Chapter 265: Innate Divine Spirit (Two-in-One Chapter)

Outside the courtyard, Qi Tan stood respectfully, dressed in coarse linen clothes.

"Xu Ye, this time, the duel between Sheng Guang Laozu and the General of Heavenly Strategy is an Innate Battle, a rare sight in the Great Xing for a hundred years!

Rumor has it that countless martial artists are rushing to Yangyue Prefecture, not wanting to miss this great battle."

Nowadays, with the help of Lin Chao, Qi Tan has become the leader of the Medicine Gang.

At this moment, he is reporting the affairs of Yangyue Prefecture to Lin Chao.

"An Innate Battle, you say?"

A sharp glint flashed in Lin Chao's eyes.

Over these past seven years, he has been taking medicine that consumes his lifespan, and combined with constant cultivation according to the Thunder Cloud Leg Technique he deduced himself, he has finally broken through to the No Leak Realm.

Other techniques are being cultivated at the same time.

Regarding the Innate Realm, he still has some doubts in his heart at this moment.

"You may withdraw first," Lin Chao said.

"As you command." Qi Tan left respectfully, though he still felt some confusion in his heart.

Over these years, his own strength has been constantly improving.

Yet, he has never been able to see through the strength and realm of this Xu Ling, Xu Ye.

Could it be that he has reached Refining Strength?

Half a day later.

Lin Chao returned to his home.

Yusu was just returning from washing silk; she had her hair tied up and a beautiful face. Seeing Lin Chao, she lowered her head, her eyes filled with a hint of admiration: "Xu Ye."

"Where is Xiao Jing?" Lin Chao asked casually.

"Catching fish in the river," Yusu replied.

"Hmm." Lin Chao smiled helplessly.

Xiao Jing is already nearly thirteen years old; in this world, one could already be married and having children.

Yet, Xiao Jing is still like a child.

Of course, Lin Chao did not mind.

"There might be some turmoil outside recently, so try to go out less," Lin Chao said. Thinking of something, he added, "Also, tell Xiao Jing not to go to the town gatherings for the time being."

About a year ago, the Holy Light Sect resurfaced near Yangyue Prefecture.

Xiao Jing, not knowing what the fuss was about, had joined the gatherings of the Holy Light Sect's believers.

"Alright," Yusu replied. She looked at Lin Chao's profile, and not knowing what she was thinking, she blurted out, "Xu Ye, you have been growing younger and younger over these many years."

"Is that so?" Lin Chao's gaze was calm.

He sighed slightly in his heart.

Seven years is a long time for the people of this world.

Liu Kang, who used to gather herbs with Lin Chao, went to sleep one night after returning from gathering herbs and never woke up.

The faces of the surrounding herb gatherers are aging day by day, Xiao Jing is slowly growing up from a little girl, and Yusu has also become plump and full of charm.

Yet, he has remained unchanged.

Therefore, he, Xiao Jing, and Yusu could never be people of the same path.

Fortunately, when he brought Yusu back, she now has some strength, and she and Xiao Jing look after each other.

If one day he leaves, he won't have to worry about Xiao Jing having no one to care for her.

After all, he is a Longevity Being.

After all, the purpose of his reincarnation this time is to break through to the Ninth Stage Main God Realm.

Everything else is just passing smoke.

Deep in the mountains, the mountain spring tinkled.

Lin Chao closed his eyes and continued to deduce the Thunder Cloud Leg Technique.

The current Lin Chao has already reached the No Leak Realm.

His entire body's Qi and blood are gathered, and his defense is unparalleled.

He can be considered a true Thousand-Man Enemy.

"Strange, according to the deduction, the path ahead only increases some strength.

How can one achieve the Innate state, where a flick of the finger breaks mountains and rivers, and a word changes the wind and clouds?"

Lin Chao frowned and pondered.

"There were some problems with this deduction."

Lin Chao accepted this reality.

"It seems that I still need to make a trip to the duel between Sheng Guang Laozu and the General of Heavenly Strategy."

By observing the battle between Innate Experts, he might be able to glimpse the true secret of the Innate state from their fight.

Otherwise, following his own deductions would require taking many detours and would be too time-consuming.

Of course, observing a battle between experts of this level is prone to being caught in the crossfire and running into trouble.

After all, Innate and No Leak are two different concepts.

No Leak might still be overwhelmed by military formations, but Innate will not.

