dmims Chapter 73 Unbanned
Chapter 73 Unbanned
Chapter 73 Unbanned
Meanwhile, thousands of miles away.
Miaoyinfang is located on the main peak of the "Tianyin Mountain Range" which is rich in spiritual energy. The entire mountain is shrouded in a light purple spiritual mist all day long.
The mountains are covered with thousand-year-old "singing bamboos," which emit natural rhythms when the breeze blows, intertwining with the sounds of the qin and xiao played by the disciples in the temple during their cultivation to create a unique "heavenly sound barrier."
The third-tier spiritual vein cave at the top of the main peak is filled with spiritual energy as misty as the clouds. The cave walls are covered with "musical pattern crystals" that take the form of music, which emit clear and melodious sounds whenever there is a fluctuation of magical power.
Inside the cave, Lin Fan, the sect leader of Miaoyinfang, was sitting cross-legged on a pure white "Heavenly Sound Jade" futon, cultivating.
This newly promoted True Core cultivator was only 170 years old, middle-aged, with a handsome face and a flowing sound pattern in his eyes.
It was surrounded by a tangible "law and power", and with each breath it stirred up the spiritual energy in the cave to form a vortex of sound.
As the youngest Core Formation cultivator within tens of thousands of miles, he is the greatest asset that enabled Miaoyin Pavilion to advance to the third tier of sects.
Suddenly, Lin Fan frowned slightly, startled from his deep cultivation. His slender fingers rapidly made calculations on his knees, the magical power at his fingertips drawing mysterious musical patterns in the air.
After a long while, he suddenly opened his eyes, his gaze sharp as lightning, piercing through the clouds and shooting straight towards the lake and sea market:
"Was it that divine thought that was annihilated?"
Could it be that Chengcheng is so headstrong that she'd rather perish together with the enemy?
"If that's the case, it will be troublesome. The Jade Dragon Sect will be coming to propose marriage in a few days. If that girl really destroys her sea of consciousness, not only will the betrothal gifts have to be returned in their original form, but I will also have to prepare an apology gift."
"No, those things are the resources I need to advance to the mid-stage of Core Formation; I can't return them."
"Xiaoyu, come see me."
Before long, a streak of azure light pierced through the clouds and landed in front of the cave entrance.
The newcomer was dressed in a moon-white robe, with a jade bell tied around his waist that jingled as he walked.
The girl was about twenty years old, with skin as white as snow and beautiful features. She was surrounded by pure wood-type spiritual energy—she was none other than Lin Fan's beloved daughter, Lin Xiaoyu.
Her Foundation Establishment stage magic power was solid and profound, and her every move carried a pure and ethereal aura.
"Father, you were looking for me?" The girl's voice was clear and crisp, but it carried a hint of estrangement.
Lin Fan gazed at his exceptionally talented daughter, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes. He suppressed his anger and asked gently, "How is your Foundation Establishment cultivation progressing?"
Lin Xiaoyu raised her chin proudly and said, "My daughter has a Heavenly Spiritual Root aptitude. She went straight to the second level when she established her foundation. Now, two years have passed, and she's only one step away from the third level."
"Very good."
Lin Fan nodded in satisfaction, "Now that you have established your foundation, you should also begin cultivating the sect's direct lineage technique, 'Phoenix Dance in the Nine Heavens.' If you achieve success with this technique, it will greatly benefit you."
"father!"
The girl's expression changed drastically, a hint of embarrassment and annoyance flashing in her eyes.
"My daughter possesses a Heavenly Spiritual Root! She's destined to form a top-grade True Core in the future, and you're making me cultivate this kind of dual cultivation technique to please men?! Do you intend to use me as a dowry? I will never learn such seductive arts!"
Lin Xiaoyu said defiantly.
"presumptuous!"
Lin Fan roared, and several pieces of the law-patterned crystal inside the cave shattered in response. "Dual cultivation between men and women is a natural law! Without this method, how could your Heavenly Spiritual Root have come about after all the sacrifices your father and mother made back then?"
