Chapter 168: Third Grade
Chapter 168: Third Grade
Mu Yuan also retrieved the Five Elements Great Curse, letting the Heavenly Fiend Child fight the Giant Spirit Transformation on his own, while he focused on consolidating this change!
Anyway, his Divine Sense mark was still in the Purple Lightning Dragon Curse, so he could see every detail of the battle between the two clearly, without needing to intervene personally.
He used his Divine Sense to control the sparks of fire in all the major acupoints of his body, gathering them into a small flame that danced below his energy sea and above his perineum, scorching the cauldron body!
This was the method of refining essence into qi!
The initial cultivation and the path of qi refinement all followed this principle.
Forming the elixir at the Sixth Layer of Qi Refining was just a small cauldron, producing a low-grade elixir.
Using the body as the cauldron, qi as the medicine, the heart as the fire, and the kidneys as the water!
It never departed from the human body itself. Therefore, qi refinement was about refining the body—a tangible method.
When the body achieved sufficient essence and qi, underwent the baptism of heaven and earth’s qi, survived the great tribulation, and tempered the immortal spirit qi, a great cauldron would form, producing a medium-grade elixir, refining qi into spirit. If successful, one would step into the Primordial Spirit Realm!
Thus, ancient cultivators pursued the formation of a single elixir, even without a primordial spirit.
After achieving the primordial spirit, harmonizing with the heaven and earth cauldron, internal qi released outward, external qi drawn inward, achieving unity of heaven and humanity, resulting in a high-grade elixir—this was the Primordial Spirit Unity with the Dao realm!
After Primordial Spirit Unity with the Dao came the highest state—Primordial Spirit Immortality!
Primordial Spirit Immortality formed the Great Void Cauldron, using the formless, boundless void as the cauldron and one’s innate nature as the crucible. The spirit merged with the supreme Great Dao, the self becoming the vast universe. There was no elixir anymore, only the spirit remained!
Therefore, the path of cultivation always revolved around the cauldron and crucible.
For the medium-grade elixir, the spirit served as the cauldron, qi as the medicine. The sun was fire, the moon was water.
For the high-grade elixir, the spirit served as the cauldron, nature as the medicine. Concentration was fire, wisdom was water.
At its core, it was still about the harmony of yin and yang, the Great Dao of the cauldron.
In the Buddhist Sect, cultivation emphasized precepts, concentration, and wisdom, pursuing the highest-grade elixir—the Primordial Spirit Unity with the Dao realm. Hence, ascetic practices, upholding precepts, and great wisdom were required.
Buddhism also spoke of the cauldron. Thus, the Golden Core and Buddha Relic shared the same meaning—the three teachings originally came from the same family!
Mu Yuan was unaware of many of these details. What he aimed to achieve now was the low-grade elixir: body as cauldron, qi as medicine, heart as fire, kidneys as water.
Flames ignited in all his major acupoints. In his Dantian cauldron body, the five qi energies swirled. The heart’s movement represented yang, the kidneys’ stillness represented water. He began to step into the true realm of cultivation.
To the onlookers, it appeared as if Mu Yuan and Su Yun had suddenly clashed, then both moved and abruptly withdrew their techniques!
Those unaware thought the two had failed to control their techniques and injured themselves, thus stopping their Divine Abilities.
Only those with broad knowledge or higher cultivation realms noticed the peculiar changes in them.
Mu Yuan’s body faintly shimmered with fiery light, displaying five colors. Su Yun was the same, but his fiery light resembled stars. They understood—this was the cauldron taking form, crossing the Void Refining Realm, and beginning to contemplate the Great Dao of the Golden Core.
A flicker of surprise passed through the green-robed scholar’s eyes, while You Longfei and Chen Huayi showed clear joy. The monk remained silent, his expression unchanged.
“This junior brother has great fortune. It seems our Longevity Palace will soon have a new Elixir Formation disciple!”
You Longfei transmitted his voice to Chen Huayi.
Chen Huayi smiled slightly but did not respond, focusing entirely on his battle with the monk!
