20demayo Chapter 212 Perceiving Heaven and Earth, First Encounter with Stars and Moon
Chapter 212 Perceiving Heaven and Earth, First Encounter with Stars and Moon
Chapter 212 Perceiving Heaven and Earth, First Encounter with Stars and Moon
In addition to his purchases, he also took the magical treasures, pills, and spiritual herbs he obtained from Lin Fan and Han Ya, as well as the poisonous materials extracted from the batch of third-tier Xuan Yin bamboo and the corpse of the Bat King that had lost their spirituality.
Including the supplies that other great cultivators exchanged for him but he couldn't use when he privately sold Qingxiao Thunder Brew over the years, he sold them all in batches.
To his surprise, these items, which were difficult to sell in Qi, especially the materials from demonic beasts, were priced about 50% higher in Zhongzhou than in Qi.
Even more surprisingly, a bottle of a downgraded version of Azure Thunder Brew and a bottle of Tier 3 Beast Pills that he tried to sell became hot commodities.
One bottle of Azure Thunder Brew can be exchanged for the blood of Thunder Beasts used to make three or four bottles of Thunder Brew, while the Beast Pills made with the recipe from the Demonic Sect's Beast Taming lineage are sold for more than five times their production cost.
"good."
Chen Yi had a plan in mind.
"If a safe channel can be found, these two things can definitely become a long-term business."
Not only can it guarantee an abundance of cultivation resources, but it can also use these rare resources to open the doors to higher-level trading groups.
Of course, the premise is that it's best to have a strong backer; otherwise, it's like a child holding a treasure, attracting the attention of hungry wolves.
After organizing all the supplies, Chen Yi returned to his rented cave dwelling, secluded himself, and took out the ancient fruit shell that Old Hu had given him before parting, preparing to study it.
The system started operating passively as soon as the fingertip touched the shell, but the response was unusually sluggish.
Chen Yi mobilized all his mental energy to enhance the absorption, and only then did a system notification slowly appear in his sea of consciousness:
[Fragment of a fifth-tier Xuan Tian gourd discovered, currently being devoured, devouring failed]
[A wisp of Xuan Tian Qi has been detected and is currently being absorbed. 0.01% Daily absorption limit reached.]
A fifth-order rare item?
Fragments of the Mysterious Gourd?
There's even Xuan Tian Qi?!
Chen Yi's heart skipped a beat, and the movement of his fingertips stopped instantly.
He dared not continue his research in the rented cave dwelling. He immediately put the fruit shells into the deepest part of his storage bag and even used his spiritual power to completely shield his aura.
The process of the system devouring him just now made him even more alarmed:
Not to mention that the fragments of the Xuan Tian Gourd could not be devoured at all, even the wisp of Xuan Tian Qi contained within them was devoured at an astonishingly slow pace!
Based on a daily progress rate of 0.01%, it would take 10,000 days to complete the process.
This thing is far beyond his comprehension.
Holding the storage bag, Chen Yi once again felt intense curiosity and doubt about Lao Hu's identity.
Someone who can produce a fragment of a fifth-tier rare artifact cannot possibly be just an ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivator. Just how many secrets does Old Hu hold?
One ten-thousandth of the wisp of Xuan Tian Qi was absorbed into the system and completely transformed into power to enhance perception.
At this moment, Chen Yi felt as if an invisible finger was gently touching the "Gate of the Rules of Heaven and Earth" hidden in the void.
He suddenly shuddered, as countless complex pieces of information about the workings of the universe flooded his eyes like a tidal wave.
There are traces of the winding flow of spiritual energy from mountains and rivers, the orderly rotation of the sun, moon and stars, and even subtle causal relationships such as the intertwining of dust particles with air currents when they land.
This information was far too vast, exceeding the limits of his current spiritual capacity. Chen Yi felt a sharp pain in his sea of consciousness, and was almost damaged by this terrifying flow of information. Even maintaining mental stability became difficult.
"not good!"
Chen Yi felt a chill run down his spine and dared not hesitate for a moment. He immediately withdrew his outward-radiating divine sense, returned all his mind to his divine aperture, and stopped the onslaught of information from the outside world.
After a long while, he slowly opened his eyes. Fine beads of cold sweat had appeared on his forehead, and his fingertips were slightly white from the effort. He gradually realized what was happening:
"No wonder Lao Hu wouldn't let me study this thing now..."
It turns out that while I was observing the rules governing the operation of heaven and earth, the laws of heaven and earth were also, in turn, "observing" me.
If I hadn't reacted in time, I would have been passively shattered by the power of the laws, resulting in damage to my divine consciousness.
