Chapter 222: Chapter 139: The Eternal Dilemma, That Day Will Never Come_2
Just after Lin Ruhua mentioned the matter concerning the Martial Saint, he had already started planning various retreats. The foundation of the True Martial Sect naturally couldn’t be abandoned, but neither could they put all their eggs in one basket.
However,
Taoist Longshan and Luo Wentian had not completely lost hope.
The root cause was Ning Qi.
Only they knew how extraordinary Ning Qi was, and any miracle occurring with him was possible.
Both of them looked at the screen, expecting Ning Qi to appear silently. Earlier, Jiang Baishan mentioned that he had something important to tell Taoist Longshan and Luo Wentian, so they called Ning Qi over together.
"Jiu, what do you think about the matter of the Demon Sect and the Southern Border about to give birth to a Martial Saint?" Their eyes were filled with hope.
Ning Qi’s expression remained calm, which made them breathe a slight sigh of relief.
Ning Qi sat down and after some contemplation, he slowly spoke:
"To my knowledge, there is no longer any Martial Saint Technique in the world."
Neither the Town North King nor Wu Jianghe had any doubts about this, naturally not making baseless claims.
Luo Wentian’s eyes lit up:
"So does that mean this is false?"
Ning Qi shook his head and said:
"No, it’s likely true. The Fifth Senior Sister wouldn’t lie to us; it’s just that the Martial Saint birth in the Demon Sect and the Southern Border should be forcibly achieved through external forces."
He heard Lin Ruhua’s earlier statement clearly, indicating a Martial Saint would be born within three years at the latest, showing that the Demon Sect and the Southern Border had foreseen the timing of the Martial Saint’s birth, even having plotted for a long time. If one wishes to walk the path of creating a Martial Saint from scratch, it typically depends on enlightenment.
Of course, this wasn’t the only reason Ning Qi speculated as such.
What truly made him conjecture this was that, long ago, when he wiped out a stronghold in Qing State of the Southern Border, he had already discovered the existence of the Blood Emperor Gu.
"The Southern Border likely relies on the Blood Emperor Gu to break through to the Martial Saint Realm, as for the Demon Sect, they should have their own methods. They have only recently formed an alliance, even if they have mutual assistance, success will not come quickly."
Ning Qi speculated.
This was one of the reasons he could remain calm.
His progress in Refining Spirit was smooth, and in about half a year’s time, he could reach the Celestial Human Realm. By then, he wouldn’t be completely helpless against the Martial Saints of the Demon Sect and the Southern Border.
"An external forces birth? Does that mean that the Martial Saint who breaks through this way would be weaker?" Luo Wentian’s eyes lit up.
This was a reasonable conjecture.
On the Martial Path, breakthroughs with external forces often lead to unstable foundations and weaker strength compared to those of the same level. It requires a lot of time to solidify the foundation to eliminate such impacts.
Previously, when Luo Wentian and others broke through to the White Mist Realm using the Gang Condensing Pill, it was precisely like this. Later, Ning Qi created a solid foundation Secret Technique for them, and the pills he refined had very few side effects, successfully eliminating their impacts.
Taoist Longshan said:
"But even the weakest Martial Saint is still a Martial Saint; I’m afraid even the first on the Celestial Being List, the Wind-listening Old Man, can’t be compared."
Ning Qi nodded slowly:
"Give me half a year, and I can reach the Celestial Human Realm."
Luo Wentian was stunned, his eyes widened. All along, he thought Ning Qi had already reached the Celestial Human Realm, but now he knew he was still in the Gang Essence Realm. He found it somewhat unbelievable; this was even more impactful than Ning Qi stepping into the Celestial Human Realm.
He already had nearly invincible Celestial Human Realm strength; what about after stepping into the Celestial Human Realm?
Wouldn’t that mean he could contend with a Martial Saint!
Suddenly, the hope in his eyes grew even more intense.
Taoist Longshan was also reassured in his heart.
"Since that’s the case, we must do everything to stall the Demon Sect and Southern Border, to buy time for Jiu."
Luo Wentian’s brain worked rapidly.
"The Southern Border’s reliance is most likely the Blood Emperor Gu; we need to clarify what method the Demon Sect relies upon to achieve Martial Saint, then we can tailor our response to delay their steps."
