I can increase my power through breathing.

Chapter 83 Martial Saint's Mark
September 22nd, the fourteenth year of the Yuanfeng era.

Zhou Qing arrived at the Yutian Sect in Dongzhou.

The status of the Yutian Sect in the Great Xuan Jianghu is beyond question; only Zhenwu City, far away in the western region, can compare with it.

In the Great Xuan Jianghu, although the Yutian Sect and Zhenwu City do not openly claim to be the leaders of the martial arts world, they are secretly referred to as the leaders of the Eastern and Western martial arts worlds.

Therefore, in the eastern and western border regions of the Great Xuan Dynasty, the words of the Yutian Sect and Zhenwu City sometimes carry more weight than those of the imperial court.

Disciples of the Imperial Heaven Sect and the True Martial City are considered superior when they travel outside.

Upon learning of Zhou Qing's arrival from Feng Manlou, the current sect leader of the Yutian Sect, Grandmaster Chu Linfeng, along with the hall masters and elders of the sect's various halls, waited at the mountain gate early in the morning to welcome him with the highest honors and respectfully usher Zhou Qing into the mountain gate.

"Everyone come and see, that's Zhou Qing."

"So young! Rumor has it that Zhou Qing is only seventeen years old this year."

"It's unbelievable. When I was seventeen, I wasn't even a first-rate martial artist, but Zhou Qing was already famous throughout the world. He not only destroyed a top-tier force like the Ten Thousand Swords Sect by himself, but also killed Grandmaster Ling Tianyue with his Grandmaster cultivation. He is truly a genius."

"He is not just a genius, he is a genius who has shaken the past and present. Even in ancient times, there were very few people who could kill a Grandmaster with the cultivation of a Grandmaster."

"Indeed, such talent is unmatched throughout history. To have such strength while still at the Grandmaster level, if he were to break through to the Celestial Realm and become a Grandmaster, wouldn't he be invincible?"

"Grandmaster, that's the realm that all martial artists dream of. Once you step into it, you'll have the power to move mountains and overturn seas, transcend the mundane world, and be above all others. Looking across the world, there are only eleven Grandmasters on the Heavenly Ranking right now, but this realm shouldn't be too difficult for Zhou Qing. Reaching it is only a matter of time."

"If Zhou Qing could take a liking to me, that would be wonderful."

"Stop daydreaming. With Zhou Qing's current status and position, if he wanted to, he could have any beauty he wanted just by beckoning. It's not like it's our turn."

"..."

Throughout the entire Yutian Sect, from the hall masters and elders to the disciples, everyone was extremely curious about Zhou Qing, discussing him animatedly and eager to catch a glimpse of this peerless prodigy.

After all, Zhou Qing's deeds had spread throughout the world, making him an idol and a goal for countless martial artists.

Although Zhou Qing had surpassed Lin Nantian of Yan Kingdom to rank first on the imperial court's wanted list, no one took it seriously anymore.

With the death of Ling Tianyue, the Grand Commander of the Eagle Wolf Guard, at Zhou Qing's hands, who in the imperial court could possibly be Zhou Qing's match? Even if the royal patriarch himself were to take action, he might not be able to defeat Zhou Qing unless he were in the capital city and could unleash the power of the fourth level of the Celestial Spirit Realm by taking advantage of the entire dynasty's national fortune.

"Sect Master Chu, I have heard that your sect possesses the Heavenly and Human Chapter of the Primordial Chaos True Art. I have come here for this very reason. I wonder if I may borrow it for a while?"

Upon arriving at the Imperial Heaven Sect, Zhou Qing didn't mince words and directly stated the purpose of his visit.

“No problem. The reason I invited Young Master Zhou here is also for the matter of the Heaven and Man Chapter of the Innate Primordial Chaos True Art.” Chu Linfeng smiled slightly and said, “Although my Yutian Sect has this technique in its collection, no one has ever cultivated the Innate Primordial Chaos True Art, let alone comprehended the mysteries of the Heaven and Man Chapter. Young Master Zhou is exceptionally talented and has outstanding strength. Perhaps you can gain something from it.”

"Then thank you very much, Sect Master Chu." Upon hearing this, Zhou Qing smiled and then said in a deep voice, "I wonder what I need to offer in return?"

Upon hearing this, Chu Linfeng's eyes flashed with admiration. He said, "Young Master Zhou is indeed straightforward. Actually, I don't need much. If Young Master Zhou is able to enter the Land of Saints in the future, please select a few decent followers from our sect to accompany you."

"The Land of Saints?" Zhou Qing exclaimed in surprise. "I saw some records about the Land of Saints in the library of Feng Man Lou. It is a place where martial arts flourish and powerful people abound. It is a sacred place that all martial artists dream of. However, it is said that the conditions for entering it are extremely harsh. Either one's own martial arts must break through to the Dao Law Realm and go to the Land of Saints through the ancient road, or one must show extremely strong martial arts aptitude and be guided by the Land of Saints. It seems that no one in the Mountain and Sea Realm has entered the Land of Saints for ten thousand years and has long lost contact with the Land of Saints."

Chu Linfeng nodded slightly and said, "That's right. The spiritual energy in the Mountain and Sea Realm is getting thinner and thinner. It's true that no one has entered the Land of Saints for ten thousand years. Even those hidden sects are the same. But you are different, Young Master Zhou. With your talent and strength, you may have a chance to break through to the Dao Realm in the future, or you may be able to obtain the guidance of the Land of Saints with your outstanding talent. So I hope that you can bring a few disciples from the Imperial Heaven Sect with you at that time."

