The Great Martial Saint!

Chapter 872 The True Meaning of Artistic Conception, Changes in Celestial Phenomena (Seeking Monthly Tickets~)

Chen Ping'an hadn't expected that the Gu family patriarch would want to see him at this time.

However, it was not bad that the other party saw him.

This way, we can take care of Gu Qingcheng's matter at the same time.

This can be considered a perfect ending to this matter.

Gu Qingcheng had treated him well, and his intervention in this matter was a way of repaying their kindness.

Chen Ping'an glanced at the sword at his waist, gladly cupped his hands in greeting, and then followed Elder Hua and Elder Xuan.

The Gu family's backyard was extremely spacious, containing a lakeside garden and numerous mansions. It was still that wooden house and thatched cottage that Chen Ping'an met the Gu family's patriarch, Gu Tianren, there.

Upon seeing him again, Chen Ping'an felt a completely different sensation.

"This is."

Chen Ping'an composed himself, suppressing the shock in his eyes.

Gu Tianren, dressed in a gray linen shirt, stood there like an ordinary middle-aged man. His missing arm made him appear even thinner, adding a touch of desolation to his figure.

However, from Chen Ping'an's perspective, he sensed an indescribable sword intent emanating from Gu Tianren.

Sharp and pure, with no trace of decay.

This kind of sharp and pure quality is hard to sense and moves people unless one reaches a certain threshold.

"Is this the gentle breeze and bright moon?" Chen Ping'an asked incredulously.

He suppressed his emotions and, together with Gu Tianren, bowed in greeting.

"This junior, Chen Ping'an, greets the venerable ancestor."

"I am merely living in seclusion in the back garden. My lifespan is nearing its end, and I am like the setting sun. Young friend, there is no need to mention the words of the ancestor."

Gu Tianren possessed none of the carefree elegance or refined grace one might expect; instead, he exuded a sense of vicissitude and loneliness.

"Young friend, your talent is exceptional, and your brilliance is unparalleled in my life. Reaching the realm of the celestial being is merely a piece of cake for you. If you don't mind, please address me as a fellow Daoist, shall we?"

Gu Tianren's face was weathered, yet a rare smile appeared on his lips. His eyes held a hint of melancholy, yet were so bright they seemed to pierce the heart.

"I dare not refuse my elders' words. I have come to pay my respects to Fellow Daoist Gu."

Chen Ping'an did not refuse and followed Gu Tianren's instructions, cupping his hands again and changing his form of address accordingly.

"Okay." A hint of appreciation appeared on Gu Tianren's face.

Chen Ping'an's cheerful, unpretentious, and easygoing personality earned him his admiration.

"Upright and unyielding in character, yet still free-spirited, just like I was back in my prime!"

"I dare not accept such praise," Chen Ping'an said modestly, without agreeing to the offer.

He was a family member and knew his own situation well; he truly didn't deserve Gu Tianren's praise.

At least, Gu Tianren dared to confront a master cultivator of the Hidden Radiance Realm with his perfected second-stage cultivation. This alone is something Gu Tianren could never do.

unless
Chen Ping'an's gaze sharpened, and the smile on his face faded slightly.

"Judging from your cultivation, young friend, you have already reached the Perfection of Jade Balance, which means you are on the verge of breaking through to the next realm. May I ask if you have any insights into the Dao of Heaven and Man?"

Without much small talk, after clarifying their identities and titles, Gu Tianren got straight to the point.

He no longer referred to himself as "this old man," but instead used "I," and the exchange felt more like a meeting of kindred spirits than guidance from an elder.

Chen Ping'an's heart stirred.

"Please enlighten me, fellow Daoist."

"I wouldn't call it resolving doubts, but rather discussing the Dao." Gu Tianren smiled faintly and then mentioned his insights on the Dao of Heaven and Man.

"Those who are celestial beings perceive the universe and use their spirit and soul as a guide to borrow the power of the universe. They seek from within and from without. From a single perspective, it may seem like they are relying on external forces, but if one thinks deeply, one will realize that celestial beings seek from within, using their own strength to seek the power of the universe. The stronger their own strength, the more abundant the power of the universe."

