Chapter 137: Viewing the Scriptures

Gazing far ahead, one saw a vast, surging expanse of green wilderness, its end invisible to the eye.

Five enormous, brilliantly crystalline clouds of vital energy, like a magnificent canopy or a heavenly net, enveloped the entire wilderness in their embrace.

From a distance, where the clouds met the wilds, the colors were beautiful and vivid, a splendid and extraordinary radiance.

The scenery was boundless, truly leaving one breathless with admiration.

Those five clouds of vital energy displayed shimmering patches of wood-green, fire-red, earth-yellow, metal-white, and water-black light, reflecting off one another, thus covering the entire surface of the wilderness with a glaze-like rosy halo.

Five Clouds Wilderness—

It was precisely for this reason that it gained its name.

According to Song Song Rupu, this place had previously been gloomy and sinister, filled with surging turbid qi that seemed ready to overwhelm everything, lacking any soft or vivid brightness.

Like other regions within the Earth Abyss, it had all been a ghostly sight.

It was only after that True Lord Master Qiao here shaved the mountain into a pillar and saw that the landform was truly not a suitable Dao ground for cultivating mystery that he, using great magic power, changed the heavens and earth, forcibly creating these five immense, endless clouds of vital energy, rising a thousand zhang high to illuminate the void.

After True Lord Master Qiao departed to open a cave dwelling for cultivation in the deeper reaches of the Earth Abyss, this region of Five Clouds Wilderness was handed over to Jingxiu Ding Geng to manage.

Right in the center, surrounded by the five clouds of vital energy, stood a stone pillar a thousand zhang tall, its stone walls smooth as if washed clean and flat as a mirror.

Upon seeing it, Chen Heng's gaze involuntarily focused.

It was precisely upon that stone pillar that True Lord Master Qiao of the Central Yi Sword Sect had left behind the cultivation path of "Yin-Eroding Red Water"!

However, since no living being had currently entered within its hundred-zhang range to undertake the matter of viewing the scriptures, not a single character appeared on the pillar's body; it was deeply silent.

Just as he raised his head to gaze at the stone pillar, slightly lost in thought,

From the dark earth cave below, after several dozen breaths, Song Song Rupu rode a gust of yin wind, emitting a howling sound, and scrambled up, panting heavily.

He coughed several times, bending his spine severely.

Only after a long while did he gradually catch his breath, his face showing considerable lingering fear.

"I never expected that Gao Pi would be so audacious; he nearly chased us right into Five Clouds Wilderness! Could he be having an affair with that Young Lady Lady Yue, to act so crazed?!"

Song Song Rupu glanced nervously down at the earth cave beneath his feet; seeing no ghosts in hot pursuit, he finally felt somewhat reassured and spoke to Chen Heng with a trembling voice.

The Earth Abyss was immeasurably vast, and the realms within it were connected by a dense network of large and small earth caves.

The various twists and turns within could not be known unless one was an old ghost who had survived in the Earth Abyss for years.

Without Song Song Rupu's guidance, it would have taken Chen Heng considerable effort to reach Five Clouds Wilderness.

And before arriving at this Five Clouds Wilderness,

the family general of Mountain Pot Master, whom Song Song Rupu called Gao Pi, that Zhao Cultivator,

after searching the mountains and scouring the seas,

had actually, by sheer accident, discovered the whereabouts of Chen Heng and Song Song Rupu.

However, at that time, Chen Heng was already within arm's reach of the earth cave connecting to Five Clouds Wilderness.

Although Gao Pi had a fierce reputation and continued to pursue them closely for a while after Chen Heng and the others entered the cave, he ultimately dared not violate the taboo by privately intruding into the Dao ground managed by Jingxiu Ding Geng without prior notification.

At the final moment before entering Five Clouds Wilderness, he abruptly stopped, forced to let Chen Heng depart.

As for Song Song Rupu, his flight speed could not compare to Chen Heng's and was slightly slower.

During the pursuit, he had been nearly frightened out of his wits, his face draining of color.

