Grinding Cultivation Toward Martial Saint

A yellow Tunneling Light swiftly flew from the horizon, silently landing in front of the temple, transforming into a middle-aged man wearing a dark yellow long robe, none other than Xia Xuanyan.

"Brother Qingxu, it’s been a while since we last met." Xia Xuanyan spoke towards the tightly closed temple door, his voice not loud, yet clearly penetrating the mist, reaching into the temple.

After a moment, the temple door silently slid open.

A young Daoist boy in green robes bowed and emerged, saluting, "Master Xia, the temple master invites you in."

Xia Xuanyan nodded slightly and stepped inside.

The interior of the temple was simply furnished, with only a mat in the center, upon which sat a Daoist.

The Daoist had white hair and beard, yet his complexion was as rosy and tender as a baby’s, showing no signs of wrinkles.

He wore a simple gray Daoist robe, his eyes slightly closed, and his aura was integrated with the entire temple and the surrounding sea of clouds, as though he was a part of this natural world.

He was indeed Qingxu Temple Master, another universally recognized supreme power known as the "Second in the World."

"Brother Xia, it seems your aura is even more refined!" Xia Xuanyan said.

"How does Brother Xia find the time to visit my peaceful Qingxu Temple today?" Qingxu Temple Master slowly opened his eyes, his gaze clear as a deep lake, reflecting Xia Xuanyan’s figure, and spoke directly.

Upon hearing this, Xia Xuanyan didn’t bother with pleasantries, directly taking out a jade slip and sending it with True Yuan to Qingxu Temple Master: "Brother, take a look at this first."

Qingxu Temple Master scanned with his Divine Sense, the jade slip contained information about Jiang Ning’s duel with Ji Xuan in the Chengqian Palace, the Martial Saint’s intervention, and the external rumors of "Second in the World, six people tied," becoming clear in his heart, yet his expression remained unchanged.

"Is Brother Xia here on behalf of Dongling Marquis?"

"Exactly." Xia Xuanyan nodded, "I just visited Vajra Temple, and their abbot has agreed. Currently, Jiang Ning is too prominent and his foundation is unfathomable, identity unknown. If allowed to advance further, the future power dynamics will drastically change. I ask you to take action, exchange a few moves with Jiang Ning at the Great Xia’s New King’s Ascension Ceremony tomorrow, then withdraw admitting the rumors are not false, by then his current power will be truly accepted as tied with yours, while also making him a target for all."

Qingxu Temple Master remained silent for a moment, gaze seemingly penetrating the temple roof, looking towards the endless sea of clouds: "Brother Xia seems very wary of him!"

Xia Xuanyan candidly admitted: "You are wise. This Jiang Ning, possessing both Immortal and Martial prowess, his potential is astonishing. Allowing his growth will eventually become a major threat. Yet the Martial Saint is still around, so we cannot fully strike with our true form. We can only use the name ’Second in the World’ to attract attention from various sides, keeping him in the limelight, slowing his growth. When the time is ripe, we will take drastic action."

"Moreover," Xia Xuanyan’s tone slightly deepened, "Brother can hardly resist seeing firsthand the mystical power of that ’Yin Yang as Foundation, Nine Layers of Profound Light’ higher-grade Immortal Foundation, what kind of power it holds? Such a foundation, even ancient records recognize as rare. A battle against it might give you insights into Immortal Dao, which might be beneficial for your cultivation."

Qingxu Temple Master’s eyes flickered with a faint ripple, quickly returning to calm.

He slowly stood up, his gray robe moving without wind, the natural resonance around him growing even more profound.

"Brother Xia’s words are not without reason." Qingxu Temple Master’s voice ethereal, "This Jiang Ning as the Dongling Marquis indeed intrigues me. Achieving a higher-grade Immortal Foundation before twenty, fighting Ji Xuan! Such figures are rare through the ages. Meeting him, discussing, validating, this too is enlightenment on the path."

He paused, looking at Xia Xuanyan: "I can go to the Royal Capital. But only to discuss Dao, limited to three moves, I will fulfill your plan but not deliberately lose, tarnishing Qingxu Temple’s millennia reputation. This discretion, Brother Xia must understand."

Xia Xuanyan’s eyes flashed brilliantly, bowing: "That suffices! With your word, Brother Xia can be at ease. After three moves, you may gracefully withdraw, the external world will naturally judge. Jiang Ning’s position as ’Second in the World’ will be indisputable, and the whirlwind around him will deepen."

Qingxu Temple Master nodded slightly, saying no more.

