Chapter 45: The Innate Serene Dao Body

“Gathered, it forms a shape; dispersed, it becomes qi.”
“Endless transformations, all at will.”
These are the essential teachings for cultivating the Ninefold Red Cloud Wishful Gathering and Dispersion Profound Art, and the state one attains upon mastery.
As a method focused on transformation, after mastering the Ninefold Profound Art, one not only gains an indestructible body like the Eightfold Profound Art, but also achieves unique prowess in change.
The “Ninefold” in the cultivation method does not refer to eighty-one forms of transformation, but rather signifies an ultimate limit, a metaphor for infinite possibilities.
These transformations are not limited to outward appearance; they reach into the very essence of living beings.
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“In truth, my time in the Deep Sea Domain was not without reward.”
“My successful cultivation of the Ninefold Profound Art is thanks to that dragon whale beast—”
“Without it, achieving the Innate Wishful Dao Body would not have gone so smoothly!”
The path to enlightenment through the Ninefold Profound Art stands alongside the Dao of Merit. Since Lu Sheng did not intend to follow the Dao of Merit, he could not use merit directly to advance his Ninefold Profound cultivation.
In fact, to keep his path pure, his progress depended almost entirely on his own efforts—
Merit could only provide him with various auxiliary benefits!
The Innate Wishful Dao Body was the first threshold in Lu Sheng’s cultivation of this profound art, and it was his greatest gain within the dragon whale beast.
As a method leading straight to the Great Dao, the requirements for cultivating the Ninefold Profound Art are extremely high; mastering the first layer of the Three Treasures Wishful Technique is merely its foundational prerequisite—
More vital is the transformation of the body into the Innate Wishful Dao Body!
Fortunately, the Ninefold Profound Art does not demand one be born with this constitution, but offers methods for transformation.
The Thirty-six Heavenly Gang Arts and Seventy-two Earth Fiend Techniques are auxiliary spells attached to the Ninefold Profound Art, intended to aid its lineage in both offense and defense.
However, due to the differing laws of this world, most of these methods cannot be used directly; only after comprehending the world’s rules and integrating them with local cultivation techniques can one utilize a portion.
Yet, the creator of the art incorporated nine Heavenly Gang and nine Earth Fiend methods—those least reliant on laws and mainly concerned with the physical body—directly into the profound art.
Thus, even in a different world, one can begin cultivation.
Among them, Fetal Transformation and Shape Alteration, and Size at Will, contain the method for transforming into the Innate Wishful Dao Body.
Fetal Transformation and Shape Alteration not only allow one to change form, but also to return to a fetal state, reshaping one’s innate foundation.
Size at Will enables both enlargement and diminishment, and within these changes, a trace of wishful essence capable of transforming the body is born.
The Innate Wishful Dao Body is achieved by first diminishing oneself, returning to the fetal state, then fusing the wishful essence into the innate foundation, thus attaining the Innate Wishful Dao Body.
This process involves these two methods.
Fortunately, Lu Sheng was already able to control the changes in his essence, energy, and spirit, and had experience using Bone Shrinking Technique. Upon obtaining the Ninefold Profound Art’s cultivation method, this step presented little difficulty.
Once his safety was secured, he used the dragon whale beast’s placenta, which resembled a maternal environment, to return himself to a fetal state and reshape his innate foundation.
Now, Lu Sheng’s body is the Innate Wishful Dao Body—
Whether growing larger or smaller, older or younger, so long as it is within his control, all is at his command!
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“Just ahead lies Snow Eagle City; I’ll soon encounter others!”

“Though I spent two years in the Deep Sea Domain, only escaping when the long-gestating young dragon whale beast was born, my body remains that of an eighteen-year-old.”
Not only high-level beasts, but even accomplished human cultivators often spend much time gestating offspring. Lu Sheng hid in the placenta of the female dragon whale beast for a full two years.
Moreover, with the male dragon whale slain, the female lost her territory. For those two years, Lu Sheng wandered the Deep Sea Domain with her, destination unknown.
Not until the young dragon whale beast was born did he escape its body, summon the Flying Dragon Horse puppet, and flee the Deep Sea Domain at last.
“Eighteen years old, and thanks to Fetal Transformation and Shape Alteration, I look even younger!”
“To reach mid-stage Martial Master at this age is far too conspicuous!”
“I’d better age myself a bit—make it more believable!”
Muttering, Lu Sheng used Fetal Transformation and Shape Alteration to make his appearance older, looking around thirty-five or thirty-six—
This age matches most mid-stage Martial Masters in the martial world.
Any younger, even if not listed among the outstanding talents, would not go unnoticed!
