Cultivating To Immortality

Chapter 747: Yin Yang Zen Body

Hoo—

Song Yan slowly adjusted his breathing. His Insightful Void Sword Eye subtly rippled with water-like light within the mist.

All of his attention was completely focused on the monk in front of him.

The method this person used to test the protective Spiritual Qi on Wang Ke had far exceeded the power a Level 9 Qi Refining Cultivator could possess.

Foundation Establishment?

No, it didn’t seem like it. The opponent’s Aura was now clearly revealed, and it was indeed only at the Qi Refining Stage.

What was going on?

Despite his doubts, Song Yan’s actions were not delayed in the slightest.

Three Flying Swords were unleashed, and the Ring Moon Sword Array quickly took shape.

The Tiyue Flying Sword was perfectly capable of serving as the eye of the array, thus freeing up his Lifebound Flying Sword, Unmoored Boat, which could be taken over by the sword crow, Xianxian, at any time while Song Yan controlled the array.

With a flick of his sword-finger, Unmoored Boat shot out like a white rainbow piercing the sun.

Yuan Zhen looked at Song Yan’s face, his expression slightly surprised. How could a mere Qi Refinement Stage Cultivator move freely within this misty illusion Formation?

But soon, malevolence surged within him, and he gradually grew irritable: "Little Qi Refining junior from Chu Land, you shall die too!"

In front of him, Demonic Flames condensed into three skull heads the size of embroidered balls, spinning forward.

Song Yan felt puzzled, thinking, ’Aren’t you just a Qi Refining Cultivator as well?’

Within his sleeves, the Azure Snake Sword Qi suddenly circulated, condensing onto the blade of Unmoored Boat.

A black and white sword light stretched across the sky like a line.

Buzz—

Sword Qi, like spilled ink, was unleashed by Unmoored Boat!

A fierce wind swept through the thick mist.

In an instant, it extinguished the skull Demonic Flames, and the sword light, not yet dispersed, slashed towards Yuan Zhen.

At the same time, the Ring Moon Sword Array had already begun to move.

Yuan Zhen was startled, as if he sensed danger, and his figure swayed backward.

A black and white phantom receded rapidly.

Yuan Zhen’s figure was struck by the sword light, dissipating into the thick mist like a fading bubble.

Song Yan looked coldly into the distance. The black and white phantom was hazy, and as its spiritual light faded, it transformed into Yuan Zhen’s appearance.

He slowly raised his head, looking at Song Yan with deep surprise in his eyes.

That sword strike just now seemed ordinary, but once unleashed, it felt as if all phenomena of heaven and earth flashed by, and the Sword Intent was endless.

The power of that single sword strike was already astonishing enough, yet it was not enough to trigger his perception of life-and-death danger.

What truly made him wary was the peculiar offensive formed by those three Flying Swords.

"Flying Swords forming an array?"

Yuan Zhen was somewhat bewildered.

He had considerable research into the Dao of Formations. Just a glance at the movement of the sword array made him realize that its power was far from as simple as it appeared on the surface.

However, at this moment, there was no time for him to ponder.

Many Cultivators must have already sensed the anomaly here, and perhaps Foundation Establishment Realm Cultivators were already on their way.

This illusion Formation here wouldn’t last much longer either.

Although this Ghost Valley Disciple didn’t succeed, the main objective of this trip, the Divine Ability Relic, had already been obtained.

If he continued to entangle, there might be unforeseen changes.

"Heh heh," Yuan Zhen suddenly clasped his hands together, a sinister smile on his face: "This humble monk underestimated the Cultivators of Chu Land."

"With matters here concluded, Benefactor Song, Benefactor Wang, we shall meet again."

His kasaya billowed, and he took a deep look at Song Yan before slowly disappearing into the thick mist.

Almost simultaneously, the thick mist in the valley slowly dissipated.

Yuan Zhen was already gone.

Song Yan’s brows furrowed deeply.

This person didn’t seem to want to take Wang Ke away or forcibly kill him, yet he said the matter here was concluded. So what exactly was his goal?

