In the serene city of Qingfeng, within an unassuming tavern in Nanlin County,
"Hey, brother, have you heard the latest?" a burly man clad in blue whispered.
"Hmm?" responded a lean-faced man beside him, his expression one of confusion.
"It is said that the stronghold of the Baidu Sect in Chilin City, the Baili Manor, has been completely uprooted and eradicated," the burly man spoke with an air of mystery.
"Baili Manor? Where is that?" The lean-faced man inquired, perplexed; while many were familiar with the notorious Baidu Sect, few knew of Baili Manor.
The burly man chuckled softly, choosing not to elaborate further.
"Baili Manor…" Not far away, the tavern keeper's eyes gleamed with interest as he turned to depart.
…
In another ordinary tavern in Baiyuan City, Nanlin County,
"Hey, brother, have you heard that the Baidu Sect's stronghold, Baili Manor in Chilin City, has been eradicated?"
…
In a tavern in Fengyu City, Nanlin County,
"Hey, brother, have you heard that the Baidu Sect's stronghold, Baili Manor in Chilin City, has been eradicated?"
…
In a tavern in Xueyu City, Nanlin County,
"Hey, brother, have you heard that the Baidu Sect's stronghold, Baili Manor in Chilin City, has been eradicated?"
…
Almost every city in Nanlin County buzzed with the news of Baili Manor's downfall. Within a single day, the entire region was aware that the Baidu Sect's stronghold had been obliterated.
As the protagonists, the disciples of the Baidu Sect, scattered throughout Nanlin County, naturally became aware of this development early on.
"Boom!"
Within a dark and foreboding grand hall, an enraged roar reverberated.
"What on earth has transpired? The Wandu Pool has been destroyed, and we remained oblivious until the news spread throughout Nanlin County!" bellowed an elder of the Baidu Sect.
"We cannot entirely blame the subordinates. I investigated, and those disciples in Chilin City, upon discovering the Wandu Pool's destruction, fled in fear of punishment," another elder replied solemnly.
"Who can enlighten me as to what has occurred?"
"We discovered the corpse of Baili Haotian, along with several disciples of the Baili family, yet there is no sign of Baili Haotian's son."
"Locate those fleeing disciples and uncover the truth behind this calamity."
With the commands of the Baidu Sect elders, this colossal entity in Nanlin County sprang into action, receiving daily reports from various corners of the region.
In just a month, the tavern keeper who had once hosted Ye Tian in Chilin City was located by the disciples of the Baidu Sect.
"A mysterious true disciple has appeared in Chilin City... It seems that only Yi Xuehan from our headquarters was there to receive the baptism."
"Not quite; Yan Hao was present as well, but he was there to find Yi Xuehan, and we have also discovered Yan Hao's corpse."
"Then who is this mysterious true disciple? Where is Yi Xuehan?"
"Baili Manor has been destroyed, and Yi Xuehan was unable to undergo the baptism. He should have returned to report, yet it seems he has vanished."
The elders of the Baidu Sect felt an ominous premonition and swiftly began their investigation.
Shortly thereafter, Yi Xuehan's mission was uncovered, and Ye Tian's name emerged in their inquiries.
"How could Yi Xuehan have gone missing?" The elders of the Baidu Sect expressed their bewilderment; they found it implausible that Ye Tian would have killed Yi Xuehan.
Later, they contacted the Wu family, only to receive the same response: they had not heard from Yi Xuehan either.
Ultimately, they instructed the tavern keeper to sketch the visage of the mysterious true disciple. The keeper, being a formidable martial artist with an impressive memory, produced a likeness that bore a striking resemblance to Ye Tian.
Based on the sketch, the Baidu Sect commenced their investigation, and soon they received information from the Wu family confirming that the individual depicted was indeed Ye Tian.
"How can this be?"
"Ye Tian is alive; then where is Yi Xuehan?"
The elders of the Baidu Sect were taken aback, disbelief etched across their faces, while their ominous premonitions intensified.
"I demand to know the full details regarding this Ye Tian!" one elder declared sternly.
Under the relentless pursuit of the Baidu Sect, Ye Tian's identity could no longer be concealed, and even Ye City was inevitably exposed.
"Unexpectedly, he is a genius; it seems he has offended that young man from the Wu family, prompting us to take action," one elder remarked, astonished after reviewing the information.
"This individual recently relocated his family to the royal city, and we have discovered that they have now become the personal guard of the Thirteenth Prince," another elder said darkly, his eyes glinting with malice.
"Such swift action, leveraging the Thirteenth Prince's influence; it is evident he is wary of our Baidu Sect seeking vengeance. It appears he is indeed the one who destroyed the Wandu Pool."
"To annihilate the Wandu Pool and slay Baili Haotian—what strength does this individual possess?"
"Should we notify the sect master?"
The elders of the Baidu Sect had come to grasp the gravity of the situation, yet they remained engulfed in shock at Ye Tian's power.
Furthermore, the death of Yi Xuehan was undoubtedly a tempest for the Baidu Sect.
"We should report this; the sect master holds Yi Xuehan in high regard. If he emerges from seclusion and discovers we failed to inform him…" one elder spoke in a low tone.
The other elders fell silent, tacitly agreeing.
Not long after,
A terrifying aura, reminiscent of an ancient beast, emanated from the depths of the Baidu Sect's headquarters, causing the very sky to tremble and the atmosphere to change.
