Chapter 0004: The Mysterious Sarcophagus

Only Du Shaofu himself is most aware that the mysterious technique within the stone tablet not only allows for the restoration of his martial veins but also enables the cultivation of profound energy. More importantly, although this is merely a single technique, it encompasses everything, is infinitely variable, extraordinarily marvelous, and quite domineering

In this world, the realm of martial practitioners is divided into acquired warriors and innate warriors. Only by stepping into the innate level can one be considered a true martial artist. However, the vast majority of people may spend their entire lives lingering at the acquired level, unable to step into the innate. This illustrates that even for those who are able to cultivate, reaching the innate level is not something that just anyone can achieve

Although that technique can repair the meridians and allow the cultivation of profound energy within the body, it is ultimately not a martial art and cannot grant him a level of cultivation.

Who knows that a bolt of thunder struck the stone tablet, leaving the tablet unharmed, yet that very bolt of thunder seemed to transfer through the tablet and struck Du Shaofu instead

As the words fell, Du Tingxuan, in a drunken state, had already staggered out of the courtyard, leaving Du Shaofu standing quietly alone in the courtyard

In other words, Du Shaofu currently possesses profound energy, but to be precise, he cannot even be considered a first-level acquired martial artist.

Du Shaofu pondered in his heart that the mysterious technique following the first style was beyond his understanding, making it impossible to determine how to cultivate it. Therefore, for the time being, he could only focus on cultivating a set of skills to elevate his realm.

Although it is a transparent existence, the place where Du Shaofu resides is quite nice, featuring an exceptionally spacious courtyard. Such expansive courtyards are rare in the entire Du family, and only a few esteemed elders of the Du family are qualified to live in one.

After making a decision in his heart, and with nothing much to do each day, Du Shaofu's handprints solidified, his eyes slightly closed, and he began to enter a state of comprehension

The numerous cracks, akin to the intricate meridians within the human body, are profoundly mysterious and extraordinarily wondrous, ultimately leading to the comprehension and cultivation of that enigmatic technique.

Without boundaries, that mysterious technique can possess such power. Once the realm is elevated, that mysterious technique will undoubtedly become even more formidable, which makes Du Shaofu feel quite hopeful.

Du Tingxuan woke up in a daze, raising his hand to rub his sleepy eyes. He sat up from the rattan chair, and as he spoke, a strong smell of alcohol wafted from his mouth. He was slightly taller than Du Shaofu, yet equally slender. From beneath his disheveled hair, one could faintly see that if it weren't for the overwhelming stench of alcohol, his face would indeed appear quite spirited.

In the early morning, all was silent, and a faint light appeared on the eastern horizon, cautiously permeating the pale blue sky. The first rays of sunlight pierced through the darkness before dawn, crossing over mountains and traversing oceans, ultimately enveloping the stone city.

Du Shaofu also regained consciousness, opening his eyes, yet before him was a pitch-black void. However, his entire body felt incredibly light, as if he had undergone a cleansing of his marrow and a purging of his veins, an indescribable comfort enveloping him

Continue to comprehend that mysterious form

Father, how come you are drunk here again

However, Du Shaofu is currently facing a rather awkward situation; he possesses abundant mysterious energy within him, yet he lacks any cultivation level.

The martial veins have recovered somewhat. Since I am now able to cultivate, I should go to the Cangwu Building tomorrow to find a set of techniques for training

From the moment he could remember, Du Shaofu recalled that the wine flask was an item his father never parted with, while his mother was entirely a stranger to him, with no memories associated with her

Du Shaofu diagnosed that the martial vein was a wasted vein, a wasted martial vein without any rank, which can be said to be fundamentally incapable of achieving any success in the path of martial arts; practicing some rudimentary skills would be sufficient for merely strengthening the body.

In the room, as he gained insight, Du Shaofu gradually entered a state of self-forgetfulness...

A hint of a smile appeared in Du Shaofu's clear eyes. What he had just employed in the arena was precisely a technique he had comprehended from that ancient stone tablet over the past decade. However, he had only exerted a slight amount of force, which made him even more astonished by the mysterious technique.

