Immortal Path to Heaven c1-725

by Heaven's White Crane

  Ou Yangming hesitated for a while before he finally squatted.

  He performed the martial-art squat, which was the most basic posture in martial arts cultivation. Once he did the squat that he was exceptionally familiar with, he finally understood what exactly was different about the air.

  As Ou Yangming sensed the surging essential Qi that was about to overflow, he was surprised but glad.

  It turned out that there was a martial arts shrine in the ravine.

  Each time Ou Yangming breathed, he could absorb certain energy from this place to be transformed into essential Qi along with his Qi and blood. After cultivating for only a short while, Ou Yangming could not help but feel like he wanted to cultivate until the end of time. Nevertheless, Ou Yangming worried about Old Craftsman’s safety the most at the moment.

  He could not continue to cultivate even after ensuring that the place was safe. With that, Ou Yangming lifted the stretcher again and walked toward the center with the big yellow dog.

  A cottage was situated there, and the closer he was to it, the more he felt an unordinary aura.

  However, the cottage was quite small so he could not enter it with the stretcher.

  Ou Yangming put down the stretcher helplessly after a moment of hesitation. There shouldn’t be any danger in this place.’

  He glanced apologetically at the sleeping yellow dog, then entered the cottage by himself.

  Next, he saw an elder sitting with his legs crossed inside the cottage.

  Ou Yangming was taken aback, and he stared at the elder for a long time before confirming that the elder had already been dead for quite some time. Nonetheless, the corpse was still in good condition as it had not decomposed at all.

  When Ou Yangming took a step forward to bow at the corpse, he thought, ‘My ultimate goal of this journey is probably related to this corpse.’ Nothing changed around him, thus Ou Yangming slowly inched closer to study the seemingly alive corpse, and he finally found something strange.

  The dead elder held a jade box in his hands and was lowering his head as though he was looking at it.

  Ou Yangming gritted his teeth and bowed at the corpse again. “Senior, I was entrusted by the Ni family descendants to search for the Land of Inheritance. Please excuse me for the intrusion.” Following that, he retrieved the jade box.

  If his goal was only to find the Land of Inheritance, he had probably achieved it already.

  That being said, the inheritance was only a burden to him because it was the Life-prolonging Golden Pill that he truly cared about.

  Therefore, Ou Yangming was determined to have control over every possible change.

  Chapter 131 - Spiritual World

  Ou Yangming opened the jade box slowly, then a peculiar luster was instantly emitted from the inside.

  His vision became blurry because his consciousness had entered another wonderful world due to the luster.

  It was a world that could not be described with words. In the world, his physical quality achievements such as Power, Agility, and Physique turned to nothing because the only power that could exist was mental power.

  Nobody explained to Ou Yangming, but he somehow had the knowledge when he entered the world. This was the real Land of Inheritance, whereas the small ravine outside that was filled with strange air was simply a disguise.

  Nonetheless, while the real land was wonderful, in terms of actual effect, it could not be compared with the small ravine outside.

  This was because cultivating in the ravine was highly beneficial toward one’s martial arts. Whether it was an inexperienced person who was new to martial arts or a Supreme Great Ancestor like Ni Xuetian, one could greatly benefit from the cultivation.

  On the other hand, mental power was required for one to enter the wonderful world. How many people in the Ni family, or even the whole prefecture, possessed mental power and could release it?

  After inspecting the world for a while more, Ou Yangming realized something ridiculous.

  He found out that the Ni family’s ancestor had actually set up a restriction in the world where even if one had mental power, as long as one did not carry the Ni family’s bloodline, one could not enter.

  As for how Ou Yangming managed to enter it… The only probable explanation was his mental power points.

  Once his mental power was at a certain level, the restriction was non-existent for him.

  It was just like how a baby could not climb a slightly higher step even if the baby had the strength of nine bulls and two tigers, but what if an adult had climbed it? An adult could easily climb the step by lifting his or her leg.

  Needless to say, there was not such a huge disparity between Ou Yangming and the restriction.

