Chapter 276: Seventh Master Transmits Techniques

The main hall was empty. Besides Seventh Master, who was painting, only Xu Qing was there.

The servants were not present.

"Curious why Master painted such a person meditating here on the Nanyue Ghost Mountain?"

Seventh Master turned his head, looked at Xu Qing, and spoke indifferently.

Xu Qing nodded.

"This place is the key to Yinghuang Province. After you reach four fires, I will take you there. That place might be your opportunity."

Seventh Master didn't explain too much. His gaze fell on the medicine bottle Xu Qing was holding. With a wave of his hand, the medicine bottle flew out on its own, was caught in his hand, and he took a sip, put it away, and sat on one side of the chessboard nearby.

"Come and sit opposite me." Seventh Master beckoned to Xu Qing.

Xu Qing approached obediently and sat on the other side of the chessboard.

"Do you know how to play chess?" Seventh Master asked.

Xu Qing shook his head.

"I'll teach you." Seventh Master picked up a chess piece and placed it in a corner of the chessboard. Xu Qing thought for a moment and also placed a chess piece in another corner.

"Chess is like life; it is also a reflection of a person's character. For example, I have never lost a game of chess in my life. Do you know why?" Seventh Master placed another piece and spoke calmly.

Xu Qing shook his head and learned to place a piece as well.

"My moves are not for the present, but for the overall situation. Many people actually know this principle and want to do the same, but often their opportunities are insufficient and their aptitude is lacking, so they cannot do it, leaving only regrets."

"For example, those disciples with one hundred and twenty magic apertures you see in the seven sects—the reason they stay at four fires and don't ascend to the Tiangong Golden Core is precisely because they have the heart to see the overall situation."

"They want to open the one hundred and twenty-first magic aperture!" Seventh Master placed a piece and spoke softly.

Xu Qing's eyes revealed contemplation. This was not much different from his judgment after discovering one hundred and twenty magic apertures during his Foundation Establishment. At that time, he felt that after one hundred and twenty, there might be more magic apertures.

Seeming to see Xu Qing's thoughts, Seventh Master smiled.

"After one hundred and twenty magic apertures, there is only one magic aperture. This one hundred and twenty-first aperture can form one fire with just one aperture, but the difficulty of opening it is beyond imagination. It cannot be obtained without great opportunity, and outsiders cannot help; you can only rely on yourself."

"As for the difficulty, it's not opening it, but finding its location."

"In the history of Yinghuang Province, those who have opened this one hundred and twenty-first magic aperture have often experienced great danger. In a moment of life and death, by chance, they found the location of the one hundred and twenty-first magic aperture and opened it. And according to records and deductions, everyone's magic aperture location is different, so there is no comparison or reference significance."

Xu Qing pondered for a long time before putting down the chess piece and speaking softly.

"Master, what are the benefits of five fires?"

"The benefits will be reflected at the moment of the Tiangong Golden Core." Seventh Master smiled.

"You should have heard a saying: 'Ignite the Life Fire, reflect the Tiangong.' The Tiangong here... is the key to the Golden Core."

"Tiangong Golden Core cultivators have their own limits, and this limit is reflected in the Life Fire. Three fires reflect six palaces—this is the limit for disciples with decent aptitude."

"In other words, those with three Life Fires can reflect six Heavenly Palaces. After they are thoroughly nurtured and brightened, and placed into the Golden Core, that is their peak state. But in reality, this is just the foundation." Seventh Master paused here, waiting for Xu Qing to digest it.

Xu Qing was thoughtful. After pondering, he asked.

"Thirty-six fire combat power?"

"You can understand it that way." Seventh Master nodded.

"The reason it is called the foundation is because there is Life Mist above the six Heavenly Palaces, and some Heavenly Palaces exist within the Life Mist. Because of the mist's obstruction, it is difficult for non-outstanding people to reflect them. Only four fires can reflect the seventh palace."

"Don't look at it as just one more palace, but seven palaces suppressing six palaces is like you fighting five fires with six fires—it's easy and can be killed in an instant."

"Therefore, those who already possess four fires are all eager to open the one hundred and twenty-first magic aperture to form five fires. Because the higher the limit, the greater the final achievement naturally!"

Seventh Master's voice echoed in Xu Qing's ears. Xu Qing pondered silently and nodded.

"As for the Life Lamp, you might have some experience with it. In reality, its value is not fully reflected in the Foundation Establishment realm. Only in the Tiangong Golden Core can its value be partially displayed."

"Those who possess a Life Lamp, at the moment of breaking through their cultivation to step into the Tiangong Golden Core, can directly open a Tiangong above the Life Mist with one Life Lamp. No need for nurturing, no need for slow grinding—it opens instantly, and the Life Lamp transforms into a Life Pill similar to a Golden Core, suppressing it within."

"So, with your aptitude, if you walk to the limit and open one hundred and twenty-one magic apertures, then your Tiangong will eventually be ten!" Seventh Master looked at Xu Qing deeply.

"Now, do you know the value of the Life Lamp to Golden Core realm cultivators?"

Xu Qing's expression changed slightly. Hearing so much from Seventh Master, this was the only time his expression had changed. In reality, he had some analysis before, and now that it was confirmed by Seventh Master, it made his heart feel increasingly heavy.

A strong sense of crisis entered Xu Qing's heart. This sense of crisis naturally didn't come from Seventh Master, but from the unknown malice of all the Golden Core cultivators he would encounter in the future.

"Afraid?" Seventh Master laughed.

"Afraid." Xu Qing said truthfully.

"Then what are you going to do?" Seventh Master asked with interest.

