26: Chapter 26 The Azure Dragon Transformation Technique

A month had passed since Chen Xuanyi left the Family. During this time, Chen Changqing also stepped out of his room. Over the past year, his progress was nothing short of remarkable. Not only had his cultivation reached the fifth layer of Qi Refining, but he had also successfully mastered the Breath-Hiding Technique. Now, as long as he restrained his Qi completely inside his body, even a Foundation Establishment Cultivator would be unable to detect his presence.

Of course, he hadn't neglected learning Spells or drawing Talismans over this year either.

All the Spells of the Evergreen Art had been cultivated to the Perfection level, and his Talisman Dao had taken another giant leap forward. Now, he had not only mastered all Tier-1 Medium Grade Talismans, but his success rate had also risen to eighty percent. In this year alone, he had crafted no fewer than several hundred Tier-1 Medium Grade Talismans. Besides handing over a portion to the Family, he had kept over a hundred Talismans for himself.

"It is time to prepare for the next step," Chen Changqing muttered to himself. It was time to enhance the strength of his Physical Body. By then, with a Late Qi Refining Stage cultivation, a Divine Sense approaching Foundation Establishment, and a Physical Body strength equal to a Tier-1 High Grade Yao Beast, even a Foundation Establishment Cultivator would be no match for him.

However, the dao bead inside his body was far slower at enhancing his Physical Body than it was at improving his Divine Soul or tempering spiritual power. Thus, his Physical Body strength at present was merely equivalent to that of a Tier-1 Low Grade Yao Beast cub.

This was because the dao bead still lacked a medium—or rather, needed an energy supplement. This energy was undoubtedly linked to the Physical Body, which was blood vitality. The way to obtain blood vitality was by hunting Yao Beasts. Therefore, his next step was to head into the Monster Mountain Range to hunt some Yao Beasts and absorb their blood vitality to strengthen his Physical Body.

Before departing, however, he needed a Body Refining Cultivation Technique and a set of Formations. The main purpose of a Body Refining Cultivation Technique was to guide blood vitality to strengthen the Physical Body.

An hour later.

"Fellow Daoist Liu, our shop does not carry the Body Refining Cultivation Technique you require," a female Cultivator said politely, even though the person standing before her was an ugly, fat Cultivator.

"Even your Tianbao Pavilion doesn't have it? Where else in this market might it be sold?" The fat Cultivator spoke in a hoarse voice, his face filled with disappointment. This person was none other than Chen Changqing. Through a disguise technique, he had disguised himself as a fat Cultivator while keeping his Qi at the Qi Refining Layer 3 Perfection level. Even those closest to him would be unable to tell who he truly was.

"Fellow Daoist Liu, if you insist on getting a Body Refining Cultivation Technique, there is one place that might sell it. Our Qinghe Market also has a black market where all sorts of treasures can be found. Perhaps the Body Refining Cultivation Technique you desire is there," the female Cultivator said truthfully.

"I see. Thank you very much, Fellow Daoist," Chen Changqing cupped his hands in gratitude and then headed toward the black market.

The black market was not hard to find, located in a corner of Qinghe Market. The trades here mostly involved shady goods and contraband; prices were cheap, but quality was not guaranteed, requiring buyers to judge with their own eyes. If you managed to pick up a great treasure through keen sight, it meant you had great luck, and the seller would not harass you. If bad luck led you to buy a counterfeit, you could only blame your poor judgment. Should anyone dare cause trouble, the black market sellers would unite to denounce them—after all, the treasures here were not meant to see the light of day.

For example, if a descendant of a Purple Mansion Master was killed for some reason, causing their belongings to end up here, and you happened to buy an item that proved useless to you, yet you reneged on the deal or even snitched, those black market Cultivators might face the wrath of a Purple Mansion Master. Therefore, these sellers were exceptionally united against outsiders, unless someone broke black market rules and was cast out.

Chen Changqing walked along the street of the black market, carefully examining every stall in hopes of finding a Body Refining Cultivation Technique.

"Fellow Daoist, please wait a moment," a middle-aged Cultivator walked over. He had been observing Chen Changqing for a while, noticing him attentively scanning the stalls as if looking for something.

"Hmm?" Chen Changqing was puzzled. Turning to look at the newcomer, he asked, "May I ask why Fellow Daoist has stopped me?"

