Chapter 1167: Chapter 1165: Ninety Percent Life and Death Martial Path_1
Overlapping Land.
In the depths of a pitch-dark cave where the sun never shone.
A black and a white breath intertwined over Shi Xiaole’s body, distinct as yin and yang, clear as the Jing and Wei rivers.
On the side of the white light, a rich vitality made the seeds in the groove of the cave wall sprout rapidly, growing into lush plants that, in a moment, withered and disintegrated into dust.
The black side, in stark contrast, was filled with a howling deathly aura that made one feel as though they were in the depths of hell. It seemed that even a single glance, let alone a breath, could strip life away.
At a certain moment, the black and white auras began to fuse, transforming into one another with a hissing sound that could halt the heart. Faintly, a grey light streak as thin as a formation’s eye appeared between the black and white, significantly increasing the speed of their transformation.
Onefold.
One and a half times.
One point six times.
...
In the end, when the transformation speed had doubled from before, the grey streak had fully formed and stabilized.
A Taiji Yin-Yang Plate floated above Shi Xiaole’s head, white as crystal, black as a shining stone, its rotation casting diamond-like light trails—a vision of a dream, carrying an indescribable aura of the Supreme Great Path.
Having absorbed enough black stone death qi, at this moment, Shi Xiaole’s life and death martial way had finally progressed from eighty percent peak to the early stages of ninety percent, equivalent to the early stages of one hundred and ten percent of top martial ways, but undoubtedly much more powerful.
First was the transformation efficiency.
Under the transformation of the life and death martial way, the Wind Sword Way at the initial stages of one hundred and ten percent, the Illusion Martial Way at one hundred percent peak, and even the Demon Martial Way at ninety percent peak, all were strengthening at a far faster rate than before.
If it used to take three years to break through a minor realm, now it only took a year and a half, or even less. Because as the four great martial ways grew stronger together, the transformation efficiency itself kept improving.
Next was the recovery speed.
In the past, Shi Xiaole could launch two killing moves within the time it took an opponent to launch one. Now, he had progressed to three.
Do not underestimate this extra move; it indicated that his strength had increased by a level, allowing him to defeat powerful enemies who were previously unbeatable.
The third noticeable change was endurance.
Shi Xiaole had tested himself and quickly concluded with his spiritual power that under the same conditions, his current ultimate output could last more than three times longer than before!
The improvement in transformation speed had magnified its effects on endurance.
And of course, one must not forget the healing ability of the life and death martial way.
Shi Xiaole struck himself with a sword capable of killing a top Heaven Realm Martial Emperor. His injuries healed completely in just twenty breaths.
This was terrifying. It meant that even if Shi Xiaole stood still and took hits from a top Heaven Realm Martial Emperor, he would never die. He even suspected that if he were to be attacked by a Forbidden Martial Emperor, he could recover quickly.
"Without discussing the change in offensive power, my current strength is also far superior to before," Shi Xiaole thought to himself as a surge of boundless pride filled his chest.
Nearly a year of relentless effort, and the progress he had made frightened even him.
Apart from the life and death martial way, all four great sword techniques had reached perfection. The sword nineteen to sword twenty-two in the Saintly Spirit Sword Technique had also achieved great mastery.
Although the Purple Blood Great Method was not yet perfect, it was not far from completion. His mental power tempering had slowed down due to his martial practice, but it had also reached ten percent.
It could be said that after exhausting his resources, Shi Xiaole had become unprecedentedly powerful, so strong that he could not even estimate his own limits and only by facing strong opponents in battle could he discern his true strength.
"It’s about time for the land of fate to open."
Dashing out of the cave, Shi Xiaole arrived beside the wooden hut.
The ladies were cultivating on the lawn. Sensing Shi Xiaole’s presence, they turned their heads one after another, curiously examining him.
"Shi brother, did you make a breakthrough?"
To hide the Illusion Martial Way, Shi Xiaole left this place several months ago and only returned today. Bai Ruiting couldn’t be sure, but she felt that his aura had become even more unfathomable.
"You could say that."
Shi Xiaole said with a smile.
The women couldn’t help but shiver inwardly.
Through nearly a year of companionship, they knew better than anyone how terrifying Shi Xiaole’s swordsmanship was. He had shattered their understanding of what a genius could be—no cultivational challenge seemed to pose him any difficulty, and he could resolve them with ease.
Now that he had made another breakthrough, how powerful had he become? They couldn’t even begin to imagine.
"Are you planning to go to the Fate Realm?"
Illusion Orchid Tower’s master was the first to ask.
"Indeed, judging by the time, it should be in these next few days."
Shi Xiaole replied.
At this news, the women’s expressions turned somewhat melancholic.
The Fate Realm didn’t have any requirements for strength; anyone who wanted to could enter. However, it was said that those who lacked sufficient strength would be eliminated in the first trial.
Among the women, after nearly a year of cultivation, the master of Illusion Orchid Tower had improved further and could now be ranked within the top five hundred in the South Sea.
Next was An Rumei, who was once the top talent of Illusion Orchid Tower and had already entered the Void Origin Realm; she was now a top-tier Earthly Realm Martial Emperor.
Bai Ruiting, as one of the seven Saintesses of the Longevity Sect, naturally had exceptional talent. Thanks to the cultivation resources of Wuyuan Palace and the changing environment of heaven and earth, she was slightly behind An Rumei with first-class Earthly Realm strength.
Pei Qiuyan, Qu Ni, Zhang Xiaoting, and Su Bi were of similar strength.
On the contrary, Fairy Yunni Ban Shujuan had been greatly surpassed and was now just a first-class Human Realm Martial Emperor.
Frankly, if they could form a force and enter together, they wouldn’t stir up too much trouble, but they wouldn’t be considered weak either. Unfortunately, aside from the Illusion Orchid Tower’s master, the rest couldn’t even pass the Lost Forest.
Seeing the women’s saddened faces, Shi Xiaole hesitated for a moment before saying, "If you really want to go to the Fate Realm, I can try to help, but I can’t guarantee success. Furthermore, the struggles there will be very dangerous, and I don’t recommend that you go."
"Shi brother, do you have a way?"
Bai Ruiting’s eyes lit up, as she quickly grabbed Shi Xiaole’s hand: "Shi brother, as martial artists, we come with the wind and go with the rain, contending with the world. We cannot shy away from danger. Please, take me with you."
Having finally reunited with Shi brother, Bai Ruiting knew that if they parted ways now, she had no idea when they would meet again.
She wanted to fight not only for opportunities but also for this relationship!
The other women also echoed her sentiments, unwilling to miss out on a once-in-a-lifetime chance.
Fairy Yunni said, "Xiaole, please help us, we’ll be eternally grateful."
"Alright, follow me."
Shi Xiaole couldn’t make decisions for others; as their friend, the least he could do was heed their wishes. Besides, he pondered, staying in the Overlapping Land might not be any safer than being in the Fate Realm.
The group arrived at the edge of the Lost Forest.
Suddenly, Shi Xiaole activated the Demon Bone, dispersing its power among the women. This was a spur-of-the-moment idea he had, and whether it would work or not was up to fate.
Hand in hand, everyone walked into the Lost Forest, and immediately they were assaulted by endless illusions.
Shi Xiaole found that no one got lost, and it really worked!
The women cheered with excitement.
However, nobody knew that Shi Xiaole’s heart sank deeply because this further implied that it was the Demon Bone that gave him the traits of a celestial being, rather than being due to bloodline as with the master of Illusion Orchid Tower.
