Hunting Immortals and Demons

"Let’s wait a bit more."

Lu Yan shook his head.

Since he has promised Guan Shan, he certainly had to visit the Mansion of King Ming.

But not yet.

Right now, he could still improve himself within the six counties of Lingdong.

With the third-level Martial Food and a significant amount of martial arts to cultivate, there was no rush.

It would be more appropriate to stay in the six counties of Lingdong until he reached a level where improvement became painstaking, and then visit the Mansion of King Ming.

Perhaps when the Kunwu Mountain was devoid of third-level alien beast meat.

Or when he could integrate both body refining martial arts and speed martial arts to create top martial arts.

"That might be better, going to the Mansion of King Ming after improving your strength is not a bad thing. Despite you being unrivaled in the six counties of Lingdong and can even fight a fourth-level master with just first-level master strength, it’s because the masters of the six counties of Lingdong are too weak."

Outside Lingdong, there’s a sea of master-level cultivators, especially those disciples from major feudal lords, you must not underestimate them."

Guan Shan cautioned.

"Senior, are you referring to the Innate Martial Body?"

Lu Yan asked.

"The Innate Martial Body is just one aspect, master-level Innate Martial Bodies are rarely seen in the six counties of Lingdong, but it’s different elsewhere."

"Whether it’s the Shengxuan Sect or the Mansion of King Ming, or some Honorable feudal lords, they all have ways to help an Innate Martial Body surpass their master level. Therefore, there’s no shortage of master-level Innate Martial Bodies outside of Lingdong. Each of them possesses extremely formidable battle prowess, mastering at least two types of inner strengths."

"Moreover, we have the top martial arts. The Mansion of King Ming and the Shengxuan Sect certainly possess top martial arts. Not just one or two, but several. The same goes for those Honorable feudal lords. If you encounter these people, your top inner strength will lose its advantage."

"The last and rarest type, which also happens to be the most powerful and tricky, is the Internal God-man."

Guan Shan explained.

"Internal God-man?"

Lu Yan questioned.

He knew about Honorable feudal lords. They were feudal lords guarded by True Body Realm masters, who had claimed three-level Blood Land Veins, hence their title as Honorable feudal lords.

Their strength was far superior to the master-level feudal lords.

But the term Internal God-man was something Lu Yan had heard for the first time.

"In this world, there are always some people with extraordinary talents, such as Innate Martial Bodies. Their natural Qi-blood is strong and much superior to ordinary people. There are also some people who are even more scarce and rare than the Innate Martial Bodies. They possess special internal organs. These individuals’ internal organs contain miracles and are filled with infinite wonders. They are the people with special physiques, also known as Internal God-men."

"Of course, each Internal God-man has a different specialty. For some, it’s their heart that is special. For others, it’s their liver, kidneys, lungs, or spleen."

"Before reaching the master level, these people show no abnormalities. Some of them even have very average talents. But as soon as they enter the master level and stimulate their special internal organs, they will explode with infinite potential, cultivating special inner strengths and soaring into the sky."

"Internal God-men, even if they only control one special inner strength, their battle power is extremely terrifying. It’s very common for them to crush Innate Martial Bodies."

"Innate Martial Bodies have special flesh and blood, while these individuals have special internal organs."

Explained Guan Shan.

"I see."

Lu Yan nodded, realizing the world was vast and full of wonders. What he knew was very limited.

"Wouldn’t those individuals waste their talents if they can’t break through to the master level?"

Lu Yan asked.

"Indeed, but there’s nothing that can be done about it. Of course, some of the top-ranked feudal lords and powerful forces have ways to examine a Martial Cultivator’s internal organs. Like the Shengxuan Sect, each time they accept new disciples, there will be people specifically examining their internal organs to see if there are any Internal God-men, so as not to miss the opportunity to train them. As soon as they are discovered, they will be prioritized for cultivation."

Guan Shan continued.

"Are there people that possess several special internal organs at the same time?"

