The Great Martial Saint!

Chapter 586 The Hidden Land, Enemies Meet on a Narrow Road (Seeking Monthly Tickets~)

"This should be the final challenge."

The Holy Maiden of Heavenly Net gently stroked the spiritual inscription on the stone gate with her delicate hand, and the remaining spiritual essence from her fingertips fell like stardust.

After nearly two days, she finally broke through the final barrier.

The restrictions inscribed on the stone gate are extremely profound, and have not diminished in the slightest even after hundreds of years.

If she hadn't been well-versed in spiritual matters and made prior preparations, she would have returned empty-handed even if she had come this far.

The restrictions on this stone gate are so strong that even a celestial being wouldn't dare to forcibly break them without resorting to trickery.

Her cleverness in breaking the restrictions was largely due to what she had gained from the secret hidden realm, in addition to her own accumulated knowledge.

As she watched the inscriptions flow and the stone gate about to open, a strange ripple appeared in the eyes of the Heavenly Luo Saintess, which were as clear as starlight and glass.

Several years have passed since we began searching for the Demon Lord's secrets.

Starting from the very first clue, and traversing dozens of states, it was finally determined that the last remains of the Purple-Eyed Demon Lord, who once shook the entire dynasty, were located in the Thunder Mountain Range within the Azure Dragon State!
Rumble~
The inscription shone brightly, and a wave of spiritual energy erupted the moment the stone gate opened.

The Holy Maiden of Tianlu reacted extremely quickly. The moment the wave erupted, the glass lamp suspended in mid-air emitted a soft spiritual light to wash away and neutralize the spiritual wave.

However, this spiritual wave was extremely powerful, and although there was a precious glass cup, it could not completely counteract it, and a small amount of it dissipated.

"town!"

The Holy Maiden of Heavenly Net lightly raised her fair wrist, and a purple lotus condensed in the void.

The purple light shone brightly, drawing all the spiritual energy scattered around into the purple lotus.

The spirituality, like silver, swirled within the purple lotus, seemingly trying to break free, but gradually vanished into nothingness amidst the swirling spiritual light.

The Heavenly Maiden lowered her hand, and the purple lotus in the void vanished, along with the spiritual energy within it.

Just when the Holy Maiden of Tianluo thought the matter was over, a second spiritual wave erupted as the stone gate creaked a second time.

Bang!
The surging spiritual energy, like a raging tide, swept outwards in all directions.

In mid-air, the crystal lamp glowed with a mystical light, enveloping its surroundings. But the instant the wave erupted, the lamp's light weakened slightly, and then...
The spiritual flame on the cup was almost extinguished by the waves, and some spiritual energy, like silver, escaped.

Black ribbons billowed, shimmering with purple light, intending to lock the spiritual energy within. But ultimately, it fell short; a few still slipped through the net, dissipating towards the upper levels.

At this point, the gap that appeared in the middle of the stone gate was large enough for a person to pass through.

hum~
With a flash of purple light, the Heavenly Luo Saintess entered the stone gate.

What has already happened cannot be undone, but what has not yet happened can be strived for.

Furthermore, while the dissipation of spiritual energy does pose a risk of exposing this place, the possibility is extremely low.

The dissipated spiritual energy is not much, and after being consumed by several barriers, even if it finally reaches the secret waterway, there will probably be very little left.

In addition, her array flags provided cover outside the waterway. Although the effect was greatly reduced without her control, it was still sufficient for ordinary concealment.

Unless a supreme grandmaster with abundant spirituality and a solid foundation happens to pass by, there is absolutely no way that they would discover it.

Furthermore, instead of worrying about things that can't be undone, it's better to address the issue at its source.

"Secret Waterway, Spiritual Array Flag!"

Sensing an unusual spiritual energy, Chen Ping'an entered the river and quickly discovered the source of the anomaly.

