Chapter Sixty: The Doubt of True Qi

Low-grade true qi, an inferior Dao foundation, a lower-class Purple Mansion manifestation, and a base-level innate golden mercury.

Even his achievement of the Golden Core seemed to be the lowest ninth-grade yellow-white elixir.

Yet, in the end, he still attained the Divine Soul Manifestation, even opening the “Shun Lie Jade Cloud Source” cave-heaven in the Eastern Sea, standing on the threshold of returning to the realm of the True Lord of Void Return—

Stories as bizarre as that of Master Yan Xi were, even in the countless millions of years of the Nine Provinces and Four Seas, fewer than one can count on two hands.

Wei Lingjiang knew this well.

Before this roaming master left for the Eastern Sea to open his cave-heaven, moved by the spiritual barrenness of the Southern Region and the lack of outstanding talents, he had deliberately left behind several volumes of celestial Daoist scriptures that were, by then, useless to him.

One of these was the “Great Formless Constant Fusion True Qi” cultivation method, handed down by the Daoist Kongkong.

Daoist Kongkong was the seventh disciple of the present Era-Transcending Immortal Ancestor, and even in the ancient era of the Daoist Court, he was renowned, a guest at the seats of immortal sages and great beings, his name recorded in the “Ten Thousand Heavens Assembly,” a giant of his generation.

The “Great Formless Constant Fusion True Qi” he created was modeled after the forms of several Great Free Heaven Demon Kings, observing their myriad transformations and their powers to manifest all beings, taking its meaning from “formless in the void, yet all is real and not false.”

Once mastered, this true qi could imitate the qualities and changes of all true qis below the ninth grade at will.

Whether deep and heavy as yin, blazing and bright as yang, dull, sharp, cold, or severe—thousands of transformations, ten thousand aspects.

Even at the mere qi refining stage, before forming true qi, if one practiced “Great Formless Constant Fusion True Qi,” the prenatal breath within would already carry traces of the principle “the great form has no shape, the Dao hides without a name”—truly extraordinary!

However, when Master Yan Xi obtained this art outside the world, he had already achieved the Divine Soul Manifestation. No matter how remarkable Daoist Kongkong’s ninth-grade lower “Great Formless Constant Fusion True Qi” was, it was of little use to him.

Thus, he left it as a hidden opportunity, burying it deep in the Southern Region, awaiting a fated successor.

Wei Lingjiang knew all this because she had happened to unlock one of these celestial Daoist treasures left by Master Yan Xi in the Southern Region.

Though she did not obtain the “Great Formless Constant Fusion True Qi” cultivation method,

She did receive two “Jade Mist Yellow Cloud Chariots” and a scripture of “Scattered Image Concealment Technique.”

The Jade Mist Yellow Cloud Chariot was a magic treasure, superior even to talismanic tools; once activated, it could instantly escape a thousand miles, and the chariot was shrouded in vast clouds, its defenses extraordinary— even a Golden Core master would have to expend great effort to break it.

Fine as these chariots were, to Wei Lingjiang, they were commonplace.

However,

The “Scattered Image Concealment Technique” was another matter.

After Daoist Kongkong created the “Great Formless Constant Fusion True Qi,” he specially invited his master to critique and supplement it.

The Era-Transcending Immortal Ancestor, unable to refuse, personally created the “Scattered Image Concealment Technique” to complement the “Great Formless Constant Fusion True Qi.”

The “Great Formless Constant Fusion True Qi” could already mimic all the qualities and transformations of true qi below the ninth grade—an amazing feat.

Yet, it still had a flaw: although it could imitate the properties and uses of all true qis below the ninth grade,

It could not mimic the unique vital essence of each true qi.

Unlike the true Great Free Heaven Demon Kings, whose transformations were inscrutable, it could still be seen through.

But the “Scattered Image Concealment Technique” remedied this.

After all, it was crafted by the hand of the Era-Transcending Immortal Ancestor, taking it even further.

Once combined with the “Great Formless Constant Fusion True Qi,” not only could it perfectly simulate the vital essence of all true qis, but not limited to just true qi—

Plants, birds, beasts, insects, metal, stone, even mountains and oceans—if one’s cultivation was profound enough, all could be imitated in their vital essence, perfectly and without flaw.

If supplemented by a method for bodily transformation, one would seem as a true incarnation of a Great Free Heaven Demon King.

Even cultivators of a higher realm, unless their Dao was supremely powerful, might not detect the ruse.

But the “Scattered Image Concealment Technique” was, after all, created to complement the “Great Formless Constant Fusion True Qi,” not as an independent technique or divine power.

