Soul Emperor Martial God

Chapter 175: Chapter 174: Sky-splitting Sword Demon

Sky-splitting Sword Sect, the grand competition of the entire sect.

The location is on the gigantic Martial Arts Arena of the Sword Sect Square.

Likewise, it is divided into ten areas, gathering thousands of disciples from both the Outer Sect and the Inner Sect.

According to the procedure, the draw comes first, followed by the matches on the stage.

The rules are simple—pair up for combat, with the victor advancing to the next round.

The loser is not immediately eliminated but competes with another disciple who has also lost.

Lose again, fight again.

Continuous pairings in a relatively fair manner ultimately determine a ranking for each of the thousands of disciples.

It is very time consuming and complex.

Therefore, the Ten Elders did not come to watch.

Only about ten Inner Sect Deacons came to serve as referees.

And one elder deacon came to oversee the whole event.

After all, this was just the preliminary assessment.

The final assessment, which takes place three months later, is the main event and the real grand occasion; that’s when the elders will come to preside.

Once each disciple had finished drawing lots.

The competition officially began.

Lin Jin and his three companions wore looks of disappointment.

”The draw has ended, and Xiao Yi hasn’t come.”

”It seems he is going to miss this grand competition of the entire sect.”

”He won’t qualify for the total assessment in three months either.”

The four wore expressions of regret, yet they also felt a sense of relief.

They did not want Xiao Yi to face Guu Changkong.

...

Speaking of Guu Changkong, he was currently in the Sword Hall.

The ten chiefs of the Inner Hall could skip the tedious earlier rounds.

And go directly to the final round of the preliminary assessment.

Therefore, he didn’t need to be at the Martial Arts Arena yet.

In front of him was the elder of the Sword Hall.

”Master, has that worthless kid not shown up yet?”

Guu Changkong hesitantly asked.

The elder of the Sword Hall smiled slightly and said, ”Are you worried?”

”Yes.” Guu Changkong answered earnestly, ”A year ago, he was merely at the Innate Ninth Layer; a year later, he has already reached the Mysterious Profundity Fifth Layer.”

”Such a rapid cultivation speed proves that his comprehension abilities are definitely not low.”

”If he has gained something from the Extreme Boundary Stele, I’m afraid there might be an unexpected outcome.”

He had been in the Sword Hall for ten years but only possessed the cultivation of the Mysterious Profundity Eighth Layer; it was only after gaining something from the Extreme Boundary Stele that he reached half a step into Mystic Breakthrough.

Compared to Xiao Yi, his cultivation speed was far inferior.

Of course, he was not mediocre, but an absolute super-genius.

Otherwise, he could not have become the chief of the Sword Hall.

However, cultivating in the Mysterious Profundity Realm and filling the Qi Spring was a time-consuming process.

His Martial Soul was strong; his Qi Spring reached two hundred ninety feet, only slightly less than Ye Ming’s.

”There’s no need to worry,” the elder of the Sword Hall said, shaking his head gravely.

”You know well that the kid has the Fire Control Beast Martial Soul.”

”His Qi Spring cannot possibly be large, at most a few tens of feet.”

”Such a small Qi Spring naturally fills up quickly.”

”And thus, the cultivation speed just appears fast.”

Initially, even Elder Yi thought Xiao Yi’s Qi Spring wouldn’t be large.

It was normal for the elder of the Sword Hall to think this way.

The Fire Control Beast Martial Soul, wherever it went, was branded as a mark of the weak.

”Changkong,” the elder of the Sword Hall suddenly stood up and patted his shoulder.

”You are the most suitable person to inherit my mantle, rest assured, your master has already paved the way for you.”

”Thank you, Master,” Guu Changkong respectfully bowed.

The elder of the Sword Hall nodded and said gravely, ”Now, although you have only comprehended half of the Extreme Boundary Stele, not even one-tenth.”

”But, according to the traditions of the Sword Sect’s predecessors.”

