Chapter 498 - 32: Martial Arts Transformation Realm

A Superior Cultivation Technique could draw the Power of Heaven and Earth into one’s Qi Blood. This would both strengthen the Qi Blood to nourish the Physical Body and unleash even greater destructive power.

The Fire Separation Technique.

This was just such a Cultivation Technique.

Hong Qingyi had come across this technique by chance. Its power was extraordinary, and it was even more formidable when paired with the Fierce Flame Palm and the Fire Separation Spear Technique.

To practice it, one had to sit cross-legged beside a furnace, sensing the scorching Qi and using a Secret Technique to draw the fire Qi Entering the Body.

For Minor Success,

one needed to go to a Fire Acupoint for Cultivation.

At Great Success,

one could even absorb Earth Evil True Flame and Samadhi True Flame, transforming into one of the Deities who commanded Fierce Flames.

Hong Qingyi had only barely managed to reach the Minor Success Realm, while Ma Gulan was still hovering at the Entry Level.

But,

it was already extraordinary.

As her Palm Technique unfurled, the temperature in the Quiet Chamber abruptly spiked, as if a furnace had been lit.

To the naked eye, the air around Ma Gulan was visibly distorted—an anomaly caused by the intense heat.

Zhu Ju’s brow twitched. He clenched his five fingers into a fist and met the attack head-on.

Heaven-Supporting Form!

BAM!

Fist and palm collided.

Zhu Ju felt a scorching Qi travel up from his Skin and Flesh straight into his Meridians, burning his Qi Blood.

An immense Giant Power assaulted him, and his body trembled. He couldn’t help but take several steps back before steadying himself.

"Huh?"

A surprised sound escaped Ma Gulan’s lips.

Although she had the upper hand, she felt as if her palm had struck something smooth. The Strength scattered in all directions; of her full power, she feared less than ten percent had actually been absorbed by Zhu Ju.

’What kind of Method is this?’

Her brows knitted slightly as she charged forward again.

BAM!

The fire was swift and ferocious, and so was her footwork.

Ma Gulan’s forward charge was like a roaring inferno, crossing a distance of ten feet in the blink of an eye.

Wildfire Spreads Across the Land!

Fire-Speed Silver Flower!

...

’Upper-Seventh Grade?’

Zhu Ju’s eyes flickered.

When Ma Gulan was at full strength, she was an upper-Seventh Grade Martial Artist. Now, severely injured, her power had been drastically reduced. At best, she was mid-Seventh Grade, not much stronger than Guo Jie, who had died by his hand.

’As for her Martial Skills...’

BAM!

Zhu Ju’s body trembled. The great tendons, Skin and Flesh, bones, and organs, all tempered by the Dragon Elephant Force, instantly connected into a single unit.

Perfection All Over the Body, Mixed Element Strength.

The power in his entire body flowed everywhere, seamless inside and out. When he exerted force, it was no longer limited to his waist, abdomen, or arms, but came from his entire being.

The Strength flowed like quicksilver, coursing through his whole body.

Zhu Ju locked his Essence Qi externally and restrained his Divine Soul internally, his eyes reflecting Ma Gulan’s every move.

Her elbow retracted, her arm raised, she charged forward...

BAM!

Fist and palm crashed, Strength erupting.

Zhu Ju’s figure swayed. Using the momentum, he turned sideways, his arm lashing out like a soft whip toward the back of her head.

CRACK!

The whipping force exploded like a firecracker.

In that instant, the power he unleashed was in no way inferior to a Seventh-Grade Martial Artist.

Ma Gulan subconsciously tensed her Skin and Flesh, her body arching backward as she retreated with astonishing speed.

Burning Eyebrows!

Though the name was unpleasant, it was the ultimate move of the Fiery Sun Palm, capable of unleashing one’s potential in a crisis.

"What kind of technique is this? How can a Ninth-Grade Martial Artist face a Seventh-Grade without being at a disadvantage?"

Ma Gulan’s eyes narrowed.

"The Zhu Family has a legacy like this?"

"A technique?" Zhu Ju smiled nonchalantly.

"You could call it a technique, I suppose."

This technique required its practitioner to completely master their own Strength and Qi Blood, reaching an ultimate state.

Strength entering the Transformation Realm.

Thus, every single move could unleash unbelievable power.

And Zhu Ju’s control over his Physical Body’s Strength was even greater—so great that even cultivating the Thunder Shocking Force would be useless to him.

The Thunder Shocking Force could make a cultivator faster and their strikes more powerful, but his speed had already reached the limits of his Physical Body. Unless it was a Cultivation Technique meant for the Third Grade or higher, it would be useless to him.