Therefore, the purpose of Heaven and humanity is to eliminate falsehood and seek truth.

Gu Tianren spoke softly, and Chen Ping'an listened quietly. Gu Tianren had a profound understanding of the Dao of Heaven and Man, and most of his remarks were extremely novel to Chen Ping'an. He also interspersed his remarks with his understanding of swordsmanship, using these examples to illustrate his points in a simple and easy-to-understand way.

Although Chen Ping'an had already reached the realm of celestial beings, he did not find the content boring at all; on the contrary, he felt that much of it was extremely valuable.

The detailed records of martial arts masters in ancient books are ultimately too few. Although he had made considerable preparations and put in a lot of effort, his insights were ultimately inferior to Gu Tianren's nearly thousand years of cultivation experience.

This was undoubtedly a rare benefit for Chen Ping'an. He had already come up with many insights into the theory of the Celestials and Humans. However, much of it remained theoretical, like castles in the air without a foundation, requiring him to gradually explore through continuous practice. Gu Tianren's step, however, greatly accelerated this process.

Of course, Chen Ping'an did consider Gu Tianren's words; he didn't accept them blindly. He used this information to continuously improve his own system, rather than simply cramming it in.

As a Celestial Swordsman capable of withstanding the attacks of cultivators at the third level, Gu Tianren possesses profound insights and his views undoubtedly have high reference value.

"Artistic conception?" During the conversation, Gu Tianren also mentioned the unique artistic conception power of martial arts masters.

“As the senior said, since there are different levels of artistic conception, why not use a standard to measure it, such as defining the realm, and then using it as a reference for judgment? Wouldn’t that be more convenient?” Chen Ping’an asked.

Gu Tianren smiled and replied, "There is some truth to this, and indeed there are some areas where this method is used for judgment. But it has never become the mainstream. Do you know why?"

Why?

"Martial arts masters, by sensing the heavens and earth, can comprehend the principles of the universe, observe its changes, and achieve mastery over time. The principles they comprehend constitute their artistic conception. However, artistic conceptions differ from one another, and the depth of their understanding varies, which can be measured. But if artistic conceptions themselves are divided into large and small, how can they be distinguished? Or rather, the methods of distinction are too complicated, and such a division would be counterproductive!"

"There are different levels of artistic conception?" Chen Ping'an's heart stirred, but he did not ask the question directly. He simply listened quietly.

"Different cultivators have different cultivation paths, different foundations, and when they break through to the Celestial Realm and comprehend the universe, their understanding of the universe will naturally differ, with some understanding being greater than others. Those with a lesser understanding may have a very deep grasp of the universe, but they may not be as profound as those who have just begun to understand the greater understanding. Swordsmen like myself have different cultivation methods, different life experiences, and different levels of mastery. When we comprehend the universe, we all have the understanding of the Celestial Realm, but there are still differences between us."

Gu Tianren explained in simple terms that, just like back then, when he relied on his perfected second realm cultivation to fight against a master cultivator in the Hidden Radiance Realm, he relied on the Celestial Intent that was comparable to that of a master cultivator.

In terms of ruthless and decisive killing, even among cultivators at the highest level, his artistic conception alone makes him a remarkable figure.

This is one of the foundations upon which he relies to fight across borders.

"It's a pity that we fell short of our goal back then." Gu Tianren's eyes couldn't help but show some regret when he talked about the past.

Chen Ping'an observed that, despite this, Gu Tianren's expression remained calm, without much turmoil. He was only looking back on the past without much emotion.

at least
No regrets.

Gu Tianren only briefly mentioned the past before quickly returning to the topic of the concept of harmony between heaven and man.

"As for the matter of artistic conception, firstly, the ownership of artistic conception is different. Although there are different levels of understanding, it is difficult to generalize. There are so many cultivators in the world. Even if there is detailed argumentation, it can only be argued on a small scale and it is difficult to popularize it to all parties."

