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

### Chapter 438: The Hunt for Extraterrestrial True Spirits, Taikun Jiang Clan The Armored Beast belongs to a category of extraterrestrial true spirits with exceptionally strong defense. Each hunt for an Armored Beast typically requires multiple individuals collaborating to kill it. Because of this, when the gathered martial artists witnessed Jiang Buping effortlessly slay an Armored Beast, they couldn't help but be astounded. "Brother Liang, you come from the Great Boundary and are well-informed. Do you know what secret technique this person used to so easily hunt the Armored Beast?" In another area where a dozen martial artists were gathered, someone turned to the central figure and asked. "Divine Soul Secret Art!" The questioned individual, with a look of uncertain amazement, took a deep breath and replied solemnly. "Hiss! It is actually a Divine Soul Secret Art that directly obliterated the consciousness of the Armored Beast!" "Such a powerful Divine Soul Secret Art; this person must not be provoked." "Brother Liang, as expected, being a martial artist from the Taikun Realm, you could perceive the truth at a glance." Despite the flattery from those around him, Liang Quan remained impassive, his gaze fixed on Jiang Buping in the distance, feeling deeply unsettled. Even though it's a Divine Soul Secret Art, to obliterate the consciousness of an Armored Beast in one strike is nonetheless a terrifying technique, and the one who performed it must have an immensely powerful soul. Even within the Taikun Realm, not everyone possesses such a formidable Divine Soul Secret Art. "Jiang Buping? So it is him!" Liang Quan's heart was not at ease as he recognized the young man who had felled the Armored Beast as the discarded member of the Taikun Jiang Clan, Jiang Buping. His tales are no secret within the Taikun Realm. Liang had heard bits of the secret behind the matter, considering he was affiliated with a subsidiary force of the Jiang Clan. "Wasn't his Divine Soul tainted by the Unyielding Qi, causing loss of intellect and rendering him senseless? He had disappeared, and by all accounts, should have perished under the corruption of the Unyielding Qi. Why is he here now?" "And moreover, he doesn't seem dazed at all; his strength is even greater than before." At this moment, Liang Quan felt profoundly shaken. Is it possible to recover from being tainted by the Unyielding Qi? "This matter must be reported to the Jiang Clan. With Jiang Buping's talent, he will undoubtedly surpass the Immortal Realm. Once he does, he will pose a significant threat to the Third Young Master." "The clan elders will surely reinstate him in the Jiang Clan, and to bring him back, they will offer generous conditions and treatment." Such were Liang Quan's thoughts. For a large clan, talent and strength are paramount. The more exceptional the talent, the more the clan's strength increases, thereby bringing considerable benefits to the family. This was why Jiang Buping, despite being of common birth and disfavored by the head of the Jiang family, was accepted into the Jiang family and given the treatment of a prodigy, precisely because of his talent. Once Jiang Buping became useless, having no value, he was instead a stain on the Jiang family, prompting his merciless expulsion. However, should Jiang Buping surpass the Immortal Realm, with his talent, he is destined to become a top-tier immortal. The clan elders will surely welcome him back. For those decrepit clan elders, face means little compared to the family's interests! Liang Quan did not continue to linger in the Heavenly Abyss, instead, he made an excuse to bid farewell and hurried back to the Taikun Realm. Unaware that his identity had been recognized, Jiang Buping stored the corpse of the Armored Beast and looked into the depths of the Heavenly Abyss. In the depths of the abyss, there were two extraterrestrial true spirits comparable to the Immortal Realm. "According to what I read in the ancient texts, these extraterrestrial true spirits dwell in areas beyond the heavens. They're born tainted with Unyielding Qi, hence cannot develop consciousness, yet their power is incredibly strong." "If an extraterrestrial true spirit has the power of the Immortal Realm, it's either young or the lowest of the kind. The Armored Beast I just hunted is young." "With my current strength, can I kill an Immortal Realm