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Chapter 281: Blood Core (Please subscribe)

Chapter 281: Blood Core (Please subscribe)

Wujing.

This place was originally just a stretch of ruins left behind after being ravaged by the Demonic Tree.

Later, Fang Xi established the Martial God Gate here, suppressing the world, and from then on, Kyushu entered the era of Martial God's reign.

Even though Wujing's common folk suffered heavy casualties during the Martial God Gate's internal strife,

but time could smooth over all wounds, or send away those in pain. . . At this moment, Wujing had recovered to its most prosperous time once more.

Martial God Gate, headquarters.

High in the sky, Fang Xi stood with his hands clasped behind his back. With a sweep of his Divine Consciousness, everything within the buildings below became perfectly clear.

...

Zhang Minting sat cross-legged. Dense True Vigor circulated around him, forming a defensive layer like an outer garment.

No!

It wasn't True Vigor, but a more profound, higher-level blood-qi energy!

"Who's there?"

Zhang Minting, with two mustaches, appeared mature and refined, but suddenly felt a great terror descend. His hair stood on end, and he couldn't help but stand up, letting out a furious roar.

Rumble!

The underground chamber directly split open, revealing the pitch-black night sky.

Not only that, within his Dantian, a dark-red 'Blood Core' was fiercely erupting, causing layers of blood-qi energy to sweep outwards like crimson tides.

This kind of power had already surpassed the Martial God level!

It had reached the seventh stage of Body Cultivation, which was a Body Cultivator's realm comparable to an early Core Formation cultivator!

"This is. . . Blood-Qi Core Formation! Even if it's completely different from a cultivator's Golden Core, it's still quite formidable."

Fang Xi's Divine Consciousness carefully observed Zhang Minting's performance. Suddenly, his heart stirred: "Who would have thought. . . that the beginning from back then would actually lead the Martial God Gate to success. . . No wonder Zhang Minting could achieve the final victory!"

Even if Liu Ru Yan rallied more people and held a higher status, what did it matter?

In the Martial God Gate, strength ultimately decided everything!

However, after pondering for a moment, he didn't reveal himself. Instead, he transformed into a green stream of light and swiftly departed.

Above the ground, Zhang Minting immediately soared into the sky, closely following behind Fang Xi.

The two flew with incredible speed, leaving no trace, and in a flash, they arrived at the outskirts of Wujing.

"Who are you, sir? Someone from the Counter-God Society?"

Zhang Minting looked at the human figure enveloped in a green glow ahead and spoke solemnly.

From this person, he felt a threat far surpassing Liu Ru Yan.

In his mind, an unbelievable thought secretly surfaced:

'It's that person. . . '

'No. . . even if he returned, he would only be a Martial God. . . and I have already broken through beyond Martial God! It's impossible for him to give me such a sense of threat. . . '

'Could it be. . . he also broke through? '

Unfortunately, Fang Xi did not answer Zhang Minting's question. He simply raised a hand.

Streaks of Wood Spirit Divine Light flew out, forming a gigantic green skeleton, enveloped by a layer of green light, transforming into a 'Martial God True Body'!

The Wood Spirit Divine Light was ever-changing; even imitating a Martial God True Body posed no problem at all.

Furthermore, when unleashed by a third-order Wood Spirit Divine Light, it was a third-order 'Martial God True Body'!

Boom!

The tall Wood Spirit Divine Light giant closed its five fingers, forming a fist, and smashed it down fiercely!

Before the fist even arrived, it compressed the surrounding air, as if forging the void air into a cage, trapping Zhang Minting in its center!

"Good!"

Zhang Minting roared furiously. Within his Dantian, his Blood Core flashed explosively, and he swung his fist skyward!

Bang!

Fang Xi suddenly felt a pure force spreading from the fist of the Wood Spirit giant.

Pure, and powerful!

Crack!

Cracks actually appeared on the Wood Spirit giant's fist, continuously extending towards its arm.

Dark cracks appeared on the fist, causing this streak of Wood Spirit Divine Light to collapse!

With a flesh and blood body, he crushed a cultivator's divine ability!

