Chapter 007: The Three Principles of Agreement
When the innate pearl of a Celestial Pearl Master awakens, it is different from those of the Pearl Masters. We must possess a fourfold celestial power to awaken the first innate pearl. This is also the reason why I previously judged that you already possess fourfold celestial power. Subsequently, for each innate pearl cultivated, a foundation of fourfold celestial power is required. In other words, if we Celestial Pearl Masters wish to cultivate to the highest twelve pearls, we must elevate our celestial power to the highest level of the Celestial Path, which is the twelfth level. It is precisely because of the difficulty in cultivation for Celestial Pearl Masters that there is a possibility of enhancing one pearl for every fourfold celestial power. Therefore, our cultivation process is also referred to as the Twelve Transformations of the Celestial Pearls, or the Twelve Changes of the Celestial Pearls.
"Come in," Shangguan Bing'er said coldly
Zhou Weiqing listened attentively, as he was extremely eager for knowledge in this area, to the extent that while listening to Shangguan Bing'er’s narration, he did not let his gaze wander aimlessly over her.
Shangguan Bing'er naturally knew that this fellow had returned. She raised her head and looked at him with tearful eyes, saying: "What business is it of yours? Why don't you just leave?"
"Tell me about your origins," Shangguan Bing'er said in a low voice. Her inquiry was not for her own sake; the more significant reason was Zhou Weiqing's legendary background. Although he possessed extraordinary talent, if his origins were unclear, she would be unable to determine whether she could truly guide him on the path of cultivation.
Upon hearing her mention the intention to impart her cultivation methods as a Tianzhu Master, Zhou Weiqing immediately felt a sense of solemnity and nodded in agreement
After giving Zhou Weiqing a fierce glare, Shangguan Bing'er fell into deep thought. The situation Zhou Weiqing described was something she had never heard of before. Given this guy's usual way of speaking, how much could she trust him? However, if she didn't believe what he said, the events of yesterday were indeed inexplicable. Moreover, while Zhou Weiqing was speaking, she had been looking into his eyes and noticed that at least during this moment, his gaze seemed sincere, suggesting that his words might hold some credibility. Yet, if she chose not to believe him, the events of yesterday remained unexplainable. Furthermore, while Zhou Weiqing was speaking, she had been looking into his eyes and noticed that at least during this moment, his gaze seemed sincere, suggesting that his words might hold some credibility.
After completing these tasks, Zhou Weiqing was drenched in cold sweat, as he had not found his manual for the Undying Divine Skill. It was evident that it had been taken by Shangguan Bing'er. He was not particularly attached to the item itself, but he was worried that Shangguan Bing'er might practice it in the same manner. After truly practicing this skill last night, he realized just how tyrannical the Undying Divine Skill was. If it had not been for the black orb he had swallowed to assist him, he would have likely died before Shangguan Bing'er arrived. This was unacceptable; he had to find an opportunity to warn her that she must not practice it. However, even if she wanted to train, it would not be in the next few days, as she needed to rest after her injury.
"Company Commander, please do not be angry anymore. From now on, I will listen to everything you say. If you ask me to steal a chicken, I will not touch a dog. Whatever you ask me to do, I will do it."
Ah? Is it not possible to change the cultivation method anymore?" Zhou Weiqing said in surprise
Unfortunately, what she did not know was that although the vows made by Zhou Weiqing were sincere, this guy still left himself a way out. He swore in the name of Zhou Xiaopang, not using his real name Zhou Weiqing
Shangguan Bing'er raised her hand and covered Zhou Weiqing's mouth, as she did not want her subordinates to know that she was in this guy's tent so late at night
Uh... basically, it's just what you said yesterday. " Zhou Weiqing replied without hesitation
Secondly, from now on, without my permission, you are not allowed to casually reveal your identity as a Celestial Pearl Master in public. Unless it concerns life and death, you must not easily use your Celestial Pearl abilities without my consent
Hearing him actually call his own name, Shangguan Bing'er was instantly taken aback, and angrily said: "Call me the camp commander, of course I want to hear the truth"
After a day had passed, with the help of self-healing, she and Tu Shu had significantly recovered from their physical injuries. However, how could the wounds of the soul heal so easily? After contemplating for an entire day, reason finally began to triumph over impulse, leading her to decide to seek out Zhou Weiqing.
Shangguan Bing'er continued, "I have carefully examined your Undying Divine Skill. You just mentioned that after last night's events, you have successfully cultivated four death points?"
