Chapter 197: Qi Circulation Eleventh Floor

Xiao Yaoguang's hands, originally clasped behind his back, had fallen to his sides at some point.

He took two steps forward, brushing aside a drifting patch of clouds to gaze at Chen Lingxi from afar.

The junior from this local grotto-heaven still stood where the sword blade began, yet his aura shifted by the second.

His spiritual qi surged wildly within his qi sea, where a strand of precious qi was undergoing a transformation.

At the same time, Chen Lingxi's own aura grew increasingly sharp, and the sword light of the Thunder-Concealing Sword Scripture beneath his feet shifted in tandem.

"Just what is Chen Lingxi... doing?"

Xiao Yaoguang swallowed hard, watching Chen Lingxi intently.

To his surprise, he realized Chen Lingxi seemed to be comprehending the profound mysteries upon his blade and grasping the piercing sharpness inherent in his sword light. Was he using that insight to refine the sharp qi he had gathered for his Six Qi True Method, thereby making his own sword light even sharper?

So it was not that Chen Lingxi could not perceive the flaws in his Hanging Moon Sword Light—he simply did not care about them.

Chen Lingxi only cared about the true profundity hidden within this stream of sword light and its unique, piercing edge.

He was stealing his arts!

Xiao Yaoguang was not angry; instead, layers of radiant light bloomed in his eyes.

He abandoned all thought of withdrawing the sword light, choosing instead to stand exactly where he was and wait quietly for Chen Lingxi.

It took another cup of tea's time for the sharp edge radiating from Chen Lingxi's body to slightly restrain itself, yet the piercing aura of the thunderous sword light beneath his feet burned fiercer than ever.

"It seems Chen Lingxi has gained something from comprehending my sword light."

Delight still lingered on Xiao Yaoguang's face as he deliberately called out, "Chen Lingxi, if you can go no further, just let me know. I will withdraw the sword light."

Then...

To his shock, Xiao Yaoguang saw a faint smile surface on Chen Lingxi's face.

Immediately after, this young Qi Circulation cultivator—this native of the grotto-heaven who had no master to guide him—turned his head and slowly shook it at Xiao Yaoguang.

The next instant.

Xiao Yaoguang's expression shifted slightly.

He watched as Chen Lingxi took a single step forward, transforming into a streak of thunder that crossed from one end of the blade to the other in a fraction of a second.

The previously highly confident Xiao Yaoguang witnessed it firsthand: Chen Lingxi had traversed the sword light in a mere instant.

Xiao Yaoguang stood rooted in place. He was stunned at first, but undisguised delight soon washed over his face.

"Excellent, excellent!"

Xiao Yaoguang laughed aloud. With a sweep of his sleeve, the sharp sword blade spanning the sea of clouds dissipated, breaking down into motes of spiritual light.

At the same time, Xiao Yaoguang rose upon the clouds, leaving only a stream of divine sense to drop into Chen Lingxi's mind.

"I am Daoist Yaoguang of the Under-Dao Academy... wait patiently for good news. I will fetch the Chixuan Thunder for you, I will find the thunder-attracting mysterious stone for you, and I will rescue you from the disaster of bodily death and Dao erasure."

The voice boomed like thunder, echoing directly beside Chen Lingxi's ears.

And with that, Daoist Yaoguang rode off on the clouds, vanishing into the sea of clouds in the blink of an eye and leaving no trace behind.

"Daoist Yaoguang?" Chen Lingxi raised an eyebrow slightly, realizing this person had to be an expert from the Under-Dao Academy.

Expectation welled up within him.

'His cultivation is extraordinary. He must be aware of the Que Star Xi Family True Monarch's ritual to refine this grotto-heaven. Since he dared to make me such a promise, he must have some degree of certainty,' he thought.

A flash of pleasant surprise crossed Chen Lingxi's eyes. "If I had known this earlier, I would have joined the Under-Dao Academy right away. Why would I have needed to worry about finding a way to survive?"

"Good, good, good. In that case, I will quietly await Daoist Yaoguang's news."

He closed his eyes and sat cross-legged on the mountain peak once more, continuing to practice the Six Qi True Method.

Meanwhile, in the Under-Dao Academy.

Daoist Yaoguang and Daoist Shu Rong, whose eyes had been tightly shut, opened them at the exact same time.

