Chapter 1031: Chapter 1030 Uninvited Guest_1
"If we can survive this calamity, Nine Heavens Mountain is destined to become a top-tier force in the world, and perhaps the strongest among them!"
Qu Wuyan trembled with excitement.
In the past, top-tier forces were something she could only aspire to, not reach. And now, she was creating a top-tier force alongside a group of remarkable people. The immense sense of anticipation and honor was indescribable.
Qu Wuyan only knew that she was full of energy.
Early followers of Shi Xiaole, such as Xin Zhuliu, the Three Wonders, and the Ai Family siblings, were feeling as if they were dreaming.
"Steward Qu, you’ve worked hard during this period. You get to choose a method for cultivation first."
Shi Xiaole said with a smile.
"Is that alright? Don’t I need contribution points?"
Qu Wuyan was hesitant.
There were rules in the Book Collection Building; to cultivate a secret manual, one had to contribute to Nine Heavens Mountain. On one hand, it promotes the cultivation of the clan’s experts; on the other, it prevents people from biting off more than they can chew. This was also the most basic rule of Martial World sects.
"Any Void Origin Realm expert of Nine Heavens Mountain can choose one method. Contribution points are used to exchange for the second method."
Shi Xiaole explained.
Taking a deep breath, Qu Wuyan lost the composure of a great steward and, with a few strides, picked up one of the manuals. Evidently, she had her eye on it for a long time. Seeing her choice brightened the eyes of the people around.
The Longevity Technique.
Top-level martial arts are unlike ordinary ones; each touches upon the ultimate truths of heaven and earth. Therefore, their names are not given lightly. As this one includes the characters for "longevity," it must relate to that concept.
No wonder Qu Wuyan and the others were so curious.
According to Shi Xiaole’s knowledge, the Longevity Technique was created by the ancient oddity Guang Chengzi. It’s said that when practiced to advanced levels, it could grant eternal youth and longevity as enduring as a turtle’s, similar in some respects to the Sacred Heart Technique.
But honestly, how powerful the Longevity Technique truly was had never been proven.
However, looking at how Kou Zhong and Xu Zilin, after having passed the age of martial arts training, each cultivated only one diagram and still became grandmasters of martial arts, this technique could definitely be considered top-tier.
Now in this world, Shi Xiaole was also looking forward to it. If someone truly mastered the seven diagrams of the Longevity Technique, how formidable would their strength become?
"Thank you, grand master!"
After hastily reading the introduction of the Longevity Technique, Qu Wuyan’s pretty face flushed red. Even her perennial icy facade showed a rich smile as she respectfully stepped back.
Shi Xiaole nodded and then looked at Zhang Xiangfeng standing to the side: "Brother Zhang, it’s your turn to choose."
Zhang Xiangfeng and Zhong Lingsui were both taken aback.
They were invited by Shi Xiaole today, and both were quite shocked by what had happened. Upon hearing Shi Xiaole’s words, Zhang Xiangfeng hurriedly shook his head: "Xiaole, this is too precious. Moreover, I am not a man of Nine Heavens Mountain; it wouldn’t be right."
Shi Xiaole said, "Brother Zhang is forever a friend of Nine Heavens Mountain, so don’t be shy. Considering the life-and-death bond between us, what is a mere manual compared to our friendship? Unless Brother Zhang thinks I’m trying to impose an obligation through my favor."
Zhang Xiangfeng let out a bitter smile. His dear friend sure knew how to make things clear, leaving no room for refusal. But at the same time, Zhang Xiangfeng couldn’t deny that he felt deeply moved and joyful.
This was top-level martial arts, acquired by various top-tier forces over countless years, and Shi Xiaole, without batting an eyelid, let him pick as he pleased.
Wasn’t such frankness and generosity the epitome of unreserved trust?
"Alright."
Any further refusal would be pretentious. Being a straightforward man, Zhang Xiangfeng stepped forward and after a moment of thought, picked a manual. When everyone looked closely, they saw the cover read "Golden Pellet Great Method."
As an unparalleled swordsman, Zhang Xiangfeng’s choice wasn’t a sword technique but an internal cultivation method. Everyone understood his reasoning after a brief thought.
Zhang Xiangfeng hailed from common beginnings and might have encountered fortuitous opportunities in his youth, but nothing substantial. To date, he had not cultivated a top-tier martial art. And compared to sword techniques, internal strength was the foundation of a martial artist, affecting the height they could reach in the future.
Everyone had to marvel at Zhang Xiangfeng’s strength. Without having cultivated a top-tier martial art, he managed to withstand the fierce attacks of four Martial Emperors of the same rank on his own.
One could only imagine how formidable his strength would become after practicing a top-tier martial art, which was an unsettling thought.
"Brother Zhang indeed has a discerning eye,"
Shi Xiaole complimented.
The Golden Pellet Great Method came from the swordsman Yan Fei, who accidentally ingested "Pill Tribulation" and cultivated this exceptional divine technique, which led to the formation of a golden pellet within his body. Yan Fei’s later ability to break through the void also had ties to this technique.
The only complication was that to practice the Golden Pellet Great Method, one must first swallow "Pill Tribulation." But Shi Xiaole only frowned for a moment before his expression cleared.
With Zhang Xiangfeng’s capabilities, there was no need for him to worry!
From beginning to end, Shi Xiaole firmly believed that Zhang Xiangfeng’s talents were no less than his own. Perhaps the only thing lacking was a systematic martial arts discipline.
Ling Hui watched Zhang Xiangfeng, and her deep understanding of her love allowed her to easily see the wild joy and agitation hidden beneath his calm exterior. This kind of reaction was unprecedented for him.
