Chapter 152: Better to Seek Straightforwardly Than to Beg Through Crooked Means

Amidst the rolling black smoke.

The giant snake, whose imposing manner towered like a mountain peak, lashed its tail and once again revealed its human form; he coldly observed Chen Heng, who had risen with his sword in hand, and could not help but frown.

Brother Lady Yue You detected the tone of burning one's boats in those words, and though he could not fathom what further moves Chen Heng might make, a faint sense of foreboding that events were spiraling beyond control secretly arose in his heart.

"Your Embryonic Breathing is currently exhausted, so you cannot cast any Daoist arts; and even if you recover, relying solely on your Qi Refining cultivation, it will be difficult for you to unleash the true power of the Yin-Eroding Red Water and that Primal Great Sun Divine Light!"

Brother Lady Yue You spoke in a deep voice, enunciating every word:

"As for the Great Primordial Jade Body, while it is indeed extraordinary, I, Lady Yue, shall ultimately prove one trick superior! You have exhausted all strategies, so what else can you do?

Could it be that you intend to repeat your old trick and turn the tide by borrowing the external power of talismans?

If that is truly your thought, I advise you to give up hope sooner rather than later! Do you really believe that a mere few of Wu Chunlie's Thunder Talismans could injure me?!"

Upon hearing this, Chen Heng chuckled lightly, his expression calm.

Just as Brother Lady Yue You had said, in that recent battle, he had already expended everything and possessed no other methods.

The Mystic Realm eighth-layer Great Primordial Jade Body could not defeat his opponent.

Furthermore, due to limitations in his cultivation, the Divine Light, the Red Water, and similar arts could not be utilized for their true purposes.

As for the remainder.

Such as the Aurora Great Escape and the Silent Heavenly Palace Saint-Prayer Great Dharma.

Either they lacked external objects as catalysts, leaving him unable to find an entry point.

Or, lacking knowledge of those ancient Xie Gong that could refine one's own body into a Heavenly Demon, he similarly could not cultivate them.

As for the Battle Talisman, which Chen Heng had previously regarded as his life-saving trump card, there was no need to mention it further; that it had not backfired was already a stroke of great fortune.

Thus.

Apart from a cavity full of futile blood-courage.

He had indeed exhausted all his abilities...

"Why must you young fellow be so stubborn? Would it not be better to happily return with me to the Xiantian Mo Zong and enjoy several years of glory and wealth? Since matters have come to this, I am too lazy to deceive you any longer; Yu Shu may indeed harbor malicious intent toward you, but if you truly possess outstanding talent like Chen Zuo or Chen Chen Daozheng, he will also nurture you carefully.

What is wrong with such special grace, being second only to one person and above ten thousand others?"

At this moment.

Brother Lady Yue You looked at Chen Heng with an expression of considerable regret, sighing and shaking his head.

He and Chen Chen Yushu had long been in a state where glory or ruin was shared alike.

Naturally, he was pleased to see the growth of the forces under Chen Chen Yushu's command, and thus had developed a heart that appreciated talent in Chen Heng.

Therefore, during the magical duel, he had constantly forced down the ferocity in his heart, injuring Chen Heng but not crippling him.

Brother Lady Yue You reckoned that this youth's disposition, strategic judgment, bearing, and fortune were all of the highest quality.

For someone originating from a small family no different from a rogue cultivator to actually reach such a state today was truly rare!

All that was lacking now was a vaster world.

If he could join a major sect such as the Xiantian Mo Zong—

It would undoubtedly be like a dragon entering the sea or a tiger running to the mountains, waiting only to soar to the heavens in a single flight!

"It seems your mind is made up; you truly refuse a toast only to drink a forfeit, showing such utter lack of appreciation for my offer!

Let me say one last thing: if you repent in time now, there is still room for maneuvering, and Yu Shu should grant you a sliver of a chance to attain the Dao; otherwise, everything will be over!"

After delivering this speech he deemed heartfelt, seeing that Chen Heng's expression remained unchanged.

Brother Lady Yue You shrugged his shoulders and remarked with emotion:

"However, how did you previously detect the falsehood in my words?"

"This technique of the Great Primordial Jade Body can resonate with the mysterious heavenly secrets; ever since you revealed your true form, the warning from this divine ability has made my heart pound and my flesh jump, as if thorns were on my back, so how could I possibly trust you?"

