Chapter 128: 似命带华盖

As the firelight around him vanished the moment it was extinguished, countless strange entities nearby seemed to emit shrill cackles. Filled with unprecedented greed and desire, they swarmed towards Xu Qing from all directions.

But in an instant, a light incomparably more dazzling and blinding than the previous Spirit Lamp, like a bright moon compared to a firefly, suddenly emanated from in front of Xu Qing, swiftly enveloping all directions.

It was as if the world lit up!

All the strange entities shrieked agonizingly at that moment, their bodies instantly turning to ash and vanishing.

Before Xu Qing appeared a lamp that resembled a burning black umbrella!

It was precisely the precious Life Lamp he had obtained from the Merfolk.

This lamp was not lit; its light emanated from the Life Lamp itself, appearing to burn but not actually doing so.

Despite this, the light emanating from the Life Lamp itself was still astonishing, enveloping Xu Qing. The spectral shadows, like moths to a flame, rushed towards it; and though most dissipated, the remaining ones clearly hesitated and dared not approach.

Xu Qing seized this opportunity to discover a clue within his heart.

The next moment, as his spiritual energy surged in, a resonant hum filled his mind, and his body vibrated intensely, he finally located the last two Dharma Apertures there!

One hundred and twenty apertures!

Throughout the history of the Seven Blood Eyes, no one had ever been able to sense all one hundred and twenty Dharma Apertures, whose locations could only be perceived at the moment of Foundation Establishment.

Therefore, the number of apertures perceived at this time essentially determined one's future limits.

Moreover, it wasn't just the Seven Blood Eyes; such individuals were rare in most sects and factions.

Thus, the jade slip Xu Qing obtained referred to one hundred and twenty apertures as the theoretical limit, with no mention of what would happen upon reaching this state.

But now Xu Qing knew that after sensing all one hundred and twenty Dharma Apertures, a profound sense of clarity emerged within him, making him vaguely understand that one hundred and twenty was not the limit.

As for the Dharma Apertures beyond one hundred and twenty, they could not be sensed now; he would only be able to explore them after truly unblocking all one hundred and twenty apertures.

But he had a vague feeling that after one hundred and twenty, it would be like a sprint, where each additional aperture he found in the future would bring about enormous, earth-shattering changes to himself.

Xu Qing took a deep breath, his anticipation immense. But he knew this was not the time to ponder such matters; he could save it for the future. "Then, let's begin the second phase: opening the first Dharma Aperture for Foundation Establishment!" Xu Qing raised his right hand and, with a grabbing motion, pulled the last Foundation Establishment Pill towards him.

He swallowed it in one gulp.

Instantly, the Spirit Sea within him erupted, forming a new tide that surged towards the first Dharma Aperture he had discovered within his body.

An unprecedented sensation of impact suddenly appeared in Xu Qing's body. He felt as if he had been struck by a rapidly flying colossal beast, and just as his body seemed on the verge of collapse, the first Dharma Aperture within him suddenly opened!

It was like the creation of heaven and earth!

The Dharma Aperture he opened transformed into a bright point of light, with flames forming inside. As a large amount of spiritual energy poured in, it turned into a vortex.

As it rotated with a rumbling sound, his internal aura underwent drastic changes. As flames rose and continuously spread, a bright, seemingly highly compressed thread of fire slowly rose from within the vortex.

This thread-like entity was the Dharma Power of Foundation Establishment! This single thread far surpassed the Great Perfection of Qi Condensation, indicating a fundamental difference in their levels.

As it continuously rose, it emitted a dazzling light and astonishing heat, making Xu Qing's entire body appear illuminated from within. The Spirit Sea vortex within Xu Qing's Dharma Aperture surpassed that of ordinary cultivators; his five hundred-zhang limit during Qi Condensation would be greatly manifested in Foundation Establishment.

His Dharma Apertures could also accommodate a five hundred-zhang Spirit Sea vortex, meaning the Dharma Power generated would be denser than that of ordinary cultivators.

The moment this Dharma Power emerged, as Xu Qing's aura transformed, it instantly circulated rapidly within his body, bringing about tremendous, earth-shattering changes wherever it passed.

First, as the Dharma Power circulated, his meridians became tougher, and faint, natural runes seemed to form within them.

Next, his flesh and blood also changed inch by inch as the Dharma Power rapidly permeated them. If magnified, one could see that all the matter comprising his flesh and blood underwent fundamental changes from their core.