Unless one cultivated the “Great Formless Constant Fusion True Qi,” it was impossible to shift the vital orifices and master the methods within the “Scattered Image Concealment Technique.”

This was why, although Master Yan Xi obtained the original texts of both the “Great Formless Constant Fusion True Qi” and the “Scattered Image Concealment Technique” outside the world, he did not practice them himself, but left them as opportunities in the Southern Region.

No matter how extraordinary these two arts, they were not worth abandoning his Divine Soul cultivation—at most, he might copy them for an avatar to use.

Wei Lingjiang’s spiritual form was based on “Purple Clarity True Qi,” so she could not master the “Scattered Image Concealment Technique,” nor conceal her vital essence.

…

When Chen Heng heard Wei Lingjiang’s words, he frowned almost imperceptibly, then shook his head.

Naturally, he could not reveal the foundation of his qi cultivation to a woman he had just met by chance.

Let alone that business about Master Yan Xi, celestial Daoist treasures, or any Great Formless Constant Fusion True Qi—those were pure flights of fancy.

Grand Primeval True Essence and Great Formless Constant Fusion True Qi—those even sounded like different things.

As for opportunities,

Aside from the Golden Cicada, the first true opportunity he encountered upon arriving in this world was slaying the Daoist of Yang Mountain and obtaining the Thunderfire Perilous Pearl, a mid-grade talismanic treasure.

But his shake of the head, to Wei Lingjiang, seemed to betray a faint sense of guilt, as if fearing to display his treasures.

As the gathering of demon spirits grew, Wei Lingjiang could no longer afford to conserve her prenatal breath. She unleashed her flying sword as a blazing ribbon, its power fierce and unyielding!

In an instant,

With a thunderous roar like dragon and tiger, the flying sword’s song split the air; every demon between them was cleaved asunder in a spray of blood.

“In truth, I do not practice the Great Formless Constant Fusion True Qi, nor have I ever received any celestial Daoist treasure from Master Yan Xi. But it seems you will not believe me,” Chen Heng said, glancing at the approaching Wei Lingjiang and shaking his head.

“So for this alone, Senior Sister, do not expect me to use my prenatal breath to heal you.”

A wisp of prenatal breath, as light as cooking smoke, drifted from his palm—if one did not observe closely, it seemed to vanish altogether.

“You…”

Even with Wei Lingjiang’s cultivation of breath, she nearly lost her composure.

She glared fiercely at Chen Heng, coldly catching that wisp of prenatal breath. When her mind reached into it, she hesitated.

The vital essence of the prenatal breath was vast and profound, unmistakably orthodox, yet its qualities were not only “formless in the void, all real and not false,” but subtly infused with an ineffable, unfathomable and exalted profundity.

It was as though born from the emptiness of the cosmos—a great universe, vast in all directions, with yin and yang formed within!

“This must… be the Great Formless Constant Fusion True Qi?” Wei Lingjiang wondered anxiously.

After all, she had never witnessed the true appearance of the “Great Formless Constant Fusion True Qi,” only read descriptions in the “Scattered Image Concealment Technique.”

“No matter!”

Wei Lingjiang bit her red lip, spun around and fixed her gaze on Chen Heng. “Listen! I will teach you a divine power!”

—

Chen Heng’s expression did not change.

“You…”

Seeing his utterly indifferent demeanor, Wei Lingjiang, clever as she was, recalled all that Chen Heng had done since their first meeting.

With a turn of thought, she guessed his intent.

“Rest assured—it is free,” Wei Lingjiang sneered. “I will teach you a Daoist technique at no cost, ask nothing in return, never demand payment, nor reveal your secrets. Only you and I will know of this. What do you say?”

She spoke these words with gritted teeth, transmitting them directly. Each syllable struck like thunder, rumbling and fierce.

“Please, Senior Sister, swear an oath,” Chen Heng smiled.

Wei Lingjiang met his gaze silently. Just as she was about to swear, Chen Heng spoke again.

“I mean a Dao oath,” he added.

A Dao oath, once uttered, draws upon the resonance of Heaven and Earth, binding heart and blood. If broken, it damages the soul at best and ruins one’s cultivation at worst.

Only those who have opened the Bridge of Heaven and Earth can beseech the heavens for such a binding oath.

Wei Lingjiang formed a seal and, with an expressionless face, began, “I swear…”

When she finished, she did not speak immediately.

Instead, she smiled radiantly at Chen Heng, her clear eyes shining, as if containing the quiet flow of a spring river, flanked by lush leaves and vibrant blossoms—beautiful and serene.

“Why does Senior Sister look at me?”

“It’s your turn.”

