"Rumble!" In the outer courtyard, Wang Ping stood with his hands resting at his sides and his eyes half-closed. The vast majority of his spiritual sense had detached from his physical body, resting entirely upon the Six Desires Primordial Heavenly Demon standing behind him.
In an instant, his vision transformed completely.
Prior to this, there had been no difference between the world he saw with his own eyes and the world perceived by his spiritual sense. A mountain was still a mountain, water was still water; everything was orderly and unchanged.
Now, however, everything was different.
Through the perspective of the Six Desires Primordial Heavenly Demon, the world perceived by his spiritual sense suddenly took on a new appearance, or rather, gained a strange, radiant glow.
This radiance permeated the air like an aurora, filling the universe. At first glance, it looked as though countless tiny Gu insects were jumping within it. In the blink of an eye, however, it morphed into surging waves. These two characteristics merged together, displaying different colors as the sun rose and the moon set.
Cyan, yellow, red, white, and black—the colors cycled and alternated.
The five colors formed various shapes that stretched across Wang Ping's field of vision. Although they appeared mixed together, they were clearly divided into twenty-four distinct streaks.
"This is..."
Thus, they were called the Twenty-Four Solar Qi.
Rumor had it that cultivation related to Qi Refining was connected to this Twenty-Four Solar Qi. Unfortunately, the cultivation method was vague on the matter, making it difficult for him to know the truth.
Soon enough, however, as the Six Desire Heavens Sovereign Attainment Method circulated, Wang Ping discovered that one of the twenty-four auroras filling heaven and earth began to react. Endless colors drifted down in time with the Six Desires Primordial Heavenly Demon's breathing, enveloping it like a waterfall before being slowly absorbed bit by bit.
"Crack!"
At almost the same time, Wang Ping felt as though his body had been suddenly thrown into boiling water. Surging heat poured in through his nose and mouth, flowing into his limbs and bones.
It felt like he was being melted down and recast.
It was as if his muscles, bones, flesh, and even his meridians were being dissolved by the intense heat, only to be polished and forged into a brand new form.
"Holy shit!?"
Wang Ping cursed subconsciously, nearly biting off his own tongue in the process. Intense agony frantically hammered at his nerves.
If he had to describe it, it felt like being buried in the sand with only his head exposed, right before someone sliced open the top of his skull and poured mercury inside. That unbearable itch and agonizing pain made him desperately want to squeeze his way out through the gash in his head.
Wang Ping... couldn't hold back.
"Squelch!"
He violently threw his head back and pushed his way out through the opening at the top of his skull—the very source of the hot current that seemed to have melted his body. Then, his vision instantly went black.
Crack, crack-crack-crack-crack!
Piercing noises echoed endlessly in his ears.
Decaying skin peeled away, and blood oozed from his pores. Every vein bulged and thickened, while his muscles and bones grew dense and solid. Wang Ping slowly stood up straight.
The pain fell away like unlocked shackles, dropping to the floor alongside a layer of tattered human skin. An intense sense of exhilaration left Wang Ping trembling all over.
Reborn and utterly remade!
At this moment, Wang Ping was like a serpent or dragon welcoming a new life after shedding its old skin. His newly exposed skin gleamed with a golden luster beneath the sunlight.
Telepathic Spiritual Perception, Flawless True Body, Cosmic Orbit Respiration, Borrowing Qi to Manifest Magic.
Of the four cultivation traits of the Tribulation Transcending First Layer, Wang Ping had already mastered Telepathic Spiritual Perception. He was now actively cultivating the second trait, the Flawless True Body.
Naturally, he was only just starting. The glow of his skin was enough to let anyone spot his extraordinary nature at a glance, and it remained purely superficial, having yet to penetrate his internal meridians. Once he truly cultivated the Flawless True Body, he would actually conceal all of his miraculous traits, looking no different from an ordinary Mortal on the outside.
"Bang!"
In the next second, Wang Ping lifted his foot and set it back down. He hadn't used any real strength and merely intended to take a couple of steps, yet he crushed the bluestone tile beneath his foot to pieces!
"Incredible..."
Wang Ping swayed in place, then took another two steps, once again shattering the bluestone tiles beneath him. It wasn't until his fifth step that he managed to rein in his strength, only leaving a series of cracks in his wake.
Power!
He hadn't used a single ounce of Internal Force. Relying purely on his physical body, the strength he displayed was no weaker than when he had charged enemy lines single-handedly!
And back then, he had even used the Heavenly Demon Disintegration Great Art!
Compared to him at this very moment, the so-called External Arts Perfection, True Dragon Tendon, and Mountain Monarch Bone were all complete nonsense. They weren't even qualified to be mentioned in the same breath!
Was this reasonable?
'I suppose it makes sense. I'm practicing the Immortal Dao now, after all...'
Standing in place, Wang Ping swung his arms and went through a set of fist forms. With the assistance of his spiritual sense, he slowly gained control over the power of his newly born physique.
"Am I even still human?"
In the Great Shun Dynasty, an ordinary martial artist had to train bitterly for ten years just to reach External Arts Perfection, and it took another ten years to become an Internal Force Martial Master. Yet, how long had it just taken him?
