The Silent Roar

"Meditation diagram... meditation diagram..."

As he stepped into the hall, Chen Qing's mind was still preoccupied with the meditation diagram from the Great Mountain Heavenly Art.

That diagram perfectly matched his cultivation method. The meditation diagram from the Sea and Mountain Remnant Scroll depicted the sea and mountains in harmony, with a majestic high mountain standing beside a vast ocean. Unfortunately, the mountain was incomplete, causing him to lack a certain resilience in his artistic conception after seventeen years of cultivation. Every meditation session felt unfinished.

"Perhaps that Great Mountain Diagram can complete the essence of mountains and seas..."

Click, click--

As he was thinking, a chattering sound suddenly came from his side.

It was the short, stout man accompanying him, his face ashen and his whole body trembling.

This man's name was Jiang He. He came from a humble background, seeking only a cultivation opportunity here.

Seeing his fear, Chen Qing couldn't help but say, "The assessment is only once every three years. At worst, you'll be sent back to your hometown. You're not like me, needing to return to the Mysterious Prison. What are you afraid of?"

"He's afraid of being rated as low-tier and sent to the Princess's Estate."

A cold voice suddenly interjected, "Don't you even look at this place? And you're thinking of running away! If it weren't for Lord Chen not running with you, making him lose his nerve and come obediently, he would have been arrested by now."

Chen Qing looked up.

He saw a heroic and spirited woman leaning against a corridor pillar. Her fitted combat attire outlined her agile figure. She held a long sword in her arms, a smile playing on her lips.

With just one glance, Chen Qing found information related to this woman in his fragmented memories--it was Xu Zhaoying, another trial participant. This woman had a strong background and consistently received top ratings in past assessments, though her cultivation progress wasn't fast.

But what concerned him most this time was the implication in her words.

"Being rated low-tier means being sent to the Princess's Estate?"

Chen Qing frowned slightly.

In his memories, "Chen Xu" had met the Tenth Princess a few times before being imprisoned. However, after seven years of cultivation here, he hadn't seen her again. Why would those rated low-tier be able to go?

Xu Zhaoying sized him up meaningfully and asked, "Since you're from the Chen Family, you must know Princess Xiyao's background, right?"

The Princess's background?

A hint of doubt flashed in Chen Qing's eyes, and fragmented memories surged forth--

The tenth daughter of the Immortal Emperor, peerlessly beautiful, with a cold temperament, possessing... the bloodline of the Hundred Races?

Chen Qing's pupils constricted.

The Hundred Races were the dominant beings before the rise of the human race. Now, most of them were hidden in the Northern Cold Continent.

Xu Zhaoying gently stroked her sword sheath and whispered, "Because Princess Xiyao has the Qingqiu bloodline, there's a rumor that those who fail the assessment three times are ostensibly sent back to their hometowns, but in reality, their blood is drawn by the Princess to refine her cultivation."

Chen Qing frowned, "If they're all assessed as low-tier, it means their aptitude is poor. What's worth refining? It seems this rumor is false."

Xu Zhaoying suddenly moved half a step closer, her breath like orchids, and said with a smile, "Perhaps, precisely because the cultivation methods are unclear, the Princess needs to personally verify it."

Chen Qing was stunned.

Jiang He shivered even harder.

"Now that you know this," Xu Zhaoying suddenly pressed Chen Qing, "Do you have any thoughts of escaping now?"

Chen Qing shook his head.

Since this was a dream illusion, why should he be concerned?

Let alone mere rumors, even if they were true, he would dare to go through with it.

"It seems you have no prejudice against other races. Don't worry, the rumor is false. Why would the Princess have the leisure for such things? She..." Xu Zhaoying was about to say more, but suddenly her ears twitched, and she changed the subject, "Elder Su is coming."

"Thank you for your trouble this time, Lord Li. To personally deliver the item."

Along the corridor, two people walked side by side.

One was a man with black hair and a white beard, surrounded by a pure aura, holding a scroll in his hand. He was Elder Su Lü Han, who managed this mountain villa. The other was tall and thin, wearing a loose black robe with a stern expression. He was Li Benji, the head of the C-rank prison in the Mysterious Prison.

