Chapter 16: The Supreme Celestial Art
Chu Feng gave a cold snort. “I’m afraid you’ll be disappointed, Sect Master. I won’t be dying anytime soon.”
Xiang Yutian’s expression froze, and he replied awkwardly, “As long as the Grand Elder is unharmed, that’s all that matters. Congratulations, Grand Elder, on extending your lifespan and regaining your cultivation. This is truly a momentous blessing for our Supreme Mystery Sect.”
With a look of disdain, Chu Feng asked, “I wonder if the Sect Master still intends to withhold my resources?”
Xiang Yutian hurriedly replied in a righteous tone, “The Grand Elder must have misheard me earlier. What I meant was that all your resources should be doubled.”
“Oh?” Chu Feng sneered. “And am I still required to visit the Profound Heart Sect to apologize?”
“No need,” Xiang Yutian hastily shook his head. “They dared vie for your Dao companion, Grand Elder. The Profound Heart Sect is the true culprit here. In fact, they should be the ones apologizing to you.”
“Grand Elder, there are still matters within the sect that require my attention, so I’ll take my leave.”
With that, he departed the lonely mountain.
By the time he was gone, Xiang Yutian was drenched in cold sweat—though shock was the greater part of it. By all rights, Chu Feng’s lifespan should have been near its end, and his cultivation hardly able to remain at the Nascent Soul realm. Yet just now, the strength of that sword intent was something he knew he couldn’t withstand. In fact, it might very well have cost him his life.
Chu Feng watched Xiang Yutian’s retreating figure, a flicker of anger and murderous intent flashing in his eyes.
“Now that I’ve grown old, it seems even the most insignificant people come to take advantage.”
At this moment, he had restored himself to the cultivation of a three-hundred-year-old—early Nascent Soul stage. If he remembered correctly, he broke through to late Nascent Soul at four hundred and eighty, reached his peak at five hundred and fifty, and remained there until the age of nine hundred. After that, age and decline set in, and his strength began to wane.
He’d almost forgotten—he was a patron of the Fortune Mall. Regaining strength didn’t necessarily mean recovering his old cultivation on his own; the Fortune Mall could also enhance his abilities.
As a cultivator at the late Nascent Soul stage, he possessed not only power but a goodly number of treasures. What he lacked now was a suitable cultivation method. Both the Grand Sorrow of Heaven and Earth and the Sword that Opens the Celestial Gate were celestial-level techniques. However, one was more auxiliary—a dual cultivation technique that improved talent, soul, mana, and even bloodline, but could not serve as a primary cultivation method.
He wondered if the Fortune Mall offered a suitable one. There were far more cultivation methods than longevity treasures—tens of thousands, in fact. The Supreme Purity Codex, the Ultimate Purity Codex, the Ninefold Profound Art—they were all available.
Yet, to his dismay, Chu Feng found he couldn’t afford any of them. Each technique cost at least hundreds of millions of Fortune Points, some even billions. With barely over half a million points, his standing was insignificant.
“System, show me the cultivation methods I can afford,” Chu Feng ordered.
With just over half a million points, all available techniques were for the Spiritual Transformation or Integration stages.
“System, can these methods be purchased in installments?” Chu Feng asked, struck by inspiration.
[Yes.]
The system’s answer was crisp, and only then did Chu Feng feel satisfied.
“System, list the celestial-level methods most suitable for me.”
[Host, based on the system’s recommendations, these three methods are most appropriate for you. You may choose one to cultivate.]
[First, the Grand Celestial Star Technique—a celestial-level method divided into twelve great realms. The first is the Earth Fiend Realm, which gathers the power of the earth and channels the strength of the stars. With each movement, you can command the force of the stars against your foes. Once mastered, your mana will far exceed others at your level. The first realm costs one hundred thousand Fortune Points—well within your means.]
[Second, the Grand Five Elements Art—a celestial-level method that gathers the power of the five elements to forge a Saintly Body of the Five Elements. It allows the casting of five-element spells and is considered the most versatile of all techniques. It is also one of the strongest foundation-building methods at the celestial level. Should you ever wish to switch methods in the future, there will be no adverse effects. It comprises five layers; the first costs five hundred thousand Fortune Points.]
[Third, the Supreme Celestial Sutra—a synthesis of the strengths of Confucianism, Buddhism, and Daoism, created by the Patriarch Bodhi, who was perhaps the benevolent incarnation of the Sage of Guidance. It consists of three thousand characters, each five hundred forming a stage. If you wish to purchase, you may acquire the first five hundred for fifty thousand Fortune Points.]
Truth be told, each of these three methods tempted Chu Feng, but he knew he could choose only one.
In the end, Chu Feng selected the third method.
Why? Because the legendary Great Sage Equal to Heaven, Sun Wukong, had cultivated this very technique, and only after reaching the Celestial stage did he switch to the Eight-Nine Arcane Art.
In the next instant, five hundred thousand Fortune Points vanished from his account. A five-hundred-character scripture appeared in Chu Feng’s mind—profound and obscure, yet not beyond his comprehension.
As he pondered the scripture, he first sensed a qualitative transformation in his mana—its power increased at least tenfold. Then came his soul, constitution, and bloodline.
He opened his status panel:
[Name: Chu Feng.]
[Cultivation: Late Nascent Soul (pseudo, actually early Nascent Soul).]
[Talent: Infinite Sacred Body (10% awakened).]
[Lifespan: 999/1000 years (lifespan nearly exhausted, seven months remaining).]
[Method: Supreme Celestial Sutra (incomplete, only five hundred characters).]
[Divine Abilities: Grand Sorrow of Heaven and Earth (celestial-level), Sword that Opens the Celestial Gate (celestial-level).]
Before, Chu Feng had confidence that with his early Nascent Soul cultivation, he could contend with those at the mid-stage. Now, he could not only fight them but even claim victory—and perhaps face late Nascent Soul opponents as well.
He possessed about a fifth of his peak strength. At the very least, he was no less formidable than Exquisite Immortal Venerable.
Perhaps, after offering a little incentive, he could make a concerted effort and win her over in one stroke. Exquisite Immortal Venerable’s Fortune Points were even higher than Shen Qianxue’s. Cultivation level, status, and so on all contributed greatly to one’s fortune.
Shen Qianxue, after all, was only at the Qi Refining stage and from a humble family. Before meeting her, he had a mere one hundred thousand Fortune Points. After forming a Dao partnership with her and then breaking off another engagement, his fortune instantly rose to three hundred thousand.
Ninety-three percent—over two hundred thousand Fortune Points.
Just when he thought his fortune was nearly depleted, it surged again.
With the Supreme Celestial Sutra, Chu Feng was more motivated than ever. He cultivated tirelessly every day. Naturally, as he progressed, Shen Qianxue advanced rapidly as well.
Three months passed in a flash.
Shen Qianxue reached the ninth level of Qi Refining. In just four short months, she had risen from the third to the ninth level—a feat unprecedented in the history of the Supreme Mystery Sect.
Back then, with Chu Feng’s help, Lin Xiyue also spent five months to advance six levels.
Of course, this was largely due to the effects of the Grand Sorrow of Heaven and Earth. Though it could not be cultivated directly for advancement, each dual cultivation session brought increases to mana, talent, soul, and bloodline, greatly accelerating Shen Qianxue’s progress.