Chapter 217: Arrival
Chapter 217: Arrival
Above the Golden Desert.
Three suns blazed across the sky, their scorching heat seemingly capable of melting the sand into glass.
Fang Xing's figure appeared, his face concealed by a mask.
He unleashed his Golden Core Domain, immediately detecting an enemy a mile away, a golden light that turned out to be another Golden Core Domain.
The two domains entangled and canceled each other out, causing the void in the desert to distort.
"Hmph, just participating in a virtual tournament, and you're already hiding your identity."
The opponent was a burly man, clad in a tiger-skin robe, exuding an extraordinary aura.
"Hehe... You don't understand. Surfing the net is all about enjoying anonymity and being uninhibited, right?"
Fang Xing laughed and took a step forward, his five fingers spreading out to form a palm strike.
This was not the 'Great Sun Buddha Palm', but after using it twice, he had gained insights and comprehended many principles of palm-style martial arts.
He struck out with his palm, and it seemed as if the heavens were about to overturn and press down.
"Damn!"
The tiger-skin-clad man was instantly slammed into the desert, mouth full of sand. "What a powerful S-rank palm technique! How come I've never heard of it? Is it a newly created martial art?"
"No, it's my self-created 'Heaven-Blocking Palm'!"
Fang Xing explained, his five fingers flicking.
Sand from all directions instantly converged towards the center, forming a golden divine mountain that pinned the tiger-skin-clad man underneath.
"This is the 'Five Fingers Mountain'!"
The tiger-skin-clad man was immediately crushed under the mountain, like a certain monkey, but his face was filled with laughter. "Good... Good move, Five Fingers Mountain! I, Zhan Liehu from Tiger Star, admit defeat. I thought I was quite good among Martial Dao Golden Core Cultivators, but this time, my eyes have truly been opened... Hey, let's exchange contacts."
After being defeated, he took it quite well.
"The martial world is treacherous, I never leave my name..."
Fang Xing waved his hand, receiving a virtual message, and then he turned into a beam of light and disappeared.
"Damn show-off! You'll get struck by lightning for showing off!"
Zhan Liehu muttered to himself, then fell into deep thought. "Do I look stupid? Such a powerful palm technique must be related to the 'Buddha Palm' of Blue Star University... Is he a graduate of Blue Star University? Sigh... The gap between people is truly greater than that between dogs..."
...
Blue Sea Star, Basement of the Villa.
"Indeed... Although the injuries in the virtual space are fake, the martial experience is real."
"After this Star Tournament, the martial arts in the Federation will surely see great development..."
"If in the future, Martial Saints and Gods of Martial Arts can freely use their powers in virtual space, perhaps the realm above the God of Martial Arts can be opened up..."
Fang Xing muttered to himself.
Throughout history, pioneers have always faced the greatest challenges.
Especially at the pinnacle of martial arts! For those who have reached the summit, no one knows whether the next step will lead to heaven or a plunge into the abyss, resulting in complete destruction! With the virtual space, the margin for error greatly increases, and there are more directions to explore.
His gaze shifted to his attribute panel:
[Name: Fang Xing]
[Age: 21]
[Occupation: Immortal Martial Artist]
[Sixth Realm: Golden Core (84/84)]
[Dragon Tiger Pillar: 800/800 (Master)]
[Star Martial Quadruple Absolutes: 556/800 (Master)]
[Dragon Elephant Vajra Indestructible Body Technique: 669/800 (Master)]
[Great Sun Buddha Mantra: 100/400 (Expert)]
[Heavenly Mother's Might Golden Lotus Twin Guardian Scripture: 1/400 (Expert)]
[Great Sun Buddha Palm: 34/100 (Beginner)]
[Cross Breathing Technique: 179/200 (Proficient)]
[Gate of All Heavens (Charging)]
...
"Whether it's the Heaven-Blocking Palm or the Five Fingers Mountain, they are just 'incomplete techniques', right? They should be counted as part of the Star Martial Quadruple Absolutes?"
"Besides, my Golden Core is already perfected, and I can break through to the Vajra Realm at any time. I'll do it after the tournament... The organizers of this tournament are quite stingy. Defeating a Golden Core Cultivator doesn't even meet the standard for a Qi Crystal. There are so many talents in the universe."
Fang Xing's twelve true dragon veins now penetrated all his major acupoints, and with a slight movement, he could feel the twelve dragon veins absorbing cosmic energy at a rate dozens of times more efficient than before!
"With this cultivation, who can rival me in the Martial Dao Golden Core realm?"
He revealed a hint of a smile, then turned his attention to the 'Dragon Elephant Vajra Indestructible Body Technique'.
"I can't slack off in cultivating this body refinement technique. If I can cultivate it to Mastery, then after the Vajra Realm, I can directly achieve seven-turns in the Golden Core, and the Golden Body will be easily perfected..."
"With a bit more cultivation, with the foundation of my Purple Vein Eternal Golden Core, achieving the Great Vajra Realm will be as easy as turning my hand!"
Fang Xing checked his communicator and saw that the next match was in thirteen days. He decided to enter closed-door cultivation for a while.
He had already reached the pinnacle in Martial Dao Golden Core, so he could continue exploring the secrets of that evil god's world.
