Immortality begins with Swallowing the Stars.

Chapter 88 Jian Gang

When Teng Qingshan clashed with Lu Jing, he was thrown backward by the shock, which prompted Ji Hong and other high-ranking members of the Guiyuan Sect to rush to inquire. Naturally, they were unable to launch a hidden weapon attack on Lu Jing in time.

They did not step forward to participate in the scramble.

Because he was already in a state of great shock.

Only Teng Qingshan himself knows how he acquired such immense strength.

Based on his understanding of this world over the past ten years, the Nine Provinces Continent does not value the development of the physical body. After all, the power of internal strength and innate true essence is far more worthwhile than the hard work of training the physical body.

He himself possesses an incredible strength of 180,000 jin, which can be described as abnormal. He has also cultivated the "Raging Bull Mighty Technique" to the ninth level, and his internal energy can reach 60,000 jin when he explodes.

Each of these is extremely rare in the world.

"That young man's internal energy can unleash a force of 240,000 jin? Does such a technique even exist in the world?"

When a martial artist reaches the peak of the acquired realm, their internal energy can unleash a force of ten thousand jin, which is the limit for a normal person.

To break through the limit of 10,000 jin, one usually has to find a way to widen the meridians and dantian to increase the capacity of internal energy. Generally, the strong in the Earth Ranking rely on this method to have internal energy far exceeding that of first-class martial artists.

But at best, it's only at the level of the ninth level of the "Raging Bull Mighty Technique," which is 60,000 jin. Relying on internal energy to unleash a force of 100,000 jin is already legendary.

"Could it be that the physical body of the Ten Thousand Swords Pavilion Master is no less than mine?" Teng Qingshan found it hard to accept this possibility.

Even practicing internal martial arts from the womb isn't this exaggerated!

"innate!"

"He's actually a Primordial Immortal!"

"Shameless!!"

A gasp startled Teng Qingshan awake.

"What innate talent?"

Ji Hong, his face full of emotion, wore an expression that said, "I should have known!" He exclaimed, "I knew it! That Master of Ten Thousand Swords is actually a Xiantian expert!"

Although Lu Jing and Teng Qingshan's fight was of a very high standard, no one knew Teng Qingshan's true strength.

Sima Qing, nicknamed "Ghost Fox," ambushed Lu Jing, but no one knew that the silver-haired old man was actually a Xiantian expert.

What about the Crimson Scale Beast?

Lu Jing simply struck with his palm, and the Crimson Scale Beast fell into the lava, but no one knew that the Crimson Scale Beast had been killed by Lu Jing.

It can be said that he kept his merits and fame hidden.

However, the silver-haired old man that Sima Qing was impersonating shouted "Innate expert" before his death, and many people with sharp eyes did see that Lu Jing had used "Refining Sword into Silk".

—This is a level of swordsmanship recorded in many regional sword manuals, and only innate experts with innate true essence can perform it.

The Guiyuan Sect has many profound sword manuals, which even non-swordsmen generally know.

Now, the previous "blind spot" has been completely exposed to the "sunlight".

"A martial artist with innate abilities!" Teng Qingshan breathed a sigh of relief, all his previous surprise and doubt dissipating.

It's normal if someone is a naturally gifted martial artist.

Internal strength is difficult to unleash with such immense power, but innate true essence can.

Innate true essence is a profound power far surpassing internal strength. It can easily leave the body and contains powerful attack force, which even the most skilled acquired martial artist would find difficult to withstand.

Even a martial artist with the innate nascent core can easily unleash a true essence power of over 100,000 jin, and can even unleash 200,000 jin.

Ji Hong's expression was somewhat strange: "It's really shameless for a Xiantian expert to bully us Houtian martial artists."

Both the Black Fire Spiritual Root and the Black Fire Spiritual Fruit are only useful to acquired martial artists; innate martial artists would definitely not want them.

With the power of an innate expert, exploring the wilderness yields abundant spiritual fruits.

