Chapter 115 Return to Tianxuan, the challenge from the number one in the inner sect 【5,000 words, please vote】

Chapter 115: Returning to Tianxuan, a Challenge from the Number One Inner Sect Disciple 【Five Thousand Characters for Monthly Votes】

Jiang Li was secretly astonished as he read the description of the new Spirit Refining Art.

According to the Quelling Chaos Art, condensing a Primordial Spirit Sword Embryo meant an invincible talent, capable of fighting across Realms. Ten Primordial Spirit Sword Embryos unleashed simultaneously was already an unbeatable scenario in his imagination.

However, the Spirit Refining Art suggested that if Divine Sense could forge Divine Weapons, then it could form a Thousand Weapons Myriad Array Diagram. He couldn’t imagine what it would be like to form a weapon array with a thousand Primordial Spirit weapons.

Perhaps, it would truly be as the Spirit Refining Art’s name implied — Spirit Control.

A Primordial Spirit Sword Embryo was already an invincible path; why borrow another’s Sword Embryo?

But then again…

A Sword Embryo was an invincible path; multiple Sword Embryos meant multiple paths.

As the System’s prompt faded, Jiang Li regained control of his body.

His consciousness returned to his main body.

A vertical sword pattern appeared on his brow, then quickly faded.

Jiang Li stood up.

He smiled meaningfully.

The Ten Thousand Desires Demon Lord probably still thought he was fumbling his way through Cultivating the Quelling Chaos Art.

Too bad…

He had a cheat.

What the Ten Thousand Desires Demon Lord considered a Spirit Refining Art only a few talented individuals could Cultivate, the System could master in half a day.

He had even condensed a Primordial Spirit Sword Embryo.

Although it wasn’t formed from his Divine Sense, the result was the same.

From today onwards, he could be considered a master of the Divine Path.

If he were to encounter a Nascent Soul Cultivator of the Divine Path like Senior Wu Xu again, one Primordial Spirit Sword Embryo would be enough to cut down any Divine Sense.

…

Before long.

When the flying spiritual boat landed on the Tianxuan Holy Land’s territory, the worry in Jiang Li’s heart completely dissipated.

Led by the Hall Master of Law Enforcement and the Heaven Sword Peak Lord, he went straight to the Sect Master’s main hall to report on the Pure Yang Palace matter.

Inside the main hall.

Murong Qing from Xiaoqiong Peak was also present. Representing the Law Enforcement Hall was Elder Xingfa Cui Yan, and from Tianjian Peak was his teacher Zhang Song. Gao Lan, the Dan Peak Lord, also brought her granddaughter Li Xi.

In addition to them.

The Holy Master of Heavenly Mystery and several Soul Transformation Zhenjun were also present.

Their gazes were fixed intently on Jiang Li as he walked in.

Jiang Li: Holy crap, is the scene really this grand?

Can I just submit a written report?

He steeled himself and walked in.

His teacher, Zhang Song, immediately asked,

“It’s good that you returned safely. What exactly happened at Pure Yang Palace that required you to use your life-saving jade token?”

Jiang Li briefly explained.

Although he tried his best to condense the meaning and avoid sounding too prominent, the entire demon-extermination operation was accomplished by him alone. No matter how low-key he tried to be, he still seemed to be in the spotlight.

And Murong Wanhe, Peak Lord, his personal bodyguard, helped him fill in all sorts of details.

She even recounted it more vividly and expressively than he did, with rising and falling tones, narrating it in a way that made people feel as if they were there, experiencing the danger and prestige firsthand.

Jiang Li:…

Murong Wanhe, Peak Lord spoke for a full half an hour.

This Fairy Murong, whom Blood Hell Zhenjun had called someone who once outshone all others, described the trip to Pure Yang Palace in an almost reverent tone.

After she finished.

The main hall fell into a brief silence.

Everyone looked astonished.

“You’re saying he went on a rampage in Pure Yang Palace, wiped out over three hundred Pure Yang Palace Disciples, directly killed a Nascent Soul Elder, and then attracted an ambush from two Soul Transformation Zhenjun of the Thousand Souls Demon Sect?”

