Translator: AnubisTL
The Blood Martial Dynasty's territory spanned three great domains. Over the past several centuries, led by successive generations of vital energy martial artists, they had expanded their dominion, becoming the most powerful force in the region since the Red Moon's descent.
The dynasty's Royal City stood at the convergence of these three great domains.
After encountering a group of Blood Martial Dynasty officials, Li Qing joined their company, learning about this dynasty founded on the vital energy martial dao.
Through these individuals, Li Qing learned that their domain was called the Flowing Wind Domain, and they were part of a merchant caravan from an ancient city within the domain.
The caravan's destination was the Royal City, where they would deliver their annual tribute. This explained the presence of vital energy martial artists from the martial alliance guarding their flanks.
As Li Qing had suspected, the Blood Martial Dynasty, which had suddenly emerged centuries ago, had indeed been established by the martial alliance.
And its founding monarch was none other than Miao Xi!
However, this founding monarch had passed away over a century ago, his lifespan having reached its natural end.
Miao Xi was gone.
Upon hearing this news, Li Qing paused, a flicker of sorrow crossing his eyes.
Though he had long anticipated it, Li Qing couldn't help but feel a pang of emotion upon hearing the news.
Memories of his past with this descendant flooded his mind.
He recalled the events in Giant Rock City, Miao Xi's father, and then a cascade of other old acquaintances.
In the end, I couldn't escape the fate of an old man burying a young one, Li Qing sighed inwardly. Cultivating the vital energy martial dao could extend one's lifespan, but it had its limits.
Even immortals faced their great limit. How much more so, then, for these vital energy martial artists? They remained bound to the cycle of birth, aging, illness, and death.
Throughout the journey, the vital energy martial artists from the martial alliance treated Li Qing with unexpected warmth and reverence, sharing many details about the qi blood dynasty.
For instance, the current qi blood dynasty, supported by the martial alliance, continued to expand its territory and spread the vital energy martial dao throughout the land.
They also mentioned that the current martial alliance leader was Yan Xishan. Though advanced in years, Alliance Leader Yan remained dedicated to pursuing the higher possibilities of the vital energy martial dao.
Furthermore, it's worth mentioning that a completely new realm has been discovered within the vital energy martial dao.
After reaching the innate stage in the Martial Dao, true qi gathers within the dantian. Upon reaching its peak, one can merge the body's vital energy with the dantian's true qi, unifying the vital energy and true qi into a single entity.
This realm is known as the Unity Realm, though some also call it Qi-Blood Embracing the Core or the Core Embracing Realm!
"Qi-Blood Embracing the Core, huh? That's quite interesting. I wonder who pioneered this realm?" Li Qing nodded and asked.
"My lord, this realm was inspired by ancient texts unearthed from ancient ruins by a supreme elder of our martial alliance. The founding monarch personally practiced this path, ultimately reaching a new peak in its development."
"Unfortunately, when the Founding Ancestor of Miao Xi attempted to break through, he failed to control the Qi Blood Unity. At the final moment, his efforts crumbled, and he ultimately sacrificed himself for the dao."
"Before his death, the Founding Ancestor of Miao Xi uttered these words:"
"This path is viable! The vital energy martial dao will flourish! I die without regret!"
Listening to the hat-wearing man's account, Li Qing shook his head with a sigh, then smiled and said, "What a complete martial arts fanatic."
Later, after Miao Xi's martyrdom, Alliance Leader Yan gained sufficient experience and, in a single breakthrough, advanced his martial dao to the Unity Realm!
From that day onward, the vital energy martial dao once again reached new heights!
Qi-Blood Embracing the Core, Martial Dao Unity Realm!
Upon reaching this realm, martial artists gained incredible abilities, even the power to briefly levitate.
Moreover, with their vital energy unified, their combat strength multiplied several times over!
Hearing his descendants still upholding their original beliefs, Li Qing felt a growing sense of satisfaction.
At that moment, the hat-wearing man from the martial alliance suddenly clasped his hands in a fist salute toward Li Qing, his voice trembling slightly as he asked:
"May I ask if Senior's name is Li Qing?"
Li Qing was taken aback, surprised that this man knew his name.
He noticed the hat-wearing man's clasped hands were still trembling slightly, as if he were struggling to suppress his inner excitement.
"Yes, I am Li Qing," Li Qing replied calmly.
