Painting of the Nine Immortals

Translator: _Tat_ Editor: Rundi

The Technique of the Physical Body was a strange technique that would allow a cultivator to formulate clones.

If based purely on realm, the technique couldn't be considered the highest. In terms of capabilities, the technique couldn't be considered the best either. However, in terms of usability and versatility, it was without a doubt one of the best techniques to learn. It was also extremely suitable for Ling Xian's situation.

This technique would allow one to generate a very special clone which was not easily breakable like a normal clone. It would create a clone with flesh and blood - an exact replica of the actual human. The only difference was that the clone would not have the same level of cultivation as the original.

But, this was also one of the things that make this technique very special.

Once the clone reached a level of cultivation equivalent to the original or surpassed the original, the clone and the original could converge and the cultivation of the original could be exponentially increased!

Legend had it that a cultivator once practiced this technique, and after amalgamating with the clone, he would instantly break through to the next level of cultivation!

It was well known that every single realm was extremely difficult to break through. Under a normal circumstance, without several years of hard training, no cultivator could break through. However, if this technique was used, then there were more opportunities for a cultivator to break through. Even though it was extremely difficult for the clone to reach such cultivation level, compared to training by oneself for a long period of time, a lot of hard work could be avoided.

In other words, if Ling Xian learned this technique and brought the clone's cultivation level equivalent to his own, then he might be able to borrow energies from the clone and break through to the original level!

How huge of a temptation was this?

Therefore, after Ling Xian learned the various ways to use this technique, his heart became heated.

Stepping back 10,000 steps, even if we conservatively assumed that he could not cultivate with this technique, this technique would remain useful to him.

As long as he learned this technique, he would be able to create a clone that's never cultivated. Then, he could use the clone to join the Shang Qing Sect and waited for the opportunity to acquire that giant fortune.

"If I joined the Shang Qing Sect with my current self, the important figures would become suspicious and I wouldn't be able to acquire any trust." Ling Xian softly grinned, "But if I can use this clone, then the Shang Qing Sect will have very little suspicion towards me."

"It's just that if I do it like this, then I will have to re-cultivate from the beginning." Ling Xian's lips curled up. Remembering the early stages of his cultivation journey, he wouldn't help but to smile and shake his head.

It wasn't that he felt wronged, but he just thought it was funny.

Think about it, for him to transform from a highly respectable completion leveled cultivator to an ordinary being who had never cultivated before. For him to have to start over… how funny of an event was this?

"This is interesting."

Ling Xian chuckled. It wasn't that he wanted to start over, but it was that, at this point, this was the only way, unless he decided not to join the Shang Qing Sect to acquire the fortune he sought after.

Therefore, after a moment of silence, he decided to study this technique with determination.

"For that opportunity, this will be the only way for me," Ling Xian mumbled and took out a Petal of Enlightenment and placed it in his mouth.

Then, he concentrated and unfolded the scroll in his hand.

The Technique of the Physical Body was not exactly a profound technique, and thus the difficulty level was not high. With Ling Xian's enlightenment level, plus the power of the Petal of Enlightenment, it will be extremely easy for him to cultivate it.

Of course, this "easy" was comparative. After all, as a technique, no matter how easy it was, it was impossible for anybody to master it in a short period of time.

"I have memorized the technique by heart now. The next step will be a long time spent in training."

Mumbling, Ling Xian shut his eyes tight and calmed his heart as he carefully studied this strange technique.

He sat in a lotus position on his stone rock bed, completely immobile. After a moment of silence, his hands formed into a strange hand seal and he began to cultivate according to the instructions on the scroll.

A dot of light began to shine between his brows, slowly forming into a circle of heavenly light that expanded slowly but surely.

In the next moment, both of his arms, both of his legs, as well as his chest, began to exude with light. If one observed carefully, one would find that the spot that was emitting light was an acupuncture point.

All of his meridians, limbs, and bones, were beginning to shine, which was lighting up the entire room.

After merely moments, all the light surrounded him dimmed down and it was as if they were never there.

This meant he had failed.

With his level of enlightenment, he had already memorized all the important areas of the techniques. However, in terms of actually achieving them, that was another story. Failure was normal as well, nothing out of the ordinary.

Therefore, Ling Xian was not fazed. He formed his hand seal again and those points of light once again began to shine.

This time was a little different though. Not only did the lights not dim down, but they increased in intensity and brightened even more. The brightness lit up the entire room. Just like the never dying Sun, it was blinding.

"It seems like, I am about to succeed this time. It's just that the process might be a little time consuming." The corner of Ling Xian's lips curled up. He was fully aware that the process would be draining.

Therefore, he calmed himself down and silently waited for the moment to come.

Just like that, time passed by little by little. In the blink of an eye, half a month had passed by.

Ling Xian's eyes were tightly shut and his thoughts were collected. He remained seated like an old monk resting, grand, brave, and immobile.

The acupuncture points from all over his body were starting to emit heavenly light, making him look like an eternal sun that would never stop shining.

At the very moment, Ling Xian's eyes suddenly widened and two rays of light shot out and pierced through the void.

In the next second, the light surrounding him darkened. Within a few short breaths, it disappeared completely. However, right after these lights disappeared, they reappeared right beside him.

Then, a strange scene happened.

The little dots of light began to amalgamate and materialize. First, they converged into the shape of legs, then the upper body, then the head, finally, all the organs.

Within minutes, the light amalgamated into a human shaped form which was identical to Ling Xian.

It was obvious that he had perfected this technique and successfully replicated himself.

It was just that compared to the original Ling Xian, this clone was expressionless. He looked more ignorant and slow, as if he didn't have emotions nor desires.

This was because he hadn't poured his own soul into the clone. Once he inserted a part of his soul, the clone would be no different than the original.

"The Technique of the Physical Body sure is miraculous. The clone, from inside to out, is exactly the same as me. Other than the fact that it has no emotions, there is no difference between this clone and a real human."

Staring at the unmoving clone, Ling Xian revealed a satisfied smile and said, "Not bad. Now that I've had a clone that has never cultivated, I can now attempt to join the Shang Qing Sect. I can use wanting to cultivate and learn great techniques as an excuse while I plot and plan my way to steal the great fortune."

"Now, let me try, just how miraculous this clone would be. Is it really as the scroll described?" Ling Xian softly smiled. His hands formed a hand seal and forced a part of soul out of his body.

In the next second, the soul rolled into the clone.

WHOOOSH!

The moment the soul entered, Ling Xian's eyes abruptly opened and they shot out rays of light that were sharp like swords. They pierced through the void.

"I am now in a completely unfamiliar body, yet I do not feel the slightest discomfort. The Technique of the Physical Body sure is magical." Ling Xian softly grinned. He manipulated his spiritual energy and peeked into the clone he just formulated.

In the next second, Lin Xian's eyes were filled with pleasant surprise. He really did not expect this clone to be this magnificent.