Chapter 606: “Myriad Phenomena Scripture”
Qing Chi was suddenly touched at the most painful place in her heart. Her face flushed red with anger, her eyes blazing as she abruptly turned her head toward the speaker.
She saw a figure wearing a bamboo hat, with a tall and burly build, clad in gray-silver scale armor and holding a long-handled fish spear.
Qing Chi was petite, so when she looked up she could clearly see the face beneath the hat.
At first glance, she froze slightly. The face beneath the hat was not a human face, but that of a carp.
Although it looked like a carp, a pair of silver-white dragon horns grew from its forehead.
It seemed to be a carp demon carrying dragon blood.
Seeing Qing Chi’s furious expression, the carp demon became somewhat flustered and waved his hands.
“D-Did I guess wrong?”
Qing Chi clenched her teeth and did not admit anything. Instead, she grew even angrier.
“Who are you?”
The gray-scaled carp demon immediately replied, “M-My name is Li Xiangshang. I-I was sent here by my Dragon Lord.”
Qing Chi’s heart trembled.
The ruler of the Underworld was called a Lord, while the master of a nation was called a king. A Dragon Lord, however, ruled over the waters and held extraordinary authority—only powerful cultivators could take such a position.
Qing Chi suppressed her anger.
“And which Dragon Lord is your master?”
Li Xiangshang immediately revealed a look of heartfelt reverence.
“My lord is known as the White-Headed Dragon Lord. He governs—”
Qing Chi did not want to hear the rest of his boasting and cut him off directly.
“I know. He governs half of the Cang River.”
Li Xiangshang let out an “Ah.” Though interrupted, he was not angry and scratched the back of his head.
“You know? That’s great.”
Despite being a Golden Core cultivator, he showed no airs while facing Qing Chi, who was only at the Foundation Establishment stage. Instead, he behaved timidly, clearly inexperienced and nervous.
Qing Chi’s anger subsided considerably. She looked him up and down, and a guess arose in her heart. A hint of delight appeared as she asked,
“Your Dragon Lord sent Golden Yangzi before, and now he has sent you. Did you come this time to seize control of the Golden Swallow Fork as well?”
Qing Chi cared deeply about Jiao Ma and had gathered a great deal of information about the Strong Yang Courtyard.
Recently, the Strong Yang Courtyard had arranged the Spirit Contract Treasure Refining Formation. It had also suffered two assassination attempts in succession, losing two important Male Consorts. An insider deliberately spread the news, causing an uproar throughout the city.
Qing Chi knew these matters well and also knew that the person with the greatest chance of controlling the Golden Swallow Fork had been Golden Yangzi.
Yet Golden Yangzi had already been assassinated earlier by the insider.
Golden Yangzi came from the Seven Feather Alliance, but he had been arranged by the White-Headed Dragon Lord to come to White Paper Immortal City.
Now that Qing Chi saw Li Xiangshang entering the city as well, she naturally guessed that he had also been sent to compete for the position of the new master of the Golden Swallow Fork.
This made Qing Chi sincerely happy.
She had been extremely worried that her lover Jiao Ma might stand out due to his cultivation method and become the new master of the Golden Swallow Fork, thereby confirming his identity as a Male Consort.
If Li Xiangshang were to control the Golden Swallow Fork, that potential path of advancement for Jiao Ma would be cut off—essentially helping Qing Chi.
However, Li Xiangshang shook his head.
“I am a carp transforming into a flood dragon, cultivating the ‘Ascending Dragon Transformation’ personally bestowed by my master. Even though I am male, my attribute is water, which does not suit the nature of the Golden Swallow Fork.”
“But little girl, you guessed half correctly.”
“I came this time carrying a great treasure, to select someone and help them take control of the Golden Swallow Fork.”
“Little girl, does your sweetheart want the Golden Swallow Fork? It’s a great fortune. I can help you.”
Qing Chi’s eyebrows shot up as she rolled up her sleeves.
“You shameless demon! How dare you!!!”
