Chapter 46

When Meng Qi raised his question, Qi Zhengyan frankly replied, "I want to change my fundamental cultivation technique as soon as possible."

"Senior Brother Qi, are you dissatisfied with the Long River Sword Technique and the Autumn Water Sword Technique?" Jiang Zhwei's question was as direct as her sword technique, hitting the crux of the matter.

Qi Zhengyan pondered for a moment without giving a direct answer: "Given my talent and the impression I've made on the elders of the sect, unless I can break through to the Outer Scenery realm and become a formidable expert capable of standing on my own, I will never have the chance to learn the 'Heavenly Conferred Immortal Sword.' And if that day ever comes, it will already be too late to switch to the 'Heavenly Conferred Immortal Sword.' By then, my foundation will already be set, and it won't be as solid as others. Therefore, I need to change to a divine technique that directly points to the Dharmakaya realm as soon as possible."

In other words, the Long River Sword Technique and the Autumn Water Sword Technique at the Enlightenment stage were too low-level—the Long River Sword Technique was given to ordinary disciples to practice from the Qi Accumulation stage to the Enlightenment stage, while the Autumn Water Sword Technique was a relatively good sword technique at the Enlightenment stage, capable of paving the way to the Outer Scenery realm.

In the major sects, only those disciples who showed exceptional talent early on and were highly anticipated had the chance to observe the true meaning of the fundamental great techniques before reaching the Enlightenment stage. The rest of the disciples could only wait until they showed their worth and value in the future to gain the qualification to switch to the fundamental great techniques. By then, their foundations would already be set, and switching would often result in an unstable foundation and slow progress, with only a few managing to overcome this and make further breakthroughs.

"If we consider the long term, changing now is indeed a wise choice," Zhang Yuanshan thought carefully and actually agreed with Qi Zhengyan's decision. "What do you want to exchange for?"

Qi Zhengyan's lips tightened, his expression becoming more defined, as if he was a bit nervous and excited: "I have my eye on a divine technique. It has ten levels in total: two for Qi Accumulation, three for Enlightenment, three for Outer Scenery, and two for Dharmakaya. It can be exchanged separately, and unlike other divine techniques, it emphasizes the connection between heaven and man and the relationship with the external world even at the Qi Accumulation stage. This will make it easier to break through to the Outer Scenery realm in the future."

Since he was going to change his fundamental cultivation technique, he naturally wanted one with a bright future and immense power!

"I've seen this divine technique in the exchange catalog. It can evolve into a very powerful sword technique," Jiang Zhwei lightly patted the sword at her waist, her eyes filled with surprise and excitement. "It's called the 'Heavenly Mirror of the Universe'!"

Meng Qi almost spat out his saliva, coughed a few times, and said, "Senior Brother Qi, is it really the 'Heavenly Mirror of the Universe'?"

Damn, if I hadn't 'strayed onto the wrong path' and had to continue with the horizontal cultivation for now, I would have wanted to exchange for it too! Compared to other Dharmakaya-level ultimate techniques, it is divided more finely and is easier to exchange level by level.

"The 'Heavenly Mirror of the Universe' is an ultimate martial art from 'The Legend of the Heavenly Emperor,' created by the goddess Nüwa. When practiced to its peak, it can devour everything and destroy heaven and earth."

"Have you also paid attention to the 'Heavenly Mirror of the Universe'?" Qi Zhengyan asked casually. "The first level, 'White Cloud Smoke,' and the second level, 'Rose Dawn,' are both at the Qi Accumulation stage, requiring forty and eighty good deeds respectively, which is not expensive. The third level, 'Earth Kunlun,' at the Enlightenment stage, only costs two hundred good deeds."

"I first need to exchange for a Wisdom Pill and a bottle of Lingzhi Qi Supplement Pills, so I can only exchange for 'White Cloud Smoke' and 'Rose Dawn' with my current good deeds. After I learn the Autumn Water Sword Technique, I can exchange it to the Lord of the Six Paths of Rebirth next time, and with the remaining good deeds, I can exchange for 'Earth Kunlun.'"

The Autumn Water Sword Technique, which includes both the mind technique and the sword technique, is worth 380 good deeds. Exchanging it to the Lord of the Six Paths of Rebirth would reduce it by half, yielding only 190 good deeds. If Qi Zhengyan taught it to Meng Qi, each would only get 95 good deeds.

"This way, you will still have 30 good deeds left for unexpected situations," Zhang Yuanshan said without much comment.

Qi Zhengyan nodded lightly: "Yes, when my strength is weak, I should exchange for some weapons or hidden weapons for self-defense, but since Junior Brother Zhen has the Plum Rain Needle, I can confidently exchange for the third level of the 'Heavenly Mirror of the Universe.'"

"Senior Brother Qi, aren't you afraid of being discovered for practicing another sect's divine technique?" Meng Qi, seeing that Qi Zhengyan was determined, asked a question that he also had.

Qi Zhengyan's expression darkened slightly: "If there were other ways, would I choose to take the risk? But as an ordinary disciple, it's easier for me to get away with it. After reaching the Enlightenment stage, I can apply for an external journey or to guard the sect's external assets. At that time, the sea is vast and the sky is high, and I can practice the 'Heavenly Mirror of the Universe' without fear. If I encounter fellow disciples, as long as I don't frequently spar with them, they won't be able to see the roots of my internal technique."

