With the Strength of Five Hundred Men to Stand Against Me?

Returning Origin Divine Sect Master Xu Tianji had mastered the peerless divine art, the Undying Divine Art. At sixteen, he entered the pinnacle ranks and became the Returning Origin Divine Sect Master. At twenty, he stepped into the Heaven-Reaching Realm, leading the Returning Origin Divine Sect toward prosperity. Over the following ten years, he defeated experts throughout the land, his prestige rising without cease. Now, he was already a towering figure in Great Jing's martial world.

Xu Tianji was not only frighteningly talented; more importantly, he was still young. He was only thirty-two this year. Below forty, no one was his match. Even above forty, few could contend with him.

"Taoist Priest, you must not be careless when facing Xu Tianji."

Seeing that Jiang Changsheng did not react much, the Devil Master could not help reminding him.

Jiang Changsheng asked, "How does he compare to Zong Tianwu?"

The Devil Master frowned. "Zong Tianwu was the previous Martial Arts Supreme, though he entered the imperial court long ago. The two have never fought, but I would guess the gap between them is not great."

Not great?

Jiang Changsheng immediately lost interest.

That day, when Jiang Yu had encountered Zong Tianwu on his return to the capital, Jiang Changsheng had deliberately gone to sense Zong Tianwu's True Qi. It was indeed powerful, surpassing the Heaven-Reaching Realm, but it was completely incomparable to his own.

Most importantly, Jiang Changsheng was far stronger than he had been back then!

Jiang Changsheng smiled. "Thank you for making a special trip to bring me this news. I already know. Since he wants to come, let him come. This martial world does not bear the surname Xu."

Seeing how calm and unruffled he was, the Devil Master assumed that he was full of confidence and could only let the matter drop.

Jiang Changsheng asked about the Devil Sect's situation, and the Devil Master answered truthfully. Since Gu Han's counteroffensive, the martial world had relaxed, and the Devil Sect had finally been able to catch its breath. They were now taking in large numbers of war orphans, and their foundation was steadily growing stronger.

As for Li Changqing, the Devil Master still offered an explanation. It was not that the Devil Sect would not help Li Changqing, but that Li Changqing had already gone mad. He even slaughtered Devil Sect disciples.

Jiang Changsheng could not help thinking of Li Changqing's final days. Li Changqing had been quite gentle with the temple's disciples, just like the eldest senior brother he had once been. Perhaps he had been doing his utmost to restrain himself, only wanting to see his home and family one last time.

After speaking for one incense stick time, the Devil Master departed.

As the Devil Master descended the mountain, he thought to himself, He actually did not try to keep me. Just how strong is he now? Could he truly be an immortal deity descended into the mortal world?

Whenever he thought of Jiang Changsheng's bizarre displays, he could not help feeling reverence and awe. In truth, he had come not only to deliver the news, but also to declare his loyalty. In his view, Jiang Changsheng might not lose.

Inside the room.

Jiang Changsheng gazed at the bright moon outside the window and thought to himself, Great Jing's martial world is truly weak. Xu Tianji is most likely in the God Heart Realm, yet the God Heart Realm is enough to sweep through all beneath heaven without equal. Tsk, tsk.

The system had previously indicated that he was equivalent to the Divine Human Realm. Since martial cultivation had a Divine Human Realm, it meant that someone had reached it before. Otherwise, how could such a realm have been named?

There were no Divine Humans in Great Jing, at least not openly. That did not mean there were none elsewhere. Jiang Changsheng had no desire to seek out excitement. Staying in Great Jing was quite good.

Survival rewards could not be directly mastered simply by inheriting them; they required cultivation. Thus, he did not need to deliberately seek survival rewards. If he ever overturned his boat in a ditch, that would be disastrous.

The martial world gathered outside the capital, and news spread through the city, leaving the common people uneasy and the civil and military officials worried. It was not only within the capital; word had also spread throughout Great Jing's martial world, drawing many wandering heroes to come and watch the spectacle.

This operation carried immense significance for the martial world. If the martial sects led by the Returning Origin Divine Sect could enter the city, force Dragon Arising Temple into submission, and then leave unharmed, it would prove that the martial world had become something the imperial court did not dare offend lightly. It would represent a peak era for martial cultivation.

"Master, so many martial arts experts are coming. Are you really not afraid? Do you need me to have the experts from the Prince's Manor help you?"

Little Prince Wei tilted his head and asked carefully. Though he was only four years old, he was exceptionally intelligent and understood many things.

Jiang Changsheng rubbed his head and smiled. "Adult matters are not for children to worry about. First, cultivate the Universe Heaven Scripture properly. In the future, you can personally stand up for me."