Secondly, among celestial beings, superiority is determined by realm of cultivation and combat strength; the comprehension of artistic conception is only one aspect, and there's no need to go to great lengths for it.

Chen Ping'an understood Gu Tianren's words. It meant that among martial arts masters, the distinction between superior and inferior could be made using combat strength and realm, without needing further detailed subdivisions. Especially since the division of intent was different from external objects and thus difficult to generalize.

"Furthermore, if there are no hidden injuries or deficiencies, and if one's attainment of artistic conception is sufficient, one may not encounter many obstacles in the cultivation of celestial beings. Once one reaches the corresponding realm, there is not much difference in their understanding of artistic conception. Even if there is a distinction, it is ultimately absurd."

Gu Tianren looked at Chen Ping'an and said calmly, "This is the third reason."

Chen Ping'an understood.

One's level of understanding and comprehension largely determines the bottlenecks and obstacles in cultivation. If one's level of understanding is sufficient, subsequent cultivation will be smooth; if one's comprehension stagnates, one is very likely to encounter a bottleneck.

Over time, any deviation in the artistic conception will quickly be erased by the level of cultivation. Therefore, for martial arts masters, judging their level by artistic conception is not as effective as judging their level of cultivation directly.

It is not only more intuitive, but also more accurate.

As for the difference between realm of understanding and the perception of artistic conception, there may be a time lag between them. But given enough time, the two will eventually synchronize.

Several years, a dozen years, or even several decades—the number of years in between doesn't make much difference in the face of the long lifespan of a martial arts master.

"I see, thank you for clearing up my confusion." Chen Ping'an bowed respectfully.

"It's alright, we're just discussing philosophy."

Gu Tianren waved his hand gently.

"You'll naturally learn about these things once you reach the Celestial Realm and interact with more people. I'm just telling you in advance, it's nothing to worry about."

"Once you reach the Celestial Realm, you'll naturally know, right?" Chen Ping'an thought to himself.

He entered the realm of the Celestial Beings quite some time ago; he has now reached the second level of the Celestial Beings realm, but he still doesn't know anything about these things.

However, upon closer reflection, it becomes clear that although his cultivation had reached the second level of the Celestial Realm, his middle age was ultimately too short for a martial arts Celestial Realm expert.

Strictly speaking, he had never really had any real contact with the Celestial Beings circle. The only time he did come into contact with them, he participated as a seasoned veteran with profound experience, showing absolutely no signs of being a newcomer.

There was no way to discuss the corresponding words.

"Your talent is astonishing. If you were to ascend to the Celestial Realm, your understanding of the Dao of Artistic Conception would likely be extraordinary. With your talent, even the bottlenecks of the Celestial and Human Realms should not be able to stop you. Within a hundred years, you are expected to reach the Celestial Realm of Rainbow Penetration!"
Given time to accumulate experience, you shouldn't encounter any major bottlenecks below the level of "Celestial Being and Humanity."

Gu Tianren gave it a very high evaluation.

Based on previous years' Hidden Dragon Rankings, the top-ranked Hidden Dragon prodigies are generally considered to have the potential to become martial arts masters. Some of the very top-ranked individuals even have the possibility of breaking through the Pivot Light Barrier and reaching the Rainbow Penetration Realm.

However, while it may be possible, whether one can actually achieve it depends on the individual. Being ranked at the top does not guarantee success. There have been those who, despite their potential, relied on others and, through a combination of opportunity and perseverance, overcame numerous obstacles to achieve great spiritual cultivation.

Of course, broadly speaking, those ranked higher are more likely to achieve far greater success in the future than those ranked lower.

Gu Tianren's assessment and expectations for Chen Ping'an clearly indicate that he believes Chen Ping'an will not encounter too many bottlenecks before reaching the Celestial Realm. Even if he does, they won't be able to stop him.

Given enough time, one should be able to cultivate to the point of perfect enlightenment in both the Celestial and Human realms.

