A Martial Odyssey

“You didn’t realize that you are all within the Celestial Star Annihilation Formation?”

The minute the Celestial Fairy had made her proclamations, it struck everyone like a thunderbolt and many of the celestials were either staggering backward or provoked with teething rage!

The Northern Tyrant shouted thunderous, “You have lured us into a trap so as to get rid of us! Despicable!”

The Deadly Wanderer stammered, “Hero Yi Ping, this is a trap? Some of us didn’t mean to offend you. You know that this is the upper realm and not the lower realm. Killing us is detrimental to your future attainment…”

Xuan Kong laughed aloud, “So the Immortal Sword Sages, what do you say?”

The Immortal Sword Aegis Sage said grimly, “When the Celestial Star Annihilating Formation is initiated, none of us will survive. Is there a need to move on to such extremes?”

The Stellar Heaven Fairy said gently, “The Celestial Star Annihilating Formation is a defensive formation against even the most powerful celestials. You have come into the Celestial Star Annihilating Formation on your own accord and there is no one to blame for your own predicament.”

The Immortal Sword Aegis Sage said coldly, “What if we kill you before you can initiate the Celestial Star Annihilation Formation? This is a small hall after all.”

He had quickly composed himself and after a quick a.n.a.lysis, he had garnered that this could be just a bluff!

The Stellar Heaven Fairy smiled, “You can try but are you willing to bet the lives of all the celestials here?”

Several of the visiting celestials quickly said, “Immortal Sword Aegis Sage, you are betting our lives for something so trifle. Surely, there is still some room for discussion?”

All of a sudden, a celestial that was closed to the main hall bolted out!

This celestial was renowned for his swiftness movement skill and while they were still undecided, he had decided to flee first! Surely with his swiftness movement skill, fleeing was not a problem for him and it was not too late now…

He just needed a blink of an eye to reach the main entrance but before he could reach the exit, the chubby old man who was behind Yi Ping all this while was already at the exit!

This celestial was startled as he muttered, “How did…when did he…”

But before he could react, the Universal Old Man had raised his sleeves and said unhurriedly, “Back!”

A torrential windforce burst forth from the entrance of the hall and swept everyone further into the hall, uprooting and sending the ground tiles flying in all directions!

The poor celestial was startled. As soon as he was caught by the torrential windforce, he was seized by a powerful force that immediately cracked his ribs and knocking him backward!

That was not the end!

The Immortal Sword Sages and all the celestials that were closest to the hall had all either crumbled to the ground or were trembling with shock after they had tried to deflect the flying tiles!

The Immortal Sword Aegis’ fingers were still trembling after he had used his sword fingers to deflect the flying tiles while the Immortal Sword Zealot Sage and the Immortal Sword Blitz Sage had just coughed out a bout of fresh blood!

All the other celestials turned pale immediately!

It was because that unfortunate celestial that had tried to flee was known as the Ironclad Reverend. His Divine Ironclad Skill was impervious to martial force yet this seemingly harmless old man had tossed him so easily into the air and had even injured him!

That was not all. For that old man to injure two of the Immortal Sword Sages, his martial level must be in the ultra powerful list of celestial exponents!

The Immortal Sword Aegis Sage asked respectfully, “Senior, you are an Ancient Celestial? May we know your celestial name? We don’t mean to intrude on your quiet mediation but it is important that the Infinity Sword Celestial Clan has the Blue Heavens back. It belongs to us since antiquity.”

The Universal Old Man pretended to act haughty as he said coolly, “I have long retired so there is no need for you to know my celestial name. However I am acquainted with the Immortal Saint of Swords and won’t be harsh towards you.”

The Immortal Sword Aegis Sage asked, “You know the Immortal Saint of Swords?”

The Universal Old Man grinned, “Of course I know him. He is one of the seven most powerful celestials in the past. He is an Ancient Celestial just like me.”

Lingfeng laughed softly but her soft laughter echoed in everyone’s ears, “Old Man, you can no longer resist making a move? These little juniors are getting on your nerves?”

All the visiting celestials were quiet. They had suddenly remembered that they were in the presence of two Ancient Celestials and from the martial display of the old man, they were no ordinary Ancient Celestials!

The Universal Old Man protested, “This is after all, my protégé’s wedding day. I have no wish for anyone to spoil such an auspicious day…”

The Ascension G.o.ddess looked at Lingfeng and all of a sudden, she had a mischievous smile. “Universal Old Man, thank you…Oops…I really forget…”

Lingfeng and the Universal Old Man were startled as they looked at the Ascension G.o.ddess.

