Great Zhou Martial Immortal

Chapter 51 Star Calculation Scattered Gold Essence Soul Seed
Gao Jian looked up at her brocade pouch: "What's in there?"

"【Star Calculation Powder】".

Lan Xiuyi lowered her head and said softly, "Master said: When this pill enters the Purple Mansion and circulates throughout the body, one can enter the state of 'sitting in oblivion' during meditation. Time outside seems to stand still, and watching a game of chess in a single breath feels like the burning of an incense stick. Yet, the body remains still, and only the spirit roams freely through the heavens. During this time, the mind suddenly becomes clear, and one's calculation ability increases tenfold. One can see dozens or even hundreds of moves ahead in a game of chess, anticipate the opponent's moves as easily as reading the lines on one's palm, and become fully aware of the five senses. One's eyes can see the finest details like an eagle, and one's ears can hear the fighting of ants like a cicada..."

Gao Jian remained expressionless: "What price?"

Lan Xiuyi's voice was even lower, almost imperceptible: "Meditation can last at most half an hour. After half an hour, there is... there is a splitting pain in the skull, a living hell... lasting for a whole day and night..."

The pain of a split skull...

The pain of a split skull...

"Hahahahaha..."

Gao Jian instantly understood, and suddenly burst into maniacal laughter, laughing so hard he was doubled over, coughing painfully, and tears streaming down his face.

Lan Xiuyi felt increasingly distressed, tears welling up in her eyes. She quickly stepped forward to support him, saying, "Senior brother, you..."

Gao Jian laughed for a long time, wiped away his tears, looked at her and said, "You knew all along?"

Lan Xiuyi supported him, lowering her head: "I only guessed it because my master mentioned the effects and side effects of this pill before I left the mountain..."

"I guessed I might have taken this medicine a long time ago..."

Gao Jian looked at the brocade pouch and murmured, "So that's how it is, so that's how it is! This is 'extreme intelligence leads to harm,' this is my 'extraordinary talent'... For twenty years, the talent I've always been so proud of was actually a pill refined by my master... Isn't that laughable?"

Lan Xiuyi hurriedly said, "Senior brother, don't underestimate yourself. Master once said that although this pill can help people improve their talent, if the person who takes it lacks mental strength, they will either become mentally confused or die on the spot! In the past twenty years, no more than five people have been able to withstand the power of this pill. Senior brother, you are the one who has the best effect!"

Gao Jian's laughter stopped abruptly, and a look of disbelief flashed in his eyes.

Lan Xiuyi looked directly into his eyes and said, word by word, "Master asked me to ask you—that snowy night, when you had been trying to comprehend the 'Heavenly Ruins' for a long time without success, he asked you, 'In this world, some people are willing to be a hundred-year-old piece of decaying wood, while others are willing to be a fleeting shooting star.' How did you answer when you were kneeling before the Star Platform?"

Memories, like thunderclaps, cleave through the fog.

Gao Jian saw himself twenty years ago, his thin body wrapped in a blood-stained white robe, bowing deeply amidst the swirling snow:

"This disciple would rather be a raging fire that burns the heavens than a solitary lamp that burns eternally!"

I see……

He recalled the complex look in his master's eyes when he gave him the medicine that night.

It turns out that it wasn't expectation, but... pity.

Since that night, his comprehension has greatly increased, and he has mastered the "Nine Questions of Tianxu." However, he has begun to suffer from headaches, for extreme wisdom often brings harm...

I should have thought of it earlier...

Was it that they hadn't thought of it, or that they didn't want to think about it...?

Gao Jian was in a state of utter confusion.

Lan Xiuyi continued, "Master often said, 'Extreme wisdom is bound to cause harm,' which is the way of heaven. This pill has no heaven-defying properties. If you can use the pill as a boat to cross the road ahead, when you reach the fifth realm and truly understand the last level of the 'Nine Questions of Tianxu,' you can get rid of the shackles of the medicine's power and achieve true 'sitting in oblivion.'"

She took out a jade bottle from the brocade pouch. The bottle glowed with a faint blue light: "He doesn't approve of you continuing to compete, but if you insist, he won't object. This bottle of pills can help you. Whether you take it or not is up to you. Just like before."

Gao Jian looked at the pill and remained silent for a long time before asking, "Junior Sister, is Huiji... really bound to be injured?"

"..."

Lan Xiuyi had always firmly believed in this, but there were examples like Cao Chong and Gan Luo, and examples like Huineng and Lu Chenyuan, so she could only say: "The Great Dao is fifty, the Heavenly Dao is forty-nine, and man escapes one. The Heavenly Dao is inherently incomplete, and some anomalies are... inevitable..."

