The World Trembles

The events at Zhenxuan Mountain spread to all thirteen states of the world at an alarming speed.

In an instant.

The situation has changed dramatically, and countless people are discussing this matter.

"An ancient sage returns? How is that possible? That's utter nonsense! If I remember correctly, True Mystery True Lord was at least ten thousand years ago, or even longer. You're saying he's alive in the present world?"

"And then there's the Buddha of the Precious Tree and the Barbarian King. I searched through Ancient Books and finally found records about these two. They were both figures from ten thousand years ago, with the Barbarian King even living in an era far removed from our own!"

"Is this perhaps a false rumor deliberately released by the True Mystery Sect to bolster their image?"

It's just beginning.

Everyone's first reaction was disbelief.

This news is really outrageous.

Even Martial Saint couldn't possibly have such a long lifespan if a person from ten thousand years ago were still alive today. Moreover, in most people's minds, the ultimate goal of Martial Saint is ascension to immortality, so how could they possibly remain in the mortal realm?

But as time went by...

As more and more details emerged, many experts at the Celestial Realm who participated in the True Profound Celestial Person Ceremony's Celestial Person Realm Ceremony stepped forward, including some top-ranked figures from the Celestial Person Ranking. This made everyone believe that the True Profound Sect did not have the power to mobilize so many powerful individuals to orchestrate such an earth-shattering event.

This caused an uproar throughout the world.

Many people instinctively sensed that something big was about to happen.

"Have the ancient sages truly returned? Or is this only the first batch?" The vague rumors circulating are unsettling.

Someone personally went to Zhenxuan Mountain to seek confirmation and wanted to pay homage to the True Lord, but True Person Baiye simply replied calmly that the True Lord had already descended the mountain.

But the more this happens, the more anxious people become.

More people went to Great Enlightenment Temple.

But Great Enlightenment Temple and Baoshu Buddha, having lost face, paid no attention to these people. They drove them out with dark faces, and several fights even broke out.

Some observant martial artists noticed that the Buddhist forces, led by the Great Enlightenment Temple, were indeed migrating northward.

This immediately confirmed the rumors even more.

"It's true! The Buddhist sect has sided with the Barbarian Emperor, and the power structure of the world is about to be reshuffled!" Some martial arts sects began to get nervous. Although they were currently among the top sects in the world and possessed a lot of resources, they did not trace the source back to the Martial Saint Ancestor.

If the ancient sages were to truly return now, they would likely force them to relinquish their spoils.

Therefore, they are most concerned about the authenticity of this news.

They desperately hoped the news was false, but upon investigation, they bitterly discovered it was entirely true.

"True Mysterious True Lord! Buddha of the Precious Tree! Barbarian Emperor! Old Man Listening to the Wind! And that unknown ancient saint who rides the white dragon! Five have already appeared, and who knows how many more will appear in the future. The world is truly about to undergo a great change."

Countless people were amazed.

Rumors circulate that a great fortuitous opportunity is about to appear in the world, which is why the ancient sages have survived to this day through various means in order to seize this fortuitous opportunity.

It's unclear where this news originated, but more and more people have come to believe it.

Otherwise, the ancient sages would never have idly traveled thousands of years to the present.

The whole world was in an uproar.

Until another major event occurred.

The Barbarian Emperor appeared on the Battlefield between the Northern Barbarians and the Great Flame, his single strike overwhelming a million-strong army.

That day.

The barbarian king, with his overwhelming ferocity, uttered a threatening statement:

"Summon the Great Flame Martial Saint to me and explain why he drove my barbarian people to the grasslands!"

Under the might of the Barbarian Emperor, even the top experts on the Celestial Person Ranking had no power to resist. The soldiers of Great Flame were all terrified. The feeling of having their lives in the hands of others was not good. All eyes were turned to the Great Flame Imperial Court.

Everyone was eagerly anticipating the appearance of the Great Flame Martial Saint.

But only a very few people who knew the truth felt a chill in their hearts.

Time passed slowly.

The fact that the Great Flame Martial Saint has yet to appear has caused unrest among many forces across the land.

Undercurrents are quietly brewing.

The already unclear situation suddenly became even more complicated.

At this moment, the True Martial Sect group finally returned to True Martial Mountain.

Luo Wentian was already waiting at the Mountain Gate to greet them.

The letter from Daoist Longshan had already been sent back in advance, and he was also aware of the impending changes that were taking place in the world.

As the leader of a sect, Luo Wentian naturally had to be concerned about the future of the True Martial Sect.

