Securing Mother Qi, Total Perception Ends

Deep within the Ancestral Mountain, the sky above is devoid of sun and moon, only a deep, almost inky night.

The night sky was filled with stars.

Lin Suri stood beneath this expanse of starlight.

Although his spiritual energy was extremely weak, he couldn't care less about circulating Greater Celestial Circuit and kept his eyes fixed on the person in front of him.

This person then revealed his most secret and unspeakable plan.

He even casually mentioned the sect's secret plot...

Immortal Husk.

Myriad Realms Projection.

Pool-Soul Institute.

These words, uttered by this person, easily revealed the Mystery Mechanism!

Lin Suri looked at Chen Lingxi like that.

Chen Lingxi was also looking at him.

The night breeze passed between the two of them.

Chen Lingxi stood several feet away, head held high, expression calm.

"I am Wandering Goose of Heaven and Earth," Chen Lingxi said unhurriedly. "You and I are in this Qi-Less Grotto-Heaven. Fellow Daoist, you Rebirth Realm come from beyond the cycle of rebirth to find an opportunity for Immortal Husk for the Dao-Below Academy and to seek fortuitous opportunity for the Pool-Soul Institute. As for me..."

He paused slightly, his gaze sweeping over Lin Suri's face, a faint smile appearing on his lips, "I have my reasons, why must you ask, fellow Daoist?"

Lin Suri suppressed the shock in his eyes.

But his heart was still pounding like a drum.

That Myriad Realms Projection is True Lord's Cauldron Vessel. Only when a Daoist Master borrows it can the Pool-Soul Institute project cultivators into this Cave Heaven to retrieve their Immortal Husk.

This matter was the most closely guarded secret of his sect, and within this Qi-Less Grotto-Heaven, only he knew of it.

Even within that Dao-Below Academy, only a handful of people knew about it.

But how did this person know all this?

Lin Suri's thoughts surged like a tide.

He subconsciously suspected that this place was a hallucination.

Perhaps his battle with Xi Yuan had left him more seriously injured than he had anticipated.

Perhaps this mysterious figure left some kind of imprint in his Consciousness Sea that he himself was unaware of; everything was a scene that arose after he was in a dream, and everything was the product of his thoughts.

This Chen Lingxi, this Immortal Husk, this sudden change—it's all just an illusion, a figment of the imagination.

However, the three streams of Treasure Qi in his Qi Sea were still slowly circulating.

The Six-Qi True Method made him even clearer-headed. Although the Spirit Pool in his Qi Sea was almost dry, it was still operating, gathering and refining the sparse spiritual energy in the surrounding world and incorporating it into the pool.

Lin Suri a deep breath, realizing that this was no illusion.

He looked at Chen Lingxi again and felt that the fluctuations of spiritual energy around this person were only at the Qi Circulation Sixth Floor.

Although the spiritual liquid in his Qi Sea had condensed into a pool, it had not yet been repeatedly refined, and the degree of refinement of his spiritual energy was far inferior.

Yet this very person, standing there, possessed a calm and serene aura, like a bottomless, icy pool.

There was an indescribable mystery in the depths of those eyes, as if he were not seeing a cultivator at the Qi Circulation Sixth Floor, but a more unfathomable being wearing the skin of a Qi Circulation Sixth Floor.

Immortal Husk...

projection...

Lin Suri silently thought to himself once more.

He then finally took a deep breath and asked, "Brother Dao, you just said that the projections of cultivators from my Pool-Soul Institute arrived, only to shatter and return?"

Chen Lingxi smiled but remained silent.

Lin Suri waited a moment, and seeing that he still didn't answer, a very subtle glint flashed in his eyes. He spoke again, his tone carrying a hint of probing. "Brother Dao... what do you want?"

He was a cultivator of the Great World.

He knew that there was no such thing as a free lunch in this world, and that such a person would not appear before him and reveal secrets for no reason.

"He must want something," Lin Suri thought to himself, his mind racing with calculations.

