Chapter 234: Purple Mansion

Flames soared high into the clouds, scorching the wilderness in all directions.

And within that fierce, brilliant light, a hundred-zhang-long giant shadow was swiftly darting toward them!

Its form resembled a wild crane, yet it possessed only one leg; its body was crimson-patterned and azure-textured, spewing fire from its mouth while smoke billowed from its wings. Even from a great distance, waves of heat rushed forth, overwhelmingly oppressive!

Were it not for a slight deficiency of divine qi within, one might have felt, as if by some hidden intuition, that it was merely a case of painting a cat to resemble a tiger.

No matter how one looked at it, it appeared utterly awkward.

Fearlessly, whoever stood here...

... would surely identify this bird as the ancient divine monster "Bifang"!

And before that strange giant bird, a small golden boat was fleeing in disarray; two figures stood within its cabin, occasionally hurling out talismanic artifacts and precious registers from the vessel in hopes of delaying the pursuer for a few moments.

Yet the moment any object touched the surging true flames swirling around the giant bird's body, its spiritual light would immediately dim, reduced instantly to ash.

Judging solely by this giant bird's imposing presence, it was comparable even to a Cave Profound Refiner of the orthodox immortal path.

Compared to Liu Wulong Guan, it was subtly even superior!

Chen Heng harbored no desire to meddle in others' affairs; he gathered his true qi, wrapped it around himself and Master Qiao Ruizhi, then transformed into a streak of Lei Jin Guang that shot skyward, instantly parting layers of misty clouds until their traces vanished.

The two individuals on the golden boat caught a distant glimpse of this scene; their expressions lit up with surprise, as though they had spotted a life-saving straw, and they shouted repeatedly in urgent voices:

"Fellow disciple, please come to our aid! We stumbled upon one of Fuchan Fuchan Laozu's traveling palaces within the Fan Fan Dongtian by accident, and by inadvertently triggering its defensive formations, we summoned this bird. If you are willing to lend a hand, we shall establish a contract afterward and grant you a share of the opportunities within the palace!"

His companion beside him simultaneously released a giant drum, which boomed loudly, slightly repelling the giant bird pursuing them from behind, while also shouting loudly:

"That opportunity is related to a primordial divine monster. Senior Brother, having traveled all the way here and witnessed the appearance of these strange beasts, have you not felt any suspicion in your heart?

Let me speak plainly: these strange beasts are all creations of Fuchan Fuchan Laozu, their veins flowing with the blood of divine monsters! That opportunity is none other than a primordial divine monster!"

Although Chen Heng heard these words, he paid them no heed whatsoever.

Those two harbored sinister intentions, deliberately luring the giant bird behind them toward him, clearly intending to drag him forcibly into their predicament.

However, once Chen Heng activated his Dun Fa, no matter how hard the small golden boat behind him exerted itself, it could not catch up.

The voices of the two on the boat gradually shifted from pleading and tempting to angry shouts and filthy curses.

Finally, after a series of piercing bird cries...

... everything fell completely silent, never to be heard again...

In terms of escape speed, Chen Heng naturally could not surpass the giant bird.

But he only needed to outrun those two cultivators, and that was sufficient.

Moreover, he carried the Dun Dun Jiesuo with him; if matters went awry, he could simply teleport away, settling everything at once. This was precisely why his expression remained unchanged throughout.

And at this moment...

Chen Heng glanced sideways.

With his keen eyesight, he could only faintly discern that the giant bird had halted its flight, seemingly pecking at two piles of rotten flesh, picking and choosing, appearing rather dissatisfied.

As this scent of blood dispersed, it attracted numerous "small Bifangs," each no more than a zhang in size, which flew over eagerly one after another to feast upon the bloody meal.

Perhaps due to their shared species, the hundred-zhang giant bird did not drive them away, merely preening its feathers with its beak tip, turning a blind eye...

Upon witnessing this scene...

Chen Heng felt an inexplicable stir in his heart, his eyes flashing with light.

After exchanging a few words with Master Qiao Ruizhi, he activated the Scattered Radiance Concealing Form Technique, altering his own qi signature to match that of those "Bifangs."

Then he gently urged his escape light forward.

Slowly advancing...

