“Shen Shui Lao Ren?”
Lin Xinlan let out a startled exclamation.
Unlike the lists of Hao Xiong and Di Yuan, where rankings frequently change, the Tian Xiang list rarely sees any shifts over decades, and the Shen Mo list has remained completely unchanged since its inception!
She naturally recognized the name Shen Shui Lao Ren.
“Shen Shui Lao Ren! From the Qing Lian Sect, one of the Eight Holy Lands! Proficient in Shen Shui Xuan Gong and Jiang He Shi Ba Lian Ji, ranked 28th on the Tian Xiang list!”
She murmured softly, recalling the description on the Tian Xiang list, her eyes showing complex emotions.
After all, her ancestors had once been an outer disciple of Qing Lian Sect, and had even taken out the “Wan Li He Shan Tu”!
Even the martial arts she was currently practicing, the “Jiu Shan Ba Chuan Xing Mai Fa,” could be considered indirectly benefiting from the legacy of Qing Lian Sect.
The previous Shen Shui Lao Ren must have sensed the familiarity of her martial arts and deliberately approached to test her.
“So it’s indeed a person from Qing Lian Sect!”
Wu Ming wasn’t particularly surprised. Previously, he had acquired the Xuan Ming Zhen Gong, although it was an ultimate skill of the Wind and Water elements, the “Jiu Shan Ba Chuan Xing Mai Tu” originated from Qing Lian Sect, which represented the “Ze” trigram, naturally having some connection.
“Water and marsh are inherently related. Thus, it seems that Shen Shui Lao Ren’s martial arts lean more towards the Kan trigram!”
As a Taoist immortal, Tai Chi, Four Symbols, and the Eight Trigrams are fundamental knowledge.
Even though the interpretation of the Eight Trigrams in the Shen Wu world might be biased, the essence remains unchanged.
“Among the Eight Trigrams, Dui represents marsh, and Kan represents water, both related to the water element. However, the former is static, while the latter is dynamic… Specifically, it’s the difference between controllable and uncontrollable, one being complete, the other perilous!”
“Undoubtedly, the martial arts of Qing Lian Sect’s Ze division are more suitable for control, while the Kan division’s water element martial arts emulate nature, involving certain risks, but once mastered, the power is even greater…”
Of course, this is the distinction between the two fundamental divine techniques.
Within the Holy Lands, naturally not everyone can learn level six divine and demonic martial arts; there are divisions, specializations, and different focuses.
Shen Shui Lao Ren’s martial arts, although originating from Qing Lian Sect’s Ze division, lean more towards the Kan division’s water techniques.
Precisely because of this, he was so easily controlled by Wu Ming earlier, nearly defeated in one move, his life and death at the mercy of another.
“My Xuan Shui Zheng Fa is the foundation of the great Dao, the origin of martial cultivation. Although it initially evolved from the Xuan Ming Zhen Gong of the Martial Emperor, it has its own unique system, capable of transforming the eight divisions’ martial arts for my own use!”
“Although divine and demonic martial arts require descendants of divine and demonic beings to reach their peak, I take their essence, discard the dross, and can even retain the secret techniques for stimulating bloodlines, which might be useful in other worlds…”
The divine and demonic martial arts left by the Martial Emperor are the highest secret in the Shen Wu world, in Wu Ming’s view, the essence of the world’s power rules!
Since the opponent willingly handed over the key, how could he not accept it with a smile?
Just by slightly manipulating Shen Shui Lao Ren’s internal energy earlier, he had already grasped the secrets of Qing Lian Sect’s Ze division martial arts, deepening his understanding of Xuan Shui Zhen Fa and further analyzing the rules of the Main Temple world.
“The Eight Holy Lands… perhaps…”
His eyes flashed with brilliance as he looked back at the scene.
Shi Ke Han, known as Fen Shui Jian, had a solemn expression, standing in front of Shen Shui Lao Ren. Everything around him seemed to be ignored, his eyes showing a serious expression: “I, Shi Mouren, have always maintained peaceful relations with Qing Lian Sect. Why does Master Shui insist on opposing me?”
As the peak of this world, each Tian Xiang level martial artist had their own will and persistence!
Thinking that one could easily make a Tian Xiang level martial artist retreat by relying on the reputation of the Eight Holy Lands was merely a fantasy.
If pushed to the extreme, even the Eight Holy Lands would dare to fight!
After all, divine and demonic martial artists are rare. Except for the Martial Emperor and those explicitly listed on the Shen Mo list, whether there are divine and demonic martial artists guarding each Holy Land is truly hard to say.
Apart from this deterrent, even if one is ranked first on the Tian Xiang list, they are still at the same level. What is there to fear?
Moreover, Shi Ke Han was dissatisfied with Shen Shui Lao Ren for being ranked higher than him on the Tian Xiang list, so his tone naturally wasn’t very good.
“Brother Shi, your Fen Shui Jian Fa fully captures the true essence of water’s softness. This old man deeply admires it…”
Shen Shui Lao Ren’s expression was calm, showing no sign of the previous embarrassment: “However, Brother Shi’s character is noble and upright, seemingly not the kind to bow for a mere five pecks of rice. Then why assist Luofeng City in its tyranny? As long as Brother Shi agrees to no longer interfere with Luofeng City, this old man guarantees that Qing Lian Sect will honor you as our sect’s protector, with the same treatment as myself. How about that?”
A Tian Xiang level martial artist, even the Eight Holy Lands would strive to recruit!
“It seems… Qing Lian Sect is indeed preparing to act…”
Shi Ke Han sighed deeply: “Unfortunately, I owed a favor to the ancestor of Luofeng City in my younger days, promising to protect Luofeng City for forty years. This debt of gratitude must be repaid. Even though I know they are cruel and their rule makes the people suffer, I cannot extricate myself!”
