Chapter 77

Nearly two months later, it was still the hour of Zi, and within that small rear garden, Zhuang Wudao sat at the center of the spirit array, with threads of crimson-yellow fire swirling around him.

Originally, this fire, which should have ignited anything it touched and eventually petrified all living things, had become particularly gentle under the illumination of the Tianxuan star power. It seemed as if there were invisible threads restraining it, preventing the fire from leaving a ten-foot radius around Zhuang Wudao.

It had been over fifty days since he first absorbed the residual fire of the Stone Brightness Essence Flame. The Stone Brightness True Flame within his body had been completely absorbed. The fireball located between his chest and abdomen, near his spleen and stomach, had grown larger.

However, after absorbing the Stone Brightness Essence Flame, it could not immediately form a fire seed. It required daily nourishment with star power to restore its vitality. During the process of the essence flame growing stronger, he also infused his own spiritual intent and true essence into it.

Zhuang Wudao's cultivation had already advanced from the second level of the Qi Condensation stage to the fourth level, approaching its peak. The true essence flowing within his body was no longer as thin as when he first entered the Qi Condensation stage. Once the fire seed was formed, he could attempt to break through to the fifth level of the Qi Condensation stage!

The most gratifying aspect was the growth in his spiritual awareness after practicing the Tianxuan World-Illuminating True Scripture. Some spells commonly used by cultivators in the early Qi Condensation stage, Zhuang Wudao could now cast effortlessly, especially those of the Fire and Earth elements. For other spells of the Five Elements, due to lack of practice, he found them more difficult to cast. However, as long as they were Fire or Earth spells of no more than the first-grade lower quality, he could cast them with a mere thought, without needing special gestures or incantations to assist his divine intent.

Two months ago, he was only focused on external cultivation. However, now, even though he had not completely abandoned the practice of the Six Harmonies Form and Intent, he could be considered to be cultivating both internal and external methods, as well as spiritual awareness.

However, different paths led to the same destination. After reaching the Qi Condensation stage, whether it was spiritual power, internal breath, or blood and qi, they would all transform into true essence and magical power.

Whether it was the Bull Demon Yuanba Body, the Tianxuan World-Illuminating True Scripture, or the Six Harmonies Form and Intent, after reaching the first level of the Heaven stage, there was no distinction between internal and external. Although there might be a focus, the shortcomings could be gradually addressed.

"Unfortunately, today it still falls short. But at most by tomorrow, the Stone Brightness Essence Flame will form. Once the pseudo spirit aperture is opened, and the first level of the Tianxuan World-Illuminating True Scripture is completed, I will have the capital to face Gu Yueming head-on."

Seeing that the hour of Zi was almost over, Zhuang Wudao retracted the spell. The Tianxuan star power that had gathered instantly dissipated, and the Stone Brightness Essence Flame that had been swirling around his body quickly returned to his body, carefully gathered between his spleen and stomach. Then a burning sensation spread throughout his limbs and bones.

The more Zhuang Wudao absorbed the residual fire of the Stone Brightness Essence Flame, the more he could feel the terrifying nature of this fire.

If he had not practiced the Tianxuan World-Illuminating True Scripture, which could refine fire power and fire toxicity, and had the Bull Demon Yuanba Body to protect him, he would have turned to stone the moment the residual fire of the Stone Brightness Essence Flame entered his body.

Even so, Zhuang Wudao had several close calls where he almost lost control, causing the residual fire of the Stone Brightness Essence Flame to run rampant. Not only did his blood and qi burn, but his skin was also covered with stone scales.

It was only thanks to the Light Cloud Sword Spirit, which always woke up in time to help him suppress and regulate the situation, that he did not die from the rampant Stone Brightness Essence Flame.

For these past few dozen days, Zhuang Wudao did not dare to let the Light Cloud Sword leave his side, carrying it with him day and night.

—Before the fire seed of the Stone Brightness Essence Flame was formed and the pseudo spirit aperture was opened, the Stone Brightness Essence Flame was not considered to be fully refined, and there was always a risk of it running rampant and retaliating.

According to Yun'er, in the world, only someone who had cultivated the Bull Demon Yuanba Body, a supreme earth element cultivation technique, to the first level of the Heaven stage, and had someone as a medium to absorb part of the fire toxicity, could possibly refine this third-grade lower quality spiritual fire at the Qi Condensation stage.

However, the more Zhuang Wudao thought about it, the more he found it strange. The body of this unnamed cultivator contained a complete Stone Brightness Essence Flame, not just a burn from the essence flame.

To know that this third-grade lower quality spiritual fire, even peak Foundation Establishment cultivators would not dare to touch lightly.

Yet this unnamed cultivator was still alive, and the vitality within his body could even support him for three months. For a cultivator at the eighth level of the Qi Condensation stage, this was simply inconceivable.

If the complete Stone Brightness Essence Flame seed entered Gu Yueming's body, he would turn to stone in less than three days.

If someone used true essence to activate the essence flame, Gu Yueming could only last for a moment, at most half a moment.

