Cultivation Starts from Killing Pigs-Chapter 249 - 247: Star Count Gazes at the Heavens, the Hidden Vault Opens

Land Recognition is indeed the art of Feng Shui.

Leaving aside those who deceive and cheat, a formally trained Feng Shui master can understand the topography of mountains, grasp the principles of Yin and Yang variations, and master the five elements' mutual generation and restriction. They can help people manage Qi and determine the site with ease.

More powerful ones can find dragon veins and regulate earth Qi to stabilize national fortune, making them more than capable of being a State Preceptor.

And Zhang Kui, with his maxed-out Land Recognition Skill, naturally excels even more, combined with his Mahayana Perfection cultivation, extracting Spirit Veins and altering terrain is no problem.

Logically, with his current abilities, any Hidden Ancient Realm that relies on earth Qi and Spirit Veins cannot escape his eyes, but the Qi Dynasty's Secret Collection remains elusive…

There's only one possibility, the influence is not just from the underground Spirit Veins!

It seems that the Qi Dynasty's Witchcraft Path is closely linked to the Sun, the tadpole pattern on the bronze disc forms a solar pattern, and it might even enshrine True Sun Fire.

Could the secret location be related to the Sun?

When in doubt, open a cheat to solve it.

In his mind, there are still fifty-seven skill points left, just enough to max out one skill, but he's hesitating on the choice.

Apart from the last step of Corpse Dissolving on the Golden Core Path, the skills not yet maxed are roughly categorized as follows.

First are Support Skills, including medicine Alchemy, and Yellow and White Refining.

Second are spells, transformations, Illusion Skills, including Qi Ban, Forbidden Water, Wall Opening, Broken River, Moving Scene, Nightmare Prayer, Transportation, etc.

Third is summoning, Beast Gathering, Taming Birds, Inviting Immortals, God-Exorcising.

Lastly, are Yin-Yang Arts, including Star Count, Time-Knowing, Shefu, Covering Head, Ascending and Copying.

He has two methods now, one is to learn Time-Knowing and Shefu, i.e., the legendary calculating and insight into secrets.

Of course, even in this cultivation world, Zhang Kui doesn't believe destiny follows a fixed unalterable path, it should be some kind of inference skill.

The other is to learn Star Count, observing the stars' movement and checking the secrets of heaven and earth.

While hesitating, he suddenly frowned, looking towards the direction of the General's Tomb.

Someone is spying!

At the same time, in the pitch-black chasm of the General's Tomb, the altar array burned with green Ghost Fire, and starlight surged above, slowly descending.

The military advisor's floating figure continuously formed spells, and in the green smoke, it was precisely the scene of the human camp.

Counselor Zuo stared fiercely at Zhang Kui on the image, blood light burning in his eyes, murderous intent evident.

His recent days had been miserable, not only blamed by everyone but also constantly fearing that General Hou might turn on him, and most of these miseries were brought by the human in front of them.

Yutang County…

Why didn't they eradicate him completely then!

At this moment, the image of Zhang Kui suddenly turned, staring at them with a cold smile.

Their breath instantly stagnated.

However, the image of Zhang Kui didn't say anything, just dismissed it with a disdainful wave of his hand, becoming hazy, showing nothing.

The military advisor unhesitatingly canceled the spell, saying in a deep voice: "This person's Investigation Skill far surpasses mine, and he can conceal secrets, in flesh, spell, Divine Soul… all achieved Perfection, with no flaws, Counselor Zuo, I can't help you."

"Help me?"

Counselor Zuo's voice carried sarcasm: "Dear military advisor, do you think with this person's capabilities, he would only take my life? The General's Tomb is likely where no one can escape, it's pitiful how you all still harbor false hopes…"

The military advisor was getting impatient, "Counselor Zuo, things have reached this point, do you intend to reconcile with General Hou? Even if reconciled, how much chance of victory is there?"

