Origin Paradise!

[Note: Upon first activation of this passive skill, you will receive a 150% increase in Comprehension, lasting for six hours.]

Chapter 161 Silkworm Life

Dark clouds filled the sky.

Below the abyss lies the fortified city.

The once magnificent city is now engulfed in flames.

After the garrison commander betrayed the city, he led his cronies to destroy the city gates and then immediately annihilated the soldiers who were still resisting in the city.

When Longcheng arrived with 40,000 Floating Iron Cavalry and the Tai Sui Beast as tall as a city wall, the entire Dangguan City had long since lost any semblance of defense.

However, the army was unable to pass through for a long time.

"Your Majesty, the Spear King San is guarding the city gate alone. He has already killed four hundred cavalrymen, and two guardians have died in battle."

When the deputy came to report, Longcheng stopped and looked into the distance. His eyesight was far beyond what ordinary people could imagine. He could see every move of the old senior in detail.

"The speed is much slower than it was three years ago."

The army filled the fields, and Longcheng rode out alone, advancing all the way. The Futu Iron Cavalry made way for him, their eyes filled with fervor and worship as they looked at their commander.

Upon arriving at the city gate, one finds mountains of corpses piled high, with pools of blood flowing freely. Two grandmasters are pinned to the city wall by iron spears, their deaths a gruesome sight.

An elderly man in plain clothes stood with a gun in his hand, his expression indifferent.

Long Cheng took off his straw hat, tossed it aside, and laughed, "Senior, do you really think you can hold the pass single-handedly?"

Gun King San remained unmoved, simply raising his gun and stepping forward, coldly saying, "In a duel on the battlefield, be careful this old man knocks out your front teeth with this rock."

Long Cheng exhaled a breath of turbid air, surrounded by the continuous sounds of wind and thunder. This peak martial artist, in his prime, had his blood and qi surging, and hot white smoke was rising from his body.

"That's not right. Every hardship is nourishment for me to become a Grandmaster, and you are undoubtedly one of the few qualified opponents. Let alone 40,000 iron cavalry, even if there were another 100,000, how could they compare to the deterrent power of my advancement to Grandmaster?"

No sooner had he finished speaking than Long Cheng pointed out with his finger.

The entire mountain of corpses was instantly engulfed in flames, the fire reaching over the city walls, and the intense heat caused the nearby ancient, weathered walls to appear as if they were about to melt.

Gun King Three dodged in advance, brandishing his iron spear, and a two-headed blood dragon flew out, his expression particularly solemn.

Although the two sides are enemies, he cannot deny the extraordinary talent of Longcheng. He is a master of the secret arts of the Tantric sect, the Heaven and Earth Technique, and has also cultivated the Ten Grounds of the Tantric sect, the Shurangama Sutra, using the power of the earth. The one burning the mountain of corpses is the Flame Wisdom Ground. If one does not have enough speed, an ordinary master would be instantly killed in the face of such a flame that can even burn the soul.

The advanced spear technique "Dragon Crossing and Mountain Suppression," a fusion of Dragon Crossing and Mountain Suppression, unleashes a double-headed dragon over ten meters long, accompanied by a stench that fills the air.

"Senior, please don't resort to such petty tricks again."

Long Cheng formed a mudra with his hands, releasing the Immaculate Ground from the Ten Grounds of the Shurangama Sutra. Suddenly, the ground in front of him shone with brilliant white light, and the two-headed dragon abruptly disintegrated. This move was specifically designed to target the shaping of true essence.

The illusory image of the dragon exploded, and amidst a burst of red light, the Gun King arrived with his spear in hand. He unleashed his spear technique, Mountain-Suppressing and City-Destroying, as two slender streams of light shot out, seemingly indestructible.

Longcheng's hand seals changed again, and Lengyan remained unmoved, covering his entire body with a layer of golden sand. The combination of sword energy and internal energy formed an impenetrable and solid defense.

The gunshot shattered the outer defenses, but failed to strike the ground. Long Cheng raised his hand and threw a punch in return. The white light containing gravity was clearly visible and hit the opponent instantly from a distance of more than ten meters.

boom!

Gun King pushed his gun with both hands and flew it backward.

Slightly disappointed, Long Cheng said coldly, "Let me see the fourth shot, so you won't die with resentment."

