Chapter 140

Chapter 140

Jingkong Sea

Scores of late-arriving Foundation Building cultivators stared at the sealed Xuantian Immortal Palace gates, clutching their chests in frustration. But none left—they lingered outside the palace, watching desperately.

The Enlightenment Stele contained secret techniques for Golden Core cultivation, a fact long known to all. Every cultivator who entered the palace and passed its trials earned a chance to study the stele. This meant the cultivators emerging from Xuantian Immortal Palace would possess Golden Core methods. Whether to befriend them early, form alliances, or pursue other motives, they needed to stay and learn these cultivators’ appearances, identities, and backgrounds.

Soon, several Golden Core experts arrived personally. Unlike previous openings, this sudden activation of Xuantian Immortal Palace had left nearby factions no time to block the entrance. With their disciples to protect, competing for unaffiliated cultivators who might have stumbled upon treasures became critical. After all, no one could predict whether some lucky cultivator had grasped extraordinary secrets.

Inside the palace, Xiao Chen reached a corridor exit blocked by a small stone table holding a swirling mist and a stone tablet. The tablet listed three rules:

1. Those unwilling to reveal their identity should use the mist to obscure their features.

2. No infighting is permitted within the palace. Disturbing cultivators in meditation will result in immediate expulsion.

3. The Enlightenment Stele lies ahead. You may spend nine days here to comprehend its teachings or leave immediately through the rear passage. The palace will close in nine days—depart accordingly.

Xiao Chen reached for the mist, but the moment his fingertip touched it, the vapor enveloped him, leaving only his eyes visible.

After establishing an immortal foundation, one must cultivate the Three Treasures of essence, energy, and spirit. Obtaining jade bones to forge an immortal body marks the attainment of Golden Core cultivation.

After establishing an immortal foundation, one must cultivate the Three Treasures of essence, energy, and spirit. Obtaining jade bones to forge an immortal body marks the attainment of Golden Core cultivation.

Xiao Chen studied the jade wall but sensed nothing unusual. Glancing around, he saw only mist-shrouded figures—only a few had chosen to reveal their faces. He noticed others instinctively kept distance from these individuals, but scanning them, he recognized none.

This puzzled him. At the Qianzhu Hall, nearly 90% of Foundation Builders from Li Zhou had gathered, and he remembered most faces. Was it sheer coincidence these cultivators were from the remaining 10%? Recalling the rapidly growing list on the room’s stone tablet earlier, he deduced the palace had another entrance—these strangers must have entered separately.

Observing their attire, he confirmed their styles differed from Li Zhou’s. As they bypassed the jade wall toward the rear, others followed. Xiao Chen did the same, reaching the Heart Sutra General Outline etched on the wall’s back:

*To explore the profound realm of Golden Core, first seek pure condensation of essence and energy.

Purify your body through rebirth, cleansing impurities to renew your form.

Let your bones gleam translucent as jade, bathed in moonlight’s pure glow.

If the heart remains eternally tranquil, heaven and earth’s essence will naturally coalesce.

Refine the flesh through secret methods, forging a golden body that shines.

Golden light techniques will encircle you, unyielding as stone.

A golden body grants longevity, unaging flesh immune to illness.

Circulate true qi to form a miraculous core—the realm of immortality manifests with its completion.*

A smaller inscription noted: I have recorded nine methods—hence nine steles.

Unaffiliated cultivators erupted in excitement—this was the Golden Core secret technique! Some rushed forward, jostling for position before the wall. Though only a general outline, in ordinary times, even a single line here would cost thousands of spirit stones. This text could become a family treasure, benefiting generations.

Xiao Chen, however, remained calm. Memorizing the outline, he turned to the unveiled figures, who showed no surprise, clearly familiar with the content. They ascended the rear steps, followed by Xiao Chen.

The upper terrace revealed nine steles spaced a li apart, labeled left to right: Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, Earth, Wind, Thunder, Lightning, and Ice. The final stele remained blank.

Chu Yuebin, one of the few unmasked cultivators, had received family warnings about the steles’ cultivation diagrams. He hurried to the Earth stele, beginning his study. Others chose steles matching their spirit roots, focusing intently.

Xiao Chen, possessing a Wood spirit root, naturally chose the Wood stele. Behind it stood an illustration of a giant banyan tree, with tiny script below: Ancient banyans live 8,000 years per spring and autumn.

Frowning, Xiao Chen muttered, “Where’s the Golden Core method? Am I supposed to figure this out myself?”

Though famed for his talent in the Lihuo Sect, even he felt uneasy. Hex, help! But none of his Hex abilities applied here.

He stared at the tree diagram, seeing nothing but leaves. Others grew restless too, exchanging glances—clearly, none were faring better.

Suddenly, a cultivator pulled out paper and ink, copying the Metal stele’s diagram. Others followed, scribbling furiously.

