Chapter 480: Xiantian Technique — Dragon Snake Nine Transformations

Wang Ji glanced at him, took a scroll of parchment from her sleeve, and tossed it over casually.

Cheng Feng caught it with both hands and unfolded it to look; the parchment felt warm and smooth to the touch, not like ordinary sheepskin, but rather like it had been tanned from some kind of animal hide.

It was covered in dense, tiny characters written in cinnabar, with the four characters at the beginning catching the eye—Dragon Snake Nine Transformations.

"Dragon Snake Nine Transformations, a top-tier internal and external dual-cultivation Body Tempering Technique suitable for those with Flood Snake physiques, divided into nine levels in total.

The first six levels correspond to the Organ Refining to True Qi Realm, while the last three levels correspond to the Gang Qi Realm and even the technique for breaking through to the Xiantian Realm.

Among them, the fourth to sixth levels are specifically optimized for those with Flood Dragon-type physiques; ordinary people reach their limit once they train to the fourth level,

but someone with your exclusive physique can train all the way to the eighth level, directly entering the peak of the Gang Qi Realm.

But whether you can break through to the Xiantian Realm depends on your own fortune."

Wang Ji said unhurriedly, "The value of this technique is worth a small city."

Cheng Feng quickly scanned the contents on the parchment, his heartbeat thumping and accelerating.

He had been stuck at the Organ Refining Mid-stage for a long time; the techniques in the Pacification Office were only enough to train to the Organ Refining Peak, and to go any further, one would have to sign a contract of indentured servitude.

Yet this Dragon Snake Nine Transformations, from the guidance on breathing to the circulation routes through the meridians, was written clearly and distinctly, with detailed annotations for every step; it was clearly the original version rather than an abridged, incomplete copy.

More importantly, a few lines of small text at the end of the technique caught his attention—when this technique reaches the sixth level of perfection, there is an extremely low probability of triggering the innate divine ability within the Flood Dragon Bloodline; the specific ability varies from person to person and cannot be forced.

But he was a Flood Dragon Body, already possessing the talent for Water Control, and was even considered an Outsider, with the Water Arrow skill, which could be called a good skill for group battles.

"Innate divine ability?" Cheng Feng raised his head.

"It is the true legacy left to you by that giant python." A flash of deep meaning crossed Wang Ji's eyes. "Every monster of the Flood Dragon type has one or two innate divine abilities, whether it be calling the wind and summoning the rain, swallowing clouds and spitting mist, or having skin of copper and bones of iron.

When you devoured its flesh and blood, this source of divine ability also merged into your bloodline, only it is dormant. When the Dragon Snake Nine Transformations is trained to a deep level, there is a certain probability of awakening it."

She paused and added, "Of course, the probability is very low. There have been a total of seven recorded Martial Artists with the Flood Dragon Body in the Great Zhou, and only two awakened an innate divine ability. But even without awakening the ability, the physical strength of the Flood Snake Physique itself far exceeds that of the same rank."

Cheng Feng carefully rolled up the parchment and tucked it into his bosom to keep it close.

This technique was not only the key to breaking through his Organ Refining bottleneck, but also his ticket to rising higher.

"I accept this gift, Your Highness," he said solemnly. "Then what does Your Highness need me to do next? When does the Martial Arts Tournament begin?"

"Three months from now." Wang Ji turned and walked toward the stone steps. "In these two months, you will stay in the Wangfu to cultivate. If you need any medicinal herbs or pills, just ask the steward; all expenses will be covered by the Wangfu. We will depart in advance when the time comes."

Cheng Feng followed behind her, ascending the steps, and his footsteps faltered upon hearing this: "Does Your Highness mean that I must go into seclusion in the Wangfu for these two months?"

"Is there a problem?"

"No." Cheng Feng grinned. "I just didn't expect Your Highness to value me so much, even covering my food and lodging. If my concubines knew I had moved into the Wangfu, they would probably think I had climbed up to a high branch."

