Chapter Seven: The Subtle Mysteries of Martial Arts

Ye Yu smiled. The moment he learned that Ye Yun possessed a tenth-grade perfect soul aptitude, he resolved to take this child as his disciple.

He was deeply curious and fascinated by the Crimson Flame Devil Art, an ancient technique he had long yearned to practice but could not. This regret had lingered within him.

He took out a book bound in crimson, placing it in Ye Yun’s hands—the original copy of the Crimson Flame Devil Art he had acquired years ago.

“In fact, the Totem of Heaven and Earth is also an excellent martial art. If you master the Crimson Flame Devil Art, you can then cultivate the Swordplay of Heaven and Earth and various totem martial skills,” Ye Yu said with a gentle smile.

Moments later, Ye Yun’s mind was wholly immersed in the text of the Crimson Flame Devil Art.

Whether cultivating Qi or martial arts, the first step is always entry.

For the Crimson Flame Devil Art, entry begins with sensing the soul.

According to the manual, the three souls are named the Soul of Heavenly Fire, Soul of Earthly Fire, and Soul of Sacred Fire. The seven spirits are called the Spirit of White Flame, Spirit of Green Flame, Spirit of Blue Flame, Spirit of Crimson Flame, Spirit of Black Flame, and Spirit of Golden Flame.

The first step in cultivating the Crimson Flame Devil Art requires connecting one’s consciousness with the Spirit of Crimson Flame, then using it to summon the Crimson Flame Devil Fire, tempering the body and nurturing internal qi.

Only after completing this step can one be considered initiated. As the body strengthens and internal qi accumulates, reaching the peak of the Qi Refining stage, the next breakthrough to Foundation Establishment demands forging the Crimson Flame Devil Body...

“Master, there are parts I don’t understand. Could you please explain them?” Ye Yun turned to his teacher, Ye Yu.

“Yun, you’re overthinking it. The most difficult part of this art is its requirement for aptitudes. You simply need to follow the diagrams of meridian and acupoint circulation as shown,” Ye Yu replied with a smile.

Ye Yun nodded at his words. Though only eight years old and well-read, he dared not practice recklessly. Hearing his master’s reassurance, he set aside his worries, opened the illustrated diagrams, and prepared to begin his cultivation.

He sat cross-legged with practiced seriousness, following the postures described, his hands and arms moving into strange shapes. Being a child, his mind easily settled into calm, and in the quiet, he sensed the soul within his sea of consciousness.

He closed his eyes, and soon, it was as if he “saw” a world of darkness, ten bright globes of light floating in the void, illuminating the path ahead like lanterns.

Ye Yu nodded quietly beside him, marveling at how swiftly Ye Yun entered deep meditation. The world often judges aptitude by whether one’s soul is dim, bright as a lamp, dazzling as fire, or resplendent as stars, yet such judgments are one-sided. Ye Yu himself possessed a naturally perfect soul, bright as a lamp, but its perfection and strength were not obvious in childhood.

Had he not read about perfect souls in an ancient tome, Ye Yu would never have believed such legends existed in reality.

With three souls and seven spirits flawless, his innate talent was already high, and the level of aptitude could still rise, promising boundless achievements.

The Crimson Flame Devil Art, originating from antiquity, demanded such aptitudes—it was only fitting.

As Ye Yu methodically performed the movements from the diagram, a faint aura of ancient grandeur began to emanate.

“Hm?” Ye Yu was surprised. He had never cultivated the Crimson Flame Devil Art, but his discerning eye recognized its extraordinary qualities.

“Every gesture hints at ancient resonance—I wonder who originally created this art.” Ye Yu speculated that its founder might have possessed a perfect soul, which would explain why only those with perfect souls could practice it.

A low humming sound filled the air.

No one knew how much time passed before Ye Yun finally sensed a faint connection with the Spirit of Crimson Flame among his seven spirits.

The room was hushed. When Ye Yun’s presence stirred ripples in the air behind him, Ye Yu held his breath. His Dao heart, dormant for more than seven centuries, quivered.

Though unable to cultivate the Crimson Flame Devil Art himself, Ye Yu had studied its process thoroughly and knew this was the most critical moment. Once Ye Yun established contact with the Spirit of Crimson Flame, he would invoke the Crimson Flame of Heaven and Earth!

