I bear witness to immortality in the human world.

Chapter 160 Entering the Abyss
Leave the central camp tent.

Yan Chuyu then took the initiative to come to Wu Ming's side and greeted him cheerfully, "Wu Ming, what have you been doing for the past six months? I haven't seen you at all."

"The city's government offices are empty, so I'll stay in the city to oversee the Censorate and cultivate my Taoist arts."

Wu Ming responded calmly.

Yan Chuyu blinked and said, "I see. You haven't been in the primordial spirit realm for long. It's perfect that Master Liu put you in the city to oversee things and practice your Dao techniques... I haven't seen you come out for the past six months. I imagine your Dao techniques have improved a lot. I've also entered the fourth blood realm. It's a pity I don't have time right now, otherwise I would like to have a good spar with you."

Previously, on the banks of the Baimo River, Wu Ming had reached the fourth level of primordial spirit refinement, which naturally made him the strongest among all the heroes, and no one could match him. But now she has also entered the fourth level of blood realm, with abundant blood energy, which is enough to deal with primordial spirit avatars, and she has returned to the same level as Wu Ming.

As Yan Chuyu finished speaking, Ling Zhonghan, who was standing to the side, also looked at Wu Ming. He now admired Wu Ming's talent in Daoist arts. In terms of natural talent, Wu Ming was indeed superior to him. After all, Wu Ming was not yet twenty-three years old this year. But considering the current situation, after he entered the fourth stage of Blood Condensation, he could fight against a Daoist master like Wu Ming who had reached the fourth stage of Refinement.

"After half a year of training, I have made some progress. Once this matter is over, Miss Chuyu can come to me for a sparring match at any time. When my martial arts reach the fourth level of the Blood Realm, I may need to ask you to give me some pointers on martial arts."

Wu Ming looked at Yan Chuyu and said politely.

Upon hearing this, Yan Chuyu smiled broadly and rubbed her hands together, saying, "Then it's settled... Well, once you've mastered the four bloodlines in martial arts, you can come and spar with me whenever you want. To be honest, I don't really like sparring with masters of Daoist arts; martial arts are much more practical. Once I achieve the unity of spirit and body in the future, I won't be afraid of your Daoist arts at all."

After the spirit and body are united, the primordial spirit and soul become one with the physical body. This means that one's martial will and fierce killing intent can be integrated into the limbs and bones, into every wisp of blood energy. This greatly increases the destructive power of blood energy on the primordial spirit and soul energy. Pure martial arts skills, swordsmanship, and other techniques can also forcefully clash with Taoist magic and supernatural powers.

However, before that, it is still difficult for martial arts to directly withstand Taoist techniques. For example, Wu Ming's Divine Firmament Thunder Technique cannot be withstood before one has achieved the unity of spirit and body. Even if one does, it is simply a matter of using the physical body to withstand it. Even a martial artist who has achieved four blood coagulations and has a strong physique cannot withstand the power of thunder. He would probably be half dead after just one hit.

After the spirit and body are united, the techniques and skills can be harnessed by blood energy and collide with Taoist arts. Although they cannot destroy the lightning itself, they can destroy the secret patterns and soul power that control the lightning, causing the Taoist arts to shatter and collapse.

of course,

If the primordial spirit is strong enough and the secret patterns are refined enough, it can withstand the impact of martial arts blood energy and killing intent. In the end, when the two collide, it depends on who is stronger. Moreover, the higher the level of cultivation, the more difficult it is to distinguish between martial arts and primordial spirit.

Wu Ming knew that if one could cultivate martial arts to the fifth level of blood condensation and reach the pinnacle of skill, one could cross rivers. If one could reach the seventh level of blood condensation and become a grandmaster, one could even use one's physical body to tread on the air and ascend to the clouds. Although it was not as long-lasting and stable as flying through Taoist methods, it was still a transcendence of the mortal world, and one would no longer be restricted by the inability to fly.

"During this exploration of the Abyss, everyone should proceed with caution. The underground conditions are unknown, with demons, evil spirits, and various forces mixed together, making it a chaotic mix. Our primary focus this time should be on self-preservation during our exploration."

Han Cheng then spoke up.

