Chapter 872
Ascension Passage
In front of Zhang Sanfeng and Phagpa, Xu Yuandao recited the Hunyuan Jue he knew.
At this moment, Chen Jie was holding the Hunyuan Jue jade slip he had obtained from Xu Yuandao, using the power of the world's laws to penetrate and decipher the text inside, while looking at Xu Yuandao.
He compared the text he saw with the scriptures that Xu Yuandao recited to check for any errors or omissions.
Zhang Sanfeng and Phagpa exchanged a glance, then looked at Chen Jie and said, "You didn't even guard against such a high-level technique from the upper realm."
Chen Jie said, "We are all from the Lesser Thousand Worlds, so we should help each other. Moreover, this Hunyuan Technique is a cultivation method from the Upper Realm. Even if he describes it orally, we don't know if it's right or wrong. You two are both martial arts masters. It would be good if you could help me see what the problem is with this technique."
Upon hearing this, Zhang Sanfeng and Phagpa stopped refusing and sat there quietly listening to Xu Yuandao's so-called Hunyuan Technique.
First, the general principles of the Hunyuan Technique:
Before the primordial chaos was divided, there was only one primordial energy.
Before Yin and Yang were separated, the true essence was embraced.
Gathering Qi and returning it to the sea to refine the mortal body.
Returning to simplicity and authenticity proves the primordial unity.
The gist is: Before the creation of heaven and earth, the primordial energy gave birth to all things. Those who cultivate this technique first gather the primordial energy in their dantian, then transform yin and yang, combine yin and yang, and finally return to the primordial state.
The Hunyuan Technique has nine levels, which correspond to the nine realms of the Tianyuan Continent: Qi Induction, Spirit Nourishment, True Essence Condensation, Profound Insight, Law Evolution, Creation, Forgetfulness, Nirvana, and Return to Origin.
Each level of the Hunyuan Technique corresponds to one of the nine realms, but unfortunately Xu Yuandao was only an inner disciple of the Hunyuan Sect and only knew the Hunyuan Technique incantation up to the Dongxuan realm.
It's especially regrettable that the first four levels of the Hunyuan Technique are missing.
That makes sense. How could a sect's orthodox cultivation method be easily passed on to an ordinary inner disciple?
However, the Hunyuan Technique has one advantage: with the Hunyuan Technique as a foundation, one can switch to other techniques at any level along the way. The techniques and incantations of the Hunyuan Technique can be instantly converted into the true qi corresponding to that technique, thus allowing the practitioner to seamlessly switch to any technique.
It can even improve the techniques he teaches, since the quality of true qi cultivated by the Hunyuan Technique is far superior to that of ordinary techniques.
This is, after all, the signature technique of one of the twelve major sects of the Tianyuan Continent, and its effects are truly extraordinary.
As Chen Jiu Si, Zhang San Feng, and Phasi Ba listened to Xu Yuan Dao's narration, Chen Jiu Si checked the bamboo slips to see if Xu Yuan Dao had arbitrarily altered the content of the cultivation method. He found that Xu Yuan Dao was relatively honest.
And so, the three of them listened to the entire first four levels of Hunyuan Jue.
Suddenly, a sense of enlightenment washed over me. It turned out there was so much more to learn than just reaching the fifth level of the Fusion God realm.
In this small world, the upper limit of everyone's cultivation level is locked at the fifth level of the Spirit Gathering Realm on the Tianyuan Continent, corresponding to the fifth level of the Fusion God Realm.
They cannot break through to higher realms in the Lesser Thousand Worlds, but the rules and laws of the Lesser Thousand Worlds make up for this, allowing them to reach the realm of terrestrial immortals.
The so-called "Land Immortal Realm" refers to those who, starting from the fifth level of Spiritual Enlightenment, master the rules and laws of this world and gain formidable power, thus becoming Land Immortals.
Of course, there is also a strict restriction on terrestrial immortals, namely that they cannot leave this small world. If they leave this small world, the power of the rules of the small world cannot be transmitted to this terrestrial immortal, and then this terrestrial immortal is just an ordinary fifth-level Spirit Gathering expert.
It is precisely because of this limitation of the Lesser Thousand Worlds that the martial arts experts in this Lesser Thousand Worlds can only reach the fifth level of the Spirit Gathering Realm, and it is very difficult for them to come into contact with higher realms.
However, there are exceptions. For example, Zhang Zhenren of Wudang actually managed to raise his strength to a higher realm despite the blockade of this minor world. Such a person can be described as a peerless genius who appears only once every ten million years.
However, while Zhang Zhenren possessed combat prowess, he still lacked in cultivation level. Upon hearing the Hunyuan Jue technique being activated, he silently recited it and experienced a sudden enlightenment, resulting in a subtle improvement in his strength.
