Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
Unsuccessful but gained something?
Within the Black Dragon Altar’s courtroom, the four Guardian Commanders fell into silence and had puzzled looks.
Phags-pa from the Great Boundless Palace had achieved the Innate Grandmaster Stage for 10 years and reached its peak.
With that, he was already akin to a living Buddha, uniting the various tribes of the great plains and ruling over them with his martial arts.
The Zhou Kingdom’s silence over the loss of Yongxue Pass was mainly because of this person’s existence.
After all, if the Yuanmeng Empire’s Imperial Preceptor set his heart and was willing to bear the huge losses, they would be able to move northward all the way to Tianjing City.
By then, who would be able to hold him off?
Not having an Innate Grandmaster on the imperial court’s side was a critical issue for the Zhou Kingdom.
Due to the lack of combat power of someone at the peak of the world of martial arts, they had nothing to rely on.
“Congratulations, Grand Commander! If His Majesty hears of this, he will surely be overjoyed!” Zhen Guardian Commander Zhu Jian exclaimed quickly.
It sounded sincere and filled with joy.
The Grand Commander was a top expert from the era of Master Zhizhu, the previous living Buddha of the Great Boundless Palace.
If he had fought the master, then he should have no fear for the disciple.
“This is truly something worth celebrating, but there’s something I don’t understand. Forgive my bold question, but the Grand Commander had been in closed door cultivation for such a long time. Could it be that you didn’t receive the second communication token’s call?”
The Eagle Guardian Commander Ji Liang finished polishing his nail and blew softly over it.
“Over the years, His Majesty ordered the Black Dragon Altar to go on an all-out search. We’re just shy of uprooting the entire Tianjing City.”
The lively atmosphere in the Black Dragon Altar immediately turned solemn.
All those present were experienced men who spent a long time in the world of martial arts and the imperial court.
They did not miss the skepticism hidden within Ji Liang’s words.
The Grand Commander had gone into closed door cultivation for many years. His sudden appearance was undeniably suspicious.
However, due to the other party’s status and powerful martial arts cultivation, none dared to voice their suspicions straight away.
“We’re relieved now that the Grand Commander is out of closed door cultivation.”
The Wolf Guardian Commander Jiang Gong let out a clear laugh, trying to ease the tension, and said, “Commander Ji Liang is too blunt with his words. The Grand Commander was breaking through the barrier to the Human Immortal Stage. How could he be distracted by insignificant matters?”
However, the seemingly dull person who looked like a farmer changed his tone suddenly and asked, “His Majesty still thinks dearly of the Grand Commander and had asked us of the Black Dragon Altar if we have any clues.”
“Now that the Grand Commander is out of closed door cultivation, can we know where you’re at? I’ll immediately head over to prepare a proper welcome, ” the Eagle Guardian Commander chimed in with the Wolf Guardian Commander.
They were singing praises while probing.
The mysterious Grand Commander Guardian had been in closed door cultivation for 34 years, with only one reply in between.
Since then, there was no more news.
Those in the know, from the Emperor of Zhou to the four Guardian Commanders, all felt that the other party had probably failed the attempt and turned into a dried-up skeleton.
As Huo Rulie had said, achieving the Innate Grandmaster Stage required some extraordinary luck.
To break through the barrier of the Human Immortal Stage, one must have talent, wealth, and fortuitous encounters.
Since ancient times, the number of famous Human Immortals recorded in books and records was not more than the digits of a pair of hands.
That was a testament to its difficulty!
Therefore, nobody thought that the Grand Commander Guardian could break through the barrier and reverse his mortality.
“You two…what are your names?” A clear and calm sound came from the communication token.
It did not answer the question from the two commanders but questioned them instead.
“Eagle Guardian Commander Ji Liang, one of the four Guardian Commanders of Black Dragon Altar.”
“Wolf Guardian Commander Jiang Gong, one of the four Guardian Commanders of Black Dragon Altar.”
Both replied separately.
“I’ve not heard of you,” the Grand Commander Guardian replied calmly.
“What of Su Xiao, Qian Ti, Zheng Zhong, and Luo Xin? Are they still alive?”
Hearing those names, the veins on Zhen Guardian Commander Zhu Jian’s forehead popped up. His face turned solemn.
That was because those four were the first Eagle, Wolf, Shadow, and Zhen Guardian Commanders when the Black Dragon Altar was founded.
To that day, their portraits were still being hung inside Skyward Pavilion within the imperial city, ranked among the 24 heroes of the Zhou Kingdom.
“The four seniors have passed on.”
Zhen Guardian Commander Jiang Gong replied.
“What about Song Li, Du Yi, Wu Lian, and Zhang Chi? Are they deceased too?”
The Grand Commander nonchalantly brought out four more names.
Within the Black Dragon Altar’s courtroom, the four commanders felt slightly stunned while listening.
Those names were their predecessors and masters.
They were the four Commander Guardians of the previous generation.
The Grand Commander Guardian’s intentions were clear.
