Chapter 9: The Roar of Ten Thousand Gu, The Whistle of Gu Refinement

“The inheritance stone you just comprehended contains the Hunyuan Technique personally recorded by Emperor Jing. Not only does it include methods such as Hunyuan Force, Hunyuan Stance, Hunyuan Palm, and Hunyuan Qigong for practitioners at the Martial Apprentice, Martial Artist, and Martial Warrior levels, but it also holds Hunyuan Vortex, Hunyuan Body Protection, and the cultivation techniques for the Nine Divine Apertures for Martial Masters and Grand Martial Masters,” Lu Hai said with a smile, deeply satisfied with Lu Sheng’s achievement. “This inheritance is the treasure Emperor Jing left specifically for the lineage of King Jin, imbued with a trace of his true intent, and now you have awakened it!”

Lu Sheng, however, was more surprised than pleased. “Why are there no techniques for Grandmasters and Supreme Grandmasters? Is it because the inheritance stone couldn’t record them?”

In the cultivation system of this world, Martial Apprentice, Martial Artist, Martial Warrior, Martial Master, and Grand Martial Master are only the early and intermediate stages. Above them lie Grandmaster and Supreme Grandmaster. As the founder and the strongest Supreme Grandmaster, Emperor Jing’s technique should surely include the methods for those higher realms. Why are they missing?

Lu Hai shook his head. “It’s not that they couldn’t be recorded. Emperor Jing deliberately withheld them. He feared that if he left complete techniques for every branch, future generations might become divided. So, except for the main lineage in Central Province, the techniques he left to the other branches only reach up to Martial Grandmaster. To obtain the methods for Grandmaster and Supreme Grandmaster, one must accept the inheritance in Central Province.”

“I see,” Lu Sheng nodded thoughtfully, understanding Emperor Jing’s intention. But would things truly unfold as he wished?

As this thought crossed his mind, Lu Hai pointed to another inheritance stone. “This stone was left by an ancestor of our lineage who achieved Martial Grandmaster perfection. It not only contains the techniques mentioned earlier, but also innovations and refinements made by later generations. Most importantly, it holds the complete Martial Grandmaster technique, including the essential method for refining the spirit.”

“That makes sense. While the main lineage theoretically won’t hinder others from receiving the inheritance, what branch would be content to remain subordinate? Even among kin, it’s no exception!” Lu Sheng mused.

“But that ancestor never became a Supreme Grandmaster. His understanding of the Hunyuan Technique cannot compare to Emperor Jing’s. If you wish for true achievement, it’s still best to accept the inheritance in Central Province and comprehend the treasures Emperor Jing created. Some mysteries cannot be conveyed by mere images,” Lu Hai added.

Lu Hai nodded, already grasping Emperor Jing’s deeper intention. As the strongest Supreme Grandmaster and founder of the Hunyuan Technique, the inheritance he left behind is sought by all who practice it. Even those who have acquired Grandmaster or Supreme Grandmaster methods still yearn for his insights. So long as his inheritance remains unique, the Lu clan will retain cohesion, no matter how many generations pass. Perhaps this was his true purpose.

“And what about this last one?” Lu Sheng asked, pointing to the third inheritance stone.

Lu Hai replied, “This stone records martial arts and insights. It contains numerous techniques created by our ancestors tailored for the Hunyuan Technique, such as Minor Hunyuan Hand, Major Hunyuan Hand, Hunyuan One Qi Grappling Hand, Hunyuan Spear, Hunyuan Sword, Hunyuan Blade, and many more. There are also tips for cultivating Hunyuan Technique and methods for countering other arts with it. All in all, its contents are extremely rich.”

“These three inheritance stones are the most precious treasures of our King Jin lineage. Everything recorded within them, despite centuries passing, still holds value.”

“You’ve just received the Hunyuan Technique inheritance. You must be somewhat exhausted. Once you’ve recovered in a few days, we’ll study the other two stones together,” Lu Hai said.

Thanks to the convenient recording function, Lu Sheng could have started comprehending the other stones immediately, but feeling his mental strength depleted, he made no such request and followed Lu Hai out of the secret chamber.

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“Shh!”

As soon as they opened the secret chamber, Lu Hai suddenly hushed Lu Sheng, halting him in his tracks. He listened intently, then cautioned Lu Sheng,

“When you go out, do not display your Hunyuan Technique in front of others. Continue practicing the Rolling Stone Technique you learned before. This method was created by your great-grandfather to mask the Hunyuan Technique, and if practiced well, it also aids your cultivation of Hunyuan.”

“Also, your level is still shallow. Never practice in front of other Martial Masters. Their keen eyes may see through your foundation. Especially that Mister Wan—be extra cautious when you meet him. Don’t let him discover our Lu family’s secrets!”

“But didn’t Mister Wan gift me the Bone-Tendon Pill? What’s the issue with him?” Lu Sheng asked, puzzled.

