Backlash

Normally, Zhang Xuezhou would need to cultivate the Heart Sutra to the ninth level before his spirit could undergo another transformation.

However, when he was struck by Daojun's flying knife, and with the help of the ancient tree's gift, he eliminated the influence of the flying knife that Daojun had left in his soul, Zhang Xuezhou experienced a growth in his spiritual power.

Zhang Xuezhou estimated that once he reached the eighth level of the Heart Sutra, he would likely have sufficient spiritual power to further enhance his Mental Strengthening Chapter.

This experience is hard to replicate, and Zhang Xuezhou never thought of relying on his trauma to grow spiritual strength.

The matter of Daojun has been put on hold, but his growth in spiritual power is real.

However, after being misled again by Wu Chao's experience, Zhang Xuezhou successfully passed the verification of the Heart Sutra challenge.

If there is any shortcoming, it is that Zhang Xuezhou had difficulty controlling the transformation of his spiritual power, which led to the discovery of the clues by the Sect Master Jieyin.

His accent was incredibly lifelike, and Wu Chao's experiences could be used as a reference. He even had Wu Chao nearby to guard against any unexpected events, but his strength far surpassed Wu Chao's, making it difficult for him to hide.

The Sect Master Jieyin the Jieyin Sect instantly backfired, and Zhang Xuezhou couldn't help but drink the Nine Treasures Wine one after another.

Just as the Daoist Lord's flying daggers destroyed the Divine Sense, the blood-red radiance of the Sect Master Jieyin was based on a similar principle.

Zhang Xuezhou adopted a "quantity over quality" approach, allowing the other party to disrupt the spiritual transformation period while simultaneously pushing forward the Mental Strengthening Chapter, guiding the excessive spiritual power to undergo another qualitative change.

If he could free his hands, Zhang Xuezhou would have no problem erasing the mind control methods of the Sect Master Jieyin, and might even have the power to counter them.

"Hahaha, Jieyin, why don't you hit me harder!"

After drinking the Nine Treasures Wine in succession, Zhang Xuezhou, emboldened by the wine, couldn't help but swear a couple of times, which drew Sect Master Jieyin.

"You brat, there are only a few people in the Three Realms, who exactly are you?" the Sect Master Jieyin asked.

"Open your eyes and look carefully!"

"If you're so capable, then don't make it so bright!"

"Open your dog eyes and see clearly if you dare!"

Zhang Xuezhou had previously felt that his telekinetic abilities were only average, good only for lighting.

However, he discovered that lighting also had its advantages. As his understanding of the Heart Zhunti, the light became so bright that it was difficult for people to focus on him. They could only see him shining like a light bulb, making it difficult to discern his true appearance.

"I don't believe you'll never use the power of the Heart Sutra in your entire life!" the Sect Master Jieyin cursed from afar. "The moment I discover your whereabouts, you're dead!"

"Even if I master the Heart Sutra, it's useless. What would I do with it? If you're so capable, give me something more powerful that I can use every day!"

Zhang Xuezhou skillfully advanced the Mental Strengthening Chapter, continuously combining the spiritual power honed from "Entwining Dragons and Circling Pillars: True Fire Refining the Golden Body" and the "Heart Sutra" with his original spiritual energy, and then relying on compression to move upwards.

The final chapter of the Mental Strengthening Chapter is Chapter Seven, and subsequent developments follow the same pattern as Chapter Seven, relying on quantity to improve quality.

If the quantity is sufficient, this can lead to a transformation in quality.

This was a cultivation practice that Zhang Xuezhou had previously promoted. He could almost perfectly replicate repetitive tasks. Zhang Xuezhou could even use his spiritual power to speak, thus Sect Master Jieyin of the Jieyin Sect.

He responded cheerfully, which drew a barrage of curses from the Sect Master Jieyin. The leader even repeatedly tried to influence the leader of the Zhunti, getting both of them involved in the manipulation and attack.