Therefore, even giants like Qinghu Island and Xiaoyao Palace did not send any innate martial artists. This was also a tacit understanding among many sects: to explore for spiritual fruits and to train their disciples.

If a true innate expert were to come here, then there would be no need for noodles.

Teng Qingshan instantly understood why Ji Hong looked so strange.

It is indeed shameless for a master of innate cultivation to compete with these acquired martial artists for spiritual fruits.

But considering that the Master of Ten Thousand Swords Pavilion is only thirteen years old...

Being bullied by a thirteen-year-old innate expert is something you can't bring yourself to say, even if you want to curse him.

"Kyushu...

"The winds of change are rising..."

Ji Hong patted Teng Qingshan on the shoulder and led the Guiyuan Sect members away from the cave without looking back.

The other martial artists, whether injured or unharmed, looked at each other, unsure of what to feel, and then left one after another.

……

Flames burned on the giant rock in the middle of the lake, and the Black Fire Spirit Fruit with a peel as thin as a cicada's wing lay in Lu Jing's palm.

An invisible, rich fire elemental energy joyfully surrounded Lu Jing, like a spirit of heaven and earth.

Lu Jing was not lying.

He made the Blackfire Spirit Fruit ripen, and the Blackfire Spirit Fruit ripened.

Because the fire elemental power within dozens of miles was fused with his 'divine' power, the Black Fire Spirit Fruit had even gradually been marked with Lu Jing's 'mark'.

"Elder Mei, here you go."

Elder Mei, who was wondering to himself, "Could it be that a martial artist with innate talent can ripen the Black Flame Spirit Fruit?" hurriedly accepted the crimson spirit fruit.

His gaze shifted from confusion to shock.

"Sect Leader, you..."

Lu Jing sighed, "Now that I'm already a Xiantian martial artist, what use is this Black Fire Spirit Fruit to me?"

Although he is not a true innate martial artist, claiming to be a half-realm expert does not improve his reputation for "bullying the weak".

Even disregarding Elder Mei's loyalty to Wan Jian Lou, his merit in risking his life to protect this body deserves a heavy reward.

Unfortunately, Wan Jian Lou now only has a few people left, and they don't have any treasures or property left.

"Eat it quickly, or it will rot and fester if left for too long."

With a complex expression and red-rimmed eyes, Elder Mei, who was organizing his words of gratitude, swallowed the food without saying a word and immediately began to sit cross-legged and practice his internal energy.

Other Blackfire Spirit Fruits may not be able to help a peak Acquired Realm martial artist break through to the Innate Realm.

However, this Black Fire Spirit Fruit, which contains a trace of Lu Jing's 'divine essence,' will allow anyone who consumes it to reach the level of a Xiantian expert, making a breakthrough to the Xiantian realm a certainty.

But the price...

You will never become the strongest!

However, the vast majority of martial artists in this world cannot become the strongest.

Even top sects like Mani Temple, Yuhuang Gate, and Qinwang City, which are inherited from the strongest, cannot become the strongest by cultivating the "Divine Scripture" left behind by the strongest, but that does not prevent these sects from standing at the top of the Nine Provinces.

With a flick of his sword, Lu Jingzhu picked up the ginseng-like black fire spirit root and placed it in Wei Duo's hand.

Lu Jing looked at the three eager boys and said sternly, "You can't eat now. Go back and wait until I teach you swordsmanship before you eat."

The Black Fire Spirit Root can be shared, but its effects are naturally much weaker than if it were eaten by one person.

As for Teng Qingshan, who did not obtain the Black Fire Spirit Root, well, the loss was indeed considerable.

In the original timeline, the Black Flame Spirit Fruit was stolen by the cunning Crimson Scale Beast, and Teng Qingshan obtained the Black Flame Spirit Root from Sima Qing. After consuming it, his physical strength increased by nearly 20,000 jin.

"The Chosen One of the World, with the Nine Provinces Cauldron by his side, losing a Black Fire Spiritual Root shouldn't be a problem, right?"

