The Great Martial Saint!

Chapter 789 A Gathering of Prodigies, The Blood Prison Young Master

The Eastern Territory of the Great Qian Dynasty, the Holy Land of Swordsmanship, the Heavenly Sword Pavilion.

At Wenjian Peak, on Broken Sword Cliff, ancient swords resound with a clanging sound, like birds leaping for joy, as they circulate in the sky.

A white-haired youth sat cross-legged, his hair fluttering, and the phantom of a jade sword appeared.

Outside Broken Sword Cliff, an old man stood in mid-air, his posture like the spine of a pine tree, gazing intently.

"The realm of the boundless, the realm of the celestial beings, lies in enlightenment. If you constantly understand this mind, blessings will naturally come. The matter of cultivation is not confined to the present moment; if you are interested, you can go out and travel."

The old man's voice seemed to come from the depths of time, echoing in the clouds over Sword Cliff.

On Broken Sword Cliff, a white-haired youth opened his eyes, a sword rang out, and an ancient sword fell to the ground.

The Five Poisons Cult resides in the western and southwestern border region of the Great Qian Dynasty.

In a valley shrouded in poisonous fog and dense veil of mist, a woman stands with her hair hanging low, a silver hairpin dangling askew, and a few strands of black hair falling down her neck, exuding a broken and poignant beauty.

"Junior Sister Yiren, congratulations. You have overcome your mental obstacles, achieved harmony with nature, and finally entered this realm."

A sound came from behind the woman, and poisonous fog rolled in. In the distance of the valley, a man with a solitary demeanor and a pale face appeared.

The lonely woman did not turn around; she simply looked ahead.

The man pursed his purplish lips, a barely perceptible ripple appearing in his eyes, as if it were heartache, or something else entirely.

"Junior sister, Master has already sent people to search for the Pure Marrow Jade Rhinoceros and the Heavenly Purification Water. The matter of the poisonous body will be resolved soon, so junior sister need not worry too much."

"Thank you, senior brother."

Dugu Yiren's voice carried a hint of indescribable loneliness.

The ripples in the man's eyes deepened. He hesitated for a moment, looked at the figure in front of him, and took a few more steps forward, stopping less than ten feet away from the woman.

Since entering the Celestial Realm, the poison in my junior sister's body has become even more potent. Even with the protective armor suppressing it, the naturally emitted poison is enough to threaten most pseudo-Celestial Realm cultivators. Even martial arts Celestial Realm cultivators will experience significant suppression upon prolonged close contact.

These toxins are far more potent than so-called rare poisons; their toxicity invades the soul, and if not treated promptly, they can significantly impact lifespan.

His cultivation level has reached a certain point, and although I am not entirely wary of him, his condition will inevitably affect my cultivation if I take care of him.

"Junior sister, even if others avoid you, you still have your senior brother. Your senior brother is fine." A rare smile appeared on the man's face. Although it was somewhat awkward and incongruous, it was the most direct expression of goodwill he could offer.

"No matter what happens in the future, my senior brother will always be here."

As he spoke, the man released his spiritual barrier and, gazing at the figure before him, took another step forward.

As she moved, an invisible poison seemed to permeate her, every trace of it carrying a deadly aura. Yet the man resolutely approached, slowly reaching out his hand, wanting to touch his junior sister's body, even if it was just a touch, it would be the comfort he could offer her.

But just as he was about to touch Dugu Yiren, her figure disappeared in front of him, and when she reappeared, she was already ten feet away.

“Senior brother, there’s no need for that.” Dugu Yiren’s voice was calm, carrying a sense of aloofness that kept people at arm’s length: “If it’s because of the delay in cultivation, Master will also punish you.”

The man was pale and dejectedly stretched out his hand, as if he wanted to say something, but in the end he couldn't say anything.

With his cultivation level, he was not afraid of the poison on his junior sister's body; a little interference and a short period of adjustment would be enough to eliminate it. However, if she came into close contact with him, the poison would spread, and even for him, dealing with it would not be so easy.

