Martial Saint Emerges

Under the cover of night.

The Yu King Pearl's pure white light appeared very soft, with wisps of strange power emanating from it.

The Blade Demon sensed a subtle, unusual fluctuation within it, and his heart skipped a beat. He immediately realized that the fluctuations he had sensed some time ago were not fake and probably originated from this. His anticipation grew, and he lowered his guard.

Ning Qi manipulated a small amount of the power of heaven and earth to gather it together.

In an instant.

The Yu King Pearl shone brightly, and wisps of strange spiritual energy were drawn out from it. These energy were unstable, as if they were about to collapse and disappear at any moment.

Without the slightest hesitation, Ning Qi immediately enveloped it with the power of heaven and earth that he had prepared long ago, causing it to rotate and resonate at a special frequency.

Just a few breaths.

The original power of heaven and earth and those wisps of peculiar spirituality all disappeared, replaced by a new power.

"This is Spiritual Qi!"

Ning Qi's eyes widened in amazement.

Even though it wasn't the first time I'd synthesized Spiritual Qi, seeing it again still felt incredible. This power had far more vitality than the power of heaven and earth, as if all things in the world originated from it. The strength of the power might not be too different, but the power of heaven and earth, lacking Spirituality energy, lacked many variations and was, in a sense, "lifeless," its upper limit already sealed.

This is especially true for the sword demon who senses the presence of Spiritual Qi.

His body trembled slightly with excitement. Ning Qi had already explained the steps to him beforehand, but sensing the presence of Spiritual Qi at this moment still made him want to burst into tears. The path he had been searching for was beginning to take shape.

"Fellow Daoist Daoist Blade Demon, prepare to absorb Spiritual Qi. If anything seems amiss, expel it immediately without the slightest hesitation!"

Ning Qi's voice was very serious.

This is like crossing a river by feeling for stones.

The fate of the giant ape he had witnessed in Yuan Tiansheng's bloodline had always made him wary. Although the Blade Demon was now taking the risk, he still needed to be extremely careful. Therefore, he only condensed a very small amount of Spiritual Qi at a time, so that he could control any terrible consequences that might occur.

The Demon Blade spoke with great passion:

"Fellow Sword Dao, please do as you wish!"

That's all.

He had already begun to circulate the Secret Method that Ning Qi had taught him, the Three Flowers Gathering at the Top, forming a special shape. Ning Qi no longer hesitated, took a deep breath, and then manipulated the wisp of synthesized Spiritual Qi to pour into it.

The Blade Demon let out a low growl, his voice filled with excitement.

Although this Spiritual Qi was scarce, it was qualitatively different from the power of heaven and earth. Once the refinement began, the difference was immediately apparent.

Ning Qi's eyes gleamed with golden light as he intently observed the trajectory of this wisp of Spiritual Qi and analyzed its many changes.

In his observation.

The Spiritual Qi, passing through the "Three Flowers Funnel," seemed to have some impurities filtered out before smoothly entering the Blade Demon's body. The flow was unobstructed, much smoother than when it absorbed the power of heaven and earth before.

He kept many of these changes in mind, and at the same time, countless inspirations kept flowing through his mind.

Practice makes perfect.

Ten thousand simulations are not as effective as one practical experience; many of Ning Qi's previous ideas have been continuously refined.

"Although the effect of the Three Flowers filtration system has been optimized several times, it is still not very good. Perhaps we could do a few more passes?"

"After the Spiritual Qi enters the body, it seems to be forming a strange entanglement with the physical body. Perhaps this is the path to advancement after becoming Martial Saint? Judging from the changes in Fellow Daoist Daoist Daoist, it seems that the five internal organs are reacting the most strongly!"

Ning Qi suddenly understood.

"The three flowers gather at the top, and the five energies converge at the origin."

"The Celestial Person Realm cultivates the Three Flowers, so could the Martial Saint cultivate the Five Qi? And perhaps the Five Qi correspond to the Five Internal Organs?"

He observed carefully and gained even more than he had imagined.

However, this time it's not about breaking through to the Martial Saint, but rather to see the reaction of Spiritual Qi being refined and integrated into the physical body.

soon.

The Spiritual Qi was transformed into a unique spiritual power through repeated tempering. This was a method that Ning Qi deduced by drawing on the power of the Yu King Pearl, and it was equally effective. As a new and powerful force appeared in his body, the Blade Demon was stunned. He felt that the essence of this wisp of power was extremely terrifying, and a strong desire rose in his heart.

