Chapter 104: Invitation from the Chu River
In a remote alley,
"Hmm? Where is he?" The owner of the horse tower stood still, uneasy. With just a flash, Wu Yuan, who had been following him, disappeared.
"Is this the Grandmaster? No wonder there are so few rumors about Grandmasters in the world." The horse tower owner was secretly shocked. He was a skilled person on the People's List, but he couldn't figure out the direction Wu Yuan had just rushed towards.
For ordinary people, it would be even more impossible to figure out.
This was just a Grandmaster; what about the legendary Heaven's List experts? If they wished, as long as they didn't start a large-scale battle, they wouldn't be noticed by ordinary people.
"I wonder if the two Grandmasters will take action," the horse tower owner thought, then looked around and whispered, "Let's hide for now."
"On this point, I have to learn from my senior brother."
"Yes! When I reported to my senior brother that the Dark Blade Grandmaster had arrived during the division of the tower, he clearly told me to come out to greet you first, and he would follow. Why didn't he come?"
"He tricked me again!"
...
On the high tower,
Wu Yuan and the tall figure in the black robe were separated by tens of meters, and with their explosive speed, they could get close in an instant.
However, neither side showed any fear.
"Li Yan?" Wu Yuan filtered through the Earth List in his mind, and there was no such name.
Obviously, this was a pseudonym.
Inside Seven Stars Tower, who would have a real name?
"Li Yan?"
"Dark Blade is just a code name given to me by Seven Stars Tower. You might as well call me Qianshan," Wu Yuan said lightly. "Besides, how strong do you think I am in your imagination?"
"Haha!"
"Then I'll call you Qianshan." The tall figure in the black robe laughed. "I just didn't expect you to actually dare to come and see me. Your courage is stronger than I imagined."
"Moreover, I haven't shown myself, yet you, separated by hundreds of meters, can perceive my existence. Your perception is terrifying, at least stronger than mine."
"The rumors are indeed true," said the tall figure in the black robe.
Wu Yuan smiled.
Courage? Perception?
In fact, Wu Yuan had hesitated before deciding to come. However, after traveling thousands of miles, breaking through to the second level of Control Realm, and thoroughly cleansing his soul, these concerns became much smaller.
The only concern about coming to Seven Stars Tower was encountering several Grandmasters who would besiege him.
There might be a risk of death.
However, first of all, Seven Stars Tower had no reason to help the Great Jin Empire encircle him for just one hundred million taels of silver—it was not enough!
Secondly, how many Grandmasters did Seven Stars Tower have?
Most importantly, Wu Yuan was confident enough in himself. His "Divine Sense" was already terrifying enough, and now with his breakthrough in skills, his perception of the surrounding environment had further improved.
Grandmaster?
Don't even think about silently forming a siege against him.
At least, in terms of Wu Yuan's perception, there should only be one Grandmaster within a radius of several miles—probably the one in front of him.
"What rumors?" Wu Yuan said calmly.
"Rumors say that your skill level can rival a Grandmaster, reaching the second level of 'Body Fusion' in the 'Harmony of Heaven and Man,'" the tall figure in the black robe chuckled. "I was a bit skeptical before, thinking it was just Chen Luo, that fool, trying to shirk responsibility and fabricating lies. Now, it seems to be true."
Wu Yuan remained calm.
There are different levels in the 'Harmony of Heaven and Man'? 'Body Fusion' seems to refer to the second level, indicating the realm of the second level of Control Realm and the level of a Grandmaster?
As far as Wu Yuan knew, those usually called Grandmasters were ranked in the top ten of the Earth List.
"Li Yan, I've completed the task. Where are the items?" Wu Yuan's gaze fell on the tall figure in the black robe, a glint of cold light flashing in his eyes. "Don't tell me you didn't bring them."
If he hadn't brought them, Wu Yuan would definitely turn hostile.
"Don't worry."
"My Seven Stars Tower spans the world, lurking in the darkness, relying on the word 'trust.'" Li Yan smiled slightly.
Turning his palm, a jade bottle appeared in the palm of his hand.
Swish!
The jade bottle, like flowing light, flew towards Wu Yuan like lightning. It seemed extremely powerful, but Wu Yuan easily caught it.
This was a kind of test.
If Wu Yuan showed the slightest weakness or fear, Li Yan would inevitably turn hostile and kill him.
Reputation? Just not enough chips!
Both sides understood without saying.
"Well, not bad." Wu Yuan opened the bottle cap, and a refreshing fragrance spread out. A quick glance revealed roughly fifty drops.
Wu Yuan believed.
Seven Stars Tower had no need to play tricks in this regard.
"Li Yan." Wu Yuan put the jade bottle into his pocket and said softly, "You've been here for a month or two, making great efforts to see me. I'm afraid it's not just to deliver the Ancient Immortal Dew."
If Seven Stars Tower had nothing to do and didn't plan to turn against Wu Yuan, they could just hand over the treasure to the horse tower owner or Mo Gu.
"Of course, there is something." Li Yan nodded. "I'll be straightforward, Qianshan. Do you really have a Chu River Token?"
"Yes." Wu Yuan uttered a word.
In the past, he didn't dare to reveal it because his strength was insufficient.
Now? There was no harm in saying it.
In Wu Yuan's speculation, the fact that Hengyun Sect and Yuanhu Mountain Villa dared to snatch it openly and seemingly weren't afraid of the news spreading indicated something.
What did the Chu River Token contain? With the strength of a Grandmaster, it could definitely be protected.
"Good, I believe you." Li Yan nodded. "So, I'll be direct. I want to invite you, in the capacity of an 'Outer Member of Seven Stars Tower,' to join forces with the experts of my Seven Stars Tower to explore the 'Chu River Immortal Realm' next August."
"Chu River Immortal Realm?" Wu Yuan laughed. "Why should I join forces with your Seven Stars Tower? Can't I go on my own with the Chu River Token?"
In fact.
What use did the Chu River Token have, and what was the Chu River Immortal Realm? Wu Yuan had no idea.
But this influenced his speculations based on Li Yan's words.
Chu River Immortal Realm? Just by the name, it was likely a 'relic of the Immortal family' related to the Chu River Empire.
Chu River Token? Most likely the key to opening it.
Or some kind of medium or certificate within the realm.
And Wu Yuan's words.
Were just a gamble based on his own speculations! He bet that his guess was correct, in order to draw out more information.
"Do you know the location of the Chu River Immortal Realm?" Li Yan's voice revealed a hint of astonishment.
With just this sentence.
Wu Yuan roughly understood that he guessed correctly.
The Chu River Token should be the key or medium for entering and leaving the Chu River Immortal Realm.
"So, is Seven Stars Tower the only one who knows this in the world?" Wu Yuan sneered, "Remember, I am from Jiangzhou."
Chuzhou and Jiangzhou used to be the old territory of the Chu River Empire!
"Hmm." Li Yan nodded slightly, giving Wu Yuan a deep look.
He could actually know the location of the Chu River Immortal Realm?
This was once the top-secret of the Chu River royal family!
Li Yan couldn't help but speculate in his heart about which major force Wu Yuan belonged to—the remnants of the Chu River Empire's royal family or the Hengyun Sect?
Thinking again about Wu Yuan's grudge with Great Jin.
It could also be one of the several top-notch sects that were possibly destroyed.
"Qianshan, since you know, I'll be straightforward." Li Yan whispered, "With one Chu River Token, a Grandmaster and two ordinary warriors are allowed to enter. So, I want you to bring two top experts from Seven Stars Tower with me."
"Bring people?" Wu Yuan said indifferently, "What's in it for me?"
"One person, fifty drops of Ancient Immortal Dew or other treasures of equivalent value," Li Yan said directly. "After entering, I hope you can protect as much as possible without endangering your own life."
"Of course, if you encounter unforeseeable dangers, you should prioritize your own safety," Li Yan added.
Wu Yuan's expression remained unchanged.
Fifty drops of Ancient Immortal Dew? For two people, that was a hundred drops, equivalent to a value of over ten million two silver.
This was just the entrance fee.
From Li Yan's words, it seemed that there might be great dangers in the Chu River Immortal Realm that could threaten the lives of Grandmasters.
How big of a benefit would make someone take such risks?
Certainly, the Chu River Immortal Realm must contain many treasures.
"Li Yan, do you think I'm beneath you, or do you think I don't understand the value of the slots in the Chu River Immortal Realm?" Wu Yuan said coldly.
Wu Yuan really didn't understand.
"Dark Blade, you can speak up," Li Yan said without changing his expression.
"Two hundred drops of Ancient Immortal Dew," Wu Yuan said casually.
"Good." Li Yan nodded.
"Plus a second-grade divine-level armor." Wu Yuan continued nonchalantly.
Seemingly continuous, but actually, Wu Yuan added the price temporarily after seeing Li Yan's easy agreement.
Sure enough.
Li Yan frowned slightly, "Dark Blade, you're asking for too much. A second-grade divine-level weapon is much more difficult to forge than a third-grade divine weapon. A single second-grade divine-level weapon can exchange for a hundred pounds of source stones."
"Just two slots for top experts, not Grandmaster slots," Li Yan shook his head.
"A hundred pounds of source stones?" Wu Yuan remained composed.
