Twenty-Three Major Projects

  "That Bone Devil... must be hiding in the Wumu Sword, right." Cheng Jun sat on a branch, slowly muttering to himself. Outside the mountain valley, it was still freezing cold, but one could also see a distant red sun lazily hanging in the sky, revealing a hint of light.

  This is an unexpected gain, originally thought it was not easy, but unexpectedly found out the other party's trump card.

  Cheng Jun's trip to the Purple Cloud Temple had three purposes: to gather information about his opponent, to conceal himself, and to create an opportunity for himself to enter the temple again next time. The first thing he needed to accomplish was to hide himself.

  This purpose began when he first met Qingfeng Mingyue, wanting to hide his true identity. The most important thing was to mislead the other party into recognizing another identity of his own. Cheng Jun knew that he didn't look like an ordinary loose cultivator, nor did he look like a confused young man from the mundane world; instead, he looked like a rich family's son who had been raised in luxury. Therefore, it was only natural for him to play along with this image. He made Qingfeng and Mingyue present visiting cards, familiarized himself with various etiquette, and acted with courtesy and refinement, almost to the point of being pedantic. Deep down, he carried an air of arrogance, constantly reminding his counterparts that he was a member of a noble family. This impression gave Yuhua Daoist a preconceived notion, and when they later discussed their identities, it was only a matter of course for him to reveal his true identity.

  On the other hand, he needs to clearly show off his own cultivation. He is now in the third stage of entering the Tao, and he heard that the old Taoist was also in the third stage. So, he deliberately suppressed his cultivation to the initial third stage and went to the Purple Cloud Temple. He felt that this kind of cultivation, which was slightly lower than that of the old Taoist but could barely fight, should be the most suitable. Once the old Taoist, Yue Hua, accepted his cultivation, he would not dare to completely underestimate him, but neither would he overvalue him too much.

  Moreover, Cheng Jun knew that the rural-born loose cultivators had always looked down on the world's repairmen - this world family was mostly referring to those who were outside the Taoist transmission, although they had no great power, but also rich and wealthy with a foundation, compared to the scattered repairs. This disdain is a mixture of admiration and contempt, and the scattered repairs deeply believe that these worldly cultivators are weak and incompetent, ignorant and stubborn, unaware of the height of heaven and earth. This emotion, combined with Cheng Jun's demonstrated strength, would give the old Taoist an impression of contempt and disgust.

  It's strange to say, but people are often vigilant towards the objects of their hatred, yet they tend to subconsciously ignore those they dislike. Cheng Jun intended to take advantage of this neglect. Once Lao Dao had a biased view in his heart, even if Cheng Jun was in a clear position, he would be like being in a hidden place. With the same cultivation and far superior means than Lao Dao, even if Lao Dao had the advantage of terrain and resources, Cheng Jun would still have a 90% chance of winning in a fight.

  In theory, it should be like this.

  However, advantages are just advantages, no matter how great they are, they can't compare to one thing - cultivation.

  Only when he saw it with his own eyes did Cheng Jun realize that he had indeed underestimated the old Taoist, who was clearly at the fourth peak of cultivation and had become a true rival for him.

  The fourth heavy boundary and the third heavy boundary, for Cheng Jun in his previous life, there was no difference. Even the entry period itself, from the first heavy to the ninth heavy, there was no difference. However, for Cheng Jun who is now only at the bottom level, the difference is huge. The third heavy and fourth heavy, although only one heavy, are the dividing line between the early and middle periods of the entry period.

  Entering the Tao has nine layers, the first three layers are the initial stage, the fourth to sixth layers are the middle stage, and the last three layers are the later stage. There is a difference in quality between each stage. Among the lower-level cultivators, the three stages of entering the Tao were also given detailed names: the first three layers are called "Opening Light", the middle three layers are called "Rotating Illumination", and the last three layers are called "Avoiding the Valley". Of course, for someone like Cheng Jun who regards the entry period as a transitional phase, it is really unnecessary to divide the entry period into so many complicated stages. Even in the orthodox Taoist sects, they do not use this division, but one cannot deny the difference in strength between these three periods.

  The lower the cultivator's level, the greater the difference in realm, because at this time there are too few external objects to rely on, and it is often difficult to drive the law enforcement instruments, and the magical powers are greatly restricted. If you can't break through the shackles with external forces, what follows is only the crushing of the realm's cultivation.