The four Guardian Commanders were not qualified to question him.
He held the Dragon Guardian Commander Seal in hand and would be in direct control of the Black Dragon Altar.
Even their predecessors and masters would have to obey him.
“Our masters aren’t at the level of the Grand Commander where one could analyze Yin and Yang, achieving immortality,” the Eagle Guardian Commander Ji Liang retorted softly.
The doubts in his heart were still present as he felt that things were off.
“There’s no point talking about immortality with a physical body.”
The Grand Commander replied quietly, as though lamenting. He then added, “I don’t plan to see His Majesty immediately.
“There are still some unsolved problems in my cultivation. I don’t know when I’ll have to go into closed door cultivation again.”
Ji Liang’s expression turned cold as his doubts grew stronger. He asked in a deep voice, “His Majesty decreed to have us invite you over to meet him in the imperial city once we have any news from you. If the Grand Commander doesn’t go, that would be going against an imperial decree!”
The Wolf Guardian Commander Jiang Gong chuckled and chimed in, “That’s right, Grand Commander. Please not make His Majesty wait!”
The liquid-like mirror that manifested from the communication token made a gentle ripple.
A figure suddenly appeared.
He was wearing black robes and had long loose hair.
The figure was rather tall and stood straight.
There was a bronze mask on his face, preventing others from seeing it clearly other than his deep and calm gaze.
The gaze seemed to pierce through the space between them and watched them up close.
Boom!
It felt as though the Grand Commander Guardian was there in person.
A mighty, terrible, and all-encompassing will descended upon them, enveloping the Eagle and Wolf Guardian Commanders!
“This is?!”
Eagle Guardian Ji Liang and Wolf Guardian Jiang Gong’s expressions changed suddenly as their minds felt shaken.
It felt as though a huge mountain fell upon them and locked down the airflow within the area.
They found it difficult to even breathe, much less take action.
“Is that the divine art passed down among the Zhou Kingdom’s imperial family, the Sacred Heavenly Scriptures?!”
Ji Liang had the highest martial arts cultivation among the four Guardian Commanders of Black Dragon Altar.
Sixth Mortal Stage, peak of Qi Refinement Stage.
He was only one step away from breaking through.
“He’s separated by space. How can he possibly kill me?!”
Feeling the oppression from the martial will, Ji Liang’s legs started buckling as though he was about to kneel.
His eyes turned red, as though filled with blood.
The hundred years of true Qi he nurtured through hard work poured out like a broken dam.
Tssss!
The airflow let out a sharp whistling sound!
It was like the wails and howls of evil spirits, making it extraordinarily scary!
‘Ji Liang practiced the Reverse Yang True Scriptures. It’s a mysterious art that reverses the Qi flow and transforms Yin to Yang energy!’ Zhen Guardian Zhu Jian thought to himself while he frowned deeply, standing outside the area affected by the martial will.
‘Although his true Qi seems ferocious, Yin Qi is hidden within his Yang Qi, having a shred of softness within the firmness. Coming in contact with it will cause one’s Qi to freeze up and reverse its flow! It’s extremely vicious!’
‘If…the Grand Commander was not as powerful as legend describes him to be, he might not be able to suppress Ji Liang.”
The communication token covered a range of 1500 kilometers.
The Grand Commander Guardian was hidden somewhere for his closed door cultivation.
Separated by the great distance, his martial will hung onto that shred of Qi flow.
Crossing such a great distance would strain it to the limits!
It would be impossible for him to suppress an expert at the Qi Refinement Stage.
“Break!”
Ji Liang’s expression twisted. He gritted his teeth and moved his century’s worth of true Qi.
Balls of illusory lights came out from his body as though he was a blood-red sun.
The manifestation of that phenomenon immediately helped the Eagle Guardian Commander to feel more relaxed.
It felt as if he broke free from the shackles binding him!
“You’re new members and have never worked with me. Understandably, you don’t know my behavior yet.
“The thing I hate the most is to have someone boss me around.
“Considering that it’s your first offense and for His Majesty’s sake, I’ll spare you this time.
“Remember this! There will be no second chances!”
The Grand Commander’s voice sounded like it had descended from the high heavens.
It echoed all around them.
The group only heard a thundering boom.
The terrible and torrential true Qi felt as though the river of the nine heavens poured straight down, transforming into a fiery ball that descended upon them!
It was a terrifying force that could not be blocked!
Ji Liang’s vast true Qi that he spent a hundred years of hard work cultivating was just like a weak cinder.
Before it could even light up, it was swallowed by the massive fireball without making the slightest change.
Ji Liang’s eyes popped open, unable to believe his experience.
His shoulders felt like they were pressed down by a huge mountain.
Waves of true flame that burned through his internal organs started spreading across his entire body.
Ji Liang gritted his teeth, as though struggling internally.
He managed to hold out for three breaths.
After that, his legs buckled and his knees landed heavily on the hard brick floor with a thunk.
He was brought to his knees!