Chapter 357 - 169: The Title of True Sect Disciple, a Martial Saint’s ’Transformation’ Empowerment, Winning the Martial Championship, Ascending the Tower

Chapter 357: Chapter 169: The Title of True Sect Disciple, a Martial Saint’s ’Transformation’ Empowerment, Winning the Martial Championship, Ascending the Tower

An expert suspected to be at the ’Dragon Tiger Realm’!

The original manual for the Transformation version of ’Ye Longxiang’s Head,’ a Grandmaster-level Fist and Foot Art—wouldn’t that have to be at least Sect Establishment Level, or perhaps even... True Sect Level!?

’Of all the skills I have, only the ’Great Five Decline Celestial Saber’ is considered True Sect Level.’

’And of its five forms, I’ve only managed to comprehend ’Tribulation Fire Burning Robe.’’

’The Second Form of the saber formula being nurtured in the Fifth-grade Spiritual Saber, ’Long Day,’ remains beyond my grasp, so I can’t say I’ve truly mastered a True Sect Secret Martial Art.’

’If I could get a Fist and Foot Martial Art that’s above Grandmaster Level right now...’

’That would mean, even bare-handed, I could unleash power on par with when I’m armored and wielding my saber!’

’More importantly, this Master, Xu Longxiang, has some standing in the Jiangyin Prefecture Courtyard and is even on good terms with Dean Pei Daoran.’

’I wouldn’t need to worry about Gao Ye from the Noble Clan, that Pharmacy Official, or anyone else trying to secretly sabotage me.’

Thus, though only a few moments had passed, Ji Xiu had already made up his mind.

Pei Daoran, meanwhile, was watching silently from the side.

When he saw Ji Xiu accept the offer in one breath and a look of satisfaction cross Xu Longxiang’s eyes... he was utterly stunned.

As the Dean of the Jiangyin Prefecture Courtyard, he was as familiar as could be with this Elder Martial Saint who presided over the border of the Three Mansions and hailed from the Dragon Elephant True Sect!

In fact, sixty years ago, when Pei Daoran was a Prefecture Student, he had even taken one of Xu Longxiang’s classes.

Before the Dragon Elephant Grandmaster, who had already been a figure of imposing authority back then... he had been as meek as a child.

Back then, that name had been truly illustrious.

But after Xu Longxiang went into seclusion for sixty years—confining himself to Guanzhong, shackling his own feet, and refusing to take a single step for six decades—the Dragon Elephant True Sect also sank into silence, and the world’s memory of his name gradually faded away.

But just because others didn’t know Xu Longxiang’s identity or who he was, that didn’t mean Pei Daoran was ignorant.

He was Xu Longxiang!

The Elder Martial Saint of the Dragon Elephant True Sect, an existence who had attained a ’Title’ as far back as sixty years ago! Legend had it that he was an outcast from True Martial Mountain who later started his own school, journeyed far to Cangbei, and established the Dragon Elephant Lineage.

It was said that if the Elder Martial Saint had been given more time back then, he could have even broken through the shackles of the ’True Sect Level’ to create a Martial Dao of the Upper Three Realms, one comparable to Divine Techniques!

’A man of his stature, even if his Martial Arts Zen Heart has shattered and his progress has stalled... if he were to offer to take on a disciple or a student...’

’Forget about the kids in Cangdu—even the hereditary Nobles in Xuanjing, or the disciples of the Nine Chambers who guard the world’s Realm Gates, would be tempted!’

’This kid... he’s struck by some unbelievable luck...’

Pei Daoran’s lips twitched as he grumbled to himself.

After all, the man had a deep-seated regret from his past that remained unresolved to this day.

His one and only disciple from back then had Opened the Four Great Limits, achieving a near-Leakless state. Famous throughout Cangbei, he was seen as the future pillar of the ’Dragon Elephant True Sect’—the Daoist of his generation, with a boundless future ahead of him.

As a result, he became embroiled in the ’Reform Tripod’ vortex in Xuanjing, attempting to restore the previous Human King by searching for the ’key’ that would release his suppressed physical body. This led to his identity being exposed, and he was hunted down.

In the end... some people even went to the Dragon Elephant True Sect and, right in front of the Elder Martial Saint, forced him to personally strike his disciple’s name from the sect’s records. He could only watch, helpless, as his student died an exile’s death.

Few people knew of this secret affair.

But as the Dean of the Jiangyin Institute, Pei Daoran... just so happened to know a bit about the hidden truth.

So, when Pei Daoran heard the word ’title’ mentioned so naturally in Xu Longxiang’s tone, his heart was already in turmoil.

The kid’s nonchalant expression made it clear he had no idea what this so-called ’position’ his new, fortuitously gained Master was referring to.

’If I’m not mistaken...’ Pei Daoran’s heart seized. Involuntarily, a certain title surfaced in his mind—

True Sect Disciple!

To put it bluntly, the sheer weight of those three words was enough to crush a man’s spine within any Prefecture or County.

What did this mean?

It meant that whoever held this title had a True Sect Martial Saint standing behind them!

Take Gao Ye of the Dan Mountain Gao Clan, for instance. Why did he dare to be so arrogant and domineering at such a young age?

It was because the Gao Family’s Ancestor, a Pseudo-Martial Saint, had his back!

And if a mere Pseudo-Martial Saint, a holder of a Pseudo Title who had not even condensed a Martial Dao Will, could be the pillar of an entire Noble Clan...

...then what about a peerless master who, in his prime, had actually condensed a ’Martial Dao Will’ and reached the absolute peak of Cangbei?

Forget about Duan Chenzhou; he wouldn’t even be worth a glance. Even if the kid’s own Ancestral Master, Wang Xuanyang, who had vanished for nearly twenty years, showed up in person, it would be useless!

Unless Wang Xuanyang was the victor who emerged from the ’Corpse Release Tomb’ back in the day, having condensed one of the strongest ’Martial Dao Wills’ of the modern era, anything he tried before this man would be utterly futile.

’However...’

’Over the past sixty years, the Elder Martial Saint has remained in self-imposed confinement in Guanzhong, never showing his face. The entire Dragon Elephant True Sect has been jointly propped up by the three peak masters behind the Three Veins of True Inheritance.’

’After a full sixty years of weathering storms, even if you can’t credit them with great achievements, you have to credit their toil.’

’If he emerges from seclusion and doesn’t choose one of the True Inheritance disciples from the Three Veins to become the Daoist and be groomed as the next Lord of the Dragon Elephant, but instead defies all opposition to have his former disciple’s successor inherit across a generation...’

’...can he really command their obedience?’

’One must remember, those three peak masters are said to be approaching or have even reached the level of Pseudo-Martial Saint. Aside from not having condensed a Martial Dao Will, their combat strength already surpasses the Dragon and Tiger Realm.’