Zhang Song looked as if he were listening to a heavenly book.

He was wide-eyed with shock.

“That’s roughly it.”

Murong Wanhe, Peak Lord nodded.

Suddenly.

A collective gasp echoed throughout the hall.

Their faces were filled with shock.

They had thought that with Jiang Li’s talent for a pure heart, he would surely make some achievements in rooting out Demonic Path Cultivators. But they had never imagined that his Merit would be this great.

He had essentially quelled the demonic plague of Pure Yang Palace by himself.

One fourth-tier spiritual flame saved them from a sect-destroying disaster. Pure Yang Palace truly profited greatly this time. If they had known, they should have asked for more.

However, on second thought, who would have dared to imagine that Jiang Li, with his Foundation Establishment Cultivation, could stir up such a storm and cause such a huge commotion in Pure Yang Palace?

Ultimately.

It was Jiang Li’s performance that was too astonishing, leaving them all dumbfounded.

Li Xi’s little mouth snapped shut with a ‘pa’ and she vigorously tugged on Murong Qing’s sleeve, looking even more excited than everyone else present.

Murong Qing automatically heard the words in her mind — “Wow, Qing Qing, Jiang Li is so amazing, he’s so amazing! Am I dreaming?”

But it was no wonder Li Xi was so excited. Even she, upon hearing the news, had a stunned expression for a while before her long lashes lowered, as if she were deep in thought.

Jiang Li, he was too dazzling.

He was like the first ray of light at dawn, unconsciously drawing her in, making her want to get closer to this light, like Kuafu chasing the sun.

It wasn’t just her; Li Xi was the same.

She even had the illusion that her aunt’s gaze towards Jiang Li seemed a little off.

She wondered if she was overthinking it.

After a long while.

Everyone in the main hall finally came back to their senses.

Their gazes towards Jiang Li were filled with admiration. Looking at Jiang Li, they seemed to see the future hope of the Tianxuan Holy Land.

At this moment.

The Holy Master of Heavenly Mystery also looked at Jiang Li with surprise, a clear, faint smile on his lips, appearing quite close.

“Jiang Li, I have already received a message from the Pure Yang Palace Lord, but he didn’t specifically tell me the details. He only said that our Tianxuan Holy Land has truly found a treasure, and his tone was quite sour. Now that I see it, it is indeed true.”

“You completed this mission flawlessly. Besides the Tiansha Qi I promised you, is there anything else you need? You can tell me.”

Jiang Li’s expression shifted.

“Sect Leader, can I have two portions of Tiansha Qi?”

He had two types of attribute sword light. If he wanted to condense sword Sha, he would naturally do both simultaneously.

Now that there was an opportunity to reap benefits, how could he miss it?

“Two portions?” The Holy Master of Heavenly Mystery’s eyebrows twitched slightly. “You’ll have to tell me why. Tiansha Qi isn’t something where more is better. Condensing sword Sha also depends on your Cultivation Technique’s attribute and the attribute sword light you’ve mastered. Your current focus should be on comprehending the fifth Realm of the Sword Dao. If you want to condense a second sword Sha, you can wait until you…”

“Sect Leader Senior Brother, you wouldn’t know this, but under my simple guidance, my obedient Disciple only took ten minutes to condense two different types of attribute sword light, from nothing: one lightning and one fire.”

The Heaven Sword Peak Lord said with a chuckle.

“What?”

The Holy Master of Heavenly Mystery was surprised again.

He had already condensed attribute sword light?

That was too fast.

Jiang Li was one of the Holy Son Candidates he had personally chosen, so his attention was naturally higher. If he remembered correctly, when Jiang Li participated in the Limitless Sword’s acknowledgment of its master half a month ago, although he displayed an unprecedented Realm of sword light division, the sword light was still unassigned.

How much time had passed? Yet he had made further progress and condensed attribute sword light.

And ten minutes from nothing? He found it a bit unbelievable.

He subconsciously looked at Jiang Li.

