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

Chapter 455: Underlying Currents and the Resurgence of the Loathed The Abyss of the Blue Sea remained calm as ever, without any disturbances. The Immortal Heavenly Venerables on Yuntian Island gradually felt their hearts ease. The prodigy who single-handedly slew twenty Immortal Heavenly Venerables seemed to have visited the Abyss of the Blue Sea merely for leisure, not with malicious intent. As for the Heavenshade Shadow Sect, there had been no notable activity for the time being. No powerful cultivators were dispatched to investigate, nor were there any declarations of vengeance, as if none of their own had perished. This left the Immortal Heavenly Venerables on Yuntian Island puzzled, wondering if the Heavenshade Shadow Sect had conceded, realizing the futility of opposing such an adversary. Through recent insights, the Immortal Heavenly Venerables discovered the slayer of the Heavenshade Shadow cultivators was none other than Xu Yan, the Sword God. Besides him, there was none other who could have perpetrated it. The Heavenshade Shadow Sect had persistently targeted him, and Xu Yan had, in turn, clashed with their members, destroying several of their strongholds and slaying numerous Immortal Heavenly Venerables. In the Divine Domain, only one other rivaled his renown, Meng Chong, the God of Heaven. However, when it came to feats in battle, Xu Yan indisputably emerged the more formidable and deadly. Deep within the Abyss of the Blue Sea, a massive blood-red silhouette flashed by, pausing outside an island, with faint scarlet eyes observing the island's inhabitants. After a prolonged gaze, the blood-colored eyes shifted toward another sea region, where a Heavenly Abyss resided. "If I devour the warriors on this island and then enter the Abyss, could I escape?" "No, I mustn't let greed ruin the grand scheme. I must continue to lie low; the time for action is near." The colossal bloody silhouette submerged further into the sea, heading towards a location housing the great Abyss of the Blue Sea. "Securing this Abyss will provide a foothold in the Abyss of the Blue Sea, facilitating subsequent plans." The blood-red figure lay concealed on the seafloor outside the vast Abyss, awaiting the opportune moment. Soon after, two Sea-Spirit Tribe members patrolled past, oblivious to the formidable presence hidden below. ... In the Earthcloud Domain, a massive Heavenly Abyss had further expanded. Boom! Within the Abyss, pink light flickered, accompanied by the voice of the Enchantress. "Wasn't Xu Yan supposed to be lured there?" A strong cultivator outside the Abyss replied helplessly, "According to Tian Shi'er, Xu Yan is not falling for it. He seems to have become cautious. Despite our Heavenshade Shadow Sect's proactive moves to capture him, we failed." "We've lost over twenty Immortal Realm members. We are merely inches from completing the plan. Just a little more patience, Enchantress, we can't afford any disturbance now." The Heavenshade Shadow Sect cultivator felt resigned. The Enchantress seemed driven by unfathomable motives to capture Xu Yan. The Earthcloud Abyss continued to expand and was nearing the final stage. Any disturbances, if noticed by powerful entities, could ruin everything. "Hmph!" The Enchantress let out a cold snort, ultimately leaving, allowing the Heavenshade Shadow Sect cultivator a sigh of relief. Longshan Domain was named so due to its mountains resembling dragons. Legend said that at the highest peak, one might chance upon the presence of true dragon energy. Another legend spoke of a true dragon once falling there, influencing the landscape into its distinctive shape, with even the presence of dragon blood. All legends of the Longshan Domain pertained to true dragons, making it the strongest domain of spiritual beasts within the Divine Domain. These mighty beings often sought treasures related to true dragons amongst the peaks. Longyuan lay atop Dragon Peak on Longshan Domain. Its shape bore a striking resemblance to a true dragon, reputedly the site where one fell. Currently, Longyuan’s master was an Azurejiao, a Mystic-level spiritual beast contemplated as one of the twelve Spiritual Beast Kings of the Divine Domain, yearning to attain the opportunity to evolve into a true dragon. A man and a Wind Spirit Tiger advanced towards Dragon Peak. "Tian Shi'er, you're not suggesting I