A collective sharp intake of breath echoed across Haoyang Peak. All the disciples stared at Huang Tian as if looking at a monster. Mastering a minor divine ability to perfection in a mere moment—was he even human?!
Seated high upon the dais, Master Yuyang was utterly stunned as well. Only after a long while did he recover his wits, asking hesitantly, "You... Huang Tian, could it be you have studied the Water-Fire Devil-Refining Great Mudra before?"
Huang Tian shook his head. "Today was the first time I saw Master perform it. Before this, I had never studied it."
Master Yuyang fell silent upon hearing this, his heart churning with emotions he could hardly name—shock, wild joy, defeat, and everything in between.
To the side, Xiao Chong opened his mouth to speak but hesitated. In the end, he tilted his head back toward the heavens and let out a heavy sigh.
Could the gap between one person and another truly be this vast?
If Huang Tian had taken an entire year to master this minor divine ability, Xiao Chong would only have marveled at how many proud geniuses roamed the world, and then strived even harder.
Yet this had not taken a year, nor a month, nor even a single day!
It crushed even his desire to compare himself.
Noticing the solemn silence settling over the gathering, Master Yuyang gave a soft cough. "Good, very good, extraordinary! Huang Tian, your comprehension is the finest this master has ever seen! Even so, do not grow arrogant. Strive with even greater diligence to bring out your talent to the fullest. Only then can the Great Dao be attained!"
"This disciple understands!" Huang Tian nodded.
Master Yuyang gave an appreciative nod, then continued, "The explanation of the Water-Fire Devil-Refining Great Mudra is concluded. Next, I shall demonstrate the second minor divine ability.
"This minor divine ability is called the Void-Slashing Sword of Splitting Light and Transforming Shadows. Its true essence lies in: the three lights divide and radiate; shadows shift as form dictates; the void and real engender one another..."
As he spoke, he channeled his arts in demonstration. In an instant, the vast expanse of Haoyang Peak was engulfed in biting sword gleams and chilling sword intent.
He lectured for roughly half an hour before pausing to ask, "Do you understand a little more now?"
This time, the disciples did not lower their heads in shame. Although they still grasped very little—with most unable to even glimpse the threshold—it did not matter. The focus today was not on them.
Sensing the burning gazes of his fellow disciples all around and meeting Master Yuyang's expectant eyes, Huang Tian composed himself and answered solemnly, "This disciple has gained some insight."
Master Yuyang's eyes lit up. "Demonstrate it for your master to see."
Huang Tian wore a calm expression. After a brief pause for thought, he extended the index finger of his right hand and tapped lightly against the void before him.
*Clang!*
Accompanied by a clear, melodious ring, a ray of light emerged from his fingertip. In a flash, it splintered into myriads. Shadows were born within the light, and light was harbored within the shadows. The drifting clouds rolling across the sky suddenly froze as sword intent swept through them. Strands of cloud spun out like gossamer, transforming into ten thousand ethereal swords of cloud-vapor, their radiance streaming like blades suspended along a heavenly river.
Fallen leaves tossed restlessly on the wind suddenly ignited along their veins, bursts of radiance bursting from their edges until thousands of golden leaf-swords rustled and chimed, lethal intent veiled within the height of autumn.
The fine dust rising underfoot caught the brilliance, each speck reflecting a point of freezing starlight before coalescing into a surging sword river of sand and grit.
The mountain brook rippled with shimmering water, which abruptly vaulted into crystalline water-swords, clear yet chilling to the bone.
Everything in the surroundings, as far as the eye could see, turned into swords! A screen of swords blocked out the sky, the sword intent rolling on vast and mighty, like a boundless river or sea!
Enveloped in this inexhaustible sword light, the disciples of Xuandong Mountain stared with eyes full of delirium and awe.
*Another mere moment, and he comprehended a minor divine ability straight to perfection!*
*Such comprehension is truly... truly unheard of!* their minds screamed frantically.
*Whoosh—*
With a slight flick of Huang Tian's sleeve, the countless gleaming swords across the sky, the ground, and the water vanished in an instant like smoke. The clouds were once more gentle drifts, the water returned to a tranquil flow, the fallen leaves twirled through midair, and the dust settled silently back to earth.
