Immortal Martial Academy - Chapter 24
The weather in July was scorching hot, with temperatures reaching thirty to forty degrees Celsius, making it unbearable and discouraging people from venturing outside.
Wu Xianyao sat at the Outer Court entrance, enjoying an old-fashioned ice pop while watching construction progress beyond the academy grounds.
Xia Yi emerged, holding a stack of documents. “Here are the Secret Books you requested, Headmaster.”
Wu Xianyao casually picked one out, recognizing it as a secret book from this world. However, it proved useless; still, there were some insights worth considering.
Currently, Wu Xianyao had reserved one card slot for deducing martial skills that require shorter timeframes, and two slots for those needing longer durations.
The Vanquishing Evil Style had already been deduced, but its complexity was immense. Despite students’ envy towards it, no one had yet mastered it.
[Martial Skill: Vanquishing Evil Style]
[Difficulty: ★★★★★★★★]
[Current Realms: Beginner, Mastery, Completion, Supreme.]
[Opening Formation: Ghostly Destruction, Star Stream, Lunar Mark, Stellar Mark, Sun’s Demise, Sun Breaker, Heavenly Oath.]
[True Formation: Initial Style – Ten Swords Sweep Across Mountains and Rivers, Successive Style – Ten Directions Calm the Seas and Lands, Final Style – Ten Thousand Sands Unleash Heaven’s Wrath.]
[Note: This is a powerful Martial Skill. Do not attempt without suitable weaponry; be cautious with your chosen weapon.]
Simultaneously, both the Alchemy and Forging Manuals were completed, along with the addition of a new Cultivation Technique.
[Cultivation Technique: Frost Prison True Scripture]
[Difficulty: ★★★★★]
[Current Realm: Beginner, Mastery, Completion, Supreme.]
[Note: Cultivating this technique generates Frigid Prison Qi.]
Wu Xianyao studied the Secret Book, “This move seems impressive, albeit somewhat flashy.”
Xia Yi rolled his eyes internally. The bookshelf in the Inner Court office was now predominantly filled with these martial arts secret manuals, which Wu Xianyao cherished dearly.
Outside, however, they would barely be worth using as toilet paper.
“Tomorrow marks the start of recruitment season, Headmaster. We need to report our academy’s battle team. When the time comes, the teams will board battleships. As a Dao Protector, you have the choice to participate or abstain. What do you decide?”
Typically, Dao Protectors operate covertly and avoid public appearances. Wu Xianyao had no intention of boarding the battleship.
Instead, he planned to depart tomorrow evening for the Blackshore Mountain defense line. Academies could choose their preferred defense line, and Wu Xianyao had already made arrangements beforehand.
Wu Xianyao decided to head directly to the front lines himself, while the students and new recruits would arrive two days later.
The combat teams operate independently from the new recruits, who require a month of training before being dispatched to various defensive zones for battle. Some academies have teachers leading their teams, while others do not.
“I won’t join the battleship. Instead, I’ll go straight to the frontline tomorrow night. Beixuan and Junlin will reach there in two days; please tell them to be cautious and remember everything Teacher Bai taught us. They must avoid impulsive actions.”
Seeing Wu Xianyao’s calm demeanor, Xia Yi felt conflicted inside. The Great Xia battlefield was truly terrifying, akin to a meat grinder that could leave anyone devastated.
“Alright! Take care,” Xia Yi managed to say, unsure what else to express in that moment.
As Wu Xianyao entered the Inner Court, he sensed a palpable tension hanging over the academy. Approaching the Refiner Pavilion, he noticed Xiao Lin busy at work and chose not to disturb him.
About half an hour later, Xiao Lin approached Wu Xianyao and handed him a space ring. “Boss, everything you requested is inside – 4th Rank weapons, armor, long spears, and supplies needed for the campaign.”
Wu Xianyao accepted the space ring, placing it on his pinkie finger. He stored some Spirit Medicines and personal items within, then walked out of the Refiner Pavilion under Xiao Lin’s watchful gaze.
Xiao Lin’s eyes welled up slightly as he murmured, “Boss, you must come back safely! You’re my only remaining family now.”
He turned and entered the refining workshop, knowing this was all he could do for now, but promising himself to be more helpful in the future.
