20demayo Chapter 70: Resolving Divine Thoughts, Chengcheng Goes Crazy
Chapter 70: Resolving Divine Thoughts, Chengcheng Goes Crazy
Chapter 70: Resolving Divine Thoughts, Chengcheng Goes Crazy
"Little Chen,"
Old Hu took a sip of the spirit wine, looked at Chen Yi, and advised:
"Why don't you just stop messing around?"
"I know a female cultivator at the fourth level of Qi Refining who works at the Hundred Herbs Hall. She's quite pretty. With your culinary skills, if you two become a couple, you can open a restaurant and have several children. If any of them have spiritual roots, you can nurture them with great care."
Upon hearing this, Chen Yi smiled and shook his head: "The world of cultivation is ever-changing. The lives of Qi Refining cultivators are as worthless as grass. Even if they marry and have children, their future is uncertain."
If one cannot successfully establish a foundation, it is better to be alone; at least one has no weaknesses and can escape in time if danger arises.
"Xiao Chen, how cowardly are you?"
"Fine, since you're unwilling, let's talk about it again in a few years."
Old Hu sighed and didn't try to persuade him any further. He then looked at Hao Youren and asked him if he wanted to get married.
Hao Youren also shook his head: "I'm only thirty years old, and I still want to try again."
Old Hu took a sip of tea, shook his head, and sighed:
"What difference does it make to us independent cultivators whether we're thirty or forty years old?"
Those scions of prestigious families can reach the late stage of Qi Refining by their early twenties, and then use Foundation Establishment Pills to break through to Foundation Establishment.
What about us? We reach the late stage of Qi Refining by age thirty, and if we're lucky, we can reach the ninth level of Qi Refining by age forty.
And then? That's it.
How many people in this lifetime would risk their lives for a Foundation Establishment Pill that they simply cannot obtain!
Hearing Lao Hu's words, Hao Youren also sighed, looking at the sunset on the horizon with his brows furrowed, remaining silent for a long time.
Similarly, after experiencing the auction, Chen Yi also understood the preciousness of the Foundation Establishment Pill.
Even a mid-Foundation Establishment elder who managed to acquire an ordinary Foundation Establishment Pill and left so cautiously beforehand still ran into trouble.
For those at the Qi Refining stage, relying solely on themselves, they truly have no chance of obtaining Foundation Establishment Pills.
Thinking of this, Chen Yi understood even more how precious Qin Chengcheng, a mid-Foundation Establishment stage disciple of a sect, had been for him, traveling for three months to help him.
Moreover, Qin Chengcheng promised him a high-quality Foundation Establishment Pill.
The three chatted for a while longer, but Lao Hu, unwilling to take any more risks, decided to focus entirely on running his business in the market.
He told Chen Yi and the other person that they could contact him if they needed anything.
Chen Yi understood that Lao Hu wasn't without his own selfish motives either.
He's in his fifties this year. For a late-stage Qi Refining cultivator, while he might not be in his prime, he's not old and frail either.
If he weren't aiming to reach the Foundation Establishment stage, he would definitely want to have a child with spiritual roots.
When the child grows up and gets old, he may hope to receive care from Hao Youren and Chen Yi.
Neither Chen Yi nor Hao Youren refused.
The three had known each other since they were servants in the Li family, and now they had known each other for many years.
While we wouldn't call ourselves best friends, we do have a fairly close relationship. As long as our core interests aren't involved, simple mutual assistance is perfectly fine.
Moreover, Chen Yi does indeed need one or two such friends in the market.
"Senior Hu, since you run a business selling spiritual herbs, could you keep an eye out for damaged second-tier spiritual herbs for me?"
Following Lao Hu's suggestion, Chen Yi asked for his help.
After a moment's thought, Lao Hu said:
"Second-tier spiritual herbs are normally beyond the scope of my small herbal medicine shop; the market has Foundation Establishment cultivators who handle these kinds of businesses."
But Fellow Daoist Chen said that even though it was only damaged, it wasn't without a chance.
I've taken this to heart. If I encounter this situation, even if I can't win it over, I'll let you know, Xiao Chen, and we'll discuss it further.
"Thank you very much then," Chen Yi said, clasping his hands in a fist salute.
Old Hu didn't ask Chen Yi what he wanted the remaining second-tier spiritual herbs for. Perhaps he wanted to make spiritual food, feed his pets, or maybe the Pavilion Master of Miaoyin Pavilion had other uses for them.
