“The wind of a casual fist alone can kill someone in the Golden Body Realm. Now that my physical strength has reached this level, I can activate Asura Mode or Demon God Mode without the need to swell into a massive, over-muscled form. Simply releasing my inner qi achieves the same effect.”
Li Xiaofei carefully sensed his newfound strength, a look of joy spreading across his face. The Formless Nine Revolutions Golden Body Manual was far more powerful than he had imagined.
“According to the manual, after completing the Nine Revolutions, I can use the ultimate defensive forbidden move, Stasis. This technique transforms the user into an untargetable, indestructible golden statue immune to all energy and physical damage for ten seconds.”
In other words, ten seconds of invincibility. In a battle between true martial arts masters, ten seconds of invincible defense, if used properly, can completely change the outcome of the fight.
He transformed into a lifelike golden statue. After ten seconds, he returned to his normal form.
“During the ten seconds of Stasis, I could sense everything around me, and my thoughts and awareness were fully functional. Truly perfect.”
Li Xiaofei was immensely satisfied with the results of this cultivation session. Nine Revolutions of the Golden Body. He had reached the pinnacle of the Golden Body Realm, and walked into the Hidden Realm, the apex level of this stage.
Now, all that remained was to adapt to the strength of the Golden Body Realm and stabilize his foundation. Once his realm was steady, he could begin preparing to break through to the Dao Union Realm.
“There are still three months left,” he calculated. There was no need to rush out just yet.
He recalled what his aunt had said.
My martial path is too scattered and unfocused. This is the perfect time to consolidate.
Li Xiaofei resolved to refine and harmonize his techniques, merging them into a cohesive system that would truly belong to him.
“I once vowed to master the three ultimate arts, saber, sword, and spear. I’ve dabbled in all three, but mastered none to perfection. I need to reorganize and refine.”
Li Xiaofei stood still and closed his eyes. Countless martial techniques, blade stances, sword moves, and spear techniques surged through his mind like a vast galaxy. They flashed by like a cascading stream as he began to organize, classify, and deduce. Li Xiaofei immersed himself entirely in this process.
Time slipped away. He stood motionless, like a statue frozen in time. Even his breathing seemed to have ceased by the end.
In the blink of an eye, two full months passed before Li Xiaofei finally opened his eyes. His expression was weary, and his entire demeanor seemed drained, as though he had expended all his energy.
Yet, amidst his exhaustion, a faint glimmer of clarity shone in his eyes. There was a hint of newfound understanding, as if he had taken a step closer to his martial path.
“Deducing martial arts consumes an immense amount of mental energy. Fortunately, I’ve mastered the Nine Revolutions Golden Body Manual. Otherwise, these two months would’ve aged me into a white-haired old man. But I gained something. I’ve comprehended a single saber technique.”
In Li Xiaofei’s mind, a peerless blade light flashed and swirled madly, reflecting his internal deductions. He had condensed countless techniques and myriad divine arts into one saber move.
Just one. No variations. A simple, downward vertical slash. Why did he comprehend a saber technique instead of one for the sword or spear?
Li Xiaofei didn’t know the answer. The only plausible explanation was that the chaos and turmoil caused by the foreign invasion of Great Xia called for a saber.
A saber of overwhelming dominance and destruction. A saber to cut through the chaos of the era. A saber to shatter all enemies and restore peace to the divine land. Among the three ultimate arts, the saber’s intent resonated most deeply with him.
Li Xiaofei extended his hand. His inner qi surged to form a long, crimson flame saber. He swung it down in a single, powerful slash.
The blade sliced through the air. Two of the towering columns in the Secret Time Pavilion were severed cleanly down the middle. Yet, due to the sheer speed of the slash, the columns remained standing, seeming untouched even as they were split apart.
Li Xiaofei threw his head back and laughed heartily.
How indestructible is the Secret Time Pavilion? Yet my blade managed to cut through its columns.
“If I were to face the Xie family patriarch and the others again, I could end it in a single strike. One person, one slash—six slashes, and the fight would be over. I’d never struggle like before.”
He dissipated the flame saber, letting it vanish into nothingness. As he placed his hand on one of the severed columns, a thousand thoughts flickered through his mind. This saber needed a worthy name.
“Let’s call it Naihe Bridge[1],” he murmured.
Something about the name felt familiar, as if he’d heard it before. Yet it perfectly encapsulated the essence of his saber’s intent. The saber intent rises, brilliant and dazzling.
“I’ll see you off on the Naihe Bridge.”
When he calculated how much time had passed, Li Xiaofei realized the Stellar Holy War was drawing near. He stepped out of the Secret Time Pavilion, ready to face what awaited.
Less than five days remained until the Stellar Holy War. Li Xiaofei ascended the stone steps of the Cemetery of the Ancestors. It seemed livelier than usual today. Even from a distance, he could feel the surging flows of energy.
