Is the Formless Heart Sutra a Legitimate Cultivation Technique?

Elder He didn't even know how he got through that night.

The backlash from the Formless Heart Sutra has never been this severe before... Has my internal energy circulation gone terribly wrong today? Various chaotic energies are surging wildly within my body.

Even with his Martial Emperor level cultivation, he almost couldn't withstand it!

And what's with all those weird reactions?

Is the Formless Heart Sutra a legitimate practice?

Formless Heart Sutra was legitimate or not, Chu Xinghe n't know, but he did know that when he saw Elder He early in the morning, Elder He's mouth wasn't just bleeding; Elder He eyes were bleeding as well.

"Elder He... why don't we take a break? We're not in such a hurry for the Formless Heart Sutra... your health is more important!"

"Heh... Xinghe... you underestimate Martial Emperors too much. Although I wouldn't dare say I'm the strongest Martial Emperor in our Vast Heaven Sect, my name is on the Heavenly Dao Ranking. What's this little backlash?"

Elder He wiped the blood from the corner of his eye as he spoke...

In the following days, Chu Xinghe discovered different flavored mixed drinks every night... and Elder He also received various ginseng teas from the thoughtful Ouyang Ling every night... except that the ginseng tea was becoming increasingly viscous...

Furthermore, the backlash from the Formless Heart Sutra is becoming increasingly severe... Elder He remarked that it was only because of his Martial Emperor cultivation that he truly couldn't withstand it.

Even though he held on, Elder He looked increasingly dejected. However, seeing Elder He becoming more and more dejected, Chu Xinghe finally felt at ease.

Judging from the current pace, Elder He can't possibly withstand the backlash for very long, can he?

Once Elder He gives up, it's basically equivalent to declaring the Formless Heart Sutra completely finished.

However, for safety's sake, Chu Xinghe felt he couldn't give up keeping an eye on Elder He. He had to keep a close watch on him and make sure he didn't cause any trouble at crucial moments. Of course, he also had to persuade Elder He to back down when he couldn't hold on any longer.

So Chu Xinghe hasn't even gone to the Technique Repository Tower these past few days, staying in the Artifact Refining Palace every day... Of course, Chu Xinghe certainly couldn't say that he came to keep an eye on Elder He. Chu Xinghe's reason was... to see if his Junior Brother Ouyang had been working hard lately.

But he was terrified when he saw Chu Xinghe...

Ouyang Ming has completely stopped causing explosions in the furnace. Under his Cloud-Piercing Hammer Technique, all sorts of spiritual weapons and artifacts are being unleashed with a clattering sound. Moreover, not only is Ouyang Ming maintaining a stable output, but the other Ouyang Lineage Ouyang Ming are also making rapid progress under his guidance.

Now, no matter what kind of spiritual weapon each palace needs, Ouyang Ming can effortlessly forge it while eating chilled Spirit Cloud Fruits.

Chu Xinghe sighed inwardly... Ouyang Ming, haven't I treated you Senior Brother Xinghe, haven't I?

Is this how you treat your Senior Brother Xinghe?

Do you have any conscience at all?

No! I have to make a move!

Finally, Chu Xinghe couldn't sit still any longer.

On this day, Ouyang Ming was forging a spiritual weapon without provoking or offending anyone.

"Bang..." A spirit sword that was seventy percent complete and undergoing tempering broke in the forging furnace.

Ouyang Ming didn't think much of it. Even the world's strongest weapon refiner couldn't guarantee 100% success, right? This fire did indeed carry some minor risks.

Just as Ouyang Ming was about to start rebuilding, Senior Brother Xinghe spoke up.

"Ouyang... I think there's something wrong with your stove fire."

Upon hearing this, Ouyang Ming was stunned. To be honest, if anyone else had said this, Ouyang Ming would have jumped up and spat in their face.

Are you kidding me?

You're saying there's something wrong with my furnace fire? Do you even know anything about weapon crafting?

I am the greatest weapon refiner in the world!

Do you see my sister over there cutting up Spirit Cloud Fruit with a built-in chilling fruit knife?

That's the Light of Xinghe that guides our Ouyang Lineage forward, that's a super artifact, you know? And I'm the creator of this fruit knife!

So you're talking to me about furnaces? Come on... show me an amazing artifact!

Even if a weapon refiner of Ou Yunsheng's caliber said there was a problem with his furnace fire, Ouyang Ming would still jump up and attack him head-on.

But now it was Senior Brother Xinghe who spoke, Ouyang Ming immediately pulled out his notebook and said seriously, "Senior Brother Xinghe, my furnace fire uses our Lineage's tempering method, which is the seven-times method, two more temperings than the common five-times method."

"If Senior Brother Xinghe thinks there's anything inappropriate, I can make changes!"

Chu Xinghe didn't understand anything about seven or five times... but that didn't matter. Refining weapons was like refining pills; any slight change could lead to a barrage of failures. So Chu Xinghe simply said that the seven-times method was too much, and suggested he try six times instead.

This number sounds auspicious, don't you think?

Without much thought, Ouyang Ming quickly began to try it out according to Senior Brother Xinghe's instructions.

A moment later... a dazzling, top-grade spirit sword was born...

"Senior Brother Xinghe is indeed brilliant... Reducing the number of tempering cycles not only lowers the failure rate but also improves the quality... Senior Brother Xinghe, you still say you don't understand weapon crafting!"

Ouyang Ming's teary eyes are so cute!

Senior Brother Xinghe has only been in our Artifact Refining Palace for a few days?

