The difference is that your body would fall apart on a whim and then start fighting itself?
Xu Qi’an made a sarcastic remark at first, then fell silent, analysing silently in his mind.
First of all, the bloodline of gods and demons could be ruled out. The Asura clan should have been formed from the interbreeding of gods, demons, and humans. They possessed divine blood, but it was not enough to condense into spiritual essence, at best making the Asura clan innately more powerful than average.
But they were not on the level of the Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox.
Secondly, the identity of “Buddha” could be ruled out, as this was not something that could be replicated. Shenshu could not have used this as an answer.
In the end, it circled back to the beginning… Xu Qi’an suddenly thought:
“The trait of immortality?”
That was right, what most set Shenshu apart from ordinary beyond-mortal martial artists was his undying trait.
Now that Xu Qi’an had become a second rank martial artist, he knew that even a Hedao-rank martial artist would still die.
But Shenshu’s situation was rather hard to understand.
He had been dismembered and sealed for five hundred years, completely exhausted of all resources for five hundred years, yet without any supplement of external spiritual energy, he had survived for five hundred years on his own life force.
Not even the Beyond-rank Buddha could kill him.
“That’s right. Compared to other martial artists, my most unique trait is that I cannot die. Not even a Beyond-rank can kill me…”
Shenshu’s navel split open, turning into a mouth and said:
“First rank martial artists cultivate precisely this undying art.”
Xu Qi’an was silent for a long time before saying,
“That sounds… a bit unremarkable.”
An undying body was the power of a third rank martial artist. Upon reaching second rank, it would leap to a much higher level. At Xu Qi’an’s current vitality, even if he were dismembered, he would not die.
From that perspective, first rank martial artists only improved their vitality and seemed not quite worthy of the rank.
It should be remembered that martial artists possessed the strongest killing power of any system.
Moreover, ordinary first rank martial artists could not possibly have a life force as powerful as Shenshu’s, because Shenshu was a half-step Martial God.
This half-step Martial God was sealed by a Beyond-rank Buddha; in that case, even a Martial God would only be a bit stronger than a Beyond-rank?
It was hard to believe this matched the title of “the strongest in single combat”.
“Disappointed?”
Shenshu let out a “heh”, then said to himself:
“You should know, the martial artist system is different from all other systems. When the various systems reach high ranks, some can freely modify rules, some can transmute and manipulate earth, wind, water, and fire, some condense fortune and wield the power of all living beings, some directly borrow the power of heaven and earth.
“Only martial artists do not commune with heaven and earth, only cultivating themselves. All their extraordinary powers stem from themselves.”
Isn’t that why people call the martial path crude… Xu Qi’an felt sorry for his own system.
Shenshu said:
“This, actually, is the most fundamental, most essential path of martial artists. It tells you how to advance to first rank.”
Without waiting for Xu Qi’an to ask, Shenshu gave the answer:
“Merge essence, qi, and spirit into one. The primordial spirit becomes the body, the body becomes the qi, the qi becomes the primordial spirit. When all force in your body is united, your strength will advance by leaps and bounds, making you one of the top experts of this age.”
This sounds reasonable! Xu Qi’an nodded, indicating he could accept this explanantion.
But Shenshu continued,
“But this still does not match the status of a first rank martial artist. From ninth rank to second rank, every advance brings a brand new ability in the martial artist system, as with all others.
“But a first rank martial artist only enhances the undying body of third rank, and their close combat ability, without gaining any new power.”
On hearing this, Xu Qi’an frowned. If Shenshu was right, this was indeed odd.
First rank was the final rank of the martial artist system, yet it only strengthened the powers of third and fifth rank, this was difficult to justify.
Admittedly, it made martial artists far harder to kill, and their combat power increased dramatically.
Shenshu’s navel sighed:
“Actually, the Confucian Sage has already given the answer.”
? A question mark flashed through Xu Qi’an’s mind, and then his pupils widened slightly as a light flashed in his mind and he blurted out:
“First rank martial artist isn’t really a proper rank, it’s just a transition?”
The Confucian Sage divided all systems into nine ranks, each with a name. Only the first rank martial artist was left nameless.
For centuries, no one knew the reason why.
But now, a bold guess came to Xu Qi’an’s mind.
Shenshu spoke his thought out loud:
“Because first rank martial artists are very likely a part of Martial God; it’s not a separate rank.”
Xu Qi’an fell silent for a moment, then, like Shenshu, sighed and said:
“I knew the martial artist system’s waters were deep. But since ancient times, it seems there has never been a Martial God? How did the Confucian Sage know?”
Shenshu shook his head slightly:
“I do not know. I left many vital memories in my head. As for what the the Confucian Sage bases off, no one knows. However, there are many who, drawing on the Confucian Sage’s ranking, guessed that first rank martial artist is half a step to Martial God.
“Otherwise, why do you think the shaman clans of the Southern Marches call me half-step Martial God? If you want my precise position, I am a first rank perfection.”
First rank martial artist was part of Martial God, so Shenshu, in peak first rank, was called “half-step Martial God”.
Seems Heaven Gu Grandma knows a great deal… Xu Qi’an recalled what Lina had said before: back during the sixty year extermination of the yao, a half-step Martial God had intervened.
And Lina had learned this from her father, Longtu. From Xu Qi’an’s experience with the Strength Gu tribe, he knew well what kind of people they were, so he had reason to suspect Longtu had learned this from Heaven Gu Grandma.
No matter what, first rank martial artists were strong enough. Lacking a new skill did not matter; as long as you could punch Baidi and kick Agaruka Bodhisattva, that was enough… Xu Qi’an earnestly asked,
“How should I condense my essence, qi, and spirit into one?”