battle that serpent, right? Its power is no joke, and fighting it would be exhausting, liable to wear this tiger out! If you want this done, you'll have to pay compensation," the Wind Spirit Tiger protested. Behind his mask, Tian Shi'er's expression darkened. The Wind Spirit Tiger had been nothing but troublesome, dragging its feet and demanding treasures at every turn, refusing to move without them. Despite these grievances, Tian Shi'er endured for the plan's sake. "When you're dead, I’ll turn your tiger hide into a chair cover!" he maliciously thought. "Don't worry, it's not for you to battle the Azurejiao. Besides, it has already left," Tian Shi'er said calmly. "The serpent is gone? Impossible! Wasn't it searching here for the true dragon's opportunity?" The Wind Spirit Tiger expressed disbelief. "If there were any true dragon opportunities, they would have been found by now. The Azurejiao left because another treasure tempted it away," replied Tian Shi'er indifferently. The Wind Spirit Tiger glanced at him, understanding that the Heavenshade Shadow Sect's people had lured the Azurejiao away. "Then why have you brought me here?" "To awaken your bloodline and use it as a catalyst to lure something forth," explained Tian Shi'er, halting above Longyuan. "It pertains to my bloodline?" the Wind Spirit Tiger asked, surprised. "There is some connection." To secure the Wind Spirit Tiger's cooperation, Tian Shi'er needed to share part of the plan, albeit not the complete truth, but enough to convince it. "Explain, what's going on?" Naturally, the Wind Spirit Tiger grew interested, as spiritual beasts' power was inherently tied to their bloodline limits. For spiritual beasts, each ascent in bloodline signified a power surge. Still, as soon as its bloodline ceiling was reached, no further progress was possible. Human cultivators, on the other hand, could continuously enhance themselves through martial cultivation, theoretically with no ceiling, dependent solely on talent and understanding. For spiritual beasts, their bloodline apex culminated at the ancestral threshold. This limitation correlated with the ancestry's level; the mightier the ancestor, the higher the respective power level. The Wind Spirit Tiger, hearing the connection to its bloodline, naturally showed interest. "Tiger, you're of the True Spirit Celestial Tiger's lineage, albeit with a faint blood presence, but it's there. Every tiger in existence traces back to the Celestial Tiger." "You hold the highest bloodline among all tigers in the Divine Domain, dear Wind Spirit Tiger. Our aim is to awaken that sliver of Celestial Tiger lineage within you to summon forth a certain treasure." Tian Shi'er explained impassively. The Wind Spirit Tiger, oblivious to Tian Shi'er's tone shift, beamed with delight, its eyes widening. "I suspected I might carry the legendary Celestial Tiger's lineage, and it's true." "It’s genuine. Awakening your bloodline provides benefits, eradicating your bloodline shackles and allowing further progress. Thus, our collaboration serves us both," Tian Shi'er added, giving the Wind Spirit Tiger a sidelong glance. As long as it remained cooperative, there was no need for coercion. By the time it noticed anything amiss, escape would be beyond its reach. Standing above Longyuan, Tian Shi'er half-truthfully described the plan, while also detailing the collaboration. Gazing towards the skies, he mused, "Whether the Longshan Domain once saw a true dragon descend remains unknown, but soon, a true dragon will." ... In the depths of martial pursuits, Li Xuan looked skyward, then shifted his gaze across the Divine Domain, muttering, "The undercurrents surge; there's a substantial event on the horizon." Shaking his head, he neither paid heed nor intervened. With the breakthroughs of several disciples, including the achievements of Meng Chong and Xu Yan, who overcame many Immortal Heavenly Venerables, Li Xuan himself felt significant enhancements. "I wonder when Xu Yan will fully comprehend the Dao Establishment Realm." Li Xuan harbored great expectations. Once reaching Dao Establishment, his confidence would be unshakable. With his innate Dao Constitution and array of divine skills, even the former Tai-Cang Heaven and Earth Lord would struggle to triumph over him. --- New Terms: 1. **嫡系 (Tian Shi'er):** Contextually, "Tian Shi'er" refers to a member of the Heavenshade Shadow Sect with a particular rank, not just a common name. It signifies that this character is an influential figure within the sect, denoting respect or title from within. Literal translation as a name, but contextually implies rank or position. 