Mad Demon Bloodline!

The Heavenly Dao collapsed!

The upper echelons of the entire Guanxuan Universe were shaken.

In a world of nothingness, a black-robed elder gazed into the distance, toward the end of the Heavenly Road. Seeing the countless fragments of the Great Dao scattered about, his eyes were full of gravity and shock.

Behind him stood a group of the Guanxuan Universe's top experts.

Someone said gravely, "Why would the Heavenly Dao collapse when it was perfectly fine? Could it be the people above..."

Another said, "There has been no movement from above."

Someone asked in puzzlement, "Then why?"

An expert said gravely, "The young master is about to take personal control, yet the Heavenly Dao has suddenly collapsed. I fear this is an ill omen..."

"Shut up!"

The black-robed elder at the front shot the speaker a fierce glare. "An ill omen? The young master is the chosen one of this place. What ill omen could befall him?"

With that, he looked up at the heavens, his expression also somewhat grave. "Notify the young master."

Immortal Treasure Pavilion, Martial Pavilion.

The Martial Pavilion had twelve floors, each containing countless martial arts and divine abilities. The higher the floor, the more advanced they were. This was undoubtedly a place countless people in the Guanxuan Universe dreamed of entering, for the Martial Pavilion held nearly every martial art and divine ability in the Guanxuan Universe. Anyone who had the chance to enter was certain to see a qualitative leap in strength.

The twelfth and highest floor of the Martial Pavilion was actually a boundless blood-red world. A white-robed youth stood in that world, a pagoda hanging at his waist and a sword floating beside him.

Suddenly, a strange change occurred. Countless torrents of blood, accompanied by killing intent, surged from the surrounding spacetime and engulfed the white-robed youth in the distance in an instant. Gradually, he became like a vortex, frantically absorbing the blood and killing intent.

Elsewhere, a group of elders watched the scene with some anxiety.

As time passed bit by bit, the blood in that world grew scarcer and scarcer.

"Not enough!"

The elder at the front suddenly said gravely, "Send word to the Asura Domain. Tell them to send more blood and killing intent immediately!"

An elder said, "The Asura Domain's reserves of blood and killing intent from top experts are already exhausted..."

The leading elder's face was expressionless. "All the prisoners in the Asura Domain..."

As he spoke, he glanced at the elder.

The elder immediately understood what he meant and said with some concern, "Elder Su, that would violate Guanxuan Law. The young master could never agree to it either."

Elder Su slowly closed his eyes. "These are peaceful, prosperous times. If we don't do this, the young master has no hope of breaking through. The future of our Guanxuan Universe rests on him alone. We must help him become a god."

The elder still hesitated.

Elder Su said, "If anything happens, I alone will bear the responsibility."

Another elder suddenly said, "Don't say that, Elder Su. We're all doing this for the young master. If there's blame to bear, we'll bear it together."

The others all nodded in agreement.

Soon, more blood and killing intent suddenly appeared in that world. This time, the killing intent and viciousness contained in the blood far surpassed what had come before...

The white-robed youth devoured endless blood, killing intent, and viciousness. No one knew how long this continued before he suddenly opened his eyes.

Boom!

A sea of blood filled his eyes. Pillars of blood shot into the sky, reaching deep into the heavens, while the terrifying pressure of his bloodline spread in waves throughout heaven and earth.

Mad Demon Bloodline!

The foremost bloodline in the Guanxuan Universe!

At the same time, Yang Jia's presence surged wildly as he broke through several realms in succession...

Yang Jia suddenly reached out and grasped the Qingxuan Sword. In an instant, the sword turned blood-red, and a terrifying domain appeared around him.

Invincible Sword Domain!

The Qingxuan Sword trembled slightly, helping him suppress the Mad Demon Intent. After a long, long time, the blood-red color gradually faded from Yang Jia's eyes.

Just then, an elder appeared before Yang Jia and said respectfully, "Young master, the Heavenly Dao has suddenly collapsed."

Yang Jia frowned. "Why?"

The elder said, "We're still investigating."

Yang Jia looked up. With a single glance, he saw the Heavenly Road beyond billions of galaxies. A moment later, he withdrew his gaze, his brow deeply furrowed.

The elder hesitated, then said, "Young master, the Myriad Provinces Grand Competition is nearly upon us. After it ends, you will take personal control. Yet at this time, the Heavenly Dao of our Guanxuan Universe has collapsed for no apparent reason. I fear someone is targeting..."