The surrounding crowd surged towards the central area. Song Yan said to Xiao Ju and Xiao He, who had arrived: "Watch over Wang Ke."

Then, he fully unleashed his Lingyun Intent movement technique and left the valley.

Yuan Zhen gave him a very strange feeling. He had initially thought the other party’s goal was Wang Ke, intending to kill him and seize his treasures. Now, it seemed it might not be that simple.

Being targeted by such an eerie person felt very uncomfortable.

Especially since this person was from the Central Region.

His Insightful Void Sword Eye operated, faintly able to see some Spiritual Qi, not yet dispersed, surging in the air.

They belonged to Yuan Zhen.

Strangely, beneath the Insightful Void Sword Eye, there was another trace of turbid Spiritual Qi that did not belong to Yuan Zhen but was extremely similar.

Getting closer and closer, those trajectories became clearer and clearer.

The mountain wind howled, and the pine waves roared like thunder.

Song Yan’s Lingyun Intent slowly ceased its operation, and he stopped his steps.

He gazed intently.

On the mountain peak, two "Yuan Zhens" stood facing each other.

One wore a grey and white monk’s robe, with a compassionate face but eyes full of malevolence.

The other was wrapped in pitch-black Demonic Qi, with hollow eyes, like a Puppet.

What surprised him was that Wu Huaguo was also here.

She was merely imprisoned within a Restriction by the "Yuan Zhen" who resembled a Demonic Cultivator. Although still alive, she couldn’t move or speak.

"Could it be that this person’s target is her?"

The sight of two Yuan Zhens appearing simultaneously indeed exceeded Song Yan’s comprehension.

But it didn’t matter. In the Cultivation World, there were countless strange and bizarre Cultivation Techniques he didn’t know about.

He simply assumed it was some Demonic Technique that could Cultivate a Demonic Path Clone.

What truly made him feel dangerous was that this "Yuan Zhen", enveloped in Demonic Qi, actually possessed a profound Spiritual Qi far exceeding the Qi Refining Realm.

Under the Insightful Void Sword Eye, the reality of both was fully revealed.

Although that body had a terrifying Aura, its movements were stiff, and the flow of Demonic Qi was often sluggish, clearly indicating some incompleteness.

The Yuan Zhen at Level 9 Qi Refining was the main body.

He had never heard of a Clone having a higher cultivation than the main body.

Sensing Song Yan’s arrival, Yuan Zhen’s main body slowly turned his gaze towards him.

A sinister smile played on his lips: "Level 9 Qi Refining, yet you dare to come alone. This humble monk admires Benefactor Song’s courage."

"Very well." He clasped his hands together: "This humble monk is re-cultivating Buddha Power and is in need of spiritual resources and treasures. Benefactor Song, please lend me a hand."

Before his words finished, the Demonic Path "Yuan Zhen", covered in Demonic Qi, suddenly stepped forward. A pressure far exceeding the Qi Refining Realm surged like a tide, causing rocks to crack and vegetation to snap.

Song Yan’s body sank slightly, but he didn’t retreat a single step.

Previously, when the Xuan Yuan Sect came to demand an explanation, he, at Level 1 Qi Refining, had already experienced the pressure from three Late Stage Foundation Establishment Cultivators.

Recalling that time, it was truly a matter of life and death, with an unknown outcome.

And at this moment, the opponent’s Aura, although far from what it was then, indeed far exceeded that of a Qi Refining Stage Cultivator.

Such terrifying power, such a formidable Aura.

Yet, it did not make him feel startled or cower.

His heart pounded, and he felt the Lifebound Flying Sword humming beneath the Zhen Dao Sword Mansion.

Song Yan was not an impulsive person who acted on a whim.

On the contrary, at this moment, his mind was clear and free of distractions.

Yuan Zhen’s main body was at Qi Refining Perfection, which he could completely handle.

Although the Demonic Path Clone had Spiritual Qi far exceeding the Qi Refining Realm, its movements were dull and seemed incomplete.

If he faced it with the Pure Heaven Great Bright Dharma Body, relying on the Cultivation Technique’s suppression of the Demonic Path, he might be able to resist it somewhat.

