Chapter 212: Ling Ji Always Present, Farewell to the Void Calamity

Chapter 212: Ling Ji Always Present, Farewell to the Void Calamity

After hearing Sen Luo's proposal, the group fell into a brief silence, only to reveal their extraordinary fervor.

Zi Ri Xin took the lead in speaking:

"Unifying the Ancient Road is a challenging task. It seems we already have five Taboos, enough to crush any power. But once exposed, it will attract the wariness of all parties, and they might even join forces to eliminate us first."

"There are historical precedents for this, and not a few at that."

"In simple terms, five Taboos is not enough!"

Zi Ri Xin paused, offering his conclusion.

The others nodded slightly, and it was for this reason that the Sun Moon Alliance had never truly displayed its strength to the outside world. Only the highest echelons knew about Feng Wu and the other two's crossing of the Taboo sequence.

At the same time, this was their greatest trump card.

Once mobilized, they could flatten at least two of the top powers on the Ancient Road within a short period.

"What do you mean, not enough?" Nosha asked.

Zi Ri Xin explained, "Currently, on the Ancient Road, the most elite group of Taboos includes the eight individuals who entered the Taboo sequence before stepping onto the Ancient Road."

Sen Luo suddenly added, "You can cross out Zhong Nan Zhu's name. He was nearly killed by me and my brother's joint attack and needs time to recuperate. He has already dropped from the First Tier."

Zi Ri Xin nodded and continued, "So that's seven. Outside of these seven, there are at least fifteen more Taboo warriors who broke through on the Ancient Road."

"Currently, we have formed alliances with the Moon Palace and the Hunter God Alliance. Together, they have three Taboo warriors, including two from the First Tier."

"With this, we have a total of eight Taboo warriors, three of whom are First Tier. This strength accounts for nearly one-third of the power on the Ancient Road. In theory, it's enough to sweep through, but since the Moon Palace and Hunter God Alliance are outsiders, we should lower our expectations."

"If we surpass half, we can dominate freely. But with only three, we must be cautious of being targeted by others."

"Therefore, my opinion is to act with a just cause, maintain distant alliances, and avoid exposing our full strength prematurely."

The group nodded in agreement. History was filled with those who aspired to unify the Ancient Road, but most were eliminated by others first. Zi Ri Xin's suggestion was a cautious approach.

"Indeed, this matter is not urgent. We need to plan for the long term and proceed step by step," Sen Luo said, narrowing his eyes. "In a few days, I'll invite Moonlit Water and Jiang Tunhai to discuss and test their attitudes."

"What about Master Uncle? Should we seek his opinion?" Feng Wu asked.

Sen Luo replied, "For now, I'm not sure where my brother went. We'll prepare first; this won't be resolved in a day or two. As for a just cause... I think the Heavenly Net Pavilion is a good choice for the first target."

Sen Luo remembered Ji Jingqiu's words about keeping Zhong Nan Zhu for practice.

If it were anyone else, they might struggle with the Heavenly Demon Refinement, but his Crystal Clan's specialty was in Mind Imagery Secret Arts.

Sen Luo spoke softly, "Everyone, this is a grand era, and we are trying to etch our names permanently on the wheels of this era, never to fade."

"It's time... for the Far East War Zone to have a unified voice."

...

...

In the cave, Ji Jingqiu could sense someone outside searching the mountains and plains with their mind power. However, with his mental strength, he remained unmoved, like a solid rock. Hiding was not something those warriors could find.

As Ji Jingqiu recovered from his injuries, he contemplated his next move. He hadn't forgotten the ultimate goal of the Ancient Road; his enemies were never his peers on the Ancient Road but the historical geniuses.

The accumulation of countless years in the Nine Provinces had produced countless geniuses.

Even those who entered the Taboo sequence outside the Ancient Road only had the qualification to challenge the Ten Thousand Year Monument's top hundred. But most stayed within the top three hundred.

According to Aunt Mu, the top hundred was a hurdle, and the top thirty, and top ten, were two different realms.

His goal was the top of the Ten Thousand Year Monument.

Apart from searching for Ling Ji, he needed something extraordinary to confront those who had reached the pinnacle, or even surpassed it, in the same realm.

The Dao Field was his first achievement in surpassing the pinnacle.

As Ji Jingqiu pondered, La Jiang, to regain some lost face, suddenly pointed out:

[Your cultivation in the Divine Journey Realm lacks a crucial aspect. While accommodating Ling Ji is essential in this realm, what's more important is the process of wandering the heavens and earth, seeking and accommodating Ling Ji.]



