Chapter 928: Chapter 927: Three Top-Level Martial Arts_1
Despite merely a light stroke, it must be known that the Spring Fury Sword is a top-notch mid-grade spirit sword, inherently imbued with Sword Qi. Even if a Terrestrial Immortal were wounded by it, they would need a long time to recover.
Having enhanced his strength to fifty percent, Shi Xiaole struck his own chest with a palm, while the other fifty percent of his strength activated the Illusion Martial Way.
Bang!
Something strange happened.
Of the fifty percent of his strength, a large part was transformed into life force, leaving only a small part that had just wounded Shi Xiaole. The wound immediately received nourishment from the life force. After a few hundred breaths, Shi Xiaole had suffered only minor injuries.
Another few hundred breaths later, the injuries completely healed.
"Impressive!"
Shi Xiaole couldn’t help but take a deep breath.
His fifty percent strength was enough to crush any Invincible Earth Immortal of the present age, yet it had hardly caused any damage to himself. That was only half the effect of the Illusion Martial Way in play. What if it was fully utilized?
"With the Illusion Martial Way now, I can probably be immune to the attacks of all Earth Immortals in the world, and even withstand a certain amount of damage when facing a Martial Emperor of the Void Origin Realm," Shi Xiaole thought.
A thought occurred to Shi Xiaole. One day, if he were to thoroughly understand the Illusion Martial Way, to freely convert life and death, wouldn’t that mean remaining eternally undefeated, inherently invincible?
As for the concept of living flesh and white bones reversing the rules of life and death, Shi Xiaole didn’t dare to dwell on that for the time being. That was beyond the realm of humans and even gods, perhaps only existing in the imagination of mankind, never to be attained.
After the breakthrough, Shi Xiaole stood up and left the stone chamber.
Although there was still much research value in Tu Jiu’s blood, Shi Xiaole’s own foundation was too shallow. To continue researching would merely be a waste of time.
You have to eat one bite at a time; martial arts must also be understood step by step. Not to mention, the conversion among the three martial ways was constantly progressing without the need to rush.
Returning to the Heavenly Will Sect, Shi Xiaole began to sort out the gains of recent days.
First was the system reward value.
Previously, his reward points were two million and eighty thousand. After completing the second four-star mission, they reached 2.3 million, and they had now surged to 2.51 million.
The value of a set of top-level martial arts is around five hundred thousand reward points. Based on the purchasing rules, it would cost approximately 1.25 million reward points.
But don’t forget, when Shi Xiaole completed the first four-star mission, he also received an extra discount—halving the reward points needed to purchase martial arts.
That is to say, the actual cost of purchasing top-level martial arts for Shi Xiaole would be about 625,000 points. With his current wealth, he could afford to buy four sets in one go!
What does that signify?
Looking at the major top forces of the Flying Horse Dynasty, whether it’s the Wild Double Currents, the Four Agents of the Holy Gate, the Six Paths of the Demon Door, or the Seven Schools of the Murky World, on average, they possess only one or two sets of top-level martial arts, accumulated over many years.
The reason why top forces are top forces is precisely because one of the most important factors is top-level martial arts!
"I can’t practice top-level martial arts for now, but breaking through to the Void Origin Realm is just a matter of time. It might be better to buy a few sets in advance and meditate on them. By the time I reach the Void Origin, it will save time."
Upon this thought, Shi Xiaole’s blood boiled, his fair face slightly reddened with eagerness. He entered the system space without delay, stood in front of the Martial God Hall, and looked up at the fourth level.
Compared to the first three levels, the fourth level had very few stone tablets, just a few dozen. But the names of the martial arts above each tablet were like mountains, legends, with a heart-shaking supreme might that caused everyone to pale.
Shi Xiaole forced himself to remain calm. He had seen these stone tablets countless times and had already made his selection in his heart. Without hesitation, he chose one of them.
Ding.
"Congratulations to the host for obtaining the top-level martial arts, Guan Qi’s ’Congenital Rupture Invisible Sword Qi’."
