Longevity Chronicles-Chapter 43 - 41 Tao Qian Slays the Dragon, 9 True Spirit Sounds

Outside Seeking Immortal County, a mass of dark clouds enshrouded with faint thunderous sounds fell into a deep valley.

Before long, a somewhat disheveled Tao Qian emerged from the valley.

Though he had escaped from the "Corpse Slave," and even just wasted a whiff of Nascent Soul Source Energy, the cost was a bit smaller than Tao Qian had anticipated.

Nevertheless, this did not prevent Tao Qian from feeling stifled. He believed that other young cultivators who had escaped were likely experiencing similar feelings.

"Beautiful Corpse Bodhisattva!"

Tao Qian murmured those four words and silently took note of this grudge.

Seeking revenge?

In the short term, it was not possible.

But it was still necessary to keep a little account, and if an opportunity arose in the future, Tao Qian, with his pettiness, would certainly not let it pass.

As for now, he simply discerned his bearings and headed unhesitatingly towards a direction that deviated from Seeking Immortal County.

He had originally planned to return to his bookshop after strolling through Tengshe Square.

But now, he had changed his mind.

"The Cultivation World is too dangerous. Just walking down the street could lead to unforeseen disasters. One can imagine how many troubles one might encounter without reason in the future."

"As long as there is a chance to enhance one's strength, there must be no delay. The Root Skill has been obtained, and it's time to begin the first practice of cultivation."

Not long after these thoughts materialized, Tao Qian's figure had already appeared in a desolate mountain creek.

If he were practicing some not-so-complex Divine Power Secret Technique, Tao Qian would've just done it at his bookshop.

But the Root Skill was different.

Moreover, this was his first time cultivating, and his body still contained an intense Bo Dragon Driving Origin Qi, which was extremely important and could not be taken lightly.

Tao Qian stood at a higher ground, looking towards the creek in front of him. It was very deep and steep, and not so wide. Through the gap of roughly dozens of feet, one could faintly hear the sound of water below, and amidst the rising white mist, some short green trees and clumps of aquatic plants were dimly visible.

This place was called Tiger Jiao Gorge, because some woodcutters and hunters occasionally heard a sound similar to a Jiao Dragon roaring from the bottom of the gorge, hence the naming.

Seeking Immortal Hermit Wu Ming heard about it and came from afar, watching patiently for half a month but never saw a glimpse of the Jiao Dragon. Eventually, unable to contain his curiosity, he took a risk and climbed down to the bottom of the gorge.

He did not encounter any Jiao Dragon or Exotic Beasts, but instead found a not-so-large cave in the middle of the cliff wall, completely empty inside, without any sign of living creatures. After sitting in the cave for several days, Wu Ming unveiled the mystery. The so-called "Jiao Dragon's roar" was actually the combined effect of the stream, air, and the gorge itself.

Disappointed and exhausted, he left without finding an Immortal—Wu Ming.

It was a pity for someone seeking Immortals, but for Tao Qian, it had a bit of use.

He found a huge rock from somewhere and, with a move of his body, plunged straight into the bottom of the gorge.

Half a second later, Tao Qian appeared inside a stone cave.

The cave was quite deep; the outer layer was more moist and had accumulated a puddle of water that looked like a mirror on the ground, surrounded by various aquatic plants and algae.

But at the deepest part was a dry platform just enough to accommodate one person sitting cross-legged.

"Nice place!"

Not sure if it was because he had the Bo Dragon Bloodline, but Tao Qian actually felt that this desolate stone cave seemed quite comfortable.

After checking and observing for a while, Tao Qian's heart settled.

He directly blocked the cave entrance with the giant rock. Although it left him in complete darkness, for Tao Qian, half Abnormality and half Bo Dragon, this had no impact on him at all. In fact, it even aided in his meditation.

The conditions were simple, but it was his first cultivation.

As a newbie in the Cultivation World, Tao Qian was still fully prepared.

First, he summoned the moisture to cleanse his body, changed into new clothes, and lit the incense bought from the Joyful Treasure Pavilion, which was said to aid in "Concentrating and Calming."

Afterwards, Tao Qian faced east and tapped his teeth nine times—an action that Tao Qian didn't know if it had any use, but since it was the first time, the sense of ritual still had to be there.

With all preparations complete, Tao Qian then solemnly took out the "Spirit Treasure Nine Truths Diagram."

