However, I and the Holy Monk, who are both at the Innate Grandmaster level, are a step below the Carefree King. You should know that I have comprehended the seven realms of Yin and Yang and the Five Elements, while the Holy Monk practices the Shaolin Yi Jin Jing and comprehends the Buddhist realm of 'Nirvana'.
In terms of realm, I am lower than the Free and Unfettered King and the Holy Monk, because they only comprehend one realm of heaven and earth, while I can only be on par with them by combining the power of seven realms. Even so, I was still crippled in both legs by the Free and Unfettered King, while the Holy Monk was almost equal to the Free and Unfettered King in their fight.
I estimate that at that time, the two of them were only one step away from reaching the third level of the Heaven and Earth attribute—the realm of a Grandmaster of the Innate Realm.
Li Ling asked in confusion, "Grandpa, you said that twenty years ago, the Holy Monk and the Carefree King were almost equal, so why did you only say that the Carefree King could reach the Innate Grandmaster realm now? What about the Holy Monk?"
Yi Yun replied, "Twenty years ago, their cultivation levels were similar. However, you must know that the Carefree King was only in his forties at the time, while the Holy Monk was in his sixties, just like me. Youth has the advantage. The Holy Monk fought the Carefree King for seven days and seven nights, but ultimately he was outmatched in terms of physical strength. The final result was that the Carefree King was seriously injured, while the Holy Monk lost all his power."
Yi Yun sighed, "Although the Carefree King's injuries are severe, he only needs time to recuperate and recover. However, the Holy Monk lost all his power after this great battle. Even if he cultivates again over the next twenty years, he will probably only recover to his original level as a Grandmaster."
With the Prince of Carefree's talent, he would likely have broken through to the Grandmaster level of the Innate Realm in twenty years.
Hearing this, Li Ling's expression also turned solemn. Although he had never witnessed the power of a Grandmaster of the Innate Realm, Li Ling could estimate the terror of such a realm from the power his grandfather had just unleashed.
At this moment, Yi Yun patted Li Ling on the shoulder and encouraged him, "Feng'er, you have reached the Innate Realm at such a young age, which is ten years earlier than our ancestor who eventually achieved the Innate Grandmaster Realm. Feng'er, your future is limitless, so don't be discouraged."
"Um."
Li Ling also relaxed, believing that with his talent, reaching the Grandmaster level was only a matter of time.
Moreover, besides martial arts, Li Ling has another trump card. He's a man with an unfair advantage. His eyes are firm, and he's not afraid of anyone!
Seeing the determination in Li Ling's eyes, Yi Yun nodded to himself and said, "Feng'er, you will be able to start practicing the supreme sword technique of our Famous Sword Manor, the 'Eight Forms of Famous Sword'."
Yi Yun explained: "The basic sword technique, 'Ten Forms of Heavenly Sword,' allows you to grasp the first level of the Five Elements' intent after mastering it. The supreme sword technique, 'Eight Forms of Famous Sword,' is an advanced move that utilizes the Yin-Yang and Five Elements intent."
The 'Eight Forms of Famous Swords' are divided into three levels:
The first level involves combining the Five Elements conception of the Heavenly Sword Ten Forms with the Yin-Yang Two Qi cultivated from the Yin-Yang Two Qi Technique, comprehending the first realm of the Yin-Yang Two Qi conception, and bringing all seven concepts to the first level.
The second level involves practicing seven sword techniques that match the seven attributes of Yin and Yang and the Five Elements. Upon mastering these techniques, one can control the second level of the Yin and Yang and the Five Elements' essence in the world.
The third level is to comprehend any one of the seven attributes of Yin and Yang and the Five Elements to reach the third level of intent, thus achieving the realm of a Grandmaster of the Innate Realm. At this point, one should focus on the third level of intent and integrate the other six intents. The seven intents combined form a fused intent, surpassing the ordinary Grandmaster of the Innate Realm.
The ancestors called this fusion of artistic conception "Chaotic Artistic Conception". The "Chaotic Sword Intent" created from this is the "Eighth Form" of the Eight Famous Swords. At this time, the Chaotic Sword Intent governs the seven sword intents of Yin and Yang and the Five Elements, and can unleash the highest sword technique of the Eight Famous Swords, "Eight Swords Flying Together".
"Of course, at this time it is only the lowest level of Eight Swords Flying Together, and because it is a fusion of a high-level intent and a low-level intent, the chaotic intent at this time is mainly to reach the third level of intent."
Furthermore, because everyone's understanding of the breakthrough is different, it is said that the eighth form is different for each successor.
