Chapter 341: Minor Success in Heaven-Earth (Two-in-One)

Chapter 341: Minor Success in Heaven-Earth (Two-in-One)



In a secluded chamber, a figure clad in blue sat cross-legged in a tranquil room. The spacious room was empty, devoid of any furnishings, except for a single incense burner in the center, emitting wisps of agarwood smoke. The white smoke swirled, not rising but sinking downwards.

"Qin Mengjun..."

The blue-clad figure murmured, holding a talisman in his hand.

The blue robe he wore was embroidered with light golden dragon patterns.

He was Prince Yan, Ji Xuanming, one of the Eight Princes of the Great Xuan Dynasty, and the younger brother of Duke Jin, Ji Xuanchu.

The Great Xuan royal bloodline had always been prosperous, with hundreds of princes in this generation. However, only eight of them had been granted the title of Prince, and currently, only these eight had the qualification to inherit the imperial throne in the future.

The minimum requirement for a prince's title was to attain the Bone Marrow Cleansing Realm and become a Bone Marrow Cleansing Grandmaster. After all, the Grandmaster realm was not something anyone could easily achieve. Even with the vast resources of the Great Xuan Empire and their exceptional bloodline, out of hundreds of princes, only a dozen had reached the Grandmaster level, and only eight were granted the title of Prince.

"Hmph, Brother Jin, you thought I was useless, but I broke through and entered the Blood Replacement Realm. Now, if you want to win me over, it won't be that easy."

Xuanming contemplated for a moment, then suddenly snorted, a hint of mockery in his tone.

He was well aware of his brother, Duke Jin's, extensive plans in the Cold Northern Region. However, the Cold Northern Region was ultimately remote, and there were ambitious figures like Yuan Hong, causing chaos. On the surface, it seemed like a struggle between various sects, but in reality, there were intricate connections with the imperial court. Reaching the pinnacle of a state meant having influence on a heavenly scale, and it was impossible to have no ties with the imperial court.

As a prince of the Great Xuan Empire and Prince Yan, one of the Eight Princes, Xuanming was privy to many secrets that ordinary people knew nothing about. For instance, the reason behind the Great Xuan court's all-out suppression of the Heavenly Corpse Sect in Ice State years ago.

Whether they practiced the art of corpse refinement was irrelevant; they were initially a private army secretly cultivated by a certain faction.

However, that was a matter of several hundred years ago.

Now, with the Heavenly Corpse Sect resurfacing, Xuanming wasn't sure who was pulling the strings behind the scenes, whether it was Prince Qi or Prince Qing. But he was certain it wasn't Prince Jin, as he was the eldest among the Eight Princes, with the deepest roots. He conducted himself with upright and honorable schemes and had no need to associate with the Heavenly Corpse Sect. After all, the current Heavenly Corpse Sect was nothing compared to what it was back then.

As for other sects like the Heavenly Demon Sect, he had no idea, as his influence in the Cold Northern Region was minimal. He only had a cooperative relationship with the Riverside Pavilion, and he had never intentionally interfered in the Cold Northern situation.

In the end, it was simply too remote.

Even if he didn't ascend to the throne in the future, he wouldn't choose the Cold Northern Region as a backup plan.

"Living too long isn't necessarily a good thing. Life and death are dictated by heaven's will, and it's futile to go against fate."

Xuanming sighed again, slowly closing his eyes, and crumbled the talisman between his fingers into powder.

The root cause of the chaos in the world was the mutual struggle among the princes for the throne, which fragmented the once united imperial court, gradually losing absolute control over the various states and regions.

However, the root cause of the princes' infighting was their father, the emperor. Despite reaching old age, he refused to accept his fate and even resorted to using sinister methods to prolong his life, resulting in decades of half-crazed and half-awake state, leading to the current situation.

Initially, Xuanming didn't have such a strong desire for the throne.

But it was this chaotic imperial court situation that forced the princes to gradually drift apart, intensifying their conflicts until they reached a point where none of them could retreat, nor dare to.

Retreating might mean a tragic and incomprehensible death.

