Chapter Six, Transcendence into Sanctity
In a rather spacious courtyard of the Jiang family villa, there were continuous sounds of collisions, occasionally accompanied by cries. In the very center of the courtyard, a frail figure was relentlessly striking a wooden post with their arms.
In his previous life, he only knew of the first three realms, and he understood that a martial artist reaches the pinnacle when they attain the Saint realm, but he did not have a deep understanding of the complexities within.
The training ground, known as the演武场, is the largest area designated for the warriors of the villa's guard, and adjacent to it are the stables and the armory
Call!
"Hmm, understood, mother!" Jiang Han's voice came from a distance.
"Good." Jiang Han couldn't help but smile: "Is Father coming back tonight?"
Soon, Jiang Han finished eating, wiped his mouth, and said: "Mother, I am going out for a walk"
In these six years, there has been no longer the endless torment of hell, only the caring and loving parents. As the only son of the second master of the villa, he has access to all kinds of fun and delicious things, everything one could wish for
If Jiang Han wishes to go to the library, he must pass through the training ground
That robust middle-aged man is his uncle Jiang Yan, who is also his father's elder brother. He is a powerful warrior at the Martial Sovereign level and serves as the martial arts instructor in the village, responsible for teaching the young individuals with potential for cultivation who have yet to embark on the path of practice
Turning around, Jiang Han walked towards the room
The 9,000-strong Northern Expeditionary Army, with armor as reflective as mirrors, charges forth like the sun and the moon, renowned as the foremost army in Jiangbei
Having spent time in hell, he is more aware of the terrifying means possessed by each of those saints, beings capable of battling on par with deities and immortals
This elder, named Jiang Yangchuan, is of the same generation as his grandfather, Jiang Yangshan. However, according to his father, this sixth grandfather's strength is undoubtedly among the top few in the entire manor, but he is unwilling to manage trivial matters, which is why he has taken on the role of the gatekeeper of the library.
To ascend the mountain, one must first understand the path
It is once again the time of transition from autumn to winter.
Regarding martial arts cultivation, he only attempted to practice during the end of the Dharma era on Earth in his previous life, and in fact, he does not understand much. As for the world in which he was born, it is even more unclear to him
In addition to the three realms of warrior, martial master, and martial ancestor, there are four higher realms: Celestial Origin, True Dan, Transformation of Spirit, and Sage. Jiang Han pondered this.
Hmm, I read "The Chronicles of the Empire" yesterday, and today I will read "The Lives of the Saints of the Empire." Jiang Han picked up another book.
Over the course of several years, Jiang Han has read through a small portion of the books in this library, engaging in both intensive and careful reading, and has indeed gained a preliminary understanding of this realm.
This realm, centered on cultivation, is vast and boundless; even a mortal, exhausting a lifetime, would find it difficult to glimpse even a fraction of it
The seven realms of cultivation include the three realms of Warrior, Martial Master, and Martial Ancestor, which are also referred to as the postnatal stages, traversing the battlefield, representing the power of the mundane.
Jiang Han's father, Jiang Zheng, is a powerful martial artist at the Martial Sovereign level, having undergone the process of cleansing marrow and exchanging blood, and he stands at the pinnacle across the vast expanse of Jiangbei, surveying thousands of miles.
"Han'er, come in and eat something," Qin Wei said with a smile while sitting at the dining table. "Han'er, today mother made your favorite wild boar head meat, give it a try."
Time flows gently, and in the blink of an eye, six years have passed
The day after tomorrow, innate, sage?" Jiang Han continued to observe.
Jiang Han smiled and nodded, no longer disturbing the other person’s sleep
In his previous life, Jiang Han had already understood that talent determines how fast one can go, while effort determines how far one can go
Are you going to the library again? Remember to come back for dinner tonight! Qin Wei said with a smile
In his previous life, Jiang Han, in the underworld, mostly knew only some common knowledge of the underworld and the cultivation knowledge related to the realm of souls
"Ninth Form, Cultivating Qi." A robust man dressed in a black martial arts uniform shouted, "Channeling energy throughout the body, unifying the entire fist, tightening both legs... Mastering this form is the key to cultivating true energy, so give it your all."
