Slaying Demons: Starting with Upgrading my Calligraphy-Chapter 457 - 404: Thousand Changes and Transformations
"Resolved?"
Upon hearing Du Zhong’s furious curses before he vanished, Tai Yin could hardly suppress his laughter. The True Self usually appeared gentle and friendly, but he was, in fact, exceedingly vengeful. Du Zhong had nearly hacked him to death during this Great Dao Tribulation; how could the True Self possibly let him depart unscathed? Judging by the agony and despair lacing the man’s words, he must have suffered a terrible loss.
"You’ve all worked hard to overcome this Great Dao Tribulation."
As the dust settled, a faint smile graced Qi Xiu’s lips.
"We three are one and the same; there’s no need for such words. True Self, now that you’ve successfully ascended to the Dao Body Realm, I imagine your gains have been substantial," Taiyang Daoist remarked with a light chuckle, looking at Qi Xiu.
Actually, little needed to be said. The fact that Qi Xiu had nearly beaten Du Zhong to death immediately after successfully transcending the tribulation spoke volumes. His breakthrough this time represented a leap in strength far greater than any previous one. After all, the Dao Body Realm was considered the apex of the cultivation pyramid. He was now a true Dao Expert!
In some medium-sized Sect Aristocracies, he would be a figure comparable to a Sect Master or Clan Head, or at the very least, an elder wielding significant authority.
"Hmm, I suppose I’ve broken free from the original framework and embarked upon a more expansive Dao Path," Qi Xiu said, his gaze flickering as he glanced at the proficiency panel.
After this Extreme Breakthrough, the original "The Secret of the Primordial Dragon-Tiger Scripture" had vanished without a trace.
In its place was an entirely new True Scripture Volume:
"Immortal Scripture of Myriad Laws and Primordial Unity."
Having absorbed the essence of the Great Dao from the remains of three hundred and sixty-five ancient deities, this True Scripture completely transcended the many strictures and limitations of "The Secret of the Primordial Dragon-Tiger Scripture." In a way, this True Scripture was forged by his Hunyuan Myriad Laws Immortal Body, making it a perfect match for him.
And by relying on this "Immortal Scripture of Myriad Laws and Primordial Unity," he had successfully ascended to the Dao Body Realm, becoming a True Monarch Dao Expert.
"Let’s head back first. Although I’ve successfully overcome the tribulation and advanced to the Dao Body Realm, there are some details I haven’t had time to sort out. This place is on the verge of collapse; we can’t linger."
With a thought, Qi Xiu raised his hand to recall the severely damaged Primordial Sword Gourd and Taiyin and Taiyang. Then, transforming into a streak of colorful, misty qi, he instantly returned to the space that suppressed countless Divine Origins.
At this moment, most of these Divine Origins, held down by the Dragon Binding Rope, had weakened and shrunk. Qi Xiu had absorbed their divine bodies; deprived of their physical vessels, the Divine Origins naturally became like rootless water and began to gradually dissipate.
His gaze swept over these Divine Origins. With a wave of his sleeve, Qi Xiu retrieved the Dragon Binding Rope along with all the Divine Origins. These Divine Origins constituted a considerable treasure trove; processing them carefully later would be of great benefit to him.
Having collected the Dragon Binding Rope, Qi Xiu transformed into a wisp of colorful, misty qi and shot straight out of the ancient forbidden land, a place that had existed for countless eons but was now crumbling into oblivion.
WHOOSH—
Passing through the endlessly rotating vortex of the sand sea, Qi Xiu returned to Northwestern Daliang.
The instant he departed the Valley of Deceased Gods, gazes from all directions converged on him, so tangible they nearly froze the void solid around him.
"Hmm?" Qi Xiu’s expression subtly shifted as an innate, boundless surge of qi erupted from within him, instantly shattering the gazes that had nearly pinned him in the void.
After his breakthrough to the Dao Body Realm, his body’s original three hundred and sixty-five Hunyuan Apertures, along with his Spiritual Embryo and Wondrous Body, had transformed into a Daoist Spirit!
