For the hundred or so Anomalous Human World experts, these golden monkeys, even if they had some strength, posed no threat.
However, to ensure the operation was foolproof and minimize Qi depletion before entering the valley, the troops specially arranged for a company to escort them.
Even though many electronic devices here would be affected by magnetic interference due to the Qi field, as long as basic chemical and physical laws remained unchanged, even if the weapons and equipment regressed to the level of mechanized troops from the last century, a well-trained, coordinated small-to-medium-sized force was enough to deliver them unharmed to the entrance of the Twenty-Four Solar Terms Valley.
Fortunately, the monkeys seemed to recognize Zhang Chulan, Feng Baobao, and the others, and did not bother them. Instead, they let them pass all the way to the valley entrance.
"Is this place naturally formed, or artificially created?"
"It should be naturally formed. According to the School of Techniques' ancestors, this is a convergence point of heaven and earth's Qi, forming an independent Qi field along the mountains, rivers, Dragon Vein, and terrain, just as the human body is also a miniature, intricate Qi field."
"Bilian said the main thoroughfare of this Twenty-Four Solar Terms Valley corresponds to the human head and spine. Could it be that it perfectly aligns with our Qi circulation path when cultivating?"
"I think that's very likely. If this Qi field can truly correspond to the human body's Qi field, wouldn't that mean heaven and earth are also cultivating like humans? If we cultivators can achieve all sorts of miraculous abilities, what kind of power would heaven and earth possess through cultivation?"
"No wonder they say True Man Ziyang found his chance for immortality here. No wonder they were able to comprehend the Eight Unique Skills here!"
...
Deep within the lush green mountains, a group of people looked up at the towering canyon before them, which seemed completely out of place with its surroundings. They chattered amongst themselves, discussing animatedly.
Qingshui's Shadow Clone turned to look at Wang Ye.
The latter nodded slightly at Qingshui.
"Teacher Zhuo, the Qi field here can indeed correspond to the human body's Qi field, but it's much grander. As for the specifics, we'll have to go inside and see."
Though Qingshui had achieved some mastery in Qimen Dunjia under the guidance of Wang Ye and Zeng Jiucheng, he ultimately hadn't fully grasped it due to the inherent dangers of Wind-Rear Strange Gate.
At a time like this, trying to determine the central palace and analyze the patterns would certainly not be as convenient as using Wind-Rear Strange Gate.
"Commander, according to our mission, we can only escort you this far. We will not proceed further. Instead, we will set up camp here and construct defensive fortifications to prevent enemies from escaping from within."
A young major, probably in his early thirties, jogged up to Qingshui, saluted, and reported.
"Thank you for your efforts."
Qingshui returned the salute to the reinforced company commander, who was a deputy battalion officer, then gestured for the Anomalous Humans to enter the valley.
Beyond this point, the ordinary soldiers who couldn't cultivate Qi were not allowed to follow.
The Twenty-Four Solar Terms Valley, originally designed by True Man Ziyang, used lines combined with the Qi field there to allow ordinary people to learn how to gather Qi. With its Qi dispersing function, it enabled ordinary people to complete a full Qi circulation cycle and become Anomalous Humans.
However, after being modified by Wugensheng, ordinary people who entered it would die from bleeding from all seven orifices due to a violent surge of Qi within their bodies.
Only Anomalous Humans who could already circulate Qi within their bodies and complete the full cycle could adapt to the changes within.
Qingshui found it difficult to comment on Wugensheng's actions.
From Wugensheng's perspective, he might have believed he was right, but from Qingshui's perspective, he wished he could slap the self-righteous Wugensheng twice.
This guy didn't just add a little something to the lines on the Twenty-Four Solar Terms Valley's mountain walls.
True Man Ziyang hid this place, painstakingly painted lines on the rock walls on both sides, set up trials in the Nine Bends Winding Cave, and left his legacy and opportunities within the valley.
All of this was to select those capable of understanding this Qi field, those who could prove their true nature through the trials, and those who demonstrated the ability to become immortal, so they could receive the opportunity for immortality and pass on True Man Ziyang's final legacy before his ascension, leaving such a treasure for future generations.
But Wugensheng, looking for a place to hide things, somehow stumbled upon this place. Relying on Divine Spirit's ability to dismantle all Qi-related techniques and Qi fields, he forced his way in.
Only to find out, oh-ho, it was such a grand opportunity. Yet, he didn't comprehend anything from it himself.
