He Jiu, mustering his remaining courage, shifted continuously between existence and non-existence, unleashing sword qi, half dodging and half blocking, resisting the terrifying electric force. Suddenly, everything turned black before his eyes, and the acupoints opened in his eyes could no longer see anything. His ears heard nothing but silence.
The previously raging winds and the electrifying currents numbing his body seemed to vanish simultaneously!
At this moment, he could barely distinguish up from down, left from right, or front from back, as all references had disappeared.
“This…” Before he could fully form a thought, he sensed a vast, ancient, and eternal presence emerging faintly from the darkness, towering above everything, overlooking the past, present, and future, naturally evoking reverence and quelling any notion of resistance.
Just then, a blade of light flashed, brilliant and dazzling, tingeing He Jiu’s pupils with purple, allowing him to see color and perceive things beyond the darkness.
The purple blade of light curved like thunder, creating irregular wounds upon the “darkness,” from which poured forth light, sound, and gales of wind!
When Primordial Unity opened its eyes, heaven and earth were born, and all things began to evolve!
This blade came so swiftly that the moment He Jiu sensed it, it had already arrived before him. Instinctively, he transformed existence into non-existence, attempting to dodge.
A ripping sound, like tearing silk, abruptly tore through the “void,” from which a hazy, indistinct sword light was sliced forth.
Startled, He Jiu continuously shifted between existence and non-existence, squeezing every last bit of his potential, unleashing sharp and nimble sword qi, interweaving in layers to form a sword formation.
Pf!
The sword formation shattered. He Jiu’s blood and qi churned violently. No longer able to maintain the sword qi of existence and non-existence, he reverted to his human form, blood spraying from his eyes, ears, nostrils, and acupoints, transforming into crimson sword qi that collided with the blade light, mutually annihilating each other.
At this moment, if Su Meng struck another blow, I won’t be able to withstand it! He Jiu strained to absorb the primordial energy from the heavens and earth, attempting to recover as quickly as possible. The previous fierce battle had allowed him to touch the threshold of the first level of the heavenly ladder and even push open its door, but he still fell short at the final step. Thus, he wanted to make one last desperate attempt under immense pressure. Yet he also clearly understood that if Meng Qi’s condition was even slightly better than his, and he followed up with another strike, he wouldn’t even have the chance to gather strength again!
Primordial energy, like an ocean, existed in every corner of heaven and earth, permeating He Jiu’s body and aiding his recovery.
Suddenly, He Jiu felt the sea of primordial energy on his left become scorching hot, bubbling and boiling, gradually rising as a great sun, dyeing the sky red, while on his right, it turned cold and icy, with a bright moon shining.
“This is…” He paused, sensing his surroundings. The night sky enveloped everything, stars shining brilliantly, within which flew golden crows, and where stood countless deities!
Then, all of this began to contract inward, collapsing as if there were a vortex ahead, grinding and fusing them all together.
Only at this point did He Jiu see Meng Qi. He still wore his black martial attire, holding the enormous Tianzhi Shang. His acupoints radiated brilliant light, forming behind him a dignified and lofty “image” clad in wide robes and long sleeves. It seemed to be the “vortex” from just now, the one that had absorbed all those strange phenomena.
Focusing, He Jiu discovered that this “image” bore Meng Qi’s own face!
Moreover, every part of its body seemed woven from the immense power of heaven and earth and Meng Qi’s own true energy, embodying different principles, filled with profound mystery, leaving one astounded.
“How could it be his own image?” He Jiu felt quite surprised but did not avert his gaze.
Looking closer, he vaguely sensed the image collapsing, each tangible principle fragmenting into the smallest particles. It was constantly collapsing, eventually seeming to condense into a black dot—an indescribable point that contained all possibilities, a point with no above or below, no front or back, a point that could not even be called a “black dot.”
The Great Formless!
An illusion? He Jiu gathered his spirit and looked again, only to find the same dignified and lofty image as before, still bearing Meng Qi’s own “face.”
He inhaled deeply, then slowly exhaled, his fighting spirit dissipating. Bowing his hands, he said, “Back then, I broke through with your help. Today, you’ve crossed the first level of the heavenly ladder. Every action has its consequence. Truly, it’s a cause for reflection. Congratulations.”
He knew that had Meng Qi not been preoccupied with his own breakthrough, he would have had to concede defeat. Coupled with the fact that Meng Qi had already crossed the first level of the heavenly ladder and ascended to the fourth heavenly realm, continuing the fight was meaningless.
