Chapter 717 - 712: The Ambition of Five Elements Perfection
The Fruit of Blade-Edge Metal is the Gold of Creation. It cannot be born without Water. With the Shen and Rooster Metals holding the true western position, the White Emperor holds authority. It takes the Ren and Gui Waters to forge a sharp blade, its hardness born from a hundred refinings, its Qi flourishing to the extreme. A red light shoots toward the heavens, Gold and Water temper and sharpen it, and a white blade condenses from frost and snow. Here, the power of Gold reaches its apex.
「The Human World.」
Lü Yang sat upright in the pavilion. On the surface, he was meditating to calm the disordered Qi trace from his recent failure to pass the trial. In reality, however, he was examining himself.
Before his eyes was a field of gold and white.
’What a Supreme Dao Foundation!’
Though it was merely a Dao Foundation, he felt as if he were looking at a supremely hard and sharp enchanted sword. Its boundless, razor-sharp Evil Qi reflected a light of infinite, dazzling brilliance.
RUMBLE!
The next moment, Lü Yang’s spiritual perception focused on the Dao Foundation. An understanding immediately surfaced in his mind. This was the White Emperor’s Authority Dao Foundation.
Four splendid lights circled ceaselessly around the Dao Foundation. They were the Ren Gui Water and the Shen You Metal. Gold and Water complemented each other, jointly nurturing the Innate Ability gestating within. It was like an enchanted sword buried deep in its scabbard, its edge long hidden, accumulating Sword Qi as it awaited the perfect moment to be drawn.
’Another Supreme Fruit Position Dao Foundation.’
A slight smile touched Lü Yang’s lips. In his Previous Life, he had witnessed Demon Subduing Zhenren display the Divine Effect of the Fruit of Blade-Edge Metal, but watching from the outside was completely different from experiencing it firsthand.
He then lifted his hand.
CLANG! CLANG!
In an instant, a pure white light ignited at his fingertips. It shot forth like a river of stars pouring from the heavens, spiraling around him and kicking up a gust of golden wind.
From that single ray of light, Lü Yang perceived countless visions, each one a flickering mix of real and illusory. Every vision presented one of his possible future actions and its outcome: killing Dragon Map, turning on Ang Xiao, being discovered by the Human World... They appeared and shattered like bubbles, one after another.
’The Innate Ability of the Fruit of Blade-Edge Metal!’
Lü Yang’s perception was sharp and clear. This Innate Ability possessed four Profound Mysterious aspects: Night Training, Cheng Ying, Hai Guang, and Celestial Punishment.
Each of the four Profound Mysterious aspects had its own unique strengths.
Night Training was the most basic. It was a technique for slaughtering foes that could drastically amplify the Mighty Power of one’s Sword Light and Sword Qi. To put it plainly, it was a simple stat boost for a Cultivator.
Cheng Ying was the intermediate aspect. It possessed the wondrous effect of "slaying the part to slay the whole." As the name of the effect implied, when using this technique, even if one only destroyed a clone, an Artifact imbued with spiritual perception, or even a mere Talisman, the killing force would travel through their unseen karmic links to strike the enemy’s true body.
Hai Guang was the strongest—a blade of karmic links.
This Profound Mysterious aspect was formless, intangible, and impossible to perceive. As such, it couldn’t be used to wound or kill. Instead, it could sever one’s Fortune and karmic links, an effect equivalent to a divine punishment from the heavens.
Anyone struck by this blade would not only find their Fortune scattered and their mind clouded, leading them to make foolish decisions they would normally avoid, but they would also be plagued by terrible luck. They would choke while drinking water, suffer a cultivation deviation in seclusion, or trip while walking on flat ground. In this way, they could die an unnatural death without their enemy ever having to lift a finger.
As for the final aspect, Celestial Punishment.
This was the very same "Future Cutting Technique" that Demon Subduing Zhenren had once displayed. It could slash away all variables, anchoring the future to one’s desired outcome.
All these Divine Effects were summarized by a saying: "Above, it guides the great essence to the heavens; below, it harmonizes all living beings upon the Lingqu."
’This really is good stuff.’
Lü Yang’s eyes narrowed, and he was suddenly tempted. ’Demon Subduing Zhenren died in his prime. Why don’t I fulfill his last wish and pursue the Fruit of Blade-Edge Metal in his stead?’
’After all, this is an Emperor Fruit.’
