The Path of the Martial Arts BOSS
Chapter 86 - 83 - Philosophy

Chapter 86: 83 Chapter Philosophy

As the sky grew darker, Qing Yu sat slanted on the windowsill, reading a newly obtained book by the particularly bright moonlight of the evening.

Philosophy, a new school of thought that had risen in Daqian over the past few decades.

Ji Muqing founded Daqian, transforming the Confucian Divine Skill "Peaceful World" into the imperial Divine Skill "Peaceful World." Since then, "Peaceful World" had become the exclusive Martial Arts of the Daqian Royal Family.

Although Ji Muqing did not restrict others from practicing the original Confucian version of "Peaceful World," it still required others to dare to practice it. After the older generation of Confucian masters died, "Peaceful World," at least openly, was only practiced by the Daqian Royal Family.

Later, the people in the Northern Zhou Confucianism either practiced other Martial Arts or were simply frail scholars.

The people in the Confucian circles no longer practiced Confucian Martial Arts, and their hearts had also become less like those of Confucians. The most important aspect of Confucian Martial Arts was the requirement for inner character, a study to protect the heart of Confucians. Without this protective study, people’s hearts and minds would change, and Daqian would gradually become a place where, in the eyes of Northern Zhou Confucianism, etiquette had collapsed and music was in disarray.

It wasn’t until a few decades ago that a man named "Zhu Xiping" created a new Confucian doctrine called "Philosophy."

Philosophy emphasized "preserving Heavenly Principle, eradicating human desires," based fundamentally on Confucianism’s "inner sage and outer king." Internally, one should consciously practice sagehood, moral practice to perfect one’s virtue, and complete the study of character. Externally, one should be self-disciplined and return to etiquette, regulating oneself and others with rules and reason.

Accordingly, the Inner Qi cultivated from "Heavenly Principle Inner Saint Method" was so compelling with "Heavenly Principle" that it dominated All Techniques. The underlying theory and its manifestation resembled that of "Vast Righteous Qi."

"Confucian Martial Arts have indeed blazed a different trail, vastly different from Taoist ones," Qing Yu mused.

Qing Yu’s current Realm had already touched upon the profound and mysterious Mental Realm of Divine Origin Realm cultivation. It was just that his True Qi was still insufficient, remaining at the Innate First Layer, so he naturally noticed the subtleties of the "Heavenly Principle Inner Saint Method."

As long as one could follow the path of Philosophy and regulate oneself, achieving inner sanctity in the heart, one’s Realm could continue to rise.

Seeing the subtle and understanding the profound, the Martial Arts of Confucianism differed greatly from other Martial Arts as they were all about practicing this path.

"No wonder Lu Qifeng casually handed me this ’Heavenly Principle Inner Saint Method.’ Knowledge has both price and no price, to scholars who follow the path of Philosophy, this book is a priceless treasure. To us Martial Artists, it’s less than chicken ribs."

"Empty talk about rituals and teachings is utterly unexploratory, both for oneself and the Heaven and Earth, and is also utterly pointless. No wonder Northern Zhou Confucians call them false scholars."

Philosophy paid too much attention to the formality of rituals, discussing grand ideas throughout, and the study of heart-mind was hard to unify with action. For Qing Yu, who had already achieved the heart-mind of a Heavenly Person, it was not beneficial at all.

"Let’s just consider it as an additional means of disguise," Qing Yu thought with resignation.

Silently running Mysterious Technique, an icy and strict aura arose around Qing Yu, then overlaid it with a vast one—a second-rate imitation of the Confucian Vast Righteous Qi was created.

Why call it a second-rate imitation? Because the Inner Qi cultivated from the "Heavenly Principle Inner Saint Method" was a disguise, and this Philosophy-based Inner Qi, in turn, was simulated and disguised by Qing Yu’s own True Qi.

Remember, Qing Yu himself had practiced "Little Faceless Skill." Otherwise, even with Qing Yu’s exceptional talent, it would not have been possible to master the "Heavenly Principle Inner Saint Method" instantly.

