Other than Old Master Seventh, who was painting, Xu Qing was the only one in the hall.
The servant wasn't around.
"Are you curious why I drew a meditating person on the Nanyue Ghost Mountain?"
Old Master Seventh looked at Xu Qing.
Xu Qing nodded.
"This place is the key to the Yinghuang Province. When you reach four fires, I'll bring you there. That place might be your place of fortune."
Old Master Seventh didn't explain too much. His gaze landed on the medicine bottle in Xu Qing's hand. With a wave of his hand, the medicine bottle flew to his hand. He took a sip and put it away before sitting at the side of the chessboard.
"Come and sit." Old Master Seventh waved at Xu Qing.
Xu Qing obediently moved closer and sat on the other side of the chessboard.
"Do you know how to play chess?" Old Master Seventh asked.
Xu Qing shook his head.
"I'll teach you." Old Master Seventh picked up a chess piece and placed it in a corner of the chessboard. Xu Qing thought about it and also placed the chess piece in another corner.
"Chess is like life. It's also a manifestation of a person's temperament. For example, I've never lost in chess in my life. Do you know why?" Old Master Seventh placed another piece and calmly spoke.
Xu Qing shook his head and put down a piece as well.
"I play my chess piece not by looking at the current situation, but the whole situation. Many people actually know this and want to do it. However, they often don't have enough opportunities and aptitude, so they can't do it. They can only leave with regrets."
"The reason why those 120 magic aperture disciples from the seven sects are staying at the four fires is because they have the mind to see the whole situation."
"They want to open the 121st magic aperture!" Old Master Seventh placed his chess piece and said softly.
Xu Qing fell into deep thought. This was similar to his judgment after sensing 120 magic apertures when he was at the Foundation Building realm. At that time, he felt that there might still be more magic apertures after 120.
Old Master Seventh seemed to have seen through Xu Qing's thoughts and smiled.
"After 120 magic apertures, there's only one magic aperture. Just this one 121st aperture can form a life fire. However, the difficulty of opening it is so great that it exceeds imagination. It can only be obtained by a great opportunity. Moreover, outsiders can't help. You can only rely on yourself."
"As for the difficulty, it's not in opening it but finding its location."
"In the history of the Yinghuang Province, those who opened the 121st magic aperture experienced great danger. At the instant of life and death, they found the location of the 121st magic aperture and opened it. Moreover, according to records and deductions, the location of 121st magic aperture is different in everyone, so there's no point in referencing the past records."
Xu Qing remained silent. After a long time, he put down the chess piece and spoke softly.
"Master, what are the benefits of five fires?"
"The benefits will be displayed at the moment you advance to the Heavenly Palace Golden Core." Old Master Seventh smiled.
"You should have heard of this saying 'Igniting the life fires, illuminating the Heavenly Palace'. The Heavenly Palace here… is the key to the Golden Core."
"The Golden Core cultivators have their own limits. This limit is reflected by their life fires. Three fires illuminate six palaces. This is the ultimate limit of disciples with passable aptitude."
"In other words, those with three balls of life fire can illuminate six Heavenly Palaces. After they are completely nurtured and illuminated, and their Golden Core is put in, they will be at their peak state. However, in reality, this is only the base." Old Master Seventh paused for a moment as he waited for Xu Qing to digest it.
Xu Qing fell into deep thought and asked.
"Thirty-six fire combat strength?"
"You can think of it that way." Old Master Seventh nodded.
"The reason why it's called the base is because there's life fog above the six palaces and some Heavenly Palaces in the life fog. Because of the fog, it's difficult for even outstanding talents to illuminate the Heavenly Palace in the fog. Only four fires can illuminate the Seventh Palace."
"Don't look at just one additional palace. Seven palaces suppressing six palaces is the same as you suppressing five fires with your six fires strength."
"Therefore, those cultivators who already possess four fires desire to open the 121st magic aperture and form five fires. This is because five fires can illuminate eight palaces. The higher the limit, the greater their achievements in the end!"
Old Master Seventh's voice rang in Xu Qing's ears. After Xu Qing silently pondered, he nodded.
"As for the life lantern, you might have experienced it yourself. In reality, its value can't be displayed much at the Foundation Building realm. Only at Golden Core can some of its abilities be displayed."
"The moment someone with a life lantern breaks through and steps into the Golden Core realm, the life lantern can directly open a Heavenly Palace in the life fog. There's no need to nurture it or slowly temper it. It will be instantly opened. The life lantern will transform into a life core that is similar to a Golden Core and will stay in it."
"With your aptitude, if you reach the limit and open 121 magic apertures, you will have ten Heavenly Palaces!" Old Master Seventh cast a deep glance at Xu Qing.
"Now, do you know the value of the life lantern to Golden Core cultivators?"
Xu Qing's expression changed slightly. After hearing so much from Old Master Seventh, this was the only time his expression changed. In reality, he had made some analysis and had some guesses previously. Now that they were confirmed by Old Master Seventh, he became even more solemn.
An intense sense of danger rose in his heart. This sense of danger naturally didn't come from Old Master Seventh but from unknown malice that all the Golden Core cultivators he would encounter in the future would have toward him.
"Are you afraid?" Old Master Seventh smiled.
"I'm afraid," Xu Qing said honestly.
"Then what are you going to do?" Old Master Seventh asked with interest.
Xu Qing took a deep breath and slowly calmed down. This matter couldn't be changed. If he wanted to avoid it, he could only form the fourth life fire as soon as possible and do his best to form the fifth life fire. If he couldn't do it, he wouldn't force it. He had to break through to the Golden Core Realm as soon as possible.
