Chapter 257: To Shine Like a Diamond

Shang Xia clearly didn’t know the details of the cultivation path of those in the older generation of his clan. Now that Kou Chongxue was willing to speak openly about it, he quickly gained interest in it.

“The reason I’m telling you this is for you to take note. You have to focus more attention on your Providence Spear. It’s great that you managed to develop three moves from what you already comprehended. You need to come up with three more by the time you enter the large completion stage of the Martial Intent Realm. Only then will you have hopes of comprehending your third martial intent.” Kou Chongxue advised.

He only continued when he saw Shang Xia nodding his head. “In your Shang Clan, it doesn’t matter if it’s the Triple Providence Chapter or the Providence Spear. Both possess limitless talent. If you enter the upper worlds in the future, you should look for the origin of these techniques. The moment you find the source of your inheritance, your future will be limitless!”

Shang Xia thanked Kou Chongxue for his guidance, but the patriarch wasn’t done. Waving his hand to stop Shang Xia, he continued, “There’s no need more for me to talk about your ‘Providence’ inheritance series. However, you’re at the edge of your second divine sense transformation. I wonder if it’s possible for me to assist you in the last part for you to break through the bottleneck…”

A look of joy appeared on Shang Xia’s face. “Patriarch, please give me your guidance.”

However, Kou Chongxue waved his hand again to stop Shang Xia. “There’s no need to rush things. Before this, I have some questions I wish to ask you.”

“I was rude, please forgive me…” Shang Xia muttered in response.

Chuckling slightly, Kou Chongxue didn’t bother with his polite act any longer. Instead, he asked, “What are your views of the Martial Intent Realm?”

Widening his eyes in shock, Shang Xia didn’t know how to answer the question.

Kou Chongxue seemed to have expected his reaction and a smile appeared on his lips. “There’s no need to answer me right away. After all, you barely entered the Martial Intent Realm. Your cultivation rose like a rocket, and now, you’re close to reaching the next level once again. Even though most of it can be explained with your comprehension of the Triple Providence Chapter, your solid foundations in the Martial Extremity Realm should also play a part. If I have to guess, you’re slightly lacking when it comes to understanding the essence behind the true meaning of training at the Martial Intent Realm.”

Stunned, Shang Xia didn’t know what reaction to give. He could only remain silent to wait for Kou Chongxue to continue.

“Training steadily is definitely the way to go. However, knowing the outcome without knowing how to get there is a whole other problem. You won’t be able to get far that way. That is what I learned in all my years of cultivation.”

“Patriarch, please guide me.” Shang Xia said in response.

Grunting once, Kou Chongxue added, “After a cultivator refines his advancement medicine in the Martial Extremity Realm, they would be able to condense their divine sense. It’s considered the first transformation of one’s divine sense. Do you know what that means for the cultivator who just entered the Martial Intent Realm?”

A puzzled look appeared on Shang Xia’s face and he guessed, “Doesn’t that mean that they would experience an increase in strength?”

Kou Chongxue shook his head in response. “No. That’s too vague. In fact, a cultivator who enters the Martial Intent Realm would gain the ability to influence the heaven and earth qi around themselves to a certain degree.”

Shang Xia seemed to have thought of something similar and he asked, “Does that mean that we can use our divine sense to affect the heaven and earth qi around us?”

“You can think of it that way. What happens after the second transformation?” Kou Chongxue nodded and continued his line of questioning.

Shang Xia didn’t bother hiding his ignorance anymore. He simply shook his head.

“The divine sense of a Martial Intent Realm cultivator will start fusing with their inner qi. It allows them to become more connected to the world. That isn’t all. It’s something like the interaction between the heavens and the cultivator.” Kou Chongxue continued speaking as he explained all his insights in his years of cultivation to Shang Xia. From the formation of divine sense, to the second and third transformation. Finally, entering the grand completion stage of the Martial Intent Realm by comprehending one’s third martial intent. He went into great detail and even used his personal experience to back his explanation up. When he spoke about more complex points, he took his time and even went through it several times up to the point where Shang Xia finally understood what he was talking about.

All of a sudden, Kou Chongxue added, “Originally, you would be able to comprehend all of this from your Triple Providence Chapter. However, what I said should be able to save you some time. I hope you don’t find me too naggy…”

“Patriarch, you must be kidding. This disciple cannot be happier to receive your guidance.” Shang Xia replied.

Those words came from the depths of his heart.

Because of what Kou Chongxue shared, Shang Xia managed to learn one important fact. After stepping into the Martial Intent Realm, his previous guess of transforming essence to qi, training qi to achieve the divine, and returning from the divine to the void seemed to make sense. Now, he had to add one more layer at the end. It was to refine the void into the dao.

Transforming essence to qi was what happened during the first transformation. Training the qi to achieve the divine was probably the second transformation, and according to Kou Chongxue, the key to that level was fusing his divine sense with the world. At the same time, he had to keep his will steady.

Next came returning from the divine to the void. That corresponded with the third transformation, and refining the void into the dao would allow him to step into the grand completion stage.

As his thoughts spun in his head, Kou Chongxue’s sigh broke his train of thought. “A cultivator’s path is full of uncertainties and difficulties. One can even say that it’s a road that is undiscovered. All of us are exploring as we go along. From there, we’ll carve out a proper path. As the pioneers of the path, we hope that we can look for ways to let people in your generation take fewer winding paths. Hopefully, you understand the effort I put into this. After all, the time we are given is diminishing as we speak.”

Doubts filled Shang Xia’s mind, but he felt a terrifying pressure descending on him in the next moment. His body seemed to have turned into stone, and his divine sense froze over.

He wanted to speak, but he discovered that he couldn’t open his mouth no matter how hard he tried. He wanted to look around, but his eyeballs wouldn’t spin.

“Luckily… My… Origin… True… Qi… Can… Still… Circulate… Now… Change… To… Fuse…”

Shang Xia understood that it was an opportunity for him to transform his divine sense a second time.

Kou Chongxue seemed to be using his terrifying strength to force Shang Xia into breaking through. The feeling Shang Xia had when he first entered the Martial Intent Realm returned to him.

A familiar light swallowed him from inside out, and his consciousness accepted it without any struggles.