Chapter 214: Nine Great Dao Heirs
“Surpassing top grade?”
Ning Qi was somewhat stunned.
He had previously heard the Old Black Tortoise mention that this assessment was divided into four grades: Jia, Yi, Bing, Ding, each with upper, middle, and lower levels, totaling twelve levels, and now, he had actually surpassed top grade?
The corners of his mouth curved up slightly.
At least no one could match his performance in this first trial.
Those who took the assessment in the past probably could not gain the upper hand at all, at most enduring for some time, and it was even possible that the one who set up this assessment never thought anyone could defeat the opponent, with the evaluation standard simply based on how long one could hold out.
The more Ning Qi thought about it, the more he felt this was the case.
To comprehend an Immortal Dao spell in just a dozen breaths—who else but him could do it?
Unless it was some old monster with transcendent cultivation disguising itself, there might be a slim possibility.
But soon after.
He stopped thinking about it, as long as he passed, that was fine.
He had now passed the first trial, and as long as he performed well in the remaining two trials, he could smoothly pass the assessment.
He was somewhat expectant.
What kind of power would an Immortal Artifact have.
While pondering.
The surrounding starry sky was gradually dimming, Ning Qi held his breath and focused, circulating his Illusion Breaking Golden Eye, trying to glimpse the truth from this change, but helplessly, that power was too advanced, he couldn’t touch it at all.
In a moment.
Ning Qi had appeared in another territory.
Within the Immortal Mountain, there was an extremely spacious Training Ground, bustling with voices, countless excited gazes all looking toward the high platforms suspended in the cloud top, each high platform had an illusionary image, exactly nine.
“These are the marks left by the strongest nine True Martial Dao Sons among the successive generations of True Martial Immortal Sect disciples, known as the strongest in the Mana Realm! If one can exchange even half a move with them, it’s enough to be proud!” Countless similar voices rang out.
Ning Qi saw.
Those cultivators with ethereal and nimble auras crowded on the Training Ground, looking up at the heavenly prides of the True Martial Immortal Sect stepping forward to challenge.
Some of them had just stepped into the Mana Realm, while others were already at Mana Realm perfection.
And when they stepped onto the high platform, the illusionary image would activate, becoming an existence at the same realm as them.
All kinds of techniques were displayed, leaving Ning Qi somewhat amazed.
Even without considering those nine strongest Dao Sons, the heavenly prides who came to challenge were also extremely powerful, all at Mana Realm, far stronger than Martial Saints of the Martial World. He felt that even world-shaking geniuses like the Chiyang Martial Saint and Purple Moon Martial Saint from the Martial World, if they came here, could only be considered average.
As his thoughts turned.
Everything around him suddenly faded like fleeting light and shadow, in just a blink of an eye, the original bustling voices completely disappeared, leaving only Ning Qi in place, a sense of desolation naturally arising.
He immediately understood.
“This is the scene of the True Martial Immortal Sect disciples’ challenges from back then.”
He had already understood the content of this second trial.
“Second trial, begin!” The majestic voice rang out again.
Ning Qi turned his gaze to the illusionary images on the nine high platforms, his eyes carrying caution.
It had to be said.
These Dao Sons’ combat power at the same tier was somewhat terrifying, some even had special physiques with all kinds of unique techniques, even he had to treat them with caution. Ning Qi never underestimated himself, nor was he arrogant.
He did have max level comprehension, but having grown up in the Martial World, his knowledge and foundation were insufficient—this was his biggest shortcoming. Compared to these Dao Sons who enjoyed the various precious resources of the True Martial Immortal Sect, this was his weakness.
But he was fearless.
He stepped onto a cloud top high platform, the weakest among the nine Dao Sons.
The opposite illusionary image activated, this was a stunningly beautiful woman as ethereal as a fairy, in a fluttering white palace dress, her indifferent voice sounded:
“Fourth Realm Mana Realm, you have ten breaths to adjust.”
Her aura immediately changed, stabilizing at the same realm as Ning Qi. From his previous observations, Ning Qi had already noticed this.
Ten breaths passed.
The woman on the opposite side instantly disappeared from her spot.
