Chapter 240: Chapter 173: Heavenly Eye on the Forehead
At the Peace Path sub-sect in Snake Fish Town.
Di Jianqing had one hand on Fu Huangfei’s shoulder and the other clutched his chest, grimacing as he said, "Who exactly is that person? If I weren’t wearing the clan’s treasured Lock-Child Heavy Gold Armor, that halberd strike would have either killed me or broken several of my ribs. Truly a monster."
"I never thought there’d be a day you’d call someone else a monster," Cai Feihong sighed upon hearing Di Jianqing’s words, then added, "But indeed, that person is the most shocking peer I’ve encountered since I entered the Jianghu three years ago."
At the time, as she clashed with the masked, conical-hat-wearing youth, she had a strange feeling. Initially, he could only contend with her using several ordinary superior bladesmanship skills. But later, it seemed as if he had completely seen through her Nine Yin Sword Technique, attacking precisely where its variations were weakest. The Nine Yin Sword Technique had been lost to the Jianghu for a hundred years. She herself had stumbled upon this remarkable encounter three years ago in a deep gorge three hundred li outside Qiu Dragon City, after running away from home to break off an engagement. It was almost certain that she was the only person in the world who knew this sword technique. This implied that the young man couldn’t possibly have seen the Nine Yin Sword Technique elsewhere. The only reason he could identify the weaknesses in her swordplay was... that his comprehension of martial arts was astounding. At least, these two good friends of hers, who had known her for so long, still couldn’t detect the weak spots in her sword technique’s variations.
Fu Huangfei said, his voice heavy with thought, "He must be from Qiu Dragon Mansion; I just don’t know whose precious treasure he is." He paused, recalling the earlier confrontation, then continued slowly, "The Daji Dynasty forbids all cultivation of magic. That person showed no signs of having cultivated such arts, yet he could breathe fire and water. It likely means he possesses a special physique, much like mine, and has acquired a martial arts skill that grants him these abilities."
He possessed the Lesser Yang Fire Meridian. Although naturally attuned to fire, he couldn’t just arbitrarily wield flames. The reason he could execute that fiery martial technique was because he practiced the Lihuo Mysterious Skill Jin.
The Lesser Yang Fire Meridian is a physique, while the Lihuo Mysterious Skill Jin is a cultivation technique.
Only by matching a physique with a martial cultivation technique can one maximize one’s innate potential.
"I suspect he was also attracted by Grandmaster Qin Yuxian’s ’recruitment of a disciple.’ So, it probably won’t be long before we see him again," Cai Feihong said slowly.
"Damn it! He stole the head of that Incense Master of the Demon People, which was worth one million taels of silver! If we encounter him again... Humph!" Di Jianqing grumbled, wanting to spew some harsh words but lacking the confidence to do so.
"Let’s not talk about this. We’ve killed over a dozen Third Realm Demon People from Peace Path, each worth tens of thousands of silver. Gathering them up is also a considerable harvest," Cai Feihong said softly. "As for the credit for destroying the Peace Path Demon People sub-sect tonight, I imagine that after he took our trophy, he wouldn’t dare publicize it. So, this credit still belongs to us. When we return tomorrow, this can be made known; at least our goal of gaining fame through this battle has been achieved."
As they spoke, the three of them collected the heads of nearly a hundred Demon People from this sub-sect. Afterward, they each left their names on the cliff face of the sub-sect’s wall.
"Exterminators of the Demon People sub-sect – Di Jianqing, Cai Feihong, Fu Huangfei!"
As geese pass, they leave their cry; as people pass, they leave their names.
In Baojiao County, within a separate courtyard.
Late at night.
Qin Yuxian, draped in a large coat, sat cross-legged on the wooden platform steps before the porch. He was breathing slowly, his breaths long and even, like a primeval, ferocious beast inhaling and exhaling.
In silence, he manipulated the Qi Mechanism within and outside the courtyard, in a radius of one hundred zhang.
Suddenly, he opened his eyes and looked towards the wicker gate at the entrance of the small courtyard. "Master Uncle, you’re here."
Under the moonlight, Shan Lingguan, wearing a wide black robe, walked over with his hands behind his back, a helpless expression on his face.
"Master Uncle? What happened?" Qin Yuxian placed his hands on his knees, stood up, and asked curiously, "Could it be that experts from the Marquis of Han Shou’s Mansion have arrived?"