"It's all because you used a secret technique!" Lin Xiaoyu's eyes reddened, her voice choked with sobs. "My mother exhausted her life essence to give birth to me! If not for that, how could she, a dignified Foundation Establishment cultivator, have died so young at only one hundred and fifty?"
"Rebellious daughter!"
Lin Fan's hair and beard stood on end, and his True Core aura erupted violently. "Your parents have sacrificed so much for you, and yet you utter such rebellious words!"
Lin Fan made a move as if to strike.
The girl stubbornly raised her head, tears welling in her eyes: "Then just kill me! It'll save you from having to use me for an arranged marriage!"
The cave was silent for a moment, with only fragments of the rhythmic crystal falling softly.
After a long while, Lin Fan sighed and his oppressive aura gradually subsided.
"Do you know that when Phoenix Dances in the Nine Heavens and achieves success in cultivation, if you find a cultivator with a higher quality soul than you to cultivate with, your soul will also improve significantly?"
Let me tell you, whether one can form a Golden Core, and what quality the Golden Core will be, depends heavily on the quality of the soul.
Those powerful figures who aspire to the Nascent Soul stage are at least at the high-grade True Core level. Rumor has it that a grandson of the Qi royal family aspires to reach the Purple-Gold True Core stage.
Your Wood-type Heavenly Spiritual Root allowed you to successfully establish your Foundation without the aid of Foundation Establishment Pills. The Qi Kingdom's royal family has already heard about this. If you can successfully cultivate Phoenix Dance of the Nine Heavens within twenty years, marrying into the royal family is not impossible.
If that were truly the case, my Lin family would soar to new heights! Do you know that such an opportunity is incredibly rare in the cultivation world, perhaps only seen once every thousand years?
Lin Fan tried to persuade her earnestly, but unfortunately, Lin Xiaoyu was only in her early twenties and spent most of her time cultivating, showing absolutely no interest in matters of love and sex.
Especially after witnessing her mother's early death, Lin Xiaoyu felt extremely averse to male cultivators and the idea of men and women forming Daoist couples, which is why she didn't want to learn the Phoenix Dance of the Nine Heavens, a direct descendant of the sect.
"You should first learn this divine soul secret technique, and also hurry up and cultivate the [Azure Rainbow Body Forging Technique]. After you reach the Foundation Establishment stage in body refinement, you can also try to cultivate the [Divine Refining Technique]. At that time, your father will find a third-level alchemist to refine a high-grade protective acupoint pill for you to help you get started with the Divine Refining Technique."
As for whether you really dislike male cultivators, it won't affect your use of Phoenix Dance in the Nine Heavens. This kind of spiritual connection is limited to spiritual power and does not restrict gender. If you encounter a female cultivator with an exceptionally high spiritual quality in the future, you can also have a spiritual connection with her. This is not physical dual cultivation and has no gender restrictions.
However, I still advise you to pay more attention to the beautiful aspects of relationships between men and women. The Qi royal family may not have a secret method for ensuring the continuation of their lineage. If you do not wish to have children, it will not affect your health or lifespan.
Lin Fan's tone softened at the end, after all, she was his own daughter, and he couldn't be as cold as he was to his other disciples.
Sure enough, upon hearing about the characteristic of Phoenix Dance in the Nine Heavens that it does not restrict dual cultivation between men and women, a hint of interest flashed in Lin Xiaoyu's eyes.
She wasn't attracted to women; she simply didn't want to use her dual cultivation of spirit and soul as a bargaining chip, letting those despicable men profit from it.
If she were to find a Daoist partner, she would want someone with similar temperament, mutual respect, and equal status.
"Okay, I'll give it a try."
Lin Xiaoyu finally agreed to cultivate Phoenix Dance of the Nine Heavens, and Lin Fan breathed a sigh of relief.
"By the way, Xiaoyu, which of your senior sisters has achieved success in cultivating Phoenix Dance of the Nine Heavens?"
"Hmm? Why are you asking this? Has someone come to your door to propose marriage again?" Lin Xiaoyu asked warily.
