Chapter 142 The Waxing and Waning of Vital Energy Mirrors the Lunar Soul

Every single drop of the eclipse-red water shone with crystalline brilliance, their crimson light undulating and rippling as they suspended and orbited around Chen Heng, resembling tiny stars circling the firmament.

They cast a bleak, glistening luminescence across the four directions, making the inside and outside transparent, and adding an intensely horrifying and gruesome atmosphere.

Eighty-one drops of eclipse-red water in total.

The lesser-completion realm—

Chen Heng looked down at the scarlet river of blood—transformed from the eclipse spiritual essence—which still had a full half remaining and continued to emit a rumbling roar like earth-shaking thunder, unable to help a pang of regret in his heart.

To have now cultivated the divine ability of the eclipse-red water to the lesser-completion realm was already the absolute limit, with no further progress possible.

As for the intermediate-completion realm:

One must first find the "Three-Element Breath," implant it into the body, harmonize it with one's own energetic meridians, and then use it to refine the produced eclipse-red water, transforming its essence and altering its quality, before one can make another breakthrough in volume and refine a full Great Cycle's worth of eclipse-red water.

Trapped within the subterranean abyss as he was now,

he naturally could not find such spiritual treasures as the "Three-Element Breath."

All such calculations had inevitably become empty talk.

"Let us first test the actual might of this divine ability."

Temporarily suppressing the thoughts in his mind, Chen Heng shifted his embryonic breathing, driving a single drop of the eclipse-red water suspended before his eyes, which shot forth like a lightning bolt in an instant!

It was as smooth as a sharp blade slicing through tofu.

Those hard rock walls were effortlessly pierced one after another, as if they were nothing at all.

And after the eclipse-red water sped away, the mottled, corroded scars left upon the rock walls rapidly expanded in all directions, quickly eroding the entire stone wall into flying ash, which transformed into a pool of fine, powdery dust.

Watching countless subterranean rock walls successively collapse, kicking up billows of smoke and dust while emitting continuous, deafening "rumbling" sounds with immense momentum,

Chen Heng was also slightly startled. His eyes lit up, and then he burst into loud laughter.

The rock and soil within this subterranean abyss had been condensed and solidified by Yin Qi over years and months, long incomparable to ordinary mountain stone and earth outside the abyss.

Their hardness and density

were even comparable to metals and iron.

He raised a hand to recall that drop of eclipse-red water, holding it lightly between his fingertips and fixing his gaze to examine it closely.

He saw that after this series of actions, the volume of that drop of eclipse-red water had also shrunk slightly.

Judging by this rate of consumption, feared it would be completely dissipated in shape after another forty or fifty uses.

If he wished to manifest it again, his only option would be to gather eclipse-type spiritual essences and refine it anew...

"Although it lacks the convenience of the Innate Great Sun Divine Light, purely in terms of slaughtering and killing power, it is still a cut above."

Chen Heng thought to himself, nodding slightly as he once again drew from the river of blood, replenishing the reduced vital energy and form of that drop of eclipse-red water.

Then he reached into his sleeve, gripped the golden cicada, and entered the Realm of One True Dharma.

Only after personally testing it out

was he fully satisfied, and returned to the mortal world.

Even with his own cultivation of the Taisu Jade Body at the sixth layer of the Profound Realm,

he could not withstand the combined force of all eighty-one drops of eclipse-red water...

In less than a single incense stick of time, that sturdy and peerless physical body would likewise be corroded to ash, its internal organs ruined, turning into a pool of pus and blood as he died in agony.

An ordinary lower-grade talismanic weapon, upon facing even a single drop of eclipse-red water, would have its spiritual light extinguished, reduced to scrap metal.

And even the pinnacle of intermediate-grade talismanic weapons like the Green Law Sword—

if the quantity of eclipse-red water were sufficiently large, it would still find itself in a difficult plight...

"A fine divine ability indeed, truly worthy of being one of the three subsidiary waters of the Netherworld True Water. When it comes to the power of defilement and decay, it stands second only to the Yellow Springs True Water."

Chen Heng chuckled softly. With a single vibration and shake of his embryonic breathing, he recalled all the eclipse-red water suspended around his body, capturing and settling them into his various major apertures.