He certainly knew he was demanding a lot. Two hundred drops of Ancient Immortal Dew were worth over twenty million two silver.
As for the second-grade divine weapon?
The three-grade divine weapons used by top experts were usually worth over a hundred thousand two silver, and the highest could be close to a million two silver.
And the second-grade divine weapon was typically used by Grandmasters.
One piece was worth ten million two silver!
Moreover, it wasn't something you could buy just because you had money. There were only a few forces in the world capable of forging second-grade divine weapons.
Many Grandmasters without a background, unwilling to engage in battles, might not even have a second-grade divine weapon.
"Li Yan, if you're unwilling, forget it."
Wu Yuan said indifferently, "I can certainly find top experts to accompany me. By then, my gains might be even greater."
Provocation.
However, Li Yan indeed couldn't figure out Wu Yuan's background.
After a moment.
"Alright, I agree," Li Yan nodded slowly. "On August 22nd next year, we will gather at the Seven Stars Tower in Licheng County, Chuzhou, and then proceed together to the Chu River Secret Realm."
"At that time, I will hand over the divine weapon and the Ancient Immortal Dew to you."
"The divine weapon can take its time, but the Ancient Immortal Dew must be given to me within five days," Wu Yuan smiled. "Otherwise, there's no deal!"
"Qianshan, you're really pushing it," Li Yan was somewhat annoyed. "If you take the Ancient Immortal Dew and don't come to join us but bring experts into the Chu River Secret Realm on your own, where can I find you?"
Reputation and oaths.
Worthless in the eyes of experts.
"Fine," Wu Yuan said lightly. "I won't make it difficult for you, but you must give me fifty drops of Ancient Immortal Dew as a deposit. Will your Seven Stars Tower care about such treasures?"
Li Yan hesitated for a moment, then nodded, "Alright."
Swish!
He directly turned his palm and tossed another jade bottle to Wu Yuan.
It was almost identical to the one before.
Wu Yuan weighed it and, satisfied, put it away. "There's one more thing."
"Dark Blade!" Li Yan's voice suddenly raised several decibels, and he stared at Wu Yuan. "Don't push your luck!"
As if he might erupt in anger the next second.
"Rest assured, it's a minor matter."
"Give me a copy of the information you have on the Chu River Token and the Chu River Secret Realm," Wu Yuan said calmly. "Don't look at me like that. I just want to cross-verify your information with what I know."
"Exchange of information," Li Yan said solemnly.
"Li Yan, you have no choice," Wu Yuan grinned. "If you don't agree, the fifty drops of Ancient Immortal Dew I just received won't be refunded."
Li Yan narrowed his eyes.
He already understood that the Wu Yuan in front of him probably didn't have detailed information about the Chu River Secret Realm.
This was a calculated move.
"Rest assured," Wu Yuan smiled. "You won't be at a loss."
Silence for a moment.
"Alright, Dark Blade, I trust you," Li Yan stared at Wu Yuan fiercely. "I hope you won't play tricks on me, or you'll regret it."
Saying that.
Li Yan waved his hand, and another scroll of documents flew towards Wu Yuan like lightning.
Wu Yuan reached out and caught it.
In the next instant.
"Dark Blade, remember, on August 22nd next year, at Licheng County, Chuzhou!" Leaving behind these last words, Li Yan swiftly floated away, disappearing from Wu Yuan's sight within a few hundred meters.
"Left really fast, as if I was going to eat him," Wu Yuan chuckled. "Not bad, this trip yielded a hundred drops of Ancient Immortal Dew."
"Back to Yunsan City."
Wu Yuan quickly departed.
After several hours, not far from here, in a narrow street:
"Still no news for me?" The owner of the horse inn still wore a worried expression. "Has the communication between Dark Blade and the masters in the building ended? How much longer do we have to wait?"
From start to finish, neither Wu Yuan nor Li Yan paid any attention to him.
...
As dawn approached, the entire Yunshan City became more lively, especially in the east, awakening with bustling activities. In a five-story building, shaded from view, Wu Yuan stood there.
In his line of sight, a lively girl and an elegant lady appeared—it was his mother, Wan Qin, and his younger sister, Wu Yijun.
Wu Yijun had already had breakfast. Wan Qin escorted her to the door of the mansion, and then, accompanied by two guards, left the Wu residence.
"Family." Wu Yuan smiled slightly, feeling a warmth in his heart.
He had returned to Yunshan City specifically to see his family.
However, he did not show himself.
After all, according to the current public information, Wu Yuan should be on the mountain practicing with Rain Master. How could he suddenly come down?
"News of my adventures in the martial world is only known to Rain Master, Elder Huan, and Zhao Baifan." Wu Yuan thought to himself. "They definitely won't reveal it, so it's best not to show myself."
Although even if he did, not many people would connect Wu Yuan with 'Dark Blade.' At most, they would think it's a coincidence.
"However, this is only one time; there will be more in the future."
"Once is a coincidence, but every time? Suspicion is inevitable. Be cautious." Wu Yuan's figure disappeared silently into the shadows.
...
From the foot of Yunshan, taking an unconventional route, he climbed straight up the mountain, entering the Cloud Martial Hall.
"Wu Senior Brother!"
"Senior Brother, hello."
"It's been a long time since we saw Wu Senior Brother."
"I heard that Wu Senior Brother has been in seclusion with Rain Master. It feels different when people talk about it." Along the way, disciples of the martial hall were discussing secretly.
Although he hadn't shown up for nearly two months, it didn't affect Wu Yuan's reputation in the Cloud Martial Hall.
"Where is Senior Zhao?" Wu Yuan casually asked a few disciples.
"He's in the ninth martial hall."
Soon, in a martial hall on the second floor, Wu Yuan found Zhao Baifan.
"Senior Zhao, I'm back." Wu Yuan found Zhao Baifan, who was meditating.
"Wu Yuan?" Zhao Baifan, who was in quiet meditation, turned around, his eyes brightening as if relieved. "You've finally come back. I haven't heard from you for the two months you've been traveling. I've been worried about you."
"If even Senior Zhao heard news of my adventures, I'm afraid I wouldn't have returned alive." Wu Yuan smiled.
"Don't be so modest!" Zhao Baifan scolded, then asked with a smile, "How was the experience?"
Facing Wu Yuan,
Facing Wu Yuan, Zhao Baifan couldn't maintain the demeanor of a teacher.
"Jianghu is harsh and exciting," Wu Yuan smiled, "but it's ultimately incomparable to the tranquility of Yunshan."
"Hmm, with such insights, it seems like you've gained a lot during your descent this time," Zhao Baifan sighed. "In my early years, I also held influence in a region. Later, I grew tired of the deceitful struggles, so I applied to return to the mountain and became a teacher in the Cloud Martial Hall."
"It's much quieter here," Zhao Baifan said.
"Senior Zhao, you have the potential to become a top-notch expert in the future," Wu Yuan smiled.
This was not flattery but a sincere admiration. To become a top-notch or master-level expert without significant natural treasures, one needed highly advanced martial skills to unlock their body's potential deeply.
Being a teacher was also a form of self-learning. Given Zhao Baifan's age, coupled with his dedication to cultivation, there was great hope for him to become a top-notch expert in the future.
...
After meeting Zhao Baifan, which was essentially notifying the sect's high-ranking members of his return, Wu Yuan went straight back to the long-unseen detached courtyard. He gave some instructions to a few attendants and then went to the second floor to check the six gadgets he had set up before leaving.
"No traces at all," Wu Yuan nodded slightly. "It seems that no one has been to the second floor during my absence."
He walked into the storage room and, from a hidden compartment, took out the Chujiang Token, which was intact. He stored it in his spatial treasure.
At this point, Wu Yuan could finally relax.
"What secrets does the Chujiang Token hold?" Wu Yuan thought to himself. He flipped his palm, revealing a stack of scrolls. "I hope the information from the Seven Star Tower won't disappoint me."
He sat down cross-legged.
As he read:
"The Chujiang Empire, founded by the top-tier expert 'Chu Yue' in the Eastern Martial Era of the year 2558, gradually expanded from Chu Prefecture..."
"Hmm?" Wu Yuan's eyes lit up as he read the text on the scrolls. "The Chujiang Empire, the Chu royal family, has produced master-level experts generation after generation. After a major upheaval, people only learned that the Chujiang Imperial family controlled a special 'Immortal Family Remnant,' commonly referred to as the Chujiang Secret Realm or Chujiang Immortal Realm..."
"Legend has it that the Chujiang Secret Realm contains great mysteries, numerous celestial treasures, and the legacy of immortals. The rise of the Chujiang Imperial family was attributed to this immortal legacy. The Chujiang Secret Realm, similar to many immortal remnants, is difficult to reach directly and requires the 'Immortal Key' to open, namely, the Chujiang Token."
"Since the fall of Chujiang to the hands of Da Jin, the Chujiang Imperial family scattered, and numerous records were lost. The news about the Chujiang Immortal Realm only spread widely during this time."
"There are a total of eighteen Chujiang Tokens."
"To open the Chujiang Secret Realm, at least six Chujiang Tokens must be gathered, and it can be opened once every hundred years."
"The next possible opening time, according to estimates, should be after August of the year 3227 in the Eastern Martial Era..."
"Top-tier experts cannot enter."
