Chapter 185: The Taboo Buried by the Nine Marshals!

"Xu Ge, can anyone carve their name here?"

Qin Shi rubbed his feverish brow, pressing down on the disturbance in his Consciousness Sea.

"Once you've received the Baptism of Transcendent Heavenly Light, you can leave your name."

Xu Sheng said with a laugh.

To leave one's name alongside the First Generation Ten Greats is an honor—who among young people wouldn't wish to stand shoulder to shoulder with those seniors who illuminated the Star Sea?

"When we carve later, I'll write right next to He Lanchan, and I'll definitely write better than him!"

Qin Shi thought silently.

He felt that if Lao Liang saw this, his idol filter would shatter once again.

After all, he was a legendary figure of Half-step Martial God, yet his handwriting looked like chicken scratch.

"The altar is just ahead; go in alone."

Xu Sheng stopped walking and stood outside the Ruined Miao Yu.

The Xu Kong Ji Tan is usually sealed; only the Champion of past Wilderness Trials could enter holding an Identity Token.

Later, the trial was halted, and the few remaining slots became a delicious cake fought over by the various factions of the Martial Association.

The Hengzhou Martial Association restarting the Wilderness Trial is not without being a way to avoid fierce disputes in distribution.

"This is the token, hold onto it. By the way, receiving the Baptism of Transcendent Heavenly Light carries danger. Although this is only the beginner level, you haven't yet crossed the threshold of the Professional Realm. If Senior Zhang hadn't said your Mortal Body broke the Three Great Limits and could support you until the end, I wouldn't have brought you here."

Xu Sheng reminded him; he certainly didn't want the successor of the Nanhuang Dao Guan to cause any accidents.

Otherwise, he'd be mud falling into his crotch, completely unable to explain himself.

"Thank you for the reminder, Xu Ge."

Qin Shi took the card-shaped Identity Token, glanced at the Ruined Miao Yu standing there, having endured who knows how many years of vicissitudes, steadied his mind slightly, and stepped inside.

Pop!

His body felt as if it passed through a layer of bubbles; viscous airflow wrapped around his skin, and even his breathing became slightly stagnant.

When Qin Shi opened his eyes again, the scene shifted, like a kaleidoscope unfolding and dispersing, as vast stretches of void-like space spread out.

He looked down at the dim, deep, and dark ground beneath him, feeling a secret shock.

Had he not been stepping on solid ground, he would almost have thought he was about to fall.

"Is this a 'Small Xing Qiu' opened up?"

The card in Qin Shi's hand glowed, suddenly flashing once.

It was as if he had passed through an access control, and the invisible rejection that had been faintly seeping through vanished instantly.

"My identity is recognized? Otherwise, I'd be kicked out."

Qin Shi felt it was novel; it was his first time being in such a mysterious Xu Kong Space.

He stepped forward calmly, and there was a lotus stone seat carved with exquisite detail.

Xu Sheng had explained that to receive the Baptism of Transcendent Heavenly Light, one just needed to sit down.

But the premise was that one had to endure the fleshly agitation and mental confusion caused by the heavenly light entering the body.

"The greatest benefit of Body Limit Breakthrough is perfect control of the body, mastering both body and mind."

Qin Shi crouched down to sit, legs crossed, Five Hearts Facing Heaven.

He operated the Self-Cultivation Furnace, using the Spiritual Brand Meditation Method, to achieve Spirit-Flesh Harmony and maintain balance.

For others, this step might be difficult.

Spirit and flesh were like oil and water, unable to separate.

The blood-flesh vitality of the Martial Path was overbearing; that is, the "Self God" overwhelmed the mind, often reacting quickly, moving at a flash of thought.

Conversely, the mental spirituality of the Spiritual Path was too exuberant; the mind was greater than the Mortal Body, thinking was agile, but action felt sluggish.

To achieve Spirit-Flesh Harmony and maintain balance required extreme patience to sense, adapt to, and grasp various details.

"Spirit-Flesh Unity, innate endowment, saving a lot of effort."

Qin Shi sat on the Lotus Stone Seat; the rhythm of his breathing and the frequency of his thoughts soon synchronized.

Immediately, like a countdown, a clear crack opened above the Xu Kong Space.

It slowly expanded until it was as thick as a water bucket; dazzling light was drawn in, converging and merging.

