11: Chapter 11 Gathering Qi for a Lifespan of Two Hundred

"No wonder it's called the demonic dao. To increase their cultivation speed, the New Immortal Dao requires feeding on humans."

"Truly barbaric and demonic," Shen Moyan sneered.

Shen Moyan had once overheard a conversation by chance; the reason they refined him into the human essence ginseng was for the wondrous rhythm of heaven and earth from beyond his world.

Neither the Qi Gathering Realm nor the Mortal Transformation Realm had any records regarding the wondrous rhythm of heaven and earth. It seemed this so-called wondrous rhythm was required for cultivation in later Realms.

"No matter. I have plenty of time, cultivating life after life, without needing to view people as food."

Perhaps influenced by the existence of those twelve characters, Shen Moyan looked down upon this vile practice of cannibalism from the bottom of his heart.

Once a person crosses that line, what difference is there from a beast?

cultivation, cultivation, what is truth?

My thoughts, my actions are the truth. Cannibalism among one's own kind, in Shen Moyan's view, is not cultivation, but cultivating demonhood.

Shen Moyan despised this behavior and was ashamed to associate with such demonic people.

"Alright, I'll return to gather qi tomorrow at the moment the jade sun first rises."

Shen Moyan now circulated that wisp of solar breath within his body through his Meridians.

His body was undergoing earth-shattering changes. That yang breath moistened things silently; his originally young and tender skin became even more vibrant. This was a qualitative change.

His original Peak strength was equivalent to the Qi Gathering Ninth Layer. One more step and it would be Mortal Transformation.

But that one step was like an insurmountable chasm, impossible to cross.

Perhaps this was the gap between the human body's martial True Qi and the essence qi of heaven and earth.

"The Biyang First Rising Art gathers the essence of the first rising great sun, absorbing it into oneself. The Cultivator is like the first rising eastern dawn, their Dao attainment gradually overflowing as the great sun ascends."

Shen Moyan pondered for a moment; cultivation was not something to be rushed.

"Why is there a great sun in this plane?" This doubt arose in his heart.

A plane is not a planet; the sky is high and the earth vast. So why would something like a sun appear?

It seemed like specially crafted underlying logic. This conflicted somewhat with Shen Moyan's previous understanding.

"Also, clearly it's a different plane, so why does Spiritual Qi exist here as well?"

In the Da Qi Kingdom, this Wuxia plane, thin Spiritual Qi existed in the air. This was also the reason Martial Forest masters could Cultivate True Qi.

"No matter. Once my cultivation bears fruit, and I re-enter the Great World of Mountains and Seas, everything will become clear."

...Three years later, on Ziyang Mountain, the great sun slowly rose.

Eighty-one strands of solar essence qi were entrenched in Shen Moyan's Niwan Palace, emitting dull rumbling sounds.

[True Name: Shen Moyan]

[Race: Human Race]

[Realm: Qi Gathering Ninth Layer (Twisted Immortal Path)]

[Current Remaining Lifespan: 250]

"Hah—, that's enough."

Shen Moyan expanded his Divine Sense, enveloping the entire Ziyang Mountain.

When the holy spirit mysteriously illuminates, yet there is no consciousness of scheming, it is because the heart is severed from things, leaving only the spirit.

Divine Sense is the manifestation of Mental Energy, derived from the Divine Soul, and strengthens as the Realm elevates.

"Divine Sense sinks into sensitivity, the wind's bearing is smooth and unimpeded."

Shen Moyan closed his eyes. At this moment, every blade of grass and tree on Ziyang Mountain, even the subtle movements of earthworms churning the soil, were all clear to him.

Furthermore, he had converted all his martial True Qi into solar essence qi. Only this way was there a possibility of proceeding to the next step of Mortal Transformation.

The Biyang Spiritual Vein had already been opened. From now on, after Shen Moyan absorbed Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi, it would automatically transform the Spiritual Qi towards solar essence qi, converting it into the unique Biyang spiritual power.

Shen Moyan had a strange feeling; he always felt the Spiritual Vein he opened was like a filter.

Constructed from the primordial solar essence qi, specifically filtering impure qi like Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi, leaving only what was needed for his own cultivation.

"And my current lifespan, although not as exaggerated as the human essence ginseng form, is truly long."

The 'Biyang First Rising Art' mentioned that the lifespan of New Method Cultivators far exceeded that of the old immortal dao, even comparable to the lifespan of Mountain and Sea Yao Beasts.

