Wudang Mountain, Golden Light Cave.
King Zhuang of Chu stroked his dark beard with one hand while toying with a jade ruyi scepter in the other. The scepter shimmered with hues of purple, white, gold, and yellow—translucent and sparkling, emanating an aura of solemn serenity, its radiant glow piercing through the clouds.
After a while, a boy led two people inside. Both had unique appearances, leaving a deep impression.
The leader stood at a height of ten chi, his muscular body bulging beneath his earth-yellow Daoist robe, resembling a legendary giant. His skin was grayish-black and dull, like weathered rock.
Beside the giant stood a slim woman, dignified and beautiful, tall in stature, though appearing petite in contrast.
“I have finally sensed the Jade Void Palace again,” King Zhuang of Chu said, staring directly at the two visitors.
The giant remained expressionless and silent. The beautiful woman smiled and replied, “My master foresaw this. Your Majesty indeed has a great karmic connection with the Jade Void Palace.”
“You have all concealed yourselves in the mortal world for many years, residing in blessed lands and hidden paradises. You did not participate when the Jade Void Palace last appeared. Why have you sought me out this time?” King Zhuang of Chu, renowned for his imposing presence, asked directly while keeping most of his focus on the jade ruyi. The moment the sensed connection grew clearer, he would immediately fly to the Jade Void Palace.
The woman turned serious and said, “My master said a great calamity is approaching, possibly the final tribulation of this entire aeon, or even the ultimate end. Birds fight for a single meal, and humans struggle for a thread of survival. We must do something. The last appearance of the Jade Void Palace was normal and without change.”
She did not finish, but King Zhuang of Chu understood her meaning: this time’s sudden appearance of the Jade Void Palace was unusual, possibly heralding a major upheaval.
A hint of doubt flickered across King Zhuang of Chu’s usually solemn face, “If that’s the case, why didn’t your master come personally? Although we have only met once, I believe he has certainly reached the realm of a human Immortal, or even higher.”
“My master is under a curse and conceals severe injuries, rendering him unable to leave Wu Chao. The other elders of our sect are preoccupied with preparations for the impending catastrophe, and our peers have yet to attain the Master level. At present, only my senior brother and I can be dispatched,” the woman’s expression grew solemn.
King Zhuang of Chu fell silent for a moment before asking, “You’ve destroyed many legacies of the Jade Void and obtained numerous cultivation techniques. Have you practiced them? The Jade Void Palace is filled with bizarre and terrifying locations. Without the Jade Void inheritance, one cannot advance even a single step. Even the legacy of the Earth-Treading Monkey, which I’ve painstakingly gathered over a century in the Golden Light Cave, cannot delve deeply. How do you plan to handle this?”
The beautiful woman smiled faintly, “This junior is Yang Xizhi, specializing in the ‘Moral Heaven Mirror.’ My senior brother Gu Heng practices the ‘Guangcheng Diagram Collection.'”
The former was the inheritance of the Pure Void Moral True Sovereign, while the latter was the cultivation method of Guangcheng Tianzun.
King Zhuang of Chu’s expression remained unchanged as he casually inquired, “Then how are your ‘Seven-Arrow Nail Book’ and ‘Soul Severing Flying Knife’ cultivation progressing?”
Yang Xizhi lowered her eyelids, her tone calm, “We have made some progress. Moreover, my master has bestowed a treasure upon us.”
King Zhuang of Chu finally nodded, “You know many secrets and specialize in Kunlun cultivation methods. Perhaps you can explore the depths of the Jade Void Palace. At that time, I will protect you both. If we gain anything, we will share it equally.”
“That would be excellent,” Yang Xizhi replied with a faint smile.
Just then, the Clear and Tranquil Scepter of purple, white, gold, and yellow hues gently trembled, no longer radiating light but emitting rising purple and white qi.
“It has opened,” King Zhuang of Chu said solemnly.
