The Three Paths: Refining Essence, Refining Qi, Refining Spirit.
A human body has three hundred and sixty-five large acupoints. Each time an acupoint is refined during body cultivation in the Spirit Realm, the physical body becomes stronger. When all three hundred and sixty-five acupoints are completely refined, one will step into the ultimate state of the Nine Realms of Spirit.
Pei Xuanjing classified different realms based on the number of acupoints refined. Each time a certain number of acupoints is refined, the physical body will undergo a qualitative change.
Pei Xuanjing's Shenxiao Origin Qi circulates throughout his body, and the acupoints formed within him emit radiance. It can be seen that he has refined eleven acupoints, reaching the limit of the first level of body cultivation in the Spirit Realm.
If he waits to refine the twelfth acupoint, he will step into the second layer of the Spirit Realm. Simultaneously, the twelve acupoints inside his body will be connected, resulting in a qualitative change to his physical body.
However, the present Pei Xuanjing has not yet fully broken through, and cannot know what kind of qualitative change will take place at that time.
The Path of Qi Refinement can be said to have progressed the most. Originally, his Three Paths prioritized the Path of Qi Refinement as the weakest. But in these ten years, the latter has taken the lead. His Shenxiao Origin Qi is continuously refined and compressed while interacting with Heaven and Earth. At this moment, his Shenxiao Origin Qi has experienced three cycles of refinement, reaching the ultimate limit of this world.
It could be said that such progress made Pei Xuanjing couldn't help but speculate whether this body was the son of the world, otherwise, it wouldn't have such a talent for the Path of Qi Refinement.
With Pei Xuanjing's current realm, his Primordial Qi interacting with Heaven and Earth will influence the sky within a radius of a hundred miles. And with the help of the limitless Heavenly Earthly Force, he can also manifest a Magical Domain.
Simultaneously, Pei Xuanjing's Characteristic Magical Domain is filled with his features. The Magical Domain is the projection of the Great Tao's foundation he was cultivating. Within this Magical Domain, the Four Seasons and Five Orders illusionarily emerge and fade. The illusions of the flowers are created like this.
In Pei Xuanjing's mind, if one day he truly reaches the ultimate state, this Magical Domain can materialize from illusion and become a real world.
In the Path of Spirit Refinement, in these ten years, Pei Xuanjing's Yin Spirit has once again strengthened. He can even sense the impending Yin Shen Thunder Tribulation. His Yin Spirit has solidified and can travel and fly in the night.
Perhaps because this world primarily focuses on Qi cultivation, Pei Xuanjing's Path of Qi Refinement has reached its peak. It can be said that he only needs the right opportunity to step into the Fourth Level of the Spiritual Realm and become a powerful figure in the Spirit Realm, a Great Cultivator.
According to the information obtained from the Page of the Netherworld's Book, each step in Nine Realms of Spirit is a new achievement. Only after stepping into the Fourth Level of the Spiritual Realm, one can be called a Great Cultivator, a great true person, considered as a pillar of a major force.
If one gets the opportunity to step into the Seventh Level of the Spiritual Realm, even in the golden age of cultivation, he would be a formidable figure dominating his territory, capable to establish his own school and dominate the Heaven and Earth.
It should be noted that those cultivators in the past mostly mastered one path. While Pei Xuanjing not only stepped into the Spirit Realm with Qi cultivation, but his paths of Refining Essence and Refining Spirit are not far behind either.
"Next, there's only one thing left." Pei Xuanjing said lightly.
To enter the Capital and prevent the Empress Dowager from ascending the throne.
Not long ago, the simulator gave a prompt:[At twenty-seven: The emperor dies, the crown prince ascends the throne as the emperor. Two months later, the eager emperor who wanted to expand his grand plan touches the Empress Dowager's interests and is suppressed. The Empress Dowager, who has been in control of the court for many years, has many supporters and easily takes away the emperor's power. Somebody advises her to ascend the throne, the Empress Dowager is tempted and wants to ascend the throne.]
