《Adding Friends Can Make Me Stronger》 Chapter 1 - Were friends, right? Chapter 1 - We''re friends, right? Chapter 1: We¡¯re friends, right? Southern Domain. Tai Xuan Sect. Looking at the surroundings that were both unfamiliar and familiar, Meng Changqing finally confirmed one thing: he had crossed over. He had arrived in a fantasy world that only existed in novels from his previous life. Here, the strongest could soar above the nine heavens, easily pluck stars and chase the moon, and with a lift of their hand, overturn mountains and rivers, even reversing the universe. It possessed an insanely powerful force.Diiscover new stories at novelhall.com And now, he was just an outer disciple of the Tai Xuan Sect. ¡°Things are not bad at the beginning.¡± Quickly adapting, a smile appeared on Meng Changqing¡¯s handsome face. Although his aptitude for cultivation was just average, he was not considered trash. After two years of joining the sect, he had reached the eighth level of Vein Tempering Realm. He already met the assessment standards of the sect and wouldn¡¯t be expelled. Additionally, his family was a medium-sized business, managing various industries and having a solid foundation. At least in the early stage, he didn¡¯t need to worry too much about cultivation resources. ¡°But if things continue like this, it seems that reaching the Vein Opening Realm in this lifetime will be the limit.¡± The smile slowly disappeared from Meng Changqing¡¯s face. Having finally come to this world of martial arts prosperity... If he lived in mediocrity like this, he would truly feel unwilling. The power that could easily dominate the world with a wave of his hand was truly intoxicating. Moreover, the recent situation in the world was unstable, with various hidden currents surging. With only the strength of the Vein Opening Realm, he couldn¡¯t control his own life and death in this dangerous world. Cultivation required aptitude and comprehension. And in the early stage, aptitude was the most important. The better the aptitude, the faster the cultivation progress. Although his innate talent was not bad, it could only be considered average. Otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t have taken thirteen years to cultivate to the eighth level of Vein Tempering Realm after starting at the age of five. Ding! [The Friend System is binding!] [Binding successful!] Suddenly, a voice sounded in his mind. Meng Changqing was first stunned, then his eyes lit up with excitement! How could he not know what this was! This was a must-have for traversers! The system! ¡°System, what functions do you have?¡± Calming down, Meng Changqing quickly asked. It was well known that the existence of the system was almost equivalent to cheating, representing arbitrariness and unreasonableness! Countless colleagues rose to prominence in the myriad worlds with its help! [Reporting to the host, this system is called the Friend System. As long as you add someone as a friend, you can randomly obtain one attribute from the other person.] [The attributes include aptitude, comprehension, talent, martial skills, etc.] [There is no restriction on race.] [In addition, increasing the friend¡¯s favorability towards you can result in you obtaining more attributes and additional rewards!] A human-grade high-level skill. It was divided into five levels. When cultivated to perfection, it was said to be like a pure bronze person, impervious to swords and spears. Even martial artists two small realms higher than oneself might not be able to break through its defense! However, in order to cultivate this technique, one needed aptitude, great perseverance, and a lot of resources. So not everyone could cultivate it successfully. Xia Han didn¡¯t have much background. Before joining the sect, he was just a wandering cultivator. ¡°Congratulations, Senior Brother Xia, for advancing to the fourth level of the ¡®Bronze Armor Art.¡¯ You are not far from perfection.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not that easy. I¡¯m very satisfied if I can reach the fourth level.¡± Xia Han shook his head. Ding! [The Eye of Investigation has been activated, you can view relevant information about the other party!] Suddenly, the system¡¯s voice sounded again. Meng Changqing was taken aback. There¡¯s this function too? ¡°Activate!¡± Meng Changqing didn¡¯t hesitate at all, silently reciting in his mind. Buzz~ Several lines of text appeared next to Xia Han. Basic Information: ¡¾Name: Xia Han¡¿ ¡¾Race: Human¡¿ ¡¾Cultivation: Ninth Level of Vein Tempering Realm¡¿ Attribute Information: ¡¾Root Bone: Fourth Grade¡¿ ¡¾Comprehension: Ordinary¡¿ ¡¾Martial Arts: ¡°Shattered Stone Fist¡± (Introductory), ¡°Bronze Armor Art¡± (Fourth Level)¡¿ ¡¾Talent: None¡¿ ¡¾Bloodline: None¡¿ ¡¾...¡¿ ¡°Fourth-grade root bone.¡± Meng Changqing¡¯s eyes lit up. Root bones were divided into six grades. The higher the quality, the faster the cultivation progress, and he was at the fifth grade. I didn¡¯t expect Xia Han¡¯s root bone to be fourth grade. Isn¡¯t he the perfect candidate to add as a friend? Although he¡¯s only one grade higher than himself, that¡¯s still significant! He¡¯s not lacking in early-stage cultivation resources, so if his root bone could be improved, his cultivation speed will be greatly increased! He will soon be able to cultivate to the peak of the Vein Tempering Realm, then step into the Vein Opening Realm and enter the Inner Sect! ¡°Senior Brother Xia, we are friends, right?¡± Suppressing his excitement, Meng Changqing took a deep breath and said slowly. ¡°Of course,¡± Xia Han was puzzled as to why Meng Changqing asked this, but he immediately nodded, ¡°Of course we are friends!¡± Ding! [The friend request has been accepted!] Chapter 2 - Additional Rewards Chapter 2 - Additional Rewards Chapter 2: Additional Rewards [Congratulations to the host for adding the first friend!] [Current Friendship Level: One Star] [Acquired Attribute: Fourth-grade Root Bone.] [Do you want to fuse immediately?] The system¡¯s voice rang out. ¡°No.¡± Meng Changqing thought to himself, his eyes becoming very bright. Indeed, he obtained the attribute he wanted most. ¡°Junior Brother Meng, is there something bothering you?¡± Xia Han thought for a moment and asked. A favor deserved a favor. After all, he owed the other party a favor before. ¡°Nothing. Senior Brother Xia doesn¡¯t need to worry.¡± Returning to his senses, Meng Changqing smiled and said. Then he raised his eyebrows slightly. Because he noticed that Xia Han¡¯s aura seemed somewhat unstable. He looked as if he had been injured. ¡°Senior Brother Xia, are you injured?¡± Meng Changqing¡¯s eyes flickered. ¡°Junior Brother Meng has sharp eyes. I recently went out on a mission and ran into some tough opponents. I accidentally got poisoned.¡± Xia Han clenched his fists, his voice filled with resentment, ¡°But the poison has been neutralized. I just need to rest well.¡± ¡°I see,¡± Meng Changqing suddenly understood, then took out a bottle of pill from his sleeve, ¡°This is the Revitalizing Pill, it has the effect of strengthening the foundation and nurturing vitality. I believe it will greatly help Senior Brother Xia.¡± Upon hearing this, Xia Han¡¯s breathing immediately became heavy. The Revitalizing Pill. This was a graded pill! Just like the Blood Qi Pill before! For him, it¡¯s quite precious. ¡°I can¡¯t accept it, I can¡¯t accept it. I haven¡¯t repaid Junior Brother Meng¡¯s favor yet, how can I accept this?¡± Xia Han averted his gaze and gritted his teeth. However, Meng Changqing took a step forward. He directly handed the pill bottle to Xia Han. ¡°Why would Senior Brother Xia say such words? Aren¡¯t we friends?¡± Meng Changqing smiled faintly. Looking at Meng Changqing¡¯s smile, Xia Han looked at the pill bottle in his hand again, a touch of emotion appearing on his face. Finally, he regained his composure. He bowed to Meng Changqing and said earnestly, ¡°Thank you for valuing me, Junior Brother Meng. If you have any needs in the future, I will definitely do my best!¡± Xia Han said seriously. Ding! [The favorability rating has increased to two stars!] [Acquired Attribute: ¡°Bronze Armor Art¡± (Fourth Level)] [Triggered additional reward: Three Human-level Martial Arts Proficiency Cards!] [Do you want to fuse immediately?] The system prompted. A hint of surprise flashed in Meng Changqing¡¯s eyes.Diiscover new stories at novelhall.com It seemed that he officially mastered one of the methods to use the system. ¡®Help¡¯ friends and increase favorability! This was the fusion of a fourth-grade root bone! Root bone represented one¡¯s aptitude for cultivation. For example, in the Vein Tempering Realm, one needed to open up the body¡¯s major veins. With a good root bone, the major veins were easier to open, not as tough as iron. So, some geniuses could easily break through in just a few months or even days! After a moment, Meng Changqing slowly opened his eyes. At the same time, he took out a pill and threw it into his mouth. The absorption speed of the medicinal power was almost ten times faster than before! ¡°The difference in root bone is truly like the difference between heaven and earth.¡± Meng Changqing couldn¡¯t help but sigh. If he had had a fourth-grade root bone earlier, he might have already entered the Profound Aperture Realm by now. The cultivation speed of a fourth-grade root bone was already so fast. What about third-grade, second-grade, first-grade, or even the legendary perfect root bone? How terrifying would that be? Meng Changqing took a deep breath. Ambition filled his eyes. In the past, he dared not even think about it, but now, as long as he made good use of the system and made more ¡®friends¡¯, reaching the pinnacle of martial arts wouldn¡¯t be just a dream! ¡°Next, I¡¯ll fuse the martial arts attributes!¡± Retracting his thoughts, Meng Changqing thought to himself. In terms of attack, he had the ¡°Nine Shadow Sword Art¡±, which was also a high-level human-level martial art. So, the arrival of the ¡°Bronze Armor Art¡± was very good. It was just in time to make up for his lack of defense! Crack, crack, crack! His body began to shake. Meng Changqing clearly saw the surface of his skin bursting with blue veins, his blood and qi undergoing tempering, and his skin gradually turning bronze. A powerful aura emanated! Although ¡°Bronze Armor Art¡± focused on defense, it was still a body refining technique, which, to a certain extent, could increase one¡¯s strength! Meng Changqing drew the long sword beside him and chopped it onto his arm. Clang! For a moment, sparks flickered! It was evident how solid his defense was! ¡°Not bad!¡± Meng Changqing¡¯s eyes brightened. Indeed, it was one of the best body refining techniques among the outer disciples. At this moment, facing opponents of the same level, even if he stood still and let them attack, they probably couldn¡¯t break his defense. As far as he knew, Xia Han had been practicing this technique for five or six years. During this time, he had expended a lot of energy and resources. And he had only spent a bottle of Revitalizing Pill. His mind stirred slightly. The bronze color of his skin gradually receded, returning to its normal fair complexion. Then he began to study the so-called additional reward. [Three Human-level Martial Arts Proficiency Cards] What is this? If you don¡¯t understand, ask. Meng Changqing didn¡¯t ponder it on his own. [By using this card, you can increase the proficiency of martial arts.] Chapter 3 - Peak of the Vein Tempering Realm! Chapter 3 - Peak of the Vein Tempering Realm! Chapter 3: Peak of the Vein Tempering Realm! Although the system¡¯s voice was faint, to Meng Changqing¡¯s ears, it was like a raging storm. It could actually increase martial arts proficiency?! This was a bit too domineering. Martial arts were difficult to train, especially those at a higher level. It requires factors such as aptitude, comprehension, resources, and more.Diiscover new stories at novelhall.com Many people might spend decades without achieving mastery! ¡°This extra reward is just as good as obtaining attributes.¡± Meng Changqing was excited. However, extra rewards weren¡¯t easy to come by. They required an increase in goodwill to have a chance to appear. It seemed that his luck today was pretty good! ¡°A skill card can increase proficiency by one level. My ¡®Nine Shadow Sword Art¡¯ has already reached a partial mastery. If I use two cards, it will be perfect!¡± Meng Changqing thought to himself. The ¡°Nine Shadow Sword Art¡± was a martial art of the same level as the ¡°Bronze Armor Art.¡± It¡¯s just a sword technique martial art. It focused on technique. When cultivated to perfection, the sword moves were extremely fast, capable of splitting into nine sword shadows, each with power not inferior to the original sword! It had tremendous killing power! ¡°The remaining card can also be used to elevate the ¡®Bronze Armor Art¡¯ to the perfect level! ¡°Perfect!¡± Meng Changqing immediately formulated a plan. ¡°System, elevate the ¡®Nine Shadow Sword Art¡¯ to the peak level!¡± Meng Changqing said directly. The grades of martial arts were: Low-tier, Human-tier, Profound-tier, Earth-tier, and Heaven-tier. Between each level, there were low, medium, and high tiers. The so-called martial arts proficiency was actually proficiency. Initial Understanding, Entry, Partial Mastery, Mastery, and Perfection. Ding! [Consuming two proficiency cards!] As the words fell, countless insights appeared in Meng Changqing¡¯s mind. ¡°Truly worthy of the perfected ¡®Bronze Armor Art.¡¯ Its defensive power has become even more terrifying.¡± Meng Changqing was satisfied. He withdrew the Bronze Armor Art, and his skin returned to normal. No one could have imagined that beneath his seemingly slender physique, there was such terrifying body-refining proficiency! ¡°Hmm?¡± Meng Changqing suddenly raised his eyebrows. He noticed that the barrier of his realm was somewhat loosened! This was the rhythm of a breakthrough! But it¡¯s understandable. He was already on the edge of a breakthrough, and now that he had obtained a fourth-grade root bone, a breakthrough was naturally imminent! ¡°What a series of pleasant surprises.¡± Meng Changqing was in a good mood. He immediately sat down cross-legged and began to break through! The next day, the unique bell of the Tai Xuan Sect echoed throughout the world, sweeping across the land. In the golden light of dawn, Meng Changqing pushed open the door and walked out. At this moment, his aura was strong and full, obviously having broken through to the ninth level of Vein Tempering Realm! He had unlocked all the secrets of the major veins! In the process of martial arts cultivation for humans, many human body secrets were unlocked through practice. The major veins¡¯ secrets were the first secrets! The major veins contained vast qi and blood. Opening each one greatly enhances various aspects of the body¡¯s functions, whether it¡¯s strength, speed, or defense, etc. In martial arts cultivation, there were nine realms in total: Vein Tempering Realm, Aperture Connecting Realm, Sea Cleaving Realm, Dao Creation Realm, Divine Attainment Realm, Life and Death Realm, Marquis Ranking Realm, Royal Path Realm, and Supreme Transcendence Realm! ¡°Next, it¡¯s time to break through to the Aperture Connecting Realm!¡± Meng Changqing exhaled a breath of air. He glanced upward slightly, looking towards the direction of the inner sect. To become an inner sect disciple, one must have the strength of the Aperture Connecting Realm and also pass through the Puppet Valley. This was not an easy task. But Meng Changqing must go. Not to mention the various benefits and treatment that come with being an inner sect disciple, if he wanted to fully utilize the system¡¯s functions, he had to go to the inner sect. That¡¯s where the sect¡¯s geniuses gather! Just as he was lost in thought, there was a knock on the door, interrupting Meng Changqing¡¯s thoughts. He frowned slightly and went to open the door. Outside stood a disciple with a slightly restrained expression. ¡°Senior Brother Meng, I¡¯m a disciple of the Task Hall. If you don¡¯t complete the task soon, it will exceed the deadline of three months,¡± the disciple said respectfully. ¡°I almost forgot.¡± Meng Changqing realized. As a sect disciple, while enjoying the sect¡¯s treatment, one must also fulfill certain obligations. That¡¯s the sect¡¯s tasks. One must complete a task every three months. Otherwise, they¡¯ll either stop receiving future training resources or be expelled from the sect! It¡¯s also a kind of training in a sense. Yesterday¡¯s Xia Han was injured while performing sect tasks. ¡°Thank you for the reminder,¡± Meng Changqing nodded. Even though they were outer sect disciples, there were still hierarchical divisions among them. Disciples above the seventh level of the Vein Tempering Realm could enjoy more benefits because they had the opportunity to enter the inner sect. For example, at present, many reminders about news were specifically sent to them, so they wouldn¡¯t forget. At the same time, Meng Changqing also used his probing eyes to check the situation of this disciple. Unfortunately, there weren¡¯t any good attributes. But that¡¯s normal. True geniuses had long since entered the inner sect! ¡°I must hurry to enter the inner sect!¡± With a slight intake of breath, Meng Changqing closed the door and headed towards the Task Hall. Chapter 4 - The Genius Girl Chapter 4 - The Genius Girl Chapter 4: The Genius Girl Arriving at the Task Hall, there weren¡¯t many people here. After casually accepting a task to slay a demon beast, Meng Changqing left. Although the demon beast was fierce, with his current strength, dealing with a mere first-level high-tier demon beast was still easy.DiiScover new stories at novelhall.com He left the outer gate territory, rushing towards the nearby forest without delay. There was no delay along the way. If it weren¡¯t for this task, he would have wanted to continue cultivating until he reached the peak realm. So he didn¡¯t want to waste too much time on tasks. The sooner he left, the sooner he returned. Half a day later. Boom! A huge body fell to the ground with a loud crash, with ten deep sword marks on its body, and crimson blood gushing out. Soon, the ground was dyed red. This was a Purple Patterned Crystal Bear. Among first-level demon beasts, it was considered quite strong. Both its strength and defense were high! It was generally unbeatable for martial artists of the same level. ¡°The information is wrong, this is clearly a first-level peak demon beast!¡± Meng Changqing wiped away the blood from the sword and shook his head. Fortunately, his strength had greatly improved. Otherwise, he would have suffered a great loss today! He might have even lost his life here. ¡°No wonder it¡¯s the complete level of the Nine Shadow Sword Technique, even the defense of the Purple Patterned Crystal Bear was effortlessly broken.¡± Looking at the sword marks on the Purple Patterned Crystal Bear, Meng Changqing nodded in satisfaction. There¡¯s also the ¡°Bronze Armor Art¡±. Meng Changqing slightly lowered his head. Looking at his right shoulder, where the clothes were torn, revealing strong muscles. During the battle, he was grazed by the Purple Patterned Crystal Bear. Unfortunately, his ¡°Bronze Armor Art¡± had already advanced to the fifth level. Even a demon beast like the Purple Patterned Crystal Bear couldn¡¯t cause any harm to his flesh! ¡°I¡¯m still lacking in speed.¡± Meng Changqing was someone who liked introspection. During the battle, he analyzed the situation. ¡°After returning, I should take the opportunity to learn a martial art technique focusing on body movements.¡± Meng Changqing thought to himself, ¡°No, I should befriend a martial artist specializing in body movements!¡± With the system in place, making friends was the correct way to practice! After dismembering the Purple Patterned Crystal Bear and taking a few important parts, Meng Changqing turned and left. The task was completed. Now he could focus on cultivating! ¡°Hmm?¡± Just as he had traveled tens of meters. Meng Changqing suddenly stopped. Because he clearly sensed vibrations coming from under his feet, and they were getting stronger, as if many heavy objects were running. In this forest, it could only be demon beasts. ¡°It seems to be coming in my direction.¡± Meng Changqing squinted. It was two grades higher than his current fourth grade! It was an extremely rare talent in the world! He could imagine how fast his cultivation speed would be! If only he could have a second-grade root bone too! In the future, his cultivation would be as fast as flying! He slowly drew the long sword from his waist. A faint smile appeared on Meng Changqing¡¯s lips. My dear stranger, I¡¯ve decided to save you! At this moment, no one else¡¯s words matter! Roar! The leading wolf suddenly accelerated with a roar. Its sharp claws almost grabbed the girl¡¯s back, but the girl¡¯s footwork was excellent. Like soft clouds drifting, unpredictable, she dodged in an instant. However, the girl¡¯s complexion was slightly pale. Clearly, she was still frightened. She was only at the sixth level of the Vein Tempering Realm, and facing a beast of this level, she was no match, relying only on her footwork to evade and survive. But the speed of this wolf was also extraordinary. At this rate, she was afraid she would be caught up to. ¡°Master, what should I do?¡± the girl asked in her heart. ¡°Keep running for now. Master doesn¡¯t have much strength left, and can only be used at critical moments, otherwise, I¡¯ll have to sleep again.¡± The voice from the pale finger of the girl¡¯s fair hand sounded old. However, the next second, the wolf behind her accelerated again, and the smell of blood in its mouth could already be clearly smelled. The girl¡¯s complexion changed slightly. She gritted her teeth and turned around, drawing her sword, because there was no way to escape anymore! Clang! The sword clashed with the wolf¡¯s claws. Sparks burst out densely. The girl was suddenly hit hard, flying backward, blood pouring from her mouth. Obviously, she was seriously injured. But the wolf didn¡¯t hold back. It came again, ready to kill the girl! Seeing this, the girl¡¯s pupils shrank slightly, and her whole body felt cold. ¡°Never mind, remember to find Soul Power herbs for Master.¡± The voice from the ring sounded somewhat helpless. However, at that moment, a voice rang out. ¡°Sister, don¡¯t panic.¡± Then the girl felt herself entering a warm embrace, a smell she had never experienced before, a pleasant smell. She instinctively raised her head. But what she saw was a handsome face. Eyes like stars, eyebrows like swords. Like the white-clad young men in stories. The ring that had been restless before suddenly quieted down. Roar! Sensing the strength of the newcomer, the leading wolf suddenly stopped its footsteps, while dozens of other demon wolves surrounded them. Grinning and growling low, their eyes filled with killing intent. Chapter 5 - Shock! Chapter 5 - Shock! Chapter 5: Shock! The sun was shining brightly.Alll latest novels at novelhall.com A slightly cool breeze blew through the mountains. It also blew across the girl¡¯s face. She suddenly came to her senses. A blush appeared on her cheeks. She quickly left Meng Changqing¡¯s embrace. ¡°Thank you, senior brother, for saving me!¡± Judging by the newcomer¡¯s clothes, he was clearly also an outer disciple of the Tai Xuan Sect. ¡°Thanks for the words, let¡¯s talk later. Junior sister, you should rest and heal your injuries first.¡± Meng Changqing looked at Bai Suxi with a slight smile. At the same time, he breathed a sigh of relief. The speed of this wolf was a bit fast; he almost didn¡¯t catch up. Then he looked at the lead wolf. His eyes turned slightly cold. Finally encountering such a genius, if she were to perish here, it would truly be a huge loss! She would be his ¡®friend¡¯! No! His dear friend! ¡°Senior brother, we need to find a way to break through.¡± Bai Suxi wiped away the blood from the corner of her mouth. ¡°I don¡¯t have the agile footwork like junior sister,¡± Meng Changqing walked forward with his sword, ¡°so I can only slaughter these guys.¡± ¡°Slaughter them?¡± Bai Suxi was stunned. Although this senior brother revealed a cultivation aura of the ninth level of the Vein Tempering Realm, that lead wolf was also a peak first-level, very powerful. And there were so many demon wolves around. The odds of winning were too low. ¡°This kid is a bit arrogant.¡± The old voice sounded in Bai Suxi¡¯s mind, ¡°He¡¯s not a genius disciple, how dare he say such things? If he loses later, find an opportunity to escape.¡± ¡°This won¡¯t do, senior brother got trapped here just to save me,¡± Bai Suxi immediately retorted. ¡°In my life, I¡¯ve done despicable and wicked things, how could I have such a pure and kind disciple like you?¡± The voice sounded helpless, ¡°Haven¡¯t you heard the saying that a dead friend is not better than a poor Daoist? If you die here, how will you take revenge?¡± ¡°Even so, I can¡¯t do such a thing,¡± Bai Suxi shook her head, determination on her snow-like face, ¡°Otherwise, I¡¯ll spend the rest of my life in guilt!¡± ¡°Foolish!¡± With an angry curse, the voice disappeared. At the same time, the previously quiet ring started to stir again, apparently preparing to take action. He didn¡¯t believe that this sudden appearance of a young man could solve the current situation! ¡°Senior brother, their main target is me. I¡¯ll lead away some of them, you should run away quickly!¡± Bai Suxi came to Meng Changqing¡¯s side and whispered. Hearing this, Meng Changqing¡¯s eyes showed some surprise. This girl¡¯s character was quite good. If it were an ordinary person, they would probably think of fleeing now and let others bear the brunt. ¡°You have some confidence in me. Although I¡¯m not very strong, dealing with these demon wolves shouldn¡¯t be a problem.¡± Meng Changqing chuckled lightly. Only the lead wolf was still stunned in place. Seemingly unable to believe what it saw. ¡°So strong!¡± Bai Suxi gasped in a cold breath, her beautiful eyes filled with shock. ¡°One sword, nine shadows. This is the perfect-level Nine Shadows Sword Technique!¡± The old voice trembled, and after a brief silence, it spoke again, ¡°I was mistaken. Being proficient in two perfect-level human-level martial arts, no wonder he dares to be so arrogant.¡± ¡°He does indeed have the qualifications to be arrogant!¡± ¡°Very well, I don¡¯t need to take action.¡± Roar! The lead wolf snapped back to its senses. Its eyes were filled with rage. Roaring as it rushed over. Its strength was indeed formidable. But unfortunately, Meng Changqing was even stronger. After a moment... Boom! The lead wolf fell heavily to the ground, lifeless. Meng Changqing sheathed his sword and breathed a sigh of relief. There¡¯s a saying that held true. Combat was the best way to understand one¡¯s strength. He thought dealing with these demon wolves would be somewhat difficult. Who would have thought it would be so simple. It seemed he underestimated his own strength a bit. But it¡¯s understandable. Being proficient in two perfect-level human-level martial arts was no small matter. It¡¯s enough to be invincible in the Vein Tempering Realm. Putting aside those thoughts, Meng Changqing turned around. During the battle, some blood inevitably stained his clothes, adding a touch of fierceness to his originally gentle demeanor. But it also made him seem more flavorful. ¡°Thank you, senior brother.¡± Meeting Meng Changqing¡¯s gaze, Bai Suxi immediately reacted and hurriedly clasped her hands in salute. Gratitude appeared on her face. If it weren¡¯t for this senior brother, today¡¯s situation would probably have to be dealt with by her master. But her master was in a very weak state. Once he took action, he might fall into a deep sleep, and who knew when he¡¯ll wake up. ¡°Fellow disciples should help each other in times of trouble, there¡¯s no need for thanks. My name is Meng Changqing, may I know the name of junior sister?¡± Meng Changqing approached with a smile. His temperament was gentle, his face handsome, making people easily feel affinity towards him. Moreover, he just saved Bai Suxi. So Bai Suxi didn¡¯t have much guard against him. ¡°My name is Bai Suxi, I just reached the two-month mark after joining the sect,¡± Bai Suxi answered honestly. ¡°Two months.¡± Meng Changqing raised an eyebrow slightly. It seemed that Bai Suxi should have started cultivating after joining the sect. Otherwise, with her second-grade root, it would be impossible for her to only reach the sixth level of the Vein Tempering Realm now. Chapter 6 - You Are Destined to Be from Different Worlds! Chapter 6 - You Are Destined to Be from Different Worlds! Chapter 6: You Are Destined to Be from Different Worlds! ¡°The demon wolves here have been dealt with, but the smell of blood is too strong. I reckon it will attract other demon beasts. Let¡¯s leave first,¡± Meng Changqing glanced around and said. ¡°Okay,¡± Bai Suxi nodded. Then the two of them quickly left. Sure enough, not long after they left, many demon beasts arrived, crazily gnawing on the corpses of the demon wolves. Among them were even second-level entities! ¡°I didn¡¯t expect Junior Sister Bai to come from Tianyun Prefecture. That place is quite far away,¡± Meng Changqing chatted casually along the way. When he heard that Bai Suxi was from Tianyun Prefecture, he was somewhat surprised. Tai Xuan Sect was located in Tianling Prefecture, separated by another prefecture. Moreover, there were sects in Tianyuan Prefecture as well, so generally, no one would come from so far away. But Meng Changqing didn¡¯t ask further. Everyone had their own story. It¡¯s better not to ask too much when the relationship isn¡¯t that good. ¡°Yes,¡± Bai Suxi replied. Then her expression changed slightly, and her figure staggered, leaning against the nearby tree before barely stabilizing herself. ¡°Junior Sister Bai?¡± Meng Changqing felt Bai Suxi¡¯s aura instantly weaken. She had obviously been forcing herself all the way here. She was quite injured. ¡°It¡¯s nothing, I just need to go back and recuperate,¡± Bai Suxi wiped away the blood from the corner of her mouth. ¡°This is the Revitalizing Pill, a good healing pill. Take it, and you should recover soon,¡± seeing this, Meng Changqing immediately took out a pill. Strictly speaking, this pill was even more precious than the Qi Enhancing Pill. Even Meng Changqing didn¡¯t have many of them. ¡°How can I take this?¡± Bai Suxi was taken aback. ¡°We belong to the same sect. There¡¯s no need to be polite,¡± Meng Changqing said earnestly, ¡°But this is a Revitalizing Pill, a very precious pill.¡± Bai Suxi clenched her hands slightly. Instinctively, she definitely wanted it. After all, her injuries couldn¡¯t be delayed for long, or they might become latent problems. ¡°No matter how precious, it¡¯s just an object. Its value is only realized when used on a person,¡± Meng Changqing said casually, ¡°You have internal injuries. You can¡¯t afford to delay. Be careful not to harm your foundation. ¡°Meeting is fate. I prefer making friends. Consider this a gift for our meeting,¡± he continued, directly handing the Revitalizing Pill to Bai Suxi. ¡°This...¡± Bai Suxi struggled a bit. ¡°Fool, why aren¡¯t you taking it? With the Revitalizing Pill, your internal injuries will recover soon,¡± the old voice echoed in Bai Suxi¡¯s mind, slightly resentful, ¡°When something is delivered to your doorstep, why hesitate?¡± ¡°Could it be that Junior Sister Bai doesn¡¯t want to be friends with me?¡± Meng Changqing said. ¡°Of course not. It¡¯s my honor to be friends with Senior Brother Meng!¡± Bai Suxi hurriedly replied. ¡°Great!¡± Meng Changqing¡¯s face lit up with a smile. Finally, he heard this sentence! Ding! ¡°Whether it¡¯s a big favor or a small one, I should be able to help.¡± ¡°Thank you, Senior Brother Meng.¡± Looking at Meng Changqing¡¯s handsome face, Bai Suxi pursed her lips. An inexplicable warmth surged in her heart. And this kind of feeling hadn¡¯t appeared in a long time. She didn¡¯t expect it to happen in this strange place... ¡°Why thank me? Don¡¯t forget, we are friends,¡± Meng Changqing reached out and gently patted Bai Suxi¡¯s shoulder before turning to leave. The words ¡®we are friends¡¯ made Bai Suxi even more moved. How cruel was the cultivation world? Deceitful, seeking only personal gain, it was everywhere! But there were still people like Senior Brother Meng! Like sunshine in winter. Not seeking anything in return, willing to help others, even willing to give her healing pills like the Revitalizing Pill for free. Ding! [Favorability increased to two stars!] [Received attribute: Talent [Skillful Hands]!] ¡°[riggered additional reward: Sword Technique!] The system¡¯s voice sounded again. Meng Changqing¡¯s steps paused slightly, then a smile appeared on his lips. It was unexpectedly pleasant. To have increased favorability to two stars so quickly! And there was an additional reward! ¡°It¡¯s interesting. I thought this kid might be interested in you, but along the way, he didn¡¯t show any relevant thoughts,¡± the aged voice sounded. ¡°Master, what nonsense are you talking about?¡± Hearing this, Bai Suxi quickly withdrew her gaze that had been following Meng Changqing as he walked away, and a blush flashed across her cheeks. ¡°Senior Brother Meng is just a good person.¡± Bai Suxi explained, ¡°How could he possibly like me?¡± ¡°I¡¯m afraid you might like him,¡± the voice said, ¡°although this kid looks good, if I were young, I might be tempted too. But at his age, he¡¯s still in the Vein Tempering Realm, so his aptitude for cultivation must not be good. ¡°Your future is beyond his reach. Maybe before long, he won¡¯t even be able to see your back. ¡°In short, he and you are not from the same world. ¡°It¡¯s best not to develop any feelings for him because of today¡¯s events.¡± Hearing this, Bai Suxi fell silent for a moment. Chapter 7 - Fusion Begins! Chapter 7 - Fusion Begins! Chapter 7: Fusion Begins! Returning to his residence, Meng Changqing sat cross-legged on the bed and summoned the character panel. ¡¾Host: Meng Changqing¡¿ ¡¾Race: Human¡¿ ¡¾Cultivation: Ninth level of Vein Tempering Realm¡¿ ¡¾Root Bone: Fourth-grade¡¿ ¡¾Comprehension: Average¡¿ ¡¾Martial Arts: ¡°Bronze Armor Art,¡± ¡°Nine Shadow Sword Art¡±¡¿ ¡¾...¡¿ ¡¾Current Friends: Xia Han, Bai Suxi¡¿ ¡¾Unfused Attributes: Second-grade Root Bone, Talent ¡°Skillful Hands¡±¡¿ ¡¾Unused Reward: Sword Qi¡¿ Another wave of great harvest indeed. A smile appeared on Meng Changqing¡¯s face. Honestly, he never expected that a simple outing would lead him to encounter a genius! And not just any ordinary genius! ¡°But why would such a genius be in the Outer Sect?¡± Meng Changqing furrowed his brows slightly. Then he shook his head. Forget about it for now. This girl Bai Suxi seemed to have quite a story. She wasn¡¯t an ordinary person. ¡°System, begin fusion of the second-grade root bone!¡± Meng Changqing said with some anticipation. After fusing the fourth-grade root bone yesterday, his cultivation speed increased by about tenfold. Now, with the second-grade root bone, how terrifying would it be? Ding! [Fusion begins!] As the words fell, a familiar sensation emerged. It permeated his body more intensely than before, spreading through his limbs, organs, and bones, saturating his entire being. This was the process of elevating the grade of his constitution! Chilly. When the light vanished, it signified the end of the fusion. Meng Changqing lightly clenched his hands, feeling them become somewhat lighter. Whether it was his fingers, wrists, or joints, they all became much more flexible. Many actions that were previously impossible for him to perform were now within his capabilities. Swish! The sword was unsheathed! Meng Changqing executed three Sword Qis simply. Unlike before, the Sword Qis became more agile, elusive, and capable of launching attacks from multiple angles. They were practically indefensible! ¡°Not bad!¡± Meng Changqing was very satisfied. With this, his strength had received a considerable boost! If he were to face the Purple Vein Crystal Bear again, he could definitely solve it in less time! Finally, Meng Changqing looked at the additional reward triggered by the increase in favorability this time. ¡°Is this the Sword Qi I understand?¡± Meng Changqing¡¯s eyes gradually became somewhat fervent. If it was, then this reward was truly excessive! Additional Reward ¡°Sword Qi¡±: A formless force that requires years of sword practice and understanding of various Sword Qis to condense! ¡°Indeed!¡± Meng Changqing¡¯s breath couldn¡¯t help but pause. Sword Qi was a very mysterious power. It could intimidate others¡¯ minds and enhance the power of Sword Qis, but it required quite a high comprehension to grasp. Out of a hundred sword practitioners, not even one might achieve it! And above Sword Qi, there was an even rarer and more terrifying Sword Intent ¨C the true meaning of swordsmanship! ¡°System, you¡¯re amazing!¡± Meng Changqing praised sincerely from the bottom of his heart. With his current comprehension, he didn¡¯t know when he would be able to cultivate Sword Qi. But now it was readily available to him! ¡°Fusion!¡± Meng Changqing took a deep breath, calming himself down. Buzz! The next second, a massive influx of information surged into Meng Changqing¡¯s mind. They were countless fragments of Sword Qis containing profound truths! Meng Changqing absorbed them frantically, and gradually, a sharp aura began to emanate from his body. This was Sword Qi! Whoosh! Meng Changqing suddenly opened his eyes. There were flickers of sword light in his eyes, and the Sword Qi on his body had reached its peak! It was extremely sharp! Even the long sword in his hand was trembling! At this moment, Meng Changqing was like a sharp sword ready to be unsheathed, making it impossible for people to look directly at him! Chapter 8 - The Puppet Valley and the Aperture Connecting Realm! Chapter 8 - The Puppet Valley and the Aperture Connecting Realm! Chapter 8: The Puppet Valley and the Aperture Connecting Realm! Hum! The long sword lightly hummed as it shot through the air! Nine sword shadows flickered! They all landed on the nearby wall. The house shook. The extremely sturdy wall actually directly collapsed! A faint yellow light shone in. Shapes began to form within the dust. ¡°So strong!¡± Meng Changqing subconsciously tightened his grip on the long sword. It¡¯s worth noting that this was the sect¡¯s building, made of quite hard materials. He remembered that yesterday he could only pierce through, leaving behind sword marks. But now it directly collapsed! And he didn¡¯t even use his full strength. Just a casual slash! ¡°Advancing in cultivation is part of the reason, but more importantly, it¡¯s the Sword Qi!¡± Meng Changqing thought to himself. Sword Qi was a mysterious power. With Sword Qi, the power of any Sword Qi would be enhanced. Specifically, it depended on the grade of the Sword Qi. ¡°Now, can I challenge the Aperture Connecting Realm?¡± Meng Changqing looked at the long sword in his hand. Above the Forge Meridian is the Aperture Connecting Realm. What is the Aperture Connecting Realm? The human body had many acupoints and profound connections, called Yuan Apertures. Over the years. Many outer sect disciples, clearly reaching the Aperture Connecting Realm, were still blocked by the valley and couldn¡¯t enter the inner sect. It took another one or two years, or even longer, to pass through. The Tai Xuan Sect¡¯s outer sect disciples were actually quite numerous. After all, it¡¯s one of the few second-grade sects in the Tianling Prefecture! Roughly estimated, there are tens of thousands of them. As a result, every once in a while, Aperture Connecting Realm cultivators emerge. Just like today, in front of the Puppet Valley, shrouded in a cold aura, three figures stood. They were all Aperture Connecting Realm warriors from the outer sect. Their strength was at the first level. ¡°Do you think these three can make it through today?¡± In the near distance, many people were watching, and someone asked, ¡°Do you think they can make it? These three seem to have broken through to the Aperture Connecting Realm about a year ago, indicating deep preparation.¡± Immediately, someone replied, ¡°They should be able to. The fact that these three reached the Aperture Connecting Realm a year ago shows how deeply they¡¯ve prepared.¡± Hearing the discussion of the crowd, the three stood a little taller, their faces showing confidence. Indeed, after a year of preparation and cultivation, they believed they could pass through! The Inner Sect! That¡¯s where the elite of the sect resides! Where true martial arts were cultivated! ¡°Who will go first?¡± asked the Outer Sect elder slowly. He was already old, with a hint of twilight in his aura. Looking at the three, his eyes remained calm, without any ripples. ¡°I¡¯ll go first!¡± said one of them, stepping forward. He was burly, carrying a large knife, and marched towards the gorge. For a moment, everyone watched him expectantly. In the elegant room, a tall figure sat cross-legged, shirtless, revealing strong but not exaggerated muscles. The lines were quite perfect. It was Meng Changqing. Today marked the fifteenth day of his seclusion and cultivation! The room was filled with bottles and jars, indicating the consumption of many resources. His aura had also significantly strengthened compared to before, almost reaching the pinnacle of the Aperture Connecting Realm! At a certain moment, a cracking sound suddenly came from within Meng Changqing¡¯s body, as if a bottleneck had shattered! It could be clearly felt that with each passing moment, Meng Changqing¡¯s aura was skyrocketing, almost bursting free from its constraints! Roaring echoed around! After dozens of breaths, Meng Changqing slowly opened his eyes, a strong sense of oppression emanating from them. This was the manifestation of his increased strength! ¡°Finally... I¡¯ve reached the Aperture Connecting Realm!¡± Meng Changqing exhaled deeply, a smile appearing on his face. Although the past half-month of seclusion had been dull, the results were gratifying! He sensed the condition within his body. Blood flowed like quicksilver, thick and full of vitality, the meridians broad and flexible, the muscles becoming even tighter. At this moment, whether it was strength, speed, or anything else, they had all been terrifyingly boosted tenfold! Especially in his right hand, where the first Yuan Aperture had opened, continuously releasing pure yuan blood that permeated every part of his body! Chapter 9 - Are You Kidding Me? Youve Broken through the Aperture Connecting Realm? Chapter 9 - Are You Kidding Me? You''ve Broken through the Aperture Connecting Realm? Chapter 9: Are You Kidding Me? You¡¯ve Broken through the Aperture Connecting Realm? Aperture Connecting Realm. The human body has a total of nine gates. Corresponding to the nine realms. For those with good aptitude, the barriers of the Aperture Connecting Gate were relatively weak, easy to break through, just like main meridians. ¡°To break through to the Aperture Connecting Realm in just fifteen days is truly something I wouldn¡¯t have dared to imagine before.¡± Meng Changqing slowly got up, stretched his body, and immediately heard the crackling sound of bones, like popping beans. ¡°But the resources consumed are quite a lot.¡± Meng Changqing shook his head slightly as he looked at the bottles and jars beside him. The better the aptitude, the faster the absorption of medicinal pills and natural elemental energy, and the higher the absorption rate. In just over ten days, the resources he brought were almost depleted. ¡°After a while, I should go back to the clan,¡± Meng Changqing thought to himself. Being backed by the clan was indeed comfortable. Resources and such didn¡¯t need to be earned by oneself. ¡°But before that, I should enter the Inner Sect first.¡± Meng Changqing put on a clean white robe, opened the door, and walked out. Today was the end of the month. The Puppet Valley would be opening. For Outer Sect disciples, the existence of the Puppet Valley was like an insurmountable barrier. Firmly blocking the way. Generally speaking, even if one broke through to the Aperture Connecting Realm, no one would immediately challenge it. Because that second-level puppet was very strong. Almost comparable to a Aperture Connecting Realm martial artist! And it strikes quite heavily. Many people had been injured and had to recover for a long time, wasting a lot of time for cultivation. However, Meng Changqing was still very confident in his own strength. With the Sword Technique, plus two perfect-grade martial techniques, he didn¡¯t think this Puppet Valley could stop him! Humming a little tune, Meng Changqing tied his sword to his waist, folded his hands behind his back, and walked forward. On the narrow path, a graceful figure walked over. Dressed in silver clothes, with a good-looking face, and fluttering black hair. It was Bai Suxi. She seemed no different from before. Truly a calamity! ¡°Listen to my advice, that guy¡¯s aptitude is too poor. Even if you give him this Elemental Spirit Grass, I estimate he won¡¯t be able to absorb much of it. Most of it will be wasted.¡± The voice couldn¡¯t help but advise. But Bai Suxi had already let it go in one ear and out the other. Pretending not to have heard. Although she seemed gentle, she was quite determined. And principled. She wouldn¡¯t easily change her mind. ¡°Huh? Junior Sister Bai?¡± Suddenly, a slightly surprised voice sounded. Bai Suxi immediately turned her head. Then her eyes lit up with joy. ¡°Senior Meng! ¡°I didn¡¯t expect to see you here.¡± Meng Changqing said with a smile. He just turned the corner and saw Bai Suxi seemingly lost in thought. ¡°Yeah, I was just thinking of finding you too.¡± Bai Suxi said. ¡°Find me? Is there anything you need help with?¡± Meng Changqing became somewhat excited. ¡°Just tell me.¡± He was still interested in Bai Suxi¡¯s attributes. ¡°It¡¯s not that, I came to...¡± Bai Suxi was about to speak. But she was interrupted by a voice in her mind! ¡°Are you kidding me? This guy broke through to the Aperture Connecting Realm?!¡± The old voice sounded shocked. Remembering the last meeting, the boy¡¯s aura was somewhat unstable, obviously just breaking through to the Ninth Level of Vein Tempering Realm. With his aptitude, it¡¯s hard to imagine when he would have another breakthrough! But now... ¡°The Aperture Connecting Realm!¡± Bai Suxi was stunned, then her beautiful eyes couldn¡¯t help but widen, showing shock. Chapter 10 - Elder, Please Wait! Chapter 10 - Elder, Please Wait! Chapter 10: Elder, Please Wait! ¡°I remember Master clearly saying...¡± ¡°Why are you daydreaming?¡± Meng Changqing reached out and waved in front of Bai Suxi¡¯s eyes. Bai Suxi suddenly snapped out of it. She blurted out, ¡°I didn¡¯t expect Senior Meng to have already broken through to the Aperture Connecting Realm.¡± ¡°Your observation skills are good. I just broke through this morning,¡± Meng Changqing smiled, then seemed to realize something, and a look of surprise flashed in his eyes. ¡°You¡¯re not bad either, actually at the Eighth Level of Vein Tempering Realm.¡± Last time they met, she seemed to be only at the Sixth Level of the Vein Tempering Realm. It had only been fifteen days since then. Even with a second-grade root bone, this was somewhat terrifying. ¡°Yes, while traveling outside, I found two Elemental Spirit Grasses, which allowed me to break through.¡± Bai Suxi smiled sweetly. At the same time, she opened the jade box in her arms. ¡°Elemental Spirit Grass!¡± Meng Changqing was moved. This was a miraculous herb that could absorb the essence of heaven and earth. The longer the years, the stronger its medicinal power. And it didn¡¯t need to be refined into a pill, it had a 100% significant effect, almost equivalent to Elemental Stones! In the cultivation world, Elemental Stones were rare. This girl was probably a child of destiny. Not only did she have monstrous talent, but her luck was also incredible. ¡°I¡¯ll give this one to you, Senior Meng.¡± Bai Suxi closed the jade box and directly stuffed it into Meng Changqing¡¯s arms. This left Meng Changqing stunned. For martial artists at the Vein Connecting Realm, or even the Aperture Connecting Realm, Elemental Spirit Grass was a precious cultivation item. How could it be given away so easily?DiiScover new stories at novelhall.com If encountered in the wilderness, there might be disputes, or even danger. But Bai Suxi chose to give one of them to him. ¡°Isn¡¯t it a bit risky to go to the Puppet Valley just after breaking through?¡± Bai Suxi thought for a moment, obviously she had some understanding of the Puppet Valley, ¡°That second-level puppet is not easy to deal with.¡± ¡°I have some confidence.¡± Meng Changqing patted her shoulder and walked ahead with a smile. Hearing this, Bai Suxi couldn¡¯t help but remember the first time she met Senior Meng, who had also said such words. At that time, she had doubted his strength. But soon enough, Senior Meng had effortlessly dealt with all the demon wolves. Two perfect-level martial arts techniques were not something an ordinary person could master. ¡°Yeah, yeah,¡± Bai Suxi nodded and quickly caught up. Although the Puppet Valley opened every month-end, not everyone would challenge it every time. So the opportunity was rare and had to be seized. It would also benefit their future breakthroughs. At the Puppet Valley location, while not crowded, there were nearly a thousand people gathered. They were all outer sect disciples, with varying levels of strength. Each of them nervously looked towards the passage. Bang! Suddenly, a figure was thrown out. Covered in blood. Although not severely injured, the injuries were not light. It was the third challenger. And there were two others who looked the same beside him. Obviously, all three of the challengers who came today had failed! ¡°That second-level puppet is too terrifying!¡± ¡°The first two might have had weaker strength, but Zhao Zhen is much stronger. He practices body-refining techniques and is almost reaching perfection!¡± ¡°To think that under the hands of that second-level puppet, they couldn¡¯t last even twenty moves!¡± Some people turned pale. ¡°It¡¯s too difficult. Even if we break through to the Aperture Connecting Realm with great effort, it¡¯s still difficult to enter the inner sect!¡± ¡°The sect has shattered our outer sect¡¯s dreams.¡± Some people lost focus. ¡°The inner sect is where the elites are. If you can¡¯t even defeat a puppet of the same level, how can you talk about being elites?¡± The elder spoke up, his voice indifferent. Hearing this, the previously noisy crowd suddenly quieted down. Indeed, it was said that the disciples in the inner sect were at least three times as powerful as those in the outer sect. They not only had excellent aptitude but also formidable strength. They were completely incomparable to the outer sect. The cultivation resources were so precious that no sect would waste them on ordinary people. ¡°Is there anyone else?¡± The elder scanned the crowd. ¡°If not, the valley will be closed.¡± People exchanged glances. In fact, there were still one or two Aperture Connecting Realm warriors inside, but after seeing Zhao Zhen¡¯s situation, they gave up directly. The elder withdrew his gaze, ready to close the passage. However, just at that moment, a voice rang out. ¡°Elder, please wait.¡± Chapter 11 - Not Hitting the South Wall Until the Heart Is Dead! Chapter 11 - Not Hitting the South Wall Until the Heart Is Dead! Chapter 11: Not Hitting the South Wall Until the Heart Is Dead! Hearing this, everyone turned their heads towards the sound. In the distance, two slender figures were approaching. The leader was dressed in white, elegant and graceful, exuding the air of a young nobleman. ¡°Junior Brother Meng!¡± Someone in the crowd exclaimed, and it was Xia Han! At this moment, his injuries had long since healed, and he had even made some progress. It wouldn¡¯t be long before he could consider breaking through to the Aperture Connecting Realm. After all, he had been stuck at the ninth level of the Vein Tempering Realm for many years. Ignoring the gazes of everyone around him, Meng Changqing placed his right hand on the long sword at his waist and walked slowly to the front of the elder. ¡°Greetings, Elder.¡± Meng Changqing bowed slightly. Even an outer disciple elder held a very high status within the sect and couldn¡¯t be treated with the slightest disrespect. After the salutation, Meng Changqing looked to the side of the elder, and the person¡¯s information panel instantly appeared. Basic Information: ¡¾Name: Sun Haishan¡¿ ¡¾Race: Human¡¿ ¡¾Cultivation: Ninth Level of the Aperture Connecting Realm¡¿ Attribute Information: ¡¾Root Bone: Fourth Grade¡¿ ¡¾Comprehension: Ordinary¡¿ For a moment, some people uttered mocking words. Zhao Zhen and the others nearby also sneered. Even they, ¡°veterans¡± of the Aperture Connecting Realm, couldn¡¯t pass through, let alone someone who just made a breakthrough. ¡°Go back,¡± the elder kindly reminded, preparing to close the passage. But Meng Changqing stopped him. ¡°Elder, I really want to try this passage.¡± Upon hearing this, a hint of disappointment flashed in the elder¡¯s eyes. He had seen too many people like this, thinking that breaking through to the Aperture Connecting Realm would enable them to pass through the Puppet Valley. They were too arrogant, overestimating their abilities. ¡°Fine, it¡¯s up to you,¡± the elder¡¯s voice returned to indifference. Stepping aside, he cleared the way. ¡°Thank you, Elder,¡± Meng Changqing understood the elder¡¯s thoughts, but there was no need to explain. Facts would prove everything. Slowly drawing his long sword from his waist, Meng Changqing, with sword in hand, stepped into the cold passage with his right foot. ¡°These people are really annoying,¡± hearing more and more questioning and mocking voices around her, Bai Suxi¡¯s beautiful eyebrows furrowed, showing displeasure. As Senior Brother Meng¡¯s friend, she naturally couldn¡¯t bear to hear such words. Senior Brother Meng was not ordinary. With two perfected martial arts, he had a great chance of passing through the Puppet Valley. ¡°Master, what do you think?¡± Bai Suxi asked in her heart. ¡°Based on the previous situation, this second-level puppet is obviously not an ordinary puppet. Both its defense and strength are quite good. However, this kid has mastered two perfected martial arts, so he should be able to pass through. However, the process may be difficult, and he may even get injured,¡± the old voice gave a fair judgment. Since being shaken by Meng Changqing¡¯s realm just now, she had remained silent until now. She couldn¡¯t speak casually to Meng Changqing as she did before. After all, she had been proven wrong twice. ¡°Yeah, I think so too,¡± Bai Suxi nodded heavily. ¡°Junior Brother Meng,¡± Xia Han also stared at Meng Changqing¡¯s figure, but unlike others, he naturally hoped that Meng Changqing would succeed. It¡¯s just difficult. Chapter 12 - Shock! Chapter 12 - Shock! Chapter 12: Shock! The passage wasn¡¯t long, only three hundred meters. The walls on both sides stood towering, steep and precipitous. Occasionally, there were falling rocks. Looking ahead, the earth was pitch black, and humanoid figures stood erect, emanating a cold aura. Hoo! Sensing someone¡¯s arrival, all the puppets raised their heads. Their originally dim eyes sparkled like gems, emitting a fierce aura. Those with weak wills might have thoughts of retreat under these gazes! ¡°Let me see how terrifying the Puppet Valley, known as the perilous place of the outer sect, really is.¡± Meng Changqing¡¯s lips curled slightly. He walked forward. Roar! A strange sound rang out, and hundreds of puppets wielding different weapons charged toward Meng Changqing. ¡°How long can he last? He doesn¡¯t even listen to the elder¡¯s advice, truly ignorant!¡± ¡°Does he really think he¡¯s strong?¡± It seemed that everyone had already imagined the scene of Meng Changqing being severely injured and thrown out. However, in the next moment... ¡°The Nine Shadow Sword Art!¡± A calm voice sounded. Immediately, dense sword shadows slashed out, sweeping across all directions! All the surrounding puppets were shaken back, even blown away, with deep sword marks on their chests. The puppets stumbled, obviously injured at their core, their eyes flickering intermittently, before finally dimming completely and falling to the ground. ¡°What!¡± The crowd exclaimed, their faces showing disbelief. Some people¡¯s mocking smiles were frozen on their faces. This scene was far beyond their expectations. It was completely different from what they had imagined! ¡°A sword with nine shadows, this is a perfected level of the Nine Shadow Sword Art!¡± The puppet was sent flying and crashed heavily to the ground. A slender figure walked past it. It was Meng Changqing. By now, he had reached the end of the passage. Behind him lay puppets strewn all over the ground. Almost all the puppets in the passage had been dealt with by him. Now, only the last second-level puppet remained! Meng Changqing exhaled lightly. He quickly adjusted his state and then looked ahead. Not far away, there was a puppet wearing heavy armor, larger in size compared to the others. It wielded a bronze hammer and exuded a strong pressure all over its body. Sensing someone¡¯s arrival, the puppet¡¯s eyes under the mask suddenly opened, shimmering with a cold gleam. It slowly stood up without a word, gripping the bronze hammer and charging toward Meng Changqing. For a moment, there was a sense of earth-shaking. ¡°Do you think he can make it?¡± someone couldn¡¯t help but ask. Now, no one dared to ridicule or underestimate Meng Changqing anymore. His overwhelming way of clearing the passage had left them deeply shaken! They knew he was definitely a genius martial artist who surpassed them. ¡°It¡¯s hard to say. After all, this is a second-level puppet,¡± someone pondered and replied, ¡°Even if he can make it through, it probably won¡¯t be as easy as before. There might be a tough battle ahead!¡± Others nodded in agreement. This explanation seemed more plausible. As the crowd discussed, the battle at the end of the passage began! Chapter 13 - Disciple, Meng Changqing Chapter 13 - Disciple, Meng Changqing Chapter 13: Disciple, Meng Changqing Roar! The puppet roared! Its hands gripped a heavy hammer! Soon it arrived in front of Meng Changqing. The fierce wind pressed Meng Changqing¡¯s black hair to flutter wildly, even rustling with sound! One could imagine how terrifying the killing power of this hammer would be when it strikes! Even martial artists of the same level would either die or be severely injured! So evasion was necessary. However, Meng Changqing remained motionless, with no intention of dodging at all. ¡°Could this kid be so arrogant?¡± The elder¡¯s heart tightened at the sight. It was not easy for the outer sect to produce a genius. To gain glory and rewards from the inner sect was something to be proud of. But if he failed here, then everything would be lost. Others had the same thoughts. But what happened in the next moment left everyone dumbfounded. Something unforgettable for eternity! Boom! As the puppet was about to strike, a terrifying aura surged from Meng Changqing! It was like a divine sword unsheathed, extremely sharp! It could cut through everything in the world! The puppet seemed to be deterred, standing still for a moment. When it regained its senses, a long sword had already slashed through the air, and nine sword shadows flickered, all landing on it. Boom! The second-level puppet was struck hard and its huge body kept retreating until it stopped tens of meters away. It trembled all over, with many sparks bursting out from inside. It struggled to charge at Meng Changqing again. But the next moment... Looking at the history of the Tai Xuan Sect, had anyone in the outer sect ever comprehended Sword Qi? This kind of thing was something only geniuses in the inner sect barely had the qualifications to comprehend! ¡°No wonder this person didn¡¯t move just now, and we thought he was scared silly. Unexpectedly, he has already comprehended Sword Qi!¡± ¡°With Sword Qi, there¡¯s really no need to dodge!¡± ¡°It is said that Sword Qi can amplify the power of sword techniques, but isn¡¯t this amplification too fierce?¡± ¡°Just the Sword Qi alone is so terrifying. How much more terrifying would the legendary essence of martial arts be?¡± The elder¡¯s words were like thunder striking the calm lake, leaving everyone bewildered. ¡°Meng Junior Brother actually comprehended Sword Qi!¡± Bai Suxi couldn¡¯t help but cover her mouth, her beautiful eyes widened with shock. ¡°It seems that I underestimated him,¡± the old voice sounded again, with a hint of seriousness for the first time. As a powerful practitioner who had lived for many years, although now only a remnant soul, her experience was still there. The one who repeatedly shattered her judgments was definitely not ordinary. Sword Qi. This wasn¡¯t something anyone could comprehend. Even Bai Suxi, with such exceptional comprehension, hadn¡¯t comprehended it yet. Of course, this was mainly because Bai Suxi started cultivating relatively late. ¡°If she had started cultivating from a young age, coupled with my guidance, she would definitely be able to have it! ¡°The potential of this child is no less than yours,¡± the aged voice said. ¡°Yes, Junior Brother Meng is also a genius!¡± Coming back to her senses, Bai Suxi nodded, her eyes shimmering with genuine joy. It was evident that she was genuinely happy from the bottom of her heart. If it were anyone else, she wouldn¡¯t have had any extra emotions. But this was Junior Brother Meng! ¡°Interesting,¡± the old voice murmured softly, then fell silent. While everyone was discussing, Meng Changqing had already gradually approached the entrance of the valley. Whoosh! The elder appeared in front of Meng Changqing in an instant. His face was full of excitement, and even his white beard was trembling. ¡°What... is your name?¡± Meng Changqing was taken aback. Then he smiled and said slowly, ¡°Disciple Meng Changqing.¡± Chapter 14 - Entering the Inner Sect! Chapter 14 - Entering the Inner Sect! Chapter 14: Entering the Inner Sect! ¡°Meng Changqing, indeed a good name,¡± said Sun Haishan. ¡°My name is Sun Haishan, you can call me Elder Sun. ¡°Congratulations on passing the Puppet Valley, you can now enter the Inner Sect!¡± Sun Haishan said excitedly. Having served as an outer sect elder for so long, if it were an ordinary person who passed, he wouldn¡¯t be too excited. After all, those who barely passed would still be at the bottom even if they entered the Inner Sect, causing no ripples. But Meng Changqing was different. His potential was almost on par with the Inner Sect disciples, if not surpassing many of them. You see, even among Inner Sect disciples, those who can comprehend ¡®power¡¯ are rare talents! What a genius! ¡°Today, tidy up a bit. Tomorrow, I will take you into the Inner Sect,¡± Sun Haishan said, looking at Meng Changqing with undisguised satisfaction. ¡°Thank you, Elder,¡± Meng Changqing couldn¡¯t help but relax. After all, this had been his goal for a long time. But with the system, entering the Inner Sect was not the end but the beginning of his long martial arts journey! ¡°Inner Sect!¡± Upon hearing the elder¡¯s words, there was some commotion in the crowd. Looking into Meng Changqing¡¯s eyes, there was envy. The Inner Sect was the core of the sect. Everyone present was striving for it, but those who could pass were few and far between! Meng Changqing scanned the crowd and spotted Xia Han. Their eyes met, and Xia Han¡¯s eyes showed awe. Just over half a month had passed, but their strengths and positions had changed drastically. However, Meng Changqing remained unchanged. He smiled slightly and nodded at Xia Han, just like before. Then he turned his gaze to Bai Suxi and walked over. ¡°Congratulations, Senior Brother Meng, on passing the Puppet Valley and entering the Inner Sect!¡± Bai Suxi smiled sincerely. ¡°With your talent, you¡¯ll soon get in too. I just got there a bit earlier,¡± Meng Changqing said with a smile. ¡°Is it really that strict?¡± Meng Changqing pondered and asked. In the outer sect, there weren¡¯t many rules, as long as fellow disciples didn¡¯t fight each other. ¡°Of course. The Grand Elder is in charge of punishment and is known for being impartial. Even true disciples who make mistakes must be dealt with according to the rules!¡± Sun Haishan said with lingering fear. ¡°Even true disciples are punished?¡± Meng Changqing was shaken. ¡°Is the Grand Elder very powerful? Stronger than the Sect Master?¡± ¡°Not necessarily,¡± Sun Haishan shook his head. ¡°The Sect Master is indeed powerful, but the Sect Master¡¯s temperament is relatively mild. He doesn¡¯t exercise as much authority as others. ¡°That¡¯s getting off topic. After you enter the inner sect, you must choose a vein. Only then can you get the corresponding resources, techniques, and martial skills. ¡°However, the Sect Master Peak stopped accepting disciples a long time ago. You can only choose from the other six veins: the Punishment Peak of the Grand Elder, the Medicine King Peak of the Second Elder, the Purple Nourishment Peak of the Third Elder, the Martial Arts Peak of the Fourth Elder, the Formation Peak of the Fifth Elder, and the Spirit Peak of the Sixth Elder. ¡°There isn¡¯t much difference in strength among the six veins. You can choose freely.¡± ¡°But I recommend you choose the Spirit Peak.¡± ¡°Why?¡± Meng Changqing raised an eyebrow. ¡°Because you have cultivated the Sword Qi. It¡¯s highly probable that you will follow the path of the sword in the future.¡± ¡°And in the sect, only the Spirit Peak specializes in the sword path,¡± Sun Haishan explained. ¡°The path of the sword,¡± Meng Changqing pondered. He hadn¡¯t decided on his weapon choice yet. But since the system provided ¡°Sword Qi,¡± he would temporarily focus on sword cultivation. If there were other ¡°Intents¡± in the future, he could pursue them concurrently. According to Sun Haishan¡¯s words, the Spirit Peak seemed to be the most suitable for him at the moment. As they chatted, they had already reached the end of the passage. Surrounding them was a clean open space engraved with many incomprehensible runes. ¡°This is a small teleportation array that leads directly to the inner sect,¡± Sun Haishan explained. At the same time, a jade token appeared in his hand. Walking to the center of the teleportation array, without any hesitation, Meng Changqing followed suit. He had heard before that the way to enter the inner sect seemed to be through a teleportation array. ¡°Stand firm,¡± Sun Haishan laughed heartily. Then, he slammed the jade token into the array beneath their feet. Rumble! The teleportation array trembled. After a dazzling burst of light, the two of them disappeared on the spot. It felt like a change of scenery, a reversal of heaven and earth. When Meng Changqing opened his eyes, the surroundings were unfamiliar. He saw towering peaks, swirling clouds, and many spirit birds chirping and flying around, resembling a fairyland from legends. Chapter 15 - Making Friends in Reverse! Chapter 15 - Making Friends in Reverse! Chapter 15: Making Friends in Reverse! Looking into the distance, There stood seven towering peaks between heaven and earth. Majestic and unscalable! With a grand and vast aura, permeated with ancient and profound aura. In the Tianling Prefecture, the Tai Xuan Sect could be considered a very ancient sect. In terms of founding time alone, it surpassed other sects of the same level. It was said to date back thousands of years. ¡°Those are the seven main peaks. Have you decided where to go now?¡± Sun Haishan asked. ¡°The Spirit Peak,¡± Meng Changqing withdrew his gaze and said slowly. Since the Spirit Peak was a lineage dedicated to sword cultivation, it was naturally the most suitable for him. ¡°Alright, then I¡¯ll take you to the Spirit Peak,¡± Sun Haishan nodded. He didn¡¯t show any surprise at this. Under Sun Haishan¡¯s guidance, Meng Changqing finally arrived at the Spirit Peak. But what he saw on the mountain peak, whether it was the buildings or the scenery, was filled with a faint sense of sharpness. It was like a mountain of swords. However, what puzzled Meng Changqing slightly was that there were almost no disciples walking on this road. It was somewhat desolate. ¡°Compared to the outer sect, the number of inner sect disciples is naturally much smaller,¡± seeming to perceive Meng Changqing¡¯s thoughts, Sun Haishan stroked his white beard and said, ¡°And usually, they are either in seclusion practicing or going out on missions, so it¡¯s rare to see them on the road.¡± Hearing this, Meng Changqing understood. Indeed. In cultivating one¡¯s Dao, if you didn¡¯t advance, you would regress. How could there be leisure to wander outside? ¡°In the future, this will be your residence,¡± Sun Haishan stopped in front of a courtyard and said. ¡°Okay,¡± Meng Changqing nodded. Compared to the outer sect, this courtyard seemed much more spacious, befitting the identity of an inner sect disciple. ¡°These are the clothes and token for the Spirit Peak disciples,¡± Sun Haishan flipped his right hand, and these two items appeared in the palm of his hand. ¡°A storage ring?¡± Meng Changqing raised an eyebrow slightly. This was a rare item, very precious. But from what he knew, storage rings seemed to require cultivators of the Sea Cleaving Realm to use, and they needed to use True Qi. But Sun Haishan was clearly only at the Aperture Connecting Realm. Dispelling his thoughts, Meng Changqing didn¡¯t dwell on it. In this bizarre world, many things were not absolute. He reached out and took them. ¡°I¡¯ll take care of the rest of the procedures for you. Just focus on cultivation,¡± Sun Haishan said with a smile. For an ordinary disciple, he wouldn¡¯t be this patient. But who made Meng Changqing have such potential? He had comprehended the Sword Qo. His future achievements were bound to be high. Being a bit enthusiastic now could be considered an investment in his own future. But he was already old, and it seemed like he didn¡¯t have much of a future left. ¡°Additionally, this is the introductory sword technique that all Spirit Peak disciples can cultivate. ¡°The Profound-level Initial Stage Wind and Thunder Sword Art!¡± Sun Haishan took out another manual. Profound-level martial skills were not easy to cultivate. They required a high level of understanding and a lot of time. He didn¡¯t expect to have such a ready-made one so soon. He must add this person as a friend! ¡°I heard that you recently received guidance from the Elder of the Scripture Pavilion and cultivated the Wind and Thunder Sword Art to the level of mastery,¡± Sun Haishan said. ¡°Yes,¡± Qin Fang said proudly upon hearing this. At the same time, his gaze fell on the Wind and Thunder Sword Art in Meng Changqing¡¯s hands. ¡°If Junior Brother Meng encounters any difficulties in the future, feel free to ask me,¡± Qin Fang said with a smile. ¡°Don¡¯t underestimate Junior Brother Meng. He has already comprehended the Sword Qi, and his understanding is remarkable,¡± Sun Haishan shook his head. Qin Fang¡¯s expression froze suddenly, and a hint of shock gradually appeared in his eyes. Sword... QI?! How could this be possible? You must know that even true-genius disciples, there were some who hadn¡¯t comprehended it. It can be imagined how difficult it is. But this junior brother from the outer sect had comprehended it! He was truly a genius! No, more accurately, he should be considered a genius overlooked by the sect! And now, the dragon hidden in the abyss was emerging. He would surely soar to great heights in the future. For a moment, Qin Fang¡¯s gaze fluctuated, no longer casual but gradually becoming somewhat fervent. His thoughts were similar to Sun Haishan¡¯s. For such a character, it was natural to make friends with him. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect that there would be such a genius like Junior Brother Meng among the outer sect disciples!¡± Qin Fang¡¯s tone became more humble, concealing the pride in his voice. In the face of Sword Qi, his mastered Wind and Thunder Sword Art was truly not something to boast about. ¡°Senior Brother Qin, you¡¯re too kind,¡± Meng Changqing smiled slightly. ¡°We¡¯re neighbors now. If you need any help in the future, feel free to come to me. Don¡¯t be polite,¡± Qin Fang said, ¡°Although I¡¯m much older than you, just consider me as a friend.¡± Ding! [Qin Fang has sent you a friend request.] the system prompted. Meng Changqing was slightly stunned. Well, he was still thinking about how to add Qin Fang as a friend, but Qin Fang had taken the initiative to apply. It was truly an unexpected joy. Chapter 16 - Proficiency Card for Profound-Level Martial Skill! Chapter 16 - Proficiency Card for Profound-Level Martial Skill! Chapter 16: Proficiency Card for Profound-Level Martial Skill! ¡°In that case, I¡¯ll be relying on Senior Brother Qin in the future,¡± Meng Changqing said with a smile. ¡°Please don¡¯t hesitate to ask for my help,¡± Qin Fang replied solemnly. Ding!¡± [Added Qin Fang as a friend.] [Current Favorability Rating: One Star] [Received Attribute: Wind and Thunder Sword Art (Mastered)] [Triggered Additional Reward: Proficiency Card for Profound-Level Martial Skill *3!] The voice of the system echoed in his mind. It was indescribably wonderful. Meng Changqing¡¯s smile became even brighter. Truly, his luck was overwhelming. Not only did he obtain the attribute he desired, but he also triggered an additional reward. A Proficiency Card for a profound-level martial skill. Clearly, it was similar to the previous grade-level martial skill proficiency card. It could be used to enhance martial skill proficiency! ¡°Well, I have other matters to attend to, so I¡¯ll take my leave,¡± Sun Haishan said to Meng Changqing. ¡°I hope to hear news of your promotion to True Disciple in the near future.¡± ¡°I will strive for it,¡± Meng Changqing said with a smile. Qin Fang glanced sideways. It seemed that Elder Sun had a lot of confidence in Meng Changqing. But that was also normal. A disciple who could comprehend Sword Qi would undoubtedly have remarkable achievements in the future. However, it was unknown what his aptitude was like. After all, in the early stages of cultivation, understanding only affected the cultivation of martial skills. To improve cultivation realm, one still had to rely on constitution aptitude. After Sun Haishan left, Meng Changqing chatted with Qin Fang for a few moments, mainly about some of the disciples¡¯ situations in the inner sect. Then he returned to his own courtyard. Closing the door. ¡°System, use one Profound-Level Martial Skill Proficiency Card,¡± he said, preparing to elevate the Wind and Thunder Sword Art to perfection! A perfected Wind and Thunder Sword Art. Even more terrifying power! The sword moves like lightning, and the ground follows like electric serpents. Ding! Consuming one Profound-Level Martial Skill Proficiency Card! Boom! Even more profound insights appeared in his mind. Meng Changqing absorbed them quickly. ¡°It¡¯s perfected.¡± Opening his eyes, a smile flashed across Meng Changqing¡¯s face. He hadn¡¯t even opened the sword technique manual given by Elder Sun yet, but he had already mastered the Wind and Thunder Sword Art to perfection. It only took a few breaths of time in the mortal world. If he were to say it out loud, no one would probably believe it. ¡°The system is awesome,¡± Meng Changqing said, giving a thumbs up. With a perfected profound-level sword technique by his side, his current strength had increased significantly. Coupled with Sword Qi, he had no problem facing ordinary Sixth Level Aperture Connecting Realm warriors. ¡°Next, it¡¯s time to improve my cultivation,¡± Meng Changqing¡¯s eyes flickered slightly. In this world where martial arts reigned supreme, strength was the most important. If you wanted to make friends, you had to be strong enough. As long as you were strong enough, you didn¡¯t even need to actively make friends. Others would come to you on their own. For example, Qin Fang just now. Taking a deep breath, Meng Changqing took out a jade box from his sleeve. It was given by Bai Suxi. Upon opening it, a strong medicinal fragrance emanated from it. Elemental Spirit Grass! With this item, Meng Changqing was confident that he could cultivate to the Third Level of the Aperture Connecting Realm in a short period of time! Chapter 17 - Great Strength Increase, Secret Realm, Dragon Ranking! Chapter 17 - Great Strength Increase, Secret Realm, Dragon Ranking! Chapter 17: Great Strength Increase, Secret Realm, Dragon Ranking! Time flew. One month later. Creak~ The door was pushed open. A figure in white walked out. It was Meng Changqing. But at this moment, his aura had greatly increased! Quite imposing! ¡°Fourth Level of the Aperture Connecting Realm!¡± To be honest, this realm was somewhat beyond his expectations. He thought that reaching the Third Level was about the limit. But unexpectedly, he had reached the Fourth Level. But thinking about it, it was understandable. After all, he already had a Root Bone of the Second Grade! It¡¯s incomparable. Plus, there was the assistance of precious resources like the Elemental Spirit Grass. Looking around, his eyes happened to fall on the huge stone in the courtyard. This was specially provided for disciples to practice, and its texture was quite hard. Feeling inspired, Meng Changqing also wanted to see the specific improvement in his current strength. Swoosh! Drawing his sword, he immediately executed the perfected Wind and Thunder Sword Art. Under the cultivation of the Fourth Level of the Aperture Connecting Realm, the wind and thunder rolled in an instant! But on the sword, there were densely packed electric lights flickering, like running thunderous serpents. There was also a howling wind, stirring up thousands of fallen leaves in the courtyard. Crack! The sword light arrived in the blink of an eye and landed on the practice stone! Sparks flew. It actually split it in half. Hiss! Meng Changqing couldn¡¯t help but draw a cold breath. To be honest, this power was a bit beyond his imagination. You should know that this was a practice stone. You can imagine how hard it was. But unexpectedly, he split it in half with just one sword! Indeed, it was a perfected profound-level sword technique. A person who comprehended Sword Qi. Mastering the Wind and Thunder Sword Art to perfection in just a month didn¡¯t seem like a difficult thing. Hmm, that¡¯s right. ¡°Junior Brother Meng¡¯s comprehension is truly terrifying. In the future, I¡¯m afraid even the ¡®SpiritSword Canon¡¯ could be learned by him,¡± Qin Fang said seriously. ¡°Senior Qin is too kind. I just got lucky,¡± Meng Changqing said modestly. The ¡°Spirit Sword Canon¡± was the highest-level sword technique of the Spirit Peak. It contained ten parts. It was said that the highest-ranked one is almost at the Heavenly level! Qin Fang shook his head slightly. Lucky? Too modest. What luck is there in practicing this martial art? It¡¯s almost entirely based on comprehension. ¡°Senior Qin, did you come to me for something?¡± Meng Changqing asked. ¡°This...¡± Qin Fang was a little embarrassed. Originally, he wanted to ¡°advise¡± Meng Changqing a bit, to strengthen their relationship in advance. Who would have thought that Meng Changqing, in just one month, had practiced to perfection! His swordsmanship was even higher than his! What advice could he give now? ¡°Ahem, there¡¯s nothing really. I just came to see how you¡¯re doing,¡± Qin Fang coughed lightly, not blushing or skipping a beat, ¡°and also to give you some good news.¡± ¡°I¡¯m all ears,¡± Meng Changqing¡¯s spirits lifted. Qin Fang was also considered an elder in the inner sect. What he considered good news was naturally not ordinary. ¡°The sect¡¯s secret realm is going to be opened ahead of schedule,¡± Qin Fang¡¯s voice carried a hint of excitement. ¡°A secret realm,¡± Meng Changqing was momentarily stunned, then his eyes lit up. In the cultivation world, the words ¡°secret realm¡± were almost synonymous with good fortune. Inside, there were various treasures, elixirs, and wonders. It was a land of opportunity. But secret realms were controlled by major forces, and ordinary martial artists rarely had the chance to enter. This was also one of the reasons why many martial artists wanted to join major forces. It seemed that he was lucky. He had just arrived, and such a thing had happened. Generally speaking, secret realms were only opened every few years. ¡°When will it open?¡± Meng Changqing asked. ¡°About two months from now,¡± Qin Fang replied. ¡°Originally, it was supposed to be at least half a year later, but recently, six of our sect¡¯s disciples were struck off the Dragon Ranking, and the situation became critical. Therefore, the sect had to open it early.¡± ¡°The Dragon Ranking,¡± Meng Changqing narrowed his eyes slightly. This was a list set up by the four major holy lands. It aimed to stimulate martial artists¡¯ fighting spirit and was also a symbol of the strength of various major forces. It was said to also affect the evaluation of sect levels. Anyway, it was very important and couldn¡¯t be ignored. Chapter 18 - Reverse Guidance, Mutual Assistance, "Sword Steps"! Chapter 18 - Reverse Guidance, Mutual Assistance, "Sword Steps"! Chapter 18: Reverse Guidance, Mutual Assistance, ¡°Sword Steps¡±! In the Southern Region, each province had its own Dragon Ranking. There were a total of one hundred spots. As one of the major forces within the Tianling Prefecture, losing six disciples at once was indeed a significant loss. No wonder they decided to open the secret realm early, to strengthen the disciples¡¯ strength. ¡°The secret realm is opening, and the geniuses in the inner sect should also be going.¡± Meng Changqing¡¯s lips curled slightly. For him, while natural talents and treasures were important, making friends came first. On normal days, these geniuses usually secluded themselves for cultivation and rarely came out. But now, he finally found an opportunity. However, before the secret realm opened, he still needed to quickly improve his strength. As mentioned before. Strength was the key to making friends. ¡°Thank you, Senior Qin, for letting me know. Otherwise, I might have missed it,¡± Meng Changqing said as he snapped back to reality. He had just been about to return to his family. If he indulged for too long, he might have missed it. Actually, the family estate was not far from the sect. It was just over ten days round trip. ¡°It¡¯s just a small matter. Junior Meng, don¡¯t worry about it,¡± Qin Fang said with a smile. In his heart, he was even more delighted. It seemed that his reminder was quite right. Bonus points! All his impressions of Meng Changqing had come from Sun Haishan¡¯s account before. But today, seeing it with his own eyes, he had no doubts in his mind anymore. This Meng Changqing was extraordinary. He was still in the budding stage now, not receiving much attention from the sect yet. But in the future, he would definitely become a dazzling figure in the sect. So, he had to quickly improve their relationship. Otherwise, in the future, he would truly be a ¡°nobody¡± in his eyes. Meng Changqing didn¡¯t know what Qin Fang was thinking. If he knew, he would definitely burst out laughing. Goodness, they were really boosting each other up, weren¡¯t they? He needed to improve his friend¡¯s favorability, but his friend was also boosting his favorability. Truly amusing. ¡°If there are still things you don¡¯t understand in the future, feel free to come to me.¡± Meng Changqing smiled faintly. Seeing this, Qin Fang was quite touched. Having spent so many years in the inner sect, he had actually seen quite a few geniuses. But most geniuses were arrogant. They were like clouds in the sky, rarely deigning to look down upon the creatures below. But this Junior Meng was different. Clearly possessing such high talent, yet so approachable. He even patiently explained his doubts about swordsmanship for so long. Truly... rare. Ding! [Friendliness increased to two stars!] [Acquired skill: ¡®Sword Steps¡¯ Partial-Mastery!] [Would you like to fuse immediately?] The voice of the system sounded in his mind. ¡°No.¡± Meng Changqing chose to refuse. He hadn¡¯t thought much about it during the explanation, just clarifying doubts. He didn¡¯t expect his friendliness to increase directly. But thinking about it, it made sense. What he said was all the essence of the matter. The help to Qin Fang was definitely significant. Qin Fang¡¯s increase in friendliness was also reasonable. Although he hadn¡¯t come into contact with the skill ¡°Sword Steps¡± before, judging by its name, it was a footwork technique, which happened to be the part of martial arts he was lacking. It was like a pillow coming when one was feeling sleepy. Fulfilling what was lacking. Moreover, martial arts in the inner sect were not something one could learn just because they wanted to. Apart from the initial martial art ¡°Wind and Thunder Sword Art,¡± if you wanted to learn others, you had to rely on contribution points! Qin Fang probably did a lot of tasks to exchange for this skill. He hadn¡¯t done any tasks himself. Yet, he got it in advance. Chapter 19 - Perfection, Task Hall, Seven Meridians Disciple! Chapter 19 - Perfection, Task Hall, Seven Meridians Disciple! Chapter 19: Perfection, Task Hall, Seven Meridians Disciple! Afterwards, they chatted randomly for a while. Qin Fang happily left. Before leaving, he reminded Meng Changqing not to forget about the sect missions. The inner sect missions were not as frequent as the outer sect ones. Completing one per year was sufficient. The rewards were also relatively generous. Generally speaking, even completing two ordinary missions would be enough to exchange for pills or martial arts techniques, and so on. After Qin Fang left, Meng Changqing opened the character panel. Basic Information: ¡¾Host: Meng Changqing¡¿ ¡¾Race: Human¡¿ ¡¾Cultivation: Fourth level of Aperture Connecting Realm¡¿ Attribute Information: ¡¾Root Bone: Second Grade¡¿ ¡¾Comprehension: Average¡¿ ¡¾Martial Arts: ¡°Wind and Thunder Sword Art¡± ¨C Perfection, ¡°Nine Shadows Sword Art¡± ¨C Perfection, ¡°Bronze Armor Art¡± ¨C Perfection¡¿ ¡¾Talent: Skillful Hands¡¿ ¡¾Friends: Xia Han, Bai Suxi, Qin Fang¡¿ ¡¾Unmerged Attribute: ¡°Sword Steps¡± Partial Mastery¡¿ ¡¾Remaining Rewards: Two cards for Proficiency in Profound-grade Martial Arts¡¿ ¡°It¡¯s a pity I didn¡¯t trigger any additional rewards.¡± Meng Changqing felt somewhat regretful. These additional rewards were actually not inferior to some attributes. It¡¯s just that they appeared randomly. It¡¯s not guaranteed every time. But Meng Changqing wasn¡¯t a greedy person. Having acquired ¡°Sword Steps¡± was already good enough. With a slight movement of his mind, he chose to fuse. Ding! [The merge was successful!] As soon as the voice fell, numerous insights flooded his mind. They were all about ¡°Sword Steps¡±. ¡°Sword Steps¡± was a Profound-grade elementary footwork technique. It primarily focused on the rapid changes in body movements within a small space, rather than being used for long-distance travel or pursuit. By using this footwork technique in conjunction with swordsmanship, it could enhance the power of swordsmanship! Mysterious and unpredictable! ¡°Let¡¯s give it a try.¡±DiiScover new stories at novelhall.com After fully absorbing it, Meng Changqing displayed it on the spot. He saw that his speed was extremely fast. His footsteps were like the wind, almost leaving afterimages! Within a few meters, he moved swiftly, unpredictably. ¡°What a great footwork!¡± After stopping, Meng Changqing calmed the blood and energy within his body, his eyes bright. Arriving at the Task Hall, there were obviously more disciples here compared to outside. Meng Changqing took the opportunity to look at their character panels. They were all at the Aperture Connecting Realm. There was no sign of the Sea Cleaving Realm. But that was normal too. The cultivation of the Sea Cleaving Realm was different from that of the Aperture Connecting Realm. It belonged to the core of the sect. Naturally, they wouldn¡¯t come to a place like the Task Hall. ¡°Fourth Grade, Fourth Grade... Oh, finally there¡¯s a Third Grade.¡± Meng Changqing looked at their root bone aptitude. He found that most of them were Fourth Grade. Occasionally, he would see a few Third Grades. It seemed that the rumors of geniuses being everywhere in the inner sect were not entirely true. Or maybe, most of the people here were promoted from the outer sect? The real geniuses weren¡¯t here? It should be like this. Without thinking too much, Meng Changqing shifted his focus to other attributes. Regarding root bone, unless it was First Grade, it wasn¡¯t of much use to him. So he could only focus on other attributes. Such as talent, bloodline, martial arts, and so on. ¡°Radiant Sun Sword Art, sounds quite aggressive. This should be from the Martial Arts Peak, where the main cultivation is sword techniques.¡± ¡°Human Formation Technique, it¡¯s a formation technique, should come from the Formation Peak.¡± Meng Changqing identified them one by one. It also deepened his understanding of the inner sect. There were seven main peaks in the inner sect. Also known as the Seven Veins of Taixuan. They were the Main Peak, Punishment Peak, Medicine King Peak, Purple Mist Peak, Martial Arts Peak, Formation Peak, and Spirit Peak. Each peak had its own main cultivation sect. He was particularly interested in the martial arts of the Spirit Peak and Purple Mist Peak. The former was his current main cultivation, swordsmanship. While the latter specialized in body refinement. There was a rumored treasure, which could rival his own ¡°Spirit Sword Canon¡±. It was called the ¡°Imperial World Through Heaven Scripture¡±! But the disciples of the Purple Mist Peak in the Mission Hall couldn¡¯t possibly possess it. This kind of technique must be practiced by extremely core disciples. Of course, Meng Changqing didn¡¯t think about it in that direction. Because it was unrealistic. In his opinion, having a Profound-grade elementary body refining martial art was enough. However, after looking around, he didn¡¯t find any disciples from the Purple Mist Peak, which was truly a pity. After confirming that there was no significant value in making friends, Meng Changqing went to the counter to select a mission. But just then, an excited voice rang out. ¡°Look, the brothers from the Shi family are here!¡± Chapter 20 - Stoneblood Lineage, Is This Guy Eight Years Old? Chapter 20 - Stoneblood Lineage, Is This Guy Eight Years Old? Chapter 20: Stoneblood Lineage, Is This Guy Eight Years Old? As the words fell, two figures suddenly appeared. These figures could be described as extremely tall. They were nearly two and a half meters tall! Their bodies were bulky with muscles, giving off an explosive visual impact! The whole person seemed as heavy as a mountain. Even Meng Changqing felt a slight pressure upon seeing them. These two guys resembled door gods. They were very powerful. Converging his mind, Meng Changqing looked at the character panels of these two individuals. Basic Information: ¡¾Name: Shi Guang¡¿ ¡¾Species: Human¡¿ ¡¾Cultivation: Fourth Level of Aperture Connecting Realm¡¿ Attribute Information: ¡¾Root Bone: Third Grade¡¿ ¡¾Comprehension: Average¡¿ ¡¾Bloodline: Stoneblood Lineage (Hidden)¡¿ ¡¾Techniques and Martial Skills: ¡°Heavenly Gangdom Body¡± (Perfect), ¡°Heavenly Star Fist¡± (Partial Mastery)¡¿ ¡°It¡¯s actually a bloodline!¡± Meng Changqing¡¯s pupils contracted. This was something even rarer than talent. Equivalent to those terrifying physiques. If a person could possess a bloodline, it meant that there had been an extremely powerful individual in their ancestry! ¡°Stoneblood Lineage, is it?¡± Meng Changqing remembered seeing it in miscellaneous books before. There were records about the Stoneblood Lineage in the most suitable physique or bloodline for body refinement. He had thought that this kind of bloodline had long been extinct. He didn¡¯t expect it to appear vividly before his eyes now! Stoneblood Lineage. Natural body refiners! It¡¯s like being a tall tree in the forest. But the terrifying physique of these two is also hidden? Meng Changqing shook his head slightly, not thinking much about it. This is not the focus of his attention right now. The focus is how to add those two as friends? Directly approaching them without a point of entry, they probably wouldn¡¯t even bother with me. ¡°Find an opportunity,¡± Withdrawing his mind, Meng Changqing calmed his mind, becoming unruffled, ¡°The most important thing is still strength. Hurry up and improve your cultivation. That¡¯s the right path. ¡°When the wood is high, the phoenix will come; when the flowers are fragrant, the butterflies will come.¡± Only when the strengths are equal, or even surpass each other, could there be a possibility of becoming friends. Moreover, he had many cards up his sleeve now, so he wasn¡¯t really in a hurry for the Stoneblood Lineage. ¡°By the way, how old are these two brothers?¡± ¡°This appearance, they look like they¡¯re in their thirties or forties.¡± Someone suddenly asked. ¡°To tell you the truth, according to reliable sources, they seem to be only eight years old!¡± ¡°What the hell, eight years old?¡± The Task Hall quieted down for a moment. Even Meng Changqing¡¯s mouth twitched slightly. Eight years old... This was a bit excessive. They were too precocious. If it were someone else, he definitely wouldn¡¯t believe it. But with the Stoneblood Lineage, it¡¯s hard to say. ¡°Hello, I¡¯ll take a task.¡± Meng Changqing said. ¡°They¡¯re all on the wall, just pick one.¡± The disciple of the Task Hall remained calm, as if he had long been accustomed to this scene. Meng Changqing immediately looked over them one by one. There were quite a few types of tasks. Because he had to return to the family, he had to choose one that was on the way. After browsing for a while. ¡°I¡¯ll take this one.¡± Meng Changqing pointed to the one at the highest position on the task wall. Being high up meant the difficulty was also high. Chapter 21 - Heavenly Bronze Hand, Talent [Thick Skin]! Chapter 21 - Heavenly Bronze Hand, Talent [Thick Skin]! Chapter 21: Heavenly Bronze Hand, Talent [Thick Skin]! After leaving the sect, Meng Changqing swiftly headed towards the direction of his family. As for his means of transportation, it was a spiritual horse that had been trained by the sect for a full two and a half years. With enduring stamina, it could easily travel seven to eight hundred miles without breaking a sweat. ¡°Come to think of it, it seems like it¡¯s been two years since I last went back,¡± Meng Changqing muttered as he looked at the vast expanse of the sky and earth, feeling a faint emotion stirring in his heart. The reason for not going back wasn¡¯t particularly significant; mainly, his progress in cultivation was too slow, and he felt like he was not living up to the resources of his family. But now that he had broken through to the Apperture Connecting Realm, there shouldn¡¯t be any problems. It could also be considered a triumphant return. ¡°Auntie,¡± a figure floated into Meng Changqing¡¯s mind. She was the current president of the Meng Family Chamber of Commerce, always wearing a bamboo hat and a black dress. Strictly speaking, she wasn¡¯t really his aunt. According to the elders of the clan, she was his mother¡¯s junior sister. She was also a Aperture Connecting Realm martial artist. If it weren¡¯t for Auntie¡¯s support, the Meng Family Chamber of Commerce would probably have been swallowed up by others more than ten years ago. Over the years, it was because of Auntie¡¯s support that he could continue to enjoy the resources of the family without being reduced. ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± Collecting his thoughts, Meng Changqing rode his spiritual horse towards the distance. ¡ª Three days later, Baiyun Mountains... Stretching for hundreds of miles, the mountains were tall and ancient, with perilous peaks and dangerous cliffs, and inhabited by demon beasts. In short, it was a dangerous place. Unless they were martial artists, ordinary people wouldn¡¯t dare to come here. The Baiyun Bandits were the most recently emerged bandits. With strong strength, many passing merchant groups had been plundered and killed. As a result, people were panicking, and no one dared to pass through this area. To prevent being targeted, the Baiyun Bandits were very clever and concealed their stronghold very well, making it very hidden. But unfortunately, in front of the Tai Xuan Sect, this cleverness was not enough. Once they were targeted, they would be found in no time. Then they would be put into missions as part of the training for inner disciples. Boom! The towering gate of the stronghold suddenly shattered into countless fragments, scattering in all directions. Some bandits who didn¡¯t have time to dodge were immediately swept away, covered in blood. ¡°Hiding quite deeply,¡± a indifferent voice slowly sounded. At the broken gate, a white-clad youth stepped in, walking leisurely in the sunlight. He held a sword in one hand, and his black hair danced lightly. A powerful aura enveloped the entire scene. ¡°Enemy attack!¡± There were constant cries of alarm. Soon, the densely packed bandits gathered together. There were easily over a hundred of them, with varying levels of strength, but most were at the Vein Tempering Realm, lingering around the second or third level. There were only a dozen or so at the seventh or eighth level. ¡°It seems that the Tai Xuan Sect has already treated us Baiyun Bandits as a training task.¡± Heavenly Bronze Hand sneered coldly, ¡°But daring to come at the fourth level, you really don¡¯t know how to write the word ¡®death¡¯. ¡°Do you think I¡¯m one of those trash from outside? ¡°Can you easily surpass your own realm?¡± ¡°So many words, do you know you¡¯re about to die and won¡¯t have a chance to speak later?¡± Meng Changqing spoke slowly, but his expression was calm. At the same time, he observed the character panels of these three individuals. Basic information: ¡¾Name: Heavenly Bronze Hand (Lin Tie)¡¿ ¡¾Race: Human¡¿ ¡¾Cultivation: Seventh Level of the Aperture Connecting Realm¡¿ Attribute information: ¡¾Root Bone: Fourth-grade¡¿ ¡¾Comprehension: Ordinary¡¿ ¡¾Talent: Thick Skin¡¿ ¡¾Martial Arts: ¡°Demon Blood Bronze Fist¡± (Perfection)¡¿ ¡°Huh, he actually has a talent?¡± Meng Changqing was somewhat surprised. The so-called talent referred to certain parts of the body that are different from ordinary people. It¡¯s not the kind of bloodline physique. Nor could it be compared to these two types. Just like Bai Suxi¡¯s skillful hands. ¡°Does this guy not know he has this talent?¡± ¡°Thick Skin¡± sounded like it belonged to the body refinement category. If he practiced body refinement techniques, the effect would be significantly better than ordinary people. But Heavenly Bronze Hand practiced fist techniques. It¡¯s obvious he didn¡¯t know. Actually, this was normal. Talents were not as obvious as bloodline physiques. Many people sometimes didn¡¯t even know about them. ¡°This talent is not bad.¡± Meng Changqing¡¯s mouth slightly curved upwards. The look in his eyes towards Heavenly Bronze Hand also softened a bit. If he could obtain this talent himself, it would be enough to make the defensive power of the ¡°Bronze Body Art¡± comparable to that of a Mystic-level initial stage, right? Chapter 22 - Um... Would You Like to Be My Friend? Chapter 22 - Um... Would You Like to Be My Friend? Chapter 22: Um... Would You Like to Be My Friend? As for the other two subordinates, there was nothing outstanding about them. ¡°Sharp-tongued and surrounded, yet still clueless about you impending doom.¡± The expression on Heavenly Bronze Hand¡¯s face turned slightly cold. At the same time, his heart sank. Actually, he had been observing this disciple of the Tai Xuan Sect all along. According to reason, when he appeared, this person should at least show a cautious expression. After all, his cultivation was three levels higher than this person. But there was none. Nothing at all. As calm as ever, and there was even a glimmer of light gradually appearing in his eyes. He knew this kind of gaze very well. It belonged to a hunter! So everything could be explained. This person wasn¡¯t here to seek death, but rather had the confidence to deal with him! Definitely not an ordinary disciple of the Tai Xuan Sect¡¯s inner sect! ¡°Even if the herd is large, they are still sheep. Do you really think this bunch of sheep can stop me?¡± Meng Changqing said softly. He twirled his sword with his right hand, and a faint sword hum echoed. As soon as these words fell. The surrounding bandits turned red with anger. They, who had always been wolves, were actually called sheep by someone! This was truly a great humiliation. ¡°Hmph, whether they¡¯re sheep or wolves, it¡¯s not up to you to decide. ¡°If you wish to duel with me one-on-one. ¡°Deal with them first!¡± Heavenly Bronze Hand¡¯s eyes turned cold. He didn¡¯t want to engage in a direct battle with Meng Changqing right away. If all his subordinates died, then they would be gone. At least he could consume some of this person¡¯s strength. At the same time, he could also observe this person¡¯s tactics and find his flaws! Facing the inner disciples of the Tai Xuan Sect, he couldn¡¯t afford to be careless, even though his cultivation realm was higher than theirs. ¡°Attack!¡± Heavenly Bronze Hand ordered directly. The other two subordinates immediately moved. And the surrounding bandits also roared and rushed towards Meng Changqing. In an instant, dust billowed. However, Meng Changqing stood with his sword horizontally, and his left hand slowly brushed over the blade. The next moment... Boom! The wind whistled, thunder exploded. As for combat, Meng Changqing always preferred swift and decisive battles. Even when a lion hunted a rabbit, it used all its strength. He didn¡¯t like to hold back. But he was aware of the power of the sword technique, so he didn¡¯t fully unleash it. With Heavenly Bronze Hand¡¯s strength, he shouldn¡¯t die on the spot. Arriving in front of the ancient tree. At this moment, Heavenly Bronze Hand was indeed not dead, but he was in a critically injured and dying state. His appearance was extremely miserable. Covered in sword scars, blood flowing incessantly. He struggled to lift his head. Looking towards Meng Changqing, his eyes were full of disbelief. ¡°You actually comprehend... Sword Qi!¡± ¡®Sword Qi¡¯ was the essence of martial arts, an extremely mysterious existence. It required long-term immersion in martial arts and extremely high comprehension to understand! And once comprehended. It was almost invincible at the same level, capable of easily surpassing levels. He hadn¡¯t expected to encounter someone like this one day! And he was also standing on the opposite side! Thinking of this, Heavenly Bronze Hand felt somewhat unwilling. If it were an ordinary inner disciple, he would definitely not be so inferior! But this was... Sword Qi! Absolutely overwhelming! ¡°So this is the foundation of a major power? Even among the inner disciples, there can be such monstrous figures!¡± Heavenly Bronze Hand stared at Meng Changqing¡¯s face intently, as if he wanted to remember it forever. ¡°You¡¯re dying.¡± Meng Changqing examined him carefully. Although he had held back, the combination of Sword Steps, Wind and Thunder Sword Art, plus Sword Qi was still too powerful. All the meridians in Heavenly Bronze Hand¡¯s body were severed. Now he was relying solely on his powerful cultivation and physique to support himself. Hearing this, Heavenly Bronze Hand couldn¡¯t help but take a deep breath. Was there even a need to say that? Wasn¡¯t it all because of you that it ended up like this? ¡°Since that¡¯s the case, before you die, could you grant me a small request?¡± Meng Changqing said very seriously. His gaze was sincere. Heavenly Bronze Hand was suddenly stunned, somewhat puzzled. He was almost dead. What use could there be? ¡°What request.¡± Heavenly Bronze Hand spoke. Perhaps due to the wound, blood gushed out of his mouth, and his breath became even more feeble. ¡°That um... Would you like to be my friend?¡± Chapter 23 - Crazy, Absolutely Crazy! Chapter 23 - Crazy, Absolutely Crazy! Chapter 23: Crazy, Absolutely Crazy! As these words fell, the originally somewhat noisy mountain stronghold seemed to have quieted down. Heavenly Bronze Hand¡¯s mouth was slightly agape. His gaze was somewhat blank. Is this guy crazy... Does he even know what he¡¯s saying... Become friends? What nonsense! He¡¯s almost beaten me to death! But he¡¯s asking if I want to be his friend before I die? He must be crazy! This is completely beyond reason! ¡°Are you deaf?¡± Meng Changqing waved his hand in front of him. Heavenly Bronze Hand subconsciously wanted to refuse. But what Meng Changqing said next made him suddenly stop. ¡°If you don¡¯t want to, I can seal your acupoints, keep you alive for a while, and then throw you into the pile of demon beasts. ¡°That feeling of being gnawed slowly should be quite enjoyable, right?¡± Gulp! Heavenly Bronze Hand¡¯s face grew even paler. Is this guy from the righteous path? He¡¯s even more sinister than the demonic path. ¡°Crazy, absolutely crazy!¡± Heavenly Bronze Hand cursed inwardly. How could there be someone who forces others to become their friend! In his heart, Meng Changqing was already one of those abnormal people. ¡°I... I agree...¡± Calming down, Heavenly Bronze Hand reluctantly answered. If he wants to, then so be it. Anyway, he wouldn¡¯t lose anything, so he generously satisfied this lunatic¡¯s strange preference. Better than suffering before dying. Ding! [Friend request accepted!] But at this moment, under the amplification of the talent, it clearly experienced a substantial improvement. It could definitely rival the initial stage of a profound-grade body refining martial art. ¡°The shortcoming in defense has also been somewhat compensated for,¡± Meng Changqing thought. And with this talent, no matter what body refining martial art he practiced in the future, he would have significantly better results than others. However, for Meng Changqing, what he wanted most was the Stoneblood Lineage of the Shi brothers from the Shi family. That was the real deal. Retrieving his focus, Meng Changqing removed the brass knuckles from Heavenly Bronze Hand¡¯s hand to use as evidence. Considering that he had gained benefits from him after all, they were technically friends. Then, he dug a hole and buried him. Thinking ahead to the approaching late autumn with its slightly chilly weather, Meng Changqing deliberately added a few more layers of soil and firmly packed it down. ¡°Being able to make such an intimate friend like me, you¡¯ve got your money¡¯s worth,¡± he said with satisfaction as he walked away. With the death of Heavenly Bronze Hand, the mission was considered complete. As for the other mountain bandits, none of them survived. The sword strike from before was fully powered, and even Heavenly Bronze Hand didn¡¯t dare to confront it head-on, let alone them. They all perished on the spot. ¡°Let¡¯s go home!¡± Mounting his spirit horse, Meng Changqing galloped away into the distance. ¡ª Five days later, Cloudwater City... A city built on the banks of a great river. With a population of about one hundred thousand, due to its convenient transportation, there was a huge daily flow of people, making the city¡¯s commerce quite prosperous. And the Meng Clan¡¯s Chamber of Commerce was one of the largest chambers of commerce in Cloudwater City. Occupying several commercial districts, it was quite famous. Of course, the most famous figure was the chairman of the Meng Clan¡¯s Chamber of Commerce. A woman in a black dress who always wore a straw hat, almost unbeatable in the Aperture Connecting Realm with her exquisite swordsmanship. It was precisely because of this that the Meng Clan¡¯s Chamber of Commerce had been able to maintain its status quo over the years without being swallowed up by other chambers of commerce. ¡°Cloudwater City, finally arrived.¡± Looking at the distant, looming ancient city, Meng Changqing let out a sigh of relief. At the same time, he felt a strange emotion in his heart. Because this would be his first real encounter with his blood relatives in this world. Chapter 24 - Check his body carefully again at night! Chapter 24 - Check his body carefully again at night! Chapter 24: Check his body carefully again at night! Meng Clan¡¯s Chamber of Commerce. The residence was a series of continuous pavilions, connected to each other, with towering courtyard walls, quite majestic. At the gate, there were two guards at the seventh level of the Vein Tempering Realm. ¡°It looks just like I remember, nothing has changed.¡± Looking at the residence, Meng Changqing nodded slightly. ¡°Are you... the young clan master?¡± A somewhat uncertain voice rang out. Meng Changqing looked in the direction of the sound. One of the guards had already turned towards him, his expression full of astonishment and uncertainty. And the other guard also realized it. ¡°Yeah.¡± Meng Changqing nodded slightly. The cliche?d scene he imagined did not happen. It seemed that his position as the young clan leader in the family was indeed quite high. ¡°It¡¯s really the young clan master!¡± The two guards suddenly became somewhat excited. In the family, although the previous talent was not the highest, his character was the best. He was usually very approachable with these guards and servants. This also led to a very good reputation for the previous person. ¡°Young clan master, let me lead your horse for you!¡± One of them hurried forward. The other rushed inside. While running, he shouted. ¡°The young clan master is back!¡± For a moment, the previously quiet Meng residence suddenly became lively. Many clan members came out of their rooms, including the elders of the clan. After all, it had been two years since the young clan master joined the Tai Xuan Sect. There hadn¡¯t been much news in the past two years. When Meng Changqing stepped through the gate, hundreds of pairs of eyes looked over. There were curiosity, joy, and various emotions. ¡°Greetings, young clan master,¡± everyone said respectfully. ¡°No need for formalities, everyone.¡± Looking at the faces, Meng Changqing didn¡¯t feel as unfamiliar as he had expected. There was a sense of closeness in his bloodline. ¡°Changqing,¡± a surprised voice rang out. ¡°These are indeed the clothes of inner disciples!¡± ¡°Doesn¡¯t that mean the young clan master is already a martial artist in the Aperture Connecting Realm?!¡± As the words fell, exclamations continued to ring out. Aperture Connecting Realm. For people from these small places, that was already the level of a strong practitioner. And he was still an inner disciple of the Tai Xuan Sect. Although there was only one word of difference between outer and inner disciples, there was a world of difference between them. Only by entering the inner sect could one be considered a formal disciple of the Tai Xuan Sect. The Tai Xuan Sect, that was the place they dreamed of going. ¡°You.¡± Hearing this, Gu Hongyu suddenly reacted. ¡°Yes, I am now an inner disciple, at the fourth level of the Aperture Connecting Realm!¡± Meng Changqing nodded. A strong aura of cultivation suddenly surged forth. It caused the veil around Gu Hongyu¡¯s face to flutter, revealing a stunningly beautiful face. ¡°The fourth level of the Aperture Connecting Realm!¡± The crowd was shocked once again. They had thought that the young clan master had just stepped into this realm, but they didn¡¯t expect that he had already made some progress in this realm. ¡°Young clan master, mighty!¡± After a brief silence, cheers erupted. In Cloudwater City, martial artists in the Aperture Connecting Realm were considered top-notch. For the Meng family, having one more martial artist in the Aperture Connecting Realm meant a significant increase in strength! And the young clan master was still so young. In the future, there would be a great opportunity to enter the Sea Cleaving Realm! Once you entered the sea of enlightenment, you would truly be extraordinary, surpassing the secular world. ¡°Well done!¡± There was also excitement in Gu Hongyu¡¯s voice. No wonder she had felt abnormal strength when she tapped his chest just now. So he had already stepped into the Aperture Connecting Realm. However, she still had doubts deep down. Meng Changqing had been raised by her since childhood, and she knew his situation very well. She didn¡¯t know every hair on his head, but she was close. With his talent, he shouldn¡¯t have been able to step into the Aperture Connecting Realm in such a short time. But it wasn¡¯t suitable to delve into it now. She would check his body carefully again at night. Chapter 25 - Auntie, We Cant Make Immoral Jokes Chapter 25 - Auntie, We Can''t Make Immoral Jokes Chapter 25: Auntie, We Can¡¯t Make Immoral Jokes That night, after a sumptuous banquet, Meng Changqing was pulled into his auntie¡¯s room by Gu Hongyu. Although she was an elder, she was still a woman after all. The decoration of her room was quite elegant, with a faint fragrance filling the air, refreshing the senses, much like her presence. ¡°Auntie, is there something you need?¡± Meng Changqing rubbed his face. It was rare for him to come back, but he couldn¡¯t avoid the toasts from the elders and clan members. However, with his cultivation level, getting drunk was out of the question. After a long journey, he really wanted to rest in his room. But just as he was about to leave, his auntie called him back and brought him here. ¡°Take off your clothes,¡± Gu Hongyu said. ¡°Huh?¡± Meng Changqing was stunned. ¡°Auntie, we can¡¯t make immoral jokes.¡± ¡°You brat!¡± Gu Hongyu rolled her eyes in amusement, then lightly tapped Meng Changqing¡¯s head with her right hand. ¡°You¡¯re thinking too much.¡± ¡°Just do as I say,¡± she insisted. ¡°Okay.¡± Meng Changqing could only comply. He could ignore others¡¯ words, even dismiss them, but his auntie was a different matter. As the clothes came off, Meng Changqing¡¯s perfectly sculpted upper body was revealed. Although he didn¡¯t have explosive muscles, his physique was well-defined, exuding an artistic sense of beauty. Even Gu Hongyu was momentarily stunned. However, with the veil covering her face, Meng Changqing couldn¡¯t see her expression. After a momentary daze, Gu Hongyu quickly recovered. She cleared her throat and said, ¡°Stand still and don¡¯t move.¡± As she spoke, Gu Hongyu formed hand seals with lightning speed, finally patting Meng Changqing¡¯s chest. In an instant, a lotus flower pattern appeared under his skin.Follow the latest novels at novelhall.com The lotus was pure white, seemingly untainted. Seeing this, Gu Hongyu breathed a sigh of relief and withdrew her hand, removing her own veil. It was hard to describe how beautiful her face was. Her skin was like jade, delicate and flawless. Her eyes were like autumn water, captivating. Meng Changqing had once speculated why Gu Hongyu always wore a veil. At first, he thought it was because her beauty was too outstanding, and she wanted to prevent others from coveting her. ¡¾Name: Gu Hongyu¡¿ ¡¾Race: Human¡¿ ¡¾Cultivation: Aperture Connecting Realm, Seventh Level (Temporary)¡¿ Attribute Information: ¡¾Root Bone: Second Grade (Damaged)¡¿ ¡¾Comprehension: Superior¡¿ ¡¾Talent: Spirit Eyes (Sealed)¡¿ ¡¾Martial Arts: ¡°Linglong Cold Moon Sword Art¡± (Perfected)¡¿ ¡¾Secret Art: Palm Lotus Demon Sealing Art¡¿ Seeing this, Meng Changqing clenched his fists tightly, striving to keep his expression unchanged. But inside, a storm was raging. This status panel was too luxurious! He had only seen such a luxurious panel on that girl Bai Suxi! Only the most exceptional geniuses could possess it. He never expected his auntie to have one too! However, unlike Bai Suxi, many of his auntie¡¯s attributes had suffixes. For example, the cultivation realm had ¡°(Temporary)¡± behind it. What did this mean? Cultivation realm was something straightforward. It was what it was. Why would it be temporary? Could it be that his auntie¡¯s realm was once very high and had fallen to this level? Then there was the Root Bone. It was a Second Grade Constitution, equivalent to Bai Suxi¡¯s. Even though he was now an inner disciple, he hadn¡¯t seen any others like it. It showed how rare it was. Of course, this didn¡¯t mean that Tai Xuan Sect didn¡¯t have geniuses of this level. It was just that he hadn¡¯t encountered them yet. After all, above the inner disciples, there were true disciples and more. What he currently glimpsed and touched was just the tip of the iceberg of Tai Xuan Sect. Constitution was the most important thing for a warrior. Once it was damaged, cultivation progress would be impossible. And then there was the talent, ¡°Spirit Eyes,¡± also in a sealed state. Overall, it was evident that his auntie had been deliberately crippled. Chapter 26 - You Little Rascal, Wanting to Be Friends with Your Aunt! Chapter 26 - You Little Rascal, Wanting to Be Friends with Your Aunt! Chapter 26: You Little Rascal, Wanting to Be Friends with Your Aunt! ¡°It seems Aunt¡¯s past is really not simple,¡± Meng Changqing couldn¡¯t help but think to himself. Someone with Aunt¡¯s talent, if placed in the Tai Xuan Sect, would probably even attract the attention of the Sect Master and be taken as a disciple. But now she¡¯s been crippled and can only live in such a remote place. Moreover, Aunt is Mother¡¯s junior sister, which means Mother¡¯s talent shouldn¡¯t be inferior to Aunt¡¯s. Wow! Thinking about it carefully, the power that Aunt used to belong to should at least be on the level of the Tai Xuan Sect. ¡°Although Aunt is naturally beautiful and approachable, you don¡¯t need to stare at her like that,¡± just as Meng Changqing was pondering, Gu Hongyu spoke. Meng Changqing suddenly came back to his senses. He saw Gu Hongyu looking at him with a hint of playfulness. In public, Aunt was still very proper, but in private, she was a bit bold and open, especially when she was with him. He remembered ten years ago, when he was about seven years old, they even bathed together in the same tub. Without any taboo. Perhaps in this unfamiliar Meng Family, only when she was with him could Aunt truly relax. ¡°I was just thinking when Aunt could tell me about my parents,¡± Meng Changqing said slowly after putting on his clothes. In his memory, he had no impressions of his biological parents. It seemed that they passed away shortly after he was born. At the mention of this, Gu Hongyu¡¯s expression changed slightly, but soon returned to normal. ¡°In the future, when the time is right, I will tell you,¡± Gu Hongyu took a deep breath, her eyes showing some complexity. ¡°Okay.¡± Meng Changqing didn¡¯t ask further. Because Aunt was very tight-lipped about this matter, and he couldn¡¯t get anything out of her. ¡°Then let¡¯s talk about something else.¡± Meng Changqing¡¯s lips curled up slightly. Although Aunt had been crippled, her attributes on the panel were real. It made him very envious. Comprehension, talent, martial skills, and so on. ¡°What do you want to talk about?¡± Gu Hongyu didn¡¯t expect Meng Changqing to change the subject so quickly. In the past, it would have taken a long time to get him to change topics. ¡°We don¡¯t have a blood relationship, right?¡± Meng Changqing said. ¡°Of course not. ¡°Then can we establish another relationship outside of this one?¡± Meng Changqing was somewhat expectant. ¡°Do you want to... This doesn¡¯t seem appropriate, you can¡¯t joke about ethics,¡± Gu Hongyu joked. He even gained four attributes in a row! But thinking about it carefully, it¡¯s also normal. After all, Aunt was not a stranger who he met by chance. Having grown up together, it¡¯s very reasonable for her to have a high favorability rating towards him. It seemed that the maximum favorability rating of the system was five stars. Four stars was already very high. At least among his current friends, there was none with such a high rating. The highest was only two stars. ¡°Thank you, Aunt.¡± Taking a deep breath, Meng Changqing suppressed his excited heart, ¡°It¡¯s late, I won¡¯t disturb your rest.¡± After saying that, Meng Changqing turned and left. He couldn¡¯t wait to fuse the attributes. The door was wide open, and the bright moonlight flowed into the room like water. Gu Hongyu stood in place, a little puzzled. She didn¡¯t know what Meng Changqing was excited about. Was he so happy just because she agreed to be his friend? ¡°Could this kid really have some unethical thoughts?¡± Gu Hongyu couldn¡¯t help but think crookedly. First, become friends, gradually dilute the previous aunt-nephew relationship, and then gradually develop in that direction! If it were a true aunt-nephew relationship, none of this would be possible. But between herself and Meng Changqing, there was no blood relationship after all. ¡°My senior sister¡¯s son. ¡°Raised since infancy?¡± Gu Hongyu shuddered all over, quickly dismissing this terrifying thought. But speaking of which, as he grew older, this kid was indeed becoming more and more handsome, very much like her senior sister. Plus, those perfect muscles truly exuded a strong masculine charm. Slap, slap~ Feeling like her thoughts were getting out of control, Gu Hongyu slapped her face, completely waking up. Finally, seeming to remember something, it turned into a sigh. She looked at the moonlight outside the window and softly spoke. ¡°Senior sister, although Changqing¡¯s talent is average, it seems that he has some luck now. ¡°In the future, in the martial arts world, he may achieve some success. ¡°But he definitely won¡¯t be able to contend with that behemoth. ¡°In fact, I still hope he can remain ordinary, at least to safely pass through this life. ¡°He does not need to face them...¡± Chapter 28 - Your Gray Avatar Will No Longer Flutter Chapter 28 - Your Gray Avatar Will No Longer Flutter Chapter 28: Your Gray Avatar Will No Longer Flutter The high-level Profound Grade was already extremely precious. Not to mention the advanced level! Even within the inner sect of the Tai Xuan Sect, not everyone had the qualifications to learn it. Located several floors above the Hidden Martial Pavilion, it required a large amount of contribution points to exchange for. And in places like Cloudwater City, there simply wasn¡¯t any. The highest martial arts technique was only at the initial Profound Grade. Regarded as the treasured heritage of the Grand Commerce Guild. This indicated its rarity. Moreover, starting from the Profound Grade, the difficulty of practicing martial arts techniques becomes extremely high. It can be said to be like ascending one realm after another. Without excellent aptitude, resources, and comprehension, even if obtained, one wouldn¡¯t be able to practice it. As for the Earth Grade, which was above the high-level Profound Grade, it¡¯s almost unheard of. Only those at the core of the sect have the qualifications to come into contact with it. ¡°With this martial arts technique, with its complete attainment, there will almost be no opponents within the Aperture Connecting Realm. Even though my realm is only at the Aperture Connecting Realm Fourth Level.¡± Meng Changqing¡¯s lips curled up slightly. Just having a complete attainment in the high-level Profound Grade martial arts technique was enough to surpass everyone. Moreover, he still had the power of Sword Steps, Sword Qi, and other enhancements. Just imagining it felt a bit overly strong. ¡°The ¡®Linglong Cold Moon Sword Art,¡¯ meaning the cold moon of winter, the sword style is solemn and murderous, chilling the world, freezing miles away. ¡°Indeed, the higher the level of the martial arts technique, the higher its aspirations.¡± Meng Changqing continuously practiced the sword technique in his mind. The more he practiced, the more he felt the terrifying aspects of this sword technique. Because the sword moves were too exquisite. Each sword strike could be launched from an unthinkable angle. In addition to this, when combined with his martial arts¡¯ heart technique, he could also convert the scorching blood and energy in his body into cold energy. Affecting the surrounding environment, the stronger his strength, the wider the range. It could even directly freeze people into ice sculptures, extinguishing vitality. And this was only when driven by blood and energy. When he reached the Sea Cleaving Realm and his sea of qi breeds true qi, then the power would be truly terrifying! He stretched his body, and immediately there was a crackling sound of bones inside him. Listening closely, there was even a hint of tiger and leopard-like roars. Only with a strong body could there be such movement. ¡°Hmm?¡± Meng Changqing suddenly raised an eyebrow. Because he noticed someone standing not far from the door. It was a member of the Meng family. At this moment, they were staring at him dumbfounded. Only when they noticed his gaze did they suddenly come to their senses. ¡°Young Master, you¡¯re awake.¡± The female clan member hurriedly bowed, her cheeks blushing slightly. My goodness. Is this the Young Master¡¯s body? It¡¯s too strong! Even standing at this slightly distant position, one could feel the hot blood and energy within him. Like a burning flame. Full of pressure! ¡°Hmm.¡± Meng Changqing nodded, then picked up the nearby clothes and put them on. When his strong physique was covered up, he returned to his usual state. Calm and composed, peaceful and quiet, full of youthful vigor. A perfect noble young man. The female clan member rubbed her eyes. The change in style was quite dramatic. But whether it was the Young Master just now or now, she liked both. ¡°Is there something you need?¡± Meng Changqing¡¯s voice was gentle as he walked over. ¡°The chairman asked me to wait here. She said when you woke up, you should go to the clan hall to find her,¡± The female clan member replied hastily. ¡°Okay, I understand. You can go down first. Thank you for your trouble.¡± Meng Changqing smiled faintly. ¡°Yes.¡± The female clan member immediately left respectfully. After she left, Meng Changqing tidied up a bit and then headed towards the direction of the clan hall. Aunt was a very clever person. Surely, she already knew the purpose of his return to the clan. Chapter 29 - Everything in the Family Will Be Centered Around You! Chapter 29 - Everything in the Family Will Be Centered Around You! Chapter 29: Everything in the Family Will Be Centered Around You! The family hall. When Meng Changqing arrived, Gu Hongyu was sitting in the main seat, sipping tea and reading miscellaneous books. ¡°If you hadn¡¯t come, I would have gone to your room to check on you,¡± Gu Hongyu said slowly as she set aside her book. ¡°It¡¯s rare to have time to rest properly.¡± Meng Changqing walked over and sat down beside her. He poured himself a cup of tea. ¡°That¡¯s true,¡± Gu Hongyu nodded, then pushed a jade box toward Meng Changqing. ¡°Inside are ten second-grade Spirit Fusion Pills, suitable for practitioners at the Aperture Connecting Realm. ¡°They were originally prepared for two senior clan elders. ¡°But, now they belong to you.¡± ¡°Spirit Fusion Pills,¡± Meng Changqing reached out to take them. As the son of a trading consortium, he naturally knew about some of the pills on the market. Once a pill reached a certain grade, its price would be relatively high, especially if it was second-grade. Among second-grade pills, Spirit Fusion Pills were quite valuable because of their excellent effects and the ability to be taken multiple times. Unlike other pills, where the effect diminishes after the first use, Spirit Fusion Pills could maintain their effectiveness. Ordinary Aperture Connecting Realm practitioners couldn¡¯t afford such pills. Most of them were still using first-grade pills. Only large clans and trading consortiums had the power to obtain such pills. ¡°Do the clan elders have any objections?¡± Meng Changqing didn¡¯t open the box. ¡°They asked for it themselves,¡± Gu Hongyu shook her head with a smile. ¡°In their words, they are already old, and their talents are ordinary. Although taking these pills will improve their cultivation, it won¡¯t be significant. It¡¯s a waste of resources. ¡°But you, now the future of the Meng family, naturally all resources should be poured into you.¡± ¡°Alright,¡± Meng Changqing didn¡¯t say much, just kept it in mind. These ten Spirit Fusion Pills were probably one-seventh of the family¡¯s foundation. After all, Spirit Fusion Pills were very valuable. But it was also his habit. Gratitude for kindness, vengeance for enmity. ¡°Let¡¯s leave it at that. You rest well these two days. I¡¯ll personally take care of some things to prepare for you.¡± After saying that, Gu Hongyu got up and left, leaving Meng Changqing alone in the family hall. ¡°This is the benefit of belonging to a family. ¡°At least you don¡¯t have to struggle desperately for cultivation resources. ¡°Only when you are outstanding enough will everything come to you.¡± Why was it so difficult to produce strong cultivators among wandering cultivators? Besides innate talent, it¡¯s mostly because too much time was wasted searching for resources. But someone like him could spend all day quietly cultivating in his room. Anything he needed was provided. ¡°Cultivation!¡± Picking up the jade box, Meng Changqing stood up and left the hall. With cultivation stagnating for so many days, it was time to continue advancing. In just over a month, the sect¡¯s secret realm would open. Let¡¯s see if he could increase his cultivation level a few more times. In the Tai Xuan Seven Veins, where elites gather, the competition would surely be intense. He wouldn¡¯t underestimate himself nor would he underestimate others, especially those true geniuses in the inner sect! If he couldn¡¯t make friends with them, then he would rely on his sword, no, his noble character, and unparalleled charm. In Cloudwater City, under the active guidance of the Meng family... The news of their young master, Meng Changqing, breaking through to the Aperture Connecting Realm and advancing to the Tai Xuan inner sect spread completely, causing other commercial forces to be shaken. After all, a cultivator at the Aperture Connecting Realm, especially one so young, meant something obvious. For a while, the status of the Meng Chamber of Commerce in the city skyrocketed. It was almost becoming the leading commercial force in Cloudwater City. And Meng family members who were away from home also held their heads high. Chapter 30 - Receiving the Spatial Ring, Sealed Box, and Sects Plea for Help Chapter 30 - Receiving the Spatial Ring, Sealed Box, and Sect''s Plea for Help Chapter 30: Receiving the Spatial Ring, Sealed Box, and Sect¡¯s Plea for Help Time passed quickly. Five days later. Outside Cloudwater City. Gu Hongyu escorted Meng Changqing alone to a grassy slope. In fact, others from the Meng family also wanted to come along. But Gu Hongyu stopped them. ¡°Aunt, it¡¯s fine to leave me here,¡± Meng Changqing said with a smile, holding the reins. ¡°Okay,¡± Gu Hongyu nodded. The grassy slope beneath their feet was quite high, offering a good view. In the distance, one could see continuous mountains and a rushing river. ¡°This is a Spatial Ring, and everything is prepared for you and placed inside,¡± Gu Hongyu said as she took off a ring from her hand. ¡°A Spatial Ring,¡± Meng Changqing¡¯s eyes flickered. This thing was quite rare. It was extremely expensive. It contained a small space where items could be stored. Generally, a Spatial Ring required true qi to use, which meant it was for cultivators at the Sea Cleaving Realm. But since he had seen it on the Outer Sect Elder Sun Haishan, he changed his view. After all, Sun Haishan was only at the Aperture Connecting Realm but could still use it. ¡°This Spatial Ring is quite special. It contains the true qi of its previous owner, so even if you haven¡¯t reached the Sea Cleaving Realm, you can still use it,¡± Gu Hongyu seemed to see Meng Changqing¡¯s surprise and explained. ¡°I see,¡± Meng Changqing suddenly understood. No wonder Sun Haishan could use it. With this Spatial Ring, traveling in the future would be much more convenient. Whether it was valuable items or miscellaneous items, they could all be stored inside and accessed anytime, anywhere. But as far as he knew, there didn¡¯t seem to be such a thing in the family. It was probably Aunt¡¯s. She directly gave hers to him. Feeling touched, Meng Changqing realized that the cultivation world was actually full of deceit. Genuine sincerity like this was rare. ¡°Additionally, I¡¯ll give you another good thing,¡± Gu Hongyu took out a box from behind her. The box had a sealed label on it, looking quite precious. ¡°What is this?¡± Meng Changqing was curious. ¡°A treasure, but don¡¯t open it for now. Open it when you reach the Sea Cleaving Realm,¡± Gu Hongyu said. ¡°And don¡¯t share what¡¯s inside with others.¡± Her tone was serious. But he didn¡¯t want to be too strict with time. If something unexpected happened and delayed him, it would be a loss. Night fell. Meng Changqing sat cross-legged under an ancient tree, flames burning in front of him, casting various shadows on his face. His spirit horse, two and a half years old, stood not far away, entering the realm of dreams. The next moment, Meng Changqing abruptly opened his eyes. A powerful aura surged within him. He had unexpectedly reached the fifth level of the Aperture Connecting Realm! ¡°I broke through,¡± Meng Changqing exhaled. The effect of the Spirit Fusion Pills was indeed remarkable. Just two pills had helped him break through a small realm. However, according to his estimation, ten Spirit Fusion Pills might not get him to the eighth level. Because the higher the realm, the more resources were needed. But it didn¡¯t matter. There were still pills in the Spatial Ring, and Aunt had prepared quite a few. In Meng Changqing¡¯s view, Aunt had probably given him half of the family¡¯s wealth. In any case, reaching the Aperture Connecting Realm was more than enough. Boom! Just as Meng Changqing was about to continue cultivating, a firework lit up the distant night sky. It formed the characters ¡°Tai Xuan.¡± ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± Meng Changqing stood up suddenly. A distress signal! This was a distress signal specially made by the sect. Once ignited, it could last a long time in the air, attracting attention. ¡°Is a disciple of the Tai Xuan Sect in danger?¡± Meng Changqing furrowed his brow. If it were somewhere else, he could understand. But Juefeng Ridge, where he stood, was already quite close to the sect¡¯s territory. Who would dare to attack disciples of the Tai Xuan Sect in such a place? Are they seeking death? Shaking his head slightly, Meng Changqing didn¡¯t think much and woke up the sleeping spirit horse, rushing towards the location where the firework had bloomed. In any case, he had to go and see first. Within his ability, he would definitely lend a hand in rescue. After all, they belonged to the same faction. But if it went beyond his capabilities, then he would have to choose to retreat. Chapter 31 - Ghost Bei Qianke, Yellow Springs Rising Aperture Pill! Chapter 31 - Ghost Bei Qianke, Yellow Springs Rising Aperture Pill! Chapter 31: Ghost Bei Qianke, Yellow Springs Rising Aperture Pill! Deep within the peak of a secluded mountain, ancient trees stand tall, leaves lush. Only faint moonlight seeps through the cracks, casting a little brightness. At this moment, many dark figures stood on the branches, about twenty or so. Each one had remarkable strength. Even the weakest looked like they¡¯re at the Sixth Level of Vein Tempering Realm. Among them, there were even five in the Aperture Connecting Realm. The leader aura especially had extremely terrifying aura, actually at the peak of the Ninth Level of Aperture Connecting Realm! All the dark figures wore similar robes ¨C in deep green, with the word ¡®Yellow Springs¡¯ embroidered on the back. The forest at night was already eerie, and their presence intensified that feeling. Surrounded by them were disciples of the Tai Xuan Sect, all inner disciples. There were a total of three. Surprisingly, they were all women, varying in age. Their clothing was easy to identify. They were disciples of one of the Tai Xuan Seven Veins, the Medicine King Peak. The three of them were in a bad state. Pale faces, blood at the corners of their mouths, and very weak aura. Obviously, they suffered serious injuries. ¡°The Yellow Springs Demon Sect!¡± one of them gritted her teeth and said bitterly. Her face was beautiful, skin white as snow. Seh was not of low cultivation; she was at the Seventh Level of Aperture Connecting Realm. ¡°To dare to attack our disciples near our sect, you won¡¯t leave here alive!¡± Although she knew she¡¯s not a match for these martial practitioners of the demonic path, she already sent out a call for help, believing that reinforcements would arrive soon. As a senior disciple, even if she might face deadly danger, she could not falter! ¡°I didn¡¯t expect you to have a protective treasure on you, which blocked the fatal blow. ¡°Otherwise, it would have been impossible to send out that call for help.¡± The leading martial practitioner of the demonic path took a few steps forward, exposing himself to the faint moonlight. It exposed his slender figure, long fingers, and a grim cross-shaped scar on his face. ¡°You are Ghost Bei Qianke!¡± The female disciple named Kong Linxue seems to recall something, her pupils shrinking slightly. Although he was also in the Aperture Connecting Realm, he was only at the Third Level , completely incomparable to martial practitioners like Bei Qianke. So, he became a subordinate. ¡°Wait a little longer, the Blood of Man Pill is almost complete.¡± Ghost Bei Qianke considered and said. These few Tai Xuan Sect disciples in the array had good talents and are likely to form the pills. He didn¡¯t want to give up at this critical moment. ¡°Capture these three, they¡¯ll be the materials for the next round.¡± Ghost Bei Qianke looked indifferently at Kong Linxue. The three suddenly felt as if they¡¯ve fallen into an ice cellar. ¡°Yes!¡± However, at this moment, Ghost Bei Qianke suddenly furrowed his brows, swiftly turned around, and looked up, towards an ancient tree. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect someone to have arrived already. ¡°Come out, sir. ¡°I¡¯ve already spotted you.¡± As he spoke, all eyes turn towards that direction. Only to see a figure slowly revealing itself from the darkness. It¡¯s Meng Changqing. In fact, he had just arrived not long ago, only hearing about Ghost Bei Qianke and the Blood Refining Array. While counting the number of people on the field, the next second, he was discovered. It seemed he¡¯ll have to learn a technique to conceal his aura in the future. Otherwise, it¡¯s easy to be exposed. ¡°Indeed, disciple of the Tai Xuan Sect.¡± Ghost Bei Qianke¡¯ eyes turn cold. However, when he perceives that the newcomer¡¯s cultivation is only at the Fifth Level of Aperture Connecting Realm, his brows relaxed. A disciple with this level of cultivation posed no threat. He didn¡¯t need to take action. His four subordinates alone could handle it. ¡°Capture him.¡± Ghost Bei Qianke turned back. ¡°Yes!¡± The four subordinates immediately rush towards Meng Changqing. ¡°Younger brother, run!¡± ¡°You¡¯re not their match!¡± ¡°Go seek help from the sect!¡± When someone arrived, Kong Linxue was somewhat relieved, but upon realizing the newcomer¡¯s cultivation, her heart sank. Even she, at the Seventh Level of Aperture Connecting Realm, was no match. Let alone someone at the Fifth Level! Chapter 32 - Now, do your best to try to stop me! Chapter 32 - Now, do your best to try to stop me! Chapter 32: Now, do your best to try to stop me! ¡°So decisive.¡± Watching the four demonic practitioners rushing towards him, Meng Changqing¡¯s eyebrows slightly raised. But this was exactly what he wanted, to resolve it quickly. For him, as long as there were no Sea Cleaving Realm experts on the field, he was invincible! What could demonic martial practitioners do? Unless they were geniuses from top-level forces, they could stop his sword. ¡°Kid, prepare to meet your end!¡± The four moved swiftly, and in the blink of an eye, they¡¯re already in front of Meng Changqing. Their weapons were all knives! The knife qi was chilling, fiercely slashing towards vital points on Meng Changqing¡¯s body. If struck, it would result in severe injury if not death! ¡°Come!¡± Meng Changqing¡¯s eyes brimmed with fighting spirit. To be honest, he actually wanted a fight like this, to test his limits. If they could provide that... Swish! Meng Changqing drew his sword from his waist. This time, the sword wasn¡¯t an ordinary one like before, but a Hundred Refinements Sword specially purchased by his family. It¡¯s strong enough to withstand his power. It wouldn¡¯t shatter after just one use. ¡°Wind and Thunder Sword Art!¡± Blood surged! Dazzling lightning illuminated from the sword! It reflected in the eyes of the four. It¡¯s evident to see that their originally cruel smiles froze, then a look of fear emerges. Because this sword was like thunder roaring and storm howling! Its aura is terrifying! It¡¯s something they couldn¡¯t withstand! But at this moment, they¡¯re cornered, with no time to dodge. They could only choose to confront it head-on! Boom! With one sword strike, it¡¯s dominant and brilliant lightning seemed capable of crushing everything. The four long knives instantly shattered! And their users were sent flying, crashing heavily onto the ground, rolling several times before barely stopping. Blood flowed from all over their bodies, severely injured and on the verge of death! What! This sudden turn of events instantly quiets the entire scene. Almost everyone was dumbfounded, mouths slightly agape. These four demonic practitioners in the Aperture Connecting Realm, basically all at the Fourth or Fifth Level, so when they rushed over for the kill, no one expected any surprises. The Tai Xuan Sect disciple was deemed dead for sure. But what actually happened was completely opposite! One sword! Just one sword! Directly crushed the four demonic martial practitioners! Now lying on the ground, they¡¯re as good as dead! What terrifying strength! As a martial practitioner of the demonic path, he didn¡¯t care about honor or disgrace. Even if his cultivation was far superior, he would still choose to seize the initiative! ¡°Ghostly Finger of the Underworld!