Soul Emperor Martial God

Xiao Yi asked himself, he was no longer the novice of the past.

Not to mention that every county has a Sky-splitting Sword Sect.

Just the Sky-splitting Sword Sect alone, if it truly were the Martial Arts Holy Land of the entire Flame Martial Kingdom, then why had he never heard of it.

"Sky-splitting Sword Sect?" Xiao Yi's brows furrowed even more tightly.

The Great Elder seemed to have anticipated Xiao Yi's expression and said with a smile, "Shiyi and I were once disciples of the Sky-splitting Sword Sect."

"As for your lack of knowledge, no, to be precise, the entire Northern Mountain County is unaware."

"Because, our Sky-splitting Sword Sect and the Northern Mountain County King have been cooperating to seal off this information for many years."

"Apart from the bigwigs of major forces who might still gossip about this, no one else brings it up."

"Why seal it off?" Xiao Yi asked.

A trace of resentment and bitterness surged on the Great Elder's face.

"Because our Northern Mountain County's Sky-splitting Sword Sect is the weakest among all the sword sects in the counties."

"The other branches simply look down on us and have even isolated us. There has been no interaction for many years."

"Together with Northern Mountain County, we are seen as the weakest of the thirty-six counties, reduced to a laughingstock."

"One day, filled with rage, the Commandery Prince and I simply sealed off all these messages, breaking off relations with them."

"If they look down on us, we don't need to beg for the attention of their respective branches."

"The weakest one?" Xiao Yi frowned as he thought.

He remembered the previous refining competition.

Just speaking of refining, Ye Ming was almost the strongest among the younger generation in Northern Mountain County.

Yet, compared to the refining geniuses of other counties, he was so inadequate, not able to compete at all.

He also remembered something Zhou Long had said,

"Your Northern Mountain County's Sky-splitting Sword Sect is so useless, might as well close its doors early and disband."

Now thinking back, Zhou Long's words meant that Northern Mountain County's Sky-splitting Sword Sect could not compare with the Sword Sects of other counties.

"What exactly happened to Sky-splitting Sword Sect?" Xiao Yi asked solemnly.

"I have seen geniuses from other counties, and speaking of talent, they are not particularly extraordinary."

"Why is there such a huge gap between our sect and the other branches?"

"Sigh." The Great Elder let out a heavy sigh and continued, "Isn't it all because of the Extreme Boundary Stele?"

The Great Elder suddenly fell silent, as if deep in thought.

Xiao Yi did not disturb him with words but waited quietly.

After a long while, the Great Elder continued, "There is only one requirement for disciples of the Sky-splitting Sword Sect from each county to enter the Sky-splitting Sword Sect."

"That is to comprehend the Sect Inheritance Stele to more than ten percent."

"..."

The Great Elder explained slowly, and Xiao Yi also began to understand.

The so-called Sect Inheritance Stele is the most powerful Martial Arts Stele within the sect.

Originally, the Inheritance Steles of each branch were just Origin World Steles.

They were all left behind by Heavenly Origin Realm Martial Artists who had emerged from each branch in the past.

Only the Northern Mountain County's Sky-splitting Sword Sect produced a monster like the Sky-splitting Sword Demon, leaving behind an Extreme Boundary Stele.

The Martial Arts Realms are Mortal Realm, Postnatal, Innate, Mysterious Profundity, Mystic Breakthrough, Earth Origin, Heavenly Origin, Earth Extreme, Heavenly Extreme.

Although Heavenly Origin and Earth Extreme are only a Great Realm apart,

in reality, Earth Extreme represents Martial Artists who have stepped into the Extreme Realm, and compared to Heavenly Origin, it is an existence of another category entirely.

Thus, comprehending an Origin World Stele is achievable for a general genius.

But to comprehend the Extreme Boundary Stele, it's impossible unless one is a Sword Dao genius.

Even for a Sword Dao genius, the difficulty is extraordinary.

Each generation, other counties' Sky-splitting Sword Sects have disciples who comprehend a hundred percent of the Origin World Stele, becoming Sword Masters.

Every generation's ten Chief Disciples of the Inner Sect can comprehend over ten percent and enter the Sky-splitting Sword Sect.

Only the Northern Mountain County's Sky-splitting Sword Sect has not produced a Sword Master in hundreds of years.

Each generation, only two or three people manage to comprehend over ten percent of the Extreme Boundary Stele and enter the Sky-splitting Sword Sect.

By the generation of the Great Elder and Elder Yi,

only the two of them were able to go.

These disciples who entered the Sword Sect could choose to stay in the Sword Sect when they grew old or return to their own county's Sword Sect to become Sect Leaders or Elders.

One can imagine, every generation in each county, there would be a large group of outstanding powerful Martial Artists returning to their sect to teach their disciples.

Only the Northern Mountain County's Sky-splitting Sword Sect was on a generational decline.

To put it simply, if the old are not strong, how can they teach the young?

At this point, the Great Elder also sighed with regret.

"The Elders of other counties' Sky-splitting Sword Sects are at least at the Earth Origin Realm, with Martial Arts Knowledge far surpassing ours."

"And the Elders of our Northern Mountain County's Sky-splitting Sword Sect, except for me at Earth Origin Realm, the others are all at Mystic Breakthrough Realm, how can they compete with others."