A hint of joy surfaced once again on Daoist Yaoguang's face.

Seeing his expression, Chi Xinglai chuckled and asked, "It seems Chen Lingxi's talent is just as extraordinary as Junior Martial Sister claimed. He has caught your eye, Junior Martial Brother."

"He is even better than what Junior Martial Sister described." Daoist Yaoguang immediately stood up. "I will make a trip to the Queshi Stars right now to meet with the master of Que Star."

Chi Xinglai hurriedly stopped Daoist Yaoguang. "Senior Martial Brother, do not be hasty. The Queshi Stars are the domain of a True Monarch's immortal clan, after all, and they bear heavy prestige. Although you hold a great reputation, you have yet to attain the Golden Palace Realm. If you go to the Queshi Stars, I am afraid..."

Daoist Yaoguang immediately understood.

His status alone probably did not carry enough weight for a visit to the Queshi Stars.

Right then, the Xuanzang Master suddenly spoke up. "Since Chen Lingxi has caught Senior Martial Brother Yaoguang's eye, why don't Senior Martial Brother Chi and I make a trip to the Queshi Stars to meet the head of the Xi Family?"

Daoist Chixing was much smoother and more articulate than Daoist Yaoguang. Bringing him along was indeed a better choice.

Daoist Yaoguang bowed. "My thanks to the Xuanzang Master."

The Xuanzang Master rose to her feet. Her white robes fluttered, and the Dao Origin sweeping around her almost formed a tornado, rising and falling at her back.

She and Daoist Chixing stepped out of the palace hall together, vanishing in the blink of an eye.

Daoist Shu Rong felt that the matter was already settled. 'I originally thought I would have to use Chu Spirit Mountain to strike a deal with the Xuanzang Court, but I never expected Senior Martial Brother Yaoguang to take this even more seriously than I did, to the point of being willing to give up a grotto-heaven,' she thought.

Her eyes darted playfully as she smiled at Xiao Yaoguang. "Senior Martial Brother, I introduced such an excellent disciple to you. Once Chen Lingxi achieves success in his studies, you will finally have the upper hand against Daoist Chongjue of the Southern Heaven Region."

Xiao Yaoguang nodded slightly, a faint smile gracing his handsome face.

Chi Jianshu sighed inwardly. 'This Senior Martial Brother Yaoguang of mine only ever cultivates the sword. His grasp of worldly affairs is far too thin. To think he did not even understand such an obvious hint.'

So, Daoist Shu Rong simply asked straight out, "Once Chen Lingxi officially enters your tutelage, Senior Martial Brother Yaoguang, you will owe me a favor."

Xiao Yaoguang finally understood and nodded. "Of course."

Seeing how willing Xiao Yaoguang was, Daoist Shu Rong could not help but feel a pang of regret.

'Senior Martial Brother is so thrilled. It seems Chen Lingxi's talent is even greater than I imagined. If I had known... I would have taken him as my own disciple.'

Daoist Shu Rong let out a sigh and returned to the Pool Soul Courtyard.

Time passed quietly. In the blink of an eye, a whole month had gone by.

On this day, Daoist Shu Rong was cultivating in the Pool Soul Courtyard when she suddenly received a message from Daoist Yaoguang.

"It seems there is news," she muttered.

Over the past month, Lin Suri, who was stuck in the Qi-Depleted Grotto-Heaven, had been asking her about it every single day, bothering her to the point where she could not focus on healing her injuries.

Daoist Yaoguang's message today meant there was finally a result.

Daoist Shu Rong personally headed over to the Xuanzang Court. Upon stepping into the grand hall, she saw the Xuanzang Master frowning deeply on her Jade Platform.

Daoist Chixing and Daoist Yaoguang were standing off to the side.

Daoist Yaoguang's face was as dark as still water.

Chi Jianshu immediately realized that the outcome was likely far from ideal.

"Speaking of which," the Xuanzang Master said, "aside from lacking any Cauldron Vessels or an Immortal Slough, Senior Martial Brother Yaoguang's grotto-heaven is actually much larger than the one Chen Lingxi is in. Yet the Que Star Xi Family flatly refused to exchange the two grotto-heavens."

