179: Seeking the Way!

Within the headquarters of Wanxiang Tower, with the joint efforts of Old Ancestor Bei Zhen and Old Ancestor Yan Hui, the group of Martial Saint-level powerhouses quickly finalized their decision.

Almost immediately after, over a dozen of the Nine Provinces' Peak and top-tier forces, including Wanxiang Tower, the Zuowang Daoist Sect, the Great Chan Vajra Temple, the Heavenly Mountain Sect, the Wanlong Chamber of Commerce, the Shanhai Sect, and the One Word Sword Pavilion, declared war on the Great Yuan Dynasty one after another.

In an instant, war erupted almost everywhere across the Nine Provinces.

In the countless great battles, numerous powerhouses rose amidst the flames of war, and just as many powerhouses fell within them.

Meanwhile, Lin Yi traveled the world amidst this turmoil, switching countless identities, observing the myriad facets of life in the Mortal World.

In the churning Mortal World, he had been a middle-aged Martial Artist venturing alone into the Jianghu, and also a great hero, newly emerged and filled with a heart full of passion to uphold justice.

He had also soared to the heights, using the identity and strength of an invincible Fourth-Rank Martial Artist to intimidate a group, and delved into the lowest depths, disguising himself as a penniless, lame old beggar fighting with stray dogs for scraps.

Physician, Escort Guard, bodyguard, soldier, waiter, fisherman, hunter... each profession, each layer of identity... this churning Mortal World, its countless multitude of beings, all transformed into Lin Yi's cultivation resources, converging into countless fuels, propelling the continuous rise of his experience, knowledge, willpower, martial arts, and even his comprehension of the Dao between heaven and earth.

And so, time passed slowly, and in the blink of an eye, nearly five years had gone by... Martial Province, Luolong River, this was one of the top ten great rivers in Martial Province!

Its length exceeded ten thousand li, its width over ten li. Legend has it that this terrifying great river was formed when a true dragon from ages past fell from the Nine Provinces and crashed upon the earth.

Of course, this is merely a legend!

After all, a true dragon ten thousand li long, the strength of a Yao Beast of that level is simply unimaginable!

Not to mention anything else, just its most basic physical strength alone would be terrifyingly boundless. A mere rollover would likely be enough to shake a great province, cause the heavens to collapse and the earth to split, creating a dreadful natural disaster.

If a Yao Beast of such a level truly existed in the world, then forget Martial Saints or Martial Gods, even the legendary Martial God would probably be like an ant before it!

How could such a Yao Beast possibly be born in a mere place like the Nine Provinces?

"...So, having suffered this insult, the Old Man Tianjian flew into a rage on the spot. With a single sword slash, his sword light blazed like heavenly thunder plunging into the river, fiercely cleaving the 'Hundred Poison Hand' opposite him along with the poisonous mist surrounding him. The residual Sword Qi plowed a deep trench dozens of zhang long on the river surface, the waters churning, unable to close for a long time!"

On the Luolong River, the river surface was as vast as the sea. Only the muddy yellow waves flowed slowly, pushing a fleet of five cargo ships, sailing along like a few scattered autumn leaves.

On the main deck, the merchant ship's guard captain, Wang Hun, was gesticulating wildly, thick arms swinging as if to cleave the air before him:

"And that 'Hundred Poison Hand' was no pushover either. His dark green poison palm met the sword light head-on. With a thunderous boom that nearly deafened me, it sent water spraying into the sky."

"Then the two fought, weaving through the curtain of water. The shockwaves swept to the shore, slicing through rock like it was tofu! Those of us watching from far away felt our Qi and blood churning from the vibrations!"

"Hey! That scene, I'll never forget it in my life!"

He slapped his thigh forcefully, his bell-like eyes filled with a mix of lingering fear and excitement.

Hearing his words, the guards below also grew excited, their eyes full of fervor, agitation, and yearning:

"My heavens! Sword Qi plowing the river, palm winds splitting stone! That, that's truly a battle of gods and immortals!"

"Yes! Captain Wang's luck is truly unmatched! To actually witness a battle between Innate experts!"

A round-faced guard said with a face full of envy:

"People like us will probably never get to see such a thing with our own eyes in this lifetime."

"Only Brother Iron Sword, with his extraordinary talent, has hope of breaking through to the Third Rank in the future. By then, he might have a chance."

"Right! Brother Iron Sword is a prodigious talent. He'll definitely have the opportunity to break through to an Upper Three-Ranks Martial Artist and witness the Innate Realm!"

"Yes, yes, yes..."

As they spoke, everyone's gazes turned towards the youth leaning against the ship's rail, holding an Iron Sword, with a small scar on his left cheek, yet a rather gentle expression.

"Heh, you all flatter me too much, brothers."

Under everyone's gaze, Iron Sword smiled slightly and said:

"How difficult is the Third Rank? Not only must one reach the Peak of Fourth-Rank Qi and blood before the age of sixty, but one must also comprehend the legendary Limit Breaking Realm."

"Even in our Martial Province, a Third-Rank Martial Artist is a peerless powerhouse, one in a million. How dare I, a mere Iron Sword, guarantee that I will become Third Rank in the future?"

"Moreover, even if one becomes Third Rank, wanting to meet a Xiantian Grandmaster is as difficult as ascending to heaven!"

"Iron Sword" raised his head, his face appropriately showing an expression mixed with awe and yearning.

His tone and demeanor were just right, as if he were truly a young man with some talent yet unwilling to be ordinary. Only in the depths of his eyes lay a sea-like calm.

Sword Qi plowing a river? Palm winds splitting stone?

He had already achieved that during his First Rank period.

Now, having attained the Innate Golden Core and accumulated these past few years of experience...

Forget plowing rivers and splitting stone, even this ten-li-wide Luolong River, he could cleave a significant portion of it with a single saber stroke.

It's just a pity that over these five years, although Lin Yi's strength had grown increasingly powerful and his Realm higher and higher...

Even the Saint-level Martial Art, 'Circulation of Stars Saber Canon,' had reached the Perfection level over two years ago. Combined with his combat talent, he could even unleash the power of Great Perfection!

However, when it came to comprehending that most fundamental Dao within heaven and earth, he always seemed to fall just a little short.

"Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, Earth, Wind, Thunder, Light, Darkness—a full nine Great Daos!"

"Among them, I have no talent whatsoever for the paths of Darkness and Light. Ever since reaching the Peak of Divine Soul and the manifestation of will, I have almost been unable to 'see' much trace of these two Daos."

"As for the paths of Wind and Thunder, although a bit clearer, they aren't much better."

"My talent ultimately lies with the Five Elemental Daos: Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth."

"Especially the Water Element Great Dao. My talent on this path is the highest. After several years of arduous cultivation, I'm probably only a single step away from fully comprehending it."

"But how should I take this final step?"

Gazing at the distant, vast river surface, Lin Yi frowned slightly, murmuring in his heart.