According to the original cultivation method of "The Secret of the Primordial Dragon-Tiger Scripture," all his cultivation would have converted into the Daoist Spirit, leaving him a cripple devoid of cultivation.
Fortunately, while breaking through to the Dao Body Realm, he had also evolved "The Secret of the Primordial Dragon-Tiger Scripture" into the "Immortal Scripture of Myriad Laws and Primordial Unity." This True Scripture Volume, perfectly compatible with his Hunyuan Myriad Laws Immortal Body, offered him the chance to turn decay into marvel.
The first step in cultivating the "Immortal Scripture of Myriad Laws and Primordial Unity" was to break down the structured whole into its fundamental essence, thereby reverting to the Innate.
Before reaching the Dao Body Realm, Qi Xiu had painstakingly cultivated three hundred and sixty-five Hunyuan Apertures. This involved using his own Innate Primordial Qi to guide the cyclical transformations of the cosmos, forming his cultivation framework.
After attaining the Dao Body, although he had lost the circumferential Hunyuan Apertures, the profound essence and mysteries of guiding the cosmic cycles, accumulated day by day, were deeply imprinted in his mind. Thus, reversing the cosmic cycles to deduce the Innate, and transforming into the pure state of the Innate, became as natural as water flowing to form a channel.
In this way, Qi Xiu naturally succeeded in cultivating the "Immortal Scripture of Myriad Laws and Primordial Unity," transforming himself into an exceedingly special state known as: Innate Primeval Breath!
Now, he could freely convert his physical body into Innate Primeval Breath. In this state, commanding the myriad forms of qi became instinctual. Whether he possessed Hunyuan Apertures no longer mattered, for he himself was a transcendent Hunyuan Aperture that had undergone a qualitative metamorphosis and leap.
Coupled with the ability to perfectly transform his physical body into qi and then reconstitute it at will, Qi Xiu could alter his physical form almost as he pleased. If he so wished, he could directly transform into an ancient blood demon. Such a transformation would be difficult even for Primordial Spirit Bosses to discern, because it wasn’t a mere illusory disguise; he directly materialized flesh and blood from Innate Primeval Breath, making it genuinely real.
And this was the very first Divine Marvel revealed by the "Hunyuan All-Law Immortal Domain": Thousand Changes and Transformations!
A surprised "Eh?" sounded from the depths of the void. In the next moment, hundreds of Dao Experts emerged, their eyes wide with astonishment and amazement, fixed on Qi Xiu.
"A Dao Expert?" Simultaneously perceiving the Daoist Spirit aura emanating from Qi Xiu, the Dao Experts from various major sects and clans were all profoundly shocked. 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖
It seemed that this young man was the greatest beneficiary of this trip to the Valley of Deceased Gods.
"Are you Qi Xiu?"
Just as Qi Xiu turned his gaze to survey these suddenly appearing Dao Experts, high in the vast sky, a celestial river abruptly materialized. Its surging momentum was like a million thunderbolts, vast and mighty, pouring down from the Nine Heavens. The vapor from the celestial river roiled with immense power, like millions of meteors falling with earth-shattering rumbles, striking awe into all hearts.
Atop this turbulent celestial river, a man in white robes with silver hair walked upon the water. His gaze was as deep as a black hole, his expression cold yet filled with endless majesty. Each step he took released a heavy, frosty aura, freezing the air for tens of thousands of miles around, as if heralding an ice-bound epoch.
"It’s the Sky River True Sovereign!"
Seeing the silver-haired man, the assembled Dao Experts quickly parted to make way.
And the silver-haired man, exuding pressure over tens of thousands of miles like a god descended to the mortal realm, was none other than Lv Changchuan, the Sect Master of Sky River True Sect in Fujian, a Primordial Spirit Boss!
"Junior Qi Xiu, a disciple of the Shenxiao Sect, pays his respects to the Sky River True Sovereign." The roaring, endless river halted before him. Qi Xiu, slightly raising his eyes to look at this Sky River True Sovereign, slowly lifted his hands in a salute and offered his greeting.
