345 - Made-Up Martial Arts, Have You Really Mastered Them, Disciple?

**Chapter 345: The Thawing of Ice State, The Calamity of the Spiritual Domain** "Hu Bubai, it's your turn," spoke the master of the Thousand Martial Hall in a deep breath, his face overcast as he gazed at a young man with disheveled beard standing nearby. "Alright!" Hu Bubai nodded with affirmation. "Niú Qiānshèng, come back!" the master of the Thousand Martial Hall called out in a solemn tone. Xu Yan chuckled softly and spared Niú Qiānshèng, dissipating the layers of sword light and letting him return. As Hu Bubai prepared for battle with his long spear, the master of the Thousand Martial Hall hesitated and said, "Hu Bubai, contest for victory, not life and death!" Suddenly, he felt a lack of confidence. If Hu Bubai were killed, it would be a serious issue for him to handle. Every innate spiritual prodigy was incredibly precious. Taken aback, Hu Bubai lowered his spear to the ground, moving forward, and said, "Victory or defeat, life or death, I'll give it my all." As he advanced, the power of the Laws of Heaven and Earth gathered like a long spear, merging with the one Hu Bubai dragged along the ground. "This young man's strength is formidable," commented the Great Zhou Emperor, his expression heavy. "I never expected the Thousand Martial Hall to have such a prodigy, almost reaching the next realm," sighed Fu Tianhai. In the Tai-Miao Sect's camp, Du Yuying and Yun Miaomiao tensed, watching the battlefield intently before glancing back at Xin Mengrou beside them. "Grandmaster, is that Hu Bubai? How powerful is he?" Yun Miaomiao couldn't help but inquire. "Fairly strong; he's not far from the next realm," Xin Mengrou replied. "Grandmaster, what is the next realm?" Du Yuying curiously asked. Xin Mengrou paused before explaining, "Refining the Laws of Heaven and Earth into oneself is called the Realm of Law Consolidation. It’s not about gathering the power of these laws; rather, it’s about internalizing them, which is completely different, a world apart. "To refine the power of the Laws of Heaven and Earth means to possess their might. "The realm beyond the Refining Divine Heavenly Being is the Law Consolidator!" The revelation shocked Du Yuying and Yun Miaomiao, who only now realized that the realm above the Refining Divine Heavenly Being was the Law Consolidator Realm. Internalizing the Laws of Heaven and Earth means inherently possessing their might. "Grandmaster, are you a Law Consolidator?" Du Yuying asked curiously. "Just a bit short," Xin Mengrou murmured, her eyes drifting to the Evergreen Pavilion. The law pill bestowed by a predecessor made her almost reach the point of internalizing the Laws of Heaven and Earth. This was almost unheard of in the Spiritual Domain. It had surpassed the limits of what one could cultivate in the Spiritual Domain. Besides her, only one other person in the entire Spiritual Domain had accomplished this—Wu Tiannan. And he had relied on guidance from the same predecessor. "Xu Yan, you are strong, but I, Hu Bubai, have never been defeated. I don't believe you can beat me!" Hu Bubai declared solemnly. "Today you shall change your name to Hu Yi Bai," Xu Yan teased. Hu Bubai was indeed powerful, among the strongest Xu Yan had faced, save for Xin Mengrou and Wu Tiannan. "Then show me what you’ve got!" Hu Bubai responded, brandishing his spear as he charged forward. Xu Yan thrust his sword, and mountains and rivers appeared. The Wheel of Life and Death Sword, the sword formation emerged. In the blink of an eye, Hu Bubai was covered in wounds. "You are defeated!" Xu Yan sheathed his sword, his eyes surveying the Thousand Martial Hall and then the surroundings. Silence! No one expected Hu Bubai to be defeated so quickly and thoroughly. Even Hu Bubai himself couldn't believe it. In his mind, even if he ended up defeated, surely it would have required a fierce battle. Yet, as soon as he attacked, he was overwhelmed by sword light and suffered defeat in just a few slashes! "Brother Master is so strong!" Su Lingxiu exclaimed, tongue-tied. Perched on a golden chair, Red Cat looked toward the Beast Tribe warriors, remarking, "Did you see that? This is the majesty of our Beast Tribe Supreme!" The Beast Tribe members were utterly confounded. Could it be true that our tribe's supreme is actually of the human race? "Our