Time Travel: I'm a Flower Thief

Hua Youwu didn't hold back and told Xie Xiaoyi everything without reservation.

"You'd better remember this, kid."

The first realm: Peering into the mysteries of the stars.

Once you reach this level, you can internally observe your meridians and sense the flow of Qi. No matter how exquisite his moves are, they will not be able to hide their flaws in your eyes.

The second realm, Moon Ruins Shattered by Dust.

Internal force transforms from concentrated to ethereal, and the protective energy becomes formless. Unlike palm force, one can condense energy into a blade even without a sword in hand.

Holding a sword in one's hand, one can even control the sword with one's qi, cutting through metal and stone as easily as slicing tofu.

"Peering into the profound is anticipating the enemy's moves; breaking through the dust is taking control of the situation—these two realms are the thresholds for transcending the mundane in martial arts."

Awesome martial arts?

Xie Xiaoyi seemed to suddenly see a whole new world, which made him freeze on the spot.

After a long pause, he pressed on, "And what about the third realm? What is the third realm like?"

"The third realm, 'Sunlight illuminates the darkness'."

This is the pinnacle of martial arts, with internal energy as vast as the ocean, flowing endlessly.

Every gesture can influence the surrounding energy, creating a self-contained "inner domain".

Those who enter my domain, even those at the peak of the Profound Realm or the Breaking Through the Mortal Realm, will be suppressed and restrained.

At this point, Hua Youwu raised his gourd and took another swig of wine, his tone carrying a hint of advice:

"If you can reach the 'Moon Ruins Breaking Dust' realm and avenge your master, it might not be a pipe dream."

Xie Xiaoyi originally thought that the ninth-grade "Vajra Holy Guard" was the pinnacle of martial arts.

With his fifth-grade cultivation level, reaching the ninth grade in this lifetime would be a pipe dream.

Hearing about these three realms now, I realize that my previous knowledge of martial arts cultivation was truly like a frog in a well.

"Moon Ruins Shattered by Dust?" This disciple... is determined to step into this realm!

Hua Youwu sighed, which reminded him of his apprentice, Mei Xingyao.

That's a martial arts prodigy, one in a century.

At seventeen, he was already at the ninth rank of "Vajra Saintly Ruler" realm; at eighteen, he entered the "Starry Sky Mystery" realm; and before he was twenty, he reached the "Moon Ruins Breaking Dust" realm...

Unfortunately, he "lost his life in a fit of rage for a beautiful woman," and died at Luocheng Pass because of Xie Lingyun.

Ugh!

If the old man hadn't made a mistake due to drinking, and if I had gone to help him back then, the outcome might have been different...

Seeing him staring blankly into space, Xie Xiaoyi couldn't help but lean closer, her eyes filled with longing as she asked:

"Then, Grandmaster Uncle, you haven't mentioned Earth and Heaven yet?"

Hua Youwu snapped out of his thoughts, glanced at him sideways, and found his thirst for knowledge quite amusing.

"The immortals seek the Dao, and humanity and nature unite—figure it out for yourselves."

You wouldn't understand even if I explained. Let's think about how to get into the ninth rank first.

"Grandmaster Uncle, have any people in this world actually ever stepped into the Upper Five Realms, which are above the Ninth Rank?"

Still asking?

Does this kid think I'm making this up?

Hua Youwu looked at Xie Xiaoyi, a smile with a touch of江湖气 (jianghu, a kind of chivalrous spirit) tugging at the corners of his mouth:

"What do you mean, 'no'? Let me ask you, in this martial arts world today, who possesses truly outstanding martial arts skills?"

Without a second thought, Xie Xiaoyi blurted out, "Of course, it's the Four Grandmasters."

"Oh? Which four?"

"Grandmaster Uncle, I have been traveling in the martial world for a long time, how could I not know this?"

"A sword comes from the west, Cui Juqing; the wind whispers in the north, Wang Shaobo; the swordsman of the southern mountains, Meng Dongye; the pure shadow of the eastern sea, Xie Lingyun."

"Heh, you've got some sense, kid."

"Then, Grandmaster Uncle, those four have reached the peak of the ninth rank, right?"

"Ninth rank?" Hua Youwu laughed heartily.

"Let's start with Wang Shaobo from Beijing Film Academy. That kid was born with a pair of phoenix-blood eyes. He's blind, but his ears are sharper than a dog's."

He can detect flaws in people's moves and gaps in the flow of energy, truly reaching the peak of "Starry Sky Mystery".

Meng Dongye of Nanling, the swordsman of "One Man, One City".

