Chapter 254
Chapter 254
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 254
Chapter Title: Ten Absolutes Array
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This Talisman God Tianji had only its upper body from the chest up remaining, its lower half rotted into a complete mess.
Even the upper body was riddled with holes, bearing marks left by various Dharma Lords, wounds from claws and fangs, and damage from spells.
Its head had a hole in the back of the skull, missing a large chunk as if a fist-thick cylinder had precisely pierced through its brain from the side.
A normal person with such severe injuries would never survive.
Yet this Talisman God Tianji had lived on, surviving for many years in the passages of the Tomb of the True King.
It had a body of flesh and blood, yet it exuded the unique baleful aura of an Evil.
Grandpa's creations always carried a heavy evil aura.
Its head didn't seem to work quite right. Looking at Chen Shi, its voice devoid of human emotion, it said, "Chen Tang, your dad wants you to come home."
It seemed to lapse back into a death-like state, lying on the ground without any breath.
Yet in the wound on its chest cavity, flesh and blood began to writhe once more.
Talisman God Tianji was actually self-repairing!
Creation Little Five could do it too! Even stronger!
Seeing this, Chen Shi felt both shocked and awed. He recalled how Creation Little Five had been beaten to death twice by Grandpa, only to revive both times!
And it had revived through its own power!
Talisman God Tianji also possessed the ability to self-repair. Though Chen Shi had inherited Grandpa's true teachings, he couldn't discern the source of this ability.
However, the other Talisman God Tianjis had not self-repaired.
Clearly, Talisman God Tianji's restorative powers were limited. If it truly died, it might stay dead.
Chen Shi headed toward the library pavilion, glancing back. He thought to himself, "After all, it's Grandpa's relic. I can't let it rot here. I'll take it with me when I leave."
The library pavilion of the Tomb of the True King was actually a stone chamber. The chamber's entrance had no physical form; instead, it was constructed from talismans of utmost complexity. Various talisman patterns interconnected, forming the shape of a door.
To enter, one had to pass through these talisman patterns.
The talisman patterns linked together in arrays, large and small, forming formations of bewildering intricacy yet exquisite harmony, a unified whole.
There was only one solution.
Chen Shi stared at the stone chamber's entrance, instantly perceiving the problem-solving logic behind its talisman array construction.
Grandpa had drawn many similar talisman calculation arrays during his lifetime, from easy to difficult, tossing them to Chen Shi to solve.
At first, Chen Shi found solving these talisman arrays dull and tedious. But as he solved more, he discovered endless fascination in them. Each successful solution brought immense joy.
The library pavilion's entrance was the most complex he had ever seen, but to him, it was merely complex.
Grandpa had made me crack similar talisman arrays back then. Was it all for today?
Chen Shi's heart warmed. He examined the array's structure, deducing every possible variation, even reverse-tracing the starting strokes of the talismans.
Every talisman had a starting stroke, drawn by the talisman master infusing their refined qi, essence, and spirit in one continuous motion.
Talismans appeared flat but were actually three-dimensional, compressed from a立体 state into a plane.
To solve them, one had to restore their three-dimensional form.
Yet the process of a talisman expanding into three dimensions was also when its power erupted. To solve it without triggering the eruption, one had to construct the立体 form in their own mind.
Deriving three-dimensional talisman calculations from flat ones was a hurdle for many. Thus, while talisman masters abounded, few could solve talismans.
The solution to this talisman entrance lay in finding its starting stroke—the origin of qi, essence, and spirit.
Chen Shi looked out, and in his eyes, the talisman calculation door was no longer flat but a battlefield of calamity arrayed by gods and demons in full armor!
These gods and demons were positioned with precise distribution throughout the space.
Their starting strokes formed a complex talisman script pattern.
Ten Absolutes Spirit Banner Talisman!
Chen Shi was slightly taken aback. He had learned the Ten Absolutes Spirit Banner Talisman from Grandpa. Its structure was complex, yet it had no real use—it couldn't be activated for power.
Grandpa had only made him draw it many times to memorize its structure, without explaining its purpose.