¡± Bei Qianke¡¯ speed was fast, surpassing the four who had just rushed over. He seemed to have learned a martial technique for body movement, and his proficiency was not low. In almost the blink of an eye, he was close to Meng Changqing. His ten fingers moved through the air, with a fierce wind, seemingly able to penetrate everything, unstoppable. Bei Qianke displayed formidable strength, at least the strongest Meng Changqing had encountered so far! And this thoroughly excited Meng Changqing. Only such an opponent could truly test his strength! So he wouldn¡¯t be easily defeated by a single sword! ¡°The same pit, your subordinates have already fallen into it. Don¡¯t you know it¡¯s dangerous to approach me?!¡± Meng Changqing stared directly into Bei Qianke¡¯ eyes. At the moment his lips curled up. Boom! A terrifying aura surged out of Meng Changqing¡¯s body! As if an extraordinary divine sword was unsheathed! Sharp and dazzling! As if it could shatter heaven and earth! At the same time, Meng Changqing swung his sword again. Still using the Wind Thunder Sword Art! But this sword was even more terrifying! Like thunder, the sword light was bright and dazzling, dispelling even the darkness. Slashing horizontally towards Bei Qianke! ¡°What?!¡± Bei Qianke¡¯ pupils suddenly contracted, the ferocity in his eyes vanished, replaced only by shock! The power of this sword was incomparable to before! At least ten times stronger! With no time to think, Bei Qianke could only hastily retreat. His footwork was agile, far surpassing other martial practitioners of the demonic path. But he had gotten too close. There was simply no way to avoid it. He could only face it head-on. Boom! At the moment of collision, fierce winds swept, sand and gravel flew. Meng Changqing stood still, unmoved. But Bei Qianke was sent flying. However, he didn¡¯t collapse like those four demonic martial practitioners, but staggered back ten steps before stabilizing his posture! But his condition wasn¡¯t good. His already pale face grew even paler, especially his hands. They were trembling incessantly. The finger guards were shattered piece by piece. ¡°How is this possible...¡± Bei Qianke¡¯ face was full of disbelief. If he guessed correctly, that sharp aura was... sword qi!!! The profound and mysterious power that was extremely difficult to comprehend! Tak, tak, tak~ Meng Changqing held his sword and walked towards Bei Qianke. His eyes were bright, and a smile appeared on his lips. ¡°Now, give it your all to try and stop me.¡± Chapter 33 - So can I now fight against the Sea Cleaving Realm? Chapter 33 - So can I now fight against the Sea Cleaving Realm? Chapter 33: So can I now fight against the Sea Cleaving Realm? A faint voice echoed in the forest, sounding exceptionally loud, because it was too quiet around. No one spoke. All were stunned. God knew what they saw. Ghost Bei Qianke, at the peak of the Aperture Connecting Realm, was actually repelled by that junior disciple of the Tai Xuan Sect with just one sword! With just one sword! ¡°Sword qi?!¡± Kong Linxue exclaimed. Her eyes were even more shocked than before. This was an extremely difficult-to-comprehend martial dao profundity. Naturally, disciples who comprehended qiexisted in the Tai Xuan Sect, but they were mostly from the main peak, and they were considered geniuses even within the true transmission. But this junior fellow was just from the inner sect. To possess ¡®momentum¡¯ at the Aperture Connecting Realm was unheard of! ¡°Who are you exactly?!¡± Bei Qianke took a deep breath, trying to calm his mind. He thought it was just an ordinary inner sect disciple who had come. But within a short time, he continuously shattered his understanding! Especially this last sword qi! It was too exaggerated! Once ¡®qi¡¯ was comprehended, it was equivalent to having a constant increase in power. The power of martial techniques increased by at least ten times, or even more!Fiind updated novels at novelhall.com How could he continue fighting? Even if his cultivation level was four stages higher, there was still a gap. ¡°I am Meng Changqing, a newly promoted inner sect disciple of the Tai Xuan Spirit Peak.¡± Meng Changqing said slowly. He didn¡¯t mind revealing his true name. Because all these people would die here today. As he spoke! Meng Changqing casually sent out a burst of energy towards the Blood Refining Array not far away. Crack! The Blood Refining Array that was operating instantly shattered. It stopped functioning. And those disciples of the Tai Xuan Sect fell to the ground one after another, falling into a coma, but no longer in danger of losing their lives. ¡°You!¡± Bei Qianke¡¯s expression changed slightly. After all, these Ascension Pills were almost complete! But he also knew that now was not the time to worry about pills. What he needed to think about was how to escape from here and survive! ¡°Look, you have failed,¡± Meng Changqing smiled slightly, ¡°So now, I¡¯ll give you a new goal: stop me from killing you.¡± ¡°You...¡± Bei Qianke took a deep breath. To say the least, this guy was madly arrogant, and he also had a sense of being a villain. Because he found this person far more terrifying than he had imagined! Based on what he had shown so far, it was estimated that he hadn¡¯t even displayed his full strength! ¡°Trying to run away? Then let¡¯s end this.¡± Meng Changqing felt somewhat disappointed. Originally, he wanted to fight a bit longer. One was to ascertain his own strength level. The other was that with the improvement of his comprehension, he now had many ideas in his mind. He wanted to test them out through this battle. But Bei Qianke no longer had the desire to fight, so there was no need to continue. Whoosh! His figure disappeared. The perfect proficiency of his swordsmanship was fully displayed. Combined with the shimmering light on the sword, it was like thunder shuttling through the mist. In the blink of an eye, he caught up to Bei Qianke. ¡°Damn it!¡± With the sword qi behind him pressing closer, Bei Qianke¡¯s face grew paler. He knew that Meng Changqing had caught up. What kind of monster was this? His proficiency in swordsmanship was impeccable, and even his speed was terrifying. Thinking of himself, the esteemed Bei Qianke, being forced into such a situation by a martial artist whose realm was clearly inferior to his own. ¡°If that¡¯s the case, let¡¯s die together!¡± Realizing he couldn¡¯t escape, Bei Qianke stopped directly, turned around, and prepared to fight desperately once more. But what he saw was a dazzling and radiant sword light. It was like heavenly thunder in the sky. Shattering everything! ¡°Wind and Thunder Shatter the Heavens!¡± Boom! Ancient trees collapsed one after another, revealing a vast expanse. The cold moonlight finally poured unrestrictedly onto the land. Meng... Bei Qianke was still standing in place, but when he uttered this word, a large amount of blood gushed from his neck. Then his head rolled to the ground. His face was filled with unwillingness. Taking a deep breath, Meng Changqing sheathed his sword. He took out several pills and swallowed them, recovering the expended qi and blood. After this battle, he almost knew his true level. Indeed, there were no opponents in the Aperture Connecting Realm. After all, Bei Qianke, the esteemed Ghost Finger, was one of the best in the Aperture Connecting Realm, but even without using the ¡°Linglong Cold Moon Sword Art,¡± he was killed within a few moves. ¡°So can I fight against the Sea Cleaving Realm now?¡± Chapter 34 - Second-Rank Alchemist, "Imperial Fire Incinerating Sun Technique" Chapter 34 - Second-Rank Alchemist, "Imperial Fire Incinerating Sun Technique" Chapter 34: Second-Rank Alchemist, ¡°Imperial Fire Incinerating Sun Technique¡± Entering the Sea Cleaving Realm, it¡¯s a realm of complete qualitative change. Also known as the Transcendence Realm, meaning transcending the ordinary. Because at this realm, the nature of one¡¯s strength undergoes a change. For instance, those in the Vein Tempering Realm and the Aperture Connecting Realm use their own blood and qi. But in the Sea Cleaving Realm, it¡¯s true qi. The world had primordial qi, and humans cultivate their sea pill, merging the primordial qi with their blood and qi, transforming it into a higher quality true qi. Unlike blood and qi, true qi could exist outside the body. In those stories, the so-called Hundred-Zhang Sword Light, Boundless Blade Qi, beheading people from thousands of miles away, were all manifestations of true qi. Although the Wind and Thunder Sword Art he¡¯s currently using had lightning on the sword, it¡¯s all powered by blood and qi. That¡¯s all there was to it. But if it were true qi, then he could condense real thunder and continuously strike with it. The enemy might not even be able to approach, being suppressed and killed by the continuous thunderous sword qi! So the difference between the Aperture Connecting Realm and the Sea Cleaving Realm was like heaven and earth. In terms of the nature of their strength, as well as their methods of combat. They were on different levels.Geet latest novel chapters on novelbj/n(.)c/om Therefore, for martial artists in the Aperture Connecting Realm to defeat those in the Sea Cleaving Realm was extremely difficult. Unless the foundation of that Aperture Connecting Realm martial artist was terrifyingly strong. ¡°Perhaps reaching the Ninth Level of the Aperture Connecting Realm might suffice.¡± Meng Changqing made a rational judgment in his heart. Then he withdrew his thoughts and looked towards the corpse of Bei Qianke in front of him, searching through it a bit. This guy was not an ordinary martial artist. He should be quite wealthy. However, after searching, he was greatly disappointed. It was the opposite of what he had imagined. Very poor. There were only a few pills on him, along with a secret manual. Named ¡°Ghost Finger of the Netherworld.¡± A low-grade profound-level martial art. After flipping through it briefly, he lost interest. Its power was mediocre. Not comparable to the Wind and Thunder Sword Art. There was simply no need to learn it. ¡°Perhaps his resources have run out, so he came here to refine pills using dark arts.¡± Upon closer inspection, he was unexpectedly handsome. People, after all, admire strength. With such formidable strength and handsome appearance, who could ignore it? ¡°Sisters need not be polite. We all belong to the same sect and should help each other outside. ¡°How can we tolerate the wanton killing of demonic thieves?¡± Meng Changqing walked over, smiling faintly. At the same time, he observed the character panels of the three. To be honest, he had never encountered disciples from Medicine King Peak before. Basic Information: ¡¾Name: Kong Linyue¡¿ ¡¾Race: Human¡¿ ¡¾Cultivation: Aperture Connecting Realm, Seventh Level¡¿ Attribute Information: ¡¾Root Bone: Third Grade¡¿ ¡¾Comprehension: Medium¡¿ ¡¾Techniques and Martial Skills: ¡°Imperial Fire Sun Incineration Technique¡± (Partial Mastery), ¡°Elemental Transformation Fist¡± (Partial Mastery)¡¿ ¡¾Alchemy Proficiency: Second Grade¡¿ ¡°Third Grade indeed meets the standard of a genius.¡± Meng Changqing nodded secretly. However, the definition of a genius could not simply be based on physique. It also depended on comprehension, talent, bloodline, physique, and so on. Like the Shi Brothers from before, just the stone bloodline alone was enough to deserve the title of genius. No, it should be called a monster. ¡°Alchemy Proficiency, Second Grade, does that mean she¡¯s a Second-Rank Alchemist?¡± A bright light flashed in Meng Changqing¡¯s eyes. This was in the attribute information. Not the basic information. It meant that if she were added as a friend, there was a chance to obtain it! In the cultivation world, the status of an alchemist was quite high. Every day, there were countless martial artists seeking alchemy. Not to mention reputation, the wealth alone was endless. If he could obtain this attribute from Kong Linyue and integrate it, then he would directly become a Second-Rank Alchemist! ¡°I must add this woman as a friend!¡± Meng Changqing looked at Kong Linyue, and the light in his eyes gradually brightened. As for the other two, their attribute panels didn¡¯t look as good as Kong Linyue¡¯s. Their alchemy proficiency was only First Grade. Moreover, in the column of techniques and martial skills, they lacked the ¡°Imperial Fire Sun Incineration Technique.¡± It seemed that there was quite a gap between these two and Kong Linyue. Chapter 35 - I Wonder If Senior Sister Is Willing? Chapter 35 - I Wonder If Senior Sister Is Willing? Chapter 35: I Wonder If Senior Sister Is Willing? Seeing Meng Changqing seemingly staring at her, Kong Linyue suddenly felt a bit embarrassed. A faint blush flashed across her snow-white cheeks. But somehow, she didn¡¯t feel the slightest hint of annoyance in her heart. There was even a bit... Noticing the silence, Meng Changqing also reacted. Mainly because Kong Linyue¡¯s attribute panel was indeed quite good. He took another look for a moment. ¡°Oh right, how should we handle those fellow disciples?¡± Meng Changqing pointed towards the Blood Refining Array. Although the Blood Refining Array was broken and the extracted blood returned to those disciples¡¯ bodies, it probably still caused serious injuries. ¡°Yes, yes, we need to quickly adjust their meridians, qi, and blood.¡± Kong Linyue suddenly realized. Then she hurriedly moved over. As an alchemist, she was naturally proficient in medical skills. But as soon as she took a step, she felt pain all over her body. As the strongest among the three, she naturally received Bei Qianke¡¯s special attention. If it weren¡¯t for the protective artifact, she might have already fallen into a state of severe injury and coma. Meng Changqing instinctively supported her. For a moment, a fragrant scent wafted into his nostrils, and when they made contact, he felt that she was as warm and soft as jade. ¡°Sister Kong, are you okay?¡± Meng Changqing immediately asked. ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± Kong Linyue¡¯s face turned slightly red. So far, she had never had such intimate contact with any man. Fortunately, the moonlight was dim. No one could see her expression clearly. ¡°I have some healing pills here. I wonder if you can use them.¡± Meng Changqing opened his storage ring and took out some pills that his aunt had prepared. Among them were second-rank pills. Very precious. ¡°Thank you, Junior Brother Meng, but as alchemists, how could we not have any?¡± Kong Linyue wiped away the bloodstains from the corners of her mouth. If that¡¯s the case, with her aptitude, she shouldn¡¯t still be lingering at the seventh level of the Aperture Connecting Realm. Well, resources and such must not be lacking, and they were probably of good quality. At least she should have stepped into the Sea Cleaing Realm. The doubt lasted only a moment. Meng Changqing didn¡¯t delve deeper because Kong Linyue wasn¡¯t an ordinary martial artist; she was an alchemist. Alchemists specialize in the Dao of alchemy. It took a lot of time to research and learn, so progress in cultivation in the early stages was slow. It¡¯s understandable. ¡°Yes, indeed, I am fortunate,¡± Kong Linyue¡¯s face revealed a heartfelt smile. There were countless beings in the world, and not everyone can be as lucky as her. ¡°By the way, do you have any needs for pills?¡± Withdrawing her thoughts, Kong Linyue asked seriously, ¡°I¡¯m greatly indebted to you this time. As a disciple of the Medicine King Peak, I must repay you.¡± ¡°Sister, there¡¯s no need to be so serious. We are all fellow disciples. There¡¯s no need to be so formal,¡± Meng Changqing shook his head. ¡°One should reciprocate favors. Such kindness cannot be overlooked,¡± Kong Linyue¡¯s expression turned serious. ¡°Is that so,¡± seeing Kong Linyue¡¯s determination, Meng Changqing didn¡¯t refuse. After thinking for a moment, he said, ¡°In that case, I have a small request. I wonder if Sister would agree.¡± ¡°Please, go ahead.¡± ¡°Although I primarily practice the Dao of the sword, I am also quite interested in alchemy. So, I¡¯d like to be friends with Sister,¡± Meng Changqing said expectantly. ¡°In the future, if I have any questions, I hope Sister won¡¯t hesitate to enlighten me.¡± ¡°Friends?¡± Kong Linyue was taken aback. She never expected Meng Changqing¡¯s request to be this. She thought it might be for some high-grade pill. ¡°Yes, would Sister be willing?¡± Meng Changqing asked. ¡°Of course,¡± Kong Linyue replied promptly. In fact, she had been thinking about this for a while. Otherwise, how would they deepen their connection and increase communication in the future? She didn¡¯t want to have no interactions with a talent like Junior Brother Meng in the future. But as a girl and meeting for the first time, it wasn¡¯t appropriate to initiate such a request. Now that Meng Changqing brought it up, she was naturally willing, afraid of missing the opportunity. Ding! [Friend request accepted!] [Current favorability: two stars] [Acquired attributes: ¡®Imperial Fire Sun Incineration Technique¡¯ (Partial Mastery)!] [Acquired attributes: ¡®Second-grade Proficiency in Alchemy!¡¯] The voice of the system echoed in his mind. Chapter 36 - The Arrival of Sea Cleaing, "Fire Cloud Creation Palm"! Chapter 36 - The Arrival of Sea Cleaing, "Fire Cloud Creation Palm"! Chapter 36: The Arrival of Sea Cleaing, ¡°Fire Cloud Creation Palm¡±! ¡°The trigger for extra rewards: Profound-level Martial Arts Proficiency Cards *3!¡± The system¡¯s voice continued to ring out. To be honest, when Meng Changqing heard the first attribute was ¡°Imperial Fire Sun Incineration Technique¡±, his heart skipped a beat. Because the acquisition of system attributes was random, and this was clearly not something he had obtained by chance. Fortunately, Kong Linyue seemed to hold him in high regard for some reason, granting him two stars of favorability. The second attribute obtained was proficiency in alchemy. He remembered that when he saved Bai Suxi, he only had one star of favorability, which later increased to two stars after chatting for a while. Additionally, an extra reward was triggered, granting three proficiency cards. This was a good thing. Strictly speaking, it wasn¡¯t inferior to some attributes. [Would you like to fuse immediately?] ¡°No.¡± This place was naturally not suitable for fusing attributes. ¡°In that case, I¡¯ll rely on Sister in the future,¡± Meng Changqing said with a brilliant smile on his face. This was genuinely from the heart. ¡°How could it be? Junior Brother, if you have any doubts, feel free to come to me. I will certainly share everything I know!¡± Kong Linyue said with some joy. ¡°But Junior Brother¡¯s small request shouldn¡¯t be considered a repayment of gratitude. After returning, I will definitely repay you! ¡°Or if you have any special needs for pills, you can let me refine them. I am a second-grade alchemist!¡± ¡°Okay, Sister Kong, feel free to do as you wish. There¡¯s no need to take it too seriously,¡± Meng Changqing nodded. All he wanted was the attributes from Kong Linyue. Now that he had obtained them, it could be considered as Kong Linyue ¡®compensating¡¯ him. However, seeing Kong Linyue¡¯s appearance, he knew that refusing was futile. Moreover, there was no need to deliberately refuse. More pill resources were always beneficial. Phew! Above their heads, a figure seemed to descend. The aura was extremely powerful. Even Meng Changqing felt his shoulders sink, sensing the pressure. ¡°Someone¡¯s here,¡± Meng Changqing stood up immediately, his eyes narrowing slightly. The person who arrived was an elder in grey robes, with patterns of a pill furnace on his cuffs. Clearly, he was from Medicine King Peak. ¡°Elder Feng?!¡± Kong Linyue was surprised and quickly stood up as well. ¡°So it¡¯s Junior Niece Kong,¡± Elder Feng said with a slight start upon seeing Kong Linyue, then relaxed. He had come after seeing the distress call. He didn¡¯t expect that upon arriving, it would be from this little girl, Kong Linyue. Like heaven and earth! With that in mind, Meng Changqing immediately examined the character panel of this Elder Feng. Basic Information: ¡¾Name: Feng Qingming¡¿ ¡¾Race: Human¡¿ ¡¾Cultivation: Sea Cleaving Realm, Sixth Level¡¿ Attribute Information: ¡¾Root Bone: Third Grade¡¿ ¡¾Comprehension: Average¡¿ ¡¾Techniques and Martial Skills: ¡°Imperial Fire Sun Incineration Technique¡± (Partial Mastery), ¡°Fire Cloud Creation Palm¡± (Mastery)...¡¿ ¡¾Alchemy Proficiency: Second Grade¡¿ ¡°Indeed, it¡¯s the Sea Cleaving Realm, but there doesn¡¯t seem to be any particularly outstanding attributes. ¡°Especially in terms of alchemy proficiency, it¡¯s only a second-grade alchemist? ¡°According to reason, as a member of Medicine King Peak, it should be at least third grade to reach Sea Cleaving Realm, right?¡± After a moment of doubt, Meng Changqing shook his head slightly and didn¡¯t think much about it. It was irrelevant to him anyway. The palm that Elder Feng just struck out should be the ¡°Fire Cloud Creation Palm¡± in his character panel, and its power was truly astonishing. It was definitely not a Profound-level initial stage martial skill. It was likely of a higher level. He was indeed a bit envious. But adding such a person as a friend was truly difficult. After all, they were not familiar with each other, and if he mentioned ¡°old friends,¡± he would only think he was crazy! ¡°Don¡¯t forget to take this head back. It can exchange for quite a few contribution points.¡± Elder Feng regained his calm and then smiled at Meng Changqing. ¡°Thank you for the reminder, Elder Feng.¡± Meng Changqing nodded. Indeed. Warriors from the demonic path like this were still very ¡°valuable.¡± Coincidentally, he was a bit short on contribution points. Chapter 37 - The Ten Sects of the Demonic Path, Attribute Fusion! Chapter 37 - The Ten Sects of the Demonic Path, Attribute Fusion! Chapter 37: The Ten Sects of the Demonic Path, Attribute Fusion! One by one, some disciples came to support. Mainly because this time period was too late. There was nothing special happening, so no one would be strolling outside. After tidying up the scene a bit, they then returned to the sect under Elder Feng¡¯s leadership. Along the way, Meng Changqing also learned more about the demonic path warriors from Kong Linyue. In today¡¯s cultivation world, the demonic path was also a strong force. Even though it had been destroyed by the supreme holy land several times, they would still sprout up like mushrooms after the rain. And thrive. The demonic path had a total of ten major forces. Also known as the Ten Sects of the Demonic Path. As for their strength, it varied. And the Yellow Springs Demon Sect was one of them. Located at the end of the ten sects. It had once had glorious years, but later generations were incompetent, and the sect had been somewhat declining due to their inability to cultivate the supreme demonic art. But the heritage was still there and should not be underestimated. And the Tianling Prefecture where the Taixuan Sect was located, as well as the two nearby large states, were relatively active areas for the Yellow Springs Demon Sect. Half an hour later, they finally returned to the inner gate. ¡°Junior Brother Meng, I will come to find you again in a few days,¡± Kong Linyue said as they parted. At this moment, she had already taken quite a few pills and her complexion had visibly improved a lot.Reead latest chapters at novelhall.com But she still needed to recuperate as soon as possible. Otherwise, hidden illnesses might be left behind. ¡°Sister, focus on healing first. No need to rush,¡± Meng Changqing smiled faintly. Then they chatted for a few moments before Kong Linyue left. Watching their departing figures, Meng Changqing let out a sigh of relief. To be honest, this Senior Sister Kong seemed to have a bit of a talkative attribute, especially after they became familiar with each other. Fortunately, Senior Sister Kong knew her boundaries well, and they only chatted about trivial matters. ¡°I¡¯m fortunate to have obtained this martial art. Otherwise, even with my second-grade proficiency in alchemy, I wouldn¡¯t be able to practice alchemy,¡± Meng Changqing sighed with relief. Following this, the second attribute began to fuse. Following the system¡¯s reminder, a vast amount of information, far greater than ¡°Imperial Fire Sun Incineration Technique,¡± flooded into his mind. It all pertained to alchemy. Alchemy was a broad concept encompassing many aspects. First, there were various names of spiritual medicines, their properties, and how to mix them, among other things. Second, there were techniques and methods for alchemy. Therefore, this fusion lasted for a full hour! ¡°The way of alchemy is truly complex and profound,¡± Meng Changqing exclaimed as he slowly opened his eyes. He couldn¡¯t help but marvel. At this moment, he could confirm that his previous thoughts were correct. Why didn¡¯t Kong Linyue¡¯s cultivation realm seem so high? Because there¡¯s too much to learn in the early stages of being an alchemist, it¡¯s almost like a comprehensive encyclopedia, covering many aspects. In this situation, one had to allocate time for cultivation, learning martial arts, and so on. It could only be said that every alchemist was a qualified master of time management. However, when an alchemist reached the middle stage, they could devote most of their time to cultivation, because they¡¯ve already learned everything they need to, and now it¡¯s about self-study and forging their own path. ¡°A second-grade alchemist,¡± Meng Changqing took a deep breath, a smile appearing on his lips. This was where the system¡¯s dominance laid. So much time, effort, and sweat others had to spend to reach this level. Someone with good aptitude like Kong Linyue took ten years. As for him, he just made a friend, then spent an hour, saving so much effort in between. In the cultivation world, there might be quite a few first-grade alchemists, but once you reach the second grade, they become rare. You can tell from the high price of second-grade alchemical products. Therefore, every second-grade alchemist was quite wealthy. Making a fortune daily was just the lowest level. ¡°Mastering this profession, I won¡¯t need to ask the family for resources anymore. I can even send some pills back to cultivate the clan members or sell them to the guild,¡± Meng Changqing¡¯s eyes gleamed with depth. He¡¯s a person who remembered those who have helped him. ¡°But before that, I need to get a special flame.¡± Chapter 38 - How Much is this Head Worth? Chapter 38 - How Much is this Head Worth? Chapter 38: How Much is this Head Worth? The so-called special flames naturally surpassed ordinary ones. For example, the beast flames inside some monsters, the essence flames in volcanoes, and so on. Additionally, there¡¯s another type of flame that drived countless alchemists crazy: the Heaven and Earth Strange Flame! They inherently possessed immense power, far exceeding beast flames and essence flames. Some of them could even develop intelligence and embark on the path of cultivation. Although alchemists might not be as strong in combat as those genius warriors, if they could master such flames, both their alchemy and combat would experience unimaginable enhancements. Alchemists who possessed the Heaven and Earth Strange Flame were not weaker in combat than warriors. In fact, they were stronger than the majority! However, the Heaven and Earth Strange Flame was quite rare and inherently violent. Some were so wild that even if encountered, they were difficult to subdue. If forcibly absorbed into the body, it might result in immediate death! Therefore, for most alchemists, beast flames are actually the best choice! They had high flame quality and possessed a certain ferocity that can be used in combat. ¡°When Sister arrives, I can ask where to get beast flames.¡± Meng Changqing¡¯s eyes flickered slightly. The ¡°Imperial Fire Sun Inciniration Technique¡± could only accommodate one type of flame and cannot be easily changed. So, caution was necessary in choosing. ¡°But now I can enhance the proficiency of the ¡®Imperial Fire Sun Inciniration Technique¡¯.¡± Meng Changqing withdrew his thoughts. After adding Kong Linyue as a friend, he also triggered additional rewards: three cards to enhance the proficiency of martial arts at the profound level! This was enough to elevate the ¡°Imperial Fire Sun Inciniration Technique¡± to perfection and still have one card left. To cultivate the ¡°Imperial Fire Sun Inciniration Technique,¡± it must at least reach Mastery to absorb beast flames into the body and transform them into fire for alchemy. Otherwise, there would be great danger. However, if it reached Mastery, the risk is much lower. As for perfection, there¡¯s almost no danger. Even some very strong beast flames could be forcibly absorbed.VIssiT for the best novel reading experience ¡°System, enhance the ¡®Imperial Fire Sun Inciniration Technique¡¯!¡± Ding! ¡°Soon, I¡¯ll be able to step into the Sea Cleaving Realm.¡± Meng Changqing¡¯s eyes flickered slightly. Ever since he witnessed the power of True Qi yesterday, he became even more eager. That kind of style, that kind of lethality, who can resist its temptation? Using ¡°cloud and mud¡± to describe the gap between Aperture Connecting Realm and Sea Cleaving Realm was not an exaggeration at all. Gathering his thoughts, Meng Changqing still looked at the attributes of the people around him. Although they were all pretty good, the same old saying applied: they didn¡¯t offer much help to him. Perhaps at the level of Sea Cleaving Realm, there would be obvious changes. Coming to the counter, it was still the disciple from the task hall. ¡°Here to hand in a task,¡± Meng Changqing took out the token belonging to the Yellow Springs Demon Sect, which still had bloodstains on it. ¡°It¡¯s you!¡± The task hall disciple recognized Meng Changqing. ¡°You actually completed it!¡± When Meng Changqing chose this task initially, he had been persuaded for quite some time, so the impression was deep. Originally, they thought this person would come back injured. Who would have thought that not only was he intact, but he also slew the Tian Tong Sect! ¡°It seems you¡¯re not a simple person,¡± the task hall disciple exclaimed, taking the token. ¡°You flatter me. This person was just careless,¡± Meng Changqing smiled faintly. ¡°That¡¯s also possible,¡± the task hall disciple¡¯s mind stirred. That explains it. After all, the Tian Tong Sect is the top task in the hall, and a Seventh Level Aperture Connecting Realm expert. How could it be easily slain by someone at the Fourth Level of Aperture Connecting Realm? It must have been carelessness that allowed the sneak attack to succeed. ¡°The task reward is three thousand contribution points. If you want to exchange something, you can go to the nearby Pill Hall or the Hidden Martial Pavilion, etc.,¡± the task hall disciple gave Meng Changqing three blue specially made iron tokens. Each token represented one thousand contribution points. ¡°Wait, I have something else,¡± Meng Changqing touched his storage ring. Suddenly, there appeared something wrapped in white cloth in his hand, soaked in blood. Placing it on the counter, he removed the white cloth, revealing the resentful face of Bei Qianke. The task hall disciple was immediately frightened, stepping back several steps. This included the disciples waiting to receive or hand in tasks around. After all, suddenly seeing a human head pop out would startle anyone. ¡°The head of Bei Qianke, the Ghost Finger, what¡¯s its value?¡± The plain voice fell, and the previously noisy task hall suddenly fell into silence. Chapter 39 - He Was Just Careless, and a Hidden Bigshot?! Chapter 39 - He Was Just Careless, and a Hidden Bigshot?! Chapter 39: He Was Just Careless, and a Hidden Bigshot?! ¡°Ghost Finger Bei Qianke?!¡± Exclamations resounded continuously. This was a formidable practitioner of the demonic path, virtually a top-notch figure in the Aperture Connecting Realm! Throughout, no one had managed to kill him! ¡°Is it really Bei Qianke?!¡± Some didn¡¯t believe it and hurried over to verify. But they found it was indeed true, without any falsehoods. It was indeed the head of Bei Qianke! ¡°Bei Qianke has actually died!¡± Gasps of astonishment were heard one after another, and everyone looked at Meng Changqing, their eyes filled with shock. Because this person seemed to be only at the fifth level of the Aperture Connecting Realm. How strong must his overall strength be to kill Bei Qianke? Meng Changqing paid no attention to the gazes of others. Right now, he just wanted to quickly get his contribution points and leave. ¡°How many contribution points can I get?¡± Meng Changqing asked. At the words, the disciple of the task hall quickly came to his senses. Looking at Meng Changqing, there was no longer any casualness in his eyes. A fellow who could kill Bei Qianke definitely possessed terrifying strength, far beyond what they could compare with. ¡°Because Bei Qianke is a practitioner of the demonic path, his reward is quite generous. You can exchange it for ten thousand contribution points.¡± The disciple of the task hall hastily said. ¡°So many?¡± Meng Changqing was slightly stunned. He thought six or seven thousand would be about right. To actually have ten thousand. In that case, the Tian Tong Sect was quite lacking in power. ¡°These are contribution points.¡± The disciple of the task hall took out ten blue special-made iron tokens. ¡°Thanks.¡± Meng Changqing picked up the iron tokens and was about to turn around and leave. ¡°May I ask, how did you kill him?¡± The disciple of the task hall was very curious. ¡°He was just careless.¡± Meng Changqing smiled faintly, walked toward the door, and gradually disappeared from the eyes of the crowd. The same sentence, perhaps believable before, but now the disciple of the task hall didn¡¯t believe it even for a bit. Careless?Fiind updated novels at novelhall.com What a joke! That was Bei Qianke! A dignified practitioner of the demonic path. How could he carelessly die? Even if he was careless, the other party must have had extremely strong strength! ¡¾Root Bone: Third Grade¡¿ ¡¾Comprehension: Excellent¡¿ ¡¾Techniques and Martial Arts: ¡°Holy Spirit Slaughter Sword Technique¡± (Complete), ¡°Earth Shrinking Art¡± (Intermediate), ¡°Great Compassion Wind Universe Hand¡± (Intermediate)¡¿ ¡°Indeed, he is at the Sea Cleaving Realm, but it¡¯s unexpected to see the word ¡®temporary¡¯ as a suffix,¡± Meng Changqing¡¯s eyes flickered slightly. Up to now, he had only seen this on his aunt¡¯s panel. Could it be that this elder guarding the pavilion had also fallen in cultivation realm? Apart from that, the other attributes were also good. Superior comprehension was rare, and those techniques and martial arts seemed quite impressive no matter how you looked at them. ¡°Holy Spirit Slaughter Sword Technique! ¡°Earth Shrinking Art! ¡°Great Compassion Wind Universe Hand! ¡°This should be a hidden bigshot, deliberately here for duty, cultivating oneself?¡± Meng Changqing¡¯s heart suddenly became hot. But how to add him as a friend was also a crucial issue. It was relatively easy between peers or relatives. But it was really difficult in this kind of situation where they were both unfamiliar and there was a generation gap. Rushing would only lead to mistakes. Meng Changqing wasn¡¯t in a hurry to add him as a friend right now. Take it slowly. First understand, then act. Moreover, the cards he had now were already sufficient. Perhaps at the level of true transmission, there might be some inadequacies. ¡°Why have you been staring at me, disciple?¡± Just as Meng Changqing was contemplating, he found that the elder guarding the pavilion had removed the book covering his face. He had a gentle expression, extremely kind, giving people an unparalleled sense of affinity. Like one¡¯s own elder. He felt very easy to get along with. But when Meng Changqing thought of the sword technique on his panel. ¡°Holy Spirit Slaughter Sword Technique¡± He immediately dismissed this feeling. Just by the name of the sword technique, it felt very murderous. ¡°I¡¯m just a new disciple. Feeling a bit curious, so I lingered for a while. I hope the elder can forgive me,¡± Meng Changqing said with a slight bow. ¡°Well, hurry in,¡± the elder guarding the pavilion said casually, then covered his face with the book again. There was a faint snoring sound. Meng Changqing nodded and walked into the Hidden Martial Pavilion. Chapter 40 - Martial Arts Foundation, Tai Xuan Seven Veins! Chapter 40 - Martial Arts Foundation, Tai Xuan Seven Veins! Chapter 40: Martial Arts Foundation, Tai Xuan Seven Veins! Entering the Hidden Martial Pavilion, a strong scent of books immediately enveloped Meng Changqing. There was also a sense of profound history, causing even the most restless heart to calm down involuntarily. The Hidden Martial Pavilion consisted of three levels. The first level housed low-level martial techniques and skills, the second level contained human-level, and the third level profound-level ones. As for earth-level techniques, they wouldn¡¯t be found here. They were the core of each peak and couldn¡¯t be learned with just enough contribution points. The Hidden Martial Pavilion held martial techniques from seven veins, including some miscellaneous studies. Meng Changqing felt quite lacking in this regard, especially since he was new here. Each martial technique was stored in a black box, and only a portion of its content could be browsed. To see more, one had to find the elder guarding the pavilion and exchange contribution points. But for Meng Changqing, this was already sufficient. Besides exchanging for two martial techniques, his main goal here was to understand these martial techniques. This way, he wouldn¡¯t be clueless when looking at others¡¯ panels in the future, not knowing which vein the techniques belonged to, their level, or their effects. ¡°¡®Gentle Breeze Entwining Sword¡¯? What a strange name.¡± ¡°...¡± ¡°¡®Limitless Shocking Heaven Palm,¡¯ the name sounds quite imposing, but it¡¯s only at the low level of the profound level, belonging to the Purple Origin Peak.¡± ¡°...¡± ¡°¡®Human Array Technique,¡¯ using the physical body as the base, setting up various formations within the body, accelerating formation, enhancing power formation...¡± ¡°¡®Furious Wind Blade Technique¡¯...¡± ¡°¡®Punishment Hand¡¯...¡± ¡°¡®Extreme Yang Cloud-Annihilating Finger¡¯...¡± ¡°... ¡± The collection in the Hidden Martial Pavilion was not as vast as an ocean, but it was still substantial. Meng Changqing didn¡¯t miss any of it and browsed through them one by one, gradually moving from the first level to the second, and finally to the third. Time flew by swiftly. But ¡°The Imperial Fire Sun Incineration Technique¡±? That was a technique from the Medicine King Peak, specifically used for controlling fire. What¡¯s the use for a martial cultivator who primarily practiced swordsmanship? Moreover, ¡°Imperial Fire Sun Incineration Technique¡± was a high-level profound technique, and it was not cheap. However, he wasn¡¯t one to meddle in others¡¯ affairs. Perhaps over the years, he had seen all sorts of strange things and oddities, and he was too lazy to bother anymore. So he immediately registered Meng Changqing. ¡°It will cost a total of 13,000 contribution points, with a half-year borrowing period. Remember to return it on time.¡± At the same time, he opened the black boxes. ¡°Alright,¡± Meng Changqing handed over all his contribution iron tokens, then turned and descended the mountain with the two manuals. ¡°Interesting disciple, is he planning to dabble in alchemy as well?¡± The elder guarding the pavilion had no doubts. After all, most of those who entered the inner gate were geniuses, and for geniuses, nothing was impossible. ¡°But, am I mistaken?¡± The elder guarding the pavilion frowned slightly. He seemed to detect a sense of ¡®aura¡¯ from this disciple. ¡°Never mind, I can¡¯t sense anything now,¡± the elder shook his head, covering his face with the book again, ¡°Let¡¯s go back to sleep.¡± Returning to his residence, Meng Changqing tossed the two manuals into the drawer and locked it securely. He definitely wouldn¡¯t touch them within half a year. ¡°Next, continue cultivation.¡± There wasn¡¯t much time left before the secret realm opened. He had to make good use of his time to advance his cultivation. Although he had slain Bei Qianke and verified his strength, he had only interacted with a few people in the inner gate so far. This place was where heroes gathered. He couldn¡¯t afford to be careless. The Shi brothers in the task hall were a prime example. ¡°The Seven Veins of the Tai Xuan Sect.¡± Taking a deep breath, Meng Changqing sat cross-legged and took out a Spirit Fusion Pill, tossing it into his mouth. Chapter 41 - Golden Scale Purple Blood Pill, Secret Realm Information! Chapter 41 - Golden Scale Purple Blood Pill, Secret Realm Information! Chapter 41: Golden Scale Purple Blood Pill, Secret Realm Information! Three days later, Meng Changqing¡¯s courtyard door was knocked on. ¡°Junior Brother Meng, It¡¯s Kong Linyue.¡± The voice was pleasant to the ears. Combined with her outstanding appearance, for a moment, it attracted many passing Spirit Peak disciples. Creak! The courtyard door opened, revealing Meng Changqing¡¯s figure. ¡°Sister Kong.¡± Meng Changqing smiled. ¡°Am I disturbing you, Junior Brother Meng?¡± Kong Linyue¡¯s face showed a beautiful smile. ¡°Naturally not, please come in.¡± Meng Changqing stepped aside. As soon as the courtyard door closed, the surrounding disciples began to discuss. ¡°Isn¡¯t that person Kong Linyue from Medicine King Peak, one of the youngest second-grade alchemists in our sect!¡± ¡°Why would she come to our Spirit Peak?¡± Because the identity of an alchemist was prestigious, Medicine King Peak¡¯s status in the sect was also very high. Usually, it¡¯s other peaks that actively sought them out. But today, it¡¯s the other way around. ¡°Isn¡¯t that Meng Changqing¡¯s residence? She must be here to find him.¡± ¡°Who is Meng Changqing?¡± ¡°Your information is too outdated, you don¡¯t even know Meng Changqing?¡± ¡°Please tell me more.¡± ¡°Remember Ghost Finger Bei Qianke?¡± ¡°The peak demonic cultivator at the peak of Aperture Connecting?¡± ¡°Yes, this demon was killed by this Junior Brother Meng, it is said that at that time, Junior Brother Meng was only at the fourth level of Aperture Connecting.¡± ¡°Hiss! Killing someone at the ninth level of Aperture Connecting with only the fourth level, isn¡¯t that too exaggerated? Looking at the ranks of our inner disciples, there aren¡¯t many who can do this, except for those few freaks.¡± ¡°Yes, indeed very strong. Afterwards, Junior Brother Meng also rescued Kong Linyue and other disciples from Bei Qianke¡¯s hands. Today, Kong Linyue came over to probably to express her gratitude.¡± People discussed. Gradually, envy appeared in their eyes. After all, Kong Linyue was not an ordinary disciple of Medicine King Peak. Firstly, her appearance was beautiful, she was the object of many people¡¯s admiration. Its main ingredient was the blood from the heart of a third-level demon beast, the Golden Scale Purple Fire Python, combined with many precious spirit herbs. Its medicinal power was immensely powerful. It could even subtly enhance one¡¯s physical body and increase resistance to flames over time! If he could take this pill, he would definitely reach the peak of the Aperture Connecting Realm in a short time! ¡°This seems too precious,¡± Meng Changqing smoothed out his slightly turbulent emotions. He had thought Kong Linyue would bring some second-grade pills to thank him, but who would have expected a third-grade one! ¡°Junior Brother Meng, this is nonsense. Compared to my life, it¡¯s not precious at all,¡± Kong Linyue said immediately. ¡°Quickly accept it. Don¡¯t refuse, or I¡¯ll be upset. Besides, we have other things to discuss.¡± ¡°Alright, then I¡¯ll reluctantly accept it. In the future, if Sister Kong needs anything, feel free to ask for my help within my abilities,¡± Meng Changqing nodded. He really needed this third-grade pill now. With about a month left until the sect¡¯s secret realm opened, relying solely on Spirit Fusion Pills wouldn¡¯t be enough to reach the peak of the Aperture Connecting Realm. But with the Golden Scale Purple Blood Pill, it would be different! ¡°I¡¯ll remember what Meng Junior Brother said!¡± Kong Linyue smiled brightly. ¡°Oh right, Sister Kong just mentioned other matters. What are they?¡± Meng Changqing asked, putting away the jade box. ¡°Oh, I almost forgot,¡± Kong Linyue suddenly remembered. ¡°Isn¡¯t the sect¡¯s secret realm about to open? You¡¯re new here, so you probably don¡¯t know. Let me introduce it to you, though I¡¯ve never been inside before either.¡± ¡°I¡¯d like to hear the details,¡± Meng Changqing immediately perked up, paying close attention. It was like a pillow coming when one felt sleepy. If he could know the situation of the secret realm in advance, it would be a significant advantage. ¡°The sect¡¯s secret realm consists of two parts, one is called Xuanqing Realm, and the other is Taiqing Realm,¡± Kong Linyue explained. ¡°The former is for us inner disciples, while the latter is for true disciples and above.¡± ¡°So there are two separate realms,¡± Meng Changqing nodded. He had thought that inner and true disciples would enter together. But thinking about it, it was normal. If true disciples were also involved in the inner disciples¡¯ realm, it would be a blow to the morale. There would be no way for inner disciples to survive. Such a precious place of fortune like the secret realm was a blessing bestowed by the ancestors. But their sect unexpectedly had two! ¡°No wonder it¡¯s such a big place inside Xuanqing Realm...¡± Kong Linyue began to explain in detail, leaving no stone unturned. For example, if you needed spirit medicine resources, you would go to a certain area in the southern part of the secret realm. As for martial techniques and the like, you would go to a relic of an ancestor in the northern part. And so on. Meng Changqing didn¡¯t dare to miss any detail, remembering them all for future planning. Chapter 42 - Um... Your Hands Are Quite Large, Junior Brother Meng Chapter 42 - Um... Your Hands Are Quite Large, Junior Brother Meng Chapter 42: Um... Your Hands Are Quite Large, Junior Brother Meng After about a moment, Kong Linyue finished her explanation in detail. ¡°Thank you, Senior Sister, for letting me know. Otherwise, when the secret realm opens, I would truly be at a loss and unable to figure out the direction,¡± said Meng Changqing. This was the truth. After all, he had never been there before. As a newcomer to the inner sect, he had no foundation or support from predecessors. ¡°It¡¯s not really a particularly valuable piece of information,¡± said Kong Linyue, blinking her beautiful eyes. ¡°When the secret realm opens, the sect will also issue a map with relevant information. It¡¯s just that knowing in advance allows us to plan ahead.¡± ¡°That¡¯s true,¡± nodded Meng Changqing. ¡°As the saying goes, being one step ahead is being ahead every step.¡± Moreover, there would certainly be many inner sect disciples trying to find out about the secret realm in advance, such as by asking some of the ¡°old folks¡± who had been there before. Martial arts were competitive. There was no absolute fairness, and even relative fairness was hard to come by. ¡°Junior Brother Meng, as a newcomer to the inner sect and so devoted to cultivation, you probably wouldn¡¯t consider these things,¡± Kong Linyue teased. ¡°Sister knows me well,¡± Meng Changqing chuckled and shook his head. In fact, when one¡¯s own strength was strong enough, they wouldn¡¯t consider too much. To remain unchanged amid a thousand changes. ¡°Do you have any other questions about the secret realm?¡± Kong Linyue rested her chin on her hand, and a few strands of green hair fell from her forehead. In the gentle breeze, they swayed slightly, quite beautiful.Follow the latest novels at novelhall.com ¡°I have no questions about the secret realm, but I have some doubts about alchemy. I hope Senior Sister can enlighten me,¡± said Meng Changqing. He had to continue laying the groundwork for his identity as an alchemist. ¡°Go ahead,¡± Kong Linyue¡¯s eyes lit up. This was asking about her area of expertise. ¡°I¡¯ve read a lot of books on alchemy before...¡± Meng Changqing began to fabricate and blabber. Three hours later, Kong Linyue lightly covered her mouth, her eyes filled with shock as she looked at Meng Changqing. To be honest, she had never seen someone with such terrifying insight. His comprehension was too strong. Any question she answered, he immediately understood, and even extrapolated further, delving deeper! Based on the proficiency he had demonstrated, he was definitely comparable to a first-grade alchemist! His talent in swordsmanship was terrifying. She hadn¡¯t expected him to be the same in alchemy! Meng Changqing let go of his hand and looked at the jade box on the table. The Golden Scale Purple Blood Pill. With this pill, stepping into the peak of the Aperture Connecting Realm in a short time was not a problem! And this could also be considered an extra gift from a friend apart from its attributes! Just like Bai Suxi back then. Speaking of Bai Suxi, he wondered how she was doing lately. Since she had entered the inner gate, she would probably participate in this upcoming secret realm. Thinking about it, Meng Changqing directly opened his friends list. ¡¾Friend: Bai Suxi¡¿ ¡¾Race: Human¡¿ ¡¾Cultivation: Aperture Connecting Realm, Fourth Level¡¿ ¡¾...¡¿ ¡¾Martial Arts Techniques: ¡°Dark Sea Returning Origin Art¡± (Entry)...¡¿ ¡°Another breakthrough, huh.¡± Meng Changqing raised an eyebrow slightly. She truly was someone with great potential. Remembering just over ten days ago, when he was still in the clan, she was only at the second level of the Aperture Connecting Realm. Now she was already at the fourth stage. Her progress was indeed rapid. Moreover, her martial art technique had also improved. He wasn¡¯t sure which technique it was, but it definitely wasn¡¯t from the Tai Xuan Sect. At least he hadn¡¯t seen it in the Hidden Martial Pavilion. ¡°I need to focus on cultivation.¡± Meng Changqing picked up the jade box and walked back into the room. Otherwise, he would be caught up to by this little girl. Chapter 43 - Peak of Aperture Connecting, Secret Realm Opens! Chapter 43 - Peak of Aperture Connecting, Secret Realm Opens! Chapter 43: Peak of Aperture Connecting, Secret Realm Opens! Soon enough, a month had passed. It was time for the sect¡¯s secret realm to open. During this month, the sect was unusually bustling. Many talented individuals who had been in seclusion emerged one after another. Some challenged each other on the martial arena, showcasing their formidable strength. Others left the sect, heading to the ancient city outside, challenging the experts listed on the Hidden Dragon Ranking. Although they failed, their endeavors were still talked about with relish. As for the inner sect disciples, it was equally lively. Everyone was discussing who currently held the title of the number one disciple in the inner sect! After all, there were too many powerful geniuses. There was Duan Hun from the Penalty Peak, the Shi brothers from the Purple Nourishment Peak, Kuang Dao from the Martial Arts Peak, Xiao Zhen from the Formation Peak, and Wen Tianming from the Medicine King Peak. As for the Spirit Peak, it was slightly lacking. There was no standout disciple. The reason was simple: the special physique from a few years ago had already ascended to be a true disciple. But fortunately, there was Meng Changqing, allowing the disciples of the Spirit Peak to at least have someone respectable to speak for them. They wouldn¡¯t be at an absolute disadvantage in verbal battles with disciples from other peaks. In a simple room, Meng Changqing sat cross-legged, and it was noticeable that his black hair had grown longer.NewW novels updates at novelhall.com Clearly, he had been in seclusion for a long time. And the jade box in front of him was empty. Hoo! Meng Changqing suddenly opened his eyes. There seemed to be a glint of brilliance in his eyes, turning into rainbow light that pierced through the void. At the same time, an extremely powerful aura suddenly surged, causing the entire house to tremble slightly, and dust fell from the ceiling. Fortunately, the aura lasted only for a moment, quickly retracting like a whale sucking in water. ¡°Peak of Aperture Connecting Realm!¡± Meng Changqing smiled. Indeed, it was the third-grade pill, the Gold Scale Purple Blood Pill! Its medicinal power was truly fierce. Coupled with his second-grade Root Bone, his cultivation speed was like flying! If only he had a few more pills. But the existence of pills had a diminishing effect. The second pill wouldn¡¯t be as effective as the first, and it would continue to decrease thereafter. Taking a deep breath, Meng Changqing slowly stood up. At this moment, he was shirtless, emitting a strong pressure! This was the change brought about by a significant increase in cultivation. If it were a breakthrough to a higher realm, the change would be even more pronounced. ¡°Additionally, I need to add more friends!¡± Meng Changqing¡¯s lips curled up slightly. At such a grand event, it would be a pity to miss out on those talented individuals who were in seclusion. After seeing the martial arts in the Hidden Martial Pavilion, he was already envious of several of them. Each of the Seven Veins had its own characteristics. If he could master them all. How terrifying would his comprehensive strength become? What you know, I know, what you don¡¯t know, I will learn! Dong Dong Dong! Suddenly, an ancient and deep bell rang. This was the Dao Bell of the Tai Xuan Sect. It only rang when something important happened. ¡°The secret realm is about to open.¡± Meng Changqing picked up the sword next to him, tied it to his waist, and stepped out of the door. The two secret realms were both located deep within the sect. However, their positions were different from each other. The Xuanqing Realm was slightly closer. Surrounded by towering mountains, disappearing into the clouds. In the center was a basin, where the sect had built a huge square. Many inner disciples had already arrived by now. Looking around, it was densely packed, with nearly three thousand people. These were three thousand martial artists at the Aperture Connecting Realm. And their ages were not high. Any one of them could easily establish a clan outside. ¡°Quick, look, it¡¯s Duan Hun from the Penalty Peak!¡± Someone with sharp eyes pointed out, and the people around him immediately made way. The person who came was tall and straight, wearing a black sturdy outfit, with a cold face, giving off a feeling of not to be approached by strangers. In the Tai Xuan Sect, the Penalty Peak was in charge of the sect¡¯s rules. Once one crossed the line, they would be dealt with according to the rules, and they were known for their strictness! It was said that even the Sect Master had been punished by the Elder of the Penalty Peak. As a result, everyone held the Penalty Peak in awe and kept their distance. It was different from other peaks. The Sect Master¡¯s Peak had stopped accepting disciples a long time ago. While the Penalty Peak had fewer disciples. This also made the disciples of the Penalty Peak relatively outstanding in strength. Because those accepted were the elite among the elite! Chapter 44 - This Time When We Meet Again, Your Cultivation Will Definitely Surpass That Kid! Chapter 44 - This Time When We Meet Again, Your Cultivation Will Definitely Surpass That Kid! Chapter 44: This Time When We Meet Again, Your Cultivation Will Definitely Surpass That Kid! Duan Hun was currently one of the outstanding disciples within the Penalty Peak. He was skilled in palm techniques. It was said that he perfected a profound high-level palm technique to the utmost, displaying considerable strength! A month ago, he came out of seclusion and left the sect to successively kill two demonic martial artists. Although not as outstanding as Bei Qianke, he still overshadowed Meng Changqing. Not just anyone could practice a profound high-level martial art technique. Even if you can exchange for it, you still need a large amount of resources, talent, comprehension, and so on. Not to mention reaching perfection. ¡°Also, the Shi brothers are here!¡± Exclamations arose once again. Then, two robust figures appeared. Nearly two and a half meters tall, with bulging explosive muscles. Long white mist was even exhaled when they breathed. Like humanoid tyrannosaurs, they exuded a strong sense of oppression.Reead latest chapters at novelhall.com The people around had a slight change in their expressions, quickly making way. Otherwise, even breathing would become difficult. Shi Guang, Shi Yao. Currently, they were the most talked-about figures among the outer disciples. After all, their exaggerated physique was truly astounding. Many people were discussing whether they possessed a special physique. When Duan Hun looked at the Shi brothers, his eyes narrowed. As the saying goes, seeing was believing. Only when you see it for yourself will you realize that these two are even more extraordinary than expected. ¡°This time, the inner disciples are indeed hiding dragons and lying tigers, but I will still be the strongest!¡± Duan Hun shifted his gaze and stood with his hands behind his back. As a disciple of the Penalty Peak, in the absence of participation from the Main Peak, he must be the strongest! This was also the belief he has cultivated until now! When it came to Meng Changqing, there was a slight change in the tone of the voice, ¡°This time when we meet again, your cultivation will definitely surpass him.¡± ¡°You have a great fortune and have gained many opportunities. Few people can surpass your cultivation speed.¡± For the voice, Meng Changqing was an existence that had repeatedly slapped her in the face since her awakening, so there was some lingering resentment. ¡°Surpass him?¡± Bai Suxi hadn¡¯t thought about it that way. She just wanted to see him, after all, he was the only one who treated her well and considered her a friend. There were continuous exclamations from the surroundings. Obviously, more young powerhouses had arrived. ¡°So many people.¡± Meng Changqing also arrived here. At this moment, the square was densely packed with people. He stood on the edge and did not go in. Because after entering the secret realm, the landing point was random. There was no absolute precedence. ¡°This is the true foundation of the sect.¡± Meng Changqing swept his gaze across. The disciples on the square were mostly under thirty years old. Reaching the Aperture Connecting Realm at his age, the probability of breaking through to the Sea Cleaving Realm in the future was quite high. Outside, they would be considered treasures of various small families. At the same time, Meng Changqing also glanced at the panel. Different from the Task Hall, the disciples gathered here today had more excellent attributes, with many having third-grade roots. Some even possessed innate talents or good comprehension. Moreover, their proficiency in martial arts and techniques was also high. The Tai Xuan¡¯s Seven Veins. The techniques of two veins were particularly distinctive. For example, the Purple Nourishment Peak specialized in refining the body, resulting in powerful and sturdy physiques. As for the Formation Peak, they integrate formations into their bodies, with many formations appearing on the surface of their skin. Meng Changqing was very envious of the techniques from these two veins, especially after seeing the introduction of martial arts in the Hidden Martial Pavilion, he was even more tempted. ¡°The top talents in the inner sect should be those few in the front.¡± Because they were too far away, Meng Changqing couldn¡¯t see clearly. But those people didn¡¯t conceal their aura, which was extremely formidable, like bright fireworks in the dark night. A month ago, during a chat with Kong Linxue, she also mentioned several particularly outstanding individuals in the inner sect. He had already remembered them. When they entered the secret realm, he would definitely find a way to add them as friends. Chapter 45 - By the Way, Didnt Your Spirit Peak Produce a Monster Recently? Chapter 45 - By the Way, Didn''t Your Spirit Peak Produce a Monster Recently? Chapter 45: By the Way, Didn¡¯t Your Spirit Peak Produce a Monster Recently? Buzz~ Suddenly, a powerful pressure surged forth, causing the entire square to fall silent. In the front of the square, a middle-aged man appeared, dressed in a blue robe and carrying a long sword on his back. True qi surrounded his body, revealing him to be a formidable Sea Cleaving Realm expert. ¡°Greetings, Elder,¡± everyone immediately bowed and saluted. ¡°Hmm,¡± the middle-aged man nodded slightly. ¡°You can call me Elder Ye, and I am in charge of matters regarding the secret realm. Now, let me introduce the situation of the Xuanqing Realm.¡± Elder Ye wasted no time and began to explain. Although Kong Linxue had mentioned it before, Meng Changqing still listened carefully, checking for any differences. The Xuanqing Realm was vast, with rolling mountains, ancient forests, and various landscapes. In addition to abundant opportunities, there were also certain dangers, primarily from the native beasts of the realm, which were suppressed by the sect and served as stepping stones for disciples¡¯ growth. However, there were rare cases of disciples being killed by these beasts, despite the sect providing a teleportation token for swift escape from the realm. ¡°This time, the sect has made some changes to the Xuanqing Realm,¡± Elder Ye said slowly, causing a stir among the disciples as such changes had never happened before. ¡°In the territories of some powerful demon beasts, many precious items, mostly third-grade, have been placed,¡± he continued. This statement instantly excited everyone.Geet latest novel chapters on novelbj/n(.)c/om It was well known that the resources in the Xuanqing Realm were mostly second-grade, suitable for Aperture Connecting Realm cultivation. Higher-grade resources were typically found in the Taiqing Realm, so the fact that some had been moved to the Xuanqing Realm meant that disciples could obtain resources for Sea Cleaving Realm cultivation in advance. ¡°Third-grade items?¡± Meng Changqing¡¯s eyes lit up. On the contrary, they were quite formidable. ¡°Alright, come forward one by one to receive the teleportation tokens and enter,¡± Elder Ye instructed, his hands forming seals as he infused true qi into the square beneath his feet. Boom! As if a mechanism had been triggered, the square trembled, and a massive portal appeared behind Elder Ye, swirling like a vortex ¨C the entrance to the secret realm. ¡°The secret realm is open!¡± many disciples shouted, eager to enter. Though the beasts were dangerous, the resources were more important. One by one, they received the teleportation tokens and stepped into the vortex, disappearing from sight. Meng Changqing also hastened his pace and entered the secret realm. ¡°This batch of inner disciples has quite a few promising talents,¡± another figure suddenly appeared behind Elder Ye. He appeared older, with thick, bushy beards and a long knife on his back, exuding a wild aura. This person was also an elder, with the same status as Elder Ye, responsible for the inner disciples, but from the Martial Arts Peak. ¡°Well, they¡¯re not inferior to the previous batch, and even better in some aspects,¡± Elder Ye nodded, producing a dossier containing information on many disciples. ¡°In the previous batch, the Penalty Peak¡¯s Duan Hun would have been the most outstanding disciple, having mastered a high-level profound martial technique to perfection. But now, the Shi Brothers from the Purple Nourishment Peak seem to possess special physiques or bloodlines that make them superior from birth. They¡¯ve even mastered the ¡®Heavenly Domineering Body¡¯ to perfection. Duan Hun is no longer their match,¡± Elder Ye said, causing some surprise. ¡°The Mad Blade from your Martial Arts Peak is also good, but unfortunately, he hasn¡¯t perfected the ¡®Madness Technique¡¯ yet. Xiao Zhen from the Formation Peak and Wen Tianming from the Medicine King Peak are in the same situation,¡± he continued. ¡°Your information is outdated,¡± Elder Lin smirked, though his beard was too thick to discern, ¡°the Mad Blade has already reached perfection.¡± Upon hearing this, Elder Ye raised an eyebrow. The ¡®Madness Technique¡¯ of the Martial Arts Peak was derived from a higher-level martial scripture, also a high-level profound technique. With this, Duan Hun had no advantage. ¡°By the way, didn¡¯t your Spirit Peak produce a monster recently?¡± Elder Lin chuckled. ¡°Just at the Aperture Connecting Realm, he comprehended sword qi and, at the Fourth Realm, slew Ghost Finger Bei Qianke,¡± Elder Lin said with evident envy. The ¡®qi¡¯ in martial arts, not something many could comprehend, even among true disciples! Chapter 46 - Becoming Friends with Demon Beasts? Chapter 46 - Becoming Friends with Demon Beasts? Chapter 46: Becoming Friends with Demon Beasts? ¡°Well, this one is named Meng Changqing, recently entered the inner sect. ¡°His aptitude is indeed terrifying, but unfortunately, his advancement was too rapid, not giving him enough time to grow. ¡°If he could learn a profound-level high-grade martial skill and combine it with sword techniques, even the brothers from the Shi family might be defeated.¡± Elder Ye replied. Regarding Meng Changqing¡¯s situation, it had actually been transmitted to the high-levels of the sect when he entered the inner sect. To be precise, it was transmitted to the high-levels of the Spirit Peak. For a disciple who could comprehend the ¡®qi¡¯ of martial arts, entering the Pinnacle Dragon Ranking was not a difficult task. It could compensate for the recent vacancies caused by other forces in the sect. In addition, his future achievements would not be low. He would definitely become a mainstay of the sect. It was expected that a big shot would personally take him as a disciple, but the high-levels were unusually quiet. There was no reaction at all, which was indeed strange. However, he was still a valuable asset, and it was believed that the high-levels had other considerations. ¡°The qi of martial arts, the true essence of martial arts, is the greatest external force for us ordinary martial artists. Only by comprehending them can we compete with those with innate physiques and bloodlines.¡± Elder Lin sighed, then shook his head, ¡°Forget it, let¡¯s not talk about this.¡± ¡°Although the sect has placed many high-grade resources in the Secret Realm this time, it has also greatly increased the difficulty, which not everyone can obtain.¡± ¡°Especially the deep red opportunity points in the central area.¡±Reead latest chapters at novelhall.com ¡°I feel that even the brothers from the Shi family might not be able to obtain them.¡± ¡°After all, that Demon Beast has already gained intelligence and also possesses...¡± ¡ª¡ª The world spun, and the stars shifted. Countless lights seemed to flicker around. All five senses were lost. When the vision cleared, he was already in a different place. Rubbing his eyes, Meng Changqing sat up from the grass. But seeing the vast sky and earth, the green plain seemed boundless, with faintly visible mountain ranges in the distance. The breeze blew gently. The mass of grass leaves suddenly stirred up waves like the sea. In Meng Changqing¡¯s opinion, it shouldn¡¯t be a third-level Demon Beast just yet. Otherwise, how could anyone obtain it? But just in case, Meng Changqing still proceeded with caution, first investigating the surroundings. After a moment, Meng Changqing stopped on a thick branch. Not far away was a wide valley, with walls rising a thousand feet on both sides, very steep, occasionally with the sound of rocks rolling down and hitting. In the center of the valley, a Demon Beast was crouching. This Demon Beast was quite large, nearly thirty meters long, reddish all over, covered in scales. On its ferocious face were two pairs of blood-red eyes. ¡°Ironclad Flame Lion.¡± Meng Changqing pronounced the name of this Demon Beast. Among the Demon Beast, it was considered a powerful species. Not only was its defense terrifying, but it was also naturally endowed with control over the power of flames, able to spew flames and burn mountains and rivers. ¡°Fortunately, it¡¯s not at the third level.¡± Meng Changqing¡¯s expression relaxed slightly. If it were a third-level Demon Beast, its demonic energy would be transformed into demonic aura, similar to the true qi of humans. But this Ironclad Flame Lion clearly didn¡¯t have that. However, judging from its aura, it was still very strong, almost at the limit of the second level. That would be equivalent to the pinnacle of the Aperture Connecting Realm for humans! ¡°It can be dealt with, but...¡± Looking at the Ironclad Flame Lion, Meng Changqing suddenly had a strange idea. The definition of friends shouldn¡¯t be limited to just humans, right? Who says you can¡¯t be friends with Demon Beasts? With that thought, Meng Changqing stared at the Ironclad Flame Lion, and his probing eyes opened accordingly. Basic Information: ¡¾Name: Ironclad Flame Lion¡¿ ¡¾Species: Demon Beast¡¿ ¡¾Level: Peak of the Second Level¡¿ Attribute Information: ¡¾Demon Beast Talent: Ironclad¡¿ ¡¾Demon Beast Talent: Flame Breath¡¿ Chapter 47 - Unopened Sentience, Linglong Cold Moon, Frozen Nine Provinces! Chapter 47 - Unopened Sentience, Linglong Cold Moon, Frozen Nine Provinces! Chapter 47: Unopened Sentience, Linglong Cold Moon, Frozen Nine Provinces! ¡°Mm, there it is.¡± A hint of joy flickered in Meng Changqing¡¯s eyes. If there was a display panel, it meant it was within the system¡¯s rules. He could add it as a friend! ¡°In that case, wouldn¡¯t I be able to obtain the talents of Demon Beasts?¡± Meng Changqing¡¯s hands under his sleeves clenched slightly. Similarly named as talents, Demon Beasts¡¯ talents were much stronger than those of humans. After all, Demon Beasts couldn¡¯t cultivate martial arts, so all their strength was concentrated in their talents. But wanting to add Demon Beasts as friends was quite difficult because they didn¡¯t have absolute sentience. Or rather, they weren¡¯t born with sentience. It needed to be gradually developed through cultivation, reaching a certain stage of strength before slowly opening up. That¡¯s when they could be considered intelligent beings. Like this Ironclad Flame Lion, it clearly didn¡¯t have much sentience, at most a little spirituality. It was basically instinct-driven. ¡ª ¡°Let¡¯s give it a try.¡± Meng Changqing became eager to try, then he pointed his toes and descended into the valley. Roar! Sensing a strange presence, the originally dormant Ironclad Flame Lion suddenly opened its eyes. In its blood-red eyes, there was a strong murderous intent. It was a scent that disgusted it! Or rather, it was a deep-seated aversion from its bloodline! Humans! The Ironclad Flame Lion stood up, its huge body resembling a small mountain, emitting a hot and powerful aura. So much so that the entire valley became hot. Seeing this scene, Meng Changqing, who had just landed, immediately erased the smile from his face. He was about to greet it. But seeing the Ironclad Flame Lion¡¯s appearance, it was obvious it had no friendly intentions. The killing intent and bloodthirstiness in its eyes were almost undisguised. It was completely a wild beast driven by instinct. ¡°It seems there¡¯s no way for us to be friends.¡± Meng Changqing said regretfully, then drew his long sword from his waist. A faint sword hum echoed in the valley. There were many Demon Beasts in the secret realm. If this one didn¡¯t work out, he could look for others. Behind the Ironclad Flame Lion was an obvious jade platform, and on the platform was a medicine bottle. That was the opportunity placed by the sect. It seemed to be medicinal resources. But it was unknown what kind of medicine it was. Roar! The Ironclad Flame Lion didn¡¯t hesitate at all, charging straight towards Meng Changqing. With every step it took, the valley seemed to shake. Dust flew, and the blazing flames brewed in the Ironclad Flame Lion¡¯s mouth, ready to erupt at any moment. Swish! Although the lower limit of Demon Beasts was high, it was obviously not as high as that of humans. Otherwise, they wouldn¡¯t have failed in the ancient racial wars. Converging his mind, Meng Changqing grasped the hilt of his sword with his right hand. The sword was horizontally before him, and his left hand brushed over the sword. At this moment, his originally hot blood instantly became extremely cold! Faintly, it even turned into the shape of a crescent moon behind him! ¡°Linglong Cold Moon Sword Technique!¡± A high-level Profound-ranked sword technique! Although he had obtained it for some time, Meng Changqing had never used it before. The reason was simple. No one had yet forced him to reveal this trump card! The Ironclad Flame Lion in front of him was not an ordinary Demon Beast, its strength was formidable. Although he could defeat it with the Wind and Thunder Sword Art alone, with the addition of sword qi, the battle would definitely be more intense. And he wasn¡¯t someone who liked to seek trouble. Why bother with a fierce battle when he could easily resolve it? ¡°Linglong Cold Moon: Frozen Nine Provinces!¡± Meng Changqing disappeared in an instant from the top of the ancient tree, facing the Ironclad Flame Lion. His footsteps changed rapidly. It was the Sword Steps! At the same time, an extremely sharp momentum surged within him! Like an unsheathed divine sword! Under various enhancements, the chill of the sword became even stronger! Wherever he went, frost formed, even the scorching magma was frozen! This sword was currently Meng Changqing¡¯s peak sword art! It was unparalleled in strength! So much so that even the Ironclad Flame Lion felt a deep sense of unease and palpitations. It knew that it couldn¡¯t block this swordstrike. But the hostility and instinct in its bloodline made it not choose to stop, but instead increase its demon beast power, constantly enhancing its defense! Trying to resist it! Boom! The two finally collided. The terrifying chill instantly enveloped the Ironclad Flame Lion. Its huge body froze in place. This wasn¡¯t just simple cold air, it was essentially sword qi, extremely sharp, easily penetrating through the gaps in its scales and entering its body! Freezing all its internal organs! It was quite a shocking scene. The Ironclad Flame Lion stood frozen like an ice sculpture, the magma in its mouth still flickering with light. But the gleam in its eyes was gradually dissipating. Its life was frozen too. Swish! Several sword lights flashed by, and the Ironclad Flame Lion shattered. As a second-level Demon Beast, its body contained many valuable materials. Even if he didn¡¯t need them, he could send them back to the family in the future. After all, he had the spatial ring now, so he had enough space. After dealing with the corpse, Meng Changqing looked around him. Although this place had experienced fierce battles, the jade platform still stood there, motionless, without any damage. It seemed to have special protection. It could avoid the repercussions of battle and prevent Demon Beasts from having any evil intentions. Chapter 48 - Little Mirror Breaking Pill, Meeting Kong Linxue Again! Chapter 48 - Little Mirror Breaking Pill, Meeting Kong Linxue Again! Chapter 48: Little Mirror Breaking Pill, Meeting Kong Linxue Again! Sheathing his sword, Meng Changqing approached the jade platform. Up close, he discovered a formation under the jade platform. It was this formation that protected the jade platform from damage. His gaze fell on the medicine bottle. He reached out and picked it up. He saw four words written on the bottle: ¡°Little Mirror Breaking Pill.¡± Meng Changqing¡¯s pupils instantly contracted. As a second-grade alchemist, how could he not know that this pill was specifically used for breakthroughs in the Aperture Connecting Realm? It was well known that true qi was a fusion of one¡¯s own blood and qi with the qi of heaven and earth. Therefore, during a breakthrough, one¡¯s own blood and qi must be in a very vigorous state, balancing with the qi of heaven and earth. Otherwise, once suppressed by it, the breakthrough would fail. And this Little Mirror Breaking Pill could provide a large and lasting amount of blood and qi during the breakthrough! And it could also reduce the rejection between blood and qi of heaven and earth! Accelerating fusion! So with this item, there would basically be no problem with the breakthrough. Unless one¡¯s aptitude was too poor. ¡°The Little Mirror Breaking Pill is a precious third-grade pill. How can there be such a good thing with just a shallow red chance encounter?¡± Meng Changqing calmed his emotions, ¡°Or is this an exception?¡± Then Meng Changqing shook his head. His eyes became brighter. There was no point in delving into these matters deeply. Anyway, it was a good thing. Now that he had this Little Mirror Breaking Pill, he didn¡¯t need to find any spirit herbs. He just needed to find a quiet place to take it and break through. ¡°The Sea Cleaving Realm.¡± Meng Changqing¡¯s lips curled slightly. He hadn¡¯t expected to reach this realm so quickly. ¡°But it¡¯s also because of Junior Brother¡¯s own aptitude. Otherwise, how could you absorb the medicinal power so quickly?¡± Kong Linxue¡¯s complexion slowly returned to normal, then she became excited, ¡°Since your realm is enough, and now there¡¯s the Little Mirror Breaking Pill, Junior Brother, you can break through immediately.¡± ¡°Yes, I¡¯m about to find a secluded place,¡± Meng Changqing said. ¡°Then let me protect you!¡± Kong Linxue volunteered. ¡°Well, thank you, Sister.¡± Meng Changqing thought for a moment and nodded. A breakthrough at such a high realm still required a quiet and safe environment. Once disturbed, the probability of failure would greatly increase. In the sect, there was no need to worry about these things, but this was a secret realm. ¡°You¡¯re being too polite again. Aren¡¯t we friends? This is what friends should do!¡± Kong Linxue raised her hand and lightly tapped Meng Changqing¡¯s chest. At her words, Meng Changqing coughed lightly. Why did he feel like the words were not coming from himself, but from Kong Linxue? These words clearly should have come from his own mouth, but now it was the other way around. Because Demon Beasts have a strong sense of territory, there would basically be no second Demon Beast in the Ironclad Flame Lion¡¯s territory. Therefore, Meng Changqing chose not to go too far to find a breakthrough place. In the depths of the dense forest, he found a relatively hidden cave. ¡°Junior Brother Meng, rest assured. With me here, not even a mosquito would dare to fly in,¡± Kong Linxye said confidently. At the same time, she flipped her right hand, and purple flames burned in her palm. This was alchemy fire! Although alchemists were not good at fighting, that was relative. Alchemists of Kong Linxue¡¯s level still had some skills. ¡°Okay,¡± Meng Changqing smiled faintly and walked into the cave. ¡°Junior Brother Meng¡¯s progress is too fast. He should have second-grade aptitude. At this rate, I¡¯m afraid I¡¯ll be far behind,¡± Kong Linxue murmured as she watched Meng Changqing¡¯s figure gradually disappear into the darkness. Her watery eyes showed a hint of complexity. ¡°But it¡¯s okay. I¡¯ve completed all the tasks assigned by Master, so I can focus on cultivation in the future! I¡¯ll definitely not become a stranger to Junior Brother Meng!¡± In the world of cultivation, strength was paramount. Many people start out as friends, but gradually drift apart. There was no other reason. When the difference in strength was vast, their circles were different, and it¡¯s difficult to have any intersection anymore. Chapter 49 - Ironbone Beast, Thundercloud Leopard! Chapter 49 - Ironbone Beast, Thundercloud Leopard! Chapter 49: Ironbone Beast, Thundercloud Leopard! Half a day later... Inside the cave, Meng Changqing sat cross-legged. At this moment, he had adjusted his state to the peak. He could now proceed with the breakthrough. ¡°Nine channels as bridges, nine apertures merging into one, innate perfection, straight to the dantian...¡± Meng Changqing silently recited the mantra for advancing to the Sea Cleaving Realm. A breakthrough at such a high realm left no room for turning back. It was either success or failure, with no possibility of returning unscathed. ¡°With my physique, I can withstand the power of the heaven and earth qi!¡± Meng Changqing no longer hesitated. With a thought, the nine major channels instantly connected to the nine major apertures, formally integrating with each other. It appeared to have the feeling of a formation, exuding an ancient and mysterious charm. At the same time, Meng Changqing found that he could now introspect. He could clearly see the condition inside his body¡ªblood vessels, meridians, organs, and so on. And at the dantian... There appeared a vortex resembling chaos. When the nine apertures merged into one, the hidden dantian within the flesh would be revealed. ¡°Next, to draw in the heaven and earth qi!¡± Meng Changqing took out the Little Broken Mirror Pill and swallowed it in one gulp. At the same time, he completely opened the nine major apertures! Boom! Outside the cave, a sudden gale arose. That was the heaven and earth qi being drawn, rolling in. Its richness was even enough to form a rain, nourishing all living beings. The majestic heaven and earth qi surged into the dantian through the major apertures and major channels. The medicinal power of the Little Broken Mirror Pill also transformed into blood and qi. The two different forces finally converged in the vortex of the dantian. Both forces directly collided and repelled each other. They were incompatible. But there seemed to be a mysterious force in the dantian that forcibly suppressed them. Coupled with the reducing property of the Little Broken Mirror Pill, the two forces didn¡¯t stalemate for long and soon began to merge. ¡°It¡¯s started.¡± Sitting outside the cave, Kong Linxue saw the situation above and immediately understood that Meng Changqing had officially begun his breakthrough. And this was the most critical moment. Absolutely no interference could be tolerated. Otherwise, all previous efforts would be wasted, or even result in severe injuries or death! Roar! However, at this moment, a roar of a beast came from a distance. Although the distance was far, Kong Linxue could feel that the Demon Beast might have sensed the situation here. But it was understandable. After all, the fluctuations of the heaven and earth qi were too obvious. Some Demon Beasts naturally had a sensitivity to qi. ¡°I hope I¡¯m just overthinking it.¡± Kong Linxue frowned slightly. But soon, her expression turned ugly. Because she gradually felt vibrations under her feet, indicating that a huge Demon Beast was approaching. And most importantly... A palm strike, and the purple flames surged. But what came towards her was a dazzling lightning. Boom! The two collided. The lightning shattered, and the purple flames were forced back. Thump, thump, thump! Kong Linxue retreated several steps before stabilizing herself. Her complexion was slightly pale, and a hint of blood appeared at the corner of her mouth. After all, she was only at the seventh level of the Qi Awakening realm, unable to compare with these second-level peak Demon Beasts. Roar! The Ironbone Beast no longer waited. It attacked along with the Thundercloud Leopard. Because they sensed that the aura inside the cave was rapidly growing stronger! If they didn¡¯t resolve this quickly, something terrible would happen! Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh! Countless spikes shot out from the Ironbone Beast¡¯s body like a torrential rain. ¡°Imperial Fire Sun Incineration-Purple Flame Saint Shield!¡± Kong Linxue gritted her teeth. The purple flames around her turned into a huge shield, blocking in front of her. Boom, boom, boom! The shield kept retreating from the impacts, and Kong Linxue felt as if she had been struck heavily, with crimson blood overflowing from her mouth. Crack! The lightning burst forth! The shield finally couldn¡¯t hold on and shattered instantly, directly striking Kong Linxue¡¯s chest. But a radiant light flashed at her chest, blocking the blow. At this moment, Kong Linxue had already retreated to the edge of the cave. Her breath became extremely chaotic. She was just a weak and helpless alchemist. It was already quite difficult for her to withstand so many attacks. ¡°I will never allow... you... to disturb Junior Brother Meng!¡± Kong Linxue wiped away the blood from the corner of her mouth. Straightening her body. But her eyes were filled with determination! Roar! The Thundercloud Leopard roared and charged forward. The lightning surged in its mouth, far stronger than before, obviously using its full strength! ¡°It¡¯s over.¡± Kong Linxue¡¯s pupils shrank slightly. She knew that even if she could withstand this blow, she would fall into a coma afterward. ¡°Junior Brother Meng, I did my best!¡± Kong Linxue gritted her teeth. But she took the initiative to meet the attack with the Purple Flame Saint Shield! Boom! However, at the moment of collision, the imagined pain did not occur. Or rather, it didn¡¯t even touch her. Kong Linxue looked forward suddenly. Only to see a figure appearing in front of her, seemingly out of nowhere. Black hair dancing lightly, white clothes like frost. ¡°Thank you, Senior Sister Kong, leave the rest to me.¡± The figure tilted slightly, revealing a gentle smile. Chapter 50 - If the last one also counts, then there are two of them now Chapter 50 - If the last one also counts, then there are two of them now Chapter 50: If the last one also counts, then there are two of them now ¡°Junior Brother Meng!¡± Joy flashed in Kong Linxue¡¯s eyes. Since Junior Brother Meng appeared here, it was obvious ¡ª he had successfully broken through! He stepped into the Sea Cleaving Realm! Roar! The eyes of the two Demon Beasts flashed with seriousness. They could sense the aura emanating from this human, extremely powerful, comparable to a third level! It seemed they were too late. ¡°I didn¡¯t come looking for you, yet you¡¯re the ones who have come to me.¡± The smile on Meng Changqing¡¯s face gradually disappeared, his eyes turning cold. If he had been any later, Kong Linxue would have been in danger. Even if she wouldn¡¯t die, she would at least be severely injured. It was not easy to come to this secret realm. Once severely injured, she would have to crush the transmission token to leave.CHeCk for new stories on no/v/el/bin(.)c0m One could imagine the magnitude of the loss. And all of this was for him. Roar! The two Demon Beasts didn¡¯t choose to flee. Instead, like the Ironclad Flame Lion, they charged forward. Demon Beasts without awakened intelligence would only be driven by instinct. The deep-seated hostility in their bloodline dominated their choices. ¡°Seeking death!¡± Meng Changqing said coldly. Only to see his right hand slightly lifted, fingers spread open. A cold white mist emanated from his body. This was the True Qi unique to the Sea Cleaving Realm! True Qi surged. Transforming into two nearly thirty-meter-long frost giant swords! ¡°Suppression!¡± Meng Changqing clenched his fist tightly. Swish! The giant swords pierced through the air! As fast as the wind! The two Demon Beasts didn¡¯t even have time to react. Boom, boom! Under the power of True Qi, their proud defenses were worthless. Although she felt extremely shy inside, her body had no resistance. On the contrary, she felt very comfortable. Very warm. It would be nice if it could stay like this forever. ¡°Senior Sister, if you need anything, just call me.¡± After settling Kong Linxue, Meng Changqing walked outside. The environment for healing required quietness. ¡°Mm-hmm.¡± Arriving outside the cave, seeming to sense something, Meng Changqing bent down and picked up the broken jade hairpin. There was nothing special about this jade hairpin. It was just an ordinary decoration. But he didn¡¯t throw it away, instead, he held it in his hand. The process of breaking through to the Sea Cleaving Realm itself did not encounter much hindrance. Everything went smoothly. Of course, it was mainly due to that Little Broken Mirror Pill. Otherwise, the repulsion between blood and True Qi and the elemental Qi of heaven and earth was not so easy to neutralize. ¡°The power of True Qi.¡± Meng Changqing opened his left hand, palm facing upward. A strand of cold white True Qi appeared. True Qi had no attributes whatsoever. But if the martial technique or skill you practiced had a matching scripture, you could convert it into scripture True Qi. In simple terms, it¡¯s like dyeing. For example, if you practiced the ¡°Linglong Cold Moon Sword Technique,¡± then after activating the scripture, the True Qi you used would be the Cold Moon True Qi. In fact, for any profound-level martial technique, the Sea Cleaving Realm was the realm where its power could truly be exerted. Many wonderful uses could be realized one by one. For example, the frost giant sword just now. If there was enough True Qi, it could even become nearly a hundred meters long, or even infinitely extend. Or it could split into hundreds, thousands. Of course, the prerequisite was that the mental will had to keep up. Perhaps it was because of two lifetimes of experience, Meng Changqing felt that his mental will was quite good. For example, the environment frozen all around, turning into a land of frost and snow, like a domain. Fighting in such an environment would only continuously strengthen oneself and weaken the enemy. ¡°I finally stepped into this realm.¡± A faint smile appeared at the corner of Meng Changqing¡¯s mouth, and a smile appeared on his face. The Sea Cleaving Realm brought not only an improvement in strength but also many other accompanying benefits. Chapter 51 Chapter 51 Chapter 51: Sealed Box, Increase in Favorability! On the second day, Meng Changqing was still sitting outside the cave. In the secret realm where there were no sun, moon, or stars, estimating time could only rely on oneself. While Kong Linxue was healing. Meng Changqing didn¡¯t waste time and continued to consolidate his realm.VIssiT for the best novel reading experience Cultivating the Sea Cleaving Realm mainly involved increasing the amount of True Qi. However, there were two difficulties. One was the enormous consumption of resources, far exceeding the Aperture Connecting Realm. The other was the need to comprehend the secrets of the Elixir Field, which tested one¡¯s comprehension. Fortunately, after assimilating his aunt¡¯s attributes, his comprehension was top-notch. He wouldn¡¯t be hindered by comprehension. At a certain moment, Meng Changqing slowly opened his eyes, and the overflowing aura in his body had already been completely restrained. This meant that the consolidation of his realm had been completed, and there was no need to worry about the risk of regression. ¡°The Elixir Field, truly a mysterious place.¡± During the consolidation, he also introspected his own Elixir Field, a vortex resembling chaos. It was like a profound night sky, exuding a mysterious and profound aura. Every inch of it was new territory, requiring time to explore and comprehend. ¡°It is said that besides the Elixir Field, there is also the Knowledge Sea, which belongs to the spiritual secret storehouse of all living beings.¡± Recalling some records in ancient books, Meng Changqing¡¯s eyes flickered slightly. Then he shook his head. Because for him now, exploring the spiritual realm was too far away. He hadn¡¯t even figured out the Elixir Field yet. Let¡¯s finish the current path first. ¡°Now that I have reached the Sea Cleaving Realm, can I open the sealed box my aunt left for me?¡± Meng Changqing remembered this matter. His aunt¡¯s background was extraordinary, so naturally, what she entrusted to him was not ordinary. But his aunt had instructed not to easily reveal it to others. After some thought, he decided to give up on studying it for now. Although Senior Sister Kong wouldn¡¯t have any ill intentions towards him, it was better to have fewer complications. Tap, tap, tap~ Footsteps suddenly sounded behind him. Meng Changqing stood up immediately and turned around. It was a peak second-level beast, now lifeless. ¡°Sister, hold this.¡± Coming to the jade platform, Meng Changqing smiled and said. Kong Linxue immediately stepped forward and took the spirit medicine from the jade platform. At first, she didn¡¯t understand where Meng Changqing was taking her. But soon enough, it became clear. It was these places of opportunity. Before breaking through, Meng Changqing could single-handedly clear these spots of opportunity, let alone now. He could easily eradicate them with a single sword strike. And he generously gave all the advanced resources on the jade platform to her. ¡°Thank you, Junior Brother Meng. It¡¯s already enough. You don¡¯t need to give me more.¡± Kong Linxue felt moved. Actually, these spots of opportunity arranged by the sect were not intended for ordinary disciples, and she didn¡¯t have the strength to obtain them. But now, under the ¡®leadership¡¯ of Meng Changqing, she had obtained two in a row. It was worth noting that what could be placed on these spots of opportunity were all precious items. Ding! [Favorability increased to three stars!] [Acquired attribute: Third-grade Root Bone!] The system¡¯s voice sounded in Meng Changqing¡¯s mind, leaving him momentarily stunned. He had only wanted to repay Kong Linxue out of pure goodwill, without any ulterior motives. He hadn¡¯t expected his favorability to increase. Three-star favorability. This also ranked him second among friends, just below his aunt. Besides repaying, Meng Changqing also wanted to see if the resources in these shallow red spots of opportunity were all Little Broken Mirror Pills. But after examining these two spots of opportunity, it was evident that this was not the case. Clearly, the resources in these spots of opportunity were different. One could also confirm that among the shallow red spots of opportunity, the Little Broken Mirror Pill was the most valuable. It was truly a third-grade pill, while the other resources, such as the spirit medicine in these two spots of opportunity, were barely approaching third-grade. For him, their usefulness was not very significant. ¡°Junior Brother Meng, I¡¯ll be leaving now. I wish you a bountiful harvest in the secret realm!¡± Kong Linxue smiled sweetly and then turned to leave. Although Junior Brother Meng didn¡¯t say much, she understood the situation and couldn¡¯t delay him any longer. ¡°Okay, Senior Sister, take care.¡± Meng Changqing nodded. Chapter 52 Chapter 52 Chapter 52: Decomposing Attributes? ¡°Linglong Daluo Tian¡±! Kong Linyue¡¯s figure gradually disappeared from view. Meng Changqing also withdrew his gaze. Indeed, being alone in the secret realm was much more convenient. Of course, there was a premise here, and that was having strong personal strength. Otherwise, one would have to team up with others. Thinking about it, Meng Changqing opened his character panel. ¡¾Host: Meng Changqing¡¿ ¡¾Race: Human¡¿ ¡¾Cultivation: First Level of Sea Cleaving Realm¡¿ ¡¾Root Bone: Second Grade¡¿ ¡¾Comprehension: Excellent¡¿ ¡¾Cultivation Techniques and Martial Arts: ¡°Linglong Cold Moon Sword Technique¡± (Perfection), ¡°Imperial Fire Sun Incineration Technique¡± (Perfection), ¡°Sword Steps¡± (Perfection)...¡¿ ¡¾Talents: Skillful Hands, Tough Skin, Spirit Eyes¡¿ ¡¾Unfused Attribute: Third Grade Root Bone¡¿ ¡¾Remaining Rewards: Profound-Level Martial Arts Proficiency Card *1¡¿ Just now, he obtained another attribute from Kong Linyue ¨C Third-grade Root Bone. But the problem was, his own Root Bone was already second grade, so this third-grade Root Bone was completely useless. Putting it on the panel was just taking up space. ¡°System, how do I deal with attributes that I don¡¯t need?¡± Meng Changqing asked. [It can be decomposed. After decomposition, there is a chance to obtain something similar to a proficiency card.] The system replied. ¡°This function exists too?¡± Meng Changqing¡¯s eyes lit up suddenly. After all, as his own panel continued to improve, the attributes he could obtain from friends in the future would gradually become useless. But with this function, it was different. Items like proficiency cards were not of lower value than certain attributes, and were only inferior to some top-grade attributes. After all, mastering a martial art to perfection was not a simple matter, especially for high-grade martial arts. Apart from one¡¯s own talent and understanding, it also required a large amount of resources to accumulate. But proficiency cards could completely ignore these requirements. They only needed a ding to activate. It could be said to save time, effort, and worry. [Reminder: The better the attribute, the higher the probability of obtaining valuable items after decomposition. Additionally, the grade of the items obtained will also be better.] The system said. ¡°Understood.¡± Meng Changqing nodded. He wondered what the ¡°third-grade Root Bone¡± could be decomposed into. ¡°System, decompose the third-grade Root Bone.¡± Ding! [Decomposition successful!] Taking a deep breath, Meng Changqing calmed his emotions and continued to flip through. ¡°Wait, this isn¡¯t a martial technique.¡± After reading a few pages, Meng Changqing¡¯s eyes moved slightly, ¡°It¡¯s a Earth-grade secret technique!¡± ¡°Its effect...¡± The further he read down, the more terrified he felt. It could temporarily boost one¡¯s strength! This technique had five layers in total! When cultivated to perfection, it could increase one¡¯s combat power tenfold! Tenfold? What concept was that? For martial artists, even two or threefold was already extraordinary, let alone tenfold! And as everyone knew, these kinds of secret techniques that temporarily boosted strength usually had significant side effects. But this technique didn¡¯t have any. The only downside was that it required a large amount of resources, some of which were extremely rare. But Meng Changqing wasn¡¯t too worried. Because according to the system¡¯s rules, any technique or secret technique fell under the category of martial techniques. So as long as there were Earth-grade martial technique proficiency cards in the future, then he could easily improve it. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect Aunt to have such a terrifying secret technique.¡± ¡°Linglong Daluo Tian, indeed lives up to its name, it¡¯s full of style.¡± Meng Changqing carefully closed the manual and put it back into the wooden box. He had already memorized all of its contents. As for practicing it himself? He didn¡¯t have that intention. A secret technique as terrifying as this wasn¡¯t so easy to cultivate, was it? Just the resources needed for the first layer were mostly unfamiliar to him, evidently extremely precious. It was better to quietly wait for proficiency cards. ¡°It¡¯s the words ¡®Linglong¡¯ again.¡± Meng Changqing suddenly realized this. Previously, the ¡°Linglong Cold Moon Sword Technique¡± also had ¡®Linglong¡¯ at the beginning. Could this be the name of a force? In the cultivation world, information wasn¡¯t actually that circulated. Being in the Tianling Prefecture, Meng Changqing could only understand the situation about Tianlingzhou. As for other states, he didn¡¯t know at all. Even the situation in his own state wasn¡¯t that clear. This was the limitation of information. After all, his own Chamber of Commerce wasn¡¯t a top-tier one that spanned across the cultivation world. It was just a big Chamber of Commerce in a small place. As for the Tai Xuan Sect, maybe he could find out more after he officially advanced to being a true disciple. Chapter 53 Chapter 53 Chapter 53: Is This Girl Naturally Hunted by Demon Beasts? Putting the box back into the spatial ring, Meng Changqing stood up and took out a map. With his strength now reaching the Sea Cleaving Realm, he could start clearing the chance nodes. To be honest, he had wasted a lot of time. Some chance nodes were probably already taken by others. Although the Second-Level Peak Demon Beasts were strong, they were not unbeatable. Even ordinary inner disciples, with more people, should be able to kill them when working together. It was just a matter of the final resource allocation. With time running out, Meng Changqing didn¡¯t plan to go to the shallow red chance nodes anymore. His only goal now was the deep red chance nodes. The resources they possessed were undoubtedly necessary for the Sea Cleaving Realm. Meng Changqing counted them and found that there were ten deep red chance nodes in total, located relatively close to each other in the center of the map. Additionally, Meng Changqing also noticed that among these ten, one was a special shade of red, far surpassing the deep red ones. It was situated right in the center of the map, standing out among the rest. ¡°Dark red chance node, huh?¡± Meng Changqing gave it a name. It seemed to be more powerful than the deep red chance nodes, but he didn¡¯t dwell on it. Eating his meal bite by bite, he planned to clear the deep red chance nodes as soon as possible. Meng Changqing wasn¡¯t too worried about the deep red chance nodes. Starting from the shallow red ones, it was inevitable that the ones guarding the deep red ones would be Third-Level Demon Beasts. This level of Demon Beast couldn¡¯t be dealt with by those in the Aperture Connecting Realm, no matter how many there were. ¡°Still have to hurry,¡± Meng Changqing said as he hurried forward. What if someone else, like him, broke through to the Sea Cleaving Realm? Boom! Boom! Boom! Surging demonic energy transformed into dozens of wind blades, shooting towards Bai Suxi. ¡°Quick, dodge! This Demon Beast is using its talent!¡± a voice hastily reminded. Bai Suxi¡¯s pretty face changed slightly as she began to dodge. Her blood and qi were exceptionally vigorous. If it were someone else, under such intense running, they would have long been exhausted. Yet she seemed to be quite energetic. Boom! Boom! Boom! The wind blades continuously slashed at the spots she had stepped on, leaving deep marks. For a moment, dust and sand filled the air. ¡°It¡¯s actually a Third-Level Demon Beast.¡± On a nearby ancient tree, a slender figure appeared. It was Meng Changqing. He happened to pass by and felt the demonic energy, so he came to take a look. Demonic energy was equivalent to demonic power, similar to the true qi of humans. ¡°The nearest deep red chance node is also dozens of miles away. ¡°What has this person done to make a Third-Level Demon Beast chase after them for so long?¡± Meng Changqing was somewhat surprised. At the same time, he looked towards the dust and sand. Whoosh! A figure leaped out of the dust and sand. Agile in movement and extremely fast, it constantly dodged the wind blades attacking from behind. ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± Meng Changqing was suddenly stunned. Because he found that this small figure was somewhat familiar. Upon closer inspection, it turned out to be Bai Suxi! ¡°Wow, this girl seems to be naturally chased by Demon Beasts?¡± Meng Changqing chuckled involuntarily. He remembered the first time he encountered Bai Suxi, she was also being chased by Demon Beasts. The scene was quite familiar. Chapter 54 Chapter 54 Chapter 54: Well, it seems you haven¡¯t earned the privilege of becoming my closest friend! Hiss~ Bai Suxi was momentarily unable to dodge. Her right arm was grazed by the wind blade, and blood spurted out instantly. Fortunately, with her spirit power guarding, she wasn¡¯t contaminated by demonic energy, thus avoiding internal injuries. ¡°I can¡¯t go on.¡± Bai Suxi¡¯s face turned slightly pale. Although her blood and qi were abundant, four times that of an ordinary person, and of high quality, there was still a huge gap at the higher realm. It was too difficult to bridge. Once this Third-Level Demon Beast went all out, she would have no ability to resist. ¡°Relax your mind and let me handle it,¡± the old voice said. ¡°Yes.¡± Bai Suxi gritted her teeth. Although her Master¡¯s philosophy often contradicted hers, she was always sincere to her. Now, she was willing to use all his spirit power for her again. If spirit power was excessively consumed and damaged the foundation, there would still be risks. Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh! Dozens of wind blades attacked again, even more powerful than before. The whistling wind made Bai Suxi¡¯s cheeks ache. However, just as she was about to relax her mind, a slightly smiling voice sounded in her ear. ¡°Sister Bai, how come you¡¯re being chased by a Demon Beast again?¡± Hearing this, Bai Suxi suddenly raised her head and saw a figure in front of her. Swish! The figure drew a long sword from his waist. Snow-like sword light flickered, easily shattering all the wind blades. ¡°You are...¡± As the figure turned around, Bai Suxi¡¯s pupils contracted slightly, then she exclaimed in pleasant surprise, ¡°Brother Meng!¡± ¡°It¡¯s me,¡± Meng Changqing smiled faintly. ¡°We¡¯ll talk later. Let me deal with this Demon Beast first.¡± ¡°Brother Meng, this is a Third-Level Demon Beast,¡± Bai Suxi hurriedly reminded, not even paying attention to Meng Changqing¡¯s cultivation level. In her impression, Meng Changqing should be at the same level as her, at the Aperture Connecting Realm, and couldn¡¯t possibly be a match for this Third-Level Demon Beast. ¡°Get along well with him. Deepen your relationship. It will be beneficial for you,¡± the voice said. ¡°Master!¡± Hearing the word ¡®get along,¡¯ Bai Suxi¡¯s cheeks blushed slightly. She remembered that her Master had said before that she and Brother Meng were not from the same world. She quickly gave up. Now, it was another story. As the two were chatting, Meng Changqing was getting closer and closer to the Demonic Tiger. At the same time, he activated his probing eye. This was his first encounter with a Third-Level Demon Beast. The ones before were all Second-Level. Basic Information: ¡¾Name: Skywind Cloud Tiger¡¿ ¡¾Race: Demon Beast¡¿ ¡¾Level: Third-Level Initial Stage¡¿ Attribute Information: ¡¾Talent: Wind Flash¡¿ ¡¾Talent: Raging Wind Blades¡¿ ¡¾Talent: Great Storm¡¿ For Demon Beasts, each breakthrough to a major realm would awaken a talent, and some could even enhance certain talents, tapping into deeper power. Many pieces of information about Demon Beasts floated through Meng Changqing¡¯s mind. ¡°Hey, have you gained sentience yet?¡± Feeling that the distance was about right, Meng Changqing stopped and asked. Roar! However, the response he got was a bloodthirsty roar, eyes filled with intense killing intent, no different from the Ironclad Flame Lion before. ¡°A majestic Third-Level Demon Beast, and yet it hasn¡¯t gained sentience?¡± Meng Changqing frowned slightly. To be honest, he was very interested in the talents on these Demon Beasts. But if they didn¡¯t gain sentience, they were only driven by instinct. Ignorance bred fear. They weren¡¯t even afraid of death. It was impossible to tame them with ¡®virtue.¡¯ ¡°Forget it. It seems you haven¡¯t earned the privilege of becoming my closest friend.¡± Meng Changqing¡¯s expression became calm. The Hundred Refinements Sword in his hand began to exude a chilling cold. Chapter 55 Chapter 55 Chapter 55: I Won¡¯t Dare Again! Swish, swish, swish! The Skywind Cloud Tiger struck first. Dozens of wind blades swept over, attacking Meng Changqing from all angles. Although this sudden appearance of a human gave it a sense of danger, humans were their archenemies! They must die! ¡°Linglong Cold Moon ¡¤ Shattered Flowers Realm.¡± Meng Changqing¡¯s long sword spun. A dense burst of icy sword qi erupted, like celestial flowers scattering, beautiful yet extremely dangerous. All the wind blades were shattered. ¡°Linglong Cold Moon ¡¤ Frozen Nine Provinces!¡± Meng Changqing didn¡¯t stop there. He directly invoked the strongest move in his sword manual. Like a lion pouncing on a rabbit, he used all his strength. He didn¡¯t want to waste too much time here. Swish! Meng Changqing slapped the hilt of the sword. The Hundred Refinements Sword shot towards the Skywind Cloud Tiger. Along the way, true qi surged, countless frost covered it, gradually forming a forty-meter-long giant ice sword! At the same time, a terrifying Sword Qit was also infused! A crescent moon seemed to appear in the sword. At the moment the crescent moon appeared. The giant sword seemed to come to life, brimming with sharpness, capable of shattering the heavens and the earth! Roar! Faced with this sword, the Skywind Cloud Tiger roared lowly. The intense danger permeated its entire body. It wanted to evade, but the temperature around it had dropped, countless ice crystals climbing up its limbs. They even penetrated its body, causing its demonic energy circulation to become extremely slow. It was too late to dodge. It could only choose to resist. Great Storm! The Skywind Cloud Tiger also used its strongest innate talent. Countless whirlwinds suddenly merged together, forming a huge tornado to counterattack. However, at the moment of collision, he storm tornado was directly frozen and then penetrated. Boom! The momentum of the ice sword remained undiminishe, carrying boundless sharpness and coldness. In the blood-red eyes of the Skywind Cloud Tiger, the sword pierced its head. Just now, if it weren¡¯t for the weapon as a carrier, as the distance increased, the power of true qi would gradually weaken. And some weapons contained formations, which could enhance the power of martial arts. Crack! While pondering, the Hundred Refinements Sword in his hand finally couldn¡¯t hold on and shattered all over the ground. Meng Changqing could only discard the hilt. ¡°Senior Brother Meng!¡± Bai Suxi trotted over to him. ¡°What did you do, letting the Skywind Cloud Tiger chase you so far?¡± Looking at the youthful and beautiful girl in front of him, Meng Changqing smiled and asked. ¡°Hehe, it¡¯s this, the Nine-Leaf Blue Spirit Grass.¡± Bai Suxi slightly raised the spirit grass in her arms. The old voice wanted to remind her, after all, it¡¯s not wise to flaunt wealth, but considering Meng Changqing¡¯s character, she chose to remain silent. ¡°This should be something from the Dark Red Chance Point.¡± Meng Changqing raised an eyebrow. No wonder the Skywind Cloud Tiger chased after it for so long. After all, even the guardian object was stolen. As a second-rank alchemist, he naturally knew what this grass was. Just like the elemental spirit grass Bai Suxi gave him before, it¡¯s the kind without poisonous properties. In the world of cultivation, most spiritual medicines contained toxins, said to be the self-defense mechanism of the medicines themselves. Like the flesh and blood of Demon Beasts, which contained hostility. If not removed, consuming too much would affect one¡¯s temperament. So alchemists were needed to remove the toxins. Leaving behind the most essential part. And then, combining it with other spiritual medicines to refine various kinds of pills. The Nine-Leaf Blue Spirit Grass was one of the rare spiritual herbs without toxins. It could be consumed directly. And its medicinal power was fierce. It¡¯s a high-grade resource of third rank! ¡°Yeah, I secretly took it out, but I was eventually discovered.¡± Perhaps because she felt completely safe by Meng Changqing¡¯s side, Bai Suxi also became relaxed, her face showing an innocent smile. ¡°You¡¯re quite bold. This is a Third-Level Demon Beast.¡± Meng Changqing shook his head. If it were him, he wouldn¡¯t easily go if he hadn¡¯t reached the Sea Cleaving Realm. The gap was too big. The style of fighting was completely different. But this girl was the child of fortune. Reason didn¡¯t apply to her. ¡°It¡¯s a bit bold. I won¡¯t dare again in the future.¡± Bai Suxi patted her slightly raised chest with some lingering fear. She didn¡¯t actually want to go either, but her Master encouraged her. Saying that those who dare live, while those who didn¡¯t starve. So she went up. Fortunately, Senior Brother Meng appeared in the end, otherwise, Master would have to sleep again. Chapter 56 Chapter 56 Chapter 56: ¡°Dark Sea Returning to Origin Technique¡± Stealing something right from under the nose of a Third-Level Demon Beast is no easy task. Meng Changqing couldn¡¯t help but look at Bai Suxi¡¯s panel. To see if she had learned any secret techniques for concealing her aura. Basic Information: ¡¾Friend: Bai Suxi¡¿ ¡¾...¡¿ Attribute Information: ¡¾Root Bone: Second Rank¡¿ ¡¾Comprehension: Excellent¡¿ ¡¾Talent: Skillful Hands¡¿ ¡¾Cultivation Technique/Martial Skill: ¡°Dark Sea Returning to Origin Technique¡± (Fourth Level), ¡°Wind and Thunder Sword Art¡± (Perfection)...¡¿ After looking around, there didn¡¯t seem to be any significant changes. Just that the cultivation technique reached the Fourth Level, and the sword art reached perfection. Could it be that this cultivation technique had the effect of concealing one¡¯s aura? To be honest, Meng Changqing was quite interested in this cultivation technique because its name didn¡¯t seem ordinary. But to obtain this cultivation technique, he would have to increase his favorability. ¡°Senior Brother Meng, thank you so much for helping out. Let¡¯s split this Nine-Leaf Blue Spirit Grass between us!¡± Bai Suxi harbored a sense of gratitude. But it seemed like she didn¡¯t have any particularly valuable idle items on her. ¡°No need, you can use it yourself. With this spirit grass, reaching the pinnacle of the Aperture Connecting Realm is not a problem, and breaking through to the Sea Cleaving Realm is also promising.¡± Meng Changqing raised an eyebrow, smiling. Well, isn¡¯t this just giving favorability points directly? ¡°But...¡± Bai Suxi wanted to say something more. But she was interrupted by Meng Changqing. ¡°There¡¯s no need for ¡®buts.¡¯ Aren¡¯t we friends? There¡¯s no need for such formality between friends.¡± Meng Changqing reached out and patted her head, feeling the softness of her hair. ¡°Yeah yeah!¡± Hearing the word ¡°friends,¡± Bai Suxi¡¯s eyes were filled with emotion. In today¡¯s world, genuinely good people like Meng Senior Brother were really too few. In the future, she must repay Meng Senior Brother well! Ding! [Favorability has increased to three stars!] After much thought, it seemed that the only thing of value she had was a Low-Level Earth-Rank cultivation technique. But this technique was passed down to her by her master. So she needed to ask her master first. ¡°You can.¡± The old voice nodded. Previously, she would never have agreed. After all, this technique was Earth-Rank and extraordinary. But Meng Changqing was not an ordinary person, and from their interactions, he appeared to be a straightforward and loyal person. Using this technique could deepen the friendship between them. This way, even if she was no longer around in the future, there would be someone to protect this girl. ¡°Thank you, Master.¡± Bai Suxi was overjoyed. Then she stopped Meng Changqing, who was about to leave. ¡°Senior Brother Meng, wait.¡± ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Meng Changqing was puzzled. ¡°This is for you!¡± Bai Suxi took out a manual from her bosom, held it with both hands, and presented it to Meng Changqing. When he saw the name of the manual, Meng Changqing¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly. It was indeed the ¡°Dark Sea Returning to Origin Technique¡±! Although he hadn¡¯t integrated this cultivation technique yet, it was clear from the triggered additional reward that it was definitely an Earth-Rank technique! How precious was an Earth-Rank technique? Even true disciples of the Tai Xuan Sect mostly didn¡¯t have the qualifications to learn them. They mostly use Profound-Level high-grade techniques. If obtained, it would undoubtedly be treasured and not easily given to others. It seemed that he held a high position in this girl¡¯s heart. But this also had to do with Bai Suxi¡¯s character ¨C kind-hearted and grateful. ¡°Goodbye, Senior Brother!¡± Feeling that she might be refused, Bai Suxi directly handed the manual to Meng Changqing, then turned and left. ¡°This girl.¡± Meng Changqing couldn¡¯t help but laugh and cry. But he had an indescribable feeling in his heart. In the end, he could only shake his head and keep the manual. This way, he could use this technique openly without any taboos. Even if Bai Suxi saw it, it wouldn¡¯t matter. Otherwise, he would have to come up with a reason in the future, or else he couldn¡¯t explain how he obtained the ¡°Dark Sea Returning to Origin Technique.¡± Chapter 57 Chapter 57 Chapter 57: Power Surge! After leaving Meng Changqing behind, Bai Suxi stopped on a small hill. She turned around and looked in Meng Changqing¡¯s direction. Every time she met Meng Senior Brother, it was so short-lived. If only they could spend more time together. ¡°True friends are hard to find, and sincere friends are even rarer. ¡°You¡¯re lucky to have met a good person,¡± the old voice rarely sighed. If it were her at that time, even if there was a Nine-Leaf Blue Spirit Grass in front of her, she would have fought to the death with her fellow disciples.Fi?ndd new updates at novelhall.com Morality? Friendship? They were all just illusions. But in Meng Changqing¡¯s eyes, there was no trace of greed, only a hint of surprise. He glanced at it and then looked away. He even refused Bai Suxi¡¯s proposal. ¡°Yes, Senior Brother Meng is a very good person,¡± Bai Suxi¡¯s watery eyes even showed a hint of admiration. She was just a teenage girl. At this age, how could she not admire a man who was as bright as the sun? ¡°But I also need to work harder!¡± Bai Suxi withdrew her gaze and clenched her small fist. ¡°Senior Brother Meng has reached the Sea Cleaving Realm, and I can¡¯t fall too far behind him! ¡°Master, after the secret realm, please teach me the true inheritance.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± ¡ª Meng Changqing stood still. The breeze blew gently, causing his clothes to flutter. He opened the character panel, preparing to integrate the attributes. Although Bai Suxi gave him the manual, direct integration was not that simple. ¡°System, fuse attributes.¡± Ding! [Integration begins!] As soon as the words fell, an incomparably majestic insight surged in his mind. These were all about the essence of the ¡°Dark Sea Returning to Origin Technique.¡± The quantity was even greater than that of the ¡°Linglong Cold Moon Sword Technique.¡± It took more than half an hour to fully absorb it. Phew! [Consuming Earth-Rank Martial Arts Proficiency Card * 1.] [The ¡®Dark Sea Returning to Origin Technique¡¯ has been upgraded to the fifth level!] Boom! As soon as the words fell, Meng Changqing felt a sudden shock in his heart. It felt like the heavens and earth were opening up. At the same time, there seemed to be an indescribable connection between the five organs, and they were communicating with each other, causing the simulated Elixir Field to expand dramatically! The amount of true qi it could store had reached ten times that of a true Elixir Field! ¡°This technique is extremely difficult to cultivate because it requires many rare and exotic resources, and even some parts of monsters. ¡°Bai Suxi has good luck and can find them continuously, but I don¡¯t think it will work for me,¡± Meng Changqing sensed the changes in his body, his lips slightly raised, ¡°But I have proficiency cards, which is just as good and much simpler.¡± With just a ¡°ding,¡± Meng Changqing began to mobilize his true qi towards the five organs. When the Elixir Field detected that the true qi was decreasing, it actively began to replenish it. According to Meng Changqing¡¯s estimate, it would take several hours to fill up. ¡°There are still two proficiency cards left, which can also be used to upgrade the ¡®Linglong Daluo Tian.¡¯ ¡°The value of this secret technique is almost equivalent to that of the ¡®Dark Sea Returning to Origin Technique.¡¯ ¡°It¡¯s a pity that, like the ¡®Dark Sea Returning to Origin Technique,¡¯ it must be cultivated to the last level, which is the Perfection, to have a significant change. ¡°But no matter what, it must be cultivated. ¡°System, upgrade the ¡®Linglong Daluo Tian¡¯!¡± Ding! [Consuming Earth-Rank Martial Arts Proficiency Card * 2.] [The ¡®Linglong Daluo Tian¡¯ has been upgraded to the second level!] A large amount of insight surged in his mind, which Meng Changqing slowly absorbed. Because there were only two levels, it didn¡¯t take much time. After a stick of incense, Meng Changqing opened his eyes. The second level of the ¡®Linglong Daluo Tian¡¯ meant that his combat power could be doubled. Its main idea was to burn true qi, causing the quality of true qi to skyrocket, thereby enhancing the power of various martial arts techniques when used! ¡°In a way, the ¡®Dark Sea Returning to Origin Technique¡¯ and the ¡®Linglong Daluo Tian¡¯ are simply a perfect match. ¡°One increases the quantity of true qi, the other increases the quality of true qi. ¡°It¡¯s a pity that the ¡®Linglong Daluo Tian¡¯ is just a secret technique, not a martial art, so it can only be amplified for a short time.¡± Meng Changqing couldn¡¯t help but feel a little regretful. But regardless, with these two martial arts techniques added to his repertoire, his strength had skyrocketed! Even if he was just entering the Sea Cleaving Realm, he had the confidence to compete with peak Sea Cleaving Realm warriors! Chapter 58 Chapter 58: Shi Brothers, Duan Hun! Converging his mind, Meng Changqing no longer delayed and rushed towards the distance. There were only ten Dark Red Chance Points in total. Bai Suxi took one, leaving nine. He had to hurry up. Not to mention taking them all, he should at least secure three for himself. On the third day... Bang! A figure was sent flying, breaking numerous ancient trees, and finally embedding into the mountain wall, forming a character. Puff! Blood sprayed from Duan Hun¡¯s mouth. A sense of unwillingness appeared in his eyes. Why? As one of the most outstanding disciples of the Punishment Peak in recent years, he always ranked first among the inner disciples! He never thought anyone would be his match! But reality was completely different! After entering the secret realm, he encountered Mad Blade first! But he lost after a hundred moves! Now, encountering the Shi Brotherss, the outcome was even more miserable. Just ten moves. He was sent flying! Clearly, they were both just entering the Sea Cleaving Realm! ¡°How could this be!¡± Duan Hun clenched his fists and staggered out of the mountain wall. His face was full of humiliation. But he didn¡¯t continue. Instead, he turned and left. When the gap was too wide, he could only accept reality. ¡°Big brother, this guy is really strange. He¡¯s so weak, yet he still wants to fight me.¡± Shi Yao spoke. His voice was deep, but with a hint of childishness. ¡°Don¡¯t mind him, let¡¯s continue searching for treasures!¡± Shi Guang withdrew his gaze, cracked his neck, and his terrifying two-and-a-half-meter body emitted a muffled thunder-like sound, exuding a strong oppressive force. ¡°Okay, big brother, we must quickly become stronger and make Mom happy by making a name for ourselves!¡± Shi Yao said seriously. Smack! Shi Guang slapped Shi Yao on the head. ¡°Don¡¯t misuse idioms. It¡¯s ¡®make a name for ourselves¡¯!¡± ¡°Are you sure? Big brother?¡± Shi Yao frowned slightly. Basic Information: ¡¾Name: Duan Hun¡¿ ¡¾Race: Human¡¿ ¡¾Cultivation: Sea Cleaving Realm, First Level¡¿ Attribute Information: ¡¾Root Bone: Third Grade¡¿ ¡¾Comprehension: Excellent¡¿ ¡¾Talent: Iron Hand¡¿ ¡¾Techniques: ¡°Qianyang Shattered Soul Palm¡± (Perfected), ¡°Shattered Step¡± (Partial Mastery)¡¿ ¡°Duan Hun.¡± Meng Changqing suddenly realized. No wonder the panel was so good. Although his physique was not outstanding, his comprehension was rare, and he possessed talent. In addition, he had mastered a profound-level high-level palm technique unique to the Punishment Peak to perfection. Kong Linxue had mentioned several top talents among the inner disciples. Duan Hun was one of them. ¡°I finally met these talents.¡± Meng Changqing¡¯s lips curled slightly. Besides obtaining resources, making connections with these talents was also his main purpose in coming to the secret realm. However, although Duan Hun¡¯s panel was impressive, there didn¡¯t seem to be anything that truly interested him. But that¡¯s okay. Attributes that were not needed could be decomposed. Since they¡¯ve met, it¡¯s good to make some connections. ¡°A disciple of the Spirit Peak?¡± Duan Hun looked Meng Changqing up and down, and his expression became somewhat indifferent. He remembered that since that special physique had advanced, there hadn¡¯t been any particularly outstanding inner disciples from the Spirit Peak. ¡°Come, let¡¯s have a fight. The winner gets this Chance Point,¡± Duan Hun said directly. He was now quite frustrated. He had always considered himself the number one among the inner disciples, but he was consecutively defeated, and even defeated within ten moves! How could he not feel humiliated? Now he must beat a martial artist of the same level to vent his emotions. The person in front of him just happened to meet the criteria, being of the same realm, but looking unimpressive. He was probably an ordinary disciple with average strength; not on his level. In this case, it seemed a bit like bullying, but... he didn¡¯t care! He just wanted to vent his emotions now! This person was just unlucky! Chapter 59 Chapter 59: Didn¡¯t Expect You Couldn¡¯t Even Handle a Single Move Meng Changqing was taken aback. So straightforward? The struggle for resources indeed favored the capable. But not even a single word of nonsense? Truly rare. Moreover, the gaze of this person had been fixed on him from the start, never wavering. It didn¡¯t feel like he was after the resources. ¡°Alright, but I have one condition to add.¡± Regaining his senses, Meng Changqing smiled faintly. ¡°What condition?¡± It was now Duan Hun¡¯s turn to be stunned. Conditions in a fight? How could that be? ¡°If I win, you have to agree to become my friend,¡± Meng Changqing said. Duan Hun immediately took a deep breath. Veins bulged on his forehead. More infuriating than the condition of becoming friends for no apparent reason was the first half of the sentence! ¡°If you win???¡± Now, who would even think they could beat him? On what basis did this person have such confidence? He was just an ordinary disciple! Did he even know who he was? Duan Hun, from the Punishment Peak! Currently ranked... fourth in the Inner Sect! ¡°Of course,¡± Duan Hun gritted his teeth, eyes seemingly suppressing flames. Upon hearing this, Meng Changqing felt there might be something wrong with this person mentally. Most likely a lunatic. Was there any problem with the condition he proposed? Absolutely none. Why was he still getting angry? ¡°But you have to use your full strength, or I¡¯ll be unhappy,¡± Meng Changqing added. The dissatisfaction in Duan Hun¡¯s heart had reached its peak. He felt he might lose control when he started. So, he ¡®kindly¡¯ reminded him to avoid accidentally crippling him. ¡°Full strength, then.¡± ¡°Fine.¡± Seeing Duan Hun¡¯s serious expression, Meng Changqing nodded. It seemed like he might be a martial arts fanatic. For martial arts fanatics, giving it their all was a form of respect towards friends. ¡°Qianyang Shattered Soul Palm!¡± Without waiting for Meng Changqing to make a move, Duan Hun took the initiative. He could no longer contain himself. A surge of pitch-black true qi erupted, forming a black sun in his palm. If he went all out, this person would undoubtedly die. So, he changed his sword technique. Instead of using Frozen Nine Provinces, he used a weaker technique from the Sword Scripture, Moonstep Kill. He didn¡¯t even use a real sword, just true qi transformation. But even so, Duan Hun couldn¡¯t withstand it at all. He just got sent flying upon contact. ¡°It seems like my sword qi was a bit too fierce, or maybe this top-tier genius is a bit lacking.¡± Shaking his head slightly, Meng Changqing hurried towards the mountain wall, hoping not to accidentally kill him with one sword strike. Inside the mountain wall, Duan Hun looked miserable. His palms were bloody, covered in sword marks. He had no intention of coming out of the mountain wall. He just wanted to be alone. He didn¡¯t understand. He really didn¡¯t. Why couldn¡¯t he win against anyone? Master had clearly said that, barring any accidents, he would be the first in the Inner Sect. But reality was completely opposite. Everywhere was full of surprises. He couldn¡¯t beat Mad Blade. Nor could he beat the Shi brothers. Finally encountering what looked like an ordinary disciple, he unexpectedly possessed sword qi! What¡¯s wrong with this world? Was it targeting him? He just wanted to vent a little, why was it so difficult... Especially now, in his current position, inside the mountain wall. Puff! The more Duan Hun thought about it, the harder it was to accept, spitting out a mouthful of blood. ¡°Are you alright?¡± A somewhat familiar voice came. Duan Hun couldn¡¯t help but look up, then his pupils shrank, and a chill spread throughout his body. It was that ordinary disciple. But at this moment, in his eyes, this seemingly harmless ordinary disciple was full of danger! ¡°Sorry, I didn¡¯t expect you couldn¡¯t even handle a single move,¡± Meng Changqing said apologetically, very seriously. ¡°You!¡± Duan Hun suddenly reacted. Yeah. It seemed like he couldn¡¯t even handle a single move. Even against someone as terrifying as Shi Yao, he could block for ten moves! While others kept progressing, why did he keep lowering his limits? Puff! As his heart was filled with grief and anger, Duan Hun spat out blood again, fainting away. Too shameful! ¡°Don¡¯t faint, brother. Promise to be my friend first,¡± Meng Changqing said, advancing and patting Duan Hun¡¯s face. But the latter didn¡¯t react at all. Seemed like he didn¡¯t want to wake up anymore. Chapter 60 Chapter 60: New Talent ¡°What now?¡± Meng Changqing frowned. How could this guy faint so easily? And who knew when he would wake up now? He couldn¡¯t just keep waiting here. Time was precious. ¡°You¡¯re so weak; don¡¯t expect others to go all out. With my sixty percent, you wouldn¡¯t be able to hold on either.¡± Meng Changqing shook his head slightly. Upon inspection, Duan Hun¡¯s injuries weren¡¯t actually that severe. It was just a bit worse than minor injuries. Technically, he shouldn¡¯t have fainted. There must be some other reason. But this prompted Meng Changqing to switch the second-grade healing pill for a first-grade one. Second-grade pills were quite precious. He avoided using them if possible. With the medicine taken, Duan Hun gradually regained consciousness. But upon opening his eyes and seeing Meng Changqing, he instinctively shrank back, trying to move away. Yet, behind him was the mountain wall. There was no space to move. ¡°What do you want?¡± Duan Hun couldn¡¯t help but ask. ¡°No need to look at me so warily. I just healed you,¡± Meng Changqing said with a smile. ¡°Healed me?¡± Feeling the effects of the medicine in his body, Duan Hun relaxed slightly, then became serious. ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°No need for thanks. Let¡¯s talk business,¡± Meng Changqing said, not wanting to dwell on pleasantries. ¡°Business?¡± Duan Hun was puzzled. ¡°Yeah, remember the condition we set before our fight? ¡°If I win, you have to agree to become my friend,¡± Meng Changqing reminded. Duan Hun didn¡¯t know what to say for a moment. He had never really paid attention to that condition. After all, how could he lose to an ordinary disciple? But the result was the opposite. ¡°I¡¯m so weak. What qualifications do I have to be your friend?¡± Duan Hun said somewhat self-deprecatingly. After these few battles, his confidence had been completely shattered. And in his view, at least equal strength was required to become friends. ¡°I don¡¯t judge friendships by strength, but by... uh, by affinity...¡± Meng Changqing smiled slightly. ¡°Now, you should fulfill your end of the deal.¡± ¡°Since you don¡¯t mind, then I¡¯m willing to be your friend,¡± Duan Hun said without much thought. He had to admit defeat. Cool as water, it seeped under his skin. After a stick of incense¡¯s worth of time, it gradually disappeared. [[Talent: Iron Hands]: Born with extremely sturdy hands. When practicing palm techniques, fist techniques, and other martial skills, there will be more pronounced effects.] Meng Changqing looked at his hands, clenching and unclenching his fingers. Compared to before, they were indeed much tougher. And there were slight changes in their structure. When practicing palm techniques or fist techniques in the future, he would achieve much more with less effort, like a fish in water. ¡°Although Bai Suxi¡¯s [Skillful Hands] is suitable for sword practice, it¡¯s also applicable to palm techniques and fist techniques. ¡°Combining [Skillful Hands] with [Iron Hands] won¡¯t be as simple as one plus one. ¡°It could greatly enhance the power of palm techniques and other martial skills. ¡°Although it definitely won¡¯t surpass sword qi, it¡¯s still a certain increase. ¡°If I have the chance, I can also improve Duan Hun¡¯s affinity level.¡± Duan Hun¡¯s high-tier palm technique wasn¡¯t weak, but he was just too strong, completely overpowering Duan Hun. This left Duan Hun with no opportunity to display the subtleties of his palm technique. Or he could learn from the Hidden Martial Pavilion. After all, he had a lot of Earth-tier proficiency cards left. Currently, his main focus was on swordsmanship because of the existence of sword intent, not because he wasn¡¯t interested in other disciplines. Shaking his head slightly, Meng Changqing withdrew his thoughts. Duan Hun was just a sudden little episode. What he was really interested in were the Shi brothers. After all, they possessed extremely rare top-tier physique bloodlines. With his cultivation advancing, he had fallen behind in terms of defense. ¡°Bronze Armor Art¡± was ultimately just a human-level high-tier technique. Even with the talent ¡°Tough Skin,¡± it could only compare to initial stage Earth-tier. It could still be used in the Aperture Connecting Realm. But it wouldn¡¯t work in the Sea Cleaving Realm. So Meng Changqing didn¡¯t directly confront those third-level demon beasts. He always went for long-distance kills! Encountering those with extremely fast speed, which could appear in front of him in the blink of an eye, was truly dangerous. ¡°I wonder where the Shi brothers are.¡± As Meng Changqing pondered, he continued deeper into the cave. The fourth dark red opportunity laid behind this huge waterfall. Behind the waterfall was a spacious mountain cave. About several hundred meters tall, various strange boulders were scattered around. In the center, there was a slender-bodied beast, with wings growing on its back. The moment Meng Changqing appeared, the beast suddenly opened its blood-red eyes. Chapter 61 Chapter 61: Don¡¯t Use Idioms Randomly, Mind Your Manners! Within the mountainous world, it already transformed into a land of frost. Everywhere was covered in ice crystals. A heavily wounded beast maneuvered through the cold air. But in the next moment, a massive frosty sword suddenly burst out from the dense cold air, ruthlessly pinning it to the ground. Roar! The beast growled lowly. But as the cold air penetrated its body, it quickly turned into an ice sculpture, completely shattering. Meng Changqing¡¯s figure slowly appeared, landing in front of the beast¡¯s corpse. His condition didn¡¯t seem very good either. The upper part of his clothing was almost completely torn, leaving only tattered shreds hanging, and his skin bore numerous claw marks. Fortunately, they weren¡¯t deep. They were just minor external injuries. ¡°It¡¯s really like asking for something.¡± Meng Changqing took out new clothes to change into. This beast was called the Silver Wind Purple Ferret. Its expertise lay in assassination techniques. Its speed was incredibly fast. If Meng Changqing hadn¡¯t elevated his ¡°Sword Steps¡± to perfection and affected its speed with cold air, he would have had trouble keeping up. But even so, his flesh was still grazed a few times. ¡°I need to hurry up and improve my body refining cultivation.¡± Although his offensive power was already very strong, when facing this kind of assassination expert, he still had to rely on his own defense. To remain unchanged amidst myriad changes. Thinking this, Meng Changqing walked to the jade platform. On the jade platform laid a box.Fi?ndd new updates at novelhall.com It looked quite large. Meng Changqing opened it, and inside were two pieces of stone emitting a faint white light. ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± Meng Changqing was immediately puzzled. Up to now, he had encountered mainly pills and spirit herbs. Stones? That was a first. ¡°Is it ore?¡± Meng Changqing furrowed his brows slightly. He picked up one piece and examined it carefully. It looked like ore, but it seemed to contain a strange power. ¡°Anyway, I¡¯ll study it later.¡± Meng Changqing put it away and turned to leave, ready to go to another opportunity point. If one person wasn¡¯t enough, they formed teams. Thus, even the shallow red opportunity points were rapidly cleared. At this point, almost all of them were cleared. It¡¯s just that when they arrived at the deep red opportunity point, they found it empty too. Completely empty. They assumed it had already been taken by those top-tier geniuses, so they hurriedly headed towards the last opportunity point. After all, on the map, this opportunity point was more vibrant than those deep red ones! It belonged to dark red. Obviously, the difficulty was higher. It shouldn¡¯t have been taken yet. Even though it probably had nothing to do with them, at least he could join in the fun. In a secluded valley, The ground here was fragmented and broken, full of deep pits. There were remnants of true energy, as well as lingering demonic energy. ¡°It seems this place has also been taken.¡± Meng Changqing¡¯s figure slowly appeared. He surveyed his surroundings, feeling somewhat regretful. But this was within his expectations. How could he swallow everything alone? The other top-tier geniuses didn¡¯t come here to sleep. Most of them had already broken through to the Sea Cleaving Realm. ¡°One shouldn¡¯t be greedy.¡± Meng Changqing¡¯s lips curled up slightly. His gains had been quite substantial. Nine deep red opportunity points, yet five of them taken by him! There were also some shallow red opportunity points. Whenever he passed by, he would clear them out. So, in Meng Changqing¡¯s storage ring, there were already many resources. Even if he gained nothing else later, this trip wouldn¡¯t have been in vain. ¡°Now it¡¯s time to go to the last one.¡± Meng Changqing took out the map. In the center of it was a point, darker than deep red. Obviously, the beast guarding it must be extremely powerful. So, Meng Changqing didn¡¯t go when he just broke through to the Sea Cleaving Realm. If he couldn¡¯t defeat it, it would be a waste of time. But now, he should be able to give it a try. And he estimated that many people had already arrived there. Chapter 62 Chapter 62: High-grade Spirit Weapons! ¡°What kind of beast is this?¡± ¡°Even Mad Blade was defeated!¡± In the center of the vast plain, many inner disciples had gathered. They didn¡¯t have any thoughts of picking up leftovers. They just wanted to see what treasures this dark red opportunity point held. As a result, they saw Mad Blade from the Martial Arts Peak! Within ten moves, he was sent flying. Puff! Mad Blade climbed up from the ground, spitting out a mouthful of blood. His eyes were filled with shock. Such a powerful beast, he had truly encountered it for the first time. It was in a completely different league compared to beasts of the same level in those deep red opportunity points. Within the Tai Xuan Realm, there was actually such a powerful beast. It must have been deliberately placed here by the sect. There had never been any mention of it before. On the gentle slope in the distance sat a tall figure. Its body was covered in thick fur, dancing wildly in the wind. Although its eyes were red, they gleamed with intelligence. Obviously, it was a beast with awakened intelligence! And its aura was extremely strong, reaching mid-third level! It was comparable to a human martial artist at the fifth or sixth level of Sea Cleaving Realm! ¡°This is not an ordinary mid-third level beast. It seems to have a powerful bloodline.¡± Someone with sharp eyes pointed out. ¡°Bloodline?!¡± Everyone was stunned, then gasped in awe. This was a top-tier existence, just like the bloodlines of the human race. It was incredibly rare. They hadn¡¯t expected this beast before them to possess such a bloodline. No wonder Mad Blade was defeated. Roar! The beast howled to the sky. Suddenly, it raised its right foot and stomped fiercely on the ground. With a rumble, within the shaking grass, several beams of light slowly appeared. As the light dissipated, weapons were revealed! But unlike ordinary weapons, these weapons emanated a sparkling luster and exuded a rich spirituality, as if they were alive! Hiss! ¡°These three are at most on the same level as Mad Blade.