Chapter 303: Perfecting the Martial Dao, The Struggle Between Immortal and Martial

"What about Innate True Qi?" Xu Chuan asked.

"True Qi is naturally the foundation, so I will create a Guiding Art of my own. It will allow people to sense heaven and earth, making it much easier to draw True Qi into the body," he explained.

Xu Chuan pondered for a few breaths before replying, "Wouldn't doing so raise the threshold of the Martial Dao?"

"No, the Guiding Art can be cultivated indefinitely. However, martial artists who successfully cultivate True Qi will progress through the Mortal-Shedding Realm much faster.

"Even without developing True Qi, they can still reach the stages of Skin Refining and Flesh Refining.

"Both are realms of tempering the physical body. Ordinary physical conditioning will also be effective. This process should naturally give birth to strands of Qi and Blood power, thereby enhancing one's physique and strength."

"However, starting from Organ Refining, mortal methods will struggle to provide effective tempering. Without True Qi, a martial artist will likely remain stuck at this realm for their entire life."

"I see. So Skin Refining and Flesh Refining are equivalent to the former Postnatal realm, while the latter three are equivalent to the Innate Realm and above."

"Exactly. Experiencing these five major realms will temper a martial artist's body to a state of far greater perfection, making them powerful enough to surpass martial artists of the past.

"Although the Divine Aperture is said to be located at the glabella acupoint, the space within is actually like a vast, boundless galaxy. Furthermore, the exact location of the Divine Aperture varies for each person depending on their individual circumstances.

"Only by intimately knowing one's physical body to an extremely profound degree is it possible to find it."

Xu Chuan smiled faintly. "Since you are going to create a Guiding Art for drawing True Qi into the body, you might as well create a method for locating the Divine Aperture too."

"This grandson will do his best," Xu Jingwu replied.

"Go on. Once you are fully prepared, go give those mortals a proper shock. Show them what a true prodigy looks like!"

"Understood."

Xu Jingwu exited the Xu Clan's Space.

Xu Chuan muttered to himself, "This grandson of mine is frighteningly outstanding. His future accomplishments will likely be second to none in the entire Xu Clan."

Xu Jingwu stayed behind closed doors, dedicating himself entirely to secluded cultivation.

He spent half a year creating the "Martial Canon" cultivation method, its first volume being the Mortal-Shedding chapter.

This also included a technique known as the "Heaven and Earth Intercourse Guiding Technique".

However, he had yet to invent a secret method for locating the Divine Aperture.

The main issue was simply a lack of time.

Next came the experimentation phase.

Xu Jingwu cultivated it himself. However, to minimize external influences, he asked Xu Mingwei to seal his Qi and Blood, True Qi, and Niwan Palace.

He cultivated while simultaneously checking for flaws and filling in the gaps, gradually perfecting the "Martial Canon".

Even so, the robust foundation of his physical body remained.

Because of this, his cultivation speed was shockingly fast.

In one day, he reached the peak of Skin Refining; in three days, the peak of Flesh Refining; in half a month, the peak of Organ Refining; in a month, the peak of Bone Refining. Three days after that, he achieved perfection in Blood Exchange, stepping directly into the peak of the Mortal-Shedding Realm.

Once the Blood Exchange process began, it had to be completed in one continuous effort. If interrupted, one would be forced to start over from the very beginning.

Blood flowed through the limbs and bones, including the brain. Its importance was immeasurable.

It also contained an inconceivable power capable of triggering a metamorphosis in the physical body.

'Only with perfect Blood Refining can the martial body truly reach its peak, allowing one to meet mid and high-grade magical artifacts head-on,' he thought. 'In the past, when martial artists reached Peak Grandmaster, they could only compare to the early phase of the 9th Layer of Qi Condensation.

'But a martial artist with perfect Blood Refining at the peak of the Mortal-Shedding Realm is not the slightest bit weaker than Peak Qi Condensation.

'In close combat within ten paces, they could easily ensure an immortal cultivator wouldn't even have time to unleash their magical artifacts!'

'However, regarding the secret method for locating the Divine Aperture... right, perhaps a resonance method could be used. With the assistance of someone who has already opened their Divine Aperture, they could utilize aperture resonance to help a martial artist pinpoint their own Divine Aperture much faster.

'If cultivating alone, one can only rely on their own Qi and Blood power, running the Great Circulation over and over again until they finally discover it.'

'It is difficult for immortal cultivators to reach the Foundation Establishment Stage, so it naturally won't be easy for martial artists to reach the Origin Martial Realm. It might even be much harder.

'Furthermore, locating the Divine Aperture through resonance means being tainted by another person's mental power. After breaking open the Niwan Palace, their divine sense might be a notch weaker compared to those who broke through relying solely on themselves.'

'Those who take shortcuts must ultimately pay the price.'

