Chapter Sixty-Seven: Innate Radiance of the Great Sun

Several days later.

Red Leaf Isle.

Inside a private chamber.

Spiritual energy surged around Chen Heng, and with every breath through his nose and mouth, explosive sounds burst forth like splitting candle flames. Gradually, the noise grew louder, akin to thunder rumbling, gathering strength to sweep away all obstacles before him, smashing everything into collapse.

For a moment, the entire room trembled faintly. Crimson beams and pillars shivered, dislodging barely visible dust, while the white porcelain tea set on the table nearby clinked and chimed like flowing water. Fortunately, every chamber was equipped with soundproof wards, so the commotion did not disturb the rest of others.

As the ragged breaths intensified, threads of lightning began to flicker in the air. Yet at its peak, the force suddenly ebbed, layer by layer diminishing...

After a few rises and falls of his chest, Chen Heng’s energy fell from the heights to the depths, the fierce aura transforming into a quiet, persistent flow, like water silently coursing through a ravine.

Moments later, his energy settled completely, his breathing nearly imperceptible, as if absent. Yet when silence reached its utmost, life returned again—like spring floods melting ice and snow, river waters rising.

Gradually, the chamber echoed once more with the thunderous sound of breath.

Between motion and stillness, Chen Heng’s energy fluctuated—sometimes billowing clouds and mist, sometimes concealed and hidden.

The apertures within his body coordinated with the cultivation method, guiding the flow of energy, moving and refining the pure spiritual qi from the outside world into his own vital breath, thereby advancing his path.

So passed another half a day.

Chen Heng slowly withdrew from meditation, opened his eyes, and gathered his energy, a look of reflection crossing his face.

“What an excellent ‘Thunderous Breaths Guidance Method’! With its help, the refining process is at least twice as efficient as before. The journey to the Golden Valley Market was truly worthwhile—the disciples of those great sects are certainly not ordinary!”

He rose from the mat and casually stretched, feeling every part of his body light and nimble, as if walking on clouds, filled with a sense of ease and freedom.

Even his spirit was refreshed, as though he had shattered the constraints before him and grown closer to the vast heavens.

With this cultivation session, he had finally advanced from the third to the fifth layer of the Qi Refinement stage, now only a step away from the sixth layer.

Not only had the total amount of vital breath in his body multiplied several times, but his combat strength had also increased accordingly.

Chen Heng considered that, even if his cultivation was only at the fifth layer of Qi Refinement and not yet complete, in the vast Golden Valley Market, those who could surpass him at this stage were probably no more than ten—perhaps even fewer.

If he encountered another demonic tide like before, he would be much more prepared, no longer so desperate, and able to reserve some strength.

...

“If I could reach True Qi before journeying to the Abyss, transforming my vital breath into ‘Primordial True Essence,’ my chances of survival would be much higher.”

Chen Heng shook his head.

Each layer of Qi Refinement required different amounts of vital breath—the further one progressed, the more was needed.

The newly acquired ‘Thunderous Breaths Guidance Method’ made this clear in its introduction:

If the amount needed for the first layer is a small cup, easily filled, the second layer is a water pouch, the third a clay basin, the fourth a soup cauldron, the fifth a spring pool...

Each layer required more vital breath than the last, stacking higher and higher.

By the ninth layer, it was like a lake or river, needing immense amounts of vital breath to achieve completion.

And that was only for ordinary True Qi. Chen Heng’s ‘Primordial True Essence’ was of the highest grade.

If ordinary True Qi required as much vital breath as a river, then ‘Primordial True Essence’ could only be compared to the vast northern seas.

Chen Heng had sold nearly all his talisman tools at Treasure Gathering Pavilion, keeping only three mid-grade talismans—Thunderfire Pearl, Purple Gold Demon-Breaking Hammer, and the Combined Cart—as well as one spatial pouch.

Even the Flowing Sky Ruler and Azure Maiden Painting were let go.

The talisman money gained, aside from a tenth reserved for buying flying swords, was all used for Qi Refinement.

Even so, it only pushed him from the third to the fifth layer—just two stages.

An ordinary Qi Refiner with such funds could easily reach the seventh or eighth layer, perhaps even complete the ninth.

Reflecting on this, Chen Heng felt a hint of regret.

The merchant houses of the southern region had been cowed by the ruthless measures of the Illuminated Sect, and now bought and sold cultivation methods with extreme caution, lest they fall into a trap.

Such caution hindered his ability to fully exploit his Law Domain.

