Chapter 304: Assessing Gains, Transcending the Flesh, Two Divine Arts

Night fell, and Lu Qing sat cross-legged on his bed, eyes closed, mind serene.

After successfully passing the Heavenly Trial that afternoon, he had remained within Gao Ta alongside Master and the others, not venturing out again. It wasn’t until evening, when Tian Ji Lou had finally cleaned up the mess outside, that they were guided by Lin Zhi Rui into a newly prepared Xiao Yuan.

Beside him, Xiao Yan already lay asleep on a small cot. As for Xiao Li, ever since it had absorbed that World Origin Qi, it had remained in a deep slumber. Even the thunderous upheaval of Lu Qing’s cultivation breakthrough hadn’t stirred it awake. If not for Lu Qing’s Abilities confirming that the little beast was undergoing a critical transformation, he might have feared something had gone wrong.

Now that he knew Xiao Li was safe, Lu Qing relaxed. He turned his focus inward, beginning to sense the state of his own body.

Within him, torrents of blood and qi surged through his vessels, ceaselessly churning. Every inch of flesh pulsed with immense power. His internal organs—lungs, liver, heart, spleen, and kidneys—radiated vibrant vitality, overflowing with life force. Deep within the Dantian, the cultivation cavity had transformed into a vast sea of Qi, brimming with primordial, celestial energy.

This was a body of near-perfection.

“The nine Heavenly Trials didn’t just purify my post-heaven impurities, refining them into true Heavenly Essence. They also fully integrated the World Origin Qi into my flesh and blood. Now, in terms of raw physical strength, even a Heavenly Realm perfect cultivator might not match me,” Lu Qing reflected, his thoughts flowing like a river.

His insight wasn’t baseless. During his battle with the Third Holy Lord’s puppet body, his sheer physical might had already overwhelmed the construct—only the enemy’s higher cultivation level and superior mastery of Heaven and Earth Qi had balanced the scales.

After all, according to Li Hua Zong Chuan Cheng, even the weakest puppet bodies were forged from rare, precious materials. Such constructs were known for their overwhelming strength—far surpassing cultivators of the same realm. If even a perfect Heavenly Realm puppet body couldn’t outmatch Lu Qing, it was clear how formidable his current physique had become.

But this was only the beginning.

The baptism of the Heavenly Trials, combined with the infusion of World Origin Qi, had unlocked infinite potential within him. From now on, as long as he cultivated steadily, his physical strength would enter a rapid growth phase. After all, he was still only just stepping into the Heavenly Realm—far from reaching his peak.

“Besides physical strength, there’s also Spirit Soul Power,” Lu Qing turned his awareness inward, diving into the Brow Qi Cavity.

The space within had transformed dramatically. The area was now larger, denser, and far more resilient. At the edges, faint threads of violet light shimmered—strange and divine in appearance. At the center stood a majestic, purple Spirit Soul Pillar, radiating immense authority, firmly anchoring the entire space.

Lu Qing first examined the violet aura at the boundary. Though he sensed something profound within, he couldn’t grasp its meaning. It felt like a mystery beyond his current comprehension.

“Looks like my Brow Qi Cavity has undergone a mutation—though it’s clearly a positive evolution.”

Unable to decipher it now, he set it aside. His attention focused instead on the Spirit Soul Pillar at the core.

This trial had not only reshaped his body—it had also transformed his spirit. Through the trials, his soul power had been cleansed of all negative essence, shifting from Yin to Yang, evolving from post-heaven to true Heavenly. That was why, even under Sheng Cheng’s suppression, he had still managed to send a message across hundreds of meters to Master.

His spirit power was now vastly superior to what it had been before. And the Spirit Soul Pillar—having endured the Heavenly Trials unscathed—now radiated even greater authority. Not only did it strengthen his control over the Brow Qi Cavity, but it also deepened his understanding of Script Dao, propelling him into a brand-new realm.

Lu Qing raised his hand. A single spark appeared, and instantly, the surrounding Heaven and Earth Qi rushed toward it. In moments, a true qi talisman formed—the 【Earth Movement Talisman】.

Yes. Now that he had entered the Heavenly Realm, crafting such basic talismans was effortless. No more complex hand seals. With a mere thought, the talisman manifested.

Feeling the energy ripple in his palm, Lu Qing clenched his fist and shattered it. Then, with a subtle shift in thought, another spark appeared—but this time, it drew not from Heaven and Earth Qi, but from a deeper, more elusive source: the Qi that existed in higher-dimensional space.

This time, the gathering was far slower. It took dozens of breaths before a second 【Earth Movement Talisman】 finally coalesced—this one forged from Qi, not mere spirit energy.

Yet the difference was staggering. The Qi talisman was vastly more powerful than its counterpart.

“Indeed, the gap in potency between Qi talismans and Spirit Force talismans is immense. Back when Qi was depleted, the Divine Seal Sect had no choice but to use spirit energy as a substitute. But Qi talismans are far easier to craft—most Script Dao cultivators can produce them even in the post-heaven stage. Only once the Spirit Soul Pillar transforms from Yin to Yang, entering the 【Yang Seal】 realm, can one begin to create true Spirit Force talismans.”

Lu Qing extended his other hand, forming another spirit energy talisman. He placed both side by side, comparing them.

The results were clear. In sheer power, the Spirit Force talisman was clearly superior. But the Qi talisman had its own advantages: low crafting difficulty, accessible even to those still in the Yin Seal stage, and immune to environmental restrictions. Even in times of Qi scarcity, it could still be used—because as long as spirit energy existed, the world wasn’t truly in the Dharma-Ending Age.

