Forge your destiny into a sword, slash your soul and ascend to immortality

Chapter 153 Yanfu is Mad, Empress's Palace
As soon as Jing Qian entered the Life Stele space, he was once again deeply shocked by the scene before him.

He stood to the left of the monument, looking up at the area outside the safe zone.

The three illusory realms of the Great Road are arranged neatly, one above the other.

【The Sea of ​​Spiritual Life】, 【The Sea of ​​Primordial Qi】, and 【The Mountain of Immortal Qi】 are all wondrous sights that Jing Qian once witnessed.

Now, however, it has been conjured up by the space of the Destiny Stele and is presented to me in perfect reality.

After acquiring sufficient knowledge to supplement it, the [Sumeru Great Dao Stele] almost perfectly replicated the extraordinary core of this world.

This kind of replication naturally has extremely magical effects, and it is also the first divine wonder that the [Sumeru Great Dao Stele] has gained in this advancement.

Although Jing Qian had only just acquired this supernatural ability, he had already figured out a basic way to use it.

He used his own cultivation to reflect upon the three illusory realms of the Great Dao.

Immediately, his [Saintly Appearance] collapsed, transforming back into scattered [Destiny Elements], which fell back into the [Spiritual Sea of ​​Life].

The vast array of destinies is as numerous as the sands of the Ganges, but among them, the destiny of Jing Qian shines like countless stars, illuminating the long river of karmic fire.

His many "spiritual insights" manifested above the "River of Karmic Fire," resembling ten strange celestial palaces suspended high in the sky.

The "fate" in the river beneath our feet, according to the distribution of "destiny," each sends a ray of light upwards, connecting with various "spiritual opportunities."

In this connection between destiny and intuition, the recently disintegrated image of the Sage of Mount Sumeru wielding his sword to open the cycle of reincarnation has reappeared.

After this process of dismantling and reconstructing, Jing Qian's self-perceived perfect and structurally sound "sage image" instantly revealed many flaws that were not harmonious or perfect.

What is manifested in the present moment is that the profound meaning of the Great Dao is not smoothly intertwined between [Destiny] and [Spiritual Ability].

It also represents the divergence and incompatibility between "inspiration" and "the appearance of a sage" when they were not perfectly integrated.

Before the [Sumeru Great Dao Stele] was advanced, these flaws were hidden dangers that he could not touch. He needed to discover and resolve them little by little during his long cultivation in order to reach the perfect state.

But now, everything is laid bare before him, allowing him to quickly pinpoint the problem and make more targeted adjustments.

Following the [Sage's Appearance] further upwards, the [Sea of ​​Primordial Qi] seems to be a chaotic and unknown land.

Delving deeper, one finds ninety-nine layers of primordial energy, all clearly discernible!

This is the level that Jing Qian has thoroughly grasped, the result of his cultivation accumulation in the middle three ranks.

With a flash, his divine soul avatar easily appeared in the middle of the [Sea of ​​Primordial Qi].

He stood at the boundary of the ninety-ninth level of [Primordial Qi] that he had comprehended, and stepped into the one hundredth level.

Immediately, his understanding of vital energy entered his mind and spirit.

The [Sea of ​​Primordial Qi] manifested in this Life Stele space actually provided him with an opportunity to simulate and deduce primordial qi in advance!

It should be noted that in the present world, Jing Qian was able to enter the Sea of ​​Primordial Qi by means of the six Great Primordial Qi Mandates and use the Ship of Reincarnation to deduce the Primordial Qi in advance.

However, the consumption of spiritual consciousness and magical power during this process is extremely terrifying!
Each time he performs a simulation, he needs to take a long break before he can proceed with the next one.

At this moment, he can freely try to comprehend [Primordial Qi] within the Life Stele space, which will undoubtedly greatly improve his cultivation efficiency.

He temporarily withdrew from the Sea of ​​Primordial Qi and continued to explore the new wonders of the Life Stele space.

He looked up at the [Mountain of Immortal Qi] and silently prepared himself.

Then, his divine soul avatar directly entered the [Spiritual Life Void Sea], merged with the [Sage Image], and, carrying the power of a group of [Spiritual Machines], leaped up.

