Chapter 145: The Nine Fundamental Scriptures

Outside the immortal cave, upon the practice grounds, Li Chengfu and Zong Changshou felt their scalps tingle slightly as they sensed the aura radiating from Xu Chen.

Even though Zong Changshou had already advanced to the Precious Body Realm, the moment he stepped within ten zhang of Xu Chen, he still felt as though his life and death were entirely controlled by the other.

"Junior Brother, you have reached the absolute limit of the Blood and Qi Realm." Li Chengfu felt that Xu Chen's current aura was even more terrifying than that of their Junior Grand Ancestor.

"I have, though lately I've just been continuously improving my natural aptitude," Xu Chen nodded.

"Junior Brother, a new Divine Weapon Battlefield has recently emerged in the Human Dao Realm. If you want to join, it costs one contribution point as an entry fee."

"It's said that obtaining a Divine Weapon inside grants ten contribution points upon leaving. Shall we team up and go check it out?" Li Chengfu asked excitedly.

"I've already been. Played over thirty matches and didn't manage to get a single Divine Weapon," Xu Chen said gloomily. Right now, his mind was entirely consumed by how to ignite the lamps of flesh and bone; he had no other thoughts whatsoever.

"Is it really that formidable? Even Junior Brother couldn't secure a Divine Weapon?" Zong Changshou was somewhat surprised.

"Cultivators of any realm can join the Divine Weapon Battlefield. You might even run into Golden Immortal grandhappenings inside."

"There are even more powerholders who have already stepped onto the Immortal Dao going in just to pretend to be novices."

"Unless these issues are fixed, going there is just a waste of contributions."

The mere memory of his and his good brother's miserable experiences in the Divine Weapon Battlefield made Xu Chen's blood and qi surge with indignation.

"I know, the Human Dao Realm administrators are currently making adjustments. It seems that after a bit more time, they will divide the battles by cultivation stages," Zong Changshou said.

"It looks like I'll just have to wait until the stage divisions are implemented before playing again." Since even his formidable thigh of a brother couldn't win a Divine Weapon in there, let alone carrying two dead weights like them, it was better to wait.

The three of them hadn't gathered together in a long time, so Xu Chen ordered dishes and fine wine from a restaurant in the Human Race Marketplace to be delivered directly to the mountain.

With their stomachs full of food and wine, all three reclined in lounging chairs and began to chat.

"Are there any recent news from the front lines?" Xu Chen gazed up at the sky while rocking gently in his chair. For nearly a month, he had devoted himself entirely to grinding away in the Saint White Space, paying almost no attention to external news.

"The fighting has been fierce. We hold the advantage in the battlefields below the Immortal Dao."

"However, above the Immortal Dao, we are at a disadvantage. There are simply too many alien races in the Holy Spirit Heavenly Court."

"Who knows how well our Human Race's secret division is progressing." Zong Changshou slowly recounted the intelligence he had recently gathered.

"Right now, in order to manufacture new equipment for the front lines, nearly forty percent of the Human Race's artifact refiners are busy forging new magical treasures and gear."

"Talismans masters, puppet masters, and formation masters have all received heavy orders."

"Among them, the talisman masters are the busiest, painting those cannon-shell runes until their talisman brushes are practically sparking."

"It's a pity we can't go take a look at the battlefield ourselves," Zong Changshou said with a hint of regret.

"There will eventually be an opportunity. Once all three of us advance to the Precious Body Realm, we can accept sect missions for transporting supplies, and that way we can catch a glimpse of the front lines," Li Chengfu said, his eyes glowing with excitement at the thought.

"Then you two will have to wait for me; I estimate I'll need a bit more time."

At this mention, Xu Chen suddenly remembered that he still hadn't selected the cultivation technique he would use after advancing to the Precious Body Realm, let alone any divine abilities.

"We will definitely wait for Junior Brother," the other two immediately declared.

"Right, do you have any good cultivation techniques to recommend?" Xu Chen asked.

"The top choice is the Human Emperor's Primordial Dao Source Scripture. It is orthodox and balanced, has no requirements for innate aptitude, and cultivating it within the territory of the Human Race will grant doubled blessings from human destiny."

"If Junior Brother wants an even better cultivation technique, you can go take a look in the Human Emperor's Great Dao Tower," Zong Changshou said.

