This is a golden vertical eye, ancient and unadorned, yet carrying a faintly sacred aura, vaguely rippling with glimmers of light.
Qi Zhengyan took it in his hand, brought it close to his brow, and established a mental connection. Moments later, it vibrated, sending out ripples of energy, and abruptly vanished.
“Senior Brother Qi, want to test its effect?” Meng Qi wore a delighted expression, imagining one of the scenes he had previously envisioned: clad in golden armor, wearing a phoenix-winged purple crown, and possessing a majestic vertical eye on his brow.
Qi Zhengyan inhaled deeply, opened the golden vertical eye on his brow, emitted a red beam, and was surrounded by lotus-like crimson mists slowly blooming. White mist rose nearby, creating a hazy, ethereal atmosphere, making him appear truly divine.
“Excellent,” Meng Qi and Jiang Zhiwei said in unison. However, Meng Qi praised the appearance while Jiang Zhiwei commented on the effect: “The golden vertical eye is eye-catching, drawing attention from all, exuding a divine aura. With this foundation, the white mist, crimson glow, or cold light won’t seem strange.”
The key point is that this item is not merely for concealing identity. Even without activation, it can resist partial mental intrusions, identify demons and monsters, and indirectly enhance the effects of Bi Xuebing and Bai Yunyan. When activated, it can create atmospheric changes. If used skillfully, it could be the key to victory—for example, amplifying a sandstorm in a desert. Additionally, it possesses a direct “mental刺” attack, which could even affect a half-step beyond-scenery practitioner.
This premise is based on Qi Zhengyan’s current Qi-opening level, at most allowing the artifact to exhibit half-step beyond-scenery power. Otherwise, it might feel somewhat like the “hum-ha” breath techniques.
Qi Zhengyan’s expression slightly changed; though not smiling, he showed slight satisfaction: “In the past, I always underestimated divine path cultivators. Now I realize my narrow-mindedness. Their continuous heritage proves their superior qualities in certain aspects, which should not be underestimated.”
After completing the preparations for identity concealment, Qi Zhengyan spent another five hundred Virtue Points to exchange for the “Ten Thousand Miles of Snowfall” technique from the “Ice Soul Cold Light Sword Method” to enhance his strength. Currently, he only had one beyond-scenery killing move, which was too monotonous and easily anticipated.
“I should be able to open the Yin cavity at the beginning of my next mission and start cultivating ‘Purple Star River,’ which is powerful, with several innate techniques equivalent to beyond-scenery killing moves worth over a thousand Virtue Points,” Qi Zhengyan remarked, finally reaching the fifth level of Hun Tian Treasure Mirror.
Meng Qi wore a “sincere” expression: “I’m looking forward to it.”
He had long admired the visual effect of Purple Star River—purple energy surging, stardust sparkling, dazzling and magnificent. Just imagining it felt cool!
Qi Zhengyan said nothing further and suddenly stepped into the central light pillar.
“Senior Brother Qi, what are you doing?” Meng Qi asked in confusion.
Qi Zhengyan replied calmly: “Requesting the Master of the Six Reincarnations to appraise whether the nine postures of Yi Jin Jing, if rearranged correctly, will have any effect.”
“Eh?” Meng Qi looked stunned.
“I noticed that Duan Rui achieved results even with incorrectly practiced postures. Practicing them correctly might also yield results,” Qi Zhengyan answered calmly before making the request.
No matter how he rearranged the postures in meditation, the Master of the Six Reincarnations always gave the cold response: “…To adjust to the correct sequence requires three hundred Virtue Points.”
“When practiced in the correct sequence of nine postures, Yi Jin Jing achieves sixty percent of the first volume’s effect, elevating Qi-opening level techniques to the initial stage of beyond-scenery level…” Qi Zhengyan described the appraisal result to Meng Qi and others.
Meng Qi was stunned for a long time before exclaiming: “Why didn’t I think of that!”
One could initially practice the nine postures without completion, then complete them later upon breaking through to half-step beyond-scenery or when Virtue Points become more abundant…
“Perhaps you pursue perfection. I just thought of it recently,” Qi Zhengyan maintained his stoic expression, but his lips slightly twitched, as if smiling.