Gun King San's expression was solemn. The Tai Sui Beast behind the enemy, as tall as a city wall, seemed to imply that no matter how hard he tried to hold on, he could not change the outcome of the city falling.

……

Jianchi Mountain.

The mist that lingers around the main peak year-round is gradually thinning.

On the flat ground of the persimmon grove, the prodigies stopped their battle.

Beneath the pavilion, all the masters looked up.

When the fog completely dissipated, the scene behind the difficult wall left everyone stunned.

After 999 steps, the end is still far away.

The occasional stray feathers that used to drift down along the ginseng path are now everywhere, converging into a howling storm.

Amidst the layers of ghosts and demons, a man dressed in magnificent robes, exuding an air of authority, spoke up. He was none other than the Marquis of Xuanwu, who once single-handedly guarded the gates of the former dynasty's capital.

"Ahead is the Mad Feather. This time, it's not just about stirring up the desires in people's hearts. The Soul Daoist cultivates the Seven Emotions and Six Desires Technique, and the price we ghosts have to pay to regain our sanity is right before our eyes."

Before she finished speaking, Jiang He had already taken a step, as if the even heavier pressure and pain had been thrown to the back of her mind.

Marquis Xuanwu was completely taken aback and couldn't help but reach out to stop the other party, thinking that this guy was being far too decisive.

"Wait, I just thought you needed an umbrella."

Marquis Xuanwu shouted sincerely. He was not surprised by the other party's choice to continue. As a top warrior who had died in battle, he knew clearly the determination of a person when they put their mind to something. But without the Soul Umbrella, it was simply too unfair to the other party.

"Was it an umbrella that brought me here and helped me through the storm?"

Jiang He didn't answer, but instead asked herself a question.

In fact, this was not the first time he had walked into a storm; the storm that had granted him player status was still fresh in his mind.

He knew that heading into the storm was unwise, even reckless, and besides, neither before nor now, he was in a desperate situation where he had no choice but to move forward.

Even if the fishing boat dies at sea, as long as he keeps his head down, he will still have a hard time starving to death in the present era. Even if he stops now, the enlightenment he has gained is enough, and there is no punishment for failing the main quest.

Jiang He walked step by step on the path of ginseng cultivation, maintaining a steady pace from beginning to end, requiring no prompting and remaining steadfast.

Jianchi Mountain fell into silence without anyone noticing.

The ghosts had long since stopped mocking him. Even though the man was covered in blood and his back was lonely, they had to admit that he was a powerful figure.

Marquis Xuanwu chuckled self-deprecatingly, the soul umbrella he had failed to deliver falling to the ground. How could someone who would never turn back even after crashing into a difficult wall possibly need his umbrella?

"Why is he still walking?" Elder Du Nan asked, bewildered.

The grandmasters were equally puzzled. Even if Pingluanbo was exceptionally talented and had an extraordinary will, it was still impossible for him to be so far ahead of the other geniuses.

The Daoist fanatic seeking to repay his master's kindness, the ambitious Yin Shengzi, and Hong Zhou determined to live only for himself—each of these individuals possesses an incredibly fervent resolve. However, without exception, they all persevere painfully on the path of ginseng cultivation, each step weighing as heavy as a thousand pounds.

The Duke of Pingluan moved too steadily, too fast, and too far ahead of everyone else.

Perhaps it's because people never stop striving to surpass themselves.

The old madman gazed into the distance and said this.

"We are merely witnesses on his journey; let us observe his composed pace."

The masters couldn't help but cast their gazes once again.

In the dimly lit world of Shenling, fluttering, mad feathers intertwined and swept across.

But Jiang He gradually straightened his back and stood tall.

He was moving forward, while Bao Fengyu was retreating little by little.

With each step you take, a new step appears ahead.

Then he trampled on them again and again.

The Lord of Misty Rain stood in despair before the ruins of the Difficult Wall, watching the departing figure, who was actually actively chasing the storm.

Moment after moment, step after step.

The ginseng road is getting narrower and narrower, while the mad feather is getting bigger and bigger.

Jiang He's speed, on the contrary, continued to increase.

[Hint: You have obtained...]

[Hint: You have awakened the Silver Will - Unyielding]

The storm crumbled before the footsteps of will.