A sword strike severing a river, a flick of a sleeve collapsing mountains—these are not just empty words.

Fortunately, the Telescope he made last time can come in handy this time.

Lin Chao changed his posture and continued to cultivate other techniques.

With his Qi-Blood full and his techniques added on, Lin Chao asked himself, as long as no Innate Expert appeared, he could walk sideways in this world.

Half an hour later, Lin Chao's eyes did not move.

He suddenly felt an aura appear.

He continued to practice, pretending not to know.

Yet his heart was exceptionally vigilant.

At this moment, a hearty female voice came.

"A unicorn emerges from the countryside; I never expected to see such a powerful martial artist in this rural area."

A middle-aged woman drifted down, possessing an otherworldly temperament.

On the left side of her face, half a mask was attached, making it impossible to see her features clearly.

Looking only at the exposed half of her face, she could be considered a beauty who still retained her charm.

"Greetings, Senior." Lin Chao was secretly vigilant.

Innate, this was definitely the Innate Realm!

His thoughts flickered constantly, and before long, he had a guess in his heart.

This person must be Sheng Guang Laozu.

"Your talent is not bad; to step into the No Leak Realm at such a young age, looking across the world, you can be considered a true young talent."

"Just a stroke of luck." Lin Chao looked at the woman, his face wearing a respectful expression.

No Leak and Innate seem to be only one realm apart, but the gap between the two is immense.

According to Lin Chao's deduction, based on the power division of the Qiyuan World, the No Leak Realm is Fourth Tier, capable of resisting ordinary Spear and some thermal weapons, while Innate is Seventh Tier, where nuclear weapons cannot touch the body.

The Emperor of the Great Xing Dynasty is an expert of the Innate Realm.

Therefore, no matter how muddled and lawless the Emperor is, obsessed with seeking immortality, he remains secure and free of worries by relying on his powerful strength and the four Great Generals of Heaven's Strategy in his hands.

"However, you have fallen into a wrong path." The woman spoke, her face carrying a trace of pity, "What you should be doing now is to take one cultivation method to the Ultimate, rather than practicing multiple methods simultaneously."

"Please, Senior, enlighten me." Lin Chao's expression tightened.

"If you hand over the few cultivation methods you have learned to me, I will tell you the path to the Innate." The woman smiled faintly.

She was Sheng Guang Laozu.

While resisting the rule of the Great Xing, she was also collecting the martial arts of the world, all for the sake of achieving her goal.

"This junior is willing." Lin Chao naturally agreed.

The few cultivation methods he created were no different from the methods of this world.

This woman would not discover anything unusual.

Moreover, he would not give every cultivation method to this woman.

The woman nodded, her eyes carrying an inexplicable expression.

"Do you know why the Innate is called Innate?"

"This junior does not know." The learned are teachers; Lin Chao humbly asked for instruction.

Even though in his past life, he could obliterate countless such martial artists with a flip of his hand.

"In the ancient era, there existed over two hundred Innate Gods in this world.

The martial arts we learn today all come from these two hundred-plus Innate Gods."

In Lin Chao's heart, he instantly thought of those two hundred and fifty-seven Parasitic Seeds.

Could it be that the two were related?

"Innate Gods?" Lin Chao took the opportunity to show a look of shock on his face, "Where are they now?"

It seems that while he was asleep, many changes occurred in this world.

"Dead." A cold smile appeared on the woman's face, "These two hundred-plus Innate Gods were merely a flash in the pan.

After they created the Qi-Blood Martial Dao, they perished."

"The Qi-Blood Martial Dao was created by the Innate Gods?" Lin Chao was slightly stunned.

His Ten Thousand Spirits Blood, it seems, is also quite extraordinary, as it can even create Innate Gods.

"Exactly."

Lin Chao could detect that when mentioning the Innate Gods, a cold look flashed in the woman's eyes.

As if she held a faint dissatisfaction or hatred toward the Innate Gods.

"The so-called Innate Realm is nothing more than... choosing to believe in a god and using one's own Qi-Blood to exchange for Innate Power.

And because you practice multiple martial arts, your Qi-Blood is mottled and impure, so naturally, you cannot exchange for Innate Power.

If you want to achieve the Innate, the first thing to do is to disperse other cultivation methods and keep only one type of Qi-Blood; only then will you have a glimmer of a chance."

