Chapter 179 - 110: The Dao Mansion Recognizes Its Master
He gave her no time to react or call it off, barging straight in.
To make matters even more coincidental, Jiang Mu just so happened to be practicing the Cold Moon Ice Heart Skill that Ling Ye had taught him.
This Cultivation Technique was from the same lineage as Shangguan Luoxue’s, sharing a common origin.
This led to...
When Jiang Mu, wreathed in the aura of the Cold Moon Ice Heart Skill, broke into the Dao Mansion, the strand of Blood River True Qi—a force that should have been world-ending—made a critical misjudgment.
It mistook Jiang Mu for one of its own.
As a result, not only did this terrifying Blood River True Qi not harm Jiang Mu in the slightest, but it surged into his body and was absorbed in its entirety.
It became one of Jiang Mu’s Divine Abilities.
Jiang Mu felt a warmth in his chest as a vast, murderous power infused his entire body.
It then condensed into a strand of killing qi within his Dantian.
If he were to use this to temper his Saber Skill, its power would likely increase severalfold.
’What a find. I can’t believe I just walked in and picked up such a powerful Divine Ability for free.’
Jiang Mu was secretly delighted.
He composed himself and surveyed his surroundings.
The interior of the Dao Mansion was still covered in frost, its walls filled with Dao Patterns.
This was clearly the location of Shangguan Luoxue’s damaged Dao Foundation.
What Jiang Mu found strange, however, was that even though he had come into close contact with her profound Dao Rhyme, even absorbing her guardian Divine Ability, the Dao Rhyme circulating in the air still seemed to reject him.
It was as if it didn’t want him there at all, let alone give him the chance to comprehend the Dao.
Of course, Jiang Mu was unaware of the reasons for this.
He had, in fact, brute-forced his way into the Dao Mansion without a formal invitation from its owner or the completion of any prerequisites.
Normally, after reaching the previous stage, one would need to meditate and patiently seek comprehension.
Only after gaining the Dao Mansion’s approval could one slowly enter.
This process would take at least half a month of slow, patient effort.
But being the impatient person he was, he had skipped all the preliminary steps and simply forced the issue.
He gave neither Shangguan Luoxue nor the Dao Mansion any time to react.
The Grotto Heaven Dao Mansion of a High-tier Cultivator, especially the core where the Dao Foundation resides, has extremely strong autonomous defense and rejection mechanisms.
After being breached by brute force, its profound Dao Rhyme would naturally produce the most intense rejection, refusing to be comprehended.
This was a form of instinctive self-preservation.
Even the "Chasm Water" he had previously drawn out had now receded from sight, no longer flowing.
After mulling it over for a moment, Jiang Mu began to understand the principle behind it.
He was momentarily speechless.
’You should have told me earlier... that I needed to be gentle...’
Just as he was frowning, wondering how to get close to this aloof and hostile Dao Rhyme, a startling discovery left him stunned.
He suddenly discovered something—
’I seem to have the ability to alter this Dao Foundation?’
’No, that’s not it.’
’It’s not about altering it.’
’It’s about... making it acknowledge a master!’
’How can this be?’ Jiang Mu didn’t understand.
He didn’t know that for a High-tier Cultivator to form a Dao Foundation, they needed not only rare treasures but also a divine artifact to serve as its vessel.
Simply put, the Dao Foundation was the flowerpot.
And the flowerpot itself was a meticulously forged "artifact."
The "artifact" that formed Shangguan Luoxue’s Dao Foundation was called the Thirty-Three Celestial Palaces!
The Celestial Palaces ascended layer by layer, from lowest to highest.
Each layer contained different Dao Rhymes and Laws, making them endlessly profound.
It was a miraculous manifestation of Law, where the illusory and the real were intertwined.
And because Jiang Mu practiced the Cold Moon Ice Heart Skill, a Cultivation Technique from the same lineage as Shangguan Luoxue’s, the essence of their auras was identical.
Now, standing in the core of this Dao Foundation, he had unexpectedly begun to resonate and connect with the Thirty-Three Celestial Palaces.
This, combined with the tyrannical will of "My Dao is a sword that cleaves all" that he exuded during his violent entry, as well as the submission of the Blood River True Qi, created a strange kind of pressure and acknowledgement.
The confluence of these factors led to an anomaly no one could have predicted—
He had gained control over the artifact that was the Dao Foundation!
In other words, if he so wished, he could completely reshape this chamber and become its absolute master!
The profound Dao Rhyme, which relied on the "artifact" for its existence, would naturally no longer reject him. Instead, it would actively draw near.
This was a completely unexpected turn of events.
Ling Ye never imagined that the sect’s Secret Technique, taught out of goodwill, would become the very key for Jiang Mu to usurp the host’s position.
Shangguan Luoxue, least of all, could have imagined that her own Dao Mansion would trigger such a bizarre chain reaction, all because of a shared Cultivation Technique origin and Jiang Mu’s violent intrusion.
And Jiang Mu himself never thought that this seemingly grand, high-class opportunity would fall into his lap so easily.
’Who cares how it happened? It’d be a waste not to use this authority!’
Jiang Mu’s mind raced. Though he didn’t understand the principles at play, how could he possibly pass up an opportunity that was right in front of him?
Jiang Mu immediately focused his mind and began his attempt to reshape the space.
As his status as "master" gradually solidified, Jiang Mu felt an exquisitely refreshing, cool breeze wash over him.
The "Chasm Water" that had been in hiding finally surged forth once more.
When water is borne by earth, though it may pass through ruined land, its source remains unbroken. It can rise to nourish all things, its merits made manifest.
Jiang Mu’s own elemental affinity leaned toward "Metal," sharp and aggressive.
With Ling Ye’s help, he also had the nurturing and supportive properties of "Earth."
When the "Chasm Water" encountered suitable soil and a supportive source, it could become a sweet spring in a drought, saving all from scorching thirst, even while flowing through a barren and damaged Dao Foundation.
From this day forward, this Grotto Heaven Dao Mansion would belong exclusively to Jiang Mu.
The legendary artifact... had acknowledged its master!