This passage is a description of the Eight-Nine Profound Art by the Master of the Sixfold Samsara. It is very brief, only mentioning that it enables one to attain the Immortal Dao Body and the Bodhi Golden Body, highlighting its characteristics of attaining sanctity through physical cultivation and its versatility. However, it lacks detailed explanations, and like other supreme techniques, it does not specify its origin or background, leaving Meng Qi unable to determine which version he knows. Yang Jian, the True Sovereign of the Mysterious Dao of Qingyuan, cultivated the Eight-Nine Profound Art, and it is likely that Sun Wukong, the Great Sage Equaling Heaven, also practiced it.
Nonetheless, one thing is certain: this “Eight-Nine Profound Art” is of an extremely high level, ranking among the top techniques in the Master of the Sixfold Samsara’s exchange list, comparable to the “Tathagata Divine Palm,” which is believed to be passed down from the Buddha, and the “Heaven-Severing Seven Swords,” suspected to be inherited from the Dao Patriarch. It surpasses the “Imperial Jade Records,” and the Bodhi Golden Body is a supreme Dharmakaya in the Buddhist tradition, rivaling the Tathagata Golden Body, leading Meng Qi to suspect it might be an enhanced version of the Victorious Fighting Buddha’s Golden Body.
“Yes,” Meng Qi solemnly nodded in response to the group’s shock, emphasizing that he was serious. “I currently have no shortage of sword and saber techniques, but my cultivation level is insufficient, leaving much room for further understanding. There’s no need to exchange for other techniques. The ‘Undying Seal Art’ equals the ‘Morphing Art’ in illusionary tactics and mental interference, but it also has the ability to redirect force and possesses a magical body technique, the Illusory Demon Steps, which far surpasses the ‘Shapeshifting Body Techniques’ by an unknown margin, and I also have control over the battlefield through thunder incantations. It’s time to decide on my primary cultivation technique.”
If an opponent’s four sensory orifices are open, the “Morphing Art’s” mental interference ability becomes nearly ineffective. However, the “Undying Seal Art” differs as its sensory disruption involves not only a higher level of mental application but also auxiliary Qi, making it seem both real and unreal, affecting opponents with nine or fewer orifices. The exact effectiveness depends entirely on individual cultivation.
Therefore, for Meng Qi, the “Undying Seal Art” has three aspects requiring personal cultivation. The first is illusionary tactics and mental interference, a divine-level auxiliary technique. With the “Morphing Art” as a foundation, this aspect is relatively easy to grasp. The second is redirecting force and counterattacking, maintaining Qi at peak levels. As long as the core concept is understood, it is not too difficult to cultivate. The third is the Illusory Demon Steps, which will require hard work. Besides, his “Shapeshifting Body Techniques” were already becoming obsolete.
Regarding the “Undying Seal Art” and his own saber and sword techniques, he only briefly mentioned them, omitting many key points, such as maintaining Qi at peak levels and his insights into the Essence of the Heaven Saber, gaining a refined understanding. After all, even among companions, there are distinctions in closeness and distance. One must always be cautious and not reveal everything—only disclose what should be shared and keep what should remain hidden.
He paused and continued, “The Iron Bell Body is cultivated slowly, and the ‘Eight-Nine Profound Art’ is only slightly better. The most crucial difference lies in future potential. Without long-term planning, immediate troubles will arise. Moreover, besides its protective and purifying abilities, the ‘Eight-Nine Profound Art’ excels in transformation. At the Orifice Opening stage, this manifests as bone-shrinking and subtle muscle movement, indicating precise control over one’s body details, which is particularly important.”
To achieve versatile transformations, one must attain a certain level of mastery over one’s body, reaching an unimaginable level of subtlety. At the Orifice Opening stage, this means having precise control over one’s hands, feet, and muscles. For example, a normal expert aiming to attack an opponent with eighty percent of their strength would fluctuate between seventy-eight and eighty-two percent. A peer-level expert cultivating the “Eight-Nine Profound Art” would maintain it precisely between seventy-nine and eighty point five percent, never deviating by even a fraction, achieving absolute precision.