Zhou Qing nodded and said, "Okay, I promise you. As long as I can enter the Land of Saints, I can bring a few disciples from the Imperial Heaven Sect with me."

"Then thank you very much, Young Master Zhou!" Chu Linfeng said, "Young Master Zhou, please follow me."

Soon.

Zhou Qing followed Chu Linfeng to the Imperial Heaven Sect's Scripture Pavilion.

To be precise, we arrived at the underground of the Sutra Repository.

The Heavenly and Human Chapter of the Primordial Chaos True Skill was not recorded in writing, but rather on a stone tablet.

“Young Master Zhou, according to the records I’ve found, this stone tablet that records the Heavenly and Human Chapter of the Primordial Chaos True Art is said to have been left by a Martial Saint from a powerful force in the Land of Saints. Besides containing the cultivation technique, it is also used to select disciples.” Chu Linfeng said solemnly, “With Young Master Zhou’s talent and aptitude, you might be able to trigger the Martial Saint’s mark within it. At that time, you might be able to receive guidance and enter the Land of Saints ahead of time without breaking through to the Dao Law Realm.”

"I see!" Zhou Qing nodded, then asked, "There are no words on this stone tablet. How can we receive the martial arts inheritance within it?"

"It's very simple. Just place your hand on the stone tablet and then channel your inner energy and mental power into it."

Chu Linfeng replied.

"understand!"

Immediately, Zhou Qing stepped forward and, as Chu Linfeng had instructed, placed his palm on the stone tablet, then channeled his true energy and spiritual power into it.

hum~~~
The stone tablet trembled, emitting a dazzling white light. Soul Lifespan: Seventeen.

The elixir is completed after 360 cycles, reaching its ultimate limit.

He has mastered fifty different states of mind, reaching the Lesser Perfection of the Primordial Golden Core.

In the void, lines of ancient, chaotic characters appeared.

Then, a vast and ethereal aura emanated from the stone tablet, and Chu Linfeng immediately felt a great terror.

This vast aura was far more terrifying than when he entered a state of oneness with heaven and man. A single wisp of this aura could crush mountains and rivers, destroy the earth, and collapse the sky.

Not only Chu Linfeng, but the entire Yutian Sect felt this terrifying aura. Faced with this aura, everyone involuntarily prostrated themselves on the ground.

"What happened."

"What a terrifying aura! Is this the Celestial Realm of a Grandmaster?"

"No, this aura is far more terrifying than a Grandmaster's Celestial Domain. The Celestial Domain is merely a part of the world, but this aura seems capable of destroying a world and annihilating it."

"Could it be that the sect leader and Zhou Qing had a conflict?"

"Impossible. The sect has no grudges against Zhou Qing. Moreover, the sect treated Zhou Qing with courtesy when he visited. How could a conflict suddenly break out?"

"Then what is this world-destroying aura?"

Someone said in horror.

The entire Yutian Sect was enveloped by this vast aura.

The disciples of the Imperial Heaven Sect were filled with unease, and discussions arose one after another, with various speculations emerging, but no one could be sure what had happened.

Under the pressure of this vast aura, the disciples of the Imperial Heaven Sect were all pale-faced, and their bodies had long since collapsed to the ground, unable to withstand the pressure.

Whether it's a martial artist in the Acquired Realm or a Grandmaster in the Innate Realm, it's the same.

The air was thick with an oppressive atmosphere, making it difficult to breathe.

However, this aura that could destroy the world came quickly and went quickly.

Suddenly, this vast aura vanished as if it had never existed, and the Yutian Sect returned to calm once more.

Although the oppressive feeling had disappeared, the shock in everyone's hearts lingered for a long time. Everyone knew that what had just happened was definitely not an illusion.

Because of the sudden appearance of the terrifying aura, the Yutian Sect disciples who had collapsed to the ground slowly stood up. Their faces still showed expressions of fear and shock, as if they had just experienced a life-or-death ordeal.

Everything around became unusually quiet.

The disciples looked at each other, their eyes filled with indescribable fear and lingering dread.

They all had the same question in their minds: where did that terrifying aura that could destroy the world come from?

Why did it suddenly disappear?

The underground of the Sutra Repository.

Chu Linfeng saw a beam of light shoot out from the stone tablet and fall into Zhou Qing's brow, condensing into a chaotic mark radiating primordial energy before quietly disappearing.

"This is... the mark of a Martial Saint!"

Chu Linfeng's eyes widened as he looked at the mark on Zhou Qing's forehead.

Although he had already anticipated that, given Zhou Qing's talent, he would most likely be able to gain the recognition of the Martial Saint's Mark.

After all, to reach such a level at the age of seventeen, and even to kill a Grandmaster while still a Grandmaster, such a genius was extremely rare in ancient times.

But when Chu Linfeng actually saw Zhou Qing gain the recognition of the Martial Saint's Mark, he couldn't help but widen his eyes in surprise.

Chu Linfeng took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the shock in his heart, and stared intently at Zhou Qing, as if admiring a rare treasure.

Regardless, it's a good thing that Zhou Qing was able to obtain the Martial Saint's mark. It means that Zhou Qing's talent and aptitude have been recognized by a wisp of consciousness left behind by the Martial Saint in the stone tablet, and his future is limitless.

(End of this chapter)