16 Chapter 16: Liberation of the Martial Soul

The Dao of Tai Chi is profound and vast. Cheng Xiao, being an ordinary person, could not possibly deduce the true Tai Chi cultivation method solely through a "comparative test." Cheng Xiao spent several years modifying the Tai Chi cultivation method based on the meditation technique summarized by Yu Xiaogang. However, this modified method was just a humanly achievable limit.

It might complement Tai Chi movements well and yield excellent results, but it was far from perfect. However, things were different now!

"No Self, No Form" is a mysterious state, similar to the meditation in Buddhism. In this state, Cheng Xiao abandoned all distractions and focused solely on Tai Chi.

Without the interference of distractions, soul power almost instinctively flowed through the most perfect route, completing the imperfect cultivation method.

Over the years, Cheng Xiao had never neglected physical training. His already robust body, combined with the most perfect Tai Chi and the majestic medicinal power of whale jelly, helped Cheng Xiao directly open up the Ren Du Second Meridian.

This series of changes significantly enhanced Cheng Xiao's soul power accommodation capacity. At this moment, his soul power directly broke through to the eighteenth level.

"Swoosh, swoosh..."

Soul power transformed into two streams, one rigid and one gentle, flowing around Cheng Xiao with his fist movements.

Under the traction of these two distinct soul powers, the seawater around Cheng Xiao's lower legs, which was barely covering them, began to revolve, forming a strange scene.

The potent medicinal power of whale jelly continued to nourish Cheng Xiao's limbs, completely compensating for his congenital deficiencies. His mental strength also began to grow quietly, and even some of the medicinal power began to surge toward his martial soul.

Cheng Xiao's congenital disadvantages were finally filled at this moment. From now on, he stood on the same starting line as those with fully cultivated martial souls like Tang San and Xiao Wu.

However, what Cheng Xiao didn't expect was that the growth of mental strength and physical body had reached its limit. The remaining medicinal power unexpectedly rushed toward his martial soul!

Originally, the martial souls of the two Monarch were in a delicate balance. Under the collision of medicinal power, this equilibrium was instantly shattered. The ball formed by the power of darkness, under the impact of internal destructive force and external medicinal power, began to show signs of collapse.

"Boom!"

With a muffled sound, Cheng Xiao suddenly jolted out of the state of "No Self, No Form," and an indescribable pain erupted from the depths of his soul.

"Uh... What the hell is going on?"

Cheng Xiao's eyes instantly turned crimson. His fingers dug fiercely into the sand, and the violent intent to destroy everything spread in his heart, making him uncontrollably want to destroy everything.

Fine scales began to climb from his fingertips, gradually covering his arms like a layer of dragon-scale armor, appearing fierce.

This was... the power of the Destruction Monarch!

"My martial soul... is liberated?"

Damn it! Why now? The power of the Destruction Monarch was too violent. Even with a body strengthened for five years, Cheng Xiao had never thought he could withstand its power.

In his plan, at the very least, he would wait until after taking the Immortal Herb, reaching the level of a Soul Douluo, and possessing at least three soul bones plus an additional externally attached soul bone before daring to attempt its liberation. He even secretly planned to wait until he obtained the Eight Spider Lances, just waiting for that day to come.

But no matter how much he calculated, he didn't anticipate that due to a fortuitous coincidence, this matter would be advanced! The dark and cold power of shadows raged wildly, staining the surrounding seawater ink-black. The force of destruction continuously collided with his meridians and consciousness, making him feel the urge to destroy and annihilate everything before his eyes.

"No, it can't go on like this!"

The cracks on the shadowy light sphere continued to widen, and the power of destruction leaked incessantly from the fissures.

If the Destruction Monarch were completely liberated, his body would probably be overwhelmed by this violent force! "What to do, what to do..."

In the midst of urgency, Cheng Xiao couldn't think of any good solution to resolve the conflict between martial souls. This situation was too rare.

Cheng Xiao didn't have an elder like Electrolux, who could help him solve all problems on the spot. He had to rely on his own wisdom to figure out a solution bit by bit.

As time passed, Cheng Xiao became increasingly anxious, his forehead breaking into a sweat. However, the two forces didn't give him much time. Before long, Cheng Xiao's consciousness began to blur.

"Tai Chi separates Yin and Yang, balancing strength and gentleness, the union of Yin and Yang gives birth to all things..."

Amidst the blurry consciousness, a ethereal voice suddenly sounded deep in Cheng Xiao's mind. It was the essence of Tai Chi!

Cheng Xiao abruptly opened his eyes. His weakened will suddenly became firm, and his consciousness cleared up.

"Tai Chi is not confined to specific techniques or cultivation methods. It's about the changes in Yin and Yang, the interplay of soft and hard, their fusion creating infinite variations..."

Seated in the seawater, Cheng Xiao mobilized the two completely opposite forces raging within his body.

Initially, maneuvering these two forces was extremely challenging, like trying to move two thousand-pound boulders.

However, with Cheng Xiao's grit, the two forces were gradually shaken, and under Cheng Xiao's control, they began to rotate according to the pattern of the Tai Chi diagram beneath the cracked shadowy light sphere, draining the leaking power.

"Shadow is Yin, destruction is Yang..."

The faster the Tai Chi diagram rotated, the more it prevented the leaked forces from destroying Cheng Xiao's body.

After an unknown amount of time, the rotation of the Tai Chi array gradually stopped, and the cracks in the shadowy light sphere no longer expanded. The powers of shadow and destruction once again reached a delicate balance.

"No, it's the balance of Yin-Yang diagram, Shadow Monarch, and Destruction Monarch!"

The balance between shadow and destruction had already been broken. Unless a third force intervened, it would be impossible to restore equilibrium. The Tai Chi array acted as this third force, serving as a buffer zone.

The cracks elongated slightly at regular intervals, and some power occasionally leaked from the cracks. However, the excess forces were absorbed and assimilated by the Tai Chi array, preventing them from leaking out and destroying Cheng Xiao's body.

"What is this? Preliminary liberation? Half-liberation?" After feeling the state of his martial soul, Cheng Xiao couldn't help but mutter.

With a thought, Cheng Xiao activated the Yin fish in the Tai Chi array. A rolling ink flow poured out from the Yin fish, and a dark shadowy figure appeared behind him, adorned in armor, imposing and tranquil.

"Shadow Monarch..."

The transformation didn't stop there. Cheng Xiao retracted the Shadow Monarch and once again activated the Yang fish of the Tai Chi array. In an instant, a ferocious light dragon shadow emerged behind him, shrouded in a terrifying aura of destruction.

The moment the light dragon appeared, he felt as if his entire body was being tortured, and the aura of destruction continuously destroyed his meridians.

"Destruction Monarch..."

Through the Yin-Yang Tai Chi diagram, he could finally mobilize the true power of the two Monarch, not just concentrating the power of shadow in his eyes as before.

In other words, from today onwards, he could truly be considered to have a genuine Twin Martial Soul!