Chapter 2: The Complete Secret Classic of Quanzhen
This realm is relatively difficult to attain; it is nearly impossible for a martial artist who does not possess internal martial arts techniques and cannot cultivate internal energy to reach the Blood Condensation stage
Li Jing smiled and said: "Even if I become the steward, I would merely be a servant of the Li family. Perhaps I might truly uncover some extraordinary divine skill from the secret box and rise to prominence."
In the world of the Great Jianghu, martial arts flourished, but a cataclysm occurred ten thousand years ago, resulting in natural disasters that led to the destruction of countless martial arts sects in this apocalyptic era
The swordsmanship of the Azure Dragon concealed within the sleeve emphasizes the technique of hiding the blade. The shape of the sword is concealed within the sleeve, while the intent of the sword is hidden within the body. When the sword is drawn, it is as if the Azure Dragon is emerging from the sea, exuding an immeasurable might
This so-called secret box is also a significant feature of the vast world of Jianghu
As Chu Xiu's words fell, several servants behind him immediately surrounded, their eyes fixed on Li Jing with a predatory gaze
Thinking of this, Chu Xiu also secretly felt fortunate, realizing that he had arrived just in time. He only knew that such an event was taking place, but he was unaware of the exact timing. If he had arrived even a moment later, the opportunity would have been lost.
This martial art is not an internal skill, but rather a peculiar sword technique known as "Sleeve Dragon"
The Secret Classics of the Daoist School, "Xiantian Gong"
Thus, after the great calamity of ancient times, the survivors excavated countless sect relics and discovered a large number of such secret boxes among them
If he remembers correctly, it was around this time that a servant-born individual purchased an ordinary secret box in Yuanbao Town, only to discover that it contained an exceptionally powerful cultivation technique
Tongzhou Prefecture is a major city in Wei County, and the Li family is one of the three prominent families in Tongzhou Prefecture
The internal skill primarily practiced by the Chu family is the Hanhai Heart Method. As for other martial arts techniques, they are not particularly strong; they consist of some ordinary martial skills, including various forms of fist, foot, palm techniques, as well as weapons such as knives, guns, and staffs. The choice of which to practice is entirely based on personal preference
The core of the secret box lies in its formation, which can be used to reinforce and seal the secret box, greatly enhancing its effectiveness; unfortunately, it has now been lost to time
The foundational principles of Taoist practices are of utmost importance, embodying a sense of balance and harmony. Although this innate skill may seem unremarkable at first glance, it is rated as a four-turn technique in the original storyline's assessment of martial arts.
The techniques of the first three transformations can essentially be regarded as the inherited practices of a small sect, while the ordinary people of the martial world can only be considered to be practicing basic martial arts, not even qualifying for the first transformation techniques.
Ordinary people would certainly be pleased to buy from the secret box shopkeeper, but upon seeing this young man, he shook his head and said: "Li Jing, all the hard-earned money you made working for the Li family in Tongzhou has been thrown into this secret box. Heed my advice, this is not something you can play with. You are clever, and in just a few years at the Li family, you have already caught the attention of Young Master Li San, who granted you the surname Li and promoted you from the kitchen to the merchant team. It would be much better for you to use this money to cultivate relationships with some of the Li family's managers; who knows, you might even become a manager in the future."
Currently, Chu Xiu's situation is quite similar to that of Li Jing back then. Although he hails from the Chu family, he did not have dedicated instructors during his childhood, and he had virtually no elixirs available for foundational cultivation. As a result, his foundation is exceptionally poor.
Individuals possess varying strengths, and so do martial arts techniques. Although the effectiveness of a technique is related to the practitioner, there are exceptional talents who can dominate the martial world even with inferior techniques; however, such cases are rare. Therefore, the martial world generally categorizes techniques into several levels.
The martial arts technique of the Middle Three Transformations is considered a treasure throughout the entire martial world, and possessing it could establish a new sect.
