Chapter 504: Chapter 418 Divine Skills
"Twenty thousand years of arduous cultivation, and I’ve finally stepped into the External Realm!"
Behind Chen Jichuan, four beams of Immortal Light shone brilliantly, and his heart brimmed with joy.
The path of cultivation in the Upper Immortal Realm was grueling. On Mishen Island, Chen Jichuan had spent two millennia of painstaking effort, and even then, he merely managed to become a Three-Pattern Upper Immortal through sheer persistence.
This time, seizing the opportunity of transitioning to a new Cultivation Technique, he entered a state of enlightenment. It just so happened to coincide with a century of rapid cultivation progress, during which his momentum was at its peak. Only then did he manage to push open the magical gateway and ascend to the External Realm.
This achievement was due to accumulated effort, fortuitous opportunities, and ample resources.
"It hasn’t been easy."
Chen Jichuan let out a sigh of emotion, yet his spirits were jubilant: "Not only have I achieved a breakthrough in my cultivation this time, but my ’Five Elements Escape Technique’ has also ascended from the Sixth Realm to the Seventh Realm."
This marked the third super-level technique he had mastered at the Seventh Realm.
With the combination of the ’Wind Thunder All Heavens Great Escape,’ the ’Five Elements Escape Technique,’ and his cultivation at the External Realm, Chen Jichuan now found it significantly easier to flee from the likes of Wanying Venerable and Dongning Venerable.
"But it would be even better if I could elevate these two techniques to the level of Divine Skills."
Chen Jichuan calculated silently in his mind.
He possessed numerous super-level techniques, including three that had reached the Seventh Realm. Yet, it was still far from sufficient.
"The veteran Heavenly Venerates and Immortal Venerates above the Nine Heavens have True Spirits anchored in their Immortal Sects. Though their cultivation advances are nearly stagnant, their power still far exceeds mine in this realm."
"Moreover, they continue to comprehend techniques and Divine Skills, accumulating countless millennia or even close to a million years of profound foundations."
Take Shanhua Venerable as an example.
She had lived for more than 230,000 years. Even if it took 100,000 years to cultivate a single super-level technique to the Seventh Realm, Shanhua Venerable would still have at least two Seventh-Realm super-level techniques under her command.
In comparison, she was no lesser than Chen Jichuan.
Not to mention those on the tier of Yu Ming Immortal Venerable.
"It’s not enough!"
"Far from enough!"
Chen Jichuan had a detailed plan in his mind.
Currently, as a Second-Realm Upper Immortal, with access to an abundant supply of Spirit Crystals, it was unlikely that he would remain stuck at this stage for too long.
Nevertheless, the process would still take several thousand years.
During this time, he could try to derive another Divine Skill. With three Divine Skills in hand, combined with his External Realm cultivation, Chen Jichuan would finally possess the confidence to contend with Heavenly Venerates and Immortal Venerates.
However, deriving Divine Skills was no easy feat. For now, he still needed to focus on improving his cultivation and comprehending the ’Dayan Divination Method.’
The 500 units of the ’Purple Pure Spirit Mechanism’ and the ’Red Muddy Profound Mechanism’ he procured must not be squandered.
"Five hundred units."
"I wonder if that will be enough to cultivate the ’Dayan Divination Method’ to the Third Realm."
Chen Jichuan pondered briefly, then once again immersed himself in cultivation.
...
Time flowed like water.
In the blink of an eye, another hundred years passed.
One day.
Two beams of Immortal Light descended upon Fierce Bird Mountain.
"Fellow Daoist Dark Star, this place is ’Fierce Bird Mountain.’"
Chihong Immortal Monarch halted his escape light and landed within the mountain. "This mountain is perilous, Fellow Daoist. Be extremely cautious."
"I know."
"No matter how treacherous it is, how does it compare to Dongning Venerable?"
Dark Star Immortal Monarch replied with a leisurely smile.
