Star Sky Professional

In the year 1137 of the Jiuzhou calendar, the Lotus Sage rebelled from the Great Black Temple, slaughtered the four great saint monks of the Buddhist Order, and shook the world!

In 1138, the Lotus Sage changed his name to 'Black Lotus Sage', established the 'Black Lotus Sect', worshipped the 'Panwu Supreme True Venerable', used demonic skills to control a large number of experts, and even recruited many black道 masters from the three teachings and nine schools, whose martial power would greatly increase once they joined.

The righteous path in the Martial World directly called the 'Black Lotus Sect' as 'Demon Sect'.

The Martial World gradually transitioned from the original nine factions' division to a state of conflict between the righteous and demonic forces…

In 1140, Manzhou fell, and the Great Black Temple was set ablaze…

In 1142, the Black Lotus Sage personally visited the Xuanyin Sect, broke the famous sword 'Yiqi' of the 'First Sword Under Heaven' Xuanyin Zi within a hundred moves, and using the 'Panwu Black Sky Technique', completely converted Xuanyin Zi through a mental attack, making him take vows on the spot and appointing him as the protector of the Black Lotus Sect, with Xuanyin Sect submitting entirely and being renamed 'Xuanyin Hall', serving as a subordinate hall of the Black Lotus Sect.

In 1145, the Black Lotus Sage was besieged by many Grandmasters from the Jianghu, including the Azure Dragon Leader and the Celestial Bird Sage, in a battle that lasted three days and nights, slaying three Great Grandmasters, earning the title of 'Half-Step Super Grade', and it was believed that the Black Lotus Sage would certainly ascend above the First Grade in the future, establishing a new realm in Martial Arts and unifying the world completely!

...

Time swiftly reached the year 1150.

Lingzhou, Hundred Herbs Hall.

"Alas… with the demonic army heading south, the tension is palpable."

Looking at the noticeably deserted street, Jiang Yu Yan couldn't help but sigh.

"Mother…"

Beside her, a ten-year-old boy with a tiger-like head, holding Jiang Yu Yan's hand: "I want a sugar figurine, where has Sugar Man Zhang gone?"

"That Sugar Man Zhang who sells sugar figurines? Seems like he got drafted into the army for war? His 'Flower Pinch Finger' martial arts weren't bad either… didn't expect he couldn't escape this fate."

"Now with the demonic army heading south, once they cross the Yellow Dragon River, they will establish dominance over the world…"

Jiang Yuyan's heart stirred, but she forced a smile on her face: "Be good, little Ao'er, your Uncle Zhang went home to visit family, Mother will buy you some pastries…"

She led her son back to the Hundred Herbs Hall.

In the backyard.

Old Xun with a head full of white hair was smoking a dry pipe, smiling as he watched Xun Heihu lie on the ground acting as a horse for a girl with a red ribbon in her hair, appearing to be only five or six years old.

"Biao'er, why are you like this again? What kind of behavior is this?"

Jiang Yu Yan was extremely frustrated.

"It's fine, it's fine… I enjoy it."

Xun Heihu stood up with a smile, his appearance unchanged from several years ago, leaving Jiang Yu Yan lost in thought for a moment.

She knew her husband had long secretly ascended to the realm of a Grandmaster above the Third Rank, allowing him to preserve this rare Taohua Garden amidst the great tide of the righteous and demonic war.

But with the demonic army heading south, such good days seemed soon to be gone forever.

At night.

In the study.

"Are you really going?"

Jiang Yu Yan looked at her husband.

"Of course I must go. If this battle is lost, the Martial World will be shrouded in darkness, and there will be no place for the righteous to stand."

Xun Heihu's voice was firm: "Your Five Beasts Sect will also be destroyed…"

"Honestly."

Jiang Yu Yan rolled her eyes, knowing her husband ran away directly before ever being admitted to the Five Beasts Sect, proving he wasn't such a righteous person!

"Alright…"

Xun Heihu scratched his head sheepishly: "I promised my master I must defeat those Panwu demon disciples… and they certainly won't spare me either."

Jiang Yu Yan pondered: "Indeed… that demonic army, as they headed south, have been burning, killing, and looting, they are indeed searching for someone or some inheritance, seems like it's you… I've never even seen your mysterious master."

"Don't worry, I'm quite confident in this endeavor, and I would hate to leave Biao'er and Ao'er behind…"

After comforting his wife, Xun Heihu paused for a moment, then entered the True Martial Talisman.

The space within the True Martial Talisman seemed much larger than before.

Fang Xing was sitting cross-legged at the top of the stone steps, looking at Xun Heihu: "Oh… our savior, the great hero, is finally ready to set out? After hiding for so long, it's time to let the world know, you, Xun Heihu, are not just the former number one on the Hidden Dragon List…"

The Hidden Dragon List ranks young masters under thirty, and Xun Heihu naturally dropped off after turning thirty.

Due to his low profile afterward with no notable achievements, he was seen as a 'child prodigy who may not achieve great things later'.

But in reality…

If he hadn't already broken through to become a Super Grade existence above the First Grade, how could Xun Heihu dare to act?

He's not foolish, even if the Black Lotus Sect unifies the world, if he hasn't cultivated to the extreme, he would certainly continue cultivating in seclusion.

"Reputation is unimportant. The life in the Hundred Herbs Hall is unimaginable enjoyment compared to my youth..."

