Chapter 92: Number One On The Villain Ranking! Singlehandedly Annihilating A Sect, Unparalleled Elegance!
“The Innate Path is severed!”
Ji Qing had just turned to the first page when he saw five striking large characters.
They shook his mind and spirit!
The Innate Path is severed?
How could this be possible?
Although Innate Grandmasters are like divine dragons, rarely seen and hard to find, seldom appearing in Jianghu.
But there are still Grandmasters in Jianghu.
Even just over a dozen years ago, it was said that a new Grandmaster had emerged.
How could the Innate Path be severed?
Ji Qing continued reading.
It turned out that this was written by the founding Patriarch of Tianshan Sect.
The Tianshan Sect Patriarch was a first-rate expert back then, having even opened all thirty-six major acupoints in his body.
He had truly reached the peak of first-rate, with no further progress possible.
At that time, the Tianshan Sect Patriarch was only in his early forties, fully hopeful to promote to Innate.
Unfortunately, promotion to Innate was not as Ji Qing had imagined.
No matter how outstanding your talent and brilliance.
As long as the conditions are not met, promotion to Innate is impossible.
It turned out that promotion to Innate required finding a “spiritual object.”
Only with a “spiritual object” could a first-rate expert, after opening the Heaven and Earth Bridge, achieve Acquired to Innate.
Without a spiritual object, forcibly opening the Heaven and Earth Bridge would prevent the body from achieving Acquired to Innate, leading to death by reverse blood flow!
From the founding Patriarch, successive Patriarchs of Tianshan Sect had all been searching for “spiritual objects.”
Yet to this day, not a single spiritual object had been found.
The brochure densely recorded how successive Tianshan Sect Patriarchs had visited famous mountains and great rivers, or followed clues about spiritual objects, but all searches yielded nothing.
This led to Tianshan Sect having first-rate experts in every generation, yet never producing a single Grandmaster.
Ji Qing had not expected that the path from first-rate to Grandmaster would be blocked by a “spiritual object.”
But why was this the case?
Ji Qing continued reading.
The successive Patriarchs in the brochure had also summarized the reason.
Because of Heaven and Earth Spiritual Depletion.
Promotion from first-rate to Grandmaster requires opening the Heaven and Earth Bridge within the body.
Once the Heaven and Earth Bridge is opened, external Heaven and Earth Spiritual Energy can enter the body, circulating internally and then externally.
Heaven and Earth Spiritual Energy transforms into Innate Qi, allowing Grandmasters’ every move to possess immense might.
But for some unknown reason, spiritual energy between Heaven and Earth gradually disappeared.
By the time of Tianshan Sect’s founding Patriarch, external spiritual energy was already insufficient to support martial artists achieving Acquired to Innate.
Thus, martial artists sought another path, finding spiritual objects rich in spiritual energy to substitute for external spiritual energy, allowing the body to achieve Acquired to Innate and become Innate Grandmasters.
At first, there were many spiritual objects, and promotion to Grandmaster was not difficult.
But as time passed, the number of Grandmasters increased, and spiritual objects dwindled with each use.
Now, finding even one spiritual object is exceedingly difficult.
Tianshan Sect’s successive Patriarchs called this era the “Era of Spiritual Depletion” or “Dharma-Ending Age.”
In the Dharma-Ending Age, with the full strength of the sect, Tianshan Sect’s successive Patriarchs searched for so long yet found not a single spiritual object.
No wonder Tianshan Sect’s successive Patriarchs sighed that the Innate Path is severed!
Without a spiritual object, the Innate Path is indeed severed.
Ji Qing closed the brochure.
His brows furrowed tightly.
Spiritual object?
This was indeed a problem.
If he wanted to promote to Innate in the future, he would face the trouble of spiritual objects too.
“Finding a spiritual object in the Dharma-Ending Age is as hard as ascending to heaven…”
Ji Qing seemed to understand the despair felt by Tianshan Sect’s successive Patriarchs.
Among the successive Patriarchs, there were no shortage of astonishingly talented individuals.
For example, the founding Patriarch reached the peak of first-rate at just over forty!
There were even more brilliantly talented ones who reached the peak of first-rate in their thirties.
Yet they were all trapped at first-rate, unable to promote to Grandmaster.
“I’ve only just promoted to first-rate now, and I don’t know how long it will take to cultivate the thirty-six major acupoints to perfection. Promotion to Grandmaster is still too early for me.”
“Still, I need to plan ahead and always keep an eye out for clues about spiritual objects…”
Ji Qing did not want to end up like Tianshan Sect’s successive Patriarchs, waiting despairingly for death.
Ji Qing searched the third floor of Martial Arts Pavilion for a long time but found nothing new.
He then returned to the Great Hall.
Soon, Chen Feng, Wang Feiyan, and the others also returned.
In the end, neither had any gains.
Precious medicinal herbs?
None.
Successive antiques and curios?
All ordinary items, and Chen Feng had no interest in them.
Seeing Wang Feiyan and Chen Feng, Ji Qing immediately asked: “Do the two of you know about spiritual objects?”
“Spiritual object? Brother Ji, do you have a clue about a spiritual object?”
Wang Feiyan and Chen Feng’s eyes lit up as they stared intently at Ji Qing.
“Where would I have a clue about a spiritual object? I just found the cultivation experience of Tianshan Sect’s successive Patriarchs, so I asked about it.”
