Volume One, Chapter 16: The Might of Power

It turned out that Jiang Liyue had extracted Xu Que’s Divine Martial Bone to fuse it for her son.

Fang Wu, the Holy Son of the Xuantian Sacred Land, had halted at the peak of the Martial King realm. No matter how formidable he had been before, he could not break through beyond that pinnacle. As he aged, it meant his fate was sealed—he would never advance further.

Yet Fang Wu harbored immense ambition, having set his sights on becoming a Martial Emperor since childhood. But now, being trapped at the Martial King level was a crushing blow.

For years, Fang Wu appeared gloomy in public and drowned his sorrows in alcohol in private. Unable to bear seeing her son fall into despair, Jiang Liyue conferred with her husband, the Holy Lord Fang Qianzhan. They could not simply watch their son’s future be destroyed.

Reluctantly, Fang Qianzhan revealed the Fang family’s unique constitution—the Devouring Overlord Body. This constitution’s starting point was not particularly high, but it could absorb any external martial constitution. The more it absorbed, the easier it was to evolve and break through one’s martial limits.

The Holy Lord also presented a list: disciples within the sacred land who possessed divine and rare constitutions. At the top was Xu Que, the one with the Divine Martial Bone.

However, this constitution required seizing from others, effectively destroying their futures. If widely known, such a person would be branded a demonic martial cultivator, hunted by all.

Thus, mother and son conspired to stage an “accident” targeting Xu Que. Jiang Liyue’s theft did not stop at the Divine Martial Bone; greedily, she also seized Xu Que’s family’s martial vein. To avoid exposure, she crippled Xu Que and cast him into the deadly Immortal Extinction Abyss, intending to erase all traces.

Neither mother nor son anticipated Xu Que’s miraculous survival and eventual recovery.

Jiang Liyue remarked, “Xu Que was only at the seventh level of Martial Sect. It is surprising he advanced so far from a crippled state in such a short time. But luckily, he is still young. His death tomorrow within the sacred land will at least settle matters for the Duanmu family.”

Fang Wu asked, puzzled, “Mother, why help the Duanmu family? Wouldn’t it be better to let them destroy each other?”

Jiang Liyue replied, “It’s your father’s strategy to drive away wolves by devouring tigers and seize opportunities amid chaos. Xu Que is protected by Lin Qingni; the Duanmu family dare not harm him. We feign difficulty to pressure Duanmu Ao into conceding more interests within the sacred land. It will seem like a dispute between their two families while we maintain justice, but actually, we are killing with a borrowed knife. In short, Xu Que’s death tomorrow is certain.”

…

At the foot of the Xuantian Sacred Land’s mountain gate, the Xu family patriarch and his kin arrived at a nearby inn. Upon entering, they saw the Seventh Elder, Si Yuan, dining there.

After some exchange, they learned that Xu Que had returned on his own initiative.

The Xu patriarch sighed in frustration, “That boy is reckless, always in too much of a hurry. Dangerous matters like this should be handled by us first.”

Si Yuan remained calm. “Don’t worry. I gave Xu Que a communication talisman. If there were any danger, he would have called me.”

The patriarch agreed but still sent someone to deliver an invitation to the sacred land.

Soon, a family servant returned with Xu Wuji.

Seeing his son not only unharmed but having advanced four realms in cultivation, the patriarch was stunned. He looked toward the sacred land’s treasured mountain and praised endlessly, “The Xuantian Sacred Land truly is one of the Four Great Sacred Lands of the Eastern Wilderness. Their teaching methods are remarkable. My foolish son has progressed so rapidly.”

But when Xu Wuji recounted the events, it turned out they had nearly died inside the sacred land. It was only Xu Que’s timely arrival that saved their lives.

Hearing the full story, the patriarch gritted his teeth in fury, “Can the Holy Lord really be unaware of such major events? Asking for permission was a sham—just stalling for time.”

Si Yuan warned, “Indeed. If anyone is stirring trouble in the sacred land, it’s certainly the Duanmu family with their cunning.”

Xu Wuji found this credible and hurriedly informed Xu Que.

Xu Que’s heart stirred. He had similar doubts but had been instructed by his master to wait until tomorrow, so he complied.

He had been Lin Qingni’s disciple for many years. Without trust between master and disciple, their relationship meant nothing.

For safety, Xu Que spent the night forging three spiritual-grade weapons, distributing them among his kin who also cultivated within the sacred land.

Late into the night, Xu Que locked his room door and drank the refined spiritual elixir distilled within the Heavenly Refining Gourd. The exquisite, pure energy swiftly coursed through his limbs and bones. His dantian’s spiritual energy churned like a storm, growing ever more vast and solid.

