Chapter 243: The Water and Fire Well

In less than half a day's effort, Chen Heng, who had been meditating on the stone cliff, suddenly sensed something; he slowly dispersed his Xue Xuan Gong, and the whirlwind of protective qi around him instantly scattered, allowing spiritual vitality to return to its former state of misty diffusion.

He lifted his eyelids and raised his gaze to look.

He saw a streak of purple light winding its way through the clouds; its qi mechanism was not particularly strong, merely ordinary, and its flight speed was not very fast either.

When it drew near.

The radiance retracted, revealing the figure of a young cultivator.

This person appeared to be around twenty years of age, standing seven chi tall, with an upright and refinedly handsome appearance; he wore a hemp crown and a large-sleeved black robe, possessing an uncommon demeanor that felt like water flowing east, giving off a sense of vigorous vitality.

Standing amidst the clouds, he looked at Chen Heng, a hint of surprise flashing in the depths of his eyes before vanishing in an instant, and he smiled as he said:

"This poor Daoist bows; it seems Chen Chen Shidi anticipated this scene long ago?"

"Could it be that Xiao Xiao Shixiong Shen Cheng is here in person? Please, come."

Chen Heng smiled slightly, rose to return the courtesy, and waved his hand; a table made of green jade and two meditation cushions flew out from his sleeve pouch, followed immediately by the appearance of two cups of clear tea.

Fragrance curled and dispersed; upon inhaling it, one immediately felt peace of mind and spirit, refreshed and clear-headed.

Seeing this, Shen Cheng harbored no suspicions; he cupped his hands politely, sat down squarely at the table, lifted the teacup to his lips, and took a sip.

He closed his eyes to savor it, feeling a mouthful of clear fragrance, fresh and delicious with a sweet aftertaste that went straight to the brain and spirit; he praised it aloud, saying:

"This must be the 'Yinghua Needle' from the Xie clan of Changyou? I have not tasted this flavor for many years; today, thanks to Chen Chen Shidi, it is an unexpected delight."

"This item was merely something I gained from a member of a noble family's sleeve pouch; it is nothing precious. If Xiao Xiao Shixiong Shen likes it, feel free to take it all."

Chen Heng took out an exquisite box made of ebony wood, chuckled softly, and raised his hand to offer it.

"Then this elder brother shall accept it without further modesty!"

Shen Cheng clapped his hands freely, immediately accepted it with pleasure, and stored it within his sleeve.

Afterwards, the two spoke no more words, each attending only to tasting the tea.

Only when the cups were drained to the bottom did Shen Cheng suddenly set down the teaware; his expression turned solemn, two bolts of lightning seemed to flash in his eyes, and he spoke with a straight voice:

"On my way here, I pondered left and right, deliberating over a great many words, but seeing that Chen Chen Shidi already knows my intentions, any further speech would be a waste of breath; as the saying goes, union brings benefit to both, while division brings harm to both.

Nowadays, the noble families wield great power; I wonder if Chen Chen Shidi is willing to lend a hand?

If we can work together with one heart, we will surely intimidate the pack of villains and seize the opportunities within that underground palace!"

This voice sounded like thunder cracking, causing the misty clouds circling the cliff top to scatter in all directions.

The imposing momentum was fiercely intense, rumbling and echoing between the myriad mountains!

Hearing this, Chen Heng was not surprised; he nodded slightly, flicked his sleeve, and likewise spoke with a solemn expression:

"Although the noble families currently wield great power, they are ultimately outsiders; how can we allow them to run wild here? What Xiao Xiao Shixiong has said is also the wish in this poor Daoist's heart!"

Shen Cheng was overjoyed; immediately, he bowed deeply with great reverence and said happily:

"Excellent! Excellent! With Chen Chen Shidi's aid, I am like a fish finding water!"

Chen Heng rose from his seat, orally declaring he was unworthy, while his gaze contracted in a way barely perceptible.

Just as Shen Cheng had said moments ago.

Union brings benefit to both, while division brings harm to both!

In a situation like the present, relying solely on his own strength to suppress and subdue the members of the noble families within this Liuhuo Liuhuo Honghua Fan Fan Dongtian would be nothing short of a fool's dream, impossible to achieve.

Since that was the case.

Then attempting to seize the opportunities within the Fan Fan Dongtian.

Would be no different than snatching food from a tiger's mouth.

Taking such a risk would be a minor matter; what would truly be embarrassing is exerting great effort only to reap meager rewards.

