A Martial Odyssey

Before Yi Ping had realized it, they had already traversed through two mountains!

The Goddess Isa, the Goddess of Mercy and the Goddess Celestial Alice were way ahead of them!

He could no longer see them within his visible view and could only rely on his keen senses as he sped after them with his swiftness movement skill!

He was not surprised by their swiftness movement skills but nevertheless he was still left in awe!

The Goddess Isa and the Goddess of Mercy had stepped gently on top of the grass as they displayed the most epitome of all the swiftness movement skill which was the 'Walking on Grass' as they made multiple leaps. In a blink of an eye, they had made over twenty leaps which was equivalent to a mile!

Yixian, Youxue, Yang Min, Lingfeng, the Celeste Wind Maiden and the Goddess Aiel had also displayed the 'Walking on Grass' swiftness movement technique but it took them between forty leaps to eighty leaps to cover even one mile!

Lele and Shi Shi were extremely good in their swiftness skill too but they were unable to execute the 'Walking on Grass' swiftness movement technique because they were weighted down by their divine swords!

Needless to say at this moment Yi Ping had wished that he had put in more effort in his swiftness movement skill!

All of a sudden Yixian had caught hold of his wrist as she whispered softly, "Ping'Er, let me give you a hand!"

He could feel a strong vital energy flowing through him; he had recognized it as the Icy Heavenly Intricate Energy and his body had suddenly become lighter!

Yi Ping muttered, "Xian'Er, thank you!"

The Universal Old Man was panting breathlessly, "Wait up! Why is that I am always the last?"

The Celeste Wind Maiden thought that she would be ahead of the rest but she was startled to find that Yixian, Yi Ping and Lingfeng were able to keep the same pace with her!

She thought, "This Celestial Fairy has superb internal energy cultivation. She is able to grab Yi Ping along at the same time. If she did not grab Yi Ping, will she be able to speed ahead of us?"

She smiled to them, "Not bad!"

Lingfeng took in a deep breath before saying, "No good. They are…so much…ahead of us!"

Yixian nodded gently, preferring to conserve her vital breath.

Yi Ping mustered his breath as he said breathlessly, "We…must stop…them…"

Yixian finally mustered her breath to say, "No worries. We can still sense them…however I can sense there are others too…"

"Isa! We must not let her get away!" it was the distant voice of the Goddess of Mercy!

"Humph! I can't believe that we are actually on the same side…Hold! There seems to be others here as well? We must be wary!" the Goddess Isa was heard saying.

"I have found them!" the Goddess of Mercy said.

"Hold please! They are not our foes…" the Goddess Isa was heard saying.

All of a sudden there were several brilliant burst of reflection of light and the impacts of weapons were heard!

Yi Ping was panicky, "Quick!"

Immediately everyone who was within earshot nodded and increased their paces with their last vital breath!

When Yi Ping and his group had dashed through the woods and into a clearing, they were immediately stunned to see several familiar faces!

The Goddess Isa and the Goddess of Mercy were being surrounded by Ye Yin the Ascension Goddess, Shen Xingyue the Fiery Phoenix, Yu'Er the Eclipse Heaven Goddess, Mei'Er the Axis Heaven Goddess and Old Reverend Vanquisher Sage!

The Goddess Isa could be seen intercepting Old Reverend Vanquisher Sage, "Not so fast. You are not getting past me."

Old Reverend Vanquisher Sage was outraged, "I don't know why you are stopping me. Aren't you with Xiaoci and Yi Ping that time?"

The Goddess Isa laughed softly, "It is because I like. Since they are so bold to claim to have an unbreakable sword formation then I will really like to have a look too. Therefore I am not letting you pass unless of course you can beat me."

Old Reverend Vanquisher Sage was furious as he unleashed several powerful flurries of windforce with his palms, "You must be in cahoots with that maiden that claimed to be the Goddess Celestial Alice! How dare you steal my Green Dragon Sacred Sword! How outrageous!"

