Chapter 281: Chapter 280: Blood Pill (Seeking Subscriptions)_1
Wu Jing.
This place was originally just ruins left behind after the devastation caused by the Monster Tree.
Latterly, Fang Xi had established the Martial God Sect here, suppressing the world, and since then, the Nine States had entered an era governed by the Martial God.
Even though the Martial God Sect had faced internal chaos, with heavy casualties among the populace of Wu Jing.
But time heals all wounds, or takes away those who suffer... Now, Wu Jing had once again recovered to its peak prosperity.
Martial God Sect, headquarters.
Above in the high sky, Fang Xi stood with his hands behind his back, and with a sweep of his Divine Consciousness, every detail within the buildings below was clear in his eyes.
...
Within a certain secret room underground.
Zhang Mingding was sitting cross-legged, surrounded by dense Gang Qi that formed a layer of defense around him like a coat.
No!
It was not Gang Qi, but a deeper, higher level of the Power of Qi and Blood!
"Who’s there?"
Zhang Mingding, sporting a mature and scholarly beard, suddenly sensed an immense terror approaching, causing his body hair to stand on end, and he couldn’t help but stand up and shout angrily.
Boom!
The underground room directly cracked open to reveal the pitch-black night sky.
Not only that, but within his dantian, a dark red ’Inner Core’ was fiercely erupting, causing layers of the Power of Qi and Blood to sweep around like a tide of crimson waves.
Such might had even surpassed the level of a Martial God!
He had reached the seventh level of body refinement, comparable to a body cultivator at the early stage of Core Formation!
"This is... Qi Blood Holding Pill! Even though it’s not the same as a cultivator’s Golden Core, it’s quite impressive indeed."
Fang Xi observed Zhang Mingding’s performance with his Divine Consciousness, and suddenly had a thought, "I didn’t expect... that from the beginning, the Martial God Sect had indeed succeeded... No wonder Zhang Mingding was able to achieve the ultimate victory!"
No matter how many more people Liu Ruyan recruited or how high her status, in the end, strength determined everything within the Martial God Sect!
However, after thinking about it, he did not reveal himself, instead turning into a stream of azure light and swiftly flying away.
On the ground, Zhang Mingding immediately took to the sky, following closely behind Fang Xi.
The two men rapidly flew away, and in the blink of an eye, they arrived at the outskirts of Wu Jing.
"Who are you? A member of the NiShen Association?"
Zhang Mingding looked at the figure wrapped in a green radiance ahead and spoke solemnly.
From this person, he sensed a threat far greater than Liu Ruyan.
In his heart, an unbelievable thought surfaced secretly:
’Is it that person...’
’No... Even if he has returned, he’s just a Martial God... and I’ve already broken beyond the level of Martial Gods! It should not pose such a threat to me...’
’Could it be... he has also made a breakthrough?’
Regrettably, Fang Xi did not respond to Zhang Mingding’s question, but simply raised his hand.
Streams of Yi Wood Divine Light flew out, transforming into a huge green skeletal frame, enshrouded in a layer of azure light, turning into a ’Martial God True Body’!
The Yi Wood Divine Light could change a thousand ways, and even mimicking the Martial God True Body posed no problem.
Moreover, when executed with third-rank Yi Wood Divine Light, that becomes a third-rank ’Martial God True Body’!
Boom!
The large Yi Wood Divine Light giant clenched its five fingers into a fist and smashed down fiercely!
The fist’s impact was so powerful that it seemed to turn the empty air into a cage, trapping Zhang Mingding at the center!
"Well met!"
Zhang Mingding roared, and the Qi Blood Holding Pill within his dantian flared, as he threw a punch skyward!
Bang!
Fang Xi suddenly felt a pure force spreading from the Yi Wood giant’s fist.
Pure and powerful!
Crack!
On the fist of the Yi Wood giant, cracks appeared and continued to extend toward the arm.
The dark cracks on the fist caused that stream of Yi Wood Divine Light to collapse!
Shattering magical techniques with a body of Flesh and Blood!