The Crimson Flame, one of the five elemental fires, was the purest of its kind. Only by successfully summoning it could one temper the body and condense internal qi.

This was not only the entry to the Crimson Flame Devil Art, but also the beginning of refining essence and transforming qi in the Qi Refining stage.

Ye Yu’s heart was stirred. His inability to cultivate the art had always been a regret; now he hoped to witness success through this child.

Meanwhile, Ye Yun felt his consciousness, guided by the Spirit of Crimson Flame, traverse countless barriers into a world ablaze with endless crimson fire.

“So this is the power hidden in heaven and earth?” Eight-year-old Ye Yun was awestruck, his heart filled with wonder.

Cultivation, after all, is the process of borrowing the force of heaven and earth for oneself—visible only through the senses of soul and spirit, not the naked eye.

In the room, Ye Yu watched in delight. Ripples danced around Ye Yun, and strands of crimson flame appeared from nowhere, circling him. The flames burned fiercely, causing the air to surge and flow, yet did not harm Ye Yu in the slightest.

“Success!” Ye Yu’s face was alight with joy.

At the same time, Ye Yun’s motions ceased. He sat quietly, hands resting naturally on his knees, as threads of crimson flame entered his body through his pores, following the routes described in the diagrams.

In the dark sea of consciousness, the three souls and seven spirits shone like lanterns. Now, they brightened together, with the Spirit of Crimson Flame standing out like a star entwined in fire.

“Crimson Flame Internal Qi!”

When the Crimson Flame had completed one circulation within his body, a surge of heat settled in his dantian beneath the navel.

“Exceptional talent!” Ye Yu nodded inwardly. To succeed on his first attempt and enter the art—such aptitude would inspire envy in countless others. With such extraordinary talent, Ye Yun’s future would be limitless, especially with the cultivation of the ancient Crimson Flame Devil Art.

Yet Ye Yu knew that without his guidance, Ye Yun’s talent might be wasted in Cloudwater City, left unrecognized.

The others in the Ye family were shallow and ignorant, unable to grasp the true meaning of a perfect soul. If Ye Yun was a thousand-mile horse, Ye Yu was the wise judge who discovered him.

To nurture a disciple destined for greatness was itself a remarkable achievement for Ye Yu.

“This is my disciple!” He gazed at Ye Yun, his eyes filled with anticipation.

Ye Yun sat cross-legged, drawing in the Crimson Flame that hovered around his body. Every inch of his flesh, bone, and sinew seemed like a starving beggar, greedily absorbing the power of the flame. His muscles, bones, and organs subtly transformed.

Suddenly, his clothes burst into flames—he had summoned more Crimson Flame than he could refine, and the excess fire overwhelmed his control.

Having condensed a thread of Crimson Flame Internal Qi in his dantian, Ye Yun’s next task was to forge the Crimson Flame Devil Mark, a crucial step in mastering the art.

Once the Devil Mark was formed, he would no longer need to connect his consciousness to the Spirit of Crimson Flame each time; instead, he could directly summon the Crimson Flame through the mark.

Following the diagrams, intricate patterns first appeared in his sea of consciousness, merging with the Spirit of Crimson Flame. Soon, at Ye Yun’s brow, the Crimson Flame gathered and gradually formed an emblem.

“Crimson Flame Devil Mark!” Although he had never seen it, Ye Yu recognized it instantly due to his deep knowledge of the art. He murmured, “This boy’s talent is extraordinary. Not only did he form internal qi and enter the refining stage on his first try, he’s already beginning to condense the Devil Mark.”

As Ye Yun was his disciple, the higher his talent, the greater Ye Yu’s joy. But he added, “The Devil Mark is not so easily condensed.”

Time passed. The Crimson Flame Devil Mark at Ye Yun’s brow flickered and danced, slowly revealing a dragon-shaped rune.

Ye Yun emerged from his cultivation, opening his eyes and exhaling long and slow. The blurry mark at his brow faded away, hiding itself.

“According to the diagrams, it takes at least nineteen days to fully condense the Crimson Flame Devil Mark.”

Ye Yun clenched his fists, feeling a surge of power throughout his body, as if reborn.

“Such strength—so this is the wonder of martial arts?” At eight years old, his heart brimmed with excitement.