Inheritance

Daoist Shan Hui abruptly rose and headed straight for Qin Lian.

His divine sense stirred as he scrutinized Qin Lian from head to toe.

"You've developed divine sense without achieving Qi Refining into Spirit... no, your Upper Origin Palace is wide open... and you've developed dharma power too! You... you actually possess a Dao Body? Your dharma power is warm-is this a fire spirit Dao Body?!"

In just a few glances, this widely knowledgeable Supreme Elder had seen right through Qin Lian.

Of course, this had to do with the subtlety of his divine sense, as well as Qin Lian's limited study of Spirit Refining and his lack of concealment techniques.

For now, he could only reply, "Supreme Elder... you have a keen eye."

"That's not right. Anyone with a Dao Body usually has innate spirituality and is extraordinary from birth. But the last time I saw you, you clearly had no such spirituality..."

Daoist Shan Hui found it rather inconceivable. "Could you have consumed some innate treasure?!"

"No."

Qin Lian shook his head. "But a few months ago, Peak Master Yuan gave me a piece of Blazing Sun Treasure Jade. While cultivating the Rising Sun One-Qi Formula with its help, for some reason, my whole body suddenly grew scorching hot, as though flames were burning me. Not long afterward, my Dao Body awakened."

"Blazing Sun Treasure Jade... the Rising Sun One-Qi Formula..."

Daoist Shan Hui looked at Qin Lian with indescribable envy. "Blazing Sun Treasure Jade has no such wondrous ability, and the Rising Sun One-Qi Formula cannot awaken a Dao Body either. You must have been only a hair's breadth away from possessing one already. The interaction between the two provided the stimulus that finally completed your constitution's transformation."

At this, a thought stirred in Qin Lian's mind. "Are there records of this in the sect's texts?"

"Of course."

Daoist Shan Hui nodded slightly. "It's said that certain innate spiritual treasures nurtured in deep mountains and vast marshes can help awaken a Dao Body when consumed. There are even supreme wondrous methods that can transform one's flesh and form, remaking a Dao Body."

"Such wondrous methods really exist? I thought... Dao Bodies were innate?"

"If Dao Bodies were truly only innate, with just one found among a million or several million people, how could the path of Spirit Refining have developed to where it is today?"

Daoist Shan Hui sighed. "It's only our Great Shang, and indeed the entire Nanzhan Continent, that suffered such grievous damage in the War of Heaven's Collapse, leaving spiritual treasures of heaven and earth hard to find. In the East Sea Islands, spiritual mountains and blessed lands are beyond counting, and the path of Spirit Refining flourishes to the utmost. Not only do Yang Spirits emerge one after another, but there are said to be Dharma Aspect Celestial Persons presiding over the world..."

As he spoke, his heart filled with longing. "It's only because I'm old and have difficulty getting around. If I were a few decades younger, I would certainly cross the sea eastward and witness the flourishing cultivation of a land where the Divine Dao thrives."

"The East Sea Islands."

Hearing this, Qin Lian thought of something. "Not long ago, the Penglai Sea Pavilion sailed far across the East Sea. Could it be..."

"Indeed. Penglai sensed the gathering storm here in Great Shang, and its elites decided they might as well take ships to the East Sea and avoid the sharp edge of the danger for now. It wouldn't be too late to return once Great Shang's situation had settled somewhat. They never imagined the Heavenly Martial Bureau would act so ruthlessly..."

Daoist Shan Hui nodded slightly.

People were not NPCs who would wait for their opponents to come knocking!

Once they sensed something was wrong, every faction sought a way out.

Ye Hui of the Ten Thousand Swords Manor had done so, as had the many senior figures of the Penglai Sea Pavilion. And now, Pure Yang...

Was doing the same.

Unfortunately, faced with the Heavenly Martial Bureau's layers of schemes, the various factions would not find it so easy to stay out of the affair.