Yang Jia said calmly, "It's nothing. Before absolute strength, all attempts to target me are but passing clouds."

The elder hurriedly said, "Young master, you are invincible. In the future, you will surely surpass the Guanxuan Sword Master..."

Yang Jia slowly closed his eyes. "I intend not only to surpass my father, but also my grandfather and... my great-grandfather!"

Boom!

A terrifying presence suddenly swept out of him, and the galaxy boiled in an instant.

Invincible Intent!

Order Intent!

Everyone around him stared at Yang Jia in disbelief.

The elder's face was also full of disbelief. He hadn't expected the young master to have reached that level...

Central Divine Province, Guanxuan Academy.

After saying "scram," Ye Tianming fell straight down. The woman in a plain dress above him slowly vanished as well. As she disappeared, however, she glanced at the heavens, where a man in Daoist robes turned and fled...

As the Daoist-robed man ran, he said in a trembling voice, "Damn it! So that's how you're playing it! From now on, if your alt can't win, you'll bring out your main? Fuck..."

After Ye Tianming fell, Mu Guanchen suddenly rushed over from the side and caught him. Ye Tianming's face was as pale as paper, and his entire body was spent, as though his strength had been drained dry.

Mu Guanchen frowned and looked at Little Pagoda. "What happened?"

Little Pagoda didn't dare say a word and simply played dead.

When Little Pagoda didn't answer, Mu Guanchen asked no further questions. He immediately carried Ye Tianming back to the hall. After settling him down, he picked up a seal from a nearby table and left. He found Song Shi and tossed the seal straight to him. "Take this to the Immortal Treasure Pavilion and pawn it for me, then get me an Emperor Grade pill."

Song Shi was puzzled. "What happened?"

Mu Guanchen said, "The youngster had some trouble with his cultivation. His divine soul and mental power were both severely damaged."

Song Shi was startled. "How did that happen?"

Mu Guanchen shook his head. "Never mind that for now. Hurry and get an Emperor Grade pill."

Song Shi looked down at the seal before him and said gravely, "This is your Mu Clan's ancestral seal. Your parents left it to you back then, too. You..."

Mu Guanchen said, "It's only a possession. Saving a life is more important."

Song Shi hesitated, then said, "An Emperor Grade pill costs at least eight hundred thousand spirit crystals. It's far too expensive. Why don't I... go to the Nanling Clan?"

Mu Guanchen shook his head. "The youngster is one of ours now, so naturally he's our responsibility. How can we trouble someone else?"

Song Shi said, "But this seal of yours is..."

Mu Guanchen said, "It doesn't matter. Hurry."

With that, he turned and left.

After a moment's silence, Song Shi picked up the seal and vanished.

A quarter of an hour later, Mu Guanchen gave Ye Tianming a pill. It took about two hours for some color to return to Ye Tianming's face.

Mu Guanchen carried a bowl of rice porridge to the bedside and sat down. Smiling, he asked, "Feeling better?"

Ye Tianming looked at Mu Guanchen in puzzlement. "Teacher, what happened to me?"

Mu Guanchen said, "Don't you remember?"

Ye Tianming frowned and thought for a long time, then shook his head. "I don't remember anything."

Mu Guanchen said, "Don't think about it for now. Here, have something."

Ye Tianming took the bowl and drained it. He shook his head hard, but still couldn't remember anything.

Mu Guanchen said, "Get some rest first."

With that, he rose and left.

Lying in bed, Ye Tianming said, "Tower Ancestor, what happened earlier?"

Little Pagoda said, "You don't remember any of it?"

Ye Tianming nodded. "I don't remember anything."

Little Pagoda was puzzled. Could it be this fellow's memories...

Ye Tianming said, "You know what happened, don't you?"

Little Pagoda said, "It was nothing. You made a mistake in your cultivation and passed out. You'll have to be more careful next time!"

Ye Tianming nodded slightly. "I see."

This time, he spent three full days and nights in bed before fully recovering his strength. On this day, he was practicing swordsmanship on the back mountain. He walked up to a small hill, gripped his scabbard tightly with his left hand, and pondered for several breaths. Suddenly, he drew his sword and slashed fiercely.

A stacked Heaven-Slaying Sword-Drawing Technique.

