Family Rise: Beginning with Grandfather.

Chapter 1050 The Four Realms of the Gun Dao
The problem Yang Mingcheng and his group encountered was that they couldn't find their own path.

Actually, this isn't their problem, but rather a problem that most martial artists who have reached the peak of the Golden Body Realm face.

This problem will not affect their breakthrough, but it will affect their future in terms of Daoist understanding.

Is Dao intent important to martial artists?

It's important in some ways, and not important in others.

It is important because after comprehending the Dao, one can achieve twice the result with half the effort in cultivation and be superior to others in battle.

It's not important because not comprehending the Dao won't affect cultivation; one can still cultivate to the Divine Soul Realm.

Take the Divine Soul Realm martial artists as an example. Lin Daoyuan's swordsmanship is very strong, and he has a deep understanding of swordsmanship. However, Yue'e has not comprehended her own Dao intent, or rather, the moves and abilities she has mastered all come from the cultivation techniques, rather than from her own enlightenment.

Similarly, Ding Qiu forged his own path, the path of the sword, while Yu Qingyi had no path of her own.

This is not to say that Ding Qiu's future is necessarily better than Yu Qingyi's. In fact, Yang Zhengshan has a higher opinion of Yu Qingyi in terms of understanding the Dao.

Because martial artists at the Divine Soul Realm are moving closer to becoming immortal cultivators, they will gradually transform into immortal cultivators.

Although Yu Qingyi did not forge her own path in martial arts, she began to comprehend the Daoist arts of immortal cultivators long ago, namely the ability to control plant growth.

This ability is useless, especially for the former Yu Qingyi. It's flashy and fancy, but aside from looking magical, it's practically useless.

However, for Yu Qingyi now, this ability will become her greatest reliance.

Because Yu Qingyi's soul strength is increasing and her true essence is transforming into magic power, she will become a celestial cultivator. She will be able to use the spells and supernatural powers of celestial cultivators, and naturally, she will be able to comprehend the Dao of celestial cultivators.

Especially since she cultivates the wood element, Yang Zhengshan could teach her step by step.

And what about Ding Qiu?

There are almost no sword cultivators among immortal cultivators; in fact, Yang Zhengshan has never seen an immortal cultivator who specializes in sword cultivation.

Therefore, Ding Qiu's path depends on himself; very few people in this world can guide him.

Yu Qingyi's path has many things to refer to, many experiences left by predecessors, and the hands-on guidance of her teacher Yang Zhengshan.

What about Yang Mingcheng and the others?
They lacked Ding Qiu's talent and were unable to forge their own path.

Unlike Yu Qingyi, who had already touched upon the magical arts and supernatural powers of immortality long ago.

Of course, they can also ignore the Dao intent, since it won't affect their breakthrough to the Divine Soul Realm anyway.

But then again, if they could comprehend the Dao, why wouldn't they try to comprehend it?
So after discussing it, they went to find Yang Zhengshan, hoping he could point them in the right direction.

However, after observing their marksmanship and martial arts techniques, Yang Zhengshan discovered an even bigger problem.

The path of martial arts is too hasty!
If the path to immortality is a broad and wide road, then the path of martial arts is a mountain path.

Initially, the path of martial arts was quite wide, but as one's realm increases, the path of martial arts becomes increasingly narrow, until in the end only the path of the sword remains.

The path narrows as you go, and although it will eventually merge into the broad road of immortality, it will be full of detours, rugged and bumpy.

Even after merging into the Immortal Path, the Martial Path will be severed, and one must completely integrate into the Immortal Path.

Ding Qiu's path of the sword ended on the path of immortality. If he wants to continue on this path, he can only forge his own way.

Yu Qingyi, on the other hand, was about to completely integrate into the path of immortality, transforming from a martial artist into an immortal cultivator.

There is one exception: the way of the sword. Only the way of the sword is unobstructed.

What about the gun path?

Yang Zhengshan fell into deep thought.

Martial arts originated ten thousand years ago. Ten thousand years ago, there was no martial arts in this world, only the body-refining path of immortals. Martial arts gradually evolved from that path.

What was Kendo originally like?
Who stepped onto the path of the sword?

Heavenly Sword True Lord?

Obviously not, the Hall of Transmission of Skills in the Relics contains many techniques related to swordsmanship.

In other words, the way of the sword already existed ten thousand years ago.

