Chapter 518: 424 Zhangg Benming_2
This is indeed a bold gamble.
"He knows himself that this is a gamble."
"But he has lived for more than four hundred thousand years, waited for those years—truly, there is no other way."
"Now, faced with a sliver of hope, he will naturally seize it."
Throughout the passage of time, the duo of Chen Jichuan and Wang Yan have been the pair with the greatest hope for transcendence that Yu Ming Immortal Venerable has ever seen. He is uncertain if waiting longer will reveal successors even more talented.
But Yu Ming Immortal Venerable evidently does not want to wait any longer.
This time, whether it succeeds or fails, an effort must be made.
Such decisiveness commands admiration.
"Then it looks like he gambled rightly."
Wang Yan immediately laughed.
With Chen Jichuan by her side, she is confident in advancing to Fifth-order and transcending the Immortal Sect. Moreover, understanding her husband’s temperament, after Yu Ming Immortal Venerable has gone to such lengths, whenever opportunities arise in the future, he will surely lend a helping hand.
This current investment, seen by Yu Ming Immortal Venerable as a risky gamble, might still make him sleeplessly cautious.
But in Wang Yan’s view, it is a sure-win bet.
"Since he holds this sentiment, we should carry it in our hearts."
"Let us not dwell on him."
Chen Jichuan said no more. He pointed to two fragments of ancient steles and asked, "Are you interested in either of these Divine Skills?"
"The ’Seven Emotions Magic Sword’ is already enough for me. If I learn more, I fear I will be distracted and disrupt my cultivation."
"Besides, husband already has several other Divine Skills."
"I won’t be learning these two."
Wang Yan shook her head.
She has always understood her own aptitude—within Qinling World, she was merely average, and even after ascension, she remained so. It was only through fortuitous encounters and single-minded focus on the ’Seven Emotions Magic Sword,’ which happened to align perfectly with her, that she achieved her current success.
’Ruyi Qingling Great Handprint’ and ’Eight Dragons Locking Heaven Sword Formation’ are both offensive Divine Skills—worth a brief study for insight, but full mastery is out of the question.
She simply doesn’t have the energy.
"That works."
"You have the ’Seven Emotions Magic Sword,’ which is no weaker in offense. What is critical for now is to master a Divine Skill focused on speed."
"If you can fight, you must be able to chase."
"If you cannot fight, you must be able to flee."
"Only then can you remain invincible."
Chen Jichuan, well-seasoned in such matters, immediately recommended the ’Wind Thunder All Heavens Great Escape.’
Although the ’Wind Thunder All Heavens Great Escape’ has not yet been fully developed into a Divine Skill, the Magic it stems from has already been pushed from Middle-stage to High-level and onward to Super-level by Chen Jichuan. It can be pondered and studied for now.
Once he succeeds in elevating the ’Wind Thunder All Heavens Great Escape’ to a Divine Skill, Wang Yan can swiftly master it without wasting time.
Besides the ’Wind Thunder All Heavens Great Escape,’
other escape techniques like the ’Five Elements Escape Technique’ and ’Guiyuan Hiding Method’ could also be cultivated.
The more arts you know, the fewer limitations you have.
With ’Enlightenment,’ one year can be as effective as a century.
Wang Yan has over forty thousand years left before her natural lifespan expires—studying multiple similar Divine Skills merely wastes time and energy. But mastering diverse life-preserving Divine Skills is essential.
Not only should they be studied, they should be learned as much as possible.
...
Yu Ming turned sides, and the Three Immortal Court retreated.
The aftermath of the Fierce Bird Mountain battle spread, stirring waves in the Nine Heavens and sparking discussions among many Upper Immortals.
Conflicts between newly risen Venerables and the orthodox Immortal Court were not uncommon. But in this age, Dongning Venerable shone brightest.
News of Dongning Venerable marrying an ordinary Upper Immortal as a Daoist companion and choosing ’Fierce Bird Mountain’ as his Daoist Field soon circulated widely.
Some lamented Dongning Venerable’s blindness.
Some sought to uncover the backstory of ’Wind Thunder Immortal.’
Others sighed—
"Dongning Venerable, independent and free in the Nine Heavens, feared by every Immortal Court."
"But alas, by establishing a Daoist Field and finding an ordinary Upper Immortal as a Daoist companion, he has now bound himself, creating a potential fatal weakness. It will no longer be easy to roam carefree."
In the Nine Heavens, past collisions between new Venerables and Immortal Courts were not rare.
When they tread barefoot, they are hardest to confront.
But once they don shoes, they all inevitably settle down.
With the drama winding down, those who had been enjoying the spectacle couldn’t help but feel disappointed.
Yet within Fierce Bird Mountain, the couple remained in the mountain, calmly indifferent to the surrounding turmoil.
Chen Jichuan continued nursing his injuries.
He had suffered severe trauma—unable to engage in combat for two or three millennia. Additionally, cultivating harms the body, and studying Magic and Divine Skills strains the spirit—better to exercise utmost restraint and avoid these activities.
Almost like a cripple.
Not to mention the exhaustion of his Essence Qi, spirit, and Three Treasures ’Enlightenment.’
All cultivation was temporarily halted.
The pace slowed down.
Reuniting with his wife further brightened his mood, prompting him to take a deliberate break. Outside his daily recovery, he spent time nurturing flowers and planting greenery in the mountain, finding a solace for his soul.
Over these years, immersed in rigorous cultivation, though he thrived on it, he rarely experienced such leisure.
