Chapter 1009: Self-Reliance

[Cultivation Technique: Great Sun Dragon Transformation]

[Grade: Absorbing Qi · Extreme Limit (Total Ten Layers)]

[Annotation: When cultivated to Great Success, it can turn into the divine dragon of the sun, devour light and encompass the skies, harness the yang and ride the heavens]

Chen Hua carefully contemplated the cultivation technique he had just deduced, murmuring to himself:

“Immortal Dao absorption of Qi is not the casual intake of the chaotic energy of the heavens and the earth.”

“It must match oneself, the higher the grade of the gathered true Qi, the higher the future potential.”

“True Qi is divided into nine tiers and thirty-six grades, with the ninth tier top grade being the highest.”

“The advanced technique for gathering Qi recorded within the ‘Great Sun Dragon Transformation’ is extremely demanding, often requiring the essence of the great sun from the nine heavens, extracting the marrow of pure yang from the azure heavens…”

Given his current status starting as a mere mortal, trapped in the deep mountains of the Southern Border, he couldn’t even acquire slightly higher-grade pure yang Spiritual Qi, let alone the true Qi of the great sun from the nine heavens.

Ordinary cultivators reaching this point can only reluctantly downgrade, settle for second best, using low-level true Qi, planting hidden dangers, lifelong paths constrained.

But Chen Hua’s heart was full of confidence and calmness:

“Fortunately, I have the Gray Mist Palace!!”

He hesitated no longer, firmly seated cross-legged, his heart spirit fully immersed in the core of the gray mist.

“Today, I shall use the ninth tier top grade—Great Sun Origin Qi, to focus my apertures and set my foundation!”

“Gray mist, show me your limits!!”

Buzz—!!

The entire Gray Mist Palace trembled violently, boundless gray-white mist surged wildly.

The originally neutral and vast gray mist instantly transformed into the supreme and radiant Great Sun Origin Qi, pure and flawless, extremely yang and firm, far surpassing all true Qi grades in the world.

Entirely pouring into Chen Hua’s limbs, bones, meridians, and spiritual apertures.

The ‘Great Sun Dragon Transformation’ cultivation technique spontaneously operated at full speed, the power of circulation cycled endlessly.

…

This is yet another miraculous function of the Gray Mist Palace.

Actually cultivating the ‘Five Poisons Immortal Palm’ or the ‘Yang Dragon Transformation Record’ requires corresponding poisonous wonders, spiritual object essence blood, to assist in realm-breaking.

“Especially the ‘Yang Dragon Transformation Record’, this extreme mortal technique, can help a mortal defy fate, the realm-breaking items needed are even more precious!!”

“Red Dragon essence blood, Black Dragon Soul Jade… even for cultivators, these are quite hard to come by.”

But Chen Hua was in the gray mist space, needing no trouble.

This pervasive gray mist is the most versatile spiritual medium in the world, capable of transforming yin and yang, capable of evolving the Five Elements…

All rare spiritual objects, heavenly materials, and earthly treasures, Dao Rhymes, and power of origin, the gray mist can perfectly simulate and substitute.

Feeling the rapidly transforming power within himself, Chen Hua’s eyes shone with brilliance:

“Indeed! My talent possesses infinite limits!!”

“The only hidden danger is that the gray mist is not infinite!!”

He glanced around, noticing the noticeably thinning gray mist, comprehending in his heart:

“Whether I cultivate within the palace or deduce techniques, simulate other spiritual objects, it will consume the gray mist.”

“At first it wasn’t noticeable, but today, the gray mist is already less than half of what it initially was!! Visibly obvious.”

“First focus on cultivation, find a way to replenish it later!!”

…

Time flies, a flick of the finger, ten years have passed.

In the deepest part of the Celestial Ridge Immortal Stronghold, within the heavily restricted Immortal Master’s abode.

The stone chamber’s four walls had been roasted by Pill Fire for years, glowing red hot, an ordinary person entering would have their skin almost instantly scorched by the heat wave.

In the center of the stone chamber.

A bronze ancient tripod stood steadily, Pill Fire burning fiercely, the liquid medicine inside boiling over, gurgling, with poisonous aura overflowing to the heavens.

Seven or eight disciples in green robes bowed and stood around the tripod.

Everyone performed their duties skillfully, constantly throwing ten thousand poisonous creatures like snakes, centipedes, toads, and scorpions into the tripod.

Poisonous creatures entered the tripod, instantly refined by the Pill Fire, releasing a sky full of multicolored mist, swirling around the tripod body, surging unstably.

In the next instant.

Several thin and sharp purple iron chains shot through the mist, moving as fast as lightning, easily piercing through all the bodies of the poisonous creatures.

The multicolored mist slowly gathered and dispersed, revealing a delicate and fierce five-tailed flying scorpion within the tripod.

The purple iron chains that had just pierced through the air were the extended, retractable scorpion tails, nimble and elusive.

Squeak—

A subtle and sharp sound echoed within the tripod.

The five-tailed flying scorpion raised its head and opened its mouth, swallowing all the refined pure poisonous essence within the tripod.

The black poisonous mist surrounding its body thickened layer by layer, becoming increasingly murderous, and its power of origin increased continuously.

After consuming all the essence, it lazily coiled at the bottom of the tripod, closing its eyes and quietly digesting the power of origin, ignoring the surrounding broken remains of poisonous creatures.

The disciples, witnessing this scene, felt secretly regretful, filled with a sense of wastefulness.

These poisonous creatures were rare species they had cultivated and meticulously refined over several years, even their remnants being considered valuable.

They longed for them but couldn’t obtain them, now being discarded so casually!!

