Gentlemen, it's time to enter the Banner of Ten Thousand Souls.

Chapter 41 Heavenly Book Secret Techniques
Although the Nascent Soul Realm cannot truly achieve immortality, it can still be described as having boundless lifespan.

However, breaking through to this level is extremely difficult.

In the current cultivation world, there are only two truly reliable methods. One is to gather hundreds of cultivators at the Profound Realm, set up an array, and use their individual souls as a foundation to gather the memories of all living beings to condense a illusory realm. If one can break through this illusory realm test, their soul can transform and solidify into a physical form.

However, the hundreds of cultivators at the Tongxuan realm have experienced so much, their grudges and affections could crush any one of them, making it extremely difficult for them to break through.

Even if you have a strong will and can endure it, where can you find hundreds of Transcendent Realm cultivators, and ask them to open their hearts and offer their souls and memories to transform into a Void Realm?
How many people does the Qinghe Sword Sect have in total? It would take the combined efforts of all the righteous sects to create such a large-scale operation.

However, this method can be considered safe, because even if it fails, there is still a chance to start over, although it is a bit troublesome.

Therefore, whenever someone advances to the Nascent Soul stage, it is considered a major event for the entire cultivation world, and a grand banquet is held to celebrate.

As for the second option, it's not that complicated.

Go to Green Coffin Mountain, pluck a Soul Cleansing Flower from the corpse of the Demon Lord Wujiu, add other materials, refine it into a pill, and eat it to allow your soul to enter a place similar to the Void Realm. Similarly, as long as you can break free from the Void Realm, you can successfully advance.

This elixir has no side effects, and its success rate is higher than that of hundreds of people working together.

Because hundreds of people simply cannot achieve mental unity, the virtual realm they create will have all sorts of messy problems, easily leading to failure in breaking through.

The Soul Cleansing Flower doesn't have this problem, so it's naturally easier for it to advance.

But this thing is too precious.

The difficulty of harvesting them is equivalent to fighting a demon at the Nascent Soul stage. Moreover, only Green Coffin Mountain in the world suppresses the Demon Lord's corpse, and only here can the Soul Cleansing Flower grow.

Su Chunyi asked, "Sect Leader, why is the Incense Burning Sect so determined to obtain this secret technique?"

Zhang Qi explained, "It's probably related to the Heavenly Book; perhaps they think your secret technique is part of the Heavenly Book."

"A celestial book? May I ask, Sect Leader, what is a celestial book?"

Su Chunyi seemed to have never heard of this statement before.

“Oh, that’s an ancient legend that everyone has almost forgotten. You youngsters probably haven’t heard of it.” Zhang Qi scratched his head, seemingly recalling for a moment, before saying to Su Chunyi, “Legend has it that this mortal realm was created by ancient immortals. Yin and Yang, the Five Elements, Feng Shui, and numerology were all written by humans, and these rules are written in the Heavenly Book. The Heavenly Book encompasses everything, and obtaining it allows one to control the spiritual energy of heaven and earth… Hmm, that’s roughly the story.”

Hearing Zhang Qi speak so casually, Su Chun asked in surprise, "Does the sect leader think this is fake?"

"It may not be fake. I have indeed seen the so-called Heavenly Book. Although it was just a few words, it truly pointed to the essence of heaven and earth. The hexagrams and five elements that you and I have learned are indeed recorded in the Heavenly Book. Perhaps it is the earliest record left by the ancient immortals. But to say that obtaining the Heavenly Book means controlling heaven and earth is mostly a rumor."

"You've learned addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division, and you've also learned the strokes of characters. These are all basics. It's true that there aren't many people in the world who can read and do arithmetic, but do you really believe that understanding strokes and addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division will allow you to control the world?"

Zhang Qi spoke casually; he never believed in any celestial books. Perhaps there were indeed ancient immortals who passed down cultivation methods, but they were nothing more than multiplication tables or similar formulas. To truly comprehend the Great Dao from them depended on each person's own destiny.

Zhang Qi's swordsmanship is also derived from the basics of swordsmanship, but it has long since transcended the ordinary. If an ordinary person were to compare himself with him using basic sword techniques such as chopping, thrusting, pointing, picking, and slashing, claiming that he has mastered the way of the sword, Zhang Qi would definitely not bother to pay attention to him.

Su Chun nodded in agreement. This was the attitude of the Qinghe Sword Sect: whoever was stronger, they could have a match. The Heavenly Book might have its wonders, but the swordsmanship cultivated and perfected over hundreds of years was no ordinary skill.

Our predecessors pioneered the great path, which is indeed worthy of respect, but there is no need to belittle ourselves. Otherwise, the way of heaven will only get worse and worse, with each generation being worse than the last.

Seeing that Su Chunyi was determined, Zhang Qi did not press her. Instead, he comforted her, saying, "Alright, whether to make the deal or not is up to you. Even if a disciple of my Qinghe Sword Sect wants to break through to the Nascent Soul stage, they may not necessarily need the Soul Cleansing Flower of the Burning Incense Sect. However, I am somewhat interested in the origin of this secret technique. Why don't you tell me about it?"

Su Chunyi didn't hide anything and recounted her experiences on her way down the mountain in detail.

Upon hearing Su Chunyi's high praise for Chen Ye, Zhang Qi asked in confusion, "You said that when you first met him, he was only at the Qi Awakening Realm?"

Su Chun nodded and said, "That's right, the Xuanji Dew he used to break through his cultivation level was given to him by this disciple."

"Looks very young?"

“Even though he looks young, I’m sure he’s no more than twenty years old.”

