Chapter 53: Martial Dao Constitution, Great Accomplishment

Chapter 53: Martial Arts · Body, Great Completion

The sun sank low, and the clouds and hues of dusk drifted far away.

Within and beyond the Xiao Manor, carriages and horses moved in a steady stream, with numerous guests arriving and departing.

Visitors occasionally stopped by the tranquil manor where the elder Duke resided to pay their respects.

One after another came and went.

The elder Duke would not speak much, yet even in his weakened state, he would still muster the strength to engage in conversation with his visitors.

Sometimes he would offer encouragement, sometimes inquire after their recent affairs, exchanging words and laughter—though he found great joy in these moments.

These people were all part of the Xiao family’s two-century-old network of connections. With him still alive, they took advantage of this occasion for his celebration to gather them all.

First, to let them recognize their host and meet the next generation of the Xiao family’s leadership—Xiao Wan Er, Xiao Jing Hong, and Xiao Wu Ge.

Second, to allow the Xiao family to assess some of their faces.

As for those who came to offer congratulations, the Xiao family would, in turn, cultivate closer ties with them, offering assistance where possible.

As for those who did not come, there was little to say.

Even if the occasion had passed, they would still be kept at a distance.

The rules of the noble house, the passing of generations, and certain established principles—all had to be upheld.

By the time evening approached, guests with distant connections politely excused themselves and departed.

Local guests from Shzhou returned home, while those from afar were accommodated at the Hou Manor.

Those with closer ties—family members or guests—remained at the Xiao estate, where banquets were held in each courtyard, from the inner to the outer.

Yet only two or three could stay at the tranquil manor.

At this moment, Duke Zhang Xuan watched the elder Duke eat with gusto, yet felt powerless to keep pace.

Since Chen Yi’s congratulatory verse had been released, the elder Duke’s appetite had surged. He ate two bowls of congee in the morning, chicken, fish, and eggs at noon, and even managed to eat some fruit in the evening.

Not only had his appetite improved, but his mood as well, and his health followed suit.

Zhang Xuan could keep up for a few days, but after that, his appetite waned.

Sun Fu observed this and remarked, “Old Master Xiao’s appetite has grown, which is a good sign.”

Zhang Xuan glared at him, “What did you say?”

Sun Fu chewed his duck meat slowly, “You’ve already written it on your face; why even bother to say it?”

“Hmph, you old fool, you’ve got some wit.”

The elder Duke wiped the oil from his hands and mouth after finishing half a roasted duck, smiling and saying, “The Hall of Supreme Harmony wants to compete with me, but it’s still a bit short of the right timing. In terms of both food quantity and military achievements, it’s the same.”

This made Zhang Xuan so angry he began to stubble and glare, exclaiming that he didn’t measure up in food consumption, only in military merit.

He then recounted his own exploits in suppressing bandits and wiping out sea pirates in the Guang and Yue regions.

The elder Duke, in turn, recounted one—his own service in the Brocade and Silk States.

Sun Fu ate on, and while the two were bickering, he said, “Tomorrow after the banquet, I’d like to stay here for a while longer.”

The elder Duke nodded, “You’re welcome to stay.”

Zhang Xuan immediately agreed, “I had intended to do the same.”

Sun Fu mused, “Lord Duke, after some time, won’t you be celebrating your own birthday? Shouldn’t you return to the Guang and Yue Manor to rest?”

Zhang Xuan shot him a sideways glance, “The congratulatory verse hasn’t been settled yet; how could I return empty-handed?”

The elder Duke had lost ground in their earlier quarrel, and beamed, “The manor isn’t lacking your chopsticks either.”

“Though you did mention something about Chen Xuan Ji not long ago, over ten days ago, yet I haven’t seen you visit the Spring Lotus Garden.”

Zhang Xuan hummed, “I’m in a hurry but can’t eat hot tofu; I’ll wait, for I have my own clever plan.”

Upon hearing this, the elder Duke and Sun Fu exchanged glances, and Zhang Xuan’s face reddened with anger.

Within the grounds of Xiaoying Park.

With so many guests, the women were entertained in the wooden pavilion’s hall and elegant chambers.

Chen Yi, along with the old masters and young lords, set up tables and chairs under the trees in front of the pavilion, sitting down to eat and drink.