He also hoped for an early end to this chaos, but unless their half-crazed father passed away, there would likely be no resolution. Even if that day came, there might still be no conclusion, and the subsequent strife could be even more brutal, bloody, and uncontrollable.

...

The slight disturbance caused by the Great Xuan court had no impact on the Seven Mystic Peaks.

Or perhaps, the Cold Northern Region was simply too remote and distant. Maybe the Bone Marrow Cleansing Grandmasters would pay some attention to the Great Xuan court's situation in the Central State, but for those below the Six Organs Realm, it had no influence on them.

After all, the Cold Northern Region's eleven states were already vast, and for the majority of Five Viscera and Six Organs Realm martial artists, their activities would likely be limited to two or three states throughout their lives, let alone the distant Central State.

However, Qin Mengjun's breakthrough to the Blood Replacement Realm did bring about some changes in the Seven Mystic Peaks.

First, Qin Mengjun, as a Blood Replacement Realm practitioner, became the Supreme Elder of the Seven Mystic Peaks, surpassing the Sect Leader, Elders, and Peak Masters, and his status rivaled that of Yin Heng.

Second, with Qin Mengjun as the new Supreme Elder, the position of Peak Master of Spirit Profound Peak was passed to Chen Mu, who was Qin Mengjun's true disciple and ranked third on the Wind and Cloud Rankings. This decision faced no opposition, as Chen Mu's status and strength qualified him for the position.

On the one hand, although everyone assumed that Wu Guhou's death was at Qin Mengjun's hands, the news of his demise spread quickly, causing a stir. Many were surprised that Chen Mu had the ability to kill a powerful alien Grandmaster like Wu Guhou.

Regardless of the process, even if there were advantages in location or the use of underhanded tactics, killing a Grandmaster was a testament to one's strength. Even if Chen Mu were ranked first on the next Wind and Cloud Rankings, no one would be surprised.

After all, neither Huayun Sheng, the Free Spirit Hermit, nor Xia Yuyao, the Yin-Yang Witch, had ever killed a Grandmaster like Wu Guhou. At most, they had records of repelling or defeating them.

The Heavenly Demon Sect's headquarters suffered a sudden blow from the Seven Mystic Peaks, and with Qin Mengjun's emergence as the new Supreme Elder, the elite alien forces in Cold County withdrew, avoiding direct confrontation with the Seven Mystic Peaks. The Heavenly Corpse Sect also made a decisive move, choosing not to confront the Seven Mystic Peaks directly, either retreating or fleeing, completely abandoning Cold County.

And so, two of the six counties in Ice State fell under the control of the Seven Mystic Peaks.

...

Spirit Profound Peak.

At the base of a towering ancient tree, a rock lay on the ground. This place was where Qin Mengjun once connected his qi flow to the Cosmic Dragon Lock Array, merging his soul with heaven and earth to heal his injuries. Now, it had become the residence of the new Peak Master, Chen Mu.

On the other side of the rock, a small and elegant bamboo house stood, newly constructed by Chen Mu, who preferred this setup to Qin Mengjun's practice of sitting on a formation node all day.

Inside the delicately crafted bamboo house, there was no bed, leaving a spacious interior with only a single meditation cushion placed in the center, upon which Chen Mu sat in quiet meditation.

Whether it was the Seven Profound Sect occupying Frost County and Cold Prefecture, or his sudden rise from the Deputy Peak Master of Spirit Profound Peak to succeeding Qin Mengjun as the new Peak Master, these changes didn't significantly impact Chen Mu's life.

The only thing that truly mattered to him was the gains from the Cold Prefecture campaign, which were incredibly substantial.

First and foremost were the body-hardening spirit substances.

In the battle at Solitude Valley, Chen Mu personally collected multiple body-hardening spirit substances, as well as Mystic Turtle Demon Heart Blood and other items, all of which were desperately needed to enhance his Heaven and Earth Body cultivation.

While the comprehension of concepts was undoubtedly crucial, but physical training couldn't be neglected either.

"Let's test the effects of these body-hardening spirit substances."

