Chapter 505: Yang Dragon Conceals Yin Bow (Combined Chapter)

A supreme powerhouse, a treasure that embodies the Dao! Li Yuan's spirit jolted.

Just this single piece of Lingyin made the incense he burned worth it!

Before this, he had never heard the true origins and secrets of the Eight Directions Temple in any text or from anyone's mouth.

"A sixteenth-tier Lingyin... a treasure that embodies the Dao—does this Eight Directions Temple harbor the inheritance of a supreme powerhouse?"

Li Yuan recited word by word, committing it to memory, his heart truly shaken and stirred, but very soon… he gathered his thoughts and summoned the Mirage Dragon Sash!

"Don't enter You Jing."

The little mother dragon was still immersed in the terror from before; the words slipped out before she realized the surroundings were no longer that stretch of gloom. Her heart relaxed, and then she heard this native boy's question: "What is a treasure that embodies the Dao?"

"

Wh-what?"

The little mother dragon froze at first, her heart suspicious: "You actually know about treasures that embody the Dao?"

The little mother dragon was greatly shocked. Under Li Yuan's repeated questioning, she haltingly began to speak of treasures that embody the Dao. She strove to appear as though she knew a great deal, but the whole stream of "it is said," "legend has it," and "according to rumor" gave her away!

"A treasure that embodies the Dao—as the name suggests, it contains the cosmic Great Dao, the laws of heaven and earth; it is the treasure among treasures!"

Legend has it that Tian Shi Yuan possesses only one treasure that embodies the Dao—the one that gathered Daoist Qun Xing into a single place and forged the very foundation of Tian Shi Yuan.

namely, the Heng Tian Scale!

The little mother dragon held nothing back, because she herself knew little, and these rumors held no real value:

"Legend has it that the Heng Tian Scale can weigh all the stars and myriad heavens, and exchange all things and all that exists — it is the true foundation of Tian Shi Yuan, jointly held by the Five Great Grotto-Heavens!"

"The Heng Tian Scale!"

From just these few words, Li Yuan found it hard to picture what kind of treasure the Heng Tian Scale was, but he now had a rough impression in his heart of the weight carried by a treasure that embodies the Dao!

The foundation of the land of Daoist Qun Xing, the treasure jointly wielded by the Five Great Grotto-Heavens!

An absolutely good thing.

Li Yuan steadied his mind and asked about other things in Tian Shi Yuan — for instance, what other treasures Tian Shi Yuan possessed beneath a treasure like the Heng Tian Scale!

"Didn't you say you didn't want to go to Tian Shi Yuan?"

The little mother dragon snorted lightly, somewhat curious where this boy had picked up these terms, but having no mind to dig to the bottom. She got straight to the point:

"Everything about Tian Shi Yuan, this Miss can tell you — I can even tell you how to go to Tian Shi Yuan — but you must help me remold my fleshly body!"

"Star-tier Azure Dragon?"

Li Yuan was a bit speechless. It wasn't that he didn't want to agree, but such a thing was exceedingly rare in the world — where would he find one?

As if reading his thoughts, the little mother dragon hurriedly added:

"Within You Jing, there must be a star-tier Azure Dragon."

"Mm?"

Li Yuan's heart stirred slightly. "What you mean is — a Guai Beast?"

"Exactly."

The little mother dragon nodded rapidly: "Since you know of the Azure Dragon, then your side of heaven and earth must once have had them. Once they existed, within You Jing there must surely be some."

The little mother dragon was very nervous!

Some time ago, she had nearly despaired, but this time, upon suddenly seeing You Jing, her thoughts had come alive again!

Even if it was a You Jing cut off from the outside by the Eight Directions Temple, the fortune contained within would surely be no small amount!

"Guai Beasts — would those work too?"

Li Yuan's expression turned subtle!

Guai Beasts come from warrior spirit-forms assimilated by You Jing, and may contain fragments of the warrior's memories from life — even their divine weapons and ultimate arts!

But does this thing count as a spirit-beast?

"The three elements merge into one — Qi is blood, blood is spirit, spirit is flesh and blood…"

Seeing his attitude soften, the little mother dragon hurriedly pressed the advantage: "A Guai Beast born from a He Yi Jing spirit-form is virtually no different from a spirit-beast. In Tian Shi Yuan, there is no lack of people who make a living from this."