2. **媚巫 (Enchantress):** A unique title for a character possessing alluring or mysterious qualities related to enchanting. Alternate: Charm Witch. 3. **真龙 (True Dragon):** Often implying a mythic origin or the highest form of a dragon in myths. May also refer to a state or condition akin to perfection or mythical. Alternate: Genuine Dragon. 4. **青蛟 (Azurejiao):** Derived from the creature '蛟', usually a mythical water creature akin to a dragon. Alternate: Blue Scaled Dragon. 5. **神域 (Divine Domain):** A realm or area inhabited by powerful beings and creatures, often personified with divine or supernatural energy. Alternate: Celestial Realm. 6. **天煞地影 (Heavenshade Shadow Sect):** A dark and possibly nefarious organization. Alternate: Skyshade Groundshadow. Main Identification: - 新 characters implying special, mythical, and legitimate ties to dragons emphasize distinct natures from ordinary beings. - No significant modifications to existing lists, except clarification of characteristics. Overall, this translation contextualizes divine and mystical elements authentically while staying true to the novel's narrative tone. "The Dao Establishment Realm is still not secure enough. With realms beyond Dao Establishment, there will be even greater confidence." Li Xuan continued his grand endeavor in martial arts. Meanwhile, Qinghua Sect was transforming rapidly. With the successful establishment and strengthening of the Qinghua Grand Formation, cultivation speeds soared, and difficulties lessened. More and more cultivators were breaking into the Immortal Realm. Over time, numerous cultivators who had refined themselves to perfection in the Refining True Realm could now break through more readily due to the active presence of Heaven and Earth Spiritual Energy and supplementary elixirs, leading to a new Immortal Realm cultivator appearing almost every few days. "At this rate, Immortal Realm cultivators will be abundant in the Qinghua Sect," Li Xuan mused. Within a short period, the power of Qinghua Sect had far surpassed its former glory. "Most of them are still at the early stages of the Immortal Realm and need time to develop." These matters, naturally, did not concern Li Xuan. Although he held the title of the Dao Ancestor of Qinghua, he did not pay much attention to the sect's affairs, leaving those to Fang Hao, the sect leader. Increasing numbers of practitioners were also refining formations, restrictions, artifact crafting, and alchemy, leading to changes in Qinghua Sect's martial arts system. Newly recruited prodigies were learning the Great Wilderness Martial Path rather than the Tai-Cang Martial Path. It was said, this was the method passed down by the Dao Ancestor of Qinghua. "It's been a while since I visited Tian Zi. That fellow must be getting impatient. Next time, I'll make sure to persuade him to spill the beans on everything." Li Xuan felt secretly pleased that with the halo of the Dao Ancestor, convincing Tian Zi would be much easier. "With the increase in Immortal Heavenly Venerables, I'll find the opportunity to teach the Dao again." Li Xuan had plans. Such lectures always brought insights, such as enhancing the mystique of the Dao Ancestor halo. "Your disciple Jiang Buping has speared an Immortal Heavenly Venerable, enhancing your Extreme Soul Martial Path experience." Feedback from the Great Dao Golden Book arrived. Jiang Buping had also begun to slay Immortal Heavenly Venerables. "It seems the abandoned has risen." Li Xuan glanced in a certain direction, smiling. Jiang Buping was starting to reveal his edge, and the Divine Domain's realm of infamous figures had gained another name. Notably, Jiang Buping was an abandoned member of the Tai-Kun Jiang family. Sure enough, half a month later, Cai Ling'er excitedly shared news from the Divine Domain with him, including information about Jiang Buping. Currently, the abandoned member of the Tai-Kun Jiang family, Jiang Buping, had become widespread news across the Divine Domain. Once a prodigious talent, unexpectedly crippled and expelled by his family, he had now made a formidable comeback, naturally becoming the hottest topic in the martial world of the Divine Domain. Many