"Rest assured, General Tu Meng suppressed the Demon Banner in person, and this is no secret, Zhang Kui certainly knows, if something happens, humans won't have an easy time either! You just stay here peacefully; if we don't leave, he won't find the opportunity and will naturally leave."

Seeing the always proud military advisor speaking like this, Counselor Zuo's face became ferocious, giving a cold snort, turning into rolling shadow mist, disappearing.

After Counselor Zuo left, only the military advisor remained in the cold cave. He was silent for a while, waved his hand, and the starlight immediately covered the entire cave completely.

At the same time, a Daoist figure sitting cross-legged slowly appeared, his face like cinnabar, three eyes on his forehead, with deathly white and decaying scales appearing on his face.

"One misstep and it will be an eternal regret…"

The military advisor looked at his soon-to-decay flesh, knowing the Corpse Dissolving Skill had completely failed, his voice becoming exceptionally low.

He came this far, gone through countless tribulations, but failing Corpse Dissolving, unable to escape thoroughly, once the flesh decays, the Divine Soul will also completely dissipate.

Is there no hope at all?

With this thought, he suddenly looked down into the depths of the cave, where a giant stone coffin filled with array carvings, had a dark mass spiraling inside. Just a glance brought violent and twisted images into his mind.

"If I die, no one will survive…"

On the other side, perhaps reminded by the military advisor's spell, Zhang Kui finally decided to first learn Star Count.

After spending fifty-five skill points, a star rose again in his mind, followed by a flood of knowledge and memories.

This time was even more unique, Zhang Kui seemed to be enlightened, looking at the sky, looking at the earth, looking at all living beings.

Night fell, and the sky was full of stars.

The celestial phenomena of this world naturally differ completely from the previous life, rendering many Stargazing Skills entirely useless.

But the Great Path of all things hasn't changed significantly.

Zhang Kui could feel that the starlight, seemingly gentle, contained incredibly terrifying power, even he would find it difficult to endure.

Yet beneath his feet, the earth itself surged with a force inscrutable, colliding with the terrifying starlight to form a golden membrane. This gentle spiritual qi nourished the earth veins and all living beings.

So that's how it is...

Zhang Kui suddenly had an epiphany. The furious innate spirit array he encountered when he flew into the Cyan Nether was not a prison, but rather a cradle nurturing all life on this planet.

Without the protection of that innate spirit array, creatures on this planet facing the terrifying starlight would likely not survive.

Unless... one becomes an Immortal!

Zhang Kui's mind was struck by a flash of insight—perhaps he had touched upon a hint of the secret to immortality.

No wonder they said one must journey from the Underworld to the Moon Palace. The vast distance across the star sea is daunting, making even survival a challenge.

And this solar power, while vast and bright on one side, is brutally hot on the other.

The other side...

Zhang Kui swiftly soared into the sky, observing the mountains and spirit veins, and feeling the power of the moonlight. A slight smile appeared on his lips.

...

"True Man Zhang, we've deciphered it!"

Early in the morning, Lin Huan led a disheveled group over, eyes filled with fervor. "True Man Zhang, comparing it with the ruins we've found before, the fellow Daoists worked together and finally deciphered this witch language!"

"Oh, what does it say?"

Zhang Kui chuckled and asked.

Although he already had an inkling, he didn't interrupt them; after all, these people would be very useful in the future, and the decoding process was precious experience.

Lin Huan held a bronze disc, continuously caressing it with his right hand. "It says here that the Qi Dynasty's hidden collection is based on sunlight and moonlight. When the sun and moon cycle, it can be opened via a grand array. The ancestors of the Qi Dynasty truly had incredible capabilities."

As Zhang Kui had explained before, everyone knew that at one time, the Qi Dynasty was as powerful as the Forbidden Land, with many at least in the Mahayana realm. Each was curious about what kind of disaster caused the collapse of such a mighty empire.