As the last veil of mist lifted, the main peak of Jianchi Mountain was revealed to the world for the first time in hundreds of years.

Countless people stared wide-eyed, wanting to take it all in.

Some people clapped enthusiastically, while others shouted at the top of their lungs, as if everyone shared in the glory of this success.

The noise and commotion echoed throughout Jianchi Mountain.

The old Taoist priest, with his long, white hair, seemed to have been waiting for a long time, and smiled kindly:

"Listen, the mountains are cheering for you."

"No need," Jiang He replied indifferently.

He is not motivated by praise from others.

Even the slander from others could not stop him.

He doesn't need outsiders' approval in his life. If they know their place, they'll just walk past him; if they're looking for death and block his way, he'll be beheaded with a single shot.

"You can pick any ghost to go with you into the Flood Dragon Pool ahead. This time it's not just simple possession; the soul will merge with the body or weapon, and the effect is quite good. Moreover, the Flood Dragon Pool comes from the Mirror Water Flood Dragon, which is inherently very beneficial."

Soul Daoist said with a smile, "I would consider it a legacy. Whether in life or in death, I have no regrets about the Nine Provinces. In any case, the Jianchi Mountain Gathering over the years has kept the martial arts world of the Nine Provinces from becoming lifeless. I am already satisfied."

Jiang He picked up the Long-lasting Regret Spear and said, "Since it only recognizes me, then I will choose it alone."

Soul Daoist examined it for a moment, slightly surprised by the quality of the spear, and also by the unparalleled hatred this spear held for its master.

"No one wants you to go further than it does. The stronger you are, the more it feels that it...didn't die a pathetic death. I see. How interesting."

Soul Daoist chuckled and pointed to the Flood Dragon Pool in front of him.

"Just walk over and jump into the pool."

Jiang He walked into the pool as instructed. Bearing the judgment of origin, he had no fear of possession or similar situations.

The pool water was deep red and scalding hot, the dragon's blood boiling.

Jiang He's neck, Zhuang Ya woke up from her sleep, the power of the same species bringing her growth.

Soul Daoist was taken aback. "You withstood two portions of the pressure from the Falling Spirit?"

Jiang He closed her eyes to rest and quietly contemplate the changes within herself.

"It's just a small snake. If it's for her to eat some scraps, I can't be bothered to praise your choice." Soul Daoist was somewhat indifferent. In the past, he had slain a dragon with his sword and had no good feelings towards demons. If it weren't for the fact that the young man in front of him had the potential to become a Grandmaster and succeed him, he would have already killed the white snake with a single palm strike.

"If I can't provide shelter from the wind and rain, then what kind of leader am I?"

"Hmph, take care of yourself."

The pool water gradually became clear, and even the dragon skeleton at the bottom of the pool turned into dust, with all its essence being absorbed.

Jiang He heard the notification tone.

[Hint: You have obtained the Excellent-grade passive skill - Dragon Blood Body]

[Note: Player's health is increased by 50%, energy by 800, and elemental damage immunity is increased by 30% (depending on rank). Strength +2, Constitution +3, Charisma +3]

[Note: Your advanced self-healing ability has been solidified and upgraded to Ultimate Self-Healing]

[Note: Your item, the Spear of Everlasting Regret, has awakened its Soul, increasing soul damage by 30% and gaining the Soul Execution passive: When the physical body is completely destroyed, an execution effect is triggered on the spirit (depending on rank)]

[Energy Value: 2201→3001]

[Strength: 9+1→11+1]

[Constitution: 12+2→15+2]

[Charm: 8+1→11+1]

Jiang He stood up, used his inner strength to shake off the blood scabs all over his body, and continued forward to the edge of the main peak cliff.

Everyone at the foot of Jianchi Mountain envies it; when the mist over the main peak dissipates, everyone knows that the Duke of Pingluan has gained immense benefits from it.

Soul Daoist sensed something was wrong; this guy was actually trying to leave. He hurriedly called out:

"I swear on my life's integrity, the test is over!"

"There's no way forward in front of the diving pool!"

"With the Heavenly Sky above and a bottomless abyss below, anyone who falls in will surely die!"

Jiang He simply chuckled upon hearing this.

"I'm going to ask the heavens and the earth what they're made of."

The Soul Daoist was stunned; this man had gone mad.