Chen Heng repeatedly confirmed the contents of the [Sacrificial Ritual of Holding Talismans], learning that the type, cultivation, and traits of the demon beast sacrificed would directly determine the nature and strength of the Lu Qi he sought.
His mind raced as he considered how to make use of this secret art.
He needed to seek suitable Lu Qi from this mysterious Profound Mirror, using it to raise his strength as quickly as possible.
Only one month remained until the decisive contest between the Chen and Luo families.
Chen Heng could not seek Lu Qi that required time or resources to develop, and he was currently only at the third layer of Qi Refining. His ability in spell battles was rather limited.
Nor did he have the ability to capture high-level demon beasts for sacrifice. He could only draw upon the low-level demon beasts raised or captured in the Chen family's beast garden for sacrifice.
Chen Heng continued pacing back and forth inside the small wooden house. For cultivators in early Qi Refining, their reserves of true essence were limited, so the mana available for casting spells was actually quite scarce.
At present, the best way to improve himself should be to seek a strand of Lu Qi that increased his physical strength.
Or perhaps he could sacrifice a turtle demon beast to improve his ability to take a beating!?
Chen Heng raised a hand and slapped himself twice, gathering his scattered thoughts.
If he wanted to improve his ability in spell battles, it still had to come down to the cultivation arts he practiced—the Chen family's three major techniques.
They were—
Fiery Eyes Water Ape Transformation.
Water Fire Heaven-Reaching Staff Technique.
Water Fire Defense Scripture.
They represented body refinement, spells, and mana.
These three techniques sounded quite intimidating, but aside from the Water Fire Heaven-Reaching Staff Technique, which was a complete Qi Refining-level staff art—
The other two techniques were incomplete and could at most be cultivated to Mid Qi Refining.
This was the common treatment for Chen family cultivators who were bastard sons from branch lines and possessed ordinary-grade spiritual roots.
The reason was nothing else: cultivation consumed far too many resources. Although the Chen family was a Foundation Establishment Family, and Foundation Establishment true cultivators sat within it—
Cultivation resources had always been a case of too many monks and too little porridge. The Chen family could only focus its efforts on nurturing descendants of outstanding talent.
After all, in this world of immortal cultivation, only those who possessed spiritual roots could cultivate.
Common spiritual roots included Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, Earth; mutated spiritual roots included Wind, Thunder, Ice, Darkness; there were also certain heaven-blessed innate physiques, such as the Pure Yang Physique and Gang Spirit Body.
Yet spiritual roots were not judged as superior or inferior by their number, but by the degree of their affinity with spiritual energy.
Based on spiritual energy affinity, they were divided into grades one through nine. First-grade was the worst, while ninth-grade was the best!
Those with low spiritual energy affinity, grades one through three, were known as low-grade spiritual roots.
Those with middling spiritual energy affinity, grades four through six, were known as medium-grade spiritual roots.
Seventh-grade was a high-grade spiritual root, eighth-grade an Earth Spirit Root, and ninth-grade a Heaven Spirit Root!
Spiritual energy was naturally born from heaven and earth. Only those with the aptitude of eighth- or ninth-grade spiritual energy affinity could bear the names of earth or heaven!
And ninth-grade Heaven Spirit Roots, due to their exceedingly high affinity with spiritual energy and incredibly rapid cultivation speed, were also called spiritual bodies.
Chen Heng possessed medium-grade Water-Fire Spiritual Roots. His affinity for both water and fire spiritual energy was fifth-grade, making his talent fairly mediocre.
Had he been born into some Qi Refining family, he should have received focused cultivation as well.
Rather than being left to fend for himself as he was in the Chen family—good things never came his way, but he could not dodge the bad ones.
As for participating in the decisive contest, they claimed it had been decided by the clan elders drawing lots. But who knew whether the lot container held only bastard sons without backing, just like him?
At this thought, Chen Heng, who had never possessed much sense of belonging toward the Chen family to begin with—
Became even more detached from the family after this incident.
Still, when one arrived, one should make the best of it.
Times had changed. Since he had already come to this world of immortal cultivation, he naturally had to seek long life and unrestrained freedom.
"But the urgent matter at hand is the decisive contest on Little Bamboo Peak one month from now!"
With his thoughts cleared, Chen Heng's heart became like a tranquil lake, every ripple gone. He muttered to himself.
Of the three techniques, the one most easily improved in a short time was the body-refinement technique—Fiery Eyes Water Ape Transformation.
As long as his own strength increased, the technique's power would naturally rise as well. He might even use a single force to crush ten techniques.
Put simply, he just had to charge in headfirst!
Chen Heng pressed one hand to his forehead and began recalling the demon beasts raised and captured in the Chen family's beast garden. Which could meet his need for increased strength while not being too powerful or precious, making them easy to obtain?
A flash of inspiration suddenly struck him. Wasn't the Great Strength Arm-Reaching Ape, an early first-stage demon beast raised by the Chen family, exactly what he needed?
