Little Yuanshi, Come Greet Me at Once

"The martial arts of Zhang Sanfeng's world mainly involve cultivating qi. There, that qi is called internal energy, or true qi."

Divine light flickered through Meng Chuan's eyes as he began deducing where those martial arts might lead.

"Perhaps one could keep refining true qi, then use it to nourish the body in turn, until finally producing Xiantian qi—advancing from the acquired to the innate! One might also condense a Golden Core of true qi..."

At that thought, Meng Chuan shook his head. It was all speculation.

The martial arts of that world held too little value for him; they were too rudimentary. Even if he deduced the precise methods for cultivating further, they would be of no help to him at his current level.

"Arhat Fist..."

He turned to another martial art. One glance was enough for him to see through its intricacies.

"It's a shame I can't get hold of any profound scriptures right now. The methods from the world of The One and Only really make my mouth water."

Just thinking of those peerless divine arts that led straight to Legend, Fortune, or even the Other Shore made Meng Chuan itch to study them. By his reckoning, someone on the Other Shore would undoubtedly rank among the Immortal Emperors even in his own world—and might not be weak among them, either!

Leading straight to the Other Shore meant leading straight to Immortal Emperor!

"The Lifetime Method begins with Hundred-Day Foundation Establishment." Meng Chuan examined Arhat Fist, refined it on the spot, then imagined a tiny figure in his mind and had it begin practicing the art.

"After Hundred-Day Foundation Establishment comes Meditative Qi Accumulation. That's merely a process of gathering true qi, rather like the martial arts cultivation methods in Zhang Sanfeng's world."

"The combat strength of the first two realms is truly low. Compared with the Shrouding Method, they'd reach the Bitter Sea at most."

But when Meng Chuan considered how this cultivation system began with all the flavor of a martial world, only for its practitioners' strength to explode later on, he could not help clicking his tongue.

He watched the tiny figure in his mind pass swiftly through the Qi Accumulation Period, then open its innate Nine Apertures according to the method he had deduced.

"After the Nine Apertures, one must bring oneself into harmony with the world outside. The inner and outer worlds are somewhat like the microcosm of the human body and the greater cosmos beyond."

Meng Chuan dispersed the tiny figure in his mind. He had only deduced the path as far as the Nine Apertures. Outer Scenery might still be manageable, but Dharmakaya would be another matter.

In any case, it would not be long before Meng Qi could obtain more than methods for Outer Scenery or Dharmakaya—he could even get divine arts that led straight to the Other Shore. If the Chat Group continued as it had, sharing cultivation methods should not be a problem.

"For me, the greatest gain this time was seeing those powerful figures in Meng Qi's memory files..."

"And later on, Meng Qi even expounded the Dao..."

Meng Chuan closed his eyes and began revisiting those insights, lingering Dao resonance surrounding him.

As for the reason he had come to Beidou, he only needed to remain there for a while as the new emperor, in case the Forbidden Zone Supremes entertained any unsavory ideas.

If Meng Chuan cultivated on Beidou, did that not count as holding watch over it?

During Meng Chuan's seclusion, countless people sought an audience with the reigning Great Emperor. Unfortunately, not one of them could find him.

Time flowed on. Even a Saint might casually spend decades or a century in seclusion.

Meng Chuan woke only after three hundred years. His aura had grown fiercer and more commanding; even when he sat or rose, the Great Dao followed him.

"I've already comprehended more than half the mysteries within the Heavenly Heart Imprint, and it's only been four hundred years since I became an emperor..."

Meng Chuan's expression turned peculiar. For every Great Emperor, the fastest way to improve after attaining the Dao was to comprehend the Heavenly Heart Imprint. Yet an ordinary Great Emperor generally needed two to three thousand years to comprehend it fully.

After that came a long journey of exploration, until their lifespan ran out and they passed away in meditation.

"Compared with the Shrouding Method, the Lifetime Method makes subtler, deeper use of the rules."

Meng Chuan pondered this. Though the two differed, that alone could not determine which was superior. The Shrouding Method cultivated the self and its overwhelming power. Its practitioners believed their own strength was invincible: if there was something they could not do, it was only because they were not strong enough.

Was the imperial path already claimed? With a body tempered to its utmost, one could simply use Piercing Through the Myriad Daos, rise above them, and leap straight to Heavenly Emperor-level combat strength.

The Lifetime Method, meanwhile, delved deeper into the means one could employ. It manipulated rules and time; anything could be controlled and, ultimately, added to one's own power.

Yet when taken to their limits, the two paths reached the same destination by different roads.

"Hmm? An old acquaintance has come?"

Meng Chuan's expression shifted slightly as he looked toward a figure flying slowly in from the horizon.

"Greetings, Great Emperor!"

The newcomer was an old man, already very aged. His face was deeply wrinkled, and a faint aura of decay seeped from his body. Plainly, he had little time left.

"You're dying, Old Zi," Meng Chuan said, looking at him.

Old Zi grinned. "I've lived over six thousand years and even witnessed the rise of the reigning Great Emperor. I'd say this life was worth it!"

Meng Chuan said nothing. He was only a thousand years old. He had at least another ten thousand years to live in this life, and he could use the Immortal Divine Medicine to live a second one.

"I can help you live another life. You need only ask," Meng Chuan said. An emperor's word was no idle promise.

Old Zi shook his head. "I've already asked you for help plenty of times. I've still got to save a little face! The Immortal Divine Medicine is reserved for Ancient Great Emperors. Keep it for yourself."

Meng Chuan looked at Old Zi, at the old Saint who had been renowned throughout Beidou before Meng Chuan himself had become a Saint.

Old Zi met Meng Chuan's gaze calmly and said, "I haven't got many years left. By the time you emerge from your next seclusion, I expect I'll be gone."

"This old man hasn't had many attachments in his life. But I do have a grandson I can't bear to leave behind. I founded a small faction, and my grandson is in charge there now."

Meng Chuan listened quietly, without interrupting.

"I'd like to trouble you with one thing: after this old man is gone, if an enemy comes seeking revenge, save my grandson's life. I won't ask you to do anything else."

"If none of my enemies come knocking, then pretend I never came today. Whether my lineage flourishes or dies out, you needn't interfere. Just let matters take their course."

Meng Chuan studied Old Zi for a moment, then nodded. "I promise you this: during my two lifetimes as emperor, your lineage will not die out."

After hearing Meng Chuan's answer, Old Zi turned and left. Only when he had flown far away did his voice drift back.

"The Great Emperor certainly has an imposing air now."

"I liked that young man better—the one who got drunk and babbled all over the Divine City, then bumped into an old fellow and, drunk as he was, still knew to help him up at once. Don't you agree, Meng Chuan?"

Meng Chuan watched the old man leave without a word.

He had not changed; his position had. In the world of Shrouding the Heavens, who besides those closest to a Great Emperor would dare joke around with him?

Old Zi's bond with him had begun with that encounter. Until Meng Chuan became an emperor, they had got along well enough to be called friends. But in the end, their friendship could not withstand the words "Great Emperor."

"I'm only in my first life. Though some of the older generation have passed away, I'm not yet lonely. Everywhere I look, I still see my peers."

Thinking of how Ye Fan would one day find the entire world silent and empty, Meng Chuan shook his head.

Good thing I have those goofballs in the group!

Meng Chuan: Ahem. The emperor has arrived. @Meng Qi, kneel and greet me. Got it?

Thanks to Wings of the Wind v, If You See Me Please Tell Me to Stop Reading, Reader 151201104354246, and Reader 20190909034030110 for the recommendation votes. You handsome fellows ()—please recommend and bookmark this book. Also, a private message from the site just came in...