Chapter 291: Who Will Fight?
Xu Qing sat in place quietly for about an hour. For one thing, he wanted to make sure it really seemed like he had failed to open that final dharma aperture. Also, he could sense that he was changing after igniting his fourth life flame. His battle prowess was obviously advancing by leaps and bounds. What was more, he could now tell that 120 definitely wasn’t the final limit for his dharma apertures. He had not reached the ultimate level, and was actually missing one aperture.
It’s the 121st dharma aperture that Master mentioned. That final dharma aperture that four-flame cultivators all seek to open. And it can only be opened when in a spot between life and death.
Given what Master Seventh had said about the 121st aperture, he only spent a moment searching for it. There wasn’t any point in being anxious about it right now. [1]
Only by pushing the Balefire Soulswallowing Scripture to the great circle... can you unleash its true potential, and imprison souls in the dharma apertures. I have 120 dharma apertures, so I can imprison the same amount of souls! If I do that, then not only can my dharma apertures become even more powerful, but also, I can unleash a magical technique from the Balefire Soulswallowing Scripture. And that is... the Stygian Flame!
Xu Qing knew that once he imprisoned a hundred and twenty souls in his dharma apertures, he could use them to create something like a spiritual soul that would elevate his dharmaskiff into the dharmaship category. That would be a highly formidable level of power.
If I do all that, but still can’t open my 121st dharma aperture, then I’m not going to hold back. I’ll just go right into the Gold Core level.
Having made that decision, Xu Qing was about to get up and leave when something caught his attention. His gaze shifted to the lake of blood, and the huge demon snake skull and the heavenly spike there.
He could sense a faint but terrifying power pulsing in the spike. Based on what he knew about the history of this place, that spike had been created by Ancient Emperor Dark Serenity by using the five elements. He couldn’t even comprehend what kind of cultivation base would be required to create something like that with the mere wave of a hand. It defied imagination. And what almighty being could crush a second stage Void-Returning demon snake for a hundred thousand years?
What was more, though that demon snake had withered up, it still existed.
I wonder when I’ll be able to do something like that. Xu Qing’s heart pounded just looking at the heavenly spike. It was the same feeling as when he had first gazed upon the Supreme Vastness Solitary Saber. Slowly but surely, his eyes began to shine as he struggled to commit the image of the spike to memory.
It was exactly what he had done in the daoist temple in the forbidden region by the scavenger basecamp. Unfortunately, the heavenly spike existed on far too high of a level. Xu Qing couldn’t commit the image to memory, almost as if a dao resonance were interfering with the process.
By now, the end of his time limit in the pocket realm approached, Xu Qing had only managed to memorize a vague outline of the spike. However he would still be able to copy it. Perhaps if he worked hard in the same way he had worked at the Supreme Vastness Solitary Saber, he would make some progress.
As for whether or not he would ultimately succeed in copying it fully, he had no idea. All he knew was that the heavenly spike contained a terrifying will that, if he could unleash it, would be absolutely deadly.
It’s too bad I’m not able to come here every day to study it. That would up my chances a lot.
Feeling a bit regretful, he got to his feet, whereupon a vortex appeared in front of him.
Refusing to enter the vortex wasn’t an option. It exuded a gravitational force that wrapped him up and then whisked him away. The same thing happened to the Captain, who had never stopped staring at that tooth, as well as the melancholy Wu Jianwu.
The three of them vanished, then reappeared outside in the Dark Serenity Sect.
When they had entered the place, the three of them had all been in different states. Xu Qing had felt mixed emotions thanks to Arch-Immortal Plumdark. Wu Jianwu had been filled with anticipation at the chance to admire a historical relic related to Ancient Emperor Dark Serenity. And the Captain had been frustrated at Arch-Immortal Plumdark showing up late.
Upon leaving the place, they were all in the same state. They were all disappointed. Xu Qing was disappointed that he didn’t have more time to spend inside studying that spike. Wu Jianwu was disappointed at not being able to immerse himself fully in the experience, and also at the fact that there was no way he could come back with enough spirit stones to fulfill his desire. And the Captain was disappointed that he hadn’t managed to take that snake tooth. Thus, the three of them left the Dark Serenity Sect feeling disappointed.
