Invincible Starts From Dao Fruit
Chapter 138 - 109: Cursed in the Past, Casting the Curse Today! Plow Head Curse, Swift! [Vote for Monthly Ticket!]

Chapter 138: Chapter 109: Cursed in the Past, Casting the Curse Today! Plow Head Curse, Swift! [Vote for Monthly Ticket!]

Name: Chen Jichuan[Part Three]

Age: 57 (41)

Immortal-order: 0

Official position: None

Level: 9

Spirit Root: Metal, Wood, Fire

Gift: Creation·Insight

Cultivation Techniques: "Sword Map" (Ninth Layer), "Chen’s 72 Skills" (Ninth Layer), "Taiyin Refining Body Technique" (Ninth Layer), "Primordial Skill" (Seventh Layer)

Magics: Ancestor Chen’s 48 Techniques, Splashed Ink and Striped Cloth Sword Technique, Seven-stringed Immortal Surprising Sword Technique, Small Cloud Rain Technique, ...

Magic Artifacts: Mystic Guiding Sword, Liangyi Shield, Green Cicada Bell, Illusion-breaking Treasure Pearl, dust-stepping boots, ...

Immortal Salary: 10

Source Power: 98521

...

Outside the Great Capital City, deep within ancient forests.

Chen Jichuan personally raised a Dharma Platform.

Thirty-nine years have passed.

Twenty-three years of cultivation.

Chen Jichuan was still a distance away from his peak in the Da Liang World. Techniques like "Sword Map" and "Taiyin Refining Body Technique" had only just entered the Ninth Layer, without yet approaching even the threshold of the Tenth Layer.

However, his progress in Transforming Strength was relatively fast.

By mastering key aspects of marrow refining secrets like "Tiger and Leopard Thunder Sound," from the day dark strength permeated his entire body, he began transforming tendons and cleansing marrow. Now, he was at the peak of the Ninth Layer.

Chen Jichuan could feel that he was but one step away from achieving the Tenth Layer in Transforming Strength.

The only unknown.

Was how to continue the path beyond Transforming Strength.

He could only explore while teaching his disciples, hoping to draw wisdom from the collective to pave a path for further enhancement of external skills.

Three veins cultivated simultaneously.

Chen Jichuan possessed a strong physical body, abundant essence qi, and a resilient soul, his foundation far deeper than that of ordinary cultivators.

"With such a foundation, I can endure greater counterforces when using Daoist Skills."

"But I must guard against Zhang Zhihe employing mysterious techniques to track me down."

Chen Jichuan’s eyes shone brightly and clearly, then closed once again.

First, he sat cross-legged to calm his mind.

Then, he fasted and bathed ritually.

Repeating this cycle for three days, he waited for tranquility, waited for sincerity.

Chen Jichuan had long prepared his altar table, holding three sticks of incense, bowed toward the empty sky, and chanted an esoteric incantation: "I respectfully invite Pharaoh Immortal Master to descend and command the Plow Head Talisman to defeat my foe. Male, Zhang Zhihe (Xuanzhenzi), Fann Kingdom Great Capital Master Mansion, defeat the heavens, reverse the skies, shatter the Earth Dragon, crumble the mountains, sever mountain veins, destroy men with grudges, annihilate ghosts beyond reincarnation. By the decree of Pharaoh Immortal Master, I summon divine soldiers with urgency as dictated by the law, urgent and unrelenting under lawful command."

As his words fell.

Chen Jichuan immediately opened his mouth and exhaled a wisp of smoke. The smoke curled and spiraled in the air.

His hands remained active as he took from the altar a ’Plow Head Talisman.’

This was no Yellow Talisman but a red one, cut into the shape of a plow head, inscribed with talismanic symbols and bearing the names ’Zhang Zhihe’ and ’Master Mansion.’

Chen Jichuan secretly infused it with mental strength.

He tossed the Plow Head Talisman into the air, where it floated, its tip pointing toward the Master Mansion.

Simultaneously.

Chen Jichuan began walking Gang Steps, activating the incantation with a decree: "Heaven with no door, Earth with no aperture, Four directions with no path, urgently executed as dictated by the law, urgent and unrelenting under lawful command!"

With a single chant.

Chen Jichuan glared wide-eyed, opened his mouth, and exhaled another wave of essence qi, reinforcing the Plow Head Talisman.

But that was not the end.

The consumption of essence qi left his soul languid.

Hurriedly, Chen Jichuan transferred Source Power to replenish the loss.

Then he opened his mouth—

"Pfft!"