With this thought, Zhong Lingsui turned her head and deeply looked at Shi Xiaole, her eyes brimmed with endless gratitude.
She knew the troubles and regrets of her beloved, and now, these troubles and regrets had just been resolved.
After Qu Wuyan and Zhang Xiangfeng had each chosen a secret manual, heavy breathing sounds echoed from the top floor of the Book Collection Building. The others could no longer maintain their composure, wishing they could do the same and pocket a secret manual to study and return later.
"Damn it! It looks like I need to break through to the Void Origin Realm as soon as possible, or else, just looking without being able to practice is too torturous. I take my leave."
Mu Ling gave Shi Xiaole a sideways glance and turned to fly toward his own courtyard, in a race against time.
Duanmu Keren, Gui Zhihang, and Hua Yiyun, among others, also hurriedly left one after another.
Shi Xiaole’s strength and progress had deeply stimulated them, inspiring their admiration while also igniting a sense of urgency not to be left too far behind.
Now, with the temptation of a large collection of top martial arts techniques, it was like pouring fuel on the fire, driving them crazy with desire. This treasure trove right in front of them was inaccessible due to their own realm limitations, which frustrated them to the brink of madness.
As a result, in the following months, all the core members holed up, did not leave their gates, and trained frantically as if possessed. Everyone was determined to prove themselves, perhaps not to surpass Shi Xiaole, but at least not to lose to others.
Shi Xiaole also chose a secret manual.
Previously, whether it was "Body-Breaking Invisible Sword Qi," "Saintly Spirit Sword Technique," or "Sacred Heart Technique," they all focused on lethality rather than being purely internal energy techniques.
And Mind Methods are the foundation for martial artists, especially at the level of the Void Origin Realm, and Shi Xiaole had no reason to pass it up. After some consideration, he chose a Mind Method that no one expected - "Purple Blood Great Method."
"Purple Blood Great Method," which originated from the Devil Path master Li Gong, was considered the supreme Mind Method in the legends of the Devil Path. Once mastered, it would turn all the blood in the body from red to purple, leading to a drastic transformation in power.
With the enhancements from the Demon Bone and the Demon Martial Way, Shi Xiaole practiced the Devil Path’s martial arts at a much faster pace than other disciplines. Most importantly, Shi Xiaole needed to deal with the Qingmo Organization.
Currently, he absolutely could not reveal his identity as an Outer Heaven Demon, or it would bring catastrophe upon himself and Nine Heavens Mountain. The only way to prove his innocence was to pass the examination of the Demon-testing Stone.
The reason Shi Xiaole chose this Mind Method was because "Purple Blood Great Method" could alter the properties of his blood, giving him a chance to deceive the Demon-testing Stone.
One day.
Two days.
...
One month.
Two months.
Time swiftly passed by.
At this moment, news of the battle at Nine Heavens Mountain had long since swept across the land. The event was so sensational that not just the Daxia and Bei Liang kingdoms, but also the Western Sea Archipelago and the hundred nations of the Western Region were abuzz with discussions everywhere.
Not coincidentally, the fervent discussions about the Kirin further quickened the unfolding of the shocking blood battle in the Daxia Imperial Palace, causing an uproar in the Martial World. Some inquisitive individuals, after analysis, discovered an incredibly terrifying fact.
Up to now, the number of Void Origin Realm Martial Emperors who had died at the hands of the Kirin had already surpassed sixty!
What did this mean? In the history of the past, even in the eras when the spiritual energy of heaven and earth was at its peak, there wouldn’t be sixty Void Origin Realm Martial Emperors in a century.
In other words, the Kirin alone had cleared a century’s quota, and he had only entered the Void Origin Realm a little over a year ago.
The result was that, in a very short period of time, there was an ongoing stream of news about people breaking through to the Void Origin Realm.
"The capacity of the world to accommodate Void Origin Realm Martial Emperors is limited. With the recent increase in spiritual energy, this limit itself is constantly expanding, and the Kirin has killed off quite a number. Those who were initially finding it difficult to break through are now succeeding one after another."
"Haha, these recently promoted Void Origin Realm Martial Emperors should be thanking the Kirin."
This was originally an offhand joke, but it spread far and wide because it quite made sense and, to some extent, further augmented the Kirin’s fame.
While the world was spreading the name of the Kirin, a group of uninvited guests arrived at the foot of Nine Heavens Mountain.
"Kirin, come out and face me!"
The shout was like thunder, packed with unimaginable authority. Everyone inside Nine Heavens Mountain looked up, but no one responded.
"Hiding away, afraid to show your face? I, the Hanguang Emperor, would indeed like to see the power of the Nine Heavens Array System for myself."
The man who had called out earlier was a middle-aged man with a golden crown on his head, none other than the Hanguang Emperor from Dragon View Ridge. With concentrated power, the Hanguang Emperor unleashed a palm strike, and a golden handprint covered Nine Heavens Mountain as if it would crush it to bits.
Anyone with the title of emperor, aside from the shameless kinds like the Dark Lance Emperor, were typically Heaven Realm Martial Emperors, like this Hanguang Emperor.
The Hanguang Emperor didn’t think he could break the array, but at the very least, he wanted to shake up Nine Heavens Mountain. After all, the Nine Heavens Array was verified to only have defensive capabilities.
Boom!
Just as the golden handprint pressed down, a layer of mysterious Array System burst out abruptly. The powerful vibrations rippled outward, easily shattering the golden handprint, and the residual force continued to rush towards the Hanguang Emperor.
With a spurt of blood, and under the wide-eyed stares of the uninvited guests, the Hanguang Emperor was pierced through from front to back.
