Chapter 158: Recognized for the Silk Script Method
This novel is translated and hosted on Bcatranslation
The Six Rulers Ancestor Court was a land of breathtaking sights. Even the disciples from the Exotic Lands, despite their vast experience, could not help but marvel as they wandered through the area.
“Look at that massive skull! Its original body must have been enormous.”
Ahead, a crystal-clear skull towered five hundred meters tall. It exuded no sinister aura but glowed with an ethereal light. From its seven orifices sprouted spirit vines and exotic trees, each radiating a potent medicinal fragrance.
“This is the famed Seven Apertures Miracle Herb. Even some of our elders from the Exotic Immortal Lands would salivate over it. Too bad we can’t take it with us.”
“Quiet! Do you forget where we are? This is the sacred ground of an ancestral sect!” a companion chided.
Nearby, Lu Zi Zai overheard their conversation. His jet-black hair stirred slightly as though moved by an unseen wind.
He hadn’t even left yet, and already the rare treasures of his home were being coveted. It was a testament to how long the people of the Exotic Lands had been eyeing these resources with envy.
Qin Ming, meanwhile, was exploring the court in detail for the first time. The unique wonders he encountered at every turn left him awestruck. Even he found himself tempted by the Seven Apertures Miracle Herb. However, upon noticing Lu Zi Zai’s expression, he quickly composed himself, pretending to admire the drifting clouds in the night sky with a calm and detached demeanor.
“This small group of Exotic Lands disciples has strong foundations. They’re not simple,” Lu Zi Zai remarked as he watched their retreating figures.
He had come here personally to gauge their strength. From the aura flowing through these youths, he felt traces of old rivals, hints of familiar power.
“Are they all so powerful?” Qin Ming asked.
“For their challenge against the Six Rulers techniques, they’ve come prepared,” Lu Zi Zai replied. “Some expert must have refined parts of their spiritual consciousness, infusing it with strands of pure Yang energy.”
His assessment was objective. He acknowledged that the Exotic Lands were conducting experiments, testing new approaches to cultivation.
“At the first two levels, the core disciples of the Six Rulers Ancestor Court should hold their own against them. But after reaching the Spiritual Field stage, it will become problematic,” Lu Zi Zai sighed.
In truth, even at the Outer Saint stage, progress along the Awakening Path slowed significantly, creating a widening gap between the two sides.
Despite this, the Exotic Lands disciples walked confidently through the court, their pride evident. They regarded techniques like the Wrestling the Immortal Sutra, capable of rivaling the Six Rulers Heart Sutra, as mere protective tools rather than their primary focus.
The elders of the Exotic Lands had instilled in them the belief that their path was the “Immortal Path,” capable of overlooking all others. This instilled unwavering confidence in their disciples.
Indeed, the selection process for disciples reflected this hierarchy. Only those with spiritual aptitude were admitted to the Exotic Lands, and only those with divine wisdom could join the Secret Sect. Those left behind—the ordinary ones—were forced to rely on bodily mutations and walk a far harsher road.
“Having a sect like the Six Rulers on the Awakening Path is no small feat,” one of the core disciples from the Immortal Lands commented.
“To gain a foothold in the Night Fog World, make a name for themselves, and earn the respect of some of our elders—it’s truly remarkable.”
They believed their evaluation was fair, but their tone betrayed an underlying sense of superiority. To them, the Awakening Path was for those who had failed to pass their stringent selection processes. It was, in their eyes, the distinction between the mortal and the divine.
“Are you confident about tomorrow’s challenge?” the white-clad girl, Luo Yao, asked. Her curved brows and lively eyes hinted at a playful nature.
“Don’t worry, Junior Sister Luo. It won’t be an issue,” a yellow-robed youth replied. As he spoke, a radiant Celestial Light Force shimmered around him, even infusing his hair with golden highlights.
The others voiced similar assurances. They knew Luo Yao’s background—she had once followed a remarkable “elder sister” who held a high position in the Immortal Lands, able to contend with powerful figures of the older generation despite her youth. Luo Yao herself was exceptional, having defeated numerous competitors to become a core disciple on her first attempt.