However, as they descended the mountain, Xu Qing’s transmission jade slip vibrated as a whole host of messages started pouring. Surprised, he started checking the messages, whereupon his expression darkened, and a somber and desolate aura spread out around him.
All of the messages were about Master Shengyun coming out of seclusion and challenging him to a duel. The challenge had been issued two days earlier. And the location wasn’t in either the Soaring Cloud Sword Sect or Seven Blood Eyes, but rather, in another place not very far away.
It was on Mount Dark Dao, which was in the area controlled by the Dark Serenity Sect, and was one of the Eight Sect Coalition’s four main daoist rite centers. Normally speaking, powerful experts would go there to give lectures on the dao.
As Xu Qing looked at the jade slip, his eyes turned as cold as ice, and his killing intent started to bubble. Master Shengyun was the most formidable enemy he had faced since he started walking the path of cultivation.
The Captain had also received a lot of messages, and as he checked them, a smile appeared on his face. “Say, Little Ah Qing, do you think Master Shengyun broke through to the five-flame level? Do you need some help from Elder Brother?”
“Many thanks, Elder Brother,” Xu Qing replied calmly, “but no. I beat him once, and I can beat him again.” Looking up at the sky to assess the time, he thought for a moment, then changed directions and started moving toward Mount Dark Dao.
Master Shengyun wanted to fight a battle to the death with Xu Qing, and that was fine as far as Xu Qing was concerned. Now he knew what was required to push an imperial-class technique to a higher level; he had to devour the quintessence blood of another person with an imperial-class technique. [2]
With his mind focused on Master Shengyun’s ravagemist bird, Xu Qing headed straight toward Mount Dark Dao with the Captain in tow.
Wu Jianwu wasn’t going to give up a chance to see something as important as this happen, so he followed as well.
Mount Dark Dao was a low-lying mountain with a daoist rite center at its summit. The roof tiles were light-green jade, and the stone work was pure white. The area was full of spell formations and warding spells, and in the middle of the huge rite center was a large daoist altar, with three massive pillars that represented heaven, earth, and man. Incense burned atop those pillars day and night, with smoke rising high into the sky.
By the time Xu Qing arrived, it was evening, and the glow of sunset caused the daoist rite center to brim with a sense of profound mystery. It was common for people to come here to meditate. When experts from the coalition weren’t giving lectures about the dao, disciples would often gather to exchange knowledge about cultivation.
When Xu Qing appeared, it immediately caused a stir. Obviously, news had spread that Master Shengyun had issued a dueling challenge two days ago that Xu Qing had not responded to. A lot of people in the sect had been talking about the matter.
Upon arriving, Xu Qing sat down cross-legged and looked in the direction of the Soaring Cloud Sword Sect. Focusing his dharma force on his throat, he spoke in a voice that echoed like thunder.
“There’s no need to wait for tomorrow, Master Shengyun. If you want to fight, then come fight!”
His voice pierced through the sect and into the Soaring Cloud Sword Sect.
Almost immediately, a blood-red beam of light shot out of the Soaring Cloud Sword Sect, staining the sky crimson. At the same time, Master Shengyun appeared, wearing a long, golden robe, his hands clasped behind his back as he shot toward Mount Dark Dao.
His hair fluttered behind him, and his golden robe reflected the red light. He pulsed with a baleful aura, and his previous good looks were now slightly bizarre thanks to his pitch-black right eye. Instead of being beautiful, there was something very gruish about him now.
That was especially true given the rancorous energy that filled him. As his aura spread out, it filled the area with sinister coldness, as well as colorful light that looked like a huge mouth ready to devour everything around it. His five life flames manifested outside of him, swirling around him, their fire matching the redness in the sky, causing everything to ripple from their scorching heat.
