In the thirty-fourth year of Kaiyuan, Returning Origin Divine Sect Master Xu Tianji gathered eighteen sects in the capital to challenge Changsheng Taoist Priest. Of the five hundred experts, more than half were killed or wounded. Xu Tianji, the martial arts overlord of his generation, was captured, his fate unknown.
Mystic Sect's ultimate arts spread across the land, and Changsheng's name shook the martial world.
Thus, the martial world gained a living myth.
In the courtyard, Jiang Changsheng meditated beneath a tree. Xu Tianji nursed his wounds in a corner of the courtyard, while Little Prince Wei and Ping'an watched him from afar, filled with curiosity.
Wang Chen came to Jiang Changsheng's side and respectfully said, "Taoist Priest, the martial arts sects have all retreated."
Jiang Changsheng nodded without speaking. Wang Chen turned and left, not daring to disturb him.
Today's battle had reshaped his understanding of martial arts. Especially that final sword of the Mystic Sect Dharma Form—the heaven-destroying, earth-shattering might of it made his heart tremble whenever he recalled it.
In this battle, more than half of the five hundred experts had died, while all the survivors suffered severe injuries. Jiang Changsheng had left them alive because he was looking forward to the arrival of his next survival reward.
He had now taken Great Jing as his beginner's village, and the martial world as a field of leeks. Having forcefully seized the title of number one under heaven, countless experts would surely come one after another to challenge him in the future, providing him with survival rewards.
Though cautious, he still possessed judgment. At the very least, no one in Great Jing's martial world could surpass him. Only those from elsewhere, whose realms were already high, could threaten him. For now, he had not clashed with stronger martial artists, and even Great Vehicle Dragon Tower did not know he was a potential enemy.
After waiting for quite a while, a prompt finally appeared before Jiang Changsheng.
In the thirty-fourth year of Kaiyuan, Returning Origin Divine Sect Master Xu Tianji attacked with five hundred martial arts experts. Relying on your own strength, you successfully repelled the martial arts experts and survived a calamity. You have received the survival reward—cultivation ultimate art, 'Bright Sun Tathagata.'
Bright Sun Tathagata—it sounded badass!
And it was a cultivation ultimate art, meaning martial arts could not accommodate it. Only he could learn it.
Jiang Changsheng began inheriting Bright Sun Tathagata, and the corners of his mouth gradually lifted.
What a powerful ultimate art!
Over the next month, news of this battle spread throughout the land and became the talk of countless people.
The new year arrived: the thirty-fifth year of Kaiyuan.
Reports from the border battlefields arrived without end. There were more defeats than victories, more and more territory began to fall, and the situation looked grim.
Jiang Changsheng did not experience the cruelty of war atop Dragon Arising Mountain. Although Dragon Arising Temple's incense income had decreased, there were fields and vegetable gardens on the mountain, enough for self-sufficiency.
During this period, Jiang Changsheng wrote down every martial art he had mastered into manuals and placed them in the Scripture Depository for his disciples to study. Only the Universe Heaven Scripture and Mystic Sect Dharma Form were absent. He intended to make those two the signature martial arts of his lineage, passing them down only to disciples.
Xu Tianji had already changed into Taoist robes. He had been branded with the Life and Death Seal and now obediently remained in Dragon Arising Temple, carrying a broom about to sweep every day. At first, he had felt deeply humiliated, but once, he saw Jiang Changsheng teaching Little Prince Wei martial arts without avoiding him, and a thought arose in his heart.
Perhaps this was also a stroke of fortune!
He was full of curiosity toward Jiang Changsheng. He could not understand what cultivation technique this man practiced to be so powerful. And that Mystic Sect Dharma Form had already become a shadow in his heart.
On the seventh day after the new year, the Emperor came to visit Jiang Changsheng.
Come to think of it, Jiang Changsheng had not seen him for a long time. Compared to several years ago, Jiang Yuan had grown much thinner and looked utterly listless.
Jiang Yuan and Jiang Changsheng sat before a stone table. His hair was entirely white, his face bore many wrinkles, and his hands were as thin as dry bones, like the claws of a vicious ghost.
Jiang Changsheng frowned and asked, "Your Majesty, your martial power..."
He could sense not a trace of True Qi within Jiang Yuan. Clearly, the reason he had aged so drastically was that he had lost his martial power, along with an enormous amount of vitality.
Jiang Yuan did not have many years left to live.
