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Chapter 230: Chapter 227: Strange Stone
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He looked up towards the window.
The moon hung over the mountaintop.
Moonlight poured into the valley, draping it in a layer of silver glow.
The valley became tranquil.
Yet his heart was not at peace.
The Transcendence Pill only expanded the meridians by about one-thirtieth.
The contrast between doubled growth and one-thirtieth growth was too stark, the latter could be ignored.
Only his Insight was clear; to others, there seemed to be almost no growth.
Another Transcendence Pill, he guessed, would bring a growth of one percent or even one-tenth of one percent.
Everything in the world has its limits.
The strengthening of meridians has its limit, and while the Transcendence Pill can break limits, its power to do so also has limits.
External power is, after all, external power.
From now on, it would depend on honing his skills!
Thinking of this, his expression became heavy, his mood somber.
With the current progress, the next breakthrough should be in a month’s time.
The Transcendence Pill wasn’t very effective, but it had some effect; now he could handle nine Binding Dragon Ropes operating at once.
A continuous triple cycle impact.
A good opportunity to study the Yu Xu Sword Sect.
The Blood Purification Technique, Washing Sword Technique, and Sword Control Technique; see if there’s anything left to explore in the Yu Xu Sword Sect.
If it’s hard to broaden the meridians, then find a way to sharpen the Gang Qi.
——
At the break of dawn.
In the valley, Chu Zhiyuan stood with Chu Mingxuan, Chu Zhitian, and Chu Zhichuan before the mountain wall, practicing the Purple Sun Stance and cultivating the Purple Sun Scripture.
The Purple Light gathered densely, sprinkling down upon their bodies, merging into their meridians and bodies.
Chu Zhiyuan felt the intensity of the Purple Light and felt delighted in his heart.
What Chu Qingfeng said was not wrong.
The profound sun was only related to the Dragon Mountain Secret Land and not to the outside world.
The dense Purple Light here was not because of the profound sun, but rather this place’s peculiar location.
His mind was divided.
One thought on cultivating the Purple Sun Scripture, another on observing the surroundings to find the cause of the Purple Light’s concentration.
Here, one could only cultivate for a month.
If the root could be found, then it wouldn’t be necessary to come here; it could be done at Mingwu Hall.
Or even in his own mansion.
What a great benefit that would be for cultivation!
His initial speculation was that it might involve an array, unintentionally formed in heaven and earth.
However, he had carefully observed before, and scrutinized several times again this time, without finding any array.
Within a four hundred-meter radius, he observed everything clearly.
Apart from this valley, the nearby places all had Purple Light reduced by dozens of times, even less than Mingwu Hall.
So, was the root cause all in this valley?
He stubbornly observed again and again, comparing repeatedly.
Finally, he found that if there was something peculiar about this valley, differing from outside the valley, perhaps it was the minerals underground.
At fifty meters underground, there lay a mineral deposit that at first glance seemed like a coal mine, jet-black as ink.
Previously, it didn’t seem unusual.
In such a valley, there might have been a forest long ago, which sank and was buried for millions of years, forming a coal mine, nothing extraordinary.
But unable to find any other anomaly, he focused on it, observed it intently, and soon found something quite unusual.
——
Sitting on the couch in the Listening Waves Courtyard, he scrutinized a jet-black stone in his hand.
It was the size of a fist, irregularly shaped with edges and corners, unearthed from the ground.
Black as pitch, without a glimmer of light.
"Ding..."
The Qingying Sword struck it, but amidst the clear sounding, it remained unscathed.
Indeed, it was not coal.
Its hardness far exceeded coal, even surpassing gems, being extraordinarily hard.
Though it contained no spirit light inside, it was undeniably exceptional due to its hardness.
It could be used for sword refining, and even if not sharp, it was hard enough; also not shabby for refining armor.
The Qingying Sword formed Sword Gang and struck again.
"Sss" pierced into the stone.
He nodded in acknowledgment; this was more like it - it could block Divine weapons but not Sword Gang.
Otherwise, how could Zou Fang have dug it out?
He placed it under the sunlight. 𝓃𝓸𝓋𝓹𝓾𝓫.𝒸ℴ𝓶
In strands of sunlight, wisps of Purple Light floated out, landing on it and being absorbed.
Chu Zhiyuan’s eyes brightened, showing a smile.