With a thought, Chen Mu quickly retrieved a body-hardening spirit substance from his body. It appeared as a deep blue liquid, but its texture was more like quicksilver, heavy and dense.

Just holding it in his hand, Chen Mu could feel the rich and pure Primordial Energy of Heaven and Earth within, a spirit substance belonging to the Kan Water lineage. It was far more intense than the organ-nourishing and warming substances he had used before.

Even for ordinary people, a spirit substance of this caliber could be as harmful as poison.

Martial practitioners at the Sinew and Bone Forging Realm would almost certainly suffer from exploding bodies if they dared to ingest it. Even those at the Five Viscera Realm would struggle to suppress and digest it, as it was equally challenging for them. It wouldn't just fail to provide benefits but also cause harm.

However, for a Grandmaster who had cultivated a Martial Body and reached the Marrow Washing Realm, this spirit substance was appropriate for tempering the body. Even with its intense Primordial Energy, the Martial Body could withstand it.

Body-hardening spirit substances often didn't require additional supporting medicinal ingredients.

Chen Mu held this ball of Profound Water Essence in his hand for a moment, then lifted his hand slightly and tossed it into the air. He tilted his head back and swallowed it.

As he swallowed it, it felt like consuming an extremely cold liquid, colder than ice. But as it reached his stomach, it quickly turned scorching, transforming into a powerful force of Heaven and Earth that surged through his limbs and bones, penetrating deep into his flesh towards the bone marrow.

Chen Mu summoned the System Panel to take a look.

[Martial Body: Heaven and Earth (Initial Stage)]



[Experience: 867 points]



Since cultivating his Heaven and Earth Body, Chen Mu's body had been naturally tempering and accumulating experience. This Profound Water Essence alone provided him with over 500 experience points.

To advance his Heaven and Earth Body from the Initial Stage to the Minor Accomplishment Stage, Chen Mu required 3,000 experience points. Currently, he had multiple body-hardening spirit substances, excluding the Mystic Turtle Blood and Demon Heart Blood, totaling five portions, which was more than enough.

Swiftly, Chen Mu, without much hesitation, retrieved the remaining body-hardening spirit substances.

Among them was a red pill-like object resembling an inner elixir, as well as a grayish-brown soil block that didn't appear edible. There was also an object emitting a metallic luster, shimmering under the sunlight.

However, Chen Mu paid no heed to their appearances and swallowed them all, including the one resembling a silver ingot. Its texture was indeed like silver or iron, but he chewed and swallowed it within a few bites.

After tempering the Five Viscera to their utmost, one could achieve long-term fasting without eating or drinking and even swallow steel without harm.

Of course, the previous object wasn't a silver ingot either but a type of spirit substance related to the Geng Metal element.

As Chen Mu consumed various spirit substances one after another, the powerful Primordial Energy of Heaven and Earth surged within his body, tempering and refining his Heaven and Earth Body. Simultaneously, the data on the System Panel was rapidly changing.

[Martial Body: Heaven and Earth (Initial Stage+)]



[Experience: 3188 points]



The experience points surpassed 3000, and the System Panel flashed, indicating the Initial Stage of his Martial Body had advanced with a '+' sign. Chen Mu, without hesitation, chose to temper and elevate his body.

The System Panel flashed, and in an instant, the surging Primordial Energy within Chen Mu's body became orderly, no longer chaotically washing over his limbs and bones. Instead, it surged towards his Jade Bone, flowing into his bone marrow.

After tempering and refining his body and bone marrow, a nourishing force emerged, flowing back into his entire body, making him feel warm and nourished. He could directly sense his Martial Body slowly strengthening, absorbing and transforming the force of Heaven and Earth, and evolving the Primordial True Force within him.

Typically, advancing his Heaven and Earth Body from the Initial Stage to the Minor Accomplishment Stage would require about two years of secluded cultivation. However, with these body-hardening spirit substances and the System Panel's most efficient tempering, in less than half an hour, Chen Mu felt his Martial Body significantly enhanced!

Chen Mu opened his eyes and examined his body.

