Chapter 536: Rivaling Celestial Immortals |
"In that case, I'll withdraw."
Ning Qi shook his head and sighed.
He had originally wanted to relax a bit, to let his body recover.
However, he never imagined he would run into such an absurd situation.
"Well then, I'm sorry."
The middle-aged man shook his head and turned to the Commander. "Sir, there's nothing more I can do here."
The Commander narrowed his eyes and looked at Ning Qi. "Kid, I'll give you five hundred spirit stones to be my lady's coachman."
"That's an astronomical price!"
"I'll give you one thousand spirit stones, now be quiet."
"How dare you!"
"..."
At that moment, several guards stepped forward, drawing their blades one after another.
They stared coldly at Ning Qi.
"I'm not sticking around, you all do as you please!"
Ning Qi had no intention of bickering with these people.
After uttering those words, he directly unleashed his aura.
Under the powerful aura, he instantly vanished from everyone's sight.
"Where did he go?"
"Where is he?"
"Did he fly away?"
Many guards, seeing this, looked around in surprise.
A living person had just disappeared into thin air, putting everyone on high alert.
"This is an expert."
The Commander squinted his eyes, surveying the surroundings.
He was the strongest here.
Yet, even he couldn't find Ning Qi's trace right now.
However, faintly, he could still sense Ning Qi's presence.
It was just that his own strength was insufficient to capture his trail.
"So he was a master, how interesting."
"I wonder how his strength compares to the experts of the Imperial Guard!"
Princess Xiangxiang looked at the bluestone slab where Ning Qi had just been standing, a trace of disappointment appearing on her face.
She had originally wanted him to be her personal coachman.
But now, it seemed there was no hope.
His strength was formidable.
She should have guessed it earlier.
He was indeed not sent by Imperial Father.
Thinking of this, Princess Xiangxiang revealed a look of disappointment.
"Alright, everyone disperse!"
The Commander waved his hand and then said, "We should prepare to depart as well!"
"Yes!"
"..."
Thus, everyone agreed.
As they all made preparations.
Ning Qi was already far away from them on a mountain path.
He was already dozens of miles away from them.
"Master, those people just now were too detestable, why didn't you teach them a lesson?"
Pill Spirit, following Ning Qi, spoke indignantly.
"Bickering with people whose strength is far inferior to ours is beneath our dignity."
Ning Qi shook his head, then looked towards a distant valley. "Right now, I feel I can break through to the strength of a Celestial Immortal at any moment."
"These next few days, I'll just go into seclusion here."
"When I emerge again, I will possess the strength of a Celestial Immortal."
"Master, isn't your cultivation method different from theirs?"
Pill Spirit asked in return.
"Right, I was previously at the Great Dao Realm, which is equivalent to their True Immortal strength."
"Now, I'm about to break through."
"Judging by my current strength, if I break through next, let's just call it the Creation Realm."
Ning Qi let out a long sigh, then looked at Pill Spirit. "Here, you can protect me while I cultivate!"
"I've investigated; even that Commander is no match for you!"
"Yes, Master, I will protect you, I will guard your cultivation!"
Hearing his words, Pill Spirit responded solemnly.
"Good!"
"I'm going now!"
After Ning Qi agreed, he directly flew to the valley he had just spotted.
After entering the valley, he immediately began setting up restrictions.
He also arranged the Three Thousand Like Water.
After the great formation was set up, Ning Qi directly carved out a cave dwelling within the valley.
He also placed restrictions at the cave entrance.
Once everything was prepared, he sat down cross-legged.
He then began circulating the Immortal-Demonic Power within his body while simultaneously activating the Limitless Evil Energy.
Three streams of energy began swirling around him at the same time.
The Di Xi doppelganger had granted him the Golden Body of the Immortal Race ancestors.
Now, his body should be able to withstand the power of these three fused energy streams.
Ning Qi thought to himself, then began stimulating the three energy streams within his body.
At first, the three energy streams could still tolerate each other, not encroaching on one another.
But later, as each tried to dominate Ning Qi's energy, they gradually began to lose control.
"Huff!"
The Immortal-Demonic energy and the Limitless Evil Energy simultaneously began to turn violent.
They continuously crushed his meridians, wanting to completely subdue Ning Qi.
"Hmph, wishful thinking!"
Ning Qi snorted coldly, then suddenly stimulated all the life force and blood energy in his body.
