The stationed hall is extorting, discussing the rankings of the extraordinary and divine warriors. With a murderous intent, Li Sheng plans to act at night, learning that the Demon Cave will open soon. After leaving, the stationed hall is destroyed by Zhuge.
"Not willing to change?" The hall master Fei's expression turned cold. "Are you planning to go against the court and the sacred land, Master Li?"
Li Sheng retorted icily, "Fei Hall Master, you wear that cap with such finesse!"
"Choose your words carefully!" Fei Hall Master glared.
Seeing that Li Sheng was unmoved, he hinted, "You must understand, this world is not just about fighting... don't do anything foolish..."
"Of course not... I am a kind person, who dislikes conflict." Li Sheng shot a cold glance at the gathered crowd and said, "We're leaving!"
As the three departed, many leaders of the factions rejoiced, standing up to thank Fei Hall Master and City Lord Li. "Thank you, City Lord and Hall Master, let's toast to both of you!"
"Don't forget the shares we discussed," Fei reminded.
"Of course, don't worry!"
They continued drinking and celebrating, while Li Sheng and his companions wore somber expressions, leaving the city lord's mansion in silence.
Once outside, the steward approached Li Sheng, whispering, "City Lord and Hall Master said, if you can provide ten top-grade solid blood pills, they will not interfere."
"Unfortunately, our Qingling Sect has no such pills," Li Sheng said coldly as he boarded the carriage.
The steward forced a smile, secretly cursing, "What's there to be proud of... you're just Monster Li, now bowing down."
In the carriage, Li Sheng regained his composure, saying, "Wang Hu, head to the Baibao Pavilion."
"Yes, Master."
"They are despicable, pretending to persuade us with talk of harmony, all to suppress our Qingling Sect and demand top-grade pills. It's disgusting!"
Liu Hongfeng fumed, her chest heaving, causing Li Sheng some embarrassment.
"Sister, don't be angry. I have a plan," Li Sheng reassured her.
"Alright, just let me know what you need," she replied, still simmering.
As they approached the Baibao Pavilion, news of the earlier incident at the city lord's mansion spread quickly, fueled by those with ulterior motives.
"Even Monster Li has bowed under the tyranny of the city lord and stationed hall. So disappointing."
"You can't say that; the city lord and stationed hall represent the court and sacred land. You expect Qingling Sect to risk their lives?"
"Who wouldn't want to see those corrupt officials brought down?"
"Be careful, or you'll find yourself in jail!"
Inside the Baibao Pavilion, Li Sheng and his companions chatted amiably with Manager Hua.
"I thank Master for the kind gesture on behalf of the young lady. I will send the materials for solid blood pills to your sect shortly."
"Manager Hua is too polite. We help each other; today's top-grade solid blood pills are just a token of gratitude. Have someone come for them in five days," Li Sheng said with a sincere smile.
"Rest assured, although City Lord and Fei have connections with Chen Hu, they won't intervene. Chen Hu will likely seek help within his sect."
"Understood, thank you, Manager Hua!"
Their conversation was lively, and Li Sheng took the chance to inquire about the materials for the fifth-grade solid blood pill. Unfortunately, these materials were rare, mostly held within second-rate sects, and Baibao Pavilion only had half the amount.
As they prepared to leave, Manager Hua promised to gather the rest soon.
On their way back to the sect, Li Sheng had the Baibao Pavilion spread a warning: "Any forces invading Qingling Sect must disband and surrender resources within two days, or face the consequences."
Due to the previous news from the city lord's mansion, this warning barely stirred any response, seen as a desperate attempt to save face.
"I see now why City Lord and Fei are targeting us—it's all because of Chen Hu," Liu Hongfeng said, biting her lip in displeasure.
"Thanks to Manager Hua's reminder, we wouldn't have known otherwise," Li Sheng nodded.
He then unfurled the scroll gifted by Manager Hua.
"Ah, the rankings have been updated?"
"Yes, from Manager Hua."
"Let's see if my junior brother is on the list."
Li Sheng focused on the scroll, which featured two rankings: the Divine Warrior List and the Young Prodigy List.
