Starting with the titmouse, seventy-two transformations

Chapter 243 True Form Completed, Subduing Delusion
The sky was spinning, the earth was turning, and the light and shadow in my vision were all blurred.

He felt as if he had returned from the void, floating on air like an immortal.

"Gurgling~"

The gentle sound of flowing spring water could be heard, sometimes near, sometimes far, carrying the crisp, clear air of melting ice in spring, full of vitality.

That was the sound of blood flowing through the body, passing through every blood vessel, and finally converging into the heart with a powerful "thump-thump".

Between their mouths and noses, a mixture of fragrance and stench, it was hard to describe in words.

But the refreshing sensation emanating from his limbs and internal organs, and the surging power coursing through every muscle, made him almost believe he was dreaming, leaving him utterly shocked.

"It's done?!"

He came to his senses and looked down to see a layer of black mud covering his entire body, mixed with grease, blood, bone fragments and other filth, which smelled foul and made him want to vomit.

"broken!"

He let out a soft shout, and his muscles and bones rubbed together, producing a sound like metal clashing. The "black shell" on his body shattered instantly and scattered all over the ground.

It revealed a body of snow-white, muscular muscles underneath!
It is as if it is carved from the finest mutton fat jade, every inch of it is moist and shiny, without any pores, and exudes a soft jade light.

In the pitch-black cave, the light illuminated a radius of three feet around the body.

He instinctively clenched his fist, and a series of crackling sounds came from between his fingers. A cloud of white mist burst out of his palm, easily crushing the air.

strength!

A power far greater than before!

The power emanating from the skin, muscles, tendons, bones, internal organs, and blood marrow is like countless rivers flowing into the sea, ultimately converging into one.

Gathering and parting are determined by the mind; they occur as soon as a thought arises.

"It is slightly inferior to the one with the 'divine power' talent."

He gestured briefly, making a rough estimate.

Previously, the two incarnations of Elephant and Tiger died at the hands of the mysterious swordsman, and the corresponding talent enhancements became invalid.

He currently only possesses the talent of "Great Strength," but it is only slightly weaker than when he had the talent of "Divine Strength."

If the white elephant avatar is resurrected, its power will increase by at least 100%.

Strength was merely the aspect he could most easily perceive.

"Speed, agility, reaction, resistance to blows, self-healing, perception, and other aspects have all increased significantly, which can be described as a complete transformation."

He stood up, and with a thought, a large halo of light surged around him, black and white, shaped like a millstone, covering an area of ​​three zhang in diameter, and making a buzzing sound.

In an instant, the weeds, vines, wildflowers, rocks, and other vegetation within a three-zhang radius turned to dust, as if they had never existed.

True energy, once it leaves the body, generally stays below three feet.

Even when Dugu Ba was at the peak of his true form, his true energy only covered a six-foot radius around his body, yet he was still hailed as a celestial being and called the number one in Jinzhou.

The range of Liu Sheng's true energy leaving his body is now five times that of his back then!
"This is not my limit yet. After all, I have only just... achieved true form and developed delusions from blood."

He grinned, and his eyes suddenly turned fierce.

The blood that was originally flowing like a clear spring within his body became restless and boiling, generating swirling mists that eventually transformed into five or six delusional thoughts that settled in his mind.

"I'm terrifyingly strong... I need to settle accounts with Xie Bao. That mountain-driving whip is mine!"

"Hiss~ The immortal destiny within the Heavenly Palace is the key to my transformation from a snake to a dragon. All those who covet this destiny deserve to die! Kill, kill, kill!"

"I was born an eagle, destined to soar through the heavens, I will fly, fly, fly!"

"I, Liu Sheng, am the reincarnation of a vicious tiger. I was born to become a king and ancestor, to unify the world, to rule the four seas, and to dominate the universe!"

……

For a moment, his mind was filled with chaotic thoughts, as if several demons were whispering and bewitching him in his ear, his features were distorted, and his expression changed again and again.

It was as if he had split into different personalities, and gradually became insane.

The body's originally harmonious and unified flesh, bones, and internal organs have scattered and become disordered, each acting independently.