Instantly, turmoil erupted within him.
His meridians transformed from streams into rivers.
Life force and blood energy began surging within his body.
Like an endless ocean, wave after wave.
Gradually, the violent energies within him began to fuse.
However, this fusion was contingent on Ning Qi having sufficient life force and blood energy to sustain it.
As his life force and blood energy were consumed, Ning Qi felt that if this continued, those violent energies would start up again.
"Huff!"
"Bronze Cauldron, come out!"
However, Ning Qi wasn't afraid at all.
He had prepared long ago.
He summoned the Bronze Cauldron.
"Huff!"
After the Bronze Cauldron appeared, it suddenly began pouring down streams of blood water towards Ning Qi.
It enveloped Ning Qi, instantly turning him into a blood-soaked figure.
Thus, the streams within his body that were about to run dry began to coalesce anew.
Making his life force and blood energy abundant, sufficient to refine the three energy streams within him.
This balance began to be forged.
However, Ning Qi didn't notice that the Heavenly Demon corpse he had sealed inside the Bronze Cauldron was beginning to stir restlessly.
And Ning Qi, at this moment, was completely unaware of all this.
The Heavenly Demon corpse within the Bronze Cauldron had condensed the demonic energy hidden within it for endless years.
Just as Ning Qi was about to succeed, it suddenly poured the demonic energy, along with the blood water in the Bronze Cauldron, down onto Ning Qi.
"Huff!"
By the time Ning Qi realized it, it was already too late.
"Not good!"
He felt an endless demonic energy suddenly appear within his body and immediately knew something had gone wrong.
After this demonic energy entered his body, it began to wreak havoc wildly.
It abruptly disrupted the three energy streams within him that were about to solidify.
Streams of energy separated once more.
Beginning to devour each other again.
And this time, Ning Qi was tormented even more unbearably.
Because, with the addition of the demonic energy, these four energy streams were incompatible with each other.
Making Ning Qi feel as if his body was about to be torn apart at any moment.
Fortunately, he had previously experienced the excruciating pain of having his body remade by Di Xi.
He could endure this kind of agony.
But even so, it was still an immense ordeal for him.
Red lights were already flickering across the surface of his body.
Pill Spirit was outside the cave dwelling at this moment, watching the situation here.
He was anxious but could do nothing.
He also understood very clearly that Ning Qi had reached a critical juncture in his cultivation.
If anything went wrong now, all previous efforts could be wasted.
Time began to pass bit by bit.
When night fell, Ning Qi suddenly opened his eyes.
A grayish light flashed from his pupils, and within this gray light, a golden glow also swirled.
Around his entire body, layers of gray mist also coiled.
"Huff!"
Ning Qi took a deep breath, sensing the changes within him.
"Master!"
Seeing this, Pill Spirit rushed in immediately.
"I actually succeeded!"
Ning Qi spread his hands, feeling the changes within him. "I succeeded!"
"Master, your strength is indeed greater now, but what level of strength is it?"
Pill Spirit examined Ning Qi, not daring to be certain exactly how strong Ning Qi was now.
"If compared to Celestial Immortals, I should be at their Celestial Immortal realm now."
"However, there are also differences. I feel my strength should be able to easily crush Celestial Immortals."
"If I were to face a Golden Immortal, I'd still be somewhat inferior."
"My realm is very chaotic. I feel I haven't actually broken through a major realm."
"Or rather, when I could crush True Immortals before, that was actually a major realm."
"And right now, I should have broken through the final barrier of the cultivation method I created myself."
"Reaching an entirely new realm!"
Ning Qi thought carefully, then continued, "In short, I can completely crush True Immortals now."
"As for Celestial Immortals, I might not completely crush them, but I should have no problem beating them until they kneel and beg for mercy!"
"If I encounter Dao Bujin again, I can handle him with one hand."
"Master, that's incredible!"
"Your strength, they simply can't fathom it!"
Pill Spirit clapped his hands, saying excitedly, "Following Master, we can run amok again."
"We don't bully others, but others better not bully us either!"
Ning Qi shook his head and said with a smile, "If anyone dares to bully us, we'll make sure they never return."
"Right! Master!"
"Especially those few from earlier, if we encounter them again, we'll definitely make them regret it!"
Pill Spirit still held a grudge about being bullied by them earlier.
"People like that are too weak, not worth me taking action."