Fortunately, he did not forget Ning Qi's previous instructions.

Calming his mind, the Blade Demon began to manipulate the wisp of spiritual energy and disperse it throughout his body. Ning Qi activated his Golden Eyes of Truth to their fullest extent, preparing to observe whether the five internal organs were the best place to store spiritual energy. The other place he had deduced was the Dantian, but this experiment showed him the difference between the five internal organs and the dantian.

But at that moment...

A sudden change occurred.

Ning Qi vaguely sensed that a strange power surged out from within the spiritual energy and entered the Blade Demon's body. The Blade Demon, who was originally in excellent condition, suddenly trembled violently. His eyes widened, and the ferocity and pain in his pupils were clearly visible.

"Ho!!"

A low growl, like that of a wild beast, rang out.

Like a piece of jade suddenly losing its luster, the already aged face of the Blade Demon was instantly covered with deep wrinkles, making him look incredibly old. His hair was as dull as withered leaves, and his pupils became cloudy at a visible speed.

Ning Qi felt a chill run down his spine; the tragic fate of the silver giant ape immediately flashed through his mind.

"Fellow Daoist Daoist Sword Demon, quickly reverse your Secret Method!"

Ning Qi shouted urgently, while simultaneously manipulating the spiritual power within the Yu Wang Pearl to rush into the Blade Demon's body to help him flush out the spiritual power that had previously merged into his body.

The sword demon was jolted awake from his slumber by a loud shout, and gritted his teeth as he reversed his Secret Method.

With Ning Qi's assistance.

The wisp of spiritual energy that had been integrated into the body was immediately squeezed out.

Ning Qi also sensed that the previously hidden and peculiar power suddenly dissipated, as if it had never existed. At the same time, the Blade Demon's condition finally recovered considerably, his pupils returned to their original pitch black, and the vitality of his body was reversing.

In the back of the mountain.

Silence.

Only the sound of the knife demon's heavy breathing remained.

A chilling look was clearly visible in his dark pupils. Even though he had prepared himself for death, he still felt suffocated when faced with that unknown and terrifying thing.

If Ning Qi hadn't had various contingency plans in place, his fate might have been rather tragic.

"What... what is it? What... is inside the Spiritual Qi?" The Blade Demon's hoarse voice rang out.

He looked up at Ning Qi, eager for an answer.

But Ning Qi's eyes were also filled with solemnity.

He slowly shook his head.

Everything is unknown.

The only thing that can be confirmed now is that there is indeed something harmful in the Spiritual Qi. His perception is absolutely correct. This is the source of everything. Ning Qi took a deep breath and said:

How are you feeling now?

The Blade Demon introspected, focusing all his senses, and after a moment said in a deep voice:

"My lifespan has shortened, and my vitality has also weakened considerably."

He was still shaken; if it weren't for Ning Qi's help at the last moment to reverse the Secret Method, he would probably have already died.

Ning Qi nodded slightly:

"It seems... harmful substances within Spiritual Qi can drastically shorten a person's lifespan. If these substances are absorbed into the body, one might very well die from exhaustion of lifespan!"

The Demon Blade remained silent, his voice somewhat hoarse:

"Does this mean that becoming Martial Saint is a dead end? Without absorbing Spiritual Qi, one cannot reach the Martial Saint, but absorbing Spiritual Qi will deplete one's lifespan. Neither way is feasible!"

He was somewhat desperate, but then his eyes suddenly lit up:

"No! If that's the case, how did those ancient saints advance to higher realms? They must have a way!"

Ning Qi fell into deep thought, a multitude of ideas arising within him.

After a moment, he spoke:

"There are several possibilities. Either the ancient sages have already mastered a way to remove this harmful substance, filtering it out before absorbing Spiritual Qi, then naturally there will be no problem."

"Or perhaps the Martial Saint have temporarily suppressed the backlash from this harmful substance, and once they reach the Martial Saint, their lifespan increases, allowing them to forcibly resist the backlash."

I prefer the latter.

Ning Qi's eyes flickered with emotion.

He had already understood some things from his previous conversation with the old Daoist priest of Bai Shan, and now this was the confirmation.

If the ancient sages had found a solution, perhaps the world wouldn't be the way it is now.

The Demon Blade fell silent.

Doesn't this mean that the ancient sages were simply enduring it?

Ning Qi smiled reassuringly:

"Fellow Daoist, there's no need to be discouraged. This trip wasn't entirely fruitless. At least, I've discovered the existence of this poisonous substance. Just because the ancient sages couldn't do it doesn't mean I can't."