He cast his gaze into the distance.

At this moment, several hundred feet above his head,

the circle of restrictive spells shielding the cavern entrance had also slowly faded considerably, leaving only a thin layer of glowing halo, as if a mere wave of the hand could shatter it.

"First leaving behind a river of blood transformed from eclipse spiritual essence to supply the needs of cultivation, and then laying down restrictive spells to prevent others from disturbing me, allowing me to focus entirely on achieving my goal? Whoever made these arrangements certainly put a lot of thought into it."

Dropping his eyelids, he slowly retracted his gaze, staring intently at the scarlet river of blood beside him with a slight ripple in his heart.

Since the cultivation of the eclipse-red water had reached a dead end with nowhere left to advance,

and this river of blood was unlike other items, as it could not be stored in a cosmos pouch...

One would normally require a dedicated talismanic weapon meant for capturing vital energy and spiritual breath in order to carry and house it.

Yet Chen Heng possessed no such artifact at present.

Rather than sitting idly by and watching it go to waste,

he might as well apply this remaining half-and-more river of blood to his Taisu Jade Body.

"Although I cannot easily achieve Foundation Establishment at present, elevating the cultivation of the Taisu Jade Body is likewise a method to enhance combat prowess."

At this thought,

Chen Heng hesitated no longer, opening his mind completely.

The massive volume of eclipse spiritual essence naturally surged into his body without the slightest obstruction, filling his limbs and bones in accordance with the guidance of the Taisu Jade Body's techniques.

Just as the "Primordial True Origin of Great Beginning" could comprehensively command one hundred twenty-nine thousand and six hundred kinds of spiritual qi,

the Taisu Jade Body

was similarly an attribute that turned none away.

Had the spiritual qi within the subterranean abyss not been deeply imbued with all sorts of penal balefulness and nether gloom principles, inseparable to the extreme,

swallowing it into the belly would be no different than consuming a potent poison.

For Chen Heng, who was desperately starved for spiritual qi,

he wished nothing more than to build a hut and cultivate in seclusion right here, pushing the Taisu Jade Body to its absolute limit before contemplating exiting seclusion...

After cultivating for merely six or seven hours, Chen Heng felt the blood and qi within his body boil as if a great river was raging and surging inside him.

With a single collision, it caused the back of his head to roar violently, ringing out repeatedly as if shattering some sort of barrier.

The Taisu Jade Body—seventh layer of the Profound Realm!

All three hundred and sixty-five acupuncture points across his body were leaping and rejoicing, resonating with his blood and qi, bursting forth with a booming sound like spring thunder shattering bamboo, making his breathing smooth and clear as if his entire person had stepped into another layer of the void.

The eclipse spiritual essence within this river of blood was truly abundant.

The spiritual qi absorbed in just these six or seven hours alone matched the sum of all ghostly spiritual breaths Chen Heng had devoured over the past few months, and even surpassed them considerably.

He had been only a hair's breadth away from the seventh layer of the Profound Realm anyway, so this natural progression was hardly unexpected.

Without lingering to closely experience the changes brought by this breakthrough in physical cultivation,

seeing that a fair amount of the blood river still remained,

Chen Heng steadied his mind and continued to absorb and inhale the spiritual essence, refining it into his flesh...

Three days passed in this manner.

Within a deep, dark cavern,

deep underground.

Chen Heng, who had originally been sitting quietly with closed eyes, suddenly let out a loud laugh and sprang violently to his feet!

Exhaling a long breath held within his chest upward toward the sky, it shot forth like a fierce white rainbow. The surging kinetic force violently shoved aside the Yin winds and turbid barriers in its path, blowing loose rolling stones and sparking sudden lightning!

As this long breath was expelled from his chest, his divine will also soared step by step, his bones and tendons chiming in unison!

A powerful aura comparable to an innate divine monster swept ruthlessly across the surrounding wilderness, suppressing all insubordination and spreading out like a colorful rainbow. His physique trembled once more, instantly propelling him into the eighth layer of the Profound Realm of the Taisu Jade Body.

"..."

He closed his eyes in contemplation for a moment, reached into his sleeve, and sank his divine will into the Realm of One True Dharma.

Then, casting golden light upon himself, he manifested a page of the Mahayana Golden Book.

