The Great Martial Arts World: Hot Topics and Great Heroes

Upon hearing this, Xue Muhua first showed a look of realization, followed by deep regret...

Chu Luren: ...

Skipping over this "sad" topic, Chu Luren asked, "How is my older brother? Is he really not in danger?"

That's right, it's not A'Zhu, it's Qiao Feng—last night, Qiao Feng and Chu Luren, along with Lin Pingzhi and Linghu Chong, got drunk again and decided to go into seclusion overnight, specifically borrowing the You brothers' place.

"Don't worry, Uncle-Master. I've seen this situation in the books of the Free and Unfettered Sect. It should be the result of 'the mind and qi uniting.' The resulting shock can be relieved by either going all out to vent or by quietly recuperating in seclusion. Moreover... after the two unite, Qiao Yingxiong's strength will definitely improve further."

I, Xue Muhua, simply want to be called "Hero Qiao," and no one can force me to do so!

As for what "the mind and the breath are in harmony" means, Xue Muhua was only vaguely clear about it, only knowing that it was a state of resonance between the mind and internal energy.

"How is Miss A'Zhu's injury?" Chu Luren asked in turn.

"He is out of danger, but he will need some time to recover," Xue Muhua said confidently.

……

Qiao Feng didn't keep Chu Luren waiting for long. Seven days later, he emerged from seclusion. By then, A'Zhu's injuries had stabilized, and she was able to walk normally and occasionally come out for some fresh air. In any case, Chu Luren's manor was big enough, even with a garden... but she was still very weak.

Chu Luren then found Qiao Feng and A'Zhu and "curiously" asked A'Zhu why she had been injured by the Shaolin abbot.

“Young Master Chu, your ‘curiosity’ is a bit exaggerated. Actually… you probably already know what I went to Shaolin for, right?” A’Zhu teased playfully, making Chu Luren slightly embarrassed.

In fact, Chu Luren felt that he wasn't that clever. If it weren't for the original work as a reference, he might not have been able to guess it. It's just that after he "guessed" it, his attitude became quite obvious.

Seeing that A'Zhu had already guessed, Chu Luren asked truthfully, "Miss A'Zhu, what secret manual did you obtain? Is it the 'Yi Jin Jing' that Shaolin Temple lost, as rumored in the martial arts world?"

Can something done by someone who practices martial arts be called "stealing"?

“Indeed, it is the Yi Jin Jing, but Young Master Chu will be disappointed. This Yi Jin Jing seems to be in Sanskrit, which Brother Qiao cannot understand.” A Zhu said regretfully.

The original Sanskrit version? The original is the best!

Upon hearing this, Chu Luren's eyes grew even colder—in the revised edition of the Sanskrit Yijinjing, there are two scriptures in one book: the Yijinjing written on the surface, and the Shenzujing written with water-based pigments, which will appear when wet.

In the revised edition, what You Tanzhi practiced was replaced with the "Divine Foot Sutra"!

Even if the revised edition is invalid, the Yi Jin Jing alone is still excellent.

As for Sanskrit, it doesn't matter. Chu Luren's "consciousness" after transmigrating is very special. When reading martial arts classics, he directly reads the martial arts will of the creator, rather than understanding them through words...

"Everyone who sees it gets a share?" Chu Luren turned into a freeloader.

Chapter 218 Yi Jin Shen Zu

"Whether it's internal martial arts manuals or external martial arts techniques, the most important thing is that they suit you. It's not that the more profound the better. Legend has it that the Yi Jin Jing was a scroll of scripture left by Bodhidharma after he faced the wall for nine years and passed away. It was created by combining the martial arts of the Central Plains at that time."

It is said that those who cultivate themselves must see through the illusions of self and others, and have no desire to practice martial arts in their hearts...

Such a torturous method, who could possibly master it? I heard my master mention that the Yi Jin Jing practiced in the Northern Shaolin Temple today is the translation by the Second Patriarch Huike, which differs from the original Yi Jin Jing. As a result, many people have mastered it, but very few people throughout history have ever mastered the true Yi Jin Jing.

When the Tartar army marched south, the Northern Shaolin Temple sent a large number of original manuals to the Southern Shaolin Temple…

Qiao Feng explained the origin of the Yi Jin Jing and also advised the Chu Lu people not to be greedy for more or deeper knowledge, since in Qiao Feng's view, the Chu Lu people did not lack profound martial arts.

Chu Luren also noticed that now when Qiao Feng mentions "Tartars," he seems completely unconcerned, unlike before when he was somewhat concerned.

"Actually, I feel that I've always had a connection with Zen Buddhism. I've even mastered some of the 'Arhat Subduing Demons Divine Skill'... Why don't you let me try it?" Of course, Chu Luren wouldn't give up; he was greedy for more!

Since Chu Luren had spoken, Qiao Feng and A'Zhu handed him the Yi Jin Jing.

Qiao Feng added, "If you are unable to master it, remember not to force it. You can always come to me for advice."

In the past, A'Zhu would have wanted to give the manual to Murong Fu, and Qiao Feng would still have had the thought that it was wrong to steal and spread Shaolin martial arts... But at this moment, the two of them no longer cared about the Yi Jin Jing.

