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

Chapter 427: The Founding of Qinghua Sect "Can it really awaken him?" Upon hearing this, Luo Zhan was immediately overjoyed. The sword wound had indeed caused significant damage to Hong Ting. However, what was most troubling was the Dormant Sorcery Power eroding him, leaving him in a perpetual slumber. As long as this power could not be removed, Hong Ting could never recover and was as good as useless. "Awakening him is not a major problem, but curing him is difficult." Xu Yan tossed a pill to Luo Zhan and said, "This is a medicinal pill. Once ingested, he will soon awaken." Looking at the pill resting in his hand, Luo Zhan was surprised. With his keen senses, he could discern the exceptional nature of the pill. He quickly administered it to Hong Ting, trusting that since Xu Yan was present, the pill would not be poisonous, lest it would be a dead end for Xu Yan too. Shortly after the pill entered Hong Ting's body, he let out a few pained groans and slowly opened his eyes. Even in pain, he exuded a sense of laziness. "Uncle Luo!" Seeing Luo Zhan, Hong Ting’s voice weakly expressed a lack of energy, as if even uttering a greeting was a chore. "How do you feel?" Luo Zhan was filled with joy. "Not very clear. I just don't want to move, can't think of doing anything..." Hong Ting lazily responded. Luo Zhan's expression fluctuated, feeling heavy-hearted. It seemed Hong Ting was truly crippled. Much like other prodigies eroded by the Dormant Sorcery Power, succumbing to lethargy and eventually perishing. "This young brother here saved you." Luo Zhan looked towards Xu Yan and somberly stated. "Many thanks to you, brother!" Hong Ting seemed to want to raise his hand, but languor prevented him; he moved his lips to express gratitude. Xu Yan nodded, slightly taken aback by the Dormant Sorcery Power's formidable and unexpected intensity. A prodigy from the Hundred Battle Hall, who must have condensed the Essence of a Hundred Battles with an indomitable will, was eroded to this extent. Ordinary martial artists stood no chance. Realizing this, Luo Zhan understood that Xu Yan was not the culprit but was indeed framed. He handed an emblem to Xu Yan, saying, "Young brother Xu, this is the Hundred Battle Emblem. Wherever you find the Hundred Battle Hall, you can seek their assistance with this emblem for any urgent treasures, protection for friends, intelligence, and more." "In that case, thank you!" Xu Yan accepted the emblem. The Hundred Battle Hall’s influence was extensive, and its prowess surpassed that of the Ten Thousand Treasures Alliance. While navigating the Divine Domain, such a resource would undoubtedly prove invaluable. After pondering briefly, Xu Yan suggested, "For Brother Hong Ting’s injuries, you might want to seek my junior sister’s treatment. She has the capability to heal him." Hong Ting's injuries were quite unique, making them fascinating to Su Lingxiu. And since Luo Zhan initiated goodwill, steering them towards a solution was only fair. "Where might your junior sister be located?" Even with faint hope, Luo Zhan wished to give it a try, considering it would merely be a journey. "My junior sister, Su Lingxiu, is in Qinghua Region within the State of Great Yue. You can take Brother Hong Ting to seek her help, mentioning my referral." He added, "The medicinal pill was concocted by my junior sister." Upon hearing this, Luo Zhan’s spirit immediately lifted, seeing hope in curing Hong Ting. "Thank you, Brother Xu!" "It’s a mere trifle, but the business with Tian Sha Di Ying..." "Despicable scoundrels daring to commit such shameless acts won’t go unpunished..." Luo Zhan angrily expressed. The two then discussed strategies to combat Tian Sha Di Ying’s actions. ... In a secret chamber in Bai Mu City: "What folly! Making such blunders at this time by provoking the Hundred Battle Hall? The timing is not right!" "Family head, it was a directive from the Eighth Leaf Tian Sha." "To simply kill Xu Yan would be straightforward and clean, but causing such a protracted chaos and being discovered means the Hundred Battle Hall will undoubtedly retaliate. It’s utterly foolish!" "They're supposed to add the final combustion to the chaos. Now that they've been alerted, it’s bound to lead to problems!" After a furious reprimand, the family head asked solemnly, "Where is the Eighth Leaf?" "The Eighth Leaf Tian Sha is in seclusion, having sensed an opportunity for a breakthrough. He won’t emerge anytime soon..." "Send a message to the Tenth Elder and ask him to dispatch stronger forces to eliminate Xu Yan!" "Yes!" "Fools! Now our Tian Sha Di Ying has been prematurely exposed!" The family head raged, realizing the incident with Hong Ting spread the name Tian Sha Di Ying throughout Zhang Yun Region, with many martial