Chapter 279: First Snow

Chapter 279: The First Snow

In truth, achieving the eighth level of the Profound Pass was not the greatest harvest from this venture.

The greatest harvest was that during their dual cultivation, Yue Hongling's spirit had fully synchronized with his, finally allowing Zhao Changhe—who had always lacked a Secret Treasury-level cultivation method—to understand exactly what the first level of the Secret Treasury was all about. His recent meditation was spent grasping this very concept.

In fact, for a transmigrator who had read far too many novels and watched too much anime, this concept was incredibly easy to understand.

The so-called multiple levels of the Profound Pass were merely a different name for the ancient process of clearing the Ren and Du meridians. It was simply a different way of putting it—or rather, a more simplified and straightforward version.

Zhao Changhe's cultivation process felt highly intuitive, starting from the first level by opening the aperture at the Huiyin point, then breaking through all the way upward: the Dantian, the Shanzhong, the Yutang... and finally, opening the aperture of the Tianling marked the ninth level of the Profound Pass. Each level of the Profound Pass was a different heaven, representing a step-by-step ascension to the skies.

When the nine levels of the Profound Pass were achieved, the two meridians would be fully connected, reaching down to the earth through the Yongquan and up to the heavens through the Tianling, forming a complete cycle of human cultivation. Whether it was internal or external martial arts, different paths led to the same destination, ultimately pointing toward this single node.

But for the vast majority of people, reaching this level was the end of the road; the ninth level of the Profound Pass was the absolute pinnacle for a martial artist.

The world was filled with countless millions of martial artists, and the number of high-ranking sect members and clan leaders who had achieved the ninth level of the Profound Pass was utterly beyond count. Everyone remained trapped at this level, unable to take a single step further, as if separated by a natural chasm; they could only determine superiority through sheer technique, giving rise to countless individuals deemed "close to the Human Ranking," with a tiny, exceptional few used merely to fill the bottom slots of the ranking to make up the numbers.

Martial artists referred to this barrier as the Bridge of Heaven and Earth; only by opening the first layer of the Secret Treasury could one cross this bridge and henceforth align heaven and man as one.

By that time, the nature of one's true qi would undergo a qualitative change, traditionally referred to as transforming from post-natal true qi into pre-natal true qi. It could perform a self-sustaining internal circulation, endless and unceasing—which was exactly what Hu Lie meant when he said that if Yue Hongling's breathing was obstructed in a sandstorm she might suffocate to death, whereas he would not.

However, this change in the nature of true qi could not bring about an overly obvious leap in raw power within a short period. Hu Lie's true qi intensity was only slightly stronger than Yue Hongling's, failing to crush her completely. But once this step was taken, the upper limit was expanded; future growth would be boundless, though it still required the accumulation of time.

This was a matter of true qi, a hard requirement that he could not yet replicate for the time being.

But he could learn from other aspects.

Throughout the process of breaking through the Profound Pass, the five senses were constantly being enhanced. Almost all circulation pathways of internal qi involved the eyes, ears, nose, and tongue; thus, connecting the eye and ear apertures granted visual acuity, night vision, the ability to discern positions by the sound of the wind, and other sensory sharpness impossible for ordinary humans, which was one of the greatest values of practicing martial arts.

Yet such abilities still remained within the realm of mortals, whereas the opening of the Secret Treasury marked the beginning of the extraordinary.

Long ago, when Zhao Changhe glanced through the general treatise of the Blood God Cult's martial arts, he had seen the exposition written upon it: "The Secret Treasury of the human body is a divine manifestation."

"When ordinary people break through the Profound Pass and open their eye apertures, it does nothing more than clarify their sight for distant vision and meticulous observation. Only the divine manifestation of the Secret Treasury allows one to see what happens behind them, to see across ten thousand li, to illuminate the joys and sorrows of the mortal world, and to perceive the principles of the Heavenly Dao. Every manifestation of the world enters the eyes, which may be called the Divine Eye."

The principles of various factions were consistent in this regard.

When the Secret Treasury was opened, it was a matter of the spiritual sea of consciousness, no longer relying on the physical eyes and ears. At this stage, even with closed eyes, one could "see" the surrounding situation. Whether one could see across ten thousand li was another matter, but at the very least, one could "see what happens behind them."