“Enlightenment Stele contains ancestral Daoist resonance,” a melodious voice interrupted. “Simple copying captures form, not essence. Taken outside, these would be worthless.”

Wen Ruoxi, having received warnings from her family elders, addressed the group. “The blank stele has been studied for centuries—it’s empty, a stele without legacy. Focus on your own diagrams.”

Though well-intentioned, most ignored her. Only two cultivators abandoned the blank stele, returning to the Water stele.

A youth at the Thunder stele chuckled, “Ruoxi, why bother warning them? Solitary cultivators are arrogant—let them waste time. Who knows, maybe one is a prodigy.”

He grinned, adding, “A Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion diviner once calculated nine legacies exist here. Seize this chance—this opportunity won’t last.”

Wen Ruoxi glared. “Zhao Yangming, you’re spreading rumors! Countless Golden Core experts have studied here for millennia—no ninth legacy exists. Why spread baseless gossip?”

Chu Yuebin snapped, “We have nine days! Focus!”

Zhao Yangming sneered, “I’ll do as I please. Ruoxi, I’m just helping.”

She hesitated, then turned back to the Ice stele. Chu Yuebin was right—time was precious.

Zhao Yangming shrugged indifferently at the sight and smiled, then turned back to continue studying the Thunder Inscription Stele.

Their words unexpectedly piqued Xiao Chen’s curiosity.

Staring at the Wood Inscription Stele, he had been racking his brain but saw nothing remarkable. Besides, since the White Jade Wall explicitly mentioned the “Nine Methods,” how could there only be eight Enlightenment Steles? The person who left the White Jade Wall wouldn’t have deliberately misled future generations. Perhaps the blank stele truly concealed another legacy?

Resolving to test his luck, he strode to the back of the last stele.

Unlike others, Xiao Chen immediately noticed three lines of text etched on the stele’s rear:

*“After a thousand years of cultivation, I finally comprehend the Dao today. I wish to leave behind a heavenly method to benefit future generations.

Yet, the Dao must not be lightly transmitted. Thus, I have set a soul-binding illusion here as the final trial.

Only those destined to see the true method shall be deemed worthy.”*

A sharp intake of breath escaped him as he hastily looked downward.

Beneath the inscription, six large characters were carved vertically: Xuantian Consumption Secret Method.

To the left of these characters, thousands of tiny script detailed an entire arcane cultivation technique.

“Sigh…”

A solitary cultivator to his right had scrutinized the stele in vain for hours before dejectedly departing.

Xiao Chen glanced left. Others were still observing the stele, but their vacant expressions revealed they saw nothing.

Stay calm. This is the moment to remain composed.

Suppressing his excitement, he carefully read the Xuantian Consumption Secret Method line by line:

*“Nourish the body with the essence of a hundred herbs.

Moisten the five organs with jade nectar and ambrosial dew.

Harness yang from metallic treasures, consuming golden sands.

Harmonize yin and yang with the quintessence of sun and moon.”*

As he read, he gradually sensed a lingering aura within the stele—a shadowy figure, indistinct in features, swallowing the quintessence of sun and moon, consuming celestial treasures, refining the three treasures of essence, energy, and spirit, until it could lift mountains with a wave of its hand or fill seas with a single step.

Xiao Chen became so engrossed that he remained motionless for three full days.

Some cultivators beside him left after an hour. Others lasted a day before giving up. A few persisted for two days but ultimately departed reluctantly to study other steles.

By the third day, only Xiao Chen remained, immersed in the stele’s lingering aura, deciphering its secret technique.

Wen Ruoxi glanced at him during a break in her meditation, shaking her head slightly.

Unwavering determination and perseverance are both virtues. Yet when combined, they only yield a wasted effort if the path is misguided.

Lin Ping An had also noticed the commotion. After a brief inspection, he returned his focus to the Flame Inscription Stele.

To him, whether a hidden method existed was irrelevant. He only sought what he came for. If he needed anything else later, he could always seek another forbidden realm.

While Lin Ping An dismissed the matter, Zhao Yangming grew suspicious.

Though he had deliberately spread rumors to mislead cultivators to waste time on the blank stele, seeing one actually meditating there unsettled him.

He recalled that this cultivator had emerged from the leftmost passage—meaning they had ranked first in the first three trials.

While mist concealed facial features, it couldn’t hide height or build. Zhao Yangming had already resolved to identify Xiao Chen after exiting.

Now, as others abandoned the stele, only this top-ranked cultivator remained. Could it be, as he had jokingly speculated, that a prodigy had truly emerged?

Seizing a break in his meditation, Zhao Yangming left the Thunder Stele and approached Xiao Chen.

He intended to investigate, but after circling the stele and finding nothing, he finally touched its surface.

Naturally, this proved futile—the true method would have been discovered long ago otherwise.

Fortunately, Xiao Chen remained immersed in the stele’s aura, undisturbed by Zhao Yangming’s interruption.

When Zhao Yangming found nothing, he turned abruptly toward Xiao Chen.