Tilting his head to look, it was like a waterfall rushing down, crashing down.

Boom!

Extremely dazzling, like a Small Sun plummeting rapidly!

"Damn!"

Qin Shi's heart trembled; as soon as the heavenly light entered his body, his entire body turned red inside and out, as if cooked.

Violent energy surged through his Hundred Bones like a tide, like boiling hot water being stirred, roasting his Five Viscera and Six Bowels.

Pain! Too painful!

This was Qin Shi's only sensation.

The Mortal Body that had broken the Three Great Limits was as fragile as a sheet of paper, directly torn apart.

Although he kept his eyes closed, due to his outstanding Spiritual Field Power, he could "see" the gruesome sight of his skin cracking and blood traces bursting forth.

And his delicate mind made this torment even clearer.

"Blood Flesh Vitality surges, welcoming Transformation!"

Qin Shi suffered intense pain while enjoying it.

As if returning to the womb, he experienced the feeling of "growth" again after a long time.

Qi Life Force was being conceived and nourished, causing his flesh to swell infinitely, with golden granules like stars being born within.

No wonder in the past, every Old Martial Arts practitioner who wanted to walk the Limit Breaking Path flocked to bathing in the heavenly light.

Qin Shi realized that the radiant heavenly light, brilliant as rosy clouds, was drawn down from beyond the star; its essence was like a cosmic jet, containing incomparably violent energy.

If a mortal body could withstand it, letting it permeate the flesh and blood would temper and transform the body, aiding growth.

"The level of the Body-Tempering Furnace is constantly advancing."

Qin Shi's cracked flesh was repaired, and powerful, abundant flesh vitality adhered to and mended every wound.

Skin tore and regrew, gradually emerging with a jade-like luster.

"The Fourth Great Limit is open."

Qin Shi keenly felt that the lines carved into his body concealed terrifying explosive power.

If the self before receiving the Heavenly Light Baptism struck his present self with all his might.

"I can probably deflect about seventy percent of the attack! The Skin Limit, the most exquisite force dissipation!"

Qin Shi endured the burning, stinging pain of the heavenly light entering his body, raised his hand, and pressed against his arm.

He found that the applied force surged into a vast sponge; his own flesh and blood rapidly operated, weakening it layer by layer and distributing it everywhere.

This is the wonder of the Skin Limit—letting all external force be like a mud cow entering the sea!

"The Fourth Great Limit is open, and another rebirth transformation awaits! Let the heavenly light come more fiercely!"

Every time a new life stage arrives, the mortal body needs a large amount of nutrient substances and high-energy factors absorbed into the flesh and blood to fill the gaps left by squeezing potential.

And the Heavenly Light Baptism is precisely using energy explosions to strengthen the physical body!

Truly a perfect match!

……

……

"What's going on, wave after wave without stopping?"

Xu Sheng stood outside the Ruined Miao Yu, staring blankly at the huge rift torn open by the Xu Kong Ji Tan.

The dazzling heavenly light, drawn in, was like a glaring waterfall, clattering and bombarding with sound and motion.

"Is this intensity a bit excessive?"

Xu Sheng frowned. No matter how monstrous Qin Shi was, he was still at the Amateur Level and had not broken through to the Professional Realm.

"Should we stop it? If the young man is too reckless and doesn't know when to advance or retreat, and breaks himself inside, I'll have a headache."

As Chief Examiner, if the champion of the Top Hundred Competition died, Xu Sheng would inevitably suffer the consequences.

He was considering this when Lao Zhang pushed his wheelchair over and said:

"That altar was forged by Qin Shuai himself, and uses a Space Stabilization as a 'Space Anchor' to keep it from collapsing."

"Every time heavenly light is drawn down, the 'Space Anchor' is operated to open space. The one receiving the baptism must achieve unity of mind and body and release their breath."

"Theoretically, the stronger the breath, the more fierce the heavenly light will be."

Xu Sheng looked at the huge heavenly light booming like a thunderstorm and hesitated:

"Senior, as the saying goes, excess is harmful. I know the inheritors of Nanhuang Dao Guan have extraordinary talent and are monstrous. But to torment a mortal body like this—even if there's no danger to life, if some hidden defect is left behind, that wouldn't be good."