After a while, Meng Qi recovered from his shock, while Qi Zhengyan had already adjusted the sequence, leaving 180 Virtue Points remaining.
“Yu Shu, what about you?” Meng Qi tried to shift his focus.
Ruan Yushu hummed: “First, adjust the sequence of the nine postures.”
…Meng Qi fell silent again.
“Well, since we’ve completed them anyway, and the effect is better, it’ll be useful for the next two or three years…” Jiang Zhiwei offered some comfort before she herself couldn’t help but laugh.
Zhao Heng stood with hands behind his back, smiling slightly, watching them strengthen their camaraderie in this “unique” way.
“My ‘Bi Luo Immortal Talisman’ is damaged. If my family finds out, it’ll be hard to explain, so I plan to exchange for another one,” Ruan Yushu changed the topic, no longer discussing Yi Jin Jing, and stated her exchange intention.
Meng Qi looked through the exchange list, found “Bi Luo Immortal Talisman,” discovering it was a beyond-scenery immortal talisman capable of averting calamities, valued at 1,800 Virtue Points. It wasn’t particularly outstanding, but more impressive options would likely be unusable or ineffective for Ruan Yushu and Meng Qi’s current level.
“You should also exchange for another beyond-scenery zither manual. Although you have ‘Celestial Dragon Eight Sounds’ and ‘Moon-cold Mantra,’ they seem insufficient. Constantly using your family’s techniques might expose your identity,” Meng Qi regained his spirit and reminded her.
Ruan Yushu nodded: “My Qifeng Qin doesn’t look special unless I’m playing it, so I’m not worried about being identified by it. The main concern is the zither melodies.”
She was already experienced in selecting zither manuals, finding a suitable one faster than Meng Qi:
“Song of Return, a beyond-scenery offensive tune directly harming soul and body, valued at 1,200 Virtue Points.”
After completing these exchanges, she had eighty Virtue Points left for obtaining next mission information.
“I’ll naturally exchange for a beyond-scenery sword technique. I can’t always use ‘Strike the Sea’ or frequently use ‘Sword Twenty-Three,'” Jiang Zhiwei smiled gracefully as everyone’s gaze turned to her. “I previously exchanged for ‘Heavenly Mourn Earth Mourn 108 Sword’ from the Sword-Hiding Pavilion’s ‘Heaven and Earth Mourn Together,’ but without the core manual, I could only use it as a Qi-opening killing move. Now I can fulfill my wish.”
As she spoke of sword techniques, she seemed to glow, her beauty dazzling.
The Sword-Hiding Pavilion was one of the Six Sword Schools. “Heavenly Mourn Earth Mourn 108 Sword” was derived from their fundamental sword method “Thirteen No-Life Sword,” a renowned beyond-scenery sword technique. Its killing intent was continuous, with every nine moves forming a complete set, thus constituting a beyond-scenery killing move.
“Indeed, Zhiwei, your Qi-opening sword techniques have already reached the essence, touching the principles of swordsmanship. Using more of Sword-Hiding Pavilion’s beyond-scenery killing moves might lead other Reincarnators to mistake you for one of their disciples,” Meng Qi agreed.
Without further words, Jiang Zhiwei directly spent 1,000 Virtue Points to exchange for the core manual of “Heavenly Mourn Earth Mourn 108 Sword,” and another 460 Virtue Points to complete the additional eight moves forming a complete set with “Heaven and Earth Mourn Together,” 300 Virtue Points for adjusting the sequence of the nine postures, leaving 2,100 Virtue Points.
She hesitated slightly: “Relying solely on Sword-Hiding Pavilion’s techniques isn’t enough. I need to exchange for other schools’ beyond-scenery sword techniques to confuse observers, allowing occasional use of ‘Strike the Sea.'”
“When discussing beyond-scenery killing moves, naturally it’s better to seek among the Six Sword Schools,” Meng Qi smiled while flipping through the fundamental sword methods and corresponding beyond-scenery sword techniques of the Six Sword Schools.