[This is not only the first step for a warrior to witness the heavens, earth, and all beings but also a crucial cultivation to perceive one's position in the world. Only then can you enter the state of Ling Ji Always Present.]



[Even if you accommodate more than seven strands, it won't help you step into Ling Ji Always Present.]



Ling Ji Always Present, equivalent to True Seed Realm's reversal of the innate, belongs to the pinnacle of the Divine Journey Realm.

[Additionally, the foundation of this realm lies in Shen Xing, which is the core throughout your future cultivation. In the Divine Journey Realm, Shen Xing begins to ignite, and with an unstable foundation, it's the best time to comprehend the mysteries of Shen Xing. Once your Shen Xing stabilizes and you cultivate Shen Jue, such an opportunity won't present itself again.]



[Shen Xing holds numerous mysteries, but those who can comprehend even one are rare in the world.]



Ji Jingqiu patiently listened to the advice.

Hela's guidance for his cultivation focused on two aspects.

First, enhancing his comprehension of Shen Xing's mysteries.

Indeed, Shen Xing held countless mysteries, and those who could uncover even one were heavenly geniuses.

According to his knowledge, the Federation's records showed that Mu Shuai had unearthed what was praised as the 【Fate's Web】.

The profound mysteries of the Divine Journey Realm culminate in the cultivation of Divine Perception. This perception, centered around a single divine essence, enables one to sense impending events in the dark, though not always accurately. Many believe this to be the first step towards perceiving one's own destiny and transcending it.

Ji Jingqiu's realization far surpasses Divine Perception.

The second aspect of the Divine Journey Realm is the exploration of the vast universe.

Indeed, as Hela stated, Ji Jingqiu's cultivation speed in the Divine Journey Realm far exceeds that of the Federation's Divine Journey Warriors.

The Federation's top warriors, even with the backing of powerful forces, do not simply sit and cultivate in seclusion. Instead, they actively explore, seeking to gather spiritual insights on their own.

Within the Federation, there are nearly a hundred dazzling solar-like systems, with over a thousand planets, each boasting its unique and magnificent scenery. These are the natural creations worth witnessing firsthand.

The top-tier warriors of the Federation, within a few years, can progress from the beginning to the Divine Journey Realm, and the faster they advance, the more it proves their exceptional talent.

However, in the Divine Journey Realm, they willingly stay for over a decade without feeling slow.

Sometimes, the slowness of the present is to enable a faster journey in the future.

His path in martial arts does not necessarily follow the same route as others, but some aspects are worth emulating.

For instance, exploring and witnessing the vast universe.

In the past month, seeking spiritual insights has allowed him to experience numerous sceneries, broadening his horizons and understanding.

As he sculpts the landscapes of his inner universe, he requires authentic landscapes as references.

The Heaven and Earth Landscape Scroll given to him by his teacher, White Deer, was crafted based on real-world landscapes, forming a true shape chart.

Additionally, he believes that exploring the universe will benefit his understanding of the realm beyond Mountain Stabilization.

Beyond Mountain Stabilization lies Embryonic Breath.

At this stage, external objects become useless. Only by comprehending the mysteries of Heaven-Human Unity can one have the opportunity to comprehend Embryonic Breath.

If he can comprehend the Embryonic Breath realm in advance, the obstacles between his inner and outer universes will significantly diminish. Moreover, it is said that the Embryonic Breath realm allows one to absorb the primal energy between the heart and the universe, nurturing the physical body.

Before entering the Embryonic Breath realm, warriors consume their life potential, but once they step into this realm, their cells can draw upon the power of the universe, nurturing their bodies.

Every Heaven-Human Warrior, in the process of modifying and organizing planets, is also nurturing themselves with the power of these planets.

Theoretically, if one can comprehend Embryonic Breath in the Shackles Realm, they will achieve maximum benefits.

The essence of the Shackles Realm is to unlock the shackles of the human body, enhancing the physique by burning life potential. Embryonic Breath, however, can replenish the burned life potential.

But to be honest, regarding the path to Embryonic Breath, Ji Jingqiu has no clue.

Before entering the Ancient Path, he had perused the books of the Dragon-Tiger Dojo.

The books stated that to step into Embryonic Breath, one must first reach a certain level of physical prowess and then comprehend the ultimate truth of Heaven and Earth...

It's like saying nothing at all.

At this very moment.

Ji Jingqiu humbly seeks Hela's guidance on Embryonic Breath and her views on spiritual cultivation.

