'Fist Scripture', what about after?"
"Without subsequent stronger boxing manuals, even if you comprehend it, you can't withstand more powerful enemies!"
"However..."
"I can teach you future boxing!"
"What do you think, would you want to join my door and take a position at my Wutong Prefecture, Demon Hunting Department?"