Chapter 289: Chapter 145: The Martial Artists’ Tumult, Laying Down the Halberd for Benevolence

Feeling the change in the flute’s melody, the Martial Artists all opened their eyes and exhaled a breath of foul air.

When they saw Zhao Rui floating in mid-air, strolling about like one of the Immortal Gods, their eyes widened in utter shock.

’This... not even a Grandmaster could do this!’

A quick-witted man dropped to his knees with a thud, kowtowing as he cried out, "Senior, please accept me as your disciple! I am willing to serve you for the rest of my life."

Where one went, others followed. In an instant, a great swath of people were kneeling before the mountain gate.

Seeing this, Zhao Rui announced in a clear voice, "Qingcheng Mountain opens its gates wide today! All who are fated to be here may enter and listen to Qingcheng’s wonderful method!"

With that said, he flicked his sleeve, instantly throwing open the mountain gate. At the same time, his figure blurred and vanished from sight.

The Martial Artists were overjoyed. They scrambled to their feet, their previous arrogance gone, and cautiously made their way toward the mountain gate.

Seeing this, the Qingcheng Disciples couldn’t help but feel a surge of pride. They all puffed out their chests, held their heads high, and formed two lines at the entrance with longswords in hand, watching as the group of Martial Artists entered the Daoist Temple.

Just moments before, this group had been so arrogant, even threatening to force their way into the Qingcheng Sword Sect. Now, they were as timid as quails.

They wouldn’t dare cause the slightest trouble.

This was all thanks to the might of the Junior Elder!

At the Qingcheng Sword Sect’s Martial Arts Arena, a few dozen people had been meditating. But as the crowd from the foot of the mountain surged in, the entire arena was filled in a matter of moments.

Riding the tide of vast Spiritual Qi, Zhao Rui used Void Stride to slowly descend onto the high platform of the Martial Arts Arena.

"Today, I will lecture on Qingcheng’s wonderful method, the Taixu Qi Refining Technique..."

With his eyes slightly lowered, Zhao Rui began to expound upon a Martial Arts technique from the Qingcheng Sword Sect that he had recently organized.

’A great change is coming.’

’It will be difficult for anyone to remain uninvolved.’

’Driving these people away would be easy, but it would bring nothing but harm in the long run.’

’If Qingcheng Mountain is to protect itself, it can’t rely on just the handful of members within its gates.’

’External allies are also crucial.’

’Those who came up the mountain are mostly Martial Artists from the Qingcheng Mountain region. To some extent, they have all been under the protection of the Qingcheng Sword Sect.’

’If they have the perseverance to learn this martial art, it will forge a positive bond. Then we can just wait and see what the future holds.’

As Zhao Rui’s voice rang out, the hundreds of people below the stage fell silent, listening intently.

The clear, resonant sound of his Dao lecture echoed throughout Qingcheng Mountain.

「Huaxia Land」

The turmoil caused by the overflowing Spiritual Qi gradually subsided as the energy finished spreading and the Martial Artists’ bodies completed their transformations.

By now, the Spiritual Qi in many areas was as dense as it was on the famous mountains and great rivers, with no discernible difference in concentration.

The bodies of the Martial Artists who had undergone the baptism of Spiritual Qi could no longer undergo any further changes.

Order was restored throughout the Central Plains.

Even the Patrols seemed to have forgotten the recent events.

Only the bloodstains being washed away from the gates of certain major sects served as a reminder that the conflict had not been as peaceful as one might have thought.

At the foot of Qingcheng Mountain, groups of Martial Artists filed out of the Daoist Temple in an orderly manner, escorted by the Qingcheng Disciples.

They followed the path back down the mountain.

The baptism they had undergone on Qingcheng Mountain over the past few days had not only transformed their bodies but had also profoundly impacted their minds.

The Martial Arts, the philosophy of Qingcheng’s Daoist School.

Zhao Rui’s profound wisdom, his magnanimity.

All of it was far beyond what their previously restless minds could have ever comprehended.

The few Yunzhen Realm masters who had instigated the trouble earlier felt this the most keenly, and now, their regrets were the deepest.

"Elder, we know our aptitude is poor and dare not dream of entering Qingcheng’s gates. But having received such a great kindness, we have no way to repay it. If Qingcheng has any need of us in the future, we would gladly die to fulfill it."

The one who spoke for them knelt on the ground and kowtowed three times to Zhao Rui.

The man was old enough to be Zhao Rui’s grandfather.

Zhao Rui flicked his sleeve, helping the man to his feet. With a gentle expression, he said, "This was a meeting of fate; there is no need to force things. To cultivate the Dao is to cultivate the mind. Whether you enter a sect’s gates or walk out of them, if the Dao is in your heart, you will find the Dao everywhere. Now, you may all go!"

Hearing this, the men’s eyebrows rose slightly. The Elder’s words clearly acknowledged their desire to honor Qingcheng.

And so, after thanking him once more, they turned and headed down the mountain.

"If Elder Zhao hadn’t been here, I’m afraid this situation would have been very difficult to resolve. I wonder how things are going over at Mount Emei."

Daoist Yu said thoughtfully.

"The Emei Sect is large and powerful. Even if the crowd were several times larger, I doubt they could harm them in the slightest."

Yun Hao said with a frown, looking off into the distance.

「Meanwhile, on Emei Mountain, hundreds of miles away.」

Zen Master Zhisheng looked down at the assembled monks with a smile and said, "The stage is set!"

"Uncle Master, when will our brethren from Gui Xu be able to return?"

An old, long-browed monk from the Emei Sect asked, his palms pressed together.

"It will still require our coordinated efforts, from within and without. Otherwise, I fear the people of Gui Xu will not be able to return easily."

"We shall do our utmost!"

"The disciples’ Power will surely have increased greatly after this Spiritual Qi baptism. None of you should remain idle. Hurry and complete the Sword Array..."

"Yes, Uncle Master!"

The monks replied in unison.

Zhi Sheng nodded, then rose and stepped down from the dais. He walked slowly out of the grand hall.

His gaze pierced through layers of clouds and mist, looking toward Qingcheng Mountain hundreds of miles away.

’I wonder how things are over at Qingcheng? With that young Daoist friend there, I imagine everything is under control.’

...

The Spiritual Qi overflow incident ushered in a rare period of respite for the Martial Artists of the Central Plains.

Many Martial Artists who had undergone the baptism achieved significant breakthroughs in a short period.

The rate at which their bodies converted Inner Strength had clearly improved qualitatively.

Cultivation came to occupy most of the Martial Artists’ time.

Some found great opportunities, while others, naturally, gained nothing.

The Martial Arts Students at universities in the major cities, however, did not have this opportunity.

For one, they were too far away; by the time they received the news, it was already too late.

For another, they were students, subject to school rules. The ones who actually managed to sneak away were few and far between.

However, these were all exceptionally talented Martial Artists. As long as the Spiritual Qi continued to spread in the future, they would still have the chance to undergo the baptism and refine their Meridians.

After this incident, the Court also intensified its efforts to register Martial Artists, directly launching a new round of information gathering.

Information was collected from everyone, whether they were previously on the official registries or not.