Then he looked at Wu Ming and said, "Wu Ming, once we get down there, the task of exploration will be entrusted to you. Try not to take any risks. Even if your primordial spirit leaves your body, don't stray too far from us. The underground environment is complex, with many demons and evil spirits. Although your primordial spirit is more flexible than your physical body, there are still many things that can threaten you."

"Okay, thank you for the reminder, Manager Han."

Wu Ming nodded slightly after hearing this.

The four of them left the camp and headed north. After traveling about thirty miles, a huge ravine appeared in front of them, cutting the mountain range in two, blocking their way like an abyss.

Wu Ming had been to this place before, but now the entire terrain and landform have undergone earth-shattering changes.

Arriving at the edge of this abyss,

Wu Ming looked down and saw that the area below was filled with a heavy gloomy atmosphere. The sunlight could only illuminate a very limited area, and the further down he went, the more eerie it became, until he was completely plunged into darkness.

This abyss is extremely dangerous, with a gap of about thirty feet between the two sides. The cliffs are covered with jagged rocks, making it very difficult for even martial artists with first or second level of cultivation to climb down, let alone ordinary people.

Going down from here presents several challenges. First, the cliff face is steep. Second, the terrain is unstable, with loose rocks constantly breaking off and falling down the cliff. In addition, the dangers at the bottom are unpredictable. Wu Ming could tell that even a martial artist with three blood condensation levels was not suitable to explore down there. No wonder the three blood condensation martial artists from the two divisions had all returned to the main camp.

"Wu Ming, how are you? Are you able to get down?"

Han Cheng walked closer and asked Wu Ming.

Among the crowd, Wu Ming is a master of Daoist arts and has exceptional talent. His strength is no weaker than Yan Chuyu and Ling Zhonghan, and he is probably comparable to them. However, Wu Ming's physical body is only at the third stage of blood condensation. It may not be easy for Wu Ming to climb down this steep abyss, which is like an insurmountable barrier.

"It's not a big problem."

Wu Ming observed carefully for a moment, then responded to Han Cheng.

Simply moving around on such steep rock walls is not a big problem for him. As for encountering any danger or other troubles, he can instantly summon the Earthly Fiend Yuan Magic Form. The Earthly Fiend Magic Form is extremely suitable in this environment. No matter how steep the terrain is, it can take root on the ground.

"That's good."

Han Cheng nodded slightly after hearing this and said, "If there is any trouble, I can help you carry the body."

For masters of Taoist arts, the physical body is often a burden and a weakness, but they cannot do without it, because once the primordial spirit leaves the body, it cannot rest and recover, unless one reaches the legendary 'Seven Refinements' realm, in which case one can separate from the body and exist independently. Even if the body is destroyed, one can still seize another's body and be reborn, occupying the body of an unborn infant and living a second life.

Before the Seven Refinements, once the physical body is destroyed, the primordial spirit cannot survive for long and will soon wither and perish.

“There’s no need for such trouble. I cultivate the Earthly Fiend Dharma Form, which is very convenient to use in this underground abyss,” Wu Ming said, shaking his head.

His physical body was indeed his weakness, but after cultivating the Dharma Form, he had a way to protect it. Unfortunately, the Demon Subduing Realm of the Black Emperor's Demon Subduing Diagram could only contain inanimate objects, except for his primordial spirit and soul. Even his physical body could not be placed inside. Otherwise, if his physical body could enter the Demon Subduing Realm, he could act with impunity.

Wu Ming didn't think that a world like the Demon Subduing Realm, a vast and boundless realm within a diagram, would be unable to contain his physical body. He judged that it was because his control over the Demon Subduing Diagram was too shallow, to the point that he could only store inanimate objects.

but,

As things stand, even if a physical body could be placed in the Demon Subduing Realm, the limitations would be significant. After all, the environment within the Demon Subduing Realm is vastly different from the outside world. Once inside, the physical body would be completely without support, like holding one's breath underwater. Even a body refined to the third level wouldn't be able to sustain itself for long unless one reached the legendary seventh level of refinement, where the physical body would become completely inhuman and able to directly absorb and expel the primordial energy of heaven and earth to nourish the body, no longer requiring material sustenance. Only then could one remain in an environment like the Demon Subduing Realm for an extended period.

Hearing Wu Ming's words, Han Cheng nodded. Although Taoist masters are good at exploration, their weak physical bodies are a burden, so their advantage is not particularly great. However, Wu Ming has cultivated a Dharma form of the Earthly Fiend type, which can protect his physical body when used underground, allowing him to move freely. This situation is much better.