With a sweep of his sleeve, he enveloped Yang Xizhi and her senior brother, using the scepter to vanish into a mysterious realm—a dimension beyond the world yet existing in every corner of heaven and earth.
…
The second Heaven Ladder was within reach. Meng Qi had already stepped to the threshold of Masterhood. Yet at this moment, his mind felt subtle and mysterious, as if a noble and grand palace high above was “overlooking” him, its presence clearer than the last time he sensed it. It seemed as though a single thought could transport him to the palace’s doorstep.
Suddenly, the image of the old Daoist with white eyebrows, Duke Huan of Qi, appeared clearly within Meng Qi’s spiritual awareness. The old Daoist was surrounded by countless golden lotuses, brimming with Earth and Central energies.
“Go! Opportunity knocks but once. Lose it, and it will never return!” transmitted Duke Huan privately while grabbing Meng Qi’s hand.
Each golden lotus around him radiated countless rays of light, pure and heavy, enveloping the two of them as they vanished into the void.
Meng Qi felt a subtle sense of elevation in both body and spirit, as if he could overlook all things in the world, omnipresent and omnipotent. It was reminiscent of his previous experience entering the upper three levels of the Nine Heavens, but clearer and more vivid, incomparable to any broken land.
Fate certainly does not bend to one’s will… he sighed inwardly. Not long ago, he had been thinking of becoming a Master first, inviting some allies before exploring the Jade Void Palace. Yet now, he was neither a Master nor had any allies besides Duke Huan, and he was rushing straight to the Jade Void Palace.
Fortunately, after eight or nine months of cultivation, with the assistance of the second volume of the “Yi Jin Jing,” not only had his inner true yuan become purer, but his physical body had also advanced further, reaching the threshold of Masterhood. Moreover, most of his cultivation techniques had seen significant progress. Techniques such as the “Sky-Shattering Earth-Shaking Method” and the “Undying Seal Method” were finally matching his current cultivation level.
More importantly, many issues in his self-created techniques had been resolved, raising their quality. Whether it was the “Roaring River of Stars” or the “Yin-Yang Three Harmonies: Origin and Transformation” and “Heaven-Sundering Earth-Shaping,” all had become techniques close to those of a Dharma Body, better suiting his style and enhancing his mastery over other Dharma Body techniques, making him increasingly powerful.
Previously, he could only fight a Master evenly after using the “Imitating Heaven and Earthly Form” technique. Now, with just a gesture, he should be able to barely withstand a Master’s attack!
As these thoughts raced through his mind, Meng Qi felt his feet touch solid ground. In the distance stood a mysterious yellow palace. The streams flowing from its eaves resembled real dragons, exuding a noble and lofty aura. The vermilion red doors were tightly shut, concealing ancient secrets. On them were three hundred and sixty-five golden nails, and above the gate hung a vertical plaque inscribed with strange and arcane characters Meng Qi could not recognize.
Though he could not read the characters, their meaning was instantly clear in his mind:
“Jade Void Palace!”
Visible on three sides of the Jade Void Palace were nine ancient wells each. Each well was deep and bottomless, surrounded by jade railings, as if to prevent people from approaching easily.
“Do not attempt to peer into the ancient wells,” warned Duke Huan. “They harbor various mythical beasts, the creatures of legend. Once you fall into a well, even if you are not slain by them, you will be lost among countless worlds, never knowing where you might end up.”
He continued, “There are a total of thirty-six ancient wells, each leading to different realms that constantly change. They may lead to the Nine Hells, other universes, remnants of ancient times, mysterious places, or even the depths of the River of Time. Even this old Daoist dares not attempt to enter them.”
As he spoke, he led Meng Qi past the ancient wells, flying toward the Jade Void Palace.
Just as they approached the vermilion red doors studded with golden nails, Duke Huan suddenly took a step back. His right hand now held a wooden whip, over three chi long, divided into twenty-one sections, each encircled by four sacred talisman seals, exuding an aura of profound sanctity.
My goodness, the “God-Striking Whip”? Meng Qi’s heart trembled. This was his first time seeing a treasure from the Fengshen era!
