Chapter 186: Hongmeng Yuanshi Classic

"Xi Quanqiu?" As a keyboard warrior who used to frequent forums in his previous life, Zu An had some impression of this name. It seemed to be the ancestral land where the Qin people originated. He felt frustrated. The man told him to go to Xi Quanqiu without explaining why. Did all powerful figures enjoy playing these mysterious games?

"Remember to bring Tai'a with you when you go to Xi Quanqiu," the man in the dragon robe instructed.

"Why?" Zu An couldn't help but ask.

"Because Tai'a is the key to entering Xi Quanqiu."

"A key?" Zu An looked at the longsword in his hand, thinking how massive the door must be if this was the key.

Just then, the man in the dragon robe spoke again: "Of course, I won't let you do this for nothing. The upper scroll of the 'Grand Primordial Scripture' is sealed within Tai'a. This scripture can temper your body, providing powerful purification and recovery functions, which should be very helpful to you right now."

"The Grand Primordial Scripture?" Zu An was startled. The name alone suggested it was no ordinary item. And while the tempering and purification mentioned were impressive, he desperately needed the powerful recovery ability right now. Although the "Phoenix Nirvana Scripture" provided an incredible burst of power when on low health, its activation conditions were very strict, and he could easily lose control. While Doctor Ji's medicine was good, its recovery speed was too slow. The "Trust Brother Chun" effect was excellent, but it was extremely difficult to obtain and offered no real guarantee. He couldn't always rely on Xue'er to cast "Half-Life Bond" every time he was on the verge of death, could he?

"How do I cultivate this?" Zu An asked.

"Use your divine sense to touch the sword, and you will perceive it," the man in the dragon robe replied. Zu An, however, remained cautious, worried the man might try to seize his body or something similar, having seen plenty of such plots in TV dramas in his past life. He tentatively extended his divine sense to touch the Tai'a sword, and a passage of text flowed into his mind: "Before chaos parted heaven and earth, vast and boundless, unseen by all. Half a lifetime fallen into a realm of sorrow, all things originate in the primordial void..."

Just then, the sound of a keyboard suddenly echoed in his mind: "Detected Xi Quanqiu Secret Scroll: 'Grand Primordial Scripture'. Absorb?" Zu An's heart filled with joy. Another secret scroll? This was completely unexpected. He quickly selected "Yes." A wisp of black mist entered F3, then transformed into a strange totem imprinted on the F3 key.

Then the keyboard's voice sounded again: "Begin body tempering?" What on earth was body tempering? However, he didn't dare select "No," fearing he'd miss this opportunity. So he quickly chose "Yes." Immediately, he felt a black mist surge from the keyboard, instantly enveloping his entire body. He had a sensation as if the primordial energy of the heavens and earth—no, not primordial energy, but something even purer, more nourishing, and normally imperceptible—was all around him. Could this be the so-called Grandmist Qi mentioned in the scripture?

This Grandmist Qi was absorbed into his body, quickly flowing into his limbs and bones, continuously transforming and repairing his flesh and meridians. He felt extremely comfortable, as if he were in a hot spring, yet at times it was like enduring torture, with intense tearing sensations throughout his body. Fortunately, it all passed quickly, and after the pain, there was even a feeling of exceptional lightness. Otherwise, he might have suspected he'd fallen into some scheme.

"Detected qi sea below navel is sealed. Unseal?" The keyboard's voice suddenly chimed. To Zu An, it was like hearing heavenly music; he almost leaped up in excitement: "Unseal!"

Immediately afterward, he felt the Grandmist Qi surge into his lower abdomen, similar to when he had consumed the petal of the Untraceable Illusory Lotus. However, this Grandmist Qi was clearly much more powerful. The medicinal properties of the Untraceable Illusory Lotus hadn't been enough to break through the sealed barrier, but under the impact of this Grandmist Qi, it quickly loosened. As if sensing the anomaly, Grandmist Qi from other parts of his body also rushed to assist. Finally, all the Grandmist Qi in his body gathered in his lower abdomen. Zu An's heart pounded furiously. He had previously heard Old Man Mi mention that this area was extremely fragile and easily susceptible to irreversible damage.

He desperately hoped this Grandmist Qi wouldn't cause any trouble. He was only sealed now, but at least *something* was still there. But if this Grandmist Qi was too aggressive and completely destroyed it, he would truly become like Zhao Gao, with nowhere to cry.

Fortunately, these most primordial energies in the world were far more potent than he had imagined. Before long, he seemed to hear a "pop," and in that instant, he felt a sudden enlightenment, a complete sense of ease. Although he didn't understand seals, he knew that the restriction on his body had been completely lifted. The Grandmist Qi did not dissipate; it continued to temper the rest of his body downwards.

He lowered his gaze and immediately his cheeks flushed, his breathing quickening. The "chick pecking rice" image that had been a source of extreme resentment for him had finally transformed into a "great roc spreading its wings." That long-absent sensation he used to experience every morning in his previous life had finally returned completely! At this moment, Zu An wished he could let out a long cry to the heavens: "I have waited so long, just for this opportunity. I am not here to prove I am superior to others, but to prove that I must reclaim what I have lost with my own hands!"

