Chapter 2317: Encountering Qing Shan Again (Two)

“Do I really have to expose myself?” Jian Chen glanced at Donglin Yanxue in an undetectable manner before looking outside the cave. The light in his eyes flickered as he weighed the advantages and disadvantages.

However, a sliver of surprise flashed through his eyes shortly after. Although he was still a million kilometres away from Qing Shan, the latter was like a lantern in the dark to Jian Chen, as he did not conceal his presence at all. Consequently, Jian Chen could clearly sense his location at all times.

At this moment, Jian Chen sensed that Qing Shan had actually stopped a million kilometres away and did not get any closer.

“Qing Shan clearly knows our precise location, but he hasn’t come. Instead, he’s watching from afar. What is he trying to do?” Jian Chen was puzzled by Qing Shan’s actions.

After a moment of hesitation, Jian Chen looked towards Donglin Yanxue and said, “Rest here for now. I’ll go check on the situation outside.” With that, Jian Chen left the cave.

Donglin Yanxue leaned against the wall powerlessly as she watched Jian Chen leave. She had mixed feelings.

Jian Chen condensed a pair of Radiant Wings first after leaving the cave. He travelled ten thousand kilometres with a speed that matched his identity as a Radiant Saint Master before exposing his cultivation as a fighter and flying directly towards Qing Shan. He moved extremely quickly, crossing a thousand kilometres in a single instance.

A while later, Jian Chen appeared before Qing Shan. He stood a hundred metres away.

Qing Shan sat on a rock with his legs crossed. He seemed towering like a mountain, giving off the feeling that he could hold up the sky. A powerful presence revolved around him.

“You’ve come.” Qing Shan looked at Jian Chen calmly. In that moment, he seemed like a dormant volcano. He seemed calm on the surface, but he hid astonishing power deep down.

Jian Chen frowned slightly. Originally, he thought his battle with Qing Shan would continue, so he was already mentally prepared to fight Qing Shan.

However, when he saw Qing Shan again, he sensed no battle intent from this supreme Godking at all. He sensed no killing intent either.

He actually became rather puzzled about Qing Shan’s intentions.

“You and the candidate, Donglin Yanxue, have already vanished for eight months. I have a secret technique that can find all the Radiant Saint Masters in the World of Moon and Star. I searched the entire place several times during those eight months. Let alone Radiant Godkings, even many elders do not have the ability to avoid being found by me, but you and Donglin Yanxue truly vanished. It was like you were no longer in the World of Moon and Star. I only found your traces again recently,” Qing Shan looked at Jian Chen calmly. He seemed to be studying him closely.

Jian Chen stood with his hands behind his back a hundred metres away. His presence was sharp, making it seem like an invisible sword had condensed around him. He radiated with cold sword Qi as he said, “I never thought you would have a secret technique that can find all the Radiant Saint Masters in the World of Moon and Star. In other words, all the Radiant Saint Masters that have entered this place are done for because of you?”

“Aside from Donglin Yanxue, the candidates are all dead. I’ve killed forty-one of the forty-four Radiant Godkings who entered this place as well.” Although Qing Shan’s knowledge of the Radiant Saint Hall could not be described as complete, it was close. He knew a lot. He looked at Jian Chen deeply and continued, “Originally, I planned on slaughtering all the candidates and Radiant Saint Masters who entered the World of Moon and Star so that the Radiant Saint Hall would have to go without a Chosen Saint this generation. It would be an extremely awkward matter to them, and it would be utterly humiliating. However, your existence has changed my mind. It’s not that I can’t find the three remaining Radiant Godkings. I can kill them without any difficulty. However, I’ve decided to spare them because of you, so they can leave here alive.”

“Qing Shan, we don’t know each other, so why are you sparing them because of me?” Jian Chen asked.

Qing Shan smiled mysteriously and replied, “It’s for a very simple reason. If everyone in the World of Moon and Star dies aside from you and Donglin Yanxue, it’ll become a mystery why the two of you were able to avoid being hunted down. Those elders or even vice-leaders will definitely look into the matter. Even if you can explain it, there’ll be increased risk of exposure under their investigations. But if I leave some more people alive, it’ll cover you even better and disperse the doubts of the elders. They’ll believe that you survived due to luck.”

“Are you helping me? Why are you helping me?” Jian Chen asked in confusion.

Qing Shan stood up. He stared at Jian Chen with shining eyes and said seriously, “That’s because you’re a part of our Martial Soul lineage! Ever since the ancient times, our Martial Soul lineage has treats one another like siblings, like we’re a family. As long as you wield Martial Soul Force, you are a successor of our Martial Soul lineage, regardless of your identity or race. You are someone blessed by the heavens.”

“You possess Martial Soul Force. Even though it’s still extremely weak, that cannot change the fact that you’re a successor to our Martial Soul lineage. As a result, we aren’t enemies. We’re close brothers instead.”

Jian Chen was taken aback by Qing Shan’s reply. He knew he possessed Martial Soul Force, but he did not know the Martial Soul lineage hid a side like that.

“That’s absurd. I may possess Martial Soul Force, but I have no ties with your Martial Soul lineage,” said Jian Chen.

“You’re wrong. Every single person who wields Martial Soul Force is created by the world. That’s the same as Radiant Saint Masters. Whether a person has the potential to become a Radiant Saint Master is determined the moment they’re born. It’s clear cut, unlike fighters who can cultivate their way up from being mortals. Even ordinary people with no talent at all can change themselves through heavenly resources and various other means, nurturing themselves after they’re born. As a result, there’s a saying that Radiant Saint Masters are naturally created.”

“Our Martial Soul Force follows the same principle, except it’s much more difficult to give birth to someone with Martial Soul Force. Every single person who possesses Martial Soul Force is an existence blessed by the heavens, and in each aeon, it’s impossible for these existences to exceed the single digits in number.”

“It’s exactly because of how few of us there are that we’re secretly protected by the world. The world has formed a special law, secretly guiding and uniting the wielders of Martial Soul Force.”

“Originally, I was the same as you. I cultivated alone and wandered the Saints’ World alone. But in the end, out of pure chance, I happened upon the Martial Soul Mountain. And it’s not just me. Even my senior brothers and sisters on the Martial Soul Mountain and the past seniors who have already passed away all became members of the Martial Soul Mountain through various means. There have been no exceptions in history.”

Qing Shan arrived before Jian Chen and stared at him with brimming interest as he said, “Perhaps this secret arrangement is a form of protection from the world. Our Martial Soul lineage is a unique legacy. We have limited members, and it’s impossible to acquire the usage of Martial Soul Force at birth. We can’t break through to Grand Prime either. As a result, the Martial Soul lineage is an extremely frail legacy in the Saints’ World. The heavens wants us to gather together, for us to unite and stand strong.”