Chapter 319: Sixth Layer |
Outside Ten Thousand Poisons Marsh.
Chen Qing sat cross-legged, carefully taking stock of what he had obtained from Wei Shanze's body.
Two white jade bottles, a sandalwood box, along with dozens of poison needles and a broken poison net.
He first picked up the white jade bottle. The pills inside were light blue, smooth and lustrous, their aura extremely similar to Tianbao Upper Sect's True Origin Pills, though with subtle differences.
"It seems these are the unique pills of Heavenly Star Alliance used for True Origin realm cultivation."
Chen Qing thought to himself, "The Thousand Reef Sea Domain and Yan Kingdom's land have different products. When refining pills, they use certain marine treasures to replace some terrestrial medicinal materials. The effects should be largely similar, perhaps even having unique efficacy."
He carefully stored this bottle containing about ten pills.
Next, he looked at those several damaged spirit treasures.
Though the ghostly blue poison net had been torn open with a large gash by his True Martial Seal and its spiritual nature was greatly damaged, its material was extraordinary. The barbs on it still emanated cold light, clearly coated with severe poison.
And those dozens of blood shadow poison needles as fine as ox hair were even more insidious and vicious, weapons for sneak attacks and ambushes that could have miraculous effects at critical moments.
Finally, he opened that jade box.
Inside lay three medicinal treasures, with spiritual energy swirling.
One stalk of Crimson Blood Coral Fungus, about twenty-five years old.
One stalk of Tide Sound Spirit Leaf, approaching thirty years in age.
And one stalk of Earth Dragon Coiled Root, also around twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old.
All were rare treasures, clearly hard-won by Wei Shanze's group through arduous searching in Ten Thousand Poisons Marsh.
"Good harvest."
Chen Qing nodded with satisfaction, properly storing the damaged poison net, poison needles, and medicinal treasures, along with that bottle of pills, into the Cosmic Myriad Manifestations Diagram's space.
Afterward, Chen Qing briefly tidied up, then summoned the Golden Feather Eagle and headed toward Five Terraces Sect. Before long, he landed in Qingmu Courtyard's back courtyard.
The back courtyard remained very quiet. The light bubbling sound of the furnace fire within the courtyard, along with a peculiar medicinal fragrance mixed with scorching heat, permeated the air.
Li Baichuan wasn't in the courtyard but was resting indoors.
Chen Qing walked slowly into the back courtyard.
The cloud patterns on the pill furnace's wall glowed faintly red. At the lid's air holes, wisps of hot air occasionally escaped, causing the air in the room to show faint ripples.
"What kind of pill is this old man refining!?"
Chen Qing was curious, feeling that what Old Li was refining this time was clearly extraordinary.
Subconsciously, he carefully extended a thread of divine sense, trying to perceive the situation inside the furnace.
However, the moment his divine sense touched the transparent hot air dispersing around the pill furnace,
"Sizzle!"
An indescribable searing pain instantly fed back through his divine sense!
As if that wasn't hot air, but invisible flames specifically designed to burn the divine soul!
That thread of divine sense was instantly evaporated and burned. Severe pain pierced directly into the depths of his Will Sea!
Chen Qing's heart jumped as he hastily withdrew his divine sense.
He stared in astonishment at that furnace that appeared calm but harbored terror within, his heart surging with shock.
What kind of pill was this exactly?
Just the dissipating aftereffects could directly burn divine sense!
If he hadn't reacted quickly and severed that thread of divine sense connection in time, that moment just now might not have merely been pain, but his Will Sea would have suffered considerable injury!
"You're back!"
Just then, Li Baichuan pushed open the door and walked out.
He walked over slowly, patting nonexistent dust from his body. Those turbid eyes glanced at Chen Qing, seeming to see through his actions clearly, yet said nothing.
Chen Qing suppressed his inner palpitations, stepped forward, and took out that Nine Curve Grass stalk.
"Master Li, I've retrieved the Nine Curve Grass."
