Chapter 60: Chapter Sixty: The Doubt of True Qi

Low-grade true qi, inferior dao foundation, low-tier purple mansion prodigy phenomenon, lowest-grade primordial gold-mercury.

Even his Jin Dan attainment seemed to be the lowest-grade Ninth-Rank Yellow-White Jin Dan.

Yet in the end, he still achieved Primordial Spirit Manifestation and opened the “Shun Lie Biyun Yuan Gu” cavern heaven in the Eastern Sea, on the verge of entering the Returning Void True Person realm—

Such an extraordinary tale as that of True Person Yan Xi.

Even over the countless millennia of the Nine Provinces and Four Seas, such cases would not exceed the fingers of one hand.

Wei Lingjiang knew this.

Before this hermit True Person journeyed to the Eastern Sea to open a cavern heaven, he sensed the southern region’s spiritual energy was barren and its talented individuals scarce, so he deliberately left behind several celestial dao scriptures that were already useless to him at the time.

One of them was the “Da Wuxiang Changrong true qi” cultivation method passed down by Kongkong Daoist.

Kongkong Daoist was the seventh disciple of the current progenitor of the Tribulation Immortal, who had already gained renown even in the ancient Dao Court era, a revered guest of all Immortal Sages, one who had his name inscribed at the “Ten Thousand Heavens Grand Assembly.”

He created the “Da Wuxiang Changrong true qi” by directly observing the forms of several Great Free Will Asura Kings, studying how they manifested their transformations and revealed the true nature of all beings, drawing from the principle: “Emptiness has no form, yet all is real and not false.”

Once cultivated, it could freely mimic the nature and transformations of all true qi below the Ninth Rank.

Whether dark and turbid, bright and radiant, dull or sharp, cold or piercing.

A thousand transformations, myriad attributes.

Even if one was still in the Qi Condensation realm and had not yet formed true qi, if one studied the “Da Wuxiang Changrong true qi,” the embryonic breath within would still absorb a trace of the quality: “Great form has no shape, the Dao hides without name”—remarkably extraordinary!

Yet when True Person Yan Xi obtained this Qi Condensation technique from beyond the heavens, he had already achieved Primordial Spirit Manifestation; even though Kongkong Daoist’s Ninth-Rank Lower Grade “Da Wuxiang Changrong true qi” was extraordinary, it held little use for him.

So he buried it as a chance, deeply hidden within the southern lands, awaiting a future worthy recipient.

Wei Lingjiang knew these details because she was the one who happened to open one of the celestial dao scriptures left behind by True Person Yan Xi in the southern lands.

Though she never had the fortune to see the cultivation method of the “Da Wuxiang Changrong true qi.”

But she obtained two “Your Majesty Huangsu Yunluan” and the scripture “Sanjing Lianxing Shu.”

The Your Majesty Huangsu Yunluan belonged to the category of magic artifacts, superior to talismanic artifacts; once activated, it could instantly teleport a thousand li away, and its carriage was surrounded by vast, cascading clouds that offered unparalleled defensive power—even a Jin Dan True Person would need great effort to break through.

The Your Majesty Huangsu Yunluan, though excellent, was merely ordinary to Wei Lingjiang.

But.

The “Sanjing Lianxing Shu” was different.

After creating the “Da Wuxiang Changrong true qi,” Kongkong Daoist specifically asked his master to evaluate it and begged for enhancements.

The Tribulation Immortal Progenitor, unable to escape his persistence, personally created the “Sanjing Lianxing Shu” to complement the “Da Wuxiang Changrong true qi.”

The “Da Wuxiang Changrong true qi” could already mimic the nature and transformations of all true qi below the Ninth Rank—truly remarkable.

Yet this true qi still had a flaw: though it could mimic each type of true qi below the Ninth Rank and its unique properties and methods of use,

it could not mimic the unique spiritual aura of each true qi.

It could not, like a true Great Free Will Asura King, transform at will and remain utterly undetectable.

But the “Sanjing Lianxing Shu” remedied this flaw.

After all, it was crafted by the Tribulation Immortal Progenitor himself, and even surpassed it further.

Once combined with the “Da Wuxiang Changrong true qi,” it could not only fully mimic the unique spiritual aura of every true qi, but also—

Not just true qi auras: plants, animals, birds, insects, metals, stones, even mountains, valleys—all could be mimicked with perfect accuracy, provided one’s cultivation was sufficient.

If paired with a method to alter one’s physical form, one would become as if a true Great Free Will Asura had descended.

Even cultivators several major realms higher might fail to detect the deception unless their Dao cultivation was truly supreme.

But the “Sanjing Lianxing Shu” was specifically created by that Tribulation Immortal Progenitor to complement the “Da Wuxiang Changrong true qi” and remedy its deficiency.