"Each Chujiang Token allows three beings to enter, but at most, one extremely powerful individual is allowed..."
"Based on the current information analysis, Da Jin Empire has at least three tokens, Baijiang Wang possesses at least two, Hengyun Sect has at least one, Qunxing Tower has at least two, Jiusha Mansion has one, and Master Dark Blade has one."
"The whereabouts of the remaining Chujiang Tokens are unknown."
Wu Yuan put down the scrolls.
This dossier isn't particularly detailed regarding the specific location within the Chujiang Immortal Realm, what treasures are inside, or how dangerous it is—nothing is mentioned. However, at least Wu Yuan now has a general impression of the Chujiang Token's purpose and origin.
"I presume the Seven Star Tower itself possesses a Chujiang Token," Wu Yuan thought to himself. "Li Yan is willing to offer a price to allow me to bring two top-notch experts inside, indicating he has some confidence in breaking even."
"In the year of the fall of the Chujiang Empire, the last Chu Emperor fought to the death in the imperial city. Before the final battle, the royal family scattered."
"The Chu Emperor probably distributed many treasures among various branches as the Da Jin Empire besieged them on all sides and pursued relentlessly. Therefore, Da Jin likely obtained more than three Chujiang Tokens in the end."
"Although Bai Jiang Wang Chu Ping is only a distant branch of the royal family, being the only publicly acknowledged master-level expert of the Chu clan, the remnants of the Chujiang Imperial family must have sought refuge with him."
"And even Hengyun Sect has one?" Wu Yuan pondered.
There weren't too many Chujiang Tokens, but there weren't too few either. Seven Star Tower was able to deduce a rough opening time and was willing to share the information with Wu Yuan, indicating that this information wasn't very precious.
"When the time comes, various factions will probably dispatch master-level experts," Wu Yuan thought to himself. "If I join them?"
It would be very dangerous!
Not only because the Chujiang Immortal Realm itself was perilous, but also because other factions, such as the Da Jin Empire, would surely take the opportunity to strike if their dispatched master-level experts recognized Wu Yuan as Dark Blade.
"If I, as a master of Hengyun Sect, were to go, there is a high probability it would be with Senior Rain."
"She alone?" Wu Yuan shook his head slightly.
Wu Yuan had never considered revealing everything to the two seniors at Hengyun Sect. This was far from the time for the most straightforward issue—trust!
Whether it was Bu Yu or Huan Jian, Wu Yuan had never met either of them. There was simply no substantial basis for trust. Why should they unconditionally believe each other?
On the other hand, the sixteen-year-old Wu Yuan had master-level combat power. Why should Bu Yu and Huan Jian believe that he had cultivated to this level in just two years, especially when considering the possibility of an old monster's disguise? This was a natural instinctive doubt for a normal person.
And Wu Yuan couldn't explain it at all.
"Strength!"
"Until next August, there is still a year and a half," Wu Yuan contemplated silently. "I can still significantly improve my strength."
"The reason I'm so worried now is that my current strength is not enough to contend with multiple master-level experts."
"In another year and a half, my physical fitness will also improve significantly."
"By then, I'll decide based on the situation." Wu Yuan made a decision.
His curiosity about the Chujiang Immortal Realm and the desire to enter were not mainly driven by the treasures within; that was a secondary reason. The most crucial aspect was to use the Chujiang Secret Realm to explore the deeper secrets of this world.
...
Back at Yunshan, after meeting Zhao Baifan, Elder Huan met Wu Yuan again in private to confirm that everything was fine.
Wu Yuan resumed his cultivation life in Yunshan.
Daily body tempering and practicing combat skills.
However, ever since reaching the second stage of the Control Realm, Wu Yuan felt minimal progress when trying to sense the environment. This was because he could seamlessly merge with the surroundings with just a thought, making it difficult for any special environment to evoke new sensations.
It was as if...
His combat skills had reached the limit.
Only continuous improvement in physical fitness remained.
So, spring passed, and another peak summer arrived.
On top of Yunshan, it remained cool.
One late night.
"Contemplation, Strengthening Spirit!" Wu Yuan, as usual, visualized the black tower in his Dantian Palace, strengthening his spiritual consciousness.
Over the past two years, he has been visualizing the Black Tower, continuously strengthening his spiritual consciousness, although progress has become slower.
However, he has never slackened.
Due to the continuous strengthening of his spiritual consciousness, Wu Yuan's thinking speed, analytical ability, and memory have far surpassed ordinary people.
His martial skills have progressed rapidly.
"Vitality, spirit! The spirit is the most important," Wu Yuan continued to visualize.
As his spiritual consciousness strengthened, the time he spent visualizing the Black Tower also increased.
Today, as he continued his visualization, he felt increasingly clear-headed.
Unlike in the past, where he would become drowsy and exhausted when reaching the limit.
As the night grew quiet, silently.
"Hmm?" Wu Yuan felt more and more tranquil within, and his perception of the surroundings became clearer.
Closing his eyes, it was as if he had opened them, his mental energy flowing like water over the items in the Martial Hall.
"The sense of the spirit flows like water, and can also gather like the palm," a sudden thought flashed through Wu Yuan's mind.
Instinctively trying.
Immediately.
"Splash~" Wu Yuan's mental energy directed towards a chair in the corner of the room, and it actually floated and swayed.
As if.
There was a hand that grabbed it from mid-air!
"Could it be that my spiritual consciousness has become powerful enough to manipulate objects remotely?" Wu Yuan felt a hint of shock.
Without hesitation, he opened his eyes and looked at the floating chair.
As his mental energy dispersed.
"Snap~" The chair dropped from mid-air.
(End of this chapter)
Chapter 105: Emergence of Divine Consciousness, Insights of a Grandmaster
"What is this... the power of spiritual consciousness, manipulating objects from a distance? Controlling the tangible with the intangible?" Even Wu Yuan, with his resolute willpower, was momentarily stunned.
Because this was simply inconceivable.
Beyond his imagination.
"Let's try again." This time, Wu Yuan didn't close his eyes; he just concentrated his mind. Immediately, he clearly sensed an invisible force dwelling within the 'Upper Dantian Palace.'
With a single thought, he could manipulate it at will.
Much clearer than the previous attempt!
"It's the power of spiritual consciousness! The power of spiritual consciousness!" Wu Yuan was completely certain.
Immediately, this invisible force surged out of the Upper Dantian Palace, spreading in all directions.
Visually, it was essentially an 'image' formed by the reflection of light on the brain's surface!
It had no tangible sense.
And at this moment.
As the power of spiritual consciousness spread, Wu Yuan felt as if a tidal wave of information was pouring into his brain.
The entire Martial Hall's structure, layout!
Everything rapidly formed in his mind, like a three-dimensional projection, with an extreme sense of reality and spatial awareness.
As if he had touched everything with his own hands.
It could be said that even if Wu Yuan closed his eyes and blocked his hearing, he could still perceive the entire room layout, even more clearly than with just his 'eyes.'
The only difference was—the exploration of the power of spiritual consciousness had no color!
"Can the power of spiritual consciousness reach areas invisible to the naked eye?" Wu Yuan felt the uniqueness of this force.
Once it spread, it was all-encompassing within a certain range!
"Capture." Wu Yuan, more familiar with this force, tried to manipulate an object again.
He felt the previously dispersed force converging once again on the chair.
The chair, once again, slowly floated!
"It's very strenuous." Wu Yuan tried to move the chair but could only do so at a very slow pace.
Even an ordinary child could easily avoid it.
Moreover.
In just a moment, Wu Yuan felt waves of mental fatigue. Immediately, as his spirit dispersed, the tidal-like force of spiritual consciousness retracted into the Upper Dantian Palace.
"Splash~" The chair once again fell heavily to the ground.
"Whew!"
Wu Yuan sat cross-legged, a hint of exhaustion flashing in his eyes. "It's really tiring. Just controlling a chair weighing a dozen or so catties, in just one or two minutes, is more exhausting than having a fierce battle with Chen Luo."
It had been a long time since Wu Yuan had felt such exhaustion.
However, it was not to the point of falling asleep.
He fell into contemplation.
"This power originating from the 'Upper Dantian Palace' spiritual consciousness is similar to the legendary 'Divine Sense' mentioned in tales of immortals and demons." Wu Yuan pondered.
Regardless of past or present, who hasn't heard of the legend of the sword immortal?
A single sword strike, killing enemies from a thousand miles away!
Who wouldn't yearn for that?
And according to the legends, those who could control flying swords or other treasures generally had a powerful spiritual consciousness, enabling them to 'control objects'!
Originally, Wu Yuan thought it was just a legend, never expecting it to be true.
"Whether it's Divine Sense or the so-called 'mental power,' 'psychokinesis,' or 'spiritual force,' fundamentally, they are all forces generated after the strengthening of the spirit." Wu Yuan understood the essence.
To achieve this step is extremely difficult.
There's no other way but to 'strengthen the spirit.'
"The Upper Dantian Palace is the residence of the spiritual consciousness. Although the Central Earth world is aware of its existence, how many can actually open it?" Wu Yuan thought to himself, "Perhaps, only the legendary top experts can do it."
Normally, there are two ways to strengthen the spiritual consciousness.
One is through physical nurturing; those with a powerful spiritual consciousness will have different eyes and temperament!
