15 Making Amends (1/2)
Within the deep valley.
In the early morning, Fang Yuan gathered an iron pot, boiled the spring water, added fine sand and herbs, and allowed the concoction to boil.
”The Black Sand Palm requires the use of specific herbs, allowing those herbs to be absorbed into the body...together with style, technique, perfecting it would allow one to split rocks and be invincible…..”
The 3 scrolls were checked by Fang Yuan, who confirmed that there was no problem. It was also checked by Han Shou. Now it was finally time to train.
”Within the martial arts world, there are the 12 Golden Gates of cultivation, perfecting the Black Sand Palm would allow us to reach the level of the 5th gate at most...”
That was the limit of the Black Sand Palm, which was also the difference between normal martial arts and magic.
”The Eagle Claw Technique is even worse, only allowing us to reach the 3rd gate, after which it requires special mental cultivation. However, if it was attained, it would be sufficient to overcome the restraints, allowing one to reach the 8th gate. It is considered not bad within the sect...”
Fang Yuan carefully arranged the information obtained from his own scrolls.
”There is the Rough Breathing Technique still. While there is some vested interest, I am afraid not even the original creator knew what level the technique could reach. He failed to overcome 6th gate, the Pain Gate, resulting in his death...”
Fang Yuan sighed.
Every stage of the 12 Golden Locks was complicated with multiple obstacles.
”Out of the 12 Golden Locks, I only know the first 8 gates: Initial, Rest, Life, Restriction, View, Pain, Shock, and Death! There are still subdivisions within these. The first 3 gates, Initial, Rest, Life, once overcome, would result in the growth of the person, Failing to overcome gates is not a problem. For the foundation of martial arts, the two gates, Restriction and View would cause trouble. However, failing to overcome these gates would not cause much harm to the body, for the last 3 gates, once the martial artist is unsuccessful in overcoming the gates, he would suffer backlashes or even death! This is especially true for the 8th gate, the Death Gate which must be overcome in one shot as failure will result in death!”
It was never easy to practice and cultivate.
”The first 8 gates are already so formidable, and the last 4 gates are rumoured to be of another level. No one knows the realm that the Wu Zong above the 4 gates is in either.”
Fang Yuan let out a faint sigh.
”According to legend, there are more roads to cultivation, with more unimaginable, unbelievable masters that are more highly skilled than the martial artists...”
Fang Yuan suddenly yearned for a new goal in his heart.
While he did not have many ambitions, the thought of becoming a deity, never to grow old and die, being happy and carefree was not bad.
”Furthermore, I do need some power to protect myself!”
With the sand herbs done, the fine sand which was originally exquisite and white turned black in colour, emitting the scent of the herb. Fang Yuan found a rough cloth and delicately kept the sand.
”The Eagle Claw Technique does not combine mental cultivation and internal energy, at most reaching the 3rd gate, which makes it very commonplace...”
”The Rough Breath Technique was self-created, not many practices it. The original creator himself died when he was unsuccessful in overcoming the stage... It can only reach the 5th stage at most...”
According to the scrolls and Fang Yuan's own deduction, the first three gates were mainstream and the martial artists were good at overcoming the stages.
Those who were able to overcome the 4th and the 5th gates were rare, well-off and commanded high positions in society.
Those who were able to overcome the Pain Gate were considered to be highly skilled and geniuses within the sects.
”The first 8 gates are already so formidable, what about the last 4 gates and the realm of Wu Zong above them....”
Fang Yuan let out a long sigh, well-aware that the Spirit Returning Sect dominated the area and was not dependent on weaponry.
One Wu Zong would be sufficient to suppress everything!
”The world is so big, Clear Spirit Mountain is but one corner of the world, I must continuously cultivate and improve myself if I want to explore and understand the world...”
While Fang Yuan might be indifferent and lazy, once he set his mind on something, he would focus all his effort in achieving his target.
”The Black Sand Palm is the most suitable for me!”
All he needed was a skill which would enable him to overcome the stage, where could he find the skill which would not corrupt him?
”Sigh....”
Looking at the previously-filled sandbag in front of him, Fang Yuan inhaled deeply: ”Palm slam!”
Bang!
His palm strike left a print on the sandbag. He temporarily felt a burning pain in the back of his hand.
”Training is hard, even though my master forced me to train in the past, I might still escape from it...”
10 Strikes!
50 Strikes!
100 Strikes!
500 strikes!!
Fang Yuan finally drew back both hands after a thousand palm strikes, looking at the blisters on his palms, both palms stinging, yet feeling the cooling sensation of the herbs entering his hands.
”Sigh...”
Fang Yuan dared not neglect his hands and dipped his hands into the basin of water that he had previously prepared.
”While training the Black Sand Palm, one must not interrupt the effects of the herbs, especially the last healing procedure. Without this, one would become useless.”
After half an hour, Fang Yuan discarded the water that turned black and placed a new basin of fresh water.