Chapter 166: Chapter 71: The 3 Gates of Foundation Establishment

Yang Jing circulated his surging Celestial True Gang, directly striking the acupoint that had already begun to loosen.

He encountered almost no bottleneck, and the acupoint was cleared.

This was the first acupoint he had cleared since reaching Foundation Establishment, and it felt as if a shackle binding his body had been broken. His qi and blood surged forth like a tide.

Yang Jing absorbed the Celestial Yang Qi from the heavens and earth, converting all of his qi and blood into Celestial True Gang.

Clearing acupoints in the Foundation Establishment Stage was far more difficult than in the Qi Cultivation Stage. Including the thirty-six acupoints cleared during the Qi Cultivation Stage, he needed to clear a total of three hundred sixty-five.

Body Refining Cultivators with weak foundations might only clear around sixty acupoints by the end of their lives before being unable to progress further.

Moreover, clearing acupoints was merely the easiest hurdle for a Body Refining Cultivator. Because the innate talent of the human body is inferior to that of some high-level Demons, the ancient sages added the Foundation Establishment Three Gates when they created Body Refining Techniques.

These three gates were Law Control, True Blood, and Dharma Body.

During the Qi Cultivation Stage, a Body Refining Cultivator’s greatest weakness was their inability to practice Magic. But upon reaching the Foundation Establishment Stage, as their acupoints were cleared and a True Register was seeded within, they would undergo all sorts of incredible transformations, just like a Demon. They would spontaneously comprehend anywhere from one to nine different types of Magic.

This Magic was akin to Divine Techniques, and could be cast with incredible speed and flexibility. Failing to comprehend any Magic was a sign of a weak foundation.

After Yang Jing and Iron Head obtained the Seed Register Technique, they comprehended Yang Fire, placing them at the very pinnacle among all practitioners of the Pure Yang Body throughout history.

The second gate, True Blood, required condensing True Gang into True Blood. From that point on, a Body Refining Cultivator’s physique would no longer be at a disadvantage when facing Demons.

The third gate, True Body, required using True Blood as a foundation to completely transform the physical body. It was similar to how a Qi Cultivator would refine a Lifebound Magical Treasure, essentially refining their own flesh into a treasured Artifact.

He sat cross-legged, consuming his Divine Thought to condense his Celestial True Gang into a True Register, which he then seeded into the acupoint.

With the empowerment of an additional True Register, Yang Jing felt his physical body become stronger in every aspect.

He decided to practice his Demon-Suppressing Fist right there in the courtyard.

The immense power drew the surrounding air to his fists. Due to the instantaneous compression, the Water Qi within condensed into droplets, transforming into a billowing white mist that coiled around his hands.

As he executed the Fist Technique, the white mist coiling around his fists condensed directly into fine threads, giving off an incomparably sharp aura.

It was with this very technique that he had instantly driven his highly condensed Celestial True Gang into the Nine-Child Demon Mother’s body that day, blowing its stomach wide open.

Yang Jing took a deep breath and slowly dispersed the highly condensed Powerful Qi gathered on his fists.

Body Refining Cultivators, unlike Qi Cultivators, had to constantly hone their combat skills. Otherwise, if they grew rusty, it could mean the difference between life and death during Magical Combat.

Just as he was about to wash up, a Communication Talisman flew in. The talisman was from Pei Jizhen. He served as an Inspector in the Governor’s Mansion. Although it was a civil post primarily focused on paperwork, he also had to accompany the Marching Marshal on a Flying Boat to patrol the domain from the Governor’s Mansion.

He had only just returned to the Governor’s Mansion with Meng Sima yesterday.

In fact, his neighbors Wang Xu and Xu Mingqi had also only returned to the Northern Army Governor’s Mansion the previous day.

The Jade Talisman said that since Yang Jing had treated them to a banquet a month ago, it was now their turn to reciprocate. It urged him not to refuse and to attend.

The banquet wasn’t at Feixian Tower, but at Pei Jizhen’s own residence.

Yang Jing initially thought of refusing. ’But on second thought,’ he considered, ’Wang Xu and the others are all middle-level officials in the Governor’s Mansion. They often fight against the Four Demon Sects in the Outer Domain, so I might glean some useful information at the banquet.’

