Chapter 294: Two Methods

The Eldest Senior Brother's Dao foundation was destroyed; although he had managed to save his life, he was now unable to cultivate.

Xu Chen felt extremely distressed inside.

The Eldest Senior Brother, lying on the bed, smiled with a pale face: "Little Junior Brother, there is no need for this. We who cultivate immortality and seek the Dao are originally acting against the heavens, and life and death have long been cast aside. This time, thanks to Little Junior Brother arriving in time, I was able to save this broken life of mine; it can be considered a stroke of luck within misfortune. From now on, I will just stay on the mountain to sweep floors and cook; as long as you fellow junior brothers and sisters don't mind, that will be enough."

"Eldest Senior Brother, you will definitely get better slowly!" Qu Mei stood to the side, choking back tears.

Xu Chen, however, slapped the Eldest Senior Brother's belly with a smack and laughed: "With no cultivation base left, what is there to eat? There are only a few of us left on the mountain; we don't keep idlers. Wait until I think of a way to help you fly again; then you can help with picking up manure and farming."

"Hiss~"

The Eldest Senior Brother was slapped right on his injured dantian, and he immediately gasped in pain. However, hearing that Xu Chen seemed to have more to say, he suddenly mustered an inexplicable surge of strength, sat up abruptly, grabbed Xu Chen's arm, and said: "Little Junior Brother, do you have a way to help me repair my Dao foundation?"

Xu Chen put away his smile, nodded solemnly, and said: "Perhaps... there are two methods."

"There are still two methods?!"

The several senior brothers and sisters in the room all exclaimed in unison.

Originally, the destruction of a Dao foundation was almost equivalent to a death sentence for any cultivator; even if one managed to keep their life, they would become no different from a mortal.

This massive disparity in strength would actually cause a tremendous psychological blow; many cultivators, even if they barely managed to save their lives, would soon die of melancholy.

The Eldest Senior Brother currently appeared extremely open-minded and had seen through life and death.

But in reality, who in this world could endure such a blow? Not going insane would already be considered a person with an extremely strong heart.

And just when everyone thought the Eldest Senior Brother could only accept this result for the rest of his life, Xu Chen had actually said, in an understated manner, that there were two ways to help him resume cultivation.

Therefore, after a burst of exclamation, the group all gathered around, asking for details in a clamor.

Xu Chen's expression was calm, but his heart felt a wave of inexplicable sorrow.

In the time it took for him to leave and return, not only had the sect changed drastically, but the group of senior brothers and sisters had also been scattered.

Although the Fourth Senior Brother had returned, the Eldest Senior Brother had self-detonated his dantian and nearly lost his life. Furthermore, although the whereabouts of the Second Senior Sister and Thirteenth Senior Sister were known, their situations were unknown, and they were surely shocked and terrified at this moment.

What made it most impossible to let go was that the Eighth Senior Brother had been missing in Black Wind Ridge for several months; he was likely already reduced to bones.

Ever since the incident at Black Wind Ridge, one thing after another had happened.

Every reunion after a long separation brought a sense of how things had changed and people were no longer the same.

The simple life of the past—cultivating immortality and picking up manure in peace and inaction—could never be returned to.

At this moment, with a group of senior brothers and sisters surrounding him, he seemed to feel that atmosphere of idle peace and joy from the past once again.

However, the beautiful figures of the elegant and detached Second Senior Sister and the gentle yet lively and cute Thirteenth Senior Sister were missing.

He still owed the Thirteenth Senior Sister a promise.

He had originally said he would help her succeed in Foundation Establishment.

But unfortunately, after he inexplicably fell into Minghuang, the Thirteenth Senior Sister failed her Foundation Establishment twice. Now, she had become the only person among the Taiyuan Sect's inner disciples who had not yet achieved Foundation Establishment, and she had fallen into the hands of the treacherous Xuanhua Sect.

Although she should be safe for the time being, under the temptation of the Taiyuan Soul-Entering Pill, could those high-and-mighty, immortal-looking so-called True Monarchs really suppress the greed in their hearts and keep her from being placed in danger?

Therefore, Xu Chen's time was extremely limited, and he could not stay at the sect for too long.

"Little Junior Brother, speak quickly, what kind of two methods?" The Seventh Senior Sister's urgent voice pulled Xu Chen back from his wandering thoughts.

Xu Chen exhaled lightly and said: "These two methods might both be effective, but they will have an irreversible impact on future cultivation.