The Goddess of Mercy had raised her Heavens Sundering Mirror against the Ascension Goddess, the Fiery Phoenix, the Eclipse Heaven Goddess and the Axis Heaven Goddess as she smirked coldly, "Four divine swords. This is indeed astonishing. Your swords and formation swordplay may be formidable but do you believe that in less than thirty strokes I will be able to break through your defense?"

Shen Xingyue hummed coldly as she rained dozens on sword strokes on her, "Rubbish! You have not seen the best of our Four Aggregates Swordplay Formation yet and from what I am seeing, you seem to be courting your own death!"

The Goddess of Mercy hummed coldly, "Oh really? I like to see…"

There was a flash of red and blue when Shen Xingyue flashed towards the Goddess of Mercy as she sent dozens of quick sword strokes on her!

The Goddess of Mercy was clearly startled by her extraordinary speed attacks as she raised her Heavens Sundering Mirror in quick succession to block her attacks and at the same time there was an outburst of exploding martial force around her!

She muttered, "You have not reached the limit of your speed attacks yet…what…you are able to negate my martial force?"

Shen Xingyue danced out of harm way as she smirked coldly, "My Divine Rejuvenation Force is a unique divine skill art that is not to be underestimated. If you think that your martial force outbursts would be able to hurt me then you are indeed mistaken!"

As she stepped back gracefully, she had made a quick slash with her left fingers, executing her Starlight Divine Fingers as she smiled alluringly, "You know I don't have to stick to the swordplay formation if I don't want to. I am quick enough to make small adjustments!"

And no sooner had the Goddess of Mercy negated her Starlight Divine Fingers with a stunning hand gesture, Shen Xingyue had suddenly changed her finger stance and displayed the Big Dipper Hands!

The Goddess of Mercy was startled as she took a quick step backward in astonishment, "How did you…you know the Big Dipper Hands too?"

But she was quickly distracted because she was not only fighting Shen Xingyue but she was facing three equally dangerous foes!

It was because all of a sudden she gave a soft gasp when Ye Yin the Ascension Goddess had unleashed a flurry of sword strokes at her!

Her flurries of sword strokes were not scary but she was able to unleash her sword strokes at point blank!

The first principle of sword strokes stated that a long sword was a slashing and thrust weapon therefore sufficient room must be made for sword maneuvers.

But Ye Yin was crazy enough to step into the danger zone of the Goddess of Mercy's attacks!

As the Goddess of Mercy raised her Heavens Sundering Mirror, she began to flash outburst after outburst of explosive forces after her opponent; she was stunned that she had actually missed her and was even forced to take a step backward!

The one retreating back should be her opponent and not herself!

Ye Yin laughed softly, "I am expecting a lot better from you! The name of my divine sword is the Despairing Heavenly Divine Sword. You well remember this before you have visited the King of Hades. And your killer is the Ascension Goddess!"

The Goddess of Mercy groaned softly, "Why is that you seem to be able to second guess my move…"

But again before she could focus her attention on the Ascension Goddess, Yu'Er, Mei'Er and Shen Xingyue had surrounded her again.

The Goddess Isa said gleefully as she watched the battle while battling Old Reverend Vanquishing Sage at the same time, "So it seems that our Goddess of Mercy will be humbled today by mere celestial practitioners!"

Mei'Er was saying coldly, "I am going to strip her naked and hang her upside down to a tree. That will teach her for being so insolent!"

Yu'Er was also saying coldly, "I hate to say this but I agree with you!"

The Goddess of Mercy hummed coldly, "Insolent! Do you dare to exchange a blow with me?"

Mei'Er raised her palm as she muttered the intricate formula of the Divine Emerald Force, "I dare not? What a joke!"

The Goddess of Mercy was secretly pleased as she thought, "Soon she will know the different between an immortal practitioner and a celestial practitioner and the difference between a Greater Cosmos Positioning Practitioner and one who had not opened their Heavenly Eyes!"

Immediately there was a powerful thunderous impact as Mei'Er and the Goddess of Mercy had displayed their martial power on their palms.