However, the members of the noble families were far from being able to cover the sky with one hand; within this Fan Fan Dongtian, aside from the lineage of the noble families, there was also the power of the sect lineage.

Furthermore, the so-called Pure Yang opportunities were ultimately fixed in number; if one side gained more, the other would gain less.

It would be difficult for these two factions, the noble families and the sects, to sit peacefully and negotiate calmly; both would need to call upon friends and companions to contend for victory or defeat using true methods.

Since he had already fallen into bad graces with the noble families, Chen Heng needed to find an ally to facilitate contending for the opportunities within the Fan Fan Dongtian.

As for his choice in his heart.

It naturally went without saying!

As for this person Shen Cheng, although Chen Heng was meeting him for the first time today.

Yet on the journey to the Liuhuo Liuhuo Honghua Fan Fan Dongtian, Chen Heng had already entrusted Jiang Jiang Daolian to investigate all the famous Cave-Mystic Refiners of the Four Academies, so regarding Shen Cheng, he was not entirely ignorant.

This person was an inner disciple of the Li Xuanying Academy, proficient in talismans and thunder methods, extremely skilled in killing and combat; he often descended the mountain to slay demons and eliminate evils, repeatedly earning merit and accumulating considerable merit points to his name.

Because he saw that this person was outstanding in character and firm in mindset.

Seven years ago, the True Person overseeing the Li Xuanying Academy specially requested permission from the Yuchenshang Sect to lift a legal prohibition, allowing Shen Cheng to exchange merit points for the "Mingzhen Yixuan Zhangsong" in the scripture tower to use for cultivating his Dao practices.

Once this matter emerged.

It caused quite a stir within the Li Xuanying Academy at the time, making Shen Cheng's reputation soar.

This "Mingzhen Lunxuan Zhangsong" was a Daoist text capable of direct cultivation up to the Cave-Mystic Realm.

Legend held that it evolved from the "Hun Su Yuan Zhi"; it was an undisputed treasure manual of Dao cultivation, exceedingly precious!

And the "Hun Su Yuan Zhi" happened to be one of the Five Classics, ranked among the Twenty-Five Zheng Fa!

This meant that if Shen Cheng could secure his position among the Ten Great Disciples in six years' time, standing alone at the head.

He could then directly connect with the "Hun Su Yuan Zhi," this miraculous book of heaven and earth, blending with it like water and milk, saving himself the bitter effort of tempering his Dao practices.

The expectations held for him by the various True Persons of the Upper Sect and the overseeing elders of the Li Xuanying Academy.

Could be glimpsed from this alone!

And within these four lower academies, unless one possessed a family-transmitted classic or encountered another opportunity.

For disciples to obtain superior cultivation techniques, they all had to go to the three Great Masters to reveal a notice, accept a mission, descend the mountain, and earn merit points.

Then the overseeing True Person would observe their conduct and examine their mindset; if they qualified, the matter would be reported to the Yuchenshang Sect.

After receiving permission.

That disciple could then use the merit points they had earned themselves to exchange for the Great Dao scriptures hidden within the courtyard...

This matter was not difficult to describe as hard, yet describing it as easy was also not quite right.

But in the end, one still had to descend the mountain, and a great deal of toil and hardship was unavoidable.

And perhaps taking into consideration that noble clans and those with ulterior motives might play tricks during the descent.

Before departing for beyond the heavens, Jun Yao had specially bestowed this cultivation grand canon, the "Joushu Tianwangshen Sect Jade Scripture," upon him.

Chen Heng did not lack Dao scriptures, and thus had never yet undertaken the task of posting notices, possessing not a single point of merit on his person.

However, speaking of which.

The fact that Shen Cheng had managed to cultivate the "Mingzhen Lun Xue Xuan Zhang Song" to his person was sufficient proof that his abilities were extraordinary and he was no ordinary fellow; moreover, this person's reputation within Li Xuanying Courtyard had always been quite good.

Forming an alliance with him.

Was indeed a matter where union would benefit both parties!

And after hearing Chen Heng's decisive reply.

Shen Cheng, at this moment, slightly relaxed his guard, sighed, and spoke some words from the heart, saying:

"I wonder if Chen Chen Shidi knows that within this small Fan Fan Dongtian, the fortune and transformation have not been fully exhausted, and there actually remains an underground palace?"

"I have heard a little about it."

Chen Heng nodded slightly.

"That underground palace is indeed a heavily guarded place; although it has undergone the erosion of ten thousand years, it remains extremely formidable..."

Shen Cheng shook his head and spoke slowly.

And after he finished speaking.

