Longde Hall, Forbidden City.
From the hour of Wei to the hour of Xu, Ji Xiang had been breathing in the world's vital energy for a long time, his heart settled within his inner landscape, his eyes beholding a brilliant light.
What flowed within this body was no longer blood, but the incense and faith of countless devotees.
And in his cultivation, he had begun to make progress.
His cultivation began from the first realm, the Xinghuo Realm, and the highest realm had not yet been reached by anyone.
The first realm was the Xinghuo Realm, known as "Fire Compelling Metal," where fiery energy circulated throughout the body, forcing out the indestructible golden essence within;
The second realm was the Foundation Building Realm, known as "Hundred Days Foundation Building," where the Zhou Tian sea of qi circulated, penetrating the entire body, nurturing the foundation for the birth of the Holy Embryo;
The third realm was the Jade Wall Realm, known as "Golden Sinew, Jade Bone," where the bones of the entire body were like white jade, and the sinews emitted golden light. Ancient people said, "Golden light permeates the body, and the marrow is fragrant; golden sinews and jade bones are all pure Yang." This was a major step in refining the physical body, laying the foundation for transforming into pure Yang.
Each foundational realm, taken step by step, would affect the strength of later realms. If the foundation was not firm, it would be like a castle in the air, strong on the outside but weak within, a tofu-dreg project that would collapse at the slightest touch, only capable of striking a pose to scare people.
From the first realm to the ninth realm, all preparations were made for refining the Golden Elixir with fire. This so-called fire was actually the various fiery energies contained within the human body. These fiery energies normally existed within the body, maintaining balance. Once a problem arose, it would lead to physical weakness and illness.
Among these fiery energies, the Monarch Fire, located in the heart, was the most important. The ancients said, "Without this fire, one cannot live."
However, for Ji Xiang, the weakness of the Monarch Fire in his heart no longer existed. Not being human naturally had its benefits. The physical body was the vessel for action in the world, while the true self was the spirit condensed from incense and faith. Even if his head were severed, or his heart pierced, it would not matter. While it might appear to cause significant damage from a physical perspective, Ji Xiang could simply reattach his head with a "head-connecting overlord" move without any issue.
And during this time, Ji Xiang made an unexpected discovery while breathing in and out.
This blank divine tablet within his inner landscape could actually help him accelerate the digestion of the world's vital energy that he inhaled.
This allowed the vital energy of heaven and earth to replenish his body very quickly. Based on Ji Xiang's estimation and the memories of his previous body, his current inhalation and digestion speed was at least three times faster than that of a normal person cultivating.
And this digestion speed seemed to be increasing.
However, his physical body was approaching the limit of its capacity to contain vital energy.
At this moment, his essence, qi, and spirit were extremely vigorous. Ji Xiang felt his physical body filled with strength. A thought arose in his mind, and he felt that with his current self, he could easily grab a strong man with one hand and spin him around three and a half times in the air.
Of course, there was no strong man present for practical demonstration.
"Such a massive intake and digestion rate has saved me three times the cultivation time. I only came back to life this morning and entered the third realm, with bones like white jade and sinews like gold. Now, after absorbing a large amount of vital energy and accumulating it in my body, this rapid cultivation has brought my physical body to a height it has never reached before!"
"The vital energy I have absorbed is far greater than the turbid qi I exhale. If this continues, I will soon enter the fourth realm of cultivation, the Fetal Breath Realm, also known as forming the Holy Embryo."
"The condition for entering the fourth realm is to lock qi within the body, with the total amount of inhaled qi far exceeding the exhaled and dissipated qi. In the past, cultivators would often meditate for a long time and seek places with abundant vital energy for inhalation and exhalation, often hiding in famous mountains and great rivers, sealing their seven orifices to prevent the escape of qi, and relying on the inhaled vital energy for internal circulation of life."
"At this moment, with each breath coming and going, neither entering nor leaving, one can be like an infant in its mother's womb, consuming internal qi, holding the primal unity. At this point, the outline of the Holy Embryo will appear in the body. This Holy Embryo is another name for the inner elixir refined by the combination of essence, qi, and spirit. Obtaining the Holy Embryo means truly possessing the great abilities of a Dharma master."