The Qi-Blood Martial Dao instantly turned into believing in a divine path.

This change and leap were significant enough.

"Many thanks, Senior, for the enlightenment." The doubts in Lin Chao's heart were instantly resolved.

The cultivation methods he deduced were for continuing to strengthen Qi-Blood.

While the Innate path is about exchanging Qi-Blood for Innate Power.

This is not in the category of cultivation methods at all.

It is more like... a transaction.

"These are the few cultivation methods this junior practices." Having obtained what he wanted, Lin Chao orally recounted his cultivation methods to this Innate Expert.

"These few cultivation methods are quite unique; I have never seen them before." Sheng Guang Laozu was slightly surprised.

She collected the martial arts of the world to accomplish a great cause.

She was knowledgeable and had seen almost every kind of martial art.

The few before her eyes were slightly unique.

"This was something this junior accidentally picked up in the mountains."

"Perhaps it is a martial art from the ancients." They were merely a few decent martial arts, and Sheng Guang Laozu did not pay them much mind.

She looked at Lin Chao and asked casually, "Are you willing to follow me?"

"Apologies, Senior. This junior only wishes to pursue the Martial Arts and seek longevity."

"Longevity?" A complex expression appeared in the eyes of Sheng Guang Laozu, and she muttered to herself, "We who are watched by the Innate God... where is there any longevity to speak of?"

Sheng Guang Laozu could not help but think of her master.

Her master once said that the Innate God gave them powerful strength, but also severed their path to longevity.

They... could only walk the path of Qi-Blood Martial Dao to become stronger.

Even if they became stronger, they could not obtain longer lifespans.

This was the Impose of the Innate God upon them.

She, Sheng Guang Laozu, wanted to do something.

There were no predecessors, and if she failed, perhaps there would be successors.

After Sheng Guang Laozu finished speaking, her figure vanished in an instant.

Lin Chao sat in the wilderness, his gaze complex.

"Believe in the gods?"

Only now did he gradually understand the truth of this world.

"So, it is truly as I guessed.

These Innate Gods are enslaving the humans of this world?

The cultivation of martial artists is just working for these Innate Gods?

Once the Innate Experts reach a certain number, these Innate Gods will awaken?"

Lin Chao thought casually.

Of course, a guess is just a guess; it is not necessarily the truth.

"Must I disperse my cultivation?"

According to what Sheng Guang Laozu said, only by dispersing other Qi-Blood can one possibly be accepted by an Innate God and subsequently achieve the Innate state.

"Wait until I reach the perfection of the No Leak Realm and see if I can break through to the Innate state before discussing whether to disperse my cultivation."

"If I believe in myself, what then?"

After all, perhaps he who is in the Heavenly Vault can also count as an Innate God.

Believing in myself and then achieving the Innate state—that should be fine, right?

"Moreover, why do these Parasitic Seeds give me a familiar feeling?"

Lin Chao's gaze was complex.

July 30th, sunny.

Yangyue Prefecture.

The duel between Sheng Guang Laozu and the Heavenly Strategy General Bai Zhanfeng began.

Countless heroes of the Jianghu gathered in Yangyue Prefecture.

It was rumored that over twenty martial artists of the No Leak Realm had arrived in Yangyue Prefecture, just to witness the might of an Innate Expert and break through to the Innate Realm.

The hour of Wei (1:00 PM - 3:00 PM).

Sheng Guang Laozu, in fluttering white robes, arrived through the air, causing countless knights to look up, yet they saw nothing clearly.

The Heavenly Strategy General Bai Zhanfeng had been waiting for a long time, holding a Panlong Spear, his momentum like a rainbow.

Without any exchange of words, the great battle began directly.

After only twenty rounds of combat, the Heavenly Strategy General Bai Zhanfeng was already at a disadvantage.

This left countless martial artists horrified.

The Great Xing Dynasty had many Innate Experts, but there were only four who could be called Heavenly Strategy Generals.

The Heavenly Strategy General Bai Zhanfeng ranked among the top of all Innate Experts in the Great Xing.

For Sheng Guang Laozu to gain the upper hand in twenty rounds was too fierce.

The situation was already one-sided; if it continued, Sheng Guang Laozu would surely win, and Bai Zhanfeng would surely lose.

By then, Yangyue Prefecture would return to the hands of the Holy Light Sect.