[Spiritual cultivation... is the key to strengthening the 'self' and is a process of approaching truth. Regardless of who you are, only by allowing the ego to infinitely approach truth can one have hope of transcending.]



Truth?

Ji Jingqiu suddenly hears a sigh from Hela at the end of her words.

[Spiritual cultivation has no shortcuts. Your rapid entry into Mountain Stabilization is likely due to the years of enduring the trials of the Fatal Poison Syndrome and the influence of the Self-Nature Bodhi.]



[But if you want to comprehend Embryonic Breath, spiritual insights must be ever-present. 'Embryo' refers to the Sacred Embryo. Once the Sacred Embryo is formed, it resonates with Heaven and Earth, allowing you to freely roam the universe with your spirit, even using the Dark Sea as a path to pry open the gates of other dimensional universes. By solely entering with the spirit, you can grasp cultivation resources—

Your Federation is too conservative. In the past, you sacrificed a group of powerful individuals, who ascended to the Divine Path and became gods, residing in the depths of the Dark Sea. Although they warded off most uncontrollable dangers, they also excluded certain 'possibilities'.]



Regarding this, Ji Jingqiu remains noncommittal.

He has also heard of this. The Four Divine Lords and the Twelve Divine Sovereigns were all martial arts pioneers from ten thousand years ago.

Those who rose to prominence in that era were almost all trailblazers, their talent unquestionable.

But as trailblazers, they inevitably faced a perilous final realm, ultimately unable to surpass it. Some failed in their attempts, while others, realizing the futility of further progress, willingly entered the Divine Path and resided in the depths of the Dark Sea, protecting the Federation for eternity.

The opportunities Hela mentioned are nothing more than the random invasions of the Dark Sea into the real world, which may bring some opportunities but more often lead to disasters! Many great universes have this phenomenon, which they consider the most troublesome 'heavenly disaster', claiming numerous lives each year. This is why they view the Dark Sea as their biggest headache.

The Federation has given up on these so-called opportunities, choosing peace.

[If you want to comprehend Embryonic Breath, you must enter the realm where spiritual insights constantly reside. Warriors in this realm will maintain a state akin to Heaven-Human Unity until they break through the Shackles Realm.]



Ji Jingqiu nods, "There's still some time before the Ancient Path's second stage. I'll choose a good time to explore the Ancient Path and roam the universe."

Finally.

With the help of the Great Medicine's power, Ji Jingqiu has healed most of his injuries, and the rest are no longer an issue.

He gets up and stretches his muscles, preparing to leave.

Before departing, the giant bear sees him off at the cave entrance, reluctant to part ways.

Ji Jingqiu sighs softly, feeling that sometimes, having too much charisma can also be a burden.

But why does someone with such high charisma still have people following him, waiting for an opportunity to strike and take advantage when he is injured?

He exits the cave, no longer hiding his figure, and is soon spotted.

"He's here."

"Ji Jingqiu is here."

Some remained silent, planning to sneak up and assassinate Ji Jingqiu, hoping to severely injure him with a surprise attack.

Ji Jingqiu stood tall in the forest, his gaze like lightning. He muttered to himself, "A tiger doesn't harm humans, but humans harbor ill intentions towards tigers. My compassionate heart stirs again."

He suddenly turned, throwing a punch. It was simple yet dominant, his fist as hard as stone, capable of crushing anything in its path. He shattered the attacker's sword and, in the same motion, delivered a fatal blow to their face.

Without hesitation, Ji Jingqiu charged into the forest, beginning his hunt.

"Puh!"

His punch sent out a booming sound, like thunder in the sky. The powerful air current tore through the air, instantly knocking down several cultivators in its path. It flattened trees in its way, leaving a hundred-meter "vacuum" in the forest.

Wherever he went, nothing could stand in his way. These insignificant cultivators weren't worthy of blocking even a single strike.

Dominant! Where was the injured posture?

Hidden in the shadows, numerous cultivators stood in awe, unable to comprehend how Ji Jingqiu had recovered so quickly. Some speculated he was forcing himself, but it wouldn't last long. Others turned and left without a second thought, no matter how great the opportunity, it wasn't worth risking their lives.

"Kill! He's definitely forcing himself. The seed of the ultimate divine ability is on him, and he hasn't refined it yet!"

In the end, many were determined to kill, coveting the ultimate divine ability. Even a Celestial would be envious, and they were willing to risk their lives for it!

Facing the encirclement, Ji Jingqiu remained fearless, using only his physical body to fight. He pushed forward with unwavering strength, unleashing the fury of a Vajra.

