NOVEL NEXT Chapter 135: The Martial God Sect
A decade brings change to both people and affairs!
Now, Fang Xi finally understood the meaning behind this saying.
He had forgotten that Great Liang was not like the southern wilderness’ cultivation world, where even ordinary cultivators lived past a hundred years and those at Foundation Establishment could endure for over two centuries.
Instead, it was akin to a feudal society with limited information flow, where reaching fifty was considered a long lifespan for mortals!
Regardless of how renowned a Supreme Grandmaster might be, after disappearing for thirty years, their influence inevitably waned…
Moreover, who could clearly discern the truth about events from decades ago? Misconceptions may have spread over time!
Additionally, as Liang Wang ascended to power, he needed to establish his authority!
If fear of a mere reputation tied to someone vanished for over a decade prevented him from dealing with Yuanhe Mountain, what credibility would he hold?
Lastly, the so-called Supreme Grandmaster, although rumored to be friendly with Yuanhe Mountain’s Zongshi, did not originate from there!
Of course, the origins of the legendary Supreme Grandmaster Fang Xi were always shrouded in mystery.Some claimed Fang Xi was a wandering hero, others believed he hailed from Yuanhe Mountain, and some even suggested he founded the Intervale Dojo.
More amusingly, some researchers theorized that Fang Xi came from Baiyun Dojo… but nobody took it seriously, dismissing it as a coincidence of names.
The portrait-making skills in Great Liang were rather rudimentary, and very few people had ever seen Fang Xi’s true appearance.
Over time, the image of the fabled ‘Supreme Grandmaster’ drifted further away from its original depiction…
The next day.
Near Baiyun Dojo, there stood a small courtyard residence.
In its garden, golden and white flowers bloomed profusely, showcasing their vibrant beauty amidst fierce competition.
Fang Xi stood with hands clasped behind his back, gazing at these blossoms.
Inside the house, a veiled figure approached the door.
“Gongzi, seeing you as youthful as ever brings me great comfort. However, I will not meet with you today…”
Lily’s aged voice echoed from behind the door.
Fang Xi remained silent, said nothing more, and turned to leave.
Long ago, Madam Li refused to see Emperor Wu of Han for likely similar reasons.
“As one relies on beauty to please others, when that beauty fades, so does affection; and with waning affection comes the end of favor…”
“But…why would anyone perceive me as such?”
Fang Xi’s divine sense had already detected Lily and discerned her health was good, thanks largely to the effectiveness of the medicinal pills he left years ago.
That alone was sufficient…
“I cannot bear to witness heroes grow feeble or beauties age gracefully…”
His mood inexplicably felt somewhat gloomy.
Since feeling glum, he needed a place to vent his emotions.
Unconsciously, Fang Xi found himself standing before an opulent palace.
On the vast white marble square, numerous armored soldiers patrolled, each one robust and fierce - unmistakably cultivators!
“Death to any unauthorized intruders at Liang Palace!”
A guard drew his sword, clearly indicating that killing was as routine for him as daily meals.
“Get lost!” Fang Xi expanded his chest, gathered his breath deep within his dantian, and unleashed a thunderous roar.
Boom!
Terrifying sound waves radiated outward from Fang Xi, spreading in all directions.
The leading guards collapsed instantly, blood spurting from their mouths and noses, with some even showing traces of brain matter…
With a swift leap, Fang Xi entered the Liang Palace!
Swish! Swish!
His intrusion caused an immediate commotion.
Countless soldiers surrounded him, roaring together, “Assassin! Protect His Majesty!”
From high above in watchtowers, archers took aim, crossbow bolts pointed directly at Fang Xi.
Additionally, several martial artists, each possessing at least the rank of Martial Master, moved to encircle him.
Pffft! Pffft!
Fang Xi maintained a steady pace, enveloped by countless streams of astral energy forming like an outer layer around him, continuously projecting spikes outward. Any approaching martial artist was instantly pierced, spurting blood before falling to the ground…
In the blink of an eye, Fang Xi had reached the central axis of the royal palace, arriving in front of Hanguang Hall.
Several elderly figures clad in black blocked his path.
“Such a young Zongshi, why rush to your death?” one of them sighed deeply before stepping forward.
