Chapter 127: Zhongyi Sword Sect

An hour later.

After crushing a fierce ghost covered in oily green eyeballs and absorbing the spiritual energy from its body, Chen Hang finally opened his eyes again. He withdrew the brilliant, piercing light from his gaze, his expression thoughtful.

At this moment, a wisp of mist was faintly swirling above his crown, parting and merging, gathering and dispersing, changing without form.

His entire aura was deep, condensed, and unfathomable, like a deep pool or a towering mountain. At a single glance, he gave off a sense of immense, unreachable majesty. Just standing there without moving, he caused the surrounding air to ripple and fluctuate violently.

If someone with profound cultivation were watching from the side with mystic arts,

they would see that the place where Chen Hang stood was as if empty, a void, yet when viewed with the naked eye, it was undeniably real.

This is what is called: "Void and subtle, as if nothing, yet visible upon looking." He had already grasped the principle of "embracing the One and preserving the True."

Qi Condensation, Ninth Layer...

This level was the ultimate peak of the Nine-Return Qi Condensation realm. There was nowhere further to advance; he only needed a single thought to nourish the True and transform the Qi, ascending to the next great realm of the Immortal Dao.

Long ago, after obtaining the gourd of Great Creation Yuan Pearls bestowed by Ai Jian, he had consumed them and adjusted his Qi, pushing his Qi Condensation realm to the eighth layer.

During these few days of waiting for the so-called wedding date, Chen Hang had not merely sat idly in his room; he had exhausted all the talisman money from the Qiankun bags of the Yan family members.

Even if the "Taishi Yuanzhen" was like the Northern Sea, deep and unfathomable, it still ultimately possessed a fixed limit.

With these hundreds of ghosts and the talisman money poured in,

although the process was not easy, he had ultimately achieved the accomplishment of the Ninth Layer of Qi Condensation.

Spirit clear, Qi calm, ears and eyes sharp and wise...

At this moment,

Chen Hang felt as if there were inexhaustible strength throughout his body. His frame felt incredibly light and agile, and a vigorous, clear Yang vitality was actively circulating through his viscera, nourishing his blood flow.

At this moment, with just a single thought, he could plant his mystic roots at any time, refine a "Qi Sea" within his body, and become a true Foundation Establishment cultivator with his name inscribed in the Dao registers.

However, recalling the words of Ancestor Fu Can at their parting, Chen Hang hesitated for a moment and ultimately abandoned this action.

"Cannot easily establish a foundation? What counts as 'not easily'... What harm could there be in using 'Taishi Yuanzhen' to establish my Dao foundation?"

Chen Hang sighed deeply in his heart, his gaze flickering, and for a time, he remained silent.

Ancestor Fu Can had already departed, and looking around, there was no one who could answer this doubt.

Even Xie Tan of the Flower God Mansion—

let alone the fact that this person was not yet his master and would not pay him any mind,

he feared that even if he were lucky enough to be accepted as a disciple, he would still be met with silence...

Without establishing a foundation, with his current meager Qi Condensation body, how could he climb the Immortal Dao?

And like this,

was he not being indirectly blocked on his Dao path...

Chen Hang frowned, paced with his hands behind his back, and pondered for a long while before finally lowering his eyelids, temporarily withdrawing his various cluttered thoughts.

Ancestor Fu Can's words before parting were extremely solemn; clearly, they concerned his life and had to be taken to heart; they could not be underestimated.

And right now, he could not find any great master of supernatural powers to provide him with a spark of guidance.

In this situation, overthinking was useless; it was merely a foolish person troubling himself, wasting mental energy in vain.

"It seems I can only take it one step at a time. I only hope that after reaching the end of the road, I can find a way through."

Chen Hang thought to himself.

At this moment, he truly realized the difference between having a top-tier master and not.

Between a rogue cultivator and a disciple of a great sect, the difference was truly like heaven and earth; the gap could not be measured in ordinary terms.

