Chapter 183: Building Momentum, Azure Sovereign's Transformation, and the Clash of Blade Intents

Chapter 183: Building Momentum, Azure Sovereign's Transformation, and the Clash of Blade Intents

The offer of an unparalleled grandmaster, Ren Yuyuqiu, was an irresistible temptation.

It was akin to being told you could do whatever you wanted from that point on.

However, Ji Jingqiu sensed a hidden, special meaning in the elder's words.

After a moment of silence, Ji Jingqiu cautiously asked, "What if... you give me the entire Mu Family?"

The elder smiled and said, "If I give it to you, will you dare to accept it, and can you handle it?"

"With your support, anyone could handle it, right?" Ji Jingqiu asked.

The elder shook his head and sighed, "It's a pity. If you had come a decade earlier, I could have truly supported you and helped you secure this position. But now, it's not possible."

Ji Jingqiu rubbed his eyebrows.

After testing the waters, he realized that his guess was correct. The elder was almost like entrusting his legacy, intending to "give" the entire Mu Family to him.

What did "If one day I'm no longer here..." imply?

With these words, if Ji Jingqiu's strength reached a certain level in the future, it would be natural for him to lead the Mu Family. No one in the Federation could object, and the other five major families wouldn't have a say.

"I don't quite understand your intention, Elder," Ji Jingqiu said frankly, hoping the elder would speak plainly.

The elder calmly replied, "It's not a bad thing to be a little confused in life. Sometimes, being oblivious can also be a blessing."

Ji Jingqiu fell silent.

Theoretically, unparalleled grandmasters had no lifespan limit.

However, the elder's ancestor revealed a shocking fact—he would soon leave the Federation.

Whether it was death, disappearance, or departure was yet to be known.

But one thing was certain: this unparalleled grandmaster, or perhaps... all unparalleled grandmasters, would leave in the near future?

If this news got out, it would shock the entire Federation.

Without the top unparalleled grandmasters to hold the fort, the Federation's landscape would inevitably undergo a massive change, and the six major families would find it difficult to maintain their previous lofty status.

Ji Jingqiu suddenly recalled the information that the female senior in the Cangqing Temple had casually mentioned—in five years, the Great Universe would undergo a rule relaxation.

Was there a connection between these two events?

However, the elder was clearly unwilling to reveal more.

After a moment of silence, Ji Jingqiu said, "I'm in dire need of Spiritual Essence. I don't know if there's any Spiritual Essence above nine chi in the Mu Family."

The True Seed was the foundation for cultivating the Divine Journey, which was a transformation and a baptism.

Regardless of what happened in five years, he only needed to make himself stronger.

For this, he required more Spiritual Essence for his baptism and breakthrough.

"Nine chi?" The elder pondered for a while and shook his head. "The Mu Family currently has no Spiritual Essence of nine chi in stock, not even eight chi."

Ji Jingqiu was surprised. The rarity of nine chi Spiritual Essence exceeded his expectations, and even the Mu Family didn't have any in stock.

"Then, please, Elder, help me sort out my current Martial Path." After a brief thought, Ji Jingqiu spoke, "Also, I want to see the Mu Family's secret techniques."

"Sure," the elder nodded. "If you're looking for secret techniques like the Meditation Seal, there aren't many in the Mu Family now, and they aren't suitable for your current cultivation. The main secret techniques are preserved within the Supreme Buddha Sect."

Ji Jingqiu was stunned. Was it really like that?

"When you grow up, you can try to contact the Supreme Buddha Sect," the elder paused, "That Buddha might 'treat you differently'."

Hmm...

The senior did treat him differently, and he would visit her after becoming a Celestial.

Afterward, the elder personally sorted out Ji Jingqiu's current Martial Path and pointed out the direction of his future development...

After bidding farewell to the elder, Ji Jingqiu left the small courtyard. He hadn't walked far when he encountered Mu Juncheng, who had been waiting there.

Seeing Ji Jingqiu's pensive expression, Mu Juncheng asked curiously, "What happened? What did the ancestor say to you?"

Ji Jingqiu thought for a moment, unsure if he should tell Mu Juncheng that his ancestor had entrusted the Mu Family to him.

Mu Juncheng suddenly looked apologetic. "Brother Ji, excuse me. The ancestor is calling me."

