Chapter 141: Storming Jade Pool Sect, Meeting Ji Yao! All Jade Pool Sect Female Cultivators Shocked!
“Mister Ji is said to have promoted to a true Grandmaster. He killed three Immortal Masters right upon his return!”
“The blood of those three Immortal Masters outside Hundred Battles Sect hasn’t even been wiped clean yet…”
“It’s said that Mister Ji has deep ties with Listen to the Wind Tower. Now it seems that’s indeed the case…”
He had just killed three Immortal Masters and was now rushing hurriedly to Listen to the Wind Tower.
The rumor was true!
Ji Qing glanced at the people on the second floor, paid them no mind, and walked straight into the underground secret chamber.
After so long, the secret chamber still held that graceful figure.
Ji Qing had known Shopkeeper Yu for many years, yet she showed no signs of aging, still appearing charming and alluring.
“Mister Ji, you caused quite a stir right upon your return.”
Shopkeeper Yu’s eyes lit up upon seeing Ji Qing.
She was the Tower Master of Listen to the Wind Tower in An Yang City, and any slightest disturbance in An Yang City would reach her ears first.
Shopkeeper Yu had long known about Ji Qing killing three cultivators.
Deep down, she felt immensely shocked.
Those were three cultivators, and they even had flying swords.
Yet Ji Qing had managed to kill them.
Moreover, Ji Qing now had another identity.
Grandmaster!
A true Innate Grandmaster!
Listen to the Wind Tower had been able to establish branches across the entire Jianghu, relying on nothing more than Grandmasters.
Ji Qing slowly said, “Shopkeeper Yu should know why I’m here today.”
Shopkeeper Yu glanced at Ji Qing and said with a wry smile, “Of course I know. It’s about Ji Yao…”
“Ji Yao was taken away by an Immortal Master from Jade Pool Sect. We wanted to stop it at the time but couldn’t. Afterward, we investigated Jade Pool Sect. This Immortal Sect is a bit different—not so ostentatious. They never openly recruit disciples but seek them out themselves, and they have very few disciples.”
“Every disciple in Jade Pool Sect is female, and they are extremely protective of their own. The Immortal Master who took Ji Yao is called Fengluan Immortal. She reportedly holds a high status in Jade Pool Sect and is very powerful. It’s actually a good thing for Ji Yao to follow Fengluan Immortal.”
Shopkeeper Yu briefly introduced Jade Pool Sect.
She knew Ji Qing valued Ji Yao greatly.
Thus, they had investigated Jade Pool Sect long ago.
The intelligence provided was indeed much more than what Zhao Yungui had.
“Where exactly is Jade Pool Sect located?”
Ji Qing asked.
“In Kunzhou to the west, there is Tian Kun Mountain, and Jade Pool Sect is on Tian Kun Mountain.”
Ji Qing nodded.
“One last question: I killed three cultivators from Floating Cloud Sect. How strong is Floating Cloud Sect?”
“Floating Cloud Sect…”
Shopkeeper Yu immediately pulled out intelligence on Floating Cloud Sect.
“Since Immortal Sects appeared in the world, Listen to the Wind Tower has paid close attention to news about Immortal Sects. Unfortunately, as a Jianghu force, Listen to the Wind Tower has no way to enter Immortal Sects and knows very little about their intelligence.”
“This Floating Cloud Sect is just a small sect among Immortal Sects. In their terms, Floating Cloud Sect belongs to Foundation Establishment Orthodox Lineage, with one Foundation Establishment Old Ancestor in the sect, but it seems to still be sleeping and has not awakened.”
“Currently, Floating Cloud Sect probably only has Qi Refining Cultivators.”
Ji Qing pondered.
He knew very little about Immortal Sects and cultivators.
He simply had Shopkeeper Yu say more about the situation with Immortal Sects.
Immortal Sects, according to Shopkeeper Yu, currently had the strongest emerged ones claiming Golden Core Orthodox Lineage.
But whether they actually had Golden Core cultivators was hard to say.
Currently, only Foundation Establishment Old Ancestors had appeared publicly.
The one who once swept away three Innate Grandmasters of Great Shang Imperial Family with a single sword was a Foundation Establishment Old Ancestor named Xuanyang Old Ancestor from Heavenly Sun Immortal Sect.
