Chapter 31: Body Like a Dragon
Outside Ling's Medical Clinic.
Shangguan Yurou, Shangguan Qingmu, and the others were all shocked by Shangguan Hong's words.
It seemed none of them had expected such an exceptionally brilliant genius to appear in this small town.
Just then, the Profound Eagle landed.
"Let's go," Shangguan Hong said.
"Yes!" Then, the group mounted the Profound Eagle and flew toward an inn in town.
"Did those Divine Guards leave?"
"Is the investigation over?"
"I wonder if they'll punish the Ling father and son!"
Seeing the Divine Guards depart from Ling's Medical Clinic, many nearby residents showed their concern.
The Profound Eagle flew away, and peace returned to the area around Ling's Medical Clinic.
Late that night, inside the medical clinic, Ling Fei sat cross-legged on his bed.
At that moment, his Heart Spirit was immersed in his mind, comprehending the True Dragon Visualization Image.
For the past few days, Ling Fei had made it a habit to immerse his Heart Spirit in the True Dragon Visualization Image every night to comprehend the True Dragon Mystical Technique.
However, his Soul Power was too weak. After just one hour of comprehension, he would become utterly exhausted and be forced to withdraw from the True Dragon Visualization Image.
But through continuous comprehension, observing the True Dragon's movements, his Soul Power was gradually growing stronger.
This was also why he had been able to so precisely help Shangguan Hong expel the Evil Qi today.
Strangely enough, his Heart Spirit managed to remain inside for a while longer today.
It seemed that performing the needle treatment had, contrary to expectations, made his Heart Spirit even more focused and condensed.
However, after a little over an hour, his Heart Spirit felt weary, and he withdrew from the True Dragon Visualization Image.
'The True Dragon Mystical Technique is vast and profound. Although I feel like I've gained some insight, I still can't grasp its true essence,' Ling Fei mused, making sure to summarize his insights.
...
The next day, Ling Fei went to the vicinity of Dragon Pool Mountain early in the morning.
The snow-covered mountain there had collapsed, piling snow high like hills. A river now gurgled through, transforming the landscape completely.
However, the air here was still swirling with Cold Qi, far denser than anywhere else.
'I used up a bit of True Qi helping Lord Shangguan expel the Evil Qi yesterday. I wonder if I can recover it today,' Ling Fei thought to himself.
He then chose a spot with dense Cold Qi and began circulating the True Dragon Body Refining Technique to absorb it.
This Cultivation Technique could absorb not only Dragon Qi, but also Heaven and Earth Essence Qi.
However, the True Dragon Body Refining Technique required Dragon Qi to generate Cold Chi True Qi.
Ordinary Essence Qi had very little effect.
Ling Fei was just trying his luck this time.
WHOOSH! WHOOSH!
The dense Cold Qi was drawn toward him.
As the True Dragon Body Refining Technique circulated, the Cold Qi was guided into his body.
But due to the nature of the Cultivation Technique, it was difficult to transform this Cold Qi into Cold Chi True Qi.
The grade of this Cold Qi was simply too low.
WHOOSH! WHOOSH!
As the Cold Qi entered his body, the bone in his spine stirred.
OMMM!
A ripple spread out. The spinal bone seemed to have been triggered, immediately forming a Qi Vortex.
Then, all the Cold Qi Ling Fei had drawn in was absorbed by the bone.
WHOOSH! WHOOSH!
Endless Cold Qi surged like a dragon, gathering toward the spinal bone.
A moment later, the spinal bone generated Cold Chi Dragon Qi.
This Cold Chi Dragon Qi was then guided into Ling Fei's bloodline and began the tempering process.
'It really works like this.' Seeing this, Ling Fei was overjoyed.
Yesterday, the Cold Qi had been absorbed by the spinal bone, which then generated Cold Chi Dragon Qi.
It seemed that after absorbing enough Cold Qi, the bone would give back to Ling Fei.
This gave Ling Fei hope.
Otherwise, his cultivation would have inevitably run into trouble.
Because what he needed was Dragon Qi.
But there was far too little Dragon Qi in the world.
Now, as long as he absorbed enough Qi to make the spinal bone give back, his immediate problem was solved.
The Cold Chi Dragon Qi entered his bloodline, was tempered, and generated True Qi.
