“`
In addition, at such a Martial Tao tournament led by the Dali Dynasty, one could become famous overnight just by showing a hint of potential.
“And then there’s the Grandmasters…”
Lin Yuan stroked his chin.
It made no sense for Grandmasters to participate in the Martial Tao tournament.
After all, there were far too few Grandmasters; you could count all the openly acknowledged ones in the world on two hands.
Even if you included those who retreated from the world and hid in secrecy, their number wouldn’t exceed twenty.
“If a Grandmaster were to come, they could challenge me. Regardless of win or loss, they would receive a secret technique in Spiritual Martial Arts,”
Lin Yuan said slowly.
In simple terms, Grandmasters would obtain a secret technique in Spiritual Martial Arts just by showing up.
What is the concept of Spiritual Martial Arts? That is a secret technique that only Great Grandmasters can cultivate.
Although Grandmasters can’t cultivate Spiritual Martial Arts, constant contemplation over the years is an enormous help to step into the Realm of Great Grandmaster.
“Yes,”
the lean old man swallowed hard.
Although the founding Emperor of Dali left behind several Spiritual Martial Arts techniques,
who would complain about having too many Spiritual Martial Arts? Understanding different Spiritual Martial Arts at the same time and verifying the Realm of Great Grandmaster from various aspects makes it easier to take that next step.
…
As the news of the Martial Tao tournament spread,
the entire world was in an uproar, and countless warriors were dumbstruck.
Just by placing in the top ten of the Martial Tao tournament, one could choose any three superior martial arts techniques?
If it weren’t for the personal promise from the Emperor of Dali, perhaps no one would believe it.
Those were superior martial arts techniques! Just by making it to the top ten, one could obtain them? And one could choose at that.
At first, there were warriors who doubted the claim, but after the first Martial Tao tournament was held and the top ten warriors received the three superior martial arts techniques they wished for,
the warriors of the entire world went mad with excitement.
They traveled to the capital of Dali Kingdom without stopping, eagerly awaiting the start of the next Martial Tao tournament.
Compared to the excitement of the warriors in the Acquired Realm and Innate Realm,
various Grandmasters stationed around the land began to change their minds.
They all saw the announcement about the Martial Tao tournament made by the Emperor of Dali.
Grandmasters were also eligible to participate and could even challenge that mysterious monk who single-handedly breached the Imperial Palace.
No matter the outcome, they would receive a secret technique in Spiritual Martial Arts.
In a moment, many Grandmasters couldn’t stay put and made their way towards the capital of the Dali Kingdom.
…
Half a year later.
Dali Imperial Palace.
Outside the Martial Hall.
A burly man carrying a heavy sword appeared quietly.
By the side of the burly man was a youth of only fifteen or sixteen.
“Sword Saint of the Southern Sea, I didn’t expect you to come as well,”
the lean old man guarding the front of the Martial Hall said with a grave expression.
Before encountering Lin Yuan, the lean old man considered himself unrivaled below the level of a Great Grandmaster.
Across the world, there were very few Grandmasters he was wary of.
And the Sword Saint of the Southern Sea was one of them.
In terms of strength, the Sword Saint of the Southern Sea was no stronger than the lean old man.
At most, they were evenly matched.
However, the Sword Saint of the Southern Sea did not come from one of the Great Martial Sects.
He reached his current level step by step on his own.
The lean old man was born into the Dali Royal Family and had been guided by one Grandmaster after another since childhood.
He had frequently pondered the insights left behind by the founding Emperor.
That’s how he had come this far.
Whereas the Sword Saint of the Southern Sea, relying solely on himself, had managed to keep pace with the lean old man.
His perception and talent should not be underestimated.
“You, you’ve already started to condense spiritual energy?”
After a careful look at the Sword Saint of the Southern Sea, the lean old man suddenly showed shock.
He could feel a faint spiritual pressure coming off the other man.
This was an indication of beginning to cultivate spiritual energy. Successfully condensing even a strand of spiritual energy,
one could break through to the Grandmaster Realm.
The Sword Saint of the Southern Sea did not speak.
From the moment he appeared, his gaze had never fallen on the lean old man.
Instead, it was firmly fixed on the interior of the Martial Hall.
