Chapter Sixty-Seven: The Heavenly Evolution Sutra

"An alliance?" Shen Qingyun's interest was immediately piqued. In a trial like this, the fewer participants and the higher their overall quality, the better. Yet, since this concerned the entire inner sect, every team would inevitably include a few who fell short.

Eliminating the monsters in the Ghost Valley and gathering the spiritual herbs there—no matter how one looked at it, the fewer people, the better. Were they not concerned that conflicts might arise during distribution, leading to internal strife?

"That's right, an alliance," Xing Wuque nodded. "After our discussions, Bamboo Peak, Flower Valley, Formation Peak, Pill Hall, and Flame Valley will each select one team to merge with the other four, forming a larger squad."

"That way, our ability to protect ourselves in the Ghost Valley will greatly increase," he added, casting a deliberate glance at Shen Qingyun, who remained silent—his reaction quite different from what Xing Wuque had expected. He continued, "Since none of the other four peaks have their chief disciples present, and considering that the chiefs can choose their own teammates, you weren't counted in the discussions."

Shen Qingyun blinked; this was hardly unexpected. His rise as Bamboo Peak's chief was common knowledge within the inner sect, but how many truly respected him? Even with Xing Wuque's explanation, Shen Qingyun could see that he was being isolated.

Of course, Shen Qingyun did not mind being left out. His purpose for entering the Ghost Valley was different; naturally, the fewer companions, the better.

"What do you think?" Shen Qingyun asked, convinced that Xing Wuque's perspective would be more nuanced than that of the other disciples.

"My thoughts?" Xing Wuque suddenly gave a mocking smile, tinged with self-deprecation.

"My opinion doesn't matter to them at all." He shrugged, helpless. "Frankly, I don't agree with their approach. Sure, it boosts the group's overall strength and makes us safer in the Ghost Valley. But people from different peaks will inevitably have conflicting opinions."

"I keep thinking about how we'll distribute the spiritual herbs we gather, and all those other issues."

"But they reached an agreement so quickly that my concerns became irrelevant." Shen Qingyun nodded, recognizing that Xing Wuque indeed considered things more thoroughly.

"So, what do you plan to do with me?" Shen Qingyun asked, half-smiling.

"Why say 'plan to do'? That sounds so unpleasant," Xing Wuque laughed. "Since you're the chief, you'll be free to join any team you wish. Just make sure you come out of the Ghost Valley safely."

After speaking, Xing Wuque realized his words amounted to 'disposing of' Shen Qingyun, so he added, "Well, it's not so different from what you said."

"Forget it," Shen Qingyun replied. "I don't think my reputation is so poor that I can't find a single person willing to team up with me."

Xing Wuque shook his head, chalking it up to Shen Qingyun's stubbornness. From what he had heard of Shen Qingyun's deeds in Bamboo Peak, the young man's popularity was indeed lacking—almost nonexistent. Even if two fellow disciples had entered the inner sect with him, they weren't fools; they wouldn't blindly follow Shen Qingyun, not when this trial could cost them their lives.

Xing Wuque sighed, "It's a pity—only I can truly appreciate the chief's real strength. If you joined a team, they'd gain a combatant at the Spirit Aspect Realm out of thin air!"

With that, Xing Wuque prepared to leave; he had no desire to linger, especially with nowhere to sit. Striding toward the cave entrance, he called, "I'm off. I've told you all you need to know."

"Wait!" Shen Qingyun stopped him after a few steps. Xing Wuque turned, puzzled, a hint of confusion in his eyes.

Shen Qingyun said, "When your team sets out, try to stay close to me. If anything happens, I can come to your aid."

Xing Wuque didn't take it to heart, merely waved his hand after turning away, and left the cave.

Shen Qingyun saw Xing Wuque's gesture and knew he hadn't really considered the warning. Well, he'd done his duty as a fellow Bamboo Peak disciple by offering advice; if it went unheeded, it was no fault of his.

This time, there would be no further interruptions.

He picked up the finger technique manual, thinking to himself, "Time is short, and my cultivation is barely sufficient. I'll use it!"

The Heavenly Derivation Method was one of the three items Shen Qingyun had kept. It possessed no grade and was not a powerful technique, yet it boasted an ability capable of driving countless experts mad.

In Shen Qingyun's words, it was an auxiliary method—one with the potential to be divine in its assistance.

It could help practitioners identify flaws in their techniques or spells and guide them in how to mend them.

This alone was enough to incite madness among the world's cultivators.

However, its obvious defect was this: the Heavenly Derivation Method could never be remembered. Even after a single glance, no matter how certain one was of memorizing it, once the book was closed, only its name would linger in the mind.

Moreover, activating the Heavenly Derivation Method rapidly depleted the user's spiritual energy, the rate determined by the grade of the technique or spell being analyzed.

These drawbacks were nearly negligible in light of its miraculous effects.

To save time, Shen Qingyun did not hesitate to use it.

A deep blue book appeared before him, its cover bearing the four simple characters of the Heavenly Derivation Method. Yet a closer look would irresistibly draw the gaze inward.

He opened the book. There was only a single page, densely packed with characters as tiny as ants.

Shen Qingyun glanced at the Heavenly Derivation Method. Instantly, his spiritual energy surged, then began to weaken at an alarming rate.

Seeing this, Shen Qingyun wasted no time, opening the finger technique manual and scanning through it at lightning speed, so swiftly that the words blurred.

Yet in his mind, meridians appeared, with tiny red dots beginning from his lower abdomen and extending upward, many meridians marked thus, ending at the fingertips of both hands.

All the meridians combined formed the entirety of the human body's channels.

In an instant, the acupoints required for cultivating this finger technique appeared vividly in Shen Qingyun's mind, perfectly memorized.

With the reading finished, Shen Qingyun exited the state, now physically exhausted, his face pale, his breath almost imperceptible.

He forced a bitter laugh; it was still far too strenuous to use the Heavenly Derivation Method with only a ninth-level Qi training base.

"Though heaven-defying, the price is not something ordinary people can bear," he thought.

He was lucky he had not chosen a higher-grade spell earlier; otherwise, his spiritual energy would have been depleted before he could fully memorize it.

When spiritual energy runs dry, the Heavenly Derivation Method does not cease but continues by consuming the practitioner's life force. Dangerous as it was, the rewards were extraordinary: in the span of a breath, he had mastered a technique—perfectly.

Taking out a spirit stone to restore his energy, Shen Qingyun smiled wryly. Three techniques meant he would have to endure this weakness two more times, not to mention perfecting them all.