Cultivation: When you take things to the extreme

Chapter 415: Chapter 265: Hundred Flowers_1

People of the Martial World, matters of the Martial World?

If people don’t rest, troubles don’t cease.

Three months later, in South Mountain City.

Due to the Millennium Calamity, the very landscape of heaven and earth underwent vast changes. The ancient geographical layout was no longer applicable. Now, the world was divided into the Forty-eight Domains, corresponding to the number of atlases, each controlled by the various powers of both the righteous and the wicked paths.

Such vastness of a single domain surpassed that of ancient nations. Possession of the War God’s Atlas put the Divine Martial Heritage at the pinnacle, ruling over these domains. Beneath them were large and small forces, each with branches and followers, along with wanderers and martial artists, forming a society that was like a nation yet not one, like a family yet not one.

South Mountain City was one of the Forty-eight Domains, a city belonging to the Qing Region. Not too small to be ignored, nor too large to be dominant, it was only considered second-tier among the cities of the Qing Region.

Though only a second-tier city, it could not avoid the whirlpools of the Martial World, with its rumors, gossip, and important news of the times.

Hundred Flowers Building, Heavenly Fragrance Pavilion!

“The beauty of Hundred Flowers and Heavenly Fragrance, the twin gems of the Qing Region, indeed live up to their reputation!”

“Although the Qing Region is headed by the Evergreen Palace, it is the Hundred Flowers Building and Heavenly Fragrance Pavilion that truly hold the title of supreme beauty.”

“Evergreen Palace possesses the thirty-second stele ‘Evergreen Through the Ages’ from the War God’s Atlas, the most authentic wood-affinity cultivation technique. Hundred Flowers Building and Heavenly Fragrance Pavilion are its branches, admitting only women, who cultivate with the essence of flowers and fragrance—their disciples are all beauties. Though they don’t possess the ‘Evergreen Through the Ages’ constitution, they embody the spirit of flowers and fragrance!”

“Today, the Hundred Flowers Building and Heavenly Fragrance Pavilion have joined forces for the Hundred Flower Heavenly Fragrance Conference here in South Mountain City. It will feature not only the auction of rare treasures and heavenly materials but also performances by the beautiful ladies of fragrance and flowers.”

“It’s said that today’s conference is hosted by the Fairy Qihua of the Hundred Flowers Building, who ranks fifty-first on the list of renowned beauties. Though she doesn’t match the celestial beauty of Cihang, she too is a nation-toppling beauty, a unique flower among mortals!”

“Brother Zhao, everyone says you’re a romantic and chivalrous young master, moving through a sea of flowers untouched by a single leaf. Could you, today, show us a trick or two, win a beauty’s smile, and perhaps earn her favor?”

“It’s a pity, in small South Mountain City. If it were the Hundred Flower Heavenly Fragrance Conference held once a century in Green Emperor City, we might even see the Hundred Flowers Fairy in person.”

“The Hundred Flowers Fairy, she is indeed a peerless beauty within the top ten of renowned beauties. If one could just lay eyes on her, even death would be blissful.”

“To die under the peony flower would be to be a romantic ghost, haha!”

“Alright, alright, we know you’re all romantic gentlemen and hopeless flirts, but while it’s fine to admire the beauties, don’t forget our real business.”

“What rare treasures will be auctioned at today’s Hundred Flower Heavenly Fragrance Conference I wonder?”

“I heard that the Evergreen Palace has produced a new batch of the ‘Evergreen Through the Ages’ essence. I wonder if they will bring it out…”

“‘Evergreen Through the Ages’ essence, what are you thinking? That’s the Evergreen Palace’s most treasured item, crucial for cultivating the Evergreen constitution. They don’t have enough for themselves—how could they possibly auction it? At most, they would exchange it for treasures of equal rarity with other major powers. There’s no chance for the likes of us.”

“Alas…”

Chatter abounded, each conversation different from the last; the Hundred Flower Heavenly Fragrance Conference was certainly heating up.

Crowds from all paths arrived in succession, the majority being gallant young heroes from the Martial World, evidence of the conference’s alluring pull.

Although the domains were clearly demarcated, martial artists have always disliked restraint, making them difficult to manage. Even the various Divine Martial Heritages had to communicate and interact, resulting in a complex mix of forces within each domain. The intermingling of “me in you and you in me” was the norm.

This difference between sects and nations is also evident. If it were a nation, the presence of foreign military forces within its borders would be intolerable. But in the Martial World and among sects, many things are more relaxed. The presence of martial artists and influences from other forces within a domain is a common occurrence.

The throngs entered the building, and although delicate and graceful ladies served tea, the host had yet to appear.

Clearly, the grand meeting had not yet begun, so everyone had to suppress their excitement and began whispering among themselves, turning every corner of the building into a den of rumors and gossip.

“Have you heard? Recently, a major event has taken place in the Martial World!”

“What event?”

“What else could it be? It’s nothing new — just another sect’s successor entering the world, shaking up the rankings, or perhaps some unusual treasure has appeared, accompanied by the birth of a ferocious beast. It’s the same old story, nothing novel.”

“Could it be the next Cihang successor has descended into the mortal realm?”

“Next, my foot! What else is on your mind besides women? The current successor of Cihang has only been in the world for twenty years, and her cultivation isn’t even complete. How could there be a new one?”

“I heard that the old fortress master of Iron Heart Fortress is nearing the end of his life, with little time to spare, but the new fortress master, Chen Baihu, has yet to step into the Divine Martial Realm. If this continues, it could spell disaster!”

“Iron Heart Fortress’s old fortress master, Chen Tianjie, known as the world’s number one soldier, is a seasoned Divine Martial Venerable famed for his combat prowess, ranked twelfth on the Divine Martial List. Aside from the masters of a few sacred places, hardly anyone can rival him.”

“Iron Heart Fortress is famed for its Mysterious Iron Divine Weapons and inherits the fifteenth stele of the War God’s Atlas, ‘Heavenly Tribulation Slaying the Wolf.’ Despite its peerless combat power, progression in cultivation is relatively difficult, requiring one to advance through slaying, which is exceedingly dangerous. The previous SLP directly obliterated the two ominous stars Seven Massacre and Breaking Army. The current Seven Massacre, Chen Baihu, is a freshly groomed successor, and some measure of inadequacy is inevitable.”

“Such figures, the closer they are to the end of their lifespan, the more chilling they become. Currently, all forces in the Iron Domain are migrating outward to avoid the old fortress master’s bad luck, and also fearing that a great war will erupt in the Iron Domain after his death, causing collateral damage to innocent bystanders.”

“You’re going off-topic. The major event I’m talking about is indeed related to Iron Heart Fortress, but the main character isn’t from the fortress.”

“Oh, then who is it…”