Realm-Hopping Martial Master-Chapter 403 - 252: Picking Up the Leftovers? True Martial Sect’s Rules, What Do They Have to Do with Me, the Marine Loose Cultivator Jiang Shu!
The Divine Skills of Loose Cultivators at sea are often chaotic and lack systematic structure.
The Treasures they possess might have been obtained through slaughter, making them very awkward to use.
However, this Loose Cultivator not only had commendable Divine Skills, but his Treasures were also extremely eye-catching. When he attacked the Four-clawed Winged Tiger Flood Dragon, he clearly had the upper hand; he was obviously not just a typical Late Stage Furnace Fire Realm Cultivator.
It was very likely that he harbored a secret!
A trace of murderous intent suddenly flashed through Zhang Shangqing’s pupils.
Competition within the Dao Yi Sect, which prided itself as the leader of the righteous path, was intensely fierce. Just like him; although he was on the Divine Skills List, he was ranked near the bottom. It seemed possible for him to advance to the Primordial Pill Realm, but solidifying a Primordial Pill this way would undoubtedly overdraw his potential prematurely. By the time he reached the Inner Sect, he would only be an ordinary Inner Sect Disciple. To cultivate more Divine Skills while still in the Furnace Fire Realm, one needed a more substantial foundation. He must accumulate resources! In the Cang Mang Domain, resources were coveted by everyone! Even if I’m just overthinking and this Loose Cultivator holds no secret, the treasure ship itself is worth making a move for. In the Endless Sea, if someone dies, who would know who the killer was? To dare venture into the Endless Sea is to be prepared to die, one’s Dao path extinguished!
"Does Brother Zhang intend to..."
Having followed Brother Zhang for many years, the Disciple behind him naturally knew Zhang Shangqing well. A trace of realization flickered in his eyes. He knew that among the fifteen Divine Skills Brother Zhang cultivated, one was exceptionally special: the Heavenly Pointing Star Skill! Once this Divine Skill was successfully deployed, an invisible star mark would appear. This mark allowed them to find anything within sensing range, whether in the sky, underground, or at the depths of the sea. They had found the Four-clawed Winged Tiger Flood Dragon so quickly precisely because of Brother Zhang’s Divine Skill. Now that Brother Zhang had said that, he had probably already deployed the Divine Skill. The Loose Cultivator on that treasure ship was surely within their grasp. It was just uncertain how much of a haul this would be.
"No rush, her speed has slowed down, I can feel it. It’s just right for us to rest for a while before moving in, to strike when we are rested and they are weary." Zhang Shangqing declared. "A mere Loose Cultivator, no matter what tricks up her sleeve, how can she compete against our Dao Yi Sect?"
Although the fight against the Four-clawed Winged Tiger Flood Dragon had seemed easy, Zhang Shangqing had actually exhausted a significant amount of his Primordial Power and Spiritual Power, so he needed to recover. His voice resolute, he took out his treasure ship. While regulating his breath, he instructed his junior brother to maintain their distance and follow slowly.
「Meanwhile,」
Thousands of miles away on the escaping treasure ship, Lu Qingling had already slowed her speed.
This time when she left, she was fully prepared. She and Jiang Shu had changed clothes and altered their appearances, not showing themselves as Outer Disciples of the True Martial Sect.
The Endless Sea was unlike any other place. This area was extraordinarily dangerous, and it was often easier for Sect Disciples to be ambushed by some prepared and ill-intentioned Loose Cultivators.
After all, everyone knew the foundation of Sect Disciples was far superior to that of ordinary Loose Cultivators.
When there was no other path to advancement, killing a Sect Disciple and taking risks might just provide the resources needed to advance from the Furnace Fire Realm to the Primordial Pill Realm.
"It’s a bit of a pity," Lu Qingling shook her head. Even with her profound foundation, she couldn’t help but sigh, "If we could have slain the Four-clawed Winged Tiger Flood Dragon, its valuable body parts could have been used for Refining three Spirit Rank Treasures."
But given the circumstances at the time, she had no choice but to flee.
