Chapter 519: Asura Stone Carving, Before the Secret Land

Following habit, after the summary introduction, Huizheng began to paste in various research, striving for seamless precision.

However, this time there was very little, only a few scattered words, mainly derived from the transcripts of multiple interrogations of a certain unnamed last-rank Guardian Warrior, and then, based on the various clues within, barely compiled sporadic annotations from predecessors.

Utterly worthless.

Therefore, reading further, it is basically all Huizheng's own words.

"Asked again about the reason for the name Asura, he knew nothing, but finally, by racking my brains and re-entering the Secret Land, I found some traces pointing to the Buddhist Sect, which has long since vanished."

"The Buddhist Sect, according to the legacy left by ancestors and others, seems to have no such related figures; at least at the level above the Nascent Soul stage, no one has been discovered yet who studies such techniques."

"Clearly, this is quite unusual, so I spent time and finally found a Buddhist recluse on the verge of death. According to him, Asura is a Heavenly Being, meaning the ranks of Heavenly Gods. Upon informing him of the Secret Land's current trial purpose—that is, screening and testing warriors—he became filled with solemnity."

"Among the six paths of sentient beings, there are Asuras, who are bloodthirsty and combative. A, non, Asura, that is, non-heaven! Named heaven yet non-heaven, confusing right and wrong, like the Buddhist transformation, Poxun's false transcendence!"

"The old monk breathed his last after speaking, his face full of terror and fear."

Huizheng's writing here seems a bit depressed, and she couldn't help but add this note to vent: "I hate guys who only speak in riddles, and then just die on their own after finishing!"

Asura, Heavenly Being, Extraterritorial Heavenly Demon, Heavenly Demon—should this also be considered a type of Heavenly Being? Then, confusing heaven and non-heaven, does it mean Heavenly Demons entering the human world, the mutual confusion leading to displacement, which is Poxun's false transcendence, and thus the righteous spirit is replaced, and emotional attachments evolve into karmic evil? Du En thought this, then shook his head slightly.

Because it was only speculation.

Guys from the Buddhist school always like to pop up suddenly and only speak in riddles and Zen, they just won't speak properly.

He felt deeply the same way about this.

Looking at the follow-up, from the records Huizheng continued to write herself, it is known that all three parties of the Qing Kingdom began to focus on the excavation of the Asura Secret Land, each dispatching personnel, with Guardian Warriors rotating on permanent duty, responsible for attempting to dig up secrets in the depths where ordinary people cannot set foot.

"Guardian Warriors are simply born for this; could that fellow Qing Lan have known and plotted this long ago?"

"Qing God..."

"Qing God year 45, the last-rank warrior returned heavily wounded, carrying an ancient stone carving; soon after, a sudden fall occurred, and he was purified and fell into eternal sleep."

"The stone carving is strange, with content carved on it that is difficult to interpret and impossible to copy; the only thing known is that, according to the last-rank warrior's murmurs before his fall, the Immortal Sect ancestors once traced back to the depth he stepped into, saying that it is the source of all madness, and one cannot but step there again."

"Due to various considerations, for the sake of stability, the stone carving was moved back to the depths of the Secret Land accessible for daily contact, and guarded by two Guardian Warriors..."

By this point, Huizheng and the others clearly still had a period of effort ahead, but it seems they had certain concerns and left nothing more, instead leaving a simple map of the Secret Land, marking the location of the stone carving and several safe routes to get there.

The safe routes here refer to the small paths chiseled by people that bypass the various trials of the Secret Land.

"A mere Secret Land, not worth mentioning!"

That's right, Huizheng secretly snuck into the Asura Secret Land personally and chiseled these direct small paths; for many years, no one discovered them. This must be the reason why the Evil Eye wants to destroy this place, and why the Evil Eye appeared on her body.

Regarding the plan to cooperate with the God Tree Cult to study at the end of the Research Association, there is absolutely no explanation; perhaps it is because she gradually stopped trusting the Witch Priest Qing Lan, or perhaps she felt that leaving unrealized theories here was suspicious of misleading people. In short, because no obsession was left here, it is unknown exactly how it went.

However, if one looks at the simple surface information, it is probably exploring the path of correcting the confusion.

Thinking this, Du En looked up at the bookshelf in front.

Except for the two books he had already finished, the rest were densely packed; from the labels on the book covers, one could tell they were all Huizheng's ideas and plans on how to break through the firmament and go straight into the high heavens above.

"She really hasn't changed her original intention!"

Wu Rui couldn't help but sigh while looking, then met Du En's gaze.

You take a look.

Huh? Me? She couldn't help but feel her scalp tingle.

Because there is no need to think to know that there must be many "fanciful ideas" inside.

