191: Chapter 191 Shen Qing, a disciple of Elder Zhao Zhengyang of Xuan Guang Peak

The Wangchuan Formula is a second-rank Low Grade Spell; its core techniques lie in positioning and replacement.

Positioning tests the caster's ability to reconstruct the target's memory. Before casting, one must even communicate in detail with the target to map out the complete sequence of that memory.

Time, location, the people involved, and even the extreme emotional fluctuations at the time—the more detailed the analysis, the more precise the 'surgical' cut.

Replacement requires the caster to fabricate a segment of replacement memory out of thin air that fits perfectly, forcibly filling the blank space in the target's Sea of Consciousness.

Soul-type Spells have always been known for being difficult and obscure. Although this was Su Cheng's first time attempting this path, he felt a bit of awkwardness and a lack of leverage at the start.

However, when he hit a Bottleneck while deducing the sense of replacement and detachment in the Wangchuan Formula, he went to the mountaintop to consult his Revered Master, Elder Qingmu, on the key points of Divine Soul micromanagement.

With his Revered Master's guidance, Su Cheng felt as if he had been enlightened. Coupled with his solid Divine Sense foundation, his speed in reaching the entry level was terrifying.

In just five days, he reached the entry level of the Wangchuan Formula. He then spent another five days and nights refining it, simulating the complete 'positioning-excision-replacement' process hundreds of times within his own Sea of Consciousness.

By the tenth day, he was already able to effortlessly knead a fabricated memory into a sphere of light and embed it seamlessly into a preset Sea of Consciousness.

The Spirit Gathering Technique took the shortest time, crossing the threshold in just three days.

The logic of this Spell was simple and crude: it forcibly extracts Divine Sense scattered throughout the Sea of Consciousness and gathers it into a single point, squeezing out a Divine Soul intensity far exceeding the normal limit in a very short time.

The price was also extremely high. During the casting, one's perception of the outside environment would drop to rock bottom; simply put, it was abandoning defense for a powerful attack.

This method was perfectly suited for refining high-rank Medicinal Pills in an absolutely safe quiet room. Using it in actual combat would be pure suicide unless it could achieve a one-hit kill.

As for the Divine Sense Barrier, it wore him down for a full seven days, its difficulty being a major step up from the previous two Spells.

How could a Sea of Consciousness barrier be faked by just slapping together a simple shield? You had to build an invisible wall with an absolutely stable structure within the mental sea that could withstand the violent tearing of external Divine Sense while ensuring your own Divine Sense could pass in and out without hindrance.

When Su Cheng first tried it, he nearly gave himself internal injuries from the strain.

The barrier he built was too heavy, which caused the flow of Qi within his body to become quite chaotic, nearly leading to Qi Deviation.

Later, by applying some of the principles of Divine Soul guidance his Revered Master had previously taught, he made repeated fine adjustments and finally found the perfect critical point: it could perfectly deflect the mental probes of Cultivators of the same rank without hindering his daily Cultivate and breathing exercises at all.

Even though Divine Soul Spells were difficult to Cultivate, Su Cheng only took twenty days in total to reach the entry level for all three second-rank Spells.

What kind of strength would this speed represent within the Danding Sect? It was hard to measure.

After all, these Alchemy madmen wanted nothing more than to throw all their time into their Pill Furnaces, mostly improving Alchemy techniques and Divine Soul cultivation; not many were willing to spend energy on these Spells.

But if he were taken out into the vast Immortal Realm, a Cultivator who had just entered Foundation Establishment and could Revered Master three second-rank Divine Soul Spells in a mere twenty days would definitely be worthy of being called a Genius.

However, Su Cheng had no time for self-congratulation; there was a distance of a hundred thousand miles between entry level and mastery.

The Wangchuan Formula was to be used on his father, so there could be no room for error; he had to continue refining it.

The reaction speeds of the Spirit Gathering Technique and Divine Sense Barrier in simulated combat were also far from enough.

But at least, he now had three more cards in his hand.

After his Spell training came to a temporary halt, Su Cheng did something unprecedented and left his Immortal Cave, intending to walk around the Sect.

For no other reason than his brain feeling a bit numb after working non-stop for twenty days; he needed a change of environment to catch his breath.

Halfway up Qingmu Peak was the spirit field area. In the afternoon, three or five Utility Disciples were working in the fields; seeing Su Cheng come down, they all bowed and greeted him.

