Nine Directions Fragment

"Hmph! You're still not convinced?" The Yellow-Haired Great Bear glared. "With all the opportunities left behind by the Master, you only barely managed to clear the seventh floor of the War God Hall relying on your Qi Refinement cultivation."

"Could it be that you'll only be satisfied if I expose your shortcomings in front of your newly accepted disciple?"

"You..." Immortal Juhua felt helpless; the spirit of this Immortal Mansion's treasure had struck a nerve.

Back when he was at the Earth Immortal stage, he hadn't been able to clear the seventh floor of the War God Hall either... Even with the help of the Water Mansion, he had ultimately failed to survive the Heavenly Tribulation and remained a Loose Immortal.

It was only after living for countless ages as a Loose Immortal, gradually comprehending a full nine Daos, and reaching an incredibly deep level in Sword Dao, that he finally cleared the seventh floor of the War God Hall.

"Master." Lei Zhan shook his head.

These two...

One was a Loose Immortal famous throughout the Great Xia for a million years, and the other was the spirit of a top-tier Xiantian Spirit Treasure; yet, here they were, bickering.

Lei Zhan looked at Immortal Juhua and smiled. "Master previously mentioned bestowing upon me a profound Qi Refinement technique..."

"Mm." Immortal Juhua couldn't be bothered with the Yellow-Haired Great Bear. "I do have two Qi Refinement techniques that reach the Immortal-rank. Immortal-rank... signifies a technique that can be cultivated all the way to the Celestial Immortal level. Although the Heavenly Tribulation is a trial for all cultivators, a more profound technique builds a much deeper foundation for a cultivator."

"However..."

"However?" Lei Zhan's heart instantly tightened.

He wasn't surprised that his master, Immortal Juhua, possessed Immortal-rank Qi Refinement techniques. After all, a Loose Immortal who had lived for millions of years was bound to have some good things in his possession.

But that "however" made Lei Zhan curious.

Immortal Juhua continued, "While these two Immortal-rank Qi Refinement techniques are profound, they are not the most suitable for you. I have an even more mysterious Qi Refinement technique. Although it is only a fragment of a profound technique, it is sufficient to carry you to the Return-to-Void Earth Immortal level. In fact, this technique is even more powerful than those two Immortal-rank ones."

Immortal-rank Qi Refinement techniques were naturally incredibly profound, but the difficulty of cultivating them was equally high.

These profound and arduous techniques were difficult to start, requiring one to take solid, steady steps, but they allowed for continuous advancement.

As for shallow techniques, they might make opening the Purple Mansion easy, and with all one's might, there was hope of reaching the Myriad Phenomena level.

But... wanting to become a Primordial Spirit Daoist? Or even an Earth Immortal or Celestial Immortal beyond that?

If the foundation is not firm, the earth shakes and the mountains sway.

That would be as difficult as ascending to the heavens!

Therefore, even though Immortal Juhua possessed many Earth-rank and Heaven-rank Qi Refinement techniques, he had no intention of bringing them out.

He only chose to present this fragment alongside the Immortal-rank techniques because he was certain it was more powerful.

"Hm? A fragment... yet more powerful?" Lei Zhan fell into deep thought.

He knew that within the Three Realms, beyond Immortal-rank techniques, there existed Pure Yang Qi Refinement techniques and Great Luo Qi Refinement techniques.

A fragmentary Qi Refinement technique that can only reach the Return-to-Void level... yet Master considers it more suitable for me than those two Immortal-rank techniques... Lei Zhan pondered.

A moment later.

"Master." Lei Zhan looked up.

"May I take a look at these three different Immortal-rank Qi Refinement techniques?"

"Naturally."

Immortal Juhua smiled slightly, then moved his mind.

Whoosh!

Three rays of shimmering light suddenly appeared in mid-air. Two were a brilliant gold, while the third was a profound, deep purple.

The lights hovered, their glow gradually fading.

Two books with golden covers and one purple jade slip floated in the air, drifting slowly toward Lei Zhan.

"The two golden ones are the Immortal-rank Qi Refinement techniques. That purple jade slip is the fragment of the more profound technique." Immortal Juhua pointed at the techniques in the air, a smile on his face.

Lei Zhan nodded and reached out, grabbing the golden book closest to him.

"Sunlight Buddha Lecture Sutra?"

Lei Zhan opened the book and discovered that this Immortal-rank Qi Refinement technique was a Buddhist sect cultivation method, and one named after the Sunlight Buddha at that.

"I obtained this technique at the same time I acquired the soul visualization method, Inner Contemplation of Sun and Moon Bright Buddha. While this technique is grand and majestic, cultivating it means you will inevitably have some karmic entanglements with the Buddhist Sect in the future," Immortal Juhua explained.

"The Buddhist Sect's methods of conversion are incredibly formidable. In the ancient era, when the Buddhist and Daoist sects clashed, although I did not experience it firsthand, I heard that the fighting was unimaginably brutal."

The Yellow-Haired Great Bear also shook his head. "But for a little fellow like Lei Zhan, thinking about such things now is too early; it would only invite ridicule. The Buddhist Sect is a major power in the Three Realms; countless Celestial Immortals wish to join the ranks of the great Buddhist figures but cannot find a way in."

