Twenty Years of Cultivation, Finally a Divine Ability!

Li Guang was still weighing his options, his heart stirring with restlessness. He had long given up and settled into being an idle scion, merely drifting through life waiting to die. After all, he possessed zero talent for cultivation. To the clan as a whole, what did an untalented descendant matter, even if he belonged to the clan head's direct lineage? Aspiring to hold the reins of family power was completely out of the question—nothing short of a pipe dream. Yet now, Li Guang felt an opportunity had presented itself. Still, it was merely an initial impulse. Even if Lu Changsheng truly held a greater divine ability Dao fruit and acquired enough Heavenly Spirit Water to transform it into a true greater divine ability, becoming an authentic master of greater divine abilities... so what? It wasn't as if the Li clan had none. In fact, there was more than one such master in the clan. Back then, they had only requisitioned a dozen or so drops of Heavenly Spirit Water... At that thought, Li Guang paused slightly. He suddenly realized he seemed to have overlooked a crucial factor: Heavenly Spirit Water! Lu Changsheng had achieved ten consecutive victories in the arena, ultimately becoming the King of the Battle Arena. Even by a rough estimate, he must have acquired around three hundred thousand spirit stones. That was enough to purchase thirty drops of Heavenly Spirit Water! What kind of greater divine ability would still find thirty drops insufficient? Moreover, Li Guang had already given Lu Changsheng five drops. Now, Lu Changsheng wanted to "borrow" four hundred thousand spirit stones—enough to purchase another forty drops. Knowing Lu Changsheng, as soon as he had the stones, he would definitely buy Heavenly Spirit Water. Thirty plus forty plus five... that was at least seventy-five drops. What kind of greater divine ability required seventy-five drops of Heavenly Spirit Water? Typically, an ordinary greater divine ability Dao fruit needed only between ten and twenty drops to complete its transformation. With the divine techniques Lu Changsheng had displayed so far, even if he had condensed three Dao fruits that were all greater divine abilities, seventy-five drops would be more than enough. Furthermore, Dao fruits could be transformed one by one over time. As long as a single Dao fruit transformed, one would step into the Divine Ability realm. There was no need for Lu Changsheng to amass so much Heavenly Spirit Water all at once. Then there was another possibility—one Li Guang had never even dared to consider before. A boundless divine ability! The legendary boundless divine ability! Li Guang knew very well that according to legend, once a boundless divine ability Dao fruit was formed, it required at least a hundred drops of Heavenly Spirit Water to transform into a true divine ability. Was a hundred drops of Heavenly Spirit Water Lu Changsheng's true goal? If so, had Lu Changsheng actually condensed a boundless divine ability Dao fruit? For a moment, Li Guang was utterly shaken, hardly daring to believe it. A boundless divine ability! Even across the Holy Land, such a phenomenon was exceedingly rare. In the entire expanse of Tiansheng City, no one had ever been heard to condense a boundless divine ability Dao fruit. It was so rare that many cultivators would never witness one in their lifetimes. Before this, Li Guang would never have even thought in that direction. But now, he could not help but examine the possibility carefully—especially considering Lu Changsheng's three divine techniques: Spiritual Black Hole, Four Symbols Prison, and the Five Elements Decomposition Divine Technique. Were any of those three ordinary divine techniques? The secret manuals treasured by the great clans could not even compare to their might. If Lu Changsheng had deduced them on his own, condensing a boundless divine ability Dao fruit with them as a foundation seemed entirely possible. A gleam of astonishment flashed in Li Guang's eyes as he looked at Lu Changsheng. If it truly was a boundless divine ability... then this was an opportunity for Li Guang—a monumental opportunity. Befriending Lu Changsheng might truly make it possible for him to seize control of the Li clan. In fact, the probability was remarkably high! "I'll lend it to you." "Four hundred thousand spirit stones—I'll lend them to you!" "Brother Lu, wait here a moment. I'll liquidate some treasures at the Li Chamber of Commerce and gather the four hundred thousand spirit stones for you without fail!" Li Guang made a prompt decision. He was a decisive man; once he resolved to make