Chapter 105: The Celestial Martial Soul

Chapter 105: Star Martial Spirit

Shi Yan headed east.

The Dead Silence Swamp was perpetually shrouded in toxic miasma, and with its treacherous, marshy terrain, one had to be extremely cautious. A single misstep could lead to being swallowed by quicksand or falling victim to a sneak attack by a demonic beast. The eastern reaches of the swamp were relatively remote, and few martial artists ventured into this area.

Along the way, Shi Yan encountered a few mercenaries scouring the vicinity for demonic beasts and rare herbs. Most were only at the initial stages of cultivation, possessing relatively low strength. Shi Yan, intent on leaving the swamp as soon as possible, avoided any conflict with them. Whenever he spotted mercenaries, he would actively steer clear to ensure his face remained unknown, lest news of his movements reach Bei Ming Shang.

That night, after much deliberation, Shi Yan took out the Heaven-Splitting Sword and the Ice Armor he had obtained from Bei Ming Ce. He tossed them into the murky, green swamp before him, watching as the filth and toxic water slowly engulfed the two treasures.

Both items were extraordinary artifacts personally forged by Bei Ming Shang. They contained traces of his divine sense, and within a certain radius, Bei Ming Shang might be able to track their location. Though he knew they were immensely valuable, Shi Yan sacrificed them without hesitation to secure his own life. He had already tested the highly corrosive nature of the swamp's toxic water and trusted that it would sever Bei Ming Shang’s divine sense connection.

Having done this, Shi Yan continued his journey eastward.

Three nights later, Shi Yan stood amidst a patch of shrubs, suppressing his aura while peering ahead.

In a wetland clearing before him, the sounds of combat echoed—a one-sided slaughter. Though curious, Shi Yan refrained from investigating, waiting for the battle to conclude so he could proceed. After a quarter-hour, the sounds of fighting died away. He waited another half-hour to ensure the area was clear before emerging from the foliage and crossing the wetland.

Since the wetlands lay directly on his path eastward, he had no choice but to pass through. Upon arriving, he found seven or eight corpses scattered on the ground. Their essence had already dissipated into the world, leaving nothing for him to scavenge. The bodies, clad in matching armor, appeared to have been ravaged by a demonic beast; they were torn to shreds, presenting a gruesome sight. Seeing there was nothing to gain, Shi Yan quickened his pace, eager to leave the site behind.

"I knew you would come this way."

At that moment, the voice of Xia Xinyan drifted from a nearby thicket. Her slender figure, face veiled, emerged from behind the bushes. Behind her, the two iron-tower-like men were wiping blood from their hands with gray rags.

"Did you kill these people?" Shi Yan asked indifferently.

Xinyan nodded. Without explaining why she had slaughtered the mercenaries, she fixed her mesmerizing eyes upon him, studying him for a long moment before saying, "You truly obtained Ouyang Zhi’s Star Martial Spirit Source Seal."

"Ouyang Zhi?" Shi Yan’s expression shifted. "Who is he?"

"He is the one who constructed the Pseudo-Heavenly Gate and left behind the Martial Spirit Source Seal. Ouyang Zhi was a legendary figure of the Endless Sea, a Star God of the Three Gods Sect. A thousand years ago, he possessed the cultivation of the Third Heaven of the God-Connecting Realm. It is said he was only a step away from the True God Realm," Xia Xinyan replied slowly.

"The Three Gods Sect? A Star God? What else do you know?" Shi Yan exclaimed.

"A thousand years ago, the Sun, Moon, and Star Gods of the Three Gods Sect entered the Seventh Underworld and clashed with the Abyssal Underworld King in the Underworld Sea. They were trapped by the 'Abyssal Hell' formation, created by thirty million nether soldiers. It was the most brutal battle in the Seventh Underworld in a millennium. The Three Gods Sect suffered heavy losses, and many disciples perished. After that battle, only the Sun God returned from the Seventh Underworld. The Moon God and Star God vanished mysteriously, and of the thirty million nether soldiers, only five million survived. It is said the Abyssal Underworld King himself was severely wounded and has not emerged from beneath the Underworld Sea for a thousand years..."

"The Sun, Moon, and Star Gods? The Seventh Underworld? The Abyssal Underworld King?"

Doubt filled Shi Yan’s eyes. He shook his head and asked, "Are you saying that the Heavenly Gate was constructed by the Star God, one of those three?"