"Indeed, it's Blood-Qi Core Formation, the power of a third-order Body Cultivator!"

"In terms of physique, he's comparable to a third-order demon beast!"

"He truly is excellent material for a wood puppet!"

Fang Xi's eyes grew brighter: "I wonder. . . if he has awakened a fleshly divine ability?"

When a true Body Cultivator reaches the seventh stage, comparable to the Core Formation realm, they will awaken a fleshly divine ability, just like a demon beast's innate demonic art!

This was also the greatest asset for Core Formation-level Body Cultivators to traverse the cultivation world unhindered!

Back during the century-long demonic disaster in the Shard World, that demonic sect disciple, akin to a Demonic Dragon, possessed an extremely powerful fleshly divine ability, making Dan Ya flee in disarray and leaving a deep impression on Fang Xi at the time.

And now. . .

Looking at Zhang Minting, whose physique was already comparable to that demonic sect disciple from back then, Fang Xi felt quite eager to try.

"A newly promoted. . . Martial Immortal? !"

Zhang Minting had not used his Martial God True Body, nor had his True Vigor transformed into wings, yet his entire being floated up on its own, as if flight had become his instinct. He looked at Fang Xi, and the gigantic Wood Spirit Dharma Body behind him: "You seem to be taking the path of purifying the Martial God True Body to achieve the final breakthrough. If that crazy woman Liu Ru Yan saw this, she would surely be delighted. . . This path can also be taken!"

Back then, Liu Ru Yan had furiously accumulated blood-qi energy to break through beyond Martial God, and her Martial God True Body was the most powerful among all Martial Gods.

Zhang Minting, however, had a different realization, and with a bit of innate talent and coincidence, he embarked on the path of 'Blood-Qi Core Formation'!

Unfortunately, at the time of the final decisive battle, Liu Ru Yan had not yet broken through, so she naturally suffered a crushing defeat, even perishing and her clan being annihilated!

But the person before him, this 'Martial God True Body', could already rival a Martial Immortal!

Martial Immortal!

An Immortal among Martial Artists!

This was the name Zhang Minting had chosen for this new realm after ascending beyond Martial God.

Because his 'Blood-Qi Core Formation method' was derived from referencing 'Internal Core Arts' and 'Immortals' vaguely described in some ancient texts.

Fang Xi didn't waste any words.

Even if he revealed his identity, it would be impossible to make this new sect master, who had already advanced to a third-order Body Cultivator, submit meekly.

To completely subdue this person, or defeat him. . . or if he couldn't be made to submit at all, he could only be sent to his death!

"Hmph!"

Two even thicker streaks of Wood Spirit Divine Light appeared, merging into the gigantic green giant around him.

Rumble!

The green giant instantly expanded tenfold, like a colossal mountain peak!

Arm after arm stretched out from the giant's back, like a Thousand-Armed Buddha. A green light shimmered on each palm, transforming into sabers, spears, swords, halberds, axes, battle-axes, hooks, and forks. . . even divine thunder and true fire!

'Let me see, what is your true capacity. . . '

'If you die under this move, it means you have no value in living. . . '

Fang Xi stood within the Thousand-Armed Buddha's body, his eyes cold. He suddenly waved his hand.

Swish!

Like a blossoming lotus, thousands of arms wielding various weapons transformed into an overwhelming assault, raining down upon Zhang Minting.

Bang!

Zhang Minting's face paled with fright, but it was already too late.

He was struck by a green shield and sent plummeting into a small hill, deeply embedded more than ten zhang into its side.

Rumble!

One green arm after another fell, countless weapons smashing onto the small hill.

In an instant, the entire small hill was razed to the ground.

Within Wujing, the ground trembled, as if a minor earthquake had occurred.

One Martial God True Body after another flew into the sky, but when they saw the green giant on the outskirts of the capital, ten to a hundred times taller than themselves, and its terrifying power, they hastily retreated.

Although most Martial Gods were a group of lunatics, they also knew how to assess the situation and wouldn't pointlessly throw away their lives!

...

"Is he dead?"

