Chapter 519: Spirit Body Gu, the Divine Artifact Embryo of the Ten Thousand Mountain Desolation

Chapter 519: Spirit Body Gu, Embryo of a Divine Artifact in Ten Thousand Mountains Absolute

After sending off Young Master Tu San and Zhan Wenyu, Qi Yuan took out the Divine Wood Token, a complex expression in his eyes.

“Only now is the last of the aftereffects truly resolved. It’s time to go out for a stroll.”

He had to go see Shen Lingxuan.

The final step in completing the role of the live-in son-in-law rested on Shen Lingxuan.

Moreover, for the unity of heaven and man, he needed more high-quality white moonlight.

“Hey, how many Heaven-grade Armsmasters, Divine-grade Armsmasters, or Wraiths do you have in Thornblood?”

Qi Yuan asked directly.

Ji Wuyun, who was bathing, saw this and felt it was another day of speechlessness.

Where in this conversation did they seem like mortal enemies?

“Not many, very few,” replied the Thornblood operative. “Divine-grade Armsmasters… only five.”

At this, the Thornblood operative, thousands of miles away, showed a smug look in his eyes.

This ought to intimidate that kid, right?

“Ah, your Thornblood is no good—Divine-grade Armsmasters are only in single digits.

You should make them reflect: have their cultivation improved over the years? Have they trained seriously?”

“…” The smile on the Thornblood operative’s face froze.

“Pass on a message for me: don’t eat too much tonight, don’t sleep either—train hard and raise your cultivation as soon as possible!” Qi Yuan said earnestly.

These people didn’t work hard; their cultivation was weak. How could they become quality white moonlight?

He had already lost interest in ordinary white moonlight.

Now, only a Heaven-grade white moonlight in harmony with heaven and man could stir ripples in his heart.

So, looking at Thornblood now, he felt a sense of frustration at their lack of progress.

“Do you want me to draw up a training plan for you?

No one in this world understands planning better than I do.

If you follow my plan, within three months, you’ll surely have a few more Divine-grade Armsmasters!”

Qi Yuan was sincere.

Ji Wuyun spat out a mouthful of bathwater.

The Thornblood operative’s eyes also showed a complex expression.

“Brother Cleaver, I’m more and more looking forward to meeting you at the Divine Wood Abyss. I want to see what you really look like.

What did the Green Mountain Realm do to deserve giving birth to someone as brilliant as you?”

“It seems you still don’t want to work hard,” Qi Yuan sighed.

No wonder all rulers seemed to dislike the term “lying flat.”

He wasn’t even a ruler yet, and he was already worried about Thornblood people not trying.

“Brother Cleaver, if even hard work can’t change the predetermined outcome, what use is effort?” The Thornblood operative seemed somewhat moved.

“How could that be? It just means you haven’t made a plan.

I’ve played many games over many years. Everything I set out to do, I’ve basically accomplished one after another.” As Qi Yuan spoke, he secretly plagiarized a line from a high official on Blue Star.

He thought to himself that plagiarism didn’t seem like a good reputation.

Maybe… he should destroy Blue Star, or buy it outright.

That way, he could plagiarize openly.

“Brother Cleaver is too confident. I wonder if you can change… the fate of the Green Mountain Realm?”

Thousands of miles away, the Thornblood operative’s eyes gleamed with pride.

He stood up and pushed open the window; fresh air rushed into the room.

Leaning on the windowsill, a lush green landscape met his eyes.

“Indeed, the mountains hide qilins. Among the masses, an unknown ordinary person—if you get close, you can also discover his extraordinariness.

I’ve read the Green Mountain Book thoroughly, yet I never saw his trace. He must be some nobody.”

He murmured to himself.

The Green Mountain Book was something he had exchanged for in the Void Paradise.

This book came from the Radiance Society.

He had spent many merits to obtain it.

This was also his reliance for completing this mission.

…

The carriage ambled slowly along the official road, where fast horses occasionally galloped past.

Chen Kangbao drove the carriage, leisurely and carefree.

“Young master, we’re only a hundred li from the Heavenly Sect. We should arrive by nightfall.”

After leaving the Shen family stronghold, Qi Yuan’s goal was clear: straight to the Heavenly Sect.

The final step in playing the live-in son-in-law Qi Yuan was probably to ride Shen Lingxuan.

This step required careful thought, taking it slow.

Qi Yuan looked ahead and saw endless mountains.

Boundless, stretching beyond sight.

The headquarters of the Heavenly Sect lay nestled among these mountains.

And these mountains happened to border the Ink Mountain Kingdom, adjacent to the Ten Thousand Mountains Absolute.