"My surname is Hang. Seeing that Fellow Daoist has been closely inspecting the stalls, are you perhaps looking for a specific treasure?" the Cultivator named Hang asked, pretending not to know for certain.

Hearing this, Chen Changqing's brows furrowed involuntarily.

"Fellow Daoist, please don't misunderstand. I only wanted to ask if you truly are searching for certain items. I've been in this black market for nearly twenty years and know it inside out. If Fellow Daoist needs assistance, I can act as a guide for a small fee," the Hang-surnamed Cultivator explained hastily, sensing a chill emanating from Chen Changqing and fearing a misunderstanding.

"Fellow Daoist Hang, you say you know everything here well. In that case, can you find me a Body Refining Cultivation Technique?" Sensing no ill intent from the man, Chen Changqing felt a spark of interest upon hearing his explanation.

"So Fellow Daoist came for a Body Refining Cultivation Technique! Such techniques are extremely rare, but coming here was indeed the right choice. This black market does have a place selling Body Refining Cultivation Techniques, though the price is quite steep," Fellow Daoist Hang said directly. He didn't ask for Chen Changqing's name, as that was also a rule of the black market.

"No rush about the price. Can you lead me to take a look first? Of course, Spirit Stones won't be lacking for you." Chen Changqing pulled out five Spirit Stones and handed them over.

Looking at the five Spirit Stones, the man felt somewhat surprised and flustered, quickly saying, "Fellow Daoist, my fee for a day's guiding is only one Spirit Stone."

"Lead the way. As long as you can find a Cultivation Technique that satisfies me, these five Spirit Stones will serve as a deposit."

"Yes, yes!" The Hang-surnamed Cultivator nodded repeatedly.

Giving a guide so many Spirit Stones at once didn't make Chen Changqing worry about drawing greed. Not only had he disguised himself, but even in the black market, people had to abide by Qinghe Market's rules forbidding unauthorized combat. Furthermore, the cultivation he displayed was far higher than this guide's—the guide was at most at the Late Stage of Qi Refining Layer 1, so Chen Changqing had no fear of him playing any tricks.

Before long, the Hang-surnamed Cultivator led Chen Changqing to a dust-covered shop. The shop looked as if it hadn't been tidied up in years, filthy and cluttered.

"Little Hang! How come you have time to visit me today?" A weathered voice called out from inside the shop.

"Second Uncle, I brought a Fellow Daoist who wants to buy a Body Refining Cultivation Technique. Hurry and bring out that technique, don't waste Fellow Daoist's time," the Hang-surnamed Cultivator said urgently, almost ready to rush inside and drag the man out.

"Alright, alright, you're always the impetuous one. What are you, an eunuch?" An old man slowly stepped out of the room, holding a dust-covered Cultivation Technique in his hand.

"Fellow Daoist, take a look. If you find it suitable, I'll let you have this Cultivation Technique for three hundred Spirit Stones."

After taking it, Chen Changqing cast a Cleansing Spell to clean the book before examining it.

"Cangtian Transforming Dragon Art... What a domineering name for a Cultivation Technique, though I wonder how powerful it truly is," Chen Changqing thought to himself.

After reading the first few pages, he grew increasingly shocked. He hadn't expected this Cultivation Technique to be so extraordinary. Cultivating it to the Major Achievement Realm would even allow one to transform into a True Dragon, with a Physical Body strength reaching the level of a True Dragon. Had it been other Yao Beasts, he wouldn't have thought much of it, but the Physical Body of the True Dragon Clan was among the most terrifying existences in the entire Yao Race.

Of course, this was merely what the author who created the technique had claimed; whether it could truly achieve such a feat remained unknown. This was because the technique at its highest could only Cultivate the Physical Body to a strength comparable to a Tier-1 High Grade Yao Beast. As for the cultivation method for the Foundation Establishment Realm, this technique was an incomplete manual, with no subsequent records.

Nevertheless, he was quite satisfied with this technique, because it allowed one to absorb the essence blood of Yao Beasts with Dragon Clan Bloodlines to enhance the True Dragon Bloodline within one's body.

After paying three hundred and five Spirit Stones, Chen Changqing left. He needed to seize the time to master this Cultivation Technique, then head to the Monster Mountain Range to hunt Yao Beasts, enhancing his Physical Body strength as quickly as possible to achieve true triple cultivation of body, soul, and Qi.