The Victim
Inside the Jade Palace.
"It's truly unimaginable that in such a short time of cultivation, the power of the mind has already reached an astonishing level. Many True God Dao Ancestor probably only reach this limit..."
Looking down at Zhou Hao, who was sitting cross-legged on a futon, receiving the inheritance with his eyes closed, the Jade Pool Golden Mother couldn't help but show a look of amazement and disbelief.
At this moment, the ethereal power of Zhou Hao's heart moved her deeply.
Little did she know that when Zhou Hao was still comprehending the essence of Tai Chi, he had already established the grand principle of "enlarge your heart to encompass all things under heaven; empty your heart to receive all goodness under heaven; stabilize your heart to respond to all changes under heaven." After his enlightenment upon observing the Black-White Millstone Diagram, he aimed to integrate all laws and principles, taking Tai Chi as the fundamental principle, and ultimately achieve chaos.
At that time, Zhou Hao had only just entered the Myriad Phenomena Realm.
The power of the heart is ethereal and intangible, yet incredibly wondrous.
Even ordinary people can create miracles if they have strong inner strength.
Zhou Hao has been reborn twice. In this life, he is in the world of the novels he read in his previous life. Compared with other cultivators, they would regard the True God Dao Ancestor, or even Pangu Nuwa as the end of their cultivation. But Zhou Hao has no end in his heart.
Even the universe has an ultimate moment of destruction, but what he pursues is eternity, Changsheng, and the ability to live forever even if the universe is destroyed...
"Phew!" Zhou Hao opened his eyes.
His eyes were deep and endless, and the light in them was like the brightest and most dazzling star in the void.
"So this is mental power," Zhou Hao murmured to himself, his mind still immersed in the vast information in his head.
The information on mental power created and imparted by the Jade Pool Golden Mother includes Lady Nuwa's research on mental power, her own endless insights in the Jade Palace of the Jade Pool, and a few other methods of using mental power from other powerful beings.
The combination of various methods gave him a different understanding of mental power.
Among the very few methods of using mental energy in the Three Realms, the only systematic method is the mental energy method of using archery created by Houyi, which is also one of the ten great supernatural powers since Pangu created the world, namely <Houyi's Archery>.
Although the Jade Pool Golden Mother had never studied Houyi's Archery, there was much to learn from the information she imparted. She also divided mental power into many realms, just as Houyi had done.
"Entry level, Ice Heart, Dominator, Mortal..." Zhou Hao sighed, "Although I haven't systematically cultivated my mental strength, through various fortuitous encounters, the enlightenment and teachings from my teacher and senior brother, and the guidance of the Golden Mother's methods, my mental strength has faintly reached the fourth level."
Always place yourself in the humblest of mortals, and always aspire to something higher.
"What a mortal realm! Even if I am humble, like a blade of grass in the mortal world, my heart is boundless, and I can still wield this blade of grass to cleave the stars."
Whoosh! Zhou Hao suddenly slashed forward with his palms like knives.
The hand, which contained not a trace of divine power or Origin Power, easily cleaved open the void in front of it, leaving behind a pitch-black spatial rift.
"With this power and ability, I can kill enemies beyond my level even without using the power of the Blue Flower. Moreover, the power of my close-combat evasion and movement, as well as other techniques such as escape, will increase dramatically, just like my offensive attacks." Zhou Hao's face showed joy.
Mastering and utilizing mental strength can instantly elevate combat power by several levels.
If he was previously only at the peak level among True Immortals and Celestial Gods, he has now reached the ultimate level among Celestial Gods and True Immortals.
Keep in mind that this was before he had even passed the Heavenly Tribulation, and he was still only at the Void Return Divine Demon level.
How powerful would one be if they could survive another Heavenly Tribulation?
Could he, like the Houyi Yi, accomplish the incredible feat of slaying True God Dao Ancestor while possessing the body of a celestial being?
He himself didn't know.
"Thank you for the teachings, Senior Golden Mother." Zhou Hao stood up and bowed deeply to the Jade Pool Golden Mother.
"The mental cultivation methods I'm passing on to you, aside from the one for protecting your soul, are merely the insights of my master and several Dao Ancestors, along with my own experiences over the years. They're not systematic and will only offer you some reference value," said the Jade Pool Golden Mother. "Besides, you've already agreed to my request."
"To fulfill the original wish of the Golden Mother, to make the Heavenly Court the ruler of the Three Realms, to assist the Heavenly Dao in its cycle of reincarnation, to restrain many powerful beings, and to prevent the Three Realms from falling into internal strife, is also my wish, and I will do my utmost to achieve it," Zhou Hao said with emotion.
She had previously thought that the request made by the Jade Pool Golden Mother was for her to help reunite her and Lü Dongbin.
Unexpectedly, it was to fulfill her master's mission.
However, as he himself said, ending the entrenched power of the Three Realms and the chaotic struggle for supremacy among various factions was also what he wanted, and it was exactly what he wanted.
Where the Way lies, though thousands may oppose it, I will go.
"Now is a time of great calamity, a time for destruction before construction, and it is good that you share this sentiment." The Jade Pool Golden Mother nodded with pleasure. "Since I have taken you two as my disciples, I will naturally protect you. As for the Three Xiao Sisters, if you summon them, they will also answer the call to come and assist you."
"Okay." Zhou Hao was delighted upon hearing this.
This trip to Jade Pool not only allowed the two women to become disciples of the Dao Ancestor and he himself to obtain the Mind Power Method, but also earned the approval of the Jade Pool Golden Mother, who confirmed that the Three Xiao Sisters of Sanxiao would come to help. The gains far exceeded his expectations before the trip.
