Martial Saint through Reading

Seven-Star Kingdom, Imperial City, Fourth Star Palace.

Xuan Jing and Xuan Yun, two National Guardian Realm experts, were sitting in the hall.

”Brother, that boy Xuan Chang is truly audacious. Last time, he refined the bloodline of the Seven-Star Lord into Iron Guards, and this time he captured someone in the Late Stage of the Bone Marrow Cleansing Realm!”

”In our Seven-Star Kingdom, there are only so many in the Bone Marrow Cleansing Realm; we can’t withstand such slaughter!”

Xuan Yun was clearly displeased with his grandson Xuan Chang.

”Alas... Chang’er was amazingly talented from a young age, far surpassing his peers. For others, it’s normal to stagnate at the Late Stage of the Bone Marrow Cleansing Realm for thirty years, but not for Chang’er. His self-esteem is too strong.”

”I’ve specifically sought a Qi Sea Foundation Treasure from the Celestial Veil Kingdom this time. After Chang’er takes it, there’s a high probability he can progress further. Within a century, he will definitely reach the National Guardian Realm. Hopefully, he won’t refine more Iron Guards.”

Upon hearing this, Xuan Yun’s eyes flickered.

”It was obtained by chance this time,” Xuan Jing noticed something, ”if we get another, it will go to Luo’er.”

Xuan Chang is Xuan Jing’s direct grandson, while Xuan Yun also has his own grandchildren.

...

During their conversation, a voice came from outside the hall.

”Reporting to the Star Lord, General Xuan Chang seeks an audience.”

”Let him in.”

The burly figure of ’Xuan Chang’ walked into the Star Hall.

”Are all the Iron Guards cleared away?” Xuan Jing asked from above, his tone authoritative.

”They are all destroyed.”

”Are you sure?” Xuan Jing’s face showed anger.

”I’m sure.”

”Good, follow me to the rear hall.”

Xuan Jing led ’Xuan Chang’ to the rear hall.

”Your grandfather Xuan Yun is not here. I’ll give you another chance. Are those Iron Guards really destroyed?”

Xuan Jing asked this because he knew very well that the Iron Guards in the underground palace on the outskirts were still there.

Disguised as ’Xuan Chang,’ Chu Ming was fearless, asking in a deep voice, ”Does it matter?”

”Does it matter? What is your attitude?” Xuan Jing was more incensed by ’Xuan Chang’s’ indifference, ”Do you know what you’re saying?”

”I know.” Chu Ming secretly spread the Book and Painting Realm.

”Knowing and not doing,” disappointment flashed in Xuan Jing’s eyes, ”Xuan Chang, do you think that because your grandfather loves you, he won’t do anything to you?”

’Xuan Chang’ remained silent.

Seeing this, Xuan Jing couldn’t control his anger and struck with his palm, not using Qi and Blood Power, intending to give a small punishment.

However.

Bang!

’Xuan Chang’ blocked it with a backhand.

”You still dare to resist!” Xuan Jing was even angrier, ”If I don’t teach you a lesson today, who knows what trouble you’ll cause in the future!”

As Xuan Jing spoke, he struck with a palm enveloped in Qi and Blood Power.

This time, he was truly angry, and the power of that palm was enough to severely injure someone in the Late Stage of the Bone Marrow Cleansing Realm.

But.

Bang!

That palm was blocked again.

Moreover, a more domineering force counterattacked the fourth strongest of the Seven-Star Kingdom, Xuan Jing.

Xuan Jing had no time to react.

”Ah—”

A mouthful of red spurted out.

”You...”

Boom—

Before a word was spoken, another palm strike rendered Xuan Jing unconscious.

Chu Ming calmly walked to Xuan Jing’s side, reaching out his right hand, causing Mutated Black Flame to surge.

As before, he did not kill Xuan Jing but rendered him unconscious, in order to avoid treasures like the Life Stone from alerting the strongest of the Seven-Star Kingdom, Han Court, Xing Man.

And summoning the Mutated Black Flame was to perform the Primordial Qi Secret Technique ’Ashen Soul Flame Prison Heart-Seizing Spell,’ a secret technique capable of controlling the mind.

’Ashen Soul Flame Prison Heart-Seizing Spell’ was first obtained from Luo Mu of the Black Flame Sect and had only been used once, during the Qin Dynasty, to control the Blood Evil Sect’s Bone Marrow Cleansing Realm’s Evil Moon, in order to protect Little Shan, Housekeeper Fang, and others.

Using the original Heart Spell from the Black Flame Sect, it was already the limit to control someone in the Bone Marrow Cleansing Realm.

But this Heart Spell, after his multiple optimizations and evolutions, had reached a level of subtlety far surpassing the original version.

Additionally, the Mutated Black Flame had also undergone transformation and enhancement, and the combination of the two should be able to control a Sixth Realm expert.

However, since it hadn’t been verified, Chu Ming was taking the opportunity to test it today.

Controlling Xuan Jing would be more beneficial for his actions in the Seven-Star Kingdom.

Controlling a Sixth Realm...

Chu Ming was somewhat expectant.

The Mutated Black Flame flickered, and a beam of black light shot out from it, heading straight for Xuan Jing’s forehead, entering his body.

Xuan Jing’s forehead first revealed a mark resembling the Mutated Black Flame, then the mark sank into his brow, transforming into black lines that spread throughout his body.

When the black lines covered Xuan Jing’s entire body, Chu Ming felt a connection in his heart.

’Ashen Soul Flame Prison Heart-Seizing Spell,’ the spell was successfully cast. He could clearly sense that Xuan Jing’s life was at his whim.

However, the energy expenditure of casting this spell was somewhat beyond his expectations, causing the Mutated Black Flame to dim slightly.

”In the future, I should use this spell less... unless the Mutated Black Flame can further grow and transform.”

The Heart Spell was indeed useful, but it was limited by the Mutated Black Flame.

After a moment’s pause, he took out a few elixirs and fed them to Xuan Jing, assisting with Primordial Qi to heal him.

After about a quarter of an hour, Xuan Jing opened his eyes, first appearing a bit blank, then seemed to realize something.

”Master.” The Fourth Star Lord of the Seven-Star Kingdom, a Middle Stage expert of the Sea of Qi Realm, Xuan Jing reverently knelt before Chu Ming.

Xuan Jing was very aware of what had happened, his emotions were extremely complex, but his reverence came from his soul.

Just half an hour ago, he was still the Fourth Star Lord of the Seven-Star Kingdom, a Dominator with power over billions. Who would have thought, upon waking, he would be enslaved by another.

Chu Ming sat down on the gold chair beside him, overlooking Xuan Jing.

”Where are the First Star Lord Han Court and the Second Star Lord Xing Man of the Seven-Star Kingdom now?”

”Reporting to Master, Han Court and Xing Man left the Imperial City yesterday, seemingly having found the fierce beast that slaughtered our Seven-Star Kingdom... that killed the Third Star Lord Xing Hong and the Fifth Star Lord Xing Rong.” Xuan Jing responded truthfully.

”Do you know their exact location?”

”First, they went to the Third Star State, then they went to the Heavenly Inquiry Tower located in the Second Star State.”