Li Xiangshang was startled and hurriedly stepped back several paces.
“Little girl, don’t fight, don’t fight! Fighting isn’t allowed inside this Immortal City.”
“I’ll bully you because you’re an outsider!” Qing Chi sneered, flames igniting around her fists as she punched forward.
Her fist struck Li Xiangshang’s chest with a dull thud.
Green flames burned against the silver-gray scales, but quickly died out.
Li Xiangshang’s aura surged as mana circulated throughout his body. He stood unharmed, not even a scratch on him.
Qing Chi’s pupils shrank slightly.
She was shocked by Li Xiangshang’s combat strength.
Ordinary Golden Core cultivators could not remain so calm and composed.
More importantly, she discovered that Li Xiangshang could circulate his cultivation technique inside the Immortal City without being suppressed by the city’s grand formation.
What did that mean?
It meant that before coming to the Strong Yang Courtyard, Li Xiangshang must have already met the high authorities of the Immortal City, obtained their permission, and had been recognized as an ally of White Paper Immortal City!
Qing Chi thought to herself:
“This is bad. The White Paper City Lord must have reached an agreement with the White-Headed Dragon Lord. The Dragon Lord has stepped in to assist.”
Although Qing Chi had a fiery temper and a seductive figure, she knew when a situation was hopeless and immediately stopped.
“I’m warning you seriously—stay away from my Jiao Ma. I don’t want him getting that Golden Swallow Fork. He belongs to me! I’m going to take him out of the Strong Yang Courtyard.”
Li Xiangshang let out an “Ah” and scratched his smooth head.
“So that’s how it is.”
He suddenly understood and waved his hands apologetically.
“I misunderstood.”
“Then I promise you I won’t help your man.”
“But if he obtains the Golden Swallow Fork by his own ability, that has nothing to do with me.”
Qing Chi narrowed her eyes and studied him carefully. Seeing that he admitted his mistake sincerely, without any arrogance, she snorted.
“You’d better keep your word.”
Li Xiangshang nodded repeatedly.
“Don’t worry. I swear.”
After saying that, he truly made a poisonous oath.
Qing Chi revealed a strange expression. She felt that Li Xiangshang seemed simple-minded, like a cultivator who had rarely interacted with outsiders.
People like that were actually quite common.
Especially the children of high-ranking families or super sects. Protected by their elders, they never lacked cultivation resources growing up. They devoted themselves entirely to cultivation and rarely socialized. Only after gaining the strength to protect themselves would they be released to gain experience.
At that moment, Li Xiangshang gave Qing Chi exactly that feeling.
After finishing the oath, Li Xiangshang looked at her seriously.
“So, little girl, are you reassured now?”
Qing Chi’s tone softened somewhat.
“Who are you calling little girl? Don’t call me that. I have a name. It’s Qing Chi.”
Li Xiangshang replied, “Huh? You’re far younger than me. I’m older than your grandfather. Isn’t calling you little girl proper etiquette?”
Qing Chi pressed a hand to her forehead.
“Anyway, just call me Qing Chi. And remember the oath you just made.”
“I’ll teach you something—when dealing with people, don’t call them ‘little girl’ or ‘kid.’ It’s easy to offend others!”
Li Xiangshang’s eyes widened as if he had just learned new knowledge.
“Is that so?”
Qing Chi’s eyes rolled slightly.
“I taught you something. How will you repay me?”
Li Xiangshang hesitated. “Uh…”
This time Qing Chi waved her hand.
“Since you’re going to the Strong Yang Courtyard anyway, take me in with you. That will count as repayment.”
Li Xiangshang hesitated. “Will that work?”
Qing Chi nodded impatiently.
“Of course! Just take me with you. If anyone tries to stop me, just glare at them.”
Li Xiangshang hesitated again.
“T-That’s not very good. I just arrived here and don’t want to offend anyone.”
Qing Chi said, “If you can’t glare at them, then just stand there silently and stare at them with a blank expression!”
Li Xiangshang thought about it.
“That I can do.”
