From his own world to the realm of the gods, even the former Chonghe Daoist required the Wheel Seal to descend, unable to manifest directly. Conversely, the same principle seemed to apply. Moreover, Qi Huan was unlike Chu Zhuang, who had mastered the Fist of Shifting Through Ten Thousand Worlds and excelled in the Dao of Emptiness, capable of traversing without reliance. The likelihood of Qi Huan returning to his own world was exceedingly slim…
After a moment of contemplation, Meng Qi said, “Master Uncle, this matter involves many considerations. Allow me to consult with my ‘companions’ before making a decision.”
He intended to consult Lingshou Tianzun, an expert in the affairs of samsara, to inquire about the possibility of summoning a Dharmakaya-level master from the Fengshen world. He wanted to know what items would be necessary, how much merit would be required, and if this approach proved unfeasible, whether there were other viable alternatives.
As a Dharmakaya expert, Qi Huan had observed for a long time and clearly sensed the peculiar origins of Meng Qi and his companions. Yet, across the boundless multiverse of infinite worlds, he couldn’t precisely pinpoint their source. The legendary Heavens had long since vanished with the fall of the Celestial Court. With a faint smile, he replied, “Then by all means, speak freely when the time comes.”
Meng Qi nodded solemnly, without any pretense of modesty. The current situation was tense; no one knew what level of destruction the axe of Gourdo’s divine retribution might unleash, nor could anyone predict whether the demon race might intervene. Naturally, it was crucial to try to win over as many Dharmakaya experts as possible.
For this matter, he even thought of Yunhe Zhenren from the Myriad Phenomena Gate. It had been years since they last met; he wondered whether Yunhe had successfully ascended to the Yangshen realm (the Fǎshēn level on the martial cultivation path).
Qi Huan had always been unconcerned with minor details and was naturally impatient. After finalizing the plans, he immediately summoned the jade box, opened the lid, and devoured the peaches voraciously.
Wailing echoed in Meng Qi’s heart as Xiaotao mourned the loss of its food.
After a while, Qi Huan emerged from meditation, having fully absorbed the medicinal energy. His white eyebrows twitched slightly, as if expressing both joy and a sigh. “Though it cannot compare to the era before the transformation of heaven and earth,” he mused, “this old Daoist can easily live another two or three thousand years without any trouble.”
Hearing his sigh, Meng Qi felt a bit embarrassed. He himself didn’t need to worry about lifespan yet. After several instances of “taking medicine to heal injuries,” his lifespan had already extended to four or five thousand years. This was enough to make many Dharmakaya experts approaching the end of their days green with envy, yet he had remained completely unaware of it—truly, the well-fed know not the pangs of the hungry.
With such an immense medicinal power, wouldn’t I temporarily be unable to fully absorb it, causing it to accumulate in my flesh and blood, thereby making me a target for capture and direct use in refining elixirs? As Qi Huan received the inheritance of the Primordial Golden Chapter—specifically the general principles of the Dharma Body section—Meng Qi amused himself with an elaborate internal monologue to pass the time.
When Qi Huan opened his eyes again, Meng Qi immediately asked, “Master Uncle, what exactly is the Yuanxin Seal cultivation method?”
Qi Huan played with the purple bell, speaking slowly as if reminiscing: “The Soul-Snaring Bell of Master Guangcheng likely originated from the Primordial Heart Seal. At the dawn of heaven and earth, there was no notion of the Eight Directions or Six Realms, no past or future, no emotions or desires, no three ethereal souls and seven corporeal spirits. When the Patriarch divided heaven and earth and distinguished yin from yang, all things began to flourish, giving birth to the primordial spirit, souls, thoughts, and desires. Thus, the Primordial Heart Seal came into being.”
“All thoughts, emotions, and soul mysteries are contained within this seal.”
The purple energy bell was condensed from purple qi, continuously expanding and contracting like the most ancient and primal “heart.” Its delicate chime resonated, subtle and profound, pointing directly to the depths of the heart.
It looked quite impressive. Meng Qi’s face immediately brightened. After Qi Huan received the inheritance once, Meng Qi retrieved the Yuanxin Seal.
