The Legacy

"I need to go to the Five Qi Pavilion again."

On Misty Gorge Mountain, after making some preparations, Chen Qing planned to visit Bai Shaoyou. He hoped to obtain some intelligence about the Immortal Dynasty to use and also to ask if there were any pill recipes to suppress his bloodline mutation.

However, before leaving, he first summoned Fang Da'ao to his side.

"Uncle-Master, do you have any instructions?" Fang Da'ao saw Chen Qing's serious expression and also solemnly bowed.

Chen Qing asked directly, "How is the warmth in your abdomen?"

Upon hearing this, Fang Da'ao immediately replied, "Reporting to Uncle-Master, it has become more and more apparent these past two days. Especially when practicing fist techniques in the morning, that heat rushes straight to the Danzhong acupoint, surging ceaselessly!"

"Good." Chen Qing nodded slightly, flicked his sleeve, and a roll of yellowed parchment slid into Fang Da'ao's hand. "It's time."

Fang Da'ao's body trembled violently, and his eyes burst with ecstatic light. "Uncle-Master, do you mean I can attempt to break through?!"

"Indeed. You have accumulated enough. You can try to open your Yellow Court Palace and achieve the First Realm of cultivation." Chen Qing's gaze swept over the parchment. "Remember, this step has no fundamental difference from before. You simply need to take an additional Earth Spirit Grass in your medicine daily, supplemented by visualization techniques."

"Uncle-Master, what about me?" Qu Xiaoyao, who was beside them, immediately leaned over upon hearing this.

Chen Qing chuckled. "The path of cultivation is one step at a time; you cannot rush. Your foundation is still shallow; you need more tempering."

Qu Xiaoyao pouted but dared not say more, only looking enviously at the parchment scroll.

Fang Da'ao took the scroll with slightly trembling hands, carefully unfolding it. He saw a depiction of mountains and seas intertwined. The mountains were majestic but missing a corner, and the waves were immense but somewhat dim in color.

"Is this the Mountain Sea Diagram?"

"Correct." Chen Qing's gaze swept over the slightly incomplete and blurry depiction of mountains and seas on the parchment. Although the mountains were majestic, a corner was missing; though the sea's rhythm was vast, it lacked a bit of spirit. He immediately said, "Wait a moment."

He took his brush and ink, closed his eyes, and concentrated.

In an instant, his aura seemed to merge with heaven and earth, and an invisible pressure permeated the air.

Fang Da'ao and Qu Xiaoyao subconsciously held their breath.

Chen Qing touched the brush to the paper!

The brushstroke startled the wind and rain!

The ink snaked across the page like dragons and snakes landing on the ground.

The incomplete and blurry mountain range was instantly completed with powerful brushstrokes, appearing rugged and sharp, as if about to break through the paper! The waves rolled, the ink flowed from light to dark, as if containing the power of tides, with faint ink droplets splashing!

As the final stroke was laid down, the entire scroll suddenly emitted a layer of warm, soft light!

The mountain's shadow was towering, the sea's rhythm was surging, and a vast, desolate artistic conception washed over them!

Fang Da'ao and Qu Xiaoyao stared, dumbfounded, their minds completely captivated by the painting, as if they were amidst raging seas and solitary peaks!

"Jiji ji--"

From a distance, a few monkey calls suddenly broke the two from their shock.

"Uncle-Master... This, is this an immortal technique?" Fang Da'ao's voice trembled.

Chen Qing withdrew his brush, his aura returning to normal, and shook his head. "It's merely borrowing some insights from a predecessor to depict its form." He knew in his heart that the spiritual essence within this painting was far inferior to the Great Mountain Diagram and the Map of a Hundred Rivers Returning to the Sea from his dreams.

I'll make do with this for now. Once my skills in painting improve further, I will complete it.

Thinking this, he pointed at the painting and said to Fang Da'ao, "After taking your medicine daily, quietly observe this painting and guide the Qi into your body. Once the forms of the mountains and seas stabilize in your sea of consciousness, practice the Five Animal Frolics Combined Fist, channeling its power through your entire body to knock open the door to the Yellow Court."

"Disciple remembers!" Fang Da'ao received the scroll as if it were a priceless treasure and carefully put it away.

Qu Xiaoyao watched with longing eyes, tugging at her clothes with small hands. "Uncle-Master, when will I be able to..."

Chen Qing rubbed her small head. "I just told you, your foundation isn't solid yet; you can't rush. First, practice the Five Animal Frolics until your spirit and form are one, and your opportunity will come."