With all stray thoughts shattered, he opened the first page of the Secret Book and began to read intently.

Time passed indeterminately until Tao Qian slowly extracted himself from the book.

In his eyes, a clear sense of understanding flickered.

Some of the confusions he had since entering the Cultivation World were now suddenly clear.

Though he had yet to officially begin cultivating, Tao Qian had fewer worries and doubts deep within his heart.

"According to the Secret Book's statement, if I were an ordinary person with an empty body, to cultivate one of the Spirit Treasure Root Skills, I would only need to follow the steps systematically, diligently learning, chanting the treasure verses day and night. If the talent permits, life Spirit Treasure Source Qi would be born in the body after one cycle, it could attract Source Qi to refine the body after ten, and after a hundred, it could integrate Source Qi with the blood. After a thousand, not only could it define the Life Seed, but also there is a chance to naturally develop Divine Ability, leaping straight into the Qi Refining Realm."

"Of course, every word in the Spirit Treasure Nine Truths Diagram contains something special, and to chant it completely and correctly once is no simple matter."

"It could even be said to be extremely difficult, you should know that missing just one word makes all efforts in vain."

"Of course, this is a pure routine for a new person to practice the method, but it's different for a cultivator like me who has already acquired a certain Source Qi through Body Refining."

"To cultivate this method, the first step is to visualize the 'Spirit Treasure Nine Truths Map,' using the Divine Ability of this map to refine oneself, wash away all dust, and to refine all the Alien Species Source Qi in the body into the pure Spirit Treasure Source Qi."

"The refining process, depending on whether the Source Qi is pure or mixed, will result in either loss or gain."

"The 'Divine Power Exotic Skill' born from the Alien Species Source Qi will also undergo the corresponding Transformation, or it may disappear entirely..."

This last thought made Tao Qian hesitate.

Practicing the "Spirit Treasure Nine Truths Map," cleansing Bo Dragon Driving Origin Qi, the good outcome would be great, but at the same time the bad result was that he would lose affinity to wind, rain, thunder, and lightning, and might even lose the Divine Power "Bo Dragon Sound."

For the currently almost powerless Tao Qian, this was naturally a hit.

But then again, what was the use of having Bo Dragon Sound? All his Bloodline Divine Power came from the Bo Dragon Pearl Fragment, it seemed strong for now, but after all, was like water without a source, without a clear path ahead.

"Just talk about one without the basic methods of cultivation, he shouldn't even dream of stepping into the 'Qi Refining Realm.'"

"But it's different with the 'Spirit Treasure Nine Truths Diagram.'"

"This is one of the top fundamental methods in the world, though costly and risky, and seemingly hopeless in the eyes of others, Tao Qian knows that this magical skill is essentially a path that the 'Spirit Treasure Sect' uses to select new disciples."

"After possessing Spirit Treasure Source Qi, when casting magical skills such as the 'Small Innate Nascent Soul Escape Technique' and 'Secret Demon Sacrifice Body Sword Technique,' its power is far better than that of Bo Dragon Source Qi."

"Moreover, the results of purification might not necessarily be bad."

"I am proceeding with the practice!"

Light flashed in Tao Qian's eyes, his mind firmly decided.

He didn't start visualizing immediately but concentrated and calmed his mind once more.

Assuring himself of no distractions, Tao Qian then opened the 'Spirit Treasure Nine Truths Diagram,' flipping to the central page.

Yet what he saw depicted there was an unimaginable Innate Divine Being, reposing in the Yellow Room of Yanxi Cloud Palace, within the Seven Treasures Veil, as if making eye contact with any creature in front of the book.

Suddenly, a grand and profound Dao sound echoed in Tao Qian's mind: "Primordial Cave Void Nothingness, Three Qi Essence comes to the door. Zirong View of the Sky, Four Bright Planting Spirit Roots..."

Before Tao Qian could listen closely to this sound, an alien presence started rebelling within him.

"Roar!"

The familiar sound of the Bo Dragon fiercely erupted.

But this time, it wasn't external but internal.

The Bo Dragon Source Qi within his body sensed a catastrophe and surged violently from his limbs and internal organs, merging into a Bo Dragon silhouette that straddled the line between illusion and reality.

In the pitch-black cave, light suddenly flooded the area as the Bo Dragon silhouette roared angrily. From bottom to top, it leaped up, trying to escape directly through the Baihui point atop the skull and leave Tao Qian's body completely.

