Yang Zhen slowly turned around, his gaze deep and far-reaching. There was a strange smile on his face that was hard to interpret.
"The way that can be spoken of is not the constant way, the way of heaven depletes abundance and supplements deficiency, friends come from afar..."
Yang Zhen spouted nonsense with an earnest look on his face that mirrored those of enlightened individuals, then suddenly, his body shook.
Boom!
A frightening blast of energy erupted around Yang Zhen, the music of heaven roared like the majestic force of the universe, leaving everyone terrified.
Countless glowing Heaven and Earth Rune Patterns swirled around, just like a vortex of True Essence that was violent and surging. The Shangyuan Ancient Scripture within Yang Zhen's body began to operate madly in a peculiar method.
Yang Zhen was startled. He desperately tried to pull back the True Essence that was running wild like a runaway horse, but the next moment, he was dumbfounded.
The Shangyuan Ancient Scripture had surprisingly broken through the boundary of Heaven-level Cultivation Method and reached the Spiritual Level!
Could... Could this happen?
Looking at the terrifying vortex of True Essence around him and the mysterious and sublime Heaven and Earth Rune Patterns, Duan Langcai and the other two, let alone Yang Zhen himself, were all a bit flustered.
Although Yang Zhen was talking nonsense, what he was thinking was the content of Tao Te Ching. When these ideas were linked with the Shangyuan Ancient Scripture, they unexpectedly advanced in an unforeseen way!
This was truly a surprise. Yang Zhen was overjoyed. He hastily sat down to comprehend the changes in the Shangyuan Ancient Scripture, ignoring everyone else.
Originally, the Shangyuan Ancient Scripture just flowed through sixteen meridians. Now, it operated madly like a rushing river through nearly thirty meridians in his body. Terrifying energy waves surged violently, Yang Zhen's aura soared, and his cultivation advanced swiftly.
Duan Langcai and the other two were dumbfounded, their eyes growing bigger and their mouths gaping open. Their faces were filled with shock.
Such terrifying phenomena of Heaven and Earth were unheard of and completely unbelievable.
Neither the Shangyuan Sect nor the Sword Servant Sect could produce a Heaven-level Cultivation Method, much less envisage the terrifying power of a Spiritual Level. Seeing this violent outburst of energy, all three of them looked at Yang Zhen in awe.
Yang Zhen burst into laughter, truly ecstatic.
With extraordinary talent and comprehension that surpassed the world, Yang Zhen had suddenly "comprehended" the Tao Te Ching, which didn't exist on the continent of Nether State. The combination of these two factors instantly elevated the Shangyuan Ancient Scripture to a higher level!
In the blink of an eye, Yang Zhen's level had advanced to the sixth stage of the Nascent Stage and was still advancing rapidly.
Yang Zhen, like a frenzied drunkard, grabbed a handful of Spirit Marrow Cleansing and drank it down, while laughter echoed in the air.
"The nameless was the beginning of heaven and earth. The named was the mother of the myriad creatures. Hence always rid of desire, in order to observe its wonder. Always having desire, in order to observe its limits..."
He thanked the great Laozi for creating such an astonishing masterpiece!
After Yang Zhen swallowed the Spirit Marrow Cleansing, the terrifying True Essence that erupted from his body became even more violent, sweeping through the entire cavern like a storm. This frightened Duan Langcai and the other two into hastily retreating, eyes filled with horror, their mouths agape.
Boom!
After the Shangyuan Ancient Scripture circulated for nine cycles, a turbulent and violent fluctuation of energy suddenly erupted, with countless Heaven and Earth Rune Patterns pouring into his body. In the blink of an eye, the entire cavern returned to normal. Yang Zhen's cultivation level had already broken through the eighth stage of the Nascent Stage, and he was just one step away from reaching the ninth stage.
Looking at Duan Langcai and the other two who were already terrified, Yang Zhen wore an indifferent expression and calmly said, "Who are you? Interrupting my peace with your presence, I have every right to shatter your souls and obliterate you."