The second is through heavenly materials and earthly treasures, such as the 'Condensing Spirit Pill.'
"Whether in ancient texts or reality, I haven't heard of any grandmaster who can remotely manipulate objects," Wu Yuan thought, "Based on my experience, even for those with extreme physical strength, it's challenging to manipulate objects remotely."
In his previous life, Wu Yuan had reached the limit of human physical abilities for a long time, but his spiritual consciousness was not even one-tenth as powerful as it is now.
Apart from having a stronger body in this life, the crucial reason is Wu Yuan's two years of daily 'contemplation' of the Black Tower, which rapidly strengthened his spiritual consciousness.
"It's the culmination of two years of contemplation, coupled with the continuous nurturing of the body, that allows my spiritual consciousness to become powerful enough to leave the Upper Dantian Palace and affect real substances," Wu Yuan speculated about the reasons.
"Let's call this power 'Divine Consciousness.'"
The first function of Divine Consciousness is perception and exploration.
"In the past, divine senses were only auxiliary and primarily relied on the vitality's vigor to sense, making it relatively vague," Wu Yuan thought, "But now, the exploration with Divine Consciousness can be described as 'clearer than seeing with the eyes.'"
The only drawback is the range.
"Now, it can only explore within a dozen meters, and once Divine Consciousness explores away from the body, it continuously consumes energy," Wu Yuan thought, "The farther the exploration, the more blurred it becomes, and the greater the consumption."
Although the energy consumption for simple exploration is much smaller than manipulating objects, it's still significant and unsustainable for an extended period.
The second function of Divine Consciousness is object manipulation.
"The current ability to manipulate objects is still very weak; I can't even move objects weighing a hundred catties," Wu Yuan tried, "Handling objects weighing just a dozen catties feels challenging."
Once manipulating and moving objects, the faster and farther, the more energy Divine Consciousness consumes.
Beyond thirty meters?
Wu Yuan can't even 'grab' a grain of rice.
While exploration and sensing are effective, object manipulation, as it stands now, seems impractical.
After all,
The threats to Wu Yuan's life are mostly limited to grandmasters who can easily unleash forces of six to seven hundred thousand catties.
What use is this limited object manipulation ability?
"However, this is just the beginning," Wu Yuan thought, "As the spiritual consciousness becomes stronger, I believe both the sensing exploration and object manipulation abilities will further improve."
In the end, they will play a crucial role.
Leaving aside other matters,
Imagine if throwing knives, after being shot out, could slightly change direction during high-speed flight—how terrifying would that be?
The threat would increase several times over!
"Black Tower! It's truly unbelievable," Wu Yuan marveled to himself, "The emerging blood-colored mist continuously evolves my body."
"Contemplating it also allows my spiritual consciousness to continuously strengthen."
How miraculous!
However, even though the spiritual consciousness is much stronger than before, compared to the Black Tower itself, it's still like an ant, unable to make the slightest impact.
Moreover, if Wu Yuan spends too much time contemplating the Black Tower with his spiritual consciousness, it still causes pain and damage.
Wu Yuan's spiritual consciousness and the Black Tower,
It's like the relationship between plants and the sun; plants need sunlight to grow, but if the sunlight is too dazzling, the plants can still wither!
...
In the following days, aside from his regular daily practice, Wu Yuan spent a considerable amount of time continuously pondering the uses of 'Divine Consciousness.'
As days passed,
Gradually, he began to try using 'Divine Consciousness' in the practice of martial arts.
"The so-called 'Double Control of the Environment' essentially involves the spiritual consciousness and the body's skin sensing the surrounding environment, blending the body and the surroundings into one," Wu Yuan contemplated, "And as my spiritual consciousness continues to grow, the so-called environment is also composed of 'objects.'"
"By merging the body into the environment, obstacles from the environment are eliminated."
"So, if my Divine Consciousness continues to strengthen, can I gradually control the surrounding environment? Even make the environmental forces serve me?"
If it could be achieved.
For two individuals with the same physical qualities, one would experience hindrance from substances like air and water during combat, resulting in weakened strength. Another, however, not only remains unaffected but even gains enhancement. The disparity in strength would be astonishing! This is merely the path Wu Yuan contemplates as he reaches a bottleneck in his martial arts skills.
Deep down, he feels that this path is likely the correct one.
Attempt after attempt.
Contemplation after contemplation.
Failure after failure!
As time passes, flowers bloom and wither. In the blink of an eye, from midsummer to late autumn, Wu Yuan's physical qualities become increasingly powerful, and his spiritual consciousness strengthens.
However, his martial arts skills show no significant improvement.
Yet, Wu Yuan still refuses to give up.
...
November, nearing the end of autumn.
In the martial arts practice room on the first floor, Wu Yuan is practicing the "Tiger Leopard Bone Training Technique" alone, repeatedly stimulating muscles and bones deeply.
After a long time,
He finally heaves a sigh of relief.
"It feels really comfortable," Wu Yuan smiles faintly, suddenly throwing a punch. Muscles like tendons explosively burst, creating a terrifying sonic boom in mid-air.
This is Wu Yuan deliberately not incorporating air to weaken the resistance.
While integrating with the air would increase the power, Wu Yuan finds it more satisfying to release pent-up frustration with a punch that creates a sonic boom.
"Single-arm punch strength has finally reached one hundred and ninety thousand catties," Wu Yuan estimates his own punching power.
This is an increase of about thirty thousand catties compared to when he fought with the grandmaster Chen Luo half a year ago!
It's quite remarkable.
However, Wu Yuan is aware that this is due to the continuous integration of the 'blood-colored mist' into his body over the past six months. He clearly senses a slowdown in the rate of improvement in his body.
He understands that this is a sign of the gradual completion of his body's golden development.
Although it will continue until the age of eighteen,
In reality, the timing of golden development varies from person to person, and Wu Yuan, who is approaching eighteen, clearly feels that the rapid development is coming to an end.
"No matter, there is still a little over a year."
"When the golden development age ends, breaking through two hundred thousand catties and reaching the 'first-grade' level shouldn't be difficult."
"When the strength training ends, I will truly begin 'training the organs.'"
"By then, the body's qualities will experience another significant improvement," Wu Yuan is calm in his heart.
His body's qualities are destined to surpass those of an ordinary grandmaster.
Strength training, organ training, acupoint breakthroughs.
All three stages will significantly enhance the body's qualities. Martial artists in the Central Earth world can gradually increase their strength from tens of thousands of catties to two hundred thousand catties after adulthood primarily due to the continuous strengthening in the latter two stages.
Wu Yuan.
The first stage of 'strength training' is not yet fully completed, and his body's qualities are already approaching the first-grade level. The future body's qualities are destined to reach a terrifying level.
"Let's try Divine Consciousness again."
Following his usual routine, Wu Yuan wipes his body, sits cross-legged, closes his eyes, and once again begins the practice and experimentation of 'Divine Consciousness.'
Divine Consciousness gradually released outward.
One meter, three meters, ten meters, twenty meters... in the blink of an eye, Wu Yuan's Divine Consciousness gradually sensed a radius of over a hundred meters, much stronger than the first time.
Then,
He began to attempt deep-level perception within this hundred-meter radius, and the power of Divine Consciousness quickly started to deplete.
Waves of exhaustion surged.
He had experienced this situation many times before.
But he didn't give up.
"Exhale! Inhale!" Wu Yuan sensed the environment, and gradually, he felt as if his Divine Consciousness was dispersing even farther. His inner self became calmer.
Perception became clearer!
His consciousness gradually immersed in the surrounding environment, not at the frequency of 'Double Control of the Environment,' but a fusion of the spiritual consciousness, mind, and environment!
As if the spiritual consciousness and mind completely assimilated with the environment.
Inside the room, it was incredibly peaceful; sensing beyond the courtyard, he could feel the rhythm of the wind; close to the ground, he could sense the heaviness of the earth...
It was a very tranquil and comfortable feeling.
Wu Yuan was completely immersed.
Gradually,
Wu Yuan felt a special force entering his body through his skin and limbs, gradually permeating his entire body, slowly converging towards the Middle Dantian Palace.
"What is this?" Wu Yuan quickly regained consciousness.
"A force from the outside world?"
Wu Yuan clearly sensed that this was a very special force originating from the world outside.
"My spiritual consciousness has merged into the surrounding environment, delving into it, sensing deeper forces, and naturally absorbing them," Wu Yuan made a judgment.
Like a stream of air, flowing through every corner of his body, his body unknowingly became stronger and purer.
"Impurities can still be removed from the body?" Wu Yuan was shocked.
His body was already very powerful, with very few impurities, yet this mysterious force from the outside world could still remove impurities.
How formidable.
"What kind of force is this?" Wu Yuan was full of doubts. He didn't attempt to expel this mysterious force.
Just observed.
Gradually,
Wu Yuan perceived that this mysterious force wasn't wandering randomly inside his body; it followed a mysterious and unpredictable route, penetrating every inch of his flesh and blood, nourishing every part of his body.
This route.
Invisible to the naked eye, only a powerful consciousness could feel it.
"With the Middle Dantian Palace as the core, traversing the entire body, a total of one hundred and eight rotations..." If Wu Yuan still didn't understand, it would be in vain for him to have cultivated in his past life.
This route.
