Actually, reaching the Mystical Gate Eighth Layer was not the greatest achievement this time.
The biggest gain was that during the Dual Cultivation, Yue Hongling’s spirit and his were fully shared, which finally let Zhao Changhe, who had always been lacking in Secret Treasure Level Cultivation Techniques, find out what the First Layer Secret Treasure was. That was what he was pondering over during his recent Meditation.
For someone who had read too many novels and watched too many animations, this concept was easy to understand.
The so-called several layers of the Mystical Gate were just an ancient process of opening the governor and conception vessels, just phrased differently. Or rather, it was simplified and straightforward.
The process of Zhao Changhe’s cultivation felt very intuitive, starting from the First Layer at the perineum, and then breaking through upwards, Dantian, middle chest, Jade Hall... and finally opening the Heavenly Spirit Acupoint which was the Ninth Layer of Mystical Gate, each layer representing a step towards heaven.
When the Ninth Layer of the Mystical Gate was reached, it meant the connection of the two vessels was complete, the spring reached the earth, the Heavenly Spirit reached the heavens, forming a complete cycle of human body cultivation. Whether it was Inner Strength or External Skill, they ultimately converged at this same point.
But at this level, for the vast majority of people, this was the endpoint; the Ninth Layer of the Mystical Gate was the pinnacle for a Martial Artist.
Amongst the myriad of martial artists in the world, those who had achieved the Ninth Layer of the Mystical Gate included many high-level figures from various Sects and family leaders, practically countless. Everyone was stuck at this level unable to advance further, as if separated by a Heavenly Chasm, only able to compare the superiority of their combat skills, creating countless individuals who were "close to the Human List", with very few exceptional ones being included at the bottom of the Human List.
Martial Artists called this checkpoint the Heaven and Earth Bridge, only by opening the First Layer Secret Treasure could one cross this bridge, thus achieving unity with heaven and man.
At that time, the nature of True Qi would undergo a qualitative transformation, conventionally termed as transforming acquired True Qi into innate True Qi. One could circulate it within oneself endlessly, which is what Hu Lie mentioned about Yue Hongling possibly suffocating in a sandstorm due to breathing difficulties, whereas he would not.
However, the change in the nature of True Qi wouldn’t bring a significant increase in power in a short period, Hu Lie’s strength in True Qi was only slightly stronger than Yue Hongling’s, not overwhelming. However, at this step, the limit was expanded, and future development was limitless, requiring time to accumulate.
This was about True Qi, a rigid condition that could not be learned for the time being.
But other aspects could be learned.
Throughout the process of breaking through the Mystical Gate, the Five Senses were continuously enhanced, almost all operating routes of Inner Strength involved the eyes, ears, nose, and tongue, thereby opening the acupoints of eyes and ears, enhancing abilities like long-distance vision, night vision, and discerning positions by hearing the wind, which were the major value of practicing Martial Arts that ordinary people could not achieve.
But such abilities were still within the category of mortals, whereas the opening of Secret Treasures began the transcendence.
Long ago, when Zhao Changhe was reading about the Blood God Sect’s Martial Arts overview, he saw a description on it: "Those who open body’s Secret Treasures possess Divine Skills."
"Ordinary people breaking the Mystical Gate, opening orifices, merely enhance sight and detailed observation. Only the Secret Treasure Divine Skills can foresee events behind them, see across thousands of miles, reflect upon worldly joys and sorrows, and perceive the principles of the Heavenly Dao. Every aspect of the world is visible, rightfully called Heavenly Vision."
The logic of each Sect was consistent in this regard.
When a Secret Treasure was opened, it involved the Spiritual Sea of Consciousness, no longer relying on eyes and ears themselves. At this time, even with eyes closed, one could "see" the surroundings, whether or not one could see thousands of miles was another matter, but at least foreseeing events behind oneself was possible.
Yes, Zhao Changhe’s transmigration came with an inherent feature of a Secret Treasure.
And this eye behind him delved deeper than the normal First Layer Secret Treasure, other people’s "seeing" was metaphorical, merely perceiving every detail of motion intricately. To truly see the appearance of someone behind was impossible. But his seeing was literal, he could actually see images; this might have already surpassed the achievements of a First Layer Secret Treasure.
Under the guidance of Yue Hongling’s Spiritual Dual Cultivation, Zhao Changhe began his first evolution and training of the eye behind him—raising his viewpoint.
Thus, it was no longer just observing what was behind, but as if overlooking from the air, observing the entire surrounding environment, whether front, back, left, or right.
Like Moon Reflected in Water.
This was also the ultimate realm indicated by the Heart Method taught by Tang Wanzhuang, which was already an Earth List Heart Method, at the Second Layer Secret Treasure Level.
This state had a professional term: Divine Sense.
But the extent Zhao Changhe could control it was still quite basic... but no matter how basic, it had already created a divide between mortal and transcendent, this was the first step ladder of Transcendent Ascension, stepping over it meant reaching a First Layer Secret Treasure.
He could clearly see the ring in his hand, a small space of about a cubit inside, containing a sword, a book, and a token.
What he needed now was to find a cultivation technique that could draw things out so that he could start using the Storage Ring for real.
This was termed "Peeking into the Door of Secret Treasure," something that was partially achieved before the full opening of a Secret Treasure, colloquially known as "Half-step Secret Treasure."
Others were at the pinnacle of the Ninth Layer before they could barely search for this door, but he had achieved part of it at the Eighth Layer—perhaps it could be said, he had inadvertently achieved a part even before he started practicing Martial Arts, although it was completely passive and unknown to him, now he had entered the phase of self-control.
