Chapter 502: Chapter 417: Covert Cultivation
Three months later.
Fierce Bird Mountain, Tuota Peak.
Chen Jichuan sat high on the summit’s rocky perch, with nine individuals below him, all peculiar in appearance.
The nine consisted of seven men and two women, each clothed in garments woven from feathers. Some resembled water, others fire, their countenances vicious and cruel. Out in the world, each would be considered a man-eating old demon.
But before Chen Jichuan, they were docile and obedient, though the ferocity and bitterness in their eyes were hard to conceal.
Chen Jichuan neither found it strange nor cared.
For the past three months, he had roamed Fierce Bird Mountain, selecting leaders from the largest nine fierce bird tribes among the thirty-seven thousand mountains, enlightening them one by one.
The fierce birds, once shrouded in chaos, only took on human form after encountering the Creation.
However, as freshly enlightened and newly transformed fierce birds, their savage nature ran deep. Even though Chen Jichuan used the ’Enlightenment’ Great Method to awaken their spiritual wisdom, their essence remained unchanged.
In fact, upon first obtaining human form, they tried to attack Chen Jichuan.
Savagery ingrained in their bones, unable to understand gratitude.
Fortunately, Chen Jichuan never fully trusted them. Before employing ’Enlightenment,’ he had planted a wisp of ’Daluo Heavenly Fire’ deep in their souls. As their spiritual wisdom expanded and they assumed human form, their divine souls grew stronger, which in turn nurtured this spark of fire.
Eventually, the spark matured. With just a thought, Chen Jichuan could reduce them to ashes or make them long for death yet unable to attain it.
After suffering repeated setbacks, these fierce birds, now gifted with spiritual wisdom, dared not resist any longer. One by one, they stood obediently before Chen Jichuan, listening intently to his directives.
"From now on, you shall reside on the surrounding nine peaks, each leading a hundred thousand fierce birds from your respective tribes, to guard Tuota Peak."
These nine newly transformed fierce bird demons had all been leaders of their tribes, commanding tens of thousands of fierce birds. After transformation, not only had their intelligence elevated, but their power had also surged, allowing them to command even larger tribes.
Each now commanded a hundred thousand fierce birds, stationed across the nine surrounding peaks. Thus, Chen Jichuan’s cultivation base on Tuota Peak enjoyed protection from nine hundred thousand fierce birds, warding off any disturbances.
Even if a Heavenly Venerate were to attack, these nine fierce bird leaders could hold them off for a while.
...
Name: Chen Jichuan [Eighth]
Age: 20,749 / 96,000
Immortal-order: 4
Immortal Position: None
Cultivation: Aspiring·Early-stage Internal
Talents:
Creation·Insight;
Creation·Derivation;
Creation·Enlightenment;
Creation·Commanding All Laws;
Cultivation Techniques:
"White Tiger Sword Prison Scripture" (True Sect level);
"Vermilion Bird Glaze Scripture" (True Sect level);
"Azure Dragon Longevity Scripture" (True Sect level);
"Xuanwu Black Water Scripture" (True Sect level);
Mystical Arts:
Super-level:
Seventh Realm: Wind Thunder All Heavens Great Escape, Daluo Heavenly Sleeve
Sixth Realm: Five Elements Escape Technique, Guiyuan Hiding Method, Three-in-One Indestructible Golden Light Body Protection Technique, Nine Doubts Skill, Seven Elements Relieving Calamity Ruyi Tiangang Splitting Light Sword Technique, Daluo Heavenly Fire, Blood Light Refraction Taiyin Divine Mirror Technique, Five Thunders True Skill, Heaven Mending Seal, Dutian Rakshasa Chaos Yin Yang Nine Netherworld Reincarnation Life and Death Treasure Method, Corpse Refining Technique, Seven Saints Calling Name Divine Spell, Six Ding Mountain Opening Skill, Heavenly Yin True Qi, Green Lotus Descent, Pill Dragon Map, Mother-child Primordial Yang Divine Needle, Three-Seven Soul Searching Method, Mystical Gate Skill, Sun Chasing Walk, Soul-shaking Bell, All Heavens Desire Demon Five Lustful Fat Magic, Innate One Qi Demon Suppression Technique, Divine Splitting Technique, Pure Heart Mantra
Divine Skills: Dayan Divination Method (Second Realm), Summoning Wind and Rain (Incomplete) (Not yet mastered)
Magical Treasures: Nine Treasures Glazed Tower (Fourth-order), Purple Mansion Immortal Gourd (Fourth-order), ..., omitted
Skills: Alchemy (Third-order); Array (Third-order); Artifact Refining (Third-order); Talisman making (Third-order);
Immortal Salary: 1000
Source Power: 7428177520
...
