Chapter 97, Spirit, Divine Sense, and Spiritual Art

Translator: StarReader

 

“Cultivating the Lower Dantian refines one’s blood and strength, making one a third-rate practitioner. Cultivating the Middle Dantian yields robust True Qi, capable of attaining second-rate or first-rate expert status.

 

“Entering the Upper Dantian once grants extraordinary perception, marking one as a Grandmaster.

 

“The Wanderer’s Journey scroll records that upon becoming an immortal, spirit, spiritual power, and Divine Sense are born within. Possessing these three forces truly makes one an immortal!”

 

Su Chen contemplated this.

 

An independent spirit was born in his Upper Dantian, not merely a glimpse like the previous Grandmaster’s, but one he could actively cultivate.

 

Simultaneously, spiritual power began to form within him, allowing him to release spiritual arts.

 

With his Divine Sense, Su Chen controlled these spiritual arts and other techniques in battle.

 

He’d already verified that he could freely enter and exit his Upper Dantian, cultivating his spirit.

 

Using his inner sight, Su Chen observed his meridians. He was astonished to see the dense white True Qi in his Middle Dantian and meridians rapidly transforming into a mysterious, verdant gas.

 

This verdant gas was weak but remarkably tenacious.

 

Soon, all of Su Chen’s True Qi transformed into this verdant gas, filling him. Some even tried to overflow from his meridians.

 

Instinctively, Su Chen extended his fingertip.

 

A team of verdant gas emerged from the tip of his finger, forming a spirited, floating cloud three inches above it, visible yet cohesive.

 

True Qi, cultivated by practitioners, couldn’t take a concrete form but adhered to the body and weapons, manifesting as protective energy or sharp blade edges. Spiritual power, wielded by immortals, however, could leave the body and transform infinitely.

 

Su Chen’s heart stirred at this realization. Legend spoke of spiritual power’s immense might and infinite transformations, enabling it to exist independently from one’s body, giving rise to magical spells in the world outside.

 

“T-this is the legendary, enigmatic spiritual power of the immortals?!” he exclaimed.

 

“What form should I give it?” he wondered aloud.

 

“The mayfly,” he answered himself. “Born in water without sustenance or nourishment, it grows wings to adorn itself. Its wings are vibrant and varied like garments, delicate as snow.”

 

“I cultivate the Mayfly Chapter of the Wanderer’s Journey,” Su Chen declared. “Let this be its first manifestation!”

 

Su Chen envisioned a mayfly, and the verdant gas swirling around him swiftly transformed into a tiny mayfly larva.

 

It quickly molted, sprouting a pair of verdant wings on its back and two delicate, slender antennae from its forehead. The creature danced gracefully in the air, shimmering brilliantly under the morning sun like a small, enchanting sprite.

 

It flitted about Su Chen’s nose before alighting on a reed, then soared out across the lake under his control. After flying nearly three hundred meters away, it eventually dissipated and vanished into the heavens.

 

“Spiritual power, indeed, is infinite in its transformations!” Su Chen marveled. “Mastering but one spiritual art can unleash genuine immortal might!”

 

Su Chen stepped onto the hidden path. He wasn’t sure how strong his Divine Sense was now.

 

A leaf from a water lily, floating on the lake before him, suddenly rose into the air. Not by True Qi or any immoral spiritual power, but purely by Su Chen’s consciousness, his Divine Sense lifted it effortlessly.

 

Su Chen gasped in astonishment. This was Divine Sense—tangible yet intangible, colorless, and shapeless. It far outstripped his previous perception as a Grandmaster. As a Grandmaster, his perception could barely detect minute movements within fifty yards, but even the slightest grain of dust would remain unmoved by his influence.

 

The water lily leaf, heavy with moisture, weighed but a few grams. With Divine Sense, Su Chen could control such weight with ease. He could manipulate a flower petal or a delicate talisman!

 

It was extraordinary.

 

Su Chen tried several more times, lifting various objects within the same weight range—flower petals, leaves, and small shrimp. Within ten yards, they danced at his command. But once an object exceeded one mace in weight, like a small fish in the water, it became too heavy to lift out of its environment, though he could still alter its course.

 

Su Chen caught the reed leaf, imbuing it with a hint of green spiritual power. He then used his Divine Sense to control the leaf, sending it hurtling towards a fish ten yards away in the water. The leaf transformed into a sharp projectile, piercing the fish effortlessly.

 

The leaf’s green energy remained undiminished, hovering above the lake’s surface. Su Chen gasped in awe at its potency. This spiritual power was far stronger than True Qi, amplifying even simple objects into formidable weapons.

 

With spirit, spiritual power, and Divine Sense all present, Su Chen could finally consider himself a true immortal cultivator. Intrigued by the potential of the jade slip’s spiritual arts, he retrieved it from his robes. The slip contained eight spiritual arts and eight talismans.