'When my comprehension of the Martial Dao deepens, I might be able to truly create a secret method for locating the Divine Aperture. With my current foundation, this resonance method is already my limit.'

Relying on his own strength, Xu Jingwu blasted open the restrictions of his Niwan Palace and entered the Origin Martial Realm once again. Although his overall power hadn't increased, his physical body was now near perfect, far surpassing its previous state.

'I'll create a few more martial skill moves tailored to myself and prepare a handy weapon. Once everything is ready, I'll go question the Dao of the world.'

Even though Xu Jingwu had not been taught directly by the Xu Clan, he had perfectly inherited the qualities of the Xu family.

Inventing martial skills wasn't difficult; the real challenge lay in finding a suitable weapon.

An immortal cultivator's magical artifacts were controlled by divine sense and required mana to unleash their power. Trying to activate one with True Qi yielded absolutely no reaction.

Even if an Origin Martial Realm martial artist controlled them with divine sense, they would function no differently than ordinary sturdy weapons.

Right when Xu Jingwu felt troubled by this dilemma.

Over in the Heavenly Foundry Sect, Xu Deling had long since begun researching weapons for martial artists under Xu Chuan's orders.

During this period, she had browsed through massive amounts of ancient classics on the Dao of Artifacts within the Heavenly Foundry Sect.

Eventually, she discovered a method for refining weapons using Qi and Blood. This meant that a Mortal-Shedding Realm martial artist could refine a weapon by imbuing it with their own Qi and Blood.

This process was much closer to forging a Natal Magic Treasure.

Even if an immortal cultivator managed to acquire such a weapon, without boundless Qi and Blood, it would be extremely difficult for them to thoroughly refine it for their own use.

Next came researching how to allow a martial artist's True Qi to activate the weapon and unleash its power.

She sought out many individuals who practiced the Martial Dao, having them assist her with the refinement process.

Several months later.

After countless attempts, Xu Deling finally forged a weapon perfectly suited for martial artists.

"Since little Wu named the new martial realm the Origin Martial Realm, I'll name this category of weapons Origin Tools," she decided.

A few days later.

When Xu Chuan invited everyone into the Xu Clan's Grotto-heaven for a meeting, Xu Deling shared this new forging method with them.

"Thank you, Grandaunt," Xu Jingwu said.

Xu Jingwu was rather surprised. 'As expected, anyone capable of becoming a core member of the Xu Clan is far from simple!' he thought inwardly.

Xu Chuan instructed, "Mingwei, have our top blacksmiths forge weapons using this method. Strictly forbid them from spreading it outside the clan.

"Little Wu, when you preach the Dao in the future, pass down this Origin Tool forging method as well."

"Yes, Father (Old Ancestor)," they replied in unison.

"It is a pity that I am far away in Heavenly South and cannot personally witness you questioning the immortals on the Dao. I imagine it will be an incredibly fascinating scene," Xu Chuan chuckled.

A few months later.

The Heaven Shifting Staff, comparable to a Top-Grade Magical Artifact, was born.

It was refined by the ancestor of the Qin family in Tongshan Commandery, whom the Xu Clan had secretly taken in. This ancestor had also reached Late Foundation Establishment. Empowered by the artifact refinement inheritance provided by the Xu Clan, his crafting attainments had climbed to an entirely new level.

He was significantly stronger than Wu Mingsheng in this regard.

Unfortunately, he did not have much lifespan remaining.

When the Heaven Shifting Staff was handed over to Xu Jingwu, he could hardly bear to put it down.

Just as magical artifacts did for immortal cultivators, Origin Tools could exponentially boost a martial artist's combat power.

If Xu Deling had refined it herself, she might have even crafted a Two-patterned Origin Tool.

Artifact Patterns made no distinction between magical artifacts and Origin Tools; thus, they were universally applicable.

With the emergence of this new martial realm, the status of blacksmiths would likely rise further, eventually reaching heights comparable to alchemists.

However, the same could not be said for Array Masters and Talisman Makers. Without the mana of an immortal cultivator, arrays and talismans simply could not be activated, making them entirely unsuited for martial artists.

Yet, whether corresponding professions would branch out in the future remained hard to predict.

Half a month later.

With everything fully prepared, Xu Jingwu made ready to set off for the Immortal Martial Alliance Headquarters.

"Second Brother, I intend to do something major today. Are you interested in coming along?" he asked.

Startled by the question, Jiang Feng asked, "What sort of major event?"

"Follow me, and you'll find out."

"I'll go!"

Fifteen minutes later.

"Big Brother, this road leads to the Immortal Martial Alliance Headquarters. Could it be that you've received an invitation from the Alliance to take up an important post?" Jiang Feng asked.

