The resonant chime echoed in the air as the copper coin slipped from the grasp of Shuro's neck, splitting into two distinct pieces. Its obverse bore the character "CHEN," while the reverse showcased an intricate pattern.
As Shuro's fingertips grazed the copper coin, the residual warmth lingered. He widened his eyes, momentarily lost in thought. It was this very coin that saved him in the final moment.
"Tynche Continental..." His gaze shifted to the "CHEN" character on the coin's front, and unfamiliar memories flowed through Shuro's mind—memories inherited from Nine-Dragon Sovereign. Tynche Continental, the legendary land formed at the tail of the sea after the first fall of the stars, had accumulated over ten thousand years, creating an endless expanse of land.
It was the most mystical place in the Nine Heavens, abundant in spiritual energy, enjoying unparalleled advantages for countless millennia without any loss. Its vast territories were incomprehensible, taking an ordinary person several lifetimes to traverse even half of it.
Closing his eyes, Shuro's heart pounded. He witnessed celestial cranes flying through the mountain peaks, carrying riders on their backs, and giant cranes carrying entire mountains. At the summit of a crane-backed mountain, a pavilion stood coolly, where two men in white robes indulged in high-spirited songs and drinks, resembling immortals. With a casual wave of their hands, they emitted a sword aura that reached the heavens, as if capable of shattering the firmament.
He also saw a large fish with a blue-fin dragon tail swiftly swimming on the sea surface. Not far ahead, there was a coastal city, and the large fish suddenly leaped, opening its mouth wide. A black wind billowed as millions of soldiers poured out, attacking the unsuspecting city. Above the large fish, a fisherman-immortal flew on a sword, counting rewards.
In the imperial city of the First-Rank Dynasty, it happened to be the birthday of the little princess. In the towering palace, adorned with jade trees and magnificent courtyards, various immortal sects and Daoist schools came to congratulate. Suddenly, a red-haired giant ape descended, riding a strange golden-eyed beast from the sky. The Daoists loudly reprimanded, but the giant ape took out a jade bowl from his arms. Inside the bowl was a bright moon, with eighty-one boys in blue clothes dancing.
These boys had peculiar appearances, sometimes crying and sometimes laughing, transforming into tigers, leopards, jackals, and wolves. The little princess held the bowl in her arms, giggling, and the emperor's dragon face was delighted, immediately appointing the giant ape as the Clearwater River Lord.
"Immortals... this is the true realm of immortals!" Shuro was overwhelmed with shock and excitement in his heart. All these scenes were undoubtedly from Nine-Dragon Sovereign's memories. Shuro finally understood why, when speaking of the immortals of Lonely Moon Mountain, Nine-Dragon Sovereign had shown such disdain.
Compared to the immortal dynasties on Tynche Continental, with histories spanning tens of thousands of years, the millennium-old Tera Dynasty seemed like child's play. Any major sect on the Tynche Continent casually kept three thousand heavenly cranes and nearly ten thousand cultivators of various roles. The so-called "immortals" around Tera Dynasty were far from comparable.
Gradually, Shuro calmed down. Although he was confined in the secret room of the backyard, facing a precarious situation, his face did not show much frustration. Even he did not realize that after absorbing Nine-Dragon Sovereign's memories and rapidly expanding his horizons, his mentality had subtly changed.
Wrapping the copper coin securely, and placing it close to his body for safekeeping, Shuro's face remained expressionless throughout. Speaking of this copper coin, it had quite a background. When he was six years old, that man strung the copper coin, put it on Shuro, and repeatedly warned him not to let the coin leave his person. After completing these actions, the man left Caelius Capital and never had any subsequent contact. That man was Shuro's father, and Shuro vaguely remembered that his father's status in the family was that of a merchant.
Judging from this pseudo-copper coin disguised as a mysterious pattern charm, his father's identity was far from simple. Perhaps there were hidden secrets unknown to anyone.
However, Shuro did not delve deeply into such thoughts. For a full nine years, he had been alone. In the complex and perilous family struggles, countless intrigues took place. Being a powerless and unsupported collateral son, from the age of six, he had lived a life akin to walking on thin ice in the lowest echelons of the influential family. The bitterness and humiliation he experienced were known only to himself.
Honor, disgrace, life, and death—all depended on him!