Cultivators in the Qi Gathering Realm have a minimum lifespan of two hundred years, but not exceeding three hundred.

Mortal Transformation Realm Cultivators, comparable to the Foundation Establishment Realm of the old immortal dao, could enjoy six hundred springs and autumns. If they consumed the lifespan fruit, they could extend their life to eight hundred.

"This world has constraints. If one wants to completely undergo Mortal Transformation, resources are still needed."

[Plane Martial Emperor: When you are in a minor plane, the constraints imposed on you by the plane's Heavenly Dao are greatly reduced, making it difficult to use local Laws to restrict your cognition and strength]

[And you can forcibly remain in a lower-level plane with strength that surpasses the plane's constraints]

"This achievement of mine cannot provide assistance in cultivation resources."

"It can only help me, when I restart in the future, retain my Realm without being rejected by heaven and earth, and allow me to stay in such lower-level planes."

Shen Moyan let his thoughts wander, thinking about the situations he might face in the future, and couldn't help but sneer.

The ways of the world are unpredictable. The world and plane he originally desperately wanted to leave would later become a safe harbor to preserve his life.

"Hah, the sufferings of the world are nothing but autumn wind and fallen leaves; looking back, they all return to dust and mud."

Shen Moyan was completely unfazed. He could restart, his cultivation growing higher and higher; any suffering was merely a passing cloud.

His Dao Heart greatly settled, Shen Moyan stood up and descended the mountain.

"Alright, in this plane, cultivation has reached its limit. Time for Ascension."

One week later, Blackwood Cliff.

"Where did this little brat come from?"

"Noisy."

Shen Moyan slapped Ren Wuchang to death with one palm and took the heavenly demon sword from his hand.

"heavenly demon sword. I wonder which plane this Otherworldly Artifact leads to."

Shen Moyan utilized the demonic sect's Ascension ceremony, holding the heavenly demon sword in his hand.

Then, Biyang spiritual power erupted, directly Shattering the Void!

Crossing the plane, in the obscure void, he heard that clear yet grief-stricken male voice again:

[The demonic dao prevails]! [The Twisted Immortal Path is dead]! [cultivation has perished]!

Sweeping away the feeling of sorrow in his heart, Shen Moyan focused his attention on the new world he was descending into.

He thought he would repeat the mistake of falling from the sky after Shattering the Void in his previous life, but the expected sensation of spatial tearing did not come. Instead, it was replaced by the soft sensation of his feet stepping on rotten leaves, and the fragrance of vegetation lingering at his nostrils, carrying the damp smell of earth.

Unlike his previous life's cliff fall, Shen Moyan had shattered the void and now found himself in a mountainous forest.

"Is this the world guided by the heavenly demon sword?"

Ancient towering trees blocked out the sky and sun all around. Sunlight filtered through layers of leaves and branches, casting dappled spots of light on the ground.

Vines as thick as bowls coiled around the tree trunks. Crystal dewdrops hung from dangling aerial roots. In the distance came the cries of unknown birds and beasts, piercingly clear through the forest's tranquility.

"There is Spiritual Qi in this air, extremely dense. cultivation is possible here." Shen Moyan was pleasantly surprised. He had never had such a vibrant and stable start.

"Let's try the newly learned flying Spell."

Shen Moyan performed the Sky-soaring Spell from the 'Biyang First Rising Art,' his feet leaving the ground as he soared into the air.

Biyang ascends to the sky.

A great sun phantom rose behind Shen Moyan, empowering him.

Doing this consumed his own Biyang spiritual power. But this world's Spiritual Qi was abundant; just absorbing through breathing could offset the consumption.

"Jade Pupil Technique."

Shen Moyan gathered the Yang Qi within his body into his eyes. A trace of cyan light flashed in his pupils, taking in all the details within a ten-mile radius.

"There really are people."

Ahead was a stretch of connected city walls. Tall blue-brick walls were built against the mountain. On the battlements fluttered apricot-yellow banners embroidered with the character for 'east.'

Below the city flowed a long, great river, encircling the entire city.

Under the city gate, on the great river bridge, a stream of people flowed. Vendors carrying shoulder poles hawked as they passed. Young Masters clad in silk rode tall horses. Women with cloth headscarves held children's hands, pausing before a roadside sugar-figure stall.

Inside the city walls, houses stood row upon row. Lanterns hanging between upturned eaves swayed in the wind. Looking from afar, it appeared even more prosperous than the largest Jianghu city he had ever seen.

On the plaque above the city gate, three powerful, vigorous characters came into view.

Dongshan City.