Chapter 1174: The Void-Space Scripture

Whoosh!

The next moment, he had already arrived before the stone tablet of Qiūwú Palace.

The massive stele was entirely carved from top-grade spirit stones, which had once stirred his desire to steal it. Now... such spirit stones were of no use to him, and thus held no allure.

“These characters... have reached a realm where reality and illusion intertwine!”

His eyes fell upon the three large characters: “Qiūwú Palace.”

Previously, his skill in calligraphy and painting was low, and he could not discern quality. Now, these three characters had undoubtedly reached the Eighth Realm.

Though simple in form, their impact was less than that of a painting or calligraphy piece, yet if one gazed at them long enough, one would still become immersed, unable to extricate oneself.

“Hmm? No, these characters... something’s off?”

After watching for a while, Zhang Xuan was about to leave when he suddenly frowned.

At first glance, the three characters gave no special feeling, but as he looked longer, the true qi within his body began to dance along, as if it might burst forth at any moment.

“It’s the movement method of the Great Compassion Demon Palm...”

Sensing the trajectory of his true qi as it moved under the influence of the three characters, Zhang Xuan was stunned.

The Great Compassion Demon Palm was something he had learned from the ancient sage Qiūwú. How could these three characters trigger a reaction?

“Let’s try!”

No longer suppressing the flow of true qi, Zhang Xuan gently raised his palm and swept it lightly toward the stone wall.

His Great Compassion Demon Palm, having reached the Heavenly Dao level, had attained a state where lightness and heaviness followed the heart. Though it touched the stele, it did not damage it.

Hum!

The moment his palm made contact, the three characters suddenly blazed with light, and Zhang Xuan stumbled, vanishing from the spot.

Opening his eyes, he found himself in another space, seemingly small, with dense, intricate runes before him.

“The Void-Space Scripture?”

His pupils contracted as a line of text appeared before him.

These runes, combined, formed a special cultivation technique called the Void-Space Scripture.

After studying it for a while, Zhang Xuan realized it was extremely profound, far surpassing any technique he had cultivated.

“Could this be... the inheritance of the ancient sage Qiūwú?”

He clenched his fists.

Back then, the ancient sage’s stone statue had been shattered by his blow, leaving no time to reveal where his inheritance lay. He had thought it lost forever, never imagining it was hidden in this stele, visible at the very entrance!

When entering the ruins, everyone sought the most secluded spots, never dreaming that the most precious thing might be hidden in the most conspicuous place!

However, this space required the Great Compassion Demon Palm to activate. Even if someone noticed something special about the stele, without knowing that technique, they could not enter.

Let alone obtain the inheritance.

“The Void-Space Scripture uses the number of the Great Expansion for calculation, splitting and controlling the space of heaven and earth...”

Though he did not recognize the runes, as his eyes swept over them, he immediately understood their meaning.

“This technique, like the Great Compassion Demon Palm, is divided into five levels. Reaching the fifth level would place one at the pinnacle of the world, no weaker than myself...”

As rune after rune entered his mind, Zhang Xuan’s eyes grew brighter.

Originally, with his Heavenly Dao techniques, he had little interest in Qiūwú’s inheritance. But after reading the runes, he realized the power of this technique. If cultivated earnestly, it would grant immense control over space, even allowing him to create folded spaces at will, no longer so passive.

In battle, his strength would increase manifold.

“If I cultivate this Void-Space Scripture to the peak of the second level, even if I can’t defeat that Luo Chengxin from before, I can at least escape...”

He was filled with excitement, his face pale.

Luo Chengxin was the strongest opponent he had faced so far, at the Seventh Layer of the Saint Domain. Even using all his means, he could not overcome him, nor even escape... But cultivating this Void-Space Scripture would change everything!

Not to mention reaching the fifth level; even reaching the peak of the second level would allow him to easily break free from the opponent’s suppression and flee!

However, this technique also demanded high levels of true qi and strength. To reach the peak of the second level, one needed at least the peak of the Out-of-Body Realm.

“Let’s see if it can be fused into a Heavenly Dao technique!”

Soon, after scanning all the runes in the sky and recording them into the library, Zhang Xuan let out a breath.

Over these days, the number of techniques and manuals he had recorded had reached an astonishing level. Perhaps they could fuse smoothly with this Void-Space Scripture.

“Correct!”

With a low exclamation, a book appeared before him.

He tapped it with his finger, and knowledge flowed into his mind.

“The first level of the Heavenly Dao technique has formed. The second level... is still far off, let alone the rest...”

After quickly reading through, Zhang Xuan’s face lit up with joy.

This outcome was within expectations.

Although the Void-Space Scripture was a single technique, different levels corresponded to different cultivation methods.

The techniques he had gathered during this period were at most at the middle stage of the Saint Domain, which was considered formidable in the Qingyuan Empire, but they fell far short of what was needed to merge with the Ethereal Heaven Scripture.

Being able to fully integrate the first layer would already be considered good.

"Let me practice a bit..."

