Chapter 332 - 311: Artificial... Yang God
"How are things in the valley?"
Inside the Diligent Governance Hall in the Great Cang Imperial City, the Great Cang Emperor, Zhao Xuanji, was hunched over the Dragon Desk. The flickering candlelight cast shifting shadows across his face.
Three paces from the Dragon Desk, a middle-aged man stood silently in attendance. He was dressed in tight-fitting, dark cyan clothes, had a short beard, and his face was as hard and cold as iron. Upon hearing the question, he immediately bowed, his voice low and clear:
"Your Majesty, according to the secret reports regularly sent back by Zhao Jia and Zhao Yi, the cultivation of everyone in the valley is progressing at an astonishing speed.
"That Qi Master is an extremely dedicated teacher. The Dharma Gates he imparts are subtle and profound. His every word and phrase points directly to the core of Divine Soul cultivation. He is unfathomable.
Under his guidance, everyone’s control and application of the Power of the Divine Soul, as well as the consolidation of their foundations, are all undergoing a complete transformation."
He paused for a moment before continuing:
"More importantly, Qi Master seems to possess a superior treasure capable of cleansing impurities from the Divine Soul and strengthening one’s origin. Its effects are extraordinary.
It has only been half a year, yet among the fifty, nearly half are already faintly touching the peak bottleneck of the Manifestation Realm, and the cultivation of the rest has also greatly improved.
Furthermore, Zhao Jia and Zhao Yi, who are in the Yin Spirit Realm, have reported that their Yin Spirits have become increasingly condensed and their Daoist Intent more complete. They have benefited immensely."
This man was none other than the Marshal of the Great Cang Dynasty’s Imperial City Department, Wei Liang.
He specialized in espionage, covert investigations, and surveillance of both internal and external affairs. He was Zhao Xuanji’s most trusted confidant.
He was also the head of intelligence for "Project Awakening."
Zhao Xuanji’s Vermilion Brush paused, leaving a streak of bright red on the memorial.
He slowly raised his head, his gaze falling upon Wei Liang’s face.
"So you’re saying... he’s truly helping us with all his heart?"
Wei Liang pondered for a moment, then answered cautiously:
"As of now, all of Qi Master’s words and actions have been aimed at fully enhancing our strength. He has not shown any unusual intentions or slackened his efforts.
If, through his efforts, the cultivation and combat power of Zhao Jia and the others can be greatly increased, it would indeed be a fortunate matter for our dynasty’s grand plan."
"Hmm..." Zhao Xuanji set aside his Vermilion Brush and leaned back slightly into the large dragon throne. His fingers unconsciously tapped a rhythmic beat on the armrest.
The hall fell into a brief silence.
Only the crackling of the candle flames could be heard.
A moment later, he spoke again, his voice a few degrees lower:
"Have you made any progress on the detailed background check I had you run on him?"
Wei Liang’s expression turned grim. He bowed his head and said:
"Your Majesty, I have mobilized all the covert operatives of the Imperial City Department, but... there are still no leads.
The first verifiable record of his appearance is in Qingyuan County of Da Xuan Prefecture. It is as if he appeared out of thin air.
Before that, there are no records of his name, appearance, or any trace of his cultivation.
His behavior, mannerisms, and the Daoist Skills he cultivates are also completely different from any known lineage in the Cangque Realm.
It’s like... he just fell from the sky."
"’Fell from the sky...’" Zhao Xuanji repeated, mulling over the words. A strange light flashed in his eyes.
After a moment of silence, he said, "I understand. You are dismissed.
Do not relax the investigation into this man. Report any and all clues to me immediately.
Keep a close watch on the situation in the valley. Pay special attention to... any unusual private actions from Qi Master, or any contact with Zhao Jia and the others that goes beyond the scope of instruction."
"This subject obeys!" Wei Liang bowed in acceptance, took several steps backward, and then his figure silently melted into the shadows in the corner of the hall, disappearing without a sound.
The Diligent Governance Hall returned to silence.
Zhao Xuanji sat alone on the dragon throne. His gaze pierced through the flickering candlelight, as if seeing the hidden valley deep within the Cloud Dream Marsh, seeing that deep blue figure, and seeing those rapidly developing blades of the Royal Family.
He picked up the teacup by his desk, which had long since gone cold, and took a sip.
The cold tea flowed down his throat, bringing with it a clarifying bitterness.
"Qi Yun... what is it that you truly seek?"
His low murmur dissipated into the vast, empty hall.
...
「Cloud Dream Marsh, the hidden valley.」
Time passed by as quietly as the mist flowing outside the valley.
Several years had passed since the first batch of fifty "seeds" had taken up residence.
The scene within the valley was now vastly different from before.
The plaza ground had been worn smooth as a mirror, and the surrounding cliffs were now covered in numerous Array Patterns and target marks, used for practicing Divine Soul control, withstanding pressure, and rehearsing joint attacks.
The air was filled with a dense yet active fluctuation of Divine Soul power.
It was a unique "field" accumulated from a great number of Cultivators training and breaking through here over a long period.
Under Qi Yun’s all-out training, the cultivation of these fifty Death Warriors had advanced by leaps and bounds, shattering the cognitive limits of ordinary Cultivators in the Cangque Realm.
Qi Yun personally lectured on the Dao, using his perspective as a Yang God Great Power to analyze the various mysteries of the Path of Divine Soul in a way that was both profound and easy to understand. More importantly, the endless supply of [Soul-Shaking Potion] essence he provided became the greatest catalyst for their rapid advancement.
This substance was a sacred tonic for nourishing the Divine Soul, capable of effectively washing away soul impurities, strengthening one’s origin, and consolidating one’s foundation.
For Cultivators at the [Manifestation], [Day Traveling], and even [Yin Spirit] realms, it was no different from a panacea.
In addition, Qi Yun directly used [Mastering All Skills] to correct their paths and shatter their bottlenecks.
This method, which was tantamount to defying heaven and changing fate, naturally came with great risks and pain.
But Qi Yun’s control over his power had reached a state of perfection. He could always keep his intervention within the targets’ limits of endurance, supplementing it with the restorative and nourishing properties of the [Soul-Shaking Potion].
As a result, after experiencing brief, intense pain, these Cultivators would often experience an explosive surge in their cultivation.
The results of such a training method, which spared no expense and defied all convention, were astonishing.
In just a few short years, among the fifty Cultivators who had originally been mostly at the [Manifestation Realm], seven had successfully broken through their shackles, condensed their Yin Spirits, and entered the [Yin Spirit Realm]!
In the outside world, achieving this would take ten times as long, even for the most outstandingly talented individuals with abundant resources.