Li Benji replied, "Because I have a past connection with the Princess, I often help her arrange these trial assessments. This time, I heard someone was going to be dismissed and came to bring them back. I happened to bring this painting along, but I don't know what it's for. The Map of a Hundred Rivers Returning to the Sea is a vital inheritance of the Naihai Sect. There are still remnants of this sect that haven't been cleared. If the news leaks..."

Lü Han waved his hand and chuckled, "Rest assured. The daughter of a retainer of the Princess is cultivating the Vast Scripture here. She always feels something is lacking when meditating on the Vast Scripture of the Azure Waves. It's said her father wrote to the Princess for help, and with the Princess's approval, this Map of a Hundred Rivers Returning to the Sea was brought out for her to comprehend."

"The Princess is indeed benevolent to her subordinates."

"We're here."

As they spoke, the two arrived at the entrance of the main hall.

"Let's go in together," Lü Han gestured towards the door. "There's someone from the Mysterious Prison inside. He's said to have some background, but unfortunately, his Spiritual Bone was crippled. Now his aptitude is poor, and after years of cultivation, he's still muddled. If he can't explain anything today, you'll take him back."

"I know who it is." Li Benji narrowed his eyes and nodded. He followed Lü Han inside and indeed saw "Chen Xu." He didn't say much, waiting to take the person back after the assessment.

Chen Qing saw him and was somewhat surprised. He didn't want to cause trouble, but seeing the other party sneer at him from time to time, he became somewhat confused.

"This person seems to have some prejudice against me. Did I offend him before?"

The cultivation assessment was not complicated and was conducted in batches. This time, besides Chen Qing, Jiang He, and Xu Zhaoying, there were seven other people present.

Lü Han called them one by one to inquire about their cultivation insights, the entire process conducted openly without any reservations. This was a trial assessment privately set up by the Princess. Everyone cultivated different methods, so they naturally expressed their opinions, but the later they went, the more disadvantaged they became.

Chen Qing had wanted to hear everyone's insights, but the people before him were trembling. They either stammered or repeated themselves endlessly, unable to even clearly explain the changes in blood and qi in the first realm.

"Disorganized and unfocused," Lü Han waved them away in disappointment. "You can all go."

"It's over!" Jiang He's worry deepened upon hearing this. "We're probably not even as good as them..." He glanced at Chen Qing beside him, seeing his furrowed brow, and sighed.

Alas!

He was worried, just like himself!

Little did they know, Chen Qing grew more confused with each explanation he heard.

"Logically speaking, the Primordial Immortal Dynasty reigns supreme over the Central Spirit Continent, and the Tenth Princess is of royal blood. Even the worst candidates they select shouldn't be this bad. Why can't they even explain the crucial point of the First Realm? Could it be because this is a dream, and it cannot exceed my perception?"

Thinking of this, he recalled the background of this era, and a flash of inspiration struck him.

"In this era, although human sages have opened the immortal path, common knowledge about cultivation might not have spread yet! If I were to organize the realm knowledge from the Sea and Mountain Remnant Scroll..."

Chen Qing's eyes brightened at this thought.

Although he viewed this realm as a dream, he received feedback within it. The Princess's Estate was rich in resources, and he was determined to obtain the visualization diagrams for the Great Mountain Heavenly Art. If he were sent back, would he ever have another chance to access them?

"Next, Chen..."

Lü Han was about to call out the next name when Xu Zhaoying suddenly spoke, "I'll go first."

Lü Han said kindly, "Very well. The items you need have already been delivered. Once the assessment is over, you can take them."

Xu Zhaoying glanced at the scroll and stepped forward to answer.

"I know your capabilities, so I'll ask a simple question," Lü Han said with a smile, stroking his beard, his attitude a stark contrast to his earlier professional demeanor. "Tell me... have you found the reason for that feeling of bone hardness and aching flesh you mentioned last time?"

Bone hardness and aching flesh?

Chen Qing's heart stirred.

Could it be bone spurs?

In the era of the Hidden Star Gate, the First Realm, "Yellow Court Initial Opening," had already been meticulously divided into four stages: early, middle, late, and completion.