Mu Yuan retrieved the Five Great Curses, no longer expending effort on the fight in the sky. Only the Purple Lightning Dragon Curse remained, locked in relentless combat with the Giant Spirit Transformation!
Emperor Jianming naturally knew nothing of these intricacies. Like others, he thought Mu Yuan was injured, though he noted Mu Yuan still maintained one Divine Ability in the sky. He sighed inwardly, “This young brother is truly steadfast!”
Mu Yuan paid no mind to others’ thoughts. He gathered his intent, and the colorful flames dancing outside his body slowly retracted inward. His Zhenqi circulated slowly through his channels, replenishing the Zhenqi in his acupoints and generating flames.
As his eyes opened and closed, Mu Yuan vaguely saw a brilliant white light shining, round like the moon, then transforming into a golden crescent. Dragons and tigers intertwined, lead and mercury took the form of clouds and water…
Finally, all the visions merged into a black and white sphere of interlocking yin and yang, spinning endlessly!
Mu Yuan knew this indicated his heart and kidneys had not yet connected, the fire and water not yet harmonized. When the yin-yang sphere before his eyes could transform into a radiant, crystalline Heavenly Palace, accompanied by the sounds of dragon roars and tiger cries, that would be the moment of his Elixir Formation!
However, there was still a long road ahead!
Mu Yuan let out a long breath, his Divine Sense returning to clarity. He kept only a sliver to control the furnace fire within his body. Lifting his head, he was truly startled by what he saw!
The battle between Chen Huayi and the monk had reached a fever pitch.
Vast Sanskrit chants, like the roar of a Buddha, echoed. Three heads spun rapidly. The Saha Pure Land appeared both real and illusory. In its center stood a massive Mount Sumeru, shining with fiery golden light, pressing down as if to crush the entire world beneath it.
The enormous Dragon Subduing Wood stood like a pillar holding up the sky. Accompanied by dragon roars, it drew all the Heavenly Dragons from the Saha World, transforming them into powerful green wood Zhenqi that swept out in all directions.
The residual waves of their clash were so fierce that even You Longfei and Tianxing dared not confront them directly!
The Giant Spirit Transformation was clearly no match for the Heavenly Fiend Child. It was trapped within a net of green blade radiance from the Mysterious Heaven Dragon Ascension. Dense blades of light continuously shaved off parts of the Giant Spirit’s body, causing bursts of immortal spirit qi to explode!
“Master, lend me a hand! Quickly use that Demon Banner to capture this Spirit Transformation!”
The Heavenly Fiend Child’s voice, sharp as a needle, pierced Mu Yuan’s ears!
“Right! Since the Nether Soul Banner can capture Heavenly Demons, it should be able to capture spirits too!”
The woman who had cast the “Divine Descent Art” now had fine beads of sweat on her forehead. She seemed to want to retract her Divine Ability, but the blade radiance had trapped the spirit, making it impossible to recall!
Mu Yuan did not hesitate. Shaking the Nether Soul Banner, a dark light shot skyward, instantly revealing a massive shadow of a Heavenly Demon!
As the Heavenly Demon appeared, shrouded in dark light, it immediately reached out and grabbed the Giant Spirit Transformation ensnared in the blade net!
The Giant Spirit Transformation roared, swinging its giant axe upward, but was restrained by the purple rainbow bindings unleashed by the Heavenly Fiind Child!
The Heavenly Demon seized the Giant Spirit Transformation. Its three heads spun, its eight arms flailed. One hammer blow smashed the Giant Spirit’s head apart.
Then, the dark Demon Banner swayed, instantly sucking the Giant Spirit inside!
The woman shuddered violently. Her black hair suddenly fluttered without wind, then fell limp. Her face turned deathly pale, though it was unclear what exactly happened to her.
After capturing the Giant Spirit, Mu Yuan retrieved the Nether Soul Banner. He noticed that on the banner’s surface, the Giant Spirit Transformation floated and sank, unlike the Heavenly Demons which seemed etched onto it.
Moreover, when Mu Yuan urged it with his own Zhenqi, the Giant Spirit Transformation showed no response. Instead, it consumed the power of the Heavenly Demon and the Nether Soul Banner just to suppress this Spirit Transformation!
