Chapter 308 : Yang Spirit
Chapter 308: Yang Spirit
“Many thanks for Senior’s reminder.”
Chen Ming solemnly expressed his gratitude to Chang Yunshan.
Chang Yunshan said, “After that person reached the Divine Repository Realm, his ability of transformation has likely advanced to an even higher level. You must be extra careful when entering or leaving, lest you fall into his schemes.”
“This junior will certainly be cautious.”
Chang Yunshan took out a jade talisman and said, “If you encounter anyone suspicious, crush this jade talisman. As long as you are within the capital, I will arrive within five breaths.”
“Alright.”
Chen Ming accepted it.
It seemed the Heaven’s Path Alliance placed great importance on this person from the Nine Nether Sect, to the extent that they made such a promise.
This was equivalent to a protective talisman that could summon a Divine Repository Realm expert at any time.
Experts of the Divine Repository Realm from the Heaven’s Path Alliance were undoubtedly among the very best within the same realm.
After finishing the main matter, Chang Yunshan took his leave.
Chen Ming rose to see him off. When they reached the entrance, he stopped Su Zhining. “Miss Su, please stay a moment.”
Chang Yunshan did not pause and drifted away, leaving only Su Zhining behind.
“Your Highness the Prince, what instructions do you have?”
Even disciples of the Heaven’s Path Alliance had to observe the etiquette of the secular world. Only after reaching the Divine Repository Realm could one transcend worldly conventions, just like Chang Yunshan.
“Earlier I heard that Miss Su was trapped in a Tribulation of Love, and that the situation was quite dire. I originally intended to visit, but felt it might be too presumptuous. Now that I see Miss Su has escaped the Tribulation of Love and returned to normal, I feel relieved.”
Su Zhining replied calmly, “Thank you for Your Highness’s concern. However, I have not escaped the Tribulation of Love.”
“But Miss Su appears to be in excellent condition, and your cultivation seems even stronger than a few months ago.”
“Your Highness may not know, but our sect’s 《Heart of Heaven Manual》 is extremely profound. Whether it is a tribulation or a destined bond often lies within a single thought. As long as one can see through it, the Tribulation of Love can also become a bond of love.”
“Miss Su means… you have already seen through it?”
Su Zhining did not answer. She gave a bow and then departed.
…
After returning to the Prince of Linjiang’s Residence, Chen Ming went to consult Daoist Master Wang Chenzi.
“What does it mean for a Tribulation of Love to become a bond of love?”
The Old Daoist stroked his beard and said, “It means exactly what the words imply. The 《Heart of Heaven Manual》 cultivates the heart. For a long time, the orthodox path of the Heaven’s Path Alliance has been the path of emotionlessness.
“But in truth, whether it is a tribulation or a bond often depends on one’s own mind. If one develops feelings and falls into the Tribulation of Love, there is actually another path—switching to the Dao of Sentient Emotions.
“The so-called heart demon naturally becomes the pillar within her heart, and instead allows her cultivation to advance by leaps and bounds.”
Chen Ming felt somewhat confused. “If such a solution exists, why is it rumored among the people to be so dangerous?”
The Old Daoist did not answer directly, but asked an unrelated question instead.
“Do you know why the Eternal Life Cult has six branches? Clearly, only five false tombs of the Eternal Life Emperor have appeared.”
Chen Ming said, “I was curious about that before. Later, I checked the archives in the Six Doors Authority, but I couldn’t find any relevant records.”
“Of course you couldn’t find it. This matter concerns a secret.”
“Don’t tell me it’s related to the Heaven’s Path Alliance?”
“Indeed. The most mysterious branch of the Eternal Life Cult is called the Heaven-Mending Sect, which cultivates the Dao of Sentient Beings with Emotions. In fact, the Heaven’s Path Alliance originated from the Heaven-Mending Sect.
“This matter dates back two thousand years. At that time, the Heaven-Mending Sect produced a disciple of extraordinary brilliance. Using the Dao of Sentient Beings as his foundation and the path of emotionlessness as inspiration, he created the 《Heart of Heaven Manual》. Later he established his own sect and founded the Heaven’s Path Alliance.”
When Chen Ming heard this, only one thought arose in his mind.
What a coincidence.
The cultivation methods he obtained from the Xingyue Sect—the 《Way of All Beings》 and the 《Heaven-Mending Art》—actually originated from the Heaven-Mending Sect of the Eternal Life Cult?
After all this time, the founder of the Heaven’s Path Alliance turned out to have come from the Eternal Life Cult?
Yet for the past two thousand years, the force that had slaughtered members of the Eternal Life Cult most ruthlessly was precisely the Heaven’s Path Alliance.
It truly fit that saying—heretics are more hateful than pagans.
For a moment, Chen Ming’s emotions became extremely complicated.
The Old Daoist said, “Strange. The Heaven’s Path Alliance has never tolerated disciples switching to the Dao of Sentient Emotions. Why would they make an exception for the female disciple you know?”
After pondering for a while, he guessed, “The woman you know probably has something special about her.”
