Chapter 186: Peers |
Chen Qing exited the council hall and slowly exhaled a breath.
He was somewhat puzzled. The old fox was going into retreat?
Why did he need to retreat?
To break through to an even higher realm?
Or was there another reason? Chen Qing had no way of knowing.
But he knew that with the old fox in retreat and himself basically becoming the acting Courtyard Master with full authority over Qingmu Courtyard affairs, he needed to hurry and increase his strength even more.
Thinking of this, Chen Qing took a deep breath and eagerly made his way to Tide Listening Martial Repository.
Elder Ma saw Chen Qing and immediately greeted him with a smile, his attitude even more enthusiastic than before.
Chen Qing directly stated his purpose, wanting to enter the fourth floor of Tide Listening Martial Repository.
Although he didn't know the specific reason for such an exceptional secret order from the Sect Master, he knew that this young chief's status was absolutely extraordinary, far beyond what the other chiefs could compare to.
"Thank you, Elder Ma."
Chen Qing cupped his hands in thanks, then once again stepped onto the fourth floor of Tide Listening Martial Repository.
This time, he no longer felt the pressure of limited time. He could truly calm his mind and carefully browse through what was truly the Five Terraces Sect's profound foundation.
In the quiet environment, there was only the slight sound of his footsteps and the hazy glow emanating from the jade platforms.
He first walked toward the jade platform that had previously caught his attention. The light golden scroll of the Nine Heavens Thunderclap Finger floated quietly above it.
The annotation beside it detailed: This finger technique is domineering and fierce. When cultivated to great achievement, a single finger thrust is like thunderclap exploding from the nine heavens, supremely rigid and yang, swift beyond compare. It specializes in breaking through all kinds of protective True Aura and has a miraculous restraining effect on sinister techniques.
Cultivation requires tempering the finger bones with pure thunder qi or supremely yang true qi. The process is extremely painful and cannot be achieved without great perseverance.
Chen Qing's eyes flashed with brilliance.
Finger techniques and spear techniques truly shared common ground, both focusing on concentrating power at a single point, pursuing the ultimate in penetration and explosive force.
Previously at the Lin'an Prefecture auction house, when he had seen that Profound Mystery Finger Formula, his heart had stirred greatly. It was just that various reasons at the time prevented him from competing for it.
Now this Nine Heavens Thunderclap Finger appeared even more magnificent and upright than the Profound Mystery Finger Formula, and its power seemed even greater. It could perfectly compensate for his relatively insufficient close-combat fist and foot techniques, forming a complement to his Eight Extremes Vajra Body.
He made note of this finger technique, preparing to copy it.
Afterward, his gaze swept over the other jade platforms.
The Profound Turtle Sea-Suppressing Technique emphasized defense, the Blood-Transforming Divine Blade took a sinister and ruthless path... One superior martial art after another.
Suddenly, his gaze was drawn to three jade platforms in the corner.
Floating above them were not complete scrolls or jade slips, but broken bone fragments, charred iron books, and even just half a silk scroll.
"Incomplete fragments?" Chen Qing's heart stirred as he walked closer to look.
He saw the small character annotations inscribed beside them: Brilliant Yang True Scripture, Star-Shattering Sword Formula, Nether Void-Treading Step.
The annotations clearly stated that all three were partial remnants of peerless martial arts. Although they couldn't be used to cultivate the complete techniques, the traces of true meaning and force circulation methods they contained held immeasurable value for embracing elixir experts in broadening their horizons, drawing inferences from analogies, and even supplementing their own studies.
Chen Qing picked up the Brilliant Yang True Scripture fragment to examine it. Though only a fragment, the method of True Aura circulation within was profoundly mysterious, far beyond what ordinary superior martial arts could compare to.
"Peerless martial arts... truly formidable!"
Chen Qing was secretly shocked.
The mere glimpses revealed by these fragments already transcended the scope of most superior martial arts on the fourth floor, involving the use of qi at an even higher level.
This included the use and understanding of heaven and earth elemental qi, True Aura, and more, giving Chen Qing a fresh perspective.
No wonder their value was so highly regarded by the sect that even broken fragments were stored here.
Besides techniques, the fourth floor also had some miscellaneous records and secret documents stored on specially made bookshelves that were not martial art manuals.
Chen Qing casually picked up an ancient volume made of special material called Record of Observations to browse.
The text inside was not a systematic technique but more like the random notes of a senior expert, recording many secrets of the jianghu, strange objects and phenomena, as well as... speculations and descriptions regarding martial Dao realms!