Li Baichuan's eyelids lifted slightly, glancing at the Nine Curve Grass before saying indifferently, "Mm, just put it here."
Seeing that he seemed to have no immediate intention of using this grass, Chen Qing smoothly brought up the main purpose of this trip, "Master Li, this disciple has retrieved the Nine Curve Grass as agreed. I wonder about the movement technique you promised this disciple..."
Li Baichuan said slowly, "This old man always keeps his word. I'll transmit to you a movement technique secret art. This technique is called 'Nine Shadow Void Evasion Art.'"
With that, he extended his withered finger. A glimmer of light gathered at the fingertip, seemingly slow but actually as fast as lightning, pointing toward Chen Qing's brow.
Chen Qing only felt a cool sensation at his brow as a large amount of profound information instantly flooded into his mind.
It included complex True Origin circulation routes and techniques for condensing and controlling shadows.
This secret technique wasn't simply explosive speed, but involved clever manipulation of light and shadow, able to split off illusory shadows of oneself in an instant. The true body could briefly jump and shuttle between shadows. Cultivated to the highest realm, one could simultaneously split into nine shadows where true and false were difficult to distinguish, dazzling enemies and leaving them unable to advance or retreat. Whether used for entangling enemies in combat or escaping at critical moments, it had divine effects.
After the image transmission was complete, Li Baichuan withdrew his finger and said slowly, "Cultivating this 'Nine Shadow Void Evasion Art' has two prerequisites. First, divine sense must be sufficiently powerful and keen to precisely perceive the subtle connections between yourself, your shadows, and the surrounding environment, and simultaneously control multiple shadows."
"Second, you need minute control over your qi and blood and True Origin. Especially in the instant of extreme speed movement and shadow splitting, qi and blood and True Origin must be highly coordinated without the slightest disorder. Your qi and blood are abundant, so you're quite suitable."
Chen Qing carefully comprehended the profundity of this secret technique in his mind. Feeling that its operational method was quite different from the secret techniques he knew, appearing even more treacherous and ingenious, he couldn't help but grow curious and asked, "Master Li, this 'Nine Shadow Void Evasion Art' is extraordinarily profound. I wonder which school or sect it comes from? It seems... very different from common methods."
Li Baichuan glanced at him, as if having long anticipated this question, and said calmly, "This technique isn't from Yan Kingdom's traditions but something I obtained during my early travels through the Thousand Reef Sea Domain. The people there especially excel in illusions, evasion techniques, and water-element secret techniques."
Chen Qing's heart stirred.
He hadn't expected Master Li could even obtain transmissions from overseas.
"Master Li, the places you've traveled seem far more numerous than this disciple imagined."
Chen Qing couldn't help but sigh. This old man's experience was truly unfathomable.
"How vast is the world beyond just Yan Kingdom alone?"
Li Baichuan said indifferently, "This old man has indeed been to many places. Besides this Thousand Reef Sea Domain, there's Gaochang Kingdom in the Western Regions... tsk, the Gaochang grape wine there, rich and mellow, remains fresh in this old man's memory even now."
"Gaochang Kingdom..."
Chen Qing made note again. It seemed to also be one of the nineteen small nations in the Western Regions.
He recalled that Fang Hui had also previously mentioned the Western Regions, asking him to search for jujube dates.
Fang Hui also seemed to originate from a Western Regions small nation.
Now hearing Master Li mention it, it appeared the Western Regions and overseas had many experts and also possessed some powerful transmissions.
Chen Qing silently committed these names to memory, knowing that as his strength increased, his future contacts definitely wouldn't be limited to Yan Kingdom. This information might be useful later.
He then looked toward that pill furnace, unable to help asking, "Master Li, what kind of pill are you refining in this furnace?"
For Old Li to expend such painstaking effort, what he sought must be significant. What he was refining was definitely an extraordinary treasure pill.
Especially the probing earlier made Chen Qing feel the extraordinariness of this furnace of pills even more.