Duan Langcai's face changed, he hastily said, "Senior, we didn't mean to offend, we thought the Spirit Marrow Cleansing was unclaimed. We didn't anticipate that it belonged to you. Please forgive our transgressions."
The woman with the surname Fang and the Lü-surnamed youth also quickly explained how they were unintentionally intruding.
Yang Zhen snorted lightly, noticing Duan Langcai slowly approaching under the pretense of talking. Knowing that he probably still had doubts, he asked, "You're from the Sword Servant Sect?"
Duan Langcai didn't expect Yang Zhen to know his identity so early on. When he heard this, he was startled and asked, "How did you know I'm a disciple of the Sword Servant Sect?"
Yang Zhen inwardly found it amusing. His expression turned even colder as he scolded, "Nonsense! You've made a mockery of yourself by practicing the Ghost Shadow Sword. Why didn't Wan Quan finish you off with a single stroke?"
"You..." Duan Langcai backed away in shock and asked in astonishment, "You know the sect leader, Wan Quan?"
"Sect leader?" Yang Zhen chuckled, "So that kid Wan Quan really became the sect leader of the Sword Servant Sect. No wonder they've been going downhill. Oh well, I have some karma with that kid, Wan Quan. In terms of seniority, you should call me grandpa. Perform the Ghost Shadow Sword in front of me and I will guide you."
With that, Yang Zhen's expression cooled, and he barked at the Fang-surnamed female and the Lü-surnamed youth, "You two, get lost! Or do you want me to kick you out?"
The woman with the surname Fang and the Lü-surnamed youth quickly apologized and retreated under each other's gaze.
Upon seeing this, Yang Zhen breathed a sigh of relief. He was still a bit nervous, and his back was soaking wet.
Duan Langcai, unsure whether to believe him or not, seemed somewhat unconvinced.
Yang Zhen closed his eyes and said with feigned composure, "You only have one chance!"
Upon hearing this, Duan Langcai's body quivered, and he gritted his teeth, "Please impart your wisdom, Senior!"
If Yang Zhen was pretending after all, by the time Duan Langcai performed the Ghost Shadow Sword, he would be exposed. Duan Langcai planned to slay him then. As he recited the mantra of the Ghost Shadow Sword, he began to execute it.
Outside the cave, the Fang-surnamed female took a deep breath and asked the Lü-surnamed youth, "Senior brother Lü, was the method the senior cultivated just now a Spiritual-level Cultivation Method?"
Senior Brother Lü smiled wryly and said, "I don't know if it's a Spiritual-level Cultivation Method, but I'm sure no Heaven-level Cultivation Method would be so terrifying. I once heard my master say that any Cultivation Method that can evoke and manifest Heaven and Earth Rune Patterns in the world is above the Heaven-level."
The woman with the surname Fang was shocked and said, "But that senior seems to be around our age."
"Ambition isn't about age." The Lü-surnamed youth shook his head, "Besides, many truly powerful seniors have methods to retain their youth. It's hard to tell the actual age from appearance."
"How lucky of Senior Brother Duan to receive guidance from the senior! He might even make a breakthrough in cultivation!" The woman with the surname Fang said enviously.
A hint of jealousy flashed in the Lü-surnamed youth's eyes as he said, "Or maybe that person is not a senior at all, but just playing with him. Would a truly powerful person guide us so easily? When he comes out, he will naturally understand."
The woman with the surname Fang nodded and regretfully said, "You're right, Senior Brother Lü."
Just then, Duan Langcai came out of the cave. He looked distraught, his body and face covered in wounds and dripping with blood, his expression shocked and astonished.
The woman with the surname Fang and the Lü-surnamed youth quickly rushed over to him and asked anxiously, "What happened? How were you injured? Is that person not a senior but an imposter?"
Duan Langcai suddenly raised his head, pointed at the Lü-surnamed youth and sternly said, "Don't you dare insult my grandpa!"