A number of scrolls bound in sheepskin were spread across the table in front of Ji Ning. As he glanced over them, each bore the name of a different Godfiend body refinement technique.
"The Refining Demon Calamity Scroll," "The Undying Blood Demon Body," "The Song of Blazing Flames," "The Thunderbolt Diamond Sutra," "The Ever-Changing Green Spirit Body," "The Red Bright Nine Heavens Diagram," "The Undying Black-Yellow Body," "The Spirit Fox Sutra," "The Future Buddha Sutra"... each scroll was inscribed with ancient hieroglyphic symbols. Fortunately, since Ji Ning had come to this world, he had already learned these writings.
Ji Ning took a deep breath. This was a pivotal decision! A choice that would determine his fate!
He then picked up each scroll and began reading.
The **"Refining Demon Calamity Scroll"** required carving demonic patterns onto one's body at the start of training, using ghostly fire to temper the flesh. The process was extremely painful, requiring the completion of nine sets of demonic patterns and undergoing the ghostly fire tempering eighty-one times. Once the body was fully transformed, the practitioner would become an innate lifeform, possessing immense strength and able to spit ghostly fire. Even a severed arm would regenerate immediately. This technique, though treacherous, was a swift path to power, with the potential to reach the innate stage in just eighty-one days in theory.
The **"Undying Blood Demon Body"** was even more agonizing than the previous technique, requiring three years of carving demonic patterns, a process akin to being tortured in hell for three years...
The **"Song of Blazing Flames"** involved training beside a burning bonfire, withstanding the flames, and eventually even entering lava unharmed. The practitioner would become one with fire, able to control infinite flames, marking their entry into the innate realm...
After reading three scrolls, Ji Ning frowned.
"Why are all these Godfiend body refinement techniques so painful? It's worse than being tortured!"
"Child, you're just unlucky," said Yuchi Xue beside him, unable to hold back. "Only a few of these Godfiend techniques are that excruciating. Of the nineteen here, only five could be considered torturous, and you happened to pick three of them."
"Ah!" Ji Ning let out a breath of relief.
Ji Yichuan, sitting nearby, spoke coldly: "Godfiend body refinement is much harder than Qi refinement. For a mortal to become an innate lifeform is to go against the heavens. Taking the difficult path of Godfiend body refinement is naturally even harder! These techniques that rely on hardships and calamities, while fast, are also shortcuts. The foundation isn't as solid as the other methods."
Ji Ning nodded and continued reading.
The **"Thunderbolt Diamond Sutra"** was a Diamond Buddhist method.
The **"Ever-Changing Green Spirit Body"** required a lengthy cultivation period. Upon reaching the innate stage, the practitioner could change forms at will, with boundless vitality, able to reassemble even when chopped into pieces. It was one of the best techniques for survival among the Godfiend body refinement methods.
Then came the **"Red Bright Nine Heavens Diagram,"** the first and undisputed Godfiend body refinement technique.
"What!" Ji Ning's eyes immediately lit up, focusing intently on the **"Red Bright Nine Heavens Diagram."**
The **"Red Bright Nine Heavens Diagram"** had nine levels.
The first three levels pertained to the acquired stage.
The middle three levels led to the innate lifeform stage.
The final three levels reached the Zifu (Purple Mansion) stage.
"This really is different. Even at its peak, the other techniques only lead to the peak of the innate lifeform stage. But the **"Red Bright Nine Heavens Diagram"** reaches the pinnacle of the Zifu stage." Ji Ning was excited as he continued reading.
Upon reaching the innate stage, one could control water and fire, wield tremendous strength, move with agility, and have heightened senses. Limbs could regenerate.
Upon reaching the Zifu stage, one could regenerate from a single drop of blood and cultivate divine abilities like "Heaven and Earth Transformation," "Three Heads and Six Arms," "Chasing the Sun like Kuafu," and "The Eye of the Candle Dragon," provided they obtained these divine ability methods.
The **Godfiend body refinement path** was already superior to Qi refinement at the same level.
The **"Red Bright Nine Heavens Diagram"** was superior to all other Godfiend body refinement methods at the same stage!
It was universally acknowledged!
No dispute!
However, it was also recognized as the most difficult to cultivate.