At the bottom of the river, there was a huge rocky reef, and on one side of the reef, there was an undercurrent. To the naked eye, everything looked normal, and even a cursory scan with spiritual sense would not reveal anything unusual.

However, Chen Ping'an, who had sensed the spiritual ripples beforehand, naturally did not skim over it. With a meticulous spiritual examination, he finally discovered the mystery behind it.

This place is shrouded by banners, isolating the inner and outer spiritual realms, creating illusions, and confusing the senses.

If he hadn't been so perceptive, he probably wouldn't have discovered this array flag.

"This is."

Chen Ping'an stared at the slowly swirling array flags in front of him. His gaze froze for a moment, then was filled with surprise and delight.

"The Holy Maiden of the Heavenly Net!"

Chen Ping'an's face lit up with joy, and a sharp glint flashed in his eyes.

"This time, you won't be so lucky."

hum~
Chen Ping'an's brow twitched, and his aura became even more concealed.

At the same time, his bones and muscles throbbed, and his body underwent a dramatic change.

Then he took out the transparent mask, and soon he became a complete stranger.

He had previously concealed his appearance, making some minor alterations. However, these changes were clearly insufficient to deceive the Holy Maiden of Heavenly Net.

He was determined to win this battle. But even with absolute certainty, he wouldn't leave any loose ends.

To avoid arousing the extreme vigilance of the Heavenly Net Saintess upon first meeting.

His disguise this time is different from the image of the black-robed monster he once had.

But neither the transparent mask nor his bone-strengthening technique could conceal the origins of his aura.

He did not master the precise technique of concealing his aura, so as long as his cultivation level was similar, without the difference in the Golden Finger panel to cover it up, his aura would be exposed, allowing the Heavenly Luo Saintess to discover that he was the black-robed old monster from before.

However, Chen Ping'an didn't expect to be able to deceive Tianluo with this. All he needed was a moment.

Having had previous experiences, Chen Ping'an already had a basic understanding of the Heavenly Luo Saintess's methods, so there was no need for further testing or coercion. He needed to seize that fleeting opportunity the moment they made contact, and before the Heavenly Luo Saintess could figure out his background, he would unleash his full power and suppress her completely.

Based on his previous experience, he absolutely could not allow the Heavenly Luo Saintess to engage in long-range combat. The Heavenly Luo Saintess possessed several supreme divine skills and was proficient in many secret techniques; her methods were primarily suited for mid- to long-range engagements.

Once she creates distance, it not only makes the battle incredibly complicated, but also increases the possibility of her escaping.

While Tianluo Saintess's close-range combat skills are not weak, and many of her attacks have unique aspects, they are clearly inferior to her other methods.

On the other hand, Chen Ping'an, besides being proficient in several external martial arts techniques and having perfected the Ten Thousand Demons Body Forging Technique, also possessed the Seven Killing Heavenly Gang Fist and the Seven Absolute Divine Skills. He was never short of close-range combat skills.

When external circumstances are unfavorable, close-quarters combat is an advantage for him. But for the Heavenly Maiden, it is her weakness.

This is to use one's strengths to attack the enemy's weaknesses.

Furthermore, the Heavenly Luo Saintess's treasured Glazed Lamp also requires extreme caution. It was precisely that glazed lamp's three-colored spiritual light that swept away his Myriad Demon True Body, greatly reducing his combat power. Otherwise, with the Myriad Demon True Body's blessing, the Heavenly Luo Saintess would never have been able to escape his grasp.

In any case, he would never repeat the same mistake and let the Holy Maiden of Tianlu escape in this encounter.

In this battle, the old grudges will finally be settled!
To avoid alerting the enemy, Chen Ping'an did not intend to take the battle flags.

Chen Ping'an concealed his presence, deliberately avoiding the location of the array flags, and entered the waterway.

It's less about entering a waterway and more about stepping into the current.

