Chapter 249

Inside the quiet chamber, the five-colored light gradually withdrew, finally returning to Wang Ping's body, as if it had never appeared. Yet the Dao rhythm circulating around him, and the occasional flicker in his deep eyes—like five miniature worlds undergoing birth and death—revealed that he had undergone a profound transformation.

Wang Ping slowly raised his right hand, fingers slightly spread, his mind merely stirring slightly.

"Hum—"

There was no earth-shaking momentum, only a low, resonant hum like the Great Dao harmonizing.

The five strands of azure, vermilion, yellow, white, and blue light, condensed to the utmost and pure beyond compare, like living spiritual snakes, emerged from his palm, hovered, and formed a flawless, endless five-element light ring.

Though the ring looked gentle, it exuded a heart‑pounding aura of "erasing everything."

Within the ring, the scene shifted unpredictably. Faintly visible were azure‑gold Yin Wood Divine Thunder flashing with a hint of eerie black light, Blazing Yang True Fire, the illusory shadow of the Fan Tian Seal rising and falling, the sharp sword intent of the White Tiger Slay God howling and surging, revealing a blade that could cleave the void, and a stretch of dark, deathly still Yin Yin Cold Tide, with undercurrents surging, as if able to freeze souls and return them to nothing.

Five utterly different, even mutually opposing forces, now under the command of the five‑colour divine light, achieved a mysterious balance and unity—mutually generating and restraining, flowing endlessly—forming a marvelous combat system.

When Wang Ping's mind turned again, all those visions instantly retracted, leaving only the pure and splendid five‑colour divine light spinning quietly, returning to simplicity.

"The five‑colour divine light is no longer a mere conception but a real power…" Wang Ping felt the surging flow of his five‑element mana, several times stronger and purer than before, and the tight link to the five‑colour divine light—as if a gesture could summon the world's five‑element power—rising in his heart as an unprecedented sense of steadiness and confidence.

This was not just adding another killing trick; it was a thorough integration and elevation of all his past cultivation achievements. The Yin Wood Divine Thunder, Solar True Fire, Fan Tian Seal, White Tiger Slay God Sword Gang, and Yin Yin Extinction Cold Tide—once requiring separate activation and mental effort—had now become parts of the five‑colour divine light, to be wielded as effortlessly as moving a finger with the arm.

Once the divine light appears, he can freely combine and evolve it according to the enemy's traits, producing the most restraining attacks with greater power than before.

And as the five‑colour divine light reached completion, the fundamental cultivation method he had devised and named 《Five Elements Divine Light》 also began an autonomous, deeper metamorphosis.

The new circulation route resembled a stellar meridian network, linking the five viscera and six bowels, penetrating every orifice, and resonating more strongly with the external world's five elements.

As the method circulated, not only did his mana increase rapidly, but his flesh also underwent refinement through the five‑colour divine light's feedback, advancing toward a higher level—his qi and blood brimmed, a faint treasure light circulated. His soul dwelt at the center of the sea of consciousness, receiving dual nourishment from the five‑colour divine light's Dao rhythm and the Soul‑nurturing Wood Heart, becoming ever more refined and translucent, and that star of will seemed to shine brighter.

"It's time to test this nascent divine light and see its power." Wang Ping rose to his feet, gazing toward the outside of his cave abode. He needed a real battle to familiarize himself with and harmonize this new power.

He did not choose the Tongtian Tower. After all, it is an internal facility of the Dao Academy, capable of simulating strong foes but lacking the true feel of life‑and‑death stakes, and he did not wish to prematurely reveal the full extent of the five‑colour divine light. His goal was the Myriad Beast Mountain, established by the Dao Academy especially for disciples to hone real combat.

Myriad Beast Mountain is no ordinary peak; it is a special training ground opened by a mighty being, where countless demonic beasts, ferocious creatures, and at least some extraterritorial demons are bred.

Its environment is complex—from lava fields to icy tundras, from dark forests to poisonous marshes—everything one could imagine. Disciples who enter bear their own life and death; it is a bloody battlefield that truly tests combat ability.

Relying on his Purple‑clothed Disciple token, Wang Ping entered the outer region of Myriad Beast Mountain without hindrance.

He did not deliberately conceal his aura; his mid‑Golden Core cultivation was considered upper‑medium in this outer zone—strong enough not to draw overly terrifying beings, yet sufficient to meet most challenges.

