AGM 0043 – Qin Heavenly Divine Sect
Yang Chen quickly made good of his promise by elevating Francis’s guest ranking and bestowing him with even better facilities, including courtyard with a good scenic view, a pavilion by lakeside, a refined and elegant abode, and a forging hall with even better resources and materials. Not only that, Yang Chen was extremely considerate and even sent a few maids over to take care of Francis’s needs. Francis naturally knew that the reason behind all this was because of Qin Wentian. It was only because of Qin Wentian that he could be able to enjoy such preferential treatment.
In the beginning, Francis was still somewhat doubtful about the treatment he received from Yang Chen. But after Qin Wentian pa.s.sed the 2nd-level divine imprint over to him for his reference and study, he realised that the 2nd-level divine imprint did indeed have the qualifications to command such a staggering price. Yang Chen’s preferential treatment was only to be expected.
Qin Wentian and Francis cooperated and forged a few more divine weapons. Among them, they specially crafted a set of 2nd-level divine equipment set for Fan Le: an arm-guard and a hidden spring-loaded arrow that could be concealed within the arm-guard. The two equipments were made from materials that were extremely light, so when Fan Le equipped them, he felt as comfortable as if he were wearing clothes.
This was crafted in consideration of Fan Le’s weaknesses in close combat. Upon receiving the equipment, Fan Le went crazy with excitement as he silently said to himself that he should just hang about with this weaponsmith since there would be no shortage of treasure and riches. Hence, he started to be more affectionate when greeting Qin Wentian, always referring him as “Boss” or “dear boss” during every single encounter.
After settling everything, Qin Wentian was prepared to open his 2nd Astral Gate. During the night, as the starlight from the nine Astral Rivers cascaded downwards, Qin Wentian bathed himself in that starry radiance and started absorbing the Astral Qi from the Heavenly Hammer Constellation in the 5th Heavenly Layer.
Both of his hands held Yuan Meteor Stones. Simultaneously, the surging Astral Energy contained within flowed into and travel along his Stellar Meridians, transforming into a terrifying Astral Energy Spiral before gus.h.i.+ng forth in the direction of the 2nd Astral Gate and embedding itself in his sea of consciousness. All humans would naturally be born with an Astral Gate. The 2nd Astral Gate would appear only after stepping into the Arterial Circulation Realm. To open the 2nd Astral Gate, one must flow an extraordinary amount of Astral Energy along the circular pathway of their connected meridians. Flooding the meridians would stimulate the 2nd Astral Gate into opening.
This process would require a staggering and astounding amount of Astral Energy to work, which was why cultivation resources were so important. Thus, cultivators of famous academies or rich and powerful clans had an overwhelming advantage because of the resources they were ent.i.tled to.
Qin Wentian’s sea of consciousness was currently shuddering excessively, as he endured the piercing agony. Cultivation was originally something that was meant to be filled with suffering and pain. Only after tempering oneself would a person be able to obtain strength, and as for cultivators without a strong will or iron-like determination, there was no way for them to embark upon the pathway of becoming a truly strong existence.
Fatty went off to research and experiment with his newly crafted concealed arrows, while Francis immersed himself in trying to comprehend the insights from the 2nd-level divine imprint. Only Little Rascal remained beside Qin Wentian. The night was as still as water. Suddenly, a corona of radiance enveloped Qin Wentian. As he persistently attempted to open his 2nd Astral Gate, the Astral Energy contained within the two Yuan Meteor Stones in his hands became almost fully depleted.
As dawn finally approached, a thunderous sound emitted from his sea of consciousness, signifying that his 2nd Astral Gate had successfully sprung into existence. Just as his body slumped to the ground, traces of a smile could be seen on his lips. He had finally opened his 2nd Astral Gate; the next step would naturally be the condensation of his 2nd Astral Soul, which would not be a huge problem to him, considering his extraordinary sensory abilities and affinity. “I have completely exhausted the Astral Energy within two 2nd-layer Yuan Meteor Stones. Ai, cultivation truly does consume resources.” Qin Wentian murmured. Little Rascal pounced on him and stuck out its tongue, looking extremely adorable.
