Chapter 89: Chapter 85: Ascending to Grandmaster, “Martial Venerable” Fate Grid

The Imperial Capital Military Camp was divided into northern and southern training grounds. There was no distinction in quality, only in age. The Northern Government Office’s training ground was established earlier and was thus smaller. The South Government Training Ground was built later and was much larger—three times the size of its northern counterpart.

At this moment, on the South Government Training Ground, many soldiers were bare-chested, the sounds of their fists striking for Body Refining echoing endlessly. They moved across training posts with steady footwork, diligently practicing their fundamentals. It was arduous work.

Huo Hongling, dressed in a crimson Martial Robe with her hair tied in a high ponytail, was brandishing her Pear Blossom Spear at a Red Gold Iron Man. She unleashed a thick, red wave of Gang Qi, shattering the iron man. Fragments of metal exploded across the training ground, drawing gasps of astonishment from many of the soldiers watching.

They all looked on with reverence.

The iron man was forged from Red Gold, making it incredibly hard—an excellent material for honing one’s weapons. Mixing even a small amount of its powder into armor could make it impervious to blades and spears. Even Martial Artists of the Fourth and Fifth Realm could not pierce it. For this reason, Red Gold was also known as “Medicinal Gold,” an ingredient used by Daoists in Alchemy and by blacksmiths in forging. Coins minted from Red Gold were found only in the Imperial Palace. When exchanged for silver, its value was double that of gold, and it was a rare commodity with a price but no market.

To be able to pierce a Red Gold Iron Man with a single spear thrust required Grandmaster Cultivation at the very least.

Huo Hongling swung her spear for only a short while before her Primordial Qi was depleted, and sweat poured down her face.

But she just wiped her crimson lips, tightened the white wraps on her wrists, and furrowed her slender brows. A look of fierce determination filled her eyes as she clenched her fist and gritted her teeth:

’I still can’t even touch the edge of the Middle Fifth Grade!’

She silently pulled her Pear Blossom Spear from the ground and left the training ground.

As she stepped out of the main gate, she glanced in the direction of the Champion Marquis’s Mansion.

A flicker of hesitation crossed her eyes, but it was quickly replaced by resolve.

She began walking in the opposite direction, clearly not wanting to go home.

She hadn’t taken more than a few steps when a woman in a ruqun dress, exuding a pure and beautiful aura, appeared and blocked her path. Wearing white cloud-embroidered shoes and with her hands folded before her, she stood gracefully at the entrance of a small alley.

“Who might you be? Why are you blocking my way?”

Huo Hongling’s voice was clear and crisp like flowing water. She planted her long spear on the bluestone pavement, her eyes full of heroic spirit.

“Qi Muxue,”

the beautiful woman replied with a gentle smile.

Huo Hongling found the name very familiar.

After a moment of thought, she quickly recalled it.

Huo Hongling shouldered her long spear, tilted her head back with an “Oh,” and nodded. “So you’re that descendant of the Confucian Saint, the famous number one talented woman of the Imperial Capital, Qi Muxue?”

But soon, her brow furrowed in confusion.

“We’ve always minded our own business. Shouldn’t you be at the Academy teaching? Why are you stopping me?”

Qi Muxue’s gaze was serene, like the deep, bottomless water of a cold pond.

“I heard the Huo Family recently arranged a marriage for you.”

The moment the topic was brought up, Huo Hongling’s mood soured. She pursed her lips and said, “That’s right.”

“What’s it to you?”

Qi Muxue’s expression was calm. “I wanted to see what kind of person Miss Huo is.”

Huo Hongling didn’t understand the meaning of that at first. She narrowed her eyes and said, “I don’t agree to this marriage. There’s no way I’m marrying that guy.”

’In my opinion,’ she thought, ’with my qualifications, if I were to marry, it would have to be someone stronger than me—stronger even than my father. I’ve seen my father as the goal to surpass ever since I was a child. If a man can’t even do that, I naturally won’t marry him.’

“Oh? Is that so,” Qi Muxue said, surprised.

“Yes.”

Huo Hongling nodded firmly, her tone resolute.

Qi Muxue smiled. “In that case, I won’t disturb you any longer. Mu Xue will take her leave.”

She gave a light, elegant bow, then quickly turned and left.

Huo Hongling had grown up in the army and was completely inept when it came to matters of love and romance. Qi Muxue’s actions left her utterly confused. She quickly shouted:

“Come back! What was that all about!”

…

「Qingzhu Hall.」

After Lu Mingyuan consumed the Dragon Sun Golden Peach, his Cultivation skyrocketed. His entire Flesh Body felt as if it was about to explode, but thankfully, the *Blood Glutton Celestial Fall Scripture* was able to continuously absorb the Spiritual Power.

[Blood Glutton Celestial Fall Scripture – Abnormal Eating Chapter (Seventh Floor: 10,000/50,000)]

[Blood Glutton Celestial Fall Scripture – Abnormal Eating Chapter (Seventh Floor: 30,000/50,000)]

…

[Blood Glutton Celestial Fall Scripture – Abnormal Eating Chapter (Seventh Floor: 50,000/50,000)]

With the terrifying medicinal power of the Dragon Sun Golden Peach, all 365 of his Acupoints were blasted open!

He had officially stepped into the Grandmaster realm!

The distinction within the Grandmaster realm lay simply in the number of open Acupoints and the amount of Primordial Qi they contained. That was all.