He chose a rugged stone forest area reeking of earthy odor. According to the records, it is inhabited by a gregarious demonic beast called the Earth Dragon Lizard; adults possess early‑Golden Core strength, while leaders can reach late‑Golden Core, with thick hides, immense strength, and skill in earth‑escape techniques, making them extremely troublesome foes.

Wang Ping had barely stepped into the stone forest when the surrounding ground began to tremble faintly.

"Hiss—"

Accompanied by a grating, teeth‑aching sound, seven or eight Earth Dragon Lizards, each the size of a buffalo, covered in heavy rock‑like scales, with ferocious heads and stout tails, burst from behind rocks and cracks in the earth, their scarlet eyes locking onto the intruder Wang Ping. Their auras merged, exuding the heaviness and oppression of the earth.

The leading Earth Dragon Lizard was exceptionally massive, bearing a horn on its forehead that flashed with yellow light, its aura reaching late‑Golden Core! It let out a low growl, and the surrounding soil and stones seemed to come alive, turning into countless sharp stone spears that shot at Wang Ping like a rainstorm. At the same time, the other Earth Dragon Lizards activated their innate arts—raising earth waves or condensing boulders—launching a fierce assault.

In the past, Wang Ping would have needed to unleash the Fan Tian Seal to meet force with force, or employ the Yin Wood Divine Thunder for long‑range bombardment, requiring careful handling. But now his expression was calm, even tinged with eagerness to try.

Faced with the onslaught of stone spears, earth waves, and boulders, he merely stepped forward, and the five‑colour divine light behind him trembled slightly.

There was no dazzling light burst, no deafening roar. The seemingly torrential attack, upon contacting the five‑colour divine light, vanished like snow under a scorching sun—silently and without a trace.

Whether solid stone spears or earth‑wave boulders condensed by spell, the earth‑element spiritual power at their core was instantly "brushed" away by the five‑colour divine light, reduced to primordial earth‑element qi, and then absorbed by the yellow divine light, replenishing some of Wang Ping's expenditure.

"Roar?!"

The leader Earth Dragon Lizard's eyes flickered with a hint of human‑like astonishment and bewilderment. Though not clever, it instinctively sensed that this human's means surpassed its comprehension.

Wang Ping gave it no chance to think. A slight stir of his mind caused the pure, blinding white, razor‑sharp metal divine light within the five‑colour divine light behind him to flare up suddenly!

"Clang!"

A sword‑ringing cry echoed through the stone forest! It was not the clash of real weapons, but the manifestation of the Dao rhythm.

Only a blade of extreme condensation, like pure killing will forged into a white‑platinum sword gang, burst forth from the metal divine light! Resembling a tiger's fang, it bore the supreme sharpness of the White Tiger Slay God, its speed surpassing the limit of divine sense perception—just a flash of white light—

"Pfft!"

The leader Earth Dragon Lizard's head—hard enough to parry ordinary magic weapons—together with its flashing yellow horn, was severed at the root! The cut was mirror‑smooth, and no blood spurted at once, for the vital spark at the wound had been instantly annihilated by that ultimate sharpness.

Only after the leader's massive body crashed to the ground did the other Earth Dragon Lizards react, emitting terrified hisses and scrambling to burrow underground to escape.

"You think you can leave?"

Wang Ping's mouth curled slightly; the blue divine light behind him flowed. An extreme chill descended instantly, as if even the air were frozen! The dark‑blue Yin Yin Extinction Cold Tide, centered on him, spread silently and without sound.

Those Earth Dragon Lizards about to escape via earth‑escape instantly had their surfaces coated with a thick layer of black profound ice, their movements utterly frozen, even their thoughts seemingly halted. Their life force dissipated rapidly under the cold tide's erosion.

Wang Ping did not press the attack; turning his mind again, the cold tide retracted. He looked at the Earth Dragon Lizards frozen into ice sculptures, shivering, and nodded in satisfaction.

Five‑colour divine light, first trial of its edge! Whether the strange "brushing" away of spells, the metal divine light's unstoppable sharpness, or the water divine light's ice‑locking battlefield control, all displayed power far beyond his expectations.

Moreover, the five divine lights switched smoothly and effortlessly, with hardly any sluggishness. Pleased with the results, he turned and returned directly to his cave abode.

Inside the Purple Cloud East Arrival Cave Abode, milky spiritual liquid welled up in the spring eye, the rising spiritual vapor so thick it could not disperse, rendering the figure of Wang Ping, seated cross‑legged beside the spring, somewhat hazy.