artists discussing what kind of power dared to challenge the Hundred Battle Hall. The Hundred Battle Hall, in turn, began their retaliation against Tian Sha Di Ying. ... The turmoil in Jiushan Region did not subside due to Xu Yan and Meng Chong’s departure. Instead, it exhibited a worsening trend. Thousand Layer Mountain and Hengfeng Mountain covertly discussed actions against the Wan family. The Wan family, having no choice but to seek alliances with other powers to prevent being targeted, first sought out the Ling Zun Sect. As the chaos in Jiushan Region persisted, the Heavenly Abyss intermittently trembled, and another Blood Child emerged from within. Joining forces with the Blood Child stationed at the regional gate, they attempted to traverse the region gate into the Qinghua region. However, they were thwarted by the Unyielding Heavenly Venerable of Qinghua Region. With the tranquility within the Heavenly Abyss, the Unyielding Heavenly Venerables in Qinghua Region found themselves with more time to set up grand formations. Fang Hao was busy beyond measure, preparing the grand formation for Qinghua Region, aiming to prevent the disturbances in Jiushan Region from affecting Qinghua Region and to block Tian Sha Di Ying's information dissemination. Immediately, they erected a grand formation at the regional gate to seal it off. Even an Unyielding Heavenly Venerable would struggle to break it by sheer power alone. The grand formation, coupled with an Unyielding Heavenly Venerable and several True King Heavenly Venerables on guard, ensured the gate's security. Besides the gate, traversing the wilderness was another option. Though fraught with danger and longer travel times, blocking the wilderness path was also essential to exclude Qinghua Region from the Divine Domain's chaos. Consequently, under the orders of the three major powers in the State of Great Yue, martial artists at the Law Condensing Realm, and True Kings at the Refining True Realm began constructing border towns along the wilderness outskirts at set intervals. Given martial artists' formidable capabilities, building a city was naturally swift and straightforward, especially under the mobilization of the entire Qinghua Region. The border towns were linked with formations, alerting patrollers of any breaches. While complete closure of wilderness traversal was unattainable, it allowed awareness of any crossers. Under these circumstances, any wilderness-crossers were undoubtedly Tian Sha Di Ying members. Fang Hao also selected optimal locations across the three major powers' territories to set up a grand formation, attracting Spiritual Qi and Heaven and Earth Spiritual Energy. Cultivation within the formation’s radius equaled ten days elsewhere. Entrance into the formation’s territory required merit, which could be exchanged for merit points. The formation-covered land was christened as Ling City. To enter Ling City, one needed to earn merit, thus drawing numerous martial artists into Qinghua Region's grand endeavors. Especially for the lower-tier martial artists, this was the best opportunity to earn cultivation resources. At this crucial juncture, the three major powers in Qinghua Region considered unifying into one, securing the entire region as a single entity. The Great Yue Emperor, Heavenly Martial Sect Master, and Ten Thousand Thunder Sect Master, as the three paramount figures of Qinghua Region, represented the three major powers. Once they reached a consensus, any dissenting voices would be insignificant. Moreover, there were no opposing voices, as long as the benefits were allocated favorably. Everyone understood that Qinghua Region faced a monumental transformation, seizing this opportunity was certain to yield skyrocketing success. Following the first martial artist breaking through the long-standing bottleneck to step into the Unyielding Realm after consuming a medicinal pill, esteemed and renowned martial experts recognized that the unification of Qinghua Region was inevitable. The future of Qinghua Region no longer housed three major powers; instead, the entire region belonged to a singular power! Crucial figures like Fang Hao and Su Lingxiu were indispensable for Qinghua Region’s unification. Su Lingxiu, busy arranging the Heavenly Abyss into a Heaven and Earth Divine Furnace, was unable to pay heed to these matters, thus leaving the pivotal role to Fang Hao alone. After careful discussions and considerations, the decision was made. Qinghua Sect had come into existence! The three major powers were divided into Qinghua Sect’s jurisdictions: Great Yue State, Heavenly Martial State, and Ten Thousand Thunder State. Fang Hao and Su Lingxiu became the founders of Qinghua Sect, while the Great Yue Emperor, Heavenly Martial Sect Master, and Ten Thousand Thunder Sect Master became the three founding elders of Qinghua Sect. Qinghua Sect was established, overseeing various martial disciplines such as refining, formations, and alchemy, with Fang Hao as the sect master. Su Lingxiu, serving as the head of the Evergreen Pavilion within Qinghua Sect, held a lofty status, on par with Fang Hao and above the elders. --- New Terms: 1. Dormant Sorcery Power (墯巫之力) - This term was coined to describe a force that causes a subject to be lethargic, emphasizing slumber and lack of intent to act. Alternative translations could be “Decaying Witchcraft Power” or “Lethargic Curse Power.” 