Jiang Li: Why do these people all like to brag for him? Can’t they just stop?

He could only admit: “Grandmaster is right. His comprehension of the Sword Dao has reached the Transcendent state. I only listened a few times and immediately achieved enlightenment.”

Listening to the two of them mutually praise each other.

The Holy Master of Heavenly Mystery put away his surprise and smiled, “Two types of Tiansha Qi, lightning and fire, right? No problem. I can promise you that the Tianxuan Holy Land will provide you with at least three strands of each Tiansha Qi, ensuring you can condense one sword Sha. We will have them ready for you within a year.”

“Ah?”

Jiang Li was stunned.

A year?

Who are you looking down on?

“Are you saying the time is too long?”

The Holy Master of Heavenly Mystery also rarely froze for a moment.

It seemed he hadn’t expected to be disliked by Jiang Li.

Attribute sword light was not sword Sha; it was merely an early simulation of the sword Sha state. The difficulty of the two was not on the same level.

Furthermore.

How long had it been since you comprehended the fourth Realm? Even a peerless Sword Dao Genius like the Sword Sect’s Sword Saint would need four or five years of accumulation before achieving enlightenment in one morning.

Are you perhaps thinking of comprehending the fifth Realm of the Sword Dao within a year?

Jiang Li was in a dilemma at this moment. With the astonishing wisdom of the sword art “Xuantian Dragon Slaying Sword” and its ability to advance the sword art’s progress simply by slaying Dragons, why would he need a year to comprehend sword Sha?

However, this efficiency seemed too astonishing.

Should he hide his abilities a bit?

Jiang Li shook his head in his mind.

A year was too long; hiding his abilities would only delay his time.

“I think I should be able to comprehend the fifth Realm of the Sword Dao within half a year.”

Jiang Li slightly reduced the time.

From a year to half a year, he estimated that would be about right.

Little did he know.

These words, when heard by others, were like a thunderclap in their minds.

Comprehending the fifth Realm of the Sword Dao in half a year?

If it weren’t Jiang Li standing before them, they would almost blurt out “Arrogant” or “Ignorant of the immensity of heaven and earth.”

The Holy Master of Heavenly Mystery gazed at Jiang Li. He was wrong.

Jiang Li was not like him; Jiang Li surpassed him.

Even in his youth, he had never been so arrogant as to claim he could comprehend sword Sha in half a year.

“Alright, just six months. The Tianxuan Holy Land will fully assist you in finding Tiansha Qi within these six months. Don’t disappoint my expectations. I also want to see if you can break the record for the fastest Sword Cultivator to comprehend Sword Evil.”

The Holy Master of Heavenly Mystery laughed heartily.

The matter was settled.

Then he disappeared.

The other people in the hall cast worried glances.

Comprehending Sword Evil in six months—this timeframe was too strict.

If he failed to achieve the goal within the stipulated time, he would leave an impression of being arrogant and boastful in the Holy Master of Heavenly Mystery’s eyes, which was not a good thing.

“My good Disciple, are you sure you have the confidence?”

Zhang Song asked.

“With Ancestral Master’s personal guidance, I think I can.”

Jiang Li replied with confidence.

The Heaven Sword Peak Lord was also very happy to hear this: “That’s right, with my personal guidance, plus your astonishing talent, my good Disciple, it’s not impossible to break this record and set an impossible achievement.”

“I remember the youngest person in the Cultivation world to comprehend Sword Evil was the Ancestral Master of the Sword Sect, wasn’t it? He was a new individual formed by the Fusion of a Sword Immortal’s remnant soul and a spiritual sword’s Sword Spirit, essentially a Reincarnation of a Sword Immortal. He comprehended Sword Evil at the age of 25, and this record has remained unbroken to this day. Even the most outstanding successors of the Sword Sect only managed to comprehend it around the age of 30.”

The Hall Master of Law Enforcement murmured.

“That’s right. Jiang Li is currently 22. In six months, he’ll be just over 23. If he can successfully comprehend it, he’ll break the record of the Sword Sect’s Ancestral Master.”

