Dominating Martial King
Chapter 97 - 97 94 War Map

97: Chapter 94 War Map 97: Chapter 94 War Map When Chu Xisheng arrived under the locust tree, the twelve young men with long swords hanging from their waists all turned their gazes sharply towards him in unison.

The twelve glares were fiercely piercing, as if swords were cutting through the air.

Chu Xisheng found that the intensity of his Vengeful Blade Intent had increased slightly.

The deep animosity these people held against him caused his blade intent to be stimulated and grow even stronger.

The fair-faced young man with a full heavenly countenance and an imposing aura had his hands behind his back, surveying Chu Xisheng with a playful look from head to toe.

Chu Xisheng considered to himself that this person certainly carried a high opinion of himself, expecting Chu to be the first to speak and offer his respects!

Chu Xisheng became even more convinced that the ones behind today’s plot, using Liu Xingruo and others as pawns, were indeed this group of people before him.

He placed his hand on the hilt of his waist saber and met the gaze of the fair-faced young man, “Young Master Shangguan might as well be straightforward, what exactly is it that you wish to discuss with me?

How have I managed to offend Young Master Shangguan to go through such trouble to scheme against me?”

He was not ignorant of the Shangguan Family’s vast influence and wealth in the Inner City, nor was he a man who disregarded manners.

But since the other party had already made their move against him without restraint, why should he continue to bend over backward?

Chu Xisheng knew that no matter how polite he was, he couldn’t possibly gain their favor, so he simply couldn’t be bothered with insincere flattery.

Before he finished speaking, Shangguan Yuan, the young man with short hair, let out an angry snort, “How audacious!

In the presence of our lord, you dare to be disrespectful?”

Those twelve swordsmen simultaneously drew their swords half a foot from their waists, emitting a ‘clanging’ sound.

Indignation was apparent on all their faces.

“Stop!”

Shangguan Longjian gestured downward with his hand, signaling his followers to calm down.

Looking at Chu Xisheng, he seemed a bit surprised but then an amiable smile appeared on his face, “Junior Brother Chu has quite the temper, but I can understand.

If I were in your position, I would feel the same way.

The incident this morning was due to my subordinate acting on his own initiative, and it was poorly handled.

I apologize to you for that.”

He suddenly and without warning slapped the short-haired young man twice across the face, generating a crisp ‘slap slap’ sound.

He struck with such force that blood began to trickle from the young man’s nose and the corner of his mouth.

Yet the short-haired young man remained motionless and expressionless as if the blows were not landing on him.

Shangguan Longjian then took out a handkerchief and leisurely wiped the blood from his hand, “You said to be straightforward, brother, and I like that.

Let me put it directly, I must secure the top spot in the True Inheritor Examination at the end of the year, and I would ask you to yield it to me.”

Chu Xisheng’s pupils tightened slightly as he realized that this was the issue at hand.

His grip on his saber tightened and the corners of his lips lifted slightly, “As far as I know, the head of each Martial Arts Academy’s True Inheritance Examination can obtain a Nourishing Yuan Skill Battle Map from the Formless Divine Sect.”

The so-called ‘War Map’ is akin to a ‘Secret Technique Totem.’

The Nourishing Essence Skill is a method of cultivation that includes no moves; hence, the strengthening tattoo totem for it is called a Battle Map.

Not only can it enhance one’s cultivation speed and purify and strengthen the True Yuan, greatly increasing the True Yuan reserve, but it also strengthens the body’s meridians with boundless benefits.

And the earlier this map is engraved, the greater the benefits it provides.

If Chu Xisheng could have this Battle Map inscribed on his body now, then when his cultivation reaches Fifth Grade, his True Yuan strength could exceed others by fifty percent, and his True Yuan reserve could surpass others by twice as much.

When his cultivation ascends to First Grade, the increase in True Yuan reserve provided by this map becomes even more dramatic.

The higher his cultivation in the future, the greater the benefits the War Map would offer him.

However, the cost of producing the Nourishing Essence Skill Battle Map is exorbitant, several times more than that of ordinary Secret Technique Totems, and only Totem Masters of the Formless Divine Sect can create them.

These days, the Nourishing Essence Skill Battle Maps available on the market are scarce and virtually priceless.

Those seeking such a War Map can only obtain it through the True Inheritance Tests of various Martial Arts Academies under the Formless Divine Sect.

By becoming the leading figure in the True Inheritance Tests, one is awarded the War Map by the Formless Divine Sect.

The Formless Divine Sect only has seventy-two Martial Arts Academies, and the number of Nourishing Essence Skill Battle Maps released each year is a mere one hundred and forty-four.

“Not only the Nourishing Essence Skill Battle Map, but there’s also a subsidy of five hundred taels of Demon Silver, thirty Heart Nourishing Pills, and a Seventh Grade Lower Rank Rune Weapon.

The Formless Divine Sect spares no effort in nurturing outstanding disciples.”

Shangguan Longjian’s demeanor was composed, his voice indifferent: “But Junior Brother Chu, it is valuable to know one’s limits.

It’s best not to covet what you should not –.”

Chu Xisheng cut him off without letting him finish, asking bluntly, “What if I’m not willing to yield, Young Master Shangguan?”

