Chapter 256 - 254: Merger

Immortal Master Xia had only heard of it in rumors and had never been to such a distant place.After listening to Immortal Master Xia’s explanation, Lou Yi’s expression became somewhat serious.

According to the Immortal Master, the world across the Longjiang River is far more dangerous than he had imagined!

Previously, he stayed in Wei, where demons were nearly extinct, and he didn’t feel much, thinking that the spirits were already formidable.

However, here, spirits are completely insignificant, and monsters are everywhere.

But there are benefits as well.

The greater the risk, the greater the opportunity. The threshold for recruiting disciples here in the Immortal Sect seems significantly lower than in Wei Kingdom.

And from Immortal Master Xia, Lou Yi also learned about the realms of cultivators.

They are mainly divided into three major realms: Qi Cultivation, Foundation Establishment, and Golden Core, with each major realm having three sub-levels: early, middle, and late.

Most cultivators are at the Qi Cultivation level, a Foundation Establishment Great Cultivator is already a master of a region, and a Golden Core Master is like a terrestrial immortal...

Based on Immortal Master Xia’s words, it’s highly likely that he is only at the first major realm.

"The Immortal Path is difficult, more challenging than reaching the heavens. Most people, like myself, work diligently and stumble through life, only to circle in place, struggling to reach higher." Immortal Master Xia lamented.

He then added, "I heard A Peng say that your martial arts system is entirely different from what is practiced in Ping’an Village..."

Seeing that Immortal Master Xia seemed interested in Wangjiang Martial Arts, Lou Yi understood his intentions and replied, "I plan to reestablish a Martial Arts Hall in Ping’an Village in a few days, select disciples, and impart the teachings of the Extreme Fist Sect."

As the Sect Leader of Extreme Fist Sect, Lou Yi naturally had the qualification to establish a branch hall here.

"Wonderful, wonderful, this way the strength of Ping’an Village is sure to increase once again." Immortal Master Xia couldn’t help but remark with emotion, "Spirit Roots are rare and unattainable when desired.

Resisting monsters and protecting homeland still relies on martial arts."

Bidding farewell to Immortal Master Xia, Lou Yi returned to his residence.

Gathered with all the members of the Extreme Fist Sect, including Chen Muju, Hao Yue, Jia Hong, and the vagabond Liu Yuan who accompanied him.

Lou Yi gave them a general introduction to the world here, and everyone became solemn.

This is a world dominated by cultivators, where no matter how strong a martial artist is, they are still no more than slightly larger ants.

Then, Lou Yi informed them of his plan to establish a branch of the Extreme Fist Sect’s Martial Arts Hall in Ping’an Village in a few days.

Everyone’s spirits were lifted upon hearing this, and they rubbed their palms together, clapped, and cheered.

To pass on the ultimate skills of the Martial Arts Hall across the river and extend its glory is an admirable endeavor, something even Wei Youdao would not oppose.

When Daoist Xuanji and Overlord Chu Feng learned of this, they came to find Lou Yi at night.

They were quite interested in the dissemination of Wangjiang Martial Arts in Ping’an Village.

Seeing this, Lou Yi took the opportunity to invite these two martial artists to join the Ping’an Village branch of the Extreme Fist Sect.

Chu Feng, upon hearing this, shook his head repeatedly: "My family has a martial arts heritage of five to six hundred years, has produced four martial artists, and our family’s heritage far surpasses your Extreme Fist Sect. How can we join?

If my ancestors found out, they would surely visit me in dreams to enforce family rules."

Lou Yi understood and did not insist.

Meanwhile, Liu Yuan proposed a suggestion.

"Why not establish a major sect, called the Wangjiang Sect. The sect can then be divided into several branches, each called a hall.

The Extreme Fist Sect can be known as the Extreme Fist Hall, Daoist Xuanji, who specializes in swordsmanship, can have a branch called the Famous Sword Hall."

Upon hearing this, everyone’s eyes lit up.

