Chapter 004: The Ember God Furnace

Hong Shen's cultivation has reached its conclusion, and he is about to complete his practice. Meanwhile, within Hong Yu, the novice's dharma form has just begun to chant the scriptures. Waves of Buddhist chants transformed into a faint golden mist, flowing through his meridians. In Hong Yu's dreams, the sound of the Buddha's voice grew louder, gradually turning into a torrent, surging back and forth within Hong Yu's meridians

What surprised him the most was that despite seven years of hard work without success, he effortlessly broke through due to that mysterious and overwhelming sense of grandeur and light that had come to him

Hong Shen was still sitting in the bamboo forest, yet Hong Yu did not notice him at all

... ...

Hong Shen vaguely felt that Young Master Yu's changes over the past two days would not return to how they were before. However, the general has been disappointed in Young Master Yu for many years and no longer dares to hold out much hope.

Upon reaching the first level, I turned back to gaze at the vast collection of books, and suddenly a thought emerged in my mind: these texts are of too low a grade, and nothing substantial can be derived from them with a wooden fish or a brick. However, higher-grade texts might yield results. I seem to recall a passage from the "Nine Yin Manual" and the "Nine Yang Manual"; I wonder if I can extract anything from them

He closed the last book, raised his head, and suddenly realized that he had read through an entire building

As for those Buddhist scriptures, he has not examined them in detail. However, after the New Dynasty opened up, Buddhism and Taoism became increasingly prosperous. It is common to find recordings of Buddhist scriptures set to music online. When Hong Yu feels fatigued, he also seeks out some of these to play, and this music is truly effective for relaxing the body and mind

Hong Shen nodded slightly and said, "General, rest assured, I understand."

He relied on the "Starfire Divine Furnace" mental technique for his entire life, yet he experienced two flaws in just one night. This is absolutely fatal; had it been in a life-and-death struggle, he, a dignified third-grade manifestation expert, would have already died twice.

It must be Young Master Yu who is secretly assisting me

However, now he has once again tasted this feeling

A glimmer of understanding arose in Hong Yu's heart: if he continued to cultivate in this manner, perhaps one day his left arm would possess the strength of an ancient magic elephant

As Hong Yu entered this place, he gazed around, and before he knew it, the image of the novice monk within him opened its eyes once again. The skill "Clear Insight" was activated, and throughout this entire level, not a single book could be struck with a wooden fish or a brick to produce anything.

Now, he possesses the characteristics of a novice monk, capable of maintaining focus and concentration, and it should not be difficult for him to fully recall those Buddhist scriptures

Hong Shen also felt that what he had just said was somewhat problematic. After a moment of thought, he continued: "General, I believe that Young Master Yu has either been concealing his strength all along or has recently encountered some fortuitous event"

Hong Shengri, having experienced numerous battles and possessing extensive knowledge, can be simply analyzed as being nearly always accurate.

Just as Hong Shen finally managed to untangle the chaotic martial energy within his meridians and opened his spiritual perception to search for Hong Yu again, Hong Yu's aura suddenly reappeared in his spiritual awareness. At the same time, he felt as if his spiritual perception had connected with something, a vast and magnificent, humble and peaceful sensation surged forth, transmitting into his spiritual awareness.

In the previous life, the internet brought about infinite possibilities. Surprisingly, the legendary supreme martial arts texts "The Nine Yin Manual" and "The Nine Yang Manual" can also be found in electronic versions online! As a fan of martial arts, Hong Yu had once carefully read these two classics and can indeed recall some details.

However, Hong Yu's aura was remarkably stable within his spiritual perception, as if the two mysterious disappearances of Qian and the book had never occurred at all

Hong Shen recounted the process of his breakthrough, and Hong Shengri's brows furrowed in response

Hong Yu glanced at the gate guarded by the iron statue of the divine beast in the military library, shook his head, and said, "I won't go in today; I will read some books over here."

