Chen Shi walked around Saintess Xuan and ca to stand behind her. He picked up his clothes from the chair and began putting them on, one piece at a ti. "Xuanxuan," he said, "what brings you here today?"
Saintess Xuan turned around and watched him get dressed, a smile on her face. "It's been nearly half a year since we parted at Great South Lake. You and I can be considered old acquaintances, can't I co visit you for no reason? What were you practicing just now?"
Chen Shi fastened his belt. "I fought with my father. I couldn't beat him, so I need to practice more. I can't cultivate freely at ho, and the only place I can go is the Guangji Treasury, so I practice there. What I was performing just now was a body refinent thod from the Minor Tribulation Salvation Formula."
This ti, he had comprehended various body refinent thods from the True King's Tomb, extracted the combat techniques within them, and after gaining a thorough understanding, was now testing them out one by one here.
Saintess Xuan exclaid in surprise, "The Minor Tribulation Salvation Formula? That's a secret technique from the Li Family's 'Yi'an Hall Collection'! It's a thod only the main lineage of the Li Family's Sect Leader can cultivate! How did you learn it?"
Chen Shi was taken aback. "The Li Family also has this technique?"
Saintess Xuan nodded repeatedly. "The Li Family would absolutely never allow this technique to be transmitted outside the family. Even if it were accidentally leaked, they would do everything in their power to retrieve it! Do you know how they retrieve it?"
Her expression turned solemn. "They would grind the cultivator's bones to dust, obliterate their form and spirit, and beat them until their soul scatters! If soone else so much as lays eyes on this technique, they not only gouge out the eyes, but also dig out the brain and heart to prevent any further leakage!"
Chen Shi was utterly astonished. "That serious?"
Saintess Xuan's face grew even more serious, looking at him as if he had committed a major cri. "Where did you steal it from? You should repent!"
Chen Shi laughed. "My Minor Tribulation Salvation Formula didn't co from the Li Family. It's a family heirloom."
Saintess Xuan was speechless with frustration. "Your family heirloom? You're still being stubborn! When the Li Family's Ancestor beats you to death, let's see if you're still stubborn then!"
Chen Shi chuckled. "It really is a family heirloom. The techniques in my family's 'The Ten Books of Cultivation' can be cultivated all the way to the Ascension Realm. Besides this technique, there are nine other similar ones."
Saintess Xuan's heart skipped a beat, and she stamred, "The Li Family's 'Minor Tribulation Salvation Formula'... I think it can only be cultivated to the Great Ascension Realm..."
Chen Shi said happily, "Then it's fine! My family's Minor Tribulation Salvation Formula definitely has no relation to theirs."
Saintess Xuan imdiately began to worry for him.
If the secret, non-transmissible technique of the Li Family's main lineage could only reach the Great Ascension Realm, while Chen Shi's could reach the Ascension Realm, how could the Li Family tolerate him if they found out?
"The body refinent in the Minor Tribulation Salvation Formula isn't actually that great. It can only be considered second-rate, not as good as the Nine Heavens Tempering from the Xiao Lang Imperial Chapter Technique that I cultivate."
Chen Shi continued, "I cultivate this thod thinking that stones from other hills may serve to polish the jade of this one. Since this technique could cause trouble, I simply won't practice it in front of others."
"Second-rate?"
Saintess Xuan was deeply shaken. The body refinent thod of the Minor Tribulation Salvation Formula could only be considered second-rate?
What she didn't know was that before she arrived, Chen Shi had also practiced the Peacock Ming Wang Golden Body from the Treasure Moonlight Peacock Ming Wang Mantra, the Supre Diamond Wonderful Vehicle Body from the Great King Sutra, and the Maha-Paramita Ten Dharma Accomplishnt Golden Body from the Subli Bodhicitta Sutra.
And these three techniques were all top-tier golden body thods from the Bodhi Monastery!
In Chen Shi's mind, these three golden body thods were still only second-rate.
Suppressing her shock, Saintess Xuan said, "Chen Shi, you killed Shen Hongniang, who served under the Young Master. You've already offended him."
Chen Shi shook his head. "No, I haven't."
Saintess Xuan said, "Shen Hongniang was a plump woman who habitually sat in a sedan chair. She arranged for people from the Matchmaker House to buy many pregnant won and livestock to ambush you on the road."