He quickly washed up, changed into a fresh Daoist Robe, and summoned his four disciples. After instructing them to guard the residence closely, he departed for the banquet at Pei Jizhen’s estate.

When Yang Jing arrived at the gate, he found three figures dressed as servants waiting for him.

One, dressed as a steward, wore a brocade robe. The other two were dressed as servants in green tunics.

“Master Yang, you’ve arrived.”

The steward immediately directed the two servants to open the main gate.

Yang Jing’s Grotto Dark Dharma Eye saw at a glance that the steward and servants weren’t real people, but three Puppets.

The Puppets’ true bodies were exquisitely crafted, assembled from components made of Spirit Wood and bearing no resemblance to a human form. The creator had simply cast an Illusion Technique over them to give them the appearance of a steward and servants.

“Junior Brother Yang, we were just waiting for you!”

Pei Jizhen came forward to greet him warmly. His residence was smaller than Yang Jing’s, but it was clear he had put considerable effort into its upkeep. The layout was intricate and full of elegant charm.

A Music Ensemble composed of more than a dozen Puppets played string and bamboo instruments, while a group of Puppets, under an illusion that made them look like female dancers, danced gracefully in the courtyard below.

“I didn’t realize Senior Brother Pei was also a master of the Puppetry Skill.”

Yang Jing said with admiration, watching the Puppets’ dance, which was so fluid it looked completely natural.

Pei Jizhen laughed heartily.

“I can’t believe you saw through it at a glance, Junior Brother Yang. I was hoping to play a little trick on you.”

“Junior Brother Yang wiped out the demon hordes in the Liao Kingdom, and even Venerable Niu Li died at his hands. Junior Brother Pei, there’s no way your little Illusion Technique could ever fool him,” Wang Xu remarked leisurely, taking a sip from his wine cup.

“If I hadn’t cultivated an Eye of Law Skill capable of Breaking Illusion, I truly wouldn’t have been able to tell they were Puppets,” Yang Jing said humbly.

The Puppetry Technique placed extremely high demands on one’s Divine Soul. An ordinary Foundation Establishment Cultivator would be stretched to their limits controlling just ten or so Puppets. Yet Pei Jizhen could control over thirty, and even more impressively, all thirty-odd Puppets acted independently without interfering with one another. It was a clear testament to his mastery of the Puppetry Technique.

“Junior Brother Yang is as gentle as jade with his friends, yet merciless toward Demon Cultivators. He draws a clear line between love and hate. Truly a role model for our generation of Cultivators.”

Lou Chenglong, with whom he had nearly come into conflict that day due to a false alarm from an Array, was also present. He spoke to Yang Jing with a look of profound admiration.

His accomplishments in the Liao Kingdom had earned Yang Jing praise far exceeding anything he had received before, and he instantly became the center of attention.

“You all praise me too highly.”

Yang Jing could only give a wry smile as he took his seat.

Pei Jizhen clapped his hands. The Music Ensemble and dancer Puppets in the courtyard below rose into the air and flew off into the rear courtyard. Then, a group of Maid Puppets brought out an assortment of dishes.

“These were all prepared by Zhang Lu and Junior Sister Yang Jingxu. Everyone, you must try them.”

Wang Xu’s eyes lit up.

“I really haven’t had a chance to eat Junior Sister Yang’s cooking in a long time.”

As he spoke, he picked up a slice of stir-fried tripe and popped it into his mouth.

“The color, aroma, and flavor are all perfect. It’s just as I’d expect from Junior Sister Yang.”

Yang Jing kept his head down and ate, not joining the conversation.

“I saw Meng Sima summon you the other day, Junior Brother Yang. He seemed quite amiable. It looks like a promotion is in your near future,” Xu Mingqi broke the silence. As the Governor’s personal adjutant, he was practically Meng Sima’s secretary, especially with the Governor in seclusion year-round.

“After my five-year term as a Demon Patrol Envoy is complete, I still have to return to the Sect and compete for the position of True Disciple.”

Yang Jing could only explain with a helpless sigh.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep