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Chapter 432: Measuring Rod
Chapter 432: Measuring Rod
"Then it's settled. I shall escort all of you back, and we will depart at noon tomorrow."
Willow Qianyun led the group out of the inner gate, exiting through the welcoming main hall and returning to the clear moon bas-relief outside.
Once again, she summoned the mysterious black treasure boat and sent everyone back to the Nanyang Sect.
"Farewell, Sect Master."
Willow Qianyun watched as the group disembarked from the treasure boat, but instead of leaving immediately, she smiled and saw them off until they entered the sect.
Upon seeing this, Li Qingfeng stroked his chin thoughtfully.
As expected of Sect Master Shen, just a visit to the Clear Moon Sect was enough to change the attitude of the high and mighty Alliance Sect's steward.
"Steward, you may return first. We'll take a look around."
Shen Yi nodded slightly, and after bidding farewell to Willow Qianyun, who bowed and departed into the clouds, he sighed.
He took out the badge and placed it on the Nanyang bas-relief, sitting cross-legged as he began to channel the energy of the heavens and earth into it.
"... "
Tong Xinquan and the others hesitated for a moment, exchanging helpless glances.
The Sect Master had indeed maintained his dignity.
It was just that they, as his disciples, were too weak. Even for something as simple as opening and closing doors, Shen Yi had to do it himself.
About half an hour later, a light curtain finally appeared on the Nanyang bas-relief.
Shen Yi stood up, his face slightly pale, and led the group back to the main hall of the Thousand Demon Cave... or rather, the inner gate's main hall.
Now that Old Dog was dead, it wouldn't be appropriate to continue calling it the Thousand Demon Cave.
Their sudden appearance didn't stir any reaction from Li Xuanqing, who remained quietly kneeling, unchanged from when Shen Yi had left.
"This can't go on," Li Qingfeng said in a low voice. "He's so strong, and it's such a waste to see him so dejected."
Previously, this wooden man had claimed to be at the third or fourth layer, or even the eighth or ninth layer. Even if they took an average and assumed he was at the sixth layer of Returning Void, he would still be considered an Outer Elder in the Alliance Sect.
Currently, the Nanyang Sect was in a state of rebuilding.
Having another Elder-level expert to lend a hand would greatly ease Shen Yi's burden. Even if he just contributed by infusing the protective sect formation with his energy, it would be better than having him kneel here idly.
"You want to try?" Shen Yi glanced at Li Qingfeng.
It was clear that the Nanyang Sect's past troubles were somehow connected to this wooden man. However, since it happened ten millennia ago, it had nothing to do with them.
Trying to untie the knot in his heart wouldn't be easy.
"I'll give it a shot," Li Qingfeng said, swallowing his saliva. He was ready to unleash his silver tongue and reason with this wooden senior.
Shen Yi didn't stop him and instead turned to leave the hall.
Rather than pinning his hopes on the uncertain wooden man, he believed more in the power of his own strength.
It seemed that today's events had given Tong Xinquan and Xu Qing'er some new insights, as they bade Shen Yi farewell and took their leave.
"... "
The inner gate was like a dead zone, devoid of activity.
On rare occasions, Shen Yi would spot a disciple from the Great Qian Dynasty hurrying by, carrying away the spoils retrieved from the caves and delivering them to the Sect Master in the main hall.
There were too few people, and it would likely take a while before everything was completely cleared out.
However, the overall situation was stable.
After the previous battle, the demons and monsters within the Thousand Demon Cave had either perished or fled, leaving no trace of their presence.
With the Great Qian Dynasty establishing a martial arts school to cultivate talent and select qualified cultivators, they were temporarily fulfilling the role of the outer sect.
The Clear Moon Sect's offer to send stewards to lecture on the Dharma would also make up for the inner sect's shortcomings.
The fledgling sect had somehow managed to stabilize.
What it lacked the most now were powerful cultivators to deter external threats and maintain this delicate balance.
Not counting Li Xuanqing, the wooden man.
Currently, the entire Nanyang Sect only had two cultivators at the first layer of Returning Void, and their true ace was still that old dog.
"Hoo."
Shen Yi exhaled and returned to the Pavilion of Dharma Storage.
As he stepped inside once more, he saw that the formations on the bookshelves flanking the spiraling staircase had all been activated, revealing neatly arranged ancient books and jade slips emitting a soft, verdant light.
He slowly ascended to the top.
There, he beheld that ordinary wooden door once more.
Even with the badge in hand, he still couldn't open it.
Shen Yi surmised that either a true Sect Master's token was required, or their current cultivation was insufficient.
"Never mind, let's look for the ascension technique first."
It had to be said that aside from edible items, the Nanyang Sect's foundations were quite rich.
If they had joined the Alliance Sect, obtaining the highest-grade ascension technique would have required them to work like oxen.
But for the current Shen Yi, it was as simple as taking something off the shelf.
He awakened the Old Dog and the Xuanming Spider Emperor within his brow, and with their guidance, he soon arrived at a bookshelf on the third floor.
【Returning Void (Rare) . Six-Pillar Nanyang Ascension Technique: Not Yet Initiated】
Instead of directly infusing lifespans, Shen Yi paused and fell into contemplation.
