Chapter 27: Stone Pillar Flowers Bloom, Fragrance on the Path
Zhang Ruochen's figure flickered, and he appeared in front of the stone pillar.
The stone pillar was ancient and mottled, covered in dense patterns and cracks, as if it had experienced countless years of wind and frost. At the top of the pillar, a strange flower was quietly blooming. The petals were as white as snow, with a faint, ethereal fragrance that made one feel refreshed and uplifted.
"This is..."
Zhang Ruochen's pupils contracted slightly. He could feel a mysterious power emanating from the flower, a power that seemed to resonate with the Taiji Four Symbols Diagram within him.
"Could it be that this flower is related to the Taiji Four Symbols Diagram?" he murmured to himself.
At that moment, the Taiji Four Symbols Diagram in his Qi Sea suddenly trembled, emitting a faint buzzing sound. The next instant, a beam of light shot out from the diagram, directly striking the flower on the stone pillar.
The flower instantly bloomed with dazzling radiance, and the petals slowly unfolded, revealing a fist-sized fruit inside. The fruit was crystal clear, like the most perfect gem in the world, exuding an irresistible allure.
"This is... a sacred medicine?" Zhang Ruochen's heart stirred. He could feel an extremely pure Saint Qi emanating from the fruit, a Saint Qi far more refined than any he had ever encountered.
Without hesitation, he reached out and plucked the fruit. The moment his fingers touched the fruit, a warm current surged into his body, causing the Saint Qi in his Qi Sea to boil instantly.
"Such a powerful medicinal power!" Zhang Ruochen was secretly shocked. He quickly sat down cross-legged, circulating the Nine Heavens Bright Emperor Scripture to refine the medicinal power.
As the medicinal power spread through his limbs and bones, Zhang Ruochen could clearly feel his cultivation base rapidly improving. The originally loose Saint Qi began to condense, and the Saint Dao rules within his body grew clearer.
Time passed minute by minute. When Zhang Ruochen opened his eyes again, a sharp light flashed in them. He stood up, feeling the surging power within him, and a hint of surprise appeared on his face.
"Just one fruit actually allowed me to break through a minor realm!" He took a deep breath, barely able to conceal the excitement in his heart.
At this moment, the stone pillar suddenly trembled violently, and cracks began to spread from the top. Zhang Ruochen's expression changed slightly, and he quickly retreated.
Boom!
The stone pillar completely collapsed, and a vast, ancient aura swept out from the ruins. In the dust, a figure slowly walked out.
It was an old man with white hair and a youthful face, wearing a simple long robe, his eyes deep and profound, as if containing the mysteries of the stars.
"You actually managed to find this place, it seems you have some fate with me." The old man looked at Zhang Ruochen, a faint smile appearing at the corner of his mouth.
Zhang Ruochen's heart tightened. He could feel an unfathomable aura emanating from the old man, an aura that far surpassed any strong person he had ever encountered.
"Senior, may I ask who you are?" Zhang Ruochen asked cautiously.
The old man smiled faintly and said, "I am just a remnant soul left behind by an old friend. Since you can find this place, it means you have obtained his inheritance. Since that's the case, I will give you another opportunity."
As he spoke, the old man raised his hand and pointed at Zhang Ruochen's forehead. A vast amount of information instantly flooded into his mind.
Zhang Ruochen's body trembled violently, and a splitting headache hit him. But he gritted his teeth and forcefully endured it, letting that information merge into his sea of consciousness.
When the pain subsided, Zhang Ruochen found that a complete cultivation method had appeared in his mind. It was a method even more profound than the Nine Heavens Bright Emperor Scripture, containing the mysteries of the Great Way of Heaven and Earth.
"This is..." Zhang Ruochen was shocked.
The old man said calmly, "This is the complete version of the Taiji Four Symbols Diagram. The one you cultivated before was only an incomplete version. Now that you have obtained the complete method, you must cultivate it well. When you truly comprehend the essence of the Taiji Four Symbols Diagram, you will naturally understand everything."
After saying this, the old man's figure gradually became transparent, eventually turning into specks of light that dissipated into the air.