The daily strand of morning‑glow purple qi that fell on schedule at dawn, like a living purple spiritual snake, penetrated his limbs and bones, nourishing his golden core and refining his soul.

After three days of quiet cultivation, his mind and spirit were tranquil, and his soul attained an unprecedented fullness and clarity.

The five‑inch Soul‑nurturing Wood Heart on his chest emitted a steady warm‑cool sensation, not only easing the last trace of mental fatigue from the sea of will, but also raising his thought speed and enlightened insight to a wholly new level.

Previously obscure points in his cultivation, now with a little thought, became as clear as parting clouds to reveal the sun—suddenly enlightened.

When the time came, Wang Ping slowly opened his eyes. The sharp gleam of the nascent five‑colour divine light was gone; instead, his gaze retracted like a deep pool, reflecting the flowing rosy light and spiritual qi within the cave abode, appearing profound and tranquil.

He could feel that the five‑colour golden core within his body was becoming more solid, its five‑element spiritual power circulating on its own, fused into one, faintly touching an invisible barrier—the threshold of mid‑Golden Core.

He rose, carefully adjusting the purple‑sash immortal robes on his body that marked him as a Purple‑clothed Disciple of the Dao Academy.

These robes not only offered astonishing protection but also calmed the mind and purified the spirit; wearing them, his mind was not easily disturbed by external demons. Afterwards, he solemnly took out the purplish‑gold Dean's token.

The token felt warm and moist to the touch, yet one could sense within it a weighty power as massive as a mountain.

It represented not only supreme authority but also carried the expectations of his master, Jiang Mingyuan. Wang Ping drew a deep breath and communicated with the token via his mind.

"Hum—"

A faint tremor sounded, and the profound, mysterious cloud patterns flowing across the token's surface suddenly lit up, emitting a soft yet vast light that enveloped his whole body. In the next instant, space shifted, a slight dizziness came over him; once he steadied himself, he found himself outside a massive, ancient, grandiose, and utterly silent palace.

Palace of Asking the Dao

Three large characters, their brushstrokes embodying the innate rhythm of the Dao, hung high above the palace gate; in their strokes one seemed to sense the ultimate truth of heaven and earth, and gazing at them too long gave the feeling that even one's soul would be drawn in.

The palace itself lacked the luxury of carved beams and painted pillars; its entire body was built from an unknown grayish-white massive stone, filled with the traces of time's vicissitudes.

It stood there silently, yet seemed to be the center of the entire Primeval Divine Mountain, breathing in sync with the mountain's dragon veins and the Spirit Realm's heaven and earth, exuding a vast, sublime Dao resonance that inspires awe.

The palace doors slid open soundlessly, revealing the deep hall within. Wang Ping gathered his spirit, his gaze firm, and stepped inside.

The space inside the hall was far broader than it appeared from outside, as if it possessed the wonder of spatial folding.

Yet the layout was extremely simple; in the center of the vast hall lay only two seemingly ordinary futons on the ground. On one of them, Dean Jiang Mingyuan sat calmly.

His face remained shrouded in a layer of hazy Dao resonance, indistinct, but at this moment the feeling he gave Wang Ping differed from what it had been three days ago when he faced the crowd.

It bore less of the arrogance of looking down on all beings, and more of the tranquility of returning to simplicity and authenticity.

Simply by sitting there, he perfectly merged with this Hall of Inquiry and this heaven and earth.

"Disciple Wang Ping greets his master." Wang Ping stepped forward, observed the ancient rites, and performed the grand salute. This was not only respect for his teacher, but also gratitude for the transmission of teachings and the new opportunity bestowed upon him.

"Rise, sit." Jiang Mingyuan's voice was gentle, like a spring breeze brushing the heart, carrying a strange soothing power.

Wang Ping did as told, sitting on the other futon with his back straight, his posture respectful yet not showing nervousness or hesitation.

This composed demeanor caused a flicker of barely perceptible approval to cross Jiang Mingyuan's blurred face.

Without hastily comparing cultivation or immediately imparting techniques, Jiang Mingyuan, as if chatting casually, asked a seemingly grand and distant question: "Wang Ping, you came from the Lower Realm, endured trials, and finally entered the Dao Academy. Do you know why our human race expends endless resources to establish the Nine Great Dao Academies, gathering talents from billions of miles of territory, and pouring effort into their cultivation?"

