Chapter 421: Dharma Body Path!

Faced with Daoist Master Hanguang Danyang's inquiry, Wang Ping instantly caught his drift. Tilting his head, he put on a perfectly bewildered expression. "What path?"

Even True Person Hanguang Danyang, a seasoned veteran of the Immortal Gate, had to admire his flawless performance.

One look, and you could tell he came from the Immortal Gate.

A moment later, the True Person—whose form was condensed from the setting sun, twilight clouds, and a twenty-four-colored radiance—chuckled softly. "With such natural talent and comprehension, do you truly not know, young friend?"

"I really don't!" Wang Ping shot back firmly, shaking his head without hesitation. "I merely took a trip to the Deity Transformation Realm, cultivated a few divine abilities, and borrowed a suitable Spiritual Treasure."

In a few words, Wang Ping smoothly shifted the origin of the Unchanging Non-Action Profound Bow from the Hundred Treasures Great Abundance Granary to the Deity Transformation Realm. He did this to extricate the Weapon Courtyard from this grand scheme—after all, according to his deductions, this was all the doing of the water qi and metal qi operating behind the fire qi's back.

Thinking of this, Wang Ping looked even more lost. "Since ancient times, heaven's will has been profound and impossible to question. I am but a lowly cultivator just trying to survive. How could I possibly see through a True Monarch's thoughts, let alone their grand designs?"

Hearing this, True Person Hanguang Danyang nodded slightly. "I don't believe you."

Wang Ping looked helpless. "How would I dare lie to you, my lord?"

"With guts as big as yours, what wouldn't you dare?"

True Person Hanguang Danyang laughed. "You even refined the Buddhist son of the Master of Secret Traces into a yin spirit. I doubt my direct disciple could escape your poisonous hands either."

"So you definitely know. After all, you are far too useful as a chess piece. Without needing much explained, you grasp things on your own. That exalted lord also tested you repeatedly before finally choosing you. You simply don't want to tell me."

"You think too highly of me, my lord." Wang Ping shook his head.

"Quite the opposite," True Person Hanguang Danyang said, shaking his head as well. "I underestimated you once. I won't make the same mistake twice. This is the essence of refining the true through the false."

Psychopath! A dignified True Person who had reached such a realm of cultivation should rightfully underestimate a Qi Refining practitioner. Fucking hell, why are you trying so hard to stomp a noob!

Wang Ping was a little speechless. These bitch-born True Persons were actually playing with a sense of mission in a low-level fishpond match. They completely lacked the mindset a superior cultivator ought to have.

Out of options, he threw his hands up, taking on the posture of a shameless rogue. "No matter what you say, my lord, I truly don't know what I don't know. No matter how much you ask, this will be my answer. Rather than pressing me, why not just ask that exalted lord directly?"

"Heh..." True Person Hanguang Danyang didn't reply. He merely smiled inexplicably, and the gaze he fixed on Wang Ping gradually sharpened with an intense light.

"Then let me take a guess."

In an instant, Wang Ping felt his entire body's magical power, divine abilities, mastered qi manifestations, and numerous profound variations all manifest involuntarily.

The gentleman should hide his implements at the right time, the Netherworld Communication Profound Arbiter, the Ascending Purity and Descending Turbidity Aspect, and the Natural Splendor Heavenly Treasure Armory—one by one, they aligned themselves outside his body.

Hmm? Not good!

At first, Wang Ping had actually been quite calm.

However, when he saw the Natural Splendor Heavenly Treasure Armory illuminated by True Person Hanguang Danyang, massive waves of shock surged in his heart.

How was that possible? This Major Divine Ability... how had it been discovered?

The next second, True Person Hanguang Danyang's sigh of sudden realization drifted over faintly. "The Natural Splendor Heavenly Treasure Armory... you actually learned this Major Divine Ability."

"Back then, this divine ability caused a massive uproar. A water qi demonic leader snuck into the Hundred Treasures Great Abundance Granary and nearly hollowed out its very foundations. Not only did you learn it, you used it to master 'Moist Earth Nurtures Metal.' You have seen the Hundred Treasures Great Abundance Granary and sensed its imagery."

Wang Ping blinked. "What's so strange about that? Among my yin spirits, I just happen to have an Earth-Yin Metal Qi Refining practitioner. It should be perfectly normal for me to borrow their imagery."

True Person Hanguang Danyang instantly laughed. "To explain is to cover up."

To cover up was a guilty conscience, and a guilty conscience was the truth!

"It's the metal qi."

The clear, profound voice reverberated, yet it did not descend into the mundane world. It echoed only in Wang Ping's ears and in a dimension entirely untouchable by mortals. "The Weapon Courtyard participated in this layout... Let me think, which stream of qi is it? That Daoist Lord's ancient cultivation foundation is simply too heavy. Man-Yang Fire is the only cosmic qi he can sense. Therefore, if he wishes to pursue true cultivation, he cannot escape the fire qi, nor can he escape the variations of the Li Trigram."

"And upon this foundation, adding a stream of metal qi..."

The profound voice grew even brighter, every word a gem. With every name spoken, corresponding imagery surfaced between heaven and earth, drawing in boundless esoteric profundity.

"Hexagram Fire-Heaven Da You. Hexagram Fire-Lake Kui."

"Hexagram Lake-Fire Ge. Hexagram Heaven-Fire Tong Ren."

Metal and fire energies intertwined as the Qian Trigram, Dui Trigram, and Li Trigram surfaced in alternating succession. The terrifying weight of this dao cultivation knowledge nearly made Wang Ping faint.