According to what was written, above True Aura was the True Origin realm!
A martial artist would refine their pure True Aura thousands upon thousands of times, removing the impurities and keeping the essence. Eventually, from different types of True Aura, they would return to the origin and refine a more fundamental, more pure true origin.
This true origin had countless miraculous uses. Not only could it greatly increase killing power, but more importantly, it could use true origin to wash and nourish the physical body and internal organs. Through gradual transformation, it could improve one's life essence. Each time a major tempering cycle was completed, several decades of lifespan could be extended!
The notes mentioned that there had once been a True Origin realm expert who lived in seclusion and reached over three hundred years old before passing away. This was already nearly a manifestation of transcending the mortal realm.
"Extended lifespan!?"
When Chen Qing saw this, astonishing brilliance suddenly burst forth in his eyes.
Practicing martial arts, fighting to the death, competing for strength and victory, for what?
Resources, power, fame?
At the root of it all, perhaps it was for the sake of "living" better!
The True Origin realm was actually directly related to lifespan!
This held fatal attraction for anyone.
He couldn't wait to read further.
The notes also vaguely mentioned that upon entering the True Origin realm, one's spiritual will underwent a qualitative change along with the condensation of true origin, allowing one to initially refine and condense spiritual sense.
This wisp of spiritual sense was the highly concentrated embodiment of a person's martial Dao intent, extraordinarily mysterious... However, the author of these notes seemed to also know little about it, with vague records. But even just these descriptions were enough to make Chen Qing's heart race with longing.
"True Origin realm..."
Chen Qing closed the volume and took a deep breath, calming the turbulence within.
In this world where information was relatively restricted, secret manuals and insights regarding higher realms like this held value no less than a peerless martial art. They were the guidance that countless independent cultivators and small sects dreamed of but couldn't obtain.
"Could it be... Master Li is at this realm?"
He suddenly thought of Li Baichuan's unfathomably deep appearance and his ability to make two embracing elixir experts vanish without a trace, and couldn't help but form this speculation.
He solemnly picked up this Record of Observations, then carefully searched the bookshelf and found several other handwritten notes involving realm insights and seniors' experiences to take together.
These were perhaps even more important than learning another superior martial art.
An hour later, Chen Qing set down the volume in his hands. After copying the Nine Heavens Thunderclap Finger, he left Tide Listening Martial Repository.
After returning to his small courtyard, Chen Qing opened the Nine Heavens Thunderclap Finger.
Golden light appeared in his mind.
[Nine Heavens Thunderclap Finger: Minor Achievement (1/1000)]
It directly skipped the entry stage and reached minor achievement realm.
Chen Qing understood in his heart that this was closely related to his current True Aura martial Dao realm.
With a high realm and broad horizons, turning back to practice this kind of finger technique, many key points came naturally like flowing water. The cultivation speed far exceeded what it had been during his embracing elixir stage.
His consciousness sank into his body.
In his dantian qi sea, Qingmu True Aura slowly circulated, emanating vibrant life force and sharp qi.
The Kunti true qi was also tremendously powerful, not far from being tempered and transformed into Kunti True Aura.
"First I'll cultivate the Eight Desolations Mountain-Suppressing Formula to the fifth layer and merge the two types of True Aura."
Chen Qing closed his eyes, cleared away distracting thoughts, and silently circulated the fifth layer technique of the Eight Desolations Mountain-Suppressing Formula in his mind.
Now that he continued cultivating the Qingmu Longevity Formula, the cultivation speed was truly limited. It was better to first cultivate the Eight Desolations Mountain-Suppressing Formula to the fifth layer.
Merging Qingmu True Aura and Kunti True Aura would bring a greater increase in strength.
Winter passed and spring came. Outside the window, accumulated snow melted and tender buds first bloomed. In the blink of an eye, another two months of time quietly flowed by.
Inside the quiet room, Chen Qing's entire aura suddenly transformed!
A heavy-as-mountains, vast-as-peaks presence emanated from within his body. Even the meditation cushion beneath him and the surrounding floor sank slightly, as if unable to bear the weight.
Within his dantian, that vast Kunti true qi finally underwent a qualitative transformation!
It frantically compressed and condensed, absorbing the pure earth elemental qi surging in through the Heaven-Earth Bridge. Its color became increasingly deep and heavy, as if transforming into flowing earth essence, immeasurably heavy and magnificently powerful.
Kunti True Aura achieved!
At the same time, on his fate pattern panel, the cultivation of the Eight Desolations Mountain-Suppressing Formula also prominently leaped forward.
