Make the Immortal Sect Great Again

The thunderous boom coincided perfectly with a crash of lightning from the dark clouds overhead. The earth shuddered as a visible shockwave rippled outward, kicking up a storm of dust and smoke.

The shockwave from the collision slammed into the ground, fracturing the earth like a spiderweb. The soil shattered and caved in, swept up by the expanding blast wave into a localized sandstorm that tore through the surroundings. A long time passed before it finally settled, the rain and dirt churning into a muddy torrent.

After another moment, the dust finally cleared.

Revealed at the center was Li Yiran, slumped on the ground. His mental fortitude had been entirely shattered, his pupils filled with sheer terror and dread.

Opposite him stood Wang Ping, a flicker of surprise crossing his face.

Between him and Li Yiran, another figure had appeared out of thin air. The newcomer wore a vicious expression, his lips parting with every breath to reveal teeth as sharp as knives.

‘It's him...’

Wang Ping instantly recognized the man as one of the two imperial Tribute Hall commissioners who had handed him the Thirteen Grand Protectors Hard Qigong. If he recalled correctly, his name was Xugou.

"What a punch..."

Only by truly facing this strike could one grasp the magnificent power hidden within Wang Ping's seemingly simple punch. Even with his formidable martial physique, the empowerment of his Art of War, and the protection of his armor, Xugou had still suffered an injury. He simply had not been able to block the punch completely.

A short distance away, the other Tribute Hall commissioner, Shenhou, was even more appalled.

Not long ago, he had witnessed Wang Ping's strength with his own eyes. While the young man had not exactly been weak, his skills were painfully average. He certainly could not be considered strong.

But what the hell was this now?

It was one thing to kill a Titled Martial Master like Xu Bingzheng with a single punch, but to actually injure Xugou?

"Three times stronger? Five times? No, that is at least a tenfold increase, maybe even dozens of times over! Did he eat an immortal elixir? How could he possibly improve so fast?!"

A second later, under the incredulous gazes of Shenhou and Xugou, Wang Ping pulled his fist back. Yet, there was no joy on his face. Instead, he let out a regretful sigh:

"There truly is always someone stronger, and a sky beyond the sky."

While that punch had seemed like a straightforward attack, it possessed much more than just raw power. He had genuinely utilized numerous techniques and methods at his disposal.

Power had surged up from the ground, channeling through his spine and penetrating his bones before unifying into a single, cohesive force. It looked like a mere punch, but it concentrated the absolute might of his entire body into his knuckles. Without the aid of his spiritual perception, reaching such a Realm would have required at least twenty years of bitter cultivation.

Unfortunately, he had no Internal Force.

With his current physique, any Internal Force he managed to refine would undoubtedly be of extraordinary quality. If he exploded with that power, Xugou could not possibly have blocked his fist.

‘And with an Internal Force cultivation body, I would be able to unleash the Heavenly Demon Disintegration.’

When that time came, his strength would skyrocket even further.

His future was full of promise.

Of course, he still had other trump cards up his sleeve.

The Soul Seizing art he had learned in his previous life, for instance, had a multitude of uses. Unfortunately, he had not yet cultivated magical power, making it impossible to unleash its true might.

Wang Ping silently reviewed the exchange, calculating his gains and losses. He then glanced at Xugou, confirming that he at least had the ability to escape before cupping his hands.

"Greetings, Senior..."

Before he could even finish speaking, Shenhou marched over. Using Divine Intent to transmit his voice, he cut straight to the chase: "Have you mastered the Thirteen Grand Protectors Hard Qigong?"

Wang Ping stared blankly for a moment, then nodded.

Shenhou took a sharp breath at the confirmation. Sure enough, this Brocade Guard possessed the talent of an extraordinary person. He was born with divine anomalies, granting him strength far beyond that of a Mortal.

The realization only made him more excited. He hurriedly pressed on, "How many arts?"

"..." Wang Ping blinked.

Seeing his reaction, Shenhou impatiently pressed, "Don't be afraid, just tell the truth. One? Two? It couldn't possibly be three, right?"

Wang Ping gave him a bewildered look.

Wait, is this martial art supposed to be that difficult?

I didn't notice anything when I took out the loan for it.

For a moment, Wang Ping found himself caught in a rare bout of uncertainty. He mulled it over for a second before making a decision. Looking at Shenhou, he replied via Divine Intent, "One."

"What?" Shenhou recoiled, subconsciously shaking his head. "Impossible. With just one art, how could you throw such a ferocious punch—"

His voice cut off abruptly.

A moment later, a look of utter horror gradually dawned on his face. "One... One... Have you completely mastered the entire Thirteen Grand Protectors Hard Qigong?!"

Wang Ping nodded.

"Really?" Shenhou gritted his teeth. "I don't believe it."

If this kid really had mastered the complete Thirteen Grand Protectors Hard Qigong, a man with Divine Intent as strong as his own would definitely be able to tell!

In response, Wang Ping silently dropped the concealment of the Life-Stealing Thief.

Rumble!