With each strike, someone would be reduced to bones and flesh, forever remaining in the ancient forest, striking fear into the hearts of all.

In the forest, the wind rustled the leaves, casting shadows on the ground.

Not far away, a cave, a bear cautiously poked its head out. The air, usually filled with the scent of blood that excited the bear, now seemed unbearably pungent.

The bear sniffed, catching a glimpse of a figure like a demon god deep in the forest. It shivered, trembling as it retreated back into the cave. Too scary! It was simply terrifying!

The vast and wild forest was unusually quiet that night, only the rustling wind could be heard. Any creature daring to venture out met the same fate, lying lifeless on the ground.

In the end, countless cultivators were "killed" in the forest.

Some pleaded, revealing their "family" background, but Ji Jingqiu showed no mercy. Anyone who dared to challenge him met the same fate.

Ji Jingqiu climbed to the peak of the mountain, his gaze like a torch, overlooking the forest in search of the remaining hunters.

It wasn't until dawn that the counter-hunt finally came to an end.

From some mouths, Ji Jingqiu learned of a new target, the "family" they belonged to, and his next goal.

On his way back, Ji Jingqiu planned to instruct Sen Luo to be careful in choosing his people. One mistake could bring misfortune to their entire force.

After dawn, Ji Jingqiu intended to leave, but something caught his attention—a distant forest shrouded in mist, emitting a familiar sense of danger.

Deep within the mist, there seemed to be shadows standing, their gazes fixed on him.

It's a "Void Calamity"!

Ji Jingqiu recognized it. In the Star Refining Plane, where he met Sen Luo, he had seen something similar.

At that time, Li Hua urged him to leave quickly.

A "Void Calamity" refers to the Mind Ocean infiltrating the True Realm, where the mind's illusions merge with the real material world, causing distortions.

It was also the "opportunity" mentioned by Li Hua, one abandoned by the Federation.

Void Calamities occur in the Great Universe, bringing disasters that even Celestials struggle to suppress. But occasionally, they bring extraordinary opportunities.

"My injuries have mostly healed. If necessary, I can activate the innate divine ability and create a small Heaven and Earth. I should be able to investigate the edges of the calamity."

Ji Jingqiu whispered to himself, deciding to venture into the Void Calamity for a closer look.

In the future, he would undoubtedly encounter such calamities.

As expected, the Void Calamity in the Nine Provinces Ancient Road was likely weaker than the Black Mist.

The Mind Ocean's invasion of the Ancient Road wasn't deep.

Ji Jingqiu took a step forward, heading towards the mist-covered forest. He paused for a moment, thinking it should be safe. For added precaution, he activated his innate divine ability before stepping into the Void Calamity.

One step in, and everything changed.

The mist seemed to divide life and death.

Outside the mist was a lush forest, vibrant with life. Aside from some unusual incidents, the forest was teeming with vitality.

But within the mist, there was only silence.

The vegetation was green, but it exuded a sense of death.

The entire forest was shrouded in an eerie atmosphere.

Ji Jingqiu felt like the mist concealed another world, a Void Calamity.

He contemplated, his skill giving him courage. He took a step into the mist.

During this time, he didn't sense anything unusual. Out of curiosity, he extinguished his Mind Flame Omnipotent Lamp, and soon, a sense of suffocation overwhelmed him. But his breathing was fine, and this suffocation seemed to originate from his mind.

In the quiet of the night, Ji Jingqiu carefully contemplated this feeling. He reignited his Mind Lamp, and the dazzling Mind Flame illuminated the area around him. At this moment, a sizzling sound could be heard, as if something invisible was being extinguished by the Mind Lamp.

After confirming the effectiveness of his Divine Technique, Ji Jingqiu chose to withdraw without further exploration.

As he left, he turned back to look at the mist slowly encroaching upon the ancient road, pondering the fate of this ancient road if the mist continued to spread.

The Mind Ocean seemed to be eroding this ancient road, and he wondered what it would become if this continued.

Perhaps it was time to consider planting the second-generation Mind Lamp in the Alliance and then widely spreading the third-generation Mind Lamp...

Ji Jingqiu's eyes flickered with determination.

The purpose of the Mind Flame Omnipotent Lamp was to pass on the lamp from one to many, until all lamps were lit.

The process of passing on the lamp was a form of cultivation for this Divine Technique.

In the future, these cultivators would leave the ancient road with his lamp still within them.

Perhaps one day, when he needed it, he could temporarily summon the flames of the lamps he had planted, and they might bring unimaginable surprises...

After a simple investigation of the mist's range, Ji Jingqiu left this plane world without hesitation.

