CHAPTER (04)

CHAPTER (04)

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Zhu Qing sat cross-legged on a red carpet, the cool breeze through the window rustling his robes. He had prepared meticulously for this moment.

Earlier today, he had reached the peak of the Profound Core Realm fourth layer.

Initially, he planned to wait for months to break through, but a feeling in his heart told him he could achieve it now.

"Twenty Qi Gathering Pills," he murmured to himself, his voice filled with resolve.

"This should be enough, and the aura here is already rich because of the spiritual vein."

Drawing the pills from a jade bottle, he stuffed them into his mouth and soon closed his eyes, feeling the immediate surge of energy.

His absorption speed increased several times over, and the pure qi of heaven and earth began to surround him like a constellation of stars.

Even the normally congested spiritual veins felt empty and ready to channel the surging energy.

"It's time," Zhu Qing said softly, feeling the power build within him.

At that moment, he activated his Divine body:

---The Heavenly Torrent Physique.---

A large, round halo appeared behind him, constantly circling and covering his entire body with an ethereal, cosmic color.

At the center of the halo, a vast hole seemed to stretch infinitely, capable of swallowing the entire world.

From this central void, sixteen water streams flowed in different directions, each stream shimmering with a unique color, each one resisting the urge to merge with the others. Their flow was like the violent waves of a storm—some streams carried the power to annihilate mankind, while others possessed the ability to heal the entire world.

"In the great Taixuan World, countless spiritual bodies and heavenly physiques exist,"

Zhu Qing mused, his eyes reflecting a deep understanding.

"Each one more powerful than the last. At the bottom are the Beast and Spirit level physiques. Above them lie the Divine bodies, then the Supreme physiques, and at the pinnacle, the legendary Immortal physiques."

His eyes remained closed as he continued to focus.

"Though my Heavenly Torrent Physique is presently only at the Divine level, its true strength lies in its potential for evolution,"

"From my memories, I understand it has the capacity to evolve, but the specifics of how and under what conditions are still unclear."

"But...For now, it is wiser to concentrate on the breakthrough itself rather than dwell on uncertainties. I'll leave the finer details for the future."

Zhu Qing directed his pure qi toward his dantian, feeling its surge course through his meridians. The pure qi of heaven and earth continued to gather around him, drawn in by the Heavenly Torrent Physique.

The qi began to spiral around his dantian, flowing through his eight meridians and his heaven-rank spiritual root, condensing and purifying with each passing second.

"I need to strengthen my foundation first. Rushing the breakthrough could create problems down the line."

Three hours passed...

The Profound Core in his dantian began to glow with an intense amethyst light. This was no ordinary Profound Core; it was a tenth-grade orb, resplendent in its amethyst hue, bound by golden and red threads that shimmered as it spun rapidly in a vertical orbit.

It drew in the qi from the heavens and the earth, emitting an ethereal amethyst smoke. As Zhu Qing concentrated, the orb expanded, its color gradually shifting to a brilliant, vibrant red.

"Steady," he whispered, guiding the qi with precise control.

Zhu Qing confronted the barrier before him—a seemingly impenetrable wall of energy. Channeling all his willpower and the immense qi and the force of his Heavenly Torrent Physique, he focused intently.

For Zhu Qing, this bottleneck was no ordinary obstacle; his physique was unique. Just as water finds its way around any obstacle, no barrier could withstand the fluid, relentless force of his power.

"Break!" he roared inwardly, pushing the qi against the barrier.

Visible droplets of sweat beaded on his forehead, and his clothes began to shred under the strain of the overwhelming energy.

The pain was intense, yet it was a trial he could endure.

Soon, the barrier grew even thinner, yet it still resisted, straining against his efforts. Zhu Qing's body quaked with the exertion, his face marked by the intensity of the struggle. Just as it seemed the barrier might hold, a crack began to form.

Encouraged, he redoubled his efforts, pouring every ounce of his strength into the push.

With a resounding crack, the barrier shattered.

Boom!!

The qi surged through, flooding his dantian with a brilliant blaze of light. Zhu Qing felt his Profound Core expanding and solidifying, its energy reaching new and unprecedented heights.

