Chapter 523: Qingyi

Maple leaves were as red as blood!

Standing in the battlefield of gods and demons, even after three hundred years, Wu Ming could still feel the astonishing martial cultivation will of the two ancient warriors. Yet, upon hearing the admiration from Lin Xinlan beside him, he could not help but smile wryly.

These two godlike martial cultivators could be considered sixth-level experts, but in terms of divine abilities and destructive power, they were still far inferior to the Grand Immortal Cultivators of the Zhou Dynasty.

If two Grand Immortals had perished here, there would have been far more than just these traces left behind.

This was not a matter of differences between cultivation and immortality, but purely a disparity between worlds.

The deity hall evaluates the essence of power! However, the destructive power displayed by experts of various martial arts schools depends on the level and rules of their original worlds…

The higher the world, the more incredible the divine abilities became.

The Divine Martial World was a level below the Phantom Spirit World, yet it had even more experts. Though both were essentially sixth-level cultivators, their actual destructive power was worlds apart.

Lower-level worlds could produce high-level experts, but their divine abilities would inevitably pale in comparison.

According to Wu Ming’s estimation, if a divine-level spirit from the Phantom Spirit World were to come here without being suppressed by this world, it could easily sweep everything away. That was the difference between higher and lower realms.

“Essence determines level, while the world determines amplification of power!”

The distinction was as clear as the difference between internal and external cultivation. Level belonged to oneself, but the power one could display depended on the level and rules of the world.

“Let’s go!”

After understanding this, this place no longer held any value for Wu Ming. He immediately stood up and said.

“As you command!”

Although she did not know what her master had realized, Lin Xinlan obeyed solemnly. This obedient attitude pleased Wu Ming greatly.

“Xinlan… are you interested in learning a higher-level cultivation technique?”

He suddenly asked, his eyes filled with a playful smile.

“Hmm?”

Lin Xinlan was startled, then immediately replied without hesitation, “Whatever my master wishes me to do, I shall obey…”

“The ‘Nine Mountains and Eight Rivers Circulation Method’ is an ultimate foundational technique. After that, it would be best to seek out a water-element divine art for cultivation… I happen to have the ‘Xuan Ming True Art,’ which embodies the harmony of wind and water, and the essence of icy coldness. I’ll teach you the introductory portion first…”

After Wu Ming’s analysis, he had confirmed that the Xuan Ming Divine Art corresponded to the bloodline of a cold-dwelling dragon. While he looked down upon such divine techniques of gods and demons, he did not mind using a test subject who would report her progress to him daily.

“The Martial Emperor left behind eight divine techniques. The Xuan Ming True Art originated from the Wind and Water techniques but transcended them, possessing vast power… truly, truly…”

Wu Ming had some doubts: “Even with extraordinary talent, one’s energy is limited. For the Martial Emperor to integrate all martial arts under heaven into eight divine techniques was already a lifelong endeavor for ordinary geniuses. Yet to him, it seemed trivial, and he even created countless other secret techniques. Such talent and brilliance cannot be explained merely as being a ‘World’s Chosen’…”

He had a strong premonition that this person must have had some connection with the components of the deity hall.

“Xuan Ming True Art? Ice?”

Naturally, Lin Xinlan had never heard of this technique before. But if it was praised by Wu Ming, a master of unfathomable depth, it could not possibly be an ordinary technique. She happily agreed, unaware that Wu Ming was essentially giving her back her ancestor’s own cultivation method, with the added intention of using her as an experimental subject.

“According to my speculation, if the Martial Emperor was merely an ordinary Chosen of Fate, then this Xuan Ming True Art would merely be a casual creation, inevitably flawed and harboring hidden dangers!”

Martial techniques and secret methods were all forged from one’s heart and mind, requiring countless trials and the test of time.

Even the Martial Emperor could not be perfect in this regard.

Lin Xinlan was now the perfect test subject.

If she encountered many obstacles during cultivation, it would prove the technique indeed had flaws, and the Martial Emperor was merely an ordinary Chosen of the World.

But if her cultivation was smooth sailing, flawless and unshakable, then there was something very suspicious going on.

Even Wu Ming himself, at his current level, would find it difficult to instantly produce a perfect, error-free divine art of water-element gods and demons without preparation.

Unless he used the deity’s hall, such perfection would be impossible.

Of course, Wu Ming would not reveal these dark thoughts to Lin Xinlan.

The two immediately set off, and Wu Ming casually imparted the introductory portion of the Xuan Ming True Art to her.

But this wasn’t really a trap for Lin Xinlan. After all, this was a direct transmission from the Martial Emperor himself! If word got out, martial cultivators across the land, even the Eight Holy Sects, would fight tooth and nail for it. Even being a test subject would be something many would willingly accept.

“And this technique won’t have any major issues either—at the very least, it won’t kill her. I can consider it as leaving behind a lineage of cultivation in this world…”

Wu Ming walked with his hands behind his back, heading down the mountain where he switched to a horse-drawn carriage. He paid no heed to the fierce battle between the Divine Water Elder and the River-Splitting Sword up ahead, heading straight for Maplefall City.

Whoosh! Whoosh!

On the way, many fleeing civilians were heading toward Maplefall City, most of them.

In contrast, numerous martial cultivators were rushing in the opposite direction, using their lightness techniques to their fullest.