Normally it wouldn't be a problem, but now that his junior sister has reached the Martial Dao Celestial Realm, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that if he were to touch her, it would delay his cultivation by several months.

The valley was completely silent. Dugu Yiren stood in the valley, lost in thought.

A gentle breeze rippled the surface, but it couldn't disperse the dense, poisonous barrier.

The Northern Frontier, the Snow Goddess Palace.

Within the Xuanbing True Palace, figures sat solemnly on ice crystal lotus platforms.

"Jiang Wuyai and Dugu Yiren are quite fast, having ascended to the Celestial Realm one after another. The emergence of the Hidden Dragon has given the Heavenly Sword Pavilion and the Five Poisons Divine Sect a head start."

"Gaining an advantage? Li'er sent word long ago that she had already reached the Celestial Realm. In terms of time, she was even ahead of the two of them. How can she have an advantage? With Li'er's abilities, her realm is now stable, her body is extraordinary, and under the Cold Soul Secret Technique, even a second-realm Celestial Realm cultivator could probably be easily suppressed. Although Jiang Wuyai and Dugu Yiren are excellent, they are still a step behind Li'er."

"Elder Mi, you are mistaken. Although Li'er's body is exceptional, it is not yet perfect. Jiang Wuyai is born with a sword body, and Dugu Yiren possesses a poison body with extraordinary physiques. They may not be much inferior to Li'er."

"Elder Luo, are you implying that my Snow God Palace's current prodigy, the Ice Saintess, is inferior to the Heavenly Sword Pavilion and the Five Poisons Divine Sect?"

"No, Elder Mi, you misunderstand. What I mean is that the two of them have extraordinary physiques. Although Li'er is slightly faster, they should not be underestimated."

"Elder Luo, can I take this as you boosting the morale of others?"

"Elder Mi! Have you heard what I have to say?"

"You, surnamed Luo, dare to yell at me?"

"Ah, this"

"."

Within the Xuanbing True Palace, the struggle continues unabated. The Snow God Palace, with its millennia-long history, primarily consists of female disciples, with very few men holding elder positions. Those who do hold elder positions are mostly female cultivators.

Sometimes discussions, though seemingly noisy, are actually just a way to relax during breaks from spiritual practice. The situation we're in right now is another example of this closeness.

To be ranked as an elder of the Snow God Palace is an extremely high level; even within the Northern Territory, one would be considered a truly high-level cultivator. Under such circumstances, it's natural to find suitable leisure and relaxation in ordinary settings.

Most cultivators of the Snow God Palace advocate a life of purity, few desires, tranquility, and detachment. Their public image represents not only themselves but also the reputation of the Snow God Palace over millennia.

In such situations, one cannot act recklessly, and the squabbles and quarrels among acquaintances are the best way to relax.

The Snow Goddess Palace Elder, holding a high position and wielding great power, is pure and immaculate, and is also the most ideal Daoist partner in the hearts of countless Celestial Martial Lords.

If one can find such a wonderful partner, one will be at the very top of the social hierarchy, whether at a grand auction, a small trading event, or a private gathering among close friends.

Having an elder from the Snow God Palace as a Daoist partner is not only a testament to strength and influence, but also the ultimate expression of male charm.

Such a sense of accomplishment is extremely difficult to resist, even for celestial beings.

After all, within familiar circles, over the years, everyone's cultivation and foundation are roughly the same. Comparing them to each other isn't very meaningful, but if other areas are involved, then there's certainly much to discuss.

However, the Snow God Palace has such a reputation, which is also the standard for choosing a Daoist partner that has been consistently passed down by the elders of the Snow God Palace throughout the generations.

It's not just about the outward appearance, but also about the inner stirrings within.

However, most of the people in the Snow God Palace are pure and detached from worldly desires, so it would be harder than climbing to heaven to make her feel anything.

