Anyone who practices the Martial Saint Spiritual Technique is nothing more than nourishment for the Martial Saint.
When this news reached the ears of the crowd, it stirred up a storm of astonishment and fear in their hearts.
With their minds in turmoil, even their attacks momentarily faltered, giving Wu Qingxin a precious moment to catch her breath.
Wu Qingxin multitasked, manipulating her flying sword while also increasing the strength of her voice:
"From the moment you started practicing the Martial Saint Spiritual Technique, your fate was already sealed!"
"Even if hiding at the ends of the earth, the Martial Saint will follow his instincts to kill you one by one."
"Even if seeking refuge in the Immortal Gate…like me, I can only struggle for a moment and will eventually be considered a discarded pawn by the Immortal Gate!"
Wu Qingxin initially only tried to shake their spirits, but as she spoke, sadness overwhelmed her heart…
For several decades, she lived between the Immortal Gate and the Martial Saint, secluded in cultivation all day long, but in the end, she still reached this point.
She sadly smiled and said,"From the vast sky and earth, from the rivers and lakes to the temples, from the secular world to the Immortal Gate, there is no longer the chance for you and me to survive…"
Before her words had even fallen, Qiao Mu used his internal strength to slap her back, causing her to stumble forward two steps and spit out blood.
"Please continue speaking, I’m listening. Say more."
Qiao Mu was calm and composed.
He remained calm as if the fire didn’t burn on him.
Any martial artist in this world, who can reach the rank of fourth level, cannot rely solely on practicing in seclusion. They must go through many battles.
No matter how much experience they have gained from their battles, when faced with a life and death situation, it is nearly impossible for their state of mind to remain undisturbed.
Jade faced Flying Dragon, and the others had to endure the pain of being burned by the fire while also using their internal strength to suppress it. At the same time, they had to fight their enemy, Wu Qingxin, with all their might. Their hearts were already tight with tension.
But Qiao Mu was different. He fought desperately as effortlessly as going to the bathroom.
As Wu Qingxin spoke about the secrets of the Martial Saint, Qiao Mu’s attack didn’t slow down at all. He treated Wu Qingxin as a real combat target.
He was practicing the essence of the Long Life Fist and Ripple Stacking Wave Strength on the sandbag. In fact, Qiao Canxue taught him this secret technique when he was in his twenties, as a member of Heyang City’s Qiao Family.
Now, in his sixties, Qiao Mu’s Stacking Wave Strength has only just broken through to the second level, the level of Double Wave.
He hit Wu Qingxin’s back heart with a punch. The strength of his hand surged with two forces, one bright and one dark, like waves crashing. There were two light sounds as the punch landed.
For a skilled martial artist, when they throw a punch, their maximum force is ten times their strength.
And this Ripple Stacking Wave Strength is about not exhausting all your strength and leaving room for more.
With each punch, only about 60-70% of their strength is used, but in that very short moment of explosive power, a second wave of force is delivered.
When the two waves of force are combined, they become as powerful as crashing waves, unleashing a destructive force of more than 100%.
"Double Wave, using 60% of my strength!"
While Wu Qingxin was talking non-stop, Qiao Mu used the Shadow Step technique and suddenly appeared behind her, throwing a punch.
"Double Wave, using 70% of my strength!"
The simultaneous eruption of the two waves of force generates a destructive power of 140%, causing Wu Qingxin to stumble once again.
However, after being repeatedly sneak attacked by Qiao Mu, she became cautious and used her internal strength, so this time she only stumbled momentarily.
"A martial technique that surpasses full power? Is this your reliance? It’s like sitting at the bottom of a well and looking at the sky."
Wu Qingxin just sneered, she studied under the Martial Saint, so her perspective was extraordinary. When she followed the Martial Saint in her early years, she had seen all kinds of top-notch martial arts and techniques.
When Qiao Mu charged at her again, she swiftly attacked with both palms, intending to directly face off against this six-decade-old martial artist who had just entered the 4th rank.
However, behind her, a flying sword, as fast as a cold star, traced an arc and quickly aimed for the back of Qiao Mu’s head.
It was foolish of her to confront Qiao Mu head-on, especially since this was not a one-on-one duel at all…
Punches against punches, palms against palms, she didn’t aim to completely defeat Qiao Mu head-on. As long as she could block his attacks, that flying sword could silently sever his head!
Qiao Mu didn’tice the flying sword being controlled by Wu Qingxin in secret.