Zhang Ruochen stared at the dissipating light spots, a complex expression flashing in his eyes. He took a deep breath, then bowed deeply in the direction the old man had disappeared.
"Thank you, senior, for your guidance. I will definitely live up to your expectations."
After saying this, Zhang Ruochen turned around and walked out of the ruins. Behind him, the collapsed stone pillar slowly sank into the ground, as if it had never existed.
When he walked out of the ruins, the outside world had already undergone earth-shaking changes. The originally clear sky was now covered with dark clouds, and a heavy, oppressive aura filled the air.
"What's going on?" Zhang Ruochen frowned. He could feel an extremely dangerous aura approaching from afar.
Suddenly, a terrifying pressure descended from the sky, causing the ground beneath his feet to crack inch by inch. Zhang Ruochen's expression changed drastically, and he hurriedly circulated the Saint Qi in his body to resist.
But that pressure was too powerful. Even with his current cultivation, he felt as if he was carrying a mountain on his back, barely able to stand.
"Who's there?" Zhang Ruochen shouted in a deep voice.
"Hmph, a mere ant dares to trespass into my forbidden area. You're seeking death!"
An icy cold voice came from the sky. The next moment, a huge hand formed from black mist descended from the clouds, pressing down towards Zhang Ruochen.
Zhang Ruochen's pupils contracted sharply. He could feel that this palm contained a power that could destroy everything. If he was hit, he would undoubtedly die.
"Not good!"
Without any hesitation, Zhang Ruochen instantly activated the Taiji Four Symbols Diagram. A black and white Taiji diagram appeared above his head, spinning rapidly, emitting a dazzling light.
Boom!
The giant palm heavily struck the Taiji diagram, causing a deafening explosion. Zhang Ruochen's body shook violently, and blood trickled from the corner of his mouth.
But he gritted his teeth and held on, continuously pouring Saint Qi into the Taiji diagram, barely managing to withstand the palm.
"Oh? You actually blocked it?" The voice in the sky carried a hint of surprise, then turned even colder. "Interesting, but do you think you can escape death just by blocking one move?"
As the voice fell, an even more terrifying pressure descended, causing the space around Zhang Ruochen to twist and deform.
Zhang Ruochen's face turned pale. He knew that if this continued, he would definitely die. He had to find a way to escape.
Just as he was about to use the Great Space Teleportation to flee, a gentle voice suddenly sounded in his ear.
"Don't be afraid, I'm here."
The next moment, a figure in white appeared in front of Zhang Ruochen. It was a woman with a face like a fairy, her long hair flowing like a waterfall, her eyes clear and bright, as if containing the stars.
She gently raised her hand, and a gentle force spread out, instantly dispersing the pressure from the sky.
"Who are you?" The voice in the sky carried a hint of shock and anger.
The woman in white smiled faintly and said, "You don't need to know who I am. You just need to know that this person, I am protecting."
After saying this, she waved her hand, and a white light enveloped Zhang Ruochen. The next moment, the two of them disappeared from the spot.
When Zhang Ruochen opened his eyes again, he found himself in a quiet valley. The woman in white stood not far away, looking at him with a gentle gaze.
"Senior, thank you for saving my life." Zhang Ruochen hurriedly bowed and thanked her.
The woman in white shook her head and said, "No need to thank me. Since you can obtain the complete Taiji Four Symbols Diagram, it means you are the person that old friend chose. I am merely fulfilling a promise."
Zhang Ruochen was startled and asked, "Senior, do you know that senior from before?"
The woman in white smiled faintly but did not answer directly. Instead, she said, "You don't need to ask too many questions. Some things, when the time comes, you will naturally understand. For now, you should focus on improving your strength. The storm in this world is about to arrive. If you don't have enough strength, you won't even be able to protect yourself."
After saying this, her figure gradually faded and finally disappeared into the air.
Zhang Ruochen stared at the spot where she disappeared, a thoughtful expression appearing on his face. He took a deep breath, then clenched his fists.
"Storm, huh... Since that's the case, I will use this storm to temper myself and step onto the peak!"