Fengyunlu

"Your Majesty, you really don't need to be so polite. I've often heard that you possess virtues and extraordinary achievements comparable to ancient sages. Seeing you in person today is like witnessing the Holy Emperor reborn into this world, inspiring a deep sense of admiration from the bottom of my heart." Although Lei Gong was a supreme expert at the peak of the Saint Rank, possessing immense strength and unafraid of the threat posed by the Human Emperor's Sword, he genuinely felt a fondness for Emperor Ze. The reason was quite simple. Since ascending the throne, Emperor Ze had always placed the happiness of the people above all else, working tirelessly day and night to handle all affairs of state, dedicating himself wholeheartedly to the governance of the nation. Although he would occasionally choose to cultivate in seclusion to enhance his strength, his achievements in both civil administration and military defense were remarkably high, ensuring a peaceful and happy life for the people of the mortal realm. Moreover, he worked tirelessly alongside numerous members of the Xuanmen (mystical sects) to protect humanity's long-term survival and propagation in this world. Externally, he bravely resisted the invasion of demons, safeguarding the nation's territory and the safety of its people; internally, he implemented effective measures to prevent various disasters, ensuring social stability and peace. His actions truly deserve the title of sage.

Tian Tong Dao Jun was a highly respected figure in the Imperial Garden, possessing considerable prestige and being a revered master. The Imperial Garden was no ordinary place; it was a sacred cultivation ground exclusively for members of the royal family, gathering many promising cultivators. Therefore, there was no need for elaborate formalities between Tian Tong Dao Jun and the grandfather and grandson. As soon as the three sat down, Tian Tong Dao Jun spoke first: "Your Majesty, Hall Master Lei has already sent Feng Chen to the Imperial Garden; he's with my disciple now. Please wait a moment, and I'll have my disciple bring him over immediately." With that, he waved his hand lightly, and a beam of spiritual light, shimmering with a strange glow, swiftly flew out of the room.

At this moment, the two brothers, Feng Chen and Feng Ling, were having a lively chat at Feng Ling's residence in the Imperial Garden. They shared their past experiences with each other, reminiscing about the wonderful times they had spent together and the various interesting things they had encountered.

"So, you don't know why Uncle Bai sent you to the Imperial Garden?" Feng Ling asked Feng Chen with a curious expression, rhythmically tapping the longsword on the table.

"Yes, my uncle sent me to the Imperial Garden, saying there's a chance I can break through to the Heavenly Rank, but he can't guarantee success." As soon as Feng Chen finished speaking, the spiritual light quickly flew into Feng Ling's hand.

After a while, Feng Ling said confidently, "It seems I guessed right. Let's go, Master wants to see us. The Human Emperor and Hall Master Lei are there." Although Feng Chen was a little confused and didn't quite understand what was going on, he didn't ask any questions. He figured he would find out when they got there. So he stood up and followed Feng Ling toward Tongtian Pavilion.

"The Human Emperor..." Bai Ximo muttered to himself softly, his eyes filled with a thoughtful expression, as if he was seriously pondering matters concerning the Human Emperor, trying to find some relevant clues from his memories and knowledge.

"It seems all the calculations point to the Human Emperor. After I get away, I need to go to the capital. There are some things I need to prepare in advance." Bai Ximo was carefully calculating in his mind when suddenly, the illusion in front of him changed.

With a whoosh, the illusion, which had initially shown Feng Ling leading Feng Chen to the Tongtian Pavilion, shifted back to the desert, still in the front hall of Changfeng Garden. In the illusion, Feng Chen and Lei Gong sat there, with a flickering flame in front of them, its light illuminating their faces.

"Uncle Lei, what do you think is the truth of what happened back then?" Feng Chen suddenly asked, his eyes filled with resentment, as if he still harbored resentment about what happened back then.

Lei Gong glanced at Feng Chen, and after a long while, he said calmly, "Silly child, the truth is never absolute; it can be affected and interfered with by many factors."

“But my uncle said that all the grudges were caused by the poor families. Even if everyone knows some of the details of what happened back then, it’s all just talk.” Feng Chen still had an unconvinced expression on his face, seemingly disagreeing with Lei Gong’s statement, and had his own thoughts and judgments.