Once he broke through to the Golden Core realm, he would instantly possess two complete Heavenly Palaces. Only then would he be able to barely handle the situation along with his poison.
However, Xu Qing felt that these thoughts were only long-term plans. He fell silent and secretly glanced at Old Master Seventh. He recalled that after his battle with Saintly Star, Old Master Seventh had reprimanded him for not bringing the seniors brother and sister. Hence, he spoke softly.
"Master, save me."
Old Master Seventh laughed. He was very satisfied with this answer and pointed at the top of Xu Qing's head.
"Don't refuse to wear the Purple Heaven Infinite Crown I gave you earlier. That's the Nascent Soul protection that I am giving you!" As he spoke, Old Master Seventh waved his hand and five balls of light flew out of his sleeve. He flicked one of the balls of light and it dissipated into a jade slip that flew toward Xu Qing.
"The usage method is included in it. You can ponder over it later."
Xu Qing took it and his heart raced as he looked at the other four balls of light.
Old Master Seventh flicked again and the second ball of light rapidly approached Xu Qing. After Xu Qing grabbed it, the light dissipated and transformed into a palm-sized rag doll.
This rag doll was like a living creature. Its eyes instantly darted around before it stared fixedly at Xu Qing. It opened its mouth, revealing sharp teeth as it struggled in Xu Qing's hand, as though it was dissatisfied that it had been grabbed.
"This is a Life Substituting Ghost Baby. It's considered an extremely bizarre creature. It was born with three lives. After you form a blood bond with it, it can help you block three deaths. It's fine if you're in the sect, but remember to bring it with you when you go out."
Xu Qing's heart thumped wildly as he grabbed this Life Substituting Ghost Baby tightly. Perhaps it was because he grabbed too tightly, the ghost baby let out a cry and its struggle became increasingly intense.
Xu Qing didn't bother with it. He looked at the other three balls of light. The three balls of light were reflected in his pupils, it was unknown if the light were dazzling or Xu Qing's eyes were shining.
In short, it was very bright.
Old Master Seventh was in a good mood and smiled.
"It's difficult to impart an emperor-level cultivation art to outsiders and I can't teach you either. You have to figure out how to advance yourself. I can only tell you that once an emperor-level cultivation art advances, its might will be even more terrifying. The fastest way to advance it is to devour the essence, qi, and spirit refined by others' emperor-level cultivation arts. Of course… if it's of cultivators who cultivate the same emperor-level cultivation art, the effect will be the best."
Xu Qing's eyes narrowed.
"You're too weak now and the Alliance Leader isn't narrow minded. You have to weigh the Seven Blood Eyes' background and the benefits you will obtain by making a move. Therefore, you still don't have to worry about this threat."
Xu Qing nodded. The image of Saintly Star's Miemeng appeared in his mind and he suddenly yearned for more. After that, he looked eagerly at the three balls of light beside Old Master Seventh.
"Saintly Star said that your weakness is your lack of spells and techniques. It was because you didn't have a master then. Every one of my disciples' cultivation arts and divine arts are different. I specially collected, organized, chose, and custom-made the arts for them."
As Old Master Seventh spoke, he flicked the third ball of light toward Xu Qing.
This light wasn't a material object but a mark that landed between Xu Qing's brows and directly imprinted itself in his mind. It transformed into waves of bell-like sounds that echoed in his sea of consciousness.
At the same time, Old Master Seventh's voice seemed to be synchronized with the voice in Xu Qing's mind.
"The first technique I'm imparting to you is a spell called the Nine-Layers Howling Sea. This spell transforms into the sea and the power of each wave continues to increase, finally forming a terrifying tsunami."
Xu Qing drew in a deep breath as a strange glint appeared in his eyes. Scenes of this spell appeared in his mind.
The scene was incomparably vast. With a wave of the hand, the sea manifested and waves rose. They contained the power of the furious sea and swept through everything.
"The second technique I'll impart to you is a bizarre art called… the Mystic Nether Curse!" Old Master Seventh waved his hand and the fourth light transformed into a mark that also imprinted itself between Xu Qing's brows.
This time around, what formed wasn't a rumbling sound but a sinister cold wind that blew into every inch of Xu Qing's flesh and blood, causing his breath to turn into fog.
In Xu Qing's perception, he seemed to see an extremely withered finger that carried endless strangeness stretching out from a huge black vortex, suppressing and killing everything.
"This Mystic Nether Curse was created after I studied the Mystic Nether Finger and combined it with other knowledge."
"And the last thing I am teaching you… isn't a spell or a bizarre art, but a secret technique of mine!"
"I saw that you like to use your fists in battle. This secret technique is extremely suitable for you. It's called Under the Nine Springs."
"After it's unleashed, as long as someone is hit by your eight punches, your ninth punch will definitely shatter one of their magic apertures. Even the Golden Core needs the light of life fire and the power of the magic apertures. This is their foundation!"
"This method is extremely domineering and sinister. You have to use it carefully."
"Once it's used, shattering a person's foundation isn't a problem. However, if they are still alive in the end and spread this matter, it won't be easy for you to use this method to scheme against others in the future. This is the important point."
Old Master Seventh spoke softly. With a flick of his right hand, the fifth ball of light headed straight for Xu Qing's forehead.
"Up until now, no one knows that I use this secret technique."
"I have only imparted it to you. This isn't being biased but your three senior brothers and sister have different styles."
"So, you have to use it carefully."
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