Martial Arts to Supremacy

Chapter 10 Su Qingyue's Guesses

Inside the wooden house, a delicate fragrance lingered, isolating it from all the noise of the outside world.

Li An sat down on the futon in the room as instructed. He had just faced Ye Xiao and Zhang Yintu. Although he seemed to have won easily, most of his spiritual energy had been depleted, and his meridians felt sluggish.

Just as he was about to close his eyes and regulate his breathing, he saw Su Qingyue turn around and walk to the table, pour him a cup of spiritual tea that shimmered with a warm spiritual light, and then sit down opposite him.

Just now in the martial arts arena, the Xuan Tian Sect's Holy Maiden, who had dominated the entire arena and acted decisively, had shed her fierce demeanor. The coldness in her eyes had softened a bit. Although she still looked indifferent, she had lost the imposing aura that made people afraid to look directly at her and had become more approachable.

"Drink this cup of spiritual tea first. It can nourish your meridians and quickly calm the disordered spiritual energy in your body." Su Qingyue pushed the teacup in front of Li An, her voice gentle, no longer as cold and sharp as before.

Li An raised his hand to take the spiritual tea. His fingertips touched the warm cup, and a pure spiritual energy spread from the teacup to his limbs and bones, relieving some of his fatigue.

He tilted his head back and drank it all, then cupped his hands and solemnly thanked her again: "I am very grateful to the Holy Maiden for saving me today. If she had not arrived in time, I fear I would not have escaped this calamity."

"Since I brought you into the Xuantian Sect, it is only right that I protect you. There is no need for such formalities." Su Qingyue gently shook her head, her gaze falling on Li An with a hint of inquiry and emotion. She slowly spoke, revealing the reason hidden in her heart, "Do you know why I went to Qingyang City in the first place?"

Li An's heart stirred, and he looked up at Su Qingyue, his eyes full of doubt.

He had always been curious as to why the Holy Maiden of the Xuantian Sect, who was admired by all, would appear in the remote Qingyang City and happen to save him when he was seriously injured and on the verge of death.

"I have been cultivating since childhood, and my spiritual sense is different from that of ordinary people. I often have inexplicable sensations." Su Qingyue looked at the quiet mountain forest outside the window, her tone calm, as if she were talking about an ordinary matter. "A few months ago, I suddenly felt a strong sense of opportunity in my heart, which guided me to Qingyang City. There might be an important opportunity on my cultivation path there, so I bid farewell to the sect elders and went down the mountain alone."

At this point, her gaze shifted back to Li An, her eyes filled with undisguised surprise: "I never expected that upon entering Qingyang City, I would find you severely injured and on the verge of death in the mountains. You were only eighteen or nineteen years old at the time, covered in wounds, your spiritual energy depleted, yet you were able to fight a second-tier perfected demon beast alone. This combat prowess, temperament, and talent are unparalleled, even in the entire Xuantian Sect, or even the entire Eastern Region. You are truly a rare cultivation prodigy. I was amazed and took action to save you, bringing you back to the Xuantian Sect to heal your wounds."

Li An suddenly realized that everything was fate. He had always known that he was a formidable fighter, but he never imagined that Su Qingyue would hold him in such high regard.

Seemingly sensing Li An's surprise, Su Qingyue smiled gently. The smile was faint, yet like the first melting of snow, adding even more elegance to her already stunning beauty.

"You don't need to be modest. Looking at the entire Xuantian Sect, among the younger generation, no one can possess such combat power at your age. Although I awakened the Earth-rank superior Dharma Aspect Fire Emperor Holy Spirit, and my talent is called a once-in-a-millennium talent by the sect, I have cultivated for eighty years before reaching my current level."

Upon hearing this, Li An's pupils constricted, and his face was filled with shock.

The woman before me, Su Qingyue, was stunningly beautiful, looking no more than twenty years old, with a graceful figure, like the most beautiful woman in the world, yet she was already eighty years old.

As if she was already used to the shock of others, Su Qingyue continued to explain the secrets of cultivation in the Divine Martial Continent in a calm tone: "You don't need to be surprised, this is the mystery of cultivation. In the Divine Martial Continent, the higher a cultivator's cultivation realm, the longer their lifespan, and their appearance will also be fixed, no longer aging easily."

"Let me explain to you in detail the different cultivation levels and lifespans on this continent, so that you will have a clear understanding when you cultivate in the future."

