385: The Ninth Level of Martial Arts

All martial artists on the Tianwu Continent know that Martial Dao is divided into nine major realms.

From this, the Lower Three Realms of Martial Dao, the Middle Three Realms of Martial Dao, and the Upper Three Realms of Martial Dao were delineated.

For the vast majority of martial artists, they only know the Middle Three Realms of Martial Dao, because the Saint Realm, within the Middle Three Realms of Martial Dao, is already the end and culmination that most martial artists can reach in their lifetime.

The higher Upper Three Realms of Martial Dao have always been revered as legendary realms.

Regardless of the era, those who could reach the Upper Three Realms of Martial Dao were as rare as phoenix feathers and qilin horns.

Many people didn't even know the names and characteristics of each realm within the Upper Three Realms.

They only knew that the existences in these Upper Three Realms were all great figures standing at the pinnacle and highest level of the Tianwu Continent.

The Martial Dao Ninth Realm is not only the supreme realm and the strongest realm of Martial Dao, but also the most mysterious realm.

Even Xiao Shi, at present, knows no more about the Martial Dao Ninth Realm than the average person.

He only knew that the Martial Dao Ninth Realm is the ultimate realm of Martial Dao, representing the end of Martial Dao, and also representing true invincibility.

Beyond that, he had no other information.

He had no idea about the name or characteristics of the Martial Dao Ninth Realm.

Even among the many ancient texts in the Martial Emperor's treasure vault, there was no record related to it.

"Martial Dao Ninth Realm..."

When this realm was mentioned, Heavenly King Yao Xi's expression became complex.

His eyes were filled with a variety of extremely complex emotions such as yearning, longing, craving, and fear.

He sighed, "The Martial Dao Ninth Realm actually doesn't have a fixed name, because this realm is usually named by the person who reaches it."

"For example, in the Qianwu Era before the Great Wu Dynasty, the existence who reached the Martial Dao Ninth Realm named it Martial Emperor."

"And in the Zhenwu Era before the Qianwu Era, it was Martial Venerable..."

"By the Great Martial Era, the Martial Dao Ninth Realm was named... Martial Emperor!"

Heavenly King Yao Xi's words undoubtedly caused a world-shaking earthquake in Xiao Shi's mind.

He had never expected that the Martial Dao Ninth Realm... actually had no fixed name.

Instead, it was named by the person who reached this realm!

In the Great Martial Era, the Martial Dao Ninth Realm was Martial Emperor!

Xiao Shi had always thought that Martial Emperor was just a title for an emperor, and never expected that the two words 'Martial Emperor' actually had such a layer of meaning.

At the same time, this also made Xiao Shi understand why, after the Martial Emperor's fall, these three Demigod Heavenly Kings, along with many people from the Great Wu Dynasty, would directly break away from the Great Wu Dynasty.

Because those they pledged allegiance to... were always the Martial Emperor.

Not the Great Wu Dynasty.

Even if the Martial Emperor still had descendants, still had heirs.

They were not qualified to rule over them anymore.

The only one who could rule over them... was the Martial Emperor!

Unless it was someone like the Four Symbols Divine Martial Sect, who pledged allegiance to the Great Wu Dynasty, they would not leave the Great Wu Dynasty due to the Martial Emperor's fall.

As long as the Great Wu Dynasty still had heirs.

As long as the Great Wu Dynasty did not perish.

They would pledge allegiance to the Great Wu Dynasty for generations.

At the same time, Xiao Shi also understood why the Great Wu Crown Prince, after inheriting the Great Wu Dynasty, still considered himself a Crown Prince and did not directly ascend the throne to become the next Martial Emperor.

The meaning represented by the Martial Emperor... was not something his descendants could inherit!

Therefore, even if the Martial Emperor's descendant inherited the Great Wu Dynasty, he would still be a Crown Prince!

In the Tianwu Continent, there could ultimately only be one Martial Emperor!

It was impossible for a second Martial Emperor to exist.

Even if someone reached the Martial Dao Ninth Realm now, they would give it a brand new name, and not reuse the title of a predecessor.

"Besides having no fixed name and being self-named, the Martial Dao Ninth Realm can also only have at most one Martial Dao Ninth Realm appear in an era!"

"If the era is not ended, then even if there are thousands of demigods, no one can reach the Martial Dao Ninth Realm."

Heavenly King Yao Xi sighed.

Xiao Shi suddenly understood.

No wonder, after the Martial Emperor's fall, these three Demigod Heavenly Kings had been trying every means to suppress the Great Wu Dynasty, constantly weakening its destiny.

If the Great Wu Dynasty did not perish... if the Great Martial Era was not ended.

Then it was destined that no supreme expert of the Martial Dao Ninth Realm could be born.

