Martial Saint!
Chapter 321 - 0218 Spiritual Vessel (4k request for double monthly tickets)_2

Chapter 321: 0218 Spiritual Vessel (4k request for double monthly tickets)_2

"Do you have a base in Su City?"

"No, only when discussing important matters will Tang Zheng summon us. The meeting place is completely random. However, I know a few locations where my Carefree Travel comrades frequently lurk... but they often switch places, so I’m not sure if they’re still there."

The pressure from Lufang made Xia Xiaodao feel as though he was undergoing judgement by a Judge, spilling all the information he controlled truthfully. Suddenly, Xia Xiaodao’s pores opened wide, and from within, a vague sound of a demon dragon roaring could be heard, Xia Xiaodao’s face drastically changed:

"Save me!"

Bang!

His blood reversed flow and spurted out from his orifices, his Qi-Blood blazing wildly, his muscles and bones trembling as if they were about to explode. Subsequently, all the blood converged into a sinister demon dragon, lunging at Lu Chenzhou not far away. Before it could get close, it was grasped by the large hand of Lufang, the crushing weight of a Grandmaster’s True Gang pressing down and pulverizing it.

With a poof, the demon dragon exploded, dissipating into a cloud of blood mist.

Gu Lingtong’s face changed as he said,

"Director Lu, is this Tang Zheng manipulating from behind?"

Lufang said,

"Yes, that’s why I didn’t have time to go to the interrogation room and had to question this person on the spot. The ’Devouring Heaven Demon Skill’ may be demonic in nature, but the astonishing wit of its creator endowed it with many unimaginable methods, even affecting many righteous divine skills.

Tang Zheng seems to be generously spreading his demon skill among his subordinates when in reality he’s using these people as cauldrons, seeding them with demon hearts; for every wisp of Qi-Blood they absorb, Tang Zheng benefits a bit. The more people who learn it, the faster he advances!

Moreover, the Blood Demon Mark is actually a trace of a Grandmaster’s Qi-Blood he left inside his subordinates. Once he senses something amiss with them, he can activate this trace of Qi-Blood. In doing so, he can eliminate them to cover his tracks to prevent leaking any information.

He has come all this way to Da Xia aiming to leverage the Martial Arts foundation here to have more Martial Artists learn his demon skill, delusively seeking to further advance on the Demon Path."

Lu Chenzhou frowned and said,

"Can such a method lead to a breakthrough beyond the Great Grandmaster level?"

Lufang said,

"Throughout history, only one person has succeeded, the founder of the demon skill himself, a Demon Path Great Grandmaster whose wisdom was on par with the founder of the ’Dragon Elephant Heaven Lifting Technique,’ the Sky-climbing Dharma King. But after he achieved it, he went completely mad. He had just broken through when he attacked Shaolin and was annihilated single-handedly by a Shaolin Great Grandmaster, dying a complete death."

Gu Lingtong said,

"If that’s the case, once Tang Zheng goes completely mad, it will probably be easy to find his whereabouts... However, before that, I don’t know how many people will be sacrificed."

Lufang said coldly,

"I won’t let him become a Great Grandmaster; he wishes!"

After witnessing the means of the "Devouring Heaven Demon Skill," Lu Chenzhou said,

"I always feel this demon skill is somewhat similar to the methods of some cultists."

Many Evil Gods utilize similar methods, quickly eliminating cultists when they’re controlled by the authorities, cutting off the tail to survive, to prevent further losses.

Lufang said,

"The founder of the demon skill was also a leader of the old cults. In ancient times, demon skills and cults often went hand-in-hand. That person being able to create such a demon skill may have also been bewitched by an Evil God, likely part of an Evil God’s scheme... Three evils do not distinguish between family."

Lu Chenzhou handed over the collected Evil Artifacts and Evil Skills to Lufang.

"These are Jiang Zixu’s items, please accept them..."

Lufang took them and said,

"Good work. The two of you can go back."

With his Grandmaster’s perception, he knew that Lu Chenzhou still had a Void Realm map and a Spiritual Artifact, but since they were the spoils of a Martial Artist, he would not inquire.

Throughout the ages, there have been many Void Realm maps circulating outside, but the vast majority have already been thoroughly explored by the Da Xia officials, with little value.

...

Outside of Su City, at a certain location.

Inside a gloomy ancient tomb, a tall and thin figure searched for something. Moments later, he left with a dark expression, vanishing like a ghost.

"Where exactly did the ’Mad Dragon King’ hide the Secret Treasure before he went mad?"

"Could it be hidden within the Void Realm?"

"Xia Xiaodao is such a useless old fool, caught so quickly."

