"The younger generation is truly formidable."
The ethereal image of an old man, dressed in an old-fashioned suit from the last century, slowly materialized beside Zhou Sheng, then solidified, becoming as real as a living person.
That he could solidify a spiritual body to be indistinguishable from a normal human body showed just how advanced his methods were.
The founder of Great Luo Insight, the Quansheng mystic, Gu Jiting!
"Destiny is fickle. Mystics in this world can generally only help people avoid misfortune and seek good fortune. The truly powerful ones can change fate with a single word, but even that is merely guiding the flow of events, not truly changing destiny itself, but rather changing luck.
Zhuge Liang was able to change the fate of the Han Dynasty, extending a dying dynasty by several decades, a feat that has been celebrated for a thousand years. But I never imagined that someone in this world could truly defy fate and change destiny, and even follow the grand trend, using their own life to further advance the burgeoning national destiny.
Professor Zhuo, can you tell me how you changed destiny?"
Gu Jiting looked at Qingshui, his eyes full of admiration.
"If you can help me kill this woman here, then I'll tell you."
Qingshui pointed at Qu Tong and said to Gu Jiting.
Old Gu looked at Qingshui, then glanced at the calm Qu Tong, and shook his head.
"It seems even you don't fully understand it. It's a pity, Old Gu here can't directly interfere with reality physically. I'll just have to bother you from now on, Professor Zhuo. I'll try my best not to drive you insane like I did Hu Haiwang, after all, you've done a great service to the world. Harming you would be harming the national destiny, and I can't bear that backlash."
"Alright, enough with the endless chatter. If you're going to fight, start already. Once it's over, I can take this brat back and teach him a lesson."
Lu Ci grew impatient, taking a step forward. He first glared at Lu Liang among the Quansheng crowd, then stared at Qu Tong with a wary gaze.
The latter ignored Lu Ci's gaze, simply shifting her eyes among the inheritors of the Eight Unique Skills, then smiled charmingly:
"Why rush to fight, Old Heavenly Master? With your abilities, don't you want to break the Heavenly Master's Degree's restrictions on you? Didn't everyone come here for the chance at immortality left by True Man Ziyang?
If we haven't even seen this opportunity yet, what's the point of fighting?"
"Speak clearly, and quickly. If you dare utter one more word of nonsense, I will kill you first!"
Zhang Zhiwei flicked his sleeve, and faint streaks of lightning appeared in his eyes.
"It's simple. This treasure land, which conformed to the principles of man and heaven, was destroyed by Wugensheng. But if we can use the Eight Unique Skills to mimic the human body and re-establish the Qi flow and terrain here, and then gather the spirits of the mountains and rivers, allowing this place to circulate Qi like a human body, then the convergence of heaven and earth Qi might re-create the opportunity for seeking the Dao that we experienced when we comprehended the Eight Unique Skills."
Zhou Sheng said calmly.
"In that case, let's get to business first. Everyone, keep an eye on your own people. Don't mess things up now, or if a few top experts all attack, even a true immortal would have a hard time."
Qingshui swept his gaze across everyone present, warning them.
"Rest assured, gentlemen, no one has the guts for that."
Qu Tong replied.
"Then how about I take charge of the coordination? This demoness has too many tricks, and I don't trust her."
Zhou Sheng said, hands behind his back.
"Alright, but you'd best not play any tricks either. I can't guarantee the safety of everyone here, but I'm confident I can take out one or two of you before you wipe out our people. Don't think having some tricks up your sleeve will save you. While the Eight Unique Skills are powerful, the Celestial Master's Mansion's heritage is not to be underestimated!"
The Old Heavenly Master also stood with his hands behind his back, warning them.
He wasn't boasting; he genuinely had that confidence.
"We naturally know of Brother Zhiwei's prowess. In that case, let's begin. Old Seventeen, you go devour the mountain structures that are obstructing the Qi meridians. Little Ye Zi, you and I will sort out the Qi flow. Old Man Wang, you and the Feng Family boy go gather the spirits of the mountains and rivers here.
And you, grandson of the Big-Eared Thief, after Little Ye Zi and I have sorted out the Qi flow, you'll be responsible for purifying the Qi guided here. Old Gu, when you're observing the Qi meridian nodes, guide this kid. The one who knows Divine Mechanism Hundred Refinements, stay here with Qu Tong and create another Body Cultivation Furnace. However, the furnace body will be this Nine-Bend Winding Cave. If you need a mystic's help, there are so many mystics here, you can ask anyone.
Lu Jin… never mind, your Tongtian Lu isn't fully utilized. Professor Zhuo, please use the Tongtian Lu to borrow the power of heaven and earth with Talismans to avoid backlash from heaven and earth, and then draw in the Qi of heaven and earth."