Boom!
Terrifying blood qi surged from their bodies!
As masters of Qi and Blood martial arts, these Zongshi could lock their blood qi at peak levels, maintaining maximum combat strength until their final moments!
“Liang Wang! Show yourself or get out here!” Fang Xi roared, ignoring the approaching soldiers and archers, directing his demand straight ahead.
“I am the very Liang Wang you seek!”
A regal figure, dressed in Dragonfish robes, emerged from the palace with imposing strides, exuding an awe-inspiring presence. Shockingly, he too was a Zongshi cultivator!
Moreover, Fang Xi sensed inexplicably that immense power from the heavens and earth converged upon this individual, infusing every movement with the authority of a true king!
“It truly is Liang Wang!” Fang Xi nodded, recognizing that this convergence of power was not through the secret technique of the Dragon Emperor Fist, but rather by harnessing the essence of heaven, earth, and humanity-a terrifying accumulation of the spirit of millions under his rule!
“What a pity… You fall far short of Pang Fei’s prowess. If only he had your status; he might have already achieved True Astral Manifestation, wouldn’t you say?”
“Pang Fei? Who exactly are you?”
Liang Wang’s expression shifted abruptly as his body filled with astral energy, revealing him to be a formidable Great Grandmaster with Qi Circulating Body mastery.
“I am Fang Xi, here to seek vengeance for my old friend from Yuanhe Mountain!” Fang Xi replied calmly.
“The Supreme Grandmaster who suppressed Pang Fei thirty years ago?” An aged white-haired grandmaster exclaimed, a rare look of fear crossing his face.
“Kill!” Liang Wang commanded coldly with a wave of his hand.
BANG BANG!
The sound of countless bowstrings echoed!
A torrent of arrows descended like a heavy rainstorm.
In the next moment!
Countless faces looked up, filled with astonishment and terror…
A colossal blood-red giant, over sixty feet tall (nearly twenty meters), materialized around Fang Xi!
Puff puff!
Numerous arrows struck the giant, bouncing off its skin without leaving any trace. Even secret techniques wielded by Zongshis could not inflict the slightest harm on this crimson behemoth.
“Divine… Divine being!” At that instant, even the most fervent soldiers of Liang Wang trembled in fear, dropping their weapons clattering to the ground as they knelt.
“A demon! Run!”
Even the more resilient cultivators, upon witnessing this spectacle, promptly fled.
“Tru…True Astral Manifestation?” Liang Wang’s pupils contracted to pinpoints. “Grandmaster Fang… please stand down! I am willing to…”
“Secret Technique: Limitless Primordial Chaos!”
But Fang Xi had no intention of listening!
As he unleashed his secret technique, the blood-red giant mirrored his movements with even greater speed and power.
In an instant, it seemed as if hundreds of colossal scarlet hands descended from the sky!
Rumbling thunder echoed, and the earth trembled violently!
Hanguang Hall was reduced to rubble, and nearly half of the entire Liang Palace lay destroyed!
Amidst the wreckage, scattered remnants of flesh and blood stained the ground - all that remained of Liang Wang and the renowned Zongshis.
Days later, a shocking news spread throughout the land:
After disappearing for over thirty years, the Supreme Grandmaster Fang Xi reemerged in the jianghu, killing Liang Wang, one of the most powerful figures across the realm, with a single punch!
It was rumored that during his three-decade seclusion, Fang Xi finally achieved the legendary ‘True Astral Manifestation’ breakthrough!
The path of martial arts did not end at the Zongshi level; there were further heights yet unexplored!
This revelation instantly transformed the world’s landscape!
At Blackstone City.
Fang Xi stood atop a mountain peak, overlooking the city where he had settled upon his initial arrival through transmigration.
The once omnipresent Demonic Domain, resembling an inverted black bowl that covered the entire city, was now nowhere to be seen.
In its place lay a desolate and eerie wasteland of ruins!
“The local annals record… Ming Emperor’s sixth year, the Demon Tree fled, destination unknown…”
Fang Xi’s lips twitched involuntarily.
After effortlessly crushing Liang Wang, he had rushed without delay towards Blackstone City.