Wang Ping's heart jolted, knowing the master's question was far from superficial. After a moment's thought, combining his experience in the Lower Realm fighting for resources and survival, and what he had witnessed in the Spirit Realm regarding the Dao Academy's harsh elimination and abundant resources, he cautiously replied: "Master, my humble view is that it is to counter external foes, safeguard our human race's living ground in the Spirit Realm, and continue the clan's lineage."

"Yes, but not entirely." Jiang Mingyuan nodded slightly, his gaze seeming to pierce the palace's obstruction and gaze into the endless depths of the void: "The Spirit Realm is vast, boundless as can be. Myriad races stand side by side; the mighty are like the Starry Sky Demon Race, innately strong-bodied, devouring stars; the strange are like the Netherworld Ghost Race, hiding in the Nine Depths, corroding the spirits of living beings; even the Demon Race, Bone Race, Elf Race… many peoples, each with their own strengths. Though our human race ranks among the hegemons, we are far from carefree."

His voice was calm yet carried a heavy power, slowly unfurling before Wang Ping the tumultuous, peril-filled panorama of the Spirit Realm.

"However, such external threats, though requiring constant vigilance and bloody struggle, are not humanity's greatest hidden peril." Jiang Mingyuan shifted his tone, gaining a hint of ethereal depth: "What truly hangs over all living beings' heads, concerning the survival of the race, is the Immortal Calamity that once made countless immortals vanish."

"Immortal Calamity?" Wang Ping had heard of this notion before.

"Master, is this not too far removed from us?" Wang Ping asked.

"Not far, nor near," Jiang Mingyuan said wistfully. "Originally these were not things you knew, but in this special era, a monster like you has appeared; it's hard to say whether you are not the one destined to face the calamity!"

Wang Ping's heart and spirit were shaken; he had never thought of it that way.

"Our human race's forebears, starting from scratch, rose from the gaps among the myriad races, founded our present legacy, established the Nine Great Dao Academies, gathered the human race's fortune, collected talents, and spared no effort in cultivation." Jiang Mingyuan's voice carried remembrance and solemnity: "Their purpose was not merely to counter today's alien threats, but to accumulate strength, nurture those who could, in the future Immortal Calamity that may descend at any unknown time, secure a sliver of survival for humanity and continue the flame of civilization—the Pillar that Holds Up the Heavens."

His gaze fell again on Wang Ping, sharpening: "You come from that lost realm; you should know the suffering of severed inheritance and overturned civilization."

"The human race of the Spirit Realm would never wish to repeat past mistakes. Therefore, the core of the Dao Academy's existence is to find sufficiently excellent seeds, give them the finest soil, let them grow as quickly as possible until they can stand alone, and even… uphold a sky. Your senior brother, the present Human Emperor, also once walked out of the Dao Academy."

Wang Ping felt solemn, as if a tremendous weight suddenly pressed upon his shoulders, yet a hot blood surged in his chest. Protect the human race, continue civilization!

This was no longer an empty slogan, but had become a weighty responsibility tightly bound to his own fate.

"External threats must be resisted, calamities must be crossed; strength is the sole foundation."

Jiang Mingyuan concluded this exposition of secrets, turning the topic back to Wang Ping himself: "Your will, having passed the Will Sea trial, needs no further words. Will is the rudder, determining direction and perseverance. Now let me see what you have created, the vessel and sail carrying your Dao path—your Five Elements Divine Light."

Wang Ping's heart jolted, realizing the main topic had arrived. The master had indeed long seen through his foundation. He dared not delay, setting aside distracting thoughts and focusing his mind on the dantian.

Hum—

A soft tone rang, not from outside but arising from the vibration of his own Dao resonance. Behind him in the void, the azure, crimson, yellow, white, and blue five-colored divine lights lit up in sequence, not fully unleashed, merely manifesting their form and flowing their meaning.

The azure divine light teemed with life; within it hid a cyan-gold electric serpent wandering, exuding the mighty aura of the Yin Wood Divine Thunder, intertwining destruction and rebirth.

The crimson divine light blazed like the great sun; a phantom of a three-legged golden crow floated within it, the supreme heat of the True Sun Fire slightly warping the surrounding space.

The yellow divine light was heavy as a mountain; the phantom of a crystal-clear seal rose and fell, the gravity technique's field drawing but not releasing, yet imparting a sense of being able to suppress everything with its weight.

The remaining white divine light was sharp as a peerless immortal sword, and the blue divine light like a world-