Beyond the ninth tier of the Initial Realm lay the Awakening Realm.
This realm had no specific subdividing tiers.
To put it simply, it consisted of just a single stage.
And the Awakening Realm, just as the name implied, was the beginning of excavating the body's latent potential and awakening the mythical genes slumbering within.
The human form held endless wonders. Yet before the global mutation, the vast majority of people could not tap into even a ten-thousandth of their latent potential, held back as they were by the shackles of heaven and earth. Following the mutation, however, the path of evolution had opened, and those shackles had vanished.
The genetic locks hidden in the deepest recesses of the human body were shattered, unleashing boundless potential.
This was the foundation of life's great leap forward.
Upon reaching this realm, one's genes began their divine transformation, granting bizarre and wondrous powers—making one a true Awakened in every sense of the word.
Though those in the Initial Realm wielded various abilities, they were ultimately still human at best, having merely knocked upon the gates of the evolutionary path.
Now, Lu Yuan had broken through the ninth tier of the Initial Realm and officially stood atop the Awakening Realm.
He had surpassed every scrap of effort from his entire ten years in his previous life.
Thus, as he sensed this surge of power, even he could not suppress a look of delight in his eyes.
Yet after reaching the Awakening Realm, no specific elemental ability manifested for Lu Yuan.
The reason was simple: the Eleven-Tier Blood Pagoda he had just assimilated had unified and channeled all of his genetic potential.
If one had to name his ability, it was the Blood-Qi Pagoda.
Once the pagoda manifested, his physical form became as unyielding as towering peaks.
He could easily crush an Awakened of the same rank to death with raw force alone—an attribute completely incomparable to mundane abilities like fire or ice.
In his previous life, he had seen the mighty figure who had fused with the Eleven-Tier Blood Pagoda.
A single stomp from that man had struck like the trampling of a primeval behemoth, shifting mountains and rivers in its wake.
Of course, Lu Yuan had only just arrived at this realm and had yet to adapt, meaning he could not unleash its full might all at once. But as he continued to evolve and grow stronger, the internal and external would merge beneath the Blood-Qi Pagoda, turning his body into divine gold—impervious and indestructible.
Coupled with the complete Daodejing, shaking the stars and traversing the cosmos would be well within his grasp in the future.
"This power truly is exceptional."
Lu Yuan swung a fist lightly. His blood and qi surged like a torrent, his sinews and bones chiming in harmony.
He was exceptionally cautious, however, fearing that applying even a fraction more strength would cause the villa behind him to collapse.
After all, his current strength was terrifying, far surpassing anything ordinary humans could fathom.
In fact, Lu Yuan felt an urge to march straight out and throw himself into a wild battle, but he held back.
He knew there was no need. It was far wiser to finish attuning to every divine artifact before striding across this New Era with invincible grace!
"The Ancient Bodhi Tree, the complete Daodejing, the Daluo sword core, and the Eleven-Tier Blood Pagoda have all been used. What comes next?"
At this moment, Lu Yuan turned his focus away from his body and looked toward the remaining divine artifacts. These could not be absorbed into his flesh; they were external items, yet each possessed marvelous utility.
First, he picked up the Ghost Seal and the mysterious small cauldron, both of which emanated faint wisps of light.
The Ghost Seal remained much as it had before, exuding an inexplicable malevolence.
Holding it in hand brought a piercing chill.
The mysterious small cauldron was unremarkable by comparison—palm-sized and teal-green, densely inscribed with myriad patterns.
Cauldrons had been used for ancestral sacrifices in ancient times. They were ceremonial vessels signifying noble prestige, not meant for commoners.
Both items served as keys to open the Qin Imperial Mausoleum and constituted one of the most vital parts of Lu Yuan's grand plan.
Deep within the imperial mausoleum on Mount Li lay something he had to obtain no matter what:
a supreme breathing method!
If visualization methods blazed and illuminated the path of evolution for humanity, breathing methods were the technique to push one's inner power to its utmost limits.
Yet both visualization and breathing methods were exceedingly rare.
They were largely unobtainable unless one belonged to a faction backed by ancient bloodlines and heritages, or came from an extraterrestrial existence.
Lu Yuan knew of a few breathing methods, but none could hold a candle to the one hidden within the Qin Imperial Mausoleum. He was bound to make a journey there eventually, which made this small cauldron and the Ghost Seal indispensable; without them, he would never make it inside.
After all, that was the resting place of the Ancestral Dragon. How could one enter without the proper method and keys?
However, neither item was of immediate use to him right now.
Lu Yuan set them aside for the moment.
He turned and picked up the Innate Qi Robe.
Unlike its previously ragged, patched state, the Innate Qi Robe had become as smooth, sheer, and light as silk.
It was translucent, feeling weightless in his hands and delightful to the touch.
Yet despite looking flimsy enough to tear with a single pull, it was actually woven from an extraordinary material—impervious to water and fire, indestructible to lightning.