This was not knowledge he could handle.

Thus, apart from the names and the most superficial traces of their profundity, he understood nothing. He could only listen as True Person Hanguang Danyang continued, "That Daoist Lord wishes to transition to the Immortal Dao, cultivating the truth to ascend to the supreme position. This makes it imperative to sever his past dao foundation. This is 'Ge'—revolution. This is change. This is transition... I understand now. It is highly likely the Lake-Fire Ge Hexagram. This is the path the water qi just privately conveyed to that Daoist Lord through the hands of the Weapon Courtyard."

"That bow." True Person Hanguang Danyang shifted his gaze to the Unchanging Non-Action Profound Bow slung across Wang Ping's back. "What is the connection between this bow and the Lake-Fire Ge Hexagram?"

"I don't know," Wang Ping said, continuing to shake his head and sighing as though he were hearing the name Lake-Fire Ge for the very first time. "Since you have already made your judgment, my lord, why keep asking me?"

"I am not asking you."

The True Person formed of setting sun and twilight clouds studied Wang Ping and spoke softly. "Young friend, sometimes you simply overthink things."

"In many matters, the answer to the riddle is actually right on the surface."

"Thinking too much only pushes you further from the truth."

As his words fell, it was as if a light breeze blew past. True Person Hanguang Danyang vanished, his radiant colors sinking back into the darkness. The Cosmos returned to its tranquil silence.

He and the fire qi had both gotten the answers they wanted.

In that moment, Wang Ping's state of mind didn't fluctuate in the slightest. Yet the bewilderment was not just painted on his face; it surfaced from the bottom of his heart, carrying heavy doubt and confusion.

True Monarch. Why?

True Person Hanguang Danyang had guessed correctly. In truth, from the moment the Natural Splendor Heavenly Treasure Armory was exposed, Wang Ping knew this secret couldn't be kept hidden.

The question was, why was it exposed?

Back then, right under the noses of all the True Persons, the True Monarch had managed to hide the gentleman should hide his implements at the right time absolutely flawlessly. How had it suddenly been exposed now?

Unless... The True Monarch never intended to hide it at all?

The moment this thought spawned, it was like a stone skipping across a calm lake, shattering all of Wang Ping's previous speculations and breeding even more questions.

Why not hide it?

There was only one possibility... which was the water qi. The person that exalted lord actually wanted to deceive wasn't the fire qi True Monarch, but someone else?

Thinking of this, Wang Ping turned around and looked up toward the direction of the Unchanging Non-Action Dao Field. An inexplicable chill suddenly rose in his heart.

True Person Hanguang Danyang had specifically waited until he left the dao field to seek him out. Meanwhile, the Daoist Lord had just been using secret signals to tell him to cultivate the Lake-Fire Ge Hexagram. Wang Ping believed that from the Daoist Lord's perspective, his judgment was exactly the same as Wang Ping's own a short while ago: that the water qi and metal qi had quietly joined forces...

It's the Daoist Lord. Wang Ping's mind trembled. The person the water qi wanted to keep in the dark wasn't the fire qi; it was the Daoist Lord! The goal was to deceive the Daoist Lord into mistakenly believing the water qi and metal qi were scheming behind the fire qi's back!

A trap within a trap!

First, they used the Water-Fire Ji Ji Hexagram to raise the Daoist Lord's vigilance. Then they used Earth-Fire Ming Yi, deliberately creating the illusion that the water and fire qi were united in appearance but divided in heart.

Then they brought me into the game to expose the truth of Earth-Fire Ming Yi. After that, through the Weapon Courtyard, they offered a third path. Step by step, they whittled the Daoist Lord's guard down to nothing. The water qi, fire qi, and metal qi—these three sides have been putting on an act from the very beginning. They have a tacit understanding!

No, wait...

At this thought, Wang Ping grew even more bewildered. That would mean all three True Monarchs were conspirators. But if that were true, how did this correspond to his own life tribulation?

Why scheme against the Daoist Lord at all?

And what about the Master of Secret Traces? It was impossible for him to be in on it too, right? If he was, then the fairness principle of destiny would be completely pointless—like taking off your pants to fart.

Could it be... there was a fifth layer to this?

The entire situation was growing increasingly confusing and complex. Even though Wang Ping had activated Golden Sea Desiccation, he still felt as though a thin layer of mist veiled his sea of consciousness.

Who was friend, and who was foe? He couldn't figure it out, nor could he see through it.

Thus, he quickly gave up trying. He simply stopped thinking about it and turned to look at the spot where Xia Qinghou had just died. Then, he formed a hand seal.

"The yellow springs run nine realms deep; the netherworld opens its ghost gates."

Rumble!

Murky radiance flowed as another yin spirit rose from the ground. Xia Qinghou stood before Wang Ping, his face full of unwavering loyalty, before Wang Ping stored him away into the profound ring behind his head.

Right after, his figure flashed and vanished into the depths of the Cosmos.

Radiant Clarity Realm.

Amidst setting suns and twilight clouds, with a lone column of smoke rising over a vast desert, True Person Hanguang Danyang's figure condensed within the radiant light of this immortal realm created by the fire qi True Monarch.

His demeanor was entirely unhurried, like a wanderer out for a spring stroll. He casually walked to the edge of a cliff, then tilted his head to look up at the vault of this immortal realm.

Up there, shining brightly like the midday sun, was a colossal halo of light illuminating the universe. At this moment, it resembled an open eye, dropping its gaze straight down to meet True Person Hanguang Danyang's eyes. Instantly, a deep, resonant voice drifted over on a scorching wind. "You said a bit too much."