The time it takes to breathe in a mouthful of spiritual energy!
Just by absorbing a single breath of spiritual energy, his physical body could already rival that of an Internal Force Martial Master. The gap between the two wasn't so much a gap between people...
...as it was a gap between different species!
"Wait, there's also my martial arts..."
Wang Ping circulated his spiritual sense, carefully sensing the changes in his body. To his surprise, he found that all the marks left on him by the martial arts he had practiced in the past had vanished entirely.
Or rather, they had been overwritten.
True Dragon Tendon, Mountain Monarch Bone, Dragon-Elephant Flesh, Kui Ox Hide, Supreme Yang Blood, Snow-Silk Marrow... His mortal physique was now completely overwritten by a much more profound power.
This transformation was like a serpent evolving into a dragon.
"...Incredible!"
Even the Internal Force constitution forged from the Heavenly Roc Dragon Capture Physique Diagram began to visibly break down, dissolving back into his meridians.
The reason was incredibly simple.
"The grade of the martial art is no longer high enough..." Wang Ping murmured softly.
What was Internal Force? What was a martial constitution?
To put it plainly, a martial constitution was a secondary biological system that a martial artist built within their own body. Essence, qi, and spirit were converted through it, and the resulting power was Internal Force.
The problem he faced right now was very simple: the output capacity of the Heavenly Roc Dragon Capture Physique Diagram was limited. It could no longer fuse his transformed essence, qi, and spirit to convert them into Internal Force. Even the Internal Force he had already generated was now breaking back down as his body naturally circulated.
It was as if his body was telling him:
'My body will not tolerate the existence of something so small.'
At this thought, Wang Ping nearly burst out laughing. If he returned to the Great Shun Imperial Court right now, he probably wouldn't even be classified as an Internal Force Martial Master. He'd only be considered an External Arts practitioner.
'Whatever.'
'Whether I have Internal Force or not, my strength has definitively increased. That's the key point. Besides, looking at it from another angle, this is also a sign of my potential...'
Even though the Heavenly Roc Dragon Capture Physique Diagram wasn't enough for his current self to refine Internal Force, the Great Shun Imperial Court undoubtedly possessed stronger Internal Force constitutions. From that perspective, losing his martial foundation this time wasn't necessarily a bad thing. He could pursue better cultivation methods in the future and walk even further down the path of martial arts.
Having reasoned this out, Wang Ping made peace with the situation.
'Although practicing martial arts can't compare to cultivating immortality, it's a quick path to power and still useful in the early stages. Furthermore, I have a defective spiritual root. The Great Dao is out of my reach, so I need to plan ahead for rainy days.'
He gathered his thoughts.
Wang Ping withdrew his consciousness from the Six Desires Primordial Heavenly Demon and returned to his physical body. Following that, he stored the towering, three-meter-tall divine general back into his shadow.
Feeling the surging power within him, his mind couldn't help but wander: 'My base combat power alone is already comparable to the state I reached in my previous life after using the Heavenly Demon Disintegration Great Art. Plus, I've successfully cultivated the Six Desires Primordial Heavenly Demon. This thing possesses quite a few miraculous traits, so its combat strength is probably even greater than mine.'
Not to mention, the two of them could fight side by side.
'If a real fight breaks out, I can stay in the back and deal damage with a bow and arrow while the Six Desires Primordial Heavenly Demon acts as the vanguard. Could we go toe-to-toe with a Titled Martial Master like Xu Bingzheng?'
Wang Ping felt a restless urge to try.
However, he quickly calmed back down. 'No. Even if I want to show off, I have to wait until I return to the Great Shun Imperial Court. I still need to lay low here in the Immortal Gate...'
After all, he had only just mastered the single trait of Telepathic Spiritual Perception, yet he already possessed such immense capability.
What about Daoist Nun You?
Even a conservative estimate suggested she had already crossed the Human Tribulation and cultivated magical power. After all, she clearly possessed a true spiritual root and was an official disciple of the Immortal Gate.
"Ding-a-ling!"
Right at this moment, the silver bell beneath the eaves rang out. Wang Ping immediately looked up, knowing this meant Daoist Nun You had emerged from seclusion and was summoning her attendant.
Wang Ping didn't dare dawdle. He hurried over to the courtyard wall where a large door was painted, retrieved his Token, and tapped it against the wall. Only then did he reach out and give the painting a gentle push.
"Clang!"
The large door opened in response.
The grotto-heaven within the painting came into view.
Wang Ping stepped through the doorway and arrived in the inner sanctum.
At almost exactly the same time, Daoist Nun You, who was standing beneath a towering ancient tree within the inner courtyard, sensed something. She turned her head, her gaze instantly landing on him.
"...Hmm?"
A second later, Daoist Nun You let out a soft sound of surprise. She looked Wang Ping up and down, a hint of delight flashing through her beautiful eyes before she gave a slight nod.
"You've done well."
Wang Ping immediately bowed and said, "You flatter me, Milady. I merely had a minor breakthrough in my cultivation method."