In the past, as well as in the future." The chance to defy fate... That guy Nine-Dragon Sovereign doesn't boast in vain." The cultivation techniques in Nine-Dragon Sovereign's memories encompassed everything, exploring various extraordinary arts. Shuro stared wide-eyed, marveling at the spectacle. The so-called escaping great calamities and gaining great fortunes, Shuro now deeply understood.
The iron window opened, and a bamboo basket containing food and soup slid along the wall. Accompanying the bamboo basket in the secret room was the not-so-harsh sunlight, and unknowingly, it was already the second morning.
"Master York, drink... drink some soup first, warm your stomach," the young man's voice came from outside the iron window. Shuro relaxed, knowing that someone from the Second Mansion sent food, indicating that things were not as bad as he had imagined.
However, at this moment, a sharp and sarcastic voice rang out, sounding like the plump guard from last night. "What are you doing? How dare you secretly send him food? Do you not want to live? Have you forgotten what was said from above?"
"Lee... Brother Lee, I... "
"You reckless stutterer! Do you know what that person has done? He intruded into the Young Madam's boudoir in broad daylight. Fortunately, he was discovered in time by the Third Young Master. Otherwise, if the First Beauty of Baiyu Capital is defiled in her own house, where will the ethics and morals be? Once this news spreads, even you and I won't be able to hold our heads up! For such a beast, you still want to care about his life?"
"A mere collateral son, his status not much higher than our guards, even if he hasn't committed any wrongdoing, what can he achieve? Hmph, if one seeks to curry favor, it should be with someone like the Third Young Master. He broke through the Grand Spiritual Realm before the age of twenty, ranked in the top three of the Jade List. Even if he isn't chosen by the Immortals, he is destined to become the head of the York family."
"I, I, I am not..."
"Let it be. Don't waste your efforts on this son without a future. To tell you the truth, there was never an intention from above to let him live. Saving him last night, I suspect, was merely an impulsive act by the Master. But if we continue to protect him, it's inevitable to conflict with the main residence. The best course of action is to let him starve to death here, ending it all. It won't offend the main residence, and we'll save face."
"But, but..."
"But what? I warn you, your foolishness is your own business; don't involve me in it! Damn it! Let this be a one-time thing. Now, go." The footsteps receded, and in Shuro's mind emerged the figures of the two guards who had detained him last night.
"So, they intended to starve me."
"Weird, I have no acquaintance with that stuttering guy. Why would he help me?"
"That fat man seems to be on the same page as Nine-Dragon Sovereign. Saving me last night was purely impulsive, an outburst of anger. The Master of the residence couldn't possibly act recklessly, risking conflict with the main family for my sake."
"In the end, it's because I hold no value. If, like John, I had achieved Grand Spiritual Realm cultivation in my early twenties, ranking among the top martial artists in the capital, even if there was a falling out with the main family, they would have kept me safe."
"Grand Spiritual Realm sounds majestic, but it's merely the alchemical martial arts of the Tera Dynasty. In the cultivation world, it's just the beginning."
Shuro's voice was unusually low and deep. He had never yearned for power as he did today.
After absorbing Nine-Dragon Sovereign's memories, the so-called alchemical martial arts considered the foundation of the country by the Tera Dynasty appeared rudimentary in Shuro's eyes.
The so-called alchemical martial arts involved connecting the small cosmic cycle through internal and external elixirs, gathering vital energy pills within the body. Generally, the more robust the vital energy pill, the stronger the power. Before his vital energy pill was abolished, Shuro had just reached the small pill realm. With his aptitude, everything went smoothly, and in ten years, he was expected to break through to the grand pill realm.
In the Tera Dynasty's martial world, there were six realms: small pill realm, grand pill realm, small spiritual realm, grand spiritual realm, quasi-ascended realm, and ascended realm.
In the small pill realm, one far surpassed ordinary martial practitioners in strength, speed, and reaction time. In Baiyu Capital, he could be considered a third-rate martial artist.
Advancing to the grand pill realm granted formidable strength, swift movement like a flying bird, and the ability to cultivate martial techniques, making one a second-rate master.
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Above the grand pill realm was the small spiritual realm, exemplified by Pang Guan, one of the Third Young Master's attendants. In the small spiritual realm, true energy emerged from the vital energy pill, possessing nearly five thousand pounds of strength. Such individuals could crush stones with their bare hands and execute seemingly miraculous alchemical martial techniques, such as the Seven Forms Evading Art, making them quasi-first-rate masters.