Immediately the entire ground beneath them collapsed violently and there was a burning outburst of martial windforce that sent dust, sands and rocks flying in all directions!

Mei'Er coughed out a bout of blood as she took seven steps back while muttering, "Luckily!"

At the same time the Goddess of Mercy was forced to take three steps back in astonishment as she thought, "She can actually take a blow from me and still remain standing? Impossible!"

She had quickly hid her fingers under her sleeves because she did not want the Goddess Isa or the others to see that her fingers were actually trembling!

Naturally she did not know that Mei'Er had ten thousand years of cultivation in the lower realm!

That was why given her level of internal cultivation she was able to quickly neutralize the external force through her previous knowledge as the Axis Heaven Goddess!

Mei'Er was quickly helped by Yu'Er who had at the same time sent several sword energies at the Goddess of Mercy.

Yu'Er asked panicky, "Sister, are you alright?"

Mei'Er replied coolly as she flashed to attack the Goddess of Mercy again, "I am alright. Sister, she is stronger than we think. Do you think we should use the last stance of the Four Aggregates Swordplay now? Surely she will not be able to handle our combined attacks at the same time!"

The Goddess of Mercy smiled weakly as she evaded their attacks, "Do you think I am afraid? Let me tell you this, I am not even serious yet!"

The Goddess Isa yawned softly, "Then you are definitely taking your time…"

Old Reverend Vanquishing Sage was surprised to hear that as he asked breathlessly, "Aren't you allies?"

The Goddess Isa laughed softly, "What do you think?"

Yi Ping had suddenly dashed into the clearing with Yixian, Lingfeng and the Celeste Wind Maiden as he shouted panicky, "Wait, hold please!"

The Ascension Goddess was startled as she managed a weak smile, "Ping'Er, why are you here?!"

Yi Ping was equally startled, "Ye Yin! You are here!"

Old Reverend Vanquisher Sage was also startled when he saw the Goddess Aiel, "Xiaoci, you are here!"

The Goddess Aiel moaned softly, "You…are here…"

The Universal Old Man grumbled breathlessly as he emerged from behind Yi Ping, "Why are you not dead yet?"

Old Reverend Vanquisher Sage hummed coldly, "You wish!"

Almost at the same time the vicinity had broken into jovial laughter and chattering!

"Sister Lele, Sister Lie Qing, Sister Shi Shi, Sister Xian'Er, Sister Lingfeng, Sister Youxue…"

"Sister Yu'Er, Sister Mei'Er, Sister Ye Lin, Sister Xingyue…"

Yi Ping was immediately surrounded by Yu'Er, Mei'Er, Shen Xingyue and Ye Yin who were all embracing him shyly!

Yi Ping said to the Goddess of Mercy gently, "Maiden Gusu, they are my friends…"

The Goddess of Mercy said unhappily but she was still holding her Heavens Sundering Mirror threatening, "I can surely tell from their shameless actions. I didn't know that you have affairs with so many."

Ye Yin laughed softly as she winked at Yi Ping, "I didn't know that you will be accused of having an affair? Ping'Er, you didn't tell her who we are?"

Yu'Er smiled, "We are all Yi Ping's consorts! What affairs are you talking about? And who are you?"

Yi Ping smiled weakly, "Xiang'Er, you can put away your weapon?"

The Goddess of Mercy reluctantly put away her Heavens Sundering Mirror as she stared blankly at Shen Xingyue, Ye Yin, Yu'Er and Mei'Er…

She looked at the Goddess Isa, "Really?"

The Goddess Isa sighed softly, "Indeed! They are Yi Ping's consorts!"

The Goddess of Mercy looked blankly at Yi Ping, "Yi Ping, did they threaten you?"

Yi Ping smiled weakly, "They are the kindest maidens that I ever know, don't you worry…"

Han Lin said woefully, "Where is the Goddess Celestial Alice? She has got away?"

The Goddess Isa smiled weakly, "We are pursuing her until we encounter this group here."

Old Reverend Vanquisher Sage suddenly said, "This is my Green Dragon Sacred Sword! Quickly return it to me!"

