Late at night, Xia Miaoyu had already left. Ning Chen sat inside the tent and began cultivating. Suddenly, a bloodstained Golden Pages flew out from his chest, blooming with dazzling golden light. The next instant, it turned into a stream of light and entered his dantian qihai, coming to rest within the vortex formed by his True Qi, utterly motionless.
The sudden change startled Ning Chen. He tried desperately to drive the Golden Pages out with his True Qi, but failed. Left with no choice, he examined his body and found nothing unusual, so he could only force down his worries for the time being.
Just as Ning Chen circulated his True Qi to continue cultivating, he saw silver characters fly one after another from the Golden Pages. They followed his True Qi through his meridians, then silently vanished after completing one circulation.
The next moment, many illusory images appeared in Ning Chen's mind. When he focused on them, he discovered that they were the cultivation method for most of the remaining text on the Golden Pages.
"What is this?"
Ning Chen's expression suddenly turned extremely ugly. This cultivation method was far too harsh; there was not even any need to cultivate it.
Most of the pages recorded only a single move. Once used, it would cripple one's cultivation and leave no chance of survival—a certain death.
"So this really was just a cultivation technique for strengthening the body."
Ning Chen smiled bitterly. The first small portion of the text had recorded only methods for cultivating True Qi. He had finally managed to understand the remaining words, only to find that they described a move he could not use.
Surely Mu Chengxue had not expected this outcome when she gave him this cultivation technique.
To cultivate it or not—that was the only question before him.
In truth, he had nothing to consider, because aside from this, he did not know how to cultivate any other moves.
No matter what cultivation method it was, a cultivation technique and its moves complemented each other. Cultivating True Qi alone could only improve its quality; it served no other purpose.
Moves required True Qi for support, and cultivating them also greatly improved one's True Qi. Many martial artists cultivated moves alone and paid little attention to their Cultivation Techniques, because the circulation methods of most moves also helped condense True Qi.
Pure Cultivation Techniques like the one recorded on the Golden Pages were already rare in the world.
"I'll cultivate it."
Ning Chen sighed softly, then closed his eyes and began cultivating this purely life-risking move according to the illusory images in his mind.
He knew very well that if the day ever came when he was forced to use this move, whether he lived or died might no longer be the most important matter.
A quarter of an hour later, faint silver light flickered within the tent. Frost condensed around Ning Chen's body in flakes, drifting down through the air before silently vanishing upon reaching the ground.
At the same time, Sword Enshrined and Xia Miaoyu both sensed something. They opened their eyes and looked toward Ning Chen's tent.
"It seems there are still things I do not know," Xia Miaoyu said softly, narrowing her eyes.
Such fluctuations of True Qi should never belong to a newcomer at Martial Arts First Rank. Though they still posed no threat to her, they had already exceeded what ordinary Martial Arts Second Rank and even Third Rank cultivators could withstand.
"He is about to break through." A sharp glint flashed through Sword Enshrined's aged eyes after a moment, and he spoke hoarsely.
Sure enough, as soon as he finished speaking, Spiritual Energy gathered madly outside Ning Chen's tent and surged inside like a tide.
"What a disturbance."
At that moment, quite a few experts among the Imperial Guards noticed it as well. They turned toward the direction of the surging Spiritual Energy. Judging by the commotion, it was almost equivalent to the fluctuations caused by a Third Rank expert breaking through.
"Fine. I shall help him once."
Xia Miaoyu's expression grew slightly solemn. With a wave of her slender hand, a vast stream of True Essence flew out and shot straight toward Ning Chen's tent.
Almost at the same moment, a strand of Sword Qi flew out from Sword Enshrined's direction and likewise entered Ning Chen's tent.
Two peak Houtian experts acted at once. Their True Essence was as vast as the sea, forcibly transforming the chaotic Heaven and Earth Spiritual Energy into a clear stream and drawing it into Ning Chen's body. Moments later, the disturbance ceased, and calm returned.
The pained expression on Ning Chen's face gradually faded as well. His cultivation finally stabilized at Houtian Second Rank.
With his realm stabilized, Ning Chen was about to calm the aura around him when, from the distant earth, a measured sound of footsteps slowly approached.
Sword Enshrined and Xia Miaoyu both stiffened. They stepped out of their tents in a single stride and stared intently at the figure walking slowly toward them from afar.