Just like that, the Cold Chi True Qi Ling Fei had expended yesterday was quickly replenished.
After a full day of cultivation, Ling Fei's True Qi had even increased slightly.
...
The next day, Shangguan Hong visited again.
"Why is the Inspection Envoy here again?"
This surprised the nearby residents.
Ling Fei took action for Shangguan Hong, extracting the Evil Qi.
This continued for a full half-month.
The Evil Qi in Shangguan Hong's body was continuously neutralized.
As his own power grew and the Evil Qi's diminished, Shangguan Hong's control over it became increasingly effortless.
"This Evil Qi no longer has much effect on me," Shangguan Hong said, stepping out of the treatment room and clasping his hands in a salute to Elder Ling and Ling Fei.
"I must thank you both for everything recently."
A smile touched Shangguan Hong's brow, and his entire being emanated a powerful aura.
Shangguan Hong was full of confidence for the future.
As long as the Evil Qi was expelled, he was certain he could advance to the next level.
"You're too kind," Elder Ling replied with a faint smile.
He had let Ling Fei take action only to pave the way for the young man's future.
Otherwise, with his own power, expelling this Evil Qi wouldn't have been difficult.
Shangguan Hong found Elder Ling to be more and more unfathomable.
He even had a feeling that the elder had intentionally created this opportunity to make him owe Ling Fei a debt of gratitude.
But Shangguan Hong didn't dwell on it.
Because for him, this was also an opportunity.
'If I can help Ling Fei on his journey, then when this young man becomes powerful, this relationship will be something others could only dream of!'
"Tomorrow, the Divine Academy selection competition will be held in Longtan Town to decide the placements for Celestial River Academy. Heh, of course, a man of Young Master Ling's prodigious talent has no need to compete. When the time comes, I invite you both to come and watch," Shangguan Hong said to Elder Ling and Ling Fei, a smile in his eyes.
Regarding the Divine Academy selection in Longtan Town, the Divine Academy had originally arranged for Huang Xiaoman and Qin Ming to host.
However, with Qin Ming's death, the matter was delayed.
Shangguan Hong's trip was also intended to oversee this event.
But because of the Evil Qi issue, he had postponed it.
Now it was time to resolve the matter and return to the academy.
After all, the various academies had already started their school year!
"Such a grand event is certainly worth watching," Elder Ling said with a laugh.
'The Divine Academy selection is about to happen?' Ling Fei's gaze sharpened, a hint of anticipation in his heart.
Standing out in the Divine Academy selection had been the goal he had striven for all these years.
Only by doing so could he enter the Divine Academy and become a powerful expert.
Just two months ago, he was still struggling to break through to the Nine Layers of Body Tempering Realm.
Now, he actually didn't even need to compete and had been directly chosen.
The change felt surreal, like a dream.
'Heaven rewards the diligent. As long as I work hard, I will surely advance even further in the future.' Ling Fei's eyes shone with a determined light.
"In that case, this junior will take his leave," Shangguan Hong said, clasping his hands in farewell.
"Take care," Elder Ling said.
"Goodbye, Young Master Ling!" Beside him, Shangguan Yurou also bid farewell to Ling Fei.
After spending time together for half a month, she and Ling Fei had grown familiar with each other.
Ordinarily, Shangguan Yurou would even come to Ling's Medical Clinic to discuss Martial Arts with Ling Fei.
"Goodbye, Miss Yurou," Ling Fei said, bidding her farewell as well.
Through their interactions these past few days, he discovered that this seemingly gentle woman was quite profound in her understanding of Martial Arts.
Ling Fei even became aware of his own many shortcomings.
As a disciple of a great clan, Shangguan Yurou had practiced many Upper Grade Martial Arts since childhood.
Of course, when it came to a contest of True Qi, Ling Fei was full of confidence.
However, although True Qi was fundamental, a Cultivator's mastery of Martial Arts was also crucial.
...
「Night.」
In the bedroom, Ling Fei sat cross-legged on his bed.
At this moment, his Heart Spirit was immersed in the True Dragon Visualization Image.
Twenty full days had now passed since he began comprehending this image.
Over these twenty days, the amount of time Ling Fei's Heart Spirit could remain immersed in the Visualization Image had grown longer and longer.
