Chapter 348: The Youngest Martial Venerable

Chapter 348: The Youngest Martial Venerable

Ning Xiaochuan spread a pair of massive wings condensed from Martial Arts Divine Ability on his back. With a flap of the wings, his body hovered in mid-air as he spoke, "Ghost Bat King, this is the Imperial City, beneath the feet of the Son of Heaven. How dare you kill and plunder here? Aren’t you afraid of meeting a gruesome end?"

The Ghost Bat King was a Martial Venerable of the Demon Sect under the Lifeless Dao, having lived for over a hundred and ten years. He was undoubtedly a heavyweight within the Demon Sect.

In terms of seniority, he was even a generation above the Lifeless Dao Leader. Even the Lifeless Dao Leader had to address him as "Uncle."

The Ghost Bat King’s long, disheveled hair draped over his shoulders, his pupils pitch-black, his mouth filled with yellowed teeth—some missing, causing his speech to whistle with gaps. "Beneath the feet of the Son of Heaven? How terrifying. Brat, hand over the 'Northern Abyss Divine Art' and lend it to me for three days. I promise your death won’t be too ugly."

Ning Xiaochuan snorted coldly, his gaze sharpening. "Do you really think your cultivation allows you to act recklessly in the Imperial City?"

The Ghost Bat King sensed a chilling murderous intent emanating from Ning Xiaochuan.

It was formed from vast Martial Path Origin Qi, causing the temperature in the air to plummet. Even the Black-Haired Ghost Bat Beast beneath his feet grew restless, its nostrils exhaling streams of black mist.

Could I actually be sensing danger from this kid? Am I hallucinating?

The Ghost Bat King, after all, was a century-old demon. He wouldn’t be intimidated by Ning Xiaochuan, dismissing it as a mere illusion.

No matter how strong Ning Xiaochuan was, he was only twenty years old.

The Ghost Bat King would never have guessed that Ning Xiaochuan, at the tender age of twenty, had already stepped into the Earthly Venerable Realm, becoming the youngest Martial Venerable in the Yulan Empire.

"Hah! A mere brat dares to speak so boldly? How dare you address me in such a tone? Aside from that old man, the Jian Pavilion Marquis, the Jian Pavilion Marquis House can’t produce a second person capable of threatening me."

The Ghost Bat King had already made up his mind—he would capture Ning Xiaochuan alive and force him to reveal the 'Northern Abyss Divine Art.'

Rumors claimed it was a peerless technique comparable to the 'Blood Devouring Demon Art.'

"You truly don’t know the immensity of heaven and earth. Today, I’ll show you whether the Jian Pavilion Marquis House is a place your Demon Sect can trifle with as you please."

Ning Xiaochuan’s anger flared. The Demon Sect was far too arrogant. If they weren’t taught a lesson, they would never understand that there’s always someone stronger.

With a raise of his arm, a surge of dense Martial Path Origin Qi erupted from his body.

Only a Martial Venerable could cultivate "Martial Path Origin Qi." In terms of power, "Martial Path Origin Qi" was over a hundred times stronger than "Martial Arts Profound Qi."

A single wisp of Origin Qi could easily shatter the Profound Qi defenses of any Martial Artist below the Earthly Venerable Realm.

This was the gap between a Martial Venerable and a Transcendent Realm Martial Artist.

But Ning Xiaochuan was different. Even in the Transcendent Realm, he had already refined his "Martial Arts Profound Qi" to the level of "Dragon-Tiger Profound Qi," making his combat power no weaker than a Martial Venerable’s "Origin Qi."

Now that he had entered the Earthly Venerable Realm, his "Dragon-Tiger Profound Qi" had transformed into "Dragon-Tiger Origin Qi," its might far surpassing that of other Martial Venerables in the same cultivation realm.

Under the influence of Ning Xiaochuan’s Martial Path Origin Qi, the giant sword embedded outside the Divine Sword Palace began to tremble, cracking the thick bluestone streets with fissures as wide as a palm.

