Walking alone with a sword, slaying ghosts and gods

Chapter 510 The Mysterious Light of the Treasure Vault Illuminates the Path of Cultivation, The Spirit Ship Soars Across the Starry Sky (Seeking Rewards and Subscriptions!)

Inside the towering Chengtian Hall, clear light shines down from the Observation Mirror hanging from the dome, enveloping the Xuanyu Altar in a pure and immaculate Taoist atmosphere.

The fierce battle on the altar had subsided, leaving only the lingering Daoist principles from the intense contest slowly dissipating, silently recounting the scene that had just unfolded.

Finally, standing before Daoist Xuanjizi were three figures, each with a different aura but also their own unique temperament:
Lu Cheng, Jin Shayu, An Xiaoyue.

They won three seats and will represent the Taiqing Sect in the Immortal Pool Sword Battle, becoming members of the sect.

Xuanjizi, dressed in an ancient Taoist robe, slowly swept his gaze over the three people in front of him and said in a deep voice:
"The three of you possess unwavering Daoist resolve and remarkable magical power, making you the elite Nascent Soul cultivators of our Taiqing sect. Through the competition on the Dharma Platform, the victor will assume the position, bearing the weight of the sect, and will serve as a representative of Taiqing, representing our sect in the 'Immortal Pool Sword Battle.' This is no ordinary matter; success will bring glory to our sect and benefit future generations; even in defeat, you must strive to improve your conduct and not tarnish our sect's eternal reputation."

Then, with a flick of his sleeve, three ancient tokens, each engraved with the Taiqing Yin-Yang Fish Talisman and with mysterious runes engraved on the edges, flew toward the three people in Lu City.

The token felt slightly heavy in my hand; it was made of neither gold nor jade, and it exuded a pure and righteous aura.

"With this 'Taiqing Jade Token,' you can enter the first seven levels of the sect's treasure vault and choose two treasures to assist you: pills, artifacts, talismans, or scriptures are all acceptable."

Ten days later, gather in front of the Qihang Hall on Tian Shu Peak, and embark on the 'Shattered Star Ship' to the Human Race's Immortal Pool Holy Land!

As soon as he finished speaking, the heavy doors of Chengtian Hall burst open with a roar, letting in the sunlight.

Outside the hall, several elders with long, drawn-out breaths were already waiting with their hands at their sides, clearly the cultivators responsible for guiding the way to the sect's treasure vault.

After a short while, the moment Lu Cheng and his companions stepped into the core area of ​​the sect's treasure vault, it was as if they had traversed an invisible barrier.

All external perception was cut off, with only the vast, ancient, and profound fluctuations of primordial energy permeating the air as if they were tangible.

This is not a palace in the ordinary sense, but more like a strange cave and secret realm opened up in the cracks of the void.

The dome is a deep star map that slowly rotates, with billions of stars flickering and releasing primordial stellar power that is sometimes cool, sometimes scorching, sometimes heavy, and sometimes sharp.

Beneath their feet were mysterious array patterns that shimmered with a warm, precious light, resembling the veins of the earth, gathering, organizing, and suppressing the aura of countless treasures.

As far as the eye could see, countless precious lights floated and ebbed in the void before the three of them:

A flying sword hovered in the air, its cry like the roar of a dragon and the cry of a phoenix, its sword energy tearing through the void.

There is a pagoda floating, nine stories high and eight corners, each story revealing different world illusions, suppressing all evil.
An ancient cauldron lies quietly, its body engraved with ancient gods and demons, with wisps of chaotic energy flowing around it.
Some scrolls floated on the surface, some were golden books and jade scrolls, others were bone fragments and animal hides, all exuding a Daoist essence that made one's primordial spirit tremble.
Furthermore, there are rare and exotic minerals of various shapes and sizes, shining with a brilliance beyond mortal comprehension, each containing astonishing power or profound mysteries...

The rich, viscous essence of heaven and earth condensed into a liquid-like luster that flowed through the space. Every breath felt like swallowing a elixir, bringing complete comfort.

