Chapter 97: The Ascetic of the Northern Wilderness

Chapter 97: Chapter 97: The Ascetic of the Northern Wilderness

Thanks to the appearance of the Tilan Mountain ruins, Martial Artists could now be seen everywhere in Fenglin Town.

In the past, there were only three Martial Masters in all of Fenglin Town, and the number of Martial Disciples was pitifully small. Now, let alone Martial Masters, the two of them had even spotted several Martial Venerable experts along their way.

In the Yu Kingdom, anyone who could become a Martial Venerable usually had a formidable faction behind them. Even if these factions didn’t reign supreme over an entire state, they at least held significant influence across the Seven States of the Yu Kingdom.

"Do you see them? That group dressed in rags, looking like beggars, is from the Northern Wilderness," Huang Qingzhou whispered, pointing out a group of strange, beggar-like Martial Artists to Fang Xu as they walked down the street. "Don’t be fooled by their skin-and-bones appearance, as if a gust of wind could blow them over. In reality, their combat strength is incredibly high."

"Ascetics?" Seeing their attire, the word slipped out of Fang Xu’s mouth.

These Martial Artists from the Northern Wilderness looked remarkably similar to the Esoteric Sect ascetics he had seen in his previous life. In fact, they looked even more extreme!

"You’ve heard of them?" Huang Qingzhou asked, sounding somewhat surprised by Fang Xu’s remark.

These cultivators from the Northern Wilderness were indeed known as ascetics.

Liangzhou in the Northern Wilderness was different from the other six states of the Yu Kingdom. The land there was barren, and numerous factions constantly fought among themselves. No single faction or Noble Family had ever been able to control Liangzhou.

Strictly speaking, the ascetics were not a formal faction. They were all Loose Cultivators who voluntarily gathered together to cultivate. They believed that tempering the physical body through hardship would bring about spiritual ascension.

"Senior Brother Huang, is that old man a Martial Venerable?" Fang Xu asked with a frown, looking at an elderly man at the front of the ascetic group. The man had a hunched, emaciated figure and wore a tattered cloak over his head.

As soon as his voice fell, before Huang Qingzhou even had time to reply, the old man suddenly and slowly raised his head. His bright eyes pierced through the crowd and looked straight at Fang Xu!

Meeting his gaze, Fang Xu suddenly felt that the old man’s deep eyes were like two bottomless abyssal pools!

In that instant of eye contact, his consciousness felt as if it were sinking into them, unable to pull away!

BANG!

Huang Qingzhou’s longsword instantly left its sheath, and he fiercely slashed at the empty air in front of Fang Xu!

A faint explosion echoed through the air. Fang Xu was forced two steps back, his consciousness returning to his body. He widened his eyes in horror.

The moment he snapped back to reality, he suddenly realized that the old man’s gaze seemed capable of seeing right through him. If Huang Qingzhou hadn’t acted so quickly, his little secrets would have been completely exposed!

"Master Ku Lun, isn’t this going a bit too far?" Huang Qingzhou said with a faint smile, looking at the elderly ascetic as he sheathed his sword.

The old man named Ku Lun slightly parted his lips. The wrinkles on his emaciated face bunched together, making him look like a blooming chrysanthemum.

"So it’s Changqing’s disciple. Please forgive this old man’s offense." Ku Lun offered a mild apology as he slowly walked over to Huang Qingzhou and Fang Xu. "Did your master not come?"

Huang Qingzhou cupped his hands slightly. "My master dislikes crowds. He merely sent us juniors here to see the world.

"I just didn’t expect the Tilan Mountain ruins to alert you, senior."

"Hehe... My lifespan is approaching its end, and my vitality is declining. I had to come and seek a chance for a breakthrough." Ku Lun chuckled, shifting his gaze to Fang Xu. With an inscrutable expression, he asked, "May I ask who this young friend’s master is?"

Not daring to look into his eyes, Fang Xu cupped his hands slightly and replied, "I have only just obtained the Immortal Sect travel permit from the Ascension Association."

This old man in front of him was too terrifying.

Ever since he stepped into the ranks of Martial Artists, everyone he had met would respectfully refer to Xu Changqing as "Steward Xu." Yet, this man casually called him "Changqing." This meant he was an equal to Xu Changqing, or perhaps even a generation senior!

"It’s good to rest in the shade of a great tree, but cultivation is ultimately a personal matter.

"Would you consider coming to the Northern Wilderness with this old man to properly temper yourself?"

Ku Lun’s words surprised both Huang Qingzhou and Fang Xu.

