bookbashuk Page 261
Page 261
On the image of "Taoist Techniques and Rhythmic Movement," a ferocious spider appears lifelike. Although it is a two-dimensional image, it gives people a strong sense of three-dimensionality.
Every detail is meticulously rendered.
Within the spider pattern stood an asexual humanoid silhouette. The surface of the silhouette was covered with countless tiny dots, like pinholes. Han Feng had to use his six-dimensional pupils' infinitely close-range vision to probe further.
After careful examination, he identified that the dense dots were actually miniature storm eyes, like nebula vortexes, each precisely corresponding to a pore on human skin.
Even more astonishingly,
Inside each pore of the hair follicle, there are interconnected microfilaments. All these microfilaments converge at one point, ascend along the spine, and eventually flow into the scalp...
"Could these threads be a new type of integrated neural network?"
"Does spiritual cultivation require transforming the physical body?"
Gazing at the intricate and exquisite structure of the wind-inspired rhythmic patterns in his hand, Han Feng felt a chill run down his spine, knowing full well that he wouldn't be able to decipher it in the short term...
"Although it is not as complex as the Myriad Forms Life Seal and the Six Paths Reincarnation Disc, both of them originate from the double helix DNA chain in my body and are aided by the Furnace of Life and Death, which greatly reduces the difficulty of comprehending them."
"The rhythm of the wind is purely an external thing."
Han Feng temporarily set aside his intentions, deciding to study this technique in more depth during his spare time. This art involves the construction of entirely new neural networks and the cultivation of pores throughout the body, numbering well over 5.2 million.
"Ten years have passed, 5.2, can we still grasp the rhythm of the wind?"
Han Feng was not confident about this, but even if it took ten years, he would only be eighteen years old at the time, and would still have plenty of time and energy to study the new technique.
"First, forge weapons for you two sisters," Han Feng casually ordered, then stepped into the depths of the forest. At the same time, he diverted a wisp of his divine sense to control the Magpie Death Puppet, which instantly shot off from his shoulder and entered a silent, supersonic flight state.
349. Azure Scale Flame Serpent!
"To merge with the wind, to become a phantom in the wind. The power of the Wings-Shaking Technique is indeed extraordinary," Han Feng thought to himself.
His divine sense was attached to the Shape-Stealing Seal, operating like a bio-spiritual energy detector. Wherever the magpie puppet flew, the distribution of spiritual energy in that area was reflected in his mind in real time. The invisible spiritual energy of heaven and earth was as clear as smoke in broad daylight in his divine sense perception. Wherever there were spiritual objects or places that might contain spiritual objects, the surrounding spiritual energy gathered and did not disperse, like the gathering of clouds before a storm.
"It seems that the body of the dead puppet forged in the Yin Furnace still has many unknown potentials waiting to be discovered, and there is no clear way to find them. We can only explore them on our own," Han Feng thought as he walked.
Soon, through the Magpie Puppet's remote sensing, he discovered a new gathering place for spiritual energy—a cliff face. The gathering point was located on the back of the cliff, and only after the Puppet approached could it clearly see what it was.
A flower grows in a crevice in the cliff. Its three leaves are as red as blood, and its emerald green petals are as clear as jade. It is so beautiful that it is like a work of art, not an ordinary plant.
"This item is quite similar to the rare and precious herb, the Jade Leaf Flower." Han Feng recalled and compared them, and the similarity between the two was extremely high.
"It only has three leaves and is still a seedling."
Just as Han Feng was lost in thought, the magpie puppet suddenly noticed a small snake emerging from a crevice in the cliff. The snake's mouth was slightly open, its fangs bared, as it seemed to be threatening the puppet from afar, warning it to stay away.
The snake's body was covered in red and green scales, making it exceptionally beautiful. What was particularly strange was that, despite being in the dead of winter, the snake did not hibernate but instead remained vibrant and undeterred by the cold.
"Azure Scale Flame Serpent!" Han Feng's eyes sharpened.
He immediately controlled the magpie puppet to avoid the Azure Scale Flame Serpent, and instead flew diagonally upwards.