It was said that although Heavenly Sun Immortal Sect was only Foundation Establishment Orthodox Lineage and had never produced a Golden Core cultivator, it had many sleeping Foundation Establishment Old Ancestors. From the current situation, Heavenly Sun Immortal Sect truly did not fear those Golden Core Orthodox Lineage Immortal Sects.
“Qi Refining, Foundation Establishment, Golden Core… For Martial Artists, does Grandmaster mark the peak?”
Ji Qing’s words made Shopkeeper Yu fall silent as well.
This was now the great era of Immortal Path cultivation.
It wasn’t without reason that Martial Artists had fallen to the bottom.
The Immortal Path had Qi Refining, Foundation Establishment, and Golden Core.
What did the Martial Way have?
Grandmaster was merely equivalent to the Immortal Path’s Qi Refining Stage.
Although Ji Qing had killed three Qi Refining Cultivators, he himself knew full well.
He had Saber Intent and Innate Five Elements Destruction Scripture.
But what about other Grandmasters?
Without Saber Intent or Innate Five Elements Destruction Scripture, facing a Qi Refining Cultivator with a flying sword, they probably couldn’t match up.
That was reality.
Moreover, Ji Qing had not heard what lay above Grandmaster.
He didn’t even know if there was a path beyond Grandmaster.
“Mister Ji, you should have received the invitation from Ling Xiao Pavilion, right? Then go to Ling Xiao Pavilion… Ling Xiao Pavilion actually had another name long ago: Martial World Holy Land!”
“If you want to know if there’s a path beyond Grandmaster? Then go to Ling Xiao Pavilion. There, you will find answers!”
After a long while, Shopkeeper Yu spoke.
“Martial World Holy Land, Ling Xiao Pavilion?”
Ji Qing pondered.
This Ling Xiao Pavilion had always been quite mysterious.
It was unassuming in the Jianghu, yet it could rank the Jianghu Ranking.
No one troubled Ling Xiao Pavilion either.
So Ling Xiao Pavilion had once been the Martial World Holy Land.
This invitation from Ling Xiao Pavilion even related to the path “beyond Grandmaster,” instantly raising its value.
Regardless, Ji Qing must go to Ling Xiao Pavilion this time!
Ji Qing returned to Hundred Battles Sect.
He thought, currently offending Floating Cloud Sect was a problem.
Later, see if Floating Cloud Sect would send more people.
Then there was Jade Pool Sect.
Although Jade Pool Sect taking Ji Yao away was to let her cultivate immortality, which should be a good thing in principle.
But Ji Qing still felt somewhat uneasy.
He wanted to go see for himself.
But now, in this great era of cultivation, experts were emerging everywhere.
Without improving his strength, danger lurked everywhere in the world.
Ji Qing now had 178 Origin Points, enough to improve “Innate Five Elements Destruction Scripture.”
“Consume Origin Points to improve Innate Five Elements Destruction Scripture!”
Ji Qing immediately began improving.
His Innate Five Elements Destruction Scripture was only at Beginner.
With the consumption of 100 Origin Points, the Innate Five Elements Destruction True Qi in Ji Qing’s body surged directly.
From originally 999 strands, it directly surged to 9,999 strands.
A tenfold increase!
Moreover, it wasn’t just the Innate True Qi that surged.
Ji Qing’s body was also gradually transforming toward the “Innate Five Elements Destruction Body.”
Once successfully transformed, he would forge the Innate Five Elements Destruction Body, where every gesture would carry terrifying power, and Five Elements power would hardly damage his body.
However, that required Innate Perfection realm.
He was still far from it now.
It merely made his body somewhat stronger.
But being stronger had its benefits.
His body previously could only support bursting 100 strands of Innate True Qi.
And now?
His body could now support bursting 1,000 strands of Innate True Qi.
This meant Ji Qing’s one-time burst of Innate True Qi had increased tenfold!
His combat power had also received a massive boost.
Ji Qing opened the Demon Record to check his status.
Ji Qing: Innate Martial Artist（ Mid-stage）
Innate Five Elements Destruction Scripture: Minor Accomplishment（ Innate Cultivation Technique）
Saber Intent: Beginner（ 5%）
Origin Points: 78 points
On the Demon Record, Astonishing Swan Saber, Ice Palm, and others were at Perfection, so Ji Qing had hidden them directly.
The information on the Demon Record was now very concise.
His Innate Five Elements Destruction Scripture had reached Minor Accomplishment, and his cultivation had also reached Innate mid-stage!