"Just idle chatter."

True Person Hanguang Danyang chuckled lightly. "That exalted lord of the water qi had no intention of hiding anything. It shows that his resolve for this cooperation hasn't wavered much."

"When dealing with the water qi, one can never be too careful."

And what about dealing with the fire qi?

True Person Hanguang Danyang didn't voice this inner thought out loud. He merely continued, "Regardless, the final outcome will not change."

Wang Ping's flight light was incredibly fast. With the Free and Unfettered Roaming enhancement, he didn't spend much time traveling, arriving at his destination in just half a month.

Dao Tomb.

What greeted his eyes was not the typical star worlds found everywhere in the Cosmos, but a magnificent yet ruined continent spanning an abyssal rift.

That was the Graveyard Star.

The most mysterious and terrifying entity in the Cosmic Deep Space. Rumor had it that it was the result of a clash between immortals, endlessly devouring every existence in the deep space.

And this particular Graveyard Star within the Star Grave Sand Sea was supposedly the single largest one in the entire Cosmic Deep Space. Were it not for the Dao Tomb pressing down upon it and restricting the vast majority of its mighty power, the entire Star Grave Sand Sea would likely be swallowed whole, and all the ancient dao lineages would perish along with it.

"Hm..." Wang Ping examined the Dao Tomb and noticed more than a dozen stars—similar to the Unchanging Non-Action Dao Field—orbiting around it. They were all dao fields without exception.

From within these dao fields, streaks of light would occasionally fly out, weaving in and out of the Dao Tomb. They had even formed a few small-scale immortal markets.

So this is the true center of the Star Grave Sand Sea. Realization dawned on Wang Ping.

Compared to the environment around the Dao Tomb, the Unchanging Non-Action Dao Field actually seemed somewhat isolated and reclusive, as if it wasn't accepted by the various other dao fields.

Otherwise, the siege by three allied dao fields wouldn't have happened.

To be honest, Wang Ping had originally thought the Star Grave Sand Sea was a dark forest where the dao fields were constantly at each other's throats, or at least locked in tense standoffs. But in reality, that wasn't the case.

At the very least, these dozen or so dao fields Wang Ping was looking at right now were relatively harmonious. The cultivators coming and going were chatting and laughing. They clearly didn't look like they harbored bitter grudges.

After pondering for a moment, Wang Ping didn't rush forward. Instead, he first found a relatively concealed spot, then formed a hand seal and executed the divine ability the gentleman should hide his implements at the right time!

Instantly, murky light washed over Wang Ping's face, altering his qi manifestation and facial features. Before long, a ruggedly handsome youth appeared.

Wang Ping had swapped to Kunyun's face.

Aside from altering appearances, the major divine ability the gentleman should hide his implements at the right time had also developed new variations after receiving the enhancement of the Concealing Brilliance qi manifestation.

Simply put, the original profound concept of hiding first, revealing later was no longer restricted solely to himself. It could now be projected outward—meaning, he could borrow someone else's identity, hide himself to secretly commit misdeeds, and then let that other person be "revealed" to take the fall.

This is the art of transferring karma, avoiding disaster, and dodging tribulations!

For instance, right now, he had preemptively put on Kunyun's face. No matter what he did afterward—as long as this disguise wasn't exposed and the concealment broken—any action he took and any resulting karma would all fall squarely onto Kunyun's shoulders. Meanwhile, Wang Ping would stay perfectly invisible, untouched by even a speck of karma.

"The water qi truly is shameless," Wang Ping couldn't help but sigh.

What's that? I'm cultivating the water qi? Oh, never mind then!

At the same time, Wang Ping deeply analyzed his previous failed attempt, when he had used Kunyun's face to enter the Unchanging Non-Action Dao Field only to be instantly seen through.

To put it bluntly, it's about the cosmic qi.

He cultivated earth-yin water, while Kunyun cultivated heaven-yang wood. Their cosmic qi was fundamentally different. No matter how he disguised himself, anyone with even a slight understanding of Kunyun could see right through him.

Therefore, having learned a bitter lesson, Wang Ping specifically took out a newly acquired True Law Divine Arrow.

Dragon Smoke Wood.

Of the five True Law Divine Arrows, this one corresponded to the wood qi. Wang Ping carefully draped its qi manifestation over himself, applying a second layer of disguise.

Although this type of disguise would inevitably be exposed the moment he made a move, as long as he didn't fight, a quick glance would indeed show him bearing the qi manifestation of a wood qi cultivator.

After finishing all this, Wang Ping clapped his hands in satisfaction. "Not bad."

Only then did he ride a beam of light toward the Dao Tomb. He made no effort to hide, even intentionally triggering one of the formations set up around the perimeter.

A second later, a beam of light shot across the sky toward him. "Which daoist friend might this be?"

Wang Ping focused his gaze and saw that the newcomer was an elder Qi Nurturing Second Layer cultivator, his large sleeves fluttering in the wind, a white beard, and a wary expression on his face.

"I am Kunyun." Wang Ping hurriedly stepped forward, bowed, and smiled. "I cultivate at the Unchanging Non-Action Dao Field. Having just entered the Dao of Qi Nurturing, I came specifically to the Dao Tomb to broaden my horizons."

Hearing this, the man was initially taken aback. He then carefully examined Wang Ping. After confirming that he didn't carry the discordant aura of a Qi Refining practitioner that clashed with the Star Grave Sand Sea, his expression softened slightly. "I've heard much about you. So you are a daoist friend from the Unchanging Non-Action Dao Field."