"In fact, the aptitude of Ye Ming, Miao Qianhuo, Yui Rulong, and the others isn't bad at all."

"It's just... alas, it's us elders who are of no use."

Great Elder and Elder Yi were the ones who, in their youth, successfully comprehended the Extreme Boundary Stele and went to the Sky-splitting Sword Sect.

While Sword Hall Elders, Third Elder, and others grew old and significantly increased their Cultivation before they could comprehend a bit of it, they weren't qualified to enter the Sect.

"As far as I know, Great Elder comprehended three-tenths of the Extreme Boundary Stele," Xiao Yi asked, "Then what about Elder Yi?"

Xiao Yi had once probed Elder Yi and knew that Elder Yi had definitely comprehended more than five-tenths of the Extreme Boundary Stele.

But as for the exact amount, he didn't know.

Great Elder revealed an embarrassed expression and said, "Before entering the Sword Sect, I had only comprehended one-tenth; after coming back from the Sword Sect to the Sword Sect, my Cultivation soared, and I finally comprehended three-tenths."

"Rather, it is Shiyi."

Great Elder suddenly smiled, "Before entering the Sword Sect, he had already comprehended seven-tenths."

"He told me that he could have fully comprehended it, but he just didn't want to."

"Young Shiyi was extremely arrogant."

"He said he had his own Sword Dao. Having comprehended seven-tenths of the domineering Sword Technique on the Extreme Boundary Stele was enough for him."

"If he continued to comprehend, it would affect his own Sword Dao, so he stopped."

"Heh," Xiao Yi smiled faintly, he could imagine that the young Elder Yi, with his dual mastery in both alchemy and Sword Dao, must have been an exceptionally proud person.

"With Elder Yi's abilities, teaching a disciple wouldn't be any worse than the Sword Sect elders from other counties, right?" Xiao Yi asked.

"This is exactly the point," Great Elder suddenly restrained his smile.

"This is also one of the reasons why I'm telling you all this today."

"Back then, Shiyi was a prominent figure even after entering the Sky-splitting Sword Sect."

"After cultivating in the Sword Sect for over ten years, he was already a formidable martial artist who could stand on his own."

"Later, he took on a disciple."

"This disciple was extraordinarily talented and gifted, and Shiyi loved him very much."

"Unfortunately, this monstrous disciple... alas, let's not talk about it."

"Anyway, Shiyi changed dramatically because of this and even left the Sword Sect to wander the world."

"He drifted for five full years before he returned to Northern Mountain County and the Sword Sect."

"After his return, the once extremely arrogant Shiyi had become reticent. He no longer took disciples, at most he would provide guidance when he had free time."

In other words, the ones who truly taught the disciples were still Great Elder and the other elders.

Xiao Yi had never expected the Sky-splitting Sword Sect of Northern Mountain County to have undergone so many changes.

The weakest of the thirty-six counties, Northern Mountain County.

The weakest among the thirty-six sects, the Sky-splitting Sword Sect.

The Extreme Boundary Stele, which had turned out to be a curse rather than a blessing.

It had rendered the Sky-splitting Sword Sect weaker with each generation, and the number of disciples eligible for the Sword Sect had been decreasing evermore.

It had even led Great Elder and the Northern Mountain County King to jointly seal the news.

So as not to let the word 'weakest' become a shadow over the heads of the martial artists of Northern Mountain County.

"Now, do you understand why I chose to favor Guu Changkong?" Great Elder asked.

"In the entire Sword Sect, he's the only one who has comprehended one-tenth of the Extreme Boundary Stele."

"He's also the only one who is qualified to go to the Sky-splitting Sword Sect."

"If you died, and he died too, there would be no one of this generation in the Sky-splitting Sword Sect who could enter the Sword Sect."

"In time, when we old fellows pass away, the Sky-splitting Sword Sect of Northern Mountain County will be finished."

Xiao Yi nodded.

The elders naturally prioritized the interests of the Sword Sect.

Take Great Elder for example, he and Elder Yi were the only ones who had entered the Sword Sect for a decade or more; their camaraderie was naturally deeper than that of the other elders.

Having Elder Yi leave in anger was quite distressing for Great Elder as well.

"Huh?" Xiao Yi suddenly remembered something and hurriedly asked, "Great Elder seems to have not told me about Elder Yi's whereabouts, as well as the reason for telling me all this today."

Great Elder replied, "Before Shiyi left, he didn't tell me where he went."

"But I suspect he must have gone to the Royal Capital, he has many close friends there."

"The reason I'm telling you so much today is that in half a year, it will be the day the Sky-splitting Sword Sect opens its doors for disciple recruitment."

"Half a year from now?" Xiao Yi understood.

No wonder the whole Sword Sect's competition was brought forward, so the more important matter Elder Yi had mentioned was the day the Sky-splitting Sword Sect would recruit disciples.

Great Elder continued, "You need to decide whether to go to the Sky-splitting Sword Sect."

"Because that monstrous disciple of Shiyi is now in the Sky-splitting Sword Sect, and he's not just any disciple."

"Besides, Shiyi has many friends and many enemies in the Royal Capital."

"You have to think carefully about whether or not to go. Being his disciple, you won't have an easy time there."

"No need to think, I'm definitely going to the Sky-splitting Sword Sect," Xiao Yi said resolutely, without hesitation.

...

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The second update.