Chapter 485: Chapter 291: A Thousand Calamities to Grow a Longevity Fruit, Observing the Dao in the Subtle, "Innate Dao Fool", Night of the Full Moon (Part 2)
This "Innate Dao Fool" was related to the Great Dao. Now that he was about to step into the Upper Three Grades, his cultivation of the Great Dao could not be delayed for a single moment.
[Emperor Orange Fate Grid Unlocked - Innate Dao Fool]
[Emperor’s Orange Life Chart - Innate Dao Fool, Refinement Level increased to 10%]
[Emperor’s Orange Life Chart (Innate Dao Fool): A hundred refinements to master all Daoist Skills, a thousand tribulations to bear the Longevity Fruit. Henceforth, like Fuyao, I will soar far into the Cyan Netherworld, ascend the Nine Heavens to rank among Celestial Immortals. I will study the bright moon and observe the micro of the True Martial. Of the three thousand Great Daos, I am the Dao Fool.]
[Observing the Micro (Basic Level): A natural Daoist who observes the Dao in the minute. Your talent for cultivation is greatly enhanced, making it easier to comprehend the Great Dao and granting a chance to grasp the power of Profound Techniques.]
As the lines of information floated before his eyes, Lu Mingyuan was lost in thought.
By now, he had acquired quite a few Emperor Orange Fate Grids.
For example, there was "Martial Saint," which focused on Martial Dao cultivation; "Celestial Exiled Immortal," which stabilized his Daoxin and increased his charm; and "True Dragon Emperor" and "Python and Sparrow Swallowing Dragon," which controlled Destiny.
This "Innate Dao Fool" was his fifth Emperor Orange Fate Grid, its focus entirely placed on comprehending the Dao.
The Upper Three Grades were all about Integration with the Dao.
This "Dao" was not the Dao of the Taoist Sect.
It was the Dao of the Great Dao, far broader than the Dao of the Taoist Sect or Taoism.
The Martial Dao, Confucian Dao, and Buddhist Dao were all encompassed within the Great Dao.
The combat power and strength of those in the Upper Three Grades depended entirely on their level of mastery of the Great Dao.
It sounded abstract because the Great Dao itself was an ethereal and illusory concept.
If one were to measure it with something concrete, it could only be with the two words "Profound Techniques."
The measure of one’s strength in the Great Dao was precisely the Mysteries of the Great Dao.p>Profound Techniques could be anything and everything: the bright moon and stars, the essence of a gentle breeze, the fire of a burning marsh, the water of a dark abyss, the root of an immortal tree. They were often the true meaning that interpreted the Heaven and Earth Rules, and from them, all things were formed.
Why could Immortals bring the dead back to life?
It was because Immortals had mastered the Profound Technique of Life. They could reconstruct the Flesh Body, and by capturing the Profound Technique of Origin, they could restore the Divine Soul.
Why could they shatter the void and traverse the long river of time?
It was because Immortals had mastered the Profound Technique of Space, allowing them to perceive its mirror-like structure. By comprehending the Profound Technique of Time, they could control its flow.
Profound Techniques were the most fundamental form of the Heaven and Earth Rules.
Lu Mingyuan had previously read through ancient texts and found the descriptions of the Upper Three Grades to be quite perplexing.
Now, seeing this "Innate Dao Fool," his confusion was finally resolved.
’Integration with the Dao...’
’It means one must first master the Great Dao before they can achieve Integration.’
For example, the Martial Dao included the Profound Technique of the Sword Dao, the Profound Technique of the Palm Dao, the Mysteries of Fist Way, and many other such Heaven and Earth Rules.
Only by mastering them could one truly achieve Integration.
’So this is what the Upper Three Grades are.’
Lu Mingyuan felt he now understood what kind of beings the cultivators of the Upper Three Grades truly were.
The Wanluo Sword Immortal, whom he had just fought, was able to destroy heaven and earth with a mere wave of his hand.
’Was it because he had mastered the Profound Technique of the Sword Dao?’
’With the Profound Technique of the Sword Dao, even the most ordinary strike could unleash terrifying power.’p>After the Middle Fifth Grade, all cultivation seemed to reach a level of Returning to the Essence.
There were no flashy Cultivation Techniques, no influence from special constitutions.
All Divine Techniques seemed to become a contest, a struggle in pursuit of the Great Dao.
Those Immortals, simply by standing in a place, became the Heaven and Earth Rules themselves, capable of casually summoning phenomena like gathering dark clouds, purple mists that stretched for thousands of miles, or lightning that rained down upon the world.
...
Meanwhile, far away in the Great Yan Imperial Capital, a different scene was unfolding before the entrance of Holy Bright Palace, the political heart of the realm.
The Chief Minister of Great Yan, Chen Ke, was dressed in a vermilion official’s robe. A faint, dark mustache graced his upper lip; the youth of yesterday now possessed the dignified air of a Prime Minister.
His eyes were clear as he faced the last rays of the setting sun, emerging from beneath the symmetrically grand, black-tiled eaves of the palace. He straightened his sleeves and descended the steps.
Before him was the boundless Great Flame Dragon Wall. Atop the ramparts of Dragon Wall Plaza, the afterglow of the sunset was still faintly visible.