Chen Heng also learned from it.

That the underground palace was now sealed by three stone gates and could not be opened.

If one wished to enter it, the only way was to refine and transform the four water-and-fire wells at the surface traveling palace; only then could one trigger the magical prohibitions, pass through the water-and-fire wells, forge a strange new path, and penetrate deep into the underground palace.

In other words.

Whoever could refine and transform the water-and-fire wells.

Would be the one holding the initiative for entering and exiting the underground palace!

At present, those four water-and-fire wells each had an owner.

Shen Cheng occupied the one in the north position; Liu Wulong Guan, allied with Tangting Sima Mingye, occupied the west position; Xiao Xiao Xiujing occupied the east position; and Zhao Tong occupied the south position.

And since both Shen Cheng and that Zhao Tong were not of noble clan origin, it seemed that the sects and the noble clans were in an equal situation, each sharing half of the glory.

However, if one spoke of the true circumstances, the reality was far from this superficial appearance.

There were only four water-and-fire wells, yet the Dongxuan cultivators who had entered this small Fan Fan Dongtian numbered more than just four; it could truly be said there were many monks and little meat.

And in the current Yu Yu Yuchen Lower Courtyard, the noble clans were ultimately the dominant force.

With the instigation and support of Xiao Xiao Xiujing and Liu Wulong Guan.

Those Dongxuan Refiners of noble clan birth, such as Yin He and Ji Yuetan and their like, were exerting even more effort in their attacks, intending to snatch the water-and-fire wells from the hands of Shen Cheng and Zhao Tong.

Although it was true that neither Shen Cheng nor Zhao Tong lacked partisans.

Yet under such an offensive, they too gradually felt it difficult to sustain, increasingly experiencing a sense of powerlessness.

This was precisely why Shen Cheng, upon hearing that Chen Heng had defeated more than ten cultivators of the same realm and furthermore frightened away the two Refiners Yin He and Ji Yuetan, was overjoyed beyond measure.

He did not hesitate to lower his status, specially diverting his attention to seek him out.

It was truly because the current situation made even him, Shen Cheng, feel quite at a loss.

Seeking aid from outside.

Had also become something he had no choice but to do...

"Only when all four water-and-fire wells have been fully refined and transformed will the prohibitions within there loosen, and only then can I activate the water-and-fire wells."

At this moment.

Shen Cheng fixed his eyes on Chen Heng and pleaded earnestly:

"To be honest, because I must now refine and transform that water-and-fire well, I truly cannot divide my attention; once I rashly move and leave that Jingkou, all my Peng Qian Gong will be lost in an instant...

I beg Chen Chen Shidi to lend a hand during my refinement period, preventing the schemes of Bai Bai Xiaoxiao like Xiao Xiao Xiujing and Liu Wulong Guan from succeeding; this foolish elder brother would be endlessly grateful!"

Within the orthodox Daoist path, when a cultivator reaches the Zi Fu Er Chong "Transcendence and Form-Splitting" realm, they can split their thoughts and lodge their form within objects.

With the main body unmoving, yet the moment a thought arises, they can roam freely among famous mountains and great rivers.

With Chen Heng's discernment, he could naturally see that the Shen Cheng before him was not his true body present in person, but merely a thought lodged within an object.

And hearing this explanation, he understood clearly.

"Xiao Xiao Shixiong Shen speaks too heavily; this is only what ought to be done."

Chen Heng paused, then said: "However, how many more days will Xiao Xiao Shixiong Shen need to complete the refinement?"

"At most two months!"

Hearing this, Chen Heng pondered for a moment, then nodded.

Seeing Chen Heng agree, Shen Cheng smiled inwardly, feeling a relaxation in his body.

Afterwards, the two agreed to meet in five days at the traveling palace; after exchanging a few more words, Shen Cheng did not linger further, but cupped his hands and took his leave.

"However, since this foolish elder brother has received Chen Chen Shidi's fine tea, I cannot fail to make some gesture in return..."

At this moment.

Shen Cheng suddenly halted his body and said:

"I wonder if Chen Chen Shidi has ever heard of that Fuchan Fuchan Laozu, Ancestor Fu Can, from the Taifu Palace?"

"Your name strikes my ears like thunder," Chen Heng said with a soft chuckle.

"The Talisman Palace is one of the Eight Sects of the Profound Gate and counts among our fellow practitioners; its sect is renowned for the forty-nine Upper Clarity Talismans, each possessing inconceivable, mighty power.