Now it seemed Grandpa had given him the correct answer in advance!
However, only now, seeing the library pavilion's talisman array, did Chen Shi finally understand how to activate the Ten Absolutes Spirit Banner Talisman's power.
All the talismans' starting strokes formed the strokes of the Ten Absolutes Spirit Talisman—one hundred and fifty-six strokes in total, corresponding to one hundred and fifty-six talismans, jointly forming the Ten Absolutes Calamity Array.
So...
Chen Shi stood before the door, lost in thought at the array formed by these talisman scripts.
So, activating the Ten Absolutes Spirit Banner Talisman, using the spirit-understanding of each stroke as a starting point, wouldn't that allow one to unleash a Ten Absolutes Calamity Array in an instant?
He was no longer in a hurry to enter the library pavilion. Instead, he stood before the door, quietly studying the various transformations of the Ten Absolutes Array.
The sheep-horned human-bodied tomb guardian beast knew cracking the entrance was extremely difficult, so it didn't urge him, waiting patiently.
After an unknown time, Chen Shi had comprehended every variation of the Ten Absolutes Array. He closed his eyes, and in his mind, the Ten Absolutes Spirit Banner Talisman shifted from plane to立体, evolving from one talisman into one hundred and fifty-six talismans, transforming into one hundred and fifty-six deities.
The array shifted, and in an instant, the aura of slaughter surged wildly!
Chen Shi opened his eyes, two beams of bloodlight shooting from them—the killing intent from constructing the Ten Absolutes Calamity Array in his mind had not fully dissipated, emanating from his eyes.
Only then did the killing intent fully fade.
Chen Shi returned to normal, raising his hand to press against the Ten Absolutes Calamity Array forming the door. In an instant, the entire entrance contracted rapidly, transforming from a talisman array brimming with murderous intent into a single Ten Absolutes Spirit Banner Talisman.
Chen Shi stepped forward, passing through the Ten Absolutes Spirit Banner Talisman into the stone chamber.
His heart rejoiced. Mastering the Ten Absolutes Spirit Banner Talisman and the Ten Absolutes Array made him happier than learning any immortal art!
Because it solved a puzzle that had troubled him for so long.
Inside the library pavilion were rolls of golden books, crafted by skilled artisans who hammered gold into pages and imprinted various techniques onto the gleaming sheets.
Paper could decay and shatter, ink could fade, stone tablets would erode over time, blurring the characters—but gold endured forever, ideal for recording vital matters.
*Cultivation's Ten Scriptures*
The first volume of golden book caught Chen Shi's eye.
He opened it. This book detailed the ten methods of cultivation, from Qi Refining and Foundation Establishment to
passing tribulation and ascension—utterly complete!
Especially since these ten methods included the long-lost tribulation-passing and ascension stages unknown to modern cultivators!
"Good stuff!"
Chen Shi's heart pounded wildly as he opened another volume of golden book.
*Supreme Golden Court Wonderful Scripture*!
Chen Shi flipped it open. No Foundation Establishment, no Golden Core, no Nascent Soul—the opening directly addressed merging with the Dao!
He read for a moment, his vision blurring, head spinning. Thud—his occiput hit the ground. After an unknown time, he slowly awoke, horrified.
"Did I faint? Just two glances and I passed out?"
Shocked, he stood, quickly closing the *Supreme Golden Court Wonderful Scripture*, not daring to look further.
*Supreme Great Illuminating Divine Incantation*
Chen Shi glanced at it a few times. Thud—he collapsed. After a long while, his eyes twitched, and he slowly awoke, closing this golden book and moving to the next.
*Supreme Purity Nine True Inner Secrets*
Moments later, Chen Shi fell flat on his back, sleeping peacefully.
*Elixir Heaven Life-Governing Golden Record*
Collapsed, sleeping peacefully.
*Supreme Sovereign Purple Pavilion Art*.
Collapsed, sleeping peacefully.
*M慈光 Seventeen Pure Heavens Great Curse*
Collapsed, peaceful.
*Jade Emperor Nine Heavens Register*
Collapsed.