’Congenital Rupture Invisible Sword Qi’ is one of the most famous sword techniques in the world of martial arts, the proudest signature martial art in the life of Guan Qi, one of the seven saints of the Sky Alliance.
To mention Guan Qi is to bring to mind a name not unknown to few. A mysterious figure, an elusive talent of unparalleled prowess, almost no one in the martial world could control him.
When he fell into a half-witted, half-foolish, half-insane state, even when he was confined in a prisoner’s cart with special shackles and fetters, he still managed to fight against five of the current world’s unparalleled experts—Lei Sun, Di Feijing, Su Mengzhen, Bai Choufei, and Wang Xiaoshi.
Nine years later, Guan Qi’s reappearance added even more mystery.
At that time, he was betrayed by his subordinates, successively afflicted with witchcraft, deadly poison, charms, and prohibitions, and his mind was unclear, yet he used his peerless internal power to severely damage ’Iron Tree Blossom’.
Afterwards, he had successive encounters with Qi Shaoshang, Mi Cangqiong, Zhu Yueming, Fang Yingkan, Zhan Bieye, Di Feijing, Heartless, Yang Wu’xie, Wen Xue’an, Wu Jingtao, Sun Qingxia, and several other masters of their respective fields.
Facing a dozen masters from different factions, experts, military advisors, chiefs, whether it was through surprise attacks or coalition attacks, they used all their means to strike at Guan Qi but were defeated one by one.
Even under the siege of the top masters in the world, Guan Qi casually used others’ signature supreme techniques, utilizing them even better than the originals, forcing all the heroes to feel helpless.
Until the very end, Guan Qi’s powerful aura even attracted UFOs, and he eventually left in style aboard a UFO, thereafter disappearing.
It can be said that the battle in the capital was the most exciting battle in the martial world in recent decades, and Guan Qi, the most innocent to enter into this battle, became the most shining figure.
Even Fang, the gallant hero, evaluated and believed that Guan Qi’s martial arts were so strong that they had reached an inhuman level!
Such a formidable person was most skilled in sword arts, specifically the ’Formless Sword’.
The ’Congenital Rupture Invisible Sword Qi’ was but the most basic level of Guan Qi’s sword techniques. Taking a step further, there was the ’Body-Breaking Invisible Sword Qi’ that disregarded the distinction between congenital and acquired stages. Delving deeper, there was ’Invisible Sword Qi,’ which was not limited by being inside or outside of the body.
Then there was ’Sword Qi.’ This Sword Qi was not like any other; it was the sword realm of returning to simplicity. With the wave of a hand or the movement of a foot, one could destroy the heavens and obliterate the earth, invincible in all encounters.
At the last, there was ’Qi,’ a Qi that pervaded everywhere, covering the skies and filling the earth!
As a swordsman, how could Shi Xiaole not be full of longing for this sword art.
Suppressing the surging blood and energy within him, Shi Xiaole, without hesitation, continued to select martial arts techniques. This time, he chose another peerless sword technique that shined brightly in the martial world – the ’Saintly Spirit Sword Technique’!
It was said that the ’Saintly Spirit Sword Technique’ was created by Sword Saint Dugu and Gongben Xueling. It possessed the ultimate power to sever the heavens and the earth, and to reign supreme in the way of the sword.
These two great sword techniques harmonized with Shi Xiaole’s own sword path. In time, combined with the power of the ’Heart Sword,’ his strength was sure to reach an incredibly frightening level.
Of course, besides the sword path, Shi Xiaole also needed to consider the ’Illusion Martial Way,’ the ’Demon Martial Way,’ and the ’Life-and-Death Martial Way.’ After some thought, he purchased a third earth-shattering technique—the ’Sacred Heart Technique’!
The ’Sacred Heart Technique’ was founded by Di Shitian; once mastered, it was rumored to grant immortality and eternal youth, even to the point of bringing the dead back to life.
However, evidence proved this effect had never been confirmed, not even for its originator, Di Shitian, who had to hide in the nine-layer ice prison to slow down his aging.