Hong Shen was taken aback, his mind shaken, nearly losing himself in madness

In the era of the Xin Dynasty, what is the value of reciting these ancient texts and poetry, and possessing a solid foundation in traditional Chinese culture? In a restless society overwhelmed by material desires, one can compete in terms of family background, lineage, education, and appearance, yet no one will compete with you in traditional Chinese studies

Hong Shenshou was outside, contemplating. He turned to another third-rank divine guard, Hong Yin, who was watching over the military library, and said, "Please keep an eye on things for a moment; I am going to see the general"

The authenticity of these two books is indeed open to debate

Under the skill of clarity, Hong Yu possesses an exceptional memory. Although it is said that these ordinary martial arts texts cannot produce manifestations or totems, each time he reads a book, a golden thread of light gradually merges into his mind

Hong Shengri pondered for a moment and said, "This matter must be kept strictly confidential, and there should be no external publicity."

Hong Yuchao, a second-rank official, made a slight bow and turned to leave. Hong Shen silently followed behind, without a trace.

Before Hong Shen even entered the door, a gleam of excitement burst forth in Hong Shengri's eyes. He sprang from behind the desk to the doorway, his tiger-like eyes wide with joy as he exclaimed, "Hong Yin, has your realm improved?!"

Before this power was completely concealed, Hong Yu looked up and saw the pillar of the wooden building. This pillar supported the entire weight of the wooden structure, being as thick as a person, and was made from ironwood sourced from the frigid northern forests, its hardness comparable to that of cast iron

Hong Shen's current range of spiritual perception extends to as much as 50 zhang. Within this 50 zhang radius, the sound of Brahman resonates gently, creating a grand and luminous sensation that envelops Hong Shen, making him feel as if he is basking in the warm and gentle sunlight of early spring, leaving him utterly comfortable throughout his entire being

Hong Shen said excitedly: "General, the Hong family has a successor!"

Hong Yin nodded slightly

The family had breakfast together. When Hong Yu arrived at the restaurant, only his elder brother Hong Lie was there. He predicted the expressions of their grandfather and younger sister, then picked up two baskets of buns and escaped amidst his brother's shouts

Within the library, time passed swiftly. With each book that Hong Yu read, a golden thread of light would merge into his mind. Unbeknownst to him, Hong Yu had already finished reading all one thousand volumes across the four floors of the entire building.

The entire process is slow yet solid. Relying on the third-grade mental technique "Starfire Divine Furnace," Hong Shen, who has shown exceptional talent since childhood, has steadily improved step by step. He is now a strong practitioner at the initial stage of the third-grade manifestation. Even Hong Shengri would not simply regard him as a subordinate.

A rolling thunder echoed within Hong Shen's body, yet he remained seated, a gentle smile gracing his face. Slowly, he opened his eyes, only to find them brimming with tears!

Yet the novice monk remained utterly still, regardless of the ancient demonic totem roaring like thunder.

Thus, Hong Shen has advanced to the mid-stage of the third rank of Manifestation, and even Hong Shengri is quite pleased.

The bookshelves are made of camphor wood, which is not only sturdy but also insect-resistant. Only one person can pass between each bookshelf. The collection of a library exceeds ten thousand volumes!

Hong Shen let out a quiet sigh, preparing to conclude his efforts

Hong Yu looked at Hong Lie's back, keenly sensing that his elder brother had something on his mind

Hong Shengri shook his head and said, "Hiding one's strength? Just think about what he has done over the years; that is not hiding strength at all, it is clearly intended to drive this old man to his grave."

Young Master Yu! Hong Shen is already waiting at the door. Hong Yu absentmindedly nodded. Hong Yin went in to check and came out saying: "No problem"

However, Hong Yu was pleasantly surprised to discover that his left arm was becoming increasingly powerful. After the dark golden martial energy circulated nine times, his arm began to emit a faint glow.

Hong Shen's previous cultivation had always gone smoothly, never being delayed in any realm for more than five years. However, he has been stuck in the initial stage of the third rank of Manifestation for seven years now, and to this day, he remains trapped in this realm

However, Hong Yu has a clear understanding: within his meridians, the status of the novice monk's Dharma form still holds supreme

Meanwhile, Hong Yu once again vanished from Hong Shen's spiritual perception

Elder brother

Hong Shen, watching from behind, almost burst into laughter. These two brothers looked so alike, both with their heads down, lost in thought, coming from two different paths and converging at an intersection, nearly bumping their heads together.

