Chapter 112: Who Will Succeed?

Chapter 112: Who Will Succeed?

In a laboratory beneath the Four Guardians Star, Zhuang Budong stood transfixed, gazing at a beautiful woman suspended in mid-air, pierced by a long sword, frozen in a moment of time.

He was like an observer of a legendary figure crucified, his mind filled with a subtle intent, desperately urging him to save the woman at any cost.

"Mr. Zhuang, I recall your profile mentioning that you cultivated the Eternal Blade," said a researcher in a white lab coat as he approached.

Zhuang glanced at him and nodded, "Good afternoon, Dr. Chen. Yes, I did cultivate the Eternal Blade. Is there a connection with this sword?"

Dr. Chen smiled but didn't directly answer. Instead, he introduced him to someone else, "This is..."

...

At this moment, Ji Jingqiu turned his attention inward, perceiving the heavens and earth within his body, and establishing a rudimentary dao field.

In that instant, the man was transformed, like an old phantom coming to life, with the final touch of divine brilliance added to his being.

Ji Jingqiu nodded, "The humiliation of three punches."

From this moment on, Sui Canghai saw in him the purest fighting spirit of a martial artist.

"Successor, this first punch is called 'World Shaking'!"

Ji Jingqiu's eyes blazed with intensity, blocking the attack with his sword, his feet scraping the ground as he retreated seven or eight meters. His body erupted with power, and he slashed again with his sword, not seeking precision but aiming to split mountains and overturn seas, with the force of a sinking moon and falling star!

Before he even drew his sword, anyone could sense the immense power behind this strike.

"Excellent sword technique and martial intent! I can't underestimate you. My next punch is called 'River Surge'!"

Some believe they are mere collections of rules, while others provide ample evidence that they are no different in essence from the deities created by the Federation.

"Successor, you're impressive! Come! If you defeat me, you'll be the strongest of the century!"

"I must win!"

The intent of his punch surged in reverse, shaking the heavens and earth, as if to suppress the boundless starry sky. Ji Jingqiu understood that this was the final blow.

This sword strike was simple yet profound, a sword of enlightenment and insight. It was not about craftsmanship or crudeness but was heavy with the weight of his past, an intent so vast and profound that it might not match the man's majestic aura of suppressing the heavens and earth. Yet, it was filled with resilience, having endured the dark ages, and a rebirth from the fires of the wilderness...

It was a long staircase made of stone, ascending into the sky, covered in the marks of time, as if it had existed for ages, and he was the first to climb it.

On this morning, the sunrise illuminated the sky.

Fang Buyu narrowed his eyes and said, "I heard that Yan and the others are spreading the news that the young man who helped Zhuang Budong break through the Sixth Limitation is about to challenge the Seventh Layer!"

He was like a newly unsheathed treasure sword, using the pressure from the man as a whetstone, rapidly honing his second strike.

Fang Buyu's eyelids drooped, and he remained silent.

Sui Canghai squinted, straining to hear.

"Of course," Dr. Chen shrugged, "Like that martial genius from over a hundred years ago, what was his name again..."

Good lad! This strike had secretly learned three parts of the essence of River Surge and integrated it into his sword technique! It was exquisite and unparalleled!

Who in the world doesn't know you?

He seemed to have stepped out of history, crossing over a hundred years, reenacting the past. "Junior, Ji Jingqiu!" Ji Jingqiu's eyes blazed, his entire body resonating with the awakening of a hibernating dragon.

The man exhaled, his aura becoming even more unbridled. He paid no heed to his injuries, instead, he twisted his neck, moved his hand bones, and laughed heartily, "That guy cultivated the Eternal Blade too, and inexplicably nurtured five swords..."

The tall Fang Buyu shook his head and sighed, "It seems that breaking through the Sixth Limitation is not enough to leave a mark on the Eighth Layer. One must defeat the one on the Seventh Layer!"

The pretty girl's face was filled with enthusiasm. She clearly remembered how Yan's sister praised that person, claiming him to be the only one worthy of heaven and earth! Yan Lu narrowed her eyes with interest, "Which family has produced another fearless martial genius?"

...

In the central area, Taiwei Star.

He took a slow step forward, and as his body moved slightly, his bones crackled, as if the previous movements were just a warm-up.

The Federation's martial arts had a saying that cultivating a body of power was like standing at the crossroads of old and new martial arts.

"Perhaps the Wilderness is not as desolate and lifeless as we imagine."

