Time flowed on.
Half a year passed in the blink of an eye.
During this time, Rin Haruto's feat of shaking the imperial palace with a single roar spread like a hurricane across the land.
After all, the commotion was not small; even the imperial guards and palace maids within the palace dared not spread rumors.
But the martial arts experts outside the imperial palace could not pretend it hadn't happened.
Their eyes were not blind, nor were their ears deaf.
Even the middle-aged monk could sense the changes in the imperial palace's aura.
Other martial arts experts naturally could as well.
Furthermore, the scene of the Great Li Emperor voluntarily stepping out of the imperial palace and bowing to Rin Haruto was witnessed by many.
Connecting these events, it was easy for people to deduce the general truth—
The imperial palace of the Great Li Dynasty had been breached by a mysterious Buddhist expert.
Even the reigning emperor had to come out and humble himself, admitting fault.
The Great Li Dynasty wanted to suppress the news, but they simply couldn't.
Moreover, this version was the truth, and it even flattered the Great Li Dynasty.
After all, using the word 'breached' at least implied that Rin Haruto had made a few moves.
The Great Li Dynasty still had the power to resist, but ultimately failed.
However, the reality was that a single sound technique had caused many experts in the imperial palace to fall to the ground, incapacitated.
For a time, the world was in an uproar.
Commoners and martial arts experts from all sides.
Everyone was discussing this matter.
The Great Li Dynasty had ruled the world for nearly two hundred years, and due to its founding ancestor, all martial arts experts had been suppressed, unable to breathe.
Now, seeing the Great Li Dynasty suffer a setback, and a complete defeat at that, everyone naturally rejoiced.
After discussing the Great Li Dynasty, everyone's attention immediately focused on that mysterious Buddhist monk.
Was the Great Li Dynasty weak?
Certainly not.
Not only was it not weak,
it was terrifyingly strong.
Even after its Grandmaster founding ancestor passed away,
the Great Li Dynasty's strength could still suppress the world.
Yet, even so, the imperial palace, which gathered the Great Li Dynasty's most elite forces and most experts,
was breached by a mysterious monk.
What this implied, everyone felt a chill down their spine upon closer thought.
Undoubtedly, the mysterious monk's strength had certainly entered the Grandmaster realm.
Great Li Imperial Palace, Martial Hall.
Rin Haruto sat cross-legged, his expression calm.
Since entering here half a year ago, Rin Haruto had not left.
The Great Li Emperor was quite perceptive, directly listing the Martial Hall as a forbidden area, allowing no one to disturb Rin Haruto.
Furthermore, daily meals were meticulously prepared.
Not only did they replenish vitality, but they were also carefully cooked by imperial chefs.
Ensuring their taste was impeccable.
"Not enough, these martial arts are far from enough."
Rin Haruto sighed softly in his heart.
In just half a year, Rin Haruto had thoroughly comprehended all the martial arts within the Great Li Imperial Palace's Martial Hall.
This was not to say that the martial arts in the Martial Hall were inferior to those in the Great Zen Temple's Scripture Depository.
To be fair, the martial arts collected in the Martial Hall far exceeded those in the Scripture Depository.
However, circumstances were different now.
Rin Haruto's current height was the unprecedented Mythical Realm.
Whereas in the Great Zen Temple, Rin Haruto was a Xiantian Grandmaster.
From a higher perspective, the efficiency of his comprehension naturally far surpassed the latter.
However, even after thoroughly comprehending all the martial arts in the Martial Hall,
and elevating them to the extreme with his heaven-defying comprehension, Rin Haruto still had not broken through to the Mythical Realm.
"Of all the martial arts in the world, those that can be recorded and passed down are ultimately only a few; more martial arts are dispersed among every martial artist in the world."
Rin Haruto thought silently to himself.
These martial arts might not be of a high level, far from reaching the level of superior martial arts, but they excelled in their unique perspectives.
Some were even completely different from the current martial arts cultivation system.
If Rin Haruto could comprehend martial arts from other angles, it should help him break through to the Mythical Realm.
"Come in."
With a general direction in mind, Rin Haruto slightly raised his head and looked towards the door of the Martial Hall.
"Yes."
The thin old man immediately walked over respectfully.
As the highest-ranking and strongest ancestor of the Great Li imperial family,
the thin old man should not have been like this, personally guarding outside the Martial Hall, waiting for Rin Haruto's instructions.
But ever since Rin Haruto had just entered the Martial Hall and casually given the thin old man some pointers, which enlightened him,
the thin old man had stayed outside the Martial Hall and not left.
