Chapter 304 - 300: The 9 Top Factions of the Martial Arts Continent
Chapter 304: Chapter 300: The 9 Top Factions of the Martial Arts Continent
"Your Squad Leader invited me?" Ye Xing was taken aback. He didn’t know the Squad Leader of the Beast Taming Pavilion.
"Yes. Lord White Cloud, please follow me," the clerk said.
Ye Xing’s expression shifted slightly.
"Please rest assured, Lord. Our Squad Leader has no ill intentions," the clerk quickly explained.
Ye Xing considered for a moment, then nodded and followed the Beast Taming Pavilion clerk.
’The Beast Taming Pavilion is one of the nine great powers of the Martial Arts Continent, possessing astonishing strength and financial resources. Even though they know my identity, I don’t think they’d try to rob me. A fortune of one million gold coins is a lot, enough to make even the Southern Tang Royal Family covet it. However, to a behemoth like the Beast Taming Pavilion, that amount of wealth is nothing. It’s not worth attacking a guest in their own establishment and losing face over.’
Led by the Beast Taming Pavilion clerk, Ye Xing soon arrived at an elegant private room.
Beaded curtains swayed over mahogany tables and chairs as the fragrance of tea curled upwards.
A middle-aged woman sat before a tea table, pouring boiling water to brew tea.
’Innate Realm!’ Ye Xing’s gaze narrowed. ’Although the woman sitting there isn’t emitting any True Essence Power, I can tell from her aura that her cultivation is most likely at the Innate Realm level. I can’t help but marvel at the profound depth of the Beast Taming Pavilion. Truly one of the continent’s nine top powers, to have an Innate Powerhouse as a mere Squad Leader of a country’s branch.’
"Squad Leader, I’ve brought him," the clerk reported respectfully.
"Yes, you may go." The middle-aged woman waved the clerk away. She then turned to Ye Xing, gave a slight nod, and smiled. "Lord White Cloud, please have a seat. Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Wu Huizhen, and I am the Squad Leader for the Beast Taming Pavilion’s branch in the Southern Tang Country. I’d heard of your great name as early as last month. Your actions at the Imperial Palace today, showcasing your power far and wide, have truly caught the world’s attention!"
"Heh, you’re too kind, Squad Leader Wu." Ye Xing’s tone was measured. "I wonder why you’ve asked to see me? Please, speak your mind."
"Haha, since you’ve put it that way, Lord White Cloud, I’ll be direct." Squad Leader Wu Huizhen’s eyes glinted as she spoke in a low voice, "You caused a great stir at the Imperial Palace and injured the Tang Imperial Ancestor with a single sword strike. You are a rare talent, the likes of which are seldom seen even across the entire Martial Arts Continent. The Beast Taming Pavilion would like to recruit you. I wonder if you have any interest in joining us?"
"Join the Beast Taming Pavilion?" Ye Xing paused, a thoughtful look in his eyes. "I’m afraid I must disappoint you, Squad Leader Wu. I have no such intention."
Ye Xing’s feat of defeating Innate Powerhouses despite his Postnatal Cultivation had clearly caught the eye of a major power like the Beast Taming Pavilion. For such factions to maintain their strength, they must constantly absorb new blood and recruit talented individuals.
"Don’t be so quick to refuse, Lord Ye." A confident light shone in Squad Leader Wu Huizhen’s eyes as she smiled. "Our Beast Taming Pavilion is one of the nine great powers, a fact I’m sure you are aware of."
"Yes, of course," Ye Xing nodded. "Aside from the Six Great Holy Lands of the Central Plains, the nine strongest powers are the likes of the Beast Taming Pavilion, the Phoenix Cloud Inn, and the Divine Weapon Manor."
"Are you perhaps hoping to join one of the Six Great Holy Lands, Lord Ye?" Wu Huizhen said thoughtfully. "Forgive my bluntness, but their disciples are almost exclusively trained from childhood. No matter how talented you are, it would be incredibly difficult for you to get in. While the Beast Taming Pavilion may not be on the same level as the Six Great Holy Lands, the gap isn’t that large. With your talent, if you were to join us, you would be provided with abundant resources for your cultivation. We have all manner of Celestial-tier Manuals, and you might even have the chance to learn our pavilion’s ultimate technique—the Township Divine Skill!"