And that Elder Fuchan once learned half of those Upper Clarity Talismans; even across the vast Xudu Heaven, this elder remains a grandmaster of the Talisman and Chart Dao."

Shen Cheng slipped his hand into his sleeve, retrieved an object, and offered it out.

What Shen Cheng handed over was precisely a cloud chart shimmering with Jin Jin Guang.

Inscribed above was the form of mountains and peaks; below, a divine figure held a whip, as if about to suppress some thing; it brimmed with spiritual qi, clearly no ordinary item.

He raised his hand to accept it and could not help but say:

"Could this chart be transformed from Elder Fuchan's Canye?"

Hearing this, Shen Cheng was startled and waved his hands repeatedly, saying:

"How could it be so precious? Nevertheless, this talisman indeed shares a deep connection with Elder Fuchan; it was personally created by Elder Fuchan.

I heard from my younger brother that Master Qiao Yan has already perished, and the Moon Wheel Mirror on his person has not returned to Xiao Xiao Xiujing's side... In that case, this chart may well assist you, junior brother!"

Chen Heng raised an eyebrow slightly and said:

"I beg Xiao Xiao Shixiong Shen to enlighten me."

"This chart is named the Five Directions Spirit-Suppressing Talisman; it was refined by the Supervising True Person of our Li Xuanying Courtyard. Though it cannot make that Moon Wheel Mirror an object in your palm, suppressing her true consciousness to prevent this dharma treasure from suddenly causing trouble will not be difficult."

Shen Cheng looked at Chen Heng earnestly and spoke:

"Junior brother, that Moon Wheel Mirror ultimately belongs to True Person Xiao Fang; one cannot fail to be on guard. It may well be that Xiao Xiao Xiujing possesses other means to recall it; within this Fan Fan Dongtian, it is best not to use it. To suppress it early with the Five Directions Spirit-Suppressing Talisman is the proper path."

Before Chen Heng could express his thanks,

Shen Cheng raised his hand to cut him off:

"After leaving the Fan Fan Dongtian, if you wish to erase the magic power seal left by Xiao Fang, you may come to find me; this foolish elder can remove that trouble for you!"

As soon as he finished speaking,

his body instantly transformed into a streak of purple light and soared away into the distance.

And only when the figure had completely vanished

did Chen Heng slowly withdraw his gaze from the clouds.

An expression of contemplation settled on his face, and he shook his head with a laugh.

"This person is truly a remarkable figure; whether in methods or in scheming, he far surpasses ordinary people! His final gift of a talisman to you was both an act of bestowing favor and a warning that he is not someone without backing."

At that moment,

the sound of the Dun Dun Jiesuo suddenly rang out from within Chen Heng's sleeve, and a voice sighed:

"I fear this Shen Cheng will become your formidable rival in six years!"

"His suspicion toward me is merely human nature."

Chen Heng waved his hand and said indifferently:

"As for six years hence, naturally we shall each rely on our own methods; in any case, with He He Lizi, Wei Wei Daofu, and Shi You already three, adding one more Xiao Xiao Shixiong Shen will hinder nothing—it will only make things more lively!"

Immediately, he guided his mind, and the Dun Dun Jiesuo understood at once; a flash of blue light passed.

In an instant, the figures of both vanished from their original spot, shifting across space to the rocky cave where they had previously entered seclusion...

In this affair, Chen Heng had slain and defeated more than ten opponents in succession, and his true qi had indeed been greatly depleted.

Even though the depth of his Dao foundation was such that few across the four courtyards of Yu Yu Yuchen could match it, he still felt a sense of exhaustion.

After he finished regulating his breath and his true qi had returned to its former state,

he counted on his fingers and saw that three days remained until the agreed date; not rushing to depart, he once again practiced the Xue Xuan Gong within the Yi Zhen Fa Zhi Jie.

Only when the agreed time drew near did Chen Heng summon Master Qiao Rui, instruct her carefully, and leave behind several methods for her protection.

Only then did he flick his sleeve and, without hesitation, shoot skyward.

Casting his gaze in all directions,

he saw only mist-shrouded mountains, vast and gray, with colors and lights blurred and indistinct.

And the myriad mountains beneath his feet gathered like fighting ants, mutually obscuring one another; among them rose some that brushed the clouds and pierced the heavens, offering no foothold, their momentum immensely towering and precipitous!

This spectacle of heaven's height and earth's breadth suddenly stirred a surge of heroic spirit within Chen Heng's heart.

Unable to restrain himself, he let out a loud laugh, shook his body, burst through the gale-force winds, and vanished in an instant!

(End of chapter)