The Imperial Guards present also felt that peerless martial aura, and they watched the newcomer with grave expressions.
In the night, purple robes snapped in the wind. His aura was indifferent, his steps steady. Though his face was youthful, he possessed the bearing of a grandmaster, and everyone felt the overwhelming pressure he exuded.
"A member of the Divine Cult."
Sword Enshrined's face darkened. The distinctive aura of a Divine Cult member was completely undisguised. In his youth, he had encountered someone whose aura had been almost identical to this man's.
The newcomer stopped. His aura spread outward, while his expression remained calm.
"I am Jun Shaoqing."
In a casual tone, he spoke a name that left people utterly astonished—the Divine Son of the Eternal Night Divine Cult, the foremost of the younger generation, an existence nearly invincible below Xiantian.
As his words fell, Sword Enshrined's expression shifted slightly. This was the worst possible situation. They were both at the peak of Houtian, yet he had no confidence that he could stop the man before him.
"Hand over the Scroll of Life, and I will let you leave."
Jun Shaoqing swept his gaze around before finally fixing it on Xia Miaoyu. A moment ago, he had sensed a trace of the Scroll of Life's aura. Had he not been close by, he might have overlooked it.
"I do not have this so-called Scroll of Life on me. You have the wrong person," Xia Miaoyu said coldly, her eyes turning frigid.
"Then excuse my offense."
Jun Shaoqing no longer argued. With a movement of his foot, his body vanished from where he stood, and his right hand reached for the woman before him.
Whoosh! At the critical moment, a flash of sword light cut between the two. Sword Enshrined's ancient sword left its sheath, drawing a startling rainbow arc as it forcefully blocked the Divine Son's path.
Jun Shaoqing frowned. Several afterimages flashed around him as he evaded the sword light. With a casual sweep of his left sleeve, palm force shot toward Sword Enshrined. At the same time, his feet did not stop, and his right hand continued reaching for Xia Miaoyu.
"Hmph." Xia Miaoyu showed no fear. Her slender hand moved, tearing through the air with a shriek, as she met Jun Shaoqing's attack with a palm strike of her own.
Bang!
The two palms collided, and furious gales swept outward. The earth beneath their feet split apart, sand and stones flew wildly, and the terrifying might shook everyone present to the core.
Elsewhere, Sword Enshrined raised his sword to receive the other palm force. His body retreated half a step, blood and energy churning within him as the gravity in his eyes deepened.
In the distance, Ning Chen had long since withdrawn his True Qi. He was the only one present who knew what the Scroll of Life Jun Shaoqing spoke of was. However, his status was far too inconspicuous; no one would ever suspect him.
What he had not expected was that the cultivation technique Mu Chengxue had given him would draw another's attention. Even less had he expected that someone could sense the aura of this cultivation technique.
"Eternal Night Divine Cult."
Ning Chen's expression was grave. He had heard Jun Shaoqing's name before. This man was not unfamiliar throughout Great Xia—the Divine Son of Eternal Night, the strongest Divine Son in a thousand years. Though only a little over twenty, he had already touched the barrier of Xiantian and was praised as the person most likely to enter Xiantian in the world.
For this journey, he had asked Qing Ling about many of the world's powerful experts. Jun Shaoqing was one of them.
Qing Ling had specifically warned him then: if he encountered Jun Shaoqing, there was only one word—run. Even if he knew he could not escape, he still had to run.
The strongest person below Xiantian was not merely an empty title.
The Divine Son rarely left the divine temple, but every time he appeared, he left behind achievements that shocked the world.
A powerhouse who had never suffered defeat was always worthy of respect. Even though he belonged to the Eternal Night Divine Cult, many young people in Great Xia regarded him as the goal they would pursue all their lives.
In the battlefield, more than a dozen exchanges passed in the blink of an eye, carrying them several hundred zhang away. Jun Shaoqing fought one against two without falling into disadvantage. As his moves rose and fell, his vast True Qi suppressed everything.
Xia Miaoyu and Sword Enshrined were no ordinary people either. Xia Miaoyu in particular—her delicate hands struck with ruthless ferocity, every move aimed at taking a life, never leaving the vital points.
The ground around the three was shattered and scarred beyond recognition. Their immense destructive power swept everything nearby into the fray.
Seeing the princess fight, the commander of the Imperial Guards feared something might go wrong. He and seven experts rushed forward, intending to intervene in the battle between the three.