His skin glowed with an ancient bronze hue, his muscles were like iron, his large tendons resembled coiled dragons, and his Jade Bone shone brilliantly deep within. His Five Viscera were like gem-like crystal glass... All kinds of extraordinary phenomena manifested throughout his body.

As time passed, these phenomena gradually subsided, starting with the Five Viscera, then the Jade Bone and the rest of his body, until his skin returned to normal, resembling an ordinary person.

If he walked outside, he might even be mistaken for a non-martial commoner.

But this was the state of a Grandmaster who had cultivated a Martial Body, an impervious body, with concealed prowess, reaching the realm of returning to simplicity and truth. It was vastly different from commoners and even Martial Practitioners at the Sinew and Bone Forging Realm.

[Martial Body: Heaven and Earth (Minor Accomplishment)]



[Experience: 1788 points]"

The System Panel's data completely changed, indicating the transformation of Chen Mu's Heaven and Earth Body from the Initial Stage to the Minor Accomplishment Stage.

"An increase of about twenty percent..." Chen Mu clenched his fist, feeling the enhanced Primordial True Force he could now command. He nodded, satisfied that this improvement was within his expectations.

In the world of cultivation, the power of a Grandmasters' foundation is awe-inspiring. Even those in the Blood-Exchange Realm would be left dumbfounded upon hearing this.

Chen Mu's Heaven and Earth Body, when fully utilized, could harness over a hundred and twenty portions of Primordial Essence True Force. With a two-fold increase from this baseline, it would amount to nearly twenty additional portions. Many Grandmasters, upon initially cultivating their Martial Bodies, would possess such strength!

To put it simply, Chen Mu's advancement by this small step would be akin to surpassing an ordinary Grandmaster's Martial Body in terms of power. This improvement was terrifying, and for a typical Grandmaster, even with decades of cultivation from the initial stage to perfection, they would only experience an increase of around twenty portions. Chen Mu, with just this small step, had surpassed others by an entire realm.

This was the disparity brought about by a solid foundation!

From Skin Polishing to Muscle Training, and then to Sinew and Bone Forging, Five Viscera and Six Organs, all the way to Marrow Washing Grandmaster Realm, every step of the way, the foundation of extreme refinement played a significant role. It was like building blocks; the broader and more extensive the foundation, the higher one could build.

Even though Chen Mu had just emerged from the Yin-Yang Valley with the Sacred Turtle, and had yet to face further weakening and injuries from the alien army formation, he was confident in his ability to suppress them head-on!

"The strength of the Blood-Exchange Realm is drawing closer."

Chen Mu's thoughts whispered within his mind.

For most Martial Cultivators, upon reaching the Grandmaster Realm, their cultivation efficiency tends to slow down significantly. It might take over a decade, or even several decades, to fully refine their Martial Body. The process of strength enhancement is usually gradual, with rarely any significant leaps.

However, for Chen Mu, each small step brought about noticeable improvements.

If we consider his previous strength, which barely reached the level of an 'Ultimate Grandmaster,' then according to the Grandmasters' Register, he would rank within the top ten. With this small step, he would truly become the 'Number One Grandmaster!'

Looking back at the thousand-year history of the Great Xuan Sect, perhaps only those nine 'Heaven and Earth Grandmasters' could rival Chen Mu's current strength. As for the other Ultimate Grandmasters, it would be extremely difficult for them to surpass Chen Mu, even with the advantage of Heaven's Will.

"It's time to delve into Concepts."

Chen Mu promptly stood up.

The Heaven and Earth Body, from its initial transformation to minor completion, was already pushing Chen Mu's limits in a short time. Even with more Body-Hardening Spirit Substances, it wouldn't be advisable to continue intense training. Moreover, he had almost exhausted his current supply, with only the Sacred Turtle Demon Blood and Sacred Turtle Demon Heart remaining. These two types of Spirit Substances were different from others, requiring specific medicinal formulas for their use, making them more cumbersome to utilize.

