Chapter 435
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Chapter 435: The Sage
Hundreds of miles away.
Immortal Changqing of Long Life Gate looked at the Long Life Gate sect leader in the ancient bronze mirror in his hand, showing a puzzled expression.
He did not succeed in his journey, but he still achieved something; how can this be explained…
"It seems that the sect leader’s investigation has found something, right?" he asked, feeling inspired.
This bronze ancient mirror is not an ordinary object.
The ancestors of Long Life Gate were truly wealthy, and ancient masters are still alive in the Cave Heaven Small World of the sect.
This bronze ancient mirror is also one of the treasures passed down from ancient times; it is a magical item above the Soul Changing Stage, one that cannot be created in this era.
It is called the Myriad Phenomena Mirror.
Immortal Changqing brings this mirror into the sacred ground of Blood Lotus Sect, as if the leader of Long Life Gate were present in the mirror.
It allows the prominent Soul Changing Taoist Lord, from a thousand miles away, to avoid the awareness of Blood Lotus Sect cultivators and investigate the secrets of Blood Lotus Sect…
And now, the leader of Long Life Gate has clearly gained something.
"We both know that the Cave Heaven Small World of Blood Lotus Sect is extraordinary," the leader of Long Life Gate in the mirror said calmly.
"Kuafu Mountain is the small world of Blood Lotus Sect."
"In the past, during the chaos of the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths, many Soul Changing Taoist Lords from my Long Life Gate died."
"Since that battle, the Kuafu Mountain small world has become part of the Jiu Province big world, intertwined and hard to separate."
"Now that I have come this far, I can confirm that Kuafu Mountain does not have a hidden realm inside, so there is no Supreme Elder still alive."
The Supreme Elder could survive in the Cave Heaven Small World and avoid the Jiu Province Spirit Qi tide because he was in seclusion.
Now the Kuafu Mountain small world has merged with Jiu Province, and it does not have a hidden realm inside…
Even if a Supreme Elder were still alive, as long as he is not hiding outside this realm, his powers would have quickly declined to the Soul Changing Stage.
"However, the Kuafu Mountain small world is quite significant; it is actually the remains of Ancient Gods and Demons. If the Blood Lotus Sect still knows how to control this small world, even without a Supreme Elder, it should not be underestimated."
The leader of Long Life Gate explained.
Upon hearing this, Immortal Changqing finally understood.
"I see, although we did not form an alliance with the Blood Lotus Sect, discovering their secrets is a pleasant surprise."
"With this, my Long Life Gate has one less rival in this world."
When Immortal Changqing spoke with Immortal Green Lotus, he felt some discontent, saying that the Blood Lotus Sect did not take them seriously and was clearly on guard.
But that guard was indeed justified.
Even though they came with the intention of forming alliances, being old foxes for a thousand years, who would still naively believe that wanting to unite means they are a loving family?
………………………..
Green Lotus Immortal City.
Wu Qizheng’s words echoed in the wind.
The Thousand Soul Banner fluttered loudly, and the wind sounded like weeping.
In the distant mountains, lightning and fire exploded, as Martial Saint, resembling a bearded swordsman, was engaged in a fierce battle with a cultivator from the Blood Lotus Sect.
Meanwhile, Wu Qizheng stood quietly facing Flying Fish Guard Chen Feng, both silent for a long time.
"I see now."
Chen Feng suddenly smiled slightly.
"I have already told you these hidden secrets; what you care about most is not whether Martial Saint influences your mind; the so-called free will is just dancing in your hands…"
"What you truly care about is still Martial Saint’s life or death…"
"It seems that naming you after Martial Saint was not a mistake."
Chen Feng’s eyes were deep as he spoke again.
"As for the reason he did this, you already have an idea in your heart; it just hasn’t been confirmed yet."
Chen Feng took a step forward, looking at the distant Blood Lotus Sect cultivator, and glanced at the ascetics by the spirit pool who were losing their minds.
"You just said that there are no gods or immortals in this world."
He looked towards Martial Saint and Qiao Mu in the distance and continued, "There are also no saints or perfect beings."
"In the words of the storyteller at Tide Listening Building, a superb rank strong person with successful spiritual refining has a will like iron, unyielding and unbreakable."
"But in my view, even the most powerful martial artist in the world, who seems strong and glorious, still has flaws."
"No matter how powerful a top expert is, they are not made of iron. As long as they are human, they will not remain strong forever, and their will won’t always be as strong as iron; there will always be a limit."