extraterrestrial true spirit?" Jiang Buping pondered aloud, deciding to give it a try. Lacking intelligence, the extraterrestrial true spirits might not be easy to kill, but with strategies, an escape is feasible. For instance, using pills to distract them before taking flight. Extraterrestrial true spirits, like beasts, are easily distracted and can be drawn away by food. "Legend has it that spirit beasts are descendants of extraterrestrial true spirits. They entered the land beyond the heavens, and since there is no Unyielding Qi, their progeny, under the nurturing of Heaven and Earth Spiritual Energy, developed wisdom, thus becoming the spirit beasts we know today." Jiang Buping recalled some ancient texts he had read in the Jiang family. The strength of a spirit beast lies in its bloodline; each improvement is a transformation of its bloodline. The higher the extraterrestrial true spirit's level it belongs to, the stronger it is, and the higher the potential of its bloodline. Once a spirit beast with an ancestors' bloodline and wisdom emerges, it is extremely powerful. Currently, no such powerful spirit beast exists in the Divine Domain. Jiang Buping approached the depths of the Heavenly Abyss. Even before getting close, he heard the snoring thunderously echoing; a gigantic extraterrestrial true spirit lay sleeping on the ground. "Quite an opportunity!" Jiang Buping's heart rejoiced as he concealed his presence and approached the otherworldly entity. Ordinary fighters who came close would immediately be detected, but Jiang Buping practiced the Extremity Soul Martial Path, lacking the aura of ordinary fighters as well as the Qi and Blood. Moreover, due to the arcane methods of concealment, this extraterrestrial true spirit perceived nothing. Szz! Without warning, Jiang Buping struck, driving a spear into the celestial entity's skull. Roar! The beast howled fearsomely, eyes wide with fury, aura bursting forth; yet instead of attacking initially, it began rolling in agony. "So strong, I can't annihilate its soul!" Jiang Buping was alert, taking advantage of its writhing in pain and before it attacked, he struck again. Divine Ability, Slaughter God! Psshh! Another terrifying roar reverberated, shaking the entire abyss. The weaker true spirits trembled, fleeing in all directions. Even another stronger true spirit, watching from afar, dared not approach its thrashing kin. "What transpired here?" The commotion quickly drew the attention of the martial artists within the abyss, even alarming the Immortal Heavenly Venerable standing guard. The extraterrestrial true spirit raised its head, its blood-red eyes fixed on Jiang Buping, rage swelling, as a terrifying aura rolled across its body. Jiang Buping’s heart thumped — though lacking intelligence, this true spirit's Divine Soul could have grown exceptionally strong from residing in Unyielding Qi, surpassing the resilience of even an Immortal Heavenly Venerable's soul. "One more strike should break its spirit!" Jiang Buping produced a pill, and as the entity prepared to attack, he tossed the pill a short distance away. The true spirit, poised to assail, abruptly focused on the small pill, realizing through its keen senses that it could relieve its pain. Abandoning its assault, it pivoted towards the pill, lowering its head and poking its tongue at it. Seizing this chance, Jiang Buping struck down from above, once again impaling the celestial creature’s skull. Crack! The Extremity Soul Divine Spear shattered something with its thrust. Psshh! The pill disintegrated the moment Jiang Buping acted. Howl! A more dreadful roar erupted; the true spirit, in a frenzy, lashed with attacks, flipping, leaping, and sprinting madly. Some juvenile true spirits failed to evade, instantly being shattered into remnants. Jiang Buping retreated far, waiting for the celestial entity's demise. Within the Heavenly Abyss, martial artists scrambled to retreat, save for the Immortal Heavenly Venerable, whose face bore a grave, shocked expression. Their gaze toward Jiang Buping changed. For someone not an Immortal Heavenly Venerable to hunt an Immortal Realm extraterrestrial true spirit? Was that a technique for assaulting the soul? Possessing such means, among peers, left one unconquered. Should they break through to the Immortal Realm, self-doubt loomed, even in defense. "A prodigy from the Great Boundary?" They muttered inwardly. Only the Great Boundary holds such Divine