Disciples are one thing, but those at the elder level have already made significant strides on their cultivation path. Without experiencing life-or-death situations together a few times, they shouldn't utter any words of excitement.

Even so, there are still many practitioners who follow one after another, enjoying it immensely.

Each update of the Hidden Dragon Ranking, as the most brilliant list of geniuses in the dynasty, is destined to attract the attention of all forces. The prodigies on the list will circulate and be hotly discussed on a large scale.

If he is the most brilliant prodigy of our time, then the scope of his fame and the discussions surrounding him will extend throughout the entire dynasty.

However, there is a difference between the level of discussion and the degree of discussion. In previous episodes, although there was widespread discussion, none of them have reached this level.

"Two more Celestial Beings have emerged? Among our generation, four Celestial Beings have appeared on the Hidden Dragon Ranking?"

"Four celestial beings shine upon the world, ranking alongside the hidden dragons. Such a magnificent sight hasn't appeared for many years, has it!?"
"Yes, to catch up, we need to catch up with at least twenty or thirty generations ahead."

"The Hidden Dragons are selected every thirty years, and a new generation every fifty years. This has been going on for nearly a thousand years! The current Hidden Dragons Ranking is the most exciting one in nearly a thousand years."

"The Nine Heavens Gate, the Heavenly Sword Pavilion, the Profound Gate, and the Five Poisons Divine Sect! These four forces are the biggest winners in the current struggle for supremacy among hidden dragons!"

"The biggest winner?! The battle of the hidden dragons has probably only just begun!"

"You mean"

"."

Throughout the four realms and various territories of the dynasty, news of the updated Hidden Dragon Ranking sparked heated discussions and debates. Most of the attention was focused on the two newly promoted Martial Dao Celestials.

Jiang Wuyai, the Sword Master of the Heavenly Sword Pavilion, has achieved the realm of martial arts mastery and ranks third among the Hidden Dragons.

The Five Poisons Cult, the Five Poisons Saintess, Dugu Yiren, achieved the realm of martial arts mastery and ranked fourth among the Hidden Dragons.

The appearance of these two brilliant prodigies overshadowed the brilliance of the other geniuses. The previously evenly distributed discussion about the rankings now focused intensely on the martial arts masters on the list.

Martial Arts Celestial Being and Grandmaster—this is a difference of vast realms. Below the Celestial Being level, no matter how outstanding one is, it's difficult to arouse the interest of others in front of a Martial Arts Celestial Being.

Whether it's Feng Lingyin, who has consistently held the top spot on the Hidden Dragon Ranking, Chen Xuanli, who rose to prominence earlier, or the two newly promoted Martial Arts Celestials, they all generate far more buzz than the others on the list.

Furthermore, before reaching the Celestial Realm, both Jiang Wuyai and Dugu Yiren were Grandmasters on the Wind and Cloud Ranking. Now that they have reached the Celestial Realm, they naturally no longer participate in the competition on the Wind and Cloud Ranking.

The two Grandmasters who ranked high on the list already generated a lot of buzz, and their removal from the list naturally attracted a lot of discussion. This combination of discussion significantly diminished the prominence of the other rising stars.

The top ten of the Hidden Dragons still generate a lot of buzz, but the subsequent Prodigies have seen a significant drop in attention compared to the past.

However, even for a rising star among the hidden talents, there is a limit to their decline. With this update to the Hidden Dragon rankings, the talents on the list are still attracting considerable attention from various factions.

"Li Cangming of the Beihai Merchant Alliance, your combat strength has improved quite quickly. The Nine Stars Merchant Guild is certainly generous. He's only a Grandmaster of Martial Arts, yet they've already equipped him with a pseudo-heavy treasure. With this kind of combat strength, he's probably almost at the threshold of the Wind and Cloud Grandmaster level!"

"Lan Yingjun is a top-tier grandmaster, but his combat strength is comparable to that of a martial arts grandmaster. He has risen to this level in just a few periods of the Hidden Dragon Ranking. He is another monstrous genius after Mang Dao! If he breaks through the pass and becomes a martial arts grandmaster in the future, he will at least rank in the top thirty on the Hidden Dragon Ranking!"

