There are no ancestors at all; I made them all up.

Chapter 78: Seven peaceful days... huh?

"Hidden Star Sect..."

Chen Qing felt a slight ripple in his heart, but nodded indifferently, signaling to lead the men.

The jailer put on a fawning smile: "Our ancestor has discerning eyes! This man is from a branch of the Heavenly Craft Workshop. He entered the Hidden Star Sect with his own skills and is proficient in weapon crafting and array formation, especially star pattern restrictions. He is one of the top experts in the prison!"

"Shut up," Chen Qing coldly rebuked, then waved his sleeve and dismissed them.

The room fell silent once more.

Chen Qing sat cross-legged on a futon, lost in thought.

Twenty years have passed!
He missed his appointment with Taiyi True Palace, but since he was going to join the Hidden Star Sect anyway, it's just that...

Chen Qing examined himself and found that his blood and qi were surging, his muscles and bones were strong, and his skin was as smooth as jade. His vitality was far beyond what the normal passage of time could create!

Immediately, he focused his mind on his dantian, concentrating on the decaying golden elixir.

"The crux of the problem lies with this very thing!"

Just thinking about it.

"Wow--"

The sound of chains dragging on the stone ground grew louder as it approached.

The stone door opened, and a burly man with his hands bound was pushed in.

The jailer said obsequiously, "Your Majesty, Jiang Kai has been brought here."

Jiang Kai lowered his head, his rugged face etched with the marks of time and numbness.

After examining the "dream disciple" before him, Chen Qing suppressed his many questions given the current situation and threw out the jade slip containing the "Pulse-Fixing and Yuan-Locking Knot" weapon-refining method that he had just inscribed: "There is a weapon-refining method in this book. Please explain its essence in detail."

Jiang Kai probed with his spiritual sense for a moment, and his numb face suddenly trembled.

He suddenly looked up: "This...this method of igniting fire, controlling temperature, and condensing essence to shape is actually three-tenths similar to the 'Seven Revolutions True Fire Technique' of the Taiyi True Palace's Weapon Sect! The smelting, purifying, and igniting of the weapon embryo is even more labor-saving and efficient...Wonderful! Wonderful method!"

"Your eyesight is passable," Chen Qing said casually.

A long-lost confidence shone on Jiang Kai's face: "In the path of weapon crafting, this junior does indeed possess some talent! Back in the sect..."

He abruptly stopped, the light in his eyes dimming, but he quickly rallied, pointing to the jade slip and saying, "Look here, using qi and blood to activate the earth's magnetic field, saving thirty percent of the true fire! Here, the embryo is condensed, drawing starlight to temper the spirit; the opportunity is fleeting, and only those with extraordinary spiritual perception can control it..."

He focused on analyzing the techniques, from the selection of materials and the timing of the cooking process to the borrowing of magnetic energy, and then to the spiritual response during tempering.

Chen Qing listened intently, and the obscure and profound essence of weapon crafting gradually became clear, like the sun breaking through the clouds!
Gradually, he understood many of the key points and the parts that Jiang Kai had not fully explained; when he encountered difficulties, he would suddenly see the light after a little thought!
At first, Jiang Kai was able to speak fluently, but gradually his speech slowed down, and he became increasingly astonished!

Such comprehension is simply superhuman!
Or perhaps this person already has a foundation, and is simply testing whether they are hiding anything?

But the first few questions he asked sounded like those of a beginner.

He was momentarily confused.

Chen Qing was also very surprised.

He truly hadn't expected that the "innate talent for enlightenment" setting would be so powerful!

Upon hearing this, Chen Qing had already grasped the mystery of the "Pulse-Stabilizing and Yuan-Locking Knot"—it was actually a lock between internal and external forces! It drew in the primordial energy of heaven and earth as a cage, and internally absorbed its own energy as a key, forming a self-circulating system, thus preventing any leakage! Such ingenuity was truly marvelous!

A thought flashed through his mind: "Could I directly absorb the power within that decaying golden core and use it for my own purposes? But what method should I use to absorb it?"

Soon, the key points in the jade slip were almost fully explained.

Chen Qing gently pointed, causing the jade to turn into powder, and said calmly, "Since you have already explained the key points, you can keep them to yourself."

Jiang Kai returned to numbness and despair, hanging his head: "This junior understands, and will keep his mouth shut."

"Hmm." Chen Qing paused slightly, then asked casually, "Your foundation is solid, and your skill in creating forbidden techniques is extraordinary. You must be quite a figure within the Hidden Star Sect. How did you achieve this?"

Jiang Kai's facial muscles twitched, he shook his head bitterly, and said nothing more.