These are not questions he should be asking.
Chen Yi has now found a powerful backer. Although Chen Yi is less talented and older...
But compared to Hao Youren, Lao Hu even felt that Chen Yi had a better chance of reaching the Foundation Establishment level.
Therefore, he was quite concerned about Chen Yi's affairs.
Hao Youren, standing nearby, shared the same thought.
"Brother Chen, now that you've hooked up with a rich woman, if you rise to prominence in the future, don't forget your brothers."
Do you remember that iron plaque from a few days ago?
My friend came over to investigate the whereabouts of the metal plate he gave me.
I only said that I still had mine, and hadn't sold it.
As he spoke, Hao Youren took out a new iron plate to show it to him; he had obtained it through other channels.
In recent years, Zhao Jingwu has distributed many of these metal tags to his various shady connections to establish a clandestine network for selling stolen goods.
Therefore, tracing the whereabouts of each metal plaque is indeed not easy these days.
After all, no one who goes to buy or sell dirty goods can use their true appearance and identity.
"Thank you, Fellow Daoist Hao."
Chen Yi thanked them again, feeling deeply grateful for their kindness.
Hao Youren's actions directly excluded Chen Yi from the list of people the other party wanted to investigate.
At the same time, Chen Yi guessed that something might have happened on Zhao Jingwu's side, and that he had started a counter-investigation against him.
He decided to go back and test Zhao Jingwu under a different identity. If things weren't going well, he would postpone any contact with him.
With many forces from the Jade Dragon Sect now entrenched in this Lake and Sea Market, Chen Yi needs to keep a low profile in all his actions.
There are only six months left until Qin Chengcheng's deadline.
Chen Yi has been focusing on refining the Divine Refinement Technique during this period, aiming to increase the number of Divine Sense Needles to eighteen in the last six months.
Logically speaking, with his current spiritual abilities and fifteen spiritual needles, he should be able to barely break Qin Chengcheng's spiritual restriction.
But considering that Qin Chengcheng had promised him that premium Foundation Establishment Pill, Chen Yi felt he should play it safe.
After the auction, Qin Chengcheng disappeared again.
With only three months left until the deadline, she rushed back, looking haggard.
Then he handed a jade token to Chen Yi.
"Take a look at the basic knowledge about the Five Elements of Divine Sense and the application directions of several Divine Sense techniques in the 【Refining Spirit Technique】 and see if you can use them."
Chen Yi took the jade tablet and placed it on his forehead. His divine sense swept over it, and records of divine thoughts appeared in his mind.
It concerns the specific attributes and knowledge of the five elements (metal, wood, water, fire, and earth) of spiritual consciousness, as well as some conjectures about the combined application of the five elements of spiritual consciousness.
Since it was just a conjecture, Chen Yi guessed that the person who wrote down this jade slip probably hadn't been able to cultivate their divine sense to the point where all five elements were complete.
After careful study, Chen Yi discovered that the mutual generation and restraint of the attributes of divine consciousness were not as simple as the power of the five elements.
However, there are also many similarities.
"Fairy, this jade slip is useful to me. Please wait for me for two more months. By then, I will be in peak condition. We will first resolve the problem of that old wisp of divine thought deep within your divine consciousness restriction, and then we will do our best to break the restriction."
A hint of relief appeared on Qin Chengcheng's tired expression.
"Okay, I'll wait for you."
"By the way, fairy, don't be idle during these last two months."
I suggest that you personally dig a small, secret chamber, about two or three zhang in diameter, beneath your cave dwelling, for our mutual use in seclusion.
"it is good."
"Uh, I haven't finished yet. Inside the secret room, you'll need to use every array material you can find."
Set up a top-tier shielding and defensive formation.
Ideally, the formation should also possess functions such as isolating divine sense, blocking fluctuations of magical power, concealing breath, blocking earth vein disturbances, stabilizing, and defending.
In short, this is a crucial matter, so don't worry about the cost.
Qin Chengcheng's beautiful eyes widened as she looked at Chen Yi, her small mouth slightly open.
Today she finally saw Chen Yi's cautious approach to things; it was just the removal of a soul restriction, yet he had to prepare so many things.
However, she has recently gotten used to listening to Chen Yi's advice on important matters. Although this formation would consume thousands of spirit stones, Qin Chengcheng still nodded in agreement.
