Martial Cultivator

The South Heaven Sect was not far from the Three Streams Manor.

These two sects had always maintained a good relationship, their friendship even tracing back several hundred years. The two sects had also been founded around the same time, only that in its course of development, no astonishingly brilliant figure ever appeared in the history of the South Heaven Sect, which led to the Three Streams Manor later becoming the leader of the southern qi refiners, while the South Heaven Sect never quite counted as a truly first-rate sect. Fortunately, the two sects shared deep ties, and the Three Streams Manor always kept the South Heaven Sect in mind.

However, no matter how deep the friendship, if not supported by interests, it would not last long. In recent years, the reason the South Heaven Sect closely followed behind the Three Streams Manor was because certain cultivation resources it needed had always been firmly controlled by the Three Streams Manor, while the Three Streams Manor always kept the South Heaven Sect by its side because the South Heaven Sect always played the role of the vanguard.

After that elder of the South Heaven Sect sent out the message, the qi refiners of the South Heaven Sect were soon informed. The news quickly reached the Sect Master’s hands. The South Heaven Sect Master glanced at the message in his hand but did not immediately dispatch anyone. Instead, he fell into deep thought for a long while.

The relationship between the South Heaven Sect and the Three Streams Manor was delicate. If everything were peaceful, naturally all would be well. But if the Three Streams Manor was already on the brink of collapse, seemingly unable to endure this calamity, was there still any need for him to act?

”Sect Master, this is a matter of great urgency, do not delay any further!”

An elder who came to deliver the news fixed his eyes on the South Heaven Sect Master, the anxiety on his face utterly unhidden. He and the elder at the Three Streams Manor were good friends, and now he was truly afraid his friend might perish.

”What do you think? Judging by that young martial artist’s past conduct, after today, how much of a chance does the Three Streams Manor still have to exist?”

The South Heaven Sect Master did not answer the elder’s question. Instead, he threw out another question. Narrowing his eyes at the elder before him, he said, ”Be it Green Algae Sect or Glaze Temple, these two sects, have they survived?”

The elder looked somewhat blankly at the South Heaven Sect Master, replying somewhat uncertainly, ”Su Ji’s message said the qi refiners present would join hands together. Looked at this way, the Three Streams Manor still has a great chance of surviving this calamity.”

”Is that so...”

The South Heaven Sect Master said softly, ”Presently, only that young martial artist has gone to the Three Streams Manor. Why is it just him alone? Does he believe he alone can destroy the Three Streams Manor, or does he simply have no intention of destroying it?”

The South Heaven Sect Master pondered over this matter, somewhat unsure. If it were the former, then there truly was no need to go. If a single Lord Warden Commander of Great Liang could destroy them, then even if they rushed over, it would be to no avail. For Great Liang was not just one man, after Chen Chao, there were countless more powerhouses. If they had resolved to destroy the Three Streams Manor, then no one could save it.

”Perhaps he merely wants to take this chance to see whether the qi refiners can truly unite with one heart? Could this just be a probe?”

He could not help but tread cautiously. As the master of a sect, if he acted solely according to his own likes and dislikes, it would be no good for the sect at all. After all, the heavy responsibility of the entire sect rested on him. The future development of the South Heaven Sect would all depend on his decisions.

”Send people there, but not too quickly. If you discover outside Three Streams Manor that it has already been destroyed, then return immediately. As for once you arrive at Three Streams Manor, preserve your strength and do not act recklessly. I will have Martial Uncle Liu lead the group, and you are to follow his commands.”

After a moment’s hesitation, the South Heaven Sect Master finally made his decision.

As soon as he spoke, from the side hall walked out an elderly man with graying hair, who nodded toward the sect master of the South Heaven Sect.

”I must trouble you, Martial Uncle.”

The South Heaven Sect Master also nodded, then sighed. The so-called sharing the same breath and branches, the so-called living and dying together, the so-called when the lips are gone the teeth feel the cold—these principles he understood. But at times, understanding was one thing, truly acting on them was another.

