Chapter 363

Words : 2521 Updated : Oct 9th, 2025

Chapter 363"I never expected these two techniques to be like this." After Lu Qing finished comprehending the two techniques provided by the demonic cultivator, a look of surprise flashed in his eyes. Both techniques indeed centered around the use of the Light of Merit. One of them, called the Garment of Merit, was a cultivation technique. The other was a method to refine treasures imbued with the Light of Merit. Both techniques emphasized using the Light of Merit and didn’t require any knowledge of Buddhist or Daoist cultivation, so even Lu Qing could cultivate them. However, when it came time to choose, Lu Qing found himself in a bit of a dilemma. He had resolved the crisis in Cangzhou City, which had moved the heavens and earth to bestow merit upon him. Though he had acquired a considerable amount of Light of Merit, it wasn’t enough for him to cultivate both techniques. Thus, he could only select one of the two for his cultivation. Lu Qing began weighing the pros and cons of each technique. The Garment of Merit would condense the Light of Merit he had received into a garment through a unique technique. Once formed, the Garment of Merit could bring fortune, avert disasters, deter evil entities, and guard his spirit. It was especially effective in defending against attacks targeting the soul, making it a unique technique focused on soul defense. Moreover, as the Light of Merit increased, the Garment of Merit could advance further. At its peak, it could transform into the Celestial Garment of Merit, whose power was so immense that all manner of evil would retreat, and even Demon Lords and their Generals would fear it. Of course, forming the Celestial Garment of Merit would require an astronomical amount of Light of Merit. His small cluster of Light of Merit at his brow acupoint was far from sufficient to achieve that. Furthermore, the technique provided by the demonic cultivator only mentioned the Celestial Garment of Merit in passing, without any specifics on how to refine it. As for the method to refine a Treasure of Merit... To be honest, compared to the Garment of Merit, it was somewhat inferior. The focus of this technique was on integrating the Light of Merit into a magical treasure. A Treasure of Merit would be extremely effective against demonic and evil cultivators and other malevolent beings. However, in Lu Qing’s view, the refining method was not as profound as the Garment of Merit. After a while, Lu Qing finally decided to cultivate the Garment of Merit. There was no other choice—the potential of this technique was too high, and Lu Qing found himself drawn to it. Even though it might be difficult for him to acquire more Light of Merit in the future, the soul defense provided by the Garment of Merit, even at the introductory stage, was alluring enough for him. He estimated that the cluster of Light of Merit within his brow acupoint should be just enough to initiate this technique. After making his decision, Lu Qing activated his abilities and immersed himself entirely in comprehending the Garment of Merit technique. Soon, a warm sensation began to radiate from his body. After about half an hour, a faint golden glow emerged from him. The golden light interwove and formed a simple robe that draped over Lu Qing’s body. "So, this is the Garment of Merit?" Lu Qing opened his eyes, looking at the robe on him with some amazement. The robe appeared thin, yet he could sense a mystical power flowing through it. It could effectively guard his spirit, preventing evil from invading. "Young Master, what is this..." "Yan," having sensed the change in Lu Qing, manifested as a phantom from within the Li Huo Cauldron, staring in awe at the Garment of Merit on Lu Qing. It could sense the dense presence of merit on the garment. "I obtained a technique to harness the Light of Merit from a demonic cultivator and tried cultivating it. I didn’t expect it to succeed right away," Lu Qing explained. "Yan": ... Yan wasn’t surprised that Lu Qing managed to obtain a cultivation technique from a demonic cultivator. After all, that demonic cultivator had been enslaved by Lu Qing’s soul and could not defy his will. What surprised Yan was Lu Qing’s speed in cultivating the technique. Seeing the aura emanating from the robe on Lu Qing, Yan knew that this was a highly profound technique. Yet, Lu Qing had cultivated it without a sound or a trace. Though it wasn’t the first time Yan had witnessed Lu Qing’s comprehension abilities, it couldn’t help but feel astonished once again. Lu Qing savored the mystical nature of the Garment of Merit for a moment before retracting it into his body. Once formed, the Garment of Merit would automatically protect its owner without further effort, an ability as mysterious as it was wondrous. "When Master returns, I can pass this technique on to him as well. Perhaps he too can form a Garment of Merit one day." After experiencing the mystical quality of the Garment of Merit, Lu Qing felt assured. Master had