Chapter 600: Sacrificing to Heaven

On the cliff terrace, Li Fei was sent flying by a single palm strike.

The person he was challenging this time was Master Qingmu of the Great Luo Sect, whose primary martial art was palm technique.

Just as he was sent flying, a jade-green radiance exploded before his eyes.

This jade-green force transformed into countless specks of light, staining Li Fei's body.

Before Li Fei could react, these specks of light connected to one another, forming dozens of ropes upon him.

These ropes were fluid and full of resilience, capable of continuously dissipating the impact of force.

At the same time, Li Fei's mind was also affected, as if locked by countless invisible ropes; these ropes were like wildly growing weeds, full of vitality and impossible to clear away!

Every move a Martial Arts Master makes is infused with Dao force, and their connection speed is far faster than that of a peak Foundation Establishment martial artist.

After all, one is an ultimate move, while the other is just a basic attack.

Master Qingmu used a chain of combos to completely shatter Li Fei's clones and defenses, exposing a flaw, and the next strike of Dao force followed immediately, successfully controlling Li Fei.

Li Fei unleashed the 【Golden Body of Calamity-Fixing】, attempting to break the control.

He had not been practicing the "Calamity-Fixing Golden Body Method" for long, and previously, he had only barely entered the threshold by relying on his powerful mental strength.

However, after absorbing the sword-practicing memories from Master Qinxie's subconscious world, Li Fei's control over force had improved significantly.

Thus, now that he used the 【Golden Body of Calamity-Fixing】, it could be considered as having entered the hall.

But in front of a Martial Arts Master, he was ultimately a step too slow; by the time he broke free from the restraints, Master Qingmu had already arrived at his side, his palm resting lightly on Li Fei's chest.

"Let's stop here."

Master Qingmu withdrew his palm.

He knew that Li Fei's vitality was astonishing, comparable to that of an exotic beast.

Yet, this palm of his could have completely pierced through Li Fei's chest, thereby shattering Li Fei's heart.

In that case, no matter how strong the vitality, it would be in vain.

Therefore, this "instruction" ended here.

"Many thanks, Master."

Li Fei acknowledged the other's "stop here" and bowed sincerely to him.

Although he had not used the Myriad Blood Pearl in this sparring session, the other party had likewise not used any divine abilities.

Relying on his powerful vitality, he had hard-tanked quite a bit of damage, ultimately lasting thirty-two moves against the other party.

Even though this performance was already considered "monstrous" in the eyes of the Great Luo Sect disciples, Li Fei was not satisfied.

Master Qingmu's strikes were very measured; he had not intended to kill, focusing primarily on control.

This, in turn, made Li Fei realize a weakness of his own:

Once he encountered strong control methods, he easily fell into a disadvantage.

Although the "Calamity-Fixing Golden Body Method" could "break control," his current attainment in the "Calamity-Fixing Golden Body Method" was still too low; it was fine against ordinary opponents, but once he met someone formidable, his "control-breaking" speed appeared a bit slow.

This was a problem the Myriad Blood Pearl could not solve.

"Only through bitter practice of the 'Calamity-Fixing Golden Body Method'."

Li Fei thought to himself.

Having previously severely damaged Master Qingyu's natal flying sword and forced the other party back, he had been somewhat proud for a time.

But these recent days of sparring with the Martial Arts Masters of the Great Luo Sect had allowed him to re-evaluate himself.

Forcing back Master Qingyu was mainly because he happened to counter the other's flying sword and the flying sword's divine ability.

Change the person, change the divine ability.

The outcome of the battle might have been vastly different.

Amidst the worshipful gazes of the young Great Luo Sect disciples, Li Fei turned and left.

In the days that followed, he went everywhere challenging the Martial Arts Masters and True Persons of the Great Luo Sect.

He challenged them every few days, shocking everyone with his exotic-beast-like powerful vitality and recovery speed.

Later, the various powerhouses of the Great Luo Sect were annoyed by him, and one by one, they began to announce their seclusion to cultivate.

