Chapter 52: An Unexpected Delight, The Nine Revolutions Profound Art Mistranslated
Chapter 52: An Unexpected Delight, The Nine Revolutions Profound Art Mistranslated
Listening to Gu Li’s description, Chen Changsheng gave a slow nod.
“It is indeed a profound artifact, a pity it has been lost to the river of time.”
“Since your ancestral methods cannot bury the Thunder Beast, you shall attempt mine.”
“The Wu Clan possesses a dense foundation of Blood-Qi and heavy bones, inherently suited for the path of external body tempering.”
“Take these two ancient scriptures. Temper your clansmen’s flesh before we calculate our next move.”
“You will likely fail to grasp the runes I have etched here. I have already imparted their truths to A-Man; seek her counsel for the specifics.”
Accepting the bark from Chen Changsheng, Clan Leader Gu Li’s wrinkled face split into a reverent, joyous grin.
“Boundless gratitude, God Messenger. We will not fail your decree.”
Gripping the heavy scriptures, Gu Li bowed and departed.
With the clan leader gone, Chen Changsheng retreated from the bustling settlement, seeking out a silent clearing to comprehend the Nine Revolutions Profound Art.
In the past, the bitter cycle of cultivation held no appeal to him; an Undertaker had little need for slaughter.
Yet, with the shadow of a violent funeral looming, Chen Changsheng naturally required a “slight” tempering of his martial foundation.
…
“The logic is fractured!”
“Why does the Qi of this Nine Revolutions Profound Art refuse to circulate?”
Staring at the golden page containing the Nine Revolutions Profound Art, a rare knot of confusion tightened in Chen Changsheng’s mind.
Zuo Xinghe had gifted him the translated first half of the Nine Revolutions Profound Art long ago.
Relying upon that partial translation, Chen Changsheng had reverse-engineered the complete text.
Yet, upon deciphering the full scripture, the path of cultivation became a dead end.
Thumbing the heavy golden page over and over, Chen Changsheng searched the cosmic scars for his error.
Just then, A’Li poked his head through the foliage and approached.
“God Messenger, what are you deciphering?”
Sweeping a glance over the earnest youth, Chen Changsheng replied coldly, “Merely comprehending an ancient text. Why have you sought me out?”
With a flick of his wrist, he casually tossed the golden page onto the dirt.
The runes etched upon it were unfathomable; he held no fear of A’Li stealing the legacy.
Hearing the dismissal, a flush crept up A’Li’s neck as he nervously rubbed his hands together.
“God Messenger, your might shakes the Heavens. I wish to bow to you as my master.”
“Bury that thought. I do not accept disciples. The two ancient scrolls I handed Clan Leader Gu Li possess a heavy foundation.”
“Temper your flesh diligently with those, and your martial path will not end prematurely.”
Struck by such a blunt rejection, a heavy disappointment clouded A’Li’s eyes.
However, as he turned to leave, his gaze fell upon the discarded golden page, and he casually muttered a string of words.
“The God Messenger truly walks a terrifying path. Just the name of this Eight-Nine Mysterious Art sounds like it holds world-shattering might.”
“Halt!”
A’Li had merely spoken to ease the awkward silence, yet Chen Changsheng froze, his usual detachment shattering as he called the boy back.
“God Messenger, did I commit an offense?”
“Repeat your words. Eight-Nine what?”
“The Eight-Nine Mysterious Art!”
Hearing the boy casually pronounce a title both foreign and profound, Chen Changsheng snatched the golden page from the dirt.
“You can decipher these cosmic scars?”
“Why wouldn’t I? Among the young blood of the tribe, I know the most ancient characters.”
“That is not my question. How are you able to read this specific scripture?”
“God Messenger, are you unwell? This is the ancestral script of the Wu Clan. Of course I recognize it.”
The sheer absurdity of the revelation struck Chen Changsheng silent. The karma at play here was unbelievably dense.
He had indeed absorbed the Wu Clan’s spoken dialect from A-Man, yet he had never laid eyes upon their written word.
Moreover, while he had gleaned fragments of their dialect from rotting ancient scrolls…
Those scrolls had merely noted it as a primordial tongue, recording nothing but phonetic syllables.
