Chapter 217 - 126: Attempting to Break Celestial Permanence with Divine Techniques

Chapter 217: Chapter 126: Attempting to Break Celestial Permanence with Divine Techniques

True Form Temple.

The sun hung high at its zenith, a time that should have been clear and bright. Yet, a strange spectacle unfolded above the True Form Temple. It was as if Celestial Fire rolled within the flowing clouds, burning the sky in a ten-li radius into a vast, crimson glow.

Inside his cave-abode, Xuzhuang sat cross-legged with his eyes closed. A crimson curtain rose behind him, shimmering like flowing liquid and fire. Its radiance blazed, dotted with sparks that looked as if they might erupt at any moment.

This crimson curtain was none other than the Fire Divine Light, one aspect of the Five Elements Primordial Divine Light. As Xuzhuang circulated his technique, it ebbed and flowed like the tide.

A few feet before Xuzhuang’s chest, a Glazed Small Bottle hovered in the air, uncorked. Fire essence, like a mixture of flame and magma, streamed out from within. It seemed to evaporate into roiling crimson energy, which then formed a thin, continuous stream that flowed directly into Xuzhuang’s nostrils.

Every single wisp contained a vast amount of fiery power, refined with great effort by a Nascent Soul Venerable deep within the Earth Lungs. Yet as Xuzhuang inhaled it, his expression remained unchanged. The only sign was the Fire Divine Light behind him, which grew ever more intense, its might surging steadily.

Xuzhuang was using the pure fire essence he had seized from the Extreme Flame Demon to refine his Fire Divine Light via an External Refining Method.

It was unknown whether the Extreme Flame Demon had been refining a Magical Artifact or practicing a Dao Technique for the reemergence of the Manifestation Sect. In any case, he had refined an astonishing amount of pure fire essence, but in the end, all his efforts had simply paved the way for Xuzhuang. By the time this bottle of fire essence was completely consumed, the might of the Fire Divine Light behind Xuzhuang had reached its peak. The immense fiery power seemed unable to be contained, eager to burst forth, to incinerate the heavens, scorch the earth, and burn all to cinders.

Xuzhuang’s hand, which had been resting on his knee, twitched slightly. He suddenly raised it to his chest and formed a Magic Formula. As his profound technique circulated, the might of the Fire Divine Light gradually subsided until it grew calm.

From start to finish, Xuzhuang’s expression had not changed. Only now did he open his eyes. With a wave of his sleeve, a jade box flew out. Its lid opened on its own to reveal seven Glazed Small Bottles within. Four were already empty; this had clearly been the fifth bottle of fire essence Xuzhuang had refined.

If not for Xuzhuang’s profound foundation in the Five Elements Dao Technique, he would have found it nearly impossible to control such a pure and precious material using the External Refining Method, especially given that he had only recently begun to practice the Five Elements Primordial Divine Light.

Yet Xuzhuang still seemed unsatisfied. He placed the empty bottle back into the jade box, took out another full bottle of fire essence, and was about to open it.

Just then, his movements froze. He waited quietly for a moment before hearing a golden bell chime outside. Xuzhuang asked coolly, "What is it?"

From outside the meditation chamber came Xue Yuren’s voice, devoid of any inflection. "Venerable Meng Fusheng has come to call on you, Master. He is waiting outside."

Xuzhuang gave a slight nod. "Open the cave entrance. Ask Nephew Meng to wait in the main hall. I shall be there shortly."

Outside, Xue Yuren acknowledged the order, and her footsteps faded into the distance. Xuzhuang turned his gaze back to the bottle before him but put the fire essence away. With a shrug of his shoulders, the fiery torrent of the Fire Divine Light receded like a tide and vanished without a trace.

Outside the cave-abode, Meng Fusheng stood on the mountain peak, hands clasped behind his back as he gazed at the crimson glow in the sky. ’Judging by this power,’ he thought with surprise, ’this is likely no ordinary Dao Technique of the Sixth and Seventh Realms. To think Junior Martial Uncle Xu has also refined such a powerful fire technique.’

His arrival had been announced, and he was waiting patiently. He had only been there for a moment when he saw the crimson glow in the sky begin to fade. Just then, the main gate of the cave-abode swung open on its own. A woman as beautiful as jade, her face completely devoid of emotion, walked out. She performed a curtsy and said, "You have been waiting, Venerable. Please follow this servant."

Meng Fusheng returned the gesture with a slight bow and followed Xue Yuren into the main hall. Xue Yuren invited Meng Fusheng to take a seat, saying, "Please wait here for a moment, Venerable. The Master will be here shortly." She then left to prepare tea.

Meng Fusheng was in no hurry. But he had just taken his seat when a streak of white light suddenly descended from the sky. Seemingly noticing the open gate of the cave-abode, it shot straight inside. The light swirled, and a white-robed Daoist emerged. Upon seeing Meng Fusheng, he let out a soft sound of surprise. "Nephew Meng."

"Junior Martial Uncle Xu?" Meng Fusheng looked confused, but he still rose to his feet, bowed with clasped hands, and asked, "Junior Martial Uncle, why are you arriving from outside?"

Xuzhuang smiled and walked into the hall. "Sit," he said.

Meng Fusheng sat down again. Xuzhuang made his way to the host’s seat and said, "I have just returned from a trip to the Dragon Image Sect."

"What?" Meng Fusheng was even more baffled. Seeing his confusion, Xuzhuang decided not to keep him in suspense. But just as he was about to explain, Xue Yuren entered the hall carrying a teacup. Upon seeing Xuzhuang, a hint of confusion flickered across even her impassive face. She glanced back toward the corridor and asked, "Master?"

Just as Meng Fusheng was trying to make sense of the situation, another Xuzhuang walked out slowly from the corridor. The one in the host’s seat suddenly dissolved into a wisp of flowing mist and flew into the real Xuzhuang.

"This is...?" The scene felt incredibly familiar to Meng Fusheng, and he couldn’t help but ask, "The Three Elements Elephant Body Technique?"

Xuzhuang smiled faintly, settling into the host’s seat. "Correct," he replied. "This incarnation, created by the Three Elements Residence in the World Technique, is indeed derived from the Three Elements Elephant Body Technique. Would you be interested in learning it, Nephew?"

Meng Fusheng recalled the days when his cultivation of the Three-Element Elephant Body had gone awry. A wry smile touched his lips. "I haven’t even perfected the Three-Element Elephant Body yet. It’s best I don’t get ahead of myself."

Xuzhuang merely smiled at his words, then said, "I have yet to congratulate you, Nephew, for refining your Gangyun and breaking through the Second Realm Gate."

Meng Fusheng said, "I have been in the Nascent Soul realm for nearly two hundred years. It was only thanks to the Celestial Purity True Sand you left for me, Junior Martial Uncle, that I was able to take the final step and overcome this hurdle. I will never forget your immense kindness."

Xuzhuang shook his head. "A bit of True Sand is hardly a favor worth mentioning. There is no need to bring it up again."