"That Gao Pi was merely putting on a show; he dared not truly approach Five Clouds Wilderness. Did you not see that his qi mechanism was concealing at least thirty percent of its strength?"

Seeing that Song Song Rupu beside him was still somewhat panting, Chen Heng turned to look at him and asked:

"For my visit to Five Clouds Wilderness today to view the scriptures, is it necessary to first pay respects to the master of this place and present a name card?"

Song Song Rupu's mind had not yet caught up; he stared blankly for a moment before finally understanding and said:

"Ah? Is Elder Brother speaking of Ding Geng? It does not matter... Only when a Zhao Cultivator enters Five Clouds Wilderness is prior notification required; otherwise, it is regarded as provoking trouble without cause. We Jingxiu Cultivators do not have this rule; this was also the intention of that senior from the Central Yi Sword Sect. And since Elder Brother is of human form and of the same clan as the senior, there are even fewer rules binding you!"

"So that is how it is; such are the rules. This Daoist understands."

Chen Heng pondered for a moment while facing the stone pillar, then looked over at Song Song Rupu, who was watching him eagerly.

The latter was nervously rubbing his hands together, his gaze shifting uneasily.

Although he had just recovered from the panic of being chased all the way by Gao Pi, a new tension had now appeared on his face.

Seeing Chen Heng looking over,

Song Song Rupu gave an embarrassed laugh, hesitating to speak.

"Honored One need not be like this; I already know your intentions. Since I promised earlier, I certainly will not break my word now."

Chen Heng smiled, took out from his sleeve the golden paper of the magical contract Song Song Rupu had signed with him, separated his hands, and tore it into pieces, which immediately ignited without fire.

In just an instant,

it burned away completely clean.

After the magical contract was destroyed, Song Song Rupu felt his entire body lighten, as if some heavy burden pressing on his shoulders had been removed, the shackles shattered.

Immediately, joy spread across his face, and he could not help but repeatedly cupped his hands in thanks.

The sensation of having one's life and death controlled by another was truly not a pleasant experience.

And if Chen Heng were to die while viewing the scriptures, sliced in two by the sword qi flying out from the stone pillar,

due to the constraints of the magical contract, even though Song Song Rupu would not necessarily be buried alongside him, he would at least lose half his life!

Thinking of this, Song Song Rupu inexplicably felt a sense of gratitude in his heart.

He had originally thought he would need to rack his brains and expend considerable scheming to persuade Chen Heng to destroy the magical contract.

He had not expected it to be so easy.

Before a single word had even been spoken, Yi Ran Gong had already been achieved...

"Elder Brother, it is not that I wish to talk too much or underestimate your abilities,"

He restrained the smile on his face, stepped forward with cupped hands, and advised sincerely:

"This cultivation path of 'Yin-Eroding Red Water' has remained in Five Clouds Wilderness for nearly a full sixty years; a full sixty years, and not a single person or ghost has been able to finally approach the stone pillar and take the inheritance into their hands!

"Brother Fang Zheng is in the prime of his life; why rush to achieve success? Is it not better to simply enjoy your years? One misstep here, and the calamity of taking a life will descend in an instant. Please reconsider, lest you ruin your future prospects!"

These words were truly spoken from the heart.

Meeting Song Song Rupu's gaze.

Chen Heng slowly shook his head, saying inexplicably:

"The future? If I do not make this desperate struggle for advancement, I fear I shall have no future at all."

Any cultivator who had cultivated the Tai Su Yu Shen.

Even one at a shallow level like Tong Gaolu could touch a faint thread of heavenly mystery in the void, experiencing a sudden premonition to sense their own fortune and misfortune.

When Chen Heng was preparing to ambush the Rong family and others, Tong Gaolu, while at his residence, felt a strange twitching of flesh and pounding of heart, with his blood and qi churning.

Yet at that time, Tong Gaolu relied on his high cultivation of the physical body, paid it no mind, disregarded this omen of warning, and still insisted on entering the palace to attend court.

Thus he was slain by Chen Heng and the others, bringing disaster upon himself.

And not long after entering the Earth Abyss, Chen Heng also frequently felt a chill of dread that disturbed his mind and spirit.

