Chapter 446: Glimpses of Rhyme in the Gap, Seeking to Refine a Treasure

"..."

Jiang Ying fell into silence.

If it were fixed right here, it would indeed be able to remove the hidden dangers of her constitution and cause True Monarch Buyi's assumptions based on it to go bankrupt, but relatively speaking, her achievements would very likely stop there.

As for choosing to continue devouring and changing, the benefits were naturally obvious; she could quickly use this to strengthen herself, but relatively speaking, no one could clearly say what the final situation would be, and even less could they guarantee that True Monarch Buyi had no backup plans and could not control it!

She appeared to be conflicted.

Du En asked at this moment: "Does Fellow Daoist An have a method to fix it?"

"There is a high probability that it can be done; after all, I have also toyed with the source of life, leading to an innocent daughter being born in that posture."

"Besides the ones visible to the naked eye, what other drawbacks are there?"

"This... actually, if it is sealed and stopped here, her constitution is still top-tier; it's not that it cannot continue to improve, or perhaps I should say, I feel she is not suited for constant change, so perhaps choosing to seal it is the best."

An Shen was somewhat hesitant, but still said it.

Jiang Ying blinked her eyes, feeling that the situation had some deviation from her own understanding.

The person opposite, also under Du En's reminder, had noticed this situation, which was why they spoke so bluntly about something that would significantly affect her choice.

To tell the truth, An Shen was treating Jiang Ying with an attitude relatively close to how they treated Ming, but they hadn't expected there to be such an obvious deviation right from the start.

Unaccountably, she had the feeling that her brain had been outclassed.

Glancing at the now silent Du En, it was obvious that the previous opening was just to point out the part she had thought wrong.

Sealing the body's changes did not mean it could only stop there, truly fixed in place.

In fact, she could still gradually forge ahead through her own accumulation.

The benchmarks and monuments on this path were Du En and True Monarch Zhuding.

They both used their own ways to walk from the worst rank to today.

It was just that.

It was too difficult and too slow...

Not to mention True Monarch Zhuding, and setting aside Du En's head start, at the very least Jiang Ying felt that she could not sprint forward quickly and powerfully; she estimated that like other conventional cultivators, she would have to spend a lot of time polishing and accumulating before she could slowly forge achievements.

The drawback An Shen had just wanted to mention was actually this.

"Although it will be slower, this is the steady way; besides, it won't necessarily be slow."

At this time, that quasi-True Monarch finally finished dealing with the trivial matters, so he walked over to express his words.

The two people and one deity turned to look.

The two people nodded casually to greet, while An Shen conversed with him very formally, and each made their self-introductions.

Then the topic was led over here.

"Could it be that Your Excellency noticed something we did not?"

"Haha, although Fellow Daoist An has outstanding natural talent and remarkable flair, to be honest, being confined to the land of one star, your experience is still relatively ordinary, so it will also have some influence on your discernment."

Meng Changqing chuckled as he said this, giving the other party face while also involuntarily tilting his head slightly, secretly carrying a bit of self-satisfaction.

However, this was actually a form of concealment.

To be honest, his mindset when he saw An Shen just now was like this:

"Hmm?!"

"Du En, it was one thing that you swindled a strong genius over before, but now you've actually swindled another strong prodigy over, right?"

In reality, the pressure in Meng Changqing's heart was actually quite great.

After all, An Shen, who had been reconciled with Du En and brought into the alliance this time, was that kind of strong prodigy who should have reached the Void Refining stage long ago; now they only needed to solve the body's problem, and it wouldn't be long before they were a pillar of the faction. Even if his own pace were slightly slower, it would be a very normal situation for them to chase into the Integration stage.

—Among the True Monarchs of the Immortal Sect, there was even True Monarch Huiqing who was only a common prodigy!

Then looking at Du En again, there was even more of a feeling that Feng Huang Yuhen was chasing from behind! Because he was also whipping his horse to gallop, advancing by leaps and bounds; this time it was practically like he had used time acceleration, as in just a short year, he had already broken through his realm and arrived at the edge of the next realm, only that final kick away from the perfection of the Spirit Severing stage! This fellow simply couldn't slow down at all, and there were even signs of getting faster and faster, which was simply overwhelming; if he continued to charge at this speed, then it was not unimaginable for him to reach the level of a strong prodigy during the Integration stage.

Therefore, Meng Changqing, who considered himself the leader, could be said to be full of pressure now.

Yet he was also genuinely happy.