Lu Yuan even tested it; with his current might, he could barely leave the faintest mark on it.
Looking closer, one could see a profound radiance clinging to the Innate Qi Robe. It was the post-mutation energy of heaven and earth, which the garment naturally absorbed.
One could easily foresee the unimaginable benefits of donning it.
As for why Lu Yuan reached for it first, there were two reasons.
First, though his physique was terrifying and rivaled steel, that did not mean he was invulnerable to harm. The Innate Qi Robe would vastly bolster his defense, rendering him impervious to harm.
Some claimed that the strong were forged through trials and wounds, but Lu Yuan cared nothing for such rhetoric. Only by staying alive could one reach the very end. Why refuse an exceptional tool if he had one?
As for the second reason...
After fusing with the Eleven-Tier Blood Pagoda, Lu Yuan was covered in blood. He had to wash up and intended to put the robe on right after.
Before long, he headed into the villa's bathroom to clean himself off.
When he walked back out into the courtyard, his clothing appeared identical to what he had worn before, showing no visible change.
Indeed, this was another ability of the Innate Qi Robe: it could alter its appearance according to his will.
With it on, he no longer had to worry about ruining his clothes in battle. It was also ideal for concealment, allowing him to deliver fatal strikes to unsuspecting enemies at critical moments.
If not for qualities like these, why would Lu Yuan have spent three whole months collecting these specific artifacts?
They were all the absolute best, suited perfectly to him.
Having sorted himself out, Lu Yuan calmed his mind and turned toward the Ziwu Heaven-Mending Furnace, an artifact once used by Immortal Ge to refine pills.
He had possessed it in his previous life as well, so he was thoroughly familiar with its function.
It was straightforward: once activated, it automatically gathered the ambient spirit of heaven and earth, or any spiritual fruits and exotic herbs placed inside, refining them into pills.
Consuming them aided cultivation, much like the legendary elixirs ancient immortals were said to take.
Of course, as an heirloom of Immortal Ge, even activating the Ziwu Heaven-Mending Furnace required a specific technique.
Coincidentally, the ancient booklet Old Man Ge had given him contained records of that very method.
Lu Yuan pondered for a moment. In his previous life, he had never managed to unleash the furnace's true purpose before meeting his end, which had been a great regret. He might as well try it now to see the results.
Acting on the thought, he opened the ancient booklet. A single glance was all it took for him to fully grasp it.
There was no helping it; beneath the amplification of his billion-fold talent, his comprehension was simply monstrous.
Lu Yuan drew a deep breath.
Employing the techniques described in the booklet, he tapped the Ziwu Heaven-Mending Furnace at several distinct angles.
*Clang!*
The next instant, the Ziwu Heaven-Mending Furnace swelled to ten feet in size and hovered in midair.
Dazzling beams of light shot out from every inch of its surface.
The furnace lid vibrated, generating immense suction like a black hole, drawing in all the mysterious ambient energy that had gathered around the villa after the mutation!
Those were wisps of heaven-and-earth quintessence, a unique energy born exclusively after the global mutation.
It was thanks to this energy that all living things embarked on the path of evolution, much like how organisms depended on oxygen.
Ordinary Awakened had to rely on visualization methods and accumulate it day and night to absorb it into their bodies.
Yet now, upon being activated, the Ziwu Heaven-Mending Furnace automatically drew that energy inward.
Such a method was nothing short of astonishing.
As time ticked by, the glow radiating from the furnace's mouth grew increasingly brilliant and blinding.
Lu Yuan knew it was gathering the spiritual essence of heaven and earth, refining it into a pill.
From the looks of it, the process would take some time and would not finish anytime soon.
"Forget it, let it refine on its own," Lu Yuan said with a shake of his head, choosing to ignore it for now.
Three divine items remained before him: the sarira, the wordless stele, and the Heaven-Shaking Bow.
After a brief pause, Lu Yuan sat cross-legged before the wordless stele.
The stele's size remained unchanged, but its surface was uniquely smooth, like a polished mirror reflecting his image. Irregular, peculiar patterns rippled across it, impossible to describe.
If one had to find an analogy, they resembled bolts of lightning falling from the highest heavens.
"In my previous life, someone comprehended a peerless divine art from this wordless stele."
"Rumor had it that person spent three full years in meditation. I wonder how long it will take with my current talent."
Lu Yuan murmured to himself, his eyes brimming with contemplation and anticipation.
A divine art was essentially a combat technique.
Much like martial arts forms, it channeled the inner power of the body to combat foes.
Yet a divine art was vastly more powerful. Performing what ordinary mortals could not—that was a divine art, capable of overturning rivers and upending oceans.
Of course, weak Awakened were practically incapable of mastering divine arts. Even if they obtained one, their physical bodies could not endure the strain, preventing them from unleashing its true might—unless they were gifted with extraordinary innate constitution. Only upon reaching the Shackle Realm could one execute them smoothly.