What kind of life had he lived since transmigrating? In the eyes of others, he was a tall, handsome, virtuous, and happily married winner in life. But only he knew in his heart that he was a loser. If *that* could not be revived, nothing else, no matter how good, would hold any meaning. This matter had been like a huge stone pressing down on him, making it hard to breathe. Now, finally, it had been restored! If not for the sheer embarrassment of the matter, he would have had the impulse to beat gongs and drums and announce it everywhere.

Suddenly feeling something unusual about his body, he glanced down and was startled: "But this... isn't this a bit too exaggerated?" Feeling the remaining Grandmist Qi continue its tempering, Zu An himself felt a little embarrassed, yet at the same time, he couldn't help but feel a secret delight. Finally, as the last trace of Grandmist Qi completed its tempering, he immediately felt all his previous injuries completely healed. He was full of energy, far stronger than ever before.

Suddenly, the keyboard's voice chimed again: "Because 'Grand Primordial Scripture' is incomplete, new functions cannot be unlocked."

"Huh?" Zu An was momentarily stunned, only then realizing that the "Grand Primordial Scripture" he had acquired was only half a scroll.

"Your talent and fortune are indeed extraordinary to have completed the first layer of body tempering so quickly. Your strength, physical resilience, and recovery ability are now significantly enhanced," the man in the dragon robe said slowly. "Henceforth, with each cultivation realm you ascend, your body will undergo a complete transformation. The higher your cultivation level, the stronger all aspects of your body will become. Cultivators of the same level will find it difficult to harm you, and damage inflicted by higher-level cultivators will also be greatly reduced. At the highest cultivation level, even if you are not completely obliterated, your body can regenerate and recover."

"By then, you will be the strongest man in this world!"

"However... can you please not point *that* at me right now?" Zu An was greatly embarrassed. He quickly twisted his body and pulled down his clothes to cover himself: "Oh, I'm terribly sorry. It was a natural reaction after the body tempering, a natural reaction."

The man in the dragon robe snorted heavily: "Of course I know. Otherwise, do you think you'd still be alive to speak to me?"

Zu An gave an awkward laugh and quickly changed the subject: "By the way, why is there only the upper scroll of the 'Grand Primordial Scripture'? Do you know where the lower scroll is?"

"The lower scroll is in Xi Quanqiu," the man in the dragon robe replied. "When you reach there in the future, you will naturally obtain it." Zu An couldn't help but suspect that this guy was doing it on purpose, letting him taste the benefits of the "Grand Primordial Scripture" first, then splitting the scripture in half to force him to complete the task.

Regardless, being able to unseal "the little brother" this time was worth more than a thousand fortunes. Not to mention, this cultivation method perfectly complemented the "Phoenix Nirvana Scripture": one required severe injury, while the other offered powerful recovery. It was simply a perfect match!

"The 'Grand Primordial Scripture' requires frequent cultivation. The more you use it, the faster you will gradually advance to the next layer. Make sure to preserve your life; don't die before finding Xi Quanqiu," the man in the dragon robe said coldly. Zu An thought that others might use it sparingly, but given his situation, he would likely need to use it often: "Thank you for the reminder, Senior. Also, I'd like to ask how I can find Xi Quanqiu."

The man in the dragon robe fell silent. After a long pause, he finally said, "I don't know."

"Isn't there any proverb, map, or anything that could provide a clue?" Zu An pressed, unwilling to give up.

"No," the man in the dragon robe still shook his head.

"You don't know?" Zu An almost jumped. Wasn't this setting him up for failure? The world was vast, and with no clues, where was he supposed to search? The man in the dragon robe replied, "I am merely a wisp of a remnant soul, and my knowledge is inherently limited. Moreover, seas have turned into mulberry fields, and times have changed. Xi Quanqiu may not even be in its original location, so you will have to find it yourself." As he spoke, his form began to fade, becoming translucent in the air, appearing as if he could vanish at any moment.

Zu An quickly asked, "Is there a time limit for this task?"

"No, but my memory tells me the sooner you complete the task, the better," the man in the dragon robe replied. Zu An let out a long sigh of relief. No time limit was ideal, and there were no means to control him, so even if he didn't search in the future, it probably wouldn't be a big problem.

"I'm about to disappear. Do you have any other questions? Ask quickly, and I'll answer them all at once." The man in the dragon robe's presence grew weaker and weaker.

"What should I do with the woman sealed in the crystal coffin below?" Zu An asked cautiously.

A glint of sternness flashed in the man in the dragon robe's eyes: "Kill her!"

"Kill her!" Zu An was startled. He thought, *You two shared a bond; you don't need to be so ruthless.* More importantly, she was incredibly beautiful; killing her would be a terrible waste. "But her strength is far beyond mine. How can I kill her?"

"You can do it. The 'Grand Primordial Scripture'... purification..." The man in the dragon robe's figure finally dissipated, and only a few vague words reached him.

His vision blurred for a moment. When Zu An recovered his senses, he was back in the underground palace, holding the Tai'a sword in his hand.

"What are you spacing out for up there? Hurry up and come down!" Mi Li's displeased voice reached him.