The Purple Light in the void faded, yet it could still condense Purple Light from sunlight.
This ink stone indeed held mysteries.
Keeps it in the grasp of the left hand.
The Misty Purple Qi of the Purple Sun Scripture flowed, injected into the ink stone in his left palm.
Moments later, strands of Purple Light merged into the Purple Qi, making the Purple Qi purer.
As strands of Purple Light infused it, the Purple Qi deepened and became more refined.
Many thoughts surged within Chu Zhiyuan.
When cultivating the Purple Sun Scripture usually, the Purple Light descends like rain over him.
Some of it entered the meridians, merging with the Purple Qi.
Some entered the flesh and bones, nourishing them.
Some entered the brain, to an unnamed place.
He judged that the Purple Sun Scripture could more easily cultivate a Great Grandmaster, likely due to its balanced development.
Replenishing essence, Qi, and spirit, all three are perfected together, making it easier to cultivate into a Great Grandmaster.
Yet extracting Purple Light in this way could only replenish Qi, making the Gang Qi purer.
This did not align with the principles of the Purple Sun Scripture, going against its intention.
But it could enhance the purity of Gang Qi.
This equaled an enhancement in the realm, surpassing the Sixth Layer Heaven.
With further refinement, it might equate to the Seventh Layer Heaven.
Thus it seemed there were two ways to purify Gang Qi: one was the Breaking Copper Tower, the other, merging Purple Light.
However, merging Purple Light this way came with many restrictions.
The Gang Qi that absorbed Purple Light are one-time use.
Once depleted, newly cultivated Gang Qi returns to its original realm’s purity.
But if this Gang Qi were used to impact the Copper Tower, its power would, of course, be extraordinary.
He smiled.
This equaled finding another shortcut; although not as swift as before, it far exceeded ordinary cultivation.
Yet unknown was whether siphoning its Purple Light would impact its ability to attract Purple Light.
Uncertain if these unique stones were single-use.
He tried draining all Purple Light within it and found it still absorbed Purple Light in sunlight.
This put his mind at ease completely.
However, he discovered an anomaly; these unique stones seemingly fought with him for ownership of Purple Light.
Attempting to absorb its Purple Light was significantly draining.
He determined that ordinary people could not absorb its Purple Light.
After having Chu Mingxuan, Chu Zhitian, and Chu Zhichuan try, it confirmed his judgment.
Their spiritual power was insufficient, unable to absorb.
Fortunately, they could still enjoy its benefits, cultivating faster than usual.
He thought for a bit, ultimately decided to tell Chu Qingfeng about it.
Chu Qingfeng listened, then looked at him in surprise.
"Uncle, why such a look? Don’t recognize me?"
"You lad, you’re indeed quite generous."
"Uncle, our Imperial Family of Da Jing being strong benefits only me, no negatives."
"...Haven’t you thought about contending for that position?"
He hesitated greatly.
But Chu Zhiyuan had reached such a realm, it was impossible to avoid this point; he already had considerable capital to contest for the imperial throne.
"Then it’s all based on strength." Chu Zhiyuan smiled: "I believe in my own aptitude."
With Super Sense, complemented by the heritage of the three Great Ancient Sects, if he couldn’t contest for it, there would be no excuse.
At this point, such confidence he definitely had.
Besides, he had personal motives, unwilling to always run to the valley to cultivate.
It was still more comfortable at Mingwu Hall.
While Chu Mingxuan and others could only obtain the void Purple Light, he could acquire the Purple Light within the unique stones simultaneously.
For him, the Purple Light in the unique stones was most crucial.
Asked Chu Qingfeng to have someone excavate all unique stones to Mingwu Hall, and also some to his own mansion.
Both gaining a good image and substantial benefits.
Two birds with one stone, why not do it.
"...Alright, this matter must not be rushed, and not a word must be leaked."
"Of course." Chu Zhiyuan nodded solemnly.
Chu Qingfeng nodded slowly: "The Emperor will surely grant some reward."
Such magnanimity and vision of Chu Zhiyuan indeed made him the best candidate for wielding the Emperor’s Sword.
Chu Zhiyuan laughed: "It would be best if my meridians could be reinforced again."
"Even the Transcendence Pill was used," Chu Qingfeng laughed: "Don’t think about it."
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