The moment Master Shengyun appeared, countless coalition disciples rushed out in shock, and then started making their way toward Mount Dark Dao. For the disciples of the Eight Sect Coalition, the fight which was about to play out was unprecedented, and just about everyone wanted to catch a glimpse. It was a fight between the two most prominent chosen, and what was more, everyone knew about the matter of Xu Qing taking away Master Shengyun’s life lamp and almost killing him. By doing that, Xu Qing had trampled on Master Shengyun’s name and then reached heaven in a single bound.
It was only natural that this fight was going to be the center of all attention. Even the patriarchs and other top experts from the various sects were now looking in the direction of Mount Dark Dao.
Xu Qing looked at the raging flames approaching from the Soaring Cloud Sword Sect, and though his eyes were calm, they also pulsed with killing intent.
The sky pulsed with colors, and the wind whipped like dancing phoenixes and soaring dragons. Fire raged with overwhelming force as a golden figure landed on Mount Dark Dao... right in front of Xu Qing!
The two of them stood on either side of the daoist altar with its incense pillars dedicated to heaven, earth, and man. Smoke swirled as their eyes locked onto each other. Neither seemed to be in the inferior position, and both of their gazes were sharp and incisive. Countless people were already watching, and as more beams of light brought more spectators, none dared to step onto the mountain itself, and instead merely hovered in midair to watch.
The cultivators who had been meditating on the mountain flew away, as did the Captain and Wu Jianwu. Soon, only Xu Qing and Master Shengyun stood there.
“Xu Qing!” Master Shengyun growled.
He was staring at Xu Qing, all the while thinking about the pain and torment he had experienced. His expression already began to twist with madness, and his eyes burned with the longing for vengeance.
Xu Qing looked back at him coldly, then glanced at all the onlookers. He didn’t say anything, but instead, began analyzing how the surroundings could be used to his advantage.
There are a lot of people around, so I can’t use Within the Nine Springs to its full effect. Patriarch Soaring Cloud is obviously going to be watching, so it’s going to be difficult to actually kill Master Shengyun. And it’ll be hard to devour the ravagemist bird.
I have a lot of secrets to keep. The question is going to be how many I can afford to reveal.... That said, having so many spectators isn’t all bad. I can factor Master Shengyun’s personality traits into my strategy. If I weaken him step by step, then I can increase my chances of devouring the ravagemist bird!
Xu Qing’s mind worked on overdrive to come up with a plan. That was just how he operated. Before making a move in a fight, he wouldn’t start talking. And if he did, it would be part of his plan. And that was why, finally, he said, “Master Shengyun. I only have two life-saving items on me. Here they are.”
He took out two entropic teleportation talismans and tossed them to the ground, then kicked them out of the daoist rite center.
His action caused an immediate buzz among the spectators. It wasn’t any sort of dramatic action, but it carried profound implications. In fact, Master Shengyun hadn’t even considered that Xu Qing would do something like that.
As everyone looked on closely, Master Shengyun chuckled coldly, took out his own jade slip, and tossed it to the side. From the glowing light and power that emanated from it, it was obviously a life-saving item.
With that, the two of them shot toward each other. Rumbling sounds immediately echoed out. What grand momentum! What an unstoppable force!
1. Master Seventh described the 121st dharma aperture in chapter 275. ☜
2. The “quintessence blood” mentioned here is referring to the “Three Treasures” of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Daoism, Buddhism, and other Chinese traditions. The three characters used to describe these Three Treasures can be translated in a variety of ways, but are generally: “essence, breath, and spirit.” I’m distilling those three things into “quintessence” for the sake of pithiness and English flow. Another reason I’m using “quintessence” is that this concept isn’t used extensively in the plot or the cultivation system. If it was, I might use a more complicated term to convey the three concepts that make it up. But... the three components aren’t particularly relevant in this story, so I’ll stick with a one-word translation in this instance. There is another Chinese term I sometimes translate as "quintessence," but it's never mentioned in the same context as this term, or even anywhere near it in the story, or even that often, so I don't foresee any confusion that the two are related. ☜