The Divine Warrior List showcased the top hundred martial artists in the Xuantian Continent, while the Young Prodigy List covered those under thirty, totaling a thousand.
The scroll only detailed the Divine Warrior List. The first on the list was Yu Long Dynasty's founder, Yu Jinsheng, a second-grade grandmaster.
"First in the world!"
At the second spot was the second-generation ancestor of the Sword Tomb, Tai Shu Hua, also a second-grade grandmaster.
"Second in the world!"
Third was the founder of the Wusheng Demon Sect, Mo Tian Shui, again a second-grade grandmaster.
Li Sheng noticed that the top eleven were all grandmasters, a balance of five from the dynasty and six from sects.
"This list hasn't changed in over eighty years; it's quite stale. Let's check the Young Prodigy List," Liu Hongfeng said, bored, and picked up another scroll.
Li Sheng moved a bit closer, a tempting fragrance wafting towards him. Liu Hongfeng's cheeks flushed slightly, playfully scolding him with a glance.
The Young Prodigy List includes a thousand names, so it only updates the ranking positions monthly, rather than rewriting everything.
At the top was the prince of the Yu Long Dynasty, Yu Hua Sheng, at four-grade spirit cultivation, aged sixteen.
Second was the current sword prodigy from Sword Tomb, Tian Bu Er, also four-grade spirit cultivation, aged seventeen.
Third was the contemporary saintess from the Snowy Region, Zhan Tai Qingqing, four-grade spirit cultivation, aged seventeen.
Li Sheng quickly flipped through the rankings until he reached the nine hundred eighty-sixth position—Qingling Sect's leader, Li Sheng, at six-grade solid blood cultivation, aged twenty-three.
"This... I'm second to last..." Li Sheng's mouth twitched slightly.
Seeing her junior brother's discontent, Liu Hongfeng covered her mouth, laughing lightly, "Those prodigies have huge forces behind them. It's already impressive that you made the list."
As the carriage traveled away from Qingshan City, Li Sheng donned a black outfit and a conical hat, softly saying, "Sister, you and Wang Hu return to the sect first; I have some matters to handle."
"Okay." Liu Hongfeng didn't ask further, merely patting his arm to remind him to be careful.
Chapter 32 True Martial, True Spirit
As the carriage moved away, the sky darkened. Li Sheng headed towards the post station five miles to the right. Upon arriving at the post station, he ordered some food and drink to take a short rest. When it was fully dark, he hired another carriage to head towards Qingshan City.
...
The city lord's mansion was located in the center of Rongsheng Square. At this moment, a carriage slowly approached the quiet street. The thin coachman pulled the reins to stop and called out, "Sir, we've arrived at Rongsheng Square."
"Sir... Sir?"The coachman called several times, but received no response. He then lifted the curtain of the carriage.
Inside the carriage, there was no one, only a few pieces of silver scattered on the seat. The coachman was taken aback, looking around before quickly turning the horse around and leaving in a hurry.
Under the shadow of the wall on the right side of the street, Li Sheng stood silently, watching the departing carriage. He blurred and jumped over the wall, sneaking into the city lord's mansion.
Following the route he had taken during the day, Li Sheng carefully avoided servants and maidens, arriving at the roof of the meeting hall. He channeled his true energy and cautiously removed a roof tile, revealing the scene inside.
In the grand hall, there was revelry, with several women accompanying each person. Among them were seven or eight young girls who appeared to be only thirteen or fourteen years old, their faces filled with terror.
"Brother Fei, that kid outright rejected my proposal. It seems we can only rely on Brother Chen now,"said the plump Fei, taking a sip from the cup offered by a young girl while chatting with the city lord of Li.
"That kid does have some skill, able to fight to a standstill with Brother Chen,"he continued.
"However, after this battle, those second-tier sects are also beginning to look towards the Qingshan Sect. With Spark Sect and us blocking the way, they are still observing, but I doubt they can hold back for long. I hope Brother Chen can consolidate his martial domain soon; we cannot let this juicy piece of meat get snatched away by others."
