Xuanwu is a famously powerful Divine Beast from Ancient Times, one of the mighty Divine Beasts that suppresses the oceans. A fully grown Xuanwu possesses terrifying combat strength on par with Qin Feng at his peak.
The Xuanwu Yin Yang Dao is named after Xuanwu, having obtained the profound mysteries of Yin and Yang through motion and stillness. Once mastered, it allows one to condense a sliver of ancient Xuanwu's Power, capable of suppressing seas and leveling mountains, possessing the might to subdue all things. However, to achieve Great Success in this Fist Technique, one must have Black Tortoise Essence Blood.
"Black Tortoise Essence Blood... Isn't the Mystic Turtle Divine Pill refined from the Black Tortoise Divine Embryo? And the Black Tortoise Divine Embryo is a real Mystic Turtle Divine Egg!" Qin Feng's mind couldn't quite process it. But he quickly came to his senses.
'This contains a True Martial Level inheritance!'
Qin Feng was greatly shaken. To think that a True Martial Secret Technique was hidden here! Even with his vast experience, he found it hard to believe. From the perspective of his past life, even a True Martial Secret Technique was something incredibly precious.
A True Martial Secret Technique embodies a trace of the essence of the Heaven and Earth Great Path. Setting aside its power, just that sliver of Martial Arts True Intent alone provided unparalleled benefits for Cultivation.
Such a Secret Technique would be exceedingly rare even in First-class Sects, a Supreme Treasure that countless people would covet. One could imagine how precious this True Martial Secret Technique was, considering that the Qin Family, who dominated Shanghe Town, only had a single Spirit Martial Level Cultivation Technique as their legacy. And yet, even that Spirit Martial Level technique was enough to make numerous Loose Cultivators drool with envy.
If even a whisper of this got out, this place would probably become a river of blood. Countless famous figures from all over would rush here to fight for it.
Suppressing the joyous surprise in his heart, Qin Feng sat down cross-legged and began to comprehend this True Martial Level Boxing Technique.
The Xuanwu Yin Yang Dao was a True Martial Level Boxing Technique. Its Dao Rhyme was profound, obscure, and esoteric. The Martial Arts True Intent was like a colossal mountain soaring into the blue clouds, impossible to surmount. Even for a heaven-defying talent with wisdom like Qin Feng, comprehending it was extremely difficult and arduous. Many parts were like being lost in a fog, completely incomprehensible.
This wasn't because his comprehension was lacking. In his peak state, comprehending a True Martial Level Boxing Technique would never have been this difficult. But he had been reborn, and all his previous Realms had vanished. Only his insight, wisdom, will, and experience remained.
Everything had to start over. Comprehending it was naturally fraught with difficulties.
As he slowly comprehended the Fist Technique, he began to clear up his thoughts. The Xuanwu Yin Yang Dao truly lived up to its name. This Fist Technique expounded upon a Martial Arts True Intent that contained a trace of the mystical meaning of heaven and earth's Yin and Yang. Within the Fist Technique, Xuanwu was no longer just the Sea God, but also a Divine Spirit that suppressed all transformations of Yin and Yang.
This greatly surprised Qin Feng. As everyone knew, whether in mythology or in various ancient texts, Xuanwu was always the Sea God. Very few mentioned its connection to the transformations of Yin and Yang.
Suddenly, Qin Feng recalled a conversation from his past life with an old turtle that had lived for over ten thousand years. The old turtle had cryptically mentioned that Xuanwu was actually a variant of a dragon and snake, and was also known as a Turtle Dragon! He hadn't paid it any mind back then, just treating it as a story.
Recalling it now, a bolt of lightning flashed through his mind. 'Of course! The Xuanwu has the head of a dragon, the body of a turtle, and the tail of a snake. The dragon is Yang, the snake is Yin, and the Profound Turtle is associated with the Eight Trigrams. Isn't that a god of the Yin Yang Bagua?'
