Chapter 262 - 147: Miraculous Shenxiao Art, Divergent Profound Paths

Chapter 262: Chapter 147: Miraculous Shenxiao Art, Divergent Profound Paths

The Wenda Platform was where the elders of the Tai Su Inner Sect held their monthly lectures. Its entire surface was paved with Seamless Beautiful Jade, and in all eight directions stood pillars carved with images of cloud cranes, spirit turtles, mystical beasts, and immortal qilin. The platform had no roof, but a restrictive ward covered it, preventing anyone from flying or teleporting away.

This was one of the elders’ lecture days. Before the sky had even brightened, many Inner Sect Disciples had already climbed the jade steps to the Inquiry Platform, found cattail cushions, and sat down to wait.

The Tai Su Sect had a massive population. Though not every Inner Sect Disciple attended the monthly lecture, even with just one percent present, they formed a vast, sprawling crowd.

Qin Dengxiao stepped onto the Inquiry Platform and headed toward his usual spot. Fortunately, it was off to the side and still had open seats.

After he found a cushion and sat down, a young man in front of him suddenly turned around. He clasped his hands in a salute and smiled. "Senior Brother Qin, I haven’t seen you at the lectures for months. I thought you had left Li Mountain to travel."

Qin Dengxiao returned the smile and explained that he had been in seclusion practicing his techniques, which was why he hadn’t attended.

The two were only acquaintances from seeing each other at the lectures, and they knew very little about one another. The man was therefore unaware that Qin Dengxiao had been confined, and Qin Dengxiao didn’t mention it.

They exchanged a few pleasantries before the conversation died. Just as Qin Dengxiao was about to rest while waiting for the lecture to begin, the man suddenly spoke again. "I heard the disciples from the Yuxiao Sect left Yunmeng a few days ago to return to Shenxiao. No idea why they left in such a hurry."

His tone shifted as he continued, and he let out a sigh. "It’s a shame, though. I never got the chance to meet Senior Sister Li from the Yuxiao Sect. Ever since I saw her during the grand competition, I haven’t been able to forget her elegance..."

As Qin Dengxiao listened, a memory surfaced: the scene in his master’s mansion, with Fang Xisong apologizing to him. ’Even Venerable Yuxiao, Fang Xisong’s backer, personally bowed and apologized to a junior like me, offering a scroll containing a technique as compensation.’

’My master said the technique wasn’t particularly useful but would be a waste to discard, but to me, it already seems incredibly profound. More importantly, that was a dignified Nascent Soul Cultivator, a Venerable from one of the great Six Sects, a figure who could likely dominate the entire Celestial Waterfall Realm, apologizing to a mere law-refining junior...’

’With the cultivated composure of a Nascent Soul Cultivator, his expression remained normal the entire time. Yet, as they were leaving, I could have sworn I saw a hint of panic in their haste.’

’Sure enough, a few days later, the disciples of the Yuxiao Sect hastily departed. It’s hard not to connect the two.’

’Forget about matching my master’s achievements. If I could just forge a Top-grade Golden Core, I would never have to endure such frustration.’ As the elder took the stage and began the lecture, Qin Dengxiao calmed his mind, but one last thought remained. ’Perhaps it’s time to check out that Immortal Mansion from the treasure map and see if it’s real.’

While Qin Dengxiao was at the Inquiry Platform for the lecture, Xuzhuang stood atop Chongyun Peak, gazing at the sky. High above, past the celestial gate, a Gangyun floated silently. It declared its presence with a brazenness that was impossible to ignore.

He stood perfectly still, seemingly lost in a trance. To an outside observer, however, the clouds were like an ocean stirred by a divine needle—an invisible force was kneading them flat and rolling them into balls, their shapes constantly shifting, gathering, and scattering.

Any Nascent Soul or even Golden Core Cultivator could accomplish such a feat if they were willing to expend the Magical Power; it was not considered particularly difficult. But Xuzhuang, of course, was not playing pointless games. He was practicing and studying the Heaven-locking Earth-locking Method, a part of the Innate Grand Purity Qi Great Capturing and Combing Machine.

With his profound understanding of techniques and Divine Techniques, Xuzhuang was not one to be bound by conventional methods. He was attempting to use the formless power of the Innate Tai Su Qi Grand Capture to influence, manipulate, and even attack or defend against anything and everything within his range.

If he could bring this idea to fruition, it would be like turning the entire area covered by his Divine Technique into his own personal domain. In any battle, he would hold an innate and absolute advantage. Setting aside loftier ambitions, he could likely handle any number of ordinary Nascent Soul Cultivators as easily as mowing down grass.

However, such a display consumed an immense amount of Magical Power. As Xuzhuang deliberately pushed himself, expanding the domain of his Divine Technique and increasing its power, the Magical Power within him quickly ran dry. Only then did he shift his focus. The Gangyun descended, he retracted the Divine Technique, and the churning sea of clouds gradually grew still.

Before the clouds could settle completely, Xuzhuang assessed his remaining Magical Power. He suddenly formed a Dharma Seal. As the technique activated, the last of his Magical Power was instantly drained. His expression grew solemn as he pointed a finger to the heavens.

In an instant, a streak of violet-blue lightning tore through the sky. A continuous, deep rumble followed as flashes of violet and blue light flared within an extremely small area. In the space of a single breath, it was as if a thousand bolts of Divine Thunder had struck that one spot. When the light dissipated, not even a cloud remained—it seemed as if even Jiezhi had been blasted into nothingness, leaving a patch of absolute emptiness in the sky.

Xuzhuang raised an eyebrow, a hint of surprise on his face.

The thunder technique he had just used was called the Shenxiao One Qi Heaven-Smashing Thunder Method. It was the very same technique Fang Mu Pool had given to Qin Dengxiao as an apology.

Given Fang Mu Pool’s status, and fearing Xuzhuang’s power, he couldn’t offer something subpar. Yet, if the gift were too valuable, he would have been resentful. Thus, he had settled on the Shenxiao One Qi Heaven-Smashing Thunder Method as compensation.

When unleashed, this thunder technique refines Magical Power into two types of Divine Thunder, one blue and one violet, with different properties. They bombard the target in alternating, instantaneous strikes. The effect was reminiscent of yin and yang canceling each other out into chaotic annihilation. It was an extraordinarily profound technique of unrivaled power.