Cursed Mountains and Seas

Chapter 221 Breakthrough! Fifth-Rank Water Balance Captain!
The runes and characters on the [Yin Yang Transformation Talisman], formed by the intertwining of gold and silver yin-yang fish, continue to grow, penetrating the entire wick of the heart lamp.

The light of the heart was dyed golden blue, as if a rising sun illuminated the entire sea of ​​the heart.

This also allowed Wang Cheng to see the true appearance of the inner world within his body for the first time.

Beneath my feet lies a boundless sea, its surface clear but its depths unfathomable.

It presents a distinct hierarchical structure, from light to dark: transparent, light blue, dark blue, until finally only a cold and desolate black remains.

Staring at it for too long can involuntarily create the illusion that you are about to fall and sink to the bottom.

"No wonder one can only truly introspect one's own mind after cultivating one's sexual energy to the fifth level."

Simply gazing at this sea of ​​emotions requires immense courage; if ordinary people were to witness such a scene frequently, they would surely go insane.

Wang Cheng withdrew his gaze and saw an exceptionally thick chain with one end extending deep into the seabed. It represented his obsession: "Becoming a marquis is not my wish; I only wish for calm seas."

The other end of the chain is tied to a mountain range on a secluded island shrouded in clouds and mist, the clouds and mist in the mountains not yet completely dissipated.

Looking overhead, a brilliant Milky Way stretches across the sky, forming the Three Enclosures, Four Symbols, Twenty-Eight Mansions, and the largest celestial palace.

During the pre-Qin period, people regarded the Milky Way overhead as the Han River in the sky, hence the names "Tianhan", "Hehan", "Xinghan" and "Xiaohan".

Therefore, if the name of the main ethnic group of Dazhao is translated into a foreign language, it can be simply called: "You Who Came From the Stars" or "Galaxy Clan".

The Twenty-Four Solar Terms that arose from this are naturally inherited from the same source.

Wang Cheng could see it very clearly from here: the Heavenly Water Toad Qi that fell from the sky was a tiny stream of water overflowing from the brilliant Milky Way.

The convergence of the sun, moon, and stars, flowing into the lamp, illuminates the heart, instantly dispelling most of the clouds and mist in the isolated island of the heart, revealing five temples standing at varying heights atop the mountain peaks.

It was the stomach that had just been boiled.

The lower three ranks focus on cultivating "essence," while the middle three ranks focus on cultivating "qi."

By breathing exercises and absorbing qi, one can harmonize the body and mind, both internally and externally, and gradually overcome the three barriers.

First, use the method of "eating qi and consuming the clouds" to inhale and exhale the Dao qi corresponding to one's official position and rank, add oil to the heart lamp, and burn open all five internal organs, thus establishing a residence and building teeth within one's own physical body.

The government expanded the administrative system of the county, which was originally equivalent to that of a county, and created its own military institution, the "Five Military Governors' Office".

At this moment, on the mountain peak surrounded by the five temples of the heart, liver, spleen, lungs and kidneys, a majestic and solemn government office appeared.

Deep within the government office, on the yin-yang shaped platform for commanding generals, a point of spiritual light grew brighter and brighter.

Before Wang Cheng could see what it was...

"beep--!"

A bugle call, unique to the military, suddenly rang in his ears, piercing through metal and stone, penetrating his body and mind.

Wang Cheng felt a moment of dizziness, and when he opened his eyes again, he found himself sitting on the command platform, which was about five zhang high, in the center of the government office.

The large chair beneath him was covered with a fierce-looking white tiger skin, making one wonder if they had mistakenly entered the White Tiger Hall.
Beside him stood thousands of Dao soldiers, each formed from a spark of his own spiritual light, positioned on either side.

Civil officials: Chief Clerk, Chief Clerk for Treating Illness, Left and Right Envoys, and Divine Judge of Yin and Yang; Military officials: Tiger-like Gentlemen-in-Waiting, Scouts-in-Waiting, and Ministers of the Three Offices.

