Chapter 179 - 113: The Buddha Attains Enlightenment, Zhong Ming Proves Himself

POP! POP! POP! POP!...

Soon, amidst the faint sounds, a series of apertures were forced open by patterns of light.

’Thanks to my prior experiments and preparation, as well as the power of Bright Mirror Stilled Water - Ripples, Dao Rhyme - Flow of Water, and As Clear as Daylight, forcing open the apertures has never been the difficult part for me. This is only logical. If I had so many abilities and still cultivated Star Heaven·Divine Monarch like an ordinary person, wouldn’t all my arduous training have been for nothing?’

Zhong Ming’s own power made the process of Enlightenment a simple matter. Even replenishing his Solar Power was not an issue.

Although it was already night, the Solar Power within Zhong Ming’s Candlelight Heart Eye could not automatically replenish itself once it was exhausted.

But Ji Qingyue had given Zhong Ming many Red Flame Golden Pattern Pills, and they contained a great deal of Solar Power.

Even better, when Zhong Ming consumed a Red Flame Golden Pattern Pill, it wasn’t his physical body that absorbed it. Each time he took one, the Candlelight Heart Eye would manifest inside his body and directly siphon away the pill’s Solar Power.

This allowed Zhong Ming to consume handfuls of them in succession, and the resulting Erysipelas could be incinerated by his Purifying Flame.

With this abundance of resources, Zhong Ming’s supply of Solar Power was practically inexhaustible.

At this point, the only thing limiting Zhong Ming was that his physical body had a finite capacity to bear the strain.

HUMMM...

The Candlelight Heart Eye was like a miniature sun, suspended and shining continuously within Zhong Ming’s body.

Thanks to the replenishment from the Red Flame Golden Pattern Pills and Zhong Ming’s strong control, this sun remained suspended for a full two hours, and his physical body was continuously scoured by Solar Power for that entire time.

By now, Zhong Ming had opened as many as twenty-four apertures.

Although they were all newly opened, they already possessed some peculiar qualities, and Zhong Ming’s physical body had made substantial progress.

’My strength is more than double what it was before!’

These were all benefits, but the constant exposure to the Solar Power also caused fatigue to build up in Zhong Ming’s body.

At this moment, his body felt like a live fish tossed into an oven, his entire being filled with a searing heat. He could even feel the moisture leaving his body.

’What is this? Am I being cooked alive?’

WHOOSH...

Sensing the strange condition of his body, Zhong Ming immediately circulated his Longxi Magical Power, causing it to flow at high speed.

SIZZLE...

The cool Longxi Magical Power surged through his body like a stream, instantly relieving some of the intense heat inside him and even transferring part of it outside his body.

’One active and one passive, one fiery and one cool. I never would have thought water and fire could coordinate in such a way.’

’But then again, it makes sense. In my past life, using cold water was always the most convenient and fastest way to cool down any machine...’

The conductive and cooling properties of Water Transmission, along with its ability to vent the accumulated heat, allowed Zhong Ming to endure for another two hours.

However, four hours was the limit for Zhong Ming’s physical body.

By this point, Zhong Ming could feel his entire body glowing crimson, like a steamed shrimp.

The cells in his muscles and skin sent out a sensation of swelling, as if they had reached their limit.

’I can’t go on. My body needs to rest. Otherwise, pushing too far will be worse than not going far enough. I might just burn to a crisp.’

Thinking this, Zhong Ming did not truly rest. Instead, he activated the treasure Ji Qingyue had given him to see if the Zhenyuan Stele could bring about any changes.

HUMMM!

As the Zhenyuan Stele manifested over his head, a force as heavy as a mountain suddenly pressed down on Zhong Ming.

This immense pressure made Zhong Ming’s body go rigid.

At the same time, however, a unique Anomalous Power enveloped his physical body.

This power acted like glue, forcibly stabilizing Zhong Ming’s body. Even the immense gravity became a barrier, restraining his physical form and preventing it from breaking apart.

But this sight did not bring Zhong Ming any joy. Instead, his brow furrowed deeply.

’This is just stabilization and maintenance. It doesn’t erase my body’s fatigue. It’s useless to me...’

Ji Qingyue’s intentions were good. She believed that cultivating *Celestial Star·Divine Monarch* was difficult and dangerous. She also thought that Zhong Ming, with his arrogant and impetuous nature, would easily rush ahead and injure his body.

Therefore, she had lent the Zhenyuan Stele to Zhong Ming to act as a safety measure. With this treasure, even if his body were injured, it could be stabilized, creating an opportunity for recovery.

However, she had not expected Zhong Ming to be so careful. Before beginning his training, he had run through simulations in his mind more than a hundred times.

Moreover, the various skills and Magic Techniques he now possessed, while unable to directly affect his Body Forging, could provide indirect support.

For instance, his Longxi Magical Power, combined with the Flow of Water, could cool his physical body, allowing him to endure for much longer.

As Clear as Daylight, combined with Bright Mirror Stilled Water - Ripples, allowed Zhong Ming to clearly perceive where his limits lay.

All this rendered the Zhenyuan Stele’s main purpose moot.

’No, wait. Perhaps the Zhenyuan Stele can be used in this way.’

Zhong Ming’s eyes brightened as another idea struck him.

Of course, the next experiment would have to wait for his body to recover. He also planned to study the Zhenyuan Stele at midnight, at the very moment the Divine Sound dripped from the Clear Sound Spring Stone.

This left Zhong Ming with some free time for now.

But he quickly put that spare time to use.

HUUU...

The moment he closed his eyes, Zhong Ming arrived in the Dream World.

The next moment, within his dream, he began practicing the Longxi Sword Drawing Technique, Longxi Swordsmanship, the Wave-Surging Dragon Stream Step, and a whole series of other Cultivation Techniques from Longxi Peak.

’The Cultivation Techniques of this lineage are still useful. Especially the Flow of Water combined with the Clear Sound Spring Stone. If I cultivate it to a high enough level, I’ll definitely be able to transfer the fatigue and injuries out of my body.’