"The martial arts of Zhang Sanfeng's world mainly involve qi refining. There, this qi is called internal force or true qi."
Divine light flashed ceaselessly through Meng Chuan's eyes. He was already extrapolating the later stages of those martial arts.
"Perhaps one could keep tempering true qi, then use it to nourish the flesh, eventually refining xiantian qi—advancing from houtian to xiantian! Or one could condense a true qi golden core..."
At that thought, Meng Chuan shook his head. It was all conjecture.
The martial arts of that world meant too little to him. They were far too basic. Even if he extrapolated the specific cultivation methods for the later stages, they would be of no help at his current level.
"Arhat Fist..."
He looked at the other martial art manual. He could see through all its mysteries at a glance.
"A shame I can't get any profound scriptures yet. Those methods from the world of The One and Only really make my mouth water."
Whenever he thought of those peerless divine arts that led straight to Legend, Fortune, or even the Other Shore, Meng Chuan's heart itched. By his estimation, an Other Shore cultivator would definitely rank as an Immortal Emperor even in his own world—and would be no weakling among Immortal Emperors, either!
Leading straight to the Other Shore meant leading straight to Immortal Emperor!
"The lifetime method begins with hundred-day foundation establishment." Looking at Arhat Fist, Meng Chuan went ahead and optimized it, then pictured a little figure in his mind and had it begin practicing the method.
"After hundred-day foundation establishment comes meditative qi accumulation. This is merely a process of accumulating true qi, quite similar to the internal cultivation methods of Zhang Sanfeng's world."
"The combat strength of the first two realms is really too low. Compared with Shrouding the Heavens, they would be at the Bitter Sea stage at most."
But when he thought of how this cultivation system brimmed with the flavor of the martial world in its early stages, only for its power to explode in the later stages, Meng Chuan could not help marveling.
He watched the little figure in his mind rapidly pass through the qi accumulation period, then open its nine innate apertures according to his extrapolations.
"After the nine apertures, one must harmonize oneself with the outer world. The inner world and outer world are somewhat like the small universe of the human body and the great universe outside."
Meng Chuan dispersed the little figure in his mind. He had only extrapolated as far as the Nine Apertures stage. The Outer Scenery stage beyond it would be manageable, but Dharmakaya would not be so simple.
Before long, Meng Qi would be able to obtain not just Outer Scenery and Dharmakaya methods, but even divine arts leading straight to the Other Shore. If the Chat Group continued with its current atmosphere, sharing cultivation techniques should not be a problem.
"For me, the greatest gains this time were still those powerful figures I saw in Meng Qi's memory copy..."
"And in his later years, Meng Qi gave lectures on the Dao..."
Meng Chuan closed his eyes and began savoring those insights. The resonance of the Dao lingered around him.
As for what he had come to Beidou to do, it was simply a matter of the New Emperor presiding over Beidou for a while, in case the Forbidden Zone Supremes harbored any ill intentions.
Cultivating on Beidou counted as presiding over it, too.
While Meng Chuan was in seclusion, countless people sought an audience with the reigning Great Emperor. Unfortunately, not one of them could find him.
Time flowed leisurely onward. Even for a Saint, a casual session of secluded cultivation could last decades or a century.
This time, Meng Chuan only awoke after three hundred years. His aura had grown even more domineering, and the Great Dao accompanied his every movement.
"I've already comprehended most of the mysteries within the heavenly heart imprint, and it's only been four hundred years since I became an emperor..."
Meng Chuan's expression grew a little peculiar. After attaining the Dao, the fastest way for any Great Emperor to progress was to comprehend the heavenly heart imprint. Ordinary Great Emperors, however, generally needed two to three thousand years to comprehend it completely.
After that came a long journey of exploration, until their lifespans ran out and they passed away in meditation.
"Compared with the cultivation methods of Shrouding the Heavens, the lifetime method makes more sophisticated and profound use of laws."
Meng Chuan looked thoughtful. Though there were differences, that was no basis for declaring one superior to the other. The Shrouding Method cultivated the self—cultivated sheer, domineering power, with absolute faith that one's own strength was invincible. If there was something you could not do, it was only because you were not strong enough.
The emperor path already had a master? With the supreme strength of the self, one could simply pierce through the myriad daos, rise above them, and leap straight to Heavenly Emperor level combat strength.
The lifetime method, meanwhile, went further in its means, manipulating laws and toying with time. Anything could be controlled and ultimately brought to bear upon oneself.
Yet at the end, the two took different paths to the same destination.
"Hmm? An old acquaintance has come?"
Meng Chuan's expression shifted slightly as he looked toward the figure flying leisurely over from the horizon.
"Greetings, Great Emperor!"
It was an old man, already very aged, with a wrinkled face. A faint aura of decay seeped from his entire body. It was clear that he did not have much time left.
"You're dying, Old Zi," Meng Chuan said, looking at him.
Old Zi grinned. "To live over six thousand years and witness the rise of the reigning Great Emperor—this life was worth it!"
Meng Chuan fell silent. He was only a thousand years old. He could live at least another ten thousand years in this life, then use an Immortal Divine Medicine to live another lifetime.
"I can help you live another lifetime. You need only ask," Meng Chuan said. An emperor's word was no jest.
Old Zi shook his head. "I've already asked for your help plenty of times. This old face of mine still needs a little dignity! Immortal Divine Medicines are things reserved for Ancient Great Emperors. Keep yours for yourself!"
Meng Chuan looked at Old Zi, at this old Saint who had already been renowned throughout Beidou before he himself attained Sainthood.
Old Zi calmly met Meng Chuan's gaze. "I don't have many years left. By the time you come out of seclusion next time, you probably won't see me again."
"In this old man's life, I haven't had many great concerns. But I have a grandson I really can't stop worrying about. I also established a small faction, and that grandson of mine runs it."
Meng Chuan listened quietly without interrupting.
"I just wanted to ask a favor—sorry for the trouble. After this old man is gone, if any enemies come knocking, save my grandson's life. There's no need to trouble yourself with anything else."
"If none of my enemies come knocking, just pretend I never came today. Whether my dao lineage flourishes or perishes, you needn't intervene. Let nature take its course."
Meng Chuan gave Old Zi a solemn look and nodded. "I promise you. Your dao lineage will not perish during my two lifetimes as an emperor."
After hearing Meng Chuan's words, Old Zi turned and left. Only when he had flown far away did his voice reach Meng Chuan.
"A Great Emperor certainly has an imposing air."
"But that boy who got drunk and rambled nonsense all over the Divine City, who bumped into an old man but still knew to help him up right away despite being drunk—he was more endearing. Don't you think so, Meng Chuan?"
Meng Chuan watched the departing old man without speaking.
It was not he who had changed, but his status. In the world of Shrouding the Heavens, aside from those exceedingly close to him, who would dare joke around with a Great Emperor?
From that first encounter with Old Zi until he became an emperor, they had gotten along quite well and could be called friends. Yet in the end, even that could not withstand the words "Great Emperor."
"I'm only in my first lifetime. Though some of the older generation have passed away, I'm not truly lonely yet. Wherever I look, there are still people of my generation."
Thinking of Ye Fan's situation in the later era, when the entire world had fallen silent around him, Meng Chuan shook his head.
Fortunately, he had his goofy Group Friends!
Meng Chuan: Ahem, ahem. The emperor has arrived. @Meng Qi, kneel to greet me. Got it?
Thanks to Wings on the Wind v, If You See Me Please Call Me Don't Look, Book Friend 151201104354246, and Book Friend 20190909034030110 for your recommendation votes. You handsome lads *()*, please send more recommendations and add this book to your favorites. Also, I got a site message...