The city lord of Li set down his cup, worry etched on his face. "I've heard that a new demon cave is about to open here... I wonder if Brother Fei has any plans?"
"What?"The expression of the Fei master changed in shock, losing all inebriation. "I haven't received any news... Could it be a royal prince?"
The city lord chuckled, not elaborating further, but the plump Fei knew well the implications behind it. "They're looking for benefits..."
Fei scanned the slightly disordered crowd below and jokingly scolded, "You lot... do you want to perform a living spring palace show for me and Brother Li?"
"If Brother Fei wants to watch, we won't refuse, hahaha…"
"Get lost, get lost…"
"It's late, everyone should rest. Brother Fei and I still have important matters to discuss…"With that, the city lord's words prompted the high-ranking members of the various forces to leave one after another.
On the roof, Li Sheng felt murderous intent towards the two of them several times, but thinking about how both were martial artists of the Blood Realm, he suppressed the impulse. One against two, he wasn't their match.
Glancing at the two in the hall, he moved to chase after a group of sixth-grade martial artists.
...
By midnight, the brightly lit courtyard plunged into darkness, leaving only one room in the southwest corner still lit. Li Sheng drifted like a ghost in this area.
"Twenty-three... just one more person left,"he whispered to himself, like a soul collector.
Inside the room, several pale bodies were entwined in a deep slumber. Li Sheng glanced in, then thrust his sword through a burly man's chest. With a surge of true energy, he instantly destroyed the man's organs, causing him to die violently.
After finishing the deed, Li Sheng disappeared from the room, moving like a phantom towards the mansion's exit. Outside the western courtyard, by the pavilion, a figure stood in the shadows, watching Li Sheng leave.
Only when Li Sheng's silhouette vanished did the figure step out of the shadows. Dressed in a green robe and holding a feather fan, the figure walked towards the meeting hall. Though the steps appeared slow, each step covered several yards, creating an eerie effect.
...
After leaving the city lord's mansion, Li Sheng hurried back to Qingshan Sect in half an hour. He busily used up the numbers from the earlier events, taking the top-grade refining dirty pill to the gathering spirit room.
Three of the rooms were already occupied—by his senior sister, junior sister, and Hong Ying. Seeing this, he smiled with satisfaction and entered an empty gathering spirit room.
Swallowing the pill, he began to practice the Dragon Elephant Breathing Technique. There were no true dragon legends in this world, and he didn't know what principle this technique was derived from. Gathering his thoughts, Li Sheng controlled his breathing according to the technique's description.
Gradually, a peculiar rhythm began to spread, drawing true energy in and resonating with his flesh and blood. Soon, a loud crash echoed in his mind, as if his consciousness had shattered. Thoughts faded, and he lost recognition of himself.
Uncertain how much time passed, a buzzing sound gradually emerged. It was faint but carried immense authority.
"Ang~"
Li Sheng's fragmented thoughts seemed to receive guidance, attaching to the sound and soaring with it. In his mind, the buzzing grew louder, and he felt as if he had transformed into a giant dragon, swimming freely through the sea of stars, roaring in exhilaration.
As his thoughts gradually returned, a sense of completion filled his heart.
"Hu~"Li Sheng exhaled, opened his eyes, and a strange light shone within them as he murmured, "Just from one practice, I comprehended the spiritual form. My talent is getting more and more outrageous, but refining my organs will still require two or three days of careful effort."
By this time, the sky was already bright. Li Sheng exited the gathering spirit room, looking up to see the sun nearly overhead. He focused his mind and summoned the panel.
**[Special Task: Hell Level]**
**[Soul Devouring: 3080/3000]**
**[Sect Destruction: 85/50]**
**[Hundred Kills: 151/100]**
"Destruction of sects has reached eighty-five?"Li Sheng's expression brightened. "It seems last night's events have already spread; otherwise, the number of sects disbanding wouldn't have doubled. Clearly, those people were frightened by my actions."
Li Sheng noticed the prompt below. **[Task completed, would you like to settle?]**
"Settle!"Li Sheng silently thought.
