Immortal and Martial Dual Cultivation

“I do not agree with what you said. Although those ancient races are few in number, they already stepped away from the conflicts of the Kunlun Realm and settled in the starry heavens. However, the fools who remained in the Kunlun Continent are all one-in-ten-thousand outstanding talents. Any random one of them would be an absolute demonic genius aiming for Di Wuque.”

“That’s right. After all, Senior Brother Xiao Chen’s cultivation is still too low. It was unfortunate that he wasted two years.”

“Why are you all praising others, killing our thunder? No matter what, Senior Brother Xiao Chen is our Supreme Sky Sect’s person. Can the others compare to him?”

As the younger-generation disciples discussed, they started comparing Xiao Chen with the recently famous newly advanced geniuses.

When Han Qinghe saw the younger generation engaged in intense discussion, he revealed a satisfied expression. No matter what, being able to produce a legendary character like Xiao Chen was a great boost to the morale of the Supreme Sky Sect.

Han Qinghe extended his hand and gathered the inner sect Elders present here together. He said, “Everyone, are you all satisfied with the strength Xiao Chen displayed earlier?”

“Haha! Just based on First Elder’s smile, we know the answer already. Naturally, we don’t need to say anything more.”

“Indeed, now, Xiao Chen has nothing to fear when facing a regular Superior Grade Martial Sage.”

When Xiao Chen saw the group of elders’ expressions, he entered deep thought. It was like there was more to what they were saying.

Indeed, as Xiao Chen expected, Han Qinghe continued, “Good, given this, Xiao Chen will take the lead in the mission from the Martial God Palace this time. Everyone has no objection to this, right?”

The others all shook their heads to indicate they did not oppose his decision. However, Xiao Chen was confused.

Han Qinghe turned his head and said, “Xiao Chen, you may have just returned to the Kunlun Realm, but there is no time to rest. Given the chaotic situation now, I believe you must be feeling very restless too.”

Xiao Chen remained calm and collected. He looked at Han Qinghe and said, “First Elder, just speak your mind. As long as it is something within Xiao Chen’s abilities, I will definitely accept the responsibility.”

With a slight nod, Han Qinghe explained, “The Corpse God Palace is currently invading one of the resource stars that the Martial God Palace controls. The situation was already dangerous and looked bad. However, three months ago, the Young Sect Master of the Primal Chaos Domain’s Muddy Sky Gate led a group of loose cultivators to try and fish in troubled waters. The Martial God Palace sent out letters to some of the Rank 9 sects to obtain help. Our Supreme Sky Sect is one of them.

“Originally, I was planning to arrange for you to go to the Starry Heaven Silver Lake; the conflict between the five major races is the most ferocious there. However, this order arrived yesterday. All the Superior Grade Martial Sages have already gone to the Starry Heaven Silver Lake. Your appearance solves this desperate situation.”

No wonder the First Elder came out to welcome Xiao Chen personally and exchanged moves to test him. It turned out that this was the biggest reason.

After receiving favors, one should repay them. Furthermore, after being in closed-door cultivation for two years, Xiao Chen needed battle to test what he had learned. He thought it through; then, he agreed to Han Qinghe’s request.

After obtaining a positive and definite answer, Han Qinghe heaved a sigh of relief and dismissed the other elders. Then he said to Xiao Chen, “The universe is very vast, filled with countless stars. However, few of them can be categorized as resource stars. The number of resource stars that the Martial God Palace has is also extremely limited. The ramifications of losing even one would be disastrous.

“If you can protect this resource star, the Martial God Palace will definitely give you plenty of benefits. Furthermore, you will garner outstanding military service, achieving a feudal rank in the Martial God Palace. In the future, you will receive a large monthly stipend. The higher the rank, the more the benefits. I won’t elaborate too much on this; you will naturally understand this better in the future.

“What I want to say is do your best to protect this group of sect disciples going to support the cause. These are the seedlings of our sect. Their future is unlimited. The battlefield is cruel and emotionless. Once one dies, that’s it; it’s over for that person. This is not experiential training or a sect mission but a true battlefield.”

By the end, Han Qinghe’s expression turned very solemn and serious. Since chaos erupted in the Kunlun Realm, several older-generation experts and young heroes had fallen, all of them famous experts.

Hearing the First Elder’s serious tone, Xiao Chen also silently sighed to himself. The current chaos was the intention of the peak upper echelons of the various races.

In great chaos, there would be great fortuitous encounters. This would definitely generate several grandmaster-level Martial Sages. However, the price was quite high.

“Come, follow me to the Heavenly Battle Palace. We already chose the people and are just waiting for you.”

In a few breaths, the two arrived at the Heavenly Battle Palace. Xiao Chen glanced at the group of disciples going to support the defense. There were about twenty people, all Inferior Grade Martial Sages.

None of them were that much weaker than Xiao Chen in cultivation, surprising Xiao Chen. After Han Qinghe explained, he understood. These disciples all consumed the Heavenly Dew Divine Spring Pill refined from Xiao Chen’s and Shui Lingling’s blood, which gave them the opportunity to advance to Martial Sage in two years.

The notable figures like Yue Chenxi and Gong Yangyu had all followed Shui Lingling to the Starry Heaven Silver Lake long ago. That place was even more ferocious and filled with fortuitous encounters, a much larger battlefield.

As Xiao Chen sized up this group of people, these younger-generation disciples were also sizing him up. They were all arrogant and obstinate, their eyes filled with pride. This attitude was normal. Even though they were in an age of geniuses, they could be proud of advancing to Martial Sage at their age.

Many disciples recognized Xiao Chen, and their eyes filled with shock. However, after the shock passed, there was surprise. After an absence of two years, he was actually still a middle-stage Inferior Grade Martial Sage. They could not help but snort disdainfully.

