Yuan Qing had always believed Dongbo Xueying was dead. But now, not only was he alive, he had become an Exalted! And in half a year, he would begin the Exalted Life-and-Death Battles?
She had always held a very special feeling for Dongbo Xueying. She could never forget the image of that young man in black who rushed out from an explosion to protect her when she was at her most desperate, the scene of him shielding her as stone slabs collapsed around them, giving her a sense of absolute safety…
As an extremely intelligent and accomplished Named Magus, she wouldn’t fall in love over such an incident alone. Yet Dongbo Xueying had left a deep imprint in her heart.
“You said Dongbo Xueying? He’s not dead?” Yuan Qing asked urgently. “You didn’t mishear?”
“Dead? He’s not dead at all.” The young girl replied, puzzled.
“Are you talking about Dongbo Xueying from Anyang Province?” Yuan Qing asked again, worried there might be someone else with the same name. However, someone hailed as the youngest Exalted in a thousand years was unlikely to have a namesake in the world at the same time.
“Yes, that’s the one from Anyang Province.” The young girl said. “I heard he escaped from the Black Wind Abyss over a month ago! He’s only twenty-eight this year! Wow, he’s even younger than you, Master!”
“You little rascal.”
Hearing this, Yuan Qing felt slightly reassured. It was definitely the Dongbo Xueying she knew.
“I’m going out for a while.” Yuan Qing stood up.
“Should we accompany you when you go out, Master?” The young girl asked. Her master usually studied spells, and only occasionally took on easier trials when stuck in a bottleneck. She rarely went outside. Most of the Named Knights preferred to drink and talk loudly in taverns or teahouses.
“No need.”
Yuan Qing casually threw on a cloak and left her mansion. Soon, she arrived at a bustling tavern. She ordered a cup of fruit wine and sat in a corner, listening quietly.
In the tavern, many were chatting—some about recent life-and-death missions, others about native creatures from Exalted worlds. Some were even talking about Dongbo Xueying!
“This Dongbo Xueying is truly amazing! The youngest Exalted in a thousand years! I think in this Exalted Life-and-Death Battle, he’ll at least win six matches!”
“He’s impressive indeed! Only twenty-eight! Unbelievable!”
“I think winning three matches would be great for him.”
“Three matches? That’s too few!”
“You don’t understand! Dongbo Xueying is the youngest in a thousand years. What does youth mean? On one hand, it means little combat experience. On the other, it means a short cultivation time.” An old man drank heartily, his breath reeking of alcohol. “With such a short cultivation time, his comprehension of the myriad elements must be shallow. Those old guys stuck at the Named level for a long time, some even ranked in the top ten or even top three of the Longshan Rankings, their cultivation and experience are far superior to Dongbo Xueying’s.”
“That drunkard actually has a point.”
“Dongbo Xueying’s ascension to Exalted might have been due to some rare fortune or encounter. His actual cultivation and combat experience might not be that high. He hasn’t had many notable battles—only the one against Xiang Pangyun! And I heard Xiang Pangyun is only ranked around five hundred on the Longshan Rankings.”
The Named cultivators discussed.
Generally, those who ascended to Exalted were often ranked in the top fifty, even top ten or top three on the Longshan Rankings!
To nearly die fighting someone ranked five hundred, in the eyes of these Named cultivators, wasn’t particularly impressive. It was only because Dongbo Xueying was twenty-two at the time that it was considered extraordinary.
But the Exalted Life-and-Death Battle didn’t care how young you were! In the end, it was all about strength! So youth was actually a disadvantage. Sometimes, those over a hundred years old performed better!
“They’re underestimating Dongbo Xueying too much.” Yuan Qing, sipping her fruit wine, felt secretly angry. “When the time comes, Dongbo Xueying will definitely shock them all!”
She was completely rooting for Dongbo Xueying.
But her rational side told her… the Named cultivators’ doubts were reasonable. From her first encounter with Dongbo Xueying, the Divine Envoy he killed was only an ordinary Named cultivator. Later, Xiang Pangyun, whom he killed, was only around five hundredth place!
Soon after, Yuan Qing finished her fruit wine and left.
She came here mainly to verify the news. Now it seemed Dongbo Xueying was indeed alive and would soon participate in the Exalted Life-and-Death Battle!
“Half a year from now.”
“I’ll finally see Dongbo Xueying again.” Yuan Qing secretly looked forward to it.
…
Sitting in the backyard garden of his mansion, Dongbo Xueying munched on snacks while manipulating the forces of heaven and earth to form the ‘First Dragon God Seal’.
Whoosh.
Countless threads instantly formed a three-dimensional talisman seal, floating before him. The sight shocked the two maids serving him, but as maids, they remained obediently quiet, not daring to make a sound and disturb their master.
