The Path of the Martial Arts BOSS

The external world was tumultuous, but Qing Yu had guessed as much and had long since stopped caring.

In this world, strength ultimately speaks loudest. With sufficient power, solutions are never lacking.

Time passed swiftly, much like a fleeting steed. In the blink of an eye, another Mid-Autumn Festival arrived. It had been nearly a year since Qing Yu began his seclusion.

During this year, Qing Yu practiced day and night and was finally nearing the end of his closed-door cultivation.

One day, the Dragon Essence in his hands, which resembled a miniature sun, finally extinguished all its brilliance, dissolving into nothingness.

This resulted in Qing Yu possessing an unparalleled power.

"Golden Core ninth revolution, it has cost so much," Qing Yu, feeling the surging True Qi inside him, expressed with a hint of sentiment.

Even he hadn't expected the ninth revolution of the Golden Core to take so much time. Even with the help of Dragon Essence, Xuan Yin Sword Energy, and the Heavenly Giant Statue, it wasn't until today that he achieved it.

Moreover, due to the special nature of Qing Yu's cultivation body, he had completely absorbed the Dragon Essence to reach the Peak of the True Pill Realm.

Of course, this energy would not be wasted. Qing Yu could feel that his strength had now completely surpassed the True Pill Realm, and in terms of the amount of True Qi, he was as strong as those in the Divinity Realm.

"Ding, congratulations to the host, your power has reached the Peak of the True Pill Realm, the guardian BOSS appears..."

A golden Character Card, emitting seven-colored light, spun in front of his eyes and finally stopped, revealing the front side with a white-haired middle-aged man who wore a teasing smile.

He had white hair, eyebrows, and beard, with a green gem adhering to his brow, looking very aged yet possessing a face and skin quality that mismatched his dignified presence.

Name: Emperor Shitian

Realm: True Pill Realm

Item: Phoenix Blood

Martial Arts: "Sacred Heart Technique", "All Swords Return to the Sect", "Snow Blood Claw", "Seven Absolute Desolate", "Iron Refining Hand"

Evaluation: I am god!

"It's Xu Fu, this joker," Qing Yu said with interest as he looked at the Character Card. "System, Xu Fu's power should have already surpassed the True Pill, calling it Divinity wouldn't be an exaggeration, right? Is this still considered Divinity?"

Leading a reckless life, Emperor Shitian almost ruined himself. But before his reckless act became overwhelming, his strength was awe-inspiring.

Sealed Emperor's Shadow, Frozen Tsunami Tornado, "All Swords Return to the Sect" overwhelming Wuming, "Seven Absolute Desolate" breaking "Maha Unlimited", single-handedly defeating the righteousness gentry at Wu Huang Mountain.

Although someone later often defeated Emperor Shitian, fiercely trampling on him, it wasn't because Emperor Shitian was weak, but rather it was fate (as written by the author).

In fact, Lao Ma's handling of Emperor Shitian's end was quite rough, directly weakening his intelligence and power, preventing him from using his various divine skills from earlier on and almost driving him out forcefully.

Thus, although Qing Yu mocked, he still highly regarded Emperor Shitian's strength. Especially now, as he had stripped himself of Xuan Yin Sword Energy, he couldn't easily overpower Emperor Shitian.

"Host, your power should have also surpassed the True Pill, but aren't you still at the True Pill yourself?" the system retorted.

"When Emperor Shitian took Phoenix Blood, his strength was too low to refine it. He only merged and achieved a body not weaker than Divinity."

"Understood," Qing Yu nodded.

Qing Yu had now reached the threshold to ascend to Divinity and was well aware of the basic strict requirements for ascending to God.

Advancing from True Pill to Divinity meant shattering the True Pill, completely merging body, Qi, and spirit so that Qi and spirit permeate every cell of the body, ensuring recovery as long as a breath remains.

Even if one's limbs were severed or the body was damaged, it wouldn't be a problem. The only difference would be the length of recovery time.

It's said that when reaching the realm of the Supreme, the Primordial Spirit can survive independently (preventing harmony), and even if the body (preventing harmony) perishes, the Primordial Spirit can seize a new body to live another life.

Because Emperor Shitian consumed Phoenix Blood, he obtained a life force at his vulnerable time, not inferior to those in the Divinity Realm, and soared in status. While this was a great opportunity, it was also a great calamity.

When advancing to Divinity from True Pill, Emperor Shitian tasted the bitter fruit of not being able to refine Phoenix Blood.

His entire power originated from Phoenix Blood; not being a naturally gifted martial artist, despite using his millennium of wisdom to create numerous peerless martial arts, he couldn't address his fundamental issues.

The formidable power of the Phoenix Blood meant that Qi and spirit could not completely merge into his body; though possessing a body not inferior to Divinity's, it wasn't really Emperor Shitian's body, but rather that of Phoenix Blood.

If he truly could have refined the Phoenix Blood, he wouldn't need to use the Five Thunders Transmutation Hand to refine the Phoenix Blood and then devour Dragon Essence.

"However, if Emperor Shitian can truly endure, and if I cannot gain an advantage in the upcoming great calamity, it's not impossible to emulate him."

Qing Yu had already refined the Dragon Essence, theoretically granting him an immortal life. Although whether this lifespan was genuinely without limits was still questionable, living a few thousand years was certainly feasible.

After a few thousand years, Qing Yu could ascend to the level of Buddha or ancestor.

But, was everything really as wonderful as it seemed?

Qing Yu slowly furrowed his brow. "What's going on? Why is my lifespan only five hundred years?"

Qing Yu had just used the Heavenly Mechanism Divination Skill to calculate his remaining lifespan, only to discover he had about four hundred seventy years left, totalizing at five hundred years.

This was a sign of the True Pill Realm but also a starting point for the God Realm. The longevity in the God Realm is at least five hundred years, while the True Pill Realm-maximum is five hundred years.

This isn't normal...

Qing Yu continued to calculate through Divination Skills, finding that no matter what, his lifespan stopped at five hundred. This wasn't due to a lack of life force; instead, it was an invisible restriction, placing a limit on Qing Yu's lifespan as determined by fate.

"It stops precisely at five hundred, which likely isn't a restriction unique to me only but to... everyone in the world..."

The world has never lacked methods to extend one's lifespan. For example, the martial arts of the Blood Demon Sect allow one to extract others' essence blood to replenish one's life force when practiced to an advanced level.

But throughout history, no one using the Blood Demon Sect's martial arts has lived beyond a thousand years. If eternal life was possible with the Blood Path, even if the Blood Demon Sect was exceedingly evil, it would become a holy sect revered by all.

Thus, this wasn't a problem of life force. With Qing Yu's current life force, even if his realm didn't advance further, he should still be able to live for over a thousand years. However, that invisible restriction would cause him to face death at the age of five hundred.

This wasn't due to human insufficiency but rather—Heaven's Will.

"It seems the option of clinging to life must be crossed out..." Qing Yu shook his head and sighed.

"If that's the case, my plans moving forward will also need some adjustments."

He had thought that even if things didn't work out, he would still achieve immortality, firmly grasping victory in his hand. But now, Qing Yu discovered that in this world, taking Dragon Essence to extend life would not be very effective.

Since this was the case with Dragon Essence, it would likely be no different with Phoenix Blood.

Therefore, the path forward also needed some adjustments.