A journey through the world of martial arts

Chapter 348 Breaking through the air
Tianshan Mountains, Lingyun Peak
After hearing Xue Wanshan's words, Ni Qingfeng nodded, turned around and looked at the rolling sea of ​​clouds not far ahead. Under the sunlight, the misty clouds looked like they were wearing golden clothes, surging and rolling, like a golden river flowing.

"Senior brother, there is one more thing I need to remind you about, which is the matter of the Dragon Balls. In my perception, there are still four Dragon Balls remaining. Apart from the two inside Lu Yi and Cha Muxue, the other two Dragon Balls have not been destroyed."

Ni Qingfeng's calm words caused Xue Wanshan and the other two to change their expressions drastically. They had returned all the Dragon Balls to Chamulong on the condition that the extra Dragon Balls be destroyed, but now it seemed that Chamulong had not kept his promise.

They didn't doubt Ni Qingfeng, since this matter was actually no longer his concern. His words were merely a reminder to the Tianshan Sect that a single dragon pearl could cause turmoil in the martial world, and if something like this happened again, it would undoubtedly be adding insult to injury. Moreover, they had no doubt that the Tianshan Sect would be the first to be affected.

"This matter is of great importance and must not be taken lightly. Second Junior Brother, Third Junior Sister, do not tell Tianjiao about this for now, lest she be distracted. This matter must be handled by me personally."

Upon hearing this, Xue Wanshan's heart sank. Regardless of why Cha Mulong hadn't dealt with the dragon pearl, whether it was intentional or unintentional, this matter couldn't be left unresolved.

“Junior brother, you need not concern yourself with this matter. The Tianshan Sect is no longer the same as before. If we need you to take care of everything, what are we for? Tianjiao and the others have been living a peaceful life under your protection for a while. If things don’t go as planned, they should be made to face the harsh reality.”

Xue Wanshan's tone was calm, even somewhat cold and ruthless, but neither Ni Qingfeng, nor Shen Henian, nor Li Dengping objected. Flowers cannot be cultivated in a greenhouse. Today, Tianshan's strength has increased several times, and its foundation is much better than that of their generation. If they really can't even handle the aftermath, then they should change their leader.

Ni Qingfeng remained silent upon hearing this, but reached out and grabbed something from the depths of the sea of ​​clouds. Suddenly, the sea of ​​clouds spun, forming a vortex, revealing a deep black hole within. To the astonishment of Xue Wanshan and the other two, a five-colored light suddenly shone from the black hole. The light grew brighter and brighter, leaping out of the black hole and floating above it. Xue Wanshan and the other two looked up and saw the five-colored cloud of light slowly flying towards Ni Qingfeng. After landing in his palm, the light dissipated, revealing a black and white jade talisman about three inches long inside.

Xue Wanshan took a few steps closer and looked closely. He saw that the jade talisman was shimmering with light and rising with pure energy. At the same time, he could sense that there was a destructive power hidden within the jade talisman. If it were to be unleashed, even he would surely die.

"Junior brother, what's this?"

"Keep it just in case. The Dragon Pearl is made from the essence of heaven and earth, but it cannot escape the Yin and Yang energies. This jade talisman is made from the Yin and Yang energies. If it encounters the Dragon Pearl, it can be swallowed up by activating true energy."

Ni Qingfeng glanced at the jade talisman, then handed it to Xue Wanshan. The latter was taken aback at first, then solemnly accepted it with both hands, examined it carefully, and then carefully put it away.

"This jade talisman can only be used four times; after that, it will break."

Ni Qingfeng explained that although he believed Fu Tianjiao and the others would not use this item to do anything reckless, it was hard to say what would happen after a few generations. After all, this item was originally intended to counter the Dragon Ball, and if it were used elsewhere, the consequences would have to be borne by the Tianshan Sect itself.

"Without the Dragon Pearl, the Jade Talisman will not appear. This rule is recorded in the Sect Leader's Notes."

Xue Wanshan understood what Ni Qingfeng meant. If the Tianshan Sect relied on this item to maintain its superior status, it would be putting the cart before the horse. If it really came to that, the Tianshan Sect would be destroyed even if it didn't perish.

"I will follow your instructions, Senior Brother."

Shen Henian and Li Dengping had no objection to this. Although Xue Wanshan had resigned from his position as sect leader and taken on a nominal post without real power, he still had the right to make suggestions. Moreover, given Xue Wanshan's prestige and the fact that this matter was entirely beneficial, the probability of it being passed was very high.

“Junior brother, you will be soaring into the sky in three days. I’m afraid we will never see each other again. We have nothing to give you. This jade pendant was carved by me, and the auspicious knot ornament on it was made by Tianjiao and the others. It is a token of their goodwill. Please keep it as a memento.”