As he drew near, surging smoke rose like tidal waves, a vast expanse of murky blackness that scorched several li of territory so intensely that the air itself seemed ablaze, filled with choking fumes and searing heat.

And since most of these beast-birds possessed muddled spirituality, even the giant bird comparable to a Cave Profound Refiner was no exception.

After Chen Heng concealed his qi signature using the Scattered Radiance Concealing Form Technique...

Not a single one among that teeming multitude detected anything amiss, harboring no suspicion toward him.

"..."

He pushed through the flock of birds, picked up the sleeve-pouches left behind by the two cultivators, wiped away their seals with a wave of his hand.

Finding nothing remarkable inside, he shook his head, ceased looking further, and instead directed his full attention to the "Bifangs" beside him.

Their form resembled that of a crane, crimson-patterned and azure-textured—

At least in appearance.

Indeed, they were indistinguishable from the true Bifang.

Yet beings such as primordial divine monsters, born divine and extraordinary, subject to the Ling Ling Shouming and mysterious tribulations, have, apart from a mere handful of lineages, always been characterized by sparse bloodlines since ancient times.

Not to mention that for a pure-blooded primordial divine monster to bear offspring is an exceedingly difficult matter.

Even those hybrid descendants of primordial divine monsters...

... similarly adhere to this principle, with rare exceptions...

Yet within this Liuhuo Liuhuo Honghua Fan Fan Dongtian, a cursory glance revealed that beast-birds resembling Ying Apes, Bifangs, and Earth Moles numbered no less than a thousand!

They were simply densely packed, filling the sky and covering the wilderness!

Such an anomaly surely could not be the result of natural reproduction or spontaneous generation by heaven and earth.

Connecting this with the earlier words of those two cultivators...

It must be Fuchan Fuchan Laozu's deliberate doing, fleshly creations cultivated through secret arts.

However, although these beast-birds possessed the outward appearance of primordial divine monsters, they lacked any of the abilities or powers inherent to such beings.

Yet Fuchan Fuchan Laozu, at the very least, was a master of the unorthodox path who had attained the Pure Yang realm.

Undertaking such seemingly useless efforts must surely conceal a deeper intention behind it...

At this moment, the "Bifangs" beside him had also finished pecking the flesh and blood of the two Daoists clean; after uttering a few hoarse cries, they shook their wings and plunged upward into the clouds, scattering in all directions.

Chen Heng gazed upward for a moment, then formed hand seals within his sleeve, guiding the method of the art with his mind.

Not long after, with a flash of blue light, Master Seven Qiao Rui was transported to this spot by the Escape Realm Shuttle.

She looked at Chen Heng, blinked her eyes, and said with some surprise:

"Senior Brother, is this the Tenfold Refinement Xue Master Xuantong Fa from within the courtyard?"

The Yu Yuchen Sect naturally possessed orthodox methods for capturing and concealing qi mechanisms; this Tenfold Refinement Xue Master Xuantong Fa was one of them, and its reputation had always been the greatest, making it the first choice for all outer courtyard disciples when traveling abroad.

Although Master Seven Qiao Rui had once cultivated this technique, she was still far from achieving what Chen Heng could do: moving freely among strange birds and being regarded by these low-intelligence creatures as one of their own.

"It is not the Tenfold Refinement Xue Master Xuantong Fa, but merely a favor from an old acquaintance."

Chen Heng spoke to explain briefly, then lightly shifted the topic, saying:

"Matters here are concluded; let us continue moving forward."

He did not have much interest in that traveling palace of Fire Mist Fuchan Fuchan Laozu.

After all, it was the residence of a Pure Yang practitioner of an unorthodox path; just looking at the giant bird that chased out from there revealed how strict its defenses were—it was absolutely not something that could be breached by ordinary efforts over a few days.

And even if one managed to enter, there would inevitably be a struggle, consuming more time.

Moreover, he still had several techniques he had not yet perfected; facing those Fan Fan Dongtian disciples, he feared he would hardly be able to handle things with ease.

Since that was the case, it was better to seize the time to improve his cultivation, striving to advance his Dao practice to a higher level; this was the fundamental right path.

Furthermore, he would have to spend three years within this Fan Fan Dongtian regardless.