always been compassionate and benevolent, having practiced medicine for decades. He too had accumulated a fair amount of Light of Merit. If he could condense a Garment of Merit, it would benefit him immensely. However, Master had gone into the mountains to gather herbs recently, and it was uncertain when he would return. Lu Qing would have to wait until Master’s return to teach him the technique. Just as Lu Qing was musing over these thoughts, he sensed something. After more than ten breaths, a voice called out from outside the courtyard. "Young Master Lu, are you there?" "Patriarch Wei, please come in." Soon, Wei Xinghe’s figure appeared in the courtyard. "Patriarch Wei, has something happened?" Lu Qing saw a serious expression on Wei Xinghe’s face and asked. "It’s like this, Young Master Lu—I just received news from the scouts in the manor. "Apparently, over in Xi State, a group of powerful monks has emerged. In a short time, they have subdued various sects and unified Xi State. "They are now conducting massive construction under the name of Xuankong Mountain, building temples with great urgency." "Oh, so Xuankong Mountain has finally decided to reveal itself?" Lu Qing raised an eyebrow at the news. He wasn’t particularly surprised. He had long learned from the Wujian Tower Assassins that the secret realm of Xuankong Mountain was located in Xi State. Now that the Heaven and Earth Dao Sounds had resonated for the fourth time, and the rules of heaven and earth had further evolved, it was about time for these secret realms to make their appearance. If they delayed any longer, they risked missing out on the resurgence of spiritual energy. "What about other regions? Are similar events happening there too?" Lu Qing asked. "Your foresight is remarkable, Young Master Lu. Yes, other major states are experiencing similar situations. "In each case, a group of mysterious experts has suddenly emerged, sweeping through a state and establishing their dominance." "Which states are they?" Wei Xinghe then listed the states, which surprised Lu Qing. He noted that none of the secret realms were located within Zhongzhou. It was unclear if this was because Zhongzhou had undergone the most severe transformations when spiritual energy dwindled, leaving no room for secret realms to survive, or if there was another reason altogether. "Understood, Patriarch Wei. Given the intensified changes in heaven and earth, even the Four Great Secret Realms have begun to emerge. "It’s safe to assume that the coming days will bring even more chaos to the outside world. "So, it would be wise for everyone to avoid going out and to focus on cultivating in peace." "Indeed, I’ll make sure to remind Zihao and Zian about this when I return." Wei Xinghe didn’t need further instruction from Lu Qing to understand what needed to be done. With the legendary Four Great Secret Realms surfacing to vie for territory, the world was bound to descend into turmoil. Only a fool would choose this moment to venture outside. Moreover, ever since Lu Qing set up the formation, the spiritual energy around Jiuli Village had steadily thickened, showing signs of transforming into a blessed land. Wei Xinghe could already feel that cultivating within the manor had not only accelerated his progress but also brought a sense of inner peace. There was no longer a risk of losing control and falling into inner demons. Knowing that this transformation was all thanks to Lu Qing, Wei Xinghe had no intention of wasting this opportunity. After Wei Xinghe left, Lu Qing sank into thought. The timing of the Four Great Secret Realms’ emergence was expected. The Heaven and Earth Dao Sounds had sounded four times now, and the rules of heaven and earth had evolved to the point where Foundation Establishment cultivators could move about freely. According to Yan, as the rules of heaven and earth continued to change, more phenomena would emerge. Some natural treasures might soon be ready to reveal themselves. There was even a chance that the legendary secret realms could soon begin to take form again. In light of this, it was only natural that the Four Great Secret Realms would make their moves to secure their foothold for the impending struggle for heaven’s resources. Lu Qing contemplated whether he should take this opportunity to head to Xi State and deliver a surprise to Xuankong Mountain. Since Xuankong Mountain had only just revealed itself, they likely had not yet fully consolidated their hold over Xi State. If he struck now, he might just catch them off guard. After thinking it over, Lu Qing concluded it was worth a try. The enmity between him and Xuankong Mountain was irreconcilable. Rather than wait for them to establish a firm grip and then target him, it would be better to take the initiative and land the first blow. Even if he couldn’t destroy them entirely, he could at least severely wound them and disrupt their plans! With this in mind, Lu Qing immediately began making preparations. He waited until the next day when his Master returned