Unlike allowing others to perceive it, Qi Huan and Meng Qi were partners. Without Qi Huan lending the God-Beating Whip, sending Meng Qi into the Jade Void Palace, and holding off Chu Zhuang, who excelled in interdimensional movement, Meng Qi might not have gained so much. Therefore, with the inheritance still available multiple times, allowing Qi Huan to receive it was only natural.
Qi Huan’s eyes were half-closed, within which countless indiscernible glimmers flickered—human hearts and ghostly schemes, unfathomable.
After a long silence, Qi Huan tapped the table and laughed: “Compared to this seal, heart demon techniques are mere trifles!”
With a laugh, he pointed his right finger. A faint glow flickered, and before it reached Meng Qi, a series of images and mysterious texts flowed into his mind, explaining the profound mysteries of the Sleeve Heaven and Earth technique.
Is that possible? Meng Qi’s view of the Yuanxin Seal improved dramatically. He then concentrated, absorbing the essence of Sleeve Heaven and Earth.
The old and the young sat in silence, unaware of how much time had passed, before Meng Qi picked up the “Taiyi Soul-Splitting Pill” and handed it to Qi Huan: “Master Uncle, what is the use of this pill?”
Qi Huan lifted the seal, inhaled the scattered medicinal aroma, examined the pill glowing with various colors, and his expression immediately turned solemn: “The Taiyi Soul-Splitting Pill?”
“Yes,” Meng Qi replied honestly.
Qi Huan resealed the jade bottle: “This immortal pill is currently of no use to either of us. Only experts at the Immortal level can use it to enhance their perception, seeking out soul projections in the mysterious void to discover the legendary path.”
Similar to the remnant soul of the Hao Tian Mirror? Meng Qi gave a slight nod.
“It can also enhance the soul’s ability to multitask, controlling more projections and clones. However, this is merely an incidental side effect, incomparable to finding the legendary path.” Qi Huan added casually.
Meng Qi’s mind buzzed like he had been struck. Was this pill specifically prepared for his “Earth body”?
So, was everything already arranged?
He took a deep breath, suppressing various negative emotions, and asked casually, “Master Uncle, will this multitasking affect oneself?”
“Certainly. When you wield both sword and blade, neither will be as effective as wielding just one. If one is secondary, merely maintaining normal activity without thinking, the impact is minimal.” Qi Huan replied after a moment’s thought.
Meng Qi nodded thoughtfully, then turned to Qi Huan for further questions about the Sleeve Heaven and Earth technique.
It was only at night that he returned to his meditation room, took out the “Taiyi Soul-Splitting Pill,” and caressed the smooth bottle.
Should he take it or not?
Should he follow others’ arrangements, or reject it like the “Six-Syllable Mantra Talisman” from the monk who preached against gambling?
Recalling everything before, especially Yang Jian’s lingering mental warning within the “Eight-Nine Mystical Art,” Meng Qi exhaled and poured out the Taiyi Soul-Splitting Pill. With a deep inhale, he drew the glowing mass into his body.
He could not yet discern the Jade Void Sect’s motives, but the cold gaze of the fisherman had unsettled him. Since he did not yet understand the basic situation or possess the strength to break free, he would first accept the arrangement and walk a few more steps down this path to see!
As the radiant energy entered his body and merged with his primordial spirit, Meng Qi’s consciousness surged. The once indistinct threads of karma and causality became vivid and weighty. His spiritual perception swiftly bifurcated into dual visions: one revealing the meditation chamber before him, the other unveiling a shadowy cavern.
Inside the cave, Meng Qi, leaning against the rock wall, slowly stood up. His limbs felt heavy, like a drunkard’s, but his eyes no longer looked dull; they had gained a touch of vitality.
After a long adaptation period, Earth Meng Qi’s movements became normal, though his gaze remained slightly vacant, like a silent, withdrawn person.
In the meditation chamber, Meng Qi opened his eyes. The overlapping visions in his spiritual perception had already separated, but the connection to the “Earth body” was relegated to the “farthest corner,” maintaining only the most basic and ordinary state to avoid interfering with the “main body.”
“Earth Meng Qi” patted his casual jeans and slowly walked out of the cave, gazing into the distance.
