Chapter Forty-Four: A New Taoist Art

Page 1 of 3

Mahashanmiguan Meditation

Name: Chen Heng.

Techniques: Qi Armor Technique (Mastered), Chen Clan Archery (Mastered), Lesser Scarlet Dragon Sword Scripture (Proficient), Golden Avatar Substitution (Proficient), Blood Armor Technique (Adept), Green Satchel Medical Canon (Adept), Lesser Summoning Wind and Mist (Adept), Aurora Great Escape (—).

Magical Treasures: Thunderfire Pearl of Cataclysm (Mid-grade Talisman), Green Bamboo Spike (Low-grade Talisman), Essence Jade of Primordial Qi (Low-grade Talisman), Cloud-Surfing Boat (Low-grade Talisman), Universe Pouch (Low-grade Talisman), Stabilizing Inkstone (Low-grade Talisman), Battle Register (Secret Treasure).

Cultivation: Qi Refinement, Third Layer (Mystic Chamber Daoist, reciting the Supreme Genesis True Scripture).

...

This time, a few new lines appeared on the golden tome.

Golden Avatar Substitution and Lesser Summoning Wind and Mist were Daoist techniques Chen Heng acquired from the Rong Clan’s library, both ranked as lower-tier arts.

Among them, Golden Avatar Substitution was a calamity-diverting technique—

One must procure a piece of pure red gold, sculpt it in their own likeness, drip their blood onto its crown, and nurture it with embryonic breath for three days. Then, through secret methods of forging and gathering, a miniature golden effigy capable of diverting disaster can be created.

In times of peril, one can substitute the effigy for themselves, thus averting a calamity.

Yet, as a lower-tier technique, it can only divert disaster, not stave off death. Should the opponent’s power exceed one’s own, and their strike surpass the effigy’s limits, death remains inescapable.

Moreover, only one golden effigy may exist at a time, bound to the mind and spirit. Only after the previous one is destroyed can a new effigy be forged.

Otherwise, Chen Heng would have liked to craft hundreds or thousands of them to serve at his side...

If such were possible, even the strike of a supreme Purple Palace adept might be barely withstood.

The other technique, Lesser Summoning Wind and Mist, was the very Daoist art Rong Jin had once used against him. As the name suggests, it allows the summoning of wind and mist.

This lower-tier art holds some charm, yet Rong Jin’s cultivation method was of such low grade that even his embryonic breath—its quantity and nature—were mediocre.

Thus, when Chen Heng condensed his own embryonic breath onto a drop of wine, he easily broke the technique, almost killing him in the process.

Golden Avatar Substitution, Lesser Summoning Wind and Mist...

These were all Chen Heng gained from the Rong Clan’s library.

Though the library brimmed with tomes—such as the “Great Phoenix Spear and Reversal Combat Arts,” among dozens of similar techniques—these were little more than mundane martial skills, unworthy of the title of Daoist arts.

Alongside some military manuals, herbals, personal notes, and ink paintings, the collection seemed dazzling at first glance; yet, for Chen Heng, only “Golden Avatar Substitution” and “Lesser Summoning Wind and Mist” proved useful among the Daoist arts.

The rest merely served to broaden his horizons and inspire analogies.

As for the talisman “Stabilizing Inkstone,” it had belonged to Tong Jizhen, and, like the “Essence Jade of Primordial Qi,” was a defensive artifact—better than nothing.

Tong Jizhen’s universe pouch contained nothing but a hundred talisman coins and some men’s clothing—little profit gleaned from this victory.

...

“Rong Tuo allowed me into the library only because there were but two Daoist arts within—try as I might, no more could be found... But how could he know the wonders of my ‘Realm of True Reality’? His attempts at concealment are useless here.”

Chen Heng dispersed the swirling energy in his hand, smiling to himself.

Page 2 of 3

During his time within the Realm of True Reality, Chen Heng had originally intended to master “Golden Avatar Substitution” to perfection. Yet, by chance, the first technique he perfected was “Qi Armor Technique.”

And because the forging of golden effigies required repeated bloodletting, he also advanced “Blood Armor Technique” from novice to adept as a matter of course.