Thanks to "Little Faceless Skill," Qing Yu effortlessly disguised his Qi as Vast Righteous Qi, for it was inherently a sham—a sham piled upon another, which made it very easy.

It was also because of the integration with "Little Faceless Skill" that Qing Yu’s "Heavenly Person Rebirth" had the ability to change his temperament.

"This should be almost enough. Once I reach Mountain River Academy and encounter the ’Vast Righteous Qi’ of Confucianism, with ’Heavenly Principle Inner Saint Method’ also being Confucian Martial Arts, it’s not impossible to trigger a connection and simulate the real ’Vast Righteous Qi.’"

Qing Yu was not worried at all about whether he could learn "Vast Righteous Qi."

Confucianism was a Prominent School that wished everyone in the world would study their doctrines. If one could learn Confucian Martial Arts, it meant that their heart-mind matched that of Confucianism, and they would naturally gravitate towards Confucianism over time.

Therefore, despite "Vast Righteous Qi" being an Absolute Skill that leads directly to the Divinity Realm, the threshold for its practice was extremely low. Of course, making progress was another story.

"How dull, I thought it would bring me some entertainment," Qing Yu said indifferently as he tossed the "Heavenly Principle Inner Saint Method" to the side and meticulously read a bamboo scroll taken out from the system space.

As useless as chicken ribs, that was the extent of "Heavenly Principle Inner Saint Method’s" usefulness to Qing Yu.

Compared to the empty discussions of rituals in "Heavenly Principle Inner Saint Method," Yin Yang Family’s knowledge recorded in the bamboo scroll was more intriguing to Qing Yu. Both contained discussions of doctrines, but the "Yin Yang Technique," which explored the natural world and interacted with Heaven and Earth, was more to Qing Yu’s taste—it was at least not empty bombast, right?

"Water moistens downward, fire blazes upward, wood manifests as bending and straightening..." As he read deeper, Qing Yu’s right hand moved unconsciously through the air, stirring up a breeze born from ignorance.

The breeze caressing his fingers momentarily brought the knowledge-immersed Qing Yu back to reality, "Ten Thousand Leaves Flying Flower Flow, interesting..."

Savoring the sensation on his fingertips, Qing Yu recalled the recent feeling and once again waved his fingers, naturally drawing the surrounding Primordial Energy to create a breeze that gathered and swirled in his palm, forming a miniature whirlwind.

"My talent in this area is indeed high..." Qing Yu narrowed his eyes, examining the slightly distorted air in his palm.

In just a few days, Qing Yu had stepped through the threshold of Yin Yang Technique.

This was natural, as being Xuanfa’s disciple, Qing Yu inherently possessed an extraordinary talent in Taoist Martial Arts. Moreover, now practicing "Heavenly Person Rebirth" and constantly interacting with Heaven and Earth, mingling with Primordial Energy, he wielded an exceptional talent in manipulating Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi that others could only dream of.

"The journey is long and arduous, I must continue to work hard..." Dispersing the miniature whirlwind from his hand, Qing Yu once again indulged in the joy of acquiring knowledge.

When Feng Jiu had yet to become "Five Spirits Xuan Tong" and was still a child, she could use "Ten Thousand Leaves Flying Flower Flow" to kill. Although Qing Yu was pleasantly surprised by his progress, he did not become complacent.

Yin Yang Technique was profound and extensive; Qing Yu had merely skimmed the surface, just stepping into the first layer of the five layers, the threshold of "Alchemy." It would not be an easy path ahead if he were to be content with this small achievement.

"Practicing ’Alchemy’ requires substantial financial and material resources, let’s hope Feng Jiu won’t disappoint me."

Alchemy did not necessarily involve Gold, but some materials were even more precious than Gold. In Qing Yu’s current state, with barely any money to his name, he couldn’t even afford the tools needed for practice.

"Ding, the first victim of ’Longevity Powder’ has appeared, host’s path of evil begins, awarded 100 Villain Points."