The array flag of the Heavenly Net Saintess has the ability to isolate spiritual energy, but it cannot be ruled out that it can also sense spiritual fluctuations. Therefore, upon entering, Chen Ping'an suppressed all his spiritual energy, did not even circulate his true essence, and allowed the water to wet his body as he entered the waterway.

The waterway is deep and long, just wide enough for one person to pass through. It seems to have been formed by some kind of spiritual barrier, creating this unique passage.

Chen Ping'an did not linger and, after ensuring his safety, quickly headed towards the depths of the waterway.

After moving away from the array flags, he began to use his spiritual sense to explore the area in a small area.

The waterway slopes downwards, its flow initially turbulent before gradually disappearing. It seems this secret place is deep underground.

Not knowing how many people were on Tianluo Saintess's side, Chen Ping'an was on edge and remained highly vigilant.

At this moment, he had already made a plan in his mind. As long as he found that there were other people around the Holy Maiden of Tianluo, he would proceed slowly and observe the situation.

If it was beyond his power, then he would change his approach: kill the Heavenly Net Saintess if he could, and if he couldn't, then see if he could take advantage of the situation to gain some benefits.

As for danger
Chen Ping'an's gaze sharpened.

Since the battle of Long'an, his combat strength has significantly improved.

In addition to the upgrade of spirit rune inscription from seven to eight runes, some supporting combat methods have also been significantly improved, such as the green bamboo tube and the gray fine net.

Now, he has acquired the Azure Flame Four Directions Flag and mastered the spiritual secret technique, Soul Splitting Thorn.

According to his own assessment, his current combat strength is at least a notch higher than it was back then.

Furthermore, with his physically robust physique, even if he were to face those grandmasters ranked at the top of the Wind and Cloud Rankings, he could easily survive, even if he couldn't win.

but
No matter how strong his combat power or how confident he is, it's not a reason for him to act recklessly.

After all, no matter how strong his self-protection ability is, it is still only within the scope of a Grandmaster.

If they were to encounter someone above the Grandmaster level, they would likely only suffer a crushing defeat!
Thinking of this, Chen Ping'an couldn't help but wonder if he had been too overconfident in his trip.

However, he quickly dismissed the idea.

If there were truly experts present, then what was concealed outside the waterway would definitely not be the work of the Heavenly Net Saintess.

Now that the decision has been made, there's no need to be hesitant or timid.

Putting aside the Holy Maiden of Tianluo, the benefits of this secret place alone are enough to make people look forward to it.

Given such an opportunity, how could we easily give it up?
"but."

Chen Ping'an waved his hand, and four command flags appeared in front of him.

"We must be on guard!"

Four command flags fluttered and circled around him.

Behind the stone gate stands a magnificent hall. The hall has an ancient and simple design with intricate carvings, and towering stone pillars adorned with various patterns.

In the very center of the main hall is a spiritual spring several meters in size, which seems to be the most refined energy of heaven and earth gathering and blending, and occasionally some thin mist rises out.

Centered around the spiritual spring, there are stone platforms surrounding it, each displaying various items and covered with a transparent protective light shield.

Whoosh!
With a flash of purple light, the Heavenly Luo Saintess passed through the stone gate and entered the main hall. She ignored the treasures around her and her gaze fell directly on the stone platform in the center of the spiritual spring.

On the stone platform is a protective light shield, on which two items float, emitting a soft, precious light that gently leaps and flows across the surface of the shield.

"The Purple Extreme Secret Manual! The Thousand Illusions Treasure Technique!"

The Holy Goddess Tianluo looked delighted, a hint of excitement appearing on her ethereal and beautiful face.

hum~
With a tremor of purple light, the figure of the Heavenly Luo Saintess vanished from the spot, only to reappear in front of the Spirit Spring.

The stone platform in the center of the spiritual spring is protected by a spiritual barrier; to obtain the treasure, one must break the barrier.

This restriction is extremely profound. Even a supreme grandmaster who is proficient in the spiritual path would find it very difficult to break through, and would need to expend a great deal of effort to do so.

