128: Cultivating immortals? This thing is more powerful than martial arts!

On a relatively flat clearing behind Star Sword Peak.

Chen Ping'an sat cross-legged, his mind in a jumble.

Just now, his second Senior Brother Li Huowang, who seemed a bit crazy and unreliable, had taught him a Cultivation Technique called "Tai Xuan Gathering Qi Technique."

But this Cultivation Technique… it just didn't seem right!

There were no Moves, no routines, not even the most basic Internal Energy circulation routes!

The entire text spoke of vague things like "Guiding Qi into the Body" and "Sensing Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi."

This… is this even a Martial Art?

This was clearly the nonsense used by those Jianghu swindlers to trick people!

"Second… Second Senior Brother." Chen Ping'an finally couldn't hold it in. He scratched his head, looking puzzled, "This… this Cultivation Technique, how is it completely different from the Martial Arts Secret Manuals I've seen before?"

"Heh heh."

Li Huowang heard him and just smiled mysteriously, revealing a mouthful of white teeth. His gaze was no different from someone looking at an unsophisticated country bumpkin.

"Secret."

He patted Chen Ping'an's shoulder, acting profound as if to say, "You'll understand later, kid."

Chen Ping'an: "..."

He was full of questions but didn't dare to ask more.

After all, the person in front of him was the "Director of Instruction" personally designated by Revered Master.

Forget it, since he was here, he would make the best of it.

A god-like figure like Revered Master surely wouldn't deceive a poor boy like him, right?

He took a deep breath, cast aside all distracting thoughts, and began to meticulously try to "sense" the so-called "Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi" as described in the "Tai Xuan Gathering Qi Technique."

Time passed, minute by minute.

Li Huowang was also diligent and responsible, not truly leaving him alone.

From time to time, he would give Chen Ping'an some pointers, although he mostly spouted platitudes like "Dao follows nature" and "Sincerity brings spirituality." But occasionally, he would incisively point out some subtle errors in Chen Ping'an's breathing and exhalation.

Chen Ping'an was indeed someone who could persevere until the end under such terrifying pressure; his Heart-Nature and willpower were far beyond ordinary people.

In less than two short days!

On the morning of the third day, when the first ray of purple Qi arrived from the east!

"Buzz—!"

Chen Ping'an's body suddenly trembled!

He could clearly feel a wisp of extremely pure, yet finer than a strand of hair, strange energy coming from between Heaven and Earth, slowly entering his Dantian!

That feeling was profound and ineffable!

"Qi Sense!"

Chen Ping'an suddenly opened his eyes. His usually resolute gaze was now filled with an unbelievable ecstasy!

He succeeded!

He had truly succeeded!

The moment he successfully guided Qi into his body and stepped into the first level of the Qi Refinement Stage!

That figure, always lazily lying on the grand armchair, had unknowingly appeared before him.

It was Lu Yuchen.

"Not bad."

A gratified smile, as if saying "this Disciple is teachable," appeared on Lu Yuchen's face.

He looked at his two newly accepted Disciples and slowly spoke, his voice calm, yet it seemed to possess a magical power that reached deep into one's Heart-Nature.

"From today onwards, you, Chen Ping'an, are no longer a mundane Martial Artist."

"What you Cultivate is also not Martial Dao."

"But rather… the supreme Immortal Dao, which surpasses it, can chase stars and seize the moon, and can live as long as Heaven and Earth!"

"From now on, you must Cultivate diligently and never be lazy."

Immortal Dao?!

Chen Ping'an and Li Huowang were both greatly shaken upon hearing this!

Although they had long speculated, the shock was still unparalleled when they heard Revered Master confirm it with their own ears!

Lu Yuchen paid no attention to their astonishment.

He simply casually pulled out a Storage Pouch from hisPregnant and tipped it onto the ground.

"Clatter—!"

A pile of Heaven And Earth Treasure and Spirit Medicine, exuding rich Spiritual Qi and shimmering with various precious lights, piled up like a small mountain before the two of them.

"Gulp."

Li Huowang and Chen Ping'an swallowed with difficulty, their eyes nearly popping out.

Any one of these treasures, if taken out, would be enough to stir up a bloody storm in the Jianghu!

Revered Master, that old man, just… dumped them all out like garbage?

"Just now, that old fellow Li Tian sent someone over."

Lu Yuchen yawned and said lazily.

"He said that in two months, it will be the Sect's once-a-decade 'Twelve Peaks Grand Competition.'"

"You two should also go join the fun."

He glanced at his two stunned Disciples, a playful arc forming at the corner of his mouth.

"Remember, if you can't get a decent ranking, don't say you're my Disciples anymore."

"Go back to your hometowns, farm if you're supposed to farm, beg if you're supposed to beg."

Leaving these words, he turned and disappeared.

Only Li Huowang and Chen Ping'an remained, looking at each other, both seeing a burning Battle Intent in the other's eyes!

Sect Grand Competition!

Especially Chen Ping'an.

This was his best chance to prove himself to the entire Lichen Sword Sect!

It was also… the only way to repay Revered Master's kindness in recognizing him!

"Let's do it!"

Li Huowang was the first to react. He grabbed a hundred-year-old blood ginseng from the ground and bit into it like a radish, "Crunch," then sat cross-legged and furiously circulated his Cultivation Technique.

Seeing this, Chen Ping'an followed suit, no longer hesitating in the slightest.

For the next two months.

The entire Star Sword Peak was completely transformed into a Holy Land for Cultivation.

The two of them were already Immortal Cultivation bodies, no longer needing ordinary sleep or food.

Cultivate during the day!

Cultivate at night!

When hungry, they would chew on some Spiritual Plant or Spirit Medicine.

When thirsty, they would drink a few drops of morning dew.

Their desperate drive was truly heartbreaking to hear and tear-inducing to witness.

Their cultivation, under this self-abusive hard Cultivation, advanced by leaps and bounds, progressing a thousand miles a day!

…

At the same time.

Inside a secluded Immortal Cave on Rain Sword Peak.

Su Qingxue, dressed in white, sat cross-legged, her body surrounded by Sword Qi, sharp and unparalleled.

"Young Miss."

A black shadow appeared without warning from the shadows behind her, its voice hoarse and devoid of emotion.

"Young Miss, how is the investigation progressing?" Su Qingxue slowly opened her eyes, a hint of curiosity flashing in her usually cold gaze.

"Reporting to Young Miss, it's untraceable."

The black shadow's voice remained as calm as a still well.

"That new Peak Lord Lu of Star Sword Peak seems to have appeared out of thin air. No matter what methods this subordinate uses, I cannot find any trace of his past."

"However…" The black shadow paused, a hint of almost imperceptible… solemnity entering its voice.

"This subordinate can feel that his strength is unfathomable. Even… stronger than this subordinate!"

What?!

Su Qingxue was greatly shaken upon hearing this!

Her Dao Protector was a genuine Martial Venerable expert!

That Peak Lord Lu was even stronger than a Martial Venerable?

Could it be… a Martial Saint?!

"Interesting."

A playful arc slowly formed at the corner of Su Qingxue's mouth.

"A mysterious expert of unknown origin, yet with unfathomable strength…"

"Lu Yuchen… who exactly are you?"

Her curiosity about this Star Sword Peak Peak Lord reached its peak at this moment.