Therefore, even if these three Demigod Heavenly Kings were not all greedy for power and did not all want to unify the Tianwu Continent, at their realm, they all had an indescribable pursuit and fanaticism for the ultimate Martial Dao Ninth Realm.

This pursuit... was different from the ambition of wanting to become the number one martial artist.

Rather than a pursuit, it was more like an instinct!

Just as one needs to eat when hungry and sleep when tired, it had already become an irresistible instinct.

In other realms of Martial Dao, one could still choose to lie flat, or choose not to challenge higher realms.

The most representative example of this was the transition from the Martial Soul Realm to the Martial Demon Realm.

Many Martial Soul Realm cultivators, after learning that the Martial Demon Realm would give birth to a Demonic Body Clone and entail great risks, chose to give up advancing, willing to remain in the Martial Soul Realm for life.

But demigods could not give up!

As soon as one became a demigod, one would inevitably strive to reach the Martial Dao Ninth Realm.

Even if there was an abyss ahead, even if the price of failure was the scattering of one's soul, they would still go forward without hesitation.

Because this was already an instinct they could not defy!

The establishment of a dynasty, on the other hand, was to prevent the emergence of another Martial Dao Ninth Realm!

In the current ownerless era after the fall of the Great Wu Dynasty, there was no limit to the number of Martial Dao Ninth Realms.

At this time, everyone had the opportunity to reach the Martial Dao Ninth Realm.

But usually, once the first Martial Dao Ninth Realm appeared, this Martial Dao Ninth Realm would immediately establish a new dynasty, create a new era, and thus make himself the only Martial Dao Ninth Realm in the Tianwu Continent!

Preventing the birth of any more Martial Dao Ninth Realms.

Because only when there was only one Martial Dao Ninth Realm in the Tianwu Continent would one be truly invincible, truly the strongest!

"Then how can one reach the Martial Dao Ninth Realm?" Xiao Shi continued to ask.

However, he did not expect the other party to answer this question.

Because this question had already exceeded their information exchange and was already considered a third piece of information.

Heavenly King Yao Xi shook his head at this.

"The end of each martial artist is different, so the way each demigod breaks through to the Martial Dao Ninth Realm is also different."

"This breakthrough method is not fixed, but rather depends on each martial artist's individual circumstances."

"However, even in an ownerless era, it is basically impossible for multiple Martial Dao Ninth Realms to appear at the same time; basically, only one Martial Dao Ninth Realm will appear."

"Of course, if this Martial Dao Ninth Realm does not establish a new dynasty or create a new era, then after a period of time, perhaps a second Martial Dao Ninth Realm will appear."

"But looking at the history of the Tianwu Continent, such a situation has never occurred."

Xiao Shi nodded slightly.

He knew that Heavenly King Yao Xi had already provided a lot of extra information.

The information he wanted to know had basically been explained in detail by the other party.

The reason for this was clearly that the other party had the intention of befriending him.

After all, with the powerful intelligence controlled by Tianji Hall, even the Great Wu Dynasty at its peak was far inferior.

If he could befriend the Hall Master of Tianji Hall, it would undoubtedly be a good thing for Heavenly King Yao Xi, with all benefits and no harm.

Xiao Shi could also feel Heavenly King Yao Xi's sincerity.

He directly told the other party, "The destiny of the Great Wu Dynasty is indeed in the hands of that Saint Realm expert who controls the Fifth Domain."

He did not choose to deceive the other party.

Because he knew that such deception was meaningless.

Even if he told Heavenly King Yao Xi that the destiny of the Great Wu Dynasty was not with him, the other party would still covet his Fifth Domain and would still not let him go.

Such deception would instead lower the credibility of his identity as the Hall Master of Tianji Hall.

In the future, it would be difficult to obtain any intelligence from the other party.

Anyway, telling the other party the truth had no downsides.

As long as he continued to stay within his own domain, even if these several Demigod Heavenly Kings coveted the destiny of the Great Wu Dynasty, it would be impossible for them to take it from him.

Instead, Xiao Shi felt that letting these Demigod Heavenly Kings know that he possessed such a bargaining chip would somewhat make them wary of him.

At the same time, since Heavenly King Yao Xi had the intention of befriending him, Xiao Shi felt that befriending him as the Hall Master of Tianji Hall would also bring him many benefits.

Many pieces of information that he could not access could be obtained from Heavenly King Yao Xi.

This meant that he could, under another identity, constantly monitor the movements of his enemies.

Furthermore, once he broke through to become a Dao Master, opened the last area of Tianji Hall, and possessed the heavenly secret box, he could even conduct some transactions with Heavenly King Yao Xi through the heavenly secret box.

At this moment, after Heavenly King Yao Xi received a definite answer from Xiao Shi, her delicate brows immediately furrowed.

Although he had anticipated this before, now that it was confirmed, he couldn't help but feel a bit tricky.

