Advance the future and become a martial saint on earth!

"What if, even if I possess the finest materials and have the best doctors in the country concoct a divine elixir, I still cannot stand up, or something goes wrong, causing all your previous efforts to be in vain?"

Xiao Mingli lowered her eyes and gently stroked her legs, which were numb and as cold as stone beneath her dress:

“Back then, I received the true teachings in Tianchi and competed with other contemporaries for the supreme honor of ‘Walking in Tianchi’.”

"Whoever ascends to the throne will be the next 'Lord of the Heavenly Pool' and will be groomed as the successor to one of the Ten Heavenly Pillars."

"If successful, not only will I be able to cultivate the secret techniques of the Heavenly Pillar, but all the resources I obtain will also be top-notch."

"Compared to his peers, the probability of him becoming a titled Martial Saint or even a giant is almost a certainty."

"At the same time, we also have the opportunity to stand with the Heavenly Lake at our backs and reach the pinnacle of human achievement."

"No one would let this opportunity slip by."

A cool breeze blew through the cold pool, causing the mulberry and elm trees beside the pavilions and towers to sway gently.

The woman's thin dress fluttered gently in the breeze, yet, having endured this for years, she felt no chill. She simply continued to recount her past in a low voice:
"Therefore, I am determined to seize such an opportunity."

“You may think that I come from a good background and am one of the most outstanding people in the prefecture, but that’s not enough.”

"From the moment he became a master of Qi cultivation and opened his Qi Sea, the grade of his Qi Sea, his martial arts body, his transformation methods, and even the dragon and tiger appearance that determined the 'prototype of the true meaning of the Martial Saint' were all determined."

"These are all obstacles and difficulties, one after another."

"If you want to achieve these things, each method is a treasure, a secret that is not passed down or taught within our school."

"As for martial arts cultivation, you have a clear understanding of your path. If you make a single mistake or fall behind, it will be extremely difficult to make up for it in the future."

"Grandmaster Xu Longxiang and Senior Wang Xuanyang were both members of the 'Ten Pillars' in their time. You should know just how strong their methods and martial arts foundations are, from Anning to Jiangyin Prefecture."

"He can be said to be unmatched by any of his peers in terms of dojos, schools, or even powerful clans and sects!"

Bathed in the midday sun, Xiao Mingli looked up and smiled, a smile that seemed both helpless and relieved.

"But as you progress in your practice, the Dharma texts alone are not enough. Many true mantles and lineages require 'contemplation' and you need to comprehend their 'form and essence' in order to obtain them."

"These traditions mostly have a physical form, and even if one is a true disciple, it is not something that can be observed casually."

"In order to pass on the martial arts of Tianchi, I took on sect affairs and earned merits, both big and small."

"Later, when he was competing with the 'Chasing Light Palace,' one of the ten major Daoist lineages of the Crimson Sky Heaven, for a secret realm in Tianchi, he was unfortunately tricked, which led to his current predicament."

"To be honest, I'm already six years behind."

"A thousand sails pass by the sunken ship, ten thousand trees bloom before the withered tree, I—"

Her fingertips suddenly tightened, her fists clenched beneath her sleeves, her throat tightened, and her eyes lowered to gaze at the icy pool, making her expression unreadable.
Even if I took the celestial medicine, which could cure my chronic illness and even enhance my cultivation,

"But after six years of cultivation and six years of management by former rivals and competitors, all disputes have probably been settled."

"In this completely unfamiliar new era, there is no ship that can carry me."

"Do I really think I can compete with them?"

"It would be better not to waste such a rare treasure on me. This kind of divine medicine is extremely rare. You may only see it once in your life. If you use it as resources, it may not be impossible for you to be awarded the title of 'Young Martial Saint' at the age of twenty!"

Why bother?

Her speech became faster and faster, and as her thoughts wandered, perhaps because she had been stagnant for six years, she seemed to have a sense of bewilderment, like someone drawing a sword and looking around in confusion.