Being in a foreign land, fraught with danger, where survival is uncertain, it’s critical to unite tightly, work together for mutual benefit, and survive as the most important goal.

Clinging stubbornly to narrow-minded views would be foolish.

Thus, Lou Yi called together the Zhan family’s father and sons, the Shi family’s father and daughter, the Beast Hunter Guard’s companion Yan Ze, and even the ship’s captain and his group.

He informed them of the plan to establish a central sect in Ping’an Village, and everyone applauded and cheered.

Therefore, the next day, the Wangjiang Sect was declared established in a large courtyard.

The first Sect Leader was Lou Yi, with Vice Sect Leaders being Overlord Chu Feng, Daoist Xuanji, and Old Shi.

Five main halls were established:

The Extreme Fist Hall, led by Chen Muju as the Hall Master, with two stewards, Jia Hong and Hao Yue, and disciples initially being those who came from the original Extreme Fist Sect.

The Famous Sword Hall, led by Daoist Xuanji as the Hall Master, with the ship’s captain as the steward, and disciples chosen from young sailors.

The Silver Hook Hall, led by Old Shi as the Hall Master, with the Shi family siblings acting as stewards, while disciples are to be recruited later in the village.

The Golden Gourd Hall, led by Chu Feng as the Hall Master, with the ship’s second and third helmsmen serving as stewards, while disciples are to be selected later.

The Spirit Medicine Hall, led by Patriarch Zhan as the Hall Master, with the brothers Zhan Weida and Zhan Weicong as the stewards, and members including Sixth Uncle, Uncle Pan, and a few household members.

Everyone who came from Wangjiang finally united closely at this moment, and each person felt much more at ease.

In the following days, they released news.

They planned to recruit boys and girls around the age of fifteen as disciples, causing quite a stir in Ping’an Village, with many people showing interest.

In the past few days, Lou Yi, Chu Feng, and Daoist Xuanji had stepped in consecutively, letting the locals know that these outsiders were incredibly powerful, no less than the local Black Skin experts.

Given the chance to learn genuine skills, they were naturally willing.

Everything was proceeding in an orderly manner.

On this day, Lou Yi looked at the Attribute Panel.

The proficiency in the Martial Artist Realm had already maxed out, with a faint + sign appearing afterward, and he felt a force urging him to press onto it.

(Bull Skin Martial Artist 600/600) → (Stone Skin Martial Artist 0/600)

In the next moment, a massive influx of energy gushed into his body, rapidly transforming his skin, flesh, bones, and internal organs...

His cells divided, died, and regenerated at a rate hundreds of times faster than before, with a large amount of heat accumulating in Lou Yi’s body.

His whole person glowed like red-hot iron, with billowing white steam escaping from his mouth, nose, ears, and skin pores, soon filling the house and even spreading outside, an astonishing phenomenon.

"Is it on fire?"

Zhan Weida, who lived nearby, was initially startled, but once realizing it was mist and not smoke, he breathed a sigh of relief.

"This kid Ah Yi, always so startling."

"He must have broken through again." Daoist Xuanji, Chu Feng, Old Shi, and others were also attracted over, speculating as they witnessed the scene before them.

Inside the room, Lou Yi had already completed his breakthrough.

He activated the Skin Refining Technique, and his skin immediately turned a faint grayish-white, reminiscent of the performance prior to the Petrification Talent.

Regarding the strength of his body, he picked up a Profound Iron Axe, gently scraping it across his skin, producing a ’sizzle’ sound, but leaving no marks.

’Is the defense really this strong? Far exceeds that of an ordinary Stone Skin Martial Artist.’

Lou Yi reasoned that it was likely related to his remarkably astounding Qi-Blood.

"Petrify."

He activated the first level of the Petrification Talent again.

Holding the axe in his right hand, he struck his left arm with force.

’Clang!’

Sparks flew, and his defense was evidently a notch above using the talent alone.

...