"Fortunately, the system knew my limit and only absorbed one ten-thousandth of the Xuan Tian Qi at a time."
He secretly rejoiced, finally understanding that the system's message "Devour limit reached" was not an empty promise.
This limit is precisely the limit that his current body and soul can bear; any more would damage his very foundation, leaving no room for maneuver.
Although he only briefly touched the gate to the rules of heaven and earth, Chen Yi had already seen countless fragments of the operation of laws and the changes in the aura of heaven and earth.
Once his mind had completely calmed down and his breathing had become steady again, he looked up at the world around him once more, and the scene before him was different:
Previous perceptions were like looking at flowers through fog or the moon in the water, only vague outlines could be captured, and even the flow of spiritual energy seemed obscure.
At this moment, he could clearly feel the workings of a certain rule in the world, and he could accurately detect even the slightest changes in the aura of heaven and earth.
These changes hint at major events that are about to happen, have already happened, or are happening elsewhere, as if the heavens and earth are quietly conveying information.
Just then, a faint yet clear aura came from the distant south, crossing thousands of miles, and gently brushed against his senses.
Although Chen Yi could not fully decipher the essence of this energy, nor was he clear about the specific causes and effects it contained, he could vaguely sense it.
This energy fluctuation was intense, carrying the energy aftershocks unique to battles between high-level cultivators. It was most likely the impact on heaven and earth caused by a battle between late-stage Nascent Soul cultivators.
What bothered him even more was that the energy contained an extremely evil aura, icy cold and filthy, which made him subconsciously feel disgusted, and even his magic power became slightly restless.
"A creature from the Demon Cave? Could it be that the late-stage Nascent Soul Realm True Monarch, the Mountain-Shaking True Monarch, has made his move?"
An idea popped into Chen Yi's mind; this was his first judgment based on the information he already had.
However, his current abilities are still limited, and he can only detect the most obvious change in energy. He cannot determine the specific time and place of the event, nor can he see the deeper causal relationship between them.
Even so, based on information he had heard in the past, Chen Yi could guess most of it:
"It must be that True Lord Shaking Mountain went deep into the Demon Cave and fought a great battle with the creatures of the Demon Realm in the area where the filthy Demon Realm and the Secret Realm meet. That evil aura must have been left behind by the creatures of the Demon Realm."
As for time
Based on the information Chen Yi knew, such as the time it took for the flying ship fleet from Zhongzhou to cross the Monster Beast Mountain Range, he calculated...
This should have happened within the last month; it can't be too early.
Don't underestimate this seemingly simple calculation. Those who have just entered the first level of divination and calculation can only achieve a similar vague perception at most. Moreover, they often make mistakes in the accuracy of the information due to their insufficient cultivation.
When it comes to calculating the likelihood of events involving high-level powerful beings, most people can't even sense the aura of a Nascent Soul cultivator.
In the process of calculation, they often need to consume their essence or spirit stones, and if they are not careful, it will backfire on them.
These multi-dimensional differences make it impossible for them to compare with Chen Yi's current perception.
This is what Lao Hu meant by the initial stage of perceiving the changes in the Qi of heaven and earth, thereby experiencing cause and effect and judging good and bad fortune.
"I guess I've gotten the hang of it."
Chen Yi gazed at the flowing spiritual energy outside the window and sighed softly.
From personally observing Old Hu's "body merging with heaven and earth" during his foundation-building process, to unexpectedly entering a state of enlightenment while delving into Thunder Peak, to Old Hu's patient lectures and guidance over half a month, and finally, the system absorbing one ten-thousandth of the Xuan Tian Qi from the Xuan Tian Gourd shell given to it by Old Hu,
Through a series of fortunate coincidences, he finally managed to grasp a bit of the secrets of this profound method, no longer the complete novice who couldn't even get past the threshold.
"This method is extremely profound, yet its effects are very obvious."
Chen Yi composed himself and began to consider his next steps.
"However, observing the energy of heaven and earth in daily life will greatly consume mental energy and easily affect the normal progress of cultivation."
"I need to exercise restraint and not become overly obsessed. After I have completely absorbed that wisp of Xuan Tian Qi and transformed it into my own power, I can then observe the changes in the Qi of heaven and earth. Perhaps that will give me a completely new perspective."
A look of anticipation for the future flashed in his eyes:
"By then, I will at least be able to discern which information will, should, or may affect me, and what kind of impact it will have."
In this way, one can accurately judge good or bad fortune and make more prudent decisions when faced with choices.