Yes, Zhao Changhe had transmigrated with characteristics inherent to the Secret Treasury.

Furthermore, this eye behind his back was more profound than a normal first-level Secret Treasury. The "seeing" of others was actually in quotation marks—it was merely an extremely acute perception of every detail of movement, and it was impossible for them to truly see what someone standing behind them looked like. His seeing, however, was true vision; he could actually see the images, an achievement that perhaps could not be matched by a mere first-level Secret Treasury.

Under the guidance of Yue Hongling's spiritual dual cultivation, Zhao Changhe began his first evolutionary refinement of the eye behind his back—raising his perspective.

Thus, it was no longer just observing behind him, but became like a bird's-eye view from the sky, taking in the entire surrounding environment, whether front, back, left, or right, clearly into his heart.

Like the moon reflecting in water.

This was also the ultimate realm pointed to by the mental cultivation method taught by Tang Wanzhuang; it was originally a Earth Ranking mental cultivation method, at the second-level Secret Treasury grade.

This state possessed a professional term: Divine Consciousness.

However, the degree to which Zhao Changhe could control it now was still relatively rudimentary... but no matter how rudimentary, it drew the line between heaven and man. This was the first step on the ladder of ascending from the ordinary to the sacred; stepping across it meant entering the first level of the Secret Treasury.

He could clearly see the ring in his hand, which contained a small spatial area about a zhang square, holding a sword, a book, and a command token inside.

What he lacked now was to find a cultivation technique that could draw things out, so that he could truly make use of the storage ring from then on.

This was what it meant to have "glimpsed the door of the Secret Treasury," accomplishing ahead of time a portion of what could only be done after opening the Secret Treasury—in common terms, a "half-step Secret Treasury."

Others could barely seek this door at the peak of the ninth level, yet he had achieved a part of it at the eighth level—perhaps it could be said that he had actually achieved a part of it before he even began practicing martial arts, only that it was entirely passive and he did not understand why. Now, it had reached a stage where it was self-controllable.

The current Zhao Changhe was perhaps even a few degrees stronger than Yue Hongling had been when she fought Cult Leader Xue back then. If there was any area where he fell short, it was perhaps that his refinement of combat techniques was not yet subtle enough.

After all, he had only been drifting through the jianghu for a mere year.

"That's about enough." Zhao Changhe engaged in internal vision for a long time, then suddenly smiled: "Fortunately, when you stayed at the mountain fortress back then, I really never harbored any improper thoughts... If I had even a slight urge to peep or anything, I'm afraid you would have caught me long ago."

Yue Hongling also smiled: "You... that's called casting a long line to catch a big fish. Why didn't you refute it when others blindly stirred up trouble and called me your fortress wife? Didn't you secretly harbor crooked thoughts in your heart?"

"I didn't, don't talk nonsense..."

"No matter what, now this solitary bandit is going out to plunder again. Do you want to be this bandit's fortress husband?"

"I do." Zhao Changhe reached out to embrace her again, but Yue Hongling sent a foot flying at him.

The two of them laughed and bantered, yet their gazes simultaneously landed on the altar where the ring had originally been placed.

Having lingered here for so long, the two of them had naturally figured out every circumstance clearly. The altar was a mechanism; pushing it aside revealed a passage underneath, leading to the dimensional exit at the deepest part of the lake bed.

Without needing to think, both of them knew where the exit led. It was not Yellow Sand Lake, but Craggy Mountain.

These past days, as the two of them immersed themselves in cultivation, both actually harbored a bit of anxiety in their hearts. They knew not the days or months within this place and had no idea how much time had passed; perhaps a month or two had already slipped away, and the war outside might have already ended, so what would everyone have come here for?

Since they had both broken through, it was time to seek a way out.

Therefore, Yue Hongling put on her crimson robe.

"Shall we go?" Zhao Changhe looked at the altar with a bit of reluctance, asking in a low voice.

Yue Hongling also felt a slight reluctance, her gaze scanning the place for a long while before she said softly: "Shall we take the things with us?"

