Chapter 197: The Spirit Realm's Gate, Legend of the Martial Artist

Chapter 197: The Spirit Realm's Gate, Legend of the Martial Artist

Du Yuying had gone to the Tomb of the Martial Artist, and Li Xuan couldn't help but wonder if Zi Yun had gone to the same place.

So far, there were no Martial Artist cultivators in the Inner Domain.

It seemed that the conditions to become a Martial Artist were not present in the Inner Domain, though the exact reason was unknown.

"If it really is the Tomb of the Martial Artist, then Xu Yan will surely find out why there are no Martial Artists in the Inner Domain when he goes there." Li Xuan thought to himself.

After Xu Yan left, Xie Lingfeng and Hu Shan bid farewell to Li Xuan as well, after receiving his guidance in the Way of the Sword. They returned to Jianzun Cliff to continue their arduous cultivation.

They also took with them some pills for cultivating the Way of the Martial Arts and condensing the Heavenly Bridge.

The main practice of Jianzun Cliff was the Way of the Sword, and they held no opposition to the Martial Arts of the Inner or Outer Domains as long as it enhanced their swordsmanship and understanding of the sword. This was why Xie Lingfeng, the pride of Jianzun Cliff, had no psychological burden when it came to cultivating the Way of the Martial Arts.

The cultivation methods of Jianzun Cliff had always been geared towards swordsmanship, and the techniques had evolved over generations to better suit and enhance the power of the sword.

With the departure of Xie Lingfeng and Hu Shan, Canglan Island fell into a tranquil calm, with only the alchemy room bustling with activity.

Li Xuan occasionally went boating on the Cang River, fishing until nightfall, and enjoying his leisurely time.

Meanwhile, a storm was brewing in the Inner Domain.

In the Zi Yun Kingdom, on a mountain peak overlooking a lake, stood an ice tower.

The tower was translucent and exuded a chilling aura. However, the person residing within wore thin clothing, her graceful figure moving effortlessly through the icy surroundings. Her snow-white skin and the crystalline ice created a mesmerizing scene.

At the top of the ice tower, a bewitching woman lay on an ice chair, clad in sheer fabric. On either side of her curled two young girls, naked and shivering as they clung to the woman's body. Their petite frames trembled violently in the cold wind.

The bewitching woman's hands roamed over the girls' bodies, and her alluring face took on a sickly flush, her eyes gleaming with a fanatical fervor.

A figure approached, his hands busy carving, sending wood shavings flying even as he walked.

"Ice Beauty, you're still the same," Mo Tong said, standing atop the ice tower and sighing at the woman.

"Old immortal, what are you doing here?" Ice Beauty, or Bing Nuan, withdrew a hand dripping with liquid and glared coldly at Mo Tong.

As she withdrew her hand, the shivering girl curled up in her embrace began to change. Her skin took on a rosy hue, and her small body started to convulse. The convulsions grew more violent until, slowly, the girl's body withered and shrank.

Bing Nuan, on the other hand, became even more alluring. Her skin turned snowier, and the fine wrinkles at the corners of her eyes disappeared, making her look a decade younger.

The other girl curled up in Bing Nuan's embrace also started to shake violently, her mouth opening as if to beg for mercy, but no sound escaped. Her skin flushed, her body convulsed, and eventually, she, too, withered away.

Mo Tu silently watched this scene, knowing that Bing Nuan had aged and needed to devour the essence of young girls to maintain her youthful appearance and supple skin.

Two women dressed in white sheer fabric ascended the ice tower and carried away the corpses.

Bing Nuan lay sprawled on the chair, her face flushed and her expression mocking as she faced Mo Tong.

"Mo Tong, have you lost your touch?" she asked, a sneer in her voice.

Mo Tong's carving hand paused, his facial muscles twitching as he looked at Bing Nuan through the thin fabric. For a moment, he was silent.

He was almost at the pinnacle of the Martial Artist realm, and yet she said he was useless?

Indeed, he was useless.

He was truly old, and he felt no stirrings of desire, not even a hint of it.

"Useless waste!" Bing Nuan scoffed.

Mo Tong reached into his pocket and pulled out a scroll, placing it on Bing Nuan's chest. "Bing Nuan, when you learn of my death, burn this scroll and use your Martial Arts power to activate the jade bead hidden within," he said softly.

Bing Nuan's gaze fell to the scroll, and she fell silent.

Mo Tong turned to leave, saying, "If I'm still alive, then we both have a chance to enter the Spirit Realm. But if I die, follow my instructions: burn the scroll, activate the jade bead, and find your own opportunity to enter the Spirit Realm."

Bing Nuan jumped to her feet. "What are you going to do?" she demanded.

"Don't get involved. We need someone to take revenge for us. Take good care of that scroll," Mo Tong said, shaking his head.

Watching Mo Tong's aged figure disappear into the horizon, Bing Nuan held the scroll tightly and remained silent for a long while. Then, she suddenly spoke: "Find me two tender girls."

"Yes!" came a female voice from within the ice tower.

