Mountain Collapse Sea Tsunami, Puzzling and Unpredictable

"When did the Princess return to the city?"

The news of Princess Xiyao's return sent a jolt through Chen Qing.

"Three days ago," Xu Zhaoying said, a shadow crossing her brow. "This trip outside was not smooth. We lost several attendants."

Chen Qing noticed the regret in her voice and the hint of sorrow in her eyes, a stark contrast to her usual carefree demeanor.

"Let's not talk about that," Xu Zhaoying suddenly changed the subject. "Tomorrow, at Chen Shi, the Princess will summon those with outstanding evaluations at her residence. If your theory on dividing the Yellow Court realm into four stages is complete, this is your opportunity. You can present it, and if you gain her favor, the worry of being sent back to the Mysterious Prison will be gone."

Chen Qing's eyes flickered.

Cultivating in dreams had many conveniences, but he wasn't seeking cultivation itself, but rather experience, knowledge, visualization diagrams, and more. If he could gain the Princess's favor, perhaps he could access more high-level techniques and resources.

He could do this.

He would do it seriously.

"Thank you for the message, Fellow Daoist Xu," he said, cupping his hands in thanks. "May I ask what topics the Princess enjoys? I wish to prepare in advance."

Xu Zhaoying's smile vanished, and she raised an eyebrow slightly. "What? General Chen, whose Spiritual Bone was crippled, has learned to curry favor? When I spoke with you, you weren't polite at all. Every time you pointed out an error, you were direct and unforgiving."

Chen Qing froze. After a moment of recollection, he said, "If pointing out errors is also indirect, it cannot serve as a warning."

"Don't be nervous," Xu Zhaoying said seriously again. "The Princess detests sycophants the most. If you have true talent, speak your mind." With that, she turned to leave. At the door, she paused and added, "The solution for the bone calcification has indeed taken effect. I acknowledge this favor."

After Xu Zhaoying left, Chen Qing immediately sat cross-legged and entered meditation, both to adjust his state for meeting the Princess tomorrow and to familiarize himself with the changes in his dream body.

The Supreme Harmony Qi flowed through his meridians like a clear spring cleansing him.

Unlike the sluggishness of cultivation in the real world, the spiritual energy in the dream world was almost luxuriously abundant. With every breath, spiritual energy spontaneously surged in, and his cultivation grew with each circulation.

"No wonder the dream body progresses so rapidly," he mused inwardly. "Even with talent and foundation, without such celestial spiritual energy, it would be difficult to achieve such progress."

But he quickly dismissed these thoughts. The priority was to use this dream opportunity to enhance his strength to deal with the crisis outside the dream. Thinking too much was useless.

As night fell, Chen Qing remained seated, regulating his breathing, resting, and reviewing the experiences of the past year and a half.

After waking from his previous dream, he had only focused on cultivating and remembering. Due to Xu Zhaoying's visit, he had rushed through it. Tomorrow, when he met the Princess, he had to be able to answer fluently if asked about the details of his past, to avoid any complications.

Memories flooded in like a tide--

After his consciousness was last withdrawn, his dream body had been diligently cultivating in this secluded courtyard, gradually earning the name "cultivation fanatic."

On a rainy night half a year ago, this body suddenly had an inspiration. It integrated the "harmony of hardness and softness" from the Sea and Mountain Remnant Scroll into the Great Mountain Art, drawing the spiritual energy of the earth veins to merge with the Supreme Harmony Qi. This merged energy spontaneously erupted, circulating nine times through the Twelve Meridians, cleansing the marrow and guiding the Qi, allowing him to break through to the middle stage of the second realm in one go.

At that time, spiritual energy turned into rain, enveloping the courtyard, and the phenomenon alarmed everyone.

Lü Han personally came to investigate and sighed, "Truly a heaven-blessed prodigy! To achieve such progress with a crippled Spiritual Bone, I, who have lived for three hundred years, have never seen the like."

From then on, Xu Zhaoying's visits increased significantly.

Initially, she came to ask about difficult questions, which gradually evolved into regular discussions. Because she was open-minded and shared her knowledge of the Vast Scripture without reservation, Chen Qing benefited greatly. He took notes of key points, and their relationship grew closer.

"I never expected that the dream body would also reveal its prowess before others, and even discuss the Dao with a beauty..." Chen Qing was stunned. He then thought that since it was a dream, it was fine for the dream body to cause a stir. As long as he gained insights and understood the techniques, it was a true gain.

"However, in the real world outside the dream, to break through from the early stage of the second realm to the middle stage, one needs to use the heart of a lightning-struck peach wood to guide the spiritual energy of the earth veins, circulate it nine times through the Twelve Meridians, and then use marrow-cleansing grass to soothe the meridians. Only then is there a certain chance of success. But in this dream realm, it was achieved effortlessly simply by the abundance of spiritual energy!"