Xun Heihu calmly said, "And... the Black Lotus Sect is unusual. Those Martial Artists appear especially fanatical and loyal after 'worshipping the gods'... even their Martial Arts greatly advance. Could this be the 'Panwu Pollution' you mentioned, senior?"

"If it were true pollution, the situation would be ten, even a hundred times worse," Fang Xing smiled. "Those god-worshipping Martial Artists are not to be concerned with—it's essentially 'secondary pollution'. Once the true source is resolved, they will collapse immediately... does it sound wonderful? The Demon Army, although tightly organized, has a fatal flaw. Once the 'core' is defeated, the Black Lotus Sect will immediately collapse... Cherish this, as in any slightly normal force, such a good thing doesn't exist."

Defeating the Demon King and the Demon Army collapsing on its own is always the beautiful fantasy of the brave. In reality, the second-in-command gets in place, and if he dies, there's always a third-in-command...

A mature power surely has more than one substitute.

However, the Black Lotus Sect is indeed very special. It was formed by pollution, or rather... the Black Lotus Superior is a 'signal tower' of pollution. Once destroyed, the Black Lotus Sect will immediately collapse.

"The source of pollution? The Black Lotus Superior?"

Xun Heihu sighed, "This person has at least the strength of half a step into Super Grade, maybe even broken through to Super Grade!"

"On the path of Martial Arts, Third Grade shatters mountains, Second Grade divine seas, First Grade undying... The so-called undying refers to the undying spirit, hence these First Grade experts are each Great Grandmasters in spirit, capable of locking souls across a thousand miles, sensing the call of their blood..."

Fang Xing said, "As for those above First Grade into Super Grade? You underestimate the suppression by the True Martial Talisman and the world, or rather... overestimate the Black Lotus Superior."

"Hearing you say this, I feel much more at ease."

Xun Heihu exhaled deeply. If he were a Grandmaster on the ranking list who fought his way up step by step, he would certainly want to battle with the world's number one.

But now he has a wife, children... with attachments in his heart, he certainly wishes for tranquility and smoothness.

"The core of the pollution must be the Black Lotus Superior... but if I resolve him, what will happen to those experts from the Black Lotus Sect?" Xun Heihu asked.

"Not much... they might experience mental chaos, depending on the depth of the demonic influence. Those too deeply affected will go mad... those lightly touched can be saved, though they will be in a poor state for some time... thus, you can impart them a 'visualization method'. I have named it the 'True Martial Visualization Map'. Observing this map, one can cultivate the spirit, temper the will... and somewhat increase the probability of breaking through to First Grade in Martial Arts, and of course, it has a calming effect on the mind."

Fang Xing said, "Xuanwu True Skill paired with the True Martial Visualization Map is the most suitable Cultivation Technique for the True Martial Saint Body within my True Martial lineage..."

"Speaking of the True Martial Saint Body... is it Biao'er? Why not Ao'er?"

Xun Heihu felt conflicted, after all, his son did not inherit his own Martial Arts talent but instead passed to his daughter...

"Isn't this something you know best yourself?"

Fang Xing lightly laughed, as a stream of light flew into Xun Heihu's forehead.

Xun Heihu was stunned, feeling an indescribably magnificent presence suddenly emerge in his Sea of Consciousness.

This presence was seated atop Xuanwu, draped in a Daoist robe, its face indistinct but vaguely resembling a senior.

"This visualization method has its risks as well. Those who learn it live, those who mimic me die... The true 'True Martial' can only have your own face. If it turns into my face, it's not going to be fun..."

Fang Xing's warning slowly echoed in Xun Heihu's ears, pulling him back to reality: "I... I'm already Super Grade, and yet I almost got lost... But the lines of that visualization map are infinitely profound, that if studied regularly, can indeed induce mental transformation and mastery of spiritual techniques... breaking through to the First Grade Undying Realm!"

"Alright, off you go."

Fang Xing waved his hand, ejecting Xun Heihu from the space, with a trace of anticipation in his eyes.

"The world... has shifted once again..."

He imparted the 'True Martial Visualization Method' mainly to save those god-worshippers.

But in reality...

Visualizing the True Martial itself is also a correct path of visualization, and even faster, stronger!

It's just that if one accidentally goes astray, they may also become a puppet of the True Martial...

"After so long, from not being able to perceive the True Martial Talisman outside, to seeing clearly outside of it... to this moment, although unable to move the True Martial Talisman by my own power, having a group of 'Martial Servants' is about the same..."

"If truly someone goes to the extreme of demonic possession and experiences the essence of True Martial, perhaps then... I could go out for a walk."

Fang Xing held cautious anticipation about this.

After all, according to his simulation and deduction, geniuses like this probably aren't seen even once in several eras, and the chances of going astray are even smaller.

But matters of this world are inherently unpredictable, and time is the best magic...

"Let's consider this a strategic move."

Fang Xing felt no remorse for potentially corrupting some future genius Martial Artist.

This world is all part of him.

Controlling a cell with his spirit—is that corruption? No, it's keeping resources from flowing to outsiders!

"I am one, and also many..."

"The entanglement with Panwu will last a long time..."

Fang Xing's gaze was distant: "Panwu has only leaked a bit of pollution, it seems it is also setting pieces... similarly placing hope in the future..."

The origin of this world is strong!

Now it's merely in its infancy, yet it will continue to expand!

The future era will certainly be exciting!