Thus, by the beginning of December, Li Fei could no longer find anyone to challenge.

The top-tier True Persons of the Great Luo Sect were either dead or had fled, several Grandmasters had been sent out on missions, and the remaining True Persons and Martial Arts Masters had all announced seclusion.

Now, only Tai Yu remained who had not gone into seclusion.

But no matter how thick-skinned Li Fei was, he was too embarrassed to challenge a Martial Saint.

This month-long challenge journey had indeed yielded great gains for Li Fei:

He had increased his experience in fighting powerhouses of this level, and his "Calamity-Fixing Golden Body Method" had become more proficient.

Most importantly, the Myriad Blood Pearl had upgraded again, and it had leveled up twice in a row!

Previously, after the Myriad Blood Pearl reached level 25, if Li Fei consumed his homemade Nether Spring Poison daily, it would take about four months for the Myriad Blood Pearl to level up once.

But now, only a month had passed, and the Myriad Blood Pearl had leveled up twice:

【Myriad Blood Pearl

Level: 27, 58%

Blood Souls: 841

Blood Soul Skills: Blood Rage (Strong), Blood Fiend (Strong), Blood Might (Strong), Blood Spring (Strong), Blood Breath (Strong)

Transformation Skill: Blood Demon (Strong)】

When the total number of Blood Souls exceeded 800, Li Fei once again gained an opportunity to strengthen a Blood Soul Skill.

He currently only had 【Blood Breath】 that could be strengthened, so he used the strengthening opportunity on 【Blood Breath】.

After 【Blood Breath】 was strengthened, it changed from triggering only when total Blood Souls were below 30% to triggering when below 40%, still recovering 5% of total Blood Souls per minute.

This Blood Soul Skill, 【Blood Breath】, triggers when total blood volume is below 40%, and stops when blood volume exceeds 40%.

Therefore, the higher this trigger threshold, the better.

Compared to his growth in techniques, the Myriad Blood Pearl leveling up twice was what truly caused Li Fei's real combat power to rise by a large margin!

In the days that followed, Li Fei also began his seclusion to cultivate.

Days passed one by one, and soon it was December 28th.

In one more day, it would be the New Year Festival.

This world did not have the concept of the Spring Festival, only the New Year Festival, which was the last three days of each year plus the first two days of the new year; these five days were a nationwide unified holiday.

The New Year Festival was the most important festival of the year, and many sects chose to hold important ceremonies during this time.

On this day, the entire Great Luo Sect began to bustle with activity.

According to custom, every year during the New Year Festival, the Great Luo Sect would hold a Grand Heaven-Sacrifice Ceremony.

The Buddhist school believes in the Buddha, but the Daoist school does not believe in the Dao Ancestor; instead, they believe in the Heavenly Dao.

Therefore, the Grand Heaven-Sacrifice Ceremony is the most important ceremony for the Daoist school.

As the ancestral court of Daoism, every year when the Great Luo Sect holds the Grand Heaven-Sacrifice Ceremony, they also invite representatives from the other two sects to observe and witness it together.

This year was no exception.

On December 28th, people from the Feathering Sect and the Upper Clarity Sect all arrived at Great Luo Peak.

However, compared to the relaxed atmosphere of previous years, the atmosphere on Great Luo Peak this year appeared much more solemn.

Not only that, the items prepared for this year's Grand Heaven-Sacrifice Ceremony were also much more numerous than in previous years.

Great Luo Sect disciples transported boxes filled with precious spell-casting materials to the Cloud Sea Terrace, and Great Mages, each with at least the cultivation of the Possession Realm, led a group of disciples who practiced sorcery to begin setting up the ritual tracks with these materials.

The State Preceptor, Xiang Yunshu, personally sat in command of the plaza, overseeing the entire situation!

Such busyness continued for four days.

On the afternoon of December 31st, a massive array that almost covered the entire Cloud Sea Terrace plaza was formed.

