Chapter 211: The World Watches In Awe, Three Saints Offer Treasures
Heaven-Slaying Martial Saint descended the mountain and left.
But the True Martial Disciples were still immersed in the shock of that previous clash.
Their adoration for Ning Qi was simply beyond measure.
After all.
That was the Heaven-Slaying Martial Saint who dominated the world. Before the Spiritual Energy Revival, he was the Heavenly Human Ranking 1st, mysterious and unfathomable. After the Spiritual Energy Revival, he suppressed a crowd of Ancient Saints so they couldn’t lift their heads.
And now.
Ning Qi could actually fight Heaven-Slaying Martial Saint to a draw. Although it was just one clash, it was still of immense value.
Not just the True Martial Disciples.
This scene was also witnessed by many Martial Artists in True Martial City.
When Heaven-Slaying Martial Saint arrived, he had no intention of concealing his tracks at all, so he was naturally detected by some Experts in True Martial City. Ever since the Spiritual Energy Revival, True Martial City’s fame had increased even more, with many people coming specifically because of its reputation. These people vaguely intended to become peripheral forces of the True Martial Sect, though Luo Wentian was still considering the specific management details.
At this moment.
The entire city was boiling over.
One after another shocked and astonished gazes all looked toward the ten-thousand-zhang True Martial Mountain.
Many people even made up their minds to firmly cling to True Martial Mountain’s thick thigh.
No one was a fool.
With Ancient Saints appearing in the world and Spiritual Energy Revival, the Martial Way was flourishing on an unprecedented scale, but after such great prosperity, there would inevitably be unrest. At such a critical turning point, clinging to a thick thigh might be more important than anything else.
Afterward.
The news that Heaven-Slaying Martial Saint went up True Martial Mountain and fought Heavenly Sword Martial Saint to a draw spread at an astonishing speed throughout the world.
Although the current heaven and earth were much broader, on the day of Spiritual Energy Revival, many Core Elixir Realm Martial Artists had also used the opportunity to step into the Heavenly Human Realm. The overall strength of Martial Artists had risen more than one level, so the speed of message transmission had not decreased but increased.
For a time.
The world was shocked.
Countless discussions arose in various places.
True Martial Mountain had become the focus one after another in a short time, drawing endless astonishment.
“Heaven-Slaying Martial Saint must be here because of the previous matter with Chiyang Martial Saint and Purple Moon Martial Saint, right?”
“I didn’t expect Heavenly Sword Martial Saint to be so powerful that even Heaven-Slaying Martial Saint couldn’t do anything to him? Doesn’t that mean those two, Chiyang Martial Saint and Purple Moon Martial Saint, died in vain?”
“I heard that Heavenly Sword Martial Saint is not an Ancient Saint reincarnated, not sure if it’s true?”
“Impossible… If not an Ancient Saint, how could he have such absolute strength? For people of this world, stepping into the Martial Saint Realm is already extremely impressive. To rival an Ancient Saint is too difficult.”
“But there’s some insider info that Heavenly Sword Martial Saint is now a Four-Realm Martial Saint…”
…
Everyone’s focus was almost entirely on Ning Qi.
Some said that Heavenly Sword Ancient Saint was actually less than twenty years old, a person of this world, but no one believed it, thinking it was nonsense.
Some said Heavenly Sword Martial Saint was only Four-Realm, which was also scoffed at by others, feeling that a Four-Realm Martial Saint couldn’t be so powerful.
To this.
Ning Qi just smiled faintly.
Sometimes, a truth that is too outrageous won’t be believed by the public. People only believe things within their own cognition.
A Heavenly Sword Ancient Saint less than twenty years old?
Others would only think it was a joke.
This was also one of the reasons why Ning Qi stopped deliberately concealing his identity after revealing himself as Heavenly Sword Martial Saint: first, there was no need; second, others wouldn’t believe it anyway.
Now, after learning the current situation of the Martial World from Heaven-Slaying Martial Saint, there was even less need to hide.