All of a sudden, the hall exploded into a flurry of loud chatter that took quite a long while to die away.

It was because the Universal Old Man was one of the seven most powerful celestial fighters long ago!

The Immortal Sword Aegis Sage shook his head, “There is really someone who is superior and a heaven above a heaven. Senior, it is said that you are a fair person unlike the other celestials. I hope Senior you will give us a fair hearing today!”

The Universal Old Man smiled bitterly as he looked at the Ascension G.o.ddess. He thought, “That is precisely why I don’t want anyone to know who I am…alas! These cunning celestials talk about righteousness only when they require it and talk about might when they can deploy it to their advantage. I want to teach these juniors a lesson a long time ago…”

It seemed that the Ascension G.o.ddess had made an error in judgment. It was not the effect that she had hoped and she was immediately sorry.

Lingfeng comforted her with the Great Whispering Skill, “That is alright. Don’t feel sad about this.”

The Ascension G.o.ddess was comforted as she looked down shyly…

Lingfeng whispered to her companions, “Don’t tell them who I am please. Let this old man handle this himself.”

The Universal Old Man whispered to the Heaveness, “I can’t whisper to everyone like you. You are not helping me?”

Lingfeng whispered with a soft chuckle, “I don’t want to. This is also my wedding day today and I don’t want to dirty my hands or waste my stamina for this.”

The Universal Old Man whispered, “You…! Alas! We have been friends for so long and you are leaving me in a lurch…”

Lingfeng whispered unhappily, “This is nothing that you cannot handle yourself. I haven’t settled my score with you yet. How long have you been peeking at me all this while?”

The Universal Old Man panicky whispered, “This…no wait. I can explain. I did come to you when you have return to the Celestial Realm, am I right…wait…let me settle this first…”

The Universal Old Man cleared his throat as he looked intently at all the visiting celestials, “Oh well…”

All of a sudden, Lingfeng rose from the throne seat as she rose quietly. “Careful everyone…”

Even the Ascension G.o.ddess was trembling as she muttered, “Such strong energy aura. It is as though the entire air is being electrified by this type of sword energy aura…”

The Immortal Sword Zealot Sage laughed, “It seems that our protégé patriarch is here.”

The Deadly Wanderer stammered, “The Immortal Saint of Swords is here?!”

The Immortal Saint of Swords was also one of the seven most powerful celestials of past antiquity and was the contemporary of the Universal Old Man!

The Universal Old Man smiled bitterly, “Since you are here, why don’t you come in?”

There was a rumbling as the entire floor began to shake as though there was an earthquake!

A thunderous yet gentle voice was reverberating, “I am not deaf or senile. Why should I want to enter the hall knowing that there is a Celestial Star Annihilating Formation that is waiting for me? Moreover, I don’t want to waste my strength fighting two difficult to handle opponents, am I right?”

Everyone was startled at his powerful Thousand Mile Resonant Skill!

This Immortal Saint of Swords was a legendary swordsman in the Celestial Realm and an Ancient Celestial of antiquity. There was a reason why he was ranked among the seven most powerful celestials of past antiquity.

Yi Ping asked, “Senior, may I know what brings you here? Surely you are not here to attend my wedding?”

The Universal Old Man remarked coldly, “He is just too free. If you are a hero, then you should show yourself.”

But the Immortal Saint of Swords ignored the remarks and instead answered, “Why am I here? I am here to retrieve the Blue Heavens Divine Sword. This divine sword is my companion sword for a long time before I have ascended. Therefore you should hand over quietly to the rightful owner.”

Shen Xingyue said quietly, “I have already become one with the Blue Heavens and my future attainment will be severely impaired if I surrender it to you. Moreover, it is I who has brought the Blue Heavens to the Celestial Realm. Who is the undisputed owner is quite obvious. As a highly attain celestial, why don’t you let go of the past? The Blue Heavens don’t belong to you now.”

The Immortal Saint of Swords voice reverberated with thunderous rage, “I have endured countless heavenly tribulations without finding a breakthrough to the G.o.ds’ Realm. Only those that had been that endless cycle understands how frustrating it can be! How many of the original Ancient Celestials are left now? It is just a handful of us! Universal Old Man, Heaveness, do you understand my frustrations?”