Now, Zhao Changhe was possibly a bit stronger than Yue Hongling was when she fought Sect Hierarch Xue initially, if there was an area where he was lacking, it might be that his practice of Combat Skills was not yet finely honed.
After all, he had been mingling in the Worldly Society for just about a year.
"Almost there," Zhao Changhe introspected for a long time, then suddenly smiled: "Thank goodness I really didn’t think of anything when you were living in the village... If I had any peeping thoughts, you would have caught me long ago."
Yue Hongling also smiled: "You... that’s called fishing with a long line. Others blindly kindle fire and claim me as their bandit lady, why didn’t you refute them if there weren’t any crooked thoughts in your mind?"
"I didn’t, don’t talk nonsense..."
"Anyway, now this single horse bandit needs to go out and rob again, do you want to be this bandit’s chief husband?"
"Yes," Zhao Changhe hugged her again, and Yue Hongling kicked up.
The two of them played and laughed, but their eyes simultaneously fell on the altar that originally held the ring.
Having mingled here for so long, the two of them had a clear understanding of every situation. The altar was a mechanism; pushing it aside revealed a passageway leading to the deepest part of the lake, an exit to another dimension.
There was no need to think about it, both knew where the exit was. It wasn’t Yellow Sand Lake, but rather Rocky Mountain.
These days, both had devoted themselves to cultivation, harboring a sense of anxiety in their hearts. They had lost track of time inside, not knowing if months had passed, maybe even the war outside was over—what was everyone doing here then?
Since they had broken through, it was time to seek a way out.
So, Yue Hongling donned her red attire.
"Shall we go?" Zhao Changhe asked somewhat reluctantly, his eyes lingering on the altar.
Yue Hongling also felt a slight reluctance, her gaze sweeping around before she whispered, "Should we take the things?"
Zhao Changhe nodded, pocketing a gemstone. After a moment’s thought, he scooped up all the remaining "jelly" and tossed it into his ring.
It couldn’t be helped right now; they’d organise it later.
Seeing that he had packed everything, Yue Hongling took one last longing look around the small love nest they had shared as newlyweds, then reluctantly pushed the altar aside, "Let’s go."
Atop Rocky Mountain, there was a light snowfall that had turned into rain by the time it reached the earth, cold against the skin—indistinguishable whether it was rain or snow.
The two of them unsurprisingly appeared at the mountaintop, standing amidst the light snow and rain, gazing at the wilderness not far from where they had fought Hu Lie.
The distant calls of battle were thunderous; thousands of troops were engaged in combat.
To be precise, one side was overwhelming the other, which was steadily retreating, inching closer to Rocky Mountain.
"Ba Tu! This is insubordination, a disregard of ethics!" a middle-aged man, continuously retreating under the protection of his soldiers, looked back and cursed angrily.
Ba Tu slashed a soldier blocking him and charged forward on his horse, "Damn strange, since when do we on the grassland care about these ethics? Did I go to Central Earth or did you?"
With another spit, he roared, "I am the designated heir by uncle! You, as uncle’s own brother, took over his wife and incited your nephews to squeeze me out of my place—when have you ever talked about ethics! Damn it!" Read complete version only at novel⁂fire.net
The man laughed, "Looks like it’s you who wants your aunt!"
Ba Tu ignored him, charging straight into the formation, "Whoever takes He Shan’s head, a reward of a hundred taels of gold, a thousand cows and sheep, and their own tent!"
Bloodshed roiled up into the air, soaking the sand with blood.
Ba Tu had charged close to He Shan, only to realise he had advanced too far ahead and had left his personal guards behind.
He Shan, previously angry with a hint of fear in his eyes, now smirked with triumph, "A brute is still a brute, thinking you’re invincible, daring to charge here... Do you not know, I can’t defeat your soldiers, but I can take your life?"
As he spoke, he turned his horse around and thrust his spear straight at Ba Tu’s chest.
As He Lei’s own brother, he hadn’t made it to the Chaotic World List, but he was indeed at the Mystical Gate Ninth Layer!
Ba Tu was only at the Seventh Layer today!
All it took was luring him into the formation to seize his head and turn defeat into victory!
Ba Tu was caught off guard. He had been too complacent these days, his head clouded, never expecting that this uncle, who seemed only adept at scheming, had secretly reached the Mystical Gate Ninth Layer.
Under normal circumstances, surrounded by his guards, he wouldn’t have feared anything.
But now, chasing He Shan, whose horse was a Swiftwind Treasure horse and very fast, he feared letting the opponent get away and had pursued too eagerly, separating from his guards by several horse lengths.
How could he block a spear strike from a Mystical Gate Ninth Layer?
Had he just rose in power only to die from this oversight?
At that moment, a red shadow flickered by.
He Shan’s spear was only halfway there when the triumph in his eyes froze on his face.
Yue Hongling mounted his Swiftwind Treasure horse, smiling, "Nice horse!"
Ba Tu stared dumbfounded at her, then saw Zhao Changhe smiling beside him, "Brother Ba Tu, you’re in luck, my wife lost her Blue Mane horse but took a liking to this red one."
He Shan’s body only then collapsed to the ground, stirring up the sand, never having imagined this as the cause of his death.
Ba Tu looked deeply at Zhao Changhe, knowing well the reason given was merely an excuse for the retreating soldiers, unsure if it would mean anything when it reached the Great Khan.
He didn’t bother thanking; instead, he pointed with his sword, "The unification of the Battle Lion Tribe, it happens today!"