However, she had already gained something from her previous secret hiding place, and could break the restriction through a clever method.

In at most a quarter of an hour, she would be able to break the seal and obtain the two treasures.

hum~
The Heavenly Maiden's hair cascaded like a waterfall, and a pale purple mark was drawn between her brows, making her appear dreamlike and ethereal. Before breaking the restriction, the Heavenly Maiden hesitated for a moment, then gently raised her hand, and a round mirror, a green inkstone, and a precious pearl appeared before her.

These three items were obtained by her from a secret place, and she had just completed their refining process these past few days.

"Although there is no danger here, it's better to be safe than sorry!"

After making these arrangements, the Holy Maiden of Heavenly Net made up her mind, a purple light flashed between her brows, and as she gently raised her jade hand, a stream of light surged forth.

The wisps of purple light touched the spiritual restrictions on the stone platform, their movements seemingly endless.

"This place"

As Chen Ping'an walked along the secret passage, he looked at his surroundings with a hint of disbelief on his face.

This secret realm is extremely large in scale, far from being an ordinary place. From time to time, one can see some spiritual restrictions. Although they have been broken and faded, the intricate spiritual inscriptions reveal that these spiritual restrictions were extraordinary.

"This is unusual!" Chen Ping'an became increasingly vigilant.

In secret places of this level, one must be extremely cautious.

Chen Ping'an's brows furrowed as he cautiously surveyed his surroundings.

As he ventured deeper into the passageway, he would occasionally see remnants of the breached defenses.

"It seems these were left behind by the Holy Maiden of Tianluo or other travelers!"

Chen Ping'an carefully examined the surrounding area, but apart from these remnants of the breached seal, he found nothing of value. For the time being, he couldn't determine exactly how many people had entered.

He encountered no danger along the way. After walking through the secret passage for a while, he arrived at a stone forest area. This stone forest was incredibly complex, like a maze. Judging from the surroundings, Chen Ping'an quickly discovered that this stone forest was originally a spiritual array, possessing many confusing abilities.

However, judging from the current situation, it seems to have been broken.

"One generation plants the trees, another enjoys the shade!" Chen Ping'an walked through the stone forest, feeling quite cheerful.

He never expected to receive such treatment on his only secret expedition. He didn't need to put in any effort; he just had to follow the people in front of him.

"Excellent! Let's wait and see what opportunities this secret place holds."

hum~
Inside the magnificent hall, a hazy, purple light shimmered. On the stone platform in the center of the spiritual spring, intricate spiritual runes flashed across the transparent protective barrier.

The Heavenly Maiden's eyes were like stars, seemingly painted with galaxies, and the light purple mark between her brows made her look like a dream.

On the stone platform, the protective light barrier was slowly dissolving, and the precious light flowing within it grew increasingly intense.

Perhaps due to the breaking of the restriction, the mist rising from the spiritual spring became increasingly dense, swirling around the area.

The initial difficulties in breaking the restriction have passed, and a stable phase has begun. The Holy Maiden of the Heavenly Net is relaxed and composed.

In search of the Purple-Eyed Demon Lord's ultimate secret treasure, she explored many secret locations, the closest of which was a secondary secret realm located within the important town of Long'an.

Based on her previous assessment, she considered this secret place to be the final secret place, containing the true treasures of the Purple-Eyed Demon Lord.

Exploring secret locations will trigger restrictions, and breaking them will inevitably attract attention.

Within the important town of Long'an, trade flourishes, and numerous Grandmasters reside there. Under normal circumstances, her investigation would inevitably attract attention.

And just right.
Amidst the turmoil in Long'an, the important town was overwhelmed with its own troubles. Taking advantage of this opportunity, she explored the secret place and gained a fortuitous opportunity.

Although the Dragon's Nest Secret Land was not the final secret land she had previously identified, she gained many opportunities within it. Most importantly, she discovered the true location of the Purple-Eyed Demon Lord's ultimate treasure there.

