Chapter 577: Three Years

Whooosh~

The sea of clouds churned, four blazing suns hung high, spilling ten thousand acres of golden light.

On the Grand Canal, merchant ships rode the wind downstream one after another, gathering at the various docks outside Mount Hengshan city.

"So that is Mount Hengshan city?"

On a large ship flying the 'Divine Armament' banner, Yue Yue Yunjin shaded his eyes with one hand, gazing into the distance at that imposing city built against mountain and water.

Dock after dock vied for favor, a thousand merchant ships gathered, and on land the official roads were choked with traffic — a bustle beyond description.

"Worthy of our Hengshandao Sect — truly flourishing in fortune!"

On the deck, Liang Liang Ashui was also gazing afar; the grandeur of this city far surpassed any he had seen before:

"If the Dragon Tiger Temple is already like this, what must the other Dao Sects' domains look like?"

"Should be much the same, though these days the Dragon Tiger Temple is already the foremost Dao Sect under heaven."

Ba Ba Wanli sat cross-legged on the deck, yet stood taller than the two of them standing; apart from at home, he refused to maintain his Gu Fa, for it made him feel stifled.

Since cultivating the 'Ten Thousand Edge Spirit Dragon Body' gifted him by Li Yuan, though he had yet to refine his viscera, his frame had swollen again — a full zhang of burly stature — and among the Divine Armament Valley disciples, he stood out like a crane among chickens.

"Dao Sect!"

The many Divine Armament Valley disciples were quite excited; Lord Master Gongyang Yu, stepping out from the cabin, walked with his hands clasped behind his back, gazing at the Dragon Tiger mountain range while listening to Feng Feng Zhongyi's report.

It had been nearly five years since meeting Li Yuan at the Various Dao Martial Exhibition.

"…One thousand sharp-edge grade hammer-type weapons, three thousand blades and swords of various kinds, plus eight hundred inner armors… and some leather boots and bone ornaments? These were collected along the way from various sects and cities…"

"Counting our valley's stockpiles over the years, plus what we've forged in these five years, all weapons combined already exceed one hundred and twenty thousand…"

Feng Feng Zhongyi's expression grew solemn as he reported, even lowering his voice in transmission: "Valley Master, the Dragon Tiger Temple restarting the Various Dao Martial Exhibition — could there be another purpose?"

"Don't overthink it."

Lord Master Gongyang Yu glanced at him.

In fact, it wasn't only Feng Feng Zhongyi who thought so — he himself had his doubts.

Although this enormous order had been given to him by Li Yuan, he didn't think Li Yuan himself would need so many weapons — it must have come at the Dragon Tiger Temple's instruction.

'Could the Dragon Tiger Temple be plotting rebellion?'

He waved Feng Feng Zhongyi off to direct the ships into the docks; Feng Feng Zhongyi, gazing at the Dragon Tiger mountain range, felt a few qualms — it had only been stable for a few years now.

Was he going to have to flee with his entire sect again?

With a head full of thoughts, the Divine Armament Valley party reached the docks outside the city; before they had even disembarked, someone came to greet them — Inner Elder Yan Yan Sanxing.

"Valley Master Master Gongyang, you've had a long journey."

Yan Yan Sanxing was all smiles, exceedingly polite; Lord Master Gongyang Yu returned the courtesy with a smile, and Dragon Tiger Temple disciples went forward to receive the weapons on the ships.

After a few pleasantries, the two linked arms and entered the city, like old friends reunited after many years.

The Divine Armament Valley disciples were quite surprised — when had their Valley Master ever had such a relationship with this Dragon Tiger Temple elder?

Back in Dechang Prefecture, why hadn't they seen…

Mount Hengshan city was very lively; the Various Dao Martial Exhibition, previously postponed, had been restarted, and sects from every Dao prefecture had been arriving over the past three years — the streets now swarmed with martial-world folk carrying blades and swords.

Liang Liang Ashui looked this way and that, searching for ways to make money, and before long was drawn in by several big monks running a stall by the street.

"Come, come, come — place your bets and walk away!"

"I'll wager ten taels — big!"

"Nine bigs in a row, and this one can still be big? I'll take small…"

Those big monks were unkempt, sleeves rolled up, shouting loudly; the dice cup rattled 'hua hua' as they kept urging bets.

Running a gambling stall right on the main street?

Yue Yue Yunjin glanced over, and his heart gave a sudden start: "Experts!"

Across the long street, the voices of those big monks rang loud and clear — each one powerfully built, vigorous in qi and blood, clearly possessing Wu Gong, and very high at that.

"These monks…"

Yan Yan Sanxing frowned slightly; just as he was about to explain, a big monk in a yellow kasaya strode up quickly, cupping his fist in greeting:

"Elder Yan, greetings — who might these few be?"

"Junior Brother Liaokong."

Yan Yan Sanxing did not dare slight him, and hurriedly returned the courtesy.