Thanks to Xu Jingwu, the Jiang family had also joined the Immortal Martial Alliance, becoming an official member of the Martial Alliance branch.

Any ambitious martial or immortal clan would do the same.

However, it was typically only those from immortal clans who received any true respect, while martial artists consistently languished at the bottom of the hierarchy.

The vast majority of martial artists ended up serving as mere servants or guards for various immortal aristocratic families.

Meanwhile, most martial guards within the Immortal Martial Alliance were recruited through the recommendations of those very immortal families.

Nowadays, the threshold for studying martial arts had been significantly lowered. As a result, the number of martial artists across various commanderies had skyrocketed, to the point where youths practicing martial skills could frequently be seen even in remote rural villages.

Two hours later.

Before the grand gates of the Immortal Martial Alliance Headquarters.

"Halt! This is the Immortal Martial Alliance Headquarters. Idle wanderers are strictly forbidden from approaching. If you possess an Alliance disciple token, present it immediately.

"You may only pass after verification."

Xu Jingwu signaled for Jiang Feng to step back. He then clasped his hands and boldly declared, "Jiang Wu of the Jiang family, a member of the Martial Alliance! Today, I am willing to carve a new path for the Martial Dao and question the Dao of the immortals!"

The several gatekeeping disciples, all in Late-Stage Qi Condensation, exchanged bewildered glances before erupting into boisterous laughter. "Carve a new path for the Martial Dao?"

"Question the Dao of the immortals?"

"Are you trying to kill us with laughter so you can sneak in?"

"Shoo, shoo! Get far away from here, or we won't be polite anymore!"

"What new path does the Martial Dao have? It's nothing but a dead end!"

The four gatekeeping disciples mocked him relentlessly.

Xu Jingwu merely shot them a light glance. Immediately after, a terrifying pressure crashed onto the shoulders of all four men, causing their bodies to abruptly sink. Their knees trembled uncontrollably, slowly bending toward the earth.

"Today, I, Jiang Wu, shall carve a new path for the Martial Dao, and right before the Immortal Martial Alliance, I question the Dao of the immortals!"

His voice exploded like booming thunder, rolling out in every direction.

Not far from the Immortal Martial Alliance Headquarters was the most bustling marketplace.

Countless people heard the thunderous voice and tilted their heads toward the source, erupting into widespread discussion.

"Did I hear that right just now? Someone wants to carve a new path for the Martial Dao, and question the Dao of the immortals?"

"It's just grandstanding to please the crowd. Where could there be a new path for the Martial Dao?!"

"Someone is definitely trying to stir up trouble. Let's go take a look."

"Jiang Wu? Could it be that martial arts prodigy from our Guangling Commandery who reached Peak Grandmaster before turning twenty? Don't tell me he really opened up a new path for the Martial Dao?"

The news spread like wildfire, and countless busybodies swarmed toward the Immortal Martial Alliance Headquarters.

Inside the headquarters, countless immortal cultivators, martial artists, and elders also heard his declaration.

Scores of people stepped out from the Artifact Refining Pavilion, the Pill Refining Pavilion, the Formation Pavilion, the Talisman Pavilion, and the Law Enforcement Hall, casting their gazes toward the main gates.

Xu Mingyuan, as the First Elder, had specifically convened the Council of Elders today.

Almost all the Foundation Establishment Elders from the various commanderies of the Alliance had gathered at the headquarters.

After decades of development, the positions of Alliance elders were now exclusively held by Foundation Establishment cultivators. All elder seats previously held by anyone below Foundation Establishment had been abolished.

Voting power had similarly been concentrated into the hands of the numerous Foundation Establishment Aristocratic Families.

This was a disguised form of centralization, an inevitable evolution in the Alliance's growth.

The Council of Elders was not convened frequently. When it was, most Foundation Establishment Elders from the commanderies would merely send a token representative.

Yet today, they were all present in full force.

This was solely because the one who summoned the council was the long-secluded First Elder of the Immortal Martial Alliance, Xu Mingyuan.

Xu Mingyuan was the highest authority in the Alliance, and he completely represented the will of the Xu Clan.

No one dared to be absent.

"What major event do you think prompted the First Elder to suddenly convene this meeting?"

"Could it be that the former First Elder is finally emerging from seclusion?"

"Or perhaps we are going to war with Great Liang, and he intends to dispatch disciples to the battlefield?"

"Today, I, Jiang Wu, shall carve a new path for the Martial Dao, and right before the Immortal Martial Alliance, I question the Dao of the immortals!"

This vigorous voice echoed like a cracking thunderbolt, startling all the elders inside.

"What in the world is happening out there?"

Xu Mingyuan, Xu Mingwei, Xu Mingxuan, Xu Mingshu, Xu Mingqing, Xu Dezhao, and Xu Deheng suddenly materialized in the hall.