Furthermore, once I have developed a certain ability to discern the causal energy within myself, I should be able to sense in advance if someone with abilities no stronger than mine is secretly plotting against me, giving me an extra layer of confidence to protect myself.
Even as a beginner, I could already see the future potential and numerous benefits of this skill.
Chen Yi felt much more at ease.
In the perilous world of cultivation, having more skills increases one's chances of survival.
"The most urgent task is to find a place to establish a foothold."
He quickly brought his thoughts back to reality.
"While the Nine Heavens Chamber of Commerce hasn't discovered my arrival in Zhongzhou, I'll find a safe place to 'hide' and cultivate for now. After thirty years, when my Golden Core cultivation is complete and I've truly grasped the basics of understanding the laws of heaven and earth, it won't be too late for me to venture out and explore."
Having made up his mind, Chen Yi did not rush to process the Thunder Armor Beast materials, devour the Ancient Thunder Spirit Bloodline Pill, or use the Azure Thunder Brew to aid his cultivation in his rented cave dwelling.
While these matters are important, none are as urgent as establishing a foothold.
He changed his appearance again, put on an ordinary blue Taoist robe, went out and found another guide, and asked about the locations of the major Nascent Soul forces in the Moon Lake region in the Immortal City.
Subsequently, posing as an ordinary early-stage Core Formation cultivator, he visited each sect individually to inquire in detail about the specific conditions for joining a sect for cultivation.
The first place they tested was Eagle Ridge Mountain. The condition was that they had to serve the sect for eighty years, during which they could enjoy a third-grade mid-level spiritual vein. The quality of the spiritual vein was acceptable, but the eighty-year service period was too long, so Chen Yi put it aside for the time being after some consideration.
Next is the Dayun Chamber of Commerce. The condition is to protect the guild's guards for fifty years, and in return, one can enjoy the internal resources of a Core Formation Guest Elder, such as using the guild's spiritual veins and purchasing high-grade pills at internal prices.
However, the drawbacks are also obvious: half of the year is spent escorting goods, and during the journey one can only meditate briefly to recover one's mana, making it impossible to engage in deep cultivation, which is not conducive to rapidly improving one's cultivation level and does not meet Chen Yi's needs.
The strictest is Qingyun Cave Heaven, which governs a region spanning hundreds of thousands of miles and has cultivators at the late Nascent Soul stage.
Ordinary early-stage Core Formation cultivators can only serve as outer sect stewards after joining the sect. They must perform missions in the affiliated immortal city for thirty years before they are eligible to participate in the inner sect disciple assessment and compete for a limited number of spots.
Even if one successfully obtains the qualification of an inner disciple, one still needs to sign an extremely strict lifelong soul contract.
Only then can one cultivate the superior techniques and supernatural powers of Qingyun Cave Heaven, and obtain core resources such as internal inheritance and spiritual vein caves.
Even with such stringent conditions, Qingyun Cave Heaven remains a highly sought-after destination for independent cultivators.
This is a true blessed land where a celestial being who had transformed into a deity appeared in ancient times.
Of the four essential elements for cultivators—wealth, companions, techniques, and location—only wealth, which cultivators must earn themselves, is required in Qingyun Cave Heaven.
"Lover," "Law," and "Land" all represent the highest level of Central Plains.
For a rogue cultivator eager for a breakthrough, even sitting idly in a subordinate immortal city for thirty years in exchange for a chance to enter the core of a grotto-heaven is worthwhile.
Chen Yi memorized the conditions of each faction and began to weigh the pros and cons. What he needed was a faction that could provide a safe environment and support rapid cultivation, rather than a place that required long-term constraints and sacrifices of cultivation progress.
However, Chen Yi will not consider forces like Qingyun Cave Heaven for the time being.
For him, there were far too many constraints here. Executing missions for thirty years was nothing, but entering the inner sect required signing an extremely strict soul contract, which was equivalent to being bound to Qingyun Cave Heaven as a disciple for life. From then on, he would share the sect's glory and its loss, with no freedom whatsoever.
More importantly, there will be extremely rigorous screening upon entry, with a late-stage Nascent Soul cultivator in charge, and any slight abnormality may be detected.
Chen Yi has too many secrets, from the system to the ancient Thunder Soul Technique and the secret of sensing the world. Many things are simply inexplicable. Once he is investigated, his secrets will inevitably be exposed.
He could only regretfully give up on Qingyun Cave, the strongest of all.
In the end, Chen Yi turned his attention back to the Star Moon Sect, which he had first encountered.
The Star Moon Sect is renowned for its core cultivation technique, the "Star Moon Manual," a highly famous method of dual cultivation.