Now, it felt like an entirely different taste of life.
Though Chen Jichuan himself could not cultivate, Wang Yan faced no such barriers.
Both stayed in the mountain—one idly passing time, the other diligently cultivating, a sight that outsiders might find baffling.
But Chen Jichuan wasn’t entirely idle.
Amid nurturing flowers and planting fields, he pondered how best to use the materials left behind by Yu Ming Immortal Venerable to create an Immortal Treasure for Wang Yan.
When it came to Immortal Treasures,
Chen Jichuan owned two—one was the ’Nine Treasures Glazed Tower,’ and the other was the ’Purple Mansion Immortal Gourd.’
But both were artifacts inherited from predecessors. While newly acquired treasures pose no issue for practitioners in battle, the ’Worldly Treasure Raft’ is a key instrument in opening the Immortal Sect, and also an essential support for ascension and traversing the void in the future. Even the slightest sense of dissonance could lead to major regret.
"The ’Worldly Treasure Raft’ is best forged as a Lifebound Magical Treasure."
Most Venerables in the Nine Heavens understand this principle.
Take, for instance, the ’Nine Treasures Glazed Tower,’ which was painstakingly refined by Tuota Venerable over his lifetime into his very own Lifebound Immortal Treasure.
Likewise, the ’Purple Mansion Immortal Gourd’ was similarly devotedly forged by Mojia Venerable.
Wang Yan’s eventual transcendence of the Immortal Sect and ascent beyond the heavens would be best complemented by refining the ’Worldly Treasure Raft’ into a Lifebound Magical Treasure.
"’Lifebound Magical Treasure’ excels due to the unity of person and artifact, harmonizing with one’s intent. Moreover, it can be continuously refined through the years, adding various precious materials for endless evolution."
"Yet if a Lifebound Magical Treasure suffers severe damage, the cultivator sharing their life force with it will also face dire consequences."
"Thus, it’s best not to covet its power by forging it into swords or blades and using them recklessly in battle."
"Frequent excursions by the riverbank make it impossible to keep one’s feet dry."
Chen Jichuan mulled over his ideas and sought his wife’s input whenever she emerged from closed cultivation.
From time to time, he delved through and scrutinized myriad ancient texts.
Given his idle disposition, he intended to take the time to design something both safe and practical as Wang Yan’s Lifebound Magical Treasure.
Research.
Analysis.
Comparison.
Synthesis.
The evolution of concepts.
After forty years of scouring mountains of texts, he finally completed the design for this treasure, christened—
Seven Emotions and Six Desires Map!
...
"Seven Emotions and Six Desires Map?"
Wang Yan emerged from closed cultivation, only to see her husband presenting a scroll as though it were a treasure. Upon unfolding it, she couldn’t suppress her laughter, tinged with a hint of gratitude. "The treasure is a proper treasure, but why does this map feature you?"
On the scroll:
Chen Jichuan stood poised and dashing, exuding an immortal and refined charm. Wang Yan’s beauty was ethereal, untouched by worldly dust.
A perfect couple, radiant and harmonious.
"You are the ’Seven Emotions Immortal Lady,’ and I am the ’Six Desires Daoist.’ Naturally, the ’Seven Emotions and Six Desires Map’ must feature both of us to live up to its name."
"But the key isn’t about the people depicted."
Chen Jichuan waved his hand dismissively and began explaining the attributes of the ’Seven Emotions and Six Desires Map’ he had painstakingly designed. "This map can ward off external demons and malevolent spirits, nurturing Seven Emotions and Six Desires. Normally kept within the Dantian, it can cultivate an internal Great Thousand Red Dust, aiding one in comprehending the foundation of the Seven Emotions without needing to expose it in battle. If faced with mortal danger, simply entering the map will transform it into a plume of smoke; like a heart demon, utterly traceless. With one thought, you can sense countless threads of mortal emotions scattered throughout the void, blending into them—you may hide or escape, entirely under your command."
Forty years of labor.
Ultimately, Chen Jichuan’s evolution of the ’Seven Emotions and Six Desires Map’ zeroed in on two major functions: cultivation insights and escape for survival.
He was deeply satisfied with the outcome.
Using Lifebound Magical Treasures in combat is excessively risky—any mishap could result in the destruction of the treasure and its master. Far better to keep it within the Dantian, supporting cultivation quietly and serving as a means of escape in peril. This way, the effort invested in refining it would be worthwhile.
"How does it sound?"
"Are there any aspects you’re dissatisfied with?"
Chen Jichuan noticed Wang Yan remained silent for a while and lifted his gaze to ask.
Wang Yan approached, clinging to Chen Jichuan’s arm, her eyes fixed on the scroll. She pointed at the ’Six Desires Daoist’ depicted and said, "This isn’t good."
"What isn’t good?"
Chen Jichuan defended himself indignantly.
"The portrayal is off."
Wang Yan raised her eyes, slightly lifted her toes, and brushed her reddened lips softly against Chen Jichuan’s nose. Her gaze glimmered with amusement. "Husband depicted the ’Seven Emotions Immortal Lady,’ so the depiction of the ’Six Desires Daoist’ should be left to me."
Chen Jichuan touched his nose, feeling as though he had been teased.
He pushed the scroll aside and looked toward Wang Yan. "Immortal Lady’s artistic talents are evidently extraordinary—I shall eagerly await your demonstration."
The next moment.
Under perfect night skies and engulfing spring-like fervor, the couple passionately painted and entwined, their affection boundless.
...