"No. I have a feeling that something might happen to your senior sister Qin Chengcheng. So I was thinking that my Miaoyin Pavilion might have a replacement."
"An accident?" Lin Xiaoyu pondered. "It's certainly possible. There are only a few days left until the marriage proposal, and Senior Sister Qin hasn't returned yet."
"But now, apart from Senior Sister Qin, his senior sister hasn't even condensed the first level of Heavenly Sound Patterns. Father, think of another way. If all else fails, you can return the betrothal gifts."
"I've already spent half of the betrothal gifts, so I can't return them."
"Alright, I'll think about it some more. You go back and cultivate diligently. Tell me if you need any resources."
"Yes, Father."
Two more days passed.
Outside Qin Chengcheng's cave dwelling courtyard in the Lake and Sea Market, at Miaoyin Pavilion.
Xu Shixian's expression gradually turned ugly.
"What kind of spiritual feast takes so long to prepare? No reply to the telepathic message, and the array isn't activated?"
After waiting for two more days, Xu Shixian began to get impatient.
Just now, Qin Chengcheng sent a message from inside his cave, stimulating the cave's formation and creating a large fluctuation of magical power, but it all went unanswered; Qin Chengcheng didn't respond at all.
Liu Jinjin served him at the side. Ever since she broke into Chen Yi's cave, she had no choice but to follow Xu Shixian wholeheartedly, with no turning back.
At least within the Miaoyin Pavilion of this Lake and Sea Market, as long as Qin Chengcheng remains in office, she will never have a chance to rise to prominence.
But Xu Shixian also promised to protect her, and she achieved her goal.
"Young Master, Pavilion Master Qin may be at a crucial moment in his seclusion. Chef Chen may only be playing a supporting role. Nothing may have happened between the two of them, so please don't worry."
Liu Jinjin offered some words of advice from the side.
How can I put my mind at ease?
The engagement day is fast approaching, but instead of coming out to go to Miaoyinfang with me, she has chosen to go into seclusion at this time.
Moreover, they are completely isolated from external perception; who could know what they are doing!
She's about to marry me, is it appropriate for her to go into seclusion like this at this time?!
"Furthermore, why would she need a cook during her seclusion?"
This young master has elixirs to choose from and spirit stones to possess.
Even the second-tier spirit cave dwelling she lives in was renovated by people I had arranged.
In what way is he inferior to a cook?
Xu Shixian grew angrier the more he thought about it.
Beside her, Liu Jinjin feigned a worried expression, but secretly she was delighted; this was exactly the result she wanted.
In the underground chamber.
Qin Chengcheng lay on the jade bed with her black hair spread out, and the bed, carved from second-tier soul-nourishing wood, shimmered with a shimmering green light.
Chen Yi sat upright with their ancestral apertures touching, and the two of them had a dual divine light of ice blue and green wood flowing between their brows.
Chen Yi rejected the treatment plan that required him to lie face-to-face with Qin Chengcheng, ultimately choosing the method with the smallest contact area.
In this soul healing, Chen Yi must go all out. Simply touching Qin Chengcheng's brow with his finger will cause a loss of soul power during the transmission process.
This method of getting close to the ancestral aperture is the safest.
As he gently inhaled Qin Chengcheng's fresh scent, Chen Yi gradually entered a meditative state.
He held in his mouth the second-tier Spirit Nourishing Pill that Qin Chengcheng had prepared for him, intending to use it when his spiritual power waned.
Chen Yi temporarily stored the Soul-Nourishing Wood in his Ancestral Aperture, waiting for the treatment to end before transferring it to Qin Chengcheng to help her recuperate her soul.
This time, Chen Yi used almost 80% of his divine sense power, which flowed into Qin Chengcheng's sea of consciousness in a slow and steady manner all at once.
Qin Chengcheng felt a throbbing pain between her eyebrows; her small sea of consciousness was receiving such a large amount of divine soul power for the first time.
She exclaimed inwardly, "Didn't Chen Lang only recently break through to the second level of his divine sense? How can he be so powerful?"
Chen Yi's act of transferring eighty percent of his divine sense power into the other party's sea of consciousness was also extremely dangerous.