Chen Heng laughed freely and loudly, opened his eyelids, and shouted:

"As for the so-called granting me a sliver of a chance to attain the Dao, there is absolutely no need!

I, Chen Heng, in my lifelong pursuit of the Dao and cultivation, shall naturally advance with bold courage, clearing paths when encountering mountains and building bridges when meeting waters; where there is injustice, I shall chop it down, and if ghosts or gods block my way, I shall slay those ghosts and gods! Relying solely on the three-foot sword in my hand, I will cleave open the Xudu Xudu Tianyu until it clears, killing my way to a realm of pure frost and clean sky!

Unbound and unfettered, achieving immortality and freedom, that is the wish of this life! How could I entrust the matter of my life and death entirely into the hands of others?!"

Once this sound of lofty ambition was released, it rumbled incessantly like thunder within the black smoke, shaking the grass and trees into submission and sending smoke debris flying.

Brother Lady Yue You's face showed a strange expression, and he was just about to speak.

When suddenly, Chen Heng fiercely thrust his hand through his own chest, and amidst gushing blood, his palm and fingers cruelly grabbed hold of a cluster of shimmering green Qi.

"He has extracted the secret power of the Green Spirit Ring?"

Brother Lady Yue You could not help but feel surprised.

The most miraculous aspect of that green ring he controlled was that in every exchange and collision, it could secretly transmit a thread of mysterious power into the opponent's body, unavoidable by any means.

This process was concealed and difficult to detect.

Once this mysterious power accumulated to completion, it would spontaneously generate a great shackle within the opponent's body, sealing off the circulation of their qi meridians and reducing them to mere fish and meat.

At this moment, seeing Chen Heng's act of tearing open his own chest membrane just to crush the mysterious power, Brother Lady Yue You suddenly felt something was amiss.

"What do you intend to do?"

He shouted loudly.

"Once, a senior pointed out to me, advising me not to easily use the 'Tai Shi Yuan Zhen' to establish my Foundation, otherwise I would encounter an obstruction.

In these past days, I have pondered left and right, yet I have been unable to guess what exactly this obstruction entails?"

Chen Heng wiped the bloodstains from his hand, and a faint smile slowly appeared on the corner of his mouth as he said:

"Brother Lady Yue You, I cannot defeat you, nor can I see where that sliver of a chance for survival mentioned today might exist.

Since death awaits either way, if I can resolve this doubt that has trapped me for so long before dying, then perhaps, to some extent, my journey through this world would not have been in vain..."

"You seek death?"

Brother Lady Yue You frowned and rebuked in a cold voice.

"No."

Chen Heng lowered his gaze to the bloody hole in his chest, inhaling the thick scent of blood.

In those cold eyes, once overflowing with murderous intent, a trace of joy and relief gradually emerged.

"I want to establish my Foundation."

He said softly.

In but an instant.

Hundreds of thousands of scattered Qi meridians within his body plunged downward!

With a "Boom—" like rolling thunder suddenly exploding at the crown of his head.

All three hundred and sixty-five acupoints across his body prickled at once, then beneath his abdomen, a mass of Qi light, like a chick breaking its shell, burst forth, leaping with joyous clarity.

In the blink of an eye, it rapidly expanded and spread through his four limbs and hundred bones, rippling like water, moving gently within his body as Xu Xu.

At this moment.

A surging, galloping sea of Qi light had manifestly formed within his body...

After nine cycles, the Qi Sea began its refinement.

Foundation First Layer—Qi Sea Birth and Transformation!

Simultaneously.

Suddenly, the wind howled, and mist obscured the stars and moon.

Amid a deafening roar that shook mountains and rivers, Brother Lady Yue You jerked his head up, his pupils contracting.

"It's here! The Lesser Pure Yang Lightning!"

"Better to seek straight than to beg crooked; this is quite interesting, suiting my temperament indeed!"

Deep within the forest.

A short, stout woodcutter wearing a bamboo hat and cloth robes chuckled darkly; he glanced at the figure behind him and said:

"You wish to save him? Is this truly your intention? Doing so will inevitably create enmity with Chen Chen Yushu; that man's nature is such that he repays even the slightest slight. Have you truly thought this through?"

"My mind is made up; I beg Master Master Tongxuan for his mercy!"

The figure prostrated itself on the ground, speaking in a crisp voice.