Within Tuota Peak, Chen Jichuan glanced at the Immortal Record interface.
Since advancing to Upper Immortal, twenty thousand years of cultivation had yielded tremendous progress compared to ordinary Upper Immortals.
The most notable advancements were in Mystical Arts.
All Super-level Techniques were elevated to the Sixth Realm, with two techniques even reaching the Seventh Realm.
As for his cultivation level, the progress was average.
"Late-stage Internal."
"Three-Pattern Upper Immortal."
Chen Jichuan’s arduous cultivation over twenty thousand years still left him at Fourth-order First Realm—a pace that was undeniably slow. At this rate, it would be difficult for any Upper Immortal to reach the Heavenly Venerate Realm before their forty-eight-thousand-year lifespan expired.
Thankfully, by cultivating "Azure Dragon Longevity Scripture", upon advancing to Upper Immortal, he gained a lifespan of ninety-six thousand years, giving him a slim hope.
Yet ultimately, it remained far too slow.
"The four True Sect level cultivation methods have consumed an enormous amount of my energy."
"Previously, due to the great cost of integration, I prioritized cultivation and temporarily set them aside. Now that I am an Upper Immortal, with ample cultivation resources, it is time for the integration."
An old saying goes, "Sharpening the axe does not delay the woodcutting."
Chen Jichuan deeply believed this.
For instance, during his two centuries in the Immortal Gate World, he was unable to cultivate. On the surface, it seemed like a waste of valuable time and a delay in his progression. However, during his time in that world, he acquired nearly a hundred Holy Artifacts, exchanged for an immense amount of Immortal Dao Resources, paving the way for his future ascension to Heavenly Venerate.
Two centuries? Even two thousand years would have been worthwhile.
The present situation was comparable.
"I intend to walk the path of the Five Elements and cultivate the Five Elements Techniques. I still lack an Earth Element method."
Chen Jichuan had been planning for this, and now fragments of Earth Element cultivation methods flashed through his mind, as he began the integration process. His aura steadily diminished, and his cultivation level gradually fell.
Three-Pattern Late Stage.
Three-Pattern Middle Stage.
Three-Pattern Early Stage.
Soon, his level plummeted to the Second Realm of Immortal Light, becoming a Second-Pattern Upper Immortal.
The fifth True Sect level cultivation method, "Qilin Jade Treasure Scripture", gradually took shape.
Second-Pattern Late Stage.
Second-Pattern Middle Stage.
Second-Pattern Early Stage.
Just as he was on the verge of dropping further within the Second-Pattern stage, the "Qilin Jade Treasure Scripture", reinforced and refined through various side door-level Earth Element cultivation methods, was finally completed as his fifth True Sect level cultivation method.
"Continue."
"Integrate."
But Chen Jichuan remained relentless, further depleting his cultivation level. He began integrating "White Tiger Sword Prison Scripture", "Vermilion Bird Glaze Scripture", "Xuanwu Black Water Scripture", "Azure Dragon Longevity Scripture", and the newly derived "Qilin Jade Treasure Scripture".