novelraw Chapter 113 : Forging the Golden Body
Chapter 113 : Forging the Golden Body
Chapter 113: Forging the Golden Body
Beneath the Spirit-Gathering Treasure Tree, Jiang Zhaoming sat cross-legged.
The pores all over his body opened wide, like bottomless abysses, wildly devouring the boundless spiritual energy of heaven and earth that was converging toward him.
Threads of brilliant golden radiance emanated from deep within his body, swiftly spreading across his skin.
With every flicker, his muscles, bones, and flesh underwent intense transformation.
However, the gathered spiritual energy around him, vast as it was, still proved insufficient to sustain such a complete metamorphosis.
Jiang Zhaoming’s expression remained calm as he reached behind to remove the Storage Pouch at his waist.
The mouth of the pouch abruptly expanded—at once, countless Spirit Crystals poured out.
Rich spiritual energy instantly condensed into tangible mist, heavily enveloping Jiang Zhaoming.
The accumulation within his body was finally pushed to its limit.
At that moment, the golden sword seed suspended above his Myriad Phenomena Dao Foundation sensed its master’s will and suddenly released a clear, resonant sword cry. The Golden Sword Seed’s brilliance flared to its peak, bursting forth with a sharp and unmatched intent that could cleave through all.
Within its core, a sword shadow infused with the true meaning of Zhu Xie—Demon-Smiting—emerged and perfectly merged into one with it.
That resplendent golden sword, fusing the essence of the Dao Seed and the power of the Zhu Xie Sword, transformed into a blazing beam of sword light, which erupted from Jiang Zhaoming’s body with unstoppable might.
Its target—
the bottleneck that barred the path toward life’s next evolution—
the barrier to the Golden Body.
Shiii!
Like cloth being torn, a faint ripping sound echoed as that solid wall—one that had stopped countless geniuses—was shredded as easily as thin paper!
In the instant the barrier shattered, Jiang Zhaoming’s body ignited like a blazing furnace.
The five-elemental power of the Myriad Phenomena Dao Foundation and the sharpness of the Golden Sword Seed fused into a domineering flame of primal origin, sweeping through his body from within.
Bones clanged under tempering, fleshly impurities were burned away, his organs were refined crystal-clear, and even his divine soul condensed and stabilized within the golden fire.
A sea of Spirit Crystals was consumed as fuel in mad succession.
When the last glimmer of gold withdrew and merged into his new body, all the Spirit Crystals in the courtyard had turned to powder.
Jiang Zhaoming opened his eyes, golden light flickering within them.
He could feel within himself an overwhelming power—many times greater than his Myriad Phenomena Realm—and an indestructible Golden Body Dao physique.
The Golden Body Realm—achieved!
With the aid of Spirit Crystals and the sword-seed divine weapon, his first breakthrough had already brought him to the very threshold of the Golden Body mid-stage.
With every movement of his hand, a natural, potent pressure emanated from him.
Half a month passed swiftly, and the results of Jiang Zhaoming’s first experiment appeared.
A Ground Vein Transmission Channel connecting the Wizard Academy and Anxi Prefectural City was successfully established and stabilized.
This channel required no direct control from him—by consuming 5,000 Spirit Crystals, it could safely transfer ten people between the two locations within half a day.
Though its efficiency was far inferior to when he personally performed the Ground Vein Traversing Divine Power, its significance was immense.
It marked the first time long-distance transportation could be achieved without Jiang Zhaoming’s direct intervention.
However, when he attempted to extend the distance of the channel, problems arose.
Once it exceeded a certain range, the channel would collapse during transmission due to instability in its energy structure.
This did not dishearten him—at worst, he would simply set up more exit nodes.
After another half-month of devoted study and repeated adjustments, the channel’s performance improved significantly.
The Spirit Crystal consumption per transmission dropped to 2,000, and its capacity successfully doubled—capable of carrying twenty people.
While Jiang Zhaoming was deeply immersed in optimizing the channel, Yue Fei led the returning expeditionary army in triumph, marching back to the capital.