Just as he was about to take his leave, the Jade Pool Golden Mother spoke again, "You can find an opportunity to pass on that method of protecting the mind and soul to Donghua. Just don't reveal... that it was obtained from me."
Zhou Hao looked up and saw that there seemed to be clouds and mist in front of Yaochi Golden Mother, making it difficult to see her face, and he couldn't help but sigh in his heart.
Even a powerful Daoist master like the Dao Ancestor cannot change the nature of love.
After leaving the Jade Palace, Zhou Hao met with Liu Yu and Yun Yuchan, and exchanged contact Signal Talisman with the Three Xiao Sisters before leaving Jade Pool.
Inside the Eight Views Imperial Carriage.
Zhou Hao let the nine golden dragons pull the celestial chariot toward Kunlun Mountain, while he sat alone, silently comprehending the most precious soul-guarding technique passed down by the Jade Pool Golden Mother of the West.
Mental power is the most supreme power in the Three Realms, and the methods for using it are top-tier methods that are never passed on to outsiders.
Even the Jade Pool Golden Mother said before imparting this secret technique that it was extremely precious among the many secret arts that the Dao Ancestor could use, precisely because it works on the soul.
It should be understood that the reason why living beings have consciousness, can think, speak, laugh, and so on, is precisely because they have a core soul.
Although cultivators can strengthen their souls and become divine souls after cultivation, the Void Return Divine Demon can transform a single hair or a drop of blood into an avatar. Even at the Dao Ancestor level, a single thought can condense into an avatar. All of this is due to the strength of the divine soul itself.
Therefore, regardless of whether one is a god or demon, or a cultivator practicing Qi Refining, and no matter what realm one has reached, the soul is the most vulnerable point.
Once the soul is damaged, even losing 30-50% of its power will greatly reduce one's strength, leaving less than one-tenth of it. Severe damage can even lead to death. Therefore, the importance of protecting the soul cannot be overstated.
Zhou Hao, who cultivated the Eight-Nine Arcane Art, possessed a divine body stronger than any magical treasure. If he were to cultivate to the ninth level, he would be indestructible, and even ordinary Dao Ancestors and powerful beings would find it difficult to harm him. However, if he encountered a secret technique or magical treasure that directly targeted the soul, he would be in danger of perishing.
However, if one were to master this method of protecting one's soul, it would be like filling in the last gap in one's defenses. At that time, looking across the Three Realms, in terms of defensive strength, below the True God Dao Ancestor, probably no one could compare.
Let's begin.
The invisible mental force, under the influence of the secret technique, is as if an invisible hand is gathering it into a thread.
Gradually, countless threads formed in Zhou Hao's Mud Pill Palace, surrounding his Taiji Divine Soul and faintly forming a thin, cicada-wing-like light membrane that enveloped his Divine Soul.
Although it was only a thin layer and barely formed, a sense of immense peace welled up in Zhou Hao's heart.
The secret technique continued to operate, and more threads flowed from the Mud Pill Palace to the body and limbs, gradually covering every strand of flesh and blood with divine power. A faint, visible glow began to appear on Zhou Hao's body.
"You've taken the first step, so you've succeeded." Zhou Hao breathed a sigh of relief.
The invisible mental energy is condensed into threads to protect the soul and body. The rest is a matter of constant refinement, continuously thickening and consolidating it, until finally forming a mental energy robe that is impervious to all evil.
However, that level requires an extremely subtle and refined control of mental energy, which even the Jade Pool Golden Mother has not yet reached.
"Now that my mental strength has broken through, and with a secret technique protecting my soul, I have accumulated enough power. It's time for me to undergo the Heavenly Tribulation."
As Zhou Hao was pondering this, a sudden, inexplicable gust of wind arose outside the Eight Views Imperial Carriage.
Amidst Howling Gale, clusters of dark green clouds surged and rolled, completely obscuring the surrounding area for tens of thousands of miles, plunging the world into darkness.
The Nine-Headed golden dragon pulling the chariot was terrified when it suddenly saw this sight and saw dark clouds looming over it.
Fortunately, the Eight Views Imperial Carriage was miraculous, emitting eight-colored celestial light that protected the entire carriage and the golden dragons pulling it.
No matter how fierce the gale and dark clouds were, they only raged outside the eight-colored immortal light before calming down slightly. However, sensing the terrifying aura within the dark green clouds, they still curled up in a ball, as if they had encountered a natural enemy.
Zhou Hao remained calm and spread his consciousness, immediately discovering a huge demon banner standing in the void in the distance.
The source of this gale and dark green clouds was that demonic banner.
Beneath the demon banner stood a middle-aged man with an unusual appearance, dressed in emerald green armor, and a man with an extremely ugly appearance and goldfish eyes.
"Nine-Headed Celestial God, why are you using magic to block my path?" Zhou Hao spoke calmly, his voice soft yet suppressing the howling winds around him.
"Why are we stopping you?" A high-pitched, baby-like voice came from the man with goldfish eyes. "The victim has come knocking, Zhou Hao, are you still going to pretend you don't know?"
PS:
Work was busy before the New Year, and many employees took leave or resigned...
The updates have been slow, and I'm too embarrassed to say anything else, I can only write and update whenever I have time.
Today is the Little New Year, which we in the north celebrate. I don't know if other places celebrate it.
Here, Suifeng all my friends good health and happiness!