"Do not!"
Sword Enshrined's expression changed, and he shouted to stop them. However, it was already too late.
"Fools."
Jun Shaoqing snorted coldly, anger rising in his brows. He raised a hand, and as his move came forth, heaven and earth changed. Thunder covered all four directions. Amid furious winds and raging gales, the seven experts and the commander of the Imperial Guards groaned dully several times before being sent flying with loud crashes.
Thunder of Darkness.
A world-shaking move stirred changes in the heavens. Its earth-rending might shattered the limits of human understanding. Thunder roared in the Divine Son's hand, shaking heaven and earth, its terrifying force seeming ready to tear space apart.
"A Feather Flies Like a Swan, One Sword Between Heaven and Earth!"
Facing the move of destruction, Sword Enshrined focused with all his might. His sword moved like a soaring swan, and thousands upon thousands of sword shadows merged into a single strike. One merciless feather swept toward the Divine Son.
"Snow Wave of Sorrow!"
On the other side, Xia Miaoyu focused her mind and raised her cultivation to its peak. True Qi surged, and the temperature of the air immediately dropped. Snowflakes scattered through the air as though winter had descended.
Boom!
The ultimate moves of the three collided, and all phenomena seemed to explode. Space twisted madly, raging sand swept through the air, and wild waves shook the heavens. Nothing could be seen for a hundred zhang, and the horrifying sight resembled the end of heaven and earth.
In the distance, Ning Chen was stunned by the unparalleled, terrifying scene before him. Everything he understood was instantly smashed to nothing.
"Can human strength truly reach such heights?"
The indescribable shock completely changed his view of cultivation. The martial path he had always considered insignificant was actually so powerful, so dazzling that one could not look away.
"Urgh."
As the raging sand dispersed, the three stood apart on separate sides of the battlefield. Moments later, Sword Enshrined spat out a mouthful of bright red blood, staining the desolate ground.
True Qi shook within Xia Miaoyu's body, and blood also seeped from the corner of her lips. Clearly, she had suffered no light injuries.
Before them, Jun Shaoqing's robes were slightly disheveled, but his aura remained powerful enough to drive people to despair. The title of Divine Son was enough to chill the soul.
"Hand over the Scroll of Life."
Jun Shaoqing stepped forward half a pace and spoke lightly.
His calm words still carried not the slightest threat. Yet that overwhelming pressure struck everyone's hearts like a heavy hammer. Not far away, the commander of the Imperial Guards and the seven experts lay fallen in pools of blood, their final traces of life gradually fading.
"I cannot do that," Xia Miaoyu said coldly, anger rising within her.
"What a pity."
Jun Shaoqing sighed softly, though no one knew what he lamented. Then he circulated his true power, intending to end this pointless battle.
At that very moment, an utterly evil and icy aura flashed from an extremely distant place. Jun Shaoqing's expression changed. He withdrew his True Qi, transformed into a stream of light, and shot toward the distance in the blink of an eye.
The sudden change left Xia Miaoyu and Sword Enshrined both stunned. The next instant, Xia Miaoyu came back to herself and said in a deep voice, "Break camp. We leave immediately."
"Yes!"
The others came to their senses and immediately began packing. Between the tents, disappointment flashed through the eyes of the Zhenji Kingdom envoy, but he did not dare reveal it on his face and merely lowered his head to gather his belongings.
What a pity. If Princess Miaoyu had died at the hands of the Eternal Night Divine Cult's Divine Son, it would have been the best possible result for Zhenji Kingdom.
That way, they could not only completely intensify the conflict between Great Xia and the Eternal Night Divine Cult, but also give Zhenji Kingdom a reason to go back on its word.
That person had foreseen that the Eternal Night Divine Cult's Divine Son would come, but had not expected that at the final moment, the Divine Son would leave for no reason.
Everyone in the world knew that Great Xia's fortune was so good it inspired envy. Yet no one had expected that even a princess not born of the direct line could be touched by such immense fortune.
Every dynasty and every person beneath heaven possessed fortune. Great Xia's was the most prosperous, the Eternal Night Divine Cult came second, and the Northern Mongol Royal Court ranked third. Yet aside from that Military Advisor of the Northern Mongol Royal Court, whose wisdom was like that of a demon, almost no one else in the world could observe fortune.
Great Xia's fortune had always been the greatest problem standing before the powers of the world...
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