His gains in this world are already significant. It can be said that he has accomplished his aspirations, and there is no need to stay in this world. Now only one last task needs to be completed before he can leave satisfactorily.
"I wonder, after ten years, to what extent this Empress Dowager has reached." Pei Xuanjing was curious.
During their fleeting meeting ten years ago, he felt an unfathomably deep aura from her. Later, Zheng Ye Daoyuan personally verified her extraordinary power, which was not inferior to his.
So after ten years, how much progress has she made?
"Perhaps this is my opportunity." Pei Xuanjing thought to himself.
His power has already reached a limit and he needs to find an opportunity to breakthrough.
At this moment, he had a feeling that perhaps this trip to the Capital could be his opportunity to breakthrough.
"Sword Saint Pei Min reappears in Yunzhong City."
When the Sword Saint, who has disappeared for ten years without any news, reappears in everyone's sight, it almost causes a worldwide shock.
For this powerful figure who was considered unparalleled in combat ten years ago, all the major forces in the world have not decreased their attention towards him in the slightest.
Even though there was no news for ten years, even though there were spies from various factions waiting here in Yunzhong City every day, waiting for his news.
"This one doesn't appear early or late, but chooses this particular time to appear. It's really thought-provoking, isn't it?" Someone thought.
"Haha, this is getting more interesting. After all, this person had a deep relationship with the crown prince back then. Even though he has been absent for these ten years, the crown prince sends people every year to visit him with generous gifts."
"That's right, the Yunzhong Pei Family was originally just a branch of the Hedong Pei family, but over the years, their power has grown and several members of the family have risen rapidly, all because of this Sword Saint."
"A storm is about to come!"
Pei Xuanjing's reappearance drastically altered the already turbulent situation, making it even more unpredictable.
You should know that the recent death of the previous emperor and the crowning of the new emperor were quite sudden. Not long after the new emperor's ascension, the Empress Dowager, who had previously announced her retirement from politics, suddenly got involved in court affairs, causing the new emperor to lose face and authority.
Moreover, Superintendent Zheng Ye Daoyuan, who was considered the number one martial artist in the empire, suddenly fell ill and secluded himself. There were rumors that this Empress Dowager was a peerless expert who didn't care for worldly fame, and that Zheng Ye Daoyuan was injured by her.
All these incidents and rumors reminded many people of an old prophecy that was once widely circulated: "In the declining period of Great Tang, a female warrior will usurp the king."
This prophecy started to spread widely again especially after the Empress Dowager's actions seemed to confirm the prophecy, making many royal families feel restless.
And at this moment, the Sword Saint, who had disappeared for ten years, reappeared, inevitably making people speculate.
Yunzhong City, Pei Mansion.
Over the past ten years, the Yunzhong Pei family has essentially become the biggest imperial family in Yunzhong. The original Pei Mansion has also become more magnificent.
However, no matter how much Pei Mansion changes, the original loft in the mansion has remained unchanged.
The once neglected attic in Pei Mansion, even today, has become a forbidden area in the mansion, which no one may lightly enter.
However, no one has any objections to this. Even when passing by the attic, their eyes are filled with admiration and longing.
For everyone knows that the prosperity of the Pei Mansion today, comes from the master of this attic, the Sword Saint Pei Min.
"Have you really decided to go?"
Pei Laozhu looked at Pei Xuanjing's silhouette, his tone oddly inquisitive.
Like over a decade ago, when he had asked Pei Xuanjing to participate in the Grand Tournament of Yunzhong County.
Pei Xuanjing stood in the attic, with his back to Pei Laozhu, looking up at the distant sky, watching the clouds roll by.
"Do you regret it?" Without turning around, Pei Xuanjing's calm voice drifted over.
Upon hearing this, Pei Laozhu could not help but shudder.
Compared to more than a decade ago, Pei Laozhu did not seem older, but rather appeared much younger as if the years had not left a mark on him.
However, unlike his confidence all those years ago, his tone was now troubled as he regarded Pei Xuanjing's retreating figure.
