Martial Arts Secret Realm: Only I Can Know the Plot?

For the next two days, Sun Fan did not go out.

He locked himself in the training room in the other courtyard, and apart from eating and sleeping, he practiced the Shenzhao Scripture.

When Ding Dian left, he left him all his insights and experiences from the Divine Illumination Scripture.

The notes were very detailed, including the key points of each level of cultivation, possible problems, and solutions. Sun Fan read them page by page, pondered each word, and combined them with his own cultivation experience to review the Divine Illumination Scripture's techniques in his mind.

He discovered something.

The cultivation of the Divine Illumination Scripture is completely different from ordinary internal energy cultivation.

Ordinary internal energy cultivation begins at the dantian, travels through the meridians, returns to the dantian, and repeats in a cycle, accumulating strength gradually. Shenzhao Jing, on the other hand, begins at the heart, travels throughout the body, and returns to the heart; with each cycle, it strengthens the heart's function.

The heart is the most important of the five internal organs and the source of qi and blood. A strong heart leads to abundant qi and blood throughout the body. Abundant qi and blood, in turn, accelerates the generation of internal energy. This creates a positive cycle.

But the most powerful aspect of the Divine Illumination Sutra is not this.

Ding Dian wrote a passage in his notes: "When you reach the third level of the Divine Illumination Scripture, your heart meridians are open and your qi and blood flow like a tide."

Sun Fan is currently at this stage.

He closed his eyes and could feel a warm current flowing slowly through his chest. It wasn't strong, but it was pure, like a spring of water, flowing continuously.

According to the realm classification of common martial arts manuals, it can be divided into five levels.

The first level is the initial glimpse into the essence. One can sense the internal power of the Divine Illumination Scripture within the body and guide its circulation.

The second level represents a slight achievement. Internal energy can operate autonomously without deliberate guidance.

The third level is integration and unification. The heart and meridians are unblocked, qi and blood flow like a tide, and internal strength is generated spontaneously.

The fourth level is the culmination of mastery. Internal energy fills the entire body, all meridians are open, and every move is terrifyingly powerful. The internal energy is incredibly pure, capable of blocking the intrusion of various foreign internal energies.

The fifth level, unprecedented in history. A miraculous resurrection.

Ding Dian practiced his whole life, but he only reached the threshold of the fourth realm, and probably didn't even stand firm on it.

Sun Fan practiced for a month and reached the second level.

It's not that he's more talented than Ding Dian, it's that his foundation is more solid.

For twenty years, he only practiced basic sword techniques, combined with his previous rudimentary internal energy cultivation methods. Although this did not help increase his internal strength, his solid foundation allowed him to learn very quickly.

He knew that the transition from the second to the third level was a hurdle. Ding Dian had written it clearly in his notes—this level required a special opportunity. It wasn't something that could be overcome through hard work alone; it required a certain catalyst.

Don't rush

On the third day, Dong Dahai brought new news.

"Squad leader, Blood Blade Ancestor is heading west with Di Yun and Shui Sheng. Shui Dai, Lu Tianshu, and Liu Chengfeng are chasing after them, but Blood Blade Ancestor is very cunning. He deliberately chooses the difficult roads and has almost caught up with them several times, but he has managed to escape each time."

Sun Fan nodded, unsurprised.

"There's one more thing," Dong Dahai said. "After Shui Sheng's cousin, Wang Xiaofeng, recovered from his injuries, he led a group of people to search for Shui Sheng everywhere."

Sun Fan's brows twitched slightly.

Wang Xiaofeng is an interesting character in the original novel. He and Shui Sheng were childhood sweethearts, but after Shui Sheng was kidnapped by the Blood Saber Ancestor, he began to doubt her innocence. In the end, when Shui Sheng returned, he abandoned her.

"Let's leave Wang Xiaofeng's matter aside for now," Sun Fan said. "Keep a close eye on Blood Saber Ancestor's movements. He's heading west, and he'll pass through the vicinity of Jingzhou sooner or later."

