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Chapter 10: The Kaiyang Sect

The Tianmo Body Tempering Technique consisted of over thirty thousand characters. Just as he had done when he first encountered the Hongluan Heavenly Scripture, Old Man Zhong spent five days in this mountain cave memorizing the entire technique.

The Tianmo Body Tempering Technique was not a traditional cultivation method; rather, it was an auxiliary technique designed to stimulate latent potential. By channeling true qi and true essence, depending on their strength, one could use the Tianmo Body Tempering Technique to erupt with a burst of power, exerting several times one's usual strength for the duration of one hour, based on the level of mastery.

The technique had twelve levels. If one mastered the twelfth level, they could exert up to thirteen times their normal strength. Such an extraordinary ability was indeed astonishing.

However, after using the technique for one hour, the practitioner would need to undergo a period of weakness, lasting from one to five days. During this time, their strength would drop to less than half of its original capacity, sometimes even to just ten percent. Only after passing this period of weakness would everything return to normal.

Unlike other similar techniques, the Tianmo Body Tempering Technique had a unique feature: the energy rapidly consumed during its use was not entirely lost. Instead, it transformed into a force that tempered and strengthened the body, akin to a demonic beast's enhancement. This peculiarity filled Old Man Zhong with immense excitement.

Tianmo Body Tempering Technique?

It didn't conflict with other techniques and could be practiced alongside them? Since he had already memorized all thirty thousand characters, what should he do with this black cloth? Pass it down to future generations? Nonsense, of course, he needed to destroy it.

But how? The Yin energy couldn't corrode it, so what could be done?

Regardless, he decided to give it a try. Old Man Zhong took out a fire starter and gently touched it to the cloth.

"Sizzle sizzle sizzle..."

The black cloth actually caught fire!

Watching this scene, Old Man Zhong's mouth hung open. The Yin energy couldn't destroy it, but a small flame could easily set it ablaze?

As he watched the black cloth slowly turn to ashes, Old Man Zhong felt a great sense of relief. Glancing around, he removed the fist-sized luminous pearl from its place. The pearl was free of dust, clearly brought by the demonic beings.

He exited the cave and took one last look back at it. Old Man Zhong had no intention of staying there any longer; if anyone else came, he would be doomed. He gathered some stones to block the cave entrance and committed its location to memory. Then, he climbed over the mountain and continued heading north.

Finding a more secluded valley, Old Man Zhong buried the luminous pearl in a hidden spot. Regardless of its value, he didn't plan to carry it with him, fearing it might be recognized later. He decided he would retrieve it once he had more strength.

Seeking a quiet place, Old Man Zhong practiced the first level of the Tianmo Body Tempering Technique. Like the Hongluan Heavenly Scripture, the first level was the easiest to master. After a month, he had grasped its essence. However, he didn't test its effects out of curiosity; he knew that if he entered the weakened state and encountered another fierce beast, he would be finished.

For now, reaching the Kaiyang Sect was his priority.

Traversing mountains and rivers, he quickly made his way toward the Kaiyang Sect. Along the way, he encountered several more demonic beasts. Luck was on his side; on one occasion, he faced a black panther demon. If he hadn't used the Tianmo Body Tempering Technique to double his strength and the Hongluan Mist to poison the panther, he would have been utterly defeated.

After using the Tianmo Body Tempering Technique once, his body indeed felt weak for a day, but he quickly recovered. Additionally, his body had become significantly tougher.

A month and a half later, wearing tattered clothes and carrying a small bundle, Old Man Zhong finally arrived at the gates of the Kaiyang Sect.

The sect was located within a mist-shrouded mountain range. The ethereal appearance of the mountains suggested the presence of a powerful formation. Outside the mountain gate stood a celestial monument, or rather, a large stone mountain that had been split in half. On its smooth surface were three characters, written in a majestic and domineering style:

"Kaiyang Sect

"

This was the entrance to the Kaiyang Sect. The area around the celestial monument was vast and open; even high-level demonic beasts dared not approach without permission. Apart from the monument, there was a small thatched hut not far away, with a vegetable garden outside.