"This is it!" After reading through the remaining Godfiend body refinement methods, Ji Ning made his choice without hesitation. "The Red Bright Nine Heavens Diagram!"
"This is it?" Ji Yichuan looked at his son.
"Yes." Ji Ning nodded.
Ji Yichuan spoke softly: "The **"Red Bright Nine Heavens Diagram"** is universally acknowledged as the number one Godfiend body refinement method. It is far more advanced than the **'Song of Blazing Flames,'** the **'Thunderbolt Diamond Sutra,'** or the **'Refining Demon Calamity Scroll.'** And this is only the Zifu stage. After reaching the Zifu stage, obtaining even higher-level techniques is much easier."
"This technique is widespread and the easiest to acquire," Ji Yichuan continued, looking at his son. "But it is also the hardest!"
Ji Ning smiled.
Over the past two years since arriving in this world, he had read many books. He knew that cultivation methods were foundational. The more advanced the technique, the harder it was to acquire. Since the higher levels of the **"Red Bright Nine Heavens Diagram"** were readily available, it made sense for him to choose it.
"It's the most powerful technique! Unquestionably the number one!"
"It's the most widely spread!"
"It's the easiest to obtain!"
Ji Yichuan looked at his son. "It has countless advantages, but it has one drawback—difficulty! In the five branches of the Ji clan, no one has ever succeeded in reaching the fourth level and becoming an innate lifeform."
"What? Not a single person in the Ji clan has become an innate lifeform through this method?" Ji Ning was astonished.
Not reaching the Zifu stage was one thing, but not even achieving the innate stage?
"Yes," Ji Yichuan replied. "No one has, because it is too difficult, more difficult than you can imagine. But I also admit that this is the most mysterious and powerful of the Godfiend body refinement methods. Even in Godfiend legends, it is the strongest!"
"It's decided then!" Ji Ning remained resolute.
With the **"Nuwa Diagram"** to guide him, allowing him to excel even among celestial soldiers, he had a solid foundation. How could he not at least try? Even if he failed, he could always cultivate other methods.
"Good!" Ji Yichuan smiled faintly, satisfied with his son's unwavering determination. "I will get you the **'Red Bright Nine Heavens Diagram.'**"
"Thank you, Father." Ji Ning was full of anticipation.
…
Late at night.
The hall's doors were shut. Inside, thick candles flickered, and only three people were present—Ji Yichuan, Yuchi Xue, and their son Ji Ning.
Ji Ning held a thick, red-colored book in his hands, reading intently. It was the legendary and supreme **"Red Bright Nine Heavens Diagram."**
"So difficult." Ji Ning frowned as he read.
The **"Red Bright Nine Heavens Diagram"** had several major challenges.
The first was entry. To begin, one must be able to sense the supreme stars, **"The Moon"** and **"The Sun."** Many other Godfiend body refinement methods absorbed elemental forces like earth, fire, water, or lightning. But the **"Red Bright Nine Heavens Diagram"** required sensing these two supreme stars right from the start, absorbing the power of the Sun and Moon.
Many practitioners simply couldn't sense these two stars. This was the first hurdle!
Afterward, absorbing the power of the Sun and Moon would automatically form divine patterns on the body, which was the second challenge! Only after forming both the Moon and Sun divine patterns could one be considered to have mastered the first level of the **"Red Bright Nine Heavens Diagram."** This method's profundity was evident from the beginning, as other techniques like the **"Refining Demon Calamity Scroll"** required inscribing demonic patterns, whereas the **"Red Bright Nine Heavens Diagram"** naturally formed divine patterns—the Moon and Sun divine patterns!
Once the first level was mastered, advancing to the third level was usually without difficulty.
However, breaking through to the fourth level and becoming an innate lifeform was an even greater challenge.
It required the **"union of Yin and Yang, the merging of water and fire"** to break through and become an innate lifeform.
As for the later challenges... they were still far off and not worth worrying about for now.
"Ah." After reading through it, Ji Ning exhaled.
Ji Yichuan and Yuchi Xue both looked at their son.
"Father, please instruct me on the mysteries of the **'Red Bright Nine Heavens Diagram's'** first level." Ji Ning turned to his father.
"The **'Red Bright Nine Heavens Diagram'** is simple to understand," Ji Yichuan explained. "Just follow the illustrations for cultivation. The first level consists of nine diagrams