"Do you guys from major aristocratic families all have exclusive family cultivation techniques?" Xu Chen asked curiously.

"We do. They are usually modified from ordinary techniques and come with corresponding divine abilities. When used together, they allow both overall strength and combat prowess to grow rapidly."

"They also provide certain methods and experiential guidance for breaking through bottlenecks when encountered."

"However, techniques from minor families like ours cannot compare to the top-tier techniques in the Human Emperor's Great Dao Tower," Li Chengfu said.

"There are also some fairly good cultivation techniques within various sects, but the techniques of our Great Stream Sect are all imported directly from the Human Emperor's Great Dao Tower."

"The only advantage is that they are slightly cheaper than those in the Human Emperor's Great Dao Tower, excluding those top-tier techniques that require human contributions to redeem," Zong Changshou added from the side.

Listening to their explanations, Xu Chen nodded slightly.

Seeing that the time had just passed noon, Xu Chen got up and headed toward the teleportation array on Sky Cloud Island.

Upon arriving at the Human Emperor's Great Dao Tower, Xu Chen was once again greeted with enthusiastic hospitality, escorted straight to the topmost floor.

The manager who came to receive Xu Chen this time looked at him with a trace of respectful awe. After all, the peak Blood and Qi Realm aura emanating from Xu Chen was simply too blinding to ignore.

"I'd like to select a cultivation technique. It's best if it's comprehensive, taking both body-refining and divine spells into account," Xu Chen said, seating himself once more in the sofa-like armchair.

"If the young friend desires a comprehensive technique, could you tell me which methods you used for your blood and qi foundation-building?"

"Quite a few. I'll just mention the main ones: the Stellar Body-Forging Method, the Nether Azure Moon, the Saintly Sun Precious-Aspect Body, and the ones I bought here—the Great Five Elements Body and the Candle Dragon's Nine Transformations."

Upon hearing these blood and qi foundation-building methods, the manager's expression grew increasingly strange, mixed with a hint of shock.

"Is there a problem?"

"No problem at all."

The manager extended a hand and tapped lightly in the air. Several light screens materialized before Xu Chen, just as they had last time.

"The Greater Zhou Starry Firmament Art: Not only can it absorb spiritual energy, but it can also absorb stellar power. The dantian condensed through it can transform into three hundred and sixty heavenly stars, with each star functioning as a miniature dantian capable of holding a portion of an ordinary person's spiritual energy."

"The Profound Heaven Indestructible Scripture: When practiced to its depths, it allows rebirth from a single drop of blood. The spiritual energy cultivated is domineering, and whether one walks the path of body-refining or divine spells, the might is exceptional."

"The Holy Sun and Profound Yin Art: Yin and Yang merge and blend, allowing the manifestation of sun and moon phenomena within the dantian, treating it as dual dantians. The might of Yin and Yang-related divine spells cultivated through it is vastly increased, and after stepping into the Immortal Dao, one can master the Yin-Yang Escape technique."

"The Ninefold Primordial Scripture: Gathering the Five Elements, Yin and Yang, Wind, and Thunder together, it consolidates the primordial body. The interior of the dantian manifests a nine-colored sea phenomenon, with dantian spiritual energy vast as an ocean. Upon entering the Immortal Dao, the nine-colored sea can nurture nine immortal artifacts and spiritual treasures."

"The Profound Yellow Creation: It operates according to the numbers of the cosmos, forming an entire world within the dantian. Upon entering the Immortal Dao, one glimpses immortality through profound and wondrous creation."

"These are the only techniques that meet the young friend's requirements while also harmonizing with those blood and qi foundation-building methods."

"The portion prior to the Immortal Dao costs 30 contribution points; the portion after the Immortal Dao costs 100 contribution points."

"Which one does the young friend wish to choose?" The manager looked at Xu Chen.

Xu Chen's gaze drifted back and forth among these five techniques. Theoretically, he could cultivate any of them without issue.

After weighing his options, Xu Chen's gaze locked onto the Ninefold Primordial Scripture; its imposing name also matched his requirements.

"The Ninefold Primordial Scripture."

A colorful light screen displaying the payment bill appeared before Xu Chen. With a click to complete the payment, three colorful jade slips floated down in front of him.