As Old Man Zhong focused his gaze on the hut, its door suddenly opened. An elder with white hair, looking even older than Old Man Zhong had been, slowly walked out. When he saw Old Man Zhong, a strange gleam flashed in his cloudy eyes, and he walked over gently.

"What business do you have here?" the white-haired elder asked indifferently.

"Younger Zhong Shan pays respects to the elder," Old Man Zhong promptly replied.

"Zhong Shan?" The elder paused, trying to recall, but could not remember who Zhong Shan was. He looked at Zhong Shan again.

"May I ask, esteemed elder, if you are a member of the Kaiyang Sect?" Zhong Shan asked respectfully.

"Indeed, I am the guardian and receptionist of the Kaiyang Sect. What is your business here?" The white-haired elder's tone was calm, as if the sudden appearance of a stranger did not stir even the slightest ripple in his heart.

Seeing the elder's indifferent attitude, Zhong Shan furrowed his brow, his mind racing with thoughts. Though Old Man Zhong's cultivation might be far weaker than these cultivators, he possessed a quality that was in no way inferior to those lofty practitioners.

The heart of Old Man Zhong, over fifty-five years, though not long, had weathered numerous storms in the mundane world, granting him profound insights into human nature. At this moment, his heart was clear and perceptive. He couldn't believe that the old man before him, if he truly was just a mountain guardian receptionist as claimed, would exhibit such an attitude.

"May I inquire your esteemed name?" Zhong Shan asked.

"A name? What name could I possibly have? My cultivation is incomplete, and I am nearing the end of my journey. Here, I simply guard the mountain and receive guests, living out the remainder of my days. You may call me 'Mountain Guardian,'" the white-haired elder replied with a faint smile.

"Respected Mountain Guardian, I am Zhong Shan. I have been entrusted by a senior of the Kaiyang Sect to deliver a jade token to the Sect Master and convey a message from the senior," Zhong Shan said.

"A jade token?" the Mountain Guardian furrowed his brow.

Zhong Shan swiftly retrieved the jade token from his chest, handling it with extreme care.

Upon seeing the jade token, the Mountain Guardian's cloudy eyes paused for a moment. He reached out, as if to grasp it in his hand, but in that fleeting moment, his eyes returned to their cloudy state, and he nodded to Zhong Shan.

"Give me the token, and I will inform them," the Mountain Guardian nodded.

"Yes," Zhong Shan nodded in response.

The Mountain Guardian's momentary change did not escape Zhong Shan's notice, but he chose not to expose it, merely storing his suspicions in his heart.

After taking the token, the Mountain Guardian slowly walked toward the nearby foot of the mountain. Then, with a flicker, he disappeared before Zhong Shan's eyes, evidently entering the grand formation.

Zhong Shan waited patiently outside the formation until the time it took for an incense stick to burn.

Suddenly, three figures flew out from within the distant formation.

They all treaded on clouds, with a man in daoist robes at the center. He appeared to be around sixty years old, holding the jade token Zhong Shan had brought. To his left was a woman in white daoist robes who seemed older but still exuded elegance. On his right was a middle-aged man with sharp eyebrows and starry eyes.

As the three emerged from the formation, they all frowned at Zhong Shan.

"You must be Zhong Shan, the one who delivered the jade token?" the central elder stared at Zhong Shan with a furrowed brow.

"Yes, esteemed elders," Zhong Shan immediately bowed.

"Hmm, come with me to the Kaiyang Hall," the elder said, still frowning.

With a wave of his hand, a white cloud suddenly appeared beneath Zhong Shan's feet, carrying him along as they entered the grand formation together.

The cloud followed a peculiar route, flying for a while until they reached the inner area. Though the scenery within was still mountainous, it was vastly different from the outside, as if the exterior was a grand illusion.

Inside, there were valleys, waterfalls, lakes, bamboo forests, houses, and various other structures.

Flying swiftly, they soon arrived at the summit of a tall mountain, where a vast square and a massive palace stood.

The four of them flew directly into the palace. Upon entering, Zhong Shan saw the plaque hanging above the palace entrance.

"Kaiyang Hall."

Inside the hall, there was no one to be seen.