Chapter 610 - 293: Innate Expert

Chapter 610: Chapter 293: Innate Expert

"Sigh..." Luo Tiezhu let out a wistful sigh. "This Military Dao Combat Killing Hammer is the strongest weapon I have ever forged in my entire life. In my eyes, it’s truly flawless, beyond reproach."

Chen Cheng grew even more puzzled and asked, "Why do you look so unhappy, sir? What’s there to be dissatisfied with?"

Luo Tiezhu glared at Chen Cheng and suddenly started grumbling, "This old man was originally overjoyed, but when I saw your hesitant expression, I suddenly realized something, and it left a bit of a sour taste in my mouth."

"What is it you realized?"

"Sigh..." Luo Tiezhu sighed again, looked up at the vast, blue sky, and said,

"There’s always a higher mountain. It’s true for Martial Arts Cultivation, and it’s just as true for the Path of Artifact Refining.

I poured everything I’ve learned in my life into forging this Military Dao Combat Killing Hammer, but in the end, it’s just a Pseudo-Spiritual Artifact.

Compared to the Spiritual Artifacts forged by Artifact Refining Masters from Major Sects, it’s not even in the same league.

If I were younger, I wouldn’t have time for melancholy. I’d just study harder and strive to advance further on the Path of Artifact Refining to be on par with those top-tier Artifact Refining Masters.

But now, that’s impossible! Age spares no one. I’m afraid my skills in Artifact Refining have reached their limit!"

It dawned on Chen Cheng. He wanted to offer a few words of comfort, but for a moment, he couldn’t find the right thing to say.

Saying something like, "You’re already amazing, sir," would likely have the opposite effect and just make Luo Tiezhu even more depressed.

After all, a stubborn, perfectionist old man like Luo Tiezhu was proud to his very core!

"You can’t even forge a Spiritual Artifact. Your Artifact Refining skills really could use some improvement!"

Chen Cheng remarked quite calmly.

"Yeah!" Luo Tiezhu subconsciously nodded, thinking Chen Cheng was trying to console him. But he quickly realized what was said—it was clearly a jab!

"What did you say?" Luo Tiezhu’s eyes went wide!

With a calm expression, Chen Cheng repeated himself. "You can’t forge a Spiritual Artifact!"

"Hah! A mere Spiritual Artifact is nothing! If I had enough materials and blueprints, I could whip one up without breaking a sweat!"

Luo Tiezhu put his hands on his hips, his mustache bristling as he glared and grumbled.

Chen Cheng stared right back at him. "I don’t believe you. Why don’t you tell me, sir? How powerful is a Spiritual Artifact? And which kind is the strongest?"

"Hah! Are you trying to test me, boy? You’re still too wet behind the ears!"

Luo Tiezhu was indeed fired up now, like a belligerent rooster, absolutely determined to argue his point with Chen Cheng!

"Fine, I’ll spell it out for you!

A Spiritual Artifact not only contains Spirituality but also embodies the very essence of creation. Its power is immense!

Did you know that Spiritual Artifacts are divided into four tiers: Heaven, Earth, Mystic, and Yellow?

Did you know that above Artifact Refining Masters, there are Spiritual Artifact Masters, Spirit Talisman Masters, and even the legendary Celestial Artisans who command divine weapons?

..."

The old man and the young man suddenly launched into a heated discussion. Before they knew it, they were walking out of the Xuanwu Courtyard with their arms slung over each other’s shoulders, heading toward the Cyan Dragon Courtyard.

They were ready to argue for three days and three nights and not go home until they were drunk!

...

「Several days later.」

The night was black as ink, and snow like cotton fluff drifted down from the sky.

Chen Cheng was cultivating the Rising Dragon Realm alone in the large garden.

As he cultivated, a fierce wind howled through the garden. From time to time, thunder cracked, accompanied by dazzling bolts of lightning!

Under an ancient tree at the edge of the garden, two large Night Owls with big, reddish-yellow eyes stared resentfully at the green-robed figure in the center of the field.

It was none other than Night Owl Xiao Guzi and the female Night Owl it had wooed from who-knows-where!

Tucked under their dense wings, each was hiding a little owlet. The small creatures poked out their little heads, also staring eagerly at the green-robed figure.

When they heard the crack of thunder, they would get scared and shrink back under their parents’ wings to hide.

Once the thunder passed, they would carefully poke their heads out again.

With the constant thunder and lightning above the garden, the Night Owl family couldn’t rest peacefully in the tree and had no choice but to take shelter at its base.

Chen Cheng clearly paid them no mind, continuing his diligent practice without pause!

[Rising Dragon Realm Cultivation Progress increased.]

...

[Skills: Rising Dragon Realm (Second Layer Realm)

...

[Skills: True Intent of Heaven and Earth (Beginner Level 3803/5000) The value of True Intent of Heaven and Earth can be increased by cultivating various Realms.]

The large garden suddenly fell silent. A faint understanding dawned in Chen Cheng’s mind.