The other elders jumped in surprise, quickly rushing forward to salute them. "Greetings, First Elder."

"It must be some fool not knowing the height of heaven or depth of earth causing a ruckus at the gates. I shall immediately send someone to drive him off," one of the resident headquarters elders volunteered, cupping his hands.

Xu Mingxuan smiled faintly. "Wait a moment. Why does it seem like I just heard something immensely interesting?"

"Carve a new path for the Martial Dao, and question the Dao of the immortals?"

"If I recall correctly, the Martial Alliance has gathered quite a few Peak Grandmasters over the last decade to research a new path for the Martial Dao. Could it be that they've finally succeeded?"

"Elder Mingxuan, I have not received any such news," the resident elder replied. "If they truly produced results, it would be a world-shaking event. The Martial Alliance wouldn't possibly keep it hidden."

"Jiang Wu... The Jiang family, if I remember right, is a newly risen martial clan in the Commandery City of Guangling Commandery. They've only been developing for four or five years," someone noted.

"Elder Mingqing is correct. This Jiang Wu possesses exceptional innate aptitude in martial arts, having reached Peak Grandmaster before the age of twenty."

"Let us go take a look, then," Xu Mingyuan finally spoke. "Let us see exactly what new path he has carved out, and how he intends to question the Dao of the immortals."

With the First Elder's word, the matter was settled.

The crowd of elders proceeded outward in droves, followed closely by numerous members from the various pavilions and halls.

They were all equally curious.

Seeing people approaching, Xu Jingwu withdrew his pressure. The four gatekeeping disciples instantly breathed sighs of relief, only to then spot the massive, imposing throng of elders bearing down on them.

Why had all the elders come out today?

A sizable crowd of onlookers had also gathered not far away.

Jiang Feng stood trembling off to the side, drenched in a cold sweat.

'Has my brother lost his mind?!' he panicked.

"Your name is Jiang Wu?" Xu Mingyuan asked.

"Yes, First Elder," Xu Jingwu replied.

"How did you know it was me?"

"The only person who could be surrounded by the entire elder assembly of the Immortal Martial Alliance like stars orbiting the moon is the First Elder."

"You have a bit of cleverness to you."

An elder stepped forward, scowling. "You claimed earlier that you opened a new path for the Martial Dao? Hundreds of Peak Grandmasters in the Martial Alliance have researched for over a decade without any results. How dare you spew such arrogant nonsense?"

"Just because others failed does not mean I cannot!"

"The elders present all hail from various Foundation Establishment Aristocratic Families. I dare ask, do any of your clans possess a Peak Grandmaster under the age of twenty?"

"Such brazen arrogance!" a Foundation Establishment Elder scoffed.

"Since you've drawn us out, let's hear exactly what new path you've carved. But if you dare speak nonsense, you shall kneel before the Alliance Headquarters for three days and three nights in repentance."

"The new Martial Dao path I have opened is called the Origin Martial Realm!" Xu Jingwu declared.

"The Origin Martial Realm? What sort of realm is that? I've never heard of it!"

The spectators broke into widespread discussion.

"In the past, when a martial artist reached Peak Grandmaster, they could at most compare to an immortal cultivator at the 9th Layer of Qi Condensation. In fact, a cultivator at the 7th or 8th layer could easily slay a Peak Grandmaster with a magical artifact," Xu Jingwu continued.

Many in the crowd nodded in agreement.

"But starting from today, the Martial Dao shall stand as an equal to the Immortal Dao!"

Countless individuals felt an immense shock reverberate through their hearts.

Just how arrogant was this man to spout such a claim?!

"I have created the 'Martial Canon' and redefined the Martial Dao. I have fused the three realms of Postnatal, Innate Realm, and Grandmaster into a single stage, naming it the Mortal-Shedding Realm.

"A peak Mortal-Shedding Realm martial artist is fully capable of contending with someone at Peak Qi Condensation!"

"What boastful words! Who knows if what you're saying is true or false?!"

"Hearing is false, seeing is believing. That is why I am questioning the Dao of the immortals today. Anyone below Mid Foundation Establishment may come and fight me.

"If I lose, I will cripple my own cultivation and never walk the Martial Dao again!"

Xu Jingwu's words were powerful and sonorous, landing heavily on everyone's hearts like claps of thunder.

"He is so certain of himself... Don't tell me he really did carve out a new path for the Martial Dao?!"

"This would be an earth-shattering event!"

"If the Martial Dao truly rises and can stand toe-to-toe with the Immortal Dao, then the Immortal Martial Alliance would finally live up to its name. Right now, martial artists are nothing more than servants to immortal cultivators."

"Today, we might just bear witness to history!"

"Spread the word! Spread this news to every commandery in the Immortal Martial Alliance!"

"Fine, then let this old man test exactly how much weight your so-called new martial realm holds!"