supreme is truly formidable!" they exclaimed. "Indeed, he is our Beast Tribe Supreme!" No matter, as long as he’s the supreme of the Beast Tribe, he must be right and great as proclaimed by the greater beast king. The Beast Tribe warriors praised with pride, feeling immense honor. Li Xuan was not surprised by this; in the entire Spiritual Domain, no one could match Xu Yan's prowess. Neither Wu Tiannan nor Xin Mengrou could. Xu Yan had reached perfection in the Divine Essence Realm, accumulating deep and profound potential, lacking only the final touch to complete it and break into the Divine Arts Realm. "As the supreme among the Spiritual Domain prodigies, all of you defy him together. I, Xu Yan, will subdue you single-handedly!" Xu Yan proclaimed with pride to the array of prodigies. Although his tone was arrogant, at this moment, not a single prodigy dared to step forward or stir up discontent. Because Xu Yan had earned such qualifications! Seeing no one stepping up to challenge, Xu Yan found it all dull. The prodigies in the Spiritual Domain were just a bunch of cowards. "Xu Yan is ranked first on the Prodigy List; no further actions are needed. Anyone who disagrees may challenge him," declared the Great Zhou Emperor. There was no dissent! Xu Yan departed from the battleground, glancing at the Thousand Martial Hall. Though he now possessed the strength to suppress the hall, he found it pointless. He had ascended to the pinnacle of the Spiritual Domain. The people of the Thousand Martial Hall bore expressions of unwillingness but were powerless to act. Even Hu Bubai had lost; their only relief was that Xu Yan had shown mercy. "Strange indeed, that Xu Yan spared them," Fu Tianhai commented with mild regret. The Great Zhou Emperor regarded him disdainfully, retorting, "Xu Yan has become a formidable force; his mindset has naturally shifted. Hu Bubai and the others mean little to him now, thus he spares them. "Besides, Xu Yan holds no grudges against the Thousand Martial Hall, does he? Whatever past conflicts might have existed, he has aired his grievances already, now reigning supreme over the Spiritual Domain. "He won't find pleasure in bullying the younger generations as some do." Fu Tianhai rolled his eyes, "I just wanted to watch the commotion, wondering if the shameless people of the Thousand Martial Hall would open that void bridge." The Great Zhou Emperor was too tired to retort. "Brother Xu, why didn't you deal with the folks at the Thousand Martial Hall?" Meng Shushu inquired out of curiosity aboard the Evergreen Pavilion’s flying ship. "To me, they are no more than juniors; it's meaningless to kill them," Xu Yan shook his head. Meng Shushu was left speechless... Is this the mental state of the strong? Or has Xu Yan already cultivated a mindset akin to a sage? "My turn to strike now!" Meng Chong laughed heartily, wielding a blade as he leaped into the battleground. Boom! Upon landing, his form transformed into a towering nine-zhang golden body, and the Immortal Divine Armor enveloped him, making him appear as though a deity had descended, majestic and awe-inspiring. "I am Blade Sovereign Meng Chong, from the Lingzong Prodigies, dare you to fight!" His formidable presence was awe-inspiring, shaking the four corners. "It's Meng Chong!" "Strong indeed! Who do you think is stronger, Meng Chong or Xu Yan?" "Definitely Xu Yan!" A figure emerged from the Thundercloud Manor, a purple hammer in hand, surrounded by thunderclouds. As he stepped forward, the roar of thunder resounded above his head. Lightning coursed, brewing a thunderous storm. "Let me witness the might of the Blade Sovereign!" "Make your move!" Meng Chong replied indifferently. Boom! A fierce lightning strike was unleashed with the swing of a hammer, pouring down and engulfing Meng Chong's mighty frame. When the lightning dissipated, Meng Chong stood unfazed, grinning, "Not bad, just a slight tingle. Since you attack with thunder, taste my Wind and Thunder Fist!" With that, he unleashed a punch. The Wind and Thunder Fist roared forth. Despite the opponent's desperate swings of their artifact, they were unable to withstand the power of this punch. Boom! The prodigy of Thundercloud Manor fell! In the ensuing battle of prodigies, Xu Yan took first place, Meng Chong second, and Su Lingxiu third without surprise. When Fang Hao took the stage, the