Soul Secret Arts. Thud! The celestial true spirit collapsed; though not completely fallen, its consciousness was about to shatter. Jiang Buping stepped forward again, decisively resolving the adversary, collecting the massive celestial spirit. "Fourth Senior Brother's Storage Ring is truly useful; how else could a standard Storage Pouch contain such a colossal celestial entity?" Jiang Buping marveled mentally. "The Unyielding Qi, some should be refined as well." --- ### Explanation of New Terms: 1. **太崑姜族 (Taikun Jiang Clan)**: Translated as "Taikun Jiang Clan." This is a clan name, important to retain the original identity. The Taikun is a location, adding context to the clan's identity. 2. **神魂秘術 (Divine Soul Secret Art)**: Translated as "Divine Soul Secret Art." This is a special technique focusing on the soul, highlighting extraordinary martial capabilities. 3. **極魂 (Extremity Soul)**: Translated as "Extremity Soul," indicating a specific type of cultivation, focusing on the soul strength. 4. **不化之氣 (Unyielding Qi)**: Retained as "Unyielding Qi." This mystical energy impacts the mind and soul, causing significant detriment, whose effects are critical to the plot. 5. **不朽境 (Immortal Realm)**: Translated as "Immortal Realm." This denotes a significant level in martial cultivation hierarchy. 6. **戮神 (Slaughter God)**: Translated as "Slaughter God." It is a Divine Ability and implies lethality targeted at the divine or spiritual essence. 7. **巨甲獸 (Armored Beast)**: Translated to "Armored Beast." This is a type of creature, emphasizing its defensive prowess. 8. **四師兄 (Fourth Senior Brother)**: Translated as "Fourth Senior Brother." Retains the hierarchical and relational context within martial sects or groups. 9. **天外真靈 (extraterrestrial true spirits)**: Translated as "extraterrestrial true spirits." These represent beings of a cosmic or otherworldly origin, emphasizing their power and mystery. This translation retains the essence, martial hierarchy, significant terms, and power dynamics relevant within the original text. The terms are critically chosen to preserve the narrative's intention and strategic context. Jiang Buping ignored the Immortal Heavenly Venerable and continued his journey within the Heavenly Abyss, all the while searching for a place to extract the Unyielding Qi. The Taikun Realm, one of the three major realms within the thirty-six realms of the Divine Domain, ranks just below the first realm, the Taihe Realm. The Jiang family, known as the Jiang Clan, dominates the Taikun Realm with substantial influence. Although they do not govern the entire Taikun Realm, they rule over half of it. The major powers of the Taikun Realm are divided into one clan, three sects, and two noble families. The singular clan is the Jiang Clan. The Jiang Clan controls half of the Taikun Realm, while the other half is governed by the three sects and the two noble families, one of which is an affiliate of the Jiang Clan, with its current patriarch being the grandson of a grand elder of the Jiang Clan. To the Taikun Realm, the Jiang Clan holds supreme authority. Even if the other three sects and one family unite, they dare not oppose the Jiang Clan directly, creating a delicate balance. While maintaining their territories and staying amiable with the Jiang Clan outwardly, it is known that the Jiang Clan aspires to rule the entire Taikun Realm and emerge as the preeminent clan in the Divine Domain. However, though the three sects and the one family are not as powerful as the Jiang Clan, they are not without resistance, and some major forces within the Divine Domain do not wish for an overwhelmingly powerful family. Thus, this balance has endured, and a tacit understanding has formed among them. On matters concerning the safety of the Taikun Realm and suppressing the Heavenly Abyss, the Jiang Clan leads, yet each faction holds fast to its territory, while the Jiang Clan cannot use force to incite chaos, lest larger forces have an excuse to interfere in the Taikun Realm. Even so, plans continue under the surface. For instance, an alliance through marriage with one of the three sects, Cloud-Top Sect, to develop a form of governance over the Taikun Realm. A marriage was initially arranged between Yunye Er, the daughter of the Sect Master of Cloud-Top Sect, and Jiang Buping, prodigy of the Jiang Clan, with a plan that Jiang Buping would eventually join the Cloud-Top Sect; however, this point was