Chapter Sixty-Five: Awakening of Insects

Following Tang Gu Meng’s directions, Xu Cheng and the others climbed the hillside, making their way along a narrow path.

On the journey, Xu Cheng asked how one could cultivate and manifest one’s own dharmic avatar, like Yan Meng Die’s gigantic jade toad manifestation.

The explanation was straightforward: the avatar was the embodiment of one’s own spell, and by channeling magical power into the spell’s pattern imprinted upon the primordial spirit, the avatar would be revealed.

Thus, they discussed these matters as they walked.

Soon enough, they came upon a small Earth God temple. The temple was so dilapidated it lacked even incense offerings and was tiny in size.

After tidying up a bit, Xu Cheng attempted to activate the Yellow Springs Forgotten River Immortal Spell pattern atop his primordial spirit; above his head, a river of forgetfulness appeared.

When he activated the Great Brightness Boundless Wisdom Immortal Spell, a luminous Buddha avatar manifested overhead.

With his current strength, he could only manifest one spell’s avatar at a time; the other spell avatars could not appear simultaneously.

Still, he could barely cast immortal spells now, unlike when he was at the Dao-forging stage, when his magical power was insufficient. Though he could not yet unleash the full might of the immortal spell, he could achieve roughly a tenth of its power.

Once his cultivation stabilized, he would turn his focus to the long-desired Origin Feathering Immortal Spell and the Ghost Path Immortal Spell.

If he mastered these two immortal spells, he’d have a solid defense against a whole crowd of cultivators at the Primordial Spirit stage.

When he used the Eye of Yellow Springs at the Primordial Spirit stage, its effects were surprisingly powerful. He could condense a spell symbol atop the Origin Feathering Immortal Spell in less than half an hour.

This immortal spell contained three thousand spell patterns. Calculating it out, Xu Cheng could condense about one hundred runes per day, and in a month’s time, he would perfect the Origin Feathering Immortal Spell.

Over three consecutive months, most of the group’s time was spent in cultivation.

During breaks, Chrysanthemum sought out Tang Gu Meng for news, and, together with Cen Ning Yue and Niu Da Zhuang, hunted wandering ghosts and monsters to exchange for cultivation resources with Xu Cheng.

After three months, Xu Cheng had fully condensed the spell patterns of the Origin Feathering Immortal Spell, but lacked the strength to study the Ghost Path Immortal Spell or even deduce an upgraded version of the Minor Five Elements Creation Spell.

Through three months of cultivation, three golden armor-like plates appeared atop Xu Cheng’s primordial spirit, each formed by the gathering of spell patterns from the immortal spells.

Yet, even with three immortal spells protecting him, Xu Cheng still felt a sense of emptiness within himself.

He didn’t know its source.

Until he noticed a vast expanse of dark patterns at his heart.

These had originated from the early practice of Yellow Springs Wind Mouth Spell, Yellow Springs White Bone Spell, and Yellow Springs Netherworld Spell.

Winter passed, spring arrived, and on the day of Awakening of Insects, when the warmth and blooming flowers returned.

In meditation, he sensed spring grasses sprouting, trees growing, and green snakes stirring. Xu Cheng’s heart stirred, and the black patterns at his primordial spirit’s heart began to rapidly shrink and turn golden.

All the spells that had been in Xu Cheng’s body since the beginning of his cultivation finally condensed together, transforming into an immortal spell: the Yellow Springs Reincarnation Immortal Spell.

Now, with four immortal spells within him, plus the mysterious Minor Five Elements Creation Spell and Ghost Path spells, Xu Cheng drew in the aura of Yellow Springs and other energies into his body. His cultivation speed increased dramatically, especially for the Origin Feathering Immortal Spell.

In just the single day of Awakening of Insects, Xu Cheng’s cultivation had nearly reached the Object-Controlling stage.

According to Yan Meng Die, at the Object-Controlling stage, spells were unnecessary; a mere thought could move any object.

At the Object-Transforming stage, one could refine any object into a magical treasure—be it ordinary bamboo, stones, or even animal bones, all could become formidable artifacts, though it would cost the cultivator much time.