Filled with excitement, he memorized the first layer of the technique, left the stele space, found a spot, took out high-grade essence spirit stones, and began to cultivate.

The Ethereal Heaven Scripture was a technique that used spatial power to enhance strength; it was neither a martial skill nor a cultivation method for increasing cultivation base.

Cultivating to the fifth layer allowed one to master space, traveling through it, covering tens of millions or even hundreds of millions of kilometers in a day with ease.

The five layers of the technique were divided into five realms: Ground Shrinking, Teleportation, Mastery, Destruction, and Creation.

"The first layer, when cultivated to its limit, allows one to shrink the ground to a single step, covering a hundred meters in one stride... In battle, one can instantly dodge or attack, and escape becomes much easier!"

The cultivation method flowed through his mind. Zhang Xuan circulated his true qi and soon sank into a unique state of mind, gaining more and more insight into space.

After an unknown amount of time, he opened his eyes, stood up, and took a step forward.

Whoosh!

He had already appeared over a hundred meters away.

"Success?"

His eyes lit up.

Cultivating the Ethereal Heaven Scripture did not increase his cultivation base much, but it deepened his understanding of space. Combined with the Traveler's Boundless Step technique, it made him elusive and ghostlike!

"With this speed and spatial understanding, I can even fight Vice Hall Master Tian..."

Previously, despite being able to fight above his level, he could not defeat a half-step Nascent Soul powerhouse like Vice Hall Master Tian. But now, having learned the Ethereal Heaven Scripture, he had a clearer grasp of space. Even if the opponent used soul pressure, he could easily break free, or even approach unnoticed and deliver a fatal blow.

"More importantly, having learned the first layer of the Heavenly Dao Ethereal Heaven Scripture, I can now set up some spatial formations. Although these formations cannot fold space to store items, they can block detection and even... compress objects!"

Zhang Xuan chuckled softly and clenched his fist.

Previously, his soul body was too large to merge into the Primordial Embryo, but now, if he could set up a spatial formation to compress it, he might be able to easily enter the gate and complete the fusion.

"The technique is excellent, but the consumption... is also too great..."

After sensing the changes, Zhang Xuan rubbed his forehead as he looked at the pile of fragments on the ground.

He had only cultivated the first layer of the Ethereal Heaven Scripture, not even reaching its peak, yet the seventeen high-grade essence spirit stones he had painstakingly obtained were completely consumed.

This technique allowed one to comprehend space and drastically increase combat power—it was a rare and invaluable art... but its consumption of spirit stones was also terrifying.

He had originally thought that so many high-grade essence spirit stones would allow him to break through to the peak of the Embryonic Infant realm, but before he even started, they were all used up. The thought filled him with frustration.

"I must find a way to earn money..."

He stood up, flickered, and left the Qiuwu Palace.

The method for his soul to enter the Primordial Embryo was solved; now the most important thing was to find a way to earn high-grade essence spirit stones!

Life without money... is unbearable even for a single day!

"Where can I earn it?"

Returning to his residence, Zhang Xuan did not rush out but instead lowered his head in thought.

To earn money, he first needed to find a place. The Qingyuan Empire's royal family had only produced seventeen spirit stones, and the War Master Hall only ten...

Where could he find more?

"Let me ask Hall Master Xing!"

Knowing that he was unfamiliar with Qingyuan City and that thinking too much was useless, Zhang Xuan stood up and left the room.

By now, the sky was fully bright. Sunlight poured down, and although it was still morning, it was already somewhat scorching.

He found Hall Master Xing, who had already begun cultivating the Glass Heart Sutra. Although only a few days had passed, his soul had become purer and his aura more profound.

"Hall Master Xing, how are Elder Xu and the others? Are they obedient?"

Knowing that if the other continued cultivating, he should soon undergo the Nascent Soul Tribulation and break through to the early Nascent Soul stage, Zhang Xuan smiled and asked.

Yesterday, Elder Xu and the others were taken away by the War Master Hall. Under normal circumstances, they should have been settled by now.

"They are very obedient, but... yesterday they met Steward Sun Qiang, and he recruited them all into the Xuanxuan Society..."

Hall Master Xing said with a wry smile.

This group of poison masters was indeed obedient. They had already been settled, but somehow they encountered Zhang Xuan's steward, Sun Qiang...

Sun Qiang's strength was nothing special, but for some reason, the Poison Hall members treated him with great respect.

So, this steward invited them to join, and the group of poison masters... became members of the Xuanxuan Society.

Of course, they were still part of the War Master Hall.

"Since they are under the management of your War Master Hall, mutual learning and exchange is not a bad thing."

Zhang Xuan nodded.

"That's true... By the way, Master Zhang, the War Master Halls of other titled empires will be coming here in a few days for an exchange... Do you have time to give a few lessons to the war masters in the hall?"

Hall Master Xing said.

"War Master Halls of other titled empires? Exchange?" Zhang Xuan was startled.

"Yes, they should arrive within three days." Hall Master Xing nodded.