Death… and me

Chu Yang had just achieved the Martial Warrior tier. Yet he managed to purify his meridians, removing the toxins and impurities?

What sort of peculiar disciple have I taken in?

Anyone capable of what Chu Yang had done definitely had some sort of phenomenon talent. Meng Chao Ran was astonished at what he was able to do and he was not the kind of individual who was easily surprised. Furthermore, there was no one in the history of Beyond the Heavens Sect who had done something like this before!

If Wu Yun Liang's people knew of Chu Yang's capability, they would have been overcome with fear and fled!

This process of removing impurities from the body usually occurred during the transformation into Martial Warrior. This process was known as Body Transformation. It involves pushing out impurities from the peripheries of the body through the gradual cultivation through the nine grades of Martial Warrior.

The level after Martial Warrior is known as the Martial Master. The process of breaking through to the Martial Master tier involves the same process of getting rid of the impurities within the body, getting ready for the path of cultivation. The purging of impurities by a Martial Master was from the five organs within the body. This process was called Internal Transformation.

After the level of Martial Master is the level of the Martial Great Master. The impurities which were expelled during this stage were gathered from the meridians. This was the stage where an individual could truly be considered as a cultivator. This process was known as the Meridian Purification.

Beyond that was the realm of Revered Martial Artist. During cultivation, the body would expel impurities from deep within the body – an example is the impurities from within the marrows of the body. These impurities were known to be extremely detrimental to an individual's cultivation. This was called Marrow Purification. Marrow Purification was the last step in the process of training the body!

It was no wonder that Meng Chao Ran was terrified! Chu Yang had only broken through the level of Martial Warrior, yet he was capable of performing Meridian Purification!

Moreover, Meng Chao Ran was currently only capable of Meridian Purification!

Chu Yang felt relief as he broke through the Martial Warrior level. All he needed now was the first piece of the Nine Tribulation Sword and this would enable him to cultivate the Nine Tribulations Transcending the Nine Heavens Technique!

Although Meng Chao Ran was surprised, Chu Yang wasn't. Every early morning, he would continually practice the same movements, each time eliminating impurities from his body. The impurities were not external but internal as well. It was as though they would just vanish into the morning mists.

It was one of the mysteries behind the Nine Tribulations Sword. It targeted different points in the human body, even simple actions caused the entire body to move, from inside and out. In addition, it also multiplied the pressure which was used to expel impurities several times.

Thus a single simple movement could become an invaluable technique, much to the point that it could be considered priceless in the world of martial art.

Chu Yang planted his feet firmly into the ground as he stood up and he slowly began to bend his upper body backwards. It appeared as though his body was as flexible as rubber as his head went between his legs. He then gripped his arms tightly around his legs as his body formed a circle. He then pushed his body into the air and began to spin intensely.

Meng Chao Ran observed Chu Yang's movements in mid-air and saw each part of his body moving in a different direction. The joints in Chu Yang's entire body were rattling with extreme intensity.

Meng Chao Ran was shocked! He immediately recognised how difficult this movement was. However, he didn't know what the point of this movement was. Regardless, even if he were to attempt it, he probably would have to try multiple times before getting it right!

Chu Yang spun mid-air for what seemed like an eternity before he descended and rolled on the ground. After he stopped, he stretched out his limbs and it was accompanied by a crackling noise from his joints. He wobbled as he stood up almost as though he was walking for the first time. His legs trembling as though it was too weak to even support his weight. It took him a while before his entire body regained its original stability as the cracking sound of his joints began to cease. Both his arms moved in a peculiar motion as they swang, once again the rattling sound of his joints could be heard!

"Clack… clack… clack…"

Meng Chao Ran was stupefied. He vaguely understood the implications of these actions. However, such understanding only made him more terrified!

The movements were part of the Life Convergence Technique!

Each movement seemed extremely bizarre and inexplicable, but they all contained the tips of the major sects!

From nothing to existence, to egg, to maturity, to hatching, to flying up…

This was the Life Convergence of Birds!

After finishing these four movements, Chu Yang stopped.

This was one of the movements of the Nine Tribulation Sword which could only be cultivated upon entering the level of Martial Warrior. If an individual were to attempt to cultivate it at the Martial Pupil level, the consequences would be severe, leading to the likely crushing of the user's body and bones into small pieces.

The suffering that each individual experiences while practicing the movements was similar to the pain experienced from having one's bones pulled from their body. Moreover, the pain did not last for simply an instant but rather for the entire duration of the movement. Yet despite the pain that he experienced, Chu Yang did not make a sound.