"The greatest fortuitous opportunity within this Ancestral Mountain is the Ancestral Mountain Mother Qi. Now that the Mother Qi is in my hands, could this person have come for the Mother Qi?"

So he continued to ask Chen Lingxi, "Fellow Daoist, did you come to the Ancestral Mountain for the Ancestral Mountain Mother Qi?"

As he asked questions, his gaze remained fixed on Chen Lingxi, not missing a single subtle change.

But Chen Lingxi disappointed him.

His face remained calm and composed, even when he heard the words "Ancestral Mountain Mother Qi," his expression remained serene and unchanged.

"The Ancestral Mountain Mother Qi is precious to those Truth-Seekers, but it's nothing to me." Chen Lingxi said, "It's nothing more than a Marrow Sea Silver-Turning and a Tide Rising in a Hundred Apertures; it's not enough to arouse my interest."

Moreover... sacrificing the Ancestral Mountain Mother Qi alone... is far from enough for this hidden secret of Qilessness.

Upon hearing this, Lin Suri raised his eyebrows slightly.

What an fortuitous opportunity it is to Ancestral Mountain Mother Qi! By ingesting this energy, one can gain the potential to awaken Spirit Aperture.

Even in that Great World brimming with spiritual energy, the potential for Spirit Aperture is a great fortune that countless cultivators dream of but cannot attain.

With the ability to the Qi Circulation Realm and Dao Foundation Realm, one's Spirit-Aperture Physique will be greatly enhanced, both in the art of breathing and refining Spiritual Qi and in one's comprehension.

It's like a traveler who could only stumble along a muddy path is suddenly placed on a straight and wide official road, and from then on can travel a thousand miles a day without suffering from the mud.

He and that cultivator surnamed Chao had been plotting for so long, risking their lives and fighting against various noble cultivators, all for this one wisp of Mother Qi.

Xi Yuan, Lu Baizhong, Consort Chun, and even the Great Zhou from the Great Zhou Dynasty who came all the way from afar—were they all here for this Dao Mother Qi?

But this person in front of me actually said it was nothing?

Lin Suri's doubts grew stronger.

But in an instant, he seemed to have figured it out.

"While 'Mother Qi' is extremely precious, is it really that precious to someone capable of deciphering its Mystery Mechanism?"

"If this person truly intends to seize the Mother Qi... it actually proves... that this person is not as unfathomable as they seem..."

Lin Suri's mind was in turmoil.

Chen Lingxi suddenly looked directly into Lin Suri's eyes and said softly, "Even the great fortuitous opportunity of Immortal Husk is not worth much compared to the price that Pool-Soul Institute will pay in this realm."

He paused, his gaze growing increasingly profound, like the starry sky that sometimes has neither sun nor moon.

"Therefore... my appearance here today to meet with the fellow Daoists of the Dao-Below Academy is actually for a very great request, which I'm afraid Fellow Daoist Lin cannot grant."

Lin Suri still, his aura equally calm.

He remained silent for a moment, a serious look appearing in his eyes for the first time, before speaking, "Brother, how can you know I cannot promise you if you don't tell me?"

Chen Lingxi's smile slowly faded, and she said softly, "I happened to be facing Dao Calamity, Rebirth Realm here to avoid it... but this body is somewhat holding me back."

As he said this, he lowered his head slightly and looked at his palm.

The spiritual energy flowing in his palm was quite substantial, but it was still inferior to that of Lin Suri, Lu Baizhong, and even Consort Chun.

His gaze fell on those wisps of spiritual energy, his eyes filled with regret.

He suddenly looked up, his eyes flashing with a sharp light.

He stared directly at Lin Suri, his words like a thunderbolt. "Why don't I avenge the Pool-Soul Institute and the Dao-Below Academy, and save the Dao Palace from the calamity of the Golden Grotto's fall!"

"And the Dao-Below Academy..." He took a deep breath, "Then I request the Daoist Master to use that Heaven-Determining Brush to ordain my body Unbroken Through Calamity!"