Yet upon arriving, all he found was a ghost town!
“I forgot that after consuming everyone in a city, the Demon Tree would depart… The defenders’ stance back then did have some merit.”
“Now the predicament deepens - just where has the Demon Tree gone?”
The Great Liang World spanned vast territories, and even as a cultivator, Fang Xi couldn’t search every inch of land.
“Perhaps I can only find it when this demon resurfaces, devouring another city and shocking the world again?” He murmured, “Or maybe establish a force dedicated to tracking down demons?”
This idea had long been on Fang Xi’s mind.
Upon his return, he discovered that the imperial-backed Monster Hunting Pavilion had already been annihilated, with no trace of Fatty Han, the Great Shopkeeper… indeed, a small regret.
Fortunately, from Liang Wang’s treasure vault, Fang Xi managed to acquire numerous valuable materials from mythical beasts.
As he pondered, several distinct figures unexpectedly approached him.
Among them were men and women, old and young, some dressed unusually, but they all shared one common trait - each exuded the profound aura of a Martial Dao Grandmaster!
The foremost individual, with sun-kissed skin and aged features, brightened upon seeing Fang Xi and stepped forward. “Indeed, it’s Grandmaster Fang!”
“Zhou Tong?” Recognizing the elderly man, Fang Xi couldn’t help but sigh, “What happened to Falcon?”
“Falcon passed away ten years ago…” Zhou Tong replied apprehensively before introducing others to Fang Xi, “These are the Grandmasters from our Zongshi Association. Upon hearing about your breakthrough, they rushed here eagerly.”
For these Grandmasters, wealth and power were easily attainable; their sole pursuit was reaching beyond the realm of Martial Saint!
“Dare I ask, Grandmaster Fang, what lies above the Martial Saint realm?” A female Grandmaster stepped forward, bowed respectfully with fists cupped, seeking clarification.
Fang Xi turned to face the gathering Grandmasters, a slight smile forming at the corners of his lips.
In the next instant, a towering twenty-meter-tall crimson figure materialized behind him!
His Primordial True Body!
“Above Martial Saint lies the realm of Martial God!” Fang Xi solemnly declared.
“Hail the Martial God!”
All the Grandmasters bowed deeply, some even with tears welling up in their eyes.
Finally, someone had achieved the path beyond the Zongshi realm! In that moment, Fang Xi became their revered ‘God’!
“I intend to establish the ‘Martial God Sect’ and share the way of the Martial God with all of you!”
Following this declaration, Fang Xi uttered words that brought immense joy to all the Zongshi:
“Since you agree, I represent the Zongshi Association and hereby merge its members into the Martial God Sect!”
The female Zongshi who initially posed the question promptly responded.
As the current head of the Zongshi Association, she cared little for power; moreover, once Fang Xi expressed his intentions, her stance became inconsequential.
“Bowing to the sect leader, we express our profound gratitude for imparting the path of the Martial God!” Zhou Tong and the other Zongshi immediately paid their respects again.
In that instant, the Martial God Sect effortlessly replaced the Zongshi Association, becoming the foremost major sect in the world!
Establishing influence - this was an idea long harbored by Fang Xi. He needed individuals to track down demon activity on his behalf.
Additionally, it served as a means to advance beyond the Martial God realm!
‘After all, I am only one person with limited capabilities. Having achieved True Astral Manifestation, I have no clue how to further break through… Instead, by disseminating my techniques and even granting tier-2 medicines, I can turn this world into a testing ground for refining subsequent cultivation methods…’
Using an entire world as his laboratory would allow him to deduce future cultivation techniques.
With over three hundred years of longevity, Fang Xi could afford to wait, nurturing generation after generation of rising Chosen!
As for potential backlash? Fang Xi remained undeterred. He intended to bestow tier-2 blood qi medicinal pills only after reaching Foundation Establishment, thereby safely assisting disciples in achieving new Martial Gods!
At early Foundation Establishment, defeating a Martial God would be virtually guaranteed!
After all, cultivators possess numerous techniques, while Martial Gods rely on singular methods and cannot even fly…
Even with enhanced jumping abilities, they lack agility and would ultimately be kited to death by Foundation Establishment cultivators!