"Whoosh!"

The 87-meter-tall giant sword soared into the sky and landed in Ning Xiaochuan's palm, trailing a water wave-like sword radiance. With a swing of his arm, Ning Xiaochuan slashed the giant sword forward. The blade was wreathed in lightning—not just from the Martial Arts Divine Ability he unleashed, but also from the lightning formation inherently embedded within the sword itself. The entire sky was filled with crackling electricity, resonating with the rolling echoes of Heavenly Thunder.

The Ghost Bat King's expression drastically changed, as if he were trapped in the eye of a storm. He hurriedly unfurled the Weapon Ranking List in his hands, releasing a golden radiance. Hundreds of names inscribed on the scroll flickered, and thousands of characters flew out, transforming into lethal golden blades.

"Boom!"

The Ghost Bat King was sent flying over 100 meters into the air. Had it not been for the Weapon Ranking List shielding him, Ning Xiaochuan's strike would have inflicted severe injuries.

Ning Xiaochuan pressed his advantage, dragging the giant sword as he pursued. With a horizontal slash, he thrust toward the Ghost Bat King, the sword's shadow casting a massive silhouette on the ground. Countless Sword Qi Shadows swirled around Ning Xiaochuan, and just as the giant sword was about to pierce the Ghost Bat King— "Roar!"

The Black-Haired Ghost Bat Beast swung its claw, striking the giant sword's blade and deflecting its trajectory. This bought the Ghost Bat King enough time to evade Ning Xiaochuan's killing blow.

The Black-Haired Ghost Bat Beast, a seventh-grade mystic beast that had followed the Ghost Bat King for years, possessed formidable combat prowess, rivaling that of an Earthly Venerable Realm Martial Artist. Together, the Ghost Bat King and the Black-Haired Ghost Bat Beast could unleash a force surpassing even two Martial Venerables.

Stabilizing himself midair, the Ghost Bat King landed back on the beast's back, his voice trembling with shock. "Ning Xiaochuan, you've actually stepped into the Earthly Venerable Realm?! How is this possible?"

It was no wonder the Ghost Bat King was caught off guard. In the history of the Yulan Empire, the youngest Martial Venerable had been the Cloud Marquis, who achieved the realm at the age of 24—a feat that caused an uproar and made him an idol among the younger generation of Martial Artists.

Yet, Ning Xiaochuan shattered that record, becoming a Martial Venerable at just 20 years old.

This was nothing short of monstrous, an achievement that seemed impossible to surpass!

Not only was the Ghost Bat King stunned, but the Martial Artists in the Imperial City were equally astounded. "A 20-year-old Martial Venerable—is he even human?"

"The Imperial City's Top Genius truly lives up to his title," many murmured in awe.

Those who prided themselves as geniuses felt humbled. At 20, they had barely reached the Divine Body Realm, while Ning Xiaochuan had already ascended to the Earthly Venerable Realm, earning the title of Martial Venerable. The gap was unimaginable.

"Wherever Ning Xiaochuan goes, extraordinary events follow. No ordinary noble heir would dare openly bring a brothel woman into their mansion to stay overnight—but Ning Xiaochuan is an exception. His martial prowess is his confidence."

"It's no surprise the Imperial City's top beauty has fallen for him. If I could, I'd join his household, even as a mere concubine," remarked a third-tier civilization princess.

As Ning Xiaochuan attained the title of Martial Venerable at the age of twenty, it was bound to cause a massive upheaval in the martial world! The youngest Martial Venerable in the history of the Yulan Empire, he would undoubtedly become the center of attention wherever he went.

Yu Qing slammed the table and sighed, "That guy Ning Xiaochuan’s cultivation speed is downright monstrous—it’s impossible not to be impressed! When I was his age, I had just barely stepped into the Transcendent Realm."