When he first saw Pei Min, he was overwhelmed by his extraordinary talent, confident that if cultivated well, he would certainly bring glory to the Pei Family.
And as it turned out, he did just as Pei Laozhu predicted, astonishing everyone and rapidly growing into the world's strongest, bringing benefits to all the Pei family. One could say that without Pei Min, the Pei Family would not exist as it does today.
However, the choice he is making now may plunge the Pei Family into the abyss, and Pei Laozhu doesn't have the power to stop him.
Pei Xuanjing turned around, facing the conflicted Pei Laozhu, and asked calmly, "So you want me to stay and ignore the upcoming events. After all, as long as I am present, the Pei Family would certainly be invincible, correct?"
Pei Laozhu remained silent but nodded slightly: "Precisely."
The current struggle between the Emperor and the Empress Dowager has intensified. Both groups are desperately fighting each other with barely any room for reconciliation. After all, for both sides, whether they win or lose, the loser will face almost certain death, with no way out.
By common reasoning, the Pei Family, with its close ties to the Emperor for many years, should bear the cost of his defeat considering they've been with him since before he became Crown Prince, making them his staunchest supporters.
But is this really the case?
Not quite so!
Pei Laozhu saw it very clearly. Even if they are now the Emperor's party, even if the struggle has reached a boiling point, the Pei Family is not limited to one option of blindly following the Emperor. They have another choice.
To remain neutral, disregard the struggle between the two parties, and await the outcome before making the right choice.
If any ordinary power thought like this they would certainly bear the first strike from both sides, leading inevitably to their downfall.
But it is not the case with the Pei Family. They have the opportunity and qualification for this.
Because of Pei Min's presence.
Because with a Sword Saint like Pei Min, there isn't a soul who would dare to turn against the Pei Family.
Ten years ago, Pei Min, who was already on the cusp of becoming a Celestial Human, was strong enough to turn the tide. After ten years of cultivation, nobody knows what level he stands at now. But no one would presume that he has made no progress in the past decade. They would rather believe that he has become stronger.
Therefore, as long as Pei Min agrees, no matter who of the two parties win or lose, they would not hold the Pei Family accountable for their decision, but instead, would make every effort to solicit them.
Pei Laozhu believes that this is the best choice for the Pei Family. Hence, he does not want Pei Min to enter the Capital and get swept into this vortex along with the Pei Family.
If Pei Xuanjing enters the Capital now, it will inevitably cause tremendous waves. Even if he doesn't utter a word, he will be seen as part of the Emperor's faction and will invite the Empress Dowager's intervention.
And as for the Pei Family, they would inevitably be dragged into the struggle. If he succeeds, everything will be fine, but if he fails, the Pei Family would certainly become extinct.
Pei Xuanjing sneered, disdainfully saying: "This is why I detest noble families, and consider them beneath contempt. They are always only concerned with their own gain. Granted, this may be the most appropriate choice, but it's also the one that disgusts me the most."
The reason why Pei Xuanjing has no affection for the Pei Family is not just because of his own experiences, but also because of their typical behavior: they flock to you when it benefits them, and mercilessly abandon you when it doesn't. In these noble houses, there is no place for emotion and morality.
Well, perhaps there is, but when compared to benefits, it's insignificant.
Originally, for the sake of the family's benefits, they used all means possible to curry favor with the Crown Prince. However, today, when circumstances have turned, they can easily abandon the Crown Prince for their own gain. This is another thing that Pei Xuanjing dislikes.
Pei Laozhu's face changes slightly. He had never expected that this is how the family appeared in Pei Xuanjing's eyes. He was about to respond, but Pei Xuanjing cut him short, causing his face to change dramatically.
"You may say that the family has given me a lot of cultivation or such…" Pei Xuanjing scoffed, counter-questioning: "But this is based on your discovery of my cultivation talent, right? If I didn't have this talent, would everything still be the same? Huh?"
He surely remembered, there were a lot of people in the Pei Mansion of his age, but he knew the plight of those without the gift of cultivation.
