Chapter 1913: Entering the Upper Realm

After the battle with the 'gods', Yan Qing Gusheng and the others were stripped to skeletons, their lifespans nearly exhausted. Before leaving, Zhang Xuan personally witnessed Kong Shiyao freezing them. It had only been half a year, so they should not have died.

Kong Shiyao nodded. 'They are sleeping...'

'Take me to see them!' Zhang Xuan turned and grabbed, gathering countless mercury-like spiritual energy into his palm, then instructed.

Kong Shiyao led the way. Before long, they arrived at a sealed space where several skeletons lay side by side on a special platform, with various treasures piled below, continuously providing vitality to sustain their lives.

Although this could not increase their lifespans, it could delay the day of death. It was by this means that they had managed to survive for ten thousand years.

Approaching Yan Qing Gusheng's skeleton, Zhang Xuan flicked his finger, breaking the seal on the platform. The former's skeleton slowly awakened.

'Master Zhang!'

The skeleton bowed.

'I have found a method to resolve your current predicament. It has not been tested. If successful, your lifespan will be extended and your strength greatly increased; if it fails, you may die outright. Senior, would you like to give it a try?' Without any hesitation, Zhang Xuan spoke directly.

'I will try!' Yan Qing Gusheng nodded.

Having lived for so many years, he had long placed life and death beyond his concern.

'Very well. Here is a technique for circulating true qi. Begin cultivating now, and when you restore your physical body, rearrange your meridians according to this meridian diagram!'

With a point of his finger, the reversed Heavenly Dao technique and the meridian diagram he had formed earlier entered Yan Qing Gusheng's mind.

Neither was complicated, and learning them was not difficult. After more than ten minutes, Yan Qing Gusheng had fully understood. Though curious, he trusted that Master Zhang would not harm him. Taking a deep breath, he began to circulate his true qi according to the technique.

Sizzle!

Flicking his finger, Zhang Xuan released the mercury-like spiritual energy he had just gathered, enveloping the surroundings.

Seeing this power, Yan Qing Gusheng's skeleton was tense. But without much hesitation, he gritted his teeth and began to absorb it according to the other's method of true qi circulation. Just as he wondered if he would be crushed to death, before long, a strange expression appeared on his face.

Cultivating according to the technique given by Master Zhang, the mercury-like spiritual energy no longer tore at his meridians but instead nourished his body. Absorbing continuously, after two hours, his physical body was completely restored.

Because of the changed meridians, a dense aura of slaughter occasionally emanated from his body, making him look from afar like a member of the Heterodox race.

'Excellent. Try to break through to Shattering Void!'

Seeing the other's success, Zhang Xuan's eyes lit up as he instructed.

Yan Qing Gusheng nodded and continued absorbing.

His accumulation was even deeper than Zhao Ya's. In less than an hour, he too broke through successfully, reaching the fourth level of Ancient Sage, and his lifespan increased once more.

The previous threat to his life was completely resolved.

'Thank you, Master Zhang...'

Feeling the surging power within him, Yan Qing Gusheng was filled with excitement. Unable to contain himself, he knelt and bowed.

He had thought this severe injury would be fatal, never dreaming that he would survive in such a peculiar way, and even break through his previous cultivation to reach a realm he had long desired.

'The mercury spiritual energy is too strong. Absorbing it into the body not only accelerates cultivation but also speeds up recovery, faster than Ancient Sage power...'

Seeing that his thoughts were accurate, Zhang Xuan breathed a sigh of relief.

Under normal circumstances, even with sufficient Ancient Sage power, Yan Qing Gusheng's current lifespan would not have lasted until his physical body was fully restored.

But absorbing mercury spiritual energy was different.

This spiritual energy was not only heavy but also contained unimaginable power. As long as it could be absorbed, even the most severe injuries could be healed quickly.

Having confirmed the feasibility, Zhang Xuan no longer hesitated. He awakened the remaining few, brought them to the platform, and followed the same procedure. Before long, most of the Ancient Sages who had been on the verge of death took the final step and became experts at the Shattering Void realm.

Of course, there were accidents. Two of the Ancient Sages made errors during cultivation, and the heavy spiritual energy crushed their skeletons, causing instant death.

After continuous experimentation, knowing this path was viable, Zhang Xuan summoned his many disciples and struck his palm heavily.

Power enveloped the eight disciples, and all of them spat out blood as their meridians were completely shattered.

'Cultivate according to this. Do not make any mistakes, or if you die, don't blame me for not warning you!'

Imprinting the two techniques into everyone's minds, Zhang Xuan said calmly.

Zheng Yang and the others had witnessed the transformation of Yan Qing Gusheng and the rest, so they knew what to do. Moreover, they were very familiar with the simplified Heavenly Dao technique. Although they had never cultivated it in reverse, once they started, it was easy to grasp.

Kong Shiyao was the first to fully recover and break through to Shattering Void.

Then came Zheng Yang, Wei Ruyan, Lu Chong, Wang Ying...

Five days later, Zhang Jiuxiao, who had the weakest cultivation, also successfully broke through to the Shattering Void realm!

