"What is this old fellow thinking? Now that the formidable enemy is before us, instead of pondering how to deal with them, why has he come here outside my Nine Bends Yellow River Array?" Zhang Chen was somewhat puzzled in his heart and had secretly become vigilant. If this old fellow truly intended to use his Nine Bends Yellow River Array for any malicious deeds, Zhang Chen would by no means allow it.
The Ancestral Master of Longevity stared at the array for a long time, then squinted his eyes and turned away from it.
Zhang Chen used the Earth Escape Technique to return to his small courtyard, contemplating the demeanor of the Ancestral Master of Longevity today, always feeling that this old fellow had his eyes set on his Nine Bends Yellow River Array.
As time passed little by little, Zhang Chen's days were very peaceful. Apart from comprehending Divine Techniques and pondering the Inverted Yin and Yang every day, there was nothing bothersome.
Three days later, Xiu Liu arrived again.
Zhang Chen was sitting in the courtyard, nurturing his spirit with closed eyes, when he saw Xiu Liu's figure emerging from the void, bowing towards him: "Young Master, the matter has been arranged."
Upon hearing this, Zhang Chen opened his eyes and saw Xiu Liu holding a stack of books, about a meter high, tied together with a rope.
"I've brought you cultivation techniques from all over the world, not sure if they include the ones you're looking for." Xiu Liu said respectfully.
Upon hearing this, Zhang Chen sat up, took the books from Xiu Liu's hands, and began examining them one by one. The first book described the Martial Dao, Bloodline Dao, and the Secret Technique of measuring acupoints. Zhang Chen was taken aback upon seeing this cultivation technique; it seemed like it was passed down from ancient times, with some resemblance to modern techniques for measuring acupoints. However, this book was more comprehensive. After measuring acupoints, martial training required finding a mystery to refine into the acupoints, thereby gaining incredible power and the ability to pluck stars and grasp the moon.
If a Great Achiever could refine mountains, rivers, the sun, moon, and stars into the acupoints, every action of a martial artist would possess the power to shake heaven and earth.
The second book was a Heterodox Technique, discussing the grafting of Demon Beasts, plants, and other mysteries, thereby granting one unimaginable strength.
The third book talked about inhaling and exhaling the flames of heaven and earth, continuously smelting various flames within the body, ultimately becoming a Fire Divine Being. The more types of flames fused, the stronger the cultivation.
...
As Zhang Chen continuously perused these books, his eyebrows gradually furrowed. Although these books could lead to some achievements, they spoke solely of training 'techniques', resembling the cultivation of heterodox Divine Techniques, such as Abnormal Techniques like Call Name Fall.
It wasn't until he came to the final book that Zhang Chen saw the blue-covered book, his gaze slightly moving, and the title read four words: Upper Pure True Method.
"Upper Pure?" Zhang Chen thought of the Upper Pure Talisman Technique he obtained before, and the two characters 'Upper Pure' were inherently sensitive.
Upper Pure Tongtian Sect Leader! Immortal Slaying Sword!
All evoked endless associations.
Zhang Chen opened the book, then carefully read it. The densely packed small characters astonished him:
'With a word and half a sentence, one comprehends the profound mystery; why need countless volumes? If one is not bound by form, before their eyes is the Great Luo Heavens.'
Just reading this one sentence filled Zhang Chen with joy: "This is the flavor!"
Then he hurriedly bent his head to continue reading:
"If one wishes to refine body and spirit, they must know how to return to the root and resume the mission. Hence the Dao: Returning to the root has its acupoint, resuming the mission requires finding the resuming gate..."
(Purple Clarity Collection - Compiled by Song Bai Yuchan)
Zhang Chen meticulously studied, reading with growing enthusiasm, finding it more and more appealing: "It fits!"
Just as he finished the Qi Cultivation Chapter, the book was already at its last page.
"Is it over?" Zhang Chen leafed through the final page of the book, stunned: just a Qi Cultivation Chapter? Of what use is the Qi Cultivation Chapter to him? He had already cultivated to the level of Jade Liquid and Golden Core, making the Qi Cultivation Chapter nothing but a useless accessory to him.
"Where did this Upper Pure True Method come from?" Zhang Chen discreetly closed the Upper Pure True Method, casting his eyes towards Xiu Liu.
"From the Taiping Dao." Xiu Liu's gaze fell on the Upper Pure True Method in Zhang Chen's hand, his eyes revealing a hint of contemplation: 'A Qi cultivation formula that even fascinated this old man Zhang Chen, it's not a simple matter; there must be a great secret within.'
"Taiping Dao? Is it the same Taiping Dao that clashed with the Ancestral Master of Longevity?" Zhang Chen inquired.
"Exactly," Xiu Liu replied.
"I want the complete version of the Upper Pure True Method." Zhang Chen responded.
Xiu Liu hesitated to speak upon hearing this, and Zhang Chen noticed the peculiar look on Xiu Liu's face, prompting him to ask, "What? Is it difficult?"
"As far as I know, in the entire Taiping Dao, no one has successfully cultivated this Qi formula." Xiu Liu replied with a peculiar expression.
"How could it be?" Zhang Chen was taken aback by what he heard, his eyes filled with disbelief. This was the true Jindan Dadao, how could no one have succeeded in cultivating it?
"What does the Taiping Dao cultivate then?" Zhang Chen was puzzled.
Xiu Liu replied, "The same path as the Five Villages Temple."