Moving further was the grand spiritual realm, where both the Third Young Master and several junior masters of the Second Mansion resided. In the grand spiritual realm, true energy circulated through the meridians, possessing nearly ten thousand pounds of strength. Proficient in advanced martial arts and clear-minded, they could abstain from eating or drinking for half a month without harming their bodies. Such individuals were rare in the Tera Dynasty, all considered first-rate martial artists.
Next was the quasi-ascended realm. The masters of the York family and the Second Mansion belonged to this realm. With saturated true energy filling every acupoint, they could harm others from a distance, possessing tens of thousands of pounds of strength and leaping thirty yards into the air. These figures were scarce in the Tera Dynasty, not exceeding fifty people in total, deemed top-tier masters, capable of challenging a thousand-strong cavalry.
As for the ascended realm, after three years of cultivating the body, the lifespan could reach two hundred years. With dense true energy, they could sweep through thousands of soldiers, and stand alone against a nation, true legends, akin to terrestrial immortals in the eyes of ordinary people.
In the Tera Dynasty, the ascended realm was the standard for measuring whether a prominent family could flourish or decline. The reason why the York family stood proud in Baiyu Capital for a hundred years, besides the merits of their ancestors, was because the York family had an ascended realm expert. This ascended realm figure had become renowned in Baiyu Capital fifty years ago, one of the eight national masters of the Tera Dynasty, commonly known as York Old Lady, the old lady of the York family.
However, Shuro already knew that the ascended realm he had once regarded as divine was equivalent to the complete foundation level in the cultivation world. Therefore, on the true path of cultivation, alchemical martial arts were indeed a significant detour.
But now, for Shuro, that detour no longer exists.
"Is it not so?" Just as Shuro was full of anticipation, prepared to directly lay the foundation, the subsequent blow left him utterly disappointed. Within Nine-Dragon Sovereign's memories were numerous cultivation techniques, yet the majority were methods beyond the foundational stage, impossible to practice without reaching the complete foundation level. The remaining foundational techniques relied on external factors such as elixirs, artifacts, spiritual veins, and sealing magic.
"I refuse to believe there isn't a foundational technique suitable for me!"
Shuro persisted, closing his eyes and immersing himself in the vast, starry expanse of Nine-Chen Sovereign's cultivation memories. Days passed, and within this period, the hunchbacked young man sneakily brought food again, unlike last time, being exceptionally cautious not to speak with Shuro.
Shuro was wholeheartedly immersed in Nine-Chen Sovereign's cultivation memories, not touching a morsel of food besides a small amount of water. Though he hadn't found a suitable foundational method, his understanding of cultivation and strength had made remarkable progress, reaching a high level of comprehension regarding foundation building.
"This cannot continue. There's just over a month until Lady Dowager's banquet. After the banquet, John may recall my existence." The thought of the Third Young Master, who had framed him, filled Shuro with a sense of urgency.
Achieving Grand Spiritual Realm cultivation at the age of twenty, the Third Young Master of the York family was undoubtedly a peerless genius. Such a talent, even in the martial world, attracted the attention of the Tera Dynasty's Immortals. Rumors circulated in Baiyu Capital that the Immortals from Solitary Moon Mountain hadn't left because they were eyeing several geniuses in Baiyu Capital, and John was one of them.
Whether in terms of personal strength or influence, the Third Young Master of the York family stood out among the younger generation in Baiyu Capital. Being targeted by such an individual meant grave danger.
Suddenly, a passage of text flashed through Shuro's mind. This passage seemed to come from some obscure corner of Nine-Dragon Sovereign's memory as if it had materialized out of thin air.
"The human body holds great medicine, capable of forging a great path. Nine deaths seek one life, nine transformations into the supreme law." The first twenty characters were plain. But the further Shuro read, the more he felt a chill down his spine.
This foundational technique had a peculiar name, "Nine Deaths to Reborn Technique." Whether in terms of philosophy or foundational method, the "Nine Deaths to Reborn Technique" was vastly different from other techniques.
Disregarding reluctance, eschewing elixirs, not nurturing spiritual veins... at first glance, its methods seemed simple and unworthy of mention. Yet, upon closer examination, each word, in each paragraph concealed profound truths, prompting deep contemplation.