Thus Qing Chi followed Li Xiangshang into the Strong Yang Courtyard.
Li Xiangshang’s first step after arriving at White Paper Immortal City had been to pay respects to the paper puppet incarnation of the White Paper City Lord. The latter had already received notification before Li Xiangshang came to the Strong Yang Courtyard.
The Strong Yang Courtyard welcomed Li Xiangshang, but their attitude toward Qing Chi was quite different.
However, when they tried to stop her, they saw Li Xiangshang let out an “Hm” and stare at them with bright eyes.
The cultivators of the Strong Yang Courtyard: ?!
Li Xiangshang: …
After staring at each other for a moment, the cultivators suddenly realized.
“Oh—so the two of you are together. T-Then… please come in.”
Qing Chi was overjoyed and followed Li Xiangshang inside.
She had been here before and knew the way. Halfway there she parted ways with him.
Before leaving, she patted his arm.
“Alright, I’m heading off first. Big guy, you’re a good person. Next time I come here, I’ll ask you to lead the way again.”
Li Xiangshang immediately smiled.
“Miss Qing, you’re the first friend I’ve made. Feel free to call on me whenever you need help.”
The cultivator from the Strong Yang Courtyard standing nearby could only force a bitter smile.
Qing Chi arrived at Ning Zhuo’s residence. She first tidied her appearance before taking a deep breath and approaching his door with a hint of nervousness.
“Little Ma, Little Ma, I came to see you,” she called softly.
No response.
Qing Chi clenched her teeth and knocked lightly with her finger joints.
“Little Ma, it’s me—Qing Chi, your Qingqing.”
Still no response.
She pressed her ear against the door and used a spell to eavesdrop. The room was completely silent.
Qing Chi’s expression darkened slightly. Her eyes narrowed, and a faint green flame flickered deep within them.
She began knocking harder and harder.
Bang bang bang…
“Little Ma, open the door!”
“You still trying to hide from me?”
“I’m blocking your door now!”
“Open up! Open the door!!”
“If you don’t open it, I’m not leaving today!”
“You brat! Do you dare open the door or not? You don’t even dare see me? You bastard!”
Her voice grew louder and her emotions increasingly agitated. She even started kicking the door.
Finally, the neighbor next door could no longer endure it.
“Please stop shouting, miss. Jiao Ma isn’t here!”
Qing Chi roared, “Don’t try to cover for him!”
The neighbor jumped in fright.
“No, no. He left early yesterday morning and didn’t come back at night.”
Qing Chi exclaimed in surprise, then immediately felt delighted. So Jiao Ma hadn’t been deliberately avoiding her.
She continued asking where he had gone, but the neighbor had no idea and repeatedly shook his head.
Qing Chi gritted her teeth. She didn’t want to give up after finally making a trip to the Strong Yang Courtyard.
“I’ll find the higher-ups of the Strong Yang Courtyard and ask them directly!”
Meanwhile, Ning Zhuo had gone to find Wen Ruanyu.
Following Ning Zhuo’s instructions, Sun Lingtong had successfully arrived within the seventh paper puppet army and located the arrangement left by Meng Yaoyin.
However, activating the formation disk required Myriad Phenomena Magic Power.
The two were blocked at this step, so Sun Lingtong could only wait for Ning Zhuo’s good news.
Ning Zhuo had made the attempt yesterday. He left the Strong Yang Courtyard and sought out Wen Ruanyu to ask for guidance.
“Previously, Senior Wen mentioned the possibility of joining the Myriad Phenomena Sect and spoke about the Flying Cloud Assembly. After thinking about it carefully, I became increasingly interested.”
“Recently, I learned that any cultivator who joins the Myriad Phenomena Sect must cultivate the ‘Myriad Phenomena Scripture.’”
“I wonder if Senior Wen could first teach me a portion of the ‘Myriad Phenomena Scripture,’ so I may cultivate it in advance and gain greater confidence when the Flying Cloud Assembly arrives?”
The reasoning was perfectly appropriate.