“It seems the Nether Soul Banner isn’t well-suited for subduing spirits. The nine Demon Banners probably each have their unique uses!”
Mu Yuan nodded secretly to himself. He hadn’t planned on using this Demon Banner anyway. He intended to hand it over to Chu Yunfei when they met, letting him deal with the headache of collecting all nine banners!
Looking up again, only the monk, You Longfei, Chen Huayi, and Tianxing remained fighting in the sky!
Mo Huan had already dealt with his opponent and had also withdrawn. He knew his capabilities posed no threat to these four.
The Heavenly Fiend Child, having defeated a Spirit Transformation, seemed extremely excited. The Purple Lightning Dragon Curse, now merged with the Longevity Sword, was even more powerful!
Mu Yuan felt no regret. After all, once the Five Elements Great Curse fused together, its power would be immense. Although the Purple Lightning Dragon Curse seemed more formidable now, it was only due to being driven by the Longevity Sword and the Heavenly Fiend Child—its potential was actually lesser.
“Enough! The esteemed masters truly possess profound Magical Power. But now we are here for the matter of quelling demons. Let’s not deplete our Primordial Qi here!”
Emperor Jianming’s clear voice rang out across the scene.
“Heh!”
Mu Yuan sneered inwardly. These Cultivators certainly sought to improve themselves through these contests, but unwittingly, they also became a battlefield for the nations to compete.
In the sky above, the golden Buddha shone resplendently, the illusionary realm vast. Although Tiandu still had two participants, his own action of subduing the Giant Spirit, Mo Huan’s defeat of the Confucian disciple, and Su Yun’s repulsion of the Nine Heavens Demon-Slaying Lingguang made him stand out. Overall, the Heavenly Firmament delegation remained imposing, the most powerful among the nations!
The monk and the others also had no desire to continue fighting. Having experienced each other’s exquisite techniques, there was no need to fight to the death or determine a clear winner.
They all ceased simultaneously.
Chen Huayi withdrew his Dragon Subduing Wood and said to the monk with a smile, “Master, your wondrous methods truly command my respect!”
During the previous battle, Chen Huayi hadn’t gained any advantage. However, the Dragon Subduing Wood became more refined and pure through the combat. Struggling within the illusionary realm and contending with Buddhist Dharma, he subtly perceived some subtleties of Buddhist teachings. This would bring many benefits when he later faced the wind, thunder, and fire tribulations.
The monk wanted to convert people to the Buddhist Sect, so naturally, he offered some benefits to lure them.
The Taoist priest had accepted such benefits and was enticed, willingly joining the monk’s sect.
Chen Huayi also received benefits, but his original mind was firm; he wasn’t bewitched and gained purely from the experience.
The monk had subtly suffered a small loss, but it didn’t harm him. It was the ‘gifting roses, hands retain fragrance’ type—he was content to play the good guy and humbly exchanged a few words before letting the matter drop.
Where some lose out, others benefit.
Mu Yuan belonged to the latter category!
And those injured by Mu Yuan undoubtedly belonged to the former!
Although Mu Yuan felt somewhat ashamed, he knew it was unavoidable. If he could hold back, he naturally wouldn’t harm others, but once injury occurred, there was nothing to be done.
Next came the discussions among the nations about the campaign against the demons. After a long, tedious session, a plan was finally decided.
The nations would assemble their forces, with Cultivators accompanying them, marching south to eliminate the evil spirits.
The envoys from Tiandu and the Heavenly Dragon nations would then spend a few days enjoying themselves in Fanming City—after all, it was an official expense, so why be frugal? After resting for several days, they would return to their respective countries to report to their masters. Each nation would dispatch troops according to the agreed date, converging at the border.
Mu Yuan, however, had no further tasks. He only needed to wait for the day of deployment. During this time, he planned to act like the Mountain Elf and focus on refining the “Great Reincarnation Sword Formation of the Heavens Formation Diagram.” He would go into seclusion for a few days to recuperate his Zhenqi, stoke the furnace fire to achieve the “perfectly pure furnace fire” state, then temper his mind to advance towards Elixir Formation!