Journey to the West: I have Nine Golden Crows Inside Me
Chapter 1380: Nine Three One Ancient Martial Arts_2

Chapter 1380: Nine Three One Ancient Martial Arts_2

The history of Martial Dao was well known to them. Immediately, someone spoke up, "Martial Dao, as the legend goes, was created by the Ancestor of Humanity to protect the Human Race. It has been handed down from the Ancient Era, enduring through remote antiquity, the ancient times, and the near-ancient times without fading, always occupying the mainstream of the Human Race and serving as our foundation."

This was the content recorded in the historical archives, and they were not Jiang Chen, born into an ancient clan, who understood the many secrets of Heaven and Earth to an extreme degree. For them to know this much was already quite remarkable.

"What you said is right, but also not quite right."

"Martial Dao, indeed, was created by the Ancestor of Humanity, but the Martial Dao that he created and the Martial Dao that you all practice are entirely different things."

"The Martial Dao practiced by the Human Race before the ancient times and the Martial Dao practiced after are the same in name but completely different in essence. In fact, they could be considered two different cultivation systems."

Jiang Chen rose to his feet, descended from his seat, and approached them to talk about the history of the evolution of Martial Dao.

"What? The Martial Dao we practice isn’t the same as the one passed down by the Human Race?"

This was the first time the crowd had heard such news, each one trembling in their soul, unable to accept the fact.

The Martial Dao they had painstakingly practiced turned out not to be the true Martial Dao but a later modification made by successors. But how could this be possible?

If it weren’t for the fact that the person before them was the Human King, who would not lie, the crowd would never believe these words.

"No wonder, no wonder!"

"When I read the chronicles of the Human Race in my youth, I always felt something was amiss. Although we are all martial practitioners, practicing Martial Dao, the powers displayed by the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors in their youth were something I could never match, no matter how much I practiced."

"For example, at the same Innate Realm, the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors could battle True Dragons, but when I faced a True Dragon, I would be intimidated by its Dragon Power, my legs becoming uncontrollably weak, struggling even to stand up, let alone engage in combat."

"I originally thought that the reason for such a vast disparity lay in the fact that the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors were divinely magnificent by nature."

"But now, enlightened by the Human King, I’ve suddenly realized the truth; it’s not just that I truly fall short compared to them, but also because the Martial Dao I practice is different."

Someone feigned sudden comprehension, as if unraveling the doubts that had lain hidden at the heart for many years. Upon hearing his words, everyone around him looked at him in astonishment, even Jiang Chen spared him an extra glance.

As a young man, harboring dreams to stand shoulder to shoulder with the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors was, honestly, something many had done. Jiang Chen had the same thoughts in his youth, and it was precisely because he had witnessed the strength of Ancient Martial Arts that he insisted on pursuing this path.

"Why has such a significant matter never been mentioned to the public? And who would be so bold as to dare to change the Martial Dao handed down by the Ancestor of Humanity Himself?"

"Someone who could silently change the Martial Dao cultivation system to a different one must surely be a being with incredible reach."

Others posed doubts too—was there really no need to inform succeeding generations about changing something as fundamental as the Martial Dao?

"It was my ancestor in collaboration with Emperor Yu who made the changes, and it happened at the end of the age of remote antiquity," Jiang Chen glanced at the speaker, cautioning him to be more careful with his words.

"The Martial Dao created by the Ancestor of Humanity is known as Ancient Martial Dao, and this cultivation system is recognized as the strongest in the Prehistoric World, without peer. Ancient Martial Artists are unrivaled in battle within the same realm."

"Furthermore, the Ancient Martial Dao is a method of swift success. Within a hundred years, practitioners of Ancient Martial Dao could rival celestial immortals, in five hundred years they could battle Innate Dao Monarchs, and within two to three thousand years, they could contend with Innate Dao Sovereigns."

"The prosperity of the Human Race began with Ancient Martial Dao. It was precisely because numerous Ancient Martial Artists battled against heaven and earth, causing countless strong beings of myriad races to retreat in defeat, that the Human Race rose from ruin and claimed the place of principal actors under Heaven and Earth."

"The prestige of Great Shang shook the world, and even the high and mighty immortals had to bow their heads in fealty. Its power far outstripped that of its successor, the dynasty of Great Zhou, and the reason lay in the fact that Great Shang was the last dynasty of the Human Race formed by Ancient Martial Artists."

