CHAPTER 1082: CHAPTER 1081: PREACHING THE TAO TO FIVE DISCIPLES

"Little Shitou, come here, Master has something to tell you!" Ye Tianchen looked at Little Shitou, who was practicing diligently nearby, drenched in sweat, and couldn’t help but speak.

"Master, can we talk after I’m done with my training? I need to hurry, I’ve fallen too far behind!" Little Shitou replied earnestly.

"In the path of cultivation, diligence and hard work are indeed important, but sometimes the mind needs to perceive the Great Tao. You all come over, I happen to want to explain my cultivation insights to you!" Ye Tianchen said with a smile to the five young disciples.

Feng Chan, Cai Meier, Tian Feng, Ming Jue, Little Shitou, all walked toward the giant rock where Ye Tianchen was sitting cross-legged, and Ye Tianchen opened his eyes, looking at the disciples with appreciation. They were indeed all outstanding, and as long as they practiced diligently, with their talents and understanding, they would definitely go far along the martial arts path—something Ye Tianchen could foresee. The only thing that worried him was Little Shitou. Little Shitou had his own beliefs and goals, things he wanted to achieve, but his comprehension was somewhat clumsy; even simple things were difficult for him to grasp in a short time.

Nevertheless, Ye Tianchen was certainly not going to give up on Little Shitou, nor would he be a biased master. For the five young disciples, Ye Tianchen treated them all equally, not giving special treatment to any one of them due to high talent. However, he would pay a bit more attention to a prodigy like Feng Chan, offering him more advanced cultivation skills and stronger martial arts divine skills, all due to Feng Chan’s talents. Ye Tianchen did not want to bury Feng Chan’s gifts; of course, he wanted Feng Chan to grow stronger, but the cultivation path he taught was the same for all the young disciples—no extra privileges for anyone!

"Master!" The five young disciples greeted Ye Tianchen respectfully upon seeing him again.

"Mm, you all sit around me, and I’ll tell you about the cultivation path I’ve understood!" Ye Tianchen nodded and said.

The five young disciples all sat down cross-legged beside Ye Tianchen, listening intently and attentively to Ye Tianchen’s insights—these were insights Ye Tianchen had personally realized.

"Human cultivators are known as martial artists, and the emergence of martial artists occurred during the late ancient times. At that time, the Human Clan was weak, heavily oppressed, treated as food by ancient alien races, and enslaved by the Demon Clan, living in extremely perilous conditions. In pursuit of dignity and a bit of survival space, the ancestors of the Human Clan embarked on a long journey to find cultivation methods. Many pioneers sacrificed unknown numbers of lives and blood, ultimately allowing one strong individual after another to emerge among the Human Clan, gradually creating a place for survival in the martial arts world, gaining a touch of dignity for the Human Clan..."

Ye Tianchen began to tell of the things he knew and the Taoism he had understood. He wasn’t directly transmitting his path, nor was he letting the five young disciples cultivate following his insights. Ye Tianchen never wanted that; he always believed that if a martial artist wanted to go further, become stronger, surpass the predecessors, they needed to forge their own path. Always following a strong person’s path, gaining their inheritance—what could truly happen even if they reached the end? One could never transcend. So Ye Tianchen just offered these five young disciples some guidance; the rest they needed to comprehend on their own.

"Master, I think the cultivation of the physical body is just as important as martial arts divine skills!" Feng Chan said.

"Mm, you’re right. The physical body is the vessel for Martial Arts True Qi and martial arts divine skills. Without a strong physique, it’s impossible to wield these powerful divine arts. Therefore, you all should focus on physical body training, not just cultivating Martial Arts True Qi and divine skills!" Ye Tianchen said with a smile.

"Master, in the cultivation of Martial Arts True Qi, must it always merge with the world’s forces?" Cai Meier asked, somewhat puzzled.

"The Human Clan is weak by nature, especially in physical prowess, far inferior to the life forms of ancient alien races and the Demon Clan. No one can achieve greatness instantly—Martial Arts cultivation’s ultimate goal is to transcend the world’s forces, break them, leap out of the martial arts world’s Magic Law, and achieve immortality... Since no one can achieve greatness instantly, then when your strength is insufficient, you must utilize the martial arts world’s power. Only when you are strong enough can you compete against the heavens!" Ye Tianchen nodded and explained.

"Master, I’ve always focused on cultivating the physical body, but how strong does physical body power have to be to reach its extreme?" Ming Jue asked, feeling unclear.

