Chapter 83: Martial God Pill
"Why go back—just to help those people oppress the commoners?"
Li Yang stared expressionlessly at the two people on the Martial Debate Platform as he spoke.
During his time in the Clear Sky Sect, his martial skills had greatly improved.
He often went up to the Martial Debate Platform to spar with others.
Many disciples knew him well; he was practically a regular there.
Zhao Linglong said helplessly, "Things aren’t as bad as you think. Besides, if the dynasty is corrupt, shouldn’t you be working hard to change it, rather than giving up on yourself here?"
"And how do you know I’ve given up on myself?" Li Yang countered.
Zhao Linglong didn’t know how to respond—for Li Yang indeed had been training diligently.
Yet what use was mere martial training?
Li Yang’s background destined him not to be a wanderer of the martial world—his future lay on the battlefield, in the imperial court.
"Senior Brother Xue, please enlighten me!"
Ji Ya clasped his fists toward Xue Jin.
His looks were ordinary, his figure not tall, and his voice somewhat timid—but within him was a fierce resolve that would emerge in battle.
Xue Jin raised his sword in salute, then launched the first strike.
Ji Ya began with his Nine Heavens Divine Palm.
Surging vital energy burst forth as a mighty palm wind swept across the entire Martial Debate Platform, forcing Xue Jin to raise his sword to defend.
"Again with that opening move—his inner energy is so vast that he can do whatever he wants!"
A disciple beneath the stage sighed.
Ji Ya always opened this way.
His Nine Heavens Divine Palm wasn’t as refined as that of Yang Jueding or Wu Man’er, yet his vital energy was so overwhelming that his opponents couldn’t evade, only meet it head-on.
After the first exchange, Ji Ya swung out his second axe.
His hands shifted through seals as he rapidly chanted an incantation.
Vital energy surged from his body, swiftly condensing into a silver-blue ferocious tiger—a full zhang high at the shoulder, awe-inspiring and majestic.
Mountain Lord Divine Mantra!
This incantation had become Ji Ya’s signature technique.
Once unleashed, the Mountain Lord charged toward Xue Jin.
Zhao Linglong had seen this Divine Mantra before, yet she still couldn’t understand—was this truly martial arts?
The Mountain Lord was extremely agile, its claws razor-sharp; even a glancing collision could cause serious injury.
Relying on this technique, Ji Ya had already achieved ten straight victories.
Of course, Zhao Linglong still felt that the Mountain Lord Divine Mantra had flaws.
Xue Jin swiftly dodged the Mountain Lord’s attacks.
Finding his moment, he suddenly hurled his sword.
The long blade skimmed beneath the tiger’s belly—straight for Ji Ya.
Almost simultaneously, Xue Jin stepped into a profound footwork pattern; his body blurred and reappeared right behind the sword’s hilt.
The sword’s energy carried him directly toward Ji Ya.
Ji Ya’s expression changed slightly as he again executed the Nine Heavens Divine Palm.
When Xue Jin’s sword was less than half a zhang from his face, he was already blown backward.
Landing, Xue Jin rolled aside from the Mountain Lord and struck again, pressing the assault.
His steps and swordplay grew ever faster.
Ji Ya’s weakness became apparent—though his vital energy was vast, his reaction and speed were far inferior to Xue Jin’s.
After five consecutive clashes, Xue Jin’s blade finally touched Ji Ya’s throat, freezing him in place.
"Junior Brother, thank you for letting me win."
Xue Jin said coolly; throughout the battle, the Mountain Lord had never even grazed him.
Ji Ya exhaled helplessly.
"Senior Brother is still the superior one."
Xue Jin’s lips curved slightly, though his heart was far from calm.
He had fought with all his strength.
His speed came from vital-energy reinforcement—he could not maintain such sword-steps for long.
He had only won the moment, yet lost in talent.
Ji Ya’s aptitude truly made him concede in admiration.
The disciples below applauded—whether for Xue Jin or Ji Ya, both had displayed power worthy of respect.
Xue Jin stepped down and prepared to head up the mountain to recover his energy.
He hadn’t gone far when a middle-aged man in a green robe approached with a smile.
"Young Hero Xue, my name is Zhu Li of the Zhu Family in Jie County, Eastern Tomb Province. Might I have a word?"
"No time."
Without even looking at him, Xue Jin brushed past and left.
Zhu Li stopped, staring at his back, inwardly cursing his arrogance.
Turning back to the platform, he continued to look for outstanding disciples.
His clan had ordered him strictly to recruit a genius from the Clear Sky Sect to aid the Zhu Family in gaining entry.
The Clear Sky Sect was now the foremost sect in Guzhou, producing countless prodigies.
Its future was limitless.
Moreover, rumors said the sect possessed the peerless art of the Martial Legend, making even more people eager to join.
If they couldn’t seize by force, they would have to find another way.
After watching several bouts, Li Yang couldn’t resist stepping onto the stage.
The disciples of the Clear Sky Sect were familiar with this Martial Champion and weren’t intimidated by his title.
Several challenged him in succession—all were defeated.
"I’ll go next!"
A woman’s voice rang out.
Chai Yunshang, clad in the sect’s blue robe, leapt gracefully onto the Martial Debate Platform.
Seeing his opponent was a woman, Li Yang frowned slightly, instinctively wanting to decline.
"Your spearwork is fine, but your inner energy isn’t." Chai Yunshang said.
Her tone irked Li Yang—it sounded like she was lecturing him, reminding him of Zhao Linglong below the stage.
Even after a year, he still held resentment for Zhao Linglong’s deception.