After saying this, he brushed past Ji Jingqiu and quickly walked towards the inner courtyard.

Ji Jingqiu returned to Yue Yourong and the others.

He looked at the Fire Mansion Jail Visualization Diagram with a distracted mind.

...

In the small courtyard.

"Ancestor!" Mu Juncheng said respectfully.

"From today on, you will represent the Mu Family and follow Ji Jingqiu," the elder said slowly. "Fulfill his requests as much as possible. If one day the Mu Family stands in opposition to him, your branch must support him without reservation, even if your enemies are your former relatives."

Mu Juncheng's heart trembled, and he fell silent like thunder.

What had Ji Jingqiu and the ancestor talked about earlier?

...

...

A few days later, on a morning.

Ji Jingqiu embarked on a journey to leave the planet.

He had bid farewell to Yue Yourong and the others the night before.

In a few days, they would also leave this place and return to the Four Guardian Stars, so they agreed to meet again there.

Before returning to the Four Guardian Stars, Ji Jingqiu would first visit Meng Pingchuan's ancestral residence to complete the final step of his Martial Path to Divinity.

But before that, he also had to make a detour to the Heavenly Craft Forge, the power from which Blade Brother originated.

This was related to the Azure Sovereign's forging.

Originally, the Martial Arena should have handled this, but after Qingyang Ancestor contacted the Heavenly Craft Forge, they asked Ji Jingqiu to personally bring the blade, and their chief reverend would handle it personally.

Ji Jingqiu guessed it was for Blade Brother's sake.

The Heavenly Craft Forge, the Federation's most renowned weapon-forging place, had forged over twenty Demi-God Armaments.

Even a Grandmaster, at crucial moments, must personally visit to seek a divine armament.

Before this, Ji Jingqiu had heard an interesting story about Blade Brother.

Blade Brother was from Heavenly Craft Forge and had earned the title of [Heavenly Blade] in the previous generation, earning the media's jest of "A fighter among blacksmiths."

As the spaceship rose and departed, passing through a sea of clouds high in the sky, Ji Jingqiu's gaze caught sight of a strange creature.

In the cloud sea, an enigmatic creature appeared, its body coiling like a long dragon, with four wings on its back. It lightly flapped its wings, stirring up a gust of wind.

It didn't approach their spaceship but gracefully turned and left, disappearing into the vast cloud sea, leaving behind only a silhouette that evoked wonder.

Ji Jingqiu's eyes shone with excitement. A mythical creature raised by the Mu Family! Unfortunately, the biggest regret of this trip was not having the time to explore the mountains and vast lands of this planet or witness the mythical creatures spoken of by Mu Juncheng.

Only a warrior who has reached the pinnacle of the Grandmaster realm and established a complete Inner Realm could possibly nurture such a creature, and the transformation process requires a significant amount of time.

It is said that the most exceptional among these creatures can even reach the Celestial level. Once they attain this level, their activities are no longer limited to planets but extend to the vast universe.

History is filled with examples of Grandmasters and Grandmasters who have used mythical creatures as mounts.

For example, Meng Pingchuan Dazong.

Ji Jingqiu learned from Mu Juncheng that after Meng Pingchuan Dazong attained the Dao, he crossed the starry river and returned with a Void Giant Beast by his side.

Compared to the mythical creatures nurtured and born through artificial means, the Void Giant Beasts are known as the offspring of the Void, born at the pinnacle of their bloodline, making them completely different in level from the others.

As the spaceship departed from Mu Family's Ancestral Star, Ji Jingqiu gently stroked Qingzhu, infusing it with his Qi and mental fluctuations, sensing the subtle vibrations within the blade, like a breathing rhythm.

Although extremely faint, it was undeniably real.

Two days later, Ji Jingqiu entered the headquarters of the Heavenly Craft Forge, following a guide deep underground to a forging base several kilometers below.

It is said that the Heavenly Craft Forge chose to establish its headquarters here because the geothermal energy here is most suitable for forging.

Entering the forging area, a massive furnace stood tall, radiating an astonishing amount of heat. Even Ji Jingqiu had to use his Qi to create a barrier to feel comfortable.

Beside the furnace, a middle-aged bald man with a muscular build stood there, his upper body bare. Every inch of his arms bore witness to countless tempering, seemingly imbued with infinite power.

