Chapter 245 - 130: Ancestral Hall, Martial Saint, Mantle; Black Market, Celestial Killing Star, the Legacy Continues

Chapter 245: Chapter 130: Ancestral Hall, Martial Saint, Mantle; Black Market, Celestial Killing Star, the Legacy Continues

"But this time, Little Third’s legs were crippled..."

"Do they really think that just because they have the Dragon Elephant True Sect from above backing them, they can crush my small School, break our bones, suck out the marrow, and devour us completely?"

Chen Hex caressed the broadsword on his back, his gaze lowered, seemingly filled with exhaustion.

In response, Duan Chenzhou stared at him for a moment.

"Then what do you plan to do?"

"The True Sect is applying pressure. If a ’Title’ is being used to push this, it means some people are truly getting impatient. Their methods are becoming crude. Aren’t they afraid the other surviving lineages will grieve for a fellow victim?"

"Giving the Sword Plaque to my disciple at a time like this... isn’t that just diverting disaster his way?"

Chen Hex stood ramrod straight, like a blade himself. Watching as Ji Xiu condensed his Sword Intent, he said only:

"This Sword Plaque... it cannot be given to anyone in this world."

"But..."

"He is the exception."

"I want him to carry it on his shoulder back to his home."

"From this day forward,"

Chen Hex’s eyes narrowed into a smile.

"The Sword Dao Ancestral Court..."

"...will have its successor."

"As for me,"

A brilliant light flashed in his eyes as he murmured softly,

"I’ve been tired of holding back for a long time."

"Now that there’s a successor."

"It’s for the best. For the best."

...

A day passed, the sun rising and the moon setting.

Within the Celestial Blade Style, before the Ancestral Hall!

Ji Xiu slowly opened his eyes.

BANG!

In that instant, an incredibly sharp aura seemed to materialize around him.

This wasn’t his Dao Skill reaching the Third Realm, where thoughts could condense, generate lightning from the void, and power Daoist Skills.

It was...

...that after cultivating his Sword Stance from Ten Steps One Kill...

Ji Xiu’s long-stagnant Sword Realm, following this period of enlightenment in the Ancestral Hall...

...had finally broken through its bottleneck, ascending to a new level!

He had condensed the third realm of Sword Skill: Sword Intent!

[Great Five Decline Celestial Saber, First Decline: ’Tribulation Fire Burning Robe’!]

[Pre-requisite: Endure the searing of Tribulation Fire while still holding your saber, your expression unchanging, and swing your saber a thousand times!]

[Tutor has successfully pre-activated the skill. Comprehending the ’Martial Saint Slashes the Buddha’ Visualization and gaining insight will count as ten swings, boosting progress!]

[Current: (17/1000)!]

Phew!

He exhaled a breath of impure air.

Looking at his skin, the Jade Skin that was said to be ’untouched by the passage of time’... it had been scorched dull and lusterless, its Divinity greatly diminished. He knew then just how dangerous this saber art was.

If someone with an ordinary foundation tried to practice this, forget about their foundation being destroyed—they would probably destroy themselves first!

No wonder it could be ranked as True Sect Level!

Its reputation was well-deserved!

Ji Xiu stood up, filled with enlightenment and irrepressible joy. The next moment, he looked up and discovered that the Ancestral Hall was completely empty.

When he walked outside, he saw that Chen Hex had been waiting for a long time, but his Master, Duan Chenzhou, was nowhere to be seen. Ji Xiu was puzzled and was just about to ask...

...when he saw his Senior Master walk up to him, carrying the plaque that held the ’Martial Saint’s Ultimate Skill’ and holding a silk pouch.

"This silk pouch was given to me by your Master before he left. He told me to give it to you after you woke up, and to only open it after you enter the Prefecture."

"The new year has passed. As is customary, in a little over a month, the Jiangyin Prefecture Courtyard will be recruiting Prefecture Students."

"Your Master asked the newly promoted Prefecture Commander of the Northern Garrison Command, Gu Baichuan, to secure you a spot in the examination."

"Once you enter the Mansion Courtyard, you’ll be considered a student of the Dean and a Great Xuan Student. With this layer of protection, ordinary Grand Lineages and Daoist Schools won’t dare to cause you trouble."

"With your current strength... you’d definitely struggle with the Prefecture Official Examination held by a One State’s Feudal Town. But for an ordinary Prefecture, forget just being a student—you could even compete for a seat in the courtyard."

"Also... this Sword Plaque is being passed on to you from this day forward."

Startled by Chen Hex’s gentle words, Ji Xiu instinctively wanted to refuse. But before he could speak, Chen Hex had already escorted him all the way to the back of the Flood Dragon by the island’s shore.

"Remember, it chose you. I didn’t."

"Do you know the other meaning behind possessing a Titled Blade Plaque?"

Ji Xiu, riding on the Flood Dragon’s head and looking out at the vast, misty sea, could only shake his head.

At this, Chen Hex chuckled softly.

"It means that from now on, if you become strong enough to reach the level of a Qi Cultivation Grandmaster... you will have the right to found your own sect and nominate your lineage as the ’Sword Dao Calendar’!"

"In terms of orthodoxy,"

"I am not your equal."

These words left Ji Xiu, who was holding the silk pouch and shouldering the Sword Plaque, utterly stunned.

’This is only our first meeting...’

’This Senior Master has such high hopes for me!?’

’He even handed over the Titled Blade Plaque containing the ’Martial Saint’s Ultimate Skill’!’

’Fame and power are now both in my hands...’

’With these, how could I not achieve great things in the future!?’