"There's also the 'Wild Blade,' who single-handedly killed a Grandmaster of the Horizontal Cultivation Realm, possessing combat strength comparable to the legendary Fengyun, and ranking high on the Hidden Dragon List."

"Send someone to make contact with such monstrous talents and see if we can win them over."

"."

On the same day the rankings were updated, all parties immediately learned of the rankings and conducted detailed assessments and analyses.

Blood Prison Gate, Blood Sea Demon Palace.

The sea of ​​blood churned like raging waves, and above it stood a young man in golden robes, his shadow resembling a blood demon.

"Jiang Wuyai, Dugu Yiren!" A strange bloodlust appeared in his eyes, and his sinister expression was filled with resentment.

"Martial Arts Celestial Being!"

His eyes were bloodshot, and his voice roared like a golden lion, stirring up huge waves.

He was born into privilege, reaching a level that others could only dream of. From a young age, he cultivated his skills, and everything he accomplished went smoothly. Even within the bloody and fiercely competitive Blood Prison Sect, he was the most outstanding prodigy of his time.

His excellence stems not only from his social status, but also from his natural talent.

At a young age, he became a Grandmaster of Jade Balance, ascended to the Hidden Dragon Ranking, and became a Martial Arts Grandmaster, reaching the pinnacle of his combat prowess and ranking among the top ten of the Hidden Dragons.
Each and every one of these things speaks volumes about his excellence.

He had always considered himself the most outstanding and top-tier prodigy in the dynasty, in his time. Even those like Jiang Wuyai, Dugu Yiren, and Xuan Yueli were at most on par with him.

The reason he ranks lower than these others is simply due to the unique nature of his cultivation method. It is difficult to practice and extremely hard to improve, but once mastered, he will be virtually unmatched among his peers. His combat power is profound, and his true essence and spiritual energy are like a surging sea of ​​blood, inexhaustible.

If he gets some more opportunities, people like Jiang Wuyai might not be his match.

Among his contemporaries, only Feng Lingyin was considered a truly superior opponent. But apart from him, no one else could truly surpass him.

And those he considers rivals are even fewer.

However, this only applies to the top few on the list.

The reason he considered Qu Feiyan, the Holy Maiden of the Heavenly Net, to be the perfect Daoist partner was twofold: firstly, her Yin constitution would greatly benefit his cultivation; secondly, their union would be of immense help in the future.

As both are among the six major sects of the demonic path, the Blood Prison Sect and the Heavenly Net Sect belong to the same camp and naturally have something to help each other.

Secondly, among his contemporaries, the Holy Maiden of Tianluo was one of the few he could consider a rival.

Although the Saintess of Heavenly Luo is considerably weaker than him in terms of combat power ranking, she is much younger and her future growth is promising.

Under these circumstances, the Heavenly Maiden is undoubtedly an excellent candidate for his future Daoist partner. Possessing the body of Taiyin, she can not only benefit his cultivation and help him break through bottlenecks and obstacles, but she can also keep up with his pace of cultivation and serve as his Daoist partner, walking hand in hand on the path of cultivation.

Given these factors, it was no wonder that he was tempted.

He had made extensive preparations for this, preparing a generous betrothal gift in his capacity as the young master of the Blood Prison Sect, and was ready to propose marriage, but all he received were repeated delays. He had thought that the Heavenly Net Sect was merely manipulating his mentality and playing a game for their own benefit, but he never expected that he would ultimately fail to achieve the desired outcome.

Although the Tianluo Sect phrased his marriage proposal in a roundabout way, their true intentions were self-evident.

He had previously offered the right to explore the Netherworld Secret Realm as a gift in exchange for the marriage of the current Tianluo Sect leader, making a great fuss and showing great fanfare. However, he ultimately received the reply that the Holy Maiden was too young and it was not appropriate for them to be together.