“There is a formula: Take the body as the furnace, spirit as the firewood, qi as the flame.”
After giving the formula, Shenshu said:
“Do you know why emperors with fortune upon them find it easier to enter first rank? Because this process is extremely perilous, the slightest mistake and the soul is scattered. With fortune on your body, it is far less likely to go wrong.”
Xu Qi’an silently repeated the formula a few times, then asked,
“Master, what do you think of the Martial God?”
The navel did not reply. Instead, a gentle voice came from his right arm:
“I have dwelt in your body for a long time and still could not see why the Jianzheng wanted to nurture you. But I can see, he was consciously stacking fortune on you.”
“Do you still have the Dragon Qi?”
Xu Qi’an nodded:
“It is still in the Earth Book fragment.”
The right arm replied gently:
“Keep it. Do not let it return to the dragon ley, it may be useful in the future. Do you not find it odd? After the dragon ley collapsed, why did the Jianzheng not gather the Dragon Qi himself, but made you roam the martial world instead?”
Xu Qi’an sank into thought.
…
Far overseas.
In the pitch darkness of the deep sea, there was a vast, silent ocean trench.
Deep within the trench, faint white light twinkled, growing stronger the deeper it went.
Pearls as bright as stars adorned the cliff face of the trench, exuding soft, pure radiance.
At the bottom of the trench lay a monster a thousand feet long, its whole body pitch-black, its form like a sheep, but six curved long horns sprouted from its head and it had a face almost like a human.
Baidi stood silently before the sleeping giant beast, gazing at one of the horns wreathed in azure qi.
“My horn can devour all things. Even if you are the Gatekeeper, don’t think you can escape its devouring. Do not hope to break free.”
Baidi did not speak, but instead used transmission to converse with the Gatekeeper trapped within the horn.
“No wonder you tried to take my spiritual essence. So your body has a problem.”
The Jianzheng’s voice came from inside the horn, answering also by transmission:
“In your prime, you must have been Beyond-rank, on the same level as the Gu God.”
Baidi replied:
“Strictly speaking, the problem lies with my spiritual essence. During the ancient war among gods and demons, I suffered unimaginable wounds, half of my spiritual essence merging into the Dao, returning to heaven and earth. In the end, I faked my death to escape the calamity.
“But with half my spiritual essence lost, I stood no chance against other Beyond-rank. All these years I have hunted the offspring of gods and demons overseas, trying to repair my spiritual essence but their power was too feeble. Fortunately, I captured you. Once I refine you, the other Beyond-rank beings will be unable to compete with me.”
The Jianzheng laughed:
“Do you know why the Gatekeeper never appeared during the ancient era, nor during the Daoist Venerable’s time, but only appeared after the rise of mankind?”
Baidi asked honestly, “Why?”
The Jianzheng answered irrelevantly:
“Because in the ancient era, there were no conditions for a Martial God to be born.”
Baidi’s sapphire vertical pupil fixed on the long horn, speaking slowly:
“I heard from a second rank arcanist that among the major systems, only arcanists and martial artists have no Beyond-rank. You seem to know how to become a Martial God?”
The Jianzheng laughed:
“Guess!”
Baidi did not much like this old man’s style of conversation and said coolly:
“In a few more days, I will be able to suppress your primordial spirit. Then I’ll go to the Jiuzhou Continent and wipe out the Central Plains Dynasty.”
At that moment, behind Baidi’s mane-covered ear, a white scale lit up. He pricked up his ear to listen to Xu Pingfeng’s transmission.
“The Human Sect Daoist Leader is about to face Heavenly Tribulation. Return quickly!”
…
Mount Jing City.
Sarun Agu, with a shepherd’s whip at his waist, slowly climbed the altar and stopped before the statue of a long-robed man wearing a crown of thorns.
He bent low in salutation and said with a smile,
“Disciple has just made a divination, utmost good fortune, great fortune at the Spring Sacrifice.”
The statue of the Warlock God remained still. Above its head, a ghostly figure clad in azure rose, then sank as if pulled back by some force.
…
Xunzhou.
Inside the east wing of the large residence, Xu Qi’an was changing clothes with Yeji’s help. Behind them was a messy bed, and behind a screen was a red lacquered tub, its rim ringed with water splashes from last night.
After returning from the Southern Marches, Xu Qi’an brought Yeji back to the Central Plains with a very clear goal—cultivation (dual cultivation)!
The ancient Daoist tantric arts were truly powerful, the growth in qi far surpassed breathing exercises.
It would have been even better if he could dual cultivate with a top Daoist like Luo Yuheng, but after their last session, Luo Yuheng had closed herself off from the world in the capital.
There was an even more suitable candidate, but the Flower God was still at the Sitianjian, engaging in dual cultivation with him all day and night.
Since he had already gone to the Southern Marches, he simply brought Yeji back to live with him for a while, perfect for dual cultivation.
Actually, Xu Qi’an was a bit “afraid” of dual cultivation with Mu Nanzhi. Not the sort of fear of lust, but rather the Flower God’s charm was too strong, and he was afraid he would never want to get out of bed again.
It had been half a month since he returned from the Southern Marches.
Yeji’s sharp, seductive little face was full of exhaustion, but her eyes were bright, full of restrained energy, she too had gained much from dual cultivation.
“The maids in the mansion like to chatter. When you have spare time, discipline them more.”
Yeji rolled her eyes, pouting,
“You pester this slave day and night, where would I ever find the energy to manage the maids?”
Xu Qi’an pinched her bottom with a smile and said,
“For quite a while to come, I will not be pestering you. I am heading to the capital.”
Last night, Luo Yuheng had sent a jade talisman message, she would face tribulation in three days.
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