Chapter 290: Wu Tiannan, Dean of the Wanxing Martial Arts Academy, and the Secret of the Divine Brid

Chapter 290: Wu Tiannan, Dean of the Wanxing Martial Arts Academy, and the Secret of the Divine Bridge

The great battle between the Wan Shi Alliance and the Ling Zong had entered a new phase. With the deployment of divine artifacts by Leyun Villa, Qian Wu Temple, and Yulingshu, the formidable foundation of the Ling Zong was revealed.

The Wan Shi Alliance in Leyun State retreated, and the same fate befell them in Qian Wu State. In Qingzhou, the Yuling Mansion used a divine artifact to slay a super-sixth-order spirit beast, decisively defeating it and driving it back into the mountains of Tianling State.

The Wan Shi Alliance in Qingzhou was defeated, and their strongest members were severely wounded. It was only when the leader, Tan Wenlin, personally intervened that they were able to stabilize the situation and withdraw from Qingzhou.

The Ling Zong in various states also demonstrated their formidable strength, swiftly turning the tide of the battle and reclaiming large swaths of territory.

However, Chen State had already fallen under the control of the Wan Shi Alliance, and the Alliance had established a presence in most other states as well.

The two sides reached a stalemate.

In Luo State, on the border of the Cangyun Dynasty, Chang Daniu was engaged in a fierce battle with the strongest expert from Leyun Villa. Their strengths were evenly matched, and they were familiar foes.

"Descendants of Wanxing, do you truly believe you can make a comeback?" The powerful expert from Leyun Villa said coldly.

"Wanxing Martial Arts Academy will not make a comeback, but the Wan Shi Alliance will certainly stake its claim," Chang Daniu replied with a cold laugh. "The era of your Ling Zong dominating the Spirit Domain is coming to an end!"

Chen State had already fallen under the control of the Wan Shi Alliance, and with the exception of states directly affiliated with the Ling Zong, the Alliance had a presence in all the other states.

The Ling Zong's era of complete domination was coming to an end.

"Hmph, do you really think your wishes will come true? The depth of our Ling Zong is something you lowly unaffiliated cultivators could never comprehend. Even if you join forces with the Sea Spirit Tribe and the Spirit Beast Clan, what can you accomplish?

"This Spirit Domain will always belong to our Ling Zong."

Chang Daniu laughed arrogantly. "Oh? Then let's see what your Ling Zong is truly made of. The new order of this Spirit Domain is already set, and unaffiliated cultivators will have their place too!"

The two sides continued to clash, with Chang Daniu's twin hammers relentlessly pounding down, while his opponent from Leyun Villa wielded a large hammer surrounded by thunderous light.

The clash of their attacks was awe-inspiring, striking fear into the hearts of the onlookers.

Was this the might of the strongest experts?

In the sky above the Spirit Domain, five figures stood amidst the clouds, surrounded by strands of the heavenly way as if they were the embodiment of the world's mighty power. Although they did not exude an overwhelming aura, their presence seemed to attract the very essence of heaven and earth.

The lords of the three transcendent Ling Zong powers—the Qian Wu Temple, the Yuling Mansion, and the Leyun Villa—gazed coldly at the two figures before them.

"City Lord Fu, do you intend to debase yourself by allying with this lowly unaffiliated cultivator?" The lord of the Qian Wu Temple directed his gaze at the man with the Azure Sea Divine Pearl in his hair, who held a folding fan and wore an innocent expression.

City Lord Fu sighed with a helpless expression, "I have no choice. That rascal tricked me once, and I owe him a favor.

"All of you, please don't get too worked up. Didn't you notice that neither the Great Zhou nor the Tai Miao sent anyone?

"The three of you alone cannot win against them."

As he spoke, he waved his folding fan with one hand while using the other to tie his long hair, which was styled in a ponytail, around his wrist. "Do you see the Azure Sea Divine Pearl on my head? I've always wanted to use this divine pearl to tie my hair, but I couldn't drill a hole in it.

