Chapter 346 - 321: Primordial True Body
The instant he swallowed the Golden Core.
Like a pebble dropped into a still lake, the crystalline, Chaos-Colored Golden Core sent a gentle ripple through the depths of Qi Yun’s Dantian Qi Sea.
Then, a vast, pure, and majestic medicinal energy, like a slumbering, ancient Star River suddenly roused, burst forth explosively!
In an instant, it flooded Qi Yun’s limbs, his bones, his meridians and acupoints, and his Purple Mansion Sea of Consciousness!
This power was too immense, too pure.
It even exceeded the instantaneous threshold of both his physical body and his Dao Foundation!
"Ugh!"
Qi Yun’s body jolted, and a muffled groan escaped his lips.
Wisps of golden radiance uncontrollably streamed from his seven orifices!
He felt as if he were at the center of a furnace forged from pure "Dao" and "Principle."
The next instant!
The Magic Technique Panel materialized.
An overwhelmingly potent Refining Power, like an ancient titan awakening from slumber, instantly unfurled, enveloping the Golden Core with absolute precision!
At the same time, the text on the top line of the Magic Technique Panel erupted in a dazzling radiance.
[Automatic Magic Technique Update Complete. This is a minor version update. The following adjustments have been made to magic effects:]
A familiar prompt appeared, followed by a new line of golden Daoist script:
[Daluo Heaven 2.0: New Mechanism—Primordial True Body].
BOOM—!
Behind Qi Yun, the vast, boundless Daluo Heaven realm seemed to answer some supreme call, beginning to collapse inward and condense.
The chaotic energies that manifested as sun, moon, stars, Earth Fire, wind, and water all converged toward a single, central point.
Finally, they transformed into a single, hazy, indistinct speck of Primordial Immortal Light, seemingly containing all the possibilities that existed before the dawn of Heaven and Earth.
The immortal light was gentle and warm, not blinding, yet it carried the eternal implication of "the beginning of all things."
Then, this beam of immortal light transformed into a streak of Flowing Light.
It disappeared into the center of Qi Yun’s brow!
THUMP!
An ancient, heavy heartbeat, as if echoing from the very end of time, resounded within Qi Yun’s body.
The metamorphosis had begun.
This physical metamorphosis was less abrupt and confrontational, possessing more of a natural, harmonious quality—as if perfectly crafted by the Dao itself.
His bones began to transform, taking on the color of primordial jade as natural Dao Patterns surfaced upon them.
Newly formed meridians crisscrossed into a web, resembling a celestial star chart.
Pale golden blood flowed silently, carrying a vibrant Dao Rhyme that could wash away any affliction and nourish all creation.
The sublimation of his internal organs was akin to five natural Daoist Palaces taking form within him. They connected and interacted, creating a perfect, stable inner world that faintly resonated with the outer Heaven and Earth with his every breath.
A gentle immortal light glowed on his skin, exuding a supreme aura of being untouched by the Ten Thousand Laws, a state where all forms are naught.
As for his eyes, his left eye remained profound, but it was no longer a void of darkness. Instead, it was like an eternal night sky that had absorbed all starlight—tranquil, vast, and all-encompassing.
The speck of Primordial Immortal Light in his right eye grew purer and brighter, like the very first ray of light at the dawn of creation, capable of piercing any mist to gaze upon the true nature of all things.
Qi Yun stood perfectly still, no wind stirring around him. His robes hung naturally, shimmering with a faint halo.
He no longer exuded any oppressive might. Instead, he possessed a peculiar disposition—that of returning to original simplicity, of being one with the Dao.
And yet, this very Harmonization emanated an intangible, more fundamental "presence."
It was as if his very standing there constituted a small world unto itself, with its own Dao and its own order. It simultaneously merged with the greater Heaven and Earth outside, yet maintained a subtle sense of transcendence and dominion.
The harmonious, natural rhythm of Desolate Halberd True Monarch’s Red Mountain Forest Leaf Dao Domain was subtly disturbed, faint ripples spreading through it under the influence of Qi Yun’s gradually solidifying Primordial True Body.
Seated upon his golden throne, a flicker of astonishment crossed Desolate Halberd True Monarch’s shattered-gold eyes.
He could clearly sense that Qi Yun was perfectly absorbing the power of the Golden Core. His Cultivation and his very plane of existence were undergoing a rapid ascension, and the Dharma Body he was condensing was nothing short of extraordinary.
This result was far better than he had anticipated.
"The Venerable Dao Foundation is truly extraordinary..." Desolate Halberd True Monarch murmured.
The shattered-gold light in the True Monarch’s eyes swirled gently. His gaze fell upon Qi Yun’s face—calm, yet revealing an endless depth—and the familiar smile remained at the corners of his lips.
He had bestowed the Golden Core as a reward for merit, it was true, but it was also an observation and an investment.
He had never expected, however, that this Imperishable Golden Core would incite such... "off-the-charts" changes in the boy.
Qi Yun’s eyes remained tightly closed, his body and soul immersed in this baptism of the Great Dao—a complete rebirth from the inside out. He seemed completely oblivious to the True Monarch’s steady gaze.
The potent energy was still being converted, and the Primordial True Body was still making minute adjustments, stabilizing itself.
An unknown amount of time passed.
Perhaps an instant, perhaps an eternity.
The pulsing chaos halo around Qi Yun, the jade-like luster on his skin, and even the visions within his eyes—of the deep, eternal night and the pure, immortal light—all slowly receded, drawing inward like an ebbing tide.
Finally, all returned to tranquility.
He slowly opened his eyes.
No divine light escaped his pupils. They were clear and tranquil, like two ancient, bottomless pools that nevertheless reflected everything.
