Chapter 96: Seeking Mountains and Gathering Qi, Turtle Breath and Transformation

Looking at that flood dragon core.

Even though Shen Yi was used to masking his emotions, he still raised his brows instinctively.

Although a young flood dragon also had an inner core, in truth it looked closer to a beast essence — like a blood-soaked ball of flesh.

But the one before his eyes had a smooth texture, clearly beyond the category of an "organ," the same kind of thing as what had been taken from Zhang Hengzhou's body — something only found in the Nascent Core Realm.

She calls this a small gift?

Because he had practiced the Heavenly Demon Yama Devouring Essence Outer Core Art, and although the outer core art was only a crude imitation of the core-condensing method by the fox demon clan, from it he could also gain a slight understanding of the Nascent Core Realm.

When he had first forged the outer core, it had been divided into three stages in total.

They were: the core taking rough shape, the core fully forming, and finally the thick jade dew overflowing to coat it, mending its flaws and shaping it into a fully rounded, plump state.

Shen Yi stared at the flood dragon core before him, which was clearly a size smaller than the previous one, the aura contained within only about sixty percent of the last one — most likely just an embryonic core.

"So the Heavenly Demon outer core imitates the state of a fully perfected core."

"A three-thousand-year flood dragon lord's cultivation can only fill it halfway. If it could be filled completely, then for an ordinary martial artist, even one at the peak of the Nascent Core Realm who has stepped into the Embracing Elixir Stage, it could be fed external objects for nurturing."

"Unfortunately, the Sun-Melting Furnace is still not enough to suppress stronger demon power."

Gaining a more concrete understanding of his own strength, Shen Yi did not use this flood dragon core, planning to save it for later to supplement the Heavenly Demon outer core.

He took out those few technique manuals one by one and casually flipped through them.

Soon, several prompts appeared on the panel.

【Green Wood Turtle Breath Art (Not Yet Initiated)】

【Exquisite Nine Orifice Transformation Art (Not Yet Initiated)】

【Mountain-Seeking Qi-Gazing Art (Not Yet Initiated)】

【Demon-Finding Qi-Gathering Art (Not Yet Initiated)】

……

A full four technique manuals, yet not a single one carried a realm suffix.

Shen Yi, however, did not look down on them.

Sometimes, these techniques that did not boost one's strength might be more practical than top-grade martial arts with fearsome power.

But with so many arriving all at once, Shen Yi looked at the remaining demon-magic lifespan of just over a thousand years and felt a slight headache.

He reopened the few manuals and began reading them carefully.

While mobilizing his qi to experiment.

He quickly discovered the differences. The Qi-Gathering Art and Qi-Seeking Art were both very simple minor techniques. The former had a single purpose: upon discovering a demon, find a way to gather a wisp of aura from it and store it within the silver bell.

Within a certain distance limit, all bell-bearers could rely on the scent within to sense the demon's tracks.

The effect was similar to himself after swallowing the flood dragon core — able to detect Zhang Hengzhou atop Qingfeng Mountain from afar, though of course the other party could detect him as well.

The Qi-Seeking Art, on the other hand, mobilized qi to enhance one's eyesight.

It could see things normally unseen, such as demon power.

Compared to the former, which tracked a single demon, the Qi-Seeking Art was more used for sweeping mountains and seas — large-scale detection of any traces of demon activity in an area.

Both techniques could be mastered with simple practice.

Having mastered so many perfected martial arts, such small tricks were still child's play for Shen Yi.

But the remaining two were different.

Whether the Turtle Breath Art or the Transformation Art, both demanded high proficiency. Spending three to five years to barely initiate them would make them usable, but the effects would be poor. If one could reach perfection, one could even cross realms to shield from an enemy's detection and deceive their eyes.

For this kind of life-preserving skill, Shen Yi had never been stingy.

Without dawdling, he opened the panel and poured his lifespan into it.

……

His current control over qi could already be called a small mastery — the crude method had the Four Harmony True Astral, the delicate method had the Pulse-Severing Dragon-Catching Hand. He was long past that greenhorn who had first ventured out into the world.

Only twenty-seven years of demon-magic lifespan spent.