The attendants in charge of lighting candles, cleaning up, and a few servants who hurried between the kitchen and the dining area brought various delicacies.

After they had eaten and drunk to their hearts’ content, Xiao Wan Er and Chen Yi escorted their guests out of the park. The servants led them to their chambers to rest, and they finally relaxed.

Chen Yi, having a martial background, was somewhat better off, though the crowd and noise, along with many scholars present, led to endless chatter, exhausting his words.

Xiao Wan Er, however, was both physically and mentally drained.

Normally, such an occasion would have the old masters of the manor hosting it themselves. But with the household not as bustling as before, and the only male servant, Xiao Wu Ge, still too young, they had no choice but to have this young lady represent the Hou Manor.

Fortunately, since she had taken over the manor’s affairs, her dealings with others had become practiced, and on such occasions, she conducted herself with grace and propriety.

“Tomorrow and the day after, there will still be much to do.”

Xiao Wan Er tallied the tasks, her pale face showing signs of fatigue, and glanced at Chen Yi, “Thank you, husband, for your assistance.”

Chen Yi smiled at her gaze, “Family matters require no courtesy.”

He then looked toward the quiet Spring Lotus Garden.

Strange, Xiao Jing Hong and Pei Wen Li, Xiao Xie Duo, had not returned yet?

Xiao Wan Er noticed his gaze, and explained, “Jing Hong went to the Minister of Civil Affairs’ office; perhaps he’s delayed on business.”

Chen Yi slightly bowed and bid her farewell, then headed straight for the Spring Lotus Garden.

Until he had walked far away, beside him, Shen Hua Tuan spoke up, “Young mistress, it’s chilly at night; you should return to take your medicine.”

Xiao Wan Er lowered her gaze, nodded, and followed him back to the Xiaoying Park.

After a moment, she sighed softly, “Hua Tuan, after the elder’s celebration, have the heads of those few herbal shops come to the manor.”

Shen Hua Tuan bowed, “I’ll notify them first thing in the morning.”

Xiao Wan Er nodded, her eyes slightly glimmering.

Chen Yi, with his talents and abilities, if he could help, she would be pleased.

… Chen Yi was unaware that Xiao Wan Er had already made up her mind. He returned to the wooden pavilion and sat in the study.

After giving it careful thought, he smiled.

“It’s better to eat salty vegetables and not worry.”

“Xiao Jing Hong excels in martial arts, Pei Wen Li harbors poisonous drugs and insects; who would be so blind as to provoke them? That would be inviting disaster.”

In his thoughts, Chen Yi stood up, stretched his limbs, and opened the panel to take a quick look.

One hundred and twenty-three Destiny Points—at long last, it was enough.

Without hesitation, he invested the fortune into Martial Dao: Physique.

As the word Mastery was supplanted by Grandmastery to mark his new realm, a torrent of vast, profound profundities abruptly flooded Chen Yi’s mind.

The muscles, bones, skin, and flesh; the five viscera and six bowels; the limbs and every bone in his frame; even the twelve standard meridians and the eight extraordinary vessels—nothing was left untouched.

The sheer volume of insights regarding the muscles, bones, skin, and flesh alone was more than he could digest in a mere two or three days, to say nothing of the rest.

Chen Yi cast a cursory glance over the sea of knowledge and immediately felt a wave of dizziness wash over him, forcing him to knead his temples and close his eyes to rest his spirit.

The profound insights that came with reaching Grandmastery in Martial Dao: Physique were far more intricate and chaotic than those of the Way of Calligraphy.

It truly ringed true to the old adage: the human body is a vast treasure trove; the deeper one digs, the more it resembles a bottomless abyss.

Aside from those profound revelations, he also sensed a breakthrough opportunity for his Great Spear Stance, a technique that had previously reached an absolute impasse.

Thus, after resting for a short while until his state improved slightly, Chen Yi rose and assumed the Great Spear Stance right there in the study.

An hour later.

Cultivation successful. Technique: Great Spear Stance has broken through to Master level, granting a glimpse into the intent of Martial Dao: Physique.

The moment the stance work attained the Master tier, the vital energy that had been placidly generating within Chen Yi’s body suddenly doubled in volume.

An endless stream gathered toward his Dantian’s sea of energy and the Shanzhong acupoint at his chest, allowing him to channel it further to continue opening the four standard meridians of his arms and legs.