This demon beast excelled in strength, and it also matched the characteristics of his body-refinement technique, the Fiery Eyes Water Ape Transformation.
This technique used visualization of the third-stage demon beast Fiery Eyes Water Ape from the Three Mountains and Four Waters as its foundation, drawing in heaven and earth spiritual energy to temper the fleshly body and erupt with the immense strength of a divine ape.
If one could comprehend the true intent of the divine ape, one could condense a Divine Ape Spirit Mark.
One Divine Ape Spirit Mark could add ten thousand jin of tremendous force,
And the limit of the Fiery Eyes Water Ape Transformation was thirty-three Divine Ape Spirit Marks.
Yet because this technique was incomplete, no Chen family cultivator in history had ever condensed more than ten Divine Ape Spirit Marks.
Even after Chen Heng's bitter cultivation until now, he had condensed only half a Divine Ape Spirit Mark.
If his own strength could rise to a tremendous force of one hundred thousand jin, handling decisive contest opponents who were merely at the third layer of Qi Refining should be as easy as plucking something from his hand.
With the sacrificial demon beast chosen, he still needed to prepare the ritual items required for the [Sacrificial Ritual of Holding Talismans].
But they were all ordinary things, and that old servant should be able to prepare them for him.
With that thought, Chen Heng rose and walked to the door, pushing open the wooden door.
Sure enough, Uncle Fu, the weathered old servant at Mid Qi Refining with a slightly stooped back, immediately appeared before him.
"Young Master Heng, whatever you require, simply entrust it to this old servant, and I will prepare it for you."
The old servant spoke with extreme respect, yet the stance he displayed made it clear that he hoped Chen Heng would not leave even this wooden house.
Service in name, house arrest in truth.
Chen Heng sneered inwardly, but his expression remained entirely normal as he said calmly, "Please prepare a living Great Strength Arm-Reaching Ape for me, Uncle Fu. I need to comprehend the Fiery Eyes Water Ape Transformation."
Upon hearing this, Uncle Fu found nothing inappropriate about it.
This technique originally required visualizing the Fiery Eyes Water Ape as its foundation. But the Fiery Eyes Water Ape possessed a High-grade Bloodline and, once grown, was a third-stage demon beast comparable to a Purple Palace cultivator.
With the Chen family's strength, it simply could not capture a living Fiery Eyes Water Ape.
To observe one at close range to aid comprehension of the Fiery Eyes Water Ape Transformation, they could only settle for the next best thing and choose ordinary ape-type demon beasts.
"Additionally, I need a Talisman Brush, some Talisman Paper and cinnabar, as well as three fine sandalwood incense sticks and an incense burner." Chen Heng spoke without expression.
Uncle Fu repeatedly nodded in agreement and said with utmost deference, "Young Master Heng, please do not leave the area within five li. Wait a moment, and this old servant will immediately bring you the items you require."
Chen Heng did not respond. He simply turned and returned to the room.
Not long afterward.
Uncle Fu delivered all the required items to the small wooden house where Chen Heng lived.
That night.
The moon hung at its zenith, and the night was deep and still.
Chen Heng rose from his bed, bringing all the required items with him—especially the early first-stage Great Strength Arm-Reaching Ape that had been knocked unconscious!
He slowly entered the underground cultivation chamber he had excavated himself.
The underground cultivation chamber was not large, merely three zhang square. It contained only a simple meditation cushion, a plain stone table, and a stone stool.
Because of his ordinary birth and the early deaths of his parents, Chen Heng, before awakening his past-life memories, had been a bitter cultivator devoted wholeheartedly to cultivation.
He did not demand much of external conditions such as his living environment.
This underground room was likewise a cultivation chamber he had personally excavated.
Chen Heng did not hesitate and strode directly to the stone table.
Holding the Talisman Brush, he dipped it lightly in cinnabar and began inscribing the [Sacrificial Mark] and [Talisman Bestowal Mark] required for the Sacrificial Ritual of Holding Talismans upon the stone table.
This was one of the ritual arrangements required for the sacrificial ceremony: the Profound Mirror Altar!
As for the Sacrificial Mark and Talisman Bestowal Mark, Chen Heng had carefully inscribed them on Talisman Paper throughout the afternoon. He would not claim complete confidence, but at least practice had made him skilled.
His expression focused, he inscribed the markings upon the stone table. His movements flowed like drifting clouds and running water, completed in one breath.
Not long afterward.
The Sacrificial Mark and Talisman Bestowal Mark had already been inscribed upon the stone table, turning it into a simple Profound Mirror Altar.
Chen Heng let out a slight breath of relief, then placed the unconscious Great Strength Arm-Reaching Ape upon the "Sacrificial Mark" of the Profound Mirror Altar.
The Great Strength Arm-Reaching Ape's head directly faced Chen Heng.
He then took out a simple, ancient incense burner and placed it upon the "Talisman Bestowal Mark" of the Profound Mirror Altar.
