Chapter 330: Ninth Layer of the Profound Gate

Chapter 330: Ninth Layer of the Profound Gate

Huangfu Qing wiped her hands, feeling both disgusted and resigned.

“Just how long have you been holding it in...”

Zhao Changhe watched her wipe her hands with a slightly pained expression. There goes the beauty lotion for the blind woman. Well, actually, it hasn’t been that long... The medicine really was just that potent.

If she was serious about her cultivation, she shouldn’t even be doing these things. She should be meditating and digesting the gains from her breakthrough.

Of course, he did not dare say this out loud. Otherwise, the young lady might just beat him to death.

As it turned out, Huangfu Qing lazily walked to the side right after helping him out. “I need to meditate and consolidate my gains. You shouldn’t always have your mind filled with such things. Focus on your cultivation and see if you can use this opportunity to unlock the Profound Mysteries.”

Zhao Changhe said, “Earlier, when you went from being utterly fatigued to suddenly being reinvigorated, that should have been the result of a breakthrough in the Profound Mysteries, right? Otherwise, I really can’t understand how you had such a sudden and massive transformation.”

Huangfu Qing wanted to laugh. “Yes, it was.”

It was indeed a breakthrough in the Profound Mysteries, but it was a breakthrough into the third layer of the Profound Mysteries.

Tang Wanzhuang’s breakthrough to the third layer of the Profound Mysteries turned her into a frail and sickly woman, but I have no such troubles. I’ve truly surpassed her this time. And it only took kissing a man... Hey, wait...

Zhao Changhe felt a bit envious. “Both of you have broken through to the Profound Mysteries. I really do need to step up my game.”

Huangfu Qing was in a great mood and said with a smile. “It’s fine, you’re cute when you’re weak.”

Zhao Changhe: “?”

“Ahem.” Huangfu Qing feared that he might suddenly pounce on her to prove his strength, so she quickly added, “You’ve actually already advanced very quickly. Reaching the ninth layer of the Profound Gate in such a short time is unprecedented. As for the Profound Mysteries, that really isn’t something you can rush. First, you need to achieve unity in internal and external... Huh?”

She looked Zhao Changhe up and down, suddenly showing some surprise in her eyes. “You... your internal cultivation has also reached the ninth layer?”

Earlier, her focus had been on his powerful physique, and she had assumed that he had relied on the medicinal effects to raise his external cultivation to the ninth layer. She had failed to notice that his internal cultivation had also broken through to the ninth layer of the Profound Gate.

How did his internal cultivation break through? I don’t think he consumed anything that would help with his internal cultivation. Did he manage to do so just through dual cultivation?

“No, you aren’t really at the ninth layer. The surge in energy was what forced you to break through, but you lack the understanding and experience that someone at the ninth layer of the Profound Gate should have.” Huangfu Qing’s expression turned serious. “You should meditate immediately and comprehend the connection between yourself and heaven and earth. Otherwise, if you miss this opportunity, the door to the Profound Mysteries may close for you forever, and you will only be able to regret it for the rest of your life.”

The critical point of the ninth layer of the Profound Gate was Tianling, the bridge of heaven and earth, and the key to accessing the Profound Mysteries. This stage was very dangerous. Forcing it could easily turn someone into an idiot. This was why many had simplified this level, treating it purely as an internal cultivation milestone and leaving out the part where one had to form an actual bridge with heaven and earth. It was because of that that there was a surge of people reaching the ninth layer but never breaking through to the Profound Mysteries.

Zhao Changhe obviously would not take such a simplified yet flawed approach. Despite his rapid progress, his path was absolutely legitimate. His five senses and spiritual sense had long surpassed most people at the ninth layer of the Profound Gate. His journey to Kunlun was not just about reaching the ninth layer, but also seeking the Profound Mysteries. He was aiming for the path to become a true master.

However, the sudden surge of energy had inadvertently pushed him through to the ninth layer of the Profound Gate, making it seem like he had taken the simplified route that others often did. He lacked any understanding of what the ninth layer truly meant in terms of connecting to the Profound Mysteries.

He had not gone through the difficulties of opening and activating Tianling. Therefore, he could be said to have barely reached the ninth layer.

Still, it was not without benefit. At least he now understood why others who were at the ninth layer could not compare to those who had unlocked the Profound Mysteries. Compared to the eighth layer, those who had not properly broken through to the ninth layer really only had slightly more strength.

Zhao Changhe quietly sat down and attempted to grasp the true essence of the ninth layer of the Profound Gate, but he struggled for quite some time.

Is it wandering alone in the jianghu with saber and wine?

Is it the clear water and gentle waves accompanied by the soft music of the guqin?

Or is it blood and slaughter, rendering entire armies terrified?

In fact, it was none of that... Those were all merely appearances.

As the way he spoke resembled those of the modern world less and less, as his detached perspective of the world dissipated, and as the pursuit of the witch from his nightmares became a distant thought, Zhao Changhe had become immersed in this world, sharing in the joys and sorrows of its people.

He honed his saber to cut down injustice, fighting across three thousand li, toasting proudly in the face of his peers, and upholding a promise worth its weight in gold.

The blind woman once said that he had already become a man of this world.

Was that the case? It was indeed, but also not quite.

No matter which world one belongs to, one should only do what needs to be done. That’s all there is to it.

Zhao Changhe gazed at the stars in the sky, but none aligned with his intent.

The blind woman did say that the Heavenly Dao was dead.

If the heavens had no Dao, which stars could possibly align with him?

The answer was: none of them.

What Night Emperor? Without the sun and the moon, what right does anyone have to call themselves the Night Emperor?

If there is no sun and moon... then I shall be the sun and moon, shining upon the mountains and rivers.

If the heavens have no Dao, I will make my own! Was this not the resolve I had during my time at Beimang?

His entire star chart began to shine brightly. Using the method taught to him by Vermillion Bird to resonate with the stars, he activated Tianling. A scene resembling stars encircling the moon then came to be.

The vortex in his dantian spun wildly, unifying the six harmonies, like the sun hanging high in the sky.

The sun and the moon reflected each other, heaven and earth shone together.

A faint coolness quietly seeped into his Tianling, silently forming a bridge, unifying the internal and external, allowing him to achieve a unity of heaven and man.

Thus, he had now truly achieved the ninth layer of the Profound Gate.

Zhao Changhe felt the transition of his true qi going from acquired to innate, and he slowly opened his eyes.

When he opened his eyes, he saw Huangfu Qing right in front of him with a perplexed expression on her face. “Are you... really not the Night Emperor?”

Zhao Changhe smiled brightly. “I’m really not.”