Become a Divine Hidden One directly? Upon hearing this, Li Weiyi couldn't help but look up at the cliff inscriptions above. Those were the legendary battle techniques and insights of the Nine Li God, something every martial practitioner in the world would dream of comprehending, right?
The characters...
They looked strikingly similar to the bird-track script used on the stone pillar in his soul sea, which bore the inscription "Ancient Path of the Red County." However, Li Weiyi had little knowledge of ancient scripts, so he couldn't decipher them. All the young men and women present were filled with fervor.
After bowing in reverence, they stared unblinkingly at the four ancient characters on the cliff wall, carefully studying every stroke and groove, hoping that they were prodigies who could quickly glean something from the characters. Once a martial practitioner reached the Five Seas Realm, the most urgent task was to cultivate their own battle techniques and insights.
Otherwise, when faced with the mental attacks of a Grand Spirit Sense Master, they could only flee to save their lives. Whether one had cultivated battle techniques and insights, and how powerful those insights were, were of utmost importance in the Five Seas Realm, second only to one's cultivation level.
Hidden Twenty-Four stood quietly to the side, unfazed by the scene. Two years ago, hadn't she been the same? After waiting for half an hour, she finally spoke, "Everyone, don't obsess over this.
Since ancient times, only the Cang King has been able to comprehend the battle techniques and insights of the Nine Li God from these four characters."
"Once you enter the valley, your time will be extremely precious. Every day will be a race against death, so don't waste your time here."
"Right now, you probably won't listen to this advice. Everyone thinks they're the chosen one. But in the future, you'll regret wasting your time."
Li Weiyi asked, "I've heard that the battle techniques and insights of Five Seas Realm martial practitioners are all derived from comprehending the moves of Heavenly Dao Fusion. Do these four characters on the cliff wall correspond to any moves we can practice?"
"No!"
Hidden Twenty-Four replied, "However, within the valley, there are nine fundamental martial arts left behind by the Nine Kings themselves. These are more primal, precise, detailed, and imbued with Heavenly Dao essence than what you've learned in your clan studies. Of course, they're also easier to cultivate into Heavenly Dao Fusion."
The Nine Kings were the founding ancestors of the nine great tribes, all sons of the Nine Li God. The group exchanged glances, their eyes filled with joy.
"Does the Hidden Sect have the Cang King's fundamental martial arts?"
Yao Yin asked. Since the Cang King had once comprehended the battle techniques and insights of the Nine Li God, practicing his fundamental martial arts might be the best shortcut. Hidden Twenty-Four replied, "The fundamental martial arts left by the Cang King are the Thirty-Six Heavenly Demon Axes.
Not everyone is suited to practice them. You've already spent years, even decades, cultivating in your clans. Suddenly switching to a different martial art would be like discarding your previous efforts."
"Remember, your lives may only have a month or a few months left."
"Do you think you can master the Thirty-Six Heavenly Demon Axes to perfection within a month or a few months?"
A tiger-like mutant youth who had opened eight springs was ecstatic, "I've been practicing axe techniques since I was a child. The first nine moves of the Thirty-Six Heavenly Demon Axes are taught in every clan's studies, and I've already mastered them to perfection.
The first move, 'Splitting Heaven and Earth,' I've cultivated to a level infinitely close to Heavenly Dao Fusion." Many in the crowd showed envy. With such a foundation in axe techniques, who could catch up to him?
Li Qing sneered, "You haven't even cultivated Heavenly Dao Fusion yet, so what's there to boast about? Since ancient times, countless prodigies and heroes have entered the Hidden Sect, yet no second person has comprehended the battle techniques and insights of the Nine Li God."
The tiger-like mutant youth's eyes gleamed with cold light, his fighting spirit intense, "Then let's see who will be the final victor a year from now?" Hidden Lord had already left silently while they were contemplating the four characters on the cliff wall.
Hidden Twenty-Four led the group through the misty river valley, past a forest of unknown trees emitting a purple glow, and arrived at the base of a stone wall. The stone wall shimmered like red jade ore. Upon closer inspection, one could see spiritual light flowing within it, with scriptures floating up and down.
Due to the mist, the height of the stone wall was unclear. However, the area at the base of the stone wall was flat and expansive, resembling a martial arts training ground.
Hidden Twenty-Four said, "If you want to skip the life-and-death trials and the competition among Hidden Ones to directly become a Divine Hidden One, there are actually two paths."
"The stone wall before you is a mental force mural."
"All martial practitioners who enter the Hidden Sect and reach the Nine Springs Ancestral Field will imprint their battle techniques here. Additionally, the Hidden Sect purchases battle technique images from other top martial practitioners in the Lingxiao Living Realm and imprints them here as well."