“Truthfully, it’s only in the first two stages that they can keep up with us. After the third stage, they’ll only be able to watch our backs,” someone remarked. “I don’t know why the elders are even testing us against them.”
“Every path needs refinement,” Luo Yao replied seriously, her usual playfulness subdued. “This is likely preparation for the Great Frontier Expansion. Disciples in the first two stages need robust protective techniques.”
Turning to a purple-haired youth beside her, she added, “Li Dao Cheng, you must hold the line. This is the first time our elders are testing these methods. You cannot let them down.”
Li Dao Cheng nodded. “Don’t worry, Senior Sister Luo. The Wrestling the Immortal Sutra feels almost tailor-made for me. I’ve even become obsessed with it, to the point where it almost distracted me from my cultivation on the Immortal Path.”
His purple hair and calm demeanor exuded a quiet confidence. Faint violet mist swirled in his eyes, a sign of his deep mastery of the sutra.
“When we return, I’ll lend you my sister’s cultivation notes,” Luo Yao said with a smile. With that, the group turned their attention to the scenery.
Ahead, a towering fire willow stretched into the night sky, its massive canopy covering several miles. Its crimson branches, glowing like embers, cascaded downward, painting a breathtaking scene.
“Feel it?” Lu Zi Zai asked Qin Ming as they observed from afar. “Even when facing us, the people of the Exotic Lands exude a sense of psychological superiority.”
“That’s because they think we’re just ordinary people relying on bodily mutations,” Qin Ming replied with a smile, his tone calm and unbothered. He was long accustomed to such disdain.
Indeed, when he had first met Luo Yao, she had no ill intentions but had once teased him for his simplicity, saying it was as if a vast ocean separated them.
After a brief look at the group, Lu Zi Zai turned away, heading back. Qin Ming followed, asking, “Senior Brother, tomorrow’s challenge—should I showcase the Six Rulers techniques as a disciple of this court?”
Initially hesitant to ask, as he had already received so much from the court, Qin Ming now believed it was fitting to use their signature techniques to make a statement.
“The Six Rulers’ path has its flaws. You don’t need to follow it,” Lu Zi Zai replied. “What I’m doing now is trying to forget the techniques of the past. I see you as one of us, and I don’t want you walking the roads of those before us. Every ancestor forged their own path, carving out a new world. You should do the same.”
The Six Rulers Ancestor Court, with its stunning landscapes, amazed even the well-traveled disciples from the Exotic Lands. As they wandered its grounds, their admiration was clear.
“How massive must the original body of that skull have been to leave behind such a towering relic?”
Ahead, a crystalline skull stood five hundred meters tall, radiating a transparent brilliance. Its seven apertures were filled with spiritual vines and exotic trees, each exuding a thick medicinal fragrance.
“This must be the famed Seven Apertures Miracle Herb. Even our elders in the Exotic Immortal Lands would salivate over something like this. Too bad we can’t take it with us,” one murmured.
“Quiet! Do you realize where you are? This is the sacred ground of an ancestral sect!” another chided.
Nearby, Lu Zi Zai overheard their chatter. His black hair stirred slightly as if caught by an invisible breeze. Though still within the court, the treasures of his home were already being eyed by outsiders, a testament to their long-standing envy.
Qin Ming, exploring the court more thoroughly than ever, was similarly awestruck. The extraordinary sights left a deep impression on him. Even he was tempted by the Seven Apertures Miracle Herb, but noticing Lu Zi Zai’s expression, he quickly composed himself, pretending to gaze at the drifting clouds with calm detachment.
“These disciples from the Exotic Lands have solid foundations. They’re not simple,” Lu Zi Zai remarked, observing their retreating figures.
“They seem strong,” Qin Ming said.
“They’ve come prepared for the challenge,” Lu Zi Zai replied. “Some expert must have refined parts of their spiritual consciousness, infusing it with pure Yang energy. It’s clear they’re testing something—experimenting with new approaches.”
He spoke without disdain, recognizing the Exotic Lands’ intent to validate novel techniques.
