CHAPTER 871: CHAPTER 594: MARTIAL ARMS ACROSS THE THREE THOUSAND REALMS

Time flies like an arrow, the years shift and turn.

Tianxia, year 2286.

In Yun Meng City, within the Myriad Phenomena Dao sect, inside the cultivation chamber of Vice Dean Wang Changming, a pair of eyes radiant as fixed stars suddenly opened; Dragon and Tiger roared, Vermilion Bird cried melodiously.

Lightning danced chaotically within the empty chamber.

Between flesh and bone, Qi-blood surged like a great flood.

"It is time to undergo Tribulation."

...

Dean’s office.

Lu Chenzhou’s clone abruptly opened his eyes.

"Master is about to Breakthrough Seventh?"

Wang Changming nodded.

Lu Chenzhou had never felt nervous when facing Tribulation himself, yet now, as his master faced it, his palm was slick with sweat.

"Master, how confident are you?"

Wang Changming pondered, then said:

"Eighty percent, perhaps."

"Truly?"

"Give or take."

Wang Changming sighed softly. In truth, he held merely a sixty percent chance... With Dragon, Tiger, and Vermilion Bird three aspects simultaneously cultivated, as well as three Combat Skills paths added on, the Tribulation’s difficulty far exceeded that of an ordinary Seventh Realm. He did not wish to worry his disciple.

A sixty percent chance, truly not high.

After all, should he fail, body and Dao alike would perish.

Soon, senior brother and senior sister’s figures appeared—Lin Xia, Great Grandmaster Middle Stage; Wang Xian had reached Late Stage.

"Master is to undergo Tribulation?"

"May we observe?"

Their moods were mixed with joy and anxiety. Even their prodigious junior brother had nearly perished upon Tribulation.

For others, all the less need be said.

Even after the Eternal Immortal broke through Eighth, and the overall difficulty lowered, yet in the past decade, of three Peak Heavenly Kings attempting to break through, only one succeeded.

Shangguan Xue, the 49th Seventh Realm of Tianxia.

The other two perished, Dao destroyed.

Only, the Tianxia Civilization reports victory, not disaster, thus the common folk remain ignorant of the hardships within.

...

The next day, Wang Changming underwent Tribulation at Yun Meng Lake. Lu Chenzhou, Prince Northern Guardian, Li Xiuying, and six other Seventh Realm clones guarded him as protectors. In an instant, dark clouds covered the sky; after withstanding five Calamities, Wang Changming emerged unscathed, successfully Breaking Sixth to Entering Seventh, and was honored as: Three Extremes King.

After Four Symbols Personnel, Dragon King, Xuankong, Bai Feng, and Lu Chenzhou, Myriad Phenomena Dao welcomed its sixth Great Xia Absolute Peak. On the day of celebration, praise and congratulations came from all around.

...

Amidst the starry sky.

Lu Chenzhou gazed at his Inner Heaven and Earth. With the 50th Seventh Realm’s birth, the brilliance of Heavenly Person List surged vigorously, stretching across the cosmos like a river of stars.

At the same time,

In the Martial World,

The Tai Chi Diagram, Spirit Mountain, Wanxiang Chessboard, and Divine Weapon and Mysterious Tree—the Four Supreme Treasure Pillars—quivered in unison. They absorbed the Power of Faith and the will of myriad Martial Artists from Xia Realm, becoming ever more substantial, as if a Heavenly God were forging them in the blazing flames of incense offerings.

After seventy-seven and forty-nine days of forging, the Four Supreme Treasure Pillars rose from Seventh Rank Top Grade to Eighth Rank, each manifesting an illusory figure akin to a god or buddha.

There was a purple-robed Daoist holding a horsetail whisk,

A white-browed old monk with a flower in hand, smiling gently,

A burly giant riding a dragon and leading a tiger,

A Golden Armor Divine General bearing a long spear on his back,

"The Supreme Treasures of the Pillars are, with Xia Realm’s destiny and incense power, condensing Artifact Spirits," said Lv Ancestor.

"The day has finally come. To swiftly forge an army that can contend with the countless demon ghosts of the Forbidden Zone, we must use Martial Arts to reform the ancient ways!"

Zhang Ancestor spoke in high spirits.

Kongwen Divine Monk said, "Though we are dead, we may yet continue to spread Buddhist Law, propagating martial strength throughout the land."

The purple-robed Daoist’s features resembled a composite of Heavenly Master Zhang, Zhang Ancestor, Lv Ancestor, and others, also bearing traces of Eternal Immortal. The white-browed old monk, burly giant, and spear-wielding Divine General were the same.