"After that, continue to comprehend other realms of meaning. After reaching the third level of the second realm of meaning, the Chaotic Realm will grow again and reach a higher level of Eight Swords Flying Together."
"Following this pattern, the highest level of Eight Swords Flying Together is the fusion of the third level of the seven sword intents to form a chaotic intent, and then using the chaotic intent to control the seven sword intents."
This situation is similar to the nameless sword in our Sword Repository, forged from seven rare and precious materials, capable of wielding seven other swords.
At this point, Yi Yun pointed to the eight swords floating on the stone platform. The nameless sword was in the center, and the other swords revolved around it.
"I see." Li Ling suddenly understood. (The rest of the text appears to be unrelated and likely machine-generated gibberish.)
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Chapter 153 Two Goals
At this moment, Li Ling was a little puzzled. He asked, "Grandpa, since one can reach the 'Grandmaster of the Primordial World' realm by comprehending any one of the three attributes of heaven and earth, why did our ancestors leave behind a legacy that allows future generations to comprehend seven different realms of heaven and earth at the same time?"
"In terms of comprehending a single realm of heaven and earth, it's bound to be much faster than comprehending seven realms simultaneously, right?"
Yi Yun nodded and said, "It's understandable that Feng'er has this idea. Theoretically speaking, it is indeed easier to comprehend a single attribute than to comprehend seven attributes together. But the ancestral techniques of 'Ten Forms of Famous Swords' and 'Eight Forms of Famous Swords' are naturally reasonable."
Yi Yun asked, "Feng'er, what are the internal energy cultivation methods of our Famous Sword Manor?"
Li Ling replied, "It is the Five Elements Nourishing Qi Technique and the Yin-Yang Two Qi Formula."
Yi Yun nodded. "Do you still remember what your grandfather said when he passed on his skills to you?"
“This…” Li Ling lowered his head, lost in memories, and then said, “Grandpa said that there are Yin and Yang energies and the five elements of metal, wood, water, fire and earth in the human body.”
For us cultivators, the process of practicing martial arts, increasing our power, and opening up the twelve regular meridians and eight extraordinary meridians throughout the body is the process of accumulating the yin and yang energies and the five elements of metal, wood, water, fire, and earth in the body.
Once Yin and Yang and the Five Elements are in harmony, and the body is nourished by internal Qi, a qualitative change occurs, resulting in an innate constitution.
“That’s right!” Yi Yun nodded in satisfaction and said, “Yin and Yang and the Five Elements are the basic attributes that constitute the human body. Our ancestors of Mingjian Manor created two special techniques to increase the Yin and Yang and the Five Elements of the human body based on this principle.”
"When future generations cultivate these two techniques, they are nurturing their own foundation in Yin-Yang and the Five Elements, and the resulting true energy is a fusion of these seven attributes."
"The five elements generate and restrain each other, and yin and yang are relative yet indispensable. Yin and yang can also transform into each other. Therefore, whether you are practicing the true qi of yin and yang and the five elements or comprehending these seven realms of heaven and earth, the effects produced are complementary."
"Because the seven realms complement each other, when we comprehend any one of the seven realms, it will correspondingly promote our understanding of the other realms."
"All things in heaven and earth are mutually generating and mutually restraining, and the principles of heaven and earth are interconnected. Although theoretically one state of mind is easier to understand and promote than seven states of mind, the understanding of the seven states of mind of Yin and Yang and the Five Elements can promote and complement each other."
Therefore, the breakthrough in comprehending these seven realms of artistic conception is actually much faster than comprehending a single attribute.
"I see." Li Ling understood and couldn't help but feel great admiration for the ancestors of Mingjian Manor.
Then Li Ling pressed on, "Grandpa, what level did our ancestor reach with his Eight Swords Soaring Together? How many sword intents did he incorporate?"
Yi Yun sighed and said, "How difficult it is to comprehend the essence of heaven and earth! I, your grandfather, only comprehended the second level of the seven essences at the age of seventy, reaching the Innate Grandmaster level. And in the past thousands of years, very few people have been able to comprehend the third level of the essence of heaven and earth and reach the Innate Grandmaster level."
Our ancestor was a genius of unparalleled talent; in his lifetime, he only managed to fuse two of the three realms of artistic conception into the third level. Even so, our ancestor was a supreme Grandmaster of the Innate Realm at that time.
Li Ling remained silent. The essence of heaven and earth is the great way of heaven and earth, and how difficult it is for human beings to comprehend the way of heaven and earth.
This world can only be considered a low-to-medium martial arts world; to reach the achievements of one's ancestors is to be a genius.