That anger had never been released.
Very well!
Today, he would vent it on this woman!
Li Yang raised his spear, pointing it at Chai Yunshang.
"Then let me see how strong your inner energy truly is."
Chai Yunshang drew her sword.
"The Clear Sky Sect’s inner energy stands peerless under heaven."
Li Yang’s irritation flared, and he immediately charged forward.
At dusk, Li Qingqiu returned to Lingxiao Courtyard with Yuan Li and Zhao Zhen.
As soon as they entered, Yang Jueding came to greet them.
"The sect-wide tournament is too early. Until the situation is completely stable, it must not be held—lest we give our enemies an opening."
Li Qingqiu spoke first, cutting Yang Jueding off.
——
As the head of Guangyuan Hall, Yang Jueding had long wanted to host a grand event for the sect.
His Martial Debate Platform had received great acclaim, so he wished to hold a full-sect tournament to ignite the disciples’ fighting spirit.
But Li Qingqiu believed it was not yet the right time.
"Not about that. I wanted to ask—could we transfer Chai Yunshang from the Enforcement Hall to my command? I have no genius under me—I need someone to hold the front." Yang Jueding shook his head.
Li Qingqiu asked in surprise, "Why her, all of a sudden?"
"That girl’s growth is astonishing! Even the Martial Champion couldn’t defeat her—and she’s only been here how long?" Yang Jueding marveled.
Hearing that Li Yang had lost to Chai Yunshang, Li Qingqiu was not surprised.
"That won’t do. This female disciple has long been reserved by Senior Brother as the future Enforcement Hall Master. You’d do better asking for Ning’er to join you instead."
Li Dongyue, who was serving dishes, smiled softly.
Yang Jueding was startled.
"So this girl was your secretly cultivated prodigy?"
No wonder Chai Yunshang had grown so rapidly.
Li Qingqiu smiled.
"Hall Master Yang, with more and more disciples entering the sect, you should learn to discover talent yourself—instead of waiting until others rise before trying to recruit them."
With that, he brushed past Yang Jueding toward the long table.
Yuan Li and Zhao Zhen followed close behind.
Feeling a bit unconvinced, Yang Jueding turned to speak again—but when his eyes fell on Zhao Zhen’s back, he fell silent.
The sect was full of emerging geniuses, yet the most terrifying one was still that boy surnamed Zhao.
His competitive spirit flared.
He refused to believe he couldn’t discover a genius of his own.
After Li Qingqiu sat down, Li Sijin approached.
"Senior Brother, the spiritual-plant experiment succeeded! I want a plot of land to plant on a large scale, and I’ll need the Treasury Hall to grant some funds."
"For land, ask the Artisan Hall; for funds, ask your Fourth Senior Sister. Tell her I’ve approved it."
Li Qingqiu replied casually.
He valued spiritual plants highly and was willing to allocate resources for them.
"Thank you, Senior Brother!"
Li Sijin hugged him happily, resting her face on his shoulder.
"You’re grown now—you should mind the difference between men and women."
"That’s for outsiders. With you, Senior Brother, what’s there to mind? Even if you marry and have children, I’ll still hug you!"
"You little girl——"
Li Qingqiu sighed helplessly and let her be.
Among the junior brothers and sisters, only Li Sijin hadn’t changed with age.
He liked her just as she was and rarely taught her worldly decorum.
Soon after, an elder from the Training Hall came seeking Li Qingqiu.
With Li Sifeng away, many matters required his decision.
Li Qingqiu had grown used to being approached at all hours.
The elder reported that the local authorities wanted to hire disciples of the Clear Sky Sect to hunt a flower-thief of the martial world.
The man’s martial skills were formidable, and the elder feared he couldn’t handle it alone.
Li Qingqiu immediately approved, instructing him to write it as an official mission for disciples to accept voluntarily.
After the elder departed, Li Qingqiu murmured, "Why haven’t Third and Sixth Junior Brothers returned yet?"
Li Dongyue smiled beside him.
"Don’t worry. With their strength, there’s no danger. It’s likely Sifeng was being playful and delayed them."
Li Qingqiu nodded, then changed the topic.
Under the night sky, rain poured in torrents.
In the mountains, Jiang Zhaoxia and Li Sifeng stood before a large tree.
Both wore black clothing, faces covered by dark scarves, straw hats on their heads.
Each gripped a sword.
Behind them stood a soaked woman in coarse clothes, staring ahead in terror.
Rumble—
Lightning flashed, illuminating the dark forest.
Ahead, countless mysterious figures advanced, each wielding a blade.
They all wore bamboo hats and evil-ghost masks.
Their murderous aura pressed heavily on the terrified woman.
Li Sifeng muttered, "Senior Brother, why do they look so much like members of the Demonic Cult?"
Jiang Zhaoxia’s gaze remained calm.
"Probably not. Their masks are slightly different—more like… another kind of ghost face. Be careful. These people’s martial skills aren’t weak, and they use hidden weapons."
With that, he stepped forward alone to face the enemy host.
Li Sifeng tilted his head toward the woman behind him.
"Hey, we’ve already fought wave after wave to save you. You and your father better not be deceiving us."
The woman withdrew her gaze and whispered nervously, "Please, be careful. I fear the Martial God Pill I refined has already been taken by them."
"You say that, and now I’m truly curious—just how strong will they be after taking the Martial God Pill?" Li Sifeng said with a quiet laugh, glancing back.
As another bolt of lightning lit up the forest, Jiang Zhaoxia moved—raising his sword and charging straight into the enemy ranks.