Jiang Yuan looked toward Xu Tianji, who was sparring with Ping'an and Little Prince Wei in the distance, and smiled. "I met Xu Tianji once before. Back then, he was still a spirited young man. I wished to recruit him into the White-Clothed Guard, but he refused. Who would have thought that years later, he would enter Dragon Arising Temple? Fate truly toys with people."
Xu Tianji's expression stiffened upon hearing this, but he still pretended not to have heard and focused on practicing martial arts with the two little ones.
If I teach them well, perhaps Changsheng Taoist Priest will guide me and make me stronger.
Jiang Yuan withdrew his gaze, looked at Jiang Changsheng, and smiled. "I know my own body. Why must Changsheng worry for me?"
"The medicine you gave me did have an effect, but it was not medicine for immortality. I have thought it through now as well. Where in this world are there people who never die? Let everything take its natural course."
Jiang Changsheng asked, "Did you disperse your own martial power?"
He did not think so, because Jiang Yuan had hidden ailments within his body, especially in his dantian. His martial power seemed more like it had been siphoned away, leaving behind lingering damage.
Jiang Yuan shook his head and said, "I passed my martial power to the Crown Prince. It can be considered my final contribution. After all, I have left him with a complete mess."
He sighed, and sorrow filled his face.
He had stubbornly insisted on attacking Gu Han to accomplish an achievement that would echo through the ages, yet instead he had plunged Great Jing into a storm-tossed, crumbling state.
But if he had to do it again, he would still fight!
After that, Jiang Yuan no longer spoke about himself. He spoke of the Empress, saying that she had devoted herself to caring for him during this time. It reminded him of when the husband and wife had risen together in rebellion. Once he began recounting the past, he became an endless torrent of words.
Wang Chen, who was sweeping the ground, felt bitterness in his heart.
He did not know whether he should hate Jiang Yuan or feel wronged.
Even if he had not become Crown Prince, his life likely would not have been easy. On the contrary, Jiang Yuan had at least allowed him to live thirty years as Crown Prince. His life had been colorful, and he had no regrets.
Jiang Changsheng listened quietly. Though he felt much emotion, his heart did not waver.
He did not plan to acknowledge Jiang Yuan or the Empress. He had already repaid the Empress's grace of giving birth to him with the grace of saving her life. Jiang Yuan knew that he was the true Crown Prince, but Jiang Yuan was unwilling to expose it. Naturally, he would not shamelessly go recognize them as family.
He would cultivate in peace. In another thirty years, this familial bond would naturally vanish like smoke and disperse like clouds.
An hour later, Jiang Yuan led Little Prince Wei away. Looking at his hunched back, then recalling the domineering presence he had possessed when they first met, Jiang Changsheng became even more resolute in his pursuit of cultivation.
He had already attained the ultimate goal mortals desired—eternal youth and immortality. He had to cherish it and could not fall halfway down the road.
The sixth level is almost here. How far away are becoming an immortal and a god?
Jiang Changsheng silently thought that on the vast immortal path, savoring the births, aging, illnesses, and deaths of the human world, watching kingdoms and sun and moon turn in their cycles, also held a certain delight.
One pleasant day in March, with gentle winds and bright sunlight.
The Devil Master came to visit. This time, he brought a seven-year-old boy with him.
"Taoist Priest, could you take him in? This child's talent is peerless. He will never disgrace your mighty name as the Martial Arts Myth."
The Devil Master bowed and spoke respectfully.
The boy was somewhat thin, with fair skin, thick brows, and large eyes. He stared at Jiang Changsheng without the slightest fear.
Xu Tianji passed by carrying a broom and teased, "Who do I see here? Isn't this the famed Devil Master? To think you are sending someone up Dragon Arising Temple. Looks like you have realized that the Devil Sect's martial arts are not worth looking at."
The Devil Master ignored him and remained bowed. He pretended not to know Jiang Changsheng, having merely come because of his reputation.
Jiang Changsheng examined the boy and found that his bones and physique were indeed exceptional. Unlike Ping'an's extreme hardness and blazing yang nature, this child was filled with spirituality. With every breath, his pores unconsciously absorbed Heaven and Earth Spiritual Energy, however faintly.
Jiang Changsheng asked, "What is this child's name, and what is his relationship with you?"
The Devil Master hurriedly answered, "His name is Huang Chuan. He is my grandson. His parents both died, and I am already old. I do not know how much longer I can live. In the future, he will be all alone. I hope Taoist Priest will take pity on him."
