Chapter 151: Martial Dao Encounters Ancient God

This time, nothing stood in his way.

The closer Fang Han drew to the Gate of Myriad Mysteries, the stronger the attraction became.

The instant his body passed completely through the ancient gateway...

Both his body and consciousness seemed to stretch without end. In the blink of an eye, he traversed an immeasurable distance and descended into an entirely different world.

Boom!

Fang Han could clearly feel the Xuanhuang Qi flowing rapidly around him, weaving a brand-new identity for him.

A moment later, he slowly opened his eyes.

"So this is..."

His brows furrowed slightly as he digested the memories belonging to this new body.

"My name is Fang Han as well. I turned eighteen this year."

"After cultivating diligently for three years, I've only just stepped onto the path of Body Tempering."

"In this world, cultivation begins with Body Tempering, followed by the cultivation of Blood Qi. After that come Inner Force, True Qi, and Astral Qi. Once all three are mastered, one may step into the Innate realm."

"That is also what this world calls the Grandmaster realm."

"In this world, the Innate realm marks the pinnacle of cultivation. Across the entire land, only a handful of people are worthy of being called Grandmasters."

"So this is a world with a rather low ceiling of power. An Innate Grandmaster can barely communicate with heaven and earth and soar through the skies. In the world of Great Qian, any novice cultivator can accomplish the same."

Fang Han shook his head slightly.

"Still, the techniques these martial artists have developed for tempering the body and fighting have been refined to the absolute peak. There are quite a few things worth learning."

"For example..."

A thoughtful gleam flashed through his eyes.

"In this world, advancing one's cultivation grants almost no increase in lifespan. Even an Innate Grandmaster lives for little more than a hundred years."

"Meanwhile, the decline in strength brought about by aging is very real. An Innate Grandmaster over a hundred years old could very well be beaten to death by a young Astral Qi expert in the prime of life."

"As for those at lower realms, there's no need to mention them."

"'Youth triumphs over age in combat.' That saying perfectly describes this world's martial path."

"Several decades ago, an incident occurred that became legendary."

"There was once an Innate Grandmaster named Zhao Linjiang. In his youth, he was invincible beneath the heavens. Although he claimed the title of the world's greatest martial artist, he also made countless enemies."

"When he reached the age of one hundred and eight, one of those enemies came seeking revenge. His opponent had only reached the Astral Qi realm, yet by relying on his youthful vigor, he actually managed to defeat Zhao Linjiang."

"But even then, the man wasn't satisfied. He continued beating and kicking the old Grandmaster, humiliating him without restraint."

"Covered in wounds and on the verge of death, Zhao Linjiang struggled to his feet and uttered a single sentence."

'A Grandmaster cannot be humiliated.'

"What happened next was nothing short of miraculous."

"He instantly returned to the very peak of his physical condition."

"The peerless Zhao Linjiang who had once dominated the world reappeared and effortlessly slew his enemy."

"While the countless spectators stood frozen in shock, Zhao Linjiang calmly began teaching the secret art that had made it possible."

"Encountering Ancient God."

"No matter one's age or physical condition, this secret technique allows the practitioner to return to the strongest state they have ever possessed."

"Although it lasts only for a brief period, one's Qi and Blood, strength, and even martial will all return completely to their absolute peak."

"Of course, this technique comes with a heavy price. The greater the gap between one's current condition and one's former peak, the more severe the backlash."

"For example, Zhao Linjiang himself still had another ten years of life remaining. Yet after forcibly using Encountering Ancient God, he breathed his last before that very day ended."

"Even so, the influence he left upon this martial world was immeasurable."

"From that day onward, every martial artist treated elderly seniors with the utmost respect."

Fang Han recalled the story, a faint smile appearing on his face.

"After decades of refinement and improvement, Encountering Ancient God has become a divine technique that every martial artist in this world is expected to master."

"After all, a person's condition naturally fluctuates from day to day. By using this technique, martial artists can ensure they always fight in their absolute best state."

Having gained a general understanding of this martial world, Fang Han did not forget the true reason he had come here.

"The Xuanhuang Qi of Heaven and Earth."

"This world is flourishing with martial arts. There is no unified government. Instead, it is divided into independent cities."

"The Martial Arts Association serves as the organization connecting every city."

"Over the past several centuries, only those who dominated their generation and were acknowledged as the world's strongest earned the right to have their statues erected within the Martial Arts Association, where they are revered by martial artists across the world."

"From ancient times until today, only seven statues have ever been erected."

"So..."

"Could it be that the Xuanhuang Qi of Heaven and Earth I'm seeking is gathered upon them?"

Without hesitation, Fang Han left his residence and headed straight for the local Martial Arts Association.

The city where he lived was called Dongning City.

With a population of one million, it was considered a medium-sized city.

"There is no advanced technology here. It seems the entire civilization has devoted all of its efforts toward the development of martial arts."

"Unfortunately, this cultivation system still isn't powerful enough to bring about a true leap in civilization."

As he walked through the streets, Fang Han quietly observed everything around him while pondering these thoughts.

Before long, he arrived at the Dongning City Martial Arts Association.

Martial artists came and went in an endless stream.

As a newcomer who had only just entered the Body Tempering Realm, Fang Han naturally attracted no attention.

He slowly made his way to the central plaza of the association.

Towering there were seven magnificent white jade statues, each with a unique posture and expression.

Fang Han looked up.

The next instant, his heart shook violently.

The Xuanhuang Qi of Heaven and Earth gathered upon every single statue was as vast as an endless ocean, thousands upon thousands of times greater than what he had witnessed surrounding Ge Linfeng's statue.

"That makes perfect sense."

"Ge Linfeng only protected the people of a single commandery for a hundred years."

"But these seven figures have been revered by every martial artist in this world for thousands of years."

"The amount of Xuanhuang Qi of Heaven and Earth gathered upon them..."

"I'm afraid it can only be measured in epochs."

Fang Han's eyes burned with desire.

"If I could claim all of this Xuanhuang Qi for myself..."

"I could become a Sage on the spot."

The moment that thought arose, it became impossible to suppress.

Seeing that no one was paying attention, he quietly approached the statue with the densest concentration of Xuanhuang Qi.

Long Xuanji.

"Although all seven were the strongest martial artists of their respective eras, Long Xuanji stood unquestionably above the other six."

"Even at the age of one hundred, he defeated a newly advanced Grandmaster who was only fifty years old."

"No one ever discovered the limits of his strength."

"In fact, among the seven, he was the only one whose death was never officially recorded."

"He simply vanished without a trace."

Fang Han gently placed his hand upon the statue, attempting to draw Long Xuanji's Xuanhuang Qi of Heaven and Earth into his possession.

However...

The Xuanhuang Qi gathered upon the statue did not move in the slightest.

At the same time, the sky overhead instantly darkened.

Rolling storm clouds swept across the heavens.

Countless bolts of lightning flashed through them like silver dragons.

The plaza immediately erupted into cries of alarm.

"That's... a Grandmaster Tribulation?"

"Could someone in Dongning City actually be breaking through to the Grandmaster realm?"

Before long, everyone's gaze fell upon Fang Han, who stood directly beneath the center of the tribulation clouds.

The next moment, a pillar of lightning as thick as a water barrel descended straight upon him.

In an instant...

Fang Han was reduced to ashes.