Daoist Competition

There are two choices here, the upper choice is to comply with the Qi Mechanism, allowing your mana to follow the trajectory of the spiritual tide, slowly adjusting and refining it, until it dissipates. Most cultivators will make this choice at this critical juncture.

However, if dragged on for too long, the abundant spiritual power within the body will inevitably be consumed by more than half.

Yet, this spiritual power is the foundation for achieving the Dharma Body in the end, and there’s nowhere to replenish it. Using a fraction now means less in the future.

He painstakingly achieved the First Grade Golden Core, gathered spiritual medicine to refine the Primordial True Dharma Body, but under the rotation of heaven and earth’s spirit mechanisms, if not careful, all the accumulated advantages could be wiped away, and he was unwilling to let this happen.

If unwilling to retreat, only one choice remains—to resist it head-on with the body!

If there were ordinary cultivators here, they certainly would not entertain this idea. The spiritual tide triggered when breaking through the Barrier Realm is several times their own mana, and if it rushes in all at once, it would instantly crush the body to powder, ripping it to shreds. Once on this path, there’s no turning back, and even if protected by undisclosed secret techniques of centuries, it is still fraught with extreme danger.

However, Zhang Yan remained unfazed. He emitted a bright glow from his eyes, rotated the God Contract Mysterious Skill, his body shook, and instantly, his brows seemed like flying flames, his red hair like fire. Behind him rose a blazing black flame, as if igniting a fire to the heavens, revealing the demon body within the Star Stone. He cleared his throat, flicked his sleeves, rose in long stature, stood tall, and allowed the ocean-like spiritual tide to repeatedly crash upon him, yet remained steadfast, standing firm.

This confrontation lasted seven days and seven nights, and the rampant spiritual tide wasn’t weakened; instead, it grew stronger with an even more robust momentum.

Zhang Boyant watched with amazement. Unlike Zhao Ge, who had not had a master for a long time, as an elder of the Nether Spring Sect, he truly understood the situation. His heart trembled as he thought, "When Yu Wen Hongyang cultivated his Dharma Body, it merely took six days and nights, earning him praise as a genius within the sect, and they say few can compare with him over the thousands of years of the sect’s history. Unexpectedly, the Pavilion Master has been refining his Dharma Body for seven days, and judging by this scenario, there is still excess strength left unspent. Such natural talent within the Xuanling Sixteen Sects is indeed unmatched among the younger generation."

Yet Zhao Ge, watching, showed a trace of worry in his eyes, and whispered, "Master Zhang, do you think Senior Brother will pass this threshold?"

Zhang Boyant laughed heartily and said, "No worries. When the moon is full, it wane; when the water is full, it overflows. Refining the Dharma Body is most dangerous during the first few days; the spiritual tide appears strong but is actually in decline. I presume the Pavilion Master will definitely pass this threshold, just wait and see."

The Wang sisters and Zhao Ge knew him to be experienced and knowledgeable, and upon hearing this, they all felt reassured.

Sure enough, not long after, the Gang Wind Qi tide seemed to lose its momentum, slowly receding until it was no longer a threat.

Two more days passed, and then a sound like a bell or chime resonated softly, spreading instantaneously through the mountains and rivers. Atop the peak, spiritual brilliance flashed, like bright light flickering, followed by a grand and majestic Clear Qi surging into the sky, transforming in midair into a Mystic Robed Daoist with a dignified presence. He treaded upon the void, holding his sleeves against the wind, singing, "Qiankun Two Divisions Qi Transformation. Five Dragons Refine the Body. The body stands like a Heaven Pillar at Kunlun. The heart calms the sea and mountain to suppress tribulation dust. Today the Divine House executes the Heavenly Demon. Someday beyond the heavens, it will slay ghost gods!"

The voice rang clear, resounding in all directions.

Zhang Yan drew a breath and lifted upwards, instantly transforming into Clear Light, breaking through the Gang Cloud, reaching beyond the heavy sky. Yet he did not stop, continuing to ascend, and before long, collided with a thick barrier, feeling a lightness in his body, he glanced around to find himself in the realm beyond the Second Heaven.

Here, the atmosphere is fierce and sharp like blades, as far as the eye could see, endless vastness, devoid of anything, as if he were the only one between heaven and earth.

He mused to himself, when the Star Stone rested here, he still needed to rely on token talismans to protect and traverse it, but now he regards it with ease.

This time, by achieving the Nascent Soul, having not leaked spiritual energy and fully absorbing it, his entire body’s mana surged by more than double, and now if facing ordinary peers, he is confident he can suppress them purely through mana alone.

He tucked his large sleeves behind, quietly observing the changes in his body.

Once the Dharma Body emerges, it’s akin to taking away the true essence of mana acquired through hundredfold refinement, leaving only the physical body in the original place. Although the body shell still contains some mana, it can only sustain meditation and accommodate the Divine Soul, incapable of fighting. True Master Tao once refined the Immortal Mansion within the underground palace thanks to peculiarities of the Nanhua Technique.

But even so, Nascent Soul Third Realm cultivators still favor the explorations of the Dharma Body due to its abundant advantages, which he knew before, but upon trying them, he felt the experience even more deeply and thought it no wonder so.

A cultivator’s body is extremely precious, if damaged or foundational harm occurs, it becomes difficult to glimpse the Great Dao. With the Dharma Body exploring, even if limbs break, as long as within the body, nurturing can allow for re-refinement.

And since the Dharma Body is not the physical body, flying escape is extraordinarily fast, although not quite reaching the speed of sword escape or Netherworld Escape Technique, it is nearly up to par, let alone in emergencies, Returning to the Origin and Merging the Truth technique could bring one back to the body, unless caught by prohibitions or dharma treasures, captured and refined, or severely dispersed, otherwise, it’s nearly impossible to eradicate.

Despite the many benefits, when the Dharma Body emerges, it must endure the external harsh Fierce Qi erosion, therefore, after exploring, it must return to the body for further cultivation to replenish any missing Spiritual Truth, unable to stay out for long periods.

Herein lies the advantage of his superior Primordial True Dharma Body, its Yin Yang harmonious, inside and outside unified, external fierce Qi difficult to erode, now amidst Gang Wind it stood unaffected for a long time, even freely roaming.

Yet Zhang Yan, after probing thoroughly, was slightly surprised. He could sense that this Dharma Body still had subtle differences from Zhou Chongju’s words, as if possessing many wondrous uses. Where they were, specifically, he couldn’t pinpoint at the moment, but there’s ample time ahead, no rush now, he smiled gently, transforming into a beam of Clear Light, descending downward.

...

...(To be continued. If you like this work, feel free to visit Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for recommendations, monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please visit m.qidian.com to read.)