Advance the future and become a martial saint on earth!

Chapter 171 If the spring breeze has pity on the flowers, may I be young again, shouldering the great sun, to compete for the 'Martial Champion'!
Jiangyin Prefectural Courtyard.

The tall, white-haired old man's originally ruddy complexion began to turn slightly pale, and he looked somewhat listless.

Suddenly, Ji Xiu felt a little ashamed. After all, this 'rebirth' secret technique had enabled him to make such great progress. His newly appointed master must have paid a lot of price.

I originally thought it was just an ordinary gift.

But once he received the initiation, Ji Xiu immediately realized that it wasn't like that.

This secret technique can actually replace the power of earthly treasures. After refining it, one can achieve complete perfection in the three refinements, solidify the treasure armor, and from then on, all 48,000 pores can close in an instant. No matter how many weapons are used, one will not be able to harm the body, thus gaining the qualification to rush towards the 'great limit'!

That's absolutely incredible!

Therefore, Ji Xiu calmed his blood and qi, and was about to speak to Xu Longxiang to express his gratitude.

However, Xu Longxiang, having stopped, frowned:

"Is the foundation of your tendons the 'Turtle and Snake Great Rock Stake'?"

Upon hearing Xu Longxiang reveal the origin of his 'Tendon Strengthening Secret Technique' in one sentence, Ji Xiu was suddenly startled.

At this moment, he suddenly remembered the tendon-strengthening method that was the beginning of martial arts training. According to Master Duan, it seemed that his grandmaster had obtained it from a certain "high-ranking family".

Although he was unaware of the details of what happened.

However, the solid foundation laid by this book, "The Book of Tendons and Muscles," is first-rate and cannot be faked.

Moreover, when one refines it to the extreme and breaks through the limits of the tendon barrier, it becomes a natural progression, and one can even obtain the acquired talent of 'Mysterious Blood Dragon Tendon'!
Ji Xiu naturally didn't believe it when he was told it had no origin.

But Xu Longxiang had just stretched and pulled my bones. With his martial arts skills and insights, he must have already figured out my physical achievements and background very well, otherwise he wouldn't have asked this question.

Therefore, Ji Xiu didn't hide anything, simply nodding slightly. Upon hearing this, the latter's eyes immediately flashed, revealing a sharp glint:

"I never expected that, apart from cultivating the Ye Longxiang head, at the age of seventeen, your physical body could still hold so many secrets."

"In my original plan, this 'transformation' should have enabled you to break through the bottleneck and even reach the threshold of 'the three limits of the skin barrier and the purple ribbon immortal robe'!"

"but"

"What I never expected was that your 'skin refining' realm had cultivated such a profound skin refining method, going straight from jade skin to purple ribbon, with the flow of qi interconnected."

“If I continue to help you break through this barrier, I will be destroying your ‘Precious Body Daoist Cultivation’.”

Xu Longxiang slowly lowered his hand, sighed, and then stopped investigating the origin of the skin-refining technique. However, he couldn't help but ask a few more questions about the tortoise-snake giant rock formation that solidified the foundation of the Great Dao:
"Where did you get that skill in your joints from?"

Upon hearing this, Ji Xiu, knowing that his affiliation with the 'Heavenly Blade School' was common knowledge, readily admitted it without any attempt to conceal it.
“Master Xu, this was passed down from Wang Xuanyang, the ancestor of my ‘Heavenly Blade School’.”

Xu Longxiang shrugged his white eyebrows and spoke in a calm voice:
"Wang Xuanyang?"

"never heard of that."

"but."

"You said this was passed down from your grandmaster, who was also a disciple of the 'True Martial Mountain' of the Ten Heavenly Pillars?"

"Otherwise, how could he possess the secret manual of the Tendon-Binding Techniques, which laid the foundation for martial arts for his disciples, from the First Ancestor of Zhenwu Mountain?"

Ji Xiu's eyes widened at the first part of Xu Longxiang's words.

You should know that ever since he entered the vast Jiangyin Prefecture, wherever he went, as long as the name of his grandmaster 'Wang Xuanyang' was mentioned, everyone knew him.