Then came his bones and internal organs; all areas were now humming. His bones became harder, with similar patterns appearing on them, and even his flesh, blood, and internal organs followed suit—this was a Dharma Body!

The moment a cultivator enters Foundation Establishment is like a leap in life's hierarchy, transforming the mortal into Dharma!

As the Dharma Body formed and Dharma Power permeated, a fluctuation far exceeding that of Qi Condensation erupted from Xu Qing. As it spread outwards, Xu Qing opened his eyes, revealing dazzling purple light within them.

He recalled that the Foundation Establishment jade slip stated that disciples who had cultivated the Forbidden Sea Dragon Whale could open a second Dharma Aperture faster than others during Foundation Establishment.

And opening a second Dharma Aperture at the moment of Foundation Establishment meant an extra opportunity for the body to be improved compared to others. This only occurred at the very instant of Foundation Establishment; subsequent Dharma Aperture openings would not yield the same effect.

Thus, it was extremely precious, and this Dharma Aperture would also become the second Natal Aperture!

Xu Qing raised his hands and vigorously waved them. Instantly, the Forbidden Sea Dragon Whale, reformed after his cultivation and physical body recovered from previous injuries, appeared outside his body.

Its size was compressed to the extreme, becoming fist-sized. After Xu Qing opened his mouth and fiercely swallowed it, the Plesiosaur within it let out joyful roars and suddenly surged directly towards Xu Qing's second Dharma Aperture!

A rumble echoed as the second Dharma Aperture opened!

The Plesiosaur rushed into it, transforming into a five hundred-zhang Spirit Sea vortex. As flames rose, the second thread of Dharma Power also emerged from within its burning sea!

This second thread of Dharma Power, after appearing, also circulated throughout Xu Qing's body, further empowering his Dharma Body.

Meanwhile, the surrounding spectral shadows seemed extremely attracted, approaching again and attempting to suppress the Black Umbrella Lamp, but they couldn't. Soon, however, an unprecedented chilling wind howled like a storm, as if a great fiend among the spectral shadows had been drawn forth, blowing fiercely towards the lamplight.

Although it still couldn't extinguish the Life Lamp, it did manage to dim it slightly. Seizing this momentary dimness, the invisible great fiend seemed incredibly excited, emitting silent roars.

It extended a wisp of phantom image towards Xu Qing, instantly approaching, about to rush into his glabella.

But as the Life Lamp's light shone, this wisp of phantom image had to give up, reluctantly retreating.

But the next instant, the despondent shadow on the ground, which he had previously suppressed, as if it smelled a delicious scent, suddenly rushed directly towards the phantom image.

Before the phantom image could retreat, the shadow instantly closed in, opening its maw as if eating a snack, and swallowed it directly.

Then, amid the roars of the unknown great fiend, it seemed to burp contentedly. It then looked at Xu Qing, a hint of malice flickering in its gaze, but in the end, it trembled a few times, as if remembering too much of the suppressed memories that made it fearful. So it dared not act, returning to Xu Qing's feet where it once again assumed a despondent, broken appearance and lay there listlessly.

Meanwhile, all the strange entities around froze, as if a shark had appeared among a school of fish. They simultaneously retreated in an instant, vanishing completely.

Xu Qing's eyes suddenly opened, and he looked down at the shadow.

The shadow was trembling, with more cracks on it, making it hard to tell if it was real or fake. Xu Qing narrowed his eyes, then withdrew his gaze and checked his body. His Dharma Body had now been further empowered, and a thunderous roar filled his body—the sound of his heart beating.

It was like war drums beating.

The second thread of Dharma Power rapidly fused with the first, becoming a single strand.

This strand of Dharma Power caused firelight to permeate Xu Qing's body. Flames burned the Spirit Sea within his two Dharma Apertures, continuously forming and gathering Dharma Power. This power illuminated everything with clarity, and after illuminating all areas of his body, it radiated outwards.

The strength of his aura far surpassed his previous state, seeming incomparable; it was a difference in fundamental levels. Even when Xu Qing compared it to the Foundation Establishment cultivators he had encountered, just by looking at their Dharma Apertures, there was a considerable gap between them.

Their Dharma Apertures were clearly not as dazzling as Xu Qing's. "The purpose of opening Dharma Apertures is to cultivate Life Flame. Thirty Dharma Apertures can form the first cluster of Life Flame!"

"When Life Flame emerges, that's true early Foundation Establishment. The second cluster of Life Flame signifies mid-Foundation Establishment."