Although they suffered some minor injuries and lost a lot of resources during the exploration, overall they managed to get through it smoothly.

The trip to Long'an was safe and successful.
Without that old monster...

A slight ripple appeared in the indifferent eyes of the Heavenly Luo Saintess.

The Battle of Long'an was a humiliating defeat!
If she hadn't expended a lot of her resources in the secret realm, the outcome of this battle would have been uncertain!

Unfortunately, there are no "what ifs" in reality.

That old monster is incredibly powerful, proficient in several martial arts techniques, and also knows the Seven Absolutes Elder's signature technique, the Seven Absolutes Divine Skill!

Regarding the whereabouts of the Seven Absolutes Elder, she had already instructed people within the sect to investigate in recent days. The information they received was that no one had seen the Seven Absolutes Elder in the past year, and his disciples also knew no specific information.

The whereabouts of the old man who wrote the Seven-Character Quatrain remain a mystery.
Furthermore, following the clues about the Nether Rain Needle, the investigation also led to the Seven Absolutes Elder. Among the few people in the Holy Sect who possessed or had used the divine weapon Nether Rain Needle, the Seven Absolutes Elder's name was prominently listed.

Aside from the Seven Absolute Elder, the closest person is several states away from Canglong Prefecture! His whereabouts have been recently revealed, making it completely impossible in terms of time.

After a thorough investigation, it seems that the only person ultimately at fault is the Seven Absolutes Elder!
just
The Holy Maiden of Heavenly Net recalled the old monster's combat power from before and could not reconcile it with that of the Seven Absolute Elder.

Although she had never met the Seven Absolutes Elder, she knew his martial arts level. Even if he was holding back, he was at most a Grandmaster in terms of combat strength.

If it weren't for the clue of the Seven Absolute Divine Skill, there might have been many other possibilities. But the Seven Absolute Divine Skill is the unique skill of the Seven Absolute Elder, and after much consideration, the other possibilities become extremely slim.

"Old monster, no matter who you are, I will kill you!"

The Heavenly Maiden's black hair cascaded down like a waterfall, and amidst the purple mist, she exuded unparalleled divine charm.

hum~
The light flickered, and the transparent light shield on the stone platform gradually dimmed until it disappeared completely.

Whoosh!
With a slight lift of her wrist, the Holy Maiden of Heavenly Net placed the two items on the stone platform into her hands.

A purple jade slip and a blue bamboo scroll.

"I've got the Purple Extreme Secret Manual and the Thousand Illusions Treasure Technique!"

The Purple-Eyed Demon Lord, once renowned throughout the land, had earned a formidable reputation. His greatest reliance rested on these two objects before him!

The Purple Extreme Secret Manual! The Thousand Illusions Treasure Technique!
The former cultivates martial arts techniques, the latter uses secret killing techniques!
With her talent, no matter what cultivation method she practices, her future will not be too bad.

But having embarked on this path, the natural destination is the summit. If one doesn't reach the summit, what's the point of cultivation?
The Holy Sect has a history spanning thousands of years, possessing a profound foundation and a vast collection of secret techniques and cultivation methods.

Not to mention supreme divine skills, there are more than a few precious scroll true skills.

But upon examining all these techniques, apart from the Holy Sect's supreme techniques, none could support her future path.

However, the conditions required to cultivate the sacred sect's supreme cultivation technique are extremely demanding. Even with her exceptional talent and intelligence, it is not something that can be achieved overnight.

Even if everything is done step by step, she may not be able to master the sect's cultivation techniques. Even if she is blessed with both good fortune and luck, she will still have to wait for hundreds of years.

Time flies, and life is precious; how can she be allowed to squander it like this?

Aside from the Holy Sect's supreme cultivation technique, the only technique that suits her constitution and can support her future path is the Purple Extreme Secret Manual of the Purple-Eyed Demon Lord.

