Chapter 136 - 118: The Truth of the Qi of Time

Chapter 136: Chapter 118: The Truth of the Qi of Time

After dealing with the matter concerning Liu Heng, Zhao Zuo left the Earth Fire Hall.

This place was just for Inner Sect assessments, and hardly anyone ever came here. It was unlikely their conversation would get out.

By keeping their connection secret, Zhao Zuo planned to use Liu Heng to draw out the person behind Zhao Qingmeng—the same person he had fought in the mist.

"Not a moment’s rest," Zhao Zuo sighed softly.

He and Liu Heng had agreed to collaborate on Artifact Refining tomorrow, so Zhao Zuo decided to use the rest of his time to go to the Scripture Pavilion and finish the book on wondrous refining materials he was already two-thirds through.

There were only a few people scattered about on the second floor of the Scripture Pavilion. Most were reading records and miscellaneous notes on Qi Cultivation. The section with books about Artifact Refining, however, was completely deserted.

Zhao Zuo understood. These were merely miscellaneous books, containing no actual Artifact Refining methods, just a compilation of observations from seniors who had traveled the world.

After several reading sessions, he finally discovered a common characteristic among these wondrous materials: inversion.

The Water of Life, gestated in a land of absolute death; Ice Spring Tears, born amidst endless magma; and Cold Heart Fire, born beneath polar glaciers.

Their attributes weren’t in complete opposition to their environments. Instead, they possessed a second, contrary property. The two attributes seemed to faintly restrain and, at the same time, nurture each other.

Take ice and fire, or life and death, for example. Such opposing attributes were exceedingly difficult to use during Artifact Refining. Controlling two contrary yet intertwined energies required a thousand times the mental effort, and even then, success was not guaranteed.

Many seniors had attempted Artifact Refining with opposing energies, but the results were always disappointing. The resources invested were never proportional to the gains.

Zhao Zuo read patiently, noting the various methods seniors had used to try and fuse two energies, as well as their failed attempts.

This knowledge was invaluable to Zhao Zuo. After all, his goal was to reach the pinnacle of the Path of Artifact Refining.

Zhao Zuo’s understanding of the various wondrous materials grew. He discovered that the records became more detailed the further he read; the author of the book had even attempted to fuse and use several of the materials.

Zhao Zuo continued flipping through the pages, a curious look soon appearing on his face.

Earth Core Ten Thousand Years Dew.

It could be combined with other ingredients for Refining the Spirit Radiance Pill, which would amplify the attributes of one’s Spiritual Root. At a minimum, it could allow a cultivator with Three Spirit Roots to absorb energy with the efficiency of one with Dual Spirit Roots. Zhao Zuo immediately marked this Pill Medicine as something he must obtain in the future.

With only a few thin pages left in the book, Zhao Zuo felt a surge of anticipation and turned the page.

Qi of Time.

A look of delight appeared on Zhao Zuo’s face. This was the energy he most wanted to understand, as it directly related to whether he could extend his own life.

Rootless and sourceless, intangible and invisible. It is one of the most difficult energies in the world to capture.

Currently, there are three known methods to obtain the Qi of Time.

First, by rapidly aging Spiritual Medicine to increase its maturity in a very short period. This method has a low probability of success.

Second, by rapidly accelerating the growth of a Demon Beast to increase its power in a very short period. This method has a medium probability of success.

Third, when a Cultivator loses a massive amount of their lifespan in a very short period, Qi of Time is naturally produced. This method has a high probability of success.

When Zhao Zuo read the third entry, his heart sank. He had finally figured out where the Qi of Time came from, but the answer weighed heavily on him.

’Just how much of her lifespan did she lose to produce two wisps of Qi of Time?’

’The Taotie Secret Technique?’

Recalling how Shen Yunjiao’s Cultivation had soared after she started practicing the so-called Taotie Secret Technique, which was also when she had produced the Qi of Time, Zhao Zuo easily deduced the truth. The root of it all was the Secret Technique known as Taotie.

Zhao Zuo took a few deep breaths to calm himself. Although Shen Yunjiao had lost a great deal of her Life Value, he reckoned she would be fine for at least the next ten years. That meant he still had time to figure things out.

’Besides, this was Shen Yunjiao’s own choice.’

’She must have known the Taotie Secret Technique was a terrible choice, a last resort. But burdened by such a deep-seated grudge, how could she not seek vengeance? That Evil Technique was her last chance.’

Zhao Zuo turned the page with his finger and continued reading.

A few minutes later, Zhao Zuo closed the book. The Qi of Time was incredibly difficult to capture; at least, the author hadn’t recorded any method for doing so.

Having finished one book, Zhao Zuo stood up and began searching for records on the Fangcun Demon Palace. He scoured the bookshelves on the third floor and actually found a partial account.

Fangcun Demon Palace. Specific location unknown, suspected to reside in a minor realm.

One of the continent’s Top Level powers, it is divided into the Four Spirits and the Four Fierce, totaling eight branches.

The rest of the information was mostly trivial, but the section on the Taotie trial was quite substantial and recorded in great detail.

Currently, the position of Taotie Master is vacant. A thousand years ago, the Fangcun Demon Palace initiated a selection process. The process is like raising a Gu: they disseminate the Taotie Secret Technique for Cultivators to learn, and to mitigate its side effects, a practitioner must devour the Taotie True Blood cultivated by other Inheritors.

In the end, a single Taotie Master is chosen.

Most Cultivators who participate end up as fodder for others. Still, every year, many cannot resist the temptation and choose to cultivate the Taotie Secret Technique. Then there are the arrogant ones who believe themselves extraordinary and willingly enter the Taotie trial.

Once a Cultivator practices the Taotie Secret Technique, only three fates await them. The first is death from the technique’s backlash. The second is to have their Taotie True Blood drained by another, resulting in death.

The last, and only, path to survival... is to emerge as the victor of the selection and become the Taotie Master.

A trial like this offered Shen Yunjiao no advantage. Some participants had been cultivating the Taotie Secret Technique for hundreds of years; she would be no match for them.

The Fangcun Demon Palace set no rules at all. All they want is the strongest.

They use the entire Cultivation Realm as their proving ground, completely disregarding the ensuing slaughter and chaos. Such behavior was truly befitting of the Demon Path.

Troubled, Zhao Zuo returned the book to the shelf and picked up another one on Artifact Refining. His capacity to accept such harsh realities had grown. He was too weak, a mere ant before the might of the Fangcun Demon Palace. The Taotie trial... he could neither interfere with it nor change its course.

’Good luck.’

Then, he opened the book in his hands and started reading.

This was the autobiography of a One Tier, Upper Grade Artifact Refiner. Most of it was blatant self-aggrandizement, but a few of the minor techniques for Artifact Refining seemed legitimate.

Zhao Zuo committed them all to memory for future attempts. After spending a little over an hour memorizing the useful parts of the book, he casually picked up another.

As he was lost in a sea of books, a white-haired elder appeared not far from him. The man’s aura was completely restrained, yet he radiated an oppressive, abyssal pressure.

......