"Reporting to the Chief Minister, the Endless Pavilion has not been reporting its recent activities to the Court."
A voice came from behind. It was a Hanlin Academy Scholar, respectfully reporting to Chen Ke.
Chen Ke turned to the side, pulling his gaze back from the distance and letting it shift to the speaker.
"The Endless Pavilion..."
"Isn’t that the organization His Majesty absorbed back when he was still in the Eastern Palace Mansion?"
"If I recall, they were originally minions under Prince Jin’s Mansion."
Chen Ke slowly recalled the instructions His Majesty had given him before leaving the capital.
One of those instructions had indeed been to be wary of the Endless Pavilion’s movements.
He was told to be especially careful of the Nan Zhou National Preceptor, Xun Yu.
Ever since the Military Saint destroyed Nan Zhou’s Dragon Vein, it had become an insignificant little country that could be crushed with a single hand.
The name Xun Yu hadn’t been mentioned in Great Yan for two years.
It was as if the man had vanished from the face of the earth.
But since the warning had come from Lu Mingyuan himself, Chen Ke dared not be careless.
"Who is the current leader of the Infinite Faction?" Chen Ke asked after a moment’s thought.
"Master Bai Yue."
"And the previous one?"
"The former leader of the Infinite Faction, Luo Ying, is currently missing," the Hanlin Academy Scholar replied.
Chen Ke frowned. "There must be some hidden connection between them."
"First, find Luo Ying. Then, revoke all of the Endless Pavilion’s privileges in the Imperial Capital and throw anyone guilty of dereliction of duty into the great prison."
Then, as if recalling something else, Chen Ke continued, "What of the Seventh Prince and the Ninth Prince? Have they been making any moves?"
"None. The only places the Seventh Prince frequents are the God of Wealth Temple, where he goes to pay respects, the local merchant guilds, and his own Prince Mansion. He has gone nowhere else. As for the Ninth Prince, he is even quieter. He almost never leaves his residence on weekdays. Perhaps once every half a month, he will visit a teahouse for some tea or a restaurant to buy wine."
Chen Ke nodded.
"And what of the Great Nether Empress?"
"That Demoness has also been well-behaved. She hasn’t made a move."
The Hanlin Academy Scholar said, "All of Great Yan’s defensive forces are concentrated around the dungeons. If the Great Nether Divine Venerable wants to break into the city, she must first get past Dao Lord Fuyao, the New Tributor invited by the Dao Alliance."
Chen Ke gave a slight nod. "The fact that Dao Lord Fuyao was willing to travel thousands of miles from the Sword Palace to guard the Imperial Capital shows how seriously this matter is being taken."
"Continue your surveillance. There can be no mistakes regarding these three major affairs."
"Yes, sir!"
...
「Night fell.」
Chariot after chariot and warhorse after warhorse slowly entered the territory of the Golden Crow Country.
The dormant volcanoes, twinkling with the light of flames, lent a strange beauty to the night sky.
With Luo Qiufu leading the way, everything fell into place.
The Great Yan Army successfully entered the capital of the Golden Crow Country.
Lu Mingyuan also took the opportunity to calm his mind and consolidate his Cultivation.
After absorbing the Destiny of the Six Kingdoms, his Cultivation had successfully advanced to the Late Stage Celestial Human Realm, and the Refinement Level of his "Python and Sparrow Swallowing Dragon" had reached 50%.
With the boost from his Destiny, his Cultivation had risen accordingly.
In the quaint, ancient-style courtyard Luo Qiufu had arranged for him, Lu Mingyuan recalled the faint traces of insight he had gained during the day.
He had benefited greatly from his battles with the Cultivators of the Six Kingdoms.
He had turned many of his old theories and unpracticed techniques into reality.
Before he knew it, the night had grown late.
The bright moonlight spilled into the courtyard, putting Lu Mingyuan in a trance.
’So, today is the Mid-Autumn Festival.’
He looked up at the moon, which hung like a perfect disc, seemingly close enough to touch, and felt a sense of familiarity.
「Elsewhere.」
In another bedroom within the Golden Crow Palace, a few candles by the bed cast a fiery-hued glow.
Half of Sui Yuqing’s face was cast in a warm, orange light, while the other was shrouded in shadow. One side represented the evil of her Demonic Thoughts, the other, the rational Divine Sense of a Fairy.
"You had such a perfect opportunity during the day. Why didn’t you seize it?"
"That boy absorbed the Destiny of the Six Kingdoms; he’s practically overflowing with it now! If you use that Destiny to fill the gap in your Integration, you’ll be 100% guaranteed to break through to the Upper Three Grades!"
"Tonight is a golden opportunity. If you miss this, you may never enter the Thirteenth Realm in this lifetime! How will you ever overcome your obstacles and pursue the Path of Longevity?!"
A sinister, cold voice echoed in Sui Yuqing’s ears.
Its timbre was identical to her own, but the tone was worlds apart.
"Shut up!"
"Get out of my body!"
Sui Yuqing gritted her teeth, desperately fighting against the Demonic Thoughts and Karmic Force. She had no strength left to suppress the voice in her mind and could only listen to its endless, bewitching whispers.
...
Comments