Chapter 361 - 170: Shouldering the Great Sun to Vie for Martial Champion

Chapter 361: Chapter 170: Shouldering the Great Sun to Vie for Martial Champion

Ji Xiu was still calculating his next move.

After all, his current power was only enough to be unrivaled at the county level. Here in the prefecture, he hadn’t even become a Qi Cultivation Grandmaster. Any random Great Lineage Master or Sect Leader could easily put him in his place.

Let alone the Giant Houses and Celestial Pillars?

Their status was even more profound and unfathomable than that of a state’s vassal towns, the illustrious Noble Clans, or even the towering True Sects!

’It would be perfect if this Master, Xu Longxiang, could be like that suddenly-appeared Xie Fuyao and just vouch for me, resolving all the hidden dangers that come with secretly learning these cultivation techniques.’

As Ji Xiu was mulling this over...

Xu Longxiang said with a half-smile:

"Oh, I do. I do."

"The number of top disciples from True Martial Mountain I know... they’re more than I can count. Enough to fill half the sect."

Ji Xiu’s eyes lit up.

"Does that mean you and the Celestial Pillar faction are practically family, Master?"

My goodness!

He’d never imagined that his new Master, Xu Longxiang, had such powerful connections!

’I’m set!’

At this thought, a relieved smile spread across his face.

However, Xu Longxiang casually added,

"Without exception, every last one of them is a mortal enemy of mine."

"From now on, when you’re out and about, if you run into an heir of the Celestial Pillars wearing a True Martial Robe and they see through you—and if I’m not around—remember this: never say you are my student."

"Or else..."

He didn’t finish the thought.

But the smile on Ji Xiu’s face stiffened.

At that moment, he was suddenly reminded of the Celestial Blade School.

’It seemed that every master he pledged himself to came with baggage—the bottomless-pit kind...’

But at the end of the day, he was already used to it. Distant, almost illusory threats couldn’t weigh on him.

Seeing Ji Xiu’s expression flicker for only an instant before returning to normal, it was Xu Longxiang’s turn to be surprised.

"Oh? You’re not afraid, boy?"

His gaze held a great deal of interest.

Was there truly a Martial Artist in this world who could hear of the ’Celestial Pillars’—the very pinnacle of the Martial Dao—and not have his hands tremble or his heart skip a beat?

Now that was a rare sight.

In response, Ji Xiu sighed and shrugged. He seemed resigned, but his tone was earnest.

"Master, no matter how strong the Celestial Pillars are, you’re still standing right here, safe and sound, aren’t you?"

Xu Longxiang was taken aback.

"The fact that you’re standing here proves that all the storms you’ve weathered couldn’t break your backbone."

"If that’s the case, what is there to be concerned about?"

The white-haired, white-bearded old man narrowed his eyes slightly.

"You managed."

"Why can’t I do the same?"

Ji Xiu bowed, his tone composed, showing no sign of being intimidated by such a colossal power.

"Anyone in this world would want their Cultivation path to be a smooth and easy one. I’m no exception."

"But sometimes, you just don’t get a choice."

"And if you don’t have a choice—if you’ve accepted a predecessor’s favor and inherited their feuds—then there’s nothing to be done. Even if the path ahead is choked with thorns..."

"...at worst, I’ll just have to stomp my own way through!"

"I started out as a mere Groom. I struggled my way from Anning County to Jiangyin Prefecture, a journey of a full eight thousand li. You think I’m going to be scared by some empty threats?"

"I have no connection whatsoever with the True Martial Mountain Celestial Pillars. But you, Master, gave me a complete Transformation. I know what’s important and what’s not. I know who is on my side."

After speaking, Ji Xiu clenched his fist, brimming with confidence. ℴ

Now that his Immortal Robe was fully cultivated, he was terrifyingly strong!

"Master, if I want to use the Mansion Courtyard’s resources to practice Daoist Techniques, do I need to rent a Cultivation Room?"

Hearing this, Xu Longxiang, who had been staring at Ji Xiu, pondered for a moment.

"It’s been a long time since I’ve taken a student at the Mansion Courtyard. I can’t recall the details."

"But there are only a handful of Cultivation Rooms in this Mansion Courtyard. Of those, the Divine Soul Cultivation Rooms—the ones that support Divine Soul Cultivation and the study of Daoist Techniques—are even rarer. So, theoretically..."

"...you’d need to rank at the very top of the Five Gates—be one of the best among all the Mansion and Institute Students—to even qualify to rent one."

"And as for the champion titles for the Three Gates of Archery, Horsemanship, and Weaponry—or even a top rank—you can only earn those by participating in specific assessments like the ’Great Archery Hunt’ and ’Armored Combat.’ And those are only held twice a year, in the spring and autumn."

"If I’m calculating the time right, the final ranking event before the Prefecture Official Examination is just around the corner."

Hearing there was no immediate way to claim the top spot, Ji Xiu asked,

"You said there are champions for the Five Gates, right? If those practical arts and skills can’t be tested at the moment, what about the Martial Dao and Divine Soul gates?"

"I hear those two are decided by a pure clash of cultivation realms!"

"I wonder... how are they assessed?"

Xu Longxiang raised his white eyebrows.

"You’ve only been a Prefecture Student for a single day."

"And you already want to be the one with the deepest Divine Soul Cultivation and mastery of the Martial Dao? Do you really think you can compete with those who have trained bitterly for three years just for a chance to shine at the Prefecture Examination?"

Ji Xiu answered without hesitation,

"Then let me ask you, Master: in the entire Jiangyin Prefecture Courtyard, are there any Prefecture Students who have become a Qi Cultivation Grandmaster, or achieved the rank of Daoist High Merit?"

Xu Longxiang shook his head.

"Then that settles it."

Ji Xiu grinned. With an inhale and an exhale, he released a breath like a great whale spouting water.

"As long as no one is a Grandmaster..."

"...now that I’ve perfected the Immortal Robe, I dare to declare it!"

"In a pure contest of physical strength and cultivation realm, across this entire prefecture, even someone who has broken through the Three Limits and attained the Purple Ribbon..."

"...is no match for me!"

"So, if there are no Qi Cultivation Grandmasters in this entire prefecture, what do I possibly have to fear?"

"Didn’t you say that Mansion Official Instructors get rewarded when they train a student who wins a champion’s title?"

"That being the case, Master, you gave me this Transformation. In return, I’ll..."

"...bring you the title of a Gate Champion!"

"Consider it my gift to you, to mark the first day of our new relationship!"