Chapter 263: Fifth-Tier Body Refining Divine Ability

A gentle breeze blew, fluttering your sleeves.

You strolled casually through Heavenly Sword Peak. Occasionally, sword cultivators passed nearby, completely oblivious to your presence as if you were invisible.

Space faintly distorted around you. After a thousand years of cultivation, you possessed a much deeper understanding of the essence of space. Furthermore, by refining the Void Whale's essence blood, you frequently transformed into a Void Whale, experiencing the underlying laws of spatial mechanics on a profound level.

You appeared to be standing there, but in reality, you existed within another layer of space.

Not only could other cultivators not see you, but their attacks couldn't even touch you.

Of course, this intangibility only applied to those below the Deity Transformation Stage. At the Heavenly Monarch level, where a casual strike could tear through space, they could naturally still reach you.

'Cultivation is difficult, harder than ascending to the blue heavens...'

You sighed inwardly. Over this past millennium, your mastery of the Dao of Formations had broken through to the fifth tier more than three hundred years ago, making you a fifth-tier formation heavenly master.

In addition, you had pushed seven or eight other auxiliary crafts to Tier 4, a decent overall improvement.

When it came to your cultivation base, however, your progress had been agonizingly slow. You were still at the Deity Transformation Early Stage, not having even reached the Early Peak.

Your expression remained calm. You weren't particularly disappointed.

Over the hundred thousand years of the near-ancient era, countless stunningly brilliant Deity Transformation Heavenly Monarchs had been trapped at the Deity Transformation Early Stage. Even the Heavenly Monarchs of Heavenly Sword Peak, inheriting the Sword Lord's legacy, were no exception. You didn't consider yourself special; in fact, in terms of innate talent and aptitude, you were undoubtedly inferior to those Heavenly Monarchs of past generations.

Your greatest strength lay in your ability to run infinite simulations, stacking the accumulated foundation of each one. You weren't fighting for a single lifetime, but for ten thousand lifetimes.

'Take it slow. If I can't break through to the Deity Transformation Middle Stage in one simulation, then I'll do it in ten, or twenty.'

You pondered silently. You could feel your cultivation slowly advancing. The speed was incredibly sluggish, but if the timeline were stretched out, you definitely weren't stagnating.

You took a step forward. Space subtly warped, and when you reappeared, you were already back inside your spirit vein Dao arena.

'My current strength...'

You examined yourself. Although your dharma cultivation realm hadn't advanced much, your combat power had seen a significant qualitative leap compared to a thousand years ago.

Your Body Refining cultivation had broken through to the fifth tier. The Fifth-Tier Body Refining divine ability you acquired brought your comprehensive combat power to a whole new level.

This Fifth-Tier Body Refining divine ability was named—

Rebirth from a Drop of Blood.

Rebirth from a Drop of Blood: Even if you were reduced to a single drop of blood, you could rapidly regenerate.

This body cultivation divine ability was a rare life-saving art, essentially the absolute pinnacle of recovery. If you could regenerate from just a single drop of blood, wouldn't you recover even faster from merely losing an arm or a leg, or suffering severe physical trauma?

After all, in life-and-death struggles between experts, the most taboo outcome was killing a thousand enemies to lose eight hundred, or perishing in mutual destruction.

Unless there was a genuine blood feud, no cultivator was willing to pay a disastrously heavy price just to kill an enemy.

However, this divine ability maximized your margin for error during combat.

You could completely let loose and fight with reckless abandon.

Of course, this divine ability wasn't without its flaws.

It required the consumption of qi and blood to be executed.

If you were truly reduced to a single drop of blood with the rest of your physical body obliterated, completely regenerating in a short time would consume at least eighty percent of your qi and blood.

Eighty percent of one's qi and blood... That meant even after regenerating, a body-refining Heavenly Monarch would lose their basic combat capability for a short period.

But you had another body cultivation divine ability—Qi and Blood.

