The Troublesome Mutual Generation and Restraint of the Five Spirits

The Five Spirit Pearls originally belonged to the Nuwa clan.

There are three sets of the Five Spirit Pearls.

The first set is the story of the Three Sovereigns who condensed after Pangu separated heaven and earth, and merged into the Earth Vein, remaining hidden from the world.

The second set is formed from the remaining Five-Colored Stone after Nuwa Mends the Heavens, which absorbed the Power of the Five Spirits. After their spiritual power was exhausted, they would disperse into the world and re-form at the corresponding places where spiritual power accumulated.

The third set was created by the Heavenly Emperor, who sent four gods—water, fire, thunder, and wind—along with the witch Drought Demon to destroy the world. Nuwa killed the four gods and combined them with the remains of the Chaotic Mountain God to create the Earth Spirit Pearl, which was originally passed down through generations of the Miao people, but its whereabouts are now unknown.

In the original timeline, the Wind Spirit Pearls that Jing Tian collected in the God Realm were originally called Azure Sky Wind God Pearl. They were Fei Peng's companion spirit treasures and were later given to Xi Yao. They were not the Five Spirit Pearls as commonly known.

In short, apart from the first set, which will never reappear in the world, none of them have anything to do with Mount Shu.

Moreover, Mount Shu could indeed solve the problem on its own. In Chang Hao's generation, they directly replaced the Power of the Five Spirits with the Seven Star Coiled Dragon Pillars.

This makes Zi Xuan's sacrifice seem ridiculous.

It was a sacrifice for the sake of sacrifice.

"Mmm." Feeling Jing Tian's warm hand, Zi Xuan lowered her head.

A smile unconsciously crept onto her lips.

This is a sense of security that neither Gu Liufang, Lin Yeping, nor Xu Changqing could give her.

"Brother Qing Leng? He has always been at odds with Mount Shu, he..." Shang Fengzi also knew Qing Leng and was familiar with his temperament.

"He's just been wronged and has nowhere to turn," Jing Tian said. "We can just send one of our disciples to invite him."

"Furthermore, you have also witnessed the evil spirit's ability to transform."

"If he uses this to cause trouble at Mount Shu, the disciples of Mount Shu will surely find it difficult to detect."

"Then I will follow your advice, Master," Shang Fengzi said. "I will use magic to send a message to Brother Qing Wei."

Zi Xuan didn't say anything more. She came to Penglai for two purposes: first, to ask Shang Fengzi to intercede so that she and Xu Changqing could be together smoothly; and second, to relay the matter of the Demon Locking Tower and ask Penglai to help.

The former is no longer necessary, and as for the latter, Shang Fengzi has already made contact with Qing Wei.

"It was all thanks to the expert's intervention that Shang Fengzi was spared from being tricked. I present this to you as a token of my gratitude!" Shang Fengzi handed over a book to Xue Jian. "This is the [Earth Concealment] Immortal Arts Book, imbued with spiritual power. Even ordinary people who practice according to the book will not be in danger of suffering from internal energy deviation."

Although the overall strength of the human realm is indeed the weakest among the Six Realms, its cultivation methods are more systematic.

Each of the Five Elemental Immortal Arts has a corresponding Immortal Arts Book, namely [Water Realm], [Flame Residence], [Earth Concealment], [Thunder Awakening], and [Wind Source].

In the original timeline, Shang Fengzi gifted it to Zi Xuan Zi Xuan, whose element is water, so he gave her the [Water Realm].

Now he can see that among the four, Xue Jian is the weakest, and her element is earth, so she is the [Earth Concealment].

The included immortal techniques are five in total, ranging from easy to difficult: [Earth Spell], [Rock Flying Technique], [True Essence Protection], [Carry Heaven and Earth], and [Mount Tai Pressing Down].

By combining one's own zodiac sign with other [Immortal Arts Book], one can also learn other immortal arts.

For example, the combination of "Purgatory Fire Sea" and "True Essence Protection" in "Flame Star" results in "Starfall and Earthquake," and the combination of "Heavenly Battle Qi" and "Carry Heaven and Earth" in "Thunder Awakening" results in "Heavenly Demon Possession."

Xue Jian accepted the [Earth Concealment] and asked, "Does Penglai accept female disciples? Can I become your disciple?"

