Sea and Mountain in One Heart

Chen Qing had already forgotten himself and the outside world.

Seventeen years of arduous cultivation experience, the foundation of the first stage of his dream body reaching perfection, blended together like water and milk. His vast accumulation transformed into a surging torrent, completely shattering all shackles!

In an instant, a wondrous sight appeared before his eyes—

Majestic mountains rose from the ground, and a boundless sea surged forth!

Mountains and sea reflected each other, strength and gentleness complementing each other, evolving the profound truth of the true technique within his spiritual platform!

Boom!

A stream of cool energy poured down from the Niwan Palace, like the Milky Way cascading into the Yellow Court.

"Supreme Harmony Qi!"

The key to this second stage, Soothing Harmony Foundation Establishment, was to introduce Supreme Harmony Qi, nurture it within the body, and forge an immortal Dao Foundation!

Now, this Supreme Harmony Qi descended from the Niwan Palace, finally converging in the Lower Dantian's Yellow Court Palace.

Wherever this Qi passed, the marrow of his bones vibrated, and the Twelve Meridians were as if washed by jade liquid. Filth transformed into black qi and was expelled from his pores, and previously blocked passages were continuously opened!

This was the mark of the early stage of the second realm: Supreme Harmony Qi circulating through the main meridians!

Within the Dantian, the Five Elements Spiritual Light spun rapidly, and a point of innate faint light suddenly appeared!

"Essence and Life Fusion, Magical Power is born! My dream body has truly broken through to the second stage, the realm of Soothing Harmony Foundation Establishment!"

As his thoughts flowed, Chen Qing's aura surged like the tide, spiritual energy transforming into mist that enveloped him. To his left, a majestic mountain appeared; to his right, vast blue waves manifested. Finally, the mountain and sea merged, forming a wondrous spectacle of interconnected mountains and seas above his head!

"Internal and external resonance, spiritual energy giving rise to phenomena! He actually broke through!" Lü Han's pupils trembled violently. "The phenomenon of mountains and seas merging! But if this person cultivates the Mountain Cultivation Technique, how can he also possess the meaning of all rivers flowing into the sea?!"

Amidst his confusion, he thought he had misread and so, calming his mind, he raised a hand and wiped his eyes, causing his pupils to gleam with sharp light. When he looked again, he was even more astonished!

"It's not a simple intermingling of the Water Element, but a fusion of the true meanings of mountains and seas. Hidden within fierceness is gentleness, and within robustness lies inclusiveness! He never touched the Water Element, yet merely by looking at a visualization diagram... he comprehended the meaning of the vast sea?"

Xu Zhaoying's eyes widened, and she finally understood why Elder Lü was so flustered!

"Could it be as Elder Lü said, that this person's comprehension is so high that he can grasp the essentials and break through realms just by glancing at it, achieving cross-disciplinary understanding!?"

"Zhaoying," Lü Han suddenly transmitted his voice, "you are closest to the Princess. Do you know when she will return?"

Xu Zhaoying was taken aback. After a moment of thought, she replied, "The time has not yet been confirmed."

Lü Han's gaze deepened, and he said gravely, "Then you go to the Princess's Estate first and report today's events."

Xu Zhaoying blinked, asking back, "Isn't that too hasty?"

"It will be too late once Li Benji brings the person back to the Mysterious Prison!" Lü Han's fingers in his sleeve continuously formed seals. "With the comprehension Chen Xu has shown today, if he were to assist the Princess in her cultivation... it would be of great benefit!"

"I... Alright." Xu Zhaoying glanced at Chen Qing and finally nodded, turning to leave.

Lü Han, however, gazed at the meditating Chen Qing, his eyes growing more fervent. "Although his Spiritual Bone was ruined, it turned out to be a blessing in disguise, increasing his comprehension? If that's truly the case, this is no mere medicinal dreg, but clearly an uncarved piece of jade!"

"Hoo—"

After a while, Chen Qing exhaled deeply, his eyes opening, the mountains and seas in his pupils vanishing.