In his previous life, Hong Yu did not make use of his cultivation in classical literature until his death. However, he did not expect that being reborn in this life, those things he originally thought he would never use could potentially change his entire life!

A third-rank celestial being wishing to conceal himself could stand right before Hong Yu, and he might not even be able to detect him

He casually discarded the steamer, and if someone picks it up, so be it; if not, it doesn't matter. Compared to the past actions of Young Master Hong Er, casually throwing away two steamers is truly a "benevolent act"

After seven years of entanglement, the third-grade manifestation has finally broken through. He is now at the mid-level of the third-grade manifestation. Although it is just a small rank, reaching the third-grade realm makes every step of advancement extremely challenging.

"Young Master." A timid voice emerged, as a young girl of about thirteen or fourteen stood outside the door. Dressed in a simple blue cloth garment, she lowered her head, with her hands pressed together in front of her, standing respectfully.

Then this feeling quickly took over all of his senses

Outside the military library is the collection area of the Hong family, consisting of three four-story wooden buildings arranged in a square formation. The military library houses precious classics, while the three wooden buildings contain general martial arts classics.

Hong Yu entered the first wooden building, where within the four floors of this library, each level was densely lined with rows of bookshelves.

Hong Yu felt puzzled: Brother, what is going on?

The situation of the Hong family, which is difficult to reverse as the sun sets in the west, is good news for many in the Great Xia Dynasty. The sudden transformation of Hong Yu from a useless second-generation heir into a prodigious talent due to a fortuitous encounter is bound to strongly curb the decline of the Hong family, which is something many do not wish to see

Hong Lie waved his hand without looking back and quickly walked away

Hong Shen wiped away the hot tears from his eyes, slightly sensing the powerful force of the mid-stage Third Grade Manifestation, and then stood up, gracefully arriving outside Hong Yu's door, looking at Hong Yu, who was lying on the bed, with a puzzled expression

He has felt for the past three years that he should have broken through to the mid-stage of the third rank of manifestation, yet three years have passed, and this feeling has accompanied him through every starry night of cultivation, but he has still not achieved the breakthrough

The power in Hong Yu's left arm began to gradually withdraw from the muscles and blood vessels, retreating into the marrow.

Hong Shen found it hard to imagine that his breakthrough came from such a wasteful second-generation rich, a foolish and extravagant young man from m.hetushu.com, who helped him transcend his limits. This kindness was indeed as heavy as a mountain. Hong Shen would never be ungrateful; he just felt it was somewhat unbelievable

Hong Yu inquired, "Elder brother, what is the matter?"

It may be due to that grandeur and brightness that he trusts deeply, completely letting go of his heart and mind

He smiled with satisfaction, arranged a bookshelf to cover the part of the iron rock wood where his fingerprints had been pressed, in order to avoid causing a sensation, and then went downstairs

Originally, Hong Yu's martial arts were merely an illusory edifice built forcibly upon the Sha Mi Dharma and the Ancient Demon Elephant Totem, but now, the foundation is being continuously solidified

In his spiritual perception, Hong Yu remained very quiet, his breath long and steady, sleeping very soundly

Returning to his own courtyard, Hong Yu pondered for a moment and shouted, "Come here!"

As soon as this thought emerged, it grew uncontrollably like wild grass, and he was eager to immediately put it to the test

Unlike the "Nine Yin Manual" and "Nine Yang Manual," the "Tao Te Ching" is indeed a genuine classic that has stood the test of time. Moreover, Hong Yu truly memorized it earnestly in his previous life

He is already prepared; if no one comes today, he will take some actions to give those people a warning

Hong Yu was lost in thought as he walked and nearly bumped into someone without realizing it

Upon arriving at the military library, Hong Shen pretended to be nonchalant, having already arrived ahead of time and waiting outside the door: "Young Master Yu, are you here to read again today"

Once this message is leaked, it will attract a large amount of hostility towards Hong Yu in the short term

The ancient magic elephant totem, lying in deep slumber, turned over and let out a low growl, seemingly expressing its dissatisfaction with Hong Yu's underestimation of the power of the ancient divine beast

Boom boom boom

Hong Yu was unaware of what had transpired in his dreams. The next morning, he got up and called out twice, yet there was still no response from the servants. Hong Yu was not annoyed; he went to the well in the courtyard to fetch water and wash up, and then proceeded to have breakfast

Yes

It is true that in the past, I was not a good person and treated my subordinates poorly. However, I have already indulged them for two days. During these two days, especially on the first day, I was severely injured and yet not a single person attended to me. If this continues, those subordinates will not know their place, and it will indeed be necessary to discuss the family rules with them.