He checked the map and selected the nearest neutral city as his next destination, as there was also a powerful force in that city that might yield some harvest.

Without hesitation, he embarked on his journey, quietly and smoothly entering the neutral city.

To avoid causing a stir and attracting unwanted attention, he chose to infiltrate quietly and leave quietly, acting as a discreet treasure hunter.

Unfortunately, the collection of this force was mediocre, and there were only a few strands of superior Spirit Mechanisms, none of which were Nine Chi Nine.

Ji Jingqiu left with disappointment, checking the map again to plan his next treasure hunt. Unexpectedly, he realized that he was not far from the Dong Xuan Plane, where the Federal Cultivators resided!

After some deliberation, Ji Jingqiu decided to visit the Dong Xuan Plane first to check on his old friends.

Aside from that, he still had over twenty strands of useless superior Spirit Mechanisms, which he could use as little red flowers to give away when he met people, earning him the reputation of a chivalrous man.

...

...

On this day, in Qing Nang City, Moon Palace's Yue Huan Sha received an invitation from the Nine Palaces to meet.

When she arrived with her companions, she found that Hunter Alliance's Jiang Tunhai had also come.

"Hey, Moon Fairy, it's great to see you here!" The young man greeted her with a radiant smile.

Yue Huan Sha nodded coldly, acknowledging his greeting, and her mind flashed with information about the Hunter Alliance.

Since entering the ancient road, under the banner of hunting down the Heavenly Clan, the Hunter Corporation had quickly organized a powerful force.

It was as if the Heavenly Clan of Yan Fu Zhou had attracted universal hatred.

Surprisingly, despite the various attacks, the Heavenly Clan showed no sign of weakness. In addition to the already renowned Goddess Bhrama, there seemed to be an even more powerful figure within the clan.

The Hunter Alliance had once been at a disadvantage but later stabilized their position with the help of the Sun Moon Alliance.

"Moon Fairy, what do you think this gathering is about?" Jiang Tunhai asked.

Yue Huan Sha's eyes flickered, "As expected, they probably want to discuss a united front against a common enemy. There have been conflicts between forces on the ancient road, and we've received news that a distant top-tier force had their base directly breached, and the Forbidden Cultivator stationed there was disabled."

Jiang Tunhai's eyes narrowed.

At this stage, unless it was a newly entered Forbidden Cultivator, there was no way to escape. After multiple metamorphoses, their Dao Foundation had transformed into real combat power.

"Who was the attacker?" Jiang Tunhai inquired.

Yue Huan Sha shook her head, "We're still investigating. The ancient road is quite far, so information transmission is delayed, and it takes time to get the news."

Jiang Tunhai nodded, his smile radiant, "If the Sun Moon Alliance is truly preparing to raise a flag and wage war, I just hope they choose the Heavenly Clan as their target."

Yue Huan Sha remained silent, thinking that this man was truly "single-minded" and could be considered a dedicated man.

She spoke softly, "At this stage, the most important thing is to have a just cause. I think the first target to be flagged will be the Tian Luo Pavilion."

Jiang Tunhai shrugged, "I have no objections. It's about time to experience the power of the Southern Wilderness' Demon Body."

The two of them entered the Sun Moon Alliance's grand hall together, and before they even stepped inside, they heard a furious voice from within:

"This is simply outrageous! They actually dared to attack my big brother! How can we tolerate this? Brothers, grab your weapons, let's go and teach them a lesson!"

"Calm down! Calm down! The Four Divine Church is too far away! We should focus on nearby enemies first!"

"So what if they're far away, is this justifiable? Brothers, let's go and teach them a lesson!"

"The one who attacked is not worth our effort. That church is already disabled by Brother Ji. It's not worth our time to travel so far. Let's focus on Tian Luo Pavilion first, it's the more stable choice!"

Hearing the commotion inside the hall, like a bunch of street thugs, Yue Huan Sha remained expressionless, feeling that she had chosen the wrong ally. However, Jiang Tunhai's eyes lit up, and he happily walked in, seemingly having found his organization.

Putting aside their differences, the two of them entered the hall one after another, and their eyes suddenly narrowed.

They saw Sen Luo, who was seated in the secondary position, furiously banging the table, and beside him was Zi Ri Xin, trying to calm him down.

But what truly caught their attention were the three figures from the Sun Moon Alliance who were near-Forbidden Cultivators, as mentioned in the intelligence reports:

Nuosha, Yang Qu, and Feng Wu from the Nine Palaces.

These were...

Near-Forbidden Cultivators?

...

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end