Returning to Great Xia
As the aftershocks of the breakthrough subsided, Dongfang Yueming felt the new power within him, a power that seemed to resonate with the heavens and earth, and an unprecedented sense of control arose within him.
This is the realm of Grandmaster!
With a thought, the system panel appeared before his eyes.
[Character: Dongfang Yueming]
[Realm: Grandmaster Realm (Entry) (1000 points earned daily)]
[Cultivation Techniques: Extreme Body Tempering Method (Perfection), Primordial Yin-Yang Art (Perfection), Two Aspects Return to One Force (Perfection), Sea-Overturning Spirit Gathering Method (0/3000, Entry), Water Soul Spirit Gathering Method (0/1000, Not Entry), Scorching Fire Spirit Gathering Method (0/1000, Not Entry)]
[Martial Arts: Body Technique (Perfection), Weapon Technique (Perfection), Two Aspects Seal (Perfection),..., Lightning Prison Star-Shattering Hammer (Perfection), Heavenly Water Palm (0/200, Not Yet Entry), Scarlet Fire Fist (0/200, Not Yet Entry)]
[Points:3422]
[Daily points have increased to 1000.] Dongfang Yueming was satisfied, as this would undoubtedly allow his growth rate to reach a new level.
He didn't linger any longer; his figure transformed into a streak of light, speeding towards the direction of the Great Xia Dynasty.
Three days later, at the border of the Great Xia Dynasty.
Stepping onto this familiar land once more, Dongfang Yueming felt a surge of emotions. He had left this place, and now, returning, everything had changed.
However, he soon noticed an unusual tension in the air. Inside and outside the city, martial artists could be seen hurrying about, most of them with panic and unease on their faces.
[What happened?] Dongfang Yueming wondered.
[I wonder how the Gao Family is doing. I killed Gao Long, which should have caused quite a stir. And that Gao Hu...]
As he pondered this, an emergency meeting was taking place within the Great Xia Dynasty.
The high-ranking officials involved were all experts at the Internal Force Realm, yet they all looked worried.
"The situation is getting worse!" An elderly member of the royal family, dressed in a yellow robe, slammed his fist on the table and roared, "The number of missing and dead martial artists has increased dramatically recently! They all die in the same way: their life essence has been drained, leaving only a pile of ashes! Even many Qi Refining Realm martial artists have died! If this continues, are we, the Inner Force cultivators, supposed to patrol the area ourselves?"
"This matter is too bizarre. We have reviewed the records and found that a similar situation occurred in the Great Qi Dynasty before, which was then called the ' Ash Demon ' Calamity," another scholar-like powerful figure said in a deep voice. "I have already dispatched people to the Great Qi Dynasty urgently to seek the help of the Earth Spirit Sect."
On the training ground of the Great Xia Martial Arts Academy.
"Good!"
With a cheer, a senior student fell to the ground.
Liu Yu stood with his sword in hand, basking in the admiring gazes of the younger students around him.
"Senior Liu Yu is too strong! We're both at the Bone Forging Realm, yet he easily defeated a senior!"
"He is now undoubtedly the number one among the younger generation in our Martial Dao Academy!"
Hearing these praises, Liu Yu's face broke into a smug smile.
"It's a pity that Senior Liu Yu's mentor, ' Yin Wind Hand ' Wu Daozi, passed away unexpectedly some time ago," someone said regretfully.
Liu Yu's smile froze slightly.
"What's there to regret!" someone immediately retorted. "That old fellow Wu Daozi is merely at the Tendon Transformation Greater Completion; he's long since fallen short of Senior Liu Yu's talent!"
Everyone echoed his agreement. Liu Yu nodded in satisfaction, but deep in his eyes, a hint of resentment and pleasure flashed unnoticed by anyone.
[That old geezer, I finally managed to secretly poison him to death. Now, no one can blackmail me anymore!]
He felt incredibly happy, but for some reason, another figure suddenly appeared in his mind— Dongfang Yueming.
The thought of the man who had once brought him endless humiliation instantly made him feel agitated.
[Hmph, that guy, after being expelled from the Martial Dao Academy, is probably long gone, dead in some unknown corner, turned into a pile of bones!]
He forced himself to think this way, as if only in this way could he protect his pitiful self-esteem.
Not far away, Dongfang Yueming withdrew his gaze from the Martial Dao Academy, a sigh escaping his lips.
[In the blink of an eye, everything has changed. That freshman who had just Skin Tempering is now Grandmaster.]
He shook his head, recalling the past, and decided to go to the Gao Family to check on the situation first.
Walking down a familiar street, a voice filled with surprise and uncertainty suddenly came from behind.
"The Yueming in the Dongfang...?"
Dongfang Yueming paused, turned around, and saw a familiar yet unfamiliar face.
It was Li Yue. Back in the patrol team, that 'senior' who had a good impression of him.
At this moment, she looked more mature, with a tall and straight posture, full of heroic spirit, but when she saw Dongfang Yueming, her eyes still held the same brilliance as before.
"It really is you!" Li Yue exclaimed excitedly as she ran over after confirming the news. "You've changed so much, I almost didn't recognize you!"
"Long time no see." Dongfang Yueming nodded.
"Did you just get back?" Li Yue asked with concern. "It's been a lot of trouble outside lately, with a lot of martial arts practitioners going missing. You have to be very careful."
"Missing?" Dongfang Yueming's heart skipped a beat.
"Yes," Li Yue said in a low voice, a hint of fear on her face, "And I heard that the bodies of the dead... all turned to ashes."
Ash?!
Dongfang Yueming's pupils suddenly contracted!
[The Earth Spirit Sect's Ash Demon?! Could it be... that guy Li Xuan who's here?]
Seeing Dongfang Yueming's solemn expression, Li Yue thought he was worried, so she quickly laughed self-deprecatingly, "Actually, we don't need to worry too much. That murderer only targets experts; people like us with low strength are beneath him."
Dongfang Yueming remained silent.
"Hehe, don't laugh at me, but I've already reached the Bone Tempering Greater Mastery!" Li Yue puffed out her chest, a hint of pride on her face. She curiously looked at Dongfang Yueming, "And you? What level are you at now? You must be stronger than me! After all, you have such high talent!"
Dongfang Yueming smiled but did not answer.
Seeing this, Li Yue became even more curious. She tilted her head and tentatively asked, "Could it be... that you've already reached the Tendon Transformation Realm?!"
In her opinion, this was the most incredible answer she could think of.
Looking into her clear, expectant eyes, Dongfang Yueming felt a slight stirring in his heart. Meeting an old friend again was indeed a matter of fate.
He slowly extended his finger and gently touched Li Yue's forehead before she could react.
"Buzz!"
A gentle yet powerful force surged into Li Yue's body in an instant! This force not only helped her open up all the barriers in her meridians in an instant, but also optimized her Body Tempering technique in a mysterious way, and even planted a seed of "qi sensation" in her!
Li Yue felt her mind go blank, and countless insights about Martial Dao flooded into her mind like a sudden awakening!
When she came to her senses from that wondrous state, she felt an unprecedented surge of power coursing through her body, and her cultivation level had reached the Perfection the Bone Forging Realm! Moreover, she now possessed a modified Body Tempering method and a complete Qi Refining technique!
She looked up in shock, wanting to express her gratitude, but found that there was no one there. The familiar figure had disappeared without her noticing.
Li Yue stood there blankly for a long time before finally managing a bitter smile.
[So, the gap between us has already grown this large...]