The first method is extremely dangerous, but once successful, one will step directly into the Danyuan Realm. However, I have no certainty as to whether one can advance further in the future.

The other method is less dangerous, but it is completely different from the current cultivation techniques of the Immortal World. There is no method to refer to or guide one; it relies entirely on one's own exploration. The things needed are also very strange and rare in the Mortal World, so I am even less certain about what level one can cultivate to in the future!"

The group was both surprised and delighted after hearing this.

Especially the Eldest Senior Brother, who was trembling all over, stuttered: "Can the first method truly allow me to advance to the Danyuan Realm?"

Xu Chen nodded and said: "That is correct. This method is something I learned from Yuqing Hall, called the Fake Core Technique. In reality, it involves refining a Third-Tier Demon Beast's inner core into a unique Spirit Pill, and then using a special method to store it in the dantian. This way, one can use the demon core to reactivate the circulation of Qi, just like a Golden Core condensed by a cultivator themselves. However, this method is extremely dangerous; once the demon core's Qi goes out of control, one could be smashed to pieces without even a chance to save their life. But the benefit of this method is that one can still cultivate normally, and if the fake core can be completely refined into the body, perhaps there is still a possibility of reaching Spirit Transformation."

After a moment of silence in the room, it instantly became as noisy as a boiling pot.

This method was unimaginable, but it did indeed have a certain degree of feasibility, though the level of danger could be called five-star.

None of them were novices at cultivation; they all knew the serious consequences that could arise after a Third-Tier demon core was integrated into the body. But if there really was a special method to complete it, it was absolutely a technique that defied the heavens.

"What about the second method?" Qu Mei asked quickly.

"The second method is very strange; it counts as a very ancient cultivation method, or perhaps it can't even be called a cultivation method—it is entirely an uncertain change. I only experimented with it once in Minghuang, and it was not entirely successful. However, the danger is relatively much lower, and it is even hard to say whether one can utilize Qi in the end. If the effect cannot be achieved in the end, the Senior Brother will not be much different from an ordinary person," Xu Chen explained.

The crowd fell silent again. The Ninth Senior Brother, Lu Yuan, said: "This second method is clearly inferior to the first. If one is still an ordinary person, why bother experimenting? Just choose the first one directly—either succeed and become strong, or end it all once and for all."

The Third Senior Brother, Chen Ran, shook his head and said: "That's not necessarily true. At least the second method won't cost a life. Perhaps one could slowly recover some strength, and once there is enough certainty, use the first method—wouldn't there still be a possibility of advancing?"

Lu Yuan thought for a moment and said: "That's true, but I just don't know if the second method can maintain the stability of the meridians in the body. Otherwise, if too much time passes and the meridians atrophy and the apertures close, I'm afraid there won't be a chance to use the first method then."

Upon hearing this, everyone felt that these words also made a lot of sense.

After the dantian is destroyed, the body can no longer store Qi. Without Qi to maintain circulation, the meridians opened during the Kaiyuan Realm and the apertures cleared during the Zhenyuan Realm will slowly atrophy and close over time, completely regressing into a mortal. This is a completely irreversible process.

The Eldest Senior Brother was silent for a long time before saying: "If the second method succeeds, what effect will it have?"

Xu Chen nodded and said: "The second method is very ancient; it is said to be related to ancient gods. Once successful, it can release a special ability called a Divine Pattern Battle Technique—taking objects from a distance, flying through the sky and escaping the earth, moving mountains and filling seas. It is no different from the Magic Spell we cultivate, and the method of use is even simpler, with even greater power."

"Wow~"

The group of senior brothers and sisters instantly became violently agitated and clamorous. Even the Eldest Senior Brother was stunned for a moment, his mouth hanging open in surprise for a long time, before finally stuttering: "Little Junior Brother, you, you aren't lying to me!"

Xu Chen shook his head and said: "How could I talk nonsense about such a thing? After I fell into Minghuang, I met a group of the Nether Human Race left behind there from ancient times. They all use this method to fight against Nether Beasts. Even children have strength comparable to the Kaiyuan Realm, and experts who have activated the Divine Pattern Battle Technique can easily resist and kill Fourth-Rank, Fifth-Rank, or even Sixth-Rank Nether Beasts."

"Then, then isn't that even more powerful than a Spirit Transformation Great Cultivator?" The Fifth Senior Brother, Cao Yang, stuttered.