If he were currently accepted into a great sect, he could naturally ask his sect elders for guidance and answers.

Unlike now, with no road to heaven and no door into the earth...

While he was pondering,

the hundreds of ghosts who had been confused by the mirage Qi were now reduced to less than fifty, and they were all struggling to regain their senses, fighting their way out of the boundless illusions.

Seeing that this person was actually eating ghosts to refine Qi, each of them was terrified out of their wits, their hearts pounding with fear.

"Awake?"

Chen Hang was not surprised to see this. He took the "Floating Jade Mirage Pearl" from his sleeve, just about to use it, but saw that the pearl's luster was already extremely dim. It seemed that after being used many times today, the mirage Qi was insufficient and needed time to slowly regenerate.

He put away this talisman artifact, gave a clear shout, and shook his body. A mass of white clouds and mist flew out from his crown, rumbling as it split into fifty parts, pressing down toward the wriggling ghosts.

Although that wisp of cloud felt light and could be blown away with a breath, it actually possessed the weight of ten thousand jin.

The ghosts were pressed so hard their eyeballs bulged deeply from their sockets, their breathing difficult; they were unable to move a single bit, unable to even lift a finger.

"Embryonic Breathing? It's actually not True Qi?!"

A hairy ghost, after sensing it, was shocked:

"You can actually press me so I can't even turn over with just a wisp of Embryonic Breathing? What is your background? Could you be a high-ranking disciple of the Eight Sects and Six Schools?"

"You have some discernment, actually able to recognize this as Embryonic Breathing. However, do ghosts in the Earth Abyss actually know of the Eight Sects and Six Schools?"

Chen Hang looked over and said indifferently:

"It's a pity, I don't have such a prominent background. If I were a person from the Eight Sects and Six Schools, why would I have fallen into this Earth Abyss, relying on eating ghosts to maintain my cultivation?"

He walked toward the hairy ghost that had called out. Under the terrified gaze of the group of ghosts, he reached out and made a virtual slash. The wisp of Embryonic Breathing pressing on the hairy ghost moved, slicing it cleanly from the waist, blood painting the ground.

Afterward, a thick stream of spiritual energy shot out like a flying snake from the hairy ghost's corpse, and Chen Hang tilted his head, swallowing it into his belly.

Seeing his relaxed expression,

the ghosts watching all this struggled desperately, their screams rising one after another.

They had only ever seen ghosts eat people; when had they ever seen a person eat ghosts!

But Chen Hang's Embryonic Breathing was extremely heavy. No matter how hard the ghosts struggled, they could not move a single bit, and could only follow in the hairy ghost's footsteps, one after another.

Five.

Ten.

Twenty...

When only the last two ghosts remained alive,

a layer of faint jade light suddenly surfaced on the surface of Chen Hang's body, making the house beams bright for a moment, setting him off as if he were a jade person who could captivate the soul.

After a few breaths, the faint jade light gradually dimmed, hiding into his skin, membranes, and bones, no longer visible.

"Mystic Realm, Fifth Layer. It's not far from the Sixth Layer... As long as I swallow a few more ghosts, I should be able to advance to the Sixth Layer of the Mystic Realm."

The Sixth Layer of the Mystic Realm's Taisu Jade Body was enough to make it hard to find an opponent within the Foundation Establishment realm.

Although he could not yet perform Foundation Establishment to improve his Immortal Dao cultivation,

the Taisu Jade Body had no such obstacle!

This supernatural power of "fleshly body becoming a Saint" was created by the Taisu Zhangren and was even listed in the Dao Court's Earth Palace Golden Chapter. It could rely on human strength to rival those innate gods and monsters born from chaos who received their mandate from the Mystic Tribulation; its power was truly extraordinary!

In any case, it was not good to improve his Immortal Dao realm without authorization right now.

And the Taisu Jade Body was also a not-insignificant means of self-protection, and furthermore, it required a great deal of spiritual energy.

