The Martial Dao’s True Essence and Lin Mo’s Calculated Storytelling

While ripples of turmoil spread outside the secret realm, a profound tranquility held sway within its confines.

Ji Xue lowered her gaze, staring at the scorched ground, her fair knuckles unconsciously toying with the edge of her sleeve, betraying a hint of chagrin and fluster.

Lin Mo had expounded upon such profound spiritual concepts, yet she felt utterly lost in a fog.

This feeling was truly disheartening, as if she had failed to live up to his generous imparting of knowledge.

A tremor of trepidation, perhaps even a hint of self-doubt, began to stir within her, fearing she might elicit his disappointment.

“Alright, alright, don’t fret over such a trifle!”

Upon seeing her distress, Lin Mo quickly reassured her, his smile as warm as the sun breaking through a cloud.

“When an immortal first explained these principles to me, I was so dizzy I understood absolutely nothing! Who could ever master such a thing in a single stroke? Just take your time and ponder it. It’s impossible for anyone to grasp it instantly, to comprehend it the moment they hear it.”

These words acted like a soothing balm, instantly rekindling the faint light in Ji Xue’s eyes.

“Rea… really?” she asked, looking up, her earlier trepidation completely swept away, replaced by a radiant glow.

“Of course, it’s true!” Lin Mo affirmed, his gaze gentle and earnest. “Think about it: if a few casual words from me were enough for you to grasp its profound mysteries, could martial arts still be called the vast and profound ‘Dao’? It has never been merely a technique of brute force…”

He paused slightly, his voice deepening with power.

“Martial arts is a grand discipline concerning the very foundation of one’s being. Its essence lies in cultivating oneself, nurturing one’s character, and forging an indomitable spirit!”

“Look at the character for ‘wu’ [武],” he said, using his finger to trace strokes in the air as if with a brush. “The left radical is ‘stop’ [止], and the right is ‘spear’ [戈, a weapon]. To wield a spear, yet with the intent to ‘stop the spear’! What does this signify?”

“It signifies that the ultimate goal of practicing martial arts is never to contend fiercely or provoke conflict, much less to bully! Rather, it is to use formidable strength to halt disputes, to quell violence, and to uphold order and peace in the world!”

“A true martial artist, even possessing the power to cleave mountains and sunder peaks, must always harbor benevolence in their heart and discern right from wrong. Therefore, the true importance of cultivating martial arts ultimately lies in refining one’s character, in ceaselessly sculpting one’s inner self, and in nurturing an innate resilience and courage, along with generosity and tolerance.”

‘This is wisdom, not merely a blind pursuit of shortcuts or an unmatched external force.’

‘When one’s inner self is truly powerful, with a heart as steady as a mountain, that is genuine, unshakeable strength!’

“Consider even the farmer in the countryside, who wields a hoe daily—”

He shifted his tone, speaking with the clarity of one who understood the world’s ways.

“The sinews and strength forged by years of ceaseless labor, the profound stability and reserved tenacity honed by toiling in the yellow earth furrows… who can deny that the focus, perseverance, and wisdom in the flow of power contained within are a simple yet pure manifestation of the great Dao of martial arts? Even if they only know how to swing a hoe in a wide arc, should they grasp its true essence, that unadorned swing can hold the potential to cleave heaven and earth!”

“So, Your Highness,” Lin Mo’s gaze returned to Ji Xue, filled with gentle encouragement, “do not be anxious or impatient, and do not be disheartened by a momentary lack of understanding. Simply settle your heart, continuously refine your inner self, and do not be misled by superficial strength. To cultivate in this manner is to truly walk upon the great Dao of martial arts.”

“Mm!”

Ji Xue nodded, her beautiful smile so captivating that Lin Mo found himself momentarily entranced.

While he claimed not to care about Ji Xue’s appearance, how could one dislike such beauty?

He even felt a sudden urge to pull her into an embrace.

Alas, too many eyes were watching outside.

“But, is it truly alright for you to speak so openly? What if others overhear and turn your own insights against you?”

“Then I can only say they possess remarkable talent! If someone could master such martial arts merely by listening to my lecture, I would have no choice but to exclaim, ‘Master! Please accept me as your disciple!'”

