Martial Arts Domination: Start with the Dragon Elephant Prajna Technique
Chapter 171 - 167: Movements at the Court! Heading to Taiwu Academy! (Second Update)

Chapter 171: Chapter 167: Movements at the Court! Heading to Taiwu Academy! (Second Update)

Capital City.

In the southeast area,

there was a stretch of luxurious estates.

In the bygone years when the Great Ancestor founded Great Jin and designated the Capital City as the national capital, he specially set aside this region to construct luxurious residences, which were bestowed upon ministers and military officers who had rendered outstanding service to the dragon throne.

The Wei Family, overseen by a Martial Saint, naturally settled in this area.

At this moment, within the vast Wei Residence, Wei Wushuang sat in the main hall, seemingly waiting for something.

After an unknown period, a broad and sturdy figure appeared and slowly walked into the hall.

Wei Wushuang immediately stood up and at the same time said, "Elder brother."

"Hmm."

The newcomer nodded his head, then took a seat beside Wei Wushuang, and with a hint of fatigue, said, "The court was in an uproar again, which delayed me for a while."

Wei Wushuang’s brows slightly furrowed, and he tentatively asked with some unease, "Has His Majesty made a decision?"

Wei Wuliang shook his head in response, "No, but... apart from the Gao Clan, a few other Martial Saint Clans have made their stance clear."

Hearing his words, Wei Wushuang’s face immediately darkened, and he said with some indignation, "The Great Ancestor labored to conquer the Thirty-Six States, expending who knows how much effort! Now they say to give it up, and we just give it up?!"

Wei Wuliang sighed softly.

Although his Wei Family was also a Martial Saint Clan, after all, only the old ancestor was a Martial Saint.

Moreover, the old ancestor was an old man who had fought alongside the Great Ancestor back in the day, and he was far too old!

With his declining combat prowess, plus uncertainty about how much longer he could live, the Wei Family’s influence in the court had gradually waned.

It would be great if he himself were a Martial Saint.

As this unrealistic thought flashed through his mind, he gave a gentle smile, then promptly erased the thought.

He then changed the subject, looked at Wei Wushuang, and said, "Wuji still hasn’t come back?"

Wei Wushuang nodded, his tone expressing frustration as if he felt like scolding, "He’s stubborn, says that he wants to die in Qingzhou."

"Moreover, after so many years, not only has his martial prowess not improved at all, but he’s also been beaten into a scattered Essence Qi Spirit by the Gao Clan’s people!"

When Wei Wuliang heard this, his eyes narrowed, and a killing intent surged from within him in an instant.

"You’re saying Wuji’s Essence Qi Spirit was shattered by someone from the Gao Clan?!"

Wei Wushuang nodded and added, "I only found out after I went to Qingzhou."

"Don’t worry, elder brother. He took a capable disciple who has already avenged him, wiping out the entire bloodline of the Gao Clan in Qingzhou."

"And after I returned, I also sent someone to deliver a ’Supreme Rejuvenation Pill’ to assist in his recovery."

Hearing this, Wei Wuliang slowly retracted his killing intent and asked with some curiosity, "A disciple?"

His third brother’s strength might not amount to much in the Capital City, but in a place like Qingzhou, on the fringes, he should be a top-notch strongman.

The person who scattered his Essence Qi Spirit was from the Gao Clan, surely their strength must be formidable. If not a Half-Step Martial Saint, then they are most likely an expert on the verge of that threshold.

For the third brother’s disciple to have slain such an individual, his strength must be even more formidable!

Could it be that he is a Half-Step Martial Saint?

A Half-Step Martial Saint emerging from a place like Qingzhou?

Such thoughts bubbled in his heart.

The voice of Wei Wushuang then followed.

"Yes, it’s the disciple he took in. This young man has terrifyingly strong talent; not even in his twenties yet, and he is already a Half-Step Martial Saint!"

Upon hearing this, Wei Wuliang’s eyes instantly sharpened, and he eagerly asked, "Is this true?!"

"Absolutely certain!"

Wei Wushuang nodded earnestly and continued, "Wuji, who has been guarding Qingzhou for decades, also gave his opportunity to observe the Divine Stele to this young man."

"Because he exterminated the Gao Clan’s bloodline in Qingzhou, Wuji worried that the young man might face retaliation, so he had him come to the Capital City with me."

Wei Wuliang’s brows arched, and he immediately asked, "So the Gao Clan did take action?"

Wei Wushuang nodded, and a shock appeared on his face as if he was reliving the moment when Qin Zheng killed Gao Yuewen.

At the same time, his tone was filled with emotion as he said, "A Half-Step Martial Saint who broke through the limits of ’Essence,’ a Great Demon of the Saint Envoy Realm."

Wei Wuliang’s eyes narrowed.

Even he would feel troubled facing such a lineup.

And the voice of Wei Wushuang continued with astonishment, "The Half-Step Martial Saint was overpowered on the ground by that young man, brutally beaten to death, and the Great Demon was grabbed by the tail, and just as violently smashed to death!"

Wei Wuliang’s pupils shrank slightly, and he quickly nodded, remarking, "Such talent emerging from a place like Qingzhou is indeed shocking."

"Most importantly, he is under twenty years of age, too young, so it’s not impossible that one day he might glimpse that Realm!"

Wei Wushuang added.

Wei Wuliang’s gaze flickered, and after pondering for a few breaths, he continued, "Since he is in the Capital City, we should find time to make contact with him. Such formidable talent indeed should not be wasted in a place like Qingzhou."

Having said this, his expression then turned solemn as he continued, "Not to mention... Qingzhou is likely going to be lost."

