Martial Cultivator

When Chen Chao ascended the mountain, he saw a group of South Heaven Sect qi refiners standing ready in strict formation. Among them were several white-haired old cultivators, who now looked as if facing a formidable enemy.

Seeing this, Chen Chao felt both amused and exasperated.

Fortunately, the South Heaven Sect Master soon arrived on the mountain and explained the situation to the sect cultivators. Only then did everyone breathe a sigh of relief. It is said that qi refiners have many techniques, but it depends on whom they face. Against ordinary cultivators of the Three Schools, they were fine. But against the most unreasonable sword cultivators and martial artists, even qi refiners felt nervous. They were unwilling to confront these two types unless absolutely necessary.

Moreover, the young martial artist in front of him now might be the strongest martial artist of the current era after the Great Liang Emperor. To confront him was by no means an easy task.

After the explanations, the qi refiners departed with lingering fear. Though they knew their sect had paid a heavy price, as long as the sect remained, it was acceptable.

Furthermore, at this moment, it was already a done deal.

After the qi refiners dispersed, Chen Chao said with feeling, “I originally thought there would be many opposing you on the mountain, but I didn’t expect it to go so smoothly.”

The South Heaven Sect Master smiled, “It is because Lord Warden Commander is easy to talk to. If Your Excellency had acted like you did with the Three Streams Manor, no one would have been able to save face. Even if they did not care about these matters, they would not have let it go so easily.”

The Three Streams Manor was not far from the South Heaven Sect. With elders there, the entire story had long since been conveyed.

It could be said that Chen Chao treated the Three Streams Manor and the South Heaven Sect with completely different attitudes. When dealing with the Three Streams Manor, he never intended to resolve things peacefully, which was why he repeatedly crushed the steps that the manor had built. At the South Heaven Sect, however, his intent to kill was not so heavy. Otherwise, this sect would not have survived in its current state.

“It is also because of your good attitude. Otherwise, this official would not have held back.”

Chen Chao glanced at the South Heaven Sect Master and said, “You are quite a competent sect master.”

The South Heaven Sect Master lowered his head and said, “Lord Warden Commander flatters me.”

Chen Chao laughed it off.

Chen Chao was not unaccustomed to the South Heaven Sect Master’s submissive demeanor. After all, along the way, many former enemies could become friends, all due to differences in strength and status.

In this world, there are very few eternal enemies.

“Go take a look at the Scripture Library. This official cannot leave without taking something away.”

Chen Chao was straightforward. Earlier, when the South Heaven Sect Master said he would give all the mountain texts to Great Liang, Chen Chao had no intention of being polite. After all, he and the South Heaven Sect were only conducting a business transaction, they were hardly friends.

The South Heaven Sect Master nodded, showing no hesitation. Since he had spoken earlier, he was mentally prepared. He knew exactly what stance he should take now.

The two quickly arrived at the Scripture Library. The South Heaven Sect Master hesitated before finally speaking, “I truly did not expect Lord Warden Commander to be so straightforward. Why is that?”

Some things were not obvious at the time, but the more one thought about them afterward, the more something seemed off. After all, the contrast in Chen Chao’s behavior was simply too great.

Chen Chao smiled faintly at the South Heaven Sect Master, saying nothing.

This only made the other more suspicious.

Chen Chao would not be foolish enough to tell the South Heaven Sect Master that he had once learned a Qi Observing Technique that could discern if the other party was telling lies.

If the South Heaven Sect Master had dared to say even half a lie to deceive Chen Chao, the situation now would have been completely different.

Standing in front of the Scripture Library, Chen Chao took a deep breath and said softly, “That is not important. This official knows you did not lie to me, which is good. But there is one thing you need to remember: if you deceive this official even once, the South Heaven Sect will be left in a field of corpses. You only have one chance. Think carefully.”

The South Heaven Sect Master felt a chill run down his spine.

......

......

Another piece of news spread across the world.

The Sixty-Year Gathering of the qi refiner lineage had been disrupted by that young martial artist, and the leading sect of the southern qi refiner faction, the Three Streams Manor, had vanished from the world.

When this news came out, the entire cultivation world was shaken. No one had expected that after confronting the Infatuation Daoist Temple, Chen Chao had no intention of stopping. After a period of silence, he reappeared in the world and once again used overwhelming force to destroy the Three Streams Manor.

The grudge between the Three Streams Manor and Chen Chao was known in the cultivation world. Because of this, many smaller sects now began reflecting on whether they had ever offended that Lord Warden Commander of Great Liang.

After all, the grievances from several years ago had all been unearthed by this young martial artist.

But beyond that, people were even more shocked to discover one thing: that the young martial artist had already reached the end of Nepenthe.

This was far more astonishing than his destruction of a single Three Streams Manor.

In other words, a martial artist, who had only cultivated for a few years and was still not even thirty, had already stepped into the end of Nepenthe. This was far too terrifying.

Many even began thinking that after the Great Liang Emperor departed, Great Liang would show restraint. Yet now, another Great Liang Emperor had appeared.

Many could already foresee that this dynasty, established for just over two hundred years, would likely experience several more decades of prosperity.

And all of this rested on that young martial artist.

The current him had truly become an existence that countless people wanted to kill, but could not.

Was this world really about to change completely?

This thought arose in some people’s minds, only to be quickly shaken away.

No one was willing to accept it.

......

......

Before Chen Chao descended the mountain with those qi refiners’ cultivation texts, he made an agreement with the South Heaven Sect Master: the South Heaven Sect would send twenty people to the Divine Capital to select disciples and teach them the secret techniques of qi refiners.

The South Heaven Sect Master agreed without hesitation. Chen Chao was satisfied.

Later, when descending, the South Heaven Sect Master wanted to escort Chen Chao, but Chen Chao politely refused.

So the South Heaven Sect Master could only stand atop the mountain and watch Chen Chao descend. Martial Uncle Liu stood to one side and asked, “Sect Master, must it really be this way?”

The South Heaven Sect Master said calmly, “In this world, one is hardly ever in control of oneself.”

Chen Chao descended slowly, his steps measured, while observing the scenery of the South Heaven Sect.

Since qi refiners were cultivators closest to the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth, the places they chose to cultivate were naturally excellent, almost perfectly in tune with nature.

Even the stones along the mountain path were not carefully carved, but simply picked up at random from the mountains.

Their shapes were different, and their sizes varied.

As Chen Chao walked along the mountain path, his gaze soon fell on a hillside.

There was nothing particularly special about it, only a patch of wildflowers in full bloom.

Red, yellow, purple, pink - they all blossomed in their own way.

Chen Chao looked at the hillside covered with wildflowers and smiled, “Truly beautiful.”