He wished to help Lord Tan Chongrui achieve great deeds, with Baojiao County serving as a pilot area. However, the true targets of this endeavor were those families of distinguished merit and nobility. The Marquis of Han Shou’s Mansion governed an entire county and wielded overwhelming power. It was a major obstacle to implementing the ’integration of officials and gentry for grain collection.’ The guilds and official residences of Baojiao County were minor troubles in comparison; the real, unavoidable challenge was this principal noble house of Qiu Dragon Mansion.
"Those people haven’t shown up yet. I came specifically to ask your Qiu Dragon Martial Meeting to help me find someone."
As he spoke, Shan Lingguan recounted the events that had occurred that night in Snake Fish Town to the President of the Qiu Dragon Martial Meeting, "I cannot miss out on this boy, no matter what."
"Hmm? Fire, Water, Earth... A Triple Spirit Body, plus unparalleled Divine Power?" Qin Yuxian said gravely. "This is undoubtedly a promising young talent. It sounds like he not only qualifies to practice your ’Huntian Overlord Body,’ Master Uncle, but might also be capable of learning the ’Giant Spirit Hammer’."
The Huntian Overlord Body required the cultivation of nine kinds of natural energies from heaven and earth, eventually merging them into one to achieve the Supreme Overlord Body.
An innate Spirit Body, like the Fire Spirit Body, receives divine assistance when cultivating fire-based martial arts Inner Qi. Such individuals naturally possess boundless advantages over those without a Spirit Body. Although those lacking a Spirit Body could also cultivate martial arts compatible with natural elements, they were hindered by their constitution. Progress was slow, and they had to endure the violent shocks of natural energies. This was a common sight in the neighboring Yuan Country, and even more so in countries outside the Ji Country that practiced magic and immortal arts.
’Spirit Body’ was the term used by martial cultivators. In countries that focused on spell-casting or immortal cultivation, it had another name: ’Spirit Root.’
In other countries, although a single Spirit Root might allow for the fastest cultivation in the early stages, those with multiple Spirit Roots often achieved greater things in the later stages. The Huntian Overlord Body became progressively more challenging for the same reason.
As for the other great World-Surpassing Martial Art from the Imperial Enlightenment Sect that he had learned, the ’Giant Spirit Hammer,’ it had no requirements regarding special physiques. Instead, it tested Root Bone Divine Power. Anyone with Innate Divine Strength could cultivate the Giant Spirit Hammer. In the martially prosperous Ji Country, there was never a shortage of those born with Innate Divine Strength.
But, according to Master Uncle’s description tonight, the Divine Power contained in that young man’s halberd strike... was entirely comparable to his own in his younger years.
"Have your disciples and sect members start moving," Shan Lingguan said. "This time, perhaps our sect’s martial arts might truly gain another successor capable of mastering both arts, following you."
"Rest assured, Master Uncle. I will immediately have the people of the Qiu Dragon Martial Meeting begin a comprehensive search for this young man in Baojiao County," Qin Yuxian replied, also realizing the gravity of this matter concerning the sect’s inheritance.
He harbored grand ambitions and was prepared to dedicate himself to his ideals. Yet, after decades of profound kindness from his sect, he always felt indebted. If he could help the Imperial Enlightenment Sect secure a True Seedling to carry on its legacy at this time, he would have no regrets.
At this moment, Shan Lingguan looked at Qin Yuxian’s attire and slightly raised an eyebrow. "By the looks of it, you have business tonight?"
"Indeed. There’s movement among the three major guilds of Baojiao County. Qin Fang and the other Twelve Guardians have sent word that Firewood Iron Shop might make the first move. I am waiting..." Qin Yuxian turned to look towards Baojiao County, saying, "to see who loses and who wins in this guild war."
Whoever won would be the one qualified to be invited to another, larger table by him.
Suddenly, Shan Lingguan’s eyes flashed. "Do you think..." he mused, "that young man might be from Baojiao County?"
"That’s... highly unlikely," Qin Yuxian pondered and said. "However, as this concerns a major matter of our sect’s inheritance, rest assured, Master Uncle, I will pay close attention."
PHEW.
Chen Ku returned to Medicine King Hall late at night. When he finally reached his small courtyard, he let out a long, heavy sigh of relief.
Yet his heartbeat was still rapid.
Terrifying! Absolutely terrifying!
That old man who could fly... he was undoubtedly the most powerful expert I had encountered so far. If I didn’t possess the Qiu Dragon’s Innate Divine Ability, Earth Escape, and hadn’t burrowed into the ground instantly, the consequences would have been unimaginable.
PHEW!