"The three realms before this fourth realm are merely introductory. Xinghuo Realm offers a glimpse, Hundred Days Foundation Building means entering the threshold, and Golden Sinew, Jade Bone is merely a transitional change. Therefore, all below the Holy Embryo are mortals."
Ji Xiang found it very miraculous. Although he was not human, he could still cultivate using human methods. As long as the incense and faith did not dissipate, his physical body could slowly recover no matter how many injuries it sustained. Being unkillable was his greatest capital.
"This blank divine tablet might have other uses... Before, in Fu Li, I saw the positions of the gods, and their names were all written on the tablets, but this fellow had no name. I also saw many forgotten gods, but their names were still clearly engraved on their divine tablets..."
"When I cultivate to the fourth realm, advance to the fifth realm, and pass the first demon trial, I will then be able to receive my position. This item came from Fu Li, so it must be related to positions. By then, I should be able to see some of its divine properties again."
Ji Xiang felt that this item should be more than just a vital energy digestion accelerator and a compendium of gods and ghosts.
And at the moment Ji Xiang stopped breathing, he suddenly heard urgent and numerous footsteps from outside!
...
After Zhu Changluo visited in the morning, he had his studies, so it was not until the afternoon that he met the fire god in the crimson robe. The eunuch controlled by the crimson-robed fire god had already informed Consort Zheng of Zhu Changluo's whereabouts and activities that morning.
Consort Zheng also acted quickly.
Under the pretext of suspecting that Wudang Mountain was in league with demonic Daoists, she informed Emperor Wanli and whispered in his ear, suggesting that during the reign of Emperor Jiajing, the demonic Daoist Shao Yuanjie came from Longhu Mountain, and recommended the demonic Daoist Tao Zhongwen. Therefore, to prevent any unforeseen circumstances, should they not investigate Wudang?
She also said that the First Prince might have been bewitched, and one should be careful that her son might also be bewitched, mentioning the Crown Prince in every three sentences.
Emperor Wanli, however, felt that this was unnecessary. The Daoist priest who came from Wudang this time was said to be very young, a mere child still wet behind the ears. What demonic Daoist powers could he possess?
Moreover, if Zhu Changluo was said to be bewitched after only one visit, using this reason to ostracize him, or even deprive him of his rights as the future Crown Prince, the civil officials would certainly not agree.
Consort Zheng was insistent, and Emperor Wanli told her that True Master Zhang would be coming in a couple of days, and she could ask him if she had any questions. Consort Zheng then said, what if True Master Zhang was also in league with demonic Daoists?
This remark displeased Emperor Wanli.
Seeing Emperor Wanli's expression change, Consort Zheng immediately apologized, but still insisted on investigating Longde Hall. There was no other way; Emperor Wanli had always doted on her, so he reluctantly dispatched a few people perfunctorily.
Thus, in front of Longde Hall, Forbidden City.
This place, which had always been deserted, was suddenly crowded with people.
The clanging of armor, hurried footsteps, and the swaying light of numerous lanterns illuminated their figures before the descent of night.
Green and brocade robes, brown caps, identity plaques, waist knives.
Helmeted caps, round-collared yellow armor, identity plaques, carrying red staffs.
Black headscarves, crimson collars, green罩甲, identity plaques, holding swords.
Creak...
The courtyard gate of Longde Hall was pushed open, and these people surged in. The leader, dressed in a light yellow, cross-collared, wide-sleeved robe with an open back and side slits, and a bifurcated front with pleated panels below.
A qilin was embroidered on this robe.
The courtyard gate was wide open, and the brocade-clad guards in armor stood on either side of the Longde Hall courtyard. The guards in green and brocade robes followed this qilin-robed envoy to the front of the hall gate.
"Luò Sīgōng, Commander of the Southern Commandery Guard, is ordered to inspect Longde Hall!"