Two Paths

Two paths: one was to follow Ancient Emperor Tuoshe's old road, while the other was to follow the road of the Ancient Martial Artists from a hundred thousand years ago.

As long as nothing unexpected happened, the first path would allow one to cultivate to Ancient Emperor Tuoshe's level.

The second path, however, held far too many uncertainties. Naturally, the chances of failure were enormous. Yet once successful, one's strength would surpass a Martial Emperor and shatter the Extreme Emperor Realm.

At this thought, Lu Ren raised his head and looked seriously at Ancient Emperor Tuoshe. "Senior Tuoshe, I am willing to try the second path!"

He wanted to grow stronger as quickly as possible. Only then would he have the power to protect his master—and even the confidence to pursue his master.

"Are you truly willing to attempt the second path? No one has ever walked this path before. Once it proves impassable, you will have no way back. You may even die!"

Ancient Emperor Tuoshe asked solemnly.

That was an ancient road from a hundred thousand years ago. Lu Ren could only slowly explore it on his own.

"I am willing!"

Lu Ren nodded with a grave expression.

"Very good, Lu Ren. You possess a Scrap Bloodline and are a rare Ancient Martial Artist. Without cultivating ancient arts, you already possess such strength. That is enough to prove that your heart for martial arts is firmer than anyone else's. If you can truly shatter the Extreme Emperor Realm, you will be able to dominate the entire Xuanhuang Continent!"

Ancient Emperor Tuoshe smiled faintly, his eyes revealing immense gratification and anticipation.

Buzz!

Perhaps because he had finally untied the knot in his heart, Ancient Emperor Tuoshe's figure gradually became more and more illusory.

"Lu Ren, this Emperor only learned of the existence of Ancient Martial Artists after entering a secret realm back then, and I obtained a manual of ancient arts. Only Ancient Martial Artists can cultivate the ancient arts within it. Drip your essence blood into it, and you may cultivate it. If you encounter opportunities in the future, you may cultivate new ancient arts."

After Ancient Emperor Tuoshe spoke, he waved his hand, and a book entirely like creamy white jade flew before Lu Ren.

"This key can open this Emperor's secret treasure. Inside are all the relics I left behind in life, a secret method for enhancing bloodlines, and a heaven-shaking secret concerning the entire Xuanhuang Continent. You will need to protect it in the future!"

After saying that, another key flew into Lu Ren's hand.

The key was made entirely of jade-like material. It resembled a phoenix, crimson-red like a raging inferno.

"Lu Ren, the path of an Ancient Martial Artist is not easy to walk. Do not give up. You must break the rules of bloodlines. This Emperor hopes that everyone in this world may be like dragons!"

Ancient Emperor Tuoshe gave Lu Ren a meaningful look. His figure became illusory, then finally vanished completely before Lu Ren.

Holding the key tightly, Lu Ren had already guessed that it was no ordinary item. He directly stored it in the Pagoda Space.

However, Lu Ren did not understand what the rules of bloodlines truly were. Still, he did not dwell on it. What he needed to do now was grow stronger, then search for Tuoshe's Secret Treasure.

"Everyone in this world may be like dragons!"

Lu Ren was slightly shaken, and he felt injustice on behalf of those with low-grade bloodlines.

Why?

Why should a person's fate be set in stone from birth, divided into ranks and classes? Only those with high-grade bloodlines were qualified to cultivate, qualified to cultivate stronger martial techniques and reach higher realms.

While those with low-grade bloodlines could only willingly become ordinary people, becoming lambs for the slaughter?

"I will break the rules of bloodlines and let everyone in this world be like dragons!"

Lu Ren clenched his fists. Since he had come to this world with the Nameless Treasure Pagoda, he had to accomplish something!

Afterward, he held the jade-like book before him and began studying it.

A manual of ancient arts!

A cultivation technique practiced by Ancient Martial Artists a hundred thousand years ago.

Then why did Ancient Martial Artists no longer exist a hundred thousand years later?

However, Lu Ren did not think too deeply about it and merely lowered his head to look at the book in his hand.

The book had no pages at all. It only looked like a book from the outside, yet it radiated an intense golden light.