Lao Zhang was very calm, clearly full of confidence in the inheritor he had chosen.

"Xiao Qin knows his limits. The Heavenly Light Baptism—even waiting several years might not get a turn. It's a great opportunity, and he must seize it."

Xu Sheng said nothing more; since his master wasn't worried, he had no need to be anxious.

Lao Zhang unconsciously gripped the armrest; on the surface he was calm and carefree, but deep down still carried a trace of nervousness.

It was not that he thought Qin Shi couldn't withstand the Heavenly Light Baptism, but that he might come into contact with He Lanchan's inheritance secret!

The Second True Disciple of Nanhuang Dao Guan, Shen Zhangyuan, died because of this.

If Qin Shi truly knew that forbidden matter tacitly permitted by the Nine Surnames and jointly covered up.

Perhaps the "mountain" Nanhuang Dao Guan had to face was not just the Ying Clan.

"A Yuan, what exactly did you mean by 'Solitary Green Mound Facing Dusk' that you told me before you died?"

Lao Zhang furrowed his brow, leaning his withered, thin body into the wheelchair.

……

……

With the opening of the Fourth Great Limit, the tendons, bones, and skin passes operated, absorbing and digesting the violent heavenly light, and Qin Shi gradually no longer felt pain.

Instead, he grew accustomed to the surging energy stirring within him, constantly stimulating his flesh and blood; the boiling hot water became a warm, thick current, filling his bones and making his whole body warm and cozy.

"After enduring it comes enjoyment."

Qin Shi relaxed his mind and body, released his breath, like a straight plume of smoke the size of a palm, drawing the heavenly light down to temper his mortal body.

A few minutes later, he inexplicably felt drowsy, as if tired from a bath.

His head slowly drooped, as if falling asleep.

In the inner landscape, beneath the tree shade, Super Xiao He opened his eyes and saw Qin Shi's consciousness spiritual light appear.

He walked like a sleepwalker to the edge of the Ancient Ji Tan condensed by the Xu Kong Meditation Method.

Activate Spiritual Resonance!

In this half-dreaming, half-waking state, Qin Shi saw that white-haired figure again.

Compared to the last time he saw him, this He Lanchan was noticeably more youthful.

"Solitary Green Mound Facing Dusk. Teacher, why did you betray Dongxia?"

He Lanchan sat on the Lotus Stone Seat, as if unable to believe it, murmuring softly:

"They say the Fourth War Corps was nothing but arrogant soldiers and fierce commanders, but no matter how arrogant the soldiers or how fierce the commanders, they all regarded you, their Deputy Commander, as their own father."

"During the Great Expedition, the Fourth War Corps had the fewest casualties, because you strove for perfection and repeatedly simulated, always able to minimize our side's losses. Even Qin Shuai praised this, calling you fine material born to be a Marshal."

Qin Shi listened silently; history textbooks and other reading materials recorded very little about his teacher, that Deputy Commander of the war corps whose life experiences were shrouded in mystery.

It was only known that he and Qin Shuai were blood brothers, but with a great age difference; when Qin Shuai rose to fame, that Deputy Commander had just been born. By the time the Dongxia Republic was established and launched the magnificent Great Expedition, the Deputy Commander was exactly fifteen years old, entered Jiangwu Hall in the Imperial Capital to study, later attended Yu Nan Military Academy, was a student of the fourth session, and was assigned to the infantry.

Qin Shuai commanded the Fourth War Corps, garrisoning the Dongtian Star Domain; during the Mid Great Expedition stage, the Deputy Commander became part of the Military Commission, gradually taking over the Fourth War Corps and handling military affairs for his Elder Brother Qin Shuai.

It was precisely during that period that the Fourth War Corps distinguished itself, capturing three Administrative Stars and either exiling or sealing several Star Gods.

"Teacher, what exactly did you take from the Imperial Capital that made the Nine Commanders want to erase you?"

He Lanchan's gaze was full of doubt; his whole being sank into deep suspicion.

The scene shattered, then slowly condensed again.

Like a scene transition, Qin Shi saw an even more weathered He Lanchan.

White hair as before, but his features now bore the traces of time.

This time, he did not sit upon the Lotus Stone Seat.

Hands clasped behind his back, he stood silently in the Xu Kong Space.

