Return

Patriarch Xuanyue stroked his beard for a long time before saying, "This matter is exceedingly bizarre. On the path of cultivation, each person's Dao Foundation is distinct, and the magical power they develop differs as well. Even the devouring methods passed down from antiquity among demonic sects and wicked factions essentially just absorb a portion of blood qi. The more sophisticated ones might swallow a wisp of original spirit and true soul, but where has anyone ever heard of utterly devouring the other party's blood qi and original spirit down to the last scrap? "The descendants of certain divine beasts and spirit creatures slaughter and devour one another too, but that is merely on the level of consuming a deeply nourishing delicacy. If True Dragon scions can pass down their heritage across generations and vast distances to completely consume each other, then couldn't the entity waiting at the very end devour all of you just the same? What if the True Dragon isn't dead at all, but waiting at that final end?" Wei Yuan had never considered such a possibility. At the thought, a chill ran through his heart. True Monarch Xuanyue added, "There is another possibility: the True Dragon is dead but not decayed. As you devour one another and reach the journey's end, it could revive within your body, and you would become the True Dragon." That outcome was no better. Patriarch Xuanyue pondered for a moment, then said slowly, "Even if this old Daoist is overthinking it and scions devouring one another bears no future perils, advancing one's cultivation by leaps and bounds simply by finding and consuming a fellow scion is practically cheating. How could that carry no consequences whatsoever? Most likely, the retribution will hinge on two words: cause and effect." Having already endured a Karma Great Curse once before, Wei Yuan was rather unfazed. "Do not speak of this True Dragon scion matter to anyone. Wait until I have consulted ancient records or sought counsel from my fellow disciples; perhaps we can unearth some clues regarding True Dragon scions. For now, stabilize your foundation. I see that your Dao Foundation has already developed spirituality, but it lacks refined order and holds immense room for growth. Nurture it first; do not rush to break through to a dharma idol." Wei Yuan proceeded to ask many questions regarding the spirituality of dharma idols, and True Monarch Xuanyue gave guidance on each in turn. Once his cultivation dilemmas were resolved, Wei Yuan asked, "Does our Sky Azure Hall have Dao soldiers?" Patriarch Xuanyue said, "We do, but our hall's roots do not lie in the north, so we possess few Dao soldiers—only three hundred." The patriarch put it delicately, but Wei Yuan understood immediately: Sky Azure Hall could only afford to maintain three hundred Dao soldiers. Yet in the war at the Northern Mountain Gate, Sky Azure Hall's merit points were not inferior to any other hall's. That had been achieved through the patriarch and various Perfected Persons putting their lives on the line. Wei Yuan said, "Could these Dao soldiers be temporarily assigned under my command? While in Qingming, I devised several methods for rapidly forming a Dao Foundation. Although the foundations they forge are inferior to ordinary Mortal Tier, they are still Dao Foundations." Patriarch Xuanyue's long brows stirred. After questioning him in detail, he said, "This is a fine thing! No matter how rubbish a Dao Foundation is, it is still a Dao Foundation, incomparable to Body Casting. In any case, the merit points earned by three hundred Dao soldiers are negligible. I will recall them at once so they can accompany you to Qingming." In the blink of an eye, two hours had passed. Wei Yuan took his leave to prepare a flying boat for his return to Qingming. Recalling three hundred Dao soldiers from the front line took time. Furthermore, a flying boat capable of carrying several hundred people differed from one meant to transport Wei Yuan alone, and requisitioning one also required time. Wei Yuan had no choice but to stay one more day. The flying boat was set to depart at noon the following day. In the early morning, Wei Yuan bid farewell to Zhang Sheng and prepared to visit True Monarch Yanshi to check on Eldest Senior Sister. Ji Liuli was also at the Northern Mountain Gate, but she had not come to see him; perhaps she had already entered closed seclusion. Just as Wei Yuan was about to step out, he saw a man as graceful as flowing water glide up. Draped in an aqua-blue robe, every trace of him was refined, every line soft and gentle—enough to make countless women feel ashamed of their own looks in his presence. He approached Wei Yuan and said, "I am