This big monk had been in closed-door cultivation for five years and had already achieved the Dao, becoming a Grandmaster — his status far beyond what Yan Yan Sanxing could compare to.

He introduced everyone: "This is Master Liaokong, the foremost true-lineage disciple of the present Xinyi Sect; this is the Divine Armament Valley's Valley Master Master Gongyang…"

"Valley Master Master Gongyang, greetings."

Master Liaokong cupped his fist in greeting, his manner very cordial.

"Master Liaokong."

Lord Master Gongyang Yu returned the courtesy, feeling a touch of strangeness within — were those fellows running the stall really Xinyi Sect monks?

That was a bit…

"Heh heh, a little gambling for fun, a little gambling for fun."

Master Liaokong read his thoughts, laughed, and changed the subject: "You're all going to see Junior Brother Li, I presume? Perfect — this poor monk is heading to seek him out to discuss martial arts. Why not go together?"

"That works…"

Lord Master Gongyang Yu couldn't refuse, and could only agree.

"Several years have passed in a blink — Junior Brother Li's Wu Gong must have advanced greatly again?"

Passing through the Dragon Tiger Temple's mountain-gate archway, Master Liaokong spotted Pei Pei Xingkong — like himself, Pei had returned to closed-door cultivation after the Various Dao Martial Exhibition was postponed, and had now also entered the Grandmaster realm.

"Liaokong."

Pei Pei Xingkong also noticed Liaokong, but only glanced once before looking away, briefing the junior brothers behind him on the matters to note for the martial exhibition.

The various Dao martial trials are the disciples' pre-Entry-to-Dao duels and contests; he had only come here to lead the team, and to wait in passing for the final decision after the various Dao Masters had deliberated.

……

"Huu!"

"Haa!"

Three hundred li outside Mingquan City, within the Shen Zang Coffin Grotto-Heaven, on a high mountain wreathed in clouds and mist, Li Yuan sat cross-legged at the edge of a cliff, overlooking the sea of clouds, inhaling and exhaling.

His breathing was long and unhurried; with every exhalation and inhalation, it was as if a gale rose with it, making the grass and trees at the cliff's edge rustle loudly.

Hmm~

Li Yuan closed his eyes and focused his spirit; within his mind-sea, the sounds of the great yellow bell and the great suspended lute rang out in succession.

Beneath his brow, 'nine stars' circled one another, reflecting each other's light; this was the Mud-Pill Nine Palaces. As the Nine Palaces revolved, they emitted dazzling radiance.

From top to bottom, star after star echoed one another from afar. Over three years, following Pang Pang Wenlong's guidance, he had already lit up every acupoint on his body.

Counting the Mud-Pill Nine Palaces, it came to three hundred and sixty-five acupoints in total.

Haa!

The various acupoints echoed one another; with every tremor, the blood and marrow throughout Li Yuan's body trembled along with them in a regular rhythm, as if constantly undergoing metamorphosis.

"The Bai Shen Fa at this stage can be considered complete…"

Li Yuan murmured to himself.

【75】 Li Yuan murmured to himself.

After the sixth layer of the Bai Shen Fa, it involves the cultivation of the divine soul. After entering the Dao, he naturally made progress; not only the Bai Shen Fa, but also the Dragon Demon Heart Scripture, Wind Tiger Cloud Dragon, Dragon Elephant Vajra, and other Deng Shen Gong were all the same.

Of course, once complete, it involves the unity of the three primaries; even with his Zhao Zhao Tianxing-grade talent, he could not push it to great completion.

Haa!

Li Yuan's mind stirred; the radiance of those various acupoints grew all the more dazzling, and consciously gathered together, rushing toward the Mud-Pill Nine Palaces.

Hmm~

Vast, tide-like radiance poured into the Mud-Pill; Li Yuan's whole body blazed with light, and the exhaustion from several fierce battles was swept away in an instant.

Nourished by the surging qi, blood, and true qi, his Mud-Pill Palace trembled gently. The divine soul dwelling within it was, unexpectedly, like an infant within its mother's womb—calm and serene.

Splash splash~

Li Yuan could hear the roar of the river's waters.

Even with his eyes closed, he could see that dazzling blue-green; this was the true qi after merging with qi and blood. Thanks to the great completion of the Yang Jian Tian Yi,

every wisp of true qi was pure and restrained, containing explosive power.

Wooo~

Within the gently trembling Mud-Pill Palace, the original place of spiritual light had vanished; in its place was a stretch of Wang Yang water—this was the embryonic form of the divine realm Li Yuan had condensed.

Above the Wang Yang, there was a patch of bare, lusterless wild land; that was the soldier-nurturing ground he had condensed before entering the Dao.

After entering the Dao, under the nourishment of the surging true qi, this soldier-nurturing ground had grown more than tenfold compared to its original size, under Li Yuan's gaze.

Within it, sword and hammer danced together—one was sword-shaped, bearing a dragon and tiger; the other was hammer-shaped, bearing a Mysterious Whale.