Five gilded characters were engraved upon its cover.

"Dragon Elephant Prajna Skill!"

Lu Ren was slightly startled. It was also annotated as a Mysterious Tier High Grade ancient art.

"A Mysterious Tier High Grade cultivation technique? Although it is only Mysterious Tier High Grade, once I become stronger, if I encounter opportunities, I can cultivate even more powerful ancient arts!"

Delight appeared on Lu Ren's face. Excited, he bit his finger and dripped a drop of blood into it.

Immediately!

The jade-like book began to shatter, transforming into streams of golden light that surged into Lu Ren's mind.

Lu Ren instantly felt as though enlightenment had been poured into his head. An enormous mass of information emerged.

"Dragon Elephant Prajna Skill: use spiritual energy to pass through the eighteen Spiritual Apertures within the body, gather them into a stream, and transform them into the form of dragons and elephants. One may cultivate Dragon Elephant True Qi, gaining strength comparable to dragons and elephants, capable of moving mountains and filling seas..."

Lu Ren drew a deep breath, sensing that this ancient art cultivation technique was somewhat terrifying.

"Eighteen Spiritual Apertures? I actually need to open eighteen Spiritual Apertures before I can cultivate this technique?"

Lu Ren frowned.

One had to know that an ordinary martial artist who could open ten Spiritual Apertures was already monstrously gifted. Normal martial artists only possessed seven Spiritual Apertures. Each time one broke past a limit and opened one additional Spiritual Aperture, the difficulty would double.

This ancient art cultivation technique actually required eighteen Spiritual Apertures?

"How am I supposed to cultivate this?"

Lu Ren felt like crying, yet had no tears. He did not even know how to break through the limit and open his eighth Spiritual Aperture.

"Still, I have enough time. It may not be impossible for me to open eighteen Spiritual Apertures!"

At this thought, a brilliant light flashed from Lu Ren's eyes. As long as he could cultivate this technique, he would be able to step into the Spirit Stream Realm.

"So I am an Ancient Martial Artist!"

Lu Ren smiled faintly and casually took a step forward. The empty radiance around him dissipated, and he reappeared in Tuoshe Plaza.

At this moment, the interior of Tuoshe Plaza had already been shattered beyond recognition. More than a dozen enormous ceremonial pillars had all broken apart.

Lu Ren paid it no mind and was just about to leave.

Suddenly!

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

Fine silver needles, as thin as hairs, shot out from one direction. Like a stormy downpour, they blanketed Lu Ren's entire body.

At the same time, a sword light like a venomous serpent descended from above Lu Ren, stabbing toward the vital point atop his head.

The combination of hidden weapons and the sword technique's ambush was almost flawless.

Someone was launching a sneak attack?

Lu Ren's expression changed slightly. He had not expected there to be someone else inside the cave dwelling, and the attacker was clearly no simple opponent—definitely a Spirit Stream Realm martial artist.

Boom!

The spiritual energy from his seven Spiritual Apertures instantly fused together, surging forth in a violent outburst. The terrifying force sent every silver needle flying away.

At the same time, his body flashed, dodging the strike at an inconceivable angle.

Boom!

Lu Ren struck as fast as lightning. Spiritual energy poured into his palm as he unleashed seven palm prints in succession. They stacked atop one another, fierce winds scattering in all directions as they blasted toward the figure above him.

It was a young man dressed in black, holding a black longsword. Astonishment also appeared on his face; he had not expected Lu Ren to evade his sneak attack.

Lu Ren suddenly sent another palm strike toward the man in black.

"This guy is this strong?"

Facing Lu Ren's palm, the man in black neither dodged nor retreated. The longsword in his hand drew a pitch-black arc of sword light, slashing toward Lu Ren's neck.

Decisive and vicious!

He did not care whether he could defeat Lu Ren or whether he would be injured. Instead, he chose the most direct method: trading life for life, killing Lu Ren outright.

He had hidden in Tuoshe Plaza, waiting for Lu Ren to emerge. Whether Lu Ren had obtained the Tuoshe Ancient Emperor's Legacy or not, he intended to cut him down on the spot.