Daoist Nun You looked pleased. "A minor breakthrough? Training the Six Desire Heavens Sovereign Attainment Method to the fourth layer in just three months is far more than a minor breakthrough."
At these words, a chill ran through Wang Ping's heart.
Although he had mentally prepared himself for this, he still felt a deep sense of unease when Daoist Nun You casually exposed his exact cultivation progress.
'This is far too unsafe.'
'If only I had a secret art to conceal my cultivation level. My progress is far too abnormal, making it incredibly easy to attract the prying eyes of those with ulterior motives.'
"Since you've made progress, you will accompany me this time."
Daoist Nun You reached into her sleeve, pulled out a jade slip, and tossed it into Wang Ping's arms. "Read this carefully. You will be acting as my protector on this trip."
"I strictly obey your command."
Wang Ping accepted the order with the jade slip in hand. He then extended his spiritual sense to read its contents, and the expression on his face underwent a subtle change.
The jade slip contained a conscription order.
[Order: Bliss Peak disciple You Xuexin is to escort the recently surfaced Five Thieves Stealing Heaven Myriad Transformations Divine Talisman back to the Divine Weapon Courtyard within three days. No delays are permitted.]
"This is a decree from the Immortal Gate."
Daoist Nun You's tone was composed. "It was personally issued by Mingde, a Qi Refining practitioner from the Divine Weapon Courtyard. Because I successfully cultivated my Sword Art, the decree was handed down to me."
"As for the Five Thieves Stealing Heaven Myriad Transformations Divine Talisman, it is an immortal technique created by a sect apostate. He calls himself the Heaven-Stealing Thief. The cultivation methods he has spread are incredibly bizarre and possess the power to bewitch the mind. Only a cultivator like me, who has mastered the Sword Art and possesses an enlightened sword heart, can resist it."
Daoist Nun You explained in detail, "Originally, the Five Thieves Stealing Heaven Myriad Transformations Divine Talisman should have been completely destroyed long ago. The one discovered by an outer sect disciple recently is one that slipped through the net."
"That is why I, being the closest, was tasked with escorting it."
"However, the Heaven-Stealing Thief's lingering poison runs deep within the Immortal Gate. There are still many of his accomplices hiding around. If they catch wind of this, it's highly likely they will try to intercept and kill us along the way."
Wang Ping furrowed his brow at this.
"This... Since this item is so important, why didn't the seniors in the sect come to retrieve it themselves? Also, are there really so-called accomplices hidden right here within the Immortal Gate?"
"It's nothing strange," Daoist Nun You said indifferently. "These matters aren't for you to know... In short, the Qi Refining practitioners within the sect will not lightly step foot into the mortal world. As for the accomplices, the Immortal Gate calls them bandit cultivators. They are inherently a group of cultivators who cannot attain the orthodox path, forcing them to resort to such crooked means."
Only after hearing Daoist Nun You's explanation did Wang Ping finally understand.
The so-called bandit cultivators were actually a group of independent cultivators unacknowledged by the Immortal Gate. Finding it difficult to progress further within the sect, they had no choice but to forge their own paths.
This was the very reason the Five Thieves Stealing Heaven Myriad Transformations Divine Talisman had come into existence.
In short, that sect apostate, the Heaven-Stealing Thief, had made his cultivation method open-source. Without any barriers to entry, he scattered it directly across the entire Immortal Gate.
Consequently, everyone who practiced his method became his disciple and a natural ally. After banding together, they formed the current group of Immortal Gate bandit cultivators.
"These people usually hide within the Immortal Gate, but at critical moments, they don't hesitate to take on a new identity and ambush our cultivators on the road to gather various resources for the Immortal Dao. The Immortal Gate has invested a great deal of effort into purging them. Yet, these bandit cultivators are like weeds; no matter how many we kill, we can never wipe them out completely."
It was a natural outcome.
Wang Ping wasn't the least bit surprised by this. After all, where there were policies from above, there were countermeasures from below.
As long as the Immortal Gate continued to restrict the cultivators' path on the Immortal Dao, there would always be fertile soil for breeding bandit cultivators. Plainly speaking, it was a systemic problem.
Wang Ping mocked them internally, but didn't dare show the slightest hint of it on his face. He immediately lowered his head and asked respectfully, "May I ask, Milady, when will we be departing?"
"...Three days from now."
At this point, Daoist Nun You's voice paused slightly. She then looked at Wang Ping, flashing a stunningly beautiful smile that could captivate all living beings—a rare sight indeed.
"I must admit, your cultivation progress far exceeded my initial expectations."
"Therefore, my plans need to be adjusted a bit... Go back and rest for now. Come see me in three days, and I'll give you a pleasant surprise."
"One that will allow you to fully realize your value as human livestock."
A surprise? What kind of surprise was she talking about?
Wang Ping's eye twitched. The manufacturing process for the Immortal Gate's strongmen quickly flashed through his mind, along with the so-called "corpse tax" levied under the Immortal Gate's rule from his predecessor's memories.
When he looked back at Daoist Nun You, his expression shifted drastically.
There wouldn't be anything wrong with this surprise, would there?
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