C8 Heading to the Blackheaven Sect.
Nine Extremes Righteous Body!
Standing at the center, amidst the Eight Directions of the Universe, one cultivates the Nine Extremes Righteous Body to its ultimate potential!
"How commanding! To have the entire cosmos revolve around oneself, what a formidable presence!" exclaimed Chen Fann, his heart racing with excitement. The pulsating characters before him outlined the cultivation technique of the Nine Extremes Righteous Body.
This technique was a physical cultivation method, focusing on the principle of maintaining a righteous body. With the body as the central axis, it harnessed the Qi from all directions, refining oneself to achieve an indestructible physical state.
"I once inquired about Taotie's secret to immortality, and now, the method to forge an indestructible body has effortlessly fallen into my hands!" Chen Fann was shaking with elation, struggling to grasp the reality of the day's events, as if caught in a fantastical dream.
"You're losing your decorum, kid!" Taotie interjected, his voice tinged with irritation.
"Esteemed One, are you familiar with the Nine Extremes Righteous Body?"
"Nine Extremes Righteous Body? I've never encountered it."
Chen Fann was taken aback by Taotie's response. Given Taotie's endless years of existence, it was peculiar that he had no knowledge of the Nine Extremes Righteous Body.
Without waiting for further questions, Chen Fann eagerly recounted his experience to Taotie, opting for full disclosure.
Yet, when he attempted to relay the details of the technique, he found himself inexplicably unable to utter a word.
"Judging by your account, this technique must possess staggering might! But why is it unknown to me? Something's amiss," Taotie mused, confounded by the mystery and eventually resigning himself to the fact that no matter how exceptional the technique, it paled in comparison to his own innate divine powers.
Crack! Crack!
Two sharp sounds seized everyone's attention.
"Brother, brother, please wake up!"
"Xiao Qin, be patient. Your brother can't awaken just yet; it will take some time."
"Big brother, how much longer must we wait?"
"Regaining one's senses requires time; it could be swift or gradual. But don't fret. Perhaps by tonight, your brother will come around."
"Truly? Then Xiao Qin will go to sleep right away!" Overwhelmed with relief, Xiao Qin dashed off to the adjacent room, her tears drying in the wake of newfound hope.
Crack!
The sound of breaking echoed once more.
"It's shattered!"
By the fourth crack, Chen Fann had already spotted an ancient jade disc emerging from the young man's body.
"This is!!!" Taotie was utterly astounded, his massive head frozen in disbelief for a long while.
"Your Highness, what is this object?"
"The Dao Disc!"
"The Dao Disc?"
"Lad, you've stumbled upon great fortune. Such an artifact, I've only glimpsed once in the distant past. The bearer of this item is no ordinary individual."
Taotie's sigh carried a newfound respect as he regarded Chen Fann with a changed gaze.
"Was it I who chose you, or you who chose me?" he pondered, his certainty wavering.
Could this be the work of fate?
It seemed likely.
Yet, Chen Fann harbored unspoken queries.
How had such a potent relic found its way here?
Why was I able to effortlessly break the seal on my senses?
With a mind heavy with thoughts, Taotie offered no further insight, leaving Chen Fann to set aside his questions. After all, the Dao Disc was a mystery far beyond his current understanding, not meant for him to decipher.
Chen Fann was wrestling with the fact that he had effortlessly taken an opportunity meant for another young man. It weighed on his conscience, knowing he had claimed something that wasn't his.
"Feeling conflicted?" Taotie, who had lived eons, could read Chen Fann's thoughts just from his expression.
"I do feel a bit guilty."
"There's really no need," Taotie said after a pause. "Consider this: without my guidance, who would have known how to lift the seal on the five senses?"
"The fact that you stumbled upon it means it's your fortune, even the act of taking a life."
Chen Fann was taken aback, grasping the meaning behind Taotie's words, and frowned in contemplation.