Hearing this, Li Baichuan raised his turbid eyes, "For this furnace of pills, this old man has collected materials, adjusted the fire temperature, and prepared for... fifty years in total."
"Fifty years!?"
Chen Qing's heart shook violently as he sucked in a cold breath.
Fifty years of time was already half a lifetime for ordinary people. Even for martial artists with extended lifespans, it was definitely not a short period.
Li Baichuan had actually spent such long years and painstaking effort on this one furnace of pills?
The value of this pill was simply immeasurable!
"The day the pill is completed..."
Li Baichuan withdrew his gaze and looked deeply at Chen Qing. His eyes held complex, difficult-to-discern emotions, seemingly expectant yet tinged with solemnity. But ultimately he didn't continue, his words cutting off abruptly.
Seeing this, Chen Qing understood.
Li Baichuan harbored many secrets. If he was unwilling to speak, asking further would be futile.
This furnace of pills concerned his fifty years of painstaking effort and likely involved extremely deep secrets he naturally wouldn't easily reveal to outsiders.
Chen Qing and Li Baichuan chatted idly for a bit longer.
Feeling it was about time, he rose to take his leave, "Master Li, if there's nothing else, this disciple will return to the sect first. Should you have any instructions in the future, just send word and this disciple will do his utmost."
Li Baichuan nodded slightly. His withered palm fumbled in his bosom for a moment and took out a white jade pendant.
The jade pendant's shape was ancient and simple. The front carved with profound cloud patterns, while the back bore an ancient seal script character for 'Li.' Faint will fluctuations were subtly contained within.
"This old man has a jade pendant here. Take it."
Li Baichuan passed over the jade pendant, "If there's a time when this old man needs you, I'll transmit information to you through this pendant."
A jade pendant!?
Chen Qing received it with both hands, once again surprised by Li Baichuan's methods.
Remotely transmitting information through a jade pendant clearly required sealing a thread of one's own consciousness within the jade pendant for a long time and being able to activate sensing within a certain range.
This required extremely profound control over divine sense, and one's own cultivation must reach an extremely terrifying realm to make consciousness condense without dispersing and persist for a long time.
In any case, Chen Qing knew that with his current second refinement cultivation and divine sense strength, he absolutely couldn't accomplish this.
He had only seen similar descriptions in some ancient sect texts, usually left by senior predecessors of profound cultivation for juniors or inheritors. Some that were well-preserved with powerful consciousness could even remain effective across hundreds or even thousands of years, similar to the transmission left by Tianbao Upper Sect's founding ancestor.
"This disciple understands."
Chen Qing solemnly put away the jade pendant, then bowed deeply to Li Baichuan, performing a formal salute, "Master Li, take care. This disciple takes his leave."
Afterward, he slowly left the back courtyard.
Li Baichuan's gaze returned to the pill furnace, as if everything in the outside world no longer concerned him.
After leaving Qingmu Courtyard, Chen Qing went to bid farewell to Sect Master He Yuzhou, Elder Sang Yanping, and several other elders one by one.
Everyone knew his identity was different now and sect affairs were busy, so they didn't try to detain him much. They only repeatedly urged him to be careful in all things and to come back to visit when he had free time.
After a round of farewells, Chen Qing delayed no longer. He summoned the Golden Feather Eagle and leaped onto its back.
"Screech—!"
The Golden Feather Eagle let out a clear cry. Its wings spread, stirring up a violent wind as it carried Chen Qing soaring into the sky, transforming into a dazzling golden streak of light, piercing through the cloud layer and rushing rapidly toward Tianbao Upper Sect's direction.
He Yuzhou stood with hands clasped behind his back at the edge of Heart Lake Island.
Elder Sang Yanping silently walked to his side, saying, "Though Chen Qing's aura has become increasingly profound and difficult to fathom upon this return, his coming and going were hasty. I'm afraid... things at Tianbao Upper Sect aren't easy for him either."