[Eight Desolations Mountain-Suppressing Formula: Fifth Layer (1/10000)]
Chen Qing slowly opened his eyes. His left palm gently lifted, and an extremely condensed earthen-yellow True Aura appeared in his palm. With just a slight tremor, it caused the surrounding air to sink slightly.
With another thought, in his right palm, Qingmu True Aura simultaneously surged forth, emerald green and dripping with vitality and sharpness coexisting.
The next moment, he carefully brought the two wisps of completely different natured True Aura slowly together.
With the previous experience of merging true qi, although this True Aura fusion was more difficult, it wasn't without method.
Under the harmonizing influence of the Earth Essence Marrow Pearl and Wood Yang Jade's invisible force fields, the vitality of Qingmu True Aura and the heaviness of Kunti True Aura slowly intertwined, permeating each other, and finally successfully merged into a wisp of strange gray-green True Aura!
This wisp of newly born merged True Aura floated quietly, simultaneously possessing both wood's tenacity and earth's heaviness characteristics. The power contained within it made even Chen Qing himself feel a surge of trepidation.
"The power has more than doubled!"
Chen Qing carefully experienced this completely new qi, and his confidence surged along with it.
"If I were to encounter that old demon Jiang Chuanqiao now..."
A cold gleam flashed slightly in his eyes, "The probability of beating him to death would be above ninety-eight percent!"
Of course, he also understood that Demon Sect experts were cunning and crafty, and moreover, as an embracing elixir expert, Jiang Chuanqiao might have some life-saving trump cards.
If the opponent fought desperately with all their might, sparing no cost, perhaps they would still have one slim thread of hope to escape.
Exhaling a long breath of turbid air, Chen Qing ended this retreat.
His realm consolidated, his strength greatly increased.
Chen Qing walked out of the courtyard and came to Qingmu Courtyard.
At Qingmu Courtyard's Transmission Pavilion, he saw quite a few disciples gathered together, discussing animatedly.
"...The Liu family truly suffered heavy losses this time. I heard several mines were destroyed..."
"Fortunately Hanyu Valley acted in time. Elder Leng personally led the team and supposedly killed two Demon Sect late-stage embracing elixir experts on the spot. Truly satisfying!"
"Half a month ago, Xuanjia Gate had it even worse over at Pingyun Town. Over a hundred people in the entire town were blood sacrificed! Those heaven-damned Demon Sect monsters!"
"But speaking of which, it's strange. These past two weeks, the movements of those Demon Sect experts seem to have suddenly diminished considerably?"
Chen Qing remained silent. Although he had been focused on cultivation these two months, he had also been continuously monitoring external developments through various channels, especially Demon Sect activities.
Just as these disciples said, recently Demon Sect attacks targeting major families seemed to have decreased. Like the Liu family attack and the Pingyun Town blood case, these were mostly the work of fringe figures or low-level Demon Sect members. Although the methods remained cruel, the storms they stirred seemed not as great as the previous period.
Those truly troublesome, long-established Demon Sect experts like Zuo Feng and Blood Rakshasa, on the contrary, seemed to have quietly gone into hiding, with much less news.
"When things are abnormal, there must be demons at work."
Chen Qing thought to himself. Not only did he not feel relaxed, but he faintly felt that beneath this calm, an even greater storm was probably brewing.
The Demon Sect would absolutely not give up easily. This restraint in their activities must have a purpose.
At this time, Luo Xinya hurried over, holding a dossier in her hand. She respectfully bowed and said, "Senior Brother Chen, this is this month's cross-examination list of outer courtyard applicants requesting entry to the inner courtyard. Please review and decide."
Chen Qing took the list, his gaze sweeping over it, "Let's go with these two. Their aptitude and comprehension are both fairly good."
Luo Xinya hesitated slightly, then asked softly, "Senior Brother Chen, should the list be sent to the rear courtyard for Master Li to review?"
She didn't know that Master Li had already entered retreat. After all, previously not seeing Master Li for a month or two was also normal.
Chen Qing shook his head slightly, "No need. Before entering retreat, Master Li gave instructions that all courtyard affairs should be decided by me. Let's settle on these two people."
"Yes, I understand."
Seeing Chen Qing say this, Luo Xinya didn't ask further. She took the reviewed list, bowed, and withdrew to handle it.
Just then, a steward from the Sect Master's service hurried to Qingmu Courtyard. Upon seeing Chen Qing, he immediately stepped forward and cupped his fists with a grave expression, "Chief Chen, the Sect Master has urgent business in the council hall and requests Chief Chen to come immediately for consultation."