Lu Jing thought to himself, not really caring. If he had just transmigrated to the Nine Cauldrons Chronicle world, he would still have thought of using Teng Qingshan and Pei San to break through to the strongest level.

But after he found his own path, he no longer cared so much.

He was naturally happy that Teng Qingshan was finally standing in front of him.

If he can't become his opponent, Lu Jing doesn't care.

Even without Pei San and Teng Qingshan, Lu Jing was confident that he could become the strongest on his own.

……

Xuyang County, Huacheng, Wanjian Tower.

The Wei brothers, Wei Shi and Wei Duo, were cleaning the stairs, while Mei Xiaoying glanced at the sword hanging on the wall and occasionally looked worriedly at a door.

"Is the sect leader no longer recruiting disciples? There's so much to clean, I don't even have time to forge swords anymore," said Wei Duo, the shorter brother, scratching the back of his head.

Mei Xiaoying wrinkled her nose slightly: "What are you thinking? This time, our junior brother killed that so-called grandmaster and young island master of Qinghu Island. Who knows when Qinghu Island will attack us? We might have to run away and take on any disciples."

Mei Xiaoying didn't have much of a concept of Qinghu Island, so she didn't think it was that scary. With the sect leader there, what was there to be afraid of?

The door creaked open.

"Elder."

"Grandpa!" Mei Xiaoying turned her head cheerfully, then her face filled with horror: "Grandpa, you..."

When Elder Mei stepped out of the room, his hair was completely white and his face was covered with deep wrinkles.

She seemed to have aged more than twenty years in an instant.

But his bright, star-like eyes softened the signs of his advanced age.

"Hehe, don't worry, I have already dispersed all my internal energy as the sect leader said, which is why I look like this."

Elder Mei chuckled, showing no sign of worry in his eyes.

He has already consumed the Black Fire Spirit Fruit and has reached the level of "divine" manifestation in the Niwan Palace.

It can be said that if he wanted to, he could cultivate innate true essence at any time by "harmonizing his spirit and qi" and advance to become an innate martial artist.

However, for the sake of the sword path spoken of by the sect leader, Elder Mei did not hesitate for long and dispersed all his internal energy.

Elder Mei felt as if he had returned to the time when he first followed the old master, when the old master opened a door to a new world for him.

Even with an uncertain future, he followed the old master without hesitation, and built the Ten Thousand Swords Tower through hardship.

Now, his admiration for that boy is no less than that for the old master.

Elder Mei looked up at the rooftop, where the new leader of the Ten Thousand Swords Pavilion was in seclusion in the "Enlightenment Room" on the top floor.

……

Inside the Sword Enlightenment Room.

Lu Jing's situation differed from Elder Mei's and the others' expectations.

He is experiencing unimaginable pain.

Strands of crimson sword energy—no, it should be called sword aura—ravaged his body like the sharpest and most ruthless blade in the world.

The crimson sword energy does not follow the meridians.

Instead, it gradually condenses from the fire in the heart, and then transforms into countless fine needles that penetrate the muscles, bones, and skin, reaching the skin directly.

Wherever they went, it was as if they were being slowly tortured.

However, Lu Jing's "god" was suspended high in the void of the Niwan Palace, calmly guiding the crimson sword energy to transform his body.

Every part of his body was shredded and destroyed by the omnipresent crimson sword energy, and then rebuilt.

Every cell and every bone and tendon was rapidly strengthened under the influence of the crimson sword energy.

"The Buddha has a source."

"The Dao possesses innate true essence."

"Internal martial arts have internal strength."

"This extraordinary power of mine can be called Sword Qi!"

Having grasped the essence of the fire element, Lu Jing was naturally able to begin condensing the Five Elements Sword Qi.

As he expected, the sword energy was indeed fierce and ruthless.

Lu Jing extended his index finger.

"call out!"

The inch-long, sharp, crimson streak of light detached from Lu Jing's fingertips.

With a "whoosh," it pierced through the roof and shot straight into the sky.

"Indeed, it is in no way inferior to innate true essence!"