Everything reverted to its former appearance, as if nothing had ever taken place.
Master Yuyang drew in a deep breath and praised, "Splendid!"
Then he found himself at a loss for words, truly exhausted of vocabulary. Pausing to suppress the surging excitement in his heart, he said, "Aside from Huang Tian, if anyone else has gained any insight into this minor divine ability, you may demonstrate it, and I shall offer guidance."
When his words fell, no one made a sound. Disciples glanced at one another in total silence.
There was no helping it. With Huang Tian's peerless brilliance before them, who would want to make a fool of themselves? In fact, most did not even have the luxury of showing off a clumsy attempt—they had not even stepped across the threshold of the divine ability.
Seeing this, Master Yuyang took no offense. Turning his gaze back toward Huang Tian, he spoke with an affectionate expression. "Originally, this master intended to teach you only two or three minor divine abilities, fearing that learning too many would divide your focus and leave you master of none. Yet your comprehension is truly astonishing. Therefore, I have decided to impart to you all twelve minor divine abilities known to me."
"Thank you, Master!"
"Haha! Between master and disciple, what need is there for thanks?"
Master Yuyang stroked his beard and laughed heartily. Once his laughter subsided, he continued, "The next divine ability is called—"
This session of preaching the Dao and imparting arts lasted two full days. In total, Master Yuyang passed down twelve minor divine abilities. Some of them he had not even mastered to full perfection himself, yet Huang Tian grasped and mastered every single one, leaving the master endlessly marveling.
"This concludes our lecture. Chen Guangsu, Xiao Chong, Long Ling, Li Manrou, Wei Gongqing, Huang Tian—the six of you remain. The rest of you may disperse," Master Yuyang said.
"Yes!"
All the nominal disciples knew their master wished to speak privately with the indoor disciples. They all rose, bowed to Master Yuyang, and flew off beyond the peak.
Once they had departed, Master Yuyang looked at the six of them. "The reason I kept you behind this time is to explain the matters of Great Ascension, Dao Seeds, and True Immortals."
The six disciples composed their expressions and listened attentively.
Master Yuyang said, "Aside from Manrou, all of you have reached at least the Yang Spirit realm, not far from Great Ascension. Guangsu is even at the Great Ascension culmination, lacking only the condensation of a Dao Seed and the passage through the immortal tribulation."
Being called out directly by her own father caused Li Manrou's ears to burn and her cheeks to flush red. Lowering her head in embarrassment, she thought, *Starting today, I will cultivate diligently! No, maybe starting tomorrow, or the day after. These two days happen to be the end of the month anyway. Once this month passes, I'll start training bitterly. This time, I'll definitely stun everyone and give Father a huge shock!*
Master Yuyang could not even be bothered to look at his daughter, continuing, "Once you step into Great Ascension, you count as a figure of renown in the vast Earth Immortal Realm. Yet you are still not an immortal; when your lifespan runs out, death remains inevitable.
"Becoming a True Immortal, however, is a momentous leap—attaining long life and enduring vision, with boundless lifespan!
"Those unwilling to attach themselves to major powers can reign as local overlords in the mortal world. If one is willing to join a great power, one can become an arhat in the Buddhist sect, a high-ranking priest in the Daoist sect, or a heavenly general in the Heavenly Court, holding considerable status.
"If one attains the Heavenly Immortal realm, one may become a Bodhisattva of Buddhism, a True Being of Daoism, or a Star Lord of the Heavenly Court.
"Attaining a Golden Immortal realm elevates one to the rank of a Buddha, an Exalted Sage, or a Sovereign Emperor.
"As for the Three Supreme Venerables—the Buddha Ancestor, the Dao Ancestor, and the Sovereign Emperor—they should also be at the Golden Immortal realm, though their strength is likely superior to that of ordinary Golden Immortals. Furthermore, as pathfinders, they are revered by all living beings as the most supreme and honored."
Saying this, he bowed respectfully toward the four quarters to express his reverence for the Dao Ancestor, the Buddha Ancestor, and the Sovereign Emperor.
