Martial Saint with Passives

The trusted disciple was stunned, at a loss for words.

Xie Songnian strolled to the window, his gaze falling upon the Central Martial Arts Arena. His eyes were as deep and dark as an ancient, frozen pool.

He wasn’t surprised in the slightest that the failure, Fang Muye, had lost.

Ever since he’d learned that Jiang Che had emerged alive from True Master Bai Yi’s abode with the inheritance in hand, he knew Fang Muye was no longer a match for him.

’How could a hothouse flower like Fang Muye, propped up by family resources and Elixir Pills, ever hope to compare to someone who had earned the recognition of a Great Power from the True Mastery Realm? What were his true trump cards and potential?’

’What a fine Jiang Che... And what a fine Xu Qingshan...’

He scoffed inwardly.

The trusted disciple watched the Vice Sect Leader’s calm back, but an inexplicable chill crept into his heart.

"Vice Sect Leader, what about... the Young Alliance Leader tournament...?" the disciple reminded him cautiously.

"It’s of no concern." Xie Songnian waved his hand dismissively, his tone radiating a detached sense of complete control. "A genius? Heh. An unestablished genius is nothing but bones in a tomb."

He paced slowly over to a bonsai pine, picked up a pair of shears, and gently snipped off an errant branch.

"The alliance has only just been formed. The various powers are a tangled mess of interests, and their people are not of one mind. This so-called ’Young Alliance Leader’ tournament is nothing more than a bone I’ve tossed out for those self-righteous youngsters to fight, snatch, and bite over."

"Whether it’s Jiang Che or Qin Wuya, it doesn’t matter who wins. The bigger the scene they make, the more ferociously they fight, the more everyone’s attention will be focused on that ridiculous competition..."

His voice trailed off, and a cold, serpentine glint flickered in his eyes.

He casually tossed the snipped branch into the brazier at his feet.

The verdant sprig instantly curled and blackened in the glowing embers, ultimately turning to ash.

’Once my grand plan comes to fruition...’

Xie Songnian watched the wisp of smoke rising from the brazier, a cold smile touching his lips.

’By then, whether it’s Jiang Che or his master, Xu Qingshan...’

’...or even that old fossil, Xu Zhouzi...’

’...they will all be nothing more than dried twigs in this brazier!’

’Let the boy be smug for a few more days. Let him run his mouth a little longer...’

...

As the selection tournament for the Young Alliance Leader drew near, the entire Martial World of Cangzhou Prefecture was abuzz with anticipation for the grand competition.

From the bustling city streets to the serene and elegant Sects,

nearly every conversation revolved around the upcoming pinnacle event, which would determine the hierarchy of Cangzhou Prefecture’s younger generation.

In all the major taverns and teahouses, storytellers had long since woven the deeds of the prodigies on the Hidden Dragon List into epic tales, recounting them daily with great fervor to packed audiences.

Meanwhile, the city’s gambling dens, large and small, had long since opened their betting pools for the event.

"Is there even a question? The Young Alliance Leader title is as good as Qin Wuya’s! I’m putting down one hundred taels of gold on him!"

"Not necessarily! Even True Masters have sung the praises of Gu Qingxuan’s sword! I’d say she has a better shot at winning!"

However, aside from these top contenders, the recently ascendant Jiang Che had also become a hot topic of discussion!

Within the Cangyun Sect especially, debates over whether Jiang Che could create another miracle had reached a fever pitch.

Wherever disciples gathered, from the dining hall to the Martial Arts Arena, related arguments could be heard.

"Chief Jiang will definitely pull it off! He’s the one who received True Master Bai Yi’s inheritance! He defeated Fang Muye with a single punch last time, even after Muye took a Secret Medicine. He’ll definitely achieve something brilliant again this time!"

The disciples of Yunhai Courtyard were Jiang Che’s most loyal supporters.

When they argued with disciples from other courtyards, they stood with their chests puffed out, their words filled with a pride that came from sharing in his glory.

The strength of their own Chief was their greatest source of confidence!

Of course, amidst the fervent anticipation, there was no shortage of sober analyses pouring cold water on such hopes.