Ji Xiu, on the other hand, remained an observer throughout.

He silently witnessed all of this happening.

Finally, he released his hands from pushing the wheelchair, stepped forward, and spoke before Xiao Mingli could finish.
He bent down and gently extended a large, warm hand, covering Xiao Mingli's clenched fist and slightly trembling gauze sleeve, slowly tightening it.

Looking at the warm, burning sensation emanating from her clenched fist, Xiao Mingli's words seemed to come to an abrupt halt at that moment.

She felt the warm breath so close, so close, that she could even clearly perceive it. A sensation she had never felt before arose in her heart and lingered there.

So much so that his face was slightly flushed, inexplicably warm and unbearable, and tinged with a blush:

"you"

"Your Highness, listen to me."

Ji Xiu's tone was serious:

“I have never mentioned my background to you.”

But thinking about it...

"You must have investigated this beforehand and know the truth."

Xiao Mingli looked at Ji Xiu kneeling on one knee, one hand clenching his own, his bright eyes filled with unspoken words.

But after listening to Ji Xiu's words, he did not speak, but simply nodded.

"I am a groom from Anning County, born into a slave family, who leads horses, holds stirrups, and feeds them fodder."

"It's no exaggeration to say that before I met Master Duan, I had absolutely no idea what martial arts were."

"Can you imagine that a mere stable boy could break through four major barriers, forge a martial arts body, and defeat all the martial arts schools and sects in the entire Jiangyin Prefecture in just one year?"

"Those children of wealthy families train hard from the coldest winters and hottest summers since they were young. Every one of them has endured ten years of arduous training. I'm not even comparing them to those sons of powerful families or those who are considered pillars of the nation."

"In terms of foundation alone, I'm ten or eight years behind!"

"But so what?"

His tone suddenly rose, and the sharp, piercing light in his eyes made Xiao Mingli unconsciously turn her head to meet his gaze.

In that instant, she saw a golden flame, seemingly burning eternally, in Ji Xiu's double pupils, and she was stunned.

At this moment, Ji Xiu spoke each word clearly and forcefully:

"Does being bad mean you have to accept your fate?"

"There's no such logic in the world!"

"Even if I am as insignificant as dust, mired in the mud, I will still wield the sword of royal power to sever this worthless life!"

"A true man, born between heaven and earth, how can he remain depressed and inferior to others for long?"

"The world is still uncertain, and as long as I have a breath left, who can say that I, Ji Xiu, will never see the breathtaking scenery at the summit, wield a heavenly blade, and subdue all the martial artists under heaven?!"

These words were truly thought-provoking. Even Xiao Mingli couldn't help but widen her bright eyes, and even the fists she had been clenching in her sleeves loosened involuntarily.

He started out as a stable boy.
Yet he claims to have reached the pinnacle and will control all the warriors under heaven!
What a magnificent spirit!
Throughout the more than nine hundred years of the Great Xuan Dynasty, the Nine Surnames and Ten Pillars have been discussed in detail. Countless nobles and powerful clans have risen and fallen, each holding the reins of an era.

But examples like Ji Xiu are rare.
But it is absolutely unique!

I'm afraid that even counting back nine dynasties, there are very few immortal beings in this 'Heaven of Humans and Immortals'!
Unbeknownst to her, Xiao Mingli opened her palm.

Ji Xiu noticed the change and released his grip, instead turning his palm downwards and interlocking his fingers with Ji Xiu's.
"Therefore, Your Highness, no."

"Xiao Mingli".

"In just six years, have you lost the true essence of Tianchi, the confidence to compete in the martial arts world, and even to step onto the prestigious Xie family and look down on your peers?"

These words struck Xiao Mingli's heart like the sound of bells and chimes.

In an instant, her bright eyes shone with a dazzling light, revealing a spirited and radiant quality that Ji Xiu had never seen before.

