With the Mountains and Rivers Martial Soul achieving full fusion and undergoing a transformation, Ling Xiao’s abilities across the board saw significant enhancements.
First were his nine special abilities:
Analysis and Simulation, Production and Creation, Realm Template, Martial Will, Martial Soul Clone, War Soul Devouring, True Essence Devouring, Nine Veins Spirit Body, and Mountains and Rivers Dominion!
All received substantial upgrades.
Notably, “Martial Will” evolved into “Martial Law,” a complex ability requiring further study. Broadly, it allowed him to set specific laws during combat or cultivation, paying a cost for amplified effects.
For example, in cultivation:
– Cost: No rest for an hour.
– Effect: Cultivation speed increases by ten percent for that hour.
This was a simpler law.
In combat:
– Cost: Sustaining heavy injury from the enemy.
– Effect: Instantly delivering damage equivalent to his strongest attack.
Whether a law could take effect depended on the Mysterious Realm’s overarching laws, with the Mountains and Rivers Martial Soul providing guidance during use.
The other eight abilities, while not transformed, were also enhanced.
Additionally, Ling Xiao could now remain in a soul state without activating it, with vision, analytical skills, and reaction speed dramatically improved.
He could predict an enemy’s next move, quickly identify their weaknesses or flaws, and possess far-sight up to a hundred miles and penetrating vision up to ten meters.
However, penetrating vision was affected by true essence; if an opponent used true essence to block, the depth would decrease.
Finally, Ling Xiao could now use the Mountains and Rivers Martial Soul in combat.
Previously, he avoided it to keep its secret. But now, things were different.
He discovered its power could be used in parts.
Currently, he could draw on three aspects: “Glacier,” “Ocean,” and “Mountains and Rivers.”
These manifested as three distinct forms, without summoning the entire martial soul, thus avoiding exposure.
Since his martial soul was fully fused with his soul, its aura differed from what others sought. As long as he didn’t summon its full form, he didn’t need to worry about revealing its secret.
After grasping his current capabilities, Ling Xiao couldn’t help but smile.
He glanced toward the Yuehua Sect, then toward Tianfeng City.
He decided to visit Tianfeng City first.
It had been a while, and he was curious about the Divine Sword Sect’s current state.
When the Blue-Eyed Clan launched their war, Tianfeng City bore the brunt. He couldn’t return then, but now he didn’t want to miss the chance.
When he left Yunkong City, he’d considered having the Divine Sword Sect relocate there, merging with Lin Ze’s Hidden Dragon Camp to form a stronger sect.
But Yunkong City’s lord, Wan Ben, opposed it, so the plan fell through.
After the war, the Divine Sword Sect returned to Tianfeng City, developing slowly with it as their base.
Though it couldn’t compare to major sects, especially the Twelve Sects, with Master Baiyun, a Mortal Realm expert, it should have thrived.
Yet, as he followed Divine Sword Sect disciples hunting along the Fulong Mountain Range’s edge to their sect, he sensed trouble.
From afar, he saw a crowd surrounding the Divine Sword Sect’s gates.
It reminded him of when Tianfeng City’s two major families, allied with the Ninja Clan’s guards, besieged the Ling Clan.
This group, radiating killing intent, numbered nearly ten thousand.
Most alarmingly, many were soldiers from Yunkong City, marked with the city lord’s emblem.
All were martial artists, the weakest at Martial Vein Realm fifth level.
Captain-level martial artists were uniformly seventh-level Martial Masters, and general-level ones were eighth or even ninth-level Martial Masters.
Though only about a thousand strong, this was an overwhelming force.
Ling Xiao wondered what had happened in the past two months to produce so many Martial Masters in Baiyun Province.
Could it be due to the Twelve Sects’ reemergence?
Uncertain if his guess was correct, he clearly understood the situation.
These people were here to trouble the Divine Sword Sect, armed with strong bows, crossbows, and various weapons, surrounding the sect impenetrably, ready to storm and slaughter.
The Divine Sword Sect wasn’t defenseless.
All disciples on missions had returned, numbering several thousand, using the sect as a fortress with robust defenses.
Shields, crossbows, and spears were well-prepared.
Evidently, in this chaotic world, Sect Master Ling Wuhen had done everything to ensure the small sect’s survival.
The sect had many seventh-level Martial Masters and even ninth-level ones.
Ling Xiao spotted Ling Yihang among them.
He’d finally become a pillar of the sect.
When Ling Xiao left, wasn’t Ling Yihang only at fifth or sixth level?
Indeed, with the Mountains and Rivers Martial Soul’s reappearance and the Twelve Sects’ return, many things had changed.
Martial artists previously stuck below Martial Master had awakened martial souls or fragments, accelerating their cultivation.
Though still far behind those who joined sects like Ling Xiao, they progressed much faster than before.
Ling Xiao was happy for Ling Yihang. Despite being only an early ninth-level Martial Master with uncertain prospects for the Mortal Realm, it was impressive given his limited talent.
Leading the attackers were ninth-level Martial Masters, including Wan Ben.
Among them were Ninja Clan martial artists like Zhuhua, Luxing, Diewu, Feiliu, and Feiyu.
Wan Ben’s aura was formidable; Ling Xiao sensed he’d reached the peak of ninth level.
Without joining a sect or accessing higher-level martial arts, breaking through to the Mortal Realm would be nearly impossible for him.
On the Divine Sword Sect’s side were Ling Wuhen, Ling Yihang, and Elder Ling Xiaotian.
But Master Baiyun was nowhere to be seen.
Peering into the sect, Ling Xiao couldn’t find him either.
He frowned. Master Baiyun had promised to protect the Divine Sword Sect—why wasn’t he here?
Though puzzled, he didn’t dwell on it.
He’d ask Ling Yihang and the others after resolving this situation.
He didn’t act immediately, wanting to see if the Divine Sword Sect could withstand Wan Ben’s army without his help.