Chu Luren is now completely obsessed with the Yi Jin Jing. After obtaining it, he found a secluded place in the manor to cultivate in seclusion—a perfect example of what not to do.

After hearing what Qiao Feng said, Chu Luren was still confused about whether the Sanskrit version of the Yi Jin Jing was a revised version or an old version.

In the most widely circulated and accepted old version, You Tanzhi practiced the Yi Jin Jing, but he only looked at the pictures and not the words, and he also refined the poison of the Tianshan Ice Silkworm, so his practice was unclear.

In addition, when You Tanzhi first mastered the Cold Silkworm True Qi, this simpleton from a martial arts family actually thought it was a vengeful spirit called "Silkworm Ghost". He thought he was possessed by the Silkworm Ghost instead of practicing martial arts, so he met some of the requirements of "not having the intention to practice martial arts".

However, this creates the problem of having two versions of the Yi Jin Jing!

The "Yi Jin Jing" in "Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils" is designed to both see through the illusions of self and others and to have no desire to practice martial arts. It is explicitly stated that apart from the Second Patriarch Huike, there is also a foolish monk, and almost no one in Shaolin has ever mastered it.

However, in "The Smiling, Proud Wanderer," not only did Fang Zheng of the Shaolin School master the "Yi Jin Jing," but even Linghu Chong learned it after just one lesson. In "The Deer and the Cauldron," the disciples of the head of the Prajna Hall and the monks of the second generation had all mastered the "Yi Jin Jing," and even wanted to pass it on to Wei Xiaobao, as if the Yi Jin Jing had become a part of Shaolin's general education curriculum...

Therefore, in the revised edition, what You Tanzhi practiced was changed to the "Shenzu Jing" – which was written with water and pigments on the "Yijin Jing" and was coincidentally seen and practiced by You Tanzhi.

In this way, it is separated from the later Yi Jin Jing.

But Chu Luren just heard Qiao Feng say that there seem to be two versions of the Yi Jin Jing?

Is Huike's translation simpler?

This does make sense. Legend has it that Zen Master Huike exchanged Buddhist teachings with an Indian monk and martial arts with Li Jing from the early Tang Dynasty, which led him to fully comprehend the Yijinjing and write a "Chinese version" of it...

However, it is ultimately a translation. After all, languages ​​are different, and no matter how faithful, expressive, or elegant the translation is, there will still be logical differences. Just like later translated professional books, they can never be perfect. In the end, one still needs to learn the original language to understand it more thoroughly.

Chu Luren didn't need to be puzzled for too long. He read through the entire text first. He didn't understand anything from a textual perspective, but in Chu Luren's mind, a "Yi Jin Jing" badge had already been generated!

Then, focus your mind on the badge, and the mysteries of the Yi Jin Jing will be fully revealed in your heart...

It's still not clear!

Just like memorizing a formula doesn't guarantee a perfect score.

At the same time, Chu Luren also truly understood that the Yi Jin Jing indeed required "seeing through the illusions of self and others." However, the text did not explain what these "illusions of self and others" actually were, so Chu Luren still did not understand. Perhaps in the eyes of Bodhidharma, the creator of the practice, this was basic knowledge that did not need to be written down.

As for the effect, Chu Luren already understood.

Leaving aside the improvement in hard attributes, which is on par with other top-tier internal skills, the Yi Jin Jing also has three other miraculous effects:

The first is the "meridian aptitude enhancement" that Chu Lu people covet the most. Although it is based on one's own meridian aptitude, if a Chu Lu person can master it, he will take a big step closer to the level of an ordinary person.

Secondly, the internal energy cultivated through the "Yi Jin Jing" can be adapted to the vast majority of techniques and has a great enhancing effect on ordinary techniques—that is, the so-called "turning the rotten into the miraculous."

Third, it stabilizes one's spirit and energy, making it less likely for one's inner energy to go astray or for one to suffer from qi deviation. It can even greatly alleviate the mental turmoil caused by emotional fluctuations. In short, it is "extremely stable".

It is conceivable that the Yi Jin Jing of Northern Shaolin Temple can resolve the conflict between different types of true qi brought about by the "Star Absorbing Technique," which is an extension of the effect of stabilizing essence, qi, and spirit.

Unfortunately, Chu Luren doesn't even know what "self-image" and "human-image" are, and he can't cultivate the Dream God Body unless he forcibly merges it with other techniques and then puts it into the "equipment slot" to practice.

"The Sanskrit Yijinjing already requires one to see through the illusions of self and others, so does the Shenzujing actually exist?" Chu Luren asked with some doubt.

At least from the Yi Jin Jing, Chu Lu Ren couldn't see how the original You Tanzhi used this martial art to cultivate the Tianshan Ice Silkworm into Ice Silkworm True Qi.

Thinking it over, Chu Luren didn't bother to wet the manual with snot and tears like You Tanzhi in the original story. Instead, he simply dipped a brush in water and brushed the pages...

Some of them really do have words on them!

