Yuan's Ascension

Chapter 403: Master's Advice (1)

"Master has been urging me to cultivate it?" Wu Yuan was taken aback.

When did he cultivate the Longevity Dao?

But a moment later, Wu Yuan came to a realization. "Is it the Extended Life Sword Codex?"

Over the years, besides contemplating the Celestial Body Dao, his master had only asked him to study Extended Life Sword Codex. And this was also a sword codex of the Wood Dao.

"Correct." High Immortal Nan Yin nodded with a smile: "When you reach a high level of mastery in the Star Ruins Sword Codex, you naturally understand that you are in the process of comprehending the Celestial Body Dao."

"Likewise, as you study the Extended Life Sword Codex, you will subconsciously step through the initiate threshold of the Longevity Dao. However, this only happens when you reach a high level of mastery, which is far from easy."

Wu Yuan listened intently.

The Extended Life Sword Codex inheritance was profoundly complex. Apart from the most superficial layer of understanding, he merely memorized the rest, unable to grasp the deeper profundities at all.

Dao codex inheritances were different from that of manual inheritances. If one did not approach a sufficiently deep level of understanding about the Dao, one wouldn’t be able to do more than sense those mysterious fluctuations of the Dao.

These past few years, Wu Yuan's qi refiner self spent a great deal of time trying to understand the Extended Life Sword Codex, yet progress crawled along at a pitifully slow pace compared to that of the Celestial Body Dao. Up till now, he had yet to reach the initiate threshold.

"Master, the Longevity Dao is powerful, but it's not superior to the Celestial Body Dao, right?" Wu Yuan asked.

"If both are cultivated to the highest level, they are comparable." High Immortal Nan Yin smiled and said: "The Daos of Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, Earth, Wind, Thunder, and so forth, and the mysterious Space, Time, Lunar, Solar, Life, Death, etc, are all Greater Laws. There is no superiority or inferiority between them, it all depends on the user's understanding and application."

"Of course, among the numerous Greater Laws, the most mysterious are Time and Karma. But few immortal cultivators can comprehend them and only a handful of great beings can apply them."

Wu Yuan listened quietly. He understood that his master was providing him with a detailed explanation.

"Each Greater Law is vast and profound, even a Ninth-Tribulation Archimmortal cannot comprehend one fully." High Immortal Nan Yin shook his head and said, "Several Intermediate Laws are interwoven and fused to form a Greater Law ."

"Take the Celestial Body Dao for example. It is a subsidiary Intermediate Law of the Earth Dao. Meanwhile, the Longevity Dao is a subsidiary Intermediate Law of the Wood Dao."

"These Intermediate Laws can likewise be further divided into numerous Lesser Laws." High Immortal Nan Yin explained.

"Lesser Laws are like small streams flowing down a mountain. Multiple streams combine to form a small river, which represents an Intermediate Law. Several rivers converge to form a large river, which represents a Greater Law."

"Where numerous mighty rivers merge, ultimately forming the expansive ocean, lies the complete Dao of heaven and earth," High Immortal Nan Yin remarked, casting a glance at Wu Yuan. "What you've grasped thus far is merely a small droplet within this vast ocean."

Wu Yuan fell into deep thought. At this moment, he had a clearer understanding of the complete Dao of heaven and earth. It was truly boundless.

"Don't set your sights too high. There’s no need to consider mastering the complete Dao of heaven and earth. If you can master a single stream, fully comprehending a Lesser Law, you already have the potential to become an Archimmortal." High Immortal Nan Yin said softly.

"If you can fully comprehend an Intermediate Law, your name will resound throughout the length and breadth of the entire Greenridge Macrocosm."

"If you can fully comprehend a Greater Law? Haha! In the long river of time and space, countless beings will praise your name and spread tales of your deeds throughout the ages." A subtle hint of desire flashed in High Immortal Nan Yin's eyes.

Wu Yuan was taken aback.

He was beginning to realize how difficult it was to fully comprehend a Lesser Law. After all, the Redmoon Immortal Continent was so immense. Yet it took a million years to produce a single Archimmortal.

