Tome of Troubled Times

Chapter 330: Ninth Layer of the Profound Gate

Huangfu Qing wiped her hands, feeling both disgusted and resigned.

“Just how long have you been holding it in...”

Zhao Changhe watched her wipe her hands with a slightly pained expression. There goes the beauty lotion for the blind woman. Well, actually, it hasn’t been that long... The medicine really was just that potent.

If she was serious about her cultivation, she shouldn’t even be doing these things. She should be meditating and digesting the gains from her breakthrough.

Of course, he did not dare say this out loud. Otherwise, the young lady might just beat him to death.

As it turned out, Huangfu Qing lazily walked to the side right after helping him out. “I need to meditate and consolidate my gains. You shouldn’t always have your mind filled with such things. Focus on your cultivation and see if you can use this opportunity to unlock the Profound Mysteries.”

Zhao Changhe said, “Earlier, when you went from being utterly fatigued to suddenly being reinvigorated, that should have been the result of a breakthrough in the Profound Mysteries, right? Otherwise, I really can’t understand how you had such a sudden and massive transformation.”

Huangfu Qing wanted to laugh. “Yes, it was.”

It was indeed a breakthrough in the Profound Mysteries, but it was a breakthrough into the third layer of the Profound Mysteries.

Tang Wanzhuang’s breakthrough to the third layer of the Profound Mysteries turned her into a frail and sickly woman, but I have no such troubles. I’ve truly surpassed her this time. And it only took kissing a man... Hey, wait...

Zhao Changhe felt a bit envious. “Both of you have broken through to the Profound Mysteries. I really do need to step up my game.”

Huangfu Qing was in a great mood and said with a smile. “It’s fine, you’re cute when you’re weak.”

Zhao Changhe: “?”

“Ahem.” Huangfu Qing feared that he might suddenly pounce on her to prove his strength, so she quickly added, “You’ve actually already advanced very quickly. Reaching the ninth layer of the Profound Gate in such a short time is unprecedented. As for the Profound Mysteries, that really isn’t something you can rush. First, you need to achieve unity in internal and external... Huh?”

She looked Zhao Changhe up and down, suddenly showing some surprise in her eyes. “You... your internal cultivation has also reached the ninth layer?”

Earlier, her focus had been on his powerful physique, and she had assumed that he had relied on the medicinal effects to raise his external cultivation to the ninth layer. She had failed to notice that his internal cultivation had also broken through to the ninth layer of the Profound Gate.

How did his internal cultivation break through? I don’t think he consumed anything that would help with his internal cultivation. Did he manage to do so just through dual cultivation?

“No, you aren’t really at the ninth layer. The surge in energy was what forced you to break through, but you lack the understanding and experience that someone at the ninth layer of the Profound Gate should have.” Huangfu Qing’s expression turned serious. “You should meditate immediately and comprehend the connection between yourself and heaven and earth. Otherwise, if you miss this opportunity, the door to the Profound Mysteries may close for you forever, and you will only be able to regret it for the rest of your life.”

The critical point of the ninth layer of the Profound Gate was Tianling, the bridge of heaven and earth, and the key to accessing the Profound Mysteries. This stage was very dangerous. Forcing it could easily turn someone into an idiot. This was why many had simplified this level, treating it purely as an internal cultivation milestone and leaving out the part where one had to form an actual bridge with heaven and earth. It was because of that that there was a surge of people reaching the ninth layer but never breaking through to the Profound Mysteries.

Zhao Changhe obviously would not take such a simplified yet flawed approach. Despite his rapid progress, his path was absolutely legitimate. His five senses and spiritual sense had long surpassed most people at the ninth layer of the Profound Gate. His journey to Kunlun was not just about reaching the ninth layer, but also seeking the Profound Mysteries. He was aiming for the path to become a true master.

However, the sudden surge of energy had inadvertently pushed him through to the ninth layer of the Profound Gate, making it seem like he had taken the simplified route that others often did. He lacked any understanding of what the ninth layer truly meant in terms of connecting to the Profound Mysteries.

He had not gone through the difficulties of opening and activating Tianling. Therefore, he could be said to have barely reached the ninth layer.

Still, it was not without benefit. At least he now understood why others who were at the ninth layer could not compare to those who had unlocked the Profound Mysteries. Compared to the eighth layer, those who had not properly broken through to the ninth layer really only had slightly more strength.

Zhao Changhe quietly sat down and attempted to grasp the true essence of the ninth layer of the Profound Gate, but he struggled for quite some time.

Huangfu Qing gently touched his brow, helping him calm his mind. “This aperture is merely a bridge. It honestly isn’t as difficult as people think. The key is not to treat it as a breakthrough but as a bridge to heaven and earth. Think about the star chart that Venerable Vermillion Bird once showed you. The stars in the sky corresponded to yourself. How do they resonate with each other? When you find that connection, you’ll have found your martial arts path. Each person’s martial arts path has its own essence. Reflect on what yours is.”