“Little Rascal, we will soon be meeting your favourite Senior Sister Luo Huan.” Qin Wentian patted Little Rascal on its head with a smile on his face. He couldn’t wait to step into the Emperor Star Academy.
Was Senior Sister Luo Huan doing well?
As for Orfon, Qin Wentian still had yet to repay him for the “welcoming treatment” he received.
In his mind, another enchanting visage sprang up. It was none other than the number one beauty of the Chu Country, Mo Qingcheng. All males would have feelings of goodwill towards beautiful girls, and he was no exception. But as the memory of their last encounter appeared in his mind, all the previous goodwill he felt had vanished into nothingness.
During the day, Qin Wentian practiced the innate portion from the Dragon Subduing Fist Manual. The portion containing the Dragon Subduing Fist Manual’s ordinary methods consisted of three strikes. In the innate portion, there was an innate art that would enable the user to transform into a raging dragon, brutal and domineering. Exuding a majestic aura and possessing extreme tyrannical strength, the user would be capable of dominating everyone under the heavens.
And during the night, Qin Wentian began the process of condensing his second Astral Soul. However, he had no intentions of condensing his Astral Soul right away. Instead, he first chose to observe, taking his time to consider. The countless constellations in the vast starry skies were all incomparably resplendent. Unlimited amounts of Astral Light interweaved and formed a complex picture, set in the backdrop of the starry skies.
Qin Wentian’s sensory awareness had easily soared through the 2nd Heavenly Layer. At the 3rd Heavenly Layer, he felt a slight bit of pressure. At the 4th Heavenly Layer, the pressure intensified, and at the 5th Heavenly Layer, his head began to pound with pain. One constellation after another, Qin Wentian took his time to contemplate and sense the fluctuation released by each constellation. Persistent, he forcibly endured the pain and lengthened the duration that he could remain connected to the 5th Heavenly Layer.
After a few days, Qin Wentian gradually became accustomed to the pain as the length of his stay in the 5th Heavenly Layer became longer and longer.
During a certain night, nine silvery needles were inserted into the nine major acupuncture points around his head, sealing his six senses so that his heart could remain as calm as still water. Very quickly, he envisioned a pathway formed by Astral Light, which his senses used to travel, reaching out to the Astral Rivers.
At this moment, Qin Wentian did not halt at the initial Heavenly Layers and directly ascended to the 5th Layer of Heaven. The immense pressure caused him to be stifled and breathless, as if his head was about to crumble to pieces. He knew that the current him still did not possess sufficient qualification to form an innate link with the constellations from the 6th Heavenly Layer and could only remain on the 5th Heavenly Layer.
Demonic Ape Constellation; those who condensed a Demonic Ape Astral Soul would be able to gain terrifying boosts to their attack and defence.
Lightning Revenant Constellation; those who condensed an Astral Soul from it would be able to wield the power of lightning.
Qin Wentian’s senses formed an Astral Projection of him, which floated among the stars. He saw a constellation in the shape of a Giant with arcs of lightning and thunder sparkling around it, causing him to consider condensing this particular constellation. As long as he formed an innate link with this particular constellation, the Astral Energy he would absorb from this constellation would be imbued with a lightning element, which would be extremely beneficial for tempering his body.
The higher the layer a constellation belonged to, the more terrifying the Astral Energy within them would be. Not only that, they would usually possess unusual and extraordinary effects as well.
Resisting the temptation, Qin Wentian’s Astral Projection temporarily ignored the Lightning Revenant Constellation, as he continued exploring the Astral s.p.a.ce. Suddenly, he sensed another abnormal constellation in the shape of a sleeping human. With just a single glance at it, drowsiness began to invade Qin Wentian’s mind. His consciousness began to flicker, his senses no longer under his control.
“Dream Cast Constellation.”