"I am Tian Duo." The qi nurturing practitioner solemnly returned the bow. "I cultivate at the Azure Blade Dao Field. Congratulations on entering the Dao of Qi Nurturing. Truly, outstanding talents like you are a rarity these days."

"After all, this is the Dharma Ending Age. Our various dao lineages are huddled up in this death trap, relying entirely on us old-timers to hold things together. Newcomers entering the Dao are few and far between."

"You praise me too highly," Wang Ping said, waving his hand modestly.

However, in the next breath, Tian Duo abruptly changed the subject. "It is just a pity. Your breakthrough at this particular time was rather poorly timed. You've missed out on a monumental opportunity."

"Oh? Why is that?" Wang Ping shot him a sideways glance.

"Because the Heaven Defiance Palace is about to open." Tian Duo pointed at the distant Dao Tomb. "The exalted lords have issued a conscription order to all the dao fields."

"The lords inside the Dao Tomb intend to select capable cultivators and young geniuses, put them through trials, and pass down legacies. The goal is to elevate them as much as possible, raising them to a level where they can cross blows with the Immortal Gate's true transmission disciples, and even the direct lineage disciples of True Persons and True Monarchs. Only then can they properly compete for the fortunes within the Heaven Defiance Palace."

Wang Ping blinked.

"But my friend, from what I can see, those traveling the Cosmos right now are all qi nurturing and qi-ingesting practitioners. Shouldn't the Heaven Defiance Palace be restricted solely to Tribulation Transcending cultivators?"

"Hahaha." Tian Duo burst into laughter. "That's where you're mistaken, my friend. The rule restricting entry to Tribulation Transcending cultivators might have been impossible to bypass in the past."

"But things are different now."

"After all, the Heaven Defiance Palace has appeared multiple times thus far, and almost every time, it triggers massive brawls between the True Monarchs and Bodhisattvas of the immortal and Buddhist factions."

"In addition, every faction sends in excellent Tribulation Transcending cultivators to plunder its fortunes and snatch its imagery. With attacks from both the inside and outside over such a long period of time, the rules of the Heaven Defiance Palace have drastically weakened compared to when it first appeared. Naturally, the restrictions have loosened."

"Although, on the surface, cultivators who have entered the Dao are still not allowed in." Tian Duo chuckled mischievously. "However, if one uses avatar methods and strictly limits their cultivation to the Tribulation Transcending tier, they can still bypass the rules and get inside."

"Of course, this sort of thing depends heavily on a cultivator's background and foundation."

"After all, refining an avatar is incredibly troublesome. Some high-level cultivators lacking a strong background might not be able to forge a sufficiently powerful Tribulation Transcending clone."

"This is especially true for a Qi Nurturing First Layer cultivator like yourself who just broke through. Your resources can hardly compare to those at the Third Layer. You wouldn't be able to refine an impressive avatar, and it might not even perfectly display the combat prowess you had during the Tribulation Transcending stage. That's why I said your breakthrough was poorly timed."

"After all, you are a genius who managed to enter the Dao during the Dharma Ending Age."

At this point, Tian Duo looked somewhat regretful. "If you had stayed at the Tribulation Transcending stage instead of breaking through, with your talent and combat power, you might have even caught the eye of the lords inside the Dao Tomb."

"That is the true stroke of great fortune. Yet now, you've missed it."

Wang Ping's eyes narrowed slightly, though he didn't mind. After all, he had come to cultivate in the Dao Tomb under the direct orders of the Supreme Daoist Lord of Profound Merit.

In other words: For these ancient cultivators, maybe they have to take things step by step and face countless trials, but I'm different. I have people up top! My connections are already locked in!

Of course, Wang Ping wasn't some hotheaded rookie. If he just flaunted his identity as a Qi Refining practitioner and charged straight into the Dao Tomb, nine times out of ten the ancient cultivators from the other dao fields would block him. And if that happened, the entities inside the Dao Tomb wouldn't necessarily bail him out. He still had to find a way to sneak inside first.

Just then, Tian Duo spoke again. "Of course, the Dao Tomb treats everyone equally. If you are unwilling to accept this, you can still give it a try. Neither gate will bar your entry."

"Two gates?"

"That's right." Tian Duo pointed to the two sides of the Dao Tomb. "Only true Tribulation Transcending cultivators can enter the left side, while the right side is for the avatars of our various daoist friends."

"How about it? Care to try?"

"This..." Upon hearing this, an embarrassed look instantly appeared on Wang Ping's face. "I am merely at the Qi Nurturing First Layer and receive no regard in my dao field. How could I possibly afford to refine an avatar?"

"Sigh, it seems this place isn't fated for me. Forget it, just forget it!"

With that, Wang Ping covered his face and scurried off, looking thoroughly ashamed. Seeing this, Tian Duo wasn't surprised; such people weren't uncommon at all.

However, what he didn't know was that once Wang Ping was far enough away, he didn't hesitate to slap a burly man's face right over Kunyun's. He then silently slipped back, instantly suppressing his aura down to the Tribulation Transcending level. Sporting an honest, simple-minded expression, he took his place in the queue on the left side of the Dao Tomb.

Are you kidding me? Why would I line up with the qi nurturing and qi-ingesting team? There are tons of lowly Tribulation Transcending cultivators right next door! Who wants to fight peer-level battles against avatars? If I can bully people below my weight class, I'm absolutely doing it!

Meanwhile, in the deepest reaches of the Dao Tomb.