"You possess a fire spirit Dao Body, and you've actually developed divine sense and dharma power in just a few short months... that pace truly surprises me. Clearly, your talent for Spirit Refining far exceeds my expectations..."

Daoist Shan Hui looked at Qin Lian, his eyes full of envy. "Since you possess a Dao Body, and a fire spirit Dao Body at that, you can set aside Qi Refining entirely and focus solely on Spirit Refining, devoting yourself to spells."

Something seemed to occur to him, and a keen light flashed in his eyes. "If you can master the Blazing Sun Art... your personal deterrent power will rise straight to the level of a First Grade Grandmaster! If you can advance another step in the future and condense a Yin Spirit... the crisis facing our Pure Yang will be resolved as readily as a blade splits bamboo!"

"The Blazing Sun Art? Resolve Pure Yang's crisis?"

Qin Lian was rather surprised. "According to the sect master, Pure Yang will probably need a Martial Saint before the Heavenly Martial Bureau no longer dares act rashly..."

"Once you master the Blazing Sun Art and cultivate a Yin Spirit, your deterrent power will be no less than a Martial Saint's!"

Daoist Shan Hui spoke with absolute conviction. "Why can some True Persons stand on equal footing with Martial Saints on so many occasions? Because Spirit-Refining True Persons truly possess that kind of strength!"

He said gravely, "On the path of Spirit Refining, your cultivation realm matters, but what matters even more is spells and treasure artifacts!"

Spells and treasure artifacts!

Qin Lian had seen related descriptions while browsing the Chi Xiao Treasure Canon and numerous other Spirit Refining texts.

Spells and treasure artifacts were indeed the foundation of a Spirit Refining cultivator.

He simply had not expected the advantages they offered to reach such an extent.

A True Person could rival a Martial Saint?!

As expected of immortal cultivation.

"Our Pure Yang previously had Peak Master Tang Yue. Though he was proficient in Juggling Pellets and revived two great Right Laws, he was ultimately not skilled in combat, earning us only a reputation for excellence in both alchemy and the sword. But before Peak Master Tang Yue, there was Chi Xiao True Person."

Daoist Shan Hui reminisced about the past. "In those days, he roamed unhindered beneath heaven with his Blazing Sun Art. Never mind the Great Shang court-even the Three Pure Ones Temple dared not lightly test our Pure Yang's edge. Back then, our Pure Yang's prestige was no less than that of Zhenwu or Sky Dragon."

His face glowed for a moment before he could not help sighing. "It was only after Chi Xiao True Person's unfortunate death that the Three Pure Ones Temple dared press us so aggressively and seize our Heavenly Nether Ravine. Otherwise, with our Pure Yang producing its own Spirit-Consolidating Incense, how could our path of Spirit Refining have declined to this point?"

"The Blazing Sun Art..."

Qin Lian had not expected that, though Chi Xiao and Tang Yue were both True Persons, the difference of a single spell could lead to such vastly different treatment.

Daoist Shan Hui's expression grew somber for a moment before his gaze returned to Qin Lian. "For a hundred years, our Pure Yang has sought a fire spirit Dao Body. But Dao Bodies are rare to begin with, and the Three Pure Ones Temple draws in every Dao Body under heaven, leaving none for others. In this generation, only Ning Qing and a handful of others possess Dao Bodies... yet you have let me see hope."

Something seemed to occur to him. He quickly entered the house and brought out a jade pendant emitting a pale blue glow. "From now on, you must wear this Spirit Marsh Treasure Jade at all times. Never take it off. With this, ordinary people will surely find it difficult to see that you possess a Dao Body."

As he spoke, he also took out a volume. "This is the Breath-Concealment Secret Art that Tang Yue and the rest of us spent decades working out! It can effectively conceal the fluctuations of your divine sense and dharma power!"

"This..."

Qin Lian was somewhat puzzled.

