Eternal Life: I Can Control My Essence Qi-Chapter 126 - 118: The Secret Treasury Emerges, Challenging and Breaking Through the Array (Part 2)
Years of hard work gone to waste in an instant, how could he be content with that?
Thinking of this, a hint of cold light flashed in Fu Yaozi’s eyes.
Time flickered by, and soon it was seven days later.
Over these seven days, as expected, no disciple from the Xige Sect came to seek out Fu Yaozi.
Fu Yaozi seemed to have exhausted his last bit of patience, so he summoned Zhang Yao, took out a crimson elixir pill, and handed it to him:
"This is the ’Yuanyang Li Luo Pill’, a second grade Spirit Pill that can stimulate a cultivator’s potential, greatly increasing one’s magical power."
"However, this elixir has serious side effects; after consumption, it will shorten your life by ten years and leave you weak for a year."
Fu Yaozi’s expression was solemn as he spoke in a serious tone:
"The Celestial Capital Secret Collection is vital for the prosperity of our Xige Sect and the rebuilding of Pingdu Sect. This mission must be accomplished at all costs."
"As your uncle, I cannot abandon the grand scheme of our Xige Sect out of personal compassion."
"Therefore, I bestow this elixir upon you. If you find yourself in a helpless situation within the secret collection, consume this pill as a last resort to save your life."
Upon hearing this, Zhang Yao immediately showed a hint of gratitude and repeatedly said:
"Thank you, Uncle. Thank you, Uncle..."
"Hmm."
Seeing this, Fu Yaozi revealed a hint of satisfaction and waved his sleeve:
"Let’s go."
"You and I, as uncle and nephew, will meet that Dan Shen Guest of the Dongge Sect."
As soon as he finished speaking, he soared into the air with the escape light.
Zhang Yao followed behind him, flying deeply into the mountains.
"This Fu Yaozi truly is a malicious person..."
Zhang Yao shook his head in his heart.
Though he wasn’t particularly skilled in alchemy, he was very sensitive to changes in essence energy.
The ’Yuanyang Li Luo Pill’ given to him by Fu Yaozi was about exploiting the essence to exchange for magical power, with side effects much more severe than just shortening life by ten years and a year of weakness.
"A Qi Refining Cultivator cannot withstand such a domineering second grade Spirit Pill."
"After consumption, even if one is momentarily unrivaled, they are highly likely to have their Qi veins severed and die violently afterward..."
Thinking of this, Zhang Yao couldn’t help but coldly chuckle in his heart.
This Fu Yaozi treated him as a tool for treasure, yet hypocritically pretended to act for his good and the greater picture.
If it were some fanatic like Chen Qingju, he might have been successfully brainwashed by him, ending up tragically.
"However, I am not Chen Qingju."
"As long as I use this identity as a cover, infiltrating the Celestial Capital Secret Collection would already be half the success..."
Zhang Yao was still contemplating further plans in his mind.
Soon, the two flew dozens of miles, reaching a grand Imperial Mausoleum deep within the Celestial Yin Mountain, then descended from the escape light.
At this moment, several figures were standing before the massive stele of the Imperial Mausoleum. Noticing the sound of the escape light, they were waiting for the two to land.
"Junior Brother Fu Yaozi, we meet again."
An elderly man with an immortal demeanor smiled gently, giving a respectful bow first.
"Senior Brother Danshen."
Fu Yaozi forced a smile, returning the gesture perfunctorily.
"Junior Brother, how come there’s only one disciple from the Xige Sect this year to participate in the trial of the Celestial Capital Secret Collection?"
Dan Shen Guest feigned surprise, looking at Zhang Yao as he asked.
Fu Yaozi’s face darkened, a hint of anger surged in his heart, and he said sarcastically:
"Senior Brother Danshen knows the inside story like the back of his hand, so why bother asking me?"
"Oh, is that so? I really didn’t know..."
The two exchanged harsh words, sarcastically jabbing at each other, seemingly gaining no advantage.
But Fu Yaozi’s expression became uglier, while Dan Shen Guest subtly showed a little smugness.