【Mahayana Supreme Secret Light Concentration】

【Name】: Chen Heng

【Techniques】: Taisu Jade Body (Profound Realm, 8th layer), Eclipse-Red Water (Lesser Completion), Innate Great Sun Divine Light (Lesser Completion), Scattered Scenery and Concealing Form Technique (Lesser Completion), Movement and Stillness Thunder Sound Guidance Technique (Greater Completion), Lesser Red Dragon Sword Classic (Intermediate Completion), Aurora Grand Escape (——)...

【Dharmic Treasures】: Green Law Sword (Intermediate-grade talismanic weapon), Purple Gold Demon-Shattering Hammer (Intermediate-grade talismanic weapon), Thunder-Fire Lightning Primordial Pearl (Intermediate-grade talismanic weapon), Floating Jade Mirage Pearl (Intermediate-grade talismanic weapon), Fire Crow Pot (Intermediate-grade talismanic weapon), Dipper Registry (Secret Treasure), Blood River Chariot Precious Wheel (Secret Treasure)...

【True Scriptures】: Purple Clarity Supreme True Penetrating Mystery Edict...

【Daoist Achievement】: 9th layer of Qi Refining (The True Scripture of Great Beginning spoken by the Spirit Chamber Pivot Splendor Dao Lord).

"I have finally cultivated the Taisu Jade Body to this realm. Barring accidents, the ninth layer of the Profound Realm is the absolute limit of what I can achieve right now."

Chen Heng looked at the Mahayana Golden Book and thought to himself.

The Taisu Jade Body was divided into three major realms: Profound, Origin, and Beginning, with each realm comprising nine layers.

During breakthroughs between major realms—such as advancing from the ninth layer of the Profound Realm to the first layer of the Origin Realm—boiling roars and thunderous tremors would descend to obstruct success.

Without the protection of a great master of divine abilities,

one could never hope to cross it...

Naturally, no such master of divine abilities could be found to protect him at present.

Barring unexpected events,

the realm beyond the ninth layer of the Profound Realm would likely remain a long-standing and formidable barrier.

Toward this present state of affairs, Chen Heng merely felt a faint sigh of emotion without dwelling on it too deeply.

Even pondering it further would be nothing more than a waste of mental effort.

His recent breakthrough to the eighth layer of the Profound Realm had itself been achieved through immense and harrowing trials.

Swallowing that river of eclipse blood clean had still fallen slightly short, lacking a fraction.

He had been forced to toss all the spiritual treasures and talismanic coins plundered from Miss Yue's mansion into his physical cultivation, using them up entirely, before he could barely cross that barrier and finally achieve success.

Both the river of eclipse blood

and Miss Yue's amassed family wealth over the years—

only when combined together had they enabled him to cultivate the eighth layer of the Profound Realm.

Moreover, the spiritual essence required for each successive layer of the Taisu Jade Body multiplied exponentially, representing a gulf as vast as heaven and earth compared to the volume of the previous layer.

Now that the eighth layer of the Profound Realm was newly attained, wanting to advance to the ninth layer would require another bout of bitter toil.

Thinking along these lines,

even advancing to the first layer of the Origin Realm—which required the protection of a master of divine abilities to succeed—was not truly an urgent matter right then.

"At the sixth layer of the Profound Realm, one can reign supreme in Foundation Establishment; while at the ninth layer of the Profound Realm, it is difficult to find an enemy even among the towering figures of the Purple Manor... With my current cultivation at the eighth layer of the Profound Realm, I should be able to contend and vie for supremacy with cultivators of the Purple Manor realm."

With a thought in his heart, he brushed his hands across the air, causing the Mahayana Golden Book he held to vanish, and his divine will returned to the mortal world.

It remained the same gloomy landscape ravaged by malevolent Yin Qi.

Lifting his gaze,

the circle of restrictive spells that had enveloped the cavern entrance had vanished completely without a trace now that the eclipse blood river had been completely refined.

No further spiritual essence was stored within this cavern now...

Reflecting upon this stroke of fortune,

not only had he secured the great stroke of good fortune that was the eclipse-red water, but he had also cultivated the Taisu Jade Body to the eighth layer of the Profound Realm, allowing him to fight toe-to-toe with Purple Manor masters. His combat strength had multiplied several times over, adding yet another layer of life-saving assurance!