Hong Lie's expression was somewhat gloomy, and he appeared to be preoccupied with thoughts. He nearly collided with Hong Yu and forced a smile, saying: "Second brother, go back and rest well"

He spoke as he turned into a small building nearby

Hong Shen felt the concern of Old Master Hong, and a wave of warmth surged in his heart. He bowed and replied, "Yes, General, this time we truly owe it to Young Master Yu."

Thus, Hong Yu calmed his mind and quietly took out a book to read. His foundation in martial arts was indeed too weak, and he had to make up for many fundamental concepts.

Thinking about the uncertainty regarding the authenticity of these two books, Hong Yu felt a stir in his heart: while the authenticity of these two cannot be determined, there are several books that are undoubtedly genuine, such as the "Diamond Sutra," the "Tao Te Ching," ... the "Shurangama Sutra," and the "I Ching" ...

After listening to it this way for a while, I can remember most of it.

However, if it were not for Hong Yu, it would be impossible to explain what just happened. Although that feeling was mysterious and profound, he was very certain that it originated from Hong Yu; Hong Yu was indeed his great benefactor

Reaching the third rank of manifestation is exceedingly difficult at every step. In addition to accumulating a vast amount of resources, personal effort is also indispensable. However, even if all these aspects are executed perfectly, the instances where one cannot advance still outnumber those where one succeeds by several dozen times.

Hong Yu pondered over these matters, his heart racing, and he walked out in a somewhat distracted state

A pair of enormous ears, resembling an indestructible divine armor, covered his shoulders

Hong Yu pressed his left hand against the pillar, and this hard ironwood easily left a deep palm print

If it were to spread that Hong Yu could assist a third-grade Xiansheng in advancing from the early stage to the mid-stage, those in Wudu who have always looked down upon Hong Yu would likely find it hard to believe, no matter what.

The martial energy surged, and waves of power were increasingly stirred to become grand and formidable. Finally, these immense forces found an outlet and burst forth in a torrent

Regardless of how remarkable the ancient magic elephant totem may be, it remains confined to a small corner, unwilling to unleash the dark golden martial energy from its left arm

The strength of the left arm is rapidly vanishing into the marrow. After about the time it takes to burn a stick of incense, the area to the right of his left arm appears unremarkable. However, with a shift in his mind, Hong Yu can sense a terrifying power, carrying a destructive impulse, ready to erupt from the depths of the marrow!

Hong Shen was also unaware of why he felt no concern at all regarding the situation where his own martial energy was somewhat out of control under external influences

Hong Shen's lips curled into a faint smile. He was unsure whether Hong Yu had been concealing his strength all along or if he had recently encountered some opportunity. However, it did not matter; everyone believed that the Hong family, thought to be in decline, now had a successor!

Hong Yu was immersed in the ocean of books, and his meager and poor foundational knowledge rapidly enriched. He learned that the hidden acupoint of the novice's Dharma form was the Zhongfu acupoint located at the chest, and he understood that the acupoint where the ancient magic elephant totem resided was the Tianquan acupoint on the left arm

As a third-rank divine being, he had long forgotten how long it had been since he experienced the feeling of being "immersed" in something, as he was constantly aware of his spiritual perception being projected outward, always on guard and never allowing himself to relax

Hong Shen remained silent.

... ...

Hong Yu recalled that this was his personal maid, Xiao Ling, who had previously been the most oppressed by him.

This is attributed to his good grandfather, who rigorously made his grandson memorize classical texts from a young age. For this reason, Hong Yu endured considerable hardship.

Hong Shengri's face lit up with joy, but soon turned indifferent again. He shook his head and said, "Even if he has opportunities, it still depends on whether that kid can make something of himself. If he continues like before... the greater the power, the greater the trouble he will cause. Alas"

Within him, the novice monk's dharma state returned to tranquility, eyes closed and head bowed, hands clasped together, remaining motionless for eternity

Hong Xi is the steward beside Hong Yu. According to the current situation of the Hong family, Hong Xi should rank fourth among the many stewards. However, because Hong Yu holds little status within the Hong family, this has also caused Hong Xi, as a steward, to be unable to hold his head high.