Shenhou instantly felt the world spin. His Divine Intent, which had been locked onto Wang Ping, was suddenly hit by a searing heat, as though he were staring directly into the midday sun.

A full fourteen streaks of brilliant, soaring light exploded into his perception—Copper Head and Iron Forehead, Arms Lifting a Thousand Jun, Standing Vajra, Hundred-Step Divine Fist, Splitting Monuments and Cracking Stones, Treading Land and Piercing Steel, Elbow Sinking Mountains, Knee Breaking Copper Walls, Abdomen Hard as Armor, Finger Piercing Gold and Stone, Throat Locking Steel Blades, Golden Spear Standing Tall, Steel Tendons and Iron Bones, and the Indestructible Vajra Body.

"..."

Shenhou plummeted into an unprecedented daze. For a fleeting moment, he lost all sense of the world, genuinely wondering if he was dreaming.

He had been practicing martial arts for nearly thirty years now.

From being handpicked by the First Seat to join the Tribute Hall, to enduring a decade of bitter cultivation to seize the title of Shenhou in a single battle, he had always been a peerless genius in the eyes of others.

He used to think that practicing an unranked, rudimentary martial art like the Thirteen Grand Protectors Hard Qigong would be a trivial matter. Yet, that trivial matter had occupied him for thirty whole years. And despite all that time, he had barely mastered nine arts. The tenth remained agonizingly out of reach.

But now, here was some kid from god knows where.

He had received the cultivation method just yesterday, yet he had mastered it today. What was more, he had achieved the grand consummation of all thirteen arts—a feat previously accomplished by no one other than the First Seat...

What was this?

Were his thirty years of bitter cultivation truly worth less than a single night of this kid's time?

For a moment, Shenhou could only stare at those fourteen streaks of dazzling, beautiful light, a sudden, overwhelming urge to cry stinging the back of his nose.

‘Am I actually not a genius after all?’

He could not stop the thought from surfacing. Compared to him, the young man standing before him was the real peerless prodigy, a true darling of the martial dao.

Shenhou inhaled sharply.

He swayed on his feet for a moment before forcibly reining in his turbulent emotions, flashing Wang Ping a stiff smile.

"I believe you. Your talent is peerless, little brother. It completely surpasses my own."

Only then did Wang Ping pull back the phenomenon.

As the Life-Stealing Thief resumed its function, the soaring streaks of light were suppressed once more. Wang Ping instantly reverted to his average, unassuming appearance.

Shenhou watched them vanish with deep reluctance. He had dreamt of possessing those fourteen streaks of light. For a brief, irrational moment, he wanted to ask Wang Ping to put them on display again.

"Shenhou?"

Beside him, Xugou was thoroughly baffled. Wang Ping and Shenhou had been conversing entirely through Divine Intent. Since it was an encrypted exchange, he had not heard a single word.

His voice snapped Shenhou back to reality. Glancing at the Crane Feather Black Cloak that Xugou wore—the symbol of their status and identity within the Tribute Hall—Shenhou suddenly seemed to realize something. "Little dog," he said abruptly, "can't you see it's pouring out here?"

Xugou blinked. "Huh?"

Before Xugou could react, Shenhou pressed, "It's freezing. Hurry up and drape your cloak over little brother Wang's shoulders."

Xugou: "..."

For a second, Xugou assumed Shenhou was just recalling their earlier conversation and making a joke—until Shenhou actually reached out a massive hand toward him.

In one swift motion, Shenhou yanked the Profound Cloak off Xugou's back and affectionately draped it over Wang Ping. Beaming with the gentle warmth of a doting elder, he said, "Little brother Wang, there is an order of priorities to all things. Put this Longxing County mission on hold. Let's return to the Capital right now; the First Seat will definitely want to meet you."

Wang Ping blinked. "I am here on imperial decree."

"This is a special situation; it requires special handling." Shenhou waved his hand dismissively. "Believe me, you are more important than anything else right now. Once His Majesty knows, he will completely understand."

"I cannot do that."

Wang Ping shook his head, his expression turning solemn. "I am the Emperor's imperial guard, a Gold-Bearing Brocade Guard. My family has enjoyed imperial grace for generations. I came here on a direct edict—how could I possibly abandon my mission halfway through?"

"What are you trying to say?" Shenhou frowned.

"...It's going to cost extra!"

Wang Ping finally showed his hand, lowering his voice as he asked, "This Thirteen Grand Protectors Hard Qigong should have a follow-up Internal Force cultivation diagram, shouldn't it?"

"Oh? You want the Martial God Pictorial Record?"

Shenhou paused, but instead of readily agreeing, a troubled look crossed his face. "It's not that I cannot give it to you, but the version I have on me is an abridged copy."

"It's only suited for someone like me... well, someone whose talent is just a tiny bit worse than yours."

"Since you have completely mastered the Thirteen Grand Protectors Hard Qigong, it is only right that you learn the complete Martial God Pictorial Record. However, only the First Seat possesses it..."

Shenhou sighed helplessly.

"So you still need to head back to the Capital with us to meet the First Seat."

"Forget it, then."

