The Method

To be honest, Shen Gui was quite interested in Xing Tian's proposal.

Of course, what he cared about was not the Wu Clan's secret techniques for cultivating the body, but the method that even the lowest-ranking Wu Clan members knew: absorbing baleful qi to strengthen the body.

Theoretically speaking, apart from the Wu Clan, who had been formed from Pangu's Essence Blood combined with the baleful qi of the Primordial Land, this method would be useless even if others obtained it.

Rather than baleful qi, this qi was better described as Turbid Qi.

When Pangu split open heaven and earth, the clear rose while the turbid sank.

This was that Turbid Qi.

Other than the Wu Clan, even Saints would have their bodies tainted if they absorbed this Turbid Qi.

However, Shen Gui did not want this method in order to absorb Turbid Qi.

He thought for a moment. The Wu Clan had been formed from Pangu's Essence Blood and the Turbid Qi of the earth, so they could absorb Turbid Qi to strengthen their bodies.

Then, by the same logic, since he had taken form through Mysterious Yellow Qi, could he continue absorbing Mysterious Yellow Qi to strengthen his body?

If this method worked, he could even refine the Heaven and Earth Mysterious Yellow Pagoda into his body bit by bit. By then, his body might truly be imperishable through ten thousand tribulations. Forget the body of the Mysterious Black Tortoise of the Northern Darkness—even the bodies of the Chaos Demon Gods of old might not compare to his.

Yet the most awkward thing was that his body was so strong solely because he had taken form through Mysterious Yellow Qi. He had no method at all for strengthening the body.

"Um, Great Wu Xing Tian, to be honest, the reason my body is so strong is merely because I encountered some opportunities when I took form. You could say it was innate; it has nothing to do with later cultivation. So, I do not have any method for cultivating the body."

Shen Gui was telling the absolute truth, but Xing Tian's expression darkened slightly after hearing it. "Brother Shen Gui, if you do not want to share your body-cultivation method, then forget it. Our Wu Clan will not force anyone, but there is no need for you to fool me."

"But my body really is innate."

Shen Gui was helpless.

Why did no one believe him when he was clearly telling the truth?

Seeing the helpless look on Shen Gui's face, Xing Tian froze for a moment. "Brother Shen Gui, you really aren't fooling me?"

Shen Gui sighed. "I'm not."

Then he saw Xing Tian turn around and squat in the corner.

"Uh, Great Wu Xing Tian, what's wrong?" Now it was Shen Gui who could not make heads or tails of the situation.

"Nothing. Let me be alone for a while." Xing Tian drew circles as he spoke without turning his head.

Why were there people like this in the world?!

A cultivator at the Golden Immortal realm had a body stronger than his, a Great Wu of the Wu Clan. It would have been one thing if Shen Gui possessed some secret body-cultivation technique, but now he was saying it was innate?

His painstakingly cultivated body was actually inferior to someone else's innate body?

I might as well kill myself.

Shen Gui tossed another strip of dried meat into his mouth, thoroughly baffled.

How had Xing Tian, who had been perfectly fine, ended up squatting in a corner drawing circles?

Still, he had no idea what kind of meat this was, but it was quite chewy.

Fortunately, Xing Tian recovered quickly.

Since Shen Gui's body was innate, that meant that although his body was not as strong as Shen Gui's right now, as long as he cultivated diligently, he should be able to surpass him!

After encouraging himself like this, Xing Tian finally returned to sit across from Shen Gui.

Seeing that Xing Tian seemed to have adjusted his mindset, Shen Gui cautiously asked, "Great Wu Xing Tian, may I ask whether your Wu Clan's method of absorbing the earth's Turbid Qi is very precious?"

"Why are you asking about that?" Xing Tian did not react at first.

"Every member of the Wu Clan knows this method, so naturally it is not some secret technique. In fact, aside from our Wu Clan, no one else can absorb the earth's Turbid Qi. Therefore, this method is not a secret at all."

"I see."

Shen Gui could not help feeling a little excited.

"Since this method is not a secret, could I exchange something with Great Wu Xing Tian for it? Great Wu Xing Tian may name any condition or request anything you need."

Xing Tian gave Shen Gui a surprised look. "Brother Shen Gui, why do you want this method? You cannot absorb the earth's Turbid Qi anyway. But if you want it, I'll just give you a copy. It isn't anything rare. There is no need for an exchange."

As he spoke, Xing Tian pointed a finger, and a speck of Dark Light flew toward Shen Gui.

Shen Gui drew the Dark Light into his sea of consciousness, and a method immediately appeared in his mind.

"However, Brother Shen Gui, let me make this clear first. It is fine for you to read this method, but do not actually try absorbing the earth's Turbid Qi. If your body is tainted by Turbid Qi, that would be no joke."

Shen Gui silently memorized the method for future study before thanking him. "Thank you, Great Wu Xing Tian. But please rest assured, I naturally will not court death by absorbing the earth's Turbid Qi."

He wanted this method only to see whether he could find a way to absorb Mysterious Yellow Qi and strengthen his body, not to absorb Turbid Qi.

Hearing Shen Gui say this, Xing Tian nodded in relief. "That is good."