Should be the so-called 'Meridians,' reaching every subtle part of the body.
"Originally, the Federation's speculations were actually true."
"Opening the Lower Dantian Palace, ingesting various foods, using 'essence and blood' as nourishment, strengthening the body, can reach the human body's limit."
"Opening the Middle Dantian Palace allows the opening of the body's acupoints... initiating the ultimate evolution of life!" Wu Yuan felt like a completely new door.
Slowly being pushed open by himself.
The realm that eluded him in his previous life.
On this night, unconsciously, he touched upon it himself.
After a long time,
Wu Yuan's consciousness became more exhausted, and he fell into a deep sleep.
Meanwhile, that mysterious force from the outside world, after repeatedly traversing the meridians, quickly dissipated, leaving no trace.
...
Early morning.
Inside the martial arts hall, Wu Yuan woke up from his dream and stood up.
Feeling refreshed.
"My perception?" Wu Yuan quickly noticed that his body seemed to have become lighter, and both strength and speed had improved. His vision and hearing had also progressed!
He instantly recalled the events of last night.
"The mind completely assimilated into the surrounding environment." Wu Yuan closed his eyes, gradually calming his inner self.
Gradually,
He once again sensed that mysterious force and consciously guided it.
Immediately, this mysterious force once again surged into his body.
"It's a form of energy!"
"It can strengthen the body and even cleanse various impurities."
"Very weak, the enhancement is very slow, but incredibly pure. If you have to compare, only the 'Ancient Essence Elixir' can barely match it." Wu Yuan quickly judged.
Shock appeared on his face.
The Ancient Essence Elixir is a precious natural treasure, worth over ten thousand taels of silver per drop.
But this mysterious force?
At least, in Wu Yuan's perception, within the boundless world, it seemed to contain endless possibilities, waiting for him to 'seize.'
"The power contained in the heavens and the earth?" Wu Yuan took a deep breath.
He finally realized: contemplating the Black Tower, continuously strengthening his Divine Consciousness, what kind of surprises did it bring to him?
In the future,
Why bother spending so much effort on obtaining precious materials? Simply concentrating the mind to absorb the 'power of heaven and earth' could continuously strengthen the body.
"Could it be..."
"Do Transcendent Masters utilize this kind of power? The vast power of the universe?" Wu Yuan speculated.
Earthly-ranked Grandmasters have already reached the limit of the human body!
To break through again, to surpass the limits of life and embark on an extraordinary evolutionary path, probably cannot be confined to the human body alone.
"The ones who can give me answers."
"Besides the two Supreme Elders, there are only the sixteen Masters' experiences in the sect." Wu Yuan had too many doubts and curiosities.
If he hadn't punctured this paper window.
He could still endure.
But now?
With thoughts racing, generating countless doubts, he longed to know the truth. The pursuit of knowledge is the instinct of every intelligent being.
"Let's go." Wu Yuan left his room.
...
Library.
"Wu Yuan, are you sure you want to exchange for these two Masters' experiences?" The two stewards guarding the place repeatedly confirmed with Wu Yuan.
"Yes!"
Wu Yuan nodded, "No need to persuade me. I am well aware that these two Master's experiences cost sixty thousand contribution points, and I want to exchange."
The two stewards exchanged a glance, showing their helplessness.
In their view, these Master's experiences might be good, but generally, only top-notch experts would exchange for them.
Wu Yuan, a disciple? Even if he's a genius, he's barely in his teens. Can he comprehend the Master's experiences?
It's simply a waste of contribution points!
However, Wu Yuan insisted. What could the two stewards say? In terms of the sect's status, Wu Yuan was much higher than them.
"Alright!"
The elder steward said, "Wu Yuan, after the exchange, you can only read them here in the reading room, and you cannot take them out."
"The contents of the books must not be disclosed, do you understand?"
"I understand," Wu Yuan nodded.
Seeing Wu Yuan holding the two books and entering a reading room without looking back, he closed the door.
"Report this matter to the elders."
...
Inside the reading room.
A space of ten square meters, relatively closed, with high sound insulation, only for one person to read, and there was a bed for resting.
"Master's Experiences of Yunshan." Wu Yuan sat down, opened the first book.
"Master Yunshan, the founder of the sect, although his strength is not as powerful as Master Fang Xia, he was still one of the top twenty Master experts in the world at that time," Wu Yuan thought to himself.
Wu Yuan already had a rough understanding of the sixteen Masters' life experiences in the sect.
He finally selected two books.
"Without such strength, how could he establish a sect during the peak of the Chujiang Empire?" Wu Yuan thought, "His insights into cultivation should be extraordinary."
As Wu Yuan immersed himself in reading,
Books!
Containing the wisdom of the predecessors.
Reading books is, in fact, a dialogue across time and space with the ancients.
...
Three days later, in the Cloud Hall.
"You mean Wu Yuan has started exchanging 'Master's Experiences'?" The lady-like 'Rain Master' sat on the main seat, looking down.
Her voice was extremely gentle.
"Yes."
Elder Huan stood respectfully, expressing his concern, "Not only that, but after he took two Master's experiences and entered the reading room, he hasn't come out for three whole days."
"Could he have fallen into delusion?" Elder Huan worried.
"Which two Masters' experiences did he exchange for?" Rain Supreme asked in a calm tone, showing no sign of worry.
"Master Yunshan's Experiences and Master Fang Xia's Experiences," Elder Huan replied.
"The young lad picked the two most formidable Masters as soon as he decided to read. Impressive," Rain Supreme showed a faint smile.
Elder Huan couldn't help but be stunned.
"Supreme, aren't you worried?" Elder Huan couldn't help asking.
"Do you remember what Elder Mo said when he returned home?" Rain Supreme said calmly, "At the beginning of the year, Wu Yuan had already touched the 'Realm of Rigidity and Flexibility.'"
Elder Huan nodded involuntarily.
"With his talent, even after almost a year, there should be significant progress, even if it's not complete," Rain Supreme said softly.
"What does that have to do with him now?" Elder Huan was puzzled.
"Genius is lonely!" Rain Supreme said, "The more you understand, the more you control, the more countless doubts arise in your mind."
"In the Martial Academy, there's no one to guide him."
"And he's not inclined to ask me."
"So, only the Master's experiences can tell him the answers," Rain Supreme smiled, "I think he's currently immersed in the books and can't pull himself away."
"It's time to meet him."
"Wait until Wu Yuan comes out."
"Bring him to me." Rain Supreme whispered, "Let me see what makes this first genius since the sect's establishment so outstanding."
"Yes," Elder Huan's eyes lit up.
He understood it now.
Rain Supreme was finally going to personally guide Wu Yuan.
...
Days passed.
Inside the reading room.
Wu Yuan slowly read through the books. He read slowly, not because the two Master's experiences had a lot of words. In fact, both books were less than a million words.
However, they contained many martial arts principles, especially the "Master Fang Xia's Experiences," the last fifth of the content narrated his insights after becoming a 'Grandmaster.'
It broadened Wu Yuan's horizons.
"So, the path from Master to Heaven List is like this." Wu Yuan's eyes became brighter, constantly contemplating and deducing.
He worked hard to digest and understand these experiences.
On the eighth day.
Wu Yuan, holding the two books of Master's Experiences, finally came out of the reading room.
But before he could speak, the two stewards detained him, asking him to be patient.
Soon, a plump elder in a purple robe hurried over.
"Elder Huan," Wu Yuan smiled.
"You kid scared me. Getting so engrossed in reading, does it have to be eight days and nights?" Elder Huan scolded, "Don't you eat or sleep for eight days straight?"
Wu Yuan smiled.
To achieve true mastery, one must forget about food and sleep. Without delving deep and immersing oneself, how could there be great achievements? With his physical qualities, fasting for ten days was no problem.
Moreover,
In these eight days, Wu Yuan absorbed the mysterious power from the outside world every day without any hunger or fatigue.
"I see you're in good shape."
"Okay, put the books down for now," Elder Huan said solemnly, "Follow me, go to the Cloud Hall, Rain Supreme wants to see you."
"Rain Supreme?" Wu Yuan was stunned.
The most powerful Master in the sect, ranking among the top in the entire world.
Suddenly wants to meet him?
What's going on?
—
(End of this chapter)
Chapter 106: Cultivators, Longevity in Difficulty to Die
"Huan Elder, what's the matter with Senior Rain Above? Why did he suddenly summon me?" Wu Yuan couldn't help but inquire.
"It should be related to exchanging two Master's insights with you," Elder Huan smiled.
Wu Yuan was puzzled.
"Don't worry, if Senior Rain Above wants to see you, it's definitely not a bad thing. Generally speaking, unless you've reached the top-notch level, or perhaps if you're a civil or military officer being promoted to Prefect or General, Senior Above wouldn't easily meet someone alone," Elder Huan chuckled. "Otherwise, Senior Above rarely meets anyone."
Wu Yuan nodded.
Being a top-notch expert, like an elder or sect leader, belonging to the higher echelons of the sect, being summoned by Senior Above was normal.
As for Prefects or Generals? They were the political and military leaders of a region, with significant responsibilities, and naturally, they would be summoned by Senior Above.
Apart from that.
There were hundreds of top-notch experts within the sect, and not many could regularly meet Senior Above.
