Chapter 10: Kaiyang Sect

The Heavenly Demon Body Tempering Technique?

Seeing this, Old Master Zhong's eyes lit up.

The Heavenly Demon Body Tempering Technique, consisting of over thirty thousand characters, was learned by Old Master Zhong in the same way he had learned the Red Phoenix Heavenly Scripture. He spent five days in the cave, memorizing it all.

The Heavenly Demon Body Tempering Technique is not a formal cultivation method, but rather an auxiliary technique similar to stimulating one's potential.

True Qi, True Essence, based on their intensity, can be used to unleash the Heavenly Demon Body Tempering Technique, allowing one to burst forth with several times their normal strength for an hour, depending on the level of cultivation.

There are twelve levels in total. If one cultivates to the twelfth level, they can unleash thirteen times their strength. How monstrous is this ability?

After using the technique for an hour, one must also experience a period of weakness, ranging from one to five days. During this time, one's strength drops to less than half, or even just one-tenth of their original strength.

After the period of weakness, everything returns to normal. However, the Heavenly Demon Body Tempering Technique is different from ordinary body tempering techniques. Each time it is used, the rapidly consumed energy does not disappear but is transformed into a force to temper the body. This made Old Master Zhong feel a great sense of surprise, much like the monstrous physical strength of the fierce deity.

The Heavenly Demon Body Tempering Technique?

It does not conflict with other cultivation methods and can be practiced alongside them. However, he had already memorized the thirty thousand characters. What about this black cloth? Should it be passed down to future generations? Nonsense, it must be destroyed.

How to destroy it? Even Yin Qi cannot corrode it. What to do?

Regardless, Old Master Zhong took out a flint and struck it against the black cloth.

"Zzz..."

The black cloth actually caught fire?

Seeing this, Old Master Zhong's mouth opened wide. Yin Qi couldn't destroy it, but Yang Qi, a small flame, could burn it?

Watching the black cloth slowly turn to ashes, Old Master Zhong felt greatly relieved.

Looking around, he took the fist-sized night pearl, which was clearly brought by the fierce deity and others. It had no dust on it.

Leaving the cave, he looked back at it. Old Master Zhong would not stay here any longer. If someone else came, he would be dead for sure.

He found some stones to block the cave entrance and memorized the location. Then, he crossed the mountain and continued north.

Finding a secluded valley, Old Master Zhong buried the night pearl in a hidden spot. Regardless of its value, he did not plan to carry it, fearing it might be recognized in the future. He would come back for it when he had the strength.

Finding a quiet place, Old Master Zhong practiced the Heavenly Demon Body Tempering Technique once.

Like the Red Phoenix Heavenly Scripture, the first level was the easiest to practice. After a month, he mastered the key points. However, he did not use it out of curiosity to see its effects, as the period of weakness would make him vulnerable to fierce beasts.

Now, it was important to go to the Kaiyang Sect.

He traveled through mountains and rivers, heading quickly towards the Kaiyang Sect. Along the way, he encountered some demonic beasts. Fortunately, Old Master Zhong had a stroke of luck. Once, he encountered a black leopard demonic beast. If not for using the Heavenly Demon Body Tempering Technique to double his strength and using the Red Phoenix Mist to drug the leopard, he would have been finished.

After using the Heavenly Demon Body Tempering Technique once, his body indeed weakened for a day, but it quickly recovered. Moreover, his body became much harder.

One and a half months later, he finally arrived at the Kaiyang Sect, wearing tattered clothes and carrying a small bundle.

The Kaiyang Sect was located in a mountain range shrouded in mist. It was not hard to see that a powerful array was hidden there.

Outside the mountain gate was a heavenly stele, or rather, a stone mountain split in half. On the flat side, three characters were written in a bold, dragon-like script.

"Kaiyang Sect"

This was the mountain gate of the Kaiyang Sect.

The area around the heavenly stele was vast and open, even high-level demonic beasts dared not approach privately.

