Treasure Weapon Xuandu, Invincible Among Equals!

Inside the dilapidated ancient temple.

Lu Li looked at the long wooden case before him and pondered to himself.

This was Rebirth Temple. Could the item before him be Xuandu, the weapon Zhao Xingming would use in the future?

There were Heavenly Profound Divine Weapons in the martial world, as well as countless renowned sharp weapons forged by illustrious martial predecessors.

Thus, besides the Divine Weapon Ranking, there was also the Treasure Weapon Ranking.

There were eight divine weapons, while treasure weapons numbered as many as thirty-six. Though they could not compare to Heavenly Profound Divine Weapons, they still possessed wondrous effects. Even the lowest-ranked treasure weapon could easily cleave through a sharp blade forged from refined iron.

If weapons were extensions of a person's limbs, then wielding a fine blade could increase one's combat strength by thirty percent. Possessing a treasure weapon, however, truly increased one's combat strength by thirty percent.

They could not be mentioned in the same breath as ordinary weapons.

If Zhao Xingming had only possessed the Heart-Breaking Buddha Body, it would not have been enough for him to stand among the foremost Divine Intent Realm experts in the future. But with this long blade, Xuandu, it would be possible.

"This temple has been abandoned for a long time. By chance, I discovered this weapon and a martial art here. You killed Huang Erlang, so Huang Shang will certainly hunt you down. As a mere woman, I cannot bring out this weapon's power, and my martial arts have been half-crippled. I cannot cultivate it..."

Madam Peng opened the long case, revealing what lay within: a three-foot-long blade. Its long body glimmered with a cold gray sheen, covered in ancient patterns, while its edge gleamed with a biting chill.

Xuandu!

Lu Li's expression shifted slightly. The weapon ranked ninth on the Treasure Weapon Ranking was undoubtedly a treasure weapon that would drive countless people into frenzied slaughter and contention if it appeared in the world.

"Though I cannot cultivate this martial art, I know it is an excellent one. Take this martial art and weapon, protect that little girl you brought, and leave quickly!"

Madam Peng handed over the long case. Lu Li's gaze fell on the silk manuscript at the side.

Outside the temple, wind and thunder roiled, while rain poured down in sheets like scattered pearls. By the flickering flashes of lightning, Lu Li made out the words on the silk manuscript:

'Heart-Breaking Buddha Body, Vajra's wrathful gaze: kill, but never deliver!'

What an unexpected windfall. I never thought I'd obtain another treasure weapon!

Delighted, Lu Li reached out and gripped Xuandu's hilt. At once, his palm sank slightly.

Though the Erosion Essence Scripture did not excel in strength, demonic martial arts granted far greater attribute boosts than ordinary martial arts. Not to mention that he possessed Intransigent Qi, so his physical strength had long surpassed others of the same rank.

For it to feel somewhat heavy even to him, this blade was no lightweight.

At the same time, information cascaded down the panel:

[Weapon: Xuandu (long blade)]

[Rank: Treasure Weapon]

[Traits: God-Devouring Blade Qi. The weapon inherently carries invisible blade qi, possessing a certain mental interference effect. It can stack with the martial artist's own internal qi.]

The instant he grasped the long blade, Lu Li could feel the Weapon Lord within him grow even more restless.

Xuandu emitted a faint, almost imperceptible aura. Like water blending with milk, it formed a cycle with his body... Lu Li immersed himself in the sensation and felt his physique slowly growing stronger along with that current of qi.

"This is... increasing my strength and transforming my physique."

Realization dawned upon Lu Li, and a strange glint flashed through his eyes.

He knew very well what this meant. As long as he continued carrying Xuandu, over time, even without practicing body-tempering martial arts, he would possess a physique comparable to that of a body-tempering practitioner.

"And... there is also blade qi."

With a thought from Lu Li, the long blade let out a resonant tremor, seemingly bursting forth with invisible, fierce qi. At once, he felt as though it were an extension of his arm.

"This blade qi can stack with internal qi, making martial arts even more powerful, but..."