Simultaneously, a surge of wrath erupted like a volcanic explosion, engulfing the entire Baidu Sect.
"Spare no effort; eliminate Ye Tian!" The cold voice, akin to a tidal wave, swept through the Baidu Sect, sending chills down the spines of all disciples.
"It is the sect master!"
…
As dusk descended and a cool breeze stirred,
Within a concealed cave in the Xingdu Mountains,
"Roar!"
A jubilant roar suddenly erupted from within the cave, causing the very earth to tremble.
Inside the cavern, Ye Tian opened his eyes, two beams of tangible brilliance shooting forth, as if piercing through the void, producing a hissing sound in the air.
Simultaneously, a formidable aura emanated from Ye Tian, radiating outward and reverberating throughout the entire cave.
"Level Seven of Martial Spirit, and in the later stages at that! The efficacy of this Bodhi root indeed surpasses that of the Blood Bodhi. If I acquire one more, I shall ascend to Level Eight of Martial Spirit."
Ye Tian's eyes sparkled with brilliance, an uncontainable smile gracing his face as he reveled in the surging true essence within him, feeling a wave of exhilaration.
Unlike the Nine Transmutations Battle Body, cultivation is the foundation of a warrior; the elevation of one's cultivation realm brings benefits that extend far beyond mere combat prowess, encompassing a multifaceted enhancement.
Ye Tian noticed that the ten Blood Dan he possessed had completely filled his dantian, each one significantly larger than the true dan of other Martial Spirit practitioners.
The combined true essence of the ten Blood Dan was sufficient to rival that of a Level One Martial Sovereign.
Even without the Nine Transmutations Battle Body and Blade Intent, Ye Tian now possessed combat power equivalent to that of a half-step Martial Sovereign, solely relying on the ten Blood Dan.
"With such strength, the first place in this year's Divine Star Rankings is undoubtedly mine. Even if those previous strong practitioners have ascended to the Martial Sovereign realm, I could sweep them aside without even revealing my Blade Intent," Ye Tian mused to himself.
Blade Intent is his greatest trump card, and he wishes to keep it concealed, especially now that he has offended the Baidu Sect. Should he expose all his cards, he would lack any extraordinary tactics to counter the pursuit of the Baidu Sect's experts.
Just imagine, if the Baidu Sect were to hunt Ye Tian, only to discover that he possessed Blade Intent; it would likely mirror the fate of Yi Xuehan, ultimately leading to his demise at Ye Tian's hands.
With this thought, a faint, chilling smile curled at the corners of Ye Tian's mouth.
"Next… my target is…" Stepping out of the cave, Ye Tian unfurled his map, seeking the location of the second Bodhi tree.
At last, in the Third District, Ye Tian located a relatively weaker Bodhi tree.
Even so, this Bodhi tree possessed the strength of a Level Five Martial Sovereign, making it utterly beyond the reach of disciples at the Martial Spirit level.
"It seems I shall have to employ the Xuantian Battle Blade!" Ye Tian's gaze hardened; against such a formidable opponent, even unleashing both his Blade Intent and Nine Transmutations Battle Body would be futile. He could only rely on the powerful Xuantian Battle Blade, an exceptional spiritual weapon.
Having tasted the benefits of Blood Bodhi and Bodhi roots, Ye Tian was unwilling to forsake such a rapid means of enhancing his strength, especially with the Xuantian Battle Blade in hand, he felt no trepidation regarding danger.
"Speaking of which, this Xingdu Mountain Range truly is my treasure trove. Once I return, I must extend my heartfelt gratitude to Zhang Zhengyi!" A cold smile crept across Ye Tian's lips as he spoke Zhang Zhengyi's name, his eyes flashing with a glint of frost.
…
Three days later, following the route indicated on his map, Ye Tian swiftly entered the Third District.
True to its reputation as the site of the fiercest battles, the area was rife with disciples from the Divine Star Sect and the Baidu Sect. Ye Tian deliberately avoided the Divine Star Sect disciples, wishing to avoid complications. As for the Baidu Sect disciples, he adhered to Elder Xingchen's directive: to slay them upon sight.
Thus, Ye Tian traversed several mountain peaks, nearing his destination.
"Once I pass that towering mountain ahead, I should arrive!" After stowing away his map, Ye Tian noticed the little golden mouse in his arms stir and scamper out.
"Hmm?" Ye Tian was taken aback; this little creature was notoriously lazy, often sleeping soundly in his embrace, only roused when he was preparing food.
"Zhi zhi!" The little creature squeaked anxiously as Ye Tian grasped its tail, dangling it in mid-air.
"What's the matter?" Ye Tian inquired, noticing the mouse's unusual expression, and promptly set it down.
Once on the ground, the little golden mouse shot Ye Tian a glare before raising a paw and pointing toward the left front.
"Have you made a discovery?" Ye Tian's eyes brightened; after spending time with the little golden mouse, he had learned that whenever it pointed, it had certainly found something of value.
"Zhi zhi!"
The little golden mouse darted off in that direction.
"Wait for me, little one!"
Ye Tian hurriedly followed, his face alight with anticipation.
Before long, in a secluded sloped valley, Ye Tian beheld a fissure in space, large enough for a person to pass through, emanating a hazy glow.
"A small world!"
Ye Tian's pupils constricted.