Chen Guan learned more about Consort Ming's abilities and grew increasingly fond of her. Her capabilities weren't limited to just the absorption techniques of the Joy Great Method - her combat prowess was equally formidable.
Compared to Consort Ming, Rouge the rabbit's fighting skills seemed rather one-dimensional. In certain situations, Consort Ming proved far more useful.
"You're perfect in every way, except your appearance is too eye-catching," Chen Guan remarked, gazing at Consort Ming's voluptuous figure that was simply too striking. Taking her out to hunt Mystical Spirits would undoubtedly make them the center of attention wherever they went.
"Men..." Consort Ming smiled seductively, her Empty Mystic Veil fluttering around her body. "If you're worried about others seeing me, that's easily solved..."
In the blink of an eye, the Empty Mystic Veil transformed into what appeared to be armor woven from starlight, completely encasing Consort Ming's body except for her flowing white hair. Even her face was covered by a translucent silver visage that shimmered like the night sky.
Now Consort Ming resembled a celestial war goddess, her glittering silver armor accentuating her nearly six-foot-tall frame. The once coquettish aura had gained a martial dignity, shedding much of its former affectation.
"The Empty Mystic Veil can transform into armor too?" Chen Guan marveled silently. "Truly a peerless treasure."
Over the following days, Chen Guan continued studying The First Secret Technique, determined to fully comprehend it before beginning cultivation.
He hadn't yet used the Gravedigger's Ghanta bracelet to reset to level one. First, he needed to visit the Blessed Land of Mount Pingdu and enter the secret realm to see where he'd be transported this time. Only when reaching a safe location would he begin his level reset.
Chen Guan understood her good intentions - as long as he was transported to normal areas, Ji Nanhong could likely arrange protection. He simply said he wanted to rest a few more days before entering, to which Ji Nanhong advised him to rest well, insisting he notify her immediately of his location upon entering any realm.
Agreeing, Chen Guan returned to studying The First Secret Technique.
This massive work spanned over a hundred thousand characters. Ordinary secret techniques might contain mere dozens to thousands of characters - even ten thousand was rare. Such length truly qualified as a magnum opus.
Despite its volume, not a single word was superfluous. Each character was meticulously crafted, making even minor alterations impossible. Chen Guan had consulted numerous references to gradually decipher it.
Yet after repeated study, he noticed something amiss.
The technique's foundation lay in the Zhouyi's principles: from Wuji came Taiji, Taiji generated Liangyi, Liangyi produced Sancai, then Sixiang, Wuxing, Liuhe, Qixing, Bagua, Jiugong, culminating in Shifang.
It also referenced Laozi's concept: "The Tao begot one, one begot two, two begot three, and three begot all things."
While Chen Guan understood these philosophies and subsequent cultivation methods, the initial transition from zero to one baffled him.
"Did Consort Ming conceal crucial content? Otherwise this technique seems unworkable." Then he reconsidered - someone as astute as Consort Ming wouldn't leave such obvious flaws.
"Why wouldn't she notice this glaring issue?" Suddenly, realization struck.
As a Mystical Spirit, cultivation came naturally to Consort Ming - their innate talents provided foundation. Humans lacked this, requiring technique cores to practice secret methods.
Thus, to Mystical Spirits, The First Secret Technique appeared complete. Their inability to practice it stemmed from incompatibility, not missing elements. But for humans, the technique was fundamentally flawed.
"Would the Ancestral Emperor leave an unworkable technique? Unless... he never actually succeeded?" Frowning, Chen Guan scrutinized the text again.
"No, a figure like the Ancestral Emperor wouldn't compose such an opus for deception. There must be hidden meaning."
Upon closer inspection with this perspective, patterns emerged.
"Wuji generates Taiji, Taiji generates Liangyi... Could this preface be ciphertext..."
Printing the text, Chen Guan cross-referenced it with the Hetu Luoshu and I Ching. Sure enough, selected characters formed a new three-thousand-character technique.
"This is the true First Secret Technique..." Elated by his decryption, Chen Guan could finally comprehend it properly.
"The Way of One... All origins converge... Unity under heaven... Supreme above and below, across all realms..." He knew he'd uncovered the Ancestral Emperor's genuine creation.
Packing his belongings, Chen Guan departed again for Mount Pingdu's Blessed Land. With the technique prepared, his next steps were entering the secret realm and finding a safe place to reset. This update is available on NoveI(F)ire.net
Almost immediately after Chen Guan left home, Wang Lian received word.
She who had borne such massive blame - with everyone believing she possessed the Ancestral Emperor's Epang Scripture - had never defended herself. Not even her Wang family clansmen knew she was covering for someone else.
Her silence stemmed from believing the scripture's final portion remained with Chen Guan. Should others learn this, she'd lose any chance to reclaim it. Thus she endured the blame while secretly monitoring Chen Guan for opportunities to retrieve the missing section.
She dared not approach Chen Guan directly - too many watched her, and Ji Nanhong had enlisted the local Celestial Army garrison to protect the Chen household. Confronting the Celestial Army was impossible, as was barging into the Chen residence.
But once Chen Guan entered a secret realm, everything changed.
"Still going to Mount Pingdu's Blessed Land instead of the Ji-controlled ones. His relationship with Ji Nanhong isn't as close as I thought. My chance has come." Wang Lian gritted her teeth, determined to reclaim double what she'd lost by covering for Chen Guan.
This operation required complete independence - no allies could be involved in retrieving the scripture's final portion.
"With the Myriad Ghost Soul Refining King Cauldron, I'll surely redeem myself and reclaim what's rightfully mine." Stroking an ancient three-legged bone cauldron carved with mysterious inscriptions, Wang Lian's eyes burned with resolve.