Now everyone was people on the same boat. Anyone with a bit of brains wouldn’t choose to be hostile to Ning Qi.
The world was in turmoil.
And thanks to the two battles in such a short time, the name of Heavenly Sword Martial Saint shook the world.
But three people were even more uneasy.
Mad Thunder Martial Saint, White Cloud Martial Saint, and Heize Martial Saint.
The three of them were originally worrying about what apology gift to send that would be more appropriate, but unexpectedly, in an instant, such a bolt from the blue struck. The other side could even clash with Heaven-Slaying Martial Saint. If the gift was too shabby, it probably wouldn’t be easy to gloss over this matter.
Just thinking of being secretly watched by a big shot at the Heaven-Slaying Martial Saint level made their scalps tingle.
Late at night.
Three sneaky figures gathered in a nameless valley.
Seeing the worried looks on each other’s faces, the three all fell silent.
“What should we do now?” Heize Martial Saint took the initiative to speak.
Mad Thunder Martial Saint glared fiercely:
“Damn it, if it weren’t for you saying to wait a few more days, maybe Heaven-Slaying Martial Saint would settle this, and we could just symbolically make a gesture then. How did things turn out like this?”
He wished he could blast this unlucky guy to death with a bolt of thunder.
White Cloud Martial Saint also nodded with a pained expression.
They had already prepared to send gifts, but because of that sentence, they delayed a few days. Now it was good—the other side had even more confidence. If they didn’t bleed a little, they might invite disaster. No one dared to bet on that possibility.
Just thinking that what was originally a small bleed had now become a big one made the three heartbroken.
Heize Martial Saint said aggrievedly:
“That day it was clearly decided together by us. How did it become my problem?”
The three fell silent.
Finally.
Mad Thunder Martial Saint said dispiritedly:
“Forget it, forget it. Talking about this now is useless. Better to think about what to send that would be more appropriate. The apology gift must reach the heart to quell Heavenly Sword Martial Saint’s anger. Don’t have any fluke mentality. Our previous wait-and-see was probably seen by them.”
Heize Martial Saint and White Cloud Martial Saint nodded repeatedly.
“Perhaps… we can send some Spiritual Treasures rich in Earth Qi!” White Cloud Martial Saint had a flash of inspiration, his eyes lighting up.
Heize Martial Saint immediately reacted:
“Brilliant! That day, Heavenly Sword Martial Saint revealed Four-Realm Martial Saint cultivation. If I didn’t perceive wrong, what he’s lacking is the Earth Qi of the spleen. Sending earth-attribute Spiritual Treasures will surely suit Heavenly Sword Martial Saint’s intentions, so he shouldn’t pursue the matter further.”
Mad Thunder Martial Saint agreed repeatedly. His cultivation was a bit higher than the two, but being reckless, he wasn’t as flexible as the other two. After rejoicing, he slapped his forehead in distress:
“Oh no, I don’t have any decent earth-attribute Spiritual Treasures on hand right now!”
Heize Martial Saint smiled:
“Brother Mad Thunder, rest assured. I have two on hand, just right to take them all out.”
Mad Thunder Martial Saint was overjoyed:
“Good brother, don’t worry. I definitely won’t take your spiritual items for nothing. I’ll exchange them with other spiritual items of mine!”
The three all showed smiles.
They discussed the gift details for a long time, unexpectedly finding themselves chatting more and more congenially. Mad Thunder Martial Saint slapped his thigh and shouted:
“Both brothers are men of character. If you don’t mind this reckless man, how about we become sworn brothers?”
Heize Martial Saint and White Cloud Martial Saint both showed excited smiles.
“That’s exactly what I was thinking!”
In the nameless valley, the three swore brotherhood on the spot.
“Big Brother!”
“Second Brother!”
“Third Brother!”
Mad Thunder Martial Saint as the boss, White Cloud as Second Brother, Heize as Third Brother.
The three laughed heartily, then strode into the sky with high spirits.
If someone unaware of the inside story saw them, they might think the three were about to do something earth-shattering.
…
The next day.
True Martial Mountain.