Chi Xinglai took a deep breath, his eyes full of bewilderment. "I even proposed that after the exchange, once the Cauldron Vessels and Immortal Slough had their respective owners, the Que Star Xi Family could still retain control over Chen Lingxi's grotto-heaven for thirty years to plunder its wonders. But the Que Star Xi Family still refused. This is truly... abnormal."

Standing to the side, Daoist Yaoguang coldly snorted. "There is no need to overthink it. There are definitely other secrets hidden within that grotto-heaven. Perhaps because of those secrets, the Realm Essence refined from Chen Lingxi's grotto-heaven will be much purer and more extraordinary. That is why, to completely secure the ownership of this grotto-heaven, the Que Star Xi Family willingly gave up the rights to the Cauldron Vessels. It is why they allowed the Pool of Reincarnation to descend into it, and why they are letting the many sects of the Great Xuanzhuo Realm send Truth-Seeking cultivators in to scavenge for Cauldron Vessels!"

At that moment, Chi Xinglai let out another sigh.

"But no matter what, that grotto-heaven ultimately still belongs to the Que Star Xi Family," Chi Xinglai said. "Our Nine Quarters' sects, profound gates, and immortal clans made an agreement long ago. Since this grotto-heaven belongs to the Que Star Xi Family, it has nothing to do with any other faction."

A beam of sword light flashed through Xiao Yaoguang's eyes, then slowly faded.

Since there were sects and profound gates, there were naturally rules governing the Nine Quarters of the Great Xuanzhuo Realm.

Moreover, the Under-Dao Academy was one of the very architects of those rules; it was hardly in a position to break them.

"I wonder..." Xiao Yaoguang frowned as he asked. "If I traded a grotto-heaven for just Chen Lingxi alone, would the Que Star Xi Family agree?"

"Would it be worth it?" Chi Xinglai asked from the side.

Xiao Yaoguang thought it over carefully for a moment, but ultimately remained silent.

An unowned grotto-heaven was incredibly valuable, and this one had been bestowed upon him by a Dao Teacher. Later on, when he achieved the Golden Palace Realm, he might even need to use it.

Seeing Xiao Yaoguang's expression, Chi Xinglai added, "It seems, Senior Martial Brother, that you are destined not to have a master-disciple fate with Chen Lingxi."

"Furthermore..." He paused briefly.

Daoist Shu Rong, standing nearby, sighed as well and picked up where Chi Xinglai left off. "Furthermore, since the Que Star Xi Family values this grotto-heaven so highly, a cultivator with such weak cultivation as Chen Lingxi will definitely be unable to escape. Once the Cauldron Vessels and the Immortal Slough have all been claimed, he will be refined within that smelting furnace."

An icy chill emanated from the Xuanzang Master's aura, but in the end, she said nothing.

"Should we... ask the Dao Teacher for guidance on this matter?" Daoist Shu Rong asked.

The Xuanzang Master shook her head.

"The Dao Teacher likely already knows. Since he has not sent down a true edict, he probably just wants us to watch quietly as things unfold."

Daoist Shu Rong let out a long sigh.

—

Atop Cuojin Mountain, Lin Suri rode the clouds away.

Chen Lingxi sighed.

"What a destiny filled with mishaps," Chen Lingxi said, shaking his head, though a thoughtful look flashed through his eyes.

'The Under-Dao Academy has already done everything they could be expected to do, especially Daoist Yaoguang, who was even willing to trade away a vaster grotto-heaven of his own. Yet he was rejected by the Que Star Xi Family,' he pondered. 'That being the case... the value of this grotto-heaven in the eyes of the Que Star Xi Family must far surpass that of the larger one.'

Thinking carefully, Chen Lingxi also realized how extraordinary this grotto-heaven was.

'Even though it is just a Qi-Depleted Grotto-Heaven, there are so many secrets hidden within it. Setting aside the Cauldron Vessels and the Immortal Slough, there are figures like Emperor Daye, and extraordinary natives like Xi Lan and Lin Longyue. Beyond all that, there is even an incarnation of Great Sage Luoyuan occupying the Ancestral Mountain.'

'Perhaps it is precisely because of all these secrets that the Que Star Xi Family is so determined to refine this grotto-heaven, hoping to seize an even greater fortune.'

Limited by his experience, Chen Lingxi truly had no idea what the Que Star Xi Family was plotting with this grotto-heaven.