The Universal Old Man and the Heaveness had a sudden sorrow in their eyes. How could they not know his frustrations? They had reached the limits of their divinity and would be destroyed by their heavenly tribulations if they could not find a way to ascend soon.

The Heaveness had chosen to end her celestial divinity in the past rather than experienced the deadly heavenly wrath again.

While the Universal Old Man and the Heaveness were lamenting over their failures to overcome their present state of divinity, the visiting celestials were gasping with shock. It was because the Heaveness was also one of the seven most powerful celestials of past antiquity!

The Northern Tyrant, the Deadly Wanderer, the three Immortal Sword Sages and the Four Reverend Elders of the Holy Ascension Sect were also shocked beyond belief; the alluring maiden that was standing so elegantly was actually the Heaveness!

This was the second time that they were stunned consecutively. Knowing that this old man was actually the Universal Old Man was the first stunner and knowing that this alluring maiden was the Heaveness was the seconder stunner!

Many of the visiting celestials were smiling bitterly now and wished that they had not come after all. It seemed that they were all caught in a t.i.tanic battle between two major factions now!

Lingfeng the Heaveness said quietly, “I am sure that you will not give up so easily on the Blue Heavens but at the same time even though you may have the ability to break the Celestial Star Annihilation Formation, you are reluctant to waste your martial strength to do so.”

The Immortal Sword of Saints reverberated, “That’s right. I don’t wish to waste my martial strength to break a celestial formation as formidable as the Celestial Star Annihilation unless it is to save my clan protégés and at the same time, I don’t wish to fight the two of you yet. I am sure you don’t wish to either. It is because the Stellar Sanctuary is descending soon and we are hoping to conserve as much strength as possible for it.”

The visiting celestials that did not know that the Stellar Sanctuary was descending were startled and were gasping in astonishment!

Only the most powerful celestials were able to divine the next coming of the Stellar Sanctuary. And if the Immortal Sword of Saints had proclaimed it then it must surely be true! That was what the visiting celestials were thinking!

The Heaveness said quietly, “So if you don’t wish to fight us but at the same time you want the Blue Heavens, so what are you proposing?”

There was a loud thunderous laughter as the Immortal Sword of Saints laughed aloud, sending shockwaves of his martial force throughout the hall.

After a while, his voice reverberated, “Easy. The affairs of the martial fraternity should be settled only by the rules of the martial fraternity, am I right?”

The Heaveness sighed softly, “You are suggesting that we settle it with a duel? You are the Immortal Saint of Swords. How many in the Celestial Realm is your match?”

That was the truth and not any flattering.

The Immortal Saint of Swords laughed aloud, “I don’t intend to waste my divine strength yet I don’t intend to give up the Blue Heavens. And the elder protégés of the Infinity Sword Celestial Clan are not willing to give it up either. How about this? If you can defeat the three Immortal Sword Sages then I will give up the Blue Heavens. But if your side loses, then you must surrender the Blue Heavens Divine Sword willingly. What do you say?”

The Heaveness said, “That’s all? Will it be a three versus three fight or we have three duels to determine the outcome?”

The Immortal Saint of Swords echoed, “We have three duels to determine the outcome but the Universal Old Man, you and that Yi Ping must not get involved at all.”

The Universal Old Man interrupted aloud, “I can understand for the Heaveness and I but Yi Ping?! Don’t tell me you fear my protégé Yi Ping or the Immortal Sword Sages are only capable of fighting against the fairer s.e.x?”

The Immortal Sword Aegis Sage muttered, “This…”

The Immortal Saint of Swords echoed aloud, “There is no fairer s.e.x or weaker s.e.x in the martial fraternity and in the celestial fraternity. Only strong and weak opponents. If you underestimate your opponents then death awaits you.”

The Immortal Sword Aegis Sage quickly said solemnly, “Junior I, awaits grand patriarch instructions!”

The Immortal Sword Blitz Sage and Immortal Sword Zealot Sage said at the same time, “Junior I too, will awaits further for grand patriarch instructions!”

The Immortal Saint of Swords laughed aloud and his echoes shook the grand hall, “Good! Good! Life and death is predestined. If anyone falls in battle today, then it is his or her fate!”

Yi Ping exclaimed angrily, “There are no reasons why I cannot join in the duel! I will rather fight in all three duels than watch my love ones get hurt in front of me!”