Back then, the Ink Mountain Kingdom’s army had driven straight in, and the Ning Kingdom could not resist.

In the end, the current Daoist leader of the Heavenly Sect had offered up the sect founder’s artifact to block the Ink Mountain Kingdom’s advance.

Thus, the Ink Mountain army halted, the two kingdoms began negotiations, and the Ning Kingdom ultimately lost several prefectures.

That Daoist leader of the Heavenly Sect, due to severe injuries, passed away half a year later.

“The southern mountains… should be the Ten Thousand Mountains Absolute. What a coincidence—we brushed past this dungeon.” As Qi Yuan spoke, he glanced at Chen Kangbao.

Chen Kangbao seemed to have some connection to the Ten Thousand Mountains Absolute.

When he killed Feng Tie, Qi Yuan had received this hint.

“How about we go take a look at the Ten Thousand Mountains Absolute sometime? There might be many treasures,” Qi Yuan said casually.

Master Hengshan and Feng Tie, both Earth-grade peak Armsmasters, had once explored the Ten Thousand Mountains Absolute, seemingly searching for something.

“Whatever the young master decides!” Chen Kangbao replied. He looked at the Ten Thousand Mountains Absolute, seemed even hungrier, and quickly ate another bun. His belly was round and full, yet he still felt somewhat hungry.

"Young brother, if you don't mind, might I share your carriage for a while?"

Just then, an aged voice rang out, and a burly old man appeared—crew-cut, short-clad, exuding a ruffian air. Yet his speech was unexpectedly refined.

"Sure." Qi Yuan glanced at the old man.

Hmm, Tu Sihai, a peak Earth-rank Imperial Arms Master.

Tu Sihai leaped from his horse and vaulted into Qi Yuan's carriage. His horse did not leave but followed alongside.

"Not afraid I'm a bandit, young brother?" Tu Sihai chuckled, his voice hearty.

"No, I'm not. I've always delighted in punishing evil and promoting good." Qi Yuan adhered steadfastly to the principle of lawful goodness.

He never harmed the innocent; the only one he would harm was his own white moonlight.

As he spoke, Qi Yuan looked at Tu Sihai and asked directly, "What brings you here? Speak plainly."

A peak Earth-rank Imperial Arms Master, among the top thirty experts in the Ning Kingdom, would not come to see him on a whim.

"Young brother, you... are blessed with deep fortune, yet now calamity hangs over you," Tu Sihai said earnestly.

"You're a fortune-teller? I can tell fortunes too," Qi Yuan replied.

He had told many people's fortunes, and they always came true.

Whoever he said would face bloodshed, did.

Tu Sihai shook his head: "I'm not joking with you, young brother. Look here."

With a turn of his palm, a bronze mirror appeared before Qi Yuan's eyes.

The mirror's surface was not smooth, pitted with many tiny spots, and the handle was corroded with verdigris, looking very ancient.

[Disaster-Repelling Bronze Mirror, Heaven-rank artifact, with several flaws... if improved, could increase power by ninety percent.]

"Look, young brother."

Tu Sihai held the Disaster-Repelling Bronze Mirror before Qi Yuan, who couldn't help but gaze into it.

A smug expression crossed Tu Sihai's face.

Surely this would startle the young man?

Yet, seeing the image in the mirror, Qi Yuan remained utterly calm.

"So there's a spirit following me all along, evading my eyes, and I never noticed?"

Qi Yuan's tone was even.

He looked into the mirror and saw, at his own reflection, a gaudy, multicolored parasitic worm.

This worm was the size of a soccer ball, its patterns vivid and lurid, looking rather creepy and formidable.

However, the worm seemed already lifeless.

"Hmph, this is a Spirit-Body Gu, a special kind of spirit.

It has no physical form, a conglomerate of heavenly and earthly laws.

Invisible to the naked eye, undetectable—only a Heaven-rank Imperial Arms Master in unity with heaven and man can perceive its existence," Tu Sihai said. "Without this Disaster-Repelling Bronze Mirror, I wouldn't have spotted this Spirit-Body Gu."

Chen Kangbao, the driver, turned his head and looked at the worm in the bronze mirror, terror in his eyes: "Young master, even dead, it's still following us—so creepy!"

Chen Kangbao was frightened.

Tu Sihai looked at Qi Yuan with a complex expression: "This Spirit-Body Gu was likely placed by a powerful expert to protect you.

But that expert fell, and the Gu perished for unknown reasons.

A dead Spirit-Body Gu following you... is not a good thing.

