Stellar Transformation-Chapter 57 - 11: Outbreak (Part II)
The Treasure Secret Vault was a small secret chamber, flanked by two counters made of agarwood. Precious treasures were carefully placed on these counters, and in the center of the room were a bamboo chair and a natural tea table.
At the front of the secret room, near the wall, ancient incense was burning, and a faint smoke wafted from it, filling the entire room with a Zen-like aroma.
"This first ’Tongtian Map’ should be hidden in the crevice between this counter and the wall on the left," Qin Yu walked to the corner, then took out the precious first ’Tongtian Map’ from his bosom, looked it over carefully, and then straightforwardly stuffed it into the crevice in the corner.
Qin Yu stood up, nodding in satisfaction, "Hmm, by the time my father discovers this map, who knows what year or month it will be, and he won’t suspect me." Qin Yu did not wish to reveal his identity as the assassin ’Meteor’ to his father, for he did not see it as something to boast about.
After placing the first Tongtian Map, Qin Yu scanned the treasures on the ancient wood counter and immediately noticed a Jade Box on the counter.
"I have a feeling, this is what I’ve been looking for!" Qin Yu smiled as he opened the lid of the Jade Box, only to see a Square Jade appearing on the surface of Qin Yu, enveloped in a soft colored light that wrapped around the entire block, almost indistinguishable from the first one just by appearance.
Qin Yu took this ’Tongtian Map’ in his hand, and the words ’Tongtian Map II’ were written just above the front face of the block.
"It’s the second piece!" Qin Yu was overjoyed internally, believing that the three Tongtian Maps must be interconnected. Since he had cultivated the first, acquiring the second was optimal; if it were the third, perhaps he wouldn’t have been able to cultivate it.
Qin Yu looked at the second ’Tongtian Map’, his eyes suddenly brightening, his attention wholly focused on the map.
Thirty-six different images.
"Indeed, just as I expected, still thirty-six images, only the images are completely different from the ones on that piece." Qin Yu, after the last transformation, had grown much stronger spiritually, even possessing Spiritual Sense.
With a sweep of his Spiritual Sense, Qin Yu easily memorized what he saw. 𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢
What Qin Yu coveted most were these thirty-six images. As for other matters, he did not give much thought, as thinking too much wouldn’t necessarily lead to understanding. Even now, Qin Yu believed that the mysterious cultivation technique mentioned by the mysterious super expert in the legendary ’Great Battle of Immortals’ was definitely not the mere images on the surface of the map.
Anyone with a bit of brain would think so, for if it were so simple, it would likely have been comprehended by someone over the many years.
Most importantly... could merely refining the body reach the incredible level of that mysterious person from the legend?
After carefully examining this second Tongtian Map with his Spiritual Sense and still being unable to find any other secrets, Qin Yu could only laugh and put it back, "Qin Yu, you’re being too naive. These three Tongtian Maps have been obtained by countless Cultivators in the past, and they haven’t discovered any secrets; what makes you think your little Spiritual Sense could?"
Having obtained the thirty-six images of the second Tongtian Map, Qin Yu was very satisfied.
"Hehe, I haven’t checked yet what treasures exactly are in the Treasure Secret Vault," Qin Yu laughed, then expanded his Spiritual Sense to cover the entire vault. His range of Spiritual Sense reached several hundred meters, so a small secret room was naturally easy to cover.
"Such a large cat’s eye, really captivating. That horsetail whisk seems to be nothing remarkable..." Qin Yu chuckled as he appraised, when suddenly, his smile froze on his face.
"No, it can’t be..." Qin Yu clearly discovered a secret with his Spiritual Sense, leaving him utterly dumbfounded.
Qin Yu foolishly extended his hand and took out the second Tongtian Map from the jade box once again. Then... Qin Yu slightly pressed a small mechanism on the edge of the jade box, a clicking sound ensued, and Qin Yu easily lifted another layer in the jade box.
This jade box actually had two layers. Qin Yu initially thought that the bottom of the jade box was just thick, but it turned out to have two layers. And the second layer strikingly contained... another square jade block, its gentle colorful light and clear inscriptions revealed to Qin Yu the identity of this square jade...
The third Tongtian Map!!!
"Good heavens, can my luck really be this good, this..." At this moment, Qin Yu became completely exhilarated, having obtained all three legendary Tongtian Maps. Of course, he could not fathom the secrets within them; he was only interested in the thirty-six mysterious images.
Qin Yu took a deep breath and sighed in relief, "Thank goodness, if I hadn’t checked with my Spiritual Sense, I wouldn’t have known there was another Tongtian Map under this jade box." This third Tongtian Map was similar to the first two, also featuring thirty-six different images.
Immediately, Qin Yu began carefully memorizing the images.
Qin Yu didn’t know that in his time, Emperor Qin Shi Huang had also acquired all three Tongtian Maps, but like Qin Yu, he failed to unravel their mysteries. He had likewise tried to learn the images as Qin Yu was now doing, but the Emperor eventually gave up when he discovered the maneuvers were utterly futile.
The Qin Dynasty fell, and the first and second Tongtian Maps were lost amidst chaos and war, leaving only the third Tongtian Map, which had been in the possession of the Qin Family for a thousand years. Qin De had acquired this second Tongtian Map and naturally placed it alongside the third one.
...
Three days later, at noon.
Qin Yu was in his own courtyard, meticulously practicing the maneuvers from the thirty-six images of the second Tongtian Map. His movements were sometimes fast, sometimes slow. The fast ones were much faster than the fastest maneuvers of the first image, and the slow ones were slower than the slowest of the first.
Yet even when his movements were slow, several illusions of Qin Yu appeared, which was quite bizarre.
Outsiders didn’t know, but Qin Yu himself understood the reason: while practicing this mysterious Body Refining Technique, which Qin Yu tentatively named the "Heavenly Ascension Mysterious Technique," his cultivation influenced the surrounding area within two to three meters, and the air around his body twisted, hence creating illusions.
Qin Yu’s entire body was still surrounded by thirty-six qi columns, but now the silver qi columns had transformed into a mix of silver and gold colors. Qin Yu had the premonition that once he completely mastered the thirty-six images of this second "Tongtian Map," the thirty-six silver qi columns might turn golden.
"Third Prince, the Prince has emerged from retreat and is convening at Mingshan Pavilion," a servant’s voice came from outside the courtyard.
Upon hearing this, Qin Yu stopped practicing, "Father has emerged from his retreat." Qin Yu quickly wiped himself with a towel, stretched lazily, and his whole body crackled, the strong muscular power flowing like mercury inside him.
With this cultivation technique, Qin Yu’s physical strength had advanced by leaps and bounds. His strength and speed had reached a whole new realm. Now, Qin Yu believed that even if he were to face Zhen Xu, he could easily kill him. Qin Yu moved his facial muscles, smiled, and then directly left the courtyard heading toward Mingshan Pavilion.
Qin De, Xu Yuan, Qin Feng, Qin Zheng, Qin Yu, the chief steward of the Prince Mansion Ge Min, the old man in blue, the old man in gray, and Cultivator Feng Yuzi—nine people altogether, representing the highest tier of Qin De’s group. The area around Mingshan Pavilion was cloaked in a mysterious Restriction laid down by Feng Yuzi, ensuring no sound could be heard from outside.
Qin De and Feng Yuzi’s expressions were very severe, and seeing such an atmosphere, Qin Yu sensed that the matter was of great importance.