...
Quack!
Several ravens perched on the bare, black branches of a tree, emitting harsh, unpleasant caws.
A carriage slowly passed by on the road.
Sophia lowered the curtain, feeling a sense of relief as she said, "Finally, we've arrived... at the headquarters of the Radiant Cathedral, the Holy Mountain?"
Along the way, she had passed through several duchies and kingdoms and encountered unimaginable dangers.
If not for the protection and funding provided by Tulip Duke, and most importantly, the safeguarding of the wanderer knight Vol, she would likely have died on the road.
Even more crucial was that the mysterious Lord Star did not accompany them the entire way, and even complained that they were traveling too slowly.
Clop-clop!
Just then, a cavalry team appeared in front of them.
This cavalry team was all dressed in white armor, riding tall white horses, each looking like knights emerging from the light.
"It's the Cathedral's Knights."
Sophia's eyes lit up at the sight.
The Knights were the direct force of the Radiant Cathedral, known outside as the Radiant Knights, the Sacred Knights, and so on. It was said that the selection process for each knight was exceptionally strict, resulting in knights with exceptionally handsome appearances and strict adherence to knightly virtues, making them the perfect gentlemen.
They were the dream lovers of countless noble young ladies.
"Below the Holy Mountain, all must halt."
A blond-haired knight approached the carriage and suddenly froze, looking at Vol, "You're... Captain Vol? No, it can't be! The exiled—Vol?"
Vol turned to the man, a bitter smile appearing on his face, "Andrew... You've grown up quite a bit."
"You, a sinner! The Cardinals have not judged your crimes, and yet you dare return to the Holy Mountain after being blessed by the Lord?"
Andrew's face filled with anger, and even the knights behind him seemed to exude hostility.
"I'm merely escorting the Holy Maiden of the Tulip Duchy... I won't take a single step into the Holy Mountain or the 'Land of Light' at its foot!"
Vol solemnly assured, waving his hand for the carriage to continue. A knight stepped forward and handed over a wax-sealed document.
Looking at the tulip-shaped wax seal, Andrew nodded, "Your Highness, the Holy Maiden, from here on, our squad will guard you. In the name of the Radiant Light, we will ensure your safety."
Sophia looked at Vol, her face showing a mix of anxiety and pleading.
She really didn't want to go to the Radiant Cathedral alone.
But Vol merely stood under the old tree and waved his hand.
Eventually, the carriage and the squad of knights gradually moved away.
Vol watched this scene, his bitter smile becoming more pronounced. Just as he was about to find a bar for a good drink, a voice suddenly came from behind him, "Aren't you worried about Sophia? It seems quite obvious... that Her Highness, the Holy Maiden, has fallen for you during the journey."
"Star!"
Vol turned and saw Fang Xing, and then frowned, "The Holy Maiden must remain chaste. You, as an outsider, should not speak such words beneath the Holy Mountain, or you might easily provoke an attack..."
"Alright then..."
Fang Xing pouted, "Do you have a way for me to meet that black-robed Archbishop in charge of the Secret Scriptures?"
"I'm just a wanderer knight, what can I do?"
Vol shrugged, "Moreover... the Radiant Cathedral hates heretics, pagans, and outsiders the most... I suggest you don't reveal your outsider identity, or you might be captured by the Cathedral and subjected to terrifying things..."
"What? Are they going to burn me like they do with witches?"
Fang Xing was well aware that burning witches was a ritual to seal their spirits.
However, if anyone tried to burn him now, they would only get a terrifying result.
"Alright... it seems we can only go for a drink." He shrugged, seemingly not too disappointed.
Vol instinctively sensed a conspiracy.
After all, this Star could easily subdue and seal a Great Spirit!
Even within the Radiant Cathedral, he was worthy of being canonized as a Saint.
However, after some thought, he felt that Fang Xing couldn't do much either, and could only say, "Then let's go to the Blazing Fire Bar. I know they have good drinks there, and there's a fiery owner..."
"Vol... how long have you been wandering? No matter how fiery the owner is, she can't beat the passage of time..."
Fang Xing's tone carried a hint of disdain.
At the same time, his spiritual power had already spread out, marking Sophia.
By now, the Radiant Cathedral had declined to a certain extent, and the selection of a Holy Maiden was already a strange affair.
...
Holy Mountain.
This was the dream of most of the lower-class commoners in this world.
When Sophia first stepped onto the Holy Mountain, she thought she would kneel and kiss the sacred ground.
But in reality, she didn't.
For some reason, an image suddenly appeared in her mind—the Dragon Spirit Wings sweeping over the Golden City.
Andrew led the way, and after passing through many white marble doors, Sophia saw an old man.
He wore only a simple linen robe, with no adornments, appearing exceptionally plain. His head was bald, and his face was covered in wrinkles.
"According to the Cardinals' regulations, the first night of a newly appointed Holy Maiden must be spent in the 'Primordial Cathedral'..."
The old man spoke in a hoarse voice.
"Yes!"
Andrew quickly bowed.
After the old man left, Sophia asked in a low voice, "Who was that man?"
"His Holiness the Pope..."
Andrew replied respectfully, "...'s servant."
(End of Chapter)
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