Chapter 208 - 118: A ’Feathered Immortal Robe’, Forging Supreme Skin Refining, Exchanging Fists with Duan Chenzhou, Daughter of a Giant House

Chapter 208: Chapter 118: A ’Feathered Immortal Robe’, Forging Supreme Skin Refining, Exchanging Fists with Duan Chenzhou, Daughter of a Giant House

"Even if a Daoist High Merit tried to summon his Residual Thought, they wouldn’t be able to coalesce his Three Souls and Seven Spirits. He’s already deader than dead."

’That’s good.’

When Ji Xiu heard this, his face immediately lit up with a grin.

’If he’s completely dead, then it doesn’t matter what kind of blame gets thrown his way...’

As these thoughts ran through his mind, Ji Xiu could feel the ’Spirit Summoning and Saint Manifesting General’ imprisoned in his Divine Soul constantly manifesting its Divine Thought, trying to break out of its cage.

At the same time, he watched the Primordial Daoist Talisman radiate light as a continuous stream of notifications appeared: [’Six Chapters of the Profound Monarch’s Secret Record—Refining Spirit Scroll Fragment,’ Advance Progress +1, +1, +1...]

Then, he looked at the two techniques he was currently advancing:

[Six Chapters of the Profound Monarch’s Secret Record—Refining Spirit Scroll Fragment: (247/1000)]

[Ye Longxiang’s Head: (1470/6000)]

A full day had passed.

During those nearly twenty-four hours...

Ji Xiu had been constantly devouring the Divine Thought of the ’Spirit Summoning and Saint Manifesting General,’ filling up more than a hundred points of his advanced progress.

This ’Divine Incense Qi’ was like the most Superior nourishing Great Medicine, replenishing his Daoist Merit and causing his Divine Soul to transform every pore and acupoint in his body.

Even though it had only been a day, Ji Xiu could clearly feel his body growing lighter and lighter.

The wear and tear on his stomach and internal organs, which had previously been sustained by consuming his Blood Marrow, was now also being supplemented by Qi Eating...

He could clearly feel that the increase from Qi Eating, though minuscule, was subtly making his entire frame stronger, as if breaking through some kind of ’Shackles’!

It was as if there was still room for improvement beyond the ’Secret Treasure’ realm!

Combined with the advancing progress on Ye Longxiang’s Head, Ji Xiu let out a long breath and thought to himself:

’In this disastrous era where chaos can erupt at any moment...’

’Only the Primordial Daoist Talisman, which constantly provides me with the resources to grow stronger, can bring me peace of mind!’

Duan Chenzhou observed the changes on the surface of Ji Xiu’s body and sighed again.

"This is the benefit of ’Dao Skill’ and Refining the Divine Soul."

"The Three Daoist Art Realms, and the Three Power Barrier Realms."

"According to your Ancestral Master, Wang Xuanyang, if you can reach the Absolute Peak in both before the ’Qi Barrier’..."

"...then when you establish your Qi Sea... you can comprehend a ’Treasure Body’."

"That is what thousands upon thousands of Martial Artists dream of achieving."

"Back in the day, your Ancestral Master chewed me out for being a ’blockhead.’ I was completely clueless when it came to meditation. You could put a Dao Seal right in front of me, and it would look like illegible scribbles; I wouldn’t understand a thing."

"That’s why I couldn’t teach you Dao Skill cultivation."

"But I never expected you to be a genius at Dao Skill. That truly caught me by surprise."

"However, for your little sister to be watched over so carefully by a Daoist High Merit, perhaps your family is full of ’Daoist Merit prodigies,’ who knows."

Looking at Ji Xiu’s bony frame,

Duan Chenzhou stood with his hands behind his back, a look of indecisive hesitation on his face.

"Sigh..."

"Your talent is so high, I don’t know if I should pass that Skin Refining Technique on to you or not..."

Hearing this, Ji Xiu immediately perked up.

"Oh?"

"Is it the Skin Refining Technique that Ancestral Master ’borrowed’ back in the day?"

Duan Chenzhou recalled the past, his blade-like eyebrows knitting together. He grunted, "Mmm," his face a mask of indecision.

