Zhang Kui's Journey to the West in the Investiture of the Gods

Chapter 8 Blood Refining Divine Power, Golden Core Dao Patterns

Having solidified his cultivation at the Earth Immortal realm, Zhang Kui was not in a hurry to leave seclusion.

He felt the three-stage golden core, slowly rotating within his dantian, its three profound patterns gleaming, and a sense of unprecedented wonder and power welled up within him. This golden core, formed through the orthodox methods of the Xuanmen sect, seemed to be a completely new core of his life and power—perfect, stable, and with boundless potential.

"The Golden Core Path has greatly solidified my foundation. Next, it's time to test how much brilliance those great supernatural powers can unleash on this foundation." With a thought, Zhang Kui focused his mind and began to carefully study the four Heavenly Gang Thirty-Six Techniques he had acquired: Nine Breaths of Breath Control, Five Elements Great Escape, Subduing Dragons and Tigers, and Size As You Wish.

The Thirty-Six Heavenly Divine Arts are the highest supernatural powers of Taoism. Each of them points directly to the origin of the Great Tao and is mysterious and unfathomable. Although Zhang Kui had inherited them in the past, he was limited by his own mixed foundation and conflicting magical attributes, so his understanding and application were only superficial. In some aspects, he was even unable to cultivate them at all due to insufficient magical power.

Now that his Golden Core has been formed, his magical power is pure and refined, and his divine sense is clear and unobstructed, he has a completely different experience when he comprehends these great supernatural powers again. Those laws and runes that were previously obscure and difficult to understand have now become clear and understandable under the illumination of the Golden Core, which is full of Daoist charm, just like a precious pearl that was once covered in dust has been wiped clean and has begun to shine with its own light.

He first tried circulating the "Nine Breaths Breath Cultivation Technique." This method could regulate and refine qi, instantly restoring magical power and resonating with the breath of heaven and earth. Now, driven by the power of the Golden Core, the effect was even more astonishing. Zhang Kui felt his pores and acupoints naturally open. With each breath, the spiritual energy of heaven and earth around the military camp, and even the mixed evil energy, surged in like hundreds of rivers flowing into the sea, being rapidly tempered and absorbed by the Golden Core, transforming into incomparably pure natal true essence. The efficiency was several times faster than simply circulating the basic techniques of the "Golden Core Great Dao."

"Brilliant!"

Zhang Kui was overjoyed. "With this method to aid my cultivation, as long as I don't encounter any bottlenecks, won't my cultivation progress be incredibly rapid?"

Next, he tried the "Five Elements Great Escape." With a slight thought, his body rippled like water within the tent, the earth, stones, and wooden pillars seemingly merging with him. Wherever his mind went, he could disappear into them. The smoothness of the five elements transformation was far beyond what he had seen before. He could even clearly sense the flow of the earth's veins beneath his feet, which complemented his understanding of the Earth Immortal realm.

Subsequently, the "Subduing Dragons and Tigers" technique was activated, and a tremendous force surged from the Golden Core, flowing through his limbs and bones. It was not merely physical strength, but also contained a majestic law that could awe all spirits and control power, making him feel as if he could shake mountains with a single punch and scatter all beasts with a single roar.

Finally, there is the "Size Ruyi" technique, which involves subtle changes in the physical body and vital energy, and at its most profound levels, it even relates to the laws of space. Zhang Kui tried it for a moment, and his body slightly expanded and contracted, but the changes were far less significant than the previous three. Clearly, his understanding and mastery of this technique were still lacking.

With the support of his Golden Core's power, the four supernatural abilities displayed their power with undisguised brilliance, much to Zhang Kui's delight. However, he always felt that he could go even further. These supernatural abilities, though excellent, were like tools, only to be used when needed, and had not yet been fully integrated with his core Golden Core.

Just then, a bold idea flashed through his mind like lightning—the "Blood Refining Method" from the bloodline inheritance of the Witch Clan.

This method is incredibly powerful, capable of using one's own blood and qi as a furnace to refine all things in the world, absorbing their most fundamental power or imprint and integrating it into one's own body. Previously, he had used this method to quickly refine the essence blood of exotic beasts and the inner core of great demons. Although it left hidden ailments in his body that required long-term nurturing to recover, it was still a testament to the miraculous power of this method.

