Human Clan Defender

In the star-scape,

countless stars floated about, some dazzling and others dim in color.

Among these many stars, a smaller one was moving about.

When it approached a certain star, the smaller star hesitated for a moment but then veered away.

No, this one is too bright. It might belong to a powerful being whose True Intent I may not be able to overcome. I need to keep looking for another.

This one is too dim.

No, this won't do—

Shen Changqing had now taken the form of a small star, shuttling back and forth in the star-scape, searching for the right star to enter.

Zhong Ning had only taught him the method to discern whether he could enter a star but not how to determine a star's strength.

Because of this, he could only make general guesses based on the brightness and color of the stars.

If the True Intent within a star was too strong, it would not only be ineffective for understanding True Intent but could also damage his spirit.

Therefore, Shen Changqing had to find a True Intent that was right for him.

He couldn't afford to end his first venture with failure.

Gradually, after wandering the star-scape for a long time, he suddenly felt mentally exhausted.

It seems that just by having my Divine Sense within the Jade Wall, there is constant consumption. I can't delay any longer; I must find a star to enter! If my spirit were to be completely drained, I would be forced out of the Jade Wall, wasting precious time.

With that in mind, Shen Changqing stopped his aimless search and crashed directly into a star that was neither too bright nor too dim.

In an instant, the scenery transformed.

The two stars collided, one seemingly devouring the other, leaving only one star in the space.

However, what was different was that a faint blood-light emanated from the remaining star.

「Elsewhere,」

within a void, a middle-aged powerful figure stood with arms behind his back, his formidable aura sweeping in like a god of Heaven and Earth, inspiring involuntary awe in those who felt it.

On the other side of the void, the Bloody Iron Cavalry appeared.

At first glance, there were tens of thousands of cavalrymen, their momentum astonishing.

But what was different was that while the middle-aged expert appeared solid, the Bloody Iron Cavalry seemed to be much more ethereal.

At this moment, Shen Changqing's spirit had fully adopted the form of the Bloody Iron Cavalry, akin to ten thousand cavaliers united as a whole, controlled by his will, and charging directly towards the middle-aged expert.

The Iron Cavalry rode across the void.

Like messengers of destruction, blood spread through the void.

"Destroy!"

The middle-aged expert uttered a single word, stood still, and sent out a direct punch.

One punch! Heaven and earth shattered!

In that moment, it was as though mountains collapsed and rivers ceased to flow, the void itself caving in.

BOOM—

The Bloody Iron Cavalry burst apart.

Despite their numbers, they were no match for the middle-aged expert.

「—」

Outside the Jade Wall, Shen Changqing, who had been seated in meditation, jolted as his normally healthy complexion turned deathly pale.

Opening his eyes, a feeling of lingering fear welled up within him.

Immediately after, a headache as if his head was about to explode swept over him, drenching his forehead with cold sweat.

His body shivered and convulsed.

Shen Changqing clenched his teeth tightly, enduring the overwhelming pain that made him want to bang his head against the wall.

After a short while, the pain subsided significantly; it was still uncomfortable, but not so bad that he couldn't stand up as he had been unable to moments before.

"First time, huh?" a teasing voice sounded beside him, tinged with laughter.

Shen Changqing turned his somewhat pale face and saw that the elder who had been sitting cross-legged was looking at him with interest.

"Who might you be?"

While the elder's aura did not seem strong, the vitality coursing through him clearly told Shen Changqing that this was an extraordinarily powerful being.

Upon hearing the question, the elder chuckled, "My surname is Di, and my given name is Qiu. I'm somewhat of an old-timer here in the Martial Hall. Seeing that you're unfamiliar, you must have just joined the Martial Hall, right?"

"Indeed, I am Shen Changqing. I greet you, senior!"

"Senior is too much; I just joined the Martial Hall a bit sooner than you," Di Qiu said casually, waving his hand.

Then, he looked at Shen Changqing's pale face and kindly reminded him,

"Comprehending True Intent in the Jade Wall is good, but it can also cause tremendous spiritual depletion. Frankly, the True Intents left within are mostly at the second stage of the Spiritual System, and there aren't many that are still at the first stage.

"If you haven't reached the second stage, trying to comprehend True Intent in the Jade Wall will put you at a disadvantage."

"Could it be that the powerful beings who left their True Intent inside the Jade Wall are mostly at the level of True Intent Manifestation?" Shen Changqing asked, puzzled.

The person before him was clearly very experienced.

Di Qiu first nodded, then shook his head. "You're right, yet also not quite. Let's put it this way: those who have just entered the Jade Wall are mostly beginners in the Spiritual System and are at a stage of Cultivating True Intent, but the powerhouses who follow will grow.

"At first, it's about Cultivating True Intent, and later it becomes True Intent Manifestation."

After speaking, Di Qiu paused, as if fearing Shen Changqing might not understand, and then switched to another way of explaining.

"It's like you've just entered the Jade Wall. The Jade Wall has already recorded your True Intent, and the next time you enter the Jade Wall, it will record your True Intent again.

"Because it's the same person, the stronger True Intent will override the weaker one.