Ning Qi shook his head, then took a step forward, directly leaving the cave dwelling.
He arrived in the void above.
"Huff!"
Feeling the wind brush past him gave him a sense of looking down upon the world.
Then, Ning Qi looked downwards. "My cultivation method, combined with my energy, is completely a method independent of the three realms."
"My energy has fused Immortal-Demonic energy, the Golden Body of the Immortal Race ancestors, and the Heavenly Demon's demonic energy."
"And that Limitless Evil Energy that everyone fears. After they fused, they formed my current unique energy."
After saying this, he once again condensed his energy.
That wisp of gray energy tinged with golden light appeared, swirling around his entire body.
From a distance, he looked like a ghost that had emerged from the underworld.
Especially in those eyes of his, flashes of cold light gleamed, sending chills down one's spine.
"Master, what do we do next?"
Pill Spirit thought of something else. "Are we still going to find Miss Xu?"
"Of course, I need to bid her farewell!"
Ning Qi nodded, then looked towards the path they came from. "Let's go, I can already sense the nearest city nearby."
"We'll rest in the city for a night, and the next day see where there's a large teleportation formation!"
"Good!"
"There's fun to be had again!"
Hearing his words, Pill Spirit became so excited he started dancing.
"Let's go!"
Ning Qi summoned Pill Spirit over.
He took a step forward.
"Swish!"
With a flash, he vanished abruptly.
When he reappeared, he was already in front of a city.
This was the ability he gained after his strength breakthrough.
"Master, is that the Shrinking the Earth to an Inch technique?"
Pill Spirit exclaimed in surprise.
"No, it's energy sensing."
"As long as I can sense the energy here, I can arrive in an instant."
Ning Qi shook his head, then looked into the city again. "Let's go, straight in!"
After saying this, he took another deep breath.
The next moment, he vanished abruptly.
When he reappeared, he was already on a bustling street.
Then, he casually found an inn and checked in.
This time, Ning Qi and Pill Spirit went directly to a chamber and once again created a Pocket Dimension.
"Master, are you going to study the treasures?"
Pill Spirit asked curiously.
"Yes, just increasing strength isn't enough, I need techniques to protect myself."
"Relying solely on these few weapons can't play a decisive role."
Ning Qi nodded, then continued, "Let's see what other treasures are among these things."
"Good!"
Pill Spirit agreed.
Then, Ning Qi took out the Ancient Book from before that could break restrictions and formations.
"Master, if you study this now, you should learn it much faster."
"You already have the water-wave pattern of Three Thousand Like Water as a foundation, and after your strength increased, delving into Dao Artifact Divine Abilities will also be quicker!"
Pill Spirit looked at the Ancient Book before him, showing a very confident expression.
"Not bad! Let me give it a try!"
Ning Qi nodded, then sent his divine sense to explore it.
At this moment, he didn't need to read this Ancient Book page by page.
As long as his divine sense swept over it, he could know the book's contents.
After sweeping over it, he closed his eyes.
He began to feel the mysteries of the restrictions and formations within.
Time flew by. After several hours passed, Ning Qi suddenly opened his eyes.
"How was it?"
Pill Spirit looked at Ning Qi and quickly asked.
"Very simple."
Ning Qi smiled.
He didn't tell Pill Spirit that his countless reincarnations had long granted him transcendent comprehension abilities.
What others needed ten or a hundred years to comprehend would be infinitely shortened for him.
It was the same for any Dao Artifact Divine Ability.
For him to have studied this Ancient Book for several hours was already considered slow.
"Excellent! Master, you're truly amazing!"
Hearing him say this, Pill Spirit couldn't help but clap excitedly.
"Next, let's see what else is inside this treasure chest."
Ning Qi opened it.
Now that he could unravel all restrictions in the world.
The restriction that could have stumped him for a while before was now utterly insignificant.
He quickly broke the treasure chest's restriction.
After opening the chest, he saw only one Ancient Book lying inside.
"Zhengyang Heart Method!"
Seeing the Ancient Book, Ning Qi opened it seriously.
"Master, can this be cultivated?"
Pill Spirit, seeing this, asked curiously.
"Hmm, yes, this requires pure yang energy."
"Coordinated with the circulation of one's own energy, it can have a boosting effect."
"That is to say, the stronger one's own strength, the deeper the power becomes."
Ning Qi looked at the heart method and said solemnly, "Let me see if there are any other benefits."