According to Steward Liu's earlier description, it reminded him of something very familiar.
First, visualize the form, then reshape it with precious materials.
If one were to replace visualization with demon souls and precious materials with demon flesh and blood, the effect would be the same—strengthening the Dao Palace and making it more stable... Isn't this the foundation stone?
If this guess is correct...
Then he could directly skip the visualization phase, which he was least proficient at, and forge a Dao Palace that was no weaker than those of other geniuses?
Shen Yi gathered his thoughts and channeled the demon lifespans into the technique.
【Year 1: You open the Six-Pillar Nanyang Ascension Technique and find that the content at the beginning is all about the explanation of the Dao Palace. Contrary to your expectations, it is not complex or abstruse, and you are overjoyed, reading it with rapt attention.】
In an instant, a large amount of information flooded Shen Yi's mind.
He closed his eyes to digest it and soon gained a more comprehensive understanding of the so-called Dao Palace.
The Ascension Technique is to pave a path to immortality.
The Dao Pillars within require different visualizations of stability depending on the type of Dao Palace. However, they all lead to the same goal and can be broadly categorized into four grades.
The first grade is the best, and the fourth grade is the worst.
Naturally, those with exceptional talent and comprehension would strive for higher-grade Dao Pillars. However, the higher the grade, the longer the visualization time required.
Even if the visualization is successful, the precious materials needed would have to match the grade.
For ordinary cultivators, all these efforts are to increase the probability of a successful breakthrough. But for true geniuses, the breakthrough is inevitable, and it is more about seeking gifts from the heavens and the earth.
By adding a wisp of ethereal spiritual energy to an ordinary Dao Palace, presenting it as white mist, it can be called a Spirit Palace.
If one obtains the breath of a green luan bird, it can even be hailed as an Immortal Palace, and it will not be considered presumptuous, as it is acknowledged by the heavens and the earth.
Above these two is the hongmeng purple qi that comes from the east, revered as the Celestial Palace.
With the blessings of these gifts from the heavens and the earth, whether it is the Dao or cultivation, one will receive tremendous assistance. It is even said that one can gain the protection of fortune, a direct connection to the heavens and the earth, and attract the attention of the celestial court.
To obtain better gifts...
The first ascension is the simplest, and as one breaks through their realm, the heavens and the earth will become increasingly stingy with their gifts.
Therefore, within the Nanyang Sect, one usually only needs to observe a Returning Void cultivator's first ascension to infer their potential.
Those who achieve a three-layered Spirit Palace can be accepted as personal disciples.
【Year 37: You have learned a small formula in the Six-Pillar Nanyang Ascension Technique, which can be used by disciples to determine the grade of their Dao Pillars.】
【Measuring Rod: Perfect】
Just as Shen Yi was pondering how to determine if the foundation stone was indeed a Dao Pillar, a prompt suddenly appeared.
He was delighted.
As expected of a prestigious and orthodox sect, they provide all the necessary tools.
As he continued to channel the demon lifespans, Shen Yi's heart stirred, and he directed a bit of the heaven and earth's energy to his brow, transforming it into a straight jade ruler.
Within his sea of consciousness, the Dao Palace, which had already turned from void to reality, stood tall.
Inside were five foundation stone statues.
Shen Yi brought the jade ruler close to each of them, starting with the Golden-Winged Nine-Striped Tiger from the fourth cave.
The jade ruler remained dormant for a moment before golden light surged forth, occupying a quarter of its length.
"...”
Shen Yi's feelings were complicated.
He was glad that his guess was correct and that the foundation stones could be measured by this ruler, indicating a high probability of them being a substitute for Dao Pillars.
However, he was worried that the grade was a bit too low.
For a great demon, ranked within the top ten in the entire Nanyang Sect, to only be a four-grade was unexpected.
He wasn't entirely convinced and brought the ruler close to the other foundation stones.
White Stork: four-grade.
Divine Wind... four-grade.
Finally, when he brought it close to the Scarlet-Eyed Phoenix, the golden light on the ruler rose slightly, occupying a little over three-tenths of its length.
Even Shen Yi didn't realize he was holding his breath, finally seeing a three-grade, he exhaled in relief: "Phew."
He moved his spiritual sense to Old Dog, the last foundation stone.
Slowly, he brought the jade ruler close.
As a great demon at the fourth layer of the Returning Void realm, Old Dog embodied Shen Yi's highest hopes.
Golden light appeared once more.
"Tsk!"
Shen Yi reluctantly withdrew his gaze, seeing that the jade ruler barely exceeded the four-grade line, still nearly half a grade away from the three-grade.
It seemed that there was a correlation between the demon's cultivation and the foundation stone, or else Old Dog, as a Returning Void cultivator, would have surely surpassed the other demons. However, judging from the Phoenix, the bloodline also played a significant role.
"Slow and steady, at least I can directly use the six-pillar method, which is already far ahead of others."
If quality is lacking, then quantity will make up for it.