Du Shaofu was immersed in that understanding, just like a fish entering the vast ocean, boundless and without an exit

In the room, Du Shaofu sat cross-legged, his hands forming seals, and a surge of mysterious energy immediately emanated from his body. Within his palms, it was as if secret runes were about to burst forth. He murmured softly, "This mysterious technique is indeed not weak; fortunately, I only used it slightly."

That mysterious move allowed Du Shaofu to see hope from the depths of despair, realizing that this move could actually repair the martial veins, enabling those with damaged martial veins to cultivate.

In fact, Du Shaofu is often overlooked by the people of the Du family, including servants and guards, who do not acknowledge the existence of this young master of the Du family. Over the years, Du Shaofu has been a transparent presence within the entire Du family.

Three days later, Du Shaofu finally awakened. During the three days of his coma, he had actually entered a wondrous state of enlightenment. When the bolt of lightning struck, a series of mysterious symbols and secret patterns from an ancient stele also appeared in his mind along with the thunder.

At first, Du Shaofu did not know what those mysterious talismans and secret patterns were. However, as he experienced that wondrous state, he felt as if he had gained enlightenment. Ultimately, he discovered that it was indeed a powerful technique, specifically designed for those with broken meridians.

It is likely that many people were merely outside the door to watch the commotion, thus Du Shaofu did not encounter anyone along the way in the Du residence and directly returned to the courtyard where he lived

Ten years ago, it was discovered that he bore the burden of a waste pulse, making it fundamentally impossible for him to achieve anything on the path of martial arts. This was something that Du Shaofu could not accept from the depths of his heart. In the midst of a storm, he rushed out of the Du family and arrived before the stone tablet, wanting to vent his feelings.

Du Shaofu arrived once again at the stone tablet. The cracks on the stone tablet, in Du Shaofu's eyes, were no longer mere fissures, but rather secret patterns related to the human body.

Shaofu, have you returned? Are you hungry? Go to the kitchen and find something to eat

For sixteen years, Du Shaofu's most vivid memory of his father, Du Tingxuan, is of him often holding a wine jug in the courtyard, gazing at the sky, the aroma of alcohol filling the air, and then falling into a drunken sleep.

Du Shaofu's ability to reside in such a courtyard is indeed due to the influence of his father. If it were not for the fact that his father is the third brother of the current head of the Du family, he likely would not have enjoyed this treatment over the years. Merely relying on the title of 'foolish young master' would not have entitled him to live in this courtyard.

Although he has never been able to cultivate, Du Shaofu, born into a family of martial artists, has not wasted time over the years. He is quite aware of his current situation. The levels of acquired martial artists are divided into nine stages, but with the profound energy he possesses and the mysterious intricacies of that enigmatic technique, he is likely not to have any issues when facing those at the eighth or ninth stages of the acquired level.

Du Shaofu stepped forward to assist his father, but was stopped by the now standing Du Tingxuan, who shook the wine flask in his hand and said with a smile: "No need, there is no wine left. I will go out to buy some wine."

Although a decade has passed, yielding some progress in the understanding of the first form contained within that ancient stele, Du Shaofu is also aware that his grasp of that mysterious form is still merely superficial, and he has yet to attain a perfect level of comprehension

Du Shaofu arrived in the courtyard, where a familiar drunken man was soundly asleep in a rattan armchair, clutching a gourd wine flask tightly in his arms.

Du Shaofu walked over and looked at the drunkard whose face was obscured by disheveled hair, a look of heartache welling up in his clear eyes

After a full decade, Du Shaofu finally comprehended that mysterious first form, and from this understanding, he realized that this mysterious first form should not be the only one; there should indeed be a second form and a third form following it. However, within the ancient stone tablet of the Du family, there was only the first form.

The martial veins are divided into nine ranks, from one to nine, with rank one being the lowest and rank nine the highest. The higher the rank of the martial vein, the greater the achievements one naturally attains on the path of martial cultivation. This has been an unchanging rule in this world for countless years, as well as an undeniable fact

It seemed that he had long since become accustomed to it. Du Shaofu reached out and pushed upward, and a sound of stone slabs rubbing against each other echoed. Then, a stone lid slid open, and Du Shaofu stood up, now appearing within a stone coffin.

Father, I am not hungry. Let me help you to your room to rest.

After standing quietly for a while, Du Shaofu went to the hall to get a drink of water and then directly returned to his room

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