"Indeed, it’s the Qi Blood Holding Pill, the power of a third-rank body cultivator!"
"Comparatively, his physique could even be matched with a third-rank Monster beast!"
"Truly excellent material for Wooden Puppets!"
Fang Xi’s eyes became brighter, "I just wonder... whether he has awakened any Bodily Divine Skills?"
True body cultivators, upon reaching the seventh layer which was comparable to Core Formation, would awaken bodily divine skills similar to Monster Skills innate to Monster beasts!
This was also the main asset that allowed Core Formation-level body cultivators to traverse the Cultivation World freely!
Back during the Hundred Year Demon Calamity in the Fragment World, that disciple of the Demon Sect who resembled a Demon Dragon possessed extremely powerful bodily divine skills, making Danya flee in a panic, leaving a deep impression on Fang Xi at the time.
And now...
Looking at Zhang Mingding, whose physique could even be compared with that Demon Sect disciple from back then, Fang Xi felt quite eager to test him.
"A newly ascended... Martial Immortal?!"
Zhang Mingding had not used the Martial God True Body, nor had he manifested the Gang Qi Wings, yet he floated up on his own, seemingly having turned flight into an instinct. He looked at Fang Xi and the massive Yi Wood True Body behind him, "It seems you have chosen to refine the Martial God True Body and break through it ultimately. That crazy woman Liu Ruyan would surely be delighted if she saw this... This path can indeed be pursued!"
Initially, Liu Ruyan had madly accumulated the Power of Qi and Blood in her efforts to break beyond the Martial God, with the Martial God True Body being the most powerful among all Martial Gods.
Zhang Mingding had a different enlightenment and, coupled with a bit of talent and coincidence, embarked on the ’Qi Blood Holding Pill’ path!
Regrettably, Liu Ruyan had not broken through by the final showdown, hence her total defeat and even the extinction of her lineage!
But the person before him, this ’Martial God True Body’, was already comparable to a Martial Immortal!
Martial Immortal!
Martial Immortal!
This was the name Zhang Mingding gave to the new realm after his ascension beyond the Martial God.
It was because his "Qi Blood Holding Pill Skill" was based on the "Inner Core Skills" and the concept of "Immortal" vaguely described in some ancient books.
Fang Xi didn’t bother with idle chatter.
Even if he revealed his identity, it wasn’t possible for this newly promoted three-stage body cultivator and current sect leader to submit meekly.
To completely subdue this man, he would either have to defeat him... or perhaps find it impossible to make him submit, leaving only the option to send him to his death!
"Ha!"
Fang Xi rubbed his hands together and then suddenly flung them outward!
Two thicker beams of Yi Wood Divine Light appeared and entered the massive green giant surrounding him.
Boom!
The green giant instantly swelled tenfold, like a towering mountain!
Countless arms stretched out from behind the giant, like a thousand-armed Buddha, with each palm shimmering with a green radiance, forming swords, spears, axes, hooks... and even Divine Thunder and True Fire!
’Let me see what you’re made of...’
’If you die under this move, it means you have no value in living...’
Fang Xi stood within the body of the thousand-armed Buddha, his eyes chilly as he suddenly waved his hand.
Whoosh!
Like a lotus blossoming, myriad arms wielding colorful weapons unleashed an overwhelming assault, raining down upon Zhang Mingding.
Boom!
Zhang Mingding’s face was filled with horror, but it was already too late.
He was struck by a green shield and fell into a small mountain, sinking more than thirty feet deep into the mountain body.
Boom!
Green arms rained down, countless weapons smashing atop the small mountain.
In just a moment, the whole mountain was flattened to the ground.
Within Wu Jing, the ground trembled as if a minor earthquake had occurred.
Several Martial God True Bodies flew into the sky, but when they saw the green giant outside the capital city, which was ten to a hundred times larger than themselves, along with its terrifying power, they quickly retreated back in haste.
Although most Martial Gods are a bunch of madmen, they know how to judge the situation and would not foolishly throw their lives away without value!
...
"Is he dead?"