The "Nine Deaths to Reborn Technique" was an accidental discovery by Nine-Dragon Sovereign during an exploration. Initially, he found it fascinating and had ten thousand exceptionally talented youths practice it, but none succeeded. Nine-Dragon Sovereign believed it was an antique technique from before the Great Annihilation, so he cast it aside.
After half an hour, Shuro had memorized this foundational technique.
The essence of this technique lies in using the path of life and death to trigger the vast potential within the human body. At the beginning of foundation building, without relying on external aids, without practicing external paths, without cultivating primordial essence, one merely placed oneself in a life-threatening situation, using the brink of death as a catalyst for great achievements.
Life offers nine types of deadly situations: hunger, thirst, cold, fatigue, deficit, injury, illness, desolation, and emptiness. Judging from the first six situations alone, the "Nine Deaths to Reborn Technique" remarkably suited Shuro's current predicament. It was almost tailor-made for him, leaving Shuro excited.
However, even a figure as extraordinary as Nine-Dragon Sovereign had failed to succeed. The question of whether the "Nine Deaths to Reborn Technique" could be cultivated remained elusive.
Sunlight streamed in from the iron window, and Shuro could feel time slipping away, moment by moment. A steely resolve shone in Shuro's eyes. This was his only chance, his final chance. He had already won a gamble yesterday; why not try again today? Banishing distracting thoughts, Shuro sat cross-legged, focusing his mind.
For nearly three days, he had not eaten, and his stomach was empty, adhering to the "Hunger" principle. Next, he decided not to drink water, achieving the "Thirst" principle. Taking a deep breath, Shuro removed all his clothes, leaving only a pair of shorts. A biting cold swept over him; Shuro shivered, and before long, his face turned pale. The "Cold" principle began to take effect.
After three days without sleep, relying solely on mental strength, Shuro was already exhausted, embodying the "Fatigue" principle.
When it comes to the "Deficit" principle... Shuro suddenly opened his eyes, his expression revealing surprise. When his internal energy circulated to the lower diaphragm, he unexpectedly felt the presence of the vital energy pill.
It turned out that on that day, Faithe had not completely abolished his vital energy pill. She had quietly left behind a subtle and imperceptible vital energy pill for him... the only female young mistress of the Second Mansion, why would she do such a thing?
Shuro didn't continue to dwell on this thought. If not for Nine-Dragon Sovereign's memories, Shuro would have been overjoyed at this moment. Now, this vital energy pill was just a burden for Shuro.
With a sudden force, Shuro circulated his internal energy, forcibly dispersing the vital energy pill! Starting from the age of ten when Shuro obtained his first alchemical martial arts manual, five years of effort dissipated in this moment, turning into nothingness. A strong sense of weakness swept over Shuro, feeling utterly powerless. It was a sensation of having all the essence drained from his body, embodying the "Deficit" principle.
In addition to the injuries inflicted by Pang Guan, the lackey of the Third Young Master, three days ago, causing the "Injury" principle.
So far, Shuro has completed the first six principles of the "Nine Deaths to Reborn Technique." Only the principles of "Illness," "Desolation," and "Emptiness" remained.
Following this, he underwent a process of cultivation according to martial arts, experiencing a journey from death to life, seeking the elixir within his body, and inducing unparalleled human potential.
Beneath the afternoon sunlight, Shuro gazed upon his nose, and observed his heart, silently reciting the incantations while following the route of cultivation, and before long, he entered a state of meditation.
On the first day, Shuro's limbs were sore, his head heavy, and his body stiffened due to the cold, bones seemingly on the verge of freezing. Waves of hunger attacked, and Shuro, as fragile as a thread of air, persevered only with a breath of internal energy. The first day proved to be extremely arduous.
On the second day, Shuro's body remained rigid, limbs aching, but his chest burned as if with a fiery heart. By the second evening, a foul odor emanated from his pores. Shuro felt as if he were on the brink of death, with the gates of the underworld seemingly before him.
By the third day, numbness had spread throughout Shuro's limbs, his face covered in sores, and the burning sensation in his chest moved downward, reaching the lower diaphragm. His skin appeared as if vigorously rubbed, covered in red spots. Every inch of his body ached unbearably, devoid of any strength. Most individuals would likely surrender, but Shuro, biting his tongue, endured the ordeal.