  After absorbing energy from the Black Magic Crawler king’s flesh and blood where his mental power improved to a new height, his mental power happened to have surpassed the restriction limit, which was why he could enter the mysterious world.

  Ou Yangming did not know whether to laugh or to cry when he understood everything.

  ‘I’m truly very lucky.’

  In the Land of Inheritance inside the spiritual world, colorful lights were emitted.

  Each light represented one inheritance, and there were probably more than 10,000 of them in total.

  After seeing the large-scaled Inheritance Lights, Ou Yangming’s face changed. He instantly understood that the Ni family was not as simple as it seemed on the surface, and the wonderful spiritual inheritance was probably not something that could be achieved by a Supreme Great Ancestor.

  Ou Yangming decided on a small thought after hesitating for a while.

  Since he had gone so deep into the ravine, he could not leave empty-handed.

  Nevertheless, Ou Yangming did not want to offend the Ni family completely, hence he purposely avoided those related to martial arts when he searched the lights.

  A clan’s grasp in martial arts was unquestionably the most obvious thing. If Ou Yangming accidentally saw a mysterious technique and unexpectedly learned it, he would not be able to explain himself no matter what.

  On the other hand, no matter how cautious one clan was, strange skills were more likely to be leaked due to various reasons.

  Smithing, medicine production, formation map, high-level appraisal art…

  Plenty of information flashed in Ou Yangming’s mind, which was too much for his eyes to take in.

  Of course, Ou Yangming knew that he could not stay in the environment forever, and he had not come for the inheritance. Therefore, after briefly browsing the options, he decided on smithing and magic art.

  Smithing was a straightforward choice because it was his survival skill, and he was not going to miss the opportunity of learning something more advanced.

  As for magic art, Ou Yangming had decided on it because he noticed two words.

  Mental power.

  Yes, the magic art was a skill developed using mental power as the foundation.

  After witnessing through the thoroughly meticulous state the big yellow dog’s breathing, Ou Yangming was extremely interested in its gifted skill. He knew that if he used mental power correctly, he might also be able to release the same might.

  Hence, after seeing the words ‘mental power’, his conception was attracted to it like a magnet, and he could not let go of it.

  Time kept ticking away as Ou Yangming fathomed knowledge from the spiritual world in detail. After an unknown period of time, he suddenly experienced a splitting headache.

  Next, he was distracted and had left the odd spiritual world.

  “Ouch!” Ou Yangming squatted and put down the box. He grimaced in pain while holding his head, and was close to rolling on the ground.

  He immediately understood that it was because he had over-consumed his mental power.

  Mental power was constantly consumed when he stayed in the spiritual world.

  If Ou Yangming was part of the Ni family, he would naturally be taken care of where he would be alerted
in advance. However, since Ou Yangming had forcefully entered the world, he was not treated that way.

  He wanted very badly to encounter a bunch of dead Black Magic Crawlers at that moment because he could compensate for the consumption by slaughtering them.

  “Woof!”

  The big yellow dog’s bark was heard at the door all of a sudden.

  Ou Yangming was stunned. He quickly covered the box as it contained a clear jade bead, which was the source of the mysterious light. Once he closed the box, everything became normal as though nothing ever happened.

  If he had not experienced the immense pain that gave him the urge to crash into a wall and had not gained extra knowledge in his head, he might actually think that everything was just a dream.

  Ou Yangming flashed to leave the cottage.

  The big yellow dog had gotten up from the stretcher, but it seemed different from how it was before.

  Although its outer appearance remained the same, its temperament underwent drastic changes. Ou Yangming felt an enormous pressure when the big yellow dog simply stood in front of him.

  He blurted when a thought crossed his mind, “Supreme Great Ancestor?”

  The big yellow dog exerted force through its legs to jump, and it transformed into a yellow light to arrive next to Ou Yangming. If Ou Yangming’s mental power was still as powerful as before, he could naturally sense everything clearly by entering the thoroughly meticulous state. He only felt something chilly beside him at that moment, then the big yellow dog appeared and licked his hand in a friendly manner several times.