The treasure trove of the Taiqing Sect, one of the nine sects of the human race, is no ordinary treasure, accumulated over hundreds of thousands of years.

The elder leading the way stood solemnly to one side, his voice low and hoarse:

"My fellow disciples, taking treasures from the treasury requires acting according to one's ability. The method has a true name, and the Dao follows its master; it cannot be forced. Choose one, and the treasure's light will be determined by you." After saying this, the Daoist transformed into a shadowy figure and retreated to the edge, his body seemingly merging with the void of this treasury.

Jin Shayu's crimson-gold eyes ignited instantly, burning like fire. He cultivated the Great Dao of Fire, his techniques possessing a primordial spirit, pursuing the ultimate incineration and explosion. Without the slightest hesitation, he shifted his feet, his figure streaking towards the depths of the treasury like a meteor.

Half an hour later, a dazzling red glow erupted from the southeast, accompanied by a grand and satisfied low roar.

When Jin Shayu appeared, he had a fist-sized cauldron in his hand, which was entirely crimson and had countless golden fire runes running across its surface, as well as a red token shaped like a burning feather that emitted a scorching aura.

"Hahahaha, the 'Dust Burning Cauldron'! And this 'Fire Feather Token'! They are all treasures!" Jin Shayu's eyes were full of excitement. This cauldron could help him condense pure Yang true fire, amplify his fire magic, and might even be vaguely related to a fire-elemental cave.

That token was a protective treasure, something he had heard his elders mention before; it was undoubtedly a superior item.

In contrast, An Xiaoyue was much more composed. There were still faint array patterns around her, like a walking humanoid array, with a deep and solid aura.

Her gaze slowly swept across the precious light in the void, finally landing on a warm and smooth blue stone seal that seemed to have the rhythm of mountains and rivers flowing inside, and a medicine furnace of unknown material, neither gold nor jade, with an ancient shape.

“Chengshan Seal…Guiyuan Alchemy Furnace…” An Xiaoyue murmured, a glint of light flashing in her eyes.

The Chengshan Seal is incredibly heavy and perfectly matches her physical and spiritual abilities, which she has refined into arrays. It can replenish the earth element source and strengthen her defense and power.

The Guiyuan Alchemy Furnace, containing the vitality of creation, greatly benefits her cultivation of the "Mysterious Alchemy Refining Secret Manual," refining her flesh and blood essence. Therefore, with a slight wave of her slender hand, the two treasures faded and fell into her hands.

The spiritual treasures and magical artifacts deep within the Taiqing Sect's treasury are all top-quality items, so choosing the one most suitable for oneself is sufficient. With the Immortal Pool Sword Battle about to begin, both Jin Shayu and An Xiaoyue have chosen powerful magical artifacts that can quickly enhance their combat strength, hoping to compete for a higher ranking for their sect.

After Jin Shayu and An Xiaoyue made their choices, only Lu Cheng Daoren among the three had not yet made a choice. In the face of countless awe-inspiring and powerful treasure lights, he walked steadily and unhurriedly.

His Five Elements Flying Sword had just reached the seventh rank of superior grade, containing pure Yang attributes. Furthermore, he possessed the unparalleled body-refining method of the Mysterious Heaven Divine Art. Ordinary offensive magic weapons and artifacts could no longer provide him with significant benefits.

Moreover, he has Huangyun Mansion as his base and controls the trade revenue between the two worlds, so ordinary magic treasures are not worth his attention. Lu Cheng's goal this time is very clear - to strengthen his foundation, deepen his cultivation, and choose an opportunity that can help him comprehend a higher realm.

With piercing eyes, he penetrated the dazzling radiance of the rosy clouds, and with his divine sense as precise as the coldest lightning, he carefully captured the source containing profound Daoist principles and Dharma meanings.

Classic texts, jade slips, and fragments of Daoist scriptures flowed through Lu Cheng's senses.

As time went by, a seemingly ordinary black bone fragment in the void finally caught Lu Cheng's attention.