This time, he accompanied his close friend to Fierce Bird Mountain. On one hand, it was to act as a protector, allowing his friend to cultivate and comprehend in peace within the ’Fire-element Origin’ of Fierce Bird Mountain, aiming for a breakthrough to mid-stage Dharma Body.
On the other hand, it was also an excuse to venture far into the Barbaric Lands, avoiding Dongning Venerable.
Fierce Bird Mountain was dangerous, but Dongning Venerable was even more frightening.
That Immortal Sword of his could decapitate gods and Buddhas alike, forcing Upper Immortals to flee in disarray. Were he to remain in his own Immortal Domain and be visited by Dongning Venerable, one slash of the sword might not take his life, but serious injuries would be unavoidable, and his chances of ever advancing to Heavenly Venerate might be forever dashed.
"Dongning Venerable."
"True enough."
Chihong Immortal Monarch chose this moment to venture into Fierce Bird Mountain not only because he had long been trapped at early-stage Dharma Body, feeling increasingly agitated and restless, but also out of fear of Dongning Venerable.
Since Yu Ming Immortal Court, in alliance with Golden Light, Taiyin, and Guangmu’s Three Immortal Courts, began targeting Dongning Venerable, nine Upper Immortals from the Immortal Courts had already been severely wounded by Dongning Venerable’s sword.
This tally even included two Immortal Monarchs.
Among the Eight Immortal Courts, any Nine-Pattern Upper Immortal, a Supreme figure comparable to a newly ascended Heavenly Venerate in certain aspects, could be crowned as ’Immortal King’ within the Immortal Courts.
But for Third-Realm Upper Immortals like Chihong and Dark Star, although respected and titled as ’Immortal Monarchs,’ they were deemed mid-level within the courts.
In the grand Immortal Courts, Immortal Venerables serve as the sovereigns, with Heavenly Venerates and Immortal Kings as the high echelon.
’Immortal Monarchs’ occupy the mid-upper ranks.
When sent forth, they govern their own territories as regional lords.
Both Chihong Immortal Monarch and Dark Star Immortal Monarch served as officials in Yu Ming Immortal Court, each presiding over a portion of the Immortal Domain. Yet among Yu Ming Immortal Court’s twenty-four Immortal Monarchs, these two were merely ranked in the middle to lower tier.
"Can’t beat him, but I can hide."
Chihong Immortal Monarch sighed deeply, unable to resist lamenting, "Dongning Venerable is battling fiercely with Golden Light, Taiyin, and Guangmu’s Three Immortal Courts. I simply can’t comprehend why the court would rush into this conflict and court such trouble."
"I heard the Three Immortal Courts begged the Immortal Venerable for help, offering a large price in return."
Dark Star Immortal Monarch shared some secondhand information.
When it came to the likes of Heavenly Venerates and Immortal Venerates, beings of that caliber still remained worlds above them as Immortal Monarchs.
"Enough, enough!"
"Let’s not dwell on such unpleasant matters."
Chihong Immortal Monarch waved his hand, shifting the topic as he pointed toward the depths of the misty mountain: "This ’Fierce Bird Mountain’ was a place I stumbled upon in my early years of wandering. Back then, my cultivation was still shallow, and I couldn’t fully explore it. But in subsequent visits, I discovered four or five ’Five Elements Origins’ here. Among them, two are ’Fire-element Origins’ that can aid me in achieving a breakthrough."
Decades ago, when Chihong Immortal Monarch had not yet been titled, he had already joined Yu Ming Immortal Venerable’s service, granting him opportunities to traverse the Nine Heavens and discover this Fierce Bird Mountain, carefully noting its location.
In the years that followed, as he served Yu Ming Immortal Court for 24,000 years, his cultivation advanced rapidly. Five thousand eight hundred years ago, Chihong Immortal Monarch reached Fourth-Order Third Realm, entering early-stage Dharma Body, becoming a Seven-Pattern Upper Immortal, and was officially titled ’Immortal Monarch’ by the Immortal Court.