While one can also enhance spiritual power through the [Immortal Arts Book], and its top-tier immortal incantations are no less powerful than sect's secret techniques, it is even better to have internal cultivation methods to complement it.

Shang Fengzi looked troubled. "Although you are a woman of extraordinary beauty, you are also quite unruly. Our Penglai sect emphasizes focusing on the One and not disturbing external things, which is not suitable for you. Besides, with this master here, why go to such lengths?"

"Alright then, since wind overcomes earth, you can learn more than just wind-attribute magic. But the other three elemental magics are also possible."

He then pulled out three more Immortal Arts Book: Water Realm, Flame Residence, Earth Concealment, and Thunder Awakening.

"My power comes from my Previous Life, and my cultivation method is only suitable for myself. What is suitable for you will require some time to develop," Jing Tian said.

This is not a lie. Xue Jian is not only the body of the divine tree fruit, but also the host of the yin side of the [Human-Faced Pendant]. From the perspective of perfection, it is indeed necessary to deduce her cultivation method for a period of time.

"I see," Xue Jian said dejectedly, choosing to criticize Shang Fengzi, "You've given us all four of them: Water, Fire, Earth, Thunder, and Wind. Why are you still missing one?"

She, who considers herself Jing Tian's fiancée, doesn't think this is excessive.

Indeed, without Jing Tian, the entire Penglai would have been wiped out in a bloodbath.

"This is the [Source of Wind]," Shang Fengzi said readily.

The [Immortal Arts Book] is a renewable resource. As long as a cultivator has the corresponding elemental spiritual power, knows how to refine weapons or pills, and knows the corresponding immortal incantation, they can create it.

Penglai was skilled in alchemy.

In this timeline, Penglai was not almost completely wiped out, and there were enough disciples to rebuild it.

Xue Jian took it, put it together with the previous four books, and stuffed it into her bundle.

After the four left Penglai and returned to the ship.

"Where are we going? Mount Shu or Thunderclap Hall?" Xue Jian asked.

Shushan is very close to Yuzhou and could potentially endanger Yuzhou City and Tang Family Fortress.

As long as the Thunderclap Hall doesn't correct its ways (the Thunderclap Hall was once famous for its research on firearms and had no conflicts with other sects), a continuous stream of demons will emerge, endangering Tang Family Fortress.

"This is not a conflict. Yuzhou, the headquarters of the Thunderclap Hall, Nine Peaks Mountain, and Shushan are not far apart," Jing Tian said.

Legend has it that the headquarters of the Thunderclap Hall is located at Nine Peaks Mountain, but Jing Tian knows that it is actually a dangerous place full of traps and mechanisms. The real headquarters of the Thunderclap Hall is Deyang City, which is directly accessible after leaving the mountain.

Nine Peaks Mountain is located in Mianzhu. Yuzhou is Chongqing, which used to belong to Sichuan along with Deyang.

Even during the Western Han Dynasty, Deyang was also known as Mianzhu County.

Most importantly, Deyang, Anning Village, is very close to the Ancient Vine Forest near the Shushan back mountain plank road, where there is the [Ancient Vine Forest Earth Spirit Pearl].

Of the Innate Five Spirits, Jing Tian now possesses only two: wind and fire.

Water can be obtained through dual cultivation with Zi Xuan, or by searching for the Water Demon Beast in the Miao region. The Black Miao scriptures record the place where it is sealed.

Earth and Thunder can be obtained directly through the [Earth Spirit Pearl] and [Thunder Spirit Pearl].

"Then let's go to Nine Peaks Mountain," Zi Xuan said.

Over the past few days, the wisdom she displayed in her words has won over Xue Jian and Long Kui.

The four chose to travel by sword.

So the ship anchored at Penglai.

Within the broad sword light unleashed by Jing Tian.

"Ah Tian, the sword light emanating from your sword control technique can actually extend for ten zhang!" Zi Xuan exclaimed in admiration.

At this moment, she felt as if she were on a small, floating boat, able to stretch her body freely.

The mainstream sword-riding technique in this world is not like flying on a sword beam as in traditional supernatural tales, but rather standing on the spine of a sword and using the sword to support the body for flight.