Before entering the dream, he had actually planned to use the prescription for assisting advancement in the real world as a bargaining chip to exchange for opportunities in this world. At this moment, he felt a sense of futility and, losing his focus, went to the bookshelf, took out a notebook, and began to read to calm his mind.

This notebook contained simple meridian circulation diagrams and notes on the tempering essentials for various acupoints. It was a fragmented copy of the Vast Scripture recorded after discussing the Dao with Xu Zhaoying. The discussion on the changes in the Water Element could be integrated into the meaning of sea rhythm in the Sea and Mountain Remnant Scroll.

"All rivers return to the sea, all streams return to their source. Water is inherently soft, yet dripping water can pierce stone..."

Chen Qing softly recited the incantation, and the Supreme Harmony True Qi in his body flowed with the sound. The crystal-clear water droplets condensed on his skin moved along a mysterious trajectory, finally converging in the Yellow Court. Instantly, the Qi mechanism within his body surged like a river, and a hazy mist, like vapor, emanated from within a foot of his body.

"This Vast Scripture is water, returning to the sea. The Great Mountain Art is the mountain. Can they both be integrated into the Sea and Mountain Remnant Scroll to complete this technique?"

With a thought, the mountain and sea True Intent of the Great Mountain Heavenly Art also surged in his meridians, heavy as a mountain, unmoving.

The two techniques, one soft and one hard, one sea and one mountain, should have complemented each other. However, at this moment, because the circulation methods were not yet fully harmonized, they were subtly clashing!

"Ugh--"

His meridians felt like they were being pricked by needles!

The water waves and the majestic mountain forms collided violently, unleashing unprecedented power, causing spiritual light to flash on Chen Qing's body. Mountain stone patterns and water mist intertwined, and his aura surged!

Boom!

Water light burst forth at Chen Qing's feet, cracking the ground!

The violent surge of energy turned, blowing everything in the room askew and shattering it into pieces!

"Such powerful explosive force! If this continues, my meridians will be damaged!"

Chen Qing's heart trembled, and he immediately became alert. Although this unintentional collision of mountains and seas could temporarily increase his combat power, even unleash a terrifying blow, it damaged the fundamental structure of his meridians.

He immediately calmed his mind and guided the two forces to return to their origin.

After adjusting his breathing, he wiped the fine sweat from his forehead and carefully contemplated the changes that had just occurred, a flicker of excitement in his eyes.

"The mountain's stability, the sea's surge, the clash between the two is like surging waves. Although it cannot last, it can unleash power far exceeding one's realm in an instant!" He gently touched his chest. "If used in a critical moment, this move, 'Mountain Collapse Sea Tsunami,' though only for a moment, can unleash potential and fight beyond one's level. It's not a bad trump card."

But then Chen Qing thought again.

"This move should only be used by the dream body. The physical body in the real world is weak. Forcing it would damage the foundation."

The path of cultivation emphasizes gradual progress, especially for the physical body in reality, which needs to lay the foundation for longevity and cannot be easily damaged.

As he thought, he entered meditation again. This time, he didn't force the fusion, but instead carefully pondered the profound mysteries of the two scriptures, seeking the path of balance between hardness and softness.

"The Sea and Mountain Remnant Scroll inherently emphasizes 'mountainous terrain hiding oceanic charm.' Using this as a bridge might allow the two cultivation methods to truly merge..."

As the east brightened, Chen Qing had already changed his clothes.

He chose an indigo robe, neither disrespectful nor overly deliberate.

"Fellow Daoist Chen, are you ready?" Xu Zhaoying's voice came from outside the door.

"Coming."

Before leaving, Chen Qing hid several cultivation methods, along with his personal notes, into the storage pouch he wore close to his body. This was a gift from Lü Han, containing a space three feet square.

Pushing the door open to meet her, the female cultivator was still dressed simply.

Chen Qing performed a ritualistic greeting, "Thank you for guiding the way, Fellow Daoist."

Xu Zhaoying looked him up and down and smiled, "Let's go, don't keep the Princess waiting."

As the two walked through the streets and alleys, Chen Qing suddenly felt something unusual about the city. The city gate guards were twice as many as he remembered from his fragmented memories. The streets were sparsely populated, and a faint, metallic scent wafted through the air, like sea wind mixed with the smell of blood.

"Fellow Daoist Xu, has something happened in the city?" he asked in a low voice.

"Three days ago, the Princess was attacked when she returned to the city," Xu Zhaoying replied, her footsteps not stopping, her voice barely audible. "The city is searching for any remaining culprits."

Chen Qing frowned slightly.