his bid, he would not hesitate in the slightest. Besides, Li Guang understood clearly that his hopes rested on Lu Changsheng. The stronger Lu Changsheng became and the more astonishing his performance, the greater Li Guang's future influence in the Li clan would be. The two of them were bound to share honor and misfortune together. Thus, Li Guang readily agreed to "lend" Lu Changsheng the four hundred thousand spirit stones, without even mentioning repayment. His intention could not have been clearer. Shortly after, Li Guang departed, leaving Lu Changsheng alone in the room. A sharp glint flickered in Lu Changsheng's eyes as he watched Li Guang's receding back with a meaningful look. "Li Guang must have noticed something..." Lu Changsheng murmured softly. Li Guang was no fool. With a bit of thought, it was easy enough to guess. Although boundless divine abilities were legendary and few had ever seen one, the legends were widespread, and many were familiar with their defining traits. Above all, the requirement of a hundred drops of Heavenly Spirit Water was simply too conspicuous. In truth, Lu Changsheng could have hidden his intentions, slowly developing in obscurity and hoarding Heavenly Spirit Water drop by drop. But that would take far too long. Lu Changsheng saw no need for it. A boundless divine ability was forged through talent and comprehension. His comprehension happened to surpass others; so what if he showed it? Once he secured these four hundred thousand spirit stones, he would be able to gather the full hundred drops of Heavenly Spirit Water. When that happened, he could trigger the transformation of a Dao fruit into a boundless divine ability. After ascending to the Divine Ability realm, who could stand against him with the might of a boundless divine ability? Even if he could not sweep away all opposition under heaven, his self-preservation would be beyond question. At times, cultivation could not afford to be overly cautious. A martial artist must strive! When an opportunity arose to fight for, one had to seize it without hesitation! Lu Changsheng had never forgotten the true essence of the martial path. He was on the verge of breaking through to the Divine Ability realm, so he naturally would not act timid or indecisive. Walking the open, upright path was the true way of kings! Just as expected, when Lu Changsheng let slip a subtle hint of a boundless divine ability, Li Guang immediately took it to heart. He had even resolved on the spot to pay a hefty price to win Lu Changsheng over. Four hundred thousand spirit stones. Had Li Guang not "lent" them to him, how long would Lu Changsheng have needed to accumulate such an amount? Time ticked by. Lu Changsheng waited quietly, his Perception Domain continuously monitoring the surroundings. Though unafraid, one could never be without wariness toward others; he still had to remain prepared. Roughly fifteen minutes later, Li Guang returned, and he came alone. "Brother Lu, sorry to keep you waiting." "Here are four hundred thousand spirit stones. Please count them." Without hesitation, Li Guang produced a spatial bag and handed it to Lu Changsheng. Lu Changsheng took the spatial bag and inspected it closely. Inside lay a dense collection of spirit crystals—roughly four thousand of them, representing four hundred thousand spirit stones! "Good. Brother Li, you have my sincere thanks. For these four hundred thousand spirit stones, I am immensely grateful." Lu Changsheng was thoroughly pleased. Four hundred thousand spirit stones was a massive fortune even to an expert of the Divine Ability realm, let alone a Dao Foundation cultivator, to whom it was an astronomical sum. Lu Changsheng already had three hundred and fifty thousand spirit stones on hand; combined with these four hundred thousand, he possessed seven hundred and fifty thousand in total. "Brother Lu, how many drops of Heavenly Spirit Water do you intend to purchase? My previous promise still stands: nine thousand spirit stones per drop," Li Guang said solemnly. Lu Changsheng weighed his numbers. He had already consumed thirteen drops previously, and Li Guang had gifted him five, accounting for eighteen drops. "Eighty-three drops of Heavenly Spirit Water," Lu Changsheng stated. "Eighty-three drops? That comes to seven hundred and forty-seven thousand spirit stones." Li Guang's heart jolted. As expected, Lu Changsheng had almost certainly condensed a boundless divine ability Dao fruit! Otherwise, why would he purchase eighty-three drops of Heavenly Spirit Water all at once? "Agreed." Lu Changsheng directly produced seven hundred and forty-seven thousand spirit