Daqian Martial Saint

A sweet taste filled Cao Yingxiong's throat, and he nearly spat out a mouthful of blood. Before he could even catch his breath, Chen Ping'an was on him again.

When Chen Ping'an struck, he did so with thunderous force, unleashing a barrage of Killing Techniques that left his opponent reeling.

Although he couldn't use his Finger Technique Secret Technique, Chen Ping'an could still employ the standard Three-Point Human Tribulation Finger.

Light flashed from Chen Ping'an's fingertips as he wove Palm Techniques and Leg Techniques into his assault, forcing Cao Yingxiong into a constant retreat. As their figures blurred, Chen Ping'an would periodically seize an opening to inflict another wound.

BAM! BAM! BAM!

During the relentless exchange, Cao Yingxiong's body shuddered, and as he faltered, another wound appeared on him.

'I can't let this go on!'

Sensing the situation turning increasingly against him, Cao Yingxiong knew exactly where he stood.

The scorching heat inside him persisted, draining his energy. Meanwhile, the accumulating injuries made his Force Dissipation Technique increasingly less effective.

Most importantly, his opponent's relentless, high-frequency assault kept him completely suppressed. He had no opportunity to use his trump card, the Thousand-Catty Heavy Fall.

He was now trapped in a vicious cycle.

If this continued, death was certain!

There was only one way to break this cycle. The aftereffects were severe, but seeing his end was near, Cao Yingxiong cast aside all hesitation.

'I'll bet it all!'

His resolve hardened, and he made his decision in an instant.

BOOM!

The blood in Cao Yingxiong's body began to boil violently. The steaming aura that rose from it briefly suppressed the scorching sensation that lingered within him.

True Qi surged wildly through his body as his Qi Blood began to steam. The image of a Sea of Blood manifested, condensing into a crimson stream that shot straight toward the spot between his eyebrows.

Between Cao Yingxiong's brows, the Seed of Profound Light sprouted branches. Nestled among several plump, tender leaves was a tightly closed flower bud.

The crimson stream surged upward, sprinkling over the flower bud like a fine rain and seeping into every tiny vein. In the time it took to execute a few Instant Swords, the bud became so red it looked ready to drip blood.

Then, amidst a spreading mist of blood, the bud seemed to be acted upon by some force. It changed rapidly, its petals unfurling. They were a vivid, blood-red color, exuding an uncanny, demonic aura.

However, the bud did not bloom completely. Forced open as it was, its petals were tattered and broken, possessing the strange beauty of decay.

The bud bloomed, revealing the Spiritual Flower!

This was the Jade Balance Realm, also known as the Grandmaster Realm!

Blood-Burning Essence Technique!

This was a fragmented Secret Technique Cao Yingxiong had chanced upon many years ago. By burning one's blood essence and converting it into nourishment, one could forcibly nurture their Profound Light to break into a higher Realm!

Cao Yingxiong had never used this fragmented Secret Technique since obtaining it. For one, he had never faced a true life-or-death crisis. For another, its side effects were far too severe.

With ordinary Burst Secret Techniques, the user would only suffer from depleted Qi Blood or, at worst, some minor damage to their foundation. A few months of rest was all it took to fully recover.

But this Blood-Burning Essence Technique was different. Its name might suggest minor side effects, but the reality was far from it. Once used, it didn't damage one's foundation—it consumed the Cultivator's very lifespan!

If it only cost him lifespan, that might have been acceptable. But the technique often inflicted irreversible damage as well.

Just as was happening now. He had used the Secret Technique to force the bud to bloom, and while it had produced a Spiritual Flower, its petals were tattered and blood-stained. This damage was irreversible.

In other words, after using this Secret Technique, Cao Yingxiong could never hope to reach the Grandmaster Realm in this lifetime, unless he were to be blessed by some immense stroke of luck.

To sever one's path in cultivation and destroy their future—this Secret Technique was truly malicious!

Furthermore, although Cao Yingxiong had forcibly produced a Spiritual Flower, it was not fully bloomed. Its unnatural, demonic color was completely different from a Spiritual Flower formed during a normal realm-breaking.

Therefore, in terms of his Realm, despite forming a Spiritual Flower, he had not truly entered the Jade Balance Realm. However, the bud had undeniably bloomed—a state completely different from the Profound Light Realm—and he now possessed some characteristics of the Jade Balance Realm.

To have broken through without fully breaking through... such a state is known as the Pseudo-Grandmaster Realm!

When Cultivators at the Profound Light High Realm attempt to break through into the Jade Balance Realm, the vast majority of these Absolute Masters fail. In the process, their foundations are damaged, halting their progress permanently.

However, a small fraction of these Absolute Masters, while still failing to truly enter the Jade Balance Realm, manage to gain something from the attempt—either through external forces or their own unique nature—and retain some of the breakthrough's Divine Wonders.

Distinct from both the Profound Light High Realm and the Jade Balance Realm, this state is called the Pseudo-Grandmaster Realm!

"You forced my hand!"

BOOM!

A bloody mist erupted from Cao Yingxiong as the power within him raged. His eyes turned crimson, glowing with a savage light as he stared daggers at Chen Ping'an.

"You destroyed my path... You deserve to die!"

A streak of dazzling Golden Light flashed past, as brilliant as the midday sun.

SPLAT!

Cao Yingxiong's body instantly exploded, disintegrating into a shower of flesh and blood that rained down with chunks of gore.

From within the Golden Light, a towering, ten-foot-tall Vajra Giant was slowly revealed. It stood firm, like a Celestial Human descended to earth, radiating an aura of inviolable majesty.

'Too much damn talk.'

...

P.S. Since he was the first character with Dragon Tiger Battle Power to show up, I gave him some extra screen time and let the fight last a few chapters. I was originally going to put the finale in tomorrow's update. But then I thought, "I can't betray the love of all you Lord Governors!" So I busted my butt writing, added a few hundred extra words, and wrapped it all up in today's chapter. (Strikes a proud pose, awaiting praise.) Hehe~

It's the last day of September! Asking all my dear Lord Governors for your monthly tickets~

(Note: The word count above is not part of the paid chapter.)

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