Over the past months, Yan Meng Die had undergone two more metamorphoses. Her appearance grew ever more fearsome and monstrous, and several pustules appeared on her back, filled with lethal venom.

Chrysanthemum, too, had broken through to the Primordial Spirit stage. Perhaps it was because of the Ghost Path Immortal Spell; his demeanor became more gloomy, yet his combat strength was impressive, having mastered the Ghost Path Immortal Spell completely.

Even Cen Ning Yue and Niu Da Zhuang had reached the Dao-forging stage.

Spring thunder boomed, fine rain drifted down, and as all things flourished, it was the perfect time to eradicate the Primordial Spirit cultivators of the Xia Dynasty.

A flash of lightning illuminated the ruined Earth God temple. Xu Cheng glanced at the sky and said casually, “Chrysanthemum, have you heard any important news?”

“Of course. I’ve heard that every town nearby has at least four Primordial Spirit cultivators, and Lu Prefecture City has twenty-six!” Chrysanthemum replied, frowning.

“The Great Xia Dynasty is mass-producing Primordial Spirit cultivators!”

Xu Cheng’s gaze grew unfocused.

“Indeed, though they’re forcibly elevated to the Primordial Spirit stage, their numbers are staggering! If this continues, the Great Xia Dynasty will assemble a force of Primordial Spirit cultivators, and Gun Prefecture City may not be able to withstand them!” Chrysanthemum said with concern.

“Perfect! I’d like to see whether their batch-made Primordial Spirit experts are more formidable, or my immortal spells!” Xu Cheng frowned, ready to begin the purge.

“Where should we start?” Yan Meng Die, like a little giant, was eager and restless.

“We should always squeeze the softest fruit first. Chrysanthemum, any good suggestions?” Xu Cheng circled around, then asked.

“I’ve heard the Primordial Spirit experts in Jinshui Town are all newly arrived. Why don’t we…” Chrysanthemum gestured a decapitation.

“Very well, let’s go!”

The group left the Earth God temple, braving the spring rain as they descended the mountain.

Jinshui Town lay at the foot of the mountain.

At the entrance to the town, Xu Cheng’s primordial spirit power spread out provocatively until it met resistance—surely the Primordial Spirit experts.

Indeed, four Primordial Spirit cultivators rose from the town.

One of them spoke, “Who are you, who dare challenge the dignity of Great Xia Dynasty?”

“Third Brother, what’s the point of so much talk? That fat corpse looks disgusting; let’s kill them quickly!” Another pointed at Yan Meng Die.

“You dare call the fairy disgusting!”

Xu Cheng didn’t need to look back; he could feel the fury blazing in Yan Meng Die’s eyes.

“Ha! Fairy? She should look in a mirror and see what she really looks like!”

The man yelled, a black sword appearing in his hand, almost instantly arriving before Yan Meng Die.

Xu Cheng thought Yan Meng Die could handle such a swift attack, but unexpectedly her body was pierced through.

Just as he was about to intervene with full force, he saw Yan Meng Die seize the attacker’s arm and suddenly spew a pale yellow smoke at him.

The man unwittingly inhaled a wisp of yellow smoke.

Within moments, blood poured from his seven orifices, his entire body’s blood boiled like magma, and in the blink of an eye he melted into a pool of blood.

Even a martial cultivator, reinforced with martial runes and tempered body as hard as steel, could not withstand Yan Meng Die’s poisonous breath.

His primordial spirit was damaged; before it dissipated, several chains appeared from thin air, binding him—Xu Cheng’s spell—and dragging him into the Yellow Springs. Now, he did not need to summon the Gate of Yellow Springs; as long as the chains appeared, he could seize the opportunity to pull the enemy in.

“Second Brother!”

“Second Brother!”

...

It all happened so quickly that the remaining Primordial Spirit experts of the Great Xia Dynasty had no time to react.

Yan Meng Die’s wounded area healed at a speed visible to the naked eye, as if she had never been injured.

Xu Cheng marveled inwardly; this must be the wondrous effect of the Jade Toad Nine Transformations Immortal Spell. Though cultivating this spell made her appearance bizarre, the benefits were immense.