"Master, in that case, why would you encourage me to split my attention into two Daos?" Wu Yuan couldn't help but question. "Although my qi refiner self has some talent in the Wood Dao, overall, it is far inferior to my body refiner self's talent in the Earth Dao."

Among his two true selves, his body refiner self had much greater Dao comprehension aptitude, as well as greater potential. The heavenly endowed eldritch tattoos were not just for show.

Naturally, endowed with a second-degree immortal root, Wu Yuan was already close to the stuff of legends.

Moreover, after arriving at the immortal continent, he received the Celestial Body Law Codex from the Great Eldritch Kua Fu, stepping through the initiate threshold of the Celestial Body Dao. His speed of Dao comprehension quickened even further.

"Firstly, I do not want to waste your natural aptitude for the Wood Dao," High Immortal Nan Yin said softly. "The strength of your qi refiner self’s soul should have surpassed that of your body refiner self by now."

Wu Yuan nodded in agreement.

"The qi sea is innately more suited for nurturing the soul," High Immortal Nan Yin said. "You established a third-degree immortal root, so don’t worry. Your aptitude for the Wood Dao is equally astonishing, it simply hasn't been revealed yet."

"As the strength of your qi refiner self’s soul grows, your talent for the Wood Dao will shine even brighter."

"Utilizing your qi refiner self to comprehend the Earth Dao? You will only be able to exhibit one-tenth of its strengths."

"It’s equivalent to utilizing your body refiner self to comprehend the Wood Dao. Will it go smoothly?" High Immortal Nan Yin asked with a knowing smile.

Wu Yuan pondered over his words.

Indeed, up until now, the efficiency of his qi refiner self’s comprehension of the Celestial Body Dao might not even be a fifth of that of his body refiner self.

The consciousnesses of both souls were connected. Therefore, there was no difference whether the Celestial Body Law Codex was contemplated by the soul of his qi refiner self or body refiner self.

"But, Master, I haven't been able to grasp the Extended Life Sword Codex yet," Wu Yuan said.

High Immortal Nan Yin broke into a chuckle. "Hao Shanjing practiced for more than a hundred years before he grasped it, and even then, many immortals in the sect were amazed by his progress."

"You have only practiced for a few years and didn’t receive any remarkable Wood Dao inheritance, yet you expect to grasp it already?"

"Your affinity for the Celestial Body Dao is ridiculously strong, but when it comes to the Wood Dao, you aren't much better than Hao Shanjing. The only advantage is your stronger soul." High Immortal Nan Yin evaluated.

"Amethyst Cradle cultivators have a lifespan of three thousand years, and Void Refiner cultivators have a lifespan of ten thousand years. You're still young, having only cultivated for a short time. Don't rush."

Wu Yuan couldn't help but smile.

Indeed, the path of cultivation was long. Getting a good start was important, but perseverance over the long run was even more so.

"The second reason is the integration of earth and wood," High Immortal Nan Yin continued. "Subsidiary Daos of the Earth Dao, especially the Celestial Body Dao, excel at defense while the Longevity Dao, derived from the three Lesser Laws of Eternal Spring, Spiritual Evolution, and Wood Origin, is best at recovery.

"Every powerhouse who comprehends the Longevity Dao possesses extraordinary vitality."

"In the future, once you have reached a certain depth of comprehension in both paths and combine them, your defensive abilities will rise to an incredible level, and your self-preservation abilities will strengthen beyond comprehension." High Immortal Nan Yin's voice was soft, yet filled with power.

Wu Yuan was taken aback. Combine different Daos?

"There’s nothing surprising about this," High Immortal Nan Yin continued, "The myriad Daos of heaven and earth naturally interact with each other. They are not absolutely independent. For instance, within the Wood Dao, there's a Lesser Law known as the Primal Dao."

"Following the Primal Dao, you can also reach the threshold of the Strength Dao, an Intermediate Law of the Earth Dao on par with the Celestial Body Dao."

"In other words, the Primal Dao is a part of both the Wood and Earth Daos."