There are a total of 9 transformations in the normal practice, with the first transformation being the lowest and the ninth transformation being the highest
However, upon opening it, there was an ancient jade piece inside, emanating a faint warm light
Ninety-nine percent of the martial artists in the Jianghu are at the Body Refinement stage, as this stage is the simplest. Some individuals may not even practice internal skills; they can reach the Body Refinement stage merely by cultivating some superficial external hard techniques.
The size and shape of the secret box are arbitrary, as the formation remains the same. The dimensions and form of the secret box are entirely determined by what the sect intended to store in it when it was originally crafted.
Chu Xiu looked at him and coldly said: "You previously claimed that you did not want to be a servant for life, yet when the moment arrives, you still resort to using the Li family to assert your authority? You, a mere servant, think you can use the Li family to pressure me? Utterly absurd!"
This is it
As for the techniques of the latter three transformations, they are primarily held by certain major sects in the martial world, with very few in the hands of individuals
Li Jing furrowed his brow and said, "This young master, I was the one who expressed the intention to purchase first."
Thus, he could only watch helplessly as Chu Xiu took away all those more than ten secret boxes from the shop. For some reason, in addition to feeling humiliated, he felt even more heartbroken, as if something important had been taken away from him.
Since this secret box is only used for storing items, the method to open the box is quite simple. By dropping blood onto the box, the formation will naturally be unlocked
In ancient times, some powerful individuals, in order to better preserve their techniques, chose not to write them on paper. Instead, they engraved their mental imprints onto high-quality jade stones, ensuring that, barring any unforeseen circumstances, these imprints would remain intact for millions of years
Gazing at the remaining secret box before him, Chu Xiu also opened it, only to unexpectedly discover a martial art technique that had not appeared in the original storyline. Of course, it is also possible that it had appeared, but Chu Xiu was unaware of it
Moreover, listening to Li Jing's words, it is evident that the other party is indeed someone who is unwilling to settle for mediocrity. Otherwise, a good-for-nothing without ambition would not be able to reach that level even if they possessed extraordinary skills. The likely outcome would be that they end up being killed, and their skills taken away.
Some have opened the secret box and discovered unparalleled skills, while others have found rare and precious treasures
Chu Xiu has just arrived in this world, and what he urgently needs now is a sufficiently powerful martial art.
He gained the favor of the third son of the Li family, which is why he learned martial arts, but after all, he is a servant, and the skills he learned are merely superficial. His strength is only at the Body Refinement stage, so it is natural that he cannot contend against so many opponents with just a few.
With a heart full of excitement, Chu Xiu grasped the jade slip, and suddenly, large passages of text surged into his mind
Experienced individuals can analyze the material, size, shape, and even the decorative patterns on the secret box to determine its origin and the contents within. Of course, most people still rely on luck.
Above the Nine Transformations, there are two additional levels, one of which is the Supreme Technique. Acquiring it allows one to dominate the martial world and become the supreme being of the martial arts realm
The innate skill acquired by Chu Xiu is a branch of the Daoist lineage from ancient times, a transmission of the Complete Reality School. It cultivates innate true energy, wards off ailments, balances the void and the solid, nurtures the foundation, and ensures the true energy flows ceaselessly
The Chu family, as a prominent clan in Tongzhou Prefecture, naturally possesses a lineage of martial arts, known as the "Han Hai Heart Method." Upon reaching mastery, one’s foundation becomes solid, and internal energy is as powerful as the vast sea.
A trace of anger appeared on Li Jing's face, and he coldly snorted, "Does this young master think that I, Li Jing, am just a servant who can be easily bullied? I am a member of the Li family from Tongzhou Prefecture!"
This innate ability has been evaluated by later generations as the Four Transformations, and it is naturally reasonable to consider it as a foundational practice for establishing a school of thought
There are a total of 17 secret boxes. Chu Xiu opened 8 of them in succession, but 7 were empty. One of them contained a book that had long since decayed and was not a martial arts manual; it merely recorded the details of a sect's assets and was of no use.