An Early Foundation Establishment elder rocketed into the sky, hovering high above Xu Jingwu, peering down at him from a superior vantage point.

It was a perfect mirror of how immortal cultivators had historically looked down upon martial artists.

"Might I ask how I should address you, Elder?"

"Longjiang Commandery, Liu Clan, Liu Fuming. I am also one of the resident elders of the Headquarters." A glint of mockery flashed in Liu Fuming's eyes. "From such a great distance, I wonder if your True Qi can even reach this old man.

"Do you need me to descend a bit?"

Many in the crowd flashed a teasing smile.

"For a thousand years, the Martial Dao has always been viewed as inferior, treated as mere mortal means. But today, I shall clear its name!"

Boom! Boom! Boom!

With every step Xu Jingwu took, a sound resembling beating drums reverberated through the air, shaking the hearts of everyone present.

In the past, martial artists were only fit to look up at immortal cultivators from the ground. At most, they could rely on explosive leg strength to momentarily launch themselves into the air.

But in this very moment, that perception was completely rewritten.

With his hands clasped behind his back, Xu Jingwu stepped up into the empty air, walking methodically toward Liu Fuming.

Liu Fuming looked as though he had seen a ghost. He tremblingly pointed a finger at Xu Jingwu. "How is this possible?! How can a martial artist walk on air?!"

'My brother flew up into the sky!'

Jiang Feng's eyes bulged wide, his heart overflowing with thrill.

"He really stepped on empty air, and there is absolutely no sign of him falling back down!"

"Did Jiang Wu truly carve out a realm beyond Grandmaster?!"

Whether it was the members of the Immortal Martial Alliance Headquarters or the surrounding onlookers, endless discussions erupted among them.

"Why is Elder Liu so surprised?" Xu Jingwu smiled lightly. "When an immortal cultivator is in the Qi Condensation Stage, they also cannot fly without the aid of a magical artifact.

"Since the second realm of my Martial Dao stands on par with Foundation Establishment, shouldn't riding the wind and walking on air be perfectly normal!"

Countless martial artists immediately cheered. "Grandmaster Jiang is right! As a path of cultivation, the Martial Dao is not inferior to immortal cultivation. It's just that immortal cultivation is already a perfected system, while the Martial Dao simply lacks one!"

"Now that the second realm of the Martial Dao has been opened, can the third and fourth realms be far behind?!"

Xu Jingwu eventually came to a halt about a hundred meters away from Liu Fuming.

Liu Fuming was drenched in sweat.

This battle was no longer just about his personal honor or disgrace; it was a pure clash between the Immortal Dao and the Martial Dao.

Even if the second realm of the Martial Dao had genuinely been opened, just as someone had said, the Immortal Dao was an ancient, fully realized system, whereas the Martial Dao was barely taking its first steps.

Even at the same realm, how could the Martial Dao possibly compete against the Immortal Dao?!

Liu Fuming didn't waste any more words. Brushing a hand over his storage pouch, a Top-Grade Flying Sword and a Fine-Grade Magical Artifact defensive shield materialized before him.

The tip of the flying sword aimed dead center at Xu Jingwu's heart.

Everyone present watched the scene unfold with bated breath.

Today was the clash between the Martial Dao and the Immortal Dao!

They were bearing witness to history!

"Go!" Liu Fuming formed hand seals and shouted.

The Top-Grade Flying Sword instantly erupted with a blinding, frigid light. Dark blue mana flowed along its blade as it sliced through the air like a shooting star, lunging straight for Xu Jingwu's fatal heart!

The sword's speed was so extreme that it literally tore through the air, emitting a piercing shriek.

Xu Jingwu's expression remained calm and unhurried. Air currents violently swelled beneath his feet as his figure surged forward instead of retreating, meeting the flying sword head-on like an arrow released from the bowstring.

He raised both hands, causing his liquefied True Qi to instantly erupt. It coated his palms like colored glaze, shimmering with a gentle yet domineering luster, as if he had donned a pair of invisible jade gloves that perfectly blended flexibility and overwhelming ferocity.

"Clang!"

A deafening metallic crash echoed up into the clouds. His right fist, entirely encased in liquid True Qi, smashed directly into the tip of the Top-Grade Flying Sword with sheer brute force!

Xu Jingwu discharged a burst of fist force, causing the liquid True Qi to rebound like a furious tidal wave. The flying sword was forcibly blasted backward, its blade visibly vibrating and emitting a continuous hum.

"What?!"

Liu Fuming's complexion rapidly changed. He aggressively clamped down on his hand seals, making the flying sword execute a sharp mid-air turn. It then transformed into thousands of sword shadows that enveloped Xu Jingwu from all directions.