stones, leaving himself with only three thousand. Yet he felt not the slightest pang of regret. No matter how many spirit stones one possessed, of what use were they if they could not enhance one's strength? Using them to elevate his strength and cultivation realm was their sole true purpose. In truth, Lu Changsheng felt eighty-two drops would suffice, but it was always better to prepare a little extra. Though it was merely one extra drop, that was only because he lacked the funds for more. Had he possessed enough spirit stones, he would have prepared at least eight to ten extra drops. One could never have too much Heavenly Spirit Water. Even if the Spiritual Black Hole Dao fruit did not consume it all, his other two divine ability Dao fruits could still make use of the remainder. Soon, personnel from the Li Chamber of Commerce brought bottle after bottle of Heavenly Spirit Water before Lu Changsheng. He inspected them one by one before stowing them all into his spatial treasure. Eighty-three drops in total! Adding the five drops gifted by Li Guang, Lu Changsheng now possessed eighty-eight drops of Heavenly Spirit Water! *Eighty-eight drops... that should be enough.* Lu Changsheng could hardly wait to find a place to refine and use the water. The first location that came to mind was Haoxian Workshop. After all, True Person Cuixuan was stationed there and harbored considerable goodwill toward him. With True Person Cuixuan present, even if Lu Changsheng caused a commotion during his breakthrough, the senior cultivator could help conceal it. After all, True Person Cuixuan was capable of laying down formations. Although Lu Changsheng placed some trust in Li Guang, it clearly did not match his trust in True Person Cuixuan. At a critical juncture like advancing to the Divine Ability realm, Lu Changsheng still opted for Haoxian Workshop. Having made up his mind, Lu Changsheng took his leave. "Brother Li, if there is nothing else, I shall head back first. I intend to enter seclusion for a time. Once it ends, I will come seek you out." Li Guang caught the underlying meaning immediately. He had a good idea of what Lu Changsheng's "seclusion" entailed—he was undoubtedly preparing to transform his Dao fruit into a divine ability and step into the Divine Ability realm! "Then I wish Brother Lu the best of luck." Li Guang stood and escorted Lu Changsheng out of the Li Chamber of Commerce. He watched until Lu Changsheng's figure vanished from view before turning back inside. *Once Lu Changsheng breaks through, he will certainly rank among the pinnacle figures of the Divine Ability realm. Perhaps it's time I made my move for the position of clan head. At the very least, I should begin setting up the board. Most importantly, I need to talk with Father and make my ambitions known...* Li Guang had once been driven and unwilling to settle for mediocrity. It was only because his cultivation talent was utterly abysmal that he had resigned himself to despair. But now that hope had returned and he had found a direction forward, his fighting spirit was rekindled. The Li Guang of old had returned! Lu Changsheng did not know Li Guang's exact thoughts, but he could make an educated guess. Li Guang would never settle for mediocrity, or else he never would have lent him a full four hundred thousand spirit stones. Of course, all of this was predicated on Lu Changsheng truly advancing to the Divine Ability realm. Lu Changsheng understood perfectly that his own strength was the root of everything. Before long, Lu Changsheng returned to Haoxian Workshop and went immediately to visit True Person Cuixuan. "True Person Cuixuan, I have a favor to ask," Lu Changsheng said. "Oh? What is it?" True Person Cuixuan opened his eyes and looked at him. "Recently, I have gathered some Heavenly Spirit Water and am preparing to refine it in an attempt to transform my Dao fruit into a true divine ability. It might cause a rather significant disturbance, so I would be grateful if True Person could arrange a concealment formation to mask it." Lu Changsheng stated his purpose plainly. "Hmm? A significant disturbance? Could it be... a greater divine ability?" A flicker of surprise crossed True Person Cuixuan's eyes. A greater divine ability! Across the Holy Land, anyone who condensed a greater divine ability was considered a prominent figure. In Tiansheng City, for instance, achieving a greater divine ability would firmly establish one within the city's core circles. Aside from the exalted Saint-level ancestors, masters of greater divine abilities held the highest standing. Lu Changsheng's words only made True Person Cuixuan more