This legendary character was only so-so.

Han Qinghe pointed to these disciples and said, “Xiao Chen, I’ll hand this group of people to you. I’m in your debt this time.”

“First Elder, if you had let Xiao Chen lead us two years ago, we would not have any opinion about it. However, now…aren’t you taking his identity as the Azure Emperor’s descendant too seriously?”

The moment Elder Han finished speaking, someone immediately snorted coldly with a defiant expression. The others chimed in with agreement, indicating their belief that there was not much merit in having a person of similar cultivation lead them.

The one who spoke first was a youth with a large scarlet saber wearing black Battle Armor. He was tall and burly with broad shoulders. While Xiao Chen was about one hundred and eighty centimeters tall, this person was taller by about half a head.

This person had a rectangular face, thick eyebrows, and large eyes filled with a domineering look. He revealed all his sharpness without holding any back as he stared boldly at Xiao Chen.

Xiao Chen remained calm. He did not feel that this person had any malicious intent. Youths had always been proud and arrogant. Their dissatisfaction at discovering that the leader was their contemporary was natural.

This was especially so when they saw Xiao Chen’s cultivation. Indeed, he looked like a middle-stage Inferior Grade Martial Sage. Two years ago, he vanished without a trace. It would not be surprising that people would take past stories of him to be falsehoods.

Han Qinghe smiled faintly without saying anything as he watched to see what Xiao Chen would do. This was just a small matter; he believed that Xiao Chen would be able to resolve this easily.

Xiao Chen held up a name list that Han Qinghe had given him. It included detailed information on these twenty disciples. With one glance, he found this person’s information.

After a moment, he put away the name list and raised his head to look at this person. He said, “‘Jin Lin, twenty-six this year, late-stage Inferior Grade Martial Sage. Superior talent and outstanding aptitude. High talent for Saber Techniques and already achieved seventy percent comprehension in saber intent. Fought with the Full Moon Pavilion’s Feng Xingsheng once. However, was miserably defeated, unable to last even ten moves.’

“This information seems rather contradictory. You are not even able to receive ten moves from Feng Xingsheng, yet you dare to say that your talent for the saber is high. That’s overrated.”

When Jin Lin heard Xiao Chen read out his information, he felt very pleased. Although his accomplishments were not comparable to those of the Xiao Chen of two years ago, he was considered a new rising talent, becoming rather famous.

Although Jin Lin’s battle with Feng Xingsheng ended in defeat, everyone knew that Feng Xingsheng had long been famous and was titled the top bladesman of the eighteen southern provinces. Feng Xingsheng’s saber intent had already reached ninety percent comprehension. He was now as strong as the other peak geniuses.

Both Jin Lin’s cultivation and saber intent were weaker than Feng Xingsheng’s, but he managed to last nearly ten moves before being defeated. However, Xiao Chen downplayed this accomplishment, making it sound worthless.

Jin Lin felt extremely dissatisfied. Naturally, he did not endure anymore but stepped forward with his head high and said with overbearing sharpness, “Senior Brother Xiao Chen, you are nicknamed the White Robed Bladesman. Two years ago, your name spread throughout the entire Kunlun Realm. Jin Lin is not as talented and wishes to seek some pointers from Senior Brother with the saber.”

Han Qinghe smiled bitterly to himself. Of all things, Jin Lin had to compete with the saber.

Han Qinghe thought back to his earlier exchange with Xiao Chen; it was still fresh in his memory. Xiao Chen’s two punches took a different, very unconventional approach. Although it still looked somewhat immature, this would surely become a whole new school of fighting. He would definitely end up a powerful Saber Emperor.

Thinking of this, Han Qinghe could not help but send over a voice projection. Xiao Chen, take it easy on this Jin Lin. He is a seedling favored by a few of our elders and can be considered to be the disciple with the most potential in this group.

First Elder, even if you didn’t say it, I could tell. However, if jade is not ground down, it will not be useful. This is why I agitated him into competing with the saber. It is part of my kind intentions.

After hearing Xiao Chen’s reply, Han Qinghe released his bated breath. At the same time, he was astounded. If this were in the past, Xiao Chen would not have hesitated to step out and attack immediately in such a situation, shocking everyone in an instant.

The air of a grandmaster!

These words popped up in Han Qinghe’s head. He felt shocked. He thought about the air and atmosphere that Xiao Chen exuded when he first saw Xiao Chen again. He had not been mistaken. It was the air of a grandmaster.

These words could not be taken lightly. Han Qinghe was experienced and deeply understood the meaning of this.

Several Superior Grade Martial Sages never advanced to grandmaster-level Martial Sage in their entire life. What did they lack? It was precisely this air of a grandmaster. They lacked the bearing and attitude.

Xiao Chen, however, already had the air of a grandmaster at such a young age. He did not view the group of arrogant and unyielding people as a group of his contemporaries mocking him. Instead, he very naturally treated them as a group of juniors to be nurtured.

Once Xiao Chen attained Superior Grade Martial Sage, he would probably be able to advance immediately to grandmaster-level Martial Sage. A thirty-year-old grandmaster-level Martial Sage! This was the conclusion that Han Qinghe came to in his mind. Han Qinghe’s expression changed markedly as he looked at Xiao Chen.

In two years, Xiao Chen’s cultivation might look like he had fallen behind very significantly. However, once he came to the hurdle of grandmaster-level Martial Sage, he would be able to flip the situation around.

By the time the others realized the importance of the air of a grandmaster, Xiao Chen with his experiences, talent, and comprehension ability might have even comprehended the heart of an emperor already. He would end up trampling on all the geniuses of this era.