Advance the future and become a martial saint on earth!

Xu Longxiang only got halfway through his sentence.

Then, before anyone knew it, Qi Nanke, the Daoist of Zhenwu Mountain, had stepped down from the golden carriage, accompanied by Zhao Baijing, a powerful protector, who looked over with a smile.

Upon hearing this, Ji Xiu was overjoyed and immediately felt reassured.

This Daoist brother from Zhenwu Mountain, I must say, he's been incredibly kind to him!
Just over a month ago, the two had never met before and were complete strangers.

Moreover, he was ranked first among the young dragons, overlooking all the contemporary heroes of the world, and his fame spread throughout the entire Great Xuan, becoming a household name.

Compared to himself, a young man still confined to a single prefecture and unknown, the gap between them was like an insurmountable chasm.

Even so, they still treated him with respect and gentleness, without any airs of a leader or a disciple.

Upon his arrival, he immediately resolved the overwhelming murderous intent of the Xie family of Yuhuan and the undercurrents of the three major clans of Beicang.

This meant that the previously turbulent nomination for the Xuan Guan position naturally fell to him. He was just waiting for the official document to be issued so that he would have the right to enter Baiyujing and participate in the Grand Examination.

Moreover, upon hearing that he had encountered another difficult situation, he offered to help without asking why.
How could Ji Xiu not be grateful?

Ji Xiu had witnessed Qi Nanke's martial arts prowess firsthand.

Xie Wen of the Xie Clan was originally a top-ranking martial arts hero among the top ten on the Dragon Infant Stele. This time, after emerging from seclusion, he has even surpassed his previous achievements and reached the pinnacle of the title of 'Young Martial Saint'!
If the order were rearranged, they might be able to climb up a bit more, or even drop one or two places.

Even so.
However, they were still no match for Qi Nanke; they were completely overwhelmed!

Such combat prowess is rare even among Martial Saints, enough to be considered on par with one or two giants, not to mention the protectors accompanying him.
You can go anywhere without any worries!

Ji Xiu, who had once served as King Quan Wu Mu and was protected by Elder Liang, who guarded the Sword Wall and watched over all kinds of titled divine weapons, was perfectly clear about this.

Now, approximately two hundred years have passed.

Even Wangquan Zhenyue, who once opened half of the Heavenly Gate in Wangquanzhuang and Daliangping, has now called himself the Ancestor and become the pinnacle, his power shaking the white mountains and black waters.

The old man Liang, who could fight him so fiercely that the heavens trembled, the vacuum shattered, and even caused the mountains at the border of Xiqi and Beicang to collapse, was the pinnacle of power!

If we take this level of combat power into account, as the face of Zhenwu Mountain, how could Zhao Baijing, the guardian with stern brows and an imposing presence, be much weaker?

Even if the Central Yellow Heaven and the Xuanfu Sect were secretly pulling the strings in that Hun Tian Water Margin, gathering divine armor and Dao soldiers to wreak havoc, ordinary titled figures couldn't control the situation.
With such a force, no matter how turbulent the storm, it should be able to subdue it and prevent it from making any noise!

However, this Daozi senior brother is, after all, a person from Zhenwu Mountain. It's just unknown whether Grandmaster Longxiang can get over that knot in his heart.
After all, Ji Xiu thought to himself that before he even spoke...

As the grandmaster, Xu Longxiang, who could have remained completely uninvolved, rushed to his aid in resolving this crisis, demonstrating a willingness to go through fire and water and a strong sense of public duty.

Ji Xiu rose from humble beginnings, and he valued the relationships with people like Master Duan and his grandmaster from the Heavenly Blade lineage, as well as Xiao Mingli and Bai Shuo, who had either helped him change his fate or lent him a helping hand.

Therefore, he naturally did not want to create a rift with his ancestor, the Dragon Elephant, who was single-mindedly thinking of him, because of this matter.

Therefore, he did not agree immediately.

And Xu Longxiang was no ordinary person.