The world before him suddenly sharpened, and five-colored spiritual energy flowed within his vision.

He lowered his head and gazed at his hands. His knuckles were like jade, and faint spiritual light flickered beneath his skin.

"I really broke through? The incomplete artistic conception of the Sea and Mountain Remnant Scroll was first largely completed by the Great Mountain Diagram from my memories, and then consolidated by this Map of a Hundred Rivers Returning to the Sea..."

In later generations, to break through from the first stage to the second, one first needed a stable Yellow Court, then to gather all Five Elements Spiritual Items, and even find a tranquil Cave Mansion to enter seclusion for three months, avoiding the contamination of worldly qi.

Even if all these conditions were met, the number of people who could truly break through was extremely small.

But in this dream, a single visualization diagram led to a natural progression!

"Is it because the spiritual energy of this world is dense? Or is it because 'Chen Xu' has a profound foundation and is cultivating again, thus making it smooth?"

Looking inward, Chen Qing saw the Supreme Harmony Qi in his Dantian swirling like clouds and mist, the mountain's might and the sea's rhythm perfectly merged without any obstruction.

As he was contemplating, he suddenly felt a gaze fall upon him. Looking up, he saw Lü Han staring at him.

Lü Han stroked his beard and smiled, "The steadfastness of mountains, the vastness of the sea, the phenomenon of your breakthrough, young friend, is truly marvelous."

Chen Qing did not wish to cause further complications, so he said, "I merely had a sudden insight; it was by chance."

"By chance?" Lü Han shook his head. "The path of cultivation is a step to a new heaven. Your Spiritual Bone was ruined, yet you comprehended and broke through on your own. Such a chance is something I, an old man, have only seen today." As he spoke, he took out a scroll of silk. "This Miscellaneous Records of Cultivation contains the post-breakthrough experiences of ancient cultivators. It may help you stabilize your realm."

"Thank you, Elder Su."

Chen Qing did not stand on ceremony. He took the scroll and flipped through it briefly. Comparing it to the cultivation techniques outside the dream, he secretly shook his head.

It was chaotic and disorganized, far inferior to later systematic methods, and fragmented, unlike the orderly techniques outside the dream.

However, Lü Han's good intentions were clearly an investment in building rapport. Chen Qing naturally would not refuse him. Besides, it was the wisdom of his predecessors, and perhaps there were some valuable points, so he accepted it.

"From now on, we will both serve under the Princess, so we should be on good terms," Lü Han chuckled. "Seven years ago, the Princess went to explore an ancient ruin and has not returned. However, news concerning you has already been sent to her. When she returns, she will surely summon you. Until then, you may focus on your cultivation with peace of mind."

Went to explore ruins seven years ago?

Chen Qing suddenly understood. No wonder he was taken out of the Mysterious Prison, and there was no further news afterward.

Lü Han continued, "You have just broken through. First, consolidate your realm and summarize your insights so that you can answer the Princess when she inquires. You should go and rest for now."

Chen Qing did not stand on ceremony and took his leave. Although he had advanced with the help of the Map of a Hundred Rivers Returning to the Sea, he was still thinking about the Great Mountain Diagram in his heart.

Lü Han didn't stop him, but as soon as the person left, she immediately summoned someone. "Investigate! Everyone connected to Chen Xu, friends and enemies alike, bring them all to me. Oh, and check who has his dug-out Spiritual Bone now."

"As you command."

After her subordinate left, a voice came from behind a screen. "Does Lord Lü truly intend to win over this disgraced individual?"

"Foolish!" Lü Han's sleeves fluttered. "Regardless of his past identity, he is different now! How can we let go of a genius who can mend cultivation loopholes and summarize the gains and losses of realms?"

Silence fell again behind the screen.

Chen Qing followed his memories back to his residence and took out the book Great Mountain Heavenly Art from a corner of the bookshelf.

The moment the pages unfolded, a majestic, towering peak slammed into his vision!

The mountain's posture was like a colossal spirit suppressing the world. A mere fleeting glance made his breath catch.

