Chapter 315: Breaking Through the Boundary |
"Not even giving me a single pill?"
Chen Qing muttered to himself, his tone calm, without much surprise.
There were only so many resources. If he wanted a seat at the table to share in the feast, this day would come sooner or later.
The situation was in a season of many changes. No one knew what tomorrow would bring.
Under the premise of ensuring his own safety, seizing resources and enhancing strength as much as possible was the hard truth.
He had specifically looked into that Profound Yang Spirit Fusion Pill. It was a renowned treasure pill within the sect, greatly beneficial for True Origin refinement, especially for cultivators who hadn't yet completed nine refinements, the medicinal effects were particularly significant.
This pill could purify True Origin, improve refinement efficiency, and even increase the success rate of refinement to a certain degree.
Its formation rate was extremely low, and it took fifteen years just to gather materials for one furnace. Its preciousness could be imagined.
His Supreme Void True Scripture required far more refinements than ordinary people—a full thirteen times. This meant his demand for such resources was even greater.
True Origin refinement became harder the further one went. Each successful refinement brought obvious improvements in strength.
The True Origin became more condensed and pure. Though the total amount might not increase much, combat power truly improved substantially.
Zhong Yu was not like Luo Chengxuan, whom Chen Qing had faced before.
His ability to firmly occupy the third seat among True Disciples meant his strength and temperament were already among the very best of his peers.
In Tianbao Upper Sect, those who could rank in the top three among current True Disciples were all individuals the sect placed great hopes in, with extremely high chances of advancing to ‘Terrestrial Balance Position’ in the future.
The ‘Human Execution Position’ was mostly held by ordinary True Origin realm experts responsible for managing the sect's daily affairs. Most ordinary elders and some peak masters from various peaks belonged to this category.
The future destination of most True Disciples was also the ‘Human Execution Position’, which was already the sect's backbone force.
The ‘Terrestrial Balance Position’ held even more esteemed status, and when the Heavenly Pivot Pavilion convened, they had the qualification to speak, presenting their views and attitudes.
Advancing to ‘Terrestrial Balance Position’ not only required major contributions to the sect and sufficient prestige, but one's own strength was also a hard standard, at least seven or more True Origin refinements were required!
Core positions like the Law Enforcement Peak Master and Elixir Glow Peak Master were all held by ‘Terrestrial Balance Position’ experts.
They were the sect's true decision-making layer and top-tier combat power, wielding heavy authority and influencing the sect's direction.
According to what Chen Qing knew, Ji Yunliang, ranked second among True Disciples, had supposedly reached seven refinements, but when he wanted to further access the sect's core power, he seemed to have been blocked by Li Yujun, the Nine Heavens lineage's peak master. Whether this involved factional power struggles and personal interests, outsiders couldn't know.
Chen Qing calculated in his heart, "With my current strength, to firmly suppress others or even occupy absolute initiative in next year's pill competition, my current strength isn't quite secure enough."
Fortunately, there was still nearly a year until the Profound Yang Spirit Fusion Pills emerged from the furnace. He still had room for improvement.
After pondering for a moment, Chen Qing gathered his composure and decided to continue using the Seven-Leaf Golden Lotus to enhance his Dragon-Elephant Prajna Vajra Body.
Once the Dragon-Elephant Prajna Vajra Body advanced to the sixth layer, his combat power would definitely increase considerably again.
He entered the quiet room again. Just like last time, he skillfully dissolved the harmonizing supplementary medicines into clear water. After the medicinal liquid initially fused and produced misty light, he carefully took out that Seven-Leaf Golden Lotus.
Golden light flowed, supreme yang aura pervaded, and the temperature inside the quiet room seemed to rise several degrees.
Chen Qing carefully and gently placed a golden leaf into the bathing barrel.
"Boom!"
The medicinal liquid in the barrel instantly boiled violently!
The golden leaf and various supplementary medicine spirit liquids in the barrel fused together, transforming into boiling golden jade nectar. It bubbled and gurgled with scorching bubbles. With each bubble that burst, a small cluster of misty golden energy rose.
Chen Qing removed his clothes and stepped in without hesitation.
"Tss—!"
Intense burning pain instantly swept through his entire body!
