Chapter 187: Invitation
Black Sand Sea.
This was a near sea area of Great Yan.
A thousand-zhang small island shrouded in mist suddenly appeared in the sea area. The first to discover it was a group of fishermen who made their living in this sea area year-round and knew the situation here best, yet they never expected such a strange small island to suddenly emerge.
At first, they were somewhat fearful, but after an elder suggested it might be an ancient relic, everyone became excited.
Exploration began.
But they discovered that no matter what methods they used, they could not approach the misty area. As soon as they ventured a little deeper, they would inexplicably exit from another direction.
As time passed, some lost patience and finally decided to sell this information in exchange for benefits.
A martial arts sect discovered this place.
After a bout of struggle over interests, the news of the misty small island finally spread out.
The Canghai Sword Sect of the near sea area arrived first.
He had lost to the Blade Demon, but he was also a top-tier expert at Three Flowers Perfection, ranked sixth on the Heavenly Human Ranking, and not far from the Supreme Sword Dao Realm. Although ancient saints had returned now, in the eyes of most martial artists, he was still the one who, amid the regretful gazes of some, charged into the misty area and finally ascended the small island. Everyone thought the Canghai Sword Sect would be the first to eat the crab.
However.
To everyone’s shock, just half an hour later, the Canghai Sword Sect withdrew from the small island, even somewhat embarrassed.
His gaze was complex, seeming somewhat unwilling yet also amazed, clearly indicating twists and turns within.
Someone couldn’t help but boldly ask:
“Dare I ask, Sword Sect Lord, what is inside there?”
“True Martial Hall.”
After leaving these words, the Canghai Sword Sect hurriedly departed.
The remaining people were all shocked, feeling that this name carried a certain charm.
Sects with deeper foundations began searching ancient books overnight, wanting to know which ancient sect the True Martial Hall was related to, in order to find some methods to crack it. Soon, there were results.
“True Martial Sect!”
“According to ancient records, the True Martial Hall is the core inheritance hall of the ancient True Martial Sect. Could it contain the ancient True Martial Inheritance?”
“The ancient True Martial Sect was extremely powerful. It is said to have produced several remarkable Martial Saints, famous throughout the world. Later, for some unknown reason, it vanished from the river of history. Now it has reemerged!”
This news spread.
Everyone was boiling over, spreading throughout the world.
Naturally.
Some people associated it with the current True Martial Sect.
“What is the relationship between the ancient True Martial Sect and the current True Martial Sect? Rumor has it that the previous Sect Leader of the True Martial Sect, Dragon Mountain True Person, obtained ancient inheritance. Could it be the True Martial Hall inheritance?”
Some instinctively wanted to conceal this news.
But with so many people in the world, naturally some wanted to use it to curry favor with the True Martial Sect. After all, compared to a vague True Martial Hall, building good relations with the rising True Martial Sect was more important. Anyone with eyes could see that with Heavenly Sword True Person, Dragon Mountain True Person, and a group of promising seedlings, the True Martial Sect becoming a colossal power was only a matter of time.
…
Seeker’s Courtyard.
Ning Qi was pondering how to solve the recent problem he encountered.
“That poisonous thing in the spiritual energy is somewhat nothingness-like. Clearly, these two times I was about to capture it, but it immediately vanished. This substance is not tangible, yet not intangible either, existing between the two.”
He toyed with a wisp of spiritual energy at his fingertip, lost in thought.
To find a method to filter it out, he naturally had to first understand the essence of this poisonous thing. Otherwise, without even grasping what it looked like, how could he filter it.
In his contemplation.
Luo Wentian strode into the Seeker’s Courtyard.
His first words jolted Ning Qi’s spirits:
“Little Nine, that True Martial Hall you mentioned before has appeared!”
Ning Qi stood up and instantly sped off with Luo Wentian to Mingwu Pavilion, where he indeed saw Dragon Mountain Daoist already there.
Ning Qi and Dragon Mountain Daoist exchanged a glance, both seeing the certainty in each other’s eyes.
Dragon Mountain Daoist slowly said:
“According to the rumors in the world, that True Martial Hall should be the True Martial Underground Palace that I encountered back then, or rather, the True Martial Underground Palace is part of that True Martial Hall!”
Ning Qi instantly recalled the scene from back then when he descended the mountain in pursuit.
In the underground, something like a colossal entity had departed.
Now it seemed.
It was that small island.