"As expected of a magnificent mountain!"

He observed intently, seeing the rugged rocks at the foot of the mountain, each vein subtly aligning with the Great Dao. He saw the clouds and waterfalls intertwined on the mountainside, their movements containing infinite profound mysteries. He saw the peak's snow reflecting the morning sun, its transcendent artistic conception pointing directly to the Great Dao!

"Although the cultivation details of the Great Mountain Art are not as good as the Sea and Mountain Remnant Scroll, the artistic conception of this painting is far superior to the incomplete Sea Mountain Scroll! I just broke through, so I'll use this dream body to test it thoroughly and further graft the Great Mountain Visualization onto the Sea and Mountain Remnant Scroll."

As soon as the thought arose, Chen Qing immediately looked at the painting and visualized the magnificent mountain in his mind!

His internal energy began to circulate spontaneously, surging through his newly unblocked meridians like a breached riverbank!

As time passed, an earthy yellow halo appeared around him, and his skin began to show patterns like mountain rocks. The air in the room suddenly grew heavy, as if suppressed by an invisible mountain.

Suddenly!

"Chii!"

A tearing pain shot through his meridians!

Chen Qing's eyes snapped open. Cold sweat had soaked through his clothes, and his dantian felt like it was burning in a raging fire.

"Technique Conflict?"

Following the Sea and Mountain Remnant Scroll and the cultivation notes from his sect elders, he deduced the key point with a brief analysis.

The mountain posture in the Great Mountain Art was indeed marvelous, but it was too overbearing. Unlike the Map of a Hundred Rivers Returning to the Sea, it was not inclusive. Abruptly replacing the visualized artistic conception placed a huge burden on his body, naturally leading to problems.

"If I could proceed step by step, I could gradually adapt. Fortunately, this is just a dream. If it were my real body, once injured, my foundation would be shaken, and future cultivation would be difficult. However, in a dream, I can have fewer worries. After all, my Spiritual Bone has already been dug out. Using it for trial and error, perhaps I can find another path."

Wiping away the cold sweat and calming the chaotic internal energy within him, Chen Qing was not discouraged. This failure had instead given him a glimpse of a greater opportunity!

"The value of the Great Mountain Visualization is undeniable. If I can also combine it with the Map of a Hundred Rivers Returning to the Sea, integrating the essence of both into the Sea and Mountain Remnant Scroll, it will surely complete the fragment and elevate the cultivation technique's grade! Even, given time, I can integrate the subtle and profound aspects of the Sea and Mountain Remnant Scroll into the Great Mountain Heavenly Art, pushing this technique to transform!"

At this thought, he realized the value of this dream within a dream even more.

"Deducing cultivation techniques in a dream, seven days in a dream consumes a month of real time, equivalent to over half a year of arduous practice! If I can set long-term goals for this dream body and combine it with time jumps between dream entry points, I might gain years of experience and insight out of thin air!"

For the next few days, Chen Qing stayed put, focusing solely on comprehension and cultivation.

Seeing his dedication to cultivation, Lü Han supported him even more wholeheartedly, facilitating everything for him.

It wasn't until the seventh day of this dream entry that Chen Qing finally paused slightly.

"Seven days have passed. The physical body outside the dream should awaken now."

He reviewed his gains. Although he hadn't met the Tenth Princess, he had profited greatly. After some thought, he decided not to leave a Dream Continuation Wedge using Dao Marks, nor did he intend to extend the duration of this dream entry.

"Does meeting the Princess matter? Let nature take its course. However, I can try the effect of time jumps! If I jump forward a period of time between the previous and next dream entries, can this dream body cultivate on its own, and I directly gain experience…"

Thus, as the mist began to rise, Chen Qing gathered his last shred of clarity and repeatedly chanted, attempting to imprint an obsession onto the core of this body—

"Cultivate with peace of mind! Comprehend the visualization painting! Perfect the Sea and Mountain Remnant Scroll!"

Finally, at the moment his consciousness withdrew, he saw the dream body sit up and begin to cultivate…

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