Especially the giant and the Divine General—in their brows and eyes were certain shades of Lu Chenzhou’s unique handsomeness. These Artifact Spirits were the confluence of Martial Arts Will through past and present.

Will as soul, incense as flesh!

Zhang Ancestor declared: "Henceforth these four great Artifact Spirits shall be the Four Supreme Gods of my Great Xia Martial Arts Dao. We shall be the branch gods of Great Xia Martial Arts Dao. Lord Lu, you name the Creator Gods for us, will you?"

Lu Chenzhou reflected briefly and said:

"Primordial Dao Ancestor, World Venerate of All Realms, Most Sacred of Myriad Phenomena, Divine Lord of the Armory, these are the Four Veins Supreme."

All the ancient sages nodded in approval.

"May Military Leader grant us our deific titles."

Lu Chenzhou said, "Zhuang Ancestor shall be Carefree Heavenly Venerate under Primordial Dao Ancestor; Lv Ancestor shall be..."

He named the Heavenly Spirits based on the sages’ titles long spread through the Xia Realm, combined with the Four Heavenly Sects’ renowned names throughout the Three Thousand Worlds, thus helping the spread of faith and making it easier for native peoples to accept.

At last, 108 Heavenly Spirits were named—some being Great Xia sages, others Western heroic spirits, each with their own styles. In subsequent missionary journeys, there would be division of labor: Great Xia sages would preach in worlds closer to the style of Great Xia, while Western heroic spirits would take on worlds such as Beidou World, bridging cultural divides.

In essence, the reason for so much cultural convergence in the Three Thousand Worlds lies with the Four Sects and the Divine Court; only, transmission in each world led to constant differentiation, forming unique characteristics.

Rumble! With the naming bestowed by Lu Chenzhou, Lord of the Heavenly Person List, above the heads of the Four Supreme Gods, circles of spiritual radiance began to manifest—complicated, mysterious patterns, using the most ancient Great Wilderness Daoist Texts to form messages any Cultivator across the Three Thousand Worlds could perceive with their Spirit.

Above the Daoist’s head: [Primordial Dao Ancestor],

Above the old monk: [World Venerate of All Realms],

The other two, as well as the 108 Heavenly Spirits, all bore similarly sacred halos inscribed with their deific names, proclaimed far and wide.

With the four treasures stepping into Eighth Rank and joining forces, they faintly pierced the barrier between Spirit world and material world, erecting thousands upon thousands of transcendent Golden Bridges within the Martial World, each ending in a gate of dazzling strangeness, linking to the Three Thousand Worlds.

At the same time.

Within the Martial World, at the plazas of the Four Great Dao Venues, 108 statues of gold-bodied sages appeared spontaneously.

The statues were the sages’ foundation, much like the fleshly vessels of Heart Cultivation. As long as the statues remained intact, the Heavenly Spirits venturing into the Three Thousand Realms would remain Undying, able to resurrect in the Martial World at any time or place, consuming only a modicum of incense power.

Of course, should an enemy be strong enough, it may be possible to trace the faith-link between Heavenly Spirit and statue, backtracking to the Martial World to kill them at their root.

But with the Martial World’s headquarters in Xia Realm, shielded by the Grand Veil, unless the gods themselves resurrected, or a Demigod appeared, none could invade the Martial World.

Should any ordinary Eighth Realm will dare invade the Martial World, Lu Chenzhou could also wield the Four Treasures’ power to suppress them.

Zhang Ancestor and others conjured projections of Spirit, stepping upon the golden bridge and beckoning to Lu Chenzhou.

Lu Chenzhou clasped his fists:

"Wishing you all a victorious journey."

That day, the Heavenly Spirits of the Great Xia sages, like pebbles cast onto a pond—

Tiny and insignificant, yet the ripples they stirred would in time reshape the future of all Three Thousand Realms.

"The Heavenly Person List transforms to become a quasi-Supreme Treasure, its command over Xia Realm’s fate greater than ever. My own Soul Essence feels as if I’ve taken rare and wondrous treasures."

Lu Chenzhou looked to the white-robed soul form within his Sea of Consciousness, more solid and lofty than before.

His thoughts and perceptions grew nimbler and more lucid; the world in his gaze approached closer to the Dao’s underlying truth.

In the unseen, his insight again rose higher.