Yu Qing himself was a top-tier genius, not yet forty years old but already having reached the Earthly Venerable Realm, ranking among the top five princes in the Imperial City.

Shi Jindan narrowed his eyes, staring at Ning Xiaochuan wielding his giant sword in battle against the Ghost Bat King in the distance, and said meaningfully, "With talent like Ning Xiaochuan’s, even across the entire Tianxu Continent, he could rival the elite disciples of ancient clans and sacred lands. Heh! Truly befitting the homeland of the Heavenly Emperor—outstanding individuals emerge in droves!"

Yu Qing remarked, "Brother Gan, you seem quite knowledgeable about the Tianxu Continent?"

Shi Jindan’s bloated body shook as he laughed. "I just enjoy traveling the world. I’ve been to places beyond the Yulan Empire, so my horizons are a bit broader. Brother Qing, you’re now considered a 'Once-in-Four-Thousand-Years' genius. Would you be interested in joining an ancient clan? This particular clan once produced a Quasi-God ancestor during the Age of Gods. They have numerous experts, hidden dragons and crouching tigers, with profound heritage. A top-tier genius like you would undoubtedly receive focused cultivation if you joined."

Yu Qing smirked playfully. "Brother Gan, you’re no simple figure! To have connections with an ancient clan—you’re clearly extraordinary."

"I’m just an ordinary man. It’s just that my second uncle works for that ancient clan, so I thought I’d recommend you to him. Honestly, in front of that ancient clan, I’m not even worth a fart." Shi Jindan laughed heartily.

Yu Qing, being shrewd himself, laughed along but carefully avoided mentioning any commitment to joining the ancient clan.

The Ghost Bat King, possessing second-level Earthly Venerable Realm cultivation, fought alongside the Black-Haired Ghost Bat Beast, making it seem like two Martial Venerables were battling Ning Xiaochuan.

The Black-Haired Ghost Bat Beast spewed flames from its mouth, forming waves of fire dozens of meters long, filling the air with palm-sized fireballs that rained down like a fiery storm.

This city domain, one of the thirty-six in the Inner City, was known as the "Heavenly Line City Domain."

All the formations and barriers of the Heavenly Line City Domain had been activated, with white formations rising to protect the buildings and streets below. Otherwise, the battle between Ning Xiaochuan and the Ghost Bat King would have caused massive destruction.

Unable to gain the upper hand after prolonged combat, the Ghost Bat King grew impatient. As a heavyweight of the Demon Sect, how could he fail to subdue a mere twenty-year-old? Where would his pride be?

A twenty-year-old who had already reached the Earthly Venerable Realm—what heights would he reach in the future?

He had to eliminate him, nip him in the bud, and never give him the chance to grow.

The Ghost Bat King’s gaze darkened as he mobilized all his Martial Path Origin Qi. Thick Demonic Qi surged from his body as he unleashed a Martial Arts Divine Ability—the Bone Claw Strike.

The enormous claw imprint, like the hand of a celestial demon, stretched out from the Demonic Cloud.

Ning Xiaochuan stood beneath him, his long hair cascading over his shoulders, his back straight as a spear, gripping the 87-meter-long giant sword. "It's time to end this!" he declared.

Earlier, Ning Xiaochuan had merely been using the Ghost Bat King as practice, after all, this was his first true battle against a Martial Venerable-level expert since reaching the Earthly Venerable Realm. When he subdued Mu Honglai previously, he had relied entirely on the power of the Seven Orifices Demon Heart, without truly unleashing his martial prowess.

The lightning on the surface of the giant sword grew even more intense, summoning nine bolts from the sky, each as thick as a bowl's mouth.

Ning Xiaochuan swung his sword down with overwhelming force, his Sword Intent reaching its peak, effortlessly tearing through the bone claw. The Sword Qi pierced straight through the Ghost Bat King's body.

"Slash!"

An arm was severed, and a torrent of Martial Venerable's blood spilled out, a glaring, vivid red.