"Teacher, I finally understand why what you obtained tore Dongxia apart. Its existence shakes the foundation!"

He Lanchan's voice was hoarse, even somewhat weary, like a traveler who had trekked a thousand mountains and ten thousand waters, windblown and dust-covered.

"The new Dongxia Republic cannot have an Emperor again. The Nine Commanders deliberated together to command the universe — this is the Republic's foundation."

Qin Shi subconsciously held his breath; his spiritual resonance experienced an extremely intense emotion, nearly shattering his consciousness sea.

His mind maintained meditative stability, firmly guarding his spirit, striving to capture He Lanchan's spiritual fluctuations that surged like overturning rivers and seas.

He was too curious — what earth-shattering matter could move one of the First Generation Ten Greats?

"Dongxia's four Pillars, from the most ancient ages, formed a covenant with Dongxia's Ancestral Emperor. They entrusted themselves to Dongxia's Civilization Fire, condensing into Totems.

Therefore, no matter how Dongxia changes or turns over, it must always keep the name 'Dongxia' — this is the covenant that Ancestral Emperor made in the nation's name with the four Divine Spirit Pillars, which cannot be violated."

He Lanchan's heart surged; Qin Shi also revealed a look of astonishment.

He had raised this question countless times — why could Dongxia, with unprecedentedly vast territory and a reign lasting nine hundred millennia, maintain the name "Dongxia"?

Those usurpers, ambitious ones, rebel leaders, even the Nine Marshals — not one of them ever thought to change this name.

So it was the covenant with the four Divine Spirit Pillars!

"The Zhu Clan Royal Family — in their Imperial Bloodline condenses the 'Golden Seal Edict' jointly formed with the four Divine Spirit Pillars; only Zhu blood can inscribe the name and activate it, becoming the Supreme Ruler who ascends the Dongxia Throne.

Those usurpers, ambitious heroes — they could only coerce the Zhu Clan to serve the Pillars. But the Nine Marshals are a group of strongmen determined to reform everything and create a new world; they want to completely sweep 'Emperor' from New Dongxia's history.

So, Teacher, your Elder Brother Qin Shuai proposed a plan: control the Zhu bloodline, establish the Virtual Monarch Position, and every millennium select one person from the Zhu Clan to send before the Virtual Monarch Throne."

He Lanchan lowered his head, as if digesting the truth he learned from that Ancient Heavenly Road.

"But during the Mid Great Expedition, Restorationist Faction forces intending to restore the old order launched a massive attack; almost all Zhu bloodlines withered! Teacher, you obeyed the 'Diligent Service' order and saved a Zhu woman.

The Zhu bloodline is wondrous — like a Divine Blessing or a curse; every Zhu whose bloodline awakens possesses the Heavenly Mandate bestowed by the four Divine Spirit Pillars.

Teacher, you developed feelings with that Zhu woman, and then your union produced a Heavenly Mandate unseen for thousands of years!"

Qin Shi's brain sea seemed struck by thunder, buzzing; he instantly understood why the Deputy Commander had to be erased.

The offspring born of him and the Zhu woman became Dongxia's future Heavenly Mandate Virtual Monarch!

"Uncle is Qin Shuai, Dongxia Meritorious Official! Father is the Fourth War Corps' Deputy Commander! Mother possesses the Zhu Clan's Imperial Bloodline, blessed by the four Divine Spirit Pillars from birth with Heavenly Mandate upon her... what a protagonist template more satisfying than a feel-good novel!"

Qin Shi's mouth corner twitched — if that pillar of the shining Star Sea, Qin Shuai, were willing.

He could completely turn the newly established Dongxia Republic into his Qin Family's "territory"!

Fate's trickery, destiny's determination — placed such a choice question before the Qin Brothers.

"Once a Zhu Virtual Monarch ascends the throne, both body and soul must endure Divine Fire burning — a thousand years of torment and torture. Teacher, I don't know how you and Qin Shuai negotiated, but the result was inevitably failure.

A husband witnessing his wife's suicide, a father forced to watch his son suffer punishment — that kind of pain I cannot imagine. That is why you grew heartsick and cold, left the Imperial Capital, and took that thing away, right?"

He Lanchan's eye rims reddened; he spread his hand, revealing a Radiant Light Key that seemed to contain a Star River.

(Chapter End)