**[Hell Level special task completed, settling rewards...]**
**[Settling complete, reward: Cultivation Secret Realm, True Martial Tower]**
**[Task exceeded, additional reward: True Spirit Bloodline (fragment)]**
**[Note: True Spirit Bloodline can cultivate spirit beasts for the sect; consuming it automatically contracts with the host.]**
"Cultivation Secret Realm, True Martial Tower?"Li Sheng was filled with anticipation. He then focused his mind and set the True Martial Tower beside him. Suddenly, a towering black tower appeared before him.
It was pitch black, adorned with mysterious ancient symbols. The tower was covered in traces of age, rusty and weathered, exuding a desolate, wild aura. It seemed to have crossed through the long river of ancient times, appearing out of place in this realm.
"It looks extraordinary. I wonder how effective it is?"Li Sheng didn't rush to enter the tower. He held the silver metal tightly and ran towards the spirit pond.
Compared to the cultivation secret realm, he was more interested in the spirit pets. He had always wanted a spirit pet for protection, but those that could form contracts were extremely rare, often priced beyond his reach.
An old turtle that had lived for hundreds of years already had some spirit beast qualities. He had tried to target it in the past, but its lazy nature had always ignored him.
Now, with the True Spirit Bloodline, he was finally going to fulfill that dream...
Chapter 33 Spirit Beasts, Secret Realm
By the Spirit Pond, Li Sheng approached the turtle, which was the size of a grinding stone, and called out, "Brother Turtle, wake up."
"..."
"Brother Turtle, it's time to eat."
"....."
The turtle remained completely still, unresponsive to Li Sheng's calls. Feeling awkward, he scratched his head and opened the metal tube, releasing a pungent odor.
"Gulp~"
Suddenly, the turtle's shell shook, and its dark head shot out, its tiny eyes fixed on the metal tube, making swallowing motions. Li Sheng waved his hand, and the turtle's eyes followed in a comical manner.
"Alright, I won't tease you anymore."With that, he tossed the tube forward. The turtle's head snapped out and bit the test tube, swallowing it whole. At the same time, a yellowish aura enveloped the turtle, gradually dissipating to reveal a giant egg about half a person tall.
Li Sheng knocked on it; the shell felt solid, and he could sense immense vitality within. He then checked his panel.
**[Guardian Spirit Beast: Tortoise of the Sky (undergoing metamorphosis, estimated time: twenty days)]**
"Tortoise of the Sky... what an impressive name."
"Named after the sky, it surely will support the sect."
Li Sheng tried to move the giant egg, but it felt as if it was rooted to the ground, no matter how hard he pulled. After observing for a moment, he left the Spirit Pond and headed toward the spiritual vein.
In front of the black tower, Li Sheng examined the ancient structure. The tower stood about ten zhang high, with nine tiers indicated by its design. Placing his right hand on the door, he felt a chill—neither metal nor wood, its material was indiscernible. He applied slight pressure, and the door opened inward.
Inside was pitch black; Li Sheng stepped in without hesitation. A slight dizziness struck him, and when he regained his senses, the sight before him left him in shock.
The space was vast, with swirling clouds at his feet and a starry sky overhead, making him feel incredibly small. In this expansive area, three massive objects stood out.
A hundred zhang tall black stele loomed before him, engraved with eight colossal characters that exuded immense authority.
To the left"*Primal Universe Stele**
To the right"*Competition of Talents**
A fierce aura permeated the air, as if countless powerful beings were engaged in a bloody battle. The brutal scene made Li Sheng's soul tremble, and he quickly averted his gaze, breathing heavily, astonished.
Even the weakest figures in that vision exuded a divine pressure, leaving him unable to fathom what kind of era that was.
Regaining his composure, Li Sheng looked at the sides of the stele.
There, azure light swirled, resembling a vortex, adding to the mystery.
Left vortex"*Ten Absolute Arena**
Right vortex"*Celestial Battlefield**
"Ten Absolute Arena... Celestial Battlefield..."Li Sheng murmured to himself, preparing to move closer.
Just as he thought, he disappeared and reappeared before the right vortex.