An elder of the Immortal Martial Alliance gasped in horror. "How can the second realm of the Martial Dao be so robust? He can actually contend against a Top-Grade Magical Artifact using his flesh alone?!"

Xu Mingwei calmly remarked, "Everyone, look more closely. His palms are wrapped in a tyrannical force. If I am not mistaken, that should be the liquid True Qi of the Origin Martial Realm.

"True Qi has always leaned toward the physical, possessing an explosive power that far surpasses mana. By coating his hands in liquid True Qi, he can clash against a Top-Grade Magical Artifact without taking any damage.

"Setting aside his own internal energy, his base physical body is at least capable of barehandedly weathering strikes from a Fine-Grade Magical Artifact."

Xu Mingxuan also chimed in. "Upon reaching Foundation Establishment, mana similarly condenses to a liquid state. It appears the Origin Martial Realm truly is the second realm of the Martial Dao.

"To think that someone actually managed to continue the path of the Martial Dao, which has remained half-crippled for a millennium.

"This child's talent in the Martial Dao is unprecedented in history!"

When it came to showering his own descendant with praise, Xu Mingxuan did so with utter seriousness.

"Elder Mingxuan's words make sense. This lad is indeed incredible. According to the Alliance rules, anyone who reaches Foundation Establishment can become an elder of the Immortal Martial Alliance,

"The Origin Martial Realm is comparable to Foundation Establishment, so we should treat them as equals."

"Absolutely!"

"Precisely!"

Many Alliance elders nodded in agreement.

Xu Mingyuan and Xu Mingwei were perfectly aware of exactly what these people were plotting in their hearts.

Which aristocratic clan didn't have descendants practicing martial arts? In the past, since the Martial Dao was viewed as a dead end, they largely ignored those who pursued it.

Now that someone had bridged the gap in the Martial Dao, those very same martial descendants suddenly had hope.

Reaching the Origin Martial Realm was equivalent to hitting Foundation Establishment, meaning they could enter the Council of Elders.

The more elders they possessed, the louder their collective voice would be in the Alliance.

Furthermore, only by bringing him in as one of their own could they coerce Xu Jingwu into willingly offering up his method for breaking into the new martial realm.

Using forceful measures would only turn them into the target of all arrows.

After today, Xu Jingwu's status in the hearts of martial artists worldwide would soar infinitely high. If the day ever came when he was strong enough...

With a single rally cry, millions of martial artists might blindly follow him to establish a completely independent faction.

In the air, Xu Jingwu twisted, dodged, and shifted positions with such blinding speed that afterimages trailed behind him. He aggressively battered away the incoming sword shadows with his bare hands.

With every shockwave of True Qi, the phantom swords shattered into a sky full of glittering stardust.

He immediately closed the distance to Liu Fuming and fiercely punched the defensive shield.

Boom!

The light screen projected by the Fine-Grade Magical Artifact shield was actually blasted with a massive dent by a single punch.

The explosive might of his liquid True Qi caused all the watching Alliance elders to shoot him sidelong glances in awe.

"Just as a Grandmaster's burst of True Qi eclipses the mana of a Qi Condensation cultivator, the liquid True Qi of the Origin Martial Realm similarly surpasses the raw explosive force of Foundation Establishment."

"That is a fair assessment, but the profound nature of Foundation Establishment mana is completely unmatched by True Qi. The various magical arts a cultivator can cast are enough to make a martial artist suffer endlessly."

Right away, several elders engaged in a heated debate over this.

As Xu Jingwu's fist hammered the shield, Liu Fuming was completely blindsided by the devastating impact. Caught off guard, the shield was blasted backward directly into his own body. He was sent tumbling through the air, violently vomiting blood.

Radiant light burst from Xu Jingwu's eyes, and he instantly charged after Liu Fuming.

Seeing this, Liu Fuming formed hand seals without hesitation. The flying sword flared brilliantly, transforming into a massive ten-foot blade that stabbed straight toward Xu Jingwu's unprotected back.

The flying sword was incomparably swift. In the blink of an eye, it was poised to skewer him, but it was intercepted by a translucent barrier.

It was a protective aura cover condensed entirely from Xu Jingwu's liquid True Qi.

The massive sword actually struggled to pierce through it in that fleeting instant, locking them in a brief stalemate.

Meanwhile, Xu Jingwu's fist ruthlessly smashed into the Fine-Grade shield once again.

"Bang!"

The shield guarding Liu Fuming was brutally blasted away, its surface bearing a stark, indented fist print. He himself was sent staggering frantically backward.

However, Xu Jingwu merely curled his hand into a Dragon Claw posture toward the retreating elder and bellowed, "Come here!"

The Dragon Claw instantly generated a terrifying suction force. Liu Fuming exhausted all his strength, but could only barely resist being pulled in.

Capitalizing on that opening, Xu Jingwu swung another punch.

