172: Chapter 172 The Road Ahead is Long

"The number one Body Refining Cultivation Technique?!"

Ye Tian sucked in a cold breath. Although he knew the Dragon-Elephant Art was extraordinary, he hadn't expected it to have such a grand background!

"Correct!"

Ye Zhong's tone was certain. "This technique does not have nine layers, but thirteen in total!

It was created by imitating the power of ancient Divine Beasts, the True Dragon and the Divine Elephant. When cultivated to the limit, the Physical Body becomes a saint, its strength can hold up the heavens, and it possesses infinite power!

If one can master the final layer, they can forge the supreme treasure body—the Dragon-Elephant Indestructible Body!

By then, the Physical Body will be near-immortal; a single drop of blood can regenerate, severed limbs can be reattached, and ordinary injuries can heal in an instant. With a long Lifespan, one could be called a walking Primordial Vicious Beast!"

"Dragon-Elephant Indestructible Body!"

An unprecedented, burning light instantly erupted in Ye Tian's eyes!

Just hearing the name allowed him to feel that terrifying power that dominated heaven and earth and remained unyielding through ten thousand tribulations!

This was undoubtedly the Body Refining Realm of his dreams!

But then, remembering the contents of the technique, he asked in confusion, "Uncle Zhong, but the Dragon-Elephant Art I obtained clearly only has the cultivation methods for the first nine layers? Where does this talk of thirteen layers come from?"

Hearing this, Ye Zhong laughed heartily, a trace of craftiness flashing in his eyes. "Who told you, kid, that the Mystic Tortoise True Explanation only has the first volume?"

Ye Tian was stunned.

Ye Zhong explained, "The Mystic Tortoise True Explanation has three volumes: Upper, Middle, and Lower!

What I gave you back then was merely the Upper Volume, which contained the first nine layers of the Dragon-Elephant Art as well as some miscellaneous secret arts."

So that was it!

Ye Tian suddenly understood!

"Then the Middle and Lower Volumes..."

Ye Tian's heartbeat involuntarily quickened, his eyes full of expectation.

Ye Zhong scolded with a laugh, "I knew you'd be thinking about it!"

As he spoke, he reached into his robes, took out a booklet, and tossed it to Ye Tian. "Here, this is the Middle Volume.

It records the cultivation methods for the tenth through twelfth layers of the Dragon-Elephant Art, as well as several stronger life-saving escape techniques and offensive secret methods."

Ye Tian hurriedly caught it with both hands, holding it like a peerless treasure, his fingers trembling slightly with excitement.

Layers ten to twelve of the Dragon-Elephant Art!

This meant his path of Body Refining could take another giant leap forward!

"As for the final layer, the thirteenth, as well as the core Profound Truths of the Dragon-Elephant Art and the most precious Divine Abilities in the Lower Volume of the Mystic Tortoise True Explanation,"

At this point, Ye Zhong's tone became low, and a trace of guilt flashed in his eyes, "those are recorded in the Lower Volume. But... as for where the Lower Volume is now, I... do not know."

Hearing this, Ye Tian's excitement felt like it had been doused with cold water. He asked urgently, "Uncle Zhong, even you don't know?"

Ye Zhong sighed and nodded, his eyes filled with complex and difficult-to-explain emotions. "Back then... some changes occurred, and the Lower Volume was lost.

Over these years, I have been searching in secret, but there has been no news."

He looked at Ye Tian, his tone encouraging. "However, since you have obtained the Upper and Middle Volumes, you have a karmic connection with the Lower Volume.

As long as the Lower Volume still exists in this world, as your cultivation deepens—especially when you Cultivate the Dragon-Elephant Art to a high level—you might be able to sense it through the Origin connection between the techniques.

This can also be considered a kind of tempering for you."

Though Ye Tian felt a slight sense of loss, his fighting spirit and determination were ignited!

He tightly gripped the Middle Volume booklet in his hand, a firm flame burning in his eyes. "Don't worry, Uncle Zhong!

I will certainly Cultivate diligently without ceasing and master the first twelve layers as soon as possible!

When that time comes, even if I have to travel across the entire True Spirit Continent, I will find the Lower Volume and forge that Dragon-Elephant Indestructible Body!"

Seeing the unyielding light in Ye Tian's eyes, Ye Zhong smiled with relief, his wrinkles smoothing out. "Good! With such ambition, you won't fail your natural talent and opportunities."