"The power of Great Shang was the zenith among all dynasties of the Human Race. Even the Heaven Court found it difficult to resist its edge."

"As they say, all glory is followed by decline; after Great Shang, Ancient Martial Dao quickly fell into obscurity. Today’s Martial Dao, the one you all practice, rose in its place and gradually became the mainstream of the Human Race."

Jiang Chen spoke slowly, telling them about the rise and fall of Ancient Martial Dao.

"So there’s a distinction between Ancient Martial Arts and the Martial Arts of the present age," the crowd realized with sudden enlightenment, never having imagined the martial way concealed such a secret.

"A cultivation system so powerful that was unable to be passed down must have some sort of fatal flaw," one said.

Meanwhile, the strategists sitting in their seats, having listened to Jiang Chen converse with the warriors for quite some time, finally couldn’t restrain themselves; they joined the conversation with their own insights.

"What His Majesty mentioned earlier must be the Ancient Martial Arts. And cultivating them will involve risks, risks so great that they might be unacceptable to us all."

Within the group of martial artists, there were those smart and humane enough who quickly deduced the gist of Jiang Chen’s words.

"Those who cultivate Ancient Martial Arts, before reaching the Innate Dao Sovereign Realm, cannot achieve immortality, their lifespans limited to at most ten thousand years. This is the reason for their formidable strength; trading an endless lifespan for invincible power."

"This is the method I’ve conceived for you, known simply as the cultivation of Ancient Martial Arts. With just a few days of conversion, your combat power could greatly surge. Of course, in doing so, you would also forfeit that limitless lifespan."

"Think carefully whether to take this path; decide whether you wish for eternal life or temporary invincibility."

This was Jiang Chen’s true objective: to promote Ancient Martial Arts amidst this crisis. Only Ancient Martial Arts could save the Human Race at such a perilous time.

Because those who practiced the Ancient Martial Arts were the most trustworthy, and moreover, each one was extremely powerful, capable of taking on a hundred foes alone.

If they practiced the current Martial Arts, could Jiang Chen not then help them elevate their cultivation? Impossible, owing to his control of the Time-Space Sutra, a priceless treasure of the Dao.

Was it just a matter of lacking time? With a mere thought, he could borrow thousands or tens of thousands of years of time. He refrained from doing so, preferring to have them convert to Ancient Martial Arts instead.

"The cultivators of Ancient Martial Arts need only to reach the Dao Venerable Realm to achieve immortality, is that right?" asked a warrior, his head adorned with a silver crown, seeking confirmation from Jiang Chen.

"Indeed, that is so!"

"Even if one’s combat power is comparable to an Innate Dao Monarch, without reaching that realm, one cannot live beyond ten thousand years. Once that time is up, not even a Saint could extend their life. There exists no method in the world to prolong the lifespan of an Ancient Martial Artist."

Jiang Chen affirmed with certainty.

However, when it came to the matter of extending life, he was lying. There were indeed methods to prolong the life of an Ancient Martial Artist.

Like the Human Demon, who in the early ancient times had developed a method for extending the lives of Ancient Martial Artists.

The Creation Pill, crafted from the Original Source of ten thousand spirits, granted Ancient Martial Artists a second life, extending their lifespan by another ten thousand years upon consumption.

Yet this pill was deemed by the Mystic Sect Saints as demonic and banned the Human Race from crafting it, sealing away the recipe.

Given Jiang Chen’s status, even if he knew how to concoct this pill, he could not possibly disclose it publicly, nor would he ever discuss it. However, in secret, away from prying eyes, the story would be different.

"May I ask Your Majesty, do you practice Ancient Martial Arts or the Martial Arts of today?"

A young warrior asked, someone with a jade-like face and eyes full of boldness, seeming to know no fear.

"Ancient Martial Arts!"

"I am one who has mastered the Ancient Martial Arts to great completion."

Jiang Chen replied with unwavering conviction.

"We humbly beseech Your Majesty to impart the Ancient Martial Arts to us!"

No sooner had Jiang Chen spoken than all the warriors present knelt simultaneously, pleading with Jiang Chen to teach them the Ancient Martial Arts.