The Dog Children at the side seemed somewhat frightened. Lu Li sheathed the long blade and thought silently to himself:

"For me, the true perfect match is stacking this God-Devouring Blade Qi with the Field Domain of Intransigent Qi. That is equivalent to adding another layer of mental interference buff."

At the same time, Madam Peng found a scabbard. Lu Li accepted it, sheathed the blade, and picked up the silk manuscript.

The manuscript was covered in densely packed, tiny characters like gnats, along with complicated qi-circulation routes. At the bottom were tadpole-like characters serving as annotations.

Perhaps because of the panel, Lu Li could understand the writing and grasp its meaning. After reading through it once, the panel displayed the relevant information:

[Martial Art: Heart-Breaking Buddha Body]

[Level: First Level]

[Effect: Can condense defensive force qi over the body's surface. When the force qi is attacked, you will enter the Mind's Eye state and perceive flaws in the opponent's martial arts.]

[Linked Effect: Xuandu Essence can assist in cultivating the Heart-Breaking Buddha Body.]

Lu Li lowered his eyelids slightly as a vast amount of information surfaced in his mind: the qi-circulation routes of the Heart-Breaking Buddha Body, its cultivation methods, crucial points of practice, and more.

Naturally, what concerned him even more was the linked effect displayed on the panel.

"Xuandu Essence... that aura capable of strengthening the physique can assist in cultivating the Heart-Breaking Buddha Body!"

Lu Li's heart stirred. The Heart-Breaking Buddha Body was divided into three levels, with the differences lying in the enhancement of the Mind's Eye effect and the condensation of defensive force qi.

The essence of defensive force qi was to temper the tendons, bones, skin, and flesh through internal qi, forming an invisible network of force qi.

The network of force qi covered every limb and bone, connecting to the human body's nerves. Once cultivated to perfection, the force qi could even leave the body like Astral Qi.

And once the force qi came into contact with an opponent, it could instantly discern the weak points in the circulation routes of their martial arts internal qi.

Upon reaching perfection at the third level, it could even interfere with the opponent's internal qi circulation.

"So the effect of the Mind's Eye is tied to this network of force qi..."

Lu Li pondered. The first level tempered the network of force qi, the second allowed force qi to leave the body, and the third used the mind to control force qi and invade the opponent.

And Xuandu Essence could speed up the cultivation of the force qi network.

"Once the panel records it, my proficiency is essentially maxed out. I only need to slowly temper the force qi network until it can leave the body, and I can reach the second level..."

With this thought in mind, Lu Li circulated internal qi throughout his body. His tendons and bones immediately began crackling like beans being stir-fried.

Under the astonished gazes of Madam Peng and the Dog Children, the air within an inch of Lu Li's body seemed to ripple as a thin layer of force qi flowed across his surface.

Meridian-Unblocking Realm martial artists opened hidden meridians for cultivation and possessed internal qi. Generally speaking, they could also release internal qi beyond their bodies through special martial arts.

But such internal qi could not be maintained over a large area of the body's surface. The Poison Astral Body could condense a layer of pseudo-astral qi, but its cultivation required practicing poison and a sufficient supply of internal qi. Its conditions were harsh.

But the Heart-Breaking Buddha Body was completely different.

At this moment, Lu Li's body was covered in a layer of force qi, as though he wore a weightless, invisible suit of armor.

"This is the high-grade martial art of this world. Internal qi tempers the tendons and bones, condenses a network of force qi, and force qi covers the body. When attacked, it even counts as a form of tempering."

Lu Li silently sensed the changes within his body.

When Intransigent Qi circulated, it made his bones, flesh, and blood tough and hard. The Heart-Breaking Buddha Body, meanwhile, added another shell over that foundation.

"Once I cultivate the Poison Astral Body, combining pseudo-astral qi with force qi and adding Intransigent Qi, I will be nothing more than a poisonous turtle shell. Who among those of the same rank can fight me?"

"Not to mention, I have the Intransigent Qi Field Domain, which can stack with Xuandu's blade qi and even has mental attack effects..."

As Lu Li sorted through his own abilities, he could not help nodding in satisfaction, feeling slightly smug.

"Who dares claim invincibility? Who dares speak of defeat?"

"I am invincible among equals!"