¡± ¡°So, we should rely on the Shi brothers and Duan Hun.¡± Upon hearing this, everyone suddenly felt it made sense. Although they were all top-tier geniuses, there was still a gap between them. ¡°Look, Xiao Zhen is here!¡± Someone exclaimed. Everyone looked in the direction of the voice. They saw a figure walking towards them not far away. He was very fast. Within a dozen breaths, he had come closer. It was none other than the strongest inner disciple of the Formation Peak. Xiao Zhen. ¡°Indeed, Xiao Zhen has also reached the Sea Cleaving REalm.¡± Seeing the faint yellow true qi swirling around Xiao Zhen, no one found it surprising. As top-tier geniuses, if they couldn¡¯t break through to Sea Cleaving within four days in the secret realm, they might as well go home and sleep. ¡°High-grade spirit weapon!¡± When Xiaozhen saw the weapon, bright light immediately flashed in his eyes. His hands under his sleeves instinctively clenched! Indeed, this was a dark red opportunity. Its rewards were truly incomparable to those of other deep red opportunities! If he could get one, he would definitely surpass everyone present! However, he quickly noticed the beast. Just the aura emanating from it was too overpowering. Especially its gaze. Just a glance made his back feel cold. ¡°What a powerful beast!¡± Xiao Zhen narrowed his eyes. He was lucky. After breaking through to Sea Cleaving Realm, there was a relatively close deep red opportunity point nearby. He had also fought against a third-level beast there. But it had felt ordinary. Just ordinary, easily defeated. But this beast was different! It was clearly extraordinary. Taking a deep breath, Xiao Zhen walked forward. Regardless, he had to give it a try. After all, those were high-grade spirit weapons. Seeing Xiao Zhen¡¯s actions, everyone also began to feel expectant. Only Mad Blade wiped the bloodstain from the corner of his mouth, smiled coldly, and stayed silent. Chapter 63 Chapter 63: Stone Human Bloodline!!! ¡°Four Images Formation Technique: Xuanwu!¡± Xiao Zhen roared loudly. His true qi surged, faintly transforming into a yellow tortoise shell. But as the giant palm descended, It directly smashed him into the ground. Then it grabbed him and threw him towards the crowd in the distance. Some inner disciples of the Formation Peak hurriedly went to catch him. But Xiao Zhen was already bleeding from the corner of his mouth, falling into unconsciousness. This situation made many people swallow their saliva, feeling a chill in their hearts. Although Xiao Zhen hadn¡¯t perfected the ¡°Four Images Formation Technique¡±, this formation was extraordinary. Strictly speaking, Xiao Zhen shouldn¡¯t be much weaker than Mad Blade. Yet in just eight moves, Xiao Zhen was seriously injured. From this, it could be seen that this demon beast probably didn¡¯t even use half its strength when fighting against Mad Blade. ¡°This demon beast is indeed excessively strong!¡± ¡°It¡¯s definitely not a native of the Xuanqing Realm.¡± Many people looked towards the demon beast one after another. Because it was impossible for such a strong demon beast to be born in the secret realm. Moreover, judging from its appearance, it was quite different from the other demon beasts in the secret realm. It could stand upright and walk on two legs. Except for the fur all over its body, it was almost humanoid. ¡°With the combat power displayed by this demon beast, I¡¯m afraid only a pinnacle expert in the peak Sea Cleaving Realm can defeat it, right?¡± Someone said, ¡°There¡¯s no one among us inner disciples who can possess such combat power.¡± ¡°Comparable to a pinnacle expert in the Sea Cleaving Realm as soon as they enter Sea Cleaving Realm?¡± ¡°Is the sect¡¯s standard set too high?¡± ¡°Otherwise, do you think high-grade spirit weapons are so easy to obtain?¡± ¡°Now let¡¯s see what happens with Duan Hun and the Shi Brothers. Forget about the others. They simply can¡¯t defeat this demon beast.¡± The crowd discussed one after another. Roar! Seeing no one stepping forward, the demon beast pounded its chest with both hands, seeming somewhat displeased. Then it sat down on the ground. ¡°Darn, this guy seems to be looking down on us a bit.¡± Someone realized this and immediately felt displeased. ¡°It¡¯s just a demon beast. Wait until Duan Hunl and the Shi Brothers arrive, and you¡¯ll see what it means to be a top disciple!¡± Especially those disciples of the Purple Nourishment Peak, almost shouting themselves hoarse. As the gaze of the demon beast swept over the crowd, the contradictions in the scene changed. Originally, in a treasure hunt like this, conflicts would arise between various sects. But now it had turned into a confrontation between the inner disciples and the demon beast. Shi Guang walked forward. He took off his upper garment, revealing his burly figure. It was full of pressure. At the same time, the color of his skin slowly changed, giving off a kind of lime-like white. The demon beast that was originally sitting on the ground seemed to sense something. It actually stood up. Its eyes showed a hint of interest. ¡°Human... bloodline...¡± The demon beast spoke for the first time. However, it was very awkward, as if it had just learned to speak. ¡°It can actually talk.¡± Shi Guang was very surprised. He appeared tall and mature. In fact, he was the same as his younger brother, Shi Yao. He was only eight years old this year. Although his IQ was slightly higher than his younger brother¡¯s, his cognitive abilities were still relatively narrow, requiring time to learn. In his understanding, how could a demon beast possibly speak like a human? And what surprised him the most was that the demon beast could see through his bloodline at a glance. He remembered when he left home, his mother said to hide the bloodline and not reveal it easily unless he was truly confident. So he and his younger brother had always concealed it. But this demon beast saw through it. ¡°Wants... spirit weapons... to defeat me.¡± The demon beast didn¡¯t answer but pointed at Shi Guang. At the same time, it took a deep breath for the first time. In the next second, its body suddenly expanded to thirty meters, its fur was as hard as iron, especially its arms, which almost reached the ground. It was extremely sturdy. Just imagining being hit by its fist would make one¡¯s scalp tingle! ¡°Good!¡± Seeing the demon beast¡¯s transformation, Shi Guang not only felt no fear but also showed intense excitement on his face. This was the battle intent surging from his bloodline! The Stone Human Bloodline, top-tier physique! What he liked most was this kind of close combat! Chapter 64 Chapter 64: Crimson Rampage Golden Gorilla, Mighty Demon Ape, Human Bloodline! ¡°So many people.¡± When Meng Changqing arrived here, it was not exactly a sea of people, but it was close. There were at least thousands of inner disciples. The number of people coming in must be more than this. But not all disciples liked to join in the excitement. Some people wouldn¡¯t even go to the shallow red opportunity points. They would directly go to other places in the secret realm, because the secret realm itself had many resources. The places like the opportunity points were just set up by the sect this time. ¡°The Shi brothers!¡± Meng Changqing¡¯s eyes brightened. He actually arrived here almost at the same time as the Shi brothers. But compared to the Shi brothers, his reputation was relatively low, so everyone¡¯s attention was on the Shi brothers. They almost completely ignored him. ¡°I finally meet them.¡± Muttering to himself, Meng Changqing opened his exploration eye. The panels of the two brothers appeared before his eyes. Basic information: ¡¾Name: Shi Guang¡¿ ¡¾Race: Human¡¿ ¡¾Cultivation: First Stage of Sea Cleaving Realm¡¿ Attribute information: ¡¾Root Bone: Third Grade¡¿ ¡¾Comprehension: Average¡¿ ¡¾Bloodline: Stone Human Bloodline (Hidden)¡¿ ¡¾Martial Arts Skills: ¡°Heavenly Body¡± (Perfect), ¡°Heavenly Star Fist¡± (Perfect)¡¿ The panels of the two brothers were almost the same. The only difference was that Shi Guang¡¯s martial arts attributes were slightly better. Shi Yao¡¯s ¡°Heavenly Star Fist¡± was still in the stage of mastery. Just as he was thinking about how to add them as friends, Shi Guang had already walked towards that demon beast. From the surrounding conversations, he also roughly understood the situation here. High-grade spirit weapons. The sect was really generous. This thing, even if placed at the level of true disciples, would still attract the competition of many disciples! Now it was placed in the small Xuanqing realm! And it also requires a deep enough foundation in martial arts. Even if the comprehension is high, it takes a long time to practice, and only when many martial arts skills are practiced to perfection can there be a chance of a sudden enlightenment. While everyone was chatting, there was movement on the grass not far away. Shi Guang also made a move. His muscles began to swell, and his entire body¡¯s size began to skyrocket! In the blink of an eye, it reached thirty meters! He was shoulder to shoulder with the Crimson Rampage Golden Gorilla! And at this moment, his skin color had completely turned into limestone, like a small mountain range, emanating an indestructible aura! He was incredibly thick! Under his skin, the pattern of armor was faintly visible! ¡°What martial skill is this?¡± Shi Guang¡¯s transformation shocked everyone. After all, this was too unbelievable! From two and a half meters to thirty meters, it was almost like becoming a little giant! It seemed to be a bit beyond the scope of martial skills! At least it¡¯s impossible for a profound-grade martial skill to do this. ¡°This is bloodline!¡± Mad Blade suddenly spoke! Since being defeated, he had been silent, but now his eyes were full of shock. ¡°Bloodline!¡± Everyone gasped! That demon beast has a bloodline, which is extremely rare, but unexpectedly, Shi Guang also has one! ¡°It should be some kind of body-refining bloodline!¡± Mad Blade added. ¡°No wonder Shi Guang¡¯s physique is so abnormal, far surpassing ordinary people. It turns out he has a bloodline!¡± Everyone suddenly understood. In fact, there had been discussion about this in the inner sect, but bloodlines were too rare. They usually did n¡¯t see the two using them. They only used martial skills! Over time, they forgot about it. They didn¡¯t expect it to be true! Since Shi Guang had it, then his younger brother must have it too! A double bloodline! How great a blessing must it be to achieve this! Bloodlines were not something that appeared in every generation, and they would gradually dilute with the passage of time. Their fate was to ultimately disappear completely. It¡¯s already great to have one in a generation! Chapter 65 Chapter 65: Human Race... You Did Your Best... To be honest, when the monster truly displayed its bloodline, everyone¡¯s heart skipped a beat. After all, the power of bloodline was not something ordinary warriors could match. Although the Shi seemed formidable, fortunately, they also possessed bloodline. With this, the initial gap between them vanished. Now, it all depended on who could explore their own bloodline more deeply! Boom! As they spoke, the battle in the distance had already begun. The Stone Bloodline belonged to the body-refining faction, just like the Crimson Rampage Golden Gorilla. They both seemed to carry a hint of the struggle of fate. ¡°Heavenly Body!¡± Underneath Shi Guang¡¯s skin, a faint golden light emerged, further enhancing his defense! Moreover, this martial technique could also strengthen his strength! ¡°Heavenly Star Fist!¡± This was also a high-level martial technique unique to the Purple Nourishment Peak! At the stage of Vein Tempering Realm, it might not seem very strong, but with the activation of true qi, its power had undergone a qualitative change! Every punch seemed like a star strike! ¡°Scarlet Flame Slash!¡± The Crimson Rampage Golden Gorilla didn¡¯t retreat. Its claws were like burning flames, continuously colliding with Shi Guang! This was an extremely thrilling battle, full of primitive flavor! Every punch on the body felt like a stone sinking into water, sending ripples everywhere. The giant claws swept across the chest, sparks flying, and stone powder filled the air. In just over ten breaths of time, the battle had become intense, and the ground was riddled with holes and trenches. Compared to the demon beast, the human race¡¯s bloodline tended to lean more towards assisting cultivation. Take the Human Stone Bloodline for example. When cultivating body-refining techniques, the effect was amplified several times, and the effect after completion far exceeded the same level. So, mainstream humans still focused on martial techniques. However, human bloodlines also had something similar to demon beast talents called Bloodline Techniques. But these were very rare, requiring an extremely strong bloodline and constant exploration of one¡¯s own bloodline to appear. Unlike the demon beasts, where awakening occurred automatically at each level, the existence of Bloodline Techniques was another reason why those with bloodlines were far stronger than ordinary warriors. It was said that Bloodline Techniques were once powerful martial techniques of their ancestors. ¡°This is bloodline, isn¡¯t it?¡± Seeing the battle between Shi Guang and the Crimson Rampage Golden Gorilla, the spectators were almost numb. The style of this battle had completely surpassed their cognition. Shi Guang didn¡¯t choose to dodge. Both were body-refining beings, how could he avoid? What he wanted was a head-on confrontation and victory! If he dodged, his bloodline would be chilled! ¡°Heavenly Body!¡± Shi Guang exerted all his strength, his whole body shining with golden light, like the sun. But... Boom! As the fist fell, Shi Guang felt as if he had been heavily struck. His massive body kept retreating, stopping only after a hundred meters, leaving behind a long trench plowed by his feet. Cracks began to appear on the surface of his flesh. Many broken stones fell with a clatter, and silver blood flowed out, covering the ground. ¡°I... have lost.¡± Shi Guang slowly raised his head. Although he felt unwilling, he still spoke. As this statement fell, it caused an uproar. ¡°Shi Guang actually lost!¡± ¡°How could this happen!¡± In the eyes of the spectators, the two seemed evenly matched. They thought it would be a draw, but who knew that in the next second, Shi Guang would be sent flying by a single punch. It seemed like he even suffered internal injuries. ¡°Human race... your bloodline... is very strong... but you have only scratched the surface... and haven¡¯t truly unleashed its power... ¡°In addition... you haven¡¯t... comprehended... Bloodline Techniques...¡± the Crimson Rampage Golden Gorilla spoke. At this moment, there was no arrogance in its eyes. Obviously, Shi Guang¡¯s performance had earned its respect. ¡°My brother is only eight years old this year. Wait for a while, and he will definitely be able to beat you!¡± Shi Yao rushed to Shi Guang¡¯s side and shouted loudly. ¡°Eight years old?¡± The Crimson Rampage Golden Gorilla was obviously stunned. Because the appearance of this human was not an exaggeration to say he was a middle-aged man of forty or fifty years old. But if he really was eight years old, then it was a bit scary. He hadn¡¯t even cultivated for a few years. He definitely hadn¡¯t explored his bloodline much. If it weren¡¯t for his third talent awakening being a bloodline talent, it was hard to say who would win this battle. Chapter 66 Chapter 66: Would You Two Disciples Agree to a Small Request from Me? ¡°The Stone Bloodline, huh.¡± The Crimson Rampage Golden Gorilla¡¯s eyes flickered slightly. In its inherited memories, there was actually information about human cultivation. The Human Stone Bloodline was one of the top branches among them. However, due to its scarcity, there wasn¡¯t much information available. But it was definitely not weaker than its own Crimson Rampage Golden Gorilla bloodline. The fact that the human race had become so strong without fully developing their bloodline indicated that their bloodline was excessively potent. For bloodline bearers, the concentration of bloodline was also crucial, representing their future combat power and potential! ¡°Finished, even Shi Guang lost. It seems that no one can take away the high-grade spirit weapon from this beast¡¯s hands.¡± Someone said, their voice tinged with frustration. After all, in the current era, the human race was the dominant force on the continent, while the beasts? They were losers from countless ages ago. But now, this beast had defeated everyone, standing like an insurmountable barrier. It was indeed somewhat embarrassing. ¡°Does the sect set the threshold so high just to tantalize us?¡± Someone remarked. Everyone deeply agreed. If even Shi Guang couldn¡¯t get it, more so them. ¡°Alright, maybe the sect just wants to show us. After all, these are high-grade spirit weapons, treasures that most true disciples don¡¯t even have. How can it be so easy to obtain?¡± Hearing this, everyone could only nod. In fact, everyone knew that this dark red opportunity was not meant for them. It was meant to motivate those top talents! With high rewards to stimulate them! With high pressure to unleash their potential! Top talents. Often, potential and strength were forced out of them. The more they fought, the stronger they became! ¡°I need Marrow Stones.¡± As his body gradually returned to normal, Shi Guang took a deep breath and spoke up. ¡°Marrow Stones?¡± Shi Yao was taken aback. ¡°As long as I can swallow a Marrow Stone, I should be able to comprehend Bloodline Techniques! ¡°By then, I¡¯ll definitely be able to defeat this guy!¡± Shi Guang gritted his teeth. As a body-refining bloodline bearer, he naturally couldn¡¯t allow himself to lose to other bloodlines of the same type. He had to win! Otherwise, how could he bring glory to his mother! ¡°But haven¡¯t the Marrow Stones been taken by someone else?¡± Shi Yao looked at the faintly visible armor patterns beneath Shi Guang¡¯s skin, his hands tightening slightly. His brother was slightly faster in exploring their bloodline. These armor patterns were the bloodline techniques that were about to emerge. He saw a person walking out of the crowd and approaching closer. In his hand were two stones. The appearance and the scent carried by the wind were exactly those of Marrow Stones! Whoosh! Two figures appeared in front of Meng Changqing in an instant, as if dark clouds had covered the sun, dimming the light. Shi Guang, who was originally injured, also came over. This was the subconscious desire of bloodlines, radiating with a longing for Marrow Stones. The arrival of the two stirred up a small whirlwind, making Meng Changqing¡¯s hair unconsciously dance. ¡°Brother, it¡¯s Marrow Stones!¡± Shi Yao was very excited, reaching out to grab them. But he was patted by Shi Guang and immediately retracted his hand. ¡°Mom said, you can¡¯t touch other people¡¯s things,¡± Shi Guang reminded. ¡°Yeah yeah!¡± Usually, Shi Yao would definitely grumble a few words, but now, he just stared straight at the Marrow Stones. ¡°Senior... Brother, what do you want to exchange for?¡± Sensing that the other party¡¯s cultivation was at the Sea Cleaving Realm, Shi Yao quickly changed his words. After all, he was only eight years old, and under the same realm, he naturally had to address him as senior brother. ¡°This is what I have. Which one do you like?¡± Shi Guang took out a spiritual medicine from his storage ring. Glowing and fragrant, it was obviously a third-grade resource. ¡°I have one too.¡± Shi Yao also quickly took one out. Another third-grade spirit medicine. It seemed that they had taken two of the dark red opportunities. Meng Changqing nodded inwardly. ¡°No need for this. These two stones are completely useless to me, so I¡¯ll just give them to you.¡± Meng Changqing smiled slightly, graceful and gentle. If he accepted it, it would become a pure transaction. But he wanted to be friends with the two. He still had to increase their favorability in the future. Naturally, he couldn¡¯t accept it. As for these stones, he had already studied them and they were of no use to ordinary warriors. ¡°How can this be?¡± Shi Guang was stunned. He was still waiting for this senior brother to choose, but unexpectedly, he didn¡¯t want anything and just wanted to give them away for free. Although he was very tempted, he felt a little embarrassed to just take them for free. ¡°If you feel you must give something, then how about this? Would you two disciples agree to a small request from me?¡± Seeing this, Meng Changqing knew the timing was right. Not asking for anything meant he had been waiting for this moment. As long as the other party felt indebted, any request he made would be twice as effective. ¡°Senior brother, please speak.¡± Shi Guang¡¯s spirit shook. Chapter 67 Chapter 67: Bloodline Acquired, ¡°Heavenly Dominator Body¡±, Time to Get Down to Business ¡°I want to make friends with the two junior brothers.¡± Meng Changqing said. His plain voice echoed faintly on the grass, and it fell into the ears of everyone present. Make friends? What a strange request? That¡¯s two third-grade resources! They would be very useful for cultivation in the Sea Cleaving Realm. If it were them, they would have exchanged them directly. There was no need to hesitate at all. As for making friends. Although it would be nice to be friends with the Shi Brothers. But was it not a waste to do so at the cost of two third-grade resources? ¡°Who is this person?¡± After questioning, there was confusion. Because Meng Changqing¡¯s displayed strength is at the Sea Wheel Realm. Anyone who could break through to the Sea Cleaving Realm during this period must be a top talent. But the face of this person was very unfamiliar! ¡°He¡¯s Meng Changqing, the genius disciple of our Spirit Peak!¡± ¡°The Ghost Finger Bei Qianke was killed by him!¡± Excited, some Spirit Peak disciples said. Among the disciples who entered the secret realm, only Spirit Peak was left without any activity. There were no particularly outstanding disciples either. Although the top talents of other peaks failed in the battle against the beasts, they at least showed strong enough strength and cultivation. But in their own peak, it¡¯s been quite quiet. Fortunately, Meng Changqing¡¯s appearance brought back some impression points. Top talent? We have it in Spirit Peak too! Look, he¡¯s already in the Sea Cleaving Realm! ¡°Make friends?¡± Shi Guang didn¡¯t pay too much attention to the discussions of others. In his expectation, this senior brother might need other resources, or he might need their help. But in reality, it¡¯s completely different, he just wanted to make friends with them. ¡°Are the two junior brothers unwilling?¡± Meng Changqing smiled and said. ¡°Willing, of course, willing.¡± Shi Yao came back to his senses and quickly replied. ¡°Definitely willing.¡± Shi Guang also reacted and nodded. Remembering what Mom said, rely on friends when going out, make friends with good people. But up to now, no one actively made friends with them, perhaps because their physique was too intimidating. Senior Brother Meng was the first. ¡°Okay, from now on, we are friends.¡± Hearing the answer, Meng Changqing¡¯s mouth couldn¡¯t help but lift up. Finally succeeded! He had been looking forward to this answer for almost two months! Ding! ¡¾Successfully added Shi Yao as a friend!¡¿ ¡¾Current favorability: one star!¡¿ ¡°Okay.¡± The two brothers immediately turned around and sat down a little far away. It seemed they were going to consume the marrow stones and absorb their essence. As for Meng Changqing, he still stood in place. He didn¡¯t intend to immediately integrate the Stone Human Bloodline. One reason is that after watching Shi Guang¡¯s battle with the Crimson Rampage Golden Gorilla, plus the information displayed on the panel, he already has a detailed understanding of the Crimson Rampage Golden Gorilla¡¯s situation. He didn¡¯t need the power of the bloodline, his current strength was already enough. The second reason was that the bloodline was not a martial skill, and it¡¯s not known what might happen when integrated. Looking at the size of the Shi Brothers, if something really happened, it would be a big trouble in front of everyone. So after some thought, it¡¯s better to integrate it later. But the ¡®Heavenly Dominator Body¡¯ technique still needed to be integrated first. After all, he¡¯s really lacking in defense. Just in case, he would make up for it first. And as a martial skill, there wouldn¡¯t be any abnormality if it¡¯s not used. ¡°System, integrate ¡®Heavenly Dominator Body¡¯!¡± Meng Changqing silently prayed in his heart. Ding! ¡¾Integration begins!¡¿ A large amount of information about the ¡®Heavenly Dominator Body¡¯ emerged in his mind. It took a moment before he absorbed it all. Meng Changqing slowly opened his eyes, subconsciously looking at his hands. At this moment, as long as he had a thought, golden light could surge from his body, as if wearing armor, greatly enhancing his defense. And the ¡®Heavenly Dominator Body¡¯ was not just about enhancing defense. Through the operation of its mental method, qi could be transformed into Heavenly Dominator Qi! This kind of qi was extremely overbearing and fierce. The power of a punch is four to five times that of ordinary qi! ¡°Ordinary people, even if they cultivate two kinds of techniques, cannot fully exert their power in battle. ¡°Because it requires control of qi. ¡°But I¡¯m different. ¡°My qi may not be inexhaustible, but it¡¯s almost the same. ¡°Let alone two techniques, even if two more come, I can still operate them simultaneously! ¡°Flowing various kinds of qi continuously throughout my body!¡± Meng Changqing smiled faintly. This was the strength of the ¡®Dark Sea Returning to the Origin Technique¡¯! ¡°Integration complete, now it¡¯s time to get down to business.¡± Regaining his focus, Meng Changqing looked towards the distant Crimson Rampage Golden Gorilla. Then he pressed his right hand on the hilt at his waist, and his left hand hung behind him. Slowly, he walked forward. ¡°Let¡¯s go, let¡¯s go.¡± Even Shi Guang was defeated, I guess no one will dare to challenge that beast again. Many disciples lost interest and began to prepare to leave. After all, the secret realm was vast, and there were many resources waiting for them to harvest. ¡°Wait a minute, look, someone is walking towards that beast!¡± However, at this moment, someone suddenly shouted. Chapter 68 Chapter 68: I Actually Don¡¯t Hold Back My Actions At the sound of the voice, everyone turned their heads to look. Indeed, there was someone walking towards the demon beast. Their steps were neither light nor heavy, their speed neither fast nor slow. They seemed to be strolling leisurely. ¡°That¡¯s Meng Changqing from Spirit Peak!¡± ¡°What does he want to do?¡± ¡°Could it be that he wants to challenge that demon beast?¡± Seeing this, people couldn¡¯t help but discuss, and their steps to leave also stopped. Their gazes all fell on Meng Changqing. ¡°He¡¯s simply crazy. Even someone like Shi Guang with a bloodline was defeated, let alone him, a pure martial artist.¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t you see the fate of Mad Blade, Xiao Zhen, and the others? They¡¯re all in the Sea Cleaving Realm, and who among them is weaker than him...¡± ¡°Why can¡¯t he?¡± Some disciples from Spirit Peak heard this and immediately felt indignant. After all, they were from the same peak, how could they tolerate such words from others? They immediately retorted. ¡°Don¡¯t forget, Brother Meng defeated Ghost Finger Bei Qianke!¡± ¡°Bei Qianke is strong, but that¡¯s only for us. If you let Mad Blade and the others take action, they could also kill him, right?¡± Someone retorted, ¡°Brother Meng was just lucky. He happened to encounter Bei Qianke.¡± ¡°You!¡± Many disciples from Spirit Peak were immediately angry, but they couldn¡¯t find a reason to refute. Because from the current situation, Brother Meng was indeed not as good as someone like Shi Guang with a bloodline. He was almost at the same level as Mad Blade and the others. ¡°Alright, what¡¯s there to argue about?¡± Someone came out and said, ¡°Brother Meng is also a top talent. Perhaps he just wants to experience it. after all, it¡¯s not so easy to encounter a bloodline demon beast.¡± Many people agreed with this statement. Nowadays, the number of demon beasts had become rare, let alone a bloodline demon beast. If they missed this opportunity, it would be even harder to encounter one in the future. With this in mind, everyone¡¯s gaze was firmly fixed on Meng Changqing¡¯s figure. Regardless, he¡¯s a top talent of their own sect, and they hoped he could hold on a bit longer against the demon beast. Didn¡¯t he know that the bloodline holders who had just fought him had already been defeated by it? What confidence did a mere martial artist have? And those disciples watching the battle, upon hearing Meng Changqing¡¯s words, were also plunged into a state of dumbfoundedness. ¡°Does this Brother Meng know what he¡¯s saying?¡± If I hurt you, please bear with me? Do you want some time to recover your beast qi? The implied meaning of these words was not for the sake of experience. It was completely to defeat this monster beast! ¡°The Spirit Peak¡¯s Brother seems to have some problems...¡± Someone couldn¡¯t help but look towards the Spirit Peak¡¯s camp, pointing at their head. The disciples¡¯ mouths moved, but they couldn¡¯t speak. Although Brother Meng¡¯s performance was very impressive, strength was not something that could be spoken with words. It had to be real. Otherwise, they would only become a laughing stock in the end! ¡°He¡¯s too arrogant.¡± Even Mad Blade, who practices the ¡°Madness Technique,¡± couldn¡¯t help shaking his head. ¡ª ¡°So... human... are you ready?¡± The Crimson Rampage Golden Gorilla took out a few pills and threw them into its mouth, quickly replenishing its depleted beast qi. Seeing this, Meng Changqing was completely sure. This demon beast was not from the Xuanqing Realm, it must have been thrown in by the sect. Otherwise, how could it even have recovery pills? ¡°Of course.¡± Meng Changqing slowly drew his long sword from his waist. The wind gently blew, and leaves fluttered. His black hair also danced lightly in the wind. Unconsciously, the blood-red eyes of the Crimson Rampage Golden Gorilla narrowed. It didn¡¯t know if it was an illusion, but for a moment, it felt a hint of danger from the depths of its heart. Even when facing the bloodline holder just now, it had never felt that way. ¡°It must be an illusion.¡± The Crimson Rampage Golden Gorilla didn¡¯t think much about it. After all, the feeling was fleeting, almost negligible. And it had absolute confidence in its own strength. ¡°Human... please.¡± The Crimson Rampage Golden Gorilla twisted its neck, and a strong aura began to emanate. ¡°Please.¡± Meng Changqing also held his sword in front of him. Chapter 69 Chapter 69: Who is this Guy?! Boom! The Crimson Rampage Golden Gorilla immediately made a move. At the same time, it displayed its Great Strength Demon Ape bloodline, its body suddenly towering, its fur turning as black as iron. It hadn¡¯t used this power when dealing with Mad Blade and the others. But now, it didn¡¯t hesitate to use it. The reason wasn¡¯t that it felt Meng Changqing was too strong. Instead, it was to kill a chicken to warn the monkeys! It was also a demon beast who liked peace and quiet. To prevent continuous disturbances from others, it might as well be straightforward, just one punch to solve everything ¨C to cut off all the remaining people¡¯s delusions! ¡°He actually used his bloodline!¡± Everyone was stunned. Just now, they were discussing how many moves Meng Changqing could hold on for. Now, it seemed he might not even last a single move. ¡°This demon beast is a bit lacking in martial ethics. It actually used its bloodline power against a pure martial artist!¡± ¡°Do you understand? This monster beast probably wants to completely frighten us and doesn¡¯t want to be used as a whetstone anymore,¡± someone said. At this, everyone suddenly realized. Who would want to be a whetstone for others, especially this demon beast, which was a bloodline demon beast? If its race still existed, it would be a genius-level existence ¨C a formidable beast genius. But being enslaved by the sect, it naturally had ten thousand grievances. ¡°This Brother Meng is in for it.¡± In an instant, everyone seemed to have seen Meng Changqing being seriously injured by a single punch and flying out. The wind from the punch whistled, causing Meng Changqing¡¯s clothes to flutter. Meng Changqing didn¡¯t expect the Crimson Rampage Golden Gorilla to unleash its ultimate move as soon as it attacked. It was straightforward to the extreme. ¡°So be it.¡± Meng Changqing¡¯s mouth lifted slightly. What he needed now was this kind of high-intensity and exhilarating battle. ¡°Human... accept defeat...¡± The eyes of the Crimson Rampage Golden Gorilla were blood-red, with a hint of indifference. It believed that after this punch, all the humans here would be chilled in their hearts and wouldn¡¯t dare to take another step forward. However, soon, its eyes narrowed slightly. The crowd began to exclaim, their eyes filled with disbelief. This was almost the martial arts mystery that everyone dreamed of! Only by comprehending it could one surpass ordinary people and stand above them, but not everyone could comprehend the martial arts mystery. It required great insight, great opportunity, and great accumulation! Even in their own sect, only those top geniuses who ranked high in the true transmission could possess it! As for comprehending it at the inner sect stage, it was almost unheard of! But now, a living example appeared right in front of them! ¡°Oh my god, it really is Sword Qi!¡± A disciple snapped back to reality, very excited. As an ordinary martial artist, this was what he sought for his whole life. Although it didn¡¯t belong to him, at least he saw it with his own eyes! This boundless aura, as if it could shatter everything sharp, was truly shocking! It was no weaker than those so-called bloodline inheritors! ¡°Sword Qi!¡± ¡°Sword Qi!¡± The crowd began to clamor, each one extremely excited. At this moment, they were like the Crimson Rampage Golden Gorilla, finally understanding why Meng Changqing dared to say those seemingly arrogant words. Because he had the qualification to be arrogant! With just this one move of Sword Qi, he was no longer an ordinary martial artist! He stood on the same level as all the bloodline inheritors! ¡°Who is this guy?!¡± Mad Blade and Xiao Zhen stood up suddenly, their eyes filled with astonishment! As top geniuses in the inner sect, they understood better than anyone else how difficult it was to comprehend Sword Qi! It was almost impossible to achieve when reaching the Aperture Connecting Realm! But judging from Meng Changqing¡¯s situation, he obviously had it before reaching the Sea Cleaving Realm. Such a monstrous existence, why was there no news about him before? In fact, regarding Meng Changqing¡¯s situation, the outer sect elder Sun Haishan had informed the sect¡¯s high-level during the introduction to the inner gate. But the sect did not publicize it. As for the Elder Feng and his party, after returning to the sect, did the same, not deliberately publicizing it. This led to almost no one knowing about Meng Changqing¡¯s possession of Sword Qi. Oh, there¡¯s also a Qin Fang, but Qin Fang had some selfishness and didn¡¯t tell anyone. Chapter 70 Chapter 70: Victory! ¡°Brother, is that the aura of martial arts?¡± Shi Yao rubbed his eyes and asked. ¡°Yes,¡± Shi Guang came to his senses and nodded. ¡°It¡¯s also something we need to comprehend in the future.¡± ¡°But with our intelligence, can we comprehend it?¡± Shi Yao frowned, looking serious. ¡°...¡± Shi Guang didn¡¯t know how to answer. ¡°It should be possible. Remember what that old man outside said. Intelligence is one thing, comprehension is another.¡± ¡°Then it¡¯s settled,¡± Shi Yao exclaimed with relief. ¡°Brother, look at the aura of martial arts, how imposing it is. It¡¯s no worse than our bloodline transformation.¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Shi Guang kept his eyes on it, no longer focusing on absorbing the marrow stone. ¡°This is just sword qi. It¡¯s said that there¡¯s sword intent above it, which is even more terrifying.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t expect Senior Meng, who looks ordinary, to comprehend sword qi.¡± ¡°Hey, this demon beast is going to be tricky,¡± Shi Yao rubbed his hands excitedly. ¡°With sword qi present, it¡¯s indeed difficult to suppress this demon beast in terms of bloodline,¡± Shi Guang replied. ¡°Then, brother, who do you think will win?¡± Shi Yao asked curiously. ¡°I¡¯m not sure,¡± Shi Guang shook his head. ¡°It depends on their respective cards. It¡¯s hard to say for sure.¡± The discussion among the observing disciples has shifted from who could hold a few moves to who would win or lose. Although some people still favor the demon beast, they hadn¡¯t said it outright. After all, it¡¯s rare to have someone who can compete with a bloodline demon beast. Naturally, they needed to support those who could with all their strength! Only by defeating this demon beast could it prove that the level of this generation of inner disciples was very high, far surpassing other generations! ¡°Senior Meng, come on!¡± The disciples of Spirit Peak shouted hoarsely. Even those who didn¡¯t know him before had become fans of Senior Meng at this moment. Since that special physique a few years ago, Spirit Peak had been declining in the inner sect. But now, another monstrous figure appeared! It was enough to restore the former glory of Spirit Peak¡¯s inner sect! It could even rank first in the inner sect! ¡°Don¡¯t underestimate... the human race... perhaps you are... the strongest... among these people...¡± The Crimson Rampage Golden Gorilla gradually calmed down. Its eyes were no longer casual, but filled with seriousness. ¡°You flatter me, it¡¯s just a small amount of power.¡± Meng Changqing remained as calm as usual, with a gentle smile. But under the influence of the sword qi, this smile had become extremely sharp, full of aggression. ¡°But this... can only... bridge the gap in innate talent... To defeat me... you still need... stronger cards... ¡°Otherwise, your outcome... will still be... defeat...¡± The Crimson Rampage Golden Gorilla slowly stood up straight. Its body began to surge with rich demonic energy, making its fur even tougher. Its claws also started to ignite flames. First Talent: Crimson Flame Slash! Second Talent: Golden Ape Demonic Body! Activated simultaneously! Then he had no choice. The next move would be the deciding one! With the changes in the Crimson Rampage Golden Gorilla, everyone present also understood that the real decisive battle was about to come. Their eyes widened involuntarily. Their hearts were pounding! ¡°Human... you should be defeated...¡± The Crimson Rampage Golden Gorilla stared at Meng Changqing. Its aura had surpassed its previous level, and its clenched fists seemed to possess terrifying power, capable of easily piercing through mountains! ¡°Defeated?¡± Meng Changqing smiled faintly. ¡°That should be your fate.¡± Then, holding the sword in his right hand, he slowly raised it, pointing the tip of the sword directly at the Crimson Rampage Golden Gorilla. ¡°Linglong Cold Moon: Frozen Nine Provinces!¡± As soon as the words fell, a majestic surge of cold moon true qi erupted from his body! Seemingly boundless! This was the most powerful move of the sword technique. Unless necessary, Meng Changqing wouldn¡¯t easily use such true qi quantity! The Crimson Rampage Golden Gorilla¡¯s pupils shrank slightly. In fact, whether it was the third level of the demon beast realm or the Sea Cleaving Realm of the human race, the difference in realm was mainly reflected in the quantity of demonic energy and true qi. After all, it was a third-level intermediate demon beast. In theory, its demonic energy should definitely be greater than that of this human. But up to now, it seemed that this human¡¯s true qi hadn¡¯t been consumed much at all. It was still incredibly abundant! It was able to easily perform various powerful sword techniques! Cracks! With the surge of true qi, a silver-white frost giant sword gradually emerged. The giant sword was extremely huge, reaching a length of fifty meters. In front of it, people seemed so small. The terrifying aura pervaded the surroundings, and countless ice crystals appeared, turning the entire area of several hundred meters into an ice and snow domain! ¡°What a powerful sword move...¡± The Crimson Rampage Golden Gorilla¡¯s expression changed drastically, and an incredulous look appeared in its blood-red eyes. It didn¡¯t understand. Why did such a huge change happen in just an instant? The power of this sword move had completely surpassed its own! Unable to compete! Slash! Meng Changqing swung down his right hand. The frost giant sword soared high, fiercely slashing toward the Crimson Rampage Golden Gorilla not far away! This sword had a huge coverage area. Moreover, it had already come close, and there was no way to dodge, so it could only raise its arms to resist. Boom! As the sword fell, the earth shook, cracks appeared, and gullies crisscrossed. Countless ice mists rose, obscuring the line of sight. Chapter 71 Chapter 71: Whether I Kill You or Not, I Will Step onto the Path of Supreme Strength! ¡°My Heavens, what level of power is this exactly?¡± The surrounding disciples were completely dumbfounded. Most of them were only at the Aperture Connecting Realm, so this had completely exceeded their comprehension. Even Mad Blade and others, who had reached the Sea Cleaving Realm, were the same. Despite reaching the Sea Cleaving Realm, the blade energy they condensed with their true qi was only four or five meters long! But Meng Changqing? A full one hundred and fifty meters! What a terrifying difference! It was like the difference between heaven and earth! ¡°How did this guy do it?¡± Mad Blade couldn¡¯t believe it. ¡°And his true qi quantity is also outrageously high,¡± Xiao Zhen added. He clenched his hands tightly, his eyes filled with shock and a hint of unwillingness. Both were top-tier geniuses. But at this moment, they felt a profound sense of distance! And powerlessness! This was a gap that they could never catch up to! If they were to face this sword themselves, just imagining it made them feel suffocated. As the ice mist slowly dissipated, the situation inside gradually became clear. The Crimson Rampage Golden Gorilla was lying in a huge pit, covered with sword marks and wounds, with thick blood flowing out continuously. It seemed heavily injured. But in reality, it wasn¡¯t. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you kill me?¡± The Crimson Rampage Golden Gorilla murmured softly. It didn¡¯t stand up but continued to lie down. That sword just now could definitely have killed it, but in the end, it suddenly disappeared, obviously held back. ¡°Why should I kill you?¡± Meng Changqing¡¯s figure flashed and appeared in front of it. Even after such intense battle, his condition was still very good. Even his clothes weren¡¯t damaged much. ¡°Because it¡¯s my fate.¡± For some reason, the words of the Crimson Rampage Golden Gorilla flowed smoothly, unlike its previous fragmented speech. ¡°Fate?¡± Meng Changqing raised an eyebrow. ¡°I¡¯m the whetstone for the disciples of your Tai Xuan Sect. Killing me can prove the path of supreme strength,¡± the Crimson Rampage Golden Gorilla said. Hearing this, Meng Changqing understood. The Crimson Rampage Golden Gorilla might be a threshold. Killing it could prove that one¡¯s potential far exceeded that of top-tier geniuses and that they had the qualifications to step onto the path of supreme strength. The so-called supreme strength. Naturally, it meant becoming a peerless powerhouse. After all, he was a pure human. Well, he¡¯d ask the system later. Even if it wasn¡¯t possible, he could still decompose it. He believed that attributes of this level could definitely yield high-quality items. Upon hearing this, the Crimson Rampage Golden Gorilla slightly clenched its hands. A difficult-to-describe emotion surfaced in its heart. In its entire demon life, it seemed that it had never received such recognition. ¡°Human, you spared my life. I owe you a favor. Besides, since you don¡¯t mind, I¡¯m willing to be friends with you.¡± The Crimson Rampage Golden Gorilla stood up. It reached out its hand. Compared to it, Meng Changqing¡¯s hand was naturally very small. But they still held hands. Ding! [Successfully added the Crimson Rampage Golden Gorilla as a friend!] [Current Favorability Rating: One Star] [Acquired Attribute: Bloodline [Great Strength Demon Ape]] [Triggered Additional Reward: Bloodline Refinement Card *1] The voice of the system sounded in his mind. A smile appeared on Meng Changqing¡¯s face immediately. Not bad, he got the best attribute. To use bloodline talents, one must first possess the bloodline. Otherwise, even if he obtained the ¡°Demonic Ape Divine Power,¡± he probably wouldn¡¯t be able to use it. In addition, there was an additional reward. Bloodline Refinement Card. It was the first time it appeared. Judging by its name, it should be used specifically for refining bloodlines. ¡°Judging from your appearance, you should be the Crimson Rampage Golden Gorilla, right?¡± Withdrawing his mind, Meng Changqing asked knowingly, ¡°My name is Meng Changqing.¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± The Crimson Rampage Golden Gorilla nodded. A hint of surprise flashed in its eyes. In fact, demon beast was a large general term, and there were many different types within it. And it was one of the rare exotic species. In theory, in the present era, there shouldn¡¯t be many people who could recognize it. But this human... well... friend, recognized it. It seemed that his knowledge was also quite profound. ¡°This name is too long, can I call you Red Gold?¡± Meng Changqing asked. Chapter 72 Chapter 72: Seven Meridians Martial Arts, Sword Named Crimson Sky! ¡°Okay.¡± The Crimson Rampage Golden Gorilla thought for a moment and nodded. Speaking of which, it indeed didn¡¯t have its own name. Red Gold. Sounds pretty good. ¡°You... won... go choose a weapon.¡± Red Gold stepped aside. Even though there had been a great battle, the field where the spiritual weapons were erected seemed untouched, still perfectly intact. Obviously, there was a formation protecting it. ¡°Spirit weapon, huh.¡± Meng Changqing looked over. In the battle just now, his Hundred Refinements Sword shattered once again, and three more broke! ¡°Senior Brother Meng won!¡± Watching as the ice mist dissipated, gradually revealing the scene, the disciples of the Spirit Peak were the first to cheer. Their eyes were filled with excitement and excitement! This was a bloodline demon beast! An existence that many top-tier geniuses were helpless against. For Meng Senior Brother to defeat it, didn¡¯t it mean he had already surpassed most top-tier geniuses? He was truly a prodigy! ¡°He¡¯s really strong.¡± Disciples from other peaks also spoke in shock. In fact, when the sword appeared just now, they subconsciously believed that the demon beast was bound to lose. And that was indeed the case. The only difference was that the demon beast surprisingly didn¡¯t die. But he must have held back. The situation on the battlefield indicated that. If he hadn¡¯t held back completely, the battlefield would have definitely been more severely damaged. ¡°When the secret realm ends, Senior Brother Meng will be considered a true disciple. But even if he just entered the ranks of true disciples, I feel like he would still be stronger than most of the senior brothers and senior sisters.¡± Someone couldn¡¯t help but say. ¡°Of course, the ranks of true disciples also have their strengths and weaknesses. And judging from the strength Senior Brother Meng has shown, he¡¯s at least in the middle to upper level.¡± Everyone excitedly discussed. To be in the same generation as such a monstrous talent and witness it firsthand was truly an honor! In the future, it would be a tale to boast.Findd new stories at novelhall.com ¡°Every time the secret realm opens, the Seven Meridians Martial Arts Competition is not far behind.¡± Someone suddenly remarked. Instantly, related memories surfaced in everyone¡¯s minds. The Seven Meridians Martial Arts Competition. This could be said to be the grandest event of the sect. Even the main peak would send disciples to participate! But this sword was four feet long. Furthermore, looking at the entire sword, it was full of spirituality, with sharp edges everywhere. Especially at the blade, the shimmering light gave people a feeling of their skin being cut! ¡°Spiritual object.¡± Meng Changqing¡¯s eyes flickered. The reason why spirit weapons were so expensive was not only because of their tough material, which could withstand the power of true qi, but also because they contained some spiritual objects. These spiritual objects were born in remote places. They possessed various characteristics. Once integrated into a weapon, they would bring about qualitative changes. For example, the spiritual sword in his hand most likely integrated sword grass and sword crystal, making this sword extremely sharp. If this sword was used, the sword qi it unleashed would be three to four times more powerful than usual! In battle, even a slight difference could determine victory or defeat. Not to mention multiples. Without much thought, Meng Changqing bit his finger and dripped his blood onto the sword. In an instant, a mysterious connection was established. This was blood contract. Boom! Meng Changqing casually slashed out a sword qi, leaving behind a deep sword mark dozens of meters away. ¡°Good sword.¡± Meng Changqing¡¯s eyes brightened. This was just a casual strike, yet it possessed such power. What if he went all out? He truly dared not imagine. If he were to fight Red Gold again, he wouldn¡¯t even need to use the Linglong Danluo Tian. Just relying on the sharpness of this sword would be enough to break through Red Gold¡¯s Demon Body and defeat it! ¡°What should I name you?¡± Meng Changqing looked at the sword before him. The mirrored blade reflected his eyes. ¡°Let¡¯s call you Crimson Sky.¡± Meng Changqing thought. Born from the Spirit Peak, obtained by defeating Red Gold. In the top ten swords of the previous life, it seemed that there was also such a name. Swish! Sheathing the sword, he tied it around his waist. His aura also completely converged, returning to a calm state without undulations. At this moment, he no longer had the peerless demeanor from before. He was like an ordinary young master from a noble family, handsome but nothing extraordinary. Chapter 73 Chapter 73: A King Is Not Proud of Bloodline, But Bloodline Regards a King with Respect! ¡°You should be fine,¡± Meng Changqing looked at Red Gold. ¡°I¡¯m fine... just need a bit of rest...¡± At this moment, Red Gold returned to speaking normally. That sword strike was not just holding back. It was almost sparing no effort. ¡°It¡¯s alright then. I¡¯ll be going now, there are other matters in the secret realm,¡± Meng Changqing smiled faintly. ¡°Okay,¡± Red Gold nodded. The secret realm opened for seven days, and today was only the fourth day. Before leaving, Meng Changqing also nodded towards Shi Guang and Shi Yao, who promptly responded. In their eyes, Meng Changqing was no longer just an ordinary senior brother. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect Senior Brother Meng¡¯s true strength to be so terrifying,¡± Shi Yao swallowed nervously, a hint of fear still visible in his large eyes. ¡°Yeah,¡± Shi Guang nodded. Even if he and his brother teamed up just now, they probably couldn¡¯t have stopped that single sword strike. It was a complete domination in strength. But as long as he could comprehend Bloodline Techniques, he should be able to catch up. Thinking so, Shi Guang closed his eyes tightly. As long as he completely digested this marrow stone, he should be able to comprehend Bloodline Techniques. Meng Changqing didn¡¯t linger here, as there was no value in doing so, and he had other things to do. He had to integrate the obtained attributes and find special flames. Being a second-grade alchemist, he couldn¡¯t afford to have no alchemical flames. As Meng Changqing departed, the discussions about him among the disciples didn¡¯t diminish. On the contrary, they kept escalating. After all, there was very little information about Meng Changqing before today, much less than other top geniuses, and many people only learned about him today. So Meng Changqing¡¯s appearance genuinely gave people the feeling of a dark horse! After leaving the plain, Meng Changqing found a secluded place, sat cross-legged, and opened the character panel. This time, he added three more friends consecutively, reaping quite a harvest. ¡¾Host: Meng Changqing¡¿ ¡¾...¡¿ ¡¾Cultivation Techniques and Martial Skills: ¡°Dark Sea Returning to Origin Art¡± (Perfect), ¡°Linglong Daluo Tian¡± (Partial Master), ¡°Linglong Cold Moon Sword Scripture¡± (Perfect), ¡°Heavenly Dominator Body¡± (Perfect)...¡¿ ¡¾Unmerged Attributes: Stone Human Bloodline, Great Strength Demon Ape Bloodline¡¿ ¡¾Remaining Rewards: Earth Grade Martial Skill Mastery Card *2, Bloodline Purification Card *1¡¿ ¡°Two top-tier bloodlines.¡± Meng Changqing clenched his hands under his sleeves slightly. Anyone who could possess one was already blessed enough, let alone two. But before merging them, many things needed to be clarified first. But here, it didn¡¯t happen. In the thick blood vessels, red, silver-white, and black blood flowed clearly and orderly. They seemed indifferent to each other, neither fighting nor ignoring. ¡°System, well done.¡± Meng Changqing silently gave a thumbs up. Under normal circumstances, during fusion, his ordinary bloodline would definitely be devoured by the powerful Stone Human Bloodline, transforming into a Stone Human completely. Then, the Stone Human Bloodline would conflict with the Great Strength Demon Ape Bloodline. This would turn his body into a battlefield. In a fierce battle, he wouldn¡¯t have any good results. But now, there were no abnormalities at all. His own bloodline remained in control, superior to both. This was also what Meng Changqing wanted the most ¨C to maintain his own state while possessing its functions. Regarding bloodlines, many people crazily pursue them, worshiping them, wishing to become them completely. But in Meng Changqing¡¯s view, whether it¡¯s bloodlines or any special physique, they were actually external. They were just tools for becoming stronger. What truly made a warrior powerful was oneself ¨C one¡¯s own heart. Pursuit was necessary and must be done, as the power of bloodlines was indeed strong, but one must not confuse the position of mount and king. What¡¯s needed was control of the bloodline, not being controlled by it. As the ancient saying goes, ¡°The king does not take pride in his bloodline, but the bloodline respects the king.¡± Meng Changqing slowly stood up. On this point, he had always been very clear. The Great Strength Demon Ape belongs to the demon beast race¡¯s body refining bloodline, but it focuses on strength rather than defense, making it slightly weaker in defense, but superior in strength. Boom! Meng Changqing raised his right hand and struck out with a punch. A terrifying fist wind swept through, and within a hundred meters to the right, the mountains and forests collapsed, presenting a scene of devastation. ¡°Now, if I continue to cultivate fist and palm techniques, the power will probably catch up with sword techniques under the amplification of sword qi! ¡°After all, the normal enhancement of the Great Strength Demon Ape Bloodline¡¯s strength is around ten times. If the talent ¡®Demon Ape Divine Power¡¯ is awakened, it will surpass sword qi. ¡°But this bloodline can¡¯t be used openly.¡± Meng Changqing thought to himself. At the same time, he looked at the palm of his hand. At this moment, he was brimming with a demonic qi, like a transformed demon! ¡°It can be used as a last resort. Unless absolutely necessary, I cannot use it.¡± Removing the Great Strength Demon Ape Bloodline, Meng Changqing returned to his original demeanor. Chapter 74 Chapter 74: Golden Bloodline, the Strongest Inheritance of the Ancient Demon Lineage! ¡°Next is the Bloodline Purification Card.¡± Retracting his mind, Meng Changqing looked at the panel. This was an additional reward triggered when adding Red Gold as a friend. Clicking on the relevant information. ¡¾Bloodline Purification Card: It can enhance bloodline purity, and specific benefits depend on the situation.¡¿ ¡°Just as expected.¡± Meng Changqing wasn¡¯t surprised at all. It was just as he had thought. For bloodlines, purity was a crucial factor. It almost determined the strength and potential of a bloodline bearer. The higher the purity, the closer to the ancestors, and the higher the limit of power that could be exerted. Things like bloodline techniques could be easily comprehended and mastered, far more than those with low purity and stronger! Moreover, among bloodlines, high purity would also exert a certain pressure on those with low purity! ¡°System, enhance the purity of the Stone Human Bloodline.¡± Between the two, Meng Changqing chose the Stone Human Bloodline without hesitation. After all, this one could be used openly. But not the Great Strength Demon Ape. Ding! ¡¾Consuming one Bloodline Purification Card!¡¿ ¡¾Enhancement begins!¡¿ As soon as the system finished, Meng Changqing felt that the Stone Human Bloodline in his body seemed to start boiling. The impurities and mixed blood within were melting, gradually becoming pure Stone Human Bloodline. And the Stone Human aura on Meng Changqing¡¯s body became even more ancient. It shook people¡¯s minds and souls. Ding! ¡¾Enhancement complete.¡¿ After a moment, the system prompted. Meng Changqing hurriedly introspected. But he saw a strand of golden color appearing in the originally silver-white bloodline. And this golden color looked extremely noble. It was like a legendary deity. It exuded an ancient and powerful aura. ¡°Has it undergone a qualitative change? ¡°It seems like a significant enhancement.¡± Meng Changqing¡¯s eyes flickered slightly. Considering that just doubling or tripling the purification wouldn¡¯t cause such a big change, it¡¯s likely to be more than five times. Kong Linyue once said that her flames were obtained from there. In the Xuanqing Realm, there were no sun, moon, or stars. Only endless gray clouds pervaded the sky, making it easy for people to ignore the concept of time. They didn¡¯t even know how long they¡¯ve been here. And news about Meng Changqing gradually spread throughout the Xuanqing Realm. ¡°Did you hear? The central chance point in the secret realm is guarded by a bloodline demon beast!¡± ¡°Bloodline demon beast? Who can defeat that?¡± ¡°Of course, someone can defeat it. That chance point has already been taken down!¡± ¡°So strong? But isn¡¯t it the Shi brothers?¡± ¡°No, the Shi brothers lost. And from what I heard from eyewitnesses, the Shi brothers also have bloodlines.¡± ¡°Wow, bloodlines! That¡¯s right, those two brothers don¡¯t look like normal people. If even they can¡¯t win with bloodlines, who else can?¡± ¡°It¡¯s the top genius of the Spirit Peak, Meng Changqing. He has already comprehended sword qi and has many hidden cards. He crushed the bloodline demon beast and even killed it!¡± ¡°Meng Changqing? But isn¡¯t he the disciple who killed Ghost Finger Bei Qianke?¡± ¡°Yeah!¡± ¡°Oh my, comprehending martial arts and defeating a bloodline demon beast, this is a genius. ¡± Many disciples in various places were discussing when they met. ¡°Master, are they talking about Senior Brother Meng?¡± Just coming out of a resource point, Bai Suxi heard two people chatting nearby, and the content of their conversation was all about Meng Changqing. Suddenly, she felt a little dazed. ¡°Since they¡¯ve mentioned him by name, it must be him.¡± ¡°In such a vast Tai Xuan Sect, there shouldn¡¯t be another Meng Changqing.¡± An old voice sounded. ¡°Senior Brother Meng is too strong. He actually defeated even the bloodline demon beast!¡± After coming back to her senses, Bai Suxi couldn¡¯t help but feel excited. Admiration appeared in her watery eyes. It¡¯s only been a few days. Senior Brother Meng has already accomplished something earth-shattering! ¡°Those who can be called bloodline demon beasts basically have extremely powerful bloodlines. To defeat, let alone kill them, one¡¯s strength must be far above theirs.¡± The old voice was slightly silent for a moment before continuing, ¡°The fact that this kid has such a powerful combat power shortly after entering the Sea Cleaving Realm is truly incredible.¡± Even she, back in the day, didn¡¯t have such a record. ¡°After leaving the secret realm, you should focus on breaking through. Once you step into the Sea Cleaving Realm, I can teach you the strongest inheritance of our ancient demon lineage! ¡°Once cultivated, you will definitely surpass this kid!¡± the old voice said. There was a hint of competitiveness in her words. As a powerful figure in the demonic path, she had painstakingly cultivated her disciples, but they had always been suppressed by a young man with no background. She was really a bit unwilling. But late bloomers would surpass early leaders. The early lead didn¡¯t count for much. As long as Bai Suxi entered the Sea Cleaving Realm and accepted the inheritance, she believed she would surpass Meng Changqing in one fell swoop! Chapter 75 Chapter 75: Falling Cloud Volcano, Three-Headed Fire Scale Python As for the current situation in the secret realm, Meng Changqing naturally knew nothing. At this moment, after a long journey, he had already arrived at his destination. The Falling Cloud Volcano. Along the way, he encountered many disciples. Some were trapped by mechanisms in front of resources, some were chased by demonic beasts, and so on. There were all sorts of situations. He also lent a helping hand, not turning a blind eye to their plight just because they were not on his level. After all, they were all from the same sect. ¡°Falling Cloud Volcano.¡± Meng Changqing stood on a huge rock. Ahead, the earth was red, with gullies crisscrossing and rolling magma erupting from the distant volcano, flowing through these gullies like rivers. When the cold wind blew, fiery waves came rushing. Not only was the temperature high in these waves, burning the body, but they also carried fire poison. Without a certain level of body refinement, one could not stay here for long. ¡°Imperial Fire Sun Incineration Technique!¡± Meng Changqing¡¯s thoughts moved slightly. This technique instantly activated. Visible on the surface of his body were gradually emerging fiery red lines, connecting to each other like fire clouds. This was an extremely superior high-level body refinement technique from the Medicine King Peak. However, its emphasis was on enhancing fire resistance and controlling flames. ¡°I hope luck isn¡¯t too bad.¡± Meng Changqing tiptoed forward and dashed ahead. The special flames used by alchemists were generally beast fires, essence fires, and the like, because they were relatively easy to find and have low ferocity. They were suitable for both alchemy and combat. As for the extraordinary heavenly fires, just thinking about them was enough. Let alone whether one could encounter them, even if encountered, they could not be tamed. If the extraordinary fire also possessed intelligence, one¡¯s life would be left there. Naturally, Meng Changqing didn¡¯t think about extraordinary fires. Firstly, the Impreial Fire Sun Incineration Technique could still deal with beast fires. As for extraordinary fires, it¡¯s totally impossible. Secondly, this was only the Xuanqing Realm, a land of second-grade creations. How could there be extraordinary fires of such a level? Since he wanted to collect beast fires, he had to look for powerful fire-type demonic beasts.CHeCk for new stories on no/v/el/bin(.)c0m Kong Linyue had mentioned this in her casual chat with him before. For example, somewhere in the Falling Cloud Volcano, there existed a powerful demonic beast, and so on. If he didn¡¯t have this information, Meng Changqing would probably be wandering around aimlessly, wasting a lot of time. Now, he could go straight to his destination. Soon, Meng Changqing arrived at a lake. It was called a lake, but it was actually a large accumulation of magma, about a kilometer in diameter, which could also be considered quite large. Plop, plop, plop~ In the fiery lake, black smoke filled the air, and occasionally, fish-like demonic beasts swam through it, revealing faint outlines. Roar! As soon as he finished speaking, the fiery lake suddenly became restless. The next moment, a huge demon beast burst out of the lake and charged towards Meng Changqing from a distance! Facing Meng Changqing from a distance, the demon beast was fifty meters long, covered in fiery red scales. It looked indestructible. It had three heads, each seeming like an independent existence. In its blood-red eyes, there was a thick murderous intent. Three-Headed Fire Scale Python! It was the strongest demon beast in this area. Unless disciples of the level of the Shi brothers came, no one in the same realm would be its match. Roaring, flames howled. Meng Changqing¡¯s black hair rustled in the oppressive heat. His expression remained calm. He even activated his Observation Eye to examine the panel. Basic Information: ¡¾Name: Three-Headed Fire Scale Python¡¿ ¡¾Race: Demon Beast¡¿ ¡¾Level: Peak of Second Grade¡¿ Attribute Information: ¡¾Demon Beast Talent: Earth Fire¡¿ ¡¾Demon Beast Talent: Flame Dragon Roar¡¿ ¡°It¡¯s just average.¡± Meng Changqing made an evaluation. But this was normal. It wasn¡¯t a bloodline demonic beast, so it couldn¡¯t have any powerful talents. Roar! Without any delay, the Three-Headed Fire Scale Python rushed towards Meng Changqing. Its body was huge, like a mountain, full of pressure. It seemed that nothing could stop its attack. However... Whoosh! Meng Changqing drew his sword with his right hand and casually slashed. The sword light was like snow, filled with chill, cutting across the body of the Three-Headed Fire Scale Python. Bang, bang, bang! The body instantly split apart, falling to the ground. One of its heads, however, stopped at Meng Changqing¡¯s feet. Its eyes still filled with killing intent. It seemed that even though it was dead, it still didn¡¯t know it. Chapter 76 Chapter 76: Fire Sun Incineration, End of the Secret Realm, Elder of the Six Veins! ¡°Not bad for a high-grade spirit weapon.¡± Meng Changqing nodded in satisfaction.The? source of this content n/o/v/(el)bi((n)) He simply infused Frost Moon True Qi, didn¡¯t even use martial skills, and casually swung his sword. Relying solely on the sharpness of this sword, he killed the Three-Headed Fire Scale Python without any obstruction. ¡°Next is to contain the flames.¡± Meng Changqing split open the heads of the Three-Headed Fire Scale Python at his feet, revealing a flame in each one. Whoosh! The flames seemed to possess spirituality, wanting to dive into the fiery lake below, but Meng Changqing was prepared. He directly opened his five fingers and grabbed them forcefully. The flames struggled frantically, emitting extremely high temperatures, raging wildly! It was trying to burn Meng Changqing¡¯s hand to ashes. But... to no avail. It couldn¡¯t even leave a trace in Meng Changqing¡¯s palm. ¡°Imperial Fire Sun Incineration Technique!¡± In the palm of his hand, dense fire cloud imprints appeared, giving off a sense of prohibition, wrapping the flames and gradually merging them into his skin. ¡°There are two more.¡± Meng Changqing found the other two heads. The reason why the beast fire of the Three-Headed Fire Scale Python was stronger was mainly because it wasn¡¯t just one, but three. When combined, they underwent a qualitative change. Although it definitely couldn¡¯t compare to extraordinary heavenly fires, it would still surpass ordinary beast fires by far. It was very suitable as alchemical flames for alchemists. Following the same method, Meng Changqing absorbed the remaining two beast fires as well. Although the perfected Imperial Fire Sun Incineration Technique couldn¡¯t deal with extraordinary heavenly fires, it was effortless to deal with these beast fires. Roar! Above his sea pill, the three beast fires met. Under the operation of the technique, they began to merge with each other. When the fusion was complete, only a more intense flame remained. Its appearance was almost identical to the Three-Headed Fire Scale Python. Fierce and ferocious. The flame instinctively wanted to struggle, but inside its body, numerous red chains appeared, firmly binding it in place, unable to move. After struggling for half a day, it finally quieted down completely, as if resigned to its fate. There were also the Giant Spirit Sect, Flame Sun Valley, and Wind and Cloud City. A few days ago, the Giant Spirit Sect and Flame Sun Valley joined forces to challenge the disciples of their sect on the Hidden Dragon Ranking. And they defeated them one after another, snatching away six spots on the Hidden Dragon Ranking. This could be considered a great loss. In order to regain those positions, they could only intensify their efforts to cultivate disciples. ¡°For top-tier geniuses, the Deep Red Chance Point won¡¯t pose any difficulty. As long as they break through to the Sea Cleaving Realm, it¡¯s a sure thing. ¡°The most crucial point is that Dark Red Chance Point. ¡°A bloodline demon beast guards it, and it¡¯s not an ordinary bloodline. ¡°I wonder who will be able to defeat it,¡± the elder of the Punishment Peak said slowly. ¡°The sect¡¯s move is also to see if there are any heaven-defying geniuses among the inner disciples,¡± Elder Ye responded. Heaven-defying genius and genius just had a one word difference, but the difference between them was huge. In a force, geniuses represented the middle-upper class, while heaven-defying geniuses represented the absolute top class. To make it to immortality, heaven-defying geniuses were the first and foremost candidates! ¡°From what I see, only the Shi brothers of the Purple Nourishment Peak have a chance.¡± Elder Lin of the Martial Arts Peak smiled and said, ¡°I heard that they are almost confirmed to have a bloodline, right?¡± ¡°And it¡¯s the extremely rare Stone Human bloodline.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Elder Qin crossed his arms and grinned. The Stone Human bloodline, a top-tier physique bloodline, was simply born for the Purple Nourishment Peak! Remember when the old peak master came out of seclusion? That laughter almost pierced through the sky. ¡°Congratulations.¡± The other elders could only envy. ¡°Keep a low profile, keep a low profile.¡± Elder Qin waved his hand with a smile. ¡°With the stone people¡¯s bloodline, these two brothers have a great chance of defeating the Crimson Rampage Golden Gorilla.¡± Elder Ye also spoke up. ¡°Haha, not to mention these two boys, among the inner disciples of this generation, don¡¯t you, Spirit Peak, also have a freak?¡± Elder Qin said, ¡°It is said that he realized sword qi before entering the inner sect.¡± ¡°You mean that kid,¡± Elder Ye¡¯s face immediately showed a smile. This was also the only bright spot in the Spirit Peak¡¯s inner sect. ¡°His perception is indeed terrifying, but he has been in the inner sect for too short a time. His foundation is too shallow, and he hasn¡¯t even learned high-grade martial skills. Even though he has sword qi, he won¡¯t be able to defeat the Crimson Rampage Golden Gorilla.¡± There was no rebuttal from the other elders. Sword qi was strong, but it was just an amplification. One had to have a solid foundation at least. Buzz~ In the midst of the conversation, the Light Gate began to shake, apparently indicating that it was time to close the secret realm. Chapter 77 Chapter 77: Senior Brother Meng, is it Meng Changqing? Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh! Beams of light began to appear on the square. These were all disciples forcibly sent out of the secret realm. Some were still in battle-ready state, while others were sitting cross-legged, meditating, and so on. It was quite a scene. ¡°Is it over?¡± The disciples looked at each other, with a sense of regret on their faces. After all, the Xuanqing Realm was so vast, and there were still many places they hadn¡¯t explored yet. The most pitiful were those who were about to obtain resources. Just one second away, and they would have made it. But the results were already out. They couldn¡¯t help but stamp their feet in frustration, feeling indignant. The square was filled with various expressions. ¡°Not bad, not bad.¡± Looking at the disciples who had all made progress, the elders of the six veins nodded in satisfaction. However, when the elder of the Punishment Peak saw a certain figure, his eyes widened for a moment, then turned dark. It was Duan Hun. As one of the outstanding disciples of the Punishment Peak, he was currently... sleeping! And he was maintaining a strange posture, as if he had been sleeping in an unusual place before. Whoosh! The elder of the Punishment Peak instantly appeared in front of Duan Hun. ¡°What are you doing?¡± The elder¡¯s voice was full of displeasure. Everyone who entered the secret realm was racing against time, yet this guy was sleeping! And he seemed to be sleeping quite soundly. The only thing that slightly reassured him was that at least Duan Hun had broken through to the Sea Cleaving Realm. ¡°Elder...?¡± Duan Hun opened his drowsy eyes, looking quite disheveled. ¡°What are you doing sleeping in the secret realm?¡± The elder suppressed his anger. ¡°Resting.¡± In the past, he would have been anxious and uneasy, but now he didn¡¯t care anymore. There was a sense of indifference. ¡°Resting? You¡¯re resting in the secret realm?¡± The elder was also surprised by Duan Hun¡¯s attitude, feeling that something might have happened, so he softened his tone, ¡°Tell me later, what exactly did you do in there.¡± Upon hearing this, Duan Hun¡¯s lips twitched. What did he do? What else could he do? But being self-proclaimed as the top inner disciple, he couldn¡¯t defeat anyone. ¡°What rewards?¡± Shi Yao¡¯s eyes lit up with curiosity. ¡°A cultivation spirit peak, plus other items, you can choose when the time comes.¡± Elder Qin stroked his white beard. There was also a sense of admiration in his eyes. A cultivation spirit peak was a very luxurious treasure. Even true disciples couldn¡¯t have it without strength. It needed to be contested. But now, it was given directly. ¡°Can we be closer to Senior Brother Meng?¡± Shi Yao asked. ¡°Yes.¡± Shi Guang nodded as well. After all, Senior Brother Meng was their only friend in the sect, and he even gave them precious marrow stones for free. Such kindness should not be forgotten. If they were in their village, their mother would definitely cook a lot of delicious food every day and send it over. ¡°Senior Brother Meng?¡± Elder Qin was visibly stunned. Who is that? ¡°Is it Meng Changqing?¡± Immediately, Elder Ye¡¯s eyes lit up with anticipation. ¡°Yes!¡± As soon as the words fell, Elder Ye became completely excited. Although he didn¡¯t know how Meng Changqing did it, it didn¡¯t matter! Who didn¡¯t have secrets or trump cards? Unexpectedly, Meng Changqing, who had just entered the inner sect a few months ago, already possessed such terrifying strength! It was truly surprising, considering that he hadn¡¯t been taken seriously from the beginning! And from the words of the Shi Brothers, it could be clearly heard that Meng Changqing didn¡¯t just defeat. But he was able to slay the Crimson Rampage Golden Gorilla! This could only be achieved by a top-tier figure! ¡°Congratulations, Elder Ye. It turns out that your Spirit Peak has the deepest hidden treasure!¡± the other elders said one after another, with a tone full of uncontrollable envy. To defeat and kill were two different concepts! A few years ago, the Spirit Peak already had a special physique, and now there was another top-tier genius, which was truly... beyond words. Buzz! The next moment, the Light Gate trembled slightly. A tall figure slowly appeared. White clothes as snow, with a long sword at his waist. Occasionally, a gentle breeze blew, and his black hair fluttered lightly, with bright light shining in his star-like eyes. Truly dignified, with a youthful aura. Chapter 78 Chapter 78: Bloodline Technique, Spirit Peak ¡°What a pity, that hidden valley is rich in vitality. It probably has good things.¡± Meng Changqing¡¯s eyes revealed regret. He had just wanted to go in, but the secret realm closed. Shaking his head slightly, Meng Changqing didn¡¯t dwell on it. As the saying goes, what¡¯s gained is my blessing, what¡¯s lost is my fate. He had already obtained many good things in the secret realm. There was no need to dwell on it anymore. With that in mind, Meng Changqing took a step forward but stopped instantly. Because he found that there were thousands of people on the square, and almost all of them were looking at him. ¡°What did I do wrong?¡± Meng Changqing was surprised. This scene was somewhat unexpected. Hoo! Suddenly, a figure appeared in front of him. He had slightly white hair, dressed in elder attire. ¡°You must be Meng Changqing.¡± Elder Ye said. There was obvious excitement and excitement in his voice. ¡°Yes, Elder.¡± Meng Changqing nodded. Although this elder was only at the Sea Cleaving Realm, he was still an elder and deserved respect. ¡°Very good!¡± Elder Ye saw the long sword spiritual weapon at Meng Changqing¡¯s waist, and his face smiled even more brightly. Originally, they thought that the Shi brothers would be the most outstanding in this generation! In the future, the Purple Nourishment Peak would also gain fame, receiving more resources from the sect. Who would have thought that, in the end, it was his own disciple! Resources in the cultivation world were limited. So from individuals to each vein, and even the sect, everyone needed to compete on their own. ¡°I am Elder Ye Yun of the Spirit Peak, responsible for the promotion of true disciple.¡± Elder Ye smiled and said, ¡°From now on, follow me.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Meng Changqing nodded. He thought he would have to go to the inner sect¡¯s hall himself, but he didn¡¯t expect someone to be waiting here. But it was also normal. Generally speaking, after going through a secret realm, several disciples would advance to the Sea Cleaving Realm. The elders responsible for the secret realm simply took them away directly. ¡°The younger generation is formidable.¡± Elder Feng of the Medicine King Peak walked over, his eyes full of sighs. He remembered that when they were at the Absolute Peak Ridge, this kid seemed to have only reached the Fourth or Fifth Level of Aperture Connecting. Only little time had passed, and he had already stepped into the Sea Cleaving Realm. And he possessed the strength to slay the Crimson Rampage Golden Gorilla! True disciples! This was the core of the sect, where one could enjoy many resources and benefits in the future. It was completely incomparable to the inner sect... Tai Xuan Sect had seven main peaks. Surrounding the main peaks were many small mountain peaks, connected to each other, vaguely exuding the charm of a great earth array. These were the Spirit Peaks. Under each Spirit Peak, there was a vein of elemental stones, combined with corresponding formations, making the elemental energy in the Spirit Peak extremely abundant. It was very suitable for cultivation. Practicing here was equivalent to one day¡¯s progress outside for five or six days. However, the number of Spirit Peaks was limited. It couldn¡¯t supply every true disciple, so true disciples had to compete with each other. Every once in a while, the sect would open up some vacant Spirit Peaks. Some were newly built, while others were vacated by their previous owners. Furthermore, to increase the enthusiasm of the disciples for cultivation, the sect allowed disciples to compete with each other. The winner could seize the loser¡¯s Spirit Peak. Spirit Peaks did not permanently belong to anyone. ¡°From now on, this will be your Spirit Peak,¡± Elder Ye smiled and said. Meng Changqing looked around. Under his feet was the summit of the Spirit Peak. Although it was called a small mountain peak, it was not much lower than the main peak, probably two-thirds of the height. The surroundings had a broad view, surrounded by clouds and mist, making it seem like meeting amidst a sea of clouds. The scenery was quite magnificent. Cultivating in such a place for a long time would make one¡¯s aspirations grand. In terms of elemental energy, it was indeed very abundant. Almost reaching the stage of condensing clouds and rain. Just breathing in the air, one could feel a slight increase in the true qi in the Dantian. ¡°A good place.¡± Meng Changqing nodded, sincerely saying. ¡°Haha, in the sect, Spirit Peaks can be considered precious cultivation resources. Not everyone can have one.¡± Elder Ye lightly stroked his white beard, ¡°In total, there are only one hundred and eight of them.¡± ¡°So few?¡± Meng Changqing was slightly stunned. ¡°Yes, so you must constantly become stronger, otherwise, you might be squeezed out by others,¡± Elder Ye laughed, ¡°But with your strength and potential, there shouldn¡¯t be any problems in this regard. ¡°This is a new Spirit Peak. You can name it yourself when you have time.¡± ¡°Also, have you thought about what you want? ¡°After defeating the Crimson Rampage Golden Gorilla, besides the Spirit Peak, you can choose between Spirit Weapons, third-grade pills, Earth-grade martial arts, etc.¡± Chapter 79 Chapter 79: Earth-grade Martial Technique, Seven Veins Martial Arts Competition, Farewell to Elder Custodian! ¡°I choose an Earth-grade Martial Technique.¡± Meng Changqing didn¡¯t hesitate at all. Although he already had two Earth-grade techniques in his hands, one was for increasing the amount of True Qi, and the other was a secret technique. Neither of them was a martial technique. In the past, Meng Changqing might not have been so urgent. But now it was different. Among the true disciples, especially those who ranked higher, the majority probably had an Earth-grade martial technique. He would be at a disadvantage if he didn¡¯t have one. So he had to strengthen his foundation as soon as possible. ¡°Good.¡± Elder Ye took out a token from his pocket and handed it to Meng Changqing. The token was entirely silver with the Tai Xuan symbol on the front and the character ¡®Earth¡¯ on the back. ¡°With this token, you can go to the Hidden Martial Pavilion and exchange it with Elder Custodian for a preliminary Earth-grade martial technique.¡± Elder Ye smiled as he spoke. At the same time, there was a hint of desire in his eyes. Although he was an inner sect elder, his position was actually the lowest among the elders. There was no way around it. It was because of his insufficient potential. Close to forty years old, still wandering at the Sea Cleaving Realm without breaking through. In the end, he could only choose to become an inner sect elder. So it was natural that precious Earth-grade martial techniques were beyond his reach. In fact, not all true disciples in the sect could practice Earth-grade martial techniques. On the contrary, it was quite rare. Because for any power, Earth-grade martial techniques were core treasures that could not be easily taught to disciples. It required consideration from many aspects before being taught. ¡°Okay.¡± Meng Changqing nodded. ¡°Also, there¡¯s something else I want to tell you.¡± As if remembering something, Elder Ye slapped his head. ¡°Elder Ye, please go ahead.¡± ¡°In three months, it will be the Seven Veins Martial Arts Competition. The specific time hasn¡¯t been fully determined yet, so just wait for the announcement,¡± Elder Ye said. ¡°The Seven Veins Martial Arts Competition?¡± Meng Changqing was slightly stunned. ¡°Huh? Don¡¯t you know?¡± Elder Ye felt somewhat surprised by Meng Changqing¡¯s reaction. As an inner sect disciple, he should be aware of the Seven Veins Martial Arts Competition. But considering that Meng Changqing had just entered the inner sect not long ago, it was normal for him not to know. ¡°The so-called Seven Veins Martial Arts Competition is a grand event where disciples from the seven veins of the Tai Xuan Sect gather to compete and compare their skills. ¡°On the one hand, it assesses the strength of the disciples of each vein. He remembered that this place used to be just a small courtyard, but now he had a Spirit Peak. The gap was indeed significant. Indeed, in any world, strength was paramount. Only by constantly becoming stronger could one enjoy better things. The summit of the Spirit Peak was quite spacious. It felt as if it had been flattened by a single sword strike. There were stretches of bamboo forests, swaying with the wind and emitting a rustling sound. There were also artificial mountains, ponds, pavilions, and towers. The environment could be considered quite elegant. After familiarizing himself with the surroundings a bit, Meng Changqing left. He needed to visit the Hidden Martial Pavilion and quickly exchange for a preliminary Earth-grade martial technique! With his current comprehension, self-practice wouldn¡¯t be a problem. But with the system, he could make friends. It saved time and effort. Efficiency was important in cultivation! After exchanging for the martial technique, he could openly use it in the future without worrying about its source. The sect was very strict about the entry and exit of Profound-grade martial techniques, let alone Earth-grade ones. He also needed to take some time to complete some sect tasks. He had obtained the ¡°Heavenly Dominator Body¡± in the secret realm, so he needed to exchange it. Otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t be able to use it openly. Familiar with the route, Meng Changqing once again came to the Hidden Martial Pavilion. There were fewer disciples here today. Perhaps it was because the secret realm had just ended. The Elder Custodian was still lying on the rocking chair, covering his face with a book, gently swaying, looking quite relaxed. Meng Changqing had been envious of this elder for a long time. Activating the Observation Eye. Basic Information: ¡¾Name: Yun Bujue¡¿ ¡¾Race: Human¡¿ ¡¾Cultivation: Sea Cleaving Realm, First Stage (Temporary)¡¿ Attribute Information: ¡¾Root Bone: Third Grade¡¿ ¡¾Comprehension: Excellent¡¿ ¡¾Cultivation Techniques and Martial Arts: ¡°Sacred Spirit Slaughter Sword Art¡± (Perfection), ¡°Shrink the Land into Inches¡± (Mastery), ¡°Great Compassion Wind Heaven Palm¡± (Mastery)¡¿. Chapter 80 Chapter 80: ¡°Great Transcendent Mystical Golden Sword Technique,¡± and the Shock of the Elder Custodian! Meng Changqing had seen almost all the martial techniques in the Hidden Martial Pavilion. He could confirm that none of them matched the ones listed on the panel, which made the meaning quite obvious. The techniques known by the Elder Custodian must be Earth-grade! Only Earth-grade techniques wouldn¡¯t be placed in the Hidden Martial Pavilion! Moreover, judging by the names of these techniques, they seemed to be of high quality. However, wanting to add the Elder Custodian as a friend was quite difficult. Firstly, the Elder was probably a hidden expert cultivating here. Secondly, there was a significant age gap between them. Making friends was several times harder than for others! However, even though it was difficult, it still had to be solved. This was a ready-made treasure shining brightly before him. Obtaining any martial technique attribute would be a huge gain. ¡°Respected Elder.¡± Approaching closer, Meng Changqing¡¯s expression turned respectful as he slightly cupped his hands. Upon hearing this, the Elder Custodian immediately put down the ancient book covering his face. Meng Changqing only noticed today that the title of this book was ¡°The Free Record of the Hermit of Wind and Moon.¡± The name seemed to have a certain taste to it. ¡°Oh? It¡¯s actually you.¡± The Elder Custodian casually put down the ancient book, seemingly indifferent to it being discovered. ¡°Elder, do you still remember me?¡± Meng Changqing was taken aback. He hadn¡¯t expected the Elder to remember him, considering they had only met once before. With so many disciples entering and leaving the Hidden Martial Pavilion every day, the Elder Custodian shouldn¡¯t have remembered him or cared about him. Unless the disciple frequently appeared in front of him. ¡°I have some impression,¡± the Elder Custodian casually replied. Mainly because he had sensed a hint of ¡®potential¡¯ from this disciple before. Although he couldn¡¯t be sure, it left an impression on him. ¡°Fair enough, somewhat memorable,¡± the Elder Custodian added. This was something Meng Changqing hadn¡¯t expected at all, considering they had only met once before. After Meng Changqing¡¯s visit, the Elder Custodian resumed his reading. Meng Changqing was surprised by the sudden recall, but he was also glad for the chance to chat and get to know each other better. ¡°Understood.¡± Meng Changqing nodded. With the Stone Human Bloodline, he didn¡¯t need to worry too much about defense. So he only needed to choose the one focused on offense. ¡°Elder, I choose ¡°The Great Transcendent Mystical Golden Sword Technique.¡± Meng Changqing didn¡¯t hesitate, picking up one of the wooden boxes. ¡°Very well.¡± The Elder Custodian put away the other box. ¡°As per the usual rule, secret techniques cannot be taught to others. Return it in six months.¡± He wasn¡¯t surprised by Meng Changqing¡¯s choice. Most male disciples chose the former option. After Meng Changqing left, the Elder Custodian nodded to himself. ¡°This kid is truly outstanding!¡± The Elder Custodian finally felt certain about his perception more than a month ago. He hadn¡¯t been mistaken in sensing the ¡®potential¡¯ back then. This kid was definitely a genius! And from the conversation with the two disciples just now, he discovered a terrifying piece of information. It seemed that Meng Changqing had comprehended sword qi when he was still in the Vein Tempering Realm! This was terrifying. Sword qi was the essence of martial arts. It was extremely difficult to comprehend and required a lot of cultivation and martial arts knowledge. Typically, it was comprehended in the Sea Cleaving Realm after accumulating a solid foundation. But Meng Changqing had comprehended it in the Vein Tempering Realm! It was simply unbelievable. ¡°In terms of comprehension, he probably surpasses those geniuses!¡± The Elder Custodian thought to himself. Only this explanation could made sense of the situation. ¡°If such a monstrous talent hasn¡¯t been accepted as a disciple by the Elders of the Spirit Peak, are they all fools? ¡°Are they blind to such talents?¡± ¡°I should have given him the ¡°Sacred Spirit Slaughter Sword Art¡± earlier. With his comprehension, he would surely master it to perfection.¡± The Elder Custodian couldn¡¯t help but lament. But then he shook his head. ¡°Forget it. If that old man from the Penalty Peak finds out, I¡¯ll be in trouble again. ¡°They¡¯re all a bunch of stubborn old men, always harping on about rules and regulations. They¡¯d even punish the Grand Elder. I better behave myself. ¡°But next time we meet, I can secretly give him some extra benefits. ¡°Hehe.¡± Chapter 81 Chapter 81: Favorability Increase, Could it be that Senior Brother Meng is my Father? After a visit to the original residence, important items were taken away. Meng Changqing returned to Spirit Peak. The nearby stone monument was blank, waiting for him to give it a name. However, Meng Changqing was not good at naming, so he had to leave it alone for now. ¡°The Great Transcendent Mystical Golden Sword Technique.¡± Staying in the attic, with the scent of incense wafting, refreshing the mind and eyes, Meng Changqing flipped through the secret book in the wooden box. It can only be said to be worthy of being an Earth-level martial technique. Its content was obscure, its moves exquisite, and its power overwhelming, completely incomparable to Profound-level techniques. Even the ¡°Linglong Cold Moon Sword Art¡± felt greatly inferior at this moment. If mastered to perfection, Meng Changqing didn¡¯t dare to imagine how far he could advance his strength. ¡°But wanting to practice this sword technique requires a lot of resources.¡± Meng Changqing browsed through it roughly.0 With his current comprehension, there wasn¡¯t much difficulty in terms of content. With a little more time to comprehend, he could understand it. The main issue was resources. Practicing this sword technique required the use of Profound Gold Qi. Profound Gold was one of the Five Elements, a type of Metal Qi, and it was of a high grade among them. Incredibly sharp. During cultivation, one needed to absorb Profound Gold Qi into the body, comprehend the essence of Metal Qi, and finally condense a Profound Gold Sword Embryo in the Dantian. And even so, it¡¯s just the beginning. In the future, more Profound Gold Qi would be needed to refine further. As a resource required for practicing Earth-level martial techniques, it¡¯s easy to imagine how expensive Profound Gold Qi was. With his current wealth, he probably couldn¡¯t even get started. ¡°Anything is reciprocal. The higher the power of the martial technique, the greater the difficulty in practicing it.¡± Meng Changqing shook his head slightly. For ordinary people, even if they obtain it, they wouldn¡¯t know where to start practicing. But as a true disciple, the welfare treatment was quite considerable, with corresponding resources delivered to the door every month. These could be used to exchange for Profound Gold Qi at the sect¡¯s relevant halls. And there were discounts. ¡°But... practicing alone is indeed slower. It¡¯s better to go out and make friends.¡± Meng Changqing¡¯s lips curled slightly. He didn¡¯t believe that among the true disciples, no one was practicing the ¡°The Great Transcendent Mystical Golden Sword Technique.¡± On the contrary, there should be quite a few. Because judging from the introduction of this technique, it was quite impressive. ¡°Senior Brother Meng!¡± Suddenly, a familiar voice sounded from outside. ¡°Brothers from the Shi family?¡± Meng Changqing raised an eyebrow and walked out. He saw the two brothers standing obediently at the entrance, not casually entering. Seeing Meng Changqing coming out, Shi Yao immediately waved his sturdy big hand. ¡°Come in.¡± Meng Changqing said with a smile. Instead of going to find these two people, they came to find him first. ¡°All right.¡±Visitt for the latest updates The two immediately walked in. ¡°Meng Senior Brother, we¡¯re going to be neighbors from now on!¡± Shi Yao said. Although he had a mature face, there was a kind of carefree childishness in his words. He pointed to the two spirit peaks not far away. The distance between them was only two to three hundred meters. They were indeed very close. At this moment, the clouds surged, turning into a sea of clouds, giving the spirit peaks a feeling of being islands in the sea. Seven main peaks. Spirit Peak was relatively close to Purple Nourishment Peak and Medicine King Peak. So the surrounding spirit peaks were not far apart. With special adjustments made, they could indeed become neighbors. But now that he thought about it, there was no need at all. The people were right in front of him. Moreover, the matter of the Shi family¡¯s bloodline was almost well known. He could ask directly without any scruples. The two sat down immediately. ¡°Senior Brother Meng, this thing is too small for us.¡± Shi Yao stood up. The cylindrical stone chair was actually not small, but their bodies were too large, especially after breaking through to the Sea Cleaving Realm, they seemed even bigger. Standing up, they were almost four meters tall. Like little giants. In the end, the two of them simply sat on the ground. Seeing their appearance, Meng Changqing couldn¡¯t help but give a thumbs-up to the system in his mind. If it weren¡¯t for the system, he really should consider whether he wanted to merge with the Stone Human Bloodline. This expansion... In the future, he might have to look outside the human race for a partner. Since it was just a chat, the purpose couldn¡¯t be too obvious. So Meng Changqing started chatting from other aspects. Such as where the two came from, what their hobbies were, and so on. Perhaps they really regarded him as a friend. Shi Guang and Shi Yao hardly concealed anything, giving answers to everything. So he learned that the two came from a remote mountain. There was an isolated village there. Originally, they weren¡¯t planning to leave. Until one day, their mother asked them to go out and make a name for the Stone Humans again. ¡°Someday, I will set foot in that so-called Immortal King City and reclaim the glory belonging to the Stone Humans!¡± Shi Yao suddenly stood up angrily. Clenching his fists. ¡°Immortal King City?¡± Meng Changqing frowned slightly. This name was quite unfamiliar. He had never heard of it before. It¡¯s probably some grudge between the Stone Humans and them. And this kind of grudge, he probably couldn¡¯t get involved in his current state. It¡¯s better to pretend not to have heard it. ¡°Speaking of bloodlines, you two brothers should be the legendary Stone Human Bloodline, right?¡± Meng Changqing asked knowingly. ¡°Yes.¡± Shi Guang nodded. ¡°I heard that the Stone Human Bloodline specializes in defense.¡± Meng Changqing took the opportunity to inquire. Time passed slowly, and in the blink of an eye, the sun had set and dusk had fallen. ¡°Senior Brother Meng, it¡¯s getting late, so we¡¯ll leave first!¡± Shi Guang and Shi Yao stood up. To be honest, chatting with Senior Brother Meng was really enjoyable. After all, they had never heard so many interesting stories and tales before in the deep mountains. ¡°Okay, you two brothers take care,¡± Meng Changqing said with a smile. Through these two hours of chatting, he basically understood the situation of the Stone Human Bloodline from the Shi brothers. He was no longer as ignorant as before. For example, the difference in bloodline colors, the types of bloodline skills, and so on. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect Senior Brother Meng to be so knowledgeable in miscellaneous studies besides being powerful.¡± On the path down the mountain, Shi Yao said excitedly. He had never heard of many of the stories before. ¡°Senior Brother Meng comes from a business family. He¡¯s a noble son, unlike us who basically played in the mud all the time,¡± Shi Guang said. After a lot of chatting, everyone got to know each other. It wasn¡¯t just Meng Changqing alone. ¡°But brother, when I saw Senior Brother Meng today, I actually had a strange feeling, as if I were seeing our father again.¡± Shi Yao suddenly said, ¡°I didn¡¯t have this feeling the first time we met.¡± ¡°You have that feeling too?¡± Shi Guang was surprised. It seemed that it wasn¡¯t an illusion. ¡°Yeah, yeah, it¡¯s really strange.¡± Shi Yao nodded. When they first saw their father¡¯s remains dug up by their mother, he had an indescribable feeling, as if their bloodline was suppressed. And now, he felt the same feeling from Senior Brother Meng. It¡¯s just not as obvious. ¡°Could it be that Senior Brother Meng is our father?¡± Shi Yao frowned, looking serious. Smack! Shi Guang slapped him on the head. His expression was speechless, wondering if his brother¡¯s intelligence was declining gradually. Is the price of becoming smarter for me, my brother becoming dumber? Chapter 82 Chapter 82: Decomposition, Fusion of Attributes, ¡¾Armor of the King¡¿! Back in the attic, Meng Changqing opened the character panel. ¡¾Host: Meng Changqing¡¿ ¡¾...¡¿ ¡¾Unfused Attributes: Stone Human Bloodline, Bloodline Technique (Armor of the King)¡¿ ¡¾Remaining Extra Rewards: Profound-level Martial Skill Proficiency Card*2, Earth-level Martial Skill Proficiency Card*3¡¿ Seeing this, a smile appeared on Meng Changqing¡¯s face. To be honest, this wave of ¡°gains¡± today was truly brought to him actively by the brothers from the Shi family. But this also made him clear about the character of the two brothers. In this cultivation world where interests came first, it¡¯s rare to maintain inner principles and bottom lines. When one owed someone a favor, you must repay it without delay. So far, he had only seen Bai Suxi do so. But today, he gained two brothers from the Shi family. These people were all worth forming genuine friendships with. Rather than just obtaining attributes. ¡°System, decompose ¡¾Stone Human Bloodline¡¿.¡± Withdrawing his mind, Meng Changqing silently prayed. Ding! ¡¾Decomposition successful!¡¿ViiSiit for latest novels ¡¾Obtained Bloodline Purification Card*1¡¿ At these words, Meng Changqing¡¯s eyes brightened slightly. Luck was on his side. It actually yielded something, and it was good stuff at that. Meng Changqing had personally experienced the effect of the Bloodline Purification Card. For bloodline users, the purer the bloodline, the more terrifying the power they could unleash. ¡°System, fuse the Bloodline Technique.¡± Without immediately using it, Meng Changqing chose to fuse the Bloodline Skill first. Ding! ¡¾Fusion initiated.¡¿ At the moment the words fell. The Stone Human Bloodline within his body suddenly trembled slightly, while a majestic amount of information surged in his mind, all about the Bloodline Technique ¡¾Armor of the King¡¿. The quantity was comparable to when he fused the Dark Sea Returning to Origin Technique. After a moment, the fusion was completed. Meng Changqing slowly opened his eyes. ¡°Armor of the King!¡± With a light shout. Silver blood immediately surged out from under his skin. Transforming into an ancient silver armor! The armor looked quite noble, engraved with many exquisite patterns, exuding an indestructible aura. This was the Bloodline Technique ¡¾Armor of the King¡¿! It was equivalent to a Earth-level initial stage body refinement martial technique. The stronger the bloodline, the more powerful the Bloodline Technique could be. Compared to the brothers from the Shi family, his Armor of the King would definitely be stronger. After all, his bloodline had been purified. ¡°Golden Bloodline.¡± The future was bright, but he had to take it one step at a time and not always be in a state of fantasy. There were still three Earth-level Martial Skill Proficiency Cards in the rewards! Meng Changqing intended to leave them for the Great Transcendent Mystical Golden Sword Technique. Using them to improve the Linglong Daluo Tian was also possible. After all, the amplification of this secret technique was indeed fierce. But now he was in the sect and there was no urgent matter. It¡¯s better to strengthen the foundation first. Using Earth-level martial skills while others used Profound-level ones would create too large of a gap. After dealing with the obtained items, Meng Changqing sat cross-legged. Taking out the resources obtained from the secret realm, he began to cultivate. Regardless, his own cultivation realm must not be neglected. He must progress diligently. After cultivating for a period of time, he would then go out and make friends. ¡ª Time flew by. In the blink of an eye, a month had passed. And in this month, the events that occurred in the secret realm gradually spread. It could be said to have caused quite a stir! After all, one was a monster who comprehended sword qi upon reaching the Vein Tempering Realm, and the other was the Stone Human Bloodline, which had long been extinct. Both were quite terrifying. In a short time, the fame of the three rose sharply in the ranks of the true disciples. ¡°I think that¡¯s Meng Changqing¡¯s Spirit Peak ahead.¡± In the sea of clouds, three sword lights flew slowly. But on each sword light, there stood a figure. They looked young, not even thirty years old, but their auras were quite strong. At the lowest, they had the cultivation of the Fifth Stage of the Sea Cleaving Realm. ¡°Yeah, this is a new Spirit Peak, but it was directly given to this Junior Brother Meng by the sect.¡± The leader nodded. Among the three, he had the strongest strength. At the Eighth Stage of the Sea Cleaving Realm. His name was Wei Qing. ¡°By the way, Senior Brother Wei¡¯s Profound Gold Sword Qi has become even more proficient, has it reached the state of partial mastery?¡± Another person beside him said with a smile. ¡°Junior Brother Wang has a good eye. Indeed, it has reached the state of partial mastery, but it cost me all my wealth, and I still owe many resources to others.¡± Wei Qing shook his head, seeming helpless, but his lips curled up slightly. Among the Earth-level initial stage martial skills, the Profound Gold Sword Qi was the most difficult to cultivate, mainly because it consumed too many resources, but as long as it reached some level of completion, its power would be absolutely top-notch among the same level! ¡°It¡¯s a pity that my strength is not enough. Even if I get the Earth Martial Order, I estimate that I won¡¯t be able to practice it,¡± another person said enviously. ¡°Things depend on people. If you two Junior Brothers work hard in cultivation, you will definitely have a chance to get it in the future.¡± ¡°Thank you for your kind words, Senior Brother.¡± The two immediately showed hopeful expressions. Although it had been many years since they were promoted to true disciples, they were still far away from getting the Earth Martial Order. ¡°Today, I came here mainly to get to know this new talent. Later, you two Junior Brothers need to pay attention to your attitude, don¡¯t put on an air of seniority,¡± Wei Qing reminded. ¡°You are overestimating us, Senior Brother Wei.¡± ¡°How could we dare? This Junior Brother Meng defeated even a bloodline demon beast. He¡¯s truly a genius.¡± The two suddenly became speechless. There were gaps even among true disciples. Although they were not at the bottom, there was still a great distance between them and the genius level. When they encountered such geniuses, they had to show more respect. If not, it would be embarrassing. ¡°Haha, I just said it casually.¡± Wei Qing smiled. Then he looked towards the Spirit Peak, which was getting closer and closer, with a hint of black energy flashing in the depths of his eyes. Chapter 83 Chapter 83: ¡°Heavenly Cloud Roaming Dragon Step¡±, there¡¯s a spy from the demonic path who infiltrated! In the attic, Meng Changqing sat cross-legged. The aura on his body grew stronger and stronger, and at a certain moment, it seemed to break through the restraints and suddenly surged. Hoo! Meng Changqing opened his eyes, and within the depths of his pupils, there seemed to be a sparkling brilliance. ¡°Third level of Sea Cleaving Realm!¡± This progress couldn¡¯t be considered slow. According to the standards of a second-grade constitution and superior comprehension, even with sufficient resources, it would take at least three months. But he only took one month. As for why his progress was so fast, Meng Changqing felt it should be attributed to the ¡°Dark Sea Returning to Origin Technique¡± and the ¡°Linglong Daluo Tian¡±. The former increased the amount of true qi, while the latter burned true qi to improve its quality. Both were closely related to true qi. This also made Meng Changqing¡¯s comprehension of the Sea Pill, and true qi, as if divinely assisted, very rapid. ¡°However, the consumption of resources is a bit fast. ¡°And more than expected.¡± Withdrawing his thoughts, Meng Changqing felt quite sighing. Just improving two small realms, he used up three third-grade resources. And the further he went, the more he consumed. He originally thought that with what he obtained in the secret realm, plus what the Shi brothers gave him, he should be able to cultivate to the perfection stage of Sea Cleaving Realm. But now it seemed, at most, it¡¯ll be the seventh level. This Sea Cleaving Realm was indeed extraordinary, requiring far more resources than Aperture Connecting Realm, far beyond his estimate, almost like a gold-devouring monster. But it¡¯s normal to think about it. The combat power of the Sea Cleaving Realm was not comparable to Aperture Connecting, anything gained needs corresponding, or even more, effort. ¡°Cultivation temporarily comes to an end, it¡¯s time to go out and make friends.¡± The path of cultivation emphasized relaxation and orderliness, especially when it came to higher realms. If you feel a bit slow, it¡¯s best to stop, take a few days to rest, and then continue. This way, efficiency was the fastest. Generally speaking, martial artists used this time to practice martial arts. However, at this moment, a voice sounded outside. ¡°Junior Brother Meng, I am Wei Qing, a true disciple. Can you come out to meet and chat?¡± At the words, Meng Changqing raised an eyebrow slightly. Wei Qing? Do I know this person? He searched in his mind, but whether it was from the outer or inner sect, there were no relevant memories. It looks like a stranger. But a visitor was a guest, whether he¡¯s a true disciple or not, I should meet him. Attribute Information: ¡¾Root Bone: Third Grade¡¿ ¡¾Comprehension: Superior¡¿ ¡¾Techniques and Martial Skills: ¡°The Great Transcendent Mystical Golden Sword Technique¡± (Partial Mastery), ¡°Heavenly Cloud Roaming Dragon Step¡± (Entry), ¡°Underworld Blood Devouring Art¡± (Third Layer)...¡¿ Hiss~ When he saw the techniques and martial skills column, Meng Changqing couldn¡¯t help but inhale slightly. It¡¯s actually the ¡°The Great Transcendent Mystical Golden Sword Technique¡±! To be honest, he was just about to go out and make friends, inquire about who else practiced this martial skill... Who would have thought someone would take the initiative to come! Truly a gift from fate when you¡¯re half asleep! Is this perhaps a gift from destiny? And the proficiency in the sword art isn¡¯t low. It¡¯s at the Partial Mastery level! With this, as long as I can get this attribute from this person, then I can use the proficiency card to reach perfection! ¡°Wei Qing, right? I have to make friends with you!¡± Meng Changqing¡¯s mouth curled slightly. But when he saw the techniques and martial skills behind, his heart stirred. ¡°Underworld Blood Devouring Art¡± wasn¡¯t something he¡¯s heard of, it¡¯s probably a demonic art. And with ¡°Underworld¡± in its name. Is it one of the Ten Great Demon Sects, the Underworld Demon Sect? It¡¯s likely. As a true disciple of the Tai Xuan Sect, the future was bright and beautiful, basically he wouldn¡¯t practice demonic arts and evil techniques. So the person in front of him probably was an undercover agent sent by the Underworld Demon Sect! To be able to infiltrate the true disciple position under the eyes of the sect, he truly had some skills. But unfortunately, under the probing eye, there¡¯s nowhere to hide. Meng Changqing¡¯s luck was also extraordinary. He just promoted to a true disciple, and he encountered such a person. ¡°However, although you are an undercover agent, in the short term, I still have to make friends with you.¡± Meng Changqing thought to himself. First, get the attribute before considering other things. ¡°Junior Brother Meng.¡± Seeing Meng Changqing seemingly lost in thought, Wei Qing immediately walked in and softly called out. ¡°I apologize for being absent-minded, Senior Brothers. Please don¡¯t mind me.¡± Meng Changqing smiled faintly, ¡°Please, have a seat.¡± ¡°Junior Brother Meng, you¡¯re being too modest. A genius like you occasionally being lost in thought is quite common. I¡¯m afraid of disturbing you.¡± Wei Qing smiled and sat down, ¡°These two are also true disciples, Wang Shanlin and He Nian. We happened to pass by here today and wanted to see the recently rising star in the sect and see what kind of person you are.¡± ¡°Junior Brother Meng.¡± The two immediately bowed to Meng Changqing. Although their seniority were ahead of Meng Changqing¡¯s, in the cultivation world, strength was respected, and seniority was useless. One should be respectful when necessary. Chapter 84 Chapter 84: Attribute Acquisition Card, Mysterious Main Peak Lineage! ¡°Senior Brother Wang, Senior Brother He.¡± Meng Changqing nodded slightly. He did not treat them differently and responded with courtesy. This immediately made the two of them somewhat pleasantly surprised. After all, they had seen many outstanding disciples of the sect, most of whom were very proud and arrogant. While Junior Brother Meng didn¡¯t exude arrogance, he was also approachable. ¡°I¡¯ve just finished seclusion and haven¡¯t prepared any tea. Please forgive me, Senior Brothers.¡± Meng Changqing said with a smile. It seemed that although these two knew Wei Qing, they were probably not undercover agents of the demonic path. ¡°How could it be, how could it be,¡± Wei Qing waved his hand, ¡°These worldly formalities are not important in cultivation. There¡¯s no need to worry about them.¡± ¡°Well, I wonder what business the three Senior Brothers have here today?¡± Meng Changqing asked. ¡°It¡¯s nothing, just came to see Junior Brother Meng and get acquainted,¡± Wei Qing said with a smile, ¡°After all, a genius-level disciple like you, who wouldn¡¯t want to get to know you in advance and make friends?¡± ¡°I see.¡± Meng Changqing nodded. A hint of a smile flashed in his heart. Wow, I was just thinking about how to add this person as a friend, and he¡¯s taking the initiative. This guy is really proactive, which aligns with my thoughts. If you¡¯re strong enough, you don¡¯t even need to make the first move. Others will come to you willingly to become your friend. ¡°I also intend to get to know you all.¡± After coming to his senses, Meng Changqing said. Although only Wei Qing had the value of being added as a friend, in this situation, he couldn¡¯t ignore the feelings of the other two present. Moreover, the attributes obtained from them could also be decomposed. ¡°Haha, in that case, we are friends from now on,¡± Wei Qing readily agreed. The other two also showed a hint of joy on their faces. Being friends with a genius was a good thing, even if it was just verbally. Ding! [Successfully added Wei Qing as a friend!¡± [Current Favorability: One Star] [Obtained Attribute: ¡®Heavenly Cloud Roaming Dragon Step¡¯ (Entry)] [Triggered Extra Reward: Attribute Acquisition Card *1] Ding! [Successfully added Wang Shanlin as a friend!] [Current Favorability: One Star] [Obtained Attribute: Third Grade Root Bone] Ding! [Successfully added He Nian as a friend!] ¡°It¡¯s called the Palm Lotus Demon Sealing Technique. ¡°Back then, Auntie used this technique to check for the cultivation of demonic techniques. ¡°But what if this technique also can¡¯t detect it? After all, our own sect is a major power and should have various secret techniques for checking demonic techniques.¡± In a short period of time, Meng Changqing thought of many things. Forget it, let¡¯s talk about it later. ¡°Our sect has about five hundred true disciples. ¡°Not counting the main peak, each vein has about eighty people.¡± Wei Qing began to explain. Upon hearing this, Meng Changqing¡¯s heart moved slightly. There were about three to four thousand inner disciples, but there were only five hundred true disciples. The difference in numbers was indeed large, but it¡¯s also normal. After all, it¡¯s not easy to reach the Sea Cleaving Realm. Moreover, there seemed to be an age limit for true disciples. Once they exceed the age of thirty-five, their true disciple status would be automatically revoked. This seemed to correspond to the Hidden Dragon Ranking, which was aimed at young talents from the Sea Cleaving Realm to the Dao Creation Realm. Wei Qing continued to narrate. Every detail deepened Meng Changqing¡¯s understanding of the true disciple hierarchy. For example, the specific talents of each vein¡¯s genius disciples, the powerful true disciples, and the division of true disciples strength, etc. After half an hour... ¡°That¡¯s about it,¡± Wei Qing said with a dry mouth. He wanted to drink some tea, but there was nothing in front of him. He could only moisten his mouth and pretend not to be thirsty. If it weren¡¯t for wanting to get closer to this Meng Changqing, he wouldn¡¯t have wasted so much effort. ¡°Brother Wei¡¯s explanation has truly broadened my horizons,¡± Meng Changqing said. This was the truth. He had already considered the true disciples to be strong, but after listening to Wei Qing¡¯s words, he realized that he had underestimated them. Those who ranked at the top were indeed excessively strong. However, Meng Changqing didn¡¯t belittle himself either. His foundation was not shallow at all. He was even stronger than most true disciples. After integrating the ¡®Great Transcendent Mystical Golden Sword Technique¡¯ later, he would have even more confidence in facing opponents at the Sea Cleaving Realm! ¡°By the way, Brother Wei, you have talked a lot, but you have said very little about the main peak. Why is that?¡± As if thinking of something, Meng Changqing asked. ¡°The main peak, huh,¡± Wei Qing raised his eyebrows slightly, ¡°The main peak lineage has always been very mysterious and does not usually recruit disciples. It seems to be related to the history of our sect. ¡°I¡¯m not very clear about the specifics.¡± ¡°Is that so.¡± Meng Changqing nodded slightly. Although their sect was listed as one of the four major powers in Tianling Prefecture alongside the Giant Spirit Sect, Flame Sun Valley, and Wind and Cloud City, the other three powers had only gradually risen in the past five hundred years. In contrast, their sect seemed to have a long history and deep foundation. Chapter 85 Chapter 85: Golden Sword Embryo, Heavenly Furnace, Disparity in Martial Skills! ¡°With Junior Brother Meng¡¯s current strength, stepping into the top hundred will certainly be no problem. ¡°A few months later, even the top fifty is highly possible. ¡°In the Seven Veins Martial Arts Competition, as long as you enter the top fifty, the rewards are very generous, with third and fourth-grade resources available. You can even enter the Tai Xuan Treasury to select many treasures.¡± Wei Qing said with a smile. ¡°The Seven Veins Martial Arts Competition?¡± Meng Changqing¡¯s eyes flickered slightly. After cultivating in the Sea Cleaving Realm for a month, he had deeply felt the importance of resources. Actually, absorbing the essence of heaven and earth was also possible, but the progress was too slow. It could only be used as an auxiliary. To make rapid progress, one still needed high-grade resources. When the existing resources were used up, it seemed that he could only wait for the Seven Veins Martial Arts Competition. Then, they chatted for a while longer. Wei Qing then got up. ¡°We have other matters to attend to, so we won¡¯t bother you any longer. If Junior Brother Meng has any questions in the future, you can come to Yellow Cloud Peak to find me.¡± ¡°Alright, then please don¡¯t hesitate to ask for help when the time comes, Senior Brothers.¡± Meng Changqing said with a smile. ¡°Naturally, we hope Junior Brother Meng will trouble us more.¡± Wei Qing said immediately, ¡°By the way, I see that Junior Brother Meng doesn¡¯t even have a servant on this Spirit Peak. Does it affect your daily life? I have some servants with excellent qualities. If you need them, I can send you a few.¡± ¡°No need, I¡¯m used to being alone.¡± Meng Changqing shook his head. This statement was half true and half false. In the past, with a lower realm and a small place to live, being alone was indeed not a problem. But now, the place of cultivation had become the Spirit Peak. If there¡¯s no servant to take care of it, it would soon be covered in dust. It¡¯s really unsightly. And suddenly when someone comes, there¡¯s no tea or anything to entertain them with. But the servants had to be cultivated by oneself, which was more reassuring. Forget about others¡¯. He was a servants of the demonic path, would the servants be used as spies to monitor him? Wei Qing¡¯s visit today was definitely not pure in purpose, and as for the purpose, he could probably guess one or two. ¡°Okay.¡± A trace of imperceptible disappointment flashed in Wei Qing¡¯s eyes, but he still had a smile on his face. Then he and the other two turned and left. Three sword lights shot out from their bodies and landed at their feet. Carrying the three, they gradually moved away. ¡°The art of flying in the sky.¡± Meng Changqing looked at the sword lights. This was one of the wonders of the ¡°Great Transcendent Mystical Golden Sword Technique¡±. Generally speaking, for human martial artists to fly in the sky, they must at least reach the Dao Creation Realm. Because the true qi in the body of a Dao Creation Realm martial artist had already transformed into true essence. It¡¯s like substance, extremely domineering. But some martial arts and techniques could allow martial artists to fly in the sky in the Sea Cleaving Realm. The ¡°Great Transcendent Mystical Golden Sword Technique¡± was one of them. ¡°It seems that I have to practice it to achieve at least partial mastery.¡± Meng Changqing¡¯s mouth curled slightly. Really a good person. One could imagine how terrifying these heavenly gold sword qi are. If they were activated by martial skills, the power will be even more unimaginable. ¡°The heavenly gold qi, the power of the edge of the world.¡± Meng Changqing nodded in satisfaction. In the five elements of heaven and earth, the characteristic of metal was sharpness. And the heavenly gold qi was the high-grade metal element. Turning it into sword qi. It could be said to increase its sharpness even more! ¡°System, use two earth-grade proficiency cards!¡± Without any hesitation, Meng Changqing said. The proficiency cards were saved for today. It¡¯s for this moment. Ding! ¡¾Consuming two earth-grade martial skill proficiency cards!¡¿ ¡¾The ¡®Great Transcendent Mystical Golden Sword Technique¡¯ has been upgraded to the level of perfection!¡¿ As the words fell, an even more vast amount of information surged forth. And the golden sword embryo also underwent a huge change. Its size continued to grow. In an instant, it became like a furnace of heaven and earth! Countless strands of heavenly gold sword qi spewed out, and the sharpness generated when they converged even caused the Sea Pill to tremble slightly. Fortunately, it was just a tremor, and there were no other anomalies. Hoo! Meng Changqing opened his eyes. His whole person¡¯s aura changed suddenly. It¡¯s like a sword that has been sealed for countless years, finally breaking through the earth, and the extreme sharpness seems to be able to penetrate the heavens and earth. In the depths of his eyes, countless sword lights flickered. A thick sense of oppression, almost suffocating! ¡°So this is the perfection level of the sword art, it¡¯s truly...¡± Meng Changqing couldn¡¯t find words to describe it for a while, he just felt like there was an ancient ferocious beast suppressed inside him. Full of destructive power! Once unleashed, it¡¯s unimaginable! ¡°Profound-grade, earth-grade. One word difference, but it¡¯s like a world apart.¡± Meng Changqing now understood the difference between the two martial skills. It seemed that earth-grade martial skills could control the power of heaven and earth and incorporate it into the body for their own use. But it¡¯s not possible with profound-grade. Most of them were true qi illusion words. ¡°In addition, if I rely on my own cultivation, I really don¡¯t know when I can achieve perfection.¡± Meng Changqing couldn¡¯t help shaking his head. In terms of comprehension, he had no problem at all. The main issue was resources. It took a full ten thousand strands of heavenly gold qi. That Wei Qing who achieved partial mastery, he was likely almost bankrupt. And he just needs to make friends widely, then Ding Ding Ding. Thinking of this, Meng Changqing¡¯s mouth curled up slightly. Chapter 86 Chapter 86: Stirring Winds and Clouds, Sect Mission, Reclaiming the Position in the Hidden Dragon! ¡°Next, integrate ¡®Heavenly Cloud Roaming Dragon Step¡¯.¡± Withdrawing his thoughts, Meng Changqing looked towards the panel. This was obviously a body technique martial skill, but he didn¡¯t know its level. The name seemed righteous as well. It shouldn¡¯t be a demonic path body technique. It¡¯s most likely from the sect. It seemed like this Wei Qing had something. After obtaining the ¡®Great Transcendent Mystical Golden Sword Technique¡¯, he even got a Earth Martial Proficiency Token. Meng Changqing didn¡¯t know how to obtain the Earth Martial Proficiency Token for the time being, and he forgot to ask just now. But such things can be inquired about from relevant elders and are not secretive. Ding! [Integration begins!] Another large influx of information, all about the insights into ¡®Heavenly Cloud Roaming Dragon Step¡¯. After a moment, they were all fully absorbed. ¡°Indeed, it¡¯s an Earth-level body technique martial skill!¡± Joy appeared in Meng Changqing¡¯s eyes. To cultivate the ¡®Heavenly Cloud Roaming Dragon Step¡¯, one must spend years in a place filled with clouds and mist, watching the magnificent scenes of the surging cloud sea, imagining the movements of roaming dragons, and finally absorbing the cloud energy into the body. Once cultivated, the body technique could be as graceful as floating clouds, as agile as roaming dragons, and could also push through like the vast ocean of clouds, majestic like dragons swimming in the sea! Compared to the ¡®Great Transcendent Mystical Golden Sword Technique¡¯, this body technique martial skill focused more on comprehension. Resources were relatively easy to obtain because the natural cloud energy was common. However, this was still a body technique, not a technique for attack. The difficulty of cultivation was lower, which was normal. ¡°It does compensate for my deficiency in body techniques,¡± Meng Changqing thought. With the advancement of his cultivation realm, the mere initial stage of the ¡®Sword Steps¡¯ was no longer enough. The arrival of the ¡®Heavenly Cloud Roaming Dragon Step¡¯ came at just the right time. However, the only regret was that Wei Qing had only cultivated this martial skill to the entry level, not even reaching the partial mastery stage. Although there was still one Earth-level martial skill proficiency card left, Meng Changqing didn¡¯t want to spend it on this. The entry level was enough for now. He wanted focus on improving the ¡®Linglong Daluo Tian¡¯ first. This secret technique¡¯s enhancement in combat power was not to be underestimated. It could be said to be his trump card.Finnd new chapters at novelhall.com Since the foundation was solid enough, he should focus on improving it. ¡°System, enhance ¡®Linglong Daluo Tian¡¯.¡± Ding! [Consuming one Ground-level martial skill proficiency card!] The familiar feeling appeared again. ¡®Linglong Daluo Tian¡¯ had been enhanced to the third level. This meant that his combat power could be increased threefold. ¡°With my current strength, I am invincible within the Sea Cleaving Realm.¡± Meng Changqing stood up slowly. Confidence gleamed in his eyes. Meng Changqing picked up the map. The front showed the route, and the back had many words and portraits. Information was needed for anything. In this regard, the sect was very thoughtful. ¡°Senior Brother Meng!¡± Suddenly, a familiar voice came from outside. It was the Shi Brothers. Meng Changqing immediately put away the map and walked out. He saw the two brothers standing obediently outside the railing. Their upbringing was excellent, and they wouldn¡¯t come in without permission. ¡°Come on in, treat it like your own home.¡± Meng Changqing said with a smile. ¡°That¡¯s right!¡± Shi Yao walked in immediately, ¡°Big brother is just stubborn, he insists on me standing outside.¡± Shi Guang shook his head helplessly. That¡¯s what their old man said. They had to listen. ¡°Senior Brother Meng, you¡¯ve probably received the sect mission too, right?¡± Shi Yao said excitedly. He still held a map in his hand. ¡°Yeah.¡± Meng Changqing nodded and also took it out from his pocket. Comparing them, their mission points were quite close to each other, not far away, about a hundred miles apart. Shi Guang¡¯s was almost the same. Was it a coincidence, or... Normally, with so many mission points, it¡¯s hard to encounter the same one. But Meng Changqing didn¡¯t think too much about it. ¡°When we¡¯re outside, keep this thing safe. Don¡¯t show it to anyone easily.¡± Meng Changqing reminded. ¡°Got it.¡± Shi Yao nodded. When they went out, their old man said the same thing. ¡°Second Level of the Sea Cleaving Realm.¡± Meng Changqing sensed their aura, they seemed to have made a breakthrough. It¡¯s just that it wasn¡¯t as fast as his. After half a month of cultivation, he had reached the peak of the Third Level of the Sea Cleaving Realm, and was about to enter the Fourth Level. However, for him, the benefits of breakthroughs in small realms were not significant. Because in terms of true qi quantity... he already had a lot. Even more would just be icing on the cake. But he still had to strive for advancement in realms. The transformation after the Sea Cleaving Realm was a qualitative change. ¡°Senior Brother Meng, let¡¯s go together,¡± Shi Yao said. ¡°Sure.¡± Meng Changqing nodded. If the general direction was similar, they could travel together, but they would eventually have to part ways. ¡°Junior Brother Meng.¡± Just as Meng Changqing was about to leave with the two brothers, a sword light flew over from the distance and landed steadily on the spirit peak. It was Wei Qing. Chapter 87 Chapter 87: Wei Qing¡¯s Thoughts, the Significance of the Hidden Dragon Ranking When he saw the Shi Brothers standing behind Meng Changqing like two small mountains, the smile on Wei Qing¡¯s face froze. It was especially true when their gaze swept over, carrying a scrutinizing taste. It was extremely oppressive! His throat couldn¡¯t help but roll, swallowing saliva involuntarily. ¡°So it¡¯s Senior Brother Wei. I wonder what¡¯s the matter?¡± Meng Changqing said with a smile. ¡°It¡¯s nothing much, just a sect mission. Junior Brother Meng, you¡¯ve received it too, right?¡± Wei Qing said, trying to calm himself down, while at the same time, a map appeared in his hand. Meng Changqing¡¯s eyes flickered slightly. Among the true disciples, Wei Qing¡¯s strength was considered above average. According to what he had said before, he should be around the top 150. With more than twenty disciples from the Spirit Peak, he was qualified to participate in the Hidden Dragon Battle. ¡°Mm.¡± Meng Changqing nodded. ¡°I¡¯m in the area of Zihexi City. Where are you? ¡°If we¡¯re going the same way, we can go together,¡± Wei Qing said sincerely. ¡°This is a secret. Sorry, Senior Brother Wei, I was instructed to keep it confidential,¡± Meng Changqing said with a smile. How could he possibly reveal his destination to a spy from the demonic path? Wei Qing had come two or three times in the past half month. Especially after learning that he was cultivating the Great Transcendent Mystical Golden Sword Technique, he became extremely enthusiastic, saying that there was a hidden gold mine in a place where no one had discovered it. He was willing to share it with Meng Changqing, but it required going to that place personally to collect the gold qi. Meng Changqing glanced at the map briefly. The place was quite far from the sect¡¯s territory. Obviously, Wei Qing had impure intentions. He probably wanted to lure him, the sect¡¯s genius, out and then have someone ambush him. And so, Meng Changqing refused. He remembered Wei Qing¡¯s expression at that time. He was completely dumbfounded, as if he hadn¡¯t expected him to refuse. After all, the amount of aura of the gold required to cultivate the Great Transcendent Mystical Golden Sword Technique was too much. No one would refuse it. If Wei Qing were a normal disciple, Meng Changqing might consider it, since he didn¡¯t need it himself and could sell it for other resources. But Wei Qing wasn¡¯t normal. He had come several times with ulterior motives. ¡°Alright.¡± Wei Qing nodded awkwardly. He didn¡¯t believe what Meng Changqing said about keeping it confidential. What was there to keep secret? But since Meng Changqing insisted, he had no choice. ¡°Alright.¡± Meng Changqing stood on the huge sword aura and nodded slightly. Although one can fly in the air with the help of the sword qi, true qi was not as good as the true essence, and the consumption was too large It was impossible to fly for such a long time. But with his abundant qi, he could not only support himself but also these two big guys. Of course, there had been breaks during these three days. They had rested a few times. This was a fork in the road. Moving forward, they would have to go their separate ways. ¡°Junior Brothers, I wish you both success in climbing the Hidden Dragon Ranking,¡± Meng Changqing said with a smile. ¡°Senior Brother Meng, you too,¡± the two nodded. Withdrawing his gaze, Meng Changqing flew forward. ¡°When can we fly like that?¡± Shi Yao asked somewhat enviously, rubbing his hands. ¡°Master said it¡¯s when we reach the Dao Creation Realm,¡± Shi Guang replied. ¡°That¡¯s still a long way off,¡± Shi Yao counted with his fingers. Since flying in the sky, he had become fond of the feeling of overlooking the earth, especially the violent impact of falling from the sky! ¡°Alright, let¡¯s go,¡± Shi Guang turned around and walked towards the right. The two brothers also began to part ways. The sword light streaked across the sky over many mountains, leaving only remnants. Meng Changqing sat cross-legged on it, holding a map and examining it carefully. Each province¡¯s Hidden Dragon Ranking had only one hundred spots, divided into two tiers. The top thirty were in the Dao Creation Realm, while the remaining seventy were in the Sea Cleaving Realm. The age limit was thirty-five. The origin of the Hidden Dragon Ranking could be traced back to the mysterious Central Province. Legend has it that thousands of years ago, in order to ensure the order of the cultivation world and the distribution of resources, the supreme holy land of the Central Province established a strict sect ranking system, including the noble families and royal dynasties. All forces¡¯ promotion and resource acquisition must strictly adhere to this system. No one could overstep it. The Hidden Dragon Ranking, the Earth Ranking, and the Heavenly Ranking were standards for measurement. The Hidden Dragon Ranking represented the future potential of a force, while the Earth Ranking and Heavenly Ranking represent current strength. If both were up to standard, it proved that your force was strong enough and had potential, qualifying you to obtain the ruling power of this territory. Otherwise, you would be downgraded and the territory would be handed over to stronger neighboring forces, or even dissolved. Previously, the Tai Xuan Sect had twenty-five disciples on the Hidden Dragon Ranking, accounting for one-quarter. But losing six in one go was a heavy loss. So they must be brought back. Otherwise, it would affect the overall situation of the sect. Chapter 88 Chapter 88: A First-Rank Sect! Xu Family, Zhan Yue Villa! ¡°The Xu Family of Dongming Lake.¡± Meng Changqing put away the map. Dongming Lake was located at the border between the Tai Xuan Sect¡¯s territory and the Flame Sun Valley. The Xu Family was a subsidiary family of the Flame Sun Valley. Members of the family¡¯s younger generation usually joined the Flame Sun Valley. The current eldest son of the Xu Family was named Xu You. He had a second-rank aptitude, excellent comprehension, and was a true disciple of the Flame Sun Valley. He was at the Seventh Stage of the Sea Cleaving Realm. He practiced the Earth-grade initial stage martial technique exclusive to the Flame Sun Valley, the ¡°Fierce Yang Universe Palm.¡± It was said that he had reached the stage of perfection. He was among those who recently took the position of the Hidden Dragon of the Tai Xuan Sect. He was currently ranked eighty-ninth on the Hidden Dragon Ranking. ¡°This opponent seems to be weaker, but it¡¯s not bad to take advantage of a soft target,¡± Meng Changqing¡¯s lips curled slightly. At the same time, he remembered another thing. When he came with the Shi Brothers, he learned from them that the two of them had been accepted as direct disciples by the old peak master of the Purple Nourishment Peak. They became direct disciples. ¡°Why does no one want me?¡± Meng Changqing pinched his brow. He didn¡¯t mean he wanted to be anyone¡¯s disciple. With the system in place, the best way was to make friends, no need to become a disciple. He just felt that this phenomenon was somewhat abnormal. After all, the potential he displayed was not lower than that of the Shi Brothers. ¡°Forget it, it¡¯s useless to think too much,¡± Meng Changqing shook his head slightly, speeding up and rushing forward. Dongming Lake, a lake spanning nearly a hundred miles, surrounded by undulating mountains, like a natural barrier. There were already many islands in the lake, large and small, resembling stars falling here or pearls on a jade plate. The scenery was extremely beautiful. ¡°No wonder the Hidden Dragon Battle is opening so frequently!¡± someone said excitedly. ¡°But no matter who succeeds, our Tianling Prefecture will have a first-rank sect, and will no longer be weaker than other prefectures!¡± For these people, it didn¡¯t matter who won or lost. It was just the final significance that was different. Compared to the bustling outside, it was quite quiet inside the Xu Family. In the spacious hall, four people were sitting. Xu Mingyang, the head of the Xu Family, his eldest son Xu You, and two others who were not from the Xu Family but had similarly high status: Cui Feiting, the master of the Zhanyue Villa, and his son Cui Qian. ¡°It¡¯s all because of the Tai Xuan Sect. Brother Cui has been staying here at Dongming Lake for some time...¡± Xu Mingyang said with a smile. ¡°You¡¯re exaggerating. It¡¯s quite nice here. It saves me from going back to the villa and having to arrange the arena for the Tai Xuan Sect,¡± Cui Feiting said casually, picking up the tea next to him and taking a sip. The situation of the Zhanyue Villa was similar to that of the Xu Family. Both being forces on the Flame Sun Valley¡¯s territory, both were naturally loyal to the Flame Sun Valley. And his son, Cui Qian, was the same. He recently defeated a disciple of the Tai Xuan Sect and was now ranked thirty-eighth on the Hidden Dragon Ranking. This ranking was quite high. Both of them looked quite young, around twenty-four or twenty-five years old. In the sect, they were also good brothers. The two families had a good relationship as early as a hundred years ago and had continued to this day. ¡°It¡¯s because of the Tai Xuan Sect. It¡¯s ridiculous that they want to upgrade to a first-rank sect. The Flame Sun Valley, although a latecomer, has deep roots now and is no longer inferior to the Tai Xuan Sect, even surpassing it,¡± Xu Mingyang chuckled, his laughter containing a hint of disdain. ¡°The actions of the Tai Xuan Sect today are nothing but futile efforts.¡± ¡°Indeed, the future of the Tianling Prefecture belongs to the Flame Sun Valley,¡± Cui Feiting nodded, putting down his teacup. ¡°Although the Tai Xuan Sect has a long history and is said to have had dealings with the Central Province, it¡¯s just an outdated force. Its time is coming to an end.¡± ¡°The Central Province, huh,¡± Xu Mingyang¡¯s eyes flickered slightly. That was the holy land of martial arts in everyone¡¯s mind. ¡°Calculating the time, the disciples of the Tai Xuan Sect should be arriving soon,¡± Cui Feiting withdrew his thoughts and looked at his son Cui Qian. ¡°Are you confident?¡± ¡°Father, do you think you¡¯re underestimating me?¡± Cui Qian shook his head, his lips curling slightly. ¡°With just a few rotten apples from the Tai Xuan Sect, I can defeat a few.¡± ¡°Hahaha, good!¡± Cui Feiting laughed heartily. ¡°By holding onto this Hidden Dragon Battle, we will have contributed greatly to the Flame Sun Valley. When it is upgraded in the future, we will definitely benefit!¡± As the voice fell, a voice came from outside the hall. ¡°Master of the family, the disciples of the Tai Xuan Sect have arrived!¡± Chapter 89 Chapter 89: Life is Short; Why Does Senior Wei Choose the Shortcut? An open grassland, Meng Changqing was resting here. But at a certain moment, his eyes flickered, looking ahead. He saw a figure walking out of the nearby mountains and forests. He was wearing black clothes, carrying a long sword. It was Wei Qing. ¡°Senior Wei?¡± Meng Changqing stood up slowly, his eyebrows raised slightly. He remembered not telling Wei Qing the destination. How did Wei Qing find out? It seemed there are traitors in the sect. ¡°Junior Brother Meng, I¡¯ve been waiting for you for a long time,¡± Wei Qing smiled, his mouth slightly tilted. This was the truth. He had arrived half a day ago. It¡¯s just that he didn¡¯t have the patience and went forward on his own, only to encounter Meng Changqing who was resting. ¡°Is there something that you need that you couldn¡¯t wait for me to return. Did you really have to be chased here?