However, he paid no mind to it, and he even relished it.
Compared to dying once again under the scorching flames of Li Fire, going down to the underworld together with Wu Qingxin wouldn’t be bad either.
"Old Hu, and Jade-faced Flying Dragon… I’ll go ahead first!"
Qiao Mu had a smiling expression, looking calm, but suddenly unleashed his hidden internal strength.
"Double Wave, exerting 70% of my power… plus the Heavenly Demon Disintegration Method!"
Within every bone and muscle in his body, Qiao Mu unleashed a vigorous internal strength several times greater, causing a sharp, tearing pain in his arm veins in an instant.
Boom, boom!
With multiple times the powerful force and the simultaneous eruption of Stacking Wave Strength, the sudden surge of power from Qiao Mu far exceeded Wu Qingxin’s expectations.
Under the immense force, her hands twisted, deformed, and broke bones, with the broken and twisted arm bones piercing into her chest.
Blood gushed out as she took several steps back.
The Jade-faced Flying Dragon and the others didn’t stand idly by either.
The clear sound of metal clashing rang out.
Jade faced Flying Dragon used his light skills and, in the blink of an eye, he raised his sword and sent the flying sword aimed at the back of Qiao Mu’s head flying away.
The other two martial artists whose bodies were on fire took the opportunity while Wu Qingxin staggered back, and stabbed her in the back with their knives and swords.
Wu Qingxin froze, her eyes wide open, and the flying sword that was knocked away finally fell to the ground with a crisp sound.
Her chest no longer rose and fell, her breath stopped abruptly.
The villagers from the surrounding mountain village were first filled with fear and panic, but then they started making a lot of noise and commotion.
"It’s over." Jade faced Flying Dragon, standing behind Qiao Mu, sighed softly and looked at the Li fire swirling around his hands and feet.
The fire of this Li fire was a bit smaller, but it hadn’t been extinguished.
"If it’s over, why did you save me?" Qiao Mu turned around and glared at Jade faced Flying Dragon.
Originally, he didn’t want to get too involved with the Wuji Association. Just now, he had a few words with Old Hu, promptly stopping his actions. Unexpectedly, there was another twist in the story.
Jade faced Flying Dragon didn’t understand Qiao Mu’s words, but it didn’t matter because he was soon going to be burned to death.
"…Wu Qingxin died, but Etching Bones Li Fire still hasn’t disappeared, it’s just a bit slower." Jade faced Flying Dragon’s voice sounded tired.
This time, Star Xuan Envoy assembled a team of eleven people, including several 4th rank members. However, in the end, they suffered a complete defeat.
"I heard that the Etching Bone Li Fire Talisman is a symbol specifically designed by the Immortal Gate to target ordinary martial artists. There’s no chance of winning head-on, even a 3rd rank Spirit Refining martial artist can only rely on extraordinary intuition to dodge."
"I thought Saintess Wu Qingxin’s cultivation in the path of immortality wouldn’t last long, and we would have a chance to win. But I underestimated her…"
Perhaps facing death, Jade faced Flying Dragon, who was previously dignified, started to babble.
The martial artists whose hands and feet were on fire each sat in meditation, channeling their internal strength. Even though they knew they were doomed, they still wanted to struggle one last time.
"Ah…" someone sighed, and the atmosphere suddenly became heavy.
And with a sigh.
The bearded swordsman walked out from the sea of fire.
Unexpectedly, he not only had a steady breath, but also didn’t have a single spark on him.
"Old Hu, you…" At this moment, everyone realized that something was wrong.
Without saying a word, the bearded swordsman placed his hand on the sheath of his waist, his hand became blurry.
More than ten bright and sharp sword lights flickered one after another. Then, blood spurted out and chunks of flesh flew in the air.
Including Qiao Mu, four martial artists were covered in blood. There was even one 5th rank martial artist whose arm was instantly cut off by the bearded swordsman.
"You…"
While the crowd was shocked and angry, they were stunned to find that the swirling Li fire around them had disappeared with that bright sword light in the air.
"Did the fire of Etching Bones Li go out?" Jade-faced Flying Dragon felt a strong shock in his heart.
He vaguely sensed that this was completely different from the amazing swordsmanship displayed by the stubble-faced swordsman earlier.
No matter how exquisite the swordsmanship, it is only a skill that can separate burning flesh from intact flesh.