The massive Yi Wood incarnate dissipated, and Fang Xi stood with hands behind his back in front of a pile of rubble.
A sweep of Divine Consciousness Transmission revealed Zhang Mingding at the bottom of the pit, his limbs still intact but his body limp as a rag doll.
However, within his dantian, the blood pill still pulsed, maintaining a sliver of life force.
Furthermore, with the rotation of the blood pill, the powerful Qi and Blood were recovering Zhang Mingding’s injuries at a staggering rate.
"Looks like you’re not dead... come out then!"
Fang Xi sent out a Divine Consciousness Transmission.
A moment later.
Boom!
Rubble flew as Zhang Mingding emerged, his clothes torn and tattered, limping on his feet.
Although the blood pill within him was healing his wounds with all its might, recovering to his former state wasn’t something that could be done in a day or two.
At the moment, he only barely regained some ability to move.
"Zhang Mingding greets the Sect Leader!"
Zhang Mingding looked at the dissipating Yi Wood Divine Light and saw a youthful figure who hadn’t changed in a hundred years; much like himself a hundred years ago, he knelt down.
"Mingding... you’ve done well, very well indeed!"
Fang Xi laughed heartily, "It seems that sometimes, a necessary bit of independence isn’t bad... To think you managed to break through to a realm above the Martial God on your own; I’m quite impressed with you..."
Although Zhang Mingding hadn’t awakened any body cultivator’s Divine Skills, his achievement was still commendable since it was attained through self-exploration.
"I dare not take credit, it is all thanks to the Sect Leader’s previous groundwork... When the Sect Leader disappeared years ago and Envoy Liu led the rebellion, I was compelled to suppress them and assumed the role of the Sect Leader in your stead. Now that the Sect Leader has returned, the fate of the Martial God Sect is yours to decide."
Zhang Mingding actively brought up past events.
"Those are trivial matters from decades ago, no need to mention them..."
Fang Xi waved his hand, "You’ve been quite an acceptable Sect Leader of the Martial God Sect, so I believe you can be formally recognized as such... Besides, explain to me your ’Immortal Martial Path’, and the situation with the Demonic Beasts in Great Liang in recent years, especially regarding the Monster Tree!"
He had no interest in flaunting power in Great Liang; most of his attention was now on the Fragment World and an entirely new world.
Also, before coming here, he had conducted surveys on Zhang Mingding’s actions.
If the Martial God Sect was running fine and the people could get by under his rule, that was sufficient.
"Yes..."
"Under the Sect Leader’s guidance, my patched-up Martial Arts... centered around Qi Blood Holding Pill, incorporates some concepts from Inner Core Skills..."
Zhang Mingding immediately began to explain rapidly.
Fang Xi listened closely and, in the end, pressed his hand against Zhang Mingding’s dantian, feeling the blood pill’s movement, and then pondered, "Mingding..."
"Please guide me, Sect Leader..." Zhang Mingding’s eyes showed a hint of anticipation.
Although he had refined the secret method of Qi Blood Holding Pill, the true beginning of it had been pioneered and summarized by this original Sect Leader.
"Your general idea is correct, but there’s a misstep in the final stage of the Qi Blood Holding Pill... You’ve formed a Death Pill..."
Fang Xi sighed, now understanding why Zhang Mingding’s condition was different from a true seventh-stage body cultivator.
"Death Pill?"
Zhang Mingding’s expression shifted slightly; he had always felt that there was something wrong with his blood pill, and hearing Fang Xi mention it, his heart suddenly felt empty.
"All things harbor Yin and embrace Yang, harmonizing energies to create balance... What’s called Core Formation should have a breath of life... Although your blood pill has barely condensed into one, it ultimately lacks that bit of life force, which is also missing a bit of the immortal golden nature..."
Fang Xi looked at Zhang Mingding with pity.
This Death Pill was similar to a Jia Dan: even though his realm had advanced, his prospects were now completely hopeless.
This talented Martial Artist had created a realm above Martial God, but at a key milestone akin to a cultivator’s Core Formation, one wrong step meant his Taoist Path was utterly cut off!