Chapter 295: Chapter 223: True Dragon Devours Precious Sha, Level 12 Qi Cultivation (Part 2)

"Jade remains flawed without a thousand temperings; the Dao finds no home without ten thousand tribulations. I understand this principle."

Jiang Yi clasped his hands and said with a solemn expression,

"My path of Cultivation must be perfected by my own hand. I have no need to borrow the strength of others."

Hearing this, True Monarch Lu took out an exquisite Jade Scroll.

"These are the compiled experiences of past Daoists who ventured into the Juku Continent. You should take a look.

As for True Monarch Xu’s wish to become your sponsoring master, I will discuss it with the Sect Leader before making a decision."

Jiang Yi nodded in acknowledgment and took his leave.

Outside Kan Water Palace, Qu Liu’er’s elegant figure stood alone before the steps, as if she had been waiting for some time.

When she saw him emerge, she approached and said,

"Daoist, when you have time in the future, please visit Kan Peak more often. The True Monarch has instructed that from now on, I am to teach you our water-elemental alchemy."

Jiang Yi smiled.

"Then I shall have to trouble you, Senior Sister."

Kan Peak’s water-elemental alchemy was unique, and the Treasure Pills it produced were no less refined than those from Li Peak.

Jiang Yi had never been averse to learning new skills and was keen to study and understand the arts of alchemy, artifact refinement, and even formation spells.

"I heard the Daoist is heading to the Juku Continent. The senior brothers from the other grotto-heavens and I also wish to make the trip, but opportunities are rare. We may not be able to contend for a Talisman Decree to enter."

Qu Liu’er sighed softly. A grotto-heaven like the Juku Continent was brimming with Opportunities.

However, it was jointly controlled by the Eight Sects. Even True Inheritance Disciples had to compete for a Talisman Decree to be granted entry.

Jiang Yi smiled.

"I wonder if this Daoist has any slots for a retinue. If so, I’ll save one for you, Senior Sister."

Qu Liu’er smiled at his words and shook her head gently.

"The Demon Dao prizes contention; it is best to rely on oneself for all things. If I were to owe you such a favor, Daoist, I don’t know how I could ever repay it.

Foundation Establishment Cultivators fear this kind of karma the most. We are not like True Monarchs, who are transcendent, having surpassed the three realms and the Five Elements."

Jiang Yi was secretly surprised. This Senior Sister Qu possessed such high aspirations. She was truly worthy of being a True Inheritance Dao Material from an Ancestral Sect.

The two chatted as they walked, making their way down Kan Peak’s main summit.

Jiang Yi settled back into the massive carriage. Two Chi-descendants spread their claws and rode the clouds, soaring on the wind and spraying mist as they carried the carriage at high speed toward the Changming Celestial Pool.

...

...

In the utter absorption of Cultivation, one loses track of the flowing years.

Jiang Yi was situated in a Treasure Pool of Spiritual Liquid in the southeastern corner of the Changming Celestial Pool.

This place had been covered in dust for a long time; it was True Master Xuanmiao who had cleaned it up with the formation spirit, Chang Jing.

Within his Inner Mansion, the supreme-grade True Qi, formed from the amalgamation of the Six Harmonies Great Medicine, rolled like a tide. In an instant, it condensed into a single point of pure Essence, which was inhaled and exhaled.

It passed through the orifices of his mouth and nose, repeatedly cleansing this Cultivation Furnace from the inside out.

As his Qi Mechanism diffused, it formed a thick pillar of smoke that spiraled straight up. The surrounding area, for several miles, began to boil like a cauldron, forming a massive vortex.

Immediately after, a terrifying, thunderous RUMBLE swept in all directions, making one suspect that an Innate deity was hidden beneath the earth, about to break its bonds and burst forth.

Shao Guansu, who had been led into the Changming Celestial Pool by the formation spirit, couldn’t help but sigh in admiration at the sight.

’Supreme-grade True Qi can forge a Supreme Dao Foundation. I can’t imagine how invincible this Daoist will be after he succeeds and achieves the Flying Foundation Establishment Realm.’

Every Daoist from the Ancestral Sect in history had suppressed their peers and displayed their magnificent prowess.

It had to be said that this Daoist, chosen by the Ancestor from the countryside, was now showing a momentum that proved Ancestor Mingxuan’s judgment was flawless.

’Could it be... that the Innate Daoist of this generation, the Crown Prince of Changming, will truly be taken by someone with an outside surname?’

Shao Guansu stood upon the clouds, watching quietly with inexplicably complex emotions.

A moment later, the vast aura suddenly coiled back, pressing down on the surrounding vegetation and forcing it to bend low.

"Is he about to break through to the Qi Cultivation Twelfth Layer?"

Shao Guansu was not surprised. With supreme-grade True Qi supporting his Inner Mansion, it probably wouldn’t take long for this Daoist to enter the Foundation Establishment Realm directly if he so wished.

’I wonder what kind of Sha the Daoist is absorbing...’

As he pondered, a colossal tremor shook the heavens.

The Spiritual Aura of "Yin and Yang Equilibrium" that the Changming Celestial Pool maintained year-round was actually disturbed for a moment.

Dark clouds pressed down from above, and a high-pitched dragon’s roar exploded, shaking several ancient mountain peaks until they trembled as if they were about to be flung away!

"It’s actually True Dragon Sha!"

Shao Guansu’s face filled with astonishment after just a single glance.