Hum!

A sword cry rang out, and a streak of Sword Qi tore through the air. The small hill in the distance split cleanly in two, sending countless clouds of dust and fragments of stone flying and leaving a scene of devastation.

The sheathed sword in his hand also failed to withstand the force and shattered completely.

"Stacking..."

A voice came from nearby.

Ye Tianming turned to look. It was Mu Guanchen, dressed in a long robe and holding an ancient book.

Ye Tianming put away his sword and bowed deeply. "Teacher."

Mu Guanchen smiled. "That sword technique of yours is quite good."

Ye Tianming grinned. "My Tower Ancestor taught me... By the way, teacher, where does my current strength rank among the younger generation in Wan Prefecture?"

Mu Guanchen said, "Below average."

"Uh."

Ye Tianming was somewhat stunned. "Only below average?"

Mu Guanchen smiled. "What else?"

Ye Tianming fell silent. He had thought his current combat strength would at least rank among the best in all of Wan Prefecture...

Mu Guanchen said slowly, "If you leave out the second- and first-tier clans, you do rank among the best. But if you include them, your current strength might not even count as second-rate."

He paused, then continued, "You should know that the resources second- and first-tier clans can provide their children are far beyond anything you can compare with. Not only are they guided by top experts from childhood, but the cultivation methods, divine abilities, and martial techniques they practice are all top-tier as well. I don't know about the first-tier clans, but the methods and martial techniques practiced by core disciples of second-tier clans from childhood are Emperor Grade at the very least."

Ye Tianming was shocked. He had known that the resources available to disciples of those sects and clans couldn't be ordinary, but he hadn't expected the cultivation methods and martial techniques practiced by a second-tier clan's core disciples to be Emperor Grade at the very least. What about a first-tier clan?

It was simply unimaginable!

Mu Guanchen continued, "Besides that, there are cultivation grounds. The cultivation grounds of those second- and first-tier clans are no ordinary places. They go to special cultivation grounds like those at the Immortal Treasure Pavilion. Five years spent cultivating in those special grounds at the Immortal Treasure Pavilion are equivalent to only one day outside... To enter such a cultivation ground, one must at least be a core disciple of a first-tier clan."

Ye Tianming was utterly astonished. "Five years inside, one day outside? Th-this..."

Mu Guanchen said, "Shocking, isn't it?"

Ye Tianming nodded.

Mu Guanchen smiled. "That's nothing. I heard that the Guanxuan Sword Master once had a special cultivation ground where ten years inside were one day outside. Now that truly defied the heavens."

Ye Tianming shook his head with a bitter smile. "Cultivating in a place like that... People like us wouldn't dare imagine it even in our dreams."

Little Pagoda: "..."

Mu Guanchen said, "Do you know who the greatest prodigy of Wan Prefecture's previous younger generation was?"

Ye Tianming looked at Mu Guanchen, who said, "Ye Jue of the Nanzhou Ye Clan. He had already reached the Saint Realm at seventeen, a full seven realms above you now. And at every realm, he could challenge opponents a realm above him, or even two, because the cultivation methods, martial techniques, and divine abilities he practiced were all top-tier. Ordinary people simply couldn't compare. In truth, on the martial path, what matters isn't just talent and hard work, but also family background. And most of the time, family background is actually more important than talent and hard work. For many people, it isn't that they don't work hard enough; it's that they've already lost from the moment they were born."

Ye Tianming couldn't argue. Thinking about it carefully, all he felt was deep helplessness.

For an ordinary person to climb to a higher station was harder than ascending to heaven.

Mu Guanchen said, "I'm telling you this so you understand the gap between you and them. You have to face it."

Ye Tianming shook his head. "Teacher, I understand what you mean, but the reality is that this gap is despair-inducing."

Mu Guanchen smiled. "Despair is exactly what you should feel."

Ye Tianming looked at Mu Guanchen, who said, "Despair means you have no way back. Since there's no way back, why not give it everything you have?"

Ye Tianming understood at once.

Without a family background or a backer, did he have any choice but to fight with his life on the line?

As for Tower Ancestor, he admitted that Tower Ancestor did have some ability. But for now, though Tower Ancestor had some ability, it didn't seem to amount to much.

In short, he had to rely on himself.

Mu Guanchen suddenly said, "As for the sword technique you just used, besides stacking it, you can actually adapt it."