Once used, your qi and blood regeneration rate would reach its absolute limit, leaving you with almost no fear of ever exhausting it.

Combining the divine ability 'Qi and Blood' with 'Rebirth from a Drop of Blood' granted you an ability akin to true immortality for a single day.

'Normally speaking, a divine ability like Rebirth from a Drop of Blood would only have a chance of awakening at the Fifth Tier Middle Stage or even the Late Stage...'

You thought to yourself, recalling the time you transcended the Deity Transformation Five Elements Heavenly Thunder Tribulation. You had allowed the heavenly thunder to temper your physical body.

Though you didn't awaken a new body cultivation divine ability at the time, that physical tempering had accumulated. When your Body Refining realm broke through to the fifth tier, all of that accumulated foundation erupted at once, allowing you to awaken a rare body cultivation divine ability like Rebirth from a Drop of Blood.

One could not underestimate ultimate recovery. If Heavenly Monarch Qingcang had possessed this divine ability in the past, he probably would have dared to openly challenge Extreme Sword Heavenly Monarch.

The most terrifying aspect of a sword-cultivating Heavenly Monarch was their horrifying offensive power. But even for Extreme Sword Heavenly Monarch, thoroughly killing Heavenly Monarch Qingcang in a single sword strike? That was impossible.

And as long as he couldn't be killed in a single strike, Heavenly Monarch Qingcang would be able to rapidly regenerate. That would make him incredibly difficult to fight; the only method would be to forcefully grind him down through a battle of attrition.

'My strongest method now is to engage in close-quarters combat while simultaneously unleashing various Nascent Soul spells...'

You shook your head slightly. Rebirth from a Drop of Blood had somewhat altered your combat style; there was no longer any need to hide in the backlines.

...

'The current Human Realm...'

You cast a glance beyond Heavenly Sword Peak. In the Deep Sea region, rings of cultivator defense lines had been established. Numerous Nascent Soul Stage true lords were taking turns standing guard, all to prepare for the day the Demon Abyss Realm once again descended upon the Human Realm.

Compared to your past simulations where you would directly run away in the face of disaster, it would be very difficult to flee from this Demon Abyss Realm invasion.

Where could you even run? Once the Demon Abyss Realm conquered the Human Realm, they would enact planar assimilation. At that point, no matter where you hid in the Human Realm—the Seventy-Two Blessed Lands? The Thirty-Six Grotto-Heavens? Or even the Ghost Realm Trial Field?—you would be sniffed out by the experts of the Demon Abyss Realm.

Currently, there were three paths laid out before you.

The first was to ascend to the Upper Realm.

This path was essentially still running away, but it would be incredibly difficult to pull off. The ascension passage connecting to the Upper Realm had been severed long ago.

If a Deity Transformation Stage Heavenly Monarch of the Human Realm wanted to ascend to the Upper Realm, they would have to cross through endless chaotic void currents and directly face the countless dangers lurking in the depths of the boundless Void.

Unless there was absolutely no other choice, you wouldn't consider this path.

Even if you managed to acquire the World-Crossing Immortal Ark and possessed the Void Whale transformation, rushing headlong into the boundless Void was simply too risky.

The second path was to exhaust all the forces of the Human Realm to resist the Demon Abyss Realm's invasion, buying you time to cultivate.

For example, over these past thousand years, no matter how slow your cultivation had been, it was still advancing. What about one thousand, two thousand, three thousand years? What about one simulation, five simulations, ten simulations?

In theory, as long as you had enough time, dripping water wears through stone. Even in an environment like the near-ancient era of the Human Realm, you would eventually be able to cultivate to Deity Transformation Perfection. Not to mention, you still hadn't used your golden talent, Legend of a Generation.

As for the third path... Naturally, it was to defect and join the Demon Abyss Realm.

However, you would need to secure enough benefits to take this path. After all, joining the Demon Abyss Realm meant interacting with higher-tier experts, which was a risk in itself. If the Demon Abyss Realm didn't offer you a substantial enough reward, you would still choose the safer second path.