"Let's go down now, there's no time to lose."

Han Cheng immediately spoke, and then leaped off the cliff.

Instead of climbing down the cliff, he leaped across more than thirty feet, landing on the opposite side of the cliff. Then, he suddenly stepped on the opposite cliff and flew back through the air, leaping another thirty feet to return to the cliff on this side. He repeated this leaping motion, continuing to descend deeper into the cliff.

"Let's go."

Yan Chuyu walked past Wu Ming, drew her sword with a clang, and, following Han Cheng's example, leaped over thirty feet to the opposite cliff, then exerted her strength to step back gracefully.

Wu Ming glanced at the situation on both sides of the strait, but instead of following Yan Chuyu and Han Cheng's example, he lightly leaped down, his entire body plunging along the cliff face. Every now and then, he would reach out or lift his feet to pat the protruding rocks on the cliff to dissipate the force of his fall, and he quickly descended into the darkness below the abyss.

At last,
Ling Zhonghan arrived at the edge of the cliff, glanced down, and then, as if sensing something, looked in a certain direction behind him, but found nothing. Finally, he shook his head slightly and jumped off the cliff.

Just after Ling Zhonghan entered the abyss below, about a dozen breaths later, several figures emerged from the bushes in the distance. They were all very agile and landed on the edge of the cliff in a few steps.

There were four people in total, all of whom looked very young.

"Were those people from the two departments of Jingye City just now?"

One of them, with a hint of contempt and disdain in his eyes, said, "The two divisions of Jingye City can't produce any outstanding individuals. Three level-four warriors are one thing, but they even sent down a level-three warrior as well."

"No, Junior Brother Zhong, you don't know this. Not long ago, a person with extraordinary talent emerged in Jingye City. It is said that his name is Wu Ming. He is the personal disciple of Liu Muyuan, the head of the Shenxing Division here. He cultivates the Daoist lineage and has already achieved the fourth level of Yuan Shen at the age of twenty-two. Among the group of people just now, most of those whose physiques are only at the third level of blood are probably him."

Qiu Feiying shook her head and said.

"Twenty-two years old, fourth level of primordial spirit refinement?"

Upon hearing this, the other person next to him immediately showed a look of surprise.

They were young elites from Jingyu City, which was much more prosperous than Jingye City. The Daoist lineage, which had completely declined in Jingye City, had a complete inheritance system and sects in Jingyu City, although it was still much inferior to martial arts.

Although the cultivation of the Primordial Spirit lineage can begin in childhood, unlike martial arts which requires waiting until the age of fifteen or sixteen when the body's bones are stable before accumulating blood and qi, even so, it is extremely rare to reach the fourth level of Primordial Spirit cultivation at the age of twenty-two.

At least in Jingyu City, no one has been known to have been able to do that in recent decades.

As for martial arts, there is someone who achieved the fourth stage of blood coagulation at the age of twenty-four, but he is no longer in Jingyu City. After breaking through, he was taken away by a major sect in the capital of Yong Kingdom and is now one of the most renowned peerless geniuses in the capital of Yong Kingdom.

"To have completed four trainings at the age of twenty-two is rare even in the entire Yong Kingdom. This person should not be underestimated."

The last person spoke slowly.

"Hey, now that you mention it, I'm actually quite interested in this person."

Zhong Changdong's lips curled up slightly, and a hint of interest flashed in his eyes.

Qiu Feiying said in a deep voice, "Junior Brother Zhong, don't do anything reckless. We are here to seek resources and opportunities. Don't provoke people from the two departments in Jingye City. Besides, Liu Muyuan from the Jingye City Cautious Punishment Department is no ordinary person. Even our master is quite wary of him."

"Don't worry, I know what I'm doing. I just want to spar with him and see his magic. I won't take his life."

Zhong Changdong said leisurely.

Seeing this, Qiu Feiying couldn't help but shake her head. Among them, Zhong Changdong was the last to join the sect, but he had the highest aptitude. Not long ago, he had even figured out the secret of the unity of spirit and body and successfully entered that realm.

It was precisely because he had mastered the unity of spirit and body that Zhong Changdong became quite interested in Taoist masters and wanted to practice his skills against them.

(End of this chapter)