Chapter 23: Those People and Those Things (End of This Episode)

Chapter 23: Those People, Those Events. End of This Volume.

Streaks of lightning coursed inside his body, flowing along the True Qi diagram and integrating into every acupuncture point. His body began transforming into a 'Thunder God Body'.

Meng Chuan opened his eyes, picked up a jade box beside him, and opened it. He took out the Ice Heart Fruit and ate it in two bites. It melted instantly in his mouth, and a cool energy flowed down his throat into his abdomen, then gradually spread throughout his body. As his bones, muscles, and internal organs absorbed this cool energy and integrated with the lightning, his transformation clearly accelerated.

"There's also Star Spirit Grass," Meng Chuan muttered. He opened another wooden box and plucked a leaf and a root from the complete Star Spirit Grass inside. This was roughly one serving, enough to last about a month.

Gently chewing the leaf and root, his mouth was filled with a fresh aroma, and his spirit was instantly invigorated.

A miraculous energy first surged into his mind, then slowly spread throughout his entire body, further strengthening his physical transformation.

Although he didn't know how the Ice Heart Fruit or Star Spirit Grass were obtained, his father, who always smiled and never complained, had said, "These were not easy to acquire; you must cherish them." Meng Chuan suspected they were truly difficult to obtain, and the cost behind them was likely immense. All he could do was was not let down their hopes.

Over the next month, Meng Chuan continued his cultivation as planned, consumed the drop of Godfiend Jade Marrow Liquid, and finished all the Star Spirit Grass. Furthermore, he never stopped his daily practice of eight thousand 'Drawing Blade' stances and his movement and blade techniques.

According to the secret manual, during the early stages of cultivating a Godfiend Body, when the body is still transforming, intensely focusing on cultivating in a specific direction will cause the body to transform more strongly in that direction. It's like a growing sapling; if you bend it in one direction, it might grow permanently leaning that way.

"The transformation of my Godfiend Body has noticeably slowed down," Meng Chuan remarked one day in late June, sitting in the training grounds and eating watermelon.

"The first month of cultivation was naturally a period of explosive growth, especially since I also consumed the three rare treasures. My improvement was truly astonishingly fast; it's normal for it to slow down now," Meng Chuan mused. "My Godfiend foundation is indeed solid. Even in the early stages of the Mortal Transformation realm, my physical body and True Qi can already rival those at the perfection stage of Mortal Transformation."

It's important to note that the Mortal Transformation realm marks the greatest improvement among the five mortal realms, as it's the first time one cultivates a Godfiend Body and gradually gains Godfiend powers.

To be able to rival the perfection stage of Mortal Transformation while only in its early stages, his foundation was indeed terrifyingly profound.

Even though the transition from the Mortal Transformation realm to the Impervious realm is a major breakthrough, it's estimated that Meng Chuan, in the later stages of Mortal Transformation, would be able to contend with those in the Impervious realm in terms of physical body and True Qi. Such a situation was unprecedented in Dongning Prefecture. Usually, only geniuses in places like the capital city or Yuanchu Mountain, who receive extensive cultivation from ancient Godfiend families, possess such a profound Godfiend foundation.

"Chuan'er, Chuan'er," Meng Dajiang's voice called from a distance.

"Father," Meng Chuan replied, putting down his watermelon, wiping his mouth with a towel, and immediately running over.

Soon, he saw his father, Meng Dajiang, walking with a bald, thin old man leaning on a staff.

"Third Elder!" Meng Chuan stiffened. Among all the Meng family elders, he feared the Third Elder the most. The Third Elder was cold and rigid, particularly harsh with juniors, often wielding his staff to beat them without a word. All the younger generation were somewhat afraid of him.

"Chuan'er, come and greet the Third Elder," Meng Dajiang said.

Meng Chuan immediately stepped forward and bowed, "Greetings, Third Elder."

"Hm,"

The bald, thin old man looked at Meng Chuan, saw his clothes were drenched in sweat, and then nodded with satisfaction. "Cultivation requires diligence," he said. "Without enough sweat, how can one become strong?"

"Yes," Meng Chuan obediently replied. When with the Third Elder, one absolutely had to be obedient and never talk back, or a staff blow would quickly follow!

"This is a remnant page of a blade technique that I acquired by chance during my younger days of adventuring. You can take a look," the bald, thin old man said. He took out a black paper, carefully wrapped in cloth, from his robe and handed it, still wrapped, to Meng Chuan. Yet, the terrifying aura emanating from the black paper, even when only partially revealed, startled both Meng Chuan and Meng Dajiang.

"A Godfiend legacy?" Meng Chuan and his father were greatly astonished.

A Godfiend legacy requires an extremely powerful Godfiend to record it, often at great cost.

Most Godfiends, like Aunt Meng and the Yun family patriarch, simply didn't possess the qualifications to create a 'Godfiend legacy'.

"This is too precious," Meng Dajiang quickly said. "Third Uncle, we cannot accept this."