For the next two months, Qin Chengcheng didn't go anywhere. She personally dug the secret chamber and set up the array.
They were extremely busy.
Only in the last few days, after completing the work, could she rest, recuperate her soul, refine the Soul-Nourishing Wood, and wait for Chen Yi to make his move.
During these two months, Chen Yi was also busy. He combined the basic knowledge of the Five Elements Divine Sense from the Refining Spirit Technique with his own divine sense needles of the ice and wood attributes.
Through deduction, several solutions were devised to break the divine consciousness restriction on Qin Chengcheng.
However, there is one problem that Chen Yi cannot solve with his current strength: the restriction is too deeply bound to Qin Chengcheng's consciousness.
Even if he unravels it with the most perfect technique, it will still damage a part of Qin Chengcheng's sea of consciousness.
Unless Chen Yi's spiritual sense and array formation skills both reach the third level, which is obviously impossible to achieve in the short term.
Chen Yi told Qin Chengcheng about this concern.
Qin Chengcheng smiled nonchalantly: "It doesn't matter. As long as I can get rid of it and I'm still alive, I'll be satisfied."
Chen Yi, without you, I might really be at my wit's end. Thank you.
Whether I succeed or fail, I will have no regrets. You are my last hope.
"Don't worry, fairy. Your safety is related to my premium Foundation Establishment Pill. I will definitely do my best."
Qin Chengcheng rolled her eyes at Chen Yi. "Am I not even worth a Foundation Establishment Pill in your eyes?"
There is only one month left until the deadline.
Qin Chengcheng dug the cave, set up the formation, and completed the refining of the Soul-Nourishing Wood.
Chen Yi was also ready. The two went to Qin Chengcheng's room, first activating the second-tier array outside the room, making it seem as if they didn't want to be disturbed.
Qin Chengcheng made a hand seal with her fingertips, and the array patterns inlaid on the edge of the sandalwood floor lit up one by one, like the awakening star trails.
With a very soft "click," the three spirit jade bricks in the center of the ground suddenly sank, revealing a deep passage below.
The inner walls of the passage gleamed with a cold, bluish-gray light, clearly made of spiritual mud mixed with powder from the God-Isolating Stone.
The two leaped down, their robes fluttering in the wind. Chen Yi's divine sense spread out like a spiderweb—the faint light was revealed in every detail under the illumination of his divine sense:
The walls of the passage were engraved with fine spiritual guiding patterns, and liquid sealing copper flowed in each groove, ensuring that even the spiritual sense of a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator could not detect it.
The secret room at the end was only eight square meters in size, yet it made Chen Yi's pupils shrink slightly.
Seven layers of formations intertwined on the wall.
The silver ripples of the divine sense array flowed slowly across the wall, actively absorbing any external divine sense probing the area, making it impossible for others to detect.
The gray mist of the Qi Concealing Array enveloped the entire secret chamber, even concealing the slightest fluctuations in magical power.
The most unique feature of the ground-level ley line array is its dark golden array patterns deeply embedded in the underground rock strata, its structure quite similar to the third-order array of the underwater cave.
Chen Yi's fingertips hovered three inches away from the wall, and he could feel the tingling sensation caused by the resonance of the array.
In addition to this, Qin Chengcheng even added an extra second-tier high-grade soundproofing array.
These array patterns are not simply superimposed, but rather the power of the seven arrays is geometrically multiplied through nested spiritual cores, reaching the quasi-third-order level after combination.
He noticed that the dozen or so mid-grade spirit stones embedded in the array's core were already showing signs of wear and tear—it took dozens of spirit stones every day just to keep the array running.
Even if I were to arrange it myself, it wouldn't be much different.
Chen Yi nodded slightly.
"Fairy, you've prepared very well. Thank you for your thoughtfulness."
Even if a fake Core Formation cultivator interferes while we're dealing with your soul, this formation can hold out for a while. It seems we're almost done."
"Knowing your character, you will never take action unless there is absolute certainty."
Besides, this concerns my life and fortune; it's just a matter of spending some spirit stones.
"But I understand the other formations, so what is the purpose of this soundproofing magic?"
When you and I perform this within our souls, sound waves generally don't travel out.
Chen Yi was curious.
"Oh, don't worry about that. Just get ready and let's begin."
"Alright, let's begin. Today, we'll first take out that fragment of divine consciousness and hide it in the Soul-Nourishing Wood. However, the Soul-Nourishing Wood will remain in your soul for the time being. We'll take it out and destroy it when the seal is finally broken."