It is even more powerful than innate true energy! And it is also more mysterious.

After everything settled down, Lu Jing clenched his fist, feeling the unprecedented power emanating from his body.

His body was actually strengthened to the point of possessing the strength of 50,000 jin, and it continued to improve under the influence of the sword energy.

And that single wisp of crimson sword energy could unleash a force of 100,000 jin!

Lu Jing no longer hesitated, and his spirit merged with heaven and earth.

Then, endless fire elemental power surged into his body.

The crimson sword energy increased rapidly, reaching its limit in just a quarter of an hour—to the point where even a stronger Lu Jing's body would likely disintegrate.

"This isn't forging a sword with one's own body; it's using one's own body as a scabbard!"

Lu Jing sighed, "Indeed, great power comes with great danger!"

Sword Qi is extremely powerful, and is definitely the strongest among the four innate powers: Buddhist Yuan, Innate True Yuan, and Internal Qi.

But because of this, it is extremely dangerous, not only against the enemy but also against oneself.

The swordsmanship created by the Master of Ten Thousand Swords, and perfected and improved by him, follows the path of forging swords with one's own body and using one's own body as a scabbard.

Use the "divine" guidance to transform and strengthen the body with sword energy.

The stronger one's physical body, the easier it is to restrain and control the powerful sword energy, preventing it from backfiring.

The power of the sword energy can also have a reciprocal effect on the physical body.

Both improved.

To achieve the ultimate strength, the physical body alone should be able to reach at least 200,000 jin of force, and the sword aura itself should also be able to unleash 200,000 jin of power to achieve balance.

The two combined amount to 400,000 jin!

He is now on par with a master of the Innate Core Formation.

This is only the Fire Element Sword Qi. Once the other four types of sword qi are condensed, it is possible to cultivate a physical body with the strength of a million jin and an invisible sword qi with the power of a million jin.

The total weight is two million jin, which is even stronger than the limit of one million six hundred thousand jin of the internal energy lineage created by Teng Qingshan!

But it is far more dangerous than the internal martial arts style.

This sword aura must be restrained by both the 'spirit' and the physical body; the slightest carelessness will result in destruction of both oneself and others.

The enhancement of the "divine" and physical body must be in accordance with the sword energy; one cannot simply strengthen the sword energy indiscriminately.

Of course, Lu Jing doesn't have this problem.

Even if he mastered all five elements of sword energy, his 'spirit' could easily restrain him.

In fact, although he had only condensed one sword aura within his body, he was already able to fully mobilize the thirty percent of the power of heaven and earth that he had comprehended with this sword aura!

At this moment, Lu Jing was already a true Void Realm expert!

"Not enough!"

Ordinary 30% of the power of heaven and earth is only the level of the initial stage of entering the Void Realm, while the Great Completion of the Void Realm can mobilize 100% of the power of heaven and earth.

Those who have inherited the supreme divine secrets and have reached the Great Perfection of the Void Realm can even unleash twelve-tenths of the power of heaven and earth.

"The Sword of Man!"

Lu Jing still needs to condense the sword of man, and use the sword of man to control the sword of heaven, the sword of the five elements!

Their combat power will be stronger, at least their destructive power will far exceed that of Void Realm experts of equal strength in the world.

Lu Jing's 'god' looked at the hundreds of swords of various shapes laid out in front of him.

He could clearly sense the countless emotions and obsessions condensed on these swords.

……

Outside the city gate of Huacheng.

A slightly plump man with fair skin, dressed in a purple robe and carrying a folding fan, walked into the city gate like an ordinary wealthy merchant.

A burly, dark-skinned man behind him muttered, "Master, what's so great about Yangzhou? Why did we have to rush over here..."

The man in purple robes chuckled and said, "Yangzhou is the most prosperous city in the entire country. How could I not come here...?"

The words came to an abrupt halt.

The burly, dark-skinned man asked in surprise, "Master? Master?"

The big man was somewhat surprised; his master was completely mesmerized by the five-story tower in the center of the city.

(End of this chapter)