Su Qingyue sat up straight, her tone solemn, each word clearly reaching Li An's ears: "Cultivation begins at the Initial Awakening Realm, where one opens the meridians and draws Qi into the body. At this level, a cultivator's lifespan is approximately two hundred years, far exceeding that of mortals. Upon breaking through to the Gathering Aspect Realm, one condenses a Dharma Image, and spiritual energy fills the entire body, increasing lifespan to five hundred years. A cultivator at the Transformation Realm can transform their Dharma Image, greatly increasing their strength, and their lifespan directly breaks through a thousand years. Once one enters the Condensing True Essence Realm, condenses true essence, and undergoes a complete transformation, their lifespan can reach three thousand years, making them a powerful figure."

"Above that is the Profound Realm, where one understands the mysteries of heaven and earth and has a lifespan of up to eight thousand years. They are the pillars of the sect. Once one breaks through to the King Realm, one can dominate a region and has a lifespan of up to fifty thousand years. They are like immortals on land. In the entire Southern Region, there are only a handful of King Realm experts."

Su Qingyue paused, a hint of longing and awe flashing in her eyes, and continued, "As for the Saint Realm, that is a legendary realm. Throughout the history of the Divine Martial Continent, there has never been a Saint Realm expert who died of old age. No one knows how long their lifespan is."

"As for the Celestial Venerable Realm, it hasn't appeared for hundreds of thousands of years. Only some ancient scrolls left over from the past record that a Celestial Venerable Realm expert once appeared out of nowhere in ancient times. As for the strength, lifespan, and cultivation methods of the Celestial Venerable Realm, there is no information at all. Everything is an unsolved mystery."

Li An listened quietly, his heart churning with turmoil.

Because he had been neglected and humiliated by his family, he had very little knowledge of the cultivation world. He only knew that cultivation could make him stronger, but he did not know that there was such a strict division of realms behind it, and such a long lifespan mystery.

From the initial awakening realm of two hundred years, to the king realm of fifty thousand years, and then to the legendary saint and celestial venerable realms with endless lifespans, this path of cultivation is truly about defying fate and pursuing immortality.

Seeing Li An's thoughtful expression, Su Qingyue's eyes narrowed slightly, and she changed the subject, looking at him with even more seriousness: "And you are different from all the cultivators in this world."

"All cultivators in the world need to awaken their Dharma Form, relying on it to draw in Qi, cultivate, and fight. But you can absorb the spiritual energy of heaven and earth and circulate your cultivation without needing a Dharma Form, and your combat power is still so formidable." Su Qingyue slowly revealed her guess, her tone carrying a certainty. "After thinking it over, there is only one possibility—the cultivation technique you practice is definitely not an ordinary technique. It is very likely that it is a supreme technique created by an ancient great power of the Divine Martial Continent, who devoted his entire life to it."

"In ancient times, cultivation civilization flourished and formed its own path. Unfortunately, the inheritance was interrupted in later generations. The great master who created this method may not have been able to reach the end, but this cultivation method must be a heaven-defying existence."

Su Qingyue looked at Li An with eyes full of trust: "During the time I've spent with you, I know you have a pure heart. You are so different from others, you will surely be able to forge your own unique path of cultivation, and even surpass all other cultivators in this world, touching that legendary supreme realm."

Li An listened to Su Qingyue's words, his heart filled with mixed emotions.

He was well aware that the reason he could cultivate without a Dharma body was entirely due to the mysterious wordless jade book in his mind. Since awakening the jade book, he no longer needed to rely on a Dharma body and could directly absorb the spiritual energy of heaven and earth to temper himself, and his strength had advanced by leaps and bounds.

This secret is his greatest secret, and he cannot easily reveal it even to Su Qingyue, who has repeatedly saved him and protected him in every way.

The wordless jade book is too bizarre and defies the heavens. Once exposed, it will inevitably bring him death, and may even implicate Su Qingyue and the entire Xuantian Sect.

Despite his turbulent thoughts, Li An remained outwardly calm, bowing deeply to Su Qingyue with utmost sincerity: "I will remember what the Holy Maiden has said. I am deeply grateful for the Holy Maiden's guidance."

"When I was stranded in Qingyang City and was seriously injured and on the verge of death, it was the Holy Maiden who came to my rescue, brought me back to the Xuantian Sect, and carefully healed my wounds. Today in the martial arts arena, it was the Holy Maiden who stepped forward again to clear my name and protect me. I will never forget this kindness of being saved."

Li An raised his eyes, his gaze resolute, and spoke with unwavering conviction, "One day, when my cultivation has reached its peak, I will repay the Holy Maiden's protection and kindness with all my might, without fail!"

Looking into the sincerity and determination in his eyes, Su Qingyue felt a genuine warmth finally appear in her usually cold expression. She gently raised her hand and helped Li An up.