After all, behind him, stood four Qi Refining Perfection disciples from the Dongge Sect, while opposite, there was only one solitary figure.
"Sigh..."
Seeing this, Fu Yaozi could only sigh in frustration, feeling increasingly hopeless.
After half an hour of waiting:
"Boom!"
With a slight deep rumble, the ground shook imperceptibly.
The tremor was so subtle that if they weren’t in the Imperial Mausoleum, they might have missed it.
"The time has come!"
Dan Shen Guest smiled, indicating:
"Go, I’ll await your good news."
"Yes!"
The four Dongge Sect disciples responded in unison, then each took out a Celestial Capital Command Token and approached the massive stele.
The first Dongge Sect disciple held the Celestial Capital Command Token, and upon touching the stele, disappeared into it.
The following three Dongge Sect disciples also entered one after another, never glancing at Zhang Yao, clearly disregarding him.
"Zhang Qing, you may go as well."
Fu Yaozi waved his sleeve, his tone somewhat low.
"Yes, Uncle."
Zhang Yao nodded slightly, also taking out his Celestial Capital Command Token and walked towards the massive stele under the gaze of Fu Yaozi and Dan Shen Guest.
In an instant, his vision blurred, feeling as if passing through an invisible water curtain.
His body suddenly tensed, feeling squeezed, but the next instant everything was back to normal, just like the outside world.
"In."
Zhang Yao refocused his vision, finding himself in a vast hall.
The hall was empty but brightly lit, completely unlike an underground tomb.
Zhang Yao looked around, not seeing the four Dongge Sect disciples.
"It seems Chen Qingju’s information was accurate..."
The existence of the Celestial Capital Secret Collection was to select disciples to inherit Pingdu Daoist Lineage, the tests wouldn’t be life-threatening nor encourage mutual killing.
There are twelve gates in the secret collection, and the entire process of breaking through the array is individual.
The true danger comes after completing all the trials.
"This is the first gate..."
Zhang Yao walked to one side of the hall, looking up at the wall covered with dense words, symbols, and images.
Though Pingdu Sect had a millennium legacy, its fame rested not on its sect’s cultivation techniques but on the ’Pingdu Twelve Methods’.
The twelve gates within the Celestial Capital Secret Collection are closely related to the Pingdu Twelve Methods, testing various aspects like an array breaker’s combat power, magical power, strength of the divine soul, understanding, decision-making, etc.
"It’s unexpected that my first test would be on comprehension..."
Zhang Yao showed a faint smile.
The Celestial Capital Secret Collection has at least a hundred test gates, and every array breaker coming in will face a randomly selected twelve gates.
Hence, the trial of the Celestial Capital Secret Collection has no fixed procedure; experiences from predecessors can only be a reference, with more reliance on personal strength and luck.
"Hmm... there’s also a time limit."
Zhang Yao’s gaze shifted to a corner of the wall where a small hourglass was embedded, the sand inside constantly flowing, forming a thin layer.
"By counting from the time I entered... there’s only half an hour’s limit in total."
Zhang Yao’s expression became serious, instantly focusing on the wall’s inscriptions, images, and content, not daring to waste any more time.
Within the half-hour, he had to grasp the basics of this magic and successfully cast the spell to be judged as passed by the array.
"...Invoke the magic as such, refine it like silk..."
Zhang Yao continuously comprehended and deduced the contents on the wall in his mind.
The wall recorded a special technique for operating magical power, refining it into threads, constantly stacking, and tempering them.
"What kind of magic skill is this?"
Zhang Yao felt a bit puzzled, but it didn’t prevent him from trying to practice it.
Thanks to his strong divine soul, his thought process operated far faster than cultivators of the same level, plus his comprehension wasn’t too shabby, giving him a considerable advantage.
After merely two short periods:
Upon failing twice, Zhang Yao succeeded in casting the magic on his third attempt.
"Sizz..."
Accompanied by a soft sound, transparent glass-like, extremely fine threads burst forth from his fingertips.
"Success!"