Gao Jian smiled.

Lan Xiuyi sincerely advised, "Senior brother, why are you so fixated on the words 'inevitable injury'? That Lu Chenyuan is arrogant, ruthless, and sharp-tongued. Sooner or later, someone will deal with him! Isn't it more important for us to focus on our own cultivation, inherit Master's mantle, and uphold justice?"

Gao Jian looked at her intently and sighed, "No wonder Master dotes on you so much."

Lan Xiuyi said dismissively, "He also dotes on his senior brother."

Gao Jian laughed and said, "Lu Chenyuan destroyed your [Star Chess Scale], what do you plan to do?"

Lan Xiuyi paused for a moment, then said in a muffled voice, "Senior brother, do you want to hear the truth or a lie?"

Gao Jian said, "Let's hear the false one first."

Lan Xiuyi said, "If it's fake, I won't stoop to his level. I advise my senior brother not to stoop to his level either."

Gao Jian smiled: "Really?"

Lan Xiuyi said, "Of course it is... well, I can't even do it myself, how can I persuade my senior brother..."

"Haha, it's different."

Gao Jian's laughter carried a hint of self-mockery as he shook his head, saying, "He destroyed your chessboard, and you were merely heartbroken over an object. But I... I lost even my own pride! In terms of character and martial arts, I must have surpassed him in at least one aspect, right? I was first angered, then crushed by his intellect, and in the end, I ended up like this..."

Lan Xiuyi suddenly understood something, her pupils contracting slightly: "Senior brother, do you really intend to..."

"good."

Gao Jian turned his head, a sickly light flashing in his eyes. "Since we can't beat him in terms of talent, then we'll defeat him in the way he's best at! I've already received news that the princess will be inspecting the Luoshui altar this afternoon. This is our opportunity... In this world, only love between men and women cannot be judged by conventional standards!"

Lan Xiuyi gasped, "But you are Yun Zhejun's chief disciple! The future leader of Zongheng Peak! Why bother..."

"Master?"

Gao Jian suddenly burst into laughter, his voice choked with sobs, "He saw through it all along, didn't he? That's why he gave you the Star Calculation Powder... He knew I'd end up like this! Do you think I wanted this? But every time I see Lu Chenyuan's face, I just..."

The sound stopped abruptly, replaced by a violent cough.

Lan Xiuyi remained silent for a long time, unable to respond.

Gao Jian took out the bottle of [Star Calculation Powder], poured out a pill, and swallowed it without hesitation.

……

Lu Chenyuan walked towards Zhengpingfang, his pace quickening.

The flagstones made an abnormal clattering sound at the soles of his boots, and each step left spiderweb-like cracks on the stone surface.

His pupils shone with an unnatural golden hue, veins bulged on his neck, and crisscrossing golden lines appeared beneath his skin.

Finally, he used his lightness skill to head straight for the Princess's residence, Xiaoxiang Pavilion.

Before she even arrived, the [Taihua Qingshuang] sword at Li Lingyue's waist suddenly emitted a clear, melodious tremor.

All the metal objects on display in the museum suddenly became restless: the gilded lion-shaped incense burner spewed out disordered wisps of smoke from its beast mouth, and the lid rattled on the table; twelve bronze chimes shook on their own without wind, emitting out-of-tune ringing sounds; the iron knife used for paperweights popped out half an inch with a clang, and the scabbard and blade vibrated at a high frequency, as if it would be drawn and fly away on its own at any moment.

"what happened?"

Yuan Qingshuang instinctively thought there was an assassin and was about to protect the princess when she sensed that presence and immediately looked up.

A smile appeared on Li Lingyue's lips, and with a casual wave of her hand, the door opened wide.

Lu Chenyuan rushed in.

Li Lingyue moved swiftly and reached out to support him.

Lu Chenyuan's expression was very strange. His usually cold and stern face was now extremely tense, showing a sickly redness. Veins bulged on his forehead, and fine golden threads could be faintly seen moving beneath his skin, like countless tiny blades piercing through flesh and blood. His breath emitted a faint white light, and his exhaled breath even carried fine gold dust. "What did you swallow?"

Li Lingyue was somewhat surprised and quickly helped him to a chair.

Lu Chenyuan assumed the five-heart-facing-the-sky posture and began to concentrate on his cultivation.

Yuan Qingshuang, standing to the side, looked surprised: "Lord Lu, what happened? You don't look injured..."

"This is called 'Drunken Gold'."