"Since blood and qi can refine external objects, can we refine our own supernatural powers?" Zhang Kui asked excitedly. "The Thirty-Six Heavenly Gang Techniques are manifestations of the Great Dao. If we can refine them into 'seeds of supernatural powers' using the blood refining method, and then nurture them with a golden elixir, perhaps even..."

An even more audacious idea emerged: "Could this seed of divine power be inscribed onto the Dao patterns of the Golden Core?"

If you're interested, you should take action.

Zhang Kui immediately activated the vast blood energy of the Wu Clan within his body, and according to the Blood Refining Secret Technique, simultaneously enveloped the four Heavenly Gang Divine Power runes that were in operation.

"Use my vital energy and blood to refine the technique as a seed!" he shouted, his vital energy and blood boiling, like a crimson-gold furnace, enveloping, forging, and extracting the four runes of law representing supreme divine power.

This process is extremely taxing on mental and physical energy. Even though Zhang Kui has already stabilized his Witch Realm cultivation and his energy has become more refined due to the reshaping of his foundation, he can only barely withstand such a huge consumption.

Gradually, within the scorching furnace of qi and blood, the four runes of law were continuously purified and compressed, eventually condensing into four tiny seeds, each shimmering with different luster and Daoist charm—the Nine Breaths Qi-Absorbing Seed appeared as an ever-changing cloud of qi; the Five Elements Great Escape Seed flowed with five-colored radiance; the Dragon-Subduing Tiger-Taming Seed resembled a power rune, exuding an aura of suppressing everything; and the Size-Wish-Fulfilling Seed was ever-changing and elusive.

As soon as the seed of supernatural power was formed, it seemed to have gained sentience, automatically detaching from the furnace of qi and blood and flying towards the three-stage golden elixir in the center of the dantian.

Then, a miraculous scene unfolded!

The Golden Core seemed to have developed a strange interest in these four seeds of supernatural power, trembling slightly, and the three naturally formed profound Dao patterns on its surface emitted a soft and yearning light.

call out!call out!call out!

The four seeds of supernatural power, like swallows returning to their nests, joyfully rushed towards the golden core, attempting to merge into the three Dao patterns.

However, there are only three Dao patterns, but four Divine Power Seeds.

A silent "struggle" unfolded within Zhang Kui's dantian.

The Nine Breaths Breathing Technique is most compatible with the Golden Core's innate ability to regulate its breath. First, it shines brightly and quickly merges into the Dao patterns. The Dao patterns instantly become more complex, as if they have a rhythm of breathing, and the Golden Core's efficiency in absorbing spiritual energy suddenly increases.

The Five Elements Great Escape followed closely behind, successfully embedding the second Dao pattern. Subtle five-colored light appeared on the Dao pattern, making the connection between the Golden Core and the Five Elements of Heaven and Earth even closer and more seamless.

The Dragon Subduing and Tiger Taming Technique contains supreme power and majesty, subtly resonating with the powerful characteristics of Zhang Kui's witch clan bloodline. It forcefully occupies the third Dao pattern, rendering it with a layer of light golden radiance, causing the Golden Core itself to resound with the roar of a tiger and the cry of a dragon, exuding a domineering aura that can suppress mountains and rivers.

Because Zhang Kui's cultivation was slightly inferior, and the seed he condensed was somewhat illusory, the Ruyi Scepter was a step too slow. When it tried to merge with the golden core, the three Dao patterns were already occupied, leaving no room. It unwillingly circled and leaped around the golden core, but could not merge with it. Like a child who had been excluded, it appeared somewhat stubborn and aggrieved.

But it did not leave. Instead, it stubbornly revolved around the golden elixir, seemingly waiting for an opportunity or to establish a connection with the golden elixir in this way, slowly absorbing the Daoist charm emanating from the golden elixir to nourish itself.

Zhang Kui looked inward at the strange sight within his dantian, feeling both surprised and delighted.

What surprised him was that the combination of the Blood Refining Method and the Golden Core Dao produced such an unexpected change; what pleased him was that the three Heavenly Gang Divine Powers had been directly engraved on his Golden Core, as if they had become his instinctive talent, which he could unleash with the slightest thought, and whose power and casting speed far surpassed those of simply using magic power to drive them before.

The small Ruyi seed that was not branded, although it did not successfully have its inscription engraved, seemed to be slowly growing around the golden core.

"The righteous path of the Xuanmen, combined with the secret techniques of the Wu clan, has such miraculous effects!" Zhang Kui exclaimed in amazement as he felt the immense power flowing through his golden core and the interplay of the three divine pathway patterns.

Want to test its power? Zhang Kui immediately communicated with the Five Elements Great Escape Divine Power Seed and activated the Earth Escape Technique with the power of Earth Escape.

His mastery of earth-walking techniques previously relied heavily on the affinity of the witch clan's bloodline for earth elements. While this technique was fast, it consumed a great deal of energy and made it difficult to completely conceal his presence.

The Earth Escape of the Five Elements Great Escape is completely different. It involves the transformation and application of the essence of the five elements. By borrowing the power of earth, one can transform into the earth, becoming invisible and traceless, extremely fast, and consuming less energy. By utilizing the earth's veins, one can escape thousands of miles away.

Zhang Kui was completely absorbed in the process, using the Golden Core Dao to activate his magic power. He formed the Earth Escape Technique with his hands, sensing the earth elemental energy without any obscurity. Earthy yellow light flowed around his body. This time, he no longer relied on brute force to break through the soil, but seemed to merge with the earth, like a drop of water merging into the ocean.

It worked!

With practice, he could travel farther and faster, and his aura became increasingly concealed. His Earth-Traveling Technique, enhanced by the Five Elements Great Escape Divine Power, underwent a qualitative leap, becoming an extremely formidable auxiliary and life-saving ability.

The method of subduing dragons and tigers is not about actually conquering them, but rather a great supernatural power that tempers the physical body, unleashes potential, and increases supreme strength and majesty. This method corresponds to many acupoints in the body, which need to be opened and penetrated through a special method of circulating qi and blood.

This was practically tailor-made for Zhang Kui, who possessed the blood of the Wu tribe and was already incredibly strong. He guided the vast amount of blood and energy within his body according to the method, impacting those hidden acupoints that had never been opened. The process was extremely painful, like being torn apart and reassembled time and time again, but with each acupoint he opened, he felt his physical strength increase and his power surge.

The pure true essence provided by the Golden Core Path perfectly harmonized the violence brought about by the impact of Qi and blood, preventing damage to his foundation. After an unknown amount of time, once a complete primary Qi and blood circulation pathway was opened, Zhang Kui stood up, feeling his entire body filled with terrifying, earth-shattering power, far surpassing his previous strength. He clenched his fist lightly, and the air itself seemed to explode, producing a sonic boom.

The ability to change size at will involves the mysteries of spatial transformation and the particle level of the physical body, making it the most profound. Attempting to alter one's own size requires not only vast magical power but also an ultimate control over the physical body and a preliminary understanding of the laws of space.

Zhang Kui tried many times, but at most he could only make parts of his body expand and contract slightly, and this consumed a great deal of spiritual power and true essence, lasting for a very short time and being almost useless in actual combat. He couldn't even make his entire body change in sync.

He knew this method couldn't be rushed. If it weren't for his strong physical body and the golden core stabilizing his origin, forcibly cultivating this method might even have led to the collapse of his physical body. He no longer forced changes, but instead carefully comprehended the profound mysteries of spatial laws and rune arrangements within the technique, accumulating experience. Although he failed to master it, the process improved his control over his physical body to a higher level, and his magical power circulation became more refined and subtle.

The Nine Breaths Breathing Technique is the most restrained, constantly absorbing spiritual energy and refining blood and qi, making Zhang Kui's golden core even more brilliant and his physical body even more solid.

His cultivation level steadily broke through to the peak of the Earth Immortal Realm, and he was only one step away from the Celestial Immortal Realm.