This was the first time he had ever met someone who completely ignored the name Wang Xuanyang.

Was it because this 'Xu Longxiang' mentor had the arrogance and the means to back it up, or because he had always stayed in his mansion, rarely venturing out and never going out for a stroll?

You should know that his grandmaster had dominated Jiangyin Prefecture for the previous sixty years!

Such a person could be someone whose name I have never heard of.

A ripple of emotion stirred within Ji Xiu.

And that's not all.

As soon as Xu Longxiang finished speaking, Ji Xiu's heart plummeted like a rollercoaster.

The unease that had been buried deep in his heart since he was practicing the 'Turtle and Snake Great Rock Stance' finally exploded when Xu Longxiang revealed the origin of this method.

At this moment, Ji Xiu finally understood what it meant when Master Duan took out this "Secret Record of Tendons and Joints" and solemnly asked him if he was ready.

The Heavenly Pillar Legacy!

Suddenly, an invisible pressure descended upon Ji Xiu.

If nothing unexpected happens, given the established practices of their lineage, this method is almost certainly something their grandmaster obtained from someone else using some unknown means.

The probability of it being improper is as high as 90%!

Not only did my grandmaster manage to obtain the bone-forging method from the 'Water Lord's Mansion,' but he also managed to acquire the secret scroll for the power barrier of a Heavenly Pillar!

Recalling Xie Zhinan's arrogant and smug demeanor not long ago, Ji Xiu instantly felt a terrible headache coming on.

Zhenwu Mountain.

Just hearing the name makes you think you're not to be messed with.

And who is this person?
While pondering the matter, Ji Xiu, with a hint of helplessness, explained the whole story.

As Xu Longxiang's expression grew increasingly strange, Ji Xiu, while pondering Xu Longxiang's words, keenly noticed the word "also," and couldn't help but wonder:
"Master, why did you add the word 'also' before 'True Martial Sect members'?"

"Do you know any outstanding disciples of Zhenwu Mountain?"

"Then could you try to find out what's going on, see if you can secretly let this matter drop?"

Ji Xiu was still making plans in his mind.

After all, he is only invincible at the county level now. Once he enters the manor, he won't even reach the level of a Qi Refining Master. Any random sect leader or faction leader could easily subdue him.

Not to mention the Jushi and Tianzhu?
That is a status far more profound and unfathomable than that of a noble family that ranks among the top in a prefecture, and the majestic True Sect!
If this Master Xu Longxiang could also, like the suddenly appearing Master Xie Fuyao, directly endorse his teachings and resolve the hidden dangers caused by secretly learning these techniques, that would be wonderful.

Just as Ji Xiu was pondering this to himself...
Xu Longxiang smiled enigmatically.
"Yes, yes."

"The number of outstanding disciples I know from Zhenwu Mountain is enough to cover most of the mountain gate, and it is too many to count."

Ji Xiu's eyes lit up:
"Doesn't that mean that you, Master, and Yifang Tianzhu are family?"

Be nice!

He never expected that his master, Xu Longxiang, had such a profound background!
That's it!

Thinking of this, a relaxed smile appeared on his face.

However, Xu Longxiang casually added another sentence:
"Without exception, they were all mortal enemies."

"In the future, if you go out and encounter a disciple of the Heavenly Pillar wearing the True Martial Robe, and he sees through your disguise, if I am not by your side, remember, never say that you are my student."

"otherwise."

He didn't finish his sentence.

But Ji Xiu's smile had already stiffened slightly.

At that moment, he suddenly remembered the 'Heavenly Blade School'.

It seems that the masters I've followed all have some kind of pitfalls behind them, the kind that seem bottomless.
But in the end, he had long been used to it; things that were far away and practically nonexistent couldn't possibly affect him.

Seeing that Ji Xiu's expression only lasted a moment before returning to normal, it was Xu Longxiang's turn to be surprised this time:
"Hey kid, aren't you afraid?"

His eyes were filled with interest.