I was wrong, I, Ouyang Ming, was so wrong! I used to think I was the world's strongest weapon refiner, that my talent in weapon refining was unparalleled.

Now it seems, how can I compare to Senior Brother Xinghe?

Senior Brother Xinghe only observed it for a few days before discovering a major flaw in the Seven-Turn Method: reducing one round of fire would allow it to take off instantly.

Senior Brother Xinghe is lucky he didn't learn weapon crafting; otherwise, what chance would I, Ouyang Ming, have?

Ouyang Ming immediately used a fruit knife, Light of Xinghe, to cut a Spirit Cloud Fruit as a gesture of celebration.

Chu Xinghe was completely dumbfounded... This is utterly unreasonable!

I'm going all out!

"Ouyang, are you satisfied with just a top-grade piece? The furnace temperature is also problematic. Lower the furnace temperature for the first two attempts, and raise it for the later ones, then continue forging!"

Ouyang Ming looked puzzled after hearing this, but since Senior Brother Xinghe said so, let's give it a try!

Soon, the top-grade spiritual weapon was reforged, and a moment later... a low-grade holy artifact appeared...

Looking at the spirit sword gleaming with the light of a sacred artifact, Ouyang Ming felt ashamed.

As expected of my Senior Brother Xinghe... Originally, this sword had failed to be forged, but my Senior Brother Xinghe changed back to fire magic without warning and successfully forged a top-grade spiritual weapon.

He was just feeling so smug, but in Senior Brother Xinghe's eyes, what was this "top-tier" guy?

Even Senior Brother Xinghe noticed the problem, and with his guidance... the top-grade item instantly became a sacred item! Senior Brother Xinghe is truly domineering!

Chu Xinghe was dumbfounded when he saw the Saint-grade spirit weapon. Could this get any more outrageous?

With gritted teeth and a stomp of his foot, Chu Xinghe spoke again, "Ouyang, increase the force you use in this forging technique by three points, and do it again!"

Ouyang Ming nodded solemnly as he began to reforge this sacred-grade spiritual weapon.

A moment later, following Senior Brother Xinghe's technique... a high-grade sacred artifact was created...

But before Ouyang Ming could even marvel at how defied the heavens that Senior Brother Xinghe was, Chu Xinghe spoke again.

"Reduce the pressure by another third during the final shaping process, and then perform one more tempering cycle!"

"Alright!" Ouyang Ming followed Senior Brother Xinghe's method with a serious expression.

A moment later... a Quasi-God that appeared to contain seven-colored light was born...

Ouyang Ming was completely stunned as he held the Quasi-God.

Is this the power of my Senior Brother Xinghe? Senior Brother Xinghe, tell me quickly how I should modify it next. We're just one step away from creating a divine artifact.

Chu Xinghe has already gone offline.

Could this be any more outrageous?

Have I, Chu Xinghe, reached that level in guiding people?

Give you pointers? I'll give you pointers...

If this guy keeps giving guidance, a divine artifact is definitely going to be created today...

My opinion is that this weapon isn't even up to the level of a divine artifact; if it's really not good enough, let's just discard it...

No... my heart really can't take it today. What have I done today?

Is it really that difficult for me to just disable a spirit weapon?

Chu Xinghe arrived at Elder He's side, and only when he saw Elder He bleeding from all seven orifices and said that he had made great progress did he finally calm down a bit.

Elder He... and you call this a huge progress?

You look sallow and like you're about to die... And stop rubbing it! You're bleeding from all seven orifices; the more you rub, the more terrifying you'll look...

Over the next few days, Chu Xinghe kept a close eye on Elder He, proving himself worthy of being the most formidable head elder in the Vast Heaven Sect's miscellaneous studies.

Elder He proved with facts that no matter how severe the qi deviation, he could withstand it.

Despite bleeding from all seven orifices, Elder He could easily refocus on his research into the Formless Heart Sutra after taking a few pills.

Moreover, Elder He had also figured out a pattern: the backlash from the Formless Heart Sutra the day, and he could completely withstand it, but it was much more severe at night... Even though he drank ginseng tea that tasted like lotus root starch and had a fruity flavor every day, he couldn't withstand the nighttime backlash from the Formless Heart Sutra. It truly lived up to its reputation as God Level technique; it was indeed extraordinary and even differentiated between day and night.

Seeing that Elder He was becoming increasingly listless with each study session, Chu Xinghe finally couldn't help but approach the Grand Elder and suggest that they stop him. He worried that Elder He continued practicing like this, something might happen to him.

After listening, the Grand Elder smiled and said, "Xinghe... you're still too young. What's Old He's cultivation level? How could he get into trouble? You're overthinking it. Don't worry about it, let Old He figure it out himself."

Chu Xinghe was helpless, but he dared not go to the Artifact Refining Palace for the time being.

It's not that I'm worried about Elder He having any problems; after all, Elder He's cultivation level is there, so even if he suffers a qi deviation, it won't be too dangerous.

The main danger comes from Ouyang Ming... Under his guidance, Ouyang Ming has made rapid progress, his crafting skills have improved by a whole new level... If he were to talk to Ouyang Ming any longer, would he even be able to keep up?

Hmph! You want me to give you pointers? I can't give you, Ouyang Ming, a single pointer!

Chu Xinghe began his journey to the Haotian Palace to study formations under Yan Shoujing, but recently the formations taught by the vice sect leader have become increasingly unpredictable.

So, is there anyone normal in our Vast Heaven Sect?

Seeing Chu Xinghe making no progress day by day, Yan Shoujing was overjoyed!

Hmph! You want me to give you pointers? I can't give you even a single pointer Chu Xinghe!