Mad Thunder Martial Saint and the other two arrived together, with extremely respectful attitudes. Mad Thunder Martial Saint stood in front of his two sworn brothers, very loyal. He carefully opened his mouth:
“Brother Heavenly Sword, we were too offensive before. This is a small token of our sincerity. Please forgive us.”
Opposite him was Ning Qi holding a Daoist Scripture. His temperament was otherworldly, sitting under the Enlightenment Tea Tree like an exiled immortal, making the three even more restrained.
Ning Qi glanced at the three items brought, then faintly raised his eyes:
“Very well, let’s turn the page on this.”
After learning the ins and outs from Heaven-Slaying Martial Saint, he had become more tolerant toward the other Martial Saints. That said, even without this matter, he hadn’t planned to do anything to the three anyway. He wasn’t the type to crave killing.
The other side had paid a price and shown their attitude and sincerity—that was enough.
However, Ning Qi was somewhat surprised deep down. These three were strangers before, so how did they suddenly become so close?
Mad Thunder Martial Saint and the other two exchanged glances, overjoyed deep down, as if granted a great amnesty.
“Thank you, Brother!”
The three cupped their hands in salute, then prepared to leave.
“Wait.” Ning Qi’s faint voice came, making the joyful three freeze in unison.
Mad Thunder Martial Saint turned his head, squeezing out a smile:
“Brother Heavenly Sword, what other instructions?”
Ning Qi smiled faintly:
“You’re guests. Have a cup of tea before leaving, lest others say I don’t know how to host guests.”
As his words fell, three cups of Enlightenment Tea emanating rich fragrance floated before the three. Ning Qi smiled lightly, while the three were momentarily stunned, then their faces bloomed with smiles:
“Thank you, Brother Heavenly Sword!”
This time, the thanks was clearly more sincere.
They drank the Enlightenment Tea in one gulp and fell into Enlightenment State. Only after a full incense stick’s time did they awaken. The three had gained much, with traces of gratitude and respect surging in their eyes. This time, they said nothing, just bowed to Ning Qi before slowly leaving.
Ning Qi shook his head with a smile.
He had only done it casually.
Turning his gaze to the items brought by Mad Thunder Martial Saint and the others, a smile slowly lifted at the corner of his mouth.
“They have some heart.”
He could naturally see that these three Spiritual Treasures were all earth-attribute spiritual items.
Two of them were Lava Crystal Core and Earth Marrow, not much different from the Earth Vein Essence Stone given by Heaven-Slaying Martial Saint before. They were beneficial to Ning Qi’s cultivation and could help him break through to Five-Realm Martial Saint more quickly.
The other spiritual item was a spiritual fruit.
Earth Origin Fruit.
Ning Qi reached out and beckoned, and the fist-sized pale yellow spiritual fruit immediately fell into his hand. Feeling the rich earth-attribute Spiritual Power, he raised his brow.
Immediately after.
His gaze turned to the True Martial Peach Tree outside the courtyard.
On the day of Spiritual Energy Revival, thanks to the metamorphosis of the Enlightenment Tea Tree, the True Martial Peach Tree had also improved significantly. However, Ning Qi wanted to take it further.
“With this Earth Origin Fruit, if I carefully deduce and experiment, then set up a formation afterward to strengthen the nurturing of the True Martial Peach Tree, it can become a true Spiritual Tree!”
Although the threat of Mountain Sea Realm was imminent right now.
But Ning Qi believed it would be resolved one day. He didn’t plan to abandon some long-term plans.
Moreover.
The current heaven and earth environment was vastly better than before, especially with the appearance of some spiritual items giving Martial Artists hope for rapid advancement. He also planned to collect a batch of Precious Medicines and Spiritual Medicines to refine into suitable Pills to help Luo Wentian and the others improve their strength, so they could have some self-preservation ability in the upcoming great war.
For example, the Heaven-Connecting Pill—he had already had them collecting the materials.
Of course.
All of this would be handled by Luo Wentian and the others. Ning Qi only needed to spend a little time deducing and refining when it didn’t affect him.