"You only need to defeat three people from these images to directly become the Divine Hidden One of this Great Era. Including me, all Hidden Ones will become your Hidden Servants, obeying your commands unconditionally."
The crowd erupted in murmurs.
"This is much simpler than comprehending the battle techniques and insights of the Nine Li God! You only need to defeat three people, not chase after a legendary god."
Yao Yin immediately asked, "Can I challenge now?" As a Pure Immortal Body, she was confident in herself. Hidden Twenty-Four shook her head, "You need to at least be a Nine Springs martial practitioner to qualify for the challenge."
Yao Yin fell silent. For her to reach the Nine Springs level within a year was simply impossible. It seemed that no matter what, she would have to become Hidden Twenty-Six.
"Doesn't that mean I'm the only one here qualified to challenge? How can I not try on behalf of everyone?"
Li Qing confidently stepped forward, his gaze sharp as he stared at the stone wall. Hidden Twenty-Four, as if she had expected this, said indifferently, "Place your palm on the stone wall and infuse it with spiritual energy. The battle technique image of the first person will naturally appear to fight you."
After Li Qing did so...
"Whoosh!"
From the red jade-like stone wall, spiritual light, energy, and scriptures rapidly converged, forming a vivid mural. In the mural was a thirteen or fourteen-year-old boy, unremarkable in appearance but with eyes far deeper than his age. He held a giant axe that seemed mismatched with his slender frame.
The boy stepped out of the mural, a semi-transparent glowing figure, "Are you ready?"
"Begin!"
Li Qing drew his magical sword, not daring to underestimate his opponent. All nine springs within him erupted, and the energy seeping from his pores enveloped his entire body, instantly bringing him to his peak state.
"Whoosh!"
He struck first, his sword like a meteor, incredibly fast.
"So fast, even faster than Xue Zheng," Li Weiyi observed the battle intently, better assessing Li Qing's strength.
Indeed, a Nine Springs expert was formidable. Even stronger than Xue Zheng, a Pure Immortal Body.
"Clang!"
Li Qing's full-powered thrust was casually deflected by the glowing boy's axe.
"How is this possible?"
Li Qing's eyes were filled with shock, unable to believe that his opponent was only at the Nine Springs level. After deflecting Li Qing's sword, the glowing boy suddenly raised his axe and swung it down with a force that seemed to split heaven and earth, his aura overwhelming and tyrannical. All the spectators were forced to step back.
Li Qing's expression changed drastically, feeling immense pressure. Without hesitation, he activated the energy in his Ancestral Field and unleashed his strongest sword strike, infused with Heavenly Dao Fusion. A single sword slash!
The Wind Mansion was a small energy sea, so those who opened eight springs were called Minor Five Seas. The Ancestral Field, however, was comparable in size to the first energy sea of many Five Seas Realm martial practitioners.
Li Qing's sword strike gathered a massive amount of energy from his Ancestral Field, a true trump card move that could slaughter those who had opened eight or seven springs like pigs and dogs.
"Is the energy in the Ancestral Field really this dense?"
Without using his powerful magical tools, Li Weiyi felt that with his current seven springs, his chances of defeating Li Qing were less than fifty percent. This was terrifyingly strong. Just two levels lower, yet so hard to defeat.
Of course, the main reason was that the Wind Mansion and Ancestral Field could store energy like an energy sea, making Li Qing's combat power during bursts incredibly overpowered. Li Weiyi currently lacked such a means to unleash a supreme strike.
"Boom!"
All the energy and sword qi Li Qing unleashed were dispersed by the glowing boy's axe. Axe and sword clashed. Li Qing felt as if he had been punched in the chest, his face instantly turning pale as he staggered back, his hands bleeding profusely.
His sword had already flown out of his grasp. The glowing boy pursued, swinging his axe a second time.
"Admit defeat quickly," Hidden Twenty-Four said.
Li Qing, as if granted amnesty, immediately shouted, "I admit defeat!" The massive, sharp axe halted above his head. The spiritual light emanating from the axe's edge illuminated the fine beads of sweat on his forehead with crystal clarity.
"Whoosh!"
The giant axe vanished. The glowing boy dissipated like smoke. Li Qing trembled, exhaling a long breath.
His pale face took a while to recover as he asked, "Who is he? Is he a Pure Immortal Body?" Li Qing couldn't believe that a mutant Nine Springs martial practitioner could be so strong, let alone a mortal.
Hidden Twenty-Four said, "He is Hidden Nine! He opened four springs at the age of eight and entered the Hidden Sect. By eleven, he had opened eight springs, and after two more years of rigorous cultivation, he opened nine springs at thirteen.
The version you faced was him at thirteen."