"The last disciple Senior Above personally summoned was your Senior Brother, Xu Hui," Elder Huan smiled. "Alright, youngster, don't ask too much. It won't take much time, go and freshen up, change into clean clothes."
"Okay," Wu Yuan nodded.
Eight days without eating or drinking, immersed in reading, comprehension, and cultivation, he didn't realize it until Elder Huan mentioned it.
After a quick bath and change of clothes.
Wu Yuan followed Elder Huan and quickly arrived at the foot of Yun Ding, just over ten miles away from Yun Wu Hall.
Here, there were only two guards checking identities.
They went straight to the main hall.
"Elder, I think the guard force of Yun Wu Hall seems weak," Wu Yuan whispered, "It's not even comparable to your main hall."
"Weak?"
Elder Huan glanced at Wu Yuan: "Yun Hall is the most heavily defended part of the entire sect. There are many hidden traps, and Senior Above alone can match countless guards."
Wu Yuan smiled.
Indeed, a Master-level expert could withstand a thousand troops.
If encountering an enemy that even Senior Rain Above couldn't detect or defeat, it seemed that having more guards wouldn't be of much use.
At the entrance of the main hall.
"Senior Above, Wu Yuan is here," Elder Huan respectfully shouted into the hall.
Wu Yuan followed behind.
Facing a powerful Master, Wu Yuan didn't use his 'Divine Sense' recklessly to probe and sense.
He truly didn't know the details of Senior Rain Above.
Low-key and disguised were the top priorities.
"Come in," a gentle voice came from the end of the hall.
The voice wasn't loud, but it clearly reached the ears of both.
They entered the hall, and the inside was dimly lit.
A spacious hall.
"Greetings, Senior Above." Wu Yuan, following Elder Huan, respectfully bowed.
"No need for much courtesy, have a seat," the gentle voice said.
Both of them took their seats.
Until this moment, Wu Yuan finally got to see the other person—a face of about fifty or sixty women, kind-looking, like a friendly neighbor.
Her attire was quite luxurious but slightly bulky, not suitable for combat.
At first glance, sitting on the main seat of the hall, she seemed more like an elderly noblewoman than the legendary Sword Grandmaster who had dominated Jiangzhou for thirty years.
Bu Yu, also known as the 'Cloud Mountain Sword God.'
Of course.
With Wu Yuan's powerful 'Divine Soul,' even though he restrained his own aura, he could still sense the vigorous vitality of the old woman in front of him.
Stronger than the Master Chen Luo he encountered initially.
In Wu Yuan's perception, the old woman in front posed a fatal threat to him.
Once they clashed, life and death would be unpredictable.
Undoubtedly, she was the most formidable expert Wu Yuan had ever seen, completely unlike an elderly Master nearing a hundred years old.
This was Bu Yu!
The absolute leader of the Hengyun Sect.
As Wu Yuan's gaze swept past the old woman, he instinctively saw the sword hanging on the high wall.
The blade hidden in the scabbard, but the terrifying sharpness contained in the sword's body couldn't be concealed!
Compared to the Green Flame Staff, it was simply worlds apart.
"Yuelan Sword," Wu Yuan understood in his heart, "A top-grade divine weapon, also the number one divine weapon in the entire Jiangzhou."
Under this divine sword, more than one Master-level expert had fallen.
Having read insights from two Masters, Wu Yuan's understanding of divine weapons surpassed that of the past. He was well aware that between third-grade divine weapons and ordinary weapons, there was no fundamental difference, only sharper and better materials.
Second-grade divine weapons were slightly special, containing a trace of 'spirit.'
Just a trace.
As for first-grade divine weapons, not only were they sharp and able to withstand immense power, but they also possessed extraordinary spirituality surpassing second-grade divine weapons. Their value couldn't be measured by common materials.
Spirit was the core of a first-grade divine weapon.
Once a Master obtained a first-grade divine weapon, their strength would soar.
As for the Yuelan Sword? Wu Yuan knew it was the inherited treasure of the Hengyun Sect, forged by 'Master Fang Xia' over two hundred years ago.
Just as Wu Yuan was pondering.
"Wu Yuan, your divine power seems exceptionally strong," Senior Rain Above, sitting on the main seat, finally spoke, his voice still gentle.
This sentence startled Wu Yuan.
What a formidable Master Bu Yu was.
It's worth noting that Wu Yuan had completely restrained himself, yet Senior Rain Above still noticed.
"I didn't see fear in your eyes; instead, I sensed curiosity," Senior Rain Above looked down at Wu Yuan, with a hint of a smile and surprise, "You are the first young person who dared to look directly at me at less than seventeen years old, Wu Yuan."
"Thank you for the praise, Senior Above," Wu Yuan's serious face revealed a touch of 'joy,'
Like a youth receiving praise from an elder.
Senior Rain Above couldn't help but smile, reducing his doubts by more than half.
This was the normal mentality of a youth.
Even if they were composed, receiving praise from an elder would still bring joy.
"Wu Yuan, since you joined the sect, breaking Master Fang Xia's cultivation record for the first time, I knew about you very quickly."
"Your talent is extraordinary," Senior Rain Above smiled, "Of course, because I was not in the sect initially, your cultivation plan was set by Sword Senior."
"Sword Senior?" Wu Yuan thought to himself.
The two Grandmasters of the Hengyun Sect, Bu Yu excelled in swordsmanship and was called 'Rain Above.'
On the other hand, Huan Jian never used a sword, specializing in palm techniques, but was still called 'Sword Senior.'
"Your progress is fast. Sword Senior and I have not summoned you all this time. Do you harbor any resentment?" Senior Rain Above smiled.
"Disciple, how could there be grievances?" Wu Yuan smiled. "The sect's training program is excellent, with numerous cultivation treasures, and esteemed elders like Elder Mo personally guiding us. They even take care to arrange for visits with our family members."
"I understand that and am truly grateful to the sect," Wu Yuan said solemnly, looking sincere.
What a joke! Don't mention that Wu Yuan doesn't have any grievances in his heart. Even if he does, he can't say it now. When a leader openly asks if there are grievances, you can't take it seriously. If you foolishly lay out your discontent, that would be stupidity.
"That's good," Senior Rain Above nodded, saying softly, "Wu Yuan, do you know why I called you alone this time?"
"Master's insights?" Wu Yuan showed a 'speculative' expression.
"Yes," Senior Rain Above nodded. "Master's insights are generally studied by top-notch experts and a few outstanding elite cultivators in the sect. After all, if the realm of your skills is not high enough, even if you read it, it won't be very valuable, far less than thirty thousand contribution points."
Wu Yuan nodded slightly. In the practice of martial arts, it should proceed gradually. Understanding profound martial arts mysteries in advance is not necessarily a good thing. It's like teaching advanced mathematics to children. If it's too advanced, it might seem like a foreign language, completely losing interest.
"I understand."
"These, the two attendants from the Repository have also mentioned." Wu Yuan nodded, saying, "Regarding physical qualities, the disciple is indeed not as good as the top-notch experts. Currently, the explosive strength with a single arm is only forty-two thousand kilograms, and it is estimated that there is hope for improvement by next year."
"But in terms of combat skills, the disciple believes he should not be weaker than the elders."
"However, suffering from a bottleneck, I borrowed the Master's insights to resolve the doubts in my heart," Wu Yuan said 'honestly.'
This was the excuse he had prepared early in the morning.
The path of genius! It is necessary to gradually reveal one's talent.
"Single-arm strength of forty-two thousand kilograms?" Elder Huan was already astonished.
Wu Yuan's combat skills were impressive, he had seen that long ago. However, in his opinion, physical qualities might not improve too quickly.
"Your combat skills are excellent, and your physical qualities are indeed improving quickly." Senior Rain Above said softly, "However, in martial arts, actions speak louder than words. Elder Huan, I'll trouble you to spar with Wu Yuan."
"Again, me?" Elder Huan was helpless.
"Sword Senior entrusted me to supervise you and make you move a bit more," Senior Rain Above smiled. "Don't get any fatter."
Elder Huan was speechless.
A seventy-year-old man, being urged to lose weight by his father every day... whether to call it a nuisance or a happy annoyance, he didn't know.
"Elder, I lost that time at the beginning of the year," Wu Yuan exclaimed excitedly, his eyes shining. "This time, I will definitely work hard."
"Alright."
Elder Huan also stood up, smiling. "Let me see how much progress you've made in the past six months, wandering the world and reading Master's insights."
Soon.
Under the supervision of Senior Rain Above, Wu Yuan and Elder Huan faced each other from a distance, still fighting barehanded.
"You two are only allowed to exert thirty thousand kilograms of force," Senior Rain Above said softly. "I will supervise, and I will let you stop at the right time."
"Yes."
"Yes," both of them responded.
Immediately, the two burst into a fierce collision, although the force was limited to thirty thousand pounds, the triple force reached ninety thousand pounds.
It was quite astonishing.
However, their battle lasted only for a mere two breaths.
"Stop," Senior Rain Above suddenly spoke, and Wu Yuan and Elder Huan, who were in the midst of intense combat, instantly retreated several meters.
Separated.
With their physical qualities, neither of them suffered any injuries.
"Elder Huan, you've lost," Senior Rain Above said softly.