If it were someone with malicious intent who also knew dark magic, they could easily implant some forbidden techniques into the other person's soul.
In the most severe cases, it can even devour the other party's soul and "possess" them.
Of course, the ability to possess another's body is generally something that can only be cultivated by those in the late Core Formation stage or Nascent Soul stage; Foundation Establishment cultivators usually cannot even touch it.
With Chen Yi's full spiritual power entering, Qin Chengcheng chose to completely trust Chen Yi, opening her mind completely and letting Chen Yi do as he pleased.
After their spiritual connection, Qin Chengcheng's spiritual power had acquired some attributes of Chen Yi's divine consciousness.
Upon entering, their souls did not reject each other; in fact, under the guidance of their respective consciousnesses, they were able to communicate amicably.
If the two are willing, they can continue to have the same kind of spiritual communion as before. Although the effect of this spiritual communion is not as significant as the first time in improving the quality of their spiritual consciousness, it can still provide a slight improvement.
Most importantly, it brings immense pleasure to the souls of both individuals, a pleasure far surpassing the common stimulation of the physical body.
Gradually,
Chen Yi's spiritual power reached the vicinity of the deepest part of Qin Chengcheng's spiritual soul.
Driven by his divine sense, a gentle and handsome young man in white robes materialized.
Before the young man floated twenty-two condensed divine consciousness needles, half of them ice-blue, radiating a chilling aura that sent shivers down one's spine.
The other half is bluish-green, exuding a hint of vitality.
Chen Yi didn't deliberately restrain the power of the soul-piercing needles; he needed Qin Chengcheng to become familiar with this stimulation and sensation.
Because in subsequent treatment,
Her soul will surely suffer immense pain.
Standing before those four layers of restrictions,
Chen Yi released his divine sense again, carefully sensing the situation of the four layers of restrictions.
Just as he had guessed,
His newly acquired Minor Five Elements Perception ability is capturing the unusual rhythm deep within the restriction.
The petal-like shape formed at the connection of the four layers of restrictions was now slightly unfolding as Qin Chengcheng's soul moved, as if it were alive.
"How could that be? I already removed the divine consciousness hidden there!"
Chen Yi pondered the matter, but could not reach a conclusion for the time being.
But since things had come to this point, there was no point in thinking about it anymore. Qin Chengcheng didn't have time, so Chen Yi could only help her dismantle it.
Chen Yi had no evidence for this speculation, and saying it now would only cause Qin Chengcheng unnecessary worry.
"Fairy, are you ready? I'm about to begin."
A soft "Mmm" conveyed affirmation and trust.
Seizing the opportunity, Chen Yi controlled the twenty-two divine needles, which moved like a continuous sword formation, emitting a clear, ringing sound as they accurately pierced the connection points of the nine verdant vines.
The ice needles instantly froze the connection point, and the greenwood needles seized the opportunity to cut into the gap, severing the connection with the sea of consciousness.
As the vines writhed wildly, Qin Chengcheng groaned in pain. Her face was ashen, as she sensed the vines on the first layer of the barrier withering.
But the energy of the broken vines did not dissipate; instead, it hovered in the void like dewdrops.
The green vines on the first floor dispersed, and the small crimson cauldron exploded with a loud bang, its flames transforming into a fire dragon that rushed towards them.
Chen Yi sealed the talisman at the bottom of the cauldron with ice needles and protected his body with an ice shield to prevent it from being burned by the surrounding divine flames. Several other ice needles found the connection points of the small cauldron and sealed them one by one.
The fire subsided rapidly.
Chen Yi stepped forward, the ice needles retracted, and the wooden needles went forward one by one to untie the knots of the furnace cauldron, restoring it to its most essential flame divine energy, which also spread out around.
Qin Chengcheng's consciousness was already burning with excruciating pain from the flames, but she still kept her mind focused and forcibly stabilized her soul sea to prevent any major fluctuations that might affect Chen Yi's performance.
Then, the Xuanhuang stone tablet crashed down with a deafening roar.