“Team leader.” Nan Hua appeared before him and greeted him with a gentle smile.
Li Xiaofei glanced at the increasingly ethereal and refined woman before him, a trace of surprise flashing in his eyes. Nan Hua had grown stronger. It wasn’t just an improvement in combat ability; it felt as though her very life essence had been elevated. This sensation was something he had only experienced before when facing Subspace creatures. Even the Xie family patriarch and other Eden warriors had never radiated this kind of presence.
Li Xiaofei vaguely sensed that a mysterious and primal energy had been activated within Nan Hua that was constantly reshaping her body.
Is this part of Lady Li Lan’s inheritance?
Nan Hua led him to the deepest part of the Cemetery of the Ancestors. This area, once a desolate valley, had now been transformed into a makeshift training ground.
“Big brother!” Li Junjie ran over excitedly.
“Li Xiaofei, we meet again!” The freckled Ren Dong was full of joy. She ran straight into Li Xiaofei’s arms.
Yan Chiyu, with her long hair flowing down her back, stood off to the side, smiling. A medium-built, round-faced boy with sparkling eyes waved at Li Xiaofei, as if they’d been old friends for decades.
“Brother Li.” A girl with doll-like delicate features and pale yellow hair walked out of a nearby training room.
Bai Qiqi’s gaze was gentle and lively as she stood quietly in a ray of golden sunlight. She looked like an elf fallen into the mortal world. Li Xiaofei also saw Wang Xiaofan and Ximen Piaoxue from White Deer Academy, along with Gu Haochen, the genius student from Liuhe Base City, and the Goddess Ye Liuying.
Lastly, there were four identical, slender girls. They looked like they had been sculpted from white jade. Their black hair reached down to their heels. They looked like divine maidens crafted by nature itself.
Li Xiaofei immediately recognized the quadruplet girls. It had been some time since they last met, and they had grown even more perfect in appearance.
Goodness! Why are all these familiar faces gathered here? Could it be...
A thought flashed through his mind.
“We finally meet.” A round-faced, bright-eyed boy rushed over and grabbed Li Xiaofei’s hand. “Do you know who I am?”
Li Xiaofei thought for a moment before answering, “You must be Zhang Zhihong, right?”
The round-faced boy’s eyes widened. “You... how did you know?”
Li Xiaofei smirked and said, “You might not believe me, but I sensed the same sly aura from you as that kid in the light-network virtual world.”
“I... I’ll take that as a compliment.”
The boy chuckled, scratching his head. “Bet you didn’t expect it, huh? I was also chosen by the Saints to be part of this training program.”
So it is true. Everyone here has been handpicked by Li Lan as inheritors.
But why are they all familiar faces?
Li Xiaofei scanned the crowd, clearly sensing that each one exhibited the same changes as Nan Hua. Some kind of primal energy within their bodies seemed to have been unlocked, releasing a power that had long been suppressed.
A realization dawned upon him. It seemed that Li Lan and the others hadn’t chosen their inheritors based solely on talent, age, or strength. There had to be some other criteria.
When he thought back to Nan Hua being the reincarnation of an Asking Sword Sect elder, which led to her being called back to receive Li Lan’s teachings, Li Xiaofei surmised that Bai Qiqi, Yan Chiyu, and the others were also likely reincarnations of warriors who had perished on cosmic battlefields.
After greeting everyone, Li Xiaofei was led by the group into the largest training hall. Inside, Li Lan’s spectral figure stood at the center. Liu Shaji stood beside her, along with a dozen other spectral figures who were unfamiliar to Li Xiaofei.
There was no doubt. These were the slumbering souls of the Cemetery of the Ancestors. One of them, a woman of unparalleled grace and beauty, caught Li Xiaofei’s attention. Her expression was gentle, her presence ethereal, and her beauty was indescribable, as though her mere existence was a blessing to all creation.
Li Xiaofei had seen many beautiful women before. But none could compare to this one. Not even the transcendent Li Lan, the radiant Tan Qingying, or the striking Ye Liuying could match her beauty.
“This humble one, Hua Xiangrong, greets Young Master Li,” the beautiful woman said with a soft smile, bowing gracefully. Her tone was warm and refined as she gave off an indescribable elegance and poise.
Li Xiaofei instinctively returned the gesture. The name carried a poetic charm, resonating with a sense of literary beauty. The four Dragon Maidens obediently stood by Hua Xiangrong’s side, making it clear that they had been chosen as her inheritors.
Glancing around, Li Xiaofei noticed that the other students had also stood next to their respective masters. Only Li Xiaofei and Li Junjie remained unclaimed. The two exchanged glances.
“Don’t look at me, big brother,” Li Junjie quickly said. “I already have a master, and they’re alive, mind you. They just don’t show up often...”
1. A bridge in Chinese mythology that every soul has to cross before being reincarnated ☜