cultivators awaited reactions from the Tai-Kun Jiang family and the Yunshang Sect. Jiang Buping was sharp and fearless; signs strongly suggested he had been sabotaged when he became crippled. With his resurgence, he was undoubtedly seeking an explanation from the Tai-Kun Jiang family. Over time, less information surfaced about Xu Yan, who gradually faded from view, with no reports of him slaying Immortal Heavenly Venerables. Likewise, Meng Chong's actions in the Great Yan Domain quieted, as the Myriad Treasures Alliance ceased their pursuit, or perhaps they were preparing a grand move. News of Meng Chong slaying experts also significantly decreased. The martial world's focus in the Divine Domain shifted to Jiang Buping. Information flowed, reporting that the Yunshang Sect dispatched three Immortal Heavenly Venerables to assassinate Jiang Buping, all of whom were killed. Additionally, the Jiang family sent elders to negotiate, offering to reintegrate Jiang Buping, elevating his status to that of an Elder within the family. Jiang Buping outright refused. Eventually, an elder from the Jiang family was killed by Jiang Buping, his corpse returned to the Tai-Kun Jiang family. The details of the negotiation were unknown to outsiders. Jiang Buping's actions blatantly provoked the Jiang family. Moreover, powerful figures realized Jiang Buping had cultivated an immensely formidable Divine Soul secret art. Soon after, a piece of news spread throughout the Divine Domain, shocking all: Jiang Buping's prior state of being crippled was due to his Divine Soul being tainted by Unyielding Qi. Yet, he not only retained his intelligence but became stronger, mastering powerful Divine Soul secret arts. This revelation implied a hidden secret or opportunity of the world involved. Common knowledge held that once tainted by Unyielding Qi, a cultivator would inevitably lose their wit, even those surpassing Immortal Heavenly Venerables. Understanding the exact prowess needed to resist such corruption was beyond common grasp. Jiang Buping defied this ancient belief, inciting greed among many powerful figures. Acquiring such a secret signified immense fortune. A silent hunt targeting Jiang Buping unfolded, with numerous powerful participants. "Extreme Soul Martial Path is inherently a path of slaughter, an extreme path. For Tai-Cang cultivators, it is a complete downgrade in power comparison, their Divine Soul defenses flimsy as paper," Li Xuan mused, shaking his head with a smile. Their inability to defend their Divine Soul made it nearly impossible to hunt Jiang Buping. Furthermore, Jiang Buping had cultivated an Unyielding Divine Soul. No force in the Immortal Realm could eradicate it; if he intended to flee, none could obstruct him. Extreme Soul Martial Path was about to showcase its formidable might spectacularly. --- New Terms: 1. **青華宗 (Qinghua Sect):** A new and rapidly growing sect highlighted in the passage, focused on martial arts. Literal: Green Splendor Sect. Contextual: A leading sect in the Bihai Domain. 2. **太崑姜族 (Tai-Kun Jiang family):** A prominent family hinting at influential social and martial status, with historical weight. Literal: Grand Kun Jiang Clan. Contextual: An ancient, powerful family with a dramatic internal dispute. 3. **極魂武道 (Extreme Soul Martial Path):** Implies a specialized, possibly dangerous martial arts path focused on the soul or spirit. Literal: Extreme Spirit Martial Way. Contextual: Advanced technique dealing with spiritual lethality. 4. **彩靈兒 (Cai Ling'er):** Introduced character sharing news. Likely female. Literal: Colorful Spirit Child. Contextual: A reporter or informant character within the narrative. 5. **雲上宗 (Yunshang Sect):** An antagonistic sect against Jiang Buping. Literal: Above Clouds Sect. Contextual: An establishment in martial or mystical conflict with protagonist Jiang Buping. 6. **神魂秘術 (Divine Soul Secret Art):** A powerful technique related to soul manipulation. Literal: Soul Secrets Technique. Contextual: A highly potent, possibly forbidden skill harnessed by Jiang Buping. 7. **不化之氣 (Unyielding Qi):** A corruptive force impacting Jiang Buping. Literal: Non-transformative Qi. Contextual: A detrimental, persistent qi that burdens the soul. Overall, the translation contextualizes sect development, alliances, and internal intrigue within a burgeoning martial arts world, while preserving the original narrative's essence.