Regardless, cultivating the ’Sacred Heart Technique’ would certainly greatly benefit the Life-and-Death Martial Way. Moreover, part of the ’Sacred Heart Technique’ seemed related to mental power, making it half a mental martial arts technique. Shi Xiaole had no reason to pass it by.
After purchasing three sets of top-tier martial arts, Shi Xiaole’s reward points were reduced from two million five hundred and ten thousand to six hundred and thirty thousand. Although he could afford more, he decided to hold off for the time being after some consideration.
Biting off more than one could chew was never a good idea. One set of top-tier martial arts was enough for Shi Xiaole to study, let alone three. He would wait until he was familiar with these three before purchasing new ones.
With an excitement he could hardly contain, Shi Xiaole began his dedicated closed-door cultivation. During the day, he studied the ’Congenital Rupture Invisible Sword Qi’ and the ’Saintly Spirit Sword Technique,’ and at night, he explored the ’Sacred Heart Technique.’
In addition, he had requested various secret manuals from Zhuo Wansheng of the Heavenly Will Sect, converted them into reward points, and perused the experience notes of a Void Origin Realm Martial Emperor from the sect, enriching his foundation for condensing the ’Vigorous Air Vortex.’
Top-tier martial arts truly lived up to their name. Even with Shi Xiaole’s unparalleled comprehension within the Void Origin Realm, after an entire month, he had barely grasped the basics.
But even that bit of progress had seen his sword realm grow, and his power of the ’Heart Sword’ increased to one hundred and thirty-six strands without him even noticing.
The continuous rush of inspiration made Shi Xiaole yearn to wield his sword. In the second month, he created the second form of the illusionary sword technique.
Sometimes, when his thoughts were limited and he could not puzzle through, he would go to the underground chamber and continue observing Tu Jiu’s blood, using the foundation accumulated from the ’Sacred Heart Technique’ to comprehend the Life-and-Death Martial Way.
Time passed day by day.
Shi Xiaole’s foundation and strength were improving at a pace that was inconceivable to others; even his aura had changed.
The Shi Xiaole of the past was exceedingly ethereal, but he also had an extreme sharpness. Now, his eyes seemed to reflect the entire starry sky. Alongside his nonchalant demeanor, there was a transcendent air about him, as if life and death meant little to him, giving off an impression of otherworldliness that left a lasting memory.
Whew!
In the room, vigorous air vortices exploded into being, dense and profound, numbering one hundred and fifty in total.
With a mere thought from Shi Xiaole, all the vigorous air vortices disappeared.
"The Life-and-Death Martial Way is too difficult to improve, still not reaching the mid-stage of fifty percent. However, my current strength is incomparable to what it once was," he mumbled.
Five months ago, Shi Xiaole and the Grand Elder of the Heavenly Will Sect were evenly matched, but now, he was confident he could defeat the latter. Sharing this rate of progress would surely frighten anyone to death.
Thump...
A few days later, the void suddenly began to shake violently.
"Enemy attack!"
"Who dares to invade our Divine Sect?"
The aura of the array systems in the sky was in disarray, clearly showing signs of being under fierce attack. Zhuo Wansheng and other Heavenly Will Sect experts quickly leaped out and soon arrived at the outermost boundary of their sanctuary.
With a sweep of his hand, Zhuo Wansheng caused ripples to undulate, and several figures appeared in front of him, causing his expression to drastically change.
"The Grand Elder! He’s come back with people?"
"No, it’s a Void Origin Realm Martial Emperor. He must be back for revenge!"
The scene was filled with murmurs and there were gasps of astonishment.
Standing outside the array system were four individuals. Apart from the Grand Elder, the other three were dressed in soft red robes. All exposed skin was blood red as if crafted from evil red stone.
Under the influence of the three people’s aura, thousands of meters of sky around them seemed like a churning sea of blood, filled with endless resentment and rage. Despite the protection of numerous Void Origin Realm array systems, many disciples of the Heavenly Will Sect were affected, barely controlling their murderous intent, almost turning on those beside them.