"These days, I have repeatedly investigated, and this person's cultivation is indeed no more than the eighth level of the Qi Condensation stage. His physical body shows no abnormalities, similar to that of a Qi Condensation stage cultivator, and even slightly weaker. Could it be, as Yun'er speculated, that there is a secret method protecting his heart meridian? Unfortunately, I cannot probe deeper—"

Inside the unnamed cultivator's body, only the heart meridian was always shrouded in a special force, resisting the fire toxicity. Zhuang Wudao tried several times to probe with true essence but could not enter, ultimately failing.

It was also strange that after forty-nine days, the Stone Brightness True Flame within this person's body had been completely absorbed, and the fire toxicity had been largely eliminated. According to logic, he should have woken up by the twentieth day, but he remained in a coma.

Qi Condensation stage cultivators cannot abstain from food, so someone had to feed him rice porridge daily. Acupuncture had to be applied continuously to maintain his vitality. His pulse had to be checked regularly to prevent the recurrence of fire toxicity, which was extremely troublesome.

Zhuang Wudao was puzzled, but it was just a doubt. The life and death of this unnamed cultivator did not really concern him. He had decided that if this person did not wake up within a month before he left for Lichen's main mountain, he would sell him. Without the residual body of the Stone Brightness Essence Flame, he could fetch a good price.

After getting up, Zhuang Wudao felt a surge of qi and blood, and his spirit was still vigorous. If it weren't for the heat in his chest, his body would be in perfect condition.

It was different from two months ago, when each practice of the Tianxuan World-Illuminating True Scripture would leave him exhausted. Cultivating this method not only did not consume his mental energy but also helped him recover.

The Tianxuan World-Illuminating True Scripture was cultivated using star power. Cultivators of this method were stronger at night, with their true essence and spell power being extremely powerful. During the day, their strength was suppressed by two to three tenths. It was not until the third level of the Heaven stage that they could be unaffected by sunlight.

"It is said that after cultivators achieve success, they do not need to sleep. They only need to meditate for one or two hours daily to recover, with the quality far surpassing that of ordinary sleep. During meditation, one feels as if they are about to ascend to immortality, like having eaten an extremely hallucinogenic herb, truly a pleasure. It is said that some Golden Core cultivators often meditate for ten years at a time in their caves, unwilling to wake up unless absolutely necessary. This sounds exaggerated, but it might be true—"

Leaving the rear garden, Zhuang Wudao's gaze subconsciously drifted to the side room in the small courtyard. Still worried, Zhuang Wudao hesitated for a moment before entering.

He saw that the unnamed cultivator still had his eyes tightly closed, showing no signs of waking. However, when Zhuang Wudao probed his pulse again, he was slightly surprised and let out a gasp. He found that the special force protecting the heart meridian was now gone. His true essence could now enter freely, and the condition of the heart meridian could be fully explored.

In an instant, several extremely profound and incomplete runes formed in Zhuang Wudao's mind.

"Hmm? So it's the Heart Locking and Spirit Protecting Talisman. No wonder this person could maintain a thread of life after the Stone Brightness Essence Flame entered his body, without turning to stone. Sword Master, the person who can create the Heart Locking and Spirit Protecting Talisman must have at least the cultivation of a late-stage Golden Core. Each talisman requires the loss of about ten years of foundation, so few people create them easily."

"Late-stage Golden Core?"

Zhuang Wudao drew in a cold breath: "Yun'er, do you mean to say that this person is likely a junior relative or disciple of a late-stage Golden Core cultivator? By the way, now that the Heart Locking and Spirit Protecting Talisman has lost its power, is it a blessing or a curse for him?"

"It is a blessing, not a curse."

Yun'er explained coldly: "The Heart Locking and Spirit Protecting Talisman can protect a thread of life, but it also locks his mind, making it difficult for him to recover. Now that the talisman has lost its power, he will likely wake up within one or two days. However, for the Sword Master, this may not be a good thing."

Zhuang Wudao was taken aback, somewhat puzzled, and then heard Yun'er continue: "Can the Sword Master really be sure that the person he saved is a righteous person who will repay kindness? Most cultivators in the world have cold and unfeeling personalities. If this person wakes up and is of a gentle nature, he might just leave without a trace. If he is of an evil nature, he might repay kindness with enmity and kill to vent his anger. If the Sword Master expects gratitude, he might be mistaken."

Zhuang Wudao smiled, and over time, his sword spirit seemed to become more agile. Unlike when they first met in the dream, where she was high and mighty and seemed detached from the world, she now appeared more intelligent and quick-witted.

"That's why I didn't let you completely eliminate the fire toxicity, preparing to deal with him once he wakes up. If he has evil intentions, there will be a way to counteract him."

Zhuang Wudao laughed heartily: "You can rest assured! My brother has always had a keen eye for people, never making mistakes. If he was willing to save this person, there must be a reason. Look at the true essence in his body; there is not a trace of evil, the purest of all. Even if he is not a righteous person, he is certainly not an evil person."

Yun'er snorted, seemingly extremely dissatisfied with Zhuang Wudao's words. After a moment, her voice turned serious: "I couldn't see it before because his heart meridian was locked. Today, I noticed some similarities between the true essence in his body and the Upper Heaven Responding to the Origin of the Thunder True Method, which is passed down by the Lichen Sect."