It belongs to the dark spirit category, carrying inauspicious energy. Its corpse unintentionally emanates an aura of calamity. If you stay near it long, you will surely die."

Tu Sihai raised an eyebrow, boasting smugly: "Boy, aren't you going to thank me? If I hadn't pointed this out, in a few years you'd be dead."

"Thank you for telling me!" Qi Yuan bowed solemnly.

Though the Spirit-Body Gu posed no real threat to him—and in time, when he achieved unity with heaven and man, he would see it himself—Tu Sihai had revealed this truth early, and he would remember the favor.

"Old man, if you ever run into trouble, come to me, Qi Yuan. I'll keep you safe." Qi Yuan was generous, not stingy at all.

"You brat... have no manners at all." Tu Sihai said this but wasn't angry, clearly of good nature.

"I'm a dignified Earth-rank Imperial Arms Master; I don't need you to protect me. In this Ning Kingdom, few are stronger than me," Tu Sihai said. "Come on, sweet-talk me a bit, beg me, and I'll help you get rid of this Spirit-Body Gu."

The corpse of the Spirit-Body Gu was also a good thing for him to study.

"No need to trouble you; I can handle it myself," Qi Yuan said dismissively.

"You're young, but you brag even more than I did at your age!

When alive, this Spirit-Body Gu rivaled a Heaven-rank Imperial Arms Master. Even I would find it extremely tricky to deal with. You can't even detect it, yet you talk about solving it?"

Tu Sihai naturally thought Qi Yuan was boasting.

So young, seemingly under twenty.

No matter how gifted, at most an Earth-rank Imperial Arms Master.

Protect him? Ridiculous.

"Old man, watch closely."

At that moment, Qi Yuan looked at the Spirit-Body Gu behind him and suddenly opened his mouth.

Before Tu Sihai could react, the mouth snapped shut.

In an instant, the ball-like Spirit-Body Gu shot into Qi Yuan's stomach.

Tu Sihai's eyes widened, staring at Qi Yuan as if at a monster: "You... ate it?"

That was a Spirit-Body Gu!

A special Heaven-rank spirit!

He just ate it like that??

This scene completely defied his imagination and understanding.

How could a person—how could anyone eat a spirit?

Beside him, Chen Kangbao swallowed his saliva: "Young master... was it tasty? Did it get stuck in your teeth?

If it did, pick it out and let me have a taste!" Hearing this, Tu Sihai felt even more that these two were abnormal.

His legs went numb, trembling slightly.

"Delicious. I want more." Qi Yuan patted his stomach.

Eating this Spirit-Body Gu felt like eating air, but it contained the law of unity between heaven and man.

What he lacked to break through to level 120 was precisely that unity.

Now he had made up a little, though the amount was meager, insufficient to push him to level 120, yet for him, his combat power had increased considerably.

"Monster." Tu Sihai swallowed, his face full of bewilderment. "How on earth did you do it?"

He was somewhat afraid; what lay before him exceeded his understanding.

"I just ate when I felt like it," Qi Yuan said casually, his posture languid.

Tu Sihai took a deep breath. "May I ask your name, sir? I am Tu Sihai of the Yellow Mountain Sword Sect!"

"Qi Yuan."

Tu Sihai committed the name to memory, his mind racing, yet he could not recall any formidable figure with the surname Qi.

"The Yellow Mountain Sect seems to be a sect from the Cloud Sea Kingdom. Old man, how did you end up here?" Qi Yuan asked offhandedly.

Tu Sihai had helped him after all, and Qi Yuan still remembered the favor.

Tu Sihai looked at Qi Yuan with some wariness, then said thoughtfully, "Rumor has it that a treasure has appeared in the Ten Thousand Mountain Abyss, and many experts are heading there."

"What treasure?" Qi Yuan asked in surprise.

The Ten Thousand Mountain Abyss again.

It seemed this instance truly was fated for him.

Tu Sihai narrowed his eyes and lowered his voice. "An embryonic divine artifact!"

Above the celestial-grade artifacts lie divine artifacts.

Among the dozens of small surrounding kingdoms, there was no trace of divine artifacts, and even celestial artifacts were rare.

An embryonic divine artifact is a semi-finished divine artifact.

Once it appeared, it naturally attracted many experts from the vicinity.

Though an embryonic divine artifact is not a true divine artifact, in terms of value, ten or even twenty peak celestial artifacts could not compare.

"Is that all?" Qi Yuan said dismissively.

He himself was the pinnacle of divine artifacts, so naturally he looked down on this.

Tu Sihai was surprised, but still cupped his hands and asked, "Brother Qi, if you are interested, why not come with me?"