Li Lingyue stared intently at Lu Chenyuan and casually said, "It's a unique state that comes with cultivating the 'Gold-Swallowing Treasure Scroll,' similar to excessive drinking. He must have swallowed some divine weapon, causing an excess of metal energy and spirituality, which leads to this uncontrollable state... Four Fiends, what's going on?"

The last sentence refers to turning towards the door.

The Four Dead Bones appeared, with the leader's figure flickering like black mist, constantly gathering and dispersing.

He briefly recounted the situation on Luo Bridge, detailing everything without embellishment. Li Lingyue nodded, waved her hand, and the four of them disappeared. Li Lingyue said, "Zongheng Peak, Yun Zhejun, this person is quite capable. The magic weapon he personally crafted has already developed sentience, so it's at least a fifth-grade artifact. It's inevitable that he would absorb too much at once."

Yuan Qingshuang asked, "Won't there be any danger?"

"will not."

Li Lingyue said, "Drunken Gold only resembles drunkenness in appearance, and the 'Gold-Swallowing Treasure Scroll' is not an ordinary absorption technique. It has no upper limit and it is impossible for it to burst the cultivator. At worst, it will just dissipate. Moreover, it is only a fifth-grade magic weapon. For him now, it is just a feast. He has already begun to take the opportunity to condense the 'Golden Essence Soul Seed,' so it's fine."

Yuan Qingshuang's understanding of the "Treasure Book of Swallowing Gold" was limited to the first chapter, "Eating Gold," and she knew nothing about the rest.

"Golden Essence Soul Seed...is it the spiritual cultivation method of the 'Gold-Swallowing Treasure Scroll'?"

"Ah."

Li Lingyue nodded: "The second chapter of the 'Gold-Swallowing Treasure Book' is called 'Forging Gold Chapter'—forging divine thought into gold essence, with a single thought causing ten thousand blades to resonate, is also the essence of this technique. Like the ordinary three realms of cultivation, 'Forging Gold Chapter' is also divided into three realms. The first realm is 'Condensing Gold Essence,' where divine thought is nurtured. Once the gold essence is formed, one can sense and control all metals within three zhang without needing to cultivate sword control techniques. The second realm is 'Weaving the Heavenly Net,' where divine thought takes form, and the gold essence forms a net, allowing one to touch iron and inquire about its spirit, and to communicate with the spirituality of divine weapons. The third realm is called 'Forging Gold Armor,' where divine thought forms a domain, within ten zhang, swords and blades cannot touch the body."

Yuan Qingshuang exclaimed in shock, "Not being harmed by swords and blades means..."

"Why was Yuchi Jingde able to dominate the battlefield and be unstoppable in the past? Besides his own bravery in battle and his profound skill level, the restraint of his martial arts techniques was also very important."

Li Lingyue said solemnly, "The 'Gold-Swallowing Treasure Scroll' is said to be 'forged from a hundred refinements of dust and sand into golden bones, and forged from a thousand hammer blows of starlight into a Dao body. A single point of sharpness is hidden in the lungs, and ten thousand soldiers bow down to the True Lord.' After the 'Forging Gold Chapter' was completed, its beginnings have already appeared—any metal object within ten feet will be suppressed, and ten thousand soldiers will be like servants before their master, unable to exert their power!"

Upon hearing this, Yuan Qingshuang's eyes were filled with shock.

Looking at Lu Chenyuan, who was in meditation, one could see that all the metallic fragments he exhaled within three feet of him were still and suspended.

Like subjects paying homage to a king!
Yuan Qingshuang suddenly realized: "No wonder the 'Gold-Swallowing Treasure Book' has so many restrictions and is never easily passed on... Once someone who has mastered it harbors ill intentions, even deploying an army would be difficult to subdue them!"

Li Lingyue nodded: "Fortunately, this skill is extremely difficult to learn and the conditions for cultivation are extremely demanding. There are very few people in the world who have the qualifications and conditions to cultivate it. After mastering the 'Forging Gold Chapter', the requirements for divine weapons and artifacts are further enhanced. Ordinary sixth-grade weapons can only forge a golden body and cannot strengthen the soul. Only divine weapons and artifacts that contain spirituality are great tonics."

"Yes."

Yuan Qingshuang chuckled and said, "Lord Lu's picky palate is probably only something that our Princess can afford to cater to in the entire Great Zhou Dynasty."

The meaning of this statement is somewhat clear.