"What do you mean?" Zhang Chen was confused. Wasn't the Five Villages Temple cultivating the path of the Qi cultivator? If Taiping Dao and Five Villages Temple were on the same path, how could they not produce Qi cultivation techniques?
Xiu Liu explained, "It seems a certain kind of spiritual energy is lacking in the world, making the Qi cultivation techniques impossible to practice. So the Five Villages Temple used the Earth Vein Qi to replace the missing spiritual energy. Meanwhile, the Taiping Dao cultivated various lifebound talismans, using them as a foundation to supplement the missing spiritual energy."
Upon hearing this, Zhang Chen was stunned, his mind racing with thoughts: "This cannot be! If in the Material World, celestial transformations rendered Immortal Dao unattainable, then why is it still impossible in the Spiritual World?"
"Missing spiritual energy? Missing what kind of spiritual energy?" Zhang Chen's mind buzzed with countless thoughts, his head ringing: "Could it be my Light of the True God? Yes, my Light of the True God is that missing spiritual energy!"
Following Xiu Liu's explanation, the Five Villages Temple's Qi Cultivation Technique seemed flawed too? No wonder the Ancestral Master of Longevity and others were trapped in a corner.
Zhenyuanzi practiced the Earth Immortal Dao, becoming the Ancestor of Earth Immortal, but wasn't trapped on Longevity Mountain.
But what did the Immortal Slaying Sword, Heaven and Earth Treasure Mirror, Ginseng Fruit, and other techniques bearing the Upper Pure title represent or reflect?
Zhang Chen rubbed his head, unable to sort through the confusion. If he knew he wasn't actually in the Spiritual World's second heaven, but in Ancient Times, who knows if his head would explode.
"No, wait! What about immortals! Is that immortal really the true immortal I envision?"
"This shouldn't be right! What went wrong?" Zhang Chen's head buzzed, recalling his time in Ancient Times, attempting to absorb the spiritual energy of heaven and earth to cultivate Qi, almost slain by the Taiyin Fairy, though he did succeed in his cultivation. If those times were not accommodating to Qi cultivators' techniques, yet now that the Innate Divine has fallen and vanished, and the Sun and Moon Essence is freely available in the world, what essential condition for cultivating immortality and Qi is still missing?"
Zhang Chen felt his head buzzing, dizzy and at a loss.
"I want all the cultivation techniques of the Taiping Dao!" Zhang Chen looked at Xiu Liu, afraid he might misunderstand, quickly correcting himself: "The authentic original techniques."
Xiu Liu got up and left upon hearing this, leaving Zhang Chen in the courtyard, dazed, realizing the Ancestral Master's Qi cultivation technique was flawed, no wonder he'd been trapped on Qingcheng Mountain, tied to its fate.
"Where exactly did things go wrong, that immortals aren't allowed to be born into the world? Even if some are born, they are merely pseudo-immortals?" Zhang Chen scratched his head, unable to fathom the key to the mystery.
"What about Xu Erniu's Grass Returning Elixir Technique then? What does that count as?" Zhang Chen thought of Xu Erniu, which was of utmost importance as he could not tolerate any accidents happening to her.
After pondering for a long time, Zhang Chen finally said, "It should be considered a technique! Just like the Call Name Fall, an abnormal technique!"
Thinking of this, Zhang Chen began to worry silently that Xu Erniu might be ruined by cultivating an unknown technique.
He got up to find Xu Erniu, wanting to see if there were flaws in her cultivation technique and if there could be any improvement.
Zhang Chen walked towards Xu Erniu's residence, from a distance smelling a herbal aroma. Unceremoniously, he pushed the door open and saw Xu Erniu sitting cross-legged, meditating beside a towering two-story alchemy furnace.
Upon noticing Zhang Chen's entrance, Xu Erniu ceased her cultivation, turning her head to look at Zhang Chen: "Why are you here?"
Zhang Chen glanced around, seeing nothing peculiar inside Xu Erniu's room, and looked at her seriously, asking, "Do you trust me?"
"Of course I trust you!" Xu Erniu nodded.
"Then I wish to see your Grass Returning Elixir cultivation technique, can you show it to me?" Zhang Chen asked.
Hearing this, Xu Erniu hesitated: "This is the secret cultivation technique passed down by the Ancestral Master. If I pass it to you, it will surely harm you. If the Ancestral Master finds any trace, it could cost your life..."
"You needn't worry about the Ancestral Master, just tell me the technique." Zhang Chen said.
"Zhang Chen, I know your progress in cultivation has been slow, unchanged for over ten years, but don't worry, I will certainly forge a heaven-defying elixir to change your fate!" Xu Erniu thought Zhang Chen was desperate due to his slow cultivation progress, wanting to take a reckless path, and tried to console him.
"But I just want to see the Grass Returning Elixir technique, will you show it to me or not?" Zhang Chen looked at Xu Erniu.
After exchanging glances, Xu Erniu finally sighed softly: "I can teach you the Grass Returning Elixir, but you must agree to one condition."
"What condition?" Zhang Chen asked.
"If one day you are caught by the Ancestral Master, you must put all the blame on me. Say I made the decision to teach you the technique on my own, and you didn't know the technique you were cultivating was the Grass Returning Elixir's technique." Xu Erniu stubbornly looked at Zhang Chen: "If you agree, I'll teach you the technique! If you don't agree, there's no way I'll teach you even a single word."
Looking at Xu Erniu before him, Zhang Chen was deeply touched, grateful for all his efforts for this girl.