"What is the Dao Calamity?" Lin Suri when he heard "the suffering of the fall of the Golden Grotto." He could no longer maintain his composure, and a storm of emotions surged within him!

Lin Suri's breathing became rapid, and his tone was equally rapid. "Will True Person from my Dao Palace perish? I wonder which True Person it is?"

The Golden Grotto True Person! How esteemed he is!

Even in the Great World, they are high above, holding the reins of Mysterious Profundity.

It's a real major overhaul, a significant upgrade!

The Golden Grotto Dao Palace, with only six people, can assist the Daoist Master, support the six academies of the Academy, and be revered by thousands of cultivators.

His resolve was not firm, and he wanted to come to this Qi-Less Realm to the Cauldron-Seizing Realm Immortal Husk and temper his resolve. Countless teachers and elders opposed him, simply because he had the opportunity to enter the Golden Grotto!

But now, how is it possible that the Golden Grotto Dao-Below Academy is about to fall?

Chen Lingxi's thoughts raced, yet she remained unmoved, replying, "You want your master, the Pool Master Jing Shijue, to use the cauldron to witness this tribulation within the Cauldron Vessel Calamity-Seeing Pool?"

Lin Suri was not surprised that Chen Lingxi had guessed his thoughts.

The Pond Master's Cauldron Vessel, the Calamity-Seeing Pool, is not a secret in the Great World.

Chen Lingxi, however, remained calm and composed, saying, "Why not?"

A light smile appeared on his face, his tone casual, yet he revealed another shocking truth. "Let me tell you, the calamity that caused the fall of the Golden Grotto... was due to your master!"

Lin Suri took a deep breath, but couldn't utter a word.

He knew in his heart that he couldn't completely trust what Chen Lingxi said.

The mysterious man before him seemed to know far too much that no one else knew, making it difficult for him to remain unconvinced.

"The Golden Grotto has fallen... Is this true?" After a long while, he finally composed himself and asked again.

Chen Lingxi looked him up and down, but did not answer directly. Her smile widened, and she suddenly said, "Fellow Daoist, as I stand before you today, gazing upon your Dao, I suddenly see a woman in green robes, whose fate is intertwined with yours. I wonder if this is true?"

Upon hearing this, Lin Suri was visibly shaken.

The image of that figure in blue robes standing on Hanging Sky Mountain, facing the sea of clouds, flashed into his mind instantly.

The woman who made his resolve waver, led him past the Rebirth Pool, and caused him to waste his years in this Qi-Less Grotto-Heaven.

She was the deepest crevice in his heart.

He never revealed it to anyone.

He never uttered a single word about it, not even to his master.

But the person in front of me saw right through me.

Lin Suri rooted to the spot, the fluctuations of his spiritual energy completely disordered.

He just stood there, staring blankly at Chen Lingxi, a hint of bewilderment appearing for the first time in his usually deep and calm eyes.

The night wind blew in from the valley entrance, causing his meticulously tied hair crown to loosen slightly, and a few strands of hair fell down and clung to his pale forehead.

He remained oblivious, simply standing there in silence for a long time.

Then, he took a deep breath, clasped his hands in a fist Chen Lingxi.

The bow was performed with utmost solemnity, just like a disciple seeking guidance from a teacher, respectful and without the slightest negligence.

"Senior," he spoke, his voice carrying a genuine sense of awe for the first time, "Please allow me to report back to my sect and then discuss this with you further."

senior.

When Lin Suri uttered those two words, there was not a trace of reluctance or hesitation.

It was as if he were addressing an elder whom he had long admired, or a respected person whom he was willing to treat with the respect due to a junior.

"This matter is of great importance." Chen Lingxi nodded, her calm face revealing no emotion, her voice as steady as ever. "It should be so."

Lin Suri straightened up, turned around, and was about to leave, probably wanting to find a quiet place to communicate with the Dao-Below Academy using that Jade Slip.