Opening all 365 Acupoints was the mark of a true Grandmaster.

Becoming a Martial Arts Grandmaster was the final destination for countless Martial Artists in the Jianghu, and the lifelong goal of ordinary people.

However, there were also disparities between Grandmasters. Their combat strength varied based on the number of their Acupoints and how many years of Power they had accumulated.

Some people had no hope of Breaking Realm in their entire lives and could only remain trapped at this stage. There were tales of white-haired elders who sat in meditation on mountain peaks for a century, their Acupoints containing the power of Primordial Qi nourished for a hundred years.

A single punch from them was something that not even a newly-ascended Middle Fifth Grade Sea-Viewing Realm Martial Artist could withstand!

After breaking through to the Grandmaster realm, Lu Mingyuan did not stop.

The medicinal power was still present. How could a Dragon Peach that grew alongside a century of the nation’s fortune be compared to common items?

Within his Flesh Body, many sealed Death Points were also forced open.

The number of his Acupoints leaped from 365 to 427.

Then,

592.

619.

It only stopped after reaching 700 Acupoints.

The final count settled at 761.

He was still quite a ways off from the legendary 1,000-plus Acupoints required to enter the Sea-Viewing Realm.

However, the interface before his eyes had undergone a significant change.

[Blood Glutton Celestial Fall Scripture – Divine Sensing Chapter (Eighth Floor: 50,000/250,000)]

The requirement had gone from 50,000 to 250,000, a full fivefold increase.

The *Abnormal Eating Chapter* for the Lower Seven Realms was officially complete.

The *Blood Glutton Celestial Fall Scripture* had finally welcomed a new Chapter—the *Divine Sensing Chapter*.

Lu Mingyuan recalled the technique’s principles and roughly understood the key points of the *Divine Sensing Chapter*.

As the saying goes, “Those who eat Qi become divine and long-lived.”

The purpose of the second Chapter was to consume the Heaven and Earth Qi, assimilate it, and nurture the Divine Beings within his body!

At first glance, it sounded quite similar to the cultivation of Qi Cultivators.

But in reality, while they sounded similar, they were fundamentally different.

Qi Cultivators absorb the purest Spiritual Qi between heaven and earth, assimilating it and converting it into Essence. From there, the Essence is refined into Taoist Qi. This is what is commonly known as Refining Essence into Qi, and subsequently, refining qi into spirit—the Refining Spirit Technique of the Taoist Sect.

The *Divine Sensing Chapter*, however, was about absorbing Heaven and Earth Qi. Notice the missing word “Spiritual.” Heaven and Earth Qi included not only Spiritual Qi but also the world’s impure qi—it refused nothing.

It used the breath of heaven and earth to nurture the Divine Beings within the body.

As for what these Divine Beings were, Lu Mingyuan didn’t know yet.

He only knew that his Flesh Body’s ability to absorb Heaven and Earth Qi was now far more terrifying. Before, he could only improve by eating, which was highly inefficient. He often had to feed it with Martial Dao Primordial Qi or supplement with the Heaven-Controlling Bottle’s Jade Liquid.

Now, however, he could use his Flesh Body to breathe in Heaven and Earth Qi directly, accepting both impure and pure qi without distinction. His cultivation speed had increased dramatically.

The nourishment he gained each Hour was now five times what his Blood Gluttonous Avatar previously acquired through cultivation!

He could gain 500 progress points in a single day.

Without the *Divine Sensing Chapter*, he had no idea how long it would have taken him to break through to the Middle Fifth Grade.

Furthermore, the Bloodthirsty Essence Blood within him had become much denser.

This allowed him to split off even more Blood Glutton Puppets!

Before, he could create ten; now, he could create a full fifty—another fivefold increase.

He had a premonition that his Blood Shadow Legion would soon begin to take shape, allowing him to spread it to every corner of the Imperial City to act as his eyes and ears.

After opening 761 Acupoints, Lu Mingyuan felt he could store much more Primordial Qi inside his body.

As he was now.

He could go an entire day on a single breath.

Just one breath a day was enough to handle his daily needs, and even to face enemies in battle.

This was undoubtedly terrifying. It meant that when he attacked, there would be absolutely no openings. Every move would be a killing blow, giving his opponent no chance to breathe.

At this very moment.

Blue patterns, like fractured steel, appeared on the surface of the Six-Yao Turtle Shell in his mind. It suddenly erupted with a blinding azure light that poured entirely into the “Martial Fool” Fate Grid before him.

[Luminous Green Fate Grid – Martial Fool, Refinement Level has reached 100%]

[Upgrading to Azure Destiny – Martial Venerable]

[Azure Life Chart (Martial Venerable): Ascend to veneration through martial prowess, connecting with heaven and earth without, and bestowing divinity within. When my fist strikes, it is like the midday sun; all Martial Artists under heaven shall bow their heads.]

[Refinement Level has reached 5%. Unlocked Life Chart Trait – Grandmaster (Basic Level)]

[Grandmaster (Basic Level): I am a Grandmaster, able to perceive all techniques. I can master any Martial Arts I observe, learning Martial Arts Techniques at ten times the original speed.]

Lu Mingyuan’s eyes lit up.

As expected of an Azure Fate Grid. The single Basic Level trait “Grandmaster” had already merged two High Level traits, “Sinking Heart” and “Martial Spirit,” raising the upper limit even higher!

…

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