Moreover, the benefits of the breakthrough in stance work extended to the tempering of his physical flesh.

Under the vibrations induced by the stance, his muscles, bones, skin, flesh, and internal organs improved at a speed that far outstripped before.

In the span of nearly ten breaths, he felt his own strength increase by a single pound.

Which meant that for every two hours of practicing the stance, he could gain one hundred and twenty pounds of strength.

Before long.

Chen Yi slowly returned his body to an upright posture, calming and reeling in the vital energy within him.

He clenched his fists and instantly felt his body grow much lighter, his strength significantly greater, and even the mental exhaustion and physical drain from the afternoon were swept entirely away.

Chen Yi turned his head to glance out the window, listening intently for a moment.

Seeing that neither Xiao Jinghong nor Pei Guanli had returned yet, he proceeded to cultivate his remaining techniques.

Though the Mountain-Collapsing Fist, the Hundred-Flower Palm, the Swimming Dragon and Playing Phoenix Movement Technique, and the Meteor Butterfly Steps had all reached perfect Proficiency, he still maintained his daily practice.

Perhaps on some unforeseen day he might experience another sudden enlightenment, allowing him to break through in the arts of fist and foot without expending any Destiny Points.

Though called unremitting diligent practice, Chen Yi in truth only performed each technique a single time.

It took roughly the time to drink a cup of tea.

Immediately following that, he began to practice the newly learned Black Tortoise Breath-Concealing Art.

After reading through the formulas of the Black Tortoise Breath-Concealing Art once, Chen Yi raised his eyebrows slightly.

To think this is actually a set of stance work?

He had originally assumed it would be an internal cultivation mantra.

With that thought, Chen Yi fell into the opening posture—The Black Tortoise Pays Homage to the Moon. With his head tilted toward the heavens and his limbs drawn inward, he began to draw breath in an extremely bizarre posture.

As his breathing gradually grew slow and relaxed, wisps of worldly spiritual aura converged into his body, strengthening his muscles, bones, and skin in a profound manner.

Unlike the Great Spear Stance which comprehensively fortified the physical body and generated vital energy, the Black Tortoise Breath-Concealing Art targeted solely the muscles, bones, skin, and even the body hair.

It allowed him to achieve the effect of concealing his breath by sealing his pores and tightening his muscles, bones, and skin, leaving not a shred of vital energy to leak out.

If practiced to a profound depth, it would not be impossible to disguise himself as an ordinary man completely devoid of cultivation.

A moment later.

Successfully cultivated the technique: Black Tortoise Breath-Concealing Art Earth Grade. Rank: Initiated.

Chen Yi subconsciously followed the profound insights that had newly appeared in his mind to cultivate.

His mind guided the vital energy within his body, refining it to the thickness of a strand of hair, using it to plug the pores of his skin one by one until it fused seamlessly with his tightened muscles, bones, and skin.

Before long, there was no longer a single trace of vital energy leaking from his body.

His entire form remained utterly still, as though he had fallen fast asleep.

...

Xiao Jinghong brought Su Yuezhou back to the Spring Lotus Garden.

In the exceptionally quiet courtyard, the lanterns burned brightly.

Xiao Jinghong looked at the study illuminated by candlelight, listened for a moment, and a touch of suspicion flickered in her eyes beneath her visor.

How did Chen Yi manage to fall asleep in the study?

And where had Pei Guanli and Xiaodie gone?

After a moment of hesitation, Xiao Jinghong chose not to disturb Chen Yi and diverted her steps toward the Jiaxing Court instead.

Upon hearing Xiao Wan’er mention that guests had been entertained tonight and that Chen Yi had consumed some wine, she commanded:

Yuezhou, go prepare some sobering soup. When my husband wakes up, deliver it to him.

Understood, Young Mistress.

Xiao Wan’er also told Shen Huatang to follow along so they could look out for one another.

Once the two had departed.

Sensing that she had something to say, Xiao Jinghong asked: Sister, did something happen in the manor today?

Xiao Wan’er shook her head, saying with a slight hesitation: Nothing happened in the manor. Rather, it is your husband who is about to have things to do.

Ultimately, it was a request from the Second Sister, and she could hardly refuse.

She might as well give it a try.

She only hoped that in the future, he could remain as courteous and proper as he was today.