 

Before achieving immortality, Su Chen lacked spiritual power, preventing him from practicing these spiritual arts. For three years, he studied the talismans, gathering materials to create functional Golden Warrior Talismans and Fireball Talismans. Now, with his newfound spiritual power, he could begin cultivating more powerful spiritual arts.

 

Su Chen, attempting to cast the spirit incantation and invoke his spiritual power, sought to manifest the Soaring Art from a jade slip. The symbols inscribed on the slip promised that this art would grant cultivators such agility they could leap vast distances silently, outpacing even the most advanced martial arts lightness skills. With no physical exertion required, it could be maintained indefinitely as long as one’s spiritual power held.

 

However, Su Chen’s expression shifted. His spiritual power failed to respond when he tried to activate the Soaring Art. He checked his incantation and gestures multiple times but found them faultless. Yet, his spiritual power remained unmoved, unresponsive to the art.

 

“Could it be that I lack the aptitude for this?” Su Chen worried internally. Swiftly, he attempted the second art from the slip. Again, no reaction. His heart pounded as cold sweat beaded on his forehead. “How can this be? I have spirit, spiritual power, and Divine Sense! Why can’t I cultivate these arts?”

 

Refusing to give up, Su Chen tried each of the eight arts in turn. Finally, he found success with the Wood Arrow, a wood-based spiritual art that activated and manifested before him.

 

“Wood Arrow!” Su Chen’s hands formed the seals, chanting the incantation. A green thread of spiritual energy quickly emerged from his right fingertips, condensing above into a wood arrow. Initially, it was about as thick as a thumb but rapidly grew longer until it became a foot-long arrow, emitting a vibrant green light.

 

The jade slip contained details about this spiritual art:”Wood Arrow—Piercing power is immense; can penetrate earth and shatter stones.”

 

Su Chen pointed his finger, launching the Wood Arrow with a swoosh towards the lake’s bottom, twenty yards deep, targeting a yard-thick rock. “Thud!” The arrow pierced through the water, burying itself into the rock. With a loud crack, the rock shattered into pieces, becoming a pile of debris on the lake floor.

 

Su Chen was pleased with the result. This Wood Arrow’s power exceeded over a thousand pounds, effortlessly piercing through a yard-thick rock in the lake bed. It could probably even penetrate a Golden Warrior Talisman’s defense, let alone ordinary armor and shields—it would be like cutting through soft cheese.

 

Moreover, this spiritual art was convenient to use; it came at his beckoning and vanished with a wave, unlike talismans that required spiritual materials for creation. However, Su Chen realized he had spent nearly one-tenth of his spiritual power casting just one Wood Arrow. His entire spiritual power would only allow him to cast such spells around ten times.

 

Having mastered this powerful wood-based spiritual art, Su Chen wasted no time. Checking the sky, he saw it was already morning. The soldiers and martial disciples from Xikou Town were likely on their way to Vastest Lake, engaged in battle with the Whale Gang. Su Chen needed to hurry to the battlefield without wasting more spiritual power.

 

“Su Chen clapped his hands against the lake water, launching himself skyward to a height of over ten yards. He was as light as a feather, his robes billowing like an immortal descending from the heavens, slowly drifting back down to the lake’s surface.

 

Spiritual power coursed through him, immediately generating a misty steam that quickly dried his damp clothing.

 

Then, he began to walk on the waves.

 

Although he hadn’t mastered the Soaring Art and couldn’t fly on the wind, his lightness was comparable to the best martial arts experts in the land. His eyes flashed with determination. He hoped to reach West Cave Mountain Island, five miles away, in time for the Wu Region’s grand martial battle.

 

…

 

The lake erupted, sending a massive wave crashing against the rocks. The old fishing couple were thrown off balance and knelt on their broken boat, frantically bowing to appease the ghostly immortal they believed was tormenting them.

 

But upon looking up, they saw Su Chen soaring through the air, his robes billowing like a god descending from heaven, walking on the wave’s peak towards the heart of Vast Lake. The old couple were stunned, their dull eyes wide with disbelief.

 

“Is… is that a ghost or an immortal?” The wife stammered.

 

“It must be an immortal! Can’t you see he’s flying in broad daylight?”

 

“This is our fortune for three lifetimes! When we get home, we’ll have to offer incense to Immortal Master! This is our ancestors’ blessings!”

 

After some time, they regained their senses and prostrated themselves on the boat, kowtowing fervently.

 

The couple embraced and wept, having spent a lifetime fishing and hearing tales of Wu Region immortals. Yet, this was their first time witnessing an immortal traversing the skies. This was a blessing few could ever hope for.