Heavenly Book Secret Art

Chapter 41: Heavenly Book Secret Art

Though those in the Spirit Transformation Realm could not truly live forever, they could certainly be said to enjoy boundless longevity.

Yet breaking through to such a realm was exceedingly difficult.

At present, there were only two relatively reliable methods in the cultivation world. The first was to gather several hundred Tongxuan Realm cultivators, set up a formation, and use their respective souls as its foundation, drawing together the memories of countless people to create a virtual realm. If one could overcome the trials of that realm, one's soul would transform and become corporeal.

But several hundred Tongxuan Realm cultivators had lived such eventful lives. The sum of their grudges, loves, and hatreds could crush any cultivator. How difficult would it be to break through?

Even if you had a steadfast will and could endure it, where would you find several hundred Tongxuan Realm cultivators—and how could you persuade them to open their hearts and offer up their souls and memories to create the virtual realm?

How many people were there in the entire Qinghe Sword Sect? It would take a coalition of righteous sects to pull off something on that scale.

Still, this method could be called reliable, because even if you failed, you could start over. It was merely a bit troublesome.

That was why whenever someone advanced to Spirit Transformation, it counted as a major event for the entire cultivation world, one worthy of a grand celebratory feast.

As for the second method, it was much simpler.

Go to Qingguan Mountain, pluck a Soul-Cleansing Flower from the corpse of Wujiu Demon Venerable, add other ingredients, and refine them into a pill. Swallowing it would send your soul into a place much like a virtual realm. As long as you could break free of that realm, you could advance successfully.

The pill had no side effects, and its success rate was higher than that of the method involving hundreds of people.

That was because hundreds of people could never truly unite their minds. The virtual realm they created would be riddled with all sorts of problems, making failure more likely.

The Soul-Cleansing Flower had no such drawbacks, so advancing was naturally easier.

But it was far too precious.

Harvesting one was as difficult as fighting a demon of the Spirit Transformation Realm. And Qingguan Mountain was the only place in the world where the corpse of the Demon Venerable was suppressed; it was the only place where Soul-Cleansing Flowers could grow.

Su Chunyi asked, "Sect Master, why is the Fenxiang Sect so determined to obtain this secret art?"

Zhang Qi explained, "It probably has something to do with the Heavenly Book. Perhaps they think this secret art of yours is part of it."

"The Heavenly Book? May I ask, Sect Master, what is the Heavenly Book?"

Su Chunyi seemed never to have heard of such a thing.

"Oh, that's an ancient legend the world has nearly forgotten. You juniors probably haven't heard it." Zhang Qi scratched his head and seemed to think for a moment before explaining to Su Chunyi, "It is said that the mortal world was created by ancient true immortals. Yin and yang, the five elements, feng shui, and divination were all written into existence by them, and these laws were recorded in the Heavenly Book. The Heavenly Book contains everything; whoever obtains it can control the spiritual energy of heaven and earth... Well, that's more or less what the legend says."

Hearing how casually Zhang Qi spoke, Su Chunyi asked in puzzlement, "Sect Master, do you think it's false?"

"Not necessarily. I have indeed seen what people call the Heavenly Book. Though I saw only a few scattered words, they pointed straight to the nature of heaven and earth. The divination symbols and five-element principles you and I have studied are indeed recorded in it. Perhaps it really is the earliest record left behind by ancient true immortals. But the claim that obtaining the Heavenly Book lets you control the world is most likely just a rumor.

"You've also studied addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division, and learned how to write. Those are fundamentals. It's true that few people in the world can read or calculate, but do you believe that understanding strokes and arithmetic lets you rule the world?"

Zhang Qi spoke casually. He had never believed in any Heavenly Book. Perhaps ancient true immortals had indeed passed down the path of cultivation, but it was probably no more than a set of formulas like the multiplication table. Whether one could truly comprehend the Great Dao from it depended on one's own fortune.

Zhang Qi's swordsmanship had also grown out of the basics, yet it had long since transcended the ordinary. If someone took basic techniques like cleaving, thrusting, tapping, flicking, and slashing and claimed they had mastered the sword path, Zhang Qi would not even bother to respond.

Su Chunyi nodded in agreement. That was the Qinghe Sword Sect's attitude: if you wanted to know who was stronger, then have a match. The Heavenly Book might hold wonders, but how could swordsmanship honed through centuries of diligent practice and enlightenment be anything ordinary?

The pioneers who forged the Great Dao deserved respect, but there was no need to belittle oneself. Otherwise, the Heavenly Dao would only grow worse and worse, with each generation inferior to the last.

Seeing that Su Chunyi had made up her mind, Zhang Qi did not pressure her. Instead, he reassured her. "All right. Whether to make the trade is up to you. The disciples of my Qinghe Sword Sect may not need the Fenxiang Sect's Soul-Cleansing Flower to break through to Spirit Transformation. Still, I'm curious about the origins of this secret art. Why don't you tell me about it?"

Su Chunyi did not hide anything. She recounted in detail what had happened when she went down the mountain.

Hearing her praise Chen Ye so highly, Zhang Qi asked in confusion, "You said that when you met him, he was only at the Qiling Realm?"

Su Chunyi nodded. "That's right. The Xuanji Dew he used to break through was even given to him by this disciple."

"He looked very young?"

"Even if he only looked young, this disciple is certain he was no older than twenty."