Inside a certain pitch-black hall bereft of daylight and silent to the point of death, a long, drawn-out breath suddenly echoed out. Soon after, a faint light slowly surfaced.

It was a pair of eyes.

Such a shift in qi manifestation immediately startled the others in the hall. Dormant divine senses awakened one after another, all looking toward the owner of those eyes.

"Yang? What happened?" a profound voice soon echoed eerily. "It is Yi Shentong," Yang replied. "He plans to make one final gamble, so he is sending a Qi Refining practitioner here."

"Oh?"

"Yi Shentong is still a bit young, after all. He couldn't sit still for long. Isn't he just serving a few years in prison? We've been trapped here far longer than he has."

"What does he plan to do?"

Faced with the inquiries of the divine senses, the entity named Yang sounded a bit doubtful. "I don't know. He merely said he hopes we can aid that Qi Refining practitioner in his cultivation."

"According to him, this Qi Refining practitioner is extraordinary. He once used his Tribulation Transcending cultivation to escape right from under the noses of two True Persons and an Arhat. Furthermore, acting as a mere chess piece, he broke their inescapable death trap. He possesses several great merits. Even in the Immortal Gate, he is considered a peerless heaven-chosen."

"That formidable?" Upon hearing this, the divine senses that had been somewhat absentminded finally grew interested. One asked curiously, "Can we poach him? Is there any chance we can pull him to our side?"

"There should be." Yang continued, "Yi Shentong also mentioned that he walks the old path of the Human Emperor. As long as he doesn't die, his cultivation speed shouldn't fall far behind the Human Emperor's..."

"Is this true?"

"If we can see results in just a few decades, it's not entirely out of the question to make a bet... In any case, let's inspect the goods first. We must see what he's made of." "Where is he?"

At this point, Yang's tone suddenly turned strange. "I can see the fluctuations in destiny. That person should already be here."

"But I can't find him in the queue for those who have entered the Dao."

A majestic gaze reached out from within the Dao Tomb, piercing through the void. It carefully swept over the bodies of the qi nurturing and qi-ingesting practitioners gathered at the right gate. It found nothing.

Strange, where did he run off to?

Confused, Yang had no choice but to raise his gaze and overlook the entire area. Only then did he finally spot a sneaky figure among the Tribulation Transcending queue.

A Qi Refining practitioner? In an instant, Yang was certain—it was definitely this guy!

The gaze swiftly converged, landing on Wang Ping. At a glance, what a simple, honest face... oh, it was a disguise. Let's peel back this layer and keep looking.

Mhm, masculine and strong, clearly a... hm? Also a disguise?

He cultivates heaven-yang wood... Wait, why is that a disguise too!

"..."

Yang fell into a brief silence.

"What's wrong? You didn't find him? Is this Qi Refining practitioner really so formidable that he can hide from your gaze? It seems he truly is heaven's chosen."

"Not bad at all."

"No wonder he can emulate the Human Emperor."

For a time, the divine senses in the grand hall chimed in with mutual admiration.

"No, I made a mistake," Yang finally spoke, his voice low. "He snuck into the Tribulation Transcending queue. He probably wants to brutally suppress those beneath his realm."

Instantly, the voices in the hall stopped dead.

A deafening silence dragged on. Almost every divine sense couldn't help but inwardly curse the utter moral decay of today's immortals. These bitch-born bastards had absolutely no martial honor.

After a long while, someone whispered, "That's not right. I remember there's a cultivation-detecting formation at the gate specifically to prevent people from exploiting loopholes. Are you saying he bypassed the formation?"

"Yes."

"How did he get past it?" someone asked softly. "The detection formation was laid down by Dao personally. In theory, there shouldn't be any possibility of a misjudgment, right?"

"He cultivates water qi. There's a high chance he belongs under Ming Du's command."

"Oh? How can you tell?" a divine sense asked curiously.

"He cultivates earth-yin water."

"Yang, you can't blame me for saying this, but just because he cultivates earth-yin water makes him part of the water qi lineage and under Ming Du's command? That's naked prejudice."

"Exactly. There are innocent, good people among water qi cultivators too..."

"He layered two fake faces on himself, and even disguised his primary cosmic qi. His methods are extremely advanced. If I hadn't been paying close attention, he really might have fooled me."

"He's definitely a demonic water qi leader under Ming Du!"

The grand hall fell silent once more.

After another moment passed, a divine sense finally spoke. "Pull him out separately. We can't really let him run amok, slaughtering everyone in the Tribulation Transcending queue, can we?"

"But throwing him over to the qi nurturing and qi-ingesting side won't work either. Over there, everyone's using avatars—they have dao comprehension but lack actual cultivation. He managed to sneak past the detection array with a Qi Refining realm body. Under these circumstances, he would just completely crush whoever he fights on either side. It won't serve as a test at all."

"This..."

Inside the hall, the divine senses communicated with each other, feeling quite troubled. After all, nobody had ever expected a Qi Refining practitioner to sneak into the Tribulation Transcending line to challenge those weaker than himself.

The most crucial point was that he was strong. To have the ability to fool the cultivation-detecting formation meant that he would definitely stand out even in battles against his peers. So why was he so dead set on bullying those below him?

He was far too shameless.

Finally, Yang made a decision. "Let her go. We must test him somehow. With her strength, it will be enough for us to clearly see his true colors."

"Send her?" The moment these words were spoken, a divine sense expressed doubt. "We had such a hard time finding a treasure like her. What if something happens to her?"

