Chapter 19

Elder Han truly is a treasure-delivering child servant, making Jiang Xuan's wealth explode instantly.

The three returned to Lingxu Dongtian and continued striving in cultivation.

With Jiang Xuan's highest cultivation level, the Divine Bridge Realm, he has already reached the cultivation level of most Elders in Lingxu Dongtian.

You must know that in a sect of Lingxu Dongtian's tier, reaching the Divine Bridge Realm usually happens in one's fifties — that is the normal phenomenon — yet Jiang Xuan took less than three months; from this one can see how terrifying Jiang Xuan's cultivation talent is.

Meanwhile Ye Fan and Pang Bo have only just entered the Bitter Sea Realm, especially Ye Fan, whose Bitter Sea is only the size of a sesame seed, but even so it still far surpasses others.

Their other classmates are still striving to comprehend the Dao Classic.

In the thatched cottage, Jiang Xuan waved his hand, and dozens of magic treasures and weapons from Elder Han and the others floated before him.

Fifty-two pieces in total.

Fifty-two magic treasures refined by cultivators of the Life Spring Realm and above shrank slowly like a long river of weapons and flowed into Jiang Xuan's mouth.

A terrifying scene emerged in Jiang Xuan's abdomen: fifty-two magic treasures melted slowly, accompanied by thunder and lightning galloping and roaring, sharp Geng Metal Qi like ten thousand swords firing at once, five-colored poisonous vapors drifting... those were the attribute powers emitted when these magic treasures were refined.

Time passed slowly; a day and a night passed, the various scenes gradually weakened, and finally disappeared completely.

Jiang Xuan focused on three things at once: on one hand controlling the life essence qi produced by refining magic treasures to continue opening the Bitter Sea, on the other hand controlling the magic treasures' essence materials to integrate into the Eight Trigrams Furnace.

Most important was comprehending the Eight Trigrams Furnace Dao Patterns in the Treasure Mirror, imprinting them into the Eight Trigrams Furnace within his body — this is what he must do every day in cultivation — only regrettably these Eight Trigrams Furnace Dao Patterns are too profoundly abstruse; Jiang Xuan's comprehension has not reached even one ten-thousandth.

It requires incomparably long years to accomplish this.

The fifty-two magic treasures pushed Jiang Xuan's cultivation to the peak of this realm.

The next realm is the final minor realm of the Bitter Sea Realm, the Other Shore Realm.

From the Divine Bridge Realm to the Other Shore Realm, this is an extremely difficult step.

Below the Divine Bridge Realm, as long as resources are sufficient, regardless of talent good or bad, one can ultimately reach it.

But the Other Shore Paper Realm — breaking through involves experiencing the Calamity of Losing One's Way; this pass is a heart-questioning checkpoint.

Some people cannot penetrate illusion their entire lives, trapped on this side of the Divine Bridge, unable to cross the Bitter Sea — this is the Calamity of Losing One's Way.

When the Calamity of Losing One's Way arrives, the five senses are stripped away, spiritual perception entirely lost, turning one into an ignorant, unfeeling cripple — this is the most terrifying situation; and according to some cultivation classics, the greater a Heaven's Pride's potential, the more difficult the Calamity of Losing One's Way they encounter.

Jiang Xuan cultivated for a few more days with no major progress; subsequent cultivation requires insight more than anything.

The Hongmeng Treasure Mirror's refresh time did arrive; Jiang Xuan obtained a secret manual: Zhoulu Liu Xu Gong.

This day, Jiang Xuan finished cultivation, did not immediately flip through the secret manual, but went to see the Sect Master to ask for experience regarding breaking through to the Other Shore.

"What, you've already cultivated to the Divine Bridge Realm?"

Sect Master Li's expression revealed disbelief; he thought he had misheard.

"Yes, Sect Master; I broke through to Divine Bridge three days ago."

Jiang Xuan spoke, revealing his whole-body aura; strands of divine light pierced out from his body.

"Startling talent and peerless brilliance — truly startling talent and peerless brilliance; since the founding of Lingxu Dongtian, you, Jiang Xuan, are the most talented, with the fastest cultivation speed."

Sect Master Li did not stint on words of praise; the most rare and precious thing is that Jiang Xuan not only has the number one cultivation speed in Lingxu Dongtian, but his character is also neither arrogant nor impatient — this is very rare and precious.

"Regarding cultivation of the Other Shore, I can give you little guidance; when breaking through the Other Shore, what you face is the Calamity of Losing One's Way."

"At that time, pitch-black darkness before your eyes; you seem to be in a sealed world, unable to perceive any situation, not even knowing whether you are still alive. Others cannot help much, but you are a person of great perseverance and great wisdom; I believe you crossing the Other Shore is only a matter of time."

Sect Master Li gave Jiang Xuan guidance on experience breaking through the Other Shore Realm and encouraged Jiang Xuan.

"I understand; many thanks, Sect Master."

Jiang Xuan appeared deep in thought.

"You are my Lingxu Dongtian's peerless genius; I intend to recommend you to Yaoguang Holy Land for better cultivation once your cultivation breaks through to the Other Shore Realm."

"Yaoguang Holy Land is one of the few colossi in Donghuang; its profound methods and resources are both top-tier, but internal struggle is inevitably fierce; same-sect mutual slaughter is commonplace. To go further, one must harden one's heart, survive by any means, and not go soft when it's time to strike the killing blow — that is the way of survival in a Holy Land."