He exhaled twelve consecutive bursts of essence qi, leaving Chen Jichuan dizzy and empty, his body cold and hollow, nearly on the brink of death.

Only then did he feel relieved.

After exhausting fourteen breaths of essence qi, Chen Jichuan moved his thoughts. In an instant, the Plow Head Talisman ignited with a roar, vanishing as though rushing swiftly away.

"Fourteen breaths of essence qi."

"Twenty thousand Source Power."

"Let’s see if you survive!"

Chen Jichuan’s face turned as pale as death.

Erase any doubts—this very technique was none other than the ’Plow Head Curse’ once used by Qizhenzi to harm him.

Now that he had obtained Qizhenzi’s Dao Fruit, he naturally mastered and comprehended this technique, and his execution was no less proficient than Qizhenzi’s.

However, the Plow Head Curse was ultimately an evil technique. Although he mostly used Source Power to bolster it, it had nonetheless consumed significant amounts of his primordial qi and essence qi.

Even if the curse managed to kill Zhang Zhihe, recovering the depleted essence qi and primordial qi would take one or two years at the minimum.

This was only possible due to his deep foundation.

It would also require copious amounts of pills to restore his primordial qi.

If the curse failed—

"This technique, once employed, ensures either life or death."

"Either Zhang Zhihe dies, or I die."

Chen Jichuan shook his head, barely regaining some strength, stabilizing his posture as he reached for a magic sword on the altar.

Years of effort and bitter cultivation had built him to the current state. How could he engage Zhang Zhihe in a struggle for mutual destruction?

This time.

Whether Zhang Zhihe survives or dies, the result would remain unchanged.

As for himself—

"I have a Hidden Body Technique; evil techniques cannot touch me!"

Chen Jichuan staggered a few steps to the Dharma Platform, grasping a magic sword forged from copper coins. He walked Gang Steps, chanting: "Transform my body, reshape myself, my master shall turn me into True Martial Ancestor Master, hair disheveled, sitting in grandeur, striking fear into mundane ghosts, demons, and spirits. Great demons weep before me, minor demons shed tears like rain, evil spirits tremble with terror, wicked entities disintegrate into dust. One soul is secured in azure skies, two souls hidden within nine heavens, three souls with no sanctuary, thus seeking refuge in the Ancestor Master Cave. One transformation, two transformations, ninefold transformations, stepping ahead of the ten thunder marshals, followed closely by Thunder Lord and Mother. Men who see me gain long life, ghosts who encounter me scatter like ashes, invoking Southern Dipper Six Stars and Beidou Seven Stars. I summon Pharaoh Immortal Master, urgent and unrelenting as dictated by the law!"

The Dao states that one must learn concealment before employing methods, thereby shielding the mage from harm.

Among the forty-eight techniques summarized and created by Ancestor Chen in the Da Liang World, there was the ’Hidden Body Technique,’ in which seven incantations were merged into one technique. The one Chen Jichuan employed today was one of the seven spells of concealment.

This Hidden Body Technique could conceal oneself as well as others.

For instance, the Dingshan Locust Tree Spirit had had its energy concealed by Chen Jichuan’s spells, preventing others from noticing.

Today, it was used for self-protection.

Chen Jichuan loosened his hair bun, letting his hair fall freely as he sat atop the Dharma Platform with furious glaring eyes, striking a majestic and intimidating pose. He was transforming himself into ’True Martial Ancestor Master,’ aiming to frighten away demons and disperse evil spells.

One, to guard against Zhang Zhihe’s pursuit.

Two, to guard against the Plow Head Curse’s backlash.

Such thorough preparation.

Chen Jichuan executed the Plow Head Curse, afterwards maintaining concealment and immobility.

Far away, dozens of miles from the Great Capital City, within the Master Mansion of Fann Kingdom.

...

Thunder rumbled!

Under the clear sky.

Zhang Zhihe was refining an Iron Corpse when he suddenly heard the thunder, shaking his concentration. He hurried outside and gazed toward the southern skies.

This glance.

Brought instant shock.

In the southern skies, dark clouds gathered, the sky drooped low, as if the heavens themselves were collapsing, pressing upon one’s soul with oppressive darkness and sparking an apocalyptic dread.

Such a bizarre phenomenon would never occur by chance.

"This—"

Zhang Zhihe’s heart was gripped with an ominous foreboding.

However, he was unversed in Daoist Skills and thus unable to discern the source of this phenomenon. Annoyed and uneasy, he could only chalk it up to his instincts hinting at the arrival of a formidable enemy, signaling impending disaster.

