In the roar of thunder, Xu Qing’s muscles, bones, skin, and internal organs resonated, gradually integrating inside and out.
He then took step by step towards the bottom of the sea, each step as heavy as a thousand pounds, leaving deep footprints, yet barefoot on the sand, they were clean as if lotus leaves.
According to Buddhist teachings, this state is called "Step by Step Lotus."
In Buddhism, often high monks demonstrate the law of Buddhism with solemn precious appearances.
Essentially, this is the clever use of Martial Arts Refining Internal to the Hua Realm.
Before long, Xu Qing sank to the seabed.
He drew the Wuji Saber, followed the currents, and began to cultivate the Five Thunders Saber Technique.
His footwork was the Eight Diagrams Step, and the Five Thunders Saber Technique corresponded to the Five Elents.
A set of saber technique along with movent technique, integrated both Eight Diagrams and Five Elents.
The seawater surged from all directions, occasionally powered by the tide.
Xu Qing practiced saber under the sea, with his Strength Force penetrating thoroughly, and as the Heavenly Repairing Tribulation Hand, he sensed the force of the water flow, much more refined than regular Refining Internal Masters.
Saber light stirred the currents, thunder rumbled, and whirlpools appeared on the seabed, stirring up silt, the montum was terrifying, as if dragons were lurking.
For several days in a row, apart from treating Gu Wuji, Xu Qing practiced saber by the sea.
On this day, after practicing the Five Thunders Saber, Xu Qing felt suddenly enlightened and leaped out of the sea.
Far away, the tide surged as if mountains rose and fell.
"Stones piercing the sky, astonishing waves crashing on the shore, rolling up a thousand piles of snow. The landscape is picturesque, populated for a mont by many heroes." These words flashed through Xu Qing’s mind.
For a mont, his spirit wandered.
Unconsciously, a heroic spirit rippled across his heart.
Boom!
Instantly, Xu Qing’s entire energy, spirit, and essence concentrated into the Wuji Saber, striking towards the incoming waves.
This stroke did not carry a chilling coldness, but was blazing hot.
The energy and blood of the Golden Light Spell concentrated at one point, Thunder Skill began to take form, Strength Force transmitted to the blade, the blade undulated like dragons and snakes, tearing apart the incoming waves.
Not cleaving through, but torn apart by the vibrational force brought about by the trembling of the blade.
Xu Qing sheathed his saber and stood, letting the waves behind him crash over him.
"This isn’t simply Sword Qi, but Sword Intent."
"The Sword Intent of a picturesque landscape."
The heroic spirit of "The landscape is picturesque, populated for a mont by many heroes," paired with the imnse aura of the Thunder Skill greatly complented each other.
In the past, Xu Qing had only a vague perception of the martial intent in Fist Intent and Sword Intent, but now he truly cultivated the Sword Intent.
Once martial intent is realized in Martial Arts, it signifies a legitimate qualification to challenge the Grandmaster Realm.
Before Refining Internal, one trains the form; after Refining Internal, one trains the intent; only by integrating form and intent can one advance to the Grandmaster Realm in Martial Arts.
"If I wholeheartedly devoted myself to Martial Arts Training, Integrating Spirit and Body, leveraging this Sword Intent, and debated martial paths with the heroes of South Zhili, perhaps within half a year, I might step into the Grandmaster Realm of Martial Arts."
Xu Qing knew, only by integrating Spirit and Body could he perfectly manifest the wonderful uses of the Sword Intent.
Yet this path, as bold and diligent as it is, was not suited for him.
Whether it’s a Martial Saint or a Ghost Immortal, in the end, one must pursue Dual Cultivation of Life and Spirit to be complete.
He started on this path from the beginning; though more challenging, it sets an extraordinarily solid foundation.
Chongyang True Master and Lü Zu, these predecessors all practiced Dual Cultivation from the start.
"With this Sword Intent, even relying solely on Martial Arts, I am already distinct from ordinary Refining Internal Masters." Now Xu Qing’s Sword Intent, once deployed, could achieve effects similar to Thunder Skill with the Wuji Saber.
This was also owing to the extraordinary characteristics of the Wuji Saber itself.
Moreover, as he nurtured the Sword Intent of a picturesque landscape, Xu Qing felt his mind and knowledge broaden. Inside his bronze mirror, the Qi Fortune Little Snake’s forehead protuberances beca more pronounced, and similar bumps appeared on both sides of its belly.
This was the appearance of Qi Fortune to Jiao.
After cultivating the Sword Intent, Xu Qing waited a few more days.
The days reached the tenth day of the first lunar month.
He arrived on a Navy Ship of Jinghai Guard.
...
...
ng Yuxuan stood on the main Navy Ship, waiting for Xu Qing’s arrival.
Upon eting, he imdiately said, "Xu Jieyuan, tonight is the perfect ti to make our move."