The sheep-horned human-bodied tomb guardian beast watched Chen Shi in the treasure pavilion repeatedly topple over, sleep soundly, then crawl up to continue browsing. It couldn't help but feel surprised.
"The Holy Emissary's mind is extraordinarily strong.
Having viewed so much and still not dead."
Its temper was good; it waited patiently.
The library pavilion did hold immortal arts, but they were beyond mortal comprehension. Even if seen, they couldn't be remembered. Those like Chen Shi who merely fainted after a glance were fortunate—indicating a strong mind and pure essence.
Ordinary people, after viewing, often bled from all seven orifices and died, went mad with disordered minds, became drooling idiots like puppets, or turned into vegetables.
Even someone as formidable as Chen Yindu, after exhausting himself to reach here, hadn't touched a single immortal art, only daring to snatch the *Water-Fire Tempering Art* to cultivate corpse-dissolution immortality. It showed the difficulty of these arts.
For Chen Shi to browse like this—even a Refining God Return to Void grandmaster would likely have perished long ago. Yet Chen Shi merely fainted—a strange affair indeed.
Flipping open the golden book, after a long time without fainting, Chen Shi stood before a volume, on the verge.
*霄琅 Emperor Chapter Art*.
Though he didn't faint, Chen Shi understood little.
He widened his eyes, straining to memorize the contents of the *霄琅 Emperor Chapter Art*, committing even the incantation truths to memory by rote.
Grandpa had told him: if you don't understand, no matter. Memorize first, comprehend later.
After a long while, Chen Shi memorized the *霄琅 Emperor Chapter Art*, closed his eyes to recall it.
Moments later, confirming no errors, he exhaled in relief.
He walked outward, suddenly dizzy and lightheaded, hurriedly steadying himself against the wall to avoid falling.
His heart pounded erratically; the scene before him doubled, overlapping then separating.
"My mind is injured, Nascent Soul damaged!
Chen Shi struggled to steady himself. The stone chamber door had resealed.
He took a deep breath,勉强 urging the Ten Absolutes Spirit Banner Talisman, nearly erring.
He quickly withdrew his hand, not attempting to open the door.
Opening the stone chamber door allowed no carelessness. An error would trigger the Ten Absolutes Array, dooming him to body and soul annihilation!
Chen Shi closed his eyes, resting a while until his body recovered somewhat. He tried a few more times; the Ten Absolutes Spirit Banner Talisman no longer erred.
With full confidence, he then opened the stone chamber door.
The sheep-horned human-bodied tomb guardian beast waited quietly for him to exit the stone chamber before saying, "The Holy Emissary is truly remarkable."
Chen Shi was still dizzy, feeling breathless. He said, "Remarkable how?"
The sheep-horned human-bodied tomb guardian beast said, "To view so many immortal books and walk out alive, mind still stable without flaw—that's remarkable. Even a Return to Void expert would be long dead by now."
It was quite curious about Chen Shi.
Such a feat was impossible for a Nascent Soul realm youth, yet Chen Shi had forcibly memorized a golden book and lived to exit the Tomb of the True King's library pavilion—a bizarre thing indeed.
Chen Shi grabbed the Talisman God Tianji, trying to drag it out of the Tomb of the True King. But with one pull, thud—he knelt to the ground.
"Can you help me drag him out?"
Chen Shi shakily rose, asking.
"Gladly."
The sheep-horned human-bodied tomb guardian beast lightly picked up Talisman God Tianji and headed outward.
Chen Shi staggered after it. Upon reaching outside the Tomb of the True King, sunlight hit his eyes, the world spinning. He hurriedly steadied himself.
The sheep-horned human-bodied tomb guardian beast delivered him and Talisman God Tianji out of the Tomb of the True King's Ghost God Domain. Black Pot rushed forward, supporting Chen Shi onto the cart.
Chen Shi practically collapsed into the cart, motionless.
Black Pot glanced at Talisman God Tianji, eyes widening in shock, and hurriedly dragged this ruined Talisman God into the cart too.