But he had only taken two steps when he heard Chen Lingxi's voice behind him.

"Wait a minute."

Lin Suri paused slightly and turned around.

Then Chen Lingxi seemed to suddenly remember something.

"Within this Ancestral Mountain..." Chen Lingxi's gaze passed over Lin Suri, looking towards the celestial Heavenly Lake suspended in mid-air in the distance, towards the eerie night sky where starlight and mist intertwined, a faint trace of solemnity flashed in his eyes. "There's something strange about it, it seems to be related to that Immortal Husk."

He paused, then turned his gaze back to Lin Suri: "I've come to borrow your Ancestral Mountain Mother Qi to calculate the mysteries of this Ancestral Mountain and the subtle immortal secrets within."

Lin Suri's eyes showed some surprise.

"Are you afraid I'll steal your Mother Qi?" Chen Lingxi shook her head. "Do you have the Jade Law Document on you?"

Jade Law Document.

These three words touched Lin Suri's ears and caused a slight stirring in his heart.

The Jade Law Document is a contract that binds cultivators; if they break their promises after signing, they will be Heavenly Punishment.

If this senior is truly willing to use the Jade Law Document as proof, then there is no need to worry about him plotting to seize the Mother Qi.

Under normal circumstances, Lin Suri would never have given up his treasure so easily.

Having cultivated for so long, he knows that every fortuitous opportunity is hard-won, and every inspiration requires risking one's life.

Moreover, he had painstakingly obtained this Ancestral Mountain Mother Qi, nearly losing his life under Xi Yuan's Longevity Bridge of Immortality.

It would be absolutely impossible for him to lend such a treasure to a complete stranger, even if it were just a simple "borrowing".

But at this moment, his heart was wavering.

"This person possesses the ability to comprehend the mysteries of the Dao. Such a person can likely see even deeper fortuitous opportunity. To such a person, mere Mother Qi is, as one can imagine, nothing at all."

Moreover, Lin Suri was also rapidly calculating another crucial point in his mind.

If this person is powerful, there's no need to argue with him; just take it by force.

If his strength was truly only at the Qi Circulation Sixth Floor, and he could only hold his own against Xi Yuan by relying on those few talismans and the Mystic Pearl, then even if he were given the Mother Qi, he would still be killed by others. Why would such a person take the risk?

Without refining the Mother Qi, the Ancestral Mountain will not open; the Mother Qi is not something that can be obtained simply by acquiring it.

Within this Ancestral Mountain, wolves lurked, and Consort Chun, Lu Baizhong, and that young general—weren't they all eyeing them covetously?

Even if a cultivator at the Qi Circulation Sixth Floor obtained the Mother Qi, there would be absolutely no way for him to leave this small Cave Heaven alive.

Lin Suri's thoughts raced, churning, colliding, and merging in his mind before finally coalescing into a clear judgment.

So Lin Suri finally turned the tables.

A long, strong right hand emerged from the sleeve, fingers slightly spread, palm Heavenward Realm.

A wisp of pure energy slowly rose from his palm.

The pure energy was about the size of a palm, like a wisp of crumbled moonlight, or a cluster of starlight held in the palm of one's hand.

It flowed slowly through the Void, emanating a wondrous aura that was difficult to describe.

That aura contained an extremely profound spiritual energy; each strand was enough to greatly advance the cultivation of ordinary cultivators, and each strand was enough to drive those Qi Circulation Realm cultivators mad.

That pure energy was incredibly profound. As soon as it appeared, the starlight within several feet all converged on it, like hundreds of rivers flowing into the sea, condensing into a small halo in his palm.

As the light swirled, a faint, gentle spiritual sound arose, so subtle it was almost imperceptible, like someone playing a zither in the distance, or like an immortal chanting scriptures in the clouds.

Chen Lingxi remained calm and reached out to receive the pure energy.

The moment the pure energy entered his hands, he felt his entire body suddenly become clear.