"I understand. I'll head there now."
Chen Qing nodded and followed the steward, quickly heading toward the council hall.
When he arrived at the council hall, the hall was empty and quiet.
Chen Qing stood quietly to the side, patiently waiting.
Before long, light footsteps sounded. Guishui Courtyard Master Chu Jinyun was the first to step into the hall.
She wore a water-blue palace dress with a cool and aloof temperament. When she saw Chen Qing already present, a trace of surprise couldn't help but flash through her eyes.
The Sect Master's summons was for a meeting of all courtyard masters and core leadership. Chen Qing, as a chief disciple of the disciple generation, no matter how outstanding, appearing here at this moment seemed extremely unusual.
Her heart filled with questions, but with her status and cultivation, naturally she wouldn't easily ask. She simply walked to the side and stood still, eyes observing nose, nose observing heart.
Next Tan Yang, Peng Zhen, and Hong Yuandong arrived almost one after another. They too showed puzzlement upon seeing Chen Qing.
The one who arrived afterward was Shen Xiuyong.
Seeing Chen Qing, he was clearly stunned for a moment before nodding at the latter.
The last to arrive were two True Aura elders and the commander who governed the Five Terraces Army.
These three, upon seeing Chen Qing, reacted relatively calmly, only letting their gazes linger on him a moment longer with some doubt.
When Sect Master He Yuzhou finally stepped into the council hall, the entire hall became pin-drop silent.
His gaze swept across the entire assembly before he spoke, "Everyone is here. Then let's sit."
Everyone sat down as instructed in the rosewood chairs on both sides.
What made people look askance again and even caused some commotion was that Chen Qing also calmly walked to the chair representing the Qingmu Courtyard Master's position and sat down composedly!
He Yuzhou's gaze grew solemn as he slowly swept over everyone present, "According to multiple investigations, recently Demon Sect activities have been frequent. Although they appear restrained on the surface, undercurrents are actually surging fiercely, and they may be plotting something greater. All courtyards must heighten vigilance. Especially the sect's medicine fields, fishing grounds, mines, and other critical locations must have strengthened protection. Patrol disciples must be doubled, with overt and covert sentries alternating. There must not be the slightest negligence."
He paused and continued, "Furthermore, our planted agents paid no small price and finally traced several leads to obtain some clues about possible Demon Sect gathering areas recently. Although incomplete, the direction is quite clear."
As soon as these words were spoken, the atmosphere in the hall instantly became even more grave.
Chu Jinyun, Tan Yang, Peng Zhen, Hong Yuandong, and others all furrowed their brows with solemn expressions.
They knew well that the Sect Master would never speak groundlessly. That he would so seriously summon everyone to announce this matter meant the situation might be even more severe than they had previously perceived.
The Demon Sect had been lying low for so long. If they suddenly launched large-scale operations, it definitely wouldn't be simple. They couldn't help but be vigilant.
Chen Qing's heart also tightened as he secretly contemplated.
Brilliance flashed in Shen Xiuyong's eyes as he straightened his posture.
He Yuzhou took a deep breath and continued, "Junior Sister Chu, dispatch additional personnel to focus on strengthening patrols of the rear mountain and areas around water veins. Junior Brother Hong, Lihuo Courtyard disciples will be responsible for guarding the mountain gate front and forward mountain areas, coordinating well with the Five Terraces Army. Junior Brother Peng, maintaining and guarding various key passages within the mountain gate is entrusted to you. Junior Brother Tan, you'll coordinate with Junior Brother Peng in patrolling the mountain gate."
"Yes!"
Everyone responded in unison.
"Before entering retreat, Master Uncle Li gave instructions that all Qingmu Courtyard affairs would be handled with full authority by Chen Qing."
Finally, He Yuzhou's gaze turned to Chen Qing, who had been sitting quietly in the Qingmu Courtyard Master's seat, "Qingmu Courtyard will serve as a mobile force, ready to support all sides at any time."
Everyone's gazes turned to Chen Qing, their eyes carrying a trace of doubt.
Qingmu Courtyard was one of the five courtyards. Could Chen Qing, a mere chief disciple, command the situation!?
However, He Yuzhou's next words were like thunder on level ground, exploding in everyone's ears:
"By the way, there's one matter I haven't yet informed everyone about."
He Yuzhou's tone was calm, "Chen Qing broke through to True Aura not long ago."