Sect Master Li earnestly instructed Jiang Xuan.

"Disciple will remember."

Jiang Xuan replied seriously.

However, in his heart he did not intend to join Yaoguang Holy Land; at this time Yaoguang Holy Land is truly a dragon's pool and tiger's den.

The Holy Land's lineage has been mostly infiltrated by the Renren Yimai; joining would not mean much.

Before the general trend takes shape, he does not want to be inexplicably dragged into it.

Thinking it over, joining Taixuan Gate is still more suitable.

There are not many Holy Lands in Donghuang; besides Yaoguang, there are also Zifu Holy Land, Dayan Holy Land, Wanchu Holy Land, and Yaochi Holy Land.

Yaochi Holy Land would be a good destination, but unfortunately they only accept female disciples.

The other several Holy Lands have not produced a Great Emperor, so naturally they have no Emperor Scripture to transmit; they are still inferior to Taixuan Gate.

Leaving the Sect Master Hall, Jiang Xuan thought a great deal about the road ahead.

He took out that Zhoulu Liu Xu Gong; he knew where this secret manual originated, and was quite expectant.

Zhoulu Liu Xu Gong differs from ordinary martial arts; it has eight kinds of Mysterious Qi. These eight kinds of Mysterious Qi are each different, but their origins are similar, and they secretly accord with the Heavenly Dao; once mastered, one can command all the great powers between heaven and earth — heaven, earth, mountain, marsh, wind, thunder, water, fire — none fail to become a sharp weapon.

"Heaven and earth set position; mountain and marsh communicate qi; wind and thunder press close; water and fire do not shoot at each other; the Eight Trigrams interlock."

Opening the secret manual, the opening chapter is the general outline and essential meaning of Zhoulu Liu Xu Gong.

It has a marvelous coincidence with the Eight Trigrams Furnace; his use of the Eight Trigrams Furnace is still quite superficial — besides the refining function in cultivation, when facing enemies he often just summons flames to attack the enemy.

The means are far from enough.

The Eight Trigrams contain the principle of the universe, hide the profound mechanisms of all things — they are absolutely not merely the superficial use of flames.

The Eight Trigrams Furnace is profoundly mysterious, a treasure trove containing a gold mine; this Zhoulu Liu Xu Gong is a key to unlock the treasure trove.

"Hard and soft rub against each other; the Eight Trigrams sway; drummed by thunder, moistened by wind and rain."

Jiang Xuan circulated divine power according to the method recorded in Zhoulu Liu Xu Gong; instantly a gale arose in the room, accompanied by thunder.

Thunder and wind press against each other; hard and soft both provided; they can create yin and yang, generate all things.

He circulated the profound art again; instantly the wind and thunder sounds disappeared completely; Jiang Xuan's body was draped in a layer of terrifying electric light; the electric light circulated, like a deity.

A streak of lightning shot out, and a massive boulder over ten meters tall outside the room turned to dust.

Zhouliu Thunder Strength is upright and just; Zhouliu Wind Strength is smooth and unrestrained. They appear to counter each other, but in truth they give birth to each other. This method is called Wind and Thunder Reincarnation — as the name implies, it is the convergence of the True Qi of both wind and thunder.

All manner of means were demonstrated from Jiang Xuan's hands: the power of water and fire transforming into yin and yang, the power of thick earth generating endlessly, Heavenly Secret changes reversing...

"The person who created this martial art is truly of stunning talent and peerless brilliance."

After cultivating this martial art, Jiang Xuan only then knew how stunningly brilliant the martial art's creator was.

The Zhoulu Liu Xu Gong takes its law from the Heavenly Dao, diminishing what has surplus and supplementing what is lacking; it is precisely the method for commanding the "Zhouliu Eight Strengths."

Zhouliu Heaven Strength secretly contains Heavenly Secret and heavenly transformation, possessing the effect of seeking out an enemy's flaws while simultaneously concealing one's own flaws.

Zhouliu Earth Strength secretly contains the great earth bearing all things, the meaning of endless generation. It has the Art of Transformation and Birth, the Art of Kun Yuan, and so on; it emphasizes Vitality, emphasizes Creation, and has the effect of healing and recuperating injuries;

Zhouliu Wind Strength secretly contains speed changes; whether it is running speed or the speed of acting, both are fast beyond fast.

Zhouliu Thunder Strength secretly contains violent destruction; its attack power is the most powerful, its destructive power the strongest;

Zhouliu Fire Strength is the ultimate of fire-type True Qi, bringing Fire Strength to the ultimate;

Zhouliu Water Strength is the ultimate of water-type True Qi, bringing Water Strength to the ultimate;

Zhouliu Mountain Strength makes the body as solid as diamond, producing the effect of a Vajra Indestructible Body;

Zhouliu Marsh Strength is the ultimate of body technique, reducing damage to the lowest.

The eight strands of True Qi do not exist independently, but rather give birth to and counter each other, can command all things, and are invincible in all directions.

Although Jiang Xuan, by combining the Zhoulu Liu Xu Gong with the Eight Trigrams Furnace, reached a degree of profundity surpassing this martial art's creator by who knows how many times, he was still shocked.

People of the wuxia world are limited by lifespan and horizon; to be able to create such a method is truly excessively genius.

Jiang Xuan's mind and spirit sank into this martial art, mutually verifying with the Eight Trigrams Furnace Mark.

(Chapter End)