Lu Yan asked again.

Today, he had opened the gate to a new world, and he naturally wanted to ask everything clearly.

After all, he might encounter such people in the future.

Knowing yourself as well as the enemy is the key.

"Yes, but they are extremely rare. There are only a few instances in history. Whether there are any in the world today, I am not sure."

"There’s also a kind that possesses both an Innate Martial Body and special internal organs simultaneously. There are historical records of such individuals, but they are also extremely rare. Such a person, once they appear, will dominate an era."

Guan Shan added.

"Senior, would my ironstone heart count?"

"No, the ironstone heart just means your heart is more robust and resilient, which increases the chances of breaking through to the master level, nothing else."

Guan Shan replied.

Lu Yan nodded in understanding.

He wondered if any of his internal organs were special.

It was certain that his heart wasn’t.

As for the remaining four internal organs, he wasn’t sure if any of them were special.

But Lu Yan suspected that most likely none of them were.

His body seemed extremely ordinary.

People assumed he was an Innate Martial Body when he was in fact an Acquired Martial Body. He was entirely reliant on the Dao Book and continuous cultivation to where he was now.

In terms of his internal organs, the chances were slim as well.

"Senior, what is the realm after the master level? I’ve heard it’s the True Body Realm, but what’s after that? Are there any other realms and how many are there altogether?"

Lu Yan took the opportunity to continue his queries.

"Since you’ve asked, I will explain to you properly. These are considered common knowledge outside."

Guan Shan nodded and explained, "Master level cultivators focus on the cultivation of the five internal organs and six hollow organs, opening the source of their internal organs, releasing their potential, and are broadly divided into six levels. Once all five internal organs have been cultivated, they reach the fifth-level master. The final step is to incorporate the inner strength into the six hollow organs, reaching the peak master level."

"When cultivation reaches this point, the progress in their fleshly bodies can be considered near its peak but still not perfect. They are all operating independently and are not in unison."

"The next stage is to unite the Qi-blood, flesh and blood, bones, internal organs into one, forming an indestructible True Body, and cultivating the ultimate True Vigor. Only at this realm is the fleshly body considered complete, this stage is known as the True Body Realm, or as the people of the world respectfully call it, Martial Venerable."

"Following the completion of the fleshly body, comes the Primordial Spirit Realm when the potential of the soul is developed. This stage is mysterious beyond comprehension, as even my master knows so little about it, let alone me."

"All I know is that some individuals with extraordinary talents possess special souls. Once awakened, they can soar to the skies, surpassing Innate Martial Bodies and Internal God-men. In history, there were such individuals who were unknown during the early stages but became invincible once they entered the Primordial Spirit Realm."

"Once in the Primordial Spirit Realm, they stand at the peak of the powerful in all of Da Chu, even throughout the world. Their names are known far and wide, with billions of people looking up to them."

Guan Shan said.

"What is King Ming’s cultivation level?"

Lu Yan asked.

"King Ming is one of the twenty supremely powerful individuals in Da Chu, naturally, he is in the Primordial Spirit Realm."

Guan Shan said, admiration in his eyes.

"Is there a realm above the Primordial Spirit Realm?"

Lu Yan asked again.

"As for that, it’s hard to say. My cultivation level is too low, after all, and my exposure to such topics is limited. But according to legends, there is such a realm. However, in history, hardly anyone has reached it."

"Only one person is rumored to have achieved that realm, and that is the first Emperor of the Dagu Dynasty, widely known as the Martial Ancestor. But whether it’s true or not, no one can confirm."

Guan Shan said.

"The path is still long."

Lu Yan tightly clenched his fists.

"These are the broad categories of the realm of Martial Arts cultivation. Understand them in your heart, but don’t get overambitious. Train your internal organs first. The later realms, once you step into them, you will naturally experience them firsthand."

"Also, when you go beyond Lingdong, you must keep a low profile. There are really too many experts. Some fearsome Internal God-men, even if you’re on the same level, you may not be able to defeat them, let alone fight those above your level."