Although the second path was slow and time-consuming, it was the most secure. You were rooted in the Human Realm, and the Human Realm was your territory; its safety was beyond question.

...

'I'll draw a few talismans first.'

You reeled in your thoughts. With a slight shift of your will, the power of heaven and earth gathered before you, forming a blank scroll. Holding a brush, you began to casually paint upon the canvas.

The drafting of a Tier 5 Talisman was no longer confined to conventional talisman-crafting methods.

Over the past millennium, you had drawn talismans frequently. Now, your talisman Dao skills had already reached the peak of the Fifth Tier Low Grade.

...

Outside Heavenly Sword Peak, three figures came to a halt.

These three figures were all Late Nascent Soul Stage Great Cultivators: True Monarch Dark Talisman from the Heavenly Talisman Sect, True Monarch Qianmian from the Hexu Sect, and True Monarch Bailin from the Tianque Chamber of Commerce. Because of the threat from the Demon Abyss Realm, the boundaries between the major factions of the Human Realm had blurred significantly over the past millennium. Even Nascent Soul Stage true lords from different factions could cheerfully gather to drink and chat.

"We wish to pay our respects to Heavenly Monarch Qingyuan."

True Monarch Qianmian spoke up, stating their purpose.

The three of them had received news from the Deep Sea defense line.

"Come in."

The sword cultivators of Heavenly Sword Peak nodded, leading the three Great Cultivators inside.

Before long, the three Great Cultivators walked into your spirit vein cave dwelling.

'I'm finally going to meet Heavenly Monarch Qingyuan...'

True Monarch Bailin was a newly advanced Great Cultivator from just over two centuries ago. Having never met you before, his heart naturally surged with excitement at this moment.

Soon.

The three Great Cultivators laid eyes on you.

"Greetings, Heavenly Monarch Qingyuan." True Monarch Qianmian was extremely respectful. He looked at the azure-robed man sitting not far away, his back turned to them as he painted. The faintly exposed corner of that painting seemed to bear the imprint of heaven, earth, mountains, and rivers, containing vast, unfathomable might. However, because you had concealed it, none of the three Great Cultivators could clearly see the specific details of the painting.

Even so, the formless spiritual pressure made the three Great Cultivators feel as though they were directly facing the full might of a Deity Transformation Heavenly Monarch, causing their minds to tremble.

'What is Heavenly Monarch Qingyuan painting? Just a sliver of the aura it's giving off is already this terrifying...'

True Monarch Qianmian steadied his mind and guessed inwardly.

'This isn't a painting. This is a Talisman. A Tier 5 Talisman.'

As a Great Cultivator of the Heavenly Talisman Sect, True Monarch Dark Talisman possessed basic discernment. He could tell that the canvas you were painting on was merely the surface; essentially, you were compressing the power of heaven and earth to draft a Tier 5 Talisman.

'To think that Heavenly Monarch Qingyuan is actually a fifth-tier talisman heavenly master... This Tier 5 Talisman he's drafting, even though it hasn't fully taken shape yet, feels much more terrifying than the Tier 5 Dharma Talismans within our sect...'

True Monarch Dark Talisman's mind swayed, completely overwhelmed by shock.

The fact that you had become a fifth-tier talisman heavenly master was known to very few. Drafting Tier 5 Talismans triggered relatively small heavenly phenomena, which could be easily concealed.

'Too terrifying. Just looking at this Tier 5 Talisman, Heavenly Monarch Qingyuan's talisman Dao skills are enough to rank in the top ten in the entire history of my Heavenly Talisman Sect...' True Monarch Dark Talisman marveled inwardly. 'According to Martial Uncle Three Talismans, Heavenly Monarch Qingyuan even stayed at our Heavenly Talisman Sect for a period of time back in the day.'

Right at this moment.

You put away your brush. The painting before you fully materialized. You took out a piece of animal hide—the skin of a fifth-tier Void Whale, which could serve as the raw material for a Tier 5 Talisman.