Hearing him actually call his own name, Shangguan Bing'er was instantly taken aback, and angrily said: "Call me Commander, of course I want to hear the truth"
Speak up, what exactly happened last night? During the day, I felt not a trace of celestial energy from you, yet at night you were able to awaken the celestial orbs, and with such a multitude of attributes. Don't tell me it was from practicing some kind of immortal technique. While it cannot be said that there is no possibility of success with it, cultivating it is no different from committing suicide. Just relying on this, no matter how lucky you are, it is impossible to leap from having no celestial energy to the realm of awakening celestial orbs at the fourth level of celestial energy.
Zhou Weiqing nodded slightly
Because the recruitment of soldiers had not yet concluded, and previously, Shangguan Bing'er had deliberately assigned him to such a remote place as a punishment, no one came to disturb him. Zhou Weiqing slept soundly until dusk, only waking up when the sun was setting in the west.
Aside from feeling a bit sorry for Shangguan Bing'er, his mood today is exceptionally good. He has finally obtained his own Tianzhu. Not to mention the legendary attributes of the Yizhu, the mere identity of being a Tianzhu Master is enough to satisfy him. He has longed for this day for far too long. If it weren't for Shangguan Bing'er, he would want to rush home immediately to share this good news with his father, while also letting that arrogant Di Fuya know that he is now a proper Tianzhu Master.
The tent was in complete disarray, with torn fabric scattered everywhere, particularly the purple outfit worn by Shangguan Bing'er yesterday, along with her other garments. The bedding was stained with blood in several places, indicating just how wild the previous night had been
Zhou Weiqing sat down at his spot, and this time he was genuinely honest. Although he enjoyed seeing Shangguan Bing'er’s angry and charming face after being teased by him, he also knew not to go too far. After all, there would be plenty of time in the future, and this was likely to be one of the greatest pleasures of being a soldier.
Zhou Weiqing fell silent in an instant, carefully shielding his lower body with both hands. Looking at Shangguan Bing'er with her eyes full of terror, he was genuinely afraid
Shangguan Bing'er felt her cheeks flush, glancing at the bedding on the ground. Zhou Weiqing finally understood and cautiously said: "I put it away, keeping it as a memento"
Zhou Weiqing nodded repeatedly and said, "I am willing, of course I am willing." What he needed most at this moment was the cultivation method of the Heavenly Pearl Master, especially since it was being taught to him by Shangguan Bing'er. There was nothing he would be unwilling to accept, and as for the matter of taking an oath, he had never been very concerned about it.
Shangguan Bing'er cried for half a day without showing any signs of stopping. Zhou Weiqing glanced at the increasingly bright sky and couldn't help but remind her: "Captain, shouldn't we head back? If we don't return soon, we might be discovered."
"Zhou Xiaopang, I ask you, how much do you know about Tianzhu masters?" Shangguan Bing'er sat cross-legged on the other side of the bed, maintaining a distance of more than one meter from Zhou Weiqing.
Forget it, it doesn't matter. I'll go eat first and talk later. I slept all day, and last night was so "laborious" that he was completely awakened by hunger. He put on his military uniform jacket, deliberately pulled up the sleeves to cover the beads on his wrist, and then rushed to the cafeteria to enjoy a hearty meal.
It is acceptable not to inquire about your origins. Therefore, from this moment on, regarding the *picture* book, I will establish three rules with you. You must swear an oath by your life pearl, and then I will begin to impart to you the methods of cultivation for a celestial pearl master. Are you willing to do so?
After taking another deep breath, Shangguan Bing'er said in a low voice: "You remember this well, nothing happened last night. If I hear any rumors, you know the consequences"
Zhou Weiqing was taken aback and said, "Are you afraid that I will surpass you in cultivation in the future and force you to be with me?"
Upon seeing Shangguan Bing'er smile, Zhou Weiqing was immediately invigorated. Just as he was about to take advantage of the moment, he heard Shangguan Bing'er say seriously: "Sit up straight. From now on, I will teach you everything about the Heavenly Jewel Master. You must remember it and practice diligently."
"I said, I won't hit you." Everyone has a sense of curiosity. After all, Shangguan Bing'er is only fifteen years old. Although she is extremely annoyed by this guy, she still wants to know what Zhou Weiqing intends to say.
Shangguan Bing'er nodded and said, "However, you need not worry too much. Although this cultivation method is domineering, the most difficult part is the first stage. You have already cleared four critical points, so I believe that the subsequent training will be much easier. Moreover, if what you said is true, the power contained in the black orb you absorbed should continue to protect you. However, the later stages of cultivation will become increasingly challenging, so you must be mentally prepared."
