981 A Strange Journey (2/2)

The top martial skill that they knew were actually only a small part of Elixir!

No wonder it's known as an extraordinary book!

”The second book is the Demonic Sect's 'Demonic Code', which they call 'Holy Code', that studies in depth heaven and man. It is divided into many volumes, each with its own overpowering demonic skills, such as 'Tianluo Demonic Skill' and 'Yin Absorbing Formula'. It is said that if the 'Demonic Code' combines into one, one could attain unformidable demonic skills and discover the secrets of the broken void. Unfortunately, the demonic sect has been splitting up for the last hundred odd years, and many volumes of the 'Demonic Code' have already been lost…” Shang Jiuming said tirelessly, making Xu Cheng, Shang Lingxi, and the others all full of envision. So this was where the ”Tianluo Demonic Skill” originated from, and the various terrifying branches of the Demonic Sect are not considered at their prime now.

Shang Jiuming continued, ”The 'Sun Fire Wheel' of Northern Buddhism is supreme in the world, but over a hundred years ago, their most terrifying skill wasn't this but the 'Secret Wisdom Manual'. It cultivates the spirits and completes Abhisheka, accumulating one's power to the maximum, like a Buddha on earth who is able to bring others into Samsara. It is mysterious and unpredictable, and is the most unfathomable among the extraordinary books.”

Xu Cheng, Shang Lingxi, and the rest looked at one another blankly as they listened. The descriptions were more like myths and legends than martial arts secrets!

There's actually such extraordinary skills in the world?

”Unfortunately, more than a hundred years ago, the Living Buddha at that time and the Awakening Celestial Sword met with a misfortune at the current abandoned city, jointly contributing to a famous spiritual confrontation in history. Both of them entered Samsara and battled, with the Awakening Celestial Sword winning in the end while the Living Buddha losing and gaining enlightenment. The Living Buddha passed on on the spot with his flesh body turning into colored glaze. But this was an unexpected passing after all and he didn't manage to impart his spirit and wisdom. It became extremely difficult for later generations to practice the 'Secret Wisdom Manual', and none have succeeded even till today,” Shang Jiuming lamented ⁠— every pugilistic tale passed down by the older generations were legends.

This is more fascinating and more incredible than the stories told by the storyteller… Shang Lingxi's and the other disciples' eyes glittered as thoughts ran in their minds, developing a strong interest in the extraordinary books. If they were able to get one of them and successfully practiced it, wouldn't they be able to rule the world?

”Father, what about the fourth book?” Shang Lingxi was unable to hold back her question, her eyes blinking.

”That's right, what's the fourth book?” Xu Cheng also couldn't control his curiosity. They had totally forgotten that their initial aim was to get to the bottom of what treasure led to Chief Escort Miao of the Four Seas Escort Agency being killed.

Shang Jiuming smiled, his expression slightly sentimental, ”It is not a book. It is a puppet ⁠— the Celestial Sword Puppet.”

At the mention of these words, he suddenly became solemn.

”Celestial Sword Puppet?” Shang Lingxi looked at her own father with innocent and confused eyes.

The last book was actually a puppet?

Shang Jiuming said with deep eyes, ”Also a hundred odd years ago, the Sword Emperor and the Awakening Celestial Sword battled at Sunset Peak. Both entered the broken void, leaving behind shadows that cannot be caught up with. Since then, no one has been able to reenact this scene.”

”And before their battle, they used a casually obtained puppet as paper and their swords as pen to engrave thirty characters of their individual swordplay. The first fourteen and last sixteen characters were the Sword Emperor's and the Awakening Celestial Sword's respective understanding toward swordplay. They contained the supreme swordplay belonging to them, especially the former that had the method of vital energy circulation, showing again the initial path of the Sword Emperor.

”The Celestial Sword Puppet was initially kept by the Sword Emperor's disciple, but as time went by, it ended up in the pugilistic world. Its every appearance was accompanied by bloodshed, and the person who truly possessed it would become a top swordsman. The massacre of Mu Mansion and the downfall of the Five Element Sword Sect all happened because of it, there are too many to be named.”

”Chief Escort Miao died because of this?” Xu Cheng blurted.

Shang Jiuming nodded lightly, ”Chief Escort Miao's martial skills improved greatly in the last few years, it was rumored that he had gotten the Celestial Sword Puppet.”

The few disciples were suddenly in a daze. They didn't expect to have actually met something related to the great books.

”Actually, our sect's swordplay is also deeply connected to the Celestial Sword Puppet,” Shang Jiuming suddenly sighed.

”Ah?” Shang Lingxi looked perplexed.

Shang Jiuming forced a laugh, ”My ancestor was originally a commander of the forbidden army in the abandoned city. He was the one who delivered the Celestial Sword Puppet for the Sword Emperor and Awakening Celestial Sword. He saw the supreme swordplay and secretly made a copy, leaving behind two overpowering swordplays, 'Subduing Demon' and 'Awaking Celestial'. The clan strengthened after that and became a sect, prospered for a time but gradually went downhill. The copy was lost and the swordplays were also incomplete.”

”I wonder when we could regain the past glories…”

His voice was low, and the scene was suddenly quiet and restrained.

As Meng Qi listened to them, he understood that he had returned to the world of the Sword Emperor and Demon Queen, and he had become the Celestial Sword Puppet that was left behind!

My past experiences and the swordsmanship I left behind had all become legends of the pugilistic world. How is this connected to leaving a marking?

How should this strange journey brought by the Haotian Mirror develop to derive a marking?

Xu Cheng's mind was filled with thoughts as he placed his hands behind his head and laid down lazily, thinking about things related to the Four Great Books.

Suddenly, his eyes brightened up when he saw a puppet with a comical smile hiding in a dark area above the beam.

Puppet?

Just as a thought came to his mind, he saw the puppet blink its eyes and a drop of tear flowed down.

Blinking… tears… feeling as though he was struck by lightning or saw a ghost, Xu Cheng's heart beat so fast that it almost exploded.