He only needed to exert his full strength to quickly kill this Yuan Zhen, and presumably, this Demonic Path Clone Puppet would naturally collapse without an attack.

All these thoughts were completed in an instant.

Almost at the same time, the Tiyue Flying Sword suddenly plunged into the ground. Several sword shadows of wind and thunder circulated out from the sword box, landing uniformly around the Tiyue Flying Sword.

Song Yan had been continuously studying the Ring Moon Sword Array. If sword shadows could temporarily replace Flying Swords to form a Spirit Gathering Sword Array, then they could naturally also replace Flying Swords to strengthen the Ring Moon Sword Array.

Although the duration was relatively short and the consumption of Sword Qi was greater, the power of the sword array would be stronger.

The Jilin Jun and Lianli swords, like fish entering water, attacked Yuan Zhen.

From Yuan Zhen’s Demonic Path Clone exerting pressure to Song Yan’s attack and the Formation of the sword array, it was merely the blink of an eye.

In ancient times, people knew that a Sword Cultivator’s combat power far surpassed others of the same Realm, but they didn’t know where this combat power originated.

If one spoke of Sword Intent or Lifebound Flying Sword, in the eyes of others, they were merely slightly better Spiritual Artifacts or Spiritual Treasures.

Undeniably, a Sword Cultivator’s outstanding combat power was greatly related to the strength of their Lifebound Flying Sword, yet the Lifebound Flying Sword itself was not the key.

Or rather, it wasn’t the Lifebound Flying Sword itself, but the influence it brought upon the Sword Cultivator.

A Lifebound Flying Sword, nurtured by the heart of seeking the Dao and the will of the Sword Dao, actually represented a Sword Cultivator’s Sword Dao.

During Cultivation, it allowed Sword Cultivators to be more focused, maximizing their Cultivation talent.

And when battling others, it allowed Sword Cultivators to cast aside all distractions and interferences, making their minds clear and penetrating.

Focusing on one point, one could reach Perfection.

This was precisely why many Sword Cultivators in ancient times had combat power that surpassed other Cultivators of the same Realm, and even "defied their superiors" by slaying enemies of higher Realms.

Yuan Zhen’s expression changed slightly. He hadn’t expected this young Qi Refining Cultivator to still dare to counterattack in the face of his Zen Body’s power.

However, Yuan Zhen was by no means an ordinary individual.

Previously, he was a Cultivator in the Desire Realm Concentration, similar to the Daoist Foundation Establishment Realm. He was only stripped of his cultivation and expelled from Jingye Zen Temple because he secretly cultivated Demonic Techniques.

Now, relying on Demonic Techniques to re-Cultivate, although he hadn’t fully recovered, his combat responses were still incomparable to ordinary Qi Refining Cultivators.

He spread his hand, and a dozen or so prayer beads slowly appeared in front of him.

Golden light erupted around him, and faint Sanskrit mantra runes flickered into existence and vanished within the golden light.

The dozen or so prayer beads transformed into a dozen golden talismans, each weakening the attacks of the two Flying Swords.

At the same time, a dark wooden alms bowl was conjured from within the golden light and pushed forward.

It perfectly fended off Unmoored Boat’s black and white sword light.

"Benefactor Song’s sword control technique is quite remarkable. Even in the Central Region, this humble monk has never seen anything like it," Yuan Zhen’s tone carried a hint of sarcasm.

Hoo—

Song Yan adjusted his breathing, doing his best to fill the sword array with Sword Qi.

"Heh heh, a mantis trying to stop a chariot, overestimating yourself."

Yuan Zhen smiled faintly.

At this moment, the Chan Demon body, covered in black Qi, had already reached him.

The demonic body’s five fingers spread wide, and monstrous Demonic Flames condensed in its palm, revealing a slowly rotating "swastika" Demonic Seal, which pressed down fiercely on Song Yan.

Yuan Zhen looked at the other party, who remained unmoved, chuckled softly, and slowly closed his eyes.

"Namo Amitabha."

A string of prayer beads in his hand, bead by bead, began to roll.

He murmured, chanting the Sutra of Ksitigarbha for rebirth.

However, in the next instant.

