Soul Emperor Martial God

In the dwelling, Xiao Yi sat cross-legged, beginning his cultivation.

He wouldn't let any cultivation time slip by.

After a while, he frowned and opened his eyes.

"Why are you looking at me?" Xiao Yi asked, puzzled, glancing at Zhang Nanfeng beside him.

Zhang Nanfeng was staring at Xiao Yi.

Zhang Nanfeng, one of the twelve who had previously passed the Xuan Lock Chain together, was also a Body Cultivation Martial Artist.

Xiao Yi glanced at him, initially thinking they were about the same age.

Upon closer inspection, he seemed younger than Xiao Yi.

"Senior Brother Xiao Yi." Zhang Nanfeng chuckled, wanting to say something.

"Hold it." Xiao Yi interrupted, "We're both just disciples."

Zhang Nanfeng said with a smile, "But you're older than me, so calling you 'Senior Brother' is proper."

"How old are you?" Xiao Yi asked.

"21, oh no, to be exact, 20 years and 8 months," Zhang Nanfeng answered.

"I didn't calculate it so precisely myself; it was the Academic Palace staff who told me during the assessment."

"Heh." Xiao Yi smiled faintly.

Indeed, the Heavenly Hidden Academy harbored hidden talents.

Moreover, each of the ten thousand disciples had their unique abilities.

The Heavenly Hidden Academy was not falsely reputed as a haven for famous Martial Arts.

This Zhang Nanfeng, surprisingly, was two years younger than me, yet he had already reached the Heavenly Extreme Seventh Layer in cultivation—quite impressive.

"Are you also a Sword Dao Practitioner?" Xiao Yi asked with interest.

In his memory, Zhang Nanfeng did not use swordsmanship when he passed the Xuan Lock Chain; rather, he managed it through Body Cultivation methods.

"Yes." Zhang Nanfeng nodded.

"Like you, Senior Brother Xiao Yi, I am both a Sword Dao Practitioner and a Body Cultivation Martial Artist."

"However, I find Body Cultivation more formidable and thrilling in combat, with every punch stirring up one's blood."

"Thus, I've devoted more effort to Body Cultivation, and my Sword Dao practice is somewhat weaker."

"When I passed the Xuan Lock Chain earlier, naturally, I showcased my true skills using Body Cultivation means."

"Then why did you choose Heavenly Sword Peak?" Xiao Yi asked, puzzled.

"As far as I know, among the Twelve Peaks, one peak is dedicated to cultivating physical strength."

"Tianxuan Peak is also good; Tianxuan Peak encompasses everything, with experts teaching in this realm too."

"Contrarily, Heavenly Sword Peak here specializes in Sword Dao."

"Hehe." Zhang Nanfeng scratched his head, embarrassed, "I just followed because you, Senior Brother Xiao Yi, chose Heavenly Sword Peak."

"What does that have to do with me?" Xiao Yi frowned.

Zhang Nanfeng chuckled, "I think, Senior Brother Xiao Yi, you have such formidable strength even at the Heavenly Extreme Fourth Layer of cultivation."

"You certainly possess some qualities far beyond mine."

"For instance, intuition or the choices in Martial Arts cultivation paths and so on."

"So I trust you."

"Most importantly, you're like me—a Sword Dao Practitioner and a Body Cultivation Martial Artist."

"Even if you're at the Heavenly Extreme Fourth Layer, you have such strength; if I employ methods similar to yours in the future, with my cultivation far surpassing yours, how strong will I be then?"

"It should be easy to defeat someone as arrogant as Sikong Yu, right?"

Upon hearing this, Xiao Yi was left speechless.

Zhang Nanfeng laughed and said, "In short, I'll follow Senior Brother Xiao Yi from now on."

"Since we cultivate the same Martial Arts path, following you wouldn't go wrong."

"You..." Xiao Yi was momentarily speechless.

After a while, he shook his head and smiled helplessly.

For some reason, looking at this young man Zhang Nanfeng, Xiao Yi suddenly remembered Zhou Ziyang from back when he was part of the Flame Martial Guard, always following him around and asking questions.

"By the way, where do you come from?" Xiao Yi suddenly asked.

The other eleven who passed the Xuan Lock Chain with him were exceptional, each owning a Holy Artifact.

Figures like Sikong Yu and Fang Shushu all hailed from major powers.

"Me?" Zhang Nanfeng's gaze dimmed, "I don't know either."

"Perhaps I'm just from an ordinary family in a small town."

"Hmm?" Xiao Yi frowned.

Zhang Nanfeng laughed self-deprecatingly, "When I was born, my dad had already disappeared somewhere."

"My mom raised me alone, but she was just a normal Martial Artist of the Innate Realm, though to me, she was the most powerful person."

"From what my mom and the neighbors say, my dad was quite a formidable fighter."

"However, he abandoned us, mother and child, which doesn't make him a good man."

"If he hadn't left me a heap of good things, I wouldn't acknowledge him."

"Five years ago, I left home and ventured around, cultivating. I happened to hear that Heavenly Hidden Academy was recruiting disciples a few months ago, so I came."

Xiao Yi smiled and said, "Did you leave home specifically to find your dad?"

"Yes." Zhang Nanfeng nodded, "I want to improve my cultivation and strength, and simultaneously look for him."

"When my strength is sufficiently strong, upon finding him, I must ask him why he abandoned us for twenty years without returning—so heartless."

"Perhaps he might be entangled by some troubles." Xiao Yi said softly.

"Forget it, let's not talk about him." Zhang Nanfeng shook his head, "How about you, Senior Brother Xiao Yi? Where do you come from?"

"What sort of people are your parents?"

"Why so nosy?" Xiao Yi glared at him.

Zhang Nanfeng smiled, "Well, we're from the same peak and living under the same roof."

"In the future, while we cultivate Martial Arts on this Heavenly Sword Peak, we'll likely be interacting for tens of years, so naturally, I'd like to ask."

"Heh." Xiao Yi smiled gently and did not answer.

Speaking of which, he almost forgot about his promise to the Xiao Family elders to find Xiao Chenfeng.

However, he always carried Xiao Chenfeng's Soul Jade, and it hadn't shown any abnormality.

Thinking about it, Xiao Chenfeng should be alive and well.

However, Xiao Yi didn't know how to find him; this Central Region was too vast.

The most important thing is...

For some reason, he constantly felt that the aura belonging to Xiao Chenfeng on the Soul Jade was getting further away.

"Forget it." Xiao Yi thought for a moment and murmured to himself.

The person he wanted to find was still unfound; the person he wanted to save was still unsaved.

For now, he didn't have the leisure to consider anything else.

If fate allowed, they might cross paths; otherwise, overthinking now was useless.

"Don't ask any more, just cultivate." Xiao Yi said, glancing at Zhang Nanfeng.

"By the way, don't neglect your Sword Dao practice."

"Although Body Cultivation Martial Artists can overpower all professions, in Martial Arts cultivation, regarding the Sword Dao, I don't share the same view."

"Sword Dao is the path most adept in combat, the strongest in battle strength."

"Of course, even if my perspective is incorrect."

"Sword Dao Practitioners possess the most steadfast Dao Heart, known as the Sword Heart."

"With a strong Dao Heart, regardless of the profession you practice, it should be an easy path, which is always good."

"Thank you, Senior Brother Xiao Yi, for your guidance." Zhang Nanfeng bowed slightly.

"It's not guidance, just a reminder." Xiao Yi said flatly.

...

Third update.