Moreover, this time it's also accompanied by pictures and text, including not only the words but also yoga-like poses.

As Chu Luren browsed through the pages, he only understood the pictures. However, after browsing through them all, when the emblem appeared in his mind, Chu Luren also understood the meaning that the text was trying to convey.

Indian yoga practices generally involve meditation, and the text contains this content. In normal practice, after assuming the posture, one should also meditate accordingly—imagine breathing from a certain point, absorbing the essence of the sun and moon from a certain point, and so on.

Upon seeing the badge, Chu Luren immediately understood... it was indeed the "Divine Foot Scripture"!

Unlike the Yi Jin Jing, the Shen Zu Jing only requires a certain mindset, which is the "not having the intention to practice martial arts" commonly found in profound Buddhist martial arts.

The requirement of "seeing through the appearances of others and oneself" is a very real level of attainment that even the Dream God finds difficult to overcome. Only after fusing with the equipment can one directly cultivate.

However, the Dream God can completely ignore the requirement of "not having the intention to practice martial arts" - after all, the dream consciousness is closer to the subconscious and can simulate various mental states.

In essence, these two scriptures divide the requirements of the old version of the Yijinjing into two parts.

Having understood the effects of the "Divine Foot Scripture," Chu Luren became convinced that the extraordinary skill You Tanzhi practiced in the original work was indeed this very technique...

Chapter 119 My Judgment of People

Chu Luren carefully studied and pondered the "Divine Foot Scripture" and felt that this technique could also be called a "dual cultivation technique applicable to all things".

Of course, the "dual cultivation" here does not refer to the kind between a man and a woman.

Instead, it's the kind of "dual cultivation" like Duan Yu and Zhu Ha, You Tanzhi and Han Can, Xiao Xiangzi and Coffin Board...

This means using external meridians to connect with one's own meridians during cultivation!

However, the effects of the "Divine Foot Classic" are more universal; almost any inanimate or living thing that can be identified by the concept of "meridians" can be "cultivated in dual ways".

I prefer the type of "Duan Yu & Zhu Ha" or "You Tanzhi & Han Can," which is a predatory dual cultivation, unlike Xiao Xiangzi and Guan Caiban, which is a mutual nourishment.

Its movements and meditation principles are all designed to adapt to external "different meridians"—this skill is not needed for dual cultivation with humans.

These types of martial arts have obvious advantages. Not only are they mostly very strong, but if the target of dual cultivation has certain special characteristics, it is possible to quickly develop "profound" internal strength.

However, the drawbacks are also obvious. Not only is cultivation difficult, but you can't just pick up anything and cultivate with it. You need a special opportunity, and most importantly, there is great danger involved!

Even cultivating with one's own meridians can lead to qi deviation, let alone borrowing a section of another object's meridian to connect with one's own.

Take the "Longevity Technique of Longevity Wood" for example. If you don't do it right, you'll turn yourself into a stiff, living dead. Duan Yu and Manggu Zhuha were an exception. If they had been a little unlucky, they would have just been another unfortunate soul who was poisoned to death.

The "Divine Foot Scripture" in particular aims to make cultivators a universal plug, which is even more dangerous!

However, while the risks are high, the rewards are also high—in the original work, You Tanzhi went from being a weakling who wasn't even third-rate to a pseudo-first-rate with the foundation of a first-rate master in just a few months.

However, for the Chu Lu people, it is more meaningful to learn from it!

The "Divine Foot Scripture" itself is not very effective in accumulating internal energy when used for cultivation. It is a typical applied internal skill. Chu Luren's "Minor Chaotic True Qi" can simulate its effect at any time. It is not too late to try it when a suitable dual cultivation target is found.

As for the Yi Jin Jing...

As expected of the highest martial art of Zen Buddhism, even the "Arhat Subduing Demon Divine Skill" is only comparable to the "Yi Jin Jing".

In Chu Luren's opinion, the difficulty of the prerequisites for cultivation was also at its maximum!

Chu Luren looked at his existing internal energy techniques that could be used for fusion...

First, there's the "Minor Chaos Skill" and "Free Immortal Ape Scripture" that the main body and the dream god are cultivating respectively. Also, there are the "Nine Yin Manual Upper Volume Heart Method Chapter", "Shaolin Nine Yang Skill", and "Wudang Nine Yang Skill" that have been collected but not yet put to use, as well as the "Yi Jin Jing" and "Divine Foot Scripture" that have been acquired this time.

To use the Yi Jin Jing directly, it must be integrated once, while the Shen Zu Jing does not have much in common with it.

Although they are all in one book, precisely because of this, Chu Luren also worried that perhaps the "Divine Foot Sutra" was also left behind by Bodhidharma...

If that's the case, then combining them would be like "Bodhidharma and Bodhidharma discussing something."

If the two scriptures could truly be united, Bodhidharma would have done it himself; why wait for the Chu Lu people to integrate them?

The other two versions of the Nine Yang Skill, as well as the "Nine Yin Internal Skill" which is described as "Yin dominating and causing disaster," are not very compatible with the Yi Jin Jing either...