Speaking itself would release a large amount of vital energy, reducing the effectiveness of the movements by a large portion.

It was after his rebirth that made Chu Yang determined to put in all of his efforts into everything that he did to do it to perfection.

When everything was completed, Chu Yang stretched as he took a deep breath. The ground surrounding the area that he stood suddenly became soaked with perspiration as his entire body suddenly began sweating profusely.

"Master! These four movements are called the 'Way of Infinite Universe.' Because of the many mysteries surrounding this technique, I can only do it poorly like so. Please tell me where my errors were and how I can improve!"

Chu Yang said that casually without even turning his head. He was aware that his master would be present to watch his breakthrough into the Martial Warrior tier. Despite not being able to sense him, he was absolutely certain that his master would be nearby. He learned this in the next 4 years of his previous life. Every single time each of his three disciples had a major breakthrough, Meng Chao Ran would act apathetic on the outside, yet would be concerned about the safety and condition of his own disciples. Each time, the master would be dedicatedly and intently watching, guarding his three disciples.

Meng Chao Ran wouldn't ever say anything, yet he only took action. However, in the previous life, by the time Chu Yang had realised what his master went through each time, it was far too late.

How could he pretend to be ignorant of his master's troubles?

Meng Chao Ran laughed loudly and walked out from within Purple Bamboo Forest. He asked, "How did you know I was here?"

Chu Yang smiled, his eyes full of affection. He said, "Each time one of us has a breakthrough, where did you go? When we cultivate, we were never disturbed. When we have a breakthrough, our surroundings were extremely peaceful. There was not even a bug, let alone rodent, snakes… Something like that inside Purple Bamboo Forest, how could it not be surprising?"

Meng Chao Ran smiled happily, "It was your effort. The breakthrough was from your own abilities. This master only silently watched."

Although Meng Chao Ran did not mention anything, he was deeply touched. He was aware that the movements were done intentionally so that he would be able to cultivate and enhance his own self-defence. This set of movements were extremely helpful during cultivation. Meng Chao Ran chose not to mention anything else other than making a mental note of it.

The set of movements that he had done was a treasure. However, he did not know where Chu Yang learnt it from and he did not ask. He believed that everyone had their own secrets to keep and if Chu Yang did not want to tell him, he decided that he would not probe. He respected the privacy of his disciples and Chu Yang was one of them. Knowing that is enough!

…

Meng Chao Ran stood at that area for a moment before he returned. In the days Chu Yang prepared for the breakthrough, how could he have not known? He had carefully observed Chu Yang for many days, leading him to be mentally fatigued.

However, despite Chu Yang just having a breakthrough, he was not sleepy at all.

In the middle of the night, Chu Yang sat by himself at the top of the mountain. Looking into the darkness, his heart throbbed.

Qing Wu, I am now a Martial Warrior! I will be able to cultivate Nine Tribulations to Transcend the Nine Heavens quickly. Then I will have the ability to watch over you and protect you. I will not let you suffer.

Where are you now?

Chu Yang remembered that currently, Qing Wu was only a tender age of 10 years old. Yet Chu Yang could not help but gently smile as he pictured Qing Wu as a child. Probably still a little playful runt? Still in pigtails?

In the previous life, I did not meet Mo Qing Wu until she was nineteen and I was twenty-five.

Thinking about Mo Qing Wu, Chu Yang went back to previous life… He recalled Mo Qing Wu liked purple bamboo, and he, who was reminded of his warm childhood, chose the most purple of bamboo forests to cultivate in. Therefore, he and Mo Qing Wu met for the first time at a purple bamboo forest on the Heavenly Misty Peak of the Nirvana Mountain.

However, Mo Qing Wu was also attacked near Heavenly Misty Peak's purple bamboo forest. It was the place where he and Mo Qing Wu built a few purple bamboo houses together…

There were a few young bamboo shoots… Mo Qing Wu had carefully planted them one by one along the path that he frequently walked. At that time, she said, "Chu Yang, if I die one day, please spread my ashes on this road… so my spirit can be part of it… so that each time you walk through here, you can step on me. I voluntarily let you step on me… even though you might not intend to visit me and only want to see purple bamboo, it would still be good enough for me… I only need to feel your presence even if it's just for a little while… a short while would be good enough."

Qing Wu, Qing Wu…

Chu Yang thought bitterly. There was a gentle smile on his face, yet his eyes were filled with sadness and longing!