"This fellow said he could help me, and I didn't believe him, so we made a bet. In the end, he actually did it.

"As you know, I, Fu Tianhai, am a man of my word, so I have no choice but to fulfill my promise."

The three lords of the Qian Wu Temple wore extremely gloomy expressions.

Beside City Lord Fu stood a man holding a disciplinary ruler in one hand and a book in the other. He had the appearance of a gentle scholar and did not exude any aura of power.

However, it was this man who caused the three lords of the Qian Wu Temple to wear such grave expressions.

He was Wu Tiannan, the dean of the Wanxing Martial Arts Academy, and a true legendary figure.

Having originated from the Inner Realm and entered the Spirit Domain, he rose to become the dean of the Wanxing Martial Arts Academy, elevating the academy's strength to a level comparable to that of the transcendent Ling Zong powers.

There were always rumors that the Blood Devil Demon Master's teacher during his first rise to power was none other than the man before them.

Although the Wanxing Martial Arts Academy had been wiped out during their battle with the Tianjiao, erasing their presence from the Eighteen States, this man had somehow survived.

"Wu Tiannan, do you think you can oppose us by bringing City Lord Fu here?" The lord of Leyun Villa took a step forward, surrounded by thunderous light, and the Leyun Pearl in his hand emitted a green thunderous light, exuding a chilling killing intent.

The Leyun Pearl, a divine artifact of Leyun Villa, was a white short stick with a green pearl the size of a fist at its tip, shining with green thunderous light.

The lord of Yuling Mansion laughed and said to City Lord Fu, "City Lord Fu, I understand your predicament, so why don't the two of us just stand aside and let these three fight it out?"

City Lord Fu smiled and replied, "That sounds good to me!"

The lord of Qian Wu Temple held a blade in his hand, and a chilling aura surrounded the blade as he said coldly, "Wu Tiannan, my Shishu personally injured you back then. I thought you would either be dead or crippled, but I never expected you to survive until now.

"However, since you're seeking death, I'll grant your wish today!"

Wu Tiannan, however, smiled gently and put away the book he was holding. He held the disciplinary ruler in his hand, showing neither anger nor the slightest hint of retreat.

"Among the transcendent Ling Zong powers in the Spirit Domain, the Qian Wu Temple is the most despicable. Your Shishu not only launched a sneak attack but also bribed someone close to me.

"It's probably for the best that the Wanxing Martial Arts Academy is gone; at least I no longer have that burden."

Wu Tiannan held the disciplinary ruler in his right hand and gently patted his left palm, creating a 'patting' sound that echoed in the clouds. He faced the two supreme experts, the lords of Qian Wu Temple and Leyun Villa, without the slightest fear.

His eyes were calm as he seemed to be reminiscing about the past.

"I was born in the Inner Realm, in a small village in the Tiannan County of the Dynasty. I had no knowledge of martial arts techniques and had never practiced them. My parents died early, and I was alone, poor, and struggling to survive.

"The villagers called me 'Little Wild Dog,' and I didn't even have a name.

"When I was eight years old, a celestial fairy-like elder sister, who was badly injured and being pursued, fled to our village. I hid her in our cellar, and I erased her traces and deceived her pursuers..."

Wu Tiannan slowly recounted his childhood memories.

The two lords of Qian Wu Temple were in no hurry to make their move. Instead, they listened quietly, curious about Wu Tiannan's intentions in sharing these stories and intrigued by his past.

After all, he was a legendary figure. Most people knew that he came from the Inner Realm and later joined the Wanxing Martial Arts Academy. It was only when he took over the academy that his true strength was revealed.

Wu Tiannan continued, "...The beautiful elder sister was badly injured, but she had medicine on her that could help her recover. It was then that I first came into contact with martial arts.

"She taught me a martial arts technique, which I found to be quite simple, and I mastered it quickly.

