Chapter 712: End of Volume: The Foundation of the Legacy (Part 2)

Even the fabled Yaochi Water, in terms of Spiritual Power purity, was likely far inferior to this blood-red water brimming with Evil Qi. If the entire Secret Realm had not been designed in such a peculiar way—using a subterranean river to circulate power and dissipate this evil intent—this terrifying trace of malevolence might have transformed the whole place into a cursed Forbidden Land.

Su Zhou was not afraid of these malevolent waters. He entered them without hesitation, unaffected by the Evil Qi that resided within—an energy that typically stirred up murderous urges and evil thoughts in others.

And in the center of this blood-red domain, Su Zhou could see a tall, powerfully built old man dressed in white.

The old man had both hands pressed against a massive, pale-green Jade Ball, and seemed to be sensing something.

Around him, the turbulent, malevolent water swirled violently, forming vortices and undercurrents that unleashed a terrifying force capable of grinding an ordinary Transcendent to dust.

Unaffected by the terrifying undercurrents, the old man sensed Su Zhou’s arrival. Clearly, he was unable to spare the focus to turn his head, so he could only communicate with Su Zhou via Soul Communication as before: ’Hello, Su Zhou. Zhengguo’s youngest at Commander Tier. Your reputation precedes you.’

’Your reputation precedes you as well, Sir Liu Li.’

This was, in fact, a lie. Before the Artifice Sage had told him, Su Zhou had no idea the man’s name was Liu Li. He was only vaguely aware that the Only Martial System had an old, reclusive master, and that was the extent of his knowledge.

However, the man’s strength was definitely at the Commander Tier, and his realm was incredibly stable.

’It seems he built an incredibly solid foundation before the Spiritual Energy Revival. That must be why, despite continuously cultivating and Breaking Realms to reach his current level, his immense Spiritual Power is still completely under his control.’

Su Zhou was deeply impressed by this level of mastery. His own Cultivation journey had been smooth sailing, his progress incredibly fast—a testament to his Talent, to be sure. But to hone one’s cultivation to such a pure state in an adverse environment devoid of Spiritual Qi was another, equally exceptional, kind of Talent.

However, he wasn’t one for beating around the bush, so he was rather blunt with his next words: ’The Artifice Sage said you have something very important to tell me. I can see you’re quite busy, Sir, so let’s not waste any time. Let’s get straight to business.’

’It is indeed very important.’

Liu Li still had his back to Su Zhou. Although he had broken through to the Commander Tier, his hair remained completely white. Aside from that, however, his back alone made him look like an incredibly powerful young man.

Liu Li did not seem to mind Su Zhou’s directness. Instead, he calmly began with a thought-provoking preamble: ’However, Su Zhou, having come so far in your Cultivation, you must surely understand. In a world with the Extraordinary, a nation’s conventional technology and military might do not represent the entirety of its power.’

’Winning a conventional war, even a nuclear one, would certainly be cause for celebration. But if, at the same time, one were to lose the Extraordinary war, then that nation could not be said to have achieved true victory.’

’Ever since the Immortal Gods prepared to abandon Earth, the humans who knew they would be left behind have constantly pondered how they would protect themselves in this dangerous and unfamiliar world without the gods’ aegis. To that end, they either tried to obtain the Divine Artifacts the Immortal Gods left behind, forged their own Divine Soldiers powerful enough to defend a nation, or prepared measures to ensure mutual destruction with any potential enemies...’

’So, you’re saying...’

Su Zhou was no fool. Listening from behind the old man, he nodded thoughtfully, his mind immediately jumping to his Blade of Annihilation.

Reflecting on the significance the Blade of Annihilation held for the Hundred Schools’ Righteous Army in the Divine Wood World, Su Zhou couldn’t help but continue, ’So, after losing the Immortal Gods, the people left behind created ’deterrents’ to guarantee their survival against unknown enemies and hostile environments?’

’Yes, you understand perfectly. And these so-called ’deterrents’ are our National Armaments.’

Liu Li nodded at Su Zhou’s conclusion. His sensing process now apparently complete, he turned around.

Su Zhou could now see his face. It hadn’t shed all its wrinkles, but it didn’t look ancient either, projecting an aura of calm and stability. Liu Li met Su Zhou’s gaze, studying him for a moment. Then, he showed Su Zhou what was sealed in the center of this Small Secret Realm, at the bottom of a vast lake of Spiritual Power: a massive, radiant Jade Pearl covered in countless profound Spirit Patterns.

At that moment, the Jade Pearl was emitting a colorless Spiritual Light, exuding an exceptionally gentle and tranquil aura.

And at its center, a curved strip of pure black wood and a crystal-clear string were suspended, frozen within the ’Jade Marrow’ formed from pure, solidified Spiritual Qi.

The voice of Liu Li—Inheritor of the Only Martial System and the foremost figure in Zhengguo Spiritual Martial Arts—followed.

’Of the three great National Armaments held by Zhengguo, one has been preserved here, within the Yuyuan Small Secret Realm. For six hundred and eighty-one long years, it has been guarded by us of the Only Martial System.’

’Its name is the Sunset Bow.’