By this time, even the most dull-witted person realized that this year's Grand Heaven-Sacrifice Ceremony was definitely different from previous years.

Although the Grand Heaven-Sacrifice Ceremonies of previous years were equally solemn and grand, and also involved setting up arrays.

They would never have consumed so many materials to set up such a massive array.

Only a few high-level members of the Great Luo Sect knew that to set up this array, a full one-third of the Great Luo Sect's eight-hundred-year-old inventory had been consumed!

While the Great Luo Sect was busy preparing for the Grand Heaven-Sacrifice Ceremony, the Imperial City was equally busy.

All fifteen True Persons of the Orthodox Law Pavilion were dispatched, bringing over a hundred Possession Realm Great Mages to set up arrays around the Altar of Heaven!

This Altar of Heaven was located within the Imperial City and was also specifically used for sacrificing to Heaven.

The imperial court also held a Heaven-Sacrifice ceremony every year during the New Year Festival, and would also have the Orthodox Law Pavilion set up arrays in advance to stabilize the national fortune during the ceremony.

But the scale of the array set up by the Orthodox Law Pavilion this time also far exceeded previous years!

"My lord, after the Grand Heaven-Sacrifice Ceremony, we can return to Lanling City."

Inside the room, Lu Wen said to Li Fei.

Li Fei had spent the vast majority of his time in seclusion cultivating during this period, making it very difficult for Lu Wen to see him.

It was only by taking advantage of the New Year Festival, when everyone gathered for a dinner, that he had the opportunity to speak with Li Fei alone.

"Is this what the State Preceptor said?"

Li Fei's eyes lit up, and he asked hurriedly.

He had actually wanted to leave for a long time.

The fourth implant was still waiting for him in the warehouse of Wu'an University, and there was also the retrial of the Shangguan Xiao case; he also wanted to go back early to finalize that matter.

But since Xiang Yunshu had been staying at the Great Luo Sect and had not left, he naturally had no way to urge him.

"That is correct, the State Preceptor said it himself."

Lu Wen nodded.

Li Fei said thoughtfully, "Did the State Preceptor wait all the way until the Great Luo Sect just for this Heaven Sacrifice Ceremony?"

Lu Wenxing replied, "That should be the case."

Li Fei asked, "Is there any particular explanation for it?"

Lu Wenxing gave a wry smile, "I am a martial artist and do not understand sorcery, nor am I familiar with these rituals. I only know that this year's Heaven Sacrifice Ceremony is completely different from previous years; a massive magic array has already been set up on that plaza at Yunhaiping!"

"Did the State Preceptor say if there is anything we need to do?"

Li Fei asked.

Lu Wenxing shook his head, "He didn't say. He only told us to participate in the Heaven Sacrifice Ceremony on time tomorrow. I came specifically to notify you, my lord, so please do not miss the hour tomorrow."

Li Fei said, "Understood, thank you."

Lu Wenxing replied, "You are too polite, my lord."

Li Fei looked toward the night scene outside the window.

He would be able to return after tomorrow, and he could not help but feel expectant.

The 47th year of Hongguang, January 1st.

The first day of the New Year.

At high noon, on Great Luo Peak, the Dao-Hearing Bell was struck once again.

The bell toll was distant and resonant, filled with the rhythm of the Dao.

The bell rang nine times in succession, and the crowd quickly gathered toward Yunhaiping.

At the same time, inside the Imperial City thousands of miles away.

The civil and military officials had already gathered at the Altar of Heaven.

The imperial clansmen were also present, and standing at the very front was the only Martial Saint of the imperial family, 'Prince Li' Qin Mingli.

Standing on the same line as him were also the Senior Grand Secretary Ye Ze'an and the Grand Marshal of the Military Council Wenren Zheng.

Wearing a bright yellow dragon robe and a crown with twelve hanging strings of pearls, the Emperor stood at the very front; as the bell tolled, he stepped onto the Altar of Heaven.

The Heaven Sacrifice had begun.

Third update completed, requesting monthly tickets.

(End of this chapter)