Such precision significantly enhances technique variation, identifying weaknesses, and seizing critical moments.
“It is said that only a Holy Buddha from the Mythical Era attained the Bodhi Golden Body, rivaling the Buddha himself, capable of self-generating a Pure Land and transcending the mundane world. If you cultivate the ‘Eight-Nine Profound Art,’ you should try to find related information,” Zhang Yuanshan, recovering from his shock, had no doubts about Meng Qi’s choice—who wouldn’t want a better primary cultivation technique?
If not for their own “True Martial Dharmakaya” and Jiang Zhiwei’s “Supreme Dao Body,” both strong Dharmakayas, they might also be tempted to switch primary techniques.
Meng Qi chuckled in response. Obviously, he was destined to follow the path of the “Immortal Dao Body”—how could he seek out the Holy Buddha’s records?
“Eight-Nine Profound Art, you’re becoming more and more impervious to blades and bullets,” Jiang Zhiwei teased.
Ruan Yushu replied in a distant voice, “There are no wrong nicknames, only wrongly chosen names.”
Meng Qi twitched his lips slightly and said no more. He exchanged for the Orifice Opening section of the “Eight-Nine Profound Art” and tucked it into his robe. With the remaining one hundred and thirty-one Virtue Points, he first exchanged for a Hundred-Grass Pill since he had used up all his Soul-Reinforcing Corpse-Repelling Pills. No matter how strong his Iron Bell Body and Undying Seal Art were internally and externally, he still needed some healing elixirs. Then he spent thirty Virtue Points to obtain a set of simple materials and techniques for altering his appearance, preventing being recognized in future factional conflicts and pursued into the main world.
Looking at his only remaining Virtue Point, Meng Qi finally considered repairing his hair. However, upon checking, he found it would cost five Virtue Points, so he immediately gave up and placed the Demon Lord’s hide and crystals inside for appraisal.
“Extraterrestrial Meteorite Crystal, a rare object capable of containing pure Qi without dispersion, already used to the point of damage, worth one Virtue Point.”
“Outer Demon’s Hide, obtained by peeling off an attached outer demon, can be used for forging, worth one hundred Virtue Points. Note: Each person’s outer demon is unique. This is the Demon Lord’s outer demon.”
After reading the descriptions, Meng Qi thought for a moment and decided to keep them. He had a feeling these two items might still be useful.
“What do you want to exchange for?” Meng Qi “glanced sideways” at Ruan Yushu, who loved to mock him.
Ruan Yushu’s cold expression softened, as if her face was veiled in a glow: “I want to exchange for a qin score or sound technique I’ve never seen.”
“Uh, how about ‘Heavenly Dragon Eight Sounds’?” As a companion, Meng Qi dutifully introduced.
“The Heavenly Dragon Eight Sounds” originates from the Six-Fingered Lute Demon, using sound as a medium for mental control and mental attacks, belonging to the early External Scenery level.
Ruan Yushu glanced at the introduction of “Heavenly Dragon Eight Sounds,” displaying a rare girlish demeanor, hesitantly saying, “It’s indeed something I’ve never seen, but with my current strength, I might only manage to play a few notes.”
After that, her energy would be exhausted.
“Heavenly Dragon Eight Sounds,” worth one thousand and fifty Virtue Points.
“Anyway, it’s for survival, and the next task is a year later. You’ll probably have six orifices by then,” Meng Qi smiled.
Ruan Yushu had already opened her eye and ear orifices. With her talent, her qin music could resonate through her body, and with sufficient resources, she could definitely open her nasal orifice within a year.
Ruan Yushu regained her coldness, slightly nodding, and threw her Red Moon Sword and other items into the central light column, then said, “I have one thousand one hundred and seventy Virtue Points. After exchanging for the Heavenly Dragon Eight Sounds, I can still get a Tiancong Pill to ensure I have six orifices next year.”