Lingzong's outstanding prodigies had already entered one after another, tied to the dominion over Lingzong and the structures of the Spiritual Domain. For the first time, the Mysterious Martial Path truly manifested its awe-inspiring power in the Spiritual Domain—when the Marvelous Weapon Casket released ten thousand swords, a dazzling array of blades emerged, disrupting the marvelously mysterious schemes of heaven and earth; the formations trapped opponent after opponent. As the great battle unfolded on the battleground, prodigies from Thousand Martial Hall, Thundercloud Manor, and the Royal Pavilion could do nothing against Fang Hao, even getting themselves trapped. At this juncture, the Upper Lingzong stood unsettled. "What Martial Path is that?" "Fang Hao is extraordinary, and the Upper Lingzong can't do anything against him." --- **New Terms and Translations:** - **Hu Bubai (胡不敗):** Translated as "Hu Bubai," a new character with the nickname meaning "undefeated." - **Niú Qiānshèng (牛千勝):** Translated as "Niú Qiānshèng," another character. - **Lingzong (靈宗):** Translated as "Lingzong," a sect or faction. - **Law Consolidator (凝法天尊):** As a new realm translation referring to one who internalizes the Laws of Heaven and Earth. - **Wind and Thunder Fist (風雷一拳):** Technique used by Meng Chong, referring to a powerful martial attack combining elements of wind and thunder. - **Upper Lingzong (超然靈宗):** Translated as "Upper Lingzong," likely referring to a higher echelon or faction within the Lingzong. - **Marvelous Weapon Casket (奇門兵匣):** Mysterious casket likely containing an array of weapons, part of the Mysterious Martial Path. This context provides additional insight into the hierarchy and realms within the universe, illustrating high-level cultivation goals and highlighting the strength of other characters assessed in relation to Xu Yan. "Are we really going to let the Wan Shi Alliance disrupt the structure of the Spiritual Domain? The Lingzong's dominance is a rule that cannot be broken," murmured the Master of the Thousand Martial Hall in a serious tone alongside his peers. "Summon the Sovereign then!" declared the master coldly. "Isn't this a bit rash?" asked the Thundercloud Manor Lord, frowning. "The Divine Bridge has been opened; there's no need to summon the Sovereign now," added the Lord of the Royal Pavilion in a deep voice. "Do you really intend to let them enter that place?" the Master of the Thousand Martial Hall retorted angrily. The Thundercloud Manor Lord and the Royal Pavilion's Lord fell silent. After a long moment, the Thundercloud Manor Lord sighed, "That place is too ancient. What fortunes could it still hold? Entering won't change much." "Indeed," confirmed the Royal Pavilion's Lord. "So be it!" the Master of the Thousand Martial Hall huffed, flinging his sleeve as he left. Seeing this, the Thundercloud Manor Lord and the Royal Pavilion's Lord returned to their respective camps. "Master, any decision?" the elders of the Thousand Martial Hall asked, gathering around. "They don't agree to summon the Sovereign!" gritted the Master of the Thousand Martial Hall. "And that's it?" the elders of the Thousand Martial Hall asked, unwilling to let it go. "If they won't, we will. Xu Yan, Meng Chong, Fang Hao—all of them must die!" the Master of the Thousand Martial Hall declared with icy determination. "Prepare yourselves. We will summon the Sovereign!" the Master commanded solemnly. "Understood, Master!" replied the elders of the Thousand Martial Hall in unison. As the decisive battles of the prodigy competition raged on, Fang Hao, using the Mysterious Martial Path, defeated prodigy after prodigy from the Upper Lingzong, climbing to fourth place on the Prodigy List. The powerhouses of the Upper Lingzong looked increasingly bothered, while the Thousand Martial Hall intended for Xu Yan, Meng Chong, and Su Lingxiu to battle against Fang Hao for the final ranking. However, faced with Xu Yan, Meng Chong, and Su Lingxiu, Fang Hao immediately conceded. Thus, the top four battles remained unseen, leaving the Lingzong's prodigies to contest for the fifth place. Then Red Cat entered the fray. Armed with the might of the Great Beast Arts, Red Cat defeated prodigy after prodigy, even besting Hu Bubai. As a result, none of the top five on the Prodigy List were from Lingzong! In the following battles, the