Chapter 2020: 夺道

"Wu Bao..."

"Uh, no, Grandmaster Wu..."

Xu Xiaoshou manipulated the Path-Seizing Tentacle to release Grandmaster Wu from the Zunji Kan position. He was crying so much he felt weak all over and had to lean on Grandmaster Wu to stand.

Thus, their first encounter was established, and both were deeply moved.

Xu Xiaoshou genuinely wanted to learn.

Grandmaster Wu genuinely wanted to teach.

Although some small schemes were involved, it was unlikely that Grandmaster Wu would bear a grudge even if he found out later. After all, when people pursue love, they pull out all the stops. The process isn't important, as long as the outcome is right and everyone is happy.

"To be honest, Grandmaster Wu,"

"My original intention in using the power of this wondrous object to awaken your will was because I, your junior, encountered a bottleneck in my understanding of the path of the body. I wanted to leverage your experience to help me break through this barrier..."

After standing up, Xu Xiaoshou clasped the Grandmaster Wu Effigy's hands, which had no warmth, and spoke with a tearful, heartfelt voice that instantly melted Grandmaster Wu's stony heart:

"Please, Grandmaster Wu, teach me!"

The Grandmaster Wu Effigy was three zhang tall. Normally, Xu Xiaoshou couldn't even reach his knees if he jumped. This was fine, though; while he was crying, he had simultaneously grown to also become three zhang tall.

If Dao Qiongcang had been standing opposite, he would certainly have found it strange how a person could grow while crying. Grandmaster Wu, however, seemed to take it all for granted from beginning to end. After all, for someone who cultivated the path of ancient martial arts and even mastered the Heavenly Dao, a body growing while crying was perfectly reasonable.

After realizing that Grandmaster Wu was oblivious to his own little schemes, Xu Xiaoshou probably understood why Grandmaster Wu, whose combat awareness began at the Fourth Realm, had fallen before other ancestors like the Demonic Medicine and the Abomination.

"You must have been harmed!"

"I, Xu, must surely seek justice for you, Wu Bao!"

"Of course, that's after you teach me..."

"Path of the Body?" Grandmaster Wu stood majestically, contemplating.

"Yes, the Path of the Body." Xu Xiaoshou nodded quickly, knowing that Grandmaster Wu might be somewhat lacking in understanding human emotions. But when it came to discussing the Dao, if he couldn't display something truly remarkable, he would certainly fail to impress this genius who had created the path of ancient martial arts:

"Grandmaster Wu, please forgive me!"

"In this Era of Spirit Cultivation, ancient martial arts have long since declined."

"Though my heart yearns for the path of battle, I am forced to borrow from other paths to advance it. Thus, my studies are somewhat varied, and I cultivate multiple paths..."

Xu Xiaoshou was like a child who had made a mistake, lowering his head but peeking up at Grandmaster Wu, his voice growing weaker and weaker. It was as if his broad cultivation wasn't due to him being unprincipled, but because he was genuinely forced to dabble in other side paths outside the path of battle.

Grandmaster Wu smiled warmly and shook his head slightly, indicating he didn't mind. His combat intuition was incredibly sharp; he had naturally seen that Xu Xiaoshou's cultivation of "multiple" paths was not just a little varied. His only concern was that concurrent cultivation could lead to a lack of focus. He could properly discipline Xu Xiaoshou on this point later.

Xu Xiaoshou immediately sighed in relief, then continued: "Cultivating to the end, drawing on the strengths of a hundred schools, I have broadly categorized the existence of cultivators into four levels: Body, Spirit, Intent, and Self."

As these four words were spoken, Grandmaster Wu's eyelids lowered slightly. An expert instantly understood the profound meaning. Xu Xiaoshou's concepts weren't new; Grandmaster Wu had encountered them before. However, no one had organized them as clearly as he had. Now, with them arranged side by side, it was clear that extensive synthesis had taken place. Xu Xiaoshou had something... no, he had a lot of substance!

"The body is the vessel of spirit and intent."

"Spirit links body and intent."

"Intent controls body and spirit."

"To investigate things and extend knowledge, one must investigate all three to truly know oneself."

Grandmaster Wu's pupils contracted. He had never fully comprehended the path of self-discernment even until his death, yet this young man's four sentences... It was like an immortal showing the way!

"Are you going to be my disciple, or am I going to be yours?"

Seeing this, Xu Xiaoshou's heart was practically squirming with delight, yet he still cautiously asked: "Grandmaster Wu, what do you think of my philosophy?"

Grandmaster Wu was overcome with shame. He turned his head away, sighing repeatedly: "Please do not call me Grandmaster Wu anymore. We can discuss the Dao as equals."

Finally, he turned his head back, his gaze burning as he stared at Xu Xiaoshou: "Did you truly comprehend all of this yourself?"