"Damn it, he looks down on me."
The handsome old man was choked by Zhou Sheng's words, huffing, but he didn't retort.
He knew Tongtian Lu, but with his talismanic cultivation, it was like a pearl hidden in dust. He could only rely on strong cultivation to power the talismans and then overwhelm enemies with sheer numbers.
While this method was indeed powerful, it didn't fully utilize the skill's essence.
After all, the essence of talismans is to simulate the rules of heaven and earth, and to use the power of heaven and earth for one's own purposes.
If used well, it would feel like the whole world was working with you, allowing you to fight by borrowing from your surroundings, and even subtly giving off a sense of modifying luck through causality.
Of course, doing so also came with a significant cost.
Qingshui had only recently figured out this usage through the data on Sage Art from Ryūchi Cave, which also involved borrowing environmental power, through their inorganic reincarnation.
The group quickly dispersed again, following Zhou Sheng's instructions to transform the Twenty-Four Solar Terms Valley.
Being within it, everyone could clearly feel that the surrounding environment had undergone significant changes.
Once the valley's ley lines and Qi flow were smoothly regulated, everyone could see streams of pure white heaven and earth Qi converging into the Nine-Bend Winding Cave.
Zhang Chulan sat cross-legged at the cave entrance, his eyes closed. A blue light emanated from his body. With the help of the nascent soul within him, he used Qi Body Origin to decompose and filter the heaven and earth Qi drawn from outside, then guided it into the cave.
Inside the cave.
Under everyone's watchful eyes, Ma Xianhong, guided by Tong Hui, the new head of the School of Techniques, used Divine Mechanism Hundred Refinements to refine and transform the stone walls of the Nine-Bend Winding Cave.
Because this place already conformed to the human body, Qu Tong didn't need to create another fleshy mass. Instead, she used Dual Hand to reshape and combine the spirits of the mountains and rivers gathered by Feng Zhenghao and Wang Ai.
Beside Qu Tong, the Old Heavenly Master and Lu Ci protected Lu Ping, examining the spiritual body formed by Dual Hand to ensure Qu Tong hadn't left any hidden traps.
Lu Ping was the Lu Family's most skilled practitioner of Soul-Illumination Technique, essentially giving her half of Dual Hand, though her mastery wasn't as high as Qu Tong's.
If Qu Tong had already tampered with things, and then let someone else inspect it, they might not find anything. But if someone watched Qu Tong doing it, they could still spot any tricks.
Finally, when this artificial Spirit of Heaven and Earth was thrown into the Nine-Bend Winding Cave, which had been transformed into a Body Cultivation Furnace, the vast Twenty-Four Solar Terms Valley seemed to come alive, breathing in and out the Qi of Heaven and Earth.
Standing within it, people also seemed to be affected, becoming much more energized.
In the center of the Nine-Bend Winding Cave, the Spirit of Heaven and Earth reappeared, forming a speck of light that absorbed and exhaled the pure Qi of Heaven and Earth.
That was...
Qingshui looked at the speck of light, and his heart stirred.
If I could get this thing, would I be able to embody the perspective of the Spirit of Heaven and Earth, and directly comprehend the process of cultivating all things in heaven and earth?
No matter how much humans cultivated, they would be limited by their physical bodies and their own intelligence.
This was what it meant to be human.
But everything in heaven and earth was the greatest; it contained all matter and knowledge in the world, unchanging through the ages.
This was the sincerity of heaven.
When a part of heaven and earth began to cultivate like humans, then humans could use their own perspective, borrowing the perspective of heaven and earth, to comprehend and learn this knowledge.
This was also why the Eight Unique Skills comprehended by Zhou Sheng, Ruan Feng, and others back then were all closely related to their own abilities and aspirations.
They were learning from the natural world, and this natural world taught them what they could understand.
If someone like Zhang Zhiwei were to obtain it, perhaps the Old Heavenly Master could unlock the restrictions on himself without harming himself or the Heavenly Master's Degree inheritance, and at the same time comprehend what was most suitable for him, allowing him to advance further.
With an entire world unreservedly showing you everything about itself, then someone as exceptionally talented as True Man Ziyang might truly be able to cultivate himself into a small world.
Reaching that realm was probably the "immortality" that all Anomalous Humans sought.
So-called longevity was merely an accessory to the "immortal" realm; they could already generate their own natural energy and synthesize Innate Qi.
Even if such a small world was relatively rudimentary, not as complete as a full world, they could still be considered immortal and omnipotent.
If it could truly develop into a normal world, it might even become like the creation gods in myths and legends.
This was a greater opportunity than heaven itself!
"Attack!"
A few seconds after the speck of light formed, someone shouted.
In an instant, as if lightning struck the earth, the 134 Anomalous Humans present simultaneously began to move.