Twenty-three years old, comprehending the fifth Realm of the Dao of the Sword—was this truly possible?

Everyone unconsciously began to look forward to it.

…

Not long after.

Tianjian Peak, Human Emperor Palace.

Jiang Li returned here, and Murong Qing and Li Xi naturally followed him.

“I’ve already heard your names mentioned several times on the way here. Congratulations on achieving good results in the Inner Sect Grand Competition.”

Jiang Li spoke first.

The Holy Land’s Inner Sect Grand Competition happened to be held on the second day of his trip to Pure Yang Palace. It lasted seven days, perfectly missing him; otherwise, the Cultivation Technique “Imperial Extreme World-Shaking Art” would have popped out much earlier.

This Inner Sect Grand Competition was not much different from the previous one. The top ten of the Inner Sect remained almost unchanged, except for the fifth position, which was now occupied by Murong Qing.

With a Foundation Establishment Middle Stage cultivation, she fought against the Inner Sect’s fifth-ranked Disciple, who possessed Golden Core combat power, and ultimately won.

To be honest, Jiang Li had not expected this result.

He had thought Murong Qing would only have this strength at the Foundation Establishment Late Stage.

“It was just luck. That person specialized in Divine Sense techniques, which I happened to counter.”

Murong Qing’s tone was light, as she tucked a wisp of hair behind her ear, her pinky finger lingering for an extra moment.

Li Xi knew this habit: when faced with praise from someone she cared about, her best friend would make this gesture, indicating a reserved happiness.

Li Xi herself also raised her head, revealing a slender, elegant, and fair swan-like neck, like a proud white swan, humming happily: “Jiang Li, why don’t you praise me? I’m also in the top twenty of the Inner Sect.”

“Yes, yes, yes, your title of ‘Turtle Fairy’ is quite famous too.”

Jiang Li chuckled.

Two dark horses emerged from this Inner Sect competition.

One was Fairy Murong, who made it to fifth place with a Foundation Establishment Middle Stage cultivation.

The other was Li Xi, who earned the title “Turtle Fairy.”

With her astonishing wood-element defensive Spells and healing Spells, she played a turtle-style tactic on the arena, solely defending without attacking, and managed to exhaust the magical power of a Foundation Establishment Peak Disciple, who was ranked nineteenth in the Inner Sect, causing him to break down on the spot.

“Ah, what a terrible title.” Li Xi became exasperated, pouting her lips: “Cultivation isn’t about fighting and killing; it’s about who lives longer, who has stronger life-saving abilities. As long as I can outlive my enemies, I can dance on their graves, or appear in their old age to infuriate them to death.”

Jiang Li gave a thumbs-up.

As expected of a Longevity Body, having a long lifespan certainly made one domineering.

Not to mention, Li Xi’s idea perfectly aligned with his own. This was the ‘Gou Dao’ (Way of Cautious Survival) in his mind.

To outlive enemies with a long lifespan—then he would be the victor.

It was just that he didn’t have the ability to live forever, so he couldn’t use this plan. He could only simply stay low and avoid offending people.

A Longevity Body didn’t have this concern. As long as Li Xi wanted to live, living for hundreds of thousands of years was not an issue.

With such a long time, she could pile up her Cultivation to the Mahayana Realm and beyond.

Because of this,

the Longevity Body was hailed as having the potential for Immortal Ascension.

It was a guaranteed Mahayana existence.

The Tianxuan Holy Land’s information blockade on Li Xi was even tighter than that for the Saint and Saintess.

The Saint and Saintess could be openly recognized, but a Longevity Body could not.

This was also why Li Xi had not become a Saintess Candidate.

“Hehe, Jiang Li, you agree with my viewpoint, right? My grandma also said that if I don’t learn offensive Spells, I’ll regret it one day. Hmph, I’m content with cultivating defensive Spells. As for attacking, I’ll just leave that to Qingqing and you, Jiang Li~”

Li Xi declared, hands on her hips, her tone always cheerful.

Jiang Li and Murong Qing exchanged glances. What could they do? Of course, they would spoil her.