"The Holy Maiden is too young, too young, hahaha!" Upon learning the result, Yin Shangjin laughed uproariously, his voice like a raging sea of ​​blood, wild and unrestrained.

"So you call me young! Are these old thieves from the Tianluo Sect thinking I'm ten years older than them?!"

A grandmaster of martial arts with a lifespan of five hundred years, the Heavenly Maiden of Luo truly deserves the reputation of being delicate and young. However, given such a marriage proposal, her response cannot help but raise some questions.

His cultivation method is unique, making progress extremely difficult. Although he is exceptionally talented, it is still difficult for him to violate the rules of the cultivation method or disregard its essence.

He was ten years older than the Holy Maiden of the Heavenly Net. But ten years was a negligible difference compared to their long lives.

If they were to reach the state of perfect harmony between heaven and man and ascend to the realm of heaven and man, a mere ten years would be nothing to mention.

Looking down upon the world, in the grand scheme of a thousand years of life, ten years is truly insignificant.

With their natural talent and level of understanding, they have every chance of reaching the realm of celestial beings.

Leaving aside the future, even now, ten years is really nothing. Yet the Tianluo Sect actually used such a reason to reject the marriage alliance with his Blood Prison Sect, rejecting his sincere heart.

"Inconvenient to agree?"

"In terms of status, I am the young master of the Blood Prison Sect. In terms of background, we belong to the six major sects of the demonic path, with influence radiating across the four borders of the dynasty. In terms of talent, I am one of the most outstanding individuals of my generation. What is there to be inconvenient about?"

That old scoundrel from the Tianluo Sect actually interfered with his marriage!?
Although the Tianluo Sect blocked his marriage, he never intended to give up on the Tianluo Saintess, Qu Feiyan, as his dual cultivation partner.

He wrote another letter, proposing marriage, but this time he didn't receive a reply about being too young. Instead, he received the reply that the Holy Maiden of Heavenly Net was focused on the path of cultivation and had no intention of finding a partner at the moment.

"No intention of finding a Daoist partner at the moment?"

This means she's rejecting him.

Unlike the previous tactful refusal, this time the rejection was more direct.

Yin Shangjin did not get angry, but laughed instead.

But before he could reply a third time to ask for her hand in marriage and express his determination, a sudden event completely disrupted his peace of mind, leaving him in turmoil.

The tenth in the Hidden Dragon lineage, a true disciple of the Xuanmen, Chen Xuanli unexpectedly achieved the unity of heaven and man, ascending to the realm of martial arts mastery!
Its speed was so fast that it caught everyone off guard, showing its dark horse potential.

"Chen Xuanli!?"

Upon learning the news, Yin Shangjin's feelings were undoubtedly complex. Overwhelmed by a mix of disbelief, incredulity, shock, and resentment, he stood frozen in place for a long time.

"Martial Arts Celestial Being!?"

He had imagined that one day, a rising star might reach the Martial Dao Celestial Realm before him, after all, his cultivation method heavily relied on accumulation, making advancement far more difficult than others at the same level. But he never imagined that this rising star, who had reached the Martial Dao Celestial Realm before him, would be ranked behind him.

The true successor of the Xuanmen sect, Chen Xuanli, a martial arts master?
This news left Yin Shangjin in a state of great turmoil.

I started to feel anxious and insecure.

However, after a long period of cultivation, his mind remained unchanged, and he eventually accepted this reality.

In martial arts training, there are gains and losses, fast and slow progress; this is simply a normal occurrence.

Over the years, he should have come to understand.

He had finally calmed down when the new Hidden Dragon Ranking hit him like a ton of bricks—no, it was two blows in quick succession without warning!

Taixu Sword Master, Jiang Wuyai, achieved the unity of heaven and man, reaching the realm of martial arts mastery.

The Five Poisons Saintess, Dugu Yiren, broke through her cultivation in seclusion and ascended to the realm of martial arts prowess.

The news that two people in succession had broken through the barrier and reached new heights struck him like a thunderbolt.

