Kaiyang Sect

Heavenly Devil Body Tempering Great Technique?

Seeing this, a gleam lit up in Master Zhong's eyes.

The Heavenly Devil Body Tempering Great Technique consisted of more than thirty thousand words. Just as he had done when he first saw the Red Phoenix Heavenly Scripture, Master Zhong spent five days in this Mountain Cave committing the entire text to memory.

The Heavenly Devil Body Tempering Great Technique was not the name of a proper orthodox cultivation method, but rather an auxiliary technique resembling one that stimulated latent potential.

True Qi and True Essence could, depending on their strength, be used with the Heavenly Devil Body Tempering Great Technique to erupt all at once. For one shichen, according to the degree of cultivation, it could unleash several times one's own strength.

There were twelve stages in total. If one cultivated it to the twelfth stage, one could unleash thirteen times one's own strength. This—this was an utterly monstrous ability!

After using the technique for one shichen, one would naturally have to endure a period of weakness afterward, ranging from one to five days. During that time, one's strength would fall to less than half its original level, or even to only a tenth.

Only after passing through the weakened period could everything recover. However, the Heavenly Devil Body Tempering Great Technique differed from ordinary Disintegration Great Arts. Each time it was used, the energy rapidly consumed from one's body did not vanish. Instead, it transformed into power that tempered the flesh. Just like the Fiend God, whose monstrous physical body had filled Master Zhong with delighted surprise.

The Heavenly Devil Body Tempering Great Technique?

It would not conflict with other cultivation methods, so he could cultivate it alongside them? In any case, he had already memorized all thirty thousand-plus words. Then what about this black cloth? Pass it down to later generations? Nonsense—of course it had to be destroyed.

But how should he destroy it? Even yin energy could not corrode it. What could he do?

No matter what, he would give it a try. Master Zhong took out a fire striker and gently touched the cloth with the flame.

"Zizizizi..."

The black cloth actually caught fire?

Watching this scene, Master Zhong opened and closed his mouth in astonishment. Yin energy could not destroy it, yet a little fire imbued with yang energy had burned it?

As he watched the black cloth slowly turn to ash, Master Zhong's heart settled.

He looked around, then removed the fist-sized Night-Luminescent Pearl. There was not even a speck of dust on it, clearly because the Fiend God and the others had brought it there.

He walked out of the Mountain Cave and glanced back at it. Master Zhong had no intention of staying there any longer. If someone came again, wouldn't he be doomed?

He found some stones and blocked the cave entrance, memorized the location, and then crossed over the mountain ridge and continued north.

After finding a relatively secluded valley, Master Zhong buried the Night-Luminescent Pearl in a hidden place. Regardless of whether it was valuable, he had no intention of carrying it with him. He was afraid someone might recognize it in the future. Once he had enough strength, he could return to retrieve it.

After finding a quiet place, Master Zhong cultivated the Heavenly Devil Body Tempering Great Technique once.

Just like with the Red Phoenix Heavenly Scripture, the first stage was the easiest to cultivate. After a month, he had grasped the knack. But Master Zhong did not deliberately use it out of curiosity to see its effects. Once the weakened period arrived, running into another ferocious beast would be the end of him.

For now, getting to the Kaiyang Sect was more important.

He crossed mountains and rivers along the way, hurrying toward the Kaiyang Sect. He encountered some demon beasts again during the journey, and it was only because Master Zhong had been extraordinarily lucky that he survived. On one occasion, he even encountered a Black Panther Demon Beast. If he had not used the Heavenly Devil Body Tempering Great Technique to unleash twice his strength, then drugged the black panther with the Red Phoenix Mist, he would have been completely finished.

After using the Heavenly Devil Body Tempering Great Technique once, his body was indeed weak for a day, but he quickly recovered. Moreover, his body had also become much tougher.

A month and a half later, he finally arrived at the location of the Kaiyang Sect's gate, dressed in a set of tattered clothes and carrying a small bundle.

The Kaiyang Sect stood amid a mountain range wreathed in clouds and mist. Looking at the mountains that seemed both real and illusory, it was not difficult to tell that this place concealed a powerful formation.

Outside the mountain gate stood a Heaven Stele—or rather, a stone mountain that had been split in two with a single strike. On its smooth face were three characters, written in a free and vigorous style and brimming with dominance.

"Kaiyang Sect."

This was the mountain gate of the Kaiyang Sect.

The area around the Heaven Stele was as broad and empty as the wilderness. Even high-level demon beasts did not dare approach it without permission.

