Chapter 95: Better To Rely On Oneself Than Others
At this moment, Ning Qi’s mind stirred, communicating with the False Core in his body, allowing him to perceive the omnipresent Heaven and Earth Power. If he entered the Unity of Heaven and Man state, it would be even easier.
“This False Core is, to some extent, equivalent to a signal receiver and amplifier for Heaven and Earth Power.”
Ning Qi gained some realization, with strands of Heaven and Earth Power swirling around his fingertips before dissipating.
If he now used the Heavenly Sword Technique, its power would be stronger, and its sustainability would greatly increase, avoiding the awkward situation of being left staring blankly after one sword strike.
If he had this False Core when Old Demon Lin attacked that day.
He was confident he could have slain the Old Demon with one sword, rather than merely severely injuring him.
“However, the False Core also has drawbacks.”
“Each use of the False Core consumes the energy accumulated within it. Once depleted, it essentially becomes an empty shell, at which point it can be removed. Given the strength of this Beast King Inner Elixir, it would probably only suffice for a few battles.”
In other words, this False Core was a consumable item.
If used up, he would need to find another Beast King Inner Elixir.
“However, it should suffice for now.”
Ning Qi did not usually engage in fights with others. He had fused this False Core mainly to counter the Demonic Sect’s prying eyes.
Even if the Demonic Sect truly launched an attack, it would not lead to prolonged battles.
Perhaps before the False Core’s energy was exhausted, Ning Qi would have already stepped into the Jade Liquid Realm. At that time, Ning Qi might possess combat power comparable to the Heavenly Human Ranking on his own, without needing to rely on the False Core’s power.
This secret technique was perfect for bridging the gap.
Ning Qi felt the pulsing of the False Core at his heart. It was through this method that he had established a connection with the False Core, as if they were one and the same.
But in reality, to truly achieve perfection, the best method was to fully integrate it into the heart, forming something like a “Second Original Core.” This was a further application of the False Core Unification Technique.
“If someone is willing to permanently fuse this Beast King Inner Elixir to form a ‘Second Original Core,’ it would no longer be a consumable. It would undergo wondrous changes with the body, capable of self-recovery, which could greatly enhance combat power for those stuck in the Heavenly Human Realm.”
But Ning Qi’s requirements were clearly not so low.
He did not want his body to harbor foreign objects that would “pollute” his foundation, so he merely treated the False Core as a consumable.
As for other Gang Yuan Realm experts, they would first need to master the Unity of Heaven and Man secret technique, which was a prerequisite for practicing the False Core Unification Technique, not to mention comprehending the similar True Meaning within the Beast King Inner Elixir.
Ning Qi smiled faintly.
The White Ape, who had just stepped out of the room, saw Ning Qi and was momentarily stunned, reverence appearing in its eyes. It was as if it saw a divine tiger standing silently there, its faint domineering aura making it hard to breathe.
“Teacher, why do I feel a sense of bloodline suppression from you?” the White Ape asked its inner doubt.
Ning Qi chuckled lightly:
“Your illusion.”
The White Ape rubbed its eyes and looked again, finding Ning Qi still as Ning Qi, with no divine tiger in sight.
Ning Qi’s lips curved.
In truth, the White Ape was not mistaken. Having fused with the Flying Thunder Tiger Beast King’s Inner Elixir, he could now, to some extent, be considered half a Beast King—a humanoid Beast King!
For example, at this moment.
He felt his control over the Power of Thunder surpassing other domains.
…
After creating the False Core Unification Technique, Ning Qi’s previously slightly tense mind finally relaxed a great deal.
He finally had more energy to attend to other matters.
Every day, without fail, he steadfastly practiced the Heaven and Earth Millstone Gang Tempering Method to temper his Gang Qi. The vast and majestic Gang Qi in his body was improving in both quality and quantity at a visible speed.
On the other side.
Ning Qi began digesting the Daoist Scripture sent by the True Profound Sect, which related to his future Great Dao. It required constant sharpening and accumulation of foundation, not something to abandon after three days.
Of course.
Ning Qi also finally had time to study the other gifts received at the Heavenly Human Ceremony.
“The Sarira Pill is a relic left behind by a Buddhist Sect Arhat after sitting in nirvana, containing vast energy. But its energy is generally quite restrained. Using Luminous Pearl powder as a catalyst, supplemented by other medicinal herbs, there is hope of refining a pill to enhance Gang Qi.”
An Arhat was the title for those experts in the Buddhist Sect’s Heavenly Human Realm who specialized in cultivating the Essence Flower. After their death in nirvana, their bodies would burn away, leaving multiple Sariras with many wondrous effects.
Although one Sarira could not compare to a Beast King Inner Elixir, its value was still considerable.
“According to Master, he once helped the Ascetic Sect once, so this time the monks of the Ascetic Sect sent a great gift.”
In truth, relations between the Daoist Sect and Buddhist Sect were not particularly good. The monks of the Ascetic Sect were relatively unique among the Buddhist Sect.
Ning Qi began experimenting.
Of course.
It was mostly through deduction. He would only cautiously scrape off a bit of Sarira powder to test when absolutely necessary.
Creating a pill formula this way would be slower, but it avoided waste.
After all, there was only one Sarira, and he could not afford to waste it.
While deducing the pill formula, Ning Qi tried planting the Enlightenment Tea Tree.
Looking at that seed whose spirituality had mostly withered, Ning Qi silently added another mark against Wang Family Old Ancestor in his mind—truly a waste of heavenly treasures.
