Chapter Eighty-One: The Inner Origin

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Chapter Eighty-One: Inner Essence
Chapter Eleven: The Hidden Pride in the Capital Grove; Seven Heroes Stirring the Chaos of Spring and Autumn (Eleven)

Tian Liang seemed to sense what was on his opponent’s mind. He darted forward, crossing diagonally to catch up, his palms striking rapidly and releasing flashes of rosy light. Before Cai Shufeng could retreat, Tian Liang circled him, sending forth a flurry of palm shadows that shimmered and flickered, gradually transforming into a massive lotus flower, slowly closing in on Cai Shufeng.

Seeing the illusion of the palm shadows forming a formidable encirclement, Cai Shufeng judged he could not withstand it. He tried to evade, but there was nowhere left to escape. Gritting his teeth, he suddenly snapped open his folding fan, which radiated a dim gray glow. From within, eagles and falcons seemed to come alive, flying vigorously. Countless golden feathers fell from their bodies, transforming into myriad streaks of golden light, shooting forth like a meteor shower across the night sky—brilliant and dazzling.

The spectators watched the golden rain of feathers, awed by its splendor. Yet, when the golden light struck the palm shadows, it vanished without a trace, as if absorbed by the sea. Cai Shufeng felt a powerful force surge through him, his body stiffening, rendered utterly immobile. The shower of palm shadows slowly dissipated, revealing Tian Liang, who emerged with his right hand pressed against Cai Shufeng’s back, unmoving.

Cai Shufeng sighed softly, knowing that any movement would allow Tian Liang’s inner essence to enter his body and leave him severely injured. Unexpectedly, after less than a few dozen rounds, he had lost. Dejected, he said, “Senior Brother Tian’s Pure Heart Palm is indeed formidable. I am no match for you.”

Tian Liang smiled faintly, withdrew his right hand, and clasped his fists in respect. “Forgive me, Senior Brother Cai. If you hadn’t held back, I could hardly have won even half a move! Thank you for letting me prevail.”

Cai Shufeng returned the gesture and stepped down. Ye Hua and the others, seeing Zhang Ke and Cai Shufeng defeated, were deeply astonished. They hadn’t expected Tian Liang to be so powerful. Gu Yunqi and Shi Lei knew themselves to be inferior even to Zhang Ke, and if they were to compete, it would only end in embarrassment.

Zhang Lan and Ma Fei, however, hesitated inwardly: “When practicing with Zhang Ke, we are evenly matched, neither superior nor inferior; we could never defeat him in less than a few dozen rounds as Tian Liang has. Of course, each sect’s techniques have their unique secrets, and one cannot judge by this alone, but even so, there is reason to be found. Our opponent’s inner essence is profound, his palm techniques subtle—what we fear is…”

Everyone involuntarily turned to look at Ye Hua. Ye Hua was startled, realizing that his senior brothers expected him to step forward, leaving him no room to refuse. He forced a bitter smile and said, “If that’s the case, let me go and seek instruction. I know my skills are unworthy, and I hope my senior brothers will be forgiving.” With a respectful gesture, he walked forward.

Tian Liang saw that among the group, a young man had stepped out—delicate-featured and slightly youthful. He was momentarily surprised, but when Ye Hua looked at him, Tian Liang saw a radiant gleam in his eyes, as if two beams of light shone forth. Tian Liang’s heart gave a jolt, recognizing this as the result of deep inner essence. He hadn’t expected someone so young to have such profound cultivation and immediately set aside any underestimation, not daring to be careless.

From afar, he clasped his fists and said, “Please, junior brother. May you show me mercy.” Ye Hua returned the gesture, saying, “It is senior brother who should show mercy.” With that, he channeled his inner essence, raised his palm at an angle, guarding his center, chest drawn in, back straight, his energy condensed like a mountain.

Tian Liang saw that his opponent’s palm technique also appeared to be of the same lineage, beginning with utmost steadiness. He vaguely understood that this adversary would not be easy to handle. Nodding, he called out softly, leapt forward, and struck with both palms through the air—swift and fierce.

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Though Ye Hua stood several yards away, he already felt the palm wind’s ferocity. The force hadn’t arrived, but the gust had. Unwilling to contest strength directly, Ye Hua sidestepped, intending to evade, but his opponent landed and whirled his palm, following up with three consecutive strikes.

The four palm forces compounded and spiraled, surging toward Ye Hua like a raging tide. In an instant, Ye Hua felt his breath constricted, his chest tight, startled. His hands instantly radiated golden light, tracing a circle inward, then swiftly counter-striking. The two streams of palm force collided, producing a hissing sound.

Both Tian Liang and Ye Hua were forced back three steps. For a moment, Ye Hua felt drained, unable to steady himself, his knees weakening as he nearly collapsed. He quickly pressed his hands down, summoned his inner essence, and was instantly revitalized, darting forward again. The four observing disciples let out a simultaneous “Eh!” of astonished surprise.

Tian Liang’s previous strike was actually a technique from the fourth layer of the Pure Heart Palm, requiring a deep inner essence as its foundation, known as the Yangtze’s Layered Waves. The rear palm pushes the front, and the three palm forces combine, their power surging like mountains and seas—human strength alone could hardly withstand it. Because the force was so vast, it was rarely necessary to use a second move in combat; the enemy would already be subdued. When Ancestor Qingling taught it, he explained that this move, once unleashed, was unrivaled among those of equal cultivation.

Yet this young man had received the move, and not only was he not subdued on the spot, he managed to recover in a blink and counterattack.

The disciples exchanged glances, all sighing, “This man’s inner essence is truly extraordinary!” Ancestor Qingling sat atop the high platform, watching Ye Hua’s bout, his gaze lost in thought.