At this moment, Jing Qian had already condensed all the essence of cultivation.

He plunged headlong into the Sea of ​​Primordial Qi and fled upwards.

The three thousand layers of [Primordial Qi] are both obstacles and trials.

Even with the power of the [Saintly Appearance], he could not withstand the erosion of the [Sea of ​​Primordial Qi]. After enduring the torment of 2,901 layers, his Dharma form withered and his [Spiritual Energy] shattered.

Then, carrying the remaining essence of his cultivation, Jing Qian plunged headlong into the ninety-nine layers of [Primordial Qi] that he had already thoroughly comprehended.

Here, the Sea of ​​Primordial Qi transforms into a nourishing remedy.

His cultivation essence was thus replenished, slightly repairing the damaged wounds and restoring the momentum to continue upward.

Then, he pierced through the Sea of ​​Primordial Qi and landed on the Immortal Mountain high in the sky.

He mustered his remaining strength and unleashed his last reserves of power towards the sacred mountain.

Between the [Mountain of Immortal Qi] and the [Sea of ​​Primordial Qi], there is only one layer of the Great Dao's true meaning separating them, yet it seems like an insurmountable chasm.

Every step Jing Qian takes forward is a step beyond his means!

Having reached this point, the essence of his cultivation has been almost completely exhausted.

The image of a sage and the vast majority of spiritual inspiration have been completely shattered.

Before this [Mountain of Immortal Qi], there should have been a [Destiny Star] shining brightly, providing a source of power to assist.

However, Jing Qian was only at the [Subduing Spirit] level of cultivation and had not yet reached the [Destiny Star].

Therefore, his path forward was almost destined to fail!
Just then, the power of the three titles, [Lord of All Things Sumeru], [Lord of Pure Yang Calamity], and [Son of Jambudvipa], manifested and blessed him.

Each of these three titles provides assistance no less than that of a scattered star.

With the power equivalent to three scattered stars, Jing Qian actually broke through the blockade of the Great Dao's meaning and brought his last remaining essence of cultivation to the Immortal Qi Mountain.

The only thing that could accompany him to the end was his last wisp of divine soul, which wrapped around the [Yin Yin Immortal Sword Embryo], pierced the immortal mountain with a sword, and remained motionless.

Immediately, boundless Daoist energy appeared on the [Mountain of Immortal Qi], and began to rotate around the [Yin-Yang Immortal Sword Embryo] as its core.

Not long after, a life stele about half a foot tall appeared in the immortal mountain.

On the [Life Stele], only a single, sharp stroke as straight as a sword's edge remains, and nothing else.

Then, the [Life Stele] dissipated, the changes above the three Dao Realms completely disappeared, and the shattered [Sage Image] and [Spiritual Mechanism] reappeared, returning to the [Spiritual Sea of ​​Life and Nature].

The ascent from bottom to top that I just did seemed as if it had never happened.

Thus, Jing Qian made a very complete exploration of the new wonders of the [Xumi Daodao Stele].

If his ascent of the Immortal Qi Mountain were placed in the modern world, it would be a complete process of skipping four major realms from the [Subduing Spirit] cultivation level and directly advancing to the second rank.

Moreover, he actually succeeded in the simulation of the Destiny Stele Space!

This is an unimaginable miracle!
To advance directly from the sixth rank to the second rank is an unprecedented and insane act in the history of cultivation.

This precisely demonstrates that Jing Qian's cultivation and foundation are far too profound, far exceeding his own rank.

This is also the fundamental reason why his own combat strength is able to accurately pinpoint the level of the second-grade [Wordless Stele].

Of course, prematurely exhausting all his resources just to erect a "wordless stele" resulted in a successful promotion to the second rank, but it also eliminated Jing Qian's potential for further advancement.

In the real world, he would never rashly initiate such a leapfrog advancement.

No one who pursues the path of Tao would do such a thing.

Right now, what he should be doing is properly refining the [Spiritual Energy], comprehending more layers of the [Sea of ​​Primordial Qi], and establishing a powerful [Destiny Star].

Each step of progress will allow him to go further when he advances to the second rank.

