Chapter 648 429: Two Thousand Years of Longevity
Qiu Dragon Mansion.
It's been nearly a year since Yuan Country launched its invasion war against the Daji Dynasty. During this year, Yuan Country's front line has been intentionally or unintentionally extending toward the northeast, resulting in several prefectures and counties of Qiu Dragon Mansion, located to the southwest of the Dragon Abyss frontline, enjoying a rare peace.
But this is relative. If a careful observer examines the current state of the prefecture city of Qiu Dragon Mansion, they will find that the streets throughout the city have significantly fewer people, with few strolling or dining out.
Even some mansions and estates have become deserted.
Most of the people who left were wealthy individuals. During the first couple of months of the war, they had already packed their valuables and moved their families to the safer rear areas.
Those still living in the surrounding counties of Qiu Dragon Mansion are either poor people, with only their small plots of land, facing death whether they leave their homes or not.
Or they are businessmen with a risk-taking spirit, hoping to earn more silver coins by relying on the giant pillar of the Dan Yuan Association in Qiu Dragon Mansion. Since Chen, the General Chairman, integrated the Thirty-Six Martial Association of Qiu Dragon, forming the Dan Yuan Association, although the population of Qiu Dragon Mansion decreases day by day, the overall income of the prefecture city has unprecedentedly skyrocketed.
"The frontline is not doing well, and they're requiring us here in Qiu Dragon Mansion to increase the supply of ten million more healing pills and blood qi pills…"
Li Lishan sat behind the hall of the prefecture yamen, sneering as he listened to the document reported by the sub-prefect's counselor, "The war has not gone well, it's been a year, except for Xiang Kunlun recapturing a city, when has it ever been favorable? Moreover, the city was soon retaken, and now the war has been going on for nearly a year, the Daji has lost over three hundred large and small state mansions and county cities, with two-thirds of Dragon Abyss about to collapse, and the frontline only urges military supplies… How about bringing back a victory!"
Now, it is no longer like the early days of the war when the Dan Yuan Association and Qiu Dragon Prefecture Yamen could make a fortune relying on military orders. Now...
As the war continues to go poorly, even some military expenses have started to run tight. Last time, when Li Lishan and the Dan Yuan Association representative went to the military for contract signing, their requirements were met with promissory notes.
It should be noted that Li Lishan himself also has stakes in this Dan Yuan Association, and now that military demands keep increasing without timely payment, how could he not feel resentment?
Fortunately, this sub-prefect is also someone on the same boat, sighing, "Sir, take heart, historically when wars are fought, it's the national treasury that gets hit first. When that's drained, they resort to the officials and the people, just hope the Imperial Court hasn't reached the point of desperation to start confiscating and executing us to gather military funds."
Li Lishan gently closed his eyes and said lightly, "I wonder how Chairman Chen is doing in his studies at the Divine Martial Academy. If he graduates, would the group of young officers trained with the nation's resources be able to bring any turnaround in the war between the two countries?"
"Should I have someone visit Yan Capital to check it out? I've heard that Chairman Chen has already made quite a name for himself in Dragon Abyss." The sub-prefect said.
Li Lishan stroked his beard and nodded, "I've also heard that this young man from Baojiao County has already become a Ninth Realm Martial Practitioner, and even the Governor has personally recommended him. We should indeed visit and pay respects, lest he forgets us, his hometown elders, when he succeeds."
Although Li Lishan is always pessimistic about the odds of the Ji Dynasty winning this Epoch War, believing it's most likely going to end in territorial concessions and indemnities, Chen Ku's outstanding performance is undeniable. Even if Daji loses, such a promising young genius would undoubtedly be a key focus and hope for Daji's future development.
He's already a Ninth Realm Martial Practitioner, ranking in the teens on the Dragon Abyss Genius List, and will undoubtedly become a figure akin to a Sealing Territory Governor in the future.
"Then I will prepare thoroughly. I have heard that the General Chairman Chen has a penchant for rare casting materials…" The sub-prefect smiled.
Just as he finished saying this, a celestial phenomenon suddenly appeared over Qiu Dragon Mansion.
An earth-shattering thunderbolt sounded out of nowhere.
Immediately, surrounding the skies above Qiu Dragon Mansion, a vortex of air formed, with clouds gathering, pressing down on the entire city.
"What? What's this?"
Li Lishan and the sub-prefect's counselor's faces changed drastically as they simultaneously stood up and headed to the courtyard gate, looking up:
"What's happening? A celestial anomaly?"
In the Daji Dynasty, a world where martial arts are revered, Li Lishan, as the respected prefectural lord, also possesses significant martial path cultivation, standing at the Seventh Realm Gang Level. At this moment, he can fully sense…
Between heaven and earth, a powerful qi mechanism and will are being brewed.
"What's happening?"
This anomaly is so vast that it almost enveloped half of Qiu Dragon Mansion, causing the leaders of the Thirty-Six Martial Associations in the city to change their faces, attempting to probe with their spiritual power…
As a result of their spiritual sense, they instantly witnessed, in their spiritual world, a giant from the spiritual domain seemingly appearing suddenly between heaven and earth of Qiu Dragon Mansion.
In a position somewhere in Qiu Dragon Mansion, reaching the sky and standing tall.
Divinity Transformation!
Divinity Transformation!
Divinity Transformation!
