Chapter 186: Condensing the Holy Embryo, First Meeting Commander Qin!

Qin Shi gazed at the blurred image sealed by the dust of ages; He Lanchan's spiritual fluctuation nearly contaminated his soul.

Overcome by that indescribable sorrow, he could not help but feel sad and shed tears.

So this is the truth behind the Deputy Commander's betrayal of Dongxia?

"What exactly was that thing the Deputy Commander took away?"

Qin Shi couldn't help but wonder about the fragments he could glimpse from history textbooks.

It was that Deputy Commander who once commanded the Fourth War Corps and was trusted by countless proud soldiers and fierce generals, driving a Divine Machine out of the Imperial Capital, leaping through space a hundred times in succession, heading north.

Finally intercepted by Qin Shuai himself, the two brothers met in battle and both rushed into that ancient heavenly road.

After nine cosmic days, Qin Shuai emerged from it.

Declaring the traitor dead, his corpse drifting into the Border Region.

Without a doubt, Qin Shuai's act was one of upholding righteousness by sacrificing kin, worthy of admiration!

From then on, this Supreme Meritorious Subject, whose military exploits in the early Great Expedition were brilliant and who was almost called the sharp sword of the Republic, had unshakable prestige.

But judging from Qin Shi's several spiritual resonances with He Lanchan, that Deputy Commander was clearly still alive.

And had become He Lanchan's teacher, producing one of the most dazzling of the First Generation Ten Greats.

Could it be that Qin Shuai couldn't bring himself to be ruthless, or let his younger brother off?

"Teacher, perhaps I shouldn't take this out. The Zhu Clan's bloodline is no different from a National Heavy Weapon..."

He Lanchan murmured in a low voice, his palm slowly closing.

The Radiant Light Key dimmed, vanishing soundlessly.

The white-haired figure gradually dissipated, as if melting into the Xu Kong Space.

"You didn't finish speaking! Shameless cliffhanger!"

Qin Shi's mouth twitched; as the spiritual resonance grew weaker and weaker, he could no longer perceive what followed.

He Lanchan's body shape completely "collapsed," and he could no longer be seen.

The doubts in his heart remained unanswered, as if his appetite had been whetted, leaving him very dissatisfied.

"Super Xiao He, do you have anything to add?"

Consciousness returning to clarity, Qin Shi looked toward the white-haired youth under the tree shade.

The latter shook his head, his gaze blank, speaking in a stiff tone:

"I am your Dao Nature Avatar, not He Lanchan himself; how could I remember these things?"

Qin Shi couldn't help but feel regret; that Radiant Light Key contained a great secret.

If it could be answered...

Forget it; Qin Shuai, Heavenly Mandate, Covenant—these were all too far from him, separated by a hundred and eighty thousand light years.

Curiosity flashed and vanished; Qin Shi silently operated the Xu Kong Meditation Method, swallowing and absorbing the energy factors taken from the outside world.

The surging, violent light from beyond the world acted not only on the mortal body, stimulating flesh and blood, but could also satisfy the spirit and nourish the soul.

Cool and moist, like the flow of a cold spring surging into body and mind, sinking slightly, washing inside and out.

Qin Shi felt so comfortable he almost cried out, feeling his whole person light and floating, as if weightless, able to rise up.

The tormenting pain of being almost split apart by the light from beyond the world had been replaced by blissful enjoyment.

He opened his pores, stretched his muscles, immersed in a cultivation state like drinking fine wine.

But gradually, something was wrong.

The energy factors taken in accumulated more and more; the speed of absorption far exceeded digestion.

Qin Shi felt like eating at a buffet to get his money's worth, forcibly eating until stuffed.

His mortal body was like a feather, becoming lighter and lighter, and more and more sensitive; even a breeze brushing against his body was so obvious.

"Hiss!"

Qin Shi sucked in a breath of cold air; not long after, a breeze swirled around his body, like steel knives scraping flesh and picking bones.

True pain arose spontaneously!

"The light from beyond the world makes flesh and blood restless, makes the spirit chaotic!"

Qin Shi suddenly remembered Xu Sheng's warning; he hurriedly gathered his mind and stabilized his state of samadhi.

