Chapter 425 - 232: True Form (2)

Chapter 425: Chapter 232: True Form (2)

However, once a Magical Artifact had weathered a tribulation to condense its True Form, it would face the same calamity again with far more ease. Perhaps this was a small mercy from the Great Dao, a concession for the immense resources, time spent in tempering and nurturing, and countless tribulations a Magical Artifact must endure to finally reach this stage.

But that was a matter for another time. The True Form Celestial Tribulation was now imminent. This was not only an opportunity to condense a True Form, but also a calamity that could destroy the Magical Treasure.

In any case, the Taiyi Rainbow Sword was his trusted Flying Sword as a Sword Cultivator, a Magical Treasure that had accompanied him for a very long time. He had to give it proper consideration.

’Looks like I’ll have to come out of seclusion early.’ Having made his decision, Xuzhuang delayed no longer. He suddenly shook his robes and rose, transforming into a gust of cold wind that swept out of the cave and into the Abyssal Gorge.

Tai Su’s Ten Thousand Transformations Escape Technique allowed one to conform to any shape, with myriad transformations. Xuzhuang had also cultivated this Escape Technique to the Ninth Realm, and he was now attempting to merge it with the Five Elements Escape Skill.

Although the core philosophy of the Tai Su Taoist Technique was compatible with the five elements, merging them was not a task for a single day. With no predecessors to guide him, Xuzhuang had only just scratched the surface. Even so, when he unleashed his Escape Technique, the effect was already beyond what most could possibly imagine.

As if he had truly become a cold current, Xuzhuang howled through the Abyssal Gorge. He noticed that the restrictive spells on the cave where Daoyun was in seclusion had not been reset, but he didn’t dwell on it. He was moving almost half again as fast as when he had arrived, and soon the entrance to the Beiji Pavilion came into view.

He passed straight through the cavern passage. As the cold air around him faded, Xuzhuang found himself back in the great hall of the Beiji Pavilion. A pleasant warmth spread through his body; he realized it was now early summer in the outside world.

The inscrutable, slovenly old Daoist was nowhere to be seen, and the youth who had been on duty here a century ago was also gone. The Beiji Pavilion was once again deserted. Thus, Xuzhuang continued his Escape Technique, exiting through the main doors and reaching the heavens in an instant.

Before long, the Cloud Palace was before him. Surprisingly, no one was standing guard outside the gate. Xuzhuang raised an eyebrow slightly. He revealed himself before the palace gate, and after waiting for quite a while, he finally saw Zhi Xing hurrying over. He bowed and said, "This attendant greets Junior Martial Uncle Xu."

Xuzhuang glanced at Zhi Xing and suddenly noticed that his features seemed to have matured a little. ’It seems a hundred years is not a short time, even for the long-lived Exotic Races.’ He then returned the bow and said, "Greetings, Zhi Xing."

Zhi Xing replied, "Junior Martial Uncle, please follow me."

Xuzhuang nodded lightly and followed Zhi Xing straight into the great hall. There, from within a cloud of mist, Daochen Zhenren slowly emerged. He studied Xuzhuang closely for a moment and smiled. "It seems my Junior Martial Brother has gained much from his seclusion. I was also in the middle of my cultivation and almost failed to predict your arrival."

Daochen Zhenren was used to Xuzhuang’s ways. He knew his junior would be modest, so he raised a hand and waved it dismissively. "Alright, now. One doesn’t visit the Treasure Hall without a purpose. What brings you to see me the moment you’ve left seclusion, Junior Martial Brother?"

Xuzhuang said solemnly, "I wish to request the Secret Dharma Seal, so that I may go to the Langhuan Pavilion and find a Tribulation Crossing Technique for a fire disaster."

"Oh?" Daochen Zhenren was taken aback. He mused, "The Secret Dharma Seal is not a difficult matter. Even without considering your contributions to the sect, Junior Martial Brother, I can grant you permission to study the secret teachings."

"But as for a Tribulation Crossing Technique... you shouldn’t have need of one yet, Junior Martial Brother. If you don’t mind my asking, why do you seek it?"

"I will not hide it from you, Senior Martial Brother," Xuzhuang said with cupped hands. "As you know, I possess a Magical Treasure Flying Sword, and it has now reached the critical point of condensing its True Form..."

At this, understanding dawned on Daochen Zhenren’s face. "So that’s the reason," he said. "I’ve long known that your Flying Sword possesses astounding spirituality and had the potential to forge a True Form. I just never expected it to come so soon. And that it would also be a fire disaster."

"Also?" Xuzhuang began to ask, but Daochen Zhenren continued, "However, among the Tribulation Crossing Techniques recorded by the sect, only two are Thunder Tribulation Skills and one is a Wind Disaster Skill that can be considered Superior Tribulation Crossing Methods. The others are of little use, or the gains are not worth the cost..."

Xuzhuang’s brow furrowed upon hearing this; he had not expected such an answer.

He didn’t realize just how precious Tribulation Crossing Techniques were. The methods Daochen Zhenren had dismissed as being "of little use" or "not worth the cost" would be considered priceless treasures in the eyes of many Primordial Spirit True Men. As long as a technique could increase the chance of surviving the Three Disasters by even a sliver, any sacrifice was deemed acceptable.

As for Superior Tribulation Crossing Methods, it went without saying. An orthodox sect as prestigious as Tai Su had only managed to collect three in the past ten thousand years.

"Techniques for fire tribulations, in particular, are something the Tai Su Orthodox Sect sorely lacks," Daochen Zhenren said. "I’ve been contemplating this matter recently myself..."

A sudden thought struck Xuzhuang, and he asked in surprise, "Senior Martial Brother, don’t tell me you’re about to face your tribulation?"

’It was unknown when exactly Daochen Zhenren had attained the Dao, but it had only been just over three hundred years since he became sect master. Could his cultivation truly have reached the level to trigger the Three Disasters already?’

"That’s not it," Daochen Zhenren said leisurely. "My own tribulation should be a wind disaster, and its arrival is still quite far off."

"As it happens, the reason I was contemplating this is that someone else in the sect intends to attain the Dao via the Spirit Treasure Technique, and they too will face a fire disaster."

"The Spirit Treasure Technique?" Xuzhuang suddenly recalled a playful remark Daochen Zhenren had made to him a hundred years prior.

"That’s right." Daochen Zhenren sighed lightly, seeming unwilling to elaborate. He changed the subject, saying, "Merging one’s body with a Magical Treasure takes eight hundred years. Though the sect has ways to speed it up, the matter is not yet urgent."

"Thus, the matter has been left pending. I never thought that you, Junior Martial Brother, would now come to me with the same request."

Daochen Zhenren seemed to sink into thought. After a moment, he spoke again. "I have a tentative idea about this, but I cannot make a decision just yet."

"Let’s do this. Junior Martial Brother, go back to your residence and rest for now. Return to the Cloud Palace to see me at this same time tomorrow."

"Oh?" A thought stirred in Xuzhuang’s mind. He sensed a deeper meaning in Daochen Zhenren’s words and, after a brief consideration, replied, "If that is the case, then I shall trouble you again tomorrow."