Due to the changes during the Fengshen War, this treasure still remained in Jiang Ziya’s possession and was passed down to his descendants?
The direction Duke Huan was guarding revealed three figures. The leader wore imperial robes and a heavenly crown, his face golden, with a black beard beneath his chin. It was none other than King Zhuang of Chu, whom Meng Qi had seen before. Behind King Zhuang of Chu stood a man and a woman. The man resembled a giant, nearly ten chi tall, with grayish-black skin. The woman was beautiful and dignified, wearing a dark red robe.
In his hand, King Zhuang of Chu held the purple, white, gold, and yellow jade ruyi scepter. Upon seeing Duke Huan, he smiled slightly, “Even with this sensed, you still come. Duke, you truly are a genuine Jade Void disciple.”
Duke Huan smiled as well, “If it weren’t for that scepter, this time it would have only been us…”
Before he could finish speaking, his left sleeve suddenly unfurled and expanded rapidly, darkening the heavens and earth, plunging everything into chaos—the “Sleeve-Encompassed Cosmos” (Xiu Li Qian Kun), the “Pocket Universe”!
At the same time, King Zhuang of Chu’s right hand, which was not holding the jade ruyi, clenched into a fist and struck forward. Within his eyes, successive universes appeared.
The two Dharma Bodies had just been chatting amicably, yet in an instant, they unleashed deadly attacks, leaving Meng Qi momentarily stunned.
Boom!
The heavens and earth spun. Though enveloped by the invisible Xuan Ci Guang, Meng Qi still felt nauseous and dizzy, as though his physical body were being torn apart.
No wonder they are Dharma Bodies! Even with his senior uncle blocking the front, the residual shockwave was this terrifying! Meng Qi radiated pale gold light, using his powerful physical body to resist.
After a breath’s time, Meng Qi felt his body lighten, drifting. Then, an extreme coldness surged from all directions, threatening to freeze his spirit and crystallize his flesh. Mixed within were countless vicious curses and attacks. If not for the Two Poles Xuan Magnetic Light distorting most of the force, Meng Qi would have suffered a serious blow on the spot.
Even so, some curses were unaffected by the distortion, striking Meng Qi directly. Fortunately, their power was not too strong. With the Eight-Nine cultivation method and his robust physique, his flesh regenerated as it was destroyed, neutralizing their effects.
With no time to think further, Meng Qi, sensing the cold and curses, transformed his inner landscape. The sun rose in the east, flames burning from within outward, radiant light bursting forth, as his entire being transformed into a blazing sun!
Only then did Meng Qi adapt to the environment, successfully resisting the cold and curses.
Looking around, Meng Qi found that above, below, front, back, left, and right stretched boundless void, dotted with blazing white stars deep within. In the distance floated a large sphere, entirely covered in earth-yellow.
A planet? Meng Qi’s expression was nearly stunned. Combined with his weightless sensation, he realized he might very well be in space!
Merely affected by the residual shockwave of King Zhuang of Chu’s punch, he had been sent into outer space?
What kind of cultivation technique was this?
The “sun” stretched, limbs forming, Meng Qi stood there with arms crossed, speechless for a long time.
At this moment, a divine figure approached from afar—ancient and majestic, solemn and noble, emanating a primordial aura. Above His head hovered a Qingyun, encircled by golden lotuses, radiating countless beams of light.
Seeing the Shenren wielding the “God-Striking Whip” and holding a small Xuan Huang flag, Meng Qi’s heart stirred. He realized this was Duke Huan’s Dharma Body: the “Primordial Beginning Heaven Venerable Body”!
“Senior Uncle, what’s going on?” Meng Qi, still burning with flames, flew over.
Duke Huan’s expression was grave, “King Zhuang of Chu has actually mastered the “Ten Thousand Realms Shifting Fist,” but he has also been trapped by this old Daoist’s “Pocket Universe.”
He lifted his sleeve slightly.
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