In the royal study of the Great Yue Kingdom's palace, the emperor of Great Yue looked at the man in the red robe and blue face, his expression shifting. "I don't want my Great Yue Kingdom to perish!" he said hoarsely.

The man in the red robe smiled and said, "Great Yue Emperor, don't you want to break through the Grand Master realm? This time, it's not just about your kingdom.

"The gate to the Spirit Realm, the realm of the Martial Artist, the opportunity lies in Canglan Island, with Su Lingxiu."

The Great Yue Emperor stood up abruptly, his eyes wide with shock. "What? The gate to the Spirit Realm? The realm of the Martial Artist?"

It was common knowledge that the Grand Master was the pinnacle of the Inner Domain's Martial Arts.

Even the Half-step Martial Artist was considered within the Grand Master realm, just a step away from true mastery.

However, it was believed that they had reached the true end of the road.

There was no progressing further.

The gate to the Spirit Realm, the legend of the Martial Artist... The Great Yue Emperor had never heard of it, and neither had the countless powers and numerous Grand Masters of the Inner Domain, most likely.

It was widely believed that peak Grand Masters were elusive and rarely intervened because they were seeking the way forward in the Martial Arts.

"Beyond the Grand Master realm lies the realm of the Martial Artist," the man in the red robe said coldly. "To enter the Martial Artist realm, one must pass through the gate to the Spirit Realm. The path is blocked in the Inner Domain, and there is no way forward.

"The way forward lies beyond the gate to the Spirit Realm.

"The person on Canglan Island is likely a true Martial Artist, one who has passed through that gate. Su Lingxiu is the key to entering the Spirit Realm.

"How can the many Grand Masters of this Inner Domain allow a single Martial Artist to block their path?"

The man in the red robe's eyes gleamed with fervor.

"Martial Artist?" The Great Yue Emperor was stunned. No wonder dozens of peak Grand Masters had been killed, none escaping their fate.

"With the might of all the Grand Masters in the world, we can force the Martial Artist to back down, or even..." The man in the red robe's eyes blazed with madness.

"...kill the Martial Artist and open the gate to the Spirit Realm!"

"Even if the Martial Artist is powerful, they cannot suppress the world alone!" the man in the red robe continued, his voice tinged with madness. "We Half-step Martial Artists will also join the fight!"

"Good! The Great Yue Kingdom will do its best!" The Great Yue Emperor exclaimed, his voice shaking with excitement.

"Spread the word about the gate to the Spirit Realm and the Martial Artist throughout the Inner Domain," the man in the red robe said in a low voice. "Let the powers of this world unite, and let's see what this Martial Artist can do!"

The various powers and Grand Master cultivators in the Inner Domain received a message: there was a path beyond the Grand Master realm.

Seize Canglan Island, hand over Su Lingxiu, and let the world share the Spirit Realm's Gate, opening the path to Martial Arts beyond the Grand Master realm!

The Spirit Realm's Gate, the legend of the Heavenly Man... With the push of various forces, the news spread throughout the Inner Domain, and more and more Grand Masters learned of it.

Canglan Island became the center of attention in the Inner Domain.

Su Lingxiu was also regarded as the key to opening the Spirit Realm's Gate!

Numerous major forces gathered, and Inner Domain Grand Masters converged. At this moment, half-step Heavenly Men began to emerge, one after another, including some peak Grand Master experts who were thought to be long dead.

At this moment, they all appeared.

The infamous Demon Child of the Demon Sect, as well as the remaining Demon Lords, all revealed themselves.

The Grand Empress of the Great Yue Kingdom, though aged and seemingly nearing the end of her life, also emerged from the imperial mausoleum.

The royal family of Yan Country also produced a half-step Heavenly Man.

The Grand Emperor of Zi Yun Country also made an appearance, one after another, as formidable figures of the past resurfaced.

The Inner Domain's Martial Arts world was shaken to its core!

Countless Grand Masters were astounded and thrilled, determined to force Canglan Island to hand over Su Lingxiu and share the opportunity of the Spirit Realm's Gate!

One after another, powerful figures and Grand Masters from major families and sects gathered, and the Inner Domain's power seemed to coalesce, ready to suppress Canglan Island.

In Seven Stars Academy, Bai Yunkong sat under an ancient tea tree, silently sipping his tea.

Two figures approached.

"Master, regarding the Spirit Realm's Gate and the Heavenly Man, what should our Seven Stars Academy do?"

Bai Yunkong replied indifferently, "Have you forgotten our academy's principle of non-interference in Martial Arts disputes?"

"This isn't just a Martial Arts dispute; it concerns the future of Martial Arts itself!"

One of them said in a deep voice.

"The path has always been there. The Spirit Realm's Gate is elusive and difficult to find. Who can enter it? And even if one enters, can they truly become a Heavenly Man? Can a First-Ranked Warrior become a Grandmaster? Can a Grandmaster become a Grand Master?"

"The principles of Seven Stars Academy cannot be violated." Bai Yunkong said solemnly.