The bone fragment was dark in color, without any radiance, but upon closer inspection, it seemed as if billions of lightning bolts were forcibly compressed and imprisoned within. A faint purplish-black electric pattern flashed across its surface, containing an aura of destruction and cruelty that even Lu Cheng's primordial spirit felt painful, and also a kind of... primordial demonic nature!
"Hmm? This thing is quite interesting." Lu Cheng's heart stirred. It was a stroke of luck to find such a thing in the Taoist treasure trove. This was precisely the kind of demonic thunder technique that he could learn from, analyze, and even integrate in his deductions.

It was hidden very well, like an inanimate object. If Lu Cheng had not been deeply versed in the art of thunder magic and possessed the foundation of the Purple Gang Profound Fiend Thunder Light Sword Technique, he would have had almost no chance of sensing or detecting it.

Lu Cheng reached out and grabbed at the air, and the bone fragment fell silently into his palm. The moment it touched his hand, a domineering and destructive lightning intent tried to invade along the meridians of his arm, but it was easily annihilated and suppressed by the Five Elements Sword Qi and Xuan Tian Magic Power in Lu Cheng's body, which had already reached the seventh rank.

"This is a demonic thunder technique manual, likely obtained by a senior cultivator. It's quite interesting; it's called 'The Secret Chapter of Nine Heavens Purple Prison Annihilation Demonic Thunder.'" The moment the bone fragment entered his hand, he channeled his divine sense into it, and a cold and fierce aura was imprinted into his sea of ​​consciousness.

Having chosen one of the two treasures, Lu Cheng continued walking deeper into the treasure vault, watching the light orbs flying in the sky. Several more hours passed, and he finally caught a faint but pure wisp of Daoist charm containing the primordial energy of Yin and Yang and the cycle of birth and death.

It was also an ancient scroll, made of plain silk woven from the remains of some extinct celestial silkworm. Its color had faded, but a faint, almost imperceptible, ethereal Tai Chi symbol, slowly rotating in the center, emanated a subtle, pure aura.

Lu Cheng sensed something and reached out. The silk seemed to sense the flow of Yin and Yang and the Five Elements within his body, and the faint tendency of the Qi to return to the Primordial Chaos. It took the initiative to meet him, transforming into a clear stream that entered his brow. In his sea of ​​consciousness, his true name appeared: "The Record of the Origin and Evolution of Yin and Yang Qi".

This is not as good as the aforementioned book on demonic thunder magic, which is a pure classic of Yin-Yang Daoist theory.

In the Immortal Realm, the Taiqing Sect is renowned for its profound Daoist theories concerning the human race. The sect's own Daoist system is already vast and complex; if Lu Cheng were willing to dedicate the time, he could spend ten thousand years perusing and comprehending the Yin-Yang Daoist system within the sect's library. These bone fragments and silk scrolls are treasures in themselves, bearing remnants of the writer's or even the creator's own spiritual intent, making them different from ordinary Daoist texts. At this moment, all three had chosen their treasures, and the light emanating from the surrounding void slowly diffused and receded, revealing the figure of the guiding elder once more.

The ten-day period passed in the blink of an eye.

Before the Qihang Hall at Tian Shu Peak, a fierce wind howled and a sea of ​​clouds surged.

A massive, breathtaking spirit ship hovered silently, its entire body displaying a deep, dark silver hue reminiscent of the starry sky. Its streamlined hull was covered with layers upon layers of defensive runes that shimmered with a ghostly blue light.

The bow of the ship is like a sharp blade, engraved with an extremely complex and profound Taiqing Immortal Seal, exuding the majesty of suppressing a region and destroying all laws. It is a seventh-grade high-quality spirit ship - "Shattered Star"!
At this moment, the ship's doors opened, revealing a jade staircase. Lu Cheng and his two companions, accompanied by several solemn elders, slowly boarded the ship.

Behind them were dozens of elite Taiqing disciples with considerable auras, each carrying a mission, who were there to protect them as well as to broaden their horizons and hone their cultivation.

The moment everyone stepped inside the ship, the scene before them changed abruptly.

The howling winds outside were instantly shut out, and the interior space was more expansive than anyone could have imagined, resembling a small, mobile Taoist palace.