Chen Heng held his breath and focused his mind. He lit the three sandalwood incense sticks, held the bundle of incense in his hand, circled the Profound Mirror Altar three times, and recited the Altar Purification Incantation from the Sacrificial Ritual of Holding Talismans.
"Clear qi rises, turbid filth sinks; let the Profound Mirror open wide, reaching the hidden and attaining the mystery!"
This was meant to dispel disturbances and define the ritual domain.
A short while later, Chen Heng stood before the altar. His right thumb pinched the base of his ring finger, his remaining three fingers slightly extended; his left hand formed a hand seal, and his gaze fixed upon the center of the Profound Mirror Altar.
At the same time, he single-mindedly visualized the mysterious Profound Mirror within his sea of consciousness.
Then he sincerely recited the prayer from the Sacrificial Ritual of Holding Talismans.
"Profound Mirror above, let the myriad transformations merge in darkness."
"Today, with this sacrificial offering, I present this demon spirit."
"I beg your penetrating discernment; bestow a talisman's blessing!"
Once he finished, Chen Heng immediately flicked the essence blood from his fingertip toward the Great Strength Arm-Reaching Ape atop the Profound Mirror Altar.
Not long afterward.
The Great Strength Arm-Reaching Ape atop the Profound Mirror Altar weathered and dissipated at a visible rate, turning into wisps of ghostly light that flowed into the altar's patterns.
At the same time, Chen Heng felt a warm current pour in from the crown of his head.
The Great Strength Arm-Reaching Ape atop the Profound Mirror Altar completely vanished as well.
Upon the mirror surface of the Profound Mirror in his sea of consciousness, four ancient talisman characters emerged: [Force Piercing Thousand Jin].
Before Chen Heng could react, the four ancient talisman characters transformed into a stream of gray Lu Qi and merged into every limb and bone of his body.
The four ancient talisman characters [Force Piercing Thousand Jin] likewise remained upon the spirit platform in his sea of consciousness.
In an instant, he understood the blessing effect of this Lu Qi: extraordinary arm strength, blood and qi rising like smoke.
Moreover, with a thought, he could activate this Lu Qi. For a short time, his strength would surge dramatically, allowing him to split mountains and shatter stone.
And while it remained activated, the results of cultivating and comprehending body-refinement techniques would yield twice the result with half the effort.
Chen Heng did not hesitate. He immediately activated the blessing effect of the [Force Piercing Thousand Jin] Lu Qi.
He instantly felt astonishing strength in his arms. If he threw a punch, he reckoned he could collapse this underground cultivation chamber of his.
Yet Chen Heng's purpose was to comprehend the Fiery Eyes Water Ape Transformation, not to flaunt his explosively increased strength.
He hurriedly gathered his heart and restrained his spirit, closing his eyes to visualize the Fiery Eyes Water Ape Transformation.
Under the Lu Qi's blessing, a strange perception came from the mysterious Profound Mirror and surged into Chen Heng's soul and sea of consciousness.
Awooo!
A bright, long, rugged, impassioned ape cry resounded through Chen Heng's sea of consciousness.
At the same time, an insight from nowhere emerged in Chen Heng's heart and echoed through his sea of consciousness!
Fiery Eyes Water Ape Transformation!
A Fiery Eyes Water Ape, towering like a mountain and blazing with golden light, raised its head toward the sun and howled at the heavens.
The golden divine ape held a staff in both hands and smashed it toward mountains and rivers. Then one heavy, ancient spirit mark after another, interwoven with water and fire, emerged across its body.
An irresistible staff momentum burst forth with a thunderous roar. Wherever it passed, mountains collapsed and rivers ran dry.
In an instant, Chen Heng's comprehension of the Fiery Eyes Water Ape Transformation, along with the Water Fire Heaven-Reaching Staff Technique, surged rapidly.
He stepped forward, held his hands as though gripping a staff, and visualized the Fiery Eyes Water Ape Transformation.
A faint golden glow surfaced across his body, while two golden spirit marks resembling ape patterns appeared upon his arms.
Divine Ape Spirit Marks.
They were the cultivation attainment formed by practicing the Fiery Eyes Water Ape Transformation, comprehending its true intent, and refining it with one's own mana.
The deeper one's attainment, the more spirit marks one possessed!
Under the Lu Qi's blessing, in the span of a fingertip, Chen Heng condensed two complete Divine Ape Spirit Marks.
At the same time, the two Divine Ape Spirit Marks on his arms suddenly shone brightly, drawing in the surrounding heaven and earth spiritual energy and transforming it into streams of pure true essence that nourished his body.
This technique had now crossed the threshold!
And the violent disturbance in spiritual energy was also sensed by Uncle Fu, the old servant guarding outside the wooden house.
He watched for a long time and wanted to push open the door and enter, but in the end, he did nothing.
As for Chen Heng, immersed in cultivation, he naturally knew nothing of the changes outside.
Before you continue