He was a man of few words, having stayed in Nanling City for decades without moving an inch. His sword energy had been honed to the point of being tangible, and he had long since entered the 'Moon Ruins Breaking Dust' realm.

"And then there's Xie Lingyun from the East Sea, 'The beauty of the East Sea is breathtaking.'"

When she was mentioned, Hua Youwu's tone became less calm, carrying a hint of melancholy that was hard to define.

"Her sword is a sword of love; when she is obsessed with something, her sword intent becomes stagnant."

Stuck in the late stage of the 'Starry Sky Glimpses' realm, his cultivation level is the lowest among the four, but if it really comes down to a fight, he's not someone to be trifled with.

Of these four people, Xie Xiaoyi was the only one who had met Cui Juqing, so he asked anxiously:

"Grandmaster Uncle, where is Senior Cui Juqing?"

"Xi Kunlun Cui Juqing?"

"A sword comes from the west, and the snow of Kunlun Mountain melts away." That guy is a madman; his sword intent can condense into an inner domain spanning a hundred miles, and he has long since reached the "Sun Shining Through the Netherworld" realm.

Xie Xiaoyi was shocked and was about to ask another question.

Hua Youwu, however, thought of what was ahead.

"By the way, Cui Juqing also has a junior brother named Shen Beiluo, who is known in the martial arts world as 'One Sword Under Heaven'."

This kid doesn't show off, but his cultivation is in no way inferior to those four grandmasters.

As for which realm he has reached?

Hehe, no one has ever seen him use his full strength.

Xie Xiaoyi had seen it before, and it was the "Heaven-Shattering Sword" that was truly awe-inspiring.

"Grandmaster Uncle, I truly witnessed Senior Shen Beiluo wielding his sword atop Mount Kunlun!"

Hua Youwu raised an eyebrow and let out a hiccup: "Oh? That kid actually dared to show off his skills in front of the juniors?"

"It's more than just showing off a little!" Xie Xiaoyi said excitedly, his eyes shining.

That night was supposed to be a rare five-planet alignment, but it was completely obscured by dark clouds.

Senior Shen stood atop Luoxia Peak and with a single sword stroke, cleaved through three hundred miles of dark clouds!

That sword intent was simply... simply no different from that of a legendary sword immortal!

Xie Xiaoyi swallowed hard and said impatiently:

"Grandmaster Uncle, with just this one sword strike, has Senior Shen also reached the realm of 'Sun Shining Through the Netherworld'?"

Upon hearing this, Hua Youwu chuckled and reached out to tap his forehead again.

"You're still too green, kid."

The Shenbei Luona Sword looks intimidating, but it actually borrows the energy of heaven and earth from the alignment of the five planets.

He also had the advantage of being at the summit of Kunlun Mountain, but he was only at the 'Moon Ruins Breaking Dust' realm, and he simply used that advantage to elevate his sword intent a bit.

So that's how it is?

That's pretty awesome.

Xie Xiaoyi rubbed his forehead, which had been throbbed from the knock: "Grandmaster Uncle, what level have you reached in your cultivation?"

Hua Youwu suddenly paused, looked up at the night outside the window, and gazed into the distance.

Ugh!

I, an old man, was once at the "Sun Shining Through the Dark" realm, and even touched the threshold of "Earth Immortal Seeking the Dao".

But the child died in battle at Luocheng Pass, which left me with lifelong regret and clouded my Dao heart, causing my realm to fall back to "Moon Ruins Breaking Dust".

For nearly twenty years, there has been no progress whatsoever.

He slowly raised the gourd.

"When it comes to drinking, nothing beats the pleasure of a cup of wine."

Xie Xiaoyi didn't press the matter further, but secretly pondered to himself.

It turns out that Cui Juqing's cultivation level was the highest among the four grandmasters.

Going to the Kunlun Heavenly Sword Sect to learn swordsmanship is definitely the right choice.

"Grandmaster Uncle, Senior Cui Juqing and my late master were close friends."

He said that he would accept any disciple of his late master who went to Kunlun Mountain to learn swordsmanship.

Upon hearing this, Hua Youwu placed the wine gourd on the stone table, a defiant glint in his eyes:

"You've learned my Eight Sword Styles!"

With my sword skills, I roamed the martial world for decades without encountering an opponent. How could I possibly lose to Cui Juqing?

Why go to Kunlun!

The world of martial arts is the best training ground. I will then pass on the "Three Forms of the Great Dragon Technique" to you, and you can travel the world with my Kenpachi sword.

"Having honed his sword intent in a world of righteousness and integrity, how could he possibly lose to Xi Kunlun?"