I Only Marry Widows-Chapter 127 - 110: Rapid Progress and Complete Refinement
Li Xiaotian immediately contacted his father, Li Chungen.
Li Chungen had recently delved deeply into the Three Immortals Mountain, leaving a trail of corpses behind, nearly wiping out the brigands there, with only the two head brigands still on the run.
"Now that the Celestial Patrol Order is in possession, and it’s appearing within Yuchuan County, it can only be that scoundrel Zhao Tianyou."
"The Mad Ascetic and the One-Eyed Mountain Eagle have been under my watchful eye and have not yet escaped the Three Immortals Mountain."
"However, the whereabouts of the Handsome Yama have remained unknown, and now it seems he may have hidden with Zhao Tianyou on Jade Dragon Mountain, intending to establish a stronghold there, embodying the strategy of a crafty rabbit with multiple burrows."
Li Chungen’s judgment was essentially in agreement with Li Xiaotian’s, but he believed that it wasn’t only Zhao Tianyou in that location but also included the elusive Handsome Yama, who had been unseen since the siege began.
"The siege of Three Immortals Mountain is nearing its end. As long as we can kill those two head brigands, it will be considered a great success."
"These two caused the deaths of Xiaoyun and Chengqian before. If they escape and hide in the shadows, the trouble could be even greater."
"I must keep watch here, not leaving for even a moment."
He instructed Li Xiaotian, "Although Handsome Yama’s martial arts are not mundane, you surpass him by far. Leading the army back, you will certainly be able to eradicate him."
"My only concern is Youdu!"
"Handsome Yama has the backing of Youdu. If there’s even a trace of Youdu’s influence on Jade Dragon Mountain, that spells trouble."
Li Xiaotian furrowed his brows. Although the Li Family appeared to have a large-scale influence, their essence lay in having top-notch experts, and apart from him, only his father Li Chungen and Li Xiaojie remained. They could not afford any loss.
After thinking carefully for a moment, he said, "Father, the three half-step Celestial Humans of Youdu are under close scrutiny by various factions, and it’s unlikely they could sneak into Central State unnoticed."
"As long as it’s not a half-step Celestial Human, and I’m among the army, even a top expert would be besieged to death."
"Moreover, my army doesn’t lack strong warriors. The two deputy marshals under my command are veterans, having honed their Martial Arts True Intent on the battlefield."
"I will return to Yuchuan with caution, moving with the army at all times until the brigands are completely eradicated."
Li Chungen smiled at these words, "A promising youth indeed. On your return, there’s no need to rush; proceed methodically, securing victory steadily."
"Even if success is not immediate, there’s no need for haste. Once I have completely eradicated those two brigand leaders here, I will join you."
"Remember to act carefully and do not act impulsively, for fear of falling into a villain’s trick."
Li Xiaotian naturally agreed.
After the father and son discussed for a while longer, they parted ways.
Upon returning to the camp, Li Xiaotian immediately announced the withdrawal of troops, taking his command of three thousand elite cavalry back to Yuchuan County.
...
Time passed slowly, and soon it was June.
On this day, firelight suddenly burst from the center of Lu Chengfeng’s forehead, with a dragon’s roar resounding from the mountaintop. His entire person rose into the air, like a flood dragon, his palms striking forth, causing Gang Winds to surge, sweeping up snow and ice shards.
It was as if a tornado raged above the snowy mountain!
His long hair flowing, Lu Chengfeng couldn’t help but laugh heartily, "Joyous, joyous, only today have I realized the wonders of heaven and earth."
At this moment, he finally refined the gifts from the Zhao Family Ancestor, gaining insights into a half-step Celestial Human’s lifetime of understanding.
"This Divine Skill, the Eight Desolates Divine Fire Dragon, originally included the Eight Desolates Sea-Swallowing Skill and the Dragon-Suppressing Stake, but unfortunately, the Zhao Family Ancestor did not entirely master them, and it lacks the Dragon-Suppressing Stake."