"You steal the scriptures we painstakingly developed without any shame; you have absolutely no sense of propriety or decency!"

"To be noticed by Donghua is your honor!"

"Donghua, go to hell!"

Although drinking too much Nine Treasures Wine made him a little dizzy, Zhang Xuezhou remained very calm. He even dragged Donghua into the conversation.

He and the Sect Master Jieyin exchanged insults, seemingly fiercely, but neither of them broke down.

Zhang Xuezhou remained calm, but the Sect Master Jieyin had lived a long time, so how could he be broken down by a few words of ridicule and insults?

"Damn it, when exactly did you grant me permission to allow the cultivation of the Seventh Life Wheel?!"

Perhaps because he couldn't break free from the pull and control of the Zhunti Master, the Jieyin Sect Master Jieyin became more annoyed. While constantly manipulating and disrupting Zhang Xuezhou's cultivation of the Prajna Heart Sutra, he was also trying to recall when he had allowed Zhang Xuezhou to cultivate to the seventh level.

If it were just one layer of control, the destructive effects of his manipulation would be barely acceptable. But if two layers of control were released to achieve this effect, the Sect Master Jieyin felt the result was far too poor.

He could even sense Zhang Xuezhou's ever-flowing spiritual power, as if he were consuming some heavenly materials and earthly treasures; he would destroy some things, and Zhang Xuezhou would repair others.

This spiritual energy was so abundant that it seemed to be waiting for him to destroy and replenish it.

"What kind of elixir did you use to assist in practicing the Heart Sutra?"

If there were some heavenly materials and earthly treasures in the world that could aid in the practice of the Heart Sutra, the Sect Master Jieyin would find it very interesting.

"As long as you tell me how to practice the Heart Sutra, I can guide you on how to continue your spiritual progress. Our Western Sect warmly welcomes such a talented person as you!"

When Zhang Xuezhou his head, he truly does so; but when the Sect Master Jieyin asks for help, he remains Gaogao.

Even if the Sect Master Jieyin had a bad attitude, Zhang Xuezhou wouldn't gamble on the character of such an old killer.

In his eyes, the purple qi aura that appeared due to the excess of spiritual energy began to transform, presenting a restrained scene of shifting stars, as if the galaxies of the universe were flowing in his eyes.

This is a limit that Ren Yisheng never reached, nor was it touched upon in Ren Anran's deductions. Zhang Xuezhou also lacks awareness of this level of spiritual power.

His spiritual energy was far less than that of the ancient tree, but the quality of his spirit surpassed that of the ancient tree.

It's like the contrast between a mountain and a vast ocean. The ocean can still destroy a mountain, but it takes a long time, and even an ancient tree would find it difficult to control or influence Zhang Xuezhou.

But Zhang Xuezhou's steps will not stop here; he can still move forward.

According to the theoretical deductions of Ren Anran and others, the pursuit of spiritual energy is almost Infinite. Even if he does not undergo another spiritual transformation, his spiritual energy will inevitably grow.

"That's enough to deal with you!"

Zhang Xuezhou compared the ancient tree to the Western Sect, implying that the Western Sect was inferior to the ancient tree.

The outcome of the current conflict between Zhang Xuezhou and Gu Shu is uncertain and will inevitably require a long struggle to find the answer, but striking at the Western Sect is not that difficult.

The Western Sect left control methods in the Heart Sutra, which are similar to the Soul-Upsetting Beast Control Technique that Huang Daoxian suffered. If Huang Daoxian's mental strength is much higher than Zhang Xuezhou's, the other party can also break free from the control and even turn against Zhang Xuezhou.

This principle also applies here.

A galaxy appeared in his eyes, then enveloped the crimson light that was rampaging and causing destruction in his Divine Sense.

"Damn it... you... humph~"

With a painful groan from the Sect Master Jieyin, the crimson light used to control the back gate of the Heart Sutra broke inch by inch.

A piercing, mournful shriek rang out, then vanished the instant their mental connection was severed.