In front of him, besides the heavenly stele, was a thatched hut not far away. Outside the hut was a vegetable garden.

As Old Master Zhong focused his gaze there, the thatched hut suddenly opened, and an old man with white hair, looking even older than Old Master Zhong, slowly walked out.

Seeing Old Master Zhong, the old man's cloudy eyes flashed with a hint of curiosity, and he walked over lightly.

"What brings you here?" the old man asked indifferently.

"I am Zhong Shan, greeting the senior," Old Master Zhong immediately said.

"Zhong Shan?" The old man paused slightly, thought for a moment, but could not recall who Zhong Shan was. He looked back at Zhong Shan.

"May I ask if you are from the Kaiyang Sect?" Zhong Shan asked respectfully.

"Indeed, I am the gatekeeper of the Kaiyang Sect. What brings you here?" the old man said indifferently, as if the sudden appearance of a person could not stir any ripples in his heart.

Seeing the old man's attitude, Zhong Shan frowned, his mind racing. Although Old Master Zhong's cultivation might be much weaker than these cultivators, he had one strength that did not fall short of the high-ranking cultivators.

His heart. In fifty-five years, although not long, Old Master Zhong had rolled in the mundane world and had long seen through the hearts and natures of many people. At this moment, his heart was clear. If the old man were merely a gatekeeper as he claimed, his attitude would not be like this.

"May I ask for the senior's name?" Zhong Shan asked.

"Name? What name could I have? My cultivation failed, and I am nearing the end of my life. I am just a gatekeeper, you may call me 'Guardian Mountain.'" The old man smiled indifferently.

"Guardian Mountain senior, I, Zhong Shan, have been entrusted by a senior of the Kaiyang Sect to deliver a jade tablet to the sect leader and convey the words of the senior from back then," Zhong Shan said.

"Jade tablet?" Guardian Mountain frowned.

Zhong Shan quickly took out the jade tablet from his chest, which had a restriction placed on it, with great care.

Seeing the jade tablet, Guardian Mountain's cloudy eyes clearly paused. He reached out as if to grab it, but after just a moment, his eyes returned to their cloudy state, and he nodded at Zhong Shan.

"Give me the jade tablet, I will go and inform them," Guardian Mountain nodded.

"Yes," Zhong Shan nodded in response.

The change in Guardian Mountain's expression did not escape Zhong Shan's notice, but he did not expose it. He just kept this guess in mind.

Guardian Mountain took the jade tablet and slowly walked to the foot of the nearby mountain. Then, his figure flickered and disappeared before Zhong Shan, clearly entering the array.

Zhong Shan waited patiently outside the array, until about an incense stick later.

Suddenly, three people flew out from the array in the distance.

All three were standing on clouds. In the center was a man in a Daoist robe, looking like a mortal in his sixties, holding the jade tablet Zhong Shan had given. On the left was a woman in a white Daoist robe, looking somewhat old but still graceful. On the right was a middle-aged man with a sword-like brow and star-like eyes.

The three emerged from the array, all frowning as they looked at Zhong Shan.

"I am Zhong Shan, greeting the three seniors," Zhong Shan immediately bowed.

"Are you the one who delivered the jade tablet?" the central old man asked, frowning as he stared at Zhong Shan.

"Yes," Zhong Shan nodded immediately.

"Hmm, follow me to the Kaiyang Hall," the old man said.

Then, the old man waved his hand, and a white cloud appeared under Zhong Shan's feet, carrying him as he followed the three into the array.

The white cloud flew along a strange path, and soon they saw the interior. Although the scenery inside was also mountainous, it was vastly different from what was seen from the outside, suggesting that the outside was a massive illusion.

Inside, there were valleys, waterfalls, lakes, bamboo groves, and various buildings.

The group flew very quickly and soon arrived at the top of a high mountain. On the mountain top was a large square and a huge palace.

The four of them flew directly into the palace. As they entered, Zhong Shan saw the plaque on the palace.

"Kaiyang Hall"

Inside the hall, there was no one.

---

The hall was empty.