Wang Ji stopped at the top of the stone steps, turned back to look at him, and smiled without smiling: "Cheng Feng, let me remind you. The rules in the Wangfu are more numerous than in the Pacification Office; keep your legs and mouth in check, and don't go wandering around. Besides—if you really can't bear to part with your beautiful wives and concubines, you can go back to your Cheng Mansion; I won't force you."

Her gaze swept over the technique scroll in his bosom. "Do not mention the matter of the Dragon Snake Nine Transformations to anyone. Including those closest to you."

"Understood." Cheng Feng wiped the smile from his face and nodded.

When they returned to the warm pavilion, the tea had already gone cold. Wang Ji sat back in the main seat, and Cheng Feng took his leave quite tactfully.

Before he left, Wang Ji called him back and handed him an iron tablet the size of a palm, with the character "Ji" engraved on the front and cloud patterns on the back.

"With this token, you may pass unimpeded through the front courtyard of the Wangfu. The Rear Courtyard is the residence of the female family members; if you dare to step one foot inside, I won't need to do it myself—the person behind the screen just now will personally send you out." Wang Ji's tone was flat, but the warning in her words was full.

Cheng Feng took the token, tucked it away, and bowed to take his leave.

Walking out of the warm pavilion, the winter sunlight made him squint. The corridors of the Wangfu were winding and deep, with unknown evergreen trees planted on both sides, and the upturned eaves of the roofs occasionally visible between the branches.

In the distance, a maidservant hurried past carrying a lacquer tray; seeing him, a strange man, she merely lowered her head and eyes to offer a bow, her footsteps not stopping.

Cheng Feng rubbed the parchment in his bosom, his mind turning over Wang Ji's words again and again.

Great Zhou Martial Arts Tournament, seeking the Immortal, destiny, Immortal Sect disciples—these words pieced together a picture he had never been exposed to before.

That there was an Immortal Dao above the Martial Dao was something he knew, but he was not very clear about it.

So the Great Zhou was merely a fiefdom bestowed by Immortals, and the so-called thousand-year reign was just a deadline casually granted by an Immortal.

Can someone really live for a thousand years???

And he, a grassroots Martial Artist who had clawed his way up from a Martial Arts Hall in Qingxi County, had been inexplicably dragged into this great game of chess.

"Interesting." Cheng Feng muttered in a low voice, a smile that no one could understand curling at the corners of his mouth.

Forget about what Immortal fiefdom, forget about the Martial Arts Tournament and seeking the Immortal; the most urgent matter at hand was only one thing—to start training the Dragon Snake Nine Transformations and cross the threshold of the Gang Qi Realm first.

As for the rest, he would take it one step at a time.

Cheng Feng walked along the corridor, and just as he turned a corner, he bumped into someone head-on.

The man was wearing the indigo robe of a Wangfu steward, about fifty years old, with a goatee; as soon as he saw Cheng Feng, he put on a smiling face: "Young Master Cheng, Her Highness has already given instructions; your residence has been arranged, please follow me."

"Sorry to trouble you." Cheng Feng followed him through several twists and turns, finally stopping in front of an independent small courtyard.

The courtyard was not large, but it was kept clean and tidy, with three main rooms and two side rooms; two wintersweet trees were planted in the corner of the courtyard, with sparse yellow flowers blooming on the branches, their fragrance quiet and secluded.

"Young Master Cheng, this is the quietest guest courtyard in the front courtyard; no one will disturb you."

The steward pushed open the door to the main room, where the furnishings were simple but complete; there were even brush, ink, paper, and an inkstone set out on the desk.

"Your three meals a day will be delivered on time. If you need any medicinal herbs or pills, just make a list and give it to the servant at the entrance."

The steward finished speaking and retreated, thoughtfully closing the courtyard gate before he left.

Cheng Feng walked around the room, and after confirming there were no suspicious spying mechanisms, he sat down at the desk, took out the Dragon Snake Nine Transformations from his bosom, and studied it word by word by the daylight filtering through the window lattice.

This reading lasted for a full two hours.

When he raised his head from the parchment, the sky outside the window had already darkened. Footsteps approached in the courtyard, followed by a light knock on the door: "Young Master Cheng, dinner has been delivered."

"Just leave it at the door." Cheng Feng did not even raise his head.