Within and beyond the Prefectural City, jubilant celebrations filled the air—but Jiang Zhaoming remained buried in his research on the Ground Vein Traversal Art, vital to Anxi’s future.
Time flowed, and the cold winds of year’s end rose once again.
Only then did he finally bring the Ground Vein Channel to a stage of true practical value.
The finalized version consumed 10,000 Spirit Crystals per use and could transport 500 soldiers within half a day across a distance of 5,000 li, reaching their destination with precision.
Such a dramatic leap in efficiency was nothing short of revolutionary for military mobilization.
Even so, as Jiang Zhaoming examined the channel he had poured his heart into, a faint look of dissatisfaction lingered between his brows.
He knew this method still held immense potential—ample room for refinement and evolution.
It was the end of the year, and the Anxi region was relatively stable with no major conflicts.
Thus, Jiang Zhaoming decided to leave the Prefectural City once more—his destination, the Imperial Capital.
His goal was clear: to delve deep into the Imperial Royal Scripture Pavilion, seeking ancient tomes on Ground Vein Traversal, in hopes of further perfecting his design.
Another grand palace feast began.
As Jiang Zhaoming stepped into the majestic hall, countless gazes instantly turned toward him.
Those eyes belonged to the hundreds of ennobled lords and dukes gathered within, their emotions complex and difficult to read—but reverence and dread dominated.
For no other reason than this:
This Prince of Anxi had soared into the top five of the Dragon Ranking at an astonishing pace.
The spiritual pressure radiating from him now was dense and solid, and the faint edge beneath it was no weaker than that of an ordinary mid-stage Golden Body cultivator.
Any discerning eye could see that his cultivation still rested at the early stage of the Golden Body Realm.
Yet this overwhelming pressure, far surpassing peers of his level, revealed everything that needed to be known.
What was even more terrifying to ponder—he had risen from obscurity to the top five of the Dragon Ranking, and now forged such a formidable Golden Body Dao Foundation, all within merely twenty years.
Such a horrifying pace of ascension was unheard of among all the princes present, and each felt a chill deep within.
Jiang Zhaoming’s expression remained composed as he strode steadily to his designated seat—third on the left.
Along the way, the gazes cast upon him grew more intricate—a tangled mix of curiosity, awe, jealousy, and disbelief.
Even the usually composed Prince of Huaijiang, after Jiang Zhaoming sat down, found himself stealing glances repeatedly.
The achievements of Anxi’s expansion might have been within his expectations—
But Jiang Zhaoming’s display of Golden Body cultivation advancing at such an inconceivable rate truly shook his heart.
Fast!
Far too fast!
So fast that every rival would feel a chill born from instinctive fear.
The hall resounded with gentle music and the clinking of wine cups—a scene of harmony.
Jiang Zhaoming seemed utterly unaffected by the complex undercurrents around him, sitting calmly and quietly savoring the fragrant tea in his cup.
It was as though the unseen torrents within the hall had nothing to do with him.
When the banquet ended, Jiang Zhaoming returned to the Qin Clan residence to visit his mother, Qin Guiyan.
After stepping into the Golden Body Realm, Jiang Zhaoming finally felt the abyssal power hidden within his mother’s body in earnest.
It was a kind of pressure so profound that even with his own Golden Body cultivation and several Spirit Treasures guarding him, he still instinctively felt a chill run down his spine.
His mother, Qin Guiyan, had likely already touched the threshold of that mysterious Profound Core Realm.
Combined with her calm attitude—neither admitting nor denying it—Jiang Zhaoming became even more certain of his speculation.
「Ah Ming, are you not planning to return to Anxi this year?」
Qin Guiyan gazed at her increasingly composed son, her eyes filled with pride.
「Yes, Mother. Anxi is stable now. I intend to stay in the Imperial Capital to delve deeply into a secret art,」 Jiang Zhaoming replied respectfully.