excited and expectant. If Lu Changsheng truly transformed a greater divine ability, the impact on the entire Ancient Region would be immeasurable. "Fellow Daoist Lu, rest assured. While I may not be an array master, I have some proficiency in the Dao of formations. Laying down a few concealment arrays is no difficult task." Seeing True Person Cuixuan's nonchalant demeanor, Lu Changsheng shook his head and warned solemnly, "True Person, you must not take this lightly. I have a premonition that once the Dao fruit transforms, the commotion will be far from ordinary." "Far from ordinary?" True Person Cuixuan grew even more certain that Lu Changsheng was about to transform a greater divine ability. "Fellow Daoist Lu, even if it is the commotion of a greater divine ability, I can certainly conceal it. Go ahead and enter seclusion with complete peace of mind; leave everything to me!" True Person Cuixuan's expression turned serious, his tone resolute. Lu Changsheng nodded. As long as True Person Cuixuan did not underestimate the task, that was enough. With that, Lu Changsheng proceeded into the cultivation chamber. The chamber was somewhat distant from True Person Cuixuan, but it remained within Haoxian Workshop. For a Golden Core True Person, anywhere inside the workshop was effectively under his watchful eye, so the specific room made no difference. "Concealment formations..." True Person Cuixuan murmured softly. He had not merely offered empty reassurances; he began setting up the arrays in earnest. As a Golden Core True Person, his knowledge of formations, artifact refinement, and related arts went far beyond superficial dabbling—his attainment was remarkably profound. True Person Cuixuan began laying out the arrays one by one, enveloping the entire Haoxian Workshop. A single layer would not suffice; he layered concealment, illusions, barriers, distortions, and other effects. In short, he took every precaution to ensure that Lu Changsheng's breakthrough would draw no attention from the outside world. While True Person Cuixuan busied himself with the formations, Lu Changsheng sat cross-legged on the floor of the cultivation chamber. He brought out the bottles containing the Heavenly Spirit Water. "Eighty-eight drops in total. I wonder if it will be enough to transform the Spiritual Black Hole Dao fruit into a true divine ability, but I hope all goes smoothly..." Lu Changsheng took a deep breath. Obtaining this much Heavenly Spirit Water was already his current limit. If he had continued to hoard it slowly, who knew how long it would take? Furthermore, without the strength of the Divine Ability realm, one could not truly gain a footing in the Holy Land. Though he had vied for the title of King of the Battle Arena and subsequently wiped out other Dao Foundation cultivators and Foundation Establishment Dao Lords at the Treasure Contest, what did that amount to? In the eyes of the Divine Ability realm, it was beneath notice. Everything he had done had merely served as amusement for others. The arena was entertainment; the Treasure Contest was entertainment just the same. Such was the awkward standing of Dao Foundation martial artists in the Holy Land—not entirely lowly, yet far from the pinnacle core. Therefore, advancing to the Divine Ability realm was an absolute necessity. "Let us begin." Lu Changsheng inhaled deeply and began to directly refine and consume the Heavenly Spirit Water. One drop, two drops, three drops... Flush with resources this time, Lu Changsheng held nothing back, refining the water in generous quantities. Every drop was directed toward refining the Spiritual Black Hole Dao fruit. He understood that attempting to transform all three Dao fruits at once was unrealistic. For now, he had to concentrate his efforts on Spiritual Black Hole. Compared to Five Elements Decomposition and Four Symbols Prison, Spiritual Black Hole was likely to be somewhat easier. As the Heavenly Spirit Water was refined, Lu Changsheng could distinctly sense the changes in the Spiritual Black Hole Dao fruit. If the Dao fruit previously existed in a semi-illusory state—capable of manifestation but unable to be released as a reality—the Heavenly Spirit Water was accelerating its full materialization. *Buzz.