Xuanwu commands Yin and Yang; the dragon, snake, and turtle are its three transformations. In a trance, Qin Feng slowly sketched out the image of a Black Tortoise God in his mind. At the same time, the various Mystical Meanings of the Fist Technique born from the Xuanwu Yin Yang Dao streaked into the depths of his heart like thunder and lightning, merging with that mental image of the Xuanwu. This mental image seemed to gain a divine charm, bursting to life with a RUMBLE. With this movement, Qin Feng seemed to see countless profound mysteries. The True Martial Level Boxing Technique had opened its hazy secrets to him. Countless insights flowed through his mind.
The Xuanwu Yin Yang Dao has three forms. The first is the Static and Dynamic Form, the second is the Revolving Form, and the third is the Yin-Yang Form. By comprehending motion and stillness, seeing through hardness and softness, and mastering Yin and Yang, one can grasp the essence of the Xuanwu Yin Yang Dao.
As long as he mastered the first form, he would prematurely possess the Elephant-Throwing Power of the Martial Arts Third Heaven. He would be able to move these six Xuanwu Tripods with ease.
For him, the first form of the Xuanwu Yin Yang Dao, the Static and Dynamic Form, was not actually difficult at this moment. The Spiritual Serpent represented motion, and the Profound Turtle represented stillness. The combination of motion and stillness, harmoniously transforming, was the essence of Xuanwu.
Qin Feng sat cross-legged amidst the six Xuanwu Tripods. His mind was currently filled with small human figures. These figures shifted dramatically, demonstrating all sorts of fist stances of the path of motion and stillness. Their fists and palms were filled with a vast, majestic, and all-encompassing aura. A single palm strike seemed capable of calming the seas and pacifying the waves, easily bringing the ocean's tides under control and deriving layers of different powers from it—at times folding, at times like a vortex, devouring all.
The small figures in his mind seemed to transform into a behemoth with a dragon's head and a turtle's body, its aura magnificent as it suppressed the seas. This was the true intent of Xuanwu. As long as he could comprehend this trace of Xuanwu's true intent, he would have completely mastered this Fist Technique.
To be precise, it could actually be considered three Fist Techniques: the Spiritual Snake Demon-Subduing Fist, the Profound Turtle Sea-Suppressing Fist Technique, and the Xuanwu Yin Yang Dao. It could also be said that it was one complete set of Fist Techniques, with the Xuanwu Yin Yang Dao as the framework, and the Spiritual Serpent and Profound Turtle transformations as the methods.
Qin Feng, who was sitting on the ground, began to move one of his hands. At times it formed a palm, at others a fist. When it was a palm, the Palm Force was torrential; when it was a fist, the power was deep and profound.
Then, his other hand also began to slowly change its posture, floating gently like a Spiritual Serpent. Each strike was faster than lightning.
Miraculously, his movements looked as smooth as flowing clouds and water, so graceful, without a trace of awkwardness.
An invisible force spread through his arms. Using his muscles as scales and his entire frame of bones and sinews as an axis, the power was terrifyingly immense.
Still as a mountain, yet moving like a clap of thunder. Gradually, he began to exhibit a trace of Xuanwu's divine charm. It was as if with every exertion of force, a deep power descended to suppress the Void, and a Black Tortoise Divine Beast roared in fury.
...
While Qin Feng was diligently practicing the Xuanwu Boxing Skill, a group of people was heading toward the ancient temple in the swamp. They had already reached the Ancient Locust Forest. The group consisted of old and young alike. The old had a stern demeanor, while the young had cold and grim faces. However, every single one of them exuded the unique aura of a seasoned practitioner.
The leader was a man in green robes. He was burly, with a beard like iron wires on his cheeks and eyes like a hawk's. He carried a large broadsword on his back. His entire being radiated an extremely oppressive aura, revealing his unfathomably profound Cultivation.
Beside him, a yellow-faced man of average build was holding a Fragmented Map and comparing it to their surroundings. His gaze swept back and forth as he searched for something.
This group was from the Ning Family of Sanhe Town. The leader, the large man in green robes, was a rather important figure in the Ning Family. Their goal was to find a mysterious ruin hidden on the outskirts of the Barbaric Mountain Range, as recorded on the Fragmented Map.