In this world, there are still martial artists who can hear the 'Pillar of Heaven,' which represents the pinnacle of martial arts, and remain calm and composed?
This is strange.

Ji Xiu sighed, shrugged, and said with a hint of helplessness, but his tone was serious:

“Master, no matter how strong the Heavenly Pillar is, you are still standing here safely, aren’t you?”

Xu Longxiang was taken aback.

"The fact that you can stand here means that the storms you've weathered haven't broken your spirit."

"If that's the case, what's there to care about?"

The elderly man with white hair and beard narrowed his eyes slightly. "You can do whatever you want."

Why can't I do it?

Ji Xiu bowed once, his tone calm and composed, showing no sign of being intimidated by the enormous creature:

"Everyone in this world wants to have a smooth and easy path in their spiritual practice, and I am no exception."

"But sometimes, people just don't have a choice."

"But if there is no other choice, having inherited the benefits of those who came before and incurred the wrath of others, there is nothing one can do, even if the road ahead is full of thorns."

"At worst, we can just walk through it and break through it with our own feet!"

"I started as a stable boy and waded my way from Anning County to Jiangyin Prefecture, a distance of eight thousand li. What's a little gimmick to me?"

“I have no relation to the ‘True Martial Mountain’ of Tianzhu, yet my master transformed me. I can still distinguish what is more important and what is closer and what is farther away.”

After speaking, Ji Xiu clenched his fist with confidence.

Now, with his immortal robes fully cultivated, he is terrifyingly strong!
"Master, if I wish to utilize the resources of the academy to cultivate 'Taoist arts,' should I rent a cultivation room?"

Upon hearing this, Xu Longxiang, who was staring intently at Ji Xiu, pondered for a moment:

"It's been so long since I've taken on any students at the academy, I can't even remember."

"However, only a handful of cultivation rooms have been opened within this mansion, and the 'Spiritual Soul Cultivation Rooms' that can provide space for spiritual cultivation and the study of Daoist techniques are even rarer, in principle."

"You must at least be among the top five in the five gates, and among the best in the academy and its students, to be eligible to rent or lease."

"The top positions in the three tests of archery, horsemanship, and military prowess can only be obtained by participating in the tests of 'archery hunting and armored warfare,' which are held twice a year in spring and autumn."

"Judging by the time, the final ranking of candidates before the provincial examination is just around the corner."

Upon hearing that there was no way to secure first place for the time being, Ji Xiu asked another question:
"Isn't there supposed to be a five-stage master? We can't test these skills and techniques yet, so what about the martial arts and spiritual challenges?"

"I've heard that these two trials are a pure clash of realms!"

"I don't know how to conduct the examination?"

Xu Longxiang raised his white eyebrows:
“You’ve only been a ‘student’ for one day.”

"If you want to become the person with the deepest cultivation in martial arts and spiritual cultivation, can you compete with those who have trained hard for three years just to show their swords in the prefectural examination?"

Upon hearing this, Ji Xiu did not pause:
"Then, Master, in the Jiangyin Prefecture, are there any graduates who have become 'masters of Qi cultivation' or 'high-level Taoist practitioners'?"

Xu Longxiang shook his head.

"That's it."

Ji Xiu grinned, inhaling and exhaling, releasing his vital energy in one gulp like the breath of a whale:
"Not good enough for everyone."

"Now that I have fully mastered the Immortal Robe, I dare to make that assertion!"

"Even within a single prefecture, in a pure clash of physical strength and realms, even those who have broken through the three limits and attained the purple ribbon rank are the ones who truly stand out."

"Not as good as me!"

"So if there are no Qi Refining masters in the entire manor, what do I have to fear?"

"Isn't it said that if a prefectural official's tutor trains a top student who wins the championship, he can also receive a reward?"

"Since that's the case, since you, my master, have given me a 'transformation,' I will become your master."

"Bring upon me the title of 'Top Player of the First Pass'!"

Consider this a small gift from me on the first day we met!

With that, the young man turned and walked away with a flourish.