The aura around him was completely withdrawn. The heart-stopping presence was gone, as was any hint of a sharp, intimidating edge.
He just stood there quietly, his Deep Blue Daoist Robe immaculate, his expression serene, his disposition gentle.
At first glance, he looked no different from an ordinary Daoist practitioner who had spent years in quiet cultivation among the remote mountains.
There was absolutely no sign that he had just undergone a world-shaking metamorphosis and forged a supreme Dao body.
The greatest Dao is simplicity itself; he had returned to his original, unadorned state!
Seated upon his golden throne, Desolate Halberd True Monarch’s shattered-gold eyes had taken in the entire process: Qi Yun’s shift from extreme motion to utter stillness, from dazzling brilliance to simple ordinariness.
The astonishment on his face had long since faded, replaced by a deep appreciation and an indescribable satisfaction.
"It’s been a long time since I’ve seen such an impressive Dharma Body."
The True Monarch spoke slowly, his voice resounding in the now-tranquil woods.
"Surprising me twice in a single day... Qi Yun, you truly are an interesting fellow."
Hearing this, Qi Yun turned to the True Monarch and bowed deeply.
"I was only able to receive this opportunity thanks to the True Monarch’s gift of the core and your protection.
Without your guardianship, True Monarch, I would never have dared to attempt such a breakthrough here.
Thank you, True Monarch."
His voice was calm and sincere, holding no trace of falsehood.
As he bowed, he used his Introspection. Within his Purple Mansion, the Golden Core had already dissolved completely, perfectly integrating into every corner of Daluo Heaven and his Primordial True Body, becoming the most solid part of his Dao Foundation.
There were no hidden tricks within the Golden Core—no controls, no spiritual imprints. It was simply the purest, most high-grade Imperishable Golden Core.
This realization finally allowed a taut string in Qi Yun’s heart to loosen, though it also stirred a complex feeling within him.
’Have I been judging a nobleman by my own petty standards?’
’Or did the Elder Master’s warning have some other, deeper meaning?’
’Or perhaps... the True Monarch’s methods are so profound that even the Magic Technique Panel can’t detect them?’
Upon the golden throne, Desolate Halberd True Monarch, as if he could see right through the complex thoughts flashing in Qi Yun’s mind, suddenly let out a heroic laugh.
The sound of his laughter made the illusory Red Mountain around them tremble and its green leaves rustle.
"I know what you were thinking right before you took that core, kid."
His shattered-gold eyes were teasing, yet they seemed to see through everything.
"Wondering if I’d tampered with the Golden Core, were you?
Planted some kind of Restriction inside?
Or perhaps hidden some other ’little gift’ for you?"
A chill went through Qi Yun’s heart, but his face remained impassive. He simply lowered his head slightly, neither admitting nor denying anything.
Before the True Monarch, too many excuses would only make him seem disingenuous.
"Since you were so concerned," the True Monarch said, looking at him with amusement, his tone playful.
"Why did you swallow it anyway?
Weren’t you afraid of walking right into my trap?"
At these words, Qi Yun slowly raised his head, meeting the True Monarch’s scrutinizing gaze with clear eyes. His tone was frank as he replied:
"Because I trust the True Monarch’s character."
He paused before adding, his voice soft but each word distinct:
"If the True Monarch wished to control me, why resort to such a troublesome method?
With your power, True Monarch, a single Heart Thought would leave me with nowhere to hide.
Gifting me the Golden Core was both a reward and a sign of your expectations.
If I had shrunk back out of baseless suspicion, would I not be failing your great expectations, True Monarch, as well as betraying my own heart’s pursuit of the Dao?"
These words were seven parts truth and three parts performance.
He might have had some faith in the True Monarch’s character, but it was mostly a final bet on his own trump cards and a cold calculation of the situation.
Spoken aloud at this moment, however, the words sounded utterly sincere and moving.
"Hahaha...!"
Desolate Halberd True Monarch was stunned for a moment, then burst into even louder laughter.
His laughter was filled with mirth and some other, indescribable emotion.
"Character? Hahaha... In our Wuji Holy Sect, that word is a rare commodity indeed!
It’s been years since anyone has mentioned that word to me!"
He laughed so hard that the light and shadows in the forest danced, and his Sky-Splitting Halberd hummed softly, as if infected by its master’s mood.
"Alright, alright." The True Monarch waved his hand, his laughter ceasing. The wild smile on his face slowly faded, returning to his usual calm, though a new, inscrutable depth lingered in his eyes.
"Your flattery today was rather unique. I’ll admit, it was pleasant to hear."
His gaze fell on Qi Yun, and he fell silent for a moment.
As the True Monarch’s smile faded, the atmosphere in the forest quietly grew more solemn.
"Qi Yun."
The True Monarch spoke again, his voice no longer casual or teasing. It was now low and formal, carrying even a rare hint of gravity.
"I summoned you today not only to fulfill my promise—to help you condense your Golden Core and stabilize your Dao Foundation—but for another matter as well..."
He paused, his shattered-gold eyes seeming to pierce through the Red Mountain Forest Leaves before him to gaze into the unseen, far-distant future.
"...I must give you a warning."
Qi Yun’s Heart and Spirit tensed. He immediately cleared his mind of all stray thoughts, bowing solemnly.
"I respectfully await the True Monarch’s decree."
Desolate Halberd True Monarch’s gaze refocused on Qi Yun. His voice carried a faint, world-weary tone as he said:
"My time presiding over the Holy Sect is coming to an end..."
He looked at Qi Yun and said, word by word, with utter clarity:
"And the one who will succeed me, who will wield the authority of the Holy Sect in the next era..."
"...is Wu Dao."
...