He and his sister had not originally set their sights on topping the True Inheritance Test; they merely hoped to enter the Inner Sect as quickly as possible.

But now, times have changed, and Chu Xisheng’s strength within the Inner Sect had become unmatched; naturally, he was not willing to miss out on this item.

Shangguan Longjian could not help but let out a wry chuckle, his gaze growing ever more sharp as he said, “You have quite the nerve, I rarely meet someone as spirited as you.

But do you know where the former Inner Chief of the last two terms is now?”

“That Inner Chief had his Nourishing Essence Skill crippled and a leg broken, and now he’s toiling as a laborer by the docks.”

Shangguan Yuan, a young man with short hair, took over the conversation with a cold chortle, his voice sharp as ice: “And the one from the year before last, a fellow named Zhang Qing, invincible within the Inner Sect, yet for reasons unknown, he was chopped to pieces and thrown into the river to feed the fish.

This is what happens to those who overestimate themselves and are overcome by greed.”

Chu Xisheng’s spirit chilled slightly, but then he smiled calmly, meeting Shangguan Longjian’s gaze: “Unfortunately, I happen to be very greedy.

I must obtain that Nourishing Yuan Skill Battle Map.

Young Master Shangguan, if you have the ability, feel free to come and break my legs or drag me to the river to see for yourself.”

In fact, they had already done so.

If it hadn’t been for today, when he unexpectedly wounded Liu Xingruo and the others with his Vengeful Blade Intent, this Shangguan would probably not have even been interested in negotiating with him.

Shangguan Longjian’s face stiffened in surprise, clearly not expecting Chu Xisheng to respond in such a way.

He then smiled and flicked his sleeve, striding toward the east side of the drill ground: “Well then, let’s give it a try!

Kill him, drag him to the river.

Shangguan Han, you’ll take the blame afterward.”

Launching an assassination attempt on Chu Xisheng within the Martial Arts Academy was sure to enrage Academy Head Lei Yuan and the Sword Inspection Envoy, but he could not tolerate Chu Xisheng’s insolence.

And today, the one to do the killing would be Shangguan Han, so what did that have to do with Shangguan Longjian?

Shangguan Longjian was also confident that the Shangguan Family could quell the wrath of Lei Yuan and Jian Cangfeng.

Only, he felt a bit of a pity since he had spent some money on nurturing Shangguan Han of the Three Leaves Inner Sect.

Before he had finished speaking, the twelve sword-bearing young men drew their swords without hesitation.

Chu Xisheng’s eyes grew fierce, and a colossal, ethereal beast appeared behind him.

With the head of a dragon and the body of a hyena, holding a long saber in its mouth, it was precisely the Vengeance Divine Beast manifested from Sword Intent.

Having experienced the Gathering Essence Array, his control over this Sword Intent had gradually become intuitive.

With the surge of this Sword Intent, the action of those twelve young men drawing their swords was momentarily halted, their hands stiffened in mid-air, unable to move.

The short-haired young man, Shangguan Yuan, wasn’t affected much as he also put his hand on his saber at his waist.

But Chu Xisheng’s gaze was already fixed on his neck.

If this man dared be the first to draw his saber, Chu Xisheng could behead him with a single slash.

“Sword Intent manifesting physically.”

Shangguan Longjian turned back and looked at Chu Xisheng with a renewed sense of wonder: “The same move again, I want to see just how long you can sustain this with your Ninth Grade Divine Power?”

This good-for-nothing, after severely injuring Liu Xingruo and the others with his Sword Intent, still had the strength to display such a potent level of Sword Intent?

Chu Xisheng couldn’t help but sneer: “Longer than you can imagine!”

He drew his Blood Refining Light Steel Blade out an inch, amplifying the intensity of the Sword Intent.

The twelve young men’s faces changed slightly, as a trickle of blood even seeped from their nostrils.

By now, several people had finished their breakfast and were walking out of the dining hall.

Beholding the scene under the pagoda trees from afar, most of them blanched and quickly moved away, not even daring to watch from a distance.

Only a few girls stayed, their faces filled with worry, casting concerned glances in that direction.

There were also more than a dozen Martial Arts Instructors around the dining hall; they took notice of the situation here, frowning deeply.

Recognizing Shangguan Longjian, these men didn’t dare to intervene, but someone had already sprinted off to find Academy Head Lei Yuan.

It was during this standoff that North Courtyard Instructor Qiu Feng and a tall, burly man in black silk robes arrived from the south gate, striding purposefully over.

From afar, Qiu Feng saw the situation under the pagoda trees and was taken aback, a puzzled look in his eyes.

The tall, burly man immediately fixed his attention on Chu Xisheng.

His pupils shined with a hint of amusement.

From a distance of more than ten paces, he clasped his hands and bellowed, “Is that Chu Xisheng, hero Chu, up ahead?

I am Zhou Xiangshan from the Coastal Zhoou Family, sent by the Zhoou Family Master to meet the hero.”

As Zhou Xiangshan approached, his expression also registered surprise upon noticing something amiss with the situation.

He then frowned deeply and turned to Qiu Feng, “Mr.

Qiu, what’s going on here?”