"Hmm, so comfortable." He stretched out lazily with great force, and a series of crisp cracking sounds echoed as his bones and muscles tingled all over, every part of him felt refreshing, especially that sensation filled with strength, which made him feel an indescribable exhilaration. Looking down, he noticed that the heavenly beads on his wrists were still there, slowly circling around his wrists.
Shangguan Bing'er furrowed her brows and said: "Do you know that once the method for cultivating celestial power is chosen, it cannot be changed? Since you have already chosen to practice the Undying Divine Skill, you can only continue on this path. This method is quite unique, but it is also extremely dangerous"
Zhou Weiqing immediately shook his head and said, "I won't say anything more, as I fear you might hit me"
A wave of fatigue gradually emerged, and Zhou Weiqing looked at the icy jade bead and the cat's eye gem on his wrist that had never faded away, slowly drifting off to sleep
At this point, Shangguan Bing'er lit the oil lamp she had brought, illuminating the tent that had completely darkened. The beautiful figure was now within arm's reach, causing Zhou Weiqing's heart to tremble slightly. At just thirteen years old, his self-control was naturally not very strong, especially since he had already engaged in intimate relations with Shangguan Bing'er. He found himself somewhat distracted by his thoughts. Fortunately, the knowledge of the Heavenly Pearl Master captivated him, preventing him from revealing his feelings.
Zhou Weiqing's expression changed; the usual playful demeanor vanished without a trace. He said, "Shangguan Bing'er, what do you take me for? What happened yesterday was unavoidable; it was my fault, and I tarnished your reputation. I will certainly find ways to make it up to you in the future, but you cannot insult my character. I, Zhou... Zhou Xiaopang, may be bad, but I would never go so far as to force someone into a relationship. I swear, unless Shangguan Bing'er is willing, I, Zhou Xiaopang, will never force her to do anything."
Seeing this fellow in such a state, Shangguan Bing'er was instantly infuriated, her delicate face turning red. She secretly cursed in her heart, wondering how it was that such a scoundrel had gotten off so easily
Zhou Weiqing nodded and affirmed, "I will definitely continue to cultivate." The opportunity has finally arrived, and he is determined not to remain useless any longer
"What cloth?" Zhou Weiqing did not understand her meaning
Shangguan Bing'er finally looked a bit better and said: "First, you must swear to always belong to the Tiangong Empire. No matter how far you cultivate in the future, you will always be a part of the Tiangong Empire."
Do you speak or not? The official Bing Er's expression turned cold.
Shangguan Bing'er looked at him coldly and said: "The last condition is that no matter how high your future cultivation level may reach, you must never force me to accept you"
Shangguan Bing'er’s ample bosom heaved noticeably more intensely as she said, "You... bring it here." She was truly afraid that she would not be able to resist killing this scoundrel
"Shut up." Shangguan Bing'er, with a face ashen, waved her hand, and a flash of blue light passed by. Zhou Weiqing felt a sudden brightness before his eyes, and with a loud crack, a fissure appeared on the mat in front of him. Terrified, he fell silent, not daring to speak recklessly again. If it had advanced a few more inches, his little bird in his pants would likely be in jeopardy.
Their gazes met, and Zhou Weiqing looked into Shangguan Bing'er’s eyes, filled with a poignant sadness, which instantly softened his heart. Regardless of the circumstances, whether it was his responsibility or not, he had indeed taken the most precious thing from this girl.
"Where is the cloth?" Shangguan Bing'er scolded.
Seeing the concern in Zhou Weiqing's eyes and listening to this guy's nonsensical remarks, Shangguan Bing'er finally let go of her cold demeanor and couldn't help but chuckle, saying: "Who would let you go steal chickens and touch dogs? Do you think I am you?"
Having eaten to his fill, one naturally feels invigorated. Zhou Weiqing was astonished to discover that his stature seemed to have increased slightly. His original height was around 1.7 meters, which is already quite rare for a thirteen-year-old. However, after last night, he appeared to have grown a few centimeters taller, and his muscles seemed to have swelled a bit as well.
Zhou Weiqing was very adept at reading people's expressions. He could tell at a glance that after crying for a while, the resentment in Shangguan Bing'er’s eyes had diminished significantly. Although her voice remained stern, there was no trace of murderous intent left.