The Breath of Earth Pearl drilled into the depths of Chen Yi's sea of consciousness. Chen Yi's wooden needles transformed into a net to catch it, while his ice needles instantly froze the spiritual energy within the pearl, quickly dissolving it.
At last,
Seven sword shadows rang out suddenly!
Chen Yi's divine sense needles also transformed into a formation of twenty needles and swords connected end to end.
The ice needle held the sword's edge, while the wooden needle seized the opportunity to sever the chains beneath the sword.
When the final sword shattered, Qin Chengcheng nearly fainted from the pain. She couldn't hold on any longer and swallowed the Soul-Protecting Pill she had in her mouth.
The soul power of the elixir gradually stabilized Qin Chengcheng's turbulent soul sea.
"Chen Lang, did we succeed?"
Within the sea of souls, Qin Chengcheng's weak yet expectant divine sense transmitted a message.
Chen Yi was about to give a direct answer.
however,
Chen Yi, however, looked solemnly at the area where the divine sense restriction had been placed.
There, after the spiritual energies of the four elements—wood, fire, earth, and metal—were dissipated one by one, they surprisingly did not leave.
Instead, they hovered in place, some even connecting head to tail, forming a grand formation of the Four Symbols.
At the center of the great formation, an ancient divine thought seemed to be quietly reviving.
Chen Yi's spiritual power was greatly depleted at this moment, so he swallowed the Spirit Nourishing Pill he had been holding in his mouth.
As his divine power quietly recovered,
The Sea of Souls suddenly became turbulent!
I see,
The four-colored divine restrictive energies suddenly clung together, then exploded, transforming into countless blood petals that condensed into a strange rune—
A wisp of grayish-white divine thought emerged from the talisman, ancient and cold.
"It actually conceals a fifth restriction? And within the restriction lies a hidden divine sense?!" Chen Yi was finally moved. The soul fluctuations he had just discovered in the four-fold restriction were indeed problematic!
Within the strange talisman, the divine sense seemed to be clear, emitting a mechanical-like voice transmission:
"Who can lift the seal on my Four Symbols Divine Power?"
His divine sense swept over Chen Yi: "It's just a manifestation of dual divine senses, not even at the third level, yet it was able to break my divine restriction."
"He does have some talent in the way of the soul, but it's a pity."
Anyone who is not a member of my Soul Refining Sect and witnesses the truth of my Divine Forbidden Law shall die!
Amidst the fluctuations of mechanical divine sense, the eerie runes began to emanate terrifying waves of divine sense.
It merges the four elements of the Five Elements into one and then detonates it!
That kind of converged energy is terrifying. If it were to explode, not only Chen Yi, but the entire soul sea of Qin Chengcheng would be reduced to nothingness.
Chen Yi's expression changed drastically. He hadn't expected that the Divine Restriction would have such a hidden trick up its sleeve. Even Qin Chengcheng's grandmaster probably didn't know about this secret.
After Qin Chengcheng sensed the terrifying energy of the four elements combined, she knew her death was imminent, and her soul sea began to tremble violently.
And it emitted urgent fluctuations in its divine consciousness:
"Chen Lang! We can't stop it, you have to go!"
In the third hidden compartment of my bed, there's a contract for a high-quality Foundation Establishment Pill signed by Master Qiu of Qingfeng City. You can exchange that for a high-quality Foundation Establishment Pill.
My other assets are mostly in my storage bag. The way to open the restrictions on the Dark Pavilion and the storage bag is for you to take these items and leave discreetly. That's enough for you to cultivate to the late Foundation Establishment stage.
This divine restriction might be related to the ancient Soul Refining Sect. Don't think about revenge; forget about this matter!
Chen Yi's expression changed drastically. The four ice-wood divine sense shields trembled violently, emitting a cracking sound as they shattered under the strain. His divine sense avatar retreated hastily, only to be horrified to discover that the surrounding space seemed to be being kneaded and distorted by an invisible hand—
"This is... space condensation?!"
The ancestral aperture, which was originally so close, now seemed to be separated by thousands of mountains and rivers.