“Man cannot compare to Gu!!”

Amidst the fluctuating hearts of the twelve disciples, a green-robed figure stepped into the stone chamber, surrounded by a faint green toxic miasma, exuding a cold, deep atmosphere.

“Greetings, Master!”

All disciples instantly composed themselves, bowing respectfully.

The person coming was none other than the Celestial Peak Daoist, who ruled Celestial Ridge Immortal Stronghold and enslaved tens of thousands of villagers.

He nodded slightly, his gaze falling into the cauldron, scrutinizing it closely, a surge of uncontrollable fervor and anticipation emerging from his eyes.

“Soon, it will be a great success!”

His fingertips continuously formed complex and mysterious Dharma Seals, while layers of pitch-black restrictions materialized in mid-air, imprinting upon the flying scorpion gu, stabilizing the insect’s origin, and tempering the foundation of its venomous essence.

“In just another two years, this scorpion can shed its five tails, condense into six tails, perfecting the gu body!”

“By then, borrowing the venom of the six-tailed flying scorpion, and the power of origin of ten thousand gu, I may very well be able to impact the Dao Foundation Realm.”

“However, for the gu body to be perfected, a most extreme blood sacrifice is still required!”

“These disciples of mine, and the tens of thousands of villagers here, are most suitable!”

At this thought, a flicker of killing intent flashed across his eyes, his gaze subtly sweeping over the crowd of bowed direct disciples below.

The next moment.

BOOM——!!

Suddenly, a thunderous explosion erupted! The thick stone door of the cave dwelling, refined countless times, shattered instantly, rocks flying, dust billowing throughout the sky.

The heat waves, poison miasma, and pill qi inside the cave were completely dispersed and swept away by a powerful force of pure yang.

“Who?!”

Celestial Peak Daoist was suddenly shocked, instantly retracting his hands and turning around, his eyes burning with increased killing intent, angrily questioning.

The response came not in words.

Only a brilliant blazing golden-red flame streaking across the sky!

Celestial Peak Daoist was greatly terrified, not daring to underestimate the enemy, quickly forming hand seals with his fingertips, instantly activating his lifebound magical treasure.

A mist of pale green peach blossom miasma soared into the sky, his long-time reliance, which had defeated countless fellow cultivators.

But today.

At the instant the golden-red flame descended, the sky-covering peach blossom poison miasma instantly dissolved, without the slightest resistance.

“How is this possible?!”

Celestial Peak Daoist’s pupils contracted sharply, full of disbelief, his lifebound poison miasma cultivated over a hundred years, easily broken by just one move!

No longer the slightest trace of arrogance, he hurriedly cupped his hands in a plea, his tone panicked:

“Fellow Daoist, spare me! I am willing to offer all my lifelong collections, magical treasures, and spiritual medicines, just spare my life!”

But the golden-red flame that consumed everything ignored the plea, crashing down!

BANG!!

A giant sound!

Celestial Peak Daoist’s body instantly collapsed and fell.

A hundred years of cultivation, reduced to zero in an instant.

At the moment his body dissolved, deep within his dantian, the lifebound mother gu turned into a dark stream of light, attempting to escape into the sky.

But in mid-air.

A slender, clean, warm, and powerful hand slowly extended, lightly gripping, firmly capturing the mother gu in the palm, with no escape.

As the smoke and dust slowly dispersed, the sunlight penetrated vividly throughout the cave.

A young figure in a blue robe, treading lightly on the dust, stood in the center of the cave.

With a tall figure, elegant demeanor, an aura of the great sun and dragon subtly flowing around him, exuding immortal grace.

It was Chen Hua!!

He lowered his gaze, looking at the trembling lifebound mother gu in his palm, slightly raising an eyebrow:

“This is too weak.”

“Is this also considered the Ninth Layer of Breathing Qi?”

Over ten years, Chen Hua exhausted the gray mist, barely stepping into the Ninth Layer of Breathing Qi.

This time, he had expected an intense battle, never imagining it would turn out to be a crushing, overwhelming victory.

In the cave.

The remaining few Immortal Master disciples were already scared out of their wits, trembling all over, prostrating in unison, continually kowtowing:

“Immortal Master, spare us! Senior, spare us! We admit our mistakes, willing to submit, just spare us!”

Chen Hua glanced at them indifferently:

“Rise and speak.”

“Tell the truth, what exactly was your master’s intention in occupying Celestial Ridge Immortal Stronghold for decades?”

None dared to hide, trembling, word for word, revealing Celestial Peak Daoist’s secret plot hidden for decades.

It turns out Celestial Peak Daoist had consumed miscellaneous qi years ago, his path blocked, knowing he could not break through, he seized Celestial Ridge Immortal Stronghold.

Over the years, he used the gu insects within the villagers as a foundation, continually refining, painstakingly cultivating the six-tailed flying scorpion, attempting to impact the Dao Foundation.

Upon hearing the entire secret, Chen Hua wasn’t surprised at all. He raised his hand, capturing the incomplete flying scorpion from the cauldron across the air.

“Hmm?”

Chen Hua suddenly sensed something. He immediately opened the gray mist space, throwing the ferocious six-tailed flying scorpion into it.

In an instant.

The six-tailed flying scorpion was enveloped by the fog, completely erased.

At the same time, the previously thin and sparse gray mist began to thicken visibly.

Chen Hua’s eyes lit up at once, a burst of joy in his heart, he finally found a way to solve the lingering depletion issue of the gray mist that had troubled him for so long!

…

Above the gray mist.

Chen Sheng’s gaze descended across dimensions, he nodded gently:

“Finally starting to fend for himself!”