Lu Yuan's physique was already monstrous. Having fused with numerous divine items, he could no longer be judged by common sense.
If he comprehended a divine art, he would naturally be able to wield it.
With that in mind, he focused his concentration entirely on the wordless stele.
Gradually, the irregular patterns upon the stone seemed to stir.
Soon, Lu Yuan witnessed an enormous bolt of lightning transform into a thunder dragon, carrying a primeval aura as it dove from the nine heavens like an apocalyptic tribulation.
*Rumble!*
A colossal roar echoed through his mind like divine retribution from the heavens.
*Crack... Crack...*
At that exact moment, fine fissures spread across the wordless stele. With a sharp pop, it shattered into dust, sinking into the soil and vanishing completely.
Lu Yuan did not react to its disappearance at all, a thoughtful expression resting on his face.
He checked the time: ten minutes had passed.
In those ten minutes, he had fully comprehended the divine art inscribed upon the wordless stele.
That expert of old had meditated in bitter solitude for three whole years.
Yet he had needed only ten minutes?
Lu Yuan was somewhat at a loss for words. The boon granted by the Ancient Bodhi Tree was truly staggering.
Pushing aside stray thoughts, he closed his eyes. A streak of lightning flashed across his sea of consciousness.
Characters etched themselves into his mind one after another.
This was the peerless divine art from the wordless stele: the Jade Emperor Orthodox Heavenly Thunder Art!
Once cast, it allowed the wielder to command the power of lightning as easily as an extension of their own limbs. The stronger the user, the mightier the lightning art became, capable of cleaving the firmament.
Lightning inherently possessed the purest yang and ultimate firmness, embodying destruction itself.
Lu Yuan could already picture how terrifying it would be to command thunder against his enemies in the future.
Comparing him to an orthodox thunder deity of myth would hardly be an exaggeration.
"As expected of the ancestral court of Daoism. I'll gladly accept this divine art from Mount Longhu." Lu Yuan smiled faintly. If those old Daoists ever found out that he had obtained such a formidable art for a mere ten million, they would probably jump out of their robes in frustration.
He did not linger on practicing it further, turning his gaze instead toward the sarira.
Left behind by the passing of an eminent monk, it contained a grand Buddhist divine art.
Yet even the most exceptionally gifted Awakened would find it impossible to comprehend.
The reason was simple: it required consecration by the Ancient Bodhi Tree; otherwise, it was entirely useless to whoever held it.
Every move Lu Yuan made had been planned in advance, leaving nothing to chance.
He picked up the sarira, paused briefly in thought, and closed his eyes.
Holding it close to his glabella, he resonated with the Ancient Bodhi Tree already fused into his mind.
Instantly, the gentle chanting of Buddhas echoed from the ancient tree.
At the same time, the sarira emitted strands of soft Buddhist radiance, falling into harmony with the tree.
Before long, characters manifested from the sarira, hovering in midair before surging into Lu Yuan's glabella and disappearing.
As the final character entered, fractures spiderwebbed across the sarira until it dissolved into fine powder, as though it had never existed at all.
Just like the wordless stele, once someone fully comprehended its essence, it vanished on its own.
By now, Lu Yuan also knew the name of the divine art held within the sarira.
Buddha Kingdom in the Palm!
Once comprehended and unleashed with absolute strength, a single hand could manifest a boundless Buddhist kingdom. It formed a domain that trapped enemies while mobilizing the kingdom's divine might to obliterate their souls and physical forms. It was a supreme art fully on par with the Jade Emperor Orthodox Heavenly Thunder Art.
At this realization, Lu Yuan's eyes lit up. He gently extended his right hand.
Buddhist radiance swirled across his palm, revealing glimpses of a vast, sacred realm within.
However, because he had only just grasped the basics and lacked the requisite raw power, the Buddhist land remained faint and indistinct, far from fully formed.
Even so, the immense power of this divine art was unmistakable.
"It truly hasn't let me down."
Lu Yuan closed his hand, a smile touching his face.
With these two divine arts, his combat prowess would increase drastically.
Of course, unleashing their full potential would require persistent practice until he achieved complete mastery.
When that time came, they would surely stand among his greatest assets for striding across the world undefeated!
"What a pity. Though comprehending these Daoist and Buddhist arts has boosted my strength, my cultivation realm hasn't broken through yet. I'm just a sliver away." Setting the arts aside, Lu Yuan examined his internal state.
Successively fusing multiple divine items had brought him to the Awakening Realm, mere steps from another breakthrough.
Yet he had already used everything at his disposal, leaving him in a bit of a bind.
*Clang!*
Just as Lu Yuan felt at a loss, a hum rang in his ears.
He turned to look and saw that the Ziwu Heaven-Mending Furnace had stabilized, its brilliant light completely retracted.
And hovering at the furnace's mouth was a thumb-sized, pure-white pill, gently bobbing up and down!
Right.
How could he have forgotten about that?
Chapter 32