Perhaps there was no case of a servant bullying his master, but the bigwigs of the family were indifferent and completely ignored him. There's no chance they would have treated them as well as they did towards Pei Xuanjing.
Pei Laozhu fell silent.
Just as Pei Xuanjing said, if he hadn't shown exceptional talent at the beginning, even if Pei Laozhu had brought him back, he would have ensured nothing more than a decent livelihood, without any exceptional treatment.
This was the rule of the family, Pei Laozhu couldn't change that.
Pei Xuanjing looked at Pei Laozhu, scoffed saying, "And the so-called cultivation benefits me, right? I suppose that over the past decade, because of my existence, the benefits received by the Pei Family should have been repaid in tens, hundreds, or even thousands of times."
With a whoosh!
Pei Laozhu paled at these words, unable to utter a single word.
"I won't be taken advantage of so easily," Pei Xuanjing turned around and spoke in a temperate voice, "Since you have enjoyed the benefits of my presence, it should be expected that if you suffer the consequences of my actions, it is only right and just."
Gain and sacrifice are mutually complementary.
If one benefits, then one must be prepared to pay the price eventually. At least, this is how Pei Xuanjing sees it as a fair thing.
Mr. Pei Laozhu shivered, his eyes attentively fixed on Pei Xuanjing's retreating figure, his expression excited, wanting to say something, but in the end, he didn't say a word, he let out a sigh and turned away morosely.
The Pei Family, which he had striven for all his life, had reached an unprecedented peak under his witness.
However, the person who brought the Pei Family to this peak might now be the one to sink it into a bottomless abyss. This was something Mr. Pei Laozhu found difficult to accept, yet he was powerless to stop it.
His receding figure seemed so bleak…
Sword Saint Pei Min left the clouds, appearing to be heading for the capital.
This news spread rapidly, causing shock across the board.
Even if there had been earlier speculation that this Sword Saint was likely to enter the capital to support the new emperor who was currently at a disadvantage.
But his decisiveness, leaving after only a short seven-day stay in the clouds, evoked sighs from countless people.
A fine horse galloped along the official road, four faint presences approached the horse swiftly, their movements swift, their energies enduring, their strength extraordinary.
Pei Xuanjing reined in his horse, four Heavenly Rank powerhouses were already a few miles around him, although these four tried to hide their presences, under Pei Xuanjing's keen observation through his Yin Spirit, their tracks appeared like fireflies in the black night, shining brightly, they couldn't hide anywhere.
Pei Xuanjing looked around, his robe fluttered without wind, his eyes sparking like electricity, he sneered, "Intriguing, secretive types."
As his words dropped, his aura suddenly erupted, surging in all directions.
"Amitabha Buddha!"
Several Buddha chants came out, and four figures appeared.
They intentionally or unintentionally appeared in front of, behind, and to the left and right of Pei Xuanjing, blocking his way invisibly.
"The Four Vajra of the Brahman Gate!" Pei Xuanjing looked at the men who arrived, a cold smile appeared on his lips.
The Four Vajra of the Brahman Gate are the titles of four Heavenly Rank monk powerhouses in the Brahman Gate of this world: Wide Vajra, Supreme Vajra, Eternal Vajra, and Mighty Vajra.
According to the information Pei Xuanjing received, each of them is a powerhouse among the Heavenly Rank, nearly following the Peak of Heaven Rank, when the four of them join forces, they can even confront those who are about to step into the Realm of Heavenly People.
Pei Xuanjing remembered that Ye Daoyuan had once sparred with these four. Although Ye Daoyuan did not really use all his strength, these four joining forces could hold their own against Ye Daoyuan, proof of their abilities.
"Amitabha Buddha, the old monk has met the Sword Saint." The one who spoke was the head, Supreme Vajra.
Any one of these four old monks' ages were much more than Pei Xuanjing's body. However, facing Pei Xuanjing who was not even twenty, they didn't dare to show any disrespect.