“Yes, I’ve already considered that. ‘Bi Yue Luo Immortal Sword’ from Bi Yue Sword Sect,” Jiang Zhiwei was far more familiar with sword techniques in the primary world than Meng Qi.
Bi Yue Sword Sect was one of the Six Sword Schools, alongside Xi Jian Pavilion, Huan Hua Sword Sect, Sword-Hiding Pavilion, Snow Mountain Sect, and Donghai Sword Manor. Along with Sword-Hiding Pavilion, Huamei Villa, and Chunyang Sect, they were all Northern Zhou sects, predominantly female disciples.
Meng Qi was unfamiliar with Bi Yue Sword Sect, briefly scanning their fundamental technique “Jue Xian Sword Sutra,” from which “Bi Yue Luo Immortal Sword” was derived.
He slightly hesitated: “Jue Xian Sword Sutra?”
Could there also be “Zhu Xian Sword Sutra,” “Xian Xian Sword Sutra,” and “Lu Xian Sword Sutra”?
Once the thought arose, he searched and surprisingly found them all!
However, “Zhu Xian Sword Sutra” was marked with the word “missing.”
“Bi Yue Luo Immortal Sword, excellent… excellent…” He nodded thoughtfully.
This sword method totaled 6,000 Virtue Points, with the core manual at 1,000 and each of the five sword techniques at 1,000. Jiang Zhiwei exchanged for the core manual and the first technique “Bi Yue Xi Qing Tian,” leaving 100 Virtue Points.
Afterward, each contributed eighty, totaling 400 Virtue Points, to exchange for the next mission intelligence.
“In ancient times, gods and demons descended into the world, leaving behind many descendants, ultimate techniques, and treasures, causing both chaos and prosperity on the land.”
“Now, the royal family has lost its way, the emperor lacks merit, rebellions arise everywhere, and unrest is growing.”
“Let’s see which descendant of gods and demons will obtain the Nine Tripods and claim the world!”
“Main Quest: Journey to Da Ning, rescue the leader of the Hongyi Army, the ‘World-Stabilizing Heavenly King’ Du Huaishang, who is trapped within the city, and assassinate the mastermind behind the scenes, ‘Flying Dragon with Emerald Eyes’ Zuo Hanfeng. Completion rewards 1,000 Virtue Points; failure deducts corresponding points.”
Meng Qi and others exchanged glances. The next world likely contained numerous divine and demonic martial arts and many beyond-scenery experts. However, as the rebellion was still growing, not yet reaching the point of total chaos, the enemies encountered in the main quest shouldn’t be too strong.
Regardless, Qi-opening level experts should still be the main force in that world, unless it reaches the terror level of the primary world or Journey to the West.
“There might not be particularly effective countermeasures against divine and demonic martial artists and treasure masters,” Zhao Heng slightly frowned.
Meng Qi chuckled: “At least there are secret treasures or auxiliary artifacts capable of a beyond-scenery strike, though not as directly effective as the Demon-Revealing Mirror or Demon-Subduing Pagoda.”
Compared to demons and monsters, humans are relatively balanced, thus lacking obvious weaknesses.
“We should first see what items are usable. Everyone should prepare more Virtue Points, striving to exchange for at least one next time,” Jiang Zhiwei suggested.
Given their current strength, they couldn’t use excessively powerful items, so they could only search within the range below 3,000 Virtue Points. Several options were filtered out, such as the “Immortal Binding Rope (Fake).”
After confirming these matters, Meng Qi was left with 350 Virtue Points—although he would soon go to the Jiuxiang world after joining Xian Ji, where he couldn’t use the Da Huan Dan to heal injuries, he still had some healing pills from the Six Ministries, so he wasn’t too short.
After lingering for a while, Zhao Heng took his leave first. Since Meng Qi had openly discussed Yi Jin Jing, Zhao’s attitude had become more cordial, considering all of them worth befriending.
“Phew, little monk, what exactly do you want to discuss privately?” Jiang Zhiwei had been holding back for a long time.
Qi Zhengyan and Ruan Yushu also gazed at Meng Qi with focused eyes.
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