“Good. If you have six orifices by the next task, I’ll treat you to some delicacies!” Meng Qi casually promised.
Ruan Yushu stared at him fixedly: “I’m young, so you can’t trick me.”
“Who in the entire cycle world doesn’t know that Xiao Meng’s promises are worth a thousand gold, righteous and lofty?” Meng Qi clicked his tongue, then turned to Luo Shengyi, “Old Luo, what do you want to exchange?”
“I’ve long wanted to exchange an External Scenery martial arts technique. You don’t need to help me look for others,” Luo Shengyi smiled. “I want to exchange for the ‘Nine Mountain Stiff Fist.’ If there are enough remaining Virtue Points, I’ll also exchange for the ‘Internal Scenery Divine Pill’ to try to open nine orifices by the next task.”
The Internal Scenery Divine Pill, Tiancong Pill, Tian Shi Di Ting Pill, and other similar orifice-opening pills have better effects and are worth five hundred and forty Virtue Points.
“The ‘Nine Mountain Stiff Fist’ is the one used by the great hero of Ningzhou in ancient times?” Zhang Yuanshan inhaled slightly.
The Zhenwu Sect’s territory covers the southern part of Huazhou and the northern part of Ningzhou.
Seeing that Meng Qi and others didn’t understand, he added, “The great hero of Ningzhou was a wandering cultivator who rarely encountered lucky chances. He observed the natural forms of mountains and integrated multiple orifice-opening fist techniques, finally forging his own path and creating this ‘Nine Mountain Stiff Fist’ of the early External Scenery level. When practiced to the extreme, a single punch is like a mountain pressing down, capable of cutting water and breaking peaks. Unfortunately, he later died at the hands of the ‘Life and Death Unpredictable Sect’ among the nine evil sects and could not further advance this martial arts technique to a higher level.”
Luo Shengyi nodded slightly: “The great hero of Ningzhou is a senior I deeply admire, and his fist path also aligns with mine. I’ve always wanted to exchange for the ‘Nine Mountain Stiff Fist,’ and now I’ve finally gathered enough Virtue Points.”
He placed his Shaohua Sword and several martial arts manuals he collected in the capital into the hazy light column. After the Virtue Points were calculated, he thought for a moment and then threw in a few hidden weapons, sighing in relief: “Exactly one thousand five hundred and sixty Virtue Points.”
“The ‘Nine Mountain Stiff Fist’ costs one thousand and twenty, and the remaining points are just enough for the Internal Scenery Divine Pill.”
He quickly completed the exchange and stepped aside, smiling at Zhang Yuanshan and Qi Zhengyan, who had not yet exchanged.
That old fellow didn’t reveal his primary martial arts technique… Meng Qi muttered to himself but didn’t ask further, smiling at Zhang Yuanshan and saying, “Senior Brother Zhang, what do you want to exchange?”
He really wanted to ask if he was going to exchange for a fake death technique, but after thinking about it, this was someone else’s private matter, and he had only coincidentally encountered it. He absolutely couldn’t be careless with his words.
“Under the pressure of the death mission, I have no choice but to exchange for the Internal Scenery Divine Pill to strive for seven orifices next time. However, I will first consolidate my foundation,” Zhang Yuanshan said somewhat helplessly. “With the remaining Virtue Points, I want to exchange for the ‘Blood-Burning Spirit-Severing Art.'”
It sounds violent… Meng Qi found the introduction and discovered that this is an explosive External Scenery martial arts technique, surpassing the External Scenery section of the Self-Sacrifice Formula. It can continuously burn essence and spirit, generating attacks exceeding normal levels by fifty percent to one hundred percent, lasting for thirty breaths. As long as there are sufficient pills or essence to replenish afterward, it would only result in a serious illness. If one is willing to sacrifice their life, it can unleash an attack three to five times stronger than their maximum strength.