"Is that so?"

Daoist Li's heart leapt. His third register required the blood of a divine beast — previously he had been planning where to go to borrow blood from warriors!

If this could work…

"What about spirit-forms of Earth Sha or Heaven Gang tier warriors?"

Li Yuan inquired!

"That — no!"

The little mother dragon hesitated briefly, then spoke truthfully: "Only Yuan He Yi Jing works. However, the spirit-forms of Yuan He Yi Jing warriors are not necessarily all He Yi Jing themselves."

"He Yi Jing spirit-forms!"

Li Yuan had a clear picture now!

"You've agreed?"

The little mother dragon's spirit jolted!

"I'll do my best!"

Li Yuan left himself room. A He Yi Jing Guai Beast — without full confidence, he would definitely not go provoke one!

"It's a deal."

Seeing hope, the little mother dragon's mood soared, and her attitude instantly changed — putting on an air of holding nothing back, telling everything she knew!

Li Yuan did not stand on ceremony either, and began asking about intelligence on Tian Shi Yuan, as well as the matters mentioned in the Lingyin just now!

Hmm,

The little mother dragon was clearly well prepared. Her body trembled, and she opened her mouth to spew forth a great swath of flowing light; the flowing light wove together and transformed into a scroll of silk!

"Daoist Qun Xing gather at Tian Shi Yuan!"

Li Yuan muttered a phrase and reached out to take the silk scroll transformed from the divine will of the young female dragon!

"This silk scroll was produced by the Ten Thousand Knowledge Tower of Tian Shi Yuan; it records the origins of Tian Shi Yuan, the various powers, and certain taboos!"

The young female dragon had clearly prepared this long ago, only bringing it out just now!

"Thank you!"

Li Yuan cared little; her little scheme—had it been him, he too would not bare his heart to just anyone!

Immediately, he closed the doors and windows tightly, sat cross-legged, and began to read this silk scroll!

Though this silk scroll appeared to be merely a few thin pages, it actually contained a massive amount of information; the moment Li Yuan touched it, he felt its heavy weight!

"Tian Shi Yuan belongs to the San Yuan Fa Jie realm; within it lie five Great Cavern Heavens: Boatman Sea, Hercules Gate, Demon Scale Academy, Profound Toad Academy, and Poison Dragon Academy!"

"Legend has it that Tian Shi Yuan was opened by the Origin Divine Dynasty as a single Yuan over seventy-two Yuan Hui ago, spanning one hundred twenty-nine thousand six hundred years!"

"Tian Shi Yuan is a place where Daoist Qun Xing gather; it possesses various cavern heavens and blessed lands, various life stars, and various races cohabiting Tian Shi Yuan. It is the most prosperous place in the San Yuan Fa Jie realm, possessing all kinds of markets and bazaars, serving as the center of material exchange for all realms, extremely prosperous!"

Li Yuan's heart trembled!

His first impression of Tian Shi Yuan was simply: big, huge.

This place where Daoist Qun Xing gather has a territory too vast to estimate; the gathered Daoist Qun Xing alone number in the tens of thousands, with races standing like forests and experts gathering like clouds!

The five great sects, aside from their own cavern heavens, each control at least dozens of life stars, truly massive entities!

And Tian Shi Yuan is merely one of the San Yuan Fa Jie realms!

The Origin Divine Dynasty, the San Yuan Fa Jie realms!

Li Yuan pressed his brow, his heart stirring greatly; compared to the Great Fortune Dynasty, Tian Shi Yuan was like the Heavenly Realm of legends, grand and prosperous!

Races standing like forests, experts gathering like clouds, and moreover, there exist true deities, as well as terrifying beings with long lifespans who have survived for over ten thousand years!

"San Yuan, San Yuan!!"

Hearing Li Yuan mutter, his expression dazed, the young female dragon knew he was frightened; in fact, she had been frightened back then too!

The opening of the silk scroll records the origins of Tian Shi Yuan and some legends!

Afterwards, it details the powers of Tian Shi Yuan!

Aside from the five Great Cavern Heavens, Tian Shi Yuan hosts dozens of top sects that worship outer gods; those that do not worship gods number a thousand or ten thousand times more!

"The five Great Cavern Heavens of Tian Shi Yuan are not unchanging; many ancient sects in this booklet once held the reins of Tian Shi Yuan!"

