Chapter 956: Ying Zongtian’s Aspiration
What else was there above a peak Sovereign Martial Emperor? Naturally, it would be the legendary Martial God.
However, everyone knew that there were no Martial Gods in the world. Even someone as strong as the Azure Emperor, unrivaled in his age, had not been a Martial God.
Even someone like the Thunder Sovereign, who lived for ten thousand years and was publicly recognized at the strongest in the world, was not a Martial God.
Situ Leihong understood what Ying Zongtian meant. The Supreme Sky Emperor was wildly ambitious, not even considering the likes of the Thunder Sovereign and the Heaven Abandoning Deity Sovereign his ultimate objective.
“Could it be that you want to become a Martial God? Your goal is too much of a pie in the sky.”
Ying Zongtian’s smile disappeared, and his tone turned grave. “A Martial God? I really never thought of that. Even after cultivating for more than a thousand years to my peak and using all my potential, I would only reach the same level as that of the Heaven Abandoning Deity Sovereign. I only want to know just what kind of realm Martial God is.
“The ancient Sages were too ruthless, disappearing at the drop of a hat. In the end, they did not leave behind any explanation at all. They even removed all signs of their existence in the Kunlun Realm, depriving us of any information and abandoning the Kunlun Realm entirely.
“I do not ask for anything else in this life. I only want to know what kind of existence that cultivation realm is. I only want one person to reach that level, someone with a kind heart who is willing to tell me what kind of cultivation realm it is.”
Situ Leihong could make out the grief in Ying Zongtian’s words. After cultivating for so long, once the Supreme Sky Emperor advanced to a Sovereign, he would immediately reach the same level as that of the Sword Sovereign and Saber Sovereign, even stronger than the three Holy Masters.
However, such a shockingly talented person’s heart was filled with doubts. Even he did not dare to be certain if the Martial God realm truly existed or not.
Such a person did not dare to confirm whether there was more above the peak. Was the peak of Martial Cultivation a dead end?
This was the grief in Ying Zongtian’s heart as well as the grief in every cultivator’s heart.
What is a dead end? It was putting in so much effort, overcoming all sorts of obstacles, climbing the whole way, experiencing hundreds of battles, undergoing tribulations, and despite standing at the peak, not being able to escape death.
Even for someone as strong as the Thunder Sovereign, it did not matter if he lived for ten thousand years. In the end, he was still stuck in closed-door cultivation, awaiting death.
Why was it that when one finished walking the path, there was nothing after? Why was there no immortality after the peak?
Situ Leihong waved his hand and said, “Let’s change topics. This one is too depressing.”
Ying Zongtian smiled and said, “You want the ten-thousand-year-old Flame Crystal and ten-thousand-year-old Essence Iron for the sake of forging the flawless sword, right? How is it going? Let me see.”
An item resembling a burning stick came to Situ Leihong’s mind. Then he smiled embarrassedly and said, “Let’s not talk about this, either, and move on to something else. This is a rather depressing topic.”
“Very well, I’ll start talking about proper matters. Liu Xiaoyun still owes you a favor for your help in forging a Divine Weapon, right? Can you let me have that favor? Get him to be my protector so that I can successfully advance to Sovereign Martial Emperor.”
Situ Leihong cursed, “Damn, you really have a hard heart! That is something to protect my life. If you want to speak of that, you might as well speak of my flawless sword.”
Situ Leihong’s skill at forging swords was unparalleled. If any faction could obtain him, they would gain boundless benefits. Many experts had designs on him.
He had managed to survive independently until now by helping others forge swords and collecting many favors. The one he could rely on the most was the Sword Sovereign, Liu Xiaoyun.
Everyone knew that Situ Leihong forged the Divine Weapon in the Sword Sovereign’s hands. If anyone dared to touch him, they were guaranteed to suffer retribution from the Sword Sovereign, Liu Xiaoyun.
