Pure Yang Blood Qi

The bright moon startled magpies from other branches; in the cool midnight breeze, cicadas sang.

It was the second watch. All was silent, every light extinguished, while the radiant moon illuminated the mountains and forest.

The dark clouds dispersed, and beneath the moonlight, the ground gleamed silver-white.

At some unknown moment, an aged figure silently appeared, his shadow stretched long behind him.

Shen Heng silently watched the black crawling insects at his feet, knowing he had fallen into a trap.

His Divine Sense swept through the mountains hundreds upon hundreds of times. Shen Heng walked slowly to an inconspicuous pile of stones, bent down, and picked up a silver pebble.

"An Image Recording Stone. What a cautious fellow."

Shen Heng crushed the silver pebble in one grip. Soon afterward, he found two more Image Recording Stones and crushed them as well.

Only after clearing away every trace did he drift off.

Far beyond the Scripture Pavilion, two figures sat before a stone table, playing Go beneath the moonlight.

After picking up a black stone, Fang Tianyi said meaningfully, "Shen Heng."

Shen Yun's hand, holding a white stone, paused. He murmured, "I never expected it to be him."

The moment he received the message insect, he had already devised a plan.

The Image Recording Stones were merely a feint, meant to make the other side believe they had not been exposed. The true killing move was naturally to call for reinforcements.

With such a powerful master, he would not be foolish enough to fight an undercover agent to the death himself.

The two continued placing stones, and the nineteen-by-nineteen board was nearly full.

As they entered the endgame, the situation became clear.

Shen Yun played slowly, often placing stones in unexpected positions, as if walking the sword's edge.

Fang Tianyi, on the other hand, seemed calm as drifting clouds and gentle winds. He made every move without hesitation, the grand momentum of the game entirely within his grasp.

One was orthodox, the other unconventional; each had their own strengths.

"Better to remain still than move rashly. As the saying goes, the heavens have unforeseen winds and clouds; no one can calculate all beneath heaven."

Fang Tianyi stopped placing stones. With his skill, he had long calculated that he would win by half a point, and indeed, he was not off by the slightest fraction.

Shen Yun's brow relaxed as he said calmly, "Now that we know Shen Heng is the undercover agent, we'll wait for the Shangguan Family to make the first move."

He understood Fang Tianyi's unspoken meaning. Rather than startle the grass and alert the snake, it was better to adapt to circumstances.

He then cupped his hands in salute. "Thank you for your trouble tonight, Master."

Fang Tianyi waved a hand and said carelessly, "I hate this kind of useless politeness most. Take back the Spirit Wine you brought. Remember to bring tea leaves next time."

With that, he stood up, leaving behind only a carefree silhouette.

A week later, at Bamboo Grove Lodge.

Shen Yun finished cultivating. The five elemental spiritual energies shone against one another, so dense they nearly turned liquid, and his Sea of Qi expanded once more.

Like great pearls and small pearls falling upon a jade plate, accompanied by a crisp chime, the bottleneck of the Qi Refining Ninth Layer shattered.

After a year and a half, Shen Yun had finally broken through to the Qi Refining Ninth Layer. His next step was to look toward the Foundation Establishment Realm.

A ten-thousand-zhang tower rose from level ground. The Foundation Establishment Realm largely determined a cultivator's ultimate achievements.

"Human Dao Foundation Establishment, Earth Dao Foundation Establishment, Heavenly Dao Foundation Establishment..."

Shen Yun's gaze deepened as he recalled Fang Tianyi's teachings.

"If one's foundation is ordinary and one's talent has nothing remarkable about it, one can only rely on a Foundation Establishment Pill to condense a Dao Foundation. That is Human Dao Foundation Establishment."

"Only after spiritual energy has been tempered a thousand times, and one's will remains unmoving as a mountain, can one forge an Earth Dao Foundation Establishment without relying on external objects."

"When the spirit condenses into Divine Sense, blood qi becomes Pure Yang Blood Qi, spiritual power turns liquid, and Essence, Qi, and Spirit become one, crossing the great tribulation of the Dao Foundation—this is the legendary Heavenly Dao Foundation Establishment."

The road was difficult; the Immortal Path was even more difficult.

Cultivators beneath heaven were Like Carps Crossing the River, while the countless common folk made up the overwhelming majority.

For more than ninety percent of cultivators, the Foundation Establishment Realm was already their ultimate goal. In many small and medium-sized families, a Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator was an existence akin to an Old Ancestor.

Any Foundation Establishment expert was an outstanding figure among their peers. As for Earth Dao Foundation Establishment, it was Within Sight but Beyond Reach. Even a Golden Core Clan needed several generations to nurture one.