The Fragmented Map had originally been left in an extremely ancient mountain cave. Later, due to shifts in the earth, it was discovered by a disciple from a collateral branch of the Qin Family. It was just that this disciple had bad luck and happened to run into this Ning Family Steward, who casually killed him and took it.
A Fragmented Map recording a mysterious ruin was simply too valuable! Not to mention if there were some precious Spirit Medicines or a Cultivation Technique hidden in the ruins. For a Steward who had cultivated to the Martial Arts Fifth Layer Heaven and held a middling status in his family, this was an absolutely rare opportunity. If he could obtain some Elixirs, he might be able to soar to the heavens in a single leap and become one of the family's true power-holders!
After obtaining the Fragmented Map, he made some brief preparations and then led his trusted subordinates toward the Barbaric Mountain Range as recorded on the map.
"Steward Ning, according to the location on the Fragmented Map, the ruins should be near this forest!!"
A yellow-faced man of average build pointed at the Ancient Locust Forest ahead and said, "The Fragmented Map shows that there is an ancient temple of unknown age at the site of the ruins. The temple is surrounded by a swamp, and in front of the swamp is a forest. As far as I know, behind this Ancient Locust Forest is a swamp. Some Medicine Gatherers have said there's an ancient temple of unknown age in that swamp. I think that must be the place! However, there are many giant wolves in this Ancient Locust Forest!"
The green-robed man said slowly, "Take some men over there and clear out those giant wolves!"
The yellow-faced man frowned and said, "Lord Steward, one of our brothers just reported that they've spotted people from the Qin Family nearby. They're searching the mountain on a large scale, as if they're looking for someone. I'm worried that if we make a big move, we might attract their attention!"
The green-robed man said indifferently, "Do we know what they're searching for?"
The yellow-faced man shook his head. "I don't know. I only know that they've mobilized a lot of people to search everywhere in this mountain range. The one leading them is the Qin Family's Sixth Young Master, Qin Muyun!"
The yellow-faced man asked worriedly, "Could we have leaked our plans and drawn them here?"
The green-robed man pondered for a moment before saying, "Impossible. I found this Fragmented Map in an uninhabited Ancient Cave. The person who knew about it is already dead. Besides myself, there is absolutely no one else who knows!"
The yellow-faced man breathed a sigh of relief and said, "If that's the case, then what should we do?"
The green-robed man's thick brows knitted fiercely. "This is a bit troublesome. You and I are both from Sanhe Town. Although my Ning Family is also a hegemon in Sanhe Town, with strength on par with the Qin Family of Shanghe Town and the Yu Family of Xiahe Town, this place is, after all, close to the Qin Family's sphere of influence. If we startle them and arouse their suspicion, it would be highly inappropriate!"
"We'll avoid them for now. We'll observe the situation and act when the time is right!"
In another location, Qin Muhai had joined up with Qin Shu and his men. The two were also in discussion. Qin Shu was a tall young man with a calm expression, a light mustache at the corners of his mouth, and a composed gaze.
He said, "Still no news? Did Lao Jiu really enter the Barbaric Mountain Range?"
Hearing this, Qin Muhai chuckled. "Big Brother, don't be anxious. It's just that Lao Liu is too incompetent, unable to even track a piece of trash. But this time, Lao Liu brought all the trusted followers he's gathered over the years and has spread them all out. I believe there will be news soon! We just need to wait patiently!"
'Trash?' Qin Shu's eyes shifted slightly as he sneered inwardly. 'I'm afraid that Lao Jiu isn't some simple character. Although Lao Liu has no real skills, being able to shake his pursuit is not something an ordinary person could do.'
'Could it be that this Lao Jiu, who was always considered trash, really has some kind of secret?' A ripple flickered in the depths of Qin Shu's eyes. 'But no matter what the secret is, I must seize it for myself!'
Qin Shu had another hidden worry. That incompetent fool Qin Muyun had made such a huge commotion just to find one person. Qin Fang had likely noticed. 'I'm afraid he's also hiding somewhere, preparing to be the oriole that stalks the mantis catching the cicada.'
His gaze swept over the forest, sharp as the biting glint of a blade. A bone-chilling coldness, imperceptible to others, flickered in the depths of his eyes...