Immortal Sacred Land Blocks the Way, Fighting for Orthodoxy; Tracing Ruins, the Path to Earth Immortal

On the third day after the battle of Clear Wind City, Chen Fan gathered Su Muxue, Lin Xiaohu, Li Mo, and the core members of the major human sects for a meeting in the Seven Stars Sect's council hall. The atmosphere in the hall was solemn, and everyone's gaze was fixed on the Evil Suppressing Jade Pendant in Chen Fan's hand—it could not only restrain evil power, but also sense the location of ancient Martial Path ruins. It was the key to finding inheritances and breaking through their realms.

"According to the pendant's senses, the nearest ancient Martial Immortal ruin lies deep within the Burial Ground of Martial Arts." Chen Fan placed the jade pendant atop a stone platform in the hall. White light flickered from it, projecting a hazy map into the air. "That place was once a battlefield for ancient Martial Path cultivators. Rumor has it that the remnant soul and inheritance of an Earth Immortal-level Martial Immortal remain there. If we can find that inheritance, not only will our strength improve, but we can further uncover the secrets of the spiritual root system and the Will of the Heavenly Dao."

"The Burial Ground of Martial Arts?" The Heavenly Sword Sect's leader furrowed his brow. "I have heard that the Immortal Sacred Land regards it as forbidden ground. They station disciples there year-round and allow no one to approach. The Immortal Sacred Land is an old force of the spiritual root system. They control several spiritual energy mines and possess formidable strength. I fear they will not let us enter so easily."

Just as the Heavenly Sword Sect's leader had said, when Chen Fan's group arrived at the outskirts of the Burial Ground of Martial Arts with the jade pendant, a golden curtain of light blocked their path. Beyond it, dozens of white-robed cultivators stood suspended in the air. At their head was a stern-faced middle-aged man, his body emanating the aura of Late Soul Transformation. He was Wei Changfeng, an enforcement elder of the Immortal Sacred Land.

"Chen Fan, stop!" Wei Changfeng's voice was icy. His gaze fell upon the Evil Suppressing Jade Pendant, filled with undisguised greed and hostility. "The Burial Ground of Martial Arts is forbidden ground of the Immortal Sacred Land. Trespassing here is already a capital offense. Hand over that jade pendant, and I may spare your lives. Otherwise, today I will bury you all here!"

"Immortal Sacred Land? You are nothing more than parasites clinging to the spiritual root system and plundering the world's origin, yet you dare call yourselves 'immortal'?" Chen Fan sneered as the power of his Human Immortal blood qi slowly circulated around him. "The Burial Ground of Martial Arts is an ancient Martial Path ruin. It never belonged to you. If you know what is good for you, remove this light curtain at once. Otherwise, do not blame me for showing no mercy!"

"Showing no mercy?" Wei Changfeng looked as though he had heard the greatest joke under heaven. "A Human Immortal who broke through by brute force alone dares act wild before the Immortal Sacred Land? The spiritual root system is the orthodox path of the cultivation world. Martial Dao is merely a crooked side path, destined to be cast aside! Today, I will show you the gap between orthodoxy and a side path!"

Before his words had faded, Wei Changfeng raised a hand and swept it forward. Dozens of white-robed cultivators attacked at once. Countless spells formed from spiritual energy rained down upon Chen Fan's group like a torrential downpour. Fireballs, ice arrows, and lightning storms intertwined, forming a net of attacks that covered the entire field, far more powerful than the Demon Race's previous siege.

"Everyone, defend with the Blood Qi Formation Diagram!" Chen Fan shouted, pouring his Human Immortal blood qi into the Evil Suppressing Jade Pendant. The pendant's white light surged, forming a massive curtain of blood-qi light in the air that blocked every spell outside it. At the same time, he gave Su Muxue a meaningful look. The two flashed forward and charged toward Wei Changfeng—only by dealing with this enforcement elder first could they break the Immortal Sacred Land's blockade.