"Feeling frustrated and weak is what makes one human."
"The Taotie Swallowing Heaven Skill is indeed a legendary skill, but do you really think Martial Saint can keep devouring and growing stronger without limits?"
Wu Qizheng listened in silence.
The storyteller at Tide Listening Building once created a saying about the four great martial arts of the human world.
In his early years, Founding Emperor Yan was a great hero, strong and fearless, conquering the kingdom from horseback and overthrowing the old dynasty.
Even in old age, there were times when he avoided battles and stayed inside the palace. It was not until Qiao Mu, who was older and stronger, entered the palace and revealed the flaws in his martial spirit, breaking his armor and weaknesses, that he was able to rise again.
Earth Sword Immortal was trapped in a solitary city in the desert for thirty years, which is not worth mentioning.
So, is the Qiao family member, viewed as steel-hearted and fearless by the world through the generations, truly consistent in their resolve?
What about Martial Saint, who dominated the martial arts of Jiu Province for decades and became a nightmare for their fighters?
In the words of the storyteller at Tide Listening Building and in the eyes of the world, such extraordinary individuals are naturally free from weakness.
A moment of failure and weakness is just a small detail in their legendary lives, while they remain forever strong.
Wu Qizheng certainly understands this.
If he believed that Martial Saint was always powerful, perfectly sane, and invincible, then he would not be here.
"What Martial Saint does is a wicked act that both gods and ghosts hate. Walking on the edge of danger is already risky, and having a clear mind and reason like an ordinary person is impossible."
"The one who walked the farthest on the Way of Gluttony with him was Wu Qiankun, but he has already lost control and become Martial Saint’s food."
He paused and said:
"Even if Martial Saint’s true heart from over forty years ago was as pure and honest as a sage…"
"After decades stained with blood and walking in danger, he can no longer be considered a normal person."
"To carry out wicked deeds with a sage’s heart, I never believed that," Wu Qizheng shook his head and said.
"It seems that you have your own understanding and judgment, so I don’t need to say much," Chen Feng said with a complex expression.
"Wu Qizheng, you are more resolute than I expected."
As he spoke, his face began to change slightly, and finally, it transformed into a face that made Wu Qizheng freeze in fear, causing his hair to stand on end.
This face was exactly like his own, like looking at himself in a mirror, but it appeared a bit younger.
"So you are not the Flying Fish Guard, but like me, born from the ‘Blood Flesh Incubation Creature’ as ‘Wu Qizheng’?" Wu Qizheng asked hoarsely.
"Wu Qizheng is the name Martial Saint gave you," said "Chen Feng" with a blank expression.
"There are surely many children born from ‘Martial Saint’, but the name is uniquely yours; there is no other ‘Wu Qizheng’ in the world."
As he said this, he looked at the Thousand Soul Banner swaying in the wind and gently said:
"People like us are the best tools in Martial Saint’s hands, just like the devout believers brainwashed by doctrine."
"It seems like we follow our true hearts, but in reality, we serve him."
"If Martial Saint’s destiny for you is that one day, if he becomes a man of inhuman power…"
"So, as someone born with the heart of a sage, you will follow your true feelings and try every way to seek his death, finding every method to borrow a knife and kill Martial Saint."
"So, I am just a tool of the tool that Martial Saint holds."
"Chen Feng" looked at Wu Qizheng with a blank expression and said softly:
"Wu Qizheng, I am your reflection."
"Martial Saint named me Wu Jing. I once served as the Moon Xuan Envoy of the Western Province. My life’s mission is simply to be your reflection, to correct your path, and to be your guide."
"As for the Flying Fish Guard, Chen Feng does exist, but the spiritual refining Flying Fish Guard has already been completely defeated, and only a clever little guy who assisted them is still alive."
At this moment, after hearing Wu Jing say so much, Wu Qizheng naturally came back to his senses.
"Once again, you lead me to see the fate of these brainwashed followers, and you say I have no free will, just a useful knife in Martial Saint’s hand…"
"It seems you are not only asking me, but also questioning yourself," Wu Qizheng said slowly.
Wu Jing was silent for a long time.
"And you are indeed tougher than I expected, worthy of the name ‘Wu Qizheng.’"
He continued:
"More than forty years ago, Martial Saint escaped from the Hundred-mile Desert alone, and from then on, he called himself ‘Martial Saint.’" He went on:
"However, everyone understands that he is a long way from being a sage."
