Chapter 675 - 670: The Portable Grandpa, Si Chou
’Immortal Core Survival Guide? What kind of Talent Skill is this?’
Lü Yang was a little baffled. He had awakened quite a few Golden Talents by now and even possessed two at the True Monarch Level.
However, his other Talent Skills always had their effects clearly displayed on the panel. This one, on the other hand, left Lü Yang completely mystified. Having no idea what it actually did, he could only ask the Centome in his mind. Soon, another line of text appeared on the panel:
For comparative use.
There were no further hints. Lü Yang frowned. ’Comparative use... what does that mean?’ He subconsciously glanced down.
At this moment, he was floating in the air in his Dao Body.
As he looked down, his gaze naturally fell upon the mortal vessel he had just separated from. At that very moment, the Immortal Core Survival Guide suddenly reacted:
No Pit. Safe to use.
’...Hmm?’
Lü Yang raised an eyebrow. After a moment of silence, a thought stirred, and he took out the Abi Sword from this anchor point, then concentrated.
Immediately, the Immortal Core Survival Guide gave its feedback once more:
Small Pit. However, at your current level of Cultivation, this pit is meaningless and won’t affect you. No need to worry. Still safe to use.
Lü Yang’s eyes gradually lit up.
He then immediately recalled the Great Derivation Divine Refining Technique the Bhagavat had given him. This time, the Immortal Core Survival Guide’s feedback was incredibly intense.
Massive Pit! Do not use!
’I knew the Bhagavat was up to no good!’
While Lü Yang cursed him internally, a look of excitement gradually appeared on his face. He had evidently figured out the true use of this Golden Talent.
’What a talent, what an amazing talent! It can directly identify what has a pitfall and what doesn’t. If I’d had this talent back then, I’d never have been so miserably scammed! Plus, it was able to assess the Great Derivation Divine Refining Technique, which means this talent even works against a Master of Dao!’
It can even identify the pitfalls set by a Master of Dao!
At this thought, Lü Yang was ecstatic. It took a long while for him to regain his composure. The joy on his face faded, replaced by a hint of resignation.
’A pity... it’s still not intelligent enough.’
The Immortal Core Survival Guide could only appraise objects. When it came to specific events, like pitfalls laid by a Master of Dao manipulating karmic links, it was powerless.
For instance, when the Saint Sect Ancestral Master had schemed to drive him to the Celestial Mansion, the talent had offered no feedback.
On the other hand, with the two Outer Dao Fruit Positions the Bhagavat had given him, if he’d possessed this Talent Skill at the time, he would have been able to spot the problem.
’All in all, it’s still very useful... Excellent!’
Lü Yang lowered his eyelids, still very satisfied with this Talent Skill. Then, centering himself, he began to merge his separated Dao Body back into his original body.
However, just as Lü Yang’s consciousness returned to his body, his Spiritual Space rippled. To his shock, he saw a shimmering figure suddenly materialize within its previously tranquil expanse.
’Holy shit!?’
In that instant, Lü Yang’s pupils contracted violently.
The shimmering figure was somewhat blurry, but it was not hard to identify. He recognized it in a single glance: it was, to his horror, Sichou’s Residual Thought!
’He restarted with me!?’
For a moment, Lü Yang was so terrified he was about to abandon his physical body, tear open the void, and flee. But he quickly stopped himself.
’No, that’s not right... How could the Centome be so useless?’
’And the Immortal Core Survival Guide... its feedback on my original body was "No Pit." If there was danger, wouldn’t it have warned me?’
His faith in his supernatural abilities allowed Lü Yang to calm down.
And just as he expected, the newly appeared Sichou’s Residual Thought was in a state of unprecedented confusion, looking left and right with a dazed expression.
’Could it be that it was also... cleansed by the Centome?’
Lü Yang had a faint realization. Sichou’s Residual Thought was rooted in his Spiritual Space, almost one with it. ’Did I bring it over along with my Cultivation?’
’Is it like the Banner Spirit?’
With a measure of caution, Lü Yang carefully manifested his own form, cupped his fists toward Sichou’s Residual Thought, and said in a low voice, "Fellow Daoist Si Chou, I trust you’ve been well?"
The moment he spoke, the Si Chou in his Spiritual Space abruptly raised its head, like a machine whose power button had been pressed. The confusion on its face was wiped clean. It then let out a long breath of Muddy Qi and said with a wry smile, "I must be a pathetic sight, Fellow Daoist. An encounter this strange... it’s hard to comprehend in a moment."
"Oh? And what encounter is that?" Lü Yang asked, feigning ignorance.
"My own fortuitous encounter, of course."
Si Chou’s tone was normal as he stated calmly, "Only today have I realized your value, Daoist. I am now completely bound to your Spiritual Space. This is truly a heaven-sent opportunity."
"When you achieve Transcendence and ascend to the Other Shore one day, Daoist,"
"perhaps I, too, can use that power to transform from this wisp of a Master of Dao’s Divine Will, reawaken my true self from the Other Shore, and maybe even take its place!"
In that moment, Si Chou was more lucid than ever before.
In his Previous Life, Si Chou had claimed to be the former Master of Dao himself. He refused to accept that he was merely a wisp of residual Divine Will, born from the Master of Dao’s final, furious roar before death.
Yet now, he admitted it frankly.
After a moment of silence, Lü Yang suddenly said, "Hands up."
"Hmm?" Si Chou raised his hands as requested, asking in confusion, "Fellow Daoist, what is the meaning of this?"
"Squat down."
Looking utterly baffled, Si Chou obediently squatted down.
"Bark like a dog."
"WOOF WOOF!"
Watching Si Chou bark without hesitation, though his face was still filled with confusion, Lü Yang finally relaxed a little. He figured there probably wasn’t a major issue.
After all, beings like the Bhagavat were a rarity.
As the residual thought of a Master of Dao’s Divine Will, and thus connected to a Master of Dao, Si Chou was fundamentally proud and arrogant. Theoretically, there was no way he would actually bark like a dog.
But he did it anyway.
This showed that his commands were effective. The entity’s state was similar to that of the Banner Spirit in the Righteous Banner.
At the same time, Lü Yang could sense the connection between his Spiritual Space and Sichou’s Residual Thought. In other words, it would be quite simple for him to get rid of it.
All he had to do was self-destruct.
After all, his Dao Body was now his primary self. While his original body was important, it wasn’t indispensable. If he blew up its Spiritual Space, Sichou’s Residual Thought would die with it.
That, coupled with the certification from the Immortal Core Survival Guide.
He could distrust anyone, but it was impossible not to trust his own abilities. The quality of the Talent Skills produced by the Centome had always been beyond doubt.
At this thought, Lü Yang finally breathed a sigh of relief.
It was a false alarm!
Having worked things out, Lü Yang’s thoughts began to race. His eyes brightened as he looked at Sichou’s Residual Thought, and he quickly realized its value.
This was a massive treasure trove!
The residual thought of a Master of Dao’s Divine Will, and one that had clearly retained a portion of the former Master of Dao’s memories—those memories were a priceless treasure to him!
Without a shred of hesitation, Lü Yang immediately asked in a low voice:
"May I ask, Fellow Daoist, how does a Golden Core Cultivator such as myself achieve the Nascent Soul realm?"