He Yuzhou nodded slowly, "Tianbao Upper Sect is Yan Kingdom's pinnacle martial Dao colossus. Within it, factions stand in great numbers. The fierceness of competition is far beyond what we at Five Terraces Sect can imagine. Moreover..."
He paused, saying, "According to scattered news that has returned, the True Martial lineage Chen Qing belongs to has been weak within the sect for a long time. Resource allocation and voice in power are probably far inferior to the other lineages."
After a long silence, Sang Yanping said quietly, "Sect Master, tell me... how far can Chen Qing ultimately go?"
He Yuzhou gazed at the churning sea of clouds in the sky where the Golden Feather Eagle's trace had long disappeared, saying nothing.
The Golden Feather Eagle swept past Tianbao Upper Sect's continuous mountain ranges, finally landing steadily before Chen Qing's small courtyard on True Martial Peak.
Three days of flight, dusty and travel-worn.
This trip to Five Terraces Sect to find Master Li not only fulfilled his previous promise but also obtained the long-desired movement technique secret art. The harvest couldn't be called anything but immense.
The courtyard gate creaked open. Qingdai, who was tending the herb garden in the courtyard, heard the sound and looked up. Seeing Chen Qing had returned, joy immediately appeared on her face. She set down the watering can in her hands and quickly came forward.
"Senior Brother, you've returned!"
Qingdai performed a graceful salute, her tone carrying concern, "Was this trip smooth?"
"Mm, everything went smoothly." Chen Qing nodded slightly. His gaze swept over the tidy courtyard, and a trace of warmth rose in his heart.
Going out, having someone at home still felt different.
He then said, "I need to immediately enter the meditation chamber for secluded cultivation. Unless there's urgent business, don't let anyone disturb me."
Hearing this, Qingdai's lips moved slightly, as if wanting to say something. A trace of hesitation flashed through her eyes, but ultimately she swallowed her words and only obediently replied, "Yes, Senior Brother. The meditation chamber has long been cleaned and arranged properly. You may enter at any time."
Chen Qing noticed Qingdai's momentary hesitation to speak, but at this moment his heart was set on the newly obtained secret technique and impending breakthrough, so he didn't ask further. He nodded and walked directly toward the meditation chamber.
Inside the meditation chamber, sandalwood smoke curled.
Chen Qing sat cross-legged on the meditation cushion. He didn't immediately begin breaking through the "Dragon-Elephant Prajna Vajra Body's" bottleneck but first sank his mind into his consciousness, carefully savoring the "Nine Shadow Void Evasion Art" Li Baichuan had transmitted.
This secret technique was indeed profound. Its cultivation didn't rely on external objects like heavenly treasures or special malevolent energies but extremely depended on the cultivator's own divine sense strength and minute control over flesh and True Origin.
It wasn't simple linear acceleration but involved light and shadow transformations and the interplay of empty and solid, able to split off deceptive shadows during extreme speed movement. The true body could also briefly shift and shuttle between shadows.
Chen Qing followed the method in his mind. Before long, a golden light quietly appeared.
[Heaven Rewards Diligence, Success Guaranteed]
[Secret Technique: Nine Shadow Void Evasion Art: Minor Achievement (1/5000)]
Immediately, with a thought, his figure suddenly blurred!
"Whoosh—"
A phantom almost identical to himself instantly appeared on the other side of the meditation chamber. This shadow wasn't completely illusory but carried a trace of faint aura, even able to simulate his punching motions, though the power was far inferior to the main body.
However, this shadow only maintained for less than one breath before dissipating like a bubble.
At the same time, Chen Qing felt a small portion of his divine sense consumed, and the qi and blood within his body slightly churned from the extreme speed burst and splitting just now.
"Truly marvelous! Also extremely demanding on divine sense and qi and blood control!"
A trace of joy flashed through Chen Qing's eyes, "No wonder Master Li specified the need for powerful divine sense and minute control. Just initially condensing one shadow has such effects. If cultivated to perfection with nine shadows appearing together, whether used for evasion and confusion or surrounding and harassing enemies, it would be a major killing move!"