It was not a standalone technique or divine art.

Without cultivating the “Da Wuxiang Changrong true qi,” one could not shift the qi orifices or attain the methods of the “Sanjing Lianxing Shu.”

This was why, though True Person Yan Xi obtained the original texts of both the “Da Wuxiang Changrong true qi” and the “Sanjing Lianxing Shu” beyond the heavens, he did not personally cultivate them, but instead left them as a chance in the southern lands.

Even if these two were extraordinary, they were not worth him abandoning his Primordial Spirit cultivation; at most, he copied them for his avatar to use.

Wei Lingjiang’s spiritual body was rooted in the “Ziqing true qi,” so she naturally could not cultivate the “Sanjing Lianxing Shu” and could not conceal her aura.

……

After hearing Wei Lingjiang’s words, Chen Hang faintly furrowed his brow, then shook his head.

He could never reveal his Qi Condensation foundation to this stranger.

But Yan Xi True Person, celestial dao scriptures, and the “Da Wuxiang Changrong true qi”—all were pure fantasy.

Taishi Yuanzhen and Da Wuxiang Changrong true qi did not sound alike.

As for chances.

Aside from Jin Chan, his first real chance in this world was killing Yang Shan Daoist and acquiring the Mid-Rank Talisman Artifact, the Thunderfire Thunderbolt Pearl.

But his shake of the head, to Wei Lingjiang, clearly betrayed the guilt of hiding something precious.

Seeing the Asuras gathering in greater numbers, she no longer spared her embryonic breath, channeling all her power to transform her flying sword into a brilliant torrent, its might overwhelming!

In an instant.

Following a roar like a dragon’s cry and a tiger’s bellow, all Asuras between them were sliced to pieces—blood gushed like a spring!

“Actually, I did not study the Da Wuxiang Changrong true qi, nor did I ever receive any celestial dao scripture chance from Yan Xi True Person—you simply won’t believe me.”

Chen Hang glanced at Wei Lingjiang, who had drawn near during the chaos, and shook his head:

“Just this one thread—I don’t expect you to think I’ll use my embryonic breath to heal you.”

A wisp of embryonic breath, as light as smoke, drifted from his palm; if not watched closely, it seemed to vanish.

“You…”

Even Wei Lingjiang’s cultivated composure nearly cracked.

She glared fiercely at Chen Hang, snatched the wisp of embryonic breath into her hand, probed it with her spiritual sense—and immediately hesitated.

The embryonic breath’s aura was vast and profound, clearly originating from orthodox Xuanmen lineage.

Yet its attribute was not merely “emptiness without form, all real and not false”—it also carried a faint, indescribable, profoundly sublime essence.

Like a boundless, primordial void born from nothing, stretching to the six extremities, yin and yang coalescing into embryo!

“This must… be the Da Wuxiang Changrong true qi?”

Wei Lingjiang felt uneasy.

She had never seen the “Da Wuxiang Changrong true qi” with her own eyes—only read its description in the “Sanjing Lianxing Shu.”

“Forget it!”

Wei Lingjiang bit her red lip, spun sharply toward Chen Hang: “Listen! I’ll teach you a divine art!”

Chen Hang’s expression remained unchanged.

“You…”

Seeing his indifference, Wei Lingjiang—intelligent as she was—recalled everything he had done since they met.

In an instant, she guessed his thoughts.

“Relax—it’s free.”

Wei Lingjiang sneered: “I’ll teach you this dao art for free, no cost, no repayment, no exposure of your foundation—only you and I will know. How?”

These words came as a whispered vow, each syllable like thunder, booming and resounding!

“Please, sister, swear a Dao Oath,” Chen Hang smiled.

Wei Lingjiang stared at him silently, about to swear—when Chen Hang suddenly spoke again.

“I mean a Dao Oath.”

He added.

A Dao Oath, once spoken, invokes the resonance of Heaven and Earth, binding to one’s blood and spirit; breaking it risks spiritual damage or a severe setback in cultivation.

Only those who have opened the Heaven-Earth Bridge can invoke Heaven’s authority to enforce such oaths.

Wei Lingjiang formed a hand seal, expressionless: “I vow…”

After she finished speaking, she did not immediately speak again.

Instead, she smiled brightly at Chen Hang, her bright eyes fixed on him, as if holding a quiet spring river—green leaves and red flowers lining its banks, exquisitely serene and surpassing all beauty.

“Why are you looking at me?”

“Your turn.”

“Me?”

“You must swear the Dao Oath,” Wei Lingjiang said coolly. “You’ve received my dao art—you must do your utmost to help me escape, and no longer ignore me dying in this Asura tide.”

“Do you not trust me?” Chen Hang’s eyebrow flickered faintly.