Ping'an came over. He was only six, but he looked taller and stronger than Huang Chuan.
"Hehehe, play... with me... fight..."
Ping'an grabbed Huang Chuan's shoulder and laughed. Huang Chuan frowned, wanting to shake off Ping'an's hand, but he could not move his shoulder at all.
Such tremendous strength!
Huang Chuan grew angry and threw a punch, striking Ping'an in the chest. Ping'an released him and took four steps back. He rubbed his chest without feeling pain, instead revealing an even more excited expression as he pounced toward Huang Chuan again.
The two boys began fighting just like that. Relying on brute force and attacking without restraint, Ping'an was utterly reckless. Huang Chuan had clearly trained in martial arts; his footwork was graceful and drifting, and he could counterattack while evading. Yet his fists and kicks could not hurt Ping'an, who was built like a savage bull.
Xu Tianji stopped and watched the battle with great interest.
The Devil Master was startled by Ping'an's talent. What sort of background does this brat have?
He had been full of confidence in Huang Chuan's talent. Within the Devil Sect, every youth under fifteen was no match for him. That was why he had dared seek out Jiang Changsheng. Yet upon arriving, Huang Chuan had been suppressed by a foolish-looking boy.
"You may go down the mountain. I will take this child as my third disciple."
Jiang Changsheng watched the two boys and spoke.
The Devil Master came back to his senses, quickly bowed, then turned and left.
He did not look back at Huang Chuan. Seeing him leave, Huang Chuan immediately panicked and cried, "Grandfather! Don't go..."
Huang Chuan wanted to chase after him, but Ping'an wrapped his arms around his waist and slammed him to the ground, leaving him unable to move. He could only watch as the Devil Master walked out of the courtyard and disappeared. The young boy shed tears despite himself.
Wang Chen could not bear to watch. He came over and dragged Ping'an away, scolding him for using so much force. Ping'an did not understand at all; he only scratched his head and giggled foolishly.
Jiang Changsheng walked before Huang Chuan and crouched down. He wiped away Huang Chuan's tears and smiled. "What is this? Are you a man, yet you intend to lie on the ground and cry forever?"
Huang Chuan immediately climbed to his feet upon hearing that. Stubbornly turning his head aside, he stared in the direction where the Devil Master had left and remained silent for a long while.
Jiang Changsheng stood and reached out to touch Huang Chuan's head. Huang Chuan trembled, but in the end, he did not dodge. On the way here, the Devil Master had already explained the situation to him. He was about to take the current martial world's myth as his master. This was a heaven-sent opportunity that he had to seize.
Dragon Arising Temple should also nurture a group of disciples capable of upholding its name.
Jiang Changsheng silently thought that Meng Qiushuang, Qing Ku, Wan Li, and Ming Yue had ordinary talent. It would be difficult for them to produce someone of heaven-reaching ability.
Huang Chuan was different. At merely seven years old, he already possessed the skills of a third-rate expert. Once he learned internal cultivation, his martial arts would surely advance by leaps and bounds.
Jiang Changsheng had Wang Chen arrange matters for Huang Chuan, then glanced at Xu Tianji.
Xu Tianji shuddered in fright and hurriedly lowered his head to sweep the ground, muttering inwardly, Good heavens, that old Devil Master actually has such a grandson. One day, he will surely make a name that shakes the martial world.
As a sect master, Xu Tianji naturally paid attention to geniuses. But no matter how tempted he was, he did not dare snatch someone from Jiang Changsheng.
Thus, another person joined this courtyard.
In the blink of an eye.
Two months passed.
Summer was approaching.
Jiang Changsheng was practicing beneath the Earth Spirit Tree, enjoying its spiritual energy, when he suddenly opened his eyes. A strange light appeared in them.
Seventh Prince Jiang Yu had personally brought Little Prince Wei over and had already climbed onto the mountain path. Someone followed beside Jiang Yu—not Disaster Buddha or one of the Thirteen Heavenly Lodestar Assassins, but an unfamiliar expert whose True Qi was comparable to Xu Tianji's.
That was not what surprised him. What astonished him was Jiang Yu's martial power. It was more than twice as strong as Xu Tianji's—a genuine God Heart Realm expert. Even if he had absorbed Jiang Yuan's martial power, could he really have become so powerful?
Thanks to Rainy Day Without an Umbrella for the 1,800 Qidian Coin reward, and Lana delrey for the 500 Qidian Coin reward~~
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