Chen Mu didn't currently possess a medicinal formula that used the Sacred Turtle Demon Heart as the primary ingredient for refining the Martial Body. However, Qin Mengjun was aware of this situation and promised to help him find a suitable formula. This would save Chen Mu a lot of trouble, and he couldn't help but feel grateful for Qin Mengjun's guidance. He wondered how he could ever repay her kindness, especially now that she had entered the Blood-Exchange Realm and ascended to the pinnacle of the Martial Way. There would be very few tasks that would require her attention in the future.

However, Chen Mu didn't dwell on these thoughts for long.

In this world, even those in the Blood-Exchange Realm couldn't escape challenges. There would be times when Qin Mengjun would need his help, and he would eventually reach the peak of the Martial Way, entering the Blood-Exchange Realm, and becoming the supreme Martial Saint of the world. There would be opportunities for him to assist Qin Mengjun in overcoming difficulties.

Chen Mu gently pushed open the bamboo hut's door and stepped out, heading towards the Back Cliff not far from the hut. He soon arrived at the edge of the cliff and placed his hand on the rock, his will stirring as he connected with the Cosmic Dragon Lock Array.

With Qin Mengjun ascending to the Supreme Realm and assuming the position of the Peak Master of Spirit Profound Peak, the Heaven and Earth Node at the back of the cliff now belonged entirely to Chen Mu. The residual aura of Qin Mengjun within the node had been withdrawn, replaced by Chen Mu's own.

Their auras intertwined.

In an instant, a familiar scene unfolded. Chen Mu felt as if he had merged with the Seven Mystic Peaks Mountain, becoming a part of the mountain range, standing tall between Heaven and Earth, sensing the transformations of the world.

For now, the course in Ice Province had come to a temporary conclusion. The Seven Xuan Sect hadn't yet decided to participate in the grand battle in Ice Province's capital, providing Chen Mu with some time to cultivate.

Chen Mu maintained his connection with the Cosmic Dragon Lock Array, and with a thought, he summoned the System Panel.

[Martial Way: Heaven and Earth Concept (Second Step)]



[Experience: 3923 points]



[Available Simulations: 0 times]



During his involvement in the Cold Prefecture's war, Chen Mu gained very little insight into Concepts. However, with his connection to the Cosmic Dragon Lock Array, his efficiency in comprehending Concepts was greatly enhanced. He was now just one step away from reaching the second step's limit, touching upon the realm of Domains.

"With a month's effort, the Heaven and Earth Concept can be cultivated to its second step's limit, reaching the threshold of Domains."

Chen Mu's thoughts whispered within his mind.

From the beginning of his cultivation of Concepts until now, several years had passed. It was worth the hardship he endured, comprehending Heaven and Earth, and now he was finally close to the Heaven and Earth Domain. He hoped that this journey would be smooth, allowing him to cultivate all the way to the Domain Realm.

...

Time flew by.

In the blink of an eye, a month and a half had passed.

During this time, the situation in Ice Province remained chaotic. Only Frost and Cold Prefectures, under the control of the Seven Xuan Sect, were gradually restoring order. The other prefectures continued to suffer from the ravages of the alien race, the Heavenly Demon Sect, and the Heavenly Corpse Sect.

Although the Heavenly Demon Sect's headquarters had been destroyed, the Heavenly Demon Ancestor was still alive. It was rumored that after his final escape from the battle with Yin Heng, killing him at that level was extremely difficult. Moreover, the deaths of those Grandmasters, including the Jade Demon Ancestor, only accounted for a fraction of the Heavenly Demon Sect's power. For the sect, it was a severe blow, but far from being annihilated.

During this period, the Seven Xuan Sect also faced multiple retaliations from the Heavenly Demon Sect and the alien race, resulting in numerous localized conflicts. The news reached Chen Mu, but none of it disturbed his secluded cultivation.

Qin Mengjun was well-informed about Chen Mu's situation and knew that he needed a peaceful environment for secluded cultivation. With her current status in the Seven Xuan Sect, on par with Yin Heng, a simple word from her was enough to ensure Chen Mu's undisturbed cultivation within the sect.

And so it was.

Chen Mu stood motionless beside the cliff, like a stone statue. He spent nearly a month and a half in this state, without any signs of life, until one day, at noon, he slowly opened his eyes.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end