’If I succeed, I’m sure Demon Subduing Zhenren’s spirit in the heavens would be gratified.’
At this thought, a tremor ran through Lü Yang’s heart. He felt that within his Spiritual Space, the Cultivation he had achieved in the past was beginning to resonate in a peculiar way.
’In the blink of an eye, I’ve already cultivated three Emperor Fruits!’
The Fruit of Rampart Earth, the Fruit of Blade-Edge Metal, and the Fruit of Celestial Fire.
He was intimately familiar with all the corresponding Cultivation for the Fruit of Celestial Fire, so that went without saying. As for the Fruit of Blade-Edge Metal, he possessed the entirety of Demon Subduing Zhenren’s lifelong insights.
He had met the required level of Cultivation for both of these.
The only one he was lacking in was the Fruit of Rampart Earth. After all, in that lifetime, he had only cultivated to the Mid-phase of Foundation Establishment. However, this problem was easily solved.
’Yuan Tu has joined the Pure Land by now and should be receiving their focused nurturing. Through my "Student as a Model" ability, I can clearly sense the improvements in Yuan Tu’s Cultivation. All of his insights and progress on the Fruit of Rampart Earth will be fed back to me through that Talent Skill...’
Therefore, achieving Perfection in the Fruit of Rampart Earth was only a matter of time.
This feeling was completely different from anything before. The Cultivation corresponding to the three Emperor Fruits seemed to be forming a subtle, unseen cycle.
’It’s not yet complete...’
Lü Yang’s brow gradually furrowed. While a cycle of Three Elements could indeed form its own kind of Perfection, the intense feeling of incompleteness was maddening, like a hundred claws scratching at his heart.
He needed to complete the Five Elements!
’The Void Certificate... That’s it. The Cultivation of five Emperor Fruits is crucial for me. If I want to achieve the Void Certificate, I must first attain the most powerful Five Elements Perfection!’
The next moment, Lü Yang sank his Heart Spirit and examined the three True Treasures he had previously refined: the Righteous Banner, the Tribulation Wave, and the Yellow Court. Each had its own merits and different Divine Effects. Before, they had seemed perfect to him, but now he could see many flaws.
’They are all based on the Fruit of Celestial Fire. It’s too monotonous.’
Although the three True Treasures had different Divine Effects, their foundations were all derived from the Fruit of Celestial Fire. Even the Yellow Court was based on the Fruit of Celestial Fire Grotto Heaven.
He needed more!
After all, his goal was to use the Void Certificate to manifest a super Outer Realm containing all Five Elements. If he was limited to just the Fruit of Celestial Fire, how could he possibly achieve that?
’The only one that truly needs to align with the dominant imagery of the Fruit of Celestial Fire is the Righteous Banner. The Tribulation Wave and the Yellow Court don’t need to be based on it at all.’
’The Righteous Banner will align with the Fruit of Celestial Fire, the Tribulation Wave with the Fruit of Blade-Edge Metal, and the Yellow Court with the Fruit of Rampart Earth. In the future, I’ll refine two more True Treasures, one for the Fruit of Great-Forest Wood and one for the Fruit of Sky-River Water. Once I’ve achieved Five Elements Perfection, I will use these five True Treasures to attain the Void Certificate... Yes, this is the path that aligns with my vision!’
At this thought, an immense ambition surged within Lü Yang’s heart.
Because for him, the possessor of the Centome, this plan—which sounded like pure fantasy—was not entirely impossible to achieve!
If there was just one problem—
As this thought crossed his mind, Lü Yang opened his eyes and glanced at Ang Xiao, who was shrouded in smoke beside him. That was right. The only problem was this old beast.
However, though he was a problem, it was an easy one to solve.
’As long as I can obtain a wisp of Ang Xiao’s Gold Attribute, everything will be solved... The problem is, this old beast is far too cautious. He’s not giving me any openings.’
If he didn’t give him an opening, Lü Yang couldn’t use his Gold Absorption.
At the same time, Ang Xiao noticed Lü Yang’s intense stare. He frowned deeply, his vigilance instantly shooting to its absolute peak.
"Daoist?"
Lü Yang snapped back to his senses and sighed inwardly. He then said nonchalantly, "It’s nothing... Time is of the essence. Let’s start by inquiring about clues related to the Celestial Human Residual Consciousness."
With that, he turned his gaze to Dragon Map.