He was certain in his heart that this "Nine Shadow Void Evasion Art's" potential and treacherous nature definitely wasn't inferior to that Chu Nan's evasion secret technique, even surpassing it in some aspects.
Chen Qing took a deep breath and didn't continue cultivating.
The urgent matter at hand was advancing Dragon-Elephant Prajna Vajra Body to the sixth layer!
The Dragon-Elephant Prajna Vajra Body technique was catalyzed to the extreme. Qi and blood were like an ignited ancient furnace.
The dark gold luster beneath his skin grew increasingly deep. Those ancient Sanskrit runes circulated at unprecedented speed.
Low dragon roars and heavy elephant trumpets continuously sounded from within his body, growing clearer and more magnificent, even causing subtle tremors in the surrounding space.
Two days passed in the blink of an eye.
Inside the meditation chamber, vast qi and blood force nearly burst through his body, forming visible crimson auspicious clouds.
Chen Qing's pores throughout his body opened and closed, exhaling scorching breath, as if a volcano about to erupt was contained within.
[Dragon-Elephant Prajna Vajra Body: Fifth Layer (19999/20000)]
Chen Qing's mind was undistracted as he fully mobilized his accumulated abundant qi and blood!
"Buzz—!"
As if a great bell tolled in the depths of his soul, or like the first thunderclap at the world's creation!
The qi and blood and essence accumulated to the peak finally broke through that solid shackle!
In that instant, Chen Qing's entire body burst forth with immeasurable dark gold Buddha light. This Buddha light no longer merely floated on the body surface but completely merged with his flesh and bones, making his entire body take on a restrained yet profound dark gold glazed quality, majestic like a vajra forged.
"Moo!! Roar!!!"
Clear dragon roars and elephant trumpets were no longer internal sounds but transformed into substantial sonic torrents, thunderously expanding outward with Chen Qing as the center!
The entire meditation chamber's light barrier rippled violently, as if it might shatter at any moment.
Behind him, qi and blood and essence intertwined. The originally somewhat illusory dragon and elephant phantoms suddenly swelled and solidified!
The dragon's body was vigorous, scales and claws clear, carrying world-tearing might as it coiled.
The giant elephant trod the earth, its trunk sweeping, its trumpeting thick as mountains, giving a feeling of treading the earth, immovable.
At the moment of breakthrough, Chen Qing clearly felt his skin's toughness, bone density, and fascia strength all elevated to an entirely new level.
He felt that at this moment, even without circulating any protective True Origin, ordinary lower-grade spirit treasures would find it difficult to easily breach his physical defense.
At the same time, his control over 'Dragon-Elephant Force' became even more natural. When augmenting himself, his physical strength amplification far exceeded the fifth layer, and the duration was also longer.
Moreover, his total qi and blood surged again. As it surged, it was like a great river transforming into a vast ocean, its rumbling deafening.
More importantly, that trace of immortal, indestructible Buddhist true meaning contained in his qi and blood grew even richer. His self-healing ability and resistance to evil and malevolent energies were significantly enhanced.
Reaching the sixth layer, he had truly entered the profound realm of Dragon-Elephant Prajna Vajra Body, beginning to initially touch upon the "Vajra" artistic conception contained in the technique. His physical body began taking solid steps toward legendary realms.
Though the distance to the twelfth layer's great perfection of 'physical body becoming saint, dragon and elephant following' was still immensely far, at this moment, relying solely on his physical body, he could directly contend with four or even five True Origin refinement experts!
[Heaven Rewards Diligence, Success Guaranteed]
[Dragon-Elephant Prajna Vajra Body: Sixth Layer (1/30000)]
Chen Qing slowly opened his eyes. Golden light flashed and vanished in his eyes before returning to profundity.
Feeling the ceaselessly surging terrifying force within his body that seemed capable of shaking heaven and earth, he nodded with satisfaction, then thought to himself:
"Next, I'll properly familiarize myself with the surging qi and blood within, and complete the three True Origin refinement as soon as possible."