'It seems it was a wise choice not to agree to let Liu Changle have the other Liu Changle from the Fenglong Peaks extradite me to the Great Xuanzhuo Realm back then. Given how highly the Que Star Xi Family values this grotto-heaven, if Liu Changle had helped me escape, the Sun Observation Peak would inevitably face a brutal reckoning from them.'

As he lowered his head in thought, he remembered Lin Suri's words.

Before leaving just now, Lin Suri had told him, "I still have an outstanding merit at the Academy. Because of it, the Chi Soul Master once promised to grant me a single item of my choosing. I have already informed Martial Aunt Shu Rong. Our Pool Soul Courtyard will definitely find an incredibly extraordinary Great Divine Ability for you! Please rest assured on this matter, Dao Brother."

Chen Lingxi's relationship with the Under-Dao Academy was enough to exchange for an ordinary Great Divine Ability. Since Lin Suri wanted to find him an even stronger one, he simply accepted the offer.

He etched Lin Suri's goodwill into his heart.

For now, all he could do was continue cultivating and searching for another chance at survival.

Sitting cross-legged on the mountain peak, he endlessly turned things over in his mind.

'Right now, my only chance of survival rests on that Immortal Slough and the awakening of Great Sage Luoyuan's incarnation. But now that Emperor Daye has exposed the location of the Immortal Slough, many experts from the Great Xuanzhuo Realm will descend upon this place. Snatching the Immortal Slough for myself will likely be incredibly difficult. Without the Immortal Slough, Great Sage Luoyuan will not be able to absorb enough power, and the hope of his awakening will grow even slimmer. Even if I get the Immortal Slough, whether Great Sage Luoyuan can actually awaken is still an unknown. I cannot place all my hopes on that.'

Upon thinking of this, Chen Lingxi suddenly extended a finger.

A strand of black qi continuously swirled around his finger. It was none other than the Myriad Breeding Dao-Seeding Marvelous Lotus Qi.

'If this precious qi matures and I forge a second set of three souls and seven physical spirits, could I use them to discard my original body and survive that way?'

As this thought took root in his mind, his gaze gradually turned resolute.

'The descent of so many projected incarnations of experts into this place could actually be a good thing. Not only can I fish in troubled waters, but I can also slay these incarnations and use the Method of Life Devouring to seize their spiritual essence! I can feed it to this Myriad Breeding Dao-Seeding Marvelous Lotus Qi and force it to mature as quickly as possible!'

Having made up his mind, Chen Lingxi wasted no more time and immediately resumed his cultivation.

Time flew by, and another half a year passed. Through it all, Chen Lingxi sat peacefully in the same spot, cultivating the Six Qi True Method.

On this day, Chen Lingxi opened his eyes. Above his head, three immortal flowers slowly bloomed.

The three immortal flowers—one of gold, one of silver, and one of lead—fully blossomed, representing Chen Lingxi's essence, energy, and spirit.

On this very day, Chen Lingxi stepped into the Qi Circulation Eleventh Floor Realm.

'By stepping into this realm, I have exhausted almost all of my accumulated foundation. Even the medicinal power of the precious pill the Gold-Swallowing Toad produced after devouring the Crown Prince's Beast-Fighting Palace has been entirely used up. For my future cultivation, unless I stumble upon another fortuitous encounter, I will have to rely solely on this Pure Wondrous Qi Pivot Array.'

As he pondered, Chen Lingxi looked up at the Three Flowers above his head, and he suddenly froze.

The Three Flowers blooming above his head—gold, silver, and lead—were distinct from one another, yet all of them radiated brilliant, dazzling light.

But Chen Lingxi noticed...

'So-called Three Flowers Gathering at the Crown... why is my Flower of Golden Essence so massive?'

If anyone else had been there to see it, they would have thought Chen Lingxi's Flower of Golden Essence looked as vast as a mountain.

'Is it because of the True Edict of Approaching the Dao...?'

Chen Lingxi's eyes lit up. 'Now that I have stepped into the Qi Circulation Eleventh Floor, can my [Palace Knocking] realm of the True Edict of Approaching the Dao borrow the essence from this Flower of Golden Essence to strengthen my body and refine a second thread of Palace Knocking profundity?'