“The path of righteousness is hard to balance!”
Shen Shui Lao Ren sighed: “Then… please!”
“Please!”
Shi Ke Han, holding his sword, stood upright, a sharp aura arising from him, transforming into countless golden rays that instantly pierced through the white mist.
The confrontation between the two Tian Xiang level martial artists was about to begin!
Shen Shui Lao Ren’s expression turned solemn.
Although Shi Ke Han’s ranking was below his, his sword technique was indeed earth-shaking. It was said that he once practiced sword techniques by the riverbank, daily swinging his sword in the river, accumulating skills over time, until finally, with one sword strike, the entire river would split!
Such a sword technique was indeed a major weakness for someone like him who specialized in water-element martial arts.
“Cursed… Although I was prepared to face Fen Shui Jian, it’s definitely not at this moment… The Holy Maiden hasn’t arrived yet!”
Shen Shui Lao Ren sighed inwardly: “All because of that person… Huh?”
He looked toward the direction of the carriage and immediately felt his hair stand on end. The previously seemingly indifferent Wu Ming and Lin Xinlan had vanished in an instant!
With the observational skills of a Tian Xiang level martial artist, even in the face of a great enemy, such a disappearance was extremely inexplicable.
But Shen Shui Lao Ren had no time to continue thinking.
Because in the next moment, Fen Shui Jian’s sword light had already arrived in an instant.
Xiu!
With a flash of sword light, a water droplet in front of Shi Ke Han was split into two halves. His eyes reflected the image of Shen Shui Lao Ren, and the earth-shaking sword aura swept like the Milky Way overturning!
…
“Stop… you are… ah!”
Deep within Maple Leaf Mountain, several disciples from noble families emerged, only to be swept away by a water current, their faces filled with pain as they suffocated and fainted.
A casual Xuan Shui Zhen Qi from a Tian Xiang level martial artist was more than they could bear.
“Let them fight. We’ll go directly to the Shen Mo ruins deeper inside!”
After dealing with a few unworthy martial artists, Wu Ming immediately gave the order.
Lin Xinlan followed closely behind Wu Ming, her eyes sparkling with light.
“Speaking of it, you also have a bit of a connection with Qing Lian Sect. Would you like to return to your roots?”
Wu Ming walked ahead, and his light words drifted over.
“Master, are you not going to keep me anymore?”
Lin Xinlan listened, her body shivering, her eyes filled with a pleading look.
Wu Ming was indeed somewhat surprised: “Compared to being a servant, wouldn’t becoming a true disciple of Qing Lian Sect be better?”
“What more could one ask for?”
Lin Xinlan thought bitterly. Before meeting Wu Ming during the family’s great upheaval, this would have been her family’s lifelong dream.
However, after meeting Wu Ming, she immediately changed her mindset: “This servant has already sworn a solemn oath. Since the young master avenged my family’s blood debt, I will serve you for life, repaying your kindness however I can!”
“Suit yourself…”
Wu Ming was quite speechless, but as the saying goes, “Not being a fish, how can one know the joy of a fish?” He decided not to say more.
The two of them utilized their lightness skills. Even Lin Xinlan, who now possessed the strength of a martial artist on the Hero List, could make a name for herself in the martial world. They leaped swiftly through the maple forest and soon reached its depths.
“Hmm?”
Wu Ming reached out with his right hand, and two maple leaves danced in the wind, landing in his palm.
A sharp gleam flashed in his pupils: “They carry a bit of spiritual energy… and a bit of blood essence… Although extremely faint, diluted countless times, they are indeed a kind of spiritual medicine… the blood of divine and demonic beings is indeed extraordinary!”
Two divine and demonic martial artists had perished here, of course. However, their remains had long been taken by other major forces, leaving nothing for Luofeng City.
But even the spilled blood was a great treasure, and the rich blood essence had immediately created a precious area!
“From this perspective… the level six divine and demonic martial artists of the Shen Wu world are essentially not much different from ancient divine beasts…”
He turned around a mountain bend and immediately saw that the maple forest here was even more lush, the maple leaves as red as blood, vivid and dripping with vitality, exuding a strong spiritual aura.
“We’re here!”
Wu Ming said softly.
“Here… is the place where the divine and demonic battle took place and they perished?”
Lin Xinlan’s eyes showed surprise and doubt, unable to see anything different.
“A single leaf obscures the view of Mount Tai!”
Wu Ming smiled, a stream of water appearing and lifting Lin Xinlan’s body into the air.
After rising dozens of feet into the air, the howling wind and the intense Tian Xiang battle in the distance almost made her lose her balance. Looking down, she let out another startled cry!
She saw a palm print nearly an acre in size! Deeply embedded in the ground, it was illuminated by the maple forest, appearing blood-red!
Previously, she had been in the center of the maple forest but had never seen such a breathtaking scene.
Looking from above, the claw marks and fist imprints were clearly visible, even more shocking against the blood-red background. Even after three hundred years, they still spoke of the terrifying battle from that time!
“It seems the closer one gets to these marks, the better the maple forest grows…”
A thought floated in her mind as she slowly descended: “Master… your servant has seen it. The divine and demonic martial artists of that time were truly terrifying…”
“Terrifying? That’s because you haven’t seen more…”
Wu Ming chuckled, leaned down, and touched the soil with his right hand.
Even after three hundred years of erosion, at this moment, he seemed to transcend time and witness the battle between the two divine and demonic martial artists.
The astonishing martial spirit remained undiminished even after three hundred years!
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