The Dragon-Elephant Prajna Vajra Body operated at full power. His blood energy was like ignited volcanic lava, surging and roaring at unprecedented speed, fusing with the invading supreme yang vital energy.
He sat cross-legged in the center of the boiling golden medicinal liquid, like an old monk entering meditation. Firmly guarding a point of clarity in his spiritual platform, he used powerful will to guide this violent medicinal power along specific cultivation routes, washing and tempering his physical body again and again.
This process was extreme agony and also rapid transformation.
Time passed in silent suffering.
The brilliant gold in the barrel gradually faded, and the boiling medicinal liquid finally returned to calm.
When the last wisp of supreme yang vital energy fused into his blood energy, Chen Qing slowly opened his eyes.
"Whoosh—"
A mouthful of scorching breath shot out like a sharp arrow, causing slight distortion in the air.
He stood up from the bathing barrel, his entire body's skin radiating restrained treasure light. The original dark gold coloring seemed several shades deeper, faintly flowing with a layer of warm jade-like radiance.
With slight movement of his tendons and bones, joints throughout his body emitted a series of crisp and powerful explosive sounds.
[Heaven Rewards Diligence, Success Guaranteed]
[Dragon-Elephant Prajna Vajra Body: Fifth Layer (9358/20000)]
"The second golden leaf's effect is still astonishing!"
Chen Qing looked at the data on the panel, his heart excited.
One golden leaf had made his cultivation progress surge another four thousand-plus points. At this speed, breaking through to the sixth layer was just around the corner!
Next, he began consolidating the medicinal power that had just surged into his body.
Not a single drop could be wasted.
His cultivation progress in the following days was also several times faster than before.
…
Main Peak Great Hall. The dome was high and broad, cloud-patterned giant pillars supporting a solemn space.
Sect Master Jiang Lishan sat on the head seat throne, his gaze lowered, listening to the reports from disciples below.
Luo Ping stood respectfully below, clearly relating recently compiled intelligence, "Master, according to intelligence gathered from all sources, in the past half month, all experts under the Limitless Demon Sect have completely concealed their traces. Even the branch altars that were previously active everywhere have reduced their activities, quite showing signs of lying low. On the Soul Breaking Forest frontline, the Demon Sect's tracks have completely disappeared. They no longer clash with our sect's patrolling disciples."
Hearing this, Jiang Lishan's expression didn't relax in the slightest. Instead, he said indifferently, "The Demon Sect actively retracting their claws is indeed less killing for local sects, which can be considered a good thing. But for our upper sect, we absolutely cannot let our guard down."
"The Limitless Demon Sect's techniques are strange, requiring killing and conflict to strengthen themselves. This contraction is nothing more than a stopgap measure, after previously losing Qi Yu, an important chess piece at Dragon Marsh Lake, and consecutively losing several Protector Elders, their vitality is damaged, so they're temporarily avoiding confrontation."
This Tianbao Upper Sect master knew in his heart that completely eliminating the Demon Sect was extremely difficult.
Unless they could accomplish everything in one battle and deal a blow from which they couldn't recover, otherwise, like wildfire that burns endlessly, they would revive with the spring breeze.
Unfortunately, Qi Xunnan was as cunning as a fox and never gave him such opportunities.
"Yes, this disciple understands."
Luo Ping responded in a deep voice, "I've already dispatched three stewards from Listening Wind Peak to infiltrate the Soul Breaking Forest's perimeter. If the Demon Sect makes any moves, they absolutely won't escape our eyes and ears."
Jiang Lishan nodded slightly, quite confident in this eldest disciple's ability to handle affairs.
He changed the subject, as if asking casually, "At Elixir Glow Peak, how is the progress on the 'Profound Yang Spirit Fusion Pills' being prepared for next year? Have the True Disciples of each lineage been behaving themselves lately?"
Luo Ping knew that though his master seemed to allow the four lineages' struggles on ordinary days, in reality he always paid attention to the sect's fresh blood and their growth, especially those seedlings with potential to impact higher realms.
After brief consideration, he related the matter that had been spreading most widely within the sect recently.
Luo Ping's words were practical, without embellishment, "Currently, Zhong Yu from the Nine Heavens lineage has already spread word that next year's Profound Yang Spirit Fusion Pills won't leave even a single pill for the True Martial lineage. Though Junior Brother Nan hasn't directly stated his position, Zhong Yu's actions presumably have his tacit approval."