He held Xu Xiaoshou's hand and could clearly feel that the young man's bone age was no more than twenty.

Twenty!

What kind of concept was this?

For an ordinary person, it was difficult to even glimpse the entrance to ancient martial arts at twenty. Was he a reincarnated prodigy?

The Zunji Slash space instantly fell silent. And indeed, Grandmaster Wu's unconscious rhetorical question directly stumped Xu Xiaoshou.

"Did I comprehend it?"

"Good question!"

Even thick-skinned Xu Xiaoshou found it a little hard to speak at this moment. Finally, his lips met, and without blushing or a racing heart, he said: "This junior is shallow in knowledge; I've made Grandmaster Wu laugh..."

"I didn't say yes, hehe."

"You make me feel utterly inadequate!" Grandmaster Wu sighed repeatedly. It was true that bluntness could overcome wisdom, and sincerity could overcome cunning. Upon hearing this, Xu Xiaoshou actually blushed and added:

"Actually, it's not all my own understanding; I've also drawn on parts from others, after all, I also cultivate the path of the sword..."

"What does the path of the sword have to do with body, spirit, intent, and self?"

"If that fellow Lone Tree had been able to comprehend these things back then, why would he have met the same end as me?"

Grandmaster Wu heard this and understood that Xu Xiaoshou was not only eager to learn but also very humble. How could these insights, which outsiders might not even grasp if told, possibly be learned from others?

"Listening to your words is like parting the clouds to see the sun; I, Wu, have gained much."

"Indeed, all aspects of the path of battle, which delve into the body's fundamentals and unleash human potential, can mostly be categorized within the path of the body."

"So, it seems that in understanding the path of the body, you are far above me. However, in its application, I still have some things I can teach you."

Grandmaster Wu made his decision and said earnestly: "How about this: every day at noon, when the killing aura is strongest, you come to me, and I will organize my battle path insights into the path of the body and impart them all to you?"

"I have to practice?"

Xu Xiaoshou was startled. Images of the young Grandmaster Wu, practicing from morning till night, from spring to winter, sweating profusely, diligent and hardworking, flashed through his mind.

"That's too much suffering!"

"I, Xu, cannot endure any hardship!"

"Having difficulty?" Grandmaster Wu noticed his hesitation.

"Actually, it seems like there's no need to practice..." This time, Xu Xiaoshou was truly in a tough spot. His gaze flickered to the Path-Seizing Tentacle connecting them, which was his leverage.

"Why is it called the Path-Seizing Tentacle?"

"This thing is meant to seize paths!"

"If I still need to practice, what's the point of the Path-Seizing Tentacle?"

But then again, to just pay respects to a master, and then immediately hold a knife to his throat saying, "I want to seize your path, so just let me seize it,"

"Is that even human?"

"Xu Xiaoshou, be a decent person!"

Grandmaster Wu naturally caught Xu Xiaoshou's hesitation and his repeated glances at the large silver tentacle, and immediately became thoughtful. In truth, he wasn't foolish either. A quick review of everything that had happened from the beginning had allowed him to discern something...

"Thump!"

Before Grandmaster Wu could speak, Xu Xiaoshou suddenly knelt again with a thump.

"What now?"

Grandmaster Wu was bewildered. Why did he keep kneeling at the slightest provocation?

"A man's knees are worth gold; what kind of act is this?"

"Grandmaster Wu, forgive me!"

Xu Xiaoshou couldn't bear it anymore. Grandmaster Wu was too sincere, and he didn't want to continue deceiving him. He immediately laid everything bare:

"This wondrous object is actually an evil artifact. This tentacle is called the Path-Seizing Tentacle. I, your junior, awakened you, Grandmaster Wu, with the original true tablet: the 'Battle' character, intending to seize your path to complete my ancient martial arts and body path cultivation."

"When Grandmaster Wu's consciousness awakened, I, your junior, was startled. In fact, I had originally intended to fight to the death, but fearing a backlash from the evil artifact, I decided to act on impulse, and suddenly had second thoughts, which led to this..."

Upon hearing this, Grandmaster Wu's eyes turned cold.

Xu Xiaoshou didn't raise his head, stating earnestly:

"But please know, Grandmaster Wu, that my apprenticeship is not a mere expediency, nor is it a despicable act."

"The path of ancient martial arts has repeatedly saved me from dire situations. To meet Grandmaster Wu in person, to be able to cross time and space to become your disciple, is the fulfillment of a long-cherished wish that I never dared to imagine before."

"Once a teacher, lifelong devotion—this is my path. I would never dare to deceive you in the slightest."

"Therefore, revealing my heart now is also to let Grandmaster Wu know: darkness is me, and uprightness is also me. I am uniquely myself, like the sun and moon in one body, shining brilliantly."