Xu Chen nodded and said: "That is correct, but the premise is that one must succeed. Moreover, I have no certainty at all that I can help the Eldest Senior Brother activate the Divine Pattern Battle Technique, so this method is even less reliable than the Fake Core Technique, and after a long time, there might be some unpredictable sequelae."

"What sequelae?" someone asked.

Xu Chen shook his head and said: "The atmosphere of Minghuang is completely different from the Mortal World. Even the sequelae shown by the Nether Human Race might be completely different on the Eldest Senior Brother. Therefore, I truly cannot predict it. However, as long as no accidents occur, I think that even if this method is not completely successful, the Eldest Senior Brother will still retain a certain amount of combat power, perhaps enough to deal with some low-level Demon Beasts."

"Then what are we hesitating for? Choose the second one, definitely the second one! What's there to fear about sequelae? Do you stop eating for fear of choking? If it succeeds, you'll be a peerless expert; if it doesn't, you won't be a cripple, and you might even be more powerful than us!" Lu Yuan shouted loudly.

The others also nodded along, clearly all leaning toward the second method.

Qu Mei was also supporting the Eldest Senior Brother on the side, her expression excited as she said: "Eldest Senior Brother, I also suggest using the second method. Even if you are a cripple, I will take care of you for a lifetime."

The Eldest Senior Brother took a deep breath and said: "Good, Little Junior Brother, I choose the second one. When can you start?"

Xu Chen said, "If you have decided, we can start now, because I can only stay at the sect for two days at most, and then I must go to Langya with Senior Guilingzi to rescue Second Senior Sister and Thirteenth Senior Sister. However, let's be clear, this process is completely irreversible. Also, once it is finished, Eldest Senior Brother might have some very strange sensations."

"What kind of strange sensations?" Chen Ran asked curiously.

Xu Chen shook his head and said, "I cannot say for sure; perhaps it is related to the gods!"

"Gods, what a powerful feeling. Why does it sound like a myth or legend? Could Eldest Senior Brother cultivate to become a god in the future?" Twelfth Senior Brother Zhu Shengbai muttered in a low voice.

Eldest Senior Brother coughed a few times in excitement and said, "You had better pray that I don't become a ghost instead. This method sounds unreliable no matter how you look at it. If it weren't for Junior Brother saying it, I would definitely slap him a few times to let him know the consequences of talking nonsense."

"Hahahaha..." A group of senior brothers and sisters could not help but burst into loud laughter.

After a bout of laughter, everyone's mood instantly lightened quite a bit. Xu Chen said, "Since Eldest Senior Brother has already decided, let's first prepare a quiet meditation room. I will go and communicate this matter to the Sect Leader and Third Elder first; after all, the matter is too significant for me to make a decision rashly."

Eldest Senior Brother waved his hand with a hearty expression and said, "That works too. However, this is my own choice, and the Sect Leader and Third Elder will not stop me. Seventh Junior Sister, help me up. I will go to the Ancestor Hall to kowtow a few times first and let the ancestors of past generations bless me with success."

Xu Chen thought for a moment and said, "That is fine. I have returned after surviving a great disaster, so I should also go and kowtow to the ancestors."

"Let's go together, let's go together, let's kowtow together!"

"That's right, I've been having such bad luck lately, the ancestors must bless me!"

"Fourth Senior Brother needs to kowtow a hundred times; the fact that you could come back alive is simply a miracle."

"Who's to say it isn't? But I feel like it might be safer to kowtow to Junior Brother instead."

"Hahahaha..."

The group of senior brothers and sisters set off together, arms around each other's shoulders, laughing and joking as they headed straight for the Ancestor Hall at the mountain peak to kowtow and offer incense to the spirit tablets of the past ancestors of the Taiyuan Sect.

Caught in the middle, Xu Chen chatted and laughed with the group, feeling as if he had returned to the happy, peaceful, and carefree days he had previously spent at the sect.

Once the two senior sisters were rescued and all the senior brothers and sisters could gather together again, that would be the happiest and most peaceful time.

Thinking of Zhao Xuan, he could not help but recall his original small wooden cabin, that strange distant land, the fox Xiaobai, and the two Seven-Star Golden Cicadas.

It was just a pity that it was said the explosion of the Five Elements Great Array had been too violent, and the retreat had been too hurried, so even Xiaobai had not been brought out.

He wondered if Xiaobai was still there?

Xu Chen decided that before setting off for Langya, he would return to the Taiyuan Sect to see if Xiaobai was still there.

(End of this chapter)