Martial Saint with Passives

Jiang Che immediately calmed his mind, carefully recalling every detail about breaking through to the True Master Realm from the Nine Heavens Azure Cloud Technique and True Master Bai Yi’s legacy.

’...draw the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Mechanism into the body, merge it at the Baihui Acupoint, and transform Strength into Qi...’

Suddenly, he froze.

He abruptly remembered something.

Something he had previously overlooked—something of critical importance!

’Master said... in the current Mortal world, Spiritual Qi is growing thinner by the day. The Heaven and Earth Spiritual Mechanism, which can nourish the Divine Soul, has long since vanished without a trace! Only within the legendary Grotto Heaven Blessed Lands does a sliver of it remain!’

’In other words... there’s no Heaven and Earth Spiritual Mechanism in the air of this Cultivation Room at all!’

’Wait, then how did Master and the others convert their True Qi?’

Suddenly, he thought of something.

The Rejuvenation Pill!

Master had said that the Rejuvenation Pill was refined from several types of Supreme Treasure Medicine that contained the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Mechanism!

’Does that mean...’

Without the slightest hesitation, he immediately took out a Dark Green Jade Box from his robes.

After opening the lid, he saw an elixir pill, glowing with a soft, pearly white light, resting quietly inside.

It was the Rejuvenation Pill awarded by the Sect Leader!

He no longer hesitated, stuffing the pill into his mouth and swallowing it.

BOOM!

Jiang Che instantly felt a mysterious energy, as if from the very origin of heaven and earth, detonate inside his body!

It was the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Mechanism!

Under the pull of his already-opened Baihui Acupoint, this Heaven and Earth Spiritual Mechanism began to crazily merge, collide, and qualitatively change with the boundless Strength in his body!

He could clearly feel his own Strength, under the catalysis of this mysterious energy, transforming bit by bit into a form that was more condensed, more agile...

Even...

...a new form of energy that seemed to possess its own consciousness!

And that was—

True Qi!

...

An unknown amount of time passed.

When Jiang Che opened his eyes again, all the Strength in his body had been completely transformed into that profound and mysterious new energy.

’So... this is True Qi...’

Jiang Che slowly raised his hand, and with a thought,

a wisp of pale-green True Qi flowed and coiled around his fingertips as if it were alive.

It emanated an aura far heavier and more dangerous than Strength.

He carefully experienced the sensation.

He felt that compared to Strength, True Qi was stronger by more than just one level in every aspect—from its degree of condensation and recovery speed to its explosive power.

More importantly...

it possessed a kind of...

Vitality!

It was as if it was no longer a simple tool for him to control.

Instead, it had become a part of his body, an extension of his thoughts!

’No wonder experts of the True Master Realm are so powerful...’

Jiang Che felt that if the current him were to face an expert like Ghost Hand Rakshasa, a master at the First Layer of the True Master Realm, again,

he could probably defeat him with ease, without even needing to use any of his trump cards!

He might even stand a chance against those Demon Sect Guardians he faced before, who were at the Third and Fourth Layers of the True Master Realm!

However, Jiang Che still didn’t have a clear idea of exactly how strong he was now.

’Looks like I’ll have to find someone to fight to really know how strong I’ve become...’

But he didn’t actually go looking for a fight.

After all, he couldn’t find a suitable opponent on such short notice.

Those weaker than him would be no fun to fight.

And the only ones stronger than him were Sect Leader Xu Zhouzi or a few of the deans.

Never mind whether they would even agree to fight him.

Even if they did, he wouldn’t be able to use many of his trump cards.

So he wouldn’t be able to gauge anything meaningful.

Jiang Che suppressed his restlessness and immersed himself once again in consolidating his new Realm.

...

Over the next half a month, Jiang Che devoted almost all his time to the cultivation and control of his ”True Qi.”

However, as time went on, the growth of his True Qi became increasingly slow.

The reason was simple.

The medicinal power of the Rejuvenation Pill had run out.

Jiang Che sighed.

He finally understood just how important the Rejuvenation Pill was to experts of the True Master Realm!

Without this pill...

...it was nearly impossible for experts at or above the True Master Realm to advance any further!

And the Cangyun Sect, in an entire year, how many Rejuvenation Pills could it possibly have?

The deans get one a year, the Sect Leader gets three...

’Looks like if I stay in the Cangyun Sect, I’ll never be able to break through to the True Mastery Realm in this lifetime...’ Jiang Che thought to himself.

’The Celestial Strategy Guard...’

’I have to be chosen!’

...

「General’s Mansion.」

The mansion, representing the highest authority in all of Cangzhou Prefecture, was brightly lit and heavily guarded.

Inside the main banquet hall, however, the atmosphere was so oppressive it was nearly suffocating.

Around a massive round table carved from a single piece of Golden Rattan Wood sat the most powerful figures in the Cangzhou Prefecture’s Martial World.

Sect Leader Xu Zhouzi of the Cangyun Sect, Sect Leader Zhao Qingtian of the Taiyuan Sect, Sect Leader Liu Ruyan of the Profound Sound Sect...

as well as the Patriarchs of the major Noble Families, such as the Chen Family and the Fang Family, were all present.

In front of them were laid out the most extravagant and delicious delicacies.

Every dish was prepared with the flesh and blood of the highest-grade Spirit Beasts and Heavenly and Earthly Treasures, each one worth a fortune.

And yet, everyone present was eating without tasting a thing, as if sitting on pins and needles.

Because, seated at the head of the table, was a middle-aged man in plain black robes, with a resolute face and eyes as deep as an abyss.

He was none other than the General, Qin Fuhu.

And outside the banquet hall, in the spacious courtyard,

stood rows of elite Qilin Army soldiers, clad in Heavy Armor, holding Long Halberds, their expressions grim and murderous.

Even more terrifying was...