She had been preparing for this moment for years.

Even those who cultivate the Purple Qi Heavenly Net are preparing for cultivating the Purple Extreme Secret Scripture.

With the Purple Qi Heavenly Net as a foundation, the difficulty of switching to the Purple Extreme Secret Scripture will be greatly reduced.

However, if she fails to find the Purple Extreme Secret Manual, it means that everything will have been in vain.

Not only will it waste her talent, but it will also affect her future path.

Whether she switches to cultivating other true martial arts manuals or creates her own divine skills based on the Purple Qi Heavenly Net, it means that she will find it difficult to compete with the most monstrous talents of her generation.

One step behind, every step behind.

Both are unparalleled geniuses, and even the slightest delay is enough to widen the gap between them.

She staked everything, and today...
May everything go perfectly and as you wish!

Once she uses the Purple Qi Heavenly Net as her foundation and turns to cultivate the Purple Extreme Secret Scripture, comprehending some of its mysteries, she will ascend to the realm of martial arts immortality, overwhelming her contemporaries with invincible power!

The Holy Maiden of Heavenly Net didn't look at them for long before putting the two items into her Thousand Machine Bag.

Although the secret manuals and techniques are valuable, now is not the time to study them.

Without any delay, the Holy Maiden of Heavenly Net flashed and began to collect the other items.

Inside the main hall, in addition to the stone platform in the center, there are many other stone platforms surrounding the hall.

The Purple-Eyed Demon Lord, renowned throughout the world, is a giant of the demonic path. His secret treasures are invariably of the finest quality.

Inside the main hall, each stone platform is protected by a protective barrier. To obtain the treasure, one must break through these barriers.

However, having already succeeded the first time, the Heavenly Net Saintess cracked the code extremely quickly.

Besides having gained experience, the biggest reason is that the protective shields in other positions are far less effective than the one in the center.

hum~
A ripple of light appeared on the barrier, but it was quickly broken by the Heavenly Luo Saintess.

"The essence of Zisha clay!"

With a wave of her hand, the Holy Maiden of Heavenly Net took the treasures on the stone platform into her possession.

Next!
A dozen breaths later, the restriction was broken, and the treasure once again fell into the hands of the Heavenly Net Saintess.

"Jade Purification Bottle!"

While these items may not be as rare as the Purple Extreme Secret Manual or the Thousand Illusions Treasure Technique, each one is still extremely precious. In the outside world, let alone grandmasters, even martial arts celestials would likely be incredibly envious.

The Purple-Eyed Demon Lord has roamed freely for many years, and the secrets hidden here are truly abundant!

"A jade hairpin!"

The Purple-Eyed Demon Lord lived a carefree life and had countless female confidantes. It is not surprising that his secret hideout contains such female-style spiritual weapons.

As the Heavenly Maiden continued to collect resources, the protective light barrier in the arena gradually diminished.

The reason this exploration of the secret realm went so smoothly was mainly because she had obtained important information in the previous secondary secret realm.

With intelligence support, this exploration proceeded with composure and ease.

Without spending too much time, the Holy Maiden of Tianluo collected all the treasures in the main hall.

Just as she was about to check everything to see if anything was missing, the spiritual restrictions in the main hall suddenly became active.

buzz~
On the stone pillars, spirituality reflects each other, outlining a hazy glow.

"This is."

A light curtain appeared above the main hall, behind which precious light flowed, seemingly revealing a hidden world.

"And the inner palace!"

The Holy Maiden of Heavenly Net's eyes lit up with joy; she hadn't expected there to be a hidden meaning.

Whoosh!
With a flash of purple light, she moved towards the light screen.

Just as she flew into the air and was about to enter the light curtain, the situation in the arena suddenly changed, and a violent aura exploded out.

"Seven Killing Heavenly Fist, Shocking Kill, Thunderous Strike!"

The incredibly violent punches, like a thunder dragon, exploded and killed!

(End of this chapter)