After several months of grueling cultivation, Wei Yuan finally grasped the fundamental principles of a mindscape world.
A mindscape world was a new heaven and earth opened within the void, centered around a dharma idol. The more complete a mindscape world became, the closer it grew to the real world, until it finally became a true heaven and earth of its own.
Wei Yuan's Smoke and Fire of the Mortal World was somewhat unique. Bound to the Qingming Immortal Stone, one formed the exterior and the other the interior; thus, as Qingming grew stronger, so did the Smoke and Fire of the Mortal World.
Physical distance across the mortal realm was meaningless to a mindscape world. No matter where Wei Yuan was, the Smoke and Fire of the Mortal World remained within his sea of consciousness, as was true for all Scenery Command cultivators.
Wei Yuan himself served as a mobile conduit for the Smoke and Fire of the Mortal World, capable of manifesting artifacts and spiritual objects out of it. However, once away from Qingming, the world itself could no longer be manifested into reality.
At this stage, Wei Yuan's cultivation consisted of shrouding the Smoke and Fire of the Mortal World in primal chaos qi. Once it was completely sealed off, the spiritual essence, vitality, and even karmic luck within would no longer leak out. It would become self-contained, forming the embryonic shape of a true heaven and earth.
From then on, the spirituality inside the Smoke and Fire of the Mortal World could gestate and transform on its own, like a seed putting down roots and sprouting. This laid the foundation for tearing through the void in the future, descending into this world, and turning illusion into reality.
The dry, arduous study happened to complement the brutal war. Over these past few months, casualties among the ordinary soldiers under Wei Yuan's command in the Seventh Garrison had exceeded two hundred thousand, the Qingming Army had suffered forty thousand casualties, and over ten thousand Dao soldiers at peak Body Casting had fallen in battle.
Correspondingly, nearly a million Liao had fallen in battle, yet the Worthy Prince of the Left still refused to relent, massing more than 1.5 million troops directly opposite Wei Yuan.
Amid the endless warfare, Wei Yuan seized an opportunity to slay the Liao dharma idol who shot snake-transforming arrows. However, he had yet to catch sight of the Scourge of the North, nor had he found an opportunity to strike at the silver-haired woman.
Under Wei Yuan's direction, the Seventh Garrison had turned into an absolute nightmare for the Liao cavalry.
Around the garrison city, various trenches stretched outward for dozens of li, connecting a thousand outposts large and small. The artillery finally exceeded five hundred cannons, their fire blanketing the entire fortress zone. The only issue was an ammunition shortage under the continuous heavy fighting; Qingming was producing shells at full capacity, but it was still far from enough.
During this time, the Reincarnation Furnace had refined nearly a million Liao corpses, along with the remains of numerous high cultivators, noticeably increasing the primal chaos qi surrounding the Smoke and Fire of the Mortal World.
As Wei Yuan's study progressed deeper, his influence over the nature of the world manifested clearly upon the Smoke and Fire of the Mortal World.
The deeper Wei Yuan's understanding of the Great Dao of heaven and earth grew, the thinner the layer of primal chaos qi covering the Smoke and Fire of the Mortal World became, allowing it to envelop a greater area. His efficiency in harvesting qi also improved; for every mathematical formula Wei Yuan mastered, the primal chaos qi he obtained increased slightly.
By this point, Wei Yuan truly understood in a visceral way the saying that knowledge changes one's destiny.
After refining a million Liao corpses, Wei Yuan's required cultivation time—originally nine hundred and ninety-six years—had been reduced to seven hundred and eleven years in just a few months. The progress was astonishing.
On this day, having just cracked one of fourteen sub-problems derived from a single formula, Wei Yuan rubbed his stinging eyes, supported his exhausted lower back, and walked out of the study.
Dusk was approaching. The dying sun was blood-red, its crimson glow bathing everything in a sanguine hue. Though the world was teeming with life, Wei Yuan suddenly felt an indescribable loneliness and desolation. Like a solitary shadow over a freezing river, it felt as though he was the only soul left in the entire world.
A thought struck Wei Yuan. He knew this was the result of too many lives perishing on this land over the recent months, leaving an immense accumulation of karmic debt and lingering resentment between heaven and earth. If ordinary people lingered here for long, they would grow despondent, hopeless, and violent, driven either to kill or be killed.