¡± Meng Changqing smiled faintly. ¡°Of course, it¡¯s an important matter,¡± Wei Qing replied with a smile, then raised his right hand slightly. Behind him, two more people appeared. They were both dressed in black robes. Their aura was also very powerful, both at the Ninth Stage of the Sea Cleaving Realm! One of them even had occasional bursts of pale green flames on his body. ¡°Underworld Demon Sect,¡± Meng Changqing calmly read the characters on the sleeves of the two people. ¡°You guessed it right,¡± Wei Qing said, looking at Meng Changqing¡¯s reaction. He had speculated earlier that since who would refuse a golden qi land, and afterwards he had come several times, Meng Changqing¡¯s reactions were always cold. ¡°Great Transcendent ¡¤ Gathering of Ten Thousand Swords!¡± On Meng Changqing¡¯s body, countless golden sword energy burst out! Densely packed! The quantity was as vast as a sea of swords, crushing towards Wei Qing! ¡°This!¡± The cruelty and confidence on Wei Qing¡¯s face had long disappeared, leaving only endless horror! Although ¡°Great Transcendent ¡¤ Gathering of Ten Thousand Swords¡± was not his main cultivation method, he understood it very well! With such a vast quantity, such terrifying sword moves! Clearly, Meng Changqing had perfected the ¡°Great Transcendent ¡¤ Gathering of Ten Thousand Swords¡± to the utmost realm! Completely surpassing him! But... how could this be possible! Meng Changqing had only obtained this martial art technique a month and a half ago! A month and a half to perfect it? Even if a monster was born in someone¡¯s belly, it wouldn¡¯t be this ridiculous! He remembered that it took him two years to reach this level. ¡°Underworld Blood Devouring Art ¡¤ Blood Shadow Protection!¡± Without time to think, Wei Qing quickly activated his martial technique. Nine blood shadows appeared behind him, quickly surrounding his body and enlarging, resembling shields. But in front of the countless sword qi, they were like illusions, struggling for just a moment before completely shattering. ¡°No!¡± Wei Qing roared in despair. Although he was not a genius, he was not far behind. As long as he completed this task, he could return to the Demon Sect and receive higher cultivation! But now, everything was gone. Boom! Wei Qing was instantly overwhelmed, crushed to pieces! Chapter 90 Chapter 90: Damn! Willing to Be Friends and Kill?! Also, Proficiency in Third-Rank Alchemy! Phew! Thousands of sword qi returned to his body, leaving only a puddle of blood on the ground. Meng Changqing reached out his fingers and a storage ring fell into his hand. Killing without searching the body. It¡¯s not a good habit. Then his gaze fell on the two not far away. At this moment, the two stood still in place. They seemed to be in a state of confusion. God knew what they saw. Wei Qing, who was in full force, rushed up fiercely, and then... got killed instantly? ¡°Damn!¡± The person beside him regained his senses and immediately cursed angrily, ¡°Wei Qing, f*ck your ancestors for eighteen generations!¡± Clearly, before they came, Wei Qing vowed that this was just a newly rising genius, with shallow foundations and not that strong, and they could definitely take him down. He and the Green Pill Elder only needed to be in charge of surrounding and suppressing! But now??? This isn¡¯t that strong yet? You got killed directly! If I¡¯m not mistaken, that¡¯s the perfected ¡°Great Transcendent ¡¤ Gathering of Ten Thousand Swords¡±! This martial art technique is already extremely powerful at the Earth Rank Initial Stage, and once perfected, its power is even comparable to the Middle Stage! ¡°Damn it, Wei Qing, you¡¯re just luring us here to die!¡± The Green Pill Elder recovered and couldn¡¯t help but curse. If looks could kill, Wei Qing¡¯s puddle of blood would have been shattered again. Compared to Wei Qing, the strength of the two of them was slightly inferior, and now that even Wei Qing died so decisively, they were more likely so. ¡°Run!¡± Without daring to think too much, the two turned around quickly, but their lifted feet froze in an instant, because there was already a person standing in front of them. It was Meng Changqing. ¡°There is an ancient saying, ¡®Friends come from afar, isn¡¯t it a joy?¡¯ Why do you two need to leave in such a hurry? Could you please let me play the role of a good host?¡± Meng Changqing slowly drew the long sword from his waist. The sharpness unique to high-grade spirit weapons made the two feel a strong chill on their backs. ¡°Um, I mean, we and Wei Qing are not the same kind of people. Do you believe me?¡± one of them said. Unlike the Green Pill Elder, he was a pure martial artist named Xiong Boyan. In the Huangquan Devil Sect, he also had a high status, being a high-ranking steward. ¡°I can believe you, but you must agree to a small request from me,¡± Meng Changqing smiled faintly. ¡°What request?¡± The two were stunned. ¡°I have always loved making friends, especially with you masters, so can you agree to become my friends?¡± Meng Changqing said. ¡°What?¡± Both of them suspected they had misheard. Friends? ¡°Very good.¡± Pluck! The tip of the sword moved forward an inch, piercing through him directly. Bang! The light in Green Pill Elder¡¯s eyes dissipated, and he fell heavily to the ground. Ding! ¡¾Successfully added Xiong Boyan as a friend!¡¿ ¡¾Current Favorability: One Star!¡¿ ¡¾Acquired Attribute: High Aptitude!¡¿ Ding! ¡¾Successfully added Green Pill Elder as a friend!¡¿ ¡¾Current Favorability: One Star!¡¿ ¡¾Acquired Attribute: Third-grade Alchemy Attainment!¡¿ In his mind, the system¡¯s voice kept ringing. Meng Changqing nodded in satisfaction. Luck was good, at least one of them got the attribute he wanted. Third-grade Alchemy Attainment! When the two appeared, Meng Changqing had already activated his observation eye. When he saw that the old man was a third-grade alchemist, his heart was suddenly filled with joy. He didn¡¯t expect to have an unexpected gain! This Wei Qing really sacrificed himself and others just to help him. A good man, absolutely a good man. Third-grade alchemist, this was not something you see everywhere. It was quite rare. Even within the sect, the number was not big. If placed in the outside world, they would definitely be revered, with countless martial artists flocking to them! Alchemy attainment did not necessarily follow realm cultivation. Some alchemists might have reached the Sea Cleaving Realm cultivation but still have the attainment of a second-grade alchemist. Even with higher realm cultivation, they might still have the attainment of a second-grade alchemist. So, a third-grade alchemist was truly precious. Killing one today, the Underworld Demon Sect would probably feel heartache. As for that Xiong Boyan, he had an attribute of a technique, which also interested him. It was called ¡°The Stygian Elegy Scriptures ¡¤ Volume B.¡± From the name, it seemed to have some flair, definitely a martial art or secret technique of Earth Grade. Unfortunately, he didn¡¯t get it. Otherwise, he could see what it was like. Chapter 91 Chapter 91: This Senior Sister, Let Me Take Over Next ¡°System, integrate third-grade alchemy attainment,¡± Meng Changqing said. Ding! [Integration begins!] As the words fell, a massive influx of information surged in his mind. It was all about alchemy knowledge and insights, far surpassing Kong Linxue¡¯s attainment before. And thus, this integration lasted for more than an hour before it finally ended. Phew! Meng Changqing opened his eyes. His right hand¡¯s five fingers spread out, and the alchemical fire emerged. With a slight thought, the alchemical fire easily transformed into various forms. This required extremely high control to achieve. ¡°There are still ten sets of third-grade alchemy recipes.¡± Although some were demonic recipes, the rest were generally applicable. Now, as long as he had the materials, he could refine them. ¡°A third-grade alchemist.¡± Meng Changqing dissipated the alchemical fire, his lips curling slightly. Others would hardly ever reach the realm of the third grade in their entire lives, but he easily stepped into it. Now, solely relying on the identity of a third-grade alchemist, it was enough to ensure a prosperous life, benefiting generations of descendants. ¡°System, decompose high aptitude.¡± Withdrawing his mind, Meng Changqing proceeded with the remaining attribute handling. In the system¡¯s rules, these attributes couldn¡¯t be stacked. Ding! [Decomposition successful!] [Acquired: Earth-grade martial skill proficiency card *1] The prompt sounded. Not bad. Meng Changqing¡¯s eyes brightened slightly. He actually obtained an Earth-grade martial skill proficiency card! This thing was quite precious. Usually, it could only be obtained as an extra reward. He didn¡¯t expect to get it now. But it was normal to get an Earth-grade one when decomposing high aptitude. ¡°It¡¯s still necessary to make friends with geniuses. Although many attributes may not be needed, their inherent quality is high, and decomposing them can still yield good things.¡± Meng Changqing nodded slightly in his mind. Then he used this attainment card on ¡°Linglong Daluo Tian.¡± Raising it to the fourth level. Like ¡°Dark Sea Returning Origin Technique,¡± ¡°Linglong Daluo Tian¡± would also undergo a qualitative change only at the last level. As a Sea Cleaving Realm martial artist, Mo Yunling naturally heard everything clearly. Suddenly feeling ashamed and angry! But there was nowhere to vent. After all, who made her strength insufficient! Unable to regain her own dignity! ¡°I often hear that the Spirit Peak specializes in swordsmanship and is famous for its swords. But now it seems not so impressive.¡± Looking at Mo Yunling¡¯s expression, Xu You¡¯s lips curled up. He added fuel to the fire with a single sentence. On the high platform, the family head Xu Mingyang and the master of the Zhanyue Villa, Cui Feiting, sat side by side. Leisurely and relaxed. It seemed that they didn¡¯t have the slightest worry about the situation below. ¡°Your son Xu You¡¯s tongue is somewhat sharp. It seems like he wants to shatter this woman¡¯s Dao heart,¡± Cui Feiting took a sip of tea lightly. ¡°Brother Cui is too serious. My son is just being realistic. Is it that in today¡¯s world, even the truth cannot be spoken?¡± Xu Mingyang also smiled and said, ¡°Besides, if her Dao heart is shattered so easily, she¡¯s too useless. It¡¯s also considered screening the trash for the Tai Xuan Sect, saving resources for the future. ¡°I believe the Tai Xuan Sect will thank me.¡± ¡°Hahaha, Brother Xu, Brother Xu, I just realized that Xu You¡¯s mouth is completely inherited from you.¡± Cui Feiting laughed heartily. As for Cui Qian next to him, he closed his eyes tightly. He didn¡¯t care about the situation below at all. Or maybe it didn¡¯t catch his eye. As one of the top young talents ranked 37th on the Hidden Dragon Ranking, only equals could make him care. ¡°You!¡± Mo Yunling¡¯s beautiful eyes were filled with anger. She could tolerate her own humiliation. But insulting the entire Spirit Peak lineage was absolutely intolerable. ¡°I want to challenge you again!¡± Mo Yunling wiped away the blood from the corner of her mouth and swallowed a pill. ¡°Then you better think it over. In your current state, if I lose control a little, it¡¯s easy to inflict more injuries on you. If you end up damaging your roots, don¡¯t blame me.¡± Xu You said softly. Hearing this, everyone was slightly shocked. It seemed that Xu family¡¯s eldest son had plans to disable her. ¡°I¡¯ve thought it through!¡± Mo Yunling was already overwhelmed by anger. Under the surge of emotions, she disregarded everything. Or maybe. Some things were more important than life. ¡°Good! ¡°Let everyone bear witness!¡± Xu You suddenly smiled. His goal was achieved. However, just as Mo Yunling was about to move forward, A hand pressed on her shoulder. ¡°This Senior Sister, you should rest first. Let me take over.¡± Chapter 92 Chapter 92: Breaking the Illusion of Killing, Defeat with Just One Move! The sudden voice caught Mo Yunling off guard. She tilted her head slightly and saw a handsome young man bathed in sunlight, with jet-black hair, star-like eyes, and a gentle smile on his face. Upon seeing him, a sense of peace washed over her involuntarily. ¡°Who are you?¡± Mo Yunling asked instinctively. ¡°Meng Changqing, a newly appointed true disciple of Spirit Peak,¡± Meng Changqing replied with a smile. ¡°You¡¯re Meng Changqing?¡± Mo Yunling covered her mouth lightly, her beautiful eyes filled with surprise. Although she had been in seclusion for almost half a year, she had heard about what happened in the Xuanqing Realm from her senior brothers and sisters when she came out. She had heard that this junior brother had a terrifying comprehension ability and had comprehended sword qi while in the Sea Cleaving Realm. Moreover, he almost killed the Crimson Rampage Golden Gorilla in the Xuanqing Realm! Just newly appointed to the true disciples, even without practicing Earth-grade martial skills, he already possessed the strength of the upper-middle level. ¡°Yes,¡± Meng Changqing nodded slightly. He wasn¡¯t surprised by this. He was already a small celebrity within the sect. Sending just one person to challenge the strong on the Hidden Dragon Ranking was not the norm. He might be the first choice, or perhaps just an option. Either way, it didn¡¯t matter. Meng Changqing¡¯s appearance was somewhat abrupt, leaving many people stunned for a moment before coming to their senses. ¡°Another disciple from the Tai Xuan Sect has come. Judging from his clothes, he¡¯s also a true disciple of Spirit Peak.¡± ¡°The Tai Xuan Sect is really determined. They must reclaim their position on the Hidden Dragon Ranking.¡± ¡°But who is this newcomer? He¡¯s so young and unfamiliar. It seems like no one has ever seen him before. Does anyone recognize him?¡± People looked at each other, shaking their heads. ¡°Who is the newcomer?¡± Xu You frowned. He had finally forced Mo Yunling onto the stage, and now someone else was coming to disrupt things. It really ruined his mood! ¡°Tai Xuan Sect, Spirit Peak, newly appointed true disciple Meng Changqing,¡± Meng Changqing walked to the center of the stage and faced Xu You. ¡°Meng Changqing?¡± Xu You searched his mind carefully, but he didn¡¯t have any impression. Information about Meng Changqing was mainly circulated within the sect and might be known to the higher-ups of other forces. But someone like Xu You would definitely not be aware of it. Moreover, Xu You had left Flame Sun Valley nearly two months ago, so he couldn¡¯t possibly know. ¡°A newly appointed true disciple dares to challenge me? ¡°Do you really not know how to write the word ¡®death¡¯?¡± Xu You¡¯s voice turned cold. He felt somewhat insulted. After all, he was a strong contender on the Hidden Dragon Ranking. How could he be compared to someone who had just entered the true disciples status? On the high platform, Xu Mingyang heard Meng Changqing¡¯s words and relaxed slightly. Especially when he saw that Meng Changqing¡¯s cultivation was only at the third level of the Sea Cleaving Realm, he felt even more relieved. It seemed that the Tai Xuan Sect really had no one else and dared to send even such disciples. Then he glanced at Cui Feiting beside him and continued to adopt a leisurely attitude. ¡°So he¡¯s a newly appointed true disciple. No wonder he¡¯s so unfamiliar.¡± ¡°But this guy¡¯s courage is a bit too much. He just entered the Sea Cleaving Realm not long ago, and he dares to come here. He really has the courage of a newborn calf not fearing the tiger.¡± ¡°Although the difference between the Sea Cleaving Realm levels is not large, the level of cultivation still indicates something, such as the length of cultivation time and the depth of one¡¯s foundation.¡± In the audience seats, discussions were abound. Almost everyone unanimously believed that this new disciple from the Tai Xuan Sect stood no chance. After all, one was a young genius on the Hidden Dragon Ranking, while the other was a newcomer who had no reputation. Everyone naturally favored the former. ¡°Junior Brother Meng, be careful, this person is really strong,¡± Mo Yunling reminded from nearby. Although this junior brother had comprehended sword qi, he had just entered the Sea Cleaving Realm, probably without even practicing Earth-grade martial skills. On the other hand, Xu You had already mastered the ¡°Searing Sun Cosmos Palm¡± to perfection. The difference in the levels of martial skills was significant, let alone the difference in cultivation levels. ¡°Thank you for the reminder, Senior Sister,¡± Meng Changqing replied softly without turning his head. At this moment, he was observing Xu You¡¯s character panel. Basic information: ¡¾Name: Xu You¡¿ ¡¾Race: Human¡¿ ¡¾Cultivation: Sea Cleaving Realm, Eighth Level¡¿ Attribute information: ¡¾Root Bone: Second Grade¡¿ ¡¾Comprehension: Superior¡¿ ¡¾Techniques and Martial Skills: ¡°Searing Sun Cosmos Palm¡± (Perfection), ¡°Wind and Fire Rotating Wheel Technique¡± (Entry)...¡¿ Ah! With a low roar, their palms clashed. Dazzling sword light burst from their fingertips, endless sharpness emerging, seeming to cut through everything. In an instant, all the flames were shattered. In Xu You¡¯s desperate eyes, Meng Changqing¡¯s palms passed through. Boom! Xu You flew backward, crashing heavily to the ground, rolling several times before barely stopping. But he was already beyond the red line of the arena. He lost. ¡°No!¡± Xu You¡¯s mouth oozed blood as he struggled to stand up. He wanted to step back onto the arena. But the next moment, his expression changed drastically as he looked at his own body, his eyes filled with disbelief and fear. Shoo, shoo, shoo! Countless golden sword qi burst out from his body, blood splattering. His once powerful body was now like a tattered bag. Bang! Xu You fell to the ground, unconscious. The whole arena fell silent, not a sound to be heard. After a long time, someone finally came to their senses. It was Xu Family¡¯s patriarch, Xu Mingyang! ¡°No!¡± Xu Mingyang¡¯s eyes were bloodshot as he rushed to Xu You¡¯s side, quickly checking his pulse. When he realized Xu You was not dead, he breathed a sigh of relief. Then he looked up, his eyes filled with murderous intent as he stared at Meng Changqing! Although not dead, Xu You was almost as good as severely injured! Even his bones seemed to be damaged! This would definitely affect his future cultivation! ¡°Damn it!¡± True qi surged within Xu Mingyang, wanting to kill this Tai Xuan Sect disciple named Meng Changqing immediately. But he dared not. There must be experts from the Tai Xuan Sect among the audience. If he acted, he would cross the line! The Tai Xuan Sect would surely wipe out the Xu Family! And the Su Clan wouldn¡¯t intervene. ¡°My God, Xu You actually lost!¡± People gradually recovered, exclaiming in disbelief, creating a buzz. This scene was completely unexpected. After all, Xu You was a strong contender on the Hidden Dragon Ranking. And this Meng Changqing... was hardly known, just a newcomer to the Sea Cleaving Realm. The gap between them was evident. But who could have expected that Xu You would lose, and so decisively, with just one move? Gulp... The sound of swallowing saliva continued. People¡¯s eyes began to focus on the figure in white, which seemed exceptionally dazzling under the gentle sunlight. ¡°No wonder this person dares to challenge Xu You. It¡¯s not arrogance at all, but rather ironclad strength!¡± someone murmured, echoing the thoughts of everyone present. ¡°The Great Transcendent Mystical Gold Sword Technique, and it¡¯s at the perfected level!¡± Cui Qian, who had been keeping his eyes closed, opened them at some point, his face now serious. ¡°Perfected level?¡± Cui Feiting, sitting beside him, couldn¡¯t help but stand up, feeling a chill. Any martial art, once perfected, undergoes a qualitative change. Moreover, the Great Transcendent Mystical Gold Sword Technique was top-tier even among Earth-level martial arts. Once perfected, its power was unimaginable. ¡°Are you sure?¡± Cui Feiting couldn¡¯t help asking. ¡°Yes, a long time ago, I saw that innate sword body of the Tai Xuan Sect in action, and he practiced the Great Transcendent Mystical Gold Sword Technique. This move is called ¡®Breaking the Illusion of Killing,¡¯ a powerful killing move that condenses sword qi to pierce through anything! ¡°And it can only be used when perfected.¡± Cui Qian nodded, ¡°This person held back. He only used a little bit of profound gold sword qi. Otherwise, Xu You would have exploded on the spot, leaving no trace behind!¡± ¡°So strong?¡± Cui Feiting¡¯s hands tightened slightly, ¡°Can you handle it?¡± ¡°I... can.¡± Cui Qian frowned slightly, ¡°Although the ¡®Great Transcendent Mystical Gold Sword Technique¡¯ is strong, I have also cultivated the ¡®Earth Fire Divine Dragon Tornado,¡¯ which is of the same grade and not inferior to him. In addition, I have also perfected it.¡± Although he said so, Cui Feiting¡¯s eyes became serious. He knew his son very well. Always confident. He wouldn¡¯t pause his speaking, much less stutter. And now, with such words, it was obvious that he didn¡¯t have absolute confidence! ¡°I thought a soft tomato had come, but who would have thought it was a real hidden dragon!¡± Cui Feiting looked towards the center of the arena. That figure in white, under the gentle sunlight, appeared exceptionally dazzling! Chapter 93 Chapter 93: Another Challenge... I¡¯ve always felt that competitiveness is inherent in everyone! ¡°Oh my...¡± Watching the figure in white, Mo Yunling couldn¡¯t help but swear under her breath. But soon she realized and quickly covered her mouth. Yet her beautiful eyes widened, filled with shock. God knew what she saw! It turned out to be the perfected level of the ¡°Great Transcendent Mystical Golden Sword Technique¡±! She was very aware of how difficult this sword technique was to cultivate. It not only consumed resources but also required great insight. Although the power was astonishing once mastered, the difficulty was simply too high. She had chosen it initially, but later found it too taxing and switched paths. In fact, in the Spirit Peak¡¯s true disciples, many people initially chose it, but only a few could persevere till the end. As far as she knew, there were only three or four true disciples who still cultivated it. And now, this newly promoted true disciple, Meng Changqing, had achieved this in such a short time! It truly refreshed her understanding! However, thinking of Meng Changqing possessing the Sword Qi, with terrifying insight, she seemed to understand it reluctantly. As for resources, it might be provided by some bigwig in the sect. After all, such a monstrous genius would surely be sought after by the big shots of the sect. ¡°The winner is Meng Changqing of the Tai Xuan Sect,¡± the arbitrator announced. His attire was quite special, neither belonging to the Xu family nor the four major forces. There were the words ¡®Myriad Manifestations¡¯ embroidered on his back. Swish! Swish! Swish! Hundreds of profound gold sword qi returned to the sea pill. Meng Changqing also slowly lowered his hand. Actually, before coming, he knew this was a soft tomato, but in reality, he found it even softer when pinched. He couldn¡¯t withstand even a move. Let alone the Sword Qi, he didn¡¯t even use the high-level spirit sword at his waist. Pure martial skill prowess overwhelmed everything. Both being initial-level martial skills, the ¡°Great Transcendent Mystical Golden Sword Technique¡± was inherently stronger than the ¡°Searing Sun Cosmos Palm,¡± and he had reached the perfected state. Once the sword technique was perfected, many powerful moves could be employed. For example, the previous ¡°Gathering of Ten Thousand Swords¡± was the strongest. The second one was ¡°Breaking the Illusion of Killing.¡± Collecting his thoughts, Meng Changqing did not leave the arena. Instead, he looked towards the high platform where two figures stood. But now... a perfected ¡°Great Transcendent Mystical Golden Sword Technique¡±! Who could resist that? Truly, meeting gods to kill gods, meeting Buddhas to kill Buddhas! The more she thought about it, the more excited Mo Yunling became... And Meng Changqing¡¯s position in her heart soared, almost shoulder to shoulder with the heavens. Meng Changqing naturally didn¡¯t know that Mo Yunling behind him had become his fangirl completely. At this moment, he turned slightly, looking back at the high platform. ¡°Young man, don¡¯t be too competitive!¡± Cui Feiting snorted. If Cui Qian¡¯s reaction just now was extremely confident, he wouldn¡¯t say these things. But now, Cui Qian had barely reached a high position on the Hidden Dragon Ranking, and the Zhanyue Villa had also entered the view of the top echelons of the Flame Sun Valley. The future was bright and prosperous! If he lost, it would all be for naught! The prosperity would be all lost! So he didn¡¯t want the next battle to happen. ¡°I¡¯ve always felt that competitiveness is inherent in everyone. If you don¡¯t have it, it just means you don¡¯t have that ability,¡± Meng Changqing said slowly. His voice echoed on the arena. With these words, everyone showed shock. What a spirited demeanor! Such words weren¡¯t something anyone dared to say. They required extreme confidence and strength! Even the arbitrator couldn¡¯t help but look at Meng Changqing more. And in the audience seats, a gray-clothed old man nodded satisfactorily. ¡°So handsome!¡± Mo Yunling¡¯s eyes almost turned into the shape of Meng Changqing. ¡°You!¡± Cui Feiting was momentarily at a loss for words by Meng Changqing¡¯s words. ¡°I accept your challenge.¡± Cui Qian stepped onto the arena. He had no reason to refuse, and refusing meant failure. He couldn¡¯t afford to lose. The arena was actually quite large, a full hundred meters. Otherwise, it wouldn¡¯t be able to withstand the confrontation of two Sea Cleaving Realm martial artists, and even the materials used for construction were of a special kind that wouldn¡¯t be easily damaged. ¡°Begin.¡± The arbitrator waved his right hand. As soon as the words fell, the entire place became extremely quiet. Everyone stared closely at the two on the stage, seeming to hold their breath. After all, this was a battle for thirty-seventh place on the Hidden Dragon Ranking! It represented a very high level of martial prowess! It was not comparable to the battle with Xu You! Chapter 94 Chapter 94: Divine Sword Slays Dragon, It¡¯s You Who Tried Your Best, Not Me! On the arena, Meng Changqing faced Cui Qian from a distance. At the same time, he observed Cui Qian¡¯s character panel. Basic Information: ¡¾Name: Cui Qian¡¿ ¡¾Race: Human¡¿ ¡¾Cultivation: Ninth Level of Sea Crossing Realm¡¿ Attribute Information: ¡¾Root Bone: Second Grade¡¿ ¡¾Comprehension: Excellent¡¿ ¡¾Innate Talent: Spirit Footwork¡¿ ¡¾Martial Arts Skills: ¡°Earth Fire Divine Dragon Whirlwind¡± (Perfection), ¡°Treading Fire and Controlling Wind Technique¡± (Mastery)...¡¿ ¡°Not bad attributes, and he also has talent,¡± Meng Changqing nodded slightly in his heart. ¡°Spirit Footwork. From the name, are his feet naturally agile? It should be more than just that. After all, the Spirit Eyes I obtained from my aunt also start with ¡®spirit,¡¯ but their effects far surpass those of nimble hands or iron hands. ¡°In terms of basic attributes, they are similar to Xu You¡¯s. So, the main reason he can occupy thirty-eighth place on the Hidden Dragon Ranking should be because of this Spirit Footwork,¡± Meng Changqing¡¯s gaze fell on his opponent¡¯s feet. He saw Cui Qian wearing a pair of blue high-top boots with many mysterious patterns embroidered on them. What¡¯s most crucial was that they emanated a strong spirituality. Obviously, they were high-level spirit weapons! ¡°I didn¡¯t expect there to be such a master among the true disciples of Spirit Peak,¡± Cui Qian spoke up, his hands behind his back, eyes faintly flickering with firelight. His whole aura gradually became intense. ¡°It¡¯s indeed very surprising,¡± Meng Changqing said slowly. ¡°But you¡¯re still lacking to defeat me,¡± Cui Qian said. ¡°Let¡¯s find out after we fight,¡± Meng Changqing drew the long sword from his waist. He could feel it. The person in front of him was definitely not someone Xu You could compare to, but rather an outstanding talent similar to a top genius like Red Gold. He¡¯s also a pretty good whetstone. ¡°As you wish!¡± Cui Qian¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly. Flames surged under his feet, and fire rose to the sky. Faintly, there seemed to be the sound of a dragon¡¯s roar. ¡°Earth Fire Divine Dragon ¨C Fire as Swift as a Knife!¡± With his words, the raging flames seemed to come alive, emitting angry roars. And Cui Qian disappeared from his original position. When he reappeared, he was already in front of Meng Changqing. His sharp legs, like giant knives in the fire, directly attacked Meng Changqing¡¯s head. Clang! Meng Changqing raised his hand. The spirit sword clashed with his legs, sparking. ¡°Treading Fire and Controlling Wind ¨C Wounded Body!¡± Firelight surged in Cui Qian¡¯s eyes, but his figure suddenly blurred, turning into dozens of afterimages in an instant! Each afterimage¡¯s aura was almost identical, making it difficult to distinguish! Whoosh! The afterimages all attacked Meng Changqing from all directions, leaving no gaps! ¡°Great footwork!¡± Meng Changqing¡¯s eyes shimmered with brightness. ¡°This should be one of the supreme arts of Flame Sun Valley. It¡¯s truly remarkable. Faced with such footwork, ordinary people would have a hard time distinguishing between true and false.¡± However... ¡°Spirit Eyes, activate!¡± Meng Changqing¡¯s eyes emitted a spiritual light, as if piercing through illusions, directly seeing the truth! At this moment, in his vision, all the afterimages disappeared, leaving only one person on the left. ¡°I¡¯ve found you!¡± Meng Changqing drew his sword with his right hand, unleashing a huge sword wheel! As it rolled, it bloomed like a lotus, with densely packed dark gold sword energy surging out, instantly engulfing Cui Qian. ¡°Great Transcendent ¨C Heavenly Lotus Sword Wheel!¡± Boom! The huge arena of hundreds of meters shook! Dust flew, and stones splattered! Although the material of the arena was quite hard, even a normal ninth-level Sea Cleaving Realm cultivator would find it difficult to damage. But at this moment, cracks appeared, indicating the immense power of this sword! In the thick dust... A figure flew out, and it was Cui Qian. ¡°Good!¡± Cui Feiting¡¯s heart relaxed slightly. It seemed that Cui Qian was basically going to win. For a moment, everyone seemed to think that Meng Changqing¡¯s defeat was certain. Only Mo Yunling stood there, arms crossed, her eyes filled with anticipation. Cui Qian had shown all his cards, but Junior Brother Meng hadn¡¯t! To her, this battle had been without suspense from the beginning. Junior Brother Meng probably just wanted to have some fun. Otherwise, he could have resolved it instantly! ¡°Meng Changqing, you did your best,¡± Cui Qian sighed lightly, looking at Meng Changqing with renewed confidence. ¡°Your potential is high. Given time, you might not be unable to defeat me, but not today.¡± However, Meng Changqing just smiled faintly and shook his head. ¡°How do you know that I tried my best?¡± With those words, Meng Changqing closed his eyes. When he opened them again, his entire aura suddenly changed! Like a long-sealed divine sword finally unsheathed, boundless sharpness surged between heaven and earth! It seems as if even the heavens and earth could be completely shattered! Crack! Crack! Crack! The sturdy arena displayed countless cracks, as if being swept and shattered by numerous sword lights in an instant! Whoosh! Under the infusion of this aura, countless golden sword qi trembled frantically, with their aura soaring! The sharp intent even shattered the clouds in the sky, revealing an endless expanse of clear sky! ¡°Impossible!¡± Seeing this scene, Cui Qian¡¯s face drastically changed, pale as paper, with an expression of disbelief in his eyes. ¡°Sword Qi!¡± ¡°You actually comprehend Sword Qi!¡± With his mind momentarily losing focus, he almost couldn¡¯t stabilize the techniques he was about to unleash. Fortunately, he quickly reacted. He couldn¡¯t be wrong! Just a glance, and it felt like his soul was about to be torn apart! It¡¯s Sword Qi! The legendary martial arts force, something he had been pursuing all along! But comprehending Sword Qi was too difficult! Apart from talent and accumulation, timing was also crucial! The top thirty elites on the Hidden Dragon Ranking mostly comprehend it at the ninth level of the Sea Cleaving Realm, which was almost at the Dao Creation Realm. But this guy in front of him? He clearly just entered the Sea Cleaving Realm! Which means he probably had it even at the Aperture Connecting Realm! ¡°How is this possible?¡± Cui Qian¡¯s hands and feet turned cold. The appearance of Meng Changqing truly refreshed his understanding. And if he knew that Meng Changqing had it when he was in the Vein Tempering Realm, his Dao Heart might just shatter! ¡°Suppress.¡± Meng Changqing held the sword in his right hand and casually slashed towards Cui Qian. Whoosh! The sea of swords surged, like the Milky Way pouring down from the nine heavens! The sword pond turned over! Countless sword qi surged towards Cui Qian. Its sharpness covered the sky and earth, causing the fire dragon that Cui Qian had condensed to tremble frantically! ¡°Ah!¡± Waking up abruptly, Cui Qian didn¡¯t choose to retreat. Instead, he gritted his teeth and went to meet it! Because there was no room for retreat! Although there was no chance of winning, he had to fight at least! Boom! However, there was no suspense at the moment of impact. The huge fire dragon was instantly submerged, its head severed, its body torn apart, and finally only a faint flame remained, extinguished in the surging sea of swords. Chapter 95 Chapter 95: Supreme Sword Qi, Reaching the Profound Realm! As the sea of swords dissipated, the scene on the arena became visible. Cui Qian was lying in a deep pit, covered in sword marks, with blood flowing incessantly. The spirit weapons on his feet were dim in color, greatly damaged, indicating that he had been seriously injured and had fallen into a coma. ¡°My son!¡± Cui Feiting was the first to react, rushing over to help him up. When he realized that his son¡¯s life was not in danger, he breathed a sigh of relief, but then anger surged within him. Gritting his teeth, he looked towards Meng Changqing, his eyes mirroring the same fury as Xu Mingyang¡¯s just now. However, Meng Changqing paid him no attention, descending slowly. The myriad sword qi returned to his body, the aura of his sword subsided, and he returned to a calm state, like an ordinary young noble not the peerless swordsman he had just been! ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to announce it?¡± Meng Changqing looked towards the adjudicator. Upon hearing this, the adjudicator suddenly snapped out of his daze and hastily shouted, ¡°The victor is Meng Changqing of the Tai Xuan Sect!¡± Perhaps even the adjudicator, who was accustomed to grand scenes, did not expect such a turn of events. As soon as he spoke, the previously silent audience erupted into an uproar. Each of them couldn¡¯t help but gasp in disbelief. They wondered what they had just witnessed! It was Sword Qi! He actually possessed Sword Qi! A young man who had only recently entered the Sea Cleaving Realm actually possessed Sword Qi! ¡°How is this possible?¡± Someone murmured, trembling all over. It was well known how difficult it was to comprehend the martial arts force. Even the top-tier geniuses usually took a long time, probably reaching the ninth level of the Sea Cleaving Realm before comprehending it. But this kid? He had just reached the third level of the Sea Cleaving Realm! There was a high probability that he had it even before reaching the Sea Cleaving Realm! ¡°Oh my heavens, how terrifying must his comprehension be to achieve this?¡± ¡°No wonder he dared to challenge Cui Qian! With Sword Qi, not to mention Cui Qian, even ten of him wouldn¡¯t be enough to handle!¡± ¡°If he had used Sword Qi from the beginning, Cui Qian¡¯s fate would have been the same as Xu Mingyang¡¯s, defeated in one stroke!¡± The crowd discussed excitedly, their voices filled with excitement, shock, and disbelief. It was truly a mix of emotions. A young genius who had not been taken seriously from the start repeatedly challenged their perceptions! Although their faces stung, their hearts were extremely excited. After all, at such a young age and at this level of cultivation, being able to comprehend Sword Qi indicated what heights he could reach in the future! He was already among the ranks of top-tier geniuses! And to witness such a hidden dragon emerge, wasn¡¯t it something to be celebrated? ¡°I have a small question, and I hope Senior Sister Mo can answer it,¡± Meng Changqing said. ¡°Please go ahead, Junior Brother Meng.¡± Mo Yunling¡¯s spirit shook. ¡°Now that I have defeated Cui Qian, who should take the place of Xu You from before? ¡°Should the subsequent challenger directly advance one rank?¡± Meng Changqing said, while also observing Mo Yunling¡¯s attributes. Compared to Xu You and Cui Qian, she was slightly inferior. Second-grade root bone, average comprehension, no talent. But she still had value as a friend. After all, attributes could be decomposed. Second-grade root bones and martial arts attributes could potentially decompose into cards of Earth-level attainment. ¡°No, Xu You will continue to retain his position, waiting for others to challenge him.¡± Mo Yunling replied. ¡°Mm.¡± Meng Changqing nodded slightly. This was also normal. After consecutive challenges, the final result needed to be observed. ¡°When Xu You¡¯s injuries have improved, I will continue to challenge him!¡± Mo Yunling clenched her fists, determination flashing in her eyes. ¡°To reclaim my position!¡± Upon hearing this, Meng Changqing was somewhat surprised. In terms of strength, this senior sister still had some gap compared to Xu You. ¡°Hehe, originally it wouldn¡¯t have been possible, but after watching your battle, especially your sword qi, I felt something in my heart. With just a little understanding, my ¡®Rising Tides of the Vast Sea Sword Art¡¯ can definitely break through to perfection!¡± Mo Yunling seemed to perceive what Meng Changqing was thinking and explained, ¡°The previous gap was in martial arts proficiency, but now it¡¯s leveled out. I am confident I can defeat him! ¡°Speaking of which, I have to thank Junior Brother Meng. ¡°Not only did you help me vent my anger, but you also gave me the opportunity to break through! ¡°Tell me, how can I thank you?¡± Mo Yunling seemed a bit bold and casual. Although it was their first meeting, she didn¡¯t feel any sense of unfamiliarity. ¡°It¡¯s all in the course of events. Senior Sister¡¯s comprehension is based on her own abilities, no need to thank me.¡± Meng Changqing shook his head. ¡°How can that be? Just say it, as long as I have it, I will definitely agree.¡± With that, she put her hands on her waist, raising her undulating chest. With her beautiful eyes fixed on Meng Changqing, she even raised her eyebrows. ¡°... ¡± Meng Changqing suddenly felt that this senior sister was indeed a bit bold and daring. Was it her nature, or was it habitual? Rubbing his brow, Meng Changqing chuckled. ¡°Alright, Senior Sister Mo, since we¡¯ve met by fate, there¡¯s no need for thanks. ¡°How about we become friends?¡± Chapter 96 Chapter 96: Bountiful Harvest, Perfect Mastery of Secret Techniques, True Qi Transforms into Liquid! ¡°Be friends?¡± Mo Yunling was taken aback. This was something she hadn¡¯t expected. ¡°Could it be that Senior Sister Mo doesn¡¯t want to become friends with me?¡± Meng Changqing smiled faintly. ¡°I do, of course I do.¡± Coming to her senses, Mo Yunling quickly responded. Who in the sect would not want to be friends with Meng Changqing now! Having comprehended Sword Qi at the Vein Tempering Realm and with a high probability of further advancement in the future, he was truly a monstrous genius! Normally, one would have to actively seek to make his acquaintance. Now that he had initiated the invitation, how could she not agree? Ding! ¡¾Successfully added Mo Yunling as a friend!¡¿ ¡¾Current Favorability: One Star!¡¿ ¡¾Acquired Attribute: Second Grade Root Bone!¡¿ ¡¾Triggered Additional Reward: Attribute Selection Card *1!¡¿ The voice of the system rang in his mind. ¡°Not bad, there¡¯s even an additional reward.¡± Meng Changqing was satisfied. Furthermore, he obtained an excellent attribute¡ªSecond Grade Root Bone! There was a high chance of getting good items from decomposition! ¡°Wait a minute, this seems to be an attribute selection card, not an attribute acquisition card.¡± Meng Changqing raised an eyebrow. He had experienced the dominance of the attribute acquisition card. There was no need to increase favorability. He could integrate an attribute from a friend. Wei Qing, who he had killed, was an example. When in doubt, ask. Meng Changqing didn¡¯t ponder on his own. ¡¾Attribute Selection Card: When increasing favorability, you can choose one attribute to integrate.¡¿ The system replied. ¡°I see.¡± Meng Changqing suddenly realized. There was a difference between the two. The selection card required an additional step, which was to increase favorability first. While the acquisition card did not, as long as they were friends. Although the selection card was not as domineering as the acquisition card, it was still powerful. At least, there was an opportunity for one self-selected choice. In the future, if he encountered an attribute he really wanted, he wouldn¡¯t have to rely on luck. Recently, making friends was not as accurate as before, often random. ¡°By the way, Junior Brother Meng, are you going back to the sect or staying here for a few days?¡± Mo Yunling asked. The voice of the system sounded in his mind. At these words, Meng Changqing¡¯s eyes suddenly lit up with joy! Another Earth-grade Martial Skill Proficiency Card! According to the system¡¯s information, there were many things that could be obtained from decomposition, not limited to attainment cards. But to get two of them in a row! This luck could simply be called divine. ¡°Very good,¡± Meng Changqing suppressed his joyful emotions. Truly, fortune favored the prepared mind. His ¡°Linglong Daluo Tian¡± had reached the fourth level. With this Earth-grade Martial Skill Proficiency Card, he could advance it to the fifth level, achieving a complete transformation! ¡°System, use the attainment card to advance ¡®Linglong Daluo Tian!¡± Meng Changqing said. Ding! ¡¾Consuming one Earth-grade Martial Skill Attainment Card!¡¿ ¡¾¡¯Linglong Dalo Heaven¡¯ has reached the fifth level!¡¿ A magnificent flow of information surged in his mind. It was all about the comprehension of ¡°Linglong Daluo Tian.¡± Compared to before, it was even more obscure and profound, increasing his understanding of True Qi exponentially. At the same time, the mysterious sea of elixirs also began to unconsciously expand. Phew! After a moment, Meng Changqing opened his eyes. His right hand raised, fingers spread out. A strand of golden True Qi emerged. ¡°Linglong Daluo Tian!¡± Buzz! Strange ancient characters surged in the palm of his hand, like chains, covering his entire body with True Qi. The next moment, the True Qi burned instantly, turning into white flames. After the flames dissipated, only a drop of golden liquid remained suspended. Compared to True Qi, it was very small, but the aura it emitted was terrifying, as if it weighed thousands of pounds, far surpassing True Qi! ¡°Could this be... True Essence?¡± Meng Changqing¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly. Beyond True Qi was True Essence. But what exactly was True Essence, he didn¡¯t know, since he had never encountered it before. He only knew that it was the transformation of True Qi, a substantial increase in the essence of power! ¡°Even if it¡¯s not, it should be close enough,¡± Meng Changqing thought. If even the form had changed, wouldn¡¯t that count as a transformation? And... Meng Changqing looked at the strange characters gradually disappearing in his palm. He had never seen these things when he used ¡°Linglong Daluo Tian¡± before. Chapter 97 Chapter 97: ¡®Friendship Assistance¡¯ from Green Pill Elder! It was only when it reached the fifth level that these strange characters appeared. However, it was precisely because of these characters that the quality of True Qi could be increased tenfold, directly transforming into liquid. ¡°Tomorrow, I can ask Senior Sister Mo. She has been a true disciple for a long time and has a master. She should have a clear understanding of True Essence,¡± Meng Changqing said, putting down his hand. At the same time, he began to contemplate the realm of cultivation. After breaking through the sea, it was the realm of creation. In the sect, even though they were scarce, their status was extremely high. If they were in the outside world, they would almost be considered a patriarch. Like the Cloudwater City where his family was located. The Sea Cleaving Realm was already the peak, let alone the Dao Creation Realm. ¡°Calculating the time, it will be the Seven Veins Martial Arts Competition in a month and a half. Logically speaking, it¡¯s impossible to reach the realm of creation in such a short time. After all, besides resources, cultivation also requires comprehension of the sea pill and understanding of the mysteries of True Qi. However, the advancement of ¡®Linglong Daluo Tian¡¯ has increased my understanding of True Qi by many levels. So the obstacles in comprehension can be said to be eliminated, leaving only resources. With the resources I have on hand, I can only reach the seventh level of the Sea Cleaving Realm at most. Resources, resources, they¡¯re really tight,¡± Meng Changqing shook his head slightly. If he hadn¡¯t gained many opportunities in the secret realm, he would probably still be at the first level. ¡°Wait a minute, speaking of resources, I seem to have not dealt with Wei Qing¡¯s three storage rings yet.¡± Meng Changqing¡¯s eyes brightened slightly. He was busy traveling before and just collected them and left. Now, he remembered. So Meng Changqing gently flipped his right hand. The three rings appeared one by one. After the owner died, they naturally became ownerless objects. They could be inspected at will. He picked up Wei Qing¡¯s ring and wrapped his True Qi around it, exploring inside. ¡°This... is too poor, isn¡¯t it?¡± Meng Changqing was somewhat incredulous. He saw that there were not only a few things in the storage ring, but it was almost empty. After sorting it out, there were four third-grade pills. They were all of different types. It meant that there was no need to worry about medicine resistance and they could be taken consecutively. Unfortunately, he didn¡¯t find the martial skill he was interested in. It was called ¡®Underworld Dark Scriptures ¨C Chapter B¡¯. ¡°Finally, it¡¯s your turn, Green Pill Elder.¡± Meng Changqing looked at the last storage ring. As a third-grade alchemist, he didn¡¯t believe that Green Pill Elder¡¯s storage ring would be poor. With his True Qi wrapped around it, he looked inside. Hiss! Meng Changqing suddenly took a breath. Sure enough! As he expected. It was really rich! As far as the eye could see, there were spirit herbs, elixirs, elemental stones, and so on. Piles of them! ¡°No wonder so many people like to plunder, this is simply the best shortcut to getting rich.¡± Meng Changqing calmed down. He sorted out these things and categorized them. There were more than thirty third-grade pills in total. However, only twenty of them were used to increase cultivation, but fortunately, there were many varieties, so there was no need to worry about medicine resistance. As for the remaining ten or so, there were those that assisted in forging the body, restoring True Qi during battle, and so on. In terms of spirit herbs, there were nearly a hundred plants. Although most of them were second-grade, there were also quite a few third-grade ones. Every medicine had its poison. They had to be refined into pills before they could be taken. ¡°With my current alchemy attainments, I can refine them myself.¡± Chapter 98 Chapter 98: The Depths of the Sect¡¯s Waters! The next day... As the first light of dawn broke, the sky was filled with rosy hues. Creak... Meng Changqing pushed the door open and stepped out. At this moment, his aura was full and he seemed to have successfully broken through, entering the fourth stage, and even progressed a little further. Comprehending the sea pill was like a barrier on this level, but now that the barrier was gone, progress was smooth and unhindered. The challenge from yesterday had ended, and the spectators who had gathered from all directions began to leave one after another. Consequently, Dongming Lake became a bit quieter. Meng Changqing went straight to Mo Yunling¡¯s residence. He needed to inquire about the situation regarding True Essence. ¡°True Essence?¡± Mo Yunling¡¯s smile froze on her face. She thought Meng Changqing had come to her to enjoy the scenery of Dongming Lake. Who knew he would be so serious and ignorant of romantic feelings. But this thought only flashed through her mind and was immediately dismissed. She said seriously, ¡°Although I haven¡¯t reached the realm of cultivation, I¡¯ve heard my master say that True Essence is the transformation of True Qi. ¡°To make a simple analogy, True Qi is like the water vapor between heaven and earth, while True Essence is like a denser rain. ¡°So the power of True Essence far exceeds that of True Qi, and martial arts powered by True Essence are even more terrifying.¡± Upon hearing this, Meng Changqing nodded, a hint of joy flashing in his eyes. Indeed, his thoughts from yesterday were correct; that drop of golden liquid was indeed True Essence! The ¡®Linglong Daluo Tian¡¯ technique was truly terrifying. It actually allowed cultivators to possess True Essence in the Sea Cleaving Realm, albeit for a short period. Still, it was quite formidable. In fact, ¡®Linglong Daluo Tian¡¯ was very difficult to cultivate. Like the ¡®Dark Sea Returning to Origin Technique¡¯, it required many different types of resources, which were rare and precious. Even ordinary cultivators, let alone sect disciples or geniuses, might not be able to cultivate it. Especially the last level, Meng Changqing hadn¡¯t even heard of the resources needed for it. ¡°I hope my luck can continue, and I can get more proficiency cards,¡± Meng Changqing thought to himself. Four days later, Meng Changqing returned to the sect. It could be said that he was weary from the journey. Along the way, he didn¡¯t waste any time, and his cultivation had made considerable progress. In a while, he would be able to advance to the fifth stage. ¡°I¡¯m finally back.¡± Standing at the peak of the Spirit Peak, Meng Changqing looked around at the surging sea of clouds, exhaling lightly. Traveling and cultivating made him unable to fully concentrate. Now he could focus on cultivation. ¡°Junior Brother Meng!¡± Just then, a pleasantly surprised voice sounded behind him. Meng Changqing turned around... It was Kong Linyue. ¡°So it¡¯s Senior Sister Kong.¡± Meng Changqing smiled. ¡°I calculated the time, and you should be back soon. I didn¡¯t expect to catch you,¡± Kong Linyue said joyfully, running to Meng Changqing¡¯s side. For a moment, a fragrant breeze wafted over, stirring up reverie. ¡°So soon?¡± Meng Changqing was somewhat surprised. ¡°Of course. The news from the Wanxiang Pavilion has always been the most sensitive and fast. It only takes one or two days for the news to spread throughout the entire Tianling Prefecture,¡± Kong Linyue nodded. ¡°Wanxiang Pavilion, huh.¡± Meng Changqing raised his eyebrows slightly. He hadn¡¯t heard of it before. ¡°Wanxiang Pavilion is a force from the Central Province. It has a deep background and is responsible for the changes and organization of various rankings. In addition, if you need any information, you can also purchase it from them as long as you can afford the price,¡± Kong Linyue explained when she saw that Meng Changqing seemed unfamiliar with it. ¡°I see.¡± Meng Changqing suddenly realized. He remembered noticing that arbitrator with the word ¡®Wanxiang¡¯ on his clothes back at the Xu family in Dongming Lake. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect Junior Brother Meng¡¯s strength to progress so quickly. You even defeated Cui Qian, who is a genius ranked thirty-eight on the Hidden Dragon Ranking. That guy is not easy,¡± Kong Linyue said excitedly, looking at Meng Changqing with admiration and even a hint of hidden admiration. ¡°In that case, our sect now has thirty-three disciples on the list.¡± ¡°So many?¡± Meng Changqing was slightly stunned. He remembered losing six names before, leaving only nineteen. Unexpectedly, not only did they retrieve them all in an instant, but they even occupied more positions! ¡°Yes, in order to prepare for this Hidden Dragon Ranking, the sect has intensified its efforts. When we entered the Xianqing Realm, those true disciples also entered the Taiqing Realm can be said to have gained a lot. ¡°In addition, the sect seems to have secretly trained some talented disciples,¡± Kong Linyue said. ¡°Secretly trained?¡± Meng Changqing nodded slightly. It seemed that the waters of the sect were quite deep, not just what was apparent. Chapter 99 Chapter 99: Bai Suxi¡¯s Letter, ¡°Supreme Commanding Demon Technique¡±! ¡°There¡¯s one more thing, I don¡¯t know if you¡¯re already aware of it,¡± Kong Linyue said. ¡°What is it?¡± Meng Changqing asked. To be honest, he was accustomed to seclusion, often ignorant of external news. Things that everyone else knew, he might not be aware of. ¡°The sect is preparing to promote to the first grade!¡± Kong Linyue¡¯s eyes brightened, excitement evident in her voice. ¡°The first grade?¡± Meng Changqing¡¯s pupils constricted slightly. This was a major event that would shake the heavens and the earth. In an instant, he understood why they were preparing for the Seven Veins Martial Arts Competition and why the sect was going to open the Hidden Dragon Battle during this period! It was all for the promotion to the first grade! In the cultivation world, any force that wanted to advance to the first grade needed to meet many conditions. Take the Hidden Dragon Ranking, for example. They needed to occupy at least one-third of it! ¡°And now, our sect disciples occupy thirty-three spots on the Hidden Dragon Ranking, which is already considered qualified in this regard,¡± Meng Changqing said. ¡°Yes, as for the Earth Ranking, it¡¯s something that the seniors need to handle. It¡¯s not our concern,¡± Kong Linyue nodded. ¡°Once the sect is promoted, in the future, Tianling Prefecture will be dominated by our sect alone, and there will no longer be the Four Great Powers,¡± Meng Changqing said. ¡°With the promotion in grade, surrounding forces will have to cede a large amount of territory and resources. In the long run, the gap between each other will only widen,¡± Meng Changqing continued. ¡°I don¡¯t think the other three forces will give up so easily. They will definitely use all means to obstruct,¡± Meng Changqing said. ¡°Yes, but the higher-ups must have considered this. There¡¯s an old saying, ¡®When the enemy advances, we retreat; when the enemy retreats, we pursue,''¡± Kong Linyue said confidently, seemingly knowing more insider information. Seeing this, Meng Changqing didn¡¯t ask further. Anyway, his only focus now was on cultivation. Other things didn¡¯t need his concern. ¡°By the way, Senior Sister Kong, did you come here today specifically to tell me about these matters?¡± Meng Changqing asked. ¡°That¡¯s one aspect,¡± Kong Linyue lightly tapped her forehead. ¡°In addition, there¡¯s another matter. Do you know someone named Bai Suxi?¡± ¡°Bai Suxi,¡± Meng Changqing was slightly surprised. He didn¡¯t expect to hear this name from Kong Linyue, but he nodded, ¡°Yes, what about her?¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing serious. It¡¯s just that on the day you left Spirit Peak, she came looking for you, but you weren¡¯t there. So she entrusted me to pass a letter to you,¡± Kong Linyue said, taking out a pale blue letter from her storage ring. It looked intact, obviously not opened. [Seeing this letter is like meeting in person.][Senior Brother Meng, I¡¯m leaving.[For specific reasons, I¡¯m unable to say, but rest assured, no matter how different our paths may be in the future, you will always be the best senior brother and friend in my heart.[Don¡¯t worry.] ¡¾Talent: Skillfu Hands¡¿ ¡¾Cultivation Techniques and Martial Skills: ¡°Supreme Commanding Demon Technique¡¤Preliminary Part¡± (Elementary), ¡°Flying Blood Seven Demon Swords¡± (Elementary), ¡°Dark Sea Returning to Origin Technique¡± (Fourth Level)...¡¿ The attributes in front were normal, but when he saw the cultivation techniques and martial skills, Meng Changqing¡¯s gaze became serious. These two cultivation techniques and martial skills seemed to be demonic techniques. Was Bai Suxi going to cultivate in demonic arts? That made sense. Cultivating demonic arts was prohibited in the sects, and once discovered, the consequences were severe. Since Bai Suxi chose to cultivate demonic arts, she couldn¡¯t stay here any longer. But why did this girl want to cultivate demonic arts? Although cultivating demonic arts was simple and powerful, the side effects were significant. Eventually, one¡¯s humanity and reason would be completely lost, becoming a mad demon. ¡°Demonic path,¡± Meng Changqing shook his head slightly. The Tai Xuan Sect belonged to the righteous path, so naturally, he was on this side. In this way, he and Bai Suxi were on opposite sides. ¡°I hope the demonic arts she cultivates are of a higher level,¡± Meng Changqing¡¯s gaze fell on the name of the demonic technique. Demonic arts weren¡¯t all double-edged swords. It was said that the higher the grade, the smaller the side effects. And the name of this demonic technique seemed to be quite high-level. ¡°Supreme Commanding Demon Technique,¡± Meng Changqing muttered to himself. He had never seen such a long name for a technique before. ¡°It should be a powerful technique; otherwise, that girl wouldn¡¯t have made up her mind to cultivate demonic arts,¡± Meng Changqing felt he had guessed the general idea. Then he sighed lightly. Meng Changqing closed the panel, stood up slowly, and looked into the distance at the sea of clouds. Although he had made quite a few friends by now, there were only four people worth befriending: Bai Suxi, Kong Linyue, and the two brothers from the Shi family. As for his aunt, she couldn¡¯t be counted as a friend. ¡°This is life,¡± Meng Changqing¡¯s eyes flickered. Between people, they might meet because of certain things or part ways because of certain choices, and in the end, they might forget each other in the world. This situation seemed to prove a saying: ¡°Life leads us in different directions; you go to Xiangxiang, and I go to Qin.¡± Chapter 100 Chapter 100: Demon Abyss, Monster Territory! On the outskirts of Tianling Prefecture, the great river surged, rushing eastward. A large boat sailed on the surface of the river, moving at a breakneck speed, causing the scenery on both banks to blur. At the bow of the boat stood a person. Holding a long sword, its tip dripping with blood. Behind laid more than ten corpses. The figure lightly swung the long sword and slowly turned around. If Meng Changqing were here, he would surely recognize her as Bai Suxi. But the Bai Suxi at this moment had undergone obvious changes. The azure robe of the past had turned into black armor. Her hair was tied in a ponytail. The childishness on her face had almost disappeared, leaving only a heroic and sinister aura. She looked towards the direction of Tai Xuan Sect. A trace of melancholy flashed in her eyes. After parting today, she didn¡¯t know if there would be another chance to meet in the future. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Although you will definitely surpass him in the future, that kid has great potential and will surely venture out of Tianling Prefecture to see a broader world. ¡°You will have the opportunity to meet him again.¡± An old voice reassured her. The Sea Cleaving Realm was a turning point. Once reaching the Sea Cleaving Realm, she could accept her ancient demon inheritance. But at the same time, her true qi would turn into demonic qi. This was something that couldn¡¯t be concealed. So she couldn¡¯t stay in Tai Xuan Sect anymore. She could only choose to leave. ¡°Master, won¡¯t your demonic cultivation affect my mind?¡± Bai Suxi asked. ¡°Of course not,¡± the old voice was confident, ¡°The demonic cultivation nowadays cannot be called demonic cultivation. From what I briefly saw, they are all inferior stuff, only worthy of being called dark arts. ¡°Turning oneself into something neither human nor ghost. ¡°And in the end, they may become slaves of heavenly demons and earth demons! ¡°A truly inferior path!¡± The voice was disdainful. The definition of demonic cultivation nowadays was to imitate the cruel cultivation methods of the demon race, or to gain power by worshiping powerful demons. But true demonic cultivation was not like this. After all, everyone knew about the sect¡¯s preparation for promotion. Everyone was excited and looking forward to it. But soon, there was bad news. It was reported that Flame Sun Valley also occupied more than thirty spots. Forming a balance with Tai Xuan Sect. Furthermore, a dark horse emerged. The usually quiet Giant Spirit Sect unexpectedly rose, securing more than thirty spots. Only the Nie Family of Wind and Cloud City seemed to have fallen into complete decline, with only one person left on the list. Many people had different opinions on this. They felt that it was a conspiracy against their own sect! The promotion of the Hidden Dragon Ranking was not child¡¯s play. How could there be such exaggerated changes? And the Nie Family of Wind and Cloud City was also one of the four major forces, unlikely to be reduced to just one spot on the Hidden Dragon Ranking. Something was definitely wrong. ¡°I heard from the higher-ups that in the battle for the Earth Ranking, our sect has already won.¡± ¡°Now it¡¯s just the Hidden Dragon Ranking left.¡± ¡°Originally, with more than thirty spots, we had a significant advantage, but the sudden rise of Flame Sun Valley and Giant Spirit Sect has directly erased this advantage, putting us back in a stalemate.¡± In the sect, many people were discussing. The promotion of any force was difficult. Especially the promotion to the first rank. All aspects of the conditions needed to be met. None could be lacking. This was the rule set by the Supreme Sacred Land. ¡°So, the other three forces have joined forces deliberately like this. As long as Tai Xuan Sect does not gain an advantage in the Hidden Dragon Ranking, it will never ascend.¡± ¡°Tianling Prefecture will still be in its original state, with the four major forces standing equally!¡± Everyone suddenly realized. ¡°It¡¯s really despicable!¡± ¡°These people are so bad!¡± Some naive female disciples hated it. ¡°So what should we do now?¡± ¡°The Hidden Dragon Ranking should be our limit, unable to occupy more spots.¡± ¡°Does that mean our sect¡¯s promotion is going to fail like this?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not clear for the time being, but there should be a way to deal with it.¡± Chapter 101 Chapter 101: Returning to the Hidden Martial Pavilion, ¡°Sacred Spirit Slaughter Sword Art¡±! Inside the pavilion, the fragrance of incense lingered. At a certain moment, Meng Changqing suddenly opened his eyes, and there seemed to be a glimmer of light flickering in his eyes. His cultivation had unexpectedly made progress again, and it had greatly improved, showing signs of advancement. He had reached the seventh level of the Sea Cleaving Realm! To ascend three levels in just one month, such speed could only be described as astonishing. It was no longer the early stage, but already considered the middle to later stage. ¡°But... there¡¯s only half a month left until the Seven Veins Martial Arts Competition. It might be difficult to break through to the Dao Creation Realm in such a short time.¡± Meng Changqing thought to himself. Although the comprehension checkpoints were gone, the time was too tight. Even with second-grade aptitude, it wouldn¡¯t be possible to progress so quickly. Unless it was first-grade aptitude! But first-grade aptitude... He had never seen anyone with such a level of aptitude. It was probably only seen in the top geniuses of each vein. ¡°Let¡¯s go out for a stroll.¡± Meng Changqing shook his head slightly. Long periods of intense cultivation had left both his body and mind somewhat fatigued. Continuing like this would only result in slower progress. He needed to strike a balance between work and rest. ¡°I¡¯ll return the borrowed secret books and take a look at some miscellaneous books in the Hidden Martial Pavilion.¡± Meng Changqing had a goal in mind. He also wanted to chat with the elder guarding the pavilion and deepen his impression. After all, he was quite interested in the ¡°Sacred Spirit Slaughter Sword Art.¡± The Hidden Martial Pavilion was still standing atop the mountain peak. The breeze blew. Under the eaves of the pavilion, the wind chimes rang out in clusters. It seemed that there weren¡¯t many people here today. When Meng Changqing arrived, he hardly saw anyone. The elder guarding the pavilion was still lying on the rocking chair, swinging back and forth. He looked quite comfortable. He even held a sketchbook in his hand, with bright gleams occasionally appearing in his eyes. ¡°Elder.¡± Meng Changqing approached. At the words, the elder guarding the pavilion suddenly showed a displeased expression, seeming not to like being disturbed. But when he saw it was Meng Changqing, he couldn¡¯t help but be spirited. ¡°It¡¯s you, kid.¡± The elder guarding the pavilion immediately put down the sketchbook and even stood up, circling around Meng Changqing. This was something that had never happened before. In the impression of all the disciples, the elder guarding the pavilion seemed never to have stood up from this rocking chair. Or rather, no disciple was qualified to make him stand up. But today, it was unprecedented. ¡°You¡¯ve actually reached the seventh level of the Sea Cleavung Realm. Your cultivation speed can be described as soaring. There were some characters written on it. ¡°Sacred Spirit Slaughter Sword Art¡±! The secret book seemed to have been around for some years, with yellowed and wrinkled pages. But the moment his gaze touched it, a sense of horror arose in his spine! It was as if boundless sharpness and killing intent were hidden within! In an instant, it could break free from the book, slaughtering the world! ¡°Isn¡¯t this one of the supreme techniques that the elder guarding the pavilion possesses?¡± Meng Changqing came back to his senses and thought to himself. It was also something he had been longing for. He had intended to obtain it through making friends. But unexpectedly, the elder guarding the pavilion was taking the initiative to pass it on to him! But... He would have preferred to directly receive it from the elder guarding the pavilion. After all, that was a mastery at the perfection stage, while he would have to practice from scratch. But it was still good to obtain it in this way. At least he could use it openly in the future, with a source. Otherwise, even if he fused it, he wouldn¡¯t be able to use it. The sect had very strict regulations regarding martial techniques. ¡°Take it.¡± The elder guarding the pavilion handed it to Meng Changqing, ¡°With your comprehension, I believe you won¡¯t let it go to waste.¡± ¡°Thank you, elder, for bestowing the martial technique. I wonder, what grade is this martial technique?¡± Meng Changqing asked seriously, without intentionally making any refusal. As for a gift from a senior figure like the elder guarding the pavilion, it was not something he could reject. For such people, perhaps the most hated behavior was being too wishy-washy. ¡°It¡¯s not high, just a high-level Earth-grade.¡± ¡°High-level!¡± Meng Changqing took a deep breath. It was unexpectedly two small levels higher than the ¡°Great Transcendent Mystical Golden Sword Technique¡±! It was far beyond his expectations. In his previous speculation, he thought it would be at the intermediate Earth-grade level. Now, it was high-level! It was already only second to the legendary Heavenly-grade martial techniques! Within the sect, it was probably the core of the core, and only those with extremely high status were qualified to cultivate it! Indeed, his thoughts were not wrong. This elder guarding the pavilion was indeed a big shot! Thinking of this, Meng Changqing once again opened his Probing Eye. Information about the elder guarding the pavilion was reflected in his eyes. Basic Information: ¡¾Name: Yun Bujue¡¿ ¡¾Race: Human¡¿ ¡¾Cultivation: Seventh level of the Sea Cleaving Realm (temporary)¡¿ Attribute Information: ¡¾Root Bone: Third grade¡¿ ¡¾Comprehension: Excellent¡¿ ¡¾Techniques: ¡°Sacred Spirit Slaughter Sword Art¡± (Perfection), ¡°Earth Shrinking Art¡± (Partial Mastery), ¡°Great Compassion Wind Universe Hand¡± (Partial Master)¡¿. Chapter 102 Chapter 102: Elder, You¡¯ve Misunderstood, I¡¯d Rather... ¡°Temporary.¡± This word impled a lot. One was a decline in cultivation, like Auntie¡¯s. The other was intentionally hiding one¡¯s cultivation! Auntie¡¯s panel clearly showed the decline in cultivation, because of damaged roots and sealed spiritual eyes. But the elder guarding the pavilion¡¯s panel was normal. So it¡¯s mostly the second option! ¡°This sword technique is extremely profound and requires continuous honing in slaughter, rather than just practicing in seclusion to refine it.¡± The elder guarding the pavilion said, ¡°The specifics are all recorded in the secret book.¡± ¡°Thank you for the reminder, Elder. I will definitely work hard to cultivate it and live up to your expectations.¡± Meng Changqing clasped his hands together. He simply wanted to ¡°chat¡± but unexpectedly gained something unexpected. Indeed, people needed to be outstanding. As long as you¡¯re outstanding enough, you¡¯ll receive many unexpected gifts. ¡°No need to thank me. It¡¯s just a casual thing. If the higher-ups of the sect don¡¯t pay attention to you, I¡¯ll make up for them.¡± The elder guarding the pavilion stroked his white beard lightly. Upon hearing this, Meng Changqing smiled. This elder was quite straightforward. Then his gaze fell on the table, where there was an empty wine jug lying askew. ¡°Furthermore, I don¡¯t take disciples, so you don¡¯t need to worry about it.¡± The elder guarding the pavilion added. Over the years, he had actually given some guidance to some people, but in the end, they all tried various ways to become his disciples, like sending wine and the like. But he had refused them all. ¡°Elder, you¡¯ve misunderstood. Compared to becoming your disciple, I actually prefer to be friends with you.¡± At this point, Meng Changqing became a little bolder. This wasn¡¯t just the usual peer friendship, but one that bridged a huge gap. Whether in terms of seniority or strength! But there was no way around it. The attributes of the elder guarding the pavilion were just too tempting! He still had an attribute selection card. As long as the elder guarding the pavilion agreed to be his friend, he could directly obtain the perfected ¡°Sacred Spirit Slaughter Sword Art¡±! How much cultivation effort could he save, and he could also save four proficiency cards! Upon hearing this, the elder guarding the pavilion was stunned. It seemed he had never expected to hear such words from a disciple¡¯s mouth in his lifetime. Become friends? A junior disciple wanted to be friends with him? ¡°If he can really bring back their heads, then this kid¡¯s strength will be a bit too much, far beyond what is shown on the surface.¡± A smile appeared on the elder guarding the pavilion¡¯s face. In his old age, it was really a happy thing to meet such a genius disciple. And finally, his self-created sword technique had found a suitable inheritor. Thinking about it, the elder guarding the pavilion hummed a tune and turned around. But the next moment, a voice sounded behind him, causing his pupils to slightly shrink. ¡°It¡¯s you, Senior Brother.¡± ¡ª In mid-air, a golden sword light pierced through the clouds and wind. It was Meng Changqing. He didn¡¯t expect such a big gain from a casual trip. Not only did he get the secret book of the ¡°Sacred Spirit Slaughter Sword Art,¡± but he even had the opportunity to add the elder guarding the pavilion as a friend! ¡°Is this considered a friendship between different generations?¡± Meng Changqing¡¯s lips curled up slightly. It was his first time making friends with such an elder. But thinking about this now was a bit premature. He had to complete the elder guarding the pavilion¡¯s task first. Only then could it be considered a successful friendship. Regaining his focus, Meng Changqing took out the ¡°Sacred Spirit Slaughter Sword Art¡± and began to read through it. The secret book itself was quite ordinary, but perhaps because it had been with the elder guarding the pavilion for so long, it had taken on a bit of aura. This aura was full of sharpness and the taste of slaughter. An ordinary person wouldn¡¯t be able to handle it. Just being near it would make them feel uncomfortable, as if sitting on pins and needles. But Meng Changqing was a swordsman, so he naturally didn¡¯t feel this way. After a moment, Meng Changqing closed the secret book, feeling a chill. Because the cultivation method of this sword technique was truly extraordinary, it was an absolute Sword Dao of killing. It required countless slaughters to achieve perfection. The sword technique was actually divided into two parts. The first part was to extract vitality and turn it into a sacred spirit seal, which could resist fatal injuries at critical moments. The second part was to extract death qi, also known as the qi of slaughter. When enough was accumulated, it could be condensed into a powerful killing sword qi with the heart technique! With one sword strike, it was like the end of the world, with mountains of corpses and seas of blood! And whether it was extracting vitality or death qi, it required killing to achieve. ¡°So the elder guarding the pavilion¡¯s task is actually to help me cultivate this sword technique.¡± Meng Changqing was not a foolish person. Just thinking about them, some things would make sense. Chapter 103 Chapter 103: Yin and Yang, Tai Chi Pattern ¡°Furthermore, since the sect has already discovered this stronghold, they probably consider it a place for internal disciples¡¯ trials. ¡°Just like the bandits in the Baiyun Mountain back then.¡± Meng Changqing¡¯s eyes flickered. If he hadn¡¯t perfected the ¡°Linglong Daluo Tian¡± technique, he would really have to think about it. After all, the gap between major realms was not something to be taken lightly. But now, once he used the ¡°Linglong Daluo Tian¡± technique, his true qi would transform into true essence, so there wouldn¡¯t be much difference between him and the Dao Creation Realm. Coupled with many other trump cards. It¡¯s enough to slaughter! And as the elder guarding the pavilion mentioned, this demon cultivator seems to have just entered the Dao Creation Realm. ¡°Using these demon cultivators to forge the foundation of my supreme sword technique!¡± Meng Changqing reopened the secret book and began to carefully read it. Regardless, he had to practice a bit first. Otherwise, if he went back without any progress, it wouldn¡¯t be convincing. Qifeng Mountain. It¡¯s actually the name of a hundred-mile mountain range. It didn¡¯t just refer to a single peak. This mountain range was full of dangerous peaks and rugged terrain, plus there were demon beasts roaming around. It¡¯s rarely visited by people. For some people, it¡¯s a good place to hide. Once inside, it¡¯s difficult to search. If there were formations to conceal, it¡¯s even harder to detect. Half a day later, Meng Changqing arrived here. Standing in mid-air, looking down, the mountains were continuous and towering, shrouded in mist, making the visibility unclear. ¡°It¡¯s not easy to find without the map given by the elder guarding the pavilion.¡± Meng Changqing took out the map, which clearly marked the route. The backside contained information about those demon cultivators. ¡°These demon cultivators have all been thoroughly investigated, but they still don¡¯t seem to realize it. ¡°The sect¡¯s capabilities in this regard are really strong.¡± Meng Changqing sighed. Indeed, it¡¯s the dominant force in Tianling Prefecture, with absolute control. It¡¯s just that the intelligence aspect was so strong. How did that Bai Qianke sneak near the sect to commit crimes back then? Perhaps there was a loophole. Regaining his focus. Meng Changqing flew towards the bottom. The power of the ¡°Great Transcendent Mystical Golden Sword Technique¡± might not be as strong as the ¡°Sacred Spirit Slaughter Sword Art¡± in the future, but this aerial technique was indeed useful. Whoosh! The sword light plunged into the clouds like the sun. While the white was vibrant, like basking in the spring breeze. Two completely different forces. But they existed simultaneously. ¡°Vitality, death qi. It¡¯s worthy of being a high-level martial art of the Earth grade. It can even extract such natured forces.¡± Meng Changqing nodded inwardly. ¡°But it¡¯s too little, too little. To practice to the level of initial insight, at least a hundred people need to be killed.¡± And these hundred people couldn¡¯t be ordinary people. Because their vitality and death qi were too weak. They had to be martial artists. ¡°The demon cultivators here are just right.¡± Meng Changqing¡¯s lips curled up slightly. The elder guarding the pavilion calculated accurately. Whoosh! Three figures rushed over. They were high-ranking stewards of the demon sect. They were at the ninth level of the Sea Cleaving Realm. Feeling the commotion outside, they came out immediately, but what they saw was a scene of corpses all over the ground. ¡°A true disciple of the Tai Xuan Sect!¡± The three glanced at each other, their eyes filled with shock and anger. Obviously, they realized that the stronghold had been exposed long ago, and now it was being used as a trial ground by the Tai Xuan Sect. Otherwise, it wouldn¡¯t be disciples who came here today, but elders! ¡°Just a mere seventh level of the Sea Cleaving Realm dares to come here, seeking death!¡± One of them said fiercely. Although the true disciple of the Tai Xuan Sect was very powerful and he probably wasn¡¯t a match, but now, they had three people on their side. Plus, there was an elder in the stronghold! They wouldn¡¯t lose no matter what! Even if he¡¯s a genius, he wouldn¡¯t be able to slay the Dao Creation Realm while still in the Sea Cleaving Realm, right? Thinking of this. The three relaxed slightly. And behind them came five Sea Cleaving Realm cultivators. Although they weren¡¯t at the eighth or ninth level, they were still at the fifth or sixth level Eight against one. The odds were very much in their favor. ¡°Kid, who are you?¡± the man continued. However, what greeted him was the sharpness of a sword light. ¡°Great Transcendent¡¤ Heavenly Lotus Sword Wheel!¡± Boom! A huge sword wheel appeared in the sky. Then it blossomed like a lotus flower! Countless profound golden sword qi whistled, causing the faces of the eight people to change dramatically! Chapter 104 Chapter 104: Unfortunately, the Friend Slots are Full Today! ¡°Great Transcendent Mystical Golden Sword Technique!¡± Someone exclaimed! This was one of the supreme arts of the Tai Xuan Sect¡¯s Lingxiao Peak, so it could be recognized immediately. Moreover, it seemed that the mastery of it was already quite high. It wasn¡¯t just a beginner. Puchi! A fifth level of the Sea Cleaving Realm demon cultivator was directly swept away by the sword qi, torn apart. Crimson and warm blood splattered, dyeing the ground red. Other demon cultivators then woke up from their daze. They also realized the gap between them, knowing that victory wasn¡¯t just a matter of numbers. The intruder must be one of the top geniuses from the Tai Xuan Sect! Unrivaled at the same realm! ¡°Run!¡± There was no hesitation. All the demon cultivators turned and fled. But the golden sword qi had already filled the surroundings, blocking their escape routes. Bang! After a dozen breaths, the last demon cultivator fell to the ground. There were no living creatures left around. The ground was covered in blood, flowing like a stream, even staining the clouds and mist in the valley with a bright red color. The black and white qi continued to emerge, surging towards Meng Changqing. They were gathering on the back of his palm. ¡°The Dao of Killing.¡± Meng Changqing took a deep breath. At this moment, his temperament had undergone a noticeable change, no longer casual as before, but filled with a murderous intent. Even his eyes were filled with bone-chilling coldness. He had killed people before, even killed so many people at once on Baiyun Mountain. But this time was different. With the circulation of the Heart Technique and the integration of the black and white qi, it seemed that something was affecting his will. It was constantly shouting: Kill! Kill! Kill! ¡°The influence of the Dao of Killing.¡± Meng Changqing closed his eyes. There were records in the secret book. Although this sword technique was extremely powerful after cultivation, because it required the slaughter of a large number of living beings and actively absorbed the aura of killing, he would be affected by it during the process. Those with weak wills cight completely fall into the Dao of Killing. ¡°It¡¯s indeed a high-level martial art at the Earth grade, it¡¯s really not easy to cultivate.¡± Meng Changqing opened his eyes. He stopped the circulation of the Heart Technique. The faint voices in his ears also disappeared with it. ¡°But it¡¯s not a big problem for me.¡± Meng Changqing smiled faintly. He didn¡¯t need to kill so many living beings, as long as he reached the bottleneck, he could ascend. He could skip the intermediate process. ¡°But in terms of willpower, it still needs to be continuously strengthened.¡± Withdrawing his thoughts, Meng Changqing¡¯s expression became calm. As one progressed in martial arts cultivation, willpower and state of mind became increasingly important. ¡°What are you talking about?¡± The elder of the Demon Sect was stunned. What friend slots? He couldn¡¯t understand at all. But if he knew what it meant, he would probably curse loudly. The panel is just average, but the friend slots are full? Wasn¡¯t that being hypocritical! ¡°You dare to come alone, are you too confident in your own strength, or do you underestimate the Dao Creation Realm?¡± Without much thought, the elder of the Demon Sect¡¯s face darkened. Anyway, this place must have been exposed by now. Now, the only way to explain it when returning is to kill this disciple of the Tai Xuan Sect. Otherwise, a high-level stronghold had been destroyed like this, so there would be punishment! And the punishment of the Demon Sect was no joke. ¡°Enough talk. Come, let me see the power of the Dao Creation Realm.¡± Meng Changqing didn¡¯t answer. Instead, he lightly swung his spirit sword. A strong battle intent surged in his eyes. The higher the realm, the more intense the battle. This could be said to be the first time in his life! After all, in his previous understanding, the gap between realms had always been like heaven and earth, impossible to overcome! ¡°Arrogant!¡± A killing intent burst out of the elder of the Demon Sect¡¯s eyes. Then his figure suddenly disappeared. When he reappeared, he was already in front of Meng Changqing. Raising his right hand, his five fingers curled, and a powerful dark true element surged! ¡°So fast.¡± Meng Changqing¡¯s eyes slightly condensed. The ¡°Will Armor¡± that had been prepared long ago instantly activated. When the five fingers fell, a faint golden armor had already been worn. Clang! At the moment of impact, it sounded like an ancient bell ringing! Only the five fingers entered the armor, but they didn¡¯t penetrate, stopped abruptly. ¡°What martial technique is this?¡± The complexion of the elder of the Demon Sect changed slightly. His ¡°Underworld Heartbreaking Claw¡± was a low-level martial technique at the Earth grade, and it had even reached the realm of perfection. Logically, even if it was against a Sea Cleaving Realm cultivator with the same level of defensive martial technique, it would be impossible to stop it. After all, he used true essence. But now, the defensive martial technique of this kid barely withstood it. There¡¯s only one answer. This defensive martial technique was probably at the level of low intermediate Earth grade! Swish! The sword light approached! Without much time to think, the elder of the Demon Sect retreated. Standing dozens of meters away, a solemn expression appeared in his eyes. ¡°No wonder you dare to come alone. There¡¯s really something to you.¡± Chapter 105 Chapter 105: Old Thief, Don¡¯t Escape! And the Curtain Falls! The power of bloodline surged within the body, instantly restoring the finger holes on the armor to their original state. Generally speaking, for an ordinary Stone Human bloodline, awakening the ¡°Will Armor¡± would only be comparable to the initial Earth grade. But his bloodline had been refined, so it was equivalent to the Earth-rank intermediate stage, even infinitely close to the advanced stage. It was precisely because of this that Meng Changqing dared not to use the ¡°Linglong Daluo Tian¡± at the first moment. ¡°Worthy of being in the Dao Creation Realm.¡± Meng Changqing looked towards the elder of the Demon Sect. With his sword qi, in fact, the power of his sword technique martial arts was already not weaker than an ordinary Dao Creation Realm cultivator. But in other aspects, he couldn¡¯t compare. Such as speed. The speed of movement technique martial arts driven by true essence was just too fast, enough to catch most Sea Cleaving Realm warriors off guard and be killed up close. ¡°It seems that I have to use secret techniques, otherwise I will never be the opponent of the Dao Creation Realm, the gap in other aspects is too big.¡± Taking a deep breath, a smile appeared on Meng Changqing¡¯s face. Although it was only one move, many speculations in his heart had already been verified. Next, it¡¯s time to get serious! ¡°Kid, your defensive martial technique is not bad, but wanting to win against me with this is too wishful thinking.¡± The elder of the Demon Sect said solemnly. ¡°Keep fighting, and you¡¯ll find out, won¡¯t you?¡± Meng Changqing held the sword with one hand. The ¡°Linglong Daluo Tian¡± within him began to operate quietly. His whole person¡¯s aura was also rapidly rising. ¡°Alright, alright, you¡¯re so arrogant, I¡¯ve never seen someone like you before. ¡°Later, I¡¯ll let you know what the gap between realms is!¡± The elder of the Demon Sect¡¯s voice was cold. Then, he struck again. His speed became even faster. Even the afterimages couldn¡¯t be seen, only a faint blood light slowly dissipated in the void. ¡°Die!¡± In an instant, he arrived behind Meng Changqing. This claw, not to mention full strength, was at least eighty percent of his strength. A Sea Cleaving Realm cultivator, and even someone of the same level, would be severely injured! However, just as the elder of the Demon Sect revealed a cruel smile... Clang! A crisp sound suddenly rang out. The scene of his defensive martial technique being broken, and him piercing through this person¡¯s heart, did not happen as expected. On the contrary, his five fingers actually stopped at the surface of the armor, unable to penetrate like before! ¡°How is this possible?!¡± This claw was much stronger than before. There was no reason it shouldn¡¯t pierce through. Wait! The elder of the Demon Sect¡¯s pupils suddenly contracted. Because he found that there was a familiar taste surging on the armor. That is... ¡°True essence!¡± They were all supplementary. After all, human energy was limited, and it¡¯s impossible to excel in everything. Thinking of this, Meng Changqing suddenly stopped. The activation of the ¡°Linglong Daluo Tian¡± had a time limit ¨C one stick of incense. It was impossible to keep chasing like this. Then he could only take advantage of the current distance not being pulled apart, directly use the strongest sword move and blast him to death! ¡°No fun.¡± Meng Changqing really wanted to have a good fight with the Dao Creation Realm cultivator. It would definitely be beneficial. But unfortunately, the other party was focused on escaping, so there was no way. ¡°Great Transcendent: Gathering of Ten Thousand Swords!¡± Taking a deep breath, the sword embryo within him began to operate frantically. Countless black and white sword auras whistled out, transforming into a vast sea of swords! With majestic crushing momentum, it swept towards the elder of the Demon Sect! ¡°This!¡± Feeling the terrifying momentum behind him, the elder of the Demon Sect couldn¡¯t help but turn his head. But what he saw was a sky full of golden light covering vast mountains and rivers! There was simply nowhere to hide! ¡°It¡¯s over. ¡°It¡¯s actually the perfect level ¡®Great Transcended Mystical Golden Sword Technique¡¯!¡± The elder of the Demon Sect¡¯s face suddenly turned pale. Although his movement technique was good, how could he evade such a wide-ranging destructive move? ¡°If I knew earlier, I wouldn¡¯t have come to this stronghold.¡± In the moment when the thought arose, countless sword qi fell, engulfing him directly! Boom boom boom! When the dust settled, within hundreds of meters around, everything was already a mess, shattered and broken. After all, this was a powerful sword move driven by true essence. Not just qi. With a flash, Meng Changqing¡¯s figure appeared in a certain location. Here laid the corpse of the elder of the Demon Sect. It was relatively intact, just missing a hand and a leg. It was covered in blood, with sword marks all over. There was no breath left. Completely dead. This move, Meng Changqing had used all his strength, and after utilizing true essence, he even used sword qi. It was not something the elder of the Demon Sect, who had just entered the Dao Creation Realm, could withstand. Phew~ Two strands of black and white qi emerged from the body of the elder of the Demon Sect, and it could be clearly seen that they were much thicker than those of other demonic cultivators. It could be said that just him alone offset half of what happened just now. Swish! After absorbing the vitality and death qi, Meng Changqing beheaded the head of the elder of the Demon Sect, holding it in his hand and playing with it. Chapter 106 Chapter 106: Successful Addition, Extra Reward: Sword Intent Embryo! With this item, he could add the Elder of the Pavilion as a friend. Meng Changqing breathed a sigh of relief. A bright color appeared in his eyes as well. The proficiency of the ¡°Sacred Spirit Slaughter Sword Technique¡± at the Mastery level, how strong does one have to be? ¡°With this sword technique, even if I step into the Dao Creation Realm later, I will still have absolute confidence to compete with those top-tier geniuses!¡± Meng Changqing thought to himself. He originally thought that the top-tier geniuses of various sects should be cultivation martial arts of intermediate Earth grade or so, but from the gift of the Elder of the Pavilion, he could deduce that those people must be practicing at the Earth grade advanced stage! As the core of the core of the sect, it¡¯s impossible for them to practice at a lower stage and not progress to a higher stage. Even if they did cultivate at a lower stage initially, they must have advanced to a higher stage by now. So if he only had the ¡°Great Transcendent Mystical Golden Sword Technique¡±, he probably wouldn¡¯t be their opponent with a high probability. At most, he could fight them on par. After all, martial arts qi... Those top-tier geniuses all have it. It¡¯s not his specialty. And as for secret techniques like the ¡°Linglong Daluo Tian¡±, he didn¡¯t know if there were similar ones in the sect. Anyway, it¡¯s just uncertain. But now, at least he would soon be on the same starting line. Meng Changqing liked to think comprehensively. At least in this way, the final result wouldn¡¯t deviate too much from expectations. Recalling his thoughts, Meng Changqing picked up the Elder of the Demon Sect¡¯s storage ring, then turned and went to the stronghold to collect them one by one. He didn¡¯t know when it started. He had already developed a subconscious habit of killing and looting corpses. At the Hidden Martial Pavilion, the sun was setting. The crimson clouds burned on the horizon, exceptionally beautiful. Yun Bujue stood at the edge of the mountain peak until that figure disappeared from sight, then he slowly withdrew. ¡°Sure enough, how could the upper echelons ignore disciples like this. ¡°It turns out there are other plans, other arrangements.¡± Yun Bu Jue shook his head slightly, ¡°Fortunately, it¡¯s not Senior Brother who came to find me, otherwise I would have been scolded again.¡± Senior Brother had been in charge of the Punishment Peak for over a hundred years. Since that incident years ago, he had become impartial and stern, punishing any misconduct, no matter how minor, severely. Even the Sect Leader couldn¡¯t escape punishment. Like his own behavior of teaching forbidden sect skills privately, it was a serious violation. ¡°But now that I have his permission, Senior Brother probably won¡¯t punish me again.¡± Yun Bujue relaxed slightly, but at the same time, he sighed, ¡°I wonder when such days will end.¡± Swish! ¡°No need to be humble. Boldly show yourself. Young talents have youthful vigor and should strive for the highest! ¡°In the sect, the more outstanding you are, the more attention and resources you will receive! ¡°The struggle for greatness has always belonged to individuals. ¡°If you are too low-key, you will only miss out. Yun Bujue said, ¡°And there is no need to have too many concerns. Our sect is not like the demonic sect. There won¡¯t be any oppression. ¡°So boldly take steps forward, and climb! ¡°Let the whole world, the entire universe, see your unparalleled demeanor!¡± After he finished speaking. A strong aura surged from Yun Bujue, as if it could shatter the heavens and the earth! It was sword qi! Meng Changqing¡¯s face showed some emotion. He didn¡¯t really expect the Elder Guardian to say these words. And each sentence seemed to speak to his heart. In two lifetimes, his mind was indeed far beyond his peers. In many aspects, he subconsciously thought comprehensively; judging right from wrong, weighing pros and cons, and so on. In short, there was a maturity beyond his age. But the youth¡¯s style was often not because of this maturity. Sometimes it¡¯s more about that unwavering confidence and desire to show off. I¡¯m strong, so I want to stand on the best stage, dominate everything! But Meng Changqing didn¡¯t think he was wrong. In unfamiliar circumstances, it¡¯s better to be careful. Wait until everything is clear, and then show yourself well. ¡°The Elder¡¯s words, the disciple will remember them. ¡°But can the promise this morning be fulfilled now?¡± Meng Changqing smiled slightly. The words were indeed inspiring, but it¡¯s better to add him on the friend first. ¡°You little guy, you don¡¯t understand passion at all. ¡°If it were other disciples, they would probably be impassioned by now, blushing with excitement, boldly declaring to compete for the position of the Supreme Holy Lord!¡± Yun Bujue shook his head with a smile, then his expression became serious, ¡°I have always been trustworthy. Since I promised, I will fulfill it. ¡°And with your potential and performance, it is enough to be my friend! ¡°From now on, we are peers!¡± As he finished speaking. Ding! ¡¾Successfully added Yun Bu Jue as a friend!¡¿ ¡¾Current favorability rating: one star!¡¿ ¡¾Attributes to be selected.¡¿ ¡¾Triggering additional reward: Sword Intent Embryo!¡¿ Chapter 107 Chapter 107: Sword Marks of Slaughter, Imprint of Rebirth! The voice of the system resounded in the mind. Though the tone was as usual, nothing particularly stood out, but the content this time was like thunder. It directly left Meng Changqing dumbfounded! God knew what he heard. Sword Intent... embryonic form? But the legendary supreme Sword Intent?! Meng Changqing¡¯s pupils contracted, his eyes showing astonishment. Both of his hands couldn¡¯t help but clench! If it weren¡¯t for considering that he was standing in front of the Elder, he might have lost his composure on his face. But inside, he started to feel thrilled. Good heavens! He merely wanted to obtain the ¡°Sacred Spirit Slaughter Sword Art¡± from the Elder, but unexpectedly triggered an additional reward. And the additional reward was the more precious embryonic form of Sword Intent! How many sword cultivators dreamt of such a thing! Even the hidden big shot before him, the comprehension he had was only regarding Sword Qi! Up to now, he still hadn¡¯t stepped into the realm of true intent! One could imagine how difficult it was. He took a deep breath. Meng Changqing suppressed the waves in his heart. He tried to calm himself down. Right now, he needed to hurry back, be alone, and then absorb what he had gained! ¡°Don¡¯t get too excited. Old me is just a guardian Elder now.¡± Seeing Meng Changqing¡¯s somewhat excited appearance, Yun Bujue smiled and said, ¡°There won¡¯t be too many benefits if you call me a brother or friend, and even if there are, you must have the strength to take them.¡± Meng Changqing was speechless immediately. He really wanted to say, ¡°Elder, you¡¯ve misunderstood.¡± ¡°By the way, you¡¯ve already practiced the ¡®Sacred Spirit Slaughter Sword Technique¡¯ to an introductory level. Obviously, you understand the situation of the Sword Technique. Moving forward, you¡¯ll need a lot of Qi of life and death. There aren¡¯t so many demonic martial practitioners outside for you to kill, and you can¡¯t indiscriminately commit slaughter,¡± Yun Bujue said. Meng Changqing¡¯s eyes flickered slightly. This was the truth, and it was also what he was worried about. After all, without this process, it would be difficult to explain his proficiency in the Sword Technique in the future. And when the fusion happened later, that would be a mastery level attainment. ¡°So, go to the Punishment Peak. ¡°There are heavenly prisons and earthly prisons there, detaining many demonic martial practitioners. ¡°Their Qi of life and death is very strong. ¡°As long as you have confidence, go and kill. When you encounter guards, just mention my name. ¡°I¡¯m named Yun Bujue.¡± Yun Bujue lightly stroked his white beard, as if this name also reminded him of some past memories. ¡°Alright, thank you, Elder.¡± Meng Changqing nodded. As for the name, he had already known it through the panel. ¡°Then I¡¯ll leave first. I need to go back and contemplate.¡± Meng Changqing clasped his hands together. Then he turned into a sword light and disappeared quickly. ¡°This kid, every time he appears, he brings surprises.¡± Yun Bujue withdrew his gaze, looked at the head of the elder on the ground, and couldn¡¯t help but nod. As mentioned earlier, overcoming the difference in great realms was not so easy. Even he couldn¡¯t do it. And the top geniuses of various veins, at most, could only fight evenly with those who had just entered the realm of enlightenment. To want to kill them was too difficult. It far exceeded any previous time! Kill, kill, kill! Every piece of information, every strand of comprehension, seemed to be filled with boundless murderous intent! Fortunately, the system came with purification and is immune to all side effects, just like when fusing bloodlines at the beginning. Otherwise, without an extremely strong mental will, he wouldn¡¯t hold up. This fusion lasted for half an hour. Meng Changqing slowly opened his eyes! Boom! In an instant, Meng Changqing¡¯s temperament seemed to have undergone earth-shaking changes. It was as if the lord of slaughter had descended! With just one glance, it could cause mountains of corpses and seas of blood! The terrifying killing intent made the entire attic tremble. Raising his right hand, two fingers formed a sword. There was a gray light flickering at the fingertips. Within it seemed to be a terrifying power, once released, it could destroy everything! Crack! The ground couldn¡¯t hold it, constantly shattering, extending all the way to the door before finally stopping. It¡¯s worth noting that the buildings on the Spirit Peak were made of special materials, extremely hard. Yet he merely lifted his hand. Merely released a hint of power, and it made these buildings unable to withstand it. One could imagine how powerful it would be if fully unleashed. ¡°No wonder it¡¯s a high-grade earth-grade sword technique, second only to heaven-level existence. ¡°It¡¯s also the best among its peers!¡± Meng Changqing put down his hand, quickly suppressing all his aura and returning to a calm state. He didn¡¯t dare to use it in the sect, or in here for that matter. Otherwise, the aura would be too great, inviting unnecessary trouble. He just got the ¡°Sacred Spirit Slaughter Sword Technique¡± this morning, and it¡¯s already at the mastery level in the evening? Similar to the ¡°Great Transcendent Mystical Golden Sword Technique,¡± the ¡°Sacred Spirit Slaughter Sword Technique¡± was also a top-tier existence at the same level. Its power was extremely formidable. But due to the difficulty in cultivation, many people shy away from it. After all, it required too much slaughter. And the most critical point was,, it¡¯s very hard to bear the immense slaughter¡¯s impact. If it¡¯s just about slaughter, many people could do it, just slaughter until it becomes numb. But to introduce the aura of slaughter into one¡¯s body, that¡¯s a very dangerous thing to do. It¡¯s akin to roasting one¡¯s mental will on a fire every day. If one carelessly relaxed for a day, the consequence was falling into demonic path. Before reaching the introductory level of this sword technique, it¡¯s still okay, the slaughter wasn¡¯t too much. But afterward, the number was really too shocking. Tens of thousands was just a start! The ultimate completion was probably going to require a monstrous slaughter to achieve! Meng Changqing felt that Yun Bujue probably hadn¡¯t perfected it for reasons besides comprehension. Perhaps he didn¡¯t dare to continue practicing it, or he didn¡¯t have a way of slaughtering. After all, as a righteous force, besides slaying demonic cultivators and demonic beasts, it¡¯s impossible to indiscriminately commit slaughter. ¡°Among the disciples of the Spirit Peak, I¡¯m afraid I¡¯m the only one practicing this.¡± Meng Changqing looked at his fingertips and the back of his hand. At the fingertips was a trace of sword marks, emitting a terrifying aura, while the back of his hand had turned into a pure white lozenge-shaped imprint, full of vitality. The previous black-and-white Tai Chi pattern disappeared. It was now divided into sword marks and lozenge-shaped imprint. This was also a sign of the completion of the sword technique! Taking a deep breath, Meng Changqing withdrew his attention and looked at the last part of the panel. Next, the most important thing was about to begin! Chapter 108 Chapter 108: Supreme Sword Intent Emerges, Name of the Sword Stirs on Spirit Peak! Fusing Sword Intent, Meng Changqing¡¯s hands tightened slightly, and his eyes became hot. This attribute fusion would make his strength undergo a qualitative leap! ¡°System, fuse... Sword Intent Embryo!¡± Ding! [Fusion begins!] As the words fell, Meng Changqing only felt a shock in his mind. An even larger flow of information surged forth, all related to insights into the way of the sword! It could be said to be the simplest essence of the great dao, all of them were eternal truths! Moreover, in his mind, there were even concrete shocking scenes appearing! It was a huge illusory giant sword as if it could pierce through heaven and earth, extending from the ancient origin! At the moment it appeared, Meng Changqing couldn¡¯t help but feel shaken. The Crimson Sky Sword at his waist even trembled crazily! It seemed to have encountered the master of the sword! It wanted to break out of its sheath, bowing respectfully to greet it! But it was stopped by Meng Changqing with just one hand. ¡°Sword Intent!¡± Meng Changqing completely immersed himself in it, continuously absorbing insights! ¡ª Spirit Peak, one of the seven veins of the Tai Xuan Sect. Its accomplishments in the way of the sword were unparalleled in the entire Tianling Province, and even in the neighboring large provinces. Many sword masters emerged from here. Their names shook the southern region! However, starting from over a hundred years ago, for some unknown reason, it suddenly declined. At the peak of Spirit Peak, it was extremely spacious. The main hall was continuous and numerous, with towering pavilions, grand and magnificent. This place was the practice location for the high-level members of Spirit Peak. Only extremely core figures could stay here and enjoy the best resources. At the very center of it all, there was a huge hall. The doors of the hall were tightly closed. But it didn¡¯t mean there¡¯s no one inside. On the contrary, in the main hall, there was a small figure sitting cross-legged. Her face looked young. She looked about ten years old with red lips, white teeth, and fine hairs on her face. In the outside world, she would be seen as a cute little kid. But on Spirit Peak, her existence was extraordinary. She possessed an extremely rare innate Sword Body! Buzz~! Suddenly, there was movement behind her. She suddenly opened her eyes and rushed over, only to see a simple long sword stuck in the mirror-like ground in front of her. In an instant, dust filled the air. In the history of Tai Xuan Sect, he estimated that he was the first one to cause the Spirit Peak buildings to look like this. Swish! The sword qi whistled... The rolling dust was also split in half, dissipating, revealing the scene inside. Meng Changqing was in the midst of it all, but he was completely unscathed. Because nothing could get close to him, everything was crushed by his own ¡®intent¡¯! Meng Changqing stood up slowly. At this moment, even if he didn¡¯t actively reveal his ¡®Sword Intent¡¯, he still gave people an indescribable visual impact. It seemed like the person standing there wasn¡¯t just a person, but a sword! Just by making eye contact, there was a feeling of flesh being shattered and soul being torn apart. ¡°So this is... Sword Intent.¡± Meng Changqing took a deep breath, converging all his aura, returning to a calm state without any wind or rain. Before the fusion, he had tried to imagine the power of Sword Intent as much as possible. But after the actual fusion, he realized that he had underestimated it. Sword Intent. Compared to Sword Qi, it¡¯s completely on another level. Sword Qi could barely be understood. But Sword Intent? It¡¯s profound and mysterious. Any sword technique, in its hands, would have the miraculous effect of turning decay into magic. Even if it¡¯s just an ordinary mortal sword technique, with the blessing of Sword Intent, it would still be like a Earth-grade technique, and extend various unimaginable powers. If Sword Qi increased the power of a sword technique by about ten times, then Sword Intent was more than thirty times! There¡¯s no way around it. After all, it¡¯s the true meaning of martial arts, the supreme realm, and the increase was so terrifying. And the most crucial point was the power of the intent could influence the mind! Like a domain, during battle, it could pull the opponent into the realm of intent! In one¡¯s own domain, who wouldn¡¯t be invincible? ¡°So powerful.¡± Meng Changqing raised his right hand and looked at the palm. If before, he could only compete with the geniuses of each vein, then now... he could simply crush them! With Sword Intent unleashed, who could compete with him among his peers? And when fusing the embryonic form of Sword Intent, he also absorbed countless insights into the way of the sword. This pushed his understanding of the sword way to an exaggerated level! Unless it¡¯s a legendary heavenly-grade sword technique, even if it¡¯s earth-grade, he could see through it at a glance! It¡¯s just too simple! Just like the ¡°Sacred Spirit Slaughter Sword Technique¡± he obtained in the morning, there were many doubts about the future. It was like being shrouded in mist, hard to see the truth. But now, with just a casual thought, it¡¯s like unraveling a cocoon and seeing the answer directly. Chapter 109 Chapter 109: Supreme Sword Art of Purple Nourishment Peak, ¡°The Emperor¡¯s Heavenly Treasure Scripture¡±! ¡°The Seven Veins Martial Arts Competition, worry-free.¡± Meng Changqing lowered his hand. His face was calm, like an ancient well without ripples. Even if he hadn¡¯t cultivated to the Dao Creation Realm by then, with his current cards, he¡¯ll be enough to take the first place, instead of just guaranteeing the top twenty like before. ¡°But speaking of which, why hasn¡¯t the specific announcement of the Seven Veins Martial Arts Competition been made yet?¡± Meng Changqing raised an eyebrow slightly. According to reason, such a grand event of the sect should have started to announce and prepare long ago. But so far, he hadn¡¯t seen any movements from the sect. It was just like usual. ¡°Could it be influenced by the promotion of the sects before?¡± Meng Changqing pondered. Then, he shook his head again. Forget it, it doesn¡¯t matter. As long as I¡¯m strong enough, any changes won¡¯t affect me! Moreover, my resources are temporarily sufficient. It will only be scarce after reaching the Dao Creation Realm. ¡°Continue to cultivate!¡± Meng Changqing¡¯s mood became extremely good. However, he couldn¡¯t help but feel a headache when he saw the ruins around him. He had actually tried to suppress it as much as possible. But during fusion, some would always leak out. He didn¡¯t expect the attic to still collapse. What should he do? Practice in the open air? Meng Changqing shook his head slightly and activated the simple formation on Spirit Peak. At least it could block the outside gaze. Originally, the attic had this effect, but who made the attic collapse now? Time flew by, another seven days passed. Meng Changqing successfully broke through to the eighth level of the Sea Cleaving Realm. But according to the estimate, it¡¯s impossible to cultivate to the stage of Origin Creation before the Seven Veins Martial Arts Competition. But Meng Changqing wasn¡¯t worried. With his current strength, it¡¯s enough. Boom! At the top of Spirit Peak, there was suddenly a tremor, as if something huge had fallen. Meng Changqing removed the formation. What appeared before his eyes were two giants standing seven meters tall! They were the brothers from the Shi family. At this moment, compared to before, their cultivation made significant progress, and they reached the seventh level of the Sea Cleaving Realm! They were just one level lower than him. Meng Changqing was not surprised by this. After all, these two guys were not like him. They were taken in by the former Peak Master of Purple Nourishment Peak. They had the best cultivation resources. This was not an ordinary technique and skill. It was one of the seven treasures of the Tai Xuan Sect! The supreme skill of Purple Nourishment Peak, specializing in refining the body to the highest level! It was said to have three volumes in total! Each volume refined would earn unimaginable power. And if all three volumes were merged into one, it was enough to dominate the world and control the mountains and rivers! He didn¡¯t expect the two brothers from the Shi family to be directly taught the Peak¡¯s technique. It seemed that the high-level figures of Purple Nourishment Peak valued them greatly. The Peak Technique of Spirit Peak, called the ¡°Spirit Sword Scripture¡±, contained more than ten top-level sword techniques, and it was not weaker than ¡°The Emperor¡¯s Heavenly Treasure Scripture.¡± I wonder when I can get it. ¡°Have to find a way to increase the goodwill of the two brothers.¡± A glimmer of expectation flashed through Meng Changqing¡¯s mind. Although he had never truly seen ¡°The Emperor¡¯s Heavenly Treasure Scripture,¡± he heard people mention it when he was in the outer sect, and he also saw records of it in the martial arts books in the pavilion after entering the inner sect. This scripture specialized in body refinement and was quite comprehensive. Not only could it greatly enhance physical defense, but it also included strength, speed, and so on. It could even produce the legendary True Profound Qi, incredibly powerful. And his physical body right now was actually only high in defense, and other aspects were not so excellent. Just the defense technique ¡°Armor of the King¡± alone could not compare to ¡°The Emperor¡¯s Heavenly Treasure Scripture.¡± If he could obtain this scripture, his physical body would be flawless. In fact, for martial artists, as they advance, they focus more on eliminating their own weaknesses rather than constantly focusing on improving offensive power. Because not everyone would confront you head-on. They would study your weaknesses, identify vulnerabilities, and then focus on them. But Meng Changqing was not in a hurry to increase the goodwill of the two brothers now. After all, the cultivation attainments of the two brothers in the scriptures were not high yet, just in the entry stage. It¡¯s better to wait until they reach the stage of mastery or perfection before getting closer. This way, the cost-effectiveness was higher. And he could save cultivation cards. As for why not wait until perfection... because perfection was too difficult... even with the Stone Human Bloodline, it would probably take a lot of time. With the existence of cultivation cards, there was no need to wait so long, just consume one. ¡°If Senior Brother Meng is okay, do you want to go to Punishment Peak with us?¡± Shi Yao was eager to try. ¡°Punishment Peak?¡± Meng Changqing raised an eyebrow. This could be said to be a terrifying place in the sect that made people shudder. It¡¯s rarely visited by people. But the Elder once said that if he wanted to cultivate the ¡°Sacred Spirit Slaughter Sword Technique,¡± go there. It detained many demonic cultivators who could be used as good opponents for the sword technique to grow. ¡°What are you going to Punishment Peak for?¡± Meng Changqing asked. ¡°Our master said that martial arts cultivation cannot always be closed-door cultivation. We must constantly find opponents, defeat them, in order to hone our own strength, identify and correct deficiencies, and enhance spiritual will.¡± Shi Guang said, ¡°And in Punishment Peak, there are many demons, which are good opponents for sharpening our skills.¡± ¡°I see.¡± Meng Changqing nodded slightly, but still said, ¡°I won¡¯t go to Punishment Peak for now. The Seven Veins Martial Arts Competition is coming soon, and I need to continue to improve my cultivation.¡± ¡°Seven Veins Martial Arts Competition?¡± The two brothers glanced at each other, ¡°I remember Master seemed to mention...¡± Chapter 110 Chapter 110: Three Sects Martial Arts Tournament!!! ¡°I remember the master said it was postponed,¡± the two brothers said something astonishing, leaving Meng Changqing stunned. ¡°Postponed?¡± ¡°Yeah, it seems because the sect promotion is imminent, so they had to choose to postpone it.¡± Shi Guang nodded. ¡°When will it start then?¡± Meng Changqing asked. Although the resources were currently sufficient, once he entered the Dao Creation Realm, his pockets would be empty again. To maintain a fast cultivation speed, he needed to use fourth-grade resources. These resources were extremely precious and not easy to obtain. The Seven Veins Martial Arts Competition was currently the fastest and most rewarding way for him to acquire resources! ¡°After the Three Sects Martial Arts Tournament,¡± Shi Guang replied. ¡°The Three Sects Martial Arts Tournament?¡± Meng Changqing¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly. It¡¯s another new term, but it carried the scent of an impending storm! ¡°Yeah, the sect wants to promote to the first grade, but the Hidden Dragon Ranking is not in their favor. So the sect has applied to the Wanxiang Pavilion for a martial arts tournament. ¡°On the Hidden Dragong Ranking, our sect, the Flame Sun Valley, and the Giant Spirit Sect each occupy one-third of the slots. ¡°So there will be a martial arts tournament between the three sects. ¡°Fifty disciples from each sect, all above the Dao Creation Realm, will compete, and the top thirty will be ranked. ¡°As long as the disciples of the Tai Xuan Sect can win the first place in the tournament and occupy the most slots in the top thirty, they can be promoted to the first grade.¡± Shi Guang said a lot in one breath. Meng Changqing suddenly realized why there hadn¡¯t been any news about the Seven Veins Martial Arts Competition recently. It had indeed been postponed. And his previous thoughts were not wrong. They were indeed influenced by the sect¡¯s promotion matter. The Seven Veins Martial Arts Competition had temporarily turned into the Three Sects Martial Arts Tournament. The former was just an internal matter of the sect and could be held at any time, but the martial arts tournament was different. It represented too much. It¡¯s much more important and must be dealt with first. Once they crossed this hurdle, they would become a first-grade sect. The sole ruler of the Tianling Prefecture! There would be no other forces that could stand equal to it. Places like the Flame Sun Valley, Giant Spirit Sect, and the Wind and Cloud City would only be able to look up to it. ¡°Also, the martial arts tournament will be held in two months! ¡°By then, Brother Meng should also be able to break through to the Dao Creation Realm and participate in it. ¡°The rewards for the martial arts tournament will not be lower than those of the Seven Veins Martial Arts Competition, after all, this involves the level of the sect. ¡°The higher the ranking, the richer the rewards given by the sect. If you can get first place... Hmm, I don¡¯t know. ¡°The master didn¡¯t go into details about this. ¡°Anyway, it will definitely be good.¡± It represented whether the sect could dominate over other sects and ascend to the first grade! ¡°The battle of the Three Sects¡¯ top geniuses, just imagining it feels so shocking and exciting!¡± ¡°Yes!¡± ¡°Usually, even if there is a fight, it¡¯s in private. Gathering like this in public is rare!¡± ¡°With the top geniuses from various veins, this tournament will surely be easily won!¡± ¡°The path to sect promotion is unstoppable!¡± Many people were very confident. But some poured cold water on them. ¡°Don¡¯t be too optimistic. Pay attention to the promotion conditions. In addition to winning first place, the number of disciples ranked in the top thirty must also be the most.¡± ¡°If the Giant Spirit Sect deliberately goes easy on the Flame Sun Valley, then it will be easy for the Flame Sun Valley to occupy the most slots!¡± As soon as these words came out, the entire sect square fell silent. ¡°Damn it, I was wondering why the changes in the Hidden Dragon Ranking before were so strange!¡± ¡°The prestigious Nie Family of the Wind and Cloud City, there was only one person left on the list!¡± ¡°So they were waiting here!¡± ¡°These despicable guys, if they can¡¯t win, they resort to these tricks. It¡¯s really embarrassing!¡± Many people looked unpleasant. ¡°Ah, why does the sect promotion have to be so troublesome?¡± ¡°Why can¡¯t it be simpler?¡± ¡°There¡¯s no way. These are the rules set by the Central Province Sacred Land. They look at both current strength and future potential. Both are indispensable. If you can¡¯t show absolute overwhelming potential, the Sacred Land won¡¯t allow you to be promoted. After all, the potential of other forces is not low, and they have the value of continued cultivation.¡± ¡°Moreover, once promoted, it¡¯s a devastating blow to other forces. Most of the territories and resources have to be given up.¡± The crowd continued to discuss. ¡°Alright, it¡¯s a settled matter. Let¡¯s talk about which disciples the sect will send to the battle!¡± ¡°Fifty disciples from each vein. It¡¯s not too much for our Tai Xuan Seven Veins. If divided, each vein will have about seven disciples.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not divided like this. It depends on strength. Some veins are weak and can¡¯t send many people.¡± ¡°And the Main Peak, there¡¯s only one true disciple in total.¡± When it came to the Main Peak, everyone¡¯s hearts were filled with reverence. After all, the current number one on the Hidden Dragon Ranking was the senior brother of the Main Peak. In recent years, he was the only disciple the Sect Master got! Chapter 111 Chapter 111: Situation of Various Sects, and the Dragon¡¯s Roar Entering the Clouds and Water! The first true disciple of the Tai Xuan Sect. Han Luoyu. Ninth Level of Dao Creation Realm! Ranked first on the Hidden Dragon Ranking! In fact, the top of the Hidden Dragon Ranking had basically always been occupied by the Tai Xuan Sect, rarely taken away by other forces. Only the Flame Sun Valley had taken it a few times. Although the four major forces were evenly matched, there was still a gap between them, only the Flame Sun Valley could always closely follow the Tai Xuan Sect. Giant Spirit Sect and Wind and Cloud City were slightly inferior. ¡°With Senior Han making a move, being first in the martial arts competition is a piece of cake!¡± Everyone was very confident. ¡°We can¡¯t be careless, the innate fire physique of the Flame Sun Valley, although it had never defeated Senior Han, but every time they fight, it¡¯s just a small loss.¡± ¡°The gap is not big, if there is a significant improvement this time, it could pose a threat to Senior Han.¡± There were still calm people present. Upon hearing this, many people couldn¡¯t help but nod. But their eyes were still full of confidence. After all, Senior Han¡¯s record spoke for itself. So what matters now was the number of the top thirty. Who should be sent to participate. To have a greater certainty! For a while, the square was buzzing with various opinions. Time slowly passed. In the blink of an eye, another month had passed. During this month, the sects gradually announced the rewards for the martial arts competition. Such as the Vitality Creation Pill! Dragon Blood Grass! Qianyang Sword! And so on. They were all precious resources of fourth-grade or even fifth-grade level! Normally, let alone seeing them, you couldn¡¯t even catch a whiff of their scent! But now, they were all brought out. This also made the disciples of the sects envious and eager. Although these resources had nothing to do with most people, they could still fantasize about them. And the geniuses and top geniuses of the various veins of the sects also began to appear in the sects, no longer staying in isolation as before. ¡°He even made it to the Hidden Dragon Ranking!¡± ¡°The Meng Family is thriving! The Meng Family is thriving!¡± The elders were excited, their white beards trembling, and some even shed tears! Although they didn¡¯t know how the young master did it, that wasn¡¯t the point. The result was the key! And the people outside also began to cheer! Cloudwater City is just a small place, and the Meng Family was just a small family. Never had they hoped for such an event. To have a few more Aperture Connecting Realm cultivators in the family was considered a blessing from their ancestors! But now, the young master appeared on the widely watched Hidden Dragon Ranking, shaking the Tianling Prefecture! ¡°This kid.¡± Gu Hongyu came to her senses, her watery eyes also filled with shock. She didn¡¯t expect Meng Changqing to have grown to such a level! Although it¡¯s just the Hidden Dragon Ranking of a state, not everyone can make it on, one must possess the strength of a top talent! In a daze, Gu Hongyu couldn¡¯t help but think of what Meng Changqing said before they parted. ¡°Auntie, the world is vast, listen to the dragon¡¯s roar.¡± ¡°This kid really did it.¡± Gu Hongyu¡¯s hands tightened slightly, and inexplicable emotions welled up in her heart. ¡°Oh, there¡¯s one more thing.¡± Amidst the excitement of the clansmen, someone said. ¡°Is it about the young master?¡± Gu Hongyu looked at him. ¡°It¡¯s not. It¡¯s about the three-sect martial arts competition...¡± The clansman shook his head and began to explain. ¡°So, the Tai Xuan Sect is going to be promoted to first grade.¡± After a while, the people in the hall also understood the situation. After all, Cloudwater City was a small place, and the news spread slowly, and they usually didn¡¯t care much. As such, they didn¡¯t know about this until the clansmen came to report today. ¡°Tai Xuan Sect must succeed.¡± ¡°In the future, our young master will be the true disciple of a first-grade sect!¡± Everyone was excited. ¡°But then again, will our young master participate in this three-sect martial arts competition?¡± ¡°He definitely won¡¯t. Didn¡¯t they say it¡¯s about the Dao Creation Realm? The list says our young master has only reached the third level of Sea Cleaving Realm, even though it¡¯s been several months, he probably hasn¡¯t reached the standard for participation,¡± someone answered. The others nodded. Since the young master won¡¯t participate, there¡¯s not much interest. Otherwise, they would definitely find a way to go and watch it in person! ¡°Alright, from now on, the family will pay more attention to the situation of the Tai Xuan Sect, especially the young master. As soon as there¡¯s any movement, report it to me immediately!¡± Gu Hongyu said. ¡°Yes!¡± The clansmen nodded heavily. ¡°Also, spread the news of the young master¡¯s ascension to the Hidden Dragon Ranking! ¡°From now on, Cloudwater City... ¡°Is surnamed Meng!¡± Chapter 112 Chapter 112: The Sect Doesn¡¯t Neglect You, but... At the spirit peak, Meng Changqing still sat cross-legged in the ruins. But the aura on his body had already reached its peak! The thick true qi overflowed even more. It spread around like clouds and mist. Hu! At a certain moment, Meng Changqing suddenly opened his eyes. A strong aura swept through the surroundings, causing sand and stones to fly! ¡°I¡¯ve reached the peak of the Ninth stage of the Sea Cleaving Realm.¡± Meng Changqing¡¯s eyes regained their calm. In fact, half a month ago, he could have reached this step. But now, there was no rush. So he deliberately slowed down his pace a bit, which would make his realm more stable. ¡°Next, it¡¯s time to break through to the Dao Creation Realm!¡± Meng Changqing took out the last resources from his storage ring. Although he had killed many demonic cultivators and collected many things, most of them were poor-quality items. Especially that elder from the Demonic Sect, what a miser, almost as poor as Wei Qing. Overall, it was only Green Pill Elder who was relatively wealthy. It was also because of Green Pill Elder¡¯s ¡°friendly assistance¡± that he could cultivate to where he was now. Otherwise, when he reached the Seventh Stage of the Sea Cleaving Stage, his pockets would have been empty long ago. ¡°It¡¯s really about relying on your family at home and your friends when you go out.¡± Meng Changqing smiled faintly. ¡°I hope I can have more friends like this in the future!¡± Then he prepared to take a rest and began to break through to the Dao Creation Realm. Although there weren¡¯t many resources left, it should be enough. Breaking through to the Dao Creation Realm was not difficult, mainly a transformation of true qi. And he already had a very good understanding of true qi now, and with the help of the ¡°Linglong Daluo Tian¡±, he had watched the process of true qi transforming into true essence countless times. It could be said that he was familiar with the process. There was no need to worry about not understanding enough or failing to break through. ¡°Is Mr. Meng here?¡± Suddenly, a familiar and old voice came from outside the array. He would definitely not miss the Three Sects Martial Arts Tournament. After all, there were so many rewards, and the rewards were even richer than the Seven Veins Martial Arts Competition, which could meet his needs for cultivation afterward. Originally, he planned to go to the high-levels of the sect to sign up after his breakthrough. But unexpectedly, the sect had already locked him in, just waiting for him to break through. ¡°I calculated your cultivation speed based on your past progress, and it¡¯s estimated that you will reach the Ninth Stage of the Sea Cleaving Realm in about two days. It just so happens that I came today.¡± Yun Bujue smiled and said, then he flipped his right hand, and a bottle of pills appeared in his palm. Even though the bottle was sealed, there was still a strong medicinal fragrance emanating from it. Meng Changqing just took a light sniff and felt the true qi in his body surging, with an impulse to transform. ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± Meng Changqing looked at the pill bottle. With his alchemy skills of third-grade level, he vaguely guessed what it was. ¡°Fourth-grade Treasure Pill: Purple Spirit Essence Pill!¡± Yun Bujue said. ¡°Indeed!¡± Meng Changqing took a deep breath. The effect of the Purple Spirit Essence Pill was similar to that of the Little Mirror Breaking Pill he had encountered in the Secret Realm before, both of which could accelerate the breakthrough of a major realm. And after the breakthrough, it could provide a large amount of medicinal power to ensure a period of cultivation. It was extremely precious and valuable. In the outside world, it was almost priceless. Only large forces like the Tai Xuan Sect could easily produce them to meet the needs of their disciples¡¯ breakthroughs. ¡°The sect doesn¡¯t neglect you, but...¡± Yun Bujue wanted to say something, but seemed to touch on something he shouldn¡¯t, so he could only swallow his words, ¡°Anyway, the expectations are high.¡± ¡°This Purple Spirit Essence Pill is just the beginning, there will be more in the future. ¡°Of course, you should also perform well in the Martial Arts Competition. Don¡¯t hide anything, try to move forward as much as possible. ¡°Although you have just entered the Dao Creation Realm, it would be best to aim for the top ten.¡± ¡°The Elder has a lot of confidence in me.¡± Meng Changqing took the pill bottle and smiled. ¡°If I can make friends of the younger generation, they are not ordinary people.¡± Yun Bujue stroked his white beard, then turned and left, ¡°After breaking through, remember to come to me. I¡¯ll take you to meet the top geniuses of the various veins of the sect!¡± ¡°Top geniuses?¡± Meng Changqing¡¯s eyes flickered slightly. Since entering the inner sect, he had often heard these people¡¯s names, but had never seen them. As top geniuses, their panel attributes should be very luxurious, right? ¡°They are all future close friends!¡± Meng Changqing¡¯s mouth curled slightly. ¡°Besides, since you have such confidence in me, let¡¯s aim for the first place. The top ten is too conservative.¡± Before, he didn¡¯t dare to say such words. But now, he even had the Supreme Sword Intent. In the Martial Arts Competition of the same generation, unless there were accidents, he would basically sweep through. Chapter 113 Chapter 113: Am I Still Not Qualified to Become the Next Sect Master? Immediately, Meng Changqing withdrew his gaze. Looking at the bottle of medicine in his hand, it was indeed like a pillow when drowsiness comes. With this treasure pill, breaking through became a sure thing. Although his own resources should be sufficient, it was only an assumption, and it was a bit of a stretch. But with this treasure pill, there would be no worries at all. Moreover, with the medicinal power of the treasure pill, he could also cultivate to the third level of the Dao Creation Realm later. ¡°Elder of the Hidden Martial Pavilion said that the sect doesn¡¯t neglect me, but has high expectations.¡± Meng Changqing recalled Yun Bujue¡¯s words just now, feeling puzzled. If the expectations are high, why neglect at all? This itself seems somewhat contradictory. ¡°Forget it, whatever.¡± The thinking of the higher-ups was difficult to understand, anyway, it¡¯s not something he could figure out now. It¡¯s better to focus on cultivation and follow the right path. Half an hour later. Rested. His state was also adjusted to its peak. Meng Changqing sat cross-legged and directly swallowed the Purple Spirit Essence Pill. He began to break through. With his inner vision, the sea of elixirs was already vast, indicating that he had reached the limit of the Sea Cleaving Realm. Next, he would transform all his true qi into true essence. This was the essence of strength improvement. One must have a high comprehension of elixirs and true qi to achieve this! Hu! The moment his thoughts fell, the originally calm elixir sea seemed to perceive something, and suddenly surged with monstrous waves. ¡ª The Main Peak. The most mysterious peak among the seven veins of the Tai Xuan Sect. This situation didn¡¯t just start a hundred years ago, in fact, it has always been like this. It¡¯s just that it became more serious a hundred years ago. Basically, no disciples were accepted anymore. Even if they were accepted, they were brought back by the Sect Master from outside. It had nothing to do with the normal promotion of sect disciples. On the Main Peak, there were many halls, but they were basically vacant. Some say that there might only be two people on the Main Peak. One was the Sect Master. The other is Han Luoyu. Main Hall of the Sect Master. The most solemn, magnificent, and tallest building in the entire sect. It gave a feeling of a heavenly palace. At this moment, in the main hall, a young man was kneeling on the ground. When the first ray of light fell on spirit peak, Meng Changqing also slowly opened his eyes. Boom! The ground around him collapsed, as if unable to withstand his aura. There was a golden light flowing deep in his eyes. The pressure of his whole person rose to a terrifying height! Dao Creation Realm! After a day and night of cultivation, Meng Changqing finally broke through to this level. Normally, with his aptitude and comprehension, it shouldn¡¯t have taken this long. Mainly because his true qi volume far exceeded that of ordinary people. Plus, the original sea pill. That¡¯s a total of eleven ¡®sea pills¡¯! The amount of transformation was huge. Fortunately, there was the Purple Spirit Essence Pill, otherwise it would have taken several days. ¡°First stage of the Dao Creation Realm!¡± Meng Changqing stood up. Taking a deep breath, a faint smile appeared on his face. He had finally stepped into this realm. True qi transformed into true essence, and his strength increased greatly! Don¡¯t underestimate him just because he has just entered the Dao Creation Realm. Once he uses the ¡°Linglong Daluo Tian¡±, the quality of his true essence will be close to the peak of the Dao Creation Realm. It¡¯s just that the amplification time was relatively short and cannot be maintained permanently. But during this stick of incense, it¡¯s enough for him to defeat or even kill his opponents! ¡°So this is true essence.¡± Meng Changqing looked inside his sea pill. He saw that the sea pill had truly turned into a sea, with golden ¡®sea water¡¯ surging everywhere, emitting a strong aura! It seemed that every drop was extremely heavy. Once it fell, it would be enough to pierce the earth. Of course, this was an exaggeration. But the feeling it gave was like this. Withdrawing his mind, Meng Changqing stretched his body. Although the results of cultivation were pleasing, the process was indeed boring. It¡¯s just that he had a firm will and was accustomed to hard cultivation. If it were an ordinary person, they would have left to distract themselves long ago. ¡°Now that I have reached the Dao Creation Realm, should I go to Elder of the Hidden Martial Pavilion first?¡± Meng Changqing converged his aura, becoming calm and unremarkable. ¡°Or should I go to the Punishment Peak first? Otherwise, when asked later, it would be hard to explain the issue of sword intent.¡± Meng Changqing thought for a moment and made a decision. Anyway, going to Elder of the Hidden Martial Pavilion was just to meet those top geniuses of the sect. It¡¯s not something urgent. With this in mind, Meng Changqing transformed into a sword light and soared into the sky, heading towards the Punishment Peak. It¡¯s unknown how many demon cultivators were imprisoned there. Chapter 114 Chapter 114: Farewell to Duan Hun, the Opportunity for Perfecting the Sword Technique! Punishment Peak. This was the most terrifying place in the sect that makes people tremble with fear. Normally, no one wanted to come here at all. Apart from the fact that it¡¯s gloomy due to imprisoning demon cultivators, there were also various rules set up on Punishment Peak. Once violated, it would be treated seriously and punished. Someone once argued with the Sect Master about it, but there was no answer. In the end, it was tacitly accepted like this. Swish~ A sword light landed, stopping at the foot of Punishment Peak. There were several disciples guarding here. Judging from their aura, three were at the Aperture Connecting Realm, and one was at the Sea Cleaving Realm. And that Sea Cleaving Realm seemed somewhat familiar. ¡°Duan Hun?¡± Meng Changqing was surprised. How come he, who was once outstanding among the inner disciples, was now guarding here? ¡°Meng Changqing!¡± Duan Hun, who was originally lazily leaning on a nearby boulder, instinctively straightened up when he saw Meng Changqing. Then he seemed to notice something. An expression of disbelief appeared in his eyes. ¡°Your cultivation!¡± ¡°Just broke through this morning.¡± Meng Changqing smiled slightly. ¡°Dao Creation Realm!¡± Duan Hun clenched his hands instinctively, a look of shock flashing across his face. Although there might be differences in the specific breakthrough time between them in the secret realm, overall, it¡¯s about the same. But now, he was still at the third stage of the Sea Cleaving Realm. Meng Changqing, on the other hand, had already reached the Dao Creation Realm! How is this possible? How could the gap between us be so big? Duan Hun didn¡¯t want to believe it, but the reality was right in front of him. And Meng Changqing, who was now approaching with the morning glow, was like a brilliant sun, while he was just guarding here. The disparity was immediately apparent. A strange feeling suddenly arose in his heart. But in fact, he could only blame himself for this. In the Xianqing Realm, he was self-destructive and dejected when he came out, which made the elders above very dissatisfied. As such, they threw him here to temper his character. ¡°I wonder what Senior Brother Meng has come here for.¡± After sorting out his emotions, Duan Hun spoke up. In the sect, strength was respected. Unless the two were very familiar with each other and had been calling each other that way for a long time, they could continue to address each other as Senior Brother. ¡°To kill demon cultivators, practice sword techniques, and yes, it was Elder Yun Bujue who asked me to come,¡± Meng Changqing said. ¡°Elder Yun.¡± Duan Hun¡¯s pupils contracted slightly. Obviously, he knew something about Yun Bujue. Or the disciples guarding here would all have access to such information. And Yun Bujue was on the same level as his peak master, no, to be precise, they belong to the same era. ¡°Is it the ¡®Sacred Spirit Slaughter Sword Technique¡¯?¡± Duan Hun thought for a moment and asked. ¡°Yes.¡± Meng Changqing nodded. A knowing look flashed in Duan Hun¡¯s eyes. In the sect, there were very few martial arts techniques related to the Dao of killing. Only a few. Meng Changqing¡¯s eyes also showed some coldness. Then, he inserted the Iron Prison Order he was holding into a nearby stone pillar. With this order, he can open each door one by one, or open them all at once! Crack crack crack! In an instant, all the doors of the prison cells opened. This caused the previously noisy first floor of the dungeon to quiet down. Those demon cultivators seemed stunned. They didn¡¯t expect the prison doors to suddenly open? And Meng Changqing also walked to the center of the square. ¡°Hehehe, this disciple must have made a mistake in the operation, actually opening all the prison doors!¡± A demon cultivator reacted first, his face showing excitement. After all, in his understanding, who would open all of them at once? Although they are all at the Vein Tempering Realm, there were still more than six thousand of them! Gathered together, even those at the Aperture Connecting Realm would be overwhelmed! ¡°Hehehe!¡± ¡°I want this guy¡¯s thigh!¡± ¡°I want his head!¡± In an instant, all the demon cultivators came back to their senses, emitting low growls full of bloodlust, and then leaped into the air. They rushed towards Meng Changqing, who was in the center of the square. This was an astonishing scene. Demon cultivators fell from the sky, and Meng Changqing stood alone in place, looking so small. But in the next moment, a plain voice slowly sounded. ¡°So noisy!¡± As the words fell, countless golden sword auras whistled out! They slashed through the bodies of all the demon cultivators, then returned to Meng Changqing¡¯s body. The whole process seemed to only take a few breaths. Bang bang bang! Like rain, more than six thousand bodies fell from the sky, broken and fragmented, covering the ground with corpses. The thick smell of blood instantly filled the dungeon. There was only crimson everywhere, like the legendary hell. ¡°Now it¡¯s quiet.