Chapter Ninety-Four: Revealing the Truth

At this moment, the daylight was at its peak.

Through the cicada-wing-thin floral window paper, countless tiny specks of dust floated and hovered in the air, like the faint and shimmering fireflies deep within a lush, verdant stream.

The Elder Fu Can had long since fallen into the emptied wine jar, sleeping soundly with rhythmic snores.

On the meditation cushion, Chen Heng held a pristine porcelain bottle. The embryonic breath within his body circulated through every limb and bone following a peculiar rhythm. Sometimes it surged swiftly like a galloping horse, echoing the roaring tides of a great river; at other times, it settled calmly like an ancient turtle, unmoved by the whims of the ten directions, serene and tranquil.

With each breath he took, a strand of refined energy would fly out from the porcelain bottle, entering his nostrils, where it was worn down by his Qi cultivation technique into the purest primordial essence before merging back into his embryonic breath.

Each strand of refined energy worn away nourished Chen Heng’s embryonic breath, strengthening it considerably.

These strands of refined energy were harvested from the countless beasts and birds he had slain in the Huaiwu Cave—a supreme spiritual energy of uniform nature, almost comparable to talisman coins.

Moreover, the cultivation method Chen Heng practiced—the “Divine House Master Hua Daojun’s Treatise on the Primordial True Essence of the Great Beginning”—could encompass a total of 129,600 types of spiritual energy, known as Dragon Heaven’s Illumination, gathering all truths without the usual troubles of energy gathering...

However, after several days of training, he had already consumed more than half of the refined energy in the porcelain bottle. Although his embryonic breath had grown significantly, there remained a substantial gap before reaching the sixth level of Qi cultivation.

This cultivation method was like a bottomless gold-devouring beast!

The resources required for each level of advancement were shockingly immense. Even consuming the century-long foundations of several small clans and sects might not guarantee reaching the ninth level of Qi cultivation.

At the current pace, he feared he would have to exhaust all the refined energy in the porcelain bottle and spend all his talisman coins before pushing his cultivation up one level.

As for what method to use to accumulate enough spiritual energy after reaching the sixth level, to advance to the seventh, Chen Heng had no definite clue.

This difficulty was not limited to Qi cultivation.

His Grand Jade body was currently at the fifth level of the Profound Realm; advancing further demanded an equally hefty consumption of spiritual energy, not much less than Qi cultivation.

One Qi cultivation skill.

One Grand Jade body.

Both had become obstacles on his Daoist path because of their spiritual energy demands.

For this reason, Chen Heng’s hope for joining the Flower God Mansion to cultivate after leaving the Earth Abyss grew even stronger.

The Flower God Mansion was a major immortal sect in the Southern Domain. While the true situation of its cave realm was unknown and not to be rashly spoken of, its blessed lands and spiritual veins were certainly abundant.

Having spiritual energy now meant overcoming half the hurdles in cultivation.

Not to mention the teachings, elixirs, talisman scrolls, and other resources within the Flower God Mansion—if he could get them, the path ahead would be smooth indeed.

...

While Chen Heng was lost in these thoughts, the Elder Fu Can suddenly twitched his ears, then belched leisurely before climbing out of the jar. Leaning on the rim, he said to Chen Heng:

“The stench of sour, rotten dried fish seems near. If my guess is correct, that heavenly demon has come looking for you again. This time, it’s probably under the guise of preaching to bring you personally to meet its master!”

Chen Heng paused briefly upon hearing this, then stopped absorbing refined energy, sealed the porcelain bottle, and tucked it into his space pouch.

He glanced at the daylight through the window, furrowed his brow slightly, then checked the vitality in his five internal organs, quickly determining the exact hour.

“Previously, it was said the lecture would begin at the Shen hour, but now it’s barely past noon, approaching the Wei hour—an entire hour early,” Chen Heng murmured thoughtfully.

He thought to himself:

“It seems Brother Yuan’s escape using the Flying Lu fruit startled the Huaiwu Cave Master greatly, unsettling his mind. That’s why he sent Chai Zhonghong repeatedly to check on me, suspecting I might vanish as well...

Now that he has even advanced the lecture time, it’s clear he can no longer restrain himself.”

...

Yuan Yangsheng had used the Flying Lu fruit to flee more than a hundred thousand miles away yesterday.

Before leaving, he had come to bid farewell and sought Chen Heng’s advice on techniques to conceal the qi and blood within his body.

According to Yuan Yangsheng, he intended to go to the Nine Perils Mountain in the western region of Dongmi Prefecture to investigate a heavenly energy called “Jade Embryo Yang Gang.”

The Nine Perils Mountain was filled with snakes and treasures, with nine perilous scenic spots. Fierce winds howled like coiling dragons atop the peaks. Even careless cultivators could be swept into the eye of the storm and perish.

