Chapter 25: Chapter Twenty-Five: Tu Shan Ningning

Qi Armor Technique—

As the name suggests, it is a defensive Daoist art that transforms embryonic breath into armor to protect the body.

Focus the spirit to form breath, condense qi to form spirit, regulate nasal breath to be continuous and deep, inhale more than exhale, stabilize body and mind in silence, outwardly still, inwardly clear, hold one thought centered, then still the mind below the navel, begin drawing qi into the dantian, thus called returning spirit to emptiness, condensing spirit to transform qi.

This Daoist art is not particularly difficult or obscure.

After all, it is merely a lower-tier Daoist art—how difficult could it possibly be?

As long as one is willing to quiet the mind and endure the hard work, even the most dull talent can gain some benefit.

“Defend!”

Chen Hang changed his hand seals again; the faint air current surrounding him surged louder, ringing with metallic clangs, sparks flying in the void.

“Come, let me see how well you’ve done.”

Chen Hang drew the Thunderfire Thunderbolt Pearl from his sleeve and tossed it into the air; with a thought, a fierce flame surged toward him.

This fire was no ordinary flame—upon its first emergence, it warped and shimmered the air, its power terrifying.

But as it rushed to engulf Chen Hang, the invisible air current of the Qi Armor Technique stepped forward to meet it, instantly blocking the flames entirely, not a single spark leaking through.

And Chen Hang, standing mere inches away, felt no heat at all—truly miraculous.

Afterwards, Chen Hang summoned a red-and-white thunderbolt from the Pearl and struck downward; this time the Qi Armor trembled more violently, yet still held.

Spewing fire, unleashing thunder…

These were all functions of the Thunderfire Thunderbolt Pearl.

But the true killing move of this mid-grade talisman artifact was to entwine fire and thunder around the Pearl itself and launch it in one unified burst!

The Pearl’s material was forged from silver essence poured over secret sand—extremely durable—and with the aid of fire and thunder, once launched, even a city wall before it would be shattered and collapsed.

Yet this technique consumed immense embryonic breath; with Chen Hang’s current cultivation base, firing it once left him utterly drained, incapable of any further offense.

The Six Yin Celestial Ghost Banner and the Five Light Pendant were nothing.

Who knew what great fortune Yangshan Daoist had stumbled upon to acquire the Thunderfire Thunderbolt Pearl?

His wealth was so immense that, compared to ordinary Qi Condensation cultivators, even among disciples of the Xuanzhen Sect on Xiao Ganshan, few could match him.

“And that external body-cultivation art of his—what a pity…”

Chen Hang sighed.

He sat again, regulating his breath for a while; once his spirit revived slightly, he transformed the Pearl in midair into a beam of light and slammed it straight down onto his crown.

Boom!

Fire and thunder erupted together, radiant light blazed—this time, there was no surprise: the Qi Armor Technique held for less than half a breath before shattering into fragments with a sharp “crack.”

Chen Hang’s body was struck; his chest caved inward, then his entire upper torso was pulverized by fire and thunder, flesh and blood flying.

Moments later, a new body materialized in the same spot.

“Mid-grade talisman artifacts are indeed remarkable. It’s only natural that my mid-stage Qi Armor Technique couldn’t withstand it.”

Chen Hang smiled faintly and retrieved the Thunderfire Thunderbolt Pearl into his sleeve.

The mid-stage Qi Armor Technique’s function was weak.

What of the advanced-stage or perfected-stage Qi Armor Technique?

Few cultivators bother to bring such low-tier Daoist arts to perfected stage.

First, their potential is limited; second, they take too long to master—if one neglects core cultivation for this, it’s putting the cart before the horse, a laughingstock.

But Chen Hang had no such concerns.

He had no other Daoist arts to choose from anyway, and with the rule “one day in the world, ten days in the Fa Realm,” time was never a constraint for him.

Chen Hang closed his eyes and once again entered deep meditation.

Layers of air currents swirled around him, rippling endlessly, faint golden glimmers flickering within, echoes lingering long.

Days passed like this; soon, twenty days had passed in the Fa Realm, two days in the outside world.