These were the two great divine pattern combinations he currently mastered.

Over three years, Li Yuan had been constantly nurturing his spirit and physique. Regarding the cultivation of the divine realm, he was extremely cautious; compared to the physique, cultivating the divine realm had quite a bit of the irrevocable nature of a placed chess piece.

"My current Wu Gong takes the Dragon Demon Heart Scripture as the core, with the Bai Shen Fa, Wind Tiger Cloud Dragon, Dragon Elephant Vajra, and Nurturing-Life Dragon Tiger as auxiliaries, plus a variety of horizontal training…"

Li Yuan murmured to himself.

The sheer variety of the Xiu De Wu Gong he cultivated might, through all the ages, only be comparable to the Dragon Demon Daoist; the essence of hundreds and thousands of martial learnings flowed through his heart.

"The cultivation of the divine soul takes the Rending-Sea Mysterious Whale as the core, with the Soldier-Nurturing Scripture, the Pill-Nurturing Scripture, the Treasure-Refining Art, the 'Sword-Nurturing Scripture' obtained from the Chang Hong Yi Qi sword, and the 'Armor-Nurturing Scripture' of the Sea-Suppressing Mysterious Tortoise Shell as auxiliaries…"

Li Yuan gazed intently at that stretch of Wang Yang.

Bearing the Sovereign-Armor Register, he was destined to walk the broad and expansive path; this stretch of Wang Yang was the embryonic divine realm most suited to him.

Within the Wang Yang there was not a single thing, yet it possessed the foundation and possibility to nurture all things.

"The sea admits the hundreds of rivers, embracing and accumulating all. Even without going to Tian Shi Yuan, I may not necessarily be unable to nurture a Holy-Grade 'Long Kun Dharma Aspect'!"

The thought flashed through Master Li's mind, but it was only a fleeting one.

When there is no path, opening one is the greatest courage; when there is a path, refusing to walk it and stubbornly forging a new one is sheer folly. Knowing full well that Tian Shi Yuan held the way forward, of course he had to go and take a look.

Splash~

Waves rose on the Wang Yang, as if some great fish swam through the waters.

Haa!

After a long while, Li Yuan slowly opened his eyes; through the sea of clouds, he could see that traveling palace:

"Five Dragon Immortal!"

Three years in the present world, and within the Shen Zang Coffin it was thirty years!

Although one could not accumulate true qi or temper the physique within the grotto-heaven, thirty years' time was long enough—long enough for him to fully digest all the various Wu Gong he had learned and transform them into his own foundation.

It was also long enough for him to further explore this Shen Zang Mi Jing.

Including Mingquan City, beneath the Mingquan Mountain Range, the tens of thousands of cities—he had visited most of them, and had even walked through the many mountain ranges under the jurisdiction of the 'Yanxia Sect' more than once.

This Shen Zang Mi Jing was like a real past, yet the things he cared about most, he could not obtain…

"The martial secret transmissions within this Shen Zang Coffin are like the moon in a well, flowers in water—unclear to see and impossible to grasp… Or perhaps, only after defeating the Five Dragon Immortal will there be a chance to come into contact with them?"

Li Yuan felt a bit of a headache.

The difficulty of this Shen Zang Coffin's Mi Jing was maddening; the guards in that traveling palace were not only of the He Yi Jing, some were even of the Divine Palace realm!

He had tried more than ten times, yet had not even managed to see the Five Dragon Immortal's face.

"That Five Dragon Immortal is at least above the Divine Palace realm; even if I saw him, it would be useless… The Origin Divine Race's clansmen, at their birth, often drain the fate of an entire life star; their innate talent and foundation are far beyond what ordinary races can compare. To leap realms, and leap two or three at that…"

Li Yuan shook his head repeatedly in his heart.

With ten thousand chances in hand, he naturally would not begrudge spending one or two of them to try, but that held no meaning.

The master of the Thousand Eye Art, which defies three major realms, couldn't withstand even a single hammer strike from him; even with the Commanding Talisman in hand, it was absolutely impossible for him to defeat the Five Dragon Immortal at this moment.

"Who is this petty villain?!"

When the roar came from afar, Li Li Yuanzhong decisively withdrew from the Shen Zang Secret Realm, having no intention of engaging these guards in a fierce battle.

Similar slaughters had occurred countless times over the past three years; he was thoroughly weary of them.

Moreover, compared to exploring this Fang Secret Realm, he had more urgent matters to attend to at present.

Although he could not use the time difference between the Shen Zang Secret Realm and the mortal world to temper his physique and true qi, it had greatly advanced his martial arts progress.

It had been merely three years since he emerged from the Eight Directions Temple, yet he had already pushed the Form of the Body he embodied to nearly ten thousand forms!

"Hah!"

In the small courtyard behind the Dragon Gate's back mountain, Li Li Yuanzhong slowly opened his eyes, feeling the slight tremor of his physique, and his heart inevitably stirred with a measure of excitement.

"Ten Thousand Forms!"