Several sworn brothers comprehended the Eight Unique Skills from it, thoroughly consuming this greatest opportunity. Then, self-righteously, they criticized True Man Ziyang for "liking to be a teacher," erased the texts within the Nine Bends Winding Cave, added new lines to the frescoes, and destroyed the Qi-dispersing sections, making it impossible for ordinary people to become Anomalous Humans.
Perhaps Wugensheng realized his mistake, realizing that this Twenty-Four Solar Terms Valley shouldn't have been opened by him, a "bug abuser," which could allow other ordinary people, or even those with ill intentions, to gain power and cause trouble through the Twenty-Four Solar Terms Valley. So, he completely turned this treasure into a useless place, only good for him to hide things, or even a death trap for ordinary people.
And then what? He just packed up and left, not showing up again for sixty or seventy years.
What kind of behavior is that?
In Qingshui's eyes, Wugensheng indeed possessed talent and intellect far beyond ordinary Anomalous Humans, and he did some good deeds. During the invasion war, he also led the scoundrels of Quansheng to do the right thing.
However, whether it was causing chaos with Li Muxuan at the Sanyi Sect, facilitating the Thirty-Six Thieves' sworn brotherhood, or destroying the various opportunities within the Twenty-Four Solar Terms Valley, none of these actions he undertook could be considered good.
Zuo Ruotong, with the help of Divine Spirit, comprehended the Dao in the morning but died inwardly, and the person followed. Among the Thirty-Six Thieves, Zhang Huaiyi, Ma Ben Zai, Zheng Zibu, and others from prominent orthodox sects, because they swore brotherhood with Wugensheng and comprehended the Eight Unique Skills, these geniuses who originally had great futures either died tragically or lived the rest of their lives in anonymity, only to die tragically later. Countless people died in this process.
This act caused far more damage to the major sects of the Anomalous Human World than all the damage Quansheng had caused over the years.
No wonder he could maintain his position as the official head of Quansheng for hundreds of years, a position no one else could hold in the world.
Wugensheng bringing Li Muxuan to the Sanyi Sect triggered a tragic incident that led to the sect's destruction, which was the leading orthodox power at the time. He shouldn't have gone to the Sanyi Sect just to resolve Li Muxuan's personal issues, nor should he have used Divine Spirit to "exploit a bug" to find and enter the Twenty-Four Solar Terms Valley, thereby bypassing the trials left by True Man Ziyang.
The resulting Jiashen Rebellion was a tragedy even greater than, if not equal to, the destruction of the Sanyi Sect.
...
The path through the Twenty-Four Solar Terms Valley was long. Qingshui, positioned in the center of the group, simultaneously recorded the surrounding lines with the equipment on his armor and perceived his surroundings with the Transparent World. He also released a small amount of synthetic Golden Branch Sacred Tree Volatile Extract inside his armor.
Because of the armor's filtration, these volatile substances would not escape outside the armor.
Zhang Chulan, Feng Baobao, and Wang Zhenqiu, protected by the Old Heavenly Master, led the way at the very front.
Although theoretically the front was the most dangerous place, these leaders standing beside the Old Heavenly Master were probably the safest.
Another overt master, Lu Jin, hung back at the end of the team, guarding against any hidden attacks left by enemies and protecting the rear of the group.
This truly meant he was protecting everyone by putting himself in front.
These hundred or so individuals were all experts from the Anomalous Human World. Though they hadn't practiced together, most were experienced and none lacked combat awareness. They first grouped up with their disciples and friends, forming small squads, then determined their abilities based on the background of each small group within the team, forming a loose but mutually supportive formation that allowed each to utilize their abilities without hindrance.
Soon, everyone arrived at the end of the Twenty-Four Solar Terms Valley, which corresponded to the Baihui acupoint at the top of the human head in the valley.
But there was still no one there.
"It seems everyone is hiding below."
Zhang Zhiwei stomped his foot on the ground and glanced at the footprint in the center of the empty space.
"Life activity detected twenty-one meters below, probably forty to fifty people. It seems they've been waiting down there for a long time."
Qingshui looked at the detection results displayed on his Platinum Armor and said.
His Transparent World had already sensed the people below.
Although his perception range was suppressed in this special Qi setup, it was still formidable compared to others.
Zhang Zhiwei stepped past Zhang Chulan and walked forward.
"Little Wang had already explained that the trials left by True Man Ziyang, after Wugensheng's malicious interference, were reduced to two, or strictly speaking, one. First, standing in this position, upright and firm, understanding what it means to be human. The other is understanding what sincerity is. People are not necessarily honest, but the most honest thing is heaven, the Dao of Heaven. The way of heaven is constant; it does not perish for Jie nor exist for Yao.
