Tribulation Transcendence draws near

The difference is that your body disintegrates at the drop of a hat, and then it fights with itself?

Xu Qi'an first made a sarcastic remark, then fell silent, silently analyzing the situation in his mind.

First, ruling out the bloodline of Gods and Devils, the Asura race should be a group formed by the hybridization of Gods and Devils, demons and humans. They possess the bloodline of Gods and Devils, but the bloodline is not enough to condense into spiritual essence. At most, it makes the Asura race naturally powerful.

However, it doesn't possess the unique advantages of the Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox.

Secondly, the identity of "Buddha" can be ruled out, because this is irreplaceable, and Shenshu would not be able to answer him with this.

Finally, we're back to where we started. A thought struck Xu Qi'an:

"The property of immortality?"

Indeed, the biggest difference between Shen Shu and ordinary extraordinary martial artists is his immortality.

Xu Qi'an is now a second-grade martial artist, and he knows that even martial artists at the "Dao Integration" realm can die.

But Shen Shu's situation is truly difficult to understand.

He was dismembered and sealed away for five hundred years, and ran out of ammunition and food for five hundred years. Without any external spiritual energy to replenish him, he survived for five hundred years by relying on his own vitality.

Even the supreme Buddha could not kill him.

"That's right. Compared to other martial artists, my greatest uniqueness lies in my immortality; even the highest-grade martial artists can't kill me."

Shenshu's navel split open, transforming into a mouth, and he spoke:

"A first-rank martial artist cultivates this kind of immortality technique."

Xu Qi'an remained silent for a long time before saying:

"That sounds rather ordinary."

Immortality is a skill possessed by third-rank martial artists. Upon reaching the second rank, this ability undergoes a significant leap. Given Xu Qi'an's current vitality, even if he were dismembered, he would not die.

From this perspective, it seems that a first-rank martial artist who merely enhances vitality is unworthy of his position.

You must know that martial arts are the strongest system of offensive and killing techniques.

Moreover, an ordinary first-rank martial artist could not possibly possess the formidable vitality of Shen Shu, because Shen Shu was a half-step martial god.

If a half-step Martial God was sealed by a Supreme Buddha, then even a Martial God seems to be only slightly stronger than a Supreme Buddha?

He really doesn't deserve the title of "strongest in one-on-one combat".

"Somewhat disappointed?"

Shen Shu chuckled and said to himself:

"You should know that the martial arts system is different from all other systems. When the major systems reach a high level, some can modify the rules at will; some can turn stones into gold and manipulate the earth, wind, water, and fire; some Qi Refinement and utilize the power of all living beings; and some can directly borrow the power of a region of heaven and earth."

"Only martial artists do not interact with heaven and earth, but cultivate themselves; all their extraordinary abilities originate from within themselves."

That's why they say warriors are crude and vulgar. Xu Qi'an felt saddened by his own system.

Shen Shu said:

"This is actually the core and essential path for a martial artist; it tells you how to advance to the first rank."

Before Xu Qi'an could ask, Shen Shu gave the answer:

"By fusing your essence, Primordial Spirit becomes your body, your body becomes your Primordial Spirit. When the power throughout your body is condensed into one, your combat strength will increase by leaps and bounds, making you one of the strongest in the world."

That's acceptable! Xu Qi'an nodded, indicating that he could accept it.

But Shen Shu said:

"But this still doesn't match the rank of a first-grade martial artist. In the martial artist system, from the Subordinate Ninth Rank to the second grade, each grade advancement grants a completely new ability. The same applies to other systems."

"But a first-rank martial artist only enhanced their third-rank immortal body ability and close combat skills; they didn't gain any new abilities."

Upon hearing this, Xu Qi'an frowned. If Shen Shu was right, then this was indeed strange.

The first rank, being the final rank in the martial arts system, only enhances the abilities of the third and fifth rank levels, which is indeed unreasonable.

Although this makes warriors harder to kill and significantly increases their combat power.

