132 Investigating the Immortal Encounter (2)
“The path of immortal cultivation is to absorb the Qi of all the spirits in the world into the spiritual core. The path of martial arts is to constantly tap into one’s potential!” Jiang Ming murmured.
He had a vague feeling that these two paths seemed to be opposing each other, but they were also perfectly integrated. If they could advance together, it might have an unexpected effect.
“However, the Five Elemental Arts doesn’t seem to record this kind of cultivation method!”
Jiang Ming frowned. After a moment of contemplation, a trace of enlightenment suddenly flashed in his eyes.
Whether it was practicing martial arts or immortal cultivation. It took him more than a year just to open up his spiritual core. Cultivating to the ninth level of the Qi Refinement Realm might take decades or even a century.
Jiang Ming himself was an immortal, so he did not care about the passing of time.
However, ordinary immortal cultivators did not have so much time. Their hair had already turned white by the time they started cultivating, and less than one in a hundred people could build their foundation. Thus, concentrating on both paths would be a ridiculous feat for them!
Jiang Ming’s eyes flickered. He was going to practice both paths.
He had a long life. If he wanted to be the strongest, he could not neglect one path for the other.
Jiang Ming recalled the spells and techniques he had learned and gently stroked Master Si who was sleeping by the fire. He sighed.
No matter what kind of immortal techniques he had, there was no way to save Master Si’s life.
Perhaps there was a technique out there that could, but with Master Si’s current state, Jiang Ming could not leave him alone.
His eyes flickered. “In another half a year, I’ll be able to familiarize myself with these techniques. In addition, I’ll have mastered the Fireball Spell. Then, I’ll be considered an immortal cultivator who can hold his own in a fight. Moreover, over the past two years, I’ve been using the Vitality-Snatching Technique and the Blood Spirit Technique to constantly temper and enhance my physical body’s blood Qi. I’ve gradually reached the end and my progress is getting slower and slower. There’s no one in this world who can defeat me. It is time for me to go on a trip!”
He walked out of the house and looked toward the depths of the Cloudy Dream Mountain Forest.
That place was always shrouded in smoke and clouds. Even if the place where the immortal encounter had occurred had been destroyed, it was still inaccessible. Ordinary herb gatherers could not go there at all. Even the martial artists who wanted to try their luck gradually dispersed.
This place had almost been completely forgotten.
Only Jiang Ming still remembered it. He felt that things were not that simple.
He was finally strong enough to explore that area.
“But I still have to be fully prepared!”
Jiang Ming pondered for a moment and took out a black stone slab from the house. It was the one he had taken from Master Kongjian.
“The Thunderclap Technique is magical. Even a Grandmaster can cultivate it.” Jiang Ming stared at the stone slab. In the past two years, he had mainly studied immortal cultivation methods. Occasionally, he simply tempered his blood Qi and physical body. He had never really practiced this body-refining method.
However, according to the description on the stone slab, the Thunderclap Technique was magical and could improve the physical body of a Grandmaster. Unfortunately, this cultivation technique was extremely overbearing and only the physical body of a Grandmaster at his peak could cultivate it. Otherwise, one’s physical body would collapse, and they would die.
Jiang Ming’s physical body was at the peak of the Grandmaster Realm. It was time to try this technique again.
“It’s all thanks to Miss Wang. She even found a matching breathing technique for internal training.” Jiang Ming immediately took out a thin booklet. This was the item collected by Miss Wang when she took over after Wu Dao’s death.
“It seems that the deal between Master Kongjian and Wu Dao relied on this breathing technique.”
Jiang Ming began to read it carefully.
* * *
Another half a year later, winter passed, and spring came. Master Si and Black Bean were getting older and older. Master Si could not even walk anymore. He lay beside the stove all day long, his eyes cloudy and weak. He no longer had the energy he had before.
A low rumble of thunder suddenly came from the lone peak.
A figure moved as fast as lightning, practicing a set of fierce fist techniques. His breathing was rhythmic, and blood Qi rumbled in his body with every move, producing thunderous sounds.
As his training became more and more violent, red blood Qi seeped out from the surface of his body. It flickered like red lightning and looked demonic.
Jiang Ming suddenly stopped, and the blood Qi on the surface of his body re-entered his body. He controlled his aura and was calm again.
“The Thunderclap Technique is extraordinary!”
Jiang Ming’s eyes flashed with surprise. In the past half a year, as Jiang Ming cultivated the Thunderclap Technique, he managed to improve after stagnating for so long.
His physical body and blood Qi had definitely surpassed the peak stage of a Grandmaster.
However, even so, it did not attract the invisible laws of the world.
Jiang Ming clenched his fist and suddenly punched a huge rock.
The rock exploded. However, Jiang Ming was still standing there, intact.
“Could it be that the laws of the world only target the power of immortal cultivation and ignore the power of the martial arts?”
Jiang Ming pondered.
Was this the reason why martial arts were so popular in this world? However, it seemed that no one had ever been able to reach the Grandmaster level with martial arts practice alone.
Even Jiang Ming’s physical body had only surpassed that of a Grandmaster, but his martial arts conception had not yet broken through. Perhaps, the fact that the laws the world had not been drawn in had something to do with this.
Jiang Ming shook his head and did not think about it anymore. He turned around and went back to his little house.
“Master Si, Black Bean!” Jiang Ming looked at his two old companions who were all skin and bones. “Let’s go!”
He was the strongest man in the world now. If he continued to hide, he would appear cowardly.
“Woof,” Black Bean barked weakly. “There’s no need.”
It stared at Jiang Ming with its turbid eyes and shook its head gently.
Black Bean came from the Wu family, an ancient family that had a longer history than the Liang family. They knew more about this world and knew that there were many great secrets that even immortal cultivators could not uncover.
It was already on the verge of death, and it did not want Jiang Ming to be in danger.
Master Si also waved its paws.
Jiang Ming smiled. “Don’t be so wishy-washy. I’ve always planned to go to the land where the immortal encounter occurred to find out what it is. Thus, I’m bringing you two along out of habit.”
Jiang Ming was the strongest man in the world now. He was confident he could escape unscathed if he needed to.
* * *
A moment later, Jiang Ming carried his beast companions on his back in the big bamboo basket. He had equipped himself with his strongest armor and weapons.
He strode toward the depths of the Cloudy Dream Mountain Forest.
Gradually, he approached the place where the immortal encounter had occurred.
Around them, insects and birds were chirping. It looked just like a regular forest.
Finally, Jiang Ming came to the entrance of a valley.
In front of them, the mountain rocks were shattered, and the peaks collapsed. Only then could one vaguely see the scene of the great battle.
Jiang Ming’s eyes were calm as he stepped in.
A fire mayfly flapped its wings and flew past Jiang Ming. Its fiery red wings refracted the sunlight, and it disappeared into the distance.