Chapter 8

"Master left behind this imprint of his true self, named the Fuxi Divine Statue, which contains many profound truths of his enlightenment of the Heavenly Dao. By contemplating it, you can not only strengthen your divine soul, but also gain insight into the Heavenly Dao. Most importantly, with this imprint of the true self, you can cultivate the supreme body refinement technique — the *Zhou Tian Star Slaying Body Refinement Technique*!"

Before Chen Xi could ask, Ji Yu seemed to have already seen through his thoughts and slowly said, "In the ancient times, people believed that my master deduced the profound truths of the Heavenly Dao by observing the River Chart, thus achieving enlightenment and reaching the pinnacle. However, no one knew that before observing the River Chart, my master's body had already reached a transcendent and sacred realm, and his body refinement technique was sufficient to establish a Dao tradition and achieve a foundation for eternity."

"Unfortunately, my master left in a hurry, leaving behind only the *Zhou Tian Star Slaying Body Refinement Technique*."

After saying this, Ji Yu's expression turned somber, as if lost in endless reminiscence, and he remained silent.

Chen Xi silently pondered the information revealed in Ji Yu's words, his heart surging with emotion, and he forgot to speak for a long time. Finally, he asked, "Senior, I once heard that there is a copy of the River Chart hidden in this cave. Is it true or false?"

Ji Yu was taken aback, staring straight at Chen Xi with a strange voice, "Don't you understand yet? That imprint of the true self was left by my master after observing the River Chart and comprehending the Heavenly Dao. It inherently contains a thread of the true essence of the River Chart. Now that you have obtained the imprint of the true self, it is as if you have obtained a thread of the true essence of the River Chart. Why do you still desire the copy?"

Chen Xi suddenly understood. The rumor about the River Chart copy was a misunderstanding. The true essence of the River Chart was actually contained within the imprint of the true self left by the cave's master.

Fortunately, he had accidentally obtained it. Perhaps in the future, he could use it to find the true River Chart!

"Alright, I have told you everything you need to know. Do you have any more questions?" Ji Yu shook his dragon-like head, his attitude quite friendly, clearly regarding Chen Xi as a disciple worthy of inheriting his master's legacy.

"I..." Chen Xi opened his mouth but found too many doubts to ask, unsure which to start with.

Ji Yu couldn't help but guide him, "Your current strength is poor, and your body is weak. I suggest you first cultivate the *Zhou Tian Star Slaying Body Refinement Technique*. Once your body refinement and qi cultivation both reach the Purple Mansion realm, you should be able to pass the first trial of the Heavenly Peak and receive the corresponding reward. As for other matters, thinking too much is futile."

Chen Xi was stunned, "But I don't know where the *Zhou Tian Star Slaying Body Refinement Technique* is, or how to cultivate it."

Ji Yu dismissed it, "When you leave, I will teach it to you. Do you have any more questions? If not, I will teach you the technique and send you away."

"Senior, wait a moment."

Chen Xi hurriedly called out, "You mentioned that passing the first trial of the Heavenly Peak would grant a corresponding reward. What exactly is involved?"

Ji Yu shook his head, "I am just the spirit of the cave, how would I know these things? However, I do know that after you pass the first trial, for every three days you spend cultivating in the cave, only one day passes outside. This is extremely beneficial for your cultivation."

Manipulating the flow of time?

Chen Xi drew a sharp breath, his heart filled with shock. Such a technique was almost divine!

Imagine, cultivating for three days in the cave while only one day passes outside. Wouldn't he gain two extra days of cultivation? If he stayed here every day, wouldn't he...

The more Chen Xi thought, the more excited he became, almost afraid he couldn't bear the joy. He was only at the Third Stage of the Innate Realm, having lived in Songyan City since childhood, and had no idea such divine techniques existed, capable of manipulating time.

"If you can pass the second trial of the Heavenly Peak, staying here for nine days will be equivalent to one day outside. Passing the third trial will extend it to eighty-one days, and so on, until you pass the eighteenth trial, at which point time here will be absolutely frozen compared to the outside world."

Ji Yu, seemingly oblivious to Chen Xi's mixed thoughts, continued, "But don't get too excited yet. The first trial of the Heavenly Peak is not easy to pass. With your current cultivation, entering it would be like courting death. Focus on improving your cultivation and diligent practice; that is the most important thing for you now."

Chen Xi quickly calmed down. Indeed, passing the first trial required reaching the Purple Mansion realm in both body refinement and qi cultivation. What about the second trial? What level of cultivation would be needed? And the third, fourth... all the way to the eighteenth? Could they be passed so easily?

Effort brings reward. Without hard work, how could he become a true powerhouse? Desires and distractions are the root of evil. If he always sought shortcuts, he would never achieve the path of immortality!

With this, Chen Xi fully recovered from his excitement and shock, drenched in cold sweat. Looking up at Ji Yu, he saw the cave spirit, resembling a qilin, staring at him with eyes that seemed to see through his every thought, making him feel ashamed.

"Master once said, a clear and determined mind is necessary to comprehend what others cannot and reach the pinnacle of the Dao. Chen Xi, do not disappoint Master's expectations."