His logic was simple: if he couldn’t discern the secret, why not ask the cultivator directly?

“Hey! You—”

Before he could finish, formation power erupted, and Zhao Yangming vanished without a trace.

Outside the Jingkong Sea, Zhao Yangming’s form reappeared midair before plunging into the waters below.

Thousands of cultivators gathered near the immortal palace turned their gazes toward him. Several Golden Core Elders looked down from the clouds.

Other elders, recognizing his face, lost interest. Only Zhao Pengze summoned Zhao Yangming midair, demanding, “Yangming, the palace’s time limit hasn’t expired. Why have you emerged prematurely, and in such disarray?”

Zhao Yangming’s face paled, his vision spinning as he struggled to speak.

Zhao Pengze, familiar with his grandson’s penchant for conflict, assumed he had provoked another cultivator inside.

He scolded bitterly, “Worthless! Return home to meditate in disgrace. Don’t linger here to shame our clan!”

To great clans like theirs, the palace’s contents were no secret. Zhao Pengze himself had entered once in his youth, so he didn’t rely on Zhao Yangming for details.

Yet Zhao Yangming hastily defended himself, “Ancestor, I truly didn’t provoke anyone. I merely saw someone deciphering the blank stele at the Enlightenment Stele.”

“I simply tried to ask a question and was expelled by the formation!”

“What?!” Zhao Pengze’s expression hardened. “Is this true?”

If Zhao Yangming spoke truth, according to Rule Two of the Immortal Palace, the person he questioned must be in deep meditation. Someone meditating before the blank stele—could they have truly deciphered the ninth true method?

Zhao Yangming nodded, “Of course! I wouldn’t dare lie about such a matter.”

Though other elders had seemingly ignored the exchange, they had all overheard. Now, they gathered, clearly alarmed.

An impatient elder demanded, “Did you see their face or build?”

Zhao Yangming shook his head, “They concealed their features with mist, but I recall they emerged from the leftmost passage.”

This revelation immediately drew the elders’ attention. Coupled with the palace’s inexplicably early opening, they exchanged glances and reached a silent consensus.

Soon, massive forces from rival factions surrounded Xuantian Immortal Palace and sealed off the entire Jingkong Sea. They began investigating all foundation-building cultivators who had entered the sea recently, using Zhao Yangming’s description.

Meanwhile, within the palace, many cultivators turned their attention to Xiao Chen.

The sudden formation power had drawn numerous eyes. Upon learning what occurred, their gazes brimmed with shock.

That was the blank stele—the legendary stele said to contain the ninth true method!

Even Lin Ping An and Chu Yuebin, focused on the Flame and Sword Inscription Steles respectively, couldn’t resist curiosity, approaching the blank stele to investigate.

Of course, having learned from Zhao Yangming’s mistake, none dared interrupt Xiao Chen.

Wen Ruoxi, being closest, arrived at the stele’s rear first. Staring at its empty surface, she furrowed her brows in self-doubt.

Earlier, she had warned others against wasting time on the blank stele. Now, it seemed her advice had backfired.

Xiao Chen was vaguely aware of the surrounding commotion but focused entirely on deciphering the secret method. Thus, he noted Zhao Yangming’s interruption but remained undeterred.

Fortunately, the palace’s formation had expelled Zhao Yangming, thwarting his intentions. Otherwise, Xiao Chen would have shown him the path to self-destruction.

Since the meditation remained unbroken, Xiao Chen redirected his focus to the stele’s lingering aura.

Such an opportunity was invaluable—missing it would mean eternal regret.

Even so, by the sixth day, the residual aura dissipated.

Xiao Chen felt a sudden clarity and awakened.

It felt like a dream, yet when he looked up, the stele before him was indeed blank.

Only his growling stomach and the tangible Xuantian Consumption Secret Method in his spiritual sea confirmed it had been real.

“Gurgle~”

His stomach roared. Six days without food strained even a foundation-building cultivator.

He hastily retrieved a Bigu Pill from his storage pouch, dissolving it with spiritual energy, which eased his hunger.

At that moment, a rustling sound erupted.

The blank stele crumbled into sand, scattering like dust, as if it had eroded long ago.

Cultivators not in meditation immediately noticed the commotion.

Chu Yuebin, resting nearby, looked up in alarm as the stele vanished.

He couldn’t fathom what had happened—such an event had never occurred in the palace before.

Wen Ruoxi, having just finished meditating, instinctively glanced at the stele’s former spot.

She jumped in shock.

Wait… where did that massive stele go?

Quick-witted cultivators immediately eyed Xiao Chen with suspicion.

Clearly, this was no coincidence.

As the stele disappeared, Xiao Chen instantly understood—it must be because he had mastered the true method.

Yet… only one “worthy” existed?

He inwardly grumbled: The palace’s creator truly had a bold heart, leaving only a single heir. What if the cultivation manual was lost?

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end