"I haven't figured it out yet, but the news is reliable. It's said to come from the top few dao fields, Yan, what do you think?" The girl blinked her eyes.

"Heritage?"

"It's been revealed! You can find the related challenge videos!"

He remained standing there, his body like an immovable divine mountain.

Ji Jingqiu's pupils constricted.

After listening to Song Youde's report...

He lifted his head, savoring the moment of victory, an indescribable sense of satisfaction flowing through his heart.

Yan smiled, "It's the chat records again, so we have to believe it."

As the last stroke was drawn, White Deer Daoist examined the four characters on the paper with satisfaction and said, "Hmm..." Dr. Chen's eyebrows rose, his expression excited, "If it's not you, then it must be someone else, even more interesting."

His state was not like martial arts but was no less than the realm of Divine Vision! He pushed his condition to the peak and slowly executed the second strike he had comprehended.

"Seclusion for cultivation?" Sui Canghai asked curiously, "I heard you're challenging the Seventh Layer. Do you know what the Seventh Layer implies?"

Zhuang Budong's eyes darkened, and he said solemnly, "Aside from me, is there someone else under His gaze?"

Ji Jingqiu charged forward, his eyes burning like molten lava.

He worked so hard, of course, he had to make it public!

How wonderful it would be to live in the same era and compete with such a predecessor! He placed his hand on the sword hilt, filled with sharp ambition, paying respect to this senior before the battle.

Yan looked at the colorful city before her and sighed softly.

"Don't worry, Brother Ji!"

He turned and said, "Little Wang, inform the military department to investigate the martial artists on the Four Guardians Star who cultivate the Eternal Blade and have recently achieved breakthroughs or revelations."

The scene before his eyes suddenly turned into countless particles and scattered.

So, this is also an Easter egg?

After a moment's thought, Ji Jingqiu smiled and narrowed his eyes, leaving behind a sentence and a deliberately arranged sequence of moves as a greeting for all warriors challenging the eighth level.

As is the nature of the man, he responds accordingly.

Ji Jingqiu climbed the stone steps and entered a brand new battlefield.

The man slowly looked up, his gaze burning, yet still arrogant. He chuckled, "As expected of the eighth level, it's empty?"

Sunlight filtered through the half-open window, casting a mottled pattern on the rustic desk.

A bowl of hand-pulled noodles was placed in front of Ji Jingqiu, but the soup didn't spill, and the bowl didn't break.

Ji Jingqiu's heart was slightly weary, and he walked through the crowd, heading back the way he came.

This knife move was unrestrained, expressing the true meaning of "I" and fully showcasing Ji Jingqiu's martial spirit—

Dr. Chen did not continue the topic but said, "By the way, Mr. Zhuang, you probably don't know this, but you're not the only one."

For this knife move, even he had only two options: retreat or engage head-on. Given his temperament, he naturally chose the latter.

Ji Jingqiu bowed to the old man and turned towards the grand hall.

The man's gaze was intense, and his fist showed no mercy. It seemed slow and light, but it was as if the surrounding air had condensed, leaving Ji Jingqiu with nowhere to dodge!

...

He exhaled, opened his mouth, and clenched his fist!

In the end, he politely declined their offer to see him off, and under everyone's watchful eyes, he walked out of the branch with steady and powerful strides, bathed in the morning sun.

The sound of the knife was extremely light.

If the opponent's punch was like the sky curtain pressing down, Ji Jingqiu's knife would be the act of splitting the heavens! In the past two days, he had only comprehended two knife moves.

Ji Jingqiu silently recited in his heart.

This was a real clash, a test of martial will, and even more so, a competition of their martial spirits. Ji Jingqiu did not falter in the slightest!

Each of these people was an undisputed hero.

At this moment, the middle-aged man pondered, "Then there's no need to worry. That person's luck is unique, blessed by heaven. Unless someone has the same circumstances, it's almost impossible to find an opponent within the same region."

Like a summer cicada perched on the highest branch of heaven and earth, he freely voiced his will to the world! The man, standing at the peak of this realm, exchanged glances with the other, their fist and knife crossing paths.

He came alone and left alone.

"That's not right... Why is the battle time so much longer than three minutes?"

Just before entering the White Jade Capital Grand Hall, Ji Jingqiu's steps paused, and his eyes lit up. Without hesitation, he turned left into an alley.

Fame?

He spoke seriously and concisely, as if stating a fact.