The corridor was wide, the deck was covered with spirit crystals, and soft starlight shone down from the dome.

The air was filled with extremely pure and rich spiritual energy, as if one were in a top-tier blessed land.

Jin Shayu and An Xiaoyue exchanged a glance, and then, guided by the disciple, headed towards the high-class meditation room inside the ship, which was specially prepared for Taiqing travelers.

Lu Cheng was led into a quiet room with simple and elegant furnishings, where the energy seemed to be concentrated like liquid. The room was simply furnished with only a futon, an incense table, and a jade screen.

However, Lu Cheng did not immediately sit down to meditate. He had barely stepped into the meditation room when he received a divine message from the ship's master, seemingly an elder of the sect:

"The journey will take about three months, crossing endless star seas and continental barriers. Although the Shattered Star Ship is powerful, its full power when the main restriction is activated is enough to make even a Void Returning Great Power avoid its edge. However, the journey is long, and there are also void vortexes, illusions and dangerous places. There is no need to panic if we do not encounter a great enemy. The three of you can prepare for battle with peace of mind."

"Disciple receives the decree." The message dissipated.

Next, Lu Cheng sat cross-legged on the futon. Unlike Jin Shayu and An Xiaoyue, he did not immediately refine the newly acquired magic weapon. Instead, he took out the two Taoist books from his Qiankun Ring: "The Secret Chapter of Nine Heavens Demon Thunder" and "The Record of Yin and Yang Two Qi".

A while ago, there was a sword duel at the Dharma Platform.

Lu Cheng charged head-on, using brute force to break through force, and forcefully used his magical swordsmanship to shatter Ma Yourong's puppet Dao soldier formation. Although he eventually raised his divine will and magical power to the peak and unleashed the Five Thunders Unified Sword Technique, he still suffered considerable internal injuries from the backlash of the demonic lightning.

Fortunately, he cultivated the Five Elements Thunder, and through continuous guidance and refinement over the past ten days, his internal injuries have stabilized. It will not be difficult for him to recover to 80% of his original state in three months.

In fact, if Lu Cheng wanted to achieve a good ranking in the Immortal Pool Sword Battle, he only needed to summon the Xuanhuang Pagoda and place it on his head. Ninety-nine percent of the Nascent Soul cultivators in the Earth Immortal Realm would be unable to break through its defenses.

The Xuanhuang Pagoda was originally just a seventh-grade high-quality defensive magic treasure that could absorb divine power to a certain extent. After the Great Calamity of the Demon God in Lu Cheng's hands, it merged with the Heavenly Dao of the Tongxuan Realm. Although it was a seventh-grade magic treasure, it gradually acquired the defensive power of a Void Returning Magic Treasure.

In the mortal realm, placing this tower atop one's body ensures that it is impervious to all things and all laws, thus establishing invincibility. It is the number one defensive treasure in the world, especially in the Tongxuan world.

In the realm of earthly immortals, there are many methods to break through.

However, when participating in the Immortal Pool Sword Fight, one cannot use magic weapons or talismans that exceed one's own realm. Otherwise, it would become a contest of sect foundations among various human factions, and the Void Returning Talisman would be consumed in unnecessary battles, which is naturally something the Immortal Pool Holy Land cannot tolerate.

Under such circumstances, the defense of the Xuanhuang Pagoda became even more difficult to break through. However, Lu Cheng did not intend to use it easily and initially only planned to fight with his own Five Elements Thunder Sword.

Although this treasure is powerful, the Immortal Realm is full of extraordinary skills and talents. If the same method is used too often, someone will eventually figure out a way to break it.

Although Lu Cheng himself couldn't imagine under what circumstances a Nascent Soul cultivator could defeat him under the Xuanhuang Pagoda, even though this avatar only had about 30% of the combat power of his original body.

His fingers traced the black bone fragment; it felt cold and hard, as if it could freeze one's soul. Lu Cheng slowly channeled his divine sense into it.

boom!
His mind trembled violently, and a boundless, purplish-black lightning prison suddenly appeared!
Billions of bolts of demonic lightning, as thick as mountains, tore through the sky and poured down, annihilating the void and collapsing the laws of nature wherever they passed.