"It isn't that our Pure Yang Sword Sect hasn't found any fire spirit Dao Bodies over the past century. But without exception, they all died under mysterious circumstances. I needn't say more about how they died."

Daoist Shan Hui spoke gravely.

That brief warning immediately sent a chill through Qin Lian's heart, and he hastily accepted the Spirit Marsh Treasure Jade.

"Back then... the Qin Family should have taken you to the Three Pure Ones Temple to test for a Dao Body too... that endorsement from the Three Pure Ones Temple is the best cover. But you still cannot be careless. You absolutely must not reveal that you also cultivate Spirit Refining."

Daoist Shan Hui paused. "At least, you must not let anyone know before you successfully cultivate a Yin Spirit."

"I understand."

Qin Lian nodded solemnly.

Within Spirit Refining, whether one had cultivated a Yin Spirit marked an enormous divide in one's ability to stay alive.

Before a Yin Spirit formed, even a Grandmaster's blood and qi could scorch a Spirit Refining cultivator's soul.

But once a Yin Spirit was cultivated...

Even a Martial Saint would struggle to harm a True Person without using treasure artifacts or talismans, or attacking their physical body.

"Since you possess a fire spirit Dao Body, you should inherit Chi Xiao True Person's mantle."

Daoist Shan Hui stood up. "Come with me."

Qin Lian immediately followed.

Forget-the-World Peak had few people, and they encountered only a handful along the way.

Upon seeing Daoist Shan Hui, they naturally greeted him with respectful bows.

For one thing, he was a Supreme Elder of Pure Yang.

For another, after switching to Spirit Refining, he was also one of only two Night Wandering cultivators on Forget-the-World Peak, revered by the other cultivators.

Soon, he led Qin Lian to a rather secluded cave abode.

An enclosing wall surrounded the cave abode's grounds, where flowers, grass, and trees grew. Inside was a cave leading straight into the mountain, though traces of human workmanship were visible.

At that moment, a woman who looked to be in her thirties was tending the courtyard, keeping it from feeling deserted.

Seeing Daoist Shan Hui arrive with someone, the woman hastily bowed. "Supreme Elder."

"Yanlan."

Daoist Shan Hui stepped aside to reveal Qin Lian behind him. "This is Qin Lian, an elder of our Pure Yang Sword Sect. After so many years, our Pure Yang Sword Sect has finally welcomed another fire spirit Dao Body..."

The woman called Yanlan froze briefly, then rose nervously. "Good, good... Elder Qin, please come inside."

"No one ordinarily comes to this courtyard and cave abode. Aside from the peak master and me, no one has permission to come here. From now on, this will be your residence on Forget-the-World Peak. And Yanlan is the guardian of Chi Xiao True Person's legacy..."

Qin Lian swept his gaze over her. She was actually a Fourth Grade expert who had achieved Qi Refining into Gang.

"Follow Yanlan into the cave."

As Daoist Shan Hui spoke, he stopped.

"All right."

Qin Lian nodded and followed Yanlan toward the cave abode.

As she unlocked and opened the cave's bronze door, a gentle light shone from within.

The light came from a special kind of gemstone resembling luminous pearls.

Yanlan led Qin Lian into the cave. Only after proceeding a dozen or so meters did they reach a spacious area that looked to cover nearly a hundred square meters.

Within this hundred-square-meter space, the most eye-catching things were a crimson longsword hanging on the wall and the crimson crystals resting on the table beneath it.

Merely approaching these crystals, Qin Lian felt the dharma power within him seem to become considerably more active.

"These are the Chi Xiao Treasure Canon, handwritten notes and insights, the Chi Xiao Magical Sword, and thirteen Fire Spirit Stones left behind by my ancestor, Chi Xiao True Person."

Yanlan introduced them respectfully, then handed him a key. "Since Elder Qin possesses a fire spirit Dao Body, all these treasures, along with the keys to the cave abode, should be placed in Elder Qin's keeping."