Before him, besides the Heaven Stele, there was only a thatched hut in the distance. A vegetable plot lay outside the hut.

Just as Master Zhong turned his gaze toward it, the thatched hut suddenly opened as well. An old white-haired man who looked even older than Master Zhong had once been slowly walked out.

When he saw Master Zhong, a strange glint flashed through his murky eyes. He walked over slowly.

"What business do you have?" the white-haired old man asked indifferently.

"This junior is Zhong Shan. Greetings, Senior." Master Zhong immediately spoke.

"Zhong Shan?" The old man paused slightly and thought about it, but could not recall who Zhong Shan was. He looked at Zhong Shan again.

"May I ask, Senior, are you of the Kaiyang Sect?" Zhong Shan asked respectfully.

"That's right. I am the one responsible for guarding the mountain and receiving visitors for the Kaiyang Sect. What business do you have?" the white-haired old man said indifferently, as though the sudden appearance of this person could not stir the slightest ripple in his heart.

Seeing the white-haired old man's attitude toward him, Zhong Shan frowned. A hundred thoughts flashed through his mind. Master Zhong's cultivation might be far weaker than that of these cultivators, but there was one thing in which he was not the slightest bit inferior to those lofty cultivators.

His heart—Master Zhong's heart. Fifty-five years was not a long time, but after rolling through the mortal world, Master Zhong had long since seen through a great deal of human hearts and human nature. At this moment, his heart was clear. If the old man truly was merely the mountain guard responsible for receiving visitors, he could not possibly have this attitude.

"May I ask Senior's name?" Zhong Shan asked.

"My name? What name could I have? I failed to achieve anything in cultivation and am now nearing the end of my life. I'm merely guarding the mountain and receiving visitors here, spending the rest of my days. You may call me 'Shoushan.'" The white-haired old man smiled faintly.

"Senior Shoushan, this junior is Zhong Shan. I was entrusted by a Senior of the Kaiyang Sect to deliver a Jade Slip and present it to the Sect Master, as well as convey that Senior's words from back then." Zhong Shan spoke.

"A Jade Slip?" Shoushan furrowed his brows.

Zhong Shan swiftly and extremely carefully took out the restricted Jade Slip from his chest.

When Shoushan saw the Jade Slip, his murky eyes clearly froze. He reached out, as though he intended to seize it, but after that instant, his eyes once again became murky. He nodded at Zhong Shan.

"Give me the Jade Slip. I'll go notify them." Shoushan nodded.

"Yes." Zhong Shan nodded in response.

The change in Shoushan at that moment had not escaped Zhong Shan's notice, but Zhong Shan did not expose him. He merely recorded his conjecture in his heart.

Shoushan took the Jade Slip and slowly walked toward the foot of the mountain not far away. Then his figure flickered, and he vanished before Zhong Shan's eyes. Clearly, he had entered the great formation.

Zhong Shan waited patiently outside the formation until an incense stick of time had passed.

Suddenly, three people flew out from within the distant formation.

All three rode clouds beneath their feet. In the center was a Dao Robe Man who looked like an ordinary sixty-year-old and held Zhong Shan's Jade Slip in his hand. To his left was a woman in white Daoist robes who looked somewhat old but still retained her charm. On his right was a middle-aged man with swordlike brows and bright, starry eyes.

The three emerged from the formation and all frowned as they looked at Zhong Shan.

"This junior is Zhong Shan. Greetings, Seniors." Zhong Shan immediately bowed.

"You're the one who delivered the Jade Slip?" The old man in the center stared at Zhong Shan with a frown.

"Yes." Zhong Shan immediately nodded.

"Mm. Follow me into Kaiyang Hall." The old man spoke.

Then the old man waved his hand, and a white cloud suddenly appeared beneath Zhong Shan's feet. It carried him into the formation together with the three others.

The white cloud flew along a strange route. After a while, he saw the interior. Though the scenery inside also consisted of mountain ranges, it was worlds apart from what could be seen outside. It seemed the outside was itself a massive illusion.

There were valleys, waterfalls, lakes, bamboo forests, houses, and all kinds of buildings inside.

Everyone flew extremely fast. Before long, they arrived at the summit of a high mountain. A huge plaza occupied the mountaintop, along with a massive palace.

The four of them flew directly into the palace. As he entered, Zhong Shan saw the plaque hanging above it.

"Kaiyang Hall."

The great hall was empty.

P.S.: Because of the ranking competition, I'm releasing this chapter early. I hope everyone will give Guan Qi plenty of recommendation votes and encouragement. Thank you.