Wu Xianyao approached the tree-like Spirit Medicine, noticing the pavilion nearby, and stepped inside as the fence automatically opened.
Gazing at the Spirit Medicine, Wu Xianyao said, “You certainly have exquisite taste, which I appreciate.”
The tree-like Spirit Medicine swayed its branches, seemingly expressing happiness.
A pot of clear tea lifted by one of its branches poured a cup for Wu Xianyao.
Taking a sip, Wu Xianyao smacked his lips, “Not bad.”
“Do you know? Tomorrow, I’m heading to the battlefield. Can’t predict when I’ll return. It’s dangerous there, but I have compelling reasons to go. If I make it back, I’ll visit again; you brew the tea, and I’ll share stories with you.”
It was unclear if the Spirit Medicine understood, but Wu Xianyao continued talking while the plant diligently served him tea. The scene appeared almost like a conversation between two individuals rather than just one.
“Oh right, you don’t have a name yet! That’s true; let me give you one then! Since you can’t speak, I’ll take your silence as consent.
In my mind, there is a powerful being known as the Willow Deity. Although I’m not sure about their actual name, why don’t we call you Willow Deity too? Wait, but you’re not exactly a willow tree. Never mind, you shall still be called Willow Deity.”
Wu Xianyao spent a long time that day conversing with this Spirit Medicine plant.
As Wu Xianyao drifted off to sleep, he vaguely saw a hint of green.
While Wu Xianyao slumbered, a faint aura of life emanated from the tree-like Spirit Medicine. Gradually, branches resembling willow leaves appeared, forming a hammock woven from these delicate strands. Wu Xianyao found himself lying comfortably within it.
A slender hand emerged, accompanied by a glimpse of a flowing green skirt. The face of the woman was indistinct as she sat on the hammock, allowing Wu Xianyao’s head to rest upon her lap. With gentle sways of the hammock, she softly caressed Wu Xianyao’s cheek, exuding warmth and tenderness.
When Wu Xianyao woke up, it was already evening. He rose, gently patted the trunk of the Willow Deity, and whispered, “I’ll come back to see you next time.”
The branches remained just ordinary branches, and as the fence opened, Wu Xianyao stepped out.
A dense mist enveloped them, seemingly allowing only Wu Xianyao to enter this realm, as even other disciples would overlook its presence.
Back in the Headmaster’s office, Wu Xianyao prepared for his final step: entering the Third Realm, the Spirit Gathering Realm.
After consuming the Spirit Medicine, he initiated his breakthrough. The first stage of the Spirit Gathering Realm is known as Opening the Divine Sea with Qi.
His entire body’s Qi and Blood Energy began converging towards the forehead, where the Divine Sea resides just behind the brow bone, referred to by Wu Xianyao as the Divine Court.
Initially, small amounts of Qi and Blood Energy were used to strike, gradually adapting before increasing the intensity.
On the third attempt, the Divine Sea opened, initiating a baptism by Heaven and Earth Energy. Simultaneously, within his mind, a faint presence emerged, which Wu Xianyao swiftly gained control over.
“This is Divine Sense power.” He extended his Divine Sense, stopping at ten meters, realizing that seemed to be his current limit.
Using Divine Sense to guide Heaven and Earth Energy into his body, Wu Xianyao realized that any energy needed by his body could now be replenished through this cosmic power. This reminded him of fasting techniques, which seemed somewhat similar.
As the Heaven and Earth Energy washed over him, his physical strength continued to increase further.
“It appears that the early third stage is a pivotal turning point. Once entering the 3rd Rank, one gains control over Heaven and Earth Power, replacing Qi and Blood Energy entirely with cosmic forces.
Even within my Dantian, it’s now filled with Heaven and Earth Power. Just a tiny bit of this energy surpasses Qi and Blood Energy by hundreds of times.”
Wu Xianyao furrowed his brow, noting that he could currently harness Heaven and Earth Energy within a ten-meter radius using his Divine Sense. As his Divine Sense grows stronger, so will his access to more Heavenly and Earthly Power.
Moreover, his body was constantly being cleansed by this cosmic energy, marking a leap in his life force. The path of the Martial Dao seems aimed at evolving towards higher forms of existence.