Tian Liang was also deeply shocked. Seeing his opponent approach, he raised a single palm, slashing diagonally. His spirit had already faltered, and he dared not meet Ye Hua’s force head-on. He swung his right palm to the side, touching Ye Hua's palm force at an angle, feeling his right arm go numb and his chest heavy. He immediately took advantage and leaped three yards back, afraid Ye Hua would pursue, holding his palm upright before his chest.

Ye Hua moved obliquely, his form flickering into several afterimages, drifting upward. Tian Liang was startled and quickly retreated. In such evasions, the subtleties of the Pure Heart Palm were somewhat diminished, and though he inwardly lamented, there was no alternative.

The two circled in an open space of over ten yards, constantly dodging and shifting. Dozens of afterimages flickered, dazzling the onlookers, who could not tell which was real and which was false, inwardly admiring them. Not only were their inner essences profound, but their movement techniques were also incredibly mysterious. Ye Hua’s footwork was marvelous, ever-changing, but Tian Liang’s was even more advanced, keeping Ye Hua at a distance of a yard or two, always out of reach.

One pursued, the other evaded, and after a dozen rounds, Ancestor Qingling suddenly called, “Enough, you may stop now!” Both Tian Liang and Ye Hua were startled, slowed their movements, and stopped, looking up at Ancestor Qingling, who stared at Ye Hua, his eyes shining with a strange light. After a moment he said, “If it were a direct contest of inner essence, my disciple Tian Liang would not be your match! If it were a contest of technique, you are inferior to him!”

He smiled slightly and continued, “May I ask your name, and your lineage? The Seven Treasures and Six Realms, yet you possess such inner essence!” The audience hadn’t known Ye Hua’s cultivation, and upon hearing the master’s words, they were all abuzz.

Ye Hua bowed respectfully. “Greetings, Ancestor Qingling. I am Ye Hua, disciple of the Northern Peak, Ye Dou Peak, Biyun Temple of the Five Terraces lineage!” Ancestor Qingling uttered an “Oh,” and curiously asked, “Are you a disciple of Master Zhiku? Your inner essence is vast, but mixed and impure; your Buddhist essence is less than your Daoist or demonic strength, and there’s even a hint of ghost sect essence. Why is that?”

Ye Hua blushed, deeply ashamed, and thought to himself, “Ancestor Qingling is truly formidable, a peak cultivator of the Jade Splendor Realm! With a glance, he sees through everything in my body. I practice the Six Essences Marvelous Heaven Wishful Method, which is a Daoist technique; the Ghost Valley Secret Canon comes from the ghost sect. I’ve also absorbed the demonic power of the Fire Serpent God, the Cold Essence Dragon of Biyun Lake, and the demon bat, so naturally my energies are quite mixed! Yet as a Buddhist disciple, my Four Holy Truths technique is rather ordinary. It’s enough to make connoisseurs laugh at me!”

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Ancestor Qingling saw Ye Hua’s flushed face, understood he had an unspoken embarrassment, and refrained from pressing him. He smiled and said, “During the war in the Great Liao, I met the elders of Biyun Temple, so you could be considered my junior nephew.” Ye Hua bowed respectfully, “Disciple greets Senior Uncle. Please forgive me for my disrespect.”

Ancestor Qingling smiled gently, “I know that many of the Five Terraces line come from lay backgrounds, often apprenticing with prior skills, whether inherited from their families or ancient caves—each with their own story! I imagine you are among them.” Then, looking at the disciples below, he said, “Well, that is all for today. You may go now.”

“Yes, Master!” The disciples below bowed and departed, gradually dispersing, leaving only Zhang Ke, Ma Fei, Shi Lei, and a few others in the vast courtyard. Ancestor Qingling descended from the platform. Zhang Ke stepped forward and bowed, “It has been many days since I last paid my respects to Uncle Qingling.”

Ancestor Qingling smiled, “I wonder what brings you to visit me today! Surely you have some business! How is your father, Brother Yuan Tian? What has he been busy with lately?”

Zhang Ke smiled, “I haven’t seen Uncle for a long time, and I missed you, so I came for a visit—surely that’s allowed?! Why must you suspect ulterior motives?” He chuckled, “My father followed Prince Wen Zheng’s orders and went to the Shennü Peak of Sun and Moon Mountain in Sichuan and Tibet.”

Ancestor Qingling was surprised, “Has the Tai Tian Sect revived?” Zhang Ke looked troubled, “I’m not exactly sure. My father left in a hurry, but I don’t know the reason.”

Ancestor Qingling laughed, “Such matters, how could you know the details? The divine land of China is beset by internal and external troubles; you young people should strive diligently!” Zhang Ke replied, “Uncle’s teaching is absolutely right! Isn’t it that, upon meeting, you test us all?”

Ancestor Qingling chuckled, “Still, Nephew Ye Hua’s inner essence is far deeper than yours; you should all take him as an example!” Then, turning to Ye Hua, he said, “Nephew Ye Hua, so young and already possessing such profound inner essence! Truly extraordinary!”

Ye Hua hurriedly replied, “Uncle Qingling, I am far from measuring up to my senior brothers—there is much I lack!” “Good, good! To be victorious without arrogance is even more remarkable. Young people may be proud and wild—that’s only natural and nothing to blame! Don’t be too hard on yourself,” Ancestor Qingling said with a smile.

As they walked and talked, they reached the hall, where Ancestor Qingling invited everyone to sit and ordered his disciples to serve tea. Zhang Ke said, “Today I came to pay my respects to Uncle, and also to inquire about something!”

Ancestor Qingling smiled, “I wondered why you would come to see me without reason—what is it? Speak freely!”

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