Little Prince Wei clenched his two tiny fists and nodded heavily.

Wang Chen was playing with Ping'an in the distance. He was not worried. He had seen Jiang Changsheng make a move before, that day in the imperial palace...

Whenever Wang Chen recalled what had happened then, he could not help stealing glances at Jiang Changsheng.

At that time, Jiang Changsheng had been domineering and forceful, like a deity descending into the mortal realm. Yet ordinarily, Jiang Changsheng was gentle as water. He treated everyone kindly and never bullied others with his status as a Taoist Priest. Even toward him, he was exceedingly courteous.

What kind of person was he, truly?

That was Wang Chen's greatest curiosity now.

Meanwhile, on Dragon Arising Temple's training ground, Meng Qiushuang, Qing Ku, Wan Li, Ming Yue, and the other older disciples were teaching the disciples martial arts. They also wanted to shoulder some of Jiang Changsheng's burden.

Years ago, with Jiang Changsheng's approval, Qing Ku, Wan Li, and Ming Yue had already compiled what they had learned into secret manuals and placed them in the Scripture Depository for the disciples to study. Unfortunately, Dragon Arising Temple had still not produced another peerless expert. Martial arts talent was simply too important.

Wan Li walked over to Qing Ku's side, rubbing his hands together and breathing warm air into them. "Senior Brother Qing Ku, you have traveled the martial world many times. Is Xu Tianji truly so impossible to defeat?"

Qing Ku wore a complicated expression. "Four years ago, at the Gathering Pine Lake martial contest beneath heaven, I went to watch. Xu Tianji's martial arts had indeed reached an inhuman level, absolutely beyond comparison with peerless experts. The Spirit Sense Realm cannot truly be considered the pinnacle ranks; it is only that most people of the martial world do not know the realms."

"Besides Xu Tianji, other sect masters beyond the Spirit Sense Realm have also come. Even the Martial Arts Supreme would likely have to flee when facing them."

Upon hearing this, Wan Li was not afraid. Instead, he became even more excited. "Then I must take a good look."

The other disciples did not know exactly how strong Jiang Changsheng was. Many were tense and fearful, but war raged outside, and they had nowhere else to go. They had to defend their home.

Winter arrived, and heavy snow fluttered through the air.

The North City Gate of the capital suddenly opened. The guarding soldiers swiftly moved aside, staring nervously outside the city as a vast crowd marched forward. At the head was a man in green robes, distinguished and imposing, with handsome features and eyes like an eagle's. None of the soldiers dared meet his gaze.

Returning Origin Divine Sect Master Xu Tianji!

Those following behind him were all figures on the level of sect masters, while farther back were their disciples. Everyone able to enter the city with them was an expert.

Ahead stood a general on guard. He was Zhang Tianren, the young guard from years ago when the Ghost Eye Evil King had broken out of the Heavenly Prison. Now, he was the capital's city-defense general.

Zhang Tianren had shed his youthful immaturity. He frowned tightly as he stared at Xu Tianji, thinking to himself, What a terrifying presence. Someone able to make his name shake the martial world truly is extraordinary.

He stepped forward with his halberd and said, "Sect Master Xu, as agreed, you are only here to demand the corpse of the Demon Disciple Li Changqing. You must not harm the innocent."

Xu Tianji walked over, patted his shoulder, and smiled. "I keep my word. At the very least, I will not harm the common people."

Zhang Tianren frowned and was just about to speak when Xu Tianji had already headed toward Dragon Arising Mountain.

He suddenly recalled that night, when the Ghost Eye Evil King had fallen from the sky and died upon the steps at the foot of the mountain. He could not help closing his mouth.

Though he had never met Changsheng Taoist Priest, he held an indescribable reverence for him.

Perhaps Dragon Arising Temple might not lose after all!

A group of martial arts experts followed Xu Tianji into the city, looking about from side to side. Quite a few were arrogant and overbearing, speaking wild boasts.

Once upon a time, the martial world had been heavily suppressed by the imperial court. Many among them had even entered the Heavenly Prison. Now they entered the capital in force, and the capital did not dare stop them. What grandeur! They had truly raised their brows and exhaled in triumph.

There were no civilians on the streets along the way. The people had all hidden in their homes, afraid of being caught in the calamity meant for the fish in the pond.

They made their way to the foot of Dragon Arising Mountain. Heavy snow draped the mountain trees in white, and even the stone monument carved with the words Dragon Arising Temple had been buried beneath the snow.

Four Taoists stood guard on the steps: Qing Ku, Wan Li, Ming Yue, and Meng Qiushuang.

Meng Qiushuang spoke. "Stop!"