Immediately, almost all the maidens were either clenching their hands to their bosoms or were gasping, touched deeply by Yi Ping.

Yu’Er said aloud, “Master Yi Ping, we will take care. Moreover, we only need to win two out of three times for a complete victory. We do have some strong exponents on our side!”

Mei’Er smiled tenderly, “That’s right. Don’t we have Sister Qing’Er, the Ascension G.o.ddess and our protégés mistress the Celestial Fairy here? I really don’t believe that they can gain much advantage over us!”

The Ascension G.o.ddess smiled bitterly as she thought, “These three Immortal Sword Sages aren’t as easy to deal with even if we are all armed with divine swords…”

Yi Ping shouted defiantly and his eyes were burning with the fire of righteousness, “What is the reason why I cannot be involved in the duel? Unless I am given a good reason, I am not convinced at all!”

Lingfeng muttered, “Yi Ping…”

Lele asked, “Yes, I am curious to know why too!”

Dugu Yunzi asked quietly, “The Universal Old Man and the Heaveness I can understand why. But why is Ping’Er being excluded from the duels?”

All the visiting celestials were curious as well!

Xuan Kong said, “We need some enlightenment as well!”

The Immortal Saint of Swords echoed solemnly, “That is because he is an epitome celestial exponent. If he joins, then this fight won’t be fair at all.”

Yi Ping smiled bitterly, “This is the first time that someone calls me an epitome celestial exponent. This is something that I don’t even know myself!”

The Universal Old Man laughed, “My protégé is an epitome celestial exponent? How can’t I am not aware of it at all?”

The Ascension G.o.ddess was secretly startled…

The Immortal Saint of Swords echoed coldly, “Eyes can be deceiving but there are certain things that cannot be hidden. Earlier, his martial shout can actually dissipated the Six Negative Ley Infinitude Sword Auras. Do you have any idea how refine the negative sword energies of the Six Negative Ley Infinitude Sword Auras is? That is not something a mere celestial can dissipate at any time!”

Yi Ping smiled bitterly, “Maybe I was just being lucky…”

The Immortal Saint of Swords laughed and the entire hall shook again, “Lucky?! That is true divine strength! If you have exercised your martial power, the Six Negative Ley Infinitude Sword Auras won’t be able to harm you at all. Moreover much earlier you have displayed the Asper Continuum Horizon Hands, not once, not twice but five times! I am afraid that even the most powerful celestial is unable to display this technique more than three times consecutively!”

Yi Ping was startled, “You know the name of my Asper Continuum Horizon Hands?!”

The Immortal Saint of Swords echoed regretfully, “The techniques of the Horizon Heaven Clan. How do I not know? I am acquainted with your clan patriarch in the past. He is an Ancient Celestial too but he had perished in the Stellar Sanctuary a long time ago. All the secret epitome techniques of the Horizon Hands are extremely draining. That is its weakness. If you met an opponent that is on par with you and if you are unable to overcome him with the Divine Horizon Hands, then death only awaits you!”

Yi Ping smiled bitterly, “Since I have such a weakness, then you shouldn’t have forbid me to join in the duels.”

Lele agreed and she said coldly, “That’s right! Don’t tell me you have a merciful heart. I don’t believe it.”

The Immortal Saint of Swords was humming coldly and his chilling aura could be felt, “Anyone that exerts their martial strength won’t recover this quick. Moreover, exertion of martial strength takes a far longer time to recuperate. But this Yi Ping, look at him. He doesn’t seem to be exerted at all and is looking as fresh and spirited as before!”

Yi Ping was startled as he thought, “That’s right. Earlier, after I have used the Asper Continuum, I really felt so exhausted. But now, it seems as though that I have never used the Asper Continuum at all…”

All the maidens were all startled! They had all failed to notice it!

The Universal Old Man was muttering, “That’s right…”

Yi Ping’s martial force had long evolved into the Absolute Equilibrium Force which had the effect of replenishing his martial power and vital energies at a rapid rate! However, most high level celestials like the Universal Old Man, the Heaveness, the Immortal Sword Sages, the Immortal Saint of Swords, the Northern Tyrant, Shen Xingyue etc. all possessed the ability to replenish their martial power fairly quickly.

However, the very act of replenishing the martial strength of the pract.i.tioner would consume a great deal of mental energies and tired the pract.i.tioner. So between replenishing of martial strength, fighting against physical exhaustion and fighting against mental exhaustion were itself a delicate balance between these three conditions!