Jiang Lishan listened quietly, his face showing neither joy nor anger.
"Oh? This Chen Qing is indeed more extraordinary than anticipated. First defeating Zhang Baicheng, then suppressing Luo Chengxuan, and now even daring to rebuff Nan Zhuoran's face..."
"Nan Zhuoran has heaven-sent talent, and Zhong Yu has also been famous for many years with deep foundations. However, pressure can sometimes also be motivation. It just depends on whether he can withstand it and how much of this pressure he can transform into strength."
Regarding the grievances between the Nine Heavens lineage and True Martial lineage, he himself had personally experienced it back in the day and knew it very clearly.
As for struggles between the four lineages, as long as they didn't touch bottom lines, he always turned a blind eye.
Luo Ping raised his eyes to look at his master and probed, "Master, Chen Qing is indeed promising material, resolute temperament and considerable potential. After all, he's young and only recently entered the sect. If he suffers excessive setbacks because of this, it would be rather regrettable..."
His words weren't finished, but the meaning was obvious.
Jiang Lishan's gaze swept over Luo Ping. With one glance, he saw through the trace of complex emotions hidden beneath his eldest disciple's surface.
"The competition among current True Disciples has its own rules."
Jiang Lishan slowly said, "If we interfere, we would be breaking the rules. In the long run, this benefits neither the sect nor the disciples' growth. Whether one can gain a foothold in this maelstrom depends entirely on individual fortune."
"Yes! This disciple understands." Luo Ping's heart trembled as he quickly lowered his head in acknowledgment.
His master, as Sect Master, always prioritized the sect's overall situation. He never let personal likes and dislikes show, much less would he destroy the competitive mechanism the sect had maintained for hundreds of years out of favoritism toward a particular disciple.
This was also an important reason why he could be jointly recommended by all four lineages and sit firmly in the Sect Master position.
Jiang Lishan looked at this disciple of his and slowly said, "Are you worried?"
Luo Ping's body trembled imperceptibly, then quickly regained composure, his tone firm, "This disciple fears no challenge."
"Mm."
Jiang Lishan seemed satisfied with this answer and continued, "For the Sect Master position, you, Nan Zhuoran, and even others who are qualified all have opportunities."
"But who can ultimately sit in this position depends not only on talent, but also on temperament, vision, methods, and... strength. Everything must be within the sect's rules, obtained through genuine ability."
The Tianbao Upper Sect master position represented supreme authority over Tianbao Upper Sect. Not only could one peruse the sect's most core texts and learn the two other great divine abilities personally transmitted by the second-generation ancestor beyond the four lineages' inheritances... The power, resources, and strength contained within were enough to move anyone's heart.
"This disciple understands."
Luo Ping took a deep breath, suppressing the surging thoughts in his heart, "I will definitely follow Master's teachings, cultivate with focused heart, and fulfill my duties."
"Good, you may go. Don't slack on Demon Sect matters." Jiang Lishan waved his hand.
"This disciple takes his leave." Luo Ping bowed in salutation and turned to leave the great hall.
In the empty great hall, only Jiang Lishan remained.
His gaze once again turned toward the ethereal sea of clouds outside the hall as he murmured to himself, "Chen Qing... True Martial lineage..."
…
In the following time, Chen Qing completely settled his mind and entered arduous cultivation.
During the day, he cultivated the Azure Fall Startled Swan Spear and practiced the spear formation.
Time flew by. It was already early autumn scenery.
Inside the quiet room, Chen Qing's form moved like lightning, the Black Dragon Spear transforming into difficult-to-capture startled swan afterimages.
He was completely immersed in cultivating the Azure Fall Startled Swan Spear. This spear technique pursued ultimate speed and unpredictable变, emphasizing unity of body and spear, erupting with thunderous might within a small space. It was completely different from the True Martial Demon-Quelling Spear he had mainly cultivated before, with its grand imposing manner and overwhelming momentum.
After four months of arduous cultivation, his understanding of this spear technique had already reached the realm of transformation.
At this moment, his mind was clear and empty. All distracting thoughts were cast aside. Only the spear technique's trajectories and that faint spiritual light in the obscure remained in his mind.
"Swoosh!" "Swoosh!" "Swoosh!"