“And the cultivation method—I mustn’t display Profound Qi from the Hunyuan Technique; I’d better alter it as well!”
The reputation of the Lu clan of Grand Jing is too prominent, and enemies abound. Recalling how Lu Hai’s use of Hunyuan Profound Qi was detected by Wan Gu Xiao, Lu Sheng changed his internal Qi to one derived from Wan Gu Xiao’s spatial pouch, namely the Frost Technique.
“However, though Frost Technique is widespread, most practitioners are from the south.”
“In this region near the snowy plains, it ought to carry a colder aura!”
Thinking thus, Lu Sheng recalled the chill transmitted to him by Si Mingyue through the Mind-Control Gu; with a shift of his thoughts, his internal Qi became even colder, resembling one who had cultivated cold arts in the snowy mountains and returned triumphant.
This is the way to use the Wishful Myriad Transformations Technique.
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The Wishful Myriad Transformations Technique is the application method of the Three Treasures Wishful Technique.
If the Three Treasures Wishful Technique is a method for cultivating the Three Treasures of Heaven, Earth, and Man, then the Wishful Myriad Transformations Technique is the method for fully manifesting the cultivated treasures.
This method is not bound by the practitioner’s world or cultivation style; as long as it involves transformations of the Three Treasures, it can be simulated.
Whether it concerns internal energy, profound Qi, true Qi, battle Qi, shamanic power, demon power, magic power… or encompasses attributes like earth, fire, water, wind, sun, moon, stars—
So long as the method is not higher than the Ninefold Red Cloud Wishful Gathering and Dispersion Profound Art, the Wishful Myriad Transformations Technique can mimic it.
Moreover, the simulated power is not weaker—in fact, it may even grow stronger and be further cultivated.
Now, within Lu Sheng, what flows is no longer the original Hunyuan Technique’s Profound Qi—
But the power of essence, energy, and spirit he condensed after achieving the Innate Wishful Dao Body, guided by cultivation arts!
Only because this world favors Profound Qi cultivation does it manifest as Profound Qi, with cultivation largely referencing the Hunyuan Technique.
Its nature, however, is not tied to any single method—
But is capable of endless transformation!
Perhaps, it could be called—
Wishful Profound Qi!
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“Appearance, attire, weapon, martial arts, temperament…”
“Oh, and spatial equipment!”
Thinking of spatial equipment, Lu Sheng immediately considered a problem:
“In this borderland, spatial equipment must be quite precious!”
“Though, as a Martial Master, I am qualified to possess one—”
“But too many would only invite unnecessary envy!”
Reflecting on this, Lu Sheng checked his current attributes:
“Essence 12.01, Energy 12.01, Spirit 12.01; Fortune 597, Merit 92,021, Karma 0.”
Though trapped in the Deep Sea for two years, Lu Sheng’s essence, energy, and spirit had grown, and his fortune increased accordingly.
His merit consumption dropped rapidly once he mastered Fetal Transformation and Shape Alteration, allowed himself to absorb nutrients from the dragon whale beast’s placenta, and survive freely within it.
Now only 92,021 remain, mostly spent on forging profound weapons and breaking through the placenta.
“Now that I’ve found signs of civilization, earning merit will not be difficult!”
“I’ll use it to upgrade that spatial pouch!”
“I’ll transform it into a ring, to match the one on my other hand—”
“Perhaps that will draw less suspicion!”
With this thought, Lu Sheng swiftly spent 91,326 merit points to expand the remaining spatial pouch to its maximum capacity and transform it into a ring, worn on his other hand.
“With 695 merit left, it’s not much, but enough for healing and recovery—it’ll soon be replenished!”
Thinking thus, Lu Sheng took a gold coin from his spatial ring:
“Many of the coins left by Wan Gu Xiao and the Ma brothers were minted by the Four Seas Trading Company.”
“After cleaning them, removing traces, I can use them here.”
“But as for those gold notes, they’ll have to be set aside for now!”
The Four Seas Trading Company not only mints coins, but issues gold notes for large transactions.
However, the method for redeeming these notes is much more discreet; impersonation is difficult unless one is the rightful owner.
Lu Sheng does not know where news of Wan Gu Xiao, Ma Buting, and Ma Buti’s deaths has spread. Even if he could assume their forms, he would not dare to attempt redeeming their gold notes!
So, he could only use a limited number of coins.
“Fortunately, from Oridun’s memories, the coins still have decent purchasing power—”
“For now, they are enough for use in this small city!”
Looking at the Snow Eagle City looming ahead, Lu Sheng gripped his long blade and strode forward!