As soon as these words were spoken, the air in the vast council hall seemed to instantly freeze.
Pin-drop silence.
The next moment, gazes filled with disbelief and shocked uncertainty, as if tangible, uniformly focused on Chen Qing!
Chen Qing, sitting in the Qingmu Courtyard Master's seat, instantly became the absolute center of the entire council hall.
Chu Jinyun's eyes suddenly contracted, her long-maintained calm and composure completely shattered.
She tried to sense Chen Qing's perfectly rounded and restrained aura.
The earlier doubts instantly had an answer, but what followed was even deeper shock.
He actually... truly broke through? A True Aura expert so young?!
Her cherry lips parted slightly, yet she was momentarily speechless.
Tan Yang's gaze locked tightly on Chen Qing. The tumultuous waves within his heart were no less than others'.
At this moment, he couldn't help but recall the scene when he first saw Chen Qing's name on the cross-examination list.
Chen Qing?
How long had it been?
He had actually already crossed that True Aura barrier that had trapped countless heroes, standing on equal footing with these old fellows who had cultivated for decades?
Kunti Courtyard Master Peng Zhen first widened his eyes greatly, his face full of astonishment. This astonishment then quickly transformed into extremely complex emotions, ultimately all becoming a trace of undisguisable amazement.
He subconsciously looked toward Lihuo Courtyard Master Hong Yuandong beside him, discovering the other also wore an expression as if seeing a ghost.
As for those two senior True Aura elders and the Five Terraces Army commander, the calmness on their faces had long since vanished completely, replaced by immense gravity.
This child... exactly how did he cultivate?
Shen Xiuyong looked at Chen Qing with eyes full of admiration and gratification.
This kid truly gave people surprises every time.
He was genuinely happy for this convenient martial nephew of his.
Elder Sang also looked deeply at Chen Qing, his heart also immensely happy.
For a genius like this to emerge within the sect was also a powerful guarantee for a sect like the Five Terraces Sect.
The death-like silence continued for several breaths.
Finally, it was Sect Master He Yuzhou who broke the frozen atmosphere, his tone steady as he summarized, "Alright, the Demon Sect matter is of great importance. All courtyards must immediately act according to orders without delay. If there are no other matters, you're dismissed."
Having spoken, He Yuzhou walked toward the rear hall.
Only then did everyone seem to awaken, one after another suppressing the monstrous waves in their hearts.
Chu Jinyun was the first to collect her emotions. She nodded slightly toward Chen Qing, her tone carrying obviously more gravity than before, "Junior Chen... Chen Qing, congratulations!"
She corrected herself in time, no longer viewing him from a purely elder's perspective.
Now that Chen Qing had broken through to True Aura, given his current age, reaching mid-stage True Aura was only a matter of time. There was a very high probability that, like Sect Master He Yuzhou, he would break through to late-stage True Aura or even perfection in the future.
Chen Qing cupped his fists, "Courtyard Master Chu is too kind."
Tan Yang took a deep breath, "The younger generation is formidable... This Tan... congratulates you."
This congratulation carried sincerity but also a trace of melancholy at being rapidly surpassed by a junior.
Peng Zhen laughed heartily, appearing much more forthright, though he couldn't hide his amazement, "Good lad! You really did it! I said you weren't a creature confined to a pond! Congratulations, congratulations! In the future, my Kunti Courtyard disciples will probably need to rely on your support more!"
His words were half joking, half serious. He had already begun to view Chen Qing as an equal.
"Very good!"
Elder Sang looked at Chen Qing before him with praise.
He could be said to have watched Chen Qing grow step by step, and felt an inexplicable gratification in his heart.
Hong Yuandong and the other elders and commander also came forward one after another. Their attitudes completely different from a moment ago, they solemnly cupped their fists in congratulations:
"Congratulations! Congratulations!"
"Such flourishing in the martial Dao is truly great fortune for our sect!"
At this moment, no one cared whether he was young or whether he had once been of the disciple generation.
From this moment on, Chen Qing's name carried completely different weight in their hearts.
Powerful strength was the foundation of everything.
Chen Qing rose calmly and composed, returning each gesture one by one, his attitude neither servile nor arrogant, "Thank you, all Courtyard Masters and Elders. Chen Qing humbly accepts. In the future, I will still need much guidance from all the senior masters."
He appeared very composed, without the slightest trace of arrogance or presumption.
Everyone had their own thoughts. Amid a chorus of complicated congratulations, they successively left the council hall.
Suddenly only Chen Qing and Shen Xiuyong remained.