As for the newly acquired “Golden Avatar Substitution” and “Lesser Summoning Wind and Mist,” through repeated practice, he brought them up only to proficient and adept levels, respectively.

He gave it no further thought.

At a single thought, a figure began to take shape in the void, manifesting as Rong Xuantao.

“Of the Rong Clan’s three Qi Refinement practitioners, your visage is the most rugged and heroic, yet within you dwell rare integrity—I misjudged you.”

Chen Heng gazed at Rong Xuantao’s heart-image and smiled faintly.

Rong Tuo and the crown prince Rong Jin, though possessing Daoist arts not found in the library, all practiced dual-cultivation techniques requiring a Daoist priestess as partner to harmonize yin and yang and enter the path.

In this world, only he could see the visage of the golden cicada, and only he could enter the Realm of True Reality.

Chen Heng had little interest in such arts. Even if he wished to cultivate them, being alone made it impossible.

As for Rong Xuantao, an elder who seemed every inch the valiant warrior, he had somehow mastered a technique called “Manifesting the Dragon and Fish”—an illusion art that bewilders the mind and attacks the spirit.

This was rare indeed.

Once the heart-image formed, he did not hesitate, seizing an iron ruler as light flared beneath his feet.

Watching Rong Xuantao charge at him, Chen Heng simply hurled the Thunderfire Pearl of Cataclysm skyward. It resounded thunderously, unleashing a mighty peal of thunder.

After several dozen breaths, Chen Heng gradually dispelled his Qi Armor Technique...

On the scorched and shattered earth, Rong Xuantao’s broken body slowly faded, leaving behind only a radiant soul.

Chen Heng reached out, capturing the soul from afar. With one touch, a look of resignation crossed his face.

“Liu Yuanlong’s Eightfold Spear Technique... Is this but a mundane martial art?”

The randomness of soul drops was a troublesome matter.

It was utterly chaotic, beyond designation or control.

It would randomly select one art from the heart-image’s entire repertoire—be it Daoist magic or mundane skill.

“Again.”

Chen Heng summoned Rong Xuantao’s heart-image once more. This time, he brandished the Green Bamboo Spike, transforming it into a streak of emerald flame that attacked relentlessly. After dozens of exchanges, the spike pierced through Rong Xuantao’s Lesser Summoning Wind and Mist.

With a single thrust, it pierced his brow, erupting in a spray of blood.

“Lesser Summoning Wind and Mist? I already possess this.”

Seizing the soul and sensing it briefly, Chen Heng shook his head again.

...

Page 3 of 3

Cloud-Stepping Leap.

...

Minor Flowing Capture.

...

Plum Blossom Footwork.

...

Eighteen Halberd Strikes of the Breaking General.

...

Chen Heng no longer bothered to count how many times he had slain Rong Xuantao. The man was a true martial artist of the mortal realm, who, by chance, awakened his embryonic breath and later entered Qi Refinement.

His studies over half a lifetime were a tangled web—not just martial arts, but also the arts of warfare, troop management, and city defense.

As a massive hand, condensed from embryonic breath, descended, even with talismanic protection, Rong Xuantao’s spine bent sharply and his body sank deep.

Chen Heng employed no other methods, merely directing the massive hand to strike again and again, eventually shattering the spiritual light of the small black-iron shield atop Rong Xuantao’s head.

After dozens of such blows, the shield finally cracked and its light expired.

Deprived of its protection, Rong Xuantao was struck by the massive hand, instantly reduced to a bloody pulp, bones crushed to paste.

Picking up the scattered soul, Chen Heng immersed his spirit within.

His former careless expression vanished in an instant.

A faint smile played at his lips.

“Manifesting the Dragon and Fish—at last, it is mine!”

He pressed the soul to his body, and countless words surged into his mind, fusing into a complete Daoist technique.

After some time, he composed himself and, following the intricate points of the art, began to study it step by step.

Time passed swiftly.

Within a single day.

Suddenly sensing a subtle disturbance, Chen Heng withdrew from the Realm of True Reality.

And sure enough, before long—

A gentle knock sounded at the door, accompanied by Rong Jin’s voice:

“Sir, the appointed hour has come.”