But little did he know.

The true threat lay miles away, the curse already enacted. Amidst his furrowed brows and agitated strides, the Plow Head Curse struck from afar, targeting his soul—

"Hiss—!"

Zhang Zhihe felt as though his Divine Soul was being violently torn apart, his face contorting as he endured excruciating pain, forcing a sharp intake of breath.

His teeth clenched tightly.

Groans of pain caught in his throat, unable to escape. The renowned Qi Refining Immortal Master grimaced, veins bulging—proof of the overwhelming agony he faced.

In his dazed state, he envisioned an Ancient Green Bull tugging an iron plow, trudging across his body and soul as though tilling soil over and over.

Such torment defied the bounds of humanity!

"Who dares harm me?!"

Zhang Zhihe forced himself through the torment, his previously serene immortal demeanor shattered. Stumbling back into his Practice Hall, he gathered his strength, retrieving the ’Soul Summoning Bell’ from his sleeve.

Jingling!

With the ring of the bell, eleven burly black-robed men immediately emerged from all sides, each wielding blades, shielding Zhang Zhihe.

Having done this.

Zhang Zhihe mustered the focus to sit cross-legged.

Attuning himself inward.

He discovered within his being a young man, disheveled and glaring furiously, gripping an iron plow as he relentlessly tilled his soul time and again.

As if intent on plowing his soul into shreds.

"How insidious!"

Zhang Zhihe’s anger surged; sensing the crux of the affliction, he promptly pulled out a ’Soul Suppressing Talisman’ from his sleeve.

Specifically designed to stabilize the soul and fend off external malevolence, it was a top-tier defensive talisman.

A formidable countermove against Divine Soul attacks.

As anticipated.

With the Soul Suppressing Talisman applied, his soul instantaneously stabilized. The disheveled youth gripping the plow seemed to crash into an impenetrable barrier, unable to advance.

Defeated, he could only retreat.

"Hmph!"

"Meddling backdoor tricks trying to harm me?!"

Zhang Zhihe snorted coldly, his heart aflame with rage but also tinged with ridicule.

Incensed at someone daring to harm him.

Yet contemptuous of their feeble efforts, lacking the resolve to confront him directly, resorting solely to petty and cowardly tactics that invited mockery.

Zhang Zhihe stood up.

Though his complexion paled slightly, the stabilizing effects of the Soul Suppressing Talisman quickly restored him to normal.

"Summon the guards!"

He bellowed, quickly attended by troops ready to receive commands: "Order the Demon Suppression Bureau to investigate all archives, bringing every file related to curse evil magic across the Nation to the mansion."

"Understood!"

The guards stationed at the Master Mansion pledged, striding off toward the Demon Suppression Bureau to relay the order.

"Curses—"

Zhang Zhihe’s face revealed a ridiculing smile, though a shadow of unease lingered in his thoughts.

...

"Plow Head Curse."

"This technique is vicious, also known as the ’Seven-day Death Spell.’"

"An ordinary person struck once by the plow would outright perish and their soul dissipate. Even Zhang Zhihe, with his deep cultivation as a Qi Refining Immortal Master, would face certain death in seven days if the curse isn’t lifted promptly."

Chen Jichuan sensed the first wave of attacks from the Plow Head Curse had been neutralized.

Yet he remained unfazed.

"Using my essence qi and bolstering twenty thousand Source Power, coupled with the insight gained from Qizhenzi Dao Fruit, I have mastered the Plow Head Curse to a degree beyond even Qizhenzi’s comprehension. This execution is far more potent and malicious than Qizhenzi’s original attempt."

"Even a Qi Refining cultivator of the First Layer would likely struggle against it."

Chen Jichuan possessed such certainty.

Years ago.

When Qizhenzi cursed him with the Plow Head Curse, they were constrained by limited resources and borrowed strength from the Jade-faced God Statue within Tongshen Temple.

If quantified, the expenditure likely didn’t exceed ten thousand Source Power.

In contrast, Chen Jichuan.

Had expended fourteen breaths of essence qi and twenty thousand Source Power. Furthermore, beyond being a Soul Emergence Mage, he was a Transforming Strength Grandmaster and an Innate Grandmaster.

At such high stakes, if this curse did not kill Zhang Zhihe, then something supernatural must be at play!

"Caution is still warranted!"

While confident in the Plow Head Curse’s potency, Chen Jichuan remained uncertain about the exact capabilities of Qi Refining cultivators.

He dared not be complacent.

Failure was not an option.

...