If, by the time he emerged from seclusion, the fortune left behind by Fire Mist Fuchan Fuchan Laozu had been obtained by members of the aristocratic clans, Chen Heng would not pretend to be magnanimous and commit the foolish act of aiding his enemies.

By that stage.

There would naturally be a new set of plans and schemes...

The two flew swiftly along the way, dodging several more waves of beast tides.

Several hours later, a vast range of mountains stretching far and wide finally came strikingly into view.

As soon as they approached, a strong scent of fire poison rushed to their noses; fiery light surged violently, shooting upward with a force that seemed capable of blotting out the sky.

Yet the entire mountain was covered in strange green vines, dense and thick, obscuring the mountain's original color, while an exotic fragrance drifted from them, intoxicating enough to make one drunk.

Initially, Chen Heng suspected these green vines might be some kind of vicious creature and did not rush to lower his escaping light.

After carefully probing several times, he learned that these green vines were actually a type of exotic species that specialized in absorbing fire-element qi as food; the thicker the fire poison, the more luxuriantly they grew, so he finally set his mind at ease.

Having selected a hidden cliff, he opened two rock caves not far apart at the foot of the mountain; after carefully instructing Master Seven Qiao Rui, he immediately raised a finger and used the Scattered Scenery Concealing Form Technique to hide their qi signatures.

After completing all this.

He entered his own rock cave and proceeded inward.

This cave dwelling was merely formed by Chen Heng dissolving mountain rock with his true qi, so it was naturally rough and lacked refinement or clever beauty.

After advancing nearly fourteen or fifteen zhang to the deepest point, Chen Heng stopped, turned around, and waved his wide sleeve; the surrounding mountain rocks immediately rumbled, pressing and trembling toward the center to slowly seal the entrance, while those green vines spreading across the mountains gradually covered the cave, growing rapidly.

In less than half the time it takes to burn a stick of incense, the cave dwelling was covered tightly, showing no difference whatsoever from the outside world.

At this moment, inside the rock cave.

The four walls were pitch black and silent, so quiet that the drop of a needle could be heard, inexplicably exuding an oppressive feeling.

Chen Heng paid it no mind; he simply took out an apricot-yellow rush cushion from his Qiankun Bag, sat upon it, and slowly regulated his breath for several cycles, feeling a joy in his heart that was truly difficult to conceal.

Ever since stepping through the gates of cultivation and hearing of the miraculous nature of Fan Fan Dongtian, he had always intended to enter and explore one.

And now, at last, his wish had been fulfilled!

Since the Flowing Fire Liuhuo Liuhuo Honghua Fan Fan Dongtian was, after all, an unorthodox Fan Fan Dongtian, and had been worn down by ten thousand years of time, by today it could only sustain itself for another three years before failing completely.

However, those three years within this Fan Fan Dongtian amounted to merely one year in the present world; furthermore, with Chen Heng possessing the True Yizhen Yizhen Fa Jie, combining the two together...

That is to say.

Though only one year passed in the present world, he would have a full thirty years of time to ponder his Mei Mei Gongxing and comprehend the Dao in cultivation!

For him, this Fan Fan Dongtian was indeed an undisputed treasure land!

Thinking thus, Chen Heng suppressed his slightly agitated emotions and rapidly calculated various thoughts in his mind.

Although it was only one year in the present world, with the assistance of the Fan Fan Dongtian, he effectively possessed thirty years of time.

However, those thirty years within the True Yizhen Yizhen Fa Jie could only yield insights into cultivation; as for the Dao practice of the inner heart image within the Yizhen Yizhen Fa Jie, it could not be returned to his true body.

If viewed in this light.

These thirty years were not, in fact, a solid thirty years of cultivation time...

"As for various Dao techniques, let us set them aside for now; the same applies to the Sword Dao—it will be time enough to consider them when the Formless Sword Cave opens each month.

Having rarely entered this realm of heaven and earth, I should focus my mind on Dao practice instead."

He calmed his spirit and silently spoke to himself.

Valuing techniques while neglecting the Dao is ultimately putting the cart before the horse; countless precedents stand as warnings, and furthermore, one can never attain feathered ascension and immortality this way.