Upon hearing Li Qing confirm his name, the hat-wearing man and the vital energy martial artists around him stiffened.
Even through the veil of his conical hat, Li Qing could feel their burning gazes.
In the next moment, all the martial alliance members wearing conical hats and black veils leaped down from the strange beast-drawn carriages and knelt without a word.
"Greetings, Dao Guardian!"
Li Qing had almost forgotten about his role as the Dao Guardian of the vital energy martial dao.
He chuckled softly, "Rise, all of you. How did you confirm my identity?"
Someone eagerly replied, "Every martial alliance disciple must first memorize one crucial fact upon joining: our alliance has a Dao Guardian named Li Qing!"
"Furthermore, every disciple must memorize the Dao Guardian's portrait and some of his legendary deeds!"
"By recognizing your portrait and the strange beast you ride, I confirmed that you are indeed the Dao Guardian of the vital energy martial dao!"
Without a doubt, this was the work of his juniors. Li Qing hadn't expected that even after the martial alliance had grown so powerful, they would still remember this incident so vividly, to the point that even ordinary disciples knew the details so clearly.
"Alright, rise. There's no need for such excessive formality," Li Qing said, withdrawing his gaze.
Under Li Qing's watchful presence, the journey proceeded without incident.
Finally, after more than ten days, a colossal structure shrouded in darkness loomed before Li Qing—the Royal City of the Qi Blood Dynasty, situated at the intersection of three great domains. This city was even more magnificent and vast than Giant Rock City had been in its prime.
Of course, such architecture no longer held any awe for Li Qing.
As they approached the Royal City, a perceptive vital energy martial artist swiftly rode ahead into the city, rushing toward its heart at top speed.
After a considerable wait, Li Qing followed the merchant caravan at a leisurely pace to the foot of the city gates.
Before any announcement could be made, the massive gates swung open wide.
A swarm of Martial Artists surged out of the city, some cloaked in black robes, others wearing conical hats, and still others draped in capes.
Their sole common trait was their exceptionally vigorous vital energy.
The merchant caravan members were startled by this display. They immediately recognized these warriors as members of the martial alliance, the Blood Martial Dynasty's most formidable military force and the very foundation of the dynasty's power.
At that moment, they finally understood the true terror behind the identity and origins of the man riding the ferocious strange beast.
"Greetings, Dao Guardian!"
The Martial Artists stationed in the Royal City roared in unison, the thunderous shout shaking the city's massive walls three times over.
"Master! Master!"
From the rear of the crowd, a burly but visibly aged man flew out of the city.
Yan Xishan, upon clearly seeing Li Qing's face, could no longer suppress the surging emotions in his heart.
"Master... it's really you! It's really you!"
With these words, Yan Xishan immediately knelt.
"Disciple Yan Xishan pays homage to Master!"
Bang!
Li Qing leaped down from Fan Tong's back and swiftly helped his disciple to his feet with an irresistible force.
"You're the alliance leader now, yet you still act so spineless. How will your subordinates ever respect you?" Li Qing said with a hint of amusement, his tone devoid of any real reproach.
Indeed, none of the martial alliance's warriors present had ever witnessed their leader behaving in such a manner.
This scene only reinforced their understanding of the dao guardian's supreme and weighty status within the martial alliance.
Thus, surrounded by reverent gazes, Li Qing was escorted into the Royal City with the highest honors.
The Royal City, the martial alliance's territory.
Yan Xishan, his face now showing the signs of age, recounted the events of recent years to Li Qing.
He explained that the Black Wind Domain had fallen completely under the demonic willow's control, leaving not a single living creature alive in the entire great domain.
The three domains occupied by the Blood Martial Dynasty were the Autumn Mountain Domain, Flowing Wind Domain, and Boundary River Domain.
The martial alliance's rise to power began the moment the Black Wind Domain met its destruction. The entire alliance relocated en masse, seizing one great domain after another.
"If that demonic willow is so powerful, aren't you all in grave danger?" Li Qing asked, his brow furrowing slightly.
Yan Xishan chuckled bitterly. "You're telling me! But after annihilating the Black Wind Domain, the demonic willow seemed to enter a strange slumber. It's been dormant for centuries now."
"Moreover, our Blood Martial Dynasty also venerates a Ji Ling. That's the foundation of our courage to remain rooted in this domain."