“`
“Great Grandmaster…”
A faint smile surfaced at the corner of the Sword Saint of the Southern Sea’s mouth.
Unlike other Grandmasters who came to this place,
he, the Sword Saint of the Southern Sea, was not here for Spiritual Martial Arts.
Although Spiritual Martial Arts could indeed help in gathering mental extraordinary powers, he, the Sword Saint of the Southern Sea, no longer needed it.
His true purpose was to challenge that mysterious monk,
the Great Grandmaster who had pierced the Dali Imperial Palace with his power alone.
The Sword Saint of the Southern Sea had great aspirations; he aimed to use a Great Grandmaster as a stepping stone,
to forge his own path into the Realm of Great Grandmaster.
“Master, do you really wish to go in?”
The fifteen or sixteen-year-old youth by the Southern Sea Sword Saint’s side was somewhat nervous.
After all, the fact that the mysterious monk was in the Grandmaster Realm was a widely recognized truth among the many warriors outside.
Besides a Great Grandmaster, who else could pierce the Dali Imperial Palace with their power alone?
And although his own master, the Sword Saint of the Southern Sea, had extremely strong abilities, and had even begun to refine his mental extraordinary powers, embarking on the path of a Great Grandmaster,
he was ultimately not a Great Grandmaster.
Facing a true Great Grandmaster, life and death were unpredictable.
“Disciple, rest assured.”
“With my current strength, just by facing the mental pressure of a Great Grandmaster, I could break through to the Realm of Great Grandmaster at any moment.”
The Sword Saint of the Southern Sea had nothing to worry about.
Now, he already had one foot in the Realm of Great Grandmaster.
He just needed a real Great Grandmaster to give him a push, and fully stepping into the Great Grandmaster would be a matter of an instant.
By that time, in the same Grandmaster Realm, even if the Sword Saint of the Southern Sea couldn’t defeat the mysterious monk, he believed he could retreat unscathed.
“I am going in.”
“My good disciple, wait outside for a moment.”
The Sword Saint of the Southern Sea’s tone was full of longing, his expression expectant.
The door of the Martial Hall opened quickly.
The Sword Saint of the Southern Sea, with a face full of battle intent, stepped in.
The fifteen or sixteen-year-old youth, in a fleeting glance,
saw a young monk in a grey monk’s robe sitting deep inside the Martial Hall.
“Master will definitely not lose.”
The fifteen or sixteen-year-old youth clenched his fist, cheering himself up in his heart.
Only a short time, less than half a stick of incense, had passed.
The doors of the Martial Hall opened once again.
The tall and burly man carrying a heavy sword walked out with a wooden expression.
“Master, Master.”
“It’s over so soon?”
The youth hurried over, asking with concern.
“Let’s go.”
The Sword Saint of the Southern Sea shook his head slightly, leading the youth away from the Imperial Palace.
They continued until they were outside the capital city.
Only then did the Sword Saint of the Southern Sea stop,
turn around to look in the direction of the palace, and sat down on a rock with a thud.
He was even muttering things like ‘how could someone be so strong’ and ‘how could there be such a person in this world.’
The fifteen or sixteen-year-old youth realized immediately that his master must have lost,
and it was a very thorough defeat at that.
Otherwise, he wouldn’t have such an expression.
“Master, I didn’t find him that strong, did I? In the future, once you become a Great Grandmaster, won’t you just be able to challenge him again and win back your honor?”
The youth said from the side.
It was indeed true; just now, when the Sword Saint of the Southern Sea had entered into the Martial Hall,
the youth had a fleeting glimpse and had seen the mysterious monk for a moment. The monk’s aura was indeed unfathomable, but at most, he was only somewhat stronger than his own master. It might not be impossible to catch up in the future.
“Not that strong?”
The Sword Saint of the Southern Sea was silent for a while, at a loss for words.
After a long time, the Sword Saint of the Southern Sea steadied himself and slowly said:
“Now you are only in the Innate Realm, with a narrow perspective, like a frog at the bottom of a well looking up at the moon.”
“The day when you luckily step into the Grandmaster Realm, or become a half-step Great Grandmaster like your master…”
The Sword Saint of the Southern Sea spoke up to this point and continued with an extremely complex emotion:
“You will see him as a mayfly looking up at the vast sky.”