On the fourth day, Shuro succumbed to a severe illness. His entire body swelled, his complexion waxen, and his hair became dry and brittle. Following the route of the "Nine Deaths to Reborn Technique," with the completion of each circulation, an organ experienced intense traction, akin to a fiery blade scraping his bones, causing excruciating pain. With matters reaching this point, Shuro, like a fragile thread of air, clung to life with every breath.
Fortunately, he finally sensed the "Illness" principle.
On the fifth day, snowfall resumed by noon. Snowflakes drifted in through the iron grating, settling on Shuro's head. The visible swelling on Shuro's body's surface gradually receded, and after half an hour, not only did the swelling vanish, but he appeared as though he had lost several pounds of flesh, his entire being resembling skin draped over bones. If a second person were present, they would undoubtedly assume Shuro had already perished.
On the sixth day, Shuro's hair had completely fallen out, presenting a peculiar appearance—pale, feeble, indistinct. Language could no longer aptly describe his state; he seemed like a faint shadow sketched on paper, ready to disperse at any moment.
On the seventh day, the snow ceased. The first rays of sunlight entered from the window, and Shuro's heartbeat accelerated with the rising temperature in the room, astonishingly feeling a hint of vitality. Only one month remained until Lady Dowager's banquet, and this month represented his final chance to turn the tide. However, until now, he had failed to comprehend the remaining two principles, let alone master the "Nine Deaths to Reborn Technique." Furthermore, even if he were to succeed, it would only mark the beginning of foundation building.
Restlessness, anxiety, and worry—all these negative emotions surged uncontrollably from the depths of his heart. By noon, Shuro, his entire being tense to the point of suffocation, experienced a sense of despair for the first time in his life. Just at that moment, Shuro suddenly awakened, realizing that his current state perfectly embodied the principle of "Desolation."
The seventh principle, the "Illness" principle, served as a summary of the first six principles. As for the eighth principle, the "Desolation" principle, it signified a transition from external to internal, from the physical body to the spirit.
Only the last principle, "Emptiness," remained. Where could it be?
Exerting his last ounce of strength, Shuro sat cross-legged, entering a state of meditation, transcending the material world.
"Creak!"
The iron window opened, and the bamboo basket slid down along the wall. Over the past seven days, the hunchbacked guard had quietly delivered food and water four times.
Although Shuro had his eyes closed, he could still hear.
After placing the bamboo basket down, Lewis retrieved the lock. As with the day before, there was no response from the other side of the wall, as if there was no one inside. Lewis hesitated for a moment, pressing his ear against the wall.
After a long time, there was still no sound coming from the secret room. Recalling Shuro's nearly lifeless state when he was brought here, Lewis's heart tightened, and a troubled frown appeared on his face.
Seventeen years old this year, he had served as an internal guard in the York Mansion for only three years.
Three years ago, an unusual snowstorm destroyed his home. Both of his parents perished in the disaster, leaving only him and his younger sister to depend on each other. Lewis's family was extremely poor, to the point where he didn't even have the money to bury his parents.
Carrying the remaining bronze items from his home, he went to the night market to exchange them for money. Due to his young age, speech impediment, and quick-wittedness, he was quickly surrounded and taunted by a group of aristocratic youths. Lewis, with a thin-skinned nature, inadvertently offended the aristocrats. Those aristocrats, without mercy, destroyed all his belongings, laughing heartily as they departed.
Hugging the remnants of the bronze items, his eyes red, Lewis felt as if his heart had turned to ashes.
At that moment, a young man emerged from the crowd. Although the young man's attire was not as luxurious as those who had left, he was still dressed in a silk robe and cotton-padded clothes. The young man was even younger than Lewis, around ten years old, yet his demeanor and bearing were far more mature.
The young man didn't speak, only took out all the silver coins from his pocket and placed them in front of Lewis. Without looking back, he walked away.
By the time Lewis reacted, the young man had already disappeared.
Using that money to bury his parents and settle his younger sister, Lewis found employment in a large mansion. Due to his quick learning and nimble hands, he was soon recommended to enter the York family. In the Second Mansion, he began studying alchemy and martial arts, and because of his rapid progress, he was chosen as an internal guard.
Although the duty of an internal guard was to protect the inner residence, there was little interaction with the young masters of the mansion on regular days.
After three years, Lewis, who was responsible for guarding the backyard, saw Shuro, his benefactor from the past, now reduced to a prisoner.
"What are you doing?!"
A shout came from behind Lewis.