The Spirit Pool in the Qi Sea rejoiced under the nourishment of this pure energy, circulating on its own and greedily devouring the few wisps of spiritual energy that surged in.

His 108 acupoints and meridians seemed to receive timely rain after a long drought, emitting a very subtle and long hum, as if they were cheering and jumping for joy, as if they were welcoming a long-awaited rain.

It's incredibly mysterious!

Chen Lingxi was overjoyed; things were going much more smoothly than he had imagined.

He originally thought that Lin Suri would hesitate for a long time, would test him several times, and might even propose more conditions.

Unexpectedly, this usually cautious and composed figure from the Great World and Earth so easily handed over the Mother Qi to him.

He simply grasped that pure energy, and felt a thick spiritual energy surge into his palm, flowing along his meridians and into his Qi Sea, causing the Spirit Pool to tremble slightly.

"Wonderful, wonderful."

He mentally praised him twice, but remained outwardly expressionless.

His calm face still held that composed demeanor, only the smile at the corner of his mouth was a few degrees deeper than before.

He looked up, about to say something.

Just then, Lin Suri's eyes Qi Observation as he looked up at the sky.

Two dazzling golden flames suddenly ignited in his deep, abyss-like eyes. As the flames flickered, his gaze was like two invisible arrows, piercing through layers of starlight and clouds, and falling straight into the far distance.

Chen Lingxi's heart stirred slightly, and she followed his gaze.

In the far distance, a bolt of lightning exploded.

The lightning, carrying terrifying power, roared towards this place.

It was Lu Baizhong!

Within that pale golden lightning, a slender figure could be vaguely seen.

The figure was dressed in a moon-white robe, with a silver sword hanging at his waist. He had red lips, white teeth, and a handsome face that seemed otherworldly.

He arrived riding on lightning, his robes fluttering and lightning blazing, like a god of thunder and fire, his imposing presence so great that no one dared to look directly at him.

Following Lu Baizhong, several more beams of spiritual light soared into the sky.

Those flashes of inspiration varied in strength; some were as fast as shooting stars chasing the moon, while others were as slow as birds returning to their nests.

They converged on this place from all directions, each ray of light radiating undisguised greed and murderous intent, each ray of light having only one target.

It was the Ancestral Mountain Mother Qi that Chen Lingxi.

Lin Suri frowned slightly.

He was about to speak when he suddenly caught sight of movement in the distance.

Not far away, the young general arrived carrying Great Banner.

Behind him, however, the three hundred Silver Bones warriors had vanished, likely having perished in the previous ambush.

Even so, the fierce killing intent emanating from the young general did not diminish in the slightest; on the contrary, it became even more intense than before.

It was as if the Great Banner had devoured the Qi and Blood of the three hundred Silver Bones.

Lin Suri took a deep breath.

His aura suddenly began to circulate at that moment.

The previously weak spiritual energy fluctuations, like a candle flickering in the wind, suddenly became deep and heavy again. He reached into his robes and pulled out a small Jade Ruler from somewhere.

The Jade Ruler ruler was only about an inch square, entirely black, and engraved with a fierce tiger identical to the Divine General Token, depicting a tiger descending a mountain, with its four claws like hooks, its tail like a whip, and every hair on its body clearly defined.

As soon as the tiger's stripes lit up, a fierce aura burst forth from his body, as if a sleeping god had finally opened his eyes.

"This Lin Suri actually has some hidden strength," Chen Lingxi thought to herself, secretly relieved.

He had indeed originally intended to take advantage of the man's injury to forcibly seize the Mother Qi.

At that time, he thought that if Lin Suri was seriously injured, with his cultivation at the Qi Circulation Sixth Floor, plus the Concealed Edge Method to hide his aura, and with the Xi Mu puppet providing support from the side, he might not be without a chance to succeed.

But now it seems that Lin Suri's profound foundation far exceeds his expectations.