“There are still many errors. Again.” Dongbo Xueying focused again, and countless threads formed the three-dimensional talisman seal once more.
He tried again and again.
A few days ago, while drinking with the Demon Blade Knight Pengshan in a tavern, Dongbo Xueying had been troubled, lamenting his inability to form the First God Seal of the secret technique. At that time, the Demon Blade Knight Pengshan had laughed in surprise and said: “Since you’ve already understood how the God Seal is constructed, just follow the instructions in the secret technique—’form it in a single thought’—and keep trying! The more attempts you make, the more naturally it will come!”
“God Seals are things created by gods. As long as you understand their construction principles, repeated attempts will eventually succeed! But if you don’t understand at all, no amount of attempts will help.” One sentence from the Demon Blade Knight Pengshan made Dongbo Xueying suddenly enlightened.
So Dongbo Xueying began trying!
Thousands and ten thousands of attempts… spending most of each day trying to condense the God Seal with a single thought!
Tens of thousands of threads instantly constructing the three-dimensional talisman seal. Because he understood its principles, Dongbo Xueying immediately knew that several threads were flawed the moment he condensed it. He didn’t need to check each one individually, because those flawed threads violated the ‘mysteries of the Flame of All Things’, feeling awkward and unnatural.
Because he understood the mysteries, his instincts guided the threads to conform to the principles.
“It’s still not quite right.”
After countless attempts, Dongbo Xueying now had an extremely clear image in his mind.
Condensing the three-dimensional talisman seal gradually became instinctive.
First, fully comprehend and understand. Then, through repeated practice, it becomes second nature. Finally, it can be formed with a single thought—the God Seal!
“Buzz!”
At noon.
Dongbo Xueying focused, and countless threads of heaven and earth gathered into tens of thousands of threads, instantly forming a three-dimensional talisman seal. This Dragon God Seal was perfect and flawless.
“It’s done!” Seeing the Dragon God Seal floating before him, Dongbo Xueying’s face lit up with joy. He immediately tried again, and another Dragon God Seal formed beside it.
One after another…
Occasionally, there were mistakes.
He continued forming them one by one. After the time it took to drink a cup of tea, one Dragon God Seal after another formed without error. The formation of the Dragon God Seal had now become completely instinctive!
He immediately entered the secret cultivation chamber.
In his hand was a dull gray Origin Stone, from which he drew the Primordial Force of Heaven and Earth. As this force entered his body, it transformed into countless Dragon God Seals, which directly fused into every part of his muscles, tendons, heart, blood, etc… gradually causing very subtle evolution throughout his body.
Every part of his body, from the inside out, was evolving subtly with the Dragon God Seal.
Each slight evolution meant overall improvement. His strength increased by twenty percent, and his speed, resilience, and recovery ability also improved slightly.
It took nearly ten hours for the evolution to complete.
“The First Layer of Dragon God Force is complete.” Dongbo Xueying was excited. He immediately opened the “Dragon Art” book and continued studying the Second Dragon God Seal.
“Buzz!”
Over twenty thousand threads formed a three-dimensional talisman seal, floating above the book.
Dongbo Xueying observed and pondered.
“It’s so complicated.” The more he looked, the more difficult he found it.
…
Five days later, while studying the Second Dragon God Seal, Dongbo Xueying vaguely realized that his current understanding of the Flame Mysteries of All Things was still quite low. To comprehend the mysteries of the Second Dragon God Seal would not be something he could achieve in a year or two! Without understanding, the idea of forming it in a single thought was even more hopeless. Every attempt to condense it resulted in chaos.
“Temporarily give up.”
“The Dragon God Seal is a supremely refined utilization of the Flame Mysteries of All Things by the gods.” Dongbo Xueying mused inwardly. “My spear techniques should also make more refined and skillful use of the Mysteries of Water and Fire of All Things!”
Spear techniques were profound and mysterious.
If God Seals could be manifested as talismans, then combat spear techniques were difficult to directly express! Even the spear techniques created by some senior Exalted predecessors were their own experiences, their own paths. If one studied the predecessors’ spear techniques too early, when one’s foundation was still weak, it was easy to be misled and stray from one’s own path.
The path of Exaltation must be walked step by step, solidly and steadily, through one’s own contemplation! Only after refining one’s ‘True Intent’ and establishing a firm foundation could one then refer to the spear techniques or sword techniques of other elders as references, without being swayed.
In history, there were even experts who had refined their True Intent, yet were led astray by predecessors’ teachings!
Moreover, senior Exalted cultivators couldn’t directly express their insights. They could only demonstrate spear or sword techniques. Just watching these displays… one could at best glimpse the surface.
To walk down a wrong path based on such superficial understanding would lead to regret too late!
Therefore, everything must be contemplated and comprehended by oneself. Even if one made mistakes, one could understand where the error lay and quickly correct it!
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