Chapter 206: First Practice of the Classic of Longevity

Seeing beads of sweat appear on Chen Yi He's forehead, the Imperial Old Ancestor merely thought he was distracted and said to him, "Calm your mind. The Classic of Longevity lets cultivators, through inner visualization, nurturing spirit, guiding breath, and chanting spells, transform yang into yin; when pure yang energy is achieved, one can ascend unhindered and prolong life. What we need to do now is not longevity, but to raise our own strength to the utmost limit via this internal cultivation method."

Chen Yi He still murmured, "Accumulate yang to become spirit, accumulate yin to form shape; yin and yang halves combine to form the body," but his divine sense was attracted by the Loulan King.

He never imagined that such a being entitled "King" resided in his body; he did not know whether he had seized someone else's body or someone else coveted his.

"Have you forgotten? The deal you made with me in the depths of the East Sea?" the Loulan King asked Chen Yi He.

Chen Yi He had not forgotten; back when he fell into the deep sea, he had intended to stay hidden, but seeing Dongfang Xing about to have his body taken by Dongfang Wuji, he pleaded with the Loulan King, "I know you are in my body, and I know what you plan. If you do not help me this once, I will drown in this East Sea! At worst, we perish together—you think I don't know? I am like a pond, you are merely a fish; if I die, you will surely die as well."

"How could my body be allowed to conceal your soul?" the Loulan King's voice echoed within Chen Yi He's body.

"Stop hiding your soul, do as you see fit!" Chen Yi He said angrily, then opened his mouth and let seawater flood into his body—he meant it.

The Loulan King did not know whether Chen Yi He was serious, but he was wary; as a mighty king, how could he be dragged to death by an ordinary mortal? "I am willing to act for you, but what can you offer in exchange?"

Chen Yi He did not know then; only when he was sitting cross-legged on a rush mat in the Scripture Pavilion did he realize that the powerful love to make deals—for example, the Imperial Old Ancestor and the Loulan King. Only today did Chen Yi He learn that the 'person' hidden deep within his body for over a year was called the Loulan King; strictly speaking, he might not even be a person.

As for the Loulan King's origins, Chen Yi He naturally did not know, but he speculated that the king who could shatter Dongfang Wuji's demonic orb with a single sword must be formidable—likely above the Sevenfold Heaven, or even stronger!

"I have not forgotten." Chen Yi He replied.

"Then that's fine; no matter how you cultivate the Classic of Longevity, it will be in vain!" After saying that, the Loulan King fell silent, and no matter how Chen Yi He called out, he would not answer.

After half an incense stick's time, Chen Yi He slowly opened his eyes; the Imperial Old Ancestor, sitting cross-legged beside him, noticed him gathering his spirit and asked, "How do you feel?"

"Very comfortable." Chen Yi He replied; indeed, it was extremely comfortable. After completing a set of the Classic of Longevity, his whole body felt as if it had been infused with true qi, giving him a pleasure he had never known.

"Hahaha! That shows you practiced very successfully." The Imperial Old Ancestor laughed loudly.

"Is this the Invincible Dao?" Chen Yi He murmured to himself. Now having entered the Invincible Dao, looking back at the path he had walked, it was like gazing down from a height, and a sense of awe arose spontaneously.

"In just seven days, you have gone from the Peerless Dao to the Invincible Dao; I cannot help but exclaim, you are truly a heaven‑gifted genius, and the Classic of Longevity seems tailor‑made for you!" The Imperial Old Ancestor's praise came from the bottom of his heart; looking at Chen Yi He, his heart actually felt a fear born of reverence.

"Heh..." Chen Yi He did not feel much joy, even though he also found the Classic of Longevity unbelievable; he always had a bad premonition that raising his cultivation so swiftly without any combat or tempering might not be a good thing.

"Next, you need my help; under my aid and the effect of the Classic of Longevity, you will swiftly reach the Sixfold Heaven and the Supreme Dao, then, relying on your own insight, advance to the Sevenfold Heaven and the Transcendent Dao."

"What exactly is your purpose?" Chen Yi He asked the Imperial Old Ancestor. "I don't believe you would help me out of pure kindness; aren't you afraid I will surpass you and then come back to take your life?"

"Hahaha! Hahaha!" the Imperial Old Ancestor laughed uproariously, a rare sight that made the books on the shelves on either side tremble. "What purpose? What purpose could I have?"

Chen Yi He said nothing, merely gazing at the Imperial Old Ancestor.

"I have already taken three drops of your essence blood and three strands of your true qi; that is enough." The Imperial Old Ancestor extended three fingers and said to Chen Yi He, "Do not think ill of me; I am truly not a bad person."

The Imperial Old Ancestor added, "Hahaha! All my life I have merely sought longevity, untouched by worldly turmoil. However strong you become, that is yours; I trust you will not repay my kindness with enmity should you surpass me. I have always judged people accurately. I can see you are no ordinary mortal; your blood and true qi that help me can also help everyone."

"Heh, perhaps you have misjudged me?" Chen Yi He retorted with a cold smile.

Chen Yi He never considered himself an ordinary mortal, nor did he think he could become a sage who transcends the mundane and enters the holy; at one point he felt his 'golden finger' had been forgotten, but now he could sense that he had already stored all the martial arts from the Scripture Pavilion in his heart, and while the Imperial Old Ancestor was inattentive, he stole many techniques.

"That won't happen." The Imperial Old Ancestor replied firmly. "You are not that sort of person; when the time comes, you will help me guard the dragon veins of the Great Zhou Dynasty."

"Sigh..." Chen Yi He let out a breath, rose from the rush mat, then stood in the corridor gazing into the distance.

The imperial palace, still with carved beams and painted pillars, glittering with gold and brilliance, was empty of anyone, the sight nothing but desolation.

"Do you really think we can hold onto this realm?" Chen Yi He felt a bleak sense of laboring in vain for another's benefit; he did not know whether all he had given was worth it.

"Yes." The Imperial Old Ancestor answered affirmatively. These days he has had a regret: why he has no descendants like Chen Yi He—truly a great regret!

The Scripture Pavilion is ten stories high; Chen Yi He, standing on the top floor, leapt off. At such a height, even a master of the Fourfold Heaven would have to gauge it, using true qi to control his descent; someone like Chen Yi He, who mixes in nothing, would not merely be smashed to pieces—he would end up crippled.

But Chen Yi He stood firm, like a falling leaf, lightly settling onto the ground.