When speaking of the ancient legends from the Fengshen era, Qu Jiuniang, wearing the mask of “Bixia Yuanyun,” spoke in a somewhat solemn tone: “The current Fengshen world is filled with tales of immortals, whether from the Chan Sect or the Jie Sect. There are frequent rumors of someone encountering an immortal and obtaining a magical treasure or Daoist technique. Yet, no matter how diligently we search, we cannot find any true immortals. Because of this, the Heavenly Venerable has always been cautious and dares not act recklessly.”
“The closest times we ever came to success were when the Heavenly Venerable and others discovered the Biyou Palace, and later found the true meditation site of Yun Zhongzi after his demise. Yet, there were no immortal remains inside either place—only messages and items left behind. Particularly in Biyou Palace, it was completely empty, with no trace of immortals. However, the jade scrolls and cultivation techniques were neatly arranged, as if the master had simply gone out for a stroll. If not for the fact that the medicinal pills had already lost their spiritual essence, the Heavenly Venerable and others probably wouldn’t have dared to relocate the Biyou Palace, fearing the immortals might return for revenge.”
Is this really the genuine Biyou Palace? Meng Qi couldn’t help but lift his head and examine the surroundings. Where did Tongtian Master go?
If he ever returned one day, then the joke would be huge!
“Do you know where exactly the Heavenly Venerable and others discovered the Biyou Palace?” Meng Qi asked.
Qu Jiuniang cast a sidelong glance at Meng Qi: “You’ve never even been to the Fengshen world. Even if I told you the location, what good would it do you? It should have been on Kunlun Mountain in Han territory.”
Kunlun Mountain… For a moment, Meng Qi almost blurted out, “Are you kidding me?”
He quickly composed himself, frowning slightly. It wasn’t overseas after all. Then where had Yuxu Palace gone?
Suddenly, he sensed something was off: “Han territory?”
Wasn’t it the Spring and Autumn Period five hundred years after the Fengshen era? Where could one find the “Han” back then?
Qu Jiuniang didn’t notice Meng Qi’s surprise: “According to the historical records of that world, after the Investiture of the Gods, the Zhou Dynasty replaced the Shang, and feudal lords were enfeoffed. However, the world fell into decline, the four corners of heaven collapsed, and over ninety percent of the land was lost. Within a century, the feudal lords grew increasingly powerful, engaging in endless conflicts, making it difficult for royal decrees to extend beyond the Zhou territory.”
“Perhaps due to the chaos of warring states and constant infighting, surnames quickly merged, and many scholars claimed it was the long night of the collapse of rites and morality.”
“What were the names of these feudal lords?” Meng Qi was most concerned about whether he recognized any of them.
Qu Jiuniang instinctively began counting on her fingers: “There were major feudal states such as Han, Qin, Chu, Tang, Ming, Yan, Zhao, Lu, Wu, Song, and others.”
Just as I suspected… Meng Qi’s eyelid twitched. Perhaps during the Ten Thousand Immortal Formation, many of the destined feudal lords were caught in the crossfire and perished, hence the different feudal states compared to what he knew, leading to a completely different developmental path.
“These feudal lords were either descendants of deities or offspring of immortals, all capable of swallowing clouds and exhaling mist, riding the winds and wielding swords, possessing various mystical techniques, and even wielding divine artifacts…” At this point, Qu Jiuniang’s tone grew even graver, deliberately cautioning him, “Since many Daoist lineages and immortal descendants still exist, there are countless secret treasures modeled after the artifacts of the封神 era, each with formidable or bizarre powers. One must exercise extreme caution, as they are incomparable to the secret treasures in our world. The slightest misstep could allow a weaker opponent to strike you down!”
Our Immortal Sect once had a “Xuantan Zhenjun” who was slain after provoking a Daoist sect. He fell victim to a secret treasure that mimicked the “Dingtou Qijian Shu.” Even the Heavenly Venerable sought vengeance but could never locate the enemy!
Meng Qi was stunned. Wasn’t Xuantan Zhenjun Zhao Gongming? He had taken Zhao’s title, only to be harmed by a replica of the Dingtou Qijian Shu?
All he could say was, this was fate…
Thinking Meng Qi was merely shocked by the secret treasures, Qu Jiuniang warned: “Besides secret treasures, they also possess strange techniques that can catch you off guard. I once encountered an opponent who had just entered the Outer Scenery realm. At first, I beat him so badly he was rolling on the ground, but then he suddenly ‘hummed’ and shot two beams of white light from his nostrils, instantly capturing my Yuan Shen. If it weren’t for my companion being there at the time, I would have died on the spot.”