He was very clear-headed.
His own strength was the most important now. Otherwise, even if he forcibly elevated Luo Wentian and the others to the Martial Saint Realm, it wouldn’t be of much use.
He put away the three spiritual items.
Ning Qi then broke through the air and left.
Target.
Straight to the High Heavens.
This was Ning Qi’s first time going to the High Heavens after stepping into the Martial Saint Realm. He hadn’t come here for a long time before, after all. After reaching Heavenly Human Perfection back then, there was no need to come here for cultivation anymore.
Now returning here, he immediately felt something unusual.
Spiritual Energy also filled this place. Although not as dense as below, it was still decent. Therefore, it was visibly apparent that the originally terrifying Thunder Forbidden Zone had become even more terrifying. One bolt after another of thunder seemed to come alive, erupting with power recklessly.
Fortunately, Ning Qi’s improvement was even greater.
Wood Qi flowed over his body surface. The Azure Profound Body Protection Technique he created back then had sublimated and become even more resilient. These past few days, he hadn’t been idle; all his previous Secret Techniques had sublimated, and he had also been continuously deepening his Foundation.
At this moment.
He stood with hands behind his back, stepping alone into the Thunder Forbidden Zone.
Boom!!
Thunder light like rain, endless rumbling sounds constantly echoing in Ning Qi’s ears. One bolt after another of thunder rushed down, engulfing him.
But Ning Qi’s expression didn’t change.
One bolt after another of purple thunder couldn’t even get close.
Ning Qi raised his eyes, golden light flowing in them, once again seeing that scene from before.
Deeper in the Thunder Forbidden Zone, bolts of thunder of various colors were densely packed.
Purple-black thunder, black thunder, black-red thunder, blood-colored thunder…
The deeper it went, the more terrifying it became.
Ning Qi strolled leisurely.
Finally stopping in the black thunder area. He could continue forward, but the blood-colored thunder gave him trepidation, even a strong sense of crisis. For tempering Spiritual Power, the black-red thunder still had the best effect.
He had no intention of probing the deepest part further and instead chose to sit cross-legged.
One bolt after another of black thunder impacted, but they only shattered into streaks of thunder light.
Ning Qi summoned the True Martial Sword, astonishing sharpness radiating out, immediately forming a safe vacuum zone. Then, the Earth Vein Essence Stone, Lava Crystal Core, and Earth Marrow—these three spiritual items rushed out, orbiting Ning Qi in constant rotation, forming a triad formation as they infused Earth Qi into him.
Then, one burst after another of Spiritual Power erupted, drawing down the black-red thunder.
Boom!
In an instant.
Powerful thunder power flowed over Ning Qi’s body, even his hair strands dancing with thunder serpents.
Ning Qi’s five viscera glowed internally, the power of the other four viscera resonating with the spleen.
He was in a good mood, clearly feeling his cultivation speed up significantly.
At this rate, there might be hope of stepping into the Five-Realm Martial Saint Realm before the Martial Saint Assembly. At that time, Ning Qi’s strength would be even more powerful.
…
Ning Qi didn’t stay on True Martial Mountain to cultivate continuously.
After stabilizing his Realm and with the turmoil of Spiritual Energy Revival gradually calming, he descended the mountain.
Along the way.
He was somewhat astonished.
The impact of Spiritual Energy Revival on heaven and earth was truly enormous. Many places had become unfamiliar. Mountains a thousand zhang tall, which were rare before, were now everywhere, like small dirt hills casually scattered around. Ten-thousand-zhang mountains were occasionally visible too.
The ecosystem had clearly changed a great deal as well.
Black Sand Sea.
Was also different from the past.
In just a short time, this near sea area had become much broader and deeper. One isolated island after another appeared out of nowhere. He sighed, then without hesitation followed the fluctuations of the True Martial Seal.
Soon.
Ning Qi stopped in a completely unfamiliar sea area. He took a deep breath, his voice carrying with Spiritual Power fluctuations outward:
“Senior Old Black Tortoise, Ning Qi pays his respects!”