“At the first two levels, our core disciples can hold their ground, but once we reach the Spiritual Field stage, things become problematic,” Lu Zi Zai admitted.
Even at the Outer Saint stage, progress on the Awakening Path slowed significantly, creating a widening gap between the two factions.
The Exotic Lands disciples carried themselves with confidence as they walked through the court. They viewed techniques like the Wrestling the Immortal Sutra, which could rival the Six Rulers Heart Sutra, as mere supplemental tools rather than their main focus. Their elders instilled in them the belief that their “Immortal Path” stood above all others, bolstering their superiority complex.
In contrast, they saw the Awakening Path as the refuge of those who failed to meet their high selection standards. To them, the difference was as stark as mortal and divine.
The next day, the sparring arena was abuzz. Word had spread of the challenge, and a crowd had gathered to witness the event. For the disciples of the Six Rulers Ancestor Court, this was deeply personal. Allowing outsiders to claim victory on their soil was unthinkable.
“This is an insult,” a disciple muttered. “Even if they lose, they’re attacking us at our weakest, using their strengths against our shortcomings. But if they win…”
“Our disciples have been practicing Awakening Path techniques for less than five years,” an elder from the court remarked with a lighthearted tone.
“Our challenger has been on this path for only two years,” another elder replied, mirroring Lu Zi Zai’s words from the previous night. They were relaying his confidence as a shield for their disciples.
Qin Ming stood silently in the arena, dressed in plain blue robes. His presence was unrecognizable to the crowd. Lu Zi Zai had ensured his identity was hidden, wary of the predatory nature of some elders from the Exotic Lands. Qin Ming’s relatively low level offered some protection, but repeated exposure could make him a marked target over time.
The nearby Fire Spring flowed gently, and silver trees shimmered in the light, illuminating the arena. Across the field, the disciples from the Exotic Lands sat on a raised platform. Though outwardly relaxed, they regarded the event with seriousness. This was more than a mere duel; it was an opportunity to validate their groundbreaking theories.
A young man in white robes stepped forward. His attire was spotless, and with every step, a series of phenomena unfolded: fresh green leaves appeared, followed by yellowing and falling leaves that circled his body. The display was both beautiful and intimidating.
“That’s the Withering and Flourishing Sutra. How can someone so young have mastered it to this degree? His Celestial Light Force doesn’t just manifest—it shapes itself into vivid imagery!” a disciple of the Six Rulers Court murmured in disbelief.
“Calm yourselves,” an elder barked. “His pure Yang spiritual consciousness merely carries his Celestial Light Force. It’s all for show.”
Despite his reassurance, the elder was unsettled. The Exotic Lands seemed to have integrated two distinct approaches, creating a formidable combination.
The white-robed youth smiled as he manipulated his sutra. Radiant blossoms bloomed in the void, their petals swaying as they floated toward Qin Ming. Even as he attacked, his demeanor was serene, exuding an otherworldly elegance.
Qin Ming stood still, plucking a single blossom with his fingers. A faint smile crossed his lips, his expression calm and clear, embodying a composure that surpassed his opponent’s.
The white-robed youth broke into a sweat. The flower carried immense power, enhanced by his elders’ refinement of his Yang spiritual consciousness. Yet Qin Ming treated it as a mere trinket.
The youth redoubled his efforts, conjuring a second radiant blossom. It spun rapidly as it hurtled toward Qin Ming with overwhelming force.
Qin Ming used the same hand to intercept it, casually plucking the flower while his other hand rested behind his back. His effortless grace made the confrontation appear almost absurd—like a transcendent figure engaging a commoner.
To the spectators from the Exotic Lands, the scene felt surreal.
With a sudden flick of his wrist, Qin Ming sent both blossoms hurtling back at their creator. They flew faster than before, blooming midair into a flurry of petals that exploded upon impact.
The white-robed youth couldn’t evade. The explosion shattered his robes, leaving his body riddled with cracks as he coughed blood violently. Trembling, he collapsed to the ground, his blood staining the arena floor.
“This is all? Did you come here just to offer flowers to the Six Rulers Ancestor Court?” Qin Ming asked, one hand behind his back, his voice calm yet cutting.