"Correct." Xia Xinyan nodded slightly. "After that battle, many believed the Moon and Star Gods had died. Indeed, for a thousand years, neither has appeared in the Endless Sea. Judging by the Pseudo-Heavenly Gate and the phenomena at the Absolute Yin Valley, Ouyang Zhi must have been severely wounded in the Seventh Underworld and eventually died. However, before he perished, he somehow reached this place. He slaughtered an eighth-level demonic beast, the Mud-Marsh Dragon, and used its beast core and his remaining power to build that Pseudo-Heavenly Gate and Pseudo-God Domain, leaving behind his Martial Spirit Source Seal as a legacy."

"Martial Spirit Source Seal?"

Shi Yan whispered, subconsciously touching his chest. A strange light flickered across his face.

"A Martial Spirit Source Seal is the imprint of a Martial Spirit. Once a martial artist obtains it, they can acquire the Martial Spirit within. God-level experts, knowing they are doomed, can use great divine abilities to condense their Martial Spirit into a Source Seal to prevent it from being lost. The mark of a Star Martial Spirit is the presence of tiny starlike spots on the heart, resembling a vast, billion-fold shrunken map of the starry sea," Xia Xinyan explained.

"This is a type of Martial Spirit?" Shi Yan’s eyes suddenly brightened, and he looked at his heart with surprise.

"Not just a Martial Spirit, but a Saint-grade one," Xia Xinyan affirmed.

"Saint-grade? Are Martial Spirits ranked?"

"Of course. Based on their power and the number of times they can evolve, they are ranked as Mortal, Profound, Spirit, Saint, and God-grade. The greater the power and potential for evolution, the more formidable the Martial Spirit. For instance, the Sun, Moon, and Star Martial Spirits of the Three Gods Sect are all Saint-grade, as is the Reincarnation Martial Spirit of my Xia family. Martial Spirits appear too rarely in your region for such a classification, but in the Endless Sea, there are countless varieties. Without a detailed hierarchy, how could one know which is superior?"

"What rank is our Shi family’s Petrifying Martial Spirit?"

"Without a professional assessment, I cannot say. At most, it is likely a Spirit-grade. I have never heard of a Saint-grade Martial Spirit in your territory. Ranking depends on complexity, power, and evolutionary potential. In the Endless Sea, the Martial Spirit Hall is responsible for these assessments; they hold the authority on such matters."

"Is a Saint-grade Martial Spirit very rare?"

"Of course. In the Endless Sea, Saint-grade is the highest tier. Families that possess them are among the most powerful forces. Do you still think it’s not rare?"

"So, I’ve hit the jackpot?"

"What do you think?"

"Miss Xia, thank you for telling me all this. I intend to go to the Endless Sea. Are we headed in the same direction?"

Xia Xinyan suddenly fell silent. If Shi Yan never went to the Endless Sea, he would pose little threat to her interests. However, once he arrived and displayed the Star Martial Spirit, the Three Gods Sect would spare no effort to locate him, crown him as a Godly Son, and provide him with the best cultivation resources. The Three Gods Sect and the Xia family were direct rivals; Shi Yan’s presence would surely make him a future powerhouse for the sect—a formidable enemy for the Xia family.

"Miss," the two iron-tower men prompted softly.

"Do you really intend to go to the Endless Sea?" Xia Xinyan asked, looking at him deeply, her eyes filled with complexity.

Shi Yan hesitated, unsure of her intent. He gave a bitter smile: "Given my current situation, can I even survive in Heavenly Meteor City? You know how much influence Bei Ming Shang has over the Merchant Union. If I return, I will die, and the Shi family will suffer. I have no choice."

"Let me be honest with you," Xia Xinyan said after a pause. "Our Xia family and the Three Gods Sect belong to opposing camps. With the Star Martial Spirit within you, once you reach the Endless Sea, you will likely become a key figure in the Three Gods Sect. In the future, you will be my enemy—a powerful one."

Shi Yan’s expression turned cold. He stepped back instinctively to keep his distance, sneering, "So you three are here to nip a future threat in the bud? Miss Xia, I don’t understand why you’ve said so much. Are you trying to let me die with a clear conscience?"

The two iron-tower men moved to either side of Xia Xinyan, their gazes icy, clearly preparing to strike.

"Stop," Xia Xinyan commanded with a frown, curbing her men. She stared at Shi Yan and said, "You could join my Xia family as a guest elder. I will plant a poison within you, and then arrange for your entry into the Three Gods Sect to learn their secret arts. Regardless of the rank you reach, you will remain a member of my Xia family. What do you say?"

"You want me to be a mole in the Three Gods Sect?" Shi Yan sneered.

"A mole—that is an accurate term. Well? What do you think?" Xia Xinyan looked at him. "As long as you agree, I will support you fully. If you learn their secrets and never turn them against my family, I swear I will never harm you."

"I agree."