Of course, this martial arts technique also includes mystical abilities such as “self-explosion, fake death, leaving no bones, hiding a true person,” making Meng Qi silently speechless, not knowing where Zhang Yuanshan obtained it.
After exchanging, Zhang Yuanshan originally had one thousand three hundred and sixty Virtue Points. With the return from Fu Zhenzhen, he had a total of one thousand six hundred and twenty Virtue Points. After exchanging for the “Blood-Burning Spirit-Severing Art” costing one thousand and fifty Virtue Points and the Internal Scenery Divine Pill, he had thirty Virtue Points left.
Considering the future, he also followed Meng Qi’s example and exchanged for a set of simple materials and techniques for altering his appearance.
“I also plan to exchange for the ‘Internal Scenery Divine Pill,'” Qi Zhengyan finally spoke up, who had been silent all along. He originally thought that after improving his talent with the “Primordial Mirror,” he wouldn’t need pills anymore, but he encountered the pressure of the death mission.
After exchanging his belongings, he said, “One thousand three hundred and twenty Virtue Points. I have already perfected the fourth orifice and refined several related orifice points of the nasal orifice. I will strive to open six orifices before the next mission. My ‘Blue Snow’ has already reached a minor level, freezing the blood of those struck.”
After briefly describing his current strength, he exchanged for the Internal Scenery Divine Pill, leaving seven hundred and eighty Virtue Points. Before reaching the eighth orifice, he couldn’t cultivate the fifth layer of the Primordial Mirror, the Purple Stars River Skill, so exchanging it wouldn’t be meaningful.
Just as Meng Qi and others were preparing to help him think about what to exchange, he said on his own, “In this mission, I accidentally met a sword forging master and obtained a method to enhance the Dragon Pattern Red Gold Sword.”
The Primordial Mirror is comprehensively powerful, so he didn’t have any particularly needed martial arts techniques. Unlike the early cycles, he no longer anxiously wanted to exchange for powerful hidden weapons or poisons for survival, placing more trust in his own strength.
“Hmm, Senior Brother Qi, your Dragon Pattern Red Gold Sword is slightly inferior to the current enemies,” Meng Qi agreed. His Ice Gate was ordinary, but the Evil Tribulation was extremely formidable.
Jiang Zhiwei was even more eagerly anticipating this.
Qi Zhengyan exchanged for materials such as Dragon Blood Stone and Cloud Mist Droplets, placing them together with the Dragon Pattern Red Gold Sword into the central light column, leaving only twenty Virtue Points.
The hazy vapor rose, and Qi Zhengyan took out the enhanced Dragon Pattern Red Gold Sword. The powerful dragon aura made Meng Qi involuntarily feel a slight tremor in his heart and a slight weakness in his legs. Moreover, the Dragon Pattern Red Gold Sword was surrounded by faint clouds and mist, making others’ attacks feel heavy and sluggish.
“Approaching the level of a half-step External Scenery,” Jiang Zhiwei evaluated with a fiery gaze. This was the limit of orifice-opening stage weapons, worth the seven hundred and sixty Virtue Points Qi Zhengyan spent, combined with the sword forging master’s “recipe,” and the previous Dragon Pattern Red Gold Sword was already a superior weapon.
Qi Zhengyan tested the sword and was very satisfied, putting it away. The group discussed the death mission for a while until the Master of the Sixfold Samsara reminded them to leave.
As Meng Qi was about to step into the light column, Jiang Zhiwei secretly transmitted voice into his mind, “Little monk, this time I and Senior Brother Qi were on a cooperative mission. I found that he has some worries, as if he encountered some difficulties in the main world. Since you are going to join him, you might as well check what’s going on. If help is needed, you can find the sword shop of the Sword-Cleaning Pavilion and leave me a message.”
The Sword-Cleaning Pavilion has official sword shops in major cities across the provinces.
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