Fearsome Beasts: Heavenly Chariot Soldiers, Heavenly Warriors, Qi-Gathering and Qi-Eating Officials, Ghost-Gathering and Ghost-Eating Officials; Post Station Officials: Red Talisman Envoy of the Imperial Carriage, Rugged Wind Cavalry Envoy, Post Station Horseman
There are also projections of the [Guardian Spirits] he subdued here, and they are generals of considerable rank.

The three children were the strongest and closest to Wang Cheng.

He tried to raise his hand but found he couldn't move it at all.

A quick glance around revealed that he had transformed into a crudely made "clay statue," dressed in a scribbled dragon robe, his features obscured.

Only the golden-blue military tally he held in his hand shone brightly, clearly an extraordinary item.

Wang Cheng immediately understood:

"This is a clay sculpture of a deity that one would receive after establishing a temple and government office at the fifth rank and gaining an independent administrative body!"
This is also the foundation of a person's spiritual cultivation in the realm of gods and spirits; whether or not they can attain a position as a deity or spirit in the future depends entirely on this.

His eyes were fixed on the yin-yang patterns on the command platform, and following an instinct as natural as eating and drinking, a thought struck him.

The clay sculpture suddenly split in two, each sitting on the "eyes" of two yin-yang fish, and a bright light suddenly shone before its eyes.

Wang Cheng's body jolted, and he suddenly woke up to find himself back in the Pear Blossom Palace.

I glanced at the brass Western-style clock in the corner; only a few seconds had passed.

He stood up and clenched his fists.

The surging Yin-Yang spiritual energy still flowed within his body, transforming his five internal organs into spiritual organs. The real and authentic Qi circulated continuously through his meridians and internal organs, providing him with a powerful source of strength.

Just like the first fifth-rank official he faced, Pu Shouying, the "treasure hunter," after establishing his own government and forces, he forcibly twisted the power of officials, soldiers, and spirits within his body into one.

With each breath, one can achieve harmony between the internal and external worlds, and become one with nature, gaining exquisite control over all one's own techniques and unique skills.

If he is given sufficient preparation, he can completely replicate the astonishing power that Pu Shouying displayed when facing the cannon fire of warships.

"A fifth-rank Water Balance Commandant? That's it?"
It doesn't seem too difficult.

Wang Cheng rubbed his arm and was surprised to find the difference before and after his promotion.

"My evil spirit body and my living body were fundamentally different in the past. Once the [Four Seas Treasure], a talisman of at least national treasure level, was no longer available to suppress it, many officials could see the eerie yin energy emanating from the evil spirit."

Both the yin and yang bodies are part of me, two sides of the same coin, or one can be said to be the positive and the other the negative.

Only when both are combined can I be complete.

He took out a dagger, lightly sliced ​​the blade with his fingertip, and a trickle of bright red blood flowed out.

"But now it's different. It's like the two eyes of a yin-yang fish. Yin arises from yang, and yang arises from yin. Yin and yang are combined, and the two are no longer distinguishable from each other."

The Yin body has blood and flesh, and can unleash the Yang energy to warm it.

The yang body can also have its eyes transformed into square, coin-shaped eyes, appearing and disappearing without a trace like a debt collector.

Normally, it exists as a constant interplay of Yin and Yang; only when I consciously think of this matter will it suddenly collapse into either a Yang body or a Yin body.

Wang Cheng's eyes were filled with surprise:
"In other words, after I bought several lives from evil spirits, I have finally gained an extra life today."

This fundamental change is clearly thanks to that [Yin-Yang Transformation Talisman]!

Wang Cheng checked his gains after the promotion and found that the greatest benefit he received from the Water Balance Commandant might not be the Spiritual Response [Minting Rights], but rather this Yin-Yang Transformation Talisman.

He spread his hands, revealing a naturally unique Yin-Yang hand shape, with one side forming a winnowing basket and the other a dipper.