Being attacked in his own fiefdom, it seemed this Princess's situation was more precarious than he had imagined, and the political landscape of this Immortal Dynasty appeared even more convoluted.

Turning a long street, a dark, imposing mansion stood tall, shaped like a crouching beast.

Twelve Pan Ni statues perched on the eaves. At first glance, they seemed like decorations, but upon closer inspection, one could see their eyes following the passersby.

"These are imperial gifts – Pan Ni," Xu Zhaoying noticed Chen Qing's gaze. "They are refined with the essence blood of Suan Ni as their core, and each one possesses the cultivation of the third realm! In critical moments, by burning their essence blood, they can even increase their combat power!"

Chen Qing was inwardly awestruck.

Outside this mansion alone stood twelve guards equivalent to the third realm. The foundation of an Immortal Dynasty Princess was indeed unfathomable!

In front of the mansion gate, an elder in a black robe with silver patterns stood with his hands behind his back. His robes fluttered without wind. It was the Lord Dingbo, who had chosen Chen Qing in the Mysterious Prison years ago.

"Chen Xu, it's been a while." The smile lines around the elder's eyes deepened, making him seem like a different person from when he was in the prison. "I've reread your first realm insights seven times, and they are quite good. Have you completed the details in your insights during your more than a year of secluded cultivation?"

As Chen Qing performed his greeting, his gaze shifted slightly. The sunlight revealed faint scale patterns behind the elder's ear.

Mixed blood of the Hundred Races!

"Most of the omissions have been corrected," Chen Qing said, outwardly calm but inwardly surprised. This confidant of the Princess actually had foreign blood. Coupled with the Tenth Princess's Qingqiu bloodline, he immediately realized that the situation here was likely very complex.

"Good! Good!" Lord Dingbo suddenly clapped his hands, his voice booming like a great bell. "Cultivate diligently. If you gain the Princess's favor, let alone regaining your freedom, even revitalizing the Chen clan might be possible!"

Listening to Lord Dingbo's words, Chen Qing thought, If I were truly Chen Xu, I might have some aspirations, but unfortunately, all I want now is to cultivate.

But halfway through his thought, he suddenly froze, considering the identity of this dream body.

Could it be that it was through this Princess that I was able to rebuild my sect and revive my lineage?

At this moment, Xu Zhaoying suddenly spoke, "Lord Dingbo, I suddenly remembered I have an urgent matter to attend to and may not be able to accompany Fellow Daoist Chen to meet the Princess."

Lord Dingbo frowned, "What matter is so important?"

Xu Zhaoying replied, "A batch of ancient books has arrived from Yujing, and they are being delivered now. The Princess asked me to personally inspect them."

Lord Dingbo pondered for a moment, then waved his hand, "Since it is the Princess's order, you may go. Chen Xu will come with me."

Xu Zhaoying nodded and praised him. Before leaving, her lips moved, and she transmitted a secret message to Chen Qing: "Be careful later, there are people from other factions here. Be wary of them." With that, she turned and left, disappearing around the street corner in an instant.

Chen Qing's heart grew tense.

Xu Zhaoying's parting warning came abruptly. Could today's summons hold another hidden reason?

"Let's go," Lord Dingbo flicked his sleeve and turned to walk into the mansion.

Chen Qing followed closely. As he crossed the threshold, he felt thousands of icy needles pierce his body, the cold penetrating to his very bones. His expression remained unchanged, only the fists hidden in his sleeves clenched slightly. He looked forward, and the scene before him suddenly opened up!

Twelve coiled dragon pillars stood supporting the sky. Each pillar was entwined with living flood dragons, some as small as an arm, others as thick as a barrel. As Lord Dingbo walked past, they all lowered their heads in respect.

"These are the Princess's spirit pets," Lord Dingbo explained casually. "They are usually responsible for guarding the mansion."

Chen Qing was inwardly startled. The aura of those barrel-thick flood dragons made his breathing heavy; they were likely already at the third realm of cultivation!

As expected of a dream, if this were reality, even a major sect wouldn't have such luxurious arrangements! In reality, just one of these flood dragons would be enough to establish a sect in a small place, yet here they are only fit to guard the house?

At the end of the long corridor was a bronze door, carved with a pattern of a hundred beasts paying homage.

Lord Dingbo stopped before the door and took out a jade talisman, pressing it into the groove in the center of the door.

The bronze door opened, and the scent of sandalwood wafted out.

Behind the door was a spacious, circular hall. Four bronze crane lanterns held pearls, emitting a soft glow. In the very center, behind a white jade table, sat a palace-dressed woman with her face veiled by light gauze.

This woman wore plain white, only her pair of cold, phoenix-like eyes pierced through the veil.

The Tenth Princess of the Immortal Dynasty, Xi Yao.

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