Chen Ming shook his head, indicating he did not know.
No matter what, learning that Su Zhining had resolved the hidden danger of the Tribulation of Love made Chen Ming feel relieved.
Since arriving in the capital, he had never gone to see Su Zhining.
It wasn’t that he was cold-hearted. Rather, he feared that if he went, his disguise would be exposed. The Heaven’s Path Alliance was the number one sect under heaven, and no one knew how many hidden experts it contained.
If his identity were exposed, not only would he fail to help Su Zhining, it would instead complicate matters further.
“Senior, do you know anything about the Nine Nether Sect? Recently I provoked a powerful enemy from the Nine Nether Sect. He is in the Divine Repository Realm and highly proficient in transformation techniques…”
Chen Ming recounted the events that had just happened.
The Old Daoist pondered for a moment, then flipped his hand and produced an item.
“This object is called the Heart Mirror. If worn on the body, it can see through all illusions. I will lend it to you temporarily.”
There’s actually such a treasure?
Chen Ming happily accepted the small bronze mirror and said, “Many thanks to Senior for lending this treasure.”
“No need for courtesy. In the future, this poor Daoist may also have need of your help.”
Chen Ming naturally agreed without hesitation.
…
After returning to reality, Chen Ming discovered that a small bronze mirror had appeared in his hand—the same one the Old Daoist had lent him.
The bronze mirror had actually followed him out.
He became even more curious about the Old Daoist’s cave dwelling. Clearly, what entered it was only a strand of Spiritual Awareness, yet it could carry physical objects back out, as though it existed somewhere between illusion and reality. It was truly wondrous beyond measure.
Chen Ming threaded a thin cord through the Heart Mirror and hung it around his neck. It felt somewhat different, though he couldn’t quite say how.
With a thought, he used the ability of the Formless Treasure Garment to transform his appearance into someone else.
Then he picked up a mirror.
A miraculous thing happened—the reflection in the mirror still showed his original appearance.
“Impressive. It can see through the disguise of the Formless Treasure Garment.”
That Old Daoist truly hid his abilities deeply. To possess such a treasure was remarkable indeed.
“Next… it’s time to condense the Yang Spirit.”
Chen Ming opened the panel and glanced at it. At this moment, his Experience Points had already exceeded one hundred million—more than enough to raise the 《Nine Heavens Divine Control Art》 to the tenth level.
“However, condensing the Yang Spirit in the capital isn’t suitable. The commotion would be too great.”
He took out the tortoiseshell and opened the gate to Qingwei Heaven, entering this secret realm.
He had asked the Old Daoist before—Qingwei Heaven was originally the highest-level secret realm, equivalent to an Immortal Estate. Forming the Yang Spirit here would pose no problem at all.
The most dangerous and most crucial step in condensing the Yang Spirit was crossing the lightning tribulation.
This step had stumped countless First Grade Yin Spirits.
It was said that in ancient times, not even one out of ten could successfully survive the lightning tribulation. Calling it a nine-deaths-one-life ordeal was no exaggeration.
This was also one of the important reasons why the martial path later flourished while the Daoist path declined.
For martial artists, opening the Divine Repository carried almost no danger. Given the choice, who would risk such a terrifying ordeal to cultivate the Dao?
However, this problem did not exist for disciples of the Celestial Master Residence.
As long as one cultivated the Nine Heavens Divine Thunder, the Yin Spirit would naturally develop resistance to lightning, greatly increasing the success rate when facing lightning tribulation.
The better one cultivated the Nine Heavens Divine Thunder, the higher the chance of surviving the tribulation.
“Emperor Moon Sword!”
Chen Ming arrived before the mausoleum and saw that the Emperor Moon Sword, planted in the ground, had completely digested that golden bone.
A faint golden layer seemed to coat the blade, giving it an entirely different aura.
Grasping the hilt, he felt the terrifying power contained within the sword.
Although it still had not produced a sword spirit, the power it contained had increased by more than ten times. With a full strike, even a Divine Repository Realm expert might not withstand it and could fall on the spot.
This would become his ultimate trump card.
With the upgraded Emperor Moon Sword, his confidence in surviving the lightning tribulation increased even further.
Originally it was nine parts certainty.
Now it was absolute certainty.
“Come!”
Chen Ming’s forehead split open, and a cluster of light—almost solid—flew out.
Boom!
In an instant, heaven and earth changed color. Countless dark clouds rapidly gathered above his head. It seemed the world itself sensed that his Yin Spirit was about to transform and was doing everything it could to stop him.
Facing the might of heaven and earth, his Yin Spirit instinctively trembled, as if confronting a natural predator.
Lightning tribulation truly was terrifying—the nemesis of the Yin Spirit.
He even suspected his Yin Spirit might not withstand even a single bolt and would be shattered instantly.
It was said that in ancient times, cultivators needed various treasures and Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures to survive lightning tribulation.
“Add points!”
Chen Ming first raised the Nine Heavens Divine Thunder to the seventh level, spending more than ten million Experience Points to increase his resistance to lightning tribulation.