Chen Ku sat cross-legged in the small courtyard, and, after over a month of enormous mana refinement, finally, today afternoon, successfully cultivated the innate spiritual light in this incarnation into… a Primordial Spirit!
In an instant, Chen Ku's Primordial Spirit emerged from his body, resembling a mass of formless primordial qi, taking shape when gathered, dispersing into air when scattered, with form but without substance, giving him the feeling that:
"I can effortlessly mobilize all the spiritual energy within dozens of li in every direction, each action as if wielding the power of heaven itself."
This realm is considered an elder monster level even within Yuan Country.
The Tenth Realm, regardless of the system, reaching this stage represents a transformation at a substantial level.
The success of the Primordial Spirit signifies that one's innate spiritual light has begun to touch the threshold of 'Immortality.' At this moment, Chen Ku could clearly feel the majestic life force contained within this Primordial Spirit.
"Two thousand years of lifespan!"
Though Chen Ku's Primordial Spirit state lacks a heart, his emotions surged tumultuously:
"With the achievement of the Primordial Spirit, a lifespan of two thousand years."
What concept is this? It means that if Chen Ku were to abandon his physical body and live only with this external incarnation, he could have two thousand years to slowly gather any transformations under the heavens.
"If I truly spend two thousand years slowly collecting all kinds of rare birds and strange beasts, all sorts of transformations, I would truly be invincible!"
This fact, given his accomplishments from obtaining the Transformation Diagram just under two years ago, shows if time were multiplied by a hundred, what could be achieved.
"While this thought may exist, the physical body cannot be abandoned. It's well cultivated, and the Huntian Overlord Body is nearly fully formed."
Chen Ku calmly thought, if one could be invincible in twenty years, why need two thousand?
As he understood, during chaotic times, in the most tumultuous era where Qi Fortune spills over, those blessed with Qi Fortune can often establish epic achievements within mere decades. Just like Grand Ancestor Yang Yin of the past, Champion Marquis Yang Shou as well...
And along with them in this era are Hero King Pei Dongliu and the ten great Rebel Kings.
Now, chaos has returned, marking another era of heroic emergence.
Whew~~
After sensing the might of his Primordial Spirit and lifespan, Chen Ku inhaled deeply and exhaled.
Immediately, this breath scattered the celestial phenomenon spanning dozens of li above Qiu Dragon Mansion.
The sky returned to a pristine blue.
At this moment, outside the courtyard where Chen Ku's incarnation was in seclusion, various sounds began to emerge. The two elder masters who had initially led Chen Ku out from Baojiao County looked at the sky with solemn and astonished expressions. After exchanging glances, they were shocked:
"Just now, what was that..."
Squeak~
At this time, the door of the room where Chen Ku's incarnation was secluded slowly opened. Chen Ku, transformed into the appearance of Kong Xin, stepped out and saw the two elder masters. A hint of warmth flashed in his eyes as he greeted:
"Master Yang, Master Shang."
The two elders, upon seeing Chen Ku emerge, exchanged courtesies:
"Master Kong, you were also disturbed by the commotion outside. That was truly an impressive phenomenon. Given Master Kong's vast experience, could you tell us what's going on?"
Their understanding of Chen Ku's incarnation remained at knowing him as a pill master Chen Ku brought back, without knowledge of his true identity or martial cultivation level. But within a year, seeing this pill master continuously produce miraculous elixirs of seventh rank or higher, they believed he surely possessed cultivation at the Seventh Realm.
"This is related to me, a result of a breakthrough in cultivation. However, I ask you both not to publicize this matter."
Upon saying this, Chen Ku looked at the left arm of Shang Yunfang, which had been rendered useless after being pierced by the Divine Force Crossbow at the Firewood Iron Shop, rendering it incapacitated in the past. After a moment of silence, he stepped forward slightly and said:
"Before Chen Ku departed, he entrusted me with a task. Now, Master Shang's arm can finally be healed."
The two elders were momentarily stunned by Chen Ku's initial words.
They couldn't help but look up at the sky; such a significant phenomenon was due to a breakthrough? Could it be, this pill master... has reached the Tenth Realm level?
Without regaining their composure.
Chen Ku stepped forward, grasping Shang Yunfang's atrophied left arm, and softly stated:
"Master Shang, I'm going to use a secret technique to help you restore your arm. It will be a bit painful, please bear with it."
Shang Yunfang was slightly dazed and instinctively nodded without bothering to ask further: "If it can truly be healed, a little pain is nothing."
Chen Ku nodded.
Then, using his own cultivation, he began to perform the 'Life Rebirth Forbidden' from the four major teachings within the Destruction Hall. This teaching, alongside the 'Nine-Nine Forbidden Patterns,' 'Four No Forbidden Array,' and 'Qi Prohibition Gold Wound,' forms the four great inheritances of the Destruction Hall, primarily aiming to transform life forces with each other.
At once, Chen Ku employed methods to destroy all the atrophied muscles in Shang Yunfang's arm, then inscribed 'Life Rebirth Forbidden' upon it, finally injecting his Primordial Spirit's vast spiritual power into it.
Humph!
Due to Chen Ku's quick action, Shang Yunfang only briefly felt pain and immediately looked towards his left arm, only to see the flesh and blood under the skin rapidly regenerating and swelling. Within four to five breaths, it had transformed into a strongly-built arm.
Shang Yunfang exclaimed: "Is it healed already?"