Luo Wentian’s expression was grave:
“For now, we must hurry there immediately. The True Martial Hall is the source of our True Martial Sect’s inheritance. We have an innate closeness. If we can obtain the Martial Saint Inheritance inside, we will surely rise with the momentum in the upcoming spiritual energy revival!”
His identity as sect leader was becoming more and more proper, every word and action considering the future of the True Martial Sect.
Dragon Mountain Daoist also slowly nodded.
Back then, not obtaining the complete True Martial Inheritance had always been a regret in his heart. Now that the opportunity appeared, he naturally could not miss it. Of course, he would not pretentiously claim that the True Martial Hall definitely belonged to the True Martial Sect and others could not touch it.
In the end, it was an ownerless object, each relying on their own means.
Both looked toward Ning Qi.
Ning Qi smiled faintly:
“Naturally, we must go.”
Before, White Mountain Old Daoist had told Ning Qi that he himself could not impart the Martial Saint Method to Ning Qi in advance, but obtaining it from the True Martial Inheritance was no problem. Ning Qi just hadn’t expected the True Martial Inheritance to appear in this way.
“If I can obtain the Martial Saint Method, it can also serve as reference for my subsequent deductions. Even if the ancient saints didn’t fully find a method to filter out the poisonous thing, they surely had some insights.”
With Ning Qi’s response, both were delighted.
Luo Wentian stood up and said:
“No time like the present. We need to set off immediately. True Martial Mountain is far away.”
He was decisive and immediately went down to make arrangements.
Finally.
Led by Ning Qi and Dragon Mountain Daoist, along with Ye Qinghe and others as well as several outstanding third-generation disciples, they set off together. This would allow them to broaden their knowledge and gain some experience. As for True Martial Mountain, with Blade Demon, Qin Yun, Luo Wentian, and others guarding it, there was no need to worry.
Ning Qi did not change his appearance. Now that ancient saints had emerged, as long as he himself did not say, others would only think he was also an ancient saint returned.
The reason White Mountain Old Daoist had detected him at True Profound Mountain before was because ancient saints shared some unique aura and mark. After Ning Qi noticed, he created a disguise method. Now, if discovered by other ancient saints, they would at most think him a fellow practitioner.
In the sky.
Ning Qi stirred the power of heaven and earth.
The group soared through the air at extreme speed, drawing excited and amazed exclamations from the disciples.
…
Black Sand Sea.
One after another tower ship warships centered on the misty small island, spreading across all directions. Some had prepared for long-term combat, exploring the conditions for entering the misty small island. By now, aside from the Canghai Sword Sect, only a very few with lower cultivation had set foot inside.
As soon as these people came out, they were “invited” away by the major powers that arrived early.
But regrettably, they themselves could not explain why they could enter, ultimately only describing their encounters and gains inside. Even so, it made these major powers’ eyes light up, and they gladly recruited these lucky ones into their sects—a barely “win-win” situation.
Of course.
Naturally, some were unwilling to submit, and their fate would not be good.
More and more experts arrived.
At first, a Gang Yuan Realm expert was enough to suppress the scene, then it had to be Heavenly Human Realm, and soon after, Heavenly Human Ranking experts. As time passed, most of the Heavenly Human Ranking’s attention was drawn here.
At this moment.
Around the misty area, a figure staggered out. He first looked around in confusion, disbelief in his eyes, then wild joy. But he quickly reacted, his gaze returning to confusion as he sighed and flew outward.
Such scenes were common.
Entering the misty small island held no danger, so many would attempt it.
But this middle-aged man was stopped.
A group arched their hands with smiles, fanaticism in their eyes:
“Golden Saber brother, others may not know, but we do. You’ve been inside for over half an hour. Anyone exceeding half an hour definitely entered the True Martial Hall. How about cooperating with our White Cloud Sect?”
Liu Jindao’s expression changed, forcing a smile:
“You must have mistaken, everyone. I only just entered a quarter of an hour ago. That person over there, I remember entered long before me.”
His eyes darted, randomly pointing at another martial artist who had just exited the mist, trying to divert trouble. But White Cloud Sect martial artists had someone who saw and secretly recorded it—how could they be wrong? The leader smiled and advanced, vaguely forming an encirclement, preparing to “invite” Liu Jindao aside. They didn’t want to make too much noise, lest others come to share the pie.
Liu Jindao cursed inwardly, suddenly emitting a sharp whistle. A fierce flying bird immediately flew from the sky. His feet tapped, landing on the flying bird’s back, cursing:
“Get lost, you White Cloud Sect bastards!”