Ji Yu suddenly stepped into the clouds, letting out a thunderous roar that echoed through the heavens. His unicorn horn pointed at Chen Xi, and a streak of colorful light shot out, disappearing into Chen Xi's body.

Chen Xi felt a darkness before his eyes, and the next moment, he found himself in his room.

"Mother was right. Not only have I gained the recognition of the cave spirit and the imprint of the true self left by the cave's master, but I have also indirectly obtained a thread of the true essence of the River Chart. With diligent cultivation, I can certainly become stronger!"

Looking around his familiar room, Chen Xi couldn't help but take a deep breath.

Thinking about it, he returned to his mind's sea, gazing at the ancient and vast Fuxi Divine Statue, his heart filled with admiration.

Observing the River Chart to deduce the Heavenly Dao and reaching the pinnacle of the Dao, could this senior be named Fuxi? What level of cultivation did he reach?

After a long moment, Chen Xi reached out to the streak of colorful light floating before him. This light was left by the cave spirit Ji Yu before he left, and it should be the supreme body refinement technique — the *Zhou Tian Star Slaying Body Refinement Technique*!

Swish~

As soon as his fingertips touched it, the colorful light transformed into countless dancing stars. Upon closer inspection, these stars were formed by ancient characters, each about the size of a palm, shimmering with a vibrant and lively aura, dancing gracefully.

"Condense!"

A light and ethereal voice echoed in his mind's sea, a single word carrying an aura of supreme authority, making one feel an irresistible sense of reverence.

Before Chen Xi could identify the source of the voice, the dancing characters suddenly aligned, forming a page of text, each character radiating countless rays of light!

Lifting his eyes, Chen Xi felt a buzzing in his mind as the mysterious characters flowed into his consciousness, indelibly imprinted.

"Indeed, it is the *Zhou Tian Star Slaying Body Refinement Technique*. What a unique body refinement technique!"

After a quick read, Chen Xi was filled with awe. Using the power of the stars to refine the body—such a technique existed in the world?

In Songyan City, body cultivators were generally looked down upon compared to qi cultivators. Those who chose the path of body cultivation were often poor and destitute, refining their bodies to find a job to support their families, such as workers in quarries or porters in warehouses, essentially laborers.

The reason was that the path of body cultivation was extremely difficult and painful, with extremely harsh conditions for advancement. While the path of qi cultivation was also demanding in terms of talent, with diligent practice, it was far easier than the path of body cultivation, leading to fewer people choosing the latter.

Moreover, even with poor talent, as long as one chose the path of qi cultivation, they could find a decent and respectable job in Songyan City, such as a spirit farmer, a beast tamer, a spirit chef, or an apprentice in a talisman, alchemy, or weapon-making workshop. The treatment, status, and income were far better than that of a laborer body cultivator.

Chen Xi, having grown up in the slums of Songyan City, had often seen many body cultivators working as laborers and was well aware of their living conditions. Therefore, he had never considered the path of body cultivation.

However, after seeing the *Zhou Tian Star Slaying Body Refinement Technique*, Chen Xi completely changed his mind.

Think about it, the senior Fuxi, the master of the cave spirit Ji Yu, had reached the point of establishing a Dao tradition and achieving a foundation for eternity through body cultivation alone. How could Chen Xi still look down on body cultivators?

"From today on, besides talisman making and qi cultivation, I must also cultivate the *Zhou Tian Star Slaying Body Refinement Technique*. The time available for cultivation is becoming increasingly tight, but as long as it makes me stronger, these efforts are worth it."

Chen Xi pondered and planned, then suddenly remembered something. According to Senior Ji Yu, contemplating the imprint of the true self left by the cave's master could strengthen the divine soul. Most importantly, when the divine soul reached a certain level, it could grasp the true essence of the River Chart and find its hiding place...

Thinking of this, Chen Xi shook his head. Senior Fuxi observed the River Chart and comprehended the Dao because his strength had already reached a terrifying level. With his current cultivation at the Innate Realm, even if he obtained the River Chart by chance, he would likely not understand it and it could be more harmful than beneficial. His current priority was to improve his strength.

Having thought this through, Chen Xi felt a surge of energy. Seeing the sky beginning to brighten, he no longer wanted to stay in bed. After a quick wash, he planned to wake his younger brother to practice swordsmanship but found his brother already gone from the room, which made him pause. So early, where could his brother have gone?

Stepping outside, he saw no sign of Chen Hao practicing in the courtyard, which only increased his confusion. Since his brother's right hand was disabled, he rarely went out and always informed Chen Xi before leaving. What was different today?

At that moment, Xi Xi ran into the courtyard, waving her small hands and panting, "Brother Chen Xi, Chen Hao is fighting with someone. You should go and see!"

Chen Xi's heart tightened, "Xi Xi, where did you see him?"

Xi Xi answered obediently, "At the Tianxing Sword Academy. My mother sent me to inform you. She has already gone there."

——

It was already written, but I was locked in the small black room and couldn't come out. Before the auto-update function, it was a bit late. Please understand.

Tianxing Sword Academy?

Chen Xi frowned, a sense of foreboding rising in his heart.

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