But they have already been burned by the Li fire for some time. Perhaps the Li fire has already penetrated their bones. How can it be divided?
"Did someone forcefully extinguish the Li fire?"
"Is it by a more powerful internal strength or some other kind of power… It turns out there are martial artists in this world who can deal with the Li fire of cultivators…"
Jade-faced Flying Dragon soon had no room for thought.
Because in the instant when the stubble-faced swordsman made his move, an extremely intense trembling feeling suddenly emerged. He instinctively tensed up his whole body, and even his breathing seemed to pause.
Qiao Mu glanced down at his own body.
The flames that were enveloping him had already extinguished. On the part of his skin that had not been burned by the flames, one could see his hair standing on end.
This is a strong intuition that was cultivated through the Martial Saint Spiritual Technique, warning him crazily!
Dead! Dead! Dead!
This intuition was even stronger than when Qiao Mu first encountered Ming Yue, the Female Cultivator who released the Etching Bone Li Fire Talisman. It was as if even normal breathing required great effort.
It wasn’t just Qiao Mu and Jade faced Flying Dragon who practiced the Martial Saint Spiritual Technique.
Even Saintess Wu Qingxin, who should have already died with her chest pierced by a sword, began to tremble slightly at this moment.
First her fingers trembled, then her pupils, and finally her entire body.
She slightly lifted her head and her trembling pupils looked at the person before her.
Unbeknownst to them, a bright moon rose from behind the clouds, and faint moonlight passed through the mountains and forests, showering the ground in silver.
In her eyes, the bearded swordsman walked slowly, step by step, getting closer and closer.
As he took his steps, the lingering fire on the ground around him gradually extinguished.
It seemed as if even the mystical fire of the ordinary martial artists’ magic would bow down and disappear in front of this man.
The bearded swordsman’s face slowly transformed, changing his features and becoming a completely different and unfamiliar face.
It was a face that couldn’t be pinpointed to a specific age. His deep eyes resembled an old man who had seen the sorrows of the world, but there were no visible age spots or wrinkles on his face. His countenance was broad, firm, and composed, but his brows were slightly furrowed.
His long hair fell casually on his shoulders, displaying a grayish-white color that only middle-aged people possess, yet it was also thick like that of a young person. Especially under the faint illumination of the night, it seemed to have a subtle shimmer.
"Qingxin, I sent you to the Xuantian Sect for cultivation for a full twenty or thirty years, and gave you so much time to perform, but…" The man looked down at the dying Saintess Wu Qingxin under his feet, disappointment evident on his face.
"Is this it?"
"Martial Saint…" Wu Qingxin raised her head, clenched her teeth, and her captivating face looked slightly ferocious at this moment.
"The Martial Saint Spiritual Technique is a two-way sensing. Even though you created this secret technique, you cannot hide your own traces in only one direction."
"Why?"
"Because I am a Martial Saint," said the Martial Saint casually.
"Just because the Martial Saint from twenty or thirty years ago couldn’t do it, doesn’t mean the present Martial Saint can’t do it."
"If the Martial Saint can’t keep up with the times and continue to break through, how can I be considered saintly? How can the martial path contend with the immortal path?"
"The iron rule of the Martial Saint Spiritual Technique cannot be broken unless it is disassembled."
"So, I specifically created another secret technique called the Xuanming Contain Breath Technique. It contains the ‘spirit’ of the martial artist, leaving only the level of training, evading the vague sensing of intuition."
Wu Qingxin’s pupils slightly contracted. She wanted to say something, but couldn’t find the words.
The cultivation of the immortal path is unknown for its length of time. She closed herself off every day, practicing bitterly, hoping to transcend the distinction between mortal and immortal, as if two or three decades were as fleeting as a blink of an eye.
But the Martial Saint is different.
The Martial Saint said lightly:
"I named you ‘Qingxin’ because I hope your mind is clear and free from distractions, but your mind is slightly lacking."
"Your aptitude for martial and immortal cultivation is actually not bad, it’s just your temperament that is lacking. How can you enter the Spiritual Refining Method with such a fearful heart towards me?"
"If your mind wavers and you dare not break through in martial and immortal cultivation, are you afraid that after breaking through, you will also die at my hands, lose confidence in your choices, and completely collapse your Taoist heart?"
At this moment, the remaining flames around completely vanished.
The flickering of the Etching Bones Li Fire was in Wu Qingxin’s control.
The Martial Saint didn’t intentionally extinguish the remaining fire on the ground, but the fire crawled and disappeared on its own.