"He's not a Pure Immortal Body, just a mortal."
All of Li Qing's confidence and pride were shattered. He laughed bitterly, "I actually lost to a thirteen-year-old child!"
"Among Nine Springs mortals, you're already very strong. You withstood a single axe strike from Hidden Nine and only suffered minor injuries," Hidden Twenty-Four said.
"Hidden Nine represents the pinnacle of combat power among all Hidden Ones at the Nine Springs level in this Great Era."
The severely demoralized youths in the crowd suddenly felt a bit better. Some eight or nine-year-old children regained their confidence. If Hidden Nine could become the final victor that year, so could they.
The younger they were when they entered the Hidden Sect, the more benefits they would gain, and the stronger they would become in the future. Li Weiyi asked, "We need to defeat three people to directly become a Divine Hidden One. Besides Hidden Nine, the top Nine Springs Hidden One, who are the other two?"
Hidden Twenty-Four replied, "The second person is a Nine Springs Pure Immortal Body with all one hundred meridians refined to silver."
"The third person is the Lingxiao Champion at the Nine Springs level."
"Besides this path, there's another, but it's irrelevant to you. Only Five Seas Realm Hidden Ones can compete for it."
After hearing this, everyone present instantly gave up on the idea of directly becoming a Divine Hidden One. For a mortal or mutant to defeat a Pure Immortal Body at the same level was simply a pipe dream. Even so, as a Pure Immortal Body, Yao Yin still had a chance.
But to defeat the Lingxiao Champion at the Nine Springs level... Were the Divine Hidden Ones of the Nine Li Hidden Sect aiming to be the best in the world? The Lingxiao Champion wasn't just some Nine Li Champion, Li Prefecture Champion, or Southern Realm Champion.
It represented the best martial practitioner under sixty in the world. Yao Yin asked, "Does 'all one hundred meridians refined to silver' mean having over one hundred meridians in the body, all refined to at least silver-grade?" Hidden Twenty-Four nodded, "Exactly."
"That requirement is the standard for those inheriting from the Ten Thousand Doors!"
Yao Yin exclaimed. Hidden Twenty-Four said proudly, "The Nine Li Tribe is the only Ten Thousand Ancient Tribe in the Lingxiao Living Realm. Even if we've declined outside, the Hidden Sect must hold itself to the standards of a Ten Thousand Ancient Tribe when training Divine Hidden Ones."
"Divine Hidden Ones should be stronger than inheritors!"
The colors of a martial practitioner's meridians, from lowest to highest, were white, red, silver, and gold. Almost all martial practitioners started with white meridians. Reaching the Seven Springs was a watershed moment.
Some would choose to break through directly to the Five Seas Realm, pursuing higher levels. Others would pause to solidify and refine their foundation. The more red meridians one refined, the greater the chance of breaking through to the Eight Springs Wind Mansion.
To break through to the Nine Springs Ancestral Field, one needed to refine as many silver meridians as possible. Li Qing smiled, "I understand now! I see the gap between me and Hidden Nine!
I refined twenty-seven silver meridians to break through to the Ninth Spring, and now I only have forty-six silver meridians in my body. I need to refine all ninety meridians to silver to have a chance to compete with him."
Li Weiyi also calculated silently, "I currently have eighty-four meridians in my body, and they seem to be silver without needing refinement. No wonder I find it hard to defeat Li Qing. He has more meridians than me, and over half are silver."
Li Weiyi guessed that his ability to defeat martial practitioners across levels was related to the quality and quantity of his meridians. Yao Yin laughed bitterly, "Pure Immortal Bodies are indeed heaven's darlings, one-in-ten-thousand cultivation prodigies. But only a Pure Immortal Body with all one hundred meridians refined to silver is a true Pure Immortal Body."
"You could say that."
Hidden Twenty-Four said, "Besides physique and meridians, combat power at the same level is also influenced by techniques, physical strength, breathing methods, energy utilization, mental force stacking, magical tools... and so on. So don't be disheartened by differences in innate talent. Pure Immortal Bodies aren't invincible."
"Li Qing, if you had cultivated a Heavenly Dao Fusion-level movement technique, you definitely could have dodged Hidden Nine's second axe strike. The more Heavenly Dao Fusion techniques you cultivate, the stronger your combat power at the same level will be."
After finishing, Hidden Twenty-Four led the group to their living quarters.
"Since you're not Hidden Ones yet, you can't enter the Hidden Sect. You'll have to live in the cave dwellings carved along the river valley."
"Those who have opened four springs will live on the first level. Those with five springs, the second level. Those with six springs, the third level."
"The first month is a protection period. Anyone who dares to kill a fellow martial practitioner will be executed without mercy!"
(End of Chapter)