Grandmaster Wu closed his eyes, his expression incredibly complex. Only now did he realize where that slight sense of oddity, present from the beginning, had come from. So, Xu Xiaoshou wasn't truly like him. He should be categorized with people like Saint Xin and Shennong Baicao.

The martial path had produced a cunning genius!

But was this a bad thing?

Absolutely not!

Grandmaster Wu had proven throughout his life that ultimate combat could lead to deification and ancestorship, but without contemplation and discernment, one could not escape the machinations of others. Xu Xiaoshou was cunning, yet precisely because of this, he could avoid following in his footsteps. Xu Xiaoshou was deeply calculating, yet traces of an innocent heart remained, preserving a human side, daring to confess everything.

Saint Xin and Shennong Baicao had both cultivated the path of ruthlessness, losing even their humanity. Grandmaster Wu envied them not at all. He would rather perish than become like that. Xu Xiaoshou's state, on the other hand, was incredibly precious, almost unattainable. To be in the mundane world yet transcend it. This was cunning, yet also untainted by the mire.

Had it been Grandmaster Wu in his youth, after hearing those words, he would have punched Xu Xiaoshou in the face. But he was no longer young. Having experienced more, he understood more. Grandmaster Wu closed his eyes, his emotions a mixture of feelings, but he wasn't blaming Xu Xiaoshou. Instead, he was silently savoring the phrase:

"Darkness is me, and uprightness is also me..."

He was only twenty!

He could actually comprehend such a realm!

If he couldn't discern himself, who could?

"So, you want to seize my path?"

Grandmaster Wu opened his eyes, his expression returning to calmness, no longer intimate, but not estranged either.

"Yes!" Unexpectedly, Xu Xiaoshou nodded heavily. "Grandmaster Wu, I must seize your path, or rather, your insights."

"Oh?"

Grandmaster Wu no longer resisted the familiar address of "Grandmaster Wu," merely staring intently at this fellow who dared to meet his gaze: "It sounds like there's a reason?"

Xu Xiaoshou nodded emphatically, summarizing the current situation in a few concise words:

"The four ancient ancestors—Demon Ancestor Saint Xin, Medicine Ancestor Shennong Baicao, Abomination of Arcane Transformation, and Dao Ancestor Yiji—have all revived in the Era of Spirit Cultivation, and are currently locked in fierce combat outside."

"The battle is intense. Of the Ancestral Gods established in the Era of Spirit Cultivation, only Bazun An has returned to zero and transcended, though he can also be considered to have been schemed out."

"The remaining ones—Ancestor Hua Changdeng, Ancestor Li Yuegongli, Ancestor Han Yuegonghan, and Ancestor Nian Cao Yihan—one died by Shennong's scheme, one by Abomination's scheme, one by Saint Xin's scheme, and one was forced into becoming the Great Dao itself."

"Even Shen Yi, whose ancient martial arts path far surpassed mine, who forcibly opened the Three Realms and merged Yin and Yang, nearly reaching the Ultimate Dao, was beaten so badly he had to cast himself into reincarnation. It was horrifying!"

Grandmaster Wu was stunned to hear this. What a glorious era, where so many Ancestral Gods were established? And even so, none of these individuals could defeat Saint Xin, Shennong, or Abomination; they all died by schemes?

Grandmaster Wu suddenly understood why this young man in front of him, despite clearly having an innocent heart, had learned these petty tricks. His era was far more difficult than his own. If he were like him, focused solely on martial arts without thought or discernment, he would likely either die young as a genius or, after achieving the Dao, become a puppet of the three ancestors, his entire life's cultivation wasted!

"Grandmaster Wu asked me to come here to cultivate every day at noon."

"But I, your junior, must add a word: I have only been cultivating for three years. If I were to cultivate step by step..."

Xu Xiaoshou shook his head, his voice firm: "I cannot do it, and the people I want to protect cannot wait!"

Three years...

With just a few understated words, Grandmaster Wu had already seen a magnificent life unfold and deeply felt the pressure on this young man's shoulders. He was only twenty, in the prime of his youth, vibrant and radiant. Who had placed this heavy burden upon his shoulders?

Was it the nature of the era?

Or the will of the ancestors?

"You must have something else you haven't said." Grandmaster Wu's gaze softened considerably. He could tell Xu Xiaoshou was hiding a lot of hardship, and he was willing to listen.

"Sigh..."

But Xu Xiaoshou no longer had the time. His eyes flickered incessantly before finally settling into calmness: "Just a few hardships, nothing worth mentioning."

Grandmaster Wu fell silent. He was willing to believe Xu Xiaoshou. Yet he had to consider one more thing: Was everything he said truly the whole truth?

"Grandmaster Wu, please follow me."