At this moment, Chen Hang exhaled a long, turbid breath, dispersing all the air currents surrounding him.

“Done!”

He laughed aloud, rose, and pointed a finger, activating the “Mahā Śūnyatā Light Samādhi” to illuminate himself.

…

【Mahā Śūnyatā Light Samādhi】

【Name】: Chen Hang.

【Techniques】: Chen Clan Archery (perfected), Qi Armor Technique (advanced), Little Crimson Dragon Sword Scripture (advanced), Qingnang Herbal Scripture (minor), Blood Armor Technique (beginner), Extreme Light Great Escape (—).

【Artifacts】: Thunderfire Thunderbolt Pearl (mid-grade talisman artifact), Qiankun Bag (low-grade talisman artifact).

【Cultivation Base】: Embryonic Breath.

…

“Pity—the ‘Extreme Light Great Escape’ requires silver-star ore as a catalyst to begin cultivation. I’ve never even heard of such a rare material—how could I possibly find it?”

Returning his gaze, Chen Hang felt a pang of regret.

If he could master this escape art before descending into the Abyss, his chances of survival would increase significantly…

This journey to Lanliang City yielded the “Divine House Pivot Splendor Daoist Lord’s Discourse on the Primordial True Scripture”—a Qi Condensation technique—no small stroke of luck.

But the method to open the Purple Mansion and condense the Golden Core now became Chen Hang’s dilemma.

Embryonic Breath, Qi Condensation, Foundation Establishment, Purple Mansion, Dongxuan, Golden Core—

The Xuanzhen Sect’s “Three Qi Illuminating Spirit Technique” could carry one all the way to the Purple Mansion, but the scripture was unremarkable, merely ordinary.

Chen Hang dared not gamble on having the same fortune as True Person Yan Xi—lower-grade true qi foundation, low-tier Purple Mansion phenomenon, inferior primordial gold-mercury, yet still reversing root and fruit to achieve Primordial Spirit’s Return to Emptiness.

If possible,

he wished to build his foundation step by step, until it was utterly solid and unshakable, then let success come naturally, perfect and complete.

“How to join a great sect and seek their scriptures—and this body’s father… upon reflection, both are troublesome.”

Chen Hang no longer lingered.

He connected his consciousness with Jin Chan and instantly withdrew from the Zhen Fa Realm, returning to the outside world.

…

On the mat.

After swallowing a White Yang Pill, Chen Hang suppressed the Cold Dip True Qi within him and slowly rose.

He turned the mechanism, shifting the cave’s massive stone aside.

Not far from the cave stood a black lacquered wooden tray; beside it crouched a fox with a large bump on its head, idly playing with its own tail, utterly absorbed.

Hearing footsteps, the fox leapt up instantly, circling Chen Hang’s feet, whimpering loudly—as if annoyed he’d taken so long to emerge, making it wait so long.

“Tu Shan Ningning, are you here to bring me food again?”

Chen Hang glanced at the large bump on her head, recognizing this as the same foolish fox that had knocked on his door that day, then fled without finding her way home; he said coolly:

“You seem to have been badly injured—your head’s bruise hasn’t faded yet.”

The fox flew into a rage upon hearing this.

She arched her back, ready to bite him—but dared not; instead, she frantically dug at the ground with her paws.

“Next time, don’t wait. Just leave it.”

Chen Hang took a grape from the tray and placed it before her, then turned away without another look and returned into the cave.

“Ying ying~”

At first, the fox feigned indifference, turning her head away, flicking her tail.

But once the stone door sealed shut again, she eagerly opened her mouth and swallowed the grape whole.

“Ying ying, ying ying~”

She closed her eyes in satisfaction.

…

…

Two days later.

Within the Yangshan Divine Domain.

In a vast open space.

Tu Shan Ge brandished a Daoist sword, desperately parrying and dodging as Chen Hang’s peach branch cut him down, drenching him in sweat, his face pale.

“I lose! I lose!”

He suddenly threw down his Daoist sword and shouted: “Master, stop! This round is yours!”