  Ou Yangming smiled bitterly. He wanted to rub its head, but he stopped halfway.

  ‘I’m actually going to caress a Supreme Great Ancestor’s head, am I out of my mind…’

  That said, the big yellow dog quickly noticed his move, and it actually moved its head to his palm to rub against it.

  Ou Yangming could not help but laugh. He went with it and placed his hand on the dog’s head.

  “Ah, I can’t believe that you’ve become a Supreme Great Ancestor even though we came in together.” Ou Yangming lamented. “I’ve only advanced one class, which is far from what you’ve achieved.”

  The big yellow dog tilted its head and cast a disdainful look at him to expose his lie.

  Indeed, in terms of mere cultivation base, Ou Yangming and the big yellow dog were Heaven and Earth apart as the former was in Yin Grade Class Two while the latter was in Extreme Grade. Nonetheless, even the dog scorned at Ou Yangming when he said that he had only advanced one class.

  It was worth noting that mental power upgrade was much more difficult than essential Qi improvement, and Ou Yangming’s mental power had actually highly benefited. Obviously, what the big yellow dog truly envied was the fact that Ou Yangming’s potential burst out when he was on the verge of death, and he progressed from the integration of Heaven and man to the thoroughly meticulous state.

  The apprehension of Heaven and Earth’s path was tougher than mental power cultivation.

  Many Supreme Great Ancestors had put in their utmost effort to arrive at Extreme Grade, but could not fathom the mysteries between Heaven and Earth, so they could not achieve the integration of Heaven and man, let alone the thoroughly meticulous state.

  In comparison, the big yellow dog’s mere power and its breakthrough in Blood Meridian were not worth mentioning. Ou Yangming grinned and ignored the big yellow dog’s look. He said, “Big Yellow, we’ve found the Land of Inheritance and the inheritance that they need. What about the Life-prolonging Golden Pill? Where’s that thing?”

  The big yellow dog blinked. It instantly understood what Ou Yangming meant.

  Even though it was part of the Ni family, it had traveled together with and fought alongside Ou Yangming. It was true that they trusted each other with their life.

  The big yellow dog hung its head and no longer showed the aura of a Supreme Great Ancestor.

  Ou Yangming sighed. “Big Yellow, I’ll never beg you for anything else, but I must save Old Craftsman. No matter what it costs, even if I have to risk universal condemnation, I… I don’t care!”

  He did not speak in a high tone, and the words were said so calmly that they did not sound threatening at all.

  Despite that, just like he said, he did not care.

  The attitude that he displayed frightened the big yellow dog, which had become a Supreme Great Ancestor. It suddenly looked up deeply at Ou Yangming, then turned to enter the cottage. Ou Yangming’s eyelids twitched. He immediately figured that there had to be something else in there, but he was so immersed in the spiritual world earlier that he did not notice it.

  Nevertheless, it would be inappropriate for him to enter the cottage again. The big yellow dog came out after a brief moment, and it held a jade bottle in its mouth.

  Ou Yangming was so excited that he began breathing quickly. There was no need for him to ask because the feeling transmitted through their spiritual connection was clearly telling him what was inside the bottle.

  Chapter 132 - Smooth All The Way

  Ou Yangming reached out his hand to take the jade bottle from the big yellow dog’s mouth. Perhaps he was too excited, his hands were slightly shaking.

  The big yellow dog shook his head a little and bared his teeth, but the seemingly ferocious look appeared amiable for Ou Yangming.

  He carefully kept the jade bottle. There was no need for him to check its authenticity because he trusted Big Yellow.

  Ou Yangming opened his arms to hug the big yellow dog, and he used so much strength that even the tough dog stuck out its tongue.

  The big yellow dog had just advanced to the next level, but it was still a Supreme Great Ancestor. ‘A great ancestor shouldn’t be tormented like this…’ It widened its eyes and plucked up its courage, but just as it was going to bark to display a great ancestor’s prestige again, Ou Yangming mumbled, “Big Yellow, thank you.”