Unfortunately, he lacked enough Origin Points.
Otherwise, Ji Qing could have improved all the way to Perfection!
However, Ji Qing’s current techniques were too few.
Whether Astonishing Swan Saber or Ice Palm.
They were actually only first-rate level techniques.
They no longer matched Ji Qing’s current cultivation and strength.
The reason his Astonishing Swan Saber was so powerful was due to Saber Intent and Innate Five Elements Destruction True Qi.
Forcibly elevating the might of Astonishing Swan Saber.
But in truth, Astonishing Swan Saber was only a first-rate level martial art.
As for Innate level martial arts, aside from Innate Five Elements Destruction Scripture, Ji Qing had almost none.
Ji Qing thought of Ling Xiao Pavilion.
On the fifteenth of March, go to Ling Xiao Pavilion. Since it was the Martial World Holy Land, there must be plenty of Innate level martial arts.
He could make up for it then.
However, martial arts also required Origin Points to improve.
Ji Qing still needed to find ways to kill more demons, accumulate more Origin Points.
Ji Qing prepared to make a trip to Jade Pool Sect in the northwest.
He called Lie Yingniang and Han Gao.
“Yingniang, I’m going out. If people from Floating Cloud Sect come, avoid them if you can—preserve yourself first.”
“Han Gao, if experts from Floating Cloud Sect really come, escort Lie Yingniang to Yunmeng River to find Yunmeng Goddess. She will hide you in the Water Mansion. Wait for my return.”
Ji Qing was worried that Floating Cloud Sect would retaliate after he left.
Better to arrange things properly, just in case.
“Mister Ji, you must be careful too.”
Ji Qing nodded.
After arranging everything, Ji Qing set off.
He flew directly into the sky, heading northwest.
Without regard for Innate True Qi consumption, Ji Qing crossed thousands of miles in just three days, arriving at Tian Kun Mountain in Kunzhou.
Tian Kun Mountain stretched undulating into the distance, and from afar, one could see grand and majestic buildings on the mountaintop.
Moreover, Ji Qing could sense Heaven and Earth Spiritual Energy from hundreds of miles around converging toward those buildings.
Likely some spirit-gathering formation.
That must be Jade Pool Sect!
“Whoosh.”
Ji Qing arrived before Jade Pool Sect and landed directly.
Ji Qing wanted to enter.
But a faint white light blocked him.
Ji Qing understood this was probably Jade Pool Sect’s mountain-protecting formation.
He flicked his finger.
Innate True Qi slammed fiercely into the mountain-protecting formation.
Stirring up ripples.
“Ji Qing has come to pay respects!”
Ji Qing’s voice boomed, echoing through the mountains.
“Hum.”
The mountain-protecting formation rippled, and then three women in white dresses emerged.
All emitting fluctuations of Magic Power.
Clearly, these three women were all cultivators.
“You are… a Martial Artist?”
“How could a Martial Artist shake the mountain-protecting formation?”
“Could it be… an Innate Martial Artist?”
The three women even found it very strange.
In their eyes, Martial Artists were practically like mortals.
The mountain-protecting formation was not something mortals could shake.
But now the formation had stirred, meaning the opponent at least had strength comparable to Qi Refining Stage.
There was only one possibility.
Innate Martial Artist!
“Are you all Immortal Fairies of Jade Pool Sect?”
Ji Qing asked.
“Indeed, this is Jade Pool Sect. What is a single Innate Martial Artist doing at Jade Pool Sect?”
“Ji Mou has a younger sister, Ji Yao, who was taken away by Fengluan Immortal, so I came specially to see her.”
The three women glanced at each other.
“Uncle-Master Fengluan did bring back a disciple recently, who seems to have the surname Ji?”
“It should be her.”
The three then replied, “Wait here first. I’ll go fetch Junior Sister Ji.”
Thus, one of them returned to Jade Pool Sect.
With no intention of inviting Ji Qing inside.
Ji Qing waited quietly.
Moments later, a familiar figure appeared.
“Brother… it really is you… Where have you been all these years?”
Ji Yao threw herself into Ji Qing’s arms.
The current Ji Yao was not the same as before.
Now Ji Yao was already twelve or thirteen years old.
After all, it had been over six years since the “Liang City incident.”
Back then, Ji Yao was only about five or six.
Since sending Ji Yao to Zhao Mansion, although Ji Qing had always protected her in secret, he had not appeared before her.