The sheep-horned human-bodied tomb guardian beast watched them depart, puzzled. "Strange, how could he read so many immortal books without dying..."
Chen Shi's mind was a chaotic mess, struggling not to pass out. Feebly, he said, "Don't go home. To Mirror Lake Manor."
The wooden cart veered immediately, heading to Mirror Lake Manor.
Outside the manor, Black Pot leaped down, carrying Chen Shi and rushing inside. It opened the coffin, placing him within.
Chen Shi lay in the coffin, sinking into deep sleep.
The sixteenth of the first month arrived quickly. Sun Zhisheng had prepared carriages and horses, waiting at the village entrance.
He sent men to the Chen household, but Chen Shi wasn't home.
By full daylight, Chen Shi sat in the wooden cart as it left Qianyang Mountain, arriving at Huangpo Village.
Sun Zhisheng hurried over, seeing Chen Shi's pale face, alarmed. "Young Master Chen, has your essence suffered damage?"
Chen Shi sat in the cart, fatigued. "Yesterday I injured my mind; Nascent Soul damaged too."
He had lain in Mirror Lake Manor overnight. The manor was excellent for healing, quickly replenishing qi and blood essence. But mind and Nascent Soul damage healed slowly.
He had consumed countless Soul-Replenishing Lotuses; his soul was mighty, mind far surpassing ordinary folk, rarely injured—but once hurt, hard to heal.
"Nascent Soul damage requires nurturing with an oil lamp.
Sun Zhisheng said, "To the town ahead. I'll buy sesame oil. Young Master Chen, manifest your Nascent Soul, place it in the lamp flame, nurture it with the pure yang qi of the flame."
Chen Shi thanked him. "My Nascent Soul is a bit large; need a big oil lamp."
Sun Zhisheng laughed. "How big is Young Master Chen's Nascent Soul?"
Though he could tell Chen Shi was Nascent Soul realm, he didn't know the progress.
Chen Shi's Nascent Soul left his body, sitting in the void amid a faint golden halo.
It gave an boundless, limitless sensation.
The Nascent Soul sat at four inches tall, standing six or seven—snow-white like an infant, but sickly, spirits low.
Sun Zhisheng jumped in fright. Cultivating the Nascent Soul to this stage neared great completion!
Chen Tang had never mentioned Chen Shi's cultivation was this advanced!
"Worthily the top child prodigy of fifty provinces."
He grew worried. Such a large Nascent Soul indeed couldn't be treated with an ordinary oil lamp. One stick of incense's worth of oil burned would have its scant yang qi instantly absorbed.
Healing it would cost thousands, even tens of thousands of silver taels in oil.
He didn't have that much money.
Black Pot entered the village, packing Chen Shi's clothes and gear into the cart. Chen Shi felt cold, so he added two more layers for warmth.
Black Pot glanced at Sun Zhisheng. Sun Zhisheng understood, nodding. "Good. First to Gangzi Village, then town for breakfast."
He gave the order; the carriage set off.
At that moment, Sun Zhisheng froze. "Just now, did that dog speak to me? If not, how did I know to go to Gangzi Village? Strange, truly strange!"
Soon, the two carts reached Gangzi Village. A tall, beautiful woman approached. Seeing Chen Shi, she exclaimed in surprise, "Little Ten, how did you damage your Nascent Soul and mind?"
Chen Shi struggled to rise for courtesy, but the beauty pressed him down. He said, "Does Sister Sha have a way to treat it?"
"Your injury is beyond ordinary oil lamps. Need the Sheep Horn Heavenly Spirit Lamp.
Though a ghost god item, its flame comes from burning souls—perfect for treating mind and Nascent Soul wounds."
The beautiful woman was Granny Sha. From somewhere, she produced the Sheep Horn Heavenly Spirit Lamp, placing it in the cart. She smiled, "This lamp was yours originally. Perfect for your healing.
Lend it back when I need it."
Chen Shi thanked her. His Nascent Soul exited, entering the Sheep Horn Heavenly Spirit Lamp's flame. He instantly felt much better.
End of chapter.