His sweat dripped like drops of water falling onto a scorching anvil, instantly evaporating.

The middle-aged man looked up, his eyes calm yet filled with strength, carrying the unique determination and steadiness of a craftsman, with the light of the furnace dancing within them.

He put down the weapon in his hand and walked over, saying loudly, "You're Ji Jingqiu, the Little Qiuzi that Blade Brother spoke of?"

"I've met you, Iron Uncle!" Ji Jingqiu greeted, following Blade Brother's lead.

"Hmm." The middle-aged man carefully examined the young man, reaching out to pinch Ji Jingqiu's shoulder, and said in surprise, "Good lad, you've tempered such a physique at the True Seed Realm. Are you interested in learning forging from me?"

Ji Jingqiu politely declined.

The man before him, Di Tieshan, was not only a master forger who had crafted Demi-God Armaments but also a Celestial Warrior.

Or perhaps, only a Celestial Warrior would have the qualifications to forge a Demi-God Armament.

"Blade Brother rarely praises people, and you're the little fellow he praised to the skies." Di Tieshan smiled, "I heard that Qingzhu ended up in your hands. Give it to me."

Praised to the skies?

Sure enough, Blade Brother is the real deal! Ji Jingqiu handed Qingzhu to him and explained, "During a battle with other warriors, the blade was damaged."

Di Tieshan nodded, not surprised. "This blade was originally a semi-finished product. I didn't know that Blade Brother took it away, to give it to... Huh?"

He paused, his hand frozen in mid-air, his expression slightly changing, and a rare look of surprise flashed through his profound eyes. After carefully examining Qingzhu, he looked at Ji Jingqiu with intense admiration, saying, "You've nurtured it so well, and a seed of spirituality has taken root, which is far beyond my expectations."

His tone paused slightly as he weighed the blade in his hand, then smiled, "This little fellow also likes you, and it seems Blade Brother's choice was right."

As the chief forger of the Heavenly Craft Forge, Di Tieshan's schedule was usually packed, but he personally helped Ji Jingqiu recast Qingzhu, not only out of respect for Cold Blade but also because of Qingzhu itself.

This blade was forged by him in his youth.

"Wait outside for a while. I'll recast the blade and ensure that the seed of spirituality you nurtured within it remains intact." Di Tieshan held Qingzhu and walked towards the forging platform.

"Uncle Di, here are the Divine Iron and some rare minerals I prepared, which should be able to merge into the blade." Ji Jingqiu took out the materials prepared by the Martial Arena.

Di Tieshan casually took them without a glance and tossed them aside. Then, from his own collection, he personally selected a piece of Divine Iron, twice as large as the one from the Heavenly Sword Arena.

He was providing the materials himself!

Ji Jingqiu secretly praised the chief forger of the Heavenly Craft Forge for his boldness.

He patiently waited outside for over an hour.

Until Di Tieshan called him inside.

"Next, I will guide you through the rest of the journey to Meng Ping's Ancestral Residence, where you will further cultivate your martial path and divine essence. If you encounter any setbacks or challenges, remember to harness the silence and strengthen your connection and resonance with the spirit knife. I believe in you and your abilities, and I hope to see you achieve your goals. Let's continue the journey together, and I will always support you.

Ji Jingqiu blocked the howling celestial winds with his Qi, then opened his eyes to see a snow-capped mountain in the distance, at least several thousand meters high, and possibly up to ten thousand meters.

From afar, the mountain resembled a long sword embedded in the ground.

As Ji Jingqiu approached the mountain, he felt an immense pressure, devoid of hostility but filled with grandeur and antiquity, as if it had endured countless years of accumulation.

Was this the pressure left behind by Elder Meng?

It had remained condensed for thousands of years without dispersing, reminding Ji Jingqiu of the Mu Family's Ancestor he had met not long ago. The Ancestor's aura hadn't leaked a bit, appearing like an elderly man without a trace of strength.

Soon, Ji Jingqiu felt a second overwhelming will, as vast as the earth and as broad as the sky, sweeping indifferently over his body.

Was this...

The Void Beast?

Ji Jingqiu guessed silently, then asked aloud, "Elder Meng, I heard that Elder Meng Dazong's partner once guarded his residence. Is this true?"