He knew clearly this was an anomalous sign emitted from cultivating the Tai Su Yu Shen.

Though he did not know from where exactly the calamity would come, if he could obtain the cultivation method of the "Yin Shi Hong Shui," his combat power would suddenly ascend several levels, stepping into a new realm.

Not to mention the ethereal and indistinct "You Ming Zhen Shui."

Simply for the great calamity that might be imminent.

Chen Heng absolutely had to seize this divine ability inheritance of the "Yin Shi Hong Shui" into his own hands!

"Thank you for your guidance, Venerable One; this poor Daoist will now take his leave."

He smiled freely, cupped his hands, leaped into the air, transformed into a streak of Bai Jin Guang rising skyward, and before long, fell within the hundred-zhang range of the Shi Zhu.

Only then was heard a world-shaking, earth-trembling roar!

Chen Heng's body was forcibly pressed down from mid-air by a vast, inexplicable force!

Simultaneously, on the surface of the Shi Zhu.

Countless patterns of Jin Jin Guang traced out, slowly emerging as several dozen huge tadpole-shaped characters that covered the entire pillar!

"Heaven and Earth are the thieves of the myriad things; the myriad things are the thieves of man; man is the thief of the myriad things. When the three thieves are in harmony, the three powers are at peace..."

He opened his eyes and looked forward.

He had just finished memorizing them when a sharp, stabbing pain suddenly surged through his brain, making Chen Heng involuntarily frown for a moment.

Amidst this intense pain, the characters he had just memorized began to gradually fade from memory.

Like water stains dried by the sun, they vanished from his recollection...

"Not good!"

Chen Heng's heart gave a slight start; he knew his current situation was dire.

Ultimately, hearing about something a hundred times is not as good as seeing it once.

What one hears is false; only what one sees is real!

The cultivation method of this "Yin Shi Hong Shui" was left by True Lord Master Qiao in the Five Clouds Wilds for nearly sixty years, yet no living being has ever obtained this fortune; there is indeed a reason for this.

Even if one can only remain in place for three breaths and must then step forward to avoid being slain on the spot by the sword qi from the Shi Zhu.

But three breaths of time...

For a living being accomplished in cultivation, let alone memorizing these mere ten-odd characters within three breaths.

Even memorizing a long text of Wang Yang exuberance and flowery ornamentation within three breaths would not be difficult for them; it would be effortless.

The truth is that these tadpole-shaped Jin Jin Guang characters, under the deliberate arrangement of that True Lord Master Qiao, impose an immense burden on the mind.

If one tries to forcibly memorize them, it brings not only pain that pierces the skin and invades the bones, but also makes it unavoidable to forget the original forms of the characters.

"This is indeed a strange trial; with such difficulties, under heaven, I fear few could succeed and obtain the 'Yin Shi Hong Shui'... What exactly was True Lord Master Qiao, originally of the Zhong Yi Sword Sect, intending?"

As these thoughts flashed through his mind.

Chen Heng also discovered his body was bound by some formless qi; he could not cast Daoist arts, nor could he open his Qiankun Bag to use talismanic tools to record the Jin Jin Guang characters in his brain.

This seemed to be an outright deadly ground.

Once one enters the arena—

There is only moving forward; retreat is no longer possible!

Only ordinary living beings who personally enter the field can truly realize how difficult this situation is.

However, by the time one reaches that stage.

Even if one wishes to regret and save one's life, there is no room for turning back...

"Heaven-sent gifts not taken invite retribution! With the Golden Cicada in hand, it seems this 'Yin Shi Hong Shui' is destined to be mine!"

Chen Heng thought silently, communicating with the Golden Cicada via his mind, and instantly entered the True Yizhen Yizhen Fa Jie.

Once inside the Yizhen Yizhen Fa Jie, using his finger as a brush, he carefully wrote the Jin Jin Guang characters memorized in his mind onto the ground...

Only then did he let out a loud laugh.

With a sweep of his sleeve, he returned to the present world.

At this moment.

Exactly three breaths of time were about to expire!