Yet even after years apart, seeing her closest brother in this world, Ji Yao was still extremely excited.
“Actually, these years I’ve been in An Yang City. But you know I was wanted, and as a Martial Artist, I kept getting dragged into Jianghu fights, so I didn’t appear before you, but I’ve always been by your side…”
Ji Yao was already crying uncontrollably.
She was very sensible.
Six years of living under others’ roof—even if no one dared mistreat her, she knew it wasn’t her home.
Ji Yao did not blame Ji Qing for not appearing to see her.
Ji Qing must have had unavoidable reasons.
But now, none of that mattered.
Ji Yao happily said, “Brother, I’ve taken a master. Master treats me very well, and I can cultivate immortality. Master said that once I succeed in cultivation, I’ll be the most noble person under heaven, with powerful strength. Then you won’t need to fight in Jianghu anymore—I can protect you!”
“Brother, look, I can even cast magic now.”
Ji Yao extended her hand.
Sure enough, a small fireball appeared in her hand, emitting scorching heat.
This was no mere show.
Ji Qing could sense the terrifying energy contained in the small fireball.
If thrown at a Grandmaster, even a Grandmaster couldn’t withstand it.
This showed Ji Yao had already achieved some accomplishment in just half a year.
Moreover, it was clear Ji Yao was very happy living in Jade Pool Sect.
“Whoosh.”
At this time, a woman with stunning beauty and a cold aura appeared.
“Yao’er.”
The woman called out.
Ji Yao ran back to the woman’s side and introduced, “Brother, this is my master.”
“Master, this is my brother Ji Qing. If not for brother when I was little, this disciple would have been eaten by demons long ago…”
Ji Qing already knew who the woman was and bowed toward her: “Ji Qing has seen Fengluan Immortal.”
This Fengluan Immortal was likely a cultivator who had “awakened” from slumber.
Only awakening in the last year or two.
“Ji Qing… you are an Innate Martial Artist, right?”
Fengluan Immortal asked.
“Indeed, I promoted to Innate not long ago.”
“Innate… not bad among Martial Artists. But Yao’er has extraordinary talent, with Foundation Establishment potential. I don’t want her burdened by family ties. Do you understand?”
Ji Qing frowned.
Burdened by family ties?
He of course understood her meaning.
She looked down on him as a Martial Artist.
Even as an Innate Martial Artist, it was the same.
“Master, he’s my only family…”
Ji Yao’s eyes reddened, tears welling up.
Ji Qing knew these cultivators were high and mighty.
Viewing the Martial Way as inferior.
But so what?
Ji Yao was his sister—that bond could not be severed!
However, Ji Yao staying in Jade Pool Sect was fine.
After all, everyone envied immortals.
It was just that Ji Qing also knew “cultivation” was really just a big Jianghu.
It had disputes.
It had troubles.
Ji Qing saw Ji Yao had no flying sword or magic tools.
It seemed Jade Pool Sect wasn’t “wealthy” either.
Thinking of this, Ji Qing asked, “Fengluan Immortal, does Jade Pool Sect have Immortal Masters who refine pills or forge tools?”
“Of course. But whether pill refining or tool forging, both require raw materials. Right now, Heaven and Earth Spiritual Energy has only just begun reviving a bit—where are there so many raw materials?”
Ji Qing waved his hand immediately.
Three corpses flew out fiercely from the Storage Jade Pendant.
“Rumble.”
The massive corpses landed before everyone.
These were three demon corpses.
Ones Ji Qing had killed at the bottom of Yunmeng River earlier.
Two were ordinary demons.
But one had an enormous body—it was a Great Demon!
“These three demons: use two for tool-forging remuneration. But can the Great Demon corpse be used to forge some magic tools for Ji Yao? Like armor or such magic tools.”
As soon as Ji Qing spoke, the surroundings fell silent.
The female cultivators who had been arrogant moments ago now looked at Ji Qing differently.
“G-Great… Great Demon? It’s actually a Great Demon?”
“Look at its hide—so incredibly tough. Once forged, it would at least be a mid-grade magic tool. And some bones, blood—could refine pills too…”
“Ji Yao’s brother, a mortal Martial Artist—even Innate Martial Artist—where did he get so many demon corpses?”
This was also Fengluan Immortal’s doubt.
“This Great Demon corpse…”
“I killed it!”
Ji Qing did not conceal it.
The female cultivators fell silent again.