He had never encountered the physical runes of the Wu Clan.
Consequently, he had formed a subconscious assumption: the Wu Clan possessed no written language, relying solely on oral tradition to pass down their Dao.
In the savage wilderness, such a barbaric lack of scripture was entirely commonplace.
A violent twitch seized the corner of Chen Changsheng’s mouth. He beckoned the youth closer.
“A’Li, sit. Translate every stroke upon this page for me.”
Thrilled to finally serve the God Messenger, A’Li eagerly obliged.
In the span of a burning incense stick, A’Li had deciphered the entire text.
Digesting A’Li’s translation, Chen Changsheng fiercely rolled his eyes.
Crowned as the second most profound technique in the Xuanwu Kingdom, the Nine Revolutions Profound Art had eluded mastery for thousands of winters. Even when practiced, its might always fell pitifully short of the legends.
The truth of this historical failure was finally laid bare.
The ancient founders of the Xuanwu Kingdom had botched the translation from the very first stroke.
Translating the “Eight-Nine Mysterious Art” into the “Nine Revolutions Profound Art” meant they failed to grasp two of the four title characters alone. It was no wonder the entire scripture had mutated into a dead path.
Cursing the incompetence of the Xuanwu ancestors in his heart, Chen Changsheng fixed his heavy gaze upon the youth.
“A’Li, it appears the Heavens have dropped a Fated Chance directly into your lap.”
“Since you unlocked the Eight-Nine Mysterious Art, I shall bestow this inheritance upon you.”
Overwhelmed by the weight of this blessing, A’Li instantly moved to slam his knees into the dirt and kowtow.
A rigid wall of Heaven and Earth Aura caught his knees, stopping the gesture.
“Do not mistake my intent. Granting you this technique honors your Fated Chance; it does not bridge the gap of master and disciple.”
“Furthermore, once you absorb the Eight-Nine Mysterious Art, you must bury its existence within your marrow. Speak of it to no one, not even your own blood.”
“The karma attached to this scripture is unimaginably heavy. A careless whisper will drag the entire Wu Clan into a bloody grave.”
Recognizing the fatal weight of the warning, A’Li offered a solemn nod. “God Messenger, my lips are sealed.”
“Excellent. Also, abandon the title of God Messenger. Address me as Sir.”
“Understood, Sir.”
With the pact sealed, Chen Changsheng began laying down the foundational laws of cultivation for the youth.
The Eight-Nine Mysterious Art was an apex scripture. Without tempering a vessel to hold the Qi, A’Li’s mortal flesh would simply shatter upon attempting it.
…
Two hours trickled by, and Chen Changsheng finished carving the basic truths of Qi Condensation into A’Li’s mind.
“We halt here for today.”
“Return to your dwelling and digest these laws.”
“A’Li will not forget.”
Once the boy vanished into the brush, Chen Changsheng raised the golden page of the Eight-Nine Mysterious Art to the light.
“I believed you to be a mere external tempering manual. The Heavens have played a grand trick.”
“The absolute extreme of Yin is eight. The absolute pinnacle of Yang is nine. Eight multiplied by nine begets seventy-two—the paramount number of the Dao.”
“Upon completing the nine cycles, the mortal Yin is entirely stripped from the bones, laying bare the innate, primordial Yang.”
“The three souls consolidate into one, the seven mortal spirits fuse deeply with the marrow. The primordial essence eternalizes, and the tempered flesh becomes impervious to ten thousand heavenly tribulations.”
Muttering these ancient truths, the corners of Chen Changsheng’s mouth pulled into a wild, uncontrollable arc.
The Eight-Nine Mysterious Art was a theoretical blueprint for true immortality. Whether it could actually severe the cycle of life and death remained to be tested.
But the sheer martial terror it promised dwarfed anything in his vast arsenal.
This scripture tempered both the soul and the mortal shell, encoding a myriad of heaven-defying Dao arts within its strokes.
Though he possessed but a single golden page, its karmic weight eclipsed the sum total of every treasure currently hidden in his robes.
Vertical Golden Light, Law of Heaven and Earth… The mere invocation of these titles carried the weight of ancient myth. He had unearthed an ungodly fortune.
…