Chapter 39: The True Meaning of Martial Arts

  "Third Uncle, I'm going to make my move." Ye Chen raised his head, looking at Ye Zhan Xiong, a glint of sharpness flashing in his eyes as he took a step forward.

  Ye Zhan Xiong held back 90% of his strength, thinking that Ye Chen was only at the mid-sixth stage. Even if his aura was more refined than ordinary people, it would be equivalent to the peak of the sixth stage at most. Testing Ye Chen with the strength of an eighth-stage mid-term was not necessary to take too seriously. However, the mysterious aura emanating from Ye Chen's body made his expression unconsciously solemn.

  Ye Chen took a step forward, and Ye Zhan Xiong surprisingly felt the pressure of the mysterious energy from Ye Chen. He was shocked in his heart. An eighth-stage mid-term expert was actually suppressed by the mysterious energy of a sixth-stage mid-term expert. How could this be possible?

  Isn't Mo Chen's Xuan Qi already able to contend with mine? Ye Zhan Xiong became serious, and at a faster speed, he operated his Xuan Qi. The Xuan Qi in his body rapidly rose, and the protective aura on his body thickened by several folds.

  Ye Chen's body rapidly rotated the nine stars, fully immersed in the realm of the Tao he had just grasped. All his vital energy surged towards his right hand and then took a step forward towards Ye Zhan Xiong. Ye Zhan Xiong felt an even greater pressure, as if a massive wave of vital energy was rushing towards him. Although Ye Zhan Xiong didn't feel too much pressure, he clearly sensed that Ye Chen's vital energy was several times stronger than his own!

  "How is this possible?" Ye Zhanxiong's face revealed a look of shock and astonishment.

  "Explode Thunder!" Ye Chen's palm struck out, a simple move, Explode Thunder, yet it seemed to hold endless mysteries when executed by Ye Chen.

  Ye Zhanxiong let out a low growl and also struck out with his palm, meeting Ye Chen's palm in mid-air. The resulting explosion was like thunder, causing the air to ripple and sending the younger generation tumbling about. Even Ye Cangxuan and Ye Zhantian felt the powerful force contained within this single palm strike.

  Ye Zhan Xiong was slapped and retreated six steps in a row, panting for several breaths. Ye Chen, on the other hand, only retreated two steps, looking calm and composed.

  Ye Zhan Xiong unexpectedly isn't Ye Chen's opponent?

  How is this possible? The scene before them left everyone in a daze. Ye Cangxuan and Ye Zhantian were also stunned for half a day, unable to react. To think that Ye Zhanxiong was already at the mid-8th stage, yet he was still inferior to Chen Er in terms of his mastery of the mysterious energy! Was Chen Er's strength really at the mid-8th stage? Mid-8th stage, 17 years old... these two phrases kept echoing in their ears, causing their nerves to twitch. How many years had it been since the Ye family fortress had produced such a peerless genius?

  The crowd was shocked and lost color. Just now, when Ye Chen and Ye Zhan Xiong were fighting, the younger generation of the clan retreated two zhangs away, but still felt that their faces were being blown by a strong aura, making them feel sore. They looked up to see that Ye Zhan Xiong had actually lost, and they couldn't help but look at Ye Chen in shock. In their eyes, this young man who was not much older than them suddenly became tall and majestic, just like three years ago, making them worship and admire him from afar.

  Ye Zhan Xiong didn't think that he had used all his strength, yet still wasn't a match for Ye Chen. He bitterly smiled and said: "I'm no longer a match for Chen Er." Looking at Ye Zhan Tian, he said: "Big brother, if you want to know Chen Er's true abilities, then come test him yourself." Although somewhat embarrassed, Ye Zhan Xiong's tone still had a hint of excitement.

  Upon hearing Ye Zhan Xiong's words, Ye Chen secretly felt ashamed. Earlier, the young man's competitive heart had allowed him to fully immerse himself in one of his previously realized Dao states, causing the mysterious energy within his body to surge to its peak state, preparing to see just how far his actual strength had reached, and so for a moment he didn't hold back.

  Ye Chen quickly withdrew his aura, and the hall immediately became calm and peaceful.

  The speed of the Xuan Qi's contraction and expansion was so fast that it shocked all the warriors, causing a stormy sea to rise in their hearts.

  Upon hearing Ye Zhanxiong's words, the younger generation of the Ye family buzzed and began to discuss it.

  "Is Ye Chen's current strength now enough to rival Third Uncle?"

  "Didn't you hear? Third Uncle said Ye Chen's aura is even stronger than his by several degrees!"

  "Ye Chen's cultivation speed is so fast! The meridians have only just recovered, and he's already reached the mid-8th stage. It's truly unimaginable."

  Ye Fan quietly watched Ye Chen in the corner, pursed her lips and smiled, thinking to herself: Brother Ye Chen, you've finally found everything that belongs to you.

  Ye Zhan Tian signaled for the clan members to quiet down, and in an instant, the hall became so silent that even a needle dropping on the ground could be heard.

  "That's all for today's test," Ye Zhan Tian said. Today, Ye Chen absolutely gave them a big surprise!

  At the age of seventeen, he was already at the mid-term of the eighth stage. Such a peerless genius is extremely rare in the history of the Ye family over the past five or six hundred years, and in the entire Donglin County, he is absolutely the only one!

  "The results of today's test, absolutely cannot be leaked out, and do not mention any news about Chen Er to anyone else!" Ye Cangxuan said solemnly, his eyes scanning the crowd in the hall.