"Only by forming Life Flame can Foundation Establishment cultivators activate their signature ability, the Profound Radiance State!" Xu Qing murmured. Through the Foundation Establishment jade slip, he knew that Foundation Establishment cultivators generally would not keep their Life Flame lit for long after forming it.

This was because the Profound Radiance State had an extremely terrifying consumption rate.

Similarly, once the Profound Radiance State was activated, combat power would be astonishing. Therefore, almost all Foundation Establishment cultivators who had formed Life Flame only activated the Profound Radiance State to kill enemies during battle. Even without activating it normally, the strength of their Dharma Power and Dharma Body was enough to handle most situations.

"From this perspective, the Vajra Sect Ancestor hadn't completed thirty Dharma Apertures, which is why the battle that day turned out as it did. I need to open thirty Dharma Apertures as soon as possible!"

Xu Qing's eyes showed strong vigilance and anticipation. He was wary that Foundation Establishment cultivators were not as simple as he imagined, and he anticipated forming his own Life Flame in the future, being able to activate the Profound Radiance State, and also having the Life Lamp!

"The Life Lamp, coveted by cultivators from major sects and powerful factions, possesses the power of two clusters of Life Flame just by covering it. However, to use it, I must form my first cluster of Life Flame before I can light it within my body."

"In other words, once I cultivate my first cluster of Life Flame and place it on the Life Lamp, giving the Life Flame a root, I will be able to display the power of two clusters of Life Flame. This means I can suppress all peers in the early stage and contend with those in the mid-stage. Moreover, given the profoundness of my Dharma Apertures, I will also be able to activate the Profound Radiance State for longer than others!"

Xu Qing's gaze was like lightning. He looked down at the Black Umbrella Life Lamp before him, and after picking it up, the light in his eyes intensified under the Life Lamp's radiance.

"Next, I need to first merge with the Life Lamp. Keeping it inside my body is the safest."

Xu Qing murmured as Dharma Power erupted within him, spreading from his two Dharma Apertures. After enveloping the Life Lamp in his hand, the lamp strangely became transparent, and the next moment, it fused with Xu Qing's Dharma Power.

As the Dharma Power returned, Xu Qing immediately felt that this black umbrella-like Life Lamp had conspicuously appeared in his Dantian. The umbrella fabric exuded a profound, dark aura, slowly opening and closing, and with each movement, a baleful aura permeated from within.

The next moment, after the Life Lamp opened and closed several times, it solidified its state and integrated within Xu Qing's body. A sense of ancientness, imbued with the vicissitudes of time, took root within Xu Qing.

Faintly, above Xu Qing's head, the black umbrella appeared and disappeared, like a magnificent canopy, dropping heavenly fire and emanating waves of protective aura, making Xu Qing feel incredibly peaceful under this umbrella.

His Dharma Apertures were also empowered at this moment, the Spirit Sea within them rotating faster, and Dharma Power forming just as rapidly.

Even faintly, a trace of the black umbrella's aura was present in the Dharma Power he formed, exuding a sense of ancient wilderness and intense heat. This heat spread throughout Xu Qing's body, making him instantly scalding hot; even his clothes turned to ash at this moment. The cultivation chamber was filled with astonishing heat, the cave cracked instantly, and the rainforest outside evaporated in the blink of an eye. Trees spontaneously combusted in various places, turning to ash, while this heat continued to spread in all directions, eventually enveloping the entire rainforest where he was located.

Countless mists rose, dry cracks appeared on the ground, and all trees turned to ash. The affected area was vast, reaching over three thousand zhang!

This made the heat in this area astonishing, like a parched land scorched for a hundred years!

At the center of this parched land, the soil of Xu Qing's cave had been transformed into black crystals by the high temperature. Sitting cross-legged there, he closed his eyes, his expression utterly peaceful.

If any other Foundation Establishment cultivator could see inside Xu Qing at this moment, they would surely be astonished, because their Dharma Apertures were very small, while Xu Qing's were astonishing, and a large black umbrella stood within him, protecting his soul.

The black umbrella shone with myriad lights, illuminating his entire body from within outwards, and faintly, a Heavenly Palace seemed about to manifest.

After a long while, Xu Qing opened his eyes.

No more debts! Yesterday I said 24 hours, but regardless, since all you handsome guys and beautiful ladies want to see Foundation Establishment completed, this little newbie has gotten up. I hope this gives you a pleasant surprise and that you all become happier and happier outside of your work and studies.