Chapter 51: A Grand Gamble
He Yunxuan heralded this as an entirely new path, and naturally, Song Changsheng held exceptionally high expectations for it.
After settling his mind and reading through the content, Song Changsheng was instantly stunned by He Yunxuan's audacious idea. He even found himself doubting the authenticity of this cultivation method, as it was just too crazy.
"To use the body as the eye, the Dantian as the foundation, the acupuncture points as flags, and the bones and meridians as patterns, transforming oneself into a walking formation, can this truly be achieved?"
Song Changsheng gazed in disbelief at the shimmering golden text in his sea of consciousness, feeling that the person who conceived this method was an utter madman.
According to this cultivation method, even a tiny misstep would, at the very least, result in the rupture of the dantian sea, leading to the complete loss of one's cultivation.
For a cultivator, losing one's cultivation was a torment far greater than death itself.
Yet, setting aside all the inherent dangers, Song Changsheng had to admit that this method was remarkably intricate, far surpassing the formation legacies of his own clan, and subtly pointed towards the very origin of the Grand Dao.
This was a height that He Yunxuan, a third-rank low-grade Formation Master, could not have reached on his own; it must have incorporated the essence of the Array Path Academy's heritage.
With Song Changsheng's understanding of the Formation Dao, he was certain that this method was feasible and once successful, it would undoubtedly establish his name for eternity, leaving a legacy for countless generations, and earning the reverence of all Formation Masters under heaven!
The reason was simple.
Formation Masters, by relying on formations, could defeat enemies several times their own number. However, the deployment of formations required extensive preparation and time, often leaving no opportunity for their arrangement. This prevented Formation Masters from unleashing their full capabilities.
If one were to cultivate He Yunxuan's method, the situation would be entirely different. The practitioner could deploy a domain-like formation at any moment.
The utility this would offer in actual combat was immeasurable; a walking formation was a concept that sent shivers down one's spine just by imagining it.
However, this was, after all, a path never before conceived and no one knew what challenges one might encounter during its pursuit, or how to resolve them once they arose.
There was no precedent to draw upon, only the perilous act of crossing a river by feeling for stones.
This was a grand gamble, a wager of one's cultivation path and very life!
If successful, being invincible among peers would be no idle boast. But if it failed...
"There is only death!" Song Changsheng's gaze instantly hardened. Along the boundless path to longevity, cultivators were as numerous as the sands of the Ganges, and prodigies as countless as the stars in the sky.
He was merely one of the most inconspicuous among them. In the tiny patch of land that was Ling Province, his talent might be considered exceptional, but when placed against the entirety of Great Qi, or even the whole human cultivation world, his meager talent was utterly unremarkable.
To contend with those unparalleled prodigies, Song Changsheng had to exert far greater effort and seize every opportunity to strengthen himself.
When he was born, Song Xianming named him "Changsheng" (Longevity). This was not merely a beautiful wish for his future but also the earnest hope of the entire Song clan.
They hoped that Song Changsheng would live up to his name and one day ascend to the myriad-layered peaks, gazing down upon all other mountains!
Song Changsheng had always taken longevity as his goal. This was his grand opportunity; risk and fortune coexisted. If he chose to retreat now, "longevity" would forever be beyond his grasp.
In his previous life's homeland, there was a saying: "When a man dies, he faces the heavens; if he doesn't die, he lives for ten thousand years."
There was nothing to fear about death; he had already died once. At worst, he would simply die again.
Cultivation was like rowing against the current; one either advanced or perished. This opportunity, he absolutely had to seize!
"The higher the cultivation, the more difficult this method becomes to cultivate. I must prepare early and engrave the first formation before breaking through to Foundation Establishment."
Although he had made up his mind, he could not rush in recklessly.
Cultivating this method also required many prerequisites. Failing to fulfill them would undoubtedly lead to a miserable death.
"Most of the materials Senior He mentioned, I already possess. The remaining small portion I can exchange for in the clan's treasury. The only things that require significant effort are the Dragon Blood Orchid and the Heart Protection Pill.
While Dragon Blood Orchid is rare and sought after, it's still seen annually. But this Heart Protection Pill hasn't appeared on the market for over a decade. That's quite troublesome."
Song Changsheng pondered the materials he needed to prepare, his brow furrowed in a tight knot. He deliberated for a long time without a clear solution.
"Forget it, I'll ask Fellow Daoist Zhu another day. He has extensive connections; he might have some leads," Song Changsheng sighed, deciding to temporarily set the matter aside.
Being fearless of death and foolishly seeking death were two different things. The necessary preparations absolutely had to be made. Even if it ultimately failed, he could only blame his own ill fortune.
After exiting his sea of consciousness, Song Changsheng retrieved the jade slip containing the Qi Transforming Force Art. This was his most valuable acquisition apart from the Inscribing Formations Upon the Body and the Lu Wu Bell.
Once he cultivated this secret art, his combat power would undoubtedly reach a higher level!
Song Changsheng resumed his routine life. Each day, besides refining some magical tools, he would cultivate the Qi Transforming Force Art and contemplate the legacy left by He Yunxuan.
His schedule was exceptionally tight every day.
Time quietly flowed by, and in the blink of an eye, a month had passed.
During this period, Song Changsheng had greatly improved himself, and the Qi Transforming Force Art had also reached the introductory stage.
The Earthfire Sect had been unusually quiet for a month, presumably because the clan's counterattack had diverted their attention, leaving them with no spare energy to bother Song Changsheng.
This was naturally the best news for Song Changsheng, but what puzzled him was that Zhu Yiqun had also been unreachable during this time.
If he didn't trust the other party's character, he would have suspected that the fat fellow had absconded with that batch of demonic artifacts...
As the morning sun first rose and the clouds surged, Song Changsheng had just finished his morning cultivation and was about to contemplate the Daoist scripture for a while when the communication jade tablet at his waist suddenly began to vibrate.
He infused a trace of spiritual energy, and a long-unheard voice emanated from it: "Changsheng, meet me at our usual spot."
A hint of joy appeared at the corner of Song Changsheng's brow; that fat fellow had finally resurfaced.
After informing Song Luoyuan in advance, he swiftly rushed to the pavilion where he often met Zhu Yiqun.
Today, Zhu Yiqun was dressed in a purple brocade robe, his portly figure strikingly similar to those well-fed, privileged squires in the mortal world.
Upon seeing Song Changsheng, he immediately stepped forward and enveloped him in a warm bear hug, sending a shiver of revulsion down Song Changsheng's spine and making his skin crawl.
"What's got into you now? I'm not some young maiden, why are you hugging so tightly? You don't have that kind of peculiar habit, do you?" Song Changsheng said with a look of disdain.
"Get lost! You're the one with that habit. I'm a real man," Zhu Yiqun quickly stepped back, patting his chest.
"You know yourself whether you are or not. What have you been up to all this time? I thought you had embezzled the funds and fled."
At this, Zhu Yiqun's plump face immediately drooped. "This is a long story. You almost didn't get to see old Zhu here."
(Chapter End)