Ch 24: The Divine Techniques -1

"The Grave of Immortals…" Feng Chen whispered, his voice weak, trembling as the weight of the revelation settled over him like a suffocating blanket. His chest heaved, blood dripping from the corner of his mouth as his qi faltered under the pressure of his racing thoughts.

This was the place where the cataclysmic war had been fought... the war that had shaken the heavens and shattered the world. Hundreds of thousands of immortal-like cultivators had died here, their blood soaking the land.

It was the most feared place in the world, where even Mahayana cultivators had met their grisly ends, torn apart by monstrous beasts that had feasted on the corpses of fallen immortals.

Beasts that had gained a twisted form of immortality, becoming predators that even the strongest cultivators dared not face.

"And you're telling me…" Feng Chen gasped, clutching his chest as if trying to keep his heart from bursting out of his ribcage,

"that I've been living in *this* forest for the past fifteen years?!"

-----

System Notification:-

Yes.

-----

Feng Chen's legs gave out beneath him, and he collapsed to the ground with a heavy thud, his face pale as the blood drained from his lips. He stared blankly at the ceiling of the cave, his mind spiraling into a vortex of disbelief and terror.

"I'm dead… I've been dead this whole time and just didn't know it…"

He lay there for a long moment, his thoughts running wild. The creatures of this forest... the ones that had devoured the flesh of immortals and mutated into near-unkillable monsters... had surely been watching him all this time, waiting for the perfect moment to strike. He could almost feel their eyes on him, lurking just beyond the edge of his perception.

But then, amid his panic, a thought struck him. He frowned slightly, blinking up at the ceiling.

"Wait a minute… I haven't seen any powerful beasts around here. Why haven't they attacked me?"

-----

System Notification:-

Because you're at the outermost part of the forest, genius. If you'd been deeper inside, you'd have been immortal beast food by now.

-----

Feng Chen let out a weak laugh, wiping the cold sweat from his forehead.

"So… I'm safe here, then?"

-----

System Notification:-

For now. But don't get too comfortable. You're not exactly in a vacation spot.

-----

Feng Chen pushed himself up off the ground, dusting off his robes.

"Well, at least I'm not dead yet." He glanced around the cave nervously, half-expecting some giant, mutated creature to leap out at him from the shadows.

He wiped the blood from his mouth and shook his head.

"Okay… I can handle this," he muttered to himself, trying to steady his nerves.

"Just need to be careful and keep my head down. No sudden moves."

His eyes fell on the large egg resting in its nest nearby. Walking over to it, Feng Chen placed his hand gently on the egg's surface, feeling the warmth radiating from it. The golden lines on the egg glowed faintly under his touch.

"Listen up," he said softly, addressing the egg as if it could hear him.

"I need you to hatch into something strong... something that can protect me from whatever's lurking out there. Got it?"

The egg remained silent, its faint glow the only response.

-----

System Notification:-

Really? Talking to an egg now? Is this what your life has become?

-----

Feng Chen rolled his eyes.

"Mock me all you want, System, but this egg is going to hatch into something amazing. You'll see."

Shaking his head, Feng Chen turned his attention back to his cultivation. With a flick of his wrist, he summoned his inventory and pulled out the three Divine Cultivation Techniques he had received from the system. The scrolls glowed faintly as they hovered in front of him, each one exuding an aura of immense power.

"Alright," Feng Chen said, rubbing his hands together in anticipation.

"Time to see what these bad boys can do."

He unrolled the first scroll, reading the name aloud.

"The Supreme Origin of Chaos…" The words seemed to reverberate through the cave, sending a shiver down his spine.

The system's window popped up with a detailed description of the technique.

-----

System Notification:-

- Supreme Origin of Chaos

- Description: This technique taps into the primal force of Chaos, the origin of all things. Yin and Yang were born from Chaos, and thus the cultivator who masters this technique gains the ability to control the raw, untamed energy of the universe. Chaos is neither light nor dark, good nor evil... it is the force of creation and destruction in its purest form.

- Effects: Grants the ability to manipulate chaotic energy to reshape reality in small ways, increase cultivation speed, and enhance the strength of all techniques involving Yin and Yang. As the host progresses, this technique will allow for greater control over the elements, time, and space.

-----

Feng Chen's grin widened as he read the description.

"Chaos, huh? The origin of everything… This is big. If I can combine Chaos with the Yin and Yang energies I've already mastered, I'll be unstoppable."

He could already imagine the possibilities. Chaos was the ultimate force, the source of creation and destruction alike. If he could harness it, he would wield power far beyond the comprehension of ordinary cultivators.

He carefully rolled up the scroll and unrolled the second one, reading its name aloud.

"The Heavenly Devouring Technique…"

-----

System Notification:-

- Heavenly Devouring Technique

- Description: This technique is one of the most feared among ancient cultivators. It grants the ability to devour the Qi and life essence of enemies, allowing the user to rapidly absorb their strength and grow stronger. It is considered a forbidden technique in most cultivation sects due to its brutal nature. However, it also allows for the devouring of spiritual energy from the heavens and earth, feeding the cultivator's growth.

- Effects: The user can absorb energy from enemies or surroundings at a rate far higher than normal cultivators, enhancing physical and spiritual attributes. Caution: Overuse may lead to instability of the soul if not balanced with adequate internal cultivation.

-----

Feng Chen's eyes widened as he read the description.

"Wait… this lets me absorb the energy of my enemies? This is literally overpowered!" He let out a dark chuckle.

"Oh, this is going to be fun. I can think of a few people who deserve to have their Qi devoured."

He placed the scroll down and unrolled the third, reading its name aloud.

"The Nine Heavens Soul Purification Art…"