HPDBC Chapter 57 Battle to the Death
Chapter 57 Battle to the Death
Ma Cong's consciousness sank into the enormous furnace burning with raging flames.
He could feel that this furnace was closely connected to his spiritual world, as if it were an extension of his will.
Welcome to the "Martial Arts Forge" system.
Please select the martial arts techniques you wish to fuse.
Above the furnace, four scrolls shimmered with different lights, each representing one of the four top-level internal martial arts styles he had mastered.
Tai Chi Chuan (Martial Arts to Divinity) - Golden
【Bajiquan (Grandmaster)】- Crimson
【Baguazhang (Grandmaster)】- Cyan
[Xingyiquan (Grandmaster)] - Yellow
"So the colors represent the levels of martial arts skill," Ma Cong realized.
The Divine Realm is gold, the Grandmaster is red and blue, and the Grandmaster is yellow.
"I will fuse all four martial arts techniques together!" Ma Cong gave the order.
What he was about to do was an unprecedented feat.
It combines the four most outstanding internal martial arts styles in the history of Chinese martial arts into one!
[Ding! Detected that the host has chosen to fuse four top-tier martial arts techniques, including one "Martial Arts Proficiency" level technique.]
The difficulty level for this fusion is: Hell.
[Estimated Martial Arts Points Required: 30000]
[Estimated success rate: 10%]
[If fusion fails, the host will lose all invested martial arts points, and there is a 1% chance that their martial arts level will regress.]
[Is the fusion process confirmed?]
Looking at the pitifully low success rate and the exorbitant cost, Ma Cong frowned.
With a 10% success rate, you have to bet 30,000 points in one go.
This is no different from giving money away.
"System, is there any way to increase the success rate?" Ma Cong asked.
Yes. The host can increase the success rate in the following ways:
[1. Raise the level of all martial arts techniques to be fused. When all martial arts techniques reach the "Martial Arts Proficiency" level, the fusion success rate will increase to 90%.]
2. Invest more Martial Arts Points. Each additional 10000 Martial Arts Points invested increases the success rate by 5%.
3. Use special items, such as "Enlightenment Stone" and "Heavenly Lotus" (which can be exchanged in the system shop).
Ma Cong glanced at it; the first path was temporarily blocked. Raising Bajiquan, Bagua, and Xingyiquan to the "divine" level would take an unknown amount of time.
The third path involves special items, but their prices are outrageously high. A single Enlightenment Stone costs 100,000 points, which he simply cannot afford.
That leaves only the second option.
"Spend money."
Ma Cong glanced at his huge sum of 50,000 points and began to make calculations in his mind.
The base cost is 30,000, with a success rate of 10%.
If you invest another 20,000, bringing the total cost to 50,000, the success rate can be increased to 10% + 5% + 5% = 20%.
It's still too low.
"No, we can't gamble like that."
Ma Cong calmed down.
The function of the martial arts furnace is "fusion" and "deduction".
Since the risk of directly merging four into one is too great, could we start by merging two into one or three into one, proceeding step by step?
"System, if I only integrate the three martial arts of Bajiquan, Xingyiquan, and Baguaquan, what will the success rate and cost be?" Ma Cong asked.
These three boxing styles are quite similar in their power characteristics, all leaning towards fierceness and practicality.
[Ding! You have selected to fuse three "Grandmaster" and "Master" level martial arts techniques.]
The difficulty level for this fusion is: Hard.
[Estimated Martial Arts Points Required: 10000]
[Estimated success rate: 50%]
50%!
With this success rate, it's worth taking a gamble!
Moreover, the consumption is greatly reduced.
"Alright! Let's merge these three first!" Ma Cong made the decision.
First, the three kinds of forceful and fierce power, namely the "cross-bracing force" of Bajiquan, the "upright and whole force" of Xingyiquan, and the "spiral winding force" of Baguaquan, are combined to create a boxing style that is mainly for killing.
Once we succeed, we'll consider how to integrate this new boxing style with Tai Chi, which has reached the "Martial Arts Divine" level, at a higher level.
Taking it one step at a time is a more prudent approach.
"System, integration of Bajiquan, Xingyiquan, and Baguazhang confirmed!"