At the summit, it was said there was a rock pool filled with pure “Jade Embryo Yang Gang,” untouched by evil qi and of superior quality.

With ample leisure, Yuan Yangsheng intended to personally climb the peak and investigate this legendary energy.

The western region of Dongmi Prefecture was far richer in spiritual energy than the impoverished Southern Domain—its energy was so abundant it nearly filled the sky, befitting its name as the Xu Du Tian heavenly domain.

Because of this richness, the cultivation sects there were more prosperous than in the South, including the Hu Zhao Sect, one of the Eight Schools and Six Sects, located at the far west.

The western region was truly a perilous place, rife with demons and calamity qi surging.

Yuan Yangsheng worried that the demonic sect cultivators might covet his physical body and transform it into iron-skin zombies, flying yakshas, or other sinister puppets, so before departing, he came to seek Chen Heng’s method for controlling the qi and blood within his body.

In truth, martial cultivators like him, who specialized in physical strength, were prime targets for demonic sects.

Whether to sacrifice their corpses for puppets, erase their consciousness to make guardian spirits, or directly drain their qi and blood for alchemy, all were favored methods.

Daoist texts recorded that the Hu Zhao Sect had repeatedly campaigned beyond the universe, eradicating many martial cultivators and even clashing with True Martial Heaven’s warriors, precisely because the vigorous qi and blood of martial cultivators were a rare and potent elixir for demonic sects.

However, Chen Heng’s method for controlling qi flow—the “Scattered Light Shape-Hiding Technique” passed down by Wei Lingjiang—required the foundation of the immortal path and the “Great Non-Form Constant Realm True Qi” taught by the Daoist Kkongkong.

His own practice of “Primordial True Essence of the Great Beginning,” though inexplicably mastered, could not offer Yuan Yangsheng much concrete advice, only a few pointers on the key points of qi flow, and then nothing more.

...

News of Yuan Yangsheng’s escape via the Flying Lu fruit soon reached the Huaiwu Cave Master.

The old man sent his second disciple, a high-level Purple Mansion cultivator named Chai Zhonghong, repeatedly to visit under the pretense of concern and comfort.

They feared Chen Heng might disappear like Yuan Yangsheng.

...

“That damned Huaiwu Cave Master wants to invite you to a lecture, so it’s time to use that ‘Ten-Thousand-Mile Revealing Talisman’ that Elder Fu Can gave you.”

The Elder Fu Can sighed deeply.

The little old man hopped onto Chen Heng’s shoulder, burped, and shook his head.

“To be honest, after these few days, I’ve noticed—you and your father aren’t cut from the same cloth. You’re better than your brothers... Now that the time of parting draws near, this old man really feels some reluctance!”

“If you’re so sentimental, why not tell me about my origins before we part?” Chen Heng smiled gently.

“Who was my birth father? Is he alive or dead? Where is he now? What is his current situation? And what about my brothers—who are they?”

Chen Heng expected Elder Fu Can to dodge the question with jokes as usual, but surprisingly, the old man fell silent for a long while.

The little elder sat on Chen Heng’s shoulder, stroking his graying beard, his face full of woe.

“Damn it! We nature spirits are just too soft-hearted! Too kind! If I told you, it would surely upset that person and might even get me marked behind the scenes! It would bring trouble for no reason!

“Besides, this would break the rules of the Grand Talisman Palace, which always forbids meddling in worldly affairs. That little girl Pei Zhi would surely glare at me, her nose twitching, eyes flashing—truly vexing!

“You don’t know... our Grand Talisman Palace has survived since the ancient Daoist Court by staying out of worldly matters! That’s why both the Profound and Demonic paths respect and honor us. Not only do we have a reputation among the Eight Schools and Profound Sects, but even the six demonic sects are on friendly terms with us. They won’t dare attack!”

After speaking, Elder Fu Can exhaled a pure Yi wood azure qi toward the sky but hesitated.

The few times the Grand Talisman Palace intervened were out of necessity.

The most recent was during the “Great Calamity of Zhonglang”...

At that time, the Taoist rebel Lu Yusheng broke through the gale layer with boundless power and, with the help of several Buddhas and sages, resisted the “Nine Palaces Reversal Array of Taiyi.”

While the Eight Schools and Six Sects’ Dao Lords were hindered by Zhu Jingtian, Wuliang Guangtian, and other heavenly forces, unable to support their forms, Lu Yusheng was about to lift the entire Zhonglang Prefecture and escape beyond the universe.

In that moment, even the current Grand Talisman Palace leader had no choice but to act, unleashing a killing move formed by thirty-three Supreme Pure Talismans, ruthlessly severing half of Lu Yusheng’s primordial spirit.

Though, with the aid of Buddhas and sages, Lu Yusheng still escaped with half a primordial spirit, carrying Zhonglang Prefecture beyond Xu Du Tian.

