At the waist of the Heavenly Origin Sacred Mountain, one could see a series of luxurious and grand palaces standing tall.
At this moment.
Within a palace at the mountain's waist.
"He's only sixteen years old and has just broken through to the Innate Realm."
"He defeated you, a disciple of the Sacred Ground at the third level of the Spirit Sea Realm, with just one palm?"
On the platform, a burly middle-aged man tapped the armrest of his large wooden chair with interest after hearing the report.
He then looked indifferently at the person reporting below.
"Bai Xu, your cultivation is lacking. You were defeated by a young boy and have lost face for the Sacred Ground. From today, you are to go into closed-door cultivation for five years. You shall not leave the mountain until you reach the All-encompassing Realm!"
Bai Xu, dressed in white, the same senior brother Bai who was defeated by Jiang Heng with a single palm, nodded with a gloomy face, "Yes, Elder Xu!"
"You may leave."
Elder Xu on the platform waved his hand dismissively.
After Bai Xu and the other left, he rested his chin on his hand, pondering, "How did such an extraordinary talent suddenly emerge from the mundane world?"
"Such terrifying talent might even surpass that of the Sacred Son and Sacred Daughter."
"The Sacred Son and Sacred Daughter are the result of continuous selection from nearly a thousand potential talents on the Hidden Dragon List within the Sacred Ground. They practice the highest-level divine techniques in the Sacred Ground, enjoy unlimited resources, and are taught in turns by ten Nirvana Realm elders."
"This is why they have such terrifying strength to fight beyond their level."
"But looking at Jiang Heng's information, everything seems so ordinary. How could he rise so suddenly and possess such formidable strength?"
"Could it be that his talent surpasses even the Sacred Son and Sacred Daughter?"
After pondering for a while, Elder Xu rubbed his temples and ordered more information about Jiang Heng. He began to read carefully.
Soon, Elder Xu found a clue from the information.
It was recorded that when Jiang Heng was first listed on the Hidden Dragon List, two elders from the Sacred Ground happened to be nearby in the Feng River region and took on the task of investigating.
So, when Jiang Heng faced off against Fu Chengye, two highly respected and powerful elders from the Sacred Ground personally went to observe.
It was thanks to these two experienced elders that they saw through Jiang Heng's abilities and decided to abandon the invitation to him.
"A physical cultivation technique?"
Upon seeing the information, Elder Xu suddenly realized.
"He cultivates both his body and true qi. No wonder he has such formidable strength. Perhaps his physical cultivation has reached the fourth realm, equivalent to the Spirit Sea Realm. Otherwise, such exaggerated strength cannot be explained."
"Yet, to achieve such a level at the age of 16 shows how terrifying his talent is!"
"If he were just an ordinary genius, the Sacred Ground wouldn't care. But if he truly surpasses the Sacred Son and Sacred Daughter, he cannot be overlooked!"
"But this young man seems very arrogant, not even considering the Sacred Ground in his words. Especially after defeating Bai Xu, he probably thinks that the disciples of the Sacred Ground are nothing special."
"We need to curb his arrogance!"
After thinking for a moment, Elder Xu left the palace and ascended to another elegant and refreshing palace.
After announcing his arrival, he was allowed to enter.
"Sacred Daughter!"
Even with Elder Xu's status and strength, he slightly bowed here.
Inside the palace, on the high platform.
A breathtakingly beautiful woman in white, with skin as smooth as jade, sat cross-legged.
She slowly opened her eyes.
Her eyes, shining like stars, looked at Elder Xu below and calmly asked, "Elder Xu, what brings you here?"
"Sacred Daughter, a peerless genius has recently emerged in the mundane world. I wanted to invite him to the Sacred Ground, but he seems arrogant and doesn't seem to care about the Sacred Ground. So, I was hoping you could take action and curb his arrogance."
On the platform, the Sacred Daughter, Ruan Bai Xue, slightly furrowed her brows.
"Can't you handle such a matter yourself?"
Elder Xu replied with a helpless smile:
"Your Holiness, that genius may have a talent not inferior to yours. At just sixteen years old, he can defeat a Sacred Ground disciple at the Spirit Sea Realm with a single move."
"If we send other Spirit Sea Realm disciples, and he defeats them, it would damage the reputation of our Heavenly Origin Sacred Ground."
"Yet, if we send disciples at the All-encompassing Realm, it would seem like we're using a sledgehammer to crack a nut."
"So, after thinking it over, only the Sacred Son and Sacred Daughter at the same level can suppress him."
"But the Sacred Son has a very strong murderous aura..."
Ruan Bai Xue looked at Elder Xu and asked seriously, "Sixteen years old, defeats a Spirit Sea Realm Sacred Ground disciple with a single move?"
"Yes!"
"Is he at the Spirit Sea Realm as well?"
"His true qi cultivation has reached the Innate Realm, and he also practices a body cultivation technique. As for his physical cultivation, it's impossible to ascertain, but being able to easily defeat someone at the Spirit Sea Realm suggests his physical cultivation has reached the fourth realm."
Elder Xu didn't speculate on higher realms because that was completely impossible.
Body cultivation is more challenging and resource-intensive than true qi cultivation. According to information he had seen before, reaching the fourth realm in martial arts at the age of sixteen was already a once-in-a-century genius. The fifth realm was absolutely nonexistent.
"Sixteen years old, cultivating both body and true qi, defeating a Spirit Sea Realm opponent with one move..."
Ruan Bai Xue on the platform contemplated for a moment and then said, "Very well, I'll go."
Elder Xu below immediately smiled and bowed, "Thank you, Sacred Daughter, for your assistance!"
"However, the young man named Jiang Heng is currently participating in the local Qingzhou Union Martial Arts Competition. It will probably last for another month. Sacred Daughter can set out after the competition concludes."
...
In the Lianhua Mountain Range.
Li Chen and Lin Feibai followed Jiang Heng, feeling tense and constantly looking around, afraid that a formidable opponent might suddenly appear and annihilate them.
Jiang Heng, leading the way, leisurely enjoyed the scenery in the mountains.
After a short while, he stopped and listened intently.
Faint sounds of battle emerged from a distance.
"Let's go! Over there!"
Jiang Heng signaled to the two, then quickened his pace toward the direction of the commotion.
...
Within a low forest.
Due to an unexpected encounter, two small teams of six people engaged in a fierce battle.
The clashing of swords and blades echoed intensely, and sword energy continually shot in all directions.
Just as the fight had erupted not long ago, a sudden streak of red dashed into the battlefield.
A young man who had been in the midst of the battle had his head severed, and the thick blood spurted several meters high, startling his opponent into a hasty retreat.
"Who?"
The young man bellowed, but those who were still engrossed in their battles paid no attention.
Even the young man himself had only glimpsed a flash of red out of the corner of his eye, and he hadn't seen the situation clearly before his opponent was decapitated.