"Is this really magical?"
Li Sheng focused on the vortex as golden subtitles appeared.
**[Celestial Battlefield—Not Open (conditions not met)]**
**[Domain Battlefield—Not Open (conditions not met)]**
**[Competition of Talents—Not Open (under fifty, Martial God realm)]**
**[Hundred Battle Secret Realm—Open]**
Seeing the series of "not open"messages, Li Sheng felt a chill, relieved to find at least one realm available.
"What is the Martial God realm..."Li Sheng furrowed his brow, recalling that there was no such realm in his knowledge of the Xuantian Continent.
Third-grade Master Realm.
Second-grade Grandmaster.
First-grade Earth Immortal Realm, capable of transcending to the heavens.
"Transcending... could Martial God be the term from the higher realm?"
"The higher realm is too far..."Li Sheng didn't dwell further and moved to the left vortex.
Again, golden subtitles appeared.
**[Ten Absolute Arena—Not Open (conditions not met)]**
**[Supreme Arena—Not Open (conditions not met)]**
**[True Spirit Arena—Not Open (under fifty, Martial God realm)]**
**[Divine Powers Secret Realm—Open]**
"It seems the Martial God realm is a hurdle; only by reaching this realm can one touch the core mysteries of the black tower..."
At that moment, a chattering voice sounded, and though the person was unseen, Li Sheng guessed who it was.
"Wow, this black tower is huge and mysterious!"
"Mom, when did this black tower appear? It wasn't here last night!"
"Hong Ying, don't move around... don't go in... you little brat."
"Wow... Sister Baiye, Mom, come in, it's so big in here!"
Li Sheng felt a headache coming on, and with a thought, he appeared behind Liu Hongying.
He reached out and knocked her on the head, saying, "Stop with the 'wow"sounds; you're teaching Tuan Tuan bad habits, always making noise... how embarrassing!"
"Ah? It's Brother Sect Master, you scared me!"
Liu Hongying covered her mouth, her big, spirited eyes darting around, looking adorably curious.
At this moment, Liu Hongfeng and Baiye also entered, their eyes wide at the sight before them.
Regaining her senses, Liu Hongfeng looked apologetically at Li Sheng:
"Junior Brother, don't be angry. I'll take Hong Ying away; this girl is too wild and needs to be taught a lesson."
"Sister, we're family; no need for formality. Come with me."
Li Sheng understood his sister's cautiousness; he had been the same way—self-conscious and sensitive.
"Junior Brother..."Liu Hongfeng felt warmth in her heart, shot a glare at her daughter, and took Baiye's hand, hurrying after them.
"Senior Brother, I just opened this place; everything is unfamiliar. You can explore around, but be careful not to enter the vortex. I'll go in first; just wait until I disappear,"Li Sheng instructed.
"I want to try!"Baiye moved toward the vortex.
"Of course, Junior Brother, you're the sect master; let me go in your place."
Li Sheng stopped them, explaining, "Don't worry, I won't be in any danger inside."
With that, he didn't give them a chance to argue and stepped into the vortex.
**[Hundred Battle Secret Realm—Arena Battle: Open]**
**[Tip: Defeating opponents counts as victory]**
**[Tip: Death will harm mental power; it will not reopen until recovery]**
**[Reward: Memory Fragment]**
"Arena battle... death only costs mental power... I wonder what the memory fragment is for... let's give it a shot!"
Li Sheng arrived at the arena and drew a long sword from the weapon rack.
At the same time, a phantom figure began to solidify a hundred zhang away.
Wearing the same white attire and wielding a long sword, the figure even resembled him, exuding a cold, puppet-like demeanor.
"Fighting myself?"Li Sheng was taken aback as the doppelganger vanished.
"Serpent style, ape style... is that even possible?"Seeing the opponent's movement technique, he understood that whatever he could do, the doppelganger could as well.
He activated his movement technique, entangled with it while contemplating strategies.
Li Sheng thought to himself, after several exchanges, that the opponent not only matched his martial skills but was also equal in realm.
"From the same master, I can't break through their moves..."