For every zhang he escaped, he actually became 10 zhang further away from the exit!
The cold, mechanical divine thought transmitted from the Four Symbols Divine Restriction:
"Even ants dare to talk about the art of escape?"
Just as Chen Yi realized what was happening,
The Four Symbols Divine Restriction suddenly released incredibly terrifying energy.
"boom--!"
The entire sea of consciousness suddenly trembled violently.
Qin Chengcheng bled from all seven orifices, and a hideous crack appeared between his eyebrows.
Chen Yi watched helplessly as her soul sea shattered like a broken glass lamp, countless fragments of memories flickering within the collapsing sea of consciousness.
"Chengcheng!"
He roared and unleashed his divine power without restraint.
The four divine sense shields shattered with a deafening roar, transforming into countless ice crystals that forcibly froze the raging spatial turbulence around them.
In that split second, the last blood-stained divine thought streaked across the sky like a shooting star:
"My beloved Chen, I have no regrets about meeting you in this life, and I wish to meet you again in the next!"
Before the words of his heart-wrenching divine will had faded, Qin Chengcheng's soul power had already extinguished like a candle flickering in the wind.
She fell from mid-air like a broken-winged phoenix, while in the collapsing sea of souls, the Four Symbols Divine Restriction was transforming into a giant hand that covered the sky and grabbed at Chen Yi's divine consciousness avatar!
Chen Yi abruptly stopped, turning to face the overwhelming Four Symbols Divine Restriction. His gaze was as calm as a cold pool, and the four ice-wood divine sense shields around him reformed, gleaming with a faint blue light.
"You're courting death!" A cold, mechanical sneer echoed from within the forbidden zone.
Chen Yi did not answer. His figure suddenly transformed into a dazzling stream of light, advancing instead of retreating, and piercing straight into the most violent part of the Divine Forbidden Storm!
"Crack—" The first divine sense shield shattered.
Outside, a piece of Soul-Nourishing Wood suddenly flew out from between Chen Yi's eyebrows, shooting into the connection between the two ancestral apertures and drawing a green trail in the collapsing sea of souls.
The second and third divine sense shields collapsed one after another. Chen Yi's divine sense avatar twisted and deformed in the violent energy, almost disintegrating.
Just as the last ice shield shattered—
Chen Yi's blood-stained divine hand finally pierced through the raging storm and firmly gripped a dark gold rune at the core of the divine restriction!
"Got you." A cold smile tugged at the corner of his bloodied mouth.
[Ancient metal element divine energy detected, currently being absorbed, 1% 5% 10%]
A cold, mechanical voice echoed in Chen Yi's mind. The core runes of the Four Symbols Divine Restriction suddenly trembled violently, emitting a piercing metallic scraping sound:
"Impossible! How could a mere Foundation Establishment cultivator—"
Before he finished speaking, the dark gold runes melted away like ice and snow, turning into gurgling golden streams that flowed into Chen Yi's consciousness, where they were slowly devoured.
The raging metal elemental energy rampaged through Chen Yi's consciousness, causing blood to seep from his seven orifices, yet he clenched his teeth tightly.
He stood at the center of the Four Symbols Divine Forbidden Energy, and in the rapid calculations that had just taken place,
He formed hand seals, his divine sense burning wildly, attempting to reverse the already exploded power of the Four Symbols Divine Restriction.
The rampaging energy of the Four Symbols Divine Restriction actually paused, and there was a faint tendency for it to flow backward.
But in the blink of an eye, an even fiercer backlash struck, and Chen Yi's divine consciousness avatar was instantly covered with cracks.
At the critical moment, the Soul-Nourishing Wood arrived through the air.
The emerald green branches coiled like serpents, forcibly restraining the rampant golden light.
Chen Yi seized the opportunity to make a hand seal and shout:
"out!"
"boom--"
The Soul-Nourishing Wood, carrying the residual power of the Four Symbols Divine Restriction, burst out of Qin Chengcheng's Ancestral Aperture and exploded into countless fragments in the outside world.
(End of this chapter)