But at that moment, Tao Qian's voice, which seemed to have undergone a Daoist transformation, cold and detached, came through:

"You were meant as bait, once ingested by me, how could you possibly escape?"

Under these circumstances, as Tao Qian recited the Dao sound, indeed a special power was born.

A tremendous force followed Tao Qian's will, pressing down from above with the momentum to suppress.

Its force was like the Tianhe river running in reverse, its intention to purify all dust.

"Boom!"

The next second, the Bo Dragon silhouette was dispersed.

The rich and pure Bo Dragon Source Qi abruptly reverted to its origin, transforming into another kind of vast and pure, natural, and translucent special Source Qi. Like sweet rain from heaven, it showered down from the Baihui point and completely merged into Tao Qian's limbs and internal organs.

As the purification concluded, the Dao sound abruptly ceased, and Tao Qian's visualization came to a halt.

Deep in his mind, information about his own changes spontaneously emerged.

Tao Qian sensed with a thought, and immediately joy jumped into his eyes.

"I've succeeded!"

"All the Bo Dragon Source Qi in my body has been purified into Spirit Treasure Source Qi, the loss is there but not much, just a tenth or twentieth of it."

"My cultivation level is still in the 'Energy-Introducing Realm,' but I've jumped from the Body Refining Stage to the Blood Fusion Stage."

"Though I've lost the affinity for Wind, Rain, Thunder, and Lightning, I'm now closer to the nature of heaven and earth, which is the wonder of Spirit Treasure Source Qi."

"What's most surprising is the Divine Power 'Bo Dragon Sound,' which has also undergone purification and transformation, becoming another kind of special Divine Power called 'Nine True Spirit Sounds.'"

With these thoughts, Tao Qian realized something.

He smiled slightly, then formed a hand seal and said, "Nine Heavens Ultimate Truth, the Great Mysteries."

In an instant, the cave was bathed in bright light.

A Qingjing brilliance that could utterly dissolve all demon and devil aliens emerged. Amid this divine sound, Tao Qian stood up and approached a water puddle in front of him.

Using its mirror-like surface for reflection, sure enough, all traces of Bo Dragon features had vanished from his face.

Not only had he regained his Human Clan features, but there was also a jade-like luminous quality to his face, giving him an air of otherworldliness akin to an Immortal.

With such a temperament, if he were to don a Daoist robe, no one would doubt if he claimed to be an advanced disciple of the Daoist school.

"Hm."

"Now if I say I'm a Spirit Treasure Daoist, it's not much of a stretch."

Tao Qian voiced his thought with great satisfaction.

He safely put away the Secret Book and took bold steps towards the entrance of the cave, moving the boulder aside.

Judging the angle, he leaped, landing precisely above the creek.

It was also at just the right moment, as Tao Qian emerged from his isolation, the rising sun at the horizon cast billions of warming rays upon the earth. In front of him, the water mist rose from the mountain streams, and the birds in the forests were chirping competitively, with all the beasts awakening too. This magnificent scenery seemed to be a reflection of Tao Qian's mood at the moment.

"If the Cultivation World here were about Qingjing nature and harmony in the pursuit of longevity, then as I formally enter the Dao and obtain a New Divine Power, it would be appropriate to let out a loud cry to express my determination, spouting the Nine True Spirit Sounds and flaunt before all the beasts."

"Unfortunately, the world of cultivation is fickle and fraught with sudden troubles, so it's better to keep a low profile."

With that, Tao Qian patted his dust-free sleeves.

Then, with a posture aspiring to be transcendent (though the effect was mediocre), he used a "Flying Jump" technique and headed for Seeking Immortal County in the distance.

He had no choice; there were gains and losses.

After purifying all the Bo Dragon Source Qi in his body and officially practicing the 'Spirit Treasure Nine Truths Diagram,' entering the Energy Introduction and Blood Melting Stage and acquiring 'Nine True Spirit Sounds' Divine Power.

The first price to pay became apparent: he had lost the ability to manipulate Wind, Rain, Thunder, and Lightning and could not even perform short-distance flying.

"When there's a chance, I need to learn a flying technique. If I can't even levitate, how can that be considered cultivation?"

In the woods, some intelligent beasts watched enviously as the youth, who resembled a transcendent Daoist, passed. Little did they know his mind was filled with such worldly thoughts.

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