Wei Changfeng had not expected the Blood Qi Formation Diagram to block spells from Late Soul Transformation cultivators. A flicker of surprise crossed his eyes before he snorted coldly. "Even if you can block them, you cannot hold on for long!" A golden longsword appeared in his hand. As spiritual energy flowed into it, countless runes emerged along the blade. "Immortal Sacred Land secret art—Myriad Spirits Devouring Heart!"

The sword thrust forward, and countless strands of spiritual energy transformed into tiny spirit insects that flew toward Chen Fan and Su Muxue. These insects could burrow into cultivators' bodies and devour their spiritual energy and blood qi. It was the Immortal Sacred Land's famed secret art, one that had slain many Martial Path cultivators.

Su Muxue had long been prepared. She took a jade talisman from her storage pouch and infused it with blood qi. The talisman erupted with pale blue light, forming a barrier. The spirit insects struck the barrier and instantly froze into ice, falling to the ground and shattering into dust. "This is an ancient Ice Heart Talisman, specially made to counter insect-type secret arts. The methods of your Immortal Sacred Land are not nearly enough."

Chen Fan seized the chance to attack. The blood qi within him condensed into a golden Blazing Spear, and he unleashed Blazing Spear Art: Piercing Clouds. The spear shadow shot toward Wei Changfeng like a meteor. Wei Changfeng hurriedly gathered spiritual energy into a shield, but he had not expected the Evil-Breaking Power within the Blazing Spear to pierce through it with ease, driving straight at his chest.

Pfft! The Blazing Spear grazed Wei Changfeng's shoulder, and blood instantly stained his white robe red. He staggered backward, his eyes filled with disbelief. "How can your blood qi break my spiritual energy shield? Impossible!"

"There is nothing impossible about it." Chen Fan pressed forward step by step, thrusting the golden Blazing Spear again. "The spiritual energy your spiritual root system relies on is merely a defective product of the world's origin. Martial blood qi coexists with the world's origin and naturally restrains spiritual energy. You guard the Burial Ground of Martial Arts only because you fear we will find Martial Dao inheritances and shatter your rule!"

Wei Changfeng had been struck at the heart of the matter, and his face darkened further. He knew he was no match for Chen Fan, but if Chen Fan entered the Burial Ground of Martial Arts, the Sacred Land's plans would be exposed completely. Gritting his teeth, he took a black token from his storage pouch. After infusing it with spiritual energy, the token erupted with a terrifying aura—it was a Sacred Token capable of briefly summoning the power of the Void Refinement Realm!

"Even if it costs me my life, I will never let you enter the Burial Ground of Martial Arts!" Wei Changfeng roared, crushing the Sacred Token. A black phantom emerged from it, radiating the pressure of the Void Refinement Realm. Raising its hand, it blasted a stream of black spiritual energy at Chen Fan.

Chen Fan's expression changed slightly. The power of that spiritual energy far surpassed the Purple Robe Great Sage's demon power. Even his Human Immortal blood qi might not be able to take it head-on. At that moment, Su Muxue suddenly threw the Evil Suppressing Jade Pendant into the air. The pendant collided with the phantom's black spiritual energy with a deafening boom. Its white radiance surged, temporarily trapping the black energy.

"Chen Fan, this phantom's power is only temporary! Quickly use the Blazing Spear Art to attack its core!" Su Muxue shouted.

Chen Fan nodded. The blood qi in his body circulated madly, and the golden Blazing Spear became ever more solid. He took a deep breath, merging his Human Immortal power with the will of the ancient Martial Path, then unleashed Blazing Spear Art: Heaven-Burning once more. This time, the spear shadow contained not only blood qi, but also the Evil-Breaking Power of the Evil Suppressing Jade Pendant. Its might reached the peak of the Human Immortal realm.

Boom!

The Blazing Spear pierced through the black spiritual energy and struck the phantom's core with perfect precision. The phantom let out a shrill scream and instantly dispersed. Having lost the Sacred Token's support, Wei Changfeng's spiritual energy fell into chaos. He spat out a mouthful of blood and crashed heavily to the ground.

