Chapter 335: Once-in-Ten-Millennia

Chapter 335: Once-in-Ten-Millennia

Mu Honglai had indeed stepped into the third level of the Earthly Venerable Realm, making him a powerhouse even among Martial Venerables.

Any Martial Artist who enters the Earthly Venerable Realm can be granted the title of "Martial Venerable." However, the Earthly Venerable Realm is divided into nine minor levels, each with a vast gap in strength, and advancing even a single level is extremely difficult. Thus, even among Martial Venerables, the disparity in power can be immense.

Yu Qing had only just broken through to the Earthly Venerable Realm, his foundation still unstable. In contrast, Mu Honglai was already a third-level Earthly Venerable, his strength nearly ten times greater.

"Hmph! If not for my crippled hands, I could crush you with a single slap. You're still far too green, boy." Mu Honglai's body spun, forming a massive vortex as he shifted horizontally in front of Yu Qing and kicked him flying.

Yu Qing's body smashed through a large tree a meter thick before tumbling into the bushes, blood spilling from his mouth. "Cough… Damn it… I wasn’t ready yet…"

"Merge!"

Ning Xiaochuan fused with the Small Red Dragon, wielding the blood-red Dragon Sword as he slashed toward Mu Honglai.

"Hahaha! Ning Xiaochuan, with your current cultivation, you dare challenge me? Even with dragon armor protecting you, I can still crush you!" Mu Honglai's Martial Soul Avatar surged forth, transforming into a colossal figure that struck at Ning Xiaochuan with a palm.

Ning Xiaochuan crossed the Dragon Sword before him, forming a barrier of Sword Qi, but Mu Honglai's palm shattered it effortlessly, sending him flying.

Rather than pressing the attack, Ning Xiaochuan flapped his Dual Wings and soared into the sky.

Mu Honglai's primary target was Ning Xiaochuan, so he immediately gave chase. Though he couldn’t fly, his speed was lightning-fast as he sprinted across the ground, keeping pace with Ning Xiaochuan while occasionally unleashing Martial Arts Divine Abilities skyward, posing a constant threat.

Ning Xiaochuan was deliberately luring Mu Honglai away.

With Yu Qing and Shi Jinyu present, Ning Xiaochuan couldn’t unleash his full strength. Only by facing Mu Honglai alone could he employ his trump cards—the Demonic Sword and the Annihilation Divine Monument.

Ning Xiaochuan flew for 300 km, with Mu Honglai relentlessly pursuing below.

Mu Honglai activated a Martial Arts Divine Ability, planting his feet firmly as he conjured a pair of gigantic arms. He tore a 100-meter-tall hill from the earth and hurled it into the sky.

Ning Xiaochuan halted mid-air, spreading his wings as he hovered in the void. Summoning the Demonic Sword, a surge of Demonic Qi erupted around him, staining half the sky ink-black.

Gripping the sword with both hands, his hair bristled upward, his eyes turning blood-red as a towering Demonic Shadow rose behind him.

"Annihilation Sword Soul!"

With a single swing, Ning Xiaochuan unleashed a blood-red Sword Qi hundreds of meters long, cleaving the hill in two.

The Sword Qi struck Mu Honglai before he could react, blasting him backward into a mountainside.

When Mu Honglai crawled out from the rubble, blood dripped from his chest—a deep gash had split his ribs open.

Tendrils of Demonic Qi seeped into the wound, invading his body.

Ning Xiaochuan had already vanished without a trace, as if evaporated from the mortal world.

"Ning Xiaochuan, you can't escape!" Mu Honglai roared at the sky, his face twisted with fury. The Annihilation Demonic Qi had invaded his body, corroding his flesh and blood, forcing him to seek a safe place to heal.

Where had Ning Xiaochuan gone?

In truth, Ning Xiaochuan hadn’t left—he had merely descended into the underground world, hiding within the soil 100 meters beneath the surface.

"First, I’ll refine the Divine Blood and break through to the Earthly Venerable Realm. Then, I’ll fear no one."

Seated deep underground, Ning Xiaochuan retrieved the Divine Blood and enveloped it in Dragon-Tiger Profound Qi, beginning the slow process of refining it.

The energy contained within this single drop of Divine Blood far exceeded his expectations—it was many times greater than the sum of all the energy within his body.

This wasn’t just a drop of blood—it was like an entire ocean.

The speed at which Ning Xiaochuan absorbed the Divine Blood was akin to digging a small stream from that ocean. For a stream to drain an entire ocean would likely take years.

"No, I can’t wait that long."

He activated the Heaven and Earth Profound Qi technique, instantly increasing his absorption speed by sixty-four times, turning the stream into a raging river.

The power within the Divine Blood surged into his body like a tidal wave, merging with his blood and refining his entire being.

This drop of Divine Blood had been left behind by the Heavenly Emperor before his ascension to godhood. It contained not only vast amounts of Blood Qi but also the will and Martial Path imprints of a deity.

For a god, a single drop of blood could pierce through a world and annihilate an entire race.

As Ning Xiaochuan absorbed the Divine Blood’s power, he also sought to comprehend the will and Martial Path imprints within it. Gaining even a fraction of insight would benefit him for life.

In just three days, the Blood Qi within his body began to transform. His Bloodline surged, and his Blood Qi started to condense.

"Roar!"

Within him, the first drop of blood took the shape of a dragon, emitting a draconic roar.