If it were other sects, it might even be a good place. The key was that White Cloud Sect was hypocritical and notorious. Falling into their hands would likely mean no good end.
The White Cloud Sect crowd was furious.
They all pursued.
For a time.
Gang Qi crisscrossed above the sea area. This Liu Jindao was capable, not only with a strange flying bird companion, but his own movement technique was excellent, skimming the sea surface like flat ground. White Cloud Sect failed to capture him immediately.
The commotion here quickly attracted others.
The entire sea area boiled once more.
Liu Jindao instantly became the hot cake.
Various powers used all means, vying for Liu Jindao. Heavenly Human Realm battles erupted, sea waves rolling, even Heavenly Human Ranking experts making moves—the scene utterly chaotic.
When the True Martial Sect crowd arrived, they witnessed this exact scene.
The seawater was tinged red with blood, corpses floating and sinking, then slowly plummeting into the depths.
Two Heavenly Human Ranking experts showed no quarter, having ignited true fury. A strand of heaven and earth power tore Liu Jindao’s flying bird clean in half, plummeting from the sky. As for Liu Jindao, he was torn into blood foam in despair, turning into a mist of blood sprinkling down.
The heavens and earth fell silent.
Everyone silently watched the scene, their original fanaticism gradually fading. With Liu Jindao dead, fighting on held no meaning.
This bloody scene made many of True Martial Sect’s third-generation disciples pale slightly. They realized the outside world was not so kind. Without True Martial Sect’s protection, they would be mere fish on the cutting board.
Some disciples’ gazes grew firm, secretly resolving to cultivate diligently, lest the sect suffer such a fate.
Dragon Mountain Daoist nodded slightly. This was the purpose of bringing disciples out for experience.
Broadening knowledge would make their martial way will firmer, gradually raising one’s upper limit. Martial way bone structure was one aspect, but acquired growth was even more important.
He lingered a moment, then prepared to lead the disciples toward the misty small island.
They had done their homework on the way.
Knowing the general situation inside.
But their arrival immediately drew some attention. Pupils contracted, seeing the fear in each other’s eyes.
“True Martial Sect!”
Who was the sect everyone least wanted to see?
Undoubtedly, the True Martial Sect.
Not because the True Martial Sect was powerful, but regarding this emerged True Martial Hall, the True Martial Sect held a sort of “orthodox” status in some sense. No one could say whether, if the True Martial Sect entered, they might take it all. If so, everyone would have labored in vain.
Gazes turned toward Dragon Mountain Daoist.
The atmosphere grew increasingly strange.
Intangibly, two camps had formed.
One was the True Martial Sect group, the other all other sects. These people who had been fighting each other vaguely formed an alliance upon the True Martial Sect’s arrival.
Ning Qi’s gaze lifted slightly, saying nothing.
“This must be Dragon Mountain True Person. We’ve long admired you.”
“True Martial Sect is famous throughout the world. Seeing you today, truly a gathering of talents!”
Dragon Mountain Daoist frowned slightly at the two blockers before him—the two Heavenly Human Ranking experts from the earlier battle, ranked between twentieth and thirtieth. One was a swordsman, the other skilled in fist technique.
He smiled amiably:
“You two flatter me. It’s merely the world’s elevation; I dare not claim such praise.”
The black-robed swordsman laughed:
“Heavenly Sword True Person’s prestige is no falsehood, though it’s a pity we can’t see the old senior’s true face this time.”
These words emerged.
The atmosphere grew even stranger.
If Heavenly Sword True Person hadn’t come, Dragon Mountain Daoist alone might not suffice. After all, there were many Heavenly Human Ranking experts here. Some had observed carefully and hadn’t spotted that world’s number one swordsman.
The other white-browed elder chuckled invitingly:
“Seeing you today, I feel unusually close to True Person. Why not come to our warship for a sit? We can share recent gains and insights. After resting and recuperating, exploring the small island will be more efficient.”
The black-robed swordsman also extended an invitation.
Both wore amiable expressions.
But the smile on Dragon Mountain Daoist’s face faded bit by bit. Even the young disciples heard it—these two old foxes weren’t farting anything good. Anger rose in their eyes.
The overt invitation clearly stemmed from fear that True Martial Sect people would take all the inheritance in the True Martial Hall after entering!
One by one, the martial artists’ gazes sharpened, awaiting Dragon Mountain Daoist’s reply.