Jing Qian used his supernatural abilities to experience a simulated advancement within the space of the Destiny Stele, and the benefits were undoubtedly immense.

The third qualitative change of the [Sumeru Great Dao Stele] provides an extremely powerful and miraculous evolutionary path of cultivation.

This will undoubtedly bring about earth-shattering changes to Jingqian's subsequent spiritual practice.

However, this is not the whole story of the qualitative change in the [Sumeru Great Way Stele].

In his perception, the original divine abilities of the Destiny Stele, namely the [Mechanism of Destiny Forging] and the [Knowledge of Heavenly Mandate], mysteriously disappeared, and were completely absorbed and replaced by a divine ability of the [Shaping of Wisdom Source].

Within this mystical realm, Jing Qian accumulates wisdom through daily practice and study, ultimately condensing the [Sculpture of Wisdom Source].

Based on this, he can burn his lifespan to activate the power of the [Shaping of Wisdom] to adjust and improve his own cultivation.

The deeper his accumulated wisdom, the stronger the power of this [Shaping of Wisdom Source] will be, and the more efficient it will be in utilizing his lifespan.

At this moment, he had read through nearly a hundred layers of books in the [Book Mountain], accumulating wisdom far exceeding that of ordinary people, and his [Source of Wisdom] had already been formed.

In his perception, this [Sculpting of Wisdom Source] possesses all the original effects of [Opportunity for Forging Destiny] and [Knowledge of Heavenly Mandate].

It can also consume a hundred years of lifespan to utilize the power of the [Sculpting of Wisdom Source] to comprehend a layer of the [Sea of ​​Primordial Qi].

It can also consume more lifespan to perfectly refine a [Spiritual Machine].

More importantly, he can even consume his lifespan to use the [Shaping of Wisdom Source] to reshape the essence of [Spiritual Energy] and raise its upper limit of grade!
It should be noted that his [Source of Wisdom] has only just been formed and still has a huge potential for improvement.

With continued accumulation, he will eventually be able to make even greater improvements using the [Shaping of Wisdom].

Jing Qian's heart was burning with passion!
After slaying the [Red Mushroom], his accumulated lifespan has officially surpassed one thousand years.

This immense lifespan, when used with the [Shaping of Wisdom Source], can cause his strength to surge dramatically on the spot.

Without hesitation, he activated the [Sculpting of Wisdom] for the first time!
A full thousand years of lifespan was consumed by Jing Qian in one go.

This unprecedented massive spending spree must achieve the effect of miraculous results!
Within the space of the Destiny Stele, the three Great Dao Realms exuded profound Daoist charm, pouring directly into the [Six Paths of Reincarnation and Three Lives Eye].

Jing Qian's powerful spiritual energy was instantly shattered and turned into dust.

Subsequently, the shattered divine eye quietly reassembled itself amidst this mystical event, transforming into an even more unique divine eye.

The original "Three Lives Eye" was a naturally occurring double pupil, with each eye suppressing the "Worldly Understanding" and the "Entanglement of Cause and Effect" respectively.

Currently, the reshaped Divine Eye has three pupils in one eye, allowing it to suppress one more [Destiny]!

Within Jing Qian's sea of ​​consciousness, the [Sword Transformation into Three Thousand Calamities] was activated by the [Sculpting of Wisdom], directly entering the newly formed [Three Lives Eye] and landing in the third pupil.

At this point, the three pupils of the newly born divine eye have all come together, each possessing its own unique characteristics.

Among them, the pupil transformed by the [World-Knowledge] is the [Eye of Wisdom] and the [Eye of Omniscience].

The pupils formed by the entanglement of cause and effect are the eyes of insight and the eyes of inquiry.

The eyes formed by the [Sword Transformation into Three Thousand Calamities] are the [Eyes of Calamity] and the [Eyes of Death Perception].

The moment the newborn divine eye was born, it fell directly onto the [Sage's Appearance], firmly embedding itself between the Sage's eyebrows, inseparable from him.

With the help of the [Sculpting of Wisdom Source], Jing Qian not only enhanced the essence of the [Three Lives Eye], but also completed the perfect refinement of the Divine Eye.