"In that case, let's set up the grand array and open the secret realm today!"

At Zhang Kui's command, the entire Profound Pavilion camp sprung into action. They calculated the position, climbed the mountains, and set up the array, completing the preparations in less than half a day.

At dusk, as the sun set and the moon rose, beams of spirit light surged from the eastern mountains, instantly turning the world dim. In the unseen, a giant bronze door slowly appeared in mid-air.

The moment to open it was fleeting, yet even as the sun set completely, the bronze door remained eerily suspended, carved with flowers, grains, birds, beasts, fish, and insects.

Zhang Kui stepped forward, standing in the void. With a wave of his hand, a wave of energy surged forth. Accompanied by a rumbling sound, the bronze door slowly opened, bathing everyone in dazzling light.

Inside was a deep copper hall, with massive caverns lined with boxes on both sides of the corridors. The walls were adorned with a dazzling array of murals. In the center of the copper hall, on a square altar, a blistering golden flame burned fiercely.

True Sun Fire!

Zhang Kui felt a surge of joy but didn't immediately move forward, for seated beneath the altar was an elder with hair and beard all white, emaciated beneath his luxurious beast pelt, with skin stretched over bones.

"True Man Zhang..."

The crowd was startled and quickly became vigilant.

"It's alright, this senior has passed away long ago." Zhang Kui shook his head slightly, his figure flashing into the copper hall.

He activated the Tongyou Skill, divine light bursting from his eyes as he glanced around.

Perhaps the Qi Dynasty still harbored hopes of revival and did not expect the bronze disc to be lost in time. The hall contained no traps or mechanisms. With True Sun Fire present, no malevolent spirits would arise.

The most attractive to Zhang Kui was this True Sun Fire. Though not the Fire of Origin, it was intense and vast, filled with a heart-palpitating aura.

Huh?

Zhang Kui furrowed his brows; amidst the dazzling light of the True Sun Fire, there seemed to be a shadow with wings.

Could it be a Golden Crow?

Zhang Kui's interest soared. The Sun and Moon Light Wheel in his eyes spun, and instantly a vision appeared:

Amidst the Endless Void, terrifying fireballs surged with heat, pouring forth scorching rays. Flocks of three-eyed golden birds swirled within, and where they gathered stood a black island on the solar orbit.

The island shone with brilliant light, vaguely reflecting the shadows of a palace...

Suddenly, Zhang Kui's vision turned black, and he was horrified to discover his eyes had been burned into black holes.

In an instant, flesh and blood coalesced, his eyes regrowing, but Zhang Kui turned his head without further probing.

He could feel that the three-eyed birds within the True Sun Fire only left behind a soul fragment. The information was all that remained. However, the Sun Palace seemed peculiar; with his current cultivation, it was impossible to look directly.

"Everyone, come in!"

Zhang Kui turned and commanded the group to enter, then ordered, "Inventory the supplies and do not look directly at the True Sun Fire."

Saying this, he waved his hand, releasing the Treasure Beast Dragon Turtle for storing the secret hoard. As long as it wasn't a Divine Artifact, it could be used as needed conveniently.

The Dragon Turtle appeared quite fearful of the True Sun Fire, quickly crawling far away, then opened its large mouth.

The Profound Pavilion members began inventorying the materials—treasure medicine, spiritual materials, ancient artifacts…the Qi Dynasty's collection was as abundant as the East Sea Water Mansion.

However, judging by the Dragon Turtle's languid manner, there were evidently no Divine Artifacts present here.

This secret realm likely operated on the power of the True Sun Fire. Zhang Kui was in no rush to claim it, instead examining the surrounding murals.

The Qi Dynasty was extremely mysterious. How they obtained the True Sun Fire and how they transported the Divine Corpse from the Underworld intrigued Zhang Kui greatly.

Soon, however, his gaze turned solemn, for on the very first mural he saw was a depiction of a Nether Soil stone coffin...