Afterward,

Li Xi’s topic shifted, and she said with a deflated expression: “It’s a pity you didn’t participate, Jiang Li. Otherwise, this year’s Inner Sect first place would definitely be yours. You wouldn’t believe it, on the first day of the Inner Sect Grand Competition, many True Disciples came, making those Inner Sect Disciples incredibly excited and ready to perform well. But when they saw you weren’t there, they all left.”

Murong Qing added: “Qin Wudao from Dao Law Peak came, Huo Wushuang from Fire God Peak also came, and Thunder Mountain from Heavenly Strength Peak was also there. They have officially regarded you as an opponent and all want to test your strength.”

Jiang Li understood.

He had already interacted with Qin Wudao and Thunder Mountain. The remaining one was Huo Wushuang from Fire God Peak, and also Xuantianshi from the Sect Master’s lineage.

None of the four could be underestimated.

Even with his current three Nascent Soul-level powers, he might not be their match.

The gap between Golden Core Peak and Foundation Establishment Peak was still too large.

Especially when everyone was a Prodigy; even a difference of one minor Realm could create a huge disparity, let alone a difference of one major Realm.

The position of Saint was a heavy and long road.

While they were conversing,

suddenly,

an uninvited guest arrived at the Human Emperor Palace.

A voice full of arrogance and sharp edges echoed.

“Jiang Li, I know you’re back. Come out and fight me! I want everyone to know that my Inner Sect first place isn’t just because you weren’t here.”

Jiang Li was slightly taken aback.

He looked in the direction of the voice.

Outside the Human Emperor Palace, a female Cultivator stood below, wearing crimson armor, dark iron gauntlets, and high combat boots, holding a long spear, like a majestic general.

The female Cultivator’s long hair was tied high, fluttering in the wind. Her brows were full of heroic spirit, her red lips were as vibrant as fresh blood, and her long spear struck the ground, exuding a valiant and spirited demeanor.

Was this person here to challenge him?

Jiang Li was puzzled.

He hadn’t even participated in the Inner Sect Grand Competition, so where did this challenger come from?

And was the Inner Sect’s first place a female Body Cultivator?

“Oh, it’s Zhao Qingxuan. Why is she here?”

Li Xi seemed to recognize the other party, her brows furrowing slightly.

Murong Qing glanced at the other party and said coolly: “It seems she’s here to challenge you. Zhao Qingxuan is this year’s Inner Sect first place. In fact, she was also the Inner Sect first place in previous years. Before she advanced to the Golden Core Stage and became a True Disciple, she was an insurmountable mountain in the hearts of all Inner Sect Disciples, truly embodying what it meant to be invincible in the Foundation Establishment Domain. Even slightly weaker Golden Core Stage True Disciples were not her match.”

“But this year, because you were too prominent and the master of a fifth-rank sword, most people thought that if you had participated, the Inner Sect’s first place would change hands. Especially after you didn’t participate, this kind of talk became more and more prevalent. Zhao Qingxuan is the type who doesn’t admit defeat and is single-minded, so she came to find you.”

Jiang Li’s expression showed slight surprise.

The news he knew was that the top three of the Inner Sect were all monsters, all preparing to form special Golden Cores. As for other information, he truly didn’t know.

“Invincible in Foundation Establishment?”

In the Tianxuan Holy Land, where Geniuses emerged in droves, the value of this title was self-evident.

“In the Foundation Establishment Domain, Zhao Qingxuan truly achieved a certain kind of invincibility. Unlike other Inner Sect Disciples, she doesn’t Cultivate a simple Body Cultivator path, but rather the Ten Perfection Martial Dao, integrating all Martial Skills to ultimately form her own Martial Dao will. In this aspect, she is an undisputed Grandmaster.”

“Ding, the Cultivation Technique “Imperial Extreme World-Shaking Art” eyes lit up. Isn’t this exactly the great general candidate that I value most? Seize the Inner Sect’s first place, make a name for yourself, and then subdue a great general—this is how the Imperial Path should be.”

Jiang Li: It’s finally your turn to appear, isn’t it?