"Master, if we don't take this chance, we won't have any other opportunities. I refuse to accept that!"

"Yes, I refuse to give up without trying!"

The two men spoke in low voices.

Bai Yunkong looked at them and sighed, "Opportunities are not far away, and the Heavenly Man is not the only path. I've said what I can; the rest is up to you."

"Master, you're being too stubborn. I won't miss this opportunity!"

"Master, if you insist on sticking to your principles, then so be it!"

After saying their piece, the two turned and left.

Bai Yunkong tapped his fingers on the table, seeming to hesitate over a decision.

An old man with a fan in his hand, white hair draped over his shoulders, but with a ruddy complexion and no signs of aging except for his black eye sockets, walked over.

"What's there to hesitate about? Our Seven Stars Academy's principles cannot be violated. Anyone who violates them is not one of us."

Bai Yunkong sighed, "It's easy for you to say, Master. Fine, those who don't stand by their convictions don't need to stay."

On this day, Bai Yunkong, the master of Seven Stars Academy, issued an order to expel two deputy masters from the academy and remove anyone who wanted to participate in the siege of Canglan Island.

And on this day, Grand Masters from Seven Stars Academy left, including more than half of the familiar senior instructors once known to the students.

The Spirit Realm's Gate and the realm of the Heavenly Man were too tempting for Martial Artists to resist.

Even if they were facing a true Martial Artist, with the world's Grand Masters joining forces in overwhelming numbers, their initial hesitation was cast aside.

Their hearts were filled with fiery enthusiasm, reminiscent of their youthful days as fledgling Martial Artists. Killing a Heavenly Man, opening the Spirit Realm's Gate, and making their names known in the history of Martial Arts!

The Cangbei land was known as the edge of the Inner Domain. As far as the eye could see, it was a vast expanse of white, with towering peaks at its end. Even after crossing these peaks, one would find themselves in another realm within the Inner Domain.

This was the end, a truly bitter cold land where even Grand Masters dared not linger for long.

One of the peaks had been hollowed out, and buildings were constructed along the mountain. Pavilions, towers, elegant rooms, and gardens could be found here.

And in a garden built against the mountain, warm as spring, with every flower and grass a spirit herb, and even a fifth-grade spirit herb, the Tian Dishu, growing there.

At this moment, over a dozen figures sat in the garden, led by a man wearing a purple crown, who was elegant and amiable but held an abacus in his hand.

Among these people were the two Heaven-Treasure Pavilion half-step Heavenly Men who had appeared in Tieshan County.

This was the headquarters of Heaven-Treasure Pavilion!

The man with the purple crown smiled and said, "Since the Inner Domain dynasties gathered Martial Artists to form the Demon-Slaying Alliance in ancient times, there hasn't been such a grand gathering.

"You two have seen him; what do you think?"

Everyone present looked at the two who had been to Tieshan County.

"Whether he's a Martial Artist or not, I can't say, but he gives me the feeling that he's unfathomable!"

One of them said in a deep voice.

"He killed Ku Jue with a wave of his hand, directly erasing his spiritual consciousness. Even the Demon Lord of the past might not have had such means!"

The other sighed.

The man with the purple crown nodded and smiled bitterly, "Everyone wants to enter the Spirit Realm's Gate, but it's not that easy. Inner Domain Martial Artists who enter are like pigs and dogs in comparison."

Everyone fell silent.

"Master, what's the situation with Su Lingxiu?"

Someone asked curiously.

The man with the purple crown remained silent for a while before saying, "The one who came out of the Spirit Realm's Gate twenty years ago should be his bloodline. The task given to Yinlou also came from someone within the Spirit Realm."

Everyone present was stunned, their minds flashing with the image of the graceful and elegant young man who had appeared twenty years ago, claiming to be touring the Inner Domain. At that time, the master had personally entertained him with great respect.

"If he's of the same bloodline, why did Yinlou kill Su Zhen?"

Someone asked in confusion.

The man with the purple crown pondered for a moment, "The one who gave the task to Yinlou wasn't that person. This matter involves too much, and it's not something we can discuss."

He then coldly smiled, "The master of Yinlou, do you really think that completing the task and entering the Spirit Realm's Gate will make you a Heavenly Man? You'll be a pig or a dog with no chance at all!"

The rest remained silent. The master had entered the Spirit Realm's Gate but had not become a Martial Artist. It seemed that he had become someone's dog within the Spirit Realm?

To be a pig or a dog in the Spirit Realm or to be high and mighty in the Inner Domain—they naturally had their choice, but whether they could break this pattern was another matter.

A young man's figure appeared in their minds. Perhaps he could break this pattern when he entered the Spirit Realm's Gate?

Xu Yan!

At Jianzun Cliff, a group of Grand Masters gathered.

Xie Lingfeng, who was in seclusion, cultivating the Sword Dao and feeling that he was not far from the Sword Heart Enlightenment state, with one foot already in the threshold, was called out by Hu Shan in a hurry.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end