With Qi Yuan's feat of devouring the Spirit Body Gu alive, he already regarded Qi Yuan as an equal.

"Forget it, I have to go see my wife. I'll visit this instance another time."

An embryonic divine artifact—Qi Yuan did not care about it.

You couldn't eat an embryonic divine artifact.

Hearing this, many thoughts flashed through Tu Sihai's mind.

He speculated that this Qi Yuan might be of average strength but with strange methods, and did not want to risk going to the Ten Thousand Mountain Abyss.

Those heading to the Ten Thousand Mountain Abyss this time were at least Earth-grade Weapon Masters, with many at the peak of Earth-grade, not to mention that even Heaven-grade Weapon Masters might appear.

So it was normal for Qi Yuan, being weak, not to go.

After all, an embryonic divine artifact held immense allure for any Weapon Master.

"Brother Qi, since the Spirit Body Gu has been dealt with, I shall not linger. Farewell, and may fate bring us together again!" Tu Sihai spoke without any hesitation.

Moreover, this master and servant pair were truly strange; he dared not stay too close, so it was best to leave.

"If you run into trouble, come to the Heavenly Sect and seek me out. I'll protect you once," Qi Yuan said generously.

"Many thanks, Brother Qi!" Tu Sihai earnestly noted down the Heavenly Sect.

The Heavenly Sect was one of the top two sects in the Ning Kingdom; in terms of strength, he felt a hint of wariness, but that was all.

The Yellow Mountain Sect was far stronger than the Heavenly Sect.

Tu Sihai vaulted onto his horse, mounted it, and rode away.

"Let's go, speed up to the Heavenly Sect," Qi Yuan said casually.

As for the Spirit Body Gu, he had some conjectures.

It was likely left by the father of the son-in-law Qi Yuan to protect him.

Fang Thirteen of the Radiance Society and the Black Crow Elder of the Thorn Blood probably feared the Spirit Body Gu, which was why they had not directly attacked Qi Yuan.

"The Spirit Body Gu might not only protect me, but also... protect the Divine Wood Token!" Qi Yuan mused.

"It seems the father of this son-in-law Qi Yuan is also quite extraordinary."

"Then when I play the role, I must take him into account as well, to make it complete."

While pondering and enjoying the scenery, the carriage leisurely passed through the mountains and arrived at the Heavenly Sect at sunset.

"Qi Yuan, husband of Shen Lingxuan, requests an audience."

At the foot of the Heavenly Sect's mountain hall, Qi Yuan called out softly.

For ordinary visits without prior notice, one had to state their purpose at the mountain hall.

As Qi Yuan's voice fell, a young woman of charming appearance walked over, and when she saw Qi Yuan's features, a flash of admiration passed through her eyes.

"It's Senior Brother Qi Yuan! I'll go inform the elder at once. Please wait a moment, Senior Brother Qi Yuan!"

Although Qi Yuan was a son-in-law, he was still Shen Lingxuan's husband, someone they, as ordinary disciples, could not afford to offend.

About half an hour later, Wang Qingyi appeared in a Daoist robe, a look of surprise in her eyes. "What are you doing here?"

A wooden hairpin was casually stuck in her hair, and deep weariness lurked in the depths of Wang Qingyi's eyes.

"I haven't seen Lingxuan for many days and wish to meet her. Is she here?" Qi Yuan stated his purpose.

Wang Qingyi frowned, her worry deepening. "Lingxuan is not in the sect at present."

She glanced at Qi Yuan and Chen Kangbao. "There are many troubles near the Heavenly Sect these days. You should return to Fengshan County at once. I will inform Lingxuan of your visit."

Wang Qingyi paused, then added, "It's not safe for the two of you to go back alone. I'll have some Heavenly Sect disciples escort you."

"This... Senior Wang, where has Lingxuan gone?" Qi Yuan asked.

After a moment's thought, Qi Yuan still addressed her as senior.

"That is not something you need to know," Wang Qingyi said, not elaborating.

She knew that Shen Lingxuan's husband was merely an ordinary person.

Telling him would only make things worse.

The best course now was to send him back to Fengshan County. If he stayed here and the Heaven-grade Weapon Master of the Raksha Kingdom found out, matters would become very complicated.

Some days ago, that Heaven-grade Weapon Master had arrived with a menacing air, using his power to pressure them, offering Shen Lingxuan a chance to serve the Fifth Might.

The Heavenly Sect naturally refused, and the Heaven-grade Weapon Master did not stand on ceremony, directly attacking to suppress them.

However, the Heavenly Sect was an established sect with considerable heritage; the sect leader offered the founder's sword to repel the enemy.