Just as he sank into thought, the South Heaven Sect Master soon saw a streak of flowing light cut across the horizon. When the light fell into his palm, he only glanced at it, and his eyes were immediately filled with shock and disbelief. A moment later, he turned his head to look at the graying elder and shook his head. ”Martial Uncle, there is no need for you to go.”

The graying elder cast him a doubtful look.

The South Heaven Sect Master said self-mockingly, ”We all underestimated that Lord Warden Commander. Since he went, how could Three Streams Manor possibly have any chance of survival?”

”The message has returned. From this day on, Three Streams Manor no longer exists.”

Though the South Heaven Sect master said it lightly, who among those present was not utterly shaken?

”The lineage of southern qi refiners is about to change heaven.”

The South Heaven Sect Master shook his head, yet no sorrow could be seen in his eyes. The loss of Three Streams Manor might not bode well for the qi refiners’ lineage, but for the South Heaven Sect, the meaning was not so easily judged.

It was a mixture of relief and worry.

”Three Streams Manor had so many years of foundation, and yet it was wiped out so easily?”

The graying elder did not quite believe it. Three Streams Manor might not have had a cultivator at the end of Nepenthe holding down the fort, but there must have been more than one Nepenthe on the mountain. And with all the means of qi refiners, could one martial artist at the end of Nepenthe truly destroy them so easily?

”Could it be that Great Liang deployed some powerhouses?”

An elder spoke with deep worry. These past years, the actions of the Great Liang Dynasty had forced them to be ever more concerned about what moves Great Liang might take against them.

”No, it was stated very clearly. Just that young martial artist alone. This new Lord Warden Commander of Great Liang is truly remarkable. In such a short time, he has already become another Great Liang Emperor. I really don’t know what those ox-nosed daoists of the Infatuation Daoist Temple were thinking, to actually let him live until now.”

The South Heaven Sect Master sneered. ”They didn’t kill him when they could, and now when they want to, they can’t. How ridiculous. Must the entire cultivation world live under the foot of a martial artist?”

Over the past years, many things had changed. The Infatuation Daoist Temple, once possessing absolute prestige, was no longer so lofty. That temple master once regarded as the leader of the foreign lands had perished, his Dao vanished. That great sword immortal, currently the most terrifying existence with the highest cultivation realm in the foreign lands, was in seclusion and unseen.

It truly seemed as though no one in the world could oppose that young martial artist.

”Only, there hadn’t been word before that this Lord Warden Commander broke through. Now that he has just broken through, why would he stir up such a storm?”

That elder could not understand, but was quickly met with the South Heaven Sect Master’s eye-roll as if at a fool. ”Still don’t get it? This is obviously meant as a show of force.”

”He’s telling the entire cultivation world to behave. Now, this world bears the surname Chen.”

The elder said angrily, ”That’s far too arrogant!”

”Arrogant? What can you do? Can you defeat him?” ”Even the Infatuation Daoist Temple bowed their heads. As for us in the South Heaven Sect, we’d best tuck our tails between our legs and behave. Hopefully, after the Lord Warden Commander finishes with Three Streams Manor, he won’t come looking for trouble with us. Speaking of which, back during the dragon vein matter, we were also involved...”

The South Heaven Sect Master sighed heavily. If he had known things would come to this, he would have done anything to avoid that affair. But how could they refuse, when it concerned the national fortune of the dynasty?

After all, the lineage of qi refiners survived precisely on that.

”Perhaps after destroying Three Streams Manor, that villain will stop. He can’t possibly make enemies of the entire qi refiners’ lineage, can he?”

The graying elder let out a sigh. Sometimes, one just felt powerless; it was simply because their fists weren’t big enough.

If their fists were big enough, everything would be easy.

The South Heaven Sect Master nodded, just about to speak, when suddenly he turned sharply. At some point in time, in the distant sky, a dazzling white line had appeared.

An overwhelming aura was currently sweeping toward them.

”That...”

The elder’s eyes widened, his expression complicated, words nearly failing him.

”It’s saber light,” the South Heaven Sect Master spoke instinctively, and then his expression turned incomparably grim.

What you fear most always comes to pass.

In the end, that killing god had no intention of letting the South Heaven Sect go.