Chapter 15: Divine Mechanism Palace
Deciphering runes was a tedious and monotonous task.
Perhaps one day in the future.
Only when Xu Zhengyang’s database had collected a sufficient number of runes would he be able to look back and attempt to find commonalities among them.
Then he could summarize and analyze them, and eventually deduce the "logic" of this language in reverse.
But for now.
All Xu Zhengyang could do was calm his mind and accumulate slowly.
…
A month and a half later.
When Xu Zhengyang had only deciphered 72% of the runes in the Introduction to Formations, his supply of supreme Blood Pills had already been completely used up.
During this month and a half.
Xu Zhengyang had not only cultivated his Qi Refining Art to the third level, but had also increased his total blood and energy to a height of 143 through the use of the supreme Blood Pills!
Xu Zhengyang’s total blood energy had increased so significantly.
It had also elevated his physical strength by 14.3 times!
Now, Xu Zhengyang.
Could completely withstand the negative effects of the first layer of Skywalking, Treading Snow Without Trace, on his body, as long as his stamina wasn’t fully depleted.
Even if Xu Zhengyang maintained the state of Treading Snow Without Trace continuously.
It would at most cause some muscle soreness, without harming his foundation in the slightest!
“Just right. Not only are the Blood Pills finished, my Yellow Dragon Pills are almost gone too. Then I’ll go greet Master at the Divine Mechanism Palace and report on my cultivation progress while I’m at it.”
Xu Zhengyang spoke.
He casually used a Cleaning Technique to tidy himself up, then walked out of the Meditation Room for the first time in a while.
The moment he stepped out of the Meditation Room, Xu Zhengyang’s cultivation speed plummeted off a cliff, slowing down by more than ten times!
Seeing this, Xu Zhengyang couldn’t help but mutter, “Really don’t want to go out…”
As he spoke.
Xu Zhengyang waved his hand, took out a talisman he had drawn from the Jade Gourd, injected spiritual power into it, and tossed it onto the ground.
“Swish!”
In the next instant.
The talisman expanded with the wind, transforming into a paper crane taller than a person!
Seeing this, Xu Zhengyang excitedly jumped onto the paper crane and sat cross-legged, placing both hands on its back to inject spiritual energy into it.
“Whoosh—”
After receiving propulsion, the paper crane flapped its wings rapidly, stirring up a breeze, then slowly and leisurely ascended into the sky.
A moment later.
Once Xu Zhengyang had ascended into the air by his own means.
He looked at the flowing clouds beside him and exclaimed excitedly, “Although the Paper Crane Talisman flies slowly, it still flies after all!”
As he spoke.
Xu Zhengyang located the direction of the Divine Mechanism Palace from midair and directed the paper crane toward it.
…
During the recent disciple acceptance ceremony.
Xu Zhengyang, with only Third Level Qi Refining cultivation, had used a combination spell, Earth-Prison Drawing Technique, to defeat innate Body-Cultivator expert Yang Hong in front of the Founders’ Hall, making a huge splash!
Therefore, his deeds and appearance had already spread throughout the True Essence Sect.
Because of this.
When Xu Zhengyang came to the Divine Mechanism Palace to look for Pei Zhen, the guest elders and inner disciples inside and outside the palace treated him with courtesy.
He didn’t encounter any melodramatic conflicts.
Not only that.
When everyone learned that Xu Zhengyang had come to find Pei Zhen.
A guest elder named Liu Baoshan at the early Foundation Establishment stage even volunteered to personally lead the way for Xu Zhengyang.
While leading the way, he also introduced the Divine Mechanism Palace to Xu Zhengyang:
“Third Young Master. Our Divine Mechanism Palace is built atop the Earth Fire Vein of Divine Mechanism Peak. Although ours is only a Tier 1 fire vein. After refinement through the Profound Sun Spirit-Tempering Formation set by the Peak Master, the fire from the Earth Dragon Vein becomes extremely pure and free from any malevolent aura. Its fire quality is comparable to that of ordinary Tier 2 fire veins! Moreover. The Peak Master has partitioned the first floor of the Divine Mechanism Palace into one hundred and eight ‘Fire Chambers’, channeling the Earth Dragon Fire into each chamber individually. These Fire Chambers are not only used by us for artifact refining. They’re also leased out to earn rental fees, which are used to maintain our Profound Sun Spirit-Tempering Formation.”