Not only that, but he also felt his Soul Power strengthening.
Ling Fei's perception of the world, his eyesight, and his hearing had all surpassed his previous limits by tenfold.
At the same time, as he comprehended the True Dragon Visualization Image, his perceptiveness was also constantly improving.
Before, his understanding had been hazy, but now he seemed to have gained some true insight.
It seemed that an increase in Soul Power could also enhance one's perceptiveness.
When the soul grew stronger, one's insight would naturally surpass what it was before.
Inside Ling Fei's mind.
Within the Visualization Image, a True Dragon soared, flying through the nine heavens.
'Observe the dragon's form, comprehend the True Dragon Mystical Technique.' Ling Fei's Heart Spirit contemplated as he observed.
Over the past twenty days, he had consulted many materials and asked his adoptive father some questions about Visualization Images.
'Adoptive Father said the key to comprehending a Visualization Image is to observe its form, understand its intent, and finally, to forget oneself, reaching a state where your body becomes the image, becomes the spirit of the image.'
'Observing the image is the most basic stage. After that comes observing its form, which means observing the True Dragon's various postures. I have now been observing its form for twenty days and have some understanding of the True Dragon's shape. Now, it's time to observe the True Dragon's intent. Only then can I comprehend the mystical technique within.'
Ling Fei's mind was as clear as a mirror.
Comprehending the Visualization Image had to be done step by step; he couldn't be too hasty.
'True Dragon Intent!' Ling Fei murmured, his Heart Spirit continuously trying to feel that True Dragon Intent.
Unconsciously, his Heart Spirit seemed to merge with the world of the Visualization Image.
The True Dragon's aura was continuously perceived by Ling Fei.
As his Heart Spirit gradually sank deeper into this world, everything he perceived instantly changed.
WHOOSH!
The scene shifted. Now, in the middle of a great sea, a True Dragon swam, stirring up massive waves.
ROAR!
Then, the True Dragon roared and burst forth from the sea.
A vast Dragon's Might radiated outward.
That dragon's roar was so powerful it felt like it could shatter one's Heart Spirit.
Now, Ling Fei's Heart Spirit was gradually fusing with the world of the Visualization Image.
This impact, this Dragon's Might, was deeply seared into his mind, branded upon his soul.
'Dragon's Might... The True Dragon Momentum is unstoppable!'
'So this is a True Dragon?' At this moment, Ling Fei seemed to have gained a true understanding of what a True Dragon was.
'Dragon's Might...' Ling Fei seemed to have an epiphany. The momentum and feeling from the True Dragon's roar just now echoed in his mind.
He felt like he had grasped something.
AWOOOO!
Within the world of the Visualization Image, dragon roars echoed endlessly.
Ling Fei was continuously comprehending the true essence within.
'Body like the image, like its intent... Body like a dragon!' Suddenly, Ling Fei's resonant voice echoed within the world of the Visualization Image.
OMMM!
Instantly, a powerful aura erupted from his body.
AWOOOO!
Inside the Visualization Image, Ling Fei was like a dragon, letting out a long cry.
In that instant, he truly was like a dragon, a powerful aura radiating from him.
Even the world of the Visualization Image rippled from the force.
At that very moment, in the bedroom, a dragon's roar suddenly emanated from Ling Fei's body.
Immediately after, a vast aura erupted from him. The formless shockwave pulverized the nearby table into dust.
The frame of his bed also crumbled, turning to dust.
The sound wave shook the heavens, echoing in all directions.
The entire Longtan Town was startled.
But the sound wave was fleeting. By the time everyone was jolted from their dreams, they could no longer tell where it had come from.
'Was I dreaming?' Even Shangguan Hong, in a distant inn, shook his head in disbelief.
Inside Ling's Medical Clinic.
"What a powerful ripple! It seemed to come from my brother's room?" Xue Xi awoke from her sleep and walked out, a bit worried.
"There's no need to worry."
Just as she reached the small courtyard where Ling Fei lived, Elder Ling was already there. He spoke with a faint smile, stroking his long beard.
It seemed he already knew what had happened in Ling Fei's room.
Seeing this, Xue Xi returned to her own room.
She had complete faith in her adoptive father's words.