However, Hong Shen understood that the "Starfire Divine Furnace" itself is merely a third-grade mental technique, and can at most be cultivated to the peak of the third-grade manifestation. Once one steps into the third-grade manifestation, progress will become exceedingly slow. There is even a saying that "the path of the third grade is boundless"

As one looked closer, a menacing phantom of an ancient demonic elephant's head emerged from the faint glow. Its eyes were blood-red, as if ignited by the hellfire that burns the soul

He thought for a moment that such a little girl would probably find it very difficult to understand what exactly his elder brother had to do with the * picture * book matter, and he waved his hand: "Go and call Hongxi over."

He walked away again, his head lowered and burdened with thoughts

Hong Yu was taken aback himself; he knew that his left arm possessed incredible strength, but he did not expect it to be so astonishing! It was simply extraordinary!

The Arhat manifestation remained steadfast and unmoving, yet Hong Yu sensed that it was somewhat different from before. The vast foundation of martial arts knowledge had brought about a certain change in this Arhat manifestation, though Hong Yu had yet to realize it.

Walking while eating, Hong Yu has recently had a particularly good appetite. The buns are the size of a fist, with eight in a steamer. He finished them all in one go, patted his belly, and felt he could still fit in two bowls of congee. However, after some thought, he decided against it, knowing that his grandfather would surely scold him, and his little sister might insist he compensate her for the Dirong dragon horse.

The robust and powerful trunk of the elephant, along with the curved, blade-like tusks, wraps around the arm as if it were a massive tattoo

At this moment, Hong Shen suddenly realized that that feeling had swiftly receded from his spiritual awareness, leaving no trace behind.

Nonsense! Hong Shengri laughed and scolded, "Don't you know what level that little beast is? What ability does he have to assist a third-rank Xiansheng?"

Hong Yu did not even turn his body once, still lying there quietly.

Under the clear effect of a skill, Sun Li began to perceive things at an increasingly rapid pace, as strands of golden light seamlessly merged into his mind from the center of his brow without his awareness

At the very moment this thought emerged, the ancient magic elephant totem within the Heavenly Spring Cavern roared towards the sky, and a powerful dark golden energy suddenly erupted, swiftly coursing through the meridians of the left arm

He touched the brick in his arms, feeling a slight sense of regret, yet not disappointed—this was, after all, something he had anticipated.

Old Master Hong specifically sent someone to deliver a message today, which is why all the servants around Hong Yu have arrived and do not dare to be negligent. After a short while, Hong Xi came: "Young Master, you called for me"

And this grandeur and brilliance surged within his spiritual awareness, subsequently driving the martial energy throughout his body, roaring through the meridians, with each wave rising higher than the last

Three libraries, containing a total of thirty thousand volumes. This is an astonishing number throughout the entire Qingyuan Continent. Hong Yu is well aware that this world is not like his previous life, where a simple USB drive could store hundreds of thousands of e-books. Even the sacred site of the Confucian school, Liling Academy, has a collection of only one hundred thousand volumes. This collection, known as the "Sea of Pine Waves," is the pride of all the entry-level disciples of Liling Academy and the entire Great Xia Dynasty.

On the Hongxi beach, there is such a useless and irritable master, unable to voice any complaints, while the frustration and dissatisfaction in his heart extend from his throat all the way to the very core of his being

Hong Shengri continued, "It is likely that he has had some extraordinary experience recently, probably related to the last injury he sustained. This extraordinary experience is quite remarkable; it may have assisted you once, even without his awareness."

Hong Shengri was taken aback: "What does it have to do with him?"

Tonight is once again like this, the beautiful starlight brings a vast amount of energy, transforming into the highest quality martial energy. That restless feeling of a breakthrough has been ever-present, yet there has been no breakthrough

After nine cycles, the ancient magic elephant totem gradually quieted down, letting out a somewhat dissatisfied roar, its body shrank, and it fell into a deep sleep