"Of course, relying on the strength of our True Martial Sect alone is difficult. We need external assistance."
"If the Demon Sect and the Southern Border were to give birth to a Martial Saint, the one who would least want to see it would surely be the Imperial Court of Great Yan. So they must feel urgency, and this news can be communicated to the Town North King, allowing him to unite with the Imperial Court to take action against the Demon Sect and the Southern Border."
"Additionally, we can disseminate the news within the Martial Realm to make other Martial Path sects apprehensive, thereby delaying their plans to a certain extent."
"As long as we delay for half a year, allowing Jiu to reach the Celestial Human Realm, then there’s room for maneuver."
Luo Wentian realized the key point and finished in one breath.
"Thus, it seems our True Martial Sect may not be a dead end; there is life here."
But the core of all this was Ning Qi.
He needed to be able to hold on.
Taoist Longshan took a deep breath and asked:
"Jiu, if you reach the Celestial Human Realm, will you have the strength to contend with a Martial Saint?"
Ning Qi thought for a moment and said:
"I don’t know how strong a Martial Saint truly is, but if I can reach the Celestial Human Realm, becoming ten times stronger than now is just a light matter, possibly even more exaggerated. I imagine the combat power of a Martial Saint wouldn’t be absurdly unmatched. Even if I’m no match, I wouldn’t be utterly powerless."
He’s seriously estimating that after reaching the Celestial Human Realm, with his solid foundation, the power of Heaven and Earth he could resonate with would likely far exceed others’ imaginations.
He had been trying to evaluate the strength of a Martial Saint optimistically.
Taoist Longshan and Luo Wentian knew Ning Qi’s personality, understanding that if he spoke this way, he had a few degrees of confidence, and thus they relaxed inwardly.
After half a year, he would reach the Celestial Human Realm. If the Demon Sect took longer for a Martial Saint to emerge, Ning Qi would have more time to grow.
"However, two plans must be made, Jiu, promise your master, if someday two Martial Saints come attacking, and you find yourself unable to oppose them, you must exert every effort to escape. I know you surely have the ability to do so. Do not make any meaningless sacrifices, for with your talent, after a few years of dedicated cultivation, you can easily cut them down like chickens and dogs!"
"By then, the responsibility of rebuilding the True Martial Sect will rest on your shoulders."
Taoist Longshan’s gaze was earnest, even tinged with a hint of pleading.
Ning Qi fell silent.
He couldn’t imagine if his master and fellow disciples died in front of him, and all he could do was flee in frustration, what kind of suffering that would be.
Taking a deep breath, he softly said:
"It won’t happen, Master. That day will not come."
Taoist Longshan insisted:
"You must promise your teacher!"
Faced with Taoist Longshan’s gaze, Ning Qi sighed internally. Ultimately, he nodded and said:
"I will."
He thought.
If that day truly came, he would certainly lay waste to the Demon Sect and the Southern Border, avenging True Martial.
However, he absolutely did not wish for that day to come.
A previously unknown motivation surged within him. Until now, Ning Qi had been cultivating in a step-by-step manner. Sometimes there was a little pressure, but nothing as intense as it was now. A single misstep could mean everyone he cared about might die.
As for escape?
That was an impossibility. The True Martial Sect had a grand reputation, and they couldn’t just disappear under alias.
Taoist Longshan laughed.
He patted Ning Qi’s shoulder and said:
"With you here, the True Martial legacy will not perish. I am relieved."
He looked at Luo Wentian with eyes overflowing with a hint of fighting spirit:
"If that’s the case, we must do our utmost to stand against them!"
"Yes, and we shall fight, Master!"
Their eyes blazed with a rising battle spirit.
Since the Demon Sect and Southern Border are determined to push forward, fighting back is the only option.
If the power of the Demon Sect and Southern Border doesn’t produce a Martial Saint within the next six months, perhaps they can attempt a proactive strike."
...
The next day.
Taoist Longshan wrote a secret letter by hand, describing the covert plot of the Demon Sect and Southern Border to achieve the Martial Saint.
Chen Xing and Chen Yue’s expressions turned serious, nodding earnestly.
They didn’t dare ask what it was.
Lin Ruhua stayed calm in True Martial City, while Chen Xing set off at night towards the Northern Barbarian where the Town North King was stationed.