After a long silence.
At this moment, she spoke softly, a smile playing on her lips, as if all her hesitation had vanished, replaced by an unwavering conviction that seemed unshakeable:
"Yes."

"I was just too concerned about gains and losses."

"Six years is nothing. Let alone six years, even sixteen or sixty years..." "What difference would it make?"

"As you said, admitting defeat is the only way to lose!"

Xiao Mingli's palm tightly pressed against Ji Xiu's five fingers.
A long time passed.

She glanced sideways at Ji Xiu, who was kneeling on one knee to the side, and a teasing smile suddenly appeared in her eyes:
"Ji Xiu, have you ever thought about this?"

"What if I consume the rare herbs and regain my former identity, but you have too much karma on you, which would hinder my cultivation and cause me to stop befriending you?"

"You must know that people's hearts are easily changed in this world, and there are many who are blinded by profit and forget righteousness. You have only seen me when I was down on my luck, so how dare you conclude that I am not that kind of person?"

"Wouldn't all your precious talent have gone to waste back then?"

Upon hearing this, Ji Xiu's expression remained unchanged:
"I owe you a debt, and how you treat me after I repay it is entirely up to you."

"What does it have to do with me?"

Seeing that Xiao Mingli seemed to have resolved her inner conflict and was finally no longer making excuses, Ji Xiu breathed a sigh of relief.

There are some things he cannot say, such as the 'Primordial Dao Record', and the fact that he has already consumed a 'Sumeru Immortal Fruit' and that the spiritual essence it contains within his body has not yet been fully absorbed.
But he obviously wouldn't say these things outright.

Seeing this young lady, who had been a constant presence throughout the entire history of Jiangyin Prefecture and had helped him immensely, regain her former glory.
Ji Xiu was genuinely pleased and happy for her, as she had fulfilled her promise. He was about to let go of her hand and stand up.
But he found resistance coming from the hand that was tightly clasped with Xiao Mingli's.

The woman did not let go of his hand.

Instead, her eyes widened in surprise as she watched him slowly rise, a shimmering 'Azure Dragon Core Pendant' dangling from his waist. Suddenly, she said:
"If everything goes well..."

"Let's not break off that marriage contract between the two families."

What engagement?
Ji Xiu was stunned for a moment, not quite reacting, but then he realized that his wrist was suddenly gripped tightly.

He looked down.

But the woman deliberately avoided his gaze, her eyes darting around, a blush creeping onto her earlobes. She kept glancing at the leaping koi in the cold pool beside her, her pearly teeth clenched slightly, as if she had made a tremendous decision.
"Listen."

"What I said next was not a momentary impulse, nor was it nonsense uttered in a moment of emotion or loss of reason. On the contrary, I was very clear-headed, extremely clear-headed."

"So Ji Xiu, listen to me—"

"First of all, I am nine years older than you, and I have always been cautious when it comes to matters of the heart."

“I was once a disciple of Tianchi, and I was skilled in social interaction with Gu Qingzhi, who also came from Tianchi. At a young age, I was able to move among the disciples and the sons of powerful families and win their admiration.”

"I have never shown any interest in romantic love between men and women."

Xiao Mingli bit her lip, seemingly ashamed to mention these things, hence her stiff tone and somewhat intermittent speech.

But she showed no sign of stopping.

Instead, she spoke faster and faster, her heart pounding like a drum while Ji Xiu remained silent, the thumping clearly audible.

"Listen, I don't know how you see it, but..."

"If I could regain my former power and identity, if that person were you."

"I am willing."

"We became husband and wife in our youth, and will never doubt each other until our hair turns white."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Mingli's clear face flushed crimson. She took several deep breaths, but could not suppress the panic in her heart.

When Xiao Mingli was in the True Sect of Heavenly Blade, she explicitly said that Ji Xiu didn't need to care about the marriage contract, and she also said that she had her own thoughts about it.

But in essence, I was still a 'burden' at that time, and as time went by, I would only become more and more useless.