He was on the verge of entering the "Blood Qi Like a Dragon" realm—the first critical threshold had been reached.

Before refining the Divine Blood, Ning Xiaochuan had already achieved the "One Drop of Blood Transforms into Nine Tigers" realm. The next step was the legendary "Blood Qi Like a Dragon."

A single drop of blood could condense into a blood dragon.

This was a legendary realm, one only achievable by gods in their infancy—a testament to the "Once-in-Ten-Millennia" talent.

Other Martial Artists, even if they obtained Divine Blood, might never reach such a level.

This wasn’t a realm attainable through sheer resources—it required innate potential.

Some Martial Artists were born with weak foundations. Even if they obtained supreme treasures like the Three-Leaved Life Grass or Divine Blood, they would only waste them, reaching at most the "Once-in-a-Century Talent" level.

This was a congenital deficiency—something that could never be compensated for later.

But Ning Xiaochuan was different. Born with the Seven Orifices Divine Demon Heart Palace, his physique was peerless, granting him the potential to reach the "Once-in-Ten-Millennia" talent.

Now, the first drop of blood within him had undergone transformation—a promising sign that he possessed the potential to step into the realm of "Once-in-Ten-Millennia" talent.

Everything proceeded smoothly thereafter.

After another three days, every drop of blood in Ning Xiaochuan’s body had transformed into dragon-shaped droplets. It was as if ten thousand dragons were galloping within him, and a crimson radiance emanated from his body.

Had it not been for the thick layer of earth covering him, the light he emitted would have dyed the entire sky red.

A massive Divine Dragon Phantom coiled above his head, majestic and sacred, exuding an overwhelming aura.

This was the "Divine Dragon Phantom," a phenomenon only cultivable by those with the "Once-in-Ten-Millennia" talent—a sign of a young supreme’s emergence, destined to conquer the world undefeated in countless battles.

"Finally, I’ve reached the 'Once-in-Ten-Millennia' talent level!"

Ning Xiaochuan was ecstatic and immediately prepared to break through to the Earthly Venerable Realm.

"Wait."

A woman’s voice echoed from within Ning Xiaochuan’s heart.

The voice came from the Demonic Sword.

Ning Xiaochuan quickly steadied his Mental Energy, condensed his essence, and entered his Bloodline, arriving outside his heart. He bowed respectfully toward the Demonic Sword and said, "Master, you’ve finally spoken again."

The Demonic Sword hovered within the Demon Ventricle, and on its blade, the silhouette of an extraordinarily beautiful woman materialized—none other than Sui Hanyu, the third-generation successor of the Annihilation Path.

Sui Hanyu was not inside the Demonic Sword but in a distant corner of the world, millions of kilometers away from Ning Xiaochuan. Only through the power of the Demonic Sword could she project a wisp of her will to communicate briefly with him.

Her shadow flickered faintly on the sword’s surface as she spoke, "I’ve borrowed the power of Quasi-God blood to regain the ability to speak with you. My time is limited, so I must tell you—the 'Once-in-Ten-Millennia' talent is not the limit for Martial Artists. Do not settle so easily."

"How is that possible? 'Ten millennia' is an ultimate number—no one can surpass it," Ning Xiaochuan said.

Sui Hanyu shook her head. "Though 'ten millennia' is an extreme, there have been exceptional figures who shattered it, cultivating the 'Supreme Physique.'"

"Supreme Physique? What is that?" Ning Xiaochuan asked.

Sui Hanyu explained, "The 'Supreme Physique' is not a measure of talent but a Martial Path constitution that transcends talent levels, elevating beyond mortal limits. Different methods can cultivate different types of 'Supreme Physique.' Of course, achieving it is as difficult as ascending to heaven—even I failed to attain it. Among the successors of our Annihilation Path, only the first-generation patriarch achieved the 'Annihilation Supreme Physique,' becoming invincible under the heavens. With a single sword strike, he could pierce stars, and with a flick of his finger, slay gods."

"If you can cultivate the 'Supreme Physique,' that would be ideal. But even if you don’t, your current 'Once-in-Ten-Millennia' talent is enough to reign supreme among peers, making the world look up to you in awe."

The "Once-in-Ten-Millennia" talent was already the most legendary Martial Physique recorded in ancient texts—the supreme pinnacle of innate potential. Even the Heavenly Emperor, in his youth, possessed this level of talent, conquering the world without a single defeat.

Yet, there existed an even mightier 'Supreme Physique.' Determined, Ning Xiaochuan resolved to push further and refine his constitution to the utmost limit.

However, the blood within his body was now comparable to that of a True Dragon, and his Blood Qi had reached the limit for Martial Artists, making further breakthroughs impossible.

How exactly should one cultivate the Supreme Physique?

"Impossible! There simply cannot be a Supreme Physique—this is utter nonsense. How peerless was the Heavenly Emperor? He roamed the world, never once defeated. This was precisely because he possessed a Once-in-Ten-Millennia talent, making him unrivaled in his era," the Heavenly Emperor's Blade exclaimed vehemently.

Sui Hanyu said, "The Once-in-Ten-Millennia talent level is indeed an extreme pinnacle. I myself cultivated to that level, yet in my entire life, I was never able to break through further and uncover the secrets of the 'Supreme Physique.' However, I firmly believe that the 'Supreme Physique' must exist."