from gathering herbs in the mountains and could oversee the formation. Then, he quietly left Jiuli Village with Xiao Li, heading towards Xi State. "Young Master, are you truly going to Xi State?" On the road, Yan spoke to Lu Qing through soul transmission from within the Li Huo Cauldron. "Yes, Xuankong Mountain and I have a deep-seated grudge. If they gain full control over Xi State, they might come after me." While Lu Qing wasn’t particularly worried about personal attacks, he couldn’t say the same for Xiao Yan and the villagers of Jiuli Village. Xuankong Mountain, with its heritage tracing back to the ancient immortal cultivation era, likely held many hidden resources. The formation he had set up, though refined, might not fully protect against such an ancient power’s retaliation. Thus, rather than waiting passively for trouble, he preferred to strike first. "If this Xuankong Mountain secret realm is indeed the same as that from the ancient cultivation era, you must proceed with caution, Young Master," Yan advised. "Those monks are no ordinary threat. Even in ancient times, they were among the most formidable forces. "They’ve managed to survive the thousands of years of spiritual energy depletion and keep their legacy alive, which suggests they have formidable capabilities." "I understand. Don’t worry, Senior. I’ll be careful," Lu Qing replied. "As long as you’re aware," Yan said, reassured by Lu Qing’s calm demeanor. In the early days, when Yan had been forced to relinquish control of the Li Huo Cauldron, it would have wished for Lu Qing’s demise rather than advising him. However, as time passed and Yan witnessed Lu Qing’s extraordinary cultivation aptitude and comprehension abilities, its outlook had shifted entirely. Yan knew that if Lu Qing continued to advance, his future accomplishments would be unimaginable. He might even one day rival the most powerful figures from the ancient immortal cultivation era. And if Yan ever hoped to escape its confinement, it knew that Lu Qing would be its only hope. Hence, Yan was genuinely concerned for Lu Qing’s safety, wishing no harm would befall him. Lu Qing, of course, noticed Yan’s shift in attitude, but he chose not to mention it. With Xiao Li in his arms, he continued his journey towards Xi State. Though Xi State wasn’t particularly close to Cangzhou, there were two other major states between them. Despite having talismans to aid him, it still took Lu Qing two full days of nonstop travel to reach the outskirts of Xi State. Once there, he didn’t immediately enter. Instead, he took half a day to adjust his energy and replenish his sustenance, bringing himself to peak condition before he acted. Using his profound control over his body, he employed the disguise technique he had learned from the Seven Kill Tower Assassins. By manipulating his facial muscles and bones, he transformed his appearance. Then, he took out a ghost-face mask from the Heaven and Earth One Qi Bag and put it on. Finally, the soul talisman within his brow acupoint shifted, completely altering his soul’s aura. In both appearance and spirit, Lu Qing now looked like a different person entirely. He was confident that even his Master might not recognize him now. "Who would have thought that mortals’ techniques for disguise could be so unique?" Yan marveled at Lu Qing’s transformation, astounded by what Lu Qing had achieved. Yan had learned from Lu Qing that the disguise technique was a mortal warrior’s secret method, and it was amazed. It realized that Lu Qing was indeed prepared, which eased its worries further. "During the era of depleted spiritual energy, warriors could only cultivate up to the Innate Realm. "Beyond that, the limitations of heaven and earth prevented further breakthroughs. "Many warriors, realizing they had no hope of overcoming these barriers, turned their focus to developing intricate martial skills and secret techniques. "This disguise technique was one of the methods they invented." Lu Qing explained with a smile. As his understanding of cultivation grew, he had gradually pieced together how martial arts had evolved over the millennia of spiritual energy decline. "Indeed, the wisdom of humankind is boundless," Yan praised once again. Back in the ancient immortal cultivation era, humans were renowned for their incredible insight. Though they were physically weak, they made up for it with boundless ingenuity and creativity, developing countless powerful techniques to strengthen themselves. They even kept the beast and sea clans under control, dominating the most spiritually rich lands like Zhongzhou and other states. Yan, being a spirit of the cauldron, didn’t possess this kind of creativity. This was one reason why it longed to one day break free of its confines and become a true sentient being. "Alright, Xiao Li, let’s go." After a brief exchange with Yan, Lu Qing, fully disguised, took Xiao Li and began making his way deeper into Xi State... Table of content

Chapter 363

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