Chapter 160: Godhood, Spiritual Primordium

Chapter 160 The Divine Seats, Spirit Yuan

"The Four Symbols—Azure Dragon, Black Tortoise, Vermilion Bird, and White Tiger—represent the spiritual energy of the four directions, which are wood, water, fire, and metal..."

Chen Yi silently recited the mnemonics of the Four Symbols Technique, guiding the true yuan within his body to circulate through the twelve primary meridians and the Conception and Governing vessels in a grand cosmic orbit.

By now, his cultivation had reached the perfection of the Seventh Rank, and the true yuan in his body had transformed from gas to liquid, far exceeding its previous state in both quality and quantity.

Thus, as the true yuan surged through his meridians, a faint, rumbling sound like rushing rivers could be heard.

At this moment, as these sounds interwoven, the surrounding spiritual energy of heaven and earth poured in like a reversing river, entering his meridians and sea of qi through his limbs and bones.

And after the Four Symbols Technique completed four cycles of the grand cosmic orbit.

Chen Yi felt his mind drift from his dantian and the Shanzhong sea of qi, floating all the way up along the Conception and Governing vessels, until it finally stopped at the Yintang acupoint between his eyebrows.

Instantly, he felt his mind land upon a sea of clouds that possessed no physical substance.

In a trance, he saw within that dim sea of clouds, one phantom after another emerge, occupying the positions of the four directions.

He could vaguely discern that those were the phantoms of the mythical beasts of the four directions—the Azure Dragon, White Tiger, Vermilion Bird, and Black Tortoise.

"Draw the spiritual energy of the four directions to fuse into the sea of qi, opening the four divine seats..."

The mnemonics of the Four Symbols Technique abruptly surfaced in his mind.

Chen Yi came to a realization—fusing into the sea of qi meant not only the dantian and the Shanzhong, but even more so the Yintang sea of qi.

Only by opening the Yintang sea of qi could the four divine seats be established.

As he comprehended this, the four previously faint, rumbling roars and cries became clear.

Listening closely, the tiger's roar, the dragon's chant, the tortoise's growl, and the phoenix's cry echoed one after another in his ears.

In the next instant, the path of the Four Symbols Technique altered.

The true yuan that originally belonged to the dantian and Shanzhong seas of qi, like a whale swallowing water, merged with the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, crashing straight into the Yintang sea of qi.

In just a single breath, the true yuan within the Yintang sea of qi became full.

By the second breath, the true yuan within the three great seas of qi—the dantian, Shanzhong, and Yintang—all surged drastically.

And at the third breath, the true yuan transformed from liquid to liquid mercury, and one could vaguely feel four-colored flowing light intertwined upon it, as gorgeous as a rainbow.

Noticing these changes, Chen Yi saw a row of golden words drift past his eyes:

[Cultivation successful. Cultivation Base: Lower Stage of the Sixth Rank.]

[Four Symbols Technique (Earth Grade) advanced to Perfection Stage, the divine seats are opened, receiving the blessing of wood, water, fire, and metal spiritual energy.]

[Black Tortoise Breath-Concealing Art receives the blessing of wood and water spirits, capable of nourishing the body and cultivating yuan.]

[Mountain-Collapsing Fist receives the blessing of the fire spirit, gaining violent power.]

[Dragon-Descending Spear receives the blessing of the metal spirit, increasing sharp power.]

[Hundred Flowers Palm receives the blessing of the water spirit, gaining the power of flowing water.]

[Meteor Butterfly Step receives the blessing of the wood spirit, gaining surging power.]

[Roaming Dragon and Playing Phoenix receives the blessing of wood and fire spirits, increasing vortex power...]

Seeing this, Chen Yi paused slightly, "It is done."

An Earth-Grade Four Symbols Technique already possessed such powerful blessings; if it reached the Heaven Grade, how strong would it be?

However, right now he had just reached the Middle Three Ranks, and the effects of the true yuan and the power of the four spirits were not yet prominent, far less intuitive than the intent of the Dao.