”Every Martial Artist who goes to comprehend the Extreme Boundary Stele does so step by step.”

”After comprehending half a step, they stop.”

”Once their cultivation has improved, they comprehend it again.”

”Even the predecessor who has maintained the record of 5% for hundreds of years did the same.”

”You’re the same,” the elder of the Sword Hall said, looking deeply at Guu Changkong.

”Now at half a step, it won’t be long before you comprehend up to one-tenth.”

”When you make a breakthrough to the Mystic Breakthrough Realm, you’ll definitely be able to comprehend up to one and a half tenths.”

”Half a step, one-tenth, one and a half tenths, two tenths...”

”Step by step, by the time you reach the Mystic Breakthrough Ninth Layer Cultivation, you will definitely be able to comprehend up to three tenths.”

Hearing this, excitement spread across Guu Changkong’s face.

The previously solemn expression vanished, replaced by confidence.

The elder of the Sword Hall nodded with satisfaction, ”Changkong, you should know that the Sword Sect has not had a Sect Leader for many years.”

”I know,” answered Guu Changkong.

Sky-splitting Sword Sect had always had only the Ten Elders and no Sect Master.

But the reason was unknown.

The elder of the Sword Hall said, ”It’s impossible for the Sky-splitting Sword Sect to always lack a Sect Master.”

”As long as you dominate this competition and become the chief of the entire sect.”

”When your cultivation reaches the Mystic Breakthrough Ninth Layer.”

”If your understanding of the Extreme Boundary Stele exceeds three tenths, reaching three and a half tenths, you will be the Sword Master.”

”With the title of Sword Master and the chief of the entire sect.”

”I am confident, I can secure you the position of Sect Leader.”

The elder of the Sword Hall, it turned out, wanted not only for Guu Changkong to become the chief of the entire sect but even boldly aimed for the position of Sect Leader.

Guu Changkong was the person to inherit his mantle.

He regarded Guu Changkong as his own child.

Naturally, he had paved the way for Guu Changkong’s future.

...

In the pavilion, within a Spiritual Barrier.

Xiao Yi was still in the midst of comprehending.

He had already reached seven tenths.

He had also mastered an Earth-rank Peak Martial Technique, the Sea Covering Slash.

The Sea Covering Slash was not actually about releasing a massive wave attack.

Rather, it was more of a soundwave-based Martial Technique.

And it was an area-damage Martial Technique.

The sword released within a thousand kilometers, the soundwave surged like a tide.

Enemies within range, as if struck by monstrous waves, faced unspeakable horror.

According to the contents of the Extreme Boundary Stele, this predecessor once used this move during his Earth Extreme Realm cultivation.

With just one sword strike, the sound of the sword enveloped the entire vast and boundless forest.

A slight tremor instantly reduced the entire forest to powder.

Trees, rivers, hillsides, and countless demon beasts turned to ash in an instant.

It was like a monstrous wave that swallowed the whole boundless forest.

Of course, with Xiao Yi’s current cultivation, it was impossible to achieve such a terrifying level.

Back to the main topic.

As Xiao Yi contemplated, his cultivation also rose.

With each bit of comprehension from the Extreme Boundary Stele, the Mist Energy from the stele automatically entered the body of the comprehender.

Transforming into the comprehender’s True Qi.

Guu Changkong had merely comprehended half a part, not even a full part, yet he was able to break through to a Half-step Breaking Profound.

One could imagine how powerful this Mist Energy was.

However, this enormous power seemed not significant to Xiao Yi who already possessed an astonishingly large Qi Spring.

He had comprehended seventy percent, absorbing a substantial amount of Mist Energy.

And yet, his cultivation had only increased by one level, reaching the Sixth Layer of Mysterious Profundity.

Of course, Xiao Yi didn’t care too much.

The improvement in cultivation was secondary, comprehending the Extreme Boundary Stele was the main focus right now.

...

Time flew by once again.

A month later, Xiao Yi comprehended up to ninety percent.

