Chapter 965: Chapter 414: The Five Great Powers
The entire morning, Bai Xiao was accelerating the refinement of the ninety-nine qi holes. He could feel that his originally indestructible solid-state qi was becoming more condensed, becoming more formidable. It was like a piece of extraterrestrial black iron, reforged in the furnace and hammered repeatedly, expelling all impurities. In the end, what remained was a peerless divine weapon shining with a cold light.
Eleven thirty in the morning.
In the Martial Arts Arena, a figure sitting cross-legged suddenly stood up.
Instantly, from all directions, platinum-colored currents of air that resembled Geng Metal Sword Qi surged back, like swallows returning to their nest, forming a massive vortex around Bai Xiao. Even the clouds in the sky seemed like they were about to be torn down.
The rumbling vibration caused the ground to tremble slightly for a moment.
“Sss…”
Bai Xiao opened his eyes, two streams of hot air slowly exhaling from his nostrils.
He felt that for a split second, as if he had swallowed hundreds of cubic meters of liquid metal, his entire being became unbelievably heavy, as though a casual swing could crush the earth. That was pure qi strength, not relying on Bai Xiao’s physical body, merely the weight of the qi could achieve this.
And this was the qi that had been refined to the extreme limit of the Transformation Realm.
If a newly entered solid-state qi in the Transformation Realm was only like ordinary rock, then the solid-state qi refined to the extreme of the Transformation Realm was black iron!
“Using the ninety-nine qi holes, I’ve drastically shortened the time for refining qi. Now, of the two conditions to ascend to the peak, I’ve completed one. As for the other, perhaps it can be achieved at the Martial Arts Competition…”
Bai Xiao’s gaze flickered as he murmured to himself.
He walked forward slowly, his right foot seemingly like a pile driver deeply sinking into the ground, as though the ground couldn’t support that dense qi. But as Bai Xiao continued, the pits created by his steps became shallower, finally perfectly controlling the rapidly intensified qi within a short time, returning to normal walking.
“Tap, tap, tap…”
Bai Xiao turned and left the Martial Arts Arena.
Next, he planned to make a trip to South Lake Park to see how the Knife Sharpening Tea Tasting Meeting, where Sword Demon invited all the peak powerhouses, would turn out. Additionally, on the way back, he might stop by the Tianxia Cleaning Bureau Headquarters.
After all, he was appointed as the deputy director of the Tianxia Cleaning Bureau by the Martial Arts Association.
Though not the top leader, he shouldn’t be unfamiliar with the headquarters.
…
Twelve thirty in the afternoon.
East Sea City, South Lake Park.
This was the gathering place for many powerful Secret Martial Arts Schools in East Sea City.
And Po Suo’s Hidden Blade Pavilion, being one of the East Nine Gates, occupied the most serene and scenic area of South Lake. Po Suo’s Hidden Blade Pavilion was established beneath a low mountain, the front door no different from normal schools, but the backyard was nestled by the water, shrouded in bamboo groves, exuding a leisurely charm.
Cultivators who have practiced here for years undoubtedly have a tranquil mind like still water.
The backyard location.
To the right of the verdant bamboo grove, there sprawled a vast South Lake, sparkling under the scorching sun. Between the two, there was a flat open space where some ancient-style pavilions and structures were built, having a vintage aura. From afar, it could be seen that beneath the pavilion, on the tabletop, various tea sets were already laid out.
Several indistinct figures sat in their places, raising their teacups and chatting idly.
“Sword Demon, after not seeing you for a few years, your blade intent has progressed again. I can feel you’re just a step away from breaking through that barrier!”
An elderly white-haired man, holding a teacup, gently sipped the tea. He wore a white robe with gold patterns around the cuffs, his figure and face thin, appearing to be at least seventy or eighty years old. Yet, his eyes were full of spirit and qi, and there was none of the heavy lethargy typical of the elderly; instead, he was like a fountain of vitality that could rejuvenate life.
In the area surrounding the pavilion where he sat,
the grass quietly grew, becoming greener and more lush.
“Though just a step away, it is like a chasm that is difficult to cross.”
Sitting opposite the elderly man, there was a very burly, robust man wearing a black martial robe with an open chest. His muscular and powerful build, with intersecting knife scars visible. The man looked to be in his fifties yet still handsome in a rugged way, with sharp and aggressive aura, his half-length black hair dancing backward.
He looked like the mane of a silent, reticent lion.
Despite being a swordsman, he did not carry a sword at his waist.
“That still makes you much stronger than us.”
“Among those present, probably only you have the greatest hope to become a Grandmaster…”
The elderly man in white shook his head, expressing with emotion.
“Hmph!”
On the west side of the pavilion,
a robust man with a bare upper body and fiery red hair snorted coldly. His body, shaped in an inverted triangle, was as burly as a tower, with dark red dragon-shaped tattoos on his shoulders, resembling traces of flame burns. His explosive and scorching aura caused the surrounding air to slightly distort.
This person was the leader of one of the East Nine Gates, Yan Long.
“This time’s Martial Arts Competition, I wonder what thoughts everyone here has?”
On the west side of the pavilion.
A robust man in a gray tight-fitting shirt spoke to ease the atmosphere and change the subject. His face was sincere, with a standard square shape, his brows exuded a massive and stable aura as if enduring like a mountain. The combat suit bore a character for mountain.
It represented the Moving Mountain Fist.
“Presumably, the Martial Arts Association wants to enhance the Martial Arts Competition’s international influence, investing a colossal budget to make this year’s event unprecedented. Not to mention the frenzy that the Forbidden Secret Martial Water and Fire Immortal Robe could induce, just the quota for understanding the Enlightenment Tea Tree is three! Plus, the scarce resource of Enlightenment Tea leaves! The Martial Arts Association indeed spared no expense, and surely this is a significant opportunity for us…”