He must not actively enter the Six Paths’ field of view, so he could not go to Chen Di or Qi Kingdom, nor to any places of conflict where reincarnators might be involved!
Then, should he go to Zhou Di’s royal city, hiding among the common people?
…
Months later, Meng Qi sat cross-legged on the cloud bed in his meditation room, eyes half-closed.
Suddenly, his eyes flew open. His pupils were black and bottomless, within which countless indescribable shadows flickered. The entire room instantly darkened, shadows swaying everywhere, as if demons danced wildly.
At this moment, Meng Qi swung his left sleeve outward. The sleeve grew larger and larger, inside it chaotic and hazy, seemingly forming its own world, replacing heaven and earth, enveloping the entire room.
As the sleeve withdrew, the room was empty, except for the cloud bed. Not even a single speck of dust remained!
Meng Qi waved his sleeve again, and chaos filled the room once more. The meditation room returned to its original state.
“Excellent, excellent!” Meng Qi’s face lit up with joy. Then he heard the cold voice of the Six Paths’ Master announcing that time was up, and he would be pulled back.
During this period, Meng Qi had consolidated his cultivation foundation, mastered two transformations, grasped the fundamental principles of the Primordial Golden Chapter’s Dharmakāya section, and further refined his proficiency in the Yin-Yang Seal. Under Qi Huan’s guidance, he had barely begun to comprehend the Yuanxin Seal and the Sleeve Cosmos technique. The profound essence of the “Unbroken Primordial Form” had grown increasingly deep. Only the Dao-Yi Seal remained too esoteric and enigmatic; Meng Qi had merely scratched the surface of its mysteries. However, his preliminary understanding of the “Cause of All Effects” from the Outer Scenery section had become more polished and robust. His “Karma Attraction” ability now appeared capable of withstanding three strikes!
(Note: “法身” is translated as “Dharmakāya” to maintain the Buddhist context, and “道一印” as “Dao-Yi Seal” preserves the philosophical term while being phonetically accurate. The techniques’ names are translated literally where possible while maintaining readability.)
With such gains and progress, Meng Qi had no aversion to returning. He still needed to consult Lingshou Tianzun about Qi Huan’s assistance!
A hazy light shimmered, and Meng Qi vanished from the meditation room. Only after he disappeared did Qi Huan react, gazing deeply, lost in thought.
…
A flash of light, and Meng Qi returned to the Immortal Trace Bazaar. Pillars of light descended, restoring his fatigue. The Kunlun Daoist robe had been repaired with the help of Qi Huan and the master artisans of Qi Kingdom.
“How was your harvest this time?” Suddenly, a “Bixia Yuanjun” mask appeared before Meng Qi, her voice urgent.
You almost scared me! Meng Qi wiped the cold sweat from his brow and put on the “Primordial Heaven” mask: “Quite fruitful, but, Niu Niang, do you have merit points to buy cheap goods? You only managed six thousand merit points for the ‘Cosmic Transmission’.”
There was a time interval for returning with the Wheel Seal, but at most a few hours to one or two days. Meng Qi believed that Qu Jiuniang could not possibly be as lucky as he was, stumbling upon adventures the moment she stepped out.
Qu Jiuniang’s lips trembled a few times before she gritted her teeth: “It’s still good to take a look!”
“This is too exciting.” Meng Qi immediately laughed.
“None of your business!” Qu Jiuniang had always been fiery.
Meng Qi turned directly, pulling out unnecessary gains and requesting appraisal:
“Purple Jade Earth-Cracking Ruler, upper-grade treasure weapon… can be exchanged for 4,700 merit points.”
…
“Two-Pole Magnetic Robe, upper-grade treasure-level Daoist robe… can be exchanged for 4,800 merit points.”
Meng Qi learned from past experiences. With the help of the “Arctic Miniature Magnetic Mountain,” a natural treasure, he had initially mastered the transformation of the “Two-Pole Magnetic Light Beast,” making the Magnetic Robe dispensable.
