Chapter 301: The Plan of the Thousand Martial Arts Master, Because You Are Too Weak

Chapter 301: The Plan of the Thousand Martial Arts Master, Because You Are Too Weak

In the land of Thousand Martial Arts, the first battle of the Proud Sons of Heaven unfolded. Xu Yan stood alone against five others, slaying five Proud Sons of Heaven at the gates of the Thousand Martial Arts Temple.

A crowd of martial artists looked up at the young swordsman on the high platform, all of them stunned by what they had just witnessed.

On the peak of the Thousand Martial Arts Temple, a group of powerful experts wore grim expressions, their eyes flashing with anger.

However, no one made a move, nor did anyone suggest that their own Proud Son of Heaven should step in.

The time was not yet right!

Wei Huang and the others were nearly bursting with rage, wishing they could flay Xu Yan alive. But the rules of the Proud Sons' showdown had been established, and they couldn't intervene.

Especially since the Thousand Martial Arts Temple had already given their order, and no one dared to go against the will of the peak.

The other Proud Sons of Heaven fell silent.

Should they step up to the challenge? If Wei Yuan and the other four were not enough, what chance did they stand alone?

Xu Yan's aura surged, and the foundation of his Divine Intent had reached its limit. It was time for a breakthrough.

He turned to face the Thousand Martial Arts Temple and declared loudly, "Today, I, Xu Yan, have slain five Proud Sons of Heaven from the Thousand Martial Arts State. I give you, the esteemed Thousand Martial Arts Temple, a fortnight to prepare. In two weeks, I shall return to challenge you again.

"I hope that the renowned Thousand Martial Arts Temple will not disappoint me!"

In two weeks, he would be a Divine Origin Realm warrior.

Upon reaching the Divine Origin Realm, not only could he challenge the Proud Sons of Heaven at the God Refining Realm, but he could also clash with the mightiest of warriors who had refined a wisp of the world's spiritual essence.

Without further ado, Xu Yan's figure moved, and he vanished from the spot.

"So fast!"

"What kind of movement technique is that?"

"No wonder Xu Yan is so confident. Even the mightiest of warriors might not be able to catch up with him!"

In the blink of an eye, Xu Yan's silhouette had disappeared from view, his speed surpassing even that of a peak God Refining Realm warrior known for their agility.

The experts on the Thousand Martial Arts Temple peak wore grim expressions, their faces shadowed. Xu Yan's movement technique was extraordinarily swift, and even the mightiest of warriors might not be able to catch up with him.

"Master, are we going to wait for two weeks?" a senior elder asked in a low voice.

"With Wu Tiannan here, what can we do?" replied the Master of the Thousand Martial Arts Temple coldly.

"We can select a few Proud Sons of Heaven from the Three Kingdoms, the Seven Sects, and the Eight Noble Families. During this fortnight, we can enhance their strength and even help them forge the ultimate killing intent."

The Master of the Thousand Martial Arts Temple thought for a moment before speaking in a solemn tone.

The hearts of the elders sank. To forge the ultimate killing intent for a Proud Son of Heaven was essentially cheating.

Of course, this was one of the Superlative Spirit Sect's tactics. There were no restrictions against it in the Proud Sons' showdown, and once the ultimate killing intent was unleashed, the user would either die or fall from their realm, never to cultivate back to their previous level.

It was a tactic akin to mutual destruction.

In the past, during a confrontation with the Myriad Stars Martial Academy, they had used this tactic with a subordinate Proud Son of Heaven from the Spirit Sect, severely injuring the Myriad Stars Proud Son.

Now, they intended to use it against Xu Yan.

The Master of the Thousand Martial Arts Temple continued, "We will also select two or three suitable Proud Sons of Heaven from our sect, enhance their strength, forge their ultimate killing intent, and allow them to temporarily wield the might of a divine artifact.

"If necessary, we will have them intervene. Regardless, the time is not yet right for Hu Bupei and the others to act. This Proud Sons' showdown will be the last for the Spirit Realm.