“My turn?”

“Your turn to swear the Dao oath,” Wei Lingjiang said coolly. “Now that you’ve received my technique, you must do your utmost to help me escape. You cannot stand by and let me perish in this tide of demon spirits.”

“Does Senior Sister not trust me?” Chen Heng’s brow moved almost imperceptibly.

Wei Lingjiang ignored him.

“Trust you? You foppish scoundrel, full of schemes…” the green-robed child muttered softly, causing all but Chen Heng to chuckle. Even Wei Lingjiang’s lips quirked up.

Though they were still trapped in the demon tide, lives hanging by a thread, the atmosphere suddenly warmed, as though under a high, gentle sun.

“Very well, I swear…” Chen Heng sighed, forming a seal and swearing the Dao oath as well.

Truth be told, even without Wei Lingjiang’s urging, he had no desire to flee alone.

Amid this seemingly endless tide of demons, without someone to fight alongside, there would hardly be time to recover even a breath—once one’s strength failed, one would be devoured to the bone in an instant.

Even with his extraordinary Jade Body of Primordial Simplicity, Chen Heng dared not gamble on so slim a chance.

And if the situation became truly hopeless, the oath only required that he do his utmost.

Once that was done, he would not be forsworn.

…

“This technique was created by the Era-Transcending Immortal Ancestor. Once combined with Daoist Kongkong’s Great Formless Constant Fusion True Qi, it can conceal your vital essence from others’ senses. Though you are still refining qi, your prenatal breath carries some of its qualities…”

The silver-white flying sword circled the four of them like a swimming dragon, flashing with chilling light. Any demon that approached was instantly sliced in two by its touch.

As Chen Heng, with his Jade Body, charged through the encirclement, Wei Lingjiang restored four to five tenths of her prenatal breath. The high-grade flying sword, now fully empowered, gleamed with peerless sharpness, its whistle slicing the air.

Wei Lingjiang took stock, calculating how long her spirit body’s prenatal breath could last, while continuing to recite the scripture to Chen Heng.

Both were only at the qi-refining stage, unable to transmit messages by soul, but fortunately, the “Scattered Image Concealment Technique” was merely a few hundred words—concise and direct.

Soon, Wei Lingjiang had finished reciting the entire text, and Chen Heng frowned slightly.

After a moment, he suddenly looked up.

“Is something unclear?” Wei Lingjiang was not surprised—the “Scattered Image Concealment Technique” was refined and obscure, its formulae and terminology arcane and convoluted.

“When the mountain rides the wind, it rises; when it stores the wind, it rests—” Chen Heng began. “After this line, Senior Sister, please repeat the next passage. You spoke too quickly.”

…

Wei Lingjiang looked at him with a complicated expression, lips pressed tight, distracted for a moment before repeating herself.

After only a dozen breaths, Chen Heng spoke again:

“Senior Sister, this phrase ‘the earth’s light descends, the earth’s virtue supports above’—what does it mean?”

“It’s geomantic—applied to the body, it means forging two currents of vital energy, gathering in the chest and belly, like heaven and earth enclosing all.” Wei Lingjiang struck out, blasting a giant salamander-like demon to pieces in midair, her tone weary. “Do you find the vital energy hard to control? Loosen your mind and let it flow like water—only then will you succeed.”

Chen Heng nodded in realization.

A few more breaths, then he asked:

“Senior Sister, is discerning form like gazing into a suspended mirror, with the spirit traveling forth?”

“Yes.”

…

“Senior Sister, should the breathing channel run three inches?”

“Four inches.”

…

“Senior Sister, should the energy circulate to the Wind Palace or the Spirit Chamber?”

“The Scarlet Palace!”

…

“Inhalation channel, four inches?”

“Three inches!”

…

“Senior Sister—”

…

—

Wei Lingjiang’s face grew slightly stiff, for every so often Chen Heng would speak up, tirelessly asking questions.

The “Scattered Image Concealment Technique” was especially designed for the “Great Formless Constant Fusion True Qi”—the two resonated, and once the energy flowed, the meridians and vital orifices opened naturally.

Even if not mastered in one go,

It should not have been as halting as Chen Heng’s progress—fumbling as if climbing a mountain with a broken staff!

Meanwhile,

Within the true Dharma realm, Chen Heng was equally astonished.

The scripture stated clearly it was made for the “Great Formless Constant Fusion True Qi”—other true qis could not even comprehend it.

Yet he cultivated the “Grand Primeval True Essence,” and still could operate the method smoothly—remarkable indeed.

And vaguely,

Chen Heng sensed that the Great Formless Constant Fusion True Qi and his Grand Primeval True Essence seemed to share the same origin.