"No, it’s not... The one your Ancestral Master gave me was a different technique."

"This ’Skin Refining’ technique..."

"...was given to me by someone else."

"Have you ever heard of the ’Ten Directions Celestial Pillar and the Nine Great Families’?"

’The Ten Directions Celestial Pillar and the Nine Great Families!’

Ji Xiu’s eyes suddenly lit up with a frightening intensity!

’How could I not have heard of them?’

’Excluding the Jiang Clan Bloodline, they are the absolute nineteen most powerful factions in the Great Xuan Celestial Universe, the very pinnacle of all Sects and Noble Families!’

’Could it be...’

’Master has a secret, top-tier Skin Refining inheritance from one of the nineteen families?!’

’Wouldn’t that be even more incredible than Mortal Transformation: Soaring Dragon Gate!’

"Er."

"I have a Skin Refining Technique called ’Feathered Immortal Robe.’ It is indeed a Secret Inheritance Skin Refining Technique from one of the Celestial Pillar or Giant House families, and it is a grade higher and more exquisite than the one your Ancestral Master gave me."

"However, it’s incomplete..."

Duan Chenzhou’s expression was a sight to behold, a look of someone reliving an unbearable memory.

"Years ago, when I broke through the Purple Ribbon Immortal Robe, a Miss Xie from the ’Nine Great Families’ took a liking to me after a chance encounter. She used this technique as bait, wanting me to marry into her family."

"But I am a proud and dignified man, a future Grandmaster with a Title! How could I possibly suffer such humiliation!?"

"At the time, I righteously refused her."

"Afterward, she still gave me the technique and told me that if I wanted the ’Immortal Robe’ Chapter, I should come to the ’Xie Clan’ to get it."

After speaking, Duan Chenzhou looked at Ji Xiu.

"Good disciple."

"Tell me, if it were you, what would you have chosen?"

The expression on Ji Xiu’s face froze for a moment.

He sized up Duan Chenzhou again and again—the man before him with his blade-like brows, cold eyes, and a poised demeanor like a cold sword drawn from its sheath...

Finally, he came to a conclusion.

’His esteemed Master...’

’Really did have the potential to be a ’golden son-in-law’!’

’That’s not the point!’

’The Nine Great Families, a Miss Xie!’

’Even a country bumpkin like him from some poor backwater County knew that the Jiang Clan and the Nine Families together were known as the ’Ten Surnames Under Heaven’!’

’If you had latched onto a patron like that...’

’Would you still need to be struggling in this prefecture?’

Seeing the ’doubting his own existence’ look on Ji Xiu’s face, Duan Chenzhou frowned, and his expression darkened.

"What’s with that look, kid!"

"Let me tell you, a Martial Artist must have integrity! We cannot bow to the rich and powerful, and we cannot lose our heroic spirit!"

"A true man’s Merit and Fame, and his vengeance, should be taken with his own blade! How could he bow and beg for them?"

After hearing this, Ji Xiu really wanted to say...

’Master, does that old acquaintance of yours have any nieces or something?’

’You don’t want to bow.’

’I’ll reluctantly do it for you. I’ll do the bowing.’

"Hmph. Useless."

Looking at Ji Xiu’s expression, Duan Chenzhou gave him a look of someone hating iron for not becoming steel, as if to say he’d misjudged the boy.

But then, he sighed.

"Fine. Once you’ve cultivated your Outer Gang, I’ll go to the trouble... of finding her."

"Even if I must sacrifice myself for the greater good, I’ll get that Immortal Robe Secret Technique for you. After all, you are my, Duan Chenzhou’s, disciple."

’Wait a minute.’

’You’re planning on having your cake and eating it too?’

Ji Xiu’s mouth twitched. He felt that the towering image of his Master had just instantly collapsed, utterly shattered.

’However...’

’The Feathered Immortal Robe!’

He licked his lips, his eyes instantly alight with excitement.

’A Skin Refining Technique of this caliber...’

’It must be incredibly rare!’

’The supreme foundation for my, Boss Ji’s, Power Barrier...’

’Is secured!’