Chapter 801: Chapter 699: Void Realm
"First Grade?!"
"In the Martial World, could there really be a rising talent reaching the Immortal First Grade Realm?"
The contemporary Tianyangzi half-kneeled on the ground, gazing at the figure resembling a Demon God of the Black Sun, and the stubborn Xun Heihu standing before them, his heart filled with both shock and bitterness...
"We can easily suppress Third Rank and Medium Rank martial artists with just spirit and momentum... But to suppress me, a Second Rank, with momentum... Could it be that the Black Lotus High Lord has already ascended to the Super Grade?"
"What a pity, if I had known Xun Heihu possessed such talent earlier, I would have taken him into the Tianyang Sect and passed on the title of ’Tianyangzi’ to him... This kid, if he trains in seclusion for decades, might just break through to a realm beyond the First Grade..."
The previous generation’s Tianyangzi of the Tianyang Sect was besieged to death by the demon army, and he ascended hastily, now only at Second Rank cultivation.
But looking at it now, if Xun Heihu had the inheritance and resources of the Nine Major Sects... maybe decades later, he could truly have a fair fight with the Black Lotus High Lord!
No doubt, even with an insanely talented individual like Xun Heihu, in Tianyangzi’s view, it would take decades for him to qualify for a head-on confrontation with the Black Lotus High Lord!
Moreover, it would have to be without interference, a fair fight.
Otherwise, getting to the Black Lotus High Lord would mean facing countless wicked masters.
...
The blood and energy of the Black Lotus High Lord rose like a furnace, transforming into wolf smoke above his head, and soaring into the sky.
A trace of jet-black shimmered in his eyes, as he fixed them on Xun Heihu, "So it’s you... You’ve finally come."
"Indeed, I have come."
Xun Heihu sighed softly, activating the ’Xuanwu True Skill.’
In an instant, even though the Black Lotus High Lord’s momentum was astonishing and accompanied by intense mental pressure, Xun Heihu stood firm like a rock amidst raging waves, even managing with composure.
"Not bad, not bad..."
The Black Lotus High Lord grew more and more delighted, "I have pursued Martial Arts for many years, yet have never surpassed the First Grade... Only recently, thanks to Panwu’s liberation, have I glimpsed a possibility... In the world’s Martial Arts, the Lower Third Grades are merely foundational hard skills, the Middle Third Grades accumulate Inner Strength, only reaching the Upper Third Grades is a true qualitative transformation, a Third Grade can shatter mountains, an army of thousands is not his match, the Second Grade Divine Sea opens up the Sea of Spiritual Consciousness, and the Immortal First Grade truly possesses an undying spirit, mastering many wonderful uses... But in my Buddhist sect, even if one forms a Shariputra, what of it? The body still is not free, when the final limit arrives, the best outcome is merely a Rainbow Transformation..."
"Thus, this old monk believes, beyond the First Grade, there must be an entirely new realm, please enlighten me, my dear layman..."
His voice was slow, showing no sign of arrogance at all.
He even placed himself in a lower position, seeking instruction.
This change immediately stunned Tianyangzi, Du Qiankun, and others.
Even Tian Ni and Zhuge Wu, who were engaged in combat, lightened their attacks unanimously.
They were all Great Grandmasters at First Grade, naturally longing for the realm beyond the First Grade themselves.
But could a mere wanderer like Xun Heihu, even if he achieved First Grade, surpass the countless years of accumulation of the Nine Major Sects, and touch the Super Grade realm?
"Second Grade Divine Sea is to open the Sea of Spirits, cultivating the ’Spirit’ among the three treasures of Spirit, Qi, and Essence... Only by strengthening the Divine Essence can one attain an undying spirit, entering the First Grade."
Xun Heihu said indifferently, "But the three flowers of Spirit, Qi, and Essence are originally one. The next step is to evolve from ’Spirit blends with Heaven and Earth’ to ’Body blends with Heaven and Earth,’ further achieving Unity of Heaven and Man, merging into the Void... I have named this as Super Grade—Void Realm!"
As he spoke, Xun Heihu stepped forward.
His first step landed directly on the air.
By the second step, it seemed as if invisible stairs in the void supported him, allowing him to ascend gradually, eventually reaching mid-air.
The Exotic Beast giant eagle was so startled, it flew higher, not understanding how this human learned to fly.
It’s known that even the Immortal First Grade realm only has some uniqueness in the mental aspect.
But body flight? Still a dream!
At this moment, Xun Heihu nevertheless achieved it.
"Super Grade?"
"It’s actually Super Grade?"
"Body flight... Am I dreaming?"
The Martial World folks were completely dumbfounded.
Though flight seems to be simple in a transcendent world, in reality, it is extremely extraordinary.
Especially with the ability of body flight, it has almost become a benchmark distinguishing low-level martial arts from mid-level martial arts!
Presently, this world has not fully developed to support Super Grade ’Void Realm’ martial artists.
But the power of the True Martial Talisman lies in its ability to forcibly resist world repression, elevating Xun Heihu to such a realm.
"Void Realm? Indeed mysterious..."
The Black Lotus High Lord’s face showed a trace of a smile, without the slightest anxiety or fear... Only a sense of great serenity, great peace, and great joy.
This is the freedom to "hear the Dao in the morning and die in the evening"!
"Please, Master, do enlighten me!"
The Black Lotus High Lord’s surrounding Qi Force was fierce, and an indescribably immense Inner Strength soared into the sky, akin to a hurricane!
Amid the hurricane, the usually invisible Inner Strength actually ’materialized,’ forming a slowly blooming black lotus.
Petal by petal, the black lotus opened, revealing the phantom of a Demon God standing on a black lotus platform.