Following the [Yin Yin Immortal Sword Embryo], he had another high-level [Spiritual Energy] perfectly refined and integrated into the [Saintly Appearance], resulting in another qualitative change in his cultivation.

A thousand years of lifespan was not wasted at all; with heavy spending, he dramatically improved his quality!
[Spiritual Inspiration: The Immortal Eye Across Three Lifetimes]

[Rank: First Grade]

[Type: Seeking One's Roots]

For Jing Qian, the advancement of his Divine Eye was a crucial improvement.

Whether it's spiritual practice, combat, or reading, you will benefit from this, and everything will be different.

Jing Qian looked at his information panel again, and it suddenly changed again:
[Host: Jing Qian]

[Lifespan: 51 years]

[Destiny number: 7.6 taels / 12.9 taels]

【Life Element: 33315*2*3】 (Purple Eyes)

[Account Banned: Medium Grade *3]

[Dharma Image: The Sage of Sumeru wields a sword to open the six realms of reincarnation] [Spiritual Mechanism: Three Lives Three Worlds Immortal Spirit Eye, Yin Yin Sword Embryo, Sumeru Sword Embryo, Pure Yang Sword Embryo, Good Corn, Reincarnation Disc, Jambudvipa, Green Duckweed Sword Box, Qili Divine Seal, Array Nails]

[Destiny: Destiny*23, Destiny Flaw*2, Metal Root*1, Purple Eyes*2]

[Lifespan (Metal): June 7th/Day]

He was almost completely drained of his life force, but he had no regrets whatsoever.

The only remaining parts of the [Spiritual Energy] that have not yet been perfectly refined are the two [Immortal Sword Embryos], the [Good Corn], and the [Reincarnation Disc].

His cultivation at the sixth rank of [Spirit Subduing] has taken another solid step forward!

Jing Qian calmed his Dao heart before escaping from the space of the Life Stele.

The moment he returned to the mortal world, the experience of perfectly merging with the first-grade [Immortal Spirit Eye] immediately descended upon his body and mind.

He felt that everything was different!

In front of him, Luo Tian and the old white ox were going crazy.

Luo Tian looked dazed, pointed to the sky, and alternated between shouting angrily and laughing wildly, acting as if he were the only one who mattered in the world.

The old white ox transformed into a whiny monster, hugging an old tree nearby and crying with snot and tears streaming down its face, as if it had suffered a great injustice and was confiding in its parents.

The Red Mushroom is incredibly potent; the mushroom soup made from it is extremely effective in enhancing one's spiritual awareness, making it a top-tier medicine that works wonders with just one sip.

After drinking only two bowls, the two companions went on a mushroom rampage and were completely unable to control themselves.

Beside them, Good Corn and Qili were taking on security duties while drooling over the mushroom soup.

The powerful effects of this miraculous soup are secondary; the key is its extreme deliciousness and the intoxicating sensation it brings, which is what the two children are so excited about.

Upon seeing Jing Qian awaken from his meditation, [Good Corn] hurriedly said:

"My lord, you're awake!"

"Can we have some soup now?"

Jing Qian nodded and said:
"Drink it!"

Once they were given permission, the two children immediately rushed to the big pot and started drinking heartily!
After the mushroom soup entered his stomach, the "good corn" immediately collapsed to the ground, bend over like a corn stalk.

It must have been thinking of something wonderful, because it slept like a log.

But the raccoon, as if it had drunk fake alcohol, stood up like a human and started dancing a little gas-burning dance.

Ignoring the four people who were acting crazy, Jing Qian turned around and began to explore his [Three Lives Three Worlds Immortal Spirit Eye].

As soon as he opened his eyes, the entire [Yingfutu Realm] was laid out before him. Compared to before his advancement, his current [Three Lives Eyes] could even clearly see the circulation of the primordial energy within the realm.

Above the primordial energy channels, each [Life Stove] shines like a star, its twinkling light nurturing the source of cultivation for the entire realm.

Then, he blinked his divine eye, and when he opened it again, his gaze was fixed on the depths of the true meaning of the Great Dao.