’So this is the legendary Third Layer Realm, the Micro Level of the True Intent of Heaven and Earth?

Cultivating the Second Layer of the Rising Dragon Realm to Perfection allowed me to directly touch the threshold of the True Intent of Heaven and Earth, reaching the Beginner Level.

No wonder the Second Layer of the Rising Dragon Realm is so powerful!’

With a thought, Chen Cheng activated his Qi Blood Power and raised a hand, pointing toward the night sky.

The Heaven and Earth Origin Qi abruptly condensed at his fingertip, forming a draconic phantom that tore through the void, extending several zhang away!

After briefly sensing the power of the draconic phantom, Chen Cheng pointed again and again. As the Heaven and Earth Origin Qi condensed, it transformed freely, taking shape according to his will.

Sometimes it was a Long Saber, other times a Longsword, or a long spear...

’Its power varies depending on the amount of Qi Blood Power I use. If estimated by value, it’s generally above two thousand, but the maximum is only around thirty-eight hundred.

When I use my full strength to execute the Rising Dragon Realm, the maximum power value is only around thirty-five hundred.

The True Intent of Heaven and Earth is two or three hundred points higher. That extra power must come from cultivating other Realms.

The so-called True Intent of Heaven and Earth is actually just Heaven and Earth Origin Qi refined to the Micro Level, much like how in physics, all things are composed of protons and neutrons.

This world doesn’t have physics, so the Micro Level of Heaven and Earth Origin Qi is more like a unified form of energy.

Through different combinations, this energy manifests as the auras of various Realms, while the True Intent of Heaven and Earth is a reverse-engineering of those auras, pointing directly back to the Heaven and Earth Origin.

The amount one can mobilize is related to one’s level of comprehension of the True Intent of Heaven and Earth.

Of course, this is a rather superficial explanation and not entirely accurate. The profound mysteries within have a quality that can only be grasped intuitively and not conveyed through words.

For instance, if I continue to cultivate the Second Layer of the Rising Dragon Realm, its Realm Power won’t increase much.

However, it will allow me to further comprehend the True Intent of Heaven and Earth and increase its value.

And mastering the True Intent of Heaven and Earth doesn’t mean I can automatically comprehend all other First Layer and Second Layer Realms.

Rather, it’s mostly through cultivating various First and Second Layer Realms that one further comprehends the True Intent of Heaven and Earth.

To use an analogy, it’s like knowing about protons and neutrons but still being unable to create all things.

But by understanding all things, one can gain a deeper understanding of protons and neutrons.

It’s like they say, "The Dao that can be told is not the eternal Dao; the name that can be named is not the eternal name."

Cultivation at the Micro Level is clearly much more difficult.

I still have to take it one steady step at a time.

Once my cultivation reaches a certain level, everything will fall into place. It can’t be rushed!’

After organizing his thoughts, Chen Cheng resumed cultivating the Rising Dragon Realm.

「The next day, at dawn.」

He called out his status panel again to check.

[Skills: True Intent of Heaven and Earth (Beginner Level 3804/5000) The value of True Intent of Heaven and Earth can be increased by cultivating various Realms.]

’Whoa! This progress is painfully slow! Just relying on the Rising Dragon Realm, it would probably take several years to cultivate the True Intent of Heaven and Earth to Small Success!

I have to try cultivating other Realms.’

...

Time always flies when one is focused on cultivation.

「In the blink of an eye, it was the beginning of the fourth month.」

On this day.

After breakfast, Chen Cheng arrived at the Inspection Bureau Office.

As soon as he stepped through the Government Office gates, he saw all the main officials of Linji City at the rank of Vice Director and above lined up neatly in the plaza, waiting with solemn expressions.

Even the trio of Jiang Huaijin, Qin Hongbin, and Shen Zhaoyi were present, standing in the front row with equally grim expressions, positioned beside Xiao Nianci, Xia Lingfeng, and Jiang Botao.

Chen Cheng gave a slight nod to the crowd in greeting and walked toward the Demon Suppression Department’s contingent, intending to stand next to Vice Director Xue Huai’an.

Unexpectedly, Xiao Nianci spoke up, "Lord Chen, please come stand beside Vice Director Xia."

"Yes." Chen Cheng nodded slightly and strode over to Xia Lingfeng’s side.

Such a grand ceremony was to welcome a major figure: the new Lord Chief Director of the Linji Prefecture Inspection Department, Situ Mu.

He was a Guardian from Vast Peak with extremely formidable Martial Arts Power. He had advanced to the Puncture Realm many years ago and was a legendary Innate Realm Expert.

A person of his stature rarely came down to a Prefecture City, especially one as remote as Linji Prefecture. It was rare to see such a figure even once in several years.

Unlike the flamboyant Xiao Nianci, Situ Mu was a very low-key individual. He had arrived in Linji City the day before with only a few attendants.

Only after settling into his residence did he formally come to the Inspection Department today to assume his duties.