At this point, Zhang Xuan and his nine great disciples had all become super experts at the early stage of the fourth level of Ancient Sage.

'Teacher!'

Everyone succeeded, each filled with excitement.

What Master Confucius had failed to achieve, their teacher had accomplished.

'I plan to cross this seal and enter the Upper Realm. The situation up there is unknown, and we may face countless dangers, even near-certain death. For now, don't come with me. Guard the Master Teacher Continent and this place, and await my news!'

Gathering everyone before him, Zhang Xuan stated his decision.

While his disciples cultivated, he had been pondering his next move over the past few days.

He had concluded that it was time to leave this place and see the so-called Upper Realm.

To find Luo Ruoxin, he had to take this path.

'Teacher, we want to go with you...'

Zhao Ya stepped forward.

'Yes, no matter how dangerous, wherever Teacher goes, we go. We will not shrink back!'

Zheng Yang also nodded.

The other disciples, though silent, all showed an unyielding determination.

Having come this far, their achievements were all thanks to their teacher. If their teacher was to face danger, how could they stay behind in peace?

'I know your intentions, but... the situation in the Upper Realm is unknown, and the Master Teacher Continent needs you to stay. Rest assured, once I understand the situation on the other side of the channel, I will find a way to notify you through Liu Yang's sacrificial rites!'

Knowing his students' thoughts, Zhang Xuan smiled and said.

The Upper Realm was full of experts. Alone, he could easily handle any danger or situation, but bringing so many students would complicate things.

Moreover, these disciples had their own responsibilities and could not simply leave.

For example, Liu Yang, as the Heterodox Emperor, had just stabilized the Heterodox race. Leaving now might lead to rebellion again and endless conflict with humanity.

'Then... take care, Teacher!'

Knowing that their teacher's mind was made up and no one could change it, everyone's expressions dimmed, all showing reluctance.

'Zheng Yang, the Dragon Bone Divine Spear, after being tempered by mercury spiritual energy, has also broken through to the Shattering Void realm. I now bestow it upon you. After I leave, I don't know if those so-called 'gods' will come again. I hope you will uphold your original heart and protect humanity!'

With a flick of his wrist, he handed over the Dragon Bone Divine Spear.

Entering the Upper Realm channel, because of the separation between worlds, one could not carry treasures or spatial rings. Moreover, at his level of cultivation, this spear was no longer of much use.

'Wang Ying, you excel at Enlightening, but Enlightening requires a process. I bestow the Gold Origin Cauldron upon you to protect your safety and enhance your strength!'

With a flick of his wrist, he placed the Gold Origin Cauldron before her.

This brick-like object, after being tempered by mercury spiritual energy during this period, had not yet broken through to Shattering Void but was close. Since he could not take it, it was better to leave it for this meticulous girl.

Taking out all his treasures one by one and bestowing them upon everyone, Zhang Xuan finally breathed a sigh of relief.

With all nine great disciples having reached Shattering Void, and with the help of these treasures, even if 'gods' did come, they should be able to handle them easily without being caught off guard.

As for the Cruel One, who was hidden in the Book of Heaven's Path, he could be placed back in the library and stored in his mind. Moreover, this fellow was someone even Master Confucius had feared. Without Zhang Xuan's restraint, he might cause havoc, so he was not left behind.

There was also a gourd hidden in his dantian that could not be taken out, so it remained in his body.

As for his clone, it was his greatest secret and had entered the Spring and Autumn Annals within the library.

This was an independent space, like the reading room, allowing Zhang Xuan to absorb external spiritual energy. The clone's soul essence was the same, so it could easily enter as well.

With everything prepared, Zhang Xuan broke the seal he had left earlier, leaped up, and plunged straight in.

Previously, this seal was filled with mercury spiritual energy, which exerted strong pressure on both body and soul. Now, having broken through to Shattering Void and absorbed so much, his body had been transformed. Upon contact again, not only was there no discomfort, but he felt like a fish entering the sea.

Crack! Crack!

Inside the seal, pitch-black cracks appeared, space shattered into countless turbulent streams, and storm-like forces swept toward him.

'Fortunately, I have reached Shattering Void. Otherwise, before I got far, I would have been torn to powder by the violent space...'

Flying forward for a distance, Zhang Xuan's expression turned grave.

The space storms here were far more powerful than those in the Master Teacher Continent.

Not to mention those who could regenerate from a drop of blood, even ordinary Shattering Void experts might not withstand it and would be directly torn apart.

It was fortunate that his accumulation was deep and his combat strength far exceeded his actual level; otherwise, he might not have been able to resist.

Even so, his entire body was torn by space cracks, covered in blood, and severely injured.

This channel had no path; everywhere were annihilated spaces. With the Heaven's Path Library, he could discern safe routes. Otherwise, if he fell into a black hole, no one knew what would happen.

Rumble!

After flying for half a month, a massive thunderbolt appeared before him, completely blocking the way.

Just as he was considering how to get past, a bolt of lightning struck from the sky, and Zhang Xuan's vision went black as he lost consciousness.