Just as the shopkeeper called out the name of Li Jing, Chu Xiu immediately thought of his identity
Before the onset of the great calamity, a grand master of the sect developed an item known as the Secret Box, designed to store the sect's treasures, scriptures, and other valuable items, in order to protect them from damage during natural disasters
In the original storyline, Li Jing obtained the innate skill, but his age was already considerable, having passed the optimal stage for martial arts training. It was precisely because of the innate skill that he could rebuild his foundation, advancing in realm at an astonishing pace, even surpassing the foundational strength of those disciples from noble families who had practiced martial arts since childhood.
To embark on the path of martial arts, one must first undergo the three stages of body refinement
Above the Forging Body Realm is the Blood Condensation Realm. This realm is achieved from the outside in; after refining the muscles and bones, one then condenses their own vital energy and blood, transforming the thin vital energy and blood into a thick consistency. Ultimately, it should even resemble the density of lead and mercury, which signifies the completion of the Blood Condensation Realm.
After Chu Xiu left, Li Jing gritted his teeth in anger, this matter is far from over
Chu Xiu's martial arts are merely at the beginner level. Apart from the well-known techniques from the original storyline, he cannot discern the quality of the other techniques even if they are presented before him. However, from his current perspective, this Sleeve Dragon is significantly superior to the ordinary first-tier martial skills passed down in the Chu family, and it should at least be of the second tier.
In addition to these levels, there are some extraordinary skills in the martial world that cannot be measured by rank. Some individuals may have weak cultivation, while others may be very strong despite their training. Furthermore, certain extraordinary skills possess peculiar effects that cannot be simply quantified by their power
At the moment when Chu Xiu opened the secret box, Li Jing, unwilling to accept that Chu Xiu had taken something from him, also went to another inn in Yuanbao Town to seek support.
The material of the secret box can be arbitrary; it can be made of gold, iron, stone, or even wood. In any case, the stronger the material of the secret box, the greater the power that the formation can exert
Although the depth of this sleeve dragon technique from Chu Xiu cannot be discerned, it is certainly far superior to the rudimentary sword techniques of the Chu family
In this way, the contents of the secret box are both good and bad, and due to the peculiar nature of the formation, no one in the current martial world can probe into the internal situation from the outside. Therefore, purchasing the secret box relies entirely on one's own experience and luck
In front of the prime minister, a seventh-rank official, although he is merely a servant of the Li family, some small, declining families truly cannot compare to him. In fact, members of certain minor families even have to bow and scrape before the steward of the Li family.
The empty secret boxes are all pre-prepared by those sects, with the formations already inscribed, allowing for items to be placed in at any time. The exterior is virtually indistinguishable from those secret boxes that contain items.
He has been with the Li family for so many years. Although he is merely a servant, he is under the patronage of Young Master Li San, and he has made connections with quite a few influential figures
Until Chu Xiu opened the ninth secret box, the box was made of brown stone, only the size of a palm, and had no decorative patterns on it, appearing quite casual
Chu Xiu asked the shopkeeper, "Is yours the only store in Yuanbao Town that sells secret boxes?"
However, with this innate skill, Chu Xiu can compensate for this shortcoming, and even allow his martial arts journey to start at a level higher than that of other martial artists of the same rank.
After the carriage arrived at Yuanbao Town, Chu Xiu arranged the inn and then took Yue'er along with a dozen servants from the Chu family to stroll around Yuanbao Town
He is the warrior who once obtained great fortune from Yuanbao Town, born a servant, yet he relied on the divine skills unlocked from the secret box to dominate the martial world and become a regional overlord
There is also an unparalleled skill, as its name suggests, it is unmatched in its time and unique in the world, a legendary existence
The shop selling secret boxes in this small town is quite small, with only a dozen or so modestly sized secret boxes displayed in front of the table. The shapes and materials of these boxes vary, but their only common feature is that they all appear very cheap, made from ordinary gold, iron, and stone. This is why they are sold in a small town like Yuanbao Town.