The Dao Yi Sect was no ordinary Sect. This Sect and its Disciples were extremely domineering, always preferring to stand on moral high ground while engaging in the act of ousting others from their rightful place.
Arguing with them was unwise.
More importantly, she faintly sensed the leader’s overwhelming strength. Although she didn’t know how he compared to Brother Jiang, he could definitely best her with ease.
As long as this trip is successful and I obtain the inheritance of a Primordial Pill Realm True Man... As for the Four-clawed Winged Tiger Flood Dragon, its loss was regrettable but acceptable.
"Senior Sister Lu, do you think the Disciples of the Dao Yi Sect dare to kill people in the Endless Sea?" Jiang Shu asked.
"PFFT, why ask something like that? Why wouldn’t they dare?" Lu Qingling pursed her lips, smiling as she replied, "The Dao Yi Sect loves to make accusations. First, they’ll accuse you of initiating an attack, of assaulting their Sect’s Disciples. Then they’ll claim self-defense as they counterattack and suppress you. This kind of thing is common, almost a standard practice whenever Dao Yi Sect Disciples leave their grounds. That’s exactly why I didn’t hesitate and left immediately. What we really need to do is enter the tomb of the Primordial Pill Realm True Man. It’s best not to get involved with the Dao Yi Sect Disciples if we can avoid it."
She continued, "Otherwise, if I revealed our identities as Outer Disciples of the True Martial Sect, they would not only have to show some courtesy but might also have to share some materials from the Four-clawed Winged Tiger Flood Dragon. However, it’s better to avoid additional complications. If I got greedy for those materials, I might even be resented by the Dao Yi Sect Disciples, which is truly unnecessary."
"Then have you considered that they might pursue us, knowing that we are Loose Cultivators?" Jiang Shu stood up, continuing as Lu Qingling’s brows furrowed slightly, "A man might not intend to harm a tiger, but a tiger may still decide to attack. They’re already following us."
"Brother Jiang, don’t be rash! Even if they are fast, they shouldn’t be able to catch up with my treasure ship." Thinking of the formidable leader of the Dao Yi Sect, Lu Qingling subconsciously urged the treasure ship to accelerate and escape. Her vessel was a Supreme Spiritual-grade Treasure Ship. Even if the Dao Yi Sect Disciples’ treasure ship was excellent, hers should be its equal, offering a high probability of escape.
"It’s too late," Jiang Shu said. "If he can track us, it means he possesses methods unknown to us. We can escape for a moment, but not indefinitely. Besides, we still need to reach the tomb of the Primordial Pill Realm True Man. If they continue to follow us, are we supposed to just hand over the inheritance from the tomb? Don’t worry, Senior Sister. Those who kill will themselves be killed. Out here in the Endless Sea, we are not some Outer Disciples of the True Martial Sect. Aren’t we Loose Cultivators from the sea?"
Jiang Shu grinned, his Primordial Power and Spiritual Power condensing, highly focused.
The Path of Utmost Sincerity could grant foresight. Even in the Cang Mang Domain, it remained effective. He could clearly feel a treasure ship behind them, breaking the waves in pursuit.
His Divine Skill, the Heavenly Intent True Self Body, was gathering power, ready to be unleashed. The Five Thunders Great Handprint was also condensing bit by bit in his palm. In this Endless Sea, Jiang Shu did not intend to hide even a fraction of his strength.
The Dao Yi Sect Disciples are strong. But do they possess a perfected Divine Skill of slaughter? Senior Sister Lu is slightly weaker, and she fled partly because she doesn’t know my true capabilities.
But since he had come to the Endless Sea with Lu Qingling, he had no intention of concealing them.
He stood up, hands clasped behind his back, waiting.
Since he began practicing martial arts, Jiang Shu had always sought a state where his thoughts flowed, clear and unobstructed.
How could one become timid after entering the Dao through martial arts? That made no sense.
Although the True Martial Sect had rules stating that its Disciples should not attack Disciples of other Sects without reason—after all, Sects needed to support each other and jointly resist the Outer Realm Demon Clan—
But what did that have to do with him, a Loose Cultivator from the sea?