Ji Qing took out the brochure.
Wang Feiyan and Chen Feng flipped through it before handing it back to Ji Qing.
Wang Feiyan spoke: “Tianshan Sect’s successive Patriarchs were right. Nowadays is the ‘Dharma-Ending Age’; there’s no spiritual energy left between Heaven and Earth. For a first-rate expert to promote to Innate Grandmaster, they must find a spiritual object.”
“But now in Jianghu, where are there any traces of spiritual objects?”
Ji Qing pondered.
Lei Yu had once said that Red Lotus Sect has a Grandmaster!
Doesn’t that mean Red Lotus Sect has a spiritual object? Otherwise, where did their Grandmaster come from?
Ji Qing even speculated that Red Lotus Sect’s seclusion and closed gates might be related to “spiritual objects.”
Chen Feng also said: “It’s not just you martial artists who need spiritual objects. Actually, our Demon Slayer Families need them too. Only with spiritual objects can the bloodline of our Demon Slayer Family advance further, reaching the ‘Old Ancestor’ realm.”
Ji Qing was somewhat surprised—Demon Slayers also needed spiritual objects?
Unfortunately, spiritual objects are hard to find!
The group exchanged more information.
Wang Feiyan suddenly said: “Brother Ji, I need to return to Mystic Maiden Peak. After all, the sect is still in seclusion, and I can’t stay outside too long.”
“I also need to return to Chen Family. Demon Slayer Families shouldn’t get involved in Jianghu disputes in the first place; leaving early avoids giving others pretext.”
Chen Feng was also preparing to take his leave.
Ji Qing knew that all banquets must end.
Now that Tianshan Sect had been removed from Jianghu, he was no longer in danger, so Chen Feng, Wang Feiyan, and the others would naturally leave.
“If any of you need anything in the future, just send a message to Listen to the Wind Tower!”
This was Ji Qing’s promise.
Now that Ji Qing was a first-rate expert and had wiped out Tianshan Sect.
His promise carried great weight!
“Third Brother, take care!”
“Third Brother, take care.”
Ji Qing watched Lei Yu, Chen Luo, and the others gradually depart.
The vast Tianshan Sect was left with only Ji Qing.
However, he couldn’t leave just yet.
With so many things in Tianshan Sect to move, he had to stay and wait for Listen to the Wind Tower’s people.
Time passed day by day.
News about Tianshan Sect gradually spread through Jianghu.
After all, eight hundred Tianshan Sect disciples had gone down the mountain.
But the time was too short, so only scattered rumors circulated.
The matter was so unbelievable that many in Jianghu didn’t believe it.
How could the vast Tianshan Sect be removed from Jianghu?
On this day, many Jianghu people gathered at Listen to the Wind Tower’s Tea House.
Today was the day Ling Xiao Pavilion updated the Jianghu Ranking.
Thus, many Jianghu people came.
Many among them mentioned the “Tianshan Sect” matter.
“Recent Jianghu rumors say Tianshan Sect has been removed from Jianghu! And it was ‘Astonishing Swan Saber’ Ji Qing who stormed up the sect gate, pressuring Tianshan Sect with one man and one saber. Is this possible?”
“This news is indeed laughable. Tianshan Sect is one of Jianghu’s top major sects, with three first-rate experts in charge and the Sect Leader known as ‘North Wind Divine Sword.’ Even though ‘Astonishing Swan Saber’ dominates Jianghu, facing three first-rate experts, Ji Qing would hardly escape death.”
“I heard that ‘Astonishing Swan Saber’ has promoted to first-rate and, with saber momentum, instantly killed Tianshan Sect’s three top first-rate experts in one saber strike. But this news is too outrageous; I really can’t believe it.”
“It’s all because of the challenge letter rumors seething in Jianghu. The supposed ten-day deadline—did Ji Qing really go to Tianshan Sect?”
Whether Tianshan Sect or “Astonishing Swan Saber” Ji Qing, due to the “challenge letter storm,” both were now at the center of Jianghu attention, with many watching.
But the circulating news was all scattered rumors, impossible to verify true from false, leaving people bewildered.
Finally, the time arrived, and Ling Xiao Pavilion’s updated Jianghu Ranking was announced.
Everyone immediately checked the new list.
Suddenly, someone with sharp eyes spotted a major change in the announced Villain Ranking.
“Quick, look at the Villain Ranking. The top name has changed…”
Everyone looked closely.
The Villain Ranking’s top name had indeed changed, and it was a name known to all in Jianghu that took the top spot.
“Villain Ranking First: ‘Astonishing Swan Saber’ Ji Qing!”
“Ling Xiao Pavilion’s evaluation: One man wipes out a sect, peerless brilliance!”
Everyone in the Tea House widened their eyes, staring at the Villain Ranking.
For a moment, the entire Tea House fell silent.
Immediately after, news about “Tianshan Sect” was confirmed.
Yongchang 13th year, 26th of the twelfth lunar month: “Astonishing Swan Saber” Ji Qing personally stormed Tianshan Sect, slaying the three top first-rate experts, with all eight hundred disciples submitting!
Tianshan Sect was also removed from Jianghu!
Ji Qing, one man wiping out a sect, peerless brilliance!
This news shook all of Jianghu!
ps: The book is officially renamed Eternal Martial Saint of the Dharma-Ending Age. Only four updates today; Old Moon did his best, seeking monthly tickets!
