Chapter 115: The True Qi Martial Path

“The Black Lotus Sect is a heretical cult with a history spanning several centuries, active across multiple northern provinces including our Caizhou. They specialize in using demonic and evil doctrines to corrupt people's hearts and have repeatedly incited local uprisings. The northern rebellion that King Qing suppressed back then was actually instigated by the Black Lotus Sect.”

“Because of the numerous rebellions and the notorious reputation the Black Lotus Sect has accumulated, both the former Dayong Court and, after the division, King Qing himself have taken a resolute stance to eradicate them. There have been multiple campaigns aimed at purging the sect.”

“Moreover, due to their previous collusion with the Xuejing Sacred Court of the Black-Bearded tribes that invaded several northern provinces, even the Black Armored Army harbors hostility toward them. Many martial sects have also voluntarily dispatched members to eliminate the Black Lotus Sect’s influence.”

The shadowy figure explained.

“So, it’s a heretical cult universally despised and hunted down.”

“What is the strength of the Black Lotus Sect?”

Li Ju’s fingers lightly tapped on the chair.

“The sect is led by nine Black Lotus Envoys, under whom are elders, inspectors, and leaf chiefs. Even the lowest rank leaf chief must be a master at the internal realm.”

“The internal realm expert who appeared in Yangyuan County is, barring any unexpected circumstances, one of the Black Lotus leaf chiefs,” the shadow replied.

“Have you found out what the Black Lotus Sect is scheming in Yangyuan County?”

Li Ju asked again.

“Sorry, Lord, my subordinates have yet to gather any intelligence on that,” the shadow shook his head.

“Then send them to investigate further.”

Li Ju said expressionlessly after hearing this.

It was understandable that the members of the Sanyuan Sect had not uncovered the Black Lotus Sect’s plans. After all, these were martial artists he had gathered temporarily for indoctrination and control. Just three months ago, they were nothing but bandits. In terms of strength, they were mostly at the internal and external realm levels. Expecting such amateurs to infiltrate a cult with centuries of history was mere wishful thinking.

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“I still lack competent people under me.”

Watching the shadow trembling before him, Li Ju thought to himself.

The Sanyuan Sect was still too young and had few experts. Its influence barely covered Shimen County and only slightly extended beyond. That was the limit.

But a mature organization couldn't be built overnight. While he could use unorthodox means to quickly establish a medium-sized power, growing it into a large force required time.

“How is the investigation on the experts at the true qi realm coming along?”

After a pause, Li Ju continued.

“Lord, here is all the confirmed and suspected information our subordinates have gathered on experts at the true qi realm and above,” the shadow said hurriedly, producing a sheet of paper.

“Put it on the table, then step back,” Li Ju waved dismissively.

“Yes, Lord.”

The shadow respectfully placed the paper on the tea table beside Li Ju and withdrew.

“True qi realm…”

Li Ju leaned back in his chair for a moment, then picked up the paper.

According to what Li Ju had learned, the martial arts system in this world differed significantly from the Sanyuan martial arts of the Demonic Might Overlord’s copy world.

At the early external realm stage, the two martial arts were identical. But upon reaching the internal realm, the paths diverged.

In Sanyuan martial arts, the internal realm is cultivated by refining internal force through the body’s power source. In this world, internal force is condensed by absorbing the primordial energy of heaven and earth through cultivation techniques.

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Compared to Sanyuan martial arts, this world’s method makes crossing the internal realm threshold easier and more likely to succeed, but the internal force of internal realm experts here is generally less solid than that of Sanyuan internal realm masters.

Li Ju estimated that an internal realm expert of Sanyuan martial arts would overpower one of this world’s internal realm experts at the same level. Still, although weaker than Sanyuan internal realm masters, the internal realm experts here could easily defeat external realm practitioners.

Beyond the internal realm, the two systems diverged completely. In Sanyuan martial arts, the next stage after the internal realm is the Lesser Sanyuan realm, requiring the martial artist to open their consciousness sea for breakthrough. In this world, the next stage is called the true qi realm.

The true qi realm is achieved when an internal realm expert purifies their internal force into true qi by extensively refining the external primordial energy of heaven and earth. True qi realm martial artists are far stronger than internal realm experts and are considered powerful figures locally, commanding respect and renown within a province.

However, lacking comparisons, Li Ju had yet to encounter a true qi realm martial artist in this world. Therefore, he could not judge who was stronger between the Lesser Sanyuan realm and the true qi realm.

Due to this distinct realm and cultivation method, Li Ju named the martial arts system here True Qi Martial Arts.

The reason he had his subordinates gather information on true qi realm martial artists was to witness their strength firsthand and estimate his own level within this world.

Li Ju opened the paper and carefully read through the contents.

“True qi realm and above experts in Shimen County: 1. Northern Spear King Yuan Wuer, above true qi realm, residing in Shimen County city…”

When Li Ju saw the first name, he paused slightly.

The name Northern Spear King Yuan Wuer was thunderously familiar to him after three months of involvement in this world’s martial arts circle.

Yuan Wuer, true to his name, was unquestionably the number one martial artist in the entire northern region and the former commander of the Northern Black Armored Army!

In his youth, he wielded a long spear, single-handedly sweeping through tens of thousands of elite Black-Bearded troops. On the battlefield, he even personally killed the Xue Emperor of the Black-Bearded tribe’s generation, nearly fracturing the Xuejing Sacred Court. Since that battle, the Sacred Court has not dared set foot in Dayong’s borderlands.

Though Yuan Wuer was now old, no one dared provoke him, especially after he stepped down from command and settled in Shimen County city. His presence turned the city into a forbidden zone for underground forces like the Black Lotus Sect, making it one of the safest places across several northern provinces.

Some influential families at the provincial and county level even relocated their clans to Shimen County city because of his protection—such as the Sun family of Shimen, who moved there from afar.