The Jiang family is situated in the Great Zhou Empire, which has been established for over 8,000 years, governing a vast territory of nearly one million square miles. Overall, the situation has been relatively stable and peaceful, without large-scale conflicts occurring.
The soldiers who had been following and protecting him nodded slightly. The library was accessible only to members of the Jiang clan, while others were required to present a token or a verbal order to enter.
However, he did not indulge; he merely proceeded quietly according to his own thoughts
A well-fortified mountain fortress has been constructed with a large mountain as its main body, housing over ten thousand people within its walls, and exerting control over ordinary villages in the surrounding area spanning several dozen miles, which can be described as a formidable power that has established its own dominion.
In ancient times, the saints exterminated the celestial immortals and slaughtered the deities from beyond the realms, establishing the endless brilliance of the human race on earth
Over the past six years, Jiang Han has long since discovered that the physical fitness of humanity in this world far exceeds that of Earth in his previous life
The library is a place that houses a large number of books, including many cultivation manuals, which are quite significant, after all, in this world, books are considered very precious
"Sweat more during training, and bleed less in battle. When you join the guard in the future and engage in combat, you will not regret it." The man stepped to the front of the line: "Only by continuously pushing the limits of your body can you hope to condense martial patterns and embark on the path of cultivation."
The teachings of my uncle are indeed commendable, however, my father is the strongest in the villa, yet he never instructs his disciples
After passing through the training ground, Jiang Han arrived in front of a three-story pavilion, which was the library, exuding an air of antiquity and solemnity
Therefore, from the moment she started speaking, Jiang Han had to pull her mother to teach her how to read and write
"Transcending the ordinary and entering the sacred, I must tread the holy path and ascend to the pinnacle." Jiang Han set down the book
The Great Zhou Empire stands firm for long ages due to the presence of such a group of sages
Jiang Han gently withdrew his fist and stood up. He was not currently practicing any true energy techniques; his appropriate strength training was merely to enhance the foundation of his physical body.
In this lifetime, Jiang Han aspires to embark on the sacred path, which naturally requires a deep understanding of it.
These youths, in terms of innate potential, are far more powerful than the human race on Earth in the previous life
... ...
I, of the Jiang family villa, am considered a first-rate power within this flood city, yet I am still far inferior to that Northern Mountain stronghold. Jiang Han pondered: "The Northern Expedition has nine thousand soldiers, their armor pressing down on the great river, truly extraordinary"
A civilization, even when developed to its peak, typically has only tens of thousands of characters, and the commonly used characters generally number only in the thousands
Legend has it that, in a distant land, the histories of certain empires and sects are measured in millennia, their profound heritage surpassing imagination, with magnificent towers and treasures shining like the heavens' celestial halls. Jiang Han thought to himself, unable to suppress a laugh: "I wonder how it compares to the royal palace of the underworld?"
The saint, only the saint
Wait for me outside! Jiang Han instructed
In these six years, he primarily focused on cultivating his spirit and strengthening his soul, while also training the resilience of his body and bones. As for genuine martial arts practice, he has not engaged in it at all.
A personal imperial dynasty stands on the earth, engaged in mutual attacks, and within each empire, there exist various sectarian forces, summarized in four words: chaos and disorder
Beihang Mountain Village is undoubtedly the pinnacle of power in the entire Jiangbei County, without exception. Even ten Jiang clans combined are far inferior to them.
... ...
Walking up the steps, Jiang Han gently pushed open the door of the library. Without hesitation, he selected a book that he had already chosen earlier and began to read at the nearby desk
In recent years, Jiang Han has become very familiar with this set of procedures. As the foremost expert in the manor, every year at this time, his father would lead the martial artists of the manor deep into the mountains, often not returning for a day or even several days.