Torrential spiritual power surged, turning into a sword qi as cold as moonlight, the sword qi’s power was extremely strong, easily capable of instantly killing the Chiyang Martial Saint.
Ning Qi’s expression unchanged.
His Illusion Breaking Golden Eye had already seen through its reality, this woman had some special physique, able to turn her body into moonlight, shuttling formlessly.
Facing this incoming sword qi, Ning Qi’s surging and vast spiritual power also erupted. The woman opposite seemed somewhat astonished, because this spiritual power was clearly much more abundant than hers.
Ning Qi clenched his fist, shattering the sword qi.
But the woman suddenly appeared on the other side, another moonlight sword qi coming.
Ning Qi fell into passive defense, with azure light flowing over his body, resisting the elusive sword qi.
His brows raised, paths of spiritual insight began to rise in his mind.
“Using space fluctuations to shuttle, so that’s how it is.”
The corner of his mouth curved, while inwardly sighing in amazement. This woman was only at Mana Realm, her physique surely not fully developed yet. If she reached a higher realm, she could probably merge her body into space, becoming terrifyingly powerful.
The next moment.
The palace dress woman appeared above Ning Qi’s head, sword qi descending from the sky.
But Ning Qi was already prepared.
His left fist pointed to the sky, right fist suppressed the earth.
The fist seals fused with profound suppression, locking the void, shattering the sword qi while stagnating those threads of space fluctuations. The woman’s shuttling suddenly became not so easy. Although her speed was still extremely fast, under Ning Qi’s Illusion Breaking Golden Eye, she had nowhere to hide.
Without this signature move, the woman’s threat to Ning Qi greatly diminished.
Spiritual power gathered, forming a Heavenly Sword—this was the advanced technique of the Heavenly Sword Technique, with equally devastating power.
The woman was pierced through the chest in astonishment, she slowly dissipated, reforming into the illusionary image seated on the other side of the high platform.
“Really strong.” Ning Qi praised.
This woman’s shuttling ability was extremely extraordinary, something unseen in the Martial World. Those Martial Saints compared to this woman were far inferior. Among the Martial Saints he knew, probably only the Heaven-Slaying Martial Saint, with his higher realm, could defeat her; the rest of the Five-Realm Martial Saints would similarly be defeated by this woman.
“The Spirit Realm is vast with endless wonders. It seems that special physiques like Little Ten’s Innate Sword Bone are what allow one to dominate.”
Ning Qi looked toward the remaining eight high platforms. These eight Dao Sons probably all had extraordinary physiques.
He slightly calmed his aura, then stepped toward the second high platform.
A long-absent battle intent ignited in his eyes.
These nine Dao Sons made him recognize his own shortcomings. The previous battle had also brought him considerable gains, with deep comprehension of the profound mysteries of space fluctuations. Although he couldn’t yet shuttle through space formlessly like that woman, it greatly increased his speed, especially when fused with sword qi, making the sword qi elusive.
This made Ning Qi even more expectant of obtaining the True Martial Inheritance after passing the assessment.
What he lacked was foundation. If he could obtain the foundation of a colossal immortal sect from the Spirit Realm, given him some time to digest it, these so-called strongest Dao Sons would be easily suppressed by him.
On the second high platform was a youth with all red hair and beard.
As before, the realm stabilized at the Fourth Realm Martial Saint level.
Then with a boom, boundless crimson flames shot into the sky.
“This person’s physique is related to fire! What terrifying flames.” Ning Qi exclaimed.
He grew in battle, constantly comprehending these crimson flames, his Bing Fire Divine Sword Qi also making great progress.
Finally.
Ning Qi used Ren Water Divine Sword Qi, and under the stunned gaze of the red-haired youth, severed his head.
Ning Qi’s battle intent grew even more vigorous.
The path to longevity involves fighting heaven, fighting earth, fighting people—endless joy.
Since beginning cultivation.
Rarely had anyone been able to fight him so intensely.
And now, there were fully nine.
Spiritual insights in his mind surged like a tsunami, his thoughts unprecedentedly active.
Ning Qi ascended one high platform after another.
One powerful opponent after another appeared.