prodigy showdowns became intense and fierce. Xie Lingfeng also joined in. Du Yuying, Yun Miaomiao, and Zi Yun also entered the fray and ultimately made it into the top hundred of the Prodigy List. As the prodigy competition continued, the Thousand Martial Hall prepared to summon the Sovereign. Meanwhile, in Ice State, one of the eighteen states outside Hongzhou, profound changes were occurring. The former site of the Still Snow Palace had transformed into a black cavern. A warm yet not scorching aura continuously streamed from the black cavern, spreading across the entire Ice State. Once covered in perpetual snow, the Ice State was now devoid of any snow, its accumulated ice entirely melted. The whole state had become warm. The massive meltwater from Ice State surged outwards, beginning with Yun State, which bordered Ice State. Boundless water flowed relentlessly from Ice State, bringing a quiet crisis to Yun State. This was a calamity for the entire Spiritual Domain! The renowned and mighty figures of Yun State had departed for Hongzhou to witness the grand event of the Spiritual Domain. The whole Spiritual Domain was abuzz with discussions about the prodigy competition, awaiting news of who would claim the top spot, becoming the foremost prodigy. On a small river near Ice State, several boats drifted along, with martial artists discussing the prodigy competition. Suddenly, an earth-shaking rumble erupted, causing the ground to tremble. "What happened?" A group of martial artists looked around in confusion. "Look, what is that?" One of them pointed ahead in shock. At that moment, a distant mountain suddenly collapsed, followed by a terrifying torrent sweeping forth! The apocalyptic scene shocked everyone. "Run!" someone shouted, as the martial artists hastily took to the air, fleeing for their lives. Among them, some had Lesser Heavenly Being cultivation, others were Grandmasters. Yet, faced with the terrifying torrent, they all felt a chill of dread. It wasn't just this place; wherever bordered with Ice State, doomsday-like floods appeared, and even a slight delay could cause Lesser Heavenly Being martial artists to be swallowed by the raging current, disappearing without a trace. "Run for your lives!" In a grand city, panic erupted. Martial artists above the Lesser Heavenly Being realm managed only to grab their weaker relatives, taking to the skies to flee. Boom! The city collapsed, swallowed by the flood. Those who failed to escape vanished in the torrents; even Greater Heavenly Beings caught in the flood faced grave danger. "What is happening?" "Run, I’ll hold off the flood for a moment!" shouted one of the few Refining Divine Heavenly Beings, their formidable aura flaring as they tried to stall the flood, buying time for others to escape. Yet, the immense torrent bore the might of the heavens, even a coalition of Refining Divine Heavenly Beings struggled to stand firm, soon feeling their strength wane, teetering precariously. "We can't hold on much longer!" "Why is this flood so terrifying? It seems to originate from Ice State?" Some Refining Divine Heavenly Beings ascended into the sky, dodging the flood to investigate its source. Shortly, Yun State was submerged, suffering heavy casualties, resembling a purgatorial disaster, vibrant scenes vanished, leaving martial artists, who lost their families, dazed and disbelieving at the catastrophe. And the flood showed no signs of stopping, the torrents now headed towards Great Swamp State. --- **New Terms and Translations:** - **Wan Shi Alliance (萬世盟):** Translated as an alliance with significant influence, considered a disruptor of the Spiritual Domain. - **Sovereign (尊):** Refers to a powerful or influential figure the Thousand Martial Hall attempted to summon. - **Still Snow Palace (靜雪宮):** A former site in Ice State converted into a significant feature, a black cavern. - **Hongzhou (虹州):** A prominent location significant in the Spiritual Domain for events. - **Great Swamp State (大澤州):** Another state within the Spiritual Domain, threatened by the flood. - **Yun State (雲州):** Another location significantly impacted by the calamity, indicating regional significance. These terms expand the social and geographical landscape of the narrative universe, highlighting ongoing conflicts and impending crises that could reshape power dynamics within this world.