After the cooperation was reached, the young female dragon's attitude became much more friendly; coiling around Li Yuan's arm, she explained:

"For example,

my Mirage Dragon City, it is said that over ten Yuan Hui ago, it almost became one of the five Great Cavern Heavens."

Over ten Yuan Hui!

Li Yuan calculated with his fingers and felt a shock as well!

The young female dragon's words were likely somewhat exaggerated, but a power that has existed for a million years can certainly be called ancient!

"Sigh, the Laozu Sect was not ambitious; if we had ascended to the ranks of the five Great Cavern Heavens back then and obtained the Dao Rhyme of the Measuring Balance, my Mirage Dragon City would not have fallen to this state today!"

The young female dragon chattered on endlessly!

Li Yuan listened but did not respond; flipping through the silk scroll, he memorized every word and sentence in his heart; the more he read, the more shocked he became!

He felt his cognition had been struck!

The silk scroll recorded a mighty city of Tian Shi Yuan: Starfall City!

This giant city was cast from star debris; it is a city, and also a supreme treasure!

"Starfall City belongs to the Hercules Gate; it is said that long ago, a great expert from their sect acted to move the Daoist Qun Xing and cast this city; it is said to possess various unimaginable wonders!"

The young female dragon felt somewhat envious; she had never been to Starfall City!

"This, Starfall City, what rank is it, and how does it compare to those treasures that contain the Dao?"

Li Yuan asked; he was very interested in these matters!

"Uh, it should, it should differ greatly."

The young female dragon stuttered a bit; she had never seen Starfall City: "Look, this book should have, have a record, right?"

"Let me see!"

Li Yuan flipped two more pages, and his eyes lit up!

"Treasures cast by drawing upon divine patterns are called Fa Bao; those with innate spiritual nature are called Ling Bao; those where spirit gives birth to divinity can be called Shen Bao; only those where divinity contains the Dao are Dao Bao."

Fa Bao, Ling Bao, Shen Bao, Dao Bao; seeing this, Li Yuan's interest grew greatly; although these were merely a few short sentences, he could still glimpse much from them!

"Fa Bao, what rank is it?"

Li Yuan's mind turned to the thought and naturally asked; of course, he was asking what Fa Bao is!

"Fa Bao, Fa Bao is, is..."

The young female dragon froze while speaking; this question, in Tian Shi Yuan, was not quite known to everyone, but close enough, so much so that she momentarily did not know how to answer!

It was Li Yuan who finally realized, pointing at the Mirage Dragon Belt:

"Is this a Yan Suan Fa Bao?"

"It, it counts, I suppose?"

The young female dragon was not very certain!

If one says it doesn't count, this whip cast from her dragon body does possess some power; if one says it does count, it is indeed somewhat crude!

"What about this armor?"

Li Yuan took out the Crimson Blood Pattern Dragon Armor!

"It, it counts, I suppose?"

The young female dragon became even less certain; by rights, weapons refined into the body should count, but it just felt very awkward!

"What about this hammer?"

Li Li Yuanzhong reached out a hand, and the ninth-tier Yu Xuanjing Hammer fell into his grasp!

Up to now, the divine weapons he had nurtured to the first realm of the Human Weapon Platform were only the Dragon Mirage Belt, the Crimson Blood Dragon Armor, and this Yu Xuanjing Battle Hammer!

"This hammer is—"

At this, the little mother dragon did not hesitate; the hammer contained complete divine patterns, it had to be at least De Shi Shang Pin… even a supreme-grade treasure!

"Like this?"

Li Li Yuanzhong turned it over in his mind, he had a rough idea now!

The Yu Xuanjing Battle Hammer, compared to the Dragon Mirage Belt, the difference lay in the divine patterns contained within; by this reckoning, a divine weapon should be equivalent to a treasure!

Then the Daoist Tianyun Daoist Tianyun Xuanbing, would that be a spiritual treasure?

Li Li Yuanzhong turned the thought over in his mind, then felt something was not quite right; the Eight Directions Tower also belonged to the category of Daoist Tianyun Xuanbing, yet it was not a Daoist Tianyun Daoist Tianyun Xuanbing—what was the difference between them?

Daoist Tianyun?

