Immortality from Taming Elephant-Chapter 475 - 221: Qi Refiners of the Dark World, True Monarch’s Legacy, Merit List Recognition, Void Beast_2
The moss winds its way up one hundred and nine steps, with a slight chill seeping into the stone, while specks of frost embellish the surroundings, scattering the light cast by the Spirit Crystals.
The tall, dark-golden Divine Temple of the True Monarch shimmers in the Dark World, with hundreds of Spirit Crystal fragments inlaid, making the entire temple faintly glow.
The architectural style has a desolate and rugged aesthetic characteristic of a broken world, yet it evokes a sense of awe, with a subtle emergence of solemnity.
Hanshang stands at the top of the stone steps, before the temple, dressed in white robes, bowing respectfully.
Below the steps are all the humans in this sanctuary. Compared to a few years ago, when the number barely exceeded two hundred struggling souls, the total now surpasses four hundred. Besides more than seventy newborns, over a hundred were discovered by Hanshang in the Dark World’s ruined little towns over the years.
More than four hundred people bow their heads, bringing an unparalleled sense of solemnity to the entire scene.
Within the temple.
A giant Divine Statue riding an elephant shimmers brightly.
Xu Guang quietly observes what’s happening outside and whispers to General Wei, "This little girl Hanshang is quite something, much stronger than we imagined."
Even he didn’t expect that the girl who once wouldn’t dare step out from underground has, after years as a True Monarch’s Saintess, gained such presence and authority.
The ritual lasted for an entire day.
Until the dark tide of heaven and earth approached.
In the True Monarch’s temple.
Hanshang reverently kneels before the Divine Statue.
"I have seen the True Monarch."
Xu Guang, accompanied by General Wei, steps out from the statue.
From Hanshang’s eyes, he perceives both anxiety and expectation.
"You’ve done well."
Hanshang abruptly looks up, eyes full of surprise.
But quickly she seems to think of something, and lowers her head hastily.
"No need for so much courtesy. In this world, you are truly a great person."
Xu Guang reaffirms Hanshang’s achievements.
To reach such a development from nothing is not an easy task.
Xu Guang thoughtfully pondered and gently said, "I will impart all my teachings to you; from today on, consider me your master."
He’s not someone who only takes; each year, Hanshang offers a large tribute of treasures. Since he has already passed on his teachings, making her his disciple feels appropriate.
Hanshang’s eyes reveal a hint of joy, along with some concern, as she says, "True Monarch, am I really qualified?"
Xu Guang nods affirmatively, and General Wei encourages her as well.
In the desolate temple, the clear, melodious voice of Hanshang resounds - a side of the Saintess unseen by this world’s humans.
Before Xu Guang, she reverts to the nature of a nineteen-year-old girl.
She recounts to Xu Guang the progress over the years, the dangers encountered, and her doubts in cultivation.
Xu Guang listens intently, giving her guidance on some matters.
However, Hanshang mentions an important piece of news. More than a year ago, some people who could fly found this place, seemingly searching for someone, but upon seeing Hanshang, left in disappointment.
"They called themselves... Qi Refiners!"
Xu Guang’s eyes light up with a hint of surprise, never expecting that in this fallen Dark World, Qi Refiners would exist.
Could they sense the Void Realm here?
Xu Guang is uncertain. Currently, he is a descended Divine Soul without divine techniques to stabilize his being and doesn’t dare to easily attempt, lest he falls into the Void Realm, becoming like a wandering ghost, trapped until someone returns with his Divine Soul, seeking a chance for spirit possession.
He possesses no possession divine techniques or secret methods. Once trapped, his only fate would be to silently vanish in the Void Realm, becoming a mass of energy for others to harvest.
"What was their attitude?"
Hanshang thought for a moment, "A bit condescending, and they said they wanted to teach the tribe some cultivation techniques. But the tribespeople did not practice them, so I brought them for you to see, True Monarch."
Soon, Hanshang brought over the items left by those Daoists.
These were things recorded in jade slips, and by placing one against the forehead, one could perceive the contents within.
Documented inside was a cultivation technique called the Spirit Communication Technique from the Qi Refiners’ cultivation system. It wasn’t particularly exquisite, just...
Xu Guang was unfamiliar with many facets of the Qi Refiners’ cultivation system, yet felt something peculiar about this technique.
He memorized it, "There are some issues with this technique; you should not try it casually. If those people come again, make sure to find me early."
"Yes."
...
In the Dark World.
Several figures are rapidly traversing the mountain forest, when suddenly, one stops and looks eastward.
"Friend Xun, what’s wrong?"
"Nothing," replied a middle-aged man with a beard, holding a duster. The three thousand white threads of the duster resemble three thousand Flood Dragons, constantly undulating.
However, his face appeared somewhat stiff, with a subtle discordance between his expression and emotions.
’Friend Xun’ was elated internally, as the previous human settlement they encountered finally began engaging with his jade slip.
It seemed it wouldn’t be long before he could obtain another life.
Yet more intriguing to him was the establishment of that settlement, how a few ordinary people managed to create such a large community.
Thinking of the woman known as the Saintess leading them, he felt a warm sensation in his abdomen.
Regrettably, though the Spirit Communication Technique is great, the first step requires a physical severing of emotions, and this body itself had been cultivated with the Spirit Communication Technique, enabling him to emerge from the Void Realm.
For the moment, he still lacked capability in that regard.