"Lufang, once my demon skill reaches Great Success, even if I have to die, I’ll drag you down with me before I go mad! A lofty heaven-sent Martial Arts Master, not content to practice quietly in isolation, pursuing the Dao, always meddling in these mundane matters, always so meddlesome."

Typically, those with unrivaled talents hold idle positions at Top Martial Universities, spending most of their time in cultivation, rarely taking government positions. Currently, the Grandmasters in Da Xia’s various departments are mostly old Grandmasters with no hope of making a breakthrough and wanting to do something.

Thus, Tang Zheng finds it hard to comprehend what Lufang is after.

...

Dragon City Martial Arts University.

Qingtian Cang Villa.

Ji Xuantong fiddled with a string of black beads, murmuring, "Is this really a Spiritual Artifact? Feels quite ordinary, far inferior to our Da Xia Divine Weapons. When I held the Sunk Ship Tiger Gall Divine Spear, I even had the illusion that I could take on ten men single-handedly!"

Qingtian Cang said,

"Spiritual Artifacts are of many types, and this one was not created for combat to begin with. It was used by the Spiritual Practitioners of the Po Suo Ancient Country to facilitate meditation. We have no need for meditation, so naturally, you won’t feel its subtleties. The only benefit it has for a Martial Artist is that if worn year-round, it can slightly enhance spiritual power while also protecting the mind."

Lu Chenzhou said,

"Grandmaster, is there any problem with this Spiritual Artifact? Can I carry it with me?"

Qingtian Cang said,

"Well... my cultivation is just so-so, I wouldn’t dare make a hasty judgment. You had better ask Principal Wang for his opinion, and about that map of yours, ask him about that too. With your current strength, without an expert leading the way, the map will be useless. By the time you become a Martial Arts Grandmaster, that map will probably be of little use..."

After thanking his master and grandmaster, Lu Chenzhou turned and left.

Ji Xuantong showed a gratified expression.

"Heh heh, it seems Chenzhou indeed places us first in his heart. Coming to us first with such matters speaks volumes."

Qingtian Cang glanced at Old Ji.

Old Ji shut his mouth and returned to the practice room.

...

Wang Changming handed the black bead string to Lu Chenzhou, saying,

"There are no issues, feel free to use it."

"Thank you, Master."

"However, this is only a low-grade Spiritual Artifact, its nurturing effect on spiritual power is quite minimal, don’t hold too high expectations. On the other hand, its protective effect on your spirit is not bad. Even against the aura assault of a Martial Arts Master, relying on this Spiritual Artifact, you could resist somewhat... without being easily defeated."

"Disciple also has a map that seems to indicate the Void Realm; please take a look, Master."

Wang Changming took the map, glanced at it, and then handed it back to Lu Chenzhou.

"This might be of some use to you. There’s a mark of Tiger King Valley at the top right corner of the map. Your Divine Weapon is from Tiger King Valley too. Nevertheless, Tiger King Valley was just a third-tier power of the old era, with their strongest being just a Martial Arts Master. The places they could have explored are unlikely to contain any great treasures. Just be mentally prepared."

Wang Changming’s standards were too high.

Lu Chenzhou put away the map and kept it close to his body.

Wang Changming said,

"The map’s confluence point entrance is near Changbai Mountain. When the time is right, I’ll have either your third senior brother or your second senior sister take you for a trip.

By the way, I can reveal to you, in some time, there may be a Void Realm trial task from the Martial Arts Department. But it’s not in Changbai Mountain; it’s in Taihu."

Lu Chenzhou bowed,

"Thank you, Teacher."

On his way back, his expression was solemn.

"The Void Realm... finally, I must confront this colossal challenge."

...

The next day.

Ding—a text message notification came in.

[Your account ending in 9527 has received a transfer of 5 million from Su City police (judicial assistance funds), current balance 48 million...]

[Your Vajra Group account has received 400 Vajra Points...]

The 5 million bounty included 3 million from the Cult Incense Master.

That Xia Xiaodao was too weak, only worth 2 million. His fight with Lu Chenzhou was a complete crush: firstly, Xia Xiaodao was just an ordinary Martial Artist, and secondly, he was aging... Before reaching Grandmaster, youth dominates, but after becoming a Grandmaster, the older one gets, the more devilish they become!

What truly worried Lu Chenzhou was Jiang Zixu. He rolled up his pant leg; yesterday’s wound had already scabbed over. Martial Artists heal quickly, and the cold evil qi had been forced out by his Yang Qi. Except for some pain, it was no big deal now.

He looked at the Martial Arts Tree.

"As long as I stack enough Divine Seeds, I won’t be short of special methods!"

Damn it, keep grinding!

Let’s see if your Demon is one zhang taller, or my Dao is one zhang higher!