But when he saw the bloodied head of Chu Mingfan, he cursed aloud. "So he is dead now. Serves him right!"

Han Lin cried aloud in rage, "What are you saying? Isn't my protégé brother in your group? Is he not the second highest ranking Ascendant in the Holy Ascendant Sect and is your senior? How dare you shamelessly show such disrespect to him! Shouldn't you seek vendetta for him instead?!"

Old Reverend Vanquisher Sage cursed aloud, "He is not my senior! He has actually dared to harm us!"

Yi Ping was startled, "What happened?"

Yu'Er said solemnly as she looked at Ye Yin and Shen Xingyue before saying, "He tried to violate Sister Ye Yin and Sister Xingyue. He would have almost succeeded if Mei'Er and I have not sensed his beastly empathy. But then…"

Ye Yin and Shen Xingyue kept quiet…

She was almost closed to tears, "He was able to hide it so well that even our Dual Inertness Intricacy was not able sense it until it was too late. We would have fallen victim to him if not for the appearance of Maiden Ziyan. What happen next, we really did not know for Maiden Ziyan had lured him away…"

Yu'Er pointed to a beautiful maiden that was lying unconscious not so far away under a rocky ledge as she said, "That maiden over here is Lady Winter Plum of the Three Plum Sect. She is still unconscious after viciously attacked by Chu Mingfan. Her four protégés are also not so lucky and they have…"

She said melancholy as her tears swelled, "They have all committed suicide rather than live in shame!"

Yang Min and Shi Shi were also melancholy as they recalled their plight!

Yi Ping was stunned, "Yu'Er…Mei'Er…Ye Yin…Xingyue…"

Han Lin was staring in disbelief, "My protégé brother would never do such a thing. He is a gentleman and a highly cultivated celestial…"

Old Reverend Vanquisher Sage shook his head, "Do you think we will lie to you? I would never have believed it either. He is the one that has given me the Green Dragon Sacred Sword…but to think that I have almost died under his sword!"

Han Lin stumbered backward in disbelief, "Why would he? Why would he…"

Ye Yin said coldly, "That is because he is a Dragon Practitioner! That is what he has revealed to us! He has made a vow to destroy the Pangu Clan! He has given Old Reverend Vanquisher Sage the Green Dragon Sacred Sword to gain his trust and the trust of the Ascension Sect. But do you know that the Green Dragon Sacred Sword will never wholly serve another master?"

Shen Xingyue glanced at Lie Qing before she added, "That is because there is a seal in the Green Dragon Sacred Sword. According to Chu Mingfan, it is left there by an immortal called the Jade Emperor…"

She smiled at Yi Ping, "…naturally of course, I don't think that this Jade Emperor is the same as Lele's grandfather. So according to Chu Mingfan, only the Jade Emperor himself and the Dragon Practitioners are able to wield the Green Dragon Sacred Sword."

Ye Yin said bitterly, "Chu Mingfan is really more powerful than we have thought. And when the Green Dragon Sacred Sword is in his hands, it is as though he is unstoppable…"

Shen Xingyue interrupted coldly, "If we are not so trusting and placed so much faith in him, then we surely won't fall into his hands."

Yi Ping had finally got hold of the entire picture as he muttered, "Maiden Ziyan…since you have rescued them then why are you hiding from me…did I do anything wrong…"

Yixian comforted him gently as she looked at the Goddess of Mercy and the Goddess Isa, "Ping'Er, maybe she has her own reasons. Don't worry too much…"

All of a sudden Yu'Er and Mei'Er had surrounded Yixian as they held her arms intimately, "Our good protégé mistress, our good sister! How are you?"

Yixian smiled gently, "Mei'Er, are you alright?"

Mei'Er answered, "I am not so seriously injured. But I got a good scare though. She is tough."

Yixian said with a soft sigh, "Mei'Er, do you know that you may have gotten yourself killed? Do you know that she is an immortal practitioner that you are fighting?"