Just then, he felt an unusual sensation, as if a frail new life had been born within the Smoke and Fire of the Mortal World. It was an exceedingly ordinary life, yet for some reason, it drew Wei Yuan's attention.
Wei Yuan sent his divine sense into the Smoke and Fire of the Mortal World. By the foot of Jade Mountain stood a youth, slender and upright, appearing twelve or thirteen years old. He looked around with a bewildered expression, not knowing where he was or why he had been born.
This youth had a square face, elongated eyes, pointed ears, a robust physique, and only four digits on each hand and foot. He was unmistakably a member of the Liao Clan!
Wei Yuan did not disturb him, walking instead toward Jade Mountain. Floating upon the black water pool were dozens of flowers of the other shore. With a sweep of his divine thought, Wei Yuan realized that over the past few months, the souls of slain Liao and humans had steadily been drawn inside.
Wei Yuan had set a rule long ago: if the souls of fallen Dao soldiers were drawn in through the Gate of the Many Realms, they were to be sent back out so as not to interfere with their reincarnation.
Those who fell in battle within the mountain gate of the Palace of Grand Beginning had formed karmic ties with the sect, which counted as a stroke of blessed fortune; Wei Yuan naturally would not disrupt their cycle of rebirth.
As for the Liao souls, Wei Yuan had paid them little mind.
The Northern Liao immortal was present in this land and had his lifebound immortal treasure suppressing the domain. Liao souls naturally returned to heaven and earth; even a True Monarch could hardly interfere, and doing so offered no benefit.
Back in the Western Regions, even within Qingming, Wei Yuan had needed the aid of Maiden Yin-Yang to contest a few souls against the Ancestral Shaman.
He had not expected that ever since blooming, the flowers of the other shore had been silently absorbing Liao souls, multiplying from one to two, two to four, until sixty-four blossoms now floated upon the black water.
As the Smoke and Fire of the Mortal World grew more complete and the flowers of the other shore bloomed, the first complete Liao had finally reincarnated within the Smoke and Fire of the Mortal World.
Just then, several mortals hurried over, eyeing the newborn Liao youth from head to toe. They looked puzzled, seemingly unable to understand why this youth looked so different from themselves.
At that moment, an exceptionally handsome youth stepped out from the crowd and said, "All things are born under heaven, and all living beings are equal. Though he looks different from us, he is a spirit born of nature, just like us. We are all straw dogs, no different in the end."
Understanding dawned on the mortals' faces. They waved toward the Liao youth. Seeming to grasp their intent, the youth walked over and blended into the crowd.
Standing on high, Wei Yuan watched the scene in silence.
He still remembered that this handsome youth was named Jun Weizhi, a name bestowed by heaven and earth. Born with divine sense far beyond ordinary people, his awakening granted him the ability to process sixty-four tasks simultaneously.
Several chains suddenly manifested around Jun Weizhi's body. One of them shattered silently, and his cultivation surged upward, stepping into the late Dao Foundation realm in the blink of an eye.
Jun Weizhi suddenly looked up, glancing toward where Wei Yuan stood.
Wei Yuan felt his scalp prickle and felt a twinge of guilt, forcing himself to remain motionless. In theory, as long as Wei Yuan wished it, Jun Weizhi should not be able to see him. The Smoke and Fire of the Mortal World was Wei Yuan's mindscape world; here, he was omnipotent.
He ought to have been omniscient as well, but the Smoke and Fire of the Mortal World had grown too vast. Over the past year, many people who died natural deaths in Qingming had reincarnated here, and the mortal population had surpassed a million.
With his limited divine sense, real-time omniscience was no longer possible.
After looking in Wei Yuan's direction for a moment, Jun Weizhi turned and walked toward the Battle Saint Hall. Spurred by curiosity, Wei Yuan followed him inside.
Jun Weizhi headed straight for the top floor. There were four quiet chambers there, which had always been the exclusive domain of Han Li and Long Wushuang, leaving two rooms vacant.