"The principle of mutual generation and mutual restraint is indeed true." The co-occurrence of the two kinds of spirit beasts and spirit plants made Han Feng even more convinced of his judgment.
He silently noted the location. It was at least fifty miles from where he was, surrounded by cliffs, rarely visited by people, and shrouded in mist all year round, making it suitable for the growth of spiritual plants.
Then, he once again controlled the magpie puppet, spread its wings, and soared through the blue sky, freely traversing the heavens.
Han Feng rode the Magpie Death Puppet at a supersonic speed, traversing vast areas of tens or even hundreds of miles in an instant. Guided by his divine sense, which was integrated with the Shape-Stealing Curse Seal, he accurately grasped the distribution pattern of the spiritual energy within a radius of a hundred miles, understanding it perfectly.
"The abundance of wild spiritual creatures here is truly remarkable!" Han Feng thought to himself. "They vary in strength and are scattered here and there, all hidden in places rarely visited by humans. Their clever concealment makes them difficult to find. However, it seems that the source of the life-giving artifact that Youying needs has already been determined."
Just as Han Feng was adjusting his route based on what the Magpie Puppet had scouted, he suddenly saw the Puppet's eyes, a hundred miles away, detect an unusual phenomenon. A mountain breeze swept by, and the clouds and mist gradually dispersed, revealing a hidden valley in their field of vision.
The magpie, seemingly suspended in mid-air, looked down and saw several bamboo and wooden houses nestled deep in the valley. At that moment, a sprightly old man with flowing silver hair was instructing two young men in swordsmanship in the open space in front of the houses. The old man wore a long, dark blue robe, his white hair tied back, and despite his advanced age, he exuded an extraordinary air. A breeze rose, causing his robe to flutter, and the two characters "Ghost Valley" on his back rose like a battle flag, billowing in the wind.
The two boys, one with black hair and the other with white hair, stood in stark contrast. They clashed, wielding wooden swords, each displaying distinctly different and exquisite swordsmanship.
350. Terrifying Bone Blade
"Could these three be Wang Xu, the contemporary Guiguzi, and his disciples Gai Nie and Wei Zhuang?" Han Feng's mind raced as he manipulated the Magpie Death Puppet to approach stealthily, hoping to learn more.
However, before the dead puppet even got close, Han Feng noticed through its eyes that the white-haired old man suddenly turned around, his gaze filled with surprise and confusion.
"Whoosh—" The magpie flew away with astonishing speed. It swept across the small valley in an instant, disappearing into the distance without pausing for a moment.
"Master, what is it?" Gai Nie asked upon seeing this. Such terrifying flying speed left him and his junior brother Wei Zhuang speechless. By the time they reacted, the other party had already disappeared.
Wei Zhuang hesitated for a moment, then guessed, "Perhaps it's a bird?"
"But what kind of bird can fly so fast?" he wondered.
“It was indeed a bird.” Guiguzi nodded in confirmation, but his heart was full of confusion. “Why did I have a feeling that the bird was spying on my body just now? Its eyes even revealed a bit of eeriness…”
Meanwhile, in the dense forest a hundred miles away, Han Feng simultaneously sensed what the magpie puppet had seen and heard. He paused slightly, and his mind gained a clearer understanding of the worldview of the era he lived in.
“It’s not a chibi comic version, the art style doesn’t match; it’s not a novel version, Guigu only has two male disciples, no female disciples; it’s also not a TV series version, the white-haired boy is Wei Zhuang, the successor of Guigu’s School of Diplomacy.” Han Feng silently deduced in his mind, “In this case, there are only four possibilities left: anime version, fan fiction version, movie version, or a hybrid version.”
Having witnessed the legendary success of Guiguzi, Han Feng narrowed down his worldview to a choice of four. Eliminating three options, the answer gradually became clearer.
"Although there are still many figures who have not yet reached adulthood or have not yet been born, the possibility has been greatly reduced, and many things are becoming clearer." Han Feng paused to think.
Only when Youying approached and cast a concerned glance did Han Feng snap out of his thoughts and calmly say, "Let's go, I'll forge a weapon for you."