This means that Wu Qingxin has completely lost control of her mind.
The fire went out and the faint moonlight in the forest became the only source of light.
In the moonlight, Martial Saint stretched out his hand, and his arm expanded visibly at an incredible speed.
This was not the result of a strong martial artist tensing their muscles. The arm appeared to enlarge by a whole circle.
Qiao Mu and the others could clearly see that the bones in Martial Saint’s palm were making a light cracking sound, as his hand grew from the size of an ordinary person’s hand to bigger than Wu Qingxin’s face.
"What kind of immortal have you been practicing all these years?"
He extended his thumb and index finger, pinching Wu Qingxin’s cheek and lifting her whole body off the ground.
"Disobedient and useless children are meant to be killed."
"So, finally, I ask you…" Martial Saint put away his previously absentminded expression and sternly questioned:
"What is martial arts?"
The voice of Martial Saint echoed in the mountains, carried far away by the cold mountain wind.
Wu Qingxin’s body began to tremble involuntarily, as if she had returned to her timid childhood self.
She couldn’t help but answer, "Martial arts emphasize physicality. The process involves refining and transforming energy into internal strength, which then strengthens the body. When the body is strong, the senses are sharp, and the dan tian is filled with internal strength, one can embark on the path of the Spiritual Refining Method…"
"What is martial arts?" Martial Saint’s expression showed no change as he asked again.
She cautiously replied, "Martial arts, in essence, is the pursuit of combat…"
"What is martial arts?" Martial Saint asked once more.
Shaking, she said, "Martial arts means putting down weapons before picking them up. It is a spirit that transcends mere aggression. A true warrior is fearless and invincible, guided by compassion rather than a thirst for violence."
Martial Saint silently watched him, still without any expression on his face.
"Are you trying to beat around the bush because you’re studying cultivation? You can go to hell!" Martial Saint’s face showed impatience.
"The so-called martial arts is just a fist." He clenched his fist as big as a sand pot and said loudly:
"A big and hard fist is martial arts."
"Martial arts is the kung fu that can defeat and kill enemies."
"Weakness is a sin, and those who lag behind will be beaten. We martial artists should strive for self-improvement, constantly strengthen ourselves, and make our fists bigger and harder."
He tightly clenched his fist, and under the moonlight, his fist gradually grew larger. The veins on his arm looked fierce like earthworms, and even slowly wriggled.
"Then, I’ll ask you again, what is Wuji?" he asked.
This time Wu Qingxin didn’t answer immediately, but pondered for a while before replying:
"The Wuji Association’s purpose is Wuji, to break through the prejudices of the old martial arts world, gather the top secrets of martial arts from all over the world, and elevate martial arts to a higher level, to fight against not only immortals, but also inhuman beings."
Seeing that the Martial Saint showed a hint of impatience, she quickly continued:
"The pinnacle of martial arts is to reach the extreme of martial skills."
"The path of immortality emphasizes the spiritual soul, while the path of martial arts emphasizes the physical body. They are merely different in direction, without superior or inferior. The ultimate goal of martial arts is to defeat immortals using martial techniques."
"No… to train your fists to be as big and strong as inhuman, is the epitome of martial arts!"
Just like not knowing how to answer multiple-choice questions, Wu Qingxin’s mind was in chaos, with all the answers she could think of or couldn’t think of blurting out of her mouth.
Meanwhile, the Martial Saint simply shook his head gently.
"We martial artists, if we only train our fists to be bigger and stronger, and act tyrannically by overpowering the weak, what is the difference from being inhuman?"
"Martial arts aim to prevent war, and preventing war is the essence of martial arts!" the Martial Saint declared.
This answer was the same as the previous answer that Wu Qingxin had denied, and she wanted to argue a little, but dared not.
"Then, what about the so-called extreme of martial arts…" the Martial Saint raised his head, gazing at the moon, bathed in its faint moonlight.
The muscles on his body looked strong and impressive, like a beautiful marble sculpture under the moonlight.
"The pinnacle of martial arts lies in the ultimate strength to conquer all things inhuman and bring eternal peace to the world!"
"This is the way of the martial artist!"
After saying that, he fell silent.
Wu Qingxin’s pupils slightly dilated between his two fingers.
Her youthful face quickly shrunk, wrinkled, and lost its vitality, like withered yellow leaves.
Then her head drooped heavily, and she died completely.
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