"Listen, listen carefully, however, Company Commander, I, I..." Zhou Weiqing had a troubled expression on his face
As she watched Zhou Weiqing escape in a somewhat disheveled manner, Shangguan Bing'er bit her red lips and then stood up, heading back to the military camp
Ah. When Zhou Weiqing heard her call him, he quickly responded, but the sight of his submissive demeanor made Shangguan Bing'er feel an overwhelming urge to give him a good beating.
"Am I not saying it's still not okay?" Zhou Weiqing looked as if he was full of grievances, as if he were the one who had been sacrificed last night. He said: "Captain, this is my first time. I’m afraid I won’t be able to forget what happened last night. Although you refuse to take responsibility, I won’t blame you. However, I can’t help but think of you. Captain, please don’t look at me like that; I’m scared. I’m speaking the truth, ah, murder."
However, soon the expression on Zhou Weiqing's face changed, and he even looked at the person in the tent with a hint of flattery. With a silly smile, he said, "Oh, it is the camp leader. What brings you here?" While saying this, he only stepped one foot into the tent, refusing to bring the other foot in, as no one knew what Shangguan Bing'er was coming to see him for.
Zhou Weiqing said: "This may be related to a black pearl that I swallowed. Before joining the army, I was playing in the Starry Forest. When I got tired, I lay down in the forest to sleep. Who would have thought that the sky suddenly changed, turning pitch black? Then I found myself unable to move. A crack suddenly opened in the sky, and a black pearl shimmering with green, blue, and silver light emerged from that crack and drilled into my mouth. At that moment, I felt a chill throughout my body and fainted. When I woke up, I didn't notice anything unusual about myself. On my way back to the city, I happened to see you recruiting soldiers, so I joined the army. Last night, I did attempt to practice the Undying Divine Skill, targeting the first death point, the Jianjing point. I succeeded in the attempt, but I immediately felt my whole body go numb and unable to move. After that, a strong cold current emerged from my dantian. In a vague sense, I seemed to see a black tiger with wings. What happened next, I do not know. When I woke up, I saw a naked woman in front of me, and then I realized that I had successfully impacted four death points..."
Zhou Weiqing immediately nodded and made the oath. This oath had been made several years ago in front of the Emperor of the Empire, Di Fengling, at his father's request, so repeating it was of no consequence.
Zhou Weiqing secretly glanced at her and then whispered, "Are you really not going to hit me?"
Shangguan Bing'er pushed Zhou Weiqing aside and walked to the entrance of the tent, lifting the curtain to let the fresh air from outside rush in. She breathed deeply, trying to calm her tumultuous emotions.
Zhou Weiqing hesitated for a moment and said, "Bing'er, do you want to hear the truth or nonsense?"
"Ah? Not using the Tianzhu ability? Then what is the point of my training it?" Zhou Weiqing said, puzzled.
Why can others retract their life orbs into their bodies, but I cannot retract these two? What should I do? I have always been useless; I have never studied at the Orb Master Academy for even a day, and I only have a superficial understanding of this profession. At this moment, I naturally do not know what to do.
When Zhou Weiqing returned to his tent, he was suddenly startled. Earlier, as he had just regained consciousness, he had not carefully observed the situation inside his tent due to the powerful allure of Shangguan Bing'er and the threat to his life. Now, with the light from outside, he took a look and felt a chill run down his spine, immensely grateful that he had encountered the benevolent Shangguan Bing'er.
"Have you understood what I said?" Shangguan Bing'er said with a playful pout.
Zhou Weiqing suddenly realized and hurriedly said: "You still care about me; I swear it is true." At that moment, he leisurely swore again.
With a loud thud, a hefty leather-bound book landed on him. Zhou Weiqing, flustered, hurriedly looked up and saw that it was indeed his treasured manual, the Undying Divine Skill.
Observing the furious expression on Zhou Weiqing's face, Shangguan Bing'er felt a twinge of guilt in her heart, and also breathed a slight sigh of relief, secretly thinking to herself that although this guy was annoying, he was not without his merits
"Zhou Xiaopang." After re-drawing the tent's curtain, Shangguan Bing'er turned back to face Zhou Weiqing.
"You sit down." Shangguan Bing'er felt fortunate that she had not brought her sword today; otherwise, she truly could not guarantee that she would not end the life of this little fatty.
At this moment, Shangguan Bing'er changed into a blue athletic outfit, which complemented her azure long hair perfectly. Zhou Weiqing noticed that his military uniform was neatly folded and placed on the bed. As he entered, he found Shangguan Bing'er staring blankly at her bedding.
