A sword light, swift as lightning, approached, radiating a faint blue aura that seemed to boil. The wielder was a man in his twenties, dressed in a spotless white robe, his originally handsome face now filled with intense killing intent. Witnessing this, Li Yi instinctively realized: Martial Energy! The opponent was using Martial Energy, a fact that seemed all too familiar to the former "Li Yi."
But in an instant, the sword light reached Li Yi, who wanted to dodge but found himself devoid of strength. Strangely, he felt no fear, only curiosity about this world.
"Clang—"
Suddenly, another sword light, covered in a red aura, shot from Li Yi's side, clashing mid-air with the first, sending sparks flying. This sword had forced the white-robed man back. Landing swiftly, his sword's blue aura intensified, but his murderous gaze on Li Yi softened slightly, still chilling to the bone.
Several figures in black quickly surrounded Li Yi, protectively enclosing him. The one who had repelled the white-robed man, now identified as Mo Qing, coldly said, "Li Yuan, don't think you can do whatever you want just because you're a Three Crystal Warrior. If you want to touch our young master, ask my sword first."
Mo Qing, full of anger, retorted, "Li Yuan, others may fear your Wan Chao Li family, but we Mo's do not! Don't think your family can cover the sky with one hand. Li Yi, that bastard, knew the consequences of his actions towards our young mistress!"
Li Yuan glanced back indifferently, his gaze falling on the unconscious girl. A hint of a cold smile appeared on his lips, seen only by Li Yi behind him. Nodding slightly to Li Yi, he then turned back to Mo Qing, laughing, "Well done, Mo Qing! Your Miss Mo has successfully seduced our young master. Please take her home. We'll inform our family head and decide how to deal with this."
Mo Qing's face turned, shouting "Shameless!" before suddenly lunging at Li Yuan, his sword's blue Martial Energy flaring into a snake-like shape.
"Snake Pattern Sword!"
The energy, resembling a snake, lunged at Li Yuan, with its head poised to strike. Li Yuan smirked, "Mo Qing, did you really think you're the only Warrior here?"
His sword vibrated slightly, releasing waves of red Martial Energy...
"Fire Lotus Slash!"
The red energy exploded towards the blue snake. With a loud bang, the two energies collided and burst apart. The other black-clad figures shielded Li Yi from the impact.
Separated again, both Mo Qing and Li Yuan looked slightly disheveled, not as composed as before. Mo Qing eyed Li Yuan, "Since when did you advance? Why didn't I know?"
Li Yuan replied indifferently, "When I advanced isn't important. The question is what you'll do now, having lost."
Mo Qing's face darkened, "Even if I lose, defeating me will cost you."
His sword glowed with a darker blue energy. Li Yuan sighed, "Why bother? Just take Miss Mo home. Our family head will surely provide a resolution."
"A resolution?" Mo Qing's expression fluctuated, then with a cold look at Li Yi, he said, "Fine! I'll see what your Li family has to say!"
With that, Mo Qing picked up the girl and swiftly left the valley. Li Yuan watched him leave before turning to Li Yi with a wry smile, "Young master, we know you're fond of women, but why did you target Miss Mo? The family head warned us specifically against this..."
Li Yi didn't know how to respond. He wanted to dismiss it, but suddenly, he fainted.
"Young master! Young master!"
......
After an indeterminate amount of time, Li Yi awoke again. This time, the throbbing pain in his head and body was gone, replaced by a sense of unprecedented clarity. It seemed that the memories of the previous "Li Yi" had merged with his own, granting him a vague understanding of the Martial Deity Continent he now inhabited.
The Martial Deity Continent was a realm akin to legend. Devoid of the resplendent magic found in tales, this land was governed by a singular force: Martial Energy. Over millennia and through countless endeavors, Martial Energy had reached its zenith. It permeated every aspect of life, from individual warriors to nation-states, from warfare to duels, rendering it indispensable.
Due to the proliferation of Martial Energy, a myriad of cultivation methods had emerged on the Martial Deity Continent. Regardless of their number, these methods were classified based on the strength of the techniques into four ranks: Azure Dragon, White Tiger, Vermilion Bird, and Black Tortoise, each further divided into high, medium, and low grades. Therefore, the path of Martial Energy cultivation was split into twelve distinct stages.
Naturally, with equal talent, the higher the grade of technique one could cultivate, the greater their potential achievements. Corresponding to these cultivation methods were Martial Skills, special abilities that could unleash the full potential of Martial Energy. Like the cultivation methods, Martial Skills were also categorized into twelve stages, with higher-level skills being significantly more potent.
However, these higher-grade techniques and skills were rare treasures on the Martial Deity Continent. While Black Tortoise techniques and skills were relatively widespread among the populace, Vermilion Bird techniques required the backing of powerful families or sects. White Tiger techniques were typically the domain of millennia-old lineages or royal families, while Azure Dragon techniques were almost mythical, known only to those favored by extraordinary destiny.
After mastering these techniques and skills, practitioners naturally varied in strength, leading to a system that classified their prowess. It was said that beginners were known as Fighters, followed by Warriors, Kings, Emperors, Venerables, and ultimately, Saints. Reaching the King level marked one as a powerhouse, while attaining the Emperor level demanded respect even from ancient lineages and royalty.
Moreover, a mystical legend persisted on the Martial Deity Continent. It was believed that those who achieved the Saint level could reshape the world and possess near-immortal lifespans. Only at this level could one approach the mythical realm of Martial Deity — a status that elevated one beyond mere strength, to divinity.
On the Martial Deity Continent, religious beliefs akin to those from Li Yi's previous life flourished, centered around the Martial Deity Temple, which worshipped historical figures who had attained the status of Martial Deity. It was rumored that the millennia-old legacies of families, sects, and royalty were derived from these god-like beings, but the truth of these tales remained shrouded in mystery.
In essence, the Martial Deity Continent was a land of miracles where strength reigned supreme. The law of the jungle prevailed, and the strong were venerated above all. This was the ultimate principle of the Martial Deity Continent.