---PROFOUND CORE REALM, FIFTH LAYER---

He opened his eyes, the world around him sharper and more vibrant. The breakthrough had not only increased his power but also heightened his senses. Zhu Qing stood up, feeling the immense energy coursing through him. He felt he could defeat anyone at the same level, though not those monsters with Supreme and Immortal physiques.

"Still not enough. This power is insufficient... I must push harder. With what I have now, I can't even protect those I care about. I need to find a way to evolve my Heavenly Torrent Physique," he said, with heavy disappointment in his voice.

The image of his own death replayed in his mind, and the formidable monsters he would face in the coming years loomed large and threatening.

Meanwhile...The halo of streams faded, but he felt the lingering energy within him.

Afterwards...

Zhu Qing took a deep breath and reached into his robe, pulling out an ancient scroll that seemed to radiate a dark, dark energy.

---The Star Emperor's Life and Decay Sutra---

Cultivation techniques were classified into five grades: Mortal, Earth, Sky, Heaven, and Immortal.

This sutra was a legendary inheritance from the Zhu family, passed down by Zhu family's Sage in ancient times.

But after his great-grandfather's death, no one had been able to decipher its secrets—until now.

Zhu Qing had finally managed to unlock few of its mysterious teachings.

Though incomplete, the technique was formidable.

It balanced on the edge of withering and glory, life and death intertwined.

Only those with affinities for wood, water, and fire could fully grasp its essence.

The Sutra allowed a cultivator to sacrifice their own lifespan to shorten that of their enemies.

For instance, if Zhu Qing took 5000 days from an enemy, he would need to sacrifice 4500 of his own days—a risky exchange.

Additionally, the Sutra had a passive effect: it absorbed not only qi from the environment but also the lifeforce of other creatures and nature, gradually extending the practitioner's own lifespan.

Soon ...he meditated on the Sutra, his consciousness was shifting to a nightmarish realm.

He found himself in a forest of complete darkness, where the only light came from blacken trees growing on a stark, white crystal landscape.

The sky above was not green, but a dense, green forest, casting a shadow over the scene.

Rain fell in mid-air, suspended without ever reaching the ground, and there was neither sun nor moon to break the gloom.

Every creature and tree emitted a haunting light—some black, some green, and others white—creating a monochromatic world devoid of other colors.

The oppressive atmosphere was filled with a suffocating stillness, each step through the  forest weighed down by an overwhelming sense of dread.

Zhu Qing could only wander a few breaths before being pulled back to his room, the haunting vision etched into his mind.

Setting the scroll aside, he focused on his combat skill,

---Primordial Chaos Wave---

This technique had been his cornerstone in countless battles, its power undeniable. Zhu Qing had honed it to the 17th grade of mastery, a level few could ever hope to achieve.

Each advancement made the technique more devastating, each wave more powerful and precise.

"Only eight more to reach the Grandmaster level," he thought, a mix of satisfaction and grim determination filling him.

Suddenly....his eyes narrowed, looking towards the void. His voice became softer and his expression gentle.

"Junior Sister Yulan, how much longer do you want to stare at my body? It's because of girls like you that men feel unsafe getting out of the house," he said laughingly.

The void in the courtyard cracked, opening a gate from which a woman with a sweet, charming smile stepped in. Her face showed tenderness and immense love for Zhu Qing.

The void in the courtyard shimmered and split apart, revealing a gate through which a woman emerged. Her entrance was accompanied by a warm, enchanting smile that seemed to light up the world around her.

As she stepped forward, her gaze settled on Zhu Qing with a depth of tenderness and profound affection, her eyes reflecting a love that seemed to transcend time itself.

"Congratulations on advancing in the realm, Brother Zhu Qing. I must admit, seeing you achieve such success is quite impressive. How about we celebrate this milestone together?" she said with a warm smile.

But as soon as the words left her lips, she regretted them, cursing herself for forgetting that his father had passed away just today.

How could he be in the mood to celebrate?

"I'm sorry, Gege. I didn't mean to..." She looked at him apologetically.

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To Be Continued...