Therefore, she was unwilling to use this marriage contract to bind Ji Xiu.

However, times have changed.

Her hope is now within reach; all she needs is for a top-tier specialist to cure her chronic illness.
Xiao Mingli will no longer feel inferior, and the gloom that has shrouded her in the past will all fade away!
Therefore, upon seeing the 'Azure Dragon Heart Pendant', the highly knowledgeable Xiao Mingli immediately recognized that it was a treasure forged with dragon blood as its base, resembling a token of love.

Combining this with the scene of "The Impermanence of All Things in the Primordial Palace," and recalling the beautiful dragon girl named Bai Shuo from the East Sea Dragon Lord's Palace...
Xiao Mingli's heart, which had only wavered for a moment, could not be calmed down no matter what she tried.

She gripped the wrist of the person in front of her tightly.

He spoke each word carefully, gritting his teeth, his eyes revealing an unprecedented seriousness.

The two remained silent for a very long time.

this moment.

Hearing Xiao Mingli's words, Ji Xiu also thought a lot.

He recalled the first time he heard the name 'Xiao Mingli'. It was when Bai Shuo's identity was exposed in Anning County and he returned to the Water Mansion, only to be suddenly attacked by the Water Palace servants of the Water Lord's Mansion, who were as fierce as dragons and tigers.
At that time, it was Granny Shi from the Marquis's mansion who came with Xiao Mingli's order and intimidated her away.

The subsequent conflicts in the fishing industry, which shocked all factions, were all resolved by her using the prestige of the Marquis's mansion.

It can be said that before he established a relationship with Xu Longxiang, when Wang Xuanyang was still insane and had not yet completed the "Reincarnation Heavenly Skill" and returned.
Without Xiao Mingli, those people wouldn't have been able to act against her.

Even if he had the 'Primordial Dao Talisman' by his side, Duan Chenzhou's past debts alone would be enough for those people to secretly bury him.

If it's purely out of gratitude and appreciation, then severing ties is impossible.

Xiao Mingli and Bai Shuo, like Jiang Li, met when they were still insignificant.

That complex emotion was like that of Master Duan, Grandmaster Wang Xuanyang, and Grandmaster Xu Longxiang—no matter how many people one knew afterward, their status in one's heart was unattainable.

However, many things have happened today, and it's hard to say whether Xiao Mingli acted on a whim. Therefore, Ji Xiu was about to speak.
But Xiao Mingli suddenly interrupted him:
"All that has been said today"

"I, Xiao Mingli, have a clear conscience!"

"However, I respect your choice. Don't push yourself too hard, Ji Xiu."

She whispered:

"When you follow your grandmaster to Beicang, establish a legitimate foundation, become a prefectural official, and return home in glory."

"Give me your answer later."

After saying that, Xiao Mingli pushed her wheelchair away on her own, as if she was escaping from something, or as if she didn't want to hear an answer she didn't want to hear.

Looking at her retreating figure.
Ji Xiu pondered for a long time.

Meanwhile, in Jiangyin Prefecture, a restaurant specializing in delicacies...

The most luxurious private rooms were equipped with protective charms to block out and isolate external sounds.

Sitting among them, Jiang Nian, a direct descendant of the Qishan Jiang clan, was extremely uneasy, his expression shifting unpredictably.

That scene from not long ago.
This left him with a lingering sense of unease.

So he quickly sought out the two monks, Jin Kui and Dan Yuan, from the Mahayana Wuliang Temple, and immediately got straight to the point:
"You two, you also witnessed the scene at the Impermanent Realm of All Things, didn't you?"

"Let's leave other things aside for now."

"but"

"From now on, do not come to me again if it involves that Ji or that esteemed guest of my Jiang family!"

Having long been dealing with treacherous people, Jiang Nian and those behind him were well aware of the true nature of the Mahayana Wuliang Temple.

And the more this is the case, the more...
The more he thought about it, the more his heart sank!

After all, these two families have a history of conflict! (End of Chapter)