On his body, snake scales would sprout one moment, eagle feathers the next, and tiger stripes the following moment; the character "王" (king) appeared on his forehead. It was as if several demons had entered his body, vying for control.

"cut!"

Just then, a flash of light swept across my mind, extinguishing all my delusions.

In an instant, my mind and spirit calmed down, and I felt peaceful and serene.

The scattered flesh, bones, and internal organs instantly became harmonious and orderly again, and all abnormalities disappeared.

But the next moment, a mist rose from the surging blood, transforming into subtle delusions.

This time, however, they did not act rashly. Instead, they lay dormant, hiding in the internal organs, making them difficult to find.

"Born to perish, perish to be born again, it can erupt at any moment, making it a deadly hidden danger. No wonder most martial artists who have achieved the Great Perfection of True Form go into seclusion until they completely subdue their delusions and advance to the Perfection..."

Liu Sheng's eyes regained their clarity, and he seemed lost in thought.

During this stage, delusions arise and cease endlessly. Unless one completely subdues one's true blood and eradicates the demonic delusions within it, it's like carrying a bomb that could explode at any moment.

"There are various schools of thought on how to subdue delusions, which can be broadly divided into two categories: worldly and otherworldly."

Just then, Du Bingyan heard the noise and came over.

Her figure was graceful, and wherever she went, the sound of swords rang out. The vines, grass, trees, and rocks that blocked her way shattered, forming a passage.

In this life, she washed away the filth from her body, changed into a fitted outfit, and became ethereal and otherworldly.

She resembles a female sword immortal who stepped out of a painting.

"Appreciate further details."

Liu Sheng's eyes lit up, and he humbly asked for advice.

He collected a lot of cultivation techniques along the way, each containing its own secrets, but they were all just one person's opinion, too fragmented and not systematic.

It just so happens that Du Bingyan comes from a prominent family and is a member of the orthodox Buddhist sect, so it would be a good opportunity to ask her to sort things out and fill in any gaps in her knowledge.

"When the true form is fully formed, delusions arise from the blood, and these delusions originate from the true blood."

True blood originates from the demons that your martial arts imitate.

In other words, the demon you imitate in your martial arts practice is the source of the demon's imprint in your true blood.

Subduing delusions means erasing the demonic imprint in your true blood and replacing it with your own thoughts.

This is the most crucial step in the human martial arts path; success means refining demons and entering the Dao, failure means falling into demonic possession. It's either great success or utter defeat.

Du Bingyan's eyes were bright. Seeing that Liu Sheng was listening intently, she continued:
"I won't go into the details of the 'Strengthening the Delusion Technique.' Every martial art that can be mastered to this level has a corresponding 'Strengthening the Delusion Technique,' the purpose of which is to increase the concentration of true blood and prepare for building a foundation for the Dao."

The same applies to methods of subduing falsehoods, which can be divided into two categories: transcendental and worldly.

The path of transcending the world is to shut oneself in seclusion, retreat to the mountains and fields, detach oneself from worldly affairs, and wholeheartedly hone one's desires.

The way of entering the world is to travel the world, go in and out of the court and the marketplace, and use the six desires of the mortal world to temper the delusions in one's blood.

These two types of methods for subduing delusions are not of different quality; it only depends on whether they resonate with your mind and nature.

Whether one engages in worldly or otherworldly pursuits, as long as it does not go against one's true nature, it is a good Dharma practice.

It turned out to be the case.

Liu Sheng nodded, having gained a lot.

Previously, he had read the methods for subduing falsehoods described in secret manuals such as the "Black Tiger Zen Scripture," the "Yin Yang Millstone Scripture," and the "Green Snake Sword Manual," each with its own requirements.

Some want to find a temple to meditate and cultivate themselves, some want to live in seclusion in the deep mountains and forests to experience enlightenment, and some want to open a tofu shop on the street. Everyone is different.

Now, after listening to Du Bingyan's explanation, I understand the key points.

The problem is that he has mastered several martial arts techniques to their fullest extent.

Should one choose between worldly involvement and detachment from worldly affairs?

(End of this chapter)