Secret Technique of the Heavenly Book

Chapter 41: Secret Arts of the Heavenly Book

Although the Spirit Transmutation Realm cannot truly grant immortality, it can be described as having boundless longevity.

Yet, breaking through to such a realm is harder than ascending to the heavens.

In the current world of cultivation, there are only two methods that are considered reliable. The first is to gather hundreds of Tongxuan Realm cultivators to set up a formation, using their respective spirits as a foundation to converge the memories of the masses and condense a Void Realm. If one can overcome the trials of this Void Realm, their spirit can undergo a metamorphosis and condense into a physical entity.

However, the experiences of hundreds of Tongxuan Realm cultivators are so vast; the weight of their grievances, loves, and hatreds combined could crush any cultivator. How difficult it is to break through under such conditions.

Even if your will is firm enough to endure it, where would you find hundreds of Tongxuan Realm cultivators willing to open their hearts and offer their spirits and memories to form a Void Realm?

How many people are there in the entire Qinghe Sword Sect? It would require the righteous sects to unite before such a grand formation could be set up.

Still, this method is considered reliable because even if you fail, there is a chance to start over, though it is quite troublesome.

Therefore, whenever someone ascends to the Spirit Transmutation Realm, it is a major event for the entire cultivation world, requiring grand banquets and celebrations.

As for the second method, it is far less troublesome.

Go to Qingguan Mountain, pluck a Soul-Cleansing Flower from the corpse of the Wujiu Demon Venerable, and refine it into a pill with other materials. Consuming it allows the spirit to enter a place similar to a Void Realm, and likewise, one can successfully ascend as long as they can break free from it.

This pill has no side effects, and the success rate is higher than the combined efforts of hundreds of people.

This is simply because hundreds of people cannot achieve unity of mind, leading to all sorts of chaotic problems in the created Void Realm, which easily causes the breakthrough to fail.

The Soul-Cleansing Flower has no such trouble, making it naturally easier to ascend.

But this item is far too precious.

The difficulty of harvesting it is equivalent to fighting a life-or-death battle against a Demon Venerable in the Spirit Transmutation Realm. Moreover, only Qingguan Mountain suppresses the corpse of the Demon Venerable, and only there can the Soul-Cleansing Flower bloom.

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

Zhang Qi explained, "It likely has to do with the Heavenly Book. They probably believe this secret art of yours is a part of it."

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

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

"Oh, that is an ancient legend that the world has almost forgotten; you youngsters shouldn't have heard of it." Zhang Qi scratched his head, appearing to reminisce for a moment before saying to Su Chunyi, "It is rumored that this mortal world was created by ancient true immortals. The yin and yang, the five elements, feng shui, and numerology were all written by human hands, and these rules are inscribed within the Heavenly Book. The Heavenly Book encompasses everything; obtaining it allows one to control the spiritual energy of heaven and earth... well, that is roughly the claim."

Hearing Zhang Qi speak so casually, Su Chunyi asked curiously, "Does the Sect Master think this is fake?"

"Not necessarily fake. I have indeed seen the so-called Heavenly Book. Although it was only fragments and scraps, it did point directly to the essence of heaven and earth. The hexagrams and five elements you and I study are indeed recorded in the Heavenly Book; perhaps they really are the original records left behind by ancient true immortals. But to say that obtaining the Heavenly Book allows one to control heaven and earth? That is most likely a rumor."

"You have also learned the methods of addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division, and you have learned the strokes of characters; these are all foundations. There are indeed few people in the world who are literate and can calculate, but if you believe that understanding brush strokes and basic arithmetic allows one to control the world, do you believe that?"

Zhang Qi spoke nonchalantly. He had never believed in any Heavenly Book. Perhaps there really were ancient true immortals who passed down the path of cultivation, but it was nothing more than mnemonic rhymes like the multiplication table. Whether one can truly comprehend the Great Dao from it depends on each person's own fortune.

Zhang Qi's swordsmanship was also derived from the basics of sword arts, yet it had long since become extraordinary. If an ordinary person were to compare themselves to him using basic sword techniques like hacking, thrusting, pointing, flicking, and slashing, claiming they had already mastered the Sword Dao, Zhang Qi would certainly be too lazy to pay them any mind.

Su Chunyi nodded in agreement. This was the attitude of the Qinghe Sword Sect: whoever is strong and whoever is weak, why not just have a spar? The Heavenly Book might have its miraculous aspects, but how could sword arts honed through hundreds of years of bitter cultivation be anything ordinary?

The predecessors who pioneered the Great Dao are indeed worthy of respect, but there is no need to belittle oneself, otherwise, this Heavenly Dao will only get worse, each generation inferior to the last.

Seeing that Su Chunyi had made up her mind, Zhang Qi did not force her, but instead comforted her, "Very well, whether to trade or not is for you to decide. A disciple of my Qinghe Sword Sect does not necessarily need the Fenxiang Sect's Soul-Cleansing Flower to break through to the Spirit Transmutation Realm. However, I am quite interested in the origin of this secret art; you might as well tell me about it."

Su Chunyi did not hide anything and recounted her encounter after descending the mountain in detail.

Upon hearing Su Chunyi's high praise for Chen Ye, Zhang Qi asked in confusion, "You say that when you first met him, he was only in the Qiling Realm?"

Su Chunyi nodded and said, "That is correct. The Xuanji Dew he used to break through his realm was even a gift from this disciple."

"He looks very young?"

"Even if his appearance seems young, this disciple is certain he is not yet twenty."

Zhang Qi pondered for a moment, then said, "I have seen geniuses in cultivation; it is not unheard of for one year of their progress to equal a hundred years for others. But a genius who is so worldly-wise and sophisticated? I have truly never seen that. That sort of thing requires time to accumulate slowly."