¡± Meng Changqing breathed a sigh of relief. Raising his right hand, countless life and death qi surged forth and merged into the sword marks and imprints. These were not ordinary people, but martial artists, so their life and death qi were much richer. In fact, the number of killings required for the sword technique was not fixed. It could be said to vary from person to person. This person referred to the targets of the killings, as well as the cultivator himself. If the targets of the killings were strong enough, then one person could be equivalent to hundreds, or even thousands of people. And if the cultivator¡¯s understanding was high, there was no need to actually kill so many living beings. Because in the process of cultivation, there was no loss or waste of life and death qi. ¡°Perhaps I can reach perfection without relying on the card.¡± Feeling the majestic life and death auras in his right hand, Meng Changqing¡¯s eyes flickered. After integrating the rudimentary sword intent, his comprehension of swordsmanship had reached a very high level. And the ¡®Sacred Spirit Slaughter Sword Technique¡¯ had already been completely understood by him. When practicing, there would be no mistakes. He could ensure that every strand of life and death qi was used on the blade. And now that his proficiency in the sword technique had reached completion, perhaps he could really use the life and death qi from the fourth floor of the dungeon to advance to perfection! Chapter 115 Chapter 115: Demon Sect, and the Dao of Killing! And the most crucial point was he would no longer be affected by the aura of killing. Many people wanted to cultivate the ¡°Sacred Spirit Slaughter Sword Technique¡±, but in the end, they all gave up one by one. Not only because it¡¯s too obscure and difficult to comprehend. But also because of the aura of killing. It¡¯s like a voice that kept ringing in your ears, even in your mind. Kill, kill, kill! In the long run, it¡¯s easy to lose control and completely fall into the Dao of killing. Meng Changqing also had some scruples before. He planned to use his proficiency to improve continuously, so as not to be affected by this. But since he integrated the rudimentary sword intent, he hadn¡¯t heard this kind of voice anymore. Because the sword intent itself carried mental power. The illusory giant sword standing in the mind directly shattered all the noise. As if invulnerable to all evil! In this way, there¡¯s no need to worry anymore. ¡°I¡¯ll give it a try. If it can be perfected, it¡¯s naturally the best.¡± Meng Changqing took the Iron Prison Order and walked down the passage. Time passed slowly. In the blink of an eye, it was already evening. At the iron gate, Duan Hun and others were still standing there. ¡°When do you think Senior Brother Meng will come out?¡± a disciple asked. ¡°Since he¡¯s cultivating the Dao of killing, he must kill all the demons in the dungeon before he can come out. ¡°The first three levels are easy, but the main issue is the fourth level, where they are all demon cultivators at the Dao Creation Realm! Although their condition is no longer at their peak, they are still very strong, and they need to be killed one by one. ¡°So I estimate it will take about five or six days.¡± Another disciple thought and said. As for Duan Hun, he stood with his arms crossed, still leaning on the boulder. Eyes closed, no words. It seemed that his state of mind hadn¡¯t recovered from the morning yet. The fourth floor of the dungeon. It was also the deepest level. Here, imprisoned were demon cultivators at the Dao Creation Realm, or fourth-level demon beasts. Some had been here for many years. Some had just arrived. Outside, they were all influential figures, enough to establish powerful families. But facing the Tai Xuan Sect, they still had no resistance. Boom! A huge figure fell to the ground, splashing red blood. It almost turned into surging tides! ¡°So many!¡± Meng Changqing¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly. Such a quantity was not something an ordinary person could bear. Even before absorbing them, he could already hear the endless killing sounds within, rushing from all directions. It was enough to completely shatter a person¡¯s will! If integrated into the body, the consequences were conceivable. Those with weak wills would probably instantly become killing beasts! And even those with strong wills will have problems over time. Kill, kill, kill! The voices in his ears were loud and continuous, as if they would never stop. But in the next second, the sword intent in his mind suddenly shook! It was like the drumming of dusk and the ringing of dawn, shattering everything and purifying all evil! And then the world was quiet. Meng Changqing¡¯s lips curled up slightly. It seems that the usefulness of the sword intent needs to be further explored. Hoo! As the Killing Heart Sutra circulated, the black and white qi around him began to surge and merge crazily into his palms. Even though there was sword intent, Meng Changqing still felt the chilling sensation breeding inside his body. It didn¡¯t happen before because the quality of the death qi was ordinary. But now, these were all extracted from strong individuals at the Dao Creation Realm. Without much thought, Meng Changqing sat cross-legged. He didn¡¯t care that the ground beneath him was muddy with blood water. Continuously circulating the Killing Heart Sutra, he began the final step. As long as it¡¯s completed, the ¡°Sacred Spirit Slaughter Sword Technique¡± would step into perfection! The core of the sword technique; one was the Sacred Spirit Seal. The other was the Slaughter Sword Qi. The former continuously absorbed vitality, turning into a protective seal. According to the description of the sword technique, it could even withstand an attack from a higher realm! The latter, through the absorption of death qi and the killing intent, ultimately turns into extremely powerful Slaughter Sword Qi! But the Slaughter Sword Qi was also divided into several stages. Roughly, there were illusory and substantial stages. To step into perfection, one must completely transform the Slaughter Sword Qi into substance! Now, the Slaughter Sword Qi in his fingertip sword marks was relatively illusory, although its power was already very strong, but it still couldn¡¯t compare to the substance. Substance was a leap in quality. Once displayed, it might even create heavenly phenomena! Putting aside distractions, Meng Changqing devoted his whole heart and soul to refining the Slaughter Sword Qi. Although he fully mastered the sword technique, if he wants to step into perfection relying on the vitality and death qi here, he could not afford to be distracted. Otherwise, a small mistake in one step would be a total waste, requiring starting over from scratch. Chapter 116 Chapter 116: Elder, What Realm Are You In? The next day, just as a few disciples were feeling a bit drowsy, the previously quiet iron door made a noise. ¡°Hmm?¡± The few instantly became alert. Rumble~ They watched as the heavy iron door slowly opened. But in the next second, a thick smell of blood rushed out. Even the morning breeze carried a crimson tint! Then, a blood-red figure emerged. It¡¯s hard to describe this figure. His entire body exuded an almost tangible killing intent, with disheveled black hair and a long sword at his waist. Each step he took seemed accompanied by endless sounds of killing. It was as if the master of slaughter had descended! The faces of the disciples turned pale instantly, feeling as if they had fallen into an ice cave. Cold sweat ran down their spines. Even Duan Hun opened his eyes, shocked. Although he was at the Sea Cleaving Realm, his reaction was slightly better than the others. But not by much. His body trembled instinctively. There was no helping it. This was a primal instinct. Because at this moment, his body felt the threat of death! And it was a kind he couldn¡¯t resist! Fortunately, this feeling quickly vanished as the one exuding it reined it all back in. ¡°Sorry, I still can¡¯t control it perfectly.¡± The one who emerged was naturally Meng Changqing. He smiled faintly, but the blood still lingering on his face made him look a bit frightening. ¡°Have you finished your 800 kills?¡± Coming to his senses, Duan Hun hesitantly asked. ¡°Yes, all done.¡± Meng Changqing nodded, casually tossing the Iron Prison Order to Duan Hun. Hearing this, Duan Hun was stunned. He didn¡¯t even catch the Iron Prison Order. It had only been a day and a night. The prison was full of demonic cultivators, not livestock waiting to be slaughtered, especially on the fourth floor. How could it be done so quickly? Restoring true qi alone would take a lot of time. But Duan Hun didn¡¯t question it. After all, this wasn¡¯t something that could be faked. They would see for themselves later, and Meng Changqing had no reason to lie. But if it was true, Meng Changqing¡¯s current strength was frighteningly powerful. What Duan Hun didn¡¯t know was that Meng Changqing had actually finished by yesterday evening. Its exact strength, Meng Changqing hadn¡¯t tested it. But just sensing it made his heart race. Its power could be imagined. ¡°With my current strength, even without sword intent, I could probably be ranked first among the true disciples.¡± Lowering his hand, a confident gleam appeared in Meng Changqing¡¯s eyes. The ¡®Sacred Spirit Slaughter Sword Technique¡¯ was one of the top martial arts at the Earth grade, judging by its difficulty alone. Combining it with his sword intent and various secret techniques, there shouldn¡¯t be many who could withstand his sword moves. Of course, this was all his estimation, as he hadn¡¯t faced those top prodigies yet. ¡°Next, I should go find the Elder of the Hidden Martial Pavilion.¡± Expectancy flashed in Meng Changqing¡¯s eyes. He had long been eager to meet these top prodigies. ¡ª Arriving at the Martial Pavilion, Yun Bujue was still the same. A book covering his face. But the moment Meng Changqing appeared, he sensed him and stood up. ¡°Elder.¡± Meng Changqing cupped his hands slightly. ¡°Not bad, not bad. Although the time you took to break through was a bit longer than I expected, as long as you succeeded, it¡¯s fine.¡± Yun Bujue was very satisfied. Now, Meng Changqing could participate in the Three Sect Martial Arts Tournament. ¡°Come, I¡¯ll take you there.¡± Yun Bujue turned around, looking into the distance. There stood a mountain peak, piercing the clouds, towering high. It was the Spirit Peak. Meng Changqing also looked over. Although he had been on Spirit Peak before, he was then just an inner disciple, confined to the lower half of the mountain. As a true disciple, he now had his own Spirit Peak. So he had never seen the summit of Spirit Peak. With that said, Yun Bujue made a gesture. A huge black shadow appeared behind the Hidden Martial Pavilion. It was a level-four flying beast, with wings on its back and iron-like fur. If he wasn¡¯t mistaken, it was an Iron Feather Eagle. A level-four beast generally possessed intelligence, so it wouldn¡¯t be overly influenced by bloodline instincts and could be tamed. ¡°Come up.¡± Yun Bujue effortlessly jumped onto its back. Meng Changqing followed. Screech! The Iron Feather Eagle let out a long cry, flapping its wings and heading towards Spirit Peak. Meng Changqing couldn¡¯t help but ask the question that had been on his mind for a long time. ¡°Elder, what realm are you in?¡± Chapter 117 Chapter 117: ¡°The Supreme Emperor Sword Sutra: Great Evolution Twenty-Three Swords¡±¡ªThe Depths of the Sect! Although the panel always showed ¡®Sea Cleaving Realm, First Level,¡¯ it certainly cannot be true. Thus, Meng Changqing was quite curious. ¡°You¡¯ve been patient, asking me only now,¡± Yun Bujue laughed heartily, ¡°However, this is a sect secret~ I can¡¯t reveal it yet. ¡°Anyway, it¡¯s stronger than the Dao Creation Realm.¡± ¡°I see.¡± Meng Changqing nodded slightly. Stronger than the Dao Creation Realm¡ªthat must mean the Divine Attainment Realm, right? Thinking of this, Meng Changqing¡¯s hands tightened slightly. The Divine Attainment Realm. This was a level he never dared to imagine before. It¡¯s said that in this realm, the focus of cultivation shifts from the Dantian Sea to the Sea of Consciousness, uncovering spiritual secrets and divine abilities¡ªanother major qualitative leap! But this was expected. As a second-grade sect, it should indeed have such powerful experts! And the Divine Attainment Realm should be the sect¡¯s top combat force! To think that such an expert would be in the Hidden Martial Pavilion, acting as a humble custodian elder. Soon, the Iron Feather Eagle broke through the clouds and arrived at the peak of Spirit Peak. The scene before him resembled a giant island. It was much larger than his Spirit Peak. There were numerous palaces and tall pavilions, with people coming and going, all showing considerable strength. This was indeed the core of the sect. ¡°Our Spirit Peak has ten disciples participating this time, including you,¡± Yun Bujue said. ¡°So many?¡± Meng Changqing was slightly surprised. After all, Tai Xuan Sect had seven branches. On average, that would be about seven disciples per branch. ¡°The Sect Master¡¯s Peak is quite special, with only one true disciple. Medicine King Peak, focused on alchemy, isn¡¯t strong in combat, and the Formation Peak lags behind somewhat. ¡°So the remaining four branches have to contribute more people. ¡°Martial Arts Peak sent ten, Purple Nourishment Peak twelve, and Punishment Peak eleven.¡± Yun Bujue explained. ¡°I see.¡± Meng Changqing nodded. It made sense. The Iron Feather Eagle landed on an open space. Someone immediately came to guide it and greeted them respectfully. ¡°Greetings, Elder Yun.¡± Clearly, they were well aware of Yun Bujue¡¯s status. Their gaze also fell on Meng Changqing, full of curiosity. ¡°Seeing you today, you¡¯re indeed a talented individual.¡± ¡°Peak Master overpraises me.¡± Meng Changqing quickly bowed. For a Peak Master to speak so highly was rare. Some disciples below showed looks of astonishment. They seldom saw the Peak Master smile. ¡°It¡¯s not an exaggeration. To grasp sword qi at the Aperture Connecting Realm, apart from the founder of our Tai Xuan Sect, no one else has done it. You deserve this praise.¡± Mo Shukuang slowly stood up. Meng Changqing took the opportunity to activate his Observation Eye. To be a Peak Master, his panel must be extraordinary. Basic Information: ¡¾Name: Mo Shukuang¡¿ ¡¾Race: Human¡¿ ¡¾Cultivation: Divine Attainment Realm, First Level (Temporary)¡¿ Attributes: ¡¾Root Bone: First Grade¡¿ ¡¾Comprehension: Excellent¡¿ ¡¾Talent: Resolute Heart¡¿ ¡¾Cultivation Techniques and Martial Skills: ¡°The Supreme Emperor Sword Sutra: Great Evolution Twenty-Three Swords¡± (Partial Mastery), ¡°Great Five Elements Revolving Sword Technique¡± (Perfection)...¡¿ Seeing this, Meng Changqing¡¯s pupils contracted slightly. What shocked him wasn¡¯t the root bone or talent, nor the impressive cultivation techniques and martial skills. But the cultivation realm section! Another ¡®temporary¡¯! A Peak Master couldn¡¯t possibly have a fallen cultivation realm. There were no damaged attributes on the panel. There was only one explanation. Like Elder Yun, he had deliberately sealed his cultivation, lowering his realm. But why? As a top-tier combat force of the sect, shouldn¡¯t he showcase his strength? After all, the stronger the individual, the stronger the sect. Why conceal their cultivation? ¡°Elder Yun is like this, and so is the Peak Master. The other Peak Masters are probably the same.¡± Thinking this, Meng Changqing¡¯s hands tightened. He suddenly felt that the sect had unfathomable depths. But to be certain, he needed to see the panels of the other Peak Masters and the Sect Leader. Perhaps it was just these two. Due to some reasons, they had to seal their cultivation. ¡°Even with their cultivation sealed, they¡¯re still in the Divine Attainment Realm. Their full strength must be...¡± Meng Changqing couldn¡¯t help but take a deep breath. Chapter 118 Chapter 118: Innate Sword Body! Top-Notch Talent! ¡°So you¡¯re Meng Changqing.¡± A tender voice suddenly rang out, pulling Meng Changqing back to reality. Before him stood a little girl, around ten years old, small and adorable with snow-white skin. However, the aura emanating from her was immensely powerful, at the seventh level of the Dao Creation Realm! To reach such a high level at her age was extraordinary. Meng Changqing instinctively used his Observation Eye on her. Basic Information: ¡¾Name: Mo Xiaoyu¡¿ ¡¾Race: Human¡¿ ¡¾Cultivation: Dao Creation Realm, Seventh Level¡¿ Attributes: ¡¾Root Bone: First Grade¡¿ ¡¾Comprehension: Superior¡¿ ¡¾Root Bone: Innate Sword Body¡¿ ¡¾Cultivation Techniques and Martial Skills: ¡°Great Five Elements Revolving Sword Technique¡± (Perfection), ¡°Light-Chasing Swift Sword Art¡± (Mastery), ¡°Great Transcendent Mystical Golden Sword Technique¡± (Perfection)...¡¿ ¡°So it really is her!¡± Meng Changqing¡¯s heart stirred. He had heard of this extremely young Innate Sword Body before. ¡°A true prodigy.¡± Coming to his senses, Meng Changqing sighed slightly. Not only did she possess the exceedingly rare first-grade root bone, but she also had the extremely uncommon Innate Sword Body! The Innate Sword Body was the ideal constitution for practicing swordsmanship! Grasping sword intent would be effortless, and her chances of understanding sword will in the future were very high. In short, given time, she was sure to comprehend it! Moreover, the sword techniques performed by someone with the Innate Sword Body were far more powerful than those executed by others, akin to a natural enhancement ¡ª extremely domineering. ¡°Hey, why aren¡¯t you talking?¡± Mo Xiaoyu waved her chubby little hand in front of Meng Changqing. ¡°Sorry, I got lost in thought.¡± Meng Changqing smiled slightly. ¡°Hmph, don¡¯t think you¡¯re so great just because you¡¯ve grasped sword qi at the Aperture Connecting Realm. I¡¯ll definitely surpass you in the future! ¡¾Name: Lan Chan¡¿ ¡¾Race: Human¡¿ ¡¾Cultivation: Dao Creation Realm, Ninth Level¡¿ Attributes: ¡¾Root Bone: First Grade¡¿ ¡¾Comprehension: Excellent¡¿ ¡¾Cultivation Techniques and Martial Skills: ¡°Great Five Elements Revolving Sword Technique¡± (Perfection), ¡°Light-Chasing Swift Sword Art¡± (Perfection)...¡¿ Compared to Mo Xiaoyu, Lan Chan¡¯s panel was slightly inferior, mainly in constitution. However, Meng Changqing found it odd that someone with a first-grade root bone would still be at the ninth level of the Dao Creation Realm at his age. Mo Xiaoyu, at just ten years old, was already at the seventh level of the Dao Creation Realm. Thinking about it, Meng Changqing realized it might be because Lan Chan started his cultivation later in life. Not everyone is recognized for their root bone from birth. Some might only start cultivating in their teens. The others also introduced themselves, and Meng Changqing responded in kind, checking their panels. While not as exceptional as Mo Xiaoyu and Lan Chan, they were still very impressive. Some had excellent root bones, others excellent comprehension, and some possessed unique talents. Their cultivation techniques and martial skills were almost perfected. They were all worthy of being called top talents. ¡°So many high-grade attributes!¡± Meng Changqing¡¯s heart burned with excitement. Even if he couldn¡¯t use them himself, breaking them down would likely yield great results. He had to make friends with all of them! Seeing the harmonious interactions among the disciples, Mo Shukuang nodded in satisfaction. ¡°Since you¡¯ve gotten acquainted, let¡¯s continue with the lecture. Meng Changqing, you should sit and listen as well.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Meng Changqing nodded, regaining his focus. Having already grasped the rudiments of sword intent, unless Mo Shukuang had also comprehended sword intent, there wasn¡¯t much he could learn in terms of swordsmanship. He could only observe Mo Shukuang¡¯s techniques to broaden his horizons. Even though he wanted to interact more with the others, he couldn¡¯t disregard the words of a Peak Master. ¡°I¡¯ll be leaving now. I¡¯ll send someone to repair your Spirit Peak, but you probably won¡¯t need it much longer.¡± Yun Bujue stroked his white beard and smiled. Hearing this, Meng Changqing raised an eyebrow. What did he mean? Are they planning to provide me with a better cultivation place? Chapter 119 Chapter 119: Such a Crappy Sword! So What If It¡¯s Old? Plus First-Grade Root Bone! Time flew by, and soon it was midday. Mo Shukuang¡¯s lecture concluded. His understanding of swordsmanship was indeed profound, and much of what he spoke about was the essence of the sword. As previously mentioned, however, Meng Changqing, being someone who had already grasped sword intent, had seen and understood much of this content during his fusion process. It was like a vast river of swordsmanship through which he navigated, capturing and forming his nascent sword intent. Therefore, Mo Shukuang¡¯s teachings couldn¡¯t offer him much more. Still, everyone¡¯s swordsmanship was unique, and studying others¡¯ techniques always provided some improvement. Additionally, Meng Changqing couldn¡¯t be sure if this was Mo Shukuang¡¯s true level of expertise, as he hid his cultivation. It was possible his swordsmanship was similarly concealed. ¡°Lan Chan, take Meng Changqing to the training grounds and show him around Spirit Peak,¡± Mo Shukuang said gently. ¡°Yes, Master,¡± Lan Chan responded respectfully, then turned to Meng Changqing, ¡°Junior Brother Meng, please follow me.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Meng Changqing nodded, bowed to Mo Shukuang, and left with Lan Chan. ¡°Did that kid understand my teachings, or was he just not interested?¡± Mo Shukuang wondered aloud as the disciples departed. He had paid close attention to Meng Changqing during his lecture. Though Meng appeared attentive, his eyes lacked focus, as if disinterested. ¡°Interesting.¡± Mo Shukuang mused. Considering Meng Changqing¡¯s monstrous talent of comprehending sword qi at the Aperture Connecting Realm, it wasn¡¯t surprising. Perhaps Meng had already understood everything I taught. ¡°Master, can I skip going to the Divine Radiance Hall? That old sword has a worse temper than mine. Wait, no, my temper isn¡¯t bad. It¡¯s the sword¡¯s fault!¡± Mo Xiaoyu pouted. ¡°Are you sure?¡± Mo Shukuang chuckled, ¡°That¡¯s one of the top ten famous swords forged by the Duan family of Shenfeng Sea. It¡¯s inherently awakened and has the potential to achieve sainthood in the future. Since our ancestor brought it here, it has been kept in this place, awaiting a worthy successor.¡± ¡°Top ten famous swords, huh...¡± Mo Xiaoyu was tempted. ¡¾Lan Chan has sent you a friend request. Do you accept?¡¿ Meng Changqing was momentarily stunned. He had been wondering how to make friends with Lan Chan, and now Lan Chan had taken the initiative. What a pleasant surprise. ¡°Senior Brother Lan, that¡¯s exactly how I feel too,¡± Meng Changqing said, smiling sincerely. ¡°I prefer the way friends interact.¡± ¡°Then let¡¯s be friends.¡± ¡¾Friend request accepted!¡¿ ¡¾Current Affinity: One Star!¡¿ ¡¾Acquired Attribute: First-Grade Root Bone!¡¿ ¡¾Triggered Extra Reward: Attribute Selection Cards*3!¡¿ Meng Changqing¡¯s smile grew even more genuine. He had received the attribute he most wanted: First-Grade Root Bone. The terrifying cultivation speed associated with it was evident from Mo Xiaoyu¡¯s progress. Additionally, the extra reward of three Attribute Selection Cards was a nice bonus. Though not attribute acquisition cards, they were still very useful for future interactions and didn¡¯t rely solely on luck. Seeing Meng Changqing¡¯s sincere smile, Lan Chan also smiled more brightly, feeling that his junior was simple and pure, and likely easy to get along with. ¡°That¡¯s all for today. I live nearby,¡± Lan Chan pointed, ¡°If you need anything, come find me.¡± ¡°Thank you, Senior Brother. I may have to trouble you often,¡± Meng Changqing replied. ¡°You¡¯re welcome, Junior Brother. Please come by anytime.¡± Lan Chan smiled, then turned and left. As his figure disappeared, Meng Changqing walked back, eager to integrate his new attribute: First-Grade Root Bone! Chapter 120 Chapter 120: Surpassing Excellent Comprehension and Achieving Perfect Root Bone! The training area was an impressive palace with numerous formations. These formations provided various functions, such as concealing views, enhancing senses, gathering energy, and calming the mind. Its effects were indeed superior to those of the lower Lingfeng Pavilion, and its materials were sturdier, preventing easy damage. After closing the palace door, Meng Changqing sat cross-legged on the central cushion and opened his character panel. ¡¾...¡¿ ¡¾Unmerged Attribute: First-Grade Root Bone¡¿ ¡¾Remaining Rewards: Earth-Grade Martial Arts Proficiency Cards *3, Attribute Selection Cards *3¡¿ This was a considerable gain. Honestly, Meng Changqing didn¡¯t expect to obtain attributes from these top-tier geniuses so quickly. Most of these elite geniuses were very proud, making it difficult to add them as friends. However, to his surprise, Lan Chan, the prestigious senior brother of Spirit Peak, had proactively invited him. Upon reflection, it made sense. Meng Changqing wasn¡¯t just any ordinary disciple. His name was already well-known on Spirit Peak. His displayed strength and potential surpassed most people. Lan Chan¡¯s actions were thus reasonable. As for Mo Xiaoyu, she might be more challenging, but ultimately, she was still a child. A few flattering words would likely win her over. Refocusing his mind, Meng Changqing prepared to merge the attribute First-Grade Root Bone! This was a top-tier root bone, a much-desired attribute. Such quality was rare even among tens of thousands or millions. Previously, he had seen many geniuses, but none had a First-Grade Root Bone. The highest he had encountered was Second-Grade, including Bai Suxi and his aunt. Even among the many elites gathered on Spirit Peak today, only three possessed it: the Peak Master, Mo Xiaoyu, and Lan Chan. ¡°The difference is significant but reasonable,¡± Meng Changqing noted, satisfied with the results. With such rapid cultivation, he could easily break through another small realm before the Three Sect Martial Arts Tournament, even with minimal effort. ¡°With the root bone sorted, there should be no future issues. A First-Grade Root Bone is sufficient for any future cultivation needs,¡± Meng Changqing murmured. While he wasn¡¯t sure if anything surpassed a First-Grade Root Bone, his current understanding deemed it the best. ¡°What about comprehension?¡± he wondered. He had seen many geniuses, from Bai Suxi to the Peak Master of Spirit Peak, but the highest comprehension he¡¯d encountered was excellent. In the cultivation world, comprehension wasn¡¯t formally graded due to its abstract nature. The system¡¯s ratings were merely an assessment. ¡°System, is there a grade higher than excellent for comprehension?¡± Meng Changqing asked. ¡¾Yes¡¿ the system responded. ¡°So, excellent isn¡¯t the limit. There¡¯s something better,¡± Meng Changqing mused. ¡°And root bones?¡± he asked. ¡¾Root bone grades are: Sixth Grade, Fifth Grade, Fourth Grade, Third Grade, Second Grade, First Grade, and Perfect.¡¿ ¡°Perfect Root Bone?¡± Meng Changqing was stunned. He hadn¡¯t expected this. He thought First-Grade was the limit, as ancient texts suggested. He had never heard of a Perfect Root Bone. However, the system was reliable, and if it claimed such a thing existed, it likely did. ¡°A First-Grade Root Bone is already formidable. A Perfect Root Bone must be extraordinarily powerful, likely transcending the basic definition of root bones and possessing mysterious abilities,¡± Meng Changqing speculated. He wondered what kind of person could possess such a root bone. If a First-Grade Root Bone was one in a million, a Perfect Root Bone might be one in a hundred million. ¡°Perhaps I¡¯ll encounter one beyond Tianling Prefecture,¡± Meng Changqing thought, gazing outside. Tianling Prefecture was just one of the thirteen southern prefectures. ¡°I should continue cultivating. As my strength grows, I¡¯ll naturally encounter such wonders,¡± Meng Changqing resolved, refocusing. He deeply understood that to see beyond his current scope, he needed to expand his horizons. Chapter 121 Chapter 121: ¡°Chasing Light Sword Technique¡± and a Summons from the Headmaster! More than twenty days passed in the blink of an eye. The Three Sects Martial Arts Tournament was drawing ever closer, with only a few days remaining. One could clearly feel the increase in the number of people within the sect. Many powerful individuals stationed elsewhere by the sect were returning in droves, as this event was a major affair for the sect. It was an event one might witness only once in a lifetime. Additionally, people from other forces who had been invited to observe were also arriving, all notable figures within the Tianling Prefecture were gathering in an unprecedented assembly. Of course, none of this had anything to do with Meng Changqing. During this time, besides his daily cultivation and listening to Dao lectures, he focused on making friends. Even though he no longer needed the attributes of other prodigies, high-grade attributes could be decomposed! With his efforts, he managed to add the remaining seven disciples of Spirit Peak as friends. Upon decomposing the obtained attributes, he received three Attribute Selection Cards, one Attribute Acquisition Card, and three Earth-grade Martial Arts Proficiency Cards. Although the quantity seemed substantial, it was actually not much. He had decomposed six attributes in total, but several of them yielded nothing this time, as decomposition did not always result in items. It depended on luck. However, high-grade attributes had a higher probability and better quality of output. Meng Changqing felt a bit regretful that Mo Xiaoyu left immediately after each lecture, disappearing without a trace, giving him no opportunity to add her as a friend. Nonetheless, he wasn¡¯t in a hurry. With his current strength, he was more than prepared for the Three Sects Martial Arts Tournament. Anything he gained before the event would be a mere bonus. In the hall, Meng Changqing opened his character panel. ¡¾Host: Meng Changqing¡¿ ¡¾Race: Human¡¿ ¡¾Cultivation: Second Stage Dao Creation Realm¡¿ ¡¾Root Bone: First Grade¡¿ ¡¾Perception: Excellent¡¿ ¡¾Talent: Spiritual Eye, Iron Hands...¡¿ The ¡°Chasing Light Sword Technique¡± was also part of the sword canon but not a sword technique¡ªit was a movement technique and a high-level Earth-grade one, far surpassing the ¡°Heavenly Cloud Roaming Dragon Step.¡± This movement technique had no restrictions and was not exclusive to the Peak Master¡¯s lineage, available to anyone. After asking, Mo Shukuang taught it to him on the spot. Meng Changqing only needed a legitimate reason to use it. Many disciples had learned this movement technique, so he could easily obtain it from them. ¡°System, enhance ¡®Chasing Light Sword Technique¡¯!¡± Meng Changqing commanded. Ding! ¡¾Consuming one Earth-grade Martial Arts Proficiency Card!¡¿ ¡¾¡¯Chasing Light Sword Technique¡¯ has been enhanced to Perfection!¡¿ As these words fell, a torrent of insights surged in Meng Changqing¡¯s mind. Compared to the illusionary nature of the ¡°Heavenly Cloud Roaming Dragon Step,¡± the ¡°Chasing Light Sword Technique¡± was about extreme speed, excelling in both short-distance bursts and long-distance pursuits. Meng Changqing had been very eager to learn it upon understanding its details, as his greatest weakness was his movement technique. Now, this shortcoming would be thoroughly addressed. Moments later, the enhancement was complete. Meng Changqing¡¯s body made slight tremors, barely noticeable unless one stared intently. ¡°What incredible speed,¡± Meng Changqing thought with a slight shock. Just a moment ago, he had already circled the hall, though it seemed as if he hadn¡¯t moved from his original spot due to his speed. ¡°As expected of a high-level Earth-grade movement technique,¡± he smiled. With this movement technique, his strength had increased significantly again. Combined with the sword moves from the ¡°Sacred Spirit Slaughter Sword Technique,¡± the power would be unimaginable. ¡°Junior Brother Meng,¡± a familiar voice suddenly called from outside the hall. It was Lan Chan, with whom he had grown quite familiar over this period. ¡°Senior Brother Lan,¡± Meng Changqing responded, opening the hall door. ¡°Did I interrupt your cultivation?¡± Lan Chan asked with a smile. ¡°No, I had just finished,¡± Meng Changqing replied, smiling back. ¡°Does Senior Brother Lan have urgent business?¡± ¡°Yes, prepare yourself. We¡¯re heading to the Sect Master¡¯s Peak,¡± Lan Chan said. ¡°The Headmaster wants to see you.¡± Chapter 122 Chapter 122: This is Truly a Sect of Masters, Everyone is Hiding Their Cultivation! Upon hearing this, Meng Changqing was taken aback. The Headmaster was summoning me? In the sect, the most mysterious figure was not the various Peak Masters but the Headmaster, who often went decades without showing himself. He was like a dragon whose head you could see but whose tail remained hidden. ¡°Not just us, the martial disciples of the other six peaks are also going,¡± Lan Chan explained. ¡°Consider it a gathering before the martial competition. After all, the Three Sects Martial Arts Tournament is only six days away.¡± ¡°I see.¡± Meng Changqing nodded, feeling a bit of anticipation. So far, he had only met the top prodigies of Spirit Peak. He had yet to meet those from the other six branches. They were all future close friends, after all! ¡°Alright, let¡¯s go then. I have nothing to prepare.¡± Meng Changqing stepped out of the hall. ¡°Alright.¡± At Spirit Hall, the others had mostly arrived. Mo Shukuang also emerged from the hall, accompanied by Mo Xiaoyu. Mo Xiaoyu was not Mo Shukuang¡¯s daughter but an orphan he had encountered during his travels. He brought her back, and she took his surname. Whether this was true or not, no one cared as it was unimportant. Humph! Upon seeing Meng Changqing, Mo Xiaoyu clenched her small fists, her eyes filled with a competitive spirit, which made Meng Changqing feel a bit helpless. Honestly, he hadn¡¯t offended this little girl, but she seemed to have a strong ¡®hostility¡¯ towards him. Every time they met, she would glare at him as if declaring her dominance, her thoughts practically written on her face ¡ª simple and pure. However, Mo Xiaoyu was indeed the strongest, possessing an innate sword body. Even Lan Chan was no match for her. ¡°Since everyone is here, let¡¯s depart,¡± Mo Shukuang said, giving Meng Changqing a nod of approval. No wonder the Headmaster valued him. His cultivation seemed to progress daily. Just recently, he had broken through to the Dao Creation Realm, and now he was already at the second level. With a wave of Mo Shukuang¡¯s right hand, a large sword light appeared beneath his feet. Everyone stepped onto it, and the sword light flashed, flying towards the Sect Master¡¯s Peak. ¡°Such strength,¡± Meng Changqing thought, not paying attention to their conversation. The oppressive aura from Shangguan Zhi¡¯s gaze was too strong. So this was the strength of Martial Arts Peak¡¯s Master? He seemed even stronger than my Peak Master. Martial Arts Peak specialized in knife techniques. While there is no definitive answer as to whether knife or sword techniques were superior, it ultimately depended on the practitioner. With this in mind, Meng Changqing activated his Observation Eye. The leader of Martial Arts Peak would certainly have an impressive status panel, and Meng Changqing wanted to verify his suspicions. Basic Information: ¡¾Name: Shangguan Zhi¡¿ ¡¾Race: Human¡¿ ¡¾Cultivation: Fifth Stage Divine Attainment Realm (Temporary)¡¿ Attribute Information: ¡¾Root Bone: Second Grade¡¿ ¡¾Comprehension: Excellent¡¿ ¡¾Talent: Knife Bone¡¿ ¡¾Cultivation Techniques and Martial Arts: ¡°Lifeless Knife Manual: God-Slaying Chapter¡± (Mastery)...¡¿ After examining the status panel, Meng Changqing clenched his fists slightly. His earlier suspicion was confirmed: not only the Elder Guardian and his own Peak Master, but other Peak Masters had also sealed their true cultivation, revealing far less than their actual power. Another puzzling detail was that a Peak Master¡¯s root bone was only Second Grade. But after thinking it over, Meng Changqing realized it made sense. Second Grade was already an excellent level of root bone, capable of leading to high achievements. Moreover, the path of cultivation depended on more than just root bone. It was only one part of the equation. ¡°The depths of this sect are far greater than I imagined,¡± Meng Changqing thought, retracting his gaze. Everyone is hiding their true cultivation. What is the purpose behind this? Chapter 123 Chapter 123: Sect¡¯s Grand Elder, ¡¾Overlord Meridians¡¿! ¡°Junior Brother Meng, those two are the top prodigies of Martial Arts Peak,¡± Lan Chan remarked, walking over and pointing with his gaze. Meng Changqing snapped back to reality and followed Lan Chan¡¯s gaze. Behind Shangguan Zhi stood two young men, around twenty-four or twenty-five, each carrying a long knife and standing tall with proud expressions. Their eyes sparkled with brilliance. During this period, Meng Changqing had naturally learned about the prodigies of the various branches of the sect, as well as young strongmen from other forces. Lin Xiaotian ranked sixth on the Hidden Dragon Ranking, at the ninth level of the Dao Creation Realm. Guo Quan ranked fifteenth, at the sixth level of the Dao Creation Realm. Lan Chan, beside him, was eleventh on the Hidden Dragon Ranking, while Mo Xiaoyu was fourth. The top thirty on the Hidden Dragon Ranking represented the elite among those in the Dao Creation Realm, all possessing martial intent. The higher the rank, the more it indicated possession of additional advantages, such as talent, physique, or bloodline. ¡°They¡¯re all strong,¡± Meng Changqing nodded slightly, sensing the impressive auras of the two. Gradually, more groups arrived: Medicine King Peak, Purple Nourishment Peak, and Formation Peak, each led by their respective Peak Masters. ¡°Senior Brother Meng!¡± Shi Yao excitedly waved at Meng Changqing, with Shi Guang following suit. The two had grown even larger, towering at ten meters high. Anyone standing before them seemed insignificant. Each step they took caused the ground to tremble. ¡°Junior Brothers,¡± Meng Changqing smiled. The two brothers had also broken through to the Dao Creation Realm, though their auras suggested recent breakthroughs that were still unstable. Meng Changqing wasn¡¯t surprised by their progress. Given their formidable battle power, missing out on the Three Sects Martial Arts Tournament was unthinkable. The sect would have done everything to ensure their breakthrough. Though they currently only possessed bloodline power and hadn¡¯t yet grasped martial intent, they could still handle most typical prodigies. Meng Changqing examined their status panels: ¡¾Friend: Shi Guang¡¿ ¡¾Race: Human¡¿ ¡¾Cultivation: First Stage Dao Creation Realm¡¿ ¡°Greetings, Grand Elder,¡± everyone respectfully intoned. The Peak Masters addressed him as ¡®Second Senior Brother,¡¯ indicating their seniority. Meng Changqing felt a gaze linger on him briefly. This had happened each time a Peak Master arrived, making him wonder why he was being scrutinized so closely. Although his talent was ¡®remarkable,¡¯ it shouldn¡¯t warrant this level of attention. ¡°Let¡¯s go inside. The Headmaster should be ready,¡± the Grand Elder said, leading the way. The group followed him into the Sect Master¡¯s Hall. The ground was mirror-like, creating the sensation of walking on water, rippling with each step, fascinating Shi Yao who began to jump around until his master, the old Peak Master, shot him a stern look. ¡°Greetings, Peak Masters and fellow disciples,¡± someone in the hall greeted them, already seated in meditation. He slowly stood up. ¡°Nephew Han¡¯s aura is increasingly full. It seems it¡¯s almost impossible to suppress it any longer. Break through after the Three Sects Martial Arts Tournament,¡± remarked the Peak Master of Formation Peak. ¡°Yes, that¡¯s my plan,¡± Han Luoyu replied. ¡°Please wait a moment. The Headmaster will be here soon.¡± ¡°So this is Tai Xuan Sect¡¯s top disciple,¡± Meng Changqing thought. Han Luoyu, the Headmaster¡¯s sole direct disciple, had never lost a fight since his debut, eventually becoming first on the Hidden Dragon Ranking. Meng Changqing activated his Observation Eye, revealing Han Luoyu¡¯s details: Basic Information: ¡¾Name: Han Luoyu¡¿ ¡¾Race: Human¡¿ ¡¾Cultivation: Ninth Stage Dao Creation Realm¡¿ Attribute Information: ¡¾Root Bone: First Grade¡¿ ¡¾Comprehension: Excellent¡¿ ¡¾Talent: Overlord Meridians¡¿ Chapter 124 Chapter 124: Even an Avatar Comparable to the Life and Death Realm? A Terrifying Sect! ¡°Is it really the Overlord Meridians!¡± Meng Changqing¡¯s eyes brightened. Everyone knew that natural talents were no match for special physiques and bloodlines. They were not on the same level at all. But there were exceptions. Some talents were incredibly powerful, almost comparable to special physiques. The Overlord Meridian was one of them. This talent specifically affected the meridians. Compared to ordinary people, the possessor¡¯s meridians were much thicker and tougher, over ten times more robust! Therefore, even when true essence was circulated recklessly, there¡¯s no worry about the meridians being damaged. Additionally, the speed at which true essence circulated was far faster than others. While others were just beginning to mobilize their true essence, the possessor had already completed the execution of a martial qi. Moreover, these meridians contained a mysterious substance that amplified any force flowing through them! ¡°It¡¯s like having a constant Linglong Daluo Tian,¡± Meng Changqing thought. He wasn¡¯t sure about the exact amplification, but considering Han Luoyu had always occupied the top of the rankings, the amplification was definitely not low. ¡°I need this talent.¡± Meng Changqing was truly tempted. With such a talent, his strength would greatly increase. However, it would be difficult to make Han Luoyu his friend. Despite his calm expression, Han Luoyu¡¯s eyes showed pride, not considering his peers worth noticing. In fact, apart from Lan Chan and the Shi brothers, many of the geniuses present had such pride. Young and arrogant. So, to become friends with such people, there¡¯s only one way! Show them superior strength! Utterly crush them! Make them understand what true supremacy was! While thinking, the entire main hall of the sect master trembled slightly. Then, the space in front twisted, and faint footsteps could be heard. The next second, a figure suddenly appeared. Boom! A suffocating sense of oppression emerged! Everyone felt an immense weight, both physically and mentally! ¡°Are you trying to tear down the main hall?¡± The Grand Elder flickered into view, maintaining composure, and coldly spoke. ¡°Apologies, I had a breakthrough and haven¡¯t fully controlled it yet,¡± the figure quickly withdrew all his aura and smiled. Everyone felt as if they had been granted amnesty and looked up at the newcomer. This was a mysterious existence within the sect! The Sect Master! A middle-aged man in a gray robe stood before the throne. His temples were graying, with light stubble on his face. He had a tall and upright figure, but his left shoulder was empty, only a sleeve remaining. Standing there, he gave off an ethereal feeling, not quite belonging to the world, especially his body. It was sometimes filled with vitality, sometimes deathly still. ¡°Then what about the real body?¡± Meng Changqing was shocked. From meeting the library elder Yun Bujue, he felt the sect was unusual. Now, step by step, it was confirmed. With the sect¡¯s current strength, it was more than just a first-rank sect! Places like Flame Sun Valley and Giant Spirit Sect, the sect could sit on equal terms with them or obliterate them with a single blow! But why hide such power? This puzzled him. Ordinary sects would flaunt such strength immediately. Shaking his head, Meng Changqing calmed his mind. The sect likely had its plans. As a small disciple, it was not his place to worry. It was a pity this was just an avatar. He couldn¡¯t see the Sect Master¡¯s full attributes. But such a strong person would undoubtedly have impressive attributes! ¡°Today, there¡¯s nothing particularly important. ¡°Mainly...¡± The Sect Master raised his only hand, coughed lightly, and began speaking. As he spoke, there was indeed nothing important, just simple encouragement before the martial event. He assured the disciples that if the sect succeeded in promotion, there would be more resources and better cultivation opportunities. He also mentioned specific rewards, making many geniuses¡¯ eyes sparkle. They vowed: ¡°Sect Master, we will defeat all opponents!¡± ¡°The sect will surely succeed in promotion!¡± ¡°Please rest assured, Master, my position remains unshakable.¡± Han Luoyu stepped forward confidently, directly looking at the Sect Master, seemingly seeking a response from him. However, the Sect Master only smiled habitually and nodded. ¡°I have complete faith in you all.¡± Then, he looked at Meng Changqing in the crowd. ¡°Meng Changqing, right?¡± Upon hearing this, everyone looked at Meng Changqing, making him the center of attention. This sudden scene stunned Meng Changqing, but he quickly recovered, cupping his hands. ¡°Yes, disciple here.¡± ¡°You¡¯re very good, really very good. I¡¯m looking forward to your performance in the martial tournament.¡± The Sect Master earnestly examined him and then spoke with a gleam in his eyes. As these words fell, the hall went silent. Apart from the Peak Masters, the remaining genius disciples were shocked because the Sect Master had never praised anyone like this before! He even mentioned Meng Changqing by name! The words carried a personal touch, not just a formal address! Even Han Luoyu rarely received such praise. Many people instinctively looked at Han Luoyu, seeing his equally shocked expression. ¡°In that case, you may all leave now. Peak Masters, please stay for a moment.¡± The Sect Master retracted his gaze and spoke softly. Chapter 125 Chapter 125: Standing Out in the Forest, A Lifetime of Following? Meng Changqing was left bewildered. From the beginning until now, he had been quietly staying put without uttering a word. Why did the Sect Master suddenly praise him? Feeling the surrounding gazes, be they shocked, envious, or jealous, he indeed felt like a tall tree standing out in the forest, catching the wind¡¯s attention. However, Meng Changqing didn¡¯t feel any panic. As the saying goes, confidence stems from strength. The mere gaze of his peers couldn¡¯t pressure him. Even if they all ganged up, they wouldn¡¯t be his match. Thinking this, he smiled slightly and turned to walk outside. Lan Chan, after hesitating for a moment, followed him. He knew Meng Changqing had unique qualities, particularly his remarkable comprehension. But even so, it shouldn¡¯t be enough to earn such praise from the mysterious Sect Master, right? While Lan Chan was pondering, so were the others. They all left the main hall one by one. ¡°Meng Changqing,¡± Han Luoyu finally snapped out of his daze, his hands clenching slightly. It was the first time he had heard this name, and for the first time, he felt an uneasy sensation, as if something he cherished was slipping away. After the disciples left, the hall¡¯s doors closed, leaving only seven people inside ¡ª the six Peak Masters and the Sect Master. ¡°Senior brothers and sisters, it¡¯s been a long time,¡± the Sect Master greeted with a smile. ¡°It has been a while,¡± Mo Shukuang replied casually. ¡°You came out last time, but I was in seclusion and missed it.¡± ¡°Judging by your aura, you must have made significant progress,¡± said the Peak Master of Medicine King Peak, an elderly woman with a kind and gentle demeanor. ¡°Indeed, I advanced my cultivation technique by one layer,¡± the Sect Master nodded. ¡°There are many sect affairs. I don¡¯t have time for you to chat idly here,¡± the Grand Elder suddenly interrupted, causing everyone to fall silent. The Sect Master could only smile wryly and then composed himself. ¡°According to news from the Thirteenth Junior Sister, the judges for this martial event are from Central Province, and they have brought something for Flame Sun Valley.¡± Upon hearing this, the six Peak Masters furrowed their brows. ¡°Hey!¡± a voice called out. Meng Changqing turned to see Mo Xiaoyu, who had dragged a large stone over to stand on, meeting his gaze at eye level. ¡°What do you want?¡± Meng Changqing raised an eyebrow. ¡°Tell me, did you know the Sect Master beforehand? Why else would he praise you and not me? I¡¯m ranked fourth on the Hidden Dragon Ranking!¡± Mo Xiaoyu asked, arms crossed, somewhat irate. ¡°Heaven and earth as my witness, today was the first time I met the Sect Master,¡± Meng Changqing replied with a smile. ¡°Really?¡± Mo Xiaoyu was skeptical. Possibly due to her competitive nature, she always aimed to be the best in everything. She thought she had surpassed Meng Changqing, but today, he had once again outshone her! The Sect Master¡¯s praise ¡ª she had never received it! How annoying! ¡°Of course, I¡¯m an honest person and never lie,¡± Meng Changqing spread his hands. ¡°I don¡¯t believe you. You look like a big liar.¡± Mo Xiaoyu raised her small fists, ¡°You better meet me in the martial event. I¡¯ll defeat you fair and square to prove I¡¯m stronger!¡± ¡°Meeting in the event would mean fighting within our own sect, benefitting other forces,¡± Meng Changqing replied. ¡°Um... true, then let¡¯s see who ranks higher!¡± Mo Xiaoyu proposed. ¡°Alright, but there should be a wager,¡± Meng Changqing suggested. ¡°What wager?¡± Mo Xiaoyu asked. ¡°If I rank higher than you, you have to agree to one request of mine.¡± ¡°What request?¡± ¡°My greatest love is making friends. You just need to agree to be my friend.¡± ¡°Friend?¡± Mo Xiaoyu was taken aback, not expecting such a request. ¡°Alright, I agree. But if you rank lower than me,¡± Mo Xiaoyu put her hands on her hips, a mischievous grin on her cute face, ¡°you have to call me senior sister for life and be my follower!¡± Chapter 126 Chapter 126: He¡¯s Good at Acting Cool, and the Martial Arts Tournament Begins! ¡°No problem,¡± Meng Changqing nodded. ¡°Just saying it doesn¡¯t count. Come on, let¡¯s make a pinky promise,¡± Mo Xiaoyu extended her small finger. ¡°Alright,¡± Meng Changqing chuckled, finding her childlike demeanor amusing. Under the sunlight, their fingers linked together. However, just then, a figure approached, their presence unmasked. ¡°What do you want?!¡± Mo Xiaoyu reacted first, stepping in front of Meng Changqing. As the strongest junior sister of Spirit Peak, she had to set an example. The newcomer was Han Luoyu, who ignored Mo Xiaoyu and kept his eyes fixed on Meng Changqing. This drew the attention of the surrounding disciples. Thud, thud, thud! The ground trembled as the Shi brothers approached, like small mountains moving forward. ¡°What do you want?¡± Shi Yao, though far weaker than Han Luoyu in cultivation, spoke fiercely, ¡°Don¡¯t think about causing trouble for Brother Meng, or I¡¯ll beat you up.¡± Shi Guang said nothing but shared the same intense gaze. Han Luoyu raised an eyebrow, surprised that Meng Changqing had such protectors. He had heard of the Shi brothers, known for their top-tier body-refinement bloodline, destined for great achievements. This scene touched Meng Changqing¡¯s heart. ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± he smiled and picked Mo Xiaoyu up by her collar, moving her behind him. ¡°Hey!¡± Mo Xiaoyu was startled, then felt offended, furiously punching Meng Changqing¡¯s leg and even trying to bite him, but to no avail. Time flew by, and soon it was noon. The peak masters emerged from the great hall, prompting the previously relaxed disciples to quickly form lines. ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± the Grand Elder led the way, giving Meng Changqing a meaningful look that held unexpected approval. The other peak masters also glanced at Meng Changqing, showing similar interest before leaving. ¡°Not bad, kid,¡± Mo Shukuang patted Meng Changqing¡¯s shoulder with a knowing smile, then summoned a sword light and departed. Meng Changqing furrowed his brow, pondering. At Spirit Peak, the sword light landed. ¡°Rest well, everyone. In six days, it will be the Three Sect Martial Arts Tournament. Perform well!¡± Mo Shukuang instructed. ¡°Yes!¡± the disciples responded in unison. Mo Shukuang returned to the hall, and the disciples began to leave, preparing themselves. ¡°Brother Meng, I wish you great success in the Martial Arts Tournament,¡± Lan Chan said, staying behind to bow to Meng Changqing. ¡°You have confidence in me, Brother Lan?¡± Meng Changqing asked. ¡°Not just me, but the masters believe in you,¡± Lan Chan replied, noting the unusual air about Meng Changqing. After speaking, he left as well. Meng Changqing gazed at the sky, smiling slightly. ¡°I must indeed show my strength, or where will my future resources come from?¡± Time passed quickly, and soon it was the day of the Three Sect Martial Arts Tournament. At dawn, the unique Daoist bell of the Tai Xuan Sect rang out, its sound rolling across hundreds of miles. Even those outside the mountain gate could hear it. Everyone opened their eyes, some stepping outside to look toward the Tai Xuan Sect, knowing today was crucial for its potential ascension. In the sky, cloud ships approached, each representing one of the three major forces: Flame Sun Valley, Giant Spirit Sect, and Wind and Cloud City. Chapter 127 Chapter 127: The Martial Arts Tournament Begins, All Sides in Motion, Visitors from the Meng Family The three major forces had arrived. The scene was grand and spectacular. Although Wind and Cloud City wasn¡¯t participating in the Martial Arts Tournament, such a grand event still attracted their attention. Cloud ships sailed through the continuous mountains, stopping one by one before reaching the gates of the Tai Xuan Sect. At the gates, high-ranking figures were already waiting, including the elders of the sect, their expressions as inscrutable as ever, warning others to keep their distance. ¡°Elder Xuan Kong, it¡¯s been a while. Your health seems surprisingly robust. I thought you were at death¡¯s door,¡± a figure emerged from a cloud ship belonging to the Flame Sun Valley, dressed in fiery red robes, standing with hands behind their back. Their hair was tied in braids, giving off a wild aura. It was the master of the Flame Sun Valley, Duangmu Yang, at the Fourth Level of the Divine Attainment Realm! His eyes seemed to gleam with divine light, emanating heavy pressure. No one dared to meet his gaze unless they were of the same level. ¡°If you¡¯re not dead, how could I leave before you?¡± Elder Xuan Kong snorted. ¡°Get in, don¡¯t waste time.¡± ¡°Heh heh, Elder Xuan Kong¡¯s temper is as foul as ever. You¡¯re already impatient after just a few words,¡± another person stepped out from a cloud ship of the Spirit Gate Sect, robust in stature, almost three meters tall, muscles bulging with strength that seemed capable of toppling mountains and splitting rocks. This was the master of the Spirit Gate Sect, Qin Hong, at the Third Level of the Divine Attainment Realm. ¡°Alright, everyone knows Elder Xuan Kong¡¯s temper. Let¡¯s go straight in,¡± someone from Wind and Cloud City said. It was an elderly man with snow-white hair. Though aged, he stood tall with a sense of vigor. Carrying a long knife, he exuded a domineering aura. In Tianling Prefecture, the Nie family¡¯s knife techniques were renowned, said to have had glorious days in the past but gradually declined over generations. After all, in their understanding, for the young master to reach the Sea Cleaving Realm and ascend to the Hidden Dragon Ranking was already a blessing from their ancestors. But now, in a short period, he had achieved even greater heights: reaching the Dao Creation Realm! The Dao Creation Realm! This was something they dared not even dream of! Achieving the Aperture Connecting Realm in this lifetime was already satisfying enough. Moreover, the young master must be more than just an ordinary Dao Creation Realm cultivator, otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t have been selected by the Tai Xuan Sect to participate. His strength must be among the best in the same realm. And they, as humble members of a small family, had the privilege of witnessing the top talents of Tianling Prefecture compete in the Tai Xuan Sect! ¡°Second brother, why are you shaking?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t look at me. Haven¡¯t you seen several elders shaking too?¡± Upon hearing this, the elders realized and their faces reddened. There was no help for it. Everything now felt like a dream, filled with a sense of unreality. The Meng family was just a small family. Where had they ever seen such grandeur? ¡°Don¡¯t worry, relax. There¡¯s no need to be nervous,¡± Gu Hongyu, still dressed in her black dress and straw hat, remained calm. Compared to the other members of the Meng family, she seemed somewhat calmer, but the slightly clenched hands indicated the turmoil within her heart. This kid¡¯s growth rate is truly astonishing. Chapter 128 Chapter 128: Obligations of a First-Class Sect, and the Wrath of the Myriad Pavilion! Dong! The Daoist bell continued to intermittently resonate, majestic and righteous, as if declaring something to the world. Rumble~ The heavy palace doors were pushed open, and a figure emerged. Clad in white robes like snow, tall and slender, it was Meng Changqing. ¡°Is it finally starting?¡± Meng Changqing looked towards the direction of the martial arena, where he faintly sensed many powerful auras. It was a highly anticipated battle, drawing the attention of the masses. ¡°Junior Brother Meng, it¡¯s time to go.¡± Not far away, Lan Chan seemed to have been waiting for a while, smiling. ¡°Alright.¡± Meng Changqing nodded and approached the Spirit Hall, where many disciples had gathered, totaling ten. Mo Xiaoyu made a silly face at Meng Changqing and raised a small fist. Today, she had tied her hair in a high ponytail, exuding vitality. ¡°This time, I¡¯m going to defeat Han Luo ¡®807¡¯ and become number one!¡± The little girl placed her hands on her hips, full of determination, earning a proud look from Mo Shukuang. ¡°Now that everyone is here, let¡¯s go.¡± Mo Shukuang waved his right hand, and a huge sword light reappeared as everyone ascended. The sword light flickered as they flew towards the martial arena, encountering many fellow disciples from various veins along the way. Meng Changqing saw the brothers from the Shi family, their figures indeed quite eye-catching. Compared to them, other disciples from the Purple Nourishment Peak seemed quite slender. The martial arena was a thousand meters wide, capable of accommodating numerous warriors for simultaneous battles, ensuring efficient results. The surroundings were already bustling with activity, with endless discussions about who would win today¡¯s martial meet and whether the Tai Xuan Sect could fulfill all the conditions for successful promotion. ¡°Without Giant Spirit Sect, the situation for the Tai Xuan Sect is precarious.¡± Someone remarked, as people had gradually understood why the Hidden Dragon Ranking had changed so dramatically recently. Since it was difficult to compete for the top spot, efforts were focused on other conditions. With Giant Spirit Sect¡¯s involvement, continuously obstructing Tai Xuan Sect disciples and deliberately assisting the Flame Sun Valley, it would be challenging for the Tai Xuan Sect to fulfill the second condition, creating a strategic move. Everyone understood, but there was no solution. These were the rules set by the sacred land. If you wanted to promote, you had to demonstrate overwhelming strength, proving that you were qualified to become a stronger force, thus gaining more territory and resources. ¡°There is a time for everything. If it¡¯s not your time, don¡¯t force it. Otherwise, you¡¯ll end up worse off than before.¡± The young man fell into silence. As the saying goes, when monks are many, the porridge is thin. After becoming a first-class sect, other forces would have to give up most of their territory. This was akin to cutting away half of their flesh. Over time, other forces would only become weaker, with little chance of rising again. During their conversation, the teams from the Flame Sun Valley and Giant Spirit Sect also entered the scene, followed by the disciples from the seven veins of the Tai Xuan Sect. Four high platforms stood in mid-air, facing each other from a distance, their powerful auras sweeping across the sky, ready to clash. ¡°They¡¯re here!¡± The people below were all excited. With everyone present, it meant that the battle was about to begin ¡ª the battle of the top talents in Tianling Prefecture! Boom! However, at this moment, a huge cloud boat suddenly appeared in the sky. As this place was the gate of the Tai Xuan Sect, no cloud boat from any other force was allowed to enter without permission. They had to stop in front of the gate. Therefore, this cloud boat was breaking the rules. But no one spoke up because the flag fluttering on the swaying cloud boat was very conspicuous ¡ª it bore a few characters: ¡°Wanxiang Pavilion.¡± ¡°The Pavilion of Myriad Vistas, overseeing all things under the heavens!¡± The Wanxiang Pavilion was a powerful force affiliated with Central Province. It was responsible for updating the ranking lists of the cultivation world, disseminating information, and promoting the rise of forces. To some extent, it was above ordinary forces. But the next moment, cracks appeared in the sky, and a huge palm stretched out, grabbing the cloud boat and throwing it away with force. ¡°Xi Yingqing!¡± An angry voice came from the cloud boat. Chapter 129 Chapter 129: Entering the Arena! The immense hand swept across the sky, with the essence of life and death intertwining within it. It was the head of the Tai Xuan Sect taking action. ¡°Xie Yingqing!¡± The cloud boat was sent flying, but over a dozen figures remained standing at the original spot. Leading them was a middle-aged man in luxurious robes. Although he appeared furious, a trace of relief flickered in his eyes. It seemed that the previous rude act was merely a test, and the result satisfied him. ¡°Entering my sect¡¯s gate, one must follow the rules and not overstep,¡± a deep voice echoed through the heavens and earth. At the same time, a gray-robed figure slowly appeared, with graying temples and a weathered face. His left shoulder was empty, the sleeve fluttering in the wind. Despite exuding a powerful aura, there was an inexplicable and peculiar feeling about him. ¡°Is this the head of the Tai Xuan Sect?¡± ¡°The legendary powerhouse of the Life and Death Realm!¡± ¡°So strong!¡± ¡°But the head of the Tai Xuan Sect is quite bold, daring to throw out the Wanxiang Pavilion¡¯s cloud boat. Aren¡¯t they afraid of future repercussions?¡± The crowd buzzed with discussion. However, the Wanxiang Pavilion¡¯s behavior was indeed overstepping. The Tai Xuan Sect was not an ordinary force. It was already on the brink of first-class power. Entering so brazenly showed a lack of respect. ¡°It was just a joke. Sect Master Xi is broad-minded and won¡¯t hold a grudge, right?¡± the middle-aged man said with a smile. His name was Yuan Cang, a top elder of the Wanxiang Pavilion and also a Life and Death Realm powerhouse. It seemed that the two knew each other. ¡°Of course not. Please take your seats,¡± Xie Yingqing responded calmly. Yuan Cang smiled slightly and led his group to the fifth high platform. With their arrival, all forces were now present. Elder Xuan Kong¡¯s figure appeared in mid-air, his face indifferent, especially cold when looking at the Myriad Pavilion. He finally spoke, ¡°Today is the grand event of the Three Sects Martial Arts Tournament, as well as the significant occasion of our sect¡¯s promotion. Your presence here brings great honor to our sect. This scene shocked the surrounding spectators. Though Han Luoyu was the top of the Hidden Dragon Ranking, everyone here was an elite, at least capable of a few moves. Yet, he ended it in one blow! His strength was truly terrifying! Retracting his fist, Han Luoyu suddenly looked towards the fourth area, where flames soared into the sky, engulfing and blasting an opponent away. It was Duanmu Longque, who also had an early token and thus appeared in the first batch. However, his luck wasn¡¯t as good, facing another Giant Spirit Sect disciple. Despite their secret alliance, there was no choice but to fight. The two locked eyes for a moment, sparks flying between them, signaling their mutual understanding. This would be the final battle. After the Martial Arts Tournament, both would advance, leaving the Hidden Dragon Ranking behind. Their gaze met only briefly before they moved away, making room for the next matches. Other areas¡¯ battles weren¡¯t as quick. Some contestants were evenly matched, leading to prolonged fights. Everyone gave their all for their sects, which many found more entertaining than one-sided victories. Half an incense stick¡¯s time later, the first batch of battles concluded. Overall, the Tai Xuan Sect had the upper hand, with their disciples not facing each other and defeating their opponents. This made the leaders on the upper stands of the other three forces frown slightly, looking somewhat displeased. The token draw was purely luck, and they had overseen it, ensuring fairness. The Tai Xuan Sect was just fortunate, and luck was indeed part of strength. ¡°It seems our disciples are superior,¡± Martial Arts Peak¡¯s leader, Shangguan Zhi, laughed heartily. Practitioners of knife techniques, like him, were usually straightforward and bold. ¡°Shangguan Zhi, it¡¯s just the first batch. Don¡¯t get too cocky,¡± Duanmu Yang retorted coldly. ¡°The second and third batches will be the same,¡± Shangguan Zhi said, taking a swig from his flask. His arrogant demeanor made the other leaders¡¯ eyes twitch, but they quickly regained their composure. ¡°Junior Brother Meng, it¡¯s your turn,¡± Lan Chan said, approaching. ¡°You¡¯re number sixteen.¡± ¡°Got it.¡± Meng Changqing stood up. Being number sixteen meant he would face number seventeen. He didn¡¯t care who it was. No matter who, they would be defeated. Chapter 130 Chapter 130: Sacred Spirit Slaughter: Extinguish Heaven and Earth! ¡°Senior Brother Meng, good luck!¡± Suddenly, a familiar voice sounded nearby. Meng Changqing turned his head and found it was Kong Linxue. Normally, someone like Kong Linxue, who was at the Sea Cleaving Realm, shouldn¡¯t be here, but it was likely due to her master¡¯s influence. ¡°Let¡¯s stick to our usual way of addressing each other,¡± Meng Changqing wanted to call her Junior Sister Kong but found he couldn¡¯t say it. ¡°Mm-hmm,¡± Kong Linxue also felt a bit awkward. Many people never change their forms of address because their progress didn¡¯t usually differ much. Someone like Meng Changqing was indeed rare. ¡°Good luck!¡± Kong Linxue¡¯s beautiful eyes were like water, and she raised her fair fist encouragingly. ¡°I will,¡± Meng Changqing smiled slightly and then flew towards the martial arena below. His appearance naturally attracted the attention of other elite disciples. They hadn¡¯t forgotten the scene in the sect master¡¯s hall a few days ago and still remembered it well. A newly advanced disciple at the Dao Creation Realm ¡ª what exactly made the sect master praise him so highly? They were curious to see Meng Changqing¡¯s abilities for themselves. As Meng Changqing descended, someone from Flame Sun Valley also entered the arena quickly. It was a young man with yellow hair, around twenty-five or twenty-six, wearing a red robe and emanating flames, exuding immense pressure. ¡°Isn¡¯t that Jie Luo, ranked twenty-seventh on the Hidden Dragon Ranking?¡± ¡°What¡¯s going on today? Why are these powerful individuals coming out so early? I thought they¡¯d be saving the best for last.¡± ¡°Anyone in the top thirty is a top martial artist who has comprehended martial qi, incredibly formidable. I wonder who his opponent will be.¡± People buzzed with discussion. Then a sword light fell into the arena. ¡°Who¡¯s that? He looks unfamiliar.¡± Meng Changqing¡¯s appearance left many people puzzled. They searched their minds but couldn¡¯t recall seeing him in the top thirty rankings. So, he must be from the later ranks. Moreover, Meng Changqing¡¯s cultivation surprised them ¡ª Dao Creation Realm, second level? Was this a joke? For such a battle among top elites, the Tai Xuan Sect was sending a disciple at the second level of the Dao Creation Realm? This seemed like giving the other two sects an easy win. ¡°Wait, isn¡¯t he the one who recently defeated two Flame Sun Valley disciples and ranked thirty-eighth on the Hidden Dragon Ranking?¡± ¡°Apparently, he had mastered sword qi while still in the Sea Cleaving Realm!¡± Someone suddenly spoke up, and others began to remember. Jie Luo took a deep breath, his eyes growing colder. ¡°I hope your strength matches your mouth!¡± Boom! Jie Luo instantly made his move, seemingly eager to end Meng Changqing swiftly to quell his displeasure. ¡°Divine Fire Bathing the Sun: Great Sun Scorching Heaven!¡± Boundless flames surged from Jie Luo¡¯s palms, transforming into two blazing suns. The extreme heat scorched the air, and if not for the protective formations around, the spectators would be affected. ¡°The Divine Fire Bathing the Sun Palm, a high-level Earth-grade martial skill from Flame Sun Valley. Its power is immense, and Jie Luo¡¯s mastery is at perfection.¡± ¡°Now Meng Changqing has no chance of winning.¡± Many in the stands shook their heads. Jie Luo¡¯s skill had recently been at the mastery stage, but now it was perfected. ¡°Kneel!¡± Jie Luo pressed his palms forward, the momentum vast and overwhelming. The two blazing suns grew larger, descending towards Meng Changqing. Such an attack, if not evaded, would likely result in severe injury. ¡°Truly a top thirty expert, his strength is indeed formidable,¡± Meng Changqing thought as he stood his ground, his right hand on his sword hilt. This was his strongest opponent so far. Ordinary techniques wouldn¡¯t suffice. He had to use his trump card. Closing his eyes momentarily, Meng Changqing reopened them, his demeanor transforming dramatically as if a slaughter master had descended. Boom! An immense, terrifying killing intent surged to the sky, tearing apart the surrounding heat waves, turning the area cold and desolate. ¡°Sacred Spirit Slaughter: Extinguish Heaven and Earth!¡± Meng Changqing¡¯s eyes were emotionless. He raised his right hand, two fingers forming a sword, with terrifying energy swirling in his fingertip. Boom! The next second, gray light surged, forming a gigantic sword reaching the sky. As it appeared, the killing intent became almost tangible, shaking the entire arena, the protective formations creaking as if they might give way. Slash! The enormous sword cleaved through the two blazing suns, unstoppable and overwhelming, then continued towards Jie Luo. Chapter 131 Chapter 131: How Many Things Is This Kid Hiding? ¡°How is this possible!¡± Seeing his Divine Fire Bathing the Sun being easily shattered, Jie Luo¡¯s eyes immediately filled with disbelief. This was his strongest move, and it even had a palm qi boost. In fact, when the overwhelming killing intent appeared, he already had a bad premonition. After all, how could a normal person have such a massive amount of killing intent? How many people must be killed for that? Huff! The spectators were also exclaiming in shock. Such a terrifying killing sword move was truly unheard of, and it was absurdly strong. Even the Divine Fire Bathing the Sun couldn¡¯t withstand it. ¡°It¡¯s the Sacred Spirit Slaughter Sword Technique of the Tai Xuan Sect!¡± someone suddenly said. ¡°So that¡¯s what it is!¡± Gasps were heard, ¡°This is a powerful sword technique nearly approaching the Heaven rank, but because it requires a lot of killing, it easily affects one¡¯s will, leading to the path of slaughter.¡± ¡°That¡¯s why not many people have practiced it.¡± ¡°But once mastered, its power is definitely at the top of Earth-ranked martial skills!¡± ¡°Jie Luo¡¯s Divine Fire Bathing Sun Palm is indeed powerful and is also a high-level Earth-ranked skill, but it can¡¯t compare to the Sacred Spirit Slaughter Sword Technique.¡± After the explanation, everyone immediately understood. So that¡¯s how it is. Jie Luo didn¡¯t have time to listen to the discussions around him. He had long lost his initial casualness and confidence. His heart was almost in his throat, with every part of his body sending signals of danger. This sword move! There was no way he could withstand it! But this was the martial arts arena, there was nowhere to hide! Otherwise, he could have used his body technique to look for an opportunity! ¡°Damn it, what kind of sword technique is this? Heaven rank? How could it be so strong?¡± Jie Luo roared inwardly. He couldn¡¯t tolerate his painstakingly perfected palm technique being so easily shattered! But reality was always harsh and unyielding. Boom! The Heaven-reaching Sword slashed down. The martial arts arena shook! In an instant, dust and smoke rose all around. As the dust settled, the scene within was revealed. Instantly, he looked towards the direction of the Tai Xuan Sect, wanting to say, ¡°You really hid deeply, having a disciple master the Sacred Spirit Slaughter Sword Technique!¡± But upon looking, he found that even the peak masters of the Tai Xuan Sect, including Xi Yingqing, were also slightly surprised. Clearly, they didn¡¯t know either. So it was a dark horse, an unexpected rise! ¡°Damn it!¡± ¡°Is Tai Xuan really favored by the heavens?¡± Duanmu Yang and the Giant Spirit Sect master Qin Hong exchanged a look, both showing solemn expressions. Although only a few rounds had passed, it was not a good omen. ¡°Master, is that really the Sacred Spirit Slaughter Sword Technique?¡± Mo Xiaoyu snapped out of his daze, hurriedly pulling Mo Shukuang¡¯s sleeve, urgently asking. ¡°Yes.¡± Mo Shukuang took a deep breath. He knew Meng Changqing was practicing this sword technique, as it was taught by Yun Bujue, but he didn¡¯t expect Meng Changqing to master it to such perfection in such a short time! This was quite impressive! Just using the life forms on the fourth level of the punishment peak was enough? But thinking of Meng Changqing¡¯s comprehension, and the fact that he had already comprehended it... it seemed barely understandable. Subconsciously, Mo Shukuang glanced at the other peak masters. They all nodded slightly. ¡°This kid, how many things is he hiding?¡± Mo Shukuang couldn¡¯t help but smile. The other talented disciples also finally understood why the sect master had praised him so highly in the main hall. The Sacred Spirit Slaughter Sword Technique was one of the top Earth-ranked martial skills of the sect. Apart from the main branch, it seemed there was nothing at the same level that could compete with it! ¡°Sacred Spirit Slaughter Sword Technique.¡± Han Luoyu stood beside Xi Yingqing, squinting his eyes. His hands behind his back clenched slightly, then relaxed. This sword technique was indeed powerful, but he was not weak either. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect Junior Brother Meng to major in this sword technique.¡± Lan Chan laughed, ¡°That move just now should be the Extinguish Heaven and Earth, not the strongest move of the sword technique. ¡°I remember it being something else.¡± ¡°One Sword, No Life, Nothing Survives.¡± Mo Shukuang said slowly. Although his voice was calm, it made people¡¯s spines tingle, with a feeling of life being taken away and sinking into a realm of death. Chapter 132 Chapter 132: Can¡¯t Beat Them, Can¡¯t Argue With Them! Sword light flickered. Meng Changqing returned to the high platform. ¡°Junior Brother Meng!¡± Kong Linxue dared not shout loudly, given that sect leaders were nearby, so she subtly gave him a thumbs up. Meng Changqing smiled and nodded back at her, then returned to his seat. ¡°How infuriating, you really hid your skills well! No wonder the sect master praised you! Even I wouldn¡¯t dare try the Sacred Spirit Slaughter Sword Technique, and yet you mastered it!¡± Mo Xiaoyu walked over, feeling somewhat indignant, arms crossed and pouting. ¡°But don¡¯t get too cocky. I¡¯m still definitely stronger than you!¡± Although the Great Five Elements Revolving Sword Technique wasn¡¯t as powerful as the Sacred Spirit Slaughter Sword Technique, her innate sword body could bridge the gap, maybe even surpass it! ¡°Yes, yes, you¡¯re the best,¡± Meng Changqing said with a chuckle, shaking his head. He didn¡¯t want to argue with this girl. He¡¯d rather use this time to observe others with his observation eye. ¡°Humph!¡± Mo Xiaoyu walked back, satisfied, and her anxiety vanished. She was truly simple-minded. Meng Changqing¡¯s battle was just a small episode. As more combats began, it was soon forgotten. The three sects¡¯ supreme techniques shone brilliantly on the martial arts arena, especially the Shi brothers¡¯ appearance. These two, like small mountains, one wielding a hammer and the other an axe, were overwhelmingly imposing. Disciples from the Giant Spirit Sect, also body refiners, seemed diminutive in comparison. Within a few moves, they were sent flying. The Stone Human bloodline reappeared in the world, drawing countless exclamations. Mo Xiaoyu also displayed her prowess. Her innate sword body made her seem like the sovereign of swordsmanship, commanding all swords to flow to her. The Great Five Elements Revolving Sword Technique demonstrated terrifying power. Thus, time passed slowly. The first stage of the battles ended. Seventy-five remained, seventy-five were eliminated. Tai Xuan Sect had a distinct advantage, with thirty remaining, nearly half of the total! ¡°Tai Xuan Sect, are you sure there was no manipulation?¡± Duanmu Yang stood up, looking rather grim. ¡°This sword technique is truly strong, completely bridging small realm gaps. I feel that unless someone in the top ten ranks faces him, no one can beat Meng Changqing!¡± The stands buzzed with discussion. ¡°Indeed, Tai Xuan Sect seems favored by fate, producing so many formidable talents!¡± ¡°What do you think, how far can Meng Changqing go?¡± ¡°It depends on luck. If unlucky and he meets someone like Duanmu Longque, the next stage will be his end.¡± Having learned from their earlier misjudgments, the spectators now made cautious statements. Battles continued. One after another began and ended. Regardless of allegiance, the martial arts arena¡¯s participants demonstrated strength matching their status, inspiring awe and admiration. Who wouldn¡¯t want to stand on such a stage, wielding power and showcasing talent? In this stage, with so many participants, Tai Xuan Sect disciples inevitably began to face each other. However, they still showed a clear advantage against others. This demonstrated that Tai Xuan Sect¡¯s overall strength, both top-tier and among its disciples, was superior to the other three major factions. Boom! Duanmu Longque¡¯s hands turned into palms, fire waves surged! His terrifying flame palm print swept across the stage, sending a figure flying ¡ª it was Lan Chan! ¡°I lost.¡± Lan Chan stood up, unwilling to accept it. Ranked eleventh on the Hidden Dragon Ranking, he had a significant gap with Duanmu Longque. He hadn¡¯t expected the gap to be even wider than anticipated, losing in just five moves. Duanmu Longque didn¡¯t respond, simply turning to leave, his back exuding an aloofness. Boom, boom, boom! More talented disciples were defeated, mostly from Flame Sun Valley and Giant Spirit Sect. ¡°It seems your sect has imparted much to your disciples lately, advancing their strength significantly,¡± remarked Qin Hong, the Giant Spirit Sect leader. ¡°Want to learn? Our sect can give you the opportunity to stay and see how we train our disciples,¡± Xi Yingqing responded calmly. ¡°...¡± Qin Hong took a deep breath and fell silent. This feeling of being unable to win or argue was truly frustrating. Chapter 133 Chapter 133: This Guy¡¯s Luck is Incredible, the Final Battle is Approaching! The second stage ended. Thirty-three remained, with Tai Xuan Sect holding nineteen spots, a clear advantage. Thus, without needing to consider the three extra participants, Wanxiang Pavilion ruled on the spot that Tai Xuan Sect had met the second condition. The next crucial point was the fight for the top position. ¡°Tai Xuan Sect is really strong, maintaining such an advantage despite the alliance of the other two sects!¡± ¡°Indeed, although luck played a part, avoiding many internal battles, strength was key.¡± ¡°It¡¯s surprising how much stronger Tai Xuan Sect¡¯s geniuses have become in just a few months, while the other two sects seem stagnant.¡± ¡°It looks like Tai Xuan Sect will definitely advance this time!¡± ¡°Our Tianling Prefecture is about to have a first-rate grand sect!¡± In the stands, discussions buzzed with excitement, as if they could already see Wanxiang Pavilion announcing the results. Tai Xuan Sect disciples cheered in joy. ¡°With Senior Brother Han Luoyu, there¡¯s no need to worry about the top spot!¡± ¡°Exactly, go Senior Brother Han!¡± On the high platform, sect leaders smiled as Yuan Cang announced the end. The first step was completed, at least. ¡°Next, we might face each other. Senior Brother Lin, if I meet you, I¡¯ll just surrender,¡± one disciple joked. ¡°Sure, I¡¯ll save my energy then,¡± Lin replied, laughing. The disciples felt relaxed and confident, thinking victory was assured. Meng Changqing, however, glanced towards Flame Sun Valley, noticing their unexpected calmness. ¡°It seems they have another plan,¡± he mused. ¡°Not bad for someone I made a bet with! You¡¯ve come this far!¡± Mo Xiaoyu¡¯s eyes sparkled with battle intent as she looked at Meng Changqing. ¡°With the second condition met, I hope we face each other next!¡± ¡°Eager to be my friend?¡± Meng Changqing teased. ¡°You!¡± Mo Xiaoyu pouted. ¡°I¡¯m going to win and make you call me Senior Sister!¡± As the fourth stage began, Meng Changqing got a bye. ¡°Looks like we won¡¯t meet. But you better win, or I¡¯ll outrank you,¡± Meng Changqing taunted. ¡°You bad guy!¡± Mo Xiaoyu fumed, clenching her small fists. But soon her attention shifted ¡ª her opponent was Duanmu Longque! Their battle was fierce as expected, but Mo Xiaoyu¡¯s lower cultivation level and less refined true essence made her techniques less powerful. She lost after a hundred moves, a commendable performance considering no one else lasted more than five moves against Duanmu Longque. She even put him in danger several times. Returning, Mo Xiaoyu ran to Mo Shukuang and cried quietly. Seeing this, Meng Changqing decided to delay his promise. No rush ¡ª his current strength was enough for the Three Sect Martial Arts Tournament. He didn¡¯t need the innate sword body urgently. Surprisingly, Meng Changqing received byes in both the fifth and sixth stages, causing Mo Xiaoyu, watching through her tears, to cry out in frustration. ¡°This guy¡¯s luck is incredible! He¡¯s in the top three!¡± a Meng family member exclaimed. ¡°Actually, he¡¯s guaranteed second!¡± Indeed, with Han Luoyu and Duanmu Longque drawn to fight, Meng Changqing was assured of second place. ¡°His luck is unbelievable, reaching second without a fight!¡± The crowd marveled, though they felt his strength was strong but not top-tier, probably around tenth. Now, he was unexpectedly second! ¡°Yes, this luck is incredible, three byes in a row, unheard of!¡± ¡°Well, it doesn¡¯t matter. We¡¯re here to see Han Luoyu and Duanmu Longque. The others aren¡¯t important!¡± ¡°Exactly!¡± Everyone nodded, turning their attention away from Meng Changqing. Chapter 134 Chapter 134: Heaven and Earth... Strange Fire!!! Not just the audience, but even the geniuses on the high platform didn¡¯t pay much attention to Meng Changqing. They were mostly envious of his luck, as advancing further meant better rewards from the sect. At this moment, everyone¡¯s focus was on Han Luoyu. Han Luoyu stood at the edge of the high platform, his light blue robe fluttering in the wind, black hair dancing lightly. ¡°Master, I¡¯m going.¡± ¡°Hmm, go ahead.¡± Xi Yingqing smiled slightly and patted his shoulder. ¡°If you can truly win, I will change my long-held belief.¡± Hearing this, Han Luoyu¡¯s face lit up with joy. Finally, he had heard the words he had been waiting for. However, he subconsciously ignored the first part: ¡®If you can truly win.¡¯ ¡°Disciple will not disappoint you, Master!¡± Han Luoyu cupped his fists and bowed before flying down. If he won today, he would be the greatest hero of the sect! The supreme power called truth would belong to him! Boom! The martial arena began to shake violently. The previously divided five areas gradually merged into one, becoming a true top-tier battleground. Boom! Boom! Two figures descended, their powerful auras clashing fiercely, each occupying half the sky. ¡°Han Luoyu, it¡¯s finally our turn.¡± Duanmu Longque took a deep breath. His upper garment burned away, revealing a green tattoo on his back, like a sinister snake made of flames. ¡°Yes, and this time, your outcome won¡¯t change. You¡¯ll still lose.¡± Han Luoyu¡¯s clothes also shattered, revealing his strong upper body covered in wide, crimson patterns, exuding a mighty aura. ¡¾Overlord Meridians¡¿! One of the top-tier talents, almost equal to bloodline traits. Han Luoyu relied on this to compete with those possessing innate physiques. ¡°Is that so? I don¡¯t think so.¡± Duanmu Longque twisted his neck, his body turning red as if emerging from lava. Whoosh! A giant fist of wind swept towards Duanmu Longque. Upon collision, blood spurted from Duanmu Longque¡¯s mouth as he was sent flying back hundreds of meters before barely stabilizing. One punch determined the difference! ¡°You can¡¯t win!¡± Han Luoyu stood in mid-air, declaring coldly. Roar! The audience burst into cheers, especially the Tai Xuan Sect disciples, believing Senior Brother Han held an absolute advantage since Duanmu Longque was bleeding. ¡°Senior Brother Han is invincible!¡± many disciples shouted. The geniuses on the high platform also relaxed. ¡°It seems the outcome is decided. Duanmu Longque stands no chance, just like before. Continuing would be futile,¡± one genius remarked. However, in the arena, Duanmu Longque suddenly laughed. ¡°Hahaha!¡± His laughter made Han Luoyu frown, not understanding why he laughed. ¡°It seems I can¡¯t win without using it.¡± After wiping the blood from his mouth, Duanmu Longque took a deep breath. As he spoke, his body blurred, ripples spreading from within. Crack! Crack! Crack! The green snake tattoo on his back seemed to come alive. Whoosh! As the green snake opened its eyes, the entire arena trembled as if a great terror was about to descend. The surrounding temperature skyrocketed uncontrollably. ¡°What is this!¡± Han Luoyu¡¯s pupils shrank, his face showing disbelief. ¡°Heaven and Earth... Strange Fire!!!¡± Chapter 135 Chapter 135:Ten Thousand Serpents Devouring Heart Flame,Power of Remnant Fire,Destined Resolution! A piercing screech echoed through the heavens and earth! Duanmu Longque¡¯s body erupted in deep green flames,completely engulfing the previous crimson fire. Simultaneously,the entire martial arena transformed into a sea of green flames! Duanmu Longque stood above the sea of fire,with a massive fire serpent gradually appearing behind him.The serpent was lifelike,especially its eyes,which sparkled with a hint of intelligence,resembling a living creature. Its presence caused the temperature of the entire martial arena to continually rise.Without the protective formation,most of the spectators in the stands would have been unable to withstand it,burning to death on the spot! Heaven and Earth Strange Fire! Han Luoyu¡¯s words shocked everyone. This thing was a legendary existence! Extremely rare,it was the divine fire in the hearts of all alchemists! No one expected to witness it firsthand today! ¡°My heavens,Duanmu Longque actually possesses the Heaven and Earth Strange Fire!¡± ¡°How did he do it?Isn¡¯t it said that the Strange Fire is incredibly ferocious,requiring at least a Transcendent level to have even a slight chance of mastering it?¡± ¡°Did you forget that Duanmu Longque has an innate fire body?He has a natural control over flames.¡± ¡°But this is the Heaven and Earth Strange Fire,not those lesser flames.Even with an innate fire body,he shouldn¡¯t be able to control it at the Dao Creation Realm.¡± The spectators buzzed with discussions.The previously despondent disciples of Flame Sun Valley and Giant Spirit Sect were suddenly all smiles,while the disciples of Tai Xuan Sect were worried,their smiles gone. ¡°How is this possible!¡± On the high platform,many of the genius disciples¡¯faces changed dramatically,their eyes filled with disbelief. They shared the same thought:¡±It¡¯s actually the Heaven and Earth Strange Fire!That guy was holding back when he fought me earlier!¡± Mo Xiaoyu lowered her hands,looking at the flames in the sky with a reluctant expression on her cute face.¡±So this is Flame Sun Valley¡¯s trump card.¡± Hearing this,Xi Yingqing smiled slightly but said nothing more. In the martial arena below,Duanmu Longque¡¯s aura had gradually overwhelmed Han Luoyu.The green fire serpent grew larger,standing nearly five hundred meters tall.The flames it spewed distorted the very air. Duanmu Longque stood on the fire serpent¡¯s head,looking down at Han Luoyu,his once strongest opponent. ¡°Han Luoyu,what will you do now?¡±Duanmu Longque¡¯s lips curled into a smile. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect you to find a Strange Fire.¡±Han Luoyu¡¯s face finally became extremely solemn.Indeed,he was no longer a match for Duanmu Longque. Though this Strange Fire wasn¡¯t as powerful as the legends,it was still beyond his ability to counter. ¡°Am I going to disappoint my master and the sect?¡±Han Luoyu clenched his fists,his confidence gone,filled with unwillingness. He was just one step away!If he could defeat Duanmu Longque,he would win his master¡¯s true recognition and help the sect advance. ¡°Just a little more!!!¡±Han Luoyu roared,his aura surging. Even without a chance of victory,he would fight to the death! ¡°Extreme Dragon Overlord Art:Wind God Roar!!!¡±Han Luoyu leaped up,surrounded by fierce winds that turned into a giant shadow. The shadow mimicked him,right fist aimed at Duanmu Longque. ¡°Han Luoyu,from now on,you will always live in my shadow!¡±Duanmu Longque roared,releasing his long-held negative emotions. ¡°Ten Thousand Fire Celestial Scroll:Flame Dragon Prison Palm!¡±The green serpent hissed,remnant fire power infused into Duanmu Longque¡¯s palms. A massive green flame palm strike shot out. Boom! The two attacks collided.The palm strike¡¯s invincible force shattered the giant shadow.A burning figure flew backwards,caught by a familiar force before falling,and floated up to the high platform. ¡°Senior Brother Han!¡±The surrounding genius disciples rushed over,their expressions complex.No one expected this outcome. ¡°Master...¡±Seeing Xi Yingqing,Han Luoyu gritted his teeth,guilt filling his heart.¡±I have disappointed you!¡± ¡°It¡¯s alright.You did very well.¡±Xi Yingqing waved his right hand,a strong life force entering Han Luoyu,quickly healing his injuries. ¡°Haha,Xi Yingqing,it seems Tai Xuan Sect¡¯s dream of advancement ends here!¡±Duanmu Yang laughed loudly,his voice triumphant and arrogant. Chapter 136 Chapter 136:Go Easy,Don¡¯t Kill Him The audience awoke from their stupor,erupting into a cacophony of voices.Initially,they had assumed Han Luoyu¡¯s victory was assured,with no surprises in the battle.But the result was the opposite.Duanmu Longque,controlling the Heaven and Earth Strange Fire,turned the tide and defeated Han Luoyu. ¡°It¡¯s over.Tai Xuan Sect is finished.¡± ¡°Yeah,Han Luoyu was their strongest,and he lost.There¡¯s no hope for their advancement today.¡± ¡°Wait,doesn¡¯t Tai Xuan Sect have another contender?That Meng Changqing guy.¡± ¡°Are you kidding?That guy just got a free pass into this round and only ranks tenth on the Hidden Dragon Ranking.No way he can beat Duanmu Longque.¡± ¡°True.¡± The crowd was buzzing with discussions. ¡°Watch your words!¡±The Meng family members couldn¡¯t take it anymore and stood up to retort,¡±Our young master is very capable!¡± ¡°Exactly!¡± Out of home,the family must stand united.Even the elders tacitly approved of this potentially troublesome defense. ¡°Pfft,if your young master wins,I¡¯ll crawl out of Tai Xuan Sect today!¡±Others sneered,believing Duanmu Longque¡¯s power,with the control of the Heaven and Earth Strange Fire,to be unbeatable. Han Luoyu was defeated in one move.Who among his peers could challenge him now? ¡ª On the high platform,the mood was somber on the Tai Xuan Sect side.In contrast,the Flame Sun Valley and Giant Spirit Sect sides were jubilant. ¡°Chief Xi,I don¡¯t think there¡¯s any need to continue this final round,right?¡±Qin Hong said with a smile.¡±What¡¯s the point of continuing?It makes no difference.¡± Meng Changqing felt a surge of determination,confirming a suspicion. Xi Yingqing had likely noticed his sword intent back in the sect hall. The chief was no ordinary person,possessing a cultivation level far beyond Duanmu Yang and the others. ¡°I¡¯ll do my best,¡±Meng Changqing nodded,transforming into a sword light and flying down.Even the genuine Heaven and Earth Strange Fire wouldn¡¯t intimidate him.Sword intent,as the pinnacle of martial arts,augmented his sword technique by over forty times and possessed numerous profound powers. Though formidable,the Strange Fire was still an external tool.Its full potential couldn¡¯t be realized by someone at the Dao Creation Realm,especially a remnant fire like Duanmu Longque¡¯s,which made it even less of a concern. Nonetheless,the Strange Fire¡¯s appearance would make the battle more interesting,rather than a one-sided fight.It was also an opportunity to experience the power of Strange Fire firsthand,valuable for an alchemist like him. After consuming various high-grade pills,Duanmu Longque had mostly recovered.He transformed into a blaze of fire and entered the arena.He hadn¡¯t heard the earlier conversation,but even if he had,he wouldn¡¯t have cared. To him,Han Luoyu was the only real opponent.Now that Han Luoyu was defeated,no one from Tai Xuan Sect could challenge him. As the two entered the arena,the crowd buzzed again. ¡°Tai Xuan Sect is really persistent,not giving up and sending Meng Changqing to try.¡± ¡°As a major sect,they can¡¯t just surrender without a fight.¡± ¡°True,but the reality is harsh.Meng Changqing probably won¡¯t last five moves.¡± Boom!Boom! The two figures landed in the arena.Duanmu Longque,still bare-chested,was gradually engulfed in green flames,raising the temperature to a terrifying level,as if to burn everything to ashes. ¡°Meng...Changqing,is it?Your swordsmanship is impressive.Given time,you might pose a threat to me,but not now,¡±Duanmu Longque said,recalling Meng Changqing¡¯s battles and his impression of the¡±Sacred Spirit Slaughter Sword Technique.¡± ¡°I advise you to surrender.Otherwise,your fate may be worse than Han Luoyu¡¯s.¡± ¡°Surrender?That¡¯s what I wanted to say to you.I tend to be heavy-handed,so my master specifically reminded me not to kill you,¡±Meng Changqing smiled,seemingly unaffected by the surrounding flames. Chapter 137 Chapter 137: Linglong Holy Land... And I¡¯ll Sell Nothing, Just Die! The scene instantly quieted down. Duanmu Longque¡¯s expression showed clear astonishment. He had expected someone with at most tenth place strength on the Hidden Dragon Ranking to tremble in fear before him. But instead, the opposite happened. This person was not only unafraid but carried an air of calmness and ease, even arrogantly saying he might accidentally kill Duanmu Longque. ¡°Interesting, you¡¯re quite bold. ¡°Are you hiding your panic with this bravado?¡± Duanmu Longque twisted his neck, his gaze turning cold. ¡°Or do you have a trump card to contend with me?¡± Despite his words, he didn¡¯t believe the person before him had great strength. He possessed everything others had and even the rare Strange Fire. Why would he lose? ¡°You¡¯ll find out if we fight,¡± Meng Changqing slowly drew his sword. His entire demeanor suddenly changed, becoming like a divine sword drawn from its sheath, sharp and imposing. At the same time, countless grey lights surged from the sword mark on his right hand, covering the Crimson Sky Sword and transforming it into an unremarkable grey long sword. Boom! In an instant, the long sword seemed to come alive, with boundless killing intent soaring to the sky, tearing through the clouds. Even the surrounding flames retreated significantly. ¡°The Sacred Spirit Slaughter Sword Technique? If that¡¯s your confidence, I will crush it,¡± Duanmu Longque remarked at the pervasive killing intent. ¡°Too much talking,¡± Meng Changqing shook his head. Previously, Duanmu Longque wasn¡¯t this talkative in battle. With that, Meng Changqing didn¡¯t wait any longer and took the initiative. Whoosh! He vanished instantly without warning, catching everyone off guard. Duanmu Longque¡¯s pupils contracted as he realized he couldn¡¯t sense Meng Changqing¡¯s presence. Instinctively, he dodged backward, avoiding the sword¡¯s edge, but still lost several strands of hair. ¡°You!¡± Duanmu Longque was in disbelief. He recognized Tai Xuan Sect¡¯s Light-Chasing Sword Technique, perfected to its peak. But how could someone at the second level of the Dao Creation Realm move so fast? Even he found it hard to react without being serious. ¡°Wait, is this a secret technique?¡± Duanmu Longque¡¯s eyes narrowed as he noticed unfamiliar, obscure black characters floating on Meng Changqing¡¯s body, exuding a mysterious aura. At the same time, Meng Changqing¡¯s true essence far surpassed the second level¡¯s standard, even exceeding Duanmu Longque¡¯s. ¡°How is this possible?¡± Duanmu Longque was stunned. True essence at the second level stronger than the ninth level? What secret technique is this? No wonder I couldn¡¯t react earlier. ¡°Be serious, or I might really kill you by accident,¡± Meng Changqing smiled, pressing the attack again. ¡°You¡¯re asking for death!¡± Duanmu Longque¡¯s face showed anger. He realized the opponent was indeed formidable, especially with that extraordinary secret technique. ¡ª ¡°Linglong Daluo Tian!¡± At the Wanxiang Pavilion, Yuan Cang suddenly stood up, his pupils contracting. He sharply looked at Xi Yingqing. ¡°It seems the Linglong Daluo Tian really valued you, passing on even this secret technique.¡± His words carried a chilling tone. Xi Yingqing¡¯s expression didn¡¯t change, but inside, he was surprised. As an incarnation, he couldn¡¯t detect everything, so he didn¡¯t know about this secret technique. ¡°Linglong Daluo Tian,¡± Xi Yingqing recalled. This was an exclusive secret of the Linglong Holy Land, drastically enhancing the quality of blood, true qi, and true essence. However, perfecting this technique was challenging, requiring rare and precious resources, some possibly extinct and found only in ancient places. How did this young man master it? ¡°The family¡¯s disciple from the Holy Land must have passed it on,¡± Xi Yingqing thought. This guy! How could he not be afraid? He should be like Han Luoyu, shocked and disbelieving, then living in perpetual fear! Boom! The fire serpent roared, and palm strikes rained down. With the addition of the Strange Fire¡¯s power, the palm strikes became much stronger. Even Meng Changqing appeared somewhat ¡®embarrassed¡¯. ¡°It¡¯s over. With the Strange Fire, the outcome is decided.¡± On the high platform, many disciples shook their heads. Meng Changqing had already exceeded their expectations by lasting this long against Duanmu Longque. They thought he would be defeated within five moves. Who would have thought that Meng Changqing not only held his ground but even seemed to have the upper hand at times? This truly surprised everyone. Han Luoyu looked at Xi Yingqing. Seeing his master¡¯s calm expression, he felt a stir in his heart. Could it be that Meng Changqing had another trump card? But what could counter a Strange Fire? ¡ª ¡°Meng Changqing! How do you feel now? Can you clearly sense the power of the Strange Fire?!¡± Duanmu Longque stopped and exhaled lightly. It was clear that even he found it strenuous to use the Strange Fire. After all, it was a foreign object, not truly his own. To fully control it, he would need to reach Divine Attainment Realm. Not far away, a figure slowly emerged ¡ª it was Meng Changqing. Aside from some scorched edges of his clothes, he was uninjured. The defense granted by his Stone Human bloodline was no joke. ¡°I see.¡± Meng Changqing nodded slightly. In his battle with Duanmu Longque, he discovered the Strange Fire¡¯s powers, which included burning and devouring. It seemed capable of consuming any type of energy to enhance itself. Even the killing sword energy had been partially devoured. He wondered if it could convert this consumed energy into pure power for its host. ¡°Duanmu Longque, let¡¯s make a deal. Can you sell this fire to me?¡± Meng Changqing, excited by his discovery, asked sincerely. With this fire, refining pills in the future would be much more convenient. Hearing this, Duanmu Longque closed his eyes, his face twitching. ¡°Sell you what? You can go to hell!¡± He roared as he opened his eyes. He had never disliked someone so much! No matter the situation, Meng Changqing always appeared calm and unaffected. ¡°Ten Thousand Fires: Flame Dragon Prison Palm!¡± Duanmu Longque clasped his hands together, preparing to unleash his strongest move to obliterate that detestable face. ¡°It seems we can¡¯t negotiate. Let¡¯s end this.¡± Meng Changqing shook his head slightly. He had just asked casually. Now that he understood the Strange Fire¡¯s abilities, there was no need to continue. It was time to end the battle. With this thought, Meng Changqing slowly closed his eyes, his consciousness sinking into his mind. The immense, illusory sword within him seemed to awaken. Boom! In the next second, the world seemed to tremble, falling into absolute silence. An indescribable oppressive force suddenly enveloped everything, making everyone feel as if a mountain was pressing down on them, even struggling to breathe! ¡°What¡¯s happening?!¡± Someone exclaimed in horror. This sensation had come too suddenly. ¡°Wait!¡± Another person cried out. They noticed their swords trembling violently, as if they were about to break free from their sheaths. Chapter 138 Chapter 138: The Killing Sword Intent, One Sword of No Life ¨C Everything Ceases to Exist! Whoosh! Yuan Cang of Wanxiang Pavilion suddenly stood up. An expression of disbelief appeared in his eyes. ¡°This is!!!¡± Boom! While everyone was still in a state of confusion, a gigantic illusory ancient sword rose from behind Meng Changqing. It stood between heaven and earth, incredibly grand, vast, and majestic! At the moment of its appearance, all the sword wielders¡¯ swords could no longer be restrained and flew out of their sheaths! Dense, forming a sea of swords, seemingly endless. They circled around Meng Changqing. This was an astonishing and shocking scene. All the swords seemed to be worshiping the legendary master of swordsmanship! The clattering sword sounds seemed to express fervor and submission! ¡°What is this?¡± Everyone was shocked. Because this was beyond their comprehension! It didn¡¯t seem like sword qi, but it was stronger than sword qi! ¡°Sword intent!!!¡± Duanmu Yang exclaimed in horror. His entire expression was almost twisted with disbelief! ¡°Impossible, how can it be sword intent!!¡± Qin Hong was also in disbelief. ¡°What? Sword intent?!¡± The words of the high-ranking members naturally reached everyone¡¯s ears. Everyone was stunned. God knows what they heard! Sword intent? The legendary true meaning of martial arts, the highest realm? How is it possible! Isn¡¯t this at least something that can only be realized after reaching the Divine Attainment Realm and opening the spiritual secret treasure?! But Meng Changqing is only in the Dao Creation Realm. And he is only how old? He looks only twenty! Realizing sword intent at twenty, who would believe it? But the scene in front of them was undeniably real. ¡°My heavens, I have cultivated for most of my life, is this seeing the reincarnation of the Sword God?¡± someone said tremblingly. Whoosh! Even Han Luoyu, in a severely injured state, couldn¡¯t help but stand up. He slightly opened his mouth, his eyes were full of shock. He could understand realizing martial arts qi at this age, after all, he also had it, but sword intent? Isn¡¯t this too exaggerated! Is this really something a human can achieve? At least in his knowledge. Absolutely impossible! Unless it¡¯s the legendary world-defying genius! Han Luoyu suddenly looked at Xi Yingqing. It could be clearly seen that blood was oozing from his seven orifices! Boom! A huge palm print shot out across the sky... ¡°It¡¯s over.¡± Meng Changqing gripped his sword with his right hand and performed the sword move. ¡°Sacred Spirit Slaughter:One Sword, No Life.¡± As the words fell! The illusory giant sword trembled. The next second, endless ripples swept out. Within a radius of nearly a kilometer, there was an earth-shattering change. Everyone was terrified to find that everything around them had changed. It was like a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood! Corpses were everywhere! Broken limbs and dismembered bodies! Countless swords were stuck in the bloody, muddy ground. ¡°Killing intent!¡± Yuan Cang stood with his hands behind his back, murmuring softly. The essence of sword intent depended on the sword technique. With a killing sword technique, the resulting intent was killing intent! Once sword intent was activated, not only didn;t it enhance the sword move, but it also had the means to drag people into its realm! Like a domain! Being in someone else¡¯s domain means standing on their home ground, how can you win? Unless one¡¯s mental will was strong enough, it¡¯s impossible to escape! So having sword intent in the Dao Creation Realm was completely an overwhelming advantage! Even more absurd than possessing a strange fire! ¡°No need to panic. We are just in Meng Changqing¡¯s realm.¡± Seeing the disciples around him a bit flustered, Mo Shukuang immediately explained, ¡°Calm your mind, focus, and feel it carefully. If you gain something, it will greatly benefit your future.¡± Upon hearing this, all the disciples suddenly realized. They hurriedly focused on sensing it. Sword intent! This is such a rare thing! Don¡¯t miss it! Swoosh! A sword was swung out. Heaven and earth seemed to surge like silk, the brilliant sword light was both dazzling and filled with danger. It also cut through the incoming palm print. Crack! The palm print was like fragile paper. It shattered instantly. Screech! The palm print contained a large amount of strange fire power. So the Ten Thousand Serpent Devouring Heart Flame was also seriously injured, emitting an instinctive wail. ¡°I lost.¡± Seeing the growing sword light, Duanmu Longque fully recognized the reality, his face suddenly turned gray. As soon as the words fell, the sword light brushed past, cutting off a few strands of hair. But even so, a lot of his vitality was shattered, and many white hairs appeared on his head. One Sword, No Life ¨C Nothing Survives. This was the most powerful move of the Sacred Spirit Slaughter Sword Technique. With absolute death energy, it shattered all vitality, extremely domineering, and with the amplification of sword intent, its power increased several levels. So even though Meng Changqing deliberately held back, he still seriously injured Duanmu Longque! Chapter 139 Chapter 139: The Monstrous Genius, The Bearing of a Sword King, The Southern Genius Battle! As the words fell, the entire place erupted, stirring up a huge commotion. Everyone was both excited and thrilled. After all, no one could have imagined that the final outcome would be like this! The winner was not Duanmu Longque, but the initially underestimated Meng Changqing. ¡°Sword intent at this age, truly a heaven-sent genius!¡± ¡°So, the real trump card of the Tai Xuan Sect wasn¡¯t Han Luoyu, but Meng Changqing!¡± ¡°They¡¯ve hidden him so well!¡± ¡°With such a monstrous talent, the future of Tai Xuan Sect is unimaginable!¡± ¡°Not just a top-grade sect, it feels like it could become a great sect second only to the holy lands!¡± For a time, everyone was talking. ¡°Our young master won first place!¡± The members of the Meng family were also overjoyed. To be honest, like most people, they didn¡¯t have any hope in their hearts. They were just being defiant. However, the young master gave them an unparalleled surprise. ¡°Where¡¯s the one who said he would crawl out earlier? Come out now!¡± At this moment, the family members were standing tall, very proud. Ahem. Many people quickly turned their heads. Who would dare to admit it? ¡°Have you ever heard of the Yunshui Meng family?¡± Someone couldn¡¯t help but ask. ¡°No, but judging by the cultivation of these Meng family members, it should just be a small family. Who would have thought they could produce such a terrifying descendant? It¡¯s truly enviable.¡± Upon hearing this, everyone felt a wave of similar emotions. It seemed they could already see a powerful family rising in the Tianling Prefecture! ¡°We won!¡± On the high platform, many disciples were cheering and jumping with joy! Their faces showed expressions of surprise and delight. Today was truly full of twists and turns! Too exciting! They never expected that Junior Brother Meng, who always had a free pass, was hiding such formidable strength! Luckily, there was Junior Brother Meng. But encountering Xi Yingqing¡¯s increasingly cold eyes, his heart instinctively quivered. He had to give up. However, as a high-ranking elder of Wanxiang Pavilion, he couldn¡¯t lose in terms of momentum. As such, he still maintained a smile. ¡°By the way, in half a year, there will be the Southern Genius Battle. I hope to see... you then.¡± Yuan Cang looked at Meng Changqing, speaking softly. Especially the last word, he emphasized it heavily, as if implying something. Upon hearing this, Meng Changqing¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly. It seemed that his sect and this Wanxiang Pavilion were not on good terms, possibly having some kind of enmity. Otherwise, a supposedly ¡®neutral¡¯ Wanxiang Pavilion shouldn¡¯t have this attitude. After speaking, Yuan Cang led the people of Wanxiang Pavilion and turned to leave. ¡°Tai Xuan Sect!¡± Duanmu Yang looked at Xi Yingqing with hatred, then at Meng Changqing, and finally sighed deeply before leaving. After that, the Giant Spirit Sect did the same. Only the old city lord of Wind and Cloud City bowed to Xi Yingqing. Although the Nie family had some involvement in this martial arts gathering, given the trend of the times, the Nie family was actually helpless. From a rational standpoint, it was understandable. ¡°Sect Leader, Peak Masters, I am honored not to have disgraced you.¡± Meng Changqing retracted his gaze and cupped his hands slightly. ¡°Well done!¡± Mo Shukuang stepped forward, patted Meng Changqing¡¯s shoulder, and laughed. ¡°To comprehend sword intent at your age really exceeded my expectations. I thought it would at least take the Divine Attainment Realm, After all, our sect¡¯s first leader comprehended it at the Divine Attainment Realm.¡± ¡°Now it seems, you are even better than the ancestors,¡± Xi Yingqing said with a smile. His words shook everyone. Such praise, even more so than during the sect master¡¯s hall ceremony! The first sect leader was the founder of Tai Xuan Sect! It was said that he was an incredibly talented individual. The sect leader actually said Meng Changqing was better than the sect¡¯s founder. Before, they would not have agreed, but now, they genuinely recognized it. How many people throughout history have comprehended the supreme sword intent at this age? It could be counted on one hand, right? Chapter 140 Chapter 140: The Young Master Becomes the Young Sect Leader?! And Successfully Adds a Friend! ¡°The Sect Leader¡¯s praise is too much,¡± Meng Changqing said humbly. Indeed, at his age, possessing sword intent was truly an extraordinary feat. ¡°No need to be humble. If you are a light, you should shine brightly. Your future path will continue to be so,¡± Xi Yingqing said with a smile. Then, he stepped forward and rose into the air above the training grounds. At this moment, only the three major forces and the people of Wanxiang Pavilion had left. The other invited forces were still present. ¡°Next, I have an announcement,¡± Xi Yingqing said, standing with his hands behind his back. Everyone immediately looked up, very curious about what Xi Yingqing was going to say. After all, what could be more important than the promotion of the sect? And the sect¡¯s promotion had already been announced by Wanxiang Pavilion. ¡°From now on, Meng Changqing will be the successor of this sect, the Young Sect Leader of the Tai Xuan Sect!¡± As these words fell, gasps of astonishment echoed everywhere. The Young Sect Leader! The successor of a first-grade sect! What power and status this title held, equivalent to the future ruler of a region! ¡°Elder, did we hear wrong? The Young Master has become the Young Sect Leader of Tai Xuan Sect?¡± a member of the Meng family couldn¡¯t help but ask, his face full of disbelief. ¡°You heard right!¡± The elder of the family was trembling with excitement. He swore that in his nearly hundred years of life, he had never experienced a day as thrilling as today. The Young Sect Leader of Tai Xuan Sect! What kind of ancestral blessings were needed to create such a situation? He seemed to see the family becoming a major clan in Tianling Prefecture! ¡°Calm down!¡± The third elder of the Meng family coughed lightly, pretending to be calm. But his hands were trembling under his sleeves. On the high platform, the prodigies were also in shock. The news was too sudden, catching them completely off guard. Moreover, in their minds, the successor was always... Instinctively, everyone looked at Han Luoyu. Han Luoyu¡¯s lips were slightly pursed, but he showed little expression. He knew that his master had never groomed him as a successor but purely as a disciple. If his master had chosen someone similar to him today, he would have fought for it. But with Meng Changqing¡¯s demonstrated potential and strength, which were far beyond his own, he had no complaints. With this in mind, Han Luoyu clasped his hands in salute to Meng Changqing. ¡°Greetings to the Young Sect Leader!¡± ¡°The innate sword body, finally got it,¡± Meng Changqing¡¯s smile grew wider. This was something he had always wanted. Oh, and he needed to get the ¡°Overlord Meridian¡± as well. People were truly greedy. Once they get something, they want more. ¡°Hey, is it really worth being so happy just because I agreed to be your friend?¡± Mo Xiaoyu¡¯s eyes flickered, and her cheeks blushed slightly at Meng Changqing¡¯s ¡®sincere¡¯ smile. ¡°Of course,¡± Meng Changqing didn¡¯t think much about it. He just wanted to go back and select the attributes and fuse them. Satisfied with the answer, Mo Xiaoyu turned away, her big eyes flickering with unknown thoughts. ¡°Alright, the martial arts competition is over. Everyone, disperse. The ranking rewards will be distributed by the sect later,¡± Mo Shukuang announced. The so-called ranking was actually the stage rewards. ¡°Yes,¡± all the disciples responded and began to leave, as did the peak masters. ¡°As for you, stay here. The Sect Leader should have more to say to you,¡± Mo Shukuang said, then left with Mo Xiaoyu. Soon, Xi Yingqing appeared. ¡°Sect Leader,¡± Meng Changqing cupped his hands slightly. ¡°The Meng family is here today. I have informed them to meet you at Spirit Peak. Go and chat with your family first. Afterward, come to the Sect Leader¡¯s hall to see me,¡± Xi Yingqing said with a smile. ¡°Yes,¡± Meng Changqing nodded. In the next moment, Xi Yingqing disappeared from sight. It wasn¡¯t just fast speed. He completely vanished, as if he had been extracted from this space. ¡°This is the Sect Leader¡¯s power,¡± Meng Changqing¡¯s eyes flickered. It was said that the higher the realm, the more the essence of cultivation changed, shifting from oneself to the laws of heaven and earth. Perhaps the Sect Leader had reached this level! ¡°Heaven and Earth laws,¡± Meng Changqing murmured, then shook his head. It was still a distant concept for him. In the coming time, he needed to focus on cultivation and first reach the Divine Attainment Realm. The Spiritual Hidden Treasure! This was the most mysterious and powerful hidden treasure of the human body! Chapter 141 Chapter 141: How Arrogant is the Zhengyi Holy Land! On Spirit Peak, many members of the Meng family were present. Although their cultivation levels were average, passing disciples showed them great respect, for they were the kin of Meng Changqing, the newly appointed Young Master of Tai Xuan Sect. ¡°I never thought I¡¯d stand here one day,¡± one Meng family member said excitedly as he gazed out at the rolling sea of clouds and majestic scenery. ¡°Do you think we have a chance to join Tai Xuan Sect for training?¡± another asked hopefully. ¡°Forget it. Look at your qualifications. Don¡¯t come here to trouble the Young Master and end up being an embarrassment in the outer sect for life,¡± someone retorted. ¡°True,¡± the hopeful one nodded regretfully. Among the Meng family, only the Young Master was outstanding. The rest were quite ordinary. The elders of the Meng family heard this and fell into deep thought. They did harbor such hopes, knowing that training in Tai Xuan Sect promised a better future than within the family. However, it didn¡¯t seem right to exploit the Young Master¡¯s new position for personal gain, especially when their qualifications were lacking. Perhaps the next generation might produce some good talents. Gu Hongyu stood nearby, lost in thought. The reality felt like a dream. She never expected Meng Changqing to achieve his current status as the Young Master of a first-rank sect and to possess such power. At just twenty, he had comprehended the legendary supreme sword intent. ¡°Remember when you were ruined more thoroughly than I was, yet Changqing didn¡¯t inherit anything from you. How could he...¡± Gu Hongyu struggled to understand, attributing it to Meng Changqing¡¯s personal opportunities. In the cultivation world, luck, though unseen, was crucial. Many great figures rose from obscurity through such fortune. ¡°Young Master!¡± Suddenly, an excited voice from the family brought her back to reality. She turned to see Meng Changqing walking towards them, every step bathed in sunlight, appearing radiant and sacred. ¡°Young Master,¡± voices rang out as all family members, including the elders, bowed deeply. ¡°No need for such formalities, especially you, Elders,¡± Meng Changqing smiled, helping the foremost elder to his feet. This elder was his third grandfather, the highest-ranking member of the Meng family. ¡°Zhengyi Holy Land is the foremost of the four holy lands. They are incredibly domineering, claiming to be the rightful rulers of the heavens and determining all order. Anyone who defies them is considered rebellious and doomed,¡± Gu Hongyu explained, anger flashing in her eyes. ¡°Your mother was from an ancient clan and a top disciple of Linglong Holy Land. But because she saved a demonic cultivator, she was judged by Zhengyi Holy Land, accused of colluding with demons and falling from grace. She was forced to cripple herself and was expelled from both the sect and her clan,¡± Gu Hongyu recounted, her voice heavy with emotion. ¡°After many assassination attempts, she met your father here in Tianling Prefecture, but the injuries eventually took their toll after your birth. Both passed away due to their severe injuries,¡± Gu Hongyu continued, providing Meng Changqing with a clearer picture of his past. ¡°Having escaped those assassinations, it seemed the endless turmoil finally ceased with her death. ¡°And that¡¯s the story,¡± Gu Hongyu concluded, patting Meng Changqing¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Did the Linglong Holy Land just stand by while one of their disciples was ruined?¡± Meng Changqing asked, appearing calm yet with a tinge of coldness. ¡°Zhengyi Holy Land is unmatched, not even other holy lands can compare. Moreover, Linglong Holy Land was undergoing a significant crisis back then and lacked the strength to intervene. As for her ancient clan, they wouldn¡¯t dare oppose Zhengyi Holy Land,¡± Gu Hongyu explained, shaking her head. ¡°I suggest you let go of any thoughts of revenge. Live a peaceful life and focus on your cultivation.¡± With that, Gu Hongyu left, but not before handing Meng Changqing a token. ¡°This belonged to your mother. It might be useful someday.¡± As she departed, Meng Changqing took a deep breath, processing the new information. He had speculated about his heritage, but the reality exceeded his imagination. Holy lands were legendary, and to think his mother and aunt were once disciples of such a place! Though Gu Hongyu was filled with anger, Meng Changqing found it hard to fully empathize, never having known his parents. Any feelings of attachment were faint, born out of a sense of bloodline rather than experience. ¡°Sometimes, even if you don¡¯t seek trouble, trouble finds you,¡± Meng Changqing muttered. He had no desire to antagonize the holy land, but he couldn¡¯t avoid preparing for potential future conflicts. ¡°I must continue to cultivate,¡± he resolved, his lightheartedness vanishing. He didn¡¯t want to leave his fate to an uncertain future. Regardless of what lies ahead, he needed to grow strong enough to protect himself and those he cared about. Chapter 142 Chapter 142: Heaven-grade Technique, Taking a Disciple for His Master, Junior Brother Becomes Martial Uncle Meng! Leaving Spirit Peak, Meng Changqing headed to the sect master¡¯s hall, because Xi Yingqing had asked him to come after the ceremony. Boom! The heavy doors opened. In sight was the tall figure standing before the sect master¡¯s throne. Wearing a grey robe, with an empty left sleeve. ¡°You¡¯re here.¡± Xi Yingqing turned around. ¡°Yes.¡± Meng Changqing took a step inside. In an instant, the surroundings changed completely, like being in the starry sky. In the distance, there were streams of light and giant floating stars, awe-inspiring. ¡°What is this?¡± Meng Changqing was slightly stunned. ¡°You can understand it as a domain, a spiritual domain. ¡°Its function is similar to your sword intent. ¡°When your mental will is strong enough, it can influence others.¡± Xi Yingqing explained. ¡°I see.¡± Meng Changqing nodded. Although he could also do this, it was with sword intent, not pure spiritual cultivation. The sect master probably wanted him to experience spiritual power to facilitate future breakthroughs, as he was already at the Dao Creation Realm, next would be the Divine Attainment Realm! ¡°I know you have many questions, and I will explain them one by one.¡± Xi Yingqing smiled. ¡°Yes.¡± Meng Changqing indeed had many questions. ¡°In fact, when you entered the inner sect, you already caught our attention.¡± Xi Yingqing walked towards Meng Changqing, each step causing ripples in the void, ¡°A disciple comprehending martial qi at the Apperture Connecting Realm, your potential is evident, comparable to our ancestors. ¡°Logically, you should have been given focused training early on. ¡°As for why it waited until now, I wanted to see if you had great fortune besides potential.¡± ¡°Great fortune?¡± Meng Changqing raised an eyebrow. ¡°For cultivators, talent and comprehension seem most important, but they are not. To become a true top powerhouse, fortune is key. ¡°As the saying goes, ¡®Man can achieve great things only with great fortune.¡¯ ¡°So I wanted to see. The gap was vast. They were not on the same level. ¡°The sect indeed has Heaven-grade techniques, which is expected since our sect is not an ordinary top-tier force.¡± Meng Changqing thought. Recently, his understanding of the sect¡¯s strength had been growing. The more he understood, the more he felt its depth! Even now, having risen to a top-tier sect, it was among the best or perhaps even stronger! ¡°These resources are for you.¡± Xi Yingqing waved his right hand, and a ring flew over. Meng Changqing caught it immediately. When his consciousness entered it, his heart couldn¡¯t help but tremble. All fourth-grade pills! In large quantities, a dazzling array. Moreover, all different types, avoiding resistance issues. ¡°Enough for you to reach the peak of Dao Creation Realm, and there¡¯s a fifth-grade Transformation Pill to help you reach the Divine Attainment Realm.¡± Xi Yingqing said slowly. Clearly, everything was arranged for Meng Changqing. In some ways, Meng Changqing¡¯s treatment now exceeded the rewards for the first place in the martial contest. After all, he was the young sect master. And more would come in the future! ¡°Thank you, sect master.¡± Meng Changqing retracted his gaze, seriously saying. With these, reaching the Divine Attainment Realm was guaranteed! ¡°Also, there¡¯s another matter.¡± Xi Yingqing took a deep breath, smiling, ¡°I intended to take you as a disciple, but you comprehended sword intent on your own. I realized I have little to teach you. ¡°So, instead, I will take you as a disciple for my master, and we will be senior brothers.¡± ¡°...¡± Meng Changqing was stunned. He was ready to become a disciple, given the circumstances, since he was about to learn the sect¡¯s ultimate techniques. Who knew the sect master planned to make him a junior brother! But this was good too. His cultivation method didn¡¯t require a master! But friends! Additionally, if he and the sect master were senior and junior brothers, they would be equals! Same with other peak masters! This way, making friends would be much easier! Chapter 143 Chapter 144: Fusing the Innate Sword Body, and... the Abyss of Heavenly Demons!!! Unfortunately, the person before him was not the real body of the sect master, so he couldn¡¯t see the true attributes. Otherwise, he would have tried to make friends on the spot! ¡°There are many more arrangements, but they will have to wait until you reach the Divine Attainment Realm,¡± Xi Yingqing said with a smile. ¡°I understand, Sect Master... Senior Brother.¡± Meng Changqing nodded, changing his address. ¡°Go and cultivate, reach the Divine Attainment Realm soon, so I can teach you more things,¡± Xi Yingqing said. ¡°Yes.¡± Meng Changqing turned around. The surrounding spiritual domain also disappeared. In sight was the wide gate. After Meng Changqing left, many figures appeared behind Xi Yingqing. They were the peak masters, except for the Grand Elder of the sect. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect, at this age, to gain another junior brother,¡± Shangguan Zhi shook his head and said. ¡°Guess when this junior brother will surpass you?¡± the Formation Peak master said with a smile. ¡°I don¡¯t know, but he will definitely surpass you first!¡± Shangguan Zhi glared at her. Because his cultivation was a bit higher. ¡°Alright, the appearance of Junior Brother Meng gives us hope.¡± The elderly female master of Medicine King Peak coughed lightly. ¡°Is Second Senior Brother not here?¡± Mo Shukuang looked around. The Second Senior Brother was the Grand Elder of the sect, named Lin Xuankong. ¡°You know his thoughts, he has always opposed our actions, only seeking peace.¡± Shangguan Zhi shook his head, then his eyes showed strong killing intent, ¡°But if we can¡¯t... what¡¯s the point of living like this!¡± Hearing this, everyone¡¯s face showed the same expression, except for Xi Yingqing. He looked somewhat desolate and sad. ¡°The blame for what happened back then lies with me. ¡°But the sky above must still change!¡± As he spoke, Xi Yingqing¡¯s eyes became extremely sharp. ¡ª Returning to Spirit Peak, Meng Changqing went directly into the cultivation hall and activated the formation. Next, he chose his attribute! Innate Sword Body! An extremely rare and powerful constitution! For those who practice swordsmanship, it was a dream come true. Sitting cross-legged, Meng Changqing silently chanted in his heart. ¡°System, use the attribute selection card to obtain the Innate Sword Body!¡± Ding! ¡¾One selection card consumed, successfully obtained!¡¿ ¡°System, fuse the Innate Sword Body!¡± At the same time, Flame Sun Valley, Giant Spirit Sect, and Wind and Cloud City, the three forces, handed over half of their territory as required. And it was the more resource-rich parts. As a result, Tai Xuan Sect entered a very rapid development phase... Almost every day, there were disciples reaching the Sea Cleaving Realm. Of course, besides the subsequent resource supply, the role of the Xuanqing Realm also played a part. Those disciples fully absorbed the gains from the secret realm and finally reached the point of breaking the cocoon. In comparison, the other three forces became increasingly declining. And in the future, the gap between them would only grow larger! Boom! Suddenly, the Dao bell rang! Ripples swept around, indicating a major event. In the sect master¡¯s hall, Xi Yingqing stood before the throne. Beside him were many peak masters. The previously often absent Grand Elder was also present. ¡°The Wanxiang Pavilion has already prepared to withdraw the guardians of the Demon Abyss. ¡°From now on, it will be up to Tai Xuan Sect to guard it!¡± Xi Yingqing said slowly. Guarding the Demon Abyss was the duty of a first-grade sect. Previously, since there was no first-grade sect in Tianling Prefecture, it was done by the Holy Lands or the Wangxiang Pavilion. ¡°If I remember correctly, this Demon Abyss is the rare and dangerous Abyss of Heavenly Demons,¡± the Grand Elder thought for a moment and said. In the cultivation world, Demon Abysses and Monster Lands represent foreign domains. In ancient times, humans, although victorious over a hundred races and gaining control of the Central Province, the alien races were not exterminated, especially the demon and monster races. They still retained considerable strength, often trying to return to the Central Province, finding weak points in space and opening rifts as their primary means. Once a rift opened, reinforced by special power, it became hard to close. Over time, it formed a permanent passage. Called by the Holy Lands as Demon Abysses and Monster Lands. The demons were of two kinds. One was Heavenly Demons, the other Earthly Demons. Heavenly Demons were the most dangerous. Because they have no physical form, they were a mass of spirit, extremely powerful spiritual consciousness. They were able to easily invade the sea of consciousness of living beings. Possess, parasitize, and take everything! Earthly Demons were the opposite. Their bodies were inherently incredibly strong, far surpassing humans. Only the best among humans could contend with them! For a first-grade sect or great sect, it¡¯s best to guard an Earthly Demon Abyss or Monster Land. Because even disciples not in the Divine Attainment Realm could participate. But the Heavenly Demon Abyss was different. Without opening the spiritual secret treasure, it¡¯s too dangerous. ¡°Though dangerous, it¡¯s also a treasure trove. ¡°Heavenly Demons are highly accomplished in spirit. If they can be slain, the extracted Heavenly Demon Qi will be the best supplement for Divine Attainment Realm warriors.¡± Mo Shukuang said. Chapter 144 Chapter 144: Ancient Demonic Cultivation Method, Opening the Sea of Consciousness! ¡°Not to mention the elusive nature of Heavenly Demons, making them extremely difficult to kill. Extracting Heavenly Demon Qi is not easy either.¡± The elderly female master of Medicine King Peak shook her head and said, ¡°That Qi is the essence of the Heavenly Demon. Once it is touched, they usually choose to self-destruct, leaving nothing behind.¡± ¡°If only we had the supreme cultivation method of the Ancient Demonic Sect.¡± Shangguan Zhi said, ¡°What was it called again?¡± ¡°The ¡®Supreme Commanding Demon Technique,''¡± Xi Yingqing said slowly, ¡°This method was created specifically to deal with the Demon Race. It can not only imprison Demon Race members but also devour their essence to enhance one¡¯s own power. ¡°Unfortunately, this method was lost to time ages ago.¡± ¡°Yes, the demonic arts of old were the true demonic arts, unlike the heretical techniques of today,¡± Mo Shukuang said with a tone of disdain. ¡°But regardless, we must attempt to extract the Heavenly Demon Qi. If successful, the benefits will be immense.¡± Xi Yingqing said, then looked at the elderly female master, ¡°Eighth Senior Sister, with your current alchemical skills, can you extract it?¡± ¡°My ¡®Fire Phoenix Alchemy Scripture¡¯ has reached the seventh level, and with the Heavenly Origin Profound Realm Furnace, I can give it a try.¡± The elderly master thought for a moment and nodded slightly. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s proceed with this plan. Additionally, we can take the Divine Attainment Realm disciples there for some training.¡± Xi Yingqing concluded. For an ordinary first-grade sect, the Heavenly Demons Abyss might be extremely dangerous. But for the Tai Xuan Sect, it¡¯s manageable. If they could exert their full power, they could even directly suppress this Heavenly Demons Abyss! The problem was that they couldn¡¯t. ¡ª The news of Meng Changqing becoming the Young Sect Master had already shaken the entire sect. But after that, the news of the Sect Master taking a disciple on behalf of his master caused an even greater stir, shocking everyone in the sect! Taking a disciple on behalf of his master, what did this mean? It meant that from now on, the Young Sect Master was not only far above them in status but also in seniority! In the future, when they meet, they must either call him Young Sect Master or... Martial Uncle! When she heard this news, the first to find it unacceptable was Mo Xiaoyu! Not long ago, she wanted to be his senior sister, but now it¡¯s completely reversed! She must call him Martial Uncle! Martial Uncle... Meng?! The so-called brain was not the Sea of Consciousness. It was just the residence of consciousness. A conceptual term. The Sea of Consciousness was deeper. Compared to ordinary people, his path to the Divine Attainment Realm was much simpler. Firstly, he already possessed sword intent, plus the Sect Master¡¯s teachings, giving him a high understanding of spiritual matters. Also, according to the Sect Master. Sword intent helped break the innate barrier. Secondly, he had the Divine Transformation Pill. With all these foundations, it¡¯s hard to fail. Half an hour later, Meng Changqing adjusted his state. He took out the Divine Transformation Pill! Swallowed it in one gulp! Gulp! Almost the instant it entered his stomach, the vast medicinal power melted. An infinite icy sensation immediately rushed into his brain! They spread like countless tentacles, extending into the depths of his mind. Meng Changqing closed his eyes, his consciousness following closely. He seemed to enter an endless darkness. At this moment, time lost its meaning. Fortunately, the power of the Divine Transformation Pill shone like a beacon, preventing him from getting too lost. Thus, time passed bit by bit. Finally, at some point, the ¡®tentacles¡¯ stopped. And what appeared before him was a vast blue ocean. Or rather a part of it. But these oceans seemed frozen, without waves. ¡°This is the Sea of Consciousness.¡± Meng Changqing¡¯s pupils contracted, his eyes filled with shock. Because it was incredibly beautiful. An indescribable feeling. And almost at the moment of seeing it, a desire arose in his heart to possess it, knowing that once obtained, it would bring infinite benefits. He shook his head hard to clear his mind. Outside the Sea of Consciousness, there was a hazy barrier, the so-called innate barrier. Only by breaking it could one enter the Divine Realm. ¡°Let¡¯s begin.¡± Meng Changqing mobilized his sword intent, combined with the power of the Divine Transformation Pill, and began the breakthrough. Chapter 145 Chapter 145: Meeting Meng... Martial Uncle, and Finally Obtaining the Overlord Meridian! The next day, as the first rays of dawn broke, a faint cracking sound seemed to emanate from within Meng Changqing¡¯s body. At the same time, an indescribable sense of oppression suddenly spread out. Unlike the usual pressure from cultivation, this pressure seemed to act on the spirit itself, even affecting the physical world! Crack! Crack! Crack! Numerous cracks appeared in the ground, beams and pillars shook, and small stones fell from the walls. At a certain moment, Meng Changqing abruptly opened his eyes. His eyes seemed to flicker with divine light, piercing through the void! They were like two bright lamps, shining brilliantly! ¡°Divine Attainment Realm!¡± Meng Changqing slowly stood up, a smile appearing at the corner of his mouth. He had finally succeeded. Even with his deep foundation, it had taken considerable effort. That innate barrier was too resilient, difficult to penetrate. ¡°No wonder many Dao Creation Realm warriors get stuck at this point,¡± Meng Changqing couldn¡¯t help but think. Just finding the Sea of Consciousness took a lot of time, and then one had to find a way to break that barrier. The combined time required was truly hard to estimate. Many people, because of this, spend their entire lives without breaking through. ¡°If what the ancient books say is true, that humans were originally innate spirits, with all their hidden powers fully awakened from birth, how strong would they be? ¡°Unfortunately, they later encountered a calamity, causing their hidden powers to be sealed.¡± Meng Changqing had initially been skeptical of the records in the ancient books. But as he progressed step by step in his cultivation, each major breakthrough indeed felt like he was breaking a seal and regaining power. Shaking his head slightly, Meng Changqing decided not to dwell on it. After all, there was no concrete evidence to support this. He closed his eyes and shifted his vision to his Sea of Consciousness. At this moment, the innate barrier had disappeared. The vast Sea of Consciousness appeared before him, boundless and seemingly endless. However, as far as he could see, the Sea of Consciousness seemed to be frozen, completely motionless. ¡°According to the headmaster, one needs to continuously comprehend the secrets of the Sea of Consciousness to melt the ice and absorb the soul power within.¡± Meng Changqing¡¯s consciousness, vague and almost translucent, was now sitting cross-legged in the center of the Sea of Consciousness. Below him, the once-frozen Sea of Consciousness had started to melt slightly. It was visibly clear that the melted water was continuously flowing into Meng Changqing¡¯s consciousness, making his form gradually more solid. He naturally didn¡¯t want to call him Martial Uncle either. But being a direct disciple of the headmaster, this relationship took precedence over the title of Young Sect Master. ¡°We aren¡¯t that far apart in age. How about we just consider ourselves friends in private?¡± Meng Changqing pressed on. After all, given his current status, Han Luoyu had little choice but to agree. ¡°How can that be proper?¡± Han Luoyu quickly said, ¡°If the headmaster finds out, he¡¯ll say I don¡¯t understand the rules.¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine. If the headmaster says anything, you can just blame it on me.¡± Meng Changqing patted Han Luoyu¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Or do you actually reject me in your heart and don¡¯t want to be my friend?¡± Hearing this, Han Luoyu¡¯s pupils contracted slightly. ¡°Young Sect Master, you¡¯re overthinking it. How could I have such thoughts? ¡°I already accepted you in the martial competition.¡± ¡°Then it¡¯s settled. We¡¯ll be friends in private!¡± Meng Changqing¡¯s face immediately broke into a smile. Having a high status made it easy to make friends. Even prodigies and top-tier geniuses could be easily won over! There was no need for elaborate schemes! ¡°Then I¡¯ll follow your lead.¡± Han Luoyu felt somewhat helpless. How could there be someone who forces others to be their friend? What a strange hobby. Ding! ¡¾Successfully added Han Luoyu as a friend!¡¿ ¡¾Current favorability: one star!¡¿ ¡¾Attribute pending selection.¡¿ The system¡¯s voice echoed in his mind. Unfortunately, there was no additional reward this time. But that didn¡¯t matter. Getting the ¡¾Overlord Meridian¡¿ was already great. Thinking of this, Meng Changqing felt very pleased. He hadn¡¯t expected to gain such an unexpected benefit from this visit. ¡°Are you also here to see the headmaster?¡± Returning to his senses, Meng Changqing asked. ¡°Yes, but you go first, Young Sect Master. I¡¯m not in a hurry.¡± Although they agreed to consider each other friends, Han Luoyu still maintained a respectful demeanor. Besides the difference in their status, as he had mentioned earlier, the martial competition had made him deeply admire Meng Changqing. ¡°Alright.¡± Meng Changqing nodded. Chapter 146 Chapter 146: The True Form of the Headmaster, a Terrifying Panel! Boom! After entering the main hall, the door closed behind him. Meng Changqing held a token in his hand. He infused it with his true essence. The token emitted a faint glow. Then, a giant vortex appeared before him. It seemed chaotic inside. It swallowed his gaze. He couldn¡¯t look at it for long. ¡°Come in,¡± a voice called out. Meng Changqing raised an eyebrow. Previously, the headmaster¡¯s senior brother always came out, but this time he had to go in. Without thinking much, Meng Changqing entered. He felt a sense of vertigo. The surrounding scene changed dramatically. Before him was an endless sea of flowers, incredibly beautiful, like a paradise on earth. ¡°Is it a secret realm?