Chapter Thirty-One: The Power of Persistence

Ye Qiu truly couldn’t understand everyone’s reactions! Was this messy set of moves really enough to make someone a master?

So now I’m amazing again?

“I get it now! Honestly, most of the time we can't really blame Master Ma. After all… with so much praise, it’s rare for anyone to stay clear-headed.

Just now, in that fleeting moment, I almost believed I really was a grandmaster. Who would I even argue with about it?”

At this point, Ye Qiu actually started to sympathize with Master Ma. He had just casually thrown together a random set of punches, yet these people managed to dissect it into all sorts of ultimate moves, claiming great truths and the mysteries of Yin and Yang.

How could Ye Qiu possibly know any of that? He hadn’t even learned the most basic techniques of immortal cultivation.

But on second thought…

“Well, this isn’t so bad! I get to put on a show and keep up my image as a master, hehe…”

Their power of imagination was truly frightening; if there were words for it, it would be:

My greatness comes from your imagination.

No matter what I do, even if I just let out a fart, you’d all take it for some divine explosion—what am I supposed to do about that?

I’m helpless too!

“How marvelous, truly marvelous! This set of martial arts contains the highest mysteries. The moves appear slow, yet the force behind them multiplies by the hundreds and thousands in an instant.

Like a flash of lightning—so exquisite! No wonder it’s called the Five Strikes of Lightning, the Primal Harmony Intent Taiji Fist. Astonishing…” the Daoist Fufeng exclaimed in awe.

Ye Qiu merely smiled and replied, “Let’s keep things low-key. This is just an introductory martial art for my Primal Harmony Intent Taiji. It’s nothing worth mentioning…”

“Oh heavens, such a terrifying martial art is only an introduction?”

With those words, the entire crowd erupted, falling into deep contemplation.

Suddenly, Tian Zhong stepped forward and said, “Senior, I’ve gained an insight from the moves you just performed. Allow me to show you—please tell me if anything is wrong…”

“Oh?” Ye Qiu was taken aback. Had he really figured something out? Impressive, impressive…

A true talent! Who would have thought that in this little backwater there’d be someone like him, a hidden dragon among men.

Tian Zhong strode to the center of the wasteland, everyone focusing intently on his demonstration.

He began just as Ye Qiu had, raising his hand—at once, sand and stones swirled, a wild wind sweeping across the plain.

“Hiss… has he really grasped it?” Ye Qiu’s heart leapt in shock; he could hardly believe it. He had just been winging it, for heaven’s sake… Could their imagination possibly be any more overactive?

Even Master Ma wouldn’t dare to be so bold—they were pushing things too far…

Dust swirled beneath Tian Zhong’s feet, a flash of light glimmered, and a Taiji symbol of Yin and Yang emerged on the ground.

His punches flowed slowly, his movements agile; yet with a gentle wave, a surge of overwhelming force exploded forth, making the earth tremble.

“Softness within strength, strength within softness—this is the ultimate truth! Junior Tian’s move has struck to the very essence; his power has doubled, it’s unbelievable…” Fufeng exclaimed in wonder. Tian Zhong had only just reached the beginner level of Supreme mastery, and yet…

After performing this move, he seemed to possess a trace of Transcendence—a divine technique indeed.

Even the Devouring Sky Sparrow was left speechless, inwardly exclaiming, “These people are monsters! Just one look, and he’s mastered such a terrifying immortal art. Are you hacking reality?”

On the wasteland, Tian Zhong’s gaze fixed on a distant mountain. Suddenly, he let out a mighty roar.

“Collapse—!”

He struck out—not fast, but as the force was unleashed, it shot forth like a cannonball, power multiplying with each moment.

In an instant, the mountain was reduced to rubble.

“Damn… that’s brutal!” Ye Qiu was stunned, almost jolted out of his skin.

The move Tian Zhong had just unleashed was exactly his own Five Strikes of Lightning, wasn’t it?

Why was it that when he performed it, it had nothing like this power, but Tian Zhong could invoke such world-shattering force?

Could it be that the Five Strikes of Lightning has some sort of curse, just like the Ma Family’s Triangular Slash—only the creator can’t do it, but everyone else can?

But that can’t be! I’m not even the creator, so why can’t I do it?

Ye Qiu was utterly bewildered, unable to grasp where the problem lay. Perhaps it was because he didn’t know how to call upon the energy within him?

That surge of righteous energy inside him—he didn’t know where it came from; one day, while reading deeply, it had simply appeared.

But its arrival hadn’t brought him any particular surprise, because he had no idea how to use it.

No one had ever taught him! What good is strength if you don’t know how to use it? You’d be better off hauling bricks at a construction site…

“No, I have to find a chance to ask them how to harness the power within. If I could use it, maybe I could become a true big shot too?”

The more he thought, the more excited he became—Ye Qiu was already planning how to bluff his way through. This was, after all, a basic question for beginner immortal cultivators.

But asking so directly would obviously be inappropriate; it’d immediately expose him as a complete novice.

So, he’d have to play it smart…

“Senior, was my punch acceptable?” Tian Zhong, having finished his demonstration, returned to Ye Qiu’s side, his excitement barely contained.

He could already imagine the day when he would shake the world with this punch. Just the thought made him tremble with anticipation.

He was deeply grateful; without Ye Qiu, he could never have grasped such a terrifying immortal art.

Faced with Tian Zhong’s question, Ye Qiu merely smiled in silence, calm and composed, his expression unchanging.

He exuded an unshakeable aura, as stable as a mountain—a bearing truly befitting a peerless master. The crowd’s admiration only deepened.

“Truly a master—unmoved even if Mount Tai collapses before him. Such greatness is awe-inspiring…”

Ye Qiu spoke slowly: “In the Primal Harmony Intent Taiji, the mystery lies not in form, but in intent!

Your move just now focused too much on brute force and neglected the heart!

Remember—even water can bore through stone! True mastery is to blend softness with strength, and strength with softness. That is the real secret of the Primal Harmony Intent Taiji.”

Though he understood none of it, that wouldn’t stop him from bluffing his way through!

Ye Qiu, feigning profundity, spoke these words, and Tian Zhong fell silent.

“Water can bore through stone? How is that possible?”

“Water has no force to speak of; it’s the softest thing in the world. How could it possibly penetrate hard rock? That’s clearly impossible.”

The crowd was speechless—Tian Zhong and Fufeng both fell silent.

At this moment, Fu Yao suddenly spoke: “Senior, do you mean to tell us that as long as our hearts are steadfast, and we persevere a thousand or even ten thousand times, even something as soft as water can wear through unyielding stone?”

“Exactly, that’s it!” Ye Qiu looked at her in surprise. He hadn’t expected the girl to be not only beautiful, but sharp-witted as well.

Clever—I like that!

Tian Zhong then said, “Thank you for your guidance, Senior. I understand now…”

Understand what?

Ye Qiu was momentarily confused, but let it go. Whatever—they’ll take anything I say as some profound truth anyway.

If they love to contemplate so much, let them contemplate to their hearts’ content. I don’t care, just don’t blame me if you end up confusing yourselves…