Mei'Er, Yu'Er, Shen Xingyue, Ye Yin and Old Reverend Vanquisher Sage were startled!

Mei'Er stammered out, "She is an immortal practitioner?"

Old Reverend Vanquisher Sage was also stammering as he forgot to demand the return of his Green Dragon Sacred Sword for the time being, "Really? She is here to give us the immortal practice?"

The Goddess of Mercy eyed him coldly before saying wryly, "Fat hope!"

The Goddess Isa laughed softly, "You can dream on."

Yixian smiled weakly as she said gently to Mei'Er and Yu'Er, "I will explain things along the way. We have four immortal practitioners in our group…"

Ye Yin, Mei'Er, Yu'Er, Shen Xingyue and Old Reverend Vanquisher Sage were stunned, "Four?!"

Yixian said gently, "This is Maiden Gusu the Goddess of Mercy, this is the Goddess Isa…"

Old Reverend Vanquisher Sage stared at the Goddess Isa, "What! You are an immortal practitioner? No wonder I cannot see past your divinity…."

The Goddess Isa smirked coldly, "So now you know now. Why don't you kneel and beg me for mercy now?"

Ye Yin asked curiously, "So who are the other two?"

Lele laughed jovially, "Naturally I am one too."

Ye Yin was completely stunned so were Shen Xingyue, Yu'Er, Mei'Er and Old Reverend Vanquisher Sage!

Ye Yin murmured, "Is this some cruel joke? We are all here in the Stellar Sanctuary to seek the Immortal Practice and to find a way to ascend to the Immortal Realm but you have already become an immortal?!"

Lele stroked her long hair gently as she laughed shyly, "That is because I am a genius. I am the Joyful Goddess, Prime Celestial of the Celestial Palace!"

Everyone immediately moaned…

Yixian smiled at Lele before saying gently, "I will explain later. The forth immortal in our group is the Goddess Aiel."

Old Reverend Vanquisher Sage stared blankly at the Goddess Aiel, "Xiaoci, you are an immortal?!"

The Universal Old Man reveled at his expressions as he added jovially, "Ai is an Immortal but you are only a Celestial. You shouldn't keep calling her name just like this."

The Goddess Aiel smiled weakly, "Yes I am. Ai or Xiaoci, I don't mind. But I hope that the two of you will stop bickering with each other."

All of a sudden Yi Ping asked, "Xing'Er, Ye Yin, Yu'Er, Mei'Er…why are you here? How did you manage to overcome the trials so fast?"

Ye Yin smiled weakly, "I was about to ask you the same. We have cleared our trials quickly and had just reached this place. We have thought that we are one of the first. So we thought that your group may be far behind us."

Lingfeng fingered her hairpin as she smiled alluringly, "Surprise? That is because we know of a shortcut."

Ye Yin laughed softly, "What a wonderful shortcut! It seems that we are all here today except for Yunzi…"

All of a sudden the golden Kirin cub howled aloud and an extraordinary beautiful delicate maiden was seen standing quietly distantly!

Everyone gasped for it was Yunzi!

She seemed to be alone but she was smiling gently!

Yi Ping's heart jumped when he saw her!

"Sister Yunzi is also here!"

Indeed she was Yunzi!

Yi Ping knew that Yunzi had succeeded the leadership of the Infinity Sword Celestial Sword and would not be in the Stellar Sanctuary. But why was she here? He was actually glad that Yunzi would not need to be in the Stellar Sanctuary but when he saw her again; he knew that he had missed her so much!

Yunzi thought, "The Goddess Celestial Alice did not lie to me. I have really found Yi Ping!"

After Yi Ping had left, Yunzi was anxious and worried at the same time. She had begun to worry whether Yi Ping and her other sisters may be able to overcome his opponents if she was not there.

It was then the Goddess Celestial Alice had found her, "If you really think about him so much, I can bring you to see him but it is all depends whether you have the courage to follow me. I should warn you first. I don't take care of weaklings. Do you dare to follow me or not?"

Yunzi had replied her, "Why not?"