Xu Henshui from the Monastery of Creation. Back then, if I hadn't been unable to beat Ji Liuli, it would have been me teaching your cultivation classes." The Xu Henshui before him was already a dharma idol. Although his aura was still somewhat unstable and spiritual light drifted from around him, indicating he had broken through only recently, his standing was clear. Wei Yuan hastily offered a salute. By seniority and status, this person was indeed his teacher. Xu Henshui sized Wei Yuan up and said with a smile, "You truly are an unprecedented genius; a child of karmic destiny is indeed extraordinary. Although the rest of us can barely be called children of karmic destiny, we pale in comparison to you. Heaven knows how they measured your karmic luck back then to declare you had only one zhang and one chi—the chief examiner truly deserved to be executed. "I came here for two matters. The first is official business. Patriarch Danming heard that you intend to transfer three hundred Dao soldiers back to Qingming for training and grew quite interested. He plans to allocate another five hundred Dao soldiers to you so you can train them together. Their merit points will be tallied separately depending on the results." Wei Yuan naturally agreed. Xu Henshui continued, "The other matter is personal. Looking at your Ten Thousand Li of Rivers and Mountains, it seems rather desolate, lacking embellishments and devoid of any scenic wonders. How can such a Dao Foundation lack beautiful vistas to set it off? Therefore, I have a few immortal orchids to give you, which you may plant within your Dao Foundation. When they bloom, they can transform a corner of heaven and earth into an immortal paradise of breathtaking beauty. They will also provide you with a wisp of immortal spiritual qi, so why not take them?" With that, Xu Henshui solemnly brought out an exquisite wooden box containing four white-jade-like bulbs and looked at Wei Yuan with keen anticipation. Delighted, Wei Yuan received the box and expressed his heartfelt thanks. Xu Henshui was taken aback, then chuckled. "How rare that you like them so much. I was wondering if I would have to pay you extra immortal silver and spirit pills." Wei Yuan paused in surprise. "Master Xu is gifting me immortal orchids, and I have nothing to offer in return. I already feel deeply ashamed—how could I possibly demand anything else?" Now Xu Henshui was startled as well. He let out a long sigh. "Fortunately, the heavens have eyes; such a fine youth wasn't led astray by those two." "Which two?" Wei Yuan was completely baffled. "It is nothing. Just tend to the orchids well. This is a mental method that can accelerate the growth of immortal flora. And this is an alchemical recipe; once the immortal orchids mature, their fallen petals can serve as the primary ingredient for it." Wei Yuan accepted the sheets of jade paper and thanked him once more. After Xu Henshui departed, Wei Yuan went to True Monarch Yanshi's immortal palace, only to learn that the True Monarch was waging war beyond the heavens. Ji Liuli had already entered seclusion several days earlier and was still far from emerging. Shortly after, True Monarch Huangyun of the Hall of Jianmu sent someone with a fruit that looked like an ingot of gold: the metal-attribute immortal plant known as Langya Divine Wood. Along with it came nine palm-sized saplings. Known as Qingling Trees, they were superior-grade spirit plants; once planted, they could improve the surrounding environment and enhance spiritual qi, with a single tree influencing an area ten li around. Wei Yuan accepted the gifts. By then, the appointed hour had arrived, so he hurried to the flying-boat field, took roll of the Dao soldiers, and watched as they filed into the flying boat in single file. A massive amount of baggage and materiel was carried aboard as well. True Monarch Danming had been meticulous, squeezing out a portion of supplies from their already tight rations to provide these Dao soldiers with three months' worth of provisions—even including the soldiers from Sky Azure Hall. When noon arrived, the flying boat lifted off and soared into the cloud layer. The large flying boat was both swift and steady, cruising smoothly above the clouds. Wei Yuan did not idle away the time; he walked throughout the vessel, studying its structural design and formation layout. Having fled across ten thousand li in the north, Wei Yuan was now quite experienced with flying craft. He soon realized that the flying boat consumed vastly more spiritual power than the crude craft he had designed himself. Without incident along the journey, the flying boat skirted Zhao and finally arrived in Qingming several days later.