Chapter 16: Chapter 16: Proclaiming all Dharma!
Translator: 549690339
"System, exchange twenty thousand Good Deeds for Enlightenment Time!"
"Exchange successful, Enlightenment Time countdown 20, 19, 18..."
As Enlightenment Time started, the scene reflected in Shen Zhui's eyes became surreal, as if he was not trapped in a cage, but located in a hazy, chaotic space.
He felt his body relax to an extreme degree, as if all worries had dissipated, his mind blank, and he unconsciously released the grass stick in his hand.
This ethereal sensation was entirely different from the time of awakening.
Like one drowning in the sea of suffering, the awakening time felt like the drowning person suddenly realized how to float his head above water.
Enlightenment Time, on the other hand, is a kind of invisible great power that lifts the person entirely out of the water, breaking free from the bondage of suffering.
"Buzz!"
A faint humming sound came from his mind. In this hazy space, a figure suddenly appeared.
This silhouette looked exactly like Shen Zhui, but it exuded a sense of vitality.
He was holding the Iron Ruler, wearing silver armor, seemingly an independent entity, and yet seemingly maintaining countless ties with the main body.
Awakening time allows one to illuminate and realize one's shortcomings.
Enlightenment Time, demonstrating various principles, points out the way forward.
Shen Zhui, who had mastered the technique of Unity of Heaven and Man, began to practice in front of him.
"Iron Ruler Ninefold" consists of eighteen forms, based on point, stab, chop, collapse, thrust, and pick as six cores, each with three variations.
Each move and each form can be combined and used, and its applications are infinite.
After three years of hard training, Shen Zhui had naturally mastered these eighteen forms, but the feeling of watching another virtual self demonstrate them was completely different.
It was like a teacher, identical in body, realm, and movements, only more proficient at managing the ruler, teaching him.
Unlike the teaching of others in the real world, in this virtual space, every move and action from the opposite side feels as if it's performed by oneself.
This Enlightenment Time provided him two perspectives. One was to practice in accordance with Unity of Heaven and Man, imprinting every single movement into his mind.
The other was observing and summarizing from the perspective of others.
Under these two complementary perspectives, Shen Zhui quickly found a path to the Unity of Heaven and Man within a short time!
In the cell, Shen Zhui stood motionless with his eyes closed, as still as a statue.
If anyone was in the room with him at this time, they would notice that his heartbeat and breathing had become very rhythmic.
Shen Zhui seemed to have experienced long years in this illusory space, but it actually was only a mere moment of breathing.
The moment he opened his eyes, his vitality began to erupt, his heartbeat and breathing accelerated like a volcanic eruption, making his whole person immediately reach his peak state!
"Huff~"
Picking up a piece of grass stick, Shen Zhui began to move in this cell.
"Woosh, woosh, woosh~"
Phantom figures began to appear. The grass stick seemed to merge with him, its glow caused his shadow to blend together on the wall.
Centering around Shen Zhui, wherever the grass stick was swung, were enveloped in phantom images.
This was the unique 'momentum' of the Great Achievement Realm's technique.
However, after this moment of enlightenment, the movement felt completely different from before.
In previous practices, the weapon was just an inanimate object, there weren't any special feelings, but at this moment, Shen Zhui felt as if the weapon in his hand had come alive.
It seemed that there was a subtle but profound power with its unique rhythm touching his weapon, resonating with his moves.
What is the power of heaven and earth? The power of heaven and earth is the aura of heaven and earth!
All things are in between heaven and earth, their movements will cause fluctuations of the aura of heaven and earth.
However, martial artists' perception is too weak to detect it, not to mention making use of it.
In contrast, innate masters have their Dantian storage full of innate aura which provides directions to easily manipulate and absorb the power of heaven and earth.
This is the fundamental difference between innate and learned.
As Shen Zhui realized the completion of his technique, the momentum brought about by the phantom of the Iron Ruler was domineering and murderous.
Although it appeared powerful, it was like a child who naively strikes eighteen musical instruments all at once. Although it looked grand, it was unordered.
But now, Shen Zhui felt a change in his weapon and reflecting the scene in the virtual space, he began to surmise a certain rhythm.
He slowly mastered the changes in movement, rearranged the notes of the 'momentum' in order, and gradually formed a simple piece of music.
When the piece of music was formed, this profound experience intensified as if he had pierced a membrane, and the invisible power became even clearer.
"Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh~"
Previously, when Shen Zhui practiced the ruler technique, the narrow cell was filled with flying grass and dust.
But as Shen Zhui adjusted again and again and gradually touched the threshold of Unity of Heaven and Man,
things were completely different!
Under the influence of this invisible force, the grass was no longer dancing disorderly, the dust formed into a mini tornado circling around Shen Zhui.
Absorbed in this profound state, Shen Zhui was completely unaware of these changes, only focusing on making the musical notes more lively.