Among them, cultivators in the middle stage of the First Realm needed to use high-purity Earth Vein Jade Marrow to condense their bones. The higher the purity, the better the effect. Conversely, using inferior Earth Vein Jade Marrow to temper the bones would cause bone abnormalities, leading to the formation of hard, spur-like growths that would injure the flesh from within, resulting in bone hardness and aching flesh.

"Reporting to Elder Lü," Xu Zhaoying replied calmly, "The Vast Scripture states: The bones are the dwelling of the marrow, the foundation of qi. Therefore, I believe this pain is a sign of qi and blood tempering the bones. The harder the bones become, the greater the progress in cultivation, a precursor to the gradual filling of blood and marrow. Only by enduring the pain and tempering oneself can one solidify the Dao heart and achieve progress."

She paused, then added, "However, I have also found that drawing the earth vein's qi into the body can alleviate the pain, which might serve as a reference."

Lü Han stroked his beard and smiled, "I will make a note of this matter and submit it to Lord Dingbo and others for deliberation."

Li Benji, who had been observing with cold eyes for a long time, glanced at Chen Qing at this moment and suddenly said, "The bone hardness and aching flesh in the Initial Opening realm is not an isolated case. A master I know spent over twenty years without determining the cause. If Miss Xu can uncover the root cause, it would be a great accomplishment. By the way, Chen Xu, you come from a prominent family and have fought in the Western Wilderness. Your knowledge should be broader than others. What do you think of Miss Xu's insightful opinion?"

The hall fell silent.

Was this an attempt to praise him to death, or to sow discord?

Chen Qing frowned slightly. Why did this person seem to be targeting him? Did "Chen Xu" truly have a grudge against him in the past?

However, Lü Han found it difficult to refuse Li Benji, so he followed up, "Alright, you tell us."

After weighing the pros and cons, Chen Qing said, "Fellow Daoist Xu's words are indeed reasonable, but I don't think it's necessarily the marrow filling up. There's also the possibility of 'bones like ice, marrow like frost,' meaning the bones develop cold spurs. This might not be a sign of cultivation progress, but rather a hidden danger."

"Oh?" Li Benji raised an eyebrow. "Even the masters in Yujing haven't made such a judgment, yet you speak with such certainty. Have you comprehended something?"

Lü Han pondered for a moment and said, "The path of cultivation varies from person to person; there are no universally applicable experiences. Anyone who can comprehend a method suitable for themselves through cultivation is already remarkable. I think this can also be an explanation."

Xu Zhaoying lowered her head and remained silent.

Li Benji, however, said, "Empty talk is useless. If you have true skill, you should offer a solution."

Hearing this, Lü Han finally said, "Fellow Daoist Li, you just said that even the masters in Yujing haven't reached a conclusion. How could Chen Qing possibly have a solution? This matter..."

Chen Qing suddenly said, "I once read in an ancient book that if bones develop stone-like growths or spurs, one can use 'True Earth Vein Marrow' to re-temper the tendons and bones. After about a month of recuperation, soaking the body in used ice water regularly can help alleviate it. It is especially important to avoid forceful cultivation, as it will worsen the injury."

"Ancient book?" Li Benji's expression darkened slightly. "The masters in Yujing never mentioned this method, yet you dare to speak nonsense?"

Lü Han raised his hand to stop him. He could sense the targeted nature of the words, but he couldn't afford to disregard Li Benji's face at this moment.

"An old friend of mine had the exact same symptoms back then, and he later recovered. When I asked him the reason, he always refused to divulge the method. I'll have to ask him later if he used True Earth Vein Marrow." He paused, then sized up Chen Qing. "It seems you appear to be living aimlessly, but in reality, you are hiding your strength."

Jiang He listened from the side, dumbfounded, and thought in shock, "Chen Xu usually keeps a low profile, yet he has such insight? But every time I ask him, he says he has no insights and is lying to me? So, I'm the only one just drifting along?"

Lü Han's gaze was sharp, and he asked again, "Do you have any deeper insights into the 'Yellow Court Initial Opening' realm? Today is an assessment, and discussing this is the main topic."

Everyone's gaze once again fell on Chen Qing.

Chen Qing pondered inwardly, "The cultivation system in this dream era should still be in its exploratory phase. If I introduce some later-era insights, perhaps it will attract attention and lead to further plot twists in the dream..."

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