Chapter 60: The Heavenly River Jade Scripture
The Ninth Princess said, "Ninth Brother, I heard that Lin Chenyu brought a large amount of Qi-condensing medicinal liquid back from the Yuntai Sect Mansion to enhance the strength of the younger generation of the Lin Clan, aiming to help the Lin Clan break into the Sixth-Rank Family. It was precisely because of taking the Qi-condensing medicinal liquid that Lin Ningshan was able to cultivate to the Great Extreme Position of the Yellow Extreme Realm in such a short time."
"With the aid of the Qi-condensing medicinal liquid, Lin Ningshan's cultivation will definitely become even more formidable a month from now. It's almost impossible for me to defeat her. Ninth Brother, this time you were too reckless."
Zhang Ruochen smiled and shook his head, saying, "Ninth Sister, don't you trust me? Have you forgotten? I cultivated to the Great Perfection of the Yellow Extreme Realm within half a year."
"That's right! What kind of fortuitous encounter did Ninth Brother actually have?" The Ninth Princess had just finished asking this question when she felt a slight regret, thinking it was too rash, so she added, "Never mind, don't say it. After all, it's your secret."
Through their recent interactions, Zhang Ruochen felt that the Ninth Princess was trustworthy enough, and it wouldn't hurt to share some secrets with her.
Zhang Ruochen said, "Cultivation resources are certainly important, but cultivation techniques are equally crucial. Ninth Sister, the technique you practice is the Spirit-grade lower-class technique 'Thousand Water Art,' correct?"
The Ninth Princess nodded.
The royal clan possessed three volumes of Spirit-grade techniques: "Thousand Water Art," "War God Strategy," and "Innate Skill."
Among them, "Thousand Water Art" and "War God Strategy" were Spirit-grade lower-class techniques, while "Innate Skill" was a Spirit-grade middle-class technique.
Generally speaking, within the royal clan, only princes and princesses who had awakened their Divine Martial Mark before the age of five were eligible to practice "Innate Skill."
It could be said that only royal members who practiced "Innate Skill" were qualified to compete for the throne. The Seventh Prince had also started with "Innate Skill" initially, though he later had other fortuitous encounters and obtained better cultivation techniques.
The Ninth Princess had awakened her Divine Martial Mark at the age of six, so she could only choose "Thousand Water Art" as her cultivation technique.
Zhang Ruochen said, "'Thousand Water Art' is merely a Spirit-grade lower-class technique. Even if you cultivate to the Great Perfection of the Yellow Extreme Realm, you can at most open sixteen meridians."
The Ninth Princess shot Zhang Ruochen a glare and said, "What do you mean by 'merely a Spirit-grade lower-class technique'? Ninth Brother, you need to understand that in the Yunwu Commandery, the complete Spirit-grade techniques amount to fewer than ten volumes in total. For our royal clan to possess three volumes is already quite remarkable."
"Moreover, a volume of Spirit-grade lower-class technique manual costs at least one million silver coins to purchase, and at most, it can reach five million silver coins. A technique manual of the level of 'Thousand Water Art' would cost at least three million silver coins to buy outside."
In the Yunwu Commandery, only two Sixth-Rank Families and one Sixth-Rank Sect each possessed a volume of Spirit-grade lower-class technique. The other Seventh-Rank Families and Seventh-Rank Sects had at most incomplete copies of Spirit-grade techniques or only Human-grade upper-class technique manuals.
Zhang Ruochen laughed and said, "If Ninth Sister is willing to keep a secret for me, I can pass on to you a Ghost-grade lower-class technique."
"Ghost-grade lower... class..."
The Ninth Princess had just exclaimed in shock when she immediately covered her mouth with her hand.
Her beautiful eyes widened, utterly stunned, as she stared intently at Zhang Ruochen.
After a long while, she calmed her excited emotions and whispered, "A Ghost-grade lower-class technique? Ninth Brother, where did you get such an incredible manual? Even the strongest technique of the Yuntai Sect Mansion, 'Supreme Sage Qiankun Skill,' is said to be only Ghost-grade lower-class."