Guan Shan earnestly cautioned.

"This junior will remember."

Lu Yan nodded earnestly.

"Senior, could you give this junior another piece of the Immortal Bone?"

Lu Yan suddenly changed the topic.

"What? You want another Immortal Bone?"

Guan Shan widened his eyes.

"This junior needs it for cultivation. Or else, I could borrow it from the senior, and when I get a new Immortal Bone in the future, I will definitely return it."

Lu Yan said.

"Return?"

Guan Shan wore a look of disbelief.

He was now more certain than ever that the three Immortal Bones from the start had indeed ended up with Lu Yan, with the Martial Spirit taking the blame for him.

But right now, it didn’t really matter.

"No need to return it, I’ll give it to you."

Guan Shan waved away the matter, gave him an Immortal Bone, and handed it to Lu Yan.

"Right, recently, the Zhao Clan, Ding Family, and Li Family have all come to me, wanting to buy grade three Alien Beast meat. What do you think, should we sell?"

Guan Shan said.

"The meat from the Alien Beasts of Kunwu Mountain belongs to the senior. Whatever the senior decides, is fine."

Lu Yan said.

"You also know it’s mine, but have you ever paid a single Silver Tael for the grade three Martial Food you took from here?"

Guan Shan teased.

Lu Yan’s face showed embarrassment.

"We can sell, but only sell a small part, not too much."

Lu Yan said.

"Okay, then you handle dealing with them. The silver earned from the sale is yours."

Guan Shan casually waved his hand.

"Thank you, Senior."

Lu Yan bowed with his hands folded.

Although he knew that Guan Shan only wanted to use him to redeem his master’s atonement and return to the Mansion of King Ming, Guan Shan’s kindness still moved Lu Yan.

A little later, Lu Yan returned to Li’an City with a large box of grade three Martial Food, riding on his mount, Blood Slaughter.

Once he returned to Li’an City, Lu Yan dived straight into the Practice Room, fully concentrated on comprehending Martial Arts.

Each time he successfully comprehended a Body Refining Martial Art technique, Lu Yan would have someone send Divine Intent Diagrams and secret manuals back to their respective Feudal Lords.

Lu Yan was a man of his word.

In between, he took a trip to Kunwu Mountain and sold portions of grade three Alien Beast meat to the Zhao Clan, Ding Family, and Li Family.

The meat from grade three Alien Beasts was pricey.

In the past, each Master-Level Feudal Lord used to buy grade three Martial Food from the other large Feudal Lords outside Lingdong. The cooked dishes that were made from grade three Martial Food were priced at 300 Silver Taels per pound.

Raw grade three Alien Beast meat cost 100 Silver Taels per pound.

This time, with the death of eighty percent of the grade three Alien Beasts on Kunwu Mountain, dozens of Alien Beasts equaled tens of thousands of pounds of meat.

This time, Lu Yan sold a total of 15,000 pounds to the three Feudal Lords, earning 1.5 million Silver Taels.

Guan Shan didn’t want any, giving it all to Lu Yan.

As Guan Shan said, he was alone and so much silver would be of no great use.

With the silver, Lu Yan returned all the silver he had previously borrowed from the various Martial Marquis-Level Feudal Lords.

After over forty days, Lu Yan had wholly comprehended four Body Refining Martial Arts techniques, totaling nine in all with the previous ones.

Four of them were Unity of Man and Martial Arts.

The other five were still at the entry level.

Lu Yan took out the Immortal Bone, connected it to the Dao Book, and swallowed it.

In no time, the Dao Book surged with energy that flowed into one of the Avatars practicing a Body Refining Martial Art. The progress began to rapidly increase.

This Immortal Bone, perhaps because of being used in the previous battle at Kunwu Mountain and the resulting energy depletion, ultimately only brought three Body Refining Martial Arts techniques up to the Unity of Man and Martial Arts stage.

Two more were still lacking.