Starting With The Martial Arts Holy Fire Order

Madam Yang nodded with a gentle smile.

“Yes, Yihan, you may not know, but our Ming Cult was originally passed down from the Persian main sect.

In Persia, the highest rank is held by the Sect Leader, followed by the three Holy Maidens.”

When Madam Yang mentioned “Holy Maiden,” Ling Yihan glanced at Dai Qisi, noticing a subtle change in her expression.

“Although we don’t have a Holy Maiden in the Central Plains Ming Cult,” Madam Yang continued,

“the Cult Master and I discussed it last night and decided to create the position of Holy Son.

In our Ming Cult, this position would be on par with the Persian Holy Maiden—second only to the Cult Leader.”

“Yihan, you won a great victory in the duel yesterday and have made an extraordinary contribution to the cult.

This title is only fitting,” she added.

Her words made it clear that she was essentially designating Ling Yihan as the successor to Cult Master Yang Dingtian.

The other cult members were astonished.

Ling Yihan shook his head.

“I am not originally a member of the Ming Cult.

Having the privilege of calling the Cult Master my teacher is blessing enough.

Besides, in terms of seniority, achievements, and martial arts, how can I compare to the Light Messengers and the Three Kings?

How could I rank above them?

I must respectfully decline this title.”

He had only taken Yang Dingtian as his teacher to complete the system’s task.

If he accepted the title of Holy Son, he feared he would face suspicion from other cult members, which would hinder his efforts to obtain the secret technique of Heaven and Earth Shift.

Golden Lion King Xie Xun, always bold, laughed heartily.

“Ling, you’re far too modest.

If it weren’t for you stepping in yesterday, Cult Master Yang’s lifetime of honor would’ve been tarnished.

Your achievement eclipses all past merits.

The position of Holy Son can only be yours!”

“Exactly! Winning the duel at the Cold Jade Pool—

I, Zhou Dian, admit I don’t have the skill.

I fully support you as our Holy Son!” Zhou Dian added enthusiastically.

“Right, Left Messenger Yang?”

Zhou Dian loved sparring with Yang Xiao, implying that Ling Yihan’s achievements outshone even the Light Left Messenger.

Yang Xiao only smiled, saying nothing.

Ling Yihan scanned the room.

Besides Hu Qingyang, Xie Xun, Zhou Dian, and a few others, most of the members seemed hesitant about him becoming the Holy Son.

Ling Yihan stood up, addressing the Cult Master and Madam respectfully,

“I deeply appreciate Master and Madam’s favor, but I truly don’t deserve the title of Holy Son.

However, it would be disrespectful to refuse outright.

So, I have an idea.”

“Oh? Let’s hear it,” Yang Dingtian said, intrigued.

“Simply winning one duel isn’t enough to justify the title of Holy Son,

so I propose to perform another great deed for the Ming Cult first.”

Ling Yihan spoke confidently.

“Well said! Very ambitious.

So, what do you plan to do?” Yang Dingtian asked with a smile.

Ling Yihan looked around at everyone present, a mischievous smile tugging at his lips.

“There is a saying in the martial world, ‘Supreme of the Martial World, the Dragon-Slaying Saber. Command all under heaven, none dare disobey. When Heaven-Reliant Sword appears, who can rival it?’

This refers to the legendary weapons, the Dragon-Slaying Saber and Heaven-Reliant Sword.

I intend to acquire both to present to Master, allowing our Ming Cult to rule the martial world and command all.”

The crowd was stunned.

Both the Dragon-Slaying Saber and Heaven-Reliant Sword were legendary weapons, desired by all in the martial world for their unparalleled sharpness and indestructibility.

Obtaining even one of them was nearly impossible—let alone both.

Yang Dingtian remained silent, but Yang Xiao, sitting beside him, spoke up.

“Brother Ling, you’re oversimplifying things.

Though I’ve never seen the Dragon-Slaying Saber, I have encountered the Heaven-Reliant Sword.

Years ago, I arranged a duel with the Emei Sect’s master, Gu Hongzi, under the agreement that it would be a one-on-one fight with no interference from others.”

Ling Yihan nodded.

“I’ve heard of this. Gu Hongzi was the senior brother of the current Emei Sect leader, Abbess Miejue.”

“Exactly.

Afraid he couldn’t defeat me alone, Gu Hongzi borrowed the Emei Sect’s treasured Heaven-Reliant Sword from his junior sister, Abbess Miejue,” Yang Xiao continued.

Hu Qingyang asked curiously,

“So the Heaven-Reliant Sword belongs to the Emei Sect?

What happened in the duel?”

“Though Gu Hongzi’s martial skill was almost on par with mine,

the Heaven-Reliant Sword couldn’t be underestimated.

So, before he could draw it, I struck his heart with my own technique and disarmed him, winning the duel.” Yang Xiao recounted.

Fan Yao smiled.

“It was that duel that earned you the rank of Light Left Messenger alongside me, as appointed by the Cult Master.”

Hu Qingyang, still curious, pressed on.

“But since you won and claimed the Heaven-Reliant Sword, why don’t you still have it?”

Yang Xiao laughed.

“Though I seized the sword, I threw it to the ground to taunt Gu Hongzi.

It’s said he was so humiliated on his way back to Emei that he worked himself into a fury and died on the road.

The Heaven-Reliant Sword was taken by local officials.”

“Really? Just for losing a duel?

That’s a bit extreme…” Hu Qingyang sighed.

Wei Yixiao scoffed,

“These so-called righteous sects are always talking about eliminating demons and defending the way by eradicating our Ming Cult.

It’s better they die of rage.”

“If the Heaven-Reliant Sword isn’t with Emei, then, like the Dragon-Slaying Saber, it’s lost,” Hu Qingyang said worriedly.

“Brother Ling, how do you plan to find them?”

Ling Yihan didn’t really want the title of Holy Son, and the quest for the weapons was only an excuse.

After all, the saber and sword merely contained martial arts manuals, the Nine Yin Manual and Eighteen Dragon-Subduing Palms, along with the war treatise The Wumu Legacy.

In terms of martial prowess, these weren’t even superior to the Marriage Robe Skill, Nine Yang Divine Skill, or Flower Shifting and Jade Transference he already possessed.

He’d rather figure out a way to secretly acquire the Heaven and Earth Shift technique from Yang Dingtian.