Meng Qianyun nodded slightly. "This snow-capped mountain is the remains of the Snow Ancestor."

Ji Jingqiu's breath hitched, and for the first time, he had a preliminary understanding of the legendary Void Beast.

Led by Meng Qianyun, Ji Jingqiu landed on the majestic mountain peak.

Looking ahead, he saw a simple wooden house standing alone on the edge of the cliff.

Behind the wooden house, within a few hundred meters, a dozen figures stood scattered, all seemingly heading towards the wooden house. Despite no apparent obstacles, their progress was as slow as snails.

Meng Qianyun said, "Your goal is to keep moving towards that wooden house. That's the Ancestor's residence. Along the way, you'll encounter blade intents blocking your path. Let's see how far you can go."

"If you reach the end, you can enter the wooden house and leave your name. Inside, you'll also find the Ancestor's sword. You can go and feel its power."

"If you get tired along the way, you can rest in the wooden house next to it. I built it, and for the sake of Tieshan, you can temporarily stay there."

"There are also high-energy nutrient agents in the wooden house that you can take."

Meng Qianyun pointed to the wooden house next to them, as simple as the one on the cliff.

Ji Jingqiu looked at the dozen martial artists ahead. Were they all sleeping under the open sky? However, these high-energy nutrient agents had solved one of his problems.

"Thank you, Elder Qianyun."

"Don't mention it. You can start your cultivation now."

After speaking, Meng Qianyun left, leaving Ji Jingqiu alone.

The mountain peak was freezing, with temperatures below zero. Ji Jingqiu had to maintain his Qi protection to stay comfortable.

He took a deep breath and exhaled, then began walking towards the wooden house on the cliff.

Within three hundred meters of the wooden house, Ji Jingqiu stopped. In front of him, a blade intent manifested.

It was the manifestation of the blade intent!

The figure held a blade, swinging it repeatedly towards Ji Jingqiu.

The blade light resembled the first snow of winter, layer upon layer, creating a profound sense of depth, as if painting a landscape ink painting!

Layer upon layer of blade force rose, like countless thin wooden sticks, forming points and lines that constructed a tall building. They achieved a perfect balance, a skyscraper rising from the ground, blocking Ji Jingqiu's path!

Ji Jingqiu couldn't help but marvel.

This was a blade technique he had never seen before, an alternative interpretation of skill.

He raised his blade to break through, but for a moment, he didn't know where to start.

Indeed, there seemed to be gaps in the layers of blade force, but under his Bodhimanda Insight, they were traps.

Once triggered, the seemingly stable skyscraper would collapse in an instant like an avalanche!

A single blade light wasn't threatening, but if numerous blade lights poured down following a certain rule...

Ji Jingqiu smelled danger.

He couldn't confront it head-on but had to find a way to resolve it.

Hmm... There were indeed weaknesses.

After a moment of contemplation, Ji Jingqiu swung his blade, cutting at a specific node.

The ink-like blade light instantly lost control, collapsing like an avalanche, scattering harmlessly.

The obstruction in front of Ji Jingqiu also disappeared.

He took a step forward, and the second blade intent appeared!

Ji Jingqiu looked ahead, understanding the rules of this place.

A distance of several hundred meters -

It meant he would clash with the blade intents scattered across the mountain peak hundreds or even thousands of times.

It also meant he would face off against Elder Meng Pingchuan hundreds or thousands of times across the void!)



...

Vast Sea Academy.

After a day of cultivation, Ruan Qingshan lay in a medicinal bath, dispelling fatigue while browsing the terminal for news on the martial arts channel.

At this moment, he was typing furiously, arguing with someone about who in this generation could challenge the Jade Capital's seventeenth level. He wanted to imprint his image there, replacing one of the seventeen.

"I admit that Ji Jingqiu is indeed excellent, but defeating the Federation's top seventeen from the past ten thousand years is still a significant challenge. According to my current information, the two Heavens' Pride of the six great families are currently challenging the 10th and 11th levels. They are the ones with a real chance of breaking through the seventeenth level and becoming the Heavens' Pride of this generation!"

As the other person typed a seemingly analytical but entirely speculative comment, Ruan Qingshan coldly laughed and replied, "You know nothing!"

"The seventeenth level is at most fifty-one blades!"

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end