"Furthermore, to fully comprehend the Wood and Earth Daos, you must understand the Lesser Law of Spatial Dimensions, which is also a part of the complete Space Dao." High Immortal Nan Yin explained.

"The Greater Laws are interwoven with each other, naturally allowing for combinations."

Wu Yuan was starting to understand.

The Celestial Body Dao was more rigid than flexible. The Longevity Dao was more flexible than rigid. By cultivating both paths simultaneously, one could achieve a balance of rigidity and flexibility, creating the ultimate defense. And it so happened that his two true selves had the corresponding affinities.

Am I really going to become a civil engineer? Wu Yuan muttered inwardly.

Civil engineers as experts in defense. It made sense! [1]

"There are some other reasons that you'll eventually come to understand in the future," High Immortal Nan Yin said. "If you didn't have the talent, I wouldn't force it on you. But since you do, don't waste it."

"Understood," Wu Yuan responded respectfully. He knew his master was planning for his future.

"Still..." Wu Yuan hesitated, "Master, I am a sword cultivator but the sword codex I'm cultivating specializes in defense. Will this...?"

"What, worried your attack isn't strong enough?" High Immortal Nan Yin shook his head. "There's no absolutely dominant Dao. Whether it’s the Celestial Body Dao or Longevity Dao, when comprehended to extreme depths, one can effortlessly break all laws with sheer power."

"Moreover, why does it matter whether your attacks are strong?"

"When you face the Immortal Tribulations, you'll understand. Only by living, is there hope only with sufficient self-preservation ability, can you hope to become an Archimmortal." High Immortal Nan Yin shook his head.

Wu Yuan was left speechless.

He had no choice but to admit that his master was right. Only by staying alive was there hope.

"By the way, I’ve heard that Hao Shanjing has been specially recruited by the Moonsilver World." High Immortal Nan Yin said, "In a few days, he will leave for the Moonsilver World."

"Special recruitment?" Wu Yuan was stunned at first. But a moment later, he nodded. "That makes sense. Given that he’s able to step through the initiate threshold of an Intermediate Law at the Golden Core phase, along with a third-degree immortal root, he's qualified for special recruitment."

From what Wu Yuan knew, one would have to comprehend a Lesser Law to an extremely high level to hope to cross the threshold into the Intermediate Law. Those who could achieve it were mostly Divided Soul Earth Immortals.

Most Void Refiner and Elysian Field cultivators had yet to cross the threshold of an Intermediate Law.

Of course, this did not mean they were weak. If one did not understand an Intermediate Law at an extremely profound level, its absolute power was still inferior to a Lesser Law.

The fact that he was able to step through the initiate threshold of an Intermediate Law at the Golden Core phase indicated that, barring any untimely demise, his future accomplishments were certain to be remarkable.

"What, no thoughts on this?" High Immortal Nan Yin chuckled.

"None. The sect must have its considerations for letting him go." Wu Yuan smiled lightly. "Besides, even if I went to the Moonsilver World, I'm afraid those instructors can’t compare to Master."

"When I first joined the sect, it was of my own volition, not forced upon me by others," said Wu Yuan.

Cause and effect. Wu Yuan did not regret joining the Dragon Star Immortal Sect.

"Rest assured. I've said that I won't let you down. Even if Hao Shanjing joins the Moonsilver World and gains all sorts of resources, you need not envy him," High Immortal Nan Yin smiled. "I promised that if you won first place in the Dragon Star Tournament, I'll reward you with a hundred million catties of ethercrystal."

A moment later, Wu Yuan received a notification and a glimmer of joy flashed through his eyes.

A hundred million catties of ethercrystal had been deposited into his account in the Dragon Star Immortal Realm. He could withdraw the physical item from the sect's treasury and purchase all the treasures he required through the Dragon Treasure Tower.

"Thank you, Master." A sense of jubilation filled Wu Yuan's heart.

With this, he had gained a total of 130 million catties of ethercrystal and ten million dragon crystals from the Dragon Star Tournament.

Wealth could solve almost all worries!

1. 土 = earth, 木 = wood, 哥 = brother. Putting them together, 土木哥 is a term of endearment referring to civil engineers or construction workers. ☜