Chapter 195 - 114: The 3 Grandmaster Realms: Qi Sea, Leakless, Dragon and Tiger! Ancestral Master, Vast Sea Celestial Saber—Wang Xuanyang

Chapter 195: Chapter 114: The 3 Grandmaster Realms: Qi Sea, Leakless, Dragon and Tiger! Ancestral Master, Vast Sea Celestial Saber—Wang Xuanyang

"Legend has it that in each generation, only one person can emerge from this place. And whoever emerges..."

"Without exception, they all become world-shaking figures in the future. Even as Independent Cultivators, they are comparable to the Ten Directions Celestial Pillar and the Nine Great Families!"

"Among the Divine Beings worshipped by the Central Yellow Sect, only those like the Holy and the Celestial Monarchs are figures comparable to someone with a Title, or even a higher Tier."

"But this Dharma Guardian General, when you get right down to it, is just someone at the Qi Barrier. Their true self might be a great disciple of the Dragon and Tiger realm, but their External Incarnation..."

"To be able to match a Sect Leader is already considered having spared no expense."

"A being like that... Your master was right. It’s not even enough for one slap from Ancestral Master in his prime."

As he said this, Qin Zhuo’s face flushed red with vicarious pride.

But not even a moment later, as if remembering something, his expression suddenly dimmed:

"But a dozen or so years ago... from this generation’s Corpse Release Tomb, one person with a Title has already emerged from the Grandmasters who entered."

"Following the precedent from past years, it means the others have, in all likelihood, perished within."

"But Ancestral Master... he had opened all Six Great Limits!"

"Even if he had just taken things step-by-step, without seeking opportunities in such a perilous place... even without fighting to the death against those Martial Artists who had already bet everything and burned through their Dragon and Tiger Grand Pills for a chance at a Title, he still could have earned one himself. Sigh!"

"But alas, it’s too late for regrets."

’So this was it? The reason for the decline of the Celestial Blade Style in the Prefecture City, and why his Master was relegated to a mere County town?’

As Ji Xiu listened to the tales of realms beyond the Qi Barrier and the story of his Ancestral Master, Wang Xuanyang.

He felt as if another corner of the door to this brilliant, vast world had been pushed open. Even as his heart yearned for it, he couldn’t help but click his tongue in silent wonder.

Qi Sea, Leakless, Dragon and Tiger! Each step was a chasm unto itself!

’It sounds like...’

’...the gaps between these realms were far greater than the differences between Bone Marrow, Bone Tempering, and Skin Refining within the Power Barrier.’

Take, for example, those three newly-born Great Demons, who were comparable to Grandmasters. According to Master Duan and the "Three Vehicles Nine Grades" system, they possessed Qi Sea Demon Pills equivalent to about the Middle Grade Sixth Grade.

’A level like that...’

’...was no match for Duan Chenzhou. Having reached Secret Martial Perfection and entered the Upper Second Grade of the Qi Sea realm—his Qi forming a "full round moon"—they were like melons and vegetables for him to chop!’

If the Three Demons had ganged up, they might have had a chance to resist. But the moment Fan Nansong made his move, the outcome was sealed.

’The gaps within the nine grades of the Qi Sea were just that vast.’

’And that’s not even mentioning the Extreme Realm of the Qi Sea, the Fourth Great Limit?’

’And what about the realms above that? The Leakless realm, known as "Red Dragon Subdues White Tiger," where the physical body doesn’t decay for a hundred and twenty years? Or the great disciples of the Dragon and Tiger realm, said to be the best of the best beneath those with a Title?’

’What incredible Divine Techniques must they possess!’

A single County, with its surrounding Mountain Towns and Hunting Manors, might have a population of up to a million people, yet it produces only a handful of exceptional Martial Artists.

But a Prefecture’s territory is tens, even hundreds of times larger. With its concentration of resources, Martial Artists emerge in droves. And Jiangyin Prefecture, backed by the eight-thousand-li East Canghai...

...is no less than the core of an entire province in some backwater region!

And to stand out in a place like that...

Vast Sea Celestial Saber, Wang Xuanyang!

’A reputation like that isn’t built on nothing!’

Ji Xiu committed the name to memory, a sudden wave of wistful regret washing over him.

’Too bad this wonderful Ancestral Master he’d never even met was gone from the very beginning.’

’If they had met even once, he would’ve latched right onto that powerful thigh. A heaven-sent genius like Wang Xuanyang would surely have been thrilled to find someone like him—who could master a Secret Martial art overnight—and would have immediately taken him under his wing as his successor.’

’Then, some Dharma Guardian General from the Central Yellow Sect or whatever...’

’...wouldn’t a single shout of "My Ancestral Master is Wang Xuanyang!" be enough to scare him into surrendering on the spot?’

Ji Xiu sighed at the thought.

The first emperor’s great undertaking was but half-complete when he passed away mid-journey.

’But what could he do?’

’His own master was the source of all his skills. They were tied to the same boat now—they would prosper or perish together.’

’A man has to have a conscience.’

’As Master Duan’s disciple, he had a duty to his master’s legacy.’

’As the boss of Anning, Ji Xiu had to manage his own business, make sure his people were fed, and give them a chance to get ahead.’

’He wasn’t a Saint.’

’But when you hold a position, you have to fulfill its duties.’

’Some responsibilities couldn’t be shirked.’

He looked at Qin Zhuo, and then at Duan Chenzhou...

Ji Xiu waved a hand, motioning for Cai Ling’Er to bring over the Broken Jade Great Bow. He glanced at the slender blade at his waist and sighed inwardly with regret:

’This Moonlight Saber from Miss Wei Zhi is a fine weapon, but for my current realm, it’s starting to fall short.’

’Looks like I’ll have to get a new saber as soon as I can afford it.’

As he thought this, his gaze drifted over to Cai Ling’Er.

Miss Cai was already on edge from the chaos caused by the Demons and the Central Yellow Remnants. Her gaze darted nervously toward the corpse of the White Ape Great Demon, a hint of guilt in her eyes. When she noticed his stare, she immediately grew wary, covering her chest as she asked:

"Wh-why are you staring at me like that?"

’This girl’s master craftsman... I think he’s an Imperial Craftsman from the Prefecture. He could definitely forge a Qi Dao Treasure Saber.’

’I just wonder what his rates are.’

’If I can find the materials, maybe I can get a good deal out of her and have her get one forged for me in the future...’

As Ji Xiu schemed his grand plan for a freebie, he heard Cai Ling’Er’s wary question and immediately put on a serious face:

"What are you letting your mind run wild about now?"

Ji Xiu slung the Broken Jade Great Bow over his back. With one hand on the scabbard at his waist and the other leading the Jade Deer, he surveyed the chaos outside the Ji Residence.

He took a deep breath and addressed the crowd:

"Master Duan, Fan Guan, everyone."

"The Demons are attacking the city and the Central Yellow are stirring up chaos. The root of all this is a remnant from the Outer Dao—a general who goes by the title ’Summoning Spirits and Manifesting Saints’ is the one causing all this trouble."