The atmosphere inside the hall fell silent. Yang Zhengshan stroked his beard, deep in thought. The three brothers, Yang Mingcheng, Yang Mingzhi, and Yang Minghao, looked at each other, not understanding what Yang Zhengshan was thinking. However, they dared not make a sound to disturb him and could only sit quietly, waiting for Yang Zhengshan to come to his senses.

After a long while, Yang Zhengshan suddenly stood up and paced back and forth in the hall.

If the way of the sword is acceptable, why can't the way of the knife be acceptable?

If one day Ding Qiu becomes a Golden Core cultivator and reaches an even higher level, wouldn't he be paving a new path for the Dao of the Sword?

Similarly, why can't gunnery be the same?
He has returned to the path of the gun, hoping to forge a new one!
Pioneering a new path is difficult, but that's not important. He can be a pioneer and try it out first. Even if he fails, it won't have much impact on him because he's not following the path of gunnery.

He's just wasting some time and energy on gunplay.

Thinking of this, Yang Zhengshan came back to his senses, looked at Yang Mingcheng and the other two, and smiled, "I know about the problem you're facing, but it will take some time. You should continue your cultivation step by step and break through to the Divine Soul Realm first!"

Whether or not they can comprehend the Dao will not affect Yang Mingcheng and the others' breakthrough to the Divine Soul Realm, so Yang Zhengshan is not in a hurry.

"Yes!" Yang Mingcheng replied, then added, "Father, is it very troublesome? If it is, we can do it ourselves slowly!"

Yang Zhengshan waved his hand and laughed, "It's not much trouble. I've recently gained some insights into the art of the spear, so you can focus on your training!"

"Since you're here today, why don't you stay for dinner tonight? I'll have someone call Mingzhao over!"

Upon hearing this, Yang Mingcheng smiled sheepishly.

After a simple yet heartwarming family dinner, Yang Zhengshan quickly immersed himself in the integration of gun-related technologies.

Swordsmanship, knife-wielding, and spear-wielding all originate from martial arts.

Yang Zhengshan had never practiced swordsmanship, nor was he skilled in knife techniques; his only expertise lay in spear techniques.

From the Thunderclap Spear to the Sole Spear Intent, and now to the Void-Breaking Spear, although Yang Zhengshan put aside the Way of the Spear in between, he is still extremely familiar with the Way of the Spear.

The Void-Piercing Strike is essentially an evolved version of the Thunderclap Strike; both are based on the "Unique Spear Intent." Man and spear become one; I am the spear, and the spear is me; everything in the world exists because of me.

Yang Zhengshan once called it the Way of Martial Arts.

To put it simply, I am the foundation of this world, its center. Because of my existence, everything in this world exists. If I cease to exist, everything in this world will disappear.

This is a very extreme concept, and it is precisely because of its extreme nature that the man and the gun become one.

This is different from the Daoist principle of immortality, which is to sense, comprehend, and integrate with the universe.

The two are like going in opposite directions.

But it's not actually going in the opposite direction; it's about the perception of oneself and the world.

"The Tao that can be told is not the eternal Tao. Heaven and earth are the Tao, and I am also the Tao!"

"All things in heaven and earth are illusions, only I am the root of the spear's intent. Breaking through all the shackles of the world's spear principles, I use my true heart as the blade, my soul as the shaft, and my blood and qi as the tassel. I do not respect ancient methods, nor do I follow the way of heaven. Once the spear is unleashed, it becomes my law."

Yang Zhengshan was immersed in organizing and comprehending the art of spear fighting. Sometimes he would ponder for months in a quiet room, and other times he would find an open space to practice his spear techniques and verify his conjectures. Sometimes he would even go to the Hall of Transmission to examine various techniques and refer to and summarize the experiences of his predecessors.

"The first realm of spear technique is Thunderclap. With eyes that are invincible, heart that is fearless, and spear that never turns back, it breaks the notion that 'a strong enemy is invincible,' making the spear's momentum as blazing as the sun passing by, leaving no room for evasion."

Based on his own understanding of martial arts and spearmanship, he summarized the first realm of spearmanship as the Thunderclap Spear.

"The second realm of the gun way is 'I am the only one,' with heaven and earth as the target and all living beings as the target. Where my gun points is the bullseye. All things are born because of me, and they will also perish because of me!"

He innovated with his unique spear intent, establishing the second realm of spear technique: the Way of the Self.

"The third realm of spear technique breaks through the void, where the void and the real are indistinguishable. The spear penetrates the source, the void gives rise to the real spear, the real spear breaks through the illusion, and one spear determines the true reality."