Shenshu sighed from his navel:

"In fact, the Confucian sage has already given the answer."

A question mark flashed through Xu Qi'an's mind, then his pupils dilated slightly, and a flash of inspiration struck him. He blurted out:

"A first-rank martial artist isn't a normal rank; it's just a transitional one?"

The Confucian sage divided the major systems into nine ranks, each with its own name, except for the first rank, the martial arts, which was left blank.

For thousands of years, no one has known the reason behind it.

But now, a bold guess flashed through Xu Qi'an's mind.

Shen Shu spoke the word of his guess for him:

"Because a first-rank martial artist is very likely a part of a martial god; it's not a separate rank."

After a moment of silence, Xu Qi'an, as if divinely inspired, sighed:

"I knew the martial arts system was complex, but from ancient times to the present, there seems to have never been a martial god? How did the Confucian sage know this?"

Shen Shu shook his head slightly:

"I don't know, I still have many crucial memories left in my head. No one knows what the basis is for the Confucian Sage's ranking, but based on the Confucian Sage's ranking system, there are quite a few people who guess that a first-rank martial artist is a half-step martial god."

"Otherwise, why do you think the Gu Clan of Southern Frontier would call me a half-step Martial God? If I had to give you a precise ranking, I would say I am a first-grade Great Perfection cultivator."

A first-rank martial artist is a part of a martial god, therefore, a first-rank master at the Great Perfection level is called a "half-step martial god".

It seems Granny Tian Gu knows quite a lot. Xu Qi'an had heard Lina mention that during the Jiazi Sixty-Year Demon Purge, a half-step Martial God made a move.

Lina learned about this from her father, Long Tu. Based on Xu Qi'an's contact with the Li Gu tribe, she had a deep understanding of the tribe's Virtue. Therefore, there is reason to suspect that Long Tu also learned about this from Granny Tian Gu.

Regardless, a first-rank martial artist is powerful enough. The lack of new skills is irrelevant; as long as he can punch the White Emperor and kick the Garuda Tree, that's sufficient. Xu Qi'an humbly sought guidance:

How can one condense one's essence, energy, and spirit into a single force?

There's a Mnemonic: "The body is the furnace, the spirit is the firewood, and the breath is the fire."

After Shenshu finished reciting the Mnemonic, he said:

"Do you know why emperors blessed with good fortune are more likely to ascend to the first rank? Because this process is extremely dangerous; the slightest mistake can lead to annihilation. Those blessed with good fortune are less likely to Qi Deviation."

Xu Qi'an silently recited the Mnemonic several times, then asked:

"Master, what are your thoughts on the God of War?"

The navel didn't open; instead, a gentle voice came from the right arm:

"I have been residing in your body for a long time, and I still don't understand why the Supervisor wants to cultivate you. But I can see that he is consciously adding to your luck."

"Does the dragon's energy still reside within you?"

Xu Qi'an nodded:

"Still among fragments of the Earth Book."

The right arm said in a gentle tone:

"Keep it, don't let it return to the dragon vein; it might be useful in the future. Don't you find it strange that after the dragon vein collapsed, the Supervisor didn't collect the dragon energy himself, but instead sent you to wander the world?"

Xu Qi'an fell into deep thought.

Far overseas.

In the pitch-black depths of the sea, there lies a silent and deep trench.

Deep within the trench, a faint white light shimmered, growing more intense the deeper one went.

Sparkling pearls adorn the cliffs of the trench, radiating a soft and pure glow.

At the bottom of the trench lay a monster hundreds of feet long. It was entirely black, with a body resembling a sheep, a head with six long, curved horns, and a face that looked remarkably like a human.

The White Emperor stood quietly before this sleeping behemoth, gazing at one of its horns, which was shrouded in a wisp of pure energy.

"My horn can devour everything; even if you are the gatekeeper, you can't escape its devouring power. Don't even think about getting out."

The White Emperor did not speak, but instead communicated with the gatekeeper in the corner using telepathy.