A trace of curiosity flashed across Qin Guiyan’s eyes. For something to captivate her son, now the Prince of Anxi, it must surely be extraordinary.
Jiang Zhaoming did not conceal anything. He explained his grand design for constructing an ultra-long-distance Ground Vein Transmission Channel, along with the progress he had achieved thus far.
As she listened, Qin Guiyan’s tranquil gaze gradually widened.
When she heard that her son had already succeeded in creating a stable channel capable of consuming ten thousand Spirit Crystals to transfer five hundred people across a distance of five thousand li in a short span of time—even with her composure—she almost gasped aloud.
She quickly calmed herself, keenly realizing the implications within.
With a grave tone, she said, 「Ah Ming, do you understand what it would mean for you if news of this channel were to leak out?」
Jiang Zhaoming nodded solemnly—of course he understood.
Still uneasy, Qin Guiyan pressed on, her voice firm and heavy, 「If perfected and made public, this method might help you reach the second rank of the Dragon Ranking.
But if the Jin Kingdom were to learn that Anxi possessed such a heaven-defying ability, their fear and hostility toward you would far surpass anything from before.」
「Rest assured, Mother. This method is still incomplete and has not been revealed to anyone—not even to Father,」 Jiang Zhaoming said in a calm, steady tone.
After years of study, Jiang Zhaoming had gradually discerned the ways by which his father, the Emperor, observed the princes—through jade pendants, fortune flow, and a network of spies that permeated every corner.
When he began his research on this secret art, he had already sealed off the jade pendant’s detection.
Moreover, the soldiers he used in his experiments were those he summoned himself from the River of Fortune, men utterly loyal to him, with no chance of serving the Emperor.
Therefore, even the Emperor would have no idea what he was doing.
Hearing this, the tension in Qin Guiyan’s heart eased slightly.
「That is good. Remember—until you have enough strength to protect yourself, this secret must never be shown lightly!」
「Understood, Mother,」 Jiang Zhaoming replied solemnly.
Qin Guiyan let out a slow breath, then shifted the topic, her tone soft but deliberate. 「You are studying a great art that involves the very structure of the earth veins. Would you like me to find one or two experts in the Earth Path to assist you?」
Jiang Zhaoming raised an eyebrow, slightly surprised.
He believed his attainments in the Earth Path had already reached the peak possible for someone in the Golden Body Realm.
Throughout the entire Great Zhou, aside from those legendary figures in the Profound Core Realm, he could hardly think of anyone else in the Earth Path who could truly help him.
But Qin Guiyan did not answer directly. She simply smiled mysteriously.
「There is no rush. Go to the Imperial Royal Scripture Pavilion first—seek what knowledge you can there. When the time is right, someone will come to you.」
With a trace of curiosity lingering, Jiang Zhaoming bid farewell to his mother and once again made his way to the familiar Scripture Pavilion of the royal family.
After briefly greeting Eunuch Kang, who remained as cold and detached as ever, Jiang Zhaoming proceeded straight to the eighth floor.
There, he began searching for the most profound and weighty scrolls on Earth Path secret arts below the Profound Core Realm.
Soon, he locked onto several ancient tomes that radiated a dense and obscure aura. Finding a quiet corner, he sat cross-legged upon a meditation cushion and immersed his mind within them.
Just as he was lost in the deduction of ancient runes, a clear and melodic female voice broke the silence.
「Subordinate Xiao Hongye, paying respects to the Prince of Anxi.」
Jiang Zhaoming withdrew from his deep thoughts and looked up.
Before him stood a tall, straight-backed woman.
She wore a well-fitted dark-red soft armor that accentuated her graceful yet powerful figure, draped with a black cloak that added a touch of valor.
Her skin was fair and delicate, her features sculpted and exquisite—most striking were her phoenix eyes, bright and sharp, gleaming with spirit.
「Xiao Hongye—」
Jiang Zhaoming pondered for a moment, then recalled that Divine General Xiao was said to have a granddaughter by that name.