Her face changed slightly. Why was this young lady up so early today? The projection unfolded, revealing a beautiful face painted with thick ink and bright colors. Yan Lu understood; she hadn't just woken up but hadn't slept at all.

Dr. Chen shook his head and said with a meaningful smile, "Does Mr. Zhuang know the true nature of these pseudo-gods?"

"Speaking of which, they didn't remind us before, but why is it on the headlines this time?"

This punch shattered Ji Jingqiu's left shoulder.

Even in the Federation's ten thousand years, that person's brilliance was undeniable.

"Of course, I'm referring to the 'Unification Body.' Dr. Chen smiled lightly, "The Federation, with its billions of citizens, supports the divine system of 'Four Divine Lords and Eleven Divine Generals.' But what lies in the depths of the wilderness?"

But his heart was crushed by the knife.

...

So advanced?

The man's voice rang out, and he took the first punch!

This knife move was full of grandeur, evoking a sense of the changing world and the impermanence of all things. Only the knife-wielder stood firm, unyielding amidst the turbulent flow, like a rock amidst the raging currents, unchanging in the face of constant change. "Good knife!" the man sighed, "The affairs of the world are impermanent. I never thought that someone in this age would comprehend the impermanence of life and death."

A piece of news spread quickly among the top talents of the Four Guardians Star.

Zhuang Budong's face turned solemn.

She still couldn't find that person and had no choice but to return and handle the group's affairs, such as dealing with the newly recruited Martial Dao genius, Wan Cheng, a Bright Moon-ranked talent.

His teacher was a middle-aged man with a neatly trimmed small beard, who didn't look like a martial artist but rather a businessman.

The man's spirit soared, his smile vibrant, and his aura intertwined with Ji Jingqiu's, conveying their mutual understanding without words.

Ge Hong took a deep breath, his voice trembling with excitement, "Ji, let's escort you to the White Jade Capital's Grand Hall!"

"Hmm, another master has broken through the Seventh Layer?"

...

Ji Jingqiu smiled, "There's no need for that. I'll be back soon, and we can all gather tonight for a well-deserved break."

"After today, who in the world won't know of you?"

In the early morning, Yan Lu woke up. The thick blackout curtains automatically parted, allowing sunlight to filter through the gaps of countless flying shuttles and floating buildings. It then passed through the windows, casting mottled shadows on the interior.

Ji Jingqiu's pupils constricted; was this person... still sane?

But when he saw him again, he sensed a slight difference.

The old man lifted his eyelids, suddenly feeling an itch to punch this kid. He inexplicably wanted to give him a good thrashing, as if he were a noodle chef.

He probably understood the old man's intention.

It was another Ji Jingqiu.

The sword slashed from below, nearly splitting the man in two.

"And that kid named Ji Jingqiu, if not for him, Zhuang Budong would never have cut through the Sixth Limit. This honor should have been yours!"

The previously smooth surveillance instruments on the wall suddenly rippled with the pattern of ocean waves.

Not far away, a young man of similar age maintained an arrogant smile, as if the words 'arrogance' were carved into his soul.

"Do you mean the incarnation of rules or the unification of thought bodies?" Zhuang Budong thought for a moment and asked.

Zhuang Budong pondered, "Chen Doctor, is this some kind of revelation? Is this the heritage?"

His chest felt refreshed and clear, as if the dust in his heart had been swept away.

Ji Jingqiu's feet left the ground, and he felt as if he were standing on solid ground.

Ji Jingqiu's half-destroyed body was smashed by the iron fist, and his knife-wielding hand still trembled, but he remained standing, leaning on his knife, unmoving.

A substantial sword intent burst forth, boiling and surging like flames behind him!

In an instant, the man's aura surged, overwhelming the heavens and earth. This punch was even more powerful than the previous one, demonstrating his martial prowess! Could he become even stronger?! Ji Jingqiu felt a mix of surprise and joy. His chest swelled with battle intent, and he took a step forward, his long sword sweeping across. This strike was unimaginably fast.

"Interesting."

Accompanying the surge of clear and flawless vigor, a layer of invisible realm slowly enveloped his entire body, then extended outward with great difficulty.

Inside the Heavenly Square Dojo.

Ji Jingqiu drank his soup, wiped his mouth casually, and said, "It's quite simple. That person is strong, and after defeating him, I'll become stronger. That's why I challenged the Seventh Layer."

"I guess they made the challenge video public. After all, it's a clever breakthrough, and the masters would want to keep it quiet. Usually, they wouldn't publicize it, but this time, who knows what happened."