Three days later, deep in a secluded valley a hundred miles away from Daliang City.
With her extraordinary lightness skill, You Ying carried Han Feng as they slowly descended from the cliff, stepping into this desolate place. Han Feng looked up at the sky and saw that only a faint ray of light remained in the daylight.
"This place is at least three hundred feet high, no wonder spiritual creatures can thrive here," Han Feng exclaimed. "If it weren't for your exceptional lightness skill, even if we found rare spiritual creatures, we would not have been able to get here."
Just as Youying was about to speak, she suddenly sensed something unusual in the valley and whispered a warning: "Master, something is approaching."
Upon hearing this, Han Feng laughed heartily, showing no fear. He tossed the heavy halberd in his hand to You Ying and ran straight into the depths.
Before they had gone more than a hundred paces, a ferocious giant serpent with nine heads of different shapes crawled out of the icy pool, all nine heads simultaneously locking onto Han Feng. The serpent's scales were as black as ink, as thick as a barrel, and several dozen paces long, with a row of pure white bone blades growing along its back. Each head had either a vertical eye on its forehead, bone wings attached to the side of its eyes, or two horns on its head, making it a terrifying sight.
"What a magnificent serpent! It's so enormous, it must be over a hundred years old." You Ying exclaimed in admiration. Without hesitation, she unleashed the Myriad Leaves Flying Flower Stream, sending energy-infused thorny vines bursting from the ground and tightly coiling around the giant serpent's body. At the same time, the Soul-Seizing Puppet interfered with its soul, increasing its control.
"Excellent control!" Han Feng's eyes flashed with admiration as he charged straight at the giant snake.
Thanks to the extraordinary dynamic vision granted by his six superhuman pupils, no subtle movement of the giant serpent could escape his notice.
351. Nine-Headed Magatama
"Roar—" The central snake head let out a deafening roar like a dragon's cry and a tiger's howl, and terrifying sound waves converged in the valley, striking Han Feng, who was right next to it. In an instant, the invisible sound waves ruptured his eardrums, and before blood could even spill, the damaged eardrums had already regenerated rapidly.
Han Feng's expression remained unchanged as he rapidly approached. Several snake heads attacked from all directions, attempting to devour him whole. He used the ground as leverage, his body weaving diagonally through the narrow gap between two heads, while simultaneously leaping swiftly across the snake's neck.
Then, he suddenly turned around and his right fist slammed down like thunderbolts towards the upper and lower back behind him.
"Bang—" A surge of immense brute force erupted from his body, and he punched the lower jaw of the central head of the nine-headed serpent, causing the serpent's head to rise high, breaking several of its fangs, and a buzzing sound filled his mind.
As the winds of change swept through the martial world, Han Feng stood alone amidst the chaos. Facing the colossal nine-headed serpent, he proclaimed, "My purpose here is not to contend with you monstrous beings. Furnace of Life and Death, appear now!" With that, he seized the opportunity to summon the Furnace of Life and Death without hesitation.
The furnace opening faced the enormous head of the nine-headed serpent, small yet capable of swallowing all things. Even the serpent's head, as large as a stone mill, was easily absorbed into it. Han Feng activated his inner force, and a powerful suction force surged within the furnace, instantly drawing the nine-headed serpent into it.
"That was close! This serpent was just a hair's breadth away from escaping my control. Fortunately, it was thanks to Master's divine power." Youying murmured breathlessly, beads of sweat already forming on her forehead, showing how much mental and physical exhaustion she had expended in trying to seal the serpent's power.
Han Feng smiled calmly and said, "It was not my power, but Ying-mei's skill in controlling the snake. If you hadn't used all your strength to subdue the enemy, how could I have dared to get close?" Inside the Furnace of Life and Death, You Ying used all her strength to suppress the snake, while Han Feng assisted with the furnace's magic. The two complemented each other and finally managed to capture the spirit snake inside the furnace.
"The divine weapon within the furnace awaits its release." Han Feng's eyes burned brightly, and with a slight movement of his fingertips, the Yang Furnace Life Weapon Forging Technique was quietly activated. With his mind as fine as silk, he precisely controlled the furnace fire, hoping to forge a miraculous weapon.