He pointed at the sand table, which displayed the topography of Dongming Island, including the towns and taverns.
"Their sailors, in this period, have mostly co ashore, though so still remain on the ships. However, during the new year, they mainly engage in gambling and entertainnt. Our venture there will surely be a success." ng Yuxuan possessed an unquestionable deanor in military command.
This was the confidence only a fad general could have.
"On the ship, I will be General ng’s soldier. Whatever orders the general has, I will follow without hesitation," Xu Qing expressed his stance.
ng Yuxuan said, "Outside Dongming Island, the largest battleship is called the East Sea. There are warships patrolling around it. If the people on the East Sea respond when we clear the peripheries, it will pose a great threat to our landing on Dongming Island. I am aware of Xu Jieyuan’s extraordinary martial skills and hope that Xu Jieyuan could cooperate with several of my n to stealthily infiltrate the East Sea and perform a decapitation strike."
This world contains warriors of Martial Arts and Divine Soul Experts, thus tactics such as decapitation strikes are greatly enriched and expanded in battles.
Especially since the middle ages, with Guan Yu forrly beheading the enemy general Yan Liang before thousands of troops, a story that has been passed down through generations; then there was Qin Qiong who charged into enemy lines for Taizong, often breaking into enemy formations and killing their generals, shattering the morale of the enemy troops.
These powerful military generals often had the ability to turn the tide of a local battle and reshape the outco of the entire strategy with their sole strength.
The Court had also previously forged legends, planting seeds of fear for Xu Qing within the hearts of samurais on the East Sea. Once Xu Qing appears on the East Sea, revealing his identity and bravely beheading the enemy leaders, it would surely produce miraculous effects.
Of course, the peril of this mission was unspeakable.
ng Yuxuan’s boldness in proposing this plan showed his courage.
Xu Qing smiled and asked, "General ng, if I do not go, whom would you send?"
ng Yuxuan replied, "If Xu Jieyuan does not participate in this decapitation strike, I myself would go. However, the command and coordination within the army would have to be left to my deputy, whose grasp of timing and understanding of the battle situation would definitely not compare to mine."
He had extre confidence in his own martial prowess.
Moreover, a decapitation strike aid for a swift, thunderous blow, striking from a great distance.
Such a heavy responsibility required not just martial prowess but also great courage.
In his view, Xu Qing, who could command the wind and rain in South Zhili and had repeatedly wrestled with Duke Wei, clearly possessed these qualities.
On the battlefield, striving to use one’s advantage to achieve the greatest victory at the least cost is the inherent duty of a general.
Xu Qing nodded slightly: "Then I will go."
This was not just confidence, but also the real-ti feedback from the Qi Fortune Little Snake in Xu Qing’s bronze mirror, providing prior warnings.
If the operation were too dangerous, he would perceive it before boarding the East Sea and could retreat directly. If there was no threat to his life, achieving victory in battle would significantly enhance Xu Qing’s prestige.
Prestige is invisible and intangible, but once possessed, it becos a powerful amulet.
ng Yuxuan was not surprised at all.
He had analyzed Xu Qing’s style of conduct: bold and ruthless, yet always able to turn danger into safety.
This was not just due to luck or high proficiency in Martial Arts and Daoist Skills, there certainly had to be special abilities.
ng Yuxuan speculated that since Xu Qing’s reputation had superseded South Zhili, he must have thoroughly embraced scholarship and possibly reached the realm of "from utmost sincerity cos the knowledge beforehand," thus always managing to remain unscathed on the edge of the knife.
This was also Grand Secretary’s judgnt.
In history, those who reached such a realm often received praise and posthumous honor.
This belongs to the ultimate pursuit and reputational reward for scholars.
But in daily interactions, ng Yuxuan felt that there was sothing in Xu Qing different from those historical great scholars and philosophers, sothing highly dangerous.
Xu Qing taking on this hardest and most arduous task, remained calm and composed, not losing the spirit of a hero, commanding the situation like swallowing storms.
The Navy generals and Gao Gongyuan on the ship were all affected by this deanor.
Like the hero from the Three Kingdoms, Zhou Yu with a feather fan and a silk scarf, engulfing enemies in laughter as masts and oars turn to ash.
It is nothing short of that!
Taking advantage of a favorable wind, the Navy set sail and arrived just beyond the patrolling range of warships around the East Sea. Instead of taking a prepared small boat to approach the East Sea, Xu Qing casually grabbed a plank and threw it into the sea.
It was deep into the night, with stars mirrored in the water.
Everyone watched from the ship as Xu Qing rode the wind and walked on the sea.
ng Yuxuan gazed as Xu Qing’s figure followed the expanse of stars above, like a Jiao dragon entering the galaxy, and couldn’t help but murmur to himself,
"The East Sea may be a dragon’s den and a tiger’s cave, but Xu Gongming himself is perhaps even more dangerous than that."
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