All kinds of profound techniques and special physiques opened his eyes.
Someone could split into three clones identical in strength to the main body; someone could turn into thunder with every strike; someone condensed spiritual sword qi whose sharpness even Ning Qi greatly feared…
Strictly speaking, these nine Dao Sons were invincible at the same tier, not much difference among them, but the further back, the stronger the Dao Sons.
At the beginning, he was still relatively relaxed.
But toward the later ones, even Ning Qi had to exhaust all his means.
Ning Qi was merely a mortal body, what he could rely on was the solid foundation he had built himself, making his mana surpass the masses—even these Dao Sons were far inferior. Additionally, his heaven-defying comprehension made his secret techniques no less than these Dao Sons’ special physiques, and he could continuously grow in battle.
Not exaggerating, after a few battles, Ning Qi’s strength was already much stronger than before.
“Buzz!”
A sword qi shuttled and fused into space fluctuations, slicing off the bald youth’s head opposite.
This was the Dao Son of the eighth high platform, with peerless defense, tanking many of Ning Qi’s sword qis unscathed, ultimately Ning Qi used his vast spiritual power to wear him down to death.
“Really tough.” Ning Qi exclaimed.
He learned much from this Dao Son, that unbreakable golden light further elevated his Azure Profound Body Protection Technique, not only greatly increasing defense but also forming fierce counterattacks. This move had previously left him somewhat restrained.
He took a deep breath.
Looking toward the last high platform.
This eighth Dao Son had almost forced him to use all his means, and now, there was still the strongest Dao Son.
“My performance in this trial shouldn’t be as stunning as the first, but if I can pass all nine Dao Sons, getting a top grade evaluation shouldn’t be difficult.”
Ning Qi had a clear cognition of himself.
The first trial was ‘inhuman level’ performance, opening a precedent—basically no one else would achieve that. For this second trial, although he was confident in his performance, looking at the vast Spirit Realm, there were still some who could do it.
It was still that reason: being born in the Martial World was a disadvantage for Ning Qi. If he had been born in the True Martial Immortal Sect with such comprehension, these so-called Nine Great Dao Sons coming together would probably be instantly killed.
He took a step.
Ning Qi appeared on the ninth Dao platform.
“I didn’t expect this assessment participant to be so powerful, truly rare.” The first sentence stunned Ning Qi.
The illusionary image changed, a short-statured Youthful Girl appeared, she grinned at Ning Qi.
“You’re alive?” Ning Qi subconsciously said.
The girl looked underage, hearing Ning Qi say this, she immediately frowned:
“No knowledge, at my peak I was Dao Integration Realm. Though I’ve fallen, leaving a trace of mark is no difficulty. Looks like you’re from a low background, little guy. You wouldn’t be from some small world, would you?”
Her tone was somewhat elderly.
Ning Qi was somewhat astonished, then nodded. This Dao Integration Realm was too strong; even after death, she could leave such an intelligent mark. In a sense, this counted as ‘immortal’.
The girl widened her eyes:
“Born in a small world yet able to defeat the previous eight guys, you’re no simple kid. What a pity. If you were born in the Spirit Realm, your achievements would be even higher.”
Ning Qi said nothing.
To him, no big deal.
He would make up for it in the future, just a matter of time.
The girl lightly hummed:
“Don’t think I’ll go easy. The True Martial Hall assessment allows no falsehood.”
Ning Qi said seriously:
“Come on.”
As the words fell.
The Youthful Girl opposite’s expression changed, her previous playfulness instantly turned indifferent. The next moment, a heavy sense of oppression suppressed down, as if boundless mana filled heaven and earth, making even Ning Qi widen his eyes.
That mana was even several times stronger than his.
“What special physique is this?” Ning Qi felt unprecedented pressure.
As if sensing Ning Qi’s thought, the girl’s indifferent voice sounded:
“I am Immortal Yuan Body, mana a hundred times that of the same tier.”
With such vast mana, even the most ordinary Immortal Dao spells in her hands would turn mundane into miraculous, not to mention she surely knew more than the simplest spells.
Boom!
A golden light giant palm slapped down, its aura terrifying beyond belief.