Waves rose and fell, a stretch of calm.
Ning Qi waited silently. Moments later, his eyes lit up as he sensed an enormously vast fluctuation coming from the seabed. Then, columns of water shot into the sky, and a colossal entity emerged from the sea surface. Streams of water fell from its edges like waterfalls.
Looking at the Mysterious Turtle before him whose volume had clearly surged again, Ning Qi was astonished deep down.
As for the Mysterious Turtle’s back, it was still the True Martial Hall shrouded in White Mist.
“Young Ning, long time no see.”
Old Black Tortoise’s massive pupils carried a gentle smile. He sized up Ning Qi, clear astonishment in his eyes.
“Stepping over four Realms in one go—you’re impressive, kid.”
Ning Qi smiled:
“Just luck.”
Old Black Tortoise chuckled:
“Come up.”
The White Mist dispersed, and Ning Qi once again saw the True Martial Hall that resembled an Immortal Palace. Back then, he had only thought it extraordinary, but with his current eyes, it seemed even more profound and immeasurable, stirring waves in his heart.
He stepped into the True Martial Hall, where the familiar Hunchbacked Elder was already waiting.
Ning Qi wasn’t surprised. He had once created a Secret Technique called Formless Gang Body, which had now further sublimated. He could use Spiritual Power to construct an Incarnation, far more powerful and flexible than before. The one before him was probably something similar.
“I’ve seen you, Senior Old Black Tortoise.” He cupped his hands in salute.
He was still very grateful to Old Black Tortoise. Back in Black Sand Sea, if not for him blocking Heaven-Slaying Martial Saint, he probably could only have watched Chiyang Martial Saint leave.
Of course, the current Chiyang Martial Saint was already a corpse.
Old Black Tortoise waved his hand, looking at Ning Qi with astonishment:
“You truly didn’t disappoint me.”
Observing Ning Qi up close made him even more aware of the Young Daoist’s power. This was far better than he had expected.
Unprecedented hope surged in his heart.
Ning Qi said solemnly:
“I’ve come this time as agreed, to ask Senior for clarification.”
Last time after obtaining the True Martial Inheritance, Old Black Tortoise had told him to come again after stepping into the Martial Saint Realm.
He had originally wanted to learn everything behind the scenes from him, but unexpectedly Heaven-Slaying Martial Saint had revealed it all first. However, he felt Old Black Tortoise might know some different things.
The two walked slowly through the palace complex.
Immortal Cranes occasionally cried out long. Ning Qi looked over and immediately discovered they weren’t anomalies but real Immortal Cranes. His pupils contracted—he clearly sensed Martial Saint Realm auras from them.
In the outside world, these would be Beast Emperors!
And not just one—there were seven or eight.
Besides them, there were several other Spiritual Beasts Ning Qi didn’t recognize hidden away, all extremely powerful. They quietly sized up Ning Qi, then vanished into the White Mist.
Ning Qi’s heart wasn’t calm. Entering True Martial Hall again, what he saw and heard was even more shocking than last time.
This level of Foundation seemed not something this world should have.
“No need to be astonished. They can’t leave this True Martial Hall.” Old Black Tortoise said faintly. “I know you have many doubts. Now that you’ve stepped into the Martial Saint Realm, everything I know that I can tell you, I won’t hide.”
Ning Qi nodded, then asked:
“Does Senior know of Mountain Sea Realm?”
Old Black Tortoise was somewhat astonished:
“Looks like you’ve already learned quite a bit.”
“Heaven-Slaying Martial Saint told me a few days ago.” Ning Qi didn’t conceal, recounting everything Heaven-Slaying Martial Saint had said to him. Instinctively, he was more inclined to believe Old Black Tortoise.
Old Black Tortoise slowly nodded:
“He’s not wrong, but do you know where the core Method to hide Spiritual Energy and awaken the World Will came from?”
Ning Qi’s heart jumped as he looked toward the great hall before him.
Old Black Tortoise smiled:
“It came precisely from True Martial Hall.