Once his cultivation increased further, only then would he be able to display the true power of the cultivation method.

The Upper Three Ranks?

Tsk, no wonder Liu Lang said earlier that he was defeated by Xiao Jinghong in a single move.

An Upper Three Ranks martial artist was not just a little bit stronger compared to the Middle Three Ranks.

Thinking of this, Chen Yi's mind immersed itself once more into the circulation of the Four Symbols Technique.

The surrounding spiritual energy of heaven and earth returned to tranquility, with only a faint, minuscule thread of spiritual energy being swallowed into his body as if drawn by a thread.

Inside the Jiaxing Courtyard.

"Hmm?"

Xie Tingyun, who was sitting cross-legged with her eyes closed in meditation, seemed to perceive an abnormal movement in the surrounding heaven and earth. She snapped her eyes open and walked out of the wooden building.

"This feeling is..."

She knitted her brows, looking in all directions, sensing intently.

After a moment.

Xie Tingyun frowned slightly, revealing a look of suspicion, "Is it gone?"

Just now, there was indeed a faint change in the spiritual energy of heaven and earth.

She would not mistake her perception.

"That feeling felt like someone's cultivation broke through."

Xie Tingyun tilted her head, her beautiful eyes glancing left and right, though none of it quite fit.

In the Chunhe Garden, there was only a frail scholar and a mountain tribe girl, which obviously could not cause such a change in the spiritual energy of heaven and earth.

In the Sifang Study was a frail old scholar, who likewise possessed no cultivation.

The only possibility lay with the armored guards in the middle courtyard or the front courtyard.

Xie Tingyun thought to herself, muttered a few words, then shook her head and returned to the wooden building to sit down cross-legged.

She had only two tasks for this descent from the mountain: one was the old demon of the Phantasmal Sound Sect, and the other was to protect the eldest young mistress of the Xiao family.

And the second task was more important.

Thus, the Phantasmal Sound Sect would have to wait until her matters at the Xiao family were concluded before she could free up her hands to hunt them down.

In any case, she could not make things easy for that old demon of the Phantasmal Sound Sect.

...

The hour of Hai had just arrived.

Most of the lights in the Serene Residence had already been extinguished.

In the courtyard, only two lanterns hung outside the pavilion and the main hall respectively.

As the wind of the rainy night blew, the lanterns swayed gently, the candle fire inside flickering slightly, illuminating a hazy area.

Vaguely, a dark figure leaped into the courtyard from the rear.

After a brief pause, he walked straight into the main hall whose doors were wide open, and stealthily lit the candle on the altar table.

When the light shone, the old master sitting quietly in the grand armchair opened his eyes, glanced at him, and waved his hand to signal:

"Sit down and speak."

The newcomer, tall in stature and dressed in black clothing, bowed in salute before first closing the room door, and only then sat on the chair at the very end.

As if out of habit, he kept his upper body shrouded in the shadows.

The man in black spoke in a deep voice: "My lord, there's been an incident."

The old master’s expression remained unchanged as he inquired calmly: "What happened?" Once, the vast Xiao estate had resembled a coalball riddled with pits; he had grown accustomed to troubles and upheavals.

"As expected, it’s nothing to worry about."

"My dark guards stationed in the black market were eliminated last night."

"In a single night?"

"Yes."

The man in black wore a black scarf, his dark, solemn eyes speaking gravely:

"I haven’t yet identified the perpetrator, but anyone with such power is easily counted among the black market’s handful."

"The most likely culprit is Black Tooth of Mingyue Tower, who controls the entire black market. Finding the guards isn’t difficult."

"Secondly, those several proprietors of evil cults and demonic practices."

The man paused, turning to the old master with a hint of doubt: "Yet I cannot discern their motive."

The old master gazed downward, musing silently before speaking in a low voice: "When things go awry, there’s always a reason."

"Investigate whether Black Tooth has been up to something recently."

"Very well. I’ll order someone to contact Black Tooth."