Xu Tianji ignored her. He took several steps forward and stopped only when he was less than two zhang from the stairs. With his hands clasped behind his back, he said, "Today, we have come to demand the corpse of the fiend Li Changqing. He slaughtered countless disciples of our sects. We must ensure that he dies without even a burial place. We hope your temple will see reason."

Wan Li snorted. "You only want a corpse. Was there any need for so many people to come? Wait here. We can give you the corpse."

Xu Tianji smiled. "That will not do. I must personally ascend the mountain, lest you pass off a fake for the real thing. After all, Li Changqing has been dead for some time."

Qing Ku snorted coldly and suddenly charged toward Xu Tianji.

Nine Seeking Heavenly Dragon Steps!

Fast as a gale!

Yet someone suddenly emerged from behind Xu Tianji, meeting Qing Ku's right palm with a palm strike of his own.

He was a middle-aged man in black robes, his hair half white and half black, his face unruly and arrogant. He sneered disdainfully. "A mere Spirit Sense Realm dares obstruct us? You overestimate yourself!"

He exerted force through his right palm, and his True Qi erupted, instantly scattering the flying snow around them. Qing Ku was sent flying backward while coughing blood. Wan Li raised a hand to catch him, only to be knocked onto the steps as well, baring his teeth in pain.

The middle-aged man withdrew his hand and laughed loudly. "Let us go up the mountain. Dragon Arising Temple is nothing much after all. It seems only that Changsheng Taoist Priest is somewhat formidable."

He stepped forward, and Ming Yue and Meng Qiushuang immediately attacked. Yet he thrust out both palms, his palm force like dragons accompanied by the roar of tigers, sending both women flying back. In a single exchange, the two women were severely injured, lying in the snow unable to move, able only to stare at him in fear.

The middle-aged man smiled disdainfully and was about to speak when a piercing whistling sound cut through the air, startling him into instinctively leaping aside.

Clang!

The Taihang Sword descended from the sky and plunged into the snow, blocking the way before the two women.

Xu Tianji frowned. The other experts did not think much of it, since the sword had not injured the middle-aged man.

"Alright. You four have now seen martial world experts, so it is time to withdraw."

A voice drifted down from the mountain path. Jiang Changsheng could be seen strolling down, his Taoist robe unstained by snow, the Kirin Whisk in his hand gently swaying, a sword sheath at his waist. He seemed like an immortal walking out from deep within the mountains.

The middle-aged man stared at Jiang Changsheng and said in a deep voice, "You are Changsheng Taoist Priest?"

Jiang Changsheng did not answer. He walked around Qing Ku and Wan Li, came before the two women, and helped them up. The women supported one another as they retreated.

"Taoist Priest, be careful."

Meng Qiushuang gritted her teeth, helplessness filling her heart. They had volunteered to test the strength of these martial arts experts, but before Xu Tianji had even made a move, some random person had already defeated all four of them.

Jiang Changsheng smiled and nodded. He stepped forward, bracing his left hand upon the hilt of the Taihang Sword as he swept his gaze over the martial arts experts.

"One, two, three... nine..."

Jiang Changsheng muttered to himself, his gaze settling upon Xu Tianji.

As expected, he was in the God Heart Realm, clearly a full level above the Heaven-Reaching Realm.

Xu Tianji could not see through Jiang Changsheng's cultivation, but his instincts told him that the other man was far from simple. He said, "Could it be that Changsheng Taoist Priest intends to use his own strength to contend against five hundred martial arts experts?"

Jiang Changsheng smiled. "Five hundred people? My White Dragon will not have enough to go around."

At those words, Xu Tianji narrowed his eyes, while quite a few experts were visibly moved. They had not expected Jiang Changsheng to know their true intention.

"Hmph! Who are you trying to fool!"

The middle-aged man suddenly charged at Jiang Changsheng and struck out with his palm. A tiger's roar exploded against their ears, his True Qi condensed into substance, like the head of a tiger opening its bloody maw as it lunged straight at Jiang Changsheng.

Boom!

The middle-aged man was blasted backward. Xu Tianji instinctively raised a hand and pressed it against his shoulder, only to be forced backward with him, sliding several zhang before stopping. The other experts were so startled that they hurriedly scattered aside to make way.

Jiang Changsheng waved the Kirin Whisk with one hand, while his left hand still rested upon the Taihang Sword. His Taoist robe billowed as he smiled. "Do you all intend to use the strength of five hundred men to stand against me? I fear you are looking down on me somewhat."

Under the vast expanse of snow, the land at the mountain's foot seemed severed from heaven and earth. More than five hundred martial arts experts had been frightened silent.

What had they just seen?

Xu Tianji had actually been forced backward!

How was that possible?!

Thanks to Kou Bai for the 1,500 Qidian Coin reward~~