"Alright."

....

Time swiftly passed.

The incident in the Drunken Immortal Building swept through the entire Capital City like a hurricane.

A country bumpkin from Qingzhou actually beat a Half-Step Martial Saint to near death, and if it wasn’t for the timely arrival of Taiwu Academy’s Semi-Saint, it’s very likely he would have been beaten to death!

Such news shook the high-ranking officials, nobility, and many experts of the Capital City.

After all, Qingzhou is considered a remote and desolate land within Great Jin; to think that it could produce a Half-Step Martial Saint.

And when some interested parties made inquiries, they were astonished to find that this country bumpkin from Qingzhou wasn’t even twenty years old!

In an instant, various influential families suddenly found themselves contemplating.

Such formidable talent might go on to achieve even higher and further success in the future!

Investing in him at this moment, in case he truly breaks his shackles and becomes the nineteenth National Martial Saint of Great Jin.

The returns would certainly be a hundredfold, a thousandfold!

However, as they dug deeper, they discovered that this young man from Qingzhou, named Qin Zheng, even bore a significant grudge against the Gao Clan!

He had annihilated the Gao Clan bloodline in Qingzhou!

He had killed a Half-Step Martial Saint of the Gao Clan!

Either of these two deeds would be seen as an unbearable provocation by the Gao Clan!

So those influential families, who had originally harbored some thoughts, also abandoned their considerations at this moment.

Interacting with Qin Zheng, who had offended the Gao Clan, would be akin to courting death.

An undercurrent that had begun to surge was thus subdued before it could fully form.

But no matter how the outside world changed,

since coming back from Drunken Immortal Building, Qin Zheng had been wholeheartedly practicing in the courtyard, going nowhere else.

After opening the third meridian and completing the Qi Drawing phase of cultivation, the merit acquired from slaying Gao Yuewen had run out, and he could not advance any further.

And in the Capital City, there was nowhere to slay Monsters and gain merit.

Therefore, Qin Zheng settled in the courtyard, concentrating on his own cultivation while waiting for Zhao Li’s notification.

Until this day, when Zhao Li came to visit.

Qin Zheng knew it was time to head to Taiwu Academy.

"The Enlightenment Divine Stele is located deep within Taiwu Academy, heavily guarded. Remember, just observe the Divine Stele and do nothing else," warned Zhao Li.

"As for the results of your observation and understanding, it varies for each person according to their own aptitude and perception, but generally, the effect won’t be too bad."

"..."

On the way to Taiwu Academy, Zhao Li, like an elder, kept speaking next to Qin Zheng, detailing various specifics.

Qin Zheng wasn’t bothered, even though he had already been told these things by Wei Wuji when he came to the Capital City.

Finally, as they were nearing Taiwu Academy, Zhao Li handed a booklet to Qin Zheng.

"Here, this is the second half of the ’Eighty-One Transformations to Saintliness Scripture.’ I really didn’t expect that the Inner Strength you chose would be this one!" Zhao Li’s voice carried a tone of emotion and regret.

Qin Zheng, however, smiled and opened the booklet to read it as he said, "Isn’t this martial art good? After completing the Eighty-One Transformations, one can become a Martial Saint on the spot."

Zhao Li shook his head and responded, "Completing the Eighty-One Transformations to become a Saint is not so simple as you might think."

"While this Inner Strength cultivates Essence Qi Spirit simultaneously and, upon perfection, can bring each to the threshold of perfection."

"It can be said that just one step further, transforming the body into a crucible and refining the breakthrough of Essence Qi Spirit, can lead to becoming a Martial Saint."

"However, the demands of this martial art on perception and aptitude are highest among all Inner Strengths!"

"You need strong Qi Drawing talent to practice the first twenty-seven transformations,"

"You need strong physical talent for the middle twenty-seven transformations,"

"And you need strong spiritual talent for the final twenty-seven transformations,"

"With talent in one of the three—Essence, Qi, or Spirit—you can hope to reach Half-Step Martial Saint, and with two, you can become one of the strongest in the realm of Half-Step Martial Saints."

"As for having all three talents, that practically ensures you’ll be the next National Martial Saint of our Great Jin!"

"But since the last Martial Saint appeared, not a single martial artist with such qualifications has emerged in a hundred years."

"Rashly practicing this Inner Strength will only trap you at the Grandmaster Realm, unable to even reach Half-Step Martial Saint!"

Zhao Li’s voice was full of sighs and helplessness.

After all, without strong talent, it was impossible to complete any phase of cultivation—be it Qi Drawing, forming the pill, or solidifying the spirit.

If one cannot perfect the Grandmaster Realm, naturally, it is impossible to touch the threshold and break through the limit.

Qin Zheng silently listened to Zhao Li’s words, gaining a deeper understanding of this Inner Strength.

No wonder such a powerful martial art was practiced by so few—it was its huge demands and limitations.

But these limitations didn’t exist for him.

Qin Zheng didn’t know about his own talent in Essence Qi Spirit, but as long as he had enough merit, a direct improvement was possible.

After flipping through the booklet and as his understanding settled, the Merit Scroll within his Heart Sea gave a slight tremor, and the information about this Inner Strength emerged.

Qin Zheng felt a slight relief in his heart.

He had requested this Inner Strength from Zhao Li after returning from Drunken Immortal Building, not expecting it would take until now to receive it.

But now he could rest easy.

He just had to observe the Enlightenment Divine Stele and enhance his martial skills!

With this thought, the corners of Qin Zheng’s mouth curled slightly, and in his heart burgeoned a trace of anticipation.