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"However, the foundation of this body is truly poor; you must find a way to improve your physique—I can't help with that."
"Let's talk about that later. Anyway, which Divine Artifacts are sealed inside your body?"
"The Xuanyuan Sword, the Shennong Cauldron, the Fuxiqin, the Refining Demon Pot, and the Kongtong Seal. Over billions of years, the seals have weakened considerably, and not all Divine Artifacts are sealed to the same extent. Since I have acknowledged you as my master, the Divine Artifacts sealed within me have also acknowledged you. Once you cultivate to a certain level, the seals will naturally come undone." Dandan's voice grew weaker and weaker; it no longer had any strength.
"There's another question—although the ancient Divine Artifacts are from a bygone era, they haven't been around for billions of years. How come they've been sealed for that long?"
"The Creator God has created many worlds, and time flows differently in each. The world you came from has the slowest passage of time. While your history spans only a few thousand to tens of thousands of years, history in other worlds has passed by much longer. The Endless Void is where time flows the fastest, which is why billions of years have elapsed. I have not yet recovered enough energy to help you absorb Phantom Power. However, your cultivation of Phantom Power will help me regain my energy. You should cultivate on your own for now; I need to rest." With that, Dandan stopped spinning.
Looking at Dandan quietly floating, Dugu Qianye withdrew his spiritual power and recalled the legends of Divine Artifacts from Earth.
The Xuanyuan Sword, a golden ancient sword thousands of years old, legend has it that the gods of the heavens bestowed it on Emperor Xuanyuan to defeat Chiyou, a peerless Divine Sword containing infinite power and considered the strongest among the top ten Divine Artifacts for slaying demons and vanquishing evil.
The Shennong Cauldron, from the ancient times, Shennong tasted hundreds of herbs for the welfare of the people and also laid the foundation for future medicinal knowledge. The ancient cauldron used by Shennong to concoct these herbs has accumulated the essence of countless spiritual medicines over millennia. It's said to refine divine medicines that not even the gods of the heavens could easily concoct, and it conceals other mysterious powers.
The Fuxiqin, an instrument made of jade and celestial silk, emits a gentle white glow. Its music can bring peace and tranquility to the heart; it is said to possess the mysterious power to control the minds of all beings.
The Refining Demon Pot, with its inconceivable power, is said to have the ability to create all things and also bears incredible destructive force. It hosts a strange space so vast it is as if it could hold the heavens and earth within it.
The Kongtong Seal, the Divine Artifact guarded by the immortal Dragon Clan of the Kongtong Seas, is engraved with the likenesses of the Five Heavenly Emperors and is entwined with jade dragons. Since ancient times, it's been said that whoever possesses it will rule the world; some also say it grants immortality. Many seekers have set out to sea in search of this seal, but almost all have embarked on a journey of no return.
While these are all legends, one thing is true—each Divine Artifact contains a mysterious energy.
Having digested the information from Dandan, Dugu Qianye began trying to sense the surrounding Phantom Power. At first, it was a bit difficult, not knowing the method, but once familiar, he could smoothly sense it and began guiding the Phantom Power into his body. It flowed through the meridians and eventually into the Dantian, accumulating around Dandan.
Sensing, guiding—Dugu Qianye cultivated tirelessly. By the time he emerged from the meditative state the next morning, a considerable amount of Phantom Power had accumulated in his Dantian, and Dandan had begun to rotate slowly. And he had broken through to become a first-level Phantom Warrior.
Having not slept all night, Dugu Qianye felt exceptionally energetic. He ran around the yard for a while, practiced Tai Chi twice, and performed some basic exercises to improve his body. This body was too weak; he had to exercise and strengthen it.
So, Dugu Qianye spent his days exercising his body and his nights cultivating Phantom Power. His frail body began to slowly improve, and even his complexion became rosier than before.
Once his body was sufficiently trained, Dugu Qianye began to practice the cultivation techniques from his previous life. If he couldn't cultivate Sword Qi, he still had the cultivation techniques from his past life, right? The Formless Divine Skill, a treasure of cultivation in the ancient martial world, primarily focused on refining the body and internal energy, divided into 9 levels, with the attacking power of levels 1–7 roughly equivalent to that of a Swordsman to a Sword Venerable. In his past life, he had cultivated to the fourth level and was already a master in the ancient martial world. Perhaps that was why Dugu Qianlan held resentment because he couldn't master it?!
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The Ethereal Step Technique, a martial art that complements the Formless Divine Skill, increases one's speed through the regulation of walking movements, similarly divided into nine levels. With each level ascended, the practitioner's speed becomes even faster.
That morning, Dugu Qianye was practicing the Ethereal Step Technique in the courtyard. Just as she finished her practice, she saw Mo Feng hurriedly pushing open the door of the courtyard, gasping for breath as he said, "A'Jiu, you better go out and hide. The sixth and seventh misses have finished their confinement punishment and are heading this way."
"Oh? It's over? That was quick," Dugu Qianye wiped the sweat from her forehead and said nonchalantly.
"My ninth miss, you really need to run away. They were confined because of you; they'll surely come looking for trouble," Mo Feng was almost frantic, grabbing her and trying to flee. As someone of lesser talent from a side branch, he was not in a position to confront the main lineage.
"Run?" Dugu Qianye pulled at Mo Feng's hand that was tugging at her, "The Dugu Qianye of the future won't run away without integrity. Besides, some things can't be avoided by running away, they need to be resolved completely."
Before Dugu Qianye could finish, the door of the courtyard was kicked open with a 'bang', struggling for a moment before meeting its end. Two figures appeared at the entrance, one wearing a white dress and the other a colorful one, followed by a group of teenage boys and girls.
Seeing the crowd, Mo Feng's palms began to sweat with urgency. Dugu Qianye gently patted his hand, signaling him not to panic.
"You trash, come out here!" A delicate shout emanated from the girl in colorful clothes; without wondering, this had to be her arrogant seventh cousin, Mo Ju.
Mo Ju looked furiously at Dugu Qianye. Wasn't it just a beating they gave her? Her father had actually put her and her sister in confinement!
The group stepped into the courtyard and immediately noticed a distressed Mo Feng along with a relaxed Dugu Qianye.
Seeing Dugu Qianye's relaxed demeanor, Mo Ju grew even more enraged, "You wretch, it was just a beating, and yet father confined us! And now you're still so at ease! You're asking for it!" With that, she swung her whip towards Dugu Qianye.
Mo Feng seized Dugu Qianye's hand, pulling her aside to avoid the whip.
"Seventh miss, the ninth miss is also a direct descendant, you can't do this!"
"Ninth miss? This piece of trash, what else can she do besides bringing shame to our family? Mo Feng, you're just a fourth-level Phantom Warrior from a side branch, do you think you can help her? Get out of the way!" With those words, the whip was swung again.
Dugu Qianye could see clearly that Mo Ju was using her full strength this time; Mo Feng wouldn't be able to dodge it. Pretending to be frightened, she stumbled backward, executing the Ethereal Step Technique and dragging Mo Feng out of the attack's path.
Seeing that Dugu Qianye had dodged again, Mo Ju's face contorted with rage. She kept swinging her whip, and her mouth didn't stop hurling abuses, "You waste, your existence has made us a laughing stock! You, born without a mother's care, a bastard just like your mother, a true slut, only capable of disgracing our family..."