"Furthermore, this man is an Immortal Gate Qi Refining practitioner after all, and he is tied to Yi Shentong. There is a high probability that Immortal Gate True Monarchs have their sights constantly locked on him. If those bitch-born bastards see what she has become, I fear it'll stir up a mountain of trouble. If a True Monarch decides to interfere, they might ruthlessly strangle her in the cradle..."

"It won't come to that. Have you forgotten her extraordinary traits?"

"Just go ask her and let her judge for herself. If there really is a risk, she will refuse. Pointlessly agonizing over it here holds no meaning."

"I suppose that's true..."

Inside the Dao Tomb.

"I got in just like that?" Wang Ping looked around, somewhat surprised that he had snuck in so easily. Nobody had spotted him from start to finish, nor had he run into any trouble.

The only thing that gave him some trouble was the cultivation-detecting formation at the entrance. However, under the triple concealment of the gentleman should hide his implements at the right time, Concealing Brilliance, and the Profound One Calamity-Crossing Ring, he still managed to guard his qi manifestation and prevent his Qi Refining cultivation from being exposed.

But quickly, he realized something was wrong.

While standing in line, he had asked around. According to the Dao Tomb's rules, the next step was for the Tribulation Transcending cultivators to pair up and duel to filter out the strongest among them.

Because of that, he had rolled up his sleeves, enthusiastically ready to challenge people below his realm.

But in the blink of an eye, all the surrounding Tribulation Transcending cultivators had completely vanished. He was left standing entirely alone in the empty plaza, surrounded by the faint, eerie glow of lamps.

Had he been discovered? Wang Ping's expression shifted slightly, though he didn't panic. He immediately called out in a loud, clear voice, "Registered disciple of the Supreme Daoist Lord of Profound Merit, Dao Child under the jurisdiction of the Profound One Primordial Monarch of the Dark River, a junior highly valued by Daoist Master Hanguang Danyang, and the sworn enemy the Master of Secret Traces seeks to kill—Immortal Gate's Kunyun, greets you, exalted lords."

Rumble!

Instantly, the entire plaza seemed to echo with a resounding noise. Profound ripples surged forth, solely because Wang Ping had rattled off all those dao titles and names in a single breath.

Even Yang, who was observing him from the shadows, couldn't help but feel his pupils tremble.

Good heavens, that many people?

Yi Shentong's registered disciple? Even in his state, he still has the mood to take disciples? Ming Du is definitely possible, but who is True Person Hanguang Danyang? The Master of Secret Traces... is that Han You? How does Ming Du's disciple actually have ties with him?

A massive wave of confusion rose up.

To be honest, the fact that a mere Qi Refinement First Layer could entangle himself with so many True Monarchs, True Persons, and even Daoist Lords was an impressive skill in and of itself.

Yang was a bit skeptical! He wasn't just bluffing, was he?

But in the next second, this thought vanished rapidly from his mind—because before Wang Ping even finished speaking, he flashed the great merits on his body.

Free and Unfettered Roaming, Complete Virtue Talisman, Ill Omen of Losing the Dao, Heaven Destroys Me. Good heavens!

A Qi Refinement First Layer with four great merits, are you trying to ascend to heaven right now? Though truth be told, just looking at this dazzling array of merits, he really was about to surpass the Human Emperor!

But in other words, this man was imitating the Human Emperor's old path. He had broken through to Qi Refining during his life tribulation and dragged so many True Monarchs and True Persons into the mix. If the Dao Tomb rashly took him in, wouldn't it cause a massive disaster? If it led to the Immortal Gate's True Monarchs slaughtering their way into the Star Grave Sand Sea, then the juice might not be worth the squeeze.

Just as Yang was deep in thought.

On the other side, Wang Ping's expression was slowly freezing over. This was because, on the opposite end of the plaza, a graceful silhouette strolled out from the shadows.

Along with her came an inexplicable resonance in his mind. I haven't watched over you for a short while, and you've already become the sworn enemy of the Master of Secret Traces, as well as the valued junior of this Daoist Master Hanguang Danyang?

The words surfaced from the bottom of his heart.

Without warning, purely through intuition, these words suddenly popped into his mind. This bizarre method of voice transmission made Wang Ping instantly widen his eyes.

What met his eyes was a woman with a faint smile on her lips. First Seat, Lian Ruzhao!

Mo... Master! Wang Ping immediately chanted in his heart. On the other end, Lian Ruzhao nodded slightly, seemingly having heard his heart's voice via intuition.

Good child, as long as you are safe. Divine Intent transmission!

There were no magical power fluctuations and no divine sense changes. It relied completely on both sides' Divine Intent, using pure intuition to fabricate a conversation within their minds out of thin air. It was stealthy to the absolute limit.

Master, why are you here?

I was sent here, Lian Ruzhao replied, her voice clear, melodious, and calm. They had no intention of letting me help you, so they sent me here to cultivate in peace.

They... the fire qi? Wang Ping thought rapidly, pouring out all the details regarding the demonic fire qi's schemes, warning her solemnly, Master, they might have wicked designs on you.

It's fine. After patiently listening to Wang Ping's account, Lian Ruzhao replied unfazed. I can protect myself. Compared to me, your situation is far more troublesome.

The cultivator currently in charge here is named Yang. He sent me to test your abilities. So, do not hold back in a moment. The more you show, the more they will value you, and the greater the benefits you'll receive. You will also have a better chance of surviving your life tribulation... And I'd like to see your progress for myself as well.

After speaking, Lian Ruzhao offered a subtle smile.

Wang Ping instantly understood—she wanted to collude from the inside and fight a rigged match so they could fleece these ancient Daoist Lords together. Oh, he liked that!