This open-mindedness that adapts to changing circumstances left Xu Longxiang speechless as he watched his retreating figure.
After a long while, strands of white hair and beard began to flutter, and Xu Longxiang's eyes were deep, as if they encompassed the entire scene of the meditation room.

This kid.
It looks so familiar.

Xu Longxiang felt that his originally 'shattered' martial arts Zen heart was showing signs of being repaired after Ji Xiu answered two questions.

"Even the mighty Heavenly Pillar Zhenwu cannot crush the backbone of a warrior. And you still want to bring me back the title of 'First Victory of the First Pass'?"

The tall old man closed his eyes, and the candlelight flickered in the meditation room.

“Master, what is there to fear about Zhenwu Mountain? It can’t cover the sky with one hand after all. You’ve already made it through, haven’t you? If you can do it, so can I!”

"When I become a Martial Saint, I will surely cross mountains and seas, and challenge 'True Martial Mountain' with the 'Dragon and Elephant Method'!"

“Master, our Dragon Elephant lineage has just arrived in Cangbei, and we are in a period of transition. As your disciples, it is our duty to build up the reputation you have established for your lineage.”

"On this journey to Cangdu, I will surely claim the top spot at 'Feng Hua Lou,' so that my Dragon and Elephant lineage may dominate the four seas!"

Words and scenes kept appearing in my mind.

In this scene, all the young people are in the prime of their lives.

Just like back then.

Years later, a similar flower bloomed.

Xu Longxiang felt as if his nearly shattered martial will had been awakened in an instant, as if struck by a thunderbolt!

After a long while, he stepped out of the meditation room.

The tall old man looked towards the Jiangyin government compound, towards the "Ascending Martial Arts Tower" and the "Ascending Divine Tower," which represent the highest levels of skill in the two tests of "Martial Arts" and "Divine Soul."

One of them there emitted a beam of light several feet high that shot into the sky, and then it appeared.

Seeing this, Xu Longxiang smiled knowingly.

This empowerment was worthwhile.

Simultaneously
An idea that had been lingering in my mind was finally decided.

This kid,
He is the Dragon Elephant True Sect, the future new generation of 'Dao Child'!
Otherwise, who else but him?

Jiangyin Prefectural Courtyard, Dengwu Tower.

Gao Ye strode forward step by step, draped in a purple celestial robe. With each step, his divine spirit manifested, illuminating all directions, as radiant as the sun!

The crowd of onlookers felt an overwhelming pressure descend upon them!

The high achievements of the Gao family of Danshan
It's broken the three restrictions!?

Within the human body, there are three limits to strength.

Its golden skin and jade-like network of energy can only be broken by the most powerful and talented people in the county.

Mercury blood and silver marrow can be refined from the blood of the eldest son of the Grand Master within the manor!

But the purple celestial robe!

This realm
One must master the arts and techniques of the spirit and cultivate them to the point of understanding, in order to achieve "unity of Tao and martial arts, causing ghosts and gods to flee," and be unaffected by inferior Taoist arts!
Legend has it that only by breaking through the limits of the Purple Ribbon Immortal Robe can one be ranked among the true immortals in certain heavenly realms and among the ranks of immortals; other achievements are merely ordinary skin refining!
"On his very first day in the academy, this heir of a 'noble family' is already aiming for the top spot? Doesn't he think too highly of himself?!"

And under the watchful eyes of all the students.

Three figures stood against the wind.

Among them, the young man with flowing hair stood on one side of the Dengwu Tower with a solemn look in his eyes, as if he were looking at a formidable enemy, but he was sharp-tongued.

He was Chen Zhi, the eldest son of Chen Jing, the head of the fishing guild, and one of the five leaders of the Jiangyin Prefecture.

Chen Zhi watched Gao Ye arrive at the 'Dengwu Tower', then took a step forward and activated his qi and blood.

In an instant, the Dengwu Tower, which was ten zhang tall, was illuminated for nine zhang!

In an instant, it completely surpassed his original record of 'eight feet eight inches'!

This means
This child has already surpassed the level of skill he once possessed!

(End of this chapter)