"Get real, you’re all being way too optimistic. An internal Sect squabble and a prefecture-wide tournament are two completely different things! The people coming this time are true masters!" a well-informed-looking Inner Courtyard Disciple analyzed for his friends, a sneer on his face.

"Yeah, that Qin Wuya is a certified monster! I heard from a friend at the Taiyuan Sect that he went out training not long ago and single-handedly killed a genuine Black Beast at the Early-stage of True Master Realm! No matter how strong Jiang Che is, can he possibly compare to that?"

"And don’t forget Gu Qingxuan. You haven’t seen her ’Lingxiao Celestial Fall’ in person. That’s simply not a move a Martial Artist in the Refining Organ Realm should be able to use! Jiang Che may have blocked it last time, but he was in a sorry state. He was clearly outmatched!"

"So," that disciple concluded, "Jiang Che will be lucky to even make it into the top three. Compete with Qin Wuya and Gu Qingxuan for first place? Heh, that’s just a pipe dream!"

Though harsh, these analyses weren’t without merit and gained the support of many.

In short, everyone was eagerly awaiting the grand competition.

Would the dark horse go all the way and forge a new legend?

Or would the established champions defend their honor and continue their undefeated reign?

...

While the outside world was in an uproar over the competition, with undercurrents of intrigue swirling, all of this turmoil seemed to have nothing to do with Jiang Che, the man at the center of the storm.

Immediately after defeating Fang Muye, he had once again thrown himself into the Level A Cultivation Room, beginning a final sprint of secluded training before the tournament.

Inside the Cultivation Room, the Spiritual Mist was as thick as slurry.

Jiang Che sat cross-legged on the cushion in the center of the room, as motionless as a boulder.

His breaths were long and deep. With every inhale and exhale, the surrounding Spiritual Mist rippled visibly, forming a small tidal vortex around him.

He had long since shut out all external disturbances, completely immersing his mind and spirit in the pursuit of the very source of the Martial Dao.

His Top-Grade Root Bone, combined with his "Cultivation and Dissipating Skill" training method, the Level A Cultivation Room, and vast quantities of precious Cultivation Resources... all of it caused his cultivation speed to skyrocket, letting him advance by leaps and bounds!

...

「On the final night before the competition.」

Jiang Che slowly emerged from the profound state of cultivation in which he had forgotten both himself and the world.

He let out a long, turbid breath.

The breath shot out like a sharp blade, traveling several feet and parting the dense Spiritual Mist to create a clear channel that lingered for a long moment.

"Hooo..."

Jiang Che opened his eyes, and a brilliant, star-like glint flashed in their depths before vanishing.

He could clearly feel that his power had improved once again!

Although his Realm was still at the Late-stage Refining Organ Realm and he hadn’t broken through to the Peak, his total Strength was at least twenty percent greater than it had been half a month ago!

What gave him even more confidence was that, thanks to the constant "feeding" over this period and the surge in his own Strength, the active Ability of his core trump card, [True: Infinite Battle Armor], had been enhanced once more!

Previously, he could barely manage to release his Eighteenfold Strike three times in a row. Now, he could unleash it five consecutive times in a short period, without any lag!

Jiang Che slowly clenched his fist. Feeling the explosive power within him—a force that felt like it could tear anything apart—his resolve hardened.

He hadn’t been pushing himself this hard just to defeat Qin Wuya in the tournament.

Winning would be nice, but it wouldn’t be the end of the world if he couldn’t.

He didn’t particularly need the True Essence Pill.

Nor did he have any desire to become the so-called "Young Alliance Leader."

What he was truly worried about was the Vice Sect Leader, Xie Songnian, lurking in the shadows like a venomous snake!

His intuition told him that this Young Alliance Leader selection tournament, orchestrated single-handedly by Xie Songnian, was not nearly as simple as it appeared on the surface.

’That old dog must be plotting something earth-shattering!’

’Therefore, he had to make himself stronger—stronger still!’

’Only then, in the face of the unknown storm to come, would he have the power to calmly handle whatever happened and protect what he wanted to protect!’

「The next day.」

Under the watchful eyes of the masses, the Young Alliance Leader selection tournament officially began!

...