Zhang Qi pondered for a moment, then said, "I've seen geniuses in cultivation, some of whom can achieve in a year what others do in a hundred. But I've never seen a genius who's adept at navigating human relationships; that takes time to accumulate."

"Human hearts are so complex. How could a boy not even twenty have such abilities? Even if he has early memories, how could he have reached this level in just over ten years? The methods he uses for fortune telling, the incantations he recited to you—I've never heard such accurate summaries in all my years. This kid named Chen Ye is most likely hiding something."

Su Chunyi said, "But he is indeed upright and a chivalrous person."

Zhang Qi stared at Su Chun and, seeing her anxious expression, smiled and said, "Little girl, don't be anxious. When I said he was hiding something, I didn't mean he had bad intentions. It's tough for unorthodox cultivators, so of course they have to keep some secrets from others. He gave away his secret techniques to save a stranger's child, so he truly deserves to be called a righteous man."

"Our Qinghe Sword Sect must repay this favor in some way; a mere sword box is not enough. Here's what we'll do: go ask him what he wants, and let him choose any magical treasure from our storeroom."

"Furthermore, since the Incense Burning Sect is willing to exchange the Soul Cleansing Flower for his secret technique, we'll do them a favor and let him decide whether he wants to exchange it or not. Since it's his, we can't refuse on his behalf."

Upon hearing this, Su Chun quickly said happily, "Thank you, Sect Leader."

Zhang Qi laughed and said, "No need to thank me, it's not like it's a reward for you."

Su Chun blushed instantly, but didn't know how to explain.

Zhang Qi didn't continue teasing the girl from a different generation. He waved his hand and said, "I will have people try their best to save that evil cursed child. Whether he lives or dies depends on his fate. As for you, go and get a few more talismans for protection. Your master has calculated that fortune and misfortune are intertwined. Now that you have good fortune, misfortune is not far away. There are many dangers in eliminating demons and protecting the righteous path. You must be careful."

Su Chun quickly thanked him and left.

After Su Chunyi left the main hall, a young-looking Taoist priest appeared beside Zhang Qi. He was dressed in a black robe and looked somewhat sinister. This man was Lu Xingzhou, the leader of the Burning Incense Sect.

Zhang Qi said to the man, "Old Lu, look, I've said everything I need to say. You can find someone to replace him yourselves."

Lu Xingzhou couldn't help but glare at Zhang Qi, and said with dissatisfaction, "The secret technique is already in your hands. How much trouble could it be if you did me a favor? Since that kid surnamed Chen gave the secret technique to your Qinghe Sword Sect, he certainly wouldn't mind if you gave it away. Why go through all this trouble? Are you deliberately making things difficult for me?"

The two had been friends for many years and had fought side by side against the Demonic Sect. They were sworn brothers. Lu Xingzhou didn't care that Zhang Qi was the number one person in the world, and he spoke to him without any politeness.

Zhang Qi retorted, "What kind of talk is it for the head of the Incense Burning Sect to snatch things from a junior? I've already said that the Heavenly Book isn't important. You're so stubborn and won't listen to me. If you insist on exchanging it, then go get it yourself."

"When have you ever listened to me?" Lu Xingzhou roared. "Look at how old you've become! How much lifespan do you have left to contend with the Heavenly Dao? I told you to ascend, but you wouldn't listen to me. Do you really want to die here?"

Zhang Qi raised his head, his gaze seemingly piercing through the roof of the main hall and looking up at the heavens.

Zhang Qi asked, "What do you think the Immortal Realm looks like?"

"How would I know if I've never been there? You'll find out when you ascend to heaven!"

Zhang Qi then asked, "So, you said those predecessors ascended to heaven, why don't they come back?"

This time, Lu Xingzhou remained silent.

Zhang Qi smiled and comforted him, "Don't worry, I won't really die here. On the last day, I will ascend to heaven."

Lu Xingzhou asked, "How much longer can you hold on?"

"I don't have much time left," Zhang Qi said with emotion. "Since ascension is a one-way journey, I want to see this world a few more times."

"Hmph, you'd better go there sooner and wait for me in the Immortal Realm." Lu Xingzhou seemed unwilling to discuss this topic further, and then asked, "Since you won't help me, I'll send someone to find that kid surnamed Chen myself. You won't stop me, will you?"

Zhang Qi said indifferently, "Go if you want. What does your Incense Burning Sect's business have to do with me? But let me remind you, the younger disciples of your Incense Burning Sect are very arrogant. Don't make things worse. I don't want to see your Incense Burning Sect become a heretical sect before I ascend."

Lu Xingzhou sighed: "The stricter the sect rules, the fewer disciples there will be, and the more difficult it will be to pass on the legacy. If the sect rules are relaxed, it is easy to fall into demonic ways. The standard is just like the good and evil in this world, which is difficult to distinguish simply. I am not as carefree as you. You founded the Qinghe Sword Sect, but I inherited the Fenxiang Sect. I cannot stand by and watch the sect's legacy die out."

Zhang Qi waved his hand and said, "I won't say anymore. You have your difficulties. But Lao Lu, you must understand that the swords of my Qinghe Sword Sect only distinguish right from wrong, and show no mercy. If you fall into demonic possession one day, I will not be lenient with you."

Lu Xingzhou snorted coldly. Although he knew Zhang Qi's personality well, hearing this still displeased him. This stubborn, stinking iron rock should just ascend quickly, so it won't get in his way here.

Lu Xingzhou vanished in a wisp of green smoke. He hurriedly sent people to find Chen Ye to exchange for the secret technique, as the Incense Burning Sect was determined to obtain the Heavenly Book Secret Technique.

(End of this chapter)