The spiritual energy from the ghosts' corpses was thus used by Chen Hang on this great supernatural power of fleshly body becoming a Saint...

At this moment,

a black shadow suddenly moved slightly, curling its legs.

Chen Hang looked over and saw that the two ghosts remaining in the hall were Song Rupu and a big-headed ghost.

The big-headed ghost was already streaming with tears and snot, looking completely hopeless, letting himself be slaughtered, just wanting a quick end.

But Song Rupu was pretending to be a dead dog, lying on his back with his eyes rolled white, as if Chen Hang's wisp of Embryonic Breathing had already scared his three souls and seven spirits away, and he was about to die on the spot.

It was just that ever since Chen Hang started eating ghosts, he had used some unknown method to secretly dissolve the suppression of the Embryonic Breathing.

Inch by inch, without attracting any attention, he rolled to the threshold, half his body already moved outside the main hall.

Seeing this, Chen Hang chuckled in his heart.

After raising his hand to kill the big-headed ghost and taking its spiritual energy, he flicked his long sleeve, and a streak of green light flew out, slashing toward Song Rupu, who was lying stiffly on the ground!

For a moment, green light splashed, and sharp Qi tore through the air.

Although the Qinglü Sword had not yet reached him, a piercing sword intent that chilled the bones had already approached, causing a faint stinging sensation in his soul.

Pfft!

At this critical moment of life and death, Song Rupu could no longer care about pretending. Regretting that his acting skills were not good enough, he panicked and threw out an object to protect his face.

When this object was first thrown, it was just a point of sparkling starlight, but it grew in the wind, quickly transforming into a small dragon-headed shield with purple and gold colors and faint precious light.

"Wait! This elder brother, this little brother still has words to say!"

Whoosh!

The Qinglü Sword tore through the air and clashed head-on with the small dragon-headed shield!

Although it barely blocked the blow, the huge rebounding force made Song Rupu almost vomit blood. He stumbled back in a panic, almost tripped by the threshold.

"This little brother is a Jing cultivator! I am kind to the living! I have never consumed blood food!"

The Qinglü Sword missed its first strike and immediately retreated, turning into a green rainbow. After circling once, it spotted a tiny gap and slashed across again.

The small dragon-headed shield rose to meet it, but was instantly beaten until its precious light dissipated with a single strike. The Qinglü Sword did not stop, continuing to slash across the air.

Amidst a series of piercing sounds, after only a few breaths, Song Rupu was terrified, his eyes flickering, and he finally hardened his heart.

"I have a great opportunity to tell you!"

Regardless of anything else, he waved his hand, simply taking the small dragon-headed shield back into his body. With no more protection, he opened his arms, closed his eyes, and shouted:

"It is the Yin-Yin Shi Hong Shui—"

Swish!

The sound of tearing through the air stopped instantly!

After a while,

Song Rupu dared to tremble and open his eyes, swallowing his saliva, his hands and feet trembling.

He saw a flying sword pointing at the center of his brow, three inches away, its cold light miserable, like a long snake flicking its tongue, making the hair on Song Rupu's back stand on end.

"Yin-Yin Shi Hong Shui?"

Chen Hang spoke.

"... It is indeed the Yin-Yin Shi Hong Shui, it is exactly one of the child waters of the Nether True Water!"

Song Rupu felt as if he had just woken from a dream. After being dazed for a while, he finally came to his senses and hurriedly said:

"This little brother knows the cultivation method of the Yin-Yin Shi Hong Shui, please spare my life!"

After saying this, seeing that Chen Hang did not respond,

Song Rupu was stunned for a moment, then slapped his head, suddenly reacting.

"That, I misspoke for a moment... The Yin-Yin Shi Hong Shui that this little brother knows of is a legacy left behind by a high-ranking Immortal Dao expert. My fortune is shallow, and I have not had the luck to see the key points, so I cannot recite it..."