His gaze, aided by the power of his perfectly refined First-Grade Divine Eye, pierced through the Sea of ​​Primordial Qi, saw through the barrier of the Great Dao's true meaning, and actually projected his gaze onto the Mountain of Immortal Qi.

This immortal mountain is the ultimate Dao realm pursued by countless powerful beings throughout the myriad realms; it is an eternal source that is neither dead nor indestructible.

When his cultivation level was insufficient, this [Mountain of Immortal Qi] seemed within reach.

But when he was able to touch the Immortal Mountain with the miraculous power of the Three Lives Eye, the vastness and profundity of this immortal mountain directly entered his mind.

This sacred mountain, though seemingly only a mile in circumference, within easy reach, actually appears to span the entire universe.

No matter which realm you are in, even if you are separated by trillions of light-years, as long as your cultivation level is high enough, you can look up and see that immortal mountain there, always within reach, yet forever unattainable.

Many second-rank powerful beings also inscribed their [Life Stele] on the immortal mountain, but they all did their best to hide it, leaving no trace.

Although Jing Qian clearly saw the scenery on the [Immortal Qi Mountain], it was blocked by the thick fog and he couldn't see it clearly at all.

Like Ren Chong, who could cleave through obstacles with a single sword strike and shatter the hidden "Life Stele" of a second-rank expert, that was another level of ultimate skill.

As he surveyed the [Mountain of Immortal Qi], two strange places began to emit an inexplicable call, attracting Jing Qian's attention.

He was extremely cautious and dared not respond at all, for fear of committing some taboo on this magical mountain and being ambushed.

But upon closer examination, he was astonished to discover that these two calls were actually deeply connected to him by cause and effect.

A call came, accompanied by the clear, crisp sound of the Pure Yang sword.

Another call came, but it was the dark, sinister language of the Yama.

They all originated from the lineage of the Dao Ancestor, which is the source of his master's inheritance.

Just as Jing Qian was hesitating about whether to muster his courage and turn his gaze toward the source of the call, a unique eyeball quietly floated out from the [Mountain of Immortal Qi] and met Jing Qian's divine eye.

A message also came from these eyes:

"Kid, you've got some nerve, daring to come and look around on this [Mountain of Immortal Qi]!"

"Be careful, or the Dao Ancestor might drag you away and crush you into dust."

Jing Qian was utterly astonished, never expecting to encounter an acquaintance on this sacred mountain. He then imitated the other person, using his divine eye to transmit a message:
"Master [Blind], it's been a long time. What is the origin of this call?"

"Could it be related to the Dao Ancestor of my sect, [Yanfu]?"

This eyeball was actually transformed from the previous generation's Yama, the Eyeless One!
Then [Eyeless] sent another message:

"This is not something you can fathom with your current level of cultivation."

"Once you advance to the [Star Picker] level, and are hindered by the [Destiny Star], then try to understand the cause and effect behind it."

"The good things I told you before should be found at the source of that call."

Jing Qian looked at [Eyeless] with considerable regret, his eyes lingering like a child eyeing an ice pop in someone else's hand.

The blind man paused for a moment and then said:

"Fine, I'll let you take a look!"

"Place this eye of mine in front of your [Celestial Eye] and look through it."

"Take one look at most, then look away, otherwise someone will be seducing you, and I won't be able to save you."

As he finished speaking, another, slightly smaller eyeball flew out from beside the first eyeball and landed right in front of Jing Qian's Three Lives Eye.

This eyeball was crystal clear and flawless, like a small ball made of white crystal. Jing Qian sensed it slightly and knew that it was formed from the extremely pure immortal energy of the Eyeless One.

His gaze passed through the crystal ball without being obstructed; on the contrary, it received an even stronger boost.

Without further ado, his gaze flashed and he looked into the depths of the [Mountain of Immortal Qi].

The call originating from [Yambhava] seemed extremely distant at first, but upon closer inspection, it felt as if it were right before my eyes.

When he finally looked closely, the calls seemed to echo in his ears.

Jing Qian was extremely obedient. He only glanced at it briefly before quickly moving the Three Lives Eye away. Even so, what he saw shocked him to the core and terrified him.