That Steward Liu had claimed to have average talent, able to cultivate only the four-pillar method, and yet he could still break through to the third layer of Returning Void. It seemed that visualizing a superior Dao Pillar wasn't the only path to success.
As time passed...
[Year 320: You have successfully mastered this technique]
[Returning Void (Rare) . Six-Pillar Nanyang Ascension Technique: Perfect]
This was probably the most relaxing technique Shen Yi had ever cultivated. Although he only needed to master it, cultivating it to perfection would also reduce the chances of any mishaps during his breakthrough.
"I'll ask Steward Liu about it tomorrow."
Shen Yi had nothing else to do, so he started browsing through the Dharma Storage Pavilion, hoping to find something useful.
This casual browse led him to an astonishing discovery. On the three floors related to the Returning Void realm, almost eighty percent of the techniques were related to the Dao Palace, resembling Dao techniques yet distinct from them.
Shen Yi suddenly realized why the jade slip from the Limitless Dao Emperor's Palace had included a reminder. No one had cultivated this Dao Palace, so naturally, there were no predecessor techniques for it.
Looking at the Godsoaring True Thunder Sword Palace, just the variations of the Godsoaring True Thunder Sword Art numbered in the dozens, and each variation was an entirely new technique.
Judging from the empty bookshelves, it seemed that Nie Jun had taken away some of the techniques.
"..."
Shen Yi wasn't disappointed. After all, if it weren't for the Limitless Dao Emperor's Palace, he would have died back in the Spirit Planting Garden.
He was just a little envious.
But that was fine. Without techniques, his understanding of the Dao, guided by his demonic bloodline, was not inferior to others.
"Let's look at something else."
Shen Yi sat down again and summoned Old Dog and Xuan Ming. Since there was a spatial movement technique like the Dragon Leaping Heaven Maiden, there must be other similar ones, and he just needed to search for them patiently.
For a cultivator, a day passed in the blink of an eye.
Soon, the Dao badge in Shen Yi's finger twitched slightly.
Willow Qianyun arrived half an hour early and waited outside the Nanyang Sect, showing great courtesy.
Shen Yi didn't keep her waiting and stepped out of the Dharma Storage Pavilion. He used the Dragon Leaping Heaven Maiden technique to reach the main hall, where he saw Li Qingfeng talking to a piece of wood.
Li Qingfeng's eyes were vacant, and his voice was hoarse.
Shen Yi raised an eyebrow, looking at the wood in front of Li Qingfeng, then at Li Xuanqing in the hall: "Are you talking to the wrong person?"
"What's the difference..." Li Qingfeng swallowed, his throat dry, as he stood up in a daze: "Anyway, neither of them moves or responds."
"..."
Shen Yi fell silent for a moment. It seemed that this personal disciple of his was quite considerate.
He pulled Li Qingfeng up, opened the protective sect formation, and appeared outside the sect.
"Sect Master Shen."
Willow Qianyun politely extended her hand to welcome the two of them onto the treasure boat, but she didn't depart immediately.
Instead, she hesitated for a moment before speaking: "Before we leave, there's something I'd like to discuss with you."
"Please, Steward, don't hold back." Shen Yi stood on the treasure boat, glancing at her.
"In that case, I'll be direct." Willow Qianyun smiled and said tactfully: "As you know, when the Nanyang Sect encountered trouble in the past, although many years have passed, it's better to avoid any unnecessary trouble."
She paused here and looked at Shen Yi.
"..."
Shen Yi was very clear-minded when facing such matters: "It's fine, Steward. Please do as you see fit."
As he spoke, he took off the white robe of the Nanyang Sect and put on a plain ink-colored shirt.
Now that he had the Heaven-defying Phoenix Immortal Body, he didn't need to rely on his robe for protection all the time. He could always change into it if he encountered a dangerous situation.
What the other party meant was that the Nanyang Sect had offended someone and caused trouble, and they were concerned that if the truth of what happened got out, it might attract unnecessary disputes.
However, he was still a little surprised.
From the sound of it, ten millennia had passed, yet the so-called enemy was still in Hongze and hadn't let go of this matter?
Perhaps his own strength was also a factor.
"It's good that Sect Master Shen understands."
Willow Qianyun was increasingly pleased with this young man.
Not only was he exceptionally talented and deeply knowledgeable about formation techniques, but he also knew when to advance and when to retreat. Apart from his lack of experience, he had almost no flaws. If he were a disciple of the Clear Moon Sect, he would surely have a bright future ahead of him.
What she had said earlier was not a lie.
After all, the entire Hongze was under the control of the aquatic clan. If any information leaked out, it would easily reach that person's ears.
However, since even Elder Li Xuanqing had survived to this day, the other party might not pay much attention to the Nanyang Sect anymore.
The main reason was probably...
Willow Qianyun couldn't very well tell the people of the outside world that Shen Yi was the Sect Master of the Nanyang Sect.
The Sect Masters of the Seven Sects of South Hongze were all Earth Immortals who had achieved Union with the Dao.
Suddenly revealing a Sect Master who was only at the first layer of Returning Void would not only fail to make others respect Shen Yi, but it would also cause the Seven Sects of South Hongze to become a laughingstock.
(End of Chapter)
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