Chapter 740 — The Realm of Utmost Yin

Hu Bugui had no idea at all what the two of them were talking about; he could only feel that his cultivation was still rising, and with every breath he drew he felt vast, surging power growing within him. In that brief span his cultivation and strength had undergone an earth-shaking change; now, if he wished to send his primordial spirit soaring up to the Heavenly Palace, it would likely be an easy matter.

Who could have imagined that he would become the first person in the world to ascend to the Heavenly Palace with a single divine treasury? He soon ran into the first problem after his great breakthrough, and asked hurriedly, "Heavenly Master, how does one cultivate the Divine Bridge realm?

" The old farmer's face flushed red, and he could not speak.

He had no Divine Bridge either, had never possessed such a realm, and so naturally did not know how to cultivate it; but he was proud by nature, and could not bring himself to admit before a junior that he did not know. After a moment, the old farmer mumbled, "This.

.

. you should go and ask Shen Mu and Xu Shenghua and the like.

.

.

" Hu Bugui looked toward Shen Mu and Xu Shenghua, and saw that the two youths had put their heads together again, muttering and scribbling.

He walked over, but could not understand a word of what they were discussing. Shen Mu and Xu Shenghua had written down the Jianmu Innate Divine Bridge Formula they had just improved, each making a copy for himself, and in the course of writing many more ideas came to them: they felt that the realms of the Five Luminaries, the Six Harmonies, the Seven Stars, Heaven-Man, Life-and-Death, and the Divine Bridge could all be cultivated with the Jianmu Innate Divine Bridge. But the Jianmu saplings needed to be of different sizes, and so the art required still more refinement. Basically, the Jianmu Innate Divine Bridge of each realm differed from that of every other realm.

And the higher the realm, the more perilous the cultivation.

At the Life-and-Death realm, it took a body and primordial spirit as powerful as Hu Bugui's to withstand it.

At the Divine Bridge realm, to cultivate the Jianmu Innate Divine Bridge was all but impossible.

"I have an idea that might solve this problem!

" A possibility suddenly struck Shen Mu, and his eyes lit up.

"Palace Master Xiong Xiyu of the True Heaven Palace in the Western Lands practices the Myriad Gods Natural Art, which can make all things sentient and all things divine; her control of vital essence has reached the state where the wondrous Dao returns to the true.

If she could fuse her method of governing true essence into the Jianmu Divine Bridge and hold the pressure in check, then the odds of survival for a Divine Bridge realm adept would rise greatly. " Xu Shenghua's eyes lit up as well, and he laughed. "My High Heaven Academy is a neighbor of the True Heaven Palace, so we can go and consult her! " Once the two of them threw themselves into their research, they had no thought for anything else and paid no heed to the world outside; by the time they had sorted out the Jianmu Innate Divine Bridge Formula for every realm, more than ten days had passed. High Heaven Academy had already been completed: palace halls piled one upon another, row upon row, long corridors spanning the air.

The girls of the Western Lands had a keen eye of their own for beauty, and they had adorned the academy until it was full of poetic charm. The sheets of paper Shen Mu and Xu Shenghua had copied out were piled up like a mountain; the art for each realm was a hefty volume, and many details remained unresolved.

"Brother Xu, were you not going to build High Heaven Academy? Then let the scholars of High Heaven Academy patch up the arts for these realms; it will be a trial for them as well.

" Shen Mu stretched lazily and said with a smile, "I promised Sister Di Yiyue that I would accompany her to see Lady Tianyin, so it is time I went. " Xu Shenghua was somewhat reluctant to see him go.

"If you could stay a few more days, we could work out a great deal more, and then my High Heaven Academy would have more unique things to draw the scholars of the Western Lands. " Shen Mu laughed.

"Brother Hu is still here teaching martial arts, and Qi Jiuyi has also hidden himself away in High Heaven. Bring him out; his skills are extraordinary too.

" Xu Shenghua shook his head. "Qi Jiuyi is a man of the Outland Heavenly Court.

Why would he help me build an academy? " "He is Long Pang's sworn brother, and he has also sworn brotherhood with Heavenly King Tian Shu. Take Long Pang with you, and he will have no way to refuse.

" Xu Shenghua was overjoyed and hurriedly looked at Long Qilin. "Then I will borrow Brother Long for a few days!

" Hearing this, Long Qilin was delighted beyond measure, but he showed nothing of it.

"You may borrow me, but my three meals a day must be filling. The Sect Master has been starving me for days; settle my wages first.

" Xu Shenghua said, "I have some knowledge of medicine and alchemy too; you will not go short of benefits.

" Only then was Long Qilin reassured. "If I go hungry again in the future, I can always beg some rations from Xu Shenghua.

That is right, Xu Shenghua is easy to talk to; I wonder whether he would be willing to swear brotherhood with me?

If he became my sworn brother, I would have food for the rest of my life. . .

" His eyes flickered as he secretly calculated.

The old farmer came over and cleared his throat. "I too will stay here a few days. Young friend Xu has done my Douniu Palace such a great service that I must show some gratitude. Young friend Xu, you have accomplished much in spells and divine powers, but I see that your attainments in the physical body fall somewhat short; in the days I remain, I will instruct you in the cultivation of the body.

" Xu Shenghua bowed in thanks and asked for instruction. "I do indeed have some difficulties I would like to consult you about, Senior. Sect Master Shen has passed down the Patriarch Dragon Grand Mystery Art, the Three Primes Undying Divine Consciousness, the Wondrous Scripture of Flawless Creation, and the Sakra Heavenly King Buddha Sutra, and I have studied these arts as well; yet although I have cultivated them, for some reason my attainments in the physical body still cannot match Sect Master Shen's. Could you resolve my confusion, Senior? " Shen Mu's eyes flickered, and he halted his steps.

"It suddenly occurs to me that I cannot do without Long Pang. Perhaps I should stay a few days as well.

" He had clearly taken it into his head to listen in for free.

After all, the old farmer was the Heavenly Master of Combat of the Kaihuang Era, the Heavenly Master first in fighting strength, one of the handful of Imperial Thrones of the Kaihuang Era. Even the Woodcutter said that the Heavenly Master of Combat's attainments in the martial way were unmatched, that across millions of years no one with his attainments in the martial way could be found.

If he could hear the man lecture, he would surely profit greatly. The old farmer shot him a glance.

"You have already entered the Dao through martial arts; my path does not suit you.

Forcing yourself to learn my path will only lead you astray. Go.

" Shen Mu did not go. He mumbled, "There is no great harm in listening.

Besides, I deserve much of the credit for Brother Hu being able to cultivate a single divine treasury. I will only listen; I will not practice.

" Veins bulged on the old farmer's forehead.

"You are the woodcutter's disciple. I will not teach you, or else the woodcutter will again claim the credit for himself.

" Shen Mu was about to say more, but the old farmer said to the old ox, "Sanduo, take him to see Lady Tianyin.

" The old ox answered in the affirmative, and a surge of mana welled out; Shen Mu found himself set upon the ox's back against his will, able only to watch as the old ox carried him away. High Heaven Academy receded farther and farther behind.