“Heavenly Phenomenon-level martial cultivator!”

“There’s a battle between Heavenly Phenomenon experts!”

“Hurry! Being able to witness such a match, even if it shortens my life by ten years, is worth it! I shall have no regrets in this life!”

…

Among the scattered martial cultivators, four groups of martial artists stood out clearly, wearing distinctive uniforms with clear insignias—these were disciples from the original four factions. Under the guidance of their seniors, they were rushing toward the maple forest to cheer for the River-Splitting Sword.

They had no choice!

Without the enormous financial resources provided by the Maple Forest, the entire Maplefall City’s finances would regress by decades. Then, with what would the sects support their martial cultivators?

For years, they had been well-fed and well-clothed, constantly supplied and pampered, forming a relationship where their fates were intertwined—when one prospered, all prospered; when one suffered, all suffered. At such a critical moment, they had to risk their lives to fight!

“Halt! Halt!”

At the city gate, chaos reigned. People outside wanted to enter, while those inside wanted to leave. Just then, the four factions emerged to seal off the gate, immediately causing conflict.

“Die!”

At this moment, the leader of the guards had a cold expression, showing no sympathy as he swung his blade.

Whoosh! Whoosh!

With two flashes of blade, two heads flew into the air. The bloody horror immediately stunned everyone, causing an eerie silence around.

“The city lord’s order! The four gates are temporarily sealed! Why aren’t you acting?”

The squad leader raised his sword and shouted loudly.

The blood on the blade was still dripping, causing the other guards to snap out of their trance and hurriedly close the massive gate.

“Let’s go!”

Wu Ming had no interest in getting involved. With a simple motion, he lifted Lin Xinlan, and the two instantly soared, effortlessly leaping over the ten-meter-high city wall and landing lightly inside the city.

“He’s a martial cultivator!”

“With such lightness technique, he must be ranked on the Earth Yuan List!”

The squad leader’s pupils constricted as he watched.

“Chief… should we…”

A soldier approached, making a gesture: “Someone broke through the gate. Should we go after them?”

Smack!

Before the soldier could finish speaking, a loud slap landed on his face. He spun around and fell to the ground, spitting out several bloodied teeth.

The squad leader’s voice was icy: “If you want to die, don’t drag me down! Even the leaders of the four major factions would treat such a martial expert with respect. What more do you want?”

“Quickly, guard the four gates!”

Seeing the stunned expressions around him, he roared again, instantly prompting the other guards to scramble into action…

…

“Hmm? This city…”

As Wu Ming and Lin Xinlan walked along the street, a strange feeling arose in his heart: “This seems to be… some kind of bloodline aura, yet it feels somewhat different…”

When they passed a pleasure house, he even stopped in his tracks, gazing at the courtesans with a thoughtful expression in his eyes.

Seeing this, Lin Xinlan beside him secretly felt furious and dejected: “Could it be that my master also enjoys such places? But… am I so unattractive that I cannot even compare to them?”

At this thought, she nearly felt all hope slipping away.

“Let’s go!”

By the time she snapped out of it, Wu Ming had already strode past the place. Seeing her stop, he turned back with a hint of confusion.

“Oh… okay!”

Lin Xinlan’s face reddened slightly. She felt both relieved and shy, not daring to lift her head as she quickly caught up.

“There is also a hidden martial expert in this city…”

Wu Ming paid no attention to her, silently pondering his earlier discovery: “A peak Heaven Phenomenon expert, even beginning to manifest bloodline, standing at the threshold of the Nirvana Stage!”

Of course, the hundred-day Nirvana was like a gate of hell for all Heaven Phenomenon experts.

Even if they met the requirements, they would still hesitate to take the risk. Even if they succeeded, they would gain an infinite future and the long lifespan of a god-level martial cultivator!

“Water-element power, with a hint of demonic techniques… this wild bloodline is quite extraordinary, likely even beyond level six…”

“That martial cultivator is hiding in the pleasure house we just passed. Is he deliberately hiding in disgrace, or merely indulging in the world of courtesans? And what connection does he have with the Divine Water Elder outside?”

“Although his bloodline is strong and his martial arts have reached the peak, he still faces obstacles to a successful Nirvana… but even a martial artist about to undergo Nirvana—what is he to me? As long as he doesn’t get in my way, it’s fine…”

…

At the same time, inside the pleasure house.

“What’s going on?”

In an elegant pavilion, a young girl wearing a thin veil over her face and dressed in a green robe suddenly turned her bright, intelligent eyes: “Why did I feel such terror just now?”

“Miss?”

An elderly woman immediately entered from outside, her movements steady, her face showing a trace of tension: “What happened? Were you disturbed by the vulgar atmosphere outside?”

She added resentfully: “Your ladyship’s noble body should not be in such a filthy place!”

“This is just a brief rest. What’s wrong with this place? It’s full of mixed company, perfect for hiding!”

The girl in green smiled, her eyes sparkling with mischief: “Old Water has already lured away the River-Splitting Sword. Although the plan started a little early, there shouldn’t be any major problems. Shouldn’t we also begin our move?”

“Please rest assured, Miss!”

At the mention of serious matters, the maid’s face immediately turned solemn: “This time, all the hidden agents from the sect have been dispatched. We will definitely obtain that item for you. Even if it can only slightly aid your cultivation, it will be extremely valuable!”