"This problem genuinely stumps me. Honestly, I don’t know either, but I’ve heard that truly powerful martial artists, driven solely by physical body power, can shatter a planet just by colliding!" Ye Tianchen thought for a moment before responding.

"That’s incredible?"

"That’s amazing!"

"I must work hard and strive to make my physical body stronger!"

The young disciples were astonished by Ye Tianchen’s words; they had never imagined that with extreme physical strength, one could shatter a planet. How awe-inspiring would that be?

"Master, the application of martial arts divine skills is controlled by Divine Thought and releases powerful moves after using Sealing Skill. So, what would martial arts divine skills evolve to at their peak?" Tian Feng asked, equally curious.

"Well, let me explain this to you—as you reach the Emperor Realm level magnitude, when using martial arts divine skills, you almost won’t need Sealing Skills anymore. Just a movement of the mind will unleash the powerful martial arts divine skills!" Ye Tianchen recalled the scene he witnessed of a Buddhist Emperor Realm monk battling—it was just like this, tremendously powerful and beyond comprehension!

Ye Tianchen’s words shocked the five young disciples considerably, for they hadn’t thought of these possibilities, unaware of such powerful existences on the martial arts path—they had a long way to go. Although diligent and hard-working, with extraordinary talents, they still had to strive more earnestly. The journey was far, farther indeed than the proverbial ’ten lengths of eighty thousand miles.’

"Little Shitou, do you have nothing to ask me?" Ye Tianchen looked at Little Shitou, who was silent, and asked with concern.

"Master, I currently don’t have anything to ask you. I’m just wondering when I can break through to the Early Stage Martial Spirit realm?" Little Shitou said with a smile.

"Mm, there’s no need to rush this matter. Remember, the cultivation path should not be rushed; you must advance steadily, step by step, gradually improving your cultivation realm—that is the Righteous Path!" Ye Tianchen earnestly advised the five young disciples.

"Yes, Master!"

Feng Chan, Cai Meier, Tian Feng, and Ming Jue left and went back to training, leaving Little Shitou standing before Ye Tianchen, feeling somewhat strange. Ye Tianchen couldn’t help but ask, "Little Shitou, do you have something you want to talk to me about privately?"

"Master, I... indeed have something I want to ask your opinion about..." Little Shitou seemed a bit troubled as he asked.

"What is it?" Ye Tianchen chuckled.

"I want to have a name of my own!" Little Shitou said, looking at Ye Tianchen.

"You want a name of your own? Didn’t you have a name before?" Ye Tianchen genuinely didn’t know Little Shitou didn’t have a name, causing him to pause momentarily. He had always called him Little Shitou, never thinking about what name Little Shitou might have.

"I had one; it was given by Grandpa. But now I want to change it—do you have any good suggestions, Master?" Little Shitou asked.

Ye Tianchen pondered for a moment, understanding Little Shitou’s thoughts. Losing his parents as a child, the task of naming him supposed for parents fell to Grandpa. Now with Grandpa Shi having passed away, Little Shitou wished to assert his independence. Thinking about it, Ye Tianchen felt it was time for Little Shitou to grow up and be independent, so he replied, "Decide your name on your own, and if you need to, just tell me afterward!"

"But, Master..." Little Shitou hadn’t expected Master Ye Tianchen to relinquish this matter entirely. After Grandpa’s passing, Little Shitou regarded Master Ye Tianchen as his only family, thus seeking his opinion on the name change. Who would have thought Ye Tianchen would let him decide for himself?

Ye Tianchen walked to Little Shitou’s side and petted his head gently. Seeing Little Shitou’s thoughts, he said with a smile, "Like you, Master was an orphan from a young age too, knowing how difficult it is to live without parents and family. But you must be strong, become powerful, and have the ability to protect yourself and those around you—at least everyone in Desolate Stone Village is still your family!"

"Yes, Master, I understand!" Little Shitou hesitated for a moment and then nodded strongly.

Ye Tianchen left. Besides guiding the five young disciples daily in cultivation, he had another essential task—retreat and meditation. For the entire afternoon, Ye Tianchen would be in retreat. The more he knew, the more he wanted to discover and prove further things. Ye Tianchen felt the weight of his responsibilities growing heavier; without remarkable strength and extreme cultivation realm, his explorations and protection for loved ones would be arduous—nearly impossible. This pressed him to urgently need to grow stronger!