Eternal Reverence Chapter 2: Golden Amulet

“Did you hear? Guan Xue and Li Fuchen are dissolving their engagement.””

“What a pity for him. First his talent vanished, and now even his fiancée is gone. This truly is the most devastating blow imaginable.”

“Hmph, he should have just brought shame upon himself. Now, he has even tarnished the Li Clan’s name.”

“Hush, here he comes.”

On the side of the road, all the murmuring ceased abruptly.

Li Fuchen walked past these individuals with an expressionless countenance.

Concerning the dissolution of their betrothal, Li Fuchen was not at all shocked. However, when Guan Xue displayed the talents she possessed, things began to change subtly. Although she still maintained that gentle and respectful demeanor, the underlying pride was difficult to conceal. It was the kind of pride that only an absolute prodigy could possess. Being the talentless individual he was now, he was comparable to a peasant in her eyes, which caused a slight ache in his heart.

The only aspect he struggled to accept was the Guan Clan severing ties after achieving their goal.

When the Guan Clan first arrived in Yunwu City, they faced constant oppression from other clans. Were it not for the support of the Li Clan, the Guan Clan would not have been able to establish themselves in Yunwu City. By backing the Guan Clan, the Li Clan even incurred the displeasure of one of the other four major clans, the Yang Clan.

“Is this truly what they call human nature?” Li Fuchen pondered internally.

***

As per his routine, Li Fuchen ascended to the peak of the mountain situated behind the Li Clan’s estate.

He relished the elevated vantage point, perhaps stemming from his desire for strength, a wish to overlook all beings.

Today’s weather appeared somewhat peculiar, with winds rapidly tearing through the clouds, revealing streaks of gold within their expanse.

“If the day ever comes when I can punch through the clouds, I would be able to die with no regrets.”

Li Fuchen formed a fist and thrust it towards the sky with flawless form, envisioning his strike penetrating the golden layers of the clouds, reaching for the stars themselves.

Chuckling to himself, Li Fuchen resolved to descend the mountain.

All at once, he halted, stunned.

He observed the ranks of golden clouds parting, a beam of gold pierced through. The radiant stream tore through the sky, hurtling towards him at the speed of light, as if time itself had momentarily ceased. Between the heavens and the earth, an profound silence prevailed.

Li Fuchen desired to flee, but his body remained unresponsive.

The golden beam was blinding, compelling Li Fuchen to shut his eyes. In the subsequent moment, he felt an intense heat between his brows before succumbing to unconsciousness.

Li Fuchen found himself within a dream, where he was galloping across the land, invincible and unmatched. With a mere flick of his sword, the emitted light illuminated the heavens. The sheer power of one of his punches could shatter the earth and pierce through the depths of hell.

“What a magnificent dream!”

Unfurrowing his brow, Li Fuchen’s expression was alight with vigor.

When Li Fuchen finally awoke, the sky had not yet darkened.

“What just transpired?”

Puzzled, he touched his forehead, sensing his soul’s consciousness being drawn into his mind. A jolt ran through his being.

Boom.

A tremor shook within his mind, revealing a scene previously unknown to his consciousness. Everything appeared chaotic, with a mass of grey mist at its center. Amidst the mist resided a small golden amulet, which inexplicably made his soul spirit feel more robust than ever before. The grey mist seemed to have consolidated, forming a ball of grey light.

“This within my mind… is this grey mist my soul spirit? And what is that golden amulet?”

Li Fuchen’s heart was overwhelmed with questions, as such a phenomenon defied all his established knowledge.

With a shift in his perception, he was drawn towards the golden amulet.

The amulet showed no signs of wear or tear, yet it exuded an aura of eternal simplicity. It felt as if it had existed since the dawn of time and would persist indefinitely.

Without noting the passage of time, and with his willpower diminishing, Li Fuchen’s consciousness was finally expelled from the mental space.

“It is late; I should return home now.”

Carrying a sense of bewilderment, Li Fuchen began his journey back.

