Mortal Saint

Chapter 74: Chapter 72: Saber Technique Advancement, Comprehending the Sea of Fire Stance, Divine Fist Unrivaled, True Inheritance, Is That All?

Anning County, Four Great Halls’ Inner Street.

"Hurry, hurry! I heard... someone’s going to challenge the Divine Fist Hall and tear down their sign! If we’re late, we won’t get a good spot!"

"But that’s Anning’s number one ’Fist’! Of the dozens of Martial Arts Halls here, big and small, not a single one can compare. Just to get your name on their roster—and that’s as a disciple who doesn’t even get to serve tea—costs dozens of taels, and they still might not take you!"

"Tsk, tsk. Their prestige is truly at its zenith."

"Who could be so audacious?"

"I heard... his surname is Ji. He’s that Medicine Hall Master from the Wind and Cloud Association, the one rumored to have gotten his post through ’connections’."

"What?"

"Then... how can he possibly fight? This is just absurd! Qin Ming of the Divine Fist Sect has reached Great Success in Bone Tempering, making him impervious to blades and spears. He even obtained the method for Tempering Silver Bone, and I hear he’s on the verge of mastering it."

"The gap in their strength is enormous. Do they even need to fight? This will be over in an instant..."

The long street bustled with noise and excitement.

In the large, open space before the Divine Fist Sect, the surrounding crowd murmured amongst themselves, their eyes fixed on a figure sitting cross-legged with his eyes closed, a saber resting across his knees.

Among them, Lu Hongyu grabbed the panting Lu Yu, who had just arrived, and asked urgently:

"Where is that Master Duan who taught you your Martial Arts?"

"His disciple is fighting for his honor, so why isn’t he here yet? How can things be so backward? It’s completely against the natural order of things!"

Lu Yu’s face twisted into a bitter expression.

"Master Duan’s home is empty. I... I don’t know where he went."

"I heard he had quite the reputation back in the day. He... he’ll come, right?"

He said, his voice laced with uncertainty.

Hearing this, Wei Zhi, who stood to the side, pursed her lips and complained,

"He sounds completely unreliable. Little Ji Hall Master must have suffered terribly studying under someone like that. Ugh..."

"If he were my father’s disciple, I would have protected him properly. Even if we’re not as strong, we can’t let their side outdo us in presence!"

She pouted, watching the figures from the Divine Fist Sect pour out in a great RUSH. In contrast, only a few scattered people stood behind Ji Xiu. His side already looked significantly weaker.

This prompted Xuu Heng, who had been on the sidelines enjoying the show before being dragged over, to let out an "Uhh..." He glanced around, spotted quite a few members of the Wind and Cloud Association in the crowd, and asked uncertainly,

"Should I... go drag a few more of them over here?"

But before he could finish,

Ji Xiu’s eyes slowly opened.

"Let us begin."

It was starting!

A buzz went through the crowd, and the hearts of Ji Xiu’s friends tightened.

"I won’t take advantage of you, Ji Xiu."

"The grudges of our masters’ generation do not concern us."

"But,"

"this golden reputation of the Divine Fist Sect... is not something you can tear down just because you feel like it."

"For that reason alone, you and I are now enemies!"

CRACK, CRACK!

Qin Ming, the current public face of the Divine Fist Sect and He Shouyi’s direct successor, crushed the flagstones with each heavy step, his gaze somber.

"Qin Ming of the Divine Fist Sect!"

"I await your instruction!"

SWOOSH!

In a single breath, Qin Ming’s body blurred into an afterimage. The onlookers could only see shallow pits form in the flagstones as his figure shot past like a phantom.

In less than an instant, his fist descended like the midday sun, his Qi and Blood blazing like a furnace. It faintly shimmered with a metallic glow, like iron plated in silver!

CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!

In that instant, Ji Xiu drew his saber. A screech of metal on metal erupted as the glowing fist met the edge of his blade, ringing out again and again.

A pair of flesh-and-blood fists, shaking an Eighth-Grade Mortal Weapon!

"I began my training as a child, using Iron Sand Tempering Skin! Every time I practiced, I punched until the webbing of my thumb split open into a bloody mess! My master even imparted to me some of the mysteries of ’Stance.’ The moment I break through to Skin Refining, I will petition the main family to pass down ’Nourishing Stance and Concealing Martial Arts’ to me!"

"This fist holds nearly thirty years of my training! Can you possibly withstand it?"

Qin Ming’s muscles trembled violently as his fists rained down, one blow stronger than the last. He roared, determined to bring glory to his Master’s Sect by smashing this brat... and embedding him into the very flagstones!

He wasn’t surprised to see Ji Xiu’s eyes glowing with a silver light, his focus absolute.

After all... Qin Ming himself had long ago reached a state of being ’single-minded’ in his own fist training. He had mastered the art of total focus in a life-and-death struggle years ago.

But even though his fists could withstand a metal blade, the force traveling up his arm still served as a stark reminder...

...that Ji Xiu’s current bone structure, Qi and Blood, and raw power were in no way inferior to his own!

’But he’s only just started Bone Tempering!’