His words were calm, yet filled with powerful confidence.

This trip was far from a loss; in fact, it was a huge gain!

For Ning Qi...

The difficulty isn't the problem itself, but rather the inability to find a goal.

Now that he has been able to track the poisonous substance's movements, he just needs to experiment a few more times and slowly find a way to remove it. He is very confident in this.

The Blade Demon was taken aback, then he smiled.

He subconsciously forgot just how monstrous the person in front of him truly was. No matter how powerful the ancient saints were, they had only cultivated for a few more years. But when it came to talent and comprehension, they probably couldn't match the terrifying power of the person in front of him.

"Alright! I'll fully cooperate with whatever ideas you have, fellow Daoist!" The Blade Demon straightened up, his raised right arm resembling a blade.

Ning Qi simply waved his hand and smiled:

"Fellow Daoist, your most urgent task right now is to recover your health. Since this poisonous substance will deplete your lifespan and vitality, I also need to prepare some life-extending items and techniques."

It's quite a coincidence.

Thanks to Qin Yun's previous incident, the True Martial Sect has been working hard to collect longevity treasures and has made some gains. In his spare time, Ning Qi has also been thinking about the creation of a longevity technique, and now he has laid the foundation.

The Demon of the Blade nodded.

He used to disdain anything that could prolong life, after all, he was already at the peak of the Celestial Person, and there was no point in living on if he couldn't find a way forward. But now that there was hope, he wouldn't reject it.

The two stood side by side in the night sky, exchanging their insights on refining Spiritual Qi.

The inspiration in Ning Qi's mind grew stronger.

Many ideas are being developed.

Time passed.

After the Blade Demon recovered to its peak condition, Ning Qi conducted another test with it. This time, he was prepared and had a clearer perception of the poisonous substances in the Spiritual Qi energy. Moreover, with his precautions, the Blade Demon suffered less backlash.

This thrilled him.

With the direction correct, the next step is to keep working hard.

With a few more trials, and by gradually grasping the nature of this poisonous substance and its form of existence within Spiritual Qi, Ning Qi will surely be able to deduce the secret technique to filter it out.

Besides that.

There are also additional benefits.

That is, Ning Qi's control over spiritual power is growing at a visible speed, which is making Ning Qi's strength advance further. At this rate, it won't be long before even the old Daoist of Bai Shan will be no match for him.

In this way, Ning Qi will remain among the strongest, at least until the Spirituality revives.

As for the revival of Spirituality, if Ning Qi wants to maintain his top-tier combat power as always, he needs to increase his foundation during this period and strive to soar to new heights after the revival of Spirituality. He is currently working hard for this.

Everyone at True Martial Mountain secretly encouraged each other.

At this time, however, all eyes in the world were on Liangzhou.

The barbarian king led his barbarian army to conquer Liangzhou and uttered harsh words.

However, the Great Flame Martial Saint has yet to appear.

Everyone was thinking that if it weren't for the slight possibility of the Great Flame Martial Saint appearing, Liangzhou would probably have already fallen. But even so, the Barbarian Emperor's patience was dwindling day by day, and it might not be long before he completely tore the Great Flame territory apart.

Countless people are watching.

This is a signal.

If the Great Flame Dynasty were to truly reveal its weakness, it would likely be met with a host of wolves. Many people already know that a great era is about to begin, and they are unwilling to become stepping stones for others. They want to make a name for themselves in the great era to come.

Yanzhou.

The imperial capital is at peace.

An atmosphere of anxiety has spread to this once peaceful and prosperous place, and even the wealthy people are aware of the defeat at the northern border.

Urgent, confidential letters kept arriving.

The noble ministers were sweating profusely.

The emperor was furious, but there was nothing he could do.

Some hoped that General Yanwu would personally lead the army to resist the Northern Barbarians, but no agreement could be reached. Many people felt that even General Yanwu was no match for the resurrected Barbarian Emperor, and the only hope lay with the Great Flame Martial Saint.

Deep within the palace.

Martial Saint Temple.

Rows of figures were kneeling on the ground; if an outsider were to see this, he would surely be horrified.

This was because all of these people stood at the pinnacle of the Great Flame: the Great Flame Emperor, the Yanwu General, and the eldest elder of the royal family were all kneeling.

"Ancestor, the Great Flame is in grave danger!"

"Please, Ancestor, save my Great Flame!"