Chen Heng could not help but let out a long laugh, then rose upon a beam of light, transforming into a white streak that pierced the sky and vanished in the blink of an eye.

Outside the deep, dark cavern,

not far from where the pillar piercing the sky had shattered,

Ding Wei, who had been left here to wait bitterly for many days upon his father's orders, had his attention wander for just a moment.

Before seeing a streak of escape light shoot straight into the sky like a long rainbow and lightning bolt, he hurriedly shook off his distraction and pulled himself together.

That streak of escape light came from bottom to top, winding and twisting with fluid grace while scattering patches of brilliant radiance, before finally halting amidst the clouds, staining the four directions in a layer of glowing rosy mist.

"Brother Chen, Brother Chen, I beg you to stay your esteemed steps!"

Ding Wei hastily whipped up a gust of Yin wind, pursued him, and cupped his fists in salute:

"My father has important matters to discuss with Brother Chen. I wonder if you might grant him an audience?"

Looking from afar,

he saw standing within that escape light—which resembled white flames—a strikingly handsome Daoist in white. His brows and eyes were distant and pure, his stature tall and upright, standing like a fine tree before a courtyard, as unyielding as a peak and yet thoroughly refined and detached from the mundane.

Ding Wei was first startled,

then caught a glimpse of the Daoist's pupils, which faintly appeared a blood-red color, as vivid as falling drops.

This casual glance from those crimson eyes caused Ding Wei to instinctively feel an extreme sense of danger. His body stiffened involuntarily, and the back of his neck stung sharply for a moment like needle pricks.

"Is this the eclipse-red water? Truly extraordinary, though unfortunately I lack such great affinity..."

Ding Wei heaved a long, desolate sigh in his heart, filled with intense envy.

At that moment,

Chen Heng also slightly retracted his gaze, his pupils returning to their previous dark, murky appearance. He made an obeisance and said:

"I wonder who your esteemed father might be?"

"My father is Ding Xian, the master of these Five Clouds Wilds..."

Once Ding Wei had poured out everything he knew like beans tumbling from a bamboo tube,

Chen Heng's expression froze in astonishment.

"The True Monarch Qiao of the Zhongyi Sword Sect actually wishes to see me?"

He thought to himself.

Within the Five Clouds Wilds.

Amidst an endless expanse of magnificent palaces and pavilions,

Ding Xian was pacing back and forth inside a circular pavilion lush with vegetation and blooming peach and willow blossoms. His brows were slightly furrowed, and his expression was quite solemn.

Suddenly, the large clamshell hanging at his waist flashed.

Ding Xian gripped this ghostly artifact, sank his divine will inside to investigate, and then threw his head back in roaring laughter, clapping his hands in satisfaction.

"I was wondering if some mishap had occurred; who would have thought that cultivating the eclipse-red water would consume this much time?"

He issued an order:

"Quickly prepare the carriage, I am going out personally to welcome him ten miles away!"

The servants standing respectfully at a distance acknowledged the command and rushed off to make preparations.

Before long, Ding Xian was seated in a treasure carriage dragged by two nether-dragons, hovering above a small hill. Flanking him stood hundreds of fierce ghostly generals clad in stern armor, making for a grand and imposing procession.

Seeing the colorful silk curtains unfurled across the empty air and high-strung canvas awnings, alongside troupes of maidservants standing gracefully on cloud-carpets holding silver trays laden with brightly colored fruits and wines,

Ding Xian glanced over them, still feeling it was not enough, and instructed those beside him:

"Tell Yu'er to tidy up and dress properly in her chambers; she will be required to meet a guest shortly! Wasn't she practicing her dance recently? Just the time to inspect the results."

The steward who received this order was taken aback.

Ding Yu was Ding Xian's most favored youngest daughter. Because of her beauty, Ding Xian had always spoiled and doted on her boundlessly; why would he order her to dance for a guest today?

Though harboring doubts, this was not something a mere servant could question, so he hastily gave a respectful assent.

At that moment,

the sound of the air being rent was heard from afar. Ding Xian raised his head to look, thinking to himself:

"They're here."