In the past, Li Lingyue would have blushed and feigned anger, offering a sophistry. But not today. She simply looked at Lu Chenyuan, her eyes unusually gentle: "I can afford to support him, and I'm willing to. This mansion full of goldware should be matched with true talent. Go to the treasury and get a fifth-grade spiritual weapon for him. How can he eat things from outside!"

"..."

Yuan Qingshuang's expression was strange, and she suppressed a laugh as she whispered, "On that ledger..."

The items belonging to the princess's residence also had to be recorded, especially those related to the Xuanji Pavilion armory, which Wu Zetian would occasionally inspect.

Li Lingyue thought for a moment and said, "I will write that I tried out the [Taihua Qing Shuang] and accidentally broke a few weapons."

"...What about the fragments?"

"lost."

"..."

Yuan Qingshuang's lips twitched. His Highness's lying is becoming more and more natural.

"Yes."

Yuan Qingshuang left Xiaoxiang Pavilion to retrieve the treasure from Xuanji Pavilion.

Li Lingyue stood guard beside Lu Chenyuan, watching him cultivate.

Lu Chenyuan is at a critical stage.

Within his body, a massive amount of golden energy surged and boiled, and in his Niwan Palace, spiritual energy was overloaded, almost breaking through the shackles of his sea of ​​consciousness.

The devoured metallic essence continued to rage, each heartbeat like a hammer pounding in a forge, shaking his very soul.

In his vision, the air was distorted, as if the whole world was coated with a sharp metallic luster, stinging his eyes.

"The Baihui point, like a suspended needle, determines the stars; the Tanzhong point, like a furnace, forges the soul of the soldier. Golden essence passes through the spine and enters the gate of life; a single thought, sharp and resounding, pierces the heavens..."

Lu Chenyuan silently recited the incantation, formed the "Warrior Master Seal" with his hands, and used the "Forging Gold Chapter" technique to transform the gold energy into a Dharma body and refine the spiritual nature into the spiritual platform.

In the originally chaotic sea of ​​consciousness, a tiny light began to spin wildly, like a star suddenly shining brightly, pulling the rampant golden spiritual energy into a spiral shape and sucking it in.

Something colder than metal began to condense at the brow and the center of the mind, like the first icicle hanging from the eaves of a house in the dead of winter.

The moment the first drop of golden liquid dripped from the tip of the icicle, all the noise ceased abruptly.

Lu Chenyuan opened his eyes.

Golden light shimmered in his pupils.

The entire Xiaoxiang Pavilion appeared clearer to him than ever before.

He saw: the trajectory of every grain of incense ash falling inside the gilded incense burner, the particles bursting out when the wick burned in the bronze lamp, and every fine forging pattern on the silver curtain.

The most captivating sight was Li Lingyue, seated gracefully in a rosewood chair beside him. She wore a frosty white fishtail dress with a high waist and a cinched bodice, showcasing her exquisite curves. The collar and cuffs were embroidered with phoenix and dragon patterns in silver thread, and a two-finger-wide jade belt cinched her waist. Over this, she wore a sheer gauze that shimmered with a pearly luster in the sunlight.

Her hair was styled into a snake bun, adorned with a kingfisher feather and jeweled hairpin crown, with fine silver tassels hanging down to her shoulder blades. The hairpin was engraved with intricate intertwined branches, and the gilded veins of the leaves complemented the silver base.

Lu Chenyuan looked at her, and with a slight thought, the hairpin in Li Lingyue's hair suddenly trembled slightly. With a very soft "click", the hairpin loosened, and her cascading black hair cascaded down instantly, shimmering like satin in the dim light.

"you……"

Li Lingyue blushed slightly and was about to speak when she saw the golden light in Lu Chenyuan's eyes intensify. The golden hairpin did not fall but hovered in mid-air, slowly swirling around her and sprinkling golden light into her hair.

"Your Highness is so beautiful."

Lu Chenyuan's voice was deep, carrying the lingering resonance of metal. The suspended golden hairpin suddenly accelerated its rotation, weaving a golden net of light around her, making her jade-like face even more crystal clear.

Li Lingyue smiled slightly, letting her long black hair fall over her shoulders.

She finally saw the love she longed for in his eyes, a sly glint in her own, and whispered, "You're only just realizing that?"

She naturally took his hand: "My mother has entrusted me with the affairs of the Luo River Festival. This afternoon I am going to inspect the Luo Terrace and pay homage to the Marquis of Manifestation (the God of the Luo River). Can you come with me?"

Lu Chenyuan looked into her eyes and took her hand in return: "Okay."

　Brothers and sisters, you've really been kind enough. I've read enough. Next week, Zhou Sanjiang. Thank you.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)