Chapter 5: Cultivation

"Very well, I bestow these Dharma treasures upon you because I see you possess great potential. I hope you will not disappoint your master. Now, I bestow upon you the cultivation method of my sect, the Shangqing Daoist Method. You must practice it diligently and never be lazy," said Tongtian.

"Yes," the disciples replied.

Only Kong Xuan did not speak.

Seeing this, Tongtian asked, "Do you have something to say?"

"Disciple wishes for a cultivation method that focuses on strength. I wonder if Master has one?" Kong Xuan hurriedly replied upon seeing this.

"I do have one, but it is very difficult to cultivate. If you practice it, you will be much slower than others, but at the same cultivation level, you will be much more powerful than them. You must think this through," Tongtian replied.

"Disciple is not afraid. At worst, I shall just cultivate on the island and only leave once I have achieved success," said Kong Xuan.

"Very well. Since you are willing, if I do not give it to you, you would think I have nothing. Here, this is the Blazing Profound Art. Along with the Witch Clan's Nine Turns Profound Art and Buddhism's Mysterious Technique, it is ranked as one of the three great body-refining divine arts."

"However, the Blazing Profound Art is not quite the same as the other two. Other Mysterious Techniques only require tempering the body and constant combat to progress, whereas the Blazing Profound Art requires calcination by flames to progress. Furthermore, if the flame grade is low, the progress is very, very small—almost several times slower than other Mysterious Techniques. If one uses high-grade flames to burn, most people's bodies fear fire and would likely be burned to ashes instantly. But where there are disadvantages, there are certainly advantages: if successfully cultivated, your attacks will carry flames, causing great distress to others. Thus, this technique is slow to master, but once mastered, it is slightly more powerful than the other two. If you are unwilling, I can find the other two Mysterious Techniques for you."

"Thank you, Grandmaster. No need, I will cultivate the Blazing Profound Art." *Haha, was this technique created specifically for me? Although I am a mutated Phoenix, I am not afraid of fire, and I can barely withstand flames two grades higher than my own. Haha, once I succeed, I will be able to walk sideways! *

"Very well. Since your mind is made up, I shall bestow the Blazing Profound Art upon you. I hope you will not regret it."

Kong Xuan hurriedly accepted the technique and smilingly took his leave.

Returning to the residence arranged by Tongtian, Kong Xuan hurriedly took out the Blazing Profound Art to study. He discovered that it did not conflict with Nirvana Rebirth and was even more powerful. It is divided into 9 turns in total. Like the Nine Turns Profound Art and the Mysterious Technique, it requires combat to improve. The first turn is equivalent to a True Immortal, the second turn to a Heavenly Immortal, the third turn to a Golden Immortal, the fourth turn to a Luo Tian Upper Immortal, the fifth turn is a Great Luo Golden Immortal, the sixth turn is an ordinary Quasi-Saint who has severed one corpse, the seventh turn is equivalent to one who has severed two corpses, the eighth turn is invincible except against Saints, and the ninth turn is to prove the Dao with strength—an absolutely formidable existence.

The Ancestral Witches are existences at the peak of the sixth turn. Adding three drops of Pangu's essence blood makes one equivalent to an existence at the seventh turn. Of course, Donghuang Taiyi and Dijun are both experts who have severed two corpses. With the supreme treasures Chaos Bell and the Luo Shu, they are on par with the Twelve Ancestral Witches, which is why neither side can do anything to the other at present.

Kong Xuan finished reading it carefully and prepared to cultivate.

Kong Xuan sorted out the thoughts in his mind and wondered where to cultivate. After all, where should he go to practice? Where are there many flames? And of good quality? Flame Mountain? It does not exist yet. He certainly could not go find Zhurong and ask him to help; that is even more impossible. Where on earth should he go?

This problem is very troublesome. *Sigh, Flame Mountain seems to be the fire spilled when Laozi's alchemy furnace tipped over. Alright, I will just go to Laojun's alchemy furnace. But how to get there? I can only ask Grandmaster. *

Thus, Kong Xuan came to Biyou Palace to find Tongtian Sect Leader.