“Amazing.”
Xu Zhengyang sincerely praised, then looked around to observe the environment of the first floor.
The first floor of the Divine Mechanism Palace resembled a beehive, composed of individual “Fire Chambers” arranged in a grid.
Inside these Fire Chambers, most flickered with firelight and shadows of people.
Clearly, some were using the Earth Dragon Fire from Divine Mechanism Peak to refine artifacts, concoct pills, or even...
Practice cultivation!
The Divine Mechanism Palace had three floors in total.
The first floor housed the Fire Chambers;
The second floor was where the Divine Mechanism Palace bought and sold magical treasures and spiritual materials.
At the same time.
The Meditation Rooms of some guest elders were also arranged on this floor.
For instance, Liu Baoshan lived here.
Although Liu Baoshan’s cultivation wasn’t high, he possessed a secret technique of the Spiritual Eye and was one of the Divine Mechanism Palace’s appraisers, residing long-term on the second floor.
Liu Baoshan took Xu Zhengyang on a brief tour of the second floor.
Finally, they arrived in front of his Meditation Room, where he said to Xu Zhengyang, “Third Young Master, the third floor of the Divine Mechanism Palace is the Peak Master’s private domain. Unless we have urgent matters, we must not trespass. I have already informed the Peak Master via Messaging Talisman. Before he responds, why not come in and have some tea with me?”
Hearing this, Xu Zhengyang didn’t stand on ceremony and agreed readily, “Since that’s the case, I’ll trouble Elder Liu.”
…
Liu Baoshan was a man with good sense.
After about the time it took to burn one incense stick.
Pei Zhen replied to him, and he immediately led Xu Zhengyang to the place where the second and third floors connected.
He said, “Third Young Master, the stairs lead to the third floor. But these stairs are full of restrictions. You’ll need the Peak Master to come down and receive you. I shall take my leave now.”
“Thank you, Elder Liu!” Xu Zhengyang cupped his hands in gratitude.
“You’re welcome, you’re welcome.”
Liu Baoshan said, then left with his hands behind his back.
…
Shortly after Liu Baoshan left, Pei Zhen came down from the third floor and casually tossed Xu Zhengyang a jade token, saying, “This is the access restriction for the Divine Mechanism Palace. From now on. When you come here, just wear this and you may go straight to the third floor.”
“Thank you, Master!”
Xu Zhengyang respectfully accepted the jade token, then followed Pei Zhen up to the third floor.
Although Pei Zhen walked ahead.
He had already scanned Xu Zhengyang thoroughly with his divine sense, then nodded in satisfaction, “Not bad. You didn’t slack off this past month.
Not only has your Qi Refining cultivation advanced another level, you’ve also kept up with your body-cultivation.”
Hearing this, Xu Zhengyang responded without holding back and got straight to the point, “Master. The bottle of Tier 1 supreme Blood Pills that Senior Brother gave me is already used up, and I’ve barely got any Yellow Dragon Pills left. I came this time to ask for some more pills.”
“Oh?”
Pei Zhen looked a little surprised and said, “Your primordial yang remains intact. Seems you haven’t practiced the Spiritual Convergence Heart Method with those two little girls in your residence. So. You dissolved all the lingering will of the demonic beasts inside a whole bottle of supreme Blood Pills just by yourself?”
Upon hearing this, Xu Zhengyang suddenly understood, and secretly laughed in his heart:
【No wonder Master didn’t explain anything and just left that day. So it turns out he was too embarrassed to mention dual cultivation, which is why he had Senior Brother bring me the supreme Blood Pills and the Spiritual Convergence Heart Method the next day…】