He took a step forward, his figure already atop the sea of clouds outside the temple, seemingly merging with the vast clouds.

"If so, I shall go to the Royal Capital and meet this young ’Second in the World’."

As his voice fell, Qingxu Temple Master’s figure gradually faded, transforming into a wisp of clear wind, blending into the sea of clouds, disappearing without a trace.

Leaving only the lingering Dao resonance, gently circulating on the stone courtyard before the temple.

Xia Xuanyan stood within the temple, gazing at the direction Qingxu Temple Master vanished, a deep smile on his lips.

"Jiang Ning, the ’Second in the World’ throne is not easy to sit. Vajra Temple’s old monk, Qingxu Temple’s abbot. Next, let’s see how you handle these winds and storms from all directions."

He turned, transforming into a dark yellow Tunneling Light, quietly leaving.

The place instantly returned to tranquility, only the sea of clouds churning and the sound of pine waves.

...

Dongling Marquis Mansion, under the ancient pine.

Jiang Ning sat cross-legged, eyes closed, with black and white Profound Light swirling around him.

Inside the Inner Realm, the flow of time was nearly stagnant; a mere moment outside was already a hundred days, even a thousand days here.

From his starting session of sword practice, to now, his Heart Spirit was completely immersed in the contemplation of Taixu Yin Yang Sword.

In his mind, the mysterious swordsmanship continuously evolved.

From the initial sword splitting Yin and Yang, to sword light transforming into void, merging into space.

Each move contained the Dao and principles of space and Yin Yang.

"Taiyin governs stillness, Taiyang governs action, between motion and stillness, lies the alternation of Yin and Yang." Jiang Ning’s heart stirred slightly, the power of his Primordial Spirit surged like tides, manifesting within the Inner Realm as a phantom of a long sword woven with black and white.

The sword phantom gently sliced.

Swoosh—

A soundless fissure appeared in the void, the left side blazing bright as the sun, the right side dark like the moon.

At the edge of the fissure, tiny space ripples spread, quickly smoothed by Yin and Yang Qi.

Subsequently, he dispelled the sword phantom, resuming contemplation.

After the achievement of the Primordial Spirit, thinking speed was a hundredfold increased.

The once obscure sword principles were now clear as palm prints.

Countless insights about space and Yin Yang emerged from deep memory, corroborating each other with Taixu Yin Yang Sword.

Much later.

Unaware of how much time had passed, Jiang Ning condensed the sword once again.

This time, the sword phantom became hazy and ethereal, seemingly existing between being and non-being.

Before the sword edge moved, the surrounding space spontaneously twisted, forming a small field of chaos.

In the field, Yin Yang Qi naturally cycled, sometimes creating microcosms; sometimes returning to void.

"Using the sword as a lead, transforming void to reality, integrating Yin Yang into space, establishing a small world." Jiang Ning’s eyes flashed brilliantly.

He aligned his fingers into a sword stance, slowly thrusting within the Inner Realm.

This sword moved extremely slowly yet carried a certain mystical rhythm.

Where the sword finger passed, the void rippled like a water surface, with dazzling white light on the left side and pervasive dark moon glow on the right.

The light and moonlight intertwined, condensing in the void into a simplified Tai Chi Diagram.

Immediately, he felt that his comprehension of Taixu Yin Yang Sword had reached a new level.

This sword was no longer merely an offensive technique but touched upon the edge of ’Dao.’

Through the sword, Dao is derived, Dao transforms Yin Yang.

And this was what he truly mastered, without relying on the mystical panel.

At this moment, his heart overflowed with joy.

Even though he already knew the mystical source of the panel.

The panel merely provided assistance, aiding him to reach higher levels.

Yet he persistently wished to see whether relying solely on himself would result in gains, in realizations.

And today, at this moment, he truly achieved it.

He knew that this accomplishment was due to reaching the realm of Immortal as a Primordial Spirit, exponentially enhancing his thought and comprehension.

It was this advancement that enabled him, on the profound and intricate swordsmanship foundation of Taixu Yin Yang Sword, to comprehend his own progress.

At this moment, a prompt quietly appeared before him.

[Taixu Yin Yang Sword Experience Value +50000]

"Fifty thousand!" Jiang Ning’s heart trembled with slight surprise, then smiled wryly.

He knew this was his rightful gain.

His recent breakthrough, according to martial saints, was based on the Perfection of Taixu Yin Yang Sword, forging his own path, his own way.

Just as Ji Xuan forged his unique path in Imperial Extreme World Suppressing Skill, transforming it into a realm.