He accompanied it with caution, saying:

"However, that legacy is not far from my cave dwelling. If this elder brother is interested, I can lead you there. Who knows, perhaps elder brother is the fated person..."

"Legacy?"

Chen Hang looked at him and said indifferently:

"Which Immortal Dao senior would leave a legacy in a place like the Earth Abyss? And a top-tier method like the Yin-Yin Shi Hong Shui?"

"Zhongyi Sword Sect!"

At this moment, Song Rupu was extremely certain, clapping his hands and answering:

"I once saw with my own eyes this senior carve a mountain into a pillar and engrave the cultivation method of the 'Yin-Yin Shi Hong Shui' on it!

He claimed to be from the Zhongyi Sword Sect, one of the Eight Sects and Six Schools, and came here to borrow the boundless Yin Qi to practice a great supernatural power. This little brother would never dare to deceive elder brother!"

Eight Sects and Six Schools.

Zhongyi Sword Sect?

Chen Hang felt a slight surprise in his heart.

This mystic sect was not within the Dongmi Continent, but far away in the Donghun Continent, on the same territory as the Taifu Palace and the Shenyu Sect of the Demonic Dao.

Within the Xudu Heaven, if one were to speak of the number of sword cultivators and the profound and subtle nature of sword scriptures, the Zhongyi Sword Sect was the most supreme.

Even looking beyond the universe, adding the nearby heavens, there was no sect or household that could compare!

According to the Dao books, since its founding, this mystic sect had produced no fewer than five sword immortals, truly possessing a resounding reputation.

And the most widely circulated and most praised saying in the Zhongyi Sword Sect was: "Those who cannot comprehend 'Ten Steps, One Kill' before the age of sixteen cannot enter my sect"—

Even within the Eight Sects and Six Schools, the Zhongyi Sword Sect was the most stringent in accepting disciples, without exception.

It was not like the Yuchen Sect or the Innate Demonic Sect, which had lower courtyards and numerous Dao lineages.

Nor was it like the Yinjing Sect, where several families took turns holding power, often passing it from father to son.

Although the Taifu Palace and the North Pole Garden had few people, they valued fate extremely highly; at least there was a glimmer of possibility.

But for the Zhongyi Sword Sect, if you could not comprehend "Ten Steps, One Kill" before sixteen,

no matter how peerless your talent, you could not enter the Rushou Valley to participate in the mystic arts...

Chen Hang pondered for a moment, and after a long while, suddenly raised his sleeve and put away the Qinglü Sword.

Before Song Rupu could be happy, he pointed his hand, and a page of contract paper flew out, written with Embryonic Breathing as a pen, rustling as it was completed.

"Your turn."

Chen Hang handed over the magic contract and looked at Song Rupu: "You should understand what I mean, right?"

Song Rupu stiffly reached out to take it, and after just one glance, his face turned somewhat pale.

"Wait, does elder brother not trust this little brother's character? Even among Jing cultivators, Song is a well-known honest gentleman!"

He took a step back and said sheepishly,

"This, can I not sign the magic contract..."

Chen Hang did not speak, just raised his long sleeve, inside which a green wisp like a rainbow was faintly winding and floating.

"Wait, I'll sign! I'll sign! I'll sign!"

Song Rupu was startled and hurriedly snatched the magic contract floating in mid-air.

After the magic contract was completed, a strange feeling suddenly appeared in his heart, as if his life and death were in someone else's hands. Only then did he wipe away the cold sweat, his heart relaxing slightly.

"In that case, please allow your honor to clear up my confusion. What is the background of that senior from the Zhongyi Sword Sect and the Yin-Yin Shi Hong Shui?"

Chen Hang bowed slightly and said.

"How dare I, how dare I."

Song Rupu felt bitter in his heart, but he did not delay his words.

I do not know how much time passed, but when he finally finished speaking with a dry mouth,

at this moment,

Chen Hang's expression remained calm, but the look in the depths of his eyes added a few strange colors.

... ===== CHAPTER 128 =====