Although Jiang's Mountain Villa is nominally a villa, in Jiang Han's view, it is not much different from a small fortress
He shook his head and set down the book in his hands
"It has been three days; they should be back soon," Qin Wei said with a smile
The Celestial Origin, True Dan, and Transformation of Spirit are referred to as the Innate Stage. Practitioners at this level far surpass the mundane martial artists of the Acquired Stage, capable of single-handedly facing thousands, which is no myth.
In his previous life, he spent several decades merely beginning his journey of cultivation; such talent is considered exceptional even on Earth
Jiang Hanqing understood that books record the history of a civilization and serve as a driving force for its continuous advancement and development. Whether the world is one of technological civilization or spiritual cultivation, many things one wishes to understand do not require asking others, as books articulate them clearly.
Bang Bang Bang
Martial arts training is not necessarily better the earlier it begins. The bodies of children grow too quickly, and a slight misstep can lead to significant hidden dangers
Qin Wei possesses a high level of cultural literacy. Although she is astonished by her son's performance, she is also very willing to guide him in his studies. With Jiang Han's formidable spirit and exceptional memory, he has mastered the thousands of basic characters of this world in less than a month.
Over the course of six years, Jiang Han devoted himself not only to cultivating his spirit and strengthening his body but also to studying.
In the library, most of the collection consists of works on humanities and history, while genuine texts on cultivation are scarce. However, there are some general knowledge books about certain practitioners, which Jiang Han would read to gain insight into many aspects of cultivation that he was previously unaware of
As soon as Jiang Han stepped out of the gate of Neizhuang, he could see on the large bluestone training ground, which covered an area of several hundred square meters, over a hundred young individuals standing in neat formation, exuding a vigorous spirit as they practiced their martial arts.
From his childhood on the small bed, he began to develop his body's flexibility, and as his body gradually matured, he slowly started strength training.
Jiang Han stood by the wall, slowly observing. He had considerable insights in the realm of the spirit, but when it came to the practice of martial arts, he felt somewhat...
In the study of legal principles, one seeks the true essence contained within the classics
"In a while, it will be time for the grand sacrificial ceremony again." Jiang Han closed the book and said, "I am also six years old now."
Autumn is the time when the number of monsters and wild beasts in the northern mountain range is at its peak. Most of the mountain villages will organize martial artists to enter the mountains for hunting during this period, firstly to capture meat for consumption, and secondly to hunt monsters in preparation for the grand sacrificial ceremony
Above the innate stage lies the realm of the sage. Jiang Han turned another page, feeling a slight warmth in his heart
These youths, each possessing the strength of several hundred pounds in one arm, would undoubtedly be regarded as elite soldiers in terms of physical prowess in a previous life. However, at the Jiang family villa, they do not even qualify to become soldiers.
Jiang Han walked slowly along the road in the inner courtyard
"Xiao Hanzi, here to read again?" The old man opened his eyes and said with a smile, "Go on in, look at whatever you want. If you wish to take any books back, just make a note of it."
As he walked along, Jiang Han soon exited the inner courtyard
... ...
"Grandfather Liu," Jiang Han respectfully addressed a lean old man basking in the sun at the doorway
Jiang Han walked into the dining hall in his backyard, where his mother had already set the table with the dishes.
For Jiang Han, this place is akin to paradise compared to hell
The sunlight streaming through the window onto Jiang Han made him feel very comfortable
The only commendable aspect of the Jiang family, perhaps, is that they have a formidable powerhouse who commands great respect in Jiangbei
In the following years, Jiang Han gradually read books on his own
Only after transcending the ordinary can one enter the realm of the sacred. They completely surpass mortals, possessing incredible power, and are the greatest beings in all of heaven and earth. To confront them cannot be measured by mere numbers.
This slender figure is naturally Jiang Han, who has been in this world for six years