The inheritors of the Hum and Ha Generals… Meng Qi nodded thoughtfully.
After hearing Qu Jiuniang’s explanation, Meng Qi gained a general understanding of the Investiture of the Gods world. Although the feudal states and certain details differed, it appeared to be at a comparable stage—the twilight of the Spring and Autumn period, where rituals and morality were crumbling, sages had yet to emerge, and the hundred schools of thought had not yet flourished…
…
After leaving the Immortal’s Trace, Meng Qi returned to the Vast Sea and once again arrived at Bomi.
At this time, the red mist around Bomi had thinned considerably. Meng Qi estimated that in another ten or twenty years, with no source to replenish it, the mist would completely dissipate. The vicious criminals hiding inside would have to seek new paths for survival.
He felt no pity for them. Outside Bomi, he found a secluded spot and took out treasures like the Sun God Stone and Earth Wu Soil. Recalling the Eight-Nine Profound Art and the Outer Scenery chapter of the Yuanshi Jin Zhang, he began cultivating.
Threads of genuine solar flame rose from the Sun God Stone, crimson and searing. Yet, with a gentle inhalation from Meng Qi, they were drawn into his nostrils, enveloped in the Eight-Nine Mysteries Qi. They coursed through his meridians into designated acupoints, gradually merging with the nascent illusory form within, rendering it ever more tangible.
Soon, waves of red light surrounded Meng Qi, with streams of fire entering his nostrils and white vapor exhaling from them, creating swirling clouds and mist, as if a deity had descended.
For those below the Fourth Heaven of the Outer Scenery, cultivation involved absorbing the corresponding Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi of their Inner Scenery, refining the acupoints related to the Dharma Form, thereby making the Dharma Form more substantial.
The Dharma Form itself is a manifestation born from the resonance between one’s Inner Landscape, Primordial Spirit, physical body, and the power of Heaven and Earth. It embodies one’s cultivation path, anchored in specific acupoints, with the Inner Landscape shaping its form and the Primordial Spirit serving as its guiding essence.
Different techniques lead to different paths, hence different acupoints and Inner Scenery, and thus different cultivation methods. For example, the Seven Luminaries邪神’s Seven Luminaries Demon相 requires dividing the body’s acupoints into seven groups, each cultivated with the same method, absorbing the same type of Heaven and Earth Vital Energy.
As the energy of heaven and earth is absorbed and the acupoints are refined, the Inner Scenery improves and the illusory form strengthens. Once the first threshold is crossed, the Dharma Form approaches substantiality and manifests externally, becoming one of the most powerful techniques of the Outer Scenery realm.
After this stage, cultivating the Dharma Form involves sensing and aligning with the corresponding principles of Heaven and Earth, allowing them to intertwine and feed back into the physical body, thereby granting various supernatural abilities. This marks the level of an ultimate expert.
Upon crossing the second threshold, the Dharma Form and principles begin to fuse, becoming nearly substantial, thus attaining the level of a Grandmaster.
After the third threshold, the Dharma Form and the physical body partially overlap, with principles enhancing the body, making every movement immensely powerful and filled with countless marvels. This achievement earns the title of Great Grandmaster.
The division of the first three Heavens of Outer Scenery is determined by the number of refined acupoints: surpassing half signifies the Second Heaven, completing all acupoints marks the Third Heaven, and fully consolidating the illusory form enables crossing the first threshold.
Originally, directly absorbing the energy of heaven and earth could meet cultivation requirements. However, after the great upheaval of heaven and earth, lifespans shortened and the energy of heaven and earth became thinner. Martial artists often used corresponding treasures as substitutes for the energy of heaven and earth to accelerate their progress.
Especially for someone like Meng Qi, who had embraced transformations, each acupoint represented a change, a “cosmos,” requiring the refinement of different primordial energies of heaven and earth. Without treasures, it would take an impossibly long time to complete cultivation.
Due to the effects of “Ascending to Heaven in One Step” and the “Four Calamities,” Meng Qi’s Inner Scenery was perfectly attuned to the principles of heaven and earth. The true fire and primordial qi naturally merged into his illusory form upon entry, requiring minimal refinement and progressing with extraordinary speed.
…
Unknowingly, two months passed, and a yellow-clothed figure appeared at the outskirts of Bomi.
