Chapter 110: Is It Really That Simple?

After a long while, Ji Yuanzhen and Liang Jingtang finally came to their senses.

“You really only became a Sect Master not long ago?” Liang Jingtang still couldn’t believe it.

“Master, didn’t I already say I’m the most honest and loyal? How can you still not believe me?” Xia Daoming said helplessly.

Liang Jingtang scoffed, then said, “Daoming, since you have this ability, even if Ma Tong has a cultivator secretly aiding him, your ambush and assassination won’t be a problem—I support your plan. But our elite forces simply can’t be trained in such a short time!”

“Indeed, while martial arts emphasize courage and advancement, under the current state where all factions in Licheng have been severely weakened, it’s impossible to train a large number of Great Martial Masters in such a short time!” Ji Yuanzhen agreed.

“True elite forces are naturally few in number!” Xia Daoming said.

“But the enemy has twenty thousand troops, with four thousand elite soldiers!” Ji Yuanzhen frowned.

“I notice your spirit is full today, your eyes deep and sharp, as if they could pierce through illusions, and your internal qi and strength surge powerfully—surely your cultivation has advanced recently, and you’ve gained insights from studying the Sect Master’s secret map!” Xia Daoming suddenly changed the subject.

Ji Yuanzhen froze in surprise.

This is completely off-topic!

But soon, Ji Yuanzhen fell into thought, then carefully replied, “Since entering the Eighth Rank, I’ve deliberately studied the secret map three times.

Perhaps because of what you said—that my two doses of the secret elixir, facing death and rebirth, shattered and rebuilt me, allowing me to see through many things and clear my thoughts—the first time I studied the Sect Master’s secret map, I touched its spiritual resonance, wandered within it, and gained profound insights.

The second and third times, my understanding deepened further; I glimpsed the secrets to breaking through the Sect Master barrier. But alas, I am old. Even with spirit rice and Phoenix Cry Pills, my chances of breaking through are extremely slim!”

“Old Master, you truly are extraordinary—studying the Sect Master’s secret map just three times, you’ve already glimpsed its secrets!” Xia Daoming said with genuine admiration.

Ji Yuanzhen scoffed dismissively.

You’re barely a child and already a Sect Master—so is this praise or an insult?

Of course, inwardly he grumbled, but Xia Daoming’s words still pleased him greatly, and he felt a quiet pride.

After all, the Ji family had produced only one Sect Master in its entire history—and now he, Ji Yuanzhen, had glimpsed the Sect Master’s secrets. In terms of talent and strength, he could rank among the top of all Ji ancestors!

“Don’t flatter me! I know what you mean, but I won’t become a Sect Master. Even if my strength keeps improving, it won’t matter.

If I became a Sect Master, it would be different—one person alone could surpass the entire elite force of Licheng!” Ji Yuanzhen said.

“Old Master, you’re truly wise—just hearing me speak, you instantly understood my thoughts!” Xia Daoming added, again praising him with admiration.

“I’ve lived a long life, seen many things and people!” Ji Yuanzhen said, stroking his beard with quiet satisfaction.

“I was worried you hadn’t yet glimpsed the Sect Master’s secrets—then Licheng would have at most one more Sect Master, my master, and that still wouldn’t be enough.

But now that you’ve glimpsed the secrets, it’s perfect. If two Sect Masters lead the force, they’d surely count as elite among elites—we won’t need to gather large numbers of troops!” Xia Daoming said, calm and casual.

“What!” Ji Yuanzhen’s beard-pulling turned into a violent yank—he leapt straight out of his chair.

“I—I’m a Sect Master too?” Liang Jingtang’s eyes bulged, his beard bristling, his expression so exaggerated he nearly slid off the chair.

If anyone else said this, he’d dismiss it as nonsense—but Xia Daoming’s words? Totally different!

This kid really can pull off the impossible!

“Old Master, Master, don’t get excited! You’ve both lived long lives, seen many things…” Xia Daoming hurriedly said.

“Cough—!”

Ji Yuanzhen, overwhelmed with emotion, choked on his saliva.

Xia Daoming rushed forward and patted his back.

“Daoming, can I really become a Sect Master?” the Old Master stared at Xia Daoming with hopeful eyes.

Xia Daoming didn’t answer. Instead, he reached out through the air and grabbed the cloth covering the large cart.

The cloth lifted, revealing a massive coiled body of the Golden Scale Blood-Eye Snake, and atop it, a wrapped bundle.

“What a huge Golden Scale Blood-Eye Snake!” Ji Yuanzhen exclaimed in shock.

“No—this snake has legs and a fleshy bump on its forehead—it’s no longer a pure snake, but half-dragon, half-snake,” Liang Jingtang corrected, having practiced the Dragon-Snake Scripture for most of his life and possessing deep expertise.

Yet as he spoke, his face was filled with horror.

“Master, sharp eyes!” Xia Daoming casually flattered him, then reached out again—the bundle atop the snake flew into his hands.

Xia Daoming opened the bundle, took out two snake eggs, and handed them to Ji Yuanzhen. “I ate one of these eggs—the energy is extremely pure, full of vitality, and relatively gentle. Take them, cook them into scrambled eggs to replenish your body. Also, cut off a small piece of the snake meat later.

But the meat is very tough—only you, Old Master, can digest it. Others shouldn’t eat it, or they’ll damage their meridians.

If even this doesn’t let you break through, I’ll get you a spirit fruit—no matter what, I’ll make sure you break through the barrier and regain your youth in a short time!”