Mingwu Pavilion.

Luo Wentian and his disciples were all present, and he asked impatiently:

"Master, is what happened on True Mystery Mountain really as rumored?"

Everyone stared intently, their eyes filled with shock. Even after seeing the letter, they still found it hard to believe.

Daoist Longshan nodded slowly:

"Indeed. Something big is about to happen, and you must not be complacent; remain steadfast in the face of any eventuality!"

Everyone was visibly awe-inspiring.

"What important matter is it?"

Ning Qi said slowly:

"Ancient sages will be born one after another. This is just the beginning. A year later, Spirituality will revive, and many extraordinary phenomena will occur in the world. At that time, the ancient sages will soar to the heavens and return to their peak."

The old Daoist priest of Bai Shan did not instruct that this news should not be revealed, so Ning Qi naturally would not hide it from his master and senior brothers.

Everyone was shocked, silently pondering the words "Spirituality resurgence".

"Little Nine, are you saying that these ancient saints who are so strong now are not their peak?" Ye Qinghe asked.

Ning Qi nodded:

"Far from it. As far as I know, the ancient sages who have survived to this day are no ordinary people. The Spirituality revival a year from now is a great fortuitous opportunity. You must strive to improve your cultivation, and it would be best if you could reach the Celestial Person Realm. This way, you can reap even greater rewards."

Upon hearing this, everyone could only manage a wry smile.

Celestial Person Realm?

With the support of Ning Qi's many Secret Method and treasures, their cultivation speed has become extremely fast, but even at this rate, it is unlikely that they will reach the Celestial Person Realm within a year.

Ning Qi pondered inwardly, trying to figure out how his fellow disciples could benefit from this Spirituality revival. If all else failed, he hoped they could at least quickly reach the Celestial Person Realm, or even higher, after Spirituality revival.

Everyone held their breath as Ning Qi recounted the many secrets.

This is much more detailed than what's been circulating outside.

They were naturally Ning Qi about how Ning Qi knew this, but since Ning Qi didn't say, they didn't ask.

"Little Nine, you must know about the matter of the Barbarian Emperor and the Great Flame Martial Saint, right?" Luo Wentian.

Ning Qi nodded slowly.

He only learned about it a few days ago. He didn't expect that the barbarian emperor to be so troublesome. He started causing trouble again right after coming down from Zhenxuan Mountain. He guessed that this might be related to the appearance of the old man Tingfeng at the end.

For some reason, the Old Man Listening to the Wind clearly opposed the ancient sages fighting each other, and even if they did fight, it would probably have to be kept within a certain limit.

This gives the Barbarian Emperor the opportunity to launch an attack on the Great Flame Martial Saint.

"However, the most crucial point is probably that the Barbarian Emperor heard that the Great Flame Martial Saint was in trouble. Otherwise, according to what the old Bai Shan told me, the Great Flame Martial Saint and the Old Man Tingfeng are both powerful beings who have lived to this day through bloodline techniques, and the current Barbarian Emperor is probably not comparable to them."

Ning Qi pondered in his heart.

He had previously been wary of the Great Flame Martial Saint, but only in the last few days had he heard the news that the Great Flame Martial Saint was in very poor condition. Combined with the fact that the Great Flame Martial Saint had remained silent during the previous Demon Sect, and some other small details, Ning Qi felt that the news might be true.

With this thought in mind, he slowly said:

"Let's wait and see. The conflict between the Barbarian Emperor and the Great Flame Martial Saint is essentially a conflict between the Great Flame and the Northern Barbarians. After the Spirituality revives, fortuitous opportunity will arise in the world. Perhaps the Barbarian Emperor wants to take this opportunity to expand the territory of the Northern Barbarians."

The core interest still stems from the subsequent resurgence of Spirituality. Although it was just Ning Qi's guess, he felt it was pretty close to the truth.

Luo Wentian frowned slightly and asked a question:

"If that's the case, I'm afraid it won't just be a conflict between the Great Flame and the Northern Barbarians. With the emergence of many ancient saints, they will inevitably redefine their 'spheres of influence'!"

Ning Qi nodded:

"Afterwards, the entire world will inevitably be torn apart, and the magnificent scene of the thirteen states of the Great Flame will likely become a thing of the past."

The old Bai Shan priest from Baishan had also mentioned this to him.

In their era, there had never been such a large dynasty. Even if there were, it was on par with the top sects, and in some ways, it was just an alternative sect. After the ancient saints were revived, they would certainly not be satisfied with the status quo. Even if the Great Flame Martial Saint was at his peak, he would have to compromise when faced with so many ancient saints, not to mention that he seems to be no longer at his peak now.