This illusory calculation revealed that Feng Chen's past remained largely unchanged. He was born with spiritual veins but suffered the predicament of having them severed. Three years ago, during his foundation-building and vein-renewal process, he was betrayed, leading to the near annihilation of the Feng family and devastating losses. Bai Yu Jiaren remained in a deep slumber; her mother, Fairy Ji Long, had sacrificed her life three years prior, using the Burning Life Heart-Changing Technique to preserve Bai Yu's life, but perishing in the desert herself. The two imperial sects, Cangyun Sect and Yaochi Immortal Realm, remained secluded, seemingly awaiting an opportune moment. Three years later, Feng Chen still traveled north to pay his respects, and Bai Ximo entrusted him to Lei Gong.

"Whatever the truth is, it all boils down to fame and fortune. The fact that you survived means they risked their lives to protect you." Lei Gong shook his head as he spoke, then casually fiddled with the flames, his eyes seemingly weighing some important decision, pondering the most appropriate course of action.

After a while, Lei Gong seemed to have made up his mind. He turned to look at Feng Chen and said softly, "Alright, I'll tell you what I know. You can judge the truth for yourself. But before that, you have to tell me what's going on with the spiritual energy constantly flowing into your body, and how well you've practiced your profound skills."

It turned out that Feng Chen was still cultivating in this illusion. Although he possessed a certain level of cultivation, Lei Gong was completely unaware of it; even a master like Lei Gong couldn't sense Feng Chen's cultivation level. This gave Lei Gong a plan. But before making a decision, he wanted to observe how Feng Chen, with his severed meridians, cultivated before deciding how much to tell him. After all, this matter carried considerable risk; he needed to see just how much potential Feng Chen possessed and how far he could go on the path of cultivation.

Feng Chen had no doubts about Lei Gong's intentions. Not to mention the deep friendship between the Feng and Lei families, the fact that Lei Gong had saved his life was enough to make him lower all his guard. Not to mention that Lei Gong had watched him grow up since he was a child, and that bond was enough to make Feng Chen completely relax and have no defenses against Lei Gong.

"My cultivation journey began three years ago..."

As soon as he finished speaking, the illusion suddenly moved. Bai Ximo's eyes showed surprise, and Lei Gong in the illusion also said in astonishment, "It's that simple?"

"It's that simple." Feng Chen's answer was decisive, without the slightest hesitation, and his tone was very firm.

Lei Gong's eyes seemed to see through everything. He stared intently at Feng Chen for a long time before finally turning to look at the firelight on the ground. He picked up a dry branch, added firewood to the fire, and nodded, saying, "The Great Dao is boundless, indeed beyond our complete comprehension. Since you have set such a precedent, then continue on this path. In the future, you can compete on the Cangxuan Great Dao and see what it truly is like."

As Lei Gong spoke, he turned to look out the window and remained silent for a long while. Feng Chen waited quietly beside him. The old man and the young man sat there quietly, and the front hall was so quiet that you could hear a pin drop. The atmosphere was exceptionally tranquil.

It turns out that the cultivator with severed meridians followed a cultivation path completely opposite to that of the Xuanmen (mystical sect). Ordinary people cultivate the Xuanmen path of the Fifth Order and Thirteen Sects through the method of circulating meridians, adhering to traditional cultivation methods and rules.

This Feng Chen's life story is truly extraordinary, vastly different from ordinary people. Three years ago, he was unconscious when he was brought back to the Cangyun Sect. When he finally awoke, the pain he felt was indescribable. His mind was filled with thoughts of revenge, a burning desire to seek justice for all the injustices he had suffered. At the same time, he was also desperately trying to save Bai Yu, to free her from her miserable predicament. However, tragically, he was born without meridians suitable for cultivation, as if fate had cruelly strangled him, leaving him with immense strength but unable to use it. In endless despair, Feng Chen began to rack his brains, desperately searching for a new way out. After careful consideration, he resolutely decided to focus on cultivating his primordial spirit. He began to try to communicate with the omnipresent spiritual energy of heaven and earth, hoping to use its power to temper his primordial spirit. He thought to himself that as his primordial spirit grew stronger, his spiritual power would naturally improve, and his control over spiritual energy would become increasingly formidable, ultimately reaching a state of complete control and effortless mastery. Although he was well aware that there were very few people in the world who cultivated spiritual power, and even fewer who succeeded, Feng Chen possessed an indomitable spirit. He persevered in cultivating his primordial spirit every day, because he had no other choice but to place all his hopes on this seemingly hopeless path, yearning to find a glimmer of hope.