¡± Meng Changqing raised an eyebrow, ¡°No, it seems like a spiritual world, but not entirely.¡± After entering the Divine Attainment Realm, Meng Changqing could naturally sense the presence of soul power. ¡°It seems the headmaster¡¯s spiritual cultivation has already reached a very high level!¡± Meng Changqing¡¯s heart trembled. ¡°You¡¯re here.¡± The voice pulled Meng Changqing back to reality. He looked in the direction of the voice. In the distance, he saw a giant flower. Seated in the center was Xi Yingqing. ¡°Hmm?¡± Meng Changqing suddenly felt that Xi Yingqing looked different today compared to usual. His hair was longer and completely white. Could it be? Meng Changqing had a suspicion. He immediately activated his Observation Eye. Basic Information: ¡¾Name: Xi Yingqing¡¿ ¡¾Race: Human¡¿ ¡¾Cultivation: Life and Death Realm, First Level (Tentative)¡¿ Attribute Information: ¡¾Root Bone: First Grade¡¿ ¡¾Comprehension: Exceptional¡¿ ¡¾Talent: Overlord Meridian¡¿ ¡¾Physique: Sacred Martial Body¡¿ ¡¾Cultivation Techniques and Martial Arts: ¡°Eternal Heaven Sutra: Undying Truth Heavenly King Art¡± (Volume Five), ¡°Eternal Heaven Sutra: Three Disasters Nine Tribulations Destruction Divine Fist¡± (Mastery), ¡°Eternal Heaven Sutra: Divine Fist of Truth¡± (Perfection)...¡¿ ¡°Due to your current level, you cannot practice much of its content, so I have selected two parts for you. ¡°Both are of the initial heavenly grade. ¡°They are ¡®Eternal Heaven Sutra: Undying Truth Heavenly King Art¡¯ (Volume One) ¡°And ¡®Divine Fist of Truth¡¯. ¡°It¡¯s a pity, the scripture originally contained sword techniques with great power, but the first sect leader¡¯s untimely death prevented them from being passed down. ¡°So I can only pass on the fist technique to you. ¡°For sword techniques, go to Senior Brother Mo. He will teach you the ¡®Emperor Sword Scripture¡¯. ¡°Anything else you want to learn, ask the respective senior brothers and sisters.¡± Xi Yingqing said a lot in one breath, ¡°This is the inheritance jade slip. Place it against your forehead.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Meng Changqing nodded. His heart was filled with excitement. Heavenly-grade cultivation techniques and martial arts! He was finally going to touch these legendary existences! Buzz! The moment the jade slip touched his forehead. Meng Changqing felt countless dense words enter his sea of consciousness. They then arranged themselves, transforming into golden chapters and radiating a grand and mysterious aura. Crack! After all the words had entered, the jade slip shattered. Meng Changqing opened his eyes. They were filled with awe. As expected of a heavenly-grade cultivation technique, the content was indeed obscure, and even with his superior comprehension, he couldn¡¯t understand it all at once. The power of truth, what kind of power was that? He had never heard of it. But according to the introduction, once mastered, its power would be somewhat capable of destroying the world. Definitely not something the earthly grade could compare with. ¡°I have prepared for you the resources needed for the cultivation technique, as well as the resources for the Divine Attainment Realm.¡± Xi Yingqing took out a storage ring again. Meng Changqing took it and probed with his consciousness. His heart shook. All were of the fifth grade! Some he didn¡¯t even recognize, presumably required for the cultivation technique. As for the cultivation resources, there were three bottles of pills, all extremely precious and rare fifth-grade treasure pills, capable of enhancing spiritual cultivation. ¡°The Divine Attainment Realm relies heavily on comprehension. ¡°So the sect can only provide these three types of pills.¡± Xi Yingqing said, ¡°But with your comprehension, it shouldn¡¯t be too difficult.¡± ¡°Thank you, senior brother,¡± Meng Changqing said seriously. Since joining the sect, he finally understood what it meant to be valued. Even disregarding the past, just the resources in this ring, if any were leaked out, it would cause a bloodbath among countless warriors! But now, they lay quietly in his hand, ready for his use. Chapter 147 Chapter 147: An Imperishable Body, an Immortal Spirit! And Forcefully Adding a Friend! ¡°We are brothers now, so there¡¯s no need for such formalities,¡± Xi Yingqing raised his hand and patted Meng Changqing¡¯s shoulder, ¡°Besides, only you can make the best use of these things.¡± Hearing this, Meng Changqing said no more. ¡°Next, I¡¯ll explain the first volume of the Undying Truth Heavenly King Art,¡± Xi Yingqing said. ¡°Alright.¡± Meng Changqing nodded. He wanted to understand this heavenly-level technique in detail. Xi Yingqing then began to explain. Similar to many other sacred texts, the ¡°Eternal Heaven Sutra¡± was just a general outline, containing various techniques and martial arts. The ¡°Undying Truth Heavenly King Art¡± was a major part of it, consisting of six volumes. The first volume was only of the initial heavenly level and could barely be practiced upon reaching the Divine Attainment Realm. The Undying Truth Heavenly King Art had lofty principles. It believed that in this world, there existed many truths, which were the most fundamental things, the essence of all existence and operation. If one could steal these truths and use them, could one achieve an eternal and indestructible state? An imperishable body, an immortal spirit, coexisting with the world? However, the gap between knowing and doing was vast. But the ¡°Undying Truth Heavenly King Art¡± at least approached this goal. The content of the first volume was about integrating oneself with the heavens and earth, using a powerful spiritual will to sense the truths in the void. Even if one couldn¡¯t sense them, one could achieve a state pursued by many: the unity of heaven and man. In this state, both comprehension and cultivation speed would undergo a qualitative leap and improvement. ¡°A heavenly-level technique indeed lives up to its name.¡± After listening to Xi Yingqing¡¯s explanation, Meng Changqing couldn¡¯t help but marvel. At least in earthly techniques, he had never seen such lofty principles.No?v(el)B\\jnn ¡°Don¡¯t overthink it. Any heavenly-level technique or martial art has grand principles, but some may not achieve the described effects even if mastered,¡± Xi Yingqing said with a smile after seeing Meng Changqing¡¯s reaction, ¡°In fact, the greatest value of heavenly-level techniques lies in providing a direction, a great path. The creator laid the foundation, and it requires more people to build upon it, paving the way to the other shore.¡± In all his life, he had never heard such a request. It was too strange. ¡°Alright,¡± after thinking it over, Xi Yingqing smiled and nodded. It was just a verbal agreement, not a big deal. He assumed his little junior brother might have some peculiar habits and preferred the interaction style of friends over that of brothers. After all, geniuses often had their quirks. Didn¡¯t he have some when he was young? Ding! ¡¾Successfully added Xi Yingqing as a friend!¡¿ ¡¾Current Favorability: One Star!¡¿ ¡¾Attributes available for selection!¡¿ Hearing the system¡¯s notification, Meng Changqing¡¯s eyes lit up with joy. It worked! He realized that success often required taking the initiative. If you don¡¯t try, you won¡¯t know the result. Like now, it worked! However, he also knew that his potential and value in the sect played a crucial role in Xi Yingqing agreeing to such odd requests. Otherwise, any other person would likely have been sent flying with a single palm strike. ¡°Then, Senior Brother, I¡¯ll take my leave now,¡± Meng Changqing said, his mood much improved after successfully adding a friend. ¡°Go ahead,¡± Xi Yingqing replied. As Meng Changqing turned to leave, he noticed something. He looked to the right and saw, in the distance, eight tombstones standing there. The gentle breeze blew, causing the sea of flowers to ripple, creating a beautiful yet sorrowful scene. Chapter 148 Chapter 148: Terrifying Improvement, Seeing the Mountain Not as a Mountain! Leaving the sect master¡¯s great hall, Meng Changqing didn¡¯t pause at all and went straight back to his cultivation place. This time, he truly gained a lot. Not only did he add Han Luoyu as a friend, but he also included the sect master in his friend list! Interestingly, the sect master¡¯s talent was also¡¾Overlord Meridians¡¿! Could it be that they had more than just a master-disciple relationship? But this was hard to say. After all, talent was not inherited by blood, like physique. It¡¯s completely random. Perhaps it was because they shared the same talent that the sect master accepted Han Luoyu as a disciple. Sitting cross-legged, Meng Changqing brought up the character panel. ¡¾Host: Meng Changqing¡¿ ¡¾...¡¿ ¡¾Unfused Attributes: (Pending)2¡¿ ¡¾Remaining Extra Rewards: Attribute Selection Card*5, Attribute Acquisition Card*1...¡¿ ¡°System, choose Han Luoyu¡¯s¡¾Overlord Meridians¡¿and fuse it.¡±Meng Changqing silently chanted in his heart. The sect master¡¯s panel is too difficult to choose from, so it¡¯s better to solve the simple one first. Ding! [Consume one attribute selection card!] [Attribute obtained: ¡¾Overlord Meridians¡¿] [Fusion begins!] As soon as the words fell, Meng Changqing¡¯s body trembled. The meridians inside his body began to tremble simultaneously. That¡¯s the feeling of growth! Yes. Growth. And it¡¯s growing crazily! The meridians kept extending and expanding. Moreover, a mysterious substance difficult to understand was being created. Half an hour later, fusion completed. Meng Changqing closed his eyes and looked inward. His current meridians had become thicker and more resilient. Approximately ten times their previous size. Additionally, there were many mysterious patterns on the meridians, appearing obscure and difficult to comprehend. Meng Changqing instinctively operated his true essence. The patterns immediately glowed, and the true essence flowing through them seemed to be enhanced, its quality greatly improved. Almost equivalent to the (Linglong Daluo Tian)! And it¡¯s constant, without any time limit. In fact, for Meng Changqing, the greatest role of (Linglong Daluo Tian) so far has been to assist in cultivation. Otherwise, breaking through the two realms of Sea Cleaving and Dao Creation wouldn¡¯t have been so easy. ¡°Not bad.¡± Meng Changqing nodded in satisfaction. ¡°Next, it¡¯s time to choose the sect master¡¯s attributes.¡± Meng Changqing opened the friend list. If in the future he raised his goodwill with the sect master, he could choose again. With this in mind, Meng Changqing no longer hesitated. He directly chose to fuse (Exceptional Comprehension). Generally speaking, unless there is an urgent need to rapidly enhance combat power, the priority of basic attributes was the highest... Buzz! In an instant, Meng Changqing felt his consciousness being washed away in a torrent. All the clutter was quickly swept away. In an instant, his thoughts were elevated. His mind became clear and pure, like the sky after rain, free of any impurities. This was an indescribable mystical feeling. It seemed like he had entered a higher dimension. A moment later, Meng Changqing opened his eyes and walked straight out of the hall. Looking around, the once familiar scenery now felt different. It seemed he could connect it to many, many things. Drawing inferences, understanding by analogy, the convergence of all methods. And with just a casual thought, his mind flooded with many insights about the spirit, and at the same time, the ice in his sea of consciousness began to melt rapidly, far faster than before. ¡°This is exceptional comprehension.¡± Meng Changqing¡¯s heart trembled. It was completely incomparable to before. If the previous level was seeing a mountain as a mountain, seeing water as water, now it had transformed to seeing a mountain not as a mountain, seeing water not as water. The difference was vast. ¡°With this comprehension, the progress in the Divine Transformation Realm won¡¯t be slow.¡± Meng Changqing¡¯s lips curled into a smile. At the same time, he felt fortunate for choosing this attribute over the others. ¡°So how should I improve the sect master¡¯s goodwill in the future?¡± Meng Changqing pondered. In his eyes, the sect master was like a walking attribute library, especially in terms of cultivation techniques and martial arts. When opened, it was densely packed, a dazzling array. The sect master knew too much. It¡¯s said the sect master was almost two hundred years old. This was the accumulation of two hundred years of foundation! ¡°Remember, the system said, as long as the goodwill reaches five stars, all attributes of friends can be freely fused in the future.¡± Meng Changqing¡¯s eyes showed anticipation. Then, he refocused and walked towards the Spirit Peak. Although (Undying Truth Heavenly King Art) was a heavenly-level cultivation technique with lofty intentions, it¡¯s a bit of a late bloomer. Initially, it¡¯s more auxiliary. Not much attack power. And (Divine Fist of Truth) was the matching martial art. So strictly speaking, they couldn¡¯t enhance his combat power in the short term. Therefore, he still needed to go to Mo Shukuang to learn a heavenly-level sword technique. After all, the sword technique was most suitable for him at the moment. With his foundation, sword intent, sword body, and so on, it all suited the sword path. ¡°Supreme Emperor Sword Sutra: Great Evolution Twenty-Three Swords!¡± Meng Changqing hadn¡¯t forgotten the sword technique he saw on Mo Shukuang¡¯s panel before. It was heavenly-level! Chapter 149 Chapter 149: The Sword¡¯s Reputation, True Intent Enhancement Card, and the Twenty-Three Swords! In the Spirit Peak. ¡°Friends?¡± Mo Shukuang frowned. After teaching the ¡°The Supreme Emperor Sword Sutra: Great Evolution Twenty-Three Swords,¡± this junior brother of his had made a rather odd request. He said he preferred the way friends interacted and wanted to be friends in the future. ¡°Whatever.¡± Mo Shukuang didn¡¯t think much of it. Like Xi Yingqing, he believed it was just words, harmless and unimportant. It was fine to humor Meng Changqing.No?v(el)B\\jnn After all, this junior brother was a treasure in everyone¡¯s heart within the sect. Ding! ¡¾Successfully added Mo Shukuang as a friend!¡¿ ¡¾Attributes pending selection!¡¿ ¡¾Triggered extra reward: True Intent Enhancement Card *1¡¿ The system¡¯s voice echoed in Meng Changqing¡¯s mind, leaving him momentarily stunned. A sword intent enhancement card? What was that? It seemed to be similar to the bloodline card, used to enhance martial true intent. ¡°Good stuff.¡± Meng Changqing¡¯s eyes brightened. His sword intent was still in its embryonic form, making it seem ethereal. To solidify and enhance it, he needed to continually comprehend the way of the sword. But this would take up a lot of time, time that could otherwise be spent on improving his cultivation realm. But with a True Intent Enhancement Card, it would save time, effort, and worry! ¡°Excellent.¡± Meng Changqing was very pleased. It had been a long time since he triggered an extra reward, and he didn¡¯t expect to gain such a significant one from Mo Shukuang. ¡°By the way, your high-grade spirit sword should be destroyed, right?¡± Mo Shukuang suddenly asked, looking at Meng Changqing¡¯s empty waist. ¡°Yes.¡± Meng Changqing nodded. The power of the sword intent was too strong for a high-grade spirit weapon to withstand. During the battle with Duanmu Longque, the Crimson Sky Sword was damaged. Since then, he hadn¡¯t needed to fight and hadn¡¯t found a new sword. ¡°In the Divine Radiance Hall, there¡¯s a famed blade being suppressed. ¡°You should go and try it when you have time. ¡°If you can subdue it, you won¡¯t have to worry about your sword breaking again.¡± Mo Shukuang suggested. ¡°First, I¡¯ll merge the attributes.¡± Meng Changqing thought, planning to use the True Intent Enhancement Card as well. Honestly, since he began cultivating, he had never had such a fruitful day. It felt like he was continuously making friends and merging attributes, unable to stop. Back at his cultivation place, Meng Changqing chose the ¡°The Supreme Emperor Sword Sutra: Great Evolution Twenty-Three Swords.¡± This was a initial heavenly-level sword technique. According to Mo Shukuang, this sword technique had no limit. If one¡¯s comprehension was high enough, they could continue to create more moves, potentially advancing it to a middle heavenly level technique. Ding! ¡¾Consumed one attribute selection card!¡¿ ¡¾Obtained attribute: ¡®Supreme Emperor Sword Sutra: Great Evolution Twenty-Three Swords¡¯ (Mastery)¡¿ ¡¾Fusion beginning!¡¿ A vast flow of information surged forth. As expected of a heavenly-level sword technique, its depth, complexity, and intricacy far surpassed earthly-level techniques. Meng Changqing felt overwhelmed by the constant amazement. Could sword techniques really be this powerful? Was this truly a human-made sword technique? An hour later, the fusion was finally complete. Though Meng Changqing appeared calm, an indescribable terrifying aura emanated from him as he sat there. Whoosh! Meng Changqing suddenly opened his eyes, sword light flashing within them. The void before him seemed to split, unable to withstand a single glance! Even the entire hall shook, and countless sword marks appeared on the ground, walls, and pillars. Dust and debris fell, but before they could approach Meng Changqing, they were disintegrated into nothingness! Luckily, Meng Changqing quickly restrained his aura, revealing nothing more. Otherwise, the hall would have collapsed, affecting the surroundings. ¡°Heavenly-level sword techniques are truly terrifying.¡± Meng Changqing took a deep breath, marveling. Even his previous ¡°Sacred Spirit Slaughter Sword Art¡± paled in comparison, completely overshadowed! The ¡°Supreme Emperor Sword Sutra: Great Evolution Twenty-Three Swords.¡± This sword technique was created by numerous sword masters, consisting of twenty-three moves. Sword One, Sword Two, Sword Three... all the way to Sword Twenty-Three! The further along, the more powerful the moves became, but the harder they were to master. Even Mo Shukuang had only reached the mastery stage, stopping at Sword Twenty-Two! Chapter 150 Chapter 150: Sword Intent Soars, Meeting Mo Xiaoyu Again, Entering Divine Radiance Hall! So Meng Changqing was also unsure about the power of the final sword move. ¡°Sword Twenty-Three,¡± Meng Changqing muttered. However, given his current extraordinary comprehension, even without a Heavenly Grade Martial Arts Mastery Card, he would eventually master it. It was just a matter of time. ¡°Next, let¡¯s enhance my Sword Intent,¡± Meng Changqing wasted no time. According to the system¡¯s introduction, he understood the function of the True Intent Enhancement Card. It was similar to the Bloodline Enhancement Card, but it was used to enhance Martial True Intent. True Intent has levels: Initial Form, followed by levels one to ten. The higher the level, the more terrifying the effect of Martial True Intent! ¡°System, use one True Intent Enhancement Card!¡± Ding! [Enhancement begins!] Upon hearing this, Meng Changqing felt the previously calm towering sword in his mind start to tremble! The initial form of Sword Intent was very illusory and quite transparent. Now, under the effect of the True Intent Card, it started to become solid. One level! Two levels! It only stopped at the third level! At this moment, the Sword Intent had undergone a significant change, with noticeable patterns on the sword¡¯s body and numerous lights flowing around it. At the same time, a vast amount of swordsmanship comprehension surged into Meng Changqing¡¯s consciousness. In fact, Meng Changqing¡¯s cultivation path was the opposite of others. Others continuously comprehend and then push their Sword Intent to the corresponding level, while Meng Changqing first reached the level and then received comprehension feedback! The comprehension brought by the initial form of Sword Intent was already vast. Now, with three levels of Sword Intent, the comprehension was even more immense! Meng Changqing did not dare to be distracted and frantically absorbed it. It took a full hour to finish. Exhaling a long breath, Meng Changqing slowly opened his eyes. She had been diligently cultivating, using various precious pills given by her master, finally breaking through to the Divine Attainment Realm! But hadn¡¯t he just recently reached the Dao Creation Realm? His cultivation speed was terrifying. If this continued, not only would her swordsmanship be surpassed, but her cultivation would be too! So annoying! ¡°What, only you can make progress? Isn¡¯t that a bit overbearing?¡± Meng Changqing teased, wanting to... uh, not tease... um, the word was... playfully tease. Yes, that¡¯s it. ¡°Hmph, don¡¯t wrongly accuse me. I¡¯m now the strongest among the disciples of Spirit Peak, even surpassing Senior Brother Lan!¡± Mo Xiaoyu said proudly, chest puffed out. ¡°Impressive. But shouldn¡¯t you call me uncle when you see me?¡± Meng Changqing teased further. ¡°You!¡± Mo Xiaoyu was instantly flustered. The scene she feared most had finally happened! Once a little senior sister, now a little... junior niece! ¡°Alright, enough teasing. Is that the famous sword inside?¡± Meng Changqing asked, patting her head gently. ¡°Hmph, don¡¯t touch my head. People say it makes you dumb,¡± Mo Xiaoyu pouted but felt relieved inside. ¡°Yes!¡± Mo Xiaoyu nodded. ¡°Are you here to subdue that sword?¡± ¡°Of course, why else would I be here?¡± ¡°The famed sword is very proud. It won¡¯t submit to you!¡± Mo Xiaoyu warned. ¡°How do you know without trying?¡± Meng Changqing smirked and walked forward. Mo Xiaoyu thought for a moment and followed. In her impression, the famed sword was very proud, rejecting even their master. This annoying guy would surely be sent flying, looking utterly miserable! She had to see that. Because Mo Xiaoyu had just been sent flying, the doors of Divine Radiance Hall were wide open. Meng Changqing walked in directly. The hall was spacious, with columns standing tall and the floor like a mirror. In the center was a long sword, locked in place by numerous iron chains. Almost as soon as Meng Changqing entered, the long sword reacted, glowing brightly with spirit, much like a person whose eyes light up at the sight of something interesting. Chapter 151 Chapter 151: Infatuated Sword, Second Generation Crimson Sky! ¡°Hehe, hurry up and strike him!¡± Seeing this, Mo Xiaoyu didn¡¯t doubt it, thinking the famed sword was about to act up again. Sizzle sizzle~. The famed sword began to shake, causing the many chains to tremble. The chains were imbued with runic power to suppress the famed sword. But now, the famed sword seemed to be struggling with all its might. Bang! One of the chains shattered. The famed sword finally broke free from the ground. Although it couldn¡¯t go far, it could at least reach Meng Changqing. Sword energy whistled. The famed sword was extremely fast, like a stream of light, aiming straight for Meng Changqing¡¯s chest. At this moment, even Meng Changqing instinctively prepared to defend himself. However, in Mo Xiaoyu¡¯s expectant gaze, the famed sword stopped instantly. Then, like a little cat, it rubbed against Meng Changqing¡¯s chest. There was even a gentle sword hum. ¡°???¡± Mo Xiaoyu was completely dumbfounded. What is happening here?! Where¡¯s the usual arrogance? What about the usual disdain? What are you doing now? Meng Changqing was also a bit stunned. This scene was indeed quite unexpected. Whoosh~ The famed sword suddenly moved its tip, carving many words on the ground in front of them. ¡°My master, you finally... came. I sensed your presence long ago. ¡°Damn these people for trapping me here, separating us, preventing us from meeting!¡± The famed sword became increasingly angry as it carved. Finally, it expressed ¡®respect¡¯ for the ancestors of Spirit Peak and the current Mo Shukuang. ¡°But from today on, we can... be together forever. ¡°Please use your big hands and hold me tight. ¡°And... you are so handsome.¡± Meng Changqing instinctively took a step back. He felt something was wrong with this sword. To be precise, its spirit seemed abnormal. ¡°You you you!¡± Mo Xiaoyu snapped out of it, her face turning red with anger, ¡°Weren¡¯t you very proud usually? What about the strength you used to hit me just now? ¡°Why don¡¯t you hit him?¡± ¡°Little brat, go away. You¡¯re just like your old and ugly master, completely unattractive. ¡°Ah~ my master is still so handsome~¡± After carving, the famed sword again stuck to Meng Changqing¡¯s chest. Boom! Instantly, the sword¡¯s sharpness burst forth! Like an ancient divine sword born into the world! Terrifying sword energy surged into the sky, sweeping across the heavens! Creating layers of phenomena! ¡°Not bad!¡± Meng Changqing¡¯s eyes shone brightly. As expected of a famed sword! It could easily bear his sword intent and even amplify it to some extent. Originally three levels, but through the famed sword, it approached four levels, significantly increasing its power! ¡°Good sword!¡± Meng Changqing sincerely praised. ¡°Thank you, master, for your compliment~¡± The famed sword was very happy, its tip like a tail, wagging back and forth. ¡°Do you have a name?¡± Meng Changqing asked. ¡°No, I¡¯m brand new. No one has ever touched me or named me. ¡°Completely new~¡± The famed sword carved words. ¡°Then you shall be called Crimson Sky.¡± Meng Changqing didn¡¯t think much about it. He liked the name. ¡°Thank you, master, for the name.¡± The famed sword became very happy. Sealed for many years, it finally saw the light of day. And it followed such a handsome and capable master! Its future was much brighter than those old guys! Crack! After the blood bond was established, the chains binding Crimson Sky broke one by one. Whoosh~ Crimson Sky, as if reborn, turned into a stream of light, flying out of the Divine Radiance Hall. Flying freely within the Tai Xuan Sect and even the heavens above. It didn¡¯t hide its presence at all. Countless sword energies crisscrossed, attracting many disciples and elders to come out. ¡°That¡¯s the famed sword of Spirit Peak!¡± ¡°Did it break free?¡± ¡°Obviously not. It has been subdued.¡± ¡°Gasp, who could subdue this sword? Even the past peak masters of Spirit Peak couldn¡¯t do it!¡± ¡°Use some wisdom and think about who in the sect now could subdue it?¡± ¡°Are you saying... the young sect master?¡± ¡°Of course, the young sect master understood sword intent at twenty. If such a world-defying genius couldn¡¯t subdue it, then this sword would be blind.¡± People discussed. Although they didn¡¯t see what happened in the Divine Radiance Hall, they could guess who subdued the sword. In the Spirit Hall, Mo Shukuang walked out. Looking at Crimson Sky hovering in the sky, he showed a satisfied expression. With this sword, the little junior brother wouldn¡¯t have to worry about weapons in the future. Chapter 152 Chapter 152: The Demon Abyss! The Lost Supreme Art ¡°Supreme Commanding Demon Technique¡±! The value of the famed sword was far greater than stated, especially this particular famed sword, which was the pinnacle creation of the Duan family of Divine Sword Sea back then! He believed that his junior brother would discover the unique qualities of this sword in the future! Perhaps it had been sealed for too long. Crimson Sky played in the sky for quite a while before coming down. During this time, Meng Changqing did not urge it, but instead chatted with Mo Xiaoyu. The little girl was extremely angry, saying that even though she was a ¡°childhood friend,¡± she couldn¡¯t compare to Meng Changqing, the ¡°heaven-sent¡±! As she spoke, her voice even carried a hint of sobbing, extinguishing Meng Changqing¡¯s teasing thoughts, leaving him with no choice but to comfort her. Three days later, the sect announced a major piece of news concerning the Demon Abyss. This news shocked the entire sect, causing unease. After all, this was the Demon Abyss, an extremely dangerous place. In the past, it was guarded by the Wanxiang Pavilion or the Holy Lands, unrelated to them. But now that the sect had been promoted to the first rank, this duty fell to them. Rumor had it that the Heavenly Demons were formless, moving freely, essentially a spiritual entity best at possession and parasitism! Just thinking about it was terrifying. It was better to guard the Abyss of Earthly Demons, where the demons were only physically strong and not as insidious. The duty of guarding the Demon Abyss mainly fell to the Formation Peak since formations were a convenient and manpower-saving method to prevent the Heavenly Demons from infiltrating. Dong~ The dao bell resounded, spreading ripples far and wide. Inside the cultivation hall, Meng Changqing opened his eyes and slowly stood up, grabbing Crimson Sky and tying it to his waist. He naturally would go on the mission to the Demon Abyss. In fact, all disciples at the Divine Attainment Realm in the sect had to go, as it was a form of training. The Heavenly Demons specialized in spiritual combat techniques, which, if mastered, would greatly benefit the comprehension of martial intent. Additionally, the sect aimed to capture a Heavenly Demon to see if they could extract Heavenly Demon Qi from it. This was the essence of the Heavenly Demons, containing many spiritual insights and serving as the greatest supplement for martial artists at the Divine Attainment Realm, more effective than any elixir, quickly enhancing spiritual cultivation. More than ten cloud boats emerged from the depths of the sect, followed by streams of light flying out from various spirit peaks, landing on the cloud boats. These were the pre-selected guardians of the sect. Whoosh! Meng Changqing appeared on the foremost cloud boat, which already had many people on board, including the high-ranking members of the sect. Leading them was naturally the Grand Elder Xuankong, as the sect master needed to stay in the sect, leaving external matters to the Grand Elder. ¡°Second Senior Brother.¡± Meng Changqing cupped his hands slightly. Within the sect, the Grand Elder might not be the strongest, but he had the highest seniority. Even the sect master had to show him respect. Though there might be other reasons for this, it didn¡¯t affect the Grand Elder¡¯s status. This area used to be inhabited by many human factions, but the appearance of the abyss forced them to relocate, leaving it deserted. ¡°We¡¯re almost there.¡± The Grand Elder spoke suddenly, prompting Meng Changqing to look ahead. In the distance, he saw surging demonic energy, more refined than that of demonic cultivators, seemingly without any impurities. The demonic energy constantly transformed into various shapes, sometimes showing ferocious faces, other times appearing extremely strange. ¡°Heavenly Demons.¡± On the cloud boat, everyone wore serious expressions. Most had never seen a Heavenly Demon before, knowing them only from stories and books. Meng Changqing narrowed his eyes. Since the sect master had sent him to train in the Demon Abyss, he naturally made sure to learn about it. Although Heavenly Demons were very strange and excelled in spiritual combat, they weren¡¯t that dangerous to him. He possessed sword intent, which leaned towards the spiritual aspect and had unique effects against Heavenly Demons. ¡°It¡¯s a pity the core arts of the ancient Demon Sect have been lost. Otherwise, there wouldn¡¯t be so many demonic abysses in the world.¡± The Grand Elder suddenly remarked. ¡°Ancient Demon Sect arts?¡± Meng Changqing was puzzled. Weren¡¯t these demonic arts modeled after the demons? Cultivators of these arts would lose their sanity and become mad, demonic beings. How could they counter the demons? ¡°Originally, demonic arts weren¡¯t what they are today,¡± the Grand Elder stroked his white beard. ¡°They were created to suppress demons. According to ancient records, the ancient Demon Sect experienced a great calamity and vanished overnight, causing these orthodox demonic arts to be lost. ¡°Over time, demonic arts became distorted, turning into the heretical paths we see now.¡± ¡°I see.¡± Meng Changqing was enlightened. He hadn¡¯t expected the true purpose of demonic arts to be like that. ¡°What are these orthodox demonic arts?¡± Meng Changqing was very curious. ¡°Most have been forgotten, but the core art was called the ¡®Supreme Commanding Demon Technique¡¯!¡± the Grand Elder said. ¡°This technique was extremely powerful, capable of controlling and refining demons, absorbing their essence to enhance one¡¯s cultivation. ¡°For instance, with this technique, it would be easy to extract Heavenly Demon Qi from this abyss.¡± Upon hearing this, Meng Changqing¡¯s expression changed. That name sounded very familiar. Where had I seen it before? Wait! Meng Changqing¡¯s pupils shrank. Isn¡¯t this the demonic technique on Bai Suxi¡¯s panel? Chapter 153 Chapter 153: Void Guarding, Wild Sea, Marquis-Level Opportunities! No wonder Bai Suxi chose to cultivate demonic arts. She was following the path of ancient orthodox demonic arts, not the current inferior ones. Her fortune was truly extraordinary. Her initial technique, ¡°Dark Sea Returning to Origin,¡± was already very powerful, and now she found the long-lost orthodox demonic arts inheritance! ¡°No wonder she¡¯s the child of fortune,¡± Meng Changqing murmured, feeling a surge of excitement. He still had an attribute acquisition card on him. With this card, he could obtain an attribute from Bai Suxi even if she wasn¡¯t present. Thinking of this, Meng Changqing opened his character panel and clicked on Bai Suxi¡¯s avatar. Relevant information immediately appeared. ¡¾Friend: Bai Suxi¡¿ ¡¾Race: Human¡¿ ¡¾Cultivation: Dao Creation Realm, Level 8¡¿ ¡¾Root Bone: Second Grade¡¿ ¡¾Comprehension: Superior¡¿ ¡¾Bloodline: Emperor Demon (Fragmented)¡¿ ¡¾Techniques: ¡°Supreme Commanding Demon Technique¡± (Perfection), ¡°Seven Demon Blood Sword¡± (Perfection)...¡¿ Looking at the techniques on the panel, Meng Changqing tightened his grip. It was indeed the long-lost demonic art mentioned by the elder! ¡°Southern Genius Battle?¡± Meng Changqing raised an eyebrow. He had heard of it from Yuan Cang, who tried to recruit him during the sect competition. ¡°Six months from now is the Southern Genius Battle. Hopefully, we¡¯ll meet again then,¡± Yuan Cang had said, somewhat threateningly. ¡°Didn¡¯t the headmaster tell you?¡± the elder asked, surprised. ¡°No, he didn¡¯t,¡± Meng Changqing shook his head. ¡°How could he forget? I don¡¯t know what he¡¯s up to all day!¡± the elder huffed. He had many grievances against the headmaster but refrained from saying more, explaining patiently. ¡°The Southern Genius Battle is a competition among the top talents of the thirteen states in the Southern Border. The competition is a way to distribute resources. Every year, Central Province allocates many high-level resources to the four borders. The distribution within each border is determined by the performance of the sect disciples in the battle. The higher the disciple¡¯s ranking, the more resources their sect receives. This time, the top twenty talents will also get the opportunity to enter the Wild Sea,¡± the elder explained. ¡°Ah, I see,¡± Meng Changqing nodded. Within sects and among sects, competitions always aimed to secure more resources for cultivation. Resources were scarce, and only the strong could claim them. ¡°What is the Wild Sea?¡± Meng Changqing asked. ¡°An ancient place,¡± the elder¡¯s voice carried a trace of longing. ¡°It¡¯s the main goal for many top talents because it contains the extremely valuable Marquis-Level Opportunities!¡± Hearing this, Meng Changqing¡¯s eyes narrowed. Marquis-level! From conversations with Xi Yingqing, he had learned that breaking through the realms below Marquis required personal aptitude and comprehension. But to become a Marquis, one needed an ancient spiritual object. The headmaster hadn¡¯t elaborated, likely because it was far off for Meng Changqing. To reach Marquis, one must possess a spiritual object, making them extremely important! Chapter 154 Chapter 154: The Ambition to Become a Marquis, the Thirteen Prefectures of the Southern Border! ¡°Marquis.¡± Ambition flickered in Meng Changqing¡¯s eyes. No matter where, once one reached Divine Attainment, they were considered top-tier powerhouses. Becoming a Marquis, transcending life and death, was almost a legendary existence, incredibly rare and powerful enough to establish a great sect or ancient clan. The strength they possess was unimaginable.@@@@ Crushing mountains, splitting seas? Those were trivial tasks. According to the headmaster, such power could dominate the world, sweep across mountains and rivers, and stabilize the cosmos! Unfortunately, Marquis-level resources were exceedingly rare. Many Life and Death Realm powerhouses died in frustration because of this scarcity. Whenever Marquis-level resources appear, countless people vie for them, unwilling to miss the opportunity. It¡¯s surprising that the Southern Genius Battle involves such top-tier resources. This was an opportunity not to be missed! ¡°The Wild Sea opens once every hundred years. You are fortunate to encounter it, so do not miss this chance,¡± the elder said, patting Meng Changqing on the shoulder. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Second Senior Brother, I will seize it,¡± Meng Changqing nodded. Such high-level resources might not even be available in the sect. Even if they once had some, they would surely have been used up by now. The elder then gave Meng Changqing an overview of the Southern Border, deepening his understanding. The Southern Border had thirteen prefecture. Although Tianling Prefecture was not the weakest, it was not among the strongest, ranking around tenth. Consequently, its top-tier strength and potential cannot compare with the leading prefectures. In past Southern Genius Battles, the larger prefectures often failed to secure resources, widening the gap over time. Eventually, they could only scrape by with meager resources. ¡°Nineteenth Junior Brother, take out your Void Mirror,¡± Xu Lingyue said to Meng Changqing with a warm smile. ¡°It needs to connect with the formation disk so you can leave the Demon Abyss if necessary.¡± ¡°Alright, Senior Sister,¡± Meng Changqing replied, handing over the Void Mirror given by the Grand Elder. Internally, he pondered, realizing he was the nineteenth disciple in this generation, yet had only met eight others so far. Where were the remaining ten? ¡°Done,¡± Xu Lingyue said, returning the mirror after imprinting a few hand seals. She then helped him adjust his slightly disheveled collar, behaving like a caring elder sister. This surprised Meng Changqing, as he had never spoken to her before. ¡°It¡¯s nice to have a junior brother at my age, something I never expected,¡± Xu Lingyue said with a touch of sentiment. ¡°Very nice.¡± ¡°Prepare to enter the Demon Abyss,¡± the Grand Elder interrupted. Xu Lingyue glanced at him, then turned into a stream of light, heading to the Sealing Demon Array¡¯s core. She would be stationed there for most of the time, and the Grand Elder also had his tasks. Meng Changqing flashed away from the cloud boat to the giant rift¡¯s edge. The thick demonic energy obscured what lay beyond, creating a gloomy atmosphere. ¡°Hey, Uncle Meng,¡± a familiar voice called from behind. It was Mo Xiaoyu, who reluctantly corrected herself from her usual teasing name, remembering her master¡¯s reminders to mind their seniority in public. ¡°Uncle,¡± Han Luoyu and another top talent from the Martial Arts Peak, Lin Xiaotian, greeted him. Lin had been ranked sixth on the Hidden Dragon List and had now reached the first level of Divine Attainment. ¡°Uncle Meng,¡± over a dozen Divine Attainment warriors bowed, despite many being almost twice Meng Changqing¡¯s age. Rank prevailed over age. ¡°Mhm,¡± Meng Changqing nodded with a smile, not particularly concerned with formalities. He was eager to enter the Demon Abyss, find a secluded spot, and practice the ancient demonic art, ¡°Supreme Commanding Demon Technique,¡± to begin refining the essence of heavenly demons! Chapter 155 Chapter 155: The Demonic Slaves of the Heavens, Kneel Thrice and Kowtow Nine Times Upon Seeing My Sovereignty! ¡°Remember, once you enter the Demon Abyss, do not go beyond these areas.¡± After handling some matters, the Grand Elder arrived at the rift. With a wave of his right hand, numerous jade slips flew towards the warriors. Meng Changqing caught one. The jade slip was a map of the Demon Abyss, drawn by the Wanxiang Pavilion over the years. The terrain on it was quite strange, with many key areas marked in red, indicating numerous demonic presences, places not to be ventured into recklessly. Only the peripheral areas were safe for training. ¡°After entering the Abyss, you won¡¯t stay together due to certain reasons, but you won¡¯t be too far apart. If you encounter danger, use the Abyss Token to leave,¡± the Grand Elder reminded them again. ¡°Understood!¡± Everyone was both excited and a bit anxious. After all, they were about to face the powerful, legendary Heavenly Demons. ¡°Begin,¡± the Grand Elder signaled to Xu Lingyue nearby. She nodded slightly, and a formation disk appeared in her palm. As it spun, mystical power surged forth. The rift trembled, and the protective barrier dimmed significantly. Excited roars came from beyond the rift, as if something unseen was about to break through. ¡°Impudent creatures!¡± The Grand Elder¡¯s eyes widened, his voice booming like a dragon¡¯s roar, sending rolling sound waves into the rift. ¡°Hurry inside!¡± he ordered. Meng Changqing led the charge, transforming into a stream of light and entering the rift. The technique just used by the Grand Elder was likely the ¡°Heavenly Dragon Eight Sounds,¡± a rare sound wave martial art. The others quickly followed suit. Following the map, Meng Changqing found a secluded valley, free of demonic activity, perfect for merging attributes. ¡°Crimson Sky, stand guard,¡± he instructed from his makeshift cave. ¡°Rest assured, Master, nothing will approach without stepping over my body,¡± Crimson Sky carved in the ground, nodding the sword hilt. Meng Changqing trusted her completely and focused on merging. ¡°System, use the attribute acquisition card! Merge the attribute ¡®Supreme Commanding Demon Technique: Initial Chapter¡¯ from Bai Suxi¡¯s panel!¡± [Confirmed! Consuming one attribute acquisition card! Acquired attribute: ¡®Supreme Commanding Demon Technique: Initial Chapter.¡¯ Merging now!] A vast stream of information surged into his consciousness, filled with insights into the True Demon Technique. Simultaneously, his body trembled as immense power integrated into every part of him. ¡°Dominate! Dominate!! Dominate!!! Obey and live, defy and die! The demonic slaves of the heavens, upon seeing my sovereignty, must kneel thrice and kowtow nine times in subservience!¡± In an instant, infinite voices echoed within, exuding supreme and tyrannical power. Meng Changqing focused intensely, absorbing the insights. After half an hour, the merging completed, and his demeanor had drastically changed. He now exuded rolling demonic energy, pure and untainted, giving off a sense of supreme, inviolable power. Opening his eyes, he emanated an indescribable majesty, like an emperor descending, filled with intense dominance. His gaze alone could shatter souls. ¡°The core technique of the ancient Demon Sect is truly profound and powerful, even in its initial chapter,¡± Meng Changqing marveled, spreading his fingers to see countless chains of power coursing beneath his skin. He now fully understood and mastered the True Demon Technique, realizing it was ineffective against humans but held immense control over demons. Capturing, refining, and devouring ¡ª three main steps! Unfortunately, the initial chapter only worked on demons below the Marquis level, but for Meng Changqing, who was still at the Divine Attainment Realm, it was more than enough. He was confident his diligent friend Bai Suxi would advance further. Suddenly, a sharp sword cry from Crimson Sky alerted him to an approaching threat. Chapter 156 Chapter 156: The Demon Kings Won¡¯t Let You Go!!! ¡°Heavenly Demon?¡± Meng Changqing raised an eyebrow. He sensed an immense spiritual pressure sweeping towards him without any attempt to conceal itself. ¡°A pillow right when I needed a nap,¡± he mused, ¡°A meal delivered right to my door. Let¡¯s use you to test the true power of the True Demon Technique.¡± A slight smile played at the corners of his mouth. ¡ª ¡°Get lost if you don¡¯t want to die,¡± Crimson Sky arrogantly projected, forming a line of characters in midair with dense sword energy. ¡°A sentient sword?¡± From the boundless demonic energy, a tall figure emerged. It was the armored Heavenly Demon, his blood-red eyes filled with greed as he looked at Crimson Sky. Obtaining this sword would undoubtedly increase his power significantly. ¡°I¡¯ll give you a chance. Submit to me,¡± the Heavenly Demon said slowly. ¡°What nonsense! You think you can be my master?¡± Crimson Sky was furious, feeling deeply insulted. Sword light erupted, slashing towards the Heavenly Demon.@@@@ ¡°Stubborn fool!¡± The Heavenly Demon¡¯s eyes darkened, deciding to forcefully subdue the sword. However, upon contact, he was surprised by the sword¡¯s sharpness, which was far stronger than he had anticipated, capable of injuring him. Crimson Sky split into thousands of fragments, filling the sky and sweeping towards the Heavenly Demon. ¡°Divine Demon Chaos!¡± the Heavenly Demon shouted, conjuring giant hands from his demonic energy to grab the sword lights. Yet, the sword lights grew even sharper, shattering all the giant hands. ¡°Human, I am Dos, a Deception Sound Heavenly Demon! This land belongs to my family. If you harm me, you¡¯ll never leave this place alive!¡± Dos threatened. ¡°Is that so? I¡¯d like to see that,¡± Meng Changqing smiled, unbothered. ¡°But first, give me your demonic energy.¡± ¡°Hahaha, you want my demonic energy? Human, you dare to dream! If I don¡¯t want to give it, can you take it?¡± Dos sneered, his aura becoming unstable as if ready to self-destruct. ¡°Let¡¯s find out,¡± Meng Changqing replied, raising his right hand. An overwhelming burst of demonic energy surged, followed by black chains from his palm, piercing and binding Dos, sealing him. ¡°What¡¯s happening?!¡± Dos was terrified, unable to control any of his powers, not even to self-destruct. What shocked him more was the human possessing demonic energy, pure and without negative emotions. ¡°Who are you?!¡± Dos shouted. ¡°A dead demon shouldn¡¯t be so curious. Become my meal,¡± Meng Changqing¡¯s gaze turned cold, his fingers clenching. The chains ignited with black flames, low in temperature but incredibly potent, melting Dos¡¯s flesh instantly, leaving only his spirit. ¡°Impossible!¡± Dos struggled, but the chains burned his spirit. ¡°This is... the power of demon suppression! You know the ancient Demon Sect¡¯s lost technique!¡± ¡°Good eye,¡± Meng Changqing¡¯s hair billowed in the demonic energy, his demeanor icy, exuding an aura of dominance. ¡°Human, you¡¯ll die! The Demon Kings won¡¯t spare you! Endless pursuit awaits you! Your end will be far worse than mine!¡± Dos cursed venomously. ¡°Enough noise,¡± Meng Changqing said coldly. The flames surged, completely consuming Dos. Only a wisp of black mist remained, glowing brightly, giving a sense of immense mental strength just by looking at it. ¡°Demonic energy,¡± Meng Changqing grasped it in his palm. Chapter 157 Chapter 157: Despicable Outsiders, More Prey Delivered to My Door! The reason this demonic art can so easily suppress the demonic race is due to the power of Demon Suppression that Dos mentioned before his death. It was a natural nemesis of demons, inherently suppressing them. Only the most powerful demons could resist it. However, artifacts or techniques of Demon Suppression were exceedingly rare, so few have ever mastered this demonic art throughout history. ¡°The initial focus is on sealing and refining,¡± Meng Changqing mused. ¡°It lacks offensive power, so the practitioner must be strong enough to subdue demons first. Without that strength, sealing is out of the question.¡± He understood the true nature of the demonic art, thinking that perhaps only in the middle or later stages would offensive techniques appear. Returning his attention to his palm, Meng Changqing observed the demonic energy. It was said to be the best cultivation resource for a Divine Attainment Realm warrior. ¡°Let¡¯s see its effects,¡± he thought, placing the energy at his brow. As his soul force operated, the demonic energy melted like ice and snow, permeating his consciousness. A vast amount of spiritual insights appeared in his mind, which Meng Changqing absorbed eagerly. His spiritual insights began to soar, deepening his understanding of his sea of consciousness. The ice beneath him melted rapidly, and dense soul force flowed into his consciousness, making his once-ethereal form more solid. After an unknown amount of time, Meng Changqing¡¯s aura suddenly increased, growing several times stronger. ¡°Second level of the Divine Attainment Realm!¡± he exclaimed, opening his eyes with delight. He knew the demonic energy would be effective, but this exceeded his expectations. Just one wisp had elevated him by an entire minor realm, something that would have taken him at least half a month on his own. ¡°Then again, it was a mid-tier Level 5 demon, not some small fry, and encounters like this are rare. Plus, the higher the realm, the more insights are needed,¡± Meng Changqing reminded himself, calming down. ¡°But that¡¯s okay. If the quality isn¡¯t enough, I¡¯ll make up for it with quantity. There are plenty of demons here. I¡¯ll try to break through a few more realms while I¡¯m here,¡± he resolved, looking into the distance. Too much slaughter would attract stronger beings from the abyss, so he needed to be cautious and stay as long as possible. The Deception Sound clan had sent many demons to hunt the humans. ¡°But they came at a good time,¡± Meng Changqing smiled coldly. Over the past few days, he had killed many demons, but none were of Level 5. Most were below Level 3, with the occasional Level 4. His progress was slower than expected, not even reaching the third layer. He had hoped quantity would make up for quality, but the low-level demons provided too little spiritual insight, and much of it was repetitive. Only from Level 3 onwards did the demons offer substantial, unique insights, reflecting their own spiritual paths. But such demons were rare. ¡°Level 5 demonic energy,¡± Meng Changqing smiled. This was the best cultivation resource for him. Previously hard to find, now it came to him. Though being surrounded by demons was dangerous, the risks equaled the rewards. To achieve rapid cultivation, he needed to take risks. As long as no Level 6 demons came, he could handle it. Plus, he had the Void Mirror. ¡°Let¡¯s go all out,¡± Meng Changqing took a deep breath, eyes burning with ambition. ¡ª At the rift in the Demon Abyss, two figures appeared in a flash of light, both wounded and exhausted. ¡°Why are you back so soon?¡± the Grand Elder frowned. ¡°Grand Elder, almost the entire Deception Sound clan is out, hunting us,¡± one warrior said, his face pale. ¡°What did you do?¡± the Grand Elder asked. ¡°It¡¯s not what we did, but those disciples. They killed an important figure of the Deception Sound clan,¡± another warrior explained, causing the Grand Elder to narrow his eyes. Chapter 158 Chapter 158: Tremendous Power Boost! The Might of a Single Sword, Terrifying Beyond Measure! Whoosh! Light flickered, and several people were transported out. Among them was Lin Xiaotian, his eyes showing fear. ¡°The demons are insane, countless and overwhelming,¡± he swallowed hard. If he hadn¡¯t reacted quickly enough and used the Abyss Token, he wouldn¡¯t have made it out. More people appeared in rapid succession. ¡ª ¡°Sword Two!¡± ¡°Sword Three!¡± ¡°Sword Four!¡± ... ¡°Sword Nineteen!¡± Brilliant sword light crisscrossed the sky, and the terrifying sword energy swept across the universe! It was an astonishing scene. On the black and red ground, tens of thousands of demons surged forward, only to be instantly sliced to pieces. The swordsman, bare-chested with wild black hair, had cold, frosty eyes. Countless black chains surged around him, piercing and refining the demons. ¡°Demon Suppression Power!¡± the last Level 5 demon exclaimed in disbelief. But in the next second, it burst into flames and turned into demonic energy. This place wasn¡¯t part of the Deception Sound Heavenly Demon clan but another, weaker demon clan. The clan leader was the only Level 5 demon. Meng Changqing seized the demonic energy and devoured it entirely, converting it into spiritual cultivation fuel. Simultaneously, the sound of breaking came from within his body as his realm advanced again! Surrounding her were three Level 5 demons, two low-tier and one mid-tier, all possessing hosts. After possession, demons could not only use their innate talents but sometimes inherit the host¡¯s skills, such as martial techniques. ¡°Wind-Breaking Blade: Frost Slash!¡± The mid-tier demon, resembling a human warrior with blood-red eyes, unleashed a torrent of blade energy, clashing continuously with Mo Xiaoyu. If it were just the blade-wielding demon, she wouldn¡¯t be afraid, but the other two used their talents to mentally interfere and attack her sea of consciousness, making her struggle. ¡°Despicable!¡± Mo Xiaoyu cursed, but the demons remained indifferent, wearing cruel smiles. ¡°An innate sword body! No wonder Dos was killed!¡± They assumed the innate sword body was responsible for Dos¡¯s death. ¡°I want this body!¡± the blade-wielding demon said greedily. ¡°Brother, don¡¯t you prefer larger, more powerful bodies? Let me have this one!¡± another demon pleaded. ¡°Normally, I¡¯d let you, but this is an innate sword body! Possessing it would let me cultivate swordsmanship like humans, greatly increasing my power!¡± The blade-wielding demon licked his lips, and the other two fell silent, realizing they had no choice but to defer to their stronger companion. ¡°Dammit! How dare you covet my body! Die!¡± Mo Xiaoyu¡¯s cute face was filled with rage. But anger didn¡¯t change reality. Against three demons, she was gradually losing ground. ¡°Looks like I¡¯ll have to escape,¡± she sighed inwardly. She wanted to stay and temper herself, especially to grow in spiritual cultivation and understanding of sword intent, but she was falling short. ¡°Sword Twenty-One!¡± Suddenly, a cold voice rang out. Mo Xiaoyu witnessed a shocking scene ¡ª a terrifying sword light slashed from afar, arriving in an instant. The demons¡¯ faces changed drastically, sensing an overwhelming power in the sword, impossible to block. The sword light was too fast to dodge, forcing them to defend. Crack! Yet, all efforts were in vain. Their defenses shattered like paper, and their spiritual consciousness was also destroyed. The might of a single sword was terrifying beyond measure! The swordsman¡¯s figure appeared the next moment. The wind blew, his black hair danced wildly, and his cold, stern face resembled eternal ice. Chapter 159 Chapter 159: What Realm? Still Daring to Recite Poetry? ¡°Meng... Changqing?!¡± Mo Xiaoyu was stunned. That previous sword strike was from Meng Changqing! This was Sword Twenty, which could only be executed when ¡°Great Evolution Twenty-Three Swords¡± was mastered! Meng Changqing had already mastered it in such a short time, possibly less than a month, while she was still at the beginner level. Strictly speaking, her progress was already fast since it was an incredibly profound Heaven-level sword technique. But compared to Meng Changqing, the gap was absurdly large. Mo Xiaoyu suddenly felt like maybe he was the true innate sword body, and she was the fake one. Whoosh! In the next second, an even more shocking scene occurred. Demonic energy surged, and countless black chains appeared, refining the three demons. ¡°Demonic energy!¡± Mo Xiaoyu was startled and instinctively wanted to draw her sword, thinking Meng Changqing was possessed by a demon. But she quickly sensed something was off. Meng Changqing¡¯s demonic energy was pure, without any negative emotions, completely different from the demons. Moreover, if he was possessed, she would be the one dying, not the three demons. Though young, her mind occasionally worked well. ¡°You didn¡¯t draw your sword. I thought you would mistake me for a demon,¡± Meng Changqing absorbed the three wisps of demonic energy, then turned around, a smile appearing on his cold face. ¡°Hmph!¡± Mo Xiaoyu¡¯s face suddenly turned red. She realized Meng Changqing was shirtless, revealing his perfect muscle contours.@@@@ At this moment, though Meng Changqing lacked his usual elegance, he was particularly attractive, especially with his cold and stern face, deep eyes like stars, and an incredibly confident and domineering aura, as if nothing in the world could stop him. ¡°What, you have nothing to say because I was right?¡± Meng Changqing¡¯s lips curved slightly. ¡°No!¡± Mo Xiaoyu snapped back to reality, quickly collecting her scattered thoughts, and pouted, ¡°Why do you have demonic energy?¡± ¡°I want more~¡± Her cute big eyes were very persuasive. Even Meng Changqing was ¡®seriously affected¡¯. He lightly coughed and ¡®disdainfully¡¯ tossed down several more wisps, which were useless to him now. Mo Xiaoyu happily squinted her eyes like crescent moons. Boom! At this moment, a terrifying aura swept from afar, far surpassing any previous demon they had encountered! ¡°A Level 5 peak demon. A true big shot,¡± Meng Changqing¡¯s lips curved. He had lost count of how many demons he had killed, but over ten Level 5 low-tier and mid-tier demons, equivalent to over ten Divine Attainment Realm warriors, was a significant loss for any force. Although the incoming presence was strong and imposing, as long as it wasn¡¯t Level 6, Meng Changqing didn¡¯t care. He was nearly invincible within the Divine Attainment Realm. Unlike others, he welcomed more such demons. ¡°Uncle,¡± Mo Xiaoyu¡¯s demeanor changed, her face serious. This demon was much stronger than the previous ones. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, stand aside,¡± Meng Changqing patted her head. For the first time, Mo Xiaoyu didn¡¯t resist. ¡°I can help,¡± she said earnestly. ¡°Relax, in this realm, I¡¯m invincible,¡± Meng Changqing¡¯s black hair fluttered in the wind, his handsome face showing a confident smile, mesmerizing Mo Xiaoyu for a moment. ¡°All seen in the demon soil are dead souls, blood pointing to reincarnation without salvation,¡± a cold voice echoed in the sky, seemingly from all directions. Amidst the demonic energy, a figure slowly appeared, wearing a black robe, hands behind his back, blood-red eyes exuding a chilling coldness. Level 5 peak demon. ¡°My name is Duoming. Human, you may surrender,¡± the demon¡¯s expression was indifferent, as if he had already decided Meng Changqing¡¯s fate. ¡°What realm are you at, still reciting poetry? Are you preparing your own epitaph?¡± Meng Changqing took a step forward, facing the demon from a distance. Chapter 160 Chapter 160: You Actually Dare to Say My Poem... Is Ordinary?! As the words fell, the world fell silent. Duoming¡¯s face froze for a moment and then turned grim. ¡°Human, you are very bold. Do you think killing a few insignificant beings makes you invincible?¡± Duoming¡¯s eyes glowed with demonic light, accompanied by strange sounds. However, it had no effect on Meng Changqing, as thirty percent of his sword intent resonated in his mind, shattering all evil. Mo Xiaoyu, on the other hand, struggled. Her face turned pale instantly. ¡°Leave,¡± Meng Changqing frowned. He could handle this demon, but Mo Xiaoyu could not. ¡°Okay,¡± Mo Xiaoyu nodded, understanding that staying would only hinder Meng Changqing and might become his weakness. She decisively took out the Abyss Token, infused her soul power, and quickly disappeared from the Demon Abyss. Duoming ignored Mo Xiaoyu¡¯s departure. In his eyes, Meng Changqing was the real key, the culprit behind recent deaths in his clan. Capturing him was essential to report back to his ancestor. Outside the Demon Abyss, Mo Xiaoyu¡¯s figure gradually appeared. Seeing this, everyone around breathed a sigh of relief. With her safe, there were no casualties, except for the sect¡¯s young master still inside. ¡°Did you see the young master?¡± the Grand Elder asked directly.@@@@ ¡°Yes, we encountered a Level 5 peak demon. The young master told me to leave first,¡± Mo Xiaoyu replied. Remembering Meng Changqing¡¯s request for secrecy, she said nothing about the demonic energy. A Level 5 peak demon! Everyone gasped. Such a demon was as powerful as a peak Divine Attainment Realm warrior, just a step away from the Life and Death Realm. ¡°This is not just a top human genius, but a world-defying monster!¡± All of Duoming¡¯s contempt vanished, replaced by solemnity. In the demon realm, he was considered a top genius, but far from being a world-defying monster. Such a being¡¯s combat power was unimaginable! No wonder he had killed so many Level 5 demons! How could such a powerful talent emerge from the weak South Spirit State? No time to think, Duoming quickly focused, defending against the sword. Boom! On contact, he was forced back hundreds of meters, barely stopping. ¡°Heaven-level sword technique!¡± Duoming took a deep breath, wiping blood from his mouth. Only a Heaven-level technique, especially one involving mental attacks, could hurt him. ¡°Not bad, you blocked it,¡± Meng Changqing smiled, showing excitement. ¡°Until now, no demon has blocked my sword. You barely qualify to recite poetry. But your poem is quite ordinary. Remember to revise it in your next life.¡± Duoming could tolerate the earlier words, but the last sentence made his hands clench. Just ordinary?! As the most talented poet in his clan, this was his proudest work, meant to be his title after reaching Level 6 or even Level 7. Being called ordinary was a thousand times more humiliating than defeat! ¡°Even if you are a world-defying monster, you will stay here today!¡± Duoming was utterly enraged. His eyes became two blood-red suns, emitting endless demonic light. ¡°Eyes of Perdition: Ten Thousand Demon Mountains!¡± This was a pure mental attack, visualizing ancient objects and transforming them with immense mental power, accompanied by immense power. The sky darkened, filled with ancient mountains, exuding overwhelming oppression, seemingly able to crush the world. ¡°Good!¡± Meng Changqing was not afraid but delighted. He needed such a pressure-inducing opponent to fully unleash his sword techniques and comprehend the final move, Sword Twenty-Three! The most powerful and difficult move in the ¡°Emperor Sword Sutra,¡± even Mo Shukuang hadn¡¯t mastered it. According to the sutra, mastering this sword could shatter the heavens and earth! Chapter 161 Chapter 161: Sword... Twenty-Three! Unparalleled Power in the World! ¡°Sword Twenty-Two!¡± Meng Changqing immediately used his current strongest sword move, surpassing Sword Twenty-One. Simultaneously, he continuously comprehended Sword Twenty-Three in his mind. Pressure stimulated potential! A too comfortable environment only leads to complacency and hinders true progress. Buzz! The gigantic sword trembled! Thirty percent of the sword intent merged into the move. Holding Crimson Sky, Meng Changqing¡¯s aura peaked, his sharp force sweeping through the sky! Slash! The terrifying sword light radiated from Crimson Sky, like a great sun, illuminating the ancient darkness. The approaching Ten Thousand Demon Mountains crumbled instantly! ¡°This sword move!¡± Duoming¡¯s face turned pale. He thought the previous move was Meng Changqing¡¯s strongest, but this was even stronger! ¡°What Heaven-level sword technique is this? It¡¯s almost entirely focused on the spiritual path!¡± This made it extremely lethal to him, especially with that thirty percent sword intent. If it were just a prototype, he wouldn¡¯t be afraid, but thirty percent greatly amplified the sword¡¯s power! Boom boom boom! The Ten Thousand Demon Mountains collapsed completely. ¡°I can¡¯t beat this person, I need to call for the ancestor!¡± Duoming quickly assessed the situation. He should have fled initially, considering Meng Changqing was a world-defying monster, not a regular genius! But his pride in his poem being called ordinary held him back. With this thought, Duoming turned to flee. But Meng Changqing wouldn¡¯t let him escape. Instantly activating the perfected ¡°Light-Chasing Swift Sword Technique,¡± he transformed into a beam of sword light and swiftly caught up. ¡°Didn¡¯t you want to kill me? Why are you running now?¡± Meng Changqing taunted while engaging Duoming in close combat. He continuously unleashed various sword moves. Under extraordinary comprehension and this environment, his understanding of Sword Twenty-Three deepened, forming a clear outline. Sing! Crimson Sky resonated with a loud sword cry. ¡°Sword... Twenty-Three!¡± A steady voice echoed. The world shook! Wind and clouds, yellow sand, the sky, and the earth¡ªall became swords, filled with surging sword intent! Everything in the universe seemed to merge into the most unparalleled sword! Slash! Crimson Sky cut horizontally. The dazzling sword light cut through the demonic light and the blood-red eye. Crack crack crack! Everything shattered instantly. The demonic light dissipated, and the blood-red eye disintegrated, unstoppable and inevitable, like fate! ¡°This... one sword...¡± Duoming¡¯s consciousness faded, eyes filled with shock and awe. In his demon life, he had never seen such a powerful sword move. Was this humanly possible? Maybe only the ancestor could resist, and even then, not easily. ¡°Truly... a monster...¡± With this thought, Duoming¡¯s consciousness plunged into darkness. Swoosh! Meng Changqing sheathed his sword, standing in the void. The wind blew, his black hair fluttering wildly. At this moment, his entire being exuded intense sword intent, like an unparalleled sword master, awe-inspiring! The surrounding void trembled. Without hesitation, Meng Changqing raised his right hand, summoning dense black iron chains to bind Duoming¡¯s spiritual consciousness and began refining it. A demon¡¯s spirit would dissipate quickly after death, so there was no time to waste. After a dozen breaths, a deep black demonic energy appeared before Meng Changqing. This quality far surpassed the previous ones. Absorbing it would greatly enhance his cultivation! Chapter 162 Chapter 162: The Power of a Marquis? Crushed with One Palm! Level Six Demon Energy! ¡°I need to find a place to absorb this properly.¡± The three threads of demon energy from before, plus this one, provided immense spiritual insights. There¡¯s no need for more killing for now. Moreover, this battle likely shook the entire Deception Sound Heavenly Demon Clan to its core, considering the one who died was a peak level five demon, almost reaching level six. It¡¯s wise to lay low and fully digest the gains from this battle. Besides, he didn¡¯t want to leave yet. With the Void Mirror, his ambitions were far greater! With a flash, Meng Changqing disappeared from sight. In the Duoming Territory, a terrifying aura suddenly erupted on the once peaceful demon mountain. The surrounding void trembled continuously. ¡°It¡¯s the ancestor!¡± ¡°The ancestor is angry!¡± ¡°What happened?¡± Many demons couldn¡¯t help but come out, looking at each other in surprise. The ancestor¡¯s emotions rarely fluctuated so violently. ¡°Duoming has been killed. Guard the territory, I¡¯m going out,¡± the ancestor said, and a black light instantly left the demon mountain, disappearing into the distance. ¡°What!¡± The demons were shocked. Duoming was second only to the ancestor, with the most potential to reach level six. Now, he was dead? No wonder the ancestor left in a rage. ¡°What kind of monster came in that even Lord Duoming died?¡± ¡°Could it be a strong human from the Life and Death Realm?¡± ¡°Impossible! A human at the Life and Death Realm would cause a phenomenon, and the demons from Demon Swallowing City would come immediately.¡± ¡°So Lord Duoming was killed by someone of the same realm!¡± However, Meng Changqing felt no fear. He wasn¡¯t using the Abyss Token but the Void Mirror, a rare and powerful treasure. The Great Elder had said that unless it was an excessively powerful being, even level six or seven demons couldn¡¯t trap him. He could escape easily. Knowing this, Meng Changqing acted so boldly, staying in the Demon Abyss after killing Duoming. Moreover, this was part of his plan. Level five demons were good, but level six was much better. Getting level six demon energy would make reaching the peak of the Divine Attainment Realm easy. Though he couldn¡¯t kill the level six demon, he could get someone else to do it and see the Sect Master¡¯s power! ¡°Human, you¡¯re bold to stay in the Demon Abyss!¡± A huge face appeared in the sky filled with demonic energy. It looked like a human but was covered in dark red scales, looking extremely ferocious. Its eyes were like pools of abyssal ice, exuding a coldness that could freeze the world! At its appearance, the surrounding void rippled as if unable to bear its presence. ¡°You¡¯re greedy, trying to devour the energy of my clan¡¯s strongest! Now, are you ready to die?¡± The demon ancestor showed no sorrow but joy. Killing a human genius would surely bring great rewards from Demon Swallowing City. ¡°Also, I want your body!¡± Despite his anger over his clan¡¯s death, finding a world-defying genius excited him. With such a body, he could reach even higher realms! ¡°So, you think you¡¯ve got me,¡± Meng Changqing smiled. ¡°Of course. No matter how strong you are, you can¡¯t surpass realms,¡± the demon ancestor sneered. ¡°I¡¯ll kill you in three moves!¡± He then surged forward with overwhelming demonic energy towards Meng Changqing. But suddenly, Meng Changqing took out an ancient mirror. Infusing it with soul power, a huge vortex appeared in the sky like a hole. From the vortex, a giant hand emerged, covered in runes, exuding a world-shattering aura! ¡°This is!¡± The demon ancestor¡¯s face changed dramatically. In disbelief, the hand grabbed his face and crushed everything, shattering the void and the demon ancestor like a broken mirror, leaving no trace! Chapter 163 Chapter 163: Tianxuan, Tianshu, Tianji, Top Three in the Southern Region! ¡°This power,¡± Meng Changqing¡¯s hands clenched slightly. Being able to easily crush a level six demon with one palm, just as he had expected, the sect master indeed possessed at least the power of a Marquis! ¡°Marquis!¡± Brightness appeared in Meng Changqing¡¯s eyes. No wonder it was said to command the power of heaven and earth! Even the incredibly hard void was as fragile as thin paper before it! ¡°One day, I will also reach this realm!¡± Meng Changqing took a deep breath. He also developed a strong determination to win in the upcoming Southern Genius Battle. Entering the top twenty would earn him a spot in the Wild Sea, which contained Marquis-level resources! ¡°Hurry and leave,¡± the sect master¡¯s voice sounded in Meng Changqing¡¯s ear. Hearing this, Meng Changqing quickly gathered his thoughts, activated his true demon skill, and refined the demon ancestor. Indeed, level six demon energy was dark and thick, merely glancing at it provided countless insights. Without further thought, he stored it and used the Void Mirror to disappear from the spot. Shortly after his departure, terrifying shadows appeared in the sky. A huge demon turtle, pitch black and immensely powerful, covered in chains and enslaved, carried a grand palace on its back. ¡°Shattering the void requires at least Marquis-level power,¡± a calm voice came from within the palace. Outside, two tall demon guards stood. ¡°Which human region does this rift lead to?¡± the voice asked again. ¡°Reporting to the young city lord, it leads to Tianling Prefecture in the Southern Region,¡± a guard answered respectfully. ¡°Tianling Prefecture? Interesting. As far as I know, this prefecture is incredibly weak, with hardly any Life and Death Realm experts. How could there be a Marquis-level warrior?¡± the voice pondered, ¡°Go and investigate the situation.¡±@@@@ ¡°Yes!¡± One guard flashed to the battlefield, returning after several breaths. Just over a month ago, he had just broken through to the Divine Attainment Realm, and now he had reached the sixth level! Such a terrifying cultivation speed, considering how difficult it was to advance in the Divine Attainment Realm, astonished everyone. The elder stood up immediately, approached Meng Changqing, and expressed his satisfaction with three ¡®good¡¯s. ¡°Let¡¯s return to the sect!¡± the elder turned. The training was over, and it was time to go back. ¡ª Many cloud boats rose into the sky, heading towards the sect. Meng Changqing and the elder stood at the front of the cloud boat. ¡°It seems you had great encounters in the Demon Abyss!¡± The elder was increasingly pleased with Meng Changqing. Excellent appearance, strong power, and enough steadiness ¡ª he was much more suitable to be the sect master than Xi Yingqing! Once Meng Changqing reached the Life and Death Realm or higher, Xi Yingqing could step down. That guy would only lead the sect into darkness! ¡°Yes,¡± Meng Changqing began to explain but was interrupted by the elder. ¡°No need to say more. It¡¯s your fortune. No need to tell anyone,¡± the elder shook his head, ¡°The faster you grow, the happier we are.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± Meng Changqing nodded, realizing he was overthinking. ¡°After returning to the sect, I will look for Divine Attainment Realm cultivation pills in the Supreme Profound Treasury to help you reach the peak of the Divine Attainment Realm before the Southern Genius Battle!¡± the elder said. ¡°Second senior brother, you mentioned before that the top in the Southern Region are Tianxuan Prefecture, then Tianshu Prefecture, and Tianji Prefecture. These three prefectures are incredibly strong, far surpassing others. How about their younger generation?¡± Meng Changqing asked. ¡°Very strong,¡± the elder looked at Meng Changqing seriously, ¡°The age limit for the talent battle, like the Hidden Dragon List, is under thirty-five. Many young experts have reached the Life and Death Realm!¡± ¡°Life and Death Realm,¡± Meng Changqing squinted. This was not surprising. Given the age limit, reaching the Life and Death Realm was not difficult for world-defying geniuses. Chapter 164 Chapter 164: Great Harvest, Bonus Reward: Initial Fist Intent! Thinking carefully, this trip to the Demon Abyss was truly fortunate. Otherwise, reaching the peak of the Divine Attainment Realm before the talent battle would have been extremely difficult. Now, there was even a significant chance to go a step further and enter the Life and Death Realm! Regarding the Life and Death Realm, Meng Changqing didn¡¯t know much. He only knew it was a powerful realm that could extend one¡¯s lifespan.@@@@ Humans were not an immortal race. In fact, most people, including those in the Divine Attainment Realm, don¡¯t live long, only up to three hundred years. Only by entering the Life and Death Realm and understanding the Dao of life and death could one¡¯s lifespan greatly increase, varying from person to person. According to ancient books, when humanity lost its innate name, the potential for immortality was also erased. ¡ª Soon, the cloud boat returned to the sect, and Meng Changqing went to the sect master¡¯s hall. With reaching the peak of the Divine Attainment Realm being a certainty, he needed to learn about the Life and Death Realm. With the experience of predecessors, breaking through would be much easier for him. Buzz~ It was still the seemingly endless sea of flowers. Xi Yingqing sat cross-legged on a giant flower bud. ¡°Sixth level of the Divine Attainment Realm. It seems you had quite the harvest,¡± Xi Yingqing raised an eyebrow. Even he couldn¡¯t help but be astonished. Such a terrifying cultivation speed was truly unheard of. In just over a month, he had gone from the first to the sixth level of the Divine Attainment Realm! ¡°Thoughtful,¡± Xi Yingqing¡¯s eyes showed appreciation. At least from this, it was clear that Meng Changqing cared about the sect. Even if he himself fell, the sect could thrive under Meng Changqing. Ding! [Favorability increased to two stars!] [Attribute selectable!] [Triggered bonus reward: Initial Fist Intent!] Hearing the system¡¯s voice in his mind, Meng Changqing couldn¡¯t help but take a deep breath. He had triggered a bonus reward, and it was Initial Fist Intent! Although he primarily focused on swordsmanship, martial intent was always valuable. This meant that in the future, he could try learning powerful fist techniques, like the ¡°Divine Fist of Truth¡± the sect master had recently passed on to him, which complemented the ¡°Undying Truth Heavenly King Art.¡± More skills wouldn¡¯t hurt. ¡°Not bad,¡± joy flashed in Meng Changqing¡¯s eyes. This was indeed a great harvest. Demonic energy he couldn¡¯t use himself had increased favorability and earned him Initial Fist Intent! ¡°You probably came here to ask about the Life and Death Realm?¡± Xi Yingqing said. ¡°Yes, reaching the peak of the Divine Attainment Realm is no longer difficult, so I want to try entering the Life and Death Realm before the Southern Genius Battle. This would give me a better chance to enter the top twenty,¡± Meng Changqing said. ¡°It seems second senior brother has already told you about the talent battle,¡± Xi Yingqing said. ¡°In the Divine Attainment Realm alone, it¡¯s hard to stand out. The top prefectures have geniuses of monstrous talent. Only by entering the Life and Death Realm can you compete with them,¡± Xi Yingqing stood with his hands behind his back, his tone carrying a hint of nostalgia. ¡°I thought it would be hard for you to break through to the Life and Death Realm before the battle, but it seems I underestimated your cultivation speed,¡± Xi Yingqing smiled slightly, ¡°Next, I will explain and demonstrate the power of the Life and Death Realm.¡± Hearing this, Meng Changqing immediately focused intently, not daring to be distracted. The Life and Death Realm required great comprehension, so the experience and insights of predecessors were invaluable. Chapter 165 Chapter 165: Fusion Attributes, The Dao of Life and Death! After two hours. Meng Changqing left the sect master¡¯s hall. ¡°So, this is the Life and Death Realm.¡± Meng Changqing looked up at the sky. Thanks to Xi Yingqing¡¯s explanation, he understood the Life and Death Realm. The so-called Life and Death Realm involved comprehending the Dao of life and death, thereby unlocking the hidden secret of immortality deep within the human body.@@@@ These were two major apertures: the Life Aperture and the Death Aperture. The Life Aperture allowed one to seize vitality from the vast heavens and earth, transforming it for personal use. It also made a warrior¡¯s recovery ability incredibly strong. Unless struck with a fatal blow, they were hard to kill. Even with a brief moment to breathe, they could capture the vitality of the world and heal themselves! The Death Aperture, on the other hand, could expel the death energy from the body, keeping the physical form perpetually vibrant. It was an extremely powerful realm! And this was just part of its effects; there are many more. Meng Changqing found it hard to understand why the sect master, despite being in the Life and Death Realm, still had an empty left arm. Could it be an old, unhealed injury? Even the power of the Life and Death Realm couldn¡¯t heal it? Shaking his head slightly, Meng Changqing didn¡¯t think further. To him, both the sect master and the sect were incredibly mysterious, filled with stories. For now, he decided to quietly enhance his cultivation. Back in his cultivation place, Meng Changqing sat cross-legged and called up his character panel. He reopened Xi Yingqing¡¯s friend information. This time, he had another chance to choose. Although there were many tempting attributes, like the Sacred Martial Body, Meng Changqing ultimately chose ¡°Undying Truth Heavenly King Art (Volume One).¡± He already had the innate sword body, so a substitute wasn¡¯t necessary. And after so long, it was time to practice it! This was the sect¡¯s supreme art, the most powerful technique! Meng Changqing valued the effect of this technique highly. It allowed a warrior to merge with the world, using a powerful mental will to sense the truth in the void. Even if one couldn¡¯t sense it, they could reach a state that others strive for ¡ª unity with heaven and man. In this state, both comprehension and cultivation speed would improve qualitatively! Current cultivation increasingly emphasized comprehension. At the same time, a flood of insights into fist techniques surged into his consciousness, constantly elevating his understanding of the martial path of the fist! Whoosh~ After an unknown period, Meng Changqing opened his eyes. Dense fist intent surged, enveloping his entire body, giving him the aura of a martial arts grandmaster! A single punch could overturn rivers and seas, subvert heaven and earth! ¡°Not bad.¡± Meng Changqing nodded in satisfaction. In the future, if he encountered powerful fist techniques, he could master them, adding another trump card. To the outside world, he was known as a sword practitioner, who would expect him to wield fist techniques? ¡°Now, let¡¯s start cultivating.¡± Meng Changqing took out that strand of level six demonic energy. With this, reaching the peak of the Divine Attainment Realm posed no problem. ¡ª Time passed quickly. In a flash, another month had gone by. During this month, a new pill appeared in the sect, called the Biluo Pill. Its effect was to help disciples in the Dao Creation Realm to experience the Dao of the mind early. Additionally, for warriors in the Divine Attainment Realm, it greatly enhanced their mental cultivation. In no time, several new Divine Attainment Realm warriors emerged in the sect. They were the elites previously stuck due to comprehension barriers. Now, they had ¡®suddenly enlightened¡¯ and finally broke through. Furthermore, news about the Southern Genius Battle spread widely. ¡°In two months, it¡¯s the Southern Genius Battle!¡± ¡°The young sect masters should be setting off soon!¡± ¡°Unfortunately, the journey is long, so we can¡¯t be there to cheer them on!¡± ¡°Indeed, I¡¯d love to see the other great states¡¯ landscapes. It¡¯s said that the top-ranking states¡¯ young elites are nearly as strong as those in the Central Province!¡± ¡°In past years, our Tianling Prefecture was always at the bottom, but this time, with the young sect master, we¡¯ll surely achieve an impressive rank!¡± ¡°Indeed!¡± Many disciples were quite optimistic, speaking excitedly. After all, the young sect master was a world-shaking genius! Even if his cultivation level might be slightly lacking, entering the top fifty was certainly achievable. And the top fifty was already a very high rank! The sect would gain more resources as a result! Chapter 166 Chapter 166: Stepping into Life and Death, Seven Hundred Years of Heaven and Earth Longevity! Southern Genius Battle. It represented the competition between prefectures. Therefore, it was impossible for the Tianling Prefecture to only send disciples from the Tai Xuan Sect. Flame Sun Valley, Giant Spirit Sect, and Wind and Cloud City all had the qualifications to compete. However, their performances had never been outstanding. They were usually ranked at the bottom. It¡¯s more about participating than winning. After so many years, they had become accustomed to it. It¡¯s just that every time they went, they get mocked, which was really unpleasant. The genius battle location waslocated in Tianxuan Prefecture, the strongest prefecture in the southern region! The area was quite vast, almost three times that of Tianling Prefecture. Rich in resources and talented people, as expected. Because of such an area, Tianxuan Prefecture had many advantages from the beginning that other prefectures find hard to match. It seemed to be favored by fortune. Every few years, extremely outstanding talents appear, displaying an invincible form. As for other prefectures, only Tianshu and Tianji can barely keep up. Tianling Prefecture was very far from Tianxuan Prefecture. Even with the help of cloud boats, it took more than a month, so they must set off in advance. According to the sect¡¯s plan, they should have set off long ago. But Meng Changqing was still in seclusion, so they could only wait. In the cultivation hall, Meng Changqing still sat cross-legged.@@@@ The pervasive spiritual pressure, vast and majestic, clearly showed he had reached the peak of the Divine Attainment Realm. This was all thanks to that wisp of sixth-level demon energy. The spiritual insights it contained were enormous. If the Divine Attainment Realm had more than nine levels, he might have gone further. Spiritual cultivation actually had no peak. It can always rise continuously. It¡¯s just that in the current cultivation system, the ancients set it at nine levels. Therefore, Meng Changqing¡¯s spiritual attainment has already surpassed other warriors of the same realm! Slowly opening his eyes, Meng Changqing exhaled a long breath. Actually, he reached the peak of the ninth level days ago, but these days he has been adjusting his state, preparing for a major breakthrough. And now everything was ready! ¡°The Dao of Life and Death!¡± A bright light flashed in Meng Changqing¡¯s eyes. Strictly speaking, his involvement in the Dao of Life and Death started long ago. Meng Changqing¡¯s body was filled with the intense and almost tangible intent of life and death! Crack! In an instant! A sound like breaking echoed inside! Meng Changqing¡¯s aura surged! He had clearly stepped into a higher level! The Life and Death Realm! Hoo! The surrounding void trembled, and a miraculous scene unfolded. Threads of white mist appeared. They looked full of vitality. One thread, two threads... up to seven hundred threads! This was the longevity of heaven and earth! After opening the life aperture, one could seize the longevity of heaven and earth. It was equivalent to integrating part of the vitality of heaven and earth into oneself! Depending on the depth of one¡¯s insights, the longevity obtained varies. The deeper the understanding, the more longevity one gains! Like seven hundred threads, that is a full seven hundred years! Even Xi Yingqing would be shocked by this, as it was indeed too much. Generally, gaining a couple hundred years was about average. More would be three or four hundred years. But seven hundred years was indeed rare. But Meng Changqing¡¯s foundation was extraordinarily deep. He had the ¡°Sacred Spirit Slaughter Sword Technique¡± as a foundation, superior comprehension, and the unity of heaven and man. Such a result was within reason. Xi Yingqing didn¡¯t have such a deep foundation back then. For the first volume of the Undying Truth Heavenly King Art, he only mastered it in the Life and Death Realm. The dense white mist crazily drilled into Meng Changqing¡¯s body, making his physique increasingly vibrant and full of vitality. ¡°Life and Death Realm, First Level!¡± Meng Changqing suddenly opened his eyes. In his eyes, the intent of life and death continuously alternated. Enough to trap those with weak wills in endless illusions. Experiencing countless lives and deaths in an instant, with no end. The Life and Death Realm not only increased longevity and enhanced recovery ability but also mainly reflected in attacks, each carrying the effects of the life aperture and death aperture. That was the deprivation of vitality and the infusion of death energy. Therefore, in battles, the Life and Death Realm could almost crush the Divine Attainment Realm. As long as they fought, the opponent¡¯s vitality would be affected. Over time. even without the full force of the Life and Death Realm, the Divine Attainment Realm would become lifeless and turn into a corpse. As for battles within the same realm, as long as the gap in minor realms wasn¡¯t too large, it depended on each other¡¯s martial foundation! Chapter 167 Chapter 167: The Path of Invincibility! You Can Gallop Freely Across the Entire Southern Region! ¡°Seven hundred years of longevity.¡± Meng Changqing slightly sensed the vitality in his body and a smile appeared on his lips. Such a vast amount of heaven and earth longevity was somewhat unexpected. But thinking it through, it made sense. ¡°Adding the longevity I already have, it¡¯s about a thousand years.¡± Meng Changqing¡¯s eyes flickered. A thousand years of life. That¡¯s about the span of ten generations of a mortal family. So for a major power, once a Life and Death Realm expert appears, it could remain glorious for at least five to six hundred years. The increase in longevity for the Life and Death Realm only happens when breaking through from Divine Attainment to Life and Death Realm, after that, it¡¯s just the enhancement of life and death power. Like the ninth level of the Life and Death Realm, the power of life and death far surpassed the first level. When they fight, unless the first level has an extremely deep martial foundation, they cannot sustain a long battle against the ninth level. Over time, their vitality would be drained. Thinking this, Meng Changqing raised his right hand. In his palm, black and white energy appeared, intertwining and forming a Taiji-like symbol. This was the power of life and death. Life energy absorbed others¡¯ vitality to replenish oneself, while death energy affects the ecology within others, worsening injuries, causing wear and tear, and in severe cases, affecting longevity. Such an abnormal power was indeed incomparable to the lower realms. ¡°All power originates from the human body itself, could it be that humans were once innate spirits?¡± Meng Changqing couldn¡¯t help but wonder. From the beginning with the Great Meridian Secret, followed by the Great Aperture Secret, Danhai Secret, Sea of Consciousness Secret, and now the Longevity Secret. These all come from the human body. Not external. After pondering for a while, Meng Changqing gave up, because overthinking at this stage was useless. ¡°By my estimation, there are only about two months left until the Southern Genius Battle. Just the journey itself takes a lot of time, so I must set off soon.¡± Meng Changqing slowly stood up. At the same time, he picked up Crimson Sky beside him.@@@@ ¡ª Arriving at the Sect Master¡¯s hall, he saw Xi Yingqing again. Xi Yingqing was not surprised by Meng Changqing¡¯s breakthrough. Everything was as expected. ¡°How is your progress with the Undying Truth Heavenly King Art?¡± Xi Yingqing casually asked. He didn¡¯t expect Meng Changqing to have made much progress, considering most of his time was spent on enhancing his cultivation. The improvement in his techniques was probably limited. The main content of this volume was to build the Eye of Truth. The first volume only relied on one¡¯s spiritual will to sense, a relatively crude method. But the second volume refined this. It tempered the spiritual will, transforming it, then visualized ancient objects to construct the Eye of Truth in the sea of consciousness! Using the Eye of Truth, it became easier to approach the truth. It sounded simple, but in reality, it¡¯s very difficult. First, one¡¯s spiritual cultivation must be very high, otherwise, they had no qualification to visualize ancient objects. Secondly, how rare were ancient objects? It wouldn¡¯t be an exaggeration to call them exceedingly rare. However, Meng Changqing believed his spiritual cultivation was sufficient, and as for ancient objects, the Sect Master had already prepared them for him. ¡°Thank you, Senior Brother.¡± Meng Changqing took the storage ring. ¡°Everything you need is inside, and it¡¯s best to find a secluded place for your cultivation.¡± Xi Yingqing said with a smile, ¡°I hope next time you come back, you have perfected it.¡± ¡°I will do my best.¡± Meng Changqing nodded. ¡°The Southern Genius Battle is a grand event held once every ten years, and it carries significant meaning. ¡°If it were before, with only Divine Attainment Realm, I might not have given it much thought. But now that you have stepped into the Life and Death Realm, I want you to defeat all opponents and take first place! ¡°Forge an invincible form!¡± Saying this, a difficult-to-describe aura emerged from Xi Yingqing, filled with dominance, confidence, and invincibility! It felt as if no one in the world could stop him! ¡°The path of martial arts is inherently one of contention, only by constantly defeating opponents, especially strong ones, can you gather an unyielding heart and invincible belief. This will be greatly beneficial for your future path!¡± Xi Yingqing¡¯s white hair fluttered wildly, and his eyes seemed to flicker with divine light. From him, Meng Changqing seemed to truly see that imposing aura. He also saw many figures. All of whom fell under the Sect Master¡¯s fists, battling all the way to the peak, until...no one remained in his eyes! ¡°Rest assured and boldly contend, have no fear of other powers! ¡°I am behind you, and the sect is behind you. ¡°In the entire Southern region, you can gallop freely!¡± Xi Yingqing stood with his hands behind his back. His words were full of certainty. He seemed to want Meng Changqing to shed his psychological burden, completely relax, and walk the path of invincibility! ¡°Understood.¡± Meng Changqing took a deep breath. He slowly closed his eyes. When he opened them again, his eyes were like torches. Chapter 168 Chapter 168: Forging the Heart, the Eighteen Sons of Tai Xuan! He understood the Sect Master¡¯s intention. After all, in the Southern Region, the strength of Tianling Prefecture is not the weakest, but it¡¯s close. When traveling outside, one inevitably feels inferior and dares not cause trouble, so the Sect Master was now forging his heart. He had witnessed the Sect Master¡¯s strength, where even a level six demon, comparable to the Life and Death Realm, was crushed with one palm. At least Marquis level to start. Moreover, the many peak masters in the sect were all hidden powerhouses. With such backing, there¡¯s no need to act timidly! One could act boldly! ¡°I have informed the Great Elder about your exit. They will be here soon. ¡°The Great Elder will also accompany you on this trip. ¡°Additionally, this storage ring contains resources needed for the Life and Death Realm, gathered by Senior Brother Yun Bujue from the Shangqing Realm.¡± Xi Yingqing handed over another storage ring. ¡°Senior Brother Yun.¡± Upon hearing this, Meng Changqing immediately thought of Yun Bujue. It had indeed been a long time since they last met. Whether it was during the Three Sects Martial Arts or afterward, Yun Bujue was nowhere to be seen. Turns out he went to the Shangqing Realm. Shangqing Realm sounds like a secret realm. But isn¡¯t the sect supposed to have only two secret realms? One Xuanqing Realm and one Taiqing Realm. So this is another secret realm? ¡°Where is Senior Brother Yun now?¡± Meng Changqing took the ring. ¡°He got injured and is in seclusion, recuperating.¡± Xi Yingqing said. ¡°Is the injury severe?¡± Meng Changqing asked. ¡°Nothing serious, just a few months of recovery will do.¡± Xi Yingqing smiled. ¡°That¡¯s good. But with the upcoming journey, I might not be able to visit Senior Brother Yun. Please convey my regards to him.¡± Meng Changqing cupped his hands slightly. Even someone as powerful as Yun Bujue got injured. Clearly, the resources obtained were extremely precious. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I will convey your regards.¡± Xi Yingqing nodded, then looked outside, ¡°Just in time, the Great Elder and others have arrived, let¡¯s go out.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Meng Changqing turned around. He left Xi Yingqing¡¯s mental world. Stars shifted. He was already in the Sect Master¡¯s hall. Coincidentally, the Great Elder entered. Behind him were many peak masters, as well as Han Luoyu, Mo Xiaoyu, the Shi brothers, and other disciples eligible to participate in the Genius Battle. Three peak masters stood on the square outside the hall, seeing them off. Buzz~ The void twisted in front of them. A figure appeared, it was Xi Yingqing. ¡°Do you think Junior Brother can make it to the end?¡± Shangguan Zhi asked. ¡°If he can¡¯t, then who can?¡± Xi Yingqing smiled slightly. ¡°True.¡± Thinking of Meng Changqing¡¯s growth rate, even Shangguan Zhi, a rough man, couldn¡¯t help but be amazed. Though everything was reasonable, it was also astonishing. He remembered how long he stayed in the Divine Attainment Realm back then. Three years or four years. He couldn¡¯t recall clearly. It was quite a long time anyway. Two months seemed like a fairy tale. ¡°This journey means Junior Brother truly steps into the cultivation world, and he will face more dangers, considering the many forces we provoked back then.¡± The peak master of Medicine King Peak said. Her name was Luo Qingtai. She looked like an old woman, appearing very old. ¡°Speaking of the past, I wonder if anyone still remembers the Eighteen Sons of Tai Xuan from nearly two hundred years ago!¡± Mo Shukuang suddenly said. Upon hearing this, everyone, including Xi Yingqing, had a look of reminiscence. That was indeed an unforgettable period. ¡°That¡¯s all in the past.¡± Xi Yingqing collected his thoughts, ¡°With me protecting him, unless such a being intervenes, no one can harm Junior Brother.¡± ¡°If not for being... cut off, you could have taken that step!¡± Shangguan Zhi clenched his hands, his eyes becoming sharp. ¡°Indeed.¡± Mo Shukuang and Luo Qingtai both nodded. Back then, Xi Yingqing was the one with the highest potential in the sect. But... ¡°It was just a chance.¡± Xi Yingqing smiled slightly, ¡°Junior Brother¡¯s potential is much higher than mine. If I¡¯m a one, he¡¯s a ten.¡± The three nodded. This was indeed evident. ¡°Just watch, Junior Brother will make it to the end and complete our unfinished path. ¡°And what we need to do... is to protect his basic safety. ¡°Even at the cost of everything.¡± Xi Yingqing stood with his hands behind his back. The wind blew gently. His white hair fluttered. His eyes were full of determination. Chapter 169 Chapter 169: Sect Ideology, Life and Death Grass, Shi Brothers¡¯ Panel Changes! The sky was azure, without a cloud in sight. A cloud ship cut through the wind, traveling at high speed. Although Tianling Prefecture was small compared to the top-ranking prefectures, it is still vast. Even with the cloud ship at full speed, it would take several days to completely leave. It was now three days later. The cloud ship finally reached the border of Tianling Prefecture. The direction was northward. Because Tianxuan Prefecture was located in the northernmost part of the Southern Region, it was also the closest to the Central Province.@@@@ Meng Changqing stood at the front of the cloud ship, gazing at the mountains and rivers, overlooking the vast landscapes. This journey had indeed shown him many magnificent sceneries he had never seen before. It was truly an eye-opener. The thirteen Prefectures of the Southern Region, ranked from strongest to weakest, were Tianxuan, Tianshu, Tianji, Tianheng, Tianyang, Tianyun, Tianguang, Tianquan, Tiansheng... Tianling, Tianyao, Tianyue. Next up was Tiansheng Prefecture. According to the Great Elder, this Prefecture¡¯s strength was slightly below average, with three top-tier sects. The number of Life and Death Realm experts was around ten. ¡°Tianyun Prefecture.¡± Meng Changqing muttered this name. He remembered Bai Suxi once said she was from this prefecture. According to the map, after Tiansheng and Tianguang, it was Tianyun Prefecture. He wondered if Bai Suxi had returned to Tianyun Prefecture. Shaking his head slightly, Meng Changqing dismissed his thoughts and walked towards the cloud ship¡¯s pavilion. Coincidentally, he heard the Great Elder giving a speech. ¡°When away from the sect, remember to be cautious and humble, never arrogant and overbearing. ¡°Follow the rules in all things, do not easily overstep. ¡°In case of trouble, endure first and yield.¡± ¡°What if we can¡¯t endure or yield?¡± Shi Yao raised his hand. Now having entered the Divine Attainment Realm, the brothers¡¯ physiques were even more intimidating. Both were twenty meters tall! Fortunately, the cloud ship was large enough. Otherwise, it couldn¡¯t accommodate them. ¡°Then you can take action.¡± The Great Elder glanced at him. ¡°Got it.¡± Shi Yao obediently nodded and put his hand down. Meng Changqing listened from a distance. He found that the Great Elder¡¯s ideology seemed completely opposite to the Sect Master¡¯s. When leaving, the Sect Master¡¯s words were simple ¨C act decisively, just seek clarity of mind. But the Great Elder advocated enduring and yielding first. Only act when absolutely necessary. Meng Changqing immediately opened his eyes. Compared to half a month ago, the aura of life and death around him had become more intense, clearly showing significant progress. He had already entered the second level of the Life and Death Realm. Compared to the Divine Attainment Realm, this speed seemed slower. But it was still very fast. After all, this was the Life and Death Realm, where breaking through a small realm in half a month was unheard of. It wasn¡¯t as easy as eating or drinking. ¡°Time to rest.¡± Meng Changqing slowly stood up. It was a good time to go out and see the other Prefectures. He wondered which Prefecture they were currently in. Opening the door, he was greeted by two enormous figures. Compared to them, he was about the size of their palms. They were the Shi brothers. ¡°Senior Brother Meng, you¡¯re finally out. Let¡¯s go into the city together,¡± Shi Yao said excitedly. Smack! Shi Guang slapped him. ¡°Call him Martial Uncle.¡± ¡°Martial Uncle.¡± Shi Yao rubbed his head, reluctantly complying. ¡°Privately, you can call me Senior Brother. There¡¯s no need for so many formalities.¡± Meng Changqing immediately laughed. Indeed, it had been a long time since he chatted with these two characters. Also, he wondered how these two guys¡¯ panels had changed, and if their skills had improved. He was very interested in the core technique of the Purple Nourishment Peak, the ¡°Royal Star Manual.¡± So far, his defensive skills had somewhat lagged behind. He needed to catch up quickly. With this in mind, Meng Changqing activated his Investigative Eye. ¡¾Friend: Shi Guang¡¿ ¡¾Race: Human¡¿ ¡¾Cultivation: First Level of the Divine Attainment Realm¡¿ ¡¾Root Bone: Third Grade¡¿ ¡¾Comprehension: Average¡¿ ¡¾Bloodline: Stone Human¡¿ ¡¾Bloodline Skills: General Armor, Stone King Roar, Stone Man Long Fist, Stone King Divine Seal¡¿ ¡¾Skills and Techniques: ¡°Royal Star Manual Volume One: Celestial Transformation¡± (Perfection), ¡°Royal Star Manual Volume Two: Yin-Yang Art¡± (Entry), ¡°Heaven-Splitting Fist Manual: Extreme Star Flow Chapter¡± Partial Mastery) ...¡¿ Chapter 170 Chapter 170: Unexpected Gains, New Demon Sect, White Lotus Sacred Sect! The changes were indeed quite significant. It seemed that not only had he progressed rapidly, but the two brothers had also advanced similarly. Actually, these top-tier geniuses always progressed quickly. It¡¯s just that his own advancements had been so outrageous, making their progress seem slower in comparison. Compared to last time, the two brothers had awakened two more bloodline abilities. His interest in bloodline abilities had waned now. After all, bloodline abilities were just martial skills. The techniques and martial skills he was cultivating were no weaker, even stronger. Moreover, the ¡°Royal Star Manual¡± was a top-tier body-refining scripture, no weaker than the bloodline abilities of the Stone Human bloodline. Therefore, with limited opportunities, he preferred techniques and martial skills. His gaze shifted downward to the next section. Both brothers had perfected the first volume of the scripture. One must admit, the Stone Human bloodline was indeed powerful, greatly enhancing efficiency in body-refining cultivation! Their progress was rapid. The first volume was only an Earth-level high-grade technique, but the second volume was a Heaven-level beginner technique! To cultivate the scripture, one must complete the first volume before moving to the second. The first volume was the foundation. Without a solid foundation, progress would be difficult. Perfecting the first volume meant the brothers had formed their Star Bodies. Star Bodies, constructed by the power of stars, had extremely high defense, capable of withstanding some weaker Heaven-level martial skills.@@@@ As for the second volume¡¯s Yin-Yang Art, It absorbed the power of the sun and moon, Transforming into an even stronger Star Yin-Yang Body. Its defense would be even more formidable! Martial skills of the same level would have a hard time breaking through! Unless enhanced by other factors, like sword intent or a sword body. ¡°I need to find a way to increase their favorability.¡± Meng Changqing¡¯s eyes flickered. First, he needed to get his hands on the first volume of the scripture. ¡°I knew it, Senior Brother Meng prefers to be called ¡®Senior Brother.¡¯ ¡®Martial Uncle¡¯ feels too distant! ¡°We are friends!¡± Shi Yao said excitedly. Ding! ¡¾Shi Yao¡¯s favorability has increased to three stars!¡¿ ¡¾Attributes to be selected.¡¿ The brothers exchanged glances, then excitedly raised their fists too. Their fists lightly bumped together. It felt like a bond was being formed. ¡°Senior Brother Meng, come, sit on my shoulder.¡± Shi Yao pointed. With his current size, he could indeed easily carry Meng Changqing. ¡°Alright.¡± Meng Changqing laughed and jumped up. ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± Shi Yao slightly bent his legs, then with a boom, leaped towards the ancient city. In an instant, it felt like a meteor was falling. ¡ª Fengling Ancient City, One of the more famous ancient cities in Tianyun Prefecture. Because here, there was a top-tier power. The Chen Family. Their ancestor reached the Life and Death Realm three hundred years ago. Calculating the time, the Chen Family ancestor was now approaching old age. The arrival of the Tai Xuan Sect¡¯s cloud ship attracted no attention. Because compared to Tianyun Prefecture, Tianling Prefecture was ranked lower and geographically more remote, so its powers were not well-known. But the appearance of the Shi brothers drew much attention. Everyone was amazed. Such sizes, are they really human? Some taverns couldn¡¯t accommodate the two. Shi Yao was anxious, stomping his foot. He had already smelled the food. Meng Changqing smiled, shaking his head, and told them to wait outside while he went in alone. Sitting by the window, Meng Changqing drank the city¡¯s special medicinal wine. It tasted good; rich and aromatic. With added spirit herbs, it greatly benefited the body. But for someone like Meng Changqing, in the Life and Death Realm, it had no effect. ¡°Have you heard?¡± ¡°A new demon power has risen in Tianyun Prefecture recently, very strong. Several sects were wiped out, not a single survivor!¡± ¡°Oh? With the Southern Genius Battle approaching, a demon power dares to cause trouble at such a critical moment? Don¡¯t they want to live?¡± ¡°Who knows.¡± ¡°What¡¯s this demon power called?¡± ¡°I think it¡¯s... White Lotus Sacred Sect!¡± Chapter 171 Chapter 171: Uniting the Ten Demon Sects! Blue Flower Jade Hairpin! ¡°White Lotus Sacred Sect? It¡¯s unfamiliar, never heard of it. It doesn¡¯t seem to be one of the ten major demon sects.¡± ¡°Otherwise, why would it be called a new demon power?¡± ¡°Tell us more.¡± Everyone immediately became curious. ¡°I don¡¯t know much, just the basics. It¡¯s said that the ruler of this power is a young woman, but she¡¯s very strong and has a powerful protector. ¡°And her goal is to unite the ten demon sects!¡± The person said. ¡°Unite the demon sects? That¡¯s too ambitious. The demon sects, although suppressed by the holy lands, are still significant powers. How can a new force be so arrogant?¡± ¡°Since the ancient demon sects were destroyed, no one has ever successfully united them again! All attempts have failed!¡± Everyone shook their heads. They thought it was just another crazy person. Like a meteor, it would soon disappear. The demon sects themselves might destroy this troublemaker without the need for major powers to intervene. Meng Changqing took a sip of wine. His eyes flickered slightly. White Lotus Sacred Sect, uniting the demon sects? Could this be the work of Bai Suxi? After all, Bai Suxi practiced a long-lost ancient demon technique! Thinking this, Meng Changqing opened the character panel. Many things could be understood by looking at the friend information. He clicked on Bai Suxi¡¯s avatar. Information about Bai Suxi immediately appeared. ¡¾Friend: Bai Suxi¡¿ ¡¾Race: Human¡¿ ¡¾Cultivation: Third Level of the Divine Attainment Realm¡¿ ¡¾Root Bone: Second Grade¡¿ ¡¾Comprehension: Superior¡¿ ¡¾Bloodline: Imperial Demon (Incomplete)¡¿ ¡¾Techniques: ¡°Supreme Commanding True Demon Technique ¨C Intermediate¡± (Entry)...¡¿ ¡°Already practicing the intermediate section.¡± Meng Changqing raised an eyebrow. The initial section of the True Demon Technique only allowed for sealing, controlling, refining, and devouring demons. But the intermediate section seemed to include offensive techniques. Current demon techniques were modeled after demon cultivation methods and their talents. With his skills, it could be repaired in no time. He thought it would be something precious, but he said nothing. After all, everyone¡¯s definition of precious was different. ¡°Please wait, it will be repaired shortly.¡± The attendant still smiled, ¡°By the way, we have many exquisite hairpins with formations and remarkable effects. Would you like to see them?¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Meng Changqing nodded. Honestly, since mastering martial arts, he hadn¡¯t seen Senior Sister Kong. Perhaps it was because he was always in seclusion, or perhaps his rapid rise in power and status created a gap between them. Before, when he lived on Spirit Peak, Senior Sister Kong could visit him easily. Now, it was difficult. Seeing the Young Sect Master wasn¡¯t for everyone, and a true disciple wouldn¡¯t be allowed to disturb his cultivation lightly. ¡°Senior Sister Kong.¡± Meng Changqing¡¯s eyes flickered. When he entered the inner sect, Senior Sister Kong had helped him a lot. She had specially asked her master for a third-grade pill, the Golden Scale Purple Blood Pill, to aid his cultivation and had informed him in detail about the inner realm. And much more. He couldn¡¯t forget her kindness. Meng Changqing understood her feelings for him, and he didn¡¯t mind. After all, in the inner sect, Kong Linxue was the most beautiful female disciple of Medicine King Peak and the entire sect. But at the time, he was focused on cultivation. He believed in going with the flow. However, as time passed, they grew further apart. ¡°Sir, please look at this one. It¡¯s the treasure of our store ¨C the Blue Flower Jade Hairpin.¡± The attendant¡¯s words brought Meng Changqing back to reality. He looked ahead. The hairpin was completely green, with many blue flower patterns engraved on its surface, emitting a radiant glow. It also flashed with mysterious light. Clearly, this was no ordinary accessory. It was a rare enchanted item! Enchanted items were not weapons but primarily served supportive roles. ¡°This hairpin contains ten high-grade formations, which can clear the mind, sharpen vision, and calm the heart...¡± The attendant began to explain enthusiastically, introducing it with great effort. ¡°I¡¯ll take it.¡± Meng Changqing didn¡¯t listen much. He simply thought the hairpin looked beautiful. It would look good on Senior Sister Kong¡¯s head. As for its effects, they were just bonuses. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll package it for you right away.¡± The attendant was surprised, then delighted. He had indeed met a big spender! Chapter 172 Chapter 172: New Discovery, Attribute Permanence! And... Fusion Manual! In the ancient city, after wandering for a while, Meng Changqing returned to the cloud ship. As for the Shi brothers, they wanted to play a bit longer. Meng Changqing naturally let them. As beings in the Divine Attainment Realm, in this ancient city, unless the Chen family¡¯s ancestor acted, no one could threaten them. Upon arriving at the attic, Meng Changqing sat cross-legged. It was time to choose an attribute to fuse. ¡°System, can the selected attributes be permanently retained?¡± Meng Changqing suddenly asked. The brothers¡¯ goodwill had increased, so he had two chances to choose attributes. But strictly speaking, he only needed one at the moment. That was the ¡°Royal Star Manual: Volume One.¡± As for Volume Two, it was still in the beginner stage, not urgent to choose. If it could be retained, he could wait until they mastered it. ¡°Yes,¡± the system answered, ¡°provided the host keeps an attribute selection card for this use.¡± Hearing this, Meng Changqing¡¯s eyes lit up. Good thing he asked, otherwise it would have been wasted! ¡°System, fuse Shi Yao¡¯s ¡®Royal Star Manual: Volume One: Star Transformation¡¯!¡± Meng Changqing silently thought. Ding! ¡¾One attribute selection card consumed!¡¿ ¡¾Attribute obtained: ¡®Royal World Celestial Manual: Volume One: Star Transformation¡¯ (Perfection)!¡¿ ¡¾Fusion begins!¡¿ As soon as the words fell, a vast stream of information poured in. Although this volume was only earth-level high-grade, its profundity was nearly heaven-level beginner. At the same time, Meng Changqing¡¯s physical body began to tremble. You could clearly see starlight emerging on his skin, with faint star shadows around. If it weren¡¯t for the attic¡¯s formation, the phenomenon would have been visible outside. About one incense stick later, the fusion was complete. Meng Changqing slowly opened his eyes. They seemed to contain an endless galaxy, vast and deep. With a slight thought, his skin appeared like crystal, emitting dazzling starlight, exuding an indestructible aura. It seemed no force could shatter it! ¡°Indeed, the Life and Death Realm!¡± Chen Shaoyang was amazed. The elder had mentioned it these days, but he didn¡¯t believe it. Under thirty-five years old in the Life and Death Realm? Only a peerless genius could achieve that. Tai Xuan Sect had been declining for nearly two hundred years. How could they have such a disciple? So he had to see for himself. Unexpectedly, it was true! The aura of life and death around this young man was identical to that of his ancestor! And judging by his appearance, he was only in his early twenties? Thinking of this, Chen Shaoyang couldn¡¯t help but take a deep breath. He was even more talented than Xi Yingqing back then! Beside him, Chen Wanru also swallowed. She was nearly thirty, just barely entering the Divine Attainment Realm, which was already very impressive. She was a top genius! But compared to this monster in front of her, she instantly lost all brilliance! ¡°Our families have been close for over three hundred years. Why would I lie to you?¡± The elder chuckled, a proud look in his eyes. ¡°Elder,¡± not far away, the Shi brothers, Mo Xiaoyu, Han Luoyu, and others also approached. They looked young, powerful, and full of vitality, astonishing Chen Shaoyang. It took a while for him to recover. ¡°Brother Lin, are you aiming to revive the glory of two hundred years ago?¡± Chen Shaoyang asked. ¡°Perhaps,¡± the elder smiled and cupped his hands, ¡°Alright, Brother Chen, we have to continue our journey, so we¡¯ll take our leave.¡± Hearing this, Chen Shaoyang could only nod, pulling Chen Wanru back. But his gaze lingered on Meng Changqing and the Shi brothers. Even as the cloud ship quickly left, he didn¡¯t look away. ¡°Father, is this the Tai Xuan Sect you mentioned? ¡°A newly promoted first-rank sect?¡± Chen Wanru couldn¡¯t help asking. ¡°Yes,¡± Chen Shaoyang nodded with emotion. ¡°Does this look like a newly promoted first-rank sect?¡± Chen Wanru was speechless. All those disciples were in the Divine Attainment Realm! And that young sect master was in the Life and Death Realm! The same level as their ancestor! ¡°Indeed it doesn¡¯t, but it¡¯s understandable.¡± Chen Shaoyang withdrew his gaze and said softly. ¡°How is this understandable?¡± Chen Wanru was puzzled. ¡°This sect is not simple. Nearly two hundred years ago, they produced seventeen top-tier geniuses simultaneously, plus a peerless monster!¡± Chapter 173 Chapter 173: Tai Xuan Secrets, Severed Arm of the Young Sect Leader, Surrounded by Enemies! ¡°They were called the Tai Xuan Eighteen Prodigies,¡± Chen Shaoyang said. ¡°Tai Xuan Eighteen Prodigies?¡± Chen Wanru had no impression of them. After all, it was nearly two hundred years ago, and she hadn¡¯t seen them in any history books. But to have so many top-tier geniuses, plus a peerless prodigy, was indeed terrifying. Only the top five Prefectures, with their major sects, might have such talents. But Tianling Prefecture was just a minor region! ¡°Yes, the Tai Xuan Eighteen Prodigies, like dragons emerging from the abyss, caused a sensation across the southern regions! ¡°In the talent competition that year, Tai Xuan Sect, only a second-rank sect, took all the glory! ¡°Not a single disciple ranked below sixty! ¡°Especially their leader! ¡°Xi Yingqing! ¡°With just his fists, he was invincible, defeating successors of the five great sects of Tianxuan Prefecture in succession! ¡°And finally becoming... the number one in the southern regions!¡± Chen Shaoyang said. Hearing this, Chen Wanru couldn¡¯t help but shiver. What an extraordinary presence! Defeating the successors of great sects! It was unimaginable! Any great sect¡¯s successor was second only to the holy son! Incredibly talented, incredibly powerful! They represented the pinnacle of the younger generation! ¡°But wait, Father, if Tai Xuan Sect was so strong, why are they only now a first-rank sect? ¡°They should have become a great sect long ago! ¡°Also, as far as I know, Tai Xuan Sect hasn¡¯t participated in the southern genius competitions for nearly a hundred years.¡± Chen Wanru was puzzled. ¡°Do you know about shooting stars?¡± Chen Shaoyang sighed, ¡°Though bright, they are short-lived. ¡°Back then, Tai Xuan Sect shone brightly but soon faced a great calamity.¡± ¡°What happened?¡± Chen Wanru asked urgently. ¡°That year, much like now, the top-ranked could enter an ancient land. ¡°So the Tai Xuan Eighteen Prodigies followed the rules and went to the Central Province. ¡°But later, only ten returned, and their young sect leader Xi Yingqing lost his left arm, his cultivation was crippled, and he was a broken man!¡± Chen Shaoyang¡¯s voice was heavy. ¡°How could that be?¡± Chen Wanru covered her mouth. ¡°There¡¯s something I need to tell you.¡± Suddenly, Meng Changqing had a bad feeling. ¡°In the southern regions, our Tai Xuan Sect has few friends, and many enemies, especially the top great sects.¡± The elder¡¯s words were startling, ¡°This goes back nearly two hundred years, to when Xi Yingqing was the young sect leader. ¡°The Tai Xuan Eighteen Prodigies, except for me, were young and arrogant, not knowing how to restrain themselves!¡± The elder¡¯s narration revealed for the first time the high-level history of the sect to Meng Changqing! Unexpectedly, there was such a powerful past! Especially the sect leader! He had once dominated the entire southern region! This wasn¡¯t something anyone could achieve. But why... Suddenly, countless doubts arose in his mind. ¡°Don¡¯t ask about other things for now. I¡¯ll tell you when the time comes.¡± Seeing Meng Changqing¡¯s expression, the elder seemed to understand his thoughts and said. ¡°Okay.¡± Meng Changqing nodded. ¡°In this talent competition, the pressure you¡¯ll face far exceeds that of Xi Yingqing back then. No one noticed our Tai Xuan Sect at the beginning. ¡°But you¡¯re different. ¡°Once you enter, all eyes will be on you, enemies from all directions!¡± The elder said solemnly, ¡°So my requirement for you is to go as far as possible, but prioritize your safety. Just make it into the top twenty.¡± Hearing this, Meng Changqing was silent for a moment. Then he raised his right hand and placed it on the elder¡¯s shoulder. This surprised the elder. As the highest-ranking member in the sect, who dared to put their hand on his shoulder, not even Xi Yingqing! ¡°Senior Brother,¡± Meng Changqing smiled slightly, ¡°Have some faith in me, okay? ¡°If the sect leader could dominate the southern region back then, so can I. ¡°Surrounded by enemies? Enemies from all directions? ¡°Too much said! ¡°I¡¯ll make the southern region remember the past!¡± After speaking, Meng Changqing walked towards the attic, passing by the elder. The wind blew, black hair fluttered. The sharpness unique to youth left the elder in a daze for a long time. Only after a while did he come back to his senses. But Meng Changqing had already disappeared from sight. ¡°This kid.¡± The elder looked at his shoulder, smiled and cursed, then sighed, ¡°Perhaps, I¡¯m... getting old.¡± Chapter 174 Chapter 174: Mo Xiaoyu, Have You Been Possessed? And the Sect¡¯s Secret Message Hall! Returning to the attic, Meng Changqing pinched his temples. The sect¡¯s way of doing things had too many problems. Once he became the sect leader, he must change this! How could everyone be an enemy? In life, naturally, the more ¡®friends¡¯ the better! So, starting from this talent competition, he would use his charm and his sword to turn enemies into ¡®friends¡¯. Let them feel his ¡®sincerity¡¯! Thinking this, Meng Changqing put down his hand and smiled. The talent competition was imminent. All the disciples were increasingly tense, mostly cultivating in their rooms, not daring to waste a moment. Even Shi Yao had become quiet. ¡ª Ten days later, the cloud boat broke through the clouds and wind, finally arriving at Tianxuan Prefecture! The concentration of spiritual energy around them was clearly rising rapidly! Far surpassing other prefectures! In view, the sun was dazzling, radiating myriad rays. The land was vast and expansive, with continuous mountains. Majestic peaks stood tall, reaching into the clouds. Countless ancient cities, like bright pearls, adorned the landscape. With just one look, it felt like arriving at a legendary paradise. ¡°What dense spiritual energy.¡± Noticing the change in the environment, all the disciples came out, looking around curiously. Meng Changqing also opened the door. ¡°Good morning, Uncle!¡± Next to him, Mo Xiaoyu¡¯s voice sounded. This girl seemed to be cultivating right next to him. ¡°Why don¡¯t you call me a bad guy anymore?¡± Meng Changqing patted her head, smiling. ¡°Uncle, don¡¯t slander a child,¡± Mo Xiaoyu looked at him with big eyes and said seriously, ¡°Xiaoyu has always respected you, how could I slander you?¡± Hiss~ These words made Meng Changqing¡¯s hair stand on end. Was this still the arrogant Mo Xiaoyu he knew? But with the sword body, Mo Xiaoyu grasped everything quickly! Of course, this also had to do with Meng Changqing¡¯s explanations. His swordsmanship was very advanced. Three-tenths sword intent. Every word he spoke was profound, without any unnecessary talk. So, time passed bit by bit. An hour later, Mo Xiaoyu, with a flushed face and excited eyes, quickly ran back to her room. It seemed she was ready to thoroughly digest and absorb what she had learned. ¡°Just ran off after getting what she wanted.¡± Meng Changqing chuckled. She didn¡¯t even say ¡®thank you, Uncle¡¯. But he understood her state, already fully immersed in her insights, with no energy for other things. ¡°Innate sword body¡± Meng Changqing stood up slowly. He hadn¡¯t used this physique yet. Not because it wasn¡¯t strong. On the contrary, it was very strong, one of his trump cards! But until now, no one of his peers had forced him to use it. Perhaps in this talent competition, he would have a chance to use it! ¡°Changqing, get ready, we¡¯re almost at our destination.¡± The elder approached, saying, ¡°This time, you¡¯ll also meet two other senior brothers and sisters.¡± Hearing this, Meng Changqing¡¯s spirit lifted. For his senior brothers and sisters, he had met eight in the sect. According to the elder, there should be eighteen in total. But thinking of the eight tombstones in the sect leader¡¯s spiritual world, Meng Changqing had some guesses. ¡°I wonder if these two senior brothers and sisters have any special traits!¡± Meng Changqing looked forward to it. ¡ª Below, the ancient city was called Wangyue Ancient City. It had a long history. Many forces were within, mostly family clans. But only two were first-rank. Tai Xuan Sect¡¯s structure wasn¡¯t as simple as it appeared. There were hidden aspects such as intelligence gathering, like the Secret Message Hall. It was controlled and managed by two senior brothers and sisters who had gradually withdrawn from the sect¡¯s public view. They had branches in every major prefecture in the southern region. Chapter 175 Chapter 175: Thirteenth Senior Sister, Sixteenth Senior Brother, and Their Impressive Stats! The cloud boat descended. It arrived in the ancient city of Wangyue. Due to the Southern Genius Battle, the entire Tianxuan Prefecture was much livelier than usual. Even this ancient city was bustling with a dense crowd. In the sky, occasional streaks of light flashed by, leaving behind strong auras. Tai Xuan Sect naturally had a residence in the ancient city. It was purchased long ago and occasionally used by the Secret Message Hall. The residence was vast and grand. When they jumped off the cloud boat, many people had already gathered in the residence, wearing Tai Xuan Sect attire, though slightly different from the usual. ¡°Second Senior Brother.¡± a voice called out, a man and a woman. Not far away, two figures approached. The man looked middle-aged, the woman appeared slightly younger. ¡°Yes.¡± The elder nodded, walking over and patting their shoulders. Then he said to everyone, ¡°Why don¡¯t you greet your Thirteenth Senior Aunt and Sixteenth Senior Uncle?¡± Han Luoyu and the others exchanged glances, their eyes filled with surprise. They didn¡¯t expect there were two elders of peak master level. They bowed in respect, one by one. As for Meng Changqing, he observed their stats. Basic Information: ¡¾Name: Hua Ciyan¡¿ ¡¾Race: Human¡¿ ¡¾Cultivation: Life and Death Realm, First Level (tentative)¡¿ Attribute Information: ¡¾Root Bone: First Grade¡¿ ¡¾Comprehension: Exceptional¡¿ ¡¾Skills: ¡°Emperor Sword Sutra: Great Evolution Twenty-Four Swords¡± (Perfection)¡¿ Basic Information: Reaching the Life and Death Realm at such a young age was unimaginable. At this age, what was her realm? Dao Creation Realm, probably. ¡°Senior Sister and Brother, you overpraise me. I¡¯ve just been lucky,¡± Meng Changqing said modestly. With so many people watching and being praised by the two, he felt a bit embarrassed. ¡°Alright, disperse for now. Continue your cultivation!¡± the elder said to the others. ¡°Yes!¡± The disciples left under the guidance of the residence staff, leaving Meng Changqing with the three elders. ¡°Junior Sister Hua, have you figured out the specifics of this Southern Genius Battle?¡± the elder asked. ¡°Yes, more or less,¡± Hua Ciyan nodded, ¡°Because the opening of the Wild Sea is quite regular, almost once every hundred years, all the major sects and ancient clans have been preparing for this Southern Genius Battle for a long time. ¡°They have been pouring resources into training disciples over the past ten years. ¡°So, many young strong talents have emerged. ¡°Compared to our time, they are even more formidable.¡± Hearing this, the elder¡¯s face grew slightly solemn. ¡°Specifically, how strong are these young geniuses?¡± he asked. ¡°Take Tianxuan Prefecture¡¯s five major sects as an example,¡± Hua Ciyan cleared her throat and began explaining. A major sect was a force above first-rank sects, second only to the Holy Land in the Central Province. They had a very long history of inheritance. Their strength was immense! Ancient clans were on par with them. Tianxuan Prefecture had five major sects: Proud Sword Sect, Purple Sun Palace, Wind King Hall, Nine-Colored Glazed Pavilion, and Cloud Sea Academy. ¡°Each major sect has trained at least two disciples in the Life and Death Realm, all under thirty-five.¡± Hua Ciyan said. ¡°So many?¡± The elder¡¯s face changed slightly. That was much more than in their time. Back then, there were only a dozen in total. Now just in Tianxuan Prefecture, there were ten, and Hua Ciyan used the word ¡®at least,¡¯ which meant there could be more. ¡°There¡¯s no choice. The Wild Sea represents a marquis-level opportunity! ¡°Many in the ninth level of the Life and Death Realm are stuck there because they lack the marquis-level divine items to break through! ¡°So securing a spot is worth any price.¡± Hua Ciyan nodded, ¡°Especially for some major sects that are about to decline, they will be even more desperate.¡± Chapter 176 Chapter 176: Proud Sword Sect, Nine-Colored Glazed Pavilion, and Mastering the Twenty-Fourth Sword! ¡°What about their actual strength?¡± the elder asked again. ¡°These disciples are world-shaking geniuses, so their martial foundation is extremely solid,¡± Hua Ciyan said. ¡°They have all comprehended the true meaning of martial arts, though mostly at the rudimentary stage.¡± A person¡¯s energy was limited. Cultivating realms, training martial skills, and comprehending true meanings. Achieving high levels in all these areas before the age of thirty-five was incredibly difficult. Even for world-shaking geniuses, it was hard to accomplish. ¡°Only a few have unknown situations,¡± Hua Ciyan said, then she looked at Meng Changqing. ¡°How much have you comprehended, Junior Brother?¡± ¡°Thirty percent,¡± Meng Changqing answered honestly. Strictly speaking, it was almost forty percent. Back when he was in the Demon Abyss comprehending the twenty-third sword, his understanding had increased significantly, and he occasionally continued his comprehension over time. As soon as he spoke, the atmosphere fell silent. Including the elder, the three of them were stunned, then visibly shocked. ¡°Thirty percent?¡± The elder took a deep breath, ¡°You¡¯ve reached thirty percent so quickly?¡± He remembered that during the martial competition, Meng Changqing had just grasped the rudimentary stage of sword intent. Cultivating the true meaning of martial arts was much harder than Heaven-level martial skills. It required an immense accumulation of martial arts knowledge. So even the most talented geniuses, like Xi Yingqing of the past or the sect¡¯s founding patriarch, only comprehended the rudimentary stage at the Unity Realm. As for further progress, it took a lot of time and effort. He remembered Xi Yingqing, who had only reached twenty percent in the Life and Death Realm. And now Meng Changqing had reached thirty percent. ¡°No wonder the sect leader praised you so highly in the jade slip.¡± Hua Ciyan and Ku Fengchun smiled and shook their heads, then looked even more excited. ¡°With Junior Brother¡¯s current martial foundation, even the geniuses of the great sects would hardly be a match for him,¡± Hua Ciyan said with a smile. ¡°But there are two people you should pay attention to.¡± ¡°Who?¡± Meng Changqing raised an eyebrow. ¡°Li Jin, the chief of Proud Sword Sect, and Yu Hongxue from Nine-Colored Glazed Pavilion. Their potential is terrifying. They comprehended the true meaning of martial arts upon entering the Unity Realm, but their whereabouts have been unknown since then. ¡°They are likely in seclusion, so no one knows the extent of their true meaning now,¡± Hua Ciyan said. World-shaking geniuses generally have similar cultivation levels, so their martial skills, physique, and bloodlines often determine their battles. And then there¡¯s the true meaning! The power of true meaning was immense. Even half a percent difference could be significant! ¡°As for others, there isn¡¯t much to be concerned about.¡± Hua Ciyan lightly patted Meng Changqing¡¯s chest, her satisfaction evident. She hadn¡¯t expected such an outstanding individual to emerge in the sect after so many years! So at most, Junior Brother had only been exposed to the ¡®Emperor Sword Sutra¡¯ for four months. Four months to perfection. Incredible. But considering Meng Changqing¡¯s comprehension, a genius who had sword qi in the Vein Tempering Realm, it made sense! ¡°Junior Brother, watch closely. This is my twenty-fourth sword!¡± Collecting her thoughts, Hua Ciyan formed a sword with two fingers, pointing it at Meng Changqing¡¯s forehead. Buzz! In an instant, Meng Changqing felt a shock in his mind! Countless sword lights surged! A slender figure stepped through the air, holding a long sword. A gentle slash! Boom! Instantly, the heavens and earth shattered, and the mountains and rivers crumbled! Everything vanished! Meng Changqing focused intently. Not daring to be distracted, with his exceptional comprehension, he continuously analyzed the essence of this sword. But it wasn¡¯t enough! Instinctively, Meng Changqing activated the Heavenly King Art. Entering the ¡®Heaven-Man Unity¡¯ state! Buzz~ His figure instantly disappeared, merging into the void! Only a faint outline remained. Seeing this, Hua Ciyan stood up instantly. Amazed, she recognized this state! It was the sect¡¯s unique ¡®Undying Truth Heavenly King Art¡¯! Far more profound than ordinary Heaven-level techniques. Because its limit was to glimpse that legendary step! She hadn¡¯t expected Junior Brother to master the first volume so quickly! ¡°Heaven-Man Unity!¡± Hua Ciyan¡¯s eyes showed longing. Which martial artist didn¡¯t desire such a state? If she could also practice the Heavenly King Art, her swordsmanship wouldn¡¯t stop at twenty-four swords! But... the ¡®Undying Truth Heavenly King Art¡¯ was reserved for the sect leader. Not because of the fear of leakage, but because the resources needed for its practice were extremely rare and limited, only enough for one person per generation! Chapter 177 Chapter 177: The Embryo of the Twenty-Fourth Sword, A Great Harvest, and the True Intent Enhancement Card! In the sea of consciousness, countless lights and shadows flowed. It was an immense soul force, continuously replicating the sword move just witnessed. Meng Changqing¡¯s awareness sat in this sea, furiously comprehending. After reaching the ninth level of the Unity Realm, the ice within a hundred-mile radius in his sea of consciousness had melted. But this was only a fraction of the sea, merely the tip of the iceberg. This meant that in terms of spiritual cultivation, both Meng Changqing and all Life and Death Realm martial artists still had a long way to go! Upon entering the state of Heaven-Man Unity, Meng Changqing¡¯s comprehension ability surged terrifyingly! Instantly, more essence of this sword move was absorbed and digested by Meng Changqing! Hua Ciyan did not disturb him, nor did she leave. She knew that Meng Changqing was in a crucial state and could not be interrupted. It wasn¡¯t until half an hour later that Meng Changqing raised his two fingers as a sword, mirroring her earlier move exactly! Seeing this, Hua Ciyan¡¯s pupils shrank! She knew that Meng Changqing had already comprehended her Twenty-Fourth Sword! With just a point of his two fingers, he could fully master it! However, at this moment, Meng Changqing paused and withdrew his hand. It was clear he didn¡¯t want to truly learn it. If he wanted to forge his own path, from this moment on, he could only absorb the essence of others¡¯ martial skills without being too deeply influenced. With a deep breath, Meng Changqing exited the Heaven-Man Unity state, and his comprehension ability returned to normal. This feeling was like a high ebbing away. ¡°Thank you, Senior Sister, for the guidance,¡± Meng Changqing stood up and cupped his hands. This was genuine gratitude. With Hua Ciyan¡¯s sword move, the framework of his own Twenty-Fourth Sword became much clearer. With more martial experience, he was confident he could comprehend it fully! And his Twenty-Fourth Sword would undoubtedly surpass Hua Ciyan¡¯s! He was brimming with confidence! ¡¾Current favorability: One star!¡¿ ¡¾Attribute to be selected!¡¿ ¡¾Triggered extra reward: True Intent Enhancement Card*1.¡¿ The system¡¯s voice echoed in Meng Changqing¡¯s mind, filling him with joy. An extra reward! And a True Intent Enhancement Card! This card was even more valuable than a Martial Skill Mastery Card because it directly enhanced the True Intent of martial arts! Previously, his sword intent was just in its embryonic stage, but after using a True Intent Enhancement Card, it surged to thirty percent! Now he had another one! As expected of a peak-level character, they always yielded good rewards! Meng Changqing was thrilled. With this card, as long as his luck wasn¡¯t too bad, increasing by one or two percent should be no problem! ¡°System, I don¡¯t plan to use the Attribute Selection Card. Just assign it randomly,¡± Meng Changqing said calmly. Ding! ¡¾Acquired attribute: Exceptional Comprehension!¡¿ The system responded. With an Attribute Selection Card, the system would always prompt for selection. ¡°Not bad,¡± Meng Changqing nodded secretly. The quality of Exceptional Comprehension was probably higher than even top-grade root bones! After all, he had seen many top-grade root bones, but Superior Comprehension was rare, found only in the sect leader and Hua Ciyan! Breaking down such a high-quality attribute was likely to yield excellent results! ¡°Thank you, Senior Sister,¡± Meng Changqing smiled, ¡°I will take my leave now.¡± This visit had indeed been fruitful. ¡°What a peculiar Junior Brother,¡± Hua Ciyan mused after Meng Changqing left, shaking her head with a smile. Regardless, she finally saw the long-sought hope in him! Chapter 178 Chapter 178: Explosion! Tenfold Sword Intent, Threefold Fist Intent! Grandmaster of Martial Arts! Regarding Ku Fengchun, Meng Changqing certainly did not miss the opportunity. Under the guise of ¡®seeking knowledge,¡¯ he chatted extensively and concluded in the same manner. Successfully adding him as a friend, he obtained the ¡°Heaven-Splitting Fist Manual: Ultimate Star Stream Chapter¡± (Perfection). It was also a low-level Heaven-grade fist technique. Unfortunately, there was no additional reward, but for Meng Changqing, it was more than enough. Satisfied, he left, leaving Ku Fengchun standing at the courtyard gate, a bit bewildered. ¡°This Junior Brother¡¯s comprehension is truly terrifying, but his way of thinking is somewhat strange. Isn¡¯t it good to be Senior Brother and Junior Brother? Why insist on being friends?¡± Ku Fengchun couldn¡¯t understand. However, since Meng Changqing was the sect¡¯s future hope, he had to go along with it. Humming a little tune, Meng Changqing returned to his palace. It was time for the exciting fusion session! Although his strength was already sufficient for the Genius Battle, getting stronger wouldn¡¯t hurt. ¡°System, disassemble the Exceptional Comprehension.¡± Meng Changqing sat cross-legged without hesitation. Unfortunately, these attributes couldn¡¯t be stacked. Otherwise, his comprehension might have already reached unimaginable heights. Ding! ¡¾Disassembly successful!¡¿ ¡¾Obtained: True Intent Enhancement Card*1¡¿ The system¡¯s voice sounded. Hearing this, Meng Changqing was stunned. Another True Intent Enhancement Card? These were supposed to be extremely rare! Today, he received one as a reward and another through disassembly. Now, he had two True Intent Enhancement Cards! ¡°With a bit of luck, it might be possible to reach tenfold!¡± Meng Changqing couldn¡¯t help but imagine, his hands tightening slightly. Tenfold True Intent! Even the embryonic form of True Intent was a supreme realm many dreamed of, let alone tenfold! ¡°However, it might be difficult unless my luck is extraordinary,¡± Meng Changqing calmed himself. The enhancement from a True Intent Card was entirely luck-based. With good luck, one card could fill it up. With bad luck, it might only increase by half a fold or even less. ¡°Everyone, please bless me.¡± In times like these, a bit of superstition didn¡¯t hurt. Meng Changqing silently recited all the names associated with good fortune. ¡°System, use one True Intent Card to enhance Sword Intent,¡± he said, taking a deep breath. Ding! ¡¾Consumed one True Meaning Enhancement Card!¡¿ ¡¾Enhancement beginning!¡¿ Ding! ¡¾Enhancement complete!¡¿ ¡¾Sword Dao True Intent has been increased to tenfold!¡¿ The system¡¯s voice rang out. For the first time, Meng Changqing found the system¡¯s voice so resounding, like a jackpot in a lottery. ¡°I...!¡± Meng Changqing stood up, finding it hard to believe. It actually reached tenfold! And with just one True Intent Card! Was his luck exceptionally good today? Before he could revel in joy, the colossal sword in his mind began to tremble wildly! Densely packed rays of light converged from all directions, merging into the sword, which became increasingly real. Its aura grew more terrifying! Meanwhile, more profound insights into the Sword Dao were fed back into Meng Changqing¡¯s consciousness, rapidly absorbed and digested. Tenfold Sword Intent! It was the perfect form of Martial Dao True Intent! Imagine what that meant! Even a Marquis-level expert might not achieve this level of True Intent! Yet, Meng Changqing, only at the second level of the Life and Death Realm, had completed the path of True Intent! Such overwhelming True Intent would make all opponents kneel instantly! Half an hour later, the enhancement was complete! The colossal sword in his mind had transformed, no longer illusory but as real as solid matter! It radiated a brilliant luster, each ray representing a river of Sword Dao, filled with countless truths. A mere wisp of it would be immensely beneficial. Meng Changqing opened his eyes, and the void in front of him twisted, filled with a sense of rupture! The void was incredibly solid, and in the cultivation world, only the legendary Marquis-level experts could shatter it! But now, Meng Changqing¡¯s True Intent was powerful enough to influence the void! ¡°Tenfold Sword Intent,¡± Meng Changqing murmured, his voice slightly hoarse from the overwhelming power. The strength of this force was immense, both from the Sword Intent itself and the insights it brought. Even he was deeply shaken. Fortunately, he had complete control over this power! ¡°This Genius Battle is now entirely without suspense.