Lu Ci charged towards Qu Tong, assisted by Wang Ai's colorful Qi ink on his body.
Corpse Demon Tu Junfang wanted to help, because his three corpses happened to restrain the two old men, Wang and Lu, but he was stopped by Zhang Chulan, Feng Baobao, and Ma Xianhong.
Among the three, Feng Baobao had a pure heart, completely restraining Tu Junfang. Zhang Chulan's Qi Body Origin feared no technique based on Qi. Ma Xianhong could use a large number of Magic Tools to protect himself, maintain distance, and provide support and output.
When his three corpses couldn't be fully utilized, Tu Junfang, though fundamentally capable, was only on the level of Chai Yan.
Na Ruhuo was confronted by Wang Guoping.
Wang Guoping was a formidable individual controlled by Qu Tong. After landing on Nason Island, he tricked Ruan Feng into teaching him the cultivation method for Six Storage Immortal Thief.
Feng Baobao couldn't defeat those old monsters, but in the Anomalous Human World, she wasn't someone ordinary experts could easily challenge. However, when she encountered Baron Grylls, who also mastered Six Storage Immortal Thief, she was beaten and fled in embarrassment like a cockroach.
And the sixty-year-old Baron, in the Anomalous Human World, couldn't be defeated by anyone except those old monsters. But when the Baron met Wang Guoping, he was crushed.
This guy was Qu Tong's trump card. Besides the old masters, only Na Ruhuo, one of the Two Heroes, had a chance against him.
Ding Daoan didn't get entangled with Na Ruhuo because the two often fought each other, always ending in a draw. They knew each other's techniques too well, almost to the point of nausea.
So, Ding Daoan single-handedly took on Feng Zhenghao and Tong Hui, the new head of the School of Techniques, both of whom were among the Ten Elders.
Xiao Zizai, Wang Zhenqiu, Old Meng, and other Temporary Workers, along with experts from various sects and the army and national security, all charged towards Jiang Liu, Liao Tietou, Yuan Tao, Handan'er, and others.
Quansheng accepted anyone and everyone. Anyone could be Quansheng, as long as they declared themselves to be. However, those who survived being Quansheng and thrived were undoubtedly powerful.
Seventy years ago, the Sanyi Sect, a major righteous sect, fought until almost all its members were gone, leaving only Lu Jin as a sole survivor.
Today, seventy years later, the people brought by Qu Tong were all experts from Quansheng, especially those with group abilities like the Four Madmen. Although Xia He wasn't present, the abilities of Shen Chong, Gao Ning, and Dou Mei could still cause considerable trouble.
For a time, both sides fought to a standstill.
As for the biggest commotion, it was the battlefield between several top-tier experts.
"Brother Zhou Sheng, you're quite capable. Even I find you a bit troublesome."
The Old Heavenly Master spoke politely, but in reality, he was beating Zhou Sheng mercilessly.
Whether it was Earth Chariot, Obscuring Wood Incense, or other Qimen Dunjia Arts, they were all annihilated under the Old Heavenly Master's terrifying lightning.
If Zhou Sheng hadn't mastered Chaotic Golden Cage, a divine skill that could affect time, and been able to freely change and evade attacks, he might not even have been able to barely protect himself under the Old Heavenly Master's hands.
While Zhou Sheng was taking a beating, on the other side, it was Old Man Lu Jin who was getting hit.
As a top-tier expert who had only recently broken through, Old Man Lu was probably the weakest among the top-tier experts present.
Six Storage Immortal Thief, Divine Spirit, and Qi Body Origin were somewhat similar in that they all possessed incredibly powerful decomposition abilities. However, Divine Spirit and Qi Body Origin could decompose techniques into Qi, while Six Storage Immortal Thief decomposed matter into Qi and used it to replenish oneself.
But no matter which kind, they all had a restraining effect on techniques like Reverse Life Triple, which involved full-body Qi transformation.
Lu Jin's cultivation of life was very high, but in terms of sheer power, he was still a step behind someone like Ruan Feng, who improved himself by devouring heaven and earth. Their fight at this moment had a feeling reminiscent of Zuo Ruotong's great battle against Wugensheng back then.
However, although the current Lu Jin was no weaker than Zuo Ruotong at that time, Ruan Feng's strength was not comparable to the Wugensheng of that era, who was only in his forties and lacked sufficient accumulation.
Fortunately, Lu Jin could quickly recover his health. Although Zhou Sheng commented that Tongtian Lu wasn't fully utilized, its fundamental skills were solid. Over decades, he had collected many types of Talismans, which were very comprehensive in their functions. Under a barrage of powerful, simple attacks, he could hold his own. Additionally, the Old Heavenly Master would occasionally spare some energy to send a lightning strike to assist, so the two fought to a draw for a time.
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