The insights into Yin and Yang bodies, the Thirty-Six Paths of the Thunder God's Cloak and Mace, and the Heavenly Treasure Ship's power system [Thunderfire Cardinal] flowed through my mind.

A sudden inspiration struck, as if grasping the pivot of Yin and Yang, and with a firm squeeze, lightning flashed from the palm.

Then, the heart and kidneys would have intercourse.

The heart fire (Li trigram, belonging to Yang) and the kidney water (Kan trigram, belonging to Yin) merge in the dantian, evolving into the interaction of Yin and Yang in the universe, and a wisp of "Qi thunder" is instantly generated in the body.

A point of light appeared in his dantian.

Whoosh whoosh.
The yin and yang energies transformed into their original forms and swirled around Wang Cheng faster and faster, causing his robes to flutter loudly.

The hexagram "Thunder and Wind Interacting" from the Book of Changes evolved before and behind Wang Cheng.

Thunder (Zhen trigram) belongs to Yin within Yang, and it interacts with Wind (Xun trigram), which is Yang within Yin.

As yang energy rises and yin energy sinks, the two energies collide violently, their interaction causing thunder.

Boom!

In an instant, Wang Cheng, taking advantage of the Yin-Yang transformation during his advancement and the accumulation of knowledge during this period, comprehended a new killing move that combined magic and martial arts with the Thunder God's Cloak Mace: [Wind and Thunder Intertwined]!
With a flick of his wrist, a pair of Iron Spine Horizontal Maces left behind by Mao Haifeng fell into his hands, and he leaped into the air.

The wind and thunder energies, whose strength surged along with his, suddenly transformed into two spinning wind and thunder wheels and landed at his feet.

With a loud bang, wind and thunder surged beneath their feet, and the violent gale blew the hall into pieces.

Wang Cheng had already become a blur, crossing the entire Pear Blossom Palace in an instant, smashing open a large, human-shaped hole in the gate of the sleeping quarters.

The surrounding wind and thunder seemed to have clothed Wang Cheng in heavy armor, and although the gate was shattered, he himself was unharmed.

The armor trembled as the Imperial Guards and Palace Attendants, clad in heavy armor, swarmed in from all directions.

Seeing the large hole in the door and the sparks flying like lightning in his own house, the lord, who looked like Lei Zhenzi (a legendary thunder god), was still confused about the situation.

Then Wang Cheng raised his precious mace and said loudly:
"Perfect timing! Let's fight!"

"If you defeat me, I will personally retrieve 100,000 seafood delicacies from the sea and treat everyone in the palace to a special meal today."

Their eyes immediately turned red:
"Ow—!"

"Brothers, let's attack together! The prince keeps his word, we're going to feast on this 100,000-dollar seafood delicacy today."

They carried iron maces and unleashed the same thirty-six styles of Thunder God's Cloak Mace, charging forward one by one, only to be skillfully smashed away by Wang Cheng.

They lost their fighting ability after landing, because the iron armor conducts electricity, and they were sore and numb all over their bodies from the shock, and they couldn't get up for a while.

Wang Cheng transformed into a bolt of lightning and charged in the opposite direction, making it impossible for him to use a second move against anyone.

What does it mean to be a tiger among sheep?

Wang Cheng is like that now!
He still needs to use his explosive killing move, [Wind and Thunder Interlocking], to dodge the guards' attacks. Once he dons double-layered heavy armor and wields the divine double maces...

Even when encountering historically renowned Iron Falcons, Iron Pagodas, or small groups of the three major Western knightly orders, they could fight and retreat, making seven in-and-out runs.

The boxing manual says:

"I can turn iron into mud and leap across tiger ravines."

With a raised hand, it possesses the strength to throw an elephant; with a stomp, it can shake the earth; ice and snow cannot approach it; its domineering gaze can scare away the soul; its lion's roar can shatter a person's internal organs; it can expand and contract at will; and in its movements, no one can rival it!

This is a true reflection of Wang Cheng's full-force attack at this moment.

Then he lost.

(End of this chapter)