"Do not harm him!" Xu Mingyuan suddenly shouted.

Liu Fuming's mana barrier shattered on impact. Right when he was hanging by a hair, Xu Jingwu pulled his punch, freezing his fist a mere foot away from the elder's chest.

Although his fist stopped, the erupting fist winds still mercilessly threw Liu Fuming tumbling backward.

Liu Fuming violently coughed up blood, as if he had been struck by a massive hammer.

As for the Top-Grade Flying Sword, devoid of its master's control, its might plummeted sharply, allowing the explosive aura radiating from Xu Jingwu to swat it aside.

"Today, I refuse no challengers. Anyone in Early Foundation Establishment is welcome to battle me."

Xu Mingwei had a smile lingering in his eyes. 'He truly belongs to our Xu Clan. Despite possessing ten parts of strength, he only reveals eight,' he mused inwardly.

Although Xu Jingwu had only recently stepped into the Origin Martial Realm, as the pioneer of the second martial realm, he was blessed by heaven and earth, making his foundation incomparably solid.

Future martial artists who broke through would never reach his current level.

If his true combat prowess were laid bare, he was fully capable of crossing blows with geniuses at Mid Foundation Establishment.

The ultimate outcome of such a fight, however, would be difficult to predict.

After all, the gap between each tier of immortal cultivation was astronomical.

Liu Fuming was merely an ordinary Early Foundation Establishment cultivator. His mana was neither pure enough nor boundless enough.

If he had been a true Foundation Establishment Genius, even if he ultimately couldn't defeat Xu Jingwu, he wouldn't have lost so miserably.

After all, Xu Jingwu hadn't even unsheathed his Origin Tool, and of his newly created martial techniques, he had only unveiled a single move: 'Dragon Sucks Water'.

"The standard of immortal cultivators in the Land of Imprisonment is simply too low," Xu Mingyuan softly sighed.

A prodigy like Xu Jingwu was absolutely destined to traverse Heavenly South and spar against the top-tier geniuses of countless supreme factions.

"I will fight you!"

The one to speak up was another member of the Liu Clan. Specifically, it was the current family head, Liu Wuqing, an old rival who had once crossed blades with Xu Mingwei and his peers.

He was now at the absolute peak of Early Foundation Establishment.

Liu Wuqing was overwhelmingly stronger than Liu Fuming, but even he only managed to hold out for roughly five minutes before suffering utter defeat at Xu Jingwu's hands.

This held true despite his Top-Grade Flying Sword, a tyrannical Sword Art, and a Top-Grade shield.

Xu Jingwu systematically dismantled them all with simple, brutal punches.

Midway through the fight, however, he had deployed a few specialized martial techniques, such as the "Fierce Wind Palm".

These were close-quarters combat skills tailored perfectly to his own fighting style, making them tremendously lethal in tight areas.

Following that, several more individuals stepped up to challenge him.

Yet not a single one proved to be his match!

"Jiang Wu!"

It was unknown who first screamed that name, but the voice was hoarse yet brimming with power.

Immediately following, a second voice cried out, then a third... Boundless voices rapidly coalesced, rising from the earth to boom across the heavens like crackling lightning.

"Jiang Wu! Jiang Wu! Jiang Wu!"

Countless martial artists were driven to hot tears, frantically pumping their fists in the air as they roared and screamed.

They had spent their lives crippled by an inferiority complex due to the Martial Dao's innate ceiling, endlessly suffering the scorn and disdain of immortal cultivators.

But today, relying solely on his own bare hands, Xu Jingwu had brutally suppressed multiple Foundation Establishment powerhouses—beings they had always believed were utterly untouchable.

Every single shout was a desperate release of long-repressed emotions, a fervent yearning for the future of the Martial Dao, and the absolute utmost reverence for the pioneer leading them into this new frontier.

The battle cries grew louder and infinitely more synchronized, resembling ten thousand galloping horses or a furiously churning sea, piercing through the dense layers of clouds and carrying for dozens of miles.

An elder hurriedly approached Xu Mingyuan. "First Elder, the Martial Dao is certainly strong, but the Immortal Dao cannot afford to lose! Even if we fall, it should simply mean our aptitude is insufficient and our skills are lacking, not that the Immortal Dao is inferior to the Martial Dao!"

One by one, the elders of the Immortal Martial Alliance snapped their gazes to Xu Mingyuan.

"Eldest Brother, please step in," Xu Mingyuan requested softly.

"Very well," Xu Mingwei agreed.

Giving a slight nod, Xu Mingwei took to the sky, halting directly in front of Xu Jingwu.

Instantly, the roaring cheers of the masses ground to a halt.

"That's Xu Mingwei! The Second Elder of the Immortal Martial Alliance, widely acknowledged as their absolute strongest fighter! Why has he stepped forward?!"