Seeing Jiang Kai remain silent, Chen Qing suppressed his curiosity and summoned a jailer: "Take him away."

"Yes!" The jailer outside the door responded and entered, bowing even lower.

Chen Qing glanced at Jiang Kai and said calmly to the jailer, "This man is still useful in weapon crafting. Take good care of him."

The jailer's face broke into a fawning smile: "Don't worry, Your Majesty! I will take good care of him and be at your beck and call at any time!" With that, he led Jiang Kai away.

The stone chamber returned to silence.

Chen Qing suppressed his curiosity about the Hidden Star Sect and sat cross-legged on the futon.

"The most urgent task is to resolve the hidden dangers of the Golden Core. However, before we can accomplish anything, we must first strengthen ourselves!"

He looked around. Although this place was deep in the Xuan Prison, the spiritual energy was so rich and tangible because of the Spirit Gathering Array that the essence of the five elements flowed abundantly, saving him the trouble of searching for spiritual objects!

Chen Qing no longer hesitated, closed his eyes slightly, and focused his mind on his dantian.

"Om-"

The surrounding spiritual mist boiled and transformed into a five-colored torrent, which poured in from the Baihui acupoint on the top of the head!

A surge of powerful, mercury-like qi and blood roared up, transforming into a mighty torrent that paved the way forward!

"Boom!"

Muscles and bones roar together!

Then, a chilling sensation pierced through the Baihui acupoint!

"Um?!"

Chen Qing was shocked!
"After reshaping the foundation of this body, it is no longer an ordinary path, but I did not expect that the breakthrough would not attract the harmonious energy!"

In the blink of an eye, the icy torrent had already surged down!
The anticipated meridian stiffness and rupture did not occur.

The cold air left no damage; instead, it made the meridians even stronger and clearer!
"Crash-"

Within his dantian, the dark light encountered this torrent, like rain after a long drought, and surged forth with a roar! It transformed into a long, icy river!
His bones gleamed like cold jade, his meridians resembled carved glass! Mid-stage of the Second Realm, achieved!
The whole process was faster than I could have imagined!
Chen Qing felt the icy cold energy surging within his body.

"Extremely Yin and extremely cold, this Qi should be named 'Taiyin'!"

Sensing the difference in this energy, Chen Qing suddenly had a brilliant idea.

"Since we have already embarked on different paths, why bother condensing a destiny talisman of mountains, seas, stars, and celestial bodies? The Dao Evolution Record can transform the illusory into the real. If we borrow the foundation of the Taiyin (Moon) to condense an unprecedented destiny talisman, it may not be impossible to transcend the illusory and the real, nourish the original body, and create a second spiritual talisman! Strengthening the original body!"

Foundation building, foundation building, the destiny talisman is the foundation, the so-called spiritual light reflects the Dao heart, the destiny talisman guides the supernatural power, all depend on this!

"Exploring the path of this Taiyin Life Talisman might also be the opportunity to subdue this pill!"

Once he made up his mind, he began to think of a method.

"This place is a heavy prison of the Immortal Dynasty, where countless Golden Core cultivators are imprisoned. There are many secret techniques passed down through generations, but the key is how to obtain them safely. If we send someone to interrogate Golden Core cultivators here, it will easily arouse suspicion."

Thoughts raced, and a plan was devised.

"Someone is coming."

"Please give your orders, Your Majesty!" The jailer outside the door responded and entered, bowing and awaiting orders.

Chen Qing said in a low voice, "I am feeling restless and want to inspect prison affairs. This will also serve as a way to relax. I will go and assign some duties."

The jailer was initially puzzled, then suddenly realized, and immediately plastered a fawning smile on his face: "Our ancestor is aware of our plight and is inspecting prison affairs. It is truly a great blessing for us! I will go and do it immediately!"

Several hours later, a jet-black waist token was delivered to Chen Qing.

"Ancestor, the inspection warrant," the jailer respectfully presented. "With this warrant, you may pass through all ninety-nine percent of the restrictions in the Mysterious Prison, except for the Netherworld Layer. However..." He lowered his voice, "As you know, this warrant requires the re-injection of the spiritual key at the central array eye every twelve hours. At that time..."

Chen Qing took the token and thought to himself that the Xuan Prison was indeed heavily guarded, with each level linked to the next, like an iron barrel.

His gaze swept over the faint array patterns appearing around him, wondering if he could break through them.

"Black Reef Island is a melting pot of all sorts of people, and there are many experts in array formations. If we can memorize the diagrams of the restrictions here, we might be able to find a master to decipher them!" Chen Qing suddenly felt that this rotation of garrison had become an opportunity. How often would so many cultivators gather together?
With his mind settled, he solemnly inspected each floor under the guise of "Inspector Li Qing".