The remaining five Outer Scenery techniques, including “Rain of Light,” could be exchanged for a total of 11,000 merit points. The imitation Binding Rope was worth 3,600, several natural treasures 9,800, and Chixia Daoist’s healing and other elixirs totaled 4,000 merit points. A decent Jiezi Ring was worth 2,300 merit points. As for the “Mountain and Sea Bow,” it was occasionally useful, so Meng Qi decided to keep it.
“Forty thousand and two hundred merit points…” Before Meng Qi could calculate in his mind, Qu Jiuniang blurted it out, her eyes burning with intensity, as if she wanted to swallow Meng Qi whole.
Meng Qi nodded and prepared to exchange all of them for merit points.
“Wait! How can you exchange them with the Six Paths? You’ll lose too much!” Qu Jiuniang suddenly tried to stop him, appearing heartbroken, as if they were her own merit points.
“But I need it urgently.” Meng Qi looked perfectly reasonable.
Qu Jiuniang held her forehead, her voice half-angry and half-weak: “Don’t you know how much you’re losing? Enough to keep me busy for a whole year or even longer… Spendthrift!”
“Then what do you need it for?” She finally regained her composure.
“I plan to forge a divine weapon.” With a major battle looming, Meng Qi naturally wanted to make the most thorough preparations. According to Lingshou Tianzun and Doumu Yuanjun, his current strength should have a chance of completing the divine weapon forging task.
“Forge a divine weapon? Are you out of your mind?” Qu Jiuniang was stunned—even Doumu Yuanjun, a half-step Dharmakaya master, had barely managed to survive completing it!
“I have to try.” Meng Qi took out the unformed Calming Sea Pearl and the Sun Flame Core, placed them into the central jade pillar, and inquired about the price.
The Yellow Spring hand bone still had missions, so it couldn’t be used for forging at the moment.
“…These two main materials can forge any shape of divine weapon. You need to exchange for 20,000 worth of auxiliary materials and pay 40,000 merit points, plus complete a divine weapon-specific mission.”
“Sixty thousand merit points…” Meng Qi frowned.
Qu Jiuniang was once again stunned by Meng Qi’s casual display of two divine weapon core materials. After a long silence, she weakly said, “You can pledge these items to the Immortal Trace, borrow merit points from the communal fund. That way, you won’t be giving money to the Six Paths, that merchant. The exchange rate of 40,200 merit points should allow you to borrow 55,000. Then the Immortal Trace can list these items on the market for sale, gradually replenishing the merit points. If there’s a surplus, it will be returned to you. If there’s a deficit, you’ll have to make it up later.”
“The remaining 5,000 merit points, with your reputation, strength, and wealth, you can borrow directly.”
“That’s great.” Meng Qi’s mood immediately brightened. This was the privilege of being a member!
Qu Jiuniang took Meng Qi to a certain hall in the Biyou Palace to handle the matter. Along the way, she kept glancing at him: “You must think carefully. The divine weapon mission is very dangerous. The forging process is almost as risky. One mistake and you’ll suffer heavy losses…”
She kept babbling, hating to see merit points wasted.
As soon as they entered the Biyou Palace, Meng Qi saw Daqinggen idly strolling around, treating the place as his own home.
“Master!” Daqinggen immediately became respectful upon seeing Meng Qi.
Meng Qi looked at him and suddenly said, “I’ve already entered the Jade Void Palace. Do you still want to hide it from me?”
He held up the Yuanxin Seal, enhancing the persuasive force of his intimidation.
Daquegen’s branches and leaves trembled. He was so frightened that he quickly glanced at the Yuanxin Seal and hurriedly lowered his head: “Master, Master, I was too scared. That’s why I… that’s why…”
He dared not continue. Meng Qi exchanged glances with Qu Jiuniang, then took Daqinggen into the secret chamber of the Biyou Palace and activated the central restriction technique.
“You can tell us who the Six Paths’ Master is now, right?” Meng Qi spoke steadily, his authority evident.
Daquegen wailed, “How many people can frequently visit the Jade Void Palace? They’re all famous big shots. I was too scared, so I hid it from you, Master. He… he is the son of the ancient Haotian Emperor, this era’s Luya Daojun!”
Luya? Meng Qi took a deep breath. It was indeed a familiar face!
But was Daqinggen still lying?
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