Ji Yuanzhen automatically took the two eggs, his mind buzzing.

The Sect Master path—so difficult, unattainable for countless Martial Masters—had become, in Xia Daoming’s hands, nothing more than two eggs and a bit of snake meat!

Ji Yuanzhen simply couldn’t accept it right away!

Liang Jingtang stared at the two eggs in Ji Yuanzhen’s hands, then at the massive half-dragon snake on the cart, swallowed hard, and forgot all about his dignity as a master—he leaned forward, face beaming, and said, “Daoming, what about me? Old Master has the Sect Master’s secret map—I don’t. Even if you give me more eggs, it won’t help!”

“Sect Master maps can only be made by Grand Sect Masters—I don’t have one!” Xia Daoming blurted out.

“Then how do I become a Sect Master? Don’t abandon me!” Liang Jingtang was stunned.

He’d assumed Xia Daoming had become a Sect Master by acquiring a Sect Master map on this trip—only to find he didn’t have one!

Without a Sect Master map, eating more eggs would be useless!

Seeing Liang Jingtang’s stunned expression, Ji Yuanzhen felt a touch of sympathy—and superiority.

Having a Sect Master map really is different!

You can study it whenever you want—so when opportunity strikes, you’re ready.

Otherwise, you’re just staring helplessly.

As Ji Yuanzhen was quietly basking in his superiority, he saw Xia Daoming pull a red fruit from his satchel and hand it to Liang Jingtang.

“Master, studying the secret map takes too much time, energy, and mental strain! For the next few days, eat more snake meat—you practice the Dragon-Snake Scripture, so this meat suits you best. Push your qi and strength to peak condition, then eat this fruit—and you’ll naturally comprehend the secret of transformation into a dragon, break through the barrier, and become a Martial Sect Master.” Xia Daoming said.

“That’s it? Just like that?” Liang Jingtang’s eyes widened—he felt like he was hearing a divine scripture.

“Of course it’s that simple! What else would you expect? This is the Dragon Transformation Fruit—said to grow only where true dragons have spilled blood. It naturally carries the secret of transformation.

Those of us who cultivate the Dragon-Snake Scripture, upon eating it, not only gain tremendous power, but naturally comprehend the secret of transformation—more deeply than studying a map!

I risked my life nine times over to pluck this fruit!” Xia Daoming said.

“The world actually has such a miraculous fruit? Eat it, and you comprehend the Sect Master secret without studying a map! Wonderful fruit! Wonderful!” Liang Jingtang stared at the Dragon Transformation Fruit in his hand, eyes gleaming, praising endlessly, eager to bite into it right then.

Ji Yuanzhen watched Liang Jingtang’s ecstatic expression, stunned—and envious.

Ji Yuanzhen stared at Liang Jingtang’s gleaming, excited eyes and was stunned—and jealous!

“Cough—Master, didn’t you hear the last thing I said?” Xia Daoming reminded him.

Sure, I exaggerated “nine deaths,” but you can’t just ignore it!

“Ah, ah, oh, oh—good disciple, good disciple, you’ve worked so hard!” Liang Jingtang finally tore his gaze from the fruit, patted Xia Daoming’s shoulder, and praised him repeatedly.

“Not hard at all—it’s my duty,” Xia Daoming said solemnly.

Ji Yuanzhen felt another pang of envy.

But when Xia Daoming personally sliced a tender piece of snake meat, wrapped it, and presented it to him, Ji Yuanzhen instantly beamed—his quiet superiority began to resurface.

But when Xia Daoming personally sliced off a piece of pale, tender snake meat, wrapped it up, and presented it to him, Ji Yuanzhen instantly felt delighted, and that faint sense of superiority began quietly rising again.

This is something Liang Jingtang can never match!

Secretly smug, Ji Yuanzhen chatted casually with Xia Daoming and Liang Jingtang for a few moments, then picked up the snake meat and walked off with a broad smile.

Since Xia Daoming had become an extremely powerful Sect Master, and both he and Liang Jingtang now had a chance to become Sect Masters soon, Licheng had nothing to fear and nothing left to discuss—the urgent task was to become a Sect Master as quickly as possible.

“Master, is Elder Gu still in Chishui City?” Ji Yuanzhen had barely left when Xia Daoming suddenly asked.

Liang Jingtang’s hand holding the Dragon Transformation Fruit trembled visibly—he nodded. “Yes, he’s still in his hometown in Chishui City. When you gave me the Longevity Jade Elixir, I told Elder Zhuo to deliver some to him during his escort runs, to see if it helped. But his meridians are severely damaged—Longevity Jade Elixir can only do so much.”

Liang Jingtang paused, looked up at Xia Daoming, then fell silent, as if wanting to say more.

“Then next time, have Elder Zhuo go to Chishui City and bring Elder Gu here. Have him eat a bit of spirit rice porridge daily—it should help him recover.” Xia Daoming said.

“Is… is that possible?” Liang Jingtang’s eyes welled up with emotion.

He had once treated Gu Ren as his own son, with deep master-disciple affection.

Since the situation in Licheng stabilized and Xia Daoming entered the Cangmang Mountains, Liang Jingtang had already considered bringing Gu Ren to Licheng to nourish him with spirit rice porridge.

But spirit rice was too important—and it was Xia Daoming’s gift. Even as his master, he dared not make such a decision without permission, and out of respect for his own position, he couldn’t even bring himself to ask.

Now, Xia Daoming had raised it himself—how could he not be moved?

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(End of Chapter)