Because his own spiritual field power was outstanding, the process of taking in and swallowing energy factors continued unchanged, still not slowing down.

"This is bad, won't I 'burst from overeating'!"

Qin Shi sat cross-legged on the Lotus Stone Seat, inevitably having a headache.

Even though his soul had entered samadhi and achieved minor success in cultivation, the energy factors continuously injected into his body, like nutrients irrigating plants to promote growth, enhanced his spiritual field power while amplifying the intense pain borne by his senses.

He experienced for the first time what "inflation" was.

As if he was about to burst!

"Condense the Holy Embryo with the Xu Kong Meditation Method."

Super Xiao He spoke at the right time.

"Light from beyond the world enters the body, the spirit creates calamity! In the Ancient Era, this was exactly the opportunity to break through!"

Hearing this, Qin Shi felt it made sense; he directly let go of his mind, accepting the energy factors filling his bones.

Then he operated the Xu Kong Meditation Method; that ancient altar was outlined and appeared.

Spiritual field power refined to the extreme intertwined and rubbed against each other, like patches of firelight, burning the surging energy factors.

The inner landscape suddenly trembled!

Only to see the ancient altar ignite heart fire, refining vast patches of brilliant rosy clouds.

This place was like a furnace; heart light was like fire, light from beyond the world was like water; the two merged, perfectly fitting the ancient Daoist mystery of "Water and Fire Mutual Aid."

Gradually, the transforming thought power spun rapidly, like a sea eye; large amounts of energy factors were swallowed and digested, turning into liquid droplet shapes, suspended within consciousness.

A moment later, Qin Shi's brain, spiritual field power surging!

As if overturning rivers and seas, wind and clouds churning!

The "Xu Kong Meditation Method" mentions two methods of Holy Embryo condensation.

One is to absorb over a thousand units of dimensional energy, forge them into twelve crystals, and continuously polish them to perfection;

The second is to follow the ancient method, seek out a "Cave Heaven Blessed Land" rich in energy factors, and complete the "Hundred-Day Holy Embryo Formation".

At present, the ruined temple drawing heavenly light is equivalent to an alternative "Cave Heaven Blessed Land".

It is a suitable location.

As for over a thousand units of dimensional energy, this place can also supply it sufficiently.

Just as Super Xiao He said.

A perfect opportunity!

"Since that's the case, might as well walk both paths together."

Qin Shi decisively made his choice; under inner vision, in just a dozen or so minutes, he had already absorbed nearly sixty units of dimensional energy.

Heart light like fierce fire, heavenly light like water flow, mutually tormenting each other, as if refining some prototype.

"Rare opportunity! Charge!"

Qin Shi continued releasing breath, ensuring the heavenly light baptism would not be interrupted.

With his mortal body that broke the fourth great limit, it was enough to sustain for a good while!

Then he tightly closed his eyes again, continuously copying and engraving dragon snake script, tempering spirit, strengthening mind power!

……

……

One day and one night.

Xu Sheng outside the ruined temple stared dumbfounded; as chief examiner, this was the first time he had seen a contestant who could endure this much.

"Predecessor, your disciple, truly long-lasting."

He originally thought after waiting a few hours, the person should have come out.

Result: this one stay lasted most of the day!

Lao Zhang on the wheelchair dozing, lazily lifted his eyelids:

"Young lad, vigorous firepower, can take it. Sorry to trouble you, accompanying this dry wait."

Xu Sheng hurriedly lowered his head, smiled respectfully:

"What words are these, Predecessor! Too distant! Qin Classmate is the Martial Association's fine talent, and the champion of the Top Hundred Competition! As this session's chief examiner, I naturally have the duty to guard! If Predecessor is tired, by all means rest! I'll keep watch here; estimating at slowest, tomorrow morning it'll be over."

Lao Zhang nodded, truly pushed the wheelchair back to the oasis camp, went to sleep.

From his understanding of Xiao Qin, this kid always eats clean and wipes clean, takes all benefits before leaving.

If he smoothly breaks the fourth great limit, staying seven or eight days probably no problem.

