Chapter 653 - 653: Easy to Talk To

An Inner Sect Disciple who worked in the Secret Technique Hall led Chu Qingyun to a Quiet Chamber to seek an audience with the on-duty Palace Guardian Elder.

Working in places like the Secret Technique Hall and the Saint Extreme Tower was one of the ways Inner Sect Disciples could earn Saint Extreme Points.

"Reporting to Elder Ma, this disciple says he has an important matter for you," the Inner Sect Disciple announced from outside the Quiet Chamber.

"Borrowing Secret Techniques and collecting Primordial Spirit Liquid are things you can handle yourselves. Don't come bothering me unless something major has happened," a rather impatient voice called out from within the Quiet Chamber.

The Inner Sect Disciple shot a helpless look at Chu Qingyun, as if to say, 'I told you this would happen, but you didn't believe me.'

"Ahem, Elder. My name is Chu Qingyun, and I've come to borrow and cultivate a Secret Technique not available outside," Chu Qingyun said.

A sound of surprise immediately came from within the Quiet Chamber.

"You're Chu Qingyun? Zhao Bin, you are dismissed. Chu Qingyun, come in," Elder Ma said from inside.

Chu Qingyun acknowledged the order and pushed the door open, heading inside.

Meanwhile, the Inner Sect Disciple, Zhao Bin, departed with a puzzled look on his face.

'An Inner Sect Elder they rarely got to see on a normal day had actually granted an immediate audience just upon hearing the name "Chu Qingyun."'

Inside the Quiet Chamber, Elder Ma inspected Chu Qingyun's Sect Token, confirming his identity via the Primordial Power aura it contained.

Then, he said to Chu Qingyun, "You must be here to use the free cultivation opportunity you received for turning in the Ten Thousand Spirits Saint Body Secret Technique, correct?"

Chu Qingyun nodded. "You knew about that, Elder?"

"Every disciple's free cultivation allowances are clearly recorded in both the Secret Technique Hall and the Secret Manual Hall. And as for you... well, never mind. Let's drop it."

"In our Saint Extreme Sect, there are two Secret Techniques that can be cultivated up to the Martial Sect level."

"One is called the Profound Moon Nine Transformations. This technique tempers the physical body by condensing the Essence of Moonlight. It also provides a certain boost to one's power under the moonlight. Its attributes are yin-aligned, and it can be cultivated with Celestial and Earthly Treasures such as Refuse Moon Stone and Celestial Splendor Wood."

"The other is the Ten Thousand Spirits Saint Body Secret Technique, the one you submitted. The technique has three parts, which I'm sure you're aware of."

"Over the past month of research, the sect's Elders have determined that this technique can be cultivated using Spiritual Medicines like Celestial Blood Lingzhi and Three Profound Blood Ginseng."

"Of course, the purer the Qi and Blood Power, the better the cultivation effects. But remember this: you must never attempt to refine the blood of Demon Beasts on your own. Otherwise, it is extremely easy to suffer from qi deviation and descend into madness."

"You can only choose one of these two Secret Techniques, so you must consider it carefully."

After he finished speaking, Elder Ma didn't press for an answer, simply waiting quietly for Chu Qingyun to consider his options.

Chu Qingyun, however, was rather surprised.

He had expected that he would have to jump through hoops and argue his case just to apply to cultivate the Ten Thousand Spirits Saint Body Secret Technique.

He never expected this Elder Ma to be so accommodating. Not only had he not refused the request, but he had actually given Chu Qingyun a detailed introduction to both Secret Techniques.

He had even pointed out which Celestial and Earthly Treasures to use for cultivation and stressed the associated warnings.

As for the choice itself, Chu Qingyun didn't hesitate at all.

He had made this trip precisely for the Ten Thousand Spirits Saint Body Secret Technique.

He had already cultivated the Ten Thousand Spirits Saint Body Inner Chapter. Since that special Secret Technique and this one came from the same source, he assumed they would have some synergy when practiced together.

"Elder, I choose to cultivate the Ten Thousand Spirits Saint Body," Chu Qingyun said after a brief pause.

"Very well. Follow me."

Without the slightest hesitation, Elder Ma rose to his feet and led Chu Qingyun through a secret passage lined with all sorts of Forbidden Array Formations, arriving before a hidden chamber deep within the Secret Technique Hall.

The chamber was completely sealed off, connected to the passage by only a single stone door.

Elder Ma's hands wove a series of dazzlingly complex Spells, striking the stone door and causing it to slowly rise from the floor, opening the way.

"The Ten Thousand Spirits Saint Body Secret Technique is in the chamber. No one else is currently studying it, so you can go inside."

"When you wish to leave, simply knock on the stone door. I will be able to sense it and come to lead you out. Under no circumstances should you try to force your way out, lest you trigger the Restrictions and Arrays."

Elder Ma repeated his warning one last time before Chu Qingyun entered.

After offering his thanks, Chu Qingyun stepped into the secret chamber.

Elder Ma waved his hand again, casting two Dharma Seals that made the stone door slowly lower from the top, closing once more.

'Chu Qingyun... He truly is a genius on par with Senior Ling Yuan. To think the Sect Leader himself would issue a direct order for the Secret Technique Hall and the Secret Manual Hall to provide him with every convenience...'

Elder Ma sighed with emotion, then turned and walked away.

The secret chamber's furnishings were very simple, consisting only of a stone table and a stone chair. Resting on the table was the large, thick manuscript of the Ten Thousand Spirits Saint Body Secret Technique.

Sixteen fist-sized Luminous Beads were embedded in the four walls, filling the entire room with a soft glow.

According to the rules of the Secret Technique Hall, Secret Techniques could not be removed from the premises. They could only be studied and memorized on-site.

Furthermore, once a technique was "purchased," a record would be kept, allowing the disciple to come back and review it anytime in the future.

This was done, of course, to prevent the Secret Techniques from being lost or stolen.

As for mastering a Secret Technique and then teaching it to someone else, or even just copying it—that was virtually impossible.

The more advanced a Secret Technique Secret Manual, the harder it was to transcribe or duplicate. If it were easy, the Secret Technique Hall would be filled with nothing but copies.

The blood-red manuscript of the Ten Thousand Spirits Saint Body Secret Technique looked thick, but it actually contained very few pages, as each one was made of a metal plate.

Chu Qingyun had, of course, studied this Secret Technique carefully when he first acquired it.

However, such a profound technique was simply too complex and esoteric. Despite his natural talent for comprehension, he had struggled for ages with the first page alone and understood very little.

Furthermore, the minimum requirement to even begin cultivating it was the Martial King Realm, so he hadn't wasted his time on it before.

The first page of the manual displayed an image that looked like an anatomical diagram. On it, three unusual meridians were traced in blood-red lines.

Drawing on his experience from his prior attempts to study it, Chu Qingyun calmed his mind and focused his spirit, staring intently at the diagram.

Soon, he felt as if he were being drawn into the image. A lifelike anatomical figure appeared before his eyes. Within this figure, Primordial Power and blood flowed through its meridians and blood vessels in a specific pattern.

A few key nodes also throbbed rhythmically.

This was the cultivation method conveyed by the Ten Thousand Spirits Saint Body Secret Technique.

Now that he had broken through to the Martial King Realm, Chu Qingyun's Soul Power had skyrocketed. His understanding of concepts like Primordial Power and meridians had also become far more profound.

As a result, comprehending the Ten Thousand Spirits Saint Body was much, much easier than it had been before.

The first page of the Ten Thousand Spirits Saint Body manual detailed three meridians traced in red. The second page increased the count to five, and the method for circulating Primordial Power changed as well, becoming considerably more complex.