  The crowd of people all responded, their faces still filled with excitement. When can Ye Chen advance to the tenth rank? If the Ye family can produce a tenth-rank strongman, they won't have to fear the threat from the Yun family fortress anymore, and they won't even be afraid of the East Lin County Prince's Mansion.

  "Disperse now, and after you return, continue to diligently cultivate!"

  Upon hearing Ye Cangxuan's words, the gazes of the crowd lingered on Ye Chen for a moment, before they broke into small groups and began to discuss in hushed tones, gradually exiting the family hall.

  When Ye Zhantian promoted Ye Chen as the head of the family back then, they still had some doubts and worries in their hearts. However, now those doubts have dissipated like smoke. They all firmly believe that soon, Ye Chen will lead the entire family to glory. That kind of glory is probably something that they cannot imagine at present.

  Only Ye Chen, Ye Zhan Tian, Ye Cang Xuan and several of Ye Chen's uncles were left in the hall.

  Ye Zhan Tian looked at Ye Chen, and was very satisfied with his current martial arts cultivation. He no longer urged Ye Chen to work harder on his martial arts, as Ye Chen's increasing strength had given the Ye Family Fortress a few more points of combat power in their future confrontation with the Yun Family Fortress.

  "What time is Chen's promotion to the eighth rank?" Ye Zhanlong and others asked in unison.

  Ye Chen shook his head and said: "I haven't advanced to the eighth rank yet, I'm currently only at the peak of the seventh rank."

  Everyone's face was a bit strange, Ye Chen's fifth stage peak could defeat the sixth stage, which was already strange enough. At the seventh stage, he still couldn't condense his aura, and the difference with the eighth stage wasn't just one or two stars. When Ye Chen reached the peak of the seventh stage, he could actually rival an eighth-stage mid-term, this was simply unimaginable.

  "Genius can't be measured by ordinary standards."

  One day, Ye Chen will reach a height they can't imagine!

  "Chen Er, that dark thunder claw technique was discussed by me and your uncles before. It can be cultivated, and now you need to cultivate a few more martial skills to increase your strength." Ye Zhan Tian felt that his current joy was truly indescribable.

  "Yin Lei's claw, I've already cultivated it successfully." Ye Chen thought for a moment, since the seniors already knew his true strength, there was no need to hide it anymore.

  Ye Chen's words shocked everyone, but after thinking about the original body of Yuan Lei, they felt relieved. This Yin Lei Claw was a bit easier to cultivate than Yuan Lei's body. After so many days had passed, it was normal for Ye Chen to successfully cultivate the Yin Lei Claw. Everything that happened to Ye Chen was reasonable. If they were given the Yin Lei Claw to cultivate, even with the support of the Lei Emperor's secret technique, using up several months would be very normal.

  "Sixth Uncle, just now I discovered that the Bursting Thunder Strike technique is actually a very ordinary technique. Why does it feel like it has endless mysteries when Chen'er uses it?" Ye Zhan Tian furrowed his brow and looked at Ye Cang Xuan, who among those present had the broadest knowledge, perhaps he could dispel the doubts in his mind.

  "Could it be the legendary true meaning of martial arts?" Ye Cang's expression changed, his calloused hands trembling slightly.

  "What is the true meaning of martial arts?" Ye Zhantian was stunned for a moment, he still didn't know what the true meaning of martial arts was.

  "Legend has it that peak powerhouses above the 10th stage will comprehend their own true meaning of martial arts, they have their own exclusive martial creed. No matter who, as long as they glimpse the entrance, their cultivation can advance by leaps and bounds in a single day. That is the threshold for advancing to the revered level after the 10th stage. Ancestors are wise, could it be that my Ye family will produce an extraordinary powerhouse?!" Ye Cangxuan took a deep breath, his emotions difficult to calm down. For many years, he had been cultivating non-stop, just to let the clan continue on. However, as he grew older and older, Ye Zhantian still hadn't advanced to the 9th stage. He once thought that after his hundred-year lifespan, the Ye family would decline from then on. Who could have expected things to take such a turn? The unassuming him attributed everything to the ancestors' manifestation.

  Although Ye Zhantian didn't know what the true meaning of martial arts was, after hearing Ye Cangxuan's words, he realized that this true meaning must be something extraordinary in martial arts cultivation. Only by grasping the true meaning could one advance to a higher level. Ye Zhantian looked deeply at Ye Chen with an unspoken sense of pride and excitement.

  Everyone's gaze at Ye Chen was different now, and a consensus had been reached in everyone's heart. At this moment, the most important person in the entire Ye Manor was Ye Chen.

  "When did you realize the true meaning of martial arts?" Ye Cangxuan asked from the side.

  "What is the true meaning of martial arts? I'm not even clear about it myself." Ye Chen was stunned for a moment, could it be that he had just grasped this realm?

  "The true meaning of martial arts, refers to the realm of martial arts. I have a good friend who serves as a guard in the imperial palace, and he has told me that anyone who cultivates martial arts, if they can comprehend the true meaning of martial arts, their cultivation will make rapid progress. In the Western Martial Empire with its billions of people, over the course of hundreds of years, only a handful of people have been able to comprehend the true meaning of martial arts. That Ming Wu Emperor was one such expert who comprehended the true meaning of martial arts, and what he comprehended was the way of military conquest. What did Chen Er comprehend?" Ye Cangxuan looked at Ye Chen, his right hand involuntarily trembling with excitement. The Ye family having a son like this is absolutely the greatest fortune for the Ye family!