Shen Yi sat upright on the bed, like a withered tree, like a clay statue, his entire body's aura drawn inward until there was almost no ripple at all.

【Green Wood Turtle Breath Art (Perfected)】

【Exquisite Nine Orifice Transformation Art (Perfected)】

【Remaining Demon-Magic Lifespan: 1,098 years】

His palm swept across his face — his handsome features instantly shifted into the likeness of a withered old man, then a composed middle-aged man, then a young child……

Not merely a simple change of face, but even the subtle breathing patterns and the details of expression were vivid and lifelike, without a single flaw.

"Interesting."

Shen Yi set aside his playfulness, casually dismissed the Transformation Art, and tried out the Qi-Gazing Art.

Soon, his clear eyes were completely covered by a golden glow.

His vision turned into a hazy gray void. Looking up, all was a sky full of white qi; occasionally a few streaks mixed with golden light swept past — likely passing lieutenant-generals.

"Oh?"

Those few streaks of white qi tinged with golden light slowly approached the side courtyard.

Shen Yi dismissed the light in his eyes, and a moment later saw several lieutenant-generals draped in great cloaks carrying enormous jade plates into the courtyard.

"Lord Shen."

The men nodded slightly, standing outside the room neither servile nor overbearing: "These are the martial arts manuals you selected, along with a hundred-year portion of body-tempering treasure medicine. We were afraid you had left in a hurry, so we delivered them as quickly as possible."

Although Shen Yi was a personal attendant, they did not serve under Chen Qiankun, had nothing to ask of him, and naturally had no need to be overly fearful.

"……"

Shen Yi paused for a moment before he caught on.

The "hundred years" in their mouths did not refer to the age of the medicine, but to the duration over which he was to take it.

A full hundred medicine bottles, each the size of a wine cup, were densely packed across the jade tray.

"You've worked hard."

"You're too kind."

The deputy generals hurriedly set down the jade tray and cupped their fists in reply—the man was now Zhen Mo Si's rising star.

"My lord, please go ahead with your work. We won't disturb you any longer."

They instinctively glanced at the few books laid out on the bed, then quickly looked away and turned to leave.

Only a sigh of admiration rose unbidden in their hearts.

Earlier they had still harbored a small grudge—under this man's command, their subordinates' minds had wandered, all of them itching to leave his side at once and follow Shen Yi to Linjiang Prefecture to enjoy the good life.

Now, seeing this, they finally understood.

This personal deputy general had just returned from Qingfeng Mountain, worn to the bone, and had barely managed to get two months of rest leave—yet instead of going out for drinks and music, he was still in his room diligently refining his martial arts.

Truly…

It was hard to say anything.

"…"

Once only he remained in the room, Shen Yi rose to close the door, and along the way picked up the two new martial arts manuals that had been delivered.

Both were Jade Liquid Realm techniques—the upper-grade Bodhi Jin Gang Body, and the middle-grade White Colt Divine Stride.

Either one of them, placed outside, would be a treasure worthy of founding a sect.

"So this is what Zhang the Butcher has been pining for?"

Shen Yi flipped open the Bodhi Jin Gang Body, and suddenly recalled that it had been over half a day since he returned, yet he still hadn't seen the man—apparently, even the lively occasion of Zhen Mo Si's return to Huicheng couldn't compare to spending a little more time dallying with his sweetheart.

Back then, he had been fortunate that this burly fellow generously traded him the Golden Yang Eight Treasures Mystic Body, in exchange for a Blood Fiend Blade Art that the man simply couldn't cultivate.

And the man had also boldly stepped in to block the Skinny Monk.

Not only had he helped Shen Yi cut down that astonishingly blade-skilled ape demon, but he had also gained a treasured saber as spoils.

"Just go ahead and trade for it—where's the logic of worrying whether someone else can master it?"

Recalling the image of him patting his belly and laughing heartily, Shen Yi shook his head. Giving this thing directly to Zhang the Butcher would only cause trouble, and it had a major flaw to begin with. Once he had deduced a new body-tempering martial art from it, he would teach it to Zhang the Butcher then.

Even if it meant a demon's martial art, it wouldn't do. When he went out, he should pay more attention—finding a body-tempering art without flaws out there shouldn't be difficult.

(End of chapter)