Naturally, he saw through his disciple's thoughts at a glance, but smiled nonchalantly, as if he had truly let go of his resentment:

"Hey kid, what are you staring at me for? Are you still a child? Why do you always need your elders to make decisions and ask for their opinions?"

"If you were really that obedient, you wouldn't have made so many enemies and caused so much trouble."

Xu Longxiang, with a hint of concern, chuckled and scolded Ji Xiu.

He then looked at Zhao Baijing of Zhenwu Mountain. The two met eyes and nodded slightly as a greeting. Compared to the rather cold reception last time, this was much better.

"No matter how much we talk about it, it's all ancient history from many years ago, and it doesn't even come to your and Qi Daozi's generation."

“You younger generation want to build connections and make friends; you have your own calculations and considerations.”

"It is naturally inappropriate for this old man to ask too many questions."

Ji Xiu was finally relieved after hearing Xu Longxiang's words.

Since this matter concerns Jiangyin Prefecture, it cannot be taken lightly. If there is any assistance, Ji Xiu naturally wants to ensure that everything goes smoothly.

Then he looked at Qi Nanke, his tone sincere, and bowed deeply, his tone quite solemn:

"If Senior Brother Qi is willing, Ji Xiu would be more than happy to oblige!"

“Since you came to Cangdu, I have remembered everything you have done. If anything happens in the future, no matter where you go or what you do, I will keep it in mind and go through fire and water for you!”

Qi Nanke couldn't help but smile at Ji Xiu's serious and earnest demeanor.

"What kind of talk is this? Do you think I'm helping you out of a desire for you to do something for me?"

"If I had to say something, it would be that if you go to the Central Plains in the future, you could visit Zhenwu Mountain if it's on your way. The Ancestor would like to see you."

"certainly."

Qi Nanke observed Xu Longxiang's expression and, seeing that he remained calm, added:
"Whether you are willing or not is up to you, and it doesn't matter when you come."

"Of course, it would be even better if we could be included in the register and acknowledge our ancestors. But it's alright if we don't, it won't affect our friendship."

He reached out and patted Ji Xiu on the shoulder:

“Junior brother, you can go ahead. Even if the Prince of Yan’s mansion and the Prince of Beicang’s mansion in the White Mountains and Black Waters remain inactive to observe the situation, it doesn’t matter.”

"A titled warrior can command a thousand troops, but what about people like us?"

"Those Hun Tian bandits are nothing but mountain outlaws. Even if they have divine armor and Taoist soldiers to assist them, what harm is there?"

"With the protection of Brother Wei, Elder Zhao, and Grandmaster Uncle Longxiang."

"I will definitely not cause any harm to your sect or relatives!"

Having received this promise, Ji Xiu's previously unsettled emotions finally settled down completely.

He took a deep breath and nodded emphatically, establishing a mental connection with the great sea dragon "Cangming Jun" through the ancestral aperture between his eyebrows.
Without stopping, they rushed to Cangdu Wharf, intending to ride the dragon down the river, pass through the Longxiang Gorge, and ride the wind and waves to reach Jiangyin as quickly as possible!

As for the feudal lords' mansions, Marquis Xiao Pingnan of Beicang will go to make contact. Presumably, the Marquis, who dotes on his daughter, and Marquis Chen Xuanque, who has been taking good care of him because of his relationship with Xuanjun Jiang Li, will not remain indifferent.

Time is ticking away, so we can't afford to be careless. If we're even a step slow, the situation will become even more precarious. So time is of the essence!

Although Cangdu is beautiful, it is not my hometown.

Although Jiangyin is small, it truly bears the imprint of Ji Xiu's rise to power!

Of course, we can't let those wicked bandits and those cowardly rats hiding in the gods and immortals be destroyed like this!
Cangdu, the Prince of Yan's villa.

A flower-adorning banquet, which began dramatically but ended abruptly, was a far cry from its intended purpose.