If it carries multiple people, it uses the sword as the core, dulling the sword's sharpness and dispersing the sword light.

The more feet the sword light extends, the more Mental Power and skill are required.

Ten zhang is a number that even immortals skilled in this art would find hard to imagine.

Therefore, the mainstream immortal swords in this world are mainly giant swords with wide spines.

Using a rapier is mostly for showing off skills.

It wasn't until Dugu Yuyun's generation that things changed because they developed a magic array that could be scaled down and engraved into magic artifacts, making it more accessible.

"Ah Tian can also transform into a sword, radiating sword light to carry us through the air," Xue Jian said.

"That's nothing. The Shu Mountain sect is most skilled at sword control. Their sword escape technique also involves flying by riding on sword light," Jing Tian said.

Like the mainstream, the Shu Mountain's [Sword Control Technique] uses qi to control the sword, allowing the sword to move through the air and float in the void.

If one masters the [Ten Thousand Swords Technique], one can 'divide' the [Flying Sword] to kill enemies, and can also conjure countless sword beams that fall like rain, thus reaching the threshold of [Sword Flight], which is the [Sword Escape] technique.

Then came the [Sword Control and Demon Subduing], where countless sword energies were generated from the body, truly transforming one sword into ten thousand swords. Next came the [Heavenly Sword], where the body became the sword, achieving oneness with the sword and controlling the power of heaven and earth. Following that was the [Sword God], which cultivated the god of swords, causing ten thousand swords to submit, and was known as the strongest sword technique in Shu Mountain.

"That's different. I'm praising your sword control skills, A-Tian." Zi Xuan shook her head.

Xue Jian and Long Kui exchanged a glance, and they both felt that Zi Xuan's gaze towards Jing Tian was a little strange.

"We've arrived." Xue Jian stood up and stood between Zi Xuan and Jing Tian, pointing downwards. "Nine mountain peaks are lined up in a row, like a dragon's spine. There is snow on the mountains that never melts all year round. Everything matches up. We've arrived."

"There." Long Kui pulled Jing Tian further away and pointed to the mountain in the center where a building could be vaguely seen.

Zi Xuan simply smiled calmly.

The two people's targeting was nothing compared to the Shu Mountain Five Elders calling her a demoness, which was even more embarrassing for her.

The four landed in front of the building, which was well disguised and hidden in the snow, looking like a natural cave.

Zi Xuan calmly cast a Wind Returning Spell inside the cave.

The Wind Returning Spell is a magical spell that uses wind as a sensory tool to explore the four directions. It is often used for scouting and detecting enemies.

"Apart from a strange beast, there is no Spiritual Energy."

"Could it be that the headquarters of the Thunderclap Hall is not in Nine Peaks Mountain?" Xue Jian wondered.

"Perhaps the mystery lies within the beast's body," Jing Tian said.

Of the four, only Xue Jian cannot fly.

Although Long Kui now possesses a physical body, she can still fly as if she were a spirit.

However, Xue Jian could not delay the four people's journey, and soon they appeared behind the strange beast.

The beast was extremely ferocious and terrifying. It had a human face, a single horn on its head, purple fur all over its body, short wings that could fly, two tails, and sharp claws on all four limbs that gleamed coldly.

"How insidious! If we go into the cave, we'll be attacked by this monster as soon as we come out." Xue Jian was still a little scared.

"There's another opening there; that might be the exit," Long Kui said.

The two men's undisguised voices made the beast turn its head. "It's been so long since the four of us have eaten human flesh!"

"This beast is formed from the Dragon Essence Stone." Upon meeting it, Zi Xuan finally recognized the origin of this strange beast.

"It really is a stone," Long Kui said.

Because, while Zi Xuan was speaking, Jing Tian had already drawn his sword.

After the monster died, it transformed directly into a gem that radiated Jin Guang. Upon closer inspection, one could vaguely see dragon patterns on it, but it did not appear vulgar; instead, it was exquisitely beautiful and full of artistic flair.

"It's not poisonous, is it? It's so beautiful." After Xue Jian Jing Tian shake his head to indicate that it wasn't poisonous, Xuejian took the gemstone into her hand.

This gem is the reason why Jing Tian did not reveal the true location of the Thunderclap Hall headquarters.