2. Hundred Battle Emblem (百戰令) - This badge or emblem provides access to the resources and aid of the Hundred Battle Hall. Alternatively translated as “Hundred Battle Token.” 3. Ling City (靈城) - A specially prepared area enhanced by a grand formation for cultivation, emphasizing spiritual energy. Could be translated as “Spiritual City” or “Mystical City.” 4. Qinghua Sect (青華宗) - The new sect formed from unifying powers within Qinghua Region. While “Qinghua” can mean “Green Splendor,” it was chosen to retain the native phonetic sound. It could alternatively be “Green Splendor Sect.” Changes or adjustments to existing terms: 1. Tian Sha Di Ying (天煞地影) - This name refers to an antagonistic group involved in clandestine operations. The context revealed their goal of destabilizing internal affairs by striking at strategic points. More descriptive alternatives could include “Heavenly Fiend Earth Shadow.” Character Associations: Hong Ting (洪霆) is linked with Fang Hao through Xu Yan and is the affected figure of Dormant Sorcery Power. Luo Zhan (羅戰) is a pivotal character involved in discussions concerning challenges posed by Tian Sha Di Ying. He supports Xu Yan and navigates complex political landscapes within the narrative. Certainly, in some aspects, Su Lingxiu, being the senior sister, actually holds a status above Fang Hao. With the founding of Qinghua Sect, the next step was to construct the Qinghua Sect Spiritual City. Qinghua Spiritual City began its expansion and arrangement using the capital of the State of Great Yue as its foundation, incorporating the Great Yue Heavenly Abyss within its boundaries. Meanwhile, Tianwu Sect and Ten Thousand Thunder Sect also started constructing their spiritual cities. Although smaller in scale compared to the Qinghua Sect's city, these locations were equally considered sacred sites of martial arts within Qinghua Region. With the establishment of Qinghua Sect, a large-scale recruitment drive for prodigious talents began, including those specializing in formations, artifact refining, and alchemy. The dissemination of Divine Arts Martial Techniques followed suit within Qinghua Sect, offered to the many Unyielding Heavenly Venerables. However, it remained contingent on individual aptitude whether they could successfully cultivate these techniques. At this juncture, Feng Yan felt a surge of pride. Having cultivated divine arts himself, even formidable figures like the Great Yue Emperor and the other two had no choice but to humbly seek his guidance. As for seeking advice from the esteemed Li Xuan, they all lacked the courage, for disturbing the tranquility of a master would not bode well. The martial world of Qinghua Region was undergoing unprecedented transformations, with numerous prodigies eager to join Qinghua Sect. Other family clans and small sects naturally became subordinate forces to Qinghua Sect, each given specific tasks to fulfill. In a certain part of Qinghua Region, a grand formation had been established, alongside the technique for cultivating divine herbs, passed down by Su Lingxiu. Guided by a disciple named Yue'er, a group of disciples from Evergreen Pavilion began clearing spiritual fields, planting spiritual herbs and divine medicines. Fang Hao, dedicated to the development of Qinghua Sect, was constantly engaged, even enlisting Yue Changming and Cai Ling'er to help out. Even those with relatively weaker strength, such as Meng Shushu and Shi’er, were recruited. Qinghua Sect planned to establish the path of the sword. Naturally, the Senior Brother was to lead in swordsmanship, so Fang Hao sought Xu Yan to acquire introductory swordsmanship and foundational techniques. Examples included cultivating Sword Momentum, understanding Sword Intent, and further achieving Enlightened Sword Heart. The complete system of Sword Dao was finally being passed down within Qinghua Sect. Fang Hao also approached Meng Chong to introduce more refined physical training methods and the path of the blade. "Third Senior Sister..." "Go find Yue'er." Seeing the Third Senior Sister messing around with the Heaven and Earth Divine Furnace in the Heavenly Abyss, Fang Hao left helplessly. The Third Senior Sister was exceedingly lazy! Being one of the