[Command confirmed. 10000 Martial Arts Points consumed.]
[Fusion begins!]
As soon as Ma Cong confirmed, 10,000 martial arts points were instantly deducted from his account.
Immediately afterwards, the three scrolls representing Bajiquan, Xingyiquan, and Baguaquan transformed into three streams of light and plunged into the blazing martial arts furnace.
boom!
The flames in the furnace surged instantly!
Crimson, cyan, and yellow light intertwined, collided, and entangled wildly in the furnace.
Countless images flooded into Ma Cong's mind in an instant.
He seemed to see Wu Zhong, the founder of Bajiquan, known as the "Divine Spear," on the battlefield, his every move expansive and powerful, his spear piercing a line and his fist striking a wide area.
He saw Ji Jike, the founder of Xingyi Quan, and observed the fighting postures of twelve animals: dragon, tiger, monkey, horse, alligator, chicken, hawk, swallow, snake, mackerel, eagle, and bear. He then created the astonishing Twelve Forms Boxing.
He also saw Dong Haichuan, the founder of Baguazhang, observing birds and beasts in the deep mountains and comprehending the You Shen Zhang Fa (游身掌法) with "circle" as its core, whose body shape is ever-changing and unpredictable.
At this moment, the lifelong martial arts insights of the three founding masters were simultaneously being deduced and collided in his mind.
The "support" of Bajiquan, the "straightness" of Xingyiquan, and the "roundness" of Baguaquan.
Three distinct core forces began to attempt to merge at the most fundamental level within his consciousness.
This process was far more difficult than he had imagined.
The three forces are like three hot-tempered, peerless masters, none of whom are willing to submit to the others.
The powerful Bajiquan force aims to break through everything.
The unstoppable force of Xingyi Quan aims to penetrate everything.
The Bagua energy, flowing freely, seeks to entangle everything.
They were locked in a fierce battle in his mental world, almost tearing his consciousness apart.
"No...we can't let them clash head-on..."
Ma Cong endured the excruciating pain of his soul being torn apart, desperately clinging to the last vestige of clarity in his mind.
He suddenly remembered the true meaning of Tai Chi that he had just grasped.
"Taiji originates from Wuji and is the mother of Yin and Yang..."
"There is strength and gentleness, straightness and curvature, opening and closing... isn't this Yin and Yang?"
A thought flashed through his mind like lightning.
"I can't force them together! What I need to do is find a 'core,' a 'way,' and let them willingly revolve around this core, forming a completely new and harmonious whole!"
"This core is 'me'! My will! My martial arts!"
Having figured this out, Ma T Cong stopped trying to control the three violent forces.
He completely calmed his mind and entered a state of "nothingness".
He contemplated the "circle" he had just comprehended, the "Tai Chi" that encompasses all things and is ever-renewing.
Then, with his own will, he transmitted the purest thought to those three forces.
"To be used by me!"
hum-
It was as if they could sense the supreme will originating from the realm of "Martial Arts Godhood".
The three forces that had been violently clashing gradually subsided.
They stopped attacking each other and began to cautiously probe, entwine, and merge with one another.
The "supporting force" of Bajiquan becomes the "skeleton" of the entire new force, providing the most stable support.
The "whole force" of Xingyi becomes "flesh and blood," filling the skeleton and providing the most direct explosive power.
The "silk-reeling energy" of Bagua transforms into "meridians," perfectly connecting the skeleton and flesh, providing endless variations and flexibility.
A completely new and unprecedented force structure slowly took shape in his mind.
【Ding! 】
【Fusion is successful! 】
[Congratulations, host! You have successfully created a new martial art (unnamed).]
[Please name the new martial art.]
Ma Cong slowly opened his eyes, and a divine light that blended red, blue, and yellow flashed past his eyes.
He felt the new, explosive power within his body, yet it was also fluid, adaptable, and ever-changing, and a genuine smile appeared on his face.
"It possesses the fierce power of Bajiquan, the essence of Xingyiquan, and the transformations of Baguaquan..."
"It has transcended the original scope of boxing techniques; it is the embodiment of my martial arts..."
"From now on, it will be called..."
"The Divine Martial Scripture!"