’What kind of monster is he!?’

A chill ran down Qin Ming’s spine, and he dared not be careless. As another slash came at him, he held his breath and focused. The bones in his fist ground together, emitting the Tiger and Leopard Thunder Sound as he threw another punch!

He expected this attack to be just like the last—a clash of saber and fist where both combatants searched for an opening, wringing every last drop of power from their very Blood Marrow until one of them collapsed from exhaustion...

But in the very instant their attacks met!

The sleeve of the black-robed youth trembled, and his blade suddenly shone like gold, becoming impossibly sharp.

The moment it touched his fist, his so-called "invulnerability" was shattered!

An inexplicable ’Sharp Stance’ radiated from the blade...

SHLLCK!

The blade sliced through his pair of Divine Fists, severing tendons and shattering bone. In a flash, they were all but crippled!

[Defeated an expert at Great Success in Bone Tempering using ’Sword Mountain and Fire Sea Stance’. A thousand days of training is no match for the flash of an unsheathed blade. Advanced Progress +77!]

[Sword Mountain and Fire Sea Stance: (390/1000)]

As he read the words appearing on the Primordial Daoist Talisman, he felt his Saber Technique grow more profound. His understanding of the ’Sword Mountain Stance’ he had just channeled deepened...

He let out a soft breath and kicked Qin Ming away, sending up a cloud of dust. His gaze swept over the crowd before finally landing on He Shouyi, who was seated in a Grandmaster’s Chair. Ji Xiu spoke a single sentence:

"Is this the full extent of your True Inheritance?"

"It’s not enough!"

The youth stood tall in his martial attire, the thick tendons coiling around his erect spine standing out in sharp relief.

As dusk fell, the wolf-smoke of his Qi and Blood billowed from him, so powerfully that the hanging ’Divine Fist Sect’ sign nearly shook from its moorings.

This caused the disciples in white robes and black kerchiefs to grit their teeth, unable to restrain themselves.

"How audacious—"

THWACK!

"You dare—"

SHLLCK!

"Stop your ramp—"

With every step Ji Xiu took, with every flash of his long saber, the ’Sword Mountain and Fire Sea Stance’ he had advanced from the Primordial Daoist Talisman grew stronger, his comprehension deepening with each blow...

’My body enters the Sword Mountain, my feet tread the Sea of Fire.’

’I am baptized in the flames of the Bosatsu Purgatory...’

Ji Xiu’s eyes flickered open. He raised his saber slightly, watching the last disciple of the Divine Fist Sect charge toward him, and exhaled.

[Sword Mountain and Fire Sea Stance: (631/1000)!]

[Advanced progress for the Tutor has reached Great Success, comprehending ’Sea of Fire Stance’!]

He let out a sharp cry.

The air suddenly grew scorching hot.

The charging disciple’s face flushed red, and he suddenly... collapsed to the ground!

In an instant.

Over a dozen disciples of the Divine Fist Sect—all reputable experts who had at least reached the stage of tempering their Bone Marrow and bones...

...had either been struck down by the hilt of his saber or wounded and forced to retreat by its blade!

Finally, Ji Xiu stood directly before He Shouyi of the Divine Fist Sect. He pointed to the sign above the entrance and asked,

"Now, may I take it down?"

As his words fell,

CRREAK...

He Shouyi’s eyes went bloodshot. Enduring the stares of the crowd, he could finally restrain himself no longer. He shot forward, launching a punch meant to shatter the young man’s skull!

At this point, he no longer cared whether Duan Chenzhou showed up or not.

However.

The sky transitioned from dusk to moonlit night.

Just as the crescent moon began its ascent into the starry expanse,

a purple shadow flashed. From deep within the crowd dozens of yards away...

...someone took a single, light step.

And drew their blade.

In that instant, a ’stance’ so powerful it seemed to affect one’s very spirit emanated outward.

The crowd fell into a trance, as if they were seeing a full moon and a Celestial Blade.

And then.

THUD.

He Shouyi, who had been gathering his power for a final, decisive punch, suddenly dropped his hands to his sides.

A bloody hole had appeared in his chest, from which blood now gushed.

Seeing this, Ji Xiu smiled knowingly. He had expected this.

Before him, the One-Armed Martial Artist leaned on his saber, frowning in contemplation for a long moment before finally whispering in confusion:

"I..."

"When did I ever cross paths with such a gnat?"

"I can’t recall."

His words carried through the silence.

Hearing this, Liao Yuanhua, who was observing from the side with his disciples, tightened his grip on his broadsword. He recalled a certain dark and stormy night, and a wave of terror washed over him, followed by immense relief.

’I was lucky to escape with my life!’

He Shouyi, the "Divine Fist Unrivaled," a master who had reached the level of Skin Refining...

...was dead, just like that!?

Then, the One-Armed Martial Artist looked up. His gaze fell upon Lord Zhao the County Magistrate, who was twitching and retreating behind his old servant. The martial artist asked with a light chuckle,

"Your Excellency, this..."

"...shouldn’t count as a violation of the ’Anning Law,’ should it?"

In an instant, the lord broke out in a cold sweat.