Wei Lingjiang refused to answer.

“I trust you? You pretty boy, full of black water—you’re terrible…”

The green-clad girl muttered under her breath; hearing this, everyone else except Chen Hang couldn’t help smiling—even Wei Lingjiang’s lips twitched upward slightly.

Though still trapped in the Asura tide, life hanging by a thread, the atmosphere suddenly grew warm, as if the sky were clear, the sun bright, the breeze gentle along the shore.

“Fine, I vow…”

Chen Hang sighed, formed a hand seal, and swore the Dao Oath.

Even if Wei Lingjiang had not thought of this, he himself had no intention of fleeing alone.

In this seemingly endless Asura tide, without a companion to guard him, he would have no chance to restore his embryonic breath—once his strength failed, he’d be instantly devoured, bones ground to dust.

Even with his Taisu Yushen’s extraordinary nature, Chen Hang dared not gamble on this sliver of survival.

If things became truly hopeless, the oath only required him to do his utmost.

Once his strength was spent,

it would no longer count as breaking the oath.

……

“This is a Daoist art created by the ancestor of the current Tribulation Immortal. When combined with the Great Formless Constant Merging True Qi of the Empty Void Daoist, it can conceal one’s vital energy and block others’ perception. Though you are only at Qi Condensation, your fetal breath has also absorbed this quality…”

The silver-white flying sword darted like a coiling dragon around the four, spraying out chilling light; whenever the demons drew near, a mere brush of its blade severed them in two.

While Chen Hang charged forward with his Tai Su flesh, Wei Lingjiang also regained four or five tenths of her fetal breath. With the full power of her superior flying sword, its edge became even keener and more unstoppable—just the sound of it slicing through the air tightened the ears.

Wei Lingjiang withdrew her gaze, calculating how much longer her spiritual body’s fetal breath could hold out, while continuing to transmit thoughts to Chen Hang without pause.

Both were still only at Qi Condensation, unable to transmit messages instantly via soul; fortunately, the “Scattering Shadows and Concealing Form” scripture was only a few hundred characters long, concise and to the point.

Soon after, Wei Lingjiang had recited the entire scripture, and Chen Hang frowned slightly.

Not long after, he suddenly lifted his head.

“Is there something you don’t understand?”

Wei Lingjiang wasn’t surprised. The “Scattering Shadows and Concealing Form” scripture was packed with pearls—many of its techniques and Daoist phrases were profoundly obscure and difficult to decipher.

“‘When the ancient mountain rides the wind, it soars; when it hides from the wind, it rests’—” Chen Hang spoke: “Please recite the lines after this one again, Sister. You spoke too quickly.”

“...”

Wei Lingjiang gave him a complex look, lips tightly pressed into a line, momentarily lost in thought before repeating it.

And only a few dozen breaths later.

Chen Hang spoke again:

“Sister, what does ‘earthlight descends, earth virtue ascends’ mean?”

“It’s a term from geomancy. Applied to the human body, it means two currents of qi converge in the chest and abdomen, like heaven and earth enclosing it.”

Wei Lingjiang slapped out a palm, blasting a demon shaped like a giant salamander into fragments, her voice weary: “Are you struggling to control your vital energy? Ease your mental focus—let it flow like water eastward, and only then will the art succeed.”

Chen Hang nodded in understanding.

A few breaths later, he looked up again:

“Sister, does ‘observing form’ mean like gazing into a suspended mirror, letting the spirit wander out?”

“Yes.”

……

“Sister, should the inhalation path move three cun?”

“Four cun.”

……

“Sister, should the qi turn toward Fengfu or spiritual sense?”

“It’s Jianggong!”

……

“Should inhalation move four cun?”

“Three cun!”

……

“Sister—”

……

“Sister—”

……

Wei Lingjiang’s face had grown slightly stiff; every few moments, Chen Hang would speak again, endlessly, without fatigue.

The “Scattering Shadows and Concealing Form” scripture was specifically crafted for the “Great Formless Constant Merging True Qi.” When the two interacted, it should be as natural as water flowing downhill—once the vital energy stirred, the meridians and major acupoints would open effortlessly.

Even if not instantaneous.

It certainly shouldn’t be as bumbling and awkward as Chen Hang’s—like climbing a mountain without a staff!

On the other side.

Within the True One Dharma Realm, Chen Hang was equally astonished.

The scripture clearly stated it was created for the “Great Formless Constant Merging True Qi.” Other true qis had no right even to contemplate it.

Yet he clearly cultivated “Tai Shi Yuan Zhen,” and still moved through it without obstruction—utterly unbelievable.

And faintly, vaguely,

Chen Hang felt the Great Formless Constant Merging True Qi and his Tai Shi Yuan Zhen seemed to share a common origin.