From within the Shi Zhu, a sharp sword qi was gradually condensing; though held back and not yet released, it diffused an invincible killing intent seemingly capable of splitting heaven and earth, making one's mind and spirit tremble!

Chen Heng remained composed, stepping forward several paces.

After advancing roughly a zhang or so, the Jin Jin Guang characters on the Shi Zhu dimmed slightly, then changed once again.

"Suspend the Millet Pearl in the void of mystery, grasp firmly without moving, fly the spirit down to the sea bottom, do not miss the heavenly mystery, refine essence to transform qi, chase upward to the Southern Palace, supplement Li to make Peng Qian."

Employing the same trick again, after leaving this sentence of text on the ground within the Yizhen Yizhen Fa Jie.

Chen Heng's gaze sharpened, and he advanced another zhang forward.

……

"Take essence as the People Fire, qi as the Spirit Fire, and heart as the Ruler Fire; harmonize them within the dantian and circulate them as one breath."

……

"Guard and nourish in timing, shed the mortal body and replace the cauldron, form the pill and ingest it into the abdomen…"

……

Just as Chen Heng advanced zhang by zhang, drawing closer to the Shi Zhu.

Song Song Rupu, waiting outside and not yet departed, felt cold sweat gather in his palms.

He could not see the tadpole-shaped Jin Jin Guang characters manifesting upon the Shi Zhu.

From each of the five clouds of Gang qi, a strand separated, churning and hanging down, thus clustering into a five-colored misty net that firmly and solidly obscured everything within a hundred-zhang radius of the Stone Pillar from above.

Fixing one's gaze upon it, one could see only dazzling brilliance and riotous colors, as if rainbows had been smeared across the ground.

This magnificent and strange celestial phenomenon spread far and wide, causing the many scenic cultivators within the Five Clouds Wilds to turn their heads and point, exchanging remarks.

At this moment, the sound of wind tightened overhead.

Song Song Rupu jumped in fright, staring urgently to see a flying carriage drawn by six bat-beasts hovering steadily in midair.

Seated in the center of the carriage was a young cultivator wearing a prince's tall crown, his face pale as snow, holding in his hands a basin containing a seven-foot-tall blood coral.

Hundreds of yin soldiers and ghost troopers were divided into two ranks, guarding the carriage in the center; each wore armor and wielded sharp weapons, their aura oppressive, clearly all elite warriors.

"Second Young Master?"

The moment Song Song Rupu's eyes fell upon the young cultivator in the carriage, he understood his identity and hurriedly bowed to offer greetings:

"It has been long since we last met; seeing this scene today, have you just returned from an outing hunt? What a coincidental encounter; truly this little ghost's honor!"

"Today was not a hunt; I merely happened to hear that a family member of Master Qiao Chen Yuanshu Chen Yuanshu Zhenjun wished to capture a fluorescent sparrow to serve as a spirit pet, hence such a grand display, alas…"

The young cultivator was named Ding Wei, the second son of Ding Xian, master of the Five Origins Wilds; though usually favored with affection, he unfortunately possessed no talent for the Sword Dao and had no opportunity to sit beneath the Chen Yuanshu Chen Yuanshu Zhenjun and listen to lectures.

He gave a bitter laugh, casually set aside the blood coral he had been holding, descended from the carriage, and raised a hand to lift Song Song Rupu, who was still bowing.

"Alas, the fluorescent sparrow cave discovered years ago is now either relocated or dead; inside it is utterly empty, a wasted journey, truly regrettable!"

Ding Wei shook his head, then changed the subject and asked:

"Who is contemplating the sutra? How formidable!"

"This…" Song Song Rupu did not understand his meaning.

Boom!

At this moment, the Shi Zhu emitted another rumbling sound!

The Jin Jin Guang characters bursting forth on the pillar's surface became even more conspicuous.

They nearly pierced through the five-colored misty clouds that obscured and covered them!

"Wait, has he approached within fifty zhang?!"

Ding Wei was even more startled and asked: "Speak the truth! Whose scion is this exactly? Could it be that you know them?"