Xue Wanshan took out a pure white, flawless, round jade from his sleeve. It was simply carved with a landscape scene. When the sun shone on it, the jade changed colors, but it was not dazzling. It looked very beautiful. In Ni Qingfeng's eyes, the jade was misty and had a heavy texture. It was a rare treasure.

"Thank you, senior brother. I will accept this."

Ni Qingfeng took the precious jade from Xue Wanshan and casually hung it on his belt. After giving the gift, Xue Wanshan turned around and nodded to Shen Henian and Li Dengping. The two of them walked up together and gave their gifts to Ni Qingfeng.

Li Dengping gave a painting of pine and cranes that she had painted herself. It was not large, but the white cranes and ancient pines on it were painted so lifelike that every detail was vivid and full of vitality, as if they were alive. Shen Henian's gift was a short blade about half a foot long. The blade was covered with flame and cloud patterns. It had a cold and sharp light that was chilling to the bone.

"Thank you, senior brothers and sisters."

Ni Qingfeng put away the gift and bowed solemnly to Shen and Li. Upon seeing this, the two quickly stepped aside and only accepted half of the bow.

"Junior brother, we will arrive on time to attend the ceremony in three days."

Having achieved his goal, Xue Wanshan dared not delay Ni Qingfeng's cultivation any longer. After exchanging a few more pleasantries, he led Shen Henian and the other two away from Lingyun Peak. After descending the mountain, the three parted ways, with Xue Wanshan heading towards Hongyi Hall.

At this moment, in the Hongyi Hall, Fu Tianjiao was dealing with worldly affairs. When she saw Xue Wanshan appear, she hurriedly came down and bowed to him, saying, "Master, what brings you here? Is there anything you need me to do?"

Although Fu Tianjiao is already the head of the Tianshan Sect, she has only been in office for a short time and has not yet fully mastered many things. Therefore, she occasionally consults Xue Wanshan, but the latter will only offer some advice on some important matters and will remain silent on the rest of the minor matters.

“I just came from your Uncle Ni’s place. Your Uncle Ni’s ascension ceremony is in three days. We must put our full effort into this matter, otherwise our Tianshan Sect will be ridiculed. This is the first major event since you took over as sect leader. We cannot be too careful.”

"Master, rest assured. Tianjiao personally oversaw this matter. I had already sent several junior brothers and sisters down the mountain to deliver the invitations to various sects as quickly as possible, but time is still a bit tight, and I'm afraid not many will be able to make it."

Fu Tianjiao certainly understood what Ni Shishu's ascension meant to the Tianshan Sect. On a small scale, it was enough to secure her position as sect leader; on a larger scale, it could make the Tianshan Sect a world-renowned, truly number one sect. From any perspective, it was entirely beneficial, so how could she not do her best?

"Let it go."

Xue Wanshan flicked his whisk and said calmly.

Fu Tianjiao nodded upon hearing this.

Three days passed in the blink of an eye. The weather was clear and cloudless on this day, and Lingyun Peak was quite lively. Three days was too short, and apart from some sects that lived nearby, most of those who came here were independent practitioners. Among them were Biyusheng, the Black and White Twin Heroes, Xuanwu Shangren, and others.

Looking at Ni Qingfeng sitting motionless on the stone platform, Master Xuanwu couldn't help but sigh. The Tianshan Sect was already renowned, and with this ascension, it would become a significant force in the martial arts world. Thinking of this, Master Xuanwu made up his mind to make more contact with them in the future.

Seeing this, Bi Yusheng said solemnly, "There has never been anyone in the martial world who has broken through the void and ascended to immortality. If Master Ni can open up this path, it means that the martial world has a direction that can continue to develop upwards. This is of great significance to the entire martial world. Master Lu, do you have anything to say?"

Seeing Lu Aotian staring intently at Ni Qingfeng on the stone platform, Bi Yusheng turned to ask.

"Having lived to this age, it's already worthwhile for me to witness someone soaring into the sky. Now, I have a guess, Mr. Bi, have you sensed anything on Lingyun Peak?"

Lu Aotian asked Bi Yusheng a question in return. Upon hearing this, the latter frowned slightly, then closed his eyes, emptied his mind, and silently cultivated his inner energy for a moment. He then opened his eyes, looking at Lu Aotian with surprise. The latter nodded to him.

“It seems that Mr. Bi has already sensed the change in the energy of heaven and earth. I am skilled in swordsmanship and am very sensitive to the energy. Several days ago, I noticed that the energy of heaven and earth seemed to have become a little denser, but it was not obvious at the time, and I was not very sure. But today, having arrived at Lingyun Peak, I am quite certain that the energy of heaven and earth is moving in a favorable direction. Perhaps this matter is related to Master Ni.”