This guy...

Zhuang Budong's eyes widened in shock. He had never heard of such a thing.

Their battlefield covered every inch of the arena, with sword marks and fist imprints scattered across the ground.

[Triumph Banner]



"A good name," the man smiled, "Before our fight, let me ask you, do you have a reputation among the current martial artists?"

After two days of meditation, he thought he had already perfected the second sword technique.

Inside the White Jade Capital's Grand Hall.

This was the guardian of the Eighth Layer.

But just as he left the hall, the terminal suddenly sounded a series of notification tones.

A piece of calligraphy by a martial arts master, how much would it cost? Ji Jingqiu closed the calligraphy, handed it to Ge Hong solemnly, and said, "Hang it in my training room."

The man was forced to sidestep.

...

"Holy shit, holy shit, holy shit... This is a combat video! Someone has broken through the Seventh Layer?!"

Could there be such a martial artist in this world? Magnificent! Magnificent! He burst into laughter, unafraid and carefree, punching out with the force of three mountains and five peaks, like an ocean overturning, with the power to crush mountains and boil the sea! The clash of fist and sword created a deafening roar! Ji Jingqiu raised his sword to attack again, gradually gaining control of the battle! His gaze was deep and burning, and after two days of transformation, his sword skills were no longer limited to mere technique. Each strike was filled with martial essence, and the realm was profound.

"Good sword!"

Here was the most prosperous city in the Federation, one of the "Federal Capitals" without any concealment.

Ji Jingqiu narrowed his eyes, his aura remotely locking onto that person, and at this moment, a strange change occurred.

White Deer Daoist pondered for a moment, ground the ink himself, closed his eyes to concentrate, and when he opened them again, his gaze focused on the paper and brush tip.

"?"

Sui Canghai rolled his eyes, "Get lost, and fight properly!"

Ah, right, it was Ji Linyuan! The 'Yuan' of the abyss! It was said that this was the name he gave himself when he grew up.

...

An Easter egg?

As far as he knew, this had always been the biggest controversy within the Federation regarding the definition of wilderness creatures.

A beam of light illuminated the room.

Facing the pressure from the strongest opponent he had ever encountered in his life, Ji Jingqiu forced himself to unleash his most powerful sword strike ever!

For the first time, he took a stance, exuding a majestic aura.

Two days later.

[Triumph Banner]!...

He raised his sword and slashed, not fast but with immense weight, like moving against the current. Under the blade, the air seemed to explode, emitting a piercing shriek. The man's pupils constricted.

It was silent as a rock, thriving like roadside weeds, yet radiant as the stars in deep space.

In the face of the turbid flow of the mortal world, everyone was but a tiny pebble, unable to escape, only to face the onslaught head-on.

As he stepped into the seventh layer, it was as if a hidden switch had been triggered, igniting a vast and mighty vigor akin to flames burning.

Among them were Song Shishu, Xuan Zhen Shixiong, and Chen Yi's gang, as well as some nicknames that Ji Jingqiu didn't recognize. There were also many emails with company and association suffixes—

[Congratulations! You are the first warrior to successfully challenge the seventh layer in the Federation. Would you like to publicly release the related footage?]



Who knows where they got their terminal numbers.

Martial Arts Transcendence!

She returned, quickly freshened up, had a light meal, and casually reviewed the latest martial arts news sent by her secretary.

Nothing.

After the True Seed and before the Body of Power, this was the pinnacle that could be reached in the ancient era of martial arts!

[Would you like to leave a hidden message for future martial artists as your legacy?]



That representative was the strongest name before the Body of Power!

Today, the winner will be decided.

Nothing in sight.

I wonder if Ji Jingqiu has started challenging the seventh layer again.

—This is the weight of life.

[Enter, your eighth layer.]



The public's evaluation of that person was "one who encounters wonders." Only then could he witness the Martial Arts God before achieving the Body of Power! But he never expected that person to have such a background! Suddenly.

6◇9◇Book◇Bar

...

In this exhilarating battle, Ji Jingqiu's martial intent didn't diminish but rose, like a raging fire cooking oil, burning fiercely.

With one slash, he dared to change the colors of the sun and moon!

Ji Jingqiu nodded, "Leave these matters to you. As for martial arts, leave them to me."

In an instant.