Even though he was surrounded by the four, Pei Xuanjing had no fear at all. He looked at the four calmly and laughed, "Are you four here to kill me?"
The Brahman Gate were staunch supporters of the Empress Dowager. They hoped that the Empress Dowager could ascend to the throne and resist the imperial policy of suppressing the Brahman Gate, so as to restore the position of the Brahman Gate.
For this, they didn't hesitate to help the Empress Dowager, whose foundation was originally damaged, to break through to the Heavenly Rank at a huge cost. They shamelessly praised that this empress was a reincarnation of the Great Sun Tathagata Buddha, and was a reincarnation of Maitreya Buddha.
Now these four people were here to stop Pei Xuanjing, there was no need to elaborate who sent them.
Supreme Vajra smiled bitterly, "The fame of the Sword Saint is known all over the world. How dare the old monk have such delusions."
Pei Xuanjing's eyes narrowed slightly, his expression relaxed, showing no emotion.
Behind him, the Mighty Vajra said, "We are here on behalf of someone else and only hope that the Sword Saint can linger here for a few days."
"Hehe, are you guys even worthy!" Pei Xuanjing chuckled, his laughter echoing in all directions, his face suddenly turned cold: "Daring to stand in my way, are you seeking death!"
"Why does the Sword Saint have to be like this!" Supreme Vajra counselled.
Pei Xuanjing laughed loud and hearty: "Since you're seeking death, don't blame me for being ruthless."
A sudden burst of aura, rolling and surging in all directions, on one thought, the heavens and earth shifted, thunder gathered.
Given Pei Xuanjing's current strength, there may be people in this world who can fight him, but certainly not these four, even if they join forces there is no chance at all.
Pei Xuanjing calmly sat on his horse, his five fingers turned into a palm and struck out towards the four, even if he didn't use all his strength, it was still immensely powerful, its vigor was biting, and its momentum was grand.
However, these four men, who have a great reputation, are not mere braggarts. Facing Pei Xuanjing's cover-everything palm, the four bodies of their suddenly started rolling and rising, almost at the same time, they made their moves and showed off their skills, the raging Primordial Qi was released wantonly, just like a river pouring out.
The two violent Primordial Qi collided, emitting a violent noise, sounding like muffled thunder echoing in all directions.
However, Pei Xuanjing was still sitting calmly on the horse, smiling lightly at the four people.
"You guys are not bad, you really deserve your reputation."
From this probing move, the strength of these four was not ordinary indeed, it seems that in this world, those who can make a name for themselves are not lucky.
"Old monk and the others came here today just to ask the Sword Saint to stay…" Supreme Vajra again stated their intentions.
Unless necessary, they really didn't want to have a fight to the death with the person in front of them.
Although the four of them have quite a reputation in this world, each of them is a powerhouse in the Heavenly Rank, but it depends on who they are up against.
Although the four joined hands with Ye Daoyuan and didn't lose the fight, but they knew better than anyone else that it was just because Ye Daoyuan had some considerations, otherwise if the other party fought all out, they would surely die.
The man in front of them was unparalleled in combat. Ten years ago, he could fight and win against those who were on the verge of stepping into the Heavenly Realm.
Now, ten years have passed, no one knew how terrifying his strength was, and no one was willing to bear his wrath.
Before he could finish his words, Pei Xuanjing cut him off.
"I don't care what you want to do. And I repeat, who do you think you are to try to stop me?" Pei Xuanjing looked around at the four coldly and said, "If that's all you are capable of, then accept your fate and die!"
His internal Primordial Qi circulated, his vast aura rising to the sky, his fierce palm imprint struck again.
Giant Spirit Surpresses Mountains.
The heavy and solid giant palm struck out, carrying endless force, possessing the might to turn the world upside down.
Now endowed with the strength at the Peak of Heaven Rank, Pei Xuanjing unleashed this palm method. Even without implementing his physical strength, only relying on his rich accumulation of Primordial Qi, its power could be described as earth-shaking.
The four saw Pei Xuanjing's terrifying palm method, a flash of shock in their eyes.