Chapter Seventy-Three: The Former Plan

After a brief conversation in the room where the Cicada Transformation Three Arts were practiced, Xu Chen returned to his main body.

Inside the room, Xu Chen glanced at the two remaining jade slips containing blood and qi foundation techniques that he had yet to learn, and decided to leave them untouched.

“With this time, I might as well focus on the blood and qi foundation technique I originally selected,” he mused. “My approach to cultivating all attributes will finally come into play.”

Xu Chen drew a small notebook from his storage pouch, reviewing the blood and qi foundation techniques he had recorded within.

“Pagoda Exquisite Body, Hidden God Nine Methods, Five Element Body, Heaven Evolution Seven Forms, Spring Return Three Spirits—these are all blood and qi foundation techniques aligned with spell and supernatural abilities.”

“Night Roaming Three Spirits, Three Severings of the Sacred Soul, Four Phases of Treasure Soul, Holy Heart of Spiritual Spring, Nine Revolutions of Divine Soul—these belong to the spiritual and soul aspect of blood and qi foundation techniques.”

“Nine Lives of Vajra, Dragonfish Transformation Dance, Blood God Three Bodies, Six Cycles of Yin and Yang.”

“Adding the Star Body Foundation Method from my good brother, that makes fifteen blood and qi foundation techniques in total.”

“With my current experience in cultivating these methods, I could master them in less than a month at the least, or two months at most.”

“These should take about a year and a half to fully conquer—who knows how much blood and qi force that would yield?”

With this thought, Xu Chen took a flying beast directly toward the sect’s Library Pavilion.

He selected all fourteen blood and qi foundation techniques available in the Library Pavilion, seeking out the supervisor on duty.

“You again?” The slightly plump supervisor eyed Xu Chen, recalling past events.

“Supervisor, how many spirit coins for these fourteen blood and qi foundation technique jade slips? I’d like to take them back for reference.”

Xu Chen felt this excuse was perfect; he wanted to establish the persona of someone inventing his own blood and qi foundation technique.

The supervisor arched an eyebrow as he regarded the fourteen techniques Xu Chen had chosen.

“Are you aiming to invent your own blood and qi foundation technique like some senior brother?”

“I’d like to give it a try, and if not, I can still train myself,” Xu Chen replied.

“Well, I can’t stop someone so generous and well-funded. Every disciple may freely select three blood and qi foundation techniques; beyond that, it’s ten thousand spirit coins per technique.”

“Eleven hundred thousand spirit coins in total.”

The supervisor produced an array disk, activating it to emit a violet glow.

Xu Chen handed over eleven golden crystal cards to the supervisor.

“Impressive ability.”

The supervisor unlocked all fourteen jade slips in the array disk, then passed them to Xu Chen.

Xu Chen took his leave, departed the Library Pavilion, and summoned a flying spirit beast to carry him home.

“Time for secluded cultivation. I’ll strive to master all fourteen foundation techniques within a year.”

“Afterward, I’ll work on conquering the avatar of the Sacred Sun Treasure Aspect Body.”

As Xu Chen pondered, a giant spiritual vessel, hundreds of yards long, rose from afar and sailed out of the sect.

“What’s that spiritual vessel heading out for?” Xu Chen asked curiously.

“To the front lines. They say there’s a shortage again. This time, only disciples in Treasure Body and Void Return realms are going,” the lark replied, turning its head toward Xu Chen and fluttering its wings.

“Not just our sect’s disciples, but also masses of commoners are being relocated there to settle.”

“So even Treasure Body realm disciples from our sect must go to the front lines,” Xu Chen reflected.

“If I advance to Treasure Body realm, wouldn’t I have a chance to see my parents?” Xu Chen thought to himself.

The lark landed gently outside Xu Chen’s house, received its spirit coins, and took off.

On the small plaza, Niu Dali was wielding two battle axes.

Dusk was drawing near.

“Brother Niu, come dine with me,” Xu Chen invited.

“Sorry, Brother Xu, I’ve got plans today,” Niu Dali replied, grinning and gripping his massive axes.

“Perhaps another time, then.”

That night, Xu Chen reviewed the fourteen blood and qi foundation techniques, then took out the Star Body Foundation Method gifted by his good brother.

“The Star Body Foundation Method works best at night.”

“By day, I’ll cultivate the Pagoda Exquisite Body and observe how much blood and qi power spell-type foundation techniques can enhance.”

Having made his decision, Xu Chen put away the remaining jade slips.

He picked up the Star Body Foundation Method jade slip and pressed it to his brow.

By now, the sun had set, and the stars shimmered faintly in the night sky.

“Let’s see how the internal blood and qi foundation methods of the Imperial Path Palace measure up.”

The moment his consciousness entered the jade slip, Xu Chen felt as though he had arrived amid the stars.

A majestic, weighty force of the stars flowed around his awareness.

Gradually, the power of the stars attached itself to Xu Chen’s will, making him feel as if he bore the weight of a mountain.

His consciousness sank sharply, nearly losing its hold.

Just as he was about to be forced from this space, Xu Chen gritted his teeth and endured the star force pressing upon his will.

“If my will shatters, so be it—but I won’t yield!”

In this stellar space, Xu Chen’s will was repeatedly cleansed by the force of the stars.

He had no idea how much time had passed before suddenly feeling his awareness lighten.

The stars in this space shone ever more brilliantly, and a voice, mysterious and profound as the Dao itself, resounded.

“Ten thousand paths of the stars, source of the mysterious heavens, underworld…”

The Dao’s voice pierced directly into Xu Chen’s consciousness.

He did not know how long it lasted before he finally returned to himself, consciousness restored to his main body.

Xu Chen hurried outside, finding it was deep into the night.

At the mountain peak where he had previously cultivated the Sacred Sun Treasure Aspect Body, he resumed his meditation.

Under the dazzling stars, Xu Chen cultivated the Star Body Foundation Method.

Threads of star force, under the unique circulation of his blood and qi, entered his body.

Every strand of star force fused with his blood and qi, and Xu Chen felt as though another shackle had been placed upon him.

Not only his flesh, but even his soul began to sense traces of starlight.

He cultivated until midnight, absorbing all the star force he could, then returned home to sleep.

At dawn, Xu Chen sat cross-legged in his home training ground and began cultivating the Pagoda Exquisite Body.

This tranquil life of cultivation continued uninterrupted for half a month.

One day, Xu Chen discovered with surprise that both the Pagoda Exquisite Body and the Star Body Foundation Method had been mastered simultaneously.

Within the Sacred White Space, gazing at the two newly appeared doors, Xu Chen could scarcely believe it.

“Has my aptitude improved?”

Xu Chen stood between the two doors.

On the left was the Star Body Foundation Method—a silver door, somewhat battered and worn.

On the right was a wooden door, carved with exquisite patterns, and bearing a vivid, lifelike pagoda.

Xu Chen hesitated only briefly before pushing open the wooden door of the Pagoda Exquisite Body.

He entered a boundless plain dotted with colorful wildflowers.

His avatar stood within a small sea of flowers, neatly divided like slices of cake into five colors: red, yellow, green, blue, and gold.

Xu Chen drew the battle blade strapped to his back and smeared it with corrosive blood juice, then took out two potions to boost his strength.

“No need for that. I’m not skilled in combat—even if my blood and qi force surpass yours, I’m not your match,” the avatar said with a sigh.

“It’s a pity that in the blood and qi realm, spells cannot be used. Otherwise, I’d defeat you a hundred times over.”

“You’re being rather unfair,” the avatar’s tone was resentful, making Xu Chen feel a bit uncomfortable.