However, what was unexpected was that while Sheng Guang Laozu and Bai Zhanfeng were fighting, someone suddenly launched a sneak attack on Sheng Guang Laozu.

The person who launched the sneak attack was none other than another Heavenly Strategy General, Wu Hen.

Under Wu Hen's sneak attack, Sheng Guang Laozu suffered heavy injuries.

With two Heavenly Strategy Generals joining forces, Sheng Guang Laozu would surely die!

Countless people felt pity, thinking that the stunning and peerless Sheng Guang Laozu was going to die in Yangyue Prefecture.

On the great mountain, Lin Chao put down his Telescope.

"The outcome is decided; the Great Xing is about to change."

Two Heavenly Strategy Generals were battling Sheng Guang Laozu.

It looked like the Heavenly Strategy Generals would surely win.

But with Lin Chao's discernment, he could see that although Sheng Guang Laozu had suffered such heavy injuries, she still had the strength to defeat the Heavenly Strategy Generals.

Half an hour later, on the city wall of Yangyue Prefecture.

Sheng Guang Laozu held a severed head in her hand.

This head was none other than that of Heavenly Strategy General Bai Zhanfeng.

In today's battle, one of the two Heavenly Strategy Generals died and the other fled.

Countless martial artists watched this scene, their hearts filled with horror.

The strength of the Innate, terrifying to this extent.

Those martial artists of the No Leak Realm felt an even greater sense of yearning in their hearts.

The Innate are the only true martial artists.

With a mere movement, mountains and rivers crumble, and streams are severed.

Martial artists like them, who bear the titles of Thousand-Man Enemy or several-thousand-man enemy, are merely mortals after all.

In Yangyue Prefecture city, Sheng Guang Laozu tossed Bai Zhanfeng's head into the sky.

"Today, I become the Saint King and establish my capital in Yangyue."

An Innate Battle thus came to an end.

Yangyue Prefecture changed hands once again, falling into the control of the Sheng Guang Army.

This time, Sheng Guang Laozu even declared himself Saint King and established his capital in Yangyue.

This world, I fear, will fall into great chaos.

In the Daxing Kyoto, I fear everyone will feel endangered this time.

After all, in previous great battles, only soldiers died.

This time, the one who died was a Heavenly Strategy General.

This has shaken the foundations of Daxing.

Deep in the mountains, Lin Chao muttered to himself: "Doesn't this mean the value of my courtyard in Yangyue Prefecture has gone up?"

His figure vanished, returning to Liu Family Village.

Half a year later.

Lin Chao looked at the letter on the table, a helpless expression appearing on his face.

Yusu was wrapped in a pale cyan long dress, her beautifully lined neck and fair, delicate collarbone exposed, adding a touch of radiance; a sash was tied around her waist, making her slender waist look fragile and graspable, appearing touching and lovely.

"Master Xu, Xiao Jing is getting older after all."

She snuck a glance at Xu Ling, and a flush crept up her pretty face.

Before Xiao Jing left, she had secretly sought her out, saying she would give her and Xu Ling more private space.

She also felt some anticipation in her heart.

"Hmm." Lin Chao looked at Yusu, "Xiao Jing is still young, go and keep Xiao Jing company."

Some time ago, the Sacred Maiden of the Holy Light Sect died from her severe injuries.

The Saint King had declared he would take in a new personal disciple and appoint her as the Sacred Maiden.

This attracted countless women from the martial arts world, and Xiao Jing also ran over to join in the excitement.

"Master Xu..." Yusu gritted her teeth and boldly moved a little closer to Lin Chao.

For a woman to be twenty years old and not yet married is already rare in this world.

Yet she had always kept herself chaste.

The woman's faint, refreshing scent drifted over; Lin Chao's gaze was calm, his heart like still water: "Xiao Jing hasn't gone far yet; it's still not too late to go now."

A trace of disappointment flashed through Yusu's heart.

"Alright, Master Xu." She looked at Xu Ling, not knowing why her heart felt empty.

"Go quickly, are you worried you won't see me when you return?" Lin Chao smiled between his brows.

"No... no." A flush crept up to Yusu's earlobes.

Lin Chao smiled.

He watched Yusu's departing figure and sighed slightly in his heart.

Though longevity is good, it also comes with many helplessness.

Thanks to 【Lou Anpo】 for the thousand-coin tip, thank you.

(End of this chapter)