Wang Quanqi's face turned pale and then flushed. When he returned to the other residence, his tone was filled with resentment, mixed with bitterness and helplessness. He clenched his fist and sighed deeply as he addressed the powerful elder of the clan beside him:
"This man surnamed Ji is truly domineering. He dared to humiliate my Wangquan clan in front of the entire Beicang. He truly doesn't take us seriously."

"However, he had Xu Longxiang and Zhenwu Daozi backing him up, and even Xie Wen of the Yuhuan Xie Clan suffered a silent loss and returned defeated."

"The king's knife was ordered by the acting head of the family to be retrieved."

"But even if I and the clan elders join forces, I'm afraid we still won't be able to get it back given the current situation."

"What should we do?"

With a long sigh, Wang Quanqi couldn't help but feel somewhat frustrated.

He's not stupid.

Ever since Ji Xiu made his appearance at the Yan Prince's mansion's flower-adorning banquet, even a fleeting glimpse was enough to fixate on the bright eyes of the Yan Prince's daughter, captivating everyone present. So much so that after he left, the other young talents who vied to strike up a conversation seemed like clowns, merely there as foils.

For a hero from a prominent family, this feeling can sometimes be more painful than being severely injured.

What Wang Quanqi found even more perplexing was that, from his perspective, Ji Xiu's rise to power was truly astonishing, leaving him completely baffled.

He doesn't understand.

He was barely at the level of Master of a School of Martial Arts when he was on Jin'ao Island. How could he have reached such a terrifying level after just one encounter?
This is nothing more than swallowing heavenly medicine every day and refining it without any hesitation!

What people find hardest to accept is admitting that they are inferior to others.

Moreover, as a peer who harbors pride and is considered a leader of their generation, they are naturally even more unable to accept it.

Wang Quanqi is currently experiencing this kind of anxiety and uncertainty.

The elder of the Wangquan clan beside him, however, took it in stride:

"Don't worry."

"Don't say we can't take it away. The Ten Pillars of Martial Arts in Beicang right now, including Zuo Longshe, the Lord of Xiankong Mountain from the 'Divine Weapon Altar,' are all considered strong figures among the giants. So what can they do?"

"They're still keeping quiet and haven't made a move yet."

"If anyone's going to be restless, it's the Divine Weapon Altar that's going to be restless first."

"The ruins of the ancestral home of the swordsmanship, 'Great Snow Mountain,' remain buried there to this day, lacking any tokens from the swordsmanship to open it."

"And what could open it must have been left by Zhou Chongyang or Wang Quan Wumu back then."

"The Divine Weapon Altar has been researching for so many years, how could they give up? They must be much more anxious than our Wangquan clan."

"I have already reported this matter to the acting head of the family. It is up to her to decide right and wrong, merit and demerit."

Upon hearing this, Wang Quanqi appeared sullen, but could only echo his sentiments:

"The elder's words make sense; this is the only way."

Wangquanzhuang, Daliangping.

This prestigious clan, which has weathered many storms and stood tall in Xiqi, has not changed much in appearance over the centuries, but its status has been directly elevated as Wang Quan Zhen Yue reached the pinnacle!
Especially with the disintegration of the Blade Court, the Divine Weapon Altar took its place, ranking last among the Ten Pillars.

There is no truly powerful figure in the Changbai Mountains and Heilongjiang River region, and the Wangquan clan's reputation is not even comparable to that of the "Nine Clans and Ten Pillars"!
The old ancestor of Zhenyue never concerned himself with worldly affairs, preferring to remain in seclusion.

All matters.
He then handed over all the power to the 'acting head of the family' of the Wang Quan clan.

The reason why he is the acting head of the family and not the head of the family is that the person in charge of Wangquan Village is an 'outsider', not a member of the Wangquan clan, but from the Qishan Jiang clan, whose name is Jiang Lingyi.

She was the eldest daughter of a powerful family who married into the Wangquan clan two hundred years ago through a marriage alliance.

only.
It is said that the relationship with Jiang Shu, the current leader of the Qishan Jiang clan, was extremely hostile, and it could even be said that Jiang Shu was one of the branches that was driven out of Qishan.