Facing the Nine Dragons Divine Sky Formation, he had no solution at all.

"Do you have a way to break the Nine Dragons Divine Sky Formation?" Heavenly King Yao Xi could only turn to Xiao Shi for help.

"Unless you can reach the Martial Dao Ninth Realm, the Nine Dragons Divine Sky Formation is unsolvable!" Xiao Shi said directly.

Heavenly King Yao Xi's brows furrowed even deeper.

He was still somewhat unwilling.

"Then can you ascertain any weaknesses of this Saint Realm expert who controls the Fifth Domain? For example, are there any people he cares about on the Tianwu Continent?"

"Or is there anything he particularly desires and craves?"

This was clearly an attempt to coerce and entice him!

Xiao Shi's eyes narrowed slightly at this.

He could tell... Heavenly King Yao Xi really wanted to get his hands on the destiny of the Great Wu Dynasty.

"Considering the many pieces of information you've provided me this time, I'll give you a piece of advice..."

"It's best not to think about targeting this person."

"I specifically investigated this Saint Realm expert who controls the Fifth Domain; although he is only a Saint Realm expert, he is unfathomable..."

"Even when I investigated him with the power of Tianji Hall, I didn't get any information, which is something that doesn't even happen with you Demigod Heavenly Kings!"

"I suspect..."

"Behind this person, there might be some powerful experts from ancient eras. Unless you reach the Martial Dao Ninth Realm, it's best not to provoke him."

No matter what, Xiao Shi decided to bluff him first.

He believed that what he, as the Hall Master of Tianji Hall, said would certainly be taken seriously by the other party.

As expected, under his words, Heavenly King Yao Xi's expression immediately became solemn.

If it were someone else saying this, he might not believe it.

But since these words came from the Hall Master of Tianji Hall... then he had no doubts at all.

Moreover, from his own feelings, he also felt that Xiao Shi was by no means as simple as an ordinary Saint Realm expert.

"This is all for now. You can come to Heavenly Secret City anytime in the future."

Xiao Shi pointed remotely at Heavenly King Yao Xi.

A black heavens secret mask directly formed on his face.

Officially admitting Heavenly King Yao Xi into Tianji Hall, making him a member of Tianji Hall.

He was not worried that Heavenly King Yao Xi becoming a member of Tianji Hall would bring any threat to himself.

Even if the other party was a demigod, in Heavenly Secret City, he would be no different from an ordinary person.

One of the special features of Heavenly Secret City was that it could eliminate any differences in strength and cultivation among all who entered it.

Even an existence of the Martial Dao Ninth Realm, after entering Heavenly Secret City, would be like everyone else, unable to bring their real-world strength and cultivation into Heavenly Secret City.

Therefore, even if Heavenly King Yao Xi became a member of Tianji Hall, Xiao Shi was not worried about letting the wolf into the house.

Furthermore, the other party was just an ordinary member.

The core secrets within Tianji Hall were far beyond what the other party could access.

Within Heavenly Secret City, Xiao Shi could easily control him.

"Thank you!" After Heavenly King Yao Xi thanked him, he was moved out of the great hall by Xiao Shi's wave of a hand.

Xiao Shi was very satisfied with the information he obtained from Heavenly King Yao Xi this time.

It must be said that the identity of the Hall Master of Tianji Hall was extremely useful!

This identity allowed him to converse as equals with the three Demigod Heavenly Kings.

Heavenly King Yao Xi even subtly lowered his posture this time.

If it were in his identity as the Fourth Heavenly King, these three Demigod Heavenly Kings would not have thought highly of him at all.

Through the identity of the Hall Master of Tianji Hall, Xiao Shi not only could obtain important information from Heavenly King Yao Xi, but also could guide the other party to a certain extent... Without this contact with Heavenly King Yao Xi, it would have been difficult for him to obtain these important pieces of information.

Especially the information about the Martial Dao Ninth Realm.

Xiao Shi believed that in the current Tianwu Continent, only the three Demigod Heavenly Kings knew this information.

However, this also gave Xiao Shi a greater doubt.

According to Heavenly King Yao Xi, since the Martial Emperor was the only Martial Dao Ninth Realm expert in the Great Martial Era, then how did the Martial Emperor fall?

Logically speaking, the Martial Emperor was already the strongest in the world.

It was impossible for anyone to threaten him.

However, the Martial Emperor had fallen... This was very strange.

And judging from the age of the Great Wu Dynasty's establishment, the Martial Emperor didn't even live for ten thousand years before falling.

Even if his lifespan was exhausted, it shouldn't have been so short.

After all, the lifespan of a Saint Realm expert alone could reach over a hundred thousand years.

The lifespan of a Martial Dao Ninth Realm expert could not be only a few thousand years.

There was clearly a big problem here!