"good.
Chen Yi, I have something to say to you. If we fail today, I will…
"No, fairy, even if we fail today, I won't take your life. If you have anything to say, you can say it next time."
Chen Yi was afraid that Qin Chengcheng would say something he couldn't accept, which would make things awkward.
Qin Chengcheng sighed softly, "Alright, then I'll entrust my life and fortune to you."
"Don't worry, fairy. Without you, I may never see a high-quality Foundation Establishment Pill again in my life. I will do my best."
"You're such a chatterbox." Qin Chengcheng gave him a sidelong glance.
Then, at Chen Yi's prompting, she obediently lay down on the jade bed and closed her eyes.
Chen Yi sat cross-legged by the bed. He took a deep breath, and his fingers glowed with a dual light of ice blue and wood green, which he then touched between Qin Chengcheng's eyebrows.
This was the second time he had ventured into the forbidden realm of her soul.
As her divine sense probed in, fragments of Qin Chengcheng's memories flashed by like a revolving lantern—the joy of learning the zither at Miaoyin Pavilion in her childhood, the schemes plotted against by her fellow disciples after she achieved Foundation Establishment, and the covetousness of various forces when she became famous.
These memories are like fireflies locked in a glass dome, beautiful yet fragile.
Finally, they reached the deepest part of the divine soul restriction.
Chen Yi slowly came to a stop.
Outside the soul-binding barrier, a piece of soul-nourishing wood drifted in the sea of souls, emitting a faint glow.
The ghostly light possessed a power to stabilize the soul, silently nourishing Qin Chengcheng's consciousness.
Beside it, four layers of restrictions stood majestically: the first layer, the [Green Vine Restriction], writhed like a living creature, its vines covered with barbs;
The second layer, the [Furnace Restriction], emitted a dark red flame and occasionally spewed out scorching waves of air;
The third layer of the [Suppressing Stele] is inscribed with ancient runes, weighing as much as a thousand pounds;
The innermost layer of the [Sword Formation Restriction] consists of seven small swords of divine sense, gleaming with a chilling light.
At the center of the sword formation, a wisp of dark golden divine thought swam like a fish, connecting with the Heart-Locking Sword Formation.
In the midst of a mental disturbance, a sword formation can be triggered to annihilate Qin Chengcheng's divine consciousness.
What Chen Yi needs to do today is to guide that wisp of divine thought into the Soul-Nourishing Wood, and then take it out.
Eliminate the "time bomb" in her restricted center.
Chen Yi's solution was to temporarily seal a corner of the sword formation with ice-attribute divine sense needles, while simultaneously using wood-attribute divine sense needles to pry it open, and then send in the soul-nourishing wood to absorb that wisp of divine thought.
However, there are two difficulties in this regard.
While freezing one corner of the sword formation, his divine sense would be attacked by the rest of the formation.
Chen Yi had to withstand the sword formation's attack in a very short time while extracting that wisp of divine thought.
The second difficulty lies in how to capture that wisp of divine thought, since that divine thought is conscious and has a mission, and if not handled properly, it will trigger a self-destruction.
"Chen Yi, are you sure you can do it?"
Qin Chengcheng's clear, crisp voice echoed in her mind.
"More or less, about 50% sure."
Chen Yi said uncertainly.
Hearing this, Qin Chengcheng felt much more at ease; Chen Yi's 50% chance of success was now secure.
next moment,
She felt a freezing, stinging sensation in her mind.
Deep within her sea of consciousness, Chen Yi's Ice Soul Divine Sense Needle precisely pierced the "Shock Gate" node of the sword formation's restriction.
The extreme cold instantly froze the array's movement, and the wood-attribute divine consciousness threads then wrapped around it, tearing a tiny crack in the surface of the sword array.
However, within this corner of the field of vision,
Within the sword formation, nine golden-attribute divine sense sword energies shot towards the spatial rift in an instant.
They naturally regarded Chen Yi's Divine Sense Needle as an enemy.
A close call,
Chen Yi remained calm.
His remaining sixteen divine sense needles had instantly woven into a defensive "Entangling Net" primarily composed of wood-type divine sense.
It is not a shield that goes head-to-head.
When the sword energy pierces in, the net surface can be concave like water ripples, which not only dissipates the impact but also uses the long-lasting nature of wood-type divine sense to stick to the sword light.