Zhang Ruochen's words were too astonishing. If they were to spread, they would certainly bring him deadly trouble, and even the royal clan would find it difficult to protect him.
Ghost-grade lower-class—the Ninth Princess dared not even imagine it.
Let alone a Ghost-grade lower-class technique; Zhang Ruochen had even memorized several volumes of King-grade techniques.
Of course, if Zhang Ruochen were to truly pass on a King-grade technique to the Ninth Princess, it would not help her but might instead harm her.
Zhang Ruochen said, "The Ghost-grade lower-class technique I want to pass on to you is called 'Heavenly River Jade Scripture.' It is divided into seven layers. If you can successfully cultivate the first layer, you will be able to reach the Great Perfection of the Yellow Extreme Realm."
Afterward, Zhang Ruochen meticulously wrote down the "Heavenly River Jade Scripture" and handed it to the Ninth Princess.
The Ninth Princess took the "Heavenly River Jade Scripture" and immediately began to read it. From the very first glance at the "Heavenly River Jade Scripture," she was completely captivated.
Spending a full three hours, the Ninth Princess finally memorized all the contents of the "Heavenly River Jade Scripture."
"It truly is a Ghost-grade lower-class technique. If I could successfully cultivate all seven layers of the 'Heavenly River Jade Scripture,' I wonder what terrifying level I would reach?"
The Ninth Princess lifted her head, her eyes sparkling, gazing at Zhang Ruochen with a charming expression, feeling an urge to kiss him on the cheek again.
Zhang Ruochen naturally saw through the Ninth Princess's thoughts and coughed twice, saying, "Ninth Sister, a Ghost-grade lower-class technique is no small matter. Do not leak it out; it's best not to tell anyone at all."
The Ninth Princess said, "Do you think your sister is an idiot? A Ghost-grade lower-class technique is something you encounter only by chance; I definitely won't tell anyone. Even if Mother and Father ask, I won't breathe a single word."
Having said this, the Ninth Princess walked to the lampstand and burned the manuscript of the "Heavenly River Jade Scripture" in her hand to ashes, leaving not a single word behind.
Zhang Ruochen said, "Now, you can convert your cultivation technique to the 'Heavenly River Jade Scripture.' Once the conversion is fully complete, the quality of the true qi in your body will certainly improve significantly. If you can take this opportunity to break through to the Great Extreme Position of the Yellow Extreme Realm, you will have at least a ninety percent chance of defeating Lin Ningshan a month from now."
The higher the grade of the cultivation technique, the higher the grade of the true qi cultivated, and consequently, the stronger the martial artist's combat power.
For example, Zhang Ruochen, who was only at the Great Perfection of the Yellow Extreme Realm, could defeat the Third Prince, who was at the middle stage of the Mysterious Extreme Realm. This was inextricably linked to his practice of the "Nine Heavens Bright Emperor Scripture."
Having obtained a Ghost-grade lower-class technique, the Ninth Princess's confidence soared. She narrowed her eyes, revealing a playful smile, and said, "Ninth Brother, you've passed on such a priceless treasure as the 'Heavenly River Jade Scripture' to your sister. How should I thank you?"
"Cough, cough! Ninth Sister, we are siblings by blood; why speak of thanks? A month is very short; you must focus on your cultivation." Zhang Ruochen turned around and looked out the window.
The Ninth Princess snorted, "If you weren't my brother, I would definitely offer myself to you."
Seeing Zhang Ruochen's expression turn somewhat unnatural, the Ninth Princess let out a chuckle, then left Zhang Ruochen's residence to go into seclusion for cultivation.
She also knew that this upcoming duel with Lin Ningshan was extremely important and that she absolutely could not lose.
After the Ninth Princess left, Zhang Ruochen entered the inner space of the Time-Space Crystal and began to cultivate.