These Utility Disciples first dealt with Su Cheng because of the ice soul flower, and later received his guidance from time to time, so they had a very good impression of this Personal Disciple.

Su Cheng waved for them to go about their business and then walked down the mountain path.

In the distance, the grey sharp peak of Qianren Peak peeked out from behind the clouds.

Su Cheng left Qingmu Peak on his flying sword and flew in a random direction in the air.

The various mountain peaks were separated by misty canyons, and travel between them normally relied on flying tools.

Going from Qingmu Peak to the Dharma Transmission Pavilion required crossing several peaks, and getting to Contribution Peak required a bit of a detour.

A few scattered streaks of spiritual light flashed through the clouds—Disciples traveling between the peaks.

Su Cheng had no clear destination; he just wanted to get some air. He drifted with the wind for a while and finally landed on a side peak plaza he didn't often visit.

The plaza was paved with bluestone, with a few spirit pines planted at the edges; it was a place for Disciples from various peaks to rest or wait for others.

However, the best viewing spot had already been taken.

A young Cultivator stood at the edge of the plaza with his back to Su Cheng, hands behind his back, staring blankly at the layered sea of clouds in the distance.

He wore a Personal Disciple's robe, and a jade pendant at his waist shimmered with spiritual light, though the pattern wasn't clear from this distance.

Su Cheng walked to the other side. His footsteps alerted the other man, and the young Cultivator turned his head.

He saw the newcomer wearing the standard Personal Disciple's robes, with a lean build and a proper face, his eyes carrying a calmness that didn't quite match his age.

But his cultivation... Early Foundation Establishment Stage.

He naturally recognized the Personal Disciple's robes, but this face was somewhat unfamiliar; he couldn't immediately recall which Elder's Disciple he was.

Neither of them knew the other.

The Danding Sect had thousands of Disciples scattered across various peaks and lineages. Aside from the fellow Disciples they had met once during selection and their own peak-mates, most people had no interaction with each other.

Encountering a strange face within the Sect's territory was a perfectly common occurrence.

Su Cheng proactively took a few steps forward and cupped his hands. "Greetings, Senior Brother. I'm just passing through for a rest."

Since the other person was also a Personal Disciple, calling him Senior Brother wouldn't be wrong.

In the cultivation world, when you aren't sure of someone's seniority, addressing them as a senior is basic social etiquette.

The young Cultivator nodded, his attitude polite but not forced, and returned the greeting. "As you wish, Junior Brother."

Su Cheng sat down on a stone railing by the plaza. The distant sea of clouds rolled with distinct white waves, and sunlight leaked through the gaps in the clouds, clearly illuminating the silhouettes of several mountain peaks opposite them.

The young Cultivator looked at the surging sea of clouds and casually remarked, "This autumn wind crossing the cliffs has cleared the clouds much more quickly than in previous days."

"Yes, the wind direction in the mountains has changed, so the mist can't gather." Su Cheng was closing his eyes to feel the air, and upon hearing the voice from beside him, he subconsciously followed the other's lead.

Then, the two of them engaged in a bit of small talk, all trivial chatter; neither asked for the other's specific identity.

If the other person doesn't volunteer it, there's no need for you to ask.

A faint fragrance of medicine and spiritual plants lingered around Su Cheng, and the other man likewise carried a hint of the fire-energy undertone unique to Alchemists.

No need to ask; both were of the Dao of Alchemy, so the conversation naturally drifted toward Alchemy.

"Which type of Medicinal Pills does Junior Brother usually focus on?" the young Cultivator asked casually.

"I refine a bit of everything, mainly second-rank. I refine cultivation and healing types the most," Su Cheng replied briefly, then asked in return, "And you, Senior Brother?"

"About the same, though I prefer Fusion-type pills. The greater the conflict in medicinal properties, the more interesting it is."

They went back and forth, chatting from the purification details of second-rank pills to the subtle feel of fusing herbs with different attributes, the conversation getting deeper as they spoke.

The young Cultivator's insights into the medicinal liquid Fusion stage were quite unique, and Su Cheng also shared a few small tips for pre-processing Spirit Medicines; both sides gained something.

After chatting for about the time it takes an incense stick to burn, the conversation finally turned to their respective Revered Masters.

"I am Shen Qing, under Elder Zhao Zhengyang of Xuanguang Peak," the young Cultivator proactively introduced himself.

Upon hearing this, Su Cheng's mind blanked out for a moment.