But those thirty-three talismans delayed his cultivation by tens of thousands of years and nearly destroyed him. His wounds have yet to heal.

...

“If the Profound and Demonic paths weren’t constantly suspicious and unwilling to risk all, even with Zhu Jingtian and Wuliang Guangtian’s interference, Lu Yusheng might not have escaped Xu Du Tian alive. What a pity, what a pity,” Elder Fu Can sighed bitterly.

“Since the last intervention by the Grand Talisman Palace was such a disaster during the ‘Great Calamity of Zhonglang,’ shaking the entire universe, what can this little fellow compare to that?

“If I break the rules and tell him the truth, offending Chen Yushu, the future Dao Lord, and making him resent the Grand Talisman Palace, that would be unjustifiable...”

He was about to resolutely refuse but hesitated at the last moment.

“...This old man truly has a sharp tongue but a soft heart, so kind like me! How can I survive in this perilous Nine Provinces and Four Seas?!”

After turning over many thoughts in his mind and remaining silent for a long while, he suddenly slapped his thigh as if struck by inspiration.

“Once you use this Ten-Thousand-Mile Revealing Talisman, I will take the opportunity to explain everything clearly...

“Remember! Time is short! Just this once—if you miss it, it’ll be your fault!”

Chen Heng was slightly stunned.

Elder Fu Can no longer spoke and instead leapt up, merging into Chen Heng’s mind as a Daoist azure light.

...

Chen Heng reached out and gently touched his forehead, thoughtful.

In that instant, he felt a strange sensation—once his mind turned, he could trigger the talisman Elder Fu Can had transformed.

“Didn’t expect the old man to be willing to tell me the truth. Truly unexpected.”

After a moment, Chen Heng gathered the complex emotions in his eyes, cupped his hands, and sighed:

“Thank you, Elder, for your kindness.”

A faint “hmm” sounded in his mind, then all was still.

Chen Heng smiled, then took out the golden light divine talisman gifted by Wei Lingjiang, activating it on himself.

A burst of golden light flared, and he rose from the cushion, stretching his limbs. There was no discomfort or strange sensation.

Only when he looked into the mirror did his pupils briefly shimmer with a faint golden hue, but on closer inspection, it vanished.

The reflection’s eyes remained a deep ink-black abyss.

“The Golden Light Divine Talisman, rumored to be treasured even by True Spirit Immortals? I never imagined it would be used on me, a Qi cultivator, just to deal with a heavenly demon and a Profound Realm Huaiwu Cave Master.”

Chen Heng shook his head, not dwelling further.

He resumed sitting quietly on the meditation cushion, awaiting the Huaiwu Cave Master’s envoy.

Shortly after—about half an incense stick’s time—there was a knock on the door.

Chen Heng opened it to find a tall, ancient-looking, pale-faced cultivator in purple robes standing a few steps away.

“Greetings, High Cultivator,” Chen Heng bowed respectfully.

This was Chai Zhonghong, the second disciple of the Huaiwu Cave Master, a high-level Purple Mansion cultivator.

After Yuan Yangsheng’s escape, Chai Zhonghong had visited Chen Heng repeatedly, and they had become familiar faces.

“Brother Chen, no need for formality,” Chai Zhonghong smiled. “I’ve come to invite you and the other top three to attend the lecture. The carriage is ready outside. Please follow me.”

“I understand,” Chen Heng replied, shutting the door and smiling.

Though the lecture was an hour early, Chai Zhonghong did not question it and seemed somewhat surprised, his smile widening.

“That idiot probably thinks he’s going to get an extra hour of preaching, how laughable!”

He sneered inwardly but maintained a calm expression, gesturing for Chen Heng to follow.

Before they could take a few steps, footsteps echoed from the long staircase.

Wei Lingjiang glanced at the two from the corridor, frowning slightly.

“Wasn’t it supposed to start at the Shen hour? Why so early?” she thought.

“Senior Sister,” Chen Heng said, somewhat surprised to see her.

Chai Zhonghong glanced at Wei Lingjiang, nodded slightly, and was about to descend when Wei Lingjiang stopped him.

“High Cultivator, Brother Chen and I have some matters to discuss. Could you allow us a moment?”

“After the lecture, Brother Chen will return. This lady—”

“We’re Dao partners. There are private matters to discuss,” Wei Lingjiang said calmly.

Chai Zhonghong, initially ready to refuse, was surprised by this. Looking at Wei Lingjiang and then at the expressionless Chen Heng behind her, he suddenly understood and smiled, bowing before descending.

“Please take your time, but do hurry—don’t keep the master waiting.”

His footsteps gradually faded and disappeared.

Silence filled the room for several moments.

“You—”

“Senior Sister was talking nonsense again,” Chen Heng said lightly.

Hearing this, Wei Lingjiang glared at him and quietly clenched her teeth.

[End of text.]