2 years passed.
‘I’m nearly there.’
Yousti was on the verge of reaching the sixth realm of martial arts.
But for some reason he was having trouble actually reaching that stage.
‘Maybe it’s because I lack stimulation?’
He was having a similar situation when he was a peak martial artist.
He fought Neoth and gained enlightenment, reaching 3 Flowers Gather at the Summit.
From there he had wandered the ancient world and eventually adopted Aurora.
He started the Martial Academy eight years ago for the dual purposes of creating an environment where he can observe the intents of others to advance his stage.
And so he could spread martial arts to influence humanities future.
‘Maybe I should find him and go for a rematch.’
Yousti was now in his sixties.
Thanks to his slowed aging and incredible physique, he seemed more like someone in their late forties.
‘Now that I think about it.
In the eyes of the people of this era.
Aren’t I already an old master?’
The average life expectancy of ancient times was give or take about thirty years.
So he had already lived twice the average lifespan of the people of this era.
‘Well all that’s left is to get one more good fight and reach the sixth stage.’
5 Energies Converging at the Origin corresponded with body reconstruction.
His aging would drastically slow down, increasing his lifespan by about 15 times.
Assuming he would live to exactly 100 years old.
That would mean he would live for 1,500 years.
With that lifespan Yousti could live into the 1400s, the 16th century.
‘If I live that long it really wouldn’t be a stretch for people to call me immortal.
But martial arts isn’t about immortality at all, it’s actually the opposite.
But the Martial Record isn’t very clear on what that means so that’s an enlightenment for another day.’
Yousti once again observed the academy he had created.
Over the years various martial artists produced by his academy became quite famous.
Apparently the ancient myths and legends were real like the Greek and Roman Pantheons.
It was a planetary level phenomena from faith and the warp combining together on Earth.
There were also the extremely rare rogue perpetual.
There had only been a one report of such a figure but they seemed to slaughter whoever they met with few survivors.
His Martial artists had been having all kinds of adventures.
But most importantly.
“You can see it now. Can you.”
Aurora emitted many strings of intent from herself as she wielded her knife.
“What is this?”
Aurora opened her eyes wide.
“World Intent (世界意志).”
She looked around her and up at the sky with eyes full of horror.
“It’s everywhere… why does it feel so hostile?”
“Good question. What you are seeing is the instinctive intent created by attacks. But as you can see, it permeates everything.”
Of course Yousti also knew that the World Intent was full of various kinds of emotions, mostly negative, but he would save that revelation for a later date.
“I’m truly proud. In just a short eight years you have become a peak martial artist. For most people it would take decades.”
“It’s all thanks to your guidance.”
‘Yes I constantly performed the Genesis Qi Connection Mantra on you to directly amplify your talent.’
“No, it’s all thanks to your talent. But from now on the path you walk will be much harder.”
“Why is that?”
Yousti placed his hands behind his back and looked away in aloof manner.
“In order to advance my martial arts once again, I must leave the academy.”
Aurora stayed silent for a moment.
She quickly accepted his answer in her mind before asking.
“But what about granting Qi? Isn’t that something only you can do?”
“Yes.”
“So how will you give Qi and teach more people true martial arts?”
Yousti made an expression indiscernible to Aurora.
“Why do you think I started the Martial Academy?”
Aurora quickly responded with the answer at the top of her head.
“To create martial artists.”
“Mmhmm, and why do I want to create Martial Artists?”
Aurora quickly answered again.
“To spread Martial arts.”
“Why do I want to spread Martial arts?”
Aurora took some time to think about this question.
She lowered her head and furrowed her brow in contemplation.
“Because you want to… share the joy of martial arts?”
Yousti nodded at that answer.
“I have my own opinion of what ‘sharing’ means, and martial arts for some isn’t exactly joyful. But that’s not quite the answer I’m looking for. Look to your experiences and see if you can find an answer from that.”
This time Aurora spent a much longer time thinking to herself in silence.
She really looked like she was thinking very hard.
“To protect people.”
Yousti smiled.
“You’re almost there.”
She raised her hands in surrender.
“I give up tell me the answer.”
“I did it to bring about collective enlightenment.”
“I don’t get it.”
“The world can only change when many people change themselves. And true martial arts is the embodiment of self enlightenment. I believe that martial arts philosophy of enlightenment will change the world for the better. When you were a child you were going to be executed with a viscious method called the poeni cullei. Many people in this world are executed or suffer terrible fates in this world and the only way to change that is to create a sweep of enlightenment across the world.”
Aurora processed Yousti’s words for moment.
“That’s literally just a roundabout way of trying to protect people! I gave you the correct answer!”
Yousti defended himself.
“Well it’s a nuanced thi-”
“I gave you the correct answer and you just went, ‘nuh uh,’ why do you always insist on overcomplicating everything by shoving in your martial arts terminology!”
Yousti was stunned by Aurora’s outburst.
‘She’s right.
I’m acting like those old instructors of mine that filled my head with their own terminologies.’
Yousti sighed.
‘Oh how the tables turn.
I knew she was pissed through her intent but I never expected to instantly lose to her completely valid point.’
“You’re right. Sorry…”
Yousti didn’t like apologizing.
It wasn’t something he often did throughout his life, but he did it for Aurora.
Aurora just looked at him with a judging expression.
‘Now she’s judging me.’
“Whatever. I have to leave the academy now and for that period I’m gone there will be no more final preliminary exams.”
“I don’t really like this.”
“I don’t either, but some things must be done. Take care of the academy while I’m gone. And take this.”
He handed her a book called ‘Record of Transcending Cultivation and Exhausting Martial Arts.’
It was the most basic foundation of Heavenly Escape, anything more would require being at a least at 5 Energies Converging at the Origin.
All the full Heavenly Escape did was increase the potency, range, and duration of severing perception.
He was basically just using this martial art and calling it Heavenly Escape because he had the knowledge of the full martial art in his head.
The other aspects of Heavenly escape such as harmonizing and dividing consciousness were for the next realm.
“Take this. When you reach the next realm you will be able to use this martial art to protect yourself from World Intent.”
“If I can’t even learn it at my stage can’t I learn that Silk Song of yours? It has five forms right?” Aurora commented.
Yousti swung a small string of silk that seemed to cut the air into void.
He stepped inside this void with his body disappearing inside it before looking back at Aurora.
“If you read this martial art I just gave you and memorize it word for word when I come back. I’ll consider teaching you a knife version of the Five Center Forms. Until then, farewell.”
Yousti completely disappeared, leaving her with the book.
‘So this martial art is how he created the illusion of being in a void like all the people who meet him talk about.
I have to learn it!’
Aurora wasn’t too concerned about Yousti’s absence.
The school was no longer rapidly enrolling new students like it was at the beginning all those years ago.
With the school being kept as a secret by the rich and powerful.
New students were unlikely to show up anytime soon in significant numbers.
Hopefully their pre-true martial arts education wouldn’t finish before Yousti gets back.
So she ran off to read the book immediately.