He deduced the third realm of spear technique from the newly comprehended Void-Breaking Spear, which is Void-Breaking, but also contains the transformation between reality and illusion.

"The pinnacle of spearmanship!"

"As long as I am there, the gun is there; as long as I die, the gun will live on. With a single thought, ten thousand guns will be born. By abandoning the boundaries between 'me and gun,' I enter the world, and the gun merges with the world. With a wave of my hand, grass and trees can become guns, and flowing light can become guns."

In the end, he referenced the techniques of many predecessors, from martial arts techniques to immortal techniques, and then to sword techniques, thus creating the ultimate realm of spear techniques.

This is his conjecture, and also his deduction based on his own understanding. It may not be very accurate, but it should be a feasible new path.

"From thunderclap to shatter fear to absolute dominance, from breaking through the void to achieving immortality, the four realms are unified, thus reaching the state of 'one spear breaks through the Dao, and all laws submit.'"

"This is not that the gun follows my will, but that I am the will of the gun, and the will of the gun is the will of heaven and earth."

Amidst the towering mountains, Yang Zhengshan stood atop a solitary peak, holding the Thunderfire Spear, gazing directly at the sky.

A gentle breeze blew, causing his robes to flutter. The spear in his hand stood straight and tall, as did his body.

"I am the intent of the gun, and the intent of the gun is heaven and earth."

"Gun out!"

Yang Zhengshan suddenly thrust out with his spear. This thrust looked ordinary, without any fancy moves, just a simple thrust from bottom to top.

But when the spearhead was pointed, the surrounding world seemed to tremble, and everything seemed to sprout sharp spearheads.

The grass and trees are like spears, pointing straight to the sky.

The rocks trembled, as if they might burst forth at any moment.

The spiritual energy of heaven and earth gathered, and countless invisible spearheads covered the surrounding area for hundreds of miles.

The spearheads stood like mountains and forests, their fierce intent like waves and tides.

"One shot shatters the Dao, I am the only one who reigns supreme. I am born the soul of the gun, I die the spirit of the gun. If the heavens betray me, I will defy the heavens; if the earth betrays me, I will shatter the earth; if all living beings oppose me, I will destroy all living beings. This is the Dao of the gun that is unique to me."

Yang Zhengshan murmured to himself, a slight smile curving his lips, before bursting into laughter.

"Hahaha~~~"

Loud laughter echoed between heaven and earth, grass and trees swayed in the wind, mountains and rocks were silent, and the spiritual energy of heaven and earth transformed into nothingness, wandering in the gentle breeze.

His sharp edge was concealed, his Daoist intent receded, and only hearty laughter echoed.

The idea of ​​defying the heavens, shattering the earth, and annihilating all living beings is a joke. Yang Zhengshan cannot defy the heavens, shatter the earth, or annihilate all living beings. However, his claim of being the only one who reigns supreme in the art of spear fighting is true.

"It's a pity that this shot can only be used in the Spirit Source Land. Once I leave the Spirit Source Land, I can't use it anymore!" Yang Zhengshan held the Thunderfire Spear horizontally in front of him, stroking the gun with a regretful expression.

He had just mobilized the spiritual energy within a hundred miles and condensed the Daoist essence of the entire world to unleash this move, "Only I Am Heaven and Earth."

The phrase "I am the sole ruler of this world" means that I am the only master of this world. If others were here, they would feel as if the world itself were against them.

Like a domain, Yang Zhengshan's domain covered an area of ​​hundreds of miles. Yang Zhengshan could transform everything within the domain into his spearhead and spear intent, including the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth.

Yang Zhengshan was able to achieve this not because he had made great progress in his understanding of the Dao, but because he was the master and spirit of the Immortal Palace of Life, and he was able to do so by borrowing the power of the Immortal Palace of Life.

If he were to leave the Immortal Palace, he would be in no way able to do this.

Of course, he didn't come away empty-handed this time either.

Summarizing the four realms of the spear technique not only gave him considerable insights into the spear technique but also gave him a clear understanding of it.

"I can consider myself a pioneer of the way of the gun!"

Yang Zhengshan put away the Thunderfire Gun, feeling a great sense of accomplishment.

Although the four realms of spearmanship still have many flaws, being able to create a new path is an unprecedented experience for him.

After calming his somewhat excited emotions, Yang Zhengshan flashed back to the quiet room of the Hall of Longevity and recorded all his insights on a jade slip.

A few days later, he compiled all the contents of the four realms of spear technique into a new set of skills.

The technique is called the Four Realms of Spear Technique.

(End of this chapter)