"Elder sister was amazed by my talent, and after her injuries healed, she continued to guide me in the ways of martial arts in our small village. By the time I was sixteen, I had already reached the Grand Master level.

"I thought I would always be with Elder Sister, but in the end, she left and told me to enter the Spirit Domain and go to the Wanxing Martial Arts Academy."

Wu Tiannan, the founder of the Seven Star Academy and a legendary figure, had come to the Spirit Domain and joined the Wanxing Martial Arts Academy, which then became the upper academy of the Inner Realm's Seven Star Academy.

The previous dean had passed away due to old injuries and a diminished lifespan, twenty years after Wu Tiannan entered the Wanxing Martial Arts Academy.

With his formidable strength and peerless prestige, Wu Tiannan succeeded the position of dean, continuing his pursuit of the martial path and spreading it throughout the Spirit Domain. Under his leadership, the Wanxing Martial Arts Academy rose rapidly, producing countless geniuses.

"Blood Lingzi was an accident; your Lingzong families drove him insane."

Finally, Wu Tiannan sighed.

The three lords of the Qian Wu Temple frowned, not quite understanding why Wu Tiannan was recounting his origins and experiences—was he trying to flaunt the extraordinariness of his rise?

Yuling Fuzu suddenly furrowed his brows and said in a deep voice, "Your martial path began with that woman, and it was she who directed you to the Wanxing Martial Arts Academy. Where has she gone?"

Wu Tiannan smiled brilliantly, "I don't know. There's no trace of her in the Spirit Domain, and I've been searching for my sister ever since."

Then, he looked at the three lords meaningfully and said, "That bridge, is it about to appear? Or, do you have the ability to make that bridge appear?"

As soon as the three lords of the Qian Wu Temple heard this, their expressions changed drastically, their eyes turning cold and murderous.

"Fu Tianhai, how dare you reveal such secrets to him?" Leyun Zhuangzhu raged at Fu Tianhai.

Fu Tianhai rolled his eyes and put on an innocent face, "I, Fu Tianhai, am not a fool. How could I possibly reveal such secrets to him?

"How he knows is beyond me."

The lord of the Qian Wu Temple raised the knife in his hand, the blade emanating a chilling aura as he said, "Wu Tiannan, you must die today, and the Wan Shi Alliance must be destroyed!"

The lord of Leyun Villa also unleashed his power, his body surrounded by thunderous light. Yuling Fuzu waved his hand, and a spiritual beast in the distant clouds instantly disappeared.

"So it's true," Wu Tiannan said, his smile fading into a cold glare. "This is your Lingzong's secret, kept only by your superior Lingzong lineage."

"The Wanxing Martial Arts Academy no longer exists in the Eighteen States," Wu Tiannan said, his voice turning cold. "In this life, I have but one purpose: to step upon that divine bridge and see if the person I seek is there.

"Who among you can stop me? Who has the qualifications to stand in my way?

"Although I did not found the Wan Shi Alliance, Wen Lin is like a semi-disciple to me. Today, I shall fight for a place in this world for the Wan Shi Alliance!"

Boom!

At that moment, the disciplinary ruler in Wu Tiannan's hand erupted with a brilliant light.

In the clouds and between heaven and earth, a total of nine profound auras suddenly descended, encircling Wu Tiannan. At this moment, his aura directly suppressed the three supreme experts.

"You... How is this possible!"

The three lords of the Qian Wu Temple were astonished, their eyes widening as they stared at Wu Tiannan in disbelief.

The nine profound auras exuded a subtle radiance, as if they contained the profound truths of heaven and earth!

Fu Tianhai was also shocked, staring at Wu Tiannan in amazement. He had reached such a formidable stage?

"Why is it impossible?" Wu Tiannan said. "I have reached the limits of the Spirit Domain's martial path. Watch and see if I have the qualifications to fight for a place for the Wan Shi Alliance, and whether I have the right to step upon that divine bridge!"