The former’s realm of “Void and Formless, Yet All Real” resembled merely a part of Tai Shi Yuan Zhen’s “Dragon Tian Illuminated, All True Ones Gathered.”

“The ‘Scattering Shadows and Concealing Form’ was created by the Tribulation Immortal’s ancestor. Though I’ve never heard this title before, I assume it’s an honorific for some great Immortal. The Great Formless Constant Merging True Qi is the Empty Void Daoist’s life’s work—but Tai Shi Yuan Zhen somehow fits…”

Chen Hang fell silent for a moment.

Did this mean Tai Shi Yuan Zhen was later created by the Tribulation Immortal’s ancestor? Or by the Empty Void Daoist? Or perhaps jointly by both?

Yet his Qi Condensation scripture bore the title: “The Divine House Shu Hua Dao Jun Speaks of the Tai Shi Yuan Zhen Scripture.”

What connection did Dao Jun have with these two?

Did Dao Jun encounter this method, find its principles too profound and subtle, and rewrite it? Or was there another origin?

Thoughts tangled thick as hemp.

When Chen Hang accepted Wei Lingjiang’s Dao vow, he’d merely intended to gain a free Dao art—better not to let it go.

Yet he never expected such a twist…

He suppressed his thoughts, swept away all distractions, and resumed closing his eyes to contemplate the techniques.

Outside the True One Dharma Realm,

Wei Lingjiang was breathing heavily, the flying sword’s spirit greatly diminished.

Trapped in this tide of demons, even ten or a hundred times the fetal breath would eventually be drained.

Not to mention the three useless burdens around her—all relying solely on her to hold the line.

As her palms trembled, a voice came from behind—she whirled around in fury, meeting a pair of clear, sharply defined black-and-white eyes.

“Sister, I—”

“I’m not your sister—you’re my senior brother!”

Wei Lingjiang’s face was expressionless:

“Shut up!”

……

Flesh and blood flew, swordlight raged.

Wei Lingjiang no longer counted how long she’d held out—her fetal breath and mental strength were both failing. Suddenly, her expression shifted; she flicked her slender hand, hurling the two children dozens of zhang away!

And the next instant!

A withered, jet-black giant palm slammed down, pulverizing the ground where the children had stood, sending up clouds of dust and soil!

The void parted like a gauze curtain, revealing a colossal demon shrouded in dark mist, eyes like golden lanterns.

It lifted its palm in surprise, as if regretting its missed strike; then all three faces chuckled, bent low, and struck like lightning—a claw shot toward Wei Lingjiang!

“Li Yi Mo…”

The flying sword was currently pinned down by a swarm of demons, too far to recall. Wei Lingjiang gritted her teeth, ready to forcibly squeeze out her fetal breath and unleash a Dao art.

At that moment, a sudden gust of wind tightened behind her head—and a hand reached out.

Chen Hang, who had been sitting cross-eyed in meditation, now seized her collar like grabbing a rabbit, yanked his arm back, and hurled her violently backward. Wei Lingjiang tumbled end over end dozens of times before barely stopping.

When she finally struggled to her feet, she saw Chen Hang shaking two purple-gold Break-Spirit Hammers from his sleeve, smashing them directly into the giant palm of the Li Yi Mo!

DONG!

The impact echoed like crashing waves—Wei Lingjiang had to cover her ears!

Yet in less than half a breath, Chen Hang was flung back even faster, flying farther than Wei Lingjiang had tumbled.

“This force…”

Chen Hang’s arms trembled slightly, his palms nearly split open; his expression changed. As he turned to face her, Wei Lingjiang suddenly grabbed his sleeve.

“Asshole! Are you trying to abandon me again?”

Wei Lingjiang laughed bitterly: “We took a Dao vow together!”

“Sister, you’re judging a gentleman by a villain’s standards.”

Chen Hang glanced at her; his vital energy abruptly shifted. Now, if one didn’t look at his face, he was nearly indistinguishable from the throngs of demons:

“I only meant to retrieve the Canhe Cart, put some distance between us and this demon, and plan accordingly.”

“Wait—you’ve finally mastered the Scattering Shadows and Concealing Form?”

Wei Lingjiang’s eyes lit up; she seized his hand: “I have a Luli Guangzhao—can conceal our forms. I—”

Before she finished speaking,

Both froze, lifting their heads simultaneously.

Far on the horizon, a golden flame surged toward them from miles away. Demons along its path vanished without a sound, instantly vaporized, not even a cry escaping.

The entire southwestern sky blazed gold and red, as if bathed in a sea of fire.

“Looks like we won’t need your Luli Guangzhao after all.”

Seeing this, Chen Hang felt a great weight lift from his heart.

He smiled at Wei Lingjiang and said:

“A Dongxuan Lianshi has arrived.”