"If you break through to the phase of True Intent Manifestation and then enter the Jade Wall, the record of your True Intent in the Jade Wall will inevitably be of the True Intent Manifestation level, rather than just Cultivating True Intent."

Hearing this, Shen Changqing finally understood completely.

The strength of the True Intent within the Jade Wall was determined by the Martial Artist's most recent entry.

A Martial Artist who had just entered the Jade Wall might not be strong, but as they grew stronger later on, their True Intent would also become more powerful.

Then, he stood up, cupped his fist towards Di Qiu, and asked,

"May I ask Senior, is there a way to differentiate the strength of True Intent within the Jade Wall?"

If he could tell the strength, he could avoid some powerful True Intents and then seek out weaker ones to devour. By doing so, his own comprehension of True Intent would steadily improve.

Upon hearing this, Di Qiu shook his head very directly, "No, the True Intents within the Jade Wall all appear as stars; without fully engaging, it's impossible to discern levels of strength. It's all down to luck with each entry.

"But if you're strong enough to sweep across all the True Intent in the Jade Wall, then you wouldn't have such concerns."

At this point, he laughed again.

"If you really reach that step, perhaps you won't need the Jade Wall anymore. After all, to my knowledge, the strongest True Intent contained within the Jade Wall belongs to Grandmasters who have reached the pinnacle of the Spiritual System.

"Such powerhouses, if they wish to crush others, I'm afraid, must have already broken through the human body's limits."

After speaking, Di Qiu shook his head helplessly.

He had been pursuing the limits of the human body for many years but had never had a chance to break through.

He felt that even if he exhausted his entire life's effort, he might still be unable to reach this realm.

The pinnacle of the Spiritual System!

Shen Changqing's eyes flickered. He was no longer the novice he had been upon his initial breakthrough to Grandmaster, and he had gained some understanding of the two major systems.

In the beginning, the Spiritual System was entirely no match for the Physical System.

But the ultimate goal of the Spiritual System was in no way weaker than the pinnacle of the Physical System.

"May I ask Senior, just how powerful is the pinnacle of the Spiritual System?"

How strong?

Di Qiu was stumped by this question. He pondered for a moment, then gave an answer.

"Let me put it this way: if there's a Grandmaster who has just entered the Spiritual System, a powerhouse at the pinnacle of the Spiritual System would only need a sweep of their Divine Sense to kill that Grandmaster. And if facing Martial Artists who have not entered the Spiritual System, they could kill a swath of them even more easily.

"For an existence at that realm, to stand alone against ten thousand soldiers is effortless.

"During the chaotic wars of Great Qin in the past, there once was a pinnacle Spiritual System powerhouse who took action; with one thought, they obliterated a myriad of soldiers and deterred the Eight Desolations."

"If the apex of the Physical System is described as possessing unparalleled combat prowess, then a powerhouse at the pinnacle of the Spiritual System, one person acting as an army—that is the truly unrivaled existence."

In just a few words, Di Qiu described the power of the pinnacle of the Spiritual System.

A thought to annihilate an army.

Shen Changqing, reflecting on his own achievements of slaying the Barbarian Clan General amidst the encirclement of the Barbarian Clan Army, felt that his own deeds were somewhat child's play in comparison.

"Currently within the Hidden Heart Pavilion, are there any powerhouses at the pinnacle of the Spiritual System?"

"Yes!" Di Qiu nodded.

"The Martial Hall Master is rumored to be an existence at the pinnacle of the Spiritual System, and the other Pavilion Masters of Hidden Heart Pavilion are also formidable beings. Though I cannot be certain what specific stage they're at, they are likely not weaker than the Martial Hall Master."

The Martial Hall Master!

Shen Changqing had heard of this existence more than once, but it was from Di Qiu that he truly understood the other party's strength.

Upon further contemplation, it was indeed so.

The Martial Hall itself was so powerful; how could the one who became the Martial Hall Master be weak?

"I wonder, compared to the Defender Envoy, who is more powerful?"

"Hey, a regular Defender Envoy is naturally no worry for the Pavilion Master," Di Qiu chuckled knowingly.

Hearing this, Shen Changqing gained a rough estimate of the strength of a Defender Envoy.

A regular Defender Envoy. Stronger than a regular Grandmaster, roughly equivalent to a powerhouse at the pinnacle of a major system. But there was another implication in Di Qiu's words: that there were more powerful Defender Envoys, ones far stronger than the Martial Hall Master.

"What is the name of the Martial Hall Master?"

"Not sure. The Pavilion Master comes and goes without a trace; probably only the Elders know the Pavilion Master's real name."

Di Qiu shook his head, then looked at Shen Changqing with a gentle smile on his aged face.

"I've had quite a chat with you today, little friend. Another day when we have the chance, let's have a good heart-to-heart talk. At such a young age, you've entered the Physical System; your talent and understanding in the Martial Dao are formidable. I imagine you also have quite a few unique insights into Martial Arts.

"It's just that I have other matters to attend to now, so I will take my leave."

After cupping his fists, this self-proclaimed old man of the Martial Hall departed.

Shen Changqing stood on the spot, composing himself. He glanced at the Jade Wall and then left the place as well.