As for the specific reason, it concerns the secrets of these nine surnames and ten pillars, which ordinary people of Xiqi Prefecture could not know.

And on this day.

When news concerning the Wangquan Sword and all matters occurring in Beicang was delivered to the Wangquan Manor...
A gentle breeze blows, the summer scenery is pleasant, and the lake is shimmering with the vibrant colors of spring.

A woman with cold and aloof features, dressed in a long black and gold palace dress, has slight wrinkles at the corners of her eyes, bearing the marks of time, yet still exudes nobility.

It's clear that she was once incredibly beautiful and talented in her youth.

She took out the message talisman from Beicang and read it word by word.
The finger bones were visibly turning white.

Jiang Lingyi subconsciously looked towards Qishan in Xiqi, where that grand mansion was located, and was momentarily dazed.

A moment later.

The jealousy and hatred in his eyes surged like a raging sea, and even after time had passed, it still drove him to the brink of madness several times:

"The King's Blade, the King's Blade"

"Truly, even a centipede with a hundred legs will not fall down after it dies!"

"Since the destruction of the Sword Court, how could the successor of the King of No Twilight have reappeared in the world, and even received the protection of that bitch Jiang Shu?"

"Jiang Shu, Jiang Shu"

Her fingertips nearly dug into flesh, and the gloom in her eyes almost solidified:
"Why was she so lucky back then, while Wang Quan Wu Mu paid such a price?"

"This Lord of Qishan, the Venerable One of the Great Houses, the pinnacle of humanity overlooking the world, enjoying the veneration of a celestial lifespan, should rightfully belong to me, Jiang Lingyi!"

"But they were all destroyed!"

"Royalty never fades."

"Yes, you are as radiant as the moon and as pure as the moon, untouched by worldly dust. You aspire to be the best in the world, the most successful in the land. You are of noble character and your word is as good as gold."

"When Jiang Shu was at her lowest point and in the most perilous time, you were like the bright moon, hanging high above her, shining solely on her, and you made her the head of the Jiang clan and the venerable one of Qishan."

Her fingertips almost dug into flesh:
"But what about me?!"

Why does the bright moon alone not shine on me?!

“I, Jiang Lingyi, was once the daughter of a powerful family, a woman of high status and privilege, and a direct descendant of the most powerful clan. Wasn’t I superior to that lowly woman from a branch family? In the end, she was taken away by you, while I became a substitute, falling into this abyss of the Wangquan clan.”

Thinking back to how I was merely a tool, giving birth to the Dao embryo and providing it with a warm bed, living a second life as a human, having devoted my entire life to this place, even as the acting head of the Wangquan clan, I was still considered to have received some respect.
But that depends on who you're comparing yourself to!

What people fear most is precisely the desire to compare themselves to others.

Especially when there is someone above him who he once looked down upon in his youth, but who now shines brightly in this era, overlooking the white mountains and black waters, making him feel suffocated, and who is absolutely impossible to surpass.

Then it will become even more distorted and deformed.

Jiang Shuzhi and Jiang Lingyi.
exactly.

"You ruined my life, everything."

"Then your Sword Court... as long as I, Jiang Lingyi, am alive, don't even think about it showing the slightest sign of life!"

"Ji Xiu?"

The woman's eyes had an unusually cold look at the corners:

"So what if he's a True Martial Daoist?"

"Since ancient times, the clash between swords and blades has been a battle between the North and South, with the Sword Court and Sword Mountain locked in a deadly struggle for hundreds of years. Not a junior can possibly gain the slightest advantage!"

"If Jiangnan Sword Mountain knew that the Sword Court had been resurrected, how could it sit idly by and watch it grow stronger?"

"And that Divine Weapon Altar must also be used against me!"

"Jiang Shu, if you want to protect him, then you should emulate that person back then and become a bright moon. If you want to protect me, then you should drag him down with you and make him fall into eternal damnation. Let that person's descendants taste the same bitterness!"

"We'll see!"

Meanwhile, in Jiangyin Prefecture! (End of Chapter)