For example, the ‘Thunderous Breaths Guidance Method’ regulated breathing, mobilized the organs, and accelerated the refinement of spiritual qi.

Without this technique, Chen Heng could not possibly refine so much talisman money in just a few days.

He had acquired it when returning from Treasure Gathering Pavilion, encountering a delegation from the Five Lights Sect on Red Leaf Isle.

Within the group, a Qi Refinement disciple was playing under the guidance of their elders, and Chen Heng had copied him, simulating the technique in his Law Domain.

After killing the Five Lights disciple dozens of times in simulation, most of his techniques had dropped, but the most useful to Chen Heng was still the ‘Thunderous Breaths Guidance Method.’

By manipulating the rhythm of breath to mobilize the internal organs, between motion and stillness, it acted like a great millstone, grinding the gathered spiritual qi into essence suitable for integration.

Such a technique, aiding Qi Refinement, would be worth no less than a mid-grade talisman with fifteen wards—perhaps even more.

...

Aside from cultivation, in recent days Chen Heng had searched throughout the Golden Valley Market, inviting countless Qi Refiners into his Law Domain, gaining an endless array of techniques.

Yet the southern region’s merchants remained wary, fearing the fate of ‘Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion’ and ‘Six Harmony Society,’ cutting off this avenue for profit.

Moreover, Chen Heng did not wish to expose his methods, so he set the matter aside for now.

“Yesterday I gained forty-three minor techniques, but only one mid-grade technique—‘Heart-Knot Binding’—whose origins are unclear. It’s evidently for lovers’ idle conversation and utterly useless to me, a waste of effort.”

Hands behind his back, Chen Heng walked to the window, pushing open the carved wooden sash to gaze over the shimmering waters, undulating like the sea.

At this hour, the moon hung high.

His chamber was at the southwestern edge of Red Leaf Isle; standing by the window, he could see the vast lake, round as a mirror. In the distance, several golden carp with red tails leapt from the water, shattering the reflected moon and stirring the clear waves.

The lake was named Floating Jade Lake because, under sunlight and mist, its waters gleamed brilliantly, shifting like broken jade—hence the name.

Though it was night, the moonlight was pure, the galaxy clear, the lake’s surface cold and blue, displaying a beauty different from daytime.

“Though I’ve acquired many techniques lately, few are truly suitable. As Manager Hao Qingyan of Treasure Gathering Pavilion said, most minor and mid-grade techniques are less powerful than talisman tools and far less convenient—”

Standing by the window, Chen Heng pondered silently.

These techniques not only lacked power compared to talisman tools, but also required tremendous effort to master—step by step, from minor achievement to full mastery.

Though he had the Law Domain, which equated to “ten days in the domain for one day in the real world,” he would not waste time perfecting mediocre techniques.

At most, he would learn a bit for experience, so that in the future he could break them easily if encountered.

After all, the Law Domain only allowed “ten days for one day,” not unlimited time.

He had heard that the Eight Sects and Six Orders possessed ‘Cave Heavens’ that could similarly manipulate the flow of time, similar in some ways to his own domain.

...

“The best techniques for me are those dangerously potent, where a single mistake means instant death, and whose power is extraordinary…”

Chen Heng gazed at the cold moonlit lake, thinking,

“Unfortunately, the only superior technique I possess is the ‘Aurora Grand Escape’ left by the previous master of Tushan Ge from the Illuminated Sect, which requires Silver Star Ore as a catalyst, and I cannot cultivate it without that.”

Silver Star Ore was refined from celestial essence, always extremely precious.

Only cultivators who could break through the fierce qi barrier and gather celestial essence—at least Great Masters—could obtain it, making it even rarer.

Over the past few days, Chen Heng had discreetly inquired about Silver Star Ore, but the answer was always the same: it was only occasionally sold in the northern region where the Illuminated Sect resided, and a piece the size of a fingertip cost thousands of talisman coins, often unavailable even at that price.

Upon hearing this, Chen Heng could only set aside his hopes and focus on seeking out Qi Refiners to copy them into his Law Domain in pursuit of techniques.

But after several days, though he collected many minor and mid-grade techniques, few were truly useful; the most beneficial remained the Five Lights Sect’s ‘Thunderous Breaths Guidance Method.’

As for superior techniques, he had not seen even one...

At this thought, Chen Heng shook his head.

Just then, a loud noise came from the neighboring room, followed by something heavy hitting the floor, and moments later, a snoring louder than thunder.

“Isn’t that Senior Sister’s room? What’s happening?”