***

Passing through the training grounds, Li Fuchen encountered Li Yunhe. He was engaged in a spar with another Li Clan disciple. With remarkable ease, Li Yunhe dispatched his opponent with a single palm strike, sending him flying. He then turned and regarded Li Fuchen with a smile.

“Li Fuchen, care for a spar? I’ve just reached the fifth level of the Qi Realm and am in need of a sparring partner. You seem capable of enduring a few more blows.”

As one progresses, breaking through the Qi Training Realm becomes increasingly challenging… Witnessing his ability to reach the fifth level suggests it is linked to his achievement of the fourth rank in the Red Jade technique.

“I have some urgent matters to attend to; perhaps in a few days.”

Upon uttering these words, Li Fuchen departed without delay.

“This fellow.”

Li Yunhe’s expression darkened considerably. This was the first instance where Li Fuchen had shown him such a distinct lack of respect.

“Hmph, an incompetent person will forever remain incompetent. It seems that being unable to cultivate for an entire year has shattered his will. He lacked even the courage to face me.” Li Yunhe scoffed.

***

Following dinner, Li Fuchen promptly returned to his chamber.

As his consciousness delved inward, Li Fuchen was taken aback to observe that the previously ubiquitous grey mist had condensed into a spherical ball of light, with only a faint wisp of mist lingering around its periphery.

“Does the transformation of the grey mist into a ball of light benefit me?” Li Fuchen mused.

Setting these thoughts aside, Li Fuchen withdrew his consciousness from his mind and commenced his cultivation.

Fifteen minutes elapsed…

Half an hour passed…

Li Fuchen’s eyes fluttered open. He was met with a mixture of astonishment and pleasant surprise.

Previously, his concentration during cultivation could only be maintained for a brief duration. However, on this particular night, he persisted for a full half-hour without experiencing any discomfort in his head. “Could this be attributed to the grey mist within my soul spirit? Now that it has coalesced into a ball of light, has cultivation become easier?” Li Fuchen’s sharp intellect led him to this deduction.

This night was destined to be etched into his memory.

***

Initially, Li Fuchen presumed the amulet served solely to keep his soul spirit contained and prevent its dissipation. Yet, over the ensuing days, he realized the inaccuracy of this assumption.

The amulet not only possessed the ability to gather the spirit but also to foster its evolution.

His soul spirit had now fully transformed into a luminous orb and was gradually taking on a pale green hue. As his soul spirit evolved, his mind felt exceptionally clear, as if countless obstructions had been removed. Not only had his perception sharpened, but his capacity to grasp analogies increased significantly.

***

As night descended…

Li Fuchen diligently circulated the Red Jade Technique, his palm upturned towards the sky, steadily drawing in the Qi that permeated the heavens and the earth.

After thirty minutes, three new meridians had become unhindered within Li Fuchen’s body. These three meridians, in conjunction with the Red Jade Technique, established intricate pathways for Qi circulation.

“The Red Jade Technique has already reached the fourth rank?” Li Fuchen expressed his disbelief.

With each successive rank, the cultivation of the Red Jade Technique grew progressively more arduous. Without a profound understanding of the technique’s essence, even with three unblocked meridians, advancement would remain a formidable challenge. Yet, he had unexpectedly broken through to the fourth rank before clearing his meridians.

“Having not cultivated the Red Jade Technique for a year, I had estimated it would require at least several months to achieve this breakthrough. To think it only took three days.”

Li Fuchen was overcome with exhilaration. The evolution of his soul spirit not only enhanced his agility but also profoundly improved his perception. In the past, his perception was considered good; now, it was simply unparalleled.

***

Li Fuchen dedicated his nights to cultivating the Red Jade Technique and his days to studying martial arts.

Snap!

In the courtyard, Li Fuchen unleashed a palm strike against the unyielding wooden post. The force of the blow penetrated deeply, causing the upper section of the post to split asunder. Had this strike been directed at a person, it would have undoubtedly resulted in fatalities.

