My Martial Arts Level Never Drops

Chapter 437: Chapter 202: Three Religions

He had said goodbye to his master, but many things remained unclear.

’For example, what is the Filth Land Sect? What’s an Erosion Puppet? And what is this Filthy Earth Source Material?’

’But once I get back to the Sect, I’m sure I can get some answers.’

A bit of his master’s True Gang had nourished Xile, and now the dog was full of life and energy.

However, it had still lost a lot of fur, which hadn’t even begun to grow back.

The sight made Qin Fang’s heart ache...

...He had, of course, noticed that Xile had burst forth with unprecedented speed when they were fleeing for their lives.

Back then, that Ji Ai Old Ghost had also said something about Xile burning its blood...

He didn’t understand the specifics, but he got the general idea.

’...It must have used some kind of ability that damaged its Origin.’

So, even though Xile seemed full of life and energy now, Qin Fang was anxious to return home.

Now that they had bypassed the True Martial Region, he headed straight for Lanyang City.

The previous journey from Lanyang City to the True Martial Region had taken over six days, as Qin Fang had insisted on frequent rests out of concern for Xile.

But now that Xile needed to return to the Sect for treatment, they couldn’t afford to rest.

Just one day later, Qin Fang was back in Lanyang City.

As Xile raced across the Great Cloud Marsh, it unsurprisingly caused a huge commotion once again.

By now, however, some people knew who this big dog belonged to...

”True Inheritance Qin is so lucky... I heard from the elders in my clan that even the Elders of the Heavenly Gang Wuji Sect say this big dog is an Exotic Species that’s reached the Extraordinary threshold. In the entire Heavenly Gang Wuji Sect... it’s probably the only one of its kind! Sigh, it’s enough to make you die of envy...”

”I wonder where True Inheritance Qin got it from? Are there any more? I want one so badly...”

”Hmph, if you actually had one, it’d probably be more of a curse than a blessing for your family... True Inheritance Qin can protect his Spirit Dog... Can you?”

”...What’s there to not be able to protect? Who would dare cause trouble in Lanyang City?”

”They might not dare to in Lanyang City, but what if you leave? What if your family leaves? Or... would you dare to refuse the ’wishes’ of certain Elders or True Inheritance disciples from the Heavenly Gang Wuji Sect?”

”...”

Cries of amazement and discussion rose and fell one after another.

But Qin Fang, of course, paid these voices no mind. He rode Xile across the Great Cloud Marsh and entered Lanyang City’s Outer City.

Then, he headed straight for the Inner City.

Xile’s appearance still drew some gasps of surprise... but this was the third time it had appeared, and some people were relatively unfazed.

After passing through the Outer and Inner Cities, Qin Fang made a beeline for the Sect.

The first thing he did was head to his master’s place of quiet cultivation.

...The one outside had been his master’s True Gang Incarnation; his master himself was still within the Sect.

”Come up.”

As Qin Fang arrived at the entrance to his master’s cave, his master’s voice rang out. Qin Fang then went directly to the mountain peak.

There, he saw his master sitting atop the highest point.

”Greetings, Master.”

Yue Guiyuan nodded and gestured for him to approach. ”Come, sit.”

”Yes, sir.”

Qin Fang respectfully complied.

Xile was also there, having been carried up by Qin Fang. It sat obediently on the ground, panting happily at his master.

...Xile was clearly much more familiar with his master than last time.

...It wasn’t as afraid anymore.

”Master.”

His master nodded and then said, ”After you left, I went to check. I’ve already eliminated that Erosion Puppet... I must say, I didn’t expect you to come up with a way to freeze it... I can see your Profound Nether Nature now has a hint of ’Eternal Freeze’... It seems that blessed place was indeed greatly beneficial for you.”

his master said with approval.

”Eternal Freeze?”

Qin Fang looked at his master in confusion.

’...That was a concept he’d never heard of.’

His master paused for a moment before saying gently, ”It seems you are using it, yet you don’t understand the finer distinctions. Today, I shall explain it to you.”

Qin Fang immediately began to listen attentively.

His master spoke slowly, ”The so-called ’Nature’ is not a Root and Leaf Magic. Rather, it refers to the fundamental properties and characteristics contained within all things in heaven and earth, including the Primordial Power of us Martial Artists. For example, the scorching heat of fire, the cold of water, the sharpness of metal, the growth of wood, and the heaviness of earth...”

”The ’Profound Nether True Water Scripture’ you cultivate is based on a branch of the Water Phase that leans toward ’Extreme Cold’ and ’Guicang’... This is why it’s called the ’Profound Nether Nature’.”

”And the ’Nature Attribute Level’ doesn’t measure the depth of your Cultivation, but rather... how ’cold’ and how ’pure’ your ’Profound Nether Cold Will’ itself is... what level of ’principle’ has it touched upon?”

”It is like two blades. One is made of common iron, the other of hundred-times-refined steel... They are both blades, but their quality, sharpness, and sturdiness are as different as clouds and mud.”

”The Nature is the quality of this ’blade’.”

Hearing this, understanding dawned on Qin Fang’s face.

His master said gently, ”This system of measurement has existed since ancient times and can be roughly divided into nine grades. Taking the cold of water as an example, it starts with ’Frost Cold,’ which can only condense water into frost. With each subsequent grade, the power of the cold will and the principle it contains will be worlds apart.”

”The second grade, ’Ice Soul,’ can chill to the bone and seal the blood.”

”The third grade, ’Crystal Condensation,’ can cause Ice Crystals to form spontaneously.”

”The fourth grade, ’Profound Ice,’ is deep blue in color and harder than metal...”

He looked at Qin Fang, his gaze filled with approval. ”As for the ’Eternal Freeze’ that you touched upon by a stroke of fortune, it already belongs to the Fifth Grade of cold will.”

”The strength of this level of cold will goes beyond just freezing physical objects. It can also temporarily slow the rate of change in all things. The reason you were able to temporarily freeze the Erosion Puppet’s life force and corrosive power is because your Profound Nether Nature already contains a sliver of ’Eternal Freeze’s’ True Intent... which ’slowed’ the terrifying vitality within its body.”

Upon hearing this, Qin Fang finally understood...

He recalled that the more he froze the monster, the slower it became. In the end, it had become completely immobile, turning into an Ice Crystal.