Chapter 396

【By sixteen he had already thoroughly read the classics, histories, philosophies, and the hundred schools of thought.】

【Later he received from his maternal uncle Li Ling the teachings of the Yi school's numerology, the classics, astronomy, and the secret arts of the immortal Dao】

【Lord Chuan Ying not only fused and mastered them all, but went further, striking out on his own and forging a style uniquely his own】

【At fifteen he practiced swordplay with swallows, and actually merged the cunning aerial maneuvers of various birds of prey and falcons into his own sword art】

【Thus his sword art reached great completion, and he stepped directly into the Innate Realm】

【Later he abandoned the sword for the saber; to temper his saber art, he roamed the wild northern plains, slaying bandits along the way.】

【At last his saber Dao reached great completion, and he entered straight into the Heavenly Being Realm】

【Afterward, moved by the profound grace of the Dasui emperor, he entered the service of the Dasui imperial household as a nation-protecting Enshrined Sage, becoming their chief】

【Alas, when Lord Chuan Ying emerged, Dasui had already been torn apart by internal strife】

【To investigate the mastermind behind Dasui's chaos, he ascended Qinglong Peak together with the other Enshrined Sages】

【And there he met Ximen Wudi】

【Han Gongdu, Tian Guoke, and Zhili Xing provoked Ximen Wudi, and were casually suppressed and slain by him】

【Lord Chuan Ying could not even discern how Ximen Wudi had struck; thunderstruck, he surrendered on the spot】

【Afterward, having repeatedly completed missions for the Qinglong Society, he was taken note of by the Great Dragon Head, Ximen Wudi】

【He was rewarded with a single Core-Breaking Pill, and he broke straight through his shackles, achieving early Mythical cultivation, only then qualifying to be listed on the board】

【Heavenly Dao's appraisal: So it is, ruined by Ximen Wudi, and risen by Ximen Wudi; if one can serve with a sincere heart, shattering the void may yet be within reach】

【Heavenly Dao's reward: Heaven-grade divine weapon, Pseudo · Dragon Soul Saber; Heaven-grade divine weapon, Pseudo · Phoenix Blood Sword】

【If one obtains the Dragon Soul and Phoenix Blood, the divine weapons can be elevated to Immortal-grade divine weapons】

……

【Nine Provinces Combat Power Apex Board — (tied) thirtieth place: Jue Wushen, cultivation: early Mythical.】

【Identity: Master of the You Dongying Wushen Jue Palace】

【Jue Wushen has already been overwhelmingly suppressed and slain by the Qinglong Society's Fifth Dragon Head, Li Taibai, and is removed from the board】

Silence!

Quiet!

Utter silence!

As the final character on the Heavenly Dao Golden Board finished manifesting.

In an instant, the Nine Provinces fell into a deathly hush.

Even though the Heavenly Dao Golden Board's strange phenomena had already begun to gradually fade.

The people of the world still could not help but widen their eyes.

Standing dumbstruck on the spot.

Their faces filled with both shock and envy.

For a long while, they could not return to their senses.

The last time an Immortal-grade art appeared was when Gusu Murong Longcheng himself appeared, and the Heavenly Dao Golden Board bestowed upon him the "Tathagata Divine Palm"

Today, with the Immortal-grade art appearing once more, it is one that differs vastly from, and is almost the polar opposite of, the Dasuimo Sect's top-tier art, the "Dao Heart Demon Planting Great Art."

Demon Heart Dao Planting Art!

Just hearing the name, one knows this is a top-tier divine art that goes against the grain.

But that is not the key point!

After all, Gusu Murong Longcheng, who bore the Immortal-grade art "Tathagata Divine Palm," was not also suppressed and slain on the spot by Li Taibai.

Along with two other experts of the same realm.

The key is that Xie Tiao obtained not only the Immortal-grade art "Demon Heart Dao Planting Art," but also that final sentence on the Heavenly Dao Golden Board!

If one could merge and contemplate it together with the "Dao Heart Demon Planting Great Art," one might obtain a supreme divine art!

A supreme divine art!

An art that the Heavenly Dao Golden Board calls a supreme divine art — what manner of art could that be?

A Divine-grade one?