"How complex is the human heart? A youth under twenty, possessing such ability? Even if he started remembering things early, at most he has had ten or so years of life; how could he reach this level? The methods he used to tell fortunes and the rhymes he recited to you—I have lived for so many years and have never heard such precise summaries."

"This boy named Chen Ye most likely has something to hide."

Su Chunyi countered, "But he truly acts with integrity and is a chivalrous man."

Zhang Qi stared at Su Chunyi, and seeing her anxious expression, he laughed, "Little girl, don't be impatient. When I say he has something to hide, I don't mean he harbors evil intentions. Rogue cultivators have a hard life, so of course, they must keep a few cards close to their chest. To save a strange child, he gave away a secret art of the Heavenly Book; he is indeed worthy of being called a righteous man."

"For this favor, our Qinghe Sword Sect must provide some return; a mere Sword Box is not enough. Here is what you should do: go ask him what he wants. He may choose any one treasure stored in our vault."

"Also, since the Fenxiang Sect is willing to trade the Soul-Cleansing Flower for his secret art, we shall do them a favor as well. Whether he wants to trade or not, let him make the decision himself. Since it is his property, it is not our place to refuse on his behalf."

Hearing this, Su Chunyi happily said, "Thank you, Sect Master."

Zhang Qi laughed, "What are you thanking me for? It's not a reward for you."

Su Chunyi blushed instantly, not knowing how to explain herself.

Zhang Qi did not continue to tease the young girl, who was a generation his junior, and waved his hand, "I will order people to do their best to treat that Cursed Spirit Child; whether he lives or dies depends on his own fortune. As for you, go and collect a few more spirit talismans for protection. Your master calculated that your fortune and misfortune are intertwined; now that you have the fortune, the misfortune is not far off. There are many dangers in eliminating demons and defending the Dao, so you must be careful."

Su Chunyi bowed and left in a hurry.

After Su Chunyi left the great hall, a young-looking Daoist appeared beside Zhang Qi. He was dressed in black robes, appearing somewhat gloomy; this person was none other than Lu Xingzhou, the Sect Master of the Fenxiang Sect.

Zhang Qi said to him, "Old Lu, look, I have said everything that needed to be said. You can go find him and trade for it yourselves."

Lu Xingzhou couldn't help but glare at Zhang Qi, dissatisfied, "The secret art is already in your hands; how much trouble could it be to do me a favor? Since that boy surnamed Chen gave the secret art to your Qinghe Sword Sect, he certainly wouldn't mind you passing it on. You insist on making me go through this huge circle; are you trying to make things difficult for me on purpose?"

The two had been friends for many years and had fought side by side when resisting the Demon Sect; they shared a bond forged in life and death. Lu Xingzhou did not care that Zhang Qi was the number one person in the world, and he spoke without the slightest bit of restraint.

Zhang Qi retorted, "As the dignified sect leader of the Fenxiang Sect, does it look appropriate to snatch things from a junior? I told you long ago that the Heavenly Book is not important. You're too stubborn to listen to me; if you insist on trading for it, go do it yourself."

"And when have you ever listened to me?" Lu Xingzhou raged. "Look at how aged you've become! How much lifespan do you have left to contend with the Heavenly Dao? I told you to ascend, why won't you listen to me? Do you really want to die here?"

Zhang Qi raised his head, his gaze seemingly piercing through the roof of the great hall to look toward the nine heavens above.

Zhang Qi asked, "What do you think the Immortal Realm looks like?"

"I've never been there, how would I know? You'll find out once you ascend!"

Zhang Qi asked again, "Then tell me, why is it that those predecessors who ascended never returned?"

This time, Lu Xingzhou fell silent.

Zhang Qi smiled instead, offering comfort: "Don't be anxious. I won't truly die here. When the final day comes, I will ascend."

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

"Not many days left." Zhang Qi sighed with emotion, "Since ascension is a one-way trip, I want to take a few more looks at this world."

"Hmph, just go over early and wait for me in the Immortal Realm." Lu Xingzhou seemed unwilling to discuss the topic further, so he asked, "Since you won't help me, I'll send my own people to find that kid surnamed Chen. You won't stop me, will you?"

Zhang Qi said indifferently, "Go if you want. What happens in your Fenxiang Sect has nothing to do with me. But I'll give you a word of warning: the junior disciples of your Fenxiang Sect are incredibly arrogant; don't let your cleverness lead to your undoing. I don't want to see your Fenxiang Sect turn into a heretical path before I ascend."

Lu Xingzhou sighed, "The stricter the sect rules, the fewer the disciples, and the harder it becomes to pass on the legacy. If the rules are relaxed, it's easy to fall into the demonic path. The balance between the two is just like good and evil in this world—it's hard to distinguish simply. I'm not as carefree as you. You founded the Qinghe Sword Sect, but I inherited the Fenxiang Sect. I cannot watch the sect's lineage be severed."

Zhang Qi waved his hand, "Enough talk. You have your difficulties. But old Lu, you must understand: the swords of my Qinghe Sword Sect only care about right and wrong, not sentiment. If you ever fall into the demonic path, I will not show mercy."

Lu Xingzhou let out a cold snort. Although he had long known Zhang Qi's personality, hearing this still made him unhappy. This stubborn, unyielding rock should hurry up and ascend so he wouldn't be an eyesore here.

Lu Xingzhou transformed into a wisp of green smoke and vanished without a trace. He was busy sending men to find Chen Ye to trade for the secret technique; the Fenxiang Sect was determined to obtain the Heavenly Book secret technique.