For the eleventh and Twelfth Layers of Qi Cultivation, one needed to gather and condense Gang Sha to consolidate the Primordial Inner Mansion and strengthen the Cultivation Furnace, preparing for the final ascent.

Both the Six Harmonies Great Medicine and the Gang Sha energies were meant to thicken one’s Dao Foundation.

The goal was to lift oneself to a higher place, adding another measure of certainty to achieving Foundation Establishment.

The True Dragon Sha that the Daoist Jiang was absorbing was one of the most superior types of Killing Power.

Only those with vast Magical Power and a profound destiny could control it.

A hundred-zhang cyan dragon suddenly rose into the sky, voraciously devouring the massive amount of Spiritual Energy from the Changming Celestial Pool.

Its horn, scales, claws, and whiskers... all these details were vivid and lifelike, and they were growing more and more solid.

This scene continued for several days. The hundred-zhang cyan dragon seemed to gradually grow flesh and blood. As it brandished its fangs and claws, its draconic might poured down like a celestial waterfall, terrifying the Chi-descendants raised in the Water Vein so much that they shrank back, not daring to move.

"The Daoist’s Merit has advanced again, stepping into the Qi Cultivation Twelfth Layer. This must be in preparation to seek an Opportunity for Foundation Establishment in the Juku Continent."

Shao Guansu was speculating to himself when he suddenly heard a clear whistle, accompanied by a resonant chant:

"When one point opens, all points open, like wind through the trees or the moon across the sky;

With a flick of a finger in the lotus-thread aperture, I push forth the First Peak of Sumeru!"

As the chant fell, Jiang Yi, dressed in a water-aspected Daoist Robe, transformed into a rainbow streak of light and traversed the open sky.

The hundred-zhang cyan dragon slowly retracted, transforming into a mass of heroic Killing Power capable of swallowing seas and mountains. It surged into the crown of his head and sank heavily toward his Inner Mansion.

The Cultivation Furnace boomed, and his entire body took on a golden, jade-like luster. The toughness of his physical body increased several times over!

"With a flick of a finger in the lotus-thread aperture, I push forth the First Peak of Sumeru!"

Jiang Yi softly recited it again. He activated his Divine Sense and circulated his Magical Power, and a force of True Dragon Killing Power, enough to crush a thousand peaks and ten thousand ravines, suddenly erupted.

With a flick of his wide sleeve, the Killing Power surged, vast and tumultuous, nearly dyeing the entire Qingming the color of ink.

Compared to Magical Profound Light, this Killing Power was exceptionally potent. Even the Essence of copper and iron born from the earth’s veins would be turned to dust with the slightest touch.

’Using Killing Power to activate a Daoist Skill could increase its might by several dozen times. Especially the Bingding Crimson Divine Light. Below a Foundation Establishment True Master, no one would be able to withstand it.’

Jiang Yi was quite satisfied.

He had obtained this True Dragon Killing Power from Subduing Dragon Ravine, practically emptying the entire Dragon Head Mountain.

If not for his title as the Daoist, the Nujiao Mansion Master, a cultivator at the Great Perfection of the Qi Cultivation Twelfth Layer, would have long since wanted to tear him to shreds.

After testing the True Dragon Killing Power, Jiang Yi did not continue his Cultivation. He turned his gaze toward Shao Guansu.

The latter hastily performed a deep bow in greeting.

"Shao Guansu of Fuyin Prefecture, Luofeng Mountain, greets the Daoist!"

A faint smile played on Jiang Yi’s lips as he asked coolly,

"True Master Shao, for what matter have you come all the way to my Changming Celestial Pool?"

Shao Guansu rode the wind to get closer, his attitude growing even more deferential.

"When the Daoist was first brought back to the sect, this subordinate was ignorant and presumptuous, and I slighted you. I have come today specifically to atone for my offense."

Jiang Yi chuckled, his tone indifferent, as if he hadn’t taken it to heart.

"It was a trivial matter, not worth mentioning. You overstate things, True Master Shao."

After speaking, without waiting for Shao Guansu to explain further, he descended from the clouds and flew back to the main hall.

"This is bad!"

Shao Guansu’s heart sank.

He knew perfectly well that the Daoist could be lenient with He Shouzhen of the Cloud Reception Hall because He Shouzhen had no backer and wasn’t worth making a big fuss over.

But he himself was a Disciple of Zhen Peak and from the Direct Lineage of the Eight Monarchs’ descendants. His situation was completely different.

The Daoist’s casual dismissal was, on the contrary, even more unsettling.

"One wrong step, and every step after is wrong."

Shao Guansu sighed helplessly and could only follow closely behind Jiang Yi.

Within the Innate Sect, no one had expected this Daoist to advance so rapidly. In less than half a year, he had gathered the Six Harmonies Great Medicine, condensed supreme-grade True Qi, slain Luo Qingya of the Foundation Establishment Fifth Layer, and even received the highest evaluation in the test at the Yuanchu Palace.

All this made Shao Guansu’s initial probing attempts look like an embarrassing and self-defeating failure.

Coupled with the ambiguous attitude of Zhen Peak’s True Inheritance Disciple, Yuan Xiao, toward the Daoist, he was forced to personally come and offer a humble apology.

"True Master Shao."

As Shao Guansu reached the entrance of the main hall, he was stopped by someone.

"The Daoist has just broken through to the Qi Cultivation Twelfth Layer and needs to consolidate his Realm. Please wait outside the hall to be summoned."

Shao Guansu looked closely and saw that it was an "old acquaintance," He Shouzhen.