Ying Zongtian smiled and said, “Little Lei, you are being silly again. After I become a Sovereign Martial Emperor, would you still need Liu Xiaoyun to protect you?”
“Oh, right. After making preparations for a thousand years, when you advance to Sovereign Martial Emperor, you will not be inferior to Liu Xiaoyun,” Situ Leihong said in understanding.
“It’s a deal. I’ll be leaving, then.”
Space fluctuated, and Ying Zongtian vanished from the hall. Everything appeared as it normally was, as if he had never been there.
Situ Leihong said somewhat in a daze, “Why do I keep feeling that I was tricked?”
---
“He is out! Xiao Chen is out!”
The manor gates opened under the bellboy’s respectful gaze, and a white figure appeared before everyone’s eyes.
A bladesman actually entered Sword Forging Peak Manor. Furthermore, he was invited in by Master Situ from the main gates. Everyone’s gazes were green with envy.
Diao Jintao stepped forward and blocked the way of Xiao Chen, who had just exited.
Glaring at Xiao Chen, Diao Jintao said, “Brat, it is time to settle the grudge between us.”
After gaining a method to save Ao Jiao, Xiao Chen was in a good mood. So he tried to think of another way to settle this Diao Jintao, who was making trouble without reason.
Xiao Chen had to go and search for the Soul Returning Grass, Paramita Flower, and Three Life Stone as soon as possible. He had already offended the Medicine God Valley in the Profound Domain. If he offended another great grandmaster-level Martial Sage, it would be somewhat problematic.
Even if Xiao Chen could leave now, if Diao Jintao could get news of him, he would just come over and try to kill him. So simply leaving was not a solution.
Suddenly, Xiao Chen thought of a countermeasure. He said, “Old Sir, there is no need to make things difficult for this little one. As the saying goes, ‘if enmity is not settled amicably, there is no end to it.’ Between you and me, there are no deep grudges. I just gently nudged your nephew, that’s all.”
Ouyang Feng felt like vomiting blood in his heart. What do you mean gentle nudge? I will not be able to get out of bed for half a year.
Diao Jintao demanded coldly, “Are you joking? Do you think that you will be able to settle this matter with just two or three sentences?”
Xiao Chen held his Lunar Shadow Saber and smiled calmly. “Of course not. Looking at Old Sir’s cultivation, it is deep and surging. Your sword Qi is like a vast river. Your peak sword intent is sharp and boundless. I wonder, how old are you?”
Diao Jintao smiled, feeling pleased. “This old man cultivated for four hundred years. It is not something you can deal with. It will be easy for me to keep you here.”
Xiao Chen said in a tone of pity, “In that case, you only have a hundred years left to live.”
Martial Sages could live for five hundred years. Barring accidents like problems with their cultivation, heavy injury from their enemies, or use of forbidden Martial Techniques, they would definitely survive to an age of five hundred.
For regular people, five hundred was very long. However, to cultivators, especially strong cultivators, only the phrase “the end will eventually come” would come to mind.
If one could not break through to quasi-Emperor and extend their lifespan to one thousand years, no matter how strong or how respected one was, they would eventually be buried in the dirt.
This was especially so for people like Diao Jintao, who had reached great grandmaster-level Martial Sage but was still a distance away from quasi-Emperor. Their desire for life far surpassed that of cultivators in other cultivation realms.
Xiao Chen’s words prodded Diao Jintao’s sore spot, enraging him immediately.
“Old Sir, there is no need to get angry. This Xiao is willing to use a Longevity Fruit to settle this grudge.” Xiao Chen tossed out a shocking piece of information.
The words “Longevity Fruit” instantly stirred Diao Jintao. “You are saying you have a Longevity Fruit?!”
Several old grandmaster-level Martial Sage swordsmen in the queue became excited. Now, they no longer looked at Xiao Chen with envy; now, their eyes were filled with undisguised murderous intent.
Xiao Chen extended his hand and tossed a Longevity Fruit from his Universe Ring to Diao Jintao.