Xu Xiaoshou naturally knew what he was thinking. He manipulated the Path-Seizing Tentacle, bringing the Grandmaster Wu Effigy and himself out of the Zunji Slash space together. Expending so much effort was naturally not to please or curry favor with Grandmaster Wu. In reality, Xu Xiaoshou not only wanted to seize Grandmaster Wu's path but also had to subdue him and have him help stabilize the Zunji Slash space afterward. He firmly believed Grandmaster Wu possessed this ability. Whether he could make Grandmaster Wu completely serve him would depend on his own capabilities.

The two left the gray space and directly entered the Time Realm. The Path-Seizing Tentacle had brought the Grandmaster Wu Effigy out; this was the power of the new special passive skill. It could not only seize Dao knowledge and insights but also turn them into controllable puppets to participate in combat.

"This is..."

Grandmaster Wu, now in the Time Realm, immediately sensed that something was amiss. This was not the War God Continent he was familiar with.

"This is the Time Realm."

"After the Heavenly Realm shattered, Ancestor Shi Kong Yuhen reconstructed the Time Realm in the Era of Spirit Cultivation."

"Bazun An entered the Time Realm to trace the Heavenly Realm in the past or future, seeking a foothold for the ancestors. Whether he succeeds depends entirely on his personal ability and fortune."

Such an outrageous matter was stated so casually...

Grandmaster Wu's eyes burned with fervor. If only he had been born in this era...

What a pity.

This magnificent world was destined to be beyond his reach.

"And Bazun An..."

"He is very strong, extremely strong. My concept of 'returning to zero' is..." Xu Xiaoshou paused, "A part of it originated from him."

"Ninety percent, that counts as 'a part,' right?"

"And my sword mastery, a part of that is also thanks to my guidance, isn't it?"

Grandmaster Wu's eyes flickered, and he murmured softly: "His name alone sounds very strong..."

Xu Xiaoshou almost choked on his saliva. But then he reconsidered, thinking, "This is indeed something a lovely person like Wu Bao, or Yi Bao, would say."

He said with a smile: "The Holy Divine Continent no longer has any place for me. In fact, even in cultivation, I've had to retreat to this shattered Time Realm. If it weren't for my Intent Path being perfected, I would have died long ago."

"Grandmaster Wu, tell me, how much time do I have to slowly seek the Dao from you?" Xu Xiaoshou's words contained genuine bitterness, not feigned.

Grandmaster Wu had actually believed and felt relieved upon seeing the Time Realm earlier. He turned his head, somewhat incredulous: "The Intent Path, perfected?"

"Mm." Xu Xiaoshou nodded.

"Eighty or ninety percent?"

"One hundred percent."

Grandmaster Wu was astonished. How could he speak of it so casually again? Was it really true? But Xu Xiaoshou had already laid out both the good and the bad. At this moment, was there still a need to deceive himself?

"You wish to cultivate all four paths—Body, Spirit, Intent, and Self—to perfection, then emerge from the Time Realm to fight the four ancestors?" Grandmaster Wu's eyes suddenly burned with fervor, as if he had seen an exhilarating battle maniac.

"Mm."

Xu Xiaoshou nodded faintly: "I, I have only discerned them; I don't know how to begin cultivating. However, for the Body, Spirit, and Intent paths, I have a direction and confidence that I can succeed; I just still need Grandmaster Wu's help!"

"I have only discerned them..."

"The Body, Spirit, and Intent paths, all have confidence of success..."

Again, such an understated tone, speaking words that were utterly absurd and incredibly outrageous! Grandmaster Wu was astonished again and again by this prodigy in front of him. It was as if, even for him, a once flourishing Ancestral God, all his understanding was child's play before this young man.

"Xu Xiaoshou..."

"Grandmaster Wu, yes?"

"No, do not call me Grandmaster Wu anymore. Your level is not beneath mine. We can discuss the Dao as peers. Please, do not make me feel ashamed again."

"How can that be? Once a teacher, lifelong devotion. My words, Xu Xiaoshou's words, are not just empty talk; I am genuinely accepting you as my master!" Xu Xiaoshou pleaded pitifully, "Grandmaster Wu, do you not want me anymore?"

"...Call me Ah Wu."

"Then I'll call you Wu Bao; it's a bit more intimate that way."

Grandmaster Wu opened his mouth, stunned once again. He found that he seemed to have fallen into another pit. But when he looked down, he still couldn't discern when or how that pit had been dug.

"You, oh you..."

Grandmaster Wu gave a wry smile, shaking his head helplessly, utterly defeated. Perhaps, only such a person would possess the confidence and ability to declare that when he emerged from seclusion, he would simultaneously confront the Demonic Medicine, Abomination, Dao, and other ancestors!

"Xu Xiaoshou, seize the path."

Grandmaster Wu lowered his head, staring at the Path-Seizing Tentacle on his chest, his voice subtly eager: "I have only one request: if possible, allow this ancestor to personally experience the might of the various ancestors in this current era!"