Chapter 644 - 348: Mid-Third Grade Enlightenment; Martial Emperor Creates Three Flowers

"In this way, the six internal organs are refined by the Yin-Yang Power, and the martial artist’s Martial Force is gradually transformed under the refining and condensing of the Power of the Five Elements and the Yin-Yang Power. Eventually, at the Dantian, the yin and yang almost materialize, condensing into a Martial Energy Pill... At this stage, it cannot yet be called Gang Force, but it is akin to achieving the Fifth Refining Force, which is difficult to attain within the Lower Three Grades."

"Thus, the martial artist of the Fifth Grade has completed the refining from the external to the internal—of flesh, muscles, bones, organs, and six internal organs—achieving a comprehensive refinement of their Power and blood."

"Then how should one continue to strengthen oneself?"

Qiu Mountain spoke softly.

Su Mu opened his mouth several times but quickly fell into deep thought, realizing that the next step was to begin gathering the three flowers of the Martial Dao. Despite having slain many Fourth-Grade Martial Artists, what starting point did martial predecessors explore for this path?

Where is the road ahead, and why did predecessors create the current Martial Dao?

As Su Mu placed himself in the perspective of the ancestors, he instantly felt lost, unable to see the road ahead.

"There are many interpretations regarding this, but one is the most widely spread."

"I humbly request the Great Elder to enlighten me."

Su Mu, eager for knowledge, spoke earnestly and sincerely.

"It all starts from the collapse of the Martial Dao after the Pre-Qin era. Since then, all cultivators stepping into the Martial Path have felt their lifespan diminishing. Some say it is due to the decline after the peak of pre-Qin martial artists, resulting in the appearance of the Martial Dao’s Three Decays."

"Martial Dao’s Three Decays?"

Su Mu was slightly startled, recalling another term: the Three Decays of Heavenly Human.

"Yes, it’s the Martial Dao’s Three Decays, where martial artists begin to notice the silent demise of their painstakingly cultivated bodies, once a source of pride."

"Initially, the refined Martial Force begins to decay and rot, the Five Elements stagnate, and the Yin-Yang cycle is disrupted; subsequently, Qi Blood and Spiritual Power also start to continuously decline as if the body has developed leaks, naturally leading to exhaustion;

Eventually, even one’s will begins to continuously deteriorate, as if the morale of defeated armies, causing the martial artist’s Realm to fall continuously, their Life Force to drain away, and ultimately, their lifespan to dwindle to death."

Qiu Mountain’s words were slow and steady, yet his calm tone painted a despairing picture in Su Mu’s mind.

After years of arduous cultivation, however powerful the martial artist’s body, it started to uncontrollably decline in unknown ways, akin to being poisoned, yet helpless, ultimately dying like a common person but in greater desolation.

What is the purpose of a martial artist’s lifetime of arduous cultivation, and what is its significance?

Anger, frustration, unwillingness, despair—all those negative emotions emerged, causing Su Mu’s fists to clench tightly, and the sky emitted explosions.

"Such a formidable flesh!"

Qiu Mountain noticed this scene and was secretly astonished, as even with the cultivation of the Flood Dragon Shocking Skill, Su Mu’s body was exceptionally powerful. Baili Feng, as the Young Master of the Cyan Fish Gang, had benefited from its resources since childhood, cultivating the Flood Dragon Shocking Skill and now tempering his Martial Arts Golden Body.

Yet, even so, Qiu Mountain felt that Baili Feng, now Half-Step Third Grade, was only equivalent to Su Mu, and he even faintly perceived powerful and mysterious forces on Su Mu.

Among them seemed to be a force similar to the aura of Bai Jiao Mountain, and others he had never sensed before.

"This young man indeed harbors great secrets. Can Feng’Er and Hongtang associate with him... whether it is blessing or disaster?"

After realizing he couldn’t fathom Su Mu, Qiu Mountain felt a vague sense of worry but quickly dismissed it. Regardless of future gains or losses, Su Mu’s willingness to assist made him a forever friend of the Cyan Fish Gang.

"Many once powerful martial artists perished struggling against the Martial Dao’s Three Decays... until the Martial Emperor emerged, reputedly born a natural martial artist. Born with power flowing through his meridians, his sinews and organs were extraordinarily strong, ascending to the First-Grade Celestial Human Realm before thirty, with some claiming he reached even higher realms."

"The Martial Emperor was a born martial artist who swiftly realized the essence of the Martial Dao’s Three Decays lay in the treacherous Three Burners within the body!"

"The Three Burners?"

"These Three Burners are not the six internal organs’ burners but three invisible gateways. The first gateway leaks the Martial Force, decaying one of the martial path’s foundations—the Martial Force; the second gateway leaks Qi Blood and Spiritual Power, decaying the martial artist’s Qi Blood; the third gateway leaks willpower, weakening resolve, causing perpetual unrest, rendering composure impossible, leading to self-deterioration."

"The Martial Emperor devised the method of the Three Flowers, meticulously refining the Martial Force, Qi Blood, Spiritual Power, and Martial Momentum to merge into three flowers, which would expose the corresponding Three Burners gateways and completely seal them. Finally, the immense power of these three flowers forged into a Wuque Grandmaster Golden Body, once and for all."

"At this point, the crumbling Martial Dao was reconnected, re-opening the path of the Martial Arts Grandmaster, and the Martial Path Upper Three Grades!"

"But the Martial Emperor, who invented the method of the Three Flowers, perhaps fell victim to his exceptional talent, envied by the heavens. It is said that this unmatched being eventually faced divine retribution, dying mysteriously before the age of thirty."

===========

Yet, despite this, Qiu Mountain felt that Baili Feng, now Half-Step Third Grade, was only equivalent to Su Mu, and he even faintly perceived powerful and mysterious forces on Su Mu.

Among them seemed to be a force similar to the aura of Bai Jiao Mountain, and others he had never sensed before.

"This young man indeed harbors great secrets. Can Feng’Er and Hongtang associate with him... whether it is blessing or disaster?"

After realizing he couldn’t fathom Su Mu, Qiu Mountain felt a vague sense of worry but quickly dismissed it. Regardless of future gains or losses, Su Mu’s willingness to assist made him a forever friend of the Cyan Fish Gang.

"Many once powerful martial artists perished struggling against the Martial Dao’s Three Decays... until the Martial Emperor emerged, reputedly born a natural martial artist. Born with power flowing through his meridians, his sinews and organs were extraordinarily strong, ascending to the First-Grade Celestial Human Realm before thirty, with some claiming he reached even higher realms."

"The Martial Emperor was a born martial artist who swiftly realized the essence of the Martial Dao’s Three Decays lay in the treacherous Three Burners within the body!"

"The Three Burners?"

"These Three Burners are not the six internal organs’ burners but three invisible gateways. The first gateway leaks the Martial Force, decaying one of the martial path’s foundations—the Martial Force; the second gateway leaks Qi Blood and Spiritual Power, decaying the martial artist’s Qi Blood; the third gateway leaks willpower, weakening resolve, causing perpetual unrest, rendering composure impossible, leading to self-deterioration."

"The Martial Emperor devised the method of the Three Flowers, meticulously refining the Martial Force, Qi Blood, Spiritual Power, and Martial Momentum to merge into three flowers, which would expose the corresponding Three Burners gateways and completely seal them. Finally, the immense power of these three flowers forged into a Wuque Grandmaster Golden Body, once and for all."

"At this point, the crumbling Martial Dao was reconnected, re-opening the path of the Martial Arts Grandmaster, and the Martial Path Upper Three Grades!"

"But the Martial Emperor, who invented the method of the Three Flowers, perhaps fell victim to his exceptional talent, envied by the heavens. It is said that this unmatched being eventually faced divine retribution, dying mysteriously before the age of thirty."

Yet, despite this, Qiu Mountain felt that Baili Feng, now Half-Step Third Grade, was only equivalent to Su Mu, and he even faintly perceived powerful and mysterious forces on Su Mu.

Among them seemed to be a force similar to the aura of Bai Jiao Mountain, and others he had never sensed before.

"This young man indeed harbors great secrets. Can Feng’Er and Hongtang associate with him... whether it is blessing or disaster?"

After realizing he couldn’t fathom Su Mu, Qiu Mountain felt a vague sense of worry but quickly dismissed it. Regardless of future