founders of Qinghua Sect and the head of Evergreen Pavilion, she delegated everything to Yue'er, Zhou Ying, and others without doing any work herself. With the establishment of Qinghua Sect, Fang Hao was ambitious, vowing to build the sect into the world's strongest. He then brought in familiar prodigal talents from the Spiritual Domain, trusting they would be easier to work with, and prioritized their cultivation due to their potential. "Someone crossed the wilderness?" "Sect Master, indeed someone crossed it, triggering the formation’s alert, and the intruder has self-destructed." "Didn't we just have two break through to the Unyielding Realm? Dispatch them to patrol the wilderness border. Capture anyone who crosses. Self-destructors are definitely from Tian Sha Di Ying." "Yes, Sect Master!" Fang Hao's eyes turned cold, aware of the deep concealment of Tian Sha Di Ying, with whom he harbored a significant enmity. "Senior Sister, please refine a few more pills. We're still short of Unyielding Heavenly Venerables; we're somewhat shorthanded." Fang Hao approached Su Lingxiu, looking troubled. "Fourth Junior Brother, refining these pills isn't easy. Once I finish arranging the Heaven and Earth Divine Furnace, I’ll attempt the refinement." Su Lingxiu pondered for a moment. "How long will it take, Senior Sister? Need any extra hands?" "Three days should suffice for me to begin refining." Su Lingxiu thought for a moment and replied. The Great Yue Heavenly Abyss was vast, and while turning it entirely into a Heaven and Earth Divine Furnace was not feasible, partial usage was possible. "Great!" Fang Hao was overjoyed. Three days later, Su Lingxiu excitedly began preparations for alchemy. This time, she did not use divine arts to perform the Heaven and Earth Divine Furnace but rather used the Heavenly Abyss as the furnace, employing the Heaven and Earth Divine Furnace Dan Refinement Technique to create the pills. The Heavenly Abyss was particularly special, known as a gap in Heaven and Earth. With Heaven and Earth’s laws surrounding its borders, it easily drew upon the power of these laws to condense into pills. Su Lingxiu’s greater interest lay in harnessing external energies, possibly even some law forces from the Netherworld Abyss, for pill concoction. "Let’s begin!" Standing to the side of the Heavenly Abyss, Su Lingxiu released a Heaven and Earth Spiritual Flame, which flew into the meticulously arranged Heaven and Earth Divine Furnace. The Great Yue Emperor and others watched with excitement. Upon success, pills would no longer be a scarcity. Pills aiding the breakthrough to the Unyielding Realm would also be producible in greater numbers. Throughout Qinghua Region, numerous large and small Heavenly Abysses existed. Should they all transform into Heaven and Earth Divine Furnaces, the supply of pills would be inexhaustible. The distinctiveness of the Heavenly Abyss lay in its innate production of divine herbs and spiritual herbs, alongside an abundance of cultivation resources. For a millennium, a shortage of alchemical materials wouldn't be a concern. Over a hundred years, a variety of divine and spiritual herbs would be cultivated, providing an endless stream of supply to maintain balance. With Qinghua Sect’s strength on the rise, seizing the chance during the Divine Domain’s turmoil for expansion seemed plausible. Moreover, the ability to directly condense pills using the power of Heaven and Earth’s laws ensured an endless supply of them. --- New Terms: 1. Qinghua Sect Spiritual City (青華靈城) - A city designed for enhancing the martial art capabilities of those residing within, based on the phonetic translation to keep cultural relevance. Other translations could include "Qinghua Sacred City." 2. Evergreen Pavilion (長青閣) - A division within Qinghua Sect, the name is chosen to suggest longevity, growth, and vitality, directly related to its functions. Alternatively "Perennial Pavilion" could be used. 3. Heaven and Earth Divine Furnace Dan Refinement Technique (天地神爐煉丹術) - A special alchemical technique utilizing natural law energies, emphasizing both the method and its celestial nature. 4. Spiritual Domain (靈域) - A reference to a place known for exceptional prodigies, underlining spiritual advancement; alternatives could include "Mystical Region." Adjustments: - Qinghua Sect is specified to have multiple regions now, including Great Yue State, Heavenly Martial State, and Ten Thousand Thunder State. Character Association: - Su Lingxiu, as the senior sister, holds significant sway within the sect with critical responsibilities. - Meng Shushu and Shi’er are involved in foundational contributions to Qinghua Sect's development, symbolizing unity across skill levels. - Yue'er, an important figure within Evergreen Pavilion, advises disciples on cultivation practices.