With this punch, Ji Jingqiu experienced it personally! Though it arrived in an instant, it gave an unsettling feeling of discord, as if when throwing this punch, there was a rolling muddy current ahead, enveloping the rumbling tide and forming thunderous roars! Ji Jingqiu's eyes flashed, and though he couldn't block it, he didn't try to!

All were congratulations.

Lou Qinglan quickly said, "These past few days, I specifically applied for additional resources for you and the upper management, including resources for your Body of Power and reversing heaven's decree. The board needs to consider, but..."

Zhuang Budong stared at the knife, suddenly remembering Ji Jingqiu.

A surge of battle intent, hot as a tide!

Then, he received a call from the boss's daughter.

He lightly picked up the brush, dipped it in ink, and a drop of ink fell onto the paper, merging with the xuan paper. His brushstrokes flowed like clouds and water, forming iron-like paintings with silver hooks.

"Latercomer, you've won."

The vital energy was clear, and his mind became one.

During this period, he was confined here for experiments with Chen Doctor to research methods of suppressing 03, and he couldn't contact the outside world.

"Come again," he waved.

Ji Jingqiu stepped into the seventh layer of Bai Yu Jing once more.

Sui Canghai watched Ji Jingqiu leave, observing closely, and it seemed he saw a trapped dragon, breaking free from most of its shackles, rising from shallow waters, ready to become an unrestrained true dragon! He muttered, "Good kid... Could he really win?"

The man smiled, "An unknown name is fine too. Today, whether you win or lose, this video will be released, and the name Ji Jingqiu will be known throughout the world."

They smiled at each other.

A thunderous sound rang out, and he raised his knife, slashing diagonally. His initial move was without warning, drawing a winding blade light, faster than thunder and lightning. This slash was like a masterpiece, as if created by a master, yet like an antler on a deer's horn, leaving no trace.

"This person is even more unfortunate than you. According to our understanding, he was targeted by the one in the depths of the wilderness with the number 01 since his childhood, but he endured and made it through. After embarking on the martial arts path, he used the gaze of 01 as a furnace, refining his fist intent, and ultimately achieved an unprecedented feat."

That gaze crossed time and space, spanning over a century.

Chen Doctor sighed.

The two engaged in a life-and-death battle, quickly inflicting numerous wounds on each other.

The system prompt from Bai Yu Jing slowly sounded—

The man praised, then threw another punch.

Song Youde saw the four characters on the paper, and his spirit was invigorated.

Zhuang Budong showed great interest in this term, and his gaze once again fixed on the knife.

The long knife that had pierced and suppressed the beautiful woman now trembled slightly, its blade ringing like a heartbeat, awakening from slumber.

...

His intuition told him that this "term" was related to the knife.

Everyone turned around.

The man's gaze fell on his face, as if appraising and scrutinizing, then he grinned,

"Is it you, Mr. Zhuang?" Chen Doctor's eyes shone brightly, "Do you feel its call?"

Though it was only a slight change on the surface, he had indeed sensed it.

The middle-aged man scoffed, "Absurd! These youngsters don't understand what 'Divine Vision' truly means!"

...

"This is the Crimson Laboratory, one of the few places in the Federation qualified to use pseudo-gods as experimental subjects. We have two long-term core projects, named 'Descent' and 'Heritage'."

The knife technique was unnamed, this being the first slash.

"Teacher, the eighth layer isn't as we expected, allowing for shortcuts."

At this moment, the crowd was noisy and lively.

The heart's electricity surged, and in this moment, it was as if electricity was coursing through his entire body, entering through the skin and hair, reaching muscles, bones, and internal organs, and the surging currents opened the doors to another world!

Ji Jingqiu clenched his fist tightly.

In a few days, someone will challenge the seventh layer of Bai Yu Jing, and according to some well-known figures, that person has an extremely high success rate?! Unbelievable!...

"Please deliver these four characters for me."

The man was amazed but didn't retreat or avoid, as his martial arts wouldn't allow him to take a step back from any enemy!

"Descent refers to the Soul Ocean?"

He still had some regrets.

After two days of seclusion, Ji Jingqiu emerged from the training room, accompanied by Ge Hong and others who had waited for two nights.

The achievement must be acknowledged!

Publicly release the footage?

...

Where the knife intent reached, it was sharp and fierce.

Ji Jingqiu raised his eyebrows, suddenly thinking of that person.

At this moment.

Ji Jingqiu faintly heard a high-spirited voice.

He stopped and looked, and indeed, this planet was gradually entering summer.

Regular update in the evening

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end