"Ahem, I have wandered too far. Heavenly Immortals and Golden Immortals are ultimately far beyond reach. For mortal cultivators like us, becoming a True Immortal is already extraordinarily difficult—something unattainable without immense karmic fortune, great wisdom, and profound perseverance!
"There are two methods to attain the True Immortal realm. Of course, these are merely the two methods known to this master.
"The first is attaining the Dao through artifacts: fusing your body with a rank-seven immortal treasure to step into the True Immortal realm. Thereafter, by continually raising the treasure's grade, you drive the elevation of your own cultivation realm.
"However, we need not even consider this path. Most immortal treasures rest in the hands of Heavenly Immortal or Golden Immortal powerhouses, with only an exceedingly rare few ever fused by mortals. To this day, such immortal treasures are virtually never seen, let alone obtained by mortal cultivators like us.
"The second path is the one trodden by countless cultivators across the Earth Immortal Realm: condensing a Dao Seed, enduring the immortal tribulation, and becoming a True Immortal.
"What is the Dao? All things under heaven are the Dao. Thus, every existence—be it tangible, intangible, or profoundly abstruse—can be condensed into a Dao Seed.
"Tangible things refer to mountains, rivers, clouds, rain, wind, snow, flowers, and trees."
At this point, he smiled and looked around at his disciples. "The Dao Seed this master condensed belongs to tangible things."
With a gentle wave of his hand, a streak of golden-red rosy clouds instantly manifested in midair. Pure and radiant, the clouds exuded a gentle warmth.
"This is the 'Miasma-Burning Rosy Clouds,' the first light of dawn when the great sun ascends, carrying the intent to dispel all evil and renew myriad phenomena. Yet I failed to grasp its complete essence, leaving my Dao Seed flawed. Consequently, under the immortal tribulation, I fell short at the final step..."
He sighed softly. The five disciples were visibly moved, for when Master Yuyang manifested that streak of rosy clouds, he had not utilized a single shred of magic power. It relied purely upon the power of the flawed Miasma-Burning Rosy Clouds Dao Seed he had spoken of.
"Tangible Dao Seeds are easier to condense. After all, the form is right there, allowing us to observe and touch it. Intangible Dao Seeds are vastly more difficult.
"Take the Three Supremes: the Dao Seed attained by the Buddha Ancestor is 'Constant Abidance,' embodying the concept of the Dharma being free from arising, ceasing, or change, enduring forever. The Dao Seed attained by the Dao Ancestor is 'Returning to Truth,' drawn from living in accordance with nature and returning to simplicity and truth. The Dao Seed attained by the Sovereign Emperor is 'Mighty Numinosity,' signifying illustrious divine majesty suppressing the cosmos."
Having said this, Master Yuyang turned to them. "Xiao Chong, you have reached the culmination of the Yang Spirit realm, merely one step from Great Ascension. It is time for you to consider what kind of Dao Seed to condense. And Huang Tian, given your cultivation speed, you might step into Great Ascension even before Xiao Chong, so you too should ponder this carefully.
"Remember, this Dao Seed should ideally be intimately linked to your cultivation. For example, if your comprehension of a Fire-element divine ability is exceptionally profound, then seek to prove a Fire-attribute Dao Seed. Do not attempt to confirm a completely unfamiliar Dao Seed; doing so will only leave you unable to advance a single step."
Hearing this, Xiao Chong fell into deep contemplation, while Huang Tian pondered for a moment before asking, "Master, what about condensing a Five Elements or Yin-Yang Dao Seed?"
Master Yuyang froze, then frowned. "The Five Elements and Yin-Yang are both Great Daos. Trying to condense them into a Dao Seed is unimaginably difficult!
"Even a single element among the Five Elements is exceedingly hard. Even a peerless talent emerging once every ten thousand or hundred thousand years might not succeed before their lifespan expires. Unifying the Five Elements is outright impossible. The same holds true for Yin and Yang; seeking either Yin or Yang alone might hold a sliver of hope, but seeking to prove both simultaneously raises the difficulty from earth to the very heavens!
"Keep in mind, you must act according to your ability. Take your master, for instance: initially proud and arrogant, I sought to condense a Great Sun Dao Seed. In the end, I squandered a thousand years achieving nothing.