The skill of the Heaveness, the Divine Invigorate was a martial skill that could regain the mental strength of the pract.i.tioner, lessening the effects of physical exhaustion. However without rest and time to recuperate, there could only slow down mental exhaustion.

But Yi Ping was still looking spirited as though he had just been rested!

What were his limits?

The Ascension G.o.ddess had a sudden thought and she was gasping, “Can it be…”

A thought had struck her, “Can it be the Forget Affection Wine?”

Yi Ping had an overdose of the deadly Forget Affection Wine. While it was true that the Forget Affection Wine could boost the pract.i.tioner’s vital energies, only a moderate consumption was to be recommended for an overdose would not only bring harm, it could also burn out the vital energies of the pract.i.tioner and crippled the pract.i.tioner martial skills permanently!

When Yi Ping had an overdose of the deadly Forget Affection Wine, his life was in mortal danger. It was only with the intervention of both the Ascension G.o.ddess and the Celestial Fairy that they were able to save him!

It so happened that the Icy Heavenly Tears of the Celestial Fairy and the Despairing Aura of the Ascension G.o.ddess were both extremely pure negative energies skill that they could neutralize the burning fires of the pure fiery positive energies of the Forget Affection Wine. If Yi Ping only had the aid of one, then he would still be in mortal danger. Even if he survives the ordeal, his martial skills would be impaired permanently.

Because the Celestial Fairy and the Ascension G.o.ddess were also chaste maidens, they not only managed to save Yi Ping, they had also received the benefits of the Forget Affection Wine as well! However, at this moment of time they did not know of it yet. They only did what they could do to save Yi Ping and did not know of it. Moreover, there was no precedent in what Yi Ping did!

A combination of factors and a combination of epitome skills like the Absolute Spirits Heart Intricacy Formula and the Forget Affection Wine had transformed Yi Ping’s potential and the pureness of his vital Absolute Equilibrium Force to a completely new level of attainment that even Yi Ping was not aware of!

The Immortal Saint of Swords echoed again, “Moreover, have you ever seen anyone like him that can wield two divine swords at the same time?”

Everyone was startled and were all looking at Yi Ping curiously…

But Yi Ping quickly said, “Divine swords are rare. It doesn’t mean others can’t wield two divine swords if just a few pract.i.tioners had tried and could not.”

The Immortal Saint of Swords seemed to be losing his patient as he thundered aloud, “So shall we proceed with the duels then?”

YI Ping protested, “I didn’t say I agree…”

Lingfeng interrupted, “Yi Ping, this may be the only peaceful way out. We may not lose.”

Shen Xingyue smiled, “Ping’Er, I am the cause of this and I should be the one ending it. Say no more.”

Yi Ping muttered, “Xingyue…”

Yixian said gently, “Ping’Er, don’t worry for us. I am content to be with you no matter how brief. I…”

She was suddenly flushing and Lie Qing was laughing softly, “Oh my sister, you…!”

But she quickly added, “Ping’Er, have you no confident in us?”

Yi Ping was suddenly fl.u.s.tered when he noticed that Lie Qing was smiling tenderly at him as he stammered, “No, no…”

Lie Qing smiled coyly, “Let’s us settle in this manner then!”

Yi Ping sighed softly, “That not what I mean…”

Lele said gently, “Yi Ping, don’t worry alright? Or else we can’t concentrate on the strong foes.”

Yi Ping sighed as he realized the seriousness of his hesitation, “Be careful then…”

But he was secretly determined to intervene in the duels!

Lie Qing laughed softly, “So who among us will go first?”

Dugu Yunzi had suddenly stepped forward, “I will be the first then!”

Yi Ping was startled and so were the rest!

The Immortal Sword Blitz Sage had already stepped forward as he said coldly, “I will be your opponent then!”

Lie Qing was stunned as she quickly said, “Sister Yun, I will take your place. Go back please!”

But Dugu Yunzi said quietly, “There is no turning back. Moreover, I don’t wish to stay in the shadows of everyone. There is no room for the weak in the Stellar Sanctuary.”

Yi Ping stammered, “Yunzi wait please! I don’t want to lose you…”

Dugu Yunzi smiled as she drawn out her precious sword, “Ping’Er if you honor me, you have to respect my choice…”

Yi Ping was trembling nonstop and his face was wetted with his hot tears, “Yunzi…”

Ch26 End