But Du En had already gone off to do other things on his own; it was a clear division of labor, not wasting time.

Therefore, she could only hesitantly step forward to browse.

The restriction on the bookshelf did not block her at all, and so, she was soon full of amazement, completely immersed in it.

She had thought it would be as rigid as the research books, overall quite boring and dull, but the result was not; Huizheng's passion was poured into this, the words were like flames, as if one could see the person herself being impassioned in front of them.

Then, in the middle, it was interspersed with her own immortal cultivation experience, as well as spell techniques and other content, including the Light-Extinguishing Treasure Array that now seals and suppresses the Research Association; its original intention was actually an external restriction array used to avoid various possible outside peeking and interference, allowing people to successfully fly out of the Star Realm.

"She wants to turn the Research Association into a ship, right? Then fill it with Qing Kingdom people, and then just zoom, fly out like that! And there are other various ideas, too, too..."

Wu Rui appeared quite excited, speaking to the quickly returning Du En, but his calmness quickly brought her back to reality, and all her excitement was immediately extinguished.

"Let's go."

Du En had already scavenged the spiritual materials of the Research Association and refined them into twenty-some usable Dharma artifacts. Although there might be other usable items in other places, compared to precious time, they could be set aside and abandoned.

"Oh."

Wu Rui nodded and perked up again, seemingly infected, returning to the state she was in when she first walked out of the teaching hall courtyard, and asked: "Where are we going next, the Asura Secret Land?"

"Yes, it is necessary to go see that stone carving first, and since that place is the focus of the God Tree Cult's layout, not only do core personnel like Guardian Warriors exist there, but even the Witch Priest Qing Lan might be there now."

"Good! Finally able to find her, I must ask clearly. If she can't satisfy me, I have already read Huizheng's notes, and if I transform into her magic power, my combat strength should be quite good, plus this Light-Extinguishing Treasure Array..."

"Have you learned it? Then I'll come modify the puppet..."

"I haven't learned it!"

Categorical and decisive, she fled first.

Du En had no ripples of expression, just pinched a seal, and this underground storage room was completely sealed again; except for the extra scraps of paper on the ground, it was as if no one had ever entered.

After the two left this place, they used the same old trick to walk out of the Research Association and met up with Da Huang, who was waiting in the distance.

The carriage started, the goal clear.

Splash—water splashed up.

On the left and right sides, there was only withered decay, quickly left behind in the hurried variety of things.

Looking into the distance, the overcast rain was continuous, seemingly becoming denser.

Looking up again, Wu Rui was lying down at this moment, as if she could see the gray, lightless sky directly through the iron plate blocking the overcast rain.

It is a pity that she is not Huizheng; she actually cannot look forward to the high heavens above.

If you ask why? Because she had long known that boundless deep space. Just as people would want to seek the high heavens above, she perhaps only wanted to explore beneath these clouds.

Thus, her gaze shifted away, returning to the tray nearby.

Du En was there, racing against time to recover his strength.

Before the light cluster that had shrunk down, a small, rusted sword floated; looking closely, it seemed to be composed of layers upon layers of scriptures, naturally exuding a sense of heaviness and uprightness, with a hint of ultimate charm that unconsciously captivated the eye.

"General Outline of the Central Emperor's Ultimate Claim"

The so-called Central Emperor refers to the Lord of the Center.

Southeast, northwest, above and below, front and back—all that is at the center is the Central Imperial Ultimate!

Therefore, the Central Emperor is the center point of the heavens, the universe, and the human world; the absolute being who claims the ultimate and the throne from this position possesses absolute, extreme authority and power...

That is how it is in theory, but in reality, there is no such figure as a Central Emperor in the world today, and there are no relevant records in any scriptures; looking at the name of the inheritance, "General Outline," it is likely just a path that has been determined and hypothesized, but one that no one has actually walked.

Du En silently evaluated and speculated this way, and upon looking at the specific details, he felt even more that he hadn't guessed wrong, because its entry point could be described as very "earthy."

Southeast, northwest, center; wood, fire, metal, water, earth—in other words, the Central Emperor is also the Earth Emperor!

Therefore, this Great Dao is actually very suitable for Du En, because his foundational cultivation method is the low-grade "Yellow Earth Technique," and quite coincidentally, the entry base of this "Central Emperor's Ultimate Claim" is basically consistent with the "Yellow Earth Technique."

"That really is a 'coincidence'..."

"What's wrong? Is there a problem with the inheritance?"

"If you say there is, there is; if you say there isn't, there isn't. It seems you aren't at the point where you can know yet."

"No, I really have no impression of this at all; it looks completely novel, a first-time feeling... come to think of it, does the rust and mottling on it have any impact?"

