Chapter 790: Visualization
Looking back at the colossal statue, a sense of insignificance welled up within him.
However, the place was empty; apart from himself and it, there seemed to be nothing else.
Song Yan was silent; he didn’t know where he was.
"..."
He raised his hands and looked down, finding that his body at this moment was merely a black outline.
His face and clothes were completely shrouded in darkness.
He once again turned his gaze towards the giant statue.
The mask on it, at first glance, was very simple: blank in the middle, with a circle of patterns around it.
But upon closer inspection, one could discern that the circle of patterns was engraved with ten different ancient designs.
One of them, the shape of a Kui Dragon, was very similar to the Jia Zuo mask he wore.
However, the place was empty; apart from himself, it was utterly silent.
Song Yan sensed it for a moment, then with a thought of his Divine Thought, he withdrew from the mask.
He returned to his Immortal Cave on Dragon Pool Mountain.
He took off the mask and put it back into his Storage Bag.
Although he still wasn’t clear about the purpose of this item, it seemed to be far from simple. He would research it later.
However, after learning about the legend of the Nuo God, Song Yan actually gained some other inspiration.
"Method of Visualization..."
Why hadn’t he thought of it before?
Well, sometimes thinking is restricted, so it’s normal not to think of it.
With a flick of his finger, he took out the golden chess score page from his Storage Bag.
Could this so-called Five Stars Pulse Grasping True Variation Clear Diagram be the Visualization diagram for the Five Stars Pulse Grasping Skill?
The principles in this Cultivation World truly achieve the same goal through different paths.
The Five Stars Pulse Grasping Skill, this secret method for refining Divine Sense, had been Song Yan’s reliance for his Divine Sense far exceeding his peers ever since he obtained it from the liangyi pearl.
However, as early as when Song Yan’s cultivation reached the Late Stage of Qi Refining, the effect of Cultivating this skill had already become minimal.
After Foundation Establishment, its effect was even more negligible. Although the resilience of his Divine Sense could still be tempered, its strength had reached a Bottleneck.
No matter how hard he tried to circulate the Mind-Cultivation Technique and expand the boundaries of his Sea of Consciousness, there seemed to be an invisible barrier, indestructible and impossible to advance through.
Looking at the crisscrossing, scattered black and white pieces on the golden page in his hand, a hint of enlightenment arose in Song Yan’s heart.
The Cultivation of Divine Sense, perhaps, should not be limited to the mechanical operation of Mind-Cultivation Techniques.
The guidance of intent, the interaction between the mind and the natural world, was what was more important.
This was perhaps the reason why the ancient people, who had no Cultivation methods, possessed powerful Divine Thought in ancient times.
A wisp of Spiritual Qi lifted the golden page. Song Yan took a deep breath and slowly closed his eyes.
Then, the Mind-Cultivation Technique of the Five Stars Pulse Grasping Skill slowly circulated.
His mind, like invisible mercury, swirled and condensed in his Sea of Consciousness under his guidance, following an abstruse trajectory.
His Divine Sense was still as usual, showing no signs of growth.
Song Yan knew that forcing it was futile.
His mind began to sink into the chess score before him.
His intent tried to place himself within the chess game.
Initially, what he saw was still that cold pattern: black was black, white was white, with rigid and distinct lines.
But Song Yan did not get discouraged. Visualization was inherently very different from the Cultivation of ordinary Mind-Cultivation Techniques and required a process.
His mind was calm, patiently maintaining this immersed state, allowing the Mind-Cultivation Technique to operate and the mind to visualize simultaneously.
Time flowed in silence. Song Yan didn’t know how long had passed, perhaps several hours, perhaps just an instant.
A sudden change occurred.
The chess score on the golden page remained unchanged, but in Song Yan’s world of intent, the edges of the neat chessboard began to blur and melt.
The distinct black and white pieces no longer existed in isolation; they began to emit a profound and vast aura.
Song Yan’s mind trembled, and he focused even more intently.
The edges of the chessboard extended infinitely, gradually disappearing, and the crisscrossing lines transformed into the outlines of majestic, undulating mountains.
The chess pieces within the board had long since vanished, turning into plains, peaks, valleys, and lakes.
"The mountain in the very center, it looks like Kongshi Mountain."
Huh?
Hadn’t Xiao He said something similar... Song Yan’s mind stirred with this thought.
On that mountain, a chess piece suddenly fell.
It shattered with a bang, turning into white mist, then condensed into a simple thatched cottage.
Xiao Gu Mountain, Da Gu Mountain... everything made Song Yan feel incredibly familiar.
Then, everything spread outwards from this empty mountain as the origin.
The black and white pieces on the chessboard were cold and hard,
But at this moment, they floated up, shining brightly.
The white pieces glowed intensely, like the sun and moon revolving, casting warm light.
The black pieces were deep and distant, like the low-hanging night sky, with countless twinkling stars within, resembling the myriad stars in the night.
Sunrise and sunset, spring, summer, autumn, and winter.
Mountains and rivers, heaven and earth, all things.