Chen Shi suddenly understood and laughed. "So it was them. Yes, I killed them. Are you here on behalf of the authorities?"
Saintess Xuan shook her head. "No. I ca to tell you that the Young Master is determined to win the title of Top Scholar this ti. Since you killed Shen Hongniang, you are in the wrong. Don't compete with him for the Top Scholar position."
Chen Shi was puzzled. "Why does killing Shen Hongniang an I can't compete with him for the Top Scholar?"
Saintess Xuan stared at him. "You don't agree?"
Chen Shi shook his head. "I don't agree."
Saintess Xuan breathed a sigh of relief and smiled. "If you don't agree, I have no way to make you change your mind, so I'll just have to go back and report my failure. I'm leaving!"
She turned to leave, but Chen Shi called out to stop her. "Since I don't agree, aren't you going to try to force ?"
Saintess Xuan smiled sweetly. "How should I force you?"
Chen Shi suggested, "You could break my legs, or severely injure my Nascent Soul, or poison , or use so other thod to prevent from competing with the Young Master."
Saintess Xuan looked into his eyes. They sparkled with excitent and a restless, eager light, as if he really wanted to find soone to fight. She imdiately felt a faint pain in her lower abdon and the back of her head and quickly said, "My Buddhist Sect emphasizes fate. Since you don't agree, how could I force you? I'm leaving!"
She turned and walked away. Behind her ca Chen Shi's sigh of regret.
Saintess Xuan stopped. Seeing her pause, Chen Shi couldn't help but show an expectant look and smiled. "Has Xuanxuan changed her mind? I can let you prepare first, and then we can have another match. Last ti, didn't you say I didn't give you a chance to make a move? This ti, I'll give you the opportunity!"
He had been lectured by Chen Tang several tis these past few days. Each ti, before his moves could unleash their full power, Chen Tang would intercept them. He deeply understood the frustration Saintess Xuan must have felt when she encountered him before.
Saintess Xuan turned her head and shouted loudly, "Benefactor Chen, if I offer you my physical body as alms, will you give up competing for the Top Scholar?"
They were over ten zhang apart. Her voice reached Chen Shi's ears, and he also shouted back loudly, "What is 'offering the physical body as alms'?"
Saintess Xuan shouted, "It ans pledging myself to you!"
Chen Shi shouted back, "I don't agree! I still want to compete for the Top Scholar! I want to fight for the pride of scholars from the countryside! And I'm not lacking for a wife! I've saved up a lot of money. When I return to my hotown, I can marry many wives! Xuanxuan, thank you for the offer!"
Saintess Xuan shouted, "I understand! If soone invites you to the Little Golden Flower Temple, don't go!"
Chen Shi shouted, "Okay! I won't go!"
Saintess Xuan shouted, "I'm going back now. You keep practicing!"
She waved her hand. Chen Shi also waved back.
A smile remained on Saintess Xuan's plump, round face as she left the Guangji Treasury.
Walking on the post road outside the Guangji Treasury, the wind blew, and dandelions by the roadside danced in the breeze, spinning and floating upwards.
She looked up at the drifting dandelions. Tears stread down her face like a broken string.
At this mont, she understood what it felt like to have feelings for soone.
Unfortunately, she had been rejected.
She didn't want to stay in the Western Capital anymore. She wanted to return to the Bodhi Monastery.
She wanted to go back and tell Elder Miaoyin that she now understood what it felt like to be moved by affection, and why severing this affection could enhance one's Buddhist cultivation.
But, Master, what should one do when the other party hasn't developed feelings, and only you have?
Master, please teach , how can I sever it?
Chen Shi took off his clothes again and continued practicing, continuing to test the various body refinent thods from the True King's Tomb's unique techniques, tempering his physical body.
Saintess Xuan's confession was rely an interfering noise that disrupted his practice. It was quickly cast aside, his mind becoming pure and single-focused, free from disturbance again. Of course, he didn't even know it was a confession.
The True King's Tomb contained a vast array of unique techniques. The various body refinent thods each had their own strengths. Techniques of lower levels were not without their rits.
And the Xiao Lang Imperial Chapter Technique was not suprely perfect either; it also had its flaws.
Chen Shi's goal in this cultivation session was to temper every aspect of himself to the extre, to bring his body to the level of a Dao Body as described in the Xiao Lang Imperial Chapter Technique. With this Dao Body, he would break Chen Tang's ability to anticipate his opponent's moves and drive him out of the main hall!