Although Lu Aotian's words were a guess, his tone was quite certain. Bi Yusheng agreed upon hearing this. Ni Zhenren's ascension to immortality and the transformation of the world's energy were undeniable. Bi Yusheng would never believe there was no connection between the two. "Just now, after only a short while of breathing exercises, I felt refreshed. Bathing in this energy for a long time will surely greatly benefit my cultivation. The Innate Realm will no longer be a distant dream."

After glancing at the figure on the stone platform, Bi Yusheng thought to himself, "It's not surprising that Tianshan has undergone such changes. I wonder when the whole Central Plains will be like this place. If the Tianshan Sect doesn't handle this well, it may bring about unnecessary bloodshed."

"Is Mr. Bi thinking about the future situation of the Tianshan Sect?"

"Indeed, with Master Ni guarding the Tianshan Sect, it should deter villains. However, once he ascends and leaves, even if Sect Leader Xue and the others can suppress him for a while, it is not a long-term solution. In addition, did you see the imperial envoy over there, Master Lu? His cultivation is not much different from yours or mine. The reputation of the Imperial Guard is also growing. I wonder what it means."

"Mr. Bi, you are overthinking it. I have heard about the Zhenwu Division of the Imperial Court, but we will not offend others unless they offend us. Although the Zhenwu Division has the support of the Imperial Court, it will not interfere in the affairs of the martial arts world. Otherwise, it would be against the Imperial Court's taboo and would be a loss. Although it is said that heroes use martial arts to break the law, if we really force the entire martial arts world to have no way to retreat, it will be a disaster. The flames of war in the martial arts world may spread to the Imperial Court."

Bi Yusheng looked at Lu Aotian with surprise. He had often heard that Lu Aotian was skilled in swordsmanship, but he did not expect that he was also so knowledgeable about mental arts. This really surprised Bi Yusheng.

“What Master Lu said is very true, exactly what I thought. What the court needs is stability. As long as the martial arts world develops in an orderly manner, it will not provoke the Zhenwu Division. If it does provoke the Zhenwu Division, one possibility is that the Zhenwu Division has changed its nature, and the other possibility is that it is courting death by touching the court’s bottom line.”

Upon hearing Bi Yusheng's words, Lu Aotian remained calm. Call him selfish or cold-blooded, he said that apart from the Tianshan Sect, which had some integrity, most of the other martial arts sects were utterly despicable, lacking in ability but quite adept at stirring up trouble.

“Mr. Bi, what you say makes sense. If you have a clear conscience, you have nothing to fear. If you do the right thing, others will not easily label you. I have already learned from Master Shen that the person from the imperial court is Zhao Hu’s personal disciple, Zhao Guan, the current head of the Zhenwu Division.”

Master Xuanwu looked at Zhao Guan not far away, then turned his gaze back to Bi Yusheng and Lu Aotian.

"Zhao Hu, so this person is still alive. No wonder he has such skill at such a young age. He must have been taught by a famous master."

Upon hearing this, Biyusheng closed his folding fan and sighed.

Zhao Hu was quite a figure. If he hadn't joined the imperial court, he would probably have already established a strong foothold in the martial arts world. However, only he himself knows what he has lost and gained.

"The time is almost up, everyone. Seats have been reserved ahead, let's hurry up and go." Master Xuanwu said to the people around him as he looked at the figures already standing on the stone platform.

"Let's go." The group arrived without hindrance at the cordon formed by the Tianshan disciples. When Pei Duan, who was in the lead, saw Bi Yusheng and the others coming, he bowed solemnly and waved for his disciples to make way. Bi Yusheng bowed to Pei Duan, and the others nodded as well. Then they quickly walked into the inner area.

After entering the inner area, everyone noticed that the number of people had decreased. Apart from them, there was only Guo Rui from the Double Gun Sect, Elder Hou from the Divine Monkey Sect, Zhao Guan from the Zhenwu Division, and a group of high-ranking members of the Tianshan Sect.

After exchanging greetings with the others, Bi Yusheng and the others found their seats and sat down. When Xue Wanshan saw Bi Yusheng and the others appear, he nodded to them and then gestured to Fu Tianjiao. Fu Tianjiao immediately picked up her whisk and swept it outwards. The sound of long swords being drawn was heard, and the sound of swords soaring into the sky lingered for a long time.

"This is the highest level of etiquette of the Tianshan Sect. The sound of swords echoing through the sky is truly impressive. To perform this etiquette, dozens of skilled swordsmen must draw their swords together. This is both a formality and a form of intimidation. The Tianshan Sect's foundation is indeed profound."