"These old bones of mine, not much oil left, accompanying Xiao Qin in dry endurance."

Lao Zhang returned to camp, sent word, had Old Nine Ren You come over to attend.

Second day passed.

Xu Sheng watching the sun sinking west, muttered in his heart:

"Was Qin Classmate blasted to slag by heavenly light? How come not a single movement?"

Third day passed.

Even with professional realm physical quality, Xu Sheng stood until his legs went numb.

Those eyes of his stared at the ruined temple's main gate, thought:

"This little ancestor, just when will he stay until?"

Full three days, the heavenly light bombardment never stopped.

The Martial Association opening a void altar once consumes massive resources to begin with.

Maintaining it this long, Center City those people's hearts are probably bleeding.

Fourth day, fifth day, sixth day... tenth day!

Xu Sheng finally couldn't hold back, ran back to the oasis in big strides, looked at Lao Zhang leisurely drinking tea:

"Predecessor, your Xiao Qin Classmate, this stay is too long."

Lao Zhang slanted his eyes over, asked faintly:

"Top Hundred champion accepting heavenly light baptism, no time limit stipulated. What, Xiao Qin lasts longer, is that also wrong?"

Xu Sheng speechless, he looked at the still-bombarding heavenly light, mysteriously felt the violent surging energy factors had become listless.

"Even breaking into professional realm isn't that strenuous; full ten days, bombarded by heavenly light like this, even high-alloy steel would've vaporized!"

Fifteenth day.

Xu Sheng had to temporarily leave the Great Rift Valley; the electronic blockade level here is too high, cannot receive outside news.

Arrived at temporary command camp, Center City's representative had already gone back, even Chen Ruofu and Fang Butang, these two Taian Metropolitan Area top leaders, also had no patience to continue waiting.

"Chairman, I know Tomorrow Group's interview has been prepared for a long time, and Governor Tai's award ceremony, but... person hasn't come out, what can I do! Can't exactly rush in and drag him out! If it's right at the breakthrough critical moment, I'd form a deadly feud with Nanhuang Dojo!"

Xu Sheng holding mobile terminal, full of grievance poured out bitter complaints.

All parties sought him this chief examiner, asking why Qin Shi who bravely seized Top Hundred champion, still hasn't appeared.

"No rush. This Top Hundred champion taken by unknown Nanhuang Dojo disciple, Education Bureau side, New Martial Arts side, both can't save face. Since this Xiao Qin Classmate is willing to seclude, doesn't want limelight, also good."

Mobile terminal other end Hengzhou Martial Association chairman spoke gently.

"But void altar open like this, consuming massive resources..."

Xu Sheng hesitated.

"No matter, it's not like it'll be used even once in several years anyway."

The Hengzhou Martial Association president didn't care much.

A mere altar, running for ten days or half a month, wouldn't be too painful either.

That Qin Classmate who broke through the Specialized Field Barrier and refreshed the Top of the Hundred Strong Competition record.

No matter how robust his constitution, there's no way he could continue enduring; the power of the Light from Beyond is immense, and bearing it is absolutely unbearable.

"With your words, I'm at ease!"

Xu Sheng nodded repeatedly.

He was mainly worried that the Hengzhou Martial Association couldn't afford the resources to activate the altar and draw the Heavenly Light.

The thirtieth day.

"Little Xu, what exactly is the situation at the Great Rift Valley? Activating an altar isn't like turning on an air conditioner in summer, just spending a bit more on electricity. Thirty days, the resources for the next Hundred Strong Competition have all been poured in!"

The Hengzhou Martial Association president's tone changed; even if the Nanhuang Daoist Hall Disciple's body were forged of iron, it should have been melted by the Heavenly Light by now.

How can he still endure!

"President, I guarantee one hundred percent, Little Qin is absolutely still in the temple; his aura hasn't cut off even once!"

Xu Sheng's beard was unkempt, his hair a mess; he had thought it a short business trip, never expecting it to turn into a long-term campaign.

Hanging up the phone with the Hengzhou Martial Association, he sighed to the heavens; what kind of staying power is this, to be bombarded by the Light from Beyond for a whole month!