One mournful cry after another echoed through the ancestral temple, bringing tears to the eyes of all who heard it. The pressure from the barbarian emperor had left everyone helpless. Although the Great Flame had a deep foundation, no one could resist the barbarian emperor. The army was suffering huge losses every day, and if this continued, it would sooner or later become the dregs under the iron hooves of the northern barbarians.

They had already sent people to Zhenxuan Mountain for help, but were told that Zhenxuan True Lord had already descended the mountain to travel, leaving them with no way to help.

If the Great Flame Martial Saint does not reappear.

I fear the fall of the Great Flame Dynasty is not far off!

"Ancestor, if you hear the cries of your unfilial descendant, please come out and save the Great Flame!" the Emperor of Great Flame cried out, prostrating himself on the ground.

Everyone was calling out instinctively.

But a hoarse voice stunned everyone:

"Li Yanwu, come in."

After a moment of stunned silence, everyone erupted in excitement and elation.

"Our ancestor has responded!"

The voice belonged to the Great Flame Martial Saint.

Then, the tightly closed gate deep within the temple suddenly burst open, revealing pitch blackness, like an unknown behemoth that devoured everything.

All eyes turned to General Yanwu.

General Yanwu took a deep breath, slowly stood up, and walked towards the cave entrance. As his figure disappeared into the darkness, the door slammed shut, and the heavy creaking of the branches sent a shiver down everyone's spine, their eyes flickering slightly.

After Li Yanwu went deep into the darkness, light gradually appeared before his eyes.

His mind was in turmoil as he continued forward.

soon.

The scene before me gradually became clear.

There was nothing as mysterious and profound as I had imagined; there was only a simple stone bed, on which an old man sat cross-legged, nearing the end of his life. The old man slightly raised his head, his voice filled with vicissitudes and deathly stillness:

"You've come."

Looking at the old man whose face bore a resemblance to his own, Li Yanwu felt a tremor in his heart and quickly lowered his head.

"Li Yanwu greets the Ancestor."

The old man nodded slowly, his eyes shining like beacons in the darkness, as if all the light around him came from those pupils.

He asked, "Are you ready?"

Li Yanwu's body trembled. He stammered, a thousand thoughts racing through his mind, but finally he nodded forcefully:

"Li Yanwu is willing to give everything for the Great Flame!"

The old man's eyes dimmed slightly:

"You're a good boy, and so is your father."

"I promised your father that once I used his body, I would never use yours again, but now my body has problems, and I have to break my promise."

Li Yanwu suddenly looked up, scrutinizing the familiar face. This face had appeared countless times in his dreams, yet remained forever out of reach.

He took a deep breath:

"Ancestor, I understand. You need my body, so come."

The old man sighed softly and reached out his dry, twig-like right hand to stroke Li Yanwu's head:

Tell me what you want to do.

Li Yanwu's eyes shone brightly:

"Ancestor, I only hope that you can ensure the Great Flame Dynasty lasts for thousands of years!"

The old man smiled:

"Good."

Li Yanwu slowly approached, paused slightly, and said softly:

"Ancestor, I have one more small request."

"Speak."

"May I... hug my father?" His voice trembled slightly, almost imperceptibly.

The old man sighed softly, said nothing, and simply stretched out his hands.

Li Yanwu closed his eyes and hugged her tightly.

He seemed to recall everything from his childhood: his father carrying him on horseback in the yard, practicing martial arts with him... Then those images shattered abruptly, a hand silently reached out, and Li Yanwu's consciousness slowly faded into darkness, with only sporadic murmurs remaining:

"Father... I... I've come to be with you..."

A writhing and tearing sound came from the darkness.

I don't know how much time has passed.

Only then did everything come to a stop.

Outside the Temple of the Martial Saint, the important figures were all anxious and uneasy. They vaguely knew why Li Yanwu had been summoned in, but they didn't know whether it would go smoothly or not.

finally.

The heavy rustling of branches sounded again.

All eyes instinctively turned to look, and a familiar figure stepped out from among them.

Li Yanwu.

But everyone was jolted awake; they knew that the man resembled Li Yanwu, but was definitely not Li Yanwu.

"Greetings, Ancestor!" One after another, eyes were lowered, not daring to look directly at them.

His gaze, which seemed to survey the entire world, swept across the surroundings, and his powerful voice carried an oppressive weight:

"From this day forward, I am the Great Flame Martial Saint Yan Dynasty, Li Yanwu!"