This revelation surprised Li Qing. He hadn't expected the Blood Martial Dynasty to venerate a Ji Ling.
He didn't press further. Since the situation seemed stable, there was no need for concern.
"Xi Shan, you've grown old," Li Qing remarked gently, his gaze softening as he noticed the graying temples of his disciple.
Then he asked, "By the way, where's that girl Lin Jing?"
Yan Xishan's expression froze slightly. With a bitter smile, he replied, "Master, Junior Sister Lin has been missing for over twenty years."
Li Qing's brow furrowed deeply. "What? Missing? What exactly happened?" he asked gravely.
"Ah, Master, you left for so many years. After the dynasty was established, Junior Sister Lin began searching the entire realm for your whereabouts."
"Over the years, she discovered numerous ancient ruins and relics, all remnants of the immortal dao from before the Red Moon Era."
"The texts we recovered from these sites revealed the key to Qi-Blood Embracing the Core, allowing us to advance to a new realm in vital energy martial dao. Because of this progress, I didn't stop Junior Sister Lin from continuing her search for ancient immortal dao relics."
Yan Xishan's gaze toward his master grew complex.
Now ruling three great domains, he was no longer the naive Martial Artist he once was. His understanding had deepened considerably.
After examining the ancient texts recovered from the immortal dao ruins, he had come to realize the true origins of his master.
"So Lin Jing disappeared while exploring these ancient immortal dao ruins?" Li Qing pressed.
Yan Xishan sighed.
"Yes, Junior Sister Lin's last known journey was to the Boundary River Domain. She hasn't returned to the Royal City in over twenty years."
"She said that Master would be very interested in the artifacts from these immortal dao ruins, so she wanted to collect as many as possible."
Li Qing's fist clenched unconsciously, his heart twisting with worry.
"The Boundary River Domain, you say? Tell me about it."
As his disciple had been missing for over two decades, it was only natural for him, as her master, to take action.
"The Boundary River Domain lies southwest of the Royal City. A wide, icy river flows through it, keeping the surrounding temperature extremely low. Yet the river never freezes, flowing ceaselessly year after year."
As Yan Xishan spoke, Li Qing gradually pieced together a mental image of the Boundary River Domain.
Over the years, Yan Xishan had repeatedly sent search parties to the Boundary River Domain to look for Lin Jing, but they had always returned empty-handed.
"A great river, cold as frost, flows ceaselessly through the entire domain."
Such a landscape could never have formed naturally. Li Qing believed the key to Lin Jing's disappearance lay with this very river.
Without hesitation, he decided to depart immediately for the Boundary River Domain to search for his disciple.
However, just outside the martial alliance headquarters, a grand procession of Martial Artists clad in golden armor approached.
"Junior Miao Tuo has come to pay his respects to Uncle Yan!"
The golden-armored warriors surrounded a young man with a dignified bearing. His posture was upright and imposing, his eyes radiating a sharp, piercing light. His entire aura resembled a gleaming, unsheathed sword, its edge so keen it was almost blinding.
A closer examination with divine sense would reveal that this man's vital energy was concentrated within his dantian, fused with his true qi into a perfectly round, crimson core.
Yes, this individual had already achieved Qi-Blood Embracing the Core, reaching the Martial Dao Unity Realm!
Upon hearing the request for an audience, Yan Xishan's brow furrowed slightly, but he still replied, "Your Highness, Crown Prince, forgive my lack of proper welcome!"
This man was the Crown Prince of the current dynasty, and barring any unforeseen circumstances, he would become the next ruler of the Blood Martial Dynasty.
"Hahaha, Uncle Yan, you're being too formal! I'm just a junior in your presence—how could I dare to blame you?"
With this confident voice, a young man in a gold-embroidered robe strode into the room.
The moment he saw Li Qing, a sharp battle intent flared in his eyes, and the restrained vital energy within him finally erupted.
Yan Xishan sighed, then scolded, "Crown Prince, put away your theatrics. As the Crown Prince, you should act like one. Stop trying to fight everyone you meet."
The Crown Prince ignored the reprimand, his gaze burning as he solemnly clasped his fists and bowed. "Junior Miao Tuo humbly requests guidance from the esteemed Dao Guardian!"
Li Qing cast an appreciative glance at the young man. He was indeed a promising martial talent—no wonder he had already reached the Martial Dao Unity Realm at such a young age.
(End of the Chapter)
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