"Why are you not gone yet?" Chen Fan stared coldly at Wei Changfeng, his eyes brimming with killing intent.

Wei Changfeng knew the tide had turned. He did not dare utter another word, and led the remaining white-robed cultivators in a wretched flight from the Burial Ground of Martial Arts.

After dealing with the Immortal Sacred Land's obstruction, Chen Fan's group passed through the golden curtain of light and entered the Burial Ground of Martial Arts. Broken weapons and bones littered the land within. The air was thick with an ancient Martial Path aura, and the Evil Suppressing Jade Pendant shone even brighter, guiding everyone toward the heart of the ruins.

After walking for roughly half an hour, they arrived before an enormous stone platform. Ancient Martial Path runes covered its surface. At the center of the runes, a pale golden remnant soul slowly emerged—it was the remnant soul of the Earth Immortal-level Martial Immortal, Xing Tian.

"At last, someone has managed to break through the blockade and come here." Xing Tian's remnant soul spoke with ancient vicissitude, his gaze settling on Chen Fan. "Human Immortal realm, refined blood qi, steadfast will. You are not a bad inheritor."

"Senior, this junior is Chen Fan. I ask you to impart the Earth Immortal inheritance and help us oppose the Will of the Heavenly Dao, restoring Martial Dao orthodoxy!" Chen Fan bowed deeply to the remnant soul.

Xing Tian's remnant soul nodded and raised a hand. A ray of golden light flew into Chen Fan's mind. "This is my Xing Tian's Battle Codex. It records the methods and insights for breaking through to the Earth Immortal realm. To reach the Earth Immortal realm, you must transform blood qi into Earth Vein Power, resonate with the origin of the earth, and break the third layer of Mortal Body Shackles. But the process is incomparably dangerous. You must endure the crushing pressure of the earth's origin, with only one chance at life among nine deaths."

He paused, then continued, "The incarnation of the Will of the Heavenly Dao has been gathering strength in secret. It intends to devour the world's origin completely and make the spiritual root system the only path. If you wish to stop it, you must raise your strength as quickly as possible, find the inheritances of other ancient Martial Immortals, and gather the Nine Seals of Martial Arts. Only then will you have the means to contend against the Will of the Heavenly Dao."

Chen Fan felt Xing Tian's Battle Codex within his mind, his heart overflowing with excitement. He knew that the road to breaking through to the Earth Immortal realm was perilous, but it was the only road he had to walk to oppose the Will of the Heavenly Dao and revive Martial Dao.

"Thank you, Senior!" Chen Fan bowed once more.

Xing Tian's remnant soul smiled, his figure gradually turning transparent. "The hope of Martial Dao's revival is in your hands. Deeper within the Burial Ground of Martial Arts are the Earth Vein Crystals I left behind. They can help you break through to the Earth Immortal realm. Take care of yourselves."

With that, the remnant soul completely dispersed. The runes on the stone platform lit up, and a passage slowly opened. At its end wafted a dense earth-vein aura—it was where the Earth Vein Crystals lay.

Chen Fan looked at the passage, his eyes filled with resolve. He knew the challenge of breaking through to the Earth Immortal realm was about to begin, and this was only the first step on the Human Immortal's Path to Heaven. The Immortal Sacred Land's retaliation, the obstruction of other spiritual root factions, and the Will of the Heavenly Dao's schemes—countless trials awaited him in the future. But he would not retreat, for behind him stood companions who fought at his side, countless beings who supported Martial Dao, and an unshakable conviction to shatter Spiritual Root Destiny and let all paths return to truth.

Everyone followed Chen Fan into the passage. The wind of the Burial Ground of Martial Arts brushed over their robes, as though seeing them off, and as though foretelling that a Martial Dao Against Heaven battle concerning the fate of the world was about to raise its most fierce curtain.