The thunder contained not only destruction, but also a terrifying demonic intent that was domineering, corrosive to the mind, and enslaved all things!
Countless hideous phantoms of demons rose and fell amidst the lightning, roaring and tearing at the intruder's primordial spirit and will.

Ordinary cultivators, merely by sensing this domineering demonic lightning will, risk having their primordial spirit torn apart and corrupted. Even those who possess orthodox Daoist techniques are extremely susceptible to its demonic corruption.

However, Lu Cheng's Dao heart was as firm as a rock, and he also cultivated the Daoist Transformation and Ascension Technique, a protective profound skill. With the Five Elements Sword Intent resounding and the Xuan Tian Dharma Power protecting his true heart, he naturally remained unmoved.

"What a domineering demonic lightning technique! It is purely designed for destruction... It is completely different from the sword intent and sword momentum of my Purple Gang Profound Fiend Lightning Sword Technique!" Lu Cheng felt a chill in his heart, but instead of being surprised, he was delighted.

He discarded the interference of the roaring demonic shadows, his divine sense transformed into invisible threads, penetrating deep into the core of this demonic thunder hell, striving to capture the essential thunder patterns and operational trajectories that constitute this vast thunder hell.

Gradually, the bone fragments ceased to be inanimate. Countless extremely fine and intricate purplish-black lightning patterns began to flow like living things, appearing and disappearing in the void around Lu Cheng.

Each Raven that appeared brought a subtle sense of void tearing and a chilling magical pressure.

He was immersed in it, comprehending this path of destruction that was so different from the orthodox one. The circulation of the Five Elements Sword Qi in his body, and even the fire patterns of the Samadhi True Fire, seemed to be stimulated and began to subtly adjust and resonate.

After studying thunder magic for two days, I went back to reading Taoist books a few days later. As time went by, another book, "The Origin and Evolution of Yin and Yang Qi," quietly unfolded in my mind. This Taoist book had no domineering aura; it was like a clear mountain spring, flowing gently.

In the sea of ​​consciousness, it was no longer a pure purple-black thunder prison, but a boundless Tai Chi diagram slowly rotating.

Black and white fish chase and play, yin within yang, yang within yin, in a ceaseless cycle of birth and death.

It possesses no earth-shattering power, only the profound mystery of the simplest truths that give birth to creation.

It doesn't expound on specific killing and supernatural powers, but rather on the profound principles of Yin and Yang as one of the fundamental laws constituting heaven and earth, how they generate, restrain, depend on each other, transform, interact, and maintain balance. It's simple and natural, pursuing the essence of the Tao!
Within Lu Cheng's body, the Five Elements Cycle, driven by the Mysterious Heaven Divine Art, had already reached its perfect state.

But with a deeper understanding of the principles of Yin and Yang, the chain of the five elements' mutual generation seems to be imbued with a more fundamental driving force. Beneath the harshness of metal generating water lies the gentle nourishment of water generating wood; fire blazes fiercely, yet its origin is rooted in the ceaseless vitality of wood.

The Yin and Yang energies are like an invisible hand that lubricates all things, making the rotation of the Five Elements more harmonious and smooth. They also gave him a clearer understanding of how to build a primordial foundation based on his own Dao foundation.

Even the fierce heavenly punishment power contained in the Purple Gang Profound Fiend Thunder Light Sword Technique seemed to have faintly touched upon the opportunity for a change to yin and yang.

One demon, one mystery; one hard, one soft; one destruction, one rebirth.

Two completely different Daoist auras were now intertwined on Lu Cheng's body. At times, the runes of demonic lightning in the void flickered, revealing an aura of destruction; at other times, his aura was perfectly harmonious, as if he had merged with the Dao, flowing with a pure and natural rhythm. The ancient Daoist scroll hovered three feet in front of him, the chaotic Taiji diagram on it clearer than ever before, emitting a warm and clear light that enveloped Lu Cheng.

(End of this chapter)