The former’s state of “formless in the void, all real and not false” felt like a part of the latter’s “Dragon-Heaven Radiance, All Truths Gathered.”

“The ‘Scattered Image Concealment Technique’ was created by the Era-Transcending Immortal Ancestor. Though I’ve never heard this title before, it must be an honorific for a Daoist giant. As for the Great Formless Constant Fusion True Qi, it was Daoist Kongkong’s work. Yet my Grand Primeval True Essence can…”

Chen Heng paused.

Did this mean the Grand Primeval True Essence was created later by the Era-Transcending Immortal Ancestor? Or by Daoist Kongkong? Or perhaps by both together?

But his cultivation method’s name was “The Divine Abode Pivot Splendor Dao Lord’s Discourse on Grand Primeval True Essence.”

Was the Dao Lord somehow connected to the other two? Did the Divine Abode Pivot Splendor Dao Lord encounter this method, find its principles profound, and then compose a new text to transmit it? Or was there another source?

Thoughts tangled endlessly.

When he swore the Dao oath to Wei Lingjiang, he had simply hoped to gain a free Daoist art—waste not, want not.

But he never imagined such changes would occur…

Suppressing his thoughts, he cleared his mind to focus on comprehending the technique.

Outside the true Dharma realm,

Wei Lingjiang was already breathing hard, and the spiritual energy of her sword had faded greatly.

Trapped in this tide of demon spirits, even a hundred times more prenatal breath would eventually be exhausted.

Let alone with three burdens to drag along, all her strength was spent just to hold on.

When her hand began to tremble, from behind came another ill-timed voice. Furious, she turned, meeting a pair of bright black-and-white eyes.

“Senior Sister, I—”

“I am not your Senior Sister! You are my Senior Brother!” Wei Lingjiang said with a blank face. “Shut up!”

…

Flesh and blood flew, sword light rampaged.

Wei Lingjiang lost count of how long she had endured. Her prenatal breath and spirit were nearly spent, when suddenly, her expression changed. With a wave of her hand, she flung the two children dozens of feet away!

The next instant!

A shriveled, black giant hand crashed down, smashing the ground where the children had stood, sending earth flying in all directions!

The void parted like a gauzy curtain, revealing a massive demon shrouded in shadowy mist, its eyes like golden lanterns.

It lifted its hand in surprise, as if regretting its failed strike. All three faces grinned wickedly, and in a flash, it lunged at Wei Lingjiang!

“A Power Demon…”

Her flying sword was locked down by a horde of other demons—no time to recall it. Gritting her teeth, Wei Lingjiang was about to force out her last reserve of prenatal breath to unleash a Daoist art.

Suddenly, a gust of wind swept behind her—a hand reached out.

Chen Heng, who had been sitting in meditation, now grabbed her collar like catching a rabbit, and with a twist of his arm, flung her backward. Wei Lingjiang tumbled head over heels dozens of times before barely stopping.

When she finally got to her feet, she saw Chen Heng shake two purple-gold Demon-Breaking Hammers from his sleeve and smash them against the Power Demon’s giant fist!

Bang!

The sound was as thunderous as waves crashing against a cliff! Even Wei Lingjiang had to cover her ears.

But in less than a heartbeat, Chen Heng was flung back even faster, rolling farther than Wei Lingjiang.

“That strength…”

Chen Heng’s arms trembled, his palms nearly split. His expression changed, and as he turned, Wei Lingjiang suddenly grabbed his sleeve.

“Bastard! Are you trying to abandon me again?” Wei Lingjiang laughed in her rage. “We swore a Dao oath!”

“Senior Sister truly takes a petty view of a gentleman’s heart,” Chen Heng glanced at her, his aura shifting. At this moment, if one did not look at his face, he was indistinguishable from the mass of demon spirits: “I was merely going to take out the Converging Chariot to put some distance between us and that demon—then think of a plan.”

“Wait, you’ve mastered the Scattered Image Concealment Technique?” Wei Lingjiang, delighted, grabbed his hand. “I have a glazed canopy that can hide us—”

Before she finished,

Both suddenly looked up.

Far off in the sky, a divine fire of gold was blazing toward them from who knew how many miles away. Every demon along its path was instantly vaporized—no screams, no struggle.

The entire southwestern sky was awash in gold and crimson, as if submerged in a sea of fire.

“It seems there’s no need for your glazed canopy, Senior Sister,” Chen Heng, seeing this, felt a weight lift from his heart.

He smiled at Wei Lingjiang and said,

“A Cave Profundity Refiner has arrived.”