He had always considered himself the most outstanding genius among his generation within the dynasty, but reality gave him a cold and harsh answer.

If it were just one person, it could be considered a coincidence. But what about two or three?!

Is this still considered a coincidence?
Even if it's a coincidence, it's still a cold, objective reality.

Although we are all at the Grandmaster level, our rankings and combat strengths vary. As long as we remain roughly the same, it doesn't matter much. We can settle things when we reach the higher realms.

But what if someone has already reached the upper realm before him?
The gap between them is no longer what it used to be!
Although he was confident that he could suppress most of the legendary grandmasters with all his skills, he had no confidence whatsoever when facing his former opponent, who was now a true martial arts master.

These realities caused a significant deviation in his long-held perceptions.

After his marriage proposal was rejected, Chen Xuanli ascended to the realm, and the hidden dragon was reborn.
This series of events dealt him a heavy blow.

Inside the Blood Sea Demon Palace, the blood sea churned, with waves surging and churning endlessly.

Yin Shangjin, his expression crazed, burst into loud laughter that echoed around him.

It took a long time for the laughter to gradually subside.

"Martial Arts Celestial Being!"

His expression was sinister, his eyes were bloodshot, and the shadow of a blood demon was faintly swirling around him.

Amidst his wild laughter, he had already made his decision.

I originally wanted to play it safe, proceed steadily, accumulate substantial wealth, and then ascend to the realm of the celestial beings.

but now.
The situation had become critical, and even with some risks, he was willing to give it a try.

How could we possibly be without him when competing with the world's most outstanding talents?

"Qu Feiyan!"

Yin Shangjin's eyes gleamed with a strange bloodlust: "When I, the young master, ascend to the realm of celestial beings and reign supreme among my contemporaries, I wonder what you will be like then."
How could you possibly refuse this young master?!

In a little over a year, it will be the time for the inter-sect exchange and the grand gathering of the demonic path. As the current Holy Maiden, Qu Feiyan will inevitably appear if nothing is amiss. At that time, he will appear before Qu Feiyan with the aura of a celestial being, and with the dignity of a celestial being, before the various sects of the demonic path, to propose marriage to Qu Feiyan, the current Holy Maiden of the Tianluo Sect!
Before that, he would ask his father to step forward and, with the authority of the Blood Prison Sect Master, have a proper discussion with those old thieves from the Heavenly Net Sect.

Explore hidden realms, forge alliances, seek potential allies, and find a soulmate.
Cooperation benefits both sides, while conflict harms both.

Those old thieves of the Tianluo Sect will understand how to make their choice.

"Your ambition lies in the path of cultivation, and you have no intention of finding a Daoist partner yet!" Yin Shangjin's lips curled into a smile: "Qu Feiyan, that's because you haven't met this young master yet! I wonder if your feelings will still be the same on that day."

"Two people walking hand in hand on the path is far better than one person walking alone!"

"On the day I propose, your heart will change for me!"

With the exploration of the secret realm drawing near, the alliance of the six sects, Tianluo's tacit approval, and the Heavenly Being's marriage proposal all under immense pressure, Qu Feiyan...
How can I refuse?!

Yin Shangjin's eyes were sinister, surrounded by blood shadows, and his brows revealed an air of confidence.

Although his father had many children, his status was always special. His father had many Daoist partners, but his mother was his beloved partner, with whom he shared life and death. Although he had an older sister, he had only one biological child. His father never refused his requests!
　I want to ride the wind to the north, and the snow falling on Xuanyuan is as big as a mat.

　　I want to borrow a boat to travel eastward, and see the graceful fairy standing in the wind.

　　I wish to traverse thousands of miles of clouds, but what can the dragon's roar in the imperial court do to me?

　　The top of Kunlun Mountain is bathed in sunlight, and green mountains can be seen in the vast ocean.

　　The swallows return from afar on a long wind, but the traveler who once roamed the ends of the earth remains unseen.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)