"We will also completely crush the Alliance of Myriad Clans, slay Wu Tiannan, and make some changes to the ruling methods of the Spirit Realm.

"The Spirit Beast Clan and the Sea Spirit Clan of the Azure Sea are a threat. When the Divine Bridge opens, we must suppress them thoroughly."

The Master's eyes turned cold, and his killing intent became palpable.

"Yes, Master!"

The hearts of the elders were stirred. The Master intended to drastically alter the landscape of the Spirit Realm when the Divine Bridge opened.

As the Master turned to leave, he paused as if a thought had suddenly occurred to him. "As for those in our sect who have reached the peak of God Refining but have been unable to successfully refine the Heaven and Earth Spirit Essence, and who are already in their twilight years, it is time for them to show their loyalty to our Thousand Martial Arts Temple.

"Have them forge the ultimate killing intent and cultivate the Life-Burning Martial Arts. If necessary, we will have them assassinate Xu Yan.

"No one will know that they are from our Thousand Martial Arts Temple. What can Wu Tiannan do then?

"That arrogant boy, flaunting his connection to Wu Tiannan and daring to show off his prowess before our Thousand Martial Arts Temple, shall not be allowed to live!

"Does Wu Tiannan truly believe that he alone can intimidate our Thousand Martial Arts Temple and prevent us from taking any action? In the absence of evidence implicating our sect, I want to see if Wu Tiannan will really disregard everything and take action!"

Upon hearing these words, the elders' expressions turned solemn.

The Master was about to employ such a ruthless strategy!

"Master, is this truly necessary?" asked an elder in a low voice.

"The Blood Demon calamity occurred because we were not decisive enough in the past. Otherwise, how could the Blood Demon have risen to power? We must never repeat such a mistake!" The Master of the Thousand Martial Arts Temple spoke in a solemn tone.

"Yes, Master!" the elders replied, their hearts heavy.

The Blood Demon calamity had been the greatest crisis the Spirit Sect had ever faced in its history.

In the Master's eyes, was Xu Yan's threat comparable to that of the Blood Demon in the past?

The Master of the Thousand Martial Arts Temple strode away.

The elders, too, began to make arrangements to address Xu Yan's challenge in two weeks.

In the core area of the Thousand Martial Arts Temple's rear mountain, one entered through a cave and walked only a few dozen meters before a massive underground hall came into view.

This enormous underground hall had been carved directly out of a spirit mine, and above the hall, intricate and profound auras permeated the translucent spirit crystals.

The originally translucent spirit crystals now glowed with colorful halos, constantly shifting and changing like the four seasons.

At the back of the hall were several small spirit crystal rooms, five of which were closed, indicating that someone was cultivating within.

The Master of the Thousand Martial Arts Temple gazed at the spirit crystals above the hall, through which intricate and profound auras were seeping into the five spirit crystal rooms.

"Alliance of Myriad Clans, Wu Tiannan, the depth of the Superlative Spirit Sect is beyond your imagination. You are destined to lose in this Proud Sons' showdown!" The Master's thoughts were filled with killing intent.

"In the past, the Myriad Stars Martial Academy gained too much momentum by recruiting numerous Proud Sons of Heaven with spiritual bodies. But our core Proud Sons of Heaven have yet to make their move.

"This time, we will let the solitary cultivators of the Spirit Realm and your Alliance of Myriad Clans witness the true strength of our Superlative Spirit Sect's core Proud Sons of Heaven!

"Wu Tiannan, you country bumpkin, think that you've cultivated some martial arts and reached the limits of the Spirit Realm, and now you dare to act so arrogantly?

"You wish to ascend the Divine Bridge, but I will not allow it!"

Looking at the five spirit crystal rooms, the Master's expression eased. No matter how monstrously talented Xu Yan was, he could not compare to the Superlative Spirit Sect's core Proud Sons of Heaven.

The core Proud Sons of Heaven of the Superlative Spirit Sect rarely appeared in the Spirit Realm, and even when they did, their names were never revealed, and no one knew their identities.

"The existence of the Superlative Spirit Sect is for the sake of our core Proud Sons of Heaven... Wu Tiannan, you are but a frog at the bottom of a well."