Haha, once the three of us here are all Integration True Monarchs, at that time we will cut through the Gordian knot and eliminate the two tumors of Huiqing and Buyi; the Luoyu Immortal Sect will still be that Luoyu Immortal Sect, and five True Monarchs will still be five True Monarchs, which fundamentally won't substantially affect the overall situation!

In this way, even if it were the other two, they wouldn't have any actual resistance; of course, in their hearts they would definitely be annoyed, wary, and thinking all sorts of things.

But to hell with them!

Of course, daydreaming is one thing, but right now one cannot drop their guard.

Meng Changqing steadied his mindset and said: "Simply put, on Jiang Ying's body right now, there actually still remains a strand of special Dao rhyme; that is because of some unfinished Dao technique that she became tainted with. Because it is left in the gap and is extremely minute, it requires relatively special means to be seen."

Saying this, he pointed at the three of them and emitted three strands of magic power.

It didn't look very powerful, just magic power at the peak of the Foundation Establishment stage, but it was able to cast a secret technique—also not that unique, just equivalent to a Profound-grade Dao technique—but the eyeball pattern it formed allowed both the person and the deity to see the situation hidden in the gap.

There were tiny specks of light, about to dim and disappear, yet they were very tenacious and refused to dissipate.

It was exactly what was left behind after the Holy God Apostles used their trump card moves!

The kind of charm it faintly emitted was quite unusual.

The eye of magic power shattered, and the two people and one deity each had their own thoughts.

"That is how it is. If you can stop relying on the physical body to memorize and attempt to reproduce, but instead use your own self to understand and perceive, thereby reversing the primary and secondary, and no longer let the physical body restrict your Dao path, then you should also be able to obtain rapid growth."

This was her greatest opportunity this time!

The key to truly shaking off True Monarch Buyi! After all, no matter how much effort is put into the constitution, when it comes down to it, it is just operating within the trap set by the other party. Even if she walked to the end, the moment the other party tightened this trap, while it couldn't be said they could strangle her on the spot, making her tied up and unable to display much of her ability was easy as pie.

Therefore, it is necessary to reverse the primary and secondary, turning the constitution back into the secondary and elevating herself to the primary; only in this way can she strive for an advantageous initiative.

"However, in doing so, I must abandon all kinds of inertia I have accumulated from the past..."

There are pros and cons, gains and losses.

As for how to weigh it specifically, she still had to ponder it slowly. "It's fine, there's no problem with considering it for another few years; if anything, this is actually the normal situation."

Ordinary cultivators who can refine a spell slightly in a few years are all said to have gained a great deal.

These are all normal circumstances.

Meng Changqing wore an expression of being deeply moved by this, which made Jiang Ying want to roll her eyes.

Because right now, he was the most extraordinarily ordinary one here.

"Moreover, I must study carefully with Fellow Daoist An on how to seal it perfectly, so as not to give my senior brother any chance to find a way back in!"

Speaking of this, he revealed a cold sneer again.

An Shen also spoke up in response at this moment: "Regarding the situation of your senior brother, I do hope you can provide some thorough guidance!"

"Haha, Fellow Daoist An, there is no need for such courtesy; naturally, I will explain it to you in detail, especially the secrets he exposed before and after his breakthrough. At the very least, within a hundred years, having exhausted his previous foundation, it is impossible for him to eliminate his loopholes and flaws perfectly!"

"That would be truly excellent!"

"And as for the issue of your physical state, Fellow Daoist An, do not worry about anything. As soon as my hands are a bit freer, I will certainly find a way to help you resolve it!"

"Then I shall not decline your offer, and if there is any place where I can be of use in the future, I will naturally not refuse in the slightest!"

With the two of them exchanging words, the terms of their cooperation were considered settled.

An Shen did not have the airs of a deity at all, and Meng Changqing, this quasi-True Monarch, was the same as always; the atmosphere of their conversation appeared relaxed and simple.

It was just that An Shen could not help but send a divine sense message to Du En: "To be honest, I have some doubts now."

"Oh? No need to worry about him eavesdropping; being able to do something doesn't mean he will do it."

"Then I will speak plainly."

An Shen stated one point directly: "When he spoke later on, it felt a bit overly polite, which does not match my existing impression. This makes me have to suspect that I have misjudged the situation."

"Oh, you mean that? As a landlord, he is indeed quite strapped for cash right now. I have a seventh-tier city here, which gathers the cultivation foundation of a star realm, being repaired on his side. However, there were some changes in the situation earlier, so I will ask."

Du En answered calmly, then actually began to ask Meng Changqing.