Great Demon!
That was a Great Demon!
Moreover, they could see the Great Demon’s wounds were indeed from a Martial Artist’s “Innate True Qi,” not a cultivator’s Magic Power or magic tool.
Proving Ji Qing told the truth.
“Brother… you can kill… kill a Great Demon?”
Ji Yao’s eyes widened too.
She had begun cultivating and naturally understood the terror of demons.
Even ordinary demons—if she had no magic tool or her magic wasn’t proficient enough—she couldn’t beat them.
Of course, with a flying sword or powerful magic tool, killing ordinary demons was easy.
But that Great Demon was different.
A Great Demon—that was comparable to Qi Cultivation Level Seven or above.
How could Ji Qing, an Innate Martial Artist, kill a Great Demon?
Fengluan Immortal gave Ji Qing a deep look.
She no longer dared underestimate him.
A Martial Artist who could kill a Great Demon… his strength absolutely rivaled a Great Grandmaster.
Cultivators might be high and mighty.
But without Foundation Establishment, encountering a Great Grandmaster would likely spell doom.
She remembered how ferocious those Great Grandmasters among Martial Artists were a millennium ago.
In terms of combat power, Great Grandmasters were the most terrifying existence below Foundation Establishment.
Probably only peak Qi Refining Level Nine sword cultivators could match them.
“I didn’t expect Your Excellency to be a Great Grandmaster. Fengluan was disrespectful! Rest assured, everything from this Great Demon—whether for pills or tools—will be used for Yao’er.”
Fengluan Immortal’s tone became much more polite.
Ji Qing nodded.
The other party had probably mistaken him for a Great Grandmaster.
Ji Qing knew what a Great Grandmaster was.
Innate Perfection, forging the Innate Body—that was a Great Grandmaster.
Ji Qing was still far from Innate Perfection Great Grandmaster.
But he didn’t correct her.
Ji Qing had long understood a principle.
Background mattered everywhere, and cultivation was no exception.
With a “Great Grandmaster” brother like him outside, Ji Yao’s cultivation in Jade Pool Sect would go more smoothly.
“Ji Yao, cultivate well. I’ll come see you again in a while.”
“Brother…”
Ji Yao was somewhat reluctant.
But Ji Qing did not hesitate, turning and treading the air, quickly vanishing into the horizon.
Ji Yao wept profusely.
She had just seen her brother, and he was gone after such a short time.
Fengluan Immortal stroked Ji Yao’s head and sighed, “Silly child, your brother is a Great Grandmaster, and so young too. In the future, he might not be unable to enter the Dao and forge a Dao Foundation! Once a Martial Artist forges a Dao Foundation, it’s comparable to Immortal Path Foundation Establishment, and with even stronger combat power… It’s just that forging a Dao Foundation is too difficult—ten or a hundred times harder than Immortal Path Foundation Establishment!”
“You must cultivate diligently now, strive for Foundation Establishment in the future. Perhaps you can even help your brother one day…”
Ji Yao’s eyes brightened.
“I can help brother?”
“Don’t worry, Master. I will definitely cultivate hard and strive for early Foundation Establishment!”
Ji Yao resolved in her heart to achieve Foundation Establishment soon and help her brother!
Fengluan Immortal naturally understood the bond between Ji Yao and Ji Qing.
But these words were just to motivate Ji Yao to cultivate.
Though every word she said was true.
For a Martial Artist to forge a Dao Foundation.
Difficult! Difficult! Difficult!
As hard as ascending to heaven!
Even in the great cultivation era of a millennium ago, with abundant resources and vast numbers of Martial Artists, few could forge a Dao Foundation.
Otherwise, with the terrifying combat power of Dao Foundation Martial Artists, how could Immortal Sects dominate this realm alone?
Let alone now, not yet a great cultivation era.
With no resources at all.
For Ji Qing to forge a Dao Foundation was a pipe dream, with minuscule possibility!
But giving Ji Yao some hope and pressure was good.
On the Immortal Path, hope was indispensable, and so was pressure.
Only thus could one go further on the Immortal Path!
“Alright, Yao’er, go back and cultivate.”
Fengluan Immortal took Ji Yao back.
She believed with Ji Yao’s aptitude, Foundation Establishment hope was great.
As for Ji Qing?
Even a Great Grandmaster— that was the end of it.
Ji Yao and Ji Qing would ultimately belong to two different worlds…