Zhao Changhe nodded, placing the gemstone into his bosom. After a moment's thought, he scooped up all the remaining "jelly" and tossed it into the ring.

He could not take it out now, so he would use it for storage first and deal with it later.

Seeing that he had packed everything away, Yue Hongling cast a lingering look around the little nest of their bridal chamber and new marriage, finally turning her head and pushing open the altar: "Let's go."

...

Upon Craggy Mountain, a fine snow was drifting down, turning into rain by the time it reached the mortal realm, feeling icy cold against the face, indistinguishable whether it was rain or snow.

Without any surprises, the two appeared at the mountaintop, standing amidst the slight snowy rain, gazing at the wilderness not far away where they had previously fought Hu Lie.

Over there, the shouts of battle shook the heavens, as thousands of men and horses were locked in combat.

To be precise, one side was pressing down and thrashing the other, and the losing side was retreating in defeat step by step, gradually drawing closer to Craggy Mountain.

"Batu! This is insubordination, a complete disregard for human relations and ethics!" A middle-aged man, guarded by his military horses, continued to retreat, turning back to curse furiously.

Batu swung his blade to chop down a blocking soldier, spurring his horse into a charge: "How fucking rare! When did our grasslands ever care about that set of ethics? Was it me who went to the Central Plains for a tour, or was it you?"

Saying this, he spat again: "I am the successor personally designated by my uncle! As my uncle's own younger brother, when you seized your brother's wife and incited your nephews to crowd me out of my position, when did you ever speak of ethics! Go to hell, you motherfucker!"

The man laughed loudly: "I see it's you who wanted your aunt!"

Batu could not be bothered to pay attention to him, swinging his blade to charge directly into the formation: "He who takes Heshan's head shall be rewarded with a hundred taels of gold, a thousand cattle and sheep, and may establish his own tent independently!"

The shouts of battle soared into the sky, and blood completely drenched the yellow sands.

Batu had already charged close to Heshan, yet he failed to realize that he had charged too far forward, having already left all his personal guards behind.

Within Heshan's eyes, which had previously held anger mixed with a bit of dread, a smile finally appeared: "A brute is a brute after all, truly thinking himself invincible, actually daring to charge all the way here... Could it be you do not know that though I cannot defeat your soldiers, I can take your life?"

Along with his words, he reined in his horse and turned around, a parting spear thrusting straight toward Batu's chest.

As Herei's biological younger brother, he had not entered the Chaotic World Ranking, but he was still a grand ninth level of the Profound Pass!

Batu today was merely at the seventh level!

As long as he could lure him into the formation and take his head, that would be the opportunity to seize victory from defeat!

Batu was caught completely off guard. He had also been too successful during this period, turning a bit light-headed, never expecting this uncle of his, who seemingly only knew how to play a few underhanded schemes, to have secretly cultivated to the ninth level of the Profound Pass.

If it were an ordinary battle, with his personal guards tightly surrounding him, he would not have been afraid.

But at this moment of pursuing Heshan, Heshan's horse was a prized Sweats-Blood Horse that ran incredibly fast; fearing the other would escape, Batu had lost his head in the chase this time, breaking away several horse-lengths ahead of his guards.

The ninefold ambush of the back-thrust spear—how could he defend?

Had he only just risen, only to die from this single lapse?

Just then, a red shadow flashed by.

Heshan's back-thrust spear was only halfway there, the triumphant joy in his eyes frozen on his face.

Yue Hongling swung onto his sweat-blood steed, exclaiming with delight, "What a fine horse!"

Batu stared at her dumbfounded, then saw Zhao Changhe appear beside him with a smile. "Brother Batu, you're in luck. My wife lost her own green-maned horse and has taken a fancy to this red one."

Only then did Heshan's corpse topple to the ground, kicking up a spray of yellow sand with a thud. He never imagined his death would come from this.

Batu gave Zhao Changhe a deep look, knowing full well that the man's death was not really for this reason—it was merely a tale for the fleeing soldiers, and whether it would mean anything when it reached the Great Khan's ears, he did not know.

He did not bother to thank him, but raised his blade and pointed. "The unification of the War Lion tribe shall be today!"