At this moment, the resilient backbone of the mountains, the surging vastness of the rivers and seas, the tiny yet tenacious tremor of plants breaking through the soil, the boundless power of earth fire contained beneath deep rocks... countless pulses, whether magnificent or subtle, converged into a torrent, washing over his Divine Sense.
A part of him seemed to have merged into this materialized heaven and earth and all things.
The myriad phenomena and endless pulsations between heaven and earth became an extension of his own will.
The circulation of the Five Stars Pulse Grasping Skill seemed to sense the change in his mind, spontaneously generating an unprecedented suction force.
In the ethereal realm, a certain Qi was surging towards him.
"Whoosh—"
This Qi was warm and tranquil, an unprecedented sense of comfort and fullness permeated Song Yan’s Divine Sense.
Long breaths were inhaled and exhaled.
He didn’t know how much time had passed.
The trajectories of the stars gradually faded, the outlines of mountains and rivers slowly receded, and the revolving Qi of the sun and moon returned to tranquility.
His mind stirred slightly, and the circulation of the Five Stars Pulse Grasping Skill slowly ceased.
His mind gradually withdrew from that state of Visualization.
He opened his eyes.
His eyes were clear and profound, sparkling with wisdom and containing divine splendor.
Song Yan quietly looked inward, sensing the changes in his Divine Sense.
"Indeed..."
A hint of joy surged in his heart.
The strength of his Divine Sense showed subtle signs of growth.
Today was just a trial; if he Cultivated Visualization daily, his Divine Sense could advance even further.
Since obtaining the liangyi pearl, the strength of his Divine Sense had always been the foundation of Song Yan’s Cultivation.
Whether it was the Sword Formation that required controlling multiple Flying Swords or Sword Intent, both needed extremely strong Divine Sense as support.
The benefits of strong Divine Sense were simply too numerous.
His gaze once again fell upon the ancient golden page before him.
At this moment, the chess score floated quietly in the air, its crisscrossing lines and distinct black and white pieces as rigid as ever.
But Song Yan’s gaze upon it was completely different now.
He put it into his Storage Bag, stood up, and walked to the window.
Outside was the scene of Dragon Pool Mountain after a fresh rain, with lush vegetation and clouds unfurling.
He stood silently for a long time, his thoughts gradually emptying, and the fatigue from Cultivation slowly disappeared with it.
At this moment, his mind became extremely sharp.
His vague idea became gradually clearer and more irrepressible.
"Steady Cultivation is reassuring, but right now, this might be the best opportunity."
"It only requires taking a small, tiny risk."
Song Yan’s eyes gleamed with an unprecedented sharpness... The Hu Family of Dragon Pool Mountain, opposite the Yang Family, was located on the southeastern foothills of the Dragon Pool Mountain range.
Now that the Yang Family was annihilated, only this one of the two major Families on Dragon Pool Mountain remained.
The structure of the Hu Family’s territory was very similar to the Yan Family of Bei Ya Mountain: the circular town at the foot of the mountain was where Family members without Spiritual Roots lived.
Approximately ten thousand people, more than half of whom were Hu Family Disciples.
Just after midnight, most Mortals had already extinguished their lamps and gone to bed, with only a few scattered houses still lit.
The town was peaceful, and the Mortals were oblivious to the disputes happening in the Cultivation World.
Occasionally, a child who couldn’t sleep at night would look out the window.
They would see many people in wide robes, coming from all directions, passing through the town, and walking quickly up the mountain.
In the sky, more than ten streaks of light flashed, flying directly towards the mountain.
Below the mountain peak, the Hu Family Ancestral Hall.
All Cultivators of the Hu Family had already gathered here.
However, the atmosphere was cold and low.
Hu Haotian was kneeling before the ancestral tablets, his gaze vacant and lifeless.
Those Mo Xu Cultivators, after a grand and ostentatious display, had just left so casually.
Anyone could see that it was merely a probing action, or a move to cover their tracks.
The Yang Family was indeed annihilated, but what did that matter?
The Hu Family was left here.
He had lost his gamble.
First, a Golden Core Cultivator arrived to take charge, simultaneously clearing the battlefield and investigating clues about the Demonic Cultivator’s movements, leaving no stone unturned.
His Hu Family could only quietly wait here to be reckoned with.
Outside the protective Formation of the Hu Family Ancestral Hall, several streaks of light dissipated.
They arrayed themselves around the sky above the Formation.
These were the Foundation Establishment Cultivators left by the Six Major Sects, as well as Foundation Establishment Cultivators from other small Families within the Dragon Pool Mountain range.
The Six Major Sects, needless to say, were there to settle the Hu Family’s crime of colluding with Demonic Cultivators.
For the other small Families of Dragon Pool Mountain, this was a once-in-a-century opportunity.
Demonic Cultivators caused chaos, the Yang Family was annihilated, and the Hu Family was to be reckoned with.
Tonight, the sky over Dragon Pool Mountain was about to change.
Song Yan was also one of these more than ten Foundation Establishment Realm Cultivators. He was seated in the northeast direction, with his eyes closed, resting.
However, strangely, Song Yan had no sword box behind him, nor did he carry a Storage Bag.
He was lightly equipped.