"There is a certain degree of loss, but the problem is not significant."

【Spell: Central Emperor's Ultimate Claim (Beginner 0/10)】

Because the base is basically consistent, he easily got hold of the entry point and formally mastered this secret technique or Daoist art; in short, although the starting point is only at the level of a Profound-grade, it will inevitably reach the highest Heaven-grade upon perfection.

Only in this way can one walk into the Great Dao.

The manifestation of its power is actually very simple: stand in the center of the human world, claim the ultimate, and be invincible and undefeated.

Of course, at the beginner stage, it is just a strengthening state acting on the physical body; it is a further deepening and extraction of the resonance and response with the earth—a sign that his low-grade technique had been maxed out, which Du En hadn't used in a long time and only recently picked back up—thereby truly attributing the power of the earth's yellow soil to himself.

"The terrain is compliant; the superior man carries things with great virtue."

Yellow earth is tough and resilient, upright and central; seeing its intent, one settles the four directions; understanding its ultimate, one becomes the honored emperor.

"The Central Emperor's Great Dao... there is no need to fantasize too much about it for now."

Because this is not his Dao; of course, if he can grind out this Great Dao, the more paths he has, the better, so that in the future, when fighting against the Supremes, he can overtake them on a curve and achieve final victory.

Du En was very rational.

So he did not say more and continued to ponder, using this to further resonate and echo with this land.

Previously, there had actually been potential applications in this realm; that effortless "Earth Escape" that consumed nothing, although primarily relying on the uniqueness of his primordial spirit, also had the secondary assistance of the "Yellow Earth Technique" resonance.

After all, this star itself is not friendly, and it has accumulated a large amount of Resentful Demon Yin Rain in the soil.

It was just that it stopped at that level and could not go any further.

Even though the "Yellow Earth Technique" had improved as his realm increased.

But since his main cultivation method had shifted away from the Earth element, moving into Wood, turning to Fire, and emitting light, the improvement here was too shallow, merely consolidating the foundation.

Only now, by utilizing this inherited Daoist art, could it be considered re-strengthened and highlighted.

And, it was grinding up quite fast.

The obstruction and resistance of the Sin-Transformed Star itself instead became a form of weight-bearing equipment; by the time Du En was about to reach the Asura Secret Land, he had already ground the "Central Emperor's Ultimate Claim" to the level of "Initial Glimpse."

This made the light of his primordial spirit shine a bit brighter, and the texture of his primordial spirit became thicker and more solid; it no longer looked like a drifting white soft light cluster, but more like a soft, fluffy ball of white cotton, which made Wurei's gaze unable to help but drift over.

It would definitely be very soft to touch! She had such an impulsive urge.

Then, the carriage slowed down and gradually came to a stop.

A strange, foul odor permeated the air; Dahuang smelled more of it and couldn't help but bare its teeth, appearing uneasy and restless, not daring to move forward.

"Dahuang, you stay here and wait; Wurei, it's time to act."

"Okay."

Resting and building up energy, their state was perfect.

The two got off the carriage and proceeded forward.

The Yin Rain did not cease, and the withered, dead mountain ridges rose and fell; even with Du En's slightly recovered divine sense, he could not see through the rain curtain, but now he could obtain a different kind of feedback from the earth beneath his feet.

Up ahead, there were large areas of things that were not mountains, land, mud, or soil.

Is it the existence of the Asura Secret Land?

It is normal to think so, but the facts were clearly not that simple.

Walking to the ridge that blocked their view, they finally saw what was ahead.

Barren and treeless, the large wilderness that had been cleared to serve as a garrison camp now showed no traces of buildings, only dense, withered human bones piled up like hills.

Resentment and demonic energy, wrapped in the hatred and fear from before death, rose up to form layers of shrouds, making the sky look as if it were dyed in a decayed, yellow color of despair.

"How could this be..."

"The hundred-layer shroud originally used for protection has been infected and corrupted, but this infection becomes thinner the further out it goes; the outermost dozen layers only have the stain marks of normal Resentful Demon Yin Rain. Clearly, some kind of incident erupted here from the inside out."

Du En calmly examined and judged, though he also had doubts.

The Shaman Priest Qinglan should have been here; if she were here, normally, she shouldn't have allowed the corruption to erupt from within, especially not so intensely that all the ground personnel died, not even a single Resentful Demon was spawned, and only piles of withered bones were left covering the ground.

No, even if all three parties of the Qing Kingdom concentrated their manpower here, this scale of skeletal remains is still too many—hundreds of thousands is far from enough—so it must have surged out from the Asura Secret Land.

(End of this chapter)