Such an achievement, even during the weaker period of the Hidden Dragon Ranking, would not have been something even the number one Hidden Dragon might not have dared to say for sure that they could reach this level.

Gu Tianren's judgment clearly shows that he has a very high opinion of Chen Ping'an.

"With your talent, if you accumulate enough foundation, you have a good chance of becoming a Grand Master!" Gu Tianren looked at Chen Ping'an, a complex expression flashing across his face.

Chen Ping'an pondered deeply, but outwardly declined, offering only a few humble words.

He carefully considered the relevant information.

In martial arts cultivation, each realm is a new world, and each step presents a new threshold.

When you first come to martial arts, you must first cultivate your strength.

Once one's strength is achieved, one can cultivate internal energy.

After internal energy is generated, it becomes momentum. When momentum is generated, it shakes the mind and intimidates the spirit.

After momentum comes intention, the will of a master. All techniques and combat power are based on intention.

A firm will can increase combat power, but an unstable will can easily backfire on the technique.

After meaning comes artistic conception, the artistic conception of heaven and man.

From the beginning of the realm of oneness with the heavens to the realm of the great heavens and man, the artistic conception will be consistent throughout.

Normally, the artistic conception and the realm of understanding go hand in hand, but there are also exceptional individuals who can perceive a deeper artistic conception in advance.

Gu Tianren, standing before us, had comprehended the sword intent of the third realm while still at the second realm of cultivation.

Its artistic conception is also quite remarkable among the three realms.

Although his cultivation level was weak, with the support of his mental aura, he was strong enough to withstand a master cultivator at the third level!
If so
Chen Pingan suddenly thought of Hua Ruyue.

So, to what extent has her artistic conception reached?

To possess such terrifying combat power at the Grandmaster level, and to have such profound understanding of the art, is something I'm now quite apprehensive about.
Chen Ping'an recalled the scene at that time. Hua Ruyue's artistic conception at that time seemed to be not only a matter of the depth of understanding, but also the artistic conception itself, which was as awe-inspiring as the golden sun, with a sense of overlooking the world and suppressing all directions.

They are born with an extremely terrifying sense of oppression.

And the artistic conception it achieved, upon closer reflection now, seems somewhat unbelievable.

“Mysterious light cultivates momentum, grandmaster cultivates intent, and the realm of heaven and man is beyond my understanding. What lies beyond the realm of intent?” Chen Ping’an asked calmly, pondering and summarizing his own understanding.

"Beyond the realm of artistic conception lies the true meaning." Gu Tianren, his face weathered by time, calmly answered Chen Ping'an's question.

"The true meaning?" Chen Ping'an's heart stirred, and he memorized this information.

Gu Tianren glanced at Chen Ping'an: "The true meaning is the principle of rules. Such profound mystery has touched upon the origin of heaven and earth. Even for a Great Celestial Being of the Fourth Realm, it is extremely difficult to reach. To be able to touch the true meaning is to be a strong person even among Great Celestial Beings! As for truly comprehending it..."

Gu Tianren paused for a moment: "Even among the top experts on the Celestial Ranking, not every one of them can comprehend it!"

"The Great Dao is extremely difficult. Even a wisp of this power that touches the very essence of heaven and earth is enough to overwhelm all living beings, making it hard for them to breathe!"

Gu Tianren's eyes were somewhat deep.

Chen Ping'an listened attentively and wrote down everything.

"The true meaning?"

Could the strange power contained within the dreamlike purple light in the inner palace of yesteryear be the true meaning?

Chen Ping'an didn't know.

But on his long journey, he saw more worlds and more possibilities.

Gu Tianren and Chen Pingan talked for nearly an hour, and Chen Pingan finally understood why Gu Tianren had come to see him this time.

It's called an exchange, but in reality, it's about resolving doubts.

To offer guidance and resolve doubts is a great kindness in imparting knowledge.