The Four Courtyards Grand Competition will be held in six years; before then, breaking through several minor barriers would truly be superior to cultivating several high-grade Dao techniques to the Ultimate Great Completion Realm.

Take Liu Wulong Guan, for instance; he merely casually released a single bolt of thunder, yet it shattered all of Chen Heng's various measures in one breath, truly terrifying in its power.

But as for how profound Liu Wulong Guan's attainment in the Purple Clear Divine Thunder actually was, it was not necessarily so remarkable.

It was simply because he was at the Fan Fan Dongtian realm; although he had not yet produced magic power, the volume of his true qi was fully a hundred or even a thousand times that of Chen Heng, like the ocean compared to rivers and lakes.

Relying solely on Dao practice, he could forcibly press Chen Heng down a notch!

And cultivation at the Purple Palace stage, like Foundation Establishment and Fan Fan Dongtian, is similarly divided into three minor realms.

These are respectively: Ten Thousand Wonders Returning to the Root, Transcending Form Separation, and Soul Exchange Spirit Dissolution.

Chen Heng was currently at the first level of the Purple Palace—Ten Thousand Wonders Returning to the Root; if he advanced one step further, nourishing and strengthening his divine consciousness, he could ascend to the second level of the Purple Palace, the "Transcending Form Separation" realm.

"Transcend" means departing from the mortal drive to enter the saintly rank.

"Separate" means shedding the vulgar womb to become a divine person.

It is the spirit entering the sacred embryo, with Qi perfecting the true nature!

The so-called realm of "Transcending Form Division" is nothing more than hiding the cultivator's own primordial spirit within the Purple Palace, supplemented by methods such as sitting quietly in stillness, closing the eyes to darken the mind, and stabilizing breath to halt Qi, all used to gather the three treasures of essence, Qi, and spirit throughout the body to nourish the primordial spirit.

At the first level of the Purple Palace, a cultivator's primordial spirit is merely like a newborn infant, far from having grown up.

But upon reaching the realm of "Transcending Form Division," the primordial spirit becomes a person in their prime, with a solid form, to the extent that thoughts can be divided into hundreds or thousands, lodged upon various birds, beasts, trees, and grasses; though the body remains unmoving, the moment the mind stirs, one can roam among famous mountains and great rivers.

To attain the realm of "Transcending Form Division," no external medicines are needed for assistance, and as for any difficulties or obstacles, none exist at all.

One need only regulate and stabilize the three treasures of essence, Qi, and spirit to nourish the primordial spirit.

When the cultivation fire reaches sufficient maturity, "Transcending Form Division" will come as naturally as water flowing into a channel, achieving itself without effort.

The speed of cultivating this realm depends solely on the cultivator's own three treasures of essence, Qi, and spirit; in other words, it is inextricably linked to the foundation of the Dao.

Since Chen Heng first stepped through the gates of cultivation, the classics he has studied, whether the Scripture of the Divine Dwelling's Pivot Transforming the Great Beginning True Essence or the Jade Book of the Zhongtian Dou Shu Tianwangshen Sect...

Looking across the universe and beyond, they are all first-rate precious scriptures!

The depth of his Dao foundation goes without saying.

According to Chen Heng's own deduction, with only about two years of time, he will be able to cultivate the transformation of "Transcending Form Division" and become a cultivator at the second level of the Purple Palace.

As for the third realm, "Soul Exchange and Spirit Dissolution," this realm is an undisputed difficulty, requiring external medicines to provide additional strength, and the cultivation process is by no means lacking in dangerous obstacles.

However, before Chen Heng came to the Liuhuo Liuhuo Honghua Fan Fan Dongtian, he had long anticipated this ordeal and obtained no small amount of external medicines from Jiang Jiang Daolian, sufficient for the needs of the third realm, "Soul Exchange and Spirit Dissolution"...

At this moment.

He slowly closed his eyes, assumed a posture with his five hearts facing the sky, his body becoming like a block of green stone, motionless, and soon entered meditative absorption.

At the same time.

Within the Liuhuo Liuhuo Honghua Fan Fan Dongtian.

In a Dragon Horn Flying Palace located several hundred li away from where Chen Heng was in seclusion, the scene was entirely different.

(End of Chapter)