After giving his instructions, Chen Qing looked up at the sky. "Guard the mountain gate and activate the grand formation."

"Yes!" Fang Da'ao nodded heavily.

Chen Qing descended the mountain with extreme caution, his aura concealed as if he were an ordinary person. After taking several winding paths and confirming he was not being followed, he stepped into Lesser Yingzhou territory.

The area in front of the Five Qi Pavilion was still bustling with activity. Just as he was about to retrieve the "Five Qi Token" from his embrace, Shopkeeper Old Zhou quickly stepped forward, a smile plastered on his face. "Fellow Daoist Chen! You've finally arrived! The young master hasn't eaten or slept properly these past few days, just waiting for you! Please, come in!"

On the second floor, in a private room, the pearl curtain rustled.

"Fellow Daoist Chen, you've come at the perfect time! I was just planning to visit you!" Bai Shaoyou saw Chen Qing enter, put down the book in his hand, his eyes gleaming with joy, and rose to greet him. "Your story last time has kept me restless day and night! Because of it, I've acquired two new items, and I was hoping Fellow Daoist Chen could appraise them."

His tone was gentle, carrying the particular reserve of a young master from a noble family. He then gestured for the attendants to serve tea and bring out the items.

Chen Qing's heart stirred.

Soon, tea was served, and an attendant also brought a three-foot sandalwood box, ancient and heavy.

Bai Shaoyou smiled. "Fellow Daoist Chen is knowledgeable; do you recognize this item?" He then waved his hand.

As the box lid was lifted--

"Zheng--"

A clear and lofty sword cry suddenly erupted! It seemed to traverse through endless time and space, carrying unspeakable desolation and sharpness, echoing in the private room for a long time!

Chen Qing's gaze fell upon the object in the box, and his pupils contracted sharply!

A dark blue ancient sword lay quietly on the brocade.

The sword body was mottled, with faint flowing water patterns visible, and the hilt had nine spiral coils resembling a fox's tail.

This design, this aura... cold, sharp, with a hint of aloofness that's barely there.

So similar!

No, not similar!

Flowing Water Sword!

Xu Zhaoying's sword!

But the restrictions on this sword now were long decayed, even the materials used in its forging were nearly ineffective. It had long lost its divine properties, becoming almost ordinary iron.

An indescribable sense of things remaining, yet people changing, mixed with the heaviness and coldness of historical dust, instantly seized Chen Qing's heart!

"This sword is named 'Liushang'," Bai Shaoyou's voice sounded at the opportune moment, steady with a hint of studiousness, "According to secret records, it was forged from the essence of Qingxi cold jade when the ancient Heavenly Fox transformed into human form. However, it is now merely an antique relic. Let alone wielding it, even moving it slightly might cause damage."

His gaze seemed to fall casually on Chen Qing's face, but in reality, it was scrutinizing.

The Samadhi True Fire Talisman in his sea of consciousness flickered, suppressing his emotions. Chen Qing's expression was as calm as a still ancient well; he even unhurriedly picked up the spiritual tea on the table, the surface of the water unmoving.

"The design is ancient and simple, its aura aloof and noble. It is indeed an ancient relic."

His tone was indifferent, as if appraising an ordinary antique. Inside, his previous guesses surfaced--

Did the illusion constructed by the Grand Void Dao Evolution Record truly reflect actual history? Did it intercept fragments of past events?

Or perhaps...

When Chen Qing had heard about Heavenly Fox Xiyao before, he had vaguely guessed that the Grand Void Dao Evolution Record might have intercepted real historical fragments to construct the dream world, thus having prototypes in history. Chen Qing wasn't too surprised.

But...

Xu Zhaoying's sword, forged when the Heavenly Fox transformed into human form?

Countless fragmented details from his dreams converged, giving him an idea.

Seeing that Chen Qing's composure far exceeded his expectations, Bai Shaoyou smiled slightly. He stopped probing and instead took out a yellowed bamboo slip from under the table.

"There is also this item. Fellow Daoist, please take a look. Pay attention to the first sentence..."

He slowly unfolded the bamboo slip with both hands, his posture solemn.

On the bamboo slip, ancient seal script emitted a faint glow.

Chen Qing's gaze swept over the opening text, and his eyes immediately focused--

[At the founding of the Immortal Dynasty, there was a Chen Clan's Xu, whose ancestor was a general under the Immortal Emperor. Xu governed the western wilderness, plotting rebellion and being stripped of his post...]

New author, new book. Please, esteemed readers, take a moment each day to check for the latest chapters. Thank you