"You mean—"

"Jingzhou is the only way to the west." Sun Fan stood up, walked to the wall, and looked at the map hanging on the wall. "If Blood Blade Ancestor wants to return to Qinghai, he can't bypass Jingzhou. Shui Dai and the others will chase him to Jingzhou as well."

He turned around and looked at Dong Dahai: "At that time, everyone will gather in Jingzhou."

Dong Dahai's pupils contracted slightly: "Squad leader, you mean—you're going to resolve all the problems in Jingzhou all at once?"

Sun Fan's lips curled slightly: "Is there a problem?"

Dong Dahai was silent for a moment, then shook his head: "No. It's just—"

"Just what?"

"There are just too many people," Dong Dahai said. "Blood Saber Ancestor, Shui Dai, Lu Tianshu, Liu Chengfeng, Hua Tiegan, Fierce Tiger, plus us. With so many people crammed into Jingzhou, a slight mishap could lead to a chaotic battle."

"A chaotic battle is good." Sun Fan walked to the window and looked at the sky outside.

"It's more lively when there are more people."

The next morning, Sun Fan changed into a newly made blue robe, his hair was neatly combed, and he had an ordinary long sword hanging at his waist. He waited at the city gate with Dong Dahai and Red Wolf.

Waiting with him were Shen Zhaowu, the second young master of the Shen family, and the garrison troops of Jingzhou City.

The city of Jingzhou was just waking up in the early morning. The city gates were wide open, and early risers carried their wares in and out, with vendors selling vegetables, breakfast items, and firewood, their cries rising and falling. Sun Fan stood at the city gate, looking at the end of the official road, his expression calm.

Dong Dahai stood behind him, his hand on the gun handle at his waist, his eyes constantly scanning the surroundings. Red Wolf leaned against the city wall, a blade of grass dangling from his mouth, swinging his legs listlessly.

"Squad leader, do you think they'll really come in from the south gate?" Red Wolf spat out the grass and replaced it with a new one.

"Yes," Sun Fan said. "The South Gate is the closest to the post station. Hua Tiegan is a man who cares about appearances; he wouldn't come in through a remote gate."

"If he wants to claim the moral high ground, he has to do it openly and honestly."

"So, we'll just wait for him here openly and honestly."

Red Wolf pursed his lips and didn't ask any more questions.

Half an hour later, a group of people appeared on the official road.

Twenty swift horses, all chestnut red, clattered their hooves in unison like drumbeats. At the head of the procession were two men—a middle-aged man in a royal blue brocade robe with a long beard, none other than Hua Tiegan; and a young man in a moon-white long gown with a stern face, none other than the fierce tiger Yan Gaotian.

Hua Tiegan saw people standing at the city gate in the distance, so he reined in his horse and slowed down.

"Jingzhou City is just ahead," he said to Yan Gaotian. "Are you sure your enemy is here?"

Yan Gaotian's gaze swept across the city gate, lingering on Sun Fan for a moment before his pupils suddenly contracted.

"It's him." His voice was very low, as if it were being squeezed out of his throat. "The one in the blue robe at the city gate is Sun Fan."

Hua Tiegan followed his gaze and saw a young scholar standing at the city gate, his expression calm, with even a slight smile on his lips.

"That's all?" Hua Tiegan asked, somewhat surprised. "A scholar?"

This doesn't seem like the schemer Yan Gaotian described.

Yan Gaotian did not answer. His fingers clenched slightly inside his sleeve, his knuckles turning white.

Hua Tiegan glanced at him, asked no further questions, and spurred his horse forward.

The procession stopped at the city gate.

Hua Tiegan dismounted, straightened his clothes, and strode up to Sun Fan, looking him up and down.

"You're Sun Fan?"

"Junior Sun Fan greets Senior Hua." Sun Fan bowed respectfully, neither humble nor arrogant.

Hua Tiegan raised an eyebrow: "You know me?"

"Senior Hua Tieqian of the Hua family in Jiangnan is invincible and renowned throughout the world. Although I am ignorant, I have heard of Senior Hua's great name." Sun Fan smiled slightly. "Senior Hua has come from afar, and I have prepared a small feast at Wangjiang Tower to welcome you and wash away the dust of your journey."

Hua Tiegan paused for a moment, then laughed.