The Dharma-body behind Meng Qi, resembling a tangible form, gradually faded. The radiant light from his acupoints receded, and everything returned to normal. Smiling, Meng Qi said, “A pity that Young Master He still fell a bit short.”
After the Dharma-body and principles intertwined preliminarily, approaching tangibility, it could produce supernatural abilities like divine sight and mind-reading, marking a certain stage in martial cultivation and symbolizing the strength of one’s spiritual body. Meng Qi had indeed gained insights just now.
First was “shifting with the wind,” a technique of spirit evasion, rendering binding techniques like the Immortal-Ensnaring Rope ineffective. Second was “Wisdom Eye,” not the Bodhi Wisdom Eye, but similar to the divine sight ability, capable of perceiving minute details within a hundred-mile radius and “seeing” individuals connected by spiritual resonance amidst the void. However, at present, this vision remained relatively vague. If the opponent’s power was significantly higher, the vision would become clearer, enabling one to determine the opponent’s location. Third was the “Primordial Golden Lotus,” growing within the Niwan Palace, connected to the spirit, capable of weakening spiritual attacks and briefly disrupting causal relationships, defending against the influence of secret causal techniques.
As for why his deliberately manifested “Primordial Indestructible Image,” his “disguised form,” bore his own face rather than resembling a deity or embodying a principle, as was rare for others, Meng Qi speculated it was related to the true meaning of the “Only One Under Heaven” inheritance.
Even though he hadn’t primarily cultivated it, inheritances of such a level always left subtle influences.
Only One Under Heaven, illuminating oneself!
“I’m nearly there too. In another ten days or half a month, I’ll also break through.” He Jiu had no resentment.
Knowing Meng Qi needed to consolidate his gains, He Jiu said nothing further and didn’t ask about the Dharma-body, turning instead and flying back to the Langya Ruan residence.
Watching He Jiu’s retreating figure, recalling the scene when he and Yan Chong had once challenged him together, Meng Qi felt a sense of time passing like flowing water, and couldn’t help but feel a deep sense of satisfaction.
“Heh, currently, I’ve practically got the strength of the bottom of the Black List.” Meng Qi thought cautiously and optimistically.
At this moment, the sky stretched for ten thousand miles, clear and cloudless, sunlight casting an endless golden glow upon the sea of clouds.
…
The next day, Meng Qi ascended the Western Hill and saw Wang Siyuan sitting beneath a Bodhi tree drinking tea. He still wore a plain robe, his face pale like white paper, his thin frame seeming as though a gust of wind could knock him over. He occasionally coughed, causing the maid standing nearby to frown in worry.
Again you! She glared fiercely at Meng Qi. Every time this guy showed up, the young master coughed more violently!
Smiling, Meng Qi sat opposite Wang Siyuan: “Bodhi tree beneath an ancient temple, Master Wang, how elegant. Could it be you’re considering entering the Buddhist path?”
Wang Siyuan glanced at him, half-smiling: “Ask if you have something to say. If not, let’s just drink tea.”
He seemed to be saying there was no need to engage in wordplay or riddles with someone like you.
Meng Qi slightly raised his eyebrows, his right hand reaching into his sleeve, mimicking the motion of rolling up his sleeve to prepare for a fight.
“I’ve already crossed the first level of the heavenly ladder three months ago,” Wang Siyuan added indifferently, his lips devoid of any color.
“What a coincidence!” Meng Qi had no intention of fighting in the first place; he was just trying to lighten the mood. Hearing this, he smiled, “Since Master Wang has already crossed the first level of the heavenly ladder and wouldn’t be at a disadvantage against an ordinary Blue Blooded Outer Heaven expert, why not go to the Ruan residence instead of staying here on the Western Hill?”
Wang Siyuan coughed twice, sipping tea to moisten his throat before slowly replying, “It makes no difference whether I go or not.”
I hate you people who speak in riddles the most! Meng Qi secretly counted with his fingers, using the Yuxu Divine Calculation to deduce.
Wang Siyuan’s gaze lowered slightly, seemingly glancing at Meng Qi’s right hand, his expression relaxing: “With the Luo Shu concealing it, no matter how much you deduce, it’s useless. This matter wasn’t my plan, so there’s nothing to discuss. In a couple of days, you’ll understand.”
Clearly, his tendency to mess things up was limited to his own schemes.
Meng Qi picked up his teacup, took a sip, smiled, and left without asking further.
Although Wang Siyuan revealed nothing, the phrases “concealed by Luo Shu,” “makes no difference whether I go or not,” and “you’ll understand in a couple of days” gave Meng Qi some suspicions.