He soon discovered that, apart from a few close confidants, everyone else regarded him as a newly appointed inspector and treated him with the same respect as always.

After several days, Chen Qing had roughly figured out the structure of the Xuan Prison.

The upper level holds low-level cultivators and ordinary prisoners; the middle level holds those with profound cultivation or special identities, such as "Li Qing" who was once imprisoned there; the lower "Silent Level" holds terrifying beings that even he, as an "inspector," has no right to approach.

He quickly narrowed his focus to the middle management level.

Eleven Golden Core cultivators were imprisoned in several heavily guarded stone cells next to the furnace area!
Such individuals are one with life and death, and their golden core is indelible. Even if they are sealed away, special methods are needed to imprison them.

The blazing furnace burned day and night, and heat waves emanated everywhere.

After several days of patrolling the area, Chen Qing gradually got used to it.

But those who were imprisoned treated this new inspector as nothing, and when their gazes occasionally swept over him, they were as cold as knives.

In his spare time, he would summon Jiang Kai to listen to his analysis of the intricacies of weapon-refining formations.

On this day, Chen Qing returned empty-handed once again, reaching the edge of the furnace area.

"Patrol, stop." A deep, hoarse voice suddenly came from the shadows.

Chen Qing looked in the direction of the sound.

From the shadows, a thin figure emerged, wrapped in tattered prison clothes and bound by chains.

Its face and body were covered with dark red cracks, with blood flowing deep within them, exuding a cold and filthy aura, indicating that it was definitely not a benevolent creature.

"What's the matter?"

The blood-stained cultivator looked around and sneered, "The people in this prison are quite in awe of you. Could you do me a small favor? Send a message out for me?"

"This will also benefit you!" Seeing Chen Qing's indifference, a bloodthirsty glint flashed in his eyes: "You've been wandering back and forth these past few days, trying to find a life-saving method that leads directly to the Golden Core, haven't you? I possess a secret formula, the 'Blood Soul Demon Light General Formula,' a closely guarded secret of the Blood Demon Path! It condenses evil into light, which can be controlled and defended, and can even interfere with, defile, and control the blood-light magical artifacts crafted by others! Although it cannot refine a Golden Core, it can even defile it! Listen carefully..."

Without waiting for a response, he hurriedly uttered a strange and obscure incantation.

Chen Qing frowned almost imperceptibly, but did not stop it.

"This is sincerity!" The blood-stained cultivator licked his lips. "You'll know the truth once you try it! Once you've mastered it, we can discuss the matter of sending messages! This matter also involves the Golden Core cultivation method!" With that, he quietly retreated into the shadows.

"This Xuanyu Ghost Realm is indeed scheming at every step and full of hidden agendas."

Shaking his head, Chen Qing immediately filed a report.

"Take him down! Put him in the lower level and keep him under strict guard. I will interrogate him personally when I have time!"

Several figures rushed out from the shadows and seized the bloodstained cultivator tightly. No matter how he roared and struggled, he could not escape the suppression!
As for that technique, Chen Qing, in his capacity as an ancestor, sought verification from several prisoners of the demonic sect and basically confirmed its authenticity. However, he did not intend to cultivate or use it, since he had a better option in mind for infecting the golden core.

Time passed, and on the seventh day, he sat on the futon, preparing to leave the dream, but a doubt lingered in his heart.

"Judging from the previous methods of entering dreams, apart from using a prologue to continue the dream, all other times when entering dreams, they were all fictional turning points in the patriarch's life. It shouldn't be so predictable. However, even if there are unexpected changes, there is still a way to deal with them..."

"Tuk, Tuk, Tuk."

Just as he finished thinking that, there was a knock on the door.

Chen Qing's heart tightened instantly.

“My lord,” came the respectful, deep voice that had spoken before, “I heard you have been inspecting various parts of the prison recently. Is it because your obsession with the newly acquired furnace has not subsided? Or perhaps…”

boom!
The stone door opened, and a figure walked in.

The man was tall and handsome, staring at Chen Qing with cold eyes, and said, "After swallowing the True Pill, you have difficulty digesting it. You are looking for a method to refine the Golden Pill?"

As he spoke, he formed a hand seal with lightning speed!
"Om-"

The stone gate slammed shut, and at the same time, countless dark runes lit up the walls, the ground, and the roof, connecting with each other to form a constantly circulating dark golden cage, completely isolating the inside from the outside!

"This place is completely cut off from both inside and outside! Even if you disguise yourself as the old demon again and shout until you're hoarse, no one will know! Hand over the precious pill!"

　The second update is coming soon...

　　
　
(End of this chapter)