Suddenly, the furnace blazed with intense light, like the midday sun, illuminating the surroundings and dispelling the gloom. In an instant, the light subsided, and calm returned. Han Feng lifted the furnace lid, and saw an oddly shaped longsword rising leisurely, hovering above the Furnace of Life and Death.
The sword's blade is as white as jade, its texture almost like bone, and its shape unique. The hilt is broad and thick, about one-fifth the length of a palm, while the tip is slender and long like a snake's tongue, forked and sharp, only half the width of the hilt. There are three spines on the blade; the main spine runs straight to the tip, and the two on either side extend to the tips of the forks. The hilt resembles the head of a nine-headed serpent, fierce as a dragon, its mouth wide open, revealing sharp teeth as if biting the sword. The end of the hilt curves like a crescent moon, perfectly suited for a woman's slender hand; its shape resembles eight intertwined snake heads, their heads outwards and mouths slightly open.
Han Feng's mind raced as he examined the items being refined within the Furnace of Life and Death, learning their details:
【Nine-Headed Magatama】
Weapon attributes: Mother sword - Light; Child sword - Dark
Weapon type: Upgradable chimeric attack weapon
Additional attributes: Mother sword - Resilience, Spirit Gathering, Self-Healing, Reflection; Child sword - Armor Penetration, Sharpness, Blood Transfusion, Shadowlessness, Concealment of Breath
Usage: The twin swords must be refined with divine sense to become your natal artifacts. Upon completion, they will automatically bind to your soul.
Refining Attributes: The Soul-Bound Fate Weapon is Unique
"This nine-headed jade pendant has growth potential comparable to my Devouring Prison," Han Feng praised, transmitting this information to You Ying with his divine sense, "Refine it immediately and bring it under your control."
"Thank you for bestowing this treasure upon me, Master!" You Ying replied respectfully, overjoyed. She then followed the method taught by Han Feng, using the divine sense power from her upper dantian to simultaneously invade the mother and child swords of the Nine-Headed Jade, slowly refining them with the power of the Furnace of Life and Death.
352. Alluring Ghostly Light
At this moment, a murderous aura surged from within the Nine-Headed Jade, like a sleeping beast awakening, its fangs bared. However, You Ying's cultivation far surpassed Han Feng's, easily suppressing it and ensuring no leaks were made.
Time passed quickly, and several hours went by. Youying's face grew increasingly pale, her eyes vacant, as if she hadn't slept in a long time and was utterly exhausted. However, the Nine-Headed Jade also underwent a change. The white light in the eye sockets of the snake heads on the mother sword's hilt gradually brightened, while the various colored lights flickered in the eye sockets of the eight snake heads at the end of the small sword's hilt, eventually all turning into a deep black light.
"Refining successful!" You Ying felt a sense of relief, but then she felt dizzy and weak, as if she were extremely tired. The ground beneath her feet seemed to spin, making it difficult for her to stand.
"Let's rest here for now and recuperate." After saying this, Han Feng put away the Furnace of Life and Death and placed the Nine-Headed Jade Orb diagonally in front of You Ying.
"Thank you, Master." Youying nodded without hesitation, went straight to the edge of the cliff and sat down, leaning against the cold, slippery stone wall, and closed her eyes to sleep.
Several hours later, Youying awoke from her deep sleep, her mental state improved, and her fatigue greatly reduced. With a wave of her right hand, the nine-headed magatama flew through the air and landed steadily in her snow-white right hand. She raised the sword overhead, her left hand gripping the crescent-shaped hilt at the end, and gently drew it out.
A hissing sound rang out as the child sword slowly slid out from the mother sword. About a foot long, its blade curved like a snake's fang, thin as a cicada's wing, and jet black, without a trace of light. Youying wielded the twin swords of the Nine-Headed Jade Orb, and the child sword instantly vanished, its aura utterly gone, as elusive as a ghost. The mother sword, on the other hand, shone brightly, dazzling and blinding, yet Youying, as its master, remained oblivious, observing it clearly.