“Stone Shattering Palm mastery, an accomplishment Li Yunhai hasn’t even achieved, has he?!”

The Stone Shattering Palm was a low-tier, yellow-class palm technique, known for its formidable power. Li Fuchen’s Qi Realm remained low; at the seventh or eighth Qi Realm, a single palm strike could shatter even massive boulders.

While he practiced his palm arts in the courtyard, Li Fuchen preferred to hone his sword skills in seclusion behind the Li Clan’s rear mountain.

At the mountain's summit, amidst the howling wind, the trees swayed violently.

Gripping his steel sword, Li Fuchen’s form was impeccable. At this moment, his expression was as frigid as ice, his eyes ablaze with a fervent spark. Not a trace of emotion was present, only an unyielding passion for the way of the sword.

Stab!

The sword plunged into the trunk of a thick tree. With a slight flick of his wrist, Li Fuchen executed a horizontal slash, sending the upper portion of the tree flying. Before it could even begin its descent, Li Fuchen followed with a leap, his slashes cutting through the air.

Swish, slash!

In mid-air, the sword created a cross-shaped flash, bisecting the trunk into fragments.

The Tiger Fang Cross Slash, a low-tier, yellow-class sword art, was now mastered. In just five days, both the Stone Shattering Palm and the Tiger Fang Cross Slash achieved completion. Consequently, Li Fuchen’s perception had reached an unprecedented level; every martial art seemed to unveil its secrets before his eyes. In a remarkably short period, he could cultivate them to their peak proficiency.

“Sword arts form the bedrock of all fundamentals and are the key for entry into the Cang Lan Sect. It appears my aptitude for sword arts surpasses that for palm arts.”

Though identical in class and tier, mastering sword arts proved more challenging than palm arts. This inherent difficulty stemmed from the sword being an external object, inherently more cumbersome to wield than one's own hands. However, the sheer destructive power unleashed upon reaching sword art mastery was unparalleled by any palm art.

A single, decisive sword stroke could mean instant death or, at the very least, severe injury – such was the terrifying potency of the practice.

"Our Li Clan stands as the weakest among the four major clans of Yunwu City. With the Guan Clan severing ties, the Yang Clan will undoubtedly press their advantage. While the City Lord maintains a cordial relationship with both the Guan and Yang clans, if I can secure a place within the Cang Lan Sect, it will undoubtedly propel my Li Clan back to prominence."

Taking a deep, fortifying breath, Li Fuchen's gaze sharpened with fierce determination. "I vow to enter the Cang Lan Sect and demonstrate to all that the Li Clan is not to be underestimated."

Previously, the Cang Lan Sect was merely a distant aspiration for Li Fuchen, but now, it had transformed into his burning ambition.

The ruling force of this world belonged to the supreme, lofty sects.

Yunwu City, the homeland of the Li Clan, was but one of countless cities overseen by the Cang Lan Sect.

The Cang Lan Sect was renowned as a sword art cultivation sect; a staggering seventy percent of its members dedicated themselves to the way of the sword. This devotion extended not only to the clan's own kin but also to the common folk who revered the disciples of Cang Lan. It was widely understood that attaining discipleship in the Cang Lan Sect offered a direct path to rapid ascent in the world.

In recent years, the Li Clan's influence had waned considerably, a direct consequence of failing to have any descendants accepted into the Cang Lan Sect for the past decade. In stark contrast, the other three major clans consistently saw one or two descendants join the sect every other year. When measured against this, the Li Clan's diminished standing was an unfortunate but predictable outcome, leading to their gradual erosion in priority among the city's clans.

Note:

Martial Arts Classes

Yellow class, Mystic class, Earth class, Heaven class

Each class is separated into:

Low-tier, Mid-tier, High-tier, Peak-tier

Each martial art have a learned stage:

Sub-completion, Completion, Sub-perfection, Perfection, Trance

Cheers!