Ye Tianming hurriedly asked, "How?"

Mu Guanchen smiled. "Your cultivation method."

Ye Tianming was puzzled.

Mu Guanchen said, "Your cultivation method is very special. Besides Spiritual Qi, it can absorb other forms of power. In that case, why not absorb the power of the earth veins deep beneath the ground?"

Ye Tianming's face was full of confusion. "The power of the earth veins?"

Although he had read many books, he had scarcely read any on cultivation, because there weren't any. Most of the books sold at the Great Dao Book House were either subversive or improper.

Mu Guanchen nodded. "Deep within the earth lies endless power, the power of the earth veins. You can try using your cultivation method to absorb it all for your own use. If your sword technique is enhanced by this power of the earth, then with your current realm and the toughness of your body, you should be able to stack at least five more strikes."

Five more strikes!

Ye Tianming was thrilled. The two stacked strikes he could use now were already enough to kill someone a realm above him. If he stacked five more, how heaven-defying would that be?

Moreover, he also saw limitless possibilities.

The power of the earth!

Wasn't it endless?

Seeing Ye Tianming's excitement, Mu Guanchen smiled. "Give it a try."

Ye Tianming nodded and slowly closed his eyes, beginning to circulate his cultivation method. He sensed the earth, but a moment later, he opened his eyes. "Teacher, I can't sense the power of the earth."

Mu Guanchen smiled. "It's not that you can't sense it. You're too excited and too impatient. Sit down first and calm your mind for half an hour. Don't think about anything else. Let yourself become completely still, then use your heart to sense everything."

Ye Tianming nodded. "I'll try."

Mu Guanchen said, "You cultivate first. I'll get some ingredients and cook for you."

With that, he turned and left.

Ye Tianming sat down cross-legged and tried to calm his mind.

Mu Guanchen came to the main hall, where Song Shi was still drinking, thoroughly drunk.

Mu Guanchen said, "Old Song, you need to give me some money. The youngster is cultivating; he can't eat vegetarian meals with me every day. We need to buy some high-quality meat and pills."

Song Shi rolled his eyes. "Do I look like I have any money? The Nanling Clan donated some, but it's not like you don't know how much our academy owes. Now there isn't even a hair left."

Mu Guanchen said, "You're the academy head. You have to think of something."

Song Shi rolled his eyes. "How about I go rob someone?"

Mu Guanchen sighed softly. "Old Song, you can't give up on yourself. You have to pull yourself together."

Song Shi spread his hands. "It's not like you don't know my situation. My salary is the lowest of all the academy heads. These days, my yearly salary isn't even enough to pay for my drinking. You still have wild greens to eat, but I don't even have those. My life is bitter!"

Mu Guanchen shook his head. "All right, all right, don't be like that. Go to the Martial Pavilion at the Immortal Treasure Pavilion and get me a few jobs modifying cultivation techniques and martial skills. Emperor Grade and below only. Make it quick..."

Before he could finish, Song Shi sprang to his feet. "All right."

With that, he had already vanished from the hall.

Song Shi returned as quickly as he had left. He had taken on a full ten tasks, all involving the modification of cultivation techniques and martial skills. What was more, they were all Emperor Grade...

For each cultivation technique or martial skill improved, one could receive at least thirty thousand spirit crystals, provided the Martial Pavilion approved it. For an Emperor Grade one, the reward was at least a hundred thousand spirit crystals, even if the improvement was only slight. Of course, these weren't tasks just anyone could take on. Though Song Shi had fallen on hard times, he was still a province's academy head, so he was qualified to take on tasks of this level.

When Mu Guanchen saw that all ten tasks were Emperor Grade, he was momentarily at a loss for words, but he said nothing. He took the cultivation techniques and martial skills back into the hall.

Song Shi hurried after him. Mu Guanchen took out one of the cultivation technique scrolls, but after a single glance, his brow furrowed. "Why is this Emperor Grade cultivation technique so crude? Who created it? It's not even as good as what that little fellow Tianming created..."

Song Shi: "..."

Mu Guanchen picked up a brush, changed a few characters on the scroll, and handed it to Song Shi.

Song Shi looked utterly bewildered. "That's enough?"

Mu Guanchen nodded. "If I changed it any further, it would surpass Emperor Grade."

Song Shi: "..."