The spear tip broke through air, but only its sound could be heard, its form was difficult to see.
Inside the quiet room, it seemed as if several Chen Qing figures appeared simultaneously, each executing different spear moves, yet in an instant they unified as if never having moved.
These were afterimages left behind when speed reached a certain degree.
His blood energy surged. Dragon-elephant power remained concealed and unexpressed. True Origin roared through his meridians, all pouring into the spear body without the slightest leakage.
Gradually, Chen Qing entered a mysterious state.
"Above the azure fall, a startled swan's glimpse..."
An enlightenment rose in his heart.
In this moment, all his movements suddenly stopped. His form froze in the center of the quiet room, the Black Dragon Spear pointed diagonally at the ground. The spear body trembled slightly, emitting a clear, low hum.
It wasn't that his strength was exhausted, but rather all his intent had in this instant condensed and compressed to the extreme, and then—
"Hum!"
A completely new spear intent, entirely different from True Martial Spear Intent, soared skyward from within his body, from the Black Dragon Spear!
This spear intent was sharp, swift, elusive, like a startled swan from beyond the heavens, fleeting shadow and floating light, traceless yet carrying the resolution to pierce through everything!
The second spear intent, Startled Swan Spear Intent, achieved!
[Heaven Rewards Diligence, Success Guaranteed]
[Azure Fall Startled Swan Spear: Perfection]
[Spear Intent: True Martial Spear Intent, Startled Swan Spear Intent]
[Dragon-Elephant Prajna Vajra Body: Fifth Layer (19563/20000)]
[Supreme Void True Scripture: Second Layer (10215/20000)]
"Four months of quiet cultivation, the harvest is indeed enormous." Chen Qing's eyes held restrained brilliant light.
During these four months, he had single-mindedly focused, refining spear techniques and the Dragon-Elephant Prajna Vajra Body during the day, operating the Supreme Void True Scripture to refine True Origin at night, occasionally entering the Grotto Heaven to cultivate.
Relying on the complete absorption of the Blue Profound King Serpent's inner core essence, abundant supply of True Origin Pills, and the convenience of entering the Grotto Heaven four times monthly for accelerated cultivation, his cultivation progress could be called godly speed.
After consuming three more seven-leaf golden leaves, the Dragon-Elephant Prajna Vajra Body was just one step away from breaking through to the sixth layer.
He still had the last two golden leaves remaining, plus the Seven-Leaf Golden Lotus main body that contained most of the source essence, reserved for impacting the sixth layer and beyond.
The Supreme Void True Scripture's cultivation had also progressed remarkably. He was more than halfway to completing the three True Origin refinement. The True Origin in his dantian grew increasingly heavy and condensed, faintly carrying wind-and-thunder sounds as it surged.
Not only that, during these four months, he had taken all the Spirit Nurturing Soul Stabilizing Pills from last time. Combined with the Soul Wood in his consciousness sea nourishing him day and night, his spiritual consciousness strength had significantly strengthened, his Will Sea becoming increasingly stable.
Chen Qing was confident that if he were to face Cloudwater Upper Sect’s Li Muyun now, that strange divine ability which specialized in attacking divine consciousness would have its power greatly reduced against him.
The comprehensive improvement in strength also made him more concerned about certain shortcomings.
"Chu Nan's evasion divine ability is truly enviable."
Chen Qing mused inwardly, "A top-tier evasion or movement technique divine ability secret art must be moved up the agenda."
He had already investigated. Within Tianbao Upper Sect, two extremely sophisticated related divine abilities were collected.
One was in the Jade Palace lineage, called the Nine Heavens Wind Riding Art, but the prerequisite for cultivation was needing the Jade Palace lineage's core foundation technique, the Jade Palace Spirit Nurturing Art. He wasn't a Jade Palace disciple, so this path was blocked.
The other was even more astonishing, one of the inheritances left by the second-generation ancestor, called Shrinking Earth to Inches. This method wasn't an ordinary evasion technique. It was famous throughout the entire Yan Kingdom, classified as a 'great divine ability.'
Unfortunately, this method couldn't be practiced without being Sect Master or receiving the Sect Master's special permission. The threshold was extremely high.
According to intelligence Chen Qing obtained, even Luo Ping hadn't obtained this technique.
Comments 1