As she looked around, a cheerful voice suddenly came: “Young lady, this humble Daoist observes your brow shining like jade, with no ill omens in your karma. Surely, you have gained good fortune and achieved a breakthrough.”
Jiang Zhiwei turned around, surprised and amused, looking at Meng Qi in his green robe: “You can tell I broke through?”
When did this guy become a fortune-telling Daoist?
After cultivating the karma-related content of the Yuanshi Jin Zhang, Meng Qi’s “karma attachment” had become increasingly complete, nearing transformation into a true form, allowing him to “see” parts of others’ karma. However, his previous words weren’t based on this ability.
He chuckled: “This hermit simply calculated it with my fingers.”
Pausing, he grinned: “Previously, you had nearly a year of time residue, plus your ‘three months’ of retreat and the solo mission. Even without Master Su’s pace of breaking through a Heaven every year, you should have refined at least half your acupoints and entered the Second Heaven. It’s a simple deduction!”
Jiang Zhiwei beamed with a bright smile, sizing up Meng Qi from head to toe: “Let me take a guess as well. You’re glowing with joy, appear to have gained immensely, and exude such composure—not even mentioning the Carefree Valley at all. Could it be that you’ve already succeeded?”
Coughing, Meng Qi dryly laughed: “It was a fortunate coincidence. As for the next step, we must cross the first threshold before proceeding. Oh, I got something from Ze Luoju—a token to open the “Senluo Wanxiang Gate.” How about we explore it together?”
“Alright.” Jiang Zhiwei smiled, showing no hesitation or doubt.
Together, they traveled through wind and sand toward Yuhai.
On the way, Meng Qi gave a brief account of what had happened at Carefree Valley, leaving out the part about how he had received the commission from the Ice Fairy. Jiang Zhiwei, for her part, did not inquire about it.
Flying swiftly, they reached Yuhai, known as the “Little Jiangdong,” and found the courtyard on Guangling Street.
“A Mute Nine Orifices expert is guarding it. Ze Luoju must place great importance on this place…” Meng Qi and Jiang Zhiwei hovered above the courtyard, blending seamlessly into the darkness.
Jiang Zhiwei nodded, speculating: “It’s said that the tomb of the Myriad Phenomena Immortal Sage lies deep within the Great Snow Mountains. The Senluo Wanxiang Gate might be related to him.”
In the Daoist sect, the Immortal Venerable ranks just below the Heavenly Venerable.
Meng Qi had scant knowledge of the Myriad Phenomena Immortal Sage. His consciousness flowed like water, merging with heaven and earth, enveloping the courtyard as he sought the treasure vault.
Soon, he discovered the hidden door.
The two silently flew into the side room, standing before the secret chamber. They inserted Anguo Xie’s key into the wardrobe opposite.
With a gentle twist, the secret chamber slowly opened.
Meng Qi and Jiang Zhiwei entered cautiously, closing the chamber door before descending the stairs.
At the bottom stood another stone door. This time, Meng Qi used Ze Luoju’s key to open it.
Beyond the stone door was completely empty, nothing like a treasure vault. Only a solitary door stood in the center, engraved with various patterns exuding an ancient, desolate aura, appearing extremely eerie.
“Senluo Wanxiang Gate…” Meng Qi took out the token and pressed it against the door.
Unsure what monster might emerge after opening it, Jiang Zhiwei had already drawn the White Rainbow Sword.
Green light emanated from the token, enveloping the unmounted door.
Meng Qi gently pushed, and the door opened, revealing a fiery scene with molten lava rolling within.
It was actually deep inside a volcano!
It led to another place!
Meng Qi and Jiang Zhiwei exchanged glances, communicated mentally, and cautiously stepped inside.
Upon entering, Meng Qi immediately sensed that the spiritual energy of heaven and earth had grown significantly thinner, as if they had stepped into an entirely different realm!
The exit was located on the cliffside at the edge of the lava. The two hovered in midair, their protective aura shielding them from the intense heat and flames.
Suddenly, Jiang Zhiwei softly exclaimed: “There are traces of Sun God Stone deep within this lava, but it’s been excavated.”
Excavated? Meng Qi immediately thought of the Sun God Stone in Ze Luoju’s possession!
“Let’s go out and check first.” Meng Qi whispered and flew out of the volcano.
Outside, the sun shone brightly, with distant villages dotting the landscape. A bird flew by the mountainside, its body iron-black, showing no sign of life.
“Mechanical iron bird?” Jiang Zhiwei noticed it too.
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