Wu Tiannan waved his disciplinary ruler, and a majestic light swept out, as he faced the three supreme experts alone.

In the clouds, a fierce battle erupted. The three lords of the Qian Wu Temple each wielded a divine artifact, joining forces to counter Wu Tiannan, but they were still at a disadvantage.

Five strands of profound auras surrounded the three lords, two less than Wu Tiannan, clearly indicating their inferior strength.

"Show me the depth of your superior Lingzong lineage, and let's see if I, Wu Tiannan, can withstand it!"

Wu Tiannan's expression was cold and proud, his refined scholar's demeanor now carrying a killing intent.

As he brandished his disciplinary ruler, the three lords of the Qian Wu Temple were forced to retreat step by step.

"There's no need for such violence."

A sigh echoed through the air.

Dreamlike flower petals fluttered down, and a dream-like power emerged, blocking Wu Tiannan's attack.

A figure veiled in a dreamlike aura approached, her face obscured, yet her peerless beauty and captivating presence were undeniable.

Nine strands of profound auras surrounded her.

Wu Tiannan sheathed his disciplinary ruler and looked at the newcomer, his expression calm but complex.

"No debts of sentiment, no debts of gratitude. From now on, I am who I am. My heart is like a dream, and I am but a dream. Tai Miao Xin Mengrou, I never expected you to reach this stage."

After their initial shock, the three lords of the Qian Wu Temple relaxed, relieved that Tai Miao Xin Mengrou had reached this level of strength, not inferior to Wu Tiannan.

The superior Lingzong still held the upper hand.

"Wu Tiannan knows the secret of the divine bridge, so he must die. The Wan Shi Alliance must also be destroyed. Elder Xin, let's join hands and kill Wu Tiannan!" The lord of the Qian Wu Temple said in a deep voice.

However, Xin Mengrou ignored him and quietly observed Wu Tiannan, deep in thought.

Wu Tiannan's expression was calm, but his eyes held a hint of complexity and a hint of resignation.

The lively and playful girl from his past, who used to love tricking him into teaching her martial arts secrets, had undergone a series of changes that completely altered her personality.

"I went to the Inner Realm and killed him, burying him there. In doing so, I also repaid the debt I owed to someone who saved me in the Inner Realm. I gave birth to a daughter for him.

"In this world, I owe no debts of sentiment or gratitude to anyone.

"Thinking about it, perhaps I still owe Dean Wu some gratitude, for the martial arts secrets and the principles of the martial path you taught me.

"The Lingzong has its rules, and since you know some of the secrets of the divine bridge, then so be it.

"The conflict between the Wan Shi Alliance and the Lingzong can come to an end. If we continue fighting, all it will accomplish is more deaths.

"Let's follow the rules of the Tianjiao Contest and continue the battle. I believe that with you here, no one from the Lingzong would dare break the rules."

Xin Mengrou's voice was soft and dreamlike, giving off a fantastical feeling.

Wu Tiannan sighed and cupped his hands together, not saying a word. Blood Lingzi had died, at the hands of Xin Mengrou.

The lord of the Qian Wu Temple grew anxious, "Elder Xin, this is a secret of the Lingzong. How can we let an outsider know? The Wan Shi Alliance must be destroyed. The Tianjiao Contest is but a joke, what do wandering cultivators know of Tianjiao?"

Xin Mengrou turned to look at him, "If you're not satisfied, you can fight Dean Wu. If you win, we'll do as you say."

"Me?"

The lord of the Qian Wu Temple opened and closed his mouth, unable to speak.

"The divine bridge hasn't stipulated that only those from the Lingzong can ascend it. It's just that the Lingzong has been in control. If you can kill Dean Wu, then everything will remain as it is.

"If you can't, and Dean Wu ascends the bridge, what then?

"If you want the divine bridge to descend, then so be it. I, Tai Miao, will not be a part of it."

After speaking, Xin Mengrou's dreamlike figure drifted away.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end