As for the other tied entry, the former chief nation-protecting Enshrined Sage of Dasui, now joined to the Qinglong Society's Lord Chuan Ying, he too drew boundless envy.

This was the first time the Heavenly Dao Golden Board had bestowed divine weapons, and it gave two at once!

Heaven-grade divine weapons were already the hidden trump-card treasures of top-tier powers like the three great dynasties.

And now, two were handed straight to Lord Chuan Ying.

But that is not the key point — the key point is that these two divine weapons can still be upgraded!

The Dragon Soul and Phoenix Blood could elevate these two divine weapons into Immortal-grade divine weapons!!!

What is an Immortal-grade divine weapon?

Let alone seeing one — most people, even the upper echelons of the three great dynasties, have never even heard of one!

Only a few secrets survive in ancient confidential scrolls; apart from the three great emperors, few others know.

Yet now Lord Chuan Ying obtained two at once.

How could he not draw envy?

It's just that ordinary people only saw the name of these Immortal-grade divine weapons, unaware that behind these two divine weapons lies an even greater significance!

Moreover, Ximen Wudi has once again appeared on the Heavenly Dao Golden Board, still making his entrance as a mysterious background figure.

A ranked expert like Lord Chuan Ying could not even see clearly how he struck.

And he killed three Dasui nation-protecting Enshrined Sages outright?

If not for the fact that the Heavenly Dao Golden Board would never write falsely, everyone would have thought they had gone blind.

That exaggerated?

Just how strong is Ximen Wudi, exactly?

At this moment, that was the question every martial artist and every faction most wanted answered.

And finally there was Jue Wushen — who had barely appeared on stage, hadn't even finished being introduced, and was already hastily written off!

A top expert ranked thirtieth on the Nine Provinces Heavenly Dao Combat Power Ceiling List — Jue Wushen.

Killed outright by the Five-Dragon Head of the Qinglong Society!

Wasn't the Five-Dragon Head Li Taibai only at the Heavenly Being Realm?

How could he have crossed realms to kill Jue Wushen?

One could say Jue Wushen had set a record.

The record for the fastest fall from the list — even Gusu Murong Longcheng back then had hopped about for quite a while before Li Taibai finally killed him.

The Qinglong Society, Ximen Wudi, the Seven-Dragon Heads — all of them were probably about to become taboo-tier existences.

"A grade even higher than Immortal-rank cultivation methods, so much so that it earned the Heavenly Dao Gold List's appraisal of 'Supreme Divine Art.'"

"And this Xie Tiao actually obtained it — how miraculous?"

In Xianyanggong, Qin Huang Ying Zheng couldn't help but lose his composure a little.

Although the Great Qin Dynasty still had quite a few hidden cards, and experts aplenty,

as far as Ying Zheng knew, there really was no cultivation method above Immortal rank in existence.

"Li Si, Zhao Gao — I think you both should understand what I want?"

"Your subject understands. I shall dispatch the Black Ice Platform and experts at once to the Great Sui, to capture Xie Tiao and seize the Dao Heart Demon Planting Great Art as well as the Demon Heart Dao Planting Art!"

This time, the Qin Chengxiang stepped forward.

"Your Majesty, this servant will personally lead the Luo Net elites and go along with the Chancellor."

Zhao Gao refused to fall behind. These past days, his mission completion rate had been too low, and he had gradually been pushed aside by Ying Zheng — that was not a good sign.

"It is said that Xie Tiao is together with the 'Heavenly Demon' Cang Ju."

"This Xie Tiao alone is ranked thirtieth, and he carries the Demon Sect's number-one divine art, the Dao Heart Demon Planting Great Art — so what level of strength do you think the 'Heavenly Demon' should be?"

Ying Zheng did not nod; instead, he slowly asked the question.

"No matter how fearsome his strength, this servant will seize the divine art back for Your Majesty, for Great Qin."

Zhao Gao only wanted to perform, and immediately declared his stance.

"Just you?"

Ying Zheng cast a sidelong glance and looked toward Li Si.

"It is time to invite that one to make a move."

"I imagine that even if he cannot defeat the Heavenly Demon, he can at least prevent him from rescuing Xie Tiao."