The Third Elder frowned. "If I give it, you must accept it! If Meng Chuan's comprehension wasn't sufficient, I wouldn't even give it to him. Since he is the Meng family's only hope now, he must accept it. Besides, this isn't a complete Godfiend legacy, just a remnant page."

"Alright, I'm heading back," the Third Elder said, turning to leave, leaning on his staff. At the same time, he said indifferently, "Meng Chuan, boy, you must prove yourself. Don't disappoint everyone."

"Yes, Third Elder," Meng Chuan replied, holding the cloth-wrapped black remnant page, feeling quite moved.

A typical remnant page of a Godfiend legacy would fetch at least one hundred thousand taels of silver at auction! Not to mention, this one happened to be a blade technique, making it even more valuable.

Furthermore, such an item was extremely rare and sought after. For ancient Godfiends, silver had little meaning; no one would trade a complete Godfiend legacy for mere mortal possessions.

"This remnant page of a Godfiend legacy is likely the most precious item the Third Elder possesses, and he just directly gave it to you," Meng Dajiang said.

"Yes," Meng Chuan nodded, pushing aside the cloth to look at the blade technique remnant page.

The black paper meticulously detailed the techniques and crucial points for executing this move.

As he observed, Meng Chuan gradually became absorbed in it.

"Hm?"

Meng Chuan felt as if he were half-asleep.

Entering a special mental state, he saw a tall, slender man performing this blade technique.

"Waning Moon!"

The blade technique was incredibly gentle. It swept across the sky, leaving a hauntingly beautiful arc, as if the moon itself had been severed and sent tumbling down by a single strike.

Beautiful and gentle.

"Hm?" Meng Chuan jolted awake, breaking free from the illusion.

"Chuan'er, how was it?" Meng Dajiang pressed.

Meng Chuan gazed solemnly at the black paper, murmuring, "It appears to be a gentle and beautiful blade technique, but in reality, it's extremely sinister, a truly vicious move." The terrifying aura emanating from the black paper secretly astonished Meng Chuan.

"Sinister and vicious? Do you still want to cultivate it?" Meng Dajiang asked.

"Of course I'll practice it," Meng Chuan said with some solemnity. "Blade techniques are inherently divided into Yin and Yang, rigid and flexible. This is the extreme of Yin-softness, a truly magnificent move. It's called 'Waning Moon,' and it genuinely feels as if one strike could make the moon fall from the night sky. This remnant page of a blade technique contains an artistic conception legacy. I can sense that I can receive the legacy more than ten times before this remnant page crumbles."

"With more than ten opportunities to experience its artistic conception, if I use them well, I can cultivate this move into another one of my killing blows," Meng Chuan stated.

Originally, he only planned to cultivate the 'Drawing Blade' stance as his sole killing blow.

But 'Waning Moon' was simply too perfect, and it offered more than ten opportunities to experience its artistic conception.

"More than ten legacy experiences, don't waste them," Meng Dajiang reminded him. "Once they're used up, they're gone."

"Before becoming a Godfiend, I'll only allow myself to comprehend it nine times," Meng Chuan said.

From that day forward, Meng Chuan added half an hour to his training every afternoon.

During this half hour, he practiced only one move: 'Waning Moon'.

In a hidden hall of Yuyang Palace in Dongning Prefecture.

In the center of the hall was a pool of water emanating cold mist. The white-robed youth, Yan Jin, sat cross-legged in the pool, with only his chest and above exposed.

The terrifyingly low temperature caused frost to form all over the white-robed youth's body. His hair and eyebrows were covered in frost, and his face was pale.

"Young Master, you've already cultivated for two hours today. It's time to come out of the Cold Cloud Pool," an old servant called from the side. The Yuyang Palace Master also watched calmly.

"I've reached the middle stage of the Mortal Transformation realm. From today onward, I will cultivate in the Cold Cloud Pool for three hours every day," the white-robed youth, Yan Jin, said coldly.

"Junior Brother, too much of anything is bad. Two hours are sufficient for your Godfiend Body cultivation," the Yuyang Palace Master said.

"It's still too early."

The white-robed youth, Yan Jin, said coolly, "You all may leave."

The Yuyang Palace Master shook his head gently.

"Let's go," the Yuyang Palace Master said, leading the old servant out. Only the white-robed youth, covered in frost, remained, continuing his arduous cultivation.

Throughout Dongning Prefecture, many young people were cultivating diligently, with Meng Chuan and Yan Jin being particularly assiduous.

Days passed.

In the twelfth lunar month of that year, Mei Yuanzhi first traveled to Wuzhou Prefecture City, then, along with others, arrived at the distant Yuanchu Mountain. Ultimately, Mei Yuanzhi failed to enter Yuanchu Mountain. He then proceeded to Qinyang Pass to serve in the military.

When the news reached Dongning Prefecture, Yun Fuan and others secretly sneered, while some sighed in sympathy.

Meng Chuan also felt some pressure, recognizing that the threshold to enter Yuanchu Mountain was clearly very high. He had to work harder and become stronger than Mei Yuanzhi to have any hope.