Because he found that whenever he played more in sync when controlling the momentum, this exhilarating sensation gained an extra level of depth.
Even though he had already escaped from the virtual space, he felt as if his consciousness, taken up by the rhythm, had spread beyond the cell.
This sensation kept intensifying. The weapon in his hand was no longer just this three-foot-long grass stick, but the spiritual energy within this world!
"Boom!" "Thump!"
The bars and iron door suddenly began to echo with heavy thumping.
At first, it was barely audible, but it gradually grew louder.
Scratches appeared on the iron door, and the wooden bars were whittled down, showering splinters everywhere.
Accompanied by a rhythmic beat, prisoners in neighboring cells began waking up one after the other.
"What's that noise?"
"What's happening?"
"Is someone escaping from the jail?"
"How could that be possible? This is the county jail!"
"Damn murderers! Do they even let people sleep?!"
"...."
The disruption grew stronger as strands of spiritual energy, like soldiers on a commanded charge, swept away every obstacle under their master's command.
As Shen Zhui's control area widened and his interference with the spiritual energy of Heaven and Earth strengthened, inmates in neighboring cells were being increasingly crushed by this powerful force, struggling for breath.
"Innate spiritual energy?! My god! Am I imprisoned next to an Innate expert?!"
"What's going on? How can an Innate expert be locked in with the likes of us?!"
"I can't…breathe… help! H-help!"
The commotion and the prisoners' tumultuous outcry finally alerted the guards.
Hearing the noise, the jailers, clutching their long knives, hurriedly raced down the stairs.
Firing up their torches, they banged on the iron bars, shouting: "Silence! Silence! What's all this racket?"
Normally, they wouldn't assume someone was trying to escape. Often, well-off martial artists would protest their arrest and inadequate living conditions. However, a few lashings would usually suffice to quiet them down.
But this time, it was different. After dozens of lashings, not only did the noise not diminish, it grew louder with each passing moment.
"Scarface, what's happening? You don't think someone's actually trying to break out, do you?" a younger jailer said, looking somewhat frightened.
"Stop spouting nonsense! Don't frighten yourself!" The older jailer, nicknamed Scarface because of a scar on his face, shouted immediately.
Even though he tried to remain calm, he couldn't hide his own anxiety. Being a Seventh Tier warrior, he felt the strength of this unusual force more intensely than the others. The dark, mysterious prison inexplicably emanated a powerful oppressive force, making him shudder.
"Boom, boom, boom!"
Sounds echoed from the depths of the prison, as if someone were knocking on the iron bars. The sound was akin to a mallet pounding on their hearts, causing unbearable discomfort.
Scarface's face changed immediately.
"Go and report this to Secretary Liu. Make sure the prison entrance is sealed."
"Yes." The young jailer, whose spirits had been dampened, quickly departed.
"Damn it... there better not be some fool actually trying to escape." Drawing his long sword and lighting a torch, Scarface walked towards the source of the noise.
.....
County Yamen, Ming Hall.
County Magistrate Wei Wenhe was examining a map. Standing next to him were Wang Long, the leader of the martial artists, and Zhao Hu.
"...You're saying the Li family might be hiding in Fengshan Ridge, a hundred miles away?"
When the county magistrate questioned him, Zhao Hu quickly replied, "I am just speculating. Previously, you ordered us to monitor the movements of the trade convoys of the Li and Yang families. I found that around every hundred or so of their convoys would periodically transfer a large amount of goods piece-by-piece to Fengshan Ridge."
"When they return to their respective territories, their faces would have changed, but their numbers would remain roughly the same."
"I have had people infiltrate their ranks to find out more, but these informants are very cautious and refuse to divulge what goods they transfer. We only know that when they return to the city, they have more horses and silver. To avoid arousing suspicion, I dared not stop them to inspect their goods, hence I can only speculate."
Wei Wenhe didn't turn around, his body shrouded in a misty fog, leaving only the outline of his towering figure visible.
He continued staring at the map. When Zhao Hu finished speaking, he just waved his hand.
"Alright, I've got it. You can leave now."
"Yes," Zhao Hu respectfully replied.
After Zhao Hu left, Wei Wenhe stared at the map for a while longer before finally turning around. The fog lifted, revealing a face that was absurdly young.
Unlike the stern and imposing old man from the rumors, Wei Wenhe looked more like a delicate and handsome scholar.
"Brother, what do you think?"
Wang Long pondered for a moment and said, "Fengshan Ridge is a trading area for the mountain people. There are always trade convoys going there to sell goods. It's hard to judge the truth of this statement."
Wei Wenhe waved his hand, just about to say something, but his face suddenly changed.
"Junior brother, what's wrong?" Seeing Wei Wenhe change expression, Wang Long immediately asked.
Wei Wenhe's expression suddenly relaxed, and he laughed, "Come, brother, let's go to the county jail. It's good news."
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone