Martial Saint!
Chapter 350 - 0232 Breathing Sword (Thanks to traveler kyo1027, Alliance Hierarch)

Chapter 350: 0232 Breathing Sword (Thanks to traveler kyo1027, Alliance Hierarch)

Qingtian Cang said,

"Everyone performed well this time. The Principal said that whatever the military awards you in Battle Merit, the school will match that with an equal amount of Great Merit."

After Wang Hongdao left, Qingtian Cang called Lu Chenzhou:

"Principal Wang needs to handle some aftermath matters inside the Void Realm. He said if you encounter any issues during this time, you can contact your senior brother, Wang Xian."

Lu Chenzhou said,

"Okay, will the school be alright without the Great Grandmaster keeping guard?"

Qingtian Cang said,

"No worries. During the chaos, Da Xia took the opportunity to root out quite a few big fish from Su City. The Cold Mountain Elder beheaded a top-level Great Void King, and Lufang killed the blade-dragon protector of the Holy Master Sect... All along, the demon ghosts lurking in the dark have also suffered heavy losses, and for a short time, they will struggle to recover. In fact, if it weren’t for the Void Realm and the forbidden areas backing them, these malevolent spirits wouldn’t dare to show themselves."

Lu Chenzhou said,

"Even a Great Void King has been beheaded; Principal Zhang is impressive."

Qingtian Cang said,

"This one has received the inheritance of the late great monk from Gold Mountain Monastery."

"The great monk?"

"Yes, Master Wen De, who once slayed the green and white Demon Kings."

"So, it was him."

"The great monk was the last high monk before modern times who pursued the path of ’Heavenly Person’ in Buddhism. Unfortunately, he didn’t break through the Sixth Shackles and came close to being the first Heavenly King."

"Ah, so many things in the past and present are filled with regrets."

"When the great monk was alive, demon creatures in the Jiangnan region fled from him like from a tiger, and the renowned ’Heavenly Dragon Eight Sounds’ was his creation. It’s a world-surpassing Sound Technique. Once mastered, one could issue commands that manifest into law, and suppress demon ghosts and evil spirits."

"The Heavenly Dragon Eight Sounds, I thought it was but a legend."

"Not at all. The Demon Kings took advantage of the great monk’s passing during a vulnerable transition to relentlessly assault, first setting Gold Mountain Monastery ablaze and then flooding it, ultimately severing the monastery’s lineage. Many Buddhist secret treasures and Divine Skill manuals were lost to the flames."

Hearing Qingtian Cang’s words and thinking of how Su City had passed through safely, Lu Chenzhou couldn’t help but ask,

"Did the Cold Mountain Elder master the Heavenly Dragon Eight Sounds?"

Qingtian Cang nodded,

"With him protecting Su City, no matter how many ordinary Void Things come, they all perish!"

Lu Chenzhou was profoundly shocked.

"Such a powerful Divine Skill."

After leaving Qingtian Cang’s abode, Lu Chenzhou pondered deeply within his heart.

"Once my Golden Body Skill reaches Perfection, and my Buddha Wisdom ascends to another level, I can spare some time to practice the ’Vajra Lion Roar.’ Its use for Sound Wave Kill is boundless. In terms of killing range, none can compare. In theory, as long as the sound wave is strong enough, it can kill anywhere! It’s just a matter of power. It’s most suitable for clearing fodder."

He had long wanted to practice the Lion Roar but simply lacked the time.

...

The next day.

In the practice room.

Lu Chenzhou entered meditation to regulate his breath and circulate his Qi.

After completing a cycle of cultivation, he looked towards the Martial Arts Tree.

"The proficiency of the ’Tiger Demon Tai Sui Technique’ +1."

"It’s been several days since I practiced Inner Strength and Heavenly Pile. I won’t practice fists this week; on one hand, it’s to rest, and on the other, to catch up on the basics. The most important is always the Heavenly Pile, followed by Inner Strength. Last are Martial Arts and Secret Techniques."

Ending his cultivation, his phone chimed with notifications.

Ding—

[Your campus card account has received 2600 Great Merit, current balance 3300 Great Merit...]

[Your Hidden Dragon List points have increased by 5000, current ranking 380...]

[Your account ending in 9527 has received a transfer of 10 million (Void Relics bounty) from the Treatment of Void Bureau, current balance 63 million.]

"Not bad, I don’t have to worry about the Enlightenment Elixir for a while."

Typical Grinding Sand Medicine and Supplement costs were insignificant to a genius like Lu Chenzhou, who hardly bothered to keep tabs on such expenses, given his earning capacity. For a long time to come, his main cultivation expenses would be Enlightenment Elixirs.

As for Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures, they weren’t something he needed to consider at this stage.

Lu Chenzhou glanced at the Hidden Dragon List.

[Fang Xue: 330th]

[Li Fu: 400th]

[Wang Hongdao: 443rd]

[Zhou Xingkong: 480th]

"Zhou Xingkong should now be a Martial Artist."

He looked further down.

Leopard Woman, Yao Cheng, Chen Xiaoyun, Old Tian were all hovering around the 500 mark, except for Xiao He, the others were all at the Extreme Limit Realm, not far from breaking through their shackles.

"Xiao He, it’s time to step up..."

Lu Chenzhou remembered when he first met Xiao He two years ago and showed a knowing smile. The boy who once complained about his own weakness was now witnessing the turn of fortunes...

...

Southern Military Department.

Two figures walked side by side at a leisurely pace.

One was tall and proportionate, with a confident expression—Lu Chenzhou.

The other was dressed in a peculiar leopard-print training outfit.

Leopard Woman said,

"Thanks a lot. I wouldn’t have known Dad was injured if you hadn’t told me..."

Lu Chenzhou said,

"It’s the least I could do. Your father saved me."

At the bedside, Shentu Youshan looked pale, his complexion dark blue.

That day, after saving Lu Chenzhou, he had killed three Shadow Level Great Voids in a row and attracted the attention of an even stronger Resentment Level Great Void. He received serious injuries before finally escaping.

Seeing Lu Chenzhou, Shentu Youshan smiled,

"Not bad, third on the Battle Merit list."

Leopard Woman was silent, staring at her father on the bed with reddened eyes.

Shentu Youshan gave a slight smile,

"You’re about to become a Martial Artist, aren’t you?"

Leopard Woman,

"Don’t change the subject. Why didn’t you tell me?"

This was a father-daughter moment.

Lu Chenzhou excused himself, thinking of his own parents.

"Being a mere mortal isn’t too bad; at least I don’t have to worry about anything."

He made his way to the Battle Merit Department.

He was met by a young man with an aura as sharp as a sword and a vigor that seemed to pierce the skies. Dressed in training clothes adorned with the pattern of the Hua Mountain Sword Discussion, it was clear he was from the Hua Mountain Martial University.

As they passed by each other, the young man suddenly stopped and asked,

"Su City Dragon Martial, Lu Chenzhou?"

Lu Chenzhou’s mind was filled with thoughts of the Swallowing Elephant Belt.

He turned around to size up the sharp young man.

"Indeed... And you are?"

The young man replied calmly,

"Hua Mountain Martial University, Yue Xiping, also known as ’Cloud Sword.’"

Lu Chenzhou had just heard this man’s famous name and smiled,

"I’ve heard much about you. Is there something you need?"

Yue Xiping said,

"Well, it’s just getting to know each other. I’m not much, just last year’s top student from Hua Mountain, and I planned to set up a platform inside the base to contest with the 24 prodigies from the various schools..."

But then the Void Tide erupted.

Lu Chenzhou understood his meaning and extended his right hand, saying,

"Then we’ll meet at the All Nations Martial Arts Competition."

Yue Xiping burst into laughter,

"Alright, although I may head for the Mystic List..."

Lu Chenzhou said confidently,

"Then we’ll meet on the Mystic List."

Yue Xiping was momentarily startled but then smiled warmly,

"Brother Lu has great ambition."

He could tell that although Lu Chenzhou had just started as a Martial Artist, his Qi-Blood was already at Middle Realm. However, as one progresses to the Third Realm, the disparity in Qi-Blood widens, and the difficulty of opening Acupoints increases, requiring more and more time. Deserving of being the top student, even without clashing swords, he already acknowledged this potential rival. A man must have confidence!

Lu Chenzhou arrived at the reward exchange window.