"Isn't this the big bullying the small?"

"Can the Immortal Alliance truly not afford a single loss?"

"Silence!"

Xu Mingwei let out a soft shout, his Peak Foundation Establishment aura exploding outward. Woven deeply within it was an exceptionally unique power.

He was merely half a step away from achieving perfection in the True Intent of Arrows.

Armed with Xu Chuan's previous experiences as a guiding light, Xu Mingwei was also treading the path of forging his own Divine Ability.

A self-created archery Divine Ability!

Because his aura was laced with the embryonic form of this Divine Ability, it practically mirrored a Golden Core Pressure.

Those who had just been screaming felt the crushing weight bear down on them. Their faces drained of all color, and they instantly fell silent as a cicada in winter.

"This elder will not bully you. I will fire only a single arrow, and I will do so without drawing upon my mana. If you can take it, it will be your victory."

"I was just hoping to personally experience the unrivaled grace of the Immortal Martial Alliance's strongest fighter!" Xu Jingwu shot back.

As soon as the words left his mouth, his left hand brushed over his storage pouch. A streak of golden radiance shot out.

"Hum—"

Accompanied by a crisp hum, an ancient, unadorned long staff stood upright in front of Xu Jingwu.

The staff was entirely dark gold and engraved with profoundly mystical patterns. It was the Origin Tool, the Heaven Shifting Staff.

The long staff hovered gracefully through the air, dropping perfectly into Xu Jingwu's grip.

"This junior created the 'Heaven-Shaking Single-Breath Staff Technique'. Today, I beg Elder Mingwei for guidance!"

Xu Jingwu grasped the staff with both hands and violently spun his body. Liquid True Qi surged like a flood tide into the Heaven Shifting Staff, instantly tripling its size. The dark gold patterns flared brilliantly, exuding an indestructible aura.

Air currents exploded beneath his feet, and he launched himself toward Xu Mingwei like an arrow released from the bowstring.

He swept the long staff horizontally. Countless layered staff phantoms howled as they ripped through the air, seemingly intent on slicing heaven and earth in two.

"Is that a magical artifact?"

"It doesn't look like it. Without mana to activate it, a magical artifact could never explode with such tyrannical power. But this item..."

"Could it be a weapon specifically forged for martial artists?!"

Standing securely in place, Xu Mingwei's expression remained perfectly composed. A Top-Grade Treasure Bow and a pitch-black arrow materialized in his hands.

He slowly raised his arms, nocking the arrow against the bowstring.

In the next breath, the bowstring was pulled back into a full moon.

The True Intent of the Dao of the Arrow rippled outward. Spiritual Qi of heaven and earth frenziedly surged toward him, suffocating the entire area in a terrifying archery intent.

Faced with that bone-chilling intent, a single thought echoed in the minds of everyone present: if that arrow were aimed at them, they would undeniably die!

Xu Mingwei's gaze narrowed slightly, and his fingers uncurled.

"Whoosh—"

An invisible beam of arrow Qi pierced the heavens, moving at an inconceivable speed.

"Clang!"

The moment the arrow collided with the Heaven Shifting Staff, a monolithic shockwave traveled down the staff directly into Xu Jingwu's hands. He nearly lost his grip on the weapon entirely.

Xu Jingwu stared in horror at the arrow's terrifying kinetic force.

Immediately following that, an incomparably domineering arrow intent began destroying the dead and pulling up the rotten. It effortlessly penetrated his True Qi barrier, rampaging violently through his body and shredding numerous meridians.

"Pfft—"

Xu Jingwu spewed a massive mouthful of fresh blood. Sent hurtling backward like a kite with a snapped string, the Heaven Shifting Staff slipped from his grasp and plummeted toward the earth.

"To be able to take a single arrow from me... you are very impressive. When this elder was your age, I was nowhere near as capable as you are now," Xu Mingwei stated.

"Thank you for showing mercy, Elder Mingwei," Xu Jingwu replied, cupping his hands.

Despite his polite demeanor, he was aggressively complaining inside his heart: 'Great-grandfather really hit me way too hard!'

Nonetheless, the Martial Dao had risen, proved its worth against the Immortal Dao, firmly overpowered those of the same realm, yet was ultimately suppressed by the strongest fighter of the Immortal Martial Alliance.

This script was more than enough to perfectly pluck the heartstrings of both immortal cultivators and martial artists.

"Starting from today, you shall join the Immortal Martial Alliance's Council of Elders. Do you have any objections?" Xu Mingyuan asked indifferently.

"The First Elder is wise!" the crowd of elders chanted in unison, bowing slightly with cupped hands.

"I..." Xu Jingwu paused for a moment before mirroring their gesture toward Xu Mingyuan. "I am willing to join the Council of Elders."