The Dragon Essence Stone is a rare treasure that seems only capable of restoring antiques. If used on the original Demonic Sword, it can only restore its appearance, which seems rather useless.

But in reality, it can also absorb the spiritual energy of other objects.

In the original timeline, Jing Tian was able to transfer the spiritual power of many cheap magical artifacts he purchased to the Demonic Sword, restoring its power, because of the [Dragon Essence Stone].

But now, Jing Tian can do even more.

Everyone possesses an innate elemental affinity with the Five Elements, and so do innate deities. Throughout their lives, they cannot cultivate magical spells that clash with their own elemental affinity. They can only temporarily evolve these spells within their bodies through the interactions of the Five Elements, and ultimately, they must revert to their original elemental affinity.

For example, Jing Tian's innate zodiac sign is wind, and thunder overcomes wind.

To him, the Thunder Spirit Pearl, or the Thunder Curse, was nothing more than scrap.

The [Innate Five Spirits Path], derived from one's own Spiritual Wisdom, requires the isolation of fire with the power of thunder. After absorbing thunder into the body, water, which can generate and restrain fire with wind, is used to achieve mutual generation and restraint. Then, the true innate water spirit is incorporated, and finally, the innate earth spirit is incorporated into the body. The four spirits resolve the generation and restraint between earth and the earth, achieving the unity of the five spirits.

That's too much trouble.

When the wind generates water, the wind's spiritual power cannot be fully utilized. The same applies to the fire that counters the wind and the lightning that counters the wind. When they are in a state of mutual generation and restraint, only the durability recovery speed is increased.

It's not as good as the current combination of the two spirits of wind and fire.

Furthermore, although the innate wind spirit overcomes earth, the innate earth spirit also overcomes water.

This water can only be satisfied by a true innate water spirit.

Therefore, the order in which the Water and Earth Spirits enter the body cannot be changed.

Preparing water before earth will disrupt the mutually reinforcing and restraining relationship between the three spirits when they are in one body, making the four spirits weaker than the three spirits, and further reducing their combat power.

The Dragon Essence Stone absorbs the spiritual energy of objects and transfers it to other objects because it can disguise the attribute of the spiritual energy, turning it into a state close to [nothingness].

Therefore, as long as one masters the spiritual power of the [Dragon Essence Stone], one can ignore these troublesome interactions and the order in which innate spirits enter the body.

Of course, he didn't want to take it from Xue Jian; he only needed a wisp of spiritual energy from the Dragon Essence Stone.

And now, he has already taken control.

"So, it's that simple." A dragon pattern flashed in Jing Tian's pupils.

In that instant, his energy was almost nonexistent. He even summarized it as a skill with a very low learning threshold and named it the "Hibernating Dragon Art".

The dragon pattern in the pupils was merely a strange phenomenon that occurred after this set of techniques was instantly perfected.

"Yes, who would have thought it would be so simple? As long as we cross Nine Peaks Mountain, the headquarters of the Thunderclap Hall will be located in Deyang City." Xue Jian exclaimed.

The four have arrived in Deyang City.

The location of the Thunderclap Hall was not a secret to the people of Deyang City, because not all members of the Thunderclap Hall wanted to become demons. Disciples often escaped, and over time, their location was exposed—in a well at the Deyang Inn.

It's worth mentioning that they also rescued an elderly person on the way.

This led to the appearance of a Begonia Spirit, who, in gratitude to the four, gifted them a unique sword technique perfectly suited to Xue Jian's constitution—the manual for the [Green Wave Crimson Dew Slash].

In the game, it's a healing skill that summons vampire plants to absorb the enemy's essence.

In the manual, it is described as a sword energy that absorbs the essence of plants to cultivate a way to nourish and restore one's vitality by integrating it into the blood and qi.

Xue Jian mastered it almost immediately after reading it once, without needing to absorb any plant essence.

After entering the well, he used it to kill several demons and rescue several Thunderclap Hall disciples who were imprisoned in a stone cell and refused to become demons.

Soon, the four of them arrived at the deepest part of the Thunderclap Hall's tunnel, where they found another stone cell.

"Another one. Let me rescue him." Xue Jian drew a green, wavy sword aura with her sword fingers, breaking the stone lock.