Ning Qi also erupted his mana, a Heavenly Sword shot into the sky, but was smashed to pieces with one slap.
For the first time, Ning Qi experienced the feelings of his past opponents. Being crushed by sheer power was so frustrating.
His eyelids twitched, but his gaze toward the Youthful Girl grew even more fervent. At this moment, his idea was: if he could study this girl’s Immortal Yuan Body, comprehend its principles, and create a secret technique to emulate the Immortal Yuan Body, how strong would his strength become.
Rumble!
One giant palm after another slapped down.
Ning Qi could only dodge. Fortunately, from the woman on the first Dao platform, he had comprehended some spatial mysteries. Now after several battles, he had grasped a bit of that void-fusing flavor.
Astonishment in the Youthful Girl’s eyes:
“You actually learned the mysteries of the Moon Shadow Spirit Body. Indeed extraordinary. But you should know, this move is even more useless against me.”
Vast mana suppressed down, the surrounding void instantly stagnated—this move was identical to what Ning Qi had used against the palace dress woman earlier.
Ning Qi was helpless.
He could only continuously unleash sword qi to clash.
His various secret techniques were exquisitely unmatched—this was his advantage. But the opponent’s mana was too terrifying; each clash required him to expend more mana to contend.
The two stalemated, but the girl opposite was clearly much more relaxed.
If this trend continued.
Once Ning Qi’s mana was exhausted, defeat was certain.
With this thought, he hesitated no more.
“Although still somewhat imperfect, I can only try.”
The next instant.
Azure light condensed on Ning Qi’s body surface, full defense, while on his body surface, astonishing sharpness gathered.
“Geng Metal Divine Sword Qi!”
“Jia Wood Divine Sword Qi!”
“Ren Water Divine Sword Qi!”
“Bing Fire Divine Sword Qi!”
Four sword qis of different attributes but equally unmatched sharpness condensed, floating and sinking beside Ning Qi. Then, he lightly shouted in his heart:
“Wu Earth Divine Sword Qi!”
Another earthy-yellow sword qi condensed, as heavy as a mountain, yet extremely sharp.
But if carefully perceived, this sword qi was somewhat inferior to the other four. The root cause was that Ning Qi was currently only a Fourth Realm Martial Saint, still lacking Earth Qi to condense.
However.
It was barely usable.
“Five Elements Divine Sword Qi, gather!” Ning Qi shouted loudly, all his body’s mana surging out.
Five-colored sword qi shot into the sky, then turned into a sword formation enveloping the Youthful Girl. Everything happened in electric light and flint. By the time the Youthful Girl reacted, the surrounding void was already locked by the Five Elements Sword Formation.
This was the sword formation Ning Qi had comprehended from the True Martial Sword.
Five Elements Divine Sword Qi combined with Five Elements Sword Formation was his strongest killing move. However, currently his five elements were not perfected, the power not at its limit, and the Wu Earth Divine Sword Qi had flaws.
But now, he could only try.
Buzz!
Continuous buzzing sounds rang out, five-colored sword qis rained down like torrents, each sword qi’s power comparable to Innate Divine Sword Qi, and gathered with five elements mysteries.
The Youthful Girl’s expression was extremely grave.
Her mana was torrential, terrifying fist seals shot into the sky, boundless mana erupted, endless rumbling sounds continuously rang out.
Ning Qi’s face slightly pale.
He could feel his mana depleting at extreme speed, but the girl inside definitely wasn’t feeling well either.
Now.
It was just a test of endurance.
He didn’t know how much time passed.
Ning Qi only felt himself almost drained dry when the rumbling finally stopped.
The Five Elements Sword Formation dispersed.
The Youthful Girl looked at her own body illusionary image in astonishment, pursed her lips:
“Consider it your win. If my true body were here, it wouldn’t be so easy.”
She huffed proudly, then completely turned into a fluctuationless illusionary image.
But it was clear to see, her eyes held thick admiration, seemingly not expecting her own defeat.
Ning Qi’s expression slightly complex, standing dazed for a moment before hearing the majestic voice:
“Second trial passed, evaluation top grade.”