"No wonder you wanted to seize my spiritual essence; it turns out there's something wrong with this body."

The supervisor's voice came from the corner, replying in the same way:

"At your peak, you should have been a Super Grade, on par with the Gu God."

Baidi Dao:

"To be precise, the problem was with my spiritual essence. During the civil war between Gods and Devils, I suffered unimaginable damage, and half of my spiritual essence was merged into the Great Dao and returned to this world. In the end, I escaped the calamity by feigning death."

"But having lost half of my spiritual essence, I'm no match for the top-tier items. Over the years, I've hunted down the descendants of Gods and Devils overseas, trying to repair my spiritual essence, but their power is too weak. Fortunately, I obtained you. Once I refine you, no other top-tier item can compete with me."

The supervisor laughed:

"Do you know why the gatekeepers didn't appear in ancient times, or in the era of the Dao Venerables, but instead appeared after the rise of humanity?"

The White Emperor calmly asked, "Why?"

The supervisor gave an irrelevant answer:

"Because in ancient times, the conditions for the birth of a martial god did not exist."

The white emperor's azure vertical pupils stared at the long horn, and he slowly said:

"I've heard from a second-rank Warlock that among all the major systems, only Warlock and martial artists don't have a superior rank. You seem to know how to advance to Martial God?"

The supervisor laughed:

"You guess!"

The White Emperor didn't particularly like the old man's speaking style, and said indifferently:

"In a few days, I will be able to suppress your Primordial Spirit. After that, I will go to the Nine Provinces Continent and destroy the Central Plains Dynasty."

At this moment, a white scale lit up behind the White Emperor's ear, which was covered in mane. He listened intently and heard Xu Pingfeng's voice transmission.

"The leader of the Human Sect is about to undergo tribulation; return immediately!"

Jingshan City.

Salun Agu, with a sheep-driving whip wrapped around his waist, slowly ascended the altar and stopped before the sculpture of a robed man wearing a crown of thorns.

He bowed deeply and smiled.

"I have just performed a divination, and the result is extremely auspicious, especially during the spring sacrifice."

The statue of the sorcerer god remained silent, with a phantom figure in blue robes rising above its head before sinking back down, as if pulled back by some force.

Xunzhou.

In the east room of the courtyard, Xu Qi'an was changing clothes with Ye Ji's help. Behind them was a messy bed, and behind the screen was a lacquered red bathtub with splashes of water from the previous night around the rim.

After returning from the Southern Frontier, Xu Qi'an brought Ye Ji back to the Central Plains with a clear purpose—cultivation (dual cultivation)!

The High Antiquity Daoist School sexual techniques are indeed powerful; the rate of increase in vital energy is far faster than that of breathing exercises.

If one could find a top Daoist School figure like Luo Yuheng for dual cultivation, but after the last dual cultivation session, Luo Yuheng returned to the capital for seclusion.

There was originally a more suitable candidate; the Flower Goddess is currently at the Bureau of Astronomy, spending her days and nights cultivating with him.

Since we've already gone to the Southern Frontier, we might as well bring Ye Ji back to stay for a while, so we can cultivate together.

Actually, Xu Qi'an was somewhat "afraid" of dual cultivation with Mu Nanzhi. It wasn't the kind of fear he had of Xiao Yu, but rather the Flower Goddess's charm was too strong, and he was afraid that he would never want to get out of bed again.

Half a month has passed since I returned from Southern Frontier.

Ye Ji's delicate and charming face was etched with fatigue, but her eyes shone brightly, her divine radiance restrained. She had also gained immense benefits from dual cultivation.

"The maids in the manor are a bit gossipy; when you have free time, try to discipline them."

Night Princess rolled her eyes and said reproachfully:

"You torment me day and night, how can I possibly have the energy to manage the maids?"

Xu Qi'an chuckled and pinched her buttocks, saying:

"I won't be bothering you for a long time; I'm going to the capital."

Luo Yuheng received a message last night via a jade talisman, indicating that he will undergo tribulation in three days.