"Not bad," Shangguan Bing'er said in a low voice
Zhou Weiqing reluctantly took out the few pieces of cloth he had carefully stored and handed them to Shangguan Bing'er. Naturally, Shangguan Bing'er could not examine such embarrassing items in this place; she quickly tucked them into her bosom, yet remained oblivious to the fact that Zhou Weiqing, that lecherous fellow, had kept one piece on him.
"If you dare to speak nonsense again, I will castrate you first." Shangguan Bing'er, filled with shame and anger, finally uttered these harsh words
"I will leave immediately, right now, this instant." Imitating the way Shangguan Bing'er spoke yesterday, Zhou Weiqing turned and ran. Although Shangguan Bing'er's resentment had lessened somewhat, it was still very likely that she would give him a beating.
Zhou Weiqing quickly gathered these chaotic items together, then wrapped them up with the cloth he had brought. He also carefully tore down the bloodstained cloth from the ground and folded it neatly, as it served as a witness and symbol. He intended to keep it well, for if in the future Shangguan Bing'er truly followed him, he would pass these items on to her. Of course, whether Shangguan Bing'er would be willing to accept them was another matter.
This warning sign appeared entirely subconsciously, and even he himself did not understand what was happening. At this moment, the sky outside had gradually darkened, and visibility inside the tent was poor
Zhou Weiqing carefully observed and confirmed that Shangguan Bing'er was not carrying any weapons. Only then did he cautiously step into the tent, yet he did not dare to approach further, standing at the entrance and looking at Shangguan Bing'er with a hesitant demeanor, as if he were the one being taken advantage of.
Ah?" Zhou Weiqing widened his eyes as he looked at Shangguan Bing'er. Although he appeared to be compliant on the surface, he felt quite pleased inside. He knew that Shangguan Bing'er would never kill him, no matter what. At this moment, he found her to be incredibly beautiful. Just thinking about how this stunning woman had been nestled in his arms, crying softly and gracefully the night before made his heart race.
"What are you doing? Why are you being so evasive? Just say what you have to say." Shangguan Bing'er stepped forward irritably and couldn't help but kick the guy.
With a joyful heart, Zhou Weiqing returned to his tent. However, as soon as he lifted the door curtain, an instinctive sense of alarm arose within him, and he immediately shouted, "Who is it?"
When Zhou Weiqing uttered his first sentence, Shangguan Bing'er immediately realized that this fellow was not saying anything good. Sure enough, the more she listened, the angrier she became. By the end, her stunningly beautiful face was alternating between shades of green and white with rage. In a flash, she appeared beside Zhou Weiqing, seized the thick flesh at his waist, and forcefully twisted it one hundred and eighty degrees. Instantly, a scream akin to that of a slaughtered pig erupted.
Shangguan Bing'er said: "We humans have always considered ourselves the most intelligent race; therefore, we refer to our bodies as celestial bodies. The abilities that emerge from cultivating and stimulating our potential are called celestial power. Celestial power is the foundation of everything. Whether one is a physical orb master, a mental orb master, or a celestial orb master, they all rely on the support of celestial power. For ordinary physical orb masters and mental orb masters, although the awakening of their first life orb requires three levels of celestial power, the subsequent two life orbs only require an additional two levels of celestial power each for cultivation and orb condensation. After breaking through from the master level to the respected level, when enhancing a life orb again, three levels of celestial power are needed. This continues until all nine orbs are complete, reaching the highest upper sect level. However, the celestial power support required by us celestial orb masters is significantly greater than theirs.
Shangguan Bing'er said irritably: "Fool, do you really think that your transformed stone cat's eye gem is just a good thing for you? If the empire finds out that our country has someone as peculiar as you, I can't imagine how many assassins would come to kill you. Before your own cultivation reaches a certain level, you must never be easily discovered"
Zhou Weiqing said with a bitter smile: "However, if I tell the truth, I fear I won't be able to join the army with you. In fact, my background is quite good; my family is relatively well-off. It's just that since I was young, my father has always scolded me for being useless. In a fit of anger, I decided to enlist and carve my own path. Once I make a name for myself, I will return home to bring honor to my family. Bing'er, oh no, Captain, will you believe me this time? Do not ask about my background; I assure you with my life that I am definitely not a bad person, and I will treat you well in the future."
Zhou Weiqing hesitated for a moment and said, "Bing'er, do you want to hear the truth or nonsense?"
"Who has treated me well?" Shangguan Bing'er felt her anger rising again, but she also noticed that when Zhou Weiqing spoke these words, his expression was unprecedentedly sincere. For some reason, her heart softened a little.