“Now that Qi has returned, it coexists with Heaven and Earth Qi, but occupies a higher-dimensional layer. Only those who’ve cultivated Spirit Soul Power can faintly sense it. But sensing it and actually using it are two different things. To draw Qi from that space and draw it into the body requires immense spiritual strength. And even if one succeeds, refining it into true Spirit Force is a delicate process—only possible through unique methods.”

Having broken through the barrier between realms and truly touched both Heaven and Earth Qi and the deeper Qi, Lu Qing now understood their distinction more clearly.

He also realized why so many Heavenly Realm cultivators, despite spending time at Sheng Shan studying combat techniques, failed to refine Qi or cultivate Spirit Force. The very first step—extracting Qi from the higher layer and drawing it into the body—was incredibly difficult. It demanded not only powerful spirit soul power but also a profound understanding of Heaven and Earth laws.

In fact, over 90% of Heavenly Realm initiates would stall at this stage. Even those at the Small Achievement level struggled. Only the rare, supreme cultivators at the Great Achievement level might have a chance.

Unless one was like Master—someone with unparalleled talent, who had already grasped the first hints of realm essence at the Heavenly Realm stage, and by the time of Small Achievement, had already comprehended complete realms. Only such a genius could easily transcend this hurdle.

“But how many such geniuses exist in the world?” Lu Qing mused. “That’s why so many Heavenly Realm cultivators have gone to Sheng Shan lately—yet few have broken through. Time is still too short. It will take more days before true breakthroughs occur.”

As his thoughts unfolded, Lu Qing gained a deeper understanding of the current state of the world.

True, few could currently refine Qi and cultivate Spirit Force. But once more cultivators gained deeper insight into Heaven and Earth laws, a surge of breakthroughs would inevitably follow. After all, those who reached the Heavenly Realm during the Qi-depleted era were all exceptional talents—true geniuses. Given time, refining Qi and unlocking Spirit Force would simply be a matter of patience.

“Still, that’s what makes it exciting. A truly dazzling era isn’t dull—because it’s full of possibility.”

Lu Qing gazed at the two talismans floating above his palm, a faint smile on his lips.

He dismissed the Qi talisman, then carefully sealed the Spirit Force talisman into his Brow Qi Cavity.

During the trial, the few Qi talismans he had stored in his cultivation space had been destroyed by the Heavenly Lightning. Now was the perfect chance to replace them.

With swift movements, Lu Qing summoned light points again and again, drawing upon the heavens to forge multiple Spirit Force talismans. He stored them within the Brow Qi Cavity, where they gathered into a radiant orb, circling the Spirit Soul Pillar like satellites.

Now that his Script Dao had entered the 【Yang Seal】 realm, the space could hold twice as many talismans—up to ten at once. But he hadn’t yet decided which ones to keep. After replacing the original five Qi talismans, he paused, leaving the rest for later.

As Lu Qing focused on crafting Spirit Force talismans, the Old Doctor in the adjacent room sensed the subtle fluctuations. But knowing it was Lu Qing’s cultivation, he didn’t interrupt. Instead, he quietly activated his own Heavenly Realm aura, immersing himself in silent cultivation.

The sight of Lu Qing’s Heavenly Trial had stirred the old man deeply—not out of jealousy, but guilt. As Master, he had watched helplessly as his disciple endured the trials, nearly dying, while he could do nothing. The pain cut deep.

If only he had been stronger… perhaps he could have shielded Lu Qing.

“Hmm? Master is cultivating too?” The Old Doctor’s aura flared, and Lu Qing immediately sensed it.

A flicker of surprise crossed his face, then a smile. “Looks like Master’s been getting serious about cultivation lately.”

He returned his focus to his own cultivation, continuing to reflect on the fruits of this trial.

Beyond refining Heavenly Essence and entering the Heavenly Realm, the greatest gain was the two innate divine arts bestowed by the Heavenly Clouds just before they dispersed.

“Two arts—one for the body, one for the spirit. Did heaven recognize the depth of my cultivation in both body and soul, and grant these as a reward?”

The two arts were fundamentally different.

One was a physical technique—【Great Power】. When activated, the body entered a berserk state, multiplying both strength and defense tenfold. Afterward, the only consequence was temporary exhaustion. No side effects. A true explosive secret art with no drawbacks.

The other was a spirit-based technique—【Illusion】. A mystical art of deception. Once cast, anyone whose spirit power was weaker than Lu Qing’s would be trapped in an endless illusion, unable to escape until he dispelled it—or until death claimed them. Even those stronger than him would struggle to break free without proper defenses.

Used wisely, this could be a life-saving technique in dire moments.

Together, these two arts formed a perfect duality—violent and calm, light and shadow. Though not legendary in scale, they were perfectly suited to Lu Qing’s current stage.

That afternoon, he’d only barely tested 【Great Power】, without mastery. Yet even then, he’d managed to wound the Third Holy Lord’s puppet body, forcing it to concede.

Had he used both at once, he might have ended the battle in an instant.

After all, despite the Third Holy Lord’s high realm, no amount of cultivation could fully protect against a technique that targeted the soul itself. Even a Supreme Peak expert might have suffered a setback.

But Lu Qing hadn’t done so.

First, combining both arts would have been too much strain for one just broken through. Second, there was no real benefit. The puppet was just a construct. Killing it wouldn’t gain him anything—only anger the master.

Better to keep a final trump card.

Of course, these weren’t just ordinary techniques. The two divine arts were also growth-oriented—capable of evolving with cultivation. And the methods to refine them were already etched in his mind.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end