"Once you view these jade slips, it is equivalent to swearing an oath: if you transmit this cultivation technique to anyone in any form whatsoever, your body and soul will be utterly destroyed," the manager said solemnly.

"Understood."

Xu Chen nodded and accepted the jade slips. As for the divine abilities to be practiced in the Precious Body Realm, he decided to select them after actually reaching that realm.

Back at his immortal cave in the Great Stream Sect, Xu Chen suddenly heard the cry of the delivery crane. Leaving the cave, he looked up at the crane soaring in mid-air.

"Just drop it down."

A spatial box fell from the sky, bearing the emblem of the Human Dao Realm engraved upon it.

"Who sent this to me?" Xu Chen caught the spatial box, puzzled, and popped it open.

Inside the spatial box lay three purple crystal cards, a colorful fuzzy little ball, a miniature uniquely-shaped spiritual treasure boat, and a greeting card.

The only item here that Xu Chen recognized was the purple crystal card, each of which was equivalent to one million spirit coins.

Picking up the greeting card, Xu Chen suddenly realized this was the reward for breaking through the ninety-thousand-li mark on his Immortal Path ascent.

Not only these items, but an additional fifty human contribution points had already been deposited directly into his account.

"The Myriad-Garment As-You-Wish Ball can transform into all sorts of clothing."

"As for the spiritual treasure boat, it can automatically absorb the spiritual energy of heaven and earth and fly through the skies indefinitely."

"Such generous rewards." Xu Chen's eyes lit up. He gathered the items, returned to his immortal cave, and stepped once more into the Human Dao Realm.

He checked the rewards for milestones beyond the ninety-thousand-li mark.

"Beyond ninety thousand lis, the Blood and Qi Realm actually rewards ten human contribution points for every single li."

"If I wait until I ignite the lamps of flesh and bone and go through it again, wouldn't that mean..." Xu Chen muttered, his eyes glowing brightly.

Filled with overflowing motivation, Xu Chen entered the Saint White Space and put on a fireworks show.

Compared to previous fireworks shows, this one was much slower. Having crossed into the ten-dragon threshold, Xu Chen could now hold out for two breaths of time, and he faintly sensed the feeling of his blood and qi power condensing into substance and nearing a qualitative transformation.

After finishing his fireworks display, Xu Chen went to sleep.

When he woke up, he took an Yin-Yang fruit from his storage bag and swallowed it. This was the final course of treatment for improving his innate aptitude; in less than another month, his personal aptitude would surpass the spiritual grade.

As usual, upon waking, Xu Chen entered the Myriad Paths Peak of the Human Dao Realm to study Dao characters.

Through diligent study over this period, Xu Chen had initially mastered the 3,600 foundational Dao characters, and he could now barely make sense of some pure Daoist scriptures through a combination of deduction and guesswork.

While Xu Chen was diligently studying, Xu Gunjia was on the front lines, operating a large-scale puppet as he rampaged across the battlefield.

Relying on his sharp battlefield intuition, Xu Gunjia held a heavy spiritual treasure cannon in his puppet's hands, striking a vital target with every single shot.

"Hahahaha, exhilarating! Is this even fighting? This is just playing a game on the battlefield!"

"Truly magnificent!"

Xu Gunjia led a squad of heavy cannon puppets, dashing back and forth across various sectors of the battlefield.

After a battle on the front lines concluded, Xu Gunjia led his heavy cannon puppet squad back to the rear to rest.

"It's exhilarating all right, but the military merit awarded is a bit low. Still, it's understandable; after all, these puppets are far too precious. This is essentially fighting a war with massive piles of spirit coins." Xu Gunjia patted the thigh of the heavy cannon puppet, which was as thick as three people embracing.

At that very moment, a colossal thousand-zhang alien dharma image manifested in the sky above the rear camp, bringing down a fierce palm strike toward the ground below.

"I knew you'd try something underhanded."

A brilliant sword beam slashed forth from the void, revealing a sharp-eyed youth in white holding a sword. With a single slash, he shattered the descending palm strike, and with another, he thrust toward the thousand-zhang dharma image in the sky.

Four chapters have been published; continuation tomorrow.

Asking for monthly votes~

(End of this chapter)