Seeing Zhang Zhenren's performance, Xu Yuandao was stunned: "How can there be such a monstrous talent in this world? Even in the Tianyuan Continent, there are very few people like Zhang Zhenren."
If such a person were allowed to ascend to the vast world, he would surely distinguish himself within a few years, and might even become a powerful figure in the end.
This mere small world has produced a prodigy like Zhang Sanfeng and a terrifying existence like Chen Jiu Si; it's truly horrifying.
As Xu Yuandao pondered, a different meaning flickered in his eyes.
It was a scheme, but in a moment, he withdrew all his calculations. His eyes returned to normal.
Chen Jiu Si, Zhang San Feng, and Ba Shi Ba were all savoring the profound principles within the Hun Yuan Jue. As they gained a deeper understanding, the Tian Yuan Continent became increasingly curious and even filled with anticipation.
According to the description in the exercise manual.
To cultivate the Hunyuan Technique, one must first master Qi.
This is something that doesn't exist in this small world. In this small world where Chen Jie is, he cultivates martial arts. Martial arts is the power of qi and blood. When qi and blood are abundant, they can generate qi, but this is a completely different existence from the qi in the immortal cultivation world.
Gang Qi is the energy born from the blood when the power of Qi and blood reaches its peak. This energy originates from humans and then spreads to nature.
This is the Qi mentioned in the Hunyuan Jue, which is quite different. It refers to a kind of Qi that flows between heaven and earth, called spiritual Qi.
This energy is born before heaven and earth, originating between heaven and earth. Humans simply absorb this energy into their bodies, transforming it into a usable force known as true energy.
Therefore, True Qi is the innate Qi, while Divine Qi is the Qi of the human body.
The difference between the two is like heaven and earth.
The Hunyuan Technique emphasizes absorbing the spiritual energy of heaven and earth and using it for one's own benefit. However, this small world lacks such spiritual energy. Therefore, to cultivate spiritual energy, one must travel to the greater world.
Chen Jie, Zhang Sanfeng, and Phagpa understood the crux of the matter and remained silent. Half a day later, Chen Jie again sealed Xu Yuandao's major acupoints, preventing him from seeing, hearing, or touching, and then made him wait aside.
Chen Jie then looked at Zhang Sanfeng, before turning to Phagpa and asking, "What are your thoughts, gentlemen?"
Upon hearing this, Phagpa exclaimed, "The laws of the Great Thousand Worlds are indeed far superior to those of the Small Thousand Worlds." This was Phagpa's heartfelt exclamation. After listening to Xu Yuandao's account, Phagpa felt as if he were a frog at the bottom of a well, glimpsing the world above.
Zhang Sanfeng nodded slightly after hearing Phagpa's words and said, "The Great Thousand World is indeed ten thousand times more prosperous than the Small Thousand World, and the same is true above the realm."
"First of all, the world is too limited. If we could go to the wider world, we would definitely make a greater improvement."
After listening to their words, Chen Jie nodded slightly and said, "What you two seniors say is quite right. Then, if I may be so bold as to ask, would you two be willing to ascend to the Upper Realm?"
Upon hearing this, Zhang Sanfeng and Phagpa exchanged a glance and laughed, "Of course we'd like to. People strive for higher positions, and water flows downhill; this is the law of nature. Who can defy nature?"
Chen Jie nodded and said, "You two should have heard it just now. There are only two ways to ascend to the upper realm. One is to use the Boundary-Breaking Hammer to break through the spatial barrier and ascend to the upper realm."
"Another way is to find the ascension passage from this world to the upper world and ascend to the upper world through this route."
"Treasures like the Breaking Ring Hammer are beyond the reach of people from our Lesser Thousand Worlds, so we only have one path: to find the Ascension Passage to the Upper Realm."
"Search for the ascension passage." As soon as Chen Jiu Si finished speaking, Zhang San Feng and Basi Ba exchanged a glance, both of them showing a strange worry in their eyes.
Indeed, they were worried. Their worry was not about anything else, but about how to find the ascension passage, which had been lost for a thousand years.
This is a huge undertaking, and the two of them are already over 140 years old, especially Phagpa, who is 147 years old this year and is very close to the 150-year mark.
He'll pass away in three years at most, so finding the path to ascension within three years—is that a simple matter?
This is something that needs to be questioned.
Zhang Sanfeng's worries were not as obvious as Phagpa's, but it was still clear that he was very uncertain about finding the path to ascension, especially in terms of his cultivation level.
Zhang Sanfeng was confident about this; as long as he wanted to break through, he never encountered a bottleneck through hard work. However, finding something requires more than just personal effort.