Upon hearing the sound of the sword, Zhao Guan's eyes flashed with a sharp light. He had spent three days on Mount Tian and had seen quite a few skilled fighters, but it seemed that his vision was still too limited. Indeed, no sect would be foolish enough to reveal all its secrets just to save face.

Just as the sound of the sword's cry faded away, a ball of pure white silver suddenly appeared in the sky, so intense and dazzling that everyone shielded their eyes with their hands. Ni Qingfeng, standing on the stone platform, narrowed his eyes upon seeing the light. The light was strange, and he felt a sense of threat. Ni Qingfeng thought to himself, "Could it be that Fang Shiyu has already discovered me, this visitor from outer space, and wants to kill me?"

"Humph!"

Ni Qingfeng snorted coldly, and the long sword beside him was drawn with a clang. A dragon's roar resounded through the sky. Then, everyone saw a sharp white light shoot into the sky and slash directly at the pure white silver ball. Then, a dazzling light appeared, and to everyone's horror, the pure white silver ball was split in two, and the sword light disappeared.

"Sword light!"

Those watching the spectacle gasped in astonishment. Ordinary sword beams were already frightening, let alone this sword beam that was several meters long. Yet, even with such a move, it only managed to split the pure white silver ball in two, failing to disperse it. What on earth was this thing?

"So you're all bark and no bite. Since you can't stop me, why bother trying?"

Ni Qingfeng loosened his right hand, and the Xuan Tie sword flew down from the high platform with a whoosh. After circling once, it flew to Zhao Guan's front. To everyone's surprise, Zhao Guan excitedly stood up and reached for the hilt of the sword. With just a slight struggle, the Xuan Tie sword stopped moving. A ray of light flashed on the blade and entered Zhao Guan's brow. The latter swayed slightly and then stood still.

Taking a deep breath, Zhao Guan held his long sword upside down and solemnly bowed to Ni Qingfeng on the stone platform, but did not speak.

Although Bi Yusheng and the others were puzzled by what they saw, they did not intend to get to the bottom of it. However, some of them had a glint in their eyes, as if they had other plans in mind.

After Ni Qingfeng delivered the longsword, he looked up at the gradually closing white silver mass in the sky. Before it could recover, Ni Qingfeng unleashed a dragon-shaped palm strike with his right hand, followed by forming a sword with his fingers and rapidly unleashing thirty-nine sword lights. Finally, he formed a hand seal with both hands, and a black and white vortex followed closely behind, unleashing dozens of killing moves in succession that struck the white silver mass one after another, causing a tremendous explosion. The silver mass was instantly pulverized, and the residual force swept away even the slightest trace, leaving only a clear, boundless sky.

"Dragon Palm!"

"The Seven Absolute Swords of Tianshan!"

"Yin-Yang Force!"

The members of the Tianshan Sect gasped softly, their faces filled with astonishment. This ordinary martial art had actually unleashed such power in their martial uncle's hands. Was this a reminder that they should practice diligently and one day achieve the same level of skill?

“Master Ni has quite the spirit, not afraid of outsiders stealing these Tianshan skills.”

Actually, Bi Yusheng's words weren't entirely correct. The reason Ni Qingfeng felt comfortable using these martial arts techniques was twofold: firstly, to leave behind his insights; how much the Tianshan disciples could gain from them depended entirely on themselves; as for those sent from outside the region, they would gain far less than the Tianshan disciples, and would gradually forget them over time, eventually disappearing completely. This could be considered a bit of Ni Qingfeng's selfishness.

After dispersing the pure white silver mass, Ni Qingfeng let out a deep shout and soared into the sky. At the same time, his true body in the Tianshan Grottoes suddenly transformed into a streak of light and silently arrived at the top of the sky. Gu Xu nodded to Ni Qingfeng, who smiled back, bowed, and then transformed into a stream of light and disappeared into Gu Xu's body.

As the clone returned to its original position, the five-colored light on Gu Xu's body reappeared, and the sky was immediately filled with a sacred aura. To everyone's surprise, the sky suddenly darkened, and then the five-colored light abruptly shrank inward, transforming into a five-colored light sword that pierced through the darkness and shot straight into the sky. The clear sword mark was deeply imprinted in everyone's eyes.

"Congratulations, Uncle Master!"

Amidst the excited shouts of the Tianshan disciples, the sky brightened again, and before anyone could even process what they were seeing, they all felt a lightness in their bodies.

"As the world changes, the martial arts world shall flourish!"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Guan gripped his long sword tightly, his expression remaining perfectly calm.

(End of this chapter)