Feng Chen's situation was truly unique; it would be difficult to find another person like him in the entire cultivation world. His physical body and primordial spirit seemed to be a match made in heaven, possessing a wondrous synergy. As his primordial spirit continuously strengthened, he was pleasantly surprised to find that his physical body also improved imperceptibly. The two complemented each other perfectly, working together seamlessly, like a perfect match. After several careful experiments, Feng Chen discovered that as his spiritual power increased, the spiritual energy he could control became increasingly powerful and diverse, and his primordial spirit also grew stronger. Conversely, when he used spiritual energy to train his physical body, the spiritual power of his primordial spirit would also be enhanced unintentionally, with effects even better than simply cultivating the primordial spirit. After discovering this secret, Feng Chen was overjoyed and incredibly excited, feeling as if he had found a path no one else had ever taken before. That was to let true essence originate from the heart, flowing like a dragon through the blood vessels of his entire body, thereby training his physical body and further enhancing his primordial spirit. Although he failed to cultivate a primordial spirit, his primordial spirit body may not be inferior to a primordial spirit, and may even possess more unique advantages and potential, perhaps enabling him to create an amazing achievement in the future.

Feng Chen recounted his momentous discovery to his uncle, Bai Ximo, in detail and without reservation. Upon hearing this, Bai Ximo immediately realized the importance of the matter and dared not delay. He promptly convened the Tianyun Assembly, urgently gathering the sect's elders to discuss the issue. The Cangyun Sect was divided into two parts: the Tian Sect and the Yun Sect. The Tian Sect consisted entirely of male disciples who cultivated a unique technique left by the White Emperor, a technique with a distinctive cultivation method and immense power. The Yun Sect, on the other hand, was entirely composed of female disciples who originally focused on cultivating bloodline power, hoping to awaken the Yunhuang bloodline and transcend the heavens and earth to reach a higher realm. However, awakening the Yunhuang bloodline required not cultivating any technique, which was like groping forward in a fog, full of unknowns and challenges. Over the years, not a single woman in the Yun Sect had successfully awakened the Yunhuang bloodline, only possessing a faint bloodline inheritance. This had led to the Cangyun Sect's decline several times, like a small boat tossed about in a storm, constantly at risk of being capsized. Later, the Cangyun Sect decided to select one woman as the Holy Maiden in each generation to await the awakening of her bloodline, while the other women began to cultivate Xuanmen techniques. From then on, the Cangyun Sect slowly recovered its vitality and had a glimmer of hope for development. Bai Yu was the Holy Maiden of this generation, which is why she was able to sacrifice her own life in the critical moment to save Feng Chen.

The Tianyun and Tianyun sects engaged in a fierce debate over Feng Chen's cultivation method, each side holding firm to their own position and refusing to yield. An elder from the Tianyun sect argued that previous attempts to replace the meridian method with the method of using one's own blood essence had all ended in death due to the overwhelming power of the true essence, causing the body to explode. They considered this method too dangerous and unwise to attempt. However, the elders of the Tianyun sect believed the method was feasible. They argued that those who had previously used the blood essence method were all cultivators with normal physiques, none possessing a naturally gifted spirit like Feng Chen, and no records documented a case of the fusion of primordial spirit and physical body like Feng Chen's. Therefore, they felt it worth a try, hoping Feng Chen might create a miracle on this challenging path. The debate raged on, neither side able to convince the other. Finally, Feng Chen insisted on trying, his unwavering determination and courage inspiring everyone. They then decided to risk it, giving this unique cultivation method a chance to see if it could truly succeed.