* A faint apparition of the Spiritual Black Hole divine technique hovered above Lu Changsheng's head. With the refinement of the water, it began its gradual metamorphosis. However, the pace was exceedingly slow. Ten drops, twenty drops, thirty drops, forty drops, fifty drops... Lu Changsheng could feel the shifts within the Dao fruit, yet even after refining fifty drops, there was still no sign of complete transformation. Even so, he felt no rush; he possessed ample patience. Moreover, requiring more Heavenly Spirit Water was by no means a bad sign—the more water it demanded, the more formidable the resulting divine ability would be. *** While Lu Changsheng was in seclusion, inside the Li clan estate, Li Guang stood before his father, Li Chengwu. A look of astonishment crossed Li Chengwu's face. "Guang'er, what did you just say? You want to compete for the position of clan head? Did I hear correctly? You haven't even reached the Divine Ability realm—how could you possibly compete?" Li Chengwu had been exceptionally talented in his youth, achieving the Divine Ability realm early on. He had subsequently emerged victorious among numerous competitors to become clan head. However, the clan head of the Li family was chosen through selection, not passed from father to son. Becoming clan head required comprehensive evaluation, but cultivation was unquestionably a vital factor. "Father, must the clan head of the Li family strictly be in the Divine Ability realm? Not necessarily, right? For instance, the thirty-eighth clan head, the sixty-first clan head, and others were not in the Divine Ability realm," Li Guang said calmly. "Yes, they were not in the Divine Ability realm. But they possessed other extraordinary qualities and led the clan toward glory. What about you? Guang'er, what provoked you into wanting to vie for the clan head's seat? That position wields immense authority, but it is extraordinarily difficult..." Li Chengwu had long since abandoned the idea of grooming his son for the seat. It simply seemed impossible. "Father, no matter what, I must fight for it! Besides, haven't the other competitors also failed to reach the Divine Ability realm? They merely hold promise, and theoretically, I too have hope of achieving it! Furthermore, I haven't entered this bid unprepared. While I cannot claim absolute certainty, I do have some confidence." Li Guang's words took Li Chengwu aback. Some confidence? That was quite a bold claim. Had Li Guang encountered some fortunate encounter to dare say he had confidence in contending for clan head? Nonetheless, Li Chengwu did not press for details. Since his son wished to fight for it, he, as a father, would naturally do everything in his power to lend his support. "Guang'er, if you truly wish to vie for it, I will aid you! I will persuade several clan elders to expedite the selection process for the clan head's successor. At best, you will gain advance notice, allowing you to seize the initiative and prepare more thoroughly. But ultimately, securing the seat depends on strength—do you understand? And strength encompasses not only yourself, but also external resources, and even allies." "Father, I will be fully prepared!" Li Guang stated with unwavering resolve. "Good. Then await word..." With that, Li Guang turned and left. Li Chengwu pondered for a moment before commanding, "Go, investigate where Guang'er has been recently and whom he has been in contact with." "Understood, Clan Head." A figure lurking in the shadows vanished without a trace. *** Meanwhile, in the cultivation chamber of Haoxian Workshop, Lu Changsheng had already refined ninety drops of Heavenly Spirit Water. Up through the first eighty-odd drops, there had been no dramatic shift. But once he reached ninety drops, the change manifested immediately. Lu Changsheng could distinctly perceive his divine ability Dao fruit transforming step by step. The sensation was unmistakable, with every drop marking a qualitative leap. Each drop of Heavenly Spirit Water seemed to trigger a marvelous reaction within the Dao fruit, much like a tightly closed bud gradually unfurling into full bloom. The sensation was vivid and clear. Ninety-one drops, ninety-three drops, ninety-five drops, ninety-eight drops, ninety-nine drops... Finally, the hundredth drop of Heavenly Spirit Water was refined. *Boom! Rong! Rong!* A deafening roar erupted in Lu Changsheng's mind. The Spiritual Black Hole Dao fruit swelled violently, then exploded with a cataclysmic blast. The Dao fruit had detonated! Lu Changsheng froze, caught off guard by the explosion. Had he failed? *No, I've never heard of a Dao fruit failing during its transformation into a divine ability...