That guidance made the thin old man realize that even if he cultivated diligently for ten, twenty, or fifty years,
it would not compare to a casual remark from Rin Haruto.
"I plan to hold a World Martial Arts Tournament, right here in the capital, and any Houtian Realm martial artist or Xiantian Realm martial artist can participate."
"The top ten can choose any three superior martial arts."
Rin Haruto said.
With his heaven-defying comprehension, Rin Haruto didn't need to learn martial arts; he could gain enlightenment just by observing others display their techniques.
More than ten years ago, Rin Haruto observed the Great Zen Temple's warrior monks practicing Arhat Fist and comprehended the superior martial art Great Arhat Buddha Fist from it, which was an example.
It was unrealistic to ask all martial artists in the world to write down their unique skills.
Many rogue martial artists, without the burden of a sect, could simply hide in deep mountains and old forests if pushed too hard, and even Rin Haruto would have no recourse.
But if they were attracted by a martial arts tournament, with Rin Haruto's heaven-defying comprehension, he could quietly uncover all their secrets.
As for whether those rogue martial artists would come… People pursue nothing more than two things.
Fame or profit.
Martial artists add one more.
That is their own martial arts realm.
Rin Haruto used superior martial arts as bait, so he was not worried that those rogue martial artists would not take the bait.
Superior martial arts were not common; one superior martial art was enough to serve as the foundation of a legacy.
Even a Buddhist holy land and major martial arts sect like the Great Zen Temple only had seventy-two superior martial arts.
Furthermore, such a martial arts tournament, led by the Great Li Dynasty, would bring instant fame to anyone who showed even a little promise.
"And Grandmasters…"
Rin Haruto stroked his chin.
There was no point in having Grandmasters participate in the martial arts tournament.
After all, the number of Grandmasters was too small; the Grandmasters openly known in the world could be counted on two hands.
Even if those living in seclusion and hidden in the dark were added, they would not exceed twenty.
"If Grandmasters come, they can challenge me. Regardless of winning or losing, they will receive a mental martial art."
Rin Haruto said slowly.
Simply put, as long as Grandmasters showed up, they would receive a mental martial art.
What was the concept of mental martial arts? They were secret arts and methods that only Grandmasters could cultivate.
Although Grandmasters could not cultivate mental martial arts, constant study of them would undoubtedly be of immense help in entering the Grandmaster realm.
"Yes."
The thin old man swallowed.
Although the Great Li Ancestor had left behind a few mental martial arts back then,
who would dislike having more mental martial arts? Studying different mental martial arts simultaneously, and verifying the Grandmaster realm from various angles, would make it easier to take that step.
As news of the martial arts tournament spread,
the entire world erupted, and countless martial artists were dumbfounded.
As long as one could achieve a top ten ranking in the martial arts tournament, they could choose any three superior martial arts?
If it weren't for the Great Li Emperor's personal promise, probably no one would have believed it.
Those were superior martial arts! And they could be obtained just by reaching the top ten? And they were free to choose.
At first, some martial artists were skeptical, but after the first martial arts tournament was held and the top ten martial artists received the three superior martial arts they desired,
the martial artists of the entire world went crazy.
They rushed to the Great Li capital without delay, waiting for the next martial arts tournament to begin.
Compared to the excitement of the Houtian and Xiantian realm martial artists,
the Grandmasters stationed in various regions gradually had a change of heart.
They had all seen the news about the martial arts tournament that the Great Li Emperor had spread to the outside world.
Grandmasters could also participate, and they could challenge that mysterious monk who had breached the imperial palace alone.
Regardless of success or failure, they would receive a mental martial art.
For a time, many Grandmasters could not hold back and rushed towards the Great Li capital.
Half a year later.
Great Li Imperial Palace.
Outside the Martial Hall.
A burly man with a heavy sword on his back appeared silently.
Beside the burly man was a boy of only fifteen or sixteen years old.
"South Sea Sword Saint, I didn't expect you to come as well."
The thin old man guarding outside the Martial Hall had a solemn expression.
Before meeting Rin Haruto, the thin old man considered himself invincible below the Grandmaster realm.
Throughout the world, there were very few Grandmasters who could make him wary.
And the South Sea Sword Saint was one of them.
In terms of strength, the South Sea Sword Saint was not stronger than the thin old man.
At best, they were evenly matched.
But the South Sea Sword Saint did not come from a major martial arts sect.
He had reached his current height step by step.