It had a single head and two arms, looking not much different from a normal person, but its entire body was jet black, condensed purely from Inner Strength.
The Demon God was clad in armor, its appearance vaguely similar to the Black Lotus High Lord, yet also distinctly different.
"This... spiritual influence on the material?"
"For Inner Strength to take form at this level, perhaps a breakthrough to Super Grade is only a step away?"
Tianyangzi merely glanced at that jet-black human figure, and he could no longer muster any notion of opposing it.
"Such momentum, surely the first among Great Grandmasters of all generations... Yet..."
All the martial artists looked at Xun Heihu standing mid-air, as if gazing upon a God.
"Black Lotus Thousand Wishes!"
Accompanied by the voice of the Black Lotus Master, the gigantic inner strength form moved accordingly.
Lotus flowers, dark as ink, bloomed in the air, carrying the sound of Buddhist chants.
The expressions of Tianyangzi and the others changed instantly, feeling that the exploding inner strength of those dark lotuses could easily severely injure them!
Even the mere Buddhist chant in the void could render a Second Rank martial artist incapable of movement!
"Hoo..."
Facing this move, Xun Heihu let out a long breath: "Indeed... you have yet to break through to Super Grade, the so-called Void Realm, which barely involves a trace of void power, Void Palm!"
He delivered a palm strike with a hint of space shredding intention.
Crash!
That massive dark shadow, countless black lotuses... what could they possibly amount to against the shredding of the void?
Bang!
Suddenly, a palm imprint emerged in the void, striking the chest of the Black Lotus Master!
The Black Lotus Master’s chest bone shattered completely; he spat out mouthfuls of fresh blood, his figure retreating continuously, finally collapsing on the ground.
"Hoo hoo..."
As the Black Lotus Master exhaled a breath mixed with bloody foam, his body abruptly dried up and withered... transforming back into the figure of a skeletal monk.
"I... what have I done?"
In the final moments of his life, the Black Lotus Master seemed to revert to the Lotus Master, eyes filled with terror: "Beware of Lianxin! He..."
Bang!
In the next moment, the Lotus Master’s head burst open, his corpse drenched in kerosene by Xun Heihu, igniting into fierce flames.
"This..."
Seeing Xun Heihu’s actions, Tianyangzi’s face turned peculiar.
While Du Qiankun and the others bore expressions nearing breakdown.
To conquer the entire Northern Martial World, threatening the Southern Martial World with peril, the Black Lotus Master was just killed like that?
Even taking a thousand steps back, if Xun Heihu were to win, there should have at least been a battle for three days and nights, then narrowly win a move or two, right?
How could... it be so outright and straightforward?
"Sorry... it was quite instinctive."
Xun Heihu let out a long breath, revealing a relieved smile.
In fact, that palm strike was exerted with all his strength, ready with the mindset to flee if victory wasn’t settled within ten moves.
Now it seemed fitting; a Super Grade attacking a Half-Step Super Grade should result in such a crushing defeat!
"But, what did he mean by that last sentence?"
Xun Heihu asked.
"Probably referring to the lingering poison of Panwu... but such things are utterly unsolvable. Even if this time you find all the seeds and annihilate them, after several thousand years or tens of thousands of years... Panwu will cultivate another batch."
Fang Xing answered lazily.
"Thousands, tens of thousands of years?"
Xun Heihu fell silent; upon reaching the Martial Arts Third Grade, one could establish grand clans, being immensely meticulous over bodily vitality.
And the Void Realm of Super Grade goes without saying.
He now knew his own lifespan would be about a thousand years.
After several thousand years, wouldn’t that mean he’d have long turned into a pile of bones?
"So, you don’t have a brilliant method; maybe... you could pass on the True Martial lineage? Then leave this mission to future generations?"
Fang Xing suggested with a smile.
...
"Ah!!"
At that moment, Heavenly Nun suddenly let out a scream amidst the fierce battle with Zhuge Wu and Qing Yong Monk, clutching her head.
Her eyes turned red, yet the Qi force surrounding her not only did not diminish but increased, resembling madness.
If Heavenly Nun’s techniques earlier were exceedingly exquisite, now she seemed like a ’Martial Maniac’!
"Xun Great Hero, why is Heavenly Nun like this?"
Tianyangzi approached, observing as three black Shariputra relics flew from the charred remains of the Black Lotus Master into Xun Heihu’s hands, pretended not to notice, and asked.
"Worshipping a God means such for martial artists after the ’God’ dies... The best outcome is becoming a Martial Maniac."
Xun Heihu flashed into the battlefield of the three First Grade experts, Qi forces vibrating, pushing Zhuge Wu and Qing Yong Monk away, pointed a finger at Heavenly Nun’s forehead: "I shall pass you the ’True Martial Visualization Map,’ Heavenly Nun, awaken swiftly!"
Heavenly Nun’s movements stagnated for a moment, as within her Sea of Consciousness, a True Martial Dharma Image began to slowly congeal.
It sat atop Xuanwu, dressed in a Daoist robe, and bore a faint resemblance to Xun Heihu!
Considering Heavenly Nun’s struggle to cultivate visualization from scratch, Xun Heihu had to imprint his own visualization map into her Sea of Consciousness.
Nevertheless, if not a First Grade Great Grandmaster specialized in spiritual transformation, accomplishing this would be impossible.
The madness in Heavenly Nun’s eyes dissipated rapidly, suddenly bowing with folded hands towards Xun Heihu, her expression extremely reverent: "I see the revered one, as if seeing a True God, please show mercy, allow Tian Xin to serve by your side..."
At that moment, Xun Heihu seemed to hear numerous heart-breaking voices.