The male and female cultivators who practice this method are mostly handsome men and beautiful women. Moreover, when cultivators who practice the Moon Technique and the Star Technique become Daoist partners and perform the combined technique, their combat power can leap to a higher realm.
The Star Moon Sect even had a pair of late-stage Nascent Soul cultivators among its ancestors. When the two of them worked together, they once withstood an attack from a Nascent Soul Heavenly Lord. This foundation was enough to allow the sect to establish itself in the Central Plains.
The current Star Moon Sect's Nascent Soul Ancestor is over eight hundred years old. She is a female True Monarch who specializes in the Moon Technique and is known as True Monarch Moon Orchid.
Her Daoist partner, who cultivated the Star Technique with her, perished three hundred years ago due to a failed attempt to form a Nascent Soul. Since then, she has remained single, and her cultivation has never been able to break through to the mid-stage of the Nascent Soul realm.
Nowadays, apart from focusing on training her junior disciples, she no longer concern herself with the sect's specific affairs.
The most talented couple in the Star Moon Sect are both at the late Golden Core stage.
One of them was Yue Qingqiu, whom Chen Yi had met in the Monster Beast Mountain Range.
The other person is her senior brother, Hirahoshino, who is currently on a mission to exorcise demons in the State of Qi.
These two are the greatest hope for the future of the Star Moon Sect, and among the sect's successors, they are the most promising candidates to reach the Nascent Soul stage.
In addition, the Star Moon Sect also has a 450-year-old late-stage Core Formation cultivator as its sect leader, responsible for managing the sect's daily affairs.
There are also three mid-stage Core Formation cultivators, one of whom is dedicated to teaching and instructing disciples of the sect.
The other two were stationed in the subordinate immortal city and the spirit lake fish farm, respectively, to maintain the sect's interests and order outside.
As for early-stage Core Formation cultivators, there are nearly ten in the sect, but their specific information is not available in publicly available records, and Chen Yi did not specifically inquire about them in detail.
For him, understanding these core architectures is enough.
As a righteous sect, the only special requirement of the Star Moon Sect is that it has certain standards for the appearance, temperament and character of its new disciples, who must conform to the sect's "pure, upright and elegant" style.
Fortunately, in terms of appearance and temperament, Chen Yi's looks are handsome and upright, which fully meets the requirements;
Hu Mingyue, on the other hand, is naturally exceptionally beautiful, so there would be no problem for her to follow him into the Star Moon Sect.
These past few days in the Immortal City Cave, Chen Yi specially opened up an attached second-tier spiritual vein room for Hu Mingyue so that she could cultivate in peace.
Although the young girl was exceptionally beautiful, in Chen Yi's eyes she was just the daughter of his old friend Lao Hu, an ordinary junior who needed his care, and he never had any improper thoughts about her.
He had even planned that if Hu Mingyue met her sweetheart when she came to the Star Moon Sect, as long as the other person's character and talent were acceptable to him, and with Old Hu's consent, he would never stop her from getting married and starting a family.
A few days later, Chen Yi finished renting the Immortal City Cave and, with Hu Mingyue, boarded the Crimson Soul Sparrow and flew towards the Star Moon Sect.
The Crimson Soul Sparrow spread its wings and flew swiftly, traversing a distance of 50,000 miles, finally landing in front of a twin peak at the edge of Moon Lake Spirit Land.
These twin peaks are the location of the Star Moon Sect's mountain gate.
The two mountain peaks stand side by side. The left peak is like a crescent moon, and its top is covered with a faint silver glow. Even in the daytime, one can see the swirling moonlight and spiritual energy.
The right peak resembles a star, its body adorned with countless shimmering spiritual crystals, like stars in the night sky.
A long white jade bridge spans between the two peaks, with soft spiritual light flowing across it, connecting the sect's core buildings.
The mountain peaks are surrounded by clouds and mist, the spiritual energy so rich that it is almost tangible. Occasionally, cranes fly by, their calls clear and melodious. The entire sect is like a fairyland, beautiful and solemn.
Chen Yi had contacted Yue Qingqiu in advance via a communication jade tablet, and she was currently waiting in front of the white jade bridge. Upon seeing Chen Yi arrive, Yue Qingqiu stepped forward and personally led the two into the sect.
In an instant, the eyes of many disciples in the sect were drawn to this—who was that handsome Core Formation cultivator riding a crimson flame spirit bird?
To have Fairy Qingyue personally come out to greet him, could it be that a prodigy from a major sect has arrived?
(End of this chapter)