"Your flames are fierce..."

Grinning, Zhu Ju stepped forward and charged.

"Now you face a move of mine!"

Giant Spirit Fist!

Mountain Collapse!

Power!

Power!

Power!

His charging body seemed to swell slightly. A violent force, like a toppling mountain range, crashed down toward Ma Gulan.

A nearly tangible Martial Arts Will struck her Divine Soul a moment before.

Ma Gulan’s eyes constricted. The Fierce Flames in her Sea of Consciousness raged, and she was a beat too slow in raising her palm to defend herself.

BAM!

CRACKLE...

Zhu Ju’s figure flipped through the air, his twin fists a blur of afterimages. The violent Fist Force came in waves, each stronger than the last.

Despite only having mid-Ninth Grade Cultivation, he was actually forcing Ma Gulan back again and again.

His Fist Momentum was continuous. Once he gained the upper hand with a single move, his assault surged forth like a great river.

He seemed poised to crush his opponent in one fell swoop.

"AHH!"

Ma Gulan let out a low roar. The Qi Blood All Over her Body flared like a raging fire, and the ground beneath her feet cracked and shattered.

Retreat!

Retreat!

Still, she retreated!

She had originally thought Zhu Ju’s strength was weak and that such a ferocious assault couldn’t last. She never expected his Fist Force could stack endlessly. If this continued, it was only a matter of time before she collapsed.

’A Ninth Grade,’

’can actually crush me?’

Roaring with indignation, a vicious glint appeared in Ma Gulan’s eyes. The wound on her chest burst open, spilling fresh blood.

A scorching fire Qi erupted from her heart and surged violently into her fist.

Fueling the Flames!

"Die!"

BOOM!

A ten-foot-long jet of Fierce Flame erupted from her fist, instantly incinerating a nearby table to ash.

If a living person were to face it head-on, they would have undoubtedly met the same fiery end.

But Zhu Ju, as if he could see the future, dodged to the side the very instant her Fist Force erupted.

At the same time, his body moving like a nimble ape, he closed in from the side, giving Ma Gulan no room to breathe as he resumed his fierce attack.

"Giant Spirit Fist Intent!"

It was only then that Ma Gulan realized something was wrong.

"You’re definitely not Zhu Ju! Who in the world are you?"

"Who am I?" Zhu Ju’s voice was flat.

"Haven’t you been looking for me this whole time?"

"Looking for you?" Ma Gulan retreated again and again, shouting:

"I’m looking for Zhou Ruxuan, the murde—"

"It was you!"

Realization dawned on her. She stared at Zhu Ju, her eyes wide with fury, the Qi Blood within her churning wildly.

"You killed Yuanzhi!"

’There’s no mistake.’

’Back then, Ma Yuanzhi’s plan against Zhou Ruxuan was already complete. The Zhou Family was in disarray because of the Demon and had no energy for an investigation. If nothing had changed, my brother would have succeeded.’

’And Zhu Ju.’

’Right after that day, he was suddenly noticed by Zhou Ruxuan and was even unofficially designated as the Zhou Family’s son-in-law.’

’Yuanzhi died from a Fierce Fist Force...’

’It must have been Zhu Ju who killed Ma Yuanzhi and saved Zhou Ruxuan. That must be why!’

’I only ever thought Zhou Ruxuan was the one who killed Yuanzhi. I was only thinking about getting revenge on her, never imagining the real killer was someone else.’

"That’s right."

Zhu Ju’s expression was indifferent.

"So..."

"You can go down and keep your brother company."

"AHH!" Ma Gulan roared, a mixture of rage, indignation, and frustration churning within her heart.

It all transformed into a Heart Fire that burned away everything, erupting outward.

Fiery Tree of Silver Flowers in a Sleepless Night!

A sky full of palm shadows instantly filled the Quiet Chamber, Ma Gulan’s rage threatening to incinerate everything before her.

The Fierce Flames blazed.

Zhu Ju stood in the center of the room, his face like a cold, stern mountain, a stark contrast to the furiously roaring Ma Gulan.

His movements remained simple and clean, without a hint of flourish, yet they perfectly intercepted her incoming attacks.

SWISH!

CRACK!

His fists lashed out like whips, striking Ma Gulan’s neck. A crack of bone echoed, and the room fell deathly silent.

"The Dao of Ultimate Sincerity grants foresight... Martial Arts Transformation Realm..."

Ma Gulan’s body swayed, her eyes fixed on Zhu Ju, staring into those dark, profound pupils.

"What a Martial Arts Grandmaster."

"To die by your hand..."

"I have no regrets!"