"Our information hasn't been fully shared yet, so you don't know that the guy Buyi compensated me with two star realms this time, just to separate the two of you. You also know the situation where Jiang Ying was in danger; falling into his hands, even if someone could survive, they would be tortured miserably, so many resources are needed for restoration and support."

This was also the main event of the matters he had just been handling; before his deep seclusion, he only had time to arrange for people to take over and investigate the situation, and now it was time for the stage of providing resources for restoration and support.

The surplus resources he had originally extorted from True Monarch Chengru were just like that, filled into those two bottomless pits.

After all, that True Monarch Buyi would tamper with the life sources of the star realms, cutting a piece here and slicing a bit there, engaging in all sorts of reckless behavior, which resulted in the restoration being extremely resource-intensive.

Meng Changqing even had the feeling of having fallen into a trap, but he could only bite the bullet and continue, because he controlled too few star realms; if those two star realms were repaired, it would greatly enrich his side's foundation and strength! "So that's how it is; it was I who judged a gentleman's heart with a villain's measure."

An Shen cleared up the misunderstanding and stated it clearly.

"Fellow Daoist An, there is no need for that; after all, given the things you have experienced, it is normal to have concerns and suspicions."

Meng Changqing's attitude remained very good.

Jiang Ying, having temporarily detached herself from her own affairs, watched the behavior of these two and could not help but twitch the corner of her mouth, feeling it was truly strange.

It was mainly because they were too stiffly polite, giving one the feeling of being overly courteous.

But for the two parties involved in the negotiation, it was a rare moment of ease and pleasure.

This was the manifestation of low cooperation costs; only a brief conversation was needed to quickly set the tone and framework.

Then, it was Du En's turn, and it was very much in his true style.

"... The situation is roughly like this."

He first gave a general account of his experiences in the star realms.

Meng Changqing also replied with the developments on his side.

Then.

"Regarding the Dao techniques we agreed upon earlier, the follow-up for 'Fiber Flower' is not needed for now; it must be changed to the follow-up for 'Ice Soul without Transformation'. Also, I have already mastered the 'Earth-Wood Sacred Refining', and now I need more profound puppet manipulation techniques, plus some materials for making puppets."

"That cannot be solved by 'Earth-Wood Sacred Refining'. Also, about the fifth-tier spirit beast. By the way, next, help me get some 'Solar Essence'; it doesn't need to be much, and it doesn't need to be very high-tier, just the most basic kind will do. About a thousand will be enough."

Meng Changqing: "..."

Are you here to ransack my house?

If you want to get benefits, at least learn from Fellow Daoist An's performance just now; you say something, I say something, being polite and courteous—I would find that much more comfortable! Sigh! He could not help but sigh inwardly, but he did not refuse to give them.

After all, if you want the horse to run, you cannot skimp on the grass! "I will resolve it as soon as possible. Alright, I still have work to do, and you still need to stabilize. That's it. Sorry, Fellow Daoist An, for the neglect!"

Speaking rapidly, Meng Changqing hurriedly vanished, fearing that Du En would continue to make exorbitant demands! It has to be you; you never change at all.

Jiang Ying looked at Du En in admiration, then rubbed her chin, her eyes flashing: "I'll go find Nangong for a fight to regain some confidence, and by the way, see if True Monarch Zhuding is at the Second Peak. If he is, I'll bite the bullet and ask for advice; perhaps he can give me some pointers."

She had already become proactive now, and saying this here was also to avoid Meng Changqing misunderstanding.

Although the avatar had run off, the main body was still here! Having said that, Jiang Ying also left this place.

Du En nodded slightly, as he also had his own matters to attend to.

He returned to his grass hut with An Shen, then waved his hand, and the Mirror Crow eggshell appeared in the air, floating up and down.

"Fellow Daoist Du, you really don't stand on ceremony."

An Shen, who followed the local customs, saw this situation and immediately understood his intention.

Artifact refining!

He was going to make use of the Mirror Crow eggshell immediately, with no intention of leaving it overnight.

"Regarding this eggshell, I am thinking of refining it into a sixth-tier Dharma treasure, or even a precious treasure, but if it were only me, I would inevitably fall short. Moreover, I need Fellow Daoist An's full assistance to stimulate its origin and make the whole thing complete, uniform, and flawless."

Du En spoke methodically, having no qualms at all in front of the person concerned.

After all, although this Mirror Crow eggshell had a good foundation, it had suffered damage before, and at the same time, An Shen's divine sense avatar residing in it and then leaving had clearly taken away a portion of its origin.

If it were not for the fact that it was extremely extraordinary and unique, it would have long since become a relatively ordinary fifth-tier precious material, which would truly have no great significance to him now.

(End of chapter)