He wondered if the old man was asking him to cultivate in the Northern Wilderness. Was he trying to take him as a disciple? Ku Lun’s true cultivation was likely above the Seventh Realm of the Martial Venerable stage. To have such a master...

"No, no! Master Ku Lun, you are openly poaching from our Ascension Association right now," Huang Qingzhou hastily interjected. "And this junior is standing right here..."

"Hehe... I was merely joking.

"Little fellow, don’t go spouting nonsense when you get back. If that old codger Jiang Feng finds out, he’ll definitely run to the Northern Wilderness to pester me again.

"Ah well, since fate has brought us together, I shall give Fang a gift."

As he spoke, Ku Lun pulled a rust-covered object from beneath his large, tattered robes and handed it over. "Do you like this, young friend?"

Fang Xu frowned slightly at the item in Ku Lun’s hand.

The thing was covered in rust and resembled a blunt sword. If not for the hilt-like structure at one end, it would look no different from a rusty iron rod found by the side of the road.

However, Ku Lun wouldn’t pull out a piece of junk just to play a trick on him.

"When an elder bestows a gift, a junior does not dare refuse! Thank you, Master." Bowing deeply to Ku Lun, Fang Xu held out both hands, ready to receive the object that could temporarily be called a sword.

Ku Lun chuckled and placed the rusty sword into Fang Xu’s hands.

The moment he let go, Fang Xu’s hands sank violently. He hastily channeled his Qi Blood Power to grip the rusty sword tightly, narrowly preventing it from slipping out of his grasp and falling to the ground.

So heavy!

With his current strength, holding a hundred-pound weight in his hands like this shouldn’t be an issue.

But the rusty sword felt significantly heavier than a mere hundred pounds!

Having given his gift, Ku Lun looked at Fang Xu with a smile. "Young friend, we will meet again if fate allows."

Nodding to Fang Xu and Huang Qingzhou, the old man continued leading the group of ascetics toward Tilan Mountain.

Watching their departing figures, Fang Xu examined the rusty sword in his hand and frowned. "Senior Brother Huang, what exactly is Master Ku Lun’s cultivation level?"

Huang Qingzhou shook his head.

"I’m not sure either. I’ve only heard my master say that the ascetics of the Northern Wilderness have always revered Master Ku Lun as their leader. However, he has never acknowledged it. He simply takes along any Martial Artist who wishes to cultivate with him.

"As for his cultivation, I think I heard my master mention that whenever Elder Jiang has a breakthrough in his cultivation, he runs to the Northern Wilderness to spar with Master Ku Lun. It seems Elder Jiang hasn’t gained any advantage over Master Ku Lun all these years."

Fang Xu’s pupils shrank slightly upon hearing this.

Even an elder of the Ascension Association couldn’t gain the upper hand against him. Was Master Ku Lun even more formidable than he had imagined?

"Alright, don’t overthink it.

"Take this item the master gave you back and study it carefully. It will definitely be of great use."

Huang Qingzhou shot a slightly envious glance at the rusty sword in Fang Xu’s hand, but there was no greed in his eyes.

Fang Xu nodded. Gripping the rusty sword, the two of them continued walking forward.

In front of the Blood Food Shop, Xing Rong was busy directing a group of staff to hang up Xing’s signboard. Seeing Fang Xu arrive, she couldn’t help but complain, "I thought you weren’t coming anymore, Fang."

Fang Xu gave an embarrassed smile. "I’ve been too busy with my cultivation lately and forgot about this matter. Please don’t blame me, Ms. Xing."

He then introduced his companion, "Ms. Xing, this is Senior Brother Huang from the Ascension Association."

From the Ascension Association!?

Hearing this, Xing Rong’s expression showed profound shock. She hastily put on a beaming smile and curtsied to Huang Qingzhou.

"I am Xing Rong. Greetings, Young Master."

Huang Qingzhou nodded slightly.

A third-rate faction like the Xing Family of Huangzhou wasn’t even taken seriously by Li Xun, so he naturally cared even less about them.

Xing Rong was well aware that Huang Qingzhou was only here to accompany Fang Xu and looked down on her. Trying too hard to curry favor would only annoy him.

She immediately bowed slightly and said, "Young Master Huang, Fang, let me take you inside to have a look..."

"Move! Get out of the way!

"Everyone, get out of the way!"

Before Xing Rong could finish her sentence, a series of harsh shouts rang out from a distance. Down the street, a large number of Martial Artists were being forcefully herded to the sides. Anyone who was too slow was swept away by heavy spears, leaving them dead or severely injured!