"According to the records in the Divine Palace, the so-called Dragon-Suppressing Stake is a peerless Lightweight Technique, allowing one to walk in the void, stand firmly on the ground, and generate endless Great Strength."
"What a pity..."
Lu Chengfeng felt satisfied. After spending so much time and effort, he finally absorbed the gifts of a half-step Celestial Human, including both the main guidelines of the Eight Desolates Divine Fire Dragon, the Blazing Fire Spear Technique, and the Eight Desolates Sea-Swallowing Skill.
The Blazing Fire Spear Technique was originally a supreme martial art passed down by the Zhao family, integrating both internal and external cultivation with explosive vigor. With a spear in hand, one could enter and exit the battlefield seven times, embodying the martial path of slaughter.
The Eight Desolates Sea-Swallowing Skill is an extremely specialized Dharma Method, capable of devouring the Power and True Qi of foes, continuously replenishing one’s True Qi and stamina.
After cultivating this technique, the physique becomes dragon-like, incredibly robust, with True Qi as if renewed and stamina enduring, making it unafraid of prolonged or mass battles.
As for these two techniques, the Blazing Fire Spear had been cultivated by the Zhao Family Ancestor to the Twenty-Seventh Layer of Perfection, with the augmentation of Red Dragon True Intent enhancing its power.
The Eight Desolates Sea-Swallowing Skill, the Zhao Family Ancestor had only cultivated it to the Twenty-Fourth Layer, where the operation and transformation of Power were extremely intricate, requiring much effort to advance each layer further.
After integrating the gifts, Lu Chengfeng naturally also comprehended these two techniques to a profoundly high Realm, needing only to familiarize himself with them to transform them wholly into his Martial Arts.
He carefully sensed the changes and gains within himself, gazing over the distant lands, "It’s time to take action now!"
In this retreat, he not only cultivated the Red Dragon True Intent to the Twenty-Fifth Layer but also fully absorbed the Zhao Family Ancestor’s gifts, reaching an unprecedented peak in Combat Power.
"As long as I hold a spear, killing first-rate martial artists in the martial world will be as easy as slaughtering dogs!"
Lu Chengfeng stood with hands behind his back, his hair and attire fluttering in the cold wind.
By now, he had already stood on the pinnacle of the martial world.
Below the half-step Celestial Human level, even if an expert’s cultivation had reached the Twenty-Seventh Layer of Perfection, who would win or lose would still require combat to uncover.
The reason he did not continue his secluded intense practice was firstly due to the exhaustion of various resources and Pills, and secondly, because time was becoming increasingly urgent.
The third reason, and the most crucial one, was that Lu Chengfeng could already feel the dramatic slowing of his cultivation progress.
"My Spiritual Will can only support my cultivation of the Red Dragon True Intent to the Twenty-Fifth Layer. To progress further, sitting idle in the mountains won’t suffice."
"Only within battles, honing the spirit amidst the Red Dust trials, by constantly refining one’s Will, can one advance Martial Arts further."
"This is the path nearly every first-rate expert must take."
"Without traversing the world, without experiencing countless battles, without weathering life’s trials, how could one achieve an indomitable, pure, and flawless heart for seeking the Tao?"
Lu Chengfeng recalled the tales of martial world experts he had heard in the past, some challenged in all directions, some wandered the land, and others even lived incognito in small towns, experiencing worldly matters.
These various methods, aiming to temper the mind, were numerous and varied.
"Of course, I also have another path, which is to marry and take concubines, receiving gifts from widows, using others’ lifetime accumulations to cleanse and build my spirit and foundation—this is the Path to Heaven."
With that thought, he no longer hesitated and slowly descended the mountain.
The cliffs under his feet were as if he were walking on flat ground. He recalled seeing Zhu Yuxian and Li Tingfeng on this very cliff, their figures vanishing into the void as they gracefully retreated.
"Today, I descend the mountain to slay Li Xiaotian and claim a county for myself alone."
"The path to my own Great Tao begins now!"
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