Wen Ruanyu himself recommended talents and gained merit from doing so.
Hearing Ning Zhuo’s request, he was very pleased and immediately agreed.
“My Myriad Phenomena Sect embraces all things and accepts every river. The early sections of our sect’s core cultivation method, the ‘Myriad Phenomena Scripture,’ are not restricted from being shared.”
“I will now teach you the Qi Refining and Foundation Establishment chapters of the ‘Myriad Phenomena Scripture.’”
Ning Zhuo successfully obtained the Myriad Phenomena Scripture but did not return to the Strong Yang Courtyard.
Instead, he went to the south gate of White Paper Immortal City and entered the Giant Paper Puppet Statue once again. Only with the Qianmo Lamp could he use Life Hanging by a Thread to connect with Sun Lingtong.
“Boss, everything went smoothly. I obtained the Myriad Phenomena Scripture,” Ning Zhuo said happily.
Sun Lingtong jumped with excitement.
“Little Zhuo, as expected of you! You really did it!”
After receiving the teaching, he first memorized it thoroughly before beginning to study it.
The opening of the Myriad Phenomena Scripture was orderly and stated:
“When chaos first opened and purity and turbidity were yet undivided, there existed the primordial unified qi. Thus came the ‘Primordial Unity Scripture.’ From primordial qi arose the transformation of all things—this is called Myriad Phenomena. Myriad Phenomena are the pivot of Heaven and Earth, the transformation and nurturing of yin and yang…”
“I observed the stars falling into the vast seas and saw thunder split open into spring buds. From this I realized that all phenomena are but qi shifting forms. Therefore I composed this scripture—to contain form within the formless and to verify the eternal truth through illusion.”
Sun Lingtong studied it deeply, and the joy in his heart kept growing stronger.
“This Myriad Phenomena Scripture truly deserves to be the core cultivation method of a superpower. Its conceptual scope alone surpasses the vast majority of cultivation methods.”
“Cultivating this scripture forms Myriad Phenomena Magic Power. This power can simulate and transform into the mana of any cultivation method in the world. Such mysticism, yet so direct and simple—extremely easy to begin with!”
After only a short period of study, Sun Lingtong fully grasped the essence of both the Qi Refining and Foundation Establishment chapters.
Partly this was due to his astonishing comprehension, but it was also because the scripture itself was straightforward and easy to practice.
Having achieved understanding, Sun Lingtong immediately began cultivating.
His main cultivation was the Boy Technique, practiced in the upper dantian Sea of Consciousness. The middle dantian Sea of Qi and the lower essence sea had no main cultivation method. The Myriad Phenomena Scripture targeted the middle dantian Sea of Qi, which suited Sun Lingtong perfectly.
As for Ning Zhuo, the Three Sect Supreme Techniques he cultivated covered all three dantians. Even if he wanted to cultivate the Myriad Phenomena Scripture, he could not.
However, Sun Lingtong’s Boy Technique was extraordinary. Both the Sea of Qi and the Essence Sea had already been deeply influenced by the Sea of Consciousness and undergone many changes.
Naturally, those changes conflicted with the Myriad Phenomena Scripture.
To cultivate it successfully, Sun Lingtong had to alter those foundations again, making it far more difficult than practicing the scripture normally.
Under ordinary circumstances, Sun Lingtong would never do such a thing.
But this matter not only involved a great treasure, it was also deeply connected to his good brother Ning Zhuo.
Without hesitation, after comprehending it, Sun Lingtong devoted himself fully to cultivating the Myriad Phenomena Scripture!
In just two days, he successfully produced Myriad Phenomena Magic Power.
Although it was only at the Qi Refining stage, it was already enough for the formation disk to detect.
Essentially, Myriad Phenomena Magic Power was merely a key.
Sun Lingtong poured Myriad Phenomena Magic Power into the formation disk.
At last—the formation disk activated!
A mysterious and restrained aura quickly spread out, covering the paper puppet army.
In the next moment, the paper puppets began to stir without wind, producing soft rustling sounds.