He spent some effort and finally rekindled much of the seed’s spirituality.
He wandered the Seeker’s Courtyard for a long time.
Ning Qi found no suitable place to plant it.
He consulted relevant ancient books and combined them with his own research, learning that the Enlightenment Tea Tree was not easy to grow.
In the end.
Ning Qi had an idea.
He slightly adjusted the positions of some True Martial Peach Trees, forming an encircling unity around the Seeker’s Courtyard, and planted the Enlightenment Tea Tree seed beneath the rattan chair where he often lay in the Seeker’s Courtyard.
Ning Qi had studied Feng Shui divination techniques.
Using the spirituality of the many peach trees to nourish the Enlightenment Tea Tree greatly increased its chances of success.
Even so, Ning Qi himself could not be entirely certain if the Enlightenment Tea Tree would ultimately grow.
He merely retrieved some spiritual materials from the Treasury and buried them underground, hoping for success.
“Hopefully in a couple of years, I can cool off under the Enlightenment Tea Tree.”
Ning Qi thought.
Of course, what intrigued him most was the effect of the Enlightenment Tea Tree—whether it would be useful to him. But regardless, it was a good thing for bolstering the True Martial Sect’s foundation.
As for researching a cultivation method to enhance the medicinal properties of the True Martial Peach Tree using the Bright Fruit, that was the simplest matter for Ning Qi.
After all, with three Bright Fruits, Ning Qi was not afraid of waste and could experiment boldly.
After consuming one Bright Fruit, he finally succeeded.
…
Ning Qi immersed himself in cultivation, digesting the various gains from the previous period.
Meanwhile, the fervor from the recent extermination of the Demonic Sect’s Dead Fire Abyss branch was gradually fading. But just as everyone thought the Demonic Sect had gone quiet and swallowed this mute loss, a major event occurred.
Divine Feather Great General was attacked again.
This time, Demonic Sect experts made their move, and Divine Feather Great General was injured once more. Both sides’ experts suffered losses, with the Demonic Sect even holding a slight advantage.
After lurking for so long, they struck again.
The Demonic Sect showed everyone what vengeful meant, and for a time, no one was not wary of the Demonic Sect.
But the Imperial Court was furious.
The Demonic Sect was like a centipede that never dies until the last, lying low after the Martial Saint’s intervention a century ago, only to grow rampant again. Yet the Great Yan Dynasty was not of one mind internally, and the two sides were vaguely at a stalemate.
However, the Demonic Sect could only operate in the shadows after all.
The Great Yan Dynasty currently held absolute dominance, with the Martial Saint as the ultimate deterrent. But the Martial Saint rarely acted and seldom even showed his face.
After learning of these events.
Ning Qi immediately went to True Martial City.
As expected.
Most of the Imperial Court experts previously lurking here had left.
Only the Butcher selling meat remained.
With Divine Feather Great General attacked again, it was clear the Demonic Sect had focused most of its efforts on the Imperial Court. With manpower short there, they naturally drew from here.
“Originally three Heavenly Human Realm experts and ten Core Elixir Realm experts, now only one Heavenly Human Realm and three Core Elixir Realm remain. Fully seventy percent of the forces have been withdrawn.”
“One truly cannot pin hopes on others. Seeking help from others is inferior to relying on oneself.”
Ning Qi sighed inwardly.
Fortunately, he had now mastered the False Core Method. Otherwise, if the Demonic Sect attacked, he would have to leave it entirely to fate.
…
Qingzhou.
In an unnamed secluded valley existed an Underground Palace.
Normally silent and uninhabited, today powerful figures gathered there one after another.
Once everyone was assembled.
The dim gate suddenly closed, pale flames flickered to life, and the congregation discovered that a figure had appeared on the throne above at some point, all of them tensing inwardly.
The figure was cloaked in black robes, with a Bronze Ghost Mask on its face, somewhat terrifying.
“We pay respects to the Vice Sect Master!”
The numerous Demonic Sect masters all bowed, reverence in their eyes.
In the Demonic Sect, the Sect Master was supreme, but the Sect Master rarely appeared, remaining in closed-door cultivation year-round. Several Vice Sect Masters managed sect affairs collaboratively, and the Ghost Mask was one of them, with many Elders below.
The Ghost Mask nodded slightly.
“I summoned you all today. Do you know why?”
“Vice Sect Master, is it because of the recent assassination attempt on that bastard Shen Yu?” someone immediately spoke up.
There was no surprise in the eyes of the congregation; they had discussed it many times on the way.
The Ghost Mask nodded slowly.
“Correct.”
“But we must continue reinforcing there and make that dog thief Shen Yu pay in blood!”
The congregation’s anger flared, fists clenched.
The destruction of one branch was a great loss to the Demonic Sect, not to mention that many among them were friends or kin to those lost. This grudge must be avenged. To outsiders, it was Old Demon Lin, but to them, it was Elder Lin.
In the Demonic Sect, only Heavenly Human Realm experts could serve as Elders, and Elder Lin was among the top-ranked.
Seeing the morale usable, the Ghost Mask nodded in satisfaction but soon continued:
“We must seek revenge, but the Great Yan has Divine Feather tightly watched. Further attacks there would have little effect; we can slowly torment him later. This time, the purpose is different.”
Doubt appeared in the eyes of the congregation, but someone soon reacted.
The Ghost Mask slowly rose.
A profound domineering aura swept upward:
“Exterminate the Wang Clan and True Martial Sect!”