Elder Huan looked defeated, gazing at Wu Yuan and sighed, "Indeed, I lost. You kid, don't give this old man any face, taking the initiative from start to finish, not letting me win even half a move."
Wu Yuan chuckled.
He could tell that Elder Huan wasn't genuinely angry.
They both sat down again.
"Wu Yuan."
Elder Huan couldn't help but ask, "Although I'm not perfect in 'combining softness and hardness,' logically, even if I lose, I shouldn't be so passive. Did you...sense heavenly secrets?"
In this battle, he was indeed defeated miserably.
"Heavenly secrets?"
Wu Yuan looked a bit hesitant, "Perhaps, I, in essence, gradually perceive changes in the surrounding environment from the inside out. I react swiftly, preemptively, and don't understand if this qualifies as sensing heavenly secrets."
"It does."
Senior Rain Above slowly spoke, "Elder Huan, Wu Yuan has indeed touched the edge of the realm of unity between man and nature, which should be considered at the level of 'intuition.'"
"Really reached it?" Elder Huan showed a shocked expression, looking at Wu Yuan as if seeing a monster.
"Not yet seventeen years old, touching the unity of man and nature?" Elder Huan found it somewhat unbelievable.
He knew very well what this meant.
Wu Yuan also looked at Senior Rain Above with a 'surprised' expression.
"Wu Yuan, you've read the insights of two Masters, but some things may not be fully explained in those insights," Senior Rain Above said softly. "Today, I called you here to confirm your combat skills."
"Now, it's time to tell you."
Senior Rain Above continued, "Listen to the teachings, Wu Yuan."
Elder Huan also shut his mouth at the right time, listening attentively.
He knew that getting a lecture from Senior Rain Above was extremely difficult.
"Basics, extreme force, soft and hard, you've already mastered them all. I won't go into details," Senior Rain Above said. "Understand that with a perfect balance of soft and hard, you can control your whole body, perceive the dantian palace within, and have the potential to reach the human body's limits."
Wu Yuan nodded involuntarily.
Indeed!
With a perfect balance of soft and hard, one has the potential to reach the human body's limits and become a top-tier Master.
"In fact, achieving a simple balance of soft and hard is not easy to become a Master," Senior Rain Above said softly. "Many top experts, such as those in the top ten of the human rankings, almost all have a perfect balance of soft and hard, like Elder Huan."
"Why?" Wu Yuan asked knowingly.
"Qi and blood, age," Senior Rain Above uttered four words. "If one can achieve a perfect balance of soft and hard before the age of thirty, becoming a Master is a breeze, like you."
"Me?" Wu Yuan nodded slightly.
"In your youth, your combat skills were already outstanding."
"By further exploring the body's potential at a deeper level, combining secret techniques, your physical qualities will naturally skyrocket," Senior Rain Above continued. "Reaching the human body's limits will be effortless. For you, even if you practice step by step, around the age of thirty, your body should be able to reach the pinnacle!"
"At thirty, a Grandmaster?" Wu Yuan's face was filled with anticipation.
Huan Elder beside him was dumbfounded.
A Grandmaster at thirty?
"Experts who achieve the integration of firmness and softness before sixty can still have hope of becoming a Grandmaster even if their vital energy weakens." Rain Grandmaster explained, "Once they exceed sixty, the hope becomes very faint."
Wu Yuan nodded.
First-class and top-notch experts are still at their peak at forty, and their physical fitness doesn't show significant decline compared to their twenties and thirties. Once they surpass sixty, though their combat strength may seem at its peak, their 'vitality' will rapidly decline.
Vitality, the most obvious sign, is endurance and recovery.
"But, Grandmaster, in history, many experts entered the Grandmaster realm in their seventies or eighties." Huan Elder couldn't help but ask.
Wu Yuan was also curious.
"If the skill is only firmness and softness, it is indeed difficult to break through." Rain Grandmaster said, "But what if the combat skills are more sophisticated?"
"Sensing the unity of heaven and man! The unity of heaven and man refers to the unity of heaven and earth." Rain Grandmaster explained, "Controlling the body, vibrant spirit, sensing the mysteries of the universe from within, consuming a large amount of time and energy to perceive the ineffable 'qi' of heaven and earth!"
"Replacing essence with qi, purifying the body, rejuvenating the body, there is hope to become a Grandmaster." Rain Grandmaster continued, "Qi is the essence that is free in heaven and earth, the most fundamental energy in the universe."
"As for 'qi', it is essentially the magical energy that roams freely in heaven and earth, the most fundamental energy in the universe." Rain Grandmaster said, "People often say that essence, vital energy, and spirit, essence comes from the lower dantian, the essence of the human body, which can be transformed into essence by eating grains and meat!"
"However, impurities are present when common substances are transformed into essence, which is harmful to the human body. Therefore, eating grains and meat is difficult for long life."
"Only when the skill reaches the level of 'unity of heaven and man,' the spirit continuously strengthens, will there be hope to perceive 'qi' and consume it."
"Qi contains no impurities."
"But washing the body, removing impurities from the body, and prolonging life, like the Ancient Immortal Dew, is the pure 'spiritual energy' of heaven and earth liquefied."
"Like many other heavenly treasures and earthly treasures, they are essentially nurtured by 'spiritual energy' from heaven and earth." Rain Grandmaster emphasized.
Wu Yuan listened in astonishment.
The Ancient Immortal Dew was actually the liquid form of spiritual energy from heaven and earth? The mysterious power he sensed during the night was probably this spiritual energy.
No wonder the two forces were almost identical.
Wu Yuan understood that a whole new world had opened up to him, and what was called super-evolution was actually a leap in energy levels.
Those who absorb the spiritual energy of heaven and earth.
In essence, they had already surpassed martial artists who consumed grains and meat.
"Grandmaster, I learned from the Grandmaster insights." Wu Yuan couldn't help but say, "In the realm of unity of heaven and man, divided into the realms of sensing, fusion, and unity, does reaching the sensing level allow one to 'consume qi'?"
Wu Yuan could be certain.
The so-called controlling the realm was the 'unity of heaven and man' for martial artists in the Central Earth.
Controlling the realm first level, sensing the surrounding environment, that is sensing.
Controlling the realm second level, the body blends into the surrounding environment, that is fusion.
As for the unity realm? Wu Yuan hadn't completely understood it yet, only having a vague sense from Master Fang Xia's insights.
"In the sensing realm, there is indeed hope to 'consume qi'."
Rain Supreme said, "The prerequisite is to have an extraordinarily strong divine essence, combined with advanced skills, and learn specialized 'Qi Feeding Techniques' to have a slim hope."
"Skills, divine essence, and techniques, the three are indispensable," Rain Supreme sighed, "even so, it is still extremely difficult. Often, only one out of five or six experts over sixty in the realm of Sense of Intent can enter the Grandmaster level."
Wu Yuan suddenly realized.
"Supreme, is it necessary to practice the Qi Feeding Techniques?" Wu Yuan couldn't help but ask.
"Not absolutely."
Rain Supreme shook his head, "If the realm is advanced, for example, reaching the Unity of Intent in martial skills or possessing an extraordinarily powerful divine essence, it might be possible to 'feed on Qi' directly using one's own strength, albeit after ten or twenty years."
"Ten or twenty years?" Wu Yuan was taken aback.
So long?
"Well," Rain Supreme smiled, "Feels long? Many experts in the realm of Sense of Intent, even with the Qi Feeding Techniques, still need five or six years at least to have a chance at 'feeding on Qi.'"
Wu Yuan fell into silence.
Feeding on Qi, is it really that difficult? Then, what level has he reached without relying on the Qi Feeding Techniques but sensing and consuming the spiritual Qi directly from the surroundings in just a few months? Is it because of the powerful divine essence?
"Supreme, how does one obtain the Qi Feeding Techniques?" Wu Yuan couldn't help but inquire.
Rain Supreme said, "The earliest Qi Feeding Techniques were actually created by some experts on the Heavenly Ranking."
"Heavenly Ranking experts mostly achieve the Unity of Man and Nature and even higher realms!"
"Their divine essence is so powerful that they can manipulate the void." Rain Supreme said.
Wu Yuan was astonished.
"Supreme, can only Heavenly Ranking experts achieve manipulating the void?" Wu Yuan asked.
"Indeed."
Rain Supreme smiled, "To control the void with the concrete, how unimaginable! Almost impossible for Grandmasters."
"Like some legends of sword immortals in the world, they originated from Heavenly Ranking experts. With a single sword, they possess extraordinary power, able to kill enemies hundreds of meters away."
"Manipulating the void is one of the three conditions for reaching the Heavenly Ranking." Rain Supreme's eyes were full of yearning.
"Three conditions?" Wu Yuan was curious.
"You will surely become a Grandmaster in the future, and now telling you won't hurt." Rain Supreme said, "Firstly, it is reaching the limit of the human body, with vitality and blood not deteriorating, the maximum limit being a hundred years, the younger, the better."
Wu Yuan nodded slightly.
"Secondly, it is the realm of skills, at least reaching the 'Unity of Body' realm."
"Thirdly, it is spirit! The spirit must be capable of manipulating the void. Of course, it doesn't have to reach the so-called sword immortal level; generally being able to control a 'ten-pound' heavy object to rise slowly and perceive the dantian clearly is sufficient."