“Oh, his problem is significant!” Lu Hai said with a wry smile, his expression turning grave. “From what I suspect, Mister Wan is likely a member of the Yuan Gu Sect, part of the Wan Poison Sect in Yue Province. When your Uncle Yanwu and I served under Prince Wu in Yangzhou, we frequently dealt with Wan Poison Sect members and know their habits well. These people are eccentric, their methods hard to guard against; you must be extremely careful.”

“For instance, Mister Wan’s Yuan Gu branch specializes in controlling snakes and insects. The sounds outside now are the Gu-refining whistle of Yuan Gu Sect—he’s likely refining Gu!”

Lu Hai led Lu Sheng out of the chamber, extending a stream of mystical energy to him. Suddenly, Lu Sheng’s ears were filled with strange sounds—‘shoo, shoo,’ ‘hiss, hiss,’ ‘sss, sss’—presumably the Gu-refining whistle Lu Hai mentioned.

“This sound is produced by Mister Wan’s vocal techniques, enabling him to command snakes and insects,” Lu Hai explained. Upon hearing it, he had already confirmed Mister Wan’s identity and thus knew so much about him.

“Gu-refining whistle? Vocal technique? Mister Wan? Commanding snakes and insects?” Lu Sheng repeated these phrases, his mind suddenly in turmoil. He seemed to recall something crucial but couldn’t quite grasp it, leaving his spirit dazed.

Lately, whenever he strained his mind or tried to recall something elusive, Lu Sheng would enter a state of confusion. Now, he found himself caught in it again.

“Wan Gu Xiao, disciple of Yuan Gu Sect, became a Martial Master at twenty-four, entered the List of Talents at twenty-five, and at his peak, ranked fifty-five before dropping off at thirty.”

“He’s now thirty-five. With his talent, he’s at least at the pinnacle of Martial Master, perhaps even a Grand Martial Master.”

In his foggy state, Lu Sheng heard Lu Hai, as he sealed the chamber, say,

“According to the List of Talents, Wan Gu Xiao’s first opened aperture was the mouth, making him skilled at vocal techniques for mimicking sounds and communicating with other creatures. Because of this, many suspect he possesses a spiritual body and can sense the thoughts of other beings and converse with them.”

“The Gu-refining whistle is a Yuan Gu Sect soundwave technique for manipulating snakes and insects. By changing the sound, it agitates their emotions, causing them to attack each other. There was once a Yuan Gu master who used a mystical weapon to emit soundwaves and incited the snakes and insects of a mountain into a frenzy, resulting in a beast tide. The scene was truly catastrophic.”

“Wan Gu Xiao is a master of vocal techniques and soundwave arts. He doesn’t need a whistle—he can replicate them with his voice alone. It’s even rumored he chose his name because of his proficiency in soundwave arts, able to simulate myriad Gu shrieks.”

“There’s a snake pit in the mountains behind Blackstone Fort that has birthed demon pythons several times. I thought Wan Gu Xiao wouldn’t notice it on his first arrival, but it seems he’s already aware.”

“Judging from today, it’s likely Wan Gu Xiao’s journey to Blackstone Island atop a sea python after being injured was planned in advance!”

His words carried a hint of concern.

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Though Lu Sheng’s mind was still foggy, hearing Lu Hai mention ‘riding the sea python to Blackstone Island’ triggered a flash of insight. He suddenly recalled the source of his injuries—wasn’t it from rescuing Wan Gu Xiao, who had been entangled by a sea python?

His expression grew uncertain, and he forced a bitter smile. “Father, if Wan Gu Xiao is so adept at communicating with creatures, that sea python…”

Recalling the scene of his injury, Lu Sheng trailed off. If his suspicions were true, his original self had suffered needlessly.

Sensing Lu Sheng’s troubled tone, Lu Hai immediately noticed his distress. He sighed and comforted him,

“The sea python was indeed being controlled by Wan Gu Xiao, but at that time, he was likely unconscious due to his injuries. Your wounds were not inflicted intentionally. Otherwise, given your level, you wouldn’t have survived for us to rescue you!”

“We knew about this long ago. We didn’t tell you before to avoid affecting your recovery. Now that you’re mostly healed, not only did you gain his compensation with the Bone-Tendon Pill, you also benefited from the ordeal, awakening your spirit. So there’s no harm in telling you now!”

Lu Hai added thankfully, “Fortunately, you’re unscathed now. Otherwise, your father and Wan Gu Xiao…”

He shook his head and did not continue. Clearly, had anything truly happened to Lu Sheng, Lu Hai would never have let Wan Gu Xiao off easily.

“No harm…” Lu Sheng thought bitterly, unable to voice it. Though Lu Hai’s medical skills were good, without his own consciousness arriving, the best outcome for this body would have been a vegetative state. How could that be ‘no harm’?

Such matters, Lu Sheng could not explain to Lu Hai, but could only keep them to himself.

“That’s enough. Keep it in mind. The world of martial arts is perilous—never let your hot-blooded impulses lead you blindly into others’ affairs. Otherwise, you might lose your life and become a joke.”

“A joke, indeed.”

Recalling the scene of his rescue, Lu Sheng silently admonished himself: Never again become another joke. This world is truly dangerous.