CHAPTER 59: CHAPTER 59: SECRET TECHNIQUE IN HAND

Chen Guan learned more about Ming Fei’s many abilities, and he grew increasingly fond of her. Ming Fei’s capabilities were not limited to the Joyful Technique’s Replenishing Skill; her combat prowess was equally formidable.

In the face of Ming Fei, Yanzhi Rabbit’s fighting ability seemed a bit simple. At times, Ming Fei was much more useful than Yanzhi Rabbit.

"You’re perfect in every way, except your appearance is a bit too eye-catching," Chen Guan said, looking at Ming Fei’s alluring body, which was indeed too conspicuous.

Accompanying Ming Fei on a hunt for Secret Spirits would undoubtedly make them the center of attention wherever they went.

"Oh, men... you’re afraid others will see my body... well, that’s easy enough," Ming Fei said with a playful glint in her eyes. The Void Marvelous Gauze on her body swirled around, crisscrossing and wrapping itself around her.

In the blink of an eye, the Void Marvelous Gauze transformed into armor that looked like it was made from the Milky Way, enveloping Ming Fei entirely and leaving only her long white hair exposed. Even her face was covered with a translucent silvery faceplate that sparkled like starlight.

Ming Fei now resembled a goddess of war clad in celestial armor, her armor gleaming with dazzling silver light, accentuating her tall frame, which stood around six feet.

Her original charming demeanor now carried a hint of valor, shedding some of its coquettishness.

"The Void Marvelous Gauze can actually transform into armor?" Chen Guan secretly marveled. "No wonder it’s considered an Unparalleled Secret Treasure."

For the next few days, Chen Guan continued to study the Secret Technique of One, intending to fully grasp it before beginning cultivation.

He didn’t use the Gaba Bracelet from the gravekeeper to revert to level one just yet. Before doing so, Chen Guan wanted to visit the Pingdu Mountain Blessed Land first, to teleport into a Secret Realm and see where he’d end up. Only when he arrived in a safe place could he begin to retrain from level one.

Ji Nanhong called him every night, discussing everyday matters and always asking if he’d entered a Secret Realm or which one he planned to enter.

Chen Guan knew Ji Nanhong meant well. As long as he teleported to a normal area within a Secret Realm, Ji Nanhong would likely find a way to look out for him.

Chen Guan simply stated that he wanted to rest for a few days before entering a Secret Realm, to which Ji Nanhong didn’t press further, only reminding him to rest well and to inform her immediately of his location if he entered a Secret Realm.

Chen Guan agreed and continued his research on the Secret Technique of One.

This was a massive tome of over a hundred thousand words. Most Secret Techniques have as few as a hundred or even just a few dozen words, and those with thousands are already rare. A Secret Technique with over a hundred thousand words was indeed a monumental work.

Despite its daunting length, not a single word in the Secret Technique felt wasted. On the contrary, every word was a pearl, every sentence a profound mystery, making it feel as though modifying even a single word would be an impossible task.

Chen Guan had to consult a lot of references to gradually understand the technique.

But after repeatedly going over it many times, Chen Guan found something that didn’t quite seem right.

The foundation of the Secret Technique of One lay in the Yi Jing: the Infinite Births the Tai Chi, Taiji generates the Two Principles, Two Principles produce the Three Talents, Three Talents and Four Symbols, Four Symbols generate Five Elements, Five Elements Generate Six Harmonies, Six Harmonies Bear Seven Stars, Seven Stars Birth Eight Trigrams, Eight Trigrams Generate Nine Palaces, All Things Return to the Ten Directions.

The Secret Technique also mentioned the principles of one giving birth to two, two giving birth to three, and three giving birth to all things.

While Chen Guan understood these principles and knew how to proceed with the cultivation method later on, he was stumped on how to begin the initial step from zero to one.

"Could Ming Fei have deliberately hidden a key part of the content? Otherwise, this Secret Technique simply wouldn’t be feasible for cultivation," Chen Guan thought, yet doubted it. With Ming Fei’s intelligence, she wouldn’t deceive with something that would be spotted at a glance.

"Such an obvious issue—how could Ming Fei not have noticed it?" A thought crossed Chen Guan’s mind as he suddenly realized the core of the problem.

Ming Fei was a Secret Spirit. For Secret Spirits, cultivating a Secret Technique was just natural; their inherent talent included the foundational base.

However, humans lacked this foundation and thus needed the Secret Technique Core to learn a Secret Technique.

From a Secret Spirit’s perspective, there was nothing amiss with the Secret Technique of One. Their inability to cultivate it merely meant it wasn’t suitable for them; they wouldn’t think anything was missing.

But for humans, the Secret Technique of One simply didn’t work.

"Why would the Emperor Ancestor leave a Secret Technique that’s fundamentally unworkable? Could it be that the Secret Technique researched by the Emperor Ancestor wasn’t successful?" Chen Guan furrowed his brows and reviewed the technique word by word.

"No, someone like the Emperor Ancestor wouldn’t leave behind such a monumental work just to mislead people. There must be some mystery here." Chen Guan studied it intently and quickly spotted some issues under deliberate scrutiny.

"The Infinite Births the Tai Chi, Taiji generates the Two Principles... Could the opening be a cipher?" Chen Guan made a discovery and printed out the Secret Technique of One. Then, according to his thoughts, he cross-referenced it with the River Map and Luo Book and the Yi Jing.

Indeed, he uncovered a new Secret Technique from the sections of this monumental work.

"This is the true Secret Technique of One..." Chen Guan looked at the 3,000-plus words he had decrypted, overjoyed that he finally understood it.

"The Way of One... the origin of all things united... the unification of heaven and earth... I alone am supreme in the Eight Desolations of heaven and earth..." Chen Guan realized he now had the true Secret Technique created by the Emperor Ancestor in his hands.

After packing up his things, Chen Guan set out again for the Pingdu Mountain Blessed Land. The Secret Technique was now ready, and what came next was entering the Secret Realm and finding a safe place to retrain.

Almost the moment Chen Guan left his home, Wang Lian received the news.

She had carried such a heavy burden of blame, with everyone believing she’d obtained the Emperor Ancestor’s "Efang Scripture". But she had never once defended herself—not even to her own family in the Wang Family to whom she was covering for someone else.

The reason she remained silent, willing to bear the blame, was that she always believed the final part of the "Efang Scripture" was in Chen Guan’s possession.

If others found out about this, she likely wouldn’t have a chance to reclaim it, so she bore the blame, secretly tracking Chen Guan to find an opportunity to retrieve the final part of the "Efang Scripture" from him.

She didn’t dare to confront Chen Guan directly, as she was under close watch by many, and Ji Nanhong had stationed the Celestial Court Army in Chen Family’s city to keep an eye on the Chen Family. Wang Lian couldn’t confront the Celestial Court Army head-on, nor could she go straight to the Chen Family to find Chen Guan.

But once Chen Guan entered the Secret Realm, things would be different.

"He’s actually going to the Pingdu Mountain Blessed Land, not one of the lands controlled by the Ji Family. It seems his relationship with Ji Nanhong isn’t as close as I thought. My opportunity has arrived," Wang Lian gritted her teeth. She had borne such a heavy burden for Chen Guan, and she was determined to reclaim that tenfold.

This matter couldn’t rely on anyone else. Wang Lian had to act alone to retrieve the final part of the "Efang Scripture".

"With the Ten Thousand Ghost Refining Soul King Cauldron in hand, I can definitely restore my honor and reclaim what’s rightfully mine," Wang Lian thought as she caressed the ancient three-legged bone cauldron with mysterious engravings in her hand, her eyes filled with determination.