Musing to himself, Li Li Yuanzhong continued to flip through; what followed was a record of the distribution of the various factions, their respective rules, and the times and regulations for recruiting disciples, and the like!

In addition, there were some strange places in Tian Shi Yuan, such as the 'Star Bridge' and 'Dragon City'!

Regarding these, Li Li Yuanzhong noted them all down one by one!

"Huu—"

When Li Li Yuanzhong put away this silk-bound book, the sky was already bright!

"Shen Zu keeps one from feeling sleepy!"

Having not slept all night, Li Li Yuanzhong's spirit was very good, not the slightest bit drowsy; he felt that once his spirit was nourished a bit more, perhaps he would no longer need to sleep!

Sitting in meditation and visualization could likewise soothe the spirit!

"The other eight acupoints of the Mud Ball Nine Palaces should be about to open—"

"!"

Li Li Yuanzhong pressed his brow; there was a faint swelling sensation; the several acupoints in the Mud Ball nourished the spirit very well!

He rose and practiced several sets of stake-posting stances; before he had even finished gathering his stance, Wang Wen Yuan's voice came from outside the door!

Li Li Yuanzhong opened his eyes, and a light flashed in his gaze!

【Yang Dragon Conceals Yin Bow (Ninth-Tier)】

【Forged from a thousand kinds of refined iron as its frame, with the sinews of eleven star-grade azure dragons as its strings… tempered by divine fire and quenched with dragon blood into a divine bow!】

【Wielding Requirements: Ren Yi Yang Jian Fa at Great Perfection, Spirit Dragon Body,

Ten-Thousand Jun of Strength】

【Wielding Effects: Tenth-Tier (Purple): Shadow-Cling, Ninth-Tier (Red): Arrow Released in Dragon Form】

A quasi-tenth-tier divine bow; Li Li Yuanzhong's heart stirred with a slight joy, and he rose to greet him: "This building master is quite the gentleman!"

It had been so long since he came to Star-Plucking Tower, yet Li Li Yuanzhong had never caught sight of that Star-Plucking Tower master; but of course he knew that master had come, and had no intention of going back on his word.

Previously, the visit had brought the Long Long Modadan; this time, clearly, it was a divine weapon!

"Quite the gentleman."

Seeing the bow taller than a man in Wang Wen Yuan's hand, Li Li Yuanzhong's mood instantly brightened; a divine bow of this grade, even the Dragon Tiger Temple did not possess!

"'This bow, the master ordered me to deliver.'"

Outside the door, Wang Wen Yuan held the great bow, "I don't know what the master was thinking—a divine weapon chooses its master; if he wanted to bestow you a divine weapon, why not let you go choose it yourself?"

This bow, you—!

Buzz— before Wang Wen Yuan's words had even landed, his expression had already changed!

That long bow, utterly unremarkable in his hand, the instant it saw Li Li Yuanzhong, burst forth with dazzling light, crimson and purple interweaving, accompanied by a high, clear dragon's cry!

"It—it's already acknowledged its master?"

Wang Wen Yuan's eyes went wide!

"Many thanks, Master!"

Li Li Yuanzhong reached out to take the divine bow, quite reluctant to part with it; yet in his heart he also sensed something odd!

How did that tower master know for certain he would gain this divine bow's approval?

Divine weapons favor martial artists with outstanding talent, but high talent did not mean any divine weapon would acknowledge one as its master…

"You—!"

Wang Wen Yuan's expression was rather complex; seeing Li Li Yuanzhong in such high spirits, he did not linger long, exchanged a few words, then turned and left!

"Star-grade azure dragon sinew!"

He watched Wang Wen Yuan depart!

In the small courtyard, Li Li Yuanzhong raised his hand and drew the bow to the full; he felt the bow's strength was astonishingly great—even with his physique as it was today, he found it somewhat taxing!

Of course, he had not activated the enhancement of the Soldier Controlling Seal!

"A supreme-grade piece."

Li Li Yuanzhong could hardly put it down!

He had long ago thought about getting a strong bow, but had never found one… he had even prepared to set aside time to forge one himself, but had not gotten around to it!

Now, by a happy accident, it had come to him!

"That Tower Master Qin understands me well!"

With the long bow in hand, Li Li Yuanzhong's good feeling toward that Star-Plucking Tower master climbed

increased by a large margin; Star-Plucking Tower was poor, yes, but it was still not bad—at the very least, a dignified great grandmaster had not thought to welch on his debt!