"Driven by necessity, I shifted to comprehending the Miasma-Burning Rosy Clouds under the Great Sun attribute, and only then barely obtained some measure of achievement. Regrettably, even so, this Dao Seed still failed to withstand the celestial tribulation, forcing me to become a loose immortal."
As soon as the words left his mouth, Master Yuyang felt he had spoken too harshly. Softening his tone, he consoled, "It is not that your master lacks faith in your comprehension, but rather that there is no need to gamble. After all, this is no longer the era when heaven and earth were newly opened, when the cosmos was filled with innate Five Elements and Yin-Yang qi, allowing comprehension to advance by leaps and bounds.
"Had you been born in that era, with your natural gifts, you might well have condensed a seed of the Great Dao. But times have changed, and the Earth Immortal Realm today is vastly different."
Listening to these earnest words, Huang Tian nodded without offering any rebuttal. Seeing him nod, Master Yuyang assumed he had persuaded him and breathed a heavy sigh of relief.
*This is an ironclad seed for becoming a True Immortal! If he were to exhaust his lifespan because of choosing the wrong path, that would be a tragedy.*
*Still, Huang Tian's comprehension is the greatest I have ever seen or heard of. If he insists on proving a Yin-Yang or Five Elements Dao Seed, perhaps success isn't entirely impossible...*
*No, when all is said and done, it remains unnecessary. While a Yin-Yang Dao Seed is far stronger than either Yin or Yang alone, becoming an immortal is what truly matters. Boundless lifespan and eternal immortal bliss—would that not be wonderful?*
Thinking this, a warm smile appeared on his face. "If any of you have questions, feel free to ask."
At these words, the disciples voiced the doubts in their hearts one by one, and Master Yuyang answered each in turn.
Just like that, another half-day slipped by.
"Are there any remaining questions?" Master Yuyang inquired.
All six shook their heads.
"If that is all, return and cultivate diligently," Master Yuyang said. "The sooner you step into Great Ascension, the more time you will have to comprehend your Dao Seed. Manrou! Especially you! Did you hear me?"
Li Manrou jumped in fright, letting out a sheepish laugh. "I understand, Father."
Master Yuyang huffed, then turned to Huang Tian, his face instantly softening into a bright smile. "If you ever run short on pills for cultivation, do not hesitate to tell your master. Should you encounter any doubts in your daily practice, you may come find me at any time."
"Thank you, Master!"
Master Yuyang stroked his beard and laughed. "Haha, go on. All of you return to your cultivation. This master awaits your good tidings."
The six disciples bowed and flew off from Haoyang Peak in their respective directions.
Returning to the warm pavilion on Tianyu Peak, Huang Tian sat cross-legged on a prayer mat. He pondered the matter of the Dao Seed for a short while, then shook his head. For now, the pressing priority was to cultivate to the culmination of Great Ascension. As for the Dao Seed, that could be considered later...
Casting aside all distracting thoughts, he retrieved the pills bestowed by Master Yuyang and swallowed an entire bottle in one go. Channelling secret techniques, he rapidly refined the medicinal strength, and before long, dense spiritual qi swirled through the warm pavilion.
In the snap of a finger, half a year flew by.
Autumn departed and spring returned. Across Xuandong Mountain, birds and beasts darted freely, blossoms and trees gave off rich fragrance, and all of nature brimmed with vigorous life.
*Whoosh—*
Suddenly, the mist and clouds in the sky churned violently as countless currents of spiritual qi boiled and surged, converging toward Tianyu Peak like a colossal vortex.
"Senior Brother Huang is about to break through again!" Looking up at the surging torrent of spiritual qi, numerous disciples across Xuandong Mountain marveled in awe.
"Even faster than I anticipated! I thought breaking through in a year or so would already be miraculous speed, yet he only took half a year!"
"Great Ascension... merely a single step away from a True Immortal now! Even though that step is an insurmountable chasm to countless people..."
Amidst the widespread chatter, Huang Tian sat cross-legged upon his prayer mat inside the warm pavilion.
*Tok—*
Accompanied by a faint, elusive chime, he snapped his eyes open. His gaze shone brilliantly, while profound spiritual light rippled across his body.
"Great Ascension—accomplished!"
Chapter 190