Involuntarily, Qin Wentian entered into a dream state as his senses formed an innate link with the Dream Cast Constellation. In the dream, he was floating about in the starry skies and absorbing the Qi from the Dream Cast Constellation, forming an unbreakable innate bond between them.
The dream lasted for a long duration, but to Qin Wentian, it wasn’t a dream, but rather a reality.
While in his dream-like state, he began to retrieve even more Yuan Meteor Stones as he activated the tiny Astral-Being in his sea of consciousness. The hunger of the tiny Astral-Being was immense, and it began absorbing ma.s.sive quant.i.ties of Astral Energy with an unceasing appet.i.te. Next to the tiny Astral-Being, there were two Astral Gates, and each gate contained an Astral Soul.
Finally, the tiny Astral-Being activated, allowing Qin Wentian’s consciousness to enter it.
This time around, Qin Wentian did not gain any new memories. Instead, he saw a scene unfolding before him on a magnificent scale.
He saw an incomparably spectacular Ancestral Gate on the top of a holy mountain. The mountain was so tall that its peak seemed to reached the clouds, emitting a vigorous imposing sense of vitality, as if it intended to fight against the Heavens and Earth.
“Qin Heavenly Divine Sect”
Four words were carved on the stone columns of the grand Ancestral Gate, emanating an extremely domineering aura. Just from the aura of the words, one could see that the engraver was someone whose strength had already reached an unimaginable level.
In front of the grand Ancestral Gate, several strong cultivators appeared, standing arrogantly on the air. Coronas of extreme radiance surrounded them as they released their Astral Souls. He had never seen these Astral Souls before; even the knowledge of their categories and types were beyond the sphere of Qin Wentian’s comprehension. The Astral Souls they released actually transformed into a Celestial Phenomenon, materializing as a Heavenly Manifestation. Their whole world became filled with the actual manifestation of their Constellations. This scene was a direct blow towards Qin Wentian. Among this group of ultimate existences, how weak and tiny was he.
This group of ultimate existences were surrounding a middle-aged figure.
The middle-aged figure danced madly in the air, his eyes glowing with spirit. Facing off against these ultimate existences, he emanated an imposing and domineering aura as if he were a Monarch and they were his subjects. His whole body was shrouded by blinding light, akin to the G.o.d of this world.
All of a sudden, the whole world was transformed into a world of Manifested Constellations. The middle-aged man’s body glowed with Divine Light as he was surrounded by the countless Constellations. Even his casual palm strikes could make the void tremble, making the world seem to split into pieces. As countless constellations became extinguished, the middle-aged warrior struck out again with a fist filled with supreme might. The expressions of those surrounding the middle-aged man turned into horror as their bodies disintegrated into dust.
How terrifying! That single strike was akin to Heaven’s Wrath, extinguis.h.i.+ng the Heavenly Manifestations and annihilating all life. Qin Wentian wasn’t able to feel the divine pressure; he could only bear witness while that chaotic and powerful current, annihilated everything.
But at this moment, a strong surge of thought current appeared, making the scene before his eyes flicker into non-existence. Qin Wentian could only feel that he was in the consciousness of the tiny Astral-Being as the fragments of memories ingrained themselves into his mind before he was forcibly ejected out.
“Hu&h.e.l.lip;&h.e.l.lip;” Qin Wentian steadied his breathing and opening his eyes, only to see Fatty’s wretched face appear before him.
“What the f*ck are you doing?” Qin Wentian’s body trembled involuntarily. Fatty grinned as he moved his head away from Qin Wentian. Only now did Qin Wentian realize that he was lying on the floor.
“Qin Wentian, you can really sleep. You’ve actually slept for three days.” Fatty exclaimed, slightly depressed.
What made him depressed was that during his sleep, the nine silvery needles had remained in Qin Wentian’s head, causing the starlight from the constellations to unceasingly flowed into Qin Wentian.
Just staying beside Qin Wentian made him want to fall asleep as well&h.e.l.lip;&h.e.l.lip; Little Rascal, not giving Fatty any face, had fallen asleep long ago, lying beside Qin Wentian.