Chapter 28: Differences

Tu Shan Ge’s cry was filled with terror and dread, his expression frozen and bluish, clearly scared out of his wits. Chen Heng forced down the suspicion and shock in his heart, and asked lightly, “What did you see?”

When Tu Shan Ge finished reading aloud the text, Chen Heng’s face changed as well.

...

Blood River Chariot Treasure Wheel—

Take three hundred and sixty-five women of common birth, whose fates are stored in the registry, and make them conceive at the same yin year, yin month, and yin hour. During their pregnancy, feed them daily with a concoction boiled from brine, talc, mercury, red horse, and other medicinal materials, until the children are born. Then, with a sharp blade, open their bellies and remove the infants.

Such dead infants, inheriting the resentment from their mothers’ wombs, are perfectly suited to refining with native gold and blue-green ore. Temper them over a gentle flame for forty-nine days and nights, and at the end, a Blood River Chariot Treasure Wheel will be formed.

This wheel is especially adept at corrupting the flesh. Once struck by it, within a short time, the victim’s body will turn black and blue, then rot into a putrid pool of pus and blood. It can also dissolve the spiritual light of talismans and tools; even mid-grade talismanic instruments will have their spirits damaged in a contest, while lesser ones will collapse at a single blow.

Only top-grade talismanic instruments can withstand its filth for a time without fear.

In short, this is a true demonic secret treasure, vicious and sinister!

A secret treasure is a tool that cannot be improved by binding prohibitions or reshaping. Though difficult to refine and bound by many restrictions, its power is often astonishing.

“How can this be?” Chen Heng found Tu Shan Ge’s recitation utterly absurd.

What he had produced...

Wasn’t it supposed to be the “Divine House Axis Splendor Dao Sovereign’s Commentary on the Primordial True Canon”?

“You’re sure you didn’t misread it?”

“Absolutely. The words are right in front of me, sir—how could I be mistaken?” Tu Shan Ge scratched his head in confusion, but spoke with certainty.

...

Tu Shan Ge was at a loss, rising from his chair.

“Call your kin over. Have them all take a look,” Chen Heng said after a moment of silence.

Though puzzled, Tu Shan Ge complied.

Soon, a long line of foxes formed, each taking turns to read the “Divine House Axis Splendor Dao Sovereign’s Commentary on the Primordial True Canon,” but the result was always the same.

In their eyes, all they saw was the method for refining the Blood River Chariot Treasure Wheel.

Not a breathing technique.

Not a true mystic art.

But a genuine demonic forging method!

The foxes were terrified by the bloody words, yelping and scampering in panic.

Among them, Tu Shan Zhuang—the one who had tried to deceive Chen Heng with illusion and ended up with an arrow in his backside—was the most horrified.

He had witnessed Chen Heng’s ruthlessness firsthand and knew how merciless he could be. Tu Shan Zhuang suspected Chen Heng meant to slaughter them all and use them to forge a Blood River Chariot Treasure Wheel. He trembled like a leaf, wailed, and tried to clutch Chen Heng’s leg and sob.

Tu Shan Ge, quick-eyed and deft, grabbed him by the scruff and tossed the petrified fox aside, putting a stop to the commotion.

“How could this happen?” Chen Heng sat in silence, his thoughts surging.

It was clearly a breathing technique, yet...

“Is it because of this body? That must be it... This breathing technique was a relic left by my predecessor’s father. I recall Uncle Chen Zhan mentioning that before he died, he specifically instructed my predecessor to open the wooden box when he was older. Aside from a few odd talismans, the box contained this very breathing technique.”

Chen Heng closed his eyes and reflected.

“Is it because of shared blood that I alone can perceive the truth?”

If so, then it makes sense...

The Chen clan had always feared the book in the box, deeming it heretical, something not of the orthodox path.

At first, Chen Heng thought they misunderstood because of the dangers inherent in the breathing technique.

But now, he realized that, like the foxes, they probably saw only the method for refining the Blood River Chariot Treasure Wheel!

And because he happened to be reborn into this body, he alone, by chance, discovered the true inheritance left by his predecessor’s father.

“However, this raises questions about my predecessor’s father’s death... Since he had such means of concealment, how did he die? Or perhaps, is he even truly dead?”

His predecessor’s father had died young, supposedly from injuries to his spirit during a meditative practice, which aggravated old wounds and led to his early demise.

But with such abilities, and leaving behind a breathing technique of this caliber, what exactly had he envisioned in his final practice?

One must remember, the “Divine House Axis Splendor Dao Sovereign’s Commentary on the Primordial True Canon” is annotated personally by the Dao Sovereign, holding a status equal to the Chiming Sect’s “Chongxu True Virtue Dao Sovereign’s Commentary on the Divine Spirit Qi.”

Even among Chiming Sect disciples, few ever gained the true transmission of the latter.

Tu Shan Ge’s former master, for example, failed to glimpse the “Imperial Primal Jade Essence” and had to settle for cultivating the eighth-rank “Cave Spirit Primordial Fiend.”

“The deer sought by the magistrate is but a dream; the lost horse of the frontier brings fortune yet.” Chen Heng sighed quietly.

At that moment, he felt a soft, furry sensation in his palm.

He looked down.

Tu Shan Ningning was nuzzling him with her head. As he glanced over, the little fox wagged her tail and whimpered anxiously.

“Thank you, I’m quite all right.” A gentle smile appeared on Chen Heng’s handsome face, and he reached out to stroke her.

His fingers were fair and slender, their bone structure exquisite. The touch felt so soothing that Tu Shan Ningning tilted her chin in delight, only for his hand to brush lightly over her tail as well.

A sharp, indignant yelp—half angry, half shy—escaped the little fox. She arched her back in protest.

But Chen Heng had already withdrawn his gaze and ignored her.

Infuriated, Tu Shan Ningning leapt out the door, then looked back. Seeing that Chen Heng still paid her no mind, she grew even more agitated, clawing at the door with her tiny paws and sending wood chips flying everywhere.

“Thank you, Brother Tu Shan, for enlightening me today.” Chen Heng set aside his many thoughts, pressed his palms together in a gesture of respect, and Tu Shan Ge quickly stood to see him out.

“By the way, Brother Tu Shan, how many characters do you see on the cover of this book?” Chen Heng asked as he took out the “Divine House Axis Splendor Dao Sovereign’s Commentary on the Primordial True Canon” before leaving.

“Ah, eight characters... ‘Collected Works of the Blood River Chariot Treasure Wheel.’” Tu Shan Ge replied after a stunned pause.

“I see. Thank you.” Chen Heng tucked the book into his sleeve, cupped his hands in farewell, and left with no further doubts.

...

...

Days passed. In the blink of an eye, five more had gone by.

That day.

Chen Heng had just finished his cultivation within the Realm of True Law and returned to the outer world when he suddenly sensed something, stood up, and listened intently.

A moment later.

A sharp, piercing sound split the air, whistling shrilly and cracking through the sky.

Faintly, it seemed he could make out laughter and the murmur of conversation.