At the same time, a new martial technique appeared on the Extreme Boundary Stele.

”Low-level Heavenly Rank Martial Technique, Sky-splitting Slash.”

This was the most powerful martial technique in the life martial knowledge of this predecessor.

Xiao Yi could not imagine the might and dominance of this technique.

He only knew this was something on another level.

The terror of splitting heaven and earth with one sword strike was incredibly powerful.

Meanwhile, Xiao Yi also knew that with his current self, even if he understood it, it was impossible to execute.

This move required astronomical amounts of True Qi.

It was a martial technique that only Earth Extreme Realm Martial Artists were qualified to master.

Without cultivation of Earth Origin Ninth Layer or higher, do not even dream of having enough True Qi to execute it.

Moreover, it’s likely that even Earth Origin Ninth Layer Martial Artists, after using it once, would exhaust all their True Qi.

The more powerful the martial technique, the more True Qi is required.

Heavenly Rank Martial Techniques belong to another level.

They require a different magnitude of True Qi.

In any case, although Xiao Yi understood it, he couldn’t execute it.

This feeling was like seeing a mountain of gold right before one’s eyes,

yet being totally helpless and only being able to watch in frustration.

This frustration nearly caused Xiao Yi to break from his contemplative state.

Fortunately, he reacted quickly, stabilizing his mind immediately.

...

Half a month later.

Xiao Yi finally comprehended to the tenth part.

The entire Extreme Boundary Stele took four and a half months to fully comprehend.

Originally, comprehending the Mystic Realm Stele only took several hours.

The difference between the two was apparent.

However, at this moment, Xiao Yi did not awaken from his contemplative state.

He had completely mastered the contents of the Extreme Boundary Stele.

Then, suddenly, an illusion appeared in the Extreme Boundary Stele.

It was a man in a black robe.

With eyebrows like shooting stars and a commanding presence, he held a sword in his hand.

His sword seemed capable of splitting heaven and earth, domineering and sharp.

”Sky-splitting Sword Demon,” Xiao Yi murmured to himself.

That illusion was the predecessor from this Extreme Boundary Stele.

...

Simultaneously, outside the Spiritual Barrier.

In the Sky-splitting Sword Sect, the grand Martial Arts Arena was still bustling with activity.

One and a half months had passed, yet the initial assessment had not ended.

This showed the complexity of this martial arts competition.

Of course, the rankings of most disciples had already been determined, only the top 30 were left undecided.

It should be clear in another two days.

...

At this moment, the Ten Elders were each cultivating in their respective places.

Suddenly, all ten faces changed drastically.

In the Outer Sect Treasury, Elder Yi also showed a change of color.

”Not good, there’s an anomaly with the Extreme Boundary Stele.”

Almost instantaneously, all eleven felt the anomaly with the Extreme Boundary Stele.

The Extreme Boundary Stele is crucial to the Sky-splitting Sword Sect and cannot be compromised.

All eleven instantly rushed towards the loft.

The fastest, naturally, were the Sword Hall Elders.

The loft was right behind his Sword Hall.

As he arrived at the loft and entered the Spiritual Barrier, he immediately saw Xiao Yi, sitting cross-legged in front of the Extreme Boundary Ste ...

His face abruptly turned to extreme shock.

”How is this possible? Ancestor illusions condensing on the Extreme Boundary Stele indicates it has been fully comprehended.”

”Impossible! The Sky-splitting Sword Sect hasn’t had anyone fully comprehend it for hundreds of years.”

The Sword Hall Elder’s face turned extremely grim, even revealing a murderous intent.

The next second, he swung his hand without hesitation.

A mighty Sword Qi surged directly towards Xiao Yi’s back.

”Dare you?” A roar of uncontrollable anger erupted.

A figure instantly appeared behind Xiao Yi.

It was Elder Yi.

...

...

PS: I type and update at midnight, so you might think I haven’t updated.

I’n planning to adjust my schedule to update in the afternoon or noon.

A big release coming tomorrow.