At the peak of his cultivation, Xu Que leapt and struck punches within the room. The gusts of his fists howled, each punch containing the might to shatter mountains and rivers. His fist winds thundered like a ten-thousand-pound force, his kicks flashed like lightning through clouds, fusing the essence of heaven and earth into every strike, igniting spiritual fire explosions.

Martial Sect Level Eight!

Martial Sect Level Nine!

Xu Que trained through the night, feeling not fatigue but greater ease. The spiritual elixir seemed to relieve bodily exhaustion.

Yet martial cultivation became progressively difficult at higher stages. The Invincible Divine Constitution had enabled his smooth progress earlier, but now he sensed a faint bottleneck.

The Martial King realm was the great watershed—a level where one could use spiritual power to counteract gravity and fly through the air.

The sacred land’s top disciple was precisely at this Martial King level.

Xu Que thought to himself, “My realm has risen, but my martial techniques and skills still lack. With spiritual-grade weapons’ aid, I need not worry too much.”

His greatest regret was that Sister Ye Shen had fallen asleep too quickly, leaving him no chance to learn any profound or formidable techniques. In this martial world era, any godly skill was passed only to one’s own descendants; even the closest disciples were kept in the dark. Powerful techniques could even compensate for gaps in realm, constitution, or special pupil techniques.

At that moment, Xu Wuji’s voice came from outside the door.

“Young Master, the Law Enforcement Hall demands we go to the plaza for debate.”

Debate?

Xu Que pushed open the door, sneering, “The sacred land has always revered martial arts. Where is the rule for debate? The three of us will go. Qian Ge, you must leave the mountain quickly.”

Though a woman, Xu Qian Ge refused to abandon her kin.

“Young Master, I will not be a burden,” her delicate face tensed, radiating a heroic beauty.

But Xu Que’s refusal was not because she was female. “I want you to deliver the message. Although I could use the signal talisman, sending it skyward would alert the sacred land.”

Xu Qian Ge immediately understood and left quietly.

Soon, Xu Que, Xu Wuji, and Xu Ziling arrived together at the sacred land’s main hall plaza.

A crowd had gathered—young scions from surrounding nations’ noble families and prodigies from small regions.

At the front, Holy Lord Fang Qianzhan had long been waiting.

Only Zhang, the mother of Duanmu Ao and Duanmu Xiong, appeared from the Duanmu family.

Xu Que’s master, Lin Qingni, was absent.

Duanmu Ya was the first to speak, “Xu Que, you brutally killed your fellow disciples. You are unworthy to be a disciple of the sacred land! With many witnesses here today, we demand your cultivation be nullified and you be expelled.”

Xu Que and his two companions were stunned.

The elders’ suspicions were confirmed. Last night, the Holy Lord and the Duanmu family must have been bargaining, buying time.

Fortunately, Xu Qian Ge had already left.

The Xu family elders would soon arrive.

Xu Que asked in confusion, “I understand your punishment for me, but why slander my two brothers? What crime have they committed?”

Duanmu Ya faltered but shamelessly argued, “They conspired with you to kill Duanmu Yi. The children of the He, Wang, and Li families receive equal punishment.”

Her words caused an uproar.

The Duanmu family had no intention of reasoning—they were forcing the issue.

Xu Que looked at the Holy Lord. “Holy Lord, do you intend to abandon the Xu family disciples? I dared to return because I trusted the sacred land and your fairness.”

Yet the Holy Lord said nothing.

From the side, Holy Mother Jiang Liyue coldly declared, “Xu Que, we have investigated thoroughly. You killed within the sacred land, and the evidence is irrefutable. The sacred land teaches the way and imparts wisdom; we cannot allow a bloodthirsty killer like you to remain. If you wish to live, return what you have learned and go back to Shengjing to live as a wealthy man.”

Clack, clack, clack.

As her words ended, a group of martial artists burst forth.

These were the sacred land’s dark enforcers, tasked with dirty work—a sign they intended to use force.

Xu Que realized he had been betrayed.

Yet he laughed aloud, “Ha ha ha, how laughable. Holy Mother, you dug out my Divine Martial Bone to help your son break through his stagnant realm. All my skills have long been returned to the sacred land. What does my power have to do with you now?”

His words shocked Fang Wu and Jiang Liyue.

The ever-silent Holy Lord Fang Qianzhan immediately commanded, “Seize him!”

“Who dares!” Suddenly, a fierce spiritual energy surged from above the sacred land, crashing through the clouds with a thunderous roar.

Ding!

A long spear pierced through the clouds, landing before the crowd.

Then many Xu family elders leapt forward to join him.