  The big yellow dog was stunned, and its bark was stuck in its throat. The suspended aura was making the dog feel unusually uncomfortable, but it somehow felt a warm feeling in its heart, so it could not be resentful at all.

  ‘Hmph, I’m a generous dog, so I won’t argue with a child like him,’ the big yellow dog said it to itself as it was unwilling to admit defeat.

  Nonetheless, the dog had no idea that its eyes looked incredibly gentle, which was completely different from the aggressive look it had when it fought the Black Magic Crawlers.

  That said, before the big yellow dog fully released its warm feelings, Ou Yangming let go of it and said, “Big Yellow, let’s go, I must give it to Old Craftsman as soon as possible! Hey, why do your eyes look so strange? Are you sick…”

  The big yellow dog was speechless.

  Ou Yangming’s face suddenly changed when he brought the big yellow dog to the cave that led to the ravine. “Oh no!”

  The dog cast a surprised look at Ou Yangming, but it was slightly vigilant.

  ‘What is this young fella up to this time? Is he going to play the same trick again to make me feel sad?’

  However, Ou Yangming sighed at the big yellow dog and said, “Big Yellow, I’m afraid that you won’t be able to get out.”

  The big yellow dog looked at him strangely as it was confused.

  “Do you remember what Senior Ni Xuetian said? Once someone enters Extreme Grade, one will be sensed by the Black Magic Crawlers in the Chaos Cave, and the creatures will hurry over tirelessly.” Ou Yangming sighed and expressed with a bitter smile, “We’re both armored, but it’s impossible to eliminate every Black Magic Crawler…”

  They had gone around the Land of Inheritance before entering it, so they knew very well how dangerous the areas around the land were.

  Although they had killed a nest of 10,000 Black Magic Crawlers along the way, it did not mean that there was only one nest in the entire Chaos Cave. If Ni Xuetian was right about the Black Magic Crawlers being able to sense Extreme Grade powerhouses, and that the creatures would pursue a pow
erhouse as such resolutely, every Supreme Great Ancestor in the world would be killed even if they gathered in the cave together. Nevertheless, the big yellow dog suddenly opened its mouth to spit out a scarf. The moment the scarf was unfolded, there seemed to be a strange fluctuation in the air around them.

  Ou Yangming was stunned, and he immediately understood that the scarf was not as simple as it seemed. It was certainly a treasure, and he somehow felt that it looked familiar…

  He shouted at once when he remembered what it was, “Big Yellow, you actually stole a dead person’s belongings, you’re being too disrespectful! Ah, oh my god! You even swallowed it! T-that’s unreasonable, stay away from me and don’t lick me anymore!”

  The big yellow dog’s knees went weak such that it almost fell. When it turned around, it glared angrily at Ou Yangming, who was jokingly smiling back at it.

  Ou Yangming was elated after acquiring the Life-prolonging Golden Pill, and the feeling of joy was indescribable. He could not wait to share the good news with everyone else in the world.

  Despite that, Big Yellow was his only companion in the cave, so who else could he have fun with?

  The big yellow dog barked and pounced on him.

  Ou Yangming could have dodged it, but instead, he hugged it and fell to the ground.

  The big yellow dog stuck out its tongue to attempt licking Ou Yangming’s face, but Ou Yangming resisted it with all his might. With that, the human and the dog fought jokingly.

  After an unknown period of time, their fight finally ended with the big yellow dog being victorious.

  Ou Yangming got up and knocked the dog’s head, but the dog simply ignored him.

  “Big Yellow, why did you remove the senior’s scarf? Does it have a magical effect to drive out the crawlers?”

  The big yellow dog nodded proudly, then it picked up the scarf with its mouth and lifted its head as a gesture to Ou Yangming to follow it.

  Following that, it dashed out of the peculiar Land of Inheritance.

  Ou Yangming turned to look at the place once more. He had a feeling that this was not the end of his fate with the land.