Yuanbao Town is merely a small town, yet it is quite prosperous, as the surrounding roads provide quick access to several prefectures in the northern part of Weijun, attracting a large number of merchants.
Indeed, there are many legends in the world of martial arts. Some individuals have discovered treasures from seemingly unremarkable secret boxes, but such occurrences remain rare. More often than not, money is wasted in vain, with the odds being pitifully low.
Once this secret box is opened, it will be completely rendered useless due to the loss of the sealing formation, making it impossible to continue using it. This also eliminates any thoughts of individuals attempting to take advantage of an empty secret box.
That blade is the Azure Dragon, and the sleeves of the garment conceal the vast ocean of the Azure Dragon. The entire sword technique is remarkably simple, and its essence lies solely in the moment when the Azure Dragon emerges from the sea, delivering the most powerful strike.
Chu Xiu glanced at him and said, "Now that I say I want it all, do you have any objections?"
Upon hearing the shopkeeper's words, a glimmer of brilliance involuntarily appeared in Chu Xiu's eyes
The shopkeeper did not even lift his head, merely lazily nodding as he said: "Of course, there is only my shop. Even if the secret box is of the lowest quality, it still costs at least 10 taels of silver to purchase one. Ninety-nine percent of the people coming to this Yuanbao Town are those who escort goods, a bunch of poor souls! They can hardly earn 10 taels of silver from a single escort trip, so how could they possibly be willing to part with 10 taels of silver to gamble on luck?"
At this time, after obtaining the secret box, Chu Xiu returned to the inn, drove everyone out, and examined each of the secret boxes one by one
However, he himself sells secret boxes, and seeing that Li Jing is also a pitiful person, he only reminded him a couple of times. But since the other party insists on buying, can he refuse to sell?
It is precisely through this martial art that the individual traversed the rivers and lakes, establishing a significant reputation, and even founded a considerable sect, becoming a master who established a school.
Just as he was about to take the secret box, Chu Xiu suddenly said: "Wait a moment, shopkeeper, I want all of these secret boxes."
Certainly, not all secret boxes contain treasures; most of the secret boxes are either empty or filled with useless items
There are also some items in the secret boxes that hold significant meaning for martial artists, yet are of little actual value, such as a sword used by a certain strong individual in their youth, or a handkerchief gifted by a beloved.
The characteristics of the Daoist cultivation methods in nurturing the foundation are brought to perfection by the Innate Skill. Generally, martial artists need to establish a solid foundation from a young age; the older one gets, the slower the progress becomes. However, the Innate Skill is different; it can rapidly refine the martial artist's body, allowing for the reestablishment of the foundation regardless of age.
Chu Xiu looked around, while the moon appeared somewhat bored. Tongzhou Prefecture is a major city in Wei County, much more prosperous than this small town. What is there to see here?
At that moment, the shopkeeper raised his head and saw the brocade robe worn by Chu Xiu, accompanied by maidservants and attendants. A hint of a fawning smile appeared on his plump face as he said, "Those poor wretches cannot afford the secret boxes, but surely the young master can. These secret boxes were found in the ruins of the Southern Barbarian Mountains a year ago, and the prices are absolutely reasonable and fair"
At that moment, Chu Xiu suddenly discovered something and walked straight to a shop selling secret boxes.
The first step of the Three Realms of Body Refinement is to temper the muscles and bones, and this level of realm is known as the Body Tempering Realm, which refines the physical body, strengthens the muscles and bones, and enhances extraordinary strength
However, as a庶子, Chu Xiu was not valued since childhood, lacking resources such as elixirs and guidance from elders in the clan. As a result, after many years of cultivation, he could barely manage to enter the basics of this martial art, and his martial arts cultivation was pitifully low, having not even stepped into the凝血境.
The shopkeeper shook his head, stating that it is not so easy to master an unparalleled skill
Just as Chu Xiu was contemplating these matters, a young man of unremarkable appearance walked in and said: "Shopkeeper, bring me two secret boxes"