Everyone remained silent, feeling immense pressure.

"I just hope it doesn't affect our True Martial Sect." Luo Wentian was quite worried.

This line of thinking is reasonable.

If an ancient sage were to claim ownership of the land where True Martial Mountain is located, disputes would likely be unavoidable.

Ning Qi laughed:

"There's no need to think about all that. Right now, the only thing to do is to focus on preparing for the revival of Spirituality and strive to improve our cultivation."

He has a certain degree of confidence.

The old Daoist priest of Bai Shan was on good terms with him, which was an advantage. Besides, not every ancient saint was that powerful. Ning Qi himself was confident that perhaps after the Spirituality recovered, some ancient saints would be even weaker than him.

Everyone nodded vigorously.

The world is about to change, but if everyone works together, they will surely be able to stand firm in the coming era. It would be impossible for them not to be excited, as such an era means that there are also many opportunities.

The Daoist Longshan simply stroked his beard with satisfaction and barely said a word.

As his master, he felt immense joy when his disciples grew up and were able to shoulder great responsibilities.

True Martial Mountain.

Ning Qi walked slowly to the scene.

He did not conceal his aura, and the Blade Demon, sensing this, immediately appeared:

"Fellow Sword Dao, have you made any progress?"

He was overjoyed and blurted out the question, but he immediately froze on the spot, because the person who appeared was not the Heavenly Sword Real Person he was familiar with, but a handsome and intelligent young Daoist, but his aura was no different from that of the Heavenly Sword Real Person.

"Fellow Sword Dao?" The Blade Demon looked somewhat surprised and doubtful.

Ning Qi bowed slightly:

"I apologize for not being able to meet you in my true form before due to various reasons. My real name is Ning Qi, and I am the ninth disciple of Real Person Dragon Mountain."

He looked somewhat apologetic.

But the Blade Demon's face was somewhat numb. After receiving a clear answer, he understood immediately that the young Daoist in front of him was none other than the Heavenly Sword Real Person whom he greatly admired!

He had always thought that the Heavenly Sword Real Person was like him, someone whose lifespan was nearing its end, but he never expected that the real Heavenly Sword Real Person was a young man as bright as the rising sun.

Sensing the undisguised aura and vitality emanating from Ning Qi.

A boundless turmoil surged within him, ultimately transforming into a bitter smile:

"Fellow Sword Dao, you've kept this from me for so long!"

Ning Qi is even more terrifying now than before.

It's simply unbelievable that a young man could achieve such a feat; it's unprecedented in history. If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, I would never have believed that such a monstrous talent existed in the world.

In a hazy state.

The figure who had instantly mastered the intent of his demonic blade began to completely overlap with the young Daoist priest before him.

The sword demon's eyes were filled with astonishment.

Then came joy.

The more powerful Ning Qi is, the greater the possibility that he has in deducing the Martial Saint's method.

However, he also understood that Ning Qi's sudden revelation of his true form today was probably for something extraordinary.

"Fellow Sword Dao, has something happened? If you need my help, just say so." He was solemn; he had promised to protect True Martial Mountain for Ning Qi for ten years, and he would not break his promise.

Ning Qi waved his hand and laughed:

"Indeed, something important has happened, but there's no need for you to intervene. I'll tell you the whole story, and then you can consider it."

The Demon Blade was startled.

Ning Qi began to speak slowly.

He recounted everything he had seen and heard during his descent from the mountain, including his intention to deduce the Martial Saint's method, which required the Sword Demon's cooperation in the experiment. Of course, Ning Qi did not conceal the anomalies in the power of heaven and earth, nor did he disclose the potential dangers involved.

If a gentleman treats me with sincerity, I should treat him with sincerity in return.

As the Blade Demon listened, his eyes shone brighter and brighter, and he finally burst into laughter, full of heroic spirit.

"The ancient sages have returned, Spirituality has been revived! How fortunate I, the Blade Demon, am to have caught up with such a great era! How exhilarating! How exhilarating!"

His hair and beard flew wildly, clearly showing his heartfelt excitement.

then.

He then solemnly said to Ning Qi:

"Fellow Sword Dao, just tell me how you need my assistance!"

Ning Qi said solemnly:

"Have you really thought it through? Even if you're unwilling, I'll still give you a copy of the Martial Saint's Technique later when I deduce it. Moreover, once the Spirituality is fully restored, the ancient sages might also release the Martial Saint's Technique."