But the crystal ball seemed to be caught by a thread and forcibly dragged into the depths of the immortal mountain.

The ball was unable to move until it was squeezed into the hands of a terrifying ghost, devoid of skin but with flesh, sinews but with bones.

The ghostly hand toyed with the small ball in its hand for a moment, then crushed it in one swift motion.

The eyeless immortal energy contained within the small ball was easily absorbed and refined by the ghost hand, and a layer of human skin rapidly grew on its fingers.

Then, the ghostly hand was lifted up and brought before the face of an extremely handsome young man.

The young man's eyes were tightly closed, and his eyelids were sunken, so it was clear that there were no eyeballs inside.

His face was blank, and only when the ghost hand came close did a greedy look appear on his face. He opened his mouth and stuck out a snake-like tongue to lick off the layer of human skin that had just grown on the ghost hand.

Looking again at the ghostly hand and human face, they were actually growing on an incredibly bloated, fat corpse.

Who would have thought that this was one of the incarnations of the former Dao Ancestor of the Yama Kingdom!

The incarnation of [Yambhava] is filled with endless malice, endless fear, and endless ferocity, like meme contamination. Even a single glance can bring calamity.

Jing Qian only glanced at it, and he was so scared he almost peed his pants. He dared not show off again!
If it weren't for the "Blind" blocking his way, and if he had really succumbed to his curiosity and glanced at it casually, he would probably be dead by now.

He was sweating profusely and said:
"Master, what exactly is the situation regarding the location of that [Yanfu] incarnation?"

[The blind man] replied upon hearing this:

"I knew I shouldn't have let you see it and be shocked, because your curiosity just wouldn't have been satisfied."

"You've learned something new this time, haven't you?"

"Don't always take advantage of your sharp eyes to look around aimlessly!"

"These are my heartfelt words as someone who's been there!"

"Ten thousand years ago, the Dao Yuan Divine Shuttle Universe collided with an indescribable object that transcended the first rank, causing the Dao Yuan Central Divine Heaven to change."

"I don't know exactly what happened, but judging from the result, four Dao Ancestors have fallen in the Central Divine Heaven, including the Pure Yang, making it a dead end."

"Although I, the Dao Ancestor of [Yanfu], am not dead, I have lost my mind and have gone completely insane."

"For us [Yanfu] disciples, it would be better to just die."

"However, after 100,000 years of time, my [Daoyuan Divine Shuttle Universe] has been freed from that calamity and returned to the right track."

"We, the new generation, have already achieved the first rank, so there is no need to care about the past. We should just focus on our own cultivation."

Jing Qian nodded upon hearing this. He had never read such secrets in the "Book Mountain" before, but hearing it from "Eyeless" was quite enlightening.

He then asked again:
"Master, who was that person trampled underfoot by the incarnation of [Yanfu]?"

"I think he still has a breath left; he's not quite dead yet."

"Oh, that's my [sick] junior nephew. He's really unlucky. He's been trampled on by the [Dao Ancestor] for three thousand years. He's probably going to be pickled with athlete's foot."

"No eyes," came the reply.
"..."

"Alright, don't linger here any longer. Go back and take care of your chores, quickly advance to [Star Picker], and then come find me."

After saying that, the eyeball disappeared.

Jing Qian then turned his gaze away from the [Mountain of Immortal Qi].

His incredibly powerful magical energy was almost entirely depleted in a very short time!

He let out a long sigh of relief and calmed himself down.

But then he opened his eyes again and looked into a corner deep in the void.

This time, he followed the causal lines on the [Tushita Furnace] and looked into the depths of the void.

The lost "metal-natured life" was essential for him to restore his foundation.

This [Destiny] was hidden so deeply that only when his divine eyes advanced to the first rank could he glimpse a trace of it.

At this moment, his gaze was fixed on Tianjing, the capital of the Wuji Dynasty.

But just as they were about to capture the [Tushuai Furnace], they stopped in time.

He heeded the advice of the "eyeless one"!
Never look at places you shouldn't!
As far as his gaze fell upon, there was an extremely magnificent palace.

This is the Silver Ring Palace, one of the palaces of the supreme being, God Egao.

(End of this chapter)