Jun Weizhi's ascent quickly stirred the entire Battle Saint Hall. Several people leapt out to block him along the way, only to be defeated by Jun Weizhi in a single strike.
Upon reaching the fifth floor, a door opened, and Fuyao emerged. Cradling a jade hoe, she was clearly on her way to tend spiritual plants. Jun Weizhi paused, glanced at Fuyao, and said, "Let us go up together."
Fuyao actually nodded. "All right."
Side by side, the two ascended the stairs and reached the sixth floor.
A door at the center of the sixth floor swung open, and Dugu Cangqiong stepped out, planting himself squarely in front of Jun Weizhi. He barked, "Who gave you permission to come up here? In this Ascending Immortality Tower, if you want to climb higher, let your strength do the talking! I earned my residence on a floor this high because I am a natural-born powerhouse, blessed by the Great Dao and possessing a naturally awakened sacred physique! A puny little..."
Jade-colored light had just surfaced across Dugu Cangqiong's body when Jun Weizhi reached out and gave a light tap of his finger, scattering the jade light. He then shoved him aside with a casual sweep of his hand and continued toward the top floor.
Dugu Cangqiong's expression flickered with a mix of shock and rage. He yelled, "H-How could you break through the great limit of heaven and earth to reach the late Dao Foundation realm? The third one should have been me!"
Ignoring him, Jun Weizhi continued upward with Fuyao.
Dugu Cangqiong suddenly came to his senses and pounced toward Fuyao, clawing toward the center of her back. "And what right do you have to go up?!"
His fingers had barely grazed her back when an aqueous blue glow rippled across Fuyao's body—the chilling radiance of the Bingli Divine Wood. In an instant, his fingers were frozen solid, completely immobilized.
Fuyao then swung the jade hoe backward in a smooth arc, striking Dugu Cangqiong squarely between the legs. Every human expression imaginable crossed Dugu Cangqiong's face as he slowly sank into a crouch.
Only after a long while did he squeeze a few words through his clenched teeth: "Late stage again..."
Only in this moment did he truly understand Fuyao's true nature: beautiful, kind-hearted, and ruthlessly vicious.
Jun Weizhi and Fuyao climbed to the top floor and saw Han Li and Long Wushuang standing in the hall, waiting for them.
Jun Weizhi bowed courteously. "From this day forward, I hope to study the profound mysteries of heaven and earth alongside you two gentlemen."
Han Li and Long Wushuang returned the bow together. "As it should be."
Fuyao, however, let out a soft sigh. "Chains upon chains bind heaven and earth, yet not one has been unlocked in ages. What are we to do with such a lazy Creation Immortal Venerable?"
The other three fell silent; no one spoke.
Watching from above, Wei Yuan let out a heavy snort. He considered blasting them with a few bolts of heavenly lightning, but felt that would be far too obvious and might blow his cover. His face dark, he turned and left.
Down on the sixth floor, Dugu Cangqiong returned to his room, his body's jade glow illuminating the entire space. In a rare display of composure, he calmed his mind to comprehend his state and finally sensed the heavy chains binding him.
He pulled and twisted, bit with his teeth and burned with flame, exhausting every method imaginable over several days until he finally snapped one of the chains, successfully advancing to the late Dao Foundation realm.
Dugu Cangqiong was ecstatic and let out a long, thunderous roar!
Halfway through, he realized the soundproofing in the meditation chamber was exceptional; his roar couldn't travel outside.
So he opened the door, sat cross-legged in the corridor, and roared at the top of his lungs.
Once finished, Dugu Cangqiong strode forward and climbed to the seventh floor, only to freeze when he realized there were only four quiet chambers.
A few days later, Wei Yuan spent an entire day studying the supreme truths of heaven and earth with True Monarch Yanshi. The lesson was so grueling it made him wish for death, so he entered the Smoke and Fire of the Mortal World for an inspection to relieve some stress.
Naturally, the ones on his mind were the four geniuses who had been first to break through to the late Dao Foundation realm.
Upon arriving at the Battle Saint Hall, Wei Yuan discovered that on the terrace outside the four quiet chambers, a shed had been built at some point. Sitting cross-legged inside the shed, Dugu Cangqiong was diligently cultivating.
Chapter 709