Martial Saint with Passives

”For my sake, how about we each take a step back on this matter?”

The voice was placid, but to Elder Xuan Hui, it was like a clap of thunder ringing in his ears!

’Each take a step back?’

’This is clearly a warning!’

’If I still refuse to back down...’

He had no doubt that this Great Power of the True Mastery Realm could annihilate his Divine Soul with a mere flick of a finger!

Never mind him—even the entire Divine Moon Sect combined wouldn’t dare act presumptuously before a Great Power of the True Mastery Realm!

”Y-Yes! I was wrong! I’ll leave right now! Right now!”

Terrified out of his wits, Elder Xuan Hui had lost any trace of his earlier arrogance.

He grabbed Guo Yifan, who was already scared stiff, and scurried deep into the crowd like a beaten dog, not daring to look back even once.

He even swore to himself that from now on, he would give anyone from the Cangyun Sect a wide berth!

’Who would have thought this minor Cangyun Sect was backed by a giant like Daoist Wu Wei?!’

This scene left the entire crowd stunned.

”My heavens... Daoist Wu Wei actually stepped in personally?”

”What’s the deal with this Cangyun Sect? How did they get an Elder from the Myriad Phenomena Dao Sect to stand up for them?!”

Xu Qingshan and Yue Lingfeng were also baffled, frozen on the spot.

They were grateful, but they couldn’t fathom why they were being treated this way.

The two men immediately turned, faced Daoist Wu Wei on the high platform, and bowed deeply in gratitude.

Just then.

A gentle voice suddenly transmitted a message into Xu Qingshan’s ear:

”That Jiang Che... is he your disciple?”

”The boy is a fine seedling. You’ve raised him well.”

With that, the voice fell completely silent.

Xu Qingshan’s body jolted!

He snapped his head up toward the high platform, his eyes instantly flooding with ecstasy!

’So...’

’So it was because of Che’er!’

’This Great Power of the True Mastery Realm must have taken a liking to Che’er’s Talent. His fondness extended to us, which is why he intervened to protect the Cangyun Sect!’

At that moment, Xu Qingshan stood taller and prouder than ever before.

「On the high platform.」

Master Xuan Kong twirled the prayer beads in his hand, casting an amused glance at Daoist Wu Wei beside him. He chuckled and said in a low voice,

”Amitabha Buddha. Fellow Daoist, your skill at forging good relations has reached a point of perfection. It seems you’re dead set on claiming that boy, aren’t you?”

Daoist Wu Wei smiled faintly, not denying it. ”A fine jade deserves to be protected.”

From the other side, Su Wuming snorted, his expression still one of dismissal.

”Hmph. I doubt it.”

”A strong Divine Soul is rare, but this third trial is a test of practical combat! Of slaughter!”

”The boy’s foundation is still shallow. If he can’t eliminate the Illusion Beasts quickly and gets trapped by the horde, I doubt he’ll last long!”

”Fellow Daoist Wu Wei, I fear you’ve played your hand... far too early!”

Daoist Wu Wei didn’t argue. His gaze simply turned to the churning mists of the Asura Illusion Realm as he said calmly,

”Whether it’s too early or not...”

”...we shall wait and see.”

...

As time went on, the trial within the Asura Illusion Realm reached a fever pitch.

The light from the Teleportation Array in the square flashed almost ceaselessly as one battered figure after another was ejected.

By this point, the vast majority of Martial Artists in the Refining Organ Realm had long since been eliminated.

Even the geniuses from various prefectures who were at the First Layer of the True Master Realm had mostly reached their limits.

Facing an endless siege from a beast horde whose strength had climbed to the Peak of the First Layer of the True Master Realm, they exhausted their True Qi and were forced to withdraw in bitter disappointment.

However, in a corner of the Illusion Realm...

Qin Wuya was still desperately holding on.

He no longer cut the handsome and proud figure he once did.

His once-resplendent golden martial attire was now in tatters, stained a deep crimson with blood.

His body was covered in wounds of varying depths, the marks of countless bites and claw marks.

The True Qi in his body was nearly depleted. Every swing of his Long Spear felt as if it was draining the very essence of his life.

But his eyes shone with a startling brightness!

”HUFF... HUFF...”

Qin Wuya gasped for air, watching as sixteen Illusion Beasts—all at the Peak of the First Layer of the True Master Realm—closed in on him again. Yet, there was not a trace of fear in his eyes.

’If this were the old me... I probably would have given up long ago, right?’

’But...’

A figure clad in black clearly emerged in his mind.

Jiang Che!

The man who had given him the bitter taste of defeat, yet whom he couldn’t help but respect!

’If it were Jiang Che... what would he do in this desperate situation?’

’Would he give up?’

’No! He never would!’

In his mind’s eye, Qin Wuya could almost see Jiang Che’s gaze—always calm, yet burning with an endless will to fight.

That man had never retreated, not even a Half-Step, even when facing enemies several times stronger than himself!

’As the rival he defeated... as the one who swore to catch up to him...’

’How can I fall here?!’

’If I fall here, what right will I have to challenge him again?!’

”ROAR!!!”

The sixteen Illusion Beasts lunged at him at once, a foul wind washing over him, sealing off all his paths of retreat.

It was a fatal predicament!

And yet, in that fleeting moment between life and death!

The conviction in Qin Wuya’s heart and his unyielding will to fight miraculously resonated with the Profound Iron Long Spear in his hand!

BOOM!

The esoteric chant from a Sect Secret Manual—one he had studied countless times but had never been able to grasp even the Entry Level of—suddenly flowed through his mind like water, and in an instant, he achieved complete understanding!

”I, Qin Wuya... refuse to admit defeat!!”

He let out a gut-wrenching roar!

The Long Spear in his hand trembled, and its once-dim aura erupted in a blaze of unprecedented, brilliant golden light!