This was not a deception of the Blade Demon, but rather Ning Qi gleaned from the words of the old Daoist priest of Bai Shan. He believed that when the time was right, many Martial Saint techniques would likely reappear in the world.

The Demon Blade laughed and shook his head:

"If that happens, we'll miss the great fortuitous opportunity of the Spirituality resurgence!"

His eyes shone brightly.

"If we cannot seize this fortuitous opportunity to soar to great heights, how will we be able to secure a place in this great era, let alone compete with the ancient sages!"

"Furthermore, Fellow Sword Dao, you yourself said that even the ancient sages have not been able to resolve the anomalies existing in the world. If I can assist you in resolving them, that would be a Major Completion, and in a sense, it would be considered surpassing the ancient sages! Perhaps only such Martial Saint's method is the strongest!"

The Blade Demon's eyes were full of trust. After learning that Ning Qi was just a teenager, he trusted Ning Qi even more and wanted to witness the birth of this unprecedented Major Completion. It would be a great honor for him to be able to participate in it.

The Demon of the Blade has never lacked a touch of madness.

He knew that if Ning Qi wanted to kill him, he wouldn't need to use such a method; he would have simply exploded and died if Ning Qi hadn't saved him in the first place.

Feeling that trust, Ning Qi smiled.

"Alright! Let's join hands and find out the root cause of this strange change in the world!"

He already had an idea.

Now that the Demon Blade had nodded, his confidence was further boosted.

"According to the old Daoist of Bai Shan, the power of heaven and earth lacks Spirituality, making it impossible to reach the realm of Martial Saint. However, I don't need the Blade Demon to reach the Martial Saint right now; I'm just studying the consequences of absorbing the power of heaven and earth, so a little Spirituality is naturally enough."

"Where did this Spirituality come from? It came from the Yu King's Pearl, of course!"

"I extract the Spirituality from it and merge it with the power of heaven and earth, and it naturally becomes complete Spiritual Qi. Even if it's not enough to create Martial Saint, it's certainly sufficient for deduction!"

Ning Qi already had a plan in mind.

Before having a long chat with the old Daoist priest Bai Shan, he had no idea what Spirituality was or had no concept of it. But after careful contemplation, he roughly understood what it was. He had sensed the special nature of the Yuwang Pearl when it was condensing spiritual energy.

Then, on the way back.

After many attempts, he finally managed to briefly pull a portion of it away from the Yu King Pearl.

Not only that.

Ning Qi further combined his Spirituality with the existing power of heaven and earth, and in the experiment, he obtained the optimal ratio, successfully obtaining the Spiritual Qi he had fused.

Thinking of this...

A smile involuntarily crept onto Ning Qi's lips.

Throughout the world, there are probably very few who can do what he did. Even most of the ancient sages probably couldn't do this. It requires an extremely strong understanding of Spiritual Qi energy and power, something that even the Buddha of the Precious Tree couldn't achieve.

"Fellow Daoist, hold your breath and concentrate!" Ning Qi instructed.

The two sat cross-legged on a stone platform behind the mountain.

The Blade Demon closed his eyes, his mind empty, and then he heard Ning Qi's voice. The voice contained profound and mysterious content, including the secrets of the Three Flowers of Heaven, Earth, and Man. Based on this, it continued to radiate outwards, producing many changes in the state of the Three Flowers converging at the top.

The Demon Blade listened, completely convinced.

This is a supreme secret technique that absorbs the power of heaven and earth. He could clearly see that this secret technique had the shadow of his previous experience, but they were worlds apart. The more profound content within it was something he probably couldn't figure out even if he thought about it for a thousand years.

He realized just how vast the gap was between himself and Ning Qi.

This was naturally a method that Ning Qi comprehended by drawing upon the spiritual power gathered from the Yu King Pearl.

Time passed.

Moonlight streamed down, bathing the two of them.

The Demon Blade spoke in a deep voice:

"Fellow Daoist, I have already understood this method. Please begin!"

It would be impossible for him not to feel the slightest bit nervous, but he remained calm. He had lived a solitary life, free from all attachments, and his only wish was to see the pinnacle of martial arts. Now that he was fortunate enough to participate, he felt only joy.

Ning Qi nodded.

He was also highly focused.

The Demon Blade trusts him, and both morally and logically, he has to be responsible for the Demon Blade's safety.

"It's better to be slow and steady than to be too aggressive."

Ning Qi's mind raced.

The Yu King Pearl suddenly floated in front of the two of them.