Chapter 10: The Kaiyang Sect

Chapter 10: Chapter 10: The Kaiyang Sect

Tianmo Body Tempering Technique?

Upon seeing this, Old Man Zhong's eyes lit up.

The Tianmo Body Tempering Technique consisted of over thirty thousand characters. Just as he had done when he first encountered the Hongluan Heavenly Scripture, Old Man Zhong spent five days in this mountain cave memorizing the entire technique.

The Tianmo Body Tempering Technique was not a traditional cultivation method; rather, it was an auxiliary technique designed to stimulate latent potential. By channeling true qi and true essence, depending on their strength, one could use the Tianmo Body Tempering Technique to erupt with a burst of power, exerting several times one's usual strength for the duration of one hour, based on the level of mastery.

The technique had twelve levels. If one mastered the twelfth level, they could exert up to thirteen times their normal strength. Such an extraordinary ability was indeed astonishing.

However, after using the technique for one hour, the practitioner would need to undergo a period of weakness, lasting from one to five days. During this time, their strength would drop to less than half of its original capacity, sometimes even to just ten percent. Only after passing this period of weakness would everything return to normal.

Unlike other similar techniques, the Tianmo Body Tempering Technique had a unique feature: the energy rapidly consumed during its use was not entirely lost. Instead, it transformed into a force that tempered and strengthened the body, akin to a demonic beast's enhancement. This peculiarity filled Old Man Zhong with immense excitement.

Tianmo Body Tempering Technique?

It didn't conflict with other techniques and could be practiced alongside them? Since he had already memorized all thirty thousand characters, what should he do with this black cloth? Pass it down to future generations? Nonsense, of course, he needed to destroy it.

But how? The Yin energy couldn't corrode it, so what could be done?

Regardless, he decided to give it a try. Old Man Zhong took out a fire starter and gently touched it to the cloth.

"Sizzle sizzle sizzle..."

The black cloth actually caught fire!

Watching this scene, Old Man Zhong's mouth hung open. The Yin energy couldn't destroy it, but a small flame could easily set it ablaze?

As he watched the black cloth slowly turn to ashes, Old Man Zhong felt a great sense of relief. Glancing around, he removed the fist-sized luminous pearl from its place. The pearl was free of dust, clearly brought by the demonic beings.

He exited the cave and took one last look back at it. Old Man Zhong had no intention of staying there any longer; if anyone else came, he would be doomed. He gathered some stones to block the cave entrance and committed its location to memory. Then, he climbed over the mountain and continued heading north.

Finding a more secluded valley, Old Man Zhong buried the luminous pearl in a hidden spot. Regardless of its value, he didn't plan to carry it with him, fearing it might be recognized later. He decided he would retrieve it once he had more strength.

Seeking a quiet place, Old Man Zhong practiced the first level of the Tianmo Body Tempering Technique. Like the Hongluan Heavenly Scripture, the first level was the easiest to master. After a month, he had grasped its essence. However, he didn't test its effects out of curiosity; he knew that if he entered the weakened state and encountered another fierce beast, he would be finished.

For now, reaching the Kaiyang Sect was his priority.

Upon seeing the jade token, the Mountain Guardian's cloudy eyes paused for a moment. He reached out, as if to grasp it in his hand, but in that fleeting moment, his eyes returned to their cloudy state, and he nodded to Zhong Shan.

"Give me the token, and I will inform them," the Mountain Guardian nodded.

"Yes," Zhong Shan nodded in response.

The Mountain Guardian's momentary change did not escape Zhong Shan's notice, but he chose not to expose it, merely storing his suspicions in his heart.

After taking the token, the Mountain Guardian slowly walked toward the nearby foot of the mountain. Then, with a flicker, he disappeared before Zhong Shan's eyes, evidently entering the grand formation.

Zhong Shan waited patiently outside the formation until the time it took for an incense stick to burn.

Suddenly, three figures flew out from within the distant formation.

They all treaded on clouds, with a man in daoist robes at the center. He appeared to be around sixty years old, holding the jade token Zhong Shan had brought. To his left was a woman in white daoist robes who seemed older but still exuded elegance. On his right was a middle-aged man with sharp eyebrows and starry eyes.

As the three emerged from the formation, they all frowned at Zhong Shan.

"You must be Zhong Shan, the one who delivered the jade token?" the central elder stared at Zhong Shan with a furrowed brow.

"Yes, esteemed elders," Zhong Shan immediately bowed.

"Hmm, come with me to the Kaiyang Hall," the elder said, still frowning.

With a wave of his hand, a white cloud suddenly appeared beneath Zhong Shan's feet, carrying him along as they entered the grand formation together.

The cloud followed a peculiar route, flying for a while until they reached the inner area. Though the scenery within was still mountainous, it was vastly different from the outside, as if the exterior was a grand illusion.

Inside, there were valleys, waterfalls, lakes, bamboo forests, houses, and various other structures.

Flying swiftly, they soon arrived at the summit of a tall mountain, where a vast square and a massive palace stood.

The four of them flew directly into the palace. Upon entering, Zhong Shan saw the plaque hanging above the palace entrance.

"Kaiyang Hall."

Inside the hall, there was no one to be seen.