"This bow has come at just the right time!"

Closing the courtyard gate, Li Li Yuanzhong returned to his room and took out all the blood he had set aside during this period!

The nurturing of a divine weapon required the weapon master's blood and true qi; previously, refining the Dragon Mirage Belt had taken him a very long time; now, with this much blood, the progress would naturally speed up considerably!

"Hmm... once this bow's blood sacrifice is complete, exploring the Path of the Black Whale will be much safer!"

Placing the Chang Bow into the blood jar, listening to the hissing sound of boiling blood, Li Yuan felt quite satisfied and prepared to borrow a superior Yang Jian Fa from the Library Tower!

The few Yang Jian Fa he had learned before were sufficient, but they did not quite match

this divine bow!

Daoist Li's execution was excellent; on the second day, he borrowed a book on the Star-Chasing Yang Jian Fa from the Library Tower. For the following days, he did not enter You Jing again!

Still standing in place, exchanging blood, tempering the body and true qi, and blood-sacrificing the divine weapon; compared to usual, he had only added one Yang Jian Fa!

Hush! Incense smoke curled within the Ba Fang Tower!

Qin Yun sat cross-legged inside, a spear resting across his knees, breathing slowly. As his body moved rhythmically, a faint humming sound occasionally came from within the incense smoke!

It was as if a fierce fire was burning something, or like a giant beast letting out a low roar!

"Hmm?"

At a certain instant, Qin Yun seemed to sense something, opened his eyes, and with a mere thought, vanished from his spot!

Hush!

In the next moment, he had already exited the Ba Fang Mi Jing!

Outside the Mi Jing lay a quiet valley. Several houses and caves were faintly visible within the valley. Although the New Year had just passed, a touch of greenery had already appeared in the valley!

Under an old tree not far away, Long Yingchan turned around, clasped his hands in greeting, and said: "Senior, are you well?"

"Quite well!"

Qin Yun squinted slightly!

"This junior wishes to travel to Lie Wang Shen, passing through the Ding Long Mountain Range."

Halfway through his words, seeing Qin Yun smile without speaking, Long Yingchan cleared his throat lightly and shifted the topic:

"I knew I could not hide it from Senior,

this junior has come to invite Senior to go to Lie Wang Shen together!"

"I will not go!"

Qin Yun refused very bluntly!

Does Senior know that the Ba Fang Temple experienced a disturbance several days ago?

"I know!"

"Then you?"

"I will not go!"

After a brief exchange of a few words, Long Yingchan could only shake his head and give up. Fortunately, he had expected this, so he felt no disappointment!

"The imperial court's great sacrifice this time will not succeed!"

Qin Yun did not say much more: "This old man still has urgent matters; I will not go to Lie Wang Shen. However, since it concerns the imperial court, the Zhai Xing Lou will naturally not stand aside!"

"It will not succeed?"

Seeing him speak with such certainty, Long Yingchan's heart stirred slightly, but he did not ask further. He only inquired about Qin Shixian. After receiving the answer, his heart relaxed!

He had never thought of asking this old fellow to come out of seclusion; the aura of severe injury was something he could smell from several li away!

The two exchanged a few more words, mainly about Li Yuan. After receiving the reply, Long Yingchan did not say much more, simply clasped his hands in farewell, and departed!

"This little Monk!"

Watching Long Yingchan depart, Qin Yun felt speechless. He seemed to know his purpose but pretended not to see it, then turned and returned to the Ba Fang Tower!

Guests from beyond the heavens are hard to come by... especially since his injuries are extremely severe, one must prepare well!

Zing!

A sword cry exploded within a desolate mountain!

Nie Xianshan, who was in meditation, opened his eyes, and Long Yingchan arrived shortly after!

"Where is Li Yuan?"

"I have not seen him!"

"

Long Yingchan looked back towards the distance, where the deep valley was still faintly visible: "There will surely be turmoil on the journey to Lie Wang Shen... bringing this young fellow along makes my heart uneasy!"

"What is there to be uneasy about?"

Standing with a sword on his back, Nie Xianshan looked quite spirited: "That Imperial Capital is not necessarily a dragon pool and tiger cave. Even if it is, with the two of us joining forces, we can surely protect him!"