The thin old man came from the Great Li imperial family, guided by Grandmasters since childhood.
He often studied the insights left by the founding ancestor.
Only then did he reach this point today.
And the South Sea Sword Saint, relying solely on himself, was on par with the thin old man.
His comprehension and talent should not be underestimated.
"You, you've already started nurturing spiritual power?"
The thin old man looked closely at the South Sea Sword Saint and was immediately surprised.
He could feel a faint spiritual pressure from the other party.
This was a sign of beginning to condense spiritual power; as long as the first wisp of spiritual power was successfully nurtured,
one could break into the Grandmaster realm.
The South Sea Sword Saint did not speak.
From his appearance until now, his gaze had never fallen on the thin old man.
Instead, he was staring intently into the Martial Hall.
"Grandmaster…"
A smile appeared at the corner of the South Sea Sword Saint's mouth.
Unlike other Grandmasters who came here,
he, the South Sea Sword Saint, was not here for mental martial arts.
Mental martial arts indeed helped in condensing spiritual power, but he, the South Sea Sword Saint, no longer needed them.
His true purpose was to challenge that mysterious monk.
That Grandmaster who had single-handedly breached the Great Li Imperial Palace.
The South Sea Sword Saint had great ambitions; he wanted to use a Grandmaster as a stepping stone.
To forge his path into the Grandmaster realm.
"Master, are you really going in?"
Beside the South Sea Sword Saint, the fifteen or sixteen-year-old boy was a little nervous.
After all, it was a widely recognized fact among martial artists that the mysterious monk was in the Grandmaster realm.
Besides a Grandmaster, who else could single-handedly breach the Great Li Imperial Palace?
And although his master, the South Sea Sword Saint, was extremely powerful, and had even begun to condense spiritual power, embarking on the path of a Grandmaster,
he was ultimately not a Grandmaster.
Facing a true Grandmaster, life and death were unpredictable.
"Don't worry, disciple."
"With my current strength, I only need to face the spiritual pressure of a Grandmaster, and I could break through to the Grandmaster realm at any moment."
The South Sea Sword Saint was not worried at all.
He was already halfway into the Grandmaster realm.
He just needed a true Grandmaster to stimulate him, and breaking through to the Grandmaster realm would be instantaneous.
At that time, being in the same Grandmaster realm, even if the South Sea Sword Saint was not a match for the mysterious monk, he believed he could retreat safely.
"I'm going in, Master."
"Good disciple, wait outside for a bit."
The South Sea Sword Saint's tone was eager, his expression expectant.
The Martial Hall door quickly opened.
The South Sea Sword Saint walked in with a face full of fighting spirit.
The fifteen or sixteen-year-old boy, in a fleeting glimpse,
saw a young monk in gray robes sitting deep within the Martial Hall.
"Master will definitely not lose."
The fifteen or sixteen-year-old boy clenched his fists, cheering himself on in his heart.
Only a short while, less than half an incense stick's time, passed.
The Martial Hall door opened again.
The burly man with the heavy sword on his back walked out with a blank expression.
"Master, Master."
"It's over so quickly?"
The boy went up to him, asking with concern.
"Let's go."
The South Sea Sword Saint shook his head slightly and left the imperial palace with the boy.
Until they reached outside the capital.
The South Sea Sword Saint finally stopped.
He turned to look in the direction of the imperial palace and sat down on a stone.
He muttered words like 'how can he be so strong' and 'how can such a person exist in the world'.
The fifteen or sixteen-year-old boy immediately realized that his master must have lost.
And it was the kind of complete defeat.
Otherwise, he wouldn't be acting like this.
"Master, I didn't see him as that strong? When you become a Grandmaster in the future, just challenge him again and win it back, won't you?"
The boy said from the side.
This was true; just now, when the South Sea Sword Saint entered the Martial Hall,
the boy had caught a fleeting glimpse of the mysterious monk. His aura was indeed unfathomable, but at most, he was a bit stronger than his master, and he might not be unreachable in the future.
"Not that strong?"
The South Sea Sword Saint was silent for a moment, unsure what to say.
After a long while, the South Sea Sword Saint composed himself and slowly said:
"You are only in the Xiantian realm now, your vision is still narrow, seeing him like a frog at the bottom of a well looking up at the moon."
"When one day you are lucky enough to step into the Grandmaster realm, or become a half-step Grandmaster like your master…"
The South Sea Sword Saint said this, continuing with an extremely complex emotion:
"You will see him as a mayfly looking up at the clear sky."