That Heaven-grade Weapon Master grew somewhat wary, ceased his assault, and instead waited silently outside the Heavenly Sect.

At that time, the Heavenly Sect was in a state of panic.

With the power of that old eunuch Mo Sankong, given time, he could break through the Heavenly Sect's defenses.

By then, Shen Lingxuan would still be in danger.

It happened that a disturbance arose in the Ten Thousand Mountains Absolute, and many Earth-rank and Heaven-rank Weapon Masters rushed over, turning the place into a chaotic mess.

At that moment, Shen Lingxuan suddenly proposed going to the Ten Thousand Mountains Absolute.

Staying in the Heavenly Sect was no longer safe; it was better to vanish into the Ten Thousand Mountains Absolute.

Shen Lingxuan possessed a magical artifact that could alter her form—the perfect disguise.

Wang Qingyi objected, unwilling to let her disciple take such a risk,

but in the end, the Sect Leader agreed to Shen Lingxuan’s proposal and secretly sent her out of the Heavenly Sect.

These matters, she naturally would not tell Qi Yuan.

“Heaven-rank Weapon Master Mo Sankong?” Qi Yuan murmured to himself.

Yet she did not know that every thought she had just entertained was heard by Qi Yuan.

Although Qi Yuan’s ability to read minds was unstable—he could not hear everyone’s thoughts—he had just happened to catch Wang Qingyi’s voice.

“Alright, Senior Wang, I’ll head back now. No need to send anyone; since I came, I can return directly.” After getting his answer, Qi Yuan told an unprecedented lie.

He had no desire to bicker with Wang Qingyi or play out a charade of mutual distrust.

Going straight back would suffice.

Wang Qingyi was taken aback, not expecting Qi Yuan to agree so decisively.

A trace of disappointment crept into her gaze as she looked at him.

She thought to herself that this live-in son-in-law must be afraid and was simply fleeing.

It seemed her disciple had entrusted herself to the wrong person.

At that thought, her worry for her disciple deepened.

“In that case, you may go.” Wang Qingyi’s expression turned cold, and she no longer showed him any kindness.

Qi Yuan did not take offense.

“Old man, drive faster. We’re heading back.”

“Right away!”

Chen Kangbao swiftly took the reins, and soon the carriage vanished from Wang Qingyi’s sight.

Wang Qingyi let out a faint sigh: “In these turbulent times, first the Luotong Water Lord, then the emergence of a divine artifact embryo… Lingxuan, she… ah…”

The Heavenly Sect now stood precarious, at the heart of a powder keg, ready to ignite at any moment.

On the other side, the carriage rolled along the official road.

A smile bloomed in Qi Yuan’s eyes: “Who would’ve thought I’d be so lucky—not only did I see my wife, but I might even run into some old flames!”

In the Ten Thousand Mountains Absolute, the divine artifact embryo had appeared, and many Heaven-rank Weapon Masters might descend.

For Qi Yuan, this was a good thing.

“I should have accepted Old Tu’s invitation earlier; now I have to travel an extra few hundred li.”

“Old man, speed up!”

“Young master, the horse can’t go on—it’s tired,” Chen Kangbao replied.

The carriage horse was panting heavily, clearly exhausted.

“Tell you what, I’ll bless you, and you pull the carriage instead.” Qi Yuan was clever.

This blessing was genuine, not like the deceptions before.

“Master, this…” Chen Kangbao hesitated.

“You eat too much. If you don’t move more to digest it, you probably won’t live another three years,” Qi Yuan said calmly.

Chen Kangbao’s physical condition was complicated; he had suffered severe injuries in the past, and being alive was already a miracle.

“Fine!” Chen Kangbao gritted his teeth, released the horse, and after receiving Qi Yuan’s blessing, he began pulling the carriage himself.

“Come on, faster!”

“Young master, I only have two legs—I can’t run fast!”

Chen Kangbao pulled the carriage, striding swiftly, faster than the horse.

“The young master is kind—I’ll give you four extra legs so you can run faster.”

A smile flickered in Qi Yuan’s eyes.

With a wave of the drone in his hand, it shifted and transformed, and suddenly a fierce tiger roared forth.

The tiger chased Chen Kangbao fiercely, its forelegs landing on his shoulders while its hind legs pushed hard against the ground.

“Aaaah…” Chen Kangbao let out a miserable scream and ran even faster!

“Indeed, six legs are better than two,” Qi Yuan remarked blandly.

Once he reached level 120, he could formally treat Chen Kangbao’s illness.

Otherwise, his constant overeating would not end well.

(End of this chapter)