As Zhang Sanfeng was thinking this, Chen Jiu Si spoke up: "Gentlemen, man proposes, God disposes. If we don't search, we certainly won't find it. Where is this ascension passage?"
"If we search, there might still be a sliver of hope. And no matter what, I will not give up on finding the ascension passage, because I must ascend to the next realm. My wife is still there waiting for me to bring her home."
Hearing Chen Jie's words, Zhang Sanfeng and Ba Siba exchanged a glance. Zhang Sanfeng then said, "In my life, I've never been afraid of anything. It's just finding the ascension passage, right? Then let's find it! I refuse to believe that with the abilities of the three of us, we can't find this mere ascension passage!"
Phagpa also spoke up, "That's right, isn't it just an ascension passage? Those who ascended successfully before, so how could those who come after be inferior to them?"
"I'll go find it right now." With that, Phagpa stood up and prepared to go out.
Seeing Phagpa's recklessness, Chen Jie asked, "Master, why are you in such a hurry? Do you already know where the ascension passage is?"
Phagpa shook his head and said, "I don't know, but does that mean we shouldn't look for it?"
“Sitting here in this palace, do you think the ascension passage will just fall from the sky? Why don’t we go out and do some more travel? I’ve always believed that hard work pays off.”
Upon hearing this, Chen Jie smiled and shook his head, saying, "Master, don't be impatient. Sometimes, the right choice is more important than hard work, and you can often achieve twice the result with half the effort."
Upon hearing this, Phagpa looked at Chen Jiu Si and said, "What do you mean by that? Do you already have some clues?"
Zhang Sanfeng then looked at Chen Jiu Si and said, "Your Majesty, just say what you need to say. The three of us are now in the same boat, with the same goal, so no one will hold us back."
Upon hearing this, Chen Jie nodded slightly and said, "This is just a guess, and I don't have any evidence yet, so let me tell you two seniors first. If you two seniors think it's appropriate, then we can discuss other things."
After Chen Jie finished speaking, Zhang Sanfeng and Phagpa looked at him and said, "Your Majesty, please speak freely. We two will provide your reference."
Sister Chen nodded slightly, pondered for a moment, and said, "Things in this world cannot be without trace. Such a vast ascension passage could not have simply vanished into nothingness. Our Great Han Empire has now unified all parts of the earth except for the North and South Poles."
"There aren't many places that are said to have performed miracles; there are only a few in total. For example, in the southwest to the right, there is the pyramid complex. It's the burial place of their emperors and pharaohs after their deaths, but it's strange that there are very few corpses inside."
"In addition, there is a huge ocean trench in the west, which is bottomless and is called the Ruins by the Han explorers."
"Then there are the North and South Poles, which are bitterly cold and inaccessible to anyone. Because of the sparse population, there are certainly no witnesses. If the ascension passage were there, it would probably be difficult for many people to pass through."
"So my idea is that we list all these strange places, and then we split into three groups to investigate them one by one. If we find any news, we should immediately notify the local Han government and have them send a message to Dadu by carrier pigeon so that it can be sent to the other two. This way, we can find out the location of the ascension passage as quickly as possible."
After listening to Chen Jie's words, Zhang Sanfeng and Phasiba nodded in agreement. Time was of the essence, and there could be no delays. They had to find the ascension passage as quickly as possible in order to have any chance of ascending within three years.
At this point, Zhang Sanfeng said, "In that case, Your Majesty, you can give us the map of the locations. The three of us will split up and investigate whether these places might be ascension passages."
Chen Jie nodded and quickly had someone bring him a map, marking all the strange places in the world.
Finally, ten locations were listed. After looking at them, Zhang Sanfeng pointed to one and said, "I'll go to the farthest place, Antarctica."
Phagpa nodded and said, "Then I will go to the North Pole."
Seeing that the two had chosen a place, Chen Jie said, "Then I'll go and take a look at this westernmost trench."
The three of them quickly chose their destinations and left Dadu that same day.
In the blink of an eye, a year has passed. The map marks a strange place, and the three of them have already set foot there, but they have not found the so-called ascension passage.
At this time, the three gathered in the capital again. Master Phagpa was already 148 years old this year, and only two years remained before his 150-year-old limit.
But now they've searched almost everywhere they can, and there's still no clue about the ascension passage. Phagpa couldn't help but sigh, "Alas, it seems this is my destiny. I cannot change it."
Upon hearing this, Sister Chen glanced at the map and realized they had visited all the marked locations but found no clues. Could it be that the ascension pathways in this world have truly vanished completely?
Chen Jiu Si stared at the map. Suddenly, his eyes narrowed, and he pointed to a place, saying, "Hey, we don't think we've been to this place before." (End of Chapter)