Taotie, seeing him lost in thought, chose to close his eyes, remaining silent.
Chen Fann shook off his musings, eager to begin practicing the Nine Extremes Authentic Body Technique. Cultivating the physical body was a different beast from Dharma practice—slower and more challenging—but its drawbacks paled in comparison to its real-world effectiveness.
One force to shatter a myriad of techniques—this wasn't just an empty phrase.
The introduction to the Nine Extremes Body Technique emphasized the Authentic Body, but this stumped Chen Fann.
"Why isn't there an explanation for what the Authentic Body is?"
He was frustrated. Understanding the Authentic Body was crucial, yet he was clueless about it. It was like having a treasure without the key to unlock it.
Worse still, Taotie was unresponsive, leaving him in a state of urgency.
"Am I doomed to never find the way in?"
The more he dwelled on it, the more irate and restless he became, eventually deciding to push it aside and try to sleep.
But sleep eluded him, and after a heavy sigh, he wandered into the courtyard to gaze at the moon, lost in thought.
"A day of the three has already slipped by, bringing the Blackheaven Sect's recruitment closer."
Chen Fann's concern grew. His Dantian had degraded from the exalted Supreme Purple Pole to a common state, casting doubt on his ability to clear the aptitude assessment.
Failing to join the sect meant remaining an independent cultivator. Although he had Taotie's presence, the creature wasn't human and couldn't impart certain teachings.
He resolved to take things as they came and at least make an attempt.
Before he knew it, the night had given way to dawn.
A soft grunt caught Chen Fann's attention in the early light.
"I've been up all night," he muttered to himself.
Recalling the previous day's events, he felt a twinge of guilt and hesitated to approach, opting instead to wake Xiao Qin and let them have their moment of grief.
Soon, heavy footsteps approached from behind, and Chen Fann, touching his nose, looked on awkwardly.
Thump! Thump!
"Young Hero, thank you for saving my life. I, Guo Zhengjie, am eternally grateful and will never forget this debt!"
"Big brother, thank you for saving us!"
Thud! Thud! Thud!
Chen Fann could no longer feign ignorance. He hurried over and helped the siblings to their feet.
"There's no need for such formalities."
"No, we can never forget a life-saving grace. Whatever you ask of us, we are ready to oblige!"
"Let's circle back to that. Could you walk me through what happened?"
"Well, it's a bit embarrassing, but during my scuffle with Chao Tianhu, I stumbled upon a jade plate. Out of nowhere, it merged into my body, and I blacked out, clueless about everything that followed."
"A scuffle? With Chao Tianhu, a poison cultivator, and you came out unscathed?" Chen Fann was taken aback, not having pegged him for a cultivator.
"I'm actually an outer sect disciple of the Blackheaven Sect. I was so badly mistreated there that I fled in a fit of rage," Guo Zhengjie confessed with a heavy sigh.
"The Blackheaven Sect?" Chen Fann was astonished. He hadn't expected to encounter someone from the Blackheaven Sect in this place.
"I was actually on my way there. What are the odds?"
"You're heading to the Blackheaven Sect?" Now it was Guo Zhengjie's turn to be taken aback.
Once the surprise settled, Guo Zhengjie pondered for a moment and then pressed a token into Chen Fann's palm.
"Master, this is my identity token. I'm just a nondescript outer sect disciple, hardly memorable. This token might come in handy for you!"
Chen Fann hesitated, furrowing his brow. "But what about you?"
"After everything I've been through, my desire to cultivate has waned. I plan to observe three years of mourning for my father, and afterward, live out better days with my sister."
Noticing Guo Zhengjie's despondent state, Chen Fann found it difficult to offer consolation. He simply bid farewell and made haste toward the Blackheaven Sect.
With only two days to make the journey, it was going to be tight!
As he crossed the threshold of the main gate, Chen Fann felt a swirl of emotions.
There were some things, some people, he had to confront.
His thoughts drifted to that graceful silhouette.