…
Returning to Sanqing Temple, Meng Qi first saw the gambling monk laughing so heartily that his teeth were showing.
The gambling-addicted monk, clad in a gray robe, approached with rolling eyes: “This humble monk meditated and finally recalled something. It’s a seal my master used to close the temple gates. Though now worn and powerless, it remains a treasure.”
“If it were valuable, Master probably would’ve gambled it away already,” Meng Qi chuckled.
The gambling-addicted monk scratched his bald head, not the slightest bit embarrassed: “You flatter me, you flatter me. It’s just that it appears too ordinary, often overlooked by this humble monk.”
As he spoke, he pulled out an object resembling a sticker, yellow in base color, wrinkled as if often crumpled, stained with oil, and inscribed with six golden Sanskrit words:
“Om”, “Ma”, “Ni”, “Ba”, “Mi”, “Hong”!
The Six-Syllable Mantra? Meng Qi instinctively looked up at Monk Jiedu.
Right after the West Journey mission unveiled the Five-Finger Mountain, Monk Jiedu brought the Six-Syllable Mantra talisman!
Was it a coincidence, or intentional?
Meng Qi’s heart was overwhelmed with shock. As he looked at Monk Jiedu once more, he found him increasingly enigmatic and riddled with mysteries.
“What do you think?” Monk Jiedu asked eagerly.
Meng Qi asked calmly: “Where did this sealing talisman come from?”
“It was left behind by my late master. As for where he obtained it, how would this humble monk know?” Monk Jiedu looked puzzled.
“Who was Master’s master?” Meng Qi pressed.
The gambling-abstaining monk immediately smiled: “My master has long since passed away, with no notable title. Even I myself do not know it.”
Meng Qi asked a few more questions, but the monk Jiedu kept dodging them and changing the subject.
Seeing his tight-lipped silence, Meng Qi hesitated: “If Master refuses to tell me the details, I fear I cannot agree.”
The monk Jiedu once again appeared anxious: “This poor monk truly does not know.”
Would even the Tathagata Palm technique not tempt him? Meng Qi narrowed his eyes: “In that case, I’m afraid I can’t help.”
Now it’s a matter of who holds out longer!
The gambling-abstinent monk put away the Six-Syllable Mantra talisman, let out a deep sigh, and turned to leave.
“Master, wait a moment,” Meng Qi suddenly spoke.
The gambling-abstinent monk happily turned around: “Has the lay devotee agreed?”
“No, I just saw that Master is familiar with Senior He Qi and wanted to ask about the Ruan family’s battle against the Blue Bloods,” Meng Qi would never easily “surrender.”
The monk Jiedu smiled and said, “This is no big deal. You’ll find out in a few days.”
Again in a couple of days? Meng Qi slightly frowned.
Seeing Meng Qi refuse to mention the Tathagata Palm again, Monk Jiedu left with reluctant steps, his heart filled with unwillingness.
“What kind of background does this monk have…” Watching Jiedu Monk’s retreating figure, Meng Qi’s mind echoed the question shared by many martial practitioners.
Since the Ruan family had no major issues and everything would be clear in two days, Meng Qi decided to wait and see.
…
Two days later, in a certain part of the East Sea, the water was as blue as a gem.
“It’s the trench here.” An ancient, plain tortoiseshell floated midair, marked with black-and-white dots and the five elements’ numbers on its back, simple yet complex, as if it were a book. The speaker was the middle-aged man standing beneath it.
Clearly, this man had been extremely handsome in his youth, and even now remained quite distinguished, with an even more outstanding demeanor, though his face was devoid of color, as if he suffered from a serious illness.
Elder Ruan, Third Master Ruan, and others floated nearby, hidden by the tortoiseshell, coldly watching the sea surface. Upon hearing this, they turned their heads to look at an elderly man beside them who appeared somewhat unstable. He had gray hair, no wrinkles, and bore a slight resemblance to He Jiu—it was indeed the sword-crazed He Qi!
“Then let’s begin!” He Qi stretched his limbs.
The three families had long identified the Blue Bloods’ main base. They had publicly invited the head of the Wang family and the Luo Shu to Langya merely as a distraction, to prevent the Blue Bloods from fleeing upon hearing the news!
Currently, the Ruan family was quite weak, merely a feint to mislead the Blue Bloods into thinking they hadn’t been exposed yet. Their main forces had already gathered here, secretly and stealthily!
Could those who maintained such power not be formidable!
…
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