"A Divine Skill?" Ye Xing’s eyes lit up. A Divine Skill was a type of Martial Arts Manual that surpassed even Celestial Tier Treasure Manuals.
Martial Arts Manuals are generally divided into four great tiers: Heaven, Earth, Profound, and Yellow. Yellow-tier Manuals are the most common and can be purchased directly from the Ten Thousand Treasures Tower; they are what most unaffiliated Martial Artists practice. Profound-tier Manuals are a significant step up and can typically only be acquired at the Ten Thousand Treasures Tower’s auctions, though some smaller families and gangs might also have them. As for Earth-tier Manuals, they are considerably more valuable. In the Southern Tang Country, only the major families and Major Sects practice them, as do most of the experts on the Wind and Cloud List. Finally, Celestial-tier Manuals, which are above the Earth Tier, are exceptionally rare. It’s estimated that there are fewer than ten in the entire Southern Tang Country. Even in the Major Sects of the Central Plains Martial Arts world, Celestial-tier Manuals are considered prized collections.
However, as precious as Celestial-tier Manuals are, there are still ways to learn them. With enough hard work, an Innate Realm expert has a decent chance of acquiring one or two.
However, above even the Celestial Tier Treasure Manuals, there exists an even more powerful and terrifying class of Martial Arts Manual: the Divine Skill!
Across the entire Martial Arts Continent, only fifteen powers possess Divine Skill Manuals: the six Holy Lands and the nine great powers. Every Divine Skill is a sect’s ultimate secret art. Even for an Inner Sect Disciple of a Holy Land, learning one is an incredibly arduous task. For anyone else, it is utterly impossible.
The power of a Divine Skill is terrifying! With one, fighting above one’s level becomes effortless!
’The three Nameless Broken Sword Techniques from the Daluo Demon Sect, for instance, are very likely a Divine Sword Technique. It’s just that the Nameless Broken Sword only has three moves, so it isn’t a complete Divine Skill; there must be more to it. However, my current strength hasn’t even reached the Innate Realm, and I already struggle to use the second technique. Three moves are more than enough for me for now.’
’The Nameless Sword Techniques are an Attack Type Divine Skill. Its unorthodox style has terrifying destructive power.’
’But Divine Skills aren’t limited to the Attack Type. There are also Defense Type skills, like the Shaolin Temple’s "Golden Bell Shield." And there are Lightweight Step Technique Type Divine Skills, such as the Cyan Cloud Sword Sect’s "Sky-Stepping Cloud-Riding Steps," the Cold Moon Palace’s... and others.’
’Of course, I’d love to get my hands on a Divine Skill Manual. But how could it be so easy? Even within the Beast Taming Pavilion, very few people would be qualified to practice a Divine Skill. Besides, the hierarchy in Major Sects and great powers is rigid, and they’re full of rules.’
Ye Xing quickly shook his head. "I appreciate the kind offer, Squad Leader Wu, but I must decline. I’m just an idle person, accustomed to a carefree life. I think I’ll remain that way. Oh, right. I came to the Beast Taming Pavilion today to purchase an Innate Realm Demon Beast. If there’s nothing else, I’ll go and select one now."
"This... Very well. If you change your mind, Lord Ye, you can come and find me at any time."
Seeing that Ye Xing’s mind was made up, Squad Leader Wu Huizhen looked at him with regret and could only say as much. She didn’t shut the door on the possibility, however, clearly hoping she could still win him over.
After all, geniuses were divided into different tiers. The power Ye Xing had displayed was enough to rank him on the Martial Arts world’s Dragon and Phoenix List, making him one of the two hundred peerless prodigies on the entire Martial Arts Continent. Once the Dragon and Phoenix List was updated, his name would spread across the land.
(Phew, we’re at 300 Chapters already. First Chapter of the day is out; I’m off to write the second one!)