It took him nearly the time it takes to drink half a cup of tea to finally calm his racing heart.
He began to review the night’s actions.
My understanding of the Outstanding is still too shallow, too limited. Setting aside their inherent qualifications and remarkable encounters, which far surpass most people, just the backing and support behind any one of them is beyond what I can currently compare to.
Chen Ku recalled his clash with those three. For example, Cai Feihong wielded the ’Fengyun Iron Sword,’ undoubtedly a top-quality Famous Weapon. Moreover, during their fight, a thin layer of Inner Armor had been visible at her wrist, clearly not of ordinary quality. As for Di Jianqing, when Chen Ku’s Great Halberd struck him, he had felt a ’Treasure Armor’ on the man, which had resisted at least half the force of his blow. He hadn’t fought Fu Huangfei up close, but he estimated that Fu Huangfei also possessed considerable defensive measures.
So these are the Noble Family children, the Outstanding-level figures. When they travel, not only do they have Taoist Protectors, but their equipment is also top-tier, practically arming them to the teeth. Things like Treasure Armor and Inner Armor are essentially life-saving for them. Chen Ku was very envious.
Armor was, by its nature, a prohibited item in the Daji Dynasty. However, this couldn’t stop Martial Arts Noble Families and ingenious craftsmen from stealthily creating armor as thin as cicada wings, clinging to the body almost invisibly. However, this often meant that the required materials and craftsmanship were more exquisite. Such armor was even harder to forge than heavy armor and incredibly valuable, worth more than ten thousand gold.
Chen Ku looked at himself again.
He didn’t even possess a decent Famous Weapon-level staff or saber, let alone life-saving Inner Armor.
It’s better to rely on oneself than on family. Sooner or later, after I kill a few craftsmen from Firewood Iron Shop, I’ll be able to forge some myself.
Chen Ku then looked at the Evil Qi of the slain ’Yao Wensu’ above his Heart Sea. He decided to try and see if he could merge the five—Ma Mingfeng, Wang Mao, Ling, Yan Longhao, and Huang Gun—into a new ’Humanoid Transformation.’
Using Fourth Realm Peak Evil Energy as the embryo, and integrating three Second Realm transformations and one First Realm transformation... what will emerge?
Chen Ku immediately began the attempt.
He placed the five Humanoid Transformations on the diagram.
[Using a Fourth Realm Peak Evil Energy as the embryo, injecting Ma Mingfeng Transformation, Wang Mao Transformation, Ling Transformation, Yan Longhao Transformation, Huang Gun Transformation. Deducing probability of fetus transformation refining shape...]
[Deducing...]
[Deduction complete!]
[This attempt has a 10% probability of ’fetus transformation refining shape’ into a Fourth Realm Early Stage Humanoid Transformation, and a 90% probability of ’fetus transformation refining shape’ into a Third Realm Peak Humanoid Transformation.]
[Begin refining shape?]
Chen Ku looked at the probability of the fetus transformation refining shape, a thought stirring in his mind:
Second Realm transformations, Fourth Realm Evil Energy... did it average out the probability?
Let’s try it.
[Begin refining shape!]
[Refining shape in progress...]
[The result of this refining will appear in two hours...]
Two hours.
It’s much less time than the Hui Dragon Transformation took. Is it because the quality isn’t as good? So the process is also faster than the Hui Dragon Transformation?
Two hours.
It was just enough time for him to take a short nap.
This night out, filled with fighting and killing, had exhausted him.
He lay down in his clothes.
Thanks to his powerful Spiritual Endowment, he could fall asleep almost instantly at will.
Within a few breaths, he had already entered a deep sleep.
WAAH.
Suddenly, in his sleep, Chen Ku heard a sound like a baby’s cry. He woke instantly, his gaze shifting to the Transformation Diagram above his Heart Sea.
He saw that in the center of the five transformation diagrams, a human embryo had unexpectedly condensed. The sound of a baby’s cry emanated from that embryo.
Then, as the light from the five transformation diagrams continuously flowed into the embryo, the baby began to grow at a speed visible to the naked eye.
Infant, toddler, child, youth...
Finally, its features and physique settled into those of a young man about twenty years old.
The young man’s appearance seemed to be a fusion of the five. Because Ling was among them, his features, in addition to being masculine and stern, possessed an extra touch of gentleness.
HISS, what’s that on his forehead?
At that moment, Chen Ku was startled to see a blood-red vertical mark on the brow of this new transformation, resembling a cinnabar mark the size of a date pit.