"By doing so, there is hope for the Heavenly Ranking." Rain Supreme solemnly said, "All three conditions are indispensable, and the stronger the body, the more advanced the skills, and the stronger the divine essence, the greater the hope of breakthrough."
Wu Yuan listened, completely stunned.
Three conditions.
Is it enough to reach the 'Unity of Body' realm in skills? He has already achieved that.
Manipulating the void, controlling a 'ten-pound' heavy object is sufficient? He can control several hundred pounds of heavy objects flying around himself.
Perceiving the dantian? He has sensed even the 108 acupuncture points in his body.
The only difference.
Is the body.
But reaching the limit of the human body, is it difficult for Wu Yuan? It's just a matter of time.
"How about it, scared?" Rain Supreme looked at Wu Yuan and sighed lightly, "Becoming a Heavenly Ranking is extremely difficult."
"Like me."
"In terms of skills, I reached the 'Body Integration' realm when I was in my seventies, but my spiritual power has always failed to break through."
"Even if I desperately obtained Concentration Pills, the effects were not evident," Elder Yu sighed, shaking his head. "It's too difficult to absorb from the void."
Wu Yuan fell silent.
On the side, Elder Huan listened with great interest. The Celestial Rankings were too distant for him. In this lifetime, the hope of reaching the level of Grandmaster was already very slim. He had long accepted his fate, but that didn't mean he wasn't interested in Grandmasters and Celestial Rankings.
"Wu Yuan."
"Master." Wu Yuan listened attentively.
"Your talent is extremely outstanding, not just in recent history, but likely unparalleled in the world today!" Elder Yu stared at Wu Yuan. "Before the age of seventeen, your skills touched the 'Sense' realm."
"In the future, reaching the 'Body Integration' realm should not be difficult."
"Opening your Dantian and having a powerful spirit."
"It can be said that as long as you follow the regular practice, you will have great achievements in the future," Elder Yu's eyes were filled with anticipation. "I hope your goal is not limited to the Earthly Ranking Grandmaster but reaches the Celestial Ranking."
"And I, risking my life, will also help you."
"Celestial Ranking?" Wu Yuan was stunned.
He didn't expect Elder Yu's expectations for him to be so high.
"In the past, Grandmaster Fang Xia had the potential for the Celestial Ranking. If it weren't for the Chujiang Empire... forget it, there's no need to mention these secrets," Elder Yu looked at Wu Yuan with great expectations. "If you become a Celestial Ranking, our Zong will prosper for three hundred years. Even if the Great Jin Empire becomes stronger, it won't be able to deal with us."
Elder Huan on the side was dumbfounded.
Before, he only thought Wu Yuan had the potential to become a Grandmaster. According to Elder Yu, Wu Yuan unexpectedly had the potential to become a Celestial Ranking expert?
"Three hundred years?" Wu Yuan was curious. "Can Celestial Ranking experts live for three hundred years?"
He had read the Grandmaster's insights. The information about Celestial Ranking experts was vague and not detailed.
"Not just that," Elder Yu said softly. "You must understand, ordinary Grandmasters generally live to be about a hundred and fifty years old. Why can some Grandmaster experts live to be a hundred and seventy or eighty?"
"Absorbing Qi!"
"For example, Elder Sword. My combat power is stronger than his."
"But in the research of 'Qi,' he is more advanced than me," Elder Yu said somewhat self-deprecatingly. "Normally, he should live longer than me, at least twenty years more."
Wu Yuan and Elder Huan looked at each other.
Especially Elder Huan, he recalled what his father said before. At that time, he thought the other party was bragging, but he didn't expect it to be true.
"Grandmaster experts can only absorb Qi, but they cannot store it because their acupuncture points are not open."
"Celestial Ranking experts."
"They are no longer just absorbing Qi but can 'refine Qi.' They completely open the Dantian, using the acupuncture points in the meridians as nodes to convert the spiritual energy of heaven and earth for their use, storing it within their bodies as a source of power."
"Those who absorb Qi receive blessings of fortune and longevity."
"Those who refine Qi are difficult to die and live long," Elder Yu's eyes were filled with endless longing. "The so-called Celestial Ranking experts are fundamentally a group of 'Qi Refiners.'"
"Of course, their lifespan is extremely long, and three hundred years is just the beginning. The higher the cultivation, the longer the lifespan."
"As far as I know, in the world, there are Qi Refiners who have lived for over five hundred years," Elder Yu sighed softly.
Wu Yuan and Elder Huan listened in shock.
Five hundred years?
In the world of mortals, with changes and revolutions, many dynasties and sects rise and fall within two or three hundred years.
For instance, the Hengyun Sect has a history of just over three hundred years.
The Chujiang Empire collapsed after more than six hundred years.
Yet, transcendent experts of the Heaven Ranking can live for over five hundred years? It's truly "cultivators, hard to die if they refine qi."
"Supreme, when you mentioned assisting me, what did you mean?" Wu Yuan suddenly asked.
"No need to ask too much. When the time comes, you will naturally understand," Rain Supreme calmly said.
"What was mentioned just now was just an overview, to give you a general understanding of the Earth and Heaven Rankings, to inspire you," Rain Supreme said solemnly. "Remember, Wu Yuan, set your sights on the Heaven Ranking!"
"Disciple remembers," Wu Yuan replied seriously.
"Elder Huan, there are some matters I need to discuss privately with Wu Yuan. You may leave for now," Rain Supreme suddenly said.
"Yes," Elder Huan replied in a low voice. He understood that if Rain Supreme didn't want him to listen, it must be something important.
...
Inside the hall, only Wu Yuan and Rain Supreme remained.
"Wu Yuan," Rain Supreme whispered, "with your current strength, you should be close to breaking through the third level of the Heavenly Pavilion."
"Perhaps, I haven't tried it," Wu Yuan nodded.
With the strength he displayed, although his physical fitness was slightly inferior to top-tier experts, his overall strength was comparable. However, the third level of the Heavenly Pavilion was considered a benchmark for disciples of the Cloud Martial Hall. The difficulty set by the predecessors was almost insurmountable for younger disciples.
Therefore, in Wu Yuan's plan, he intended to challenge the third level after turning eighteen.
"It is indeed challenging to break through the third level of the Heavenly Pavilion. Your physical fitness needs to improve gradually, and breaking through your combat skills will also be difficult in a short period," Rain Supreme said softly. "Originally, I wanted to wait a few more years and test you more."
"Unfortunately, I don't have time to delay any longer."
"So, after next year's annual competition, go challenge the second floor of the Heavenly Pavilion," Rain Supreme said. "By then, apply to participate in a trial mission."
"A trial mission?" Wu Yuan was puzzled.
"Just follow my instructions," Rain Supreme said calmly. "I have my reasons for letting you do this."
"Understood," Wu Yuan nodded.
Phew!
Suddenly, Rain Supreme flipped his palm, and a book appeared out of thin air.
"This book is called 'Great Earth Cangming.' It is a 'Qi Feeding Technique' and the only Qi Feeding Technique our Hengyun Sect possesses," Rain Supreme touched the cover of the book and said softly. "Now, it's yours."
Whoosh!
The book flew towards Wu Yuan, and he instinctively reached out to take it.
The book had a unique texture, not made of paper but a special material, extremely durable and obviously crafted at great cost.
"This is the original," Rain Supreme said calmly.
"Original?" Wu Yuan was suddenly surprised.
"The Qi Feeding Techniques have two types. One is created by Heaven Ranking experts, the earliest type. There is also another type, explored by generations of martial arts strongmen from various immortal remnants," Rain Supreme whispered. "This 'Great Earth Cangming' is obtained by Grandmaster Fang Xia from one of those immortal remnants."
"The printed version only has the form, not the essence!"
"While the original contains intangible guidance. Practicing the technique through it will be much easier than just reading the text for cultivation. Of course, it's still challenging," Rain Supreme said. "You cannot take the original down the mountain until you truly master it. Give it back to me then."
"Yes, Supreme." Wu Yuan replied obediently.
"Additionally, I will instruct the library to allow you to freely read the sixteen martial arts insights. It will exempt you from any contribution points," Rain Supreme said. "Thank you, Supreme," Wu Yuan repeated continuously.
This was an unexpected joy.
Just this alone would save him tens of thousands of contribution points.
Of course, Wu Yuan understood that contribution points were just a form of the sect's resources, more as motivation for disciples.
Using contribution points to limit someone with extraordinary talents, like himself, would go against the original intention of fostering disciple cultivation.
"Alright, you may leave." Rain Supreme waved his hand, seeming to recall something, and his mood became somewhat heavy.
"Yes."
Wu Yuan bowed and did not ask any more questions, keeping the book in his embrace and leaving respectfully.
Watching Wu Yuan disappear, Rain Supreme stood up, lost in thought.
Along the corridor of the main hall, he came to a slightly remote hall in the back.
Here, rows of memorial tablets were placed.
Incense on both sides never extinguished.
"Respected ancestors of the sect." Rain Supreme looked at the names on the tablets, silently contemplating. "The sect is in danger, please allow me, Bu Yu, to be a little reckless."
"Wu Yuan is too young. I don't know if he can be relied upon."
"But, I have no other choice." Rain Supreme sighed lightly, took three incense sticks, lit them, and bowed three times.
Inserting them.
...