He was already learning the sword techniques and the qi circulation routes from the Autumn Water Sword Technique and the Sunset Mind Technique, so he wouldn't expose anything while practicing.

"You can go on an external journey, but I don't know when I can. Sigh, I really want to leave Shaolin now and not have to live in constant fear." Meng Qi added silently, "Ideally, after learning the Golden Bell Cover or the Indestructible Body of the Buddha."

But that would make it even harder for Meng Qi to leave Shaolin.

Jiang Zhwei laughed at Meng Qi: "Leave Shaolin? Haven't you learned the Shaolin rules?"

"The rule book doesn't explain how to leave Shaolin, only the various punishments for breaking different rules, the most severe being the revocation of martial arts and expulsion from Shaolin." Meng Qi dared not use this method.

Jiang Zhwei smiled lightly: "It doesn't explain how to leave Shaolin because it's impossible to leave."

"Ah?" Meng Qi was shocked.

Jiang Zhwei's smile faded: "Joining a sect is a very serious matter. If you want to leave, the only way is to seriously violate the rules, have your martial arts revoked, and be expelled from the sect. I doubt you would be willing to pay such a price."

Before Meng Qi could ask, she continued: "Of course, I'm talking about formally leaving Shaolin. If you just want to go down the mountain, there are other ways. One is to go out with a high-ranking monk and find an opportunity to escape along the way, but generally, only disciples who have completed the Qi Accumulation stage are selected, and with a high-ranking monk watching, escaping would be very difficult."

"Two, after reaching the Enlightenment stage, you can pass through the Bronze Man Alley and gain the qualification to travel and act alone. At that time, you can disappear or fake your death, and you will be considered to have left Shaolin. However, the Bronze Man Alley is famous, and I don't have a 60% chance of success. You will probably have to wait a few more years. After all, under everyone's watchful eyes, you can't rely on the Lord of the Six Paths of Rebirth's body exchange to directly boost your strength from the initial Enlightenment stage or lower to the level needed to pass the Bronze Man Alley."

"Three, make a contribution and find an opportunity to become a lay disciple. After completing your studies, you can 'return home.'"

Listening to Jiang Zhwei's three methods, Meng Qi frowned. In the short term, none of them seemed feasible. The only one that looked easier to achieve was becoming a lay disciple, but the problem was that he was forcibly sent to Shaolin and was being watched by Xuanzang. Would he agree to let Meng Qi become a lay disciple and 'return home'?

Zhang Yuanshan listened quietly for a while and then sighed: "If Junior Brother Zhen were still a miscellaneous monk, he could leave the temple after his term. We made a mistake."

"It's fine. Others can leave, but I can't." Meng Qi understood this clearly. Xuanzang wouldn't let him leave the temple after his term.

So, for now, he could only be careful and take it one step at a time, not missing any opportunity to learn the 72 ultimate techniques!

After everyone finished their exchanges, Meng Qi thought about the previous matter and asked, "Miss Jiang, have you entered the Human List yet?"

Jiang Zhwei smiled: "I haven't officially left the mountain to travel the world, but because of the martial arts competition and the progress of opening four acupoints, I have a place at the bottom."

Speaking of the Human List, she frowned slightly: "If my guess is correct, Xiao Zi and Gu Xiaosang should be the same person, but why was she completely without martial arts at first? I can't be wrong about this."

"Ah, split personality? No, dual souls in one body?" Meng Qi was taken aback.

Jiang Zhwei pursed her lips: "I don't know. Even if it's dual souls in one body, the physical foundation wouldn't disappear. I couldn't have missed that she had martial arts."

She was quite annoyed with her oversight.

"The 'Scripture of the Unborn Mother's Descent' of the Luo Sect is known for its mysteriousness. Perhaps it's the effect of one of their divine techniques," Zhang Yuanshan speculated.

Jiang Zhwei puffed out her cheeks: "Maybe. It could also be the problem she mentioned before."

"Regardless, Gu Xiaosang is cunning and ruthless, and her martial arts are at such a high level. She will definitely make it to the Black List in the future," Zhang Yuanshan sighed.

"The Black List?" Meng Qi felt like a bumpkin from the countryside.

Jiang Zhwei smiled: "It's a list established by the major sects for evil and heretical forces, listing the top 100. Actually, it's a way to tell disciples that if they don't have the strength of the Outer Scenery realm, they should immediately avoid anyone on the list."

Suddenly, the Lord of the Six Paths of Rebirth's grand and cold voice echoed:

"Exchanges completed. Store your items and return to your own world."

Meng Qi thought for a moment and left the Plum Rain Needle in his own "room."

...

After a moment of darkness and then brightness, Meng Qi opened his eyes and saw Zhenhui sitting in meditation, a faint white vapor rising from his head.

He smiled and began to recall and ponder the first move of the Arhat Breaking Precepts Sword Technique.

At that moment, someone knocked on the door and shouted loudly, "Junior Brother Zhen, Junior Brother Zhenhui, Abbot Wusi has invited you to the Bodhi Hall."