C79 Heavenly Barrier

Given that the Leviathan-roc System was in the process of assimilation, Yu Kun found himself with little to occupy his time. Without the system, he was unable to cultivate, so he heeded Hee Dongqing's advice and made his way to the library to peruse a variety of ancient texts.

The library housed a vast array of books, but Yu Kun briefly skimmed over the Martial Arts section before turning his focus to the broader knowledge of this world.

His recent battle with Yan Changge had been a stark revelation of his ignorance about the world. His understanding of both Martial Arts and the cultivation path was limited. Moreover, his current body had come from impoverished circumstances, leaving him even less informed.

After several days of delving into the ancient books, Yu Kun began to piece together the world's secrets, starting with the concept of Martial Souls.

There are nine commonly recognized Martial Souls: Heaven, Earth, Human, Divine, Spirit, Creation, plants and vegetation, Auxiliary, and Spiritual Energy.

The Heaven Martial Soul harnesses the forces of wind, rain, lightning, and thunder. The Earth Martial Soul leverages the benefits of the terrain. The Human Martial Soul embodies various human capabilities, such as the Soldier Martial Soul. Among them, the Divine Martial Soul, like the Dust Martial Soul, is the most formidable, mysterious, and challenging to counter.

The Spirit Martial Soul is derived from mutated beasts and allows martial artists to synergize with these creatures to manifest a multitude of abilities. Creation Martial Souls are based on all things created, with the Sword Martial Soul being a particularly common example.

Martial Souls of plants and vegetation typically excel in defense rather than offense and are known for their resilience. Auxiliary Martial Spirits are incredibly diverse, possessing unique powers that, while not designed for attack, serve many functions like healing or bolstering morale.

Spiritual Energy encompasses the elements of Earth, Water, Fire, and Wind, with Yan Changge wielding a Fire Martial Soul from this category.

However, Yu Kun's Leviathan-roc Martial Soul did not fit into any of these nine categories. He surmised that his unique Martial Soul was the reason the Flying Cloud Tower failed to recognize it, nearly resulting in his expulsion from the Flying Cloud Sect.

It was for this very reason that Gong Liufeng, the Master of the Flying Cloud Sect, appeared before Yu Kun after he had successfully condensed his Martial Soul, even going so far as to present him with a small gift.

"Don't be fooled by my current status as an Inner Sect disciple. The Soul Refining Stage is merely one of the four stages of Martial Arts! The journey of Martial Arts encompasses Power Refining, Qi Refining, Intent Refining, and Soul Refining!"

"Subsequently, the Martial Soul expands and coalesces into a Soul Embryo, eventually breaking through to the Martial Disciple Realm, where one gains control over a particular type of aura."

"The progression continues to the Warrior Realm, where the Soul Embryo evolves into a Soul Infant. As the Martial Soul matures, it takes on the appearance of a youth. I possess enough spiritual energy within me to form wings and soar through the sky. My Martial Soul can even detach from my body, transforming the intangible into tangible, unleashing pure attacks. The strength of the Martial Soul can target and directly assault another's Divine Telekinesis."

"The journey doesn't end there; advancing further, one becomes a Martial Master. The Soul Infant evolves into a Soul Child, and the Martial Soul grows, resembling a teenager. With ample spiritual energy, I can form wings for flight. The Martial Soul can leave the body, becoming real, capable of delivering pure, potent attacks that directly challenge the Divine Telekinesis of others."

While the higher realms are mentioned in the texts, the details are sparse. Yu Kun understood that this was likely due to the absence of such formidable beings in Chuhan Country.

Nonetheless, he recognized that what he had learned was sufficient, providing a clear path for his future cultivation.

In addition to this, Yu Kun delved into the archives, acquainting himself with many renowned figures from the Strange Realm and gaining insights into the history of the Flying Cloud Sect and the broader narrative of Chuhan Country.

Yu Kun only briefly familiarized himself with the ancient experts, whose legacies had dwindled to mere names over time. However, he took a keen interest in the contemporary powerhouses.

One such figure was Gu Haoqiong, the King of Pingjiang County, a formidable Martial Master. He was famed for exterminating all Demonic Beast tribes within the county's borders and even slaying a Demonic King, earning him unparalleled military distinction.

Wu Dingyuan, the Cult Master of Pingjiang County's 800,000-strong Imperial Guards and a formidable Martial Master Realm expert, excels in military strategy with overwhelming strength. He's currently stationed at the border, vigilant against the threat posed by the Demonic Clan.

Then there's Pingjiang County's Deputy Minister Qu Mang, a distinguished Stage Four Great Zither Master.

Yu Kun was taken aback when he came across this information.

"Stage Four Great Zither Master? What's that all about?"

After perusing the texts a bit longer, Yu Kun grasped the concept.

This world wasn't limited to the martial artist profession. Beyond that, there were Divine Rune Masters, Great Zither Masters, esteemed calligraphists, painters, and physicians. A Divine Rune Master played a supportive role. A Great Zither Master could slay thousands with a single performance. A master calligraphist's writing could kill as silently as a shadow, a master painter could bring to life mutated beasts and soldiers on canvas, and a master physician held the power to both heal and harm.

Moreover, there were many non-martial experts capable of defeating their foes. Martial cultivators, however, were the most straightforward to train in Martial Arts and, upon condensing their Martial Soul, could access the abilities of other professions, which is why Martial Arts had become so prominent.

Qu Mang, the Deputy Minister of Chuhan Country, was one such Great Musician. His renowned composition, "Happily Married Couple," known throughout Chuhan Country, could demoralize enemies and even compel them to yield.

"This world harbors a wealth of unimaginable professions beyond martial cultivators! I may have fortuitously gained the abilities of a Divine Rune Master, but I mustn't rest on my laurels. I'm no prodigy; it's only through the system that I've become this formidable," Yu Kun mused, closing the book.

Having spent several days immersed in the library's tomes, Yu Kun had not only deepened his understanding of this world's history but also of its many formidable figures and the intricacies of Martial Arts.

Yu Kun collected the books and stepped out of the library. Briefly retracing his memory of the route, he made his way to a secretive location within the Flying Cloud Sect.

"As Hee Dongqing advised, I need to broaden my knowledge of Martial Arts, but I should also challenge the Heavenly Barrier! Succeeding there could boost my rank within the Inner Sect and improve my standing and privileges."

Yu Kun mulled over his situation, a silent calculation unfolding in his mind. "As a newcomer to the Inner Sect, I'm likely at the bottom of the ranks. Yet, with my current standing, I'm entitled to fifty Spirit Stones each month. On top of that, I have the privilege of unrestricted access to the Cultivation Room for five days. I can even assign some straightforward Sect Missions! The freedom to name my dwelling and select servants from among the Flying Cloud Sect's menial disciples is mine as well."

He pondered the perks that came with a higher rank. "What rewards await those above me? Thanks to Gong Liufeng's favor, I can spend half of each month in the Cultivation Room. That leaves me with another half to attend to different matters."

With these thoughts, Yu Kun paused in his stride. He had reached the Heavenly Barrier within the Inner Sect of the Flying Cloud Sect.

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