Her voice gradually faded as Zhao Changhe entered a state of deep meditation.

Huangfu Qing watched him for a moment, a somewhat complicated look in her eyes.

It all began from that damn star chart... At that time, who would’ve thought that I would end up genuinely caring for this guy?

Now, the star chart was no longer important. Huangfu Qing still believed that having him align himself with the Four Idols Cult was the best path, but she just did not know if it would be so.

She also sat down cross-legged, beginning to comprehend the heart flame she had taken into her spiritual platform.

Mastering this kind of flame could allow her to have some influence over the inner demons of others, burning them from within. In fact, it could be regarded as having the power of gods and demons. But at this time, rather than feeling that she was reaching the pinnacle, it felt more like she had just unlocked a door, revealing an even vaster and longer path ahead.

I told him that the first layer of the Profound Mysteries is merely a bridge... In essence, isn’t the third layer of the Profound Mysteries the same? It’s just that they bridge different gaps.

*

At this moment, Zhao Changhe’s mind had fully entered a state of perceiving his meridians, apertures, and acupoints.

When the Profound Gate reached Tianling, it formed a complete internal cycle within the body. In traditional martial arts terms, this meant that the Conception and Governing Vessels were fully connected, creating an internal universe.

Reaching the ninth layer of the Profound Gate marked the true beginning of advanced cultivation. It was also the pinnacle for common martial arts practitioners.

However, this was merely an internal cycle, granting the status of a half-baked ninth-layer Profound Gate practitioner.

How do I form that bridge with the outside world? How do I achieve a continuous and everlasting internal and external circulation?

Sitting cross-legged, with Huiyin to the ground, and Tianling to the sky, I’ve theoretically formed a bridge between heaven and earth. But how do I actually make it work?

It’s not like I’m just supposed to have true qi suddenly surge through to Tianling. If I do that, I might just end up blasting my own head to pieces.

Ordinary martial artists indeed got stuck at this stage quite often. However, Zhao Changhe had been honing his spirit and strengthening his five senses under Yue Hongling’s guidance since he was at the eighth layer of the Profound Gate. As a result of that, he had already gained substantial experience in spiritual visualization.

Furthermore, with Huangfu Qing’s guidance, he quickly began visualizing the star chart.

The sky above held the external constellations, while the acupoints within held the internal constellations. The two could then correspond to each other. All of the cultivation methods of the Four Idols Cult involved aligning oneself with the constellations of the four idols, resulting in the cultivation of the attributes of the four idols. This went on to show that the attributes developed by those practicing certain cultivation techniques was not a coincidence.

Once a connection was formed between the internal and external constellations, man and universe became one.

For Vermillion Bird and Black Tortoise, refining their star charts and following the corresponding idol was the essence of their martial arts path. One became Vermillion Bird, the other Black Tortoise.

But what about me?

What’s the essence of my martial arts?

Is it the sunset glow, vast and boundless?

Is it wandering alone in the jianghu with saber and wine?

Is it the clear water and gentle waves accompanied by the soft music of the guqin?

Or is it blood and slaughter, rendering entire armies terrified?

In fact, it was none of that... Those were all merely appearances.

As the way he spoke resembled those of the modern world less and less, as his detached perspective of the world dissipated, and as the pursuit of the witch from his nightmares became a distant thought, Zhao Changhe had become immersed in this world, sharing in the joys and sorrows of its people.

He honed his saber to cut down injustice, fighting across three thousand li, toasting proudly in the face of his peers, and upholding a promise worth its weight in gold.

The blind woman once said that he had already become a man of this world.

Was that the case? It was indeed, but also not quite.

No matter which world one belongs to, one should only do what needs to be done. That’s all there is to it.

Zhao Changhe gazed at the stars in the sky, but none aligned with his intent.

The blind woman did say that the Heavenly Dao was dead.

If the heavens had no Dao, which stars could possibly align with him?

The answer was: none of them.

What Night Emperor? Without the sun and the moon, what right does anyone have to call themselves the Night Emperor?

If there is no sun and moon... then I shall be the sun and moon, shining upon the mountains and rivers.

If the heavens have no Dao, I will make my own! Was this not the resolve I had during my time at Beimang?

His entire star chart began to shine brightly. Using the method taught to him by Vermillion Bird to resonate with the stars, he activated Tianling. A scene resembling stars encircling the moon then came to be.

The vortex in his dantian spun wildly, unifying the six harmonies, like the sun hanging high in the sky.

The sun and the moon reflected each other, heaven and earth shone together.

A faint coolness quietly seeped into his Tianling, silently forming a bridge, unifying the internal and external, allowing him to achieve a unity of heaven and man.

Thus, he had now truly achieved the ninth layer of the Profound Gate.

Zhao Changhe felt the transition of his true qi going from acquired to innate, and he slowly opened his eyes.

When he opened his eyes, he saw Huangfu Qing right in front of him with a perplexed expression on her face. “Are you... really not the Night Emperor?”

Zhao Changhe smiled brightly. “I’m really not.”