Lying Low in the Martial World to Become a Saint

Chapter 429: Chapter 194: Peerless

In the small courtyard, a spear whistled through the air, its movements faintly echoing with the sound of thunder.

Chen Qing wielded the Cloud-Coiling Spear, his body twisting and turning as he practiced the Mountain-Splitting Thunder Shock Spear, a technique he had obtained from Du Lingchuan.

Unlike the steady, heavy pressure of the Mountain Prison-Suppression Spear, which used its sheer momentum to overwhelm opponents, this Spear Technique followed a path of ultimate ferocity and violence. It focused on concentrating all of one’s strength and True Astral into a single point for an instantaneous, explosive burst—like a clap of thunder, utterly devastating.

With every twist of his waist and thrust of his hips, a flick of his wrist sent a blinding cyan light erupting from the spear’s tip. It moved so fast that only afterimages remained, tearing through the air with a series of sharp CRACKS, as if he were truly summoning thunder itself.

Once the Spear Momentum was established, it was relentlessly aggressive. The onslaught was like a surging tide, abandoning nearly all defense to perfectly embody the art of the attack.

After a long while, Chen Qing retracted his spear and stood still, a faint white vapor rising from his body.

With a thought, he called up the panel in his mind.

[Heaven Rewards Diligence; success is assured.]

[Cyan Wood Eternal Spring Technique Fifth Layer: (850/10,000)]

[Eight Desolates Prison-Suppression Technique Fifth Layer: (150/10,000)]

[Mountain-Splitting Thunder Shock Spear Great Success: (13/2,000)]

[Startled Swan Escape Shadow Technique: Void Evasion: (80/5,000)]

[Nine Heavens Thunder Shocking Finger Great Success: (850/2,000)]

[Eight Extremes Vajra Body Tiger Elephant: (4,015/5,000)]

’I reached the Great Success stage of the Mountain-Splitting Thunder Shock Spear in less than a month. At this rate, it won’t be difficult to reach the Extreme Realm within a year.’

Chen Qing mused to himself, quite satisfied with his progress.

His prior mastery of the Eight Desolates Prison-Suppression Spear, which he had already cultivated to the Extreme Realm, made practicing the Mountain-Splitting Thunder Shock Spear twice as effective.

At the same time, his Startled Swan Escape Shadow Technique had also broken through to the Third Realm, Void Escape, taking his speed and agility to an even higher level.

He could feel the Cyan Wood and Kun Earth True Astral slowly flowing and merging within him. The power of this fused True Astral was indeed impressive.

’If the fusion of just two True Astrals is this powerful, what if I could gather all the Five Elements Treasures and fuse all five... My power would surely take another leap!’

A flicker of anticipation flashed in his eyes.

After cleaning himself up, he headed to a nearby cove to fish.

The place was secluded and the current was gentle. Weeping willows lined the banks, and occasionally a fish would leap from the water, sending ripples across the surface.

He sat down in his usual spot, cast his line, and let his Heart and Spirit gradually sink into the gently rippling water.

About the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, the float on the water’s surface suddenly plunged down!

With a flick of his wrist, Chen Qing sent a supple force up the line. SPLASH! A shimmering silver Treasure Fish with dense scales, weighing about two pounds, was pulled from the water. It flopped about energetically on the grassy bank.

A two-year-old Treasure Fish. Its vitality was potent, making it a good catch whether for cooking or for use in alchemy.

Just then, footsteps sounded from behind him. "I knew I’d find you hiding out here for some peace and quiet, kid."

Chen Qing turned and smiled, placing the fish in a specially made creel. "Martial Uncle, what brings you here today?"

Shen Xiuyong walked closer and clicked his tongue. "I’m here on important business."

"Important business?"

"There’s definite news about the Celestial Treasure Upper Sect’s Xu Wang Mountain training program!"

"There’s news?"

Chen Qing’s eyebrows shot up. He set down his fishing rod, his expression turning serious.

This was a matter of great importance, so naturally, he was paying close attention.

Shen Xiuyong lowered his voice. "The Celestial Treasure Upper Sect has officially issued a decree. They’re going to select geniuses from all the affiliated Sects and Noble Families within their subordinate Three Paths and Fifty-One Mansions. The requirements are Astral Force Realm cultivators under the age of forty and Embracing Pill Force Realm cultivators under thirty. Anyone who meets the criteria can register for the selection!"

"They say those who ultimately make it into Xu Wang Mountain will be cultivated with the same standards as an Inner Sect Disciple of the Celestial Treasure Upper Sect! The resources and Cultivation Techniques will be far beyond anything a Prefecture-level Sect like ours can provide. And... rumor has it that if you perform exceptionally well, you might even get the chance to be cultivated with the standards of a True Disciple!

"Do you have any idea what that means? That’s the true core inheritance of the Celestial Treasure Upper Sect! The level of access and the resources involved are simply unimaginable!"

Shen Xiuyong’s voice trembled with a hint of excitement. "Old Qiao just sent me a message. He’s definitely going. According to him, the news has already spread, and there’s an Undercurrent Swell of activity in the other three prefectures around the Ten Thousand Poison Swamp. All the famous geniuses, like Fan Yanchen of the Earth Element Sect, Zhu Yu ’Red Flame Hand’ of the Fiery Sun Sect, and Kong Yian ’Wind-Chasing Sword’ of the Kong Family... All these figures you rarely see are supposedly gearing up to give it a shot! And which one of them isn’t proud and ambitious?"

Chen Qing listened, taking a soft breath. He gazed out at the sparkling surface of the water, feeling ripples of emotion stir in his own heart.

The Fifty-One Mansions... The territory was vast, and geniuses were as numerous as carp crossing a river—simply countless.

The standard was already quite high. Anyone who could reach such a Realm at that age was undoubtedly a regional prodigy, each with their own unique opportunities and foundations.

He could well imagine that the final contest for a spot on Xu Wang Mountain would be a fierce struggle between titans, an exceptionally brutal affair.

Did he want to go?

The answer was an unequivocal yes.

Staying in the Wutai Sect, despite having access to Langya Pavilion and Earth Core Milk, had already caused his Cultivation speed to slow.

The continued Cultivation of his Cyan Wood Eternal Spring Technique and Eight Desolates Prison-Suppression Technique would require immense resources and guidance from higher-level Cultivation Techniques—things that the Wutai Sect, nestled away in its quiet corner of the world, couldn’t fully provide.

The Celestial Treasure Upper Sect ruled over the Three Paths and possessed abundant resources. Only there could he find the path to the True Essence Realm, and to even higher Realms beyond.

"So, Martial Uncle, what are you suggesting?"

Chen Qing suppressed the churning thoughts in his mind and looked at Shen Xiuyong.

Shen Xiuyong reined in some of his excitement and said seriously, "To be honest with you, I only joined the Wutai Sect back then by a twist of fate. For disciples of a Sect like ours, trying to get into the Celestial Treasure Upper Sect is next to impossible—there’s practically no path in. But now, this opportunity is right in front of us. It’s a godsend, and I certainly won’t let it pass me by."