Chapter 507 — The Legend of the Tempered Body
The Herdsman of the Wasteland · Page 3 of 4
The Third Ancestral Master raised his palm and said in a deep voice, "This move of mine is called the Yin-Yang Heaven-Overturning Hand. The palm is yin, the back of the hand is yang. Left and right can complement each other, or both can be yin or both yang—yin and yang overturning heaven."
He explained the path of the vital essence once, then struck with a backhand seal. At once pure yang true essence roared like thunder; a string of thunderbolts exploded across the river surface with a rumbling boom, a hundred or more reports in succession. More than ten li away, the pure yang palm force burst forth, and waves surged up dozens of zhang high.
The Third Ancestral Master turned his palm over into a yin seal, and the river water that had just exploded into the air, not yet fallen, froze at once, turning into glittering ice sculptures on the river surface.
"You try it," the Third Ancestral Master said to Shen Mu, withdrawing his stance.
Shen Mu pondered carefully for a while, then suddenly stepped forward and struck backhanded with yang. A string of rumbles ran across the river surface, blasting more than ten li away; then he turned his hand over into yin, and as the palm force issued forth, the river water just blasted up froze solid at once.
The Third Ancestral Master's brows twitched. He said nothing.
"Boy Shen, come learn this move of mine!"
The Fifth Ancestral Master stepped forward. "This move of mine is called the Five Thunder Heaven-Supporting Bell. It combines thunder arts with boxing!"
His body moved, and he struck a fist seal. At once a bell tolled; thunder light coiled around his body and formed a transparent great bell. As his fist blasted out, the bell rang out mightily.
The Fifth Ancestral Master's moves were wide and open, his fists and feet incomparably crisp and clean, simple yet effective. Every punch and kick set the bell tolling, and the Five Thunder Heaven-Supporting Bell around him swelled and shrank, quivering without cease, the power it unleashed now surging, now ebbing—a different mood and flavor altogether.
He withdrew his stance and taught Shen Mu his Five Thunder Heaven-Supporting Bell, a look of expectation on his face.
Shen Mu mused for a moment, then suddenly raised both hands high. With a hum, thunder light descended and clamped down over him. His every punch and kick carried the force of ten thousand jun, utterly solid and heavy; the bell tolled without cease, and that Five Thunder Heaven-Supporting Bell quivered unceasingly, its power blasting out in all directions with his fists and feet.
"Exactly the same!" The Fifth Ancestral Master narrowed his eyes and let out a breath of turbid air.
"Now learn a move of mine!"
Human Emperor Yishan stepped forward. "My divine abilities match my cultivation methods. Different trajectories of vital essence become different divine abilities, and only when the divine ability erupts does it possess terrifying power. This move of mine is called the Sky Cavern, Silver River Hanging in the Azure Vault!"
...
Imperceptibly, Shen Mu had learned a move or two of the divine abilities and techniques of nearly all thirty-four Human Emperors. Any divine ability or technique, he learned at a single demonstration and performed with proper form, and at the same realm its power was in no way inferior.
The Second Ancestral Master's expression was grave. He looked at the Third Ancestral Master, the Fourth Ancestral Master, and the others; the Third, the Fourth, and the rest nodded silently.
"Human Emperor Shen, go take a turn in the city first."
The Second Ancestral Master smiled. "I hear from young Su that you are also the Cult Master of the Nether Demon Cult. Since you have come, why not go over to the Nether Demon Cult and meet the successive Cult Masters of your Nether Demon Cult."
Shen Mu said delightedly, "I was just thinking the same thing!"