Chapter 736 — The Pinnacle of Martial Arts

Shen Mu hesitated. Rescuing his woodcutter teacher was important, to be sure, but to go with Hu Bugui in search of Xu Shenghua, and together with Xu Shenghua to pioneer a method of uniting the divine treasury and ascending to the Heavenly Palace — that seemed the more interesting and meaningful path by far.

And besides, the Woodcutter Sage was, after all, a deity of the Yaotai realm; soaking in a stinking ditch for a year or so would hardly kill him. There seemed no need to rush.

Still, he was the woodcutter's disciple. To leave his teacher soaking in that filth without hauling him out — that truly would not do.

Yet even if Old Ox turned a blind eye, there was no way they could defeat an Imperial Throne powerhouse.

The old farmer was a powerhouse of the Imperial Throne realm, and one who had entered the Dao through martial arts. From Lingxiao to the Imperial Throne lay an insurmountable gulf. The Deva King Buddha of the Imperial Heavens was of the Lingxiao realm, yet even he had shamelessly gone to beg the true scriptures of the Great Brahma King Buddha — from which one could see just how formidable the Imperial Throne was.

As he stood there wavering, the old farmer suddenly stepped down from the Imperial Throne, walked out of the Lingxiao Hall to the gate. His face was full of creases, steeped in the vicissitudes of time, and he said, "Sanduo, they have already passed."

Old Ox was slightly startled, and said hastily, "Master, they could not even pass my test, let alone yours. Why does Master say they have passed?"

The old farmer descended the steps of the Lingxiao Hall. Old Ox hurriedly dropped to his foreknees and transformed back into an ox, following behind him. The old farmer shook his head and said, "The purpose of the Dou Niu Palace's trials is to let the children comprehend the Dao through martial arts, to fathom a path that can cross the Spirit Bridge realm and ascend directly — to give those who come after a hope. I once believed that if someone defeated me, they could pioneer this path."

He walked down and summoned Shen Mu and Hu Bugui, sizing them up from head to toe. On his plain, rugged face, scored like earth furrowed by an iron plow, a smile emerged. "But just now it suddenly occurred to me — crossing the Spirit Bridge and ascending directly to the Heavenly Palace, I had already accomplished that long ago. I was the first person to lack the Spirit Bridge realm. I have not read many books; my path does not suit others."

Shen Mu and Hu Bugui were both shaken to the core, gazing at him in disbelief.

Who could have severed the Martial Arts Heavenly Master's Spirit Bridge?

Since the Martial Arts Heavenly Master had already advanced into the divine realm despite missing an entire realm, why had he not passed his cultivation method on to the people of the Dou Niu Realm?

Yet the thirty-six War Gods of Jade Capital were not in the least surprised — clearly they had long known that the old farmer was this sort of person.

"I have just realized that what I can do, not everyone can do."

The old farmer said, "I have devoted my life's energy to the martial Dao. There is nothing else in my heart — wholehearted, pure as a newborn. I may possess wondrous methods and wondrous secrets, but others cannot learn them, cannot master them, and cannot possibly ascend to the Heavenly Palace as I did. Even if Hu Bugui cultivates to my level and ascends to the Heavenly Palace, he will merely be walking my old road; his method still cannot help more people of the Dou Niu Realm ascend. The woodcutter was right — this is not the way to solve the Dou Niu Palace's predicament."

The corners of his eyes twitched. He looked at Shen Mu and continued, "The woodcutter came to me, saying that the reformers of Jingping have a way to solve the Dou Niu Palace's predicament. I did not believe it at first, but now I do. The woodcutter is not entirely useless — he did, after all, take in a good disciple... Hu Bugui, you may leave the Dou Niu Realm."

Hope stirred in Shen Mu's heart. He said hastily, "Then, Heavenly Master, may I haul my teacher out of the ditch?"

The old farmer's face darkened. His face was like a field plowed a hundred times by an old ox — no smile visible, only furrow upon furrow of wrinkles: "I do not speak like the woodcutter, whose mouth is full of nonsense, farting as lightly as clouds. I say what I mean and mean what I say. I said that whoever dares to haul him out will taste three of my punches. If you want to haul him out, you will taste three of my punches!"

Shen Mu was startled. The old farmer raised his rough fist, the domineering air of a martial arts peak on full display, and drove a punch at Shen Mu.

Thud.

His aura was boundless, yet the fist was light, tapping gently on Shen Mu's chest.

He tapped twice more, and Shen Mu's chest cavity gave forth hollow, booming sounds.

The old farmer withdrew his fist and said with a cold smile, "You have begun to comprehend the Dao through martial arts, but you are still far from mastery. Your physical body is still lacking. Continue to cultivate diligently; do not neglect your Overlord Body. Understand?"

Shen Mu was both startled and delighted: "This junior understands."

The old farmer smiled again and led the crowd outward, laughing, "But you are not bad — indeed, not bad at all. The woodcutter is not all talk; he has some skill, to have taught you so well. Heh, no — you are an Overlord Body. If I had been your teacher, I would have taught you even better! The woodcutter still falls short — not my equal!"

He seemed quite pleased, and the other War Gods were pleased as well, following in his footsteps.

Shen Mu looked left and right at them. These people had once been renowned and famous in their day, and the old farmer was a world-renowned Imperial Throne powerhouse — yet at this moment they appeared utterly innocent and plain, like ordinary farmers and peasant women.

These were lovable people.

But also a stubborn lot.

Changing them was difficult, but once they recognized their own mistakes, they would correct them — even if their mouths were somewhat unwilling.

Therefore they were still lovable people.

Hu Bugui was stirred beyond measure. The moment he left the Dou Niu Palace, he headed straight for the lower realm of the Dou Niu Realm to prepare his gear and bid farewell to kith and kin.

Shen Mu, meanwhile, called for the Dragon Qilin. The Dragon Qilin was indeed sound asleep outside the Dou Niu Palace — it had not secretly hauled the woodcutter out and fled.

Shen Mu said gloomily, "This is my mount, and over there is the Martial Arts Heavenly Master's mount... mm, and there is also the Black Tiger God, the woodcutter teacher's mount, and Senior Brother Bashan's Green Ox..."

The Dragon Qilin had slept its fill and was full of vigor, but having gone more than ten days without food, it was somewhat distracted, stealing glances at Shen Mu from time to time, wanting to remind him yet not quite daring to.

In the village, the Woodcutter Sage had been hauled out. Shen Mu bustled about, setting the woodcutter's broken bones, treating his injuries, steeping him in a great medicinal vat with a fire stewing beneath it.

The woodcutter held a large sea bowl, drinking medicine. Beside him the old farmer sat on a small stool, while at the doorway Old Ox plopped down on the ground, slowly puffing at his water pipe with a gurgling, bubbling sound.

Shen Mu sat beside Old Ox drinking tea, and asked, "Senior Brother Sanduo, are you not plowing today?"

Old Ox said slowly, "Finished plowing. The rice has just been planted."

"The Overlord Body was not taught by you. You cannot teach it." Inside the room, the old farmer spoke as slowly as Old Ox, glancing at the woodcutter.