All Qi Refinement Stage Cultivators participating in the reckoning had also arrived, surrounding the Hu Family Ancestral Hall so tightly that not even a drop of water could leak through.
"Hu Haotian."
A voice came from above, and Hu Haotian trembled all over.
He hadn’t expected this day to come so quickly.
The leader floating in the sky was a Middle Stage Foundation Establishment Realm Cultivator from Hanging Sword Mountain.
"The Hu Family colluded with the Demonic Path, caused chaos in Dragon Pool, and brought untold suffering to the people."
"The evidence is conclusive, and the crime is unforgivable. We have been ordered by the Upper Sect to come and clean up the house."
He looked down, without mercy in his eyes: "Do you... still have anything to say in your defense?"
"Heh..."
Hu Haotian let out a powerless laugh.
Words of defense?
Things had reached this point; there was no room for defense.
Whatever more he said would only be his last words.
"Where is there any sin? It’s merely the victor being king and the vanquished being bandit!"
Hu Haotian’s breathing was rapid, his body hunched, and he looked up at the many Foundation Establishment Cultivators above with a hoarse voice.
His gaze swept over a few of them, gritting his teeth.
"The Chen Family, the Liu Family, the He Family... In all the days my Hu Family was on Dragon Pool Mountain, did we ever mistreat your three Families!"
Among the three Foundation Establishment Cultivators he named, some remained silent, some frowned slightly, and some let out a cold chuckle.
Yet, not a single one showed a look of shame.
Hu Haotian was right about one thing.
The victor is king, the vanquished is bandit.
But the Hu Family was now the "bandit."
"The Cultivators of Profound Origin Sect took whatever they wanted but never gave a single benefit. My Hu Family also needs to make a living!"
"What did we do wrong after all!"
The Foundation Establishment Cultivator from Hanging Sword Mountain was expressionless, but the one from Profound Origin Sect frowned slightly.
"They never thought of working together, forming alliances. They only sought to curry favor with Profound Origin Sect. That Yang Family deserved to die!"
Hu Haotian’s weathered old face instantly became contorted with rage, his voice hoarse.
Seeing the calm expressions of the Cultivators in the sky, as if the lives of his Hu Family members were merely fish in a barrel.
He suddenly flung his sleeve, his disheveled, furious appearance instantly changing from a patriarch to a madman.
"The Hu Family would rather break than bend!"
These tragic words actually instilled a will to die in all the Hu Family Cultivators within the ancestral hall.
The original atmosphere of despair, of awaiting slaughter, suddenly transformed into a fervent determination to die unyieldingly.
However, the expression of the Cultivator from Hanging Sword Mountain did not change in the slightest. He merely spoke softly: "Everyone, begin."
"The Hu Family of Dragon Pool Mountain, leave no one alive."
As soon as his words fell, countless streaks of light from Spiritual Artifacts and Spells, like stars, emitted radiance in the night.
Spiritual Artifacts soared, cutting arcs, and collectively attacked the protective shield of the Hu Family Ancestral Hall.
That tragic feeling only surged for an instant.
Facing such a grand and powerful attack brought the fear of death.
Countless lights of attack rained down on the protective Formation, splashing ripples of spiritual light.
The Formation trembled slightly, but with the Spiritual Qi support of the Hu Family Disciples within, it barely managed to resist.
But before the Hu Family Disciples could rejoice, they saw the Profound Origin Sect Cultivator in the sky casually point a finger.
The Spiritual Qi belonging to the Foundation Establishment Realm surged out without reservation.
A golden folding fan was thrown into the air, its golden light dazzling, its power unmatched for a moment.
It then transformed into a sharp, long rainbow, slashing towards the protective shield.
Besides him, the Foundation Establishment Realm Cultivators of the Chen, He, and Liu Families also successively made their moves.
Three different colored Foundation Establishment Realm attack powers came simultaneously.
Seeing the Foundation Establishment Cultivators make their move, the Qi Refinement Cultivators became even more energetic.
The other Foundation Establishment Cultivators also did not want to waste time and all began to attack.
"Hu Family Disciples, heed my command!"
Hu Haotian also had Foundation Establishment Realm cultivation. While he, along with the other two Hu Family Foundation Establishment Cultivators, worked together to maintain the Formation, he shouted loudly.
"At this moment, the Hu Family has reached a critical juncture of life and death, a crisis unseen in thousands of years. We have no retreat."
"Fight to the death!"
When the nest is overturned, no egg remains intact.
No one was unaware of this principle, and at this moment, there truly was no way out.
Further provoked, the Hu Family Disciples simultaneously activated their Spiritual Artifacts and Talismans, preparing to fight to the death.
However, after all, outside this Formation, there were more than ten Foundation Establishment Realm Cultivators launching a furious assault.
And the Formation was not some high-grade protective Formation.
After a short while, at a certain moment, the light shield outside the Formation was pierced through by that golden folding fan, creating a hole.
The hole was very small.
But the other parts of the Formation quickly disintegrated rapidly and without resistance, like ice and snow under the scorching sun.
Only at this moment did the Hu Family Disciples within the protective Formation truly feel the suffocating Spiritual Pressure of more than ten Foundation Establishment Realm Cultivators from above!
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