¡± Meng Changqing raised his right hand, looking at his palm. Previously, there might have been some uncertainty, but now... no one could rival him. ¡°I planned to use two cards to reach the tenfold realm, but one card was enough. ¡°So, what should I do with the remaining one?¡± Meng Changqing calmed himself and opened the panel. Martial Dao True Intent was capped at tenfold, so he couldn¡¯t use it anymore. ¡°Wait, I have the embryonic form of Fist Intent,¡± he remembered. He had obtained it from the sect leader but hadn¡¯t paid much attention to it as he didn¡¯t practice fist techniques. ¡°Let¡¯s use it.¡± Keeping it served no purpose. Ding! ¡¾Consumed one True Meaning Enhancement Card!¡¿ ¡¾Enhancement beginning!¡¿ Ding! ¡¾Enhancement complete!¡¿ ¡¾Fist Dao True Intent has been increased to threefold!¡¿ The system¡¯s voice sounded. ¡°Not bad,¡± Meng Changqing thought. All his excitement had been spent on the Sword Intent enhancement, so he wasn¡¯t as focused on the Fist Intent. Still, the increase was substantial, reaching threefold! The colossal crystal fist in his mind began to shine, becoming increasingly real! At the same time, a flood of insights into fist techniques surged, raising Meng Changqing¡¯s understanding of Fist Dao! After a moment, Meng Changqing slowly opened his eyes, exuding a grandmaster¡¯s aura. ¡°Tenfold Sword Intent is too terrifying. Using Fist Intent as a substitute is a good idea,¡± he thought, satisfied. Drawing out tenfold Sword Intent all the time would be too shocking. ¡°It¡¯s a pity I haven¡¯t perfected the ¡®Divine Truth Fist¡¯ yet.¡± Although this fist technique was rated as a low-level Heaven-grade, its power far exceeded its level because it required the power of truth to activate, not just simple true essence or soul force. ¡°Unless I can sense the truth and wield it, even if I master this fist technique, its power won¡¯t reach its full potential, only equivalent to an ordinary Heaven-grade martial art.¡± Meng Changqing shook his head and looked at the panel¡¯s bottom. The ¡°Divine Truth Fist¡± wasn¡¯t a concern for now. He had a substitute, the ¡°Heaven-Splitting Fist Manual: Ultimate Star Stream Chapter¡± obtained from Senior Brother Ku! Chapter 179 Chapter 179: Competition Rules Changed! Apart from the ¡°Supreme Emperor Sutra,¡± Purple Nourishment Peak also possessed the ¡°Heaven-Splitting Fist Manual.¡± The intent of this technique, as its name suggests, was to split the heavens. A punch that can shatter the sky and break mountains and rivers! The ¡°Heaven-Splitting Fist Manual¡± was a comprehensive guide containing several fist techniques. The ¡°Ultimate Star Stream¡± was one of its chapters! To use the ¡°Ultimate Star Stream,¡± one must master the first volume of the manual and possess star true essence. Otherwise, the true power of the ¡°Ultimate Star Stream¡± cannot be unleashed. The higher the level of the technique, the more restrictions it had. ¡°System, fuse the ¡®Heaven-Splitting Fist Manual: Ultimate Star Stream Chapter¡¯ (Perfection),¡± Meng Changqing silently commanded without hesitation. Ding! ¡¾Fusion beginning!¡¿ As the words fell, a vast amount of fist technique content flooded into his mind. The Fist Dao was different from the Sword Dao. They were completely opposite styles. The Sword Dao pursued extreme sharpness, slicing through everything, while the Fist Dao was grand and sweeping, like standing on a mountaintop, sweeping away thousands of troops. Martial artists who enter the Dao through fists had an imposing aura, their punches like the sun in the sky, overshadowing the world! There¡¯s no inherent strength or weakness between styles. It depended on the practitioner. Moments later, the fusion was complete. Meng Changqing clenched his fist, and an indescribable aura rose from him, overwhelmingly domineering! Illusions of stars continuously appeared around him, converging like a mighty river. This punch was like a star river rushing forward, sweeping away everything. ¡°Not bad,¡± Meng Changqing released his grip. The power of this fist technique was impressive, stronger than most techniques of the same level. The sect¡¯s martial arts were indeed powerful, evident from their names, each being a standout in their respective tiers. One wonders where the sect obtained such powerful martial arts. They didn¡¯t seem like something a newly promoted first-class sect should have! ¡°Continue cultivating,¡± Meng Changqing cleared his thoughts. There was less than a month before the Genius Battle, and with the help of the Life and Death Grass, he could probably advance one more minor realm. Time passed day by day, and the Tianxuan Prefecture grew increasingly lively. Almost every ancient city saw an influx of martial artists, all excitedly discussing the upcoming Genius Battle, the grandest competition in the southern region with significant implications for sects and disciples alike. Most importantly, it allowed everyone to witness battles between prodigies, a rare sight. Discussions about the young talents from the southern region became more intense, with martial artists from each major state supporting their young heroes. Inevitably, the strong states looked down on the weaker ones. In the southern region, anything below mid-rank was considered weak, with only the top five being truly strong: Tianxuan, Tianji, Tianshu, Tianheng, and Tianyang. Among them, Tianxuan was the strongest, housing five great sects, Tianshu had three, Tianji two, Tianheng two, and Tianyang one. A great sect was defined by having a Marquis-level expert at least. Just being in the Life and Death Realm was insufficient. Great sects far surpassed first-class sects, capable of destroying several with ease. ¡°This is the Tianxuan Prefecture, truly powerful,¡± commented the other three forces from the Tianling Prefecture: Flame Sun Valley, Giant Spirit Sect, and Wind and Cloud City. Despite their decline after the Martial Arts War, the top talents of these sects still broke through to the Divine Attainment Realm, qualifying to participate. In Tianling Prefecture, these top talents were outstanding, but here, they frequently encountered stronger peers, feeling a deep sense of frustration. They realized they had been like frogs at the bottom of a well. ¡°I wonder what level that guy is at now?¡± Duanmu Longque wondered aloud. The others exchanged glances, knowing who the Young Valley Master was referring to. After his defeat, Duanmu Longque was deeply affected and took a long time to recover. Now in the Tianxuan Prefecture, he felt even more subdued. Despite being an innate fire body, his strength would only grow, especially with a unique fire. Unfortunately, after his defeat, his unique fire was taken away, as it originally wasn¡¯t his but a ¡®help¡¯ from another force, to be returned if he failed. ¡°Did you hear? The rules for the Genius Battle have changed significantly!¡± Suddenly, a nearby voice caught Duanmu Longque¡¯s attention. ¡°Changed? What change?¡± The others were curious. ¡°Originally, the Genius Battle was one-on-one, with the winner advancing to the next round, but now it¡¯s different. It¡¯s no longer individuals but sects against sects!¡± The person spoke excitedly. ¡°Sects against sects? What does that mean?¡± The crowd frowned. ¡°It means that during each round, instead of individuals, sects draw lots and select an equal number of disciples to enter the field simultaneously! It¡¯s a contest between the talents of two sects!¡± ¡°I see!¡± The crowd understood. ¡°Why such a big change?¡± Someone was puzzled. The previous rules seemed fine, and the new rules might prevent many from participating, as only the strongest from each sect would be sent. ¡°I heard that several top great sects discussed this to ensure they could secure all the slots for entering the Wild Sea without any leaking out! According to the new rules, the first place can directly secure ten slots for their sect! Second place gets six, and third place gets four.¡± Upon hearing this, everyone understood. The Genius Battle was not just about obtaining advanced resources from the Central Province but also the precious slots for the Wild Sea! There were only twenty slots in total. Under the previous rules, even the five great sects of Tianxuan couldn¡¯t monopolize too many slots, maybe two or three at most. Only the most exceptional talents could secure a slot, but with the new rules, it gave top talents more room to shine ¡ª one talent representing an entire sect! Chapter 180 Chapter 180: Explanation, Risks, and Departure! ¡°But merely for the allocation of slots, there¡¯s no need to change the rules, right?¡± Someone frowned, ¡°Before, it was that the top twenty each got a slot, so why not just let the first place take a few more?¡± Upon hearing this, everyone nodded in agreement. ¡°It¡¯s different.¡± ¡°Multiple slots for one sect versus multiple slots for one person¡ª which do you think sounds more acceptable? Top sects care about their reputation. They don¡¯t want to appear too greedy.¡± ¡°There¡¯s also an objective reason.¡± ¡°The number of participants this time is too high. Many forces knew about this more than a decade, even twenty years ago, and started training their talents.¡± ¡± If it were one-on-one, who knows how long it would take to finish? It¡¯s too cumbersome.¡± ¡°That¡¯s why they changed it.¡± ¡°Using sects as units is more straightforward and eliminates many steps.¡± Everyone reluctantly understood this. ¡°If the five great sects of Tianxuan don¡¯t meet early, they can basically secure all twenty slots!¡± someone exclaimed excitedly. Clearly, he was a martial artist from Tianxuan Prefecture, naturally thrilled. The Wild Sea was an ancient place that nurtures Marquis-level resources. If one could obtain them, it almost guaranteed a Marquis-level expert! Marquis-level was a supreme realm. According to the rules of the Holy Land, one could establish a sect without any conditions, creating a great sect! Any great sect needed a steady emergence of Marquis-level experts to ensure its eternal standing. ¡°This competition will be even fiercer!¡± Everyone could already foresee the upcoming Genius Battle. Previously, it was enough to be in the top twenty, but now, you must be in the top three! ¡°Meng Changqing, will we meet again?¡± Duanmu Longque suddenly looked up at the sky, his eyes filled with battle intent. With the new rules, the chances of encountering each other were much higher. But thinking about how he no longer had the unique fire, Duanmu Longque sighed. He couldn¡¯t beat Meng Changqing before, let alone now. ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± Duanmu Longque said listlessly. Now, Flame Sun Valley was only a second-rate force in Tianling Prefecture, let alone in the vast southern region. Once the Genius Battle started, they would likely be eliminated quickly unless they faced Tianyao Prefecture or Tianyue Prefecture, which were even more remote and weaker than Tianling Prefecture. Soon, the news about the rule changes spread. People were both shocked and cursing the greed of the top sects, unwilling to share even a little! But such rules also carried risks. If a top sect stumbled early, they could be entirely wiped out with no further chances! The top sects were confident enough to believe their disciples could dominate and suppress the talents of other forces. In reality, the top sects could only propose the changes. The final decision rested with the Wanxiang Pavilion, representing the Holy Land of Central Province, which oversaw these matters. So maintaining good relations with the Wanxiang Pavilion brought many benefits, and few talents would refuse their recruitment. Time flew by. In the blink of an eye, more than ten days had passed. In five days, the highly anticipated Genius Battle would begin. In the cultivation hall, Meng Changqing slowly opened his eyes, his aura of life and death becoming more intense, clearly having advanced to the third level of the Life and Death Realm! ¡°Unfortunately, there¡¯s only one Life and Death Grass left,¡± Meng Changqing sighed. The Life and Death Grass was a rare cultivation resource, even within the sect, and couldn¡¯t be a regular resource. But this Genius Battle represented the allocation of advanced resources. If he ranked high, the sect would likely obtain similar resources. Even if not, with his exceptional talent and unity with nature, he could maintain a fast cultivation pace, though not as rapid as with the Life and Death Grass. ¡°Time to go,¡± Meng Changqing stood up and picked up Crimson Sky. The Genius Battle¡¯s venue wasn¡¯t in Wangyue Ancient City but in the Nine-Colored Glazed Pavilion¡¯s territory. Wangyue Ancient City was on the edge of Tianxuan Prefecture, so it would take five to six days to get there. After tidying up his clothes, Meng Changqing opened the hall door and walked out. His identity token at his waist vibrated ¡ª it could also transmit messages for those who had opened their mental sea. With a thought, the voice from the token echoed in his ear. ¡°Changqing, it¡¯s time to depart.¡± ¡°Alright,¡± Meng Changqing transmitted back. It seemed his timing was perfect. Arriving at the cloud boat, many were already waiting, including Mo Xiaoyu, the Shi brothers, Han Luoyu, and others. ¡°Young Sect Master!¡± they greeted him respectfully, their eyes full of anticipation. Everyone knew about the rule changes, so the sect¡¯s success now rested entirely on the Young Sect Master¡¯s shoulders. If they made it to the top three, the sect would get at least four Wild Sea slots and many advanced resources! ¡°Here you are,¡± the Great Elder smiled at Meng Changqing, seeing his cultivation had advanced again ¡ª the third level of the Life and Death Realm! Such incredible speed! Hua Ciyan and Ku Fengchun were also present, ready to accompany them. ¡°Second Senior Brother, Thirteenth Senior Sister, Sixteenth Senior Brother,¡± Meng Changqing greeted them with a bow. ¡°Well done,¡± Hua Ciyan smiled warmly, patting Meng Changqing¡¯s shoulder, though a flicker of astonishment crossed her eyes. For some reason, she felt a pressure from her junior brother today, something she had never experienced before! Chapter 181 Chapter 181: I Will Walk to the End, Until... No One is Worthy in My Eyes! ¡°Interesting.¡± Hua Ciyan instinctively glanced at the withered Ku Fengchun beside him. But Ku Fengchun showed no reaction at all. Could it be that his senses were wrong? ¡°Alright, let¡¯s get going.¡± The Grand Elder smiled, ¡°Changqing, something big happened recently. I¡¯ll explain it to you later.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Meng Changqing slightly raised an eyebrow. With the Genius Battle approaching, what big event could have occurred? ¡ª On the cloud boat... ¡°Something like this happened?¡± After hearing the Grand Elder¡¯s words, Meng Changqing was completely stunned. The rules of the competition were changed. It was now conducted by sects as units. This change, how should I put it, has both advantages and disadvantages. The advantage is that the Talent Battle process is shortened and becomes more straightforward. Otherwise, with thirteen entire prefectures in the southern region and so many young powerhouses, how long would it take to finish? Moreover, whoever reaches the end will receive more benefits. First place. That means a total of ten spots for the Wild Sea. Before, even if I took first place, there would only be one spot. As for the disadvantage... It¡¯s that the chances for slightly weaker forces to pick up the scraps become incredibly slim. The difference between being in the top twenty and top three is enormous, as you can imagine. Additionally, many people won¡¯t be able to participate in the Talent Battle because the sects will only send out their strongest members. Others won¡¯t even have the opportunity to take part. ¡°These top sects are certainly full of confidence.¡± Meng Changqing¡¯s eyes flickered. Under the previous rules, any major sect could occupy at most two or three spots. But now... ¡°If they can¡¯t make it to the end, it¡¯ll be over for all of them.¡± Meng Changqing stood at the bow of the boat, hands clasped behind his back. A cold wind blew by. His black hair fluttered. The change in rules... In short, it centralized and expanded the benefits, but the risks were the same. Unlike before, if one person lost, at least there were others. With this in mind, an idea surfaced in his heart: if he could block these major sects right at the start, it would be quite amusing. A smile appeared on Meng Changqing¡¯s face. But it depended on luck. It¡¯s not something he could control. ¡°Do you have confidence?¡± the Grand Elder looked at Meng Changqing and asked. ¡°It¡¯s a pity that first place only gets ten spots.¡± Meng Changqing¡¯s lips curled slightly, ¡°As for the other ten, I can only watch as they fall into someone else¡¯s hands.¡± Hearing this, the Grand Elder was taken aback. Then he chuckled silently. This boy¡¯s tone is indeed bold, almost identical to Xi Yingqing back in the day. No, perhaps even bolder! But with Meng Changqing¡¯s current strength, he indeed has the right to say this! According to Hua Ciyan¡¯s intelligence, among the younger generation in the entire southern region, only two people might pose a threat to Meng Changqing. They were Li Jin from the Proud Sword Sect and Yu Hongxue from the Nine-Colored Glazed Pavilion! Especially the latter! It¡¯s said that Yu Hongxue was the most talented disciple in the history of the Nine-Colored Glazed Pavilion! He might even surpass the sect¡¯s founder! ¡°You don¡¯t need to worry about the others, but you must be extra cautious with Li Jin and Yu Hongxue,¡± the Grand Elder reminded him. ¡°Alright.¡± Meng Changqing smiled faintly. Before, he might have paid more attention, but now, there¡¯s no need. With his Tenfold Sword Intent, he didn¡¯t think anyone could withstand his blade! ¡°Good.¡± The Grand Elder felt slightly relieved. Young people tend to be arrogant. Fortunately, Meng Changqing has always been relatively steady. Thinking back to the past... Among the eighteen disciples of Tai Xuan, besides himself, almost all were the same ¡ª young and reckless! Fortunately, they were strong enough, so they didn¡¯t fail miserably. Until they went there. In the end, they paid the price. And it was a heavy price! ¡°By the way, here is the information on the disciples of the major sects. You can take a look during the journey. ¡°Know yourself and your enemy, and you will be invincible in a hundred battles.¡± The Elder withdrew his thoughts and took out a storage ring. It was filled with jade slips. The information in the jade slips was collected by the Secret Message Hall, much more detailed than what was publicly available. They even analyzed the strengths and weaknesses clearly. Hearing this, Meng Changqing¡¯s eyes lit up. This was good. At least he could learn about the cultivation techniques of these major sects. See if there¡¯s anything special. If it looked promising, he might seize the opportunity to make friends. Although, as the Grand Elder mentioned, once he entered the arena, he might become the target of everyone. But it¡¯s better to resolve enmities than to create them. After all, was there such a thing as eternal hatred in this world? Why not sit down, have a good chat, and make some friends, right? Meng Changqing was confident in his charm and Crimson Sky at his waist. He believed he could turn these guys from enemies into friends! The Five Sects of Tianxuan were renowned in the Souther Region. Even compared to the top sects in other prefectures, they had a slight edge. Among the Five Sects, there were also strong and weak ones. Strictly speaking, the Nine-Colored Glazed Pavilion was the strongest. Next was the Proud Sword Sect. Then the Cloud Sea Academy. The Purple Sun Palace. And the Wind King Hall. Besides, the Nine-Colored Glazed Pavilion was also the oldest power in the Southern Region. Unlike other major sects, which rose in the past two or three thousand years, its history can be traced back to the establishment of the Holy Land. Therefore, the territory of the Nine-Colored Glazed Pavilion is incredibly vast. Looking as far as the eye could see, it¡¯s hard to see the end. It boasted hundreds of thousands of spirit peaks! Even in mid-air, there were ancient mountains suspended, fixed in place by incomprehensible powers. Cranes flew in formation across the sky, and spiritual birds sung as they soared through the clouds. The sight was truly breathtaking. And it was filled with the majesty of a great sect! ¡ª Five days later... The dawn broke, and rays of light filled the sky. Dong! Ancient bells rang from the depths of the Nine-Colored Glazed Pavilion¡¯s mountain gate, echoing far and wide. In the distance, countless cloud boats were rushing towards the mountain. The scene was magnificent and grand! Today! The Southern Genius Battle officially begins! Heroes from all sides gathered, and talents were abundant! ¡°So this is the Nine-Colored Glazed Pavilion.¡± Meng Changqing stepped out of the cloud boat room, looked into the distance with his hands behind his back, and couldn¡¯t help but nod. As expected of a top sect. A terrifying force second only to the Holy Land. The grandeur of this mountain gate¡¯s territory was extraordinary. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect that one day we would come back to this place.¡± Not far away, the Grand Elder, Hua Ciyan, and Ku Fengchun approached. Their voices carried a deep sense of nostalgia, as if many memories had surfaced in their hearts. ¡°Junior Brother, what you have to face is much more difficult than what we faced back then.¡± Ku Fengchun said with a smile, ¡°But I believe in you.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I will walk to the end, until... no one is worthy in my eyes.¡± Meng Changqing smiled slightly. Chapter 182 Chapter 182: The Void Battlefield, The Innate Fire Body! ¡°Everyone, please enter in an orderly manner.¡± In front of the mountain gate, the void twisted, and several figures appeared. The leader was dressed in a luxurious robe adorned with seven colors. His hair was white, and his brows carried an aura of authority. Clearly, he was an important figure from the Nine-Colored Glazed Pavilion. ¡°Seven-Colored Cloud Robe.¡± Meng Changqing raised an eyebrow. Among the many jade slips given to him by the Grand Elder, there was a mention of this. The attire of the Nine-Colored Glazed Pavilion was unique. The colors indicated the wearer¡¯s status within the sect. And seven colors... That was a very high rank! With those words, the densely packed cloud boats slowly began to sail inward. The elders of the Nine-Colored Glazed Pavilion would inform the respective forces where they should dock on which spirit peak. Generally, the top sects went in first, followed by the first-grade forces, and then the second-grade forces. This had been the rule since ancient times. Due to the large number of participating forces, it took almost the time of two incense sticks before it was the Tai Xuan Sect¡¯s turn. ¡°What force is this?¡± The one receiving the Tai Xuan Sect was not the Seven-Colored Elder but one next to him, only Five-Colored, but his cultivation had also reached the peak of the Divine Attainment Realm. ¡°Tianling Prefecture, Tai Xuan Sect,¡± the Grand Elder stepped forward and said. ¡°Okay, go on in.¡± The person nodded, as long as the sect was on the list. Then his gaze swept over Meng Changqing and the others. He tossed a token to the Grand Elder, indicating the location of their assigned spiritual peak. The Grand Elder took the token and guided the cloud boat to fly inward. ¡°Tai Xuan Sect... Why does that name sound a little familiar, like I¡¯ve heard it somewhere before?¡± The man frowned slightly, trying to recall but quickly dismissed the thought as the next force approached. ¡ª After docking the cloud boat, Meng Changqing and his group quickly made their way deeper into the Nine-Colored Glazed Pavilion. There was no doubt that this pavilion, the top sect in the Southern Region, was astonishingly large. The mountain gate alone was almost absurdly vast, like an entire kingdom. Looking up, nine-colored clouds occasionally rose from various locations, exuding a sense of auspiciousness. Occasionally, spiritual rain poured down like a tide, drenching the land below. This spectacle amazed disciples like Mo Xiaoyu, who couldn¡¯t help but exclaim in wonder. The Grand Elder smiled as he observed their reactions. Once, their sect had the potential to reach such heights, perhaps even surpass them. Unfortunately, it had all been ruined by that person. After a short while, they finally arrived at the site where the Southern Genius Battle was to be held. It was a void battlefield, suspended in mid-air, too vast to describe. It spanned tens of thousands of meters, with enormous ancient mountains floating upside down around it, each filled with countless spectators. By now, many people had already arrived. The place was packed with tens of thousands of people, with more arriving by the moment. ¡°So many people!¡± Mo Xiaoyu was slightly excited, as were the Shi brothers. The former was ten, while the latter were both eight, so their mentalities were not much different. ¡°Come on, that¡¯s where we¡¯ll be,¡± the Grand Elder said, leading them to fly over. The floating ancient mountains were arranged by region rather than strength, divided into thirteen areas ¡ª Tianxuan, Tianshu, and so on, down to Tianyue. Therefore, the Tai Xuan Sect had three nearby neighbors: Flame Sun Valley, Giant Spirit Sect, and Wind and Cloud City. These three forces were merely here to make up the numbers, as their sects had only one or two members who met the participation criteria. If they were lucky, they might get a bye or face a weaker opponent and perhaps achieve a decent ranking. But now, with the competition being sect-based, it was far too challenging. They couldn¡¯t even muster the required number of participants. The competition¡¯s rules required three participants, each at least in the Divine Attainment Realm. So, these three forces were mentally prepared to forfeit. As time passed, it was soon midday. The sun hung high, radiating brilliant light. All the expected forces had arrived. The scene was a sea of people, with strong auras everywhere. No demonic sect would dare cause trouble at this time. They would face the Southern Region¡¯s pinnacle combat power. ¡°Young Valley Master, look! That¡¯s Meng Changqing!¡± Flame Sun Valley had also arrived. Their floating mountain was smaller, situated to the right of the Tai Xuan Sect¡¯s. There, they noticed a familiar white-clothed figure on the ancient mountain. ¡°Meng Changqing!¡± Duanmu Longque¡¯s attention was immediately drawn. Coincidentally, Meng Changqing sensed something and looked over. Bang, bang, bang! At the moment their eyes met, Duanmu Longque¡¯s face changed, and he instinctively took several steps back before he could stop himself, cold sweat appearing on his forehead. ¡°This is!!!¡± Duanmu Longque couldn¡¯t believe it. Just a gaze, and he felt an unimaginable pressure! How is this possible?! ¡°He¡¯s already stepped into the Life and Death Realm,¡± said a red-robed elder beside him, none other than the Flame Sun Valley¡¯s ancestor, Duanmu Kong. The first stage of the Life and Death Realm! And that would be his limit in this life. Without the secret medicine from Wanxiang Pavilion, he wouldn¡¯t have reached this stage. Unfortunately, Flame Sun Valley¡¯s failure in the martial gathering meant they had lost the Pavilion¡¯s trust and would receive no further aid! ¡°Life and Death Realm!¡± Duanmu Longque gasped. This was too extreme! He admitted he wasn¡¯t as skilled in martial arts intent, but the difference in cultivation speed was unbelievable! He hadn¡¯t slacked, diligently cultivating, and had reached the Divine Attainment Realm months ago. He had thought his level was close to Meng Changqing¡¯s, but it turned out Meng Changqing had already reached the Life and Death Realm! He was on the same level as their ancestor! ¡°As expected of a world-defying genius who comprehends martial arts intent.¡± Duanmu Kong glanced at Meng Changqing, whose body exuded a dense aura of life and death, causing his eye to twitch. It was a sign of the third stage of the Life and Death Realm! A junior in his early twenties, yet already more powerful than him. It was utterly absurd! How did the Tai Xuan Sect get such a freak? Why couldn¡¯t Flame Sun Valley have such fortune? The more Duanmu Kong thought about it, the more frustrated he became! Meng Changqing nodded slightly at Duanmu Longque. It had been half a year since they last met, and this guy had indeed reached the Divine Attainment Realm. Meng Changqing wasn¡¯t surprised. After all, Duanmu Longque had top-tier talent. ¡°I must find an opportunity to obtain his Innate Fire Body.¡± Meng Changqing retracted his gaze, thinking to himself. Though his identity as an alchemist had not yet been of much use, that didn¡¯t mean it would be useless in the future. The Innate Fire Body was the most sought-after physique among alchemists, providing excellent results in subduing strange fires. Chapter 183 Chapter 183: The Mighty Marquis! Martial Will and Unyielding Belief! After about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, all the factions had arrived. The discussions were lively. ¡°Who do you think will make it to the top three this time?¡± ¡°Do you even need to ask? It¡¯s definitely going to be the five sects of Tianxuan!¡± ¡°That¡¯s not necessarily true. The major sects from other regions, as well as the ancient clans, aren¡¯t pushovers.¡± ¡°Besides, if the five sects of Tianxuan run into each other early on, wouldn¡¯t that leave the later positions up for grabs?¡± ¡°No matter what happens with the other sects, I¡¯m certain that the Nine-Colored Glazed Pavilion will take first place. No one can stand against them!¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Many nodded in agreement. In their eyes, this Genius Battle was simply a contest among the major sects and ancient clans. In the past, with first-tier forces dispersed, there was still some chance for others. But now, once they encounter these powerhouses, it¡¯s total annihilation with no chance at all. Crack! While everyone was chatting, the sky above suddenly changed dramatically! Countless void cracks appeared, as if an incredibly powerful entity was about to descend. Then, a figure slowly appeared. The moment they appeared, everyone felt a weight on their shoulders, as if they were carrying a mountain! Even those in the Life and Death Realm felt this pressure! ¡°Greetings, Pavilion Master!¡± The high-ranking members of the Nine-Colored Glazed Pavilion immediately stood up and bowed! Following that, all the factions also bowed in respect, their voices reverberating through the heavens and earth! Pavilion Master! These two simple words carried the weight of a thousand pounds! Because they represented the ruler of the Nine-Colored Glazed Pavilion! Also, the legendary Marquis, rarely seen! ¡°Hmm.¡± The Pavilion Master¡¯s gaze was indifferent as he scanned the entire area. His temples were graying, and although he looked to be only middle-aged, he was much older. Dressed in a nine-colored robe, he stood with his hands behind his back. Even with his terrifying aura somewhat restrained, the surrounding void still crackled as if it could not bear the strain! ¡°Everyone has come from afar, enduring the hardships of travel. This truly brings great honor to my pavilion,¡± the Pavilion Master spoke slowly, his voice like a great bell, resonating through the heavens and earth. ¡°Let¡¯s not waste time. Let the event begin.¡± With those words, the Pavilion Master¡¯s figure slowly faded. When he reappeared, he was already seated on the largest and highest suspended mountain, which belonged to the Nine-Colored Glazed Pavilion. Seated beside him were the pavilion¡¯s high-ranking members, each exuding a powerful aura. Some were young, some were old, but all were in the Life and Death Realm! ¡°Xiaoxue.¡± The Pavilion Master sat down and turned his gaze to a spot not far away. There, a slender figure sat cross-legged, bathed in glowing light. Upon hearing his voice, the figure slowly opened their eyes, revealing an indescribably beautiful face. In that instant, it felt as though the world had lost its color. Her skin was as white as snow, smooth and flawless, with long black hair cascading down to her waist. A faint glow surrounded her, giving her an air of divinity. ¡°Father.¡± This young woman was none other than Yu Hongxue, a peerless prodigy who nearly dominated the younger generation of Tianxuan Prefecture! ¡°Your condition seems well-adjusted. How far the pavilion advances depends on you.¡± The Pavilion Master nodded slightly, a look of satisfaction appearing on his face. She was his daughter, born in his later years, and thus he valued her even more. Moreover, Yu Hongxue¡¯s talent far surpassed his own, a true blessing from their ancestors! ¡°Father, rest assured, I will lead the sect to first place. No one can stop me.¡± Yu Hongxue raised her eyes. Whether in her gaze, bearing, or voice, there was an inner confidence that radiated from within! This was the aura of invincibility, forged by overcoming countless powerful opponents! Clearly, the number of warriors who had fallen to Yu Hongxue was beyond counting. ¡°Once you defeat all your opponents in this Genius Battle, you should be able to condense an unbeaten will.¡± the Pavilion Master remarked. Martial Will. This was a crucial element for any warrior, a representation of their beliefs. Once it was forged and took shape, it brought unimaginable benefits! ¡°The only one who might pose a threat to you this time is that Li Jin from the Proud Sword Sect. His comprehension is on par with yours, and he has been in seclusion for a long time. ¡°In terms of true meaning cultivation, he shouldn¡¯t be weaker than you,¡± the Pavilion Master said. ¡°He¡¯s not my match.¡± Yu Hongxue replied directly. A terrifying power surged within her eyes, as if countless lights were flashing. Seeing this, the Pavilion Master was slightly taken aback, then smiled. ¡°Impressive, you¡¯ve already reached this stage. I underestimated you. ¡°Three-tenths mastery of the hand intent! ¡°Among the younger generation, none can surpass you!¡± The other disciples and elders around them were also filled with joy and shock! Three-tenths mastery of the hand intent! That was terrifying. The cultivation of martial intent was incredibly difficult, often taking decades without progress... And yet, the Young Pavilion Master, at just twenty-seven years old, had already elevated her hand intent to three-tenths mastery! In the future, she had a great chance of reaching five-tenths or even higher before becoming a Marquis! No wonder the old Pavilion Master believed she could surpass their ancestors! ¡°I hope this Genius Battle produces a few dark horses. Otherwise, I might find it quite boring.¡± Yu Hongxue slowly stood up and walked to the edge, looking down. The wind blew gently, causing her robe to flutter. Although she was a woman, she exuded a heroic spirit, filled with both the essence of kingship and dominance! The Genius Battle was naturally overseen by the Wanxiang Pavilion. Almost all the judges were powerful beings in the Divine Attainment Realm or the Life and Death Realm. The new tournament format also made things easier for the Wanxiang Pavilion. Otherwise, with so many one-on-one battles, how many judges would they need? Now, only a few were required. On the Myriad Forms Pavilion¡¯s suspended mountain, an old acquaintance of Tai Xuan Sect was leisurely sitting there. Behind him, a beautiful maid massaged his shoulders, occasionally sipping tea with a look of contentment. ¡°Elder Yuan.¡± Suddenly, someone approached quickly. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± Yuan Cang asked casually. ¡°You asked me to keep an eye on Tai Xuan Sect of Tianling Prefecture before. They¡¯ve arrived today,¡± the subordinate reported. ¡°Oh?¡± Yuan Cang immediately opened his eyes, raising his right hand to signal the maid to leave. The maid, understanding, stepped back. ¡°Tai Xuan Sect.¡± These three simple words carried different implications. ¡°Interesting. How many times have they missed the Southern Genius Battle? ¡°And now, they¡¯ve produced a peerless prodigy. Finally, they couldn¡¯t resist coming?¡± Yuan Cang stood up and sneered, ¡°They really dare to come!¡± He hadn¡¯t forgotten that dazzling genius from the Three-Sect Martial Arts Competition, a terrifying talent who had comprehended the embryonic form of sword intent while still in the Dao Creation Realm. Such potential was truly frightening. But unfortunately, that talent had refused his invitation, insisting on staying with the sinking ship of Tai Xuan Sect! Well then, they could all sink together slowly! Back in Tianling Prefecture, he couldn¡¯t make a move, but here, he had plenty of ways to deal with them. A peerless prodigy needs to grow up to be meaningful. If they fall or are crippled along the way, they¡¯re no longer a genius. With that thought, Yuan Cang¡¯s gaze turned cold. Chapter 184 Chapter 184: Almost Two Hundred Years, He Finally Sent Someone! ¡°Has the first round¡¯s match list been released?¡± Yuan Cang asked. ¡°Yes, it¡¯s here.¡± The subordinate quickly presented it. ¡°It hasn¡¯t been submitted yet, right?¡± ¡°Not yet.¡± ¡°Good.¡± Yuan Cang nodded, then opened the list and quickly found the line for Tai Xuan Sect of Tianling Precture. Tai Xuan Sect of Tianling Prefecture versus Qinghui Sword Sect of Tiansheng Prefecture. ¡°How strong is the Qinghui Sword Sect?¡± Yuan Cang asked. ¡°It¡¯s a first-grade sect, promoted a hundred years ago. Their strength is decent,¡± the subordinate replied. ¡°Only first-grade?¡± Yuan Cang frowned slightly. Besides Meng Changqing, that monstrous genius, Tai Xuan Sect had no shortage of other formidable talents. Innate Sword Body, Stone Human Bloodline, Overlord Meridians ¡ª these were all extremely rare traits. For any force, even having one would be considered lucky, let alone so many! ¡°Replace it with a grand sect or ancient clan.¡± Yuan Cang said, closing the list. ¡°Huh?¡± The subordinate was stunned, then said, ¡°Elder, that¡¯s against the rules. Even though it hasn¡¯t been submitted, the Monitoring Pavilion is aware of it. ¡°Changing the match list without permission is a serious offense!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid. If there¡¯s an issue, let the Monitoring Pavilion come to me,¡± Yuan Cang said nonchalantly. Hearing this, the subordinate pursed his lips and could only choose to step back. This Elder Yuan Cang, though just an elder, held a significant position in the pavilion because he came from Zhongzhou! He seemed to have an extremely deep background. He had previously done several things that crossed the line, but they all ended up being brushed under the rug. ¡°Hmph, Tai Xuan Sect.¡± Yuan Cang stepped out of the pavilion, sneering repeatedly, ¡°I¡¯ll make sure you fall in the first round!¡± Manipulating things in this way was just to disgust Tai Xuan Sect. The real move would come after the Southern Genius Battle. Dong! As the ancient bell rang out, the Genius Battle officially began! The first group to take the stage were just two first-grade forces. Both sent out three disciples in the Divine Attainment Realm. For a first-grade force, Divine Attainment was the limit. There wouldn¡¯t be any Life and Death Realm participants. That was something only grand sects could possibly cultivate. With so many eyes on them at once, it created immense mental pressure. As a result, it was evident that many prodigies were not in their best states. Only those who had often faced large audiences could maintain absolute calm on such a stage. Bang! After half a stick of incense, one side emerged victorious, while the three disciples on the other side lay on the ground, unconscious. On this stage, you could choose one-on-one or have all six fight at once. In the end, it was just about who was still standing! Clap, clap, clap~ Applause rang out. Though it was just a battle between first-grade forces, it was still quite exciting. Sometimes there were single duels, sometimes one against two. Various techniques and skills were on display, offering a refreshing spectacle. Soon, the second group took the stage. It was a similar scenario ¡ª a match between first-grade forces. Meng Changqing stood at the edge of the hanging ancient mountain. He was focused, continuously observing the fights below. Everyone who made it here was a young, strong prodigy. Though none were his match, their techniques and skills were still valuable. With his current level of understanding, a little bit of thought would yield insights. It was also a way to continuously build his martial arts foundation. ¡°Third group. ¡°Tianheng Prefecture, Ice and Snow Divine Palace. ¡°Versus! ¡°Tianling Prefecture, Tai Xuan Sect!¡± As the second group finished, the announcement quickly followed. ¡°Ice and Snow Divine Palace!¡± ¡°A grand sect finally appears!¡± ¡°Tianheng Prefecture is the fourth-ranked Prefecture in our southern region, home to two grand sects, one of which is the Ice and Snow Divine Palace!¡± ¡°Rumor has it that the core disciple of the Ice and Snow Divine Palace has already reached the Life and Death Realm and is very powerful!¡± ¡°Before the changes to the competition format, they were strong contenders for the top twenty!¡± The crowd buzzed with excitement. Compared to first and second-grade forces, grand sects were naturally fewer in number. Most expected to see them much later in the competition. Who would have thought they¡¯d appear in the third group! But who was their opponent? ¡°Tianling Prefecture, Tai Xuan Sect?¡± ¡°Have you heard of them? They sound unfamiliar.¡± ¡°No, but Tianling Prefecture is nearly the last-ranked Prefecture, right? It¡¯s a weak place without even a first-grade force.¡± ¡°They must be a first-grade force. I vaguely heard about them recently.¡± ¡°Only a first-grade force? That¡¯s really tragic, going up against a grand sect. If it were me, I¡¯d just surrender.¡± The crowd discussed, their words full of sympathy. After all, the gap between a first-grade force and a grand sect was truly obvious ¡ª there was no comparison. However, in another realm, when many top-tier forces¡¯ leaders heard the name Tai Xuan Sect, they instinctively stood up! For the first time, a change appeared on their calm faces, as if they remembered something! ¡°Tai Xuan Sect!¡± The originally closed-eyed Pavilion Master of the Nine-Colored Glazed Pavilion suddenly opened his eyes! A terrifying aura seeped out, causing the surrounding disciples and elders to retreat. ¡°Father, what¡¯s wrong?¡± Yu Hongxue was a bit surprised. She had never seen her father so emotionally stirred before. ¡°Almost two hundred years, and he finally sent someone?¡± The Pavilion Master slowly stood up. Although his voice was calm, everyone could feel the waves surging in his heart, like a storm brewing! ¡°Father, what are you talking about?¡± Yu Hongxue didn¡¯t understand. ¡°Is this Tai Xuan Sect very powerful?¡± She searched her mind but couldn¡¯t find any information about Tai Xuan Sect. It wasn¡¯t a top grand sect either. ¡°Young Pavilion Master, nearly two hundred years ago, there was once a second-grade sect...¡± an informed elder beside her began to explain the situation. ¡°Xi Yingqing!¡± The Pavilion Master walked to the edge, his deep eyes directly focusing on the battlefield below. Not only him, but many top-tier force leaders also left their seats, their eyes all fixed on the field. It was as if the previously ordinary match suddenly gained a different significance! On the ancient mountain, hearing the name of his sect, Meng Changqing was slightly stunned. He didn¡¯t expect Tai Xuan Sect to be called so soon. It was only the third group, right? But it didn¡¯t matter. The sooner, the better. He had been itching to get down there after watching from above. ¡°Senior Brother.¡± Meng Changqing turned around. ¡°Go ahead, but always stay vigilant.¡± The Great Elder nodded with a warm smile. Among all the senior brothers and sisters, only the Great Elder truly felt like an elder. ¡°Junior Brother, take them down! The southern region should remember the glory of the past!¡± Ku Fengchun raised his fist. ¡°The Tai Xuan Eighteen Sons are in the past. Now is your time.¡± Hua Ciyan approached and helped Meng Changqing straighten his collar a bit. ¡°Mm.¡± Meng Changqing smiled slightly. Chapter 185 Chapter 185: Is This Really a First-Rank Sect? Ancient Bloodline and Life-and-Death Realm! ¡°Shi Guang, Shi Yao, both of you go up together.¡± The Grand Elder looked at the two. ¡°Yes!¡± The two brothers immediately stood up! Their rugged faces showed intense excitement! ¡°Brother Meng, we can fight side by side now!¡± Shi Yao shouted loudly. In his excitement, he even forgot to address him as the Young Sect Master, but no one corrected him at this moment. ¡°I, I, I, I!¡± Mo Xiaoyu raised her small hand, eager to join the battle. But when she met the Grand Elder¡¯s gaze, she immediately pouted and lowered her hand. So fierce~ ¡°You¡¯ll get your chance.¡± Hua Ciyan walked over and picked up Mo Xiaoyu. She herself was from Spirit Peak, so she doted on Mo Xiaoyu even more. ¡°Okay!¡± Mo Xiaoyu immediately hugged Hua Ciyan¡¯s neck and happily kissed her on the cheek. Boom boom! The two brothers walked behind Meng Changqing. Their now towering fifty-meter-tall bodies were like guardian deities, one holding a battle axe, the other a war hammer, exuding a powerful sense of oppression! ¡°Then, let¡¯s begin.¡± Meng Changqing took a step forward. ¡°It¡¯s actually Tai Xuan Sect!¡± Nearby forces like Flame Sun Valley and Giant Spirit Sect gasped. They had just been wondering which unlucky force had encountered a great sect-level power, and it turned out to be Tai Xuan Sect! ¡°Tai Xuan Sect is finished!¡± ¡°How can they be a match for Ice and Snow Divine Palace!¡± ¡°Who would have thought they¡¯d fall in the first round!¡± Many disciples whispered among themselves, some of them excited. But nearby, Duanmu Longque quickly scolded them. ¡°What are you gloating about?¡± ¡°Leaving Tianling Prefecture, our stance must change. ¡°Don¡¯t let people from other prefectures hear you. We¡¯re already weak, don¡¯t fight amongst ourselves.¡± Hearing this, many disciples showed expressions of shame. ¡°Besides, who wins and who loses is still uncertain.¡± Duanmu Longque looked toward Tai Xuan Sect¡¯s side, ¡°Meng Changqing is also at the Life and Death Realm. Although he might not match these great sect disciples in terms of foundation, he¡¯s not completely outclassed.¡± The Ancestor Duanmu Kong watched from the side, nodding slightly. His grandson still had some sense of the bigger picture. ¡°Yubing, you go up.¡± On the Ice and Snow Divine Palace¡¯s side, the Palace Master slowly spoke. Her voice was calm, but it shocked everyone. ¡°Palace Master, it¡¯s just a first-rank sect from Tianling Prefecture. Isn¡¯t sending Sister Jie over too much?¡± someone immediately said. ¡°Indeed, a first-rank sect at best has Divine Attainment cultivators. We can handle them!¡± Others nodded in agreement. ¡°Master.¡± Jie Yubing stood up. She had a slim figure, with an exquisite body. In terms of looks, she could be considered a beauty. She also exuded a sense of life and death, though it was somewhat thin, indicating she had just entered the Life and Death Realm not long ago, at the first level. ¡°I want you to defeat all the disciples of Tai Xuan Sect! ¡°All of them! ¡°Leave no one standing! ¡°Crush them to the ground!¡± The Palace Master, a beautiful woman, usually exuded an elegant temperament, but now, there was a feeling of a brewing storm. It was as if her inner thoughts were anything but calm. ¡°Understood. ¡°I will do as you say, Master.¡± Jie Yubing slightly cupped her hands. Then, with two junior brothers, she flew downwards. Although she didn¡¯t know why her Master harbored such deep resentment toward an unknown sect, since her Master said so, she had to follow through! It just felt a bit like bullying the weak. On the vast battlefield, the Ice and Snow Divine Palace took the lead. When people saw that the person coming was Jie Yubing, there was an immediate uproar. ¡°Wow, is Ice and Snow Divine Palace shameless or what? They¡¯re sending Jie Yubing to fight a first-rank sect!¡± ¡°Yeah, isn¡¯t this bullying?¡± ¡°What¡¯s bullying? Can¡¯t a lion use its full strength even when hunting a rabbit?¡± Some of Jie Yubing¡¯s admirers quickly defended her. Boom boom! Just as everyone was talking, it felt like a meteor had fallen, stirring up heavy dust and smoke. ¡°What happened?¡± Everyone was stunned. Has the fight already started? Why is the field covered in dust? Whoosh! A giant axe¡¯s light sliced through the dust, revealing the scene inside. Two figures, as tall as small mountains, slowly stood up. Their fierce aura was fully revealed! ¡°What is this race?¡± ¡°Are they still human?¡± In an instant, the entire audience was shocked. With such physiques, they didn¡¯t seem human anymore! ¡°It must be some kind of bloodline, right?¡± Someone frowned, then seemed to think of something, ¡°It¡¯s the long-lost Stone Human bloodline!¡± ¡°One of the top ancient body-refining bloodlines!¡± As soon as these words were spoken, there was an uproar. ¡°Wow, ancient bloodlines are appearing now! And there are two of them!¡± ¡°Any force would consider themselves blessed to have just one, and this first-rank sect has two!¡± Envy started to creep into their words! ¡°Even so, I observe that these two are only at the first level of Divine Attainment Realm. Even with the ancient Stone Human bloodline, they can¡¯t possibly be a match for Jie Yubing!¡± ¡°The gap between major stages can¡¯t be bridged!¡± everyone agreed. It looked like Tai Xuan Sect was still going to lose. ¡°Wait, weren¡¯t there three people? Where¡¯s the third one?¡± At this question, everyone finally realized. Then they saw a figure in white descending from the sky. Like a floating leaf, he landed on the battlefield. Boom boom! The two figures stood behind the white-clad figure, clearly deferring to him. ¡°Another expert?¡± Everyone couldn¡¯t help but think this. Jie Yubing looked at the two towering figures. The shock in her beautiful eyes slowly faded. So it was an ancient bloodline. No wonder her Master wanted her to fight, but they were just at the first level of the Divine Attainment Realm, which posed no threat to her. She could crush them with just a wave of her hand. But when that white-clad figure landed, her pupils suddenly contracted. Her whole body filled with chills. Her eyes revealed an expression of disbelief! ¡°Life and Death Realm... third level!!!¡± It wasn¡¯t just her. The surrounding audience also noticed this fact! Everyone gasped, their eyes wide with shock. It was as if they were seeing something unbelievable. ¡°Wow, that¡¯s... the Life and Death Realm!!!¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t they say this was a first-rank sect? How do they have a disciple at the Life and Death Realm!¡± ¡°And judging by his appearance, isn¡¯t he a bit too young!¡± In an instant, the entire place erupted in excitement! Chapter 186 Chapter 186: Naturally... Shatter Them! The entire venue was abuzz with discussions. ¡°Wait! I know it now!¡± Someone suddenly exclaimed excitedly, ¡°Tai Xuan Sect! It¡¯s actually Tai Xuan Sect!¡± ¡°My friend, could you elaborate?¡± Everyone quickly turned their attention to the speaker, curiosity piqued. After all, the strength exhibited by the Tai Xuan Sect disciples far exceeded what a first-grade sect should possess. They were entirely on par with a major teaching-level power! ¡°Nearly two hundred years ago, during the Southern Genius Battle, there emerged a group of extremely powerful geniuses! Especially their leader, a top-tier world-shaking prodigy! ¡°With just his fists, he nearly swept through the entire Genius Battle! No one was his match! ¡°You can understand it like this. All the current leaders of the major sects and ancient clans, such as the Lord of the Nine-Colored Glazed Pavilion, were defeated by that world-shaking prodigy!¡± This statement instantly caused an uproar. Everyone¡¯s eyes were wide with shock. For one to be called a world-shaking prodigy, they must have been overwhelmingly powerful, able to defeat one top genius after another. And some people began to remember! ¡°Indeed, there was such an event! I heard about it from my elders!¡± ¡°That group was called the Eighteen Sons of Tai Xuan! They hailed from this very Tai Xuan Sect! Back then, Tai Xuan Sect wasn¡¯t even first-grade, it was only second-grade!¡± As this was confirmed, the shock in everyone¡¯s hearts grew even more intense. What was going on with this sect? Despite not having a high rank, its disciples¡¯ strength was so overwhelmingly strong, both in the past and now! ¡°But if they were so strong two hundred years ago, why are they still a first-grade sect now? And why haven¡¯t we heard of this sect before?¡± Someone raised a question. ¡°I¡¯m not entirely sure, but it seems that they experienced a great upheaval afterward and went into decline, never participating in the Southern Genius Battle again until now,¡± the person explained. ¡°So, is this disciple now trying to retrace the path of two hundred years ago?!¡± ¡°Following in the footsteps of his predecessors, sweeping through the younger generation of the Southern Region!¡± Thinking of this, many people became excited! ¡°You¡¯re overthinking it. It¡¯s not that easy. The participants this time are all the heirs of the major powers, beings of extreme strength! Defeating them is as difficult as climbing the sky!¡± someone refuted. ¡°But wasn¡¯t it the same situation back then?¡± The person chuckled, speaking in a mysterious tone. ¡ª On the battlefield. ¡°So it¡¯s you!¡± Hearing the surrounding discussions, Jie Yubing finally understood! No wonder her master wanted her to be the one to step up! It was Tai Xuan Sect! The very sect that once defeated her master! When she was young, her master had mentioned it, and it seemed to have left a shadow in her master¡¯s heart that was hard to erase. ¡°Master, this time, I will avenge you! I will defeat all the disciples of this sect! I will wash away the shame!¡± Jie Yubing¡¯s expression turned icy cold. Although this person¡¯s cultivation level was slightly higher than hers, the gap wasn¡¯t significant. The power of life and death that they carried wouldn¡¯t be able to affect her body in the short term. So, she could definitely use her other martial arts foundations to defeat him! With this thought, Jie Yubing stepped forward. Her two junior brothers hurried to follow. Meng Changqing listened to the noisy chatter around him, raising an eyebrow slightly. As expected, just as the Grand Elder predicted, their entry indeed drew everyone¡¯s attention. Especially the little girl quickly approaching with a vengeful look in her eyes ¡ª it seemed that his senior brothers and sisters had indeed left behind a deep-seated hatred back then. ¡°Interesting.¡± Meng Changqing naturally felt no pressure, even opening his Observation Eye to observe the girl¡¯s status panel. Basic Information: ¡¾Name: Jie Yubing¡¿ ¡¾Race: Human¡¿ ¡¾Cultivation: First Level of Life and Death Realm¡¿ Attribute Information: ¡¾Root Bone: First-grade¡¿ ¡¾Comprehension: High¡¿ ¡¾Talent: Ice Skin and Cold Bones¡¿ ¡¾Cultivation Techniques and Martial Skills: Ice and Snow Divine Prison Art (Perfection), Mystic Ice Spirit Shocking Blade (Perfection)¡¿ ¡°Ice Skin and Cold Bones, huh? This seems to be a talent only slightly inferior to the Innate Ice Physique.¡± Meng Changqing¡¯s eyes flickered slightly. With this talent, cultivating any ice-based techniques or martial skills would be like having divine assistance. He remembered that Senior Brother Ku Fengchun had an Innate Ice Physique, though it had a (Residual) suffix. Additionally, despite her slim figure, Jie Yubing was actually a blade wielder. Truth be told, he hadn¡¯t faced many swordsmen so far. In the Sect¡¯s Martial Peak, there were blade practitioners, but they didn¡¯t make it to the final three-sect tournament, so he never had a chance to experience the sharpness of their blade skills. ¡°Senior Brother Meng, how should we fight?¡± Shi Guang and Shi Yao grinned, their eyes filled with intense battle intent. Their ancient bloodlines within seemed to start boiling, with stone-like armor gradually appearing on the surface of their skin, making their aura even more overwhelming. ¡°Naturally... shatter them!¡± Meng Changqing smiled slightly. Boom! As soon as he spoke, the ground behind him exploded, and the two brothers, like ancient mountains pushing forward, charged without a word! ¡°You!¡± Jie Yubing had just approached with her people, intending to say a few words before the battle as a declaration. But unexpectedly, the other side had no patience and directly attacked! Hmph! Jie Yubing¡¯s eyes turned cold. Since that¡¯s the case, let¡¯s settle this with our skills! Her figure blurred, transforming into endless cold air, instantly passing by the Shi brothers and heading straight for Meng Changqing. As the saying goes, king to king, general to general. She naturally wouldn¡¯t bother dealing with the Shi brothers! But this put her two junior brothers in a tough spot. Although they were top-tier geniuses, how could they have ever fought against such monsters? Such enormous figures, like ancient fierce beasts, were terrifying just to look at! ¡°Take my axe!¡± ¡°Take my hammer!¡± On the other side, Meng Changqing still stood in place, hands behind his back. Before him, the cold tide rolled, and the ground was covered with spreading ice crystals. Within the boundless cold air, a sharp blade light came slashing through. ¡°This strike shall cleanse the shame for my master!¡± Jie Yubing held a long blade, and above her head, the embryonic form of blade intent soared into the sky. The powerful aura enveloped the entire battlefield! ¡°It¡¯s blade intent!¡± The crowd was visibly shaken. Although martial arts true intent wasn¡¯t uncommon in the Tianxuan Prefecture, it was indeed rare for someone of her age to possess it. Only world-shaking prodigies could achieve such a feat! And the power of martial arts true intent was something everyone was fascinated by! ¡°Let¡¯s see how this person deals with it!¡± The crowd became curious. The cultivation levels of the two weren¡¯t far apart, so it would all come down to martial arts foundation. No one knew what kind of techniques this person practiced. Chapter 187 Chapter 187: Dual True Essences! He... Can¡¯t Sweep Through the Southern Region! ¡°Mystic Ice Spirit Shocking ¡¤ Endless Heaven Blade!¡± Jie Yubing gripped the blade with both hands. She slashed out! The dazzling blade light instantly poured out like a flood. ¡°Not bad,¡± Meng Changqing nodded slightly. This blade technique indeed met the standard of a world-class genius. ¡°But it¡¯s not enough.¡± Meng Changqing raised his right hand. His five fingers clenched into a fist! Boom! In an instant, a full thirty percent of his fist intent surged forth! The terrifying aura instantly suppressed Jie Yubing¡¯s blade intent! This was an absolute difference in True Essence! ¡°What?!¡± Jie Yubing¡¯s pupils contracted sharply, and an expression of disbelief appeared on her face. It was actually thirty percent fist intent! How is that possible?! But there was no time to think, because Meng Changqing had already thrown his punch. ¡°Ultimate Star Stream!¡± Countless shadows of stars appeared, then converged into one punch, which was launched forward. Boom! It was like an endless galaxy surging forth! Vast and majestic! Anything that stood in its way would be completely crushed! Including Jie Yubing¡¯s blade light. It was almost as soon as they made contact that it was overwhelmed and disappeared without a trace. Bang! A figure flew backward. It wasn¡¯t until a thousand meters away that it barely came to a stop. ¡°You...¡± Jie Yubing wanted to speak, but a mouthful of blood surged up from her throat. Her aura instantly weakened. Her whole body fell forward. She heavily collapsed to the ground! That punch not only seriously injured her body but also her spirit! The surroundings immediately fell silent. Only the sound of the Shi brothers smashing the other two prodigies into the ground repeatedly could be heard. Everyone was dumbfounded. They knew the disciples of the Tai Xuan Sect were strong, but they never imagined they would be this strong! The chief of the Ice and Snow Divine Palace! The next successor was knocked back a thousand meters with just one punch. And then fainted on the spot! How vast was the difference in strength? ¡°My heavens, it¡¯s actually thirty percent fist intent!¡± someone exclaimed. The crowd finally reacted. Their faces were filled with shock! Comprehending martial True Essence was already extremely difficult. Let alone advancing it! A world-class genius like Jie Yubing had only just formed the rudimentary shape of blade intent. But this disciple of the Tai Xuan Sect had already reached thirty percent! It was simply unbelievable! The difference in True Essence, even by one percent, was enormous. Not to mention a full thirty percent. So it was normal for Jie Yubing to be sent flying by one punch. Thirty percent fist intent! Many high-level members of the great forces also had solemn expressions. At such a young age, they could understand comprehending martial True Essence, given that he was a world-class genius. But a full thirty percent? That was beyond terrifying! Had he been neglecting his martial training, focusing solely on comprehension? Otherwise, at just over twenty years old... How could he possibly have such a level of True Essence? ¡°Thirty percent fist intent.¡± Yu Hongxue, standing at the edge and overlooking the scene below, also had a serious look in her eyes. She had thought that among the younger generation in the Southern Region, her level of True Essence was the highest. But she didn¡¯t expect someone else to catch up to her! To be on par with her! The pavilion master stood with his hands behind his back, his face showing astonishment. At such a young age, with such True Essence, it seemed even more impressive than Xi Yingqing back then! ¡°Still confident?¡± The pavilion master turned his head and looked at Yu Hongxue. ¡°Father, rest assured, I will still win! ¡°Even if this person¡¯s True Essence level is on par with mine! ¡°In this Genius Battle, I will defeat him openly in front of everyone! ¡°If he wants to sweep through the Southern Region, he can¡¯t do it!¡± Yuhong Xue¡¯s face was cold. After the explanation from the elders in the sect, she naturally understood why her father was so concerned about a small, unknown sect. It turns out that such a thing happened back then! In that case, it was even more necessary to stop this person and avenge the past humiliation! Otherwise, if this person is allowed to repeat the path of the past, all the great sects would be shamed again! In the future, they would become the laughingstock of the Southern Region! The great sects and ancient clans being trampled by a first-grade sect! Such a thing must not be allowed to happen. ¡°Indeed, I believe in you.¡± The pavilion master nodded. But the seriousness in his eyes did not dissipate. He had experienced the Tai Xuan Sect¡¯s martial arts and ultimate techniques from that person. They were not at the level of a great sect. So the appearance of this person was destined to be a ¡®calamity¡¯ for Yu Hongxue. If she wins, she would achieve an invincible will on the spot! But if she lost, that would be nothing but empty talk. The gradually condensed momentum of invincibility will also be shattered. ¡°Xi Yingqing, you really know how to pick your timing.¡± The pavilion master took a deep breath. Back then, his generation of successors from the great sects was all defeated, and now, when it was time for the next generation to step up, he sent someone again. Was it intentional? Deliberately targeting the strongest generation. ¡ª ¡°Fist intent!¡± On the ancient mountain of Tai Xuan Sect, the Great Elder, Hua Ciyan, Ku Fengchun, and the others all showed shocked expressions. In their understanding, wasn¡¯t Meng Changqing specializing in swordsmanship? How did he also cultivate fist intent? Dual cultivation? But isn¡¯t that too ridiculous? For someone to comprehend even one martial True Essence is extremely difficult. Yet Meng Changqing actually had two! What¡¯s more, the levels of both True Essences were the same! ¡°Could our little junior brother be the reincarnation of a Martial God?¡± Hua Ciyan swallowed, her beautiful face full of emotion. ¡°No wonder!¡± Ku Fengchun suddenly slapped his forehead, somewhat excited. ¡°No wonder what?¡± The Great Elder returned to his senses and asked. ¡°Junior brother came to me when he first joined the sect and asked about fist techniques. Before he left, he even asked me for the ¡®Heaven Splitting Fist Manual.¡¯ ¡°At the time, I was puzzled as to why a sword cultivator would want a fist manual. ¡°Now I finally understand! ¡°It turns out that junior brother also has such terrifying attainments in fist techniques!¡± Ku Fengchun answered. ¡°That Changqing, always hiding things!¡± the Great Elder said ¡®dissatisfied.¡¯ But his eyes were full of joy. Dual True Essences! Not everyone could achieve that! Even world-class geniuses couldn¡¯t! Of course, it wasn¡¯t that they wouldn¡¯t be able to in the future, but at their current age, it was almost impossible. ¡ª Boom, boom! Two figures, like ragdolls, flew out and crashed heavily to the ground, falling unconscious. They were none other than the other two disciples of the Ice and Snow Divine Palace. As a top ancient body refining bloodline, the Stone Human bloodline was naturally battle-hungry! Once they started fighting, their hidden ferocity gradually emerged. As long as they didn¡¯t kill, these two would have been beaten to death by the Shi brothers! Roar! The two brothers let out a long roar towards the sky. The sound was like thunder. Then they carried their weapons, walked behind Meng Changqing, and returned to a calm, looking very ¡®obedient and well-behaved.¡¯ ¡°The winner is the Tai Xuan Sect of the Tianling Prefecture!¡± After a brief silence, the arbiter finally made the declaration. Upon hearing this, Meng Changqing¡¯s lips curled slightly as he turned around and flew directly upward. Leaving behind countless gazes and excited discussions all around! After all, this was the Ice Snow Divine Palace. A force at the level of a great sect, and it was defeated by a disciple from a first-grade sect! ¡ª Bang! A wine cup was smashed to pieces! It was Yuan Cang. His face was livid. But more than that, he was in disbelief! What is up with this guy? Is cultivation just a breeze to him? He has already reached the third level of the Life and Death realm, and how long has it been? Just six months. Dao Creation, Divine Attainment, Life and Death. The rate of advancement is simply absurd! The most critical aspect was his martial True Essence. Besides sword intent, he actually possessed fist intent! And his fist intent was at a full thirty percent! It was clear that his sword intent must not be much different! Dual True Essences! I had only seen this in the Central Province, but someone this young, barely over twenty, with such accomplishments, was almost unheard of! ¡°My judgment was wrong! ¡°This kid¡¯s potential is beyond that of a world-class genius!!!¡± Yuan Cang clenched his fists tightly! His gaze turned completely cold. Chapter 188 Chapter 188: The Foundation of a Great Sect! If this continues any longer, who knows how powerful this person might become? The key issue is, his growth speed is terrifyingly fast. Given the strength he¡¯s shown now, even I am far from being a match for him. ¡°I must find a way to deal with this.¡± Yuan Cang snorted coldly, then turned and left with a flick of his sleeve. ¡°Kid, when did you start practicing fist intent?¡± As Meng Changqing landed, the Grand Elder approached with a pleased expression. ¡°A long time ago, but I just never had a chance to use it,¡± Meng Changqing thought for a moment. It had indeed been a while. If he remembered correctly, it was around the time he reached the Divine Attainment Realm. ¡°Dual intent, that¡¯s incredibly rare. I remember even the Sect Master didn¡¯t possess such an ability back in the day, and you¡¯re still so young.¡± Hua Ciyan¡¯s voice was filled with admiration. He was barely in his early twenties. When the Sect Master attended this event, he was around twenty-seven. However, the Sect Master hadn¡¯t started cultivating until much later, so he was considered a late bloomer. ¡°I noticed that your ¡®Heaven Splitting Fist Manual¡¯ has reached perfection. Your comprehension is truly frightening,¡± Ku Fengchun remarked in awe. It had been less than a month, but just like with the ¡®Supreme Emperor Sword Sutra,¡¯ the ¡®Heaven-Splitting Fist Manual¡¯ relied entirely on comprehension, requiring no resources. With Meng Changqing¡¯s level of insight, achieving perfection in such a short time was almost expected. ¡°It¡¯s all thanks to the sparring with Senior Brother Ku; otherwise, it wouldn¡¯t have happened so quickly,¡± Meng Changqing replied with a smile. ¡°Don¡¯t give me too much credit.¡± Ku Fengchun shook his head, ¡°What I said wasn¡¯t that helpful. It was all your own effort.¡± ¡°Alright, enough small talk,¡± the Grand Elder interrupted, ¡°After this battle, the entire Southern Region will know our Tai Xuan Sect is here. The opponents you face from now on will be even stronger! They won¡¯t just stand by and let the events of the past repeat themselves! They will use every means possible to stop you. They¡¯ll even try to defeat you to erase the shame of the past!¡± Hearing this, Meng Changqing smiled faintly. ¡°That¡¯s exactly what I want. Otherwise, this competition would be too boring.¡± He turned and looked down. Just three-tenths of fist intent, and he already felt like he was dominating the field. Hopefully, he wouldn¡¯t have to use sword intent in the end. Probably not. After all, there were still people like Li Jin from the Proud Sword Sect and Yu Hongxue from the Nine-Colored Glazed Pavilion. Although he hadn¡¯t met them, their reputations were well known, clearly stronger than the likes of Jie Yubing, who was just an ordinary genius. Soon, the Shi family brothers also received praise from the Grand Elder. Although not as straightforward as Meng Changqing¡¯s one-punch victory, they too demonstrated overwhelming strength, easily winning their battles! Heh heh heh! The Shi brothers immediately puffed out their chests with pride. They were, after all, still children at heart. A little praise made them visibly happy. ¡°Next time, I want to join too!¡± Mo Xiaoyu eagerly volunteered. ¡°Sure, everyone will get a chance.¡± The Grand Elder nodded. With Meng Changqing as a steady anchor, he could allow the others to participate one by one. This would give them experience in major events, which would greatly benefit their future cultivation. Han Luoyu and the others smiled. After coming all this way, it would be frustrating to sit on the sidelines the entire time. The battles continued. The fourth group. The fifth group. The sixth group. Perhaps the appearance of the Tai Xuan Sect caused a subtle shift in the atmosphere. The subsequent great sects that entered the arena did so with their full strength. It was as if they were trying to prove something, to reclaim their momentum! ¡°Three Life and Death Realm experts!¡± When the first great sect of the Tianxuan Five Schools ¡ª the Cloud Sea Academy ¡ª appeared, the entire crowd was shocked. Three full Life and Death Realm experts! Their power was immense, their presence terrifying! They directly scared the disciples of the opposing first-rank sect into surrendering! The Tianxuan Five Sects were top-tier great sects! Each of these schools had at least two geniuses of the highest caliber. Unlike the great sects of other regions, which typically have only one. Afterward, the remaining four schools also entered the stage one after another. The Wind King Hall and Purple Sun Palace weren¡¯t as extravagant, each bringing only two Life and Death Realm experts. Only Cloud Sea Academy, Proud Sword Sect, and the Nine-Colored Glazed Pavilion had three each. Unfortunately, these great sects, as well as other great sects and ancient clans from other regions, did not encounter each other. They all advanced to the next round. You could say that the Ice and Snow Divine Palace was the only great sect eliminated in the first round. This was, perhaps, the first time in history that a great sect-level force was eliminated so quickly! Rumor has it... when Jie Yubing was carried back, the palace lord of the Ice and Snow Divine Palace was livid, barely containing her fury. There¡¯s no need to think too much about it. After this battle, the Ice and Snow Divine Palace would undoubtedly become a topic of gossip or ridicule in the future! As evening approached, the first round of battles came to an end. Over sixty forces advanced. The Southern Region¡¯s top-ranked regions are vast and resource-rich, so there were many first-rank forces, including sects and clans. Some second-rank sects could even barely produce three Divine Attainment Realm disciples. As for the second round, it was scheduled for tomorrow. ¡°Let¡¯s go back and rest,¡± the Grand Elder said. ¡°Mm.¡± Meng Changqing nodded. After watching so many battles, he had greatly expanded his knowledge of martial arts. He realized that there were many unique martial arts techniques in the cultivation world. They might not be particularly powerful, but they had distinct functions. Some warriors even possessed strange talents. On their own, these might not be very useful, but when combined with the right techniques, they produced remarkable effects. Unfortunately, he hadn¡¯t seen the great sects in action. When faced with a great sect, the first-rank sects would surrender immediately. Otherwise, he could have observed their techniques and martial skills. ¡°I hope we face some weaker opponents tomorrow.¡± The Grand Elder was always cautious. Even though Meng Changqing was already very strong, he remained as careful as ever. ¡ª ¡°Elder Yuan, are you really going to change the match schedule again?¡± In the ancient mountain pavilion, the subordinate was completely stunned. Doing this once was one thing, but doing it repeatedly ¡ª wasn¡¯t that going too far? ¡°Why do you have so many useless questions? ¡°Just do as I say!¡± Yuan Cang said coldly, ¡°I already told you, if anything happens, I¡¯ll take the blame! ¡°Switch it to a great sect, no, make it one of the Tianxuan Five Sects.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± The subordinate hesitated for a moment but then nodded. This kind of thing definitely couldn¡¯t be kept secret. Hopefully, Elder Yuan¡¯s background is strong enough, or else I¡¯ll get caught up in this too! The Wanxiang Pavilion isn¡¯t owned by just one holy land; it was created by four great holy lands together! Chapter 189 Chapter 189: Cloud Sea Inquiry Scroll, One Qi Transforms the Great Thousand, An Irresistible Supreme Technique! The next day... At dawn, the first light of the sun broke through, painting the sky in a myriad of colors. The ancient sound of a bell reverberated once more. Countless figures took to the skies, flying into their respective Reverse Mountains. After the first round of selection, the extremely weak ones were mostly eliminated. Those remaining had at least some strength. From this round onward, the chances of great sects encountering each other increased significantly, something everyone eagerly anticipated. The battles between World-Suppressing Geniuses! The clash of true skills! Enough to leave anyone dazzled! But the most anticipated was still the Tai Xuan Sect. The greatest dark horse! Possessing a disciple in the Life and Death Realm with thirty percent Fist Intent! They had already surpassed the majority of known World-Suppressing Geniuses! After a night of spreading, everyone now understood the history. It turned out there had once been such a powerful sect, sweeping across the younger generation of the Southern Region! Now, after nearly two hundred years of silence, they had finally returned. It felt like they were retracing the path of invincibility! One must know that the situation this time was almost identical to that year. The participants were all heirs of their respective forces! If the Tai Xuan Sect¡¯s disciple, Meng Changqing, could still sweep through them, it would shake the entire Southern Region, leaving a bold mark in history! He would be remembered by the world! ¡°Little Junior Brother is now a person of focus.¡± On the ancient mountain, Ku Fengchun said with a smile, ¡°In just a few short breaths, how many soul senses have swept by?¡± ¡°This Genius Battle was originally just about competing for places in the Wild Sea, but now the great sects have an additional task. ¡°And that is to stop our Tai Xuan Sect and avenge their previous disgrace,¡± Hua Ciyan said with a smile. Meng Changqing still stood at his original spot, hands behind his back. The breeze gently blew, causing his robes to flutter. At this moment, he retracted his aura, appearing like an ordinary nobleman from a wealthy family. There was no sense of threat. But every gaze directed at him carried immense gravity, as if facing the most dangerous of beings. Dong! The bell rang again. Without any superfluous words, the first match began. The competitors were both from great sects! This immediately drew the attention of everyone present. Wow. The first match today was already so exciting? ¡°First match. ¡°Tianxuan Prefecture, Cloud Sea Academy. ¡°Versus. ¡°Tianheng Prefecture, Divine Fire Yan Sect.¡± Soon, disciples from both great sects took the stage. Although both were great sects, there was a significant gap in strength. The Divine Fire Yan Sect was the other great sect in Tianheng Prefecture, standing alongside the Ice and Snow Divine Palace. Among the younger generation in the sect, there was only one World-Suppressing Genius. Meanwhile, Cloud Sea Academy had three. But after all, this was the Genius Battle. A great sect would never surrender. And from this, one could see the bias in the competition format. It was essentially tailored for the top-tier great sects. In a three-on-three situation, how could an ordinary great sect compete against a top-tier one? Unless they had someone as exceptional as Meng Changqing. In the past, if it were a one-on-one format, the chances would have been much higher. Boom! With the judge¡¯s command, both sides immediately engaged! Though the Divine Fire Yan Sect had only one Life and Death Realm genius, his strength was formidable, thanks to his control over a rare Earth Fire! And the two other disciples in the ninth stage of the Divine Attainment Realm seemed to also be blessed with a lesser fire. The three formed a formation. They managed to hold off Cloud Sea Academy¡¯s assault for a short time. Powerful techniques, intricate moves, and various True Intents ¡ª truly dazzling! It left the audience cheering in excitement. ¡°This is the strength of a World-Suppressing Genius?¡± Exclamations echoed from the surrounding Reverse Mountains. Previously, they had no chance to witness this, and all their knowledge came from hearsay. Now, seeing it firsthand, the impact was much deeper! ¡°Not bad.¡± Even Meng Changqing couldn¡¯t help but nod. One had to admit, these World-Suppressing Geniuses were truly extraordinary in every aspect ¡ª martial foundation, combat awareness, experience ¡ª all honed to perfection. The Divine Fire Yan Sect¡¯s genius, although relying on the power of the Earth Fire, was still incredibly strong to hold out for so long. At this point, some couldn¡¯t help but compare him to Jie Yubing from the previous day. But in reality, Jie Yubing wasn¡¯t weak. If she were to face Cloud Sea Academy today, she could still hold her own for a while. It was just that she had encountered Meng Changqing. The absolute suppression of True Intent left no room for maneuver! One punch severely injured her. Two punches would have killed her. How could she possibly fight back? ¡°Heavenly Fire Fenlong¡¤Shenyang Suiyu Finger!¡± After repelling one of the academy¡¯s geniuses, the Divine Fire Yan Sect disciple seized the opportunity, immediately unleashing a powerful strike fueled by the Earth Fire! However, the academy¡¯s genius merely smirked, as if intentionally leaving an opening. Then, he firmly planted his feet. His arms moved like ink brushes, drawing through the air. ¡°Cloud Sea Inquiry Scroll¡¤One Qi Transforms the Great Thousand!¡± As he finished speaking, a gentle force seemed to spread across the void, layer by layer halting the massive fiery finger, wrapping around it, spinning it, and finally sending it back! ¡°You!¡± The Divine Fire Yan Sect genius didn¡¯t expect his opponent to have mastered his technique to such a level! He couldn¡¯t defend in time. Boom! The formation beneath him shattered. He was also sent flying by his own power. His two junior brothers were similarly heavily injured, falling into unconsciousness. Pfft! The Divine Fire Yan Sect genius spat out a mouthful of blood. He struggled to stand, but he had no strength left to continue fighting. This was his strongest move, yet it had backfired on him ¡ª one could only imagine how severe his injuries were. ¡°Winner, Cloud Sea Academy!¡± The judge announced without expression. Phew! Excited cheers erupted from the crowd. This battle had been truly spectacular. From the initial stalemate to the final decisive strike, it fully satisfied everyone¡¯s expectations of a martial showdown. ¡°What a brilliant move.¡± Meng Changqing¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly. That last technique had a taste of using softness to overcome hardness. And not just that. It could return the opponent¡¯s attack back to them. Truly extraordinary. ¡°This is the supreme technique of Cloud Sea Academy, ¡®Cloud Sea Inquiry Scroll,¡¯ said to have been created by the first dean after observing the Eastern Sea. ¡°It specializes in using softness to overcome hardness. ¡°It excels at neutralizing techniques. ¡°It can absorb, return, and even double the opponent¡¯s attacks! ¡°That academy genius hasn¡¯t mastered it to the highest level yet. Otherwise, that last move would have been several times stronger than what the Divine Fire Yan Sect genius unleashed!¡± Hua Ciyan explained from the side. Hearing this, Meng Changqing nodded slightly. Although the many jade slips provided by the Grand Elder had information on this subject, they were too general and didn¡¯t capture the essence as Hua Ciyan did. ¡°But this technique is useless against you.¡± Hua Ciyan said with a smile, ¡°When the gap is too large, it can¡¯t neutralize anything. If you threw a punch, the technique wouldn¡¯t even function, and might even backfire.¡± Chapter 190 Chapter 190: Sword Twenty-Four, and the Match Against the Proud Sword Sect! Indeed. A technique like this could not be used against those too powerful. However, Meng Changqing was still quite interested. After all, it was his first time encountering such a technique. In the future, if given the chance, he might consider befriending the academy¡¯s prodigies. The second match-up was much more normal. It was a battle between two first-rate factions. However, due to the excitement of the previous match, this one felt much more lackluster. But Meng Changqing still watched intently. He needed to quickly enhance his martial arts foundation. And with his understanding, observing others¡¯ battles was one of the best methods. Many martial techniques and skills, he only needed one glance to grasp their essence, then absorb and make them his own! Meanwhile, in his mind, the outline of Sword Twenty-Four was becoming increasingly clear. What he wanted to create was not just any ordinary Sword Twenty-Four. In his estimation, it would be far stronger than Hua Ciyan¡¯s! As his first self-created sword move, Meng Changqing was naturally going to pour all his heart and soul into it! Time slowly passed. In the blink of an eye, it was already noon. And the competition had already passed the halfway mark. Meng Changqing, being occupied, naturally felt nothing. But the Shi brothers were growing bored out of their minds. They even started pulling up the spiritual grass under their feet, slowly chewing it. ¡°Group twenty-one. ¡°Tianxuan Prefecture, Proud Sword Sect. ¡°Versus. ¡°Tianling Prefecture, Tai Xuan Sect!¡± As soon as these words fell, the entire crowd was immediately stirred. It wasn¡¯t because they heard the name Proud Sword Sect, but because of Tai Xuan Sect! ¡°Holy crap, is Tai Xuan Sect up against another major sect?¡± ¡°And it¡¯s a top-tier sect this time!¡± ¡°Is this for real?¡± All along, when has there ever been a first-rate sect that continuously faced off against major sects? And each time, the opponents kept getting stronger! The Proud Sword Sect ¡ª this was a standout even among top-tier sects! It¡¯s by no means comparable to yesterday¡¯s Ice and Snow Divine Palace! They have not one, not two, but three world-shattering prodigies! Especially that Li Jin! He¡¯s second only to Yu Hongxue among all the world-shattering prodigies! He¡¯s been in seclusion for many years. To this day, no one knew his true strength! ¡°My god, was the match-up list tampered with?¡± Some people found this hard to believe. ¡°Impossible! The Wanxiang Pavilion is a neutral force. They always follow the rules. How could they do such a thing?¡± ¡°If it were discovered, the Central Province Holy Land wouldn¡¯t let them off,¡± someone responded. ¡°Forget about that, we¡¯ve got another exciting battle to watch!¡± ¡°Who would¡¯ve thought Tai Xuan Sect would clash with a top-tier sect so soon!¡± ¡°Who do you think will win?¡± The crowd immediately started discussing excitedly. If it were an ordinary major sect, everyone would undoubtedly bet on Tai Xuan Sect. After all, they had thirty percent fist intent! Ordinary major sect prodigies wouldn¡¯t stand a chance. But now, they¡¯re facing a top-tier sect, and it¡¯s the Proud Sword Sect! It¡¯s hard to say. Even if one-on-one didn¡¯t work, there were still two others. Though they might not be as strong as Li Jin, they were still genuine world-shattering prodigies, with a deep understanding of martial arts! And Tai Xuan Sect seemed to have only one disciple at the Life and Death Realm. So it would essentially be three against one! And if they use a sword formation, even with thirty percent fist intent, he could still find himself in a perilous situation! ¡°So, it¡¯s finally our turn.¡± Meng Changqing snapped out of his thoughts, a smile forming at the corner of his mouth. And the opponent isn¡¯t just any ordinary sect, It¡¯s a top-tier sect! Interesting. As for the Grand Elder, he furrowed his brows. Encountering a major sect in the first match was one thing, but how is it that they¡¯re facing another one in the second match? And it¡¯s the top-tier Proud Sword Sect! Ordinary people might not think much of it, at most saying their luck was too bad. After all, in their minds, the Wanxiang Pavilion had always been fair and wouldn¡¯t engage in any shady business. But the Grand Elder knew better. ¡°Hmph, it seems someone familiar is pulling the strings.¡± The Grand Elder emphasized the word ¡°familiar.¡± ¡°Who do you think it could be?¡± Kufuengchun asked. ¡°Who else?¡± Hua Ciyan¡¯s gaze turned cold. ¡°Naturally, it¡¯s that guy whose martial path was severed by our sword strike back then. ¡°Yuan Cang!¡± Upon hearing the name, Meng Changqing raised an eyebrow. That name sounded familiar ¡ª wasn¡¯t it the guy who hosted the Three Sect Martial Arts Competition half a year ago? Who would¡¯ve thought he¡¯d be here today as well. This certainly explains why they¡¯ve been facing major sects one after another. It¡¯s just a pity for these sects. They clearly had a chance to advance, but because of certain people¡¯s manipulations, they would have to exit early in an ¡®unexpected¡¯ fashion. Once they find out later, they might just come knocking for an explanation. A smile appeared on Meng Changqing¡¯s face. He didn¡¯t feel any pressure at all. After all, the outcome would be the same regardless of who came ¡ª they would lose. However, facing the Proud Sword Sect could be quite beneficial. He could take a look at their sword techniques. Perhaps his own Sword Twenty-Four could be completed from observing them. ¡°The disciples of the Proud Sword Sect are no joke. Even if Li Jin is not your match, when paired with the other two prodigies, they can form the Three Talents Sword Formation! ¡°The power is astonishing. ¡°Even though you possess dual true intents, you could still find yourself in a tough spot.¡± The Grand Elder advised. In this Genius Battle, the biggest opponents were the Proud Sword Sect and the Nine-Colored Glazed Pavilion. He had thought they would face them in the final rounds, but who would have guessed they¡¯d meet so early. In fact, to be honest, it was also because the other disciples were a bit lacking. Otherwise, if they had another Life and Death companion, there would be no need to worry about any sword formations. They could just go one-on-one and take them down one by one! But now, Meng Changqing would have to face all three alone. Neither the Shi brothers nor Mo Xiaoyu could be of any use. ¡°Second Senior Brother, you needn¡¯t worry. This battle¡¯s outcome was determined from the start.¡± Meng Changqing¡¯s smile widened. ¡°They have no chance of winning.¡± His words were filled with confidence. The Grand Elder and the others looked at him in surprise. Although they didn¡¯t know where Meng Changqing¡¯s confidence came from, they chose to believe him. After all, from the moment their junior disciple entered the scene until now, he had never lost! ¡°Good luck,¡± Hua Ciyan said with a smile. She liked Meng Changqing very much, in the way that fellow warriors appreciate each other. Because Meng Changqing was always brimming with confidence, like the rising sun, dazzling and radiant. It was as if no one in the world could stop his progress! Unbeatable, unmatched, and awe-inspiring! And it made her yearn to be like him. Chapter 191 Chapter 191: Luminous Sword Heart, Proud Sword Sect Slayer A figure slowly opened his eyes on the enormous inverted ancient mountain. In his gaze, there seemed to be countless sword auras swirling, sharp to the extreme. This figure was none other than the monstrous prodigy of the Proud Sword Sect, Li Jin! Beside him were two others, a man and a woman, both exuding an aura of sharpness. When the voice of Wanxiang Pavilion¡¯s adjudicator sounded, the entire Proud Sword Sect was momentarily stunned. It seemed they hadn¡¯t expected their opponent to be the Tai Xuan Sect. To think, the strength displayed by that Tai Xuan Sect disciple yesterday had already surpassed most of the monstrous prodigies. He was easily among the top three of the younger generation in the Southern Region ¡ª a formidable opponent! Meeting him this early was not a good thing. ¡°Do you have confidence?¡± the Sect Master of the Proud Sword Sect asked slowly, his gaze calm. ¡°Rest assured, Master. I will win.¡± Li Jin stood up slowly, strapping the sword case beside him onto his back. He was tall and burly, with thick eyebrows and large eyes, not exactly the type you¡¯d expect to be skilled in swordsmanship. Yet, he possessed a rare and extraordinary Luminous Sword Heart. ¡°In this generation, it falls to me to halt the path of Tai Xuan Sect,¡± Li Jin said as he walked forward, the two others following closely behind. ¡°Sect Master,¡± a nearby elder hesitated, ¡°there seems to be an issue with this match-up list.¡± ¡°Perhaps,¡± the Sect Master replied calmly, ¡°but we can only inquire afterward. Besides, it¡¯s best to curb this disciple¡¯s momentum early. Otherwise, if he keeps winning like this, we may see a repeat of the events from years ago.¡± Just like Xi Yingqing in the past, he gradually gained momentum until he was unstoppable. If the Tai Xuan Sect¡¯s disciple sweeps through the Southern Genius Battle this time, it would indeed bring great shame to the rest of the top sects. On the battlefield, the Proud Sword Sect entered first, led by Li Jin, who was at the third stage of the Life and Death Realm. The two beside him were at the first stage of the Life and Death Realm. This level of cultivation was slightly higher than that of the Cloud Sea Academy from before. But for monstrous prodigies, such a small difference in stages meant little. The entrance of the three caused a significant stir, as Li Jin was a well-known figure not just in the Tianshu Prefecture but throughout the Southern Region. He was considered the second most powerful in the Southern Territory, second only to Yu Hongxue of the Nine-Colored Glazed Pavilion! ¡°Three Life and Death Realm experts, and one of them is Li Jin!¡± ¡°I wonder what level Li Jin¡¯s sword intent has reached now. If the gap isn¡¯t too big, he definitely won¡¯t be weaker than that Meng Changqing!¡± ¡°And it seems Tai Xuan Sect only has Meng Changqing in the Life and Death Realm!¡± ¡°For the Tai Xuan Sect, this will be a tough battle. They might even be eliminated here!¡± The crowd around them buzzed with discussions. Some supported the Tai Xuan Sect, but many more backed the Proud Sword Sect. After all, the sect had sent out the top young talents of the Southern Region. Boom, boom! As always, the Shi brothers accompanied Meng Changqing onto the stage. Two small mountains crashed to the ground, raising clouds of dust. Although they were facing experts in the Life and Death Realm, far stronger than themselves, the two brothers showed no signs of fear. On the contrary, their eyes were filled with fighting spirit! The Stone Human Bloodline was an ancient bloodline, inherently fierce. Fear? That didn¡¯t exist for them. Even if the enemy was incredibly strong, they would still rush forward, swinging their fists. Meng Changqing¡¯s figure slowly descended. He initially intended to face the opponents alone, but the rules required all three to enter the field together. ¡°Senior Brother Meng, don¡¯t worry about us. We have a way to hold one of them off for a short time,¡± Shi Guang said. ¡°Oh?¡± Meng Changqing was surprised. After all, the two brothers were only at the first stage of the Divine Attainment Realm. How could they hold off a full-fledged Life and Death Realm expert, especially one who was a monstrous prodigy, even for a short time? However, seeing the seriousness in their expressions, it didn¡¯t seem like they were boasting. ¡°Alright, give it a try. If it doesn¡¯t work, fall back, and I¡¯ll take care of it,¡± Meng Changqing nodded. To fight against monstrous prodigies was a rare opportunity. Winning or losing aside, the benefits would be immense. ¡°Mm, mm,¡± the two brothers nodded heavily. Then, a mysterious mark appeared on their foreheads! As the mark emitted light, Shi Yao¡¯s figure gradually became blurred before merging with Shi Guang. In an instant, their aura surged! In the blink of an eye, they reached the ninth stage of the Divine Attainment Realm, dangerously close to the Life and Death Realm! ¡°A bloodline technique?¡± Meng Changqing raised an eyebrow. Perhaps it was something called the ¡¾Stone King Divine Mark¡¿. Creak, creak, creak! Shi Guang¡¯s body size increased, and a silver-white armor covered him, growing to a height of a hundred meters! Under the heavy helmet, four eyes gleamed. He held an axe in his left hand and a hammer in his right! ¡°Perhaps only these two brothers could pull this off,¡± Meng Changqing thought as he withdrew his gaze. In the cultivation world, twins could sometimes produce many inexplicable abilities. In the distance, Li Jin and the other two slowly approached. The Shi brothers¡¯ transformation didn¡¯t attract much of their attention. To them, the ninth stage of the Divine Attainment Realm was no different from the first. ¡°Meng Changqing,¡± Li Jin stopped and spoke, his voice like the resonating hum of countless swords. ¡°Your path ends here.¡± He released the sword case from his back, setting it upright beside him. ¡°I¡¯ve heard that the Proud Sword Sect is renowned for its swordsmanship. I hope you go all out and don¡¯t disappoint me,¡± Meng Changqing smiled slightly, his eyes shining. Now, the completion of Sword Twenty-Four was eighty percent. The remaining twenty percent would most likely be gained from Li Jin. As he thought this, Meng Changqing activated his Eye of Insight. Basic Information: ¡¾Name: Li Jin¡¿ ¡¾Race: Human¡¿ ¡¾Cultivation: Third Stage of the Life and Death Realm¡¿ Attribute Information: ¡¾Root Bone: First Grade¡¿ ¡¾Comprehension: Exceptional¡¿ ¡¾Talent: Luminous Sword Heart¡¿ ¡¾Techniques: ¡°Proud Sword Art ¡¤ Human Slayer Chapter¡± (Perfection)...¡¿ ¡°A Luminous Sword Heart, huh?¡± Meng Changqing raised an eyebrow. This talent was also incredibly rare. It granted the possessor exceptionally high comprehension in swordsmanship. Additionally, Li Jin himself possessed exceptional comprehension. One could only imagine his potential in swordsmanship. But the Luminous Sword Heart, unlike an innate sword body, didn¡¯t enhance the power of sword techniques. It only improved comprehension. ¡°You¡¯re confident,¡± Li Jin narrowed his eyes slightly. To be honest, he didn¡¯t like Meng Changqing¡¯s gaze ¡ª the kind that treated him like prey. Chapter 192 Chapter 192: You Three, Come at Me Together! ¡°Come on, let me experience your swordsmanship.¡± Meng Changqing¡¯s lips curled up, eager for a challenge. ¡°As you wish!¡± Li Jin didn¡¯t waste any words. Click! The sword case opened, and a blood-red longsword appeared in his hand. Instantly, his entire aura became incredibly sharp. Behind him, an enormous illusory sword emerged from the ground! It towered into the sky! A full twenty percent sword intent! ¡°Twenty percent!¡± The crowd gasped! Compared to other World-Suppressing Prodigies, both Yu Hongxue and Li Jin had been in deep seclusion for a long time, so no one knew the extent of their true intent. No one expected Li Jin to have already reached twenty percent! ¡°Although his true intent is still lower than Meng Changqing¡¯s fist intent, he¡¯s greatly narrowed the gap compared to others!¡± ¡°He has a chance to defeat Meng Changqing!¡± Unconsciously, many people hadn¡¯t noticed. In their hearts, Meng Changqing had gradually become an unparalleled existence among the younger generation. It wasn¡¯t him challenging others. It was others challenging him! ¡°Proud Sword Technique: First Human Slash!¡± Li Jin struck directly! Sword light surged forward, with countless human shadows floating within it! ¡°Not bad.¡± Meng Changqing raised his hand. His five fingers clenched into a fist. It was as if the stars themselves shook, and with one punch, the entire universe seemed to collapse! A full thirty percent fist intent filled the air. Crack! The sword light shattered. Li Jin took a step back. The two World-Suppressing Prodigies beside him didn¡¯t take action. Because this was Li Jin¡¯s request. As a World-Suppresing Prodigy, naturally, he had his pride! Three against one? That would be disgraceful! ¡°Come again!¡± Li Jin¡¯s gaze turned cold as he charged forward with his sword again! At the same time, it was unclear whether he used some secret technique, but his aura surged! The power of his sword light grew even more ferocious! Every strike made the void ripple! The ground of the battlefield beneath his feet was in tatters, covered with sword marks! However, Meng Changqing stood like a mountain, unmoved by the fierce winds and rain, standing firm! From beginning to end, he hadn¡¯t moved a single step. ¡°Is this the Proud Sword Technique? What immense power! If I were caught within it, I¡¯d be obliterated by the first strike!¡± ¡°Indeed!¡± ¡°Rumor has it that this sword technique is divided into the Human Slash and the Heavenly Slash!¡± ¡°Li Jin has clearly perfected the Human Slash chapter. Each strike feels as if countless swordsmen are striking simultaneously. It¡¯s incredibly powerful.¡± ¡°Look, Meng Changqing has been suppressed to the spot, unable to move at all!¡± Many people were discussing it. ¡°Are you sure Meng Changqing is being suppressed?¡± An observer with sharp eyes immediately retorted, ¡°This clearly shows he isn¡¯t affected at all, easily dealing with it.¡± ¡°If he were truly suppressed, his posture would be disheveled. But does Meng Changqing seem out of balance to you?¡± Upon hearing this, the crowd quickly looked closer. They gasped. It was true. Although Li Jin¡¯s assault was extremely fierce, wave after wave, like a violent storm. Meng Changqing¡¯s expression remained calm. His fists were impenetrable. Effortlessly blocking any of Li Jin¡¯s sword moves! In this light, the situation on the battlefield was far from what they had imagined. Meng Changqing wasn¡¯t being suppressed. On the contrary, he displayed the dominance of an elder playing with a child! Boom! With a single punch, it was as if countless stars exploded, and the terrifying force sent Li Jin flying. Step, step, step! He retreated a hundred meters before barely coming to a stop. ¡°Senior Brother!¡± The two Sword Sect prodigies immediately stepped forward. Unlike the spectators with shallow insights, they were acutely aware that in the previous battle, Li Jin hadn¡¯t held any advantage. Instead, he was in a powerless state. No matter how many powerful sword techniques he used, they couldn¡¯t inflict any damage on Meng Changqing! The difference in true intent translated into a significant difference in strength. Even a mere ten percent difference made an enormous impact. ¡°This guy also has a secret technique to amplify his strength!¡± Li Jin wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth. His gaze was shaken. He had thought that using a secret technique would even out the difference in true intent, but who would have thought that this man could do the same! Those black characters occasionally flashing on his arm were undoubtedly a secret technique! ¡°A remarkable sword technique! ¡°The Proud Sword Technique is as formidable as its name suggests!¡± Meng Changqing¡¯s voice rang out. It was filled with praise. And... joy. Li Jin immediately looked over. He saw a smile spread across Meng Changqing¡¯s face, a satisfied expression. But what was this guy so satisfied about? ¡°You!¡± Li Jin gripped the longsword in his hand tightly. He felt as if he had given his all, but this man wasn¡¯t even taking him seriously! In fact! It seemed that from the beginning, he hadn¡¯t treated this battle seriously at all! His strength was beyond what Li Jin had anticipated! How could a disciple from a mere First-Grade Sect have such deep martial foundations in every aspect? ¡°Now, just a little more... You three, come at me together.¡± Meng Changqing took a deep breath. He slowly closed his eyes. When he reopened them, his gaze was dazzling. A powerful sense of pressure emanated from his body! Thanks to Li Jin¡¯s help, the ¡®Twenty-Fourth Sword¡¯ in his mind was almost complete, but it still needed just a little more, just a tiny bit. With the help of the other two, it would be perfect. As soon as he spoke! The entire place fell silent. What an arrogant declaration! One against three! And the opponents weren¡¯t just any talents. They were World-Suppressing Prodigies! Among them was a standout like Li Jin! If the three of them formed a battle formation, the increase in strength wouldn¡¯t be insignificant. They had assumed that the Sword Sect would be forced into a three-on-one situation, but now Meng Changqing was the one making the request! ¡°Arrogant!¡± One of the Sword Sect prodigies immediately snapped. He wanted to refute him, but he couldn¡¯t find a reason. After all, in a one-on-one fight, they truly weren¡¯t his match! ¡°Form the formation!¡± Li Jin gritted his teeth. Although it was humiliating to fight three against one, there was no other choice. ¡°Senior Brother.¡± The two others gripped their swords tightly. They felt a bit humiliated. ¡°You¡¯re taking too long. Let me make the choice for you!¡± Meng Changqing shook his head. Then he smiled. For the first time, he moved his feet! Boom! The ground beneath his feet shattered and collapsed, unable to withstand his power. His figure shot forward. Like a roaring wind, he charged directly at the three of them! ¡°You!¡± Their expressions changed slightly, and they were filled with anger! This was too disrespectful! ¡°Sword Formation: Three Talents!¡± Without further hesitation, the three immediately took their positions, forming a powerful sword formation! Boom, boom, boom! Three streams of sword intent erupted from the ground! With the formation¡¯s enhancement, their power surged! Sword lights slashed towards Meng Changqing! ¡°Overlord Meridians!¡± The meridians in his body glowed, but due to his Star Body, they didn¡¯t show on the surface. However, Meng Changqing¡¯s aura surged once again, directly suppressing the sword formation! Boom! He punched forward. Countless star shadows shattered! The force of the punch pierced through the void and cut through the battlefield! Puff! The three of them simultaneously spat blood and were blown back! Their eyes were filled with disbelief! How... could this be possible? Even when we combined our forces, we were still repelled by a single punch?! Chapter 193 Chapter 193: Why Does a Martial Artist Who Focuses on Fist Techniques Carry a Sword? The shock wasn¡¯t just limited to them. The surrounding spectators were also stunned. This scene was far beyond their expectations! They thought that after the three joined forces, they would definitely be able to put immense pressure on Meng Changqing. But the result was the exact opposite! They were still being overpowered! ¡°This Meng Changqing has a deep foundation in martial arts!¡± ¡°He has several methods to enhance his strength!¡± ¡°It¡¯s precisely because of this that he was able to suppress even the sword formation of the Proud Sword Sect!¡± Many people noticed the details and spoke in awe. The method to enhance one¡¯s strength is something every major power possesses, but it all depends on whose method is more effective. Meng Changqing¡¯s method was clearly quite effective! Moreover, it wasn¡¯t just one method! Otherwise, it would have been impossible to suppress three powerful young talents! On the battlefield, Shi Guang scratched his head, seemingly confused. Wasn¡¯t he supposed to hold off one opponent? How did it turn out that Senior Brother Meng rushed out alone? And even managed to overpower the opponent. There was absolutely no need for him to intervene. With that thought, Shi Guang¡¯s figure blurred and split into two. The two figures exchanged glances, then sat down quietly to watch as spectators. Boom! Boom! Boom! The ground kept shattering, and terrifying fist lights were everywhere. The three towering sword intents were already breaking apart. And the so-called ¡°Three Talents Sword Formation¡± had long been destroyed. Bang! A figure was sent flying and crashed heavily onto the ground, falling into unconsciousness. It was one of the Proud Sword Sect¡¯s prodigies, with a bruised and swollen face. Bang! Another figure was also sent flying, like a rice plant being inserted into the ground, with only two legs shaking slightly. Puff! Li Jin spat a mouthful of blood, kneeling on one knee. He barely kept himself from falling by supporting himself with his sword. Crack! The sword intent behind him could no longer be maintained and finally shattered, dissipating into light spots. This meant that both Li Jin¡¯s physical strength and spirit had reached their limits. He could no longer fight. Now, he was holding on purely by willpower. Li Jin struggled to lift his head and looked at the tall figure not far away. His body couldn¡¯t stop trembling. He swore that in his entire life, he had never encountered such an opponent! This strength was terrifying to the point of despair! A body so strong, endless true energy, iron-like willpower, deep martial intent, and countless hidden cards! Without facing this person directly, one couldn¡¯t understand that sense of helplessness! It was like there were no weaknesses at all! Unbeatable! Even Yu Hongxue had never given him such a feeling! This was a... monster! Tap, tap, tap~ Light footsteps sounded. Li Jin¡¯s body instinctively tensed up because that monster was walking towards him. Stopping in front of Li Jin, Meng Changqing paused. He looked unscathed, with only slight damage to his robe. ¡°Thank you,¡± Meng Changqing spoke sincerely. Hearing this, Li Jin was stunned, not understanding the meaning. Thank me? For what? What¡¯s there to thank me for? Has this guy gone mad from using the wrong secret technique? ¡°Without you all, I wouldn¡¯t have been able to comprehend the sword technique and create my own sword move.¡± Meng Changqing smiled. Hearing this, Li Jin was even more puzzled. Does this guy know what he¡¯s talking about? Sword move? But aren¡¯t you a martial artist focusing on fist techniques? Suddenly, Li Jin noticed something and his eyes froze because he saw that Meng Changqing had a sword at his waist! All along, in everyone¡¯s mind, Meng Changqing was known as a fist technique expert, so no one noticed that he was also carrying a sword! Wait a minute! Li Jin¡¯s pupils suddenly shrank, and a terrifying thought surfaced in his mind! Could it be! In Li Jin¡¯s disbelief, and under the gaze of everyone present, Meng Changqing slowly placed his right hand on the sword hilt at his waist. ¡°As a token of gratitude, I will defeat you with this sword.¡± Swish! Crimson Sky was slowly drawn, and the clear sound of friction echoed on the battlefield. The sharpness unique to a sword cultivator appeared on Meng Changqing for the first time. ¡°Sword Twenty-Four!¡± The moment those words fell, the entire void battlefield seemed to freeze. Everything stopped as if time stood still. Then, everyone only saw a dazzling sword light sweep across the world. As their eyes caught sight of it, they felt as if their bodies and minds had been sliced apart. But strangely, they felt no pain, nor did they feel any urge to resist. They just wanted to quietly accept death. Boom! The loud noise brought everyone back to their senses in an instant, making them break out in cold sweats, their faces pale with fear. Quickly, they looked toward the battlefield. Li Jin was still kneeling on one knee, but behind him was a terrifying chasm that stretched nearly ten thousand meters! That was the mark of a sword created by a single slash! And this was just an ordinary sword move without any True Essence involved! Even so, its power was still terrifying beyond belief! Li Jin¡¯s whole body trembled, his face pale and bloodless. No one knew what he had just experienced. The level of skill contained in that sword move completely surpassed him, going beyond the early Heaven-grade level! Lifting his stiff right hand, Li Jin touched his cheek. It was warm with blood. The sword had just grazed his face, so he survived. But that wasn¡¯t what Li Jin cared about. The only thought in his mind was, why does a martial artist focusing on fist techniques have such a powerful sword move? Bang! Endless darkness swept over him, engulfing him entirely. Li Jin¡¯s eyes closed as he finally collapsed forward, unable to hold on any longer. And so, all three prodigies of the Proud Sword Sect were defeated. No, utterly crushed! Wow! In the next moment, the entire crowd erupted! Everyone, yes, everyone stood up, their faces filled with shock, their eyes wide with disbelief. Who could have predicted this outcome? The Proud Sword Sect was defeated without a doubt, and the key was that this disciple of the Tai Xuan Sect not only mastered fist techniques but also had an incredibly terrifying level of skill in swordsmanship! That sword move just now! Even without any True Essence, it was enough to convey profound sword principles! This could only mean one thing. Meng Changqing must also possess sword intent! Fist intent! Sword intent! Oh heavens, this man has mastered dual intents! Chapter 194 Chapter 194: Nemesis of Great Sects! Restless Movements! The leaders of various great powers also stood up, their expressions serious. ¡°Dual True Essence.¡± The master of the Nine-Colored Glazed Pavilion slowly spoke. Even for someone of his stature, there was an unmistakable tremor in his voice. Although Meng Changqing hadn¡¯t used his sword intent, just the level of that one sword was enough to confirm that he definitely possessed sword intent! And it wasn¡¯t just any sword intent ¡ª it was likely on par with his fist intent! ¡°Dual True Essence, advancing side by side? ¡°It¡¯s truly terrifying potential.¡± The pavilion master sighed softly, ¡°Xi Yingqing, this young junior far surpasses what you were in your day!¡± Strictly speaking, this generation¡¯s geniuses are not inferior to those of his generation. They might even surpass them! After all, in his time, Xi Yingqing only had a 20% grasp of fist intent, though his martial foundation was incredibly deep in other areas. Back then, there was no such format as now. It was always one-on-one, gradually progressing upward. There wasn¡¯t a scenario like today, where it was one against three. The atmosphere grew somewhat silent. Even Yu Hongxue, with her stunning face, no longer had any casual expression. Her gaze was tightly fixed on that tall figure below. Dual True Essence. Even she had never achieved such a feat. It¡¯s not that it couldn¡¯t be done in a lifetime, but at her current age and stage, it wasn¡¯t possible. But now, this genius from a once-weak prefecture had reached a level she had longed for! ¡°However, even with Dual True Essence, I¡¯m not without a chance to win.¡± Recovering her composure, Yu Hongxue¡¯s expression returned to normal. ¡°Dual True Essence only mean he has another source of power. As long as his true essence doesn¡¯t surpass mine, I won¡¯t lose!¡± Upon hearing this, others hesitated for a moment before nodding slightly. Indeed, Yu Hongxue¡¯s palm intent was also at 30%. So, in terms of level, there wasn¡¯t a difference. Now, it would come down to other aspects of their martial foundations. As the successor of a top sect, Yu Hongxue naturally had an extremely deep martial foundation. Moreover, she herself was extraordinary, with a powerful constitution! Her strength far exceeded Li Jin¡¯s. With these thoughts, everyone relaxed slightly. Meng Changqing¡¯s performance had been so overwhelming, defeating three at once with ease, that they had momentarily forgotten their own young master wasn¡¯t weak! The pavilion master stood with his hands behind his back, still at the edge of the platform. Though there were many encouraging words behind him, to him, the current scene was all too familiar. It had been the same back then. ¡°The wind is rising.¡± The pavilion master looked slightly into the distance. ¡°Father.¡± Yu Hongxue looked at the silent pavilion master, her hands clenched slightly under her sleeves. Her eyes also showed determination. ¡°I will win!¡± She told herself this in her heart. ¡ª ¡°Useless! ¡°All of them are useless!¡± Yuan Cang directly smashed the teacup in his hand! The shards flew, some landing on the cheek of the subordinate beside him, but the subordinate didn¡¯t dare make a sound. He knew that Elder Yuan¡¯s anger had reached unimaginable levels. To make a sound now would definitely make him a target for venting that anger. ¡°A dignified top sect! ¡°Three geniuses combined! ¡°And yet they were so easily crushed! ¡°Useless to the extreme!¡± Yuan Cang cursed. It took a long while before his anger began to subside. Now that even the Proud Sword Sect had been defeated, he no longer expected any other great power to be able to stop Tai Xuan Sect¡¯s advance. Even the Nine-Colored Glazed Pavilion likely wouldn¡¯t have a good chance. So, he wouldn¡¯t bother tampering with the matchups anymore. Once was enough, twice was obvious, but three times would be too blatant! ¡°Go, fetch Elder Lin for me!¡± Yuan Cang ordered. ¡°Yes!¡± The subordinate trembled and quickly left. ¡°Tai Xuan Sect.¡± Yuan Cang¡¯s eyes were cold. He no longer cared about this Genius Battle. Whatever the final result, he needed to quickly prepare for what came next! ¡ª The three geniuses from the Proud Sword Sect had already been carried off. Meng Changqing naturally left the battlefield as well. Only the noisy discussions remained. After all, this battle had been a shocker. None of the anticipated outcomes occurred! Even with three geniuses combining their strength, they were still crushed by Meng Changqing! ¡°Who could have expected that the Proud Sword Sect, a top sect, would be eliminated in the second round, losing their chance to compete for a spot in the Wild Sea!¡± Someone remarked. Others nodded in shock. Everyone had expected the Proud Sword Sect to make it to the end, competing with the Nine-Colored Glazed Pavilion. Who knew they would exit so early! Not only did they lose their spot, but they also lost access to high-level resources! ¡°This Meng Changqing is truly a nemesis of great sects!¡± ¡°Whoever comes, he knocks them out!¡± Someone said excitedly, ¡°But that means the chances for the other factions have greatly increased.¡± ¡°Yes, with the Ice and Snow Divine Palace and the Proud Sword Sect out of the picture, if Tai Xuan Sect faces a few more...¡± People couldn¡¯t help but start speculating. Many great powers were now restless, as if they could see a glimmer of hope! With the Shi brothers, Meng Changqing returned to the Hanging Ancient Mountain. He was greeted with respectful gazes. Mo Xiaoyu, Han Luoyu, and the other disciples were all trying to remain composed, but their eyes couldn¡¯t help but show admiration. After all, that was three geniuses defeated with ease by the young sect master alone! All severely injured and unconscious! ¡°Hahaha!¡± The Grand Elder¡¯s laughter was almost unrestrained, coming straight from the heart. ¡°You really had more hidden than I thought.¡± To be honest, he had been quite worried at first. But who could have expected that Meng Changqing would still be able to maintain his overwhelming dominance! He hadn¡¯t even used his most proficient swordsmanship. As for that last sword strike, it didn¡¯t really count. The result would have been the same either way. Throughout the battle, he had simply used his fist techniques. Of course, there were also various power-enhancing methods involved. The Grand Elder knew about the ¡°Linglong Daluo Tian¡± technique, but the others he wasn¡¯t sure of. But that was Meng Changqing¡¯s secret, and he wouldn¡¯t pry. After all, for him, the more trump cards Meng Changqing had, the better! ¡°A very strong Sword Twenty-Four!¡± Hua Ciyan walked over and sighed with admiration, ¡°That sword was far stronger than mine. I could see many different schools of thought in it. ¡°So, from the start of this battle, you were planning to use them to test your moves, weren¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Meng Changqing smiled slightly. Hearing this, many disciples were shaken. Using the geniuses of the world as test subjects for his moves. Only someone like the young sect master could dare think, dare do, and actually succeed! Chapter 195 Chapter 195: No Need to Worry. Here, I Am Invincible! ¡°You have already forged your own path. From here on, it¡¯s a broad avenue ahead,¡± said Ku Fengchun. In the cultivation world, creating a Heaven-grade technique was an implicit threshold. It indicated whether you have the potential to become a supreme powerhouse. True powerhouses, in the end, will all form their own Dao, leaving behind a unique chapter in the vast river of history. ¡°Indeed,¡± the Great Elder said, looking at Meng Changqing with eyes full of approval. Creating a Heaven-grade technique sounds simple, but it¡¯s not something just anyone can achieve. Even within their own sect, currently, only two people have done so. ¡°Now that even the Proud Sword Sect has been defeated, the only remaining threat is the Nine-Colored Glazed Pavilion. The other forces are hardly worth worrying about,¡± the Great Elder said, barely containing his excitement. If they secured first place, it would mean ten slots to the Wild Sea, plus a large amount of high-level resources ¡ª a cause for great celebration for someone devoted entirely to the sect. ¡°Indeed, the upcoming battles might see many choosing to surrender directly. As for the great sects, they will likely still put up a fight,¡± Hua Ciyan said with a smile. ¡°It¡¯s not their style to concede without a fight.¡± ¡°Yay!¡± Mo Xiaoyu jumped up and down in excitement. Having come all this way, not getting a chance to fight would feel like a lifelong regret. The other disciples also smiled. Perhaps after witnessing Meng Changqing¡¯s battles, the so-called world-shaking geniuses no longer felt as intimidating. What are world-shaking geniuses anyway? Didn¡¯t they also fall with just one punch from the Young Sect Master? If I fall with one punch and so do the world-shaking geniuses, then in some sense, there¡¯s no difference between me and them. ¡°He¡¯s grown this strong already,¡± Duanmu Longque muttered, retracting his gaze from the Hanging Ancient Mountain in the distance. With a light sigh, a certain obsession in his heart seemed to fade away. When the gap between two people becomes too vast, there were no longer any delusions. ¡ª The battles continued. At today¡¯s pace, they would surely move into the third round, maybe even further, as fewer forces remained. Boom! A great sect from the Tianshu Prefecture was defeated by Yu Hongxue ¡ª another one-vs-three scenario. The other two members of the Nine-Colored Glazed Pavilion didn¡¯t even have to step in. Retracting her palm, Yu Hongxue slightly raised her head and looked upward. For a moment, their gazes met, and it was as if sparks flew everywhere! ¡°Three-tenths of her Palm Intent!¡± ¡°Yu Hongxue has also raised her Palm Intent to this level!¡± ¡°She crushed three opponents by herself ¡ª so strong! No wonder she¡¯s the top of the younger generation in the Tianxuan Prefecture, the future master of the Nine-Colored Glazed Pavilion!¡± All around, people were abuzz with excitement. They had thought that the Southern Genius Battle would be unstoppable for the Tai Xuan Sect, but now, Yu Hongxue was showing incredible strength, keeping the outcome uncertain! For the top-ranking prefectures, they naturally hoped for Yu Hongxue¡¯s victory. If the nearly last-place Tianling Prefecture were to dominate, it would be humiliating when word spread. After breaking eye contact, Yu Hongxue turned and left. This battle was her declaration to the world: I am strong too! The final result of the Southern Genius Battle was still undecided. ¡°It seems our previous assessment of her was too low,¡± Hua Ciyan said, her eyes narrowing. ¡°Three-tenths of her Palm Intent.¡± ¡°Strictly speaking, this generation is stronger than ours,¡± Ku Fengchun nodded. ¡°Back then, the highest anyone achieved with True Essence was only two-tenths.¡± ¡°Though Changqing possesses dual True Essences, at this stage, the power of dual True Essences hasn¡¯t fully manifested. The level of his Eseence is what matters,¡± Hua Ciyan continued. ¡°If both are at three-tenths, there¡¯s no significant difference.¡± Dual True Essences merely mean that you have two comparable powers. Only when both reach their peak can they resonate, causing a qualitative transformation that yields even greater power! ¡°It seems we were right ¡ª Yu Hongxue is the true formidable opponent,¡± the Great Elder said, his smile fading. He then turned to look at Meng Changqing, who remained calm and unperturbed. Realizing that everyone was watching him, Meng Changqing brought his mind back to the present. He looked at the crowd and smiled slightly. ¡°No need to worry. Here, I... am invincible.¡± As soon as he finished speaking, a wind arose, making the grass at his feet dance. Standing under the brilliant sunlight, Meng Changqing seemed to radiate a dazzling light. It was confidence ¡ª absolute confidence. In that moment, no one harbored any doubts. All they felt was agreement. They couldn¡¯t explain why, but they believed him! They believed every word Meng Changqing said! ¡°Then we shall see,¡± Hua Ciyan said, returning to her senses. Her snow-white face showed a clear, beautiful smile. As she had said before, she liked this junior brother. She liked this feeling of looking down upon the world, of being unstoppable. ¡°Good!¡± The Great Elder nodded heavily, feeling gratified. In his mind, Meng Changqing never spoke idly. It seemed there was still more up his sleeve. As for what it was, he didn¡¯t ask. That had always been his way of doing things. Soon, the second round of matches ended, leaving thirty-two forces. Among them were great sects, ancient clans, and first-rate powers. As for second-rate powers, they were entirely eliminated. After all, they were just too weak and would need extraordinary luck to make it this far. The third round of battles began immediately. This time, the Tai Xuan Sect didn¡¯t encounter another great sect but instead faced a first-rate power from the Tianji Prefecture, ranked third. They surrendered before even stepping into the arena. While expected, it still made Mo Xiaoyu and the other disciples quite angry. How were they supposed to get on the stage if everyone surrendered as soon as they met? The third round moved much faster, almost finishing in just an hour. The fourth round began right away. At this point, the remaining forces were all quite strong. Coincidentally, the Tai Xuan Sect encountered another great sect. This time, a top-tier sect! The Wind King Hall, one of the five great sects of the Tianxuan Prefecture! Chapter 196 Chapter 196: What is Going On with this Tai Xuan Sect? It was evident on the faces of the high-ranking members of the Wind King Hall ¡ª a hint of unease. They knew their own situation well. Even the Proud Sword Sect was easily crushed, so what chance did their disciples have? ¡°A nemesis of the great sects!¡± One of the high-ranking members snorted coldly and then closed his eyes, seemingly prepared for elimination. As a top-tier great sect, it was unthinkable to forfeit without a fight. Otherwise, it would be too disgraceful. Even if they were to lose, they had to do so on the battlefield. Dong! The bell rang, signaling the start of the match. This time, Meng Changqing stepped onto the stage, accompanied by Mo Xiaoyu and Han Luoyu. The two were there mostly to make up the numbers and to experience the feeling of being watched by countless eyes. ¡°So, this is the stage of the Heroes¡¯ Battle.¡± The two tightened their hands slightly. Even though they had mentally prepared themselves, they couldn¡¯t help but feel a surge of nervousness. ¡°Hm?¡± Meng Changqing¡¯s brow suddenly raised, noticing that the Wind King Hall had only sent two Life-and-Death Realm fighters and one peak Divine Attainment Realm fighter. ¡°Almost forgot, not all top-tier great sects have that many world-shaking Geniuses,¡± Meng Changqing remembered. Among the Five Sects of Tianxuan Prefecture, the Wind King Hall ranked last, with only two world-shaking geniuses. Purple Sun Palace was the same, while Cloud Sea Academy, Proud Sword Sect, and the Nine-Colored Glazed Pavilion had three each. ¡°That peak Divine Attainment Realm fighter is yours,¡± Meng Changqing turned and smiled. ¡°Gladly!¡± Han Luoyu twisted his neck, his eyes gleaming with battle intent. Before Meng Changqing arrived, he was the top true disciple of the sect and the possessor of the Overlord Meridians. ¡°Alright!¡± Mo Xiaoyu also got excited. She had thought she would just be a spectator in a different venue, but it turned out she could actually join the fight! Meng Changqing turned his gaze back. As a disciple of a top-tier great sect, the peak Divine Attainment Realm fighter was naturally very strong ¡ª far beyond what Mo Xiaoyu and Han Luoyu could match. After all, they were only at the second level of the Divine Attainment Realm. But Mo Xiaoyu had the extremely rare Innate Sword Body, and Han Luoyu had the top-tier talent Overlord Meridians, which made up for a lot of the difference. Plus, it was two against one, so their chances were high. Boom! The battle erupted instantly. Meng Changqing¡¯s side was uneventful ¡ª two casual punches, and the two world-shaking geniuses were seriously injured and knocked unconscious on the spot. These two only had the embryonic form of true intent, so they stood no chance at all. In contrast, Mo Xiaoyu and Han Luoyu¡¯s battle caused a sensation across the entire venue! ¡°That¡¯s... the Innate Sword Body!!!¡± ¡°And the Overlord Meridians!¡± ¡°Oh my heavens!¡± ¡°What is going on with this Tai Xuan Sect?¡± ¡°Not only is there that monster Meng Changqing, but earlier there was also the Stone Human Bloodline, and now there¡¯s the Innate Sword Body and Overlord Meridians!¡± Countless people gasped. These bloodlines, physiques, and talents were extremely rare. Any power that possessed one would give thanks to their ancestors for such a blessing! But now, this mere first-rank sect, Tai Xuan Sect, seemed like a treasure trove, collecting all these incredible talents for themselves! Some people couldn¡¯t even imagine how strong this sect would be in ten or twenty years! Phew! Over at the Proud Sword Sect, eyes turned red with envy! To them, the Innate Sword Body was far superior to the Luminous Sword Heart. The latter only granted extraordinary comprehension in the Dao of the Sword, but the former made any sword technique exponentially more powerful. It was the mark of a Sword King! On the battlefield, the disciple from the Wind King Hall was flushed with anger. He had come just to make up the numbers ¡ª who would have thought he¡¯d become one of the main attractions? Shouldn¡¯t the focus be on Meng Changqing? But his two senior brothers had fallen with just two punches, leaving him as the Wind King Hall¡¯s last ¡®hope.¡¯ ¡°This sect is full of monsters!¡± The Wind King Hall disciple roared in his heart. Although his opponents were only at the second level of the Divine Attainment Realm, one had the Innate Sword Body and the other had the Overlord Meridians. There were strengths that could not be measured by mere realms! If not for his own strength, he would have already been defeated. But at this rate, defeat was only a matter of time! Bang! After a dozen breaths, the Wind King Hall disciple could no longer hold on. He was struck in the chest by a sword, sent flying, and fell unconscious. During the battle, Han Luoyu had stepped back once he realized his opponent wasn¡¯t as strong as he had thought, leaving Mo Xiaoyu to fight alone. The Innate Sword Body, after all, was stronger than the Overlord Meridians. ¡°Winner, Tai Xuan Sect!¡± The judge¡¯s voice rang out. In an instant, the venue erupted into cheers. At that moment, everyone had almost completely succumbed to the power of Tai Xuan Sect. Not only did they have a monster like Meng Changqing, but the other disciples were equally exceptional! The Stone Human Bloodline, the Innate Sword Body, all were capable of being called world-shaking Geniuses! The Overlord Meridians was slightly less powerful, but still almost at that level! ¡°I think I¡¯m witnessing the birth of a top-tier great sect!¡± someone couldn¡¯t help but murmur. ¡°Indeed,¡± others nodded in agreement. ¡°This Tai Xuan Sect truly lives up to its title as the nemesis of great sects. First, it was the Ice and Snow Divine Palace, then the Proud Sword Sect, and now even the Wind King Hall is out.¡± ¡°Who will be next?¡± The crowd eagerly anticipated the answer. Soon, the fifth round began. Only eight forces remained: the Nine-Colored Glazed Pavilion, Cloud Sea Academy, Purple Sun Palace, Thundercloud Mountain, the ancient Yujia clan, the ancient Qingjia clan, Qianren Dizang Manor, and Tai Xuan Sect. The first six were all great sects or ancient clans. As for Qianren Dizang Manor, it was a top-tier first-rank sect ¡ª quite strong, though luck played a significant role in its advancement. Tai Xuan Sect, on the other hand, had made it entirely through strength, stepping on the heads of great sects, even top-tier ones! At this pace, the final two forces could be decided before sunset. Dong! The matches continued! The Nine-Colored Glazed Pavilion defeated Qianren Dizang Manor, Purper Sun Palace defeated Thundercloud Mountain, the Qingjia clan defeated the Yujia clan, and Tai Xuan Sect defeated Cloud Sea Academy. Once again, Tai Xuan Sect had eliminated another top-tier great sect! Chapter 197 Chapter 197: Only by Using a Sword Do You Have a Slight Chance of Winning Against Me! The sixth round. The Nine-Colored Glazed Pavilion defeated the ancient Yujian Clan. Meanwhile, Tai Xuan Sect triumphed over Purple Sun Palace. ¡°It seems like Tai Xuan Sect is on a trend of sending off the entire Tianxuan Five Sects!¡± As night fell and the sun set in the west, everyone around exchanged glances. Who could have imagined that the esteemed Tianxuan Five Sects would see four of them fall at the hands of one person? If even the Nine-Colored Glazed Pavilion lost in the end, it would truly be an unprecedented tale! ¡°Tomorrow will be the final match. ¡°The Nine-Colored Glazed Pavilion of Tianxuan Prefecture, ¡°Versus! ¡°The Tai Xuan Sect of Tianling Prefecture!¡± The adjudicator announced with a blank expression. Immediately, the area erupted in continuous waves of voices. Some cheered for the Nine-Colored Glazed Pavilion, while others supported Tai Xuan Sect. ¡ª The next day, radiant rays filled the sky. The warm morning sun slowly rose from the distant horizon, illuminating everything. Almost simultaneously, everyone opened their eyes and flew towards the battlefield. Today was the final match, incredibly important. Will the Nine-Colored Glazed Pavilion, the strongest in the Southern Region, take first place and maintain their long-standing position? Or will the Tai Xuan Sect, emerging from a small prefecture as a mere first-rank sect, win with an absolute dark horse stance? The anticipation was immense. Very soon, the area around the void battlefield was packed with people, every seat taken. Almost all the forces had arrived, their gazes fixed on two directions. One was the Nine-Colored Glazed Pavilion. The other was Tai Xuan Sect. ¡°I¡¯m so nervous! Who do you think will win?¡± someone asked. In the beginning, many would have bet on Tai Xuan Sect, but after seeing Yu Hongxue¡¯s strength, which was not inferior to Meng Changqing¡¯s, it was hard to decide. ¡°I think the Nine-Colored Glazed Pavilion has a higher chance,¡± someone said thoughtfully. ¡°No matter how strong Meng Changqing is, he¡¯s just one person, while Yu Hongxue has two junior brothers to assist her!¡± ¡°Even if they are at a disadvantage, with the three of them forming a formation, they should definitely be able to suppress Meng Changqing.¡± ¡°That makes sense. While Tai Xuan Sect has great potential, the Stone Human Bloodline and Innate Sword Body haven¡¯t fully developed. If they had, the Nine-Colored Glazed Pavilion¡¯s younger generation wouldn¡¯t stand a chance!¡± Most people were more optimistic about Tai Xuan Sect. The journey of rising from obscurity was something they admired. Unfortunately, they weren¡¯t fully matured. ¡ª On the Ancient Mountain. Compared to the tension of others, Meng Changqing seemed much calmer, even extraordinarily composed. ¡°The final battle!¡± The Great Elder took a deep breath. When he left the sect, he hadn¡¯t expected to reach this point. Just getting into the top twenty would have been enough. But Meng Changqing¡¯s strength had far exceeded his expectations! He had made it to this point with overwhelming power! ¡°Southern Region Number One! ¡°Glory to the sect!¡± The Great Elder became a bit emotional. As the head of the Punishment Peak, he had always been extremely calm and stern. But ever since meeting Meng Changqing, his emotional fluctuations in this period almost surpassed those of his entire previous life! ¡°For the last match, you two will accompany him onto the field.¡± The Great Elder looked at the Shi brothers. ¡°Understood.¡± The brothers nodded and stood up from the ground. Although they were just going to be spectators in a different place, the experience up close was surely unmatched by standing on the ground. Dong! The ancient bell rang, signaling the start of the match. ¡°Junior Brother, good luck!¡± ¡°Sect Master, good luck!¡± The voices of Hua Ciyan and others came from behind. ¡°Thanks for your kind words. I¡¯ll be right back.¡± Meng Changqing smiled slightly. ¡ª ¡°Father,¡± Yu Hongxue slowly rose. After a night of adjustment, she had brought herself to her peak state, even taking a lot of precious elixirs to ensure her body could endure a prolonged battle. So today, she would be the strongest she had ever been! ¡°Go and take first place.¡± The Pavilion Master patted her shoulder. Although he had a lingering bad feeling, at this point, he had no choice but to place his hope in his daughter. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Pavilion Master,¡± said the elder beside them. ¡°With the current strength of the Young Pavilion Master, she won¡¯t be weaker than Meng Changqing. Plus, with the help of two junior brothers, the odds are in our favor! ¡°It¡¯ll also make him understand that our Nine-Colored Glazed Pavilion is not something like the Proud Sword Sect! ¡°If he thinks he can sweep through us like before, he¡¯s dreaming.¡± Yesterday, Purple Sun Palace and Cloud Sea Academy were both crushed like the Proud Sword Sect. It was even more exaggerated ¡ª a single punch for each one. Meng Changqing had truly established an unbeatable momentum! ¡ª Dong! The bell rang again, urging them. Yu Hongxue and her two juniors immediately stepped forward, descending towards the battlefield below! Boom! Boom! Almost simultaneously, both sides entered the field. They were very close, just about a hundred meters apart. The Shi brothers wisely retreated. Even with the Stone King Divine Seal, they didn¡¯t belong in this tier of combat. Better to leave quickly and avoid being caught in the crossfire. Whoosh! In an instant, their gazes locked! Powerful auras collided, causing the entire vast battlefield to tremble. ¡°Your predecessor once brought shame to my sect. Today, I will wash away that shame!¡± Yu Hongxue spoke, her watery eyes fixed on Meng Changqing. ¡°You will not reach the finish line. The limit lies right here, at the limit I set for you.¡± Hearing this, Meng Changqing sighed. He hadn¡¯t said anything, but the other side was already saying so much. ¡°Is that so? Then show me your power,¡± Meng Changqing replied calmly. ¡°Don¡¯t use your fists. You can¡¯t beat me with fists. Use your sword. ¡°Yesterday, I could tell from that strike that you should be more proficient in swordsmanship! ¡°So, only by using a sword! ¡°Do you have even the slightest chance of winning against me!¡± Yu Hongxue¡¯s eyes sparkled, and an invincible aura surged from her. Until now, she had never lost! Chapter 198 Chapter 198: The Aura of a Sword King? Could He Be the Legendary Martial Crown King? ¡°Your eyesight is sharp. Indeed, I am more proficient in the way of the sword. However, not everyone is qualified to see my sword.¡± Meng Changqing smiled softly, ¡°Are you sure you really want to witness it?¡± ¡°Ridiculous.¡± Upon hearing this, Yu Hongxue responded coldly. She didn¡¯t believe that Meng Changqing¡¯s sword intent could be that high. After all, humans have their limits. One must train, comprehend true intent, and even master dual intents. How could there be enough time and energy for all that? In her view, the level of his sword intent could at most be three or three and a halffold. It couldn¡¯t be any higher than that! This was where her confidence came from. Dual true intents only undergo a qualitative change when fully mastered at tenfold. Before that, they don¡¯t add much. ¡°Draw your sword!¡± Yu Hongxue took a step forward, fully entering battle mode. She wanted to defeat Meng Changqing in front of everyone, proving to all that she was the number one among the younger generation in the Southern Region! She also wanted to end the invincible path of this generation¡¯s Tai Xuan Sect, wiping away the shame of being humiliated years ago! Boom! Threefolds of palm intent surged forth, a massive crystal-like palm appeared in the sky, exuding a powerful aura! ¡°If that¡¯s the case, then as you wish.¡± Meng Changqing slowly placed his right hand on the sword¡¯s hilt. Initially, he planned to use his fist techniques to experience the Nine-Colored Glazed Pavilion¡¯s martial arts. But now, it seemed unnecessary. He might as well resolve this quickly. After all, before coming down, he had told his senior brothers that he would ¡°be back soon.¡± Clang~ Crimson Sky let out an excited hum, as if it too was eagerly anticipating the battle! ¡°This sword strike will be my limit, but do you have the courage to face it?¡± Meng Changqing closed his eyes. When he reopened them, his entire demeanor changed dramatically! An endless sharpness erupted, sweeping through the sky! Crack, crack, crack! The void trembled violently, as if something unimaginable was about to descend! All the surrounding swords began to tremble uncontrollably, including those of the Proud Sword Sect ¡ª from the sect master to the disciples! Li Jin, who had just recovered, pressed down on his sword box, his eyes filled with shock. This was his life-bound sword! Why was it suddenly so restless, as if it had sensed something? ¡°This is...