Is the Old Martial Arts Breaking Limits physique truly this terrifying?

……

……

Qin Shi had never cultivated for such a long time; energy factors continuously surging into his hundred bones maintained the nutrition needed for vital signs.

The prototype condensed in his Consciousness Sea cleansed his mind and refined impurities, bringing him extremely close to the legendary "Bigu" state.

Even without food or water for a month, he remained spirited, even feeling a sense of comfort as if his mortal body was transparent inside and out.

"Hundred-Day Holy Embryo Formation! Pity, I currently only have a prototype, lacking a few parts of the 'Self Heart,' unable to infuse the 'Spiritual Light' condensed from mental thoughts into it; otherwise, staying another two months, I would enter the Saint Embryo Stage! Could test into Qiguang Heng University's Shen Neng Xi!"

Qin Shi felt a slight regret; in Inner Vision State, he looked at the transparent prototype in his Consciousness Sea, like an empty cicada shell, hollow inside.

But no matter how you put it, that is still a "Holy Embryo Prototype."

This full month of swallowing and absorbing energy factors practically nurtured his hundred bones like lustrous white jade, radiating a moist, gentle luster.

Like a pond, after several "widenings" and "reinforcements," becoming ever more vast, able to contain life radiance like mighty rivers.

He merely operated the Self-Cultivation Furnace, urged the Breathing Method, and his body emitted the Wind and Thunder Sound of cracking thunder and roaring, as if great dragons rolled and stirred, soaring in all directions!

"If I run into Lao Zhou again, even without freezing his account, I could knock him down."

Qin Shi felt that all his Mental Power, all his Flesh Vitality, oscillated with the rhythm of his breathing, tightly combining into a surging Primordial Qi.

Like a fierce, wild dragon flickering into existence, heeding the command of his thoughts, driven by his body, ready to be blasted out at any moment!

"I'm also close to touching the Professional Realm's Threshold. By rights, I should be able to cross easily, but the flaw brought by Spirit-Flesh Unity is that the accumulation is too deep, requiring more effort to step into the Professional Realm."

Qin Shi slowly gathered the vast Primordial Qi growing in his hundred bones; the Fourth Great Limit's Skin Pass also progressed rapidly.

A month without washing, his body surprisingly had no strange odor or filth; his skin maintained a lustrous sheen like white jade, sitting cross-legged on the Lotus Stone Seat, truly resembling an exquisite deity statue enshrined in a temple.

"Thanks to the Hengzhou Martial Association's generosity, they actually activated the Xu Kong Ji Tan for a full thirty days. This Hundred Strong Competition Champion title wasn't won for nothing."

Qin Shi's thoughts were radiating when his Inner Landscape shook again; his spirit seemed to capture an even more ancient trace of fluctuation, beginning to resonate.

Two figures appeared one after another in the Xu Kong Space.

One was burly, nearly two meters tall, truly of heroic and imposing stature.

He wore a dark coat, his face obscured by a big hat brim, unclear.

Judging by momentum alone, he was the most terrifying existence Qin Shi had ever seen.

Even across distant years, capturing a trace of residual spiritual fluctuation made his soul give birth to immense dread.

If not for condensing the Holy Embryo Prototype and the Xu Kong Meditation Method advancing another level, resonance would have been impossible.

The other person was relatively ordinary, medium height, plain looks, age not over twenty, appearing very youthful.

Those eyebrows were especially thick, like a brush saturated with ink, painting two thick, black strokes.

"Deputy Commander!"

Qin Shi recognized him.

He had once seen the Deputy Commander's true appearance, a life both legendary and tumultuous, in He Lanchan's Spiritual Resonance.

"Elder Brother."

The young Deputy Commander called out.

Qin Shi's Brain Sea seemed torn by lightning; with a gaze for viewing mythology, he watched the martial man draped in a military greatcoat.

Who is this person?

Dongxia's Supreme Meritorious Subject, the Supreme Martial God illuminating the Galaxy!

Garrisoning the Dongtian Star Domain near the Great Forbidden Taboo Zone, the Fourth War Corps' Highest Commander for a full six thousand years.

Qin Shuai!

(Chapter End)