* Lu Changsheng quickly gathered his wits. Condensing a divine ability Dao fruit carried the risk of failure, but how could transforming an already formed Dao fruit fail? It was fundamentally impossible! Then the only explanation was that he had succeeded! Yet where was the transformed divine ability? The Spiritual Black Hole Dao fruit had completely vanished. On the surface, only two visible Dao fruits remained. At that very moment, guided by an unseen instinct, Lu Changsheng snapped his head upward. A black hole! Above his head, a colossal black hole blotting out the sky had manifested. Disregarding the solid walls of the cultivation chamber, it appeared directly outside, suspended across the void. The entire Haoxian Workshop was plunged into darkness. The people in Haoxian Workshop snapped their heads up toward the sky. Seeing the immense black hole hanging in the void, every one of them stood petrified in utter shock. "What is that?" "My... why does my spirit feel completely beyond my control?" "No, don't look at the black hole..." Many discovered in horror that their spiritual consciousness was being devoured bit by bit by that black hole. And that was across such an immense distance! Whether Dao Foundation cultivators or Foundation Establishment Dao Lords, even if they unleashed their magic treasures or defensive formations, the outcome was the same—their spirits were inexorably drawn in and consumed. None was more astounded than True Person Cuixuan. He jerked his head up, hardly able to believe his eyes. "Is this... a divine ability?" "And a spiritual divine ability at that! Even my own spiritual consciousness is slipping from my grasp? This is merely Lu Changsheng's divine ability operating on its own, not even directed at anyone! I am a dignified Golden Core True Person; my spirit is anchored within my Golden Core, solid and integrated into a singular whole. So long as my Golden Core remains unbroken, I cannot die—how could my spirit be shaken like this?" "And the concealment arrays I arranged... they seem completely useless..." True Person Cuixuan's heart churned with shock. His immediate thought was: *Could this be a greater divine ability?* If it were a greater divine ability, perhaps that might explain it. It was simply too terrifying. True Person Cuixuan had never imagined a greater divine ability could reach such a horrific scale, instilling dread in a venerable Golden Core True Person with a single glance. If they were truly to fight, True Person Cuixuan calculated that he would lose—and without the slightest chance of fluke. In fact, he might even die! Such was the terrifying nature of a greater divine ability. Although True Person Cuixuan's arrays had been breached, he had laid down far more than one or two layers. Promptly activating layer after layer, he personally presided over them, barely managing to suppress the aura and phenomenon of the Spiritual Black Hole within the confines of Haoxian Workshop, preventing it from alarming the whole of Tiansheng City. "So that's how it is... the divine ability has merged into my body, as though... it was a natural part of me from birth." Inside the cultivation chamber, Lu Changsheng perceived the change and understood instantly. Once a Dao fruit transformed into a divine ability, that ability naturally integrated into the martial artist's body. There was even a saying: *Divine abilities are born of heaven.* It meant that a divine ability felt as if it had been with the cultivator since birth. Of course, divine abilities were not truly innate, but once transformed, they became an inseparable part of the physical vessel. Some divine abilities would even merge into the bloodline, passed down to subsequent generations and granting descendants extraordinary talent in specific areas. For example, if Lu Changsheng's Spiritual Black Hole were passed into his bloodline, his descendants would possess exceptional spiritual talent. Or if Five Elements Decomposition or Four Symbols Prison formed a bloodline inheritance, his offspring would display remarkable affinity for the five elements or the four symbols, making it much easier for them to comprehend those laws later on. This was the divine ability bloodline! It was precisely why many clans whose ancestors had reached the Divine Ability realm found that their descendants rarely struggled to comprehend laws. As long as they could bring those laws to completion, their chances of attaining the Divine Ability realm far exceeded those of ordinary martial artists. A bloodline legacy was of paramount importance! However, Lu Changsheng had no descendants, nor did he care about such matters. How could leaving behind offspring compare to attaining personal longevity and immortality? Lu Changsheng calculated the time. From the day he began practicing martial arts until now, it had been precisely twenty years. "Twenty years of cultivation, finally a divine ability!" Lu Changsheng's gaze was calm, a faint smile gracing his lips.