This is a countermeasure that Chen Yi specifically developed over the past two months based on the principles of the Five Elements Divine Sense section at the end of the [Refining God Technique], specifically targeting the golden sword formation below.
*Thud thud thud*, several sword energies pierced Chen Yi's defensive pouch the instant they struck.
Chen Yi's system quietly activated, absorbing some of its energy and mimicking the absorption of the opponent's sword energy with his divine sense skill, thus weakening the sword energy's destructive power.
And at the same time,
At the same time, the Soul-Nourishing Wood was sent to the crevice.
Chen Yi used his divine sense to project a memory image within the sword formation:
As a young girl, Qin Chengcheng wore only a light purple bodice and stood barefoot on a rock in the middle of the lake.
Water droplets slid down her slender ankles, mingling with the orchid fragrance simulated by Chen Yi using the [Illusory Breath Concealing Technique], and the prelude rhythm of the Phoenix Dance in the Nine Heavens Divine Song deliberately incorporated.
Chen Yi simulated Qin Chengcheng's telepathic communication:
"Master~, this disciple would like to ask how to cultivate the [Phoenix Dance in the Nine Heavens] technique together with a wisp of divine thought."
Along with the telepathic transmission came a wisp of divine thought, distinctly feminine in nature.
This was Qin Chengcheng's female aura simulated by Chen Yi using his wood and ice elemental divine senses, combined with the [Illusion-Concealing Breath Technique].
The [Hallucination and Breath Concealment Technique] can simulate the life force that Chen Yi is familiar with.
This was Chen Yi's second time entering Qin Chengcheng's sea of consciousness, and he knew her background perfectly.
His simulation, while not exactly identical, was remarkably similar, further enhanced by the alluring aura emanating from the Soul-Nourishing Wood that appealed to divine senses.
It is enough to deceive even a wisp of divine thought.
The wisp of dark gold divine thought at the core of the sword formation suddenly paused.
The eerie glow of the Soul-Nourishing Wood, the familiar fluctuations of cultivation techniques, and the private scenes from the disciple's memories—under these three temptations, it instinctively abandoned its post.
The moment his divine sense touched the Soul-Nourishing Wood, Chen Yi suddenly manipulated the Soul-Nourishing Wood to absorb that divine sense.
"Come in!"
Chen Yi abruptly withdrew his divine sense, and the piece of Soul-Nourishing Wood immediately shone with a bright, eerie light, completely sealing his dark gold divine sense into the wood's texture.
The sword formation in Qin Chengcheng's sea of consciousness suddenly subsided, and the four layers of restrictions returned to normal.
However, her expression froze—the illusion of her teenage self taking a bath was still slowly dissipating at the edge of her consciousness, and water droplets on her mauve bodice were still dripping.
"Chen! Yi!"
These two words were practically squeezed out from between his teeth.
Qin Chengcheng's ears turned bright red, and the pressure of her Foundation Establishment stage cultivation leaked out uncontrollably, causing the gray mist in the Qi-gathering array in the secret room to surge.
How could she not understand:
To recreate her expression when she was sixteen and taking a bath, Chen Yi not only reviewed that memory, but also meticulously reproduced the tune of "Picking Lotus Flowers" that she was humming at the time.
What's even more terrifying is that the location of the red mole, just four inches below the collarbone, was clearly visible when the illusion raised its hand to brush its hair.
"You said you'd only look at structures with restrictions!"
Her voice was a mixture of anger, shame, and annoyance.
"Cough, the situation was urgent just now. That sword formation was too lethal; I couldn't hold out any longer."
Chen Yi coughed and said, "If I didn't use your most private memory fragments, that wisp of divine thought wouldn't have been drawn out in such a short time."
Besides, those memories you had during your girlhood are also beautiful things.
Qin Chengcheng was filled with a mixture of shame and excitement.
But when she saw that the wisp of divine thought that could have killed her was sealed in the Soul-Nourishing Wood, a great weight was lifted from her heart, and she felt much more at ease.
Shame, anger, relief, and lingering fear flashed through her eyes, finally settling into a trembling question: "How much...how much did you see?"
At this moment, the silence in Qin Chengcheng's mind was deafening.
Chen Yi couldn't explain it; if he hadn't carefully examined it from beginning to end,
It's impossible to find a scene that could so easily evoke that divine thought.
(End of this chapter)