‘Borrowing strength to strike’ sounds simple, but only by doing it does one realize its difficulty.

Even the slightest error, and not only would the attack fail to be deflected, but one would be crushed instantly.

One must master the rules of how things operate, carefully controlling one’s own spiritual energy and aligning it with the opponent’s spiritual energy.

‘Without strengthening my divine sense and awakening my spiritual consciousness, achieving this would be truly arduous.’

‘It is strange, though; for some unknown reason, those formerly vague martial arts concepts now actively stir in my mind, perfectly clear.’

‘They are no longer as muddled as before.’

‘Could this be what they call ‘enlightenment in a single morning’?’

‘Is that why everything has become so unexpectedly clear?’

Now, he could explain things in a much simpler and more understandable way, making it easier for Ji Xue to comprehend.

However, Lin Mo knew it was not yet the right time.

The reason he suddenly brought up these things was not just to satisfy Ji Xue’s curiosity, but also to speak to the powerful figures outside.

He was speaking to the Empress.

Lin Mo had more or less anticipated that his feat of deflecting an attack far exceeding his late Foundation Establishment cultivation, with his own late Foundation Establishment strength, would be quite shocking.

Such a technique, he surmised, would naturally be coveted by those outside.

His current discourse served to prove his value.

He had shattered Qiu Yue’s heart, and the Qiu family outside would surely be enraged.

He genuinely feared that the moment he stepped out, the Qiu family would go mad and try to kill him.

If he didn’t present himself as having secrets, by revealing a little of them, how else could he demonstrate his worth?

This was Lin Mo’s small calculation.

“By the way, how is Ruyan? Her injuries…”

“Still too severe. Quietly, after Qiu Yue rescued and settled us, Ruyan was already teleported out.”

“Is that so… what a pity. I haven’t even seen that girl’s cultivation technique.”

“That cultivation technique is truly astonishing!” Ji Xue exclaimed, her eyebrows dancing with excitement.

Her words, far from showing any apprehension or distaste for Liu Ruyan’s elusive and unpredictable cultivation technique, were instead filled with unreserved admiration.

After all, had Liu Ruyan not intervened, forcing Qiu Yue to recall her scattered search parties earlier, they might very well have fallen into an ambush completely unprepared.

Moreover, Ji Xue had clearly perceived Liu Ruyan’s heartfelt desire to protect Lin Mo.

Therefore, setting aside their initial conflict, she actually held no dissatisfaction towards Liu Ruyan herself.

Immediately after, she vividly and animatedly described Liu Ruyan’s extraordinary qualities to Lin Mo, detailing the intricate workings of her ghostly, unpredictable technique and how it had left Qiu Yue struggling and flustered for a time.

She wanted Lin Mo to know of Liu Ruyan’s efforts.

Lin Mo listened, utterly captivated, wide-eyed at the perilous journey and Liu Ruyan’s remarkable prowess.

The two conversed thus, undisturbed, chatting tirelessly until dawn.

It was as if they could never grow weary of each other’s company.

Their conversation flowed from Liu Ruyan to topics spanning heaven and earth, and then to Lin Mo’s dream world.

For a time, the secret realm competition transformed into Lin Mo’s storytelling session.

And indeed, Lin Mo possessed quite a talent for public speaking; his stories were vivid and coherent.

He could even speak as if narrating a book.

The story content was full of twists and turns, utterly captivating.

At times, it was grounded in everyday life, recounting trivial, seemingly melodramatic yet down-to-earth entanglements; at other times, it unfurled a canvas of fantasy, brimming with wild, imaginative colors; and then again, it would turn profound and tragic, tightening hearts and drawing tears.

The audience below was utterly enthralled, deeply immersed, and even the Empress listened intently.

Even the Qiu family, typically haughty, now composed themselves and listened with rapt attention.

They never imagined that Lin Mo was not only a cultivation prodigy but also possessed such boundless imagination.

This warm scene truly diluted much of the solemn atmosphere, allowing everyone’s nerves to gradually relax.

For some reason, despite being deep within the central part of the secret realm, no one dared to disturb them.

They sat there contentedly, until the very end.

However, considering the immense commotion earlier, who would dare to come here just to offer up their points?