"As for the others, don’t spare them either. These people are quick to adapt; if someone leads the charge, they won’t mind stirring chaos in Shuzhou."

The man nodded, understanding the old master’s intent.

Such overt actions against the Xiao family would likely herald greater upheaval. Without prior investigation, they’d face a "when the wall falls, all push" catastrophe.

Silence fell.

The old master, having received no further instructions, asked: "Anything else?"

The man in black paused, then replied: "Miss Cui has shown no signs of disturbance lately."

"When Chen Yunfan was here, they’d wander together."

"Chen Yunfan is gone, and Cui Qingwu has stayed within the Listening Rain Pavilion, never venturing out—as if she came to Shuzhou solely for him."

The old master chuckled softly: "This young master of the Chen family truly has a fortunate destiny."

The man in black frowned: "Fortunate destiny?"

"The fortune of rebirth, the luck of a new life."

"He is a direct descendant of the Chen clan in Jiangnan Prefecture, and through marriage to the Cui family of Qinghe, now trusted by the Sage Emperor himself, bearing the title of 'Examination Graduate.'"

"One could say he’s been spoon-fed prosperity."

The old master sighed, moved: "Others may sail smoothly for twenty years, their paths clear. I wish our family might know such peace without war."

The man bowed: "Young lord, you’re a man blessed by Heaven. Naturally, you’ll turn misfortune into fortune, and your path will be smooth and prosperous."

The old master nodded, his weathered face bearing a grave expression.

"Stay vigilant. Continue."

The man said: "Beyond Miss Cui, the person who helped my men that night remains unidentified, though they were likely near the western market."

"My men have been ordered to watch the western market, and we should determine their identity upon their next move."

Upon hearing this, the old master nodded once: "Those who have aided our Xiao family—each shall have their due reward in due time."

The man bowed: "There’s one more matter. Representatives from Liu’s family in Jingzhou are nearing the city gates."

The old master’s grip tightened on his staff, his face darkening: "Who are they?"

"Second son Liu Yuchai, and younger brother Liu Wenzhi, the second son of the head of Liu’s household, along with Miss Liu Zhaoxue, the third daughter."

"Liu Yuchai is a man of low profile, not as prominent as his elder brother Liu Zhen, the governor of Jingzhou’s legal detention bureau. Yet his standing in the Liu family is not insignificant. He manages the estate and the Liu family’s business affairs."

The man paused, seeing the old master listened intently, and continued:

"Liu Wenzhi is a scholar, who passed the provincial examination last year, though he hasn’t participated in this year’s capital examination. As for Miss Liu Zhaoxue… our intelligence is limited, but we know she’s exceptionally beautiful, famed as Jingzhou’s 'First Lady.'"

After hearing this, the old master merely nodded his head, gazing down at the polished floor and its shadows.

Silence settled over the hall.

Only the distant drip of rain and the rustle of willow branches in the breeze remained.

After a moment, the old master lifted his gaze and spoke softly:

"Keep close watch on them. I must know every detail of their movements—their whereabouts, their meetings, their words, down to the smallest nuance."

"Understood."

"And Liu Hong as well."

"After resolving that case, he and the provincial governor have been inactive, surely waiting for Jingzhou’s arrival."

The old master’s face darkened with a sinister edge: "If Liu Yuchai and his kin refuse to accept this outcome, the tax routes of the three cities will face complications."

"This time, they’ll need to see the edge of a blade."

Hearing this, the man in black’s expression grew grave. He rose and bowed: "I obey."

"Good. Let us address these matters together."

The man paused, then hesitated: "My lord, should we inform the second daughter?"

The old master pondered, then shook his head: "Not yet. Keep her from distraction. The Mid-Autumn Festival is near; tell her upon her return. It’s not too late."

"I understand."

When the man departed, the old master sat still for a moment, then rose, extinguishing the candle on the table. He walked slowly toward the chamber.

Only a barely audible sigh remained:

"Ten more years… this old bone must hold out a while longer…"

(Chapter Complete)