I'll keep the Sunlight Buddha Lecture Sutra as a backup for now!

The Buddhist Sect... Lei Zhan whispered to himself.

Although the Buddhist Sect is strong, with experts as numerous as clouds and a leader-level great power like Buddha Tathagata, the experts beneath them are divided into many factions. It is not necessarily the most suitable path for me.

And now, Daoist Sanshou's divine ability, Star-Plucking Hand, is right before me. If I can obtain it, I will have a great chance of joining the sect of Patriarch Bodhi in the future, which is far better than joining the Buddhist Sect.

At the very least, the Buddhist Sect does not possess the Heart-Force technique created by Hou Yi, Hou Yi Archery.

Daoist Sanshou had many old friends among the True Gods born from the chaos, but he also had no shortage of enemies.

Lei Zhan remembered that among the many great powers of the Three Realms, Patriarch Bodhi was one of those who had an excellent relationship with Daoist Sanshou.

Moreover, Patriarch Bodhi's reputation for teaching disciples was famous throughout the entire Three Realms.

Lei Zhan flipped through the Sunlight Buddha Lecture Sutra in his hands. The technique was indeed profound, and the elemental energy it cultivated was incomparably pure.

"Then I shall keep this Buddhist cultivation technique as a backup," Lei Zhan said, looking up at Immortal Juhua and the Yellow-Haired Great Bear with a smile.

"Mm," Immortal Juhua nodded. "Let it be a backup."

Lei Zhan picked up the other Immortal-ranked cultivation technique.

"Mysterious Origin Sword Manual?"

Skipping past the golden cover, Lei Zhan began to examine it carefully.

"This Immortal-ranked cultivation technique is exceptionally well-suited for a cultivator walking the path of the sword."

A moment later, Lei Zhan set down the Mysterious Origin Sword Manual.

If he were a sword cultivator, he would choose this technique without hesitation. It seemed to have been created specifically for sword immortals; when cultivated to a deep level, it could even complement the Dao of the sword.

Unfortunately, Lei Zhan was more skilled in the path of the spear, both in his past life and his current one.

"Only one technique remains." Lei Zhan's gaze fell upon the jade slip emitting a rich purple light.

His master, Immortal Juhua, had said from the start that compared to the two complete Immortal-ranked techniques, this incomplete fragment might actually be more suitable for him.

"Nine Directions... Fragment?" Lei Zhan's heart hammered against his chest.

Nine Directions? Nine Directions! Could it be that Nine Directions?

When it came to the name "Nine Directions," the only thing in the entire Three Realms associated with those two characters was the thirty-six World Prison steles lost by the Nine Directions Chaos Kingdom.

If this is truly the case, then even as a fragment, this cultivation technique is extraordinary. Master said it only contains methods up to the Return-to-Void Earth Immortal level, yet it is stronger than the Immortal-ranked techniques. I wonder if it is a third-grade Golden Core technique or...

Thinking of this, Lei Zhan could no longer restrain himself and began to read. Although he struggled to distinguish the finer differences, after having examined the Sunlight Buddha Lecture Sutra and the Mysterious Origin Sword Manual, he possessed a rough ability to discern their quality.

A long time passed.

"Master, I have decided to cultivate this Nine Directions Fragment," Lei Zhan said, turning to look at Immortal Juhua with a solemn expression.

"You have chosen this one?" Immortal Juhua nodded slightly. "Then let it be this one."

With a "whoosh," Immortal Juhua waved his hand, and the two golden books containing the Immortal-ranked techniques vanished into thin air.

Lei Zhan had not yet undergone his Heavenly Tribulation to officially take charge of the Star-Plucking Mansion, so it was referred to as the Water Mansion.

The name "Water Mansion" actually originated from Ji Ning, who had mistakenly assumed the Star-Plucking Mansion was an immortal ruin beneath the Winged Serpent Lake, and thus named it as such.

In reality, calling it an Immortal Mansion or a Water Mansion made no difference, but everyone had grown accustomed to the name Water Mansion.

As this new book sets sail, I am shamelessly asking for monthly tickets, recommendations, and for you to follow along!

This is my second time writing a book, so I have gained a little experience. I will find my rhythm and stockpile chapters before the official launch.

I will say this: if you feel this book is worth your time, I appreciate your support, my fellow readers!

Let's set a small goal here:

If I make it to the first round of recommendations, I will release one extra chapter upon launch.

If I make it to the second round, I will add two more chapters.

If I make it to the third round, I will add three more chapters.

And for the fourth round, I will add four chapters.

These can be accumulated!

Of course, this might be a bit of a pipe dream. But one must always have dreams! If you brothers and sisters manage to carry me to the fourth round of recommendations, it will mean I immediately owe you ten chapters.

I hope for your continued support.

As for my old book, Ji Clan Prodigy, although it has various issues, I still want to find an opportunity to pick it up and update it. At the very least, so many brothers have supported it. Even though the stats are dismal due to the long hiatus, as long as you brothers want to read it, I will find a way to update it slowly!

Once again, thank you all for your support! Thank you, everyone!