He sat upon the ground, taking up an ancient book titled Myriad Poison Record, a cultivation method obtained in the ruins left by Astonishing Scattered Person, for comprehending the Poisonous Dao. Now, as his soul transformed, the once-obscure passages seemed innate to him; his Poisonous Dao skyrocketed—by the time he finished the volume, it advanced from [Third Rank (56%)] to [Fourth Rank (1%)].

"With my present insight, so long as I have a reference, I may advance a Dao from Beginner to Entering Dao in but a short time; before Fourth Rank, there is almost no obstacle."

One learns and instantly masters, glimpses and stepping into Dao at a glance.

Lu Chenzhou pressed on while the iron was hot, continuing to roam among the stars; his aura ever more ethereal, his breath and heartbeat in resonant harmony with the universe itself.

...

Kunxu Realm.

That day, a blood-haired figure shot forth; it was Blood Demon Grandmother, her expression now gloomy.

"Unexpected. Two Peak Seventh Realms joining hands could resist even this clone of mine."

Guided by Qingyunzi, she had gone to Star Palace, intending to kill the two old masters and seek Taiyin Amber, yet nearly lost her clone instead.

The island with Star Palace was guarded by an Eighth Rank Middle Grade grand array: Heavenly Star Yuan Magnetic Micro-Dust Grand Array. Furthermore, Qingyunzi’s detestable disciples all bore Eighth Rank Spiritual Weapons. Not to mention, Star Palace possessed the Twelve Yuan Chen Guardians, all seventh realm experts skilled in True Treasure Dao—in the Eastern Extreme Territory, a force that was First Class, rivaled only by the Dragon Phoenix Divine Clan and the Three Fire Seed World.

Qingyunzi’s mood, too, was gloomy.

"Indeed, that unfilial disciple is now infinitely close to the Eight Realms. It seems she’s cultivated that Ancient Strange Skill Dual Cultivation Technique; revenge now seems hopeless."

He had meant to set tigers on wolves, letting Blood Demon Grandmother kill the traitor—best if both sides perished. Yet heaven thwarted human schemes; neither goal was achieved.

...

Star Palace.

The middle-aged couple half-knelt upon the floor.

A woman riding the Black Tiger descended.

"What happened?"

"Ancestor, we were attacked by a Nameless Demon Saint. This Demon Saint seemed to have been sent by Qingyunzi, and knew of our Taiyin Amber."

At this, the veiled woman’s expression grew cold.

She stroked the Black Tiger’s head. "The Taiyin Amber has long been given to my beloved pet. If they want the Wood Tiger Essence Blood, it is tantamount to demanding the life of my companion."

"Ancestor, could it be Qingyunzi still lives? Perhaps even conspiring with the Demon Race for vengeance against us."

The middle-aged beauty’s lashes trembled.

A teacher is as a father; after slaying Qingyunzi with her husband’s connivance, she lived in constant dread.

"Why fear? In this universe, save for those trapped by Forbidden Zone Evil Gods, I, your ancestor, fear none. Even Kunxu Ancestor cannot do a thing to me. I bestow you this: [Ink Dragon Kill], an Eighth Rank Middle Grade Immortal Talisman. That Qingyunzi is but Early Stage Eighth Realm. If he dares come, this talisman is enough to slay him."

The middle-aged beauty immediately kowtowed.

"Thank you, Ancestor!"

The middle-aged man quickly presented a tome, saying, "Ancestor, here is the information we gathered on Lu Chenzhou. This person is supremely talented—rumor has it he cultivated Great Xia Martial Arts Dao and entered Seventh Realm within a hundred years..."

The veiled woman lightly stroked her hair and said:

"Merely burning potential. Once those of Tianxia ascend to Late Eighth Realm, trapped before the Ninth Realm, they’ll appreciate how precious lifespan truly is. From Eighth Rank ’Transcendent Dao’ to Ninth Rank ’Mastering Dao,’ how many unmatched prodigies throughout the ages have withered away in vain? To speak of the recent, the deceased Han Zhenjun, as well as Kunxu Ancestor—who among them was not trapped at Eighth Rank? I, too, am a figure of note in West River Territory, yet after cultivating six thousand years, only barely Eighth Rank. Remember, Qi-blood or physical body cultivated fast means nothing; from Eight Realms to Nine Realms, the hardest thing is to leap the Dao’s insight from Sixth Rank all the way to Ninth Rank!

Qi-blood and such may be piled up with Treasures, but Dao Understanding, save for the Void Ancient Tablet which can barely compensate, can only be forged with painstaking cultivation through the ages.

There is no shortcut!"