Gu Tianren's goodwill towards him was undoubtedly very clear. Under these circumstances, if the matter of postponing the engagement were brought up...
After hesitating for a moment, Chen Ping'an finally revealed the matter of postponing the engagement to Gu Tianren.

This time, he did not address each other as fellow Daoists.

"Ping An is about to take up his post in Beishan. The journey to Canglong is long, and the marriage is imminent. He does not wish to disappoint his beloved, so he requests that the marriage be postponed. He hopes that the Ancestor will grant his request."

"No matter where Ping An is or what her marriage is like, the Gu family will always be a benefactor on Ping An's path of self-cultivation, and a benefactor that Ping An will remember for a lifetime. The bond between Ping An and the Gu family will never change."

Chen Ping'an spoke earnestly and gave compelling reasons, but the postponement of such an engagement is no small matter anywhere. Not to mention, given Chen Ping'an's current situation.

Based on his last sentence, anyone could tell that the engagement might be subject to change, and the postponement was merely a buffer to save face for both sides.

I thought that after listening, Gu Tianren would show resentment or even fly into a rage and lash out at me.

Unexpectedly, Gu Tianren simply gave him a deep look before saying "okay".

The young girl, carrying a brocade box, walked into the top floor of the palace. She wore a long, moon-white dress and a golden hairband.

Inside the palace, a serene fairy, dressed in a moon-white palace gown, sits playing the zither.

"He gave it to me?" The beautiful woman's clear eyes fell on the brocade box in the girl's hand.

"Mm." The girl nodded.

Upon opening the brocade box, a vibrant red color catches the eye; inside is an exquisite bracelet.

It is woven from countless red threads, with a concentric knot on it. The design is exquisite and the details are beautiful. It is clear that it was made with care.

"It's quite beautiful," the fairy commented coolly.

The girl nodded in agreement, took out the bracelet, and put it on her wrist.

Her fair wrists were translucent, like frost or snow, and adorned with a red string, making them appear even more gentle and lustrous.

In the darkness, it seemed as if a touch of human emotion had been added.

We were bound by a red thread long ago, and will stay together until our hair turns white.

"He made it himself," the girl added earnestly, tying a red string around her neck.

"Is it worth it?" The fairy's expression was somewhat complicated.

"Mm." The girl nodded.

Looking at the determined girl before her, the fairy's eyes trembled slightly, and her skirt billowed out like the moonlight.

hum~
The stars are dazzling and the sky is vast and boundless.

The girl reached out and gently touched the fairy's brow.

The prosperity and fortune are bestowed upon her from the unseen realm; her destiny and fortune are all tied to the celestial being.

hum~
The fairy's black hair cascaded down like a waterfall, her skirt swayed lightly, as if she were about to ride the wind and ascend to heaven.

The girl's eyes were aloof and cold, her skirt fluttering in the breeze, and there was not a trace of longing in her eyes.

The countless stars have all dimmed. The favor of the Great Dao has vanished like smoke.

The girl looked up, and the red rope stood out.

Heaven and earth are the chessboard, all things are like pieces of chess, and so is her life.
No need for a next life! Only this moment matters!
Right and wrong, success and failure, all depend on this world!
If one dies and one's cultivation dissipates, then...
Die dead!

"The heavens are about to change!"

Throughout the four borders of the dynasty, in ancient sacred sites and academies, and among hidden sects and families, countless people paled as they gazed at the Heavenly Secrets Instrument before them.

The celestial compass, the divination instrument, and the armillary sphere were all undergoing dramatic changes, proclaiming the extreme unrest of this moment.

"The celestial phenomena have changed!"

Inside the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion, everyone looked up, gazing at the changing celestial phenomena.

What does this signify?

"The secrets of heaven are unpredictable, unfathomable, and unfathomable!" In the Observatory Pavilion, an old man stroked his beard and sighed, looking lost in thought.

"A lifetime of arduous study, delving into astrology and divination, only to end up with a superficial understanding. What does it amount to in the true Dao? How pitiful, how lamentable."

(End of this chapter)