"Kong Xuan, you have come to find me. Is there something the matter?" Tongtian asked upon seeing Kong Xuan walk in.

"Master, disciple has come to seek your help regarding a cultivation problem," said Kong Xuan.

"Oh? What is the matter? Has something gone wrong with your cultivation? Come, let me see," Tongtian asked.

"It is not that. It is mainly because it is hard to find a place for disciple to cultivate. Where is there a place with abundant flames? That is why I have come to seek help from Grandmaster," Kong Xuan said humbly.

"Hmm, that is true. This is indeed a problem. But Grandmaster does not know where there is a place for you to cultivate either. After all, I have not become a Saint yet, and some things are not easy to handle. What should be done?" Tongtian said, feeling troubled.

"Grandmaster, disciple has a place in mind and hopes Grandmaster can help me," Kong Xuan said hurriedly.

"Oh? It seems you, little one, have come prepared. Speak. I will help you as much as I can. Your potential is limitless," Tongtian said with a smile.

"Disciple wishes to cultivate inside the Great Grand-Uncle's alchemy furnace. I think that should be the best place for my cultivation. I hope Master can help me."

Tongtian thought for a while, then looked at Kong Xuan: "This? It is not very difficult, but the fire inside the alchemy furnace is very strong and dangerous. One careless move and you will turn to ash. Have you considered this?"

Kong Xuan thought for a while and said: "It does not matter. Disciple will definitely return safe and sound. Please rest assured, Grandmaster."

Tongtian thought for a while and said to Kong Xuan: "Very well. Since you are not afraid, Grandmaster will take you to see your Great Grand-Uncle now. For my sake, he will certainly let you in."

Kong Xuan thanked Grandmaster repeatedly.

Tongtian brought Kong Xuan to Bajing Palace, the place of Taishang Laojun. The gate-keeping boy saw Tongtian and hurriedly bowed: "Greetings, Great Grand-Uncle. I do not know what business brings you here."

Tongtian said, "I seek an audience with your master for a matter."

The boy hurried to relay the message.

After a while, the boy returned and said, "Master invites Grandmaster inside."

Tongtian led Kong Xuan into Bajing Palace.

"Greetings, Senior Brother. Junior Brother has come to disturb you," Tongtian said upon seeing an old man with white hair, looking serene and inactive.

"Junior Brother, you are too polite. I do not know what brings you here?" Taishang Laojun said.

"Junior Brother has come this time mainly for this disciple, Kong Xuan. Come, Kong Xuan, why do you not pay your respects to your Great Grand-Uncle?" Tongtian said to Kong Xuan.

"Greetings, Great Grand-Uncle. Disciple is Kong Xuan." Kong Xuan hurriedly bowed. This was one of the future titans, so he naturally had to be respectful.

"Good. Tongtian has taken in a good disciple. Come, since you have paid your respects, as your Great Grand-Uncle, I must give you a greeting gift. Here, these are the Nine Turns Golden Pills I refined recently. They contain immense energy and can allow an ordinary person to immediately reach the Great Luo Golden Immortal realm. They are just right for you." Saying this, he gave him two golden pills.

"Thank you, Great Grand-Uncle," Kong Xuan hurriedly thanked him.

"Alright, let us talk about the real business." Then, Tongtian told Laojun about Kong Xuan wanting to cultivate inside the alchemy furnace.

"This? That is not much of a problem, but the fire inside my alchemy furnace is of too high a grade. I fear he will not be able to withstand it," Laojun said, feeling troubled.

"It does not matter, Great Grand-Uncle. I am willing to take this risk. A real man, how can he fear taking risks?" said Kong Xuan.

"Very well. Since you are not afraid, Great Grand-Uncle will not stop you. However, I am about to refine a batch of pills that will take 4,900 years. You can either wait until next time or stay inside for 4,900 years this time."

"Very well, I will stay inside for 4,900 years this time," Kong Xuan said firmly.

(I have established a Reborn Kong Xuan group, 66805593. I hope everyone will join. This is my first time writing a book, and it may be a bit immature. I hope everyone can be understanding. Thank you all.)