¡± Suddenly, the leaders of all the major forces stood up simultaneously, their gazes locked on the scene below, their eyes filled with an unprecedented shock and disbelief. Huff! Yu Hongxue¡¯s expression changed instantly. She felt an uncontrollable surge of dread welling up inside her ¡ª a fear that came from her very instincts! Crack, crack, crack! The strange scene above made her snap back to reality. She quickly looked up, only to see her threefolds of palm intent trembling wildly, with cracks starting to appear on its surface, as if it had encountered something utterly terrifying and could no longer maintain its form! ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Yu Hongxue couldn¡¯t comprehend what was happening. But the next second, what she saw would be forever etched in her memory, an eternal nightmare! Boom! The ground trembled, and the battlefield shook as a massive sword burst forth from behind Meng Changqing, piercing the sky! It was immense, grand, and majestic, standing between heaven and earth like a pillar! It was impossible to imagine the kind of sword intent that had taken form ¡ª completely solidified, like a true divine sword, eternally standing there, never to be forgotten! The sharp aura that emanated from it even tore through the void! It should be noted that only Marquis-level powerhouses could shatter the void! Beneath the towering sword, Meng Changqing¡¯s black hair danced wildly, his entire being radiating an aura so sharp it was terrifying, as if a single strand of hair or a glance from him could slice through anything! ¡°This is my swordsmanship.¡± Meng Changqing looked at Yu Hongxue. Crack! In an instant, her threefolds of palm intent shattered, dissolving into specks of light. Yu Hongxue herself seemed to have taken a heavy blow, her face turning pale as countless cracks appeared on her body, blood flowing endlessly! Just a glance carried such terrifying power! ¡°This is... tenfolds of sword intent!!!¡± the sect master of Proud Sword Sect exclaimed in disbelief, his voice echoing throughout the void battlefield! In the next second, all the swords could no longer be suppressed and flew out of their sheaths! It was an astonishing sight. Countless swords swarmed towards the battlefield, forming a dense sea of swords, gathering around Meng Changqing, bowing their hilts as if worshiping the legendary ruler of the sword! ¡°Tenfolds of sword intent!¡± Everyone finally snapped out of their shock, their faces filled with disbelief and fear. Tenfolds!!! How was this possible? This was the peak of legendary true intent, a level even Marquis-level powerhouses might not reach! Even peerless geniuses like Xi Yingqing in the past or Yu Hongxue now had only reached two or threefolds at most! Tenfolds?! What an absurd level! Could a human truly achieve this? But the scene before them left no room for doubt. sSord intent solidified, and all swords bowed in worship. This was undoubtedly tenfolds of sword intent! ¡°My heavens, after cultivating for half my life, am I witnessing the reincarnation of the Sword God?¡± Many people muttered, still in a daze. ¡ª On the Reverse Ancient Mountain, the elders were just as stunned, their mouths agape. They knew Meng Changqing had a trump card, or he wouldn¡¯t be so confident. But who could have expected that the trump card would be this shocking! ¡°Tenfolds of sword intent...¡± Hua Ciyan finally regained her composure, swallowing hard. ¡°I think I understand now why Junior Brother started practicing fist techniques.¡± Ku Fengchun, struggling to speak, said, ¡°He wasn¡¯t advancing both true intents at the same time! Instead, his sword intent reached tenfolds, leaving nothing more to refine! ¡°So he casually started practicing fist techniques.¡± Hearing this, everyone was even more shocked. Others devote everything to pursuing true intent, often in vain. But their young sect leader easily reached the peak of true intent and still had the energy to dabble in other pursuits! What an unimaginable level of comprehension! This was truly unprecedented! ¡°He¡¯s just in his early twenties, and he has already mastered dual true intents, with one of them reaching tenfolds.¡± Hua Ciyan took a deep breath, trying to calm herself, but she couldn¡¯t. ¡°The aura of a Sword King? That underestimates Junior Brother.¡± ¡°He will ultimately become... ¡°The legendary Martial Crown King!¡± Hua Ciyan¡¯s eyes shone brightly, filled with admiration and determination. Chapter 199 Chapter 199: The Martial Crown King, Upon the Throne! ¡°The Martial Crown King.¡± The Pavillion Master of the Nine-Colored Glazed Pavilion slowly came back to his senses, recalling those three words. This title, this position, had not been claimed by anyone in a very long time. Because it was exceedingly difficult to attain. The Martial Crown King, upon the throne. Indeed. The Lord sighed with emotion, realizing that his long-held premonition was correct. This disciple of the Tai Xuan Sect was overwhelmingly powerful, even more so than Xi Yingqing back in the day. Dual True Intents. One of them had already reached perfection before even reaching the Marquis Realm. Such mastery of True Intent was exceptional, surpassing even the prodigies of Central Province! ¡°Terrifying.¡± The Pavillion Master shook his head slightly and then vanished from where he stood. With the appearance of ten layers of Sword Intent, there was no longer any point in watching the battle. Yu Hongxue had lost. She wouldn¡¯t even be able to put up a minimal resistance. The difference between them was like heaven and earth. On the battlefield, the sky-reaching giant sword stood tall. The terrifying power of Sword Intent enveloped everything, suppressing all. Even the void was filled with cracks, like a shattered mirror, imbued with a destructive beauty. ¡°This is my swordsmanship, but can you withstand it?¡± Meng Changqing slowly drew Crimson Sky from his waist. Clang! The ten layers of Sword Intent surged into the sword, causing it to emit an excited hum, as if receiving an unimaginable nourishment. Endless sharpness spread out, and countless sword marks instantly appeared on the vast earth, densely packed and countless in number. At this moment, Yu Hongxue was completely frozen in place. The confidence on her face was gone, replaced by paleness and... fear! She didn¡¯t want to feel this way, but she couldn¡¯t suppress it. This filled her with intense humiliation. As the strongest among the younger generation in the Southern Region, when had she ever felt fear? Who had the right to make her fear? But now... The terrifying Sword Intent, like a pillar holding up the heavens and earth, had crushed all her confidence and pride! Reflecting on the words she had spoken earlier, she felt nothing but shame. ¡°Only with your sword might you have a slim chance to defeat me!¡± Perhaps in Meng Changqing¡¯s eyes, her actions and words were laughable, as childish as a toddler¡¯s! It was only when he used his fists that she had even the slightest chance to win. But once he used his sword... Coming back to her senses, Yu Hongxue staggered backward several steps before barely stabilizing herself. Finally, her lips moved, and she reluctantly and unwillingly uttered three words. ¡°I... have lost!¡± As for the two prodigies standing beside her, they were even more devoid of thoughts, frozen in place, their bodies cold as ice. The budding True Intent in their minds shattered into pieces, no matter how hard they tried to reassemble it, they couldn¡¯t form it into shape! Hearing Yu Hongxue¡¯s admission, Meng Changqing raised an eyebrow. He had intended to use his second Sword Twenty-Four. But Yu Hongxue¡¯s reaction was within his expectations. With ten layers of Sword Intent, the gap was already crushing. No matter how much she struggled, it would only add to the farce. With this in mind, Meng Changqing could only sheathe his sword. ¡°You¡¯re actually very strong.¡± Seeing the expression on Yu Hongxue¡¯s face, Meng Changqing decided to offer some consolation. And it was true. From the start, he had activated the Observation Eye and naturally saw Yuhongxue¡¯s attributes. Basic Information: ¡¾Name: Yu Hongxue¡¿ ¡¾Race: Human¡¿ ¡¾Cultivation: Third Level of Life and Death Realm¡¿ Attribute Information: ¡¾Root Bone: Grade One¡¿ ¡¾Comprehension: Superior¡¿ ¡¾Physique: Holy Martial Body¡¿ ¡¾Cultivation Techniques: ¡°First Volume of Nine-Colored Glazed Scripture¡± (Perfection), ¡°Golden Body of the Great Sun¡± (Perfection)...¡¿ Based on her attribute panel, her potential was not much weaker than that of his senior brother, the sect leader. She only lacked one innate talent. The Holy Martial Body, similar to the Innate Sword Body, but more inclined toward fists, palms, and fingers. His senior brother also had this physique. Meng Changqing was indeed envious of the Holy Martial Body, but his senior brother had so many good attributes that, after weighing the pros and cons, Meng Changqing chose not to pursue it. Now, however, there was another target of interest. Upon hearing his words, Yu Hongxue¡¯s eye twitched. Yes, I¡¯m so strong that I didn¡¯t even have the qualifications to make a move. My three layers of palm intent shattered on their own, impossible to gather. Are you mocking me? ¡°Maybe we could be friends.¡± Meng Changqing said sincerely, his smile warm and genuine, making people feel like a spring breeze. But in Yu Hongxue¡¯s eyes, it felt entirely different. ¡°One day, I will surpass you!¡± Yu Hongxue gritted her silver teeth and left a fierce parting remark before turning around and disappearing into a stream of light. Clearly, she hadn¡¯t been entirely subdued and still harbored fantasies and delusions. ¡°What a pity.¡± Meng Changqing sighed in regret. It seemed he would have to wait until another time. But upon further reflection, it made sense. How could a prodigy who could shake the world be anything less than proud? She had just lost to him. How could she agree to his offer of friendship so easily? ¡°There¡¯s always time.¡± Meng Changqing withdrew his gaze. The Nine-Colored Glazed Pavilion, being the second in ranking, naturally had spots for the Wild Sea. They would meet again there. When the time came, whether she agreed or not, would no longer be up to Yu Hongxue, but up to him. Boom! With a thought, the ten layers of Sword Intent dissipated, returning to his Sea of Consciousness. The sky also returned to its original color. Clear skies stretched endlessly, as if nothing had ever happened. Even the void began to repair itself, and soon there were no more cracks. ¡°Victor Tai Xuan Sect!¡± The voice of the adjudicator echoed after a long delay. Clearly, even the adjudicator from the Myriad Phenomena Pavilion, who had seen many things, had been deeply shocked just now. Boom! The moment the announcement fell, the entire place erupted in an uproar! Everyone had imagined countless scenarios and scenes! A fierce battle between both sides. With Meng Changqing emerging victorious or perhaps Yu Hongxue, but it never crossed their minds that it would be like this! There was almost no fight! Victory without battle! With an overwhelmingly superior strength, one side had chosen to admit defeat, completely losing the will to fight! ¡°At such a young age, possessing ten layers of True Intent, this is unheard of, unseen throughout history.¡± ¡°Who would have thought that Meng Changqing¡¯s swordsmanship would be so terrifying? No wonder he¡¯s always used his fists. If he had used his sword, this battle of prodigies would have ended from the very start!¡± ¡°There would have been no fun in the fight!¡± ¡°No prodigy in the world would dare stand before him, showing their fragile and insignificant True Intent!¡± Everyone was shaken to the core. Their eyes were glued to the tall figure in the middle of the battlefield. At this moment, many seemed to see a rising sun, slowly ascending, with its future light illuminating the entire world! Spreading everywhere! Everyone would know, everyone would be aware! Becoming a peerless figure standing above the heavens! Many martial artists even felt a surge of admiration and fervor in their hearts! How could one not be captivated by such a figure? ¡°With this, the Nine-Colored Glazed Pavilion has also fallen to Meng Changqing. The mighty Tianxuan Five Sects have been crushed by a single person!¡± someone said excitedly. ¡°Yes, the entire Southern Region is going to be lively now!¡± ¡°The once weak Tianling Prefecture has produced such a terrifying young powerhouse, dominating this generation!¡± The excited voices never ceased, rising and falling. As for Meng Changqing, he took the Shi brothers and returned to the Reverse Ancient Mountain. Chapter 200 Chapter 200: The Genius Battle Ends, The Wild Token! Now, there was nothing more for him to do. The first place was undisputed. As for the third place and others, those would be determined later. ¡°Tenfold Sword Intent!¡± ¡°You brat, you¡¯ve been hiding so deep!¡± The Great Elder immediately walked up, grabbed Meng Changqing¡¯s arms, and said excitedly. Even his snow-white eyebrows were trembling! Everything had completely exceeded his expectations and understanding. After all, a month ago. Meng Changqing had clearly said that his sword intent was only at threefold. Thinking back now, it must have been a lie. After all, who could increase their sword intent from threefold to tenfold in just one month? Did he think it was as easy as eating and drinking? He probably felt that tenfold was too shocking, so he instinctively chose to hide it. The Great Elder had already come up with an explanation for Meng Changqing. ¡°Since I began cultivating, I¡¯ve never seen anyone under thirty years old achieve tenfold true intent. You¡¯re the first,¡± Hua Ciyan walked over and said with some emotion. ¡°Some say you¡¯re the reincarnation of a Sword God, but I think you might be a Martial God,¡± Ku Fengchun said in a similar tone. A Sword God was merely exceptional in the way of the sword. But a Martial God was exceptional in all aspects. Meng Changqing was not just outstanding in swordsmanship. He was also formidable in fist techniques. Reaching tenfold in both in the future would likely be a breeze. ¡°Senior Brother and Sister are too kind.¡± Meng Changqing smiled slightly. ¡°No need to be modest, I¡¯m just stating the truth.¡± Ku Fengchun said, ¡°Now that your sword intent has reached its peak, you won¡¯t be able to advance any further until you reach the Marquis Realm. From now on, you should focus on improving your fist intent. ¡°The true power of dual true intents will be fully realized when both reach tenfold! ¡°If you need help with fist techniques, you can come to me, though with your comprehension, you probably won¡¯t need it.¡± At this, the three of them smiled. At this stage in life, encountering such a potential-laden junior was truly a blessing. ¡°To think we actually took first place in the end,¡± the Great Elder suddenly said with a bit of sentiment. As he mentioned earlier, he had hoped for it but hadn¡¯t expected it to be so easy. It was as if everything naturally fell into place, placed before them without effort. It felt almost like a dream. ¡°Seems like Second Brother doesn¡¯t have enough confidence in our Junior Brother. ¡°If it were me, I¡¯d have absolute faith!¡± Ku Fengchun said with a laugh. ¡°Yeah, right. Just now, your eyes were about to pop out. ¡°I almost had to pick them up off the ground for you.¡± Hearing this, the Great Elder immediately objected. As the Second Brother, the highest-ranking member of the sect, how could he be made fun of like this? But he was in a good mood today, so he didn¡¯t argue with Ku Fengchun. ¡°Heh heh heh.¡± Ku Fengchun chuckled. The other disciples also covered their mouths and laughed. On this trip, they not only saw the other two senior elders of the sect but also discovered that the usually stern Great Elder had a kind side. Although this side was mostly shown to the junior leader. ¡°Second Brother, don¡¯t forget to collect the Wild Tokens from Wanxiang Pavilion later,¡± Hua Ciyan reminded. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t forget that.¡± The Great Elder gently stroked his white beard. Even the wrinkles on his face seemed filled with joy. To enter the ancient land of the Wild Sea, one needed a Wild Token, which served as a credential. These tokens had always been controlled by the Holy Land of the Central Province. They were responsible for distributing them. In fact, all advanced resources in the cultivation world were managed by them, distributed according to established rules. ¡°I heard that this time, the Central Province has allocated quite a few advanced resources, and now that we¡¯ve taken first place, we can take fifty percent of them,¡± the Great Elder said. Fifty percent. This had always been the rule. It was how Tianxuan Prefecture had managed to maintain its leading position in the Southern Region! When the second and third places divided the rest, there wasn¡¯t much left for other prefectures and factions. This was the so-called strong get stronger, while the weak stay weak. ¡°When these resources are in hand, Changqing, you can use them as you wish. Without you, none of this would be ours,¡± the Great Elder said with satisfaction. ¡°Is there anything like Life and Death Grass?¡± Meng Changqing asked. The term ¡°advanced resources¡± was too broad. He wasn¡¯t sure what exactly was included. ¡°Of course, there is. There are even things needed by Marquis-level experts.¡± The Great Elder nodded. ¡°Marquis-level, huh.¡± Meng Changqing¡¯s eyes flickered. That truly was an advanced resource. Even a top-tier resource. A Marquis-level expert. How many were there in the entire Southern Region? Only great sects and ancient clans possessed them, though his own sect was an exception. Each one seemed to hide their true strength, so it was hard to gauge their actual power. But the leader of the sect was definitely at least a Marquis-level expert. And it was highly likely that Sister Hua and Brother Ku were too. After all, their panels already showed their tentative realms as the first level of Life and Death Realm. Unlike the other senior brothers and sisters, who were still at the ¡®Divine Attainment Realm.¡¯ Of course, this couldn¡¯t be determined so simply. Perhaps the other senior brothers and sisters were just hiding their power even more deeply. ¡ª The battle continued. To claim the third place, the ancient Yujian Clan and the Purple Sun Palace engaged in a fierce battle. Their trump cards were revealed one after another! It was a dazzling display, leaving the audience thrilled. Although Meng Changqing¡¯s martial prowess was awe-inspiring, the battle lacked the same level of excitement. There was no helping it, as Meng Changqing was simply too overpowering. Or perhaps his opponents were too weak. One punch knocked them down, two punches finished them off. There was no sense of intense back-and-forth combat. Like today¡¯s highly anticipated showdown, when the tenfold sword intent appeared, Yu Hongxue¡¯s resolve almost crumbled, and she conceded without even fighting. In the end, Purple Sun Palace took third place and secured the last Wild Sea spot. As for the rest, the competition for advanced resources began. Each contestant still gave their all. Even if they couldn¡¯t secure a spot, they still wanted to compete for more resources. After all, these resources would ultimately be used on them! Time passed. In the blink of an eye, it was evening. And the Genius Battle had officially ended. The final ranking was: Tai Xuan Sect.Nine-Colord Glazed Pavilion.Purple Sun Palace.Ancient Yujian Clan.Cloud Sea Academy. After nearly two hundred years, Tai Xuan Sect had once again taken the top spot. As a first-rank sect, they had crushed all the great sects and ancient clans. It was a shock to all. And Meng Changqing¡¯s name would soon spread throughout the Southern Region and even beyond, becoming the undisputed leader of the younger generation! Chapter 201 Chapter 201: Resource Allocation, Nurturing the Sword Spirit, and the Underhanded Tactics of Major Sects! Time passed swiftly. It had already been a month since the Genius Battle ended. Yet, the discussions about it hadn¡¯t diminished; instead, they had intensified. The main focus was on the Tai Xuan Sect or more accurately, on Meng Changqing. Some people even began comparing Meng Changqing with the younger generation from other regions, ultimately concluding that he was superior! He was not inferior to anyone! This was extremely high praise. The cultivation world was divided into five major regions: Central Province. This was the center of the continent, and one state equaled one region, which spoke volumes. Then there was the Northern Plains. A cold northern land, rich in resources but also harsh in environment. This made the martial artists from the Northern Plains incredibly strong, with many historically renowned powerhouses emerging from there. Next was the Western Desert. A land of austere Buddhism. Although it was smaller in area compared to other regions, the existence of profound beliefs meant that its strength could not be underestimated. After that were the Southern Region and the Eastern Sea. These two regions were on par with each other in strength. They were roughly equal. Strictly speaking, the Southern Region was a region that was balanced and moderate, adhering to traditional practices. Unlike the other regions, which had... distinctive characteristics! ¡ª In the cultivation hall, Meng Changqing slowly opened his eyes. He let out a long breath. The aura of life and death surrounding him had grown much denser. He had already stepped into the fourth level of the Life and Death Realm. The Life and Death Realm was the fifth major stage of cultivation. Many people would struggle to break through for ten years, or even decades. But he was advancing at a rate of nearly one realm per month. His speed could be considered astonishing. ¡°The last Life and Death Grass has been used up. I need to restock soon.¡± Meng Changqing muttered softly. Although his innate understanding and unity with nature allowed him to maintain a fast pace, why take two months to break through when he could do it in one? Buzz~ His waist token suddenly vibrated. It was a message from the Grand Elder. ¡°It¡¯s time to return to the sect.¡± These six simple words carried a clear meaning. It meant that everything had been secured. High-level resources were incredibly precious and abundant. Even though they had taken first place, deciding which resources to take required careful negotiation. After a month of discussions, the allocation was finally settled. Meng Changqing picked up Crimson Sky beside him and stood up. During this time, he had discovered something interesting. That was, the Tenfold Sword Intent had a special effect. It could actually nurture a sword. And this was naturally something Crimson Sky had told him. Being enveloped in Tenfold Sword Intent over time could continuously increase its spirituality. Given enough time, it might even be able to speak or even take on a physical form, becoming a complete Sword Spirit! The power of a Sword Spirit was immeasurable. It was no longer just a simple weapon. Putting aside these thoughts, Meng Changqing walked out. ¡ª Arriving at the sect¡¯s stronghold, the large cloud ship was already docked, and the Grand Elder and others were waiting nearby. ¡°Young Master.¡± As soon as Meng Changqing arrived, the many disciples immediately greeted him. ¡°Not bad, you¡¯ve reached the fourth level of the Life and Death Realm.¡± The Grand Elder¡¯s eyes gleamed with joy. This breakthrough speed was indeed fast. However, he guessed that those three Life and Death Grass were also used up. Fortunately, this batch of high-level resources would make up for it. ¡°Senior Sister Hua, Senior Brother Ku, are you also returning to the sect?¡± Meng Changqing approached and asked. ¡°I¡¯ll be going back with you, but Junior Brother Ku will stay here,¡± Hua Ciyan replied with a smile. ¡°Ah, it seems I¡¯m the lowest in rank, so I¡¯m the only one who has to stay.¡± Ku Fengchun shook his head. Having been away from the sect for so many years, he naturally wanted to return and take a look. Unfortunately, the Secret Message Hall still needed him to oversee it. ¡°There will be other opportunities,¡± the Grand Elder said in a deep voice. ¡°Alright then.¡± With the Grand Elder speaking, Ku Fengchun had no more to say. ¡°Let¡¯s go, it¡¯s time to return to the sect.¡± The Grand Elder turned and boarded the cloud ship. The many disciples followed suit. They were all excited. Almost everyone here had participated in the event, with the Young Master backing them up. So they all felt like they had played a part in it. Now they could return with honor, having ¡®returned home in glory¡¯! Whether in the sect when meeting senior or junior brothers, or within their families, this was something to be proud of and talk about! And it would earn them the admiration of everyone! Woo~ The cloud ship let out a long whistle. Then it rose into the sky, flying off into the distance. ¡°How many more times in my life will I return to the sect?¡± Watching the cloud ship gradually disappear from sight, Ku Fengchun¡¯s face showed a hint of melancholy. Unlike many other senior brothers and sisters, he was born in the sect. Just like the Second Senior Brother, Lin Xuankong, so he had deep feelings for the sect. But his current duties meant he had to stay outside. He held no resentment in his heart, because this was the best arrangement. High above in the sky, cloud ships could be seen passing by from time to time. These were all forces qualified to receive resources, and now that they had secured them, they were naturally preparing to return. Whoosh~ The cloud ship suddenly tilted, veering in another direction. It wasn¡¯t the planned route. Seeing this, Meng Changqing raised an eyebrow. ¡°This journey won¡¯t be so peaceful. We need to be prepared.¡± Hua Ciyan walked over, a faint smile on her face. ¡°Is there a force plotting against the resources our sect gained from the Genius Battle?¡± Meng Changqing asked. ¡°Perhaps. After each Genius Battle, similar incidents have occurred. ¡°Although they are always attributed to demonic acts in the end, who knows if it¡¯s really the work of demons?¡± Hua Ciyan said softly, ¡°Sometimes, even the demons get unjustly blamed.¡± ¡°But they wouldn¡¯t care.¡± Meng Changqing nodded slightly. He could understand. For the demonic sects, having more accusations thrown at them was something they didn¡¯t bother to explain. It even helped boost their notoriety. ¡°Would even major sects stoop to such things?¡± Meng Changqing thought for a moment and asked. ¡°Depends on the situation. Underhanded tactics from major sects aren¡¯t unheard of,¡± Hua Ciyan replied casually, ¡°But there¡¯s no need to worry. With me here, you will all return safely to the sect.¡± Hearing this, Meng Changqing didn¡¯t show any surprise. After all, just by looking at her status, Senior Sister Hua actually surpassed many other senior brothers and sisters. She seemed to be second only to the sect master. Chapter 202 Chapter 202: The Fall of the Bai Family, the Barbarian Sea Situation, and the Marquis Artifact! High in the sky, there was a dense cloud layer. Suddenly, several figures appeared. Almost as soon as they emerged, the surrounding void trembled, cracks appearing, as if unable to bear their presence. ¡°Yuan Cang, it¡¯s just dealing with a first-rank sect, yet you not only sought me but also the ancient clan!¡± one of the figures spoke. His entire body was shrouded in thick blood light, making it impossible to discern his appearance or form, with only an overwhelming stench of blood, enough to make one nauseous. It was as if a boundless sea of blood appeared before him, his aura incredibly terrifying! ¡°Hmph, Blood God Demon Sect? Yuan Cang, you, a dignified elder of Wanxiang Pavilion, are actually in league with demonic forces, how disgraceful,¡± another person spoke coldly. He had a burly frame, a stern face, but his narrow eyes gave off a sense of malice. He was clad in scarlet armor, with a heavy sword on his back. His aura was intimidating, no less formidable than that of the Blood Shadow Demon Sect! ¡°Don¡¯t talk about disgrace, how much better can your ancient clan Yu family be? Once, for the sake of an artifact, you bullied the weak and exterminated the entire Bai family of Tianyun Prefecture! ¡°Did you think no one knew about this? ¡°And in the end, you blamed it on our Blood Shadow Demon Sect, ha!¡± The blood shadow spoke coldly, ¡°If it weren¡¯t for my Blood God Demon Sect¡¯s magnanimity, we would¡¯ve settled accounts with your Yu family long ago!¡± Clang! A flash of the blade swept across the sky! The Yu family swordsman¡¯s face turned icy cold. ¡°Enough, what happened back then is long over, both of you, stop bringing it up!¡± Yuan Cang spoke in a deep voice. Although he was only a Life and Death Realm cultivator, as soon as he spoke, there was a tremendous pressure. It forced the two Marquis-level powerhouses to quiet down, holding back their anger. They weren¡¯t afraid of Yuan Cang, but rather the Wanxiang Pavilion, or more accurately, the existence deeper within the pavilion! ¡°Calling the two of you here today might have been overly cautious, but it¡¯s better to be safe than sorry. ¡°As agreed, once the task is complete, the resources obtained by the Tai Xuan Sect will be split evenly between you two, including some cultivation resources needed for the Marquis Realm. ¡°Additionally, I have prepared rewards for both of you.¡± Yuan Cang¡¯s expression softened as he spoke seriously. After all, these were Marquis-level powerhouses, strong enough to establish great sects, so he had to be respectful. ¡°Agreed.¡± The two exchanged glances, suppressing their emotions. They had come out of seclusion because there were benefits to be gained. Marquis Realm resources were incredibly valuable and rare, often unattainable. Many Marquis Realm cultivators in great sects spent their entire lives without making any progress, largely due to a lack of resources or because there were too many monks and too little porridge. In the end, they exhausted their lifespan and died. Seeing that the two were no longer hostile, Yuan Cang breathed a sigh of relief. Originally, he had planned to call in some Life and Death Realm experts. But during the final battle, Meng Changqing¡¯s displayed strength was simply too overwhelming. Tenfold sword intent! It was utterly outrageous! There were no opponents left in the Life and Death Realm! Only a Marquis-level powerhouse could suppress him! So he had to change his plan, expending considerable effort and paying a hefty price to barely bring in two Marquis Realm powerhouses. One would¡¯ve been enough, but he was always cautious. After thinking it over, he decided to find one more. However, this was his limit. After all, Marquis-level powerhouses were incredibly rare, normally impossible to find. Even if you found one, they wouldn¡¯t easily pay you any attention, especially for a task like this. It had to be a demonic cultivator, or at least one who was both righteous and demonic. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Yuan Cang flew forward, heading in the direction where the Tai Xuan Sect had departed. ¡ª ¡°Sister, I want to ask about the Wild Sea, what kind of place is it exactly?¡± at the front of the cloud ship, Meng Changqing asked seriously. Regarding the Wild Sea, he was still quite unclear, only knowing some generalities. ¡°You indeed need to understand this information.¡± Hua Ciyan nodded. Given Meng Changqing¡¯s speed, it wouldn¡¯t be long before he reached the limit of the Life and Death Realm. ¡°The so-called Ancient Lands, you can simply think of them as isolated secret realms, and they are extremely large. ¡°They are fluid. ¡°They do not exist in fixed locations nor do they exist in reality, only appearing in the void at specific times. ¡°Their operational rules are quite different from those of the current era.¡± Hua Ciyan began to explain, ¡°And the Wild Sea is the first Ancient Land discovered by the human race. ¡°As its name suggests, the Wild Sea is a vast sea with countless islands and other races. These creatures, having lived in the Wild Sea for so long, are adapted to its rules, so their strength is relatively strong. ¡°But when our human race enters, we will be somewhat suppressed! ¡°However, there¡¯s no need to worry, these other races are few in number and can¡¯t pose a significant threat. ¡°We humans are still the rulers.¡± ¡°...¡± ¡°I see.¡± After a moment, Meng Changqing understood. After Hua Ciyan¡¯s explanation, he now had a fairly clear impression of the Wild Sea. ¡°The reason why the Wild Sea¡¯s quota is sought after by countless forces is mainly because of the Marquis Artifacts!¡± Hua Ciyan changed the topic, ¡°Without an artifact, no matter how strong a Life and Death Realm cultivator is, they will forever be stuck at their level until they run out of lifespan and die unwillingly!¡± ¡°What are these artifacts?¡± Meng Changqing was curious. He had heard of them before, but hadn¡¯t asked because his realm wasn¡¯t high enough. ¡°You can think of them as the foundation of the Dao. They can completely merge your spiritual repository and physical repository, transforming you into a flawless state, thereby giving birth to greater power,¡± Hua Ciyan explained. But just as she was about to elaborate, the surrounding void suddenly began to tremble. Countless cracks appeared, spreading out! Covering the sky for a hundred miles! Endless blood light enveloped everything like a curtain! Isolating the inside from the outside! ¡°They really did come.¡± Hua Ciyan raised her eyebrows slightly, A trace of coldness and disdain flashed across her face! The sudden event caused quite a few disciples to panic. But having experienced great events, they quickly calmed down. Each one stood ready, eyes vigilant. The Grand Elder sighed softly, shaking his head. His left hand slowly pulled back his right sleeve, revealing two vertical lines on his arm. They looked like seals. ¡°Tai Xuan Sect!¡± a cold voice descended from the sky, filled with murderous intent. Chapter 203 Chapter 203: Golden Rules, You¡¯re the Peach Blossom Sword from Over a Century Ago! ¡°Lin Xuankong, long time no see!¡± Yuan Cang¡¯s figure slowly emerged. Along with him came more than ten others, all of whom were at the Life and Death Realm! Especially behind the blood-red light, two extremely terrifying auras were surging. Just the pressure from their gaze felt like a mountain, overwhelmingly oppressive. They were definitely beyond the Life and Death Realm. ¡°Marquis Realm.¡± Meng Changqing¡¯s eyes locked onto the two figures. Such an aura, he had only seen it once before. It was during the Genius Battle, on the Pavilion Master of the Nine-Colored Glazed Pavilion. However, they were not as powerful as the Pavilion Master, significantly weaker. ¡°Yuan Cang, you still came,¡± the Grand Elder spoke softly, his voice carrying a tone of resignation. ¡°Of course I came! If it weren¡¯t for you back then, would I be in this situation today? You should know that I was once the third true disciple of Heavenly Emperor Mountain!¡± Yuan Cang¡¯s face twisted slightly.0 ¡°Hmph, it¡¯s all your own doing. Who can you blame?¡± The Grand Elder snorted coldly. ¡°Hahaha! My own doing? It was just a matter of choice. ¡°In Tianling Prefecture, with the golden rules of Linglong Holy Land, I couldn¡¯t touch you, but now that you¡¯ve dared to step out, today, I¡¯ll settle both old and new scores together!¡± Yuan Cang took a deep breath, his eyes becoming indifferent. ¡°Also.¡± Yuan Cang turned his gaze to Meng Changqing, ¡°I¡¯ll give you one last chance. Join my Wanxiang Pavilion. Don¡¯t let your future end here in vain!¡± ¡°And you others.¡± Yuan Cang looked at the others ¡ª the Shi brothers, Mo Xiaoyu, and Han Luoyu. ¡°A wise bird chooses a good tree to perch on. Tai Xuan Sect is nothing but a sinking ship. There¡¯s no need to go down with it! ¡°Join my Wanxiang Pavilion, and there might even be a chance for you to enter the Holy Land. I don¡¯t need to explain the significance of the Holy Land, do I?¡± Yuan Cang¡¯s words were filled with confidence. He believed that under such circumstances, these young talents should make the wise choice. And if he could bring so many world-shaking geniuses back with him, he would undoubtedly be rewarded! He might even return to Heavenly Emperor Mountain, where the Mountain Lord would reshape his foundation and put him back on the path to the Great Dao! However, the response he received was a series of angry glares. ¡°Mom said to be honest and loyal,¡± the Shi brothers, one holding an axe, the other a hammer, spoke. ¡°Bad guy.¡± Mo Xiaoyu also drew the long sword from his back. ¡°You want me to betray my master? You¡¯re dreaming.¡± Han Luoyu raised his palms, the Overlord Meridians beginning to appear. ¡°Fine, fine, fine!¡± Yuan Cang laughed in anger. He couldn¡¯t understand what kind of power the Tai Xuan Sect had to make so many world-shaking geniuses choose it so resolutely in such a situation! ¡°And you!¡± Yuan Cang looked at Meng Changqing. Among these people, Meng Changqing was the one he valued the most! ¡°I detest being threatened. You¡¯ve crossed the line.¡± Meng Changqing stood with his hands behind his back, his gaze indifferent. ¡°Fine, it seems you¡¯re all tired of living. In that case, I¡¯ll send you on your way!¡± Yuan Cang sneered. If they couldn¡¯t be used by him, then they would all have to die! ¡°Yuan Cang, even after nearly two hundred years, you¡¯re still as detestable as ever.¡± Hua Ciyan stepped forward. ¡°Hua Ciyan!¡± Yuan Cang recognized her immediately, and his murderous intent skyrocketed. This woman had played a significant role in the damage to his foundation back then! ¡°So you¡¯re here too. Perfect, I¡¯ll take your head to see Xi Yingqing!¡± Yuan Cang¡¯s voice was cold. ¡°I imagine that will be quite the scene!¡± ¡°I haven¡¯t finished what I was saying.¡± Hua Ciyan shook her head and smiled. ¡°What?¡± Yuan Cang was momentarily puzzled. ¡°You still have no eye for talent. Otherwise, why were you the only one who ended up like this and not the others back then?¡± Hua Ciyan¡¯s gaze was filled with disdain. ¡°Junior Brother, I¡¯ll leave these people to you. I¡¯ll handle those two.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Meng Changqing nodded. Although he was now nearly unmatched within the Life and Death Realm, he was still far from being able to contend with the legendary Marquis experts. Some things were evident at a glance. The power of a Marquis was too overwhelming, an unimaginable qualitative change. ¡°Ridiculous, just a Life and Death Realm cultivator, and you think you can contend with a Marquis?¡± Yuan Cang instinctively wanted to retort. But then Hua Ciyan disappeared from where she stood. The next moment, a third terrifying aura suddenly emerged within the vast sea of blood behind him! There was also the sound of the Yu family swordmaster¡¯s shock and anger. ¡°Marquis?¡± Upon hearing this, Yuan Cang¡¯s pupils contracted, his face filled with disbelief. Marquis? What a joke! How could this be possible? During the trial back then, eight of Tai Xuan Sect¡¯s eighteen disciples died, and the rest were also severed from their Dao. There had been no resources over the years. How could they have possibly grown? ¡°You¡¯ve hidden yourselves well, Tai Xuan Sect!¡± Yuan Cang¡¯s face twisted with anger! If Hua Ciyan had advanced to the Marquis Realm, it was evident that Xi Yingqing was no longer at the Life and Death Realm either! ¡°Flower Scale Sword? ¡°You¡¯re the Peach Blossom Sword from over a hundred years ago!¡± In the sea of blood, a terrified voice rang out, but before it could finish, a sword light seemed to pierce through heaven and earth, shattering the skies over a hundred miles, with countless peach blossoms dancing in the wind... It was a breathtakingly beautiful sword strike, filled with grace yet teeming with deadly danger! The two auras were extinguished almost instantly, disappearing without a trace! ¡°Impossible.¡± Yuan Cang was in disbelief. They were Marquis experts, and there were two of them. How could they be annihilated simultaneously? Even if they had just entered the Marquis Realm, they shouldn¡¯t have been defeated without a fight! ¡°Stop dreaming,¡± suddenly, a calm voice interrupted. Yuan Cang¡¯s pupils shrank as he saw a tall figure approaching slowly from not far away. The figure held a long sword, exuding a terrifying sword intent. It was Meng Changqing. ¡°Stop him!¡± Yuan Cang shouted in panic. The Life and Death Realm experts who had followed him rushed toward Meng Changqing without hesitation. Though they were human, their faces were covered with strange marks, giving the impression that they were completely controlled. Meng Changqing¡¯s gaze was indifferent. He swung his sword, slicing through the void. ¡°Sword One.¡± Over ten Life and Death Realm experts perished instantly, their bodies and souls obliterated. Although it was only the first sword technique, with the enhancement of tenfold sword intent, its power was unimaginable. Even a lower-grade sword technique, in Meng Changqing¡¯s hands, could rival a heavenly-grade technique! This was the power of sword intent ¡ª turning decay into wonder, turning wonder into supremacy! Seeing this, Yuan Cang felt a chill down his spine and, for the first time, regretted his actions. He regretted not uncovering the truth about Tai Xuan Sect sooner! He had been completely misled by his assessment during the martial gathering! At that time, he had deliberately made a move to assess Xi Yingqing¡¯s condition, concluding that Xi Yingqing was at the Life and Death Realm, consistent with the expected growth rate. But now, it was clear that everything had been a lie! ¡°You can¡¯t kill me! You can¡¯t kill me! If I die, Wanxiang Pavilion will surely investigate to the end!¡± as Meng Changqing approached, Yuan Cang hurriedly shouted. He was merely at the Life and Death Realm. How could he be a match for the Southern Region¡¯s top talent? ¡°Enough chatter.¡± Meng Changqing had no patience for his nonsense. In this situation, whatever Yuan Cang said, he had to die. There was no other choice. Swoosh! The sword light flashed like snow. Yuan Cang¡¯s body was torn into pieces, turning into blood. Even his spirit was cut to shreds, dissipating into nothingness! Chapter 204 Chapter 204: A Great Harvest! And Senior Sister Kong, Long Time No See! The sky quickly returned to its azure blue. Hua Ciyan stood in mid-air. A blood-red long sword in her hand slowly disappeared, merging into her palm. The powerful aura around her was also gradually dissipating. It eventually returned to the first level of the Life and Death Realm. Whoosh. Hua Ciyan returned to the cloud ship. Everyone¡¯s gazes were instantly filled with awe. If we hadn¡¯t misheard just now, those two people should be the legendary Marquises! Incredibly powerful beings! Yet they both perished at the hands of this Elder Hua! That means... Elder Hua is a Marquis! Their own sect actually has a Marquis-level warrior! The more they thought about it, the more shocking it became! Whoosh! Meng Changqing¡¯s figure also appeared. ¡°Remember, today¡¯s events must not be spread,¡± the Grand Elder said, lowering his sleeve and speaking solemnly. ¡°Understood,¡± everyone quickly nodded. ¡°Senior Sister is indeed a Marquis-level warrior,¡± Meng Changqing said with a smile. ¡°Looks like you had already guessed,¡± Hua Ciyan also smiled. ¡°I¡¯ve seen Senior Brother Sect Master in action before. When he returned, he even helped fortify my heart, which shows how deep the sect¡¯s foundation is,¡± Meng Changqing said. ¡°Fortify the heart, huh?¡± Hua Ciyan nodded slightly. Senior Brother Sect Master probably revealed some details. ¡°Senior Sister¡¯s strength must be among the top within the Marquis realm, otherwise, it wouldn¡¯t be possible to instantly kill two warriors of the same level,¡± Meng Changqing said, clearly curious. ¡°You could say that,¡± Hua Ciyan chuckled. ¡°But mainly because those two were too weak, just newly ascended to Marquis with shallow foundations in martial arts. ¡°When you step into the Marquis Realm, even just entering it, people of their caliber will be as easy to slay as one stroke per person.¡± Stepping into the Marquis realm... Meng Changqing¡¯s hands tightened under his sleeves. Hua Ciyan¡¯s actions just now had left a deep impression on him. Even the sky above seemed to shatter, with countless peach blossoms swirling, containing powers he had never seen before! Strange and powerful! Not something that True Essence or Soul Power could compare to! It must be unique to the Marquis Realm! ¡°Not far now,¡± Meng Changqing released his hands. He had already reached the fourth level of the Life and Death Realm. With the help of high-level resources from the Genius Battle, it wouldn¡¯t be long before he could finish the path ahead. Reaching the peak of the Life and Death Realm. Then wait a while longer for the Wild Sea to open. Once he find the divine artifact, he could step into the Marquis realm! Marquis! For countless people, it¡¯s a legendary realm, and also the beginning of the great path! ¡°There¡¯s always a higher mountain. ¡°From now on, I¡¯ll be facing not just my peers, but also famous seniors and older generation strongmen.¡± Meng Changqing¡¯s thoughts wandered. There would be more events like today¡¯s. So, he must continue to grow stronger! ¡°Who were those two today?¡± the Grand Elder asked. ¡°One was from the Blood God Demon Sect, the other from the ancient Yu family,¡± Hua Ciyan replied. ¡°Hmph, the Blood God Demon Sect and the Yu family,¡± the Grand Elder snorted coldly. Then he took out a notebook from his chest. He wrote down the names. Everyone was momentarily stunned. They didn¡¯t expect the Grand Elder to be so vengeful. Meng Changqing¡¯s eyes flickered. The Blood God Demon Sect was one of the ten major demon sects. Half a year ago, while practicing the ¡°Holy Spirit Slaughter Sword Technique,¡± he had encountered them in the dungeon of the Punishment Peak. The overall strength of this sect was quite strong. Ranked fifth. They usually operated in regions like Tianxuan, Tianling, and Tianji Prefectures. This also showed that... They were far superior to the Yellow Spring Demon Sect. Because the Yellow Spring Demon Sect usually operated in the more remote regions. As for the ancient Yu family... He had encountered this ancient family during the Genius Battle. It was during the semi-finals. Their strength was decent, but luck played a big part in reaching the semi-finals. At least they were not as good as the Tianxuan Five Sects. So in the fight for third place, they lost to the Purple Sun Palace. ¡°The reputation of the ancient Yu family had always been mediocre. There were many bad rumors before, but unfortunately, there was no evidence, so most of them were left unresolved in the end,¡± Hua Ciyan¡¯s eyes grew cold. ¡°This time, they dared to attack our Tai Xuan Sect. They¡¯re simply tired of living.¡± ¡°Indeed, once the time is right, we must visit them,¡± the Grand Elder said, with the same expression. Everyone exchanged glances. Why were the ancient clans, so powerful in the eyes of the world, regarded as so insignificant by the Grand Elder and Elder Hua? To this, Meng Changqing smiled faintly. Judging by what the Senior Brother Sect Master said before, the ancient clans of the Southern Region may really be insignificant in the eyes of their sect. At the same time, his heart grew cold. If it weren¡¯t for Senior Sister Hua today, the situation would have been dire. After all, no matter how strong he was, he couldn¡¯t possibly be a match for a Marquis! The further one progressed in cultivation, the greater the gap between major realms. It¡¯s very hard to cross! Unlike before, in the Sea Cleaving Realm, he could still rely on the ¡°Linglong Daluo Tian¡± technique to leapfrog and slay Dao Creation Realm warriors! So in the future, if he encountered people from these two forces, he must definitely get some ¡®interest¡¯ back! ¡ª A little over a month later, they finally returned to the Taixuan Sect. And the news of Meng Changqing¡¯s sweeping through many great sects and leading the Tai Xuan Sect to first place had already spread throughout the entire Tianling Prefecture! The sect was fully prepared to welcome them back! Various splendid fireworks bloomed in the sky! All disciples, elders, and high-ranking officials, including the Sect Master, gathered at the mountain gate, waiting for them! When the cloud ship appeared and approached, the sound was like a tidal wave! ¡°Welcome back to the Sect, Young Lord!¡± Meng Changqing stood at the front of the cloud ship. He smiled slightly and returned the greeting. ¡°Thank you all.¡± Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Figures appeared on the cloud ship. It was Xi Yingqing, Mo Shukuang, Shangguan Zhi, and others. ¡°Good lad! ¡°As expected of our sect¡¯s future Sect Master! ¡°Hahaha, once again sweeping the younger generation of the southern region! ¡°Too bad I wasn¡¯t there, or I would have mocked those old folks. Not good back then, even worse now!¡± Shangguan Zhi laughed heartily. As a practitioner of the blade, he was always straightforward and said whatever was on his mind. ¡°Indeed, already possessing tenfold sword intent,¡± Mo Shukuang walked over, patting Meng Changqing on the shoulder. His eyes were filled with shock and admiration. It was clear that even with his extensive experience, he had never seen someone so young step into tenfold true intent. It was truly terrifying. ¡°Senior Brother, Senior Sister,¡± Meng Changqing greeted with a smile. ¡°I had already evaluated you highly, but now I see I still underestimated you,¡± Xi Yingqing said with a smile. His left arm was empty, with only his sleeve gently fluttering. ¡°Senior Brother overpraises me,¡± Meng Changqing said, slightly embarrassed under so much attention and praise, even with his thick skin. Ding! ¡¾Xi Yingqing¡¯s favorability has increased to three stars!¡¿ ¡¾Attribute to be selected!¡¿ ¡¾Triggered extra reward: Attribute Selection Card *3!¡¿ Ding! ¡¾Mo Shukuang¡¯s favorability has increased to two stars!¡¿ ¡¾Attribute to be selected!¡¿ Suddenly, a series of notifications rang in his mind! Meng Changqing was momentarily stunned, then he was filled with joy. Goodness! This was truly unexpected. Their favorability suddenly increased! And it wasn¡¯t just one person. It was a lot of them! All the Senior Brothers and Sisters who were friends with him instantly increased their favorability! But after thinking carefully, it was understandable. After all, he led the sect to win the first place in the Southern Genius Battle, recreating the glory of nearly two hundred years ago! With such a performance, who wouldn¡¯t have their favorability increased? ¡°It¡¯s truly a great harvest!¡± Meng Changqing was excited! But now was not the time to sort it out. He would do so later. ¡°Changqing is much more dazzling than you were back then. In a while, you should step down,¡± the Grand Elder said, approaching. His eyes were still filled with dissatisfaction. All along, the Grand Elder had been quite displeased with the Sect Master and often mentioned the idea of stepping down, especially after Meng Changqing appeared. Even more so, upon hearing this, Xi Yingqing couldn¡¯t help but chuckle. ¡°At least wait until Little Junior Brother steps into the Marquis Realm.¡± ¡°Hmph, then I¡¯ll let you stay a bit longer,¡± the Grand Elder said, finding it reasonable. The others exchanged smiles. Over the years, the Second Senior Brother had always been like this, and they were used to it. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s head inside. I haven¡¯t been back in ages. You wouldn¡¯t leave your junior sister standing at the door, would you?¡± Hua Ciyan spoke up. In the Tai Xuan Eighteen Disciples, she ranked thirteenth, Ku Fengchun was sixteenth, and Meng Changqing was nineteenth. So, referring to herself as a junior sister in front of them was perfectly appropriate. ¡°Thirteenth junior sister, you¡¯re still as naturally beautiful as ever. After all these years, you still look as radiant as before.¡± Upon hearing this, Shangguan Zhi immediately turned his gaze over and smiled as he spoke. ¡°What do you mean by that? Are you implying that I¡¯m old and haggard?¡± Luo Qingtai from Medicine King Peak immediately expressed her displeasure. ¡°Ahem, I didn¡¯t say that.¡± Shangguan Zhi quickly turned sideways. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s head inside. We should give our junior brother and the other disciples a proper welcome.¡± Xi Yingqing chuckled softly. The cloud ship then sailed toward the sect. The disciples below were still staring, only looking away when the cloud boat vanished from their sight. ¡°Is that the young lord? He¡¯s so handsome!¡± ¡°If I could become the young lord¡¯s dao companion, even if it means enjoying the best food, living on Spirit Peak every day, and using the finest elixirs, I¡¯d be willing!¡± ¡°Damn! You really dare to dream big, not willing to lose out on anything!¡± ¡°Even becoming a maid would be a huge blessing! The young lord is now the number one in the Southern Region! The top genius!¡± Many female disciples began to fantasize. The male disciples were the same, but what they desired was to follow him! In the distance stood a slender figure. She kept her distance from the crowd. She looked somewhat forlorn. It was Kong Linxue. Since the Martial Arts Competition, she hadn¡¯t seen Meng Changqing again. The distance between them seemed to be ever-growing, no matter how hard she tried to catch up, she could never reach him, until even his silhouette was out of sight. And the feelings in her heart, perhaps they should be let go. From their first meeting at Pupper Valley, to knowing each other, to becoming close, she once thought that they would eventually be together. But now it seemed like it was all just an illusion. The current Junior Brother Meng was so dazzling. Standing above the heavens, he was like a figure from legend. ¡°Junior Brother Meng, the path you¡¯ll take in the future will surely be filled with clamor, with flowers in full bloom, and with boundless martial fortune. ¡°I sincerely wish you well.¡± A stunning smile appeared on Kong Linxue¡¯s face. She then turned her back to the crowd and left the lively scene. However, as she walked around a corner, she suddenly stopped. Her gaze froze. Because not far away, there was a lush, towering tree, and leaning against the tree was a young man. A gentle breeze blew. Blades of grass fluttered, and the young man¡¯s hair also swayed lightly. ¡°Senior Sister Kong, it¡¯s been a long time.¡± The young man smiled as he spoke. Chapter 205 Chapter 205: Kong Linxue: Junior Brother Meng, You¡¯re Pressing Against Me... ¡°Meng... Junior Brother Meng!¡± Kong Linxue instantly covered her mouth with both hands, her eyes filled with disbelief. Wasn¡¯t Junior Brother Meng just on the cloud ship? How did he suddenly... appear here? ¡°It¡¯s only been half a year, has Senior Sister Kong already forgotten me?¡± The young man before her was none other than Meng Changqing. He stepped forward, coming directly in front of Kong Linxue. Although there were many disciples below, with his spiritual cultivation, he naturally sensed Kong Linxue¡¯s presence. Unlike the others, she stood farther away, seeming a bit solitary. After some thought, Meng Changqing briefly informed the headmaster and left the cloud ship. ¡°Of course not,¡± Kong Linxue hurriedly replied, her heart involuntarily filling with excitement and joy. ¡°I just... I just...¡± Kong Linxue found herself at a loss for words, her awkward and nervous demeanor making Meng Changqing chuckle. He remembered their first meeting, where Kong Linxue was much more composed, acting like the senior sister. But now, before him, she seemed more like the junior sister. ¡°What ¡®just¡¯?¡± Meng Changqing teased. ¡°It¡¯s just that I haven¡¯t seen you for so long, I¡¯m... a bit too happy!¡± Kong Linxue blurted out, her cheeks instantly turning red. How could I just say what was in my heart like that? Hearing this, Meng Changqing smiled and flipped his right hand, revealing two jade hairpins. One appeared ordinary, while the other was precious, radiating a soft glow. ¡°Senior Sister Kong, do you remember this hairpin?¡± Meng Changqing asked. ¡°This is... my hairpin,¡± Kong Linxue was momentarily stunned. Although it wasn¡¯t a particularly valuable item, it was something she had worn since childhood, so she recognized it immediately. ¡°Yes, I happened to come across a jade shop on my journey and had it repaired,¡± Meng Changqing said with a smile. ¡°Take a look and see if there are any flaws.¡± Upon hearing this, Kong Linxue was deeply moved, her heart filled with indescribable emotions. She remembered that the hairpin had shattered while she was protecting Junior Brother Meng during his breakthrough in the Xuanqing Realm. At that time, Junior Brother Meng had picked it up and mentioned that he would have it repaired, but she hadn¡¯t thought much of it. After all, it was just a hairpin. It was the thought that counted. No need to take it to heart. Yet, Junior Brother Meng had remembered and even went to the trouble of getting it fixed. Thinking of this, tears of gratitude welled up in Kong Linxue¡¯s eyes. As the saying goes, true feelings were seen in the details, and this was one of those moments. ¡°This other one, I bought it. It¡¯s a secret artifact, and wearing it for a long time will bring many benefits,¡± Meng Changqing said, placing both hairpins in Kong Linxue¡¯s hands. ¡°Junior Brother Meng...¡± Kong Linxue looked at the hairpins, then at Meng Changqing, her emotions reaching a peak. Her eyes softened with tenderness, and she wanted to speak the feelings she had kept hidden for so long, but the words wouldn¡¯t come. Just then, Meng Changqing suddenly pulled her into his arms, their lips meeting. Kong Linxue¡¯s eyes widened, and tears of joy filled them. The warm sun and gentle breeze accompanied their embrace, surrounded by falling leaves. After a moment, they finally pulled apart. Meng Changqing licked his lips, savoring the moment, while Kong Linxue¡¯s face was flushed, her body drenched in a light sheen of sweat. She leaned shyly into his broad chest, her body weak and pliant, allowing Meng Changqing to clearly feel her curvaceous figure. ¡°Junior Brother Meng...¡± After some time, Kong Linxue gently knocked on Meng Changqing¡¯s chest. ¡°What is it?¡± Meng Changqing asked. ¡°You¡¯re pressing against me,¡± Kong Linxue¡¯s voice was soft. ¡°That¡¯s normal,¡± Meng Changqing replied nonchalantly, leaning closer to her ear and whispering mischievously, ¡°You should feel happy about it.¡± Upon hearing this, Kong Linxue¡¯s face turned even redder, and after a long pause, she muttered, ¡°You¡¯re so improper.¡± Meng Changqing laughed and lifted her into his arms, sitting down on a nearby stone bench. ¡°Give me the hairpins,¡± Meng Changqing said. Kong Linxue obediently released her grip, her expression bashful yet sweet as she allowed him to take them. Meng Changqing carefully placed the hairpins into her hair, though his movements were a bit clumsy. Kong Linxue¡¯s eyes sparkled with happiness. ¡°Looks good,¡± Meng Changqing said, admiring his handiwork. No wonder she was considered the most beautiful disciple of their sect¡¯s younger generation. She didn¡¯t need any adornments to be breathtaking. ¡°Really?¡± Kong Linxue beamed with joy, feeling ecstatic over her beloved¡¯s praise. ¡°Of course,¡± Meng Changqing said seriously. ¡°But... Junior Brother Meng, am I really worthy of you?¡± Kong Linxue suddenly leaned against his chest, her stunning face clouded with a hint of sadness. Although the two of them had clarified their feelings, there were still lingering doubts in her heart. While she was talented and had a bright future, the gap between her and Meng Changqing seemed immense. ¡°All things under heaven are merely about what we desire. It has nothing to do with anything else, especially not love,¡± Meng Changqing said. ¡°Besides, you¡¯re not lacking either. You have second-grade root bone, and your talent in the path of alchemy is exceptional.¡± Indeed, Meng Changqing had always harbored good feelings toward Kong Linxue. From their very first interaction, he had sensed the connection, and her little gestures over time had only solidified her place in his heart. Initially, he hadn¡¯t acted on his feelings because he had been weak, focused on cultivation, and content to let things develop naturally. But now, he had achieved great strength and renown, standing as the foremost talent of the Southern Region¡¯s younger generation. It was time to make room for other aspects of life, such as emotions, before it was too late. As he pondered this, Meng Changqing activated his Observation Eye. ¡¾Friend: Kong Linxue¡¿ ¡¾Race: Human¡¿ ¡¾Cultivation: Ninth Level of Dao Creation Realm¡¿ ¡¾Root Bone: Second Grade¡¿ ¡¾Comprehension: Superior¡¿ ¡¾Alchemy Proficiency: Fifth Grade¡¿ Fifth-grade proficiency? Meng Changqing was slightly stunned. It seemed Kong Linxue¡¯s talent in alchemy far surpassed his expectations. In such a short time, she had progressed to fifth-grade proficiency! He recalled that she had only been at third-grade before. What was even more impressive was that typically, reaching fifth-grade proficiency required one to advance to the Divine Attainment Realm, as the Dao Creation Realm usually capped at fourth-grade. ¡°Alchemy, huh?¡± Speaking of her expertise, Kong Linxue¡¯s eyes sparkled with confidence. ¡°I¡¯ll let you in on a secret. I¡¯m already considered a fifth-grade alchemist, but I can only refine the most basic fifth-grade pills. Once I unlock my spiritual reservoir and gain soul power, I¡¯ll be able to craft more valuable ones.¡± ¡°That¡¯s amazing!¡± Meng Changqing feigned shock, though he was genuinely impressed. Alchemy skill didn¡¯t strictly follow cultivation levels. It was entirely based on talent. Some alchemists in the Divine Attainment Realm were only third-grade in proficiency. Talents like Kong Linxue, who outstripped their cultivation in alchemy, were extremely rare! Mhm! Kong Linxue nodded eagerly, like a pecking chick. ¡°I may not be great at combat or cultivation, but I¡¯m very skilled in alchemy! Don¡¯t forget, I¡¯ve always been the most promising disciple of the Medicine King Peak. If you hadn¡¯t grown so quickly, I would have been able to give you alchemical pills at every major breakthrough!¡± Hearing this, Meng Changqing gently patted her back. Indeed, his growth rate had far outstripped that of his peers, even those with the highest-grade roots. Even Mo Xiaoyu, with her first-grade root bone, had been left far behind. Chapter 206 Chapter 206: The First Five-Star Friend! ¡°It seems that our Tai Xuan Sect will produce a Medicine King in the future,¡± Meng Changqing said with a smile. ¡°I never dared to imagine it before, but now I¡¯ll work hard towards that goal,¡± Kong Linxue said seriously. ¡°Because I want to always stay by your side.¡± ¡°Good,¡± Meng Changqing nodded. Alchemists were extremely valuable, especially high-grade alchemists. Many top-tier resources, spiritual herbs, beast blood, and such require an alchemist to remove toxins and process them. Otherwise, they were completely unusable. Ding! ¡¾Favorability has increased to five stars!¡¿ The voice of the system echoed in Meng Changqing¡¯s mind. He was stunned for a moment. Five stars? Wasn¡¯t it two or three stars before? How did it jump so much? But upon reflection, it made sense. After all, she was already his woman, so naturally, the favorability would max out! And he was genuinely sincere, without any pretense. ¡¾Friend Kong Linxue¡¯s favorability has reached five stars. In the future, you can freely merge any attributes without any restrictions.¡¿ The system¡¯s voice chimed again. ¡°The first five-star favorability,¡± Meng Changqing thought to himself. To be honest, he hadn¡¯t expected it to be Kong Linxue. He thought it would be his aunt. After all, her favorability had reached four stars long ago. ¡°Fate is unpredictable,¡± Meng Changqing mused, then a smile of joy flashed across his face. He knew that Kong Linxue¡¯s alchemy skills had reached the fifth grade, which was an extremely valuable attribute. Once merged, he would also become a fifth-grade alchemist! ¡°I¡¯ll sort it all out later,¡± he thought. For now, his system panel was overflowing with rewards. After spending some more time with Kong Linxue, they wandered around several places in the sect. The scene of the two holding hands was witnessed by many disciples, all of whom were shocked. Kong Linxue blushed a little, but Meng Changqing didn¡¯t mind and acted openly. After about two hours, Meng Changqing left, as he still needed to visit the Sect Master¡¯s hall. ¡ª Inside the hall, all the senior brothers and sisters were present. They hadn¡¯t been waiting long but had arrived just a short while ago. At the moment, they were engaged in a heated discussion. ¡°The Blood God Demon Sect and the ancient Yu family have some nerve! ¡°They dare to attack disciples of our Tai Xuan Sect! ¡°They¡¯re courting death! ¡°Sect Master, why don¡¯t a few of us disguise ourselves and go pay them a visit? ¡°I¡¯d like to see if the Yu family¡¯s blade techniques are as domineering as mine!¡± Shangguan Zhi raged, his fiery temper flaring up, and the long blade on his back trembled wildly. ¡°We¡¯ll wait a little longer,¡± Xi Yingqing said calmly. ¡°Yuan Cang is dead, and the Wanxiang Pavilion will surely investigate. When the attention shifts to the opening of the Wild Sea, you can go have your fun, but remember not to use our sect¡¯s techniques.¡± ¡°Haha, that¡¯s what I¡¯ve been waiting to hear!¡± Shangguan Zhi exclaimed excitedly. ¡°Damn, it¡¯s been so many years, and I¡¯ve been cooped up here doing nothing!¡± Still, he had his doubts. The sect¡¯s long-standing strategy had been to remain hidden, to bide their time. Now, the Sect Master was saying they could go out, even though they still needed to pick the right opportunity. But at least it was a start. ¡°Only two of you can go. Decide among yourselves. After all, the golden rule of the Central Province Holy Land is still in effect, and I can¡¯t conceal too much of the heavenly secrets,¡± Xi Yingqing said. ¡°Well, it has to be me!¡± Shangguan Zhi immediately volunteered. ¡°And the other will be me,¡± Mo Shukuang said. ¡°I¡¯d like to stretch my old bones as well,¡± Luo Qingtai added. ¡°Senior brothers, sisters,¡± Meng Changqing entered, and the hall fell silent, the argument ceasing. ¡°You¡¯re here.¡± Everyone smiled genuinely. ¡°Come, sit here,¡± Xi Yingqing gestured to the seat next to him, almost on the same level as his own. In the sect, there was still a hierarchy, even among brothers and sisters. ¡°You are the Young Sect Master and the next Sect Leader. You should sit here. Once you are titled Marquis, you can sit at the head seat directly,¡± the Great Elder said. ¡°Alright,¡± Meng Changqing walked over and sat on the throne. He couldn¡¯t help but admire the view. The so-called ¡°view¡± was the sense of power and status that came with the seat, as if the entire world was beneath his feet. It was a feeling you couldn¡¯t experience without sitting there. ¡°Little Junior Brother smells like a woman. Which lucky lady were you with this afternoon?¡± Hua Ciyan teased, sitting nearby, her nose twitching. The others sniffed and indeed noticed the scent of a woman. ¡°At this age, it¡¯s natural to have a woman. Experiencing the seven emotions and six desires early will benefit your cultivation later,¡± Shangguan Zhi laughed. ¡°Who is the lucky woman from our sect?¡± Luo Qingtai asked. ¡°She is a disciple from Senior Sister Luo¡¯s peak, Kong Linxue,¡± Meng Changqing said truthfully, clearing his throat. ¡°We got to know each other during our time in the inner sect, and she has deep feelings for me.¡± ¡°So it¡¯s that girl,¡± Luo Qingtai nodded with a kind smile. ¡°Kong Linxue may not be skilled in combat, but she has exceptional talent in alchemy.¡± ¡°She¡¯s only at the ninth level of the Dao Creation Realm, but her alchemical skills have already reached the fifth grade. If she continues at this pace, her future achievements may surpass mine!¡± ¡°She is a key disciple of my Medicine King Peak.¡± Fifth grade! Upon hearing that, Shangguan Zhi and the others exchanged glances. To possess fifth-grade alchemical skills at such a young age was truly extraordinary. And the fact that her alchemy skills surpassed her cultivation level was even rarer. This kind of talent was something only heard of in a few ancient forces of the Central Province. ¡°Impressive,¡± the Great Elder said, pleased. The younger generation in the sect was truly thriving. ¡°With her potential, she¡¯s barely worthy of you,¡± Luo Qingtai said. ¡°You flatter her, Senior Sister. Linxue is truly outstanding,¡± Meng Changqing replied, almost calling her Senior Sister but quickly correcting himself to avoid mixing up their ranks. ¡°I had planned to find someone for you, but since you already have someone, I can rest easy,¡± the Great Elder said with satisfaction. Everything seemed to be moving in the right direction. He could already see the prosperous future of the sect. ¡°Master, our sect is now a top-tier sect. In the future, it will become a grand church!¡± the Great Elder thought to himself as a figure appeared in his mind ¡ª his father, who was also everyone¡¯s master, though he had long since passed. ¡°When will you give us a little Young Sect Master? Given your situation, your offspring¡¯s talent wouldn¡¯t be bad,¡± Xi Yingqing teased. ¡°Not anytime soon,¡± Meng Changqing waved his hand. He wasn¡¯t considering children just yet. ¡°Alright,¡± Xi Yingqing nodded. It was just a joke anyway. No strong cultivator would think about descendants at this stage, unless they felt their path was completely blocked and there was no hope for further progress. ¡°Now, let¡¯s discuss the matter of the Wild Sea,¡± Xi Yingqing said. With that, everyone¡¯s expressions turned serious. This time, thanks to Meng Changqing, the sect had secured a total of ten Wild Tokens! Chapter 207 Chapter 207: The Wish Spirit Fruit and Reward Consolidation, Fusion! Entering the Wild Sea was restricted. No one beyond the Marquis Realm could enter. Once they attempt to, they would be immediately ejected. Thus, each power only sends Life and Death Realm warriors. ¡°The Wild Sea opens only once every hundred years. ¡°It is vast within and full of abundant resources. ¡°Unfortunately, we have never entered it, but we have obtained maps and information about the resource points from other forces.¡± Xi Yingqing began to explain in detail. The human race had controlled the Wild Sea for many years, so they naturally knew its ins and outs well, including where Marquis treasures and Marquis Realm resources would appear. ¡°There are a total of ten Marquis treasures of varying levels, and they will be the targets of competition for everyone involved. ¡°The treasures are divided into three tiers. The higher the level, the greater the success rate of breakthrough. ¡°The most important aspect is that, after breaking through, the foundation of the Great Dao established will be firmer and thicker, with long-lasting effects. ¡°The third-tier treasure is extremely rare, with only one existing, located in the center of the Wild Sea. It¡¯s called the Wish Spirit Fruit. ¡°I hope you can obtain this fruit.¡± Xi Yingqing looked at Meng Changqing. Upon hearing this, Meng Changqing raised an eyebrow. It seemed there was something special about it. ¡°According to its effects, this fruit will greatly benefit your cultivation of the Undying Truth Heavenly King Art,¡± Xi Yingqing explained. So that¡¯s it. Meng Changqing suddenly understood. Treasures don¡¯t just aid in breakthroughs, they also have a variety of other effects. Wish Spirit Fruit ¡ª what a fitting name. ¡°As for the other treasures, do your best, but don¡¯t force it.¡± Xi Yingqing smiled, ¡°As per tradition, Central Province has been allocated eighty spots, with Northern Plains, Western Desert, Southern Region, and Eastern Sea each receiving twenty.¡± ¡°This means you will encounter the prodigies and top talents of the other three regions.¡± Top talents. This was a title reserved for the top geniuses of each region. ¡°It¡¯ll be good to meet them. I¡¯ve heard the techniques of the other regions are quite unique, but I¡¯m not sure exactly how,¡± Meng Changqing said with a smile. ¡°And then there are the prodigies of the Demonic Sect,¡± Xi Yingqing said slowly, ¡°The ten sects of the Demonic Sect have existed for a long time, and they¡¯ve naturally kept invitations to many ancient places.¡± ¡°The Demonic Path, huh?¡± Meng Changqing¡¯s gaze flickered. He hadn¡¯t expected that. He thought the Wild Sea would only have the young generation of the Five regions. ¡°But with your strength, whether it¡¯s the talents of the three regions or the prodigies of the Demonic Sect, few will be able to match you,¡± Xi Yingqing said with a smile, ¡°The only thing to be mindful of is that the operating rules of ancient places differ from reality. After entering, you will be somewhat suppressed. It varies from person to person and region to region. ¡°But all beings are equal, so everyone will experience the same. ¡°There¡¯s still a year before the Wild Sea opens. With your current performance, you¡¯ll definitely be targeted by many, so be prepared.¡± Hearing this, Meng Changqing nodded slightly, his face showing a smile as well. To be honest, the previous Genius Battle wasn¡¯t as exciting as he¡¯d hoped. In fact, it was a bit dull. But this Wild Sea should be much more interesting. A year¡¯s time would be enough for him to reach the peak of the Life and Death Realm. If he was lucky, he might even push his fist intent to tenfolds. He remembered Senior Sister Hua saying that only when true intent reaches its full tenfolds will it undergo a qualitative change. ¡°Additionally, here are the resources you¡¯ll need for cultivating in the Life and Death Realm, rewards you earned from the Genius Battle. I¡¯ve selected them all for you. ¡°They should be enough for your future cultivation.¡± Xi Yingqing took out a storage ring. ¡°Alright.¡± Meng Changqing accepted it. Without resource support, relying solely on self-comprehension wouldn¡¯t be enough within a year. After all, the further one progresses, the harder cultivation becomes. Even with his extraordinary comprehension and the unity of heaven and man, it would still be tough. But now, it would be more than enough. ¡°Thanks to you, the other disciples will also receive abundant Divine Attainment Realm resources. They might even break into the Life and Death Realm before the Wild Sea opens,¡± the Grand Elder, who had been standing by, said. The so-called ¡®other disciples¡¯ referred to people like Mo Xiaoyu. Within the sect, only a few had the potential to reach the Life and Death Realm within a year. There were ten Wild Tokens in total, and they couldn¡¯t be wasted due to a lack of candidates. As for the few senior brothers and sisters present, they had already surpassed the standard. Of course, the sect likely had other Life and Death Realm warriors training in secret, not just the ones on the surface. They chatted for another half hour. They discussed many details regarding the Wild Sea, as well as the general situation of the three other regions and the Demonic Sect prodigies. Meng Changqing committed it all to memory. Even though he had no opponents within the Life and Death Realm, it was still better to be cautious. Besides, this wasn¡¯t some mere competition. It was an ancient land ¡ª a treasure fight! It would be dangerous and bloody. Upon returning to his cultivation spot, Meng Changqing activated the formation and sat cross-legged. Next, he needed to sort through the rewards he had just received. Opening the interface, he saw a host of attributes waiting to be selected. Not counting the brothers from the Shi family, there were three: From the Headmaster, Mo Shukuang, and Hua Ciyan. As for the Grand Elder, Luo Qingtai, and Shangguan Zhi, he hadn¡¯t yet added them as friends. But there was no rush. The three likely had high favorability toward him already. Once he found the chance to add them as friends later, they would likely start at two stars, maybe even higher. He remembered that his aunt was four stars right after being added. ¡°Let¡¯s first fuse Linxue¡¯s Fifth-Grade Pill Dao insights.¡± Meng Changqing proceeded step by step. Though he didn¡¯t have time for pill refining at the moment, it was always good to have more skills. They would surely come in handy eventually. A hum sounded. A vast amount of Pill Dao knowledge surged into his mind, quickly absorbed. Compared to the previous third-grade level, this was much more extensive and also helped Meng Changqing learn more about spiritual herbs. It turned out there were so many miraculous spiritual herbs in the world. This would be incredibly helpful when he entered Wild Sea later. At the very least, he would be able to recognize rare herbs at first glance, rather than being clueless and unaware of their value. After a brief moment, the fusion was complete. ¡°Now, let¡¯s move on to the extra rewards.¡± Meng Changqing looked at the lower section of the interface. This time, the only extra reward came from the Sect Master, but it was just three attribute selection cards, not something more substantial. Still, it was quite good. He was almost out of attribute selection cards, with only one left. Now, they had been replenished. Chapter 208 Chapter 208: Eye of Truth! Witnessing... the Truth! Meng Changqing carefully examined Mo Shukuang and Hua Ciyan¡¯s panels. To be honest, there was nothing left that he wanted, so he let the system randomly select two attributes. They would be used for decomposition. From Mo Shukuang, he obtained ¡°First-Grade Root Bone.¡± From Hua Ciyan, he got ¡°The 24th Supreme Emperor Sword Sutra.¡± After decomposing them, good things came out. ¡°Attribute Acquisition Card *1.¡± ¡°Heaven-Tier Martial Skill Proficiency Cards *3.¡± ¡°Not bad!¡± A gleam of joy flashed in Meng Changqing¡¯s eyes. The Attribute Acquisition Card was far more valuable than a Selection Card! It was because of this card that he was able to obtain True Demon Art from Bai Suxi! Incredibly powerful! Moreover, Heaven-Tier Martial Skill Proficiency Cards! This was the first time they had ever appeared! They had never shown up before! These cards could directly enhance one¡¯s proficiency with Heaven-Tier techniques or martial skills! Although he was currently acquiring perfect techniques from the Sect Master, they would surely come in handy in the future. Better to save them for later. ¡°Now, the final one is the Sect Master.¡± Meng Changqing¡¯s eyes became heated. The second volume of the Undying Truth Heavenly King Art! Naturally, he didn¡¯t have time to cultivate this technique, even though the Sect Master had given him ample resources. His plan all along was to fuse with the Sect Master¡¯s version directly. Since there was a ready-made one, why waste time, energy, and resources? Increasing favorability was the most efficient option. ¡°System, use the Selection Card and fuse with the second volume of the Undying Truth Heavenly King Art!¡± Meng Changqing silently commanded. Ding! [One Attribute Selection Card consumed!] [Attribute obtained: The second volume of the Immortal Truth Heavenly King Art!] [Fusion beginning!] Boom! In an instant, Meng Changqing felt his sea of consciousness tremble! It was as if something terrifying had descended! Countless lines appeared, densely interweaving within his consciousness, as if constructing something! At the same time, an overwhelming stream of information flowed into his awareness. It was all about the second volume. The Eternal Heaven Sutra was the general outline, and the Undying Truth Heavenly King Art was its most crucial part. The first volume helped martial artists achieve the state of harmony between heaven and man. It greatly benefitted both cultivation and comprehension. As for the effects, Meng Changqing had experienced them ¡ª it was terrifying. Otherwise, with just extraordinary comprehension, he wouldn¡¯t have been able to progress so rapidly at the Life and Death Realm level! As for the second volume? It helped martial artists construct the Eye of Truth. In fact, both the first and subsequent volumes ultimately aimed to guide martial artists in seeking the truth and discovering its existence! Heaven and man in harmony, and the Eye of Truth were merely supplementary aspects. They were just tools. Yet, even as tools, they had incredibly powerful effects. If harmony between heaven and man couldn¡¯t lead to the truth, the next step was to construct the Eye of Truth. This eye needed ancient items as its foundation and many secret techniques to forge. Through this eye, one could see beyond the world¡¯s void, illusions, and mists, gradually glimpsing the essence. The second volume¡¯s level had reached the middle rank of Heaven-Tier. Thus, the fusion took much longer, lasting a full two hours. Phew! Meng Changqing opened his eyes. His gaze had become incredibly indifferent. It was as if all emotion had been drained! He resembled the legendary eternal Dao of Heaven! And deep within his eyes, there seemed to be another pair of eyes, extending endlessly, as if infinite! It instilled fear in anyone who saw it! At the same time, the space in front of him began to distort, like a net being pulled from deep waters, revealing many lines. These lines appeared and disappeared intermittently. It was as if they didn¡¯t exist in reality. Whoosh! Meng Changqing suddenly closed his eyes! Blood flowed down the corners of his eyes in two horrifying streaks! It was shocking to behold! ¡°Did I... see it?!¡± He opened his eyes again. Although his eyes were still blood-red, they were now filled with excitement. After fusing with the second volume, his understanding of the Undying Truth Heavenly King Art had deepened greatly. The so-called truth... seemed to be rules! The fundamental principles that governed the operation of everything and the construction of the world! But the power of this level was so profound and powerful that only the strongest of legends could even approach or master it! And now! Thanks to the Heavenly King Art, he had caught a glimpse of it ahead of time! He couldn¡¯t even put into words what he had seen... He only knew that it was vast. So vast, it couldn¡¯t remain in his memory for long. It constantly faded away! If not for the Eye of Truth, it wouldn¡¯t have lingered even for a moment. ¡°Rules.¡± A deep desire rose in Meng Changqing¡¯s heart! Although he hadn¡¯t touched them directly, he could feel the terrifying power they contained! If he could control them... Almost as soon as this thought appeared, he suppressed it. With his current physical body and spirit, touching such power would likely lead to only one result ¡ª complete annihilation! This was a warning from his very instincts. ¡°If I master the third volume, could it be possible?¡± He remembered the Sect Master saying before: The first volume was for sensing, the second for peeking, and the third... for stealing! ¡°Tomorrow, I¡¯ll visit the Sect Master and ask for clarification. If it¡¯s truly possible...¡± Meng Changqing¡¯s eyes burned with excitement. After all, he still had one Attribute Acquisition Card! He could fuse with the third volume from the Sect Master right away! No need to increase favorability. Closing his eyes, he saw that in his sea of consciousness, a massive eye was now hovering. It wasn¡¯t human-like. It was indescribable. Its pupil was multicolored, radiating infinite light. It was filled with a sacred aura! This was the Eye of Truth! Through it, Meng Changqing had glimpsed the legendary truth, even if only for a few breaths! The main issue was that his cultivation level was still too low. His mental and spiritual will weren¡¯t strong enough to sustain it! ¡°Mental and spiritual will...¡± Meng Changqing opened his eyes again. He had heard that mental and spiritual will had various levels. He wasn¡¯t sure what they were, but the last one... It was said to be Immortal! Chapter 209 Chapter 209: Martial Dao Domain, Condensed in Advance! The enhancement of spiritual will was extremely difficult. The further you go, the slower it becomes. The best way to improve it was through Demonic Qi! However, Demonic Qi wasn¡¯t that easy to refine, especially high-level Demonic Qi. Capturing them was as difficult as reaching the heavens! ¡°It¡¯s a pity that I can no longer enter the sect¡¯s Demon Abyss. Otherwise, with the help of the True Demon Skill, I could hunt again.¡± A flash of regret crossed Meng Changqing¡¯s eyes. Without Demonic Qi, he wouldn¡¯t have been able to quickly complete the path to the Divine Attainment Realm and step into the Life and Death Realm. But now that he¡¯s reached the Life and Death Realm, he can no longer enter the Demon Abyss. It would cause an abnormality between heaven and earth. Unless it¡¯s a stronger Demon Abyss! Only then could he enter unnoticed. Collecting his thoughts, Meng Changqing leaned back. He didn¡¯t plan to cultivate tonight. The energy consumption from using the Eye of Truth was too great. He needed a proper rest. ¡ª The next day, the sun rose high. Meng Changqing had mostly recovered. He directly went to the Sect Master¡¯s hall. He needed the contents of the third volume of the Heavenly King Art! ¡°What? ¡°You¡¯ve already mastered the second volume?¡± In the spiritual world, Xi Yingqing was in disbelief. He remembered passing it on to Meng Changqing just three to four months ago. Although he had said, ¡°I hope you¡¯ve mastered it by the time you return from the Southern Genius Battle,¡± that was just an unrealistic expectation. After all, it had taken him a long time to master the second volume, only fully achieving it when he was about to step into the Marquis Realm. And now, how long has it been for Meng Changqing? This was indeed an exaggeration! ¡°Good, good, good.¡± Rare excitement flashed in Xi Yingqing¡¯s eyes. He didn¡¯t care how Meng Changqing mastered it. After all, the child of destiny was understandable. ¡°Your cultivation speed repeatedly surpasses my expectations. ¡°By the way, when you used the Eye of Truth last night, did you see the truth?¡± Xi Yingqing asked. ¡°Yes.¡± Meng Changqing answered truthfully, giving a rough description of the lines he saw. The existence of truth was too ethereal, difficult to perceive, and impossible to grasp. At this point, he could barely remember, leaving only vague impressions. Hearing this, Xi Yingqing gave Meng Changqing a deep look. A genius! To glimpse the truth on the first attempt. He remembered it took him twenty attempts before he saw it. But whether you can see it depends on luck. Once you do see it, it¡¯s like having a coordinate, allowing you to continue to observe it in the future by operating the Eye of Truth. ¡°The Eye of Truth will greatly benefit your future cultivation.¡± Xi Yingqing said, ¡°Above Martial Dao Intent is Martial Dao True Intent. Do you know what¡¯s above True Intent?¡± ¡°What?¡± Meng Changqing grew curious. He really didn¡¯t know. None of the miscellaneous books he read contained such information. ¡°The Domain, Martial Dao Domain,¡± Xi Yingqing said. ¡°Martial Dao Domain?¡± Meng Changqing¡¯s eyes gleamed slightly. Just the sound of it seemed high-class. ¡°The Domain is a transformation of True Intent, akin to the birth of a new world,¡± Xi Yingqing said slowly, standing with his hands behind his back. ¡°Thus, to condense a Domain, one must comprehend the rules of the world. ¡°Generally speaking, only those who have stepped into the Marquis Realm have the qualifications to glimpse the existence of rules. ¡°By that time, the many secret stores of the spirit and body will have fully fused and interconnected, called the state of no leakage, also known as the legendary innate state. ¡°In this state, you can perceive the existence of rules. ¡°However, for us, it¡¯s not necessary to reach the Marquis Realm. The Heavenly King Art allows us to involve ourselves in this level much earlier. ¡°Taking countless steps ahead of our predecessors! ¡°You are even faster than I was back then, which is a good thing.¡± Xi Yingqing sighed with emotion. ¡°According to Senior Brother, to condense the Domain, one must be in the Marquis Realm?¡± Meng Changqing picked up on the key point. ¡°Yes, under normal circumstances, because only a Marquis Realm can bear the power of the rules.¡± A smile surfaced on Xi Yingqing¡¯s face. He knew exactly what Meng Changqing was thinking. ¡°It¡¯s not impossible to condense the Domain before reaching the Marquis realm. You need to master the third volume of the Heavenly King Art. ¡°Once you do, you can steal a trace of the power of the rules, transforming it into your own and becoming the foundation of your Domain. ¡°You won¡¯t have to worry about your body or spirit being unable to handle the consequences. ¡°But there¡¯s a precondition for this. ¡°You must first comprehend the rules. Only when you reach a certain level of understanding can you use the third volume to steal them.¡± Xi Yingqing added. ¡°I see.¡± Meng Changqing nodded in realization. He felt a rush of excitement. With an Acquisition Card in hand, mastering the third volume would be ridiculously easy. ¡°However, the difficulty of cultivating the third volume is extremely high. I personally suggest you don¡¯t rush it.¡± Xi Yingqing smiled. ¡°Your Martial Dao foundation is already incredibly deep. Very few people can compare to you. ¡°Moreover, understand this: not every Marquis Realm has a Martial Dao Domain! ¡°On the contrary, it¡¯s extremely rare. ¡°Almost as rare as hen¡¯s teeth. ¡°Most Marquis Realms are still lingering at the True Intent level. ¡°You are far ahead of them already. ¡°Since you¡¯ve mastered the second volume, I¡¯ll pass the third volume to you.¡± With that, Xi Yingqing waved his right hand, and countless petals flew into the air. They formed a jade slip, which hovered in front of Meng Changqing. Without hesitation, Meng Changqing pressed it to his forehead. In an instant, countless golden words appeared in his sea of consciousness. They transformed into an unmatched chapter. Compared to the previous two volumes, this one was even more obscure and profound. ¡°These are the resources you need to cultivate the third volume. Take them.¡± Xi Yingqing handed him a storage ring. His expression grew slightly more serious. Clearly, these resources were extremely precious! It seemed this was the only set available! ¡°Thank you, Senior Brother,¡± Meng Changqing accepted it. Come to think of it, he hadn¡¯t used any of the resources Xi Yingqing had given him for the Heavenly King Art. They were still sitting in his ring. Could they be used to create another Heavenly King Art cultivator? ¡°Additionally, you can start cultivating the ¡®Fist of Truth.¡¯ Now that you¡¯ve glimpsed the existence of rules, even if they¡¯re just the most basic.¡± Xi Yingqing said. ¡°Understood.¡± Meng Changqing nodded. Although the ¡®Fist of Truth¡¯ was only at the early stage of the Heavenly-tier in terms of grade, that was due to the type of energy it required. If it was powered by ordinary true essence, its power would indeed only be at the early Heavenly grade. But if it were fueled by the power of a Domain? A single punch might truly reverse heaven and earth, collapsing mountains and overturning rivers! Chapter 210 Chapter 210: Breaking Heaven and Earth¡¯s Suppression, Dominating the World! ¡°If you can condense a domain before entering the Wild Sea, the suppression of rules on you there will be greatly reduced,¡± Xi Yingqing said with a smile. However, it was more of a joke. As he mentioned earlier, the difficulty of cultivating the third volume was extremely high, far surpassing the first two volumes! In his opinion, no matter how much of a prodigy Meng Changqing was, it would be impossible to master it within a year. It would likely take at least two or three years, and that was a conservative estimate. He himself had taken almost five or six years to accomplish it. ¡°Is that so?¡± Meng Changqing¡¯s eyes flickered. ¡°Yes, the rules of the ancient lands operate differently from reality. People from outside who enter will be suppressed. But if you have your own domain, you can reduce that suppression and make your strength closer to its full potential. If you¡¯re strong enough, you might even shatter the suppression entirely and dominate the world!¡± Xi Yingqing laughed. ¡°Dominating the world, huh?¡± Meng Changqing¡¯s lips curled slightly. This gave him even more reason to condense a martial domain. How could he tolerate being bound by shackles after entering? ¡°Thank you, Senior Brother, for your guidance. I¡¯ll take my leave now.¡± With everything he needed in hand, Meng Changqing naturally wanted to hurry back to train. ¡°Go ahead,¡± Xi Yingqing nodded, watching Meng Changqing walk away. His gaze landed on a distant flower field, where eight tombstones stood. ¡°Such terrifying potential. Every evaluation seems to underestimate him,¡± Xi Yingqing chuckled, shaking his head. ¡°Could he surpass my expectations again this time? It shouldn¡¯t be possible. The third volume was really difficult.¡± Back at the cultivation hall, Meng Changqing sat cross-legged and took a deep breath, silently saying to himself, ¡°System, use the acquisition card and fuse with Senior Brother Xi Yingqing¡¯s Undying Truth Heavenly King Art ¨C Third Volume!¡± Ding! [One acquisition card used!] [Attribute acquired: Undying Truth Heavenly King Art ¨C Third Volume (Perfection)!] [Fusing now!] With that, a familiar scene unfolded. His sea of consciousness trembled, and countless lines emerged, merging into the Eye of Truth. In an instant, the Eye of Truth vibrated as if it were about to undergo a transformation! At the same time, an overwhelming amount of information surged into his mind. Meng Changqing focused his thoughts and absorbed the knowledge intensely. Two hours later, he exhaled deeply. His Eye of Truth had changed dramatically. It now glowed with a golden, divine light, appearing sacred and supreme. According to the third volume, the Eye of Truth not only had the power of perception but could now also steal rules. How much he could steal depended on his strength. For someone in the Life and Death Realm, stealing even one or two strands of rule power would be impressive! ¡°Looks like I¡¯ve got my work cut out for me,¡± Meng Changqing muttered as he opened his eyes. Condensing a martial domain was no easy task. First, he would need to steal a strand of rule power to form the foundation of the domain. Next, his martial foundation had to be deep enough, such as achieving tenfold mastery in sword intent, to color the rules and transform them into a Sword Domain. Finally, his physical body and mental strength would need to be continuously enhanced. Although the Heavenly King Art allowed him to bear the weight of rule power in the Life and Death Realm, it was still barely enough, and there would undoubtedly be some pressure. ¡ª Time passed, and half a year flew by. The excitement surrounding the Southern Genius Battle gradually faded. However, people still spoke frequently of Meng Changqing, and many were astonished by him. Who would have thought that this disciple from the Tai Xuan Sect could sweep through the younger generation in the Southern Region and claim the top position? He had become the pinnacle figure of his generation. Meanwhile, Meng¡¯s family in Yunshui City became the envy of many, including various factions. How could a small family produce such a monstrous talent? It was truly a blessing! Thanks to the support of the Tai Xuan Sect, the Meng family flourished. Their territory expanded, and they received a significant influx of resources, enabling many elders to step into the Sea Cleaving Realm, while more and more disciples reached the Vein Tempering Realm. Everything was progressing in the right direction. Within the Tai Xuan Sect, the news of Meng Changqing and Kong Linxue had spread far and wide, leaving many female disciples heartbroken. The Tai Xuan Sect¡¯s prodigious young sect master had been taken. However, there was no jealousy toward Kong Linxue, as she was recognized as the most beautiful female disciple of the younger generation and was considered a perfect match for the junior sect master. ¡ª Creak~ The door opened, and a tall figure emerged ¡ª it was Meng Changqing. He was bare-chested, his perfect muscles on full display, exuding an overwhelming masculine charm that could easily make any young maiden fall for him. ¡°Up so early? You could have stayed a bit longer,¡± a soft voice called from behind ¡ª it was Kong Linxue. She was draped in a thin robe, her snow-white skin barely visible, and her graceful curves were enticingly revealed. ¡°It¡¯s time to train,¡± Meng Changqing said, turning to embrace her. Kong Linxue¡¯s cheeks flushed slightly. As they had already clarified their feelings, their relationship had naturally progressed. ¡°Your cultivation has improved again. It looks like it won¡¯t be long before you reach the peak of the Life and Death Realm,¡± Kong Linxue remarked, her arms wrapped around his waist. Her eyes were filled with love and admiration. In the entire sect, there was no one who could cultivate as quickly as Meng Changqing. Kong Linxue herself had reached the fifth level of the Divine Attainment Realm, thanks in large part to being a key figure on the Medicine King Peak and also benefiting from the high-level resources from the Genius Battle, courtesy of Meng Changqing. Meng Changqing nodded slightly. Despite indulging in some moments of softness over the past half-year, he remained diligent in his cultivation. As a result, his progress had been swift ¡ª he was now at the eighth level of the Life and Death Realm and nearing the ninth. Once he reached the ninth level, he could fully devote himself to condensing his martial domain. Additionally, he needed to further hone his fist intent, as the Fist of Truth was still waiting for him. Chapter 211 Chapter 211: White Lotus Holy Sect, True Martial Domain! The martial techniques that can be driven by the power of a domain are definitely stronger than Sword Twenty Four. Unless one comprehended Sword Twenty Five! It must also be able to be driven by the power of a domain. I remember the headmaster once said that the ¡°Eternal Heavenly Sutra¡± actually contained sword techniques with immense power, but they were lost over time. But it doesn¡¯t matter. If it¡¯s lost, so be it. If there¡¯s no path, then one must create their own! Meng Changqing was confident in this. He just needed to increase his foundation. If only he could browse the library of the Proud Sword Sect thoroughly. Such profound heritage from a grand sect and one focused entirely on the way of the sword, even just spending a single night there would yield great rewards. Currently, the sword teachings of his sect offered little help to him. In the blink of an eye, two months passed. There were only four months left until the opening of the Wild Sea. Almost every force that could participate was preparing with all their might. Everything was calm, yet during this time, a major event happened in the Southern Region! The recently emerged demonic force, the White Lotus Sacred Sect, was developing rapidly and astonishingly annexed the Yellow Springs Demon Sect. Though the Yellow Springs Demon Sect ranked last among the ten great demonic sects, it was still relatively powerful. Its strength was that of a grand sect! That it was swallowed by a newly risen power was truly shocking news. The most stunning part came next. After swallowing the Yellow Springs Demon Sect, the White Lotus Sacred Sect launched a surprise attack on the ancient Yu Family. That day, the sound of battle filled the skies, with the clashing of weapons everywhere. Many people died, nearly tens of thousands. Both from the ancient Yu Family and the White Lotus Sacred Sect. But the Yu Family, being a top ancient clan with immense power and profound heritage not only repelled the White Lotus Sacred Sect but also killed two powerful members of the sect. This event shook the Southern Region. For hundreds of years, since the sacred lands had emerged and cleansed the demonic forces, the world had been peaceful, and the demonic sects had not dared to show themselves, let alone launch such a large-scale attack and attacking a top-tier ancient clan! Could this be a signal? Is the demonic path about to rise again? Many top-tier grand sects took this opportunity to expend great effort in cleansing hidden demonic forces within their territories, eliminating many strongholds. They also killed many powerful figures from the demonic path. For a time, this caused great anger among other major demonic sects. Because they had not done anything wrong recently. They were merely caught in the crossfire! ¡ª Inside the cultivation hall, Meng Changqing sat cross-legged. The aura of life and death around him was incredibly dense, even turning the surrounding space into black and white. ¡°Ninth level of the Life and Death Realm!¡± Meng Changqing suddenly opened his eyes. A powerful aura surged forth! He had finally reached the pinnacle of the Life and Death Realm! This meant that unless he obtained a divine item, his cultivation could not progress any further! He would remain stuck at this stage for the rest of his life. ¡°Next, I should attempt to condense the True Domain!¡± A bright light flashed in Meng Changqing¡¯s eyes. The Martial Domain. It has a shorter name ¡ª True Domain. True intent was the profound essence of martial arts. It was also the highest level of comprehension that a martial artist could attain on their own. Beyond that, one must break through their own limitations, merge with the heavens and earth, and comprehend the rules of the world. After merging with the power of the rules, True intent would transform into an even more profound mystery! The True Martial Domain! Within the True Domain, a martial artist is the absolute master, and the power of their martial techniques is enhanced far beyond the level of true intent, especially with the power of a domain! It was the culmination of all a martial artist¡¯s martial foundations! Rules were the foundation of the world. To put it simply, the world is like soil. And the power of the rules was like a handful of dirt from that soil. Therefore, a thread of rule power is equivalent to a portion of a domain. Once fused with true intent, it becomes the Martial Domain! ¡°Let¡¯s begin.¡± Meng Changqing adjusted his state. The Eye of Truth in his sea of consciousness began to operate. Buzz~ In an instant, Meng Changqing felt his true essence and soul power being crazily consumed! The consumption was rapid! Fortunately, he had already mastered the third volume. The consumption was not as exaggerated as before. It was enough to sustain him for half an incense stick¡¯s time, not just for a few breaths. Crack, crack, crack! The space in front of him suddenly rippled. Then, as if a fishing net had been lifted from deep water, countless lines appeared! These were the rules! They exuded a supreme charm! Something both desirable and terrifying! When Meng Changqing saw these lines, both his body and mind trembled uncontrollably. He couldn¡¯t help it. His cultivation level was too low. This was power that only those who had sealed a marquis could touch! And he was merely in the Life and Death Realm! Even Xi Yingqing had never thought of condensing a Martial Domain at this stage! Of course, this was mainly because Xi Yingqing hadn¡¯t mastered the third volume before becoming a marquis. He almost didn¡¯t even finish the second volume until after he became a marquis! Otherwise, Xi Yingqing would have tried as well. Buzz~ The Eye of Truth emitted golden rays. These rays had a warm, gentle quality. Meng Changqing felt as though he was bathed in a spring breeze, and all his discomfort vanished in an instant. The pressure brought by the rules continued to diminish, until it reached a tolerable point. ¡°What is the origin of this sect¡¯s cultivation technique?¡± Meng Changqing was deeply astonished. Even the first volume, with its ¡°Unity of Heaven and Man,¡± was already extraordinary. This was a state countless martial artists dreamed of. It could be understood simply as enlightenment. Except that this technique didn¡¯t induce ¡®enlightenment¡¯; it maintained ¡®constant enlightenment.¡¯ Now the second and third volumes were even more heaven-defying. They allowed one to glimpse the existence of rules before sealing a marquis, and even steal them! ¡°It must be an incredibly powerful and ancient inheritance. ¡°Probably no weaker than the legendary holy lands. ¡°Perhaps they are on the same level.¡± Meng Changqing thought to himself. There was no time to ponder further, so he calmed his mind. According to the senior brother, the headmaster, one must first comprehend the rules to a certain degree before stealing them; otherwise, they would be difficult to control. It could even lead to a backlash! Buzz~ Meng Changqing entered the Unity of Heaven and Man. With supreme comprehension as his foundation, his understanding was enhanced once more. And countless insights about the rules were constantly being born in his mind! In an instant, it was as if a door to a new world was slowly opening before him. Behind the door lay a brilliant and magnificent world of profound mysteries! Chapter 212 Chapter 212: Southern Turmoil, Sword Dao Domain Achieved! Time flew by. Another two months had passed. The turmoil surrounding the demonic forces in the Southern Region had completely subsided, and even the White Lotus Sacred Sect had stopped showing up. After all, though it was a new force and had grown quite strong, it was still no match for the many top-tier sects. At the same time, talk about the Wild Sea began to increase. The Marquis Divine Treasures. These were the treasures countless Life and Death Realm martial artists dreamed of! Many had been trapped at the Life and Death Realm due to the lack of divine treasures, unable to break through, and eventually died of old age. But, divine treasures were exceedingly rare. Even a world-shaking genius might not get one. Take the Wild Sea, for example. It only opens once every hundred years, and each time, there were only ten treasures. But the number of contenders was more than tenfold! Furthermore, even if one gets a divine treasure, there¡¯s no guarantee they¡¯ll successfully break through. And failure came with serious consequences. At least a hundred years of recovery, maybe even several centuries, and such a long time was something even Life and Death Realm experts cannot afford. Because of this, the struggle for high-level divine treasures would be incredibly fierce! People would give up everything, using every means at their disposal. Everyone could sense that the Wild Sea would soon become a place of bloodshed and death! Many would die. And not just a few. Many! ¡°Did you hear? A top-tier power has gone to the Tianling Prefecture to try and purchase the Wild Token from the Tai Xuan Sect.¡± ¡°How could they sell something like that? With ten Wild Tokens, ten people can enter, band together, and greatly increase their chances of getting a divine treasure.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t understand. Although Tai Xuan Sect is strong, it¡¯s only strong because of Meng Changqing. It¡¯s just a first-class sect, and it doesn¡¯t have that many Life and Death Realm experts!¡± ¡°And even if they gather enough people, would they just send them to die? Ordinary Life and Death Realm experts can¡¯t compete with those monstrous geniuses!¡± Everywhere, people were discussing the latest developments. ¡°I heard that only Yu Hongxue of the Nine-Colored Glazed Pavilion will go, and the other two monstrous geniuses don¡¯t even qualify.¡± ¡°Monstrous geniuses don¡¯t qualify?¡± ¡°Of course! Marquis divine treasures are incredibly rare, and many have been waiting for them for a long time. Especially a top-tier sect like the Nine-Colored Glazed Pavilion. The world¡¯s resources, especially the top-tier ones, are all controlled by the holy lands, managed with great care. ¡°But in recent centuries, the ancient lands have been opening less and less frequently. Some don¡¯t even open anymore, which is why divine treasures have become rarer and rarer, and many monstrous geniuses haven¡¯t had access to them. ¡°And even when ancient lands do open, the geniuses of the Southern Region are weaker than those from the other three regions, and very few manage to acquire anything.¡± ¡°I see now.¡± Everyone was enlightened. ¡°According to the holy lands, changes in the rules of the ancient lands have slowed the production of resources.¡± Someone added, ¡°But who really knows if that¡¯s the truth?¡± Clearly, there was more to the story. Compared to the chaos outside, Tai Xuan Sect was much quieter. The disciples selected to enter the Wild Sea were training with everything they had, not daring to waste a single moment. And naturally, the results were satisfying. Thanks to the massive infusion of high-level resources from the Genius Battle, Mo Xiaoyu and the Shi brothers successfully broke through to the Life and Death Realm. Only Han Luoyu lagged behind. Though he wasn¡¯t lacking in hard qualifications, he just wasn¡¯t progressing as quickly as the others. He was still stuck at the seventh level of the Divine Attainment Realm. It seemed unlikely that he would make it into the Wild Sea. According to the higher-ups, it might just be that his ¡°luck¡± wasn¡¯t strong enough. Luck was intangible and elusive, but it¡¯s extremely important. With great luck, even an ordinary person can progress rapidly. Inside the training hall. Meng Changqing sat cross-legged. His long black hair fell down to his waist, cascading over his shoulders. He was in an indescribable state ¡ª although he appeared calm, a terrifying sense of pressure emanated from him! Just one look was enough to make one¡¯s mind tremble! All around him, threads filled the air, stretching through the void, as if they were part of the fabric of the world itself. They exuded a mysterious aura. At that moment, a crack suddenly appeared between Meng Changqing¡¯s brows. Then the crack opened wide! It was a golden eye! The eye radiated divine light, landing on the nearest thread. A surge of indescribable, mysterious power surged forth! It forcibly severed the thread! The thread quickly flew into his golden eye. Boom! The moment the thread appeared in his mental sea, it caused a tremendous stir. Meng Changqing¡¯s entire body trembled, and even blood trickled from his seven orifices! Even with the Eye of Truth, he still felt immense pressure! This was a power that did not belong to the Life and Death Realm! At least a Marquis-level power! There was no time to hesitate. Meng Changqing immediately began to control the thread of rule! After two months of meditation, he had gained a deep understanding of the rules, so controlling this thread wasn¡¯t too difficult. About an hour later, thanks to the Eye of Truth, Meng Changqing finally controlled the thread of rule. ¡°It¡¯s done!¡± Meng Changqing breathed a sigh of relief. The rules truly were challenging. It had taken him a full two months to comprehend it. The next step was to fuse the rule power with his True Intent and form the Sword Dao Domain! Boom! In his mental sea, a towering sword appeared, standing tall and proud. The thread of rule flew towards the sword and quickly merged with it. In an instant, the sword trembled violently, as if it was transforming from a lifeless object into a living one! It was undergoing a fundamental transformation! The sword radiated a dazzling light, and wherever the light touched, a vast land appeared! On this land, swords of all kinds were scattered ¡ª some broken, some whole, each unique in form, but all exuding a sharp, deadly aura! It seemed that any of these swords, if drawn, could cleave the heavens and split the earth! This was the Sword Dao Domain! With a thought, Meng Changqing¡¯s consciousness arrived at the center of the domain. He raised his right hand, and a sword fell into it. Now, any sword technique he performed would be far more powerful than before! It could be said that with the domain present, any True Intent would shatter in its presence! It would shatter forever! It could never be reformed! Because it now contained the power of the rules. ¡°However, with my current cultivation, I can only use it once.¡± Meng Changqing glanced at his right hand, which was beginning to crack, and his eyes flickered. The power of the domain was far beyond his current level. But he hadn¡¯t planned to use it as a regular combat tool anyway. It was meant to counter the suppression of the Wild Sea¡¯s heavenly laws. Under normal circumstances, he wouldn¡¯t need to use the Sword Dao Domain; just his fully realized Sword Intent would likely be enough to handle most situations. With that thought, Meng Changqing withdrew from his mental sea and slowly opened his eyes. He let out a long breath and let himself fall backward, lying down on the cold ground. Chapter 213 Chapter 213: ¡°Divine Fist of Truth,¡± Sword Twenty Five, and Yun Bujue¡¯s Strange Status Panel! The formation of the Sword Dao domain gave Meng Changqing an incredibly strong trump card. Even if he ventured into the unfamiliar ancient lands, he felt much more at ease. It was important to note that in ancient lands, the Void Mirror couldn¡¯t be used, so there was no way to summon the sect master for help. Everything had to rely on himself. ¡°The powerhouses from the three regions, especially the Northern Plains, are said to be the strongest of the four regions.¡± Meng Changqing¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly. The Wild Sea was a secret realm, not some competition, so apart from cultivation level, there were no other restrictions. Thus, those who could enter weren¡¯t just contemporary prodigies, past generations might also join! These individuals were stuck at the Life and Death Realm, unable to advance further. So what did they focus on? They trained martial arts techniques and enhanced their true intent! Any world-shaking prodigy possessed unparalleled insight. Before the age of thirty-five, it was indeed difficult to reach a high level of true intent, because they still had to focus on improving their cultivation. But now that they¡¯re stuck due to the lack of divine treasures, they could focus entirely on elevating their true intent! Give them ten or even dozens of years, raising their true intent to seven or eight-tenths, or even higher, didn¡¯t seem so hard. ¡°Tenfolds, so what?¡± Meng Changqing¡¯s lips curled into a smile. His body and mind relaxed. After resting for a while, Meng Changqing took out a manual ¡ª it was the Divine Fist of Truth! If his fist intent reached tenfolds, then the domain he would form would be the Fist Dao domain, allowing him to use the Divine Fist of Truth. Unfortunately, his fist intent was only at threefolds right now, far too insufficient. Thus, he could only form the Sword Dao Domain. At present, the sword techniques he possessed couldn¡¯t utilize the power of the domain, not even Sword Twenty Four. ¡°If I don¡¯t have one, then I¡¯ll create one!¡± That was Meng Changqing¡¯s current thought. As they say, all paths lead to the same destination! He could completely learn the Divine Fist of Truth, then use it as a foundation to absorb its essence and create the Divine Sword of Truth! It would be called ¡ª Sword Twenty Five! Sadly, he didn¡¯t have any attribute-gathering cards left, otherwise, he could pluck some more benefits from the sect master. But no matter, he still had three Heaven-grade martial skill mastery cards! He could practice and comprehend on his own, getting through the earlier, simpler stages, and only using the cards at the final phase. That would be more economical. And with his insight, along with his unity with heaven, he was confident that a mere Heaven-grade low-level technique could be mastered in a short time! Without wasting any time, Meng Changqing began practicing the Divine Fist of Truth. Interestingly enough, this was the first time he had ever practiced a martial skill from scratch. Previously, with the Sacred Spirit Slaughter Sword Technique, he had only worked on the final stages. ¡ª One month later, inside the cultivation hall,Meng Changqing suddenly opened his eyes and threw a punch. The punch carried a vast, profound meaning, as if it could touch the fundamental essence of the world! ¡°Mastered!¡± A look of joy appeared on Meng Changqing¡¯s face. This matched his expectations. ¡°System, use a Heaven-grade martial skill mastery card!¡± Without hesitation, Meng Changqing silently recited. Ding! [Consumed one Heaven-grade martial skill proficiency card!] [The Divine Fist of Truth has been elevated to Perfection.] As soon as the voice fell, a flood of comprehension surged through his mind. To be honest, although this fist technique was classified as a Heaven-grade low-level technique, its depth and complexity far surpassed others of the same rank. It was likely because it involved the rules of the world. After a short while, the enhancement was complete. Meng Changqing¡¯s face showed satisfaction. The perfected Divine Fist of Truth gave him a deeper understanding of how to use the power of the domain. At the same time, his mind was working rapidly. Just like when he created Sword Twenty Four, he first envisioned the concept, then began to shape and refine it. Before long, he had a basic framework. He would then gradually add details and perfect it. ¡°Give me one more month, and I should be able to create it.¡± Meng Changqing nodded slightly. Having gone through the experience of creating Sword Twenty Four and with the Divine Fist of Truth as a model, Meng Changqing had full confidence. However, just as he was about to dive back into cultivation, the token at his waist suddenly trembled. It was a message from the Grand Elder. Meng Changqing picked it up. A voice came through, ¡°Changqing, it¡¯s time to depart, and yes, we¡¯ll be traveling by foot again.¡± Upon hearing this, Meng Changqing raised an eyebrow. Had time passed so quickly? It¡¯s already time to set off. Shaking his head with a smile, Meng Changqing thought to himself, ¡°Time truly flies when you¡¯re cultivating.¡± He then straightened his clothes a bit, grabbed his sword, and walked out of the hall. He could still contemplate his insights while traveling. It wouldn¡¯t hinder him much. ¡ª At the main hall of the sect, a large group of people was already waiting. Many high-ranking members of the sect were present, along with numerous unfamiliar faces ¡ª all at the peak of the Life and Death Realm, though Meng Changqing had never seen them before. But there was one person Meng Changqing recognized clearly: the elder in charge of the library, Yun Bujue! He was also Meng Changqing¡¯s senior brother. It was said that Senior Brother Yun held quite a high rank, being the third senior brother, only below the Grand Elder. Instinctively, Meng Changqing activated his Observation Eye. He saw that Yun Bujue¡¯s cultivation was still at the peak of the Life and Death Realm! ¡°His true cultivation is only at the peak of the Life and Death Realm?¡± Meng Changqing was surprised. Moreover, another question lingered in his mind. Despite the fact that all the other senior brothers and sisters had at least second-grade root bones, Yun Buju only had third-grade root bone. With this, he shouldn¡¯t have been able to make it into the top eighteen of the Tai Xuan Sect. However, compared to before, his skill column now had many more entries. ¡°Senior brothers and sisters,¡± Meng Changqing greeted them one by one, ¡°and Senior Brother Yun.¡± ¡°Hahaha, you little rascal, I knew I wasn¡¯t wrong about you back then,¡± Yun Buju laughed heartily. ¡°I was only in seclusion for a short while to heal, and you went off to the Southern Region and came back as the champion!¡± ¡°Senior Brother Yun, you¡¯re too kind. How is your injury?¡± Meng Changqing asked. He still remembered that the sect master once told him that Yun Bujue had ventured into another dangerous secret realm to gather Life and Death Grass for him and was injured as a result. ¡°Just a minor injury, I¡¯ve long since recovered,¡± Yun Bujue waved his hand, then clicked his tongue in amazement. ¡°Your cultivation speed is truly astonishing¡ª you¡¯ve already reached the limit of the Life and Death Realm!¡± Chapter 214 Chapter 214: The Hidden Veins of Tai Xuan! Senior Brother Yun... Once Second Only to the Sect Master! ¡°Now that everyone is here, get ready, and let¡¯s set off,¡± the Grand Elder said with a smile. Behind him, Mo Xiaoyu and the Shi brothers waved to Meng Changqing. The three had reached the first level of the Life and Death Realm. Judging by their aura, they had just broken through recently. This level was somewhat insufficient for entering the Wild Sea, but since one had an Innate Sword Body and the other two possessed the Stone-Human Bloodline, it was a different case. The Wild Sea was filled with numerous resources, not just for those at the marquis level and above, but also for those below. In short, it¡¯s a land of opportunities and fortune. However, those entering it were usually not interested in such things. Their goal was definitely the divine treasures at the Marquis level! Besides the familiar faces, there were also five strangers Meng Changqing had never met before, but all of them were at the peak of the Life and Death Realm. ¡°This is the young master of our Tai Xuan Sect,¡± Xi Yingqing said with a smile. ¡°Greetings, young master!¡± The five, both male and female, straightened up immediately after hearing Xi Yingqing¡¯s words and bowed respectfully. ¡°Who are they?¡± Meng Changqing asked. ¡°They belong to the hidden veins of our Tai Xuan Sect, though outwardly, we have no connections with them. This time, they¡¯ve paid a great price to obtain permission to enter the Wild Sea from us,¡± Xi Yingqing explained with a faint smile. ¡°Hidden veins?¡± Meng Changqing raised an eyebrow. It seemed that he had underestimated the true foundation of the sect. Who knew how many forces the sect had cultivated over the past two hundred years? ¡°I¡¯ll introduce them to you. This is Lin Qingming, head of the Lin family,¡± Xi Yingqing began the introductions. ¡°On the surface, the Lin family is a first-rank family, but in reality, they are an ancient clan, though not a top-tier one.¡± Meng Changqing was deeply shocked. He hadn¡¯t expected there to be ancient clans and great sects involved! Even if they weren¡¯t top-tier, they were still of a great sect level, with Marquis-level experts in their ranks! Such figures were once legends to him. It seemed he had greatly underestimated the sect¡¯s foundation, and these might not even be all of it. Who knew how many powerful individuals the sect had been secretly nurturing all these years? Meng Changqing began to sense something unusual. What was the sect planning by secretly cultivating so many strong individuals? ¡°The young master¡¯s exploits in the genius battle are famous and renowned, and now, seeing you in person, you truly live up to your reputation,¡± Lin Qingming said, his voice carrying a hint of reverence. Such a young man, possessing dual true intent and having raised one of them to the tenth level, was indeed rare. At least, Lin Qingming had never heard of anyone in their early twenties achieving such accomplishments. Reaching the tenth level of true intent in the Life and Death Realm was something that usually took world-shaking prodigies stuck in the Life and Death Realm for decades, typically in their fifties or sixties. Ordinary divine treasures weren¡¯t particularly rare, but for such prodigies, ordinary treasures wouldn¡¯t suffice. The higher the grade of divine treasures, the more profound the foundation of the path they built. In short, it would affect their ability to break through to the next great realm ¡ª the path to becoming a king! Therefore, unless absolutely necessary, no world-shaking prodigy would choose ordinary treasures. They would rather wait ¡ª wait for ten or more years to compete for treasures in the ancient lands. However, in recent centuries, the openings to the ancient lands had become fewer, and the intervals between them had grown longer. This caused many prodigies to be stuck in the Life and Death Realm for longer periods, but at the same time, it strengthened their foundations and power. If they eventually reached the Marquis Realm, they would at least be in the middle ranks and not at the bottom. The other four also offered their praises, heartfelt and sincere. After all, as the young master, Meng Changqing would one day be the leader of these hidden veins. ¡°The trip to the secret realm is not a competition. Many methods can be used. Martial skills are not the sole deciding factor,¡± Xi Yingqing said as he handed over a spatial ring filled with various talismans. ¡°These will come in handy.¡± Meng Changqing accepted the ring. His battles had always been within the rules, meaning no external items were allowed, relying solely on his own martial skills and foundation. But now, entering the secret realm was different. It was all about who had more tricks up their sleeve. Puppets, talismans, and other external items could sometimes play a critical role. Although he likely wouldn¡¯t need them with his current strength, it didn¡¯t hurt to have them. It was the same principle as having more skills than necessary ¡ª better to be prepared for the unexpected. After a few more reminders from Xi Yingqing, it was time to leave. Under the Grand Elder¡¯s guidance, they all headed outside. Just as Meng Changqing was about to follow, Hua Ciyan called him aside. ¡°Senior Sister Hua, is there something you need?¡± Meng Changqing asked curiously. ¡°Junior Brother, if you have the ability during this trip to the secret realm, I hope you can look after Senior Brother Yun,¡± Hua Ciyan said seriously. ¡°What do you mean by that?¡± Meng Changqing raised an eyebrow. ¡°Senior Brother Yun doesn¡¯t have much time left. We didn¡¯t want him to go this time, but he insisted,¡± Hua Ciyan said, her clear face showing a trace of sadness. ¡°Compared to us, does Senior Brother Yun seem a bit weaker to you, like he doesn¡¯t quite fit the status of one of the Tai Xuan Eighteen?¡± ¡°Well... yes, a little,¡± Meng Changqing hesitated before nodding. ¡°Senior Brother Yun was once very strong, second only to the sect master, and the most talented disciple of our Spirit Peak. He even had an Innate Sword Body,¡± Hua Ciyan said. Meng Changqing was stunned. An Innate Sword Body? There was no sign of that on his status panel! ¡°But his body was shattered, and his true intent was destroyed. Only his consciousness remained. Later, we found a suitable body for him, and that¡¯s how he survived and started cultivating again. But this new body¡¯s potential is too low, and this is as far as it can take him,¡± Hua Ciyan explained. Meng Changqing suddenly understood. No wonder Senior Brother Yun¡¯s status panel seemed off. His current body wasn¡¯t his original one. In the world of cultivation, there was a method called body possession, but it wasn¡¯t easy. Finding a compatible body was difficult, and even if found, it might not be talented enough to reach the original height. As for beings like demon lords, they were a different story. ¡°Innate Sword Body,¡± Meng Changqing muttered. I hadn¡¯t expected Senior Brother Yun to have once possessed such a constitution and to have been second only to the sect master. That was indeed impressive. But what had happened back then? Why had so many of the Tai Xuan Eighteen either died, been crippled, or been injured? Chapter 215 Chapter 215: When It¡¯s Time to Step Down, I Will Let Them Know! ¡°As for what happened before, Junior Brother, you can ask about it later. We don¡¯t want you to face choices too soon. ¡°Of course, no matter what you choose, we will respect your decision,¡± Hua Ciyan said with a smile, as if knowing what Meng Changqing was thinking. ¡°Alright...¡± Meng Changqing¡¯s furrowed brows slightly relaxed. It seemed that what happened back then was quite significant. For the sect to remain so patient and accumulate strength, could their opponent be... In an instant, Meng Changqing had a guess. ¡°Let¡¯s go, the Grand Elder and the others are waiting,¡± Hua Ciyan urged. Meng Changqing then proceeded outside. This time, the cloud ship looked particularly large and luxurious, quite different from before. It was likely that its speed had also improved significantly. Upon boarding the cloud ship, Meng Changqing was surprised to see Kong Linxue there. He had been planning to send her a message saying he was leaving, since she had been in seclusion recently, and he hadn¡¯t wanted to disturb her. ¡°Surprised?¡± Kong Linxue approached with a stunning smile. ¡°Yes,¡± Meng Changqing nodded. Kong Linxue was still quite a distance from the Life and Death Realm, so she couldn¡¯t enter the Wild Sea. ¡°I¡¯ll tell you on the way,¡± Kong Linxue said as she took his arm. Seeing this, the people around them smiled knowingly ¡ª it was truly a match made in heaven. Soon, after a few casual conversations, the cloud ship lifted off, flying toward the horizon. As before, the Grand Elder was leading the way, with Hua Ciyan accompanying him. Meanwhile, the Sect Master and many peak lords remained behind in the sect. The entrance to the Wild Sea had two locations. One was controlled by the Holy Land and was located in Central Province. The other was controlled by the Demon Path. Meng Changqing was headed toward Central Province. Though called a ¡°Province,¡± Central Province was far more vast and expansive than any of the Four Domains. It was home to many powerful ancient forces. While it wouldn¡¯t completely overwhelm the other four domains, its strength definitely surpassed them. After all, Central Province was where the Holy Land resided. With such an influential presence, even catching the crumbs from the top could lead to rapid development. ¡°You¡¯re heading into the Wild Sea, while I¡¯m going to the Pill Tower,¡± Kong Linxue said with a radiant smile at the front of the cloud ship. ¡°The Pill Tower?¡± Meng Changqing raised an eyebrow. The name was unfamiliar to him. ¡°Yes, the Pill Tower is one of the top sects in Central Province, second only to the Holy Land, and one of the three major alchemy forces. ¡°The Peak Lord wants me to study at the Pill Tower. ¡°Here, this is a letter of recommendation.¡± Kong Linxue took out a letter from her robe, curious. ¡°I never thought the Peak Lord would have connections with the Pill Tower.¡± After the Genius Battle, many disciples in the sect had learned about the Tai Xuan Eighteen Sons from nearly two hundred years ago and were excited. Who would¡¯ve thought their sect had such a glorious past? Yet, why did it fall silent afterward? The higher-ups in the sect, of course, wouldn¡¯t answer such questions, leaving everyone to ponder in silence. ¡°The Pill Tower is located near the edge of Central Province, and not far to its west is a massive city called the Wild Sky City,¡± Kong Linxue pointed to a map. The map was marked with numerous locations: mountains, lakes, ancient cities, and more. The Pill Tower was on the outskirts of Central Province, and to its west was the enormous Wild Sky City, a city built around the Wild Sea. Though most ancient places tended to shift locations, the Wild Sea was unique in that it had remained in the same spot for ages. When the time came, it would reveal itself from the void. ¡°This time, aside from the Wild Sea, you have another task,¡± the Grand Elder approached. ¡°Grand Elder,¡± Kong Linxue straightened her posture, becoming more formal. In the sect, the Grand Elder was a highly serious figure, overseeing punishments and instilling fear in many. Even the Sect Master wasn¡¯t above punishment. To date, only Meng Changqing had seen his more lenient side. Although she was now Meng Changqing¡¯s woman, Kong Linxue wouldn¡¯t dare to be arrogant because of it. ¡°I¡¯ll leave you two to talk,¡± Kong Linxue wisely excused herself. ¡°What is it?¡± Meng Changqing asked. Besides the Wild Sea, what else could be so important? ¡°It¡¯s not much, really. It¡¯s just that since you¡¯re going to Central Province, you might as well explore and gain some experience. And after you break through to the Marquis Realm, you can challenge the Heavenly Rankings,¡± the Grand Elder said with a smile. ¡°The Heavenly Rankings?¡± Meng Changqing raised an eyebrow, vaguely recalling something about it. The rankings included the Hidden Dragon Ranking, which was for martial artists at the Dao Divine Attainment Realm and Life and Death Realm. Above that was the Earth List, and even higher, the Heavenly Rankings, reserved for those who had become Marquis or Royal Path. It was said that making it onto this list came with tremendous benefits. ¡°The Earth and Heavenly Rankings in the Four Domains differ greatly from those in Central Province, both in terms of rewards and other factors. ¡°That¡¯s why we didn¡¯t push you to challenge the Earth Ranking when you reached the Divine Attainment Realm. It wouldn¡¯t have mattered much.¡± ¡°But Central Province¡¯s rankings are not to be ignored,¡± the Grand Elder continued. ¡°Given your strength, I¡¯m certain this trip to the Wild Sea will be no challenge, and you¡¯ll break through to the Marquis Realm without issue.¡± ¡°I see,¡± Meng Changqing nodded slightly. If the Grand Elder hadn¡¯t mentioned it, he might have forgotten about the rankings altogether, perhaps due to his rapid progression. He had nearly outgrown the Earth Ranking and was nearing the standards of the Heavenly Ranking. ¡°The Heavenly Ranking is no joke. Those who make it onto the list are major figures in their own right, and it¡¯s not easy to knock them off. ¡°It¡¯s said that the current Heavenly Ranking hasn¡¯t changed in almost sixty or seventy years,¡± the Grand Elder remarked with a smile. ¡°That stable?¡± Meng Changqing was surprised. Normally, new talent would regularly appear, causing the rankings to shift. But those on the Heavenly Ranking seemed to be firmly entrenched, as if glued to their spots. ¡°Throughout history, those who become Marquis or Kings are mostly world-class prodigies. And those who make it onto the Heavenly Ranking are the best among them. ¡°It¡¯s incredibly difficult to make them step down,¡± the Grand Elder said. Hearing this, Meng Changqing smiled faintly. He clasped his hands behind his back and gazed into the distance. ¡°When it¡¯s time for them to step down, I¡¯ll let them know.¡± His voice was calm but brimming with confidence. This took the Great Elder by surprise, stirring something within his heart. Chapter 216 Chapter 216: The Top Leader, Elders of the Life and Death Realm, and Wild Sky City! He remembered that guy from back then, speaking in the same tone. But the person in front of him now was even more impressive! ¡°When it¡¯s time to step down, I will let them know!¡± What immense confidence it took to say such words! From anyone else, it would be laughable. But Meng Changqing was different ¡ª he had the potential! Still, with his current strength, even if he reached the Marquis Realm, it would be quite difficult. Mastering tenfold true intent was indeed powerful, but only for an ordinary Marquis. The ones on the Heavenly Ranking had all condensed martial domains. Meng Changqing would need time and cultivation to defeat them. ¡°This journey will also involve meeting Life and Death Realm experts from the other three regions. Some are from this generation, others from long ago,¡± the Grand Elder said. ¡°Don¡¯t worry too much about the current generation ¡ª they won¡¯t be a match for you. The main concern is those who¡¯ve been stuck at the Life and Death Realm for decades. ¡°Some of them have immense martial foundations, waiting for the right opportunity to breakthrough, even refusing to advance for the sake of obtaining top-tier divine treasures. ¡°Among them may be some who have mastered ninefold of true intent, or even tenfold! Don¡¯t underestimate them.¡± ¡°Understood,¡± Meng Changqing nodded, though he didn¡¯t take it too seriously. Tenfold? He had already condensed his martial domain. Even a hundred people with tenfold true intent wouldn¡¯t stand a chance ¡ª they¡¯d be crushed. ¡°Also, remember, you¡¯re no longer in our territory. When in Central Province, it¡¯s best to act low-key,¡± the Grand Elder advised sincerely. ¡°Follow their customs and especially obey the rules of the Holy Land. ¡°It¡¯s fine to suffer a little loss now and then.¡± Hearing this, Meng Changqing¡¯s eyes flickered slightly. The Grand Elder¡¯s style was as cautious as ever, completely different from the Sect Master and others. But Meng Changqing himself wasn¡¯t one to provoke trouble unnecessarily. However, if someone came looking for trouble, he wouldn¡¯t back down. ¡°I understand,¡± Meng Changqing smiled. Seeing this, the Grand Elder breathed a small sigh of relief. Thankfully, Meng Changqing was steady and mature, unlike those reckless individuals from before. If they hadn¡¯t been so young and impulsive, not following the rules, they wouldn¡¯t have met such a tragic end. Even if those rules were unfair or flawed, that¡¯s how it had always been throughout history. All forces followed them. Why try to stand out? The cloud ship was incredibly fast, nearly twice as fast as before. In just half a month, they arrived at Tianxuan Prefecture. The Wild Sea was a competition between the four domains, so naturally, they would all be going together. The Nine-Colored Glazed Pavilion and Purple Sun Palace had already arrived. Interestingly, besides those two forces, there were others present as well, as it seemed they had sold some of their entry spots. One of the groups belonged to the ancient Yu Clan. ¡°The Yu Clan,¡± Meng Changqing¡¯s eyes turned cold. He remembered how, just a year ago, after leaving Tianxuan Prefecture, he had been hunted by Yuan Cang, and among those hunters was a marquess from the Yu Clan. In the Southern Region, the Yu Clan was a top-tier ancient family, just slightly weaker than the Five Great Sects of Tianxuan. In the Genius Battle, they had placed fourth. ¡°Greetings, Leader,¡± Yu Hongxue called out reluctantly. Others did the same, though begrudgingly. They had no choice. Meng Changqing was now the number one of the younger generation in the Southern Region, the top leader. On this journey, he was essentially the leader. Of course, not everyone called him that. Only those from this generation used the title, while others remained silent. Meng Changqing glanced at them. Their cultivation had reached the peak of the Life and Death Realm, but they were older. They were probably in their fifties or even sixties. They felt much more powerful than Yu Hongxue and the others. It seemed these were Life and Death Realm ¡®elders.¡¯ ¡°Lin Xuankong, I didn¡¯t expect you to return to the Life and Death Realm,¡± the pavilion master of the Nine-Colored Glazed Pavilion said. Hearing this, Meng Changqing realized that the Grand Elder was no longer at the ninth level of the Divine Attainment Realm but had advanced to the first level of the Life and Death Realm. It seemed he had boosted his realm a bit, fearing he¡¯d be laughed at if he showed up as a Divine Attainment Realm expert. ¡°Yu Hanshan,¡± the Grand Elder called out directly. Many people nearby were shocked. How could a mere Life and Death Realm elder of a first-tier sect dare to address him so casually? But what surprised them even more was that Yu Hanshan wasn¡¯t offended at all and smiled as if they were old friends. ¡°At the very least, entering the Life and Death Realm wasn¡¯t difficult,¡± the Grand Elder remarked casually. ¡°Are you the only one leading the team this time?¡± Yu Hanshan asked. ¡°Sister Hua is here too, but she had some matters to attend to and went elsewhere,¡± the Grand Elder replied. ¡°Be careful not to stir up trouble in Central Province this time. Your Tai Xuan Sect should have become a major sect long ago,¡± Yu Hanshan mused. ¡°Now that you have a promising young talent, take it slow and steady.¡± The Grand Elder smiled but said nothing. Shortly after, they resumed their journey. There were twenty spots in total, representing several forces, so there were naturally several cloud ships. Another half-month passed in the blink of an eye. The Central Province, the center of the continent, was vast beyond measure. Once they crossed Tianxuan Prefecture, they were officially in Central Province, though it was only a small part known as the Desolate Region. Wild Sky City was located here. In the pavilion on the cloud ship, Meng Changqing gently set down the jade slip he had been reading. These had been given to him by the Grand Elder and contained information about the young experts from the other three regions, as well as an overview of Central Province, its various forces, and more. In short, it had given him a wealth of knowledge, ensuring that he wouldn¡¯t be clueless upon arrival in Central Province. ¡°Get ready, we¡¯re almost there,¡± the Grand Elder¡¯s voice echoed from the token. Hearing this, Meng Changqing immediately stood up. Based on the time, they indeed should be close. He opened the door and walked out. By now, many people were already gathered at the front of the cloud ship, staring ahead in awe. ¡°Changqing,¡± Kong Linxue had just stepped out as well. The two walked side by side to the front. As they looked out, they saw a vast, boundless landscape. The mountains rose and fell like coiled dragons, and in the vast expanse, a massive city stood tall, like an ancient beast lying dormant, exuding an aura of age and majesty. It was Wild Sky City!