The relationship between Martial Saint and the sage is like that between Karp and Karp’s empty self; they cannot be said to be the same, only completely unrelated.
"To not be a sage is to be a beast," Wu Jing said softly.
"The Way of Gluttony is the path of the strong eating the weak; Martial Saint knows very well that he cannot become a sage."
"He calls himself Martial Saint, but the one who is shaped with the heart of a true sage is you."
"You are the future that Martial Saint could not achieve in his prime, and now you will follow his last plan, leading him to a dead end."
……………………………..
Meanwhile.
Lightning flashed on the mountain peak, and a figure bathed in electric light stepped out from the glow.
It was Qiao Mu.
The few Blood Lotus Sect cultivators who had come after hearing the news lay at his feet, while the bearded swordsman Old Hu leaned on his blade, collapsed on the ground, bleeding profusely.
"Martial Saint can’t have only this much power; let me see what you are…"
"Fragmented Virtual Finger."
Qiao Mu formed a sword with his fingers, and a beam of sword light, made of True strength, shot out from the tip of his fingers, easily slicing through the skin and flesh on the back of the bearded swordsman’s neck.
He saw something alive like a fleshy growth settled on the neck of the bearded swordsman, branching out like tree roots and spreading to his neck and head.
Qiao Mu recalled what Wu Qizheng had mentioned before about the Wuji Association’s headquarters in Zhong Province, saying that in the dungeon there, he saw many people infected by Martial Saint’s fleshy growth.
Among them, there was not just one but several of the seventy two wise men.
"Fleshy growth parasitism… remote control, not quite a ‘flesh clone,’ it might be called a ‘fleshy duplicate.’"
"This bearded swordsman is not Martial Saint; he should be a martial arts master defeated by him, now controlled by the fleshy growth, has he changed his appearance?"
"It seems those prisoners in the dungeon really serve more than one purpose as a vessel for the Spiritual Meat Pill."
Compared to the parasites in the headquarters dungeon, the fleshy growth on this bearded swordsman has spread more, almost taking over half of his body.
Qiao Mu is also an expert in Shape Changing Skill, and after careful observation, he already has some ideas in mind.
Flesh Changing Skill was originally created by Martial Saint, refined by Wu Qizheng, and later developed into Shape Changing Skill.
The Shape Changing Skill seeks complete control of the body by the "God," using the extremely powerful will of a Spirit Refining martial artist to influence the physical form.
The healing of organs and the changes in the body and limbs are born from this.
Continuing from this point, it leads to the flesh clones of Qiao Mu and Wu Qizheng.
Martial Saint’s Flesh Changing Skill focuses more on transformations during battle, aiming for a more perfect and combat-ready body form adjustment.
Just like the derivations of Spiritual Technique, both originate from the same source but produce different results.
"If this is not Martial Saint, but just a flesh clone, then where is the real Martial Saint?" Qiao Mu stood at the mountain top, thinking deeply.
Here is Green Lotus Immortal City, right beneath the Blood Lotus Sect, and he boldly killed a Blood Lotus Sect cultivator, yet he did not notice the rainbow light shining in the distance, as his mind was only on Martial Saint.
………………………………
"Although you have said many things, it seems you have not mentioned the most important one, have you?"
Wu Qizheng asked:
"Since you claim to be my guide and lead me to find Martial Saint."
"Then, where is Martial Saint?"
He looked towards the mountaintop in the distance, meeting Qiao Mu’s gaze.
It was clear that the bearded swordsman was not Martial Saint himself.
Wu Jing had a complicated expression.
"To search for Martial Saint in this Blood Lotus Immortal Kingdom is actually quite simple."
He looked around with a slightly numb expression and said:
"For Martial Saint, isn’t he everywhere?"
The voice fell silent.
Wu Qizheng’s expression changed slightly.
He glanced around, his heart began to beat a little faster.
At that moment, among those ascetics, the fifteen-year-old giant Da Hu, who always seemed a bit confused, stepped forward.
With every step he took, his height, shape, and face kept changing and adjusting.
Step by step, he came closer to the heavy shadow in Wu Qizheng’s heart that he could not shake off.
It was Martial Saint.
He bowed his head, looking down at Wu Qizheng and Wu Jing before him.
"Wu Jing, you talk too much," he first looked at Wu Jing and said indifferently.
"Well, that’s not bad. Asking oneself is also a test. Since Wu Qizheng’s mind was not disturbed by your words, he has naturally passed this test."
"They are truly my good children."
Wu Jing had no expression on his face, just silence.