In the afternoon, Black Pot's barking sounded, and only then did he stop, beginning the process of returning the fire to the source.
Above his head and behind his brain, the Six Layers of Heaven retracted one after another, entering his body. His muscles and sinews throughout his body continuously swelled and twitched. Divine light shone upon his entire being, his body, hair, and skin appearing like beautiful jade.
After a mont, these extraordinary phenona gradually faded, and he returned to normal.
This was the process of returning the fire to the source.
Even when cultivating an immortal technique like the Xiao Lang Imperial Chapter Technique, this step could not be omitted.
Chen Shi put on his clothes, went to the well at the Guangji Treasury to draw a bucket of water, washed his face, boarded the Wooden Cart, and set off for the Western Capital.
The sky was not yet dark. The wind stirred so dandelions, sending them floating into the sky.
Chen Shi watched these drifting dandelions, his mind soaring with them. "I'll try again tonight. Even if I can't beat Chen Tang out, at least I can sleep well."
"Brother, brother, could you give a ride?" A young Daoist stood by the roadside, waving to him with a full-faced smile.
Chen Shi stopped the cart. "So it's Yu Lingzi. Where does the Daoist intend to go?"
The young Daoist said in surprise, "Brother, you recognize ?"
Chen Shi smiled. "When you entered the city with the Young Master, you were sitting on a lotus throne carried by a deer. I was watching from below. There was a passerby next to who called out your na."
Yu Lingzi laughed. "So that's how it is. I intend to enter the Western Capital city. I wonder if it's on your way?"
Chen Shi said gladly, "It's on the way. Please get on the cart, Daoist."
The Wooden Cart was quite high and required climbing. Chen Shi extended his hand. Yu Lingzi grabbed it, and both exerted force. Yu Lingzi was pulled onto the cart. He rubbed his own hand and smiled. "Brother Chen, you're really strong."
Chen Shi looked at his own hand, which had been squeezed white, and smiled. "The Daoist's strength is no small matter either."
Black Pot obediently jumped down from the Wooden Cart and began trotting ahead of the vehicle. Assessing the situation, it felt staying on the cart would likely end badly, so it got off early.
Yu Lingzi sat cross-legged opposite Chen Shi, looking him in the eye.
Chen Shi t his gaze with a smile.
The Wooden Cart rumbled along, gradually picking up speed.
Yu Lingzi smiled and said, "Brother Chen, do you know of my Tai Hua Qing Palace?"
Chen Shi said, "I've heard of it. It's said to be a holy land of the Daoist Sect, but I don't know much about it."
Yu Lingzi said, "Back when the Three Treasures Eunuch led the Ming treasure ship fleet into the Sea of Darkness, my Tai Hua Qing Palace was already on the ships. There were eighteen Daoists in total. The eighteen Daoists of Tai Hua Qing Palace followed the Three Treasures Eunuch ashore on the Western Ox New Continent. Seeing this place overrun with evil spirits and demons everywhere, the eighteen Daoists respectfully invited the Ancestral Master's morial Tablet, established the Three Pure Doctrines, and requested the Ancestral Master's descent. They fought side by side with the Ming Dynasty warriors. Three years later, only three of the eighteen Daoists remained."
He spoke of Tai Hua Qing Palace's history. "The three Daoists, covered in blood, fought their way into the heart of the Western Ox New Continent, where demonic energy was strongest. They pacified the hordes of demons and erected the Ancestral Master's morial Tablet on a naless desolate mountain, guarding it for forty-nine days. During those forty-nine days, countless demon lords and evil spirits attacked the mountain, seeking to bathe it in blood. But they still held their ground. Later, Emperor Chengzu bestowed rewards and nad this mountain. It's called Western Taihua Mountain, the holy land of our Daoist Sect's Tai Hua Qing Palace."
Chen Shi listened, his blood boiling with excitent, wishing he could return to those tis to witness the sight of the eighteen Daoists pacifying the demon hordes.
Yu Lingzi continued, "Tai Hua also has its origins. Taihua Mountain is also called Hua Mountain. Originally, it was the Western Peak among the Five Sacred Mountains of the Divine Continent. The Daoist Sect established the Qing Palace on Taihua Mountain. Therefore, our Tai Hua Qing Palace is a branch of the Divine Continent's Daoist Sect. Throughout the generations, the Daoists of Qing Palace have never dared to forget their roots."