That was all there was to say.

This seemingly long conversation took no more than a split second under the flow of Divine Intent. The moment their exchange ended, Lian Ruzhao's figure was already right before Wang Ping's eyes! Following closely was a pale, fair fist.

At a glance, the fist showed absolutely no signs of martial arts training. It was pinkish and soft, as delicate as if a breath could break it. It looked completely powerless.

Yet in that instant, Wang Ping's Free and Unfettered Roaming gave a frantic warning. The resonating enhancement from the Kan Trigram instantly soared to its absolute limit. In the blink of an eye, his figure vaulted backward into the air, his large sleeves fluttering as he rapidly pulled away from the approaching pale fist.

Bang! The fist struck empty air, letting out a crisp smack. Other than that, there were no anomalies whatsoever. It truly seemed like nothing more than a casual strike from an ordinary mortal.

Yet a drop of cold sweat slid down Wang Ping's temple. Before her first punch had even missed, the First Seat had already taken a second step. Her second punch followed seamlessly, landing exactly in the direction he was retreating!

Wang Ping wanted to trigger Free and Unfettered Roaming to keep dodging, but the previously unstoppable evasion merit suddenly went dead as her fist drew closer. The moment he entered within three inches of her arm, his merit swiftly fell silent, giving no response—as if it had never existed in the first place.

Solipsism! It eradicates all the supernatural—it can even erase great merits?!

In that instant, Wang Ping clearly realized that the First Seat had grown stronger. Her century's worth of prior accumulation had exploded all at once after she established her Martial Dao. Even now, she was still advancing at breakneck speed!

"Phew..." Seeing her second fist closing in, Wang Ping finally spun the profound ring behind his head. Over a dozen yin spirits instantly swarmed out, shielding him in front.

Then, Wang Ping witnessed exactly what kind of power was contained within the First Seat's seemingly mundane fist.

Bang! Bang! Bang! Three soft sounds rang out, like water balloons being popped. Three yin spirits were instantly blown to pieces on the spot. The First Seat's figure darted rapidly through the remaining spirits.

Throughout the entire process, she didn't defend at all. The yin spirits' attacks landed on her body like a gentle breeze, while her fists never missed a single target. The yin spirits hadn't expected her to trade blows without dodging or defending. Caught completely off guard, half of them were blown apart by her on the spot.

This was also a flaw of the yin spirits. For a true Qi Refining practitioner, even if their dharma body was obliterated, as long as their dao foundation remained undamaged, they could reform it at the mere cost of some vitality.

Yin spirits were different. Although they were immortal and could even be remolded if their dao foundations were broken, once they were blown apart, they could only be reformed through Wang Ping's personal intervention. And doing so consumed magical power.

Wang Ping now clearly understood. When facing the First Seat, fielding any number of weak opponents was utterly useless. If they lacked sufficient strength, they wouldn't be able to scratch her.

Therefore, after using the yin spirits to buy him enough time to pull away, he immediately abandoned his usual swarming tactics. Instead, his hands formed a sign and a seal. Eerie ghostly qi surged beneath his feet, and in the blink of an eye, an abyssal netherworld ghost domain unfurled below him.

Netherworld Communication Profound Arbiter!

A towering ghost city and a gloomy yellow spring firmly locked onto the First Seat's figure right in the center. Then, the yellow spring flowed backward, reflecting a deep, abyssal radiance. "Profound Arbiter's Light of Karmic Sins!"

Wang Ping truly didn't hold anything back for this strike. Bolstered by Communicating with Ghosts and Gods, it was the most lethal killing technique among all his magical spells and divine abilities.

Faced with this magical light, Xia Qinghou, who had also been at the Qi Refinement First Layer, was instantly wounded to the point of death. Even his escape merit, Slumbering Dragon Sleep, had been of no use. How would the First Seat counter this?

The next second, under Wang Ping's expectant gaze, Lian Ruzhao—who was deeply trapped within the ghost domain—moved. She calmly rolled up her sleeves, then raised a flat palm above her head.

Then, Wang Ping's eyes went wide.

On Lian Ruzhao's open palm, the bright light of a great merit actually surfaced! It augmented her physical body, turning her increasingly translucent and radiant.

My Heart is Eternal.

Smack! In a flash, Lian Ruzhao closed her fingers, grabbing that merit straight into the palm of her hand. Then, she threw a punch directly into the incoming Profound Arbiter's Light of Karmic Sins!

Shattering the void!

Instantly, the entire ghost domain began to collapse with a thunderous boom.

The Profound Arbiter's Light of Karmic Sins used the Water of the Yellow Springs to reflect the torrent of destiny. It was meant to be a lethal Major Divine Ability capable of directly striking a target's merits and shaving away their lifespan.

However, against Lian Ruzhao's punch, its numerous profound variations seemed to be forcibly warped. It turned into a beam of dark yellow light lacking any lethality whatsoever. Ultimately, it even solidified into something resembling colored glaze or jade. Alongside the surrounding void and the ghost domain city, it was blown to pieces by a single punch.

Boom! Looking out, all the ghostly qi had dispersed. A majestic radiance shot straight into the sky. The backlash of his divine ability being broken caused Wang Ping's figure to stagger slightly.

But what made his scalp turn numb was this: My dao foundation has been shaken...

Lian Ruzhao's fists didn't require the augmentation of dao theories. As long as they hit, they could shake one's dao foundation. This was simply because her Divine Intent extinguished the law; it was innately incompatible with the Immortal Dao!