He looked up at the sky; the morning light had completely dispersed the thin mist and filled the small courtyard.

"The hour is late; I should be going."

Seeing that Ye Zhong was about to leave, Ye Tian felt a surge of urgency and hurriedly stood up. "Uncle Zhong, you're leaving already? If... if I have matters in the future, how should I find you?"

He had too many questions and also felt that this mysterious Uncle Zhong might be an important guide on his future path.

Ye Zhong paused and glanced back at Ye Tian, his gaze deep. "Kid, just Cultivate well.

When your cultivation reaches the Yuan Dan Realm, I will naturally come to find you.

By then, there are many things you will naturally come to know."

He paused slightly, adding a warning, "Remember, before you have sufficient strength, do not easily investigate the secrets related to yourself. Especially... regarding the matter of the Black Fiend, do not delve deeper for now, otherwise, disaster will strike immediately! Remember this! Remember this!"

"Black Fiend!"

Ye Tian's heart shook violently!

Uncle Zhong really did know about the Black Fiend!

And hearing his tone, he seemed to know the dangers involved very well!

This made him even more certain that there was an extraordinary relationship between Uncle Zhong and the fallen Daoist Mystic Tortoise!

He suppressed the urge to ask further and nodded heavily. "Ye Tian has noted it down!" Ye Zhong said no more; his figure flickered slightly and he silently merged into the surrounding air. In the next moment, he appeared outside the small courtyard, and with another flicker, he vanished into the distant morning mist. His movement technique was so strange and profound that it far exceeded Ye Tian's imagination!

"Uncle Zhong! I..."

Ye Tian chased out of the courtyard gate, only to see the empty alleyway. Where was there any sign of Ye Zhong?

He exerted his eyesight to the limit, gazing into the distance, but found nothing.

Just as he was feeling lost, an old voice crossed the spatial distance and drifted over. "Only at the Yuan Dan Realm will you be qualified to know a bit of the truth. Cultivate hard, kid, and do not let... old friends down."

The voice curled away and faded, leaving no trace.

Ye Tian stood at the courtyard gate, staring in the direction Uncle Zhong had disappeared for a long time without speaking.

The early morning breeze blew through his hair, bringing a hint of coolness, but it couldn't disperse the waves in his heart.

Uncle Zhong's sudden appearance and departure, the secret of the chaos bead, the complete Legacy of the Dragon-Elephant Art, the warning about the Black Fiend, the threshold of the Yuan Dan Realm... pieces of information bombarded his mind.

He slowly walked back into the courtyard, closed the gate, leaned against the wooden door, and let out a long breath.

Everything he learned today was too much information; he needed time to digest it properly.

He looked down at the booklet in his hand.

Uncle Zhong had handed such an important technique to him; the deep meaning contained within was self-evident.

"Yuan Dan Realm... Black Fiend..."

Ye Tian murmured to himself, his eyes gradually becoming sharp.

His original goal was to climb to the Peak of the martial path, and now, this goal had become even more urgent!

He not only had to become stronger, but strong enough to be qualified to uncover the mist surrounding him, strong enough to face the 'disaster' Uncle Zhong spoke of, and strong enough to protect everything he wanted to protect!

He solemnly put the Middle Volume of the Dragon-Elephant Art into his qingxuan ring.

Then, he sat cross-legged on the stone bench in the courtyard and once again circulated the Breath-Concealing Mind-Cultivation Technique taught by Uncle Zhong, ensuring the aura of the chaos bead was perfectly hidden.

Sensing the calm fluctuations within his Dantian, which resembled an ordinary 'Pseudo-Dan,' his heart settled slightly.

"The priority now is the Liuxin Pool in three days!"

Ye Tian cleared his thoughts. "With the help of the Liuxin Pool's power, I will stabilize my cultivation and charge toward the True Martial Realm!

At the same time, I must also begin to comprehend the Taiyi Light-Splitting Sword Art and start cultivating the seventh layer of the Dragon-Elephant Art!"

He knew the road ahead was long, surrounded by powerful enemies and shrouded in secrets.

But at this moment, there was no fear in his heart.

The path of martial arts is like rowing upstream; if you do not advance, you will fall back.

Since he had chosen this path, he would only forge ahead with courage and vigor!

"The Yuan Dan Realm is only a beginning."

A confident smile curved on Ye Tian's lips. "My goal is the Peak of the martial path!"