And this woman seemed to serve in one of the elite legions directly under his father’s command.
His gaze passed over her carefully composed expression, but his face remained unreadable.
「I wonder, General Xiao, what business brings you before this king?」
Xiao Hongye did not speak much. She merely released a faint surge of her own aura—
An immense pressure instantly spread through the hall, revealing her cultivation at the late stage of the Golden Body Realm.
She then said respectfully, 「By my teacher’s command, I have come to assist Your Highness in the study of the secret art, that we may both gain enlightenment.」
After some explanation, Jiang Zhaoming learned that this young woman, already a late-stage Golden Body powerhouse, was none other than his mother Qin Guiyan’s personal disciple.
She was only about thirty years older than he was—a terrifying cultivation speed even by the standards of the Great Zhou.
Jiang Zhaoming secretly sighed. It was a pity she was not under his command.
Otherwise, he would have liked to see what kind of Life Fate and Innate Talents could produce someone as gifted as Xiao Hongye.
Thus, the two of them immersed themselves within the tranquil halls of the Scripture Pavilion, jointly studying the profound Earth Path techniques.
When Xiao Hongye heard about Jiang Zhaoming’s grand plan to construct a Ground Vein Channel spanning ten thousand li—
and especially the remarkable results he had already achieved—even with her vast experience, a trace of astonishment flickered across her eyes.
During their exchange, Jiang Zhaoming discovered that Xiao Hongye’s talent in this path was extraordinary—perhaps even greater than his own.
His deep comprehension stemmed mostly from his Innate Talent · All Laws as One, which allowed him to analyze and integrate various Earth Path techniques with precision.
But Xiao Hongye’s understanding of the Earth Path seemed born of an innate harmony with the very essence of the land itself.
That pure affinity to the primal earth left Jiang Zhaoming slightly surprised.
For nearly two months, the two delved into study within the Scripture Pavilion, and Jiang Zhaoming’s understanding of how to further optimize the Ground Vein Channel became much clearer.
What shocked him even more was that Xiao Hongye, in such a short time, had fully absorbed and understood the framework he had proposed—and even began to build upon it with her own deductions.
As their discussion deepened, both realized that theoretical derivation alone would not break their current bottleneck.
「Knowledge gained on paper is ultimately shallow. The initial channel Your Highness constructed is key to testing our new theories. This subordinate is very interested in seeing it firsthand.」
Jiang Zhaoming nodded. He too knew that theory alone could not suffice.
Xiao Hongye then suggested, 「Your Highness, why not return to Anxi together? We can test and refine our design on-site based on our new deductions.」
After bidding farewell to Qin Guiyan at the Qin Clan residence, Jiang Zhaoming chose not to use the jade pendant for teleportation.
Instead, he and Xiao Hongye performed the Tenfold Earth Escape Technique, using the pulsation of the earth veins to return to Anxi Prefecture.
Watching their figures sink into the ground and vanish, Qin Guiyan’s lips curved into a faint smile.
This daughter of the Xiao Clan—whether in talent, cultivation, or family background—seemed quite a suitable candidate to be the future Princess Consort of Anxi.
「Guiyan, are you trying to steal away one of my Divine General seeds? And tell me—doesn’t this action of yours go against the Ancestral Decree?」
A calm yet commanding voice sounded from behind her.
Qin Guiyan smiled softly and turned gracefully toward the Great Zhou Emperor, Jiang Xuanhao, who had appeared silently in the courtyard.
「Your Majesty, please understand. This humble one merely thought that since both children are studying the same profound art, mutual exchange and verification might lead to faster breakthroughs.」
Jiang Xuanhao gazed deeply at Qin Guiyan without answering at once. He slowly closed his eyes, his fingers moving subtly as if sensing something unseen.
Moments later, his eyes flashed with brilliance, and the corners of his lips lifted into a knowing smile.
「Heh—so that’s how it is. Ah Ming, that child… truly ambitious. But indeed, a fine child.」