not disclosed publicly. However, with Jiang Buping's unfortunate downfall, the engagement was annulled, and Yunye Er seems enamored with Jiang Tianming, the third son of the Jiang Clan's patriarch, suggesting mutual affection. The Jiang Clan proposed that Yunye Er marry Jiang Tianming. The Cloud-Top Sect Master has yet to agree, still considering the offer. The reason lies in Jiang Buping's talent, despite being illegitimate, which was formidable enough to warrant his entrance into the sect. Both parties would benefit from a form of alliance. Should Yunye Er marry Jiang Tianming, the Cloud-Top Sect risks becoming a subsidiary of the Jiang Clan due to missteps, hence ongoing discussions with no final decision reached. Outsiders believe Yunye Er will likely marry Jiang Tianming, given their mutual attraction and celestial couple-like appearance, introducing subtle changes to the Taikun Realm's structure. Within the Jiang Clan's courtyard. Living there was Jiang Tianming, the third son of the current patriarch and renowned as a prodigy within the Jiang Clan. A month prior, he successfully broke through to the Immortal Realm and had only recently emerged from seclusion. "Tianming, you are our Taikun Realm’s third youngest Immortal Heavenly Venerable in history." Yunye Er nestled into Jiang Tianming’s embrace, gazing at him with admiration. "Third, you say." Jiang Tianming gazed at the beauty in his arms, whose unique aura, like clouds drifting ethereally, even stirred his heart. "Indeed." Yunye Er nodded. "That's because someone was ruined, or else I wouldn't make the top three." Jiang Tianming chuckled. Yunye Er froze momentarily, thinking of someone, and replied with a smile, "Perhaps not. The Immortal Realm is difficult to cross; although he was the youngest True King Heavenly Venerable, breaking through the Immortal Realm is uncertain." She spoke thus, though she knew that Jiang Buping surpassing the Immortal Realm was likely without issue. "That person is already ruined, likely dead, so let’s not mention him anymore." Jiang Tianming smiled again. "Sure!" Yunye Er nodded obediently. "A person named Liang Quan seeks an audience, claiming to bring secret matters." A maid approached, speaking respectfully. "Liang Quan?" Jiang Tianming furrowed his brows, "Who is he? What secret matters could he have?" "Third Young Master, he is a subordinate of the family, claiming that the secret matter must be reported in person and not conveyed by message." The maid spoke softly. Jiang Tianming raised an eyebrow and said, "Tell him, if he's using secrecy to gain favor with me, and the matter is not significant enough to warrant my attention, there's only one outcome — let him think carefully. If he still wishes to meet, bring him in." "Yes, Third Young Master!" The maid bowed and withdrew. Shortly after, the maid brought Liang Quan over. "Liang Quan pays respect to the Third Young Master!" Liang Quan knelt with a thud, speaking reverently. "Speak. What secret matter?" Jiang Tianming asked coldly. Liang Quan lifted his head, glancing at the maid nearby. "Hmph!" Jiang Tianming snorted, "If this so-called secret matter fails to catch my interest, you'd better watch yourself." With a wave, he dismissed the maid. "Rest assured, Third Young Master, this matter is of great consequence. Upon learning it, I came back immediately to report it to you!" Liang Quan spoke with a mix of deference and ingratiation. Seeing Yunye Er in Jiang Tianming's embrace, he hesitated over whether to speak. --- ### Explanation of New Terms: 1. **雲上宗 (Cloud-Top Sect)**: Translated as "Cloud-Top Sect." This is a sect name suggesting a lofty position both physically and hierarchically. 2. **不化之氣 (Unyielding Qi)**: Previously translated as "Unyielding Qi," this term remains consistent in its implication of an enduring energy that impacts the soul and consciousness. 3. **姜天銘 (Jiang Tianming)**: Translated as "Jiang Tianming." He is the third son of the Jiang Clan patriarch and plays a significant role in the story's dynamics and power struggles. 4. **雲煙兒 (Yunye Er)**: Translated as "Yunye Er." As the daughter of the Cloud-Top Sect's leader, she plays a pivotal role in potential alliances through marriage. The translation maintains the original's narrative complexity and the sociopolitical nuances critical to the unfolding story. It carefully preserves cultural and hierarchical terms that play into the power dynamics and alliances.