Xu Qing took a deep breath and slowly calmed down. This matter couldn't be changed. If he wanted to avoid it, he could only open four fires as soon as possible and try to reach five fires, doing his best. If he couldn't do it, he wouldn't force it; he had to break through the realm and step into the Golden Core as soon as possible.

Once the Tiangong Golden Core was formed, he could instantly possess two complete Heavenly Palaces. At that time, combined with his poison, he could be considered barely stable.

However, Xu Qing felt these thoughts were just long-term plans. He pondered for a while, secretly glanced at Seventh Master, and remembered Seventh Master scolding him for not finding the Eldest, Second, and Third brothers to attack together after his battle with Sheng Yunzi, so he said in a low voice.

"Master, save me."

Seventh Master laughed out loud upon hearing this, very satisfied with this answer, and pointed at the top of Xu Qing's head.

"Don't not wear the Purple Heaven Infinite Crown I gave you before. That is the Nascent Soul protection I gave you!" As he spoke, Seventh Master waved his hand, and five rays of light flew out from his sleeve. He flicked one of the rays, and it dissipated, turning into a jade slip that flew toward Xu Qing.

"The method of use is inside. You can ponder it when you go back later."

Xu Qing took it, his heart beating faster, and looked at the other four rays of light.

Seventh Master flicked again, and the second ray of light approached Xu Qing rapidly. After Xu Qing grabbed it, the light dissipated, turning into a palm-sized doll.

This doll was like a living creature. Its eyes turned in a circle instantly, then stared straight at Xu Qing again in an instant, opening its mouth to reveal sharp teeth, struggling in Xu Qing's hand, seemingly dissatisfied with being grabbed.

"This is a Life-Replacing Ghost Doll, a thing of extremely high eeriness. It is born with three lives. After you form a blood alliance with it, it can resolve death for you three times. It's fine when you are in the sect, but remember to bring it well when you go out."

Xu Qing was moved, grabbing the Life-Replacing Ghost Doll tightly. Perhaps because he grabbed it too hard, the ghost doll made a shrill sound, and its struggle became more intense.

Xu Qing ignored it and looked up at the other three rays of light. Those three rays of light entered his pupils, and he couldn't tell if they were too dazzling or if Xu Qing's eyes were glowing.

In short, very bright.

Seventh Master was in a pleasant mood and spoke with a smile.

"Imperial-level cultivation techniques are difficult to pass on, and I cannot teach you; you need to explore the advancement yourself. I can only tell you that once an Imperial-level cultivation technique advances, its power will be even more terrifying. And the fastest way to advance is actually to devour the essence, energy, and spirit refined by other people's Imperial-level cultivation techniques. Of course... if it is the same Imperial-level cultivation technique, the effect is best."

Xu Qing's eyes shrank.

"You are too weak now, and the Alliance Leader is not a small-minded person. He will always weigh your Seven Blood Eyes background and how much benefit he can get from attacking. So you don't need to worry about this threat to you yet."

Xu Qing nodded. Sheng Yunzi's Mie Meng appeared in his mind, and he suddenly felt very eager, then looked longingly at the three rays of light beside Seventh Master.

"Sheng Yunzi said you have the weakness of lacking techniques. That's because you hadn't taken a master before. Every one of my disciples has different cultivation techniques and divine abilities, all collected and organized by me, carefully selected and tailored for them."

Seventh Master said, flicking the third ray of light to Xu Qing.

Inside this light was not a physical object, but a mark that landed on Xu Qing's brow, directly branded into his heart, turning into bursts of sound like a great bell, echoing in his sea of consciousness.

At the same time, Seventh Master's voice seemed to be synchronized with the sound in Xu Qing's mind, spreading out together.

"The first technique I pass to you is a magic technique, named 'Nine Layers of Roaring Sea'. This technique conjures a vast sea, with the power of nine waves rising in succession, finally forming a tsunami, suppressing the sea and shocking the sky."

Xu Qing took a deep breath, his eyes revealing strange light, and scenes of this technique appeared in his mind.

The scene was vast and boundless. With a wave of his hand, the sea conjured in all directions, waves rolled up, containing the power of an angry sea, sweeping everything away, destroying everything.

"The second technique I pass to you is an eerie technique, named... 'Mysterious Nether Curse'!" Seventh Master waved his hand, and the fourth ray of light turned into a mark, also branded on Xu Qing's brow.

This time, it didn't form a boom, but a gloomy cold wind that blew into every inch of Xu Qing's flesh and blood, making the breath he exhaled turn into white mist.

In Xu Qing's perception, he seemed to see a finger withered to the extreme, carrying infinite eeriness, extending from a giant black vortex, suppressing and killing everything—a shocking sight.

"This Mysterious Nether Curse was created by me after studying the Mysterious Nether Finger and combining it with what I have learned."

"And the last thing I teach you... is not a magic technique, not an eerie technique, but a secret technique of mine!"

"I observe that you like to use your fists in battle. This secret technique is extremely suitable for you. It is named 'Under the Nine Springs'."

"After unfolding it, whoever is hit by your eight punches, your ninth punch will definitely shatter one of their magic apertures. Even a Tiangong Golden Core needs the light of Life Fire and the power of magic apertures—this is the foundation!"

"This technique is extremely domineering and extremely insidious. You must use it with caution."

"Once used, shattering someone's foundation is nothing, but if the opponent is still alive and spreads this matter, you won't be able to use this technique to trick people in the future. This is the key point."

Seventh Master spoke softly, his right hand flicked, and the fifth ray of light went straight to brand Xu Qing.

"I have used this secret technique until now, and no one knows about it."

"I only pass it to you alone. This is not favoritism, but your three senior brothers and sisters have different styles from you."

"Therefore, you must use it with caution." ===== CHAPTER 277 =====