Chen Heng hesitated and opened his door.

He saw a chubby girl lying in the corridor, sleeping sprawled out, oblivious to being thrown outside, drooling on the floor.

“Qingzhi? Thrown out because her snoring was too loud?”

Sensing movement, Qingzhi reached out instinctively, but Chen Heng stepped back and she grasped nothing.

Failing to catch anything, Qingzhi muttered sleepily, rolled over, and continued her slumber.

“You’re so noisy, there’s nothing to be done.”

Her snoring was even louder than the thunder from Chen Heng’s breathing technique—without the soundproof wards, no one in the building would get any rest.

Shaking his head, Chen Heng took a dark green crane cloak from his pouch and draped it over her, then left her be.

Closing the door, the thunderous snores were shut outside.

The moon had not yet sunk from the sky; it was the deep hours of night.

Chen Heng sat on the mat, took out another talisman coin, and resumed refining.

Only when daylight grew bright and the sun rose high did he finally finish, rising from the mat.

“It’s time to try my luck at the markets. Perhaps I’ll encounter more delegations from the major sects—if they have Qi Refinement disciples, all the better.”

From the dozens of masks in his pouch, he chose one different from yesterday, altered his energy with a dispersal technique, and strode out.

In the corridor, Qingzhi still snored, wrapped in his crane cloak.

Chen Heng chuckled, stepped over her feet, and left the inn, transforming into a streak of white light headed southwest toward an island, vanishing from sight.

...

Shortly after he left, Wei Lingjiang also opened her door.

Seeing Qingzhi still snoring in the corridor, she sighed, but her gaze lingered on the dark green crane cloak draped over the girl, pausing in surprise.

“This is…”

Chen Heng’s door was already tightly shut.

Wei Lingjiang hesitated for a long moment, hand raised to knock, then lowered it, silently collecting the cloak.

When Qingzhi was finally shaken awake, she found herself sleeping in the corridor and burst into a fury, only to be soothed by Wei Lingjiang’s promise of two extra meals that day, quickly turning her anger to joy.

“But…I slept here last night, didn’t I…”

Qingzhi looked puzzled. “Why wasn’t it cold at all?”

“Maybe you’re just thick-skinned,” replied Wei Lingjiang without changing expression.

Qingzhi tried to headbutt her, but Wei Lingjiang dodged and then swept her up in her arms.

“Wait, are we going out to play?”

Seeing Wei Lingjiang carrying her out of the inn, Qingzhi’s eyes sparkled.

“Let’s eat those venison buns from the other day! I’m starving!”

“I had a sudden premonition… as if…”

Wei Lingjiang frowned. “As if something awaits us to the southwest.”

“Nonsense! This is just your spirit body at Qi Refinement, not your true body at the third level of Mystery!”

Qingzhi laughed, but her laughter was quickly silenced as Wei Lingjiang covered her mouth.

Then, a streak of blue light shot skyward, heading southwest.

...

...

Jiyan Isle.

Bustling crowds.

Before a large fish stall.

After wandering for a while, Chen Heng suddenly stopped, staring fixedly at a scaleless white fish.

Moments ago, he had instinctively swept it with the ‘Mahā Secret Light Meditation,’ and unexpectedly discovered this creature.

[Superior Technique: Innate Solar Divine Light]—

The scaleless white fish swam freely in the live water; even sensing with vital breath, it appeared entirely flesh and bone, without a trace of anything unusual.

Yet clearly—

“You’ve been watching for a while, senior. Want to buy this fish? It’s a Whitesand Spirit Fish, the most tender and delicious, with no big bones.”

The stall owner, a young man just growing his first beard, smiled as he lifted it from the water.

“If you want it, it’s just half a talisman coin!”

...

Meanwhile,

Elsewhere.

Wei Lingjiang held a rusty iron jar, her expression dazed.

“This—”

“That jar was left by my old wife; I heard it once had two wards as a talisman tool, but now it’s broken!”

The jar’s owner was an old man with a head of white hair. He set aside his pipe, showing his crooked yellow teeth as he smiled.

“If you’re sincere, half a talisman coin and it’s yours!”

“Isn’t that price too low?”

Wei Lingjiang hesitated.

For a moment, she felt as though the old man’s manner reminded her of a senior she knew.

But the feeling was fleeting and absurd, and Wei Lingjiang dismissed it.

“Not low at all! Half a talisman coin is just right!”

The old man laughed again. “I only sell to those fated…”

...

...

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