At this moment, within a mountain range.
A mountain peak was surrounded by swirling black qi, enveloping the nearby valleys, with a terrifying aura permeating the area.
This mountain peak was none other than the location where Lin Xiao was.
“Hiss!”
Suddenly, Lin Xiao’s eyes snapped open, a terrifying aura emanating from his body.
This aura was significantly stronger than before.
“I’ve finally managed to achieve the initial stage of the Nine Nether Demon Body, barely able to harness its power, but this is probably just scratching the surface,” Lin Xiao thought to himself with a sigh. “By cultivating the Demon Body, my cultivation has only reached the peak of the ninth-level Martial Venerable, but unfortunately, focusing solely on physical cultivation isn’t enough to break through to the Martial Monarch realm.”
Lin Xiao felt a tinge of regret about this.
The Nine Nether Demon Body was indeed powerful. Even mastering just the basics made his body feel as if it were filled with boundless strength.
Through physical cultivation, the demonic energy had also pushed his dantian to the peak of the ninth-level Martial Venerable.
However, there was a significant barrier between the Martial Venerable and Martial Monarch realms. Without focused cultivation of his dantian, he couldn’t take that step.
Still, Lin Xiao wasn’t in a rush, as he had only recently broken through.
After ceasing his cultivation, the swirling black qi gradually dissipated.
At that moment, a figure suddenly flew into Lin Xiao’s line of sight, darting towards him from a nearby peak.
It was a robust and masculine young man, around twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old, with resolute features and clad in a battle robe, exuding an aura of a dragon among men, heroic and formidable.
“Junior Brother Lin Xiao, you’ve come out of seclusion,” the young man said with a smile as he approached, his face carrying a touch of warmth.
“Senior Brother Zhan Lan?” Seeing the young man’s composed aura and age matching what his senior brothers had described, Lin Xiao immediately guessed his identity.
This young man was undoubtedly the Spear Dragon Sect’s top genius disciple, one of the Eight Great Prodigies, Zhan Lan.
However, Lin Xiao was puzzled. He had never met Senior Brother Zhan Lan before, yet the moment he stopped cultivating, Zhan Lan came to find him.
It seemed as though Zhan Lan had been waiting for some time.
Even if Lin Xiao had performed impressively recently, it didn’t seem enough to warrant such a visit.
“Junior Brother has sharp eyes!” Zhan Lan chuckled, nodding at Lin Xiao.
“I’ve long heard of Senior Brother’s fame. One of the Eight Great Prodigies, truly extraordinary!” Lin Xiao said politely, bowing.
His words were sincere. Although Zhan Lan emitted no aura, he gave off a terrifying presence.
If they were to fight, Lin Xiao knew he would be far from a match with his current strength.
“Junior Brother is too kind. I’ve heard of your deeds, and your talent leaves me in the dust. It won’t be long before you surpass me,” Zhan Lan said with a calm smile.
“Senior Brother Zhan Lan flatters me!” Lin Xiao didn’t dwell on the topic and instead asked curiously, “May I ask what realm Senior Brother Zhan Lan’s cultivation has reached?”
“Sixth-level Martial Monarch, still some distance from advancing further,” Zhan Lan answered truthfully. Then, he brought up an important matter. “By the way, Junior Brother Lin Xiao, I need to inform you of something. I’ve accepted Jian Wudi’s challenge. The battle is set for after you come out of seclusion. Now that you’re out, the challenge can be issued.”
“Accepted Jian Wudi’s challenge?” Lin Xiao was startled. Having been in seclusion for over a month, he was unaware of external events. Hearing that Zhan Lan was to fight Jian Wudi left him confused.
Was it because of him that Jian Wudi was targeting the Spear Dragon Sect to reclaim lost face? Seeing Lin Xiao’s confusion, Zhan Lan explained, “I don’t know what’s gotten into Jian Wudi lately. As soon as he came out of seclusion, he went on a rampage, challenging the prodigies of the seven major sects. The prodigies of the Absolute Blade Sect, Nine Heavens Sect, Nether Sect, and Evil Sect have all fallen to him, each defeated in just three moves.”
Lin Xiao was shocked. Jian Wudi’s strength was that formidable?