Zhang Qi pondered for a moment, then said, "I've seen cultivation prodigies—some can accomplish in a year what others need a hundred years to achieve. But I've never met a prodigy in reading people and handling human affairs. That sort of skill takes time to build, bit by bit.

"How complicated are people's hearts? A boy under twenty with that kind of ability? Even if he started paying attention early, he'd have only a dozen years at most. How could he have reached that level? The way he reads fortunes for people, those verses he recited to you—I've lived all these years, and never heard such precise summaries.

"That boy Chen Ye is probably hiding something."

Su Chunyi said, "But he truly acted with integrity. He's a man of chivalry."

Zhang Qi looked at Su Chunyi and saw how anxious she was. He smiled. "Little girl, don't fret. When I say he's hiding something, I don't mean he has ill intentions. Life is hard for unorthodox cultivators and rogues, so of course they keep a few cards close to the chest. He gave away the Heavenly Book Secret Art to save a child he didn't even know. He certainly deserves to be called a man of honor.

"We should repay this kindness. A Sword Box alone isn't enough. Go ask him what he wants. Let him choose one treasure from our storehouse.

"Also, since the Fenxiang Sect is willing to trade a Soul-Cleansing Flower for his secret art, we can do them this favor. Let him decide whether he wants to trade. It's his possession, so we have no right to refuse on his behalf."

Su Chunyi brightened at his words and hurriedly said, "Thank you, Sect Master."

Zhang Qi smiled. "What are you thanking me for? It's not like I'm rewarding you."

Su Chunyi's face flushed, but she did not know how to explain herself.

Zhang Qi did not keep teasing the young girl from the generation below his. He waved a hand and said, "I'll order people to do what they can to treat that Cursed Spirit Child. Whether the child lives will depend on its fortune. As for you, go claim a few more talismans for protection. Your master divined that fortune and misfortune would be intertwined for you. Now that you've had your good fortune, trouble won't be far behind. The path of vanquishing demons and upholding justice is full of dangers. Be careful."

Su Chunyi thanked him and hurried away.

After Su Chunyi left the great hall, a young-looking Daoist appeared beside Zhang Qi. He wore a black robe that gave him a sinister air. He was none other than Lu Xingzhou, Sect Master of the Fenxiang Sect.

Zhang Qi said to him, "Old Lu, look. I've said all there is to say. Go find someone to make the trade yourselves."

Lu Xingzhou glared at Zhang Qi, unable to hold back his displeasure. "The secret art's already in your hands. How hard would it be to do me a favor? Since that kid surnamed Chen gave the secret art to your Qinghe Sword Sect, he surely wouldn't mind you passing it on. You had to drag this out into such a long detour. Are you deliberately giving me a hard time?"

The two had been friends for many years. They had fought side by side against the demonic sects, and had once trusted each other with their lives. Lu Xingzhou did not care that Zhang Qi was the strongest man under heaven; he spoke to him without the slightest deference.

Zhang Qi replied, "What would it look like for the dignified Sect Master of the Fenxiang Sect to snatch something from a junior? I already told you the Heavenly Book isn't important, but you're so stubborn you won't listen. If you insist on trading, go do it yourself."

"When have you ever listened to me?" Lu Xingzhou snapped. "Look at how old and worn you've become! How much life do you have left to fight against the Heavenly Dao? I told you to ascend, so why won't you listen? Do you really want to die here?"

Zhang Qi raised his head. His gaze seemed to pierce the roof of the great hall and look toward the highest heavens.

Zhang Qi asked, "What do you think the immortal realm is like?"

"I've never been there. How would I know? Ascend and find out!"

Zhang Qi asked again, "Then tell me this: the elders who ascended—why has not one of them ever come back?"

This time, Lu Xingzhou fell silent.

Zhang Qi smiled and reassured him. "Don't worry. I won't really die here. I'll ascend on the final day."

Lu Xingzhou asked, "How much longer can you hold on?"

"Not much longer." Zhang Qi sighed. "Since ascending is a one-way journey, I want to look upon this world a few more times."

"Hmph. Then hurry up and go, and wait for me in the immortal realm." Lu Xingzhou clearly did not want to talk about it any longer, so he asked, "Since you won't help me, I'll send people to find that kid surnamed Chen myself. You won't stop me, will you?"

Zhang Qi said indifferently, "Go if you want. What do I care about the Fenxiang Sect's affairs? But I'll remind you: your younger disciples are terribly proud. Be careful not to make things worse. I don't want to see the Fenxiang Sect become an unorthodox sect before I ascend."

Lu Xingzhou sighed. "The stricter the sect rules, the fewer disciples remain, and the harder it is to pass on the legacy. But if the rules are relaxed, the sect can easily fall into depravity and become demonic. Finding the right balance is as difficult as distinguishing good from evil in this world. I can't be as carefree as you. You founded the Qinghe Sword Sect, but I inherited the Fenxiang Sect. I can't stand by and watch its legacy end."

Zhang Qi waved a hand. "Enough. You have your own troubles. But, Old Lu, understand this: the sword of my Qinghe Sword Sect judges only right and wrong; it shows no favoritism. If you turn demonic one day, I won't go easy on you."

Lu Xingzhou gave a cold snort. He had known Zhang Qi's character for a long time, but hearing those words still irritated him. That stubborn block of iron needed to ascend soon, instead of standing around here and getting in his way.

Lu Xingzhou turned into a wisp of green smoke and vanished. He was busy sending people to find Chen Ye and trade for the secret art. The Fenxiang Sect was determined to obtain the Heavenly Book Secret Art.