"There are some matters I wish to discuss with you. Would you be willing to accompany me for a while?" His silver-white pupils looked down upon Qi Xiu, a hint of surprise flickering in Lv Changchuan’s eyes. His initially indifferent and icy expression softened slightly.
"This..."
Hearing that the Sky River True Sovereign wanted to take him away, Qi Xiu hesitated. Just as he was about to speak, he felt a warm breeze, and a figure suddenly appeared beside him.
A slight smile touched Qi Xiu’s lips. He cupped his hands towards the Sky River True Sovereign before him. "Please forgive this junior’s offense, Senior. I have just broken through to the Dao Body Realm, and my realm is still unstable, with many uncertainties. Could Senior perhaps wait until this junior has stabilized his realm before I pay a visit to your esteemed sect?"
"Why waste so many words on him? Two would suffice! Old Lv, read my lips. NOT! GOING!" Standing beside Qi Xiu with hands on her hips, Dongfang Qing looked proudly disdainful, bluntly refusing Lv Changchuan.
Seeing Dongfang Qing arrive, Lv Changchuan knew he couldn’t take the boy away and showed a hint of helplessness. "Very well. Since the child is unwilling for now, I won’t insist. Once you’ve stabilized your realm, come and find me."
Raising his hand, he sent a streak of silver light into Qi Xiu’s hand. When the glow faded, it revealed a jade seal. "When you come to my Fujian in the future, present this seal, and someone will naturally receive you."
"Thank you for your understanding, Senior. This junior will definitely pay a visit when the time comes."
Storing the jade seal, Qi Xiu nodded to the Sky River True Sovereign, indicating he would indeed visit when he had the chance.
"Dongfang Fox, you rascal, you’ve struck it lucky again." Glancing at Dongfang Qing, who was grinning broadly, the Sky River True Sovereign shook his head with a touch of envy. Heaven truly favors the great prosperity of the Shenxiao Sect...
Before his voice had even faded, the surging river that spanned the sky, like a reversed galaxy, receded into the distance, and with it, the Sky River True Sovereign vanished from everyone’s sight in an instant.
Snorting lightly, Dongfang Qing glanced at Qi Xiu beside him, his smile growing. Lucky, huh? It seems I have indeed struck a bit of good fortune.
With Dongfang Qing personally there to meet him, those Dao Experts who had been waiting outside the Valley of Deceased Gods for firsthand news dared not obstruct them. They could only watch as Dongfang Qing led Qi Xiu away. They then exchanged glances, shrugged helplessly, and turned to return to their respective Sect Aristocracies to report the news.
「Deep in the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains.」
In a tranquil, secluded area, at the center of a round, deep Blood Pool, bubbles suddenly began to boil up. Gradually, a figure was seen slowly emerging from the depths of the Blood Pool.
It was Du Zhong, who had failed to kill Qi Xiu and had instead lost six hundred years of his lifespan to him.
Leaving bright, jarringly red, bloody footprints on the pitch-black ground, Du Zhong walked out of the Blood Pool expressionlessly and, with a wave of his hand, donned a dark robe. Transforming into a blood-red light, he flew towards the tranquil pond.
Beneath the withered tree, Mr. Li, who was playing chess with the sword-bearing woman at a stone table, suddenly paused his hand. Seeing this, the woman opposite him turned to look.
The blood-red light surged from afar, landing and transforming back into Du Zhong.
"Failed?" Without looking at Du Zhong, Mr. Li remained calm, his gaze still on the chessboard, as if he already knew the outcome.
"Du Zhong has failed the task entrusted by you, sir. Please mete out my punishment." Kneeling on one knee before Mr. Li, Du Zhong presented the blood-red saber with both hands and spoke in a solemn voice.
"Stand up. The ’Variable’ is elusive and immeasurable, and is protected by great destiny in the unseen world. I didn’t harbor much hope when I sent you this time."
Just as Du Zhong was about to rise upon hearing this, Mr. Li spoke again: "However, while the death penalty may be spared, worldly punishment is unavoidable. Mingyue, extract his soul and cast it into Iron Encirclement Mountain. The term will be three hundred years."