The Dao of Heaven does not negotiate with people, there is no room for maneuver. Since humans stand upright and firm, they must follow heaven and earth, follow nature, and maintain reverence for heaven and earth.
Only after understanding these two points will one use the power gained cautiously, not act recklessly. And after understanding these two points, one will naturally know that to stand on that footprint, with the crown of the head touching the heavenly spirit Baihui and the soles of the feet touching the Yongquan point in the earth, and to circulate Qi in the most basic way, expelling Qi from these three acupoints, one can..."
A pair of feet, wearing pink trendy sneakers, stepped onto that footprint.
A few seconds later, the ground opened up like a tai chi diagram, rotating to both sides, revealing a deep, spiral staircase leading underground.
"Let's go."
The Old Heavenly Master said, not intending to take the normal path. Instead, he activated the Golden Light Mantra, his body shrouded in heart-stopping golden light. He descended straight down like a small golden sun, plummeting underground.
This wasn't beating the bush; it was explicitly telling the people behind him not to worry about enemy ambushes. This old man will handle all the ambushes alone. You just follow me down!
"As expected of the Old Heavenly Master, terrifyingly strong!"
Na Ruhuo chuckled and was the second to jump down.
Following closely, these Anomalous Human experts, one after another, like dumplings dropping into a pot, leaped down.
When Qingshui also went down, he found that the two sides hadn't started fighting; they were in a standoff.
It wasn't that no one made a move, but that the Old Heavenly Master was too fierce. To prevent those coming down from being disturbed, he directly transformed his golden light into a Qi wall, isolating the two sides.
Perhaps to expand its range, this Qi wall looked very thin, but it truly wasn't something ordinary experts could shake in the slightest.
"Amazing, this is the Old Heavenly Master who has dominated for sixty years, the pinnacle of pinnacles. Last time you came down the mountain, over half of our Quansheng experts fell at your hands. Fortunately, this time, we found someone who can deal with you."
Yuan Tao, wearing a military overcoat and holding a Nine Dragon Son, stood in front of Han Dan'er, smiling as he looked at the three figures further ahead.
One was Qu Tong; to her left was a stout, plump man, and even further left was a thin, old Daoist.
The founder of Six Storage Immortal Thief, Ruan Feng.
The founder of Wind-Rear Strange Gate, Zhou Sheng.
"Brother Zhou Sheng, Ruan Feng is clearly controlled by that woman. Why are you also stirring up trouble with this woman who has caused so much chaos? Looking at you, it doesn't seem like she has you under her spell."
Zhang Zhiwei stood with his hands behind his back, looking at the thin, old Daoist.
Among the Thirty-Six Thieves, Zhang Huaiyi was second in age, and Zhou Sheng was third.
Since Zhang Zhiwei was older than Zhang Huaiyi, he naturally could call Zhou Sheng "Brother."
Zhou Sheng stood with one hand behind his back, sighing at Zhang Zhiwei:
"Brother Zhiwei, there's nothing I can do. I need to save Old Seventeen. And... I want to see that thing one more time. Although the Eight Unique Skills are techniques of immortals, they couldn't grant us old men immortal life. Old Seventeen did gain it, but ended up looking like this. I haven't lived enough, so I have no choice but to go through this."
"Tsk, Master, aren't you making things difficult for me?"
Wang Ye, who had jumped down with Qingshui, cried out, covering his forehead.
"Little Ye, I'm here, so there's nothing for you to do. Do you think I don't know what methods and abilities you have? You being here doesn't add much, and you leaving doesn't take away much. Scram."
Zhou Sheng waved his hand at Wang Ye, signaling him to get lost.
Wang Ye didn't say anything, but he also didn't leave.
Zhang Zhiwei also didn't say anything, just looked at the empty space beside Zhou Sheng.
"Zhou Sheng senior thinks this way, but what about you, Senior Gu?"
Qingshui also turned his head, looking at that spot.
He couldn't see Gu Jiting, but with his spiritual power, he could roughly sense that someone was in that position.
That spiritual fluctuation was extremely powerful.
Just the Transparent World might not be able to perceive it so well, but he had a spiritual aura and could feel an extremely powerful thought in that empty space.
With such positioning, finding Old Gu was not impossible for Qingshui.
Feng Zhenghao, Wang Ai, and Lu Jin also frowned, looking at that position.
The Old Heavenly Master and Qingshui could sense it precisely, and the three of them—one peak expert and two practitioners of Spirit Control and Summoning—could also vaguely sense it after being alerted.
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