When Diao Jintao caught the fruit, his gaze appeared extremely excited. Ouyang Feng dragged his heavily injured body to Diao Jintao’s side and called out a few times. However, he did not get a reply.
“It really is the Longevity Fruit. It can extend my lifespan by one hundred years. Haha! Now, I might have hope for breaking through to quasi-Emperor.”
Diao Jintao involuntarily laughed out loud in excitement as he quickly put away the Longevity Fruit.
“Uncle, you aren’t going to ignore Nephew’s revenge because of a Longevity Fruit, right?” Ouyang Feng could not help feeling anxious when he saw Diao Jintao’s overjoyed expression at the windfall.
Diao Jintao turned to him with a stern expression. “How can you say that? You made things difficult for Young Master Xiao over and over again. You both humiliated and attacked him. Xiao Chen only gently nudged you. Even with such broad-mindedness, you still speak of revenge. I feel ashamed on behalf of your father.”
Diao Jintao turned around and performed a cupped-fist salute. He said, “Young Master Xiao, today, my nephew was in the wrong. As his senior, I apologize on his behalf.”
Now, Ouyang Feng was so frustrated that he wanted to vomit blood. Without any miraculous medicine, I will not heal within half a year. What do you mean gentle nudge?
Enraged, he demanded furiously, “Uncle, can you be less shameless?! He called you old thing earlier!”
“Pa!”
Right after Ouyang Feng finished speaking, Diao Jintao slapped him right on the face, sending him flying back and rolling down the mountain like a rock.
Earlier, Ouyang Feng just suppressed his internal injuries. Now, he suffered so much pain that he wanted to die. The entire mountain resounded with his miserable cries, a tragic sight to behold.
An outstanding youth filled with confidence came here to seek a sword, only to end up in such a state, sent flying by his own uncle. This was a shocking sight.
Diao Jintao felt depressed. This Ouyang Feng was really foolish, unable to read the situation. He already gave him a way out; instead, Ouyang Feng started blaming him.
One Longevity Fruit meant one hundred years of lifespan. Now, he had two hundred years left. So what if Xiao Chen had called him an old blind man? No matter how horribly he was cursed, he would not care.
Furthermore, Xiao Chen was right. There was no deep hatred. If enmity was not settled amicably, there would be no end to it.
Diao Jintao turned around and revealed a refreshing smile, saying, “Young Master Xiao, I’ll take my leave first. Half a year later, this old man will prepare a congratulatory gift for your King conferral ceremony. If I can successfully break through to quasi-Emperor, I will send you another gift.”
“Damn! Shameless!”
“Shameless! Really shameless!”
“He is a great grandmaster-level Martial Sage of the sword, yet he changes his words just like that, becoming hostile or amicable at the drop of a hat.”
The group of young swordsmen instantly started cursing, feeling indignant for Ouyang Feng.
However, the group of old grandmaster-level Martial Sages had already rushed over to Xiao Chen with smiles plastered on their faces as they started praising Xiao Chen.
“Young Master Xiao is really an excellent talent with extraordinary broad-mindedness. I already felt very upset with that Ouyang Feng attacking Young Master Xiao without distinguishing between right and wrong. He is the dregs of society. He should have been taught a lesson long ago. Do you have any more Longevity Fruits? Can you give this old man one?”
“The White Robed King is truly broad-minded. The younger generation should learn from you. If only the youths of today could be more like the White Robed King!”
“The Azure Dragon King truly lives up to his reputation. No wonder Master Situ personally invited him in.”
All sorts of praises poured down on Xiao Chen like a barrage of cannon fire.
These old men had seen Xiao Chen casually give a Longevity Fruit to Diao Jintao. Their eyes were green with envy. As they spoke, they besieged Xiao Chen for a Longevity Fruit.
Xiao Chen found it all funny. The words that these people said earlier still lingered in his ears, but now they behaved like this. What a great irony!