Just a moment ago, to maximize the power of the Profound Arbiter's Light of Karmic Sins, Wang Ping had anchored his dao foundation into the qi manifestation of Communicating with Ghosts and Gods. As a result, when his divine ability was shattered, his qi manifestation and dao foundation were naturally dragged down with it. This was his first time experiencing a shaken dao foundation.

They call it a dao foundation, but in reality, it's my life. In other words, it was his original destiny form, which had transformed into his life upon reaching Qi Refining and resonated with the cosmic qi. Thus, any damage to his dao foundation directly threatened his life.

Wang Ping let out a long breath.

On the other side, after breaking through the Netherworld Communication Profound Arbiter, Lian Ruzhao didn't press her advantage. Instead, she stood her ground, her beautiful eyes wide as she looked at him.

The next second, inspiration struck Wang Ping's mind as he received her transmission. This isn't what I wanted to see.

Your Martial Dao? Your Immortal Dao has already reached Qi Refining. With such rapid progress, has your Martial Dao not improved in the slightest? Lian Ruzhao's tone carried a hint of dissatisfaction. How have you wandered further and further away from the righteous path?

Thinking of this, Lian Ruzhao raised her palm again, slowly clenching it into a fist. This time, Wang Ping keenly sensed a trace of anger, and his heart skipped a beat.

Not good, is she about to get serious? Wang Ping hurriedly channeled his Divine Intent, responding in his mind, You misunderstand, Master. I have been researching the Martial Dao recently, though it's still very crude... Since you wish to see it, I will show it to you.

That's more like it. Lian Ruzhao nodded slightly. Bring it on, then. Show me just how much your Great Abundance Scripture has improved. Don't disappoint me.

Seeing this, Wang Ping took a step back. His magical power, profound variations, and numerous qi manifestations all withdrew, leaving behind only his physical shell. He hadn't lied to the First Seat; he truly hadn't dropped his research into the Martial Dao.

In fact, he even had results to show for it. It was the One Palm of Innate Wuji he had used earlier in the dao field. Even though he had channeled it via immortal spells at the time, its core concept was rooted in the Martial Dao.

I am different from you, Master. I cannot use Divine Intent to fabricate a Solipsistic worldview out of thin air like you do. Actually, the vast majority of martial artists cannot do it either.

So, we need a medium. If it can't be done out of thin air, then we must choose a suitable anchor, using that anchor to maintain the stability of the worldview and focusing the Divine Intent onto it. Wang Ping's hands formed a seal.

What I have chosen is the physical body. Cultivating martial artists spend nearly half their lives dealing with their physical bodies, and they understand it best. Therefore, I believe this is the most suitable medium.

Wang Ping circulated his Divine Intent, expounding on his philosophy. Your method, Master, is to use Divine Intent to fabricate a worldview and then overlay it directly onto reality. However, I don't possess such powerful Divine Intent. Thus, I settled for the next best thing. I use my physical body as an anchor, using my cognition of my body to solidify it.

The One Palm of Innate Wuji was his attempt at this. Using martial Divine Intent, with his fleshly body as the anchor, he kneaded the five elements of qi together, transforming them into a single palm. The results had been quite remarkable, and he had genuinely succeeded.

Doing this had its pros and cons. The advantage was that with the physical body as an anchor, using Divine Intent to create a worldview became much easier. The disadvantage was that this type of worldview couldn't affect the outside world.

Rather, the exact opposite is true. Its purpose is to prevent my body from being affected by the outside world. I plan to call it "Innate"—my body, positioned prior to the heavens and earth.

Therefore, it is indestructible! Rumble! At this thought, Wang Ping's body emitted a golden halo—flawless and whole. It brought about a transformation utterly different from the First Seat's.

This is... Lian Ruzhao's eyes widened dramatically, her beautiful eyes shining bright. Though it differs from my Martial Dao, it is indeed a path. An entirely new path?

No, Wang Ping shook his head. In reality, Master's Solipsistic Martial Dao was always meant to be a lineage where a hundred flowers bloom and endless variations manifest.

Furthermore, this is merely my current attempt and hasn't yet been perfected. But if it is completed, I believe the Innate Realm can bridge the gap between the Martial Dao Great Grandmaster Rank and the Martial Saint Rank. It will become a true Martial Dao realm comparable to the Tribulation Transcending Third Layer. Moreover, it can be popularized to the masses, thoroughly paving the way to the Martial Saint Rank! Wang Ping spoke with immense confidence.

Hearing this, Lian Ruzhao was equally satisfied. A stunningly beautiful smile bloomed on her lovely face. Incredible. The fleshly body as an anchor—this is a concept I never thought of.

She specialized in cultivating Divine Intent. She didn't even need her physical body; she could exist in the world purely as spirit. As a result, she had completely overlooked the role of the fleshly body.

It should have a name. Lian Ruzhao's beautiful eyes fluttered, carefully inspecting the Great Abundance Golden Body that Wang Ping was currently displaying, seemingly savoring the variations of its Innate quality.

A name... Hearing this, Wang Ping pondered for a moment and came up with a solid idea. He cultivated both the immortal and martial paths. Although he used his physical body as an anchor, he had equally drawn reference from the Immortal Dao.

In his vision, the ultimate, fully perfected Innate Realm wouldn't just be an invincible physical body. It should also incorporate a cultivator's dharma body. Ideally, it would use this to integrate the cosmic qi into the shaping of the worldview, thereby birthing all sorts of wondrous, supernatural abilities within the flesh. Otherwise, just having a strong physical body was still too weak.

In that case...

"Let's call it the dharma body path!"