Wang Ping shook his head. "Pay the deposit first... I'm going to slaughter this guy. Just don't get in my way."

With that, Wang Ping turned his gaze back to Li Yiran.

The man before him had completely lost the pride and refined elegance expected of a Human Ranking Martial Master who wielded the River and Mountain Brush. Half-covered in muddy water, he was a thoroughly wretched sight.

Seeing Wang Ping walking toward him, pure terror washed over his face.

Yet, a second later, Shenhou stepped into his path again. "Killing one of them to send a message is enough," he whispered. "Killing a second would make things too ugly."

"The National Academy won't tolerate this. And on our end, we aren't fully prepared for a direct conflict with them yet. Let's have both sides take a step back. We will drop the matter of Xu Bingzheng's death, you temporarily take over as the county magistrate, and Li Yiran keeps his life, on the condition that he returns to the Capital immediately."

"What do you say?"

Shenhou felt that Xu Bingzheng's death was already a sufficient blow to the National Academy. If Li Yiran died too, it would be pushing things too far—a move detrimental to the big picture.

Besides, both the Tribute Hall and the National Academy were institutions of the imperial court.

Straining relations too severely would make future matters extremely difficult to handle. While the National Academy certainly could not best the Tribute Hall in a direct fight, they could create plenty of troublesome roadblocks if they truly set their minds to it.

"I agree!"

Li Yiran was the first to answer. Lowering his head in complete submission, all traces of his former arrogance had vanished. "The National Academy admits defeat in this matter. I will report back to Master Cheng."

"The National Academy concedes. We will consider the matter settled."

"Ultimately, a mere Xu Bingzheng is dead, and so be it. He did not come from a noble or powerful clan anyway; no one will be willing to offend the Tribute Hall over him."

"..."

Wang Ping said nothing.

Although Li Yiran's words sounded pleasant enough, Wang Ping's Desire Realm Celestial Body allowed him to perceive the thoughts and emotions of others. And right now, he could sense it clearly—

Rage.

Beneath that submissive veneer brewed a monstrous rage. Wang Ping had zero doubt that if Li Yiran walked away from this alive, there would inevitably be retaliation.

"...When weeding, one must tear out the roots. What if I insist on killing him?"

Wang Ping said coolly.

Shenhou's expression shifted at those words. Xugou looked visibly annoyed and could not help but interject, "An imperial Tribute Hall commissioner is expected to prioritize the big picture."

"Are you really going to poison the relationship between the Tribute Hall and the National Academy just because you're afraid of retaliation? When the time comes, you will just be directly abandoned by the Tribute Hall."

"Really?" Wang Ping glanced at Shenhou.

"Uh..." Shenhou opened his mouth. He considered the sheer talent of the peerless genius standing before him, then thought of their First Seat's particular style of handling things. Finally, he shook his head.

"Not to that extent. They will still protect you. You are not Xugou."

Xugou: "...?"

"But he is right about one thing," Shenhou added. "We imperial commissioners shoulder the weight of the empire. In everything we do, we should try our best to keep the big picture in mind."

"I understand." Wang Ping gave a cheerful nod.

"Understand? Understand what?"

Shenhou stared blankly, then suddenly realized what he meant. His face instantly drained of color. He lunged forward to place himself between Wang Ping and Li Yiran, but he was a second too late.

Wang Ping had already activated the Soul Seizing art. A violent pulse of spiritual perception erupted, forming an invisible hand that viciously grabbed both Shenhou and Xugou's minds. The two men instantly blanked out, freezing in place as they forgot exactly what it was they were trying to do. Meanwhile, Wang Ping's fist drifted lightly onto the crown of Li Yiran's head.

"You—!?"

Li Yiran's eyes bugged out. He could not believe what Wang Ping was doing, much less understand how he was doing it. But one thing was terrifyingly clear.

He was going to die.

He had exhausted himself slaughtering his way through the Xuanjia Camp. Neither his stamina nor his energy was at its peak. But even if he were completely rested, he would not have been able to block this punch.

‘I... I...’

His eyes filled with boundless despair and indignant reluctance. He frantically surged his Divine Intent, but all it managed to do was slightly slow down the inevitable flash of his life passing before his eyes.

Crack!

With a sickening crunch, Wang Ping's fist smashed straight through the crown of Li Yiran's skull. The sheer force of the impact cascaded downward, turning every bone and tendon in his body into paste.

"Wang Ping!"

Shenhou and Xugou snapped out of their stupor a second later. Xugou flew into a rage, ready to attack Wang Ping right there on the spot, but Shenhou, his face a complicated mask, held him back.

"Why are you stopping me?" Xugou snarled, glaring back at him.

Shenhou's answer was simple:

"He is already dead."

A dead man held no value. With Li Yiran gone, conflict with the National Academy was unavoidable. And that made this peerless seedling all the more valuable to them.

In other words—

"An imperial commissioner must prioritize the big picture... What Senior said was absolutely right."

Wang Ping pulled his fist back and took a respectful step backward, offering a polite bow. "However, as things currently stand, it seems my big picture is just a little bit more important."

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