  It's just the third peak, even if Cheng Jun has just entered the third peak, it's not a big deal to clean up, but as for the fourth peak, it really requires some thought, especially since he caught a glimpse of the old demon in the black wood sword today.

  This man is indeed bold, and the real trump card is brought out so calmly, apart from probing, it must also be a plan to cover up in the dark. Who would have thought that what was openly placed on the table, touted as "treasure", was actually a lair for an old demon?

  Unfortunately, they met Cheng Jun.

  What a gloomy wood, what a dragon bone wood, what a phoenix perching wood, are all jokes, Cheng Jun saw it at a glance, that is the soul-nourishing wood.

  Nourishing Soul Wood, the most yin thing in the world, is the only one that can resist the yang energy of the human world, retain the souls that should go to the underworld, and according to the quality of Nourishing Soul Wood, it can even stay for thousands of years or longer.

  That Nourishing Soul Wood was an unprecedented treasure that Cheng Jun had never seen before. Judging from the quality of this wood, it could retain the souls of countless people for eternity, and it wasn't a joke. Unfortunately, even such a precious piece of wood, which was invaluable, had already reached the end of its life. Cheng Jun estimated that this Nourishing Soul Wood would last at most one or two years, and at least ten days to half a month before it completely decayed. At that time, no matter what kind of powerful demon was hiding inside, they couldn't escape the fate of reincarnation.

  That's why they can't wait to put their plan into action.

  Combining the content of Yi Jin Quan's bone scripture and the fact that Lao Mo's host was about to collapse, Cheng Jun guessed that this time's purpose might be related to Lao Mo's rebirth.

  Actually, for ordinary cultivators to regain their new life, it's just a matter of seizing the soul, but seizing the soul requires cultivating a complete and refined soul, which must be achieved at the True Person Realm. Moreover, seizing the soul is only suitable for preserving an intact soul; if it's just a wisp of residual soul, even if one seizes a mortal, there's still a risk of being devoured. That old demon probably had an incomplete soul from the start and stayed in the Soul Nurturing Tree for who knows how many years, with his soul growing weaker and weaker, already at the end of its rope; seizing the soul is now beyond his power.

  So special methods are needed, such as Yi Jin Jing (Tendon Changing Classic).

  As far as Jing Yun knows, in the demonic path, there are several methods for forcibly seizing a body when one's essence is incomplete. However, these methods all have extremely harsh conditions and also greatly harm the cultivator's own strength and cultivation. Unless absolutely necessary, they are not worth considering. Moreover, even if it were possible to seize a body, where would you find a good-quality body to seize? That old Daoist had poor qualifications, and after decades of cultivating, he barely reached the fourth level. Seizing his body for an entire lifetime wouldn't amount to anything remarkable.

  Only the Yi Jin Jing has a path that has never been taken before, which is the best choice. Cheng Jun recalled the complete version of Yi Jin Jing in the later generations, and the huge waves it set off in the demonic path were really shocking and frightening. If not for another restriction, I'm afraid eight or nine out of ten people in the demonic path would have gone to practice this scripture.

  It's best to get rid of this "Yi Jin Jing" from the very beginning.

  It wasn't that Cheng Jun disliked the viciousness of this demonic cultivation method, but rather he remembered his past life. Among the nine great cultivators on the Upper Sky Stage, the only demonic cultivator, Yao Shi Mo Zu, had used the "Easy Tendon and Bone Refining Classic" to cultivate a pre-heavenly body, thereby becoming a great cultivator. Although it wasn't uncommon for people in the demonic path to cultivate a pre-heavenly body, most of them seemed to be cursed, dying unnatural deaths. But since there was one who had achieved complete success, he couldn't be underestimated.

  It's a good thing to be able to eliminate an enemy. Moreover, from the bottom of my heart, this thing is indeed cruel, and it's better to destroy it.

  Moreover, what Cheng Jun wanted to eliminate most was not that eccentric and stubborn "Easy Tendon and Bone Strengthening Method", but another important work - "Xian Gu Lun" (Theory of Immortal Bones).

  That thing is what Cheng Jun must grasp in his hands, only with this theory can his strength rapidly expand, enough to rival the few great monsters of the world, shaking the entire cultivation world's foundation.

  Now is a good opportunity, heaven does not take it, and instead suffers from it. Cheng Jun did not want to let it go.

  But for now, what I need to consider first is not Bone Demon or Yi Jin Jing, but my own strength.

  As the third heavy challenge to the fourth heavy peak, I want to give Cheng Jun a few pieces of magic equipment and hundreds of talismans. It's not that he can't have them, but now he has nothing, only his own strength.