Immediately, threads of purple lightning began to circulate within his Yin Spirit. The thunder gathering above no longer felt terrifying—rather, it carried a strange sense of familiarity.
“The Nine Heavens Divine Thunder truly is the key to surviving lightning tribulation!”
Chen Ming felt delighted. Holding the Emperor Moon Sword, he looked at the remaining one hundred million Experience Points on the panel and began adding points.
Level 91.
Level 92.
Level 93…
As the points increased, his Yin Spirit became more and more solid—stronger and stronger.
Correspondingly, the lightning within the dark clouds above grew increasingly terrifying. A vortex began to form, with thick lightning serpents darting within it, radiating destructive power.
…
At the same time, outside in the capital.
Someone suddenly shouted in the street, “Look! The Ninefold Heaven has appeared again!”
Immediately, the news spread like wildfire. Nearly the entire capital was stirred, people raising their heads to look at the legendary “Heavenly Realm” floating in the sky.
Since ancient times, the Ninefold Heaven had been regarded in legends as a “Heavenly Realm.”
After the Eternal Life Emperor, however, no great cultivator had ever appeared who possessed such vast divine power—capable of moving an Immortal Estate to hover above the capital.
Inside the imperial palace.
The emperor stood within a pavilion, gazing at the Ninefold Heaven with a grave expression.
The Ninefold Heaven had always symbolized imperial authority. Thousands of years ago, every dynasty possessed at least one “Heavenly Realm” accessible to its emperor.
Later, the keys to enter those realms all disappeared, which did not greatly affect later dynasties.
But now the Ninefold Heaven had reappeared in the mortal world, yet he—the emperor—was not its master.
This was another blow to his authority.
The emperor asked in a deep voice, “What exactly happened inside Qingwei Heaven?”
The Old Eunuch standing behind him replied, “This servant does not know.”
“Go. Summon people from the Celestial Master Residence.”
“Yes.”
…
Like the emperor, many people were watching the changes in Qingwei Heaven, pondering what impact its appearance might have on the Great Jin Dynasty.
Among them was an unremarkable middle-aged man.
At this moment, he stood outside the Prince of Linjiang’s Residence, looking up at the phenomenon high in the nine heavens, speculating about what might be happening in that legendary Heavenly Realm.
After a moment, he lowered his gaze and glanced toward the residence.
“Prince of Linjiang—”
He silently murmured the name. His eyes remained calm and expressionless.
Then he turned and left.
Before long, he arrived at a courtyard. Beside a pond stood a dignified man dressed in black.
The middle-aged man said, “After two thousand years, the Ninefold Heaven has reappeared. What do you think it signifies?”
The man in black was fishing by the pond and replied calmly, “The false tomb of the Eternal Life Emperor is about to appear. Elysium Island has resurfaced. Several branches of the Eternal Life Cult are reviving from the ashes… Now that the Ninefold Heaven has reappeared as well, the world is likely heading toward another great upheaval.”
The middle-aged man curled his lips in mockery.
“So that’s the reason a Red-Robed Officer of the Six Doors Authority like you is colluding with a remnant of the Nine Nether Sect like me?”
The black-clad man did not mind.
“You want revenge. I want to eliminate that person. The enemy of my enemy is my friend. Why shouldn’t we cooperate?”
“Why do you want to eliminate him?”
“That’s none of your concern.”
The middle-aged man sneered.
“You think I don’t know? The Hall Master of Reincarnation Hall is about to pass away, isn’t he? You’re worried he’ll seize the position of Hall Master, so you’ve allied yourself with a demon cultist like me.”
The black-clad man turned to look at him and did not deny it.
“Are you unwilling to cooperate?”
“If I were unwilling, I wouldn’t have come today.”
“Very good. I will inform you of his movements and create opportunities for you. When the time comes, you must seize them.”
…
Inside Qingwei Heaven, the entire world was covered by dark clouds.
At last, the first bolt of lightning descended.
Boom!
Lightning illuminated heaven and earth.
This bolt struck directly upon Chen Ming’s Yin Spirit above his head, splitting into countless tiny electric currents like brilliant sparks.
At this moment, Chen Ming’s level had already reached one hundred, and the Nine Heavens Divine Control Art had broken through to the tenth level.
By all logic, he should already be a Yang Spirit.
Yet his primordial spirit had not fully transformed into pure Yang.
It seemed the step of crossing lightning tribulation was unavoidable.
Fortunately, after reaching the seventh level of Nine Heavens Divine Thunder, his Yin Spirit had become extremely resistant to lightning.
This heavenly thunder caused no harm to his Yin Spirit.
Boom!
Next came another bolt of lightning.
With every lightning tribulation he endured, his Yin Spirit underwent a transformation—turning from Yin to Yang. His primordial spirit grew increasingly solid, gradually approaching physical form.
Second bolt.
Third bolt.
Fourth bolt…
After the ninth heavenly thunder descended, the Yin Spirit completely transformed into pure Yang.
The Yang Spirit was formed!