With his cultivation reaching the Great Perfection of the Yellow Extreme Realm, Zhang Ruochen's qi pool capacity had increased tenfold compared to the Great Extreme Position, forming a vast qi pool space capable of holding more true qi.
At present, the true qi in his qi pool only filled one-fifth of the entire qi pool capacity.
Only by cultivating the true qi in his qi pool to perfection could he attempt to break through to the Mysterious Extreme Realm.
An ordinary martial artist, even with the help of spirit crystals to absorb spiritual qi, would need to cultivate at the Great Perfection of the Yellow Extreme Realm for over two years to perfect their qi pool.
Liu Chengfeng was also a genius, reaching the Great Perfection of the Yellow Extreme Realm at the age of seventeen, yet he spent a full three years at that stage without breaking through to the Mysterious Extreme Realm.
From this, it was clear that breaking through to the Mysterious Extreme Realm was no easy task.
Even if Zhang Ruochen had opened thirty-six meridians and his cultivation speed was much faster than other martial artists, he would still need a year to perfect the true qi in his qi pool.
One year was too long.
Zhang Ruochen couldn't wait that long, which was why he had spent a high price to purchase pills that rapidly increased true qi to aid his cultivation.
Second-grade pill, Three Purity True Qi Pill, five thousand silver coins per pill.
Taking one Three Purity True Qi Pill could only increase the true qi in his qi pool by one-twentieth.
He swallowed a Three Purity True Qi Pill and used his thirty-six meridians to simultaneously absorb the medicinal qi, converting it into true qi.
Zhang Ruochen's cultivation began to advance by leaps and bounds.
Three days later, the true qi in Zhang Ruochen's qi pool reached two-fifths, allowing him to unleash ninety-four oxen of strength.
Another five days passed, and the true qi in Zhang Ruochen's qi pool reached three-fifths, allowing him to unleash ninety-six oxen of strength.
After another seven days, the true qi in Zhang Ruochen's qi pool reached four-fifths, allowing him to unleash ninety-eight oxen of strength.
Then, another ten days later, the true qi in Zhang Ruochen's qi pool was finally perfected, allowing him to unleash ninety-nine oxen of strength, just one ox short of the extreme power of the Yellow Extreme Realm.
Xiao Hei lay in front of Zhang Ruochen, staring at him the whole time. Only when Zhang Ruochen finished his cultivation did Xiao Hei blink its round cat eyes and sigh, "What a pity. In the end, you're still one ox of strength short, failing to reach the Supreme Extreme Realm of the Yellow Extreme Realm."
If there were an eighth minor realm above the Great Perfection, that realm would be called the "Supreme Extreme Realm."
The so-called "Supreme Extreme Realm" meant that there was no power stronger than this.
One hundred oxen of strength was the Supreme Extreme Realm of the Yellow Extreme Realm.
The Supreme Extreme Realm was a minor realm that was neither here nor there. Only the gods of ancient times, in their youth, could cultivate to the Supreme Extreme Realm of each extreme realm.
After ancient times, almost no one could cultivate to the Supreme Extreme Realm. Even those great emperors, sovereigns, and saints could at most approach the Supreme Extreme Realm infinitely.
Approaching the Supreme Extreme Realm and actually reaching the Supreme Extreme Realm were two completely different concepts.
Just like Zhang Ruochen, who could now unleash ninety-nine oxen of strength, seemingly only one ox short of the Supreme Extreme Realm.
However, the gap between them was like a chasm—one in the sky, the other on the ground—utterly incomparable.
It was for this reason that Xiao Hei sighed, feeling regret for Zhang Ruochen, saying, "If you could reach the Supreme Extreme Realm, you would attract the resonance of the divine power of the ancient gods, gaining unimaginable benefits. What a pity! You're still one step short."
"It's not necessarily impossible to cultivate to the Supreme Extreme Realm of the Yellow Extreme Realm. Perhaps I can still give it one more try." Zhang Ruochen's gaze was resolute, full of confidence in himself.
Xiao Hei shook its head and said, "The true qi in your qi pool is completely perfected; there is no room for further progress."