  Let's use that method again, although it's a bit dangerous, but Cheng Jun thought he could control it.

  He came early today, walked through the mountain forest, just to find a suitable place for cultivation. Fortunately, he found one, it was a cave on the leeward side of the mountain, the entrance was hidden in a crevice on the side of the mountain, not easily found. Cheng Jun entered the cave, sat down cross-legged, took out several things from his pocket, including a few pieces of fire mouse skin that were cut into palm-sized pieces - these were left over when he made the spiritual symbols, just for now, and also the ten pieces of spiritual stone. All of these things belonged to the Purple Cloud Temple, Cheng Jun was going to use them to maximize his strength.

  A flash of blue light, a twisted beam of light formed, and quickly drew on the fire mouse skin. In an instant, the blue light scattered, the fire mouse skin flashed, restored to its original state, leaving only a cyan twisted symbol on the surface, although the strokes were motionless, they were faintly glowing, as if alive.

  One stroke of the magic brush, and the spirit is hidden.

  Master Fu Luan can condense his energy into a brush, and with a stroke of the pen, he can create talismans. It's not just about saving on ink and paper, but this one skill alone is enough to make him stand out as a true master in the cultivation world, and it would be hard to find another like him even among those below the True Person realm.

  He made a move again, and the six talismans were completed in an instant. Cheng Jun gathered them together, held them in his hand, and incanted: "Go——" The six talismans transformed into six green lights, fell into the soil around him, and disappeared from sight.

  The space around Cheng Jun suddenly distorted, as if an invisible wall had appeared, isolating him from the outside world.

  Ní Líng Zhèn, simplest version, effect: temporarily isolates internal and external spiritual energy convergence.

  Fu Luan Zong Shi, also the Array Master, in his past life as Cheng Jun, only these two arts reached the Qian Kun Tian boundary. The other hundred arts, can't say they're not refined, but for a cultivator of his level, they're nothing special.

  Cheng Jun took a deep breath, the spiritual energy around him almost solidified, although not dense, it was the best time to cultivate - only one hour, no room for waste.

  He arranged the ten pieces of Ling Stone in order, and Cheng Jun picked up the first one. He concentrated all his spiritual energy on his fingertips, bit open his finger, and a drop of fresh blood fell onto the top of the Ling Stone. Cheng Jun's finger quickly drew a circle around the stone, inscribing a symbol, before stopping at the starting point where the blood had fallen. In a low voice, he said: "Feng..."

  Radiance is great and flourishing.

  Several dazzling rays of light shot out from the Ling Stone, enveloping Cheng Jun. His spiritual consciousness withered away at an alarming rate. Initially, Cheng Jun was illuminated by the external light, but soon a layer of light emerged on his body as well. Within the light, threads of fresh blood seeped out from Cheng Jun's skin, making for a particularly frightening sight.

  Ling Stone Blood Sacrifice Technique. One of the forbidden techniques of the Daoist sect.

  Cheng Jun only felt that every spiritual energy transmitted from the Ling Stone in his hand was like a knife, fiercely stabbing his body and soul. The pain was more than a thousand times worse than being cut by knives, even in his past life it was rarely seen. Even with her strong willpower, she couldn't help but let out a moan.

  Fortunately, the light flashed and disappeared in an instant, and the spiritual stone turned into powder and fell to the ground. The remaining pain made him want to rest for a while, but reason drove him to pick up the next spiritual stone again.

  The second block... The third block... The seventh block... The eighth block...

  Enduring pain was eroding Cheng Jun's will, and the fresh blood seeping from his skin was getting more and more, dyeing his clothes red, looking like a bloody man from afar. In Cheng Jun's heart, only a little clarity remained, calmly and even coldly calculating where his limits were.

  Nine bucks!

  There was another piece, Cheng Jun had just picked it up, when suddenly the barrier of the Hidden Spirit Array disappeared, and Cheng Jun immediately closed his spiritual aperture. Even so, a small amount of chaotic spiritual energy still rushed into his body, causing him to cough up a mouthful of blood.

  Nine pieces, it's good enough. Cheng Jun suppressed the urge to faint immediately and trembled as he spat a mouthful of fresh blood onto the Ling Stone, forming an awkward symbol. He then stuffed the last piece of Ling Stone into his mouth, leaned against the cliff wall, closed his eyes, and sank into darkness. His originally straight body slowly slid down until it finally fell to dust.