Chen Shi praised, "The Tai Hua lineage, passed down through generations, is truly admirable."
Yu Lingzi said, "Tai Hua Qing Palace is deeply aware that demons and evil spirits are constantly preparing to make a coback. Therefore, we Daoists cultivate day and night, always ready to subdue demons and defend the Dao. Our Tai Hua Qing Palace's skill in subduing demons is considered unparalleled in the Western Ox New Continent. I have heard, Brother Chen, that there is a demon causing trouble in your Sea of Consciousness, which erupted once in Gongzhou, endangering the common people there. If Brother Chen is willing to accompany to Tai Hua Qing Palace, my Tai Hua Qing Palace will spare no effort to help you eradicate all the demons within your body!"
Chen Shi inquired, "How many days would a trip to Tai Hua Qing Palace take?"
"Not too long. About fourteen or fifteen days to get there."
Chen Shi smiled. "In that case, after this round of the tropolitan Examination and the Palace Examination are over, I'll go to Tai Hua Qing Palace with you, Daoist."
Yu Lingzi shook his head and sighed. "After the Palace Examination, there won't be this opportunity anymore. Brother Chen, this chance only cos once, and that is today."
Chen Shi shook his head. "Then, I can only give up this opportunity."
Yu Lingzi frowned slightly and said patiently, "There are very few in this world who can help you eradicate the demons within you. Even the Thirteen Great Clans cannot do it. Even my Tai Hua Qing Palace must respectfully invite the Ancestral Master's morial Tablet to have complete confidence in helping you subdue the demons. This opportunity is extrely rare!"
Chen Shi said with utmost sincerity, "Daoist, there's one thing I don't understand. Since Tai Hua Qing Palace is a Daoist holy land, emphasizing tranquility and non-action, why are you acting as a lobbyist for the Young Master?"
Upon hearing this, Yu Lingzi imdiately knew Chen Shi had guessed his purpose. He didn't hide it and said solemnly, "Senior Brother Chen, it's not that I want to be a lobbyist for the Young Master, but that the world today needs the Young Master! Surely you've seen it too. The current court administration is burdened with long-standing abuses. The countryside is unbalanced, evil spirits run rampant, the imperial court is powerless, and the common people are impoverished and weak! Our Daoist Sect senses that the fortunes of the Western Ox New Continent are declining day by day! The Western Ox New Continent needs a True King, needs a transformation to change the situation! Now is the ti of Heavenly Change..."
As he spoke to this point, his expression changed slightly. He flicked his fingers repeatedly. In the wilderness, Heaven's Listeners one by one turned wooden, with branches sprouting from their heads, budding and quickly transforming into towering trees.
Yu Lingzi's eyes flickered. "What is Heavenly Change? It ans the heavens are changing! It ans the Celestial True Gods beyond are changing! Now is our best opportunity. Taking advantage of this changing heaven, we must select a True King, eliminate accumulated abuses, break free from shackles, and restore the prosperity of the True King's Era! This person..."
Chen Shi interrupted him, speaking calmly, "Why can't this person be ?"
Yu Lingzi's gaze turned cold. "You are not surnad Zhu."
He paused, then said, "If you are not surnad Zhu, you cannot rally people's hearts. There will be thirteen rebel kings opposing you. There will be all sorts of ambitious schers deluding the masses, declaring themselves kings. The world will fall into great chaos!"
He spoke passionately and earnestly, "For the sake of all living beings under heaven, I ask Brother Chen to give up the fight for the Top Scholar!"
Chen Shi tapped his fingers on the sideboard of the Wooden Cart. *Tap, tap.* Once, then again. Not fast, not slow, as if tapping on the heart, beating in rhythm with the heartbeat.
"Yu Lingzi, why do you have no confidence in the Young Master, believing he cannot defeat and seize the Top Scholar title?"
His fingers stopped. He looked directly into Yu Lingzi's eyes. "If he is the one chosen by destiny, why fear ?"
Chen Shi leaned back. "If he cannot even defeat , what qualification does he have to lead the world and defy fate?"
Yu Lingzi's expression darkened. "You have already killed Shen Hongniang. You should take a step back."
Chen Shi shook his head. "Shen Hongniang, I had to kill. The Young Master, I also have to kill. There is no room for compromise. Daoist, please return."
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