Carrying his sword on his back, Nie Xianshan stood with a rather spirited air: "That imperial capital isn't necessarily some dragon's pool or tiger's den, and even if it were, you and I joining forces would be more than enough to protect him!"

Long Yingchan only shook his head!

"Do as you please!"

Nie Xianshan could not persuade him but felt somewhat regretful: "I had originally planned to take this young fellow to Chang Chang to see the sights, but you are too cautious..."

Nie Xianshan couldn't out-argue him, yet still felt a bit of regret: "I had originally planned to bring this kid along to broaden his horizons — you're being far too cautious…"

Long Yingchan's expression did not change, nor did he wish to discuss this further. Instead, he looked towards the other side of the Ding Long Mountain Range: "Let's go. At Younger Brother's speed, he might be a step ahead of us; we must follow him!"

Long Long Yingchan's expression didn't change, and he had no desire to discuss the matter further with him. Instead, he turned his gaze toward the other side of the Dinglong Mountain Range: "Let's go. At Senior Brother's speed, he might actually arrive a step ahead of us — we need to catch up."

Darkness surged, and arrows fell like thunder!

Inside the main hall of the Shan Xuan Wei Gate, Li Yuan drew his bow and nocked an arrow. Arrows were shot out through the You Jing door behind the stone statues as if they cost nothing!

In the grand hall of the Yu Xuanjing Gate, Li Yuan nocked an arrow to his bow, and arrows flew out in rapid succession through the You Jing gate behind the stone statue, as if they cost nothing!

From behind the You Jing door, a series of hisses and roars came!

"So resilient?"

Li Yuan surged his blood qi and true qi; a thunder dragon seemed to coil upon the arrow. After firing one shot, he immediately sheathed the bow, switched to a hammer, and rushed forward to kill!

Li Yuan surged his blood, qi, and true qi; a thunder dragon seemed to coil atop the arrow. Once the shot was loosed, he immediately sheathed the bow, switched to the hammer, and rushed forward to slaughter.

"Roar."

In the darkness, Li Yuan only felt his wrist sink, and his heart relaxed. The hammer he had been gathering strength for so long finally worked. Under the gaze of the stone statue behind him, a vicious beast was hammered to death on the ground!

That strange beast resembled a lion-tiger, but had no fur. Its dark red skin membrane was covered with grotesque patterns. Now its skull had been smashed, blood flowing freely!

This was the twenty-third strange beast he had slain!

Hum!

Li Yuan reached out and grabbed a blurry ball of light from within the strange beast: "Decent luck this time, but still no Dark Whale Battle Hammer!"

Without that ball of spiritual light, the strange beast's body before him trembled once, then was swallowed by the darkness, quickly vanishing from his senses!

"Strange beasts won't do, then it has to be a strange weapon!"

Pocketing that ball of spiritual light, Li Yuan took up his hammer and headed for the second stop on the Dark Whale Path!

The Blood Sacrifice Sun Long Yin-Hiding Bow was fast; it took less than a month in total, thanks to Li Yuan having shed enough blood. After that, he began hunting strange beasts!

Just as that little she-dragon had said, the beast swarms transformed from the He Yi Jing spirit phase were not all He Yi. Those strange beasts and strange weapons transformed from Ying Ying Xuanpeng's spirit phase were not all Supreme Grandmasters either, but none were below Grandmaster!

The weakest were all Earth Fiend grade, with quite a few Heavenly Gang among them!

Therefore, even carrying a pile of divine weapons, Li Yuan couldn't go on a killing spree. Instead, he had to painstakingly lure them away one by one and hunt them separately!

"It's only because strange beasts have no intelligence that things have gone this smoothly!"

Li Yuan walked slowly. After passing the broken temple where Zhou Ying was, he slowed his pace and took out a large amount of incense to burn, illuminating the surroundings!

Soon, he had arrived at the outer perimeter of that ancient pagoda!

Strange beasts gathered in groups around the ancient pagoda. Borrowing the light from the burning incense, Li Yuan felt wary and carefully picked his targets!

Soon, among a group of dark shadows, he had picked out one shaped like

a Dark Whale heavy hammer!

"Hoo."

Li Yuan drew up his true qi, nocked an arrow on the bow, and then turned and ran!

"Roar."