If he were to actually make a move, he might not only fail to seize the Mother Qi, but would also shatter this entire Total Perception.

Just then, the clouds and mist parted, creating a crack.

Within the crevice, the small, pure white boat floated silently.

The bottom of the boat was still about ten feet above the clouds, but it did not fall. It just hung there in mid-air, floating leisurely.

A person stood at the bow of the boat.

It was none other than Consort Chun.

Her beauty remained, but her dignified and elegant face was extremely pale, even more so than before!

Yet, the aura emanating from her was far more imposing than when she was surrounded and attacked earlier.

Standing at the bow of the boat, the spiritual aura emanating from her was even more profound than before.

The oppressive force descended like an invisible mountain from the sky, sweeping across all directions and causing the spiritual light that was originally heading this way to pause slightly.

"It must have been from that wondrous treasure," Chen Lingxi secretly speculated to herself.

At this moment, Consort Chun's eyes were filled with murderous intent intent.

The usual languid and dignified look in those phoenix eyes was gone, replaced by a pure and undisguised killing intent.

The killing intent was so intense it was almost tangible, like two invisible, icy arrows shooting from those eyes, piercing through layers of starlight and mist, landing on Lin Suri and then on Chen Lingxi.

Her gaze swept around before finally settling on Chen Lingxi.

"Interesting." She tilted her head slightly, her phoenix eyes scanning Chen Lingxi up and down. Her gaze swept over the wisp of pure energy in his hand, then over the spiritual energy fluctuations around him, which were only at the Qi Circulation Sixth Floor. A smile appeared on her lips, "Qi Circulation Sixth Floor, yet you dare to plot against me."

Her tone contained an almost explosive anger and murderous intent.

It was like a true dragon being provoked by ants.

A mere cultivator at the Qi Circulation Sixth Floor dared to play those tricks of using wolves to devour tigers in front of her, and dared to plot to seize the Ancestral Mountain Mother Qi right under her nose. It was simply the most ridiculous thing in the world.

Lin Suri frowned, about to activate the Jade Ruler.

Chen Lingxi then stood up.

He stood on the rocky outcrop under the starlight, his robes fluttering in the night wind.

He still held that wisp of pure energy in his hand, which flowed slowly in his palm, radiating a soft and gentle light.

His gaze was calm as still water, without the slightest ripple or fear. He simply looked at the magnificent woman in her splendid attire on the Heavenly Boat with an imposing aura, as if she were a complete stranger to him.

"When did it become your turn to kill me?"

He spoke softly.

Everyone was stunned.

How dare a mere Qi cultivator at the Qi Circulation Sixth Floor Consort Chun, a figure comparable to a Heavenward Realm cultivator?

But the next moment, they witnessed an even more astonishing scene.

Chen Lingxi casually put the Mother Qi into the Hongdong Bag.

The movements were calm and unhurried, fluid and natural, without the slightest sign of panic.

Then...

Chen Lingxi stood there, raised her head, and glanced at the two bright mirrors hanging high in the sky.

The Twin Luminous Mirrors, one blazing gold like the sun and the other silvery white like the moon, were casting their dazzling beams of light upon every corner of this small Cave Heaven.

He looked away.

Then, to everyone's astonishment, he suddenly opened his mouth.

A beam of purple light burst forth from his mouth.

It shot out from between his lips and teeth, drawing an extremely thin and faint purple arc in the night, and then—pierced straight into Chen Lingxi's brow.

laugh.

With a very soft and faint sound.

The last glimmer of light in Chen Lingxi's pupils froze at that moment.

Above the sky, the Twin Luminous Mirrors suddenly burst forth with dazzling light.

A beam of blazing gold and a beam of silver light descended simultaneously, illuminating Chen Lingxi's shattered body.

As the light shifted, the entire world began to distort, crack, and disintegrate.

The mountains and rivers reversed, the pine forest turned to dust, and all things in heaven and earth were reduced to powder and vanished into nothingness at this moment.

The Total Perception has come to an end.