Muttering to himself, the Master of the Thousand Martial Arts Temple entered one of the vacant spirit crystal rooms and began to cultivate.

A figure appeared, resembling a scholarly teacher, holding a ruler in his hand.

"Impressive!" Xu Yan exclaimed, recognizing the person as the peak expert he had sensed.

"Young friend Xu Yan, please wait a moment," the man addressed Xu Yan with a smile.

"Who are you?" Xu Yan asked, halting in his tracks.

"I am Wu Tiannan," the man replied, his smile unwavering. He was intrigued by Xu Yan's extraordinary sword techniques, which seemed shrouded in mystery.

"What business do you have with me?" Xu Yan inquired, his curiosity piqued as he had never heard of such a formidable figure.

From the man's appearance, Xu Yan deduced that he was not a member of the Ling Sect. Given his immense power and his presence at the Thousand Martial Arts Temple, Xu Yan surmised that he was likely from the Alliance of Myriad Clans. Could he be the leader of the Alliance?

"I noticed that you are a solitary cultivator, yet your sword techniques are exceptionally profound and unprecedented. It has sparked my curiosity, and I wonder who your master is and where you learned such unique sword skills," Wu Tiannan explained with a friendly smile.

"My master is a reclusive master, and the sword techniques he taught me are indeed one-of-a-kind in this world," Xu Yan replied thoughtfully. "To be honest, what is considered sword techniques in the Spirit Realm are merely rudimentary in my eyes. They have only scratched the surface of true sword mastery. To put it bluntly, there are no actual sword techniques in the Spirit Realm, only sword skills!"

Wu Tiannan's eyebrows twitched at Xu Yan's bold statement. No sword techniques in the Spirit Realm? How arrogant! However, as he reflected on Xu Yan's otherworldly swordplay and the limitations of the Spirit Realm's sword techniques, he couldn't help but feel that Xu Yan's words held some truth.

Given Xu Yan's perspective, it was not surprising that he considered the Spirit Realm's sword techniques as merely scratching the surface.

As for Xu Yan's claim that the Spirit Realm lacked true sword techniques, Wu Tiannan pondered for a moment, finding a shred of reason in his words.

The sword techniques in the Spirit Realm focused on intricate combat maneuvers and subtle intricacies, which paled in comparison to Xu Yan's transcendent swordplay.

When Xu Yan unsheathed his sword, there was no trace of conventional sword skills; he had already transcended the boundaries of ordinary swordplay.

So, this is what true sword mastery looks like?

"Your master's sword techniques are indeed unparalleled. I am deeply intrigued and would like to pay him a visit. May I ask if it's possible for me to meet your master?" Wu Tiannan asked, his eyes gleaming with anticipation.

"If you wish to visit my master, it depends on his willingness to receive guests. I cannot make that decision for him as he values his seclusion and tranquility," Xu Yan replied thoughtfully. "However, if you want to convey your intentions, you may ask the Alliance Leader of Yuzhou to relay your request."

Wu Tiannan was taken aback. "The Alliance Leader of Yuzhou can contact your master?"

He shook his head and clarified, "You've misunderstood, young friend. I am not the leader of the Alliance of Myriad Clans, nor am I affiliated with them."

"Then who are you?" Xu Yan asked, his curiosity growing. If Wu Tiannan wasn't the leader of the Alliance, then who was he? Could he be an exceptionally powerful cultivator from a reclusive sect?

Wu Tiannan hesitated for a moment before asking, "Have you heard of the Wuxing Martial Academy?"

"I have some knowledge of it," Xu Yan replied. "It's said that the Wuxing Martial Academy was destroyed by the Ling Sect and has since disappeared from the Eighteen States."

Xu Yan nodded, indicating his familiarity with the academy.

"Are you from the Wuxing Martial Academy?" Xu Yan inquired, his eyes narrowing. Wu Tiannan's strength far surpassed that of Yue Changming, even with the latter's mastery of Heavenly Comprehension and understanding of the laws of heaven and earth. Could Wu Tiannan be one of the Thirty-Six Stars of the Wuxing Martial Academy?