Even the other prodigies had fallen to him in three moves?
“The other two prodigies have refused to fight. Now, I’m the only one left,” Zhan Lan continued. “Perhaps it’s because of the loss of his brother or your provocation, or maybe Ling Jian Sect has other plans, but Jian Wudi is acting so boldly.”
“However, no matter how strong Jian Wudi is, defeating me won’t be so easy. Winning in three moves? That’s unlikely,” Zhan Lan said with a calm expression, as if he cared little about victory or defeat, displaying an extraordinary mindset.
Lin Xiao couldn’t help but clench his fists. He hadn’t expected Zhan Lan to accept the challenge, knowing the odds were slim, just to let him observe Jian Wudi’s trump cards, even waiting for him to come out of seclusion before fighting.
This must also be the sect’s intention.
Having not been in the Spear Dragon Sect for long, the sect was already showing him such favour. “Junior Brother, don’t overthink it. It’s not entirely because of you or the sect. Even if I lose, I, Zhan Lan, would never refuse a fight,” Zhan Lan said, a fiery glint flashing in his eyes, a faint battle intent emanating from him.
Lin Xiao could tell that Zhan Lan was undoubtedly a battle enthusiast.
However, perhaps due to cultivating an aura of righteousness, his exceptional mindset made him appear very calm.
“Of course, whether I can uncover all of Jian Wudi’s trump cards is uncertain. Even if I do, whether you can defeat him in the next two years will depend on your own fortune,” Zhan Lan added.
Lin Xiao nodded, agreeing wholeheartedly.
Even if he saw Jian Wudi’s trump cards, it only meant knowing his true strength. Whether he could win depended on himself.
Moreover, while he was improving, so was Jian Wudi. Who knew what new trump cards Jian Wudi might develop in the future?
“In truth, Jian Wudi is indeed terrifying,” Zhan Lan said. “You’ve heard about how his strength surged after entering the Gate of Life and Death, right?”
“I’ve heard,” Lin Xiao nodded. “I heard Jian Wudi hasn’t entered the Gate of Life and Death yet?”
“Exactly,” Zhan Lan nodded. “That’s what makes him so terrifying. It’s not that he lacks the strength or courage to enter the Gate of Life and Death. His ambition is too great. He plans to enter it only when he reaches the ninth-level Martial Monarch, aiming to break through directly to the Martial Emperor realm.”
“The Gate of Life and Death is a matter of life and death, but if he succeeds, Jian Wudi could very likely become a Martial Emperor. And that time might not be far off.”
“So, you’d better hope that in the next two years, he doesn’t break through to the ninth-level Martial Monarch. Otherwise, you might not have a chance,” Zhan Lan warned.
Lin Xiao was stunned, his expression turning grave.
Normally, when someone reaches the ninth-level Martial Monarch, they prepare thoroughly, first reaching the half-step Martial Emperor realm before attempting to break through to Martial Emperor.
After all, breaking through to the Martial Emperor realm is extremely difficult. Many remain stuck at the ninth-level Martial Monarch for decades or even a lifetime, unable to take that step.
Attempting to break through to the Martial Emperor realm immediately upon reaching the ninth-level Martial Monarch is even harder, almost impossible.
However, with special opportunities, like Ling Xiao, who forcibly broke through upon reaching the ninth-level Martial Monarch, success was possible.
The Gate of Life and Death, which allowed Jian Wuqu to leap from the eighth-level Martial Venerable to the second-level Martial Monarch in just a few months, was clearly such an opportunity.
If Jian Wuqu could emerge alive from the Gate of Life and Death, Jian Wudi, with his greater talent and strength, had an even better chance.
Although Jian Wudi was currently only at the sixth-level Martial Monarch, no one could say whether he would break through to the ninth-level Martial Monarch in the next two years.
With Jian Wudi’s talent and another opportunity, breaking through three more Martial Monarch levels in two years wasn’t impossible.
If Jian Wudi reached the ninth-level Martial Monarch before their agreed battle, Lin Xiao would be in grave danger.
Thus, he needed to hasten his breakthrough to the Martial Monarch realm and face Jian Wudi as soon as possible to eliminate this threat.