Suddenly, a sharp sword cry erupted from beside his ear.

Yuan Zhen opened his eyes, looking with some confusion, and an inexplicable tremor ran through his heart.

A giant, pitch-black hand stretched out from behind Song Yan, reaching over his head. Five thick fingers plunged deep into the Demonic Qi, grabbing hold of the Demonic Seal!

The hand was as black as ink, and between its fingers and palm, profound golden patterns faintly gleamed.

With a flash of golden light, the Demonic Seal shattered with a bang.

Yuan Zhen looked at the tall white jade skeleton behind Song Yan with disbelief. It was now looking down at Yuan Zhen’s Demonic Path Clone.

As the Demonic Seal shattered, the sky-filling Demonic Flames, like a hundred rivers returning to the sea, were completely devoured by the white bone Dharma Body, gradually transforming into pitch-black flesh and skin, spreading and growing on its right arm.

"You..."

Looking at the Dharma Body behind Song Yan, Yuan Zhen was almost speechless.

Jingye Zen Temple was just a small Zen Temple in the Central Region, but its Legacy was extremely ancient, and its Scripture Pavilion contained numerous secret collections and classics.

Among these, there were also some secret texts brought back by Buddhist Seniors after suppressing and slaying Demonic Cultivators.

Usually, the crucial cultivation points of the Demonic Techniques would be destroyed, and then compiled as texts for the Disciples of the sect to understand the methods of Demonic Cultivators.

Yuan Zhen considered himself to be incredibly talented. Relying solely on a general outline with various key points removed, he independently deduced a Cultivation Technique for cultivating a Demonic Path Clone, naming it the Yin Yang Zen Body.

It was precisely because of this that he was stripped of his cultivation and expelled from the Zen Temple.

Even so, he never regretted it, because he had tasted the immense power of this Demonic Path Clone!

But... everything happening before his eyes made his thoughts somewhat unable to turn around.

How could this Dharma Body possess such pure Demonic might!?

He had cultivated the Zen Body for many years. His Demonic Path Clone had devoured countless Cultivators’ essence blood and souls to barely reach its current level, far exceeding Qi Refining and almost at the Half-Step Foundation Establishment Realm.

The moment that pitch-black hand crushed the Demonic Seal, he clearly felt a tyrannical Aura that completely transcended his own Demonic Technique.

It felt as if the other party was the true "Demon," and he was merely a Mortal struggling on the edge of the abyss.

Wu Huaguo, confined by Demonic Qi in the corner, her emotions had completely shifted from her initial panic and regret to confusion and disbelief.

Daoist Song... when did he Cultivate Demonic Techniques?

And this power was actually so terrifying.

Yuan Zhen’s mind was in chaos.

Even after his cultivation was abolished by the Head Monk, he had always regarded himself as a Buddhist Cultivator of the Desire Realm Concentration.

Not to mention that his Zen Body could allow him to dominate all Qi Refining Cultivators of the current era, with his profound foundation of re-establishing sacred techniques and Dual Cultivation of both Buddhist and Demonic Paths, he was strong enough to be considered unrivaled below the Foundation Establishment Realm.

What’s more, this was just Chu Land, a small, remote Border Region country.

However, the moment his proud "Zen Body" was suppressed, all his advantages seemed to turn into illusory bubbles.

No longer reliable.

Although the situation currently seemed evenly matched, a seed of fear had already been planted in Yuan Zhen’s heart.

Then, it quickly took root and sprouted, spreading like weeds.

Yuan Zhen was in a trance, and Song Yan was equally surprised.

He was well aware of the Great Bright Dharma Body’s restraining effect on certain Demonic Cultivators, but such an immediate suppression still exceeded his expectations.

Just as Yuan Zhen was momentarily stunned, Song Yan’s eyes narrowed.

Beneath the Zhen Dao Sword Mansion, Sword Qi surged wildly, converging towards the lone moon on the Tiyue Flying Sword.

"Gaa ah—"

The cry of a crow resounded.

Song Yan’s expression was indifferent. He pointed a finger at Yuan Zhen, and the lone moon hung high.

"Moonfall."