"Indeed, I used to be the headmaster of the Wuxing Martial Academy," Wu Tiannan replied with a bitter smile.

Xu Yan was aware of the Wuxing Martial Academy, but he had not heard of Wu Tiannan, indicating that information about the academy's key figures had not been widely circulated in the Eighteen States.

"You were the headmaster of the Wuxing Martial Academy?" Xu Yan asked, his surprise evident.

"Yes," Wu Tiannan confirmed with a sigh. "During the battle at the academy, I was ambushed and severely injured. Ultimately, the academy fell apart and withdrew from the Eighteen States."

Xu Yan understood the reason for Wu Tiannan's presence at the Thousand Martial Arts Temple—a deep-seated grudge against the sect.

"However, that turned out to be a blessing in disguise," Wu Tiannan continued. "It relieved me of my responsibilities, allowing me to pursue my path without restraint. Now that the rules of the Proud Sons' showdown have been established, if the Ling Sect dares to violate them, I can retaliate without hesitation."

Wu Tiannan's eyes flashed with determination as he added, "I, Wu Tiannan, have risen from a humble village in the Inner Realm to the pinnacle of martial arts in the Spirit Realm. I will not be manipulated by the Ling Sect."

Xu Yan's eyes widened in surprise. Wu Tiannan was from the Inner Realm? Furthermore, as the founder of the Wuxing Martial Academy, he was also the founder of the Seven Stars Academy in the Inner Realm. Could Wu Tiannan be the revered elder of the Seven Stars Academy?

Xu Yan's interest piqued at the thought. "Are you from the Inner Realm? Are you the elder of the Seven Stars Academy?"

Wu Tiannan was taken aback by Xu Yan's knowledge. "You know about the Seven Stars Academy?"

"I've heard tales from those who entered the Spirit Realm from the Inner Realm," Xu Yan replied with a nod.

He refrained from revealing his own origins from the Inner Realm, maintaining the necessary caution.

"I see," Wu Tiannan said, his expression softening. He, too, was aware of the opening of the gateway between the realms.

"Indeed, I am the founder of the Seven Stars Academy," Wu Tiannan confirmed without hesitation.

"I wonder how the Seven Stars Academy is faring now," he added, his tone tinged with curiosity and a hint of nostalgia for his past endeavors.

Wu Tiannan clasped his hands behind his back and continued, "Ever since I reached the pinnacle of martial arts in the Spirit Realm, I have found it difficult to find a worthy opponent or a kindred spirit to exchange insights with. Your master, being a peerless master, must have already attained the summit of power in the Spirit Realm.

"I wish to seek your master's guidance and engage in a discourse on martial arts and the secrets of the Spirit Realm's heavens and earth," he said, revealing his intentions.

While Xin Mengrou was indeed powerful, she was ultimately a member of the Tai Miao Sect, bound by their traditional martial arts lineage. Wu Tiannan sought someone with a broader understanding of the Spirit Realm's secrets.

Finally, he had encountered someone whose strength matched his own, and whose sword techniques were unparalleled. Wu Tiannan was confident that, as a fellow solitary cultivator and martial arts enthusiast, they would share a common language and perhaps even become kindred spirits.

However, Xu Yan shook his head and said, "If you wish to seek guidance from my master, that is certainly possible, and he will surely impart his wisdom upon you. But when it comes to exchanging insights on martial arts, that is out of the question."

"Why?" Wu Tiannan asked, his curiosity piqued. Could Xu Yan's master be a reclusive and possessive master, guarding his martial arts secrets closely?

Xu Yan paused for a moment before deciding to speak frankly. "Because you are too weak!"

Wu Tiannan stood there, frozen, his mind replaying Xu Yan's words over and over: "Because you are too weak!"

This was the first time anyone had ever called him weak. Even during his past confrontations with the Ling Sect, when he had been severely injured by the previous master of the Thousand Martial Arts Temple, his opponents had never dared to belittle him with such a statement.

And yet, here was Xu Yan, declaring him weak!

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end