The entire canvas continuously shrank, melding into the animal hide.

The Tier 5 Talisman was completely formed.

You put this Tier 5 Talisman away, glanced at the three Great Cultivators, and asked casually, "What is it?"

"Heavenly Monarch Qingyuan..."

True Monarch Qianmian immediately snapped back to reality and said respectfully, "The sixty-nine layers of defense lines in the Deep Sea region have been completed. Now, we need Heavenly Monarch Qingyuan to personally make a trip over to establish the fifth-tier array core and integrate the grand array power of all the defense lines."

"So it's about that."

You nodded slightly. The Deep Sea's sixty-nine layers of defense lines were, at their core, an unprecedented Tier 5 grand array.

Since you knew in advance that the Demon Abyss Realm would invade through the spatial rift at the end of the Deep Sea, laying down a grand array ahead of time to assist in strangling the demonic creatures once they descended was naturally the most effortless approach.

And currently, you were the only formation heavenly master in the Human Realm. If the sixty-nine-layer defense grand array was to be flawless, you had to be the one to oversee the final step.

"Understood. I will head to the Deep Sea now."

The moment your words fell, faint ripples stirred in space, and your figure vanished from the spot. "Where is Heavenly Monarch Qingyuan?"

True Monarch Bailin mustered his courage and looked up, only to find that you had long since disappeared.

"He should... He should have gone to the Deep Sea..."

True Monarch Qianmian speculated.

True Monarch Bailin and True Monarch Dark Talisman exchanged a glance. Seeing Heavenly Monarch Qingyuan this time had brought them an immense shock. This was the true bearing of the current number one Heavenly Monarch of the Human Realm.

...

Whoosh—

Through dozens of spatial shifts, you arrived at the Deep Sea.

Naturally, Deity Transformation Stage Heavenly Monarchs didn't need to travel by flying at a leisurely pace. Heavenly Monarchs could tear through space; as long as they locked onto the coordinates, they could travel in a manner similar to using a spatial teleportation array.

This was spatial shifting, otherwise known as spatial traversing.

You arrived at the end of the Deep Sea, and several figures, similarly standing above the clouds, approached you.

These figures were Extreme Sword Heavenly Monarch, Heavenly Monarch Qianshu, and Heavenly Monarch Lingshe. The latter two were Heavenly Monarchs who had ascended within the past millennium; Heavenly Monarch Qianshu came from the Hexu Sect, and Heavenly Monarch Lingshe from the Sacred Body Sect.

"Fellow Daoist Qingyuan."

"Fellow Daoist Qingyuan."

Extreme Sword Heavenly Monarch and the other two Heavenly Monarchs greeted you.

"How have things been lately? Have there been any unexpected changes?"

You looked toward the end of the Deep Sea, at the spatial rift stretching across the area. Wisps of silver seal script transformed into sealing power, locking down the spatial rift, but pitch-black demonic qi continued to relentlessly erode the seal.

"On the other side of the rift... powerful demons have struck several times, trying to shatter the seal, but they haven't succeeded. The current seal can hold for at least another two hundred years."

Heavenly Monarch Qianshu said.

Separated by two realms, even a Void Return Demon Venerable would have their power drastically weakened.

"Two hundred years..."

You nodded slightly.

The longer things were dragged out here, the more cultivation time you would naturally have, making the situation much more advantageous for you. Your purpose in setting up the sixty-nine-layer defense line in the Deep Sea was to delay the Demon Abyss Realm's invasion speed as much as possible—both to resist the Demon Abyss Realm and to buy yourself more time to cultivate.

"This spatial rift is far inferior to the grand realm passage from the ancient era. Even if it expands to its absolute limit, it's impossible for it to withstand the power of a Void Return Demon Venerable."

Heavenly Monarch Lingshe said.

"Mm."

You looked down at the overlapping lines of defense and nodded, saying, "Then I shall begin setting up the array."