The colossal Wood Spirit Dharma Body dissipated. Fang Xi, with hands clasped behind his back, landed before a pile of shattered rocks.

With a sweep of his Divine Consciousness, he saw Zhang Minting at the bottom of the colossal pit, his limbs still relatively intact, but his body resembled a broken rag doll.

However, within this person's Dantian, that Blood Core was still fluctuating, maintaining the last thread of life.

Furthermore, as the Blood Core rotated, dense blood-qi energy was healing Zhang Minting's injuries at an astonishing speed.

"Looks like he's not dead. . . Then come out!"

Fang Xi sent a Divine Consciousness transmission.

A moment later.

Bang!

Rocks flew, and Zhang Minting walked out from within, his clothes tattered, and his legs limping slightly.

Although the Blood Core within him was fully healing his injuries, it wouldn't be a matter of one or two days to fully recover.

At present, he had merely managed to regain a bit of mobility.

"Zhang Minting, greetings, Sect Master!"

Zhang Minting watched the Wood Spirit Divine Light dissipate, revealing that young figure, identical to how he looked a century ago. He himself, just like a century ago, knelt down.

"Mingding. . . You've done well, very well indeed!"

Fang Xi chuckled: "It seems sometimes, necessary free-range cultivation isn't bad. . . To actually break through to a realm beyond Martial God on your own, good, I think highly of you. . ."

Although this Zhang Minting hadn't awakened a fleshly divine ability, it was still quite good, considering he had explored this wild path on his own.

"I wouldn't dare. This is all due to the Sect Master's pioneering efforts. . . When the Sect Master disappeared back then, Envoy Liu led a rebellion. This subordinate had no choice but to suppress it and then temporarily assume the Sect Master's duties. Now that the Sect Master has returned, the Martial God Gate still awaits the Sect Master's decision."

Zhang Minting proactively spoke of the past events.

"It's all old news from decades ago, no need to speak of it. . ."

Fang Xi waved his hand: "You've done quite well as the Sect Master of the Martial God Gate. I think you can be formally reinstated. . . Besides that, tell me clearly about your 'Martial Immortal Way', and the news of demons in Da Liang these past years, especially concerning the Demonic Tree!"

He had no interest in throwing his weight around in Da Liang. Most of his attention would now be placed on the Shard World and the brand new world.

And before coming, he had already conducted a survey of Zhang Minting's actions.

As long as the Martial God Gate's people could live reasonably well under his rule, that was enough.

"Yes. . ."

"Under the Sect Master's guidance, the martial arts I perfected. . . are primarily based on Blood-Qi Core Formation, blended with a bit of Internal Core Art philosophy. . ."

Zhang Minting immediately began to speak rapidly.

Fang Xi listened very attentively. Towards the end, he even placed his palm on Zhang Minting's Dantian, feeling the Blood Core's operation, and then, deep in thought: "Mingding. . ."

"Sect Master, please provide guidance. . . " Zhang Minting's eyes showed anticipation.

Although he had perfected the secret art of Blood-Qi Core Formation, the true beginning was created and summarized by this original Sect Master.

"Your general thinking is correct, but there was a slight mishap in the final step of Blood-Qi Core Formation; you formed a 'dead core'. . ."

Fang Xi sighed, already knowing why Zhang Minting's state differed from a true seventh-stage Body Cultivator.

"Dead core?"

Zhang Minting's expression subtly changed. He had also vaguely felt something was off with his Blood Core. Now, hearing Fang Xi mention it, his heart instantly felt hollow.

"All things carry Yin and embrace Yang; they blend qi to achieve harmony. . . The so-called 'Core Formation' requires a spark of vitality. . . Although your Blood Core barely condensed into one piece, it ultimately lacked that spark of vitality, and thus lacked a bit of immortal golden quality. . ."

Fang Xi looked at Zhang Minting, feeling extremely regretful.

This dead core was similar to a False Core; although the major realm had been advanced, all future hope was completely gone.

Although this martial arts prodigy had pioneered a realm beyond Martial God, facing a major hurdle akin to a cultivator's Core Formation, a single misstep had ultimately severed his path completely!