The staffers inside were discussing,

"Yue Xiping is too strong, having plundered 3800 Battle Merits by himself... A few more trials, and it feels like he will trade them for the Cold Silkworm Robe."

"It is said that he once fought against an End Realm Great Void!"

Hearing this, Lu Chenzhou felt a sense of urgency.

He coughed lightly and said,

"Hello, I’d like to exchange for a reward."

The staff member turned around with a smile,

"What would you like to exchange for?"

"The Swallowing Elephant Belt."

Before long, the staff watched the figure of the young man with the rifle on his back walking away.

"That’s impressive, the third on the Battle Merit list has arrived."

"Another formidable person, barely half a year as a Martial Artist, and already in the top three."

"I’m getting more and more excited for the Huangshan Martial Arts Competition."

"Just worried that chaos in the world might affect the Martial Arts Competition."

With 2600 Battle Merits, Lu Chenzhou spent only 1000 of them. He glanced at the other items, which were nice, but not worth spending Battle Merits on. Better to wait for the Cold Silkworm Robe. If there was another trial, he would have to go all out and earn more Battle Merits.

...

Villa No. 32.

Lu Chenzhou couldn’t stop fondling the Swallowing Elephant Belt. He put things inside it, took them out... After several successful tests, he placed his Fist Blade, daily cultivation Supplements, water, and food inside. Additionally, there was the Toad Treasure, sealed in a special container he had bought with a hefty sum of money, which he placed in a corner of the bag.

As for the Divine Weapon, he decided to carry it on his back.

This made it easier to integrate with the Divine Weapon.

Lu Chenzhou strapped the belt around his waist. The surface material of the belt was even stronger than that of an Advanced Protective Suit, so it could also provide some defense. If it suffered minor damage, it wouldn’t affect the use of the belt, but if severely damaged, the items inside would fall out.

"This thing is really convenient."

That night, Lu Chenzhou went to Chen Jiu’s house.

Chen Jiu checked out Lu Chenzhou’s belt with a smile,

"Not bad, you’ve got some high-level equipment."

He himself didn’t have such a thing; it was a state-allocated quota, and not available for trade.

Lu Chenzhou chuckled.

"Teacher, let’s continue sparring."

Chen Jiu said,

"Then let’s continue. It’s perfect as I have time lately. If you do too, you can extend the sparring sessions a bit to hasten your progress in the Golden Body."

Lu Chenzhou’s eyes lit up with delight, asking,

"Teacher, have you made your Breakthrough Third?"

Chen Jiu exuded an overwhelming presence, along with a verdant dragon that resembled a tough, dried-up log. In an instant, Lu Chenzhou felt like he was on the edge of an abyss.

"Expressing Qi Po... a Martial Arts Master!"

Chen Jiu burst into laughter,

"Breakthrough! What a rush!"

He had been stuck at the Second Realm for too long.

And he watched as his friend had already become a Grandmaster.

"Congratulations!"

After some thought, Lu Chenzhou decided to add a quarter of an hour to his daily sparring time. In the coming three months before the end of the year, he also planned to go through all the ordinary Martial Arts in the Myriad Volume Pavilion.

To practice what could be practiced, and to leave what couldn’t.

Next year, he would officially begin his True Skill cultivation.

...

Time flew by.

Before one knew it,

October had arrived.

Lu Chenzhou had perfected two more Second-Class ordinary Tiger Form Martial Arts, giving birth to the last two Divine Seeds. However, neither produced any exclusive special effects. Looking at the remaining Martial Arts, he decisively abandoned the Second-Class ones and began practicing First-Rank Martial Arts.

There weren’t many First-Rank ordinary Tiger Form Martial Arts. Relying on the theories of Tiger’s Five Elements, he chose the White Tiger Fist from Emei. By the end of November, he successfully achieved Perfection and merged it into the Heavenly Destiny Mystic Tiger Divine Seed, producing the 13th effect:

[Effect 13: Swallowing Gold and Spitting Qi—by controlling muscles, exhaling microscopic metal dust from within and around the body at high speed through breaths from the nose and mouth, forming a sharp Qi-Blade that can pierce and cause a certain degree of damage to the target.]

Lu Chenzhou was delighted.

"Finally some good stuff... Breathing Sword!"