Heavenly Dao Foundation Establishment was already legend. Looking across the entire Tianlan Prefecture, one appeared only once in a millennium. Only peerless geniuses whose talent crushed the mortal world and whose wisdom kindled flames could attain it.

Having lived two lives, Shen Yun only wanted to climb the highest mountain and behold the farthest scenery.

Heavenly Dao Foundation Establishment was the first step of his journey of ten thousand miles.

"Right now, my greatest weakness is blood qi."

Shen Yun muttered to himself. He had cultivated several body-tempering cultivation methods, but their effects had been far from satisfactory, only strengthening his physique by a few points.

"To attain Pure Yang Blood Qi, neither a supreme body-tempering art nor heavenly treasures can be lacking."

There were no shortage of Body Cultivators in the Cultivation World, yet those who achieved greatness were few and far between.

Supreme body-tempering arts were secret inheritances of great sects and nearly impossible to find.

Body tempering also required a vast amount of spiritual materials. Calling it a gold-devouring beast would not be an exaggeration. One also had to endure the pain of physical transformation. By now, top-tier Body Cultivators had nearly become an echo of the past.

When uncertain, Shen Yun sought Fang Tianyi's guidance.

"I do have a precious body-forging art, but a drop of Kirin Blood Essence is required just to begin. Do you still want it?"

Fang Tianyi stretched lazily on his reclining chair, sipping the newly delivered Cloud Top Spirit Tea from Shen Yun with carefree contentment.

Shen Yun's mouth twitched, and he could only abandon the idea.

When he returned to Falling Cloud Peak, he found Shen Wude cooling off in the bamboo grove.

"Big Brother, you're back." Shen Wude greeted him, taking out a Cosmic Bag. "That kid was really swimming in wealth. Selling all his things brought in a thousand Medium-grade Spirit Stones. Your share is inside."

Shen Yun accepted the Cosmic Bag and casually asked, "How is Shangguan Mo?"

Shen Wude patted his chest. "You can rest assured when I handle things. I fed him two Soul Scattering Grass pills. I guarantee he won't remember anything afterward."

Shen Yun nodded, then asked, "Do you know of any powerful body-tempering cultivation methods?"

After hearing the question, Shen Wude thought for a moment before replying, "The Lone Swan Sword Sect's Purple Haze Sword Body, the Tantai Family's Indestructible Wind and Thunder Body... and Great Zhou's Five Elements Primordial Chaos Technique."

At this, a gleam flashed in Shen Yun's eyes. "Tell me more about the Five Elements Primordial Chaos Technique."

Shen Wude replied without hesitation, "It is said that the Five Elements Primordial Chaos Technique was created by the royal ancestor. There were many in the imperial family with poor spiritual roots, so they cultivated several types of spiritual power together and used Five Elements Qi to forge a Dharma body."

The Great Zhou Ancestor was farsighted. Knowing that the dragon's nine sons were each different, he created the Five Elements Primordial Chaos Technique with the intention of making every member of the imperial family a dragon, carrying on their legacy for generations upon generations.

This kid really is a know-it-all.

Shen Yun silently praised him, then asked, "Where can I obtain the Five Elements Primordial Chaos Technique?"

Shen Wude scratched his head and casually replied, "Fifty Medium-grade Spirit Stones will do."

"???"

Shen Yun was utterly baffled. How could such a top-tier art cost the same as cabbages?

Seeing his confusion, Shen Wude explained, "The Five Elements Primordial Chaos Technique was stolen several hundred years ago. Later, the thief spread word that only those with imperial bloodlines could cultivate it."

"Since it had been lost anyway, the Great Zhou imperial family simply gave up. They engraved the cultivation method in the Royal Temple and charged fifty Medium-grade Spirit Stones for admission. At first, stubborn fools came in an endless stream, but these past years, no one has been falling for it."

After hearing the full story, Shen Yun inwardly cried out in admiration.

"They truly turned waste into treasure. The spirit stones Great Zhou has earned have probably long surpassed the value of the cultivation method itself."

Shen Yun sighed inwardly. This was practically a tourist attraction of the Cultivation World—no one could leave smiling.

"Isn't that right? These past years, I've been studying how to replicate this plan, and I've already seen some initial results."

Shen Wude's face filled with longing, as if he had seen a guiding beacon.

Shen Yun did not interrupt his daydreaming. He thought, Qianluo invited me to Great Zhou anyway. I can go take a look in a few days.

He still remembered that Zhou Ziyou had reserved a spot for him in the Dragon Blood Pool. The date was drawing close, so it was a perfect coincidence.

Shen Yun hesitated no longer and immediately made his decision.