Chapter 95: Heavenly Cauldron Divine Ability Compendium

Chapter 95: Heavenly Cauldron Divine Ability Compendium

Many martial artists had heard of the "Black Tortoise Battle Qi," a divine ability recorded in the Heavenly Cauldron Divine Ability Compendium. Over the past 300 years, only a handful of people had succeeded in mastering this technique.

In truth, all divine abilities and mystical techniques in the world originally emerged from the human body. Powerful martial artists could decipher the origins of these abilities within themselves, uncovering their fundamental nature. By doing so, they could record the divine abilities born within them, compiling them into cultivation manuals to pass down to future generations.

Of course, those capable of transforming intangible divine abilities into tangible manuals were undoubtedly martial artists of extraordinary strength, possessing wisdom far beyond ordinary people.

Countless such manuals existed—some preserved in noble estates, others stored in the Emperor's Martial Palace, and some circulating among the common folk. Among them were both immensely powerful divine abilities and weaker ones.

The most formidable divine abilities, however, were recorded in the Heavenly Cauldron Divine Ability Compendium, inscribed upon the Sacrificial Heaven Cauldron of the Emperor's Martial Palace.

The Sacrificial Heaven Cauldron bore the records of mighty divine abilities as well as tales of past glories.

Half of the martial artists who came to take the Emperor's Martial Palace's entrance examination did so in hopes of mastering the divine abilities listed in the Heavenly Cauldron Divine Ability Compendium, fighting tooth and nail just for a chance to enter.

Human potential was limited—no one could naturally awaken nine innate Divine Abilities. Eventually, one had to cultivate acquired Divine Abilities to compensate. And the divine abilities recorded in the Heavenly Cauldron Divine Ability Compendium could unleash power surpassing even innate Divine Abilities.

Just like Yao Jindao at this moment, who had mastered the "Black Tortoise Battle Qi," blocking five consecutive attacks from Ning Xiaochuan.

"Yao Jindao is only at the Third Level of the Divine Body Realm. Why has he already started cultivating acquired Divine Abilities to compensate for his shortcomings? Logically, with his talent, awakening five innate Divine Abilities should be perfectly normal." Someone voiced their confusion.

Yu Tiadi snorted coldly. "You don’t have to wait until your potential is exhausted before cultivating acquired Divine Abilities. If your talent is high enough to multitask, you can start early. That way, once your innate potential runs dry, you can immediately supplement it with the acquired Divine Abilities you’ve already mastered, breaking through several realms in one go."

Many were hearing this for the first time, instantly feeling the widening gap between geniuses and mediocrities.

Of course, not everyone could multitask. Many who tried to cultivate both innate and acquired Divine Abilities simultaneously ended up progressing slowly, their cultivation speed lagging behind those who followed a steady, step-by-step approach.

"Since Yao Jindao has mastered the Black Tortoise Battle Qi, Ning Xiaochuan is in grave danger today. He might very well follow in his sister’s footsteps."

"If the Jian Pavilion Marquis House loses two top geniuses in a row, the Jian Pavilion Marquis might just die of rage."

Though Qi Chan'er held some goodwill toward Ning Xiaochuan, it wasn’t enough for her to risk her life for him. The Cloud Marquis's estate, the Lingxi Sect, and the Tianyin Sect were all colossal forces—entities she couldn’t afford to provoke.

Though she knew full well that Ning Xiaochuan was unlikely to survive the day, there was nothing she could do to help. At most, she might collect his corpse to prevent it from being left exposed in the wilderness.

Ning Xiaochuan had already exchanged over a hundred moves with Yao Jindao, yet he couldn’t breach the defense of the Black Tortoise Battle Qi. On the contrary, every one of Yao Jindao’s attacks inflicted significant wounds on him.

With the Dragon Elephant Arm for offense and the Black Tortoise Battle Qi for defense, Yao Jindao was considered a peerless talent among the younger generation. Among this year’s examinees, few could hope to defeat him.

Another wound appeared on Ning Xiaochuan’s body as he was forced back seven meters, leaving a long trail on the ground.

Yao Jindao gathered strength in his hands, his body wreathed in crimson mist. He sneered coldly, "Ning Xiaochuan, do you finally understand the gap between us now? Believe it or not, I can take your life in just three more moves. After you die, I’ll return to the Imperial City and spend a delightful night at the Guan Yu Tower with Yu Ningsheng. Hahaha!"

Ning Xiaochuan straightened his back, took a deep breath, and said, "Three moves? More like I’ll take your life in three."

"Then you’ll have to break through my Black Tortoise Battle Qi first. Dragon Elephant’s Wrath!"

A massive Dragon Elephant materialized behind Yao Jindao—seven meters tall, with the body of an elephant and the head of a Divine Dragon.

Yao Jindao struck out with a palm, and the Dragon Elephant behind him mirrored the motion, its massive claw descending upon Ning Xiaochuan.

Between Ning Xiaochuan’s fingers, Sword Qi condensed, his entire body growing sharper, as if undergoing a transformation—becoming a human-shaped sword.

Before, Ning Xiaochuan had only wielded a mere strand of the Demonic Sword’s Sword Qi. But now, he had comprehended the Sword Dao inscribed upon the Demonic Sword.

Though the difference between Sword Qi and Sword Dao was just a single word, the disparity was like heaven and earth.

"Annihilation Sword Wave!"

Ning Xiaochuan pointed forward, and strands of sword intent gathered from the world itself, coalescing into a streak of white light that shot forth.

This sword wave was like a White Rainbow Piercing the Sun—unstoppable, capable of annihilating all in its path.

"Pfft!"

The sword wave pierced through the Black Tortoise Battle Qi, impaling Yao Jindao’s arm, bursting through his palm, and exiting from behind his shoulder.

Yao Jindao let out a pained cry, staggering backward. Before he could steady himself, a palm wrapped in Lightning struck his chest.

"Pfft!"

Blood sprayed from Yao Jindao’s mouth as he was sent flying, the flesh on his chest charred by the Lightning, wisps of smoke rising from the wound.

With a casual flick of his finger, Ning Xiaochuan unleashed another "Annihilation Sword Wave," the Sword Qi piercing through Yao Jindao’s heart and sending him plummeting off the cliff outside the Demon Palace, his body disappearing into the clouds below.

This series of attacks—just three moves in total.

Yao Jindao was dead, while Ning Xiaochuan stood unharmed outside the Demon Palace, his expression indifferent, devoid of any joy from slaying a powerful foe.

The martial artists who had been certain of Ning Xiaochuan’s demise fell silent, their gazes toward him shifting dramatically.

"He actually broke through the Black Tortoise Battle Qi… That’s supposed to be an invincible defense in the same cultivation realm!"

"For three hundred years, no one has ever breached the Black Tortoise Battle Qi—it was hailed as the pinnacle of defense. Could it be that Ning Xiaochuan has shattered the myth created by his predecessors today?"

Yu Tiadi and the other top experts all frowned deeply. The Sword Qi unleashed by Ning Xiaochuan just now was truly terrifying, nearly indestructible. Even they might not have been able to withstand it.

What kind of Sword Qi was this?

What kind of divine ability was this?

Qi Chan'er was also stunned. Even she had thought Ning Xiaochuan was doomed today, yet she never expected him to have grown to such an extent in such a short time. It was utterly shocking.

"You actually killed the eighth disciple of Marquis Yuntian? Even if Marquis Yuntian doesn’t kill you, his other disciples will skin you alive and grind your bones to dust," said Zhuo Yichan, the top genius of the younger generation in the Lingxi Sect, his voice heavy.

Ning Xiaochuan’s gaze swept over Zhuo Yichan and Hua Ruyue as he declared, "If I don’t even fear Marquis Yuntian, why would I fear his disciples? You killed Xin'er—do you really think you’ll leave here unscathed today? Everyone who took part that night will pay in blood!"

His voice was icy and resolute, like a clap of Heavenly Thunder, shaking the eardrums of many.

"Join forces. Eliminate him."

As soon as Hua Ruyue spoke, she transformed into a graceful silhouette, appearing before Ning Xiaochuan in an instant.

Her speed was so fast it was almost illusory.

A slender finger shot toward Ning Xiaochuan’s heart, its sharp silver nail gleaming like a deadly dagger.

Ning Xiaochuan channeled his Martial Arts Profound Qi and roared, "Heavenly Thunder Bell!"

"Boom!"

The Soundwaves condensed into a massive bell, crashing into Hua Ruyue and sending her flying back. Her white robes fluttered wildly as she landed ten meters away, her face deathly pale.

Hua Ruyue was the most outstanding female disciple of the Tianyin Sect in this generation, possessing the White Jade Heart Palace. Her skin was exceptionally fair and delicate, like warm jade, due to the white blood flowing within her.

Any man who could take her to bed would find her a temptress capable of draining him dry.

But Ning Xiaochuan had no interest in admiring her beauty now. If she was an enemy, no matter how beautiful, he would raise his blade and send her straight to hell.

"You think you’re the only one who can use Soundwaves?"

The women of the Tianyin Sect were most skilled in Soundwave attacks, and Hua Ruyue was no exception. She took the ancient zither from her back, her fingers lightly plucking the strings as she channeled her Profound Qi into them.

The sinister and baleful energy around the Demon Palace gathered toward the strings, swirling around her like eerie mist.

"Swish!"

A Soundwave transformed into Sword Qi, shooting toward Ning Xiaochuan.

"Heavenly Thunder Bell!"

Ning Xiaochuan roared with a thunderous voice, shattering Hua Ruyue’s Soundwave attack.

At the same time, Zhuo Yichan unleashed golden Profound Qi between his hands, condensing it into a trident that he swung toward Ning Xiaochuan.

Though formed from Profound Qi, the trident gleamed like forged metal.

Zhuo Yichan had cultivated the Five Elements Divine Body, and his power was that of the Metal Element.

Ning Xiaochuan continuously emitted Thunderous Roars from his mouth, while torrential rain poured down around his body. The water vapor condensed into a hundred Sword Qi Shadows, resembling a rain of swords soaring through the sky as he clashed with Zhuo Yichan.

The downpour was relentless, with thunder and Lightning intertwining.

"Ambush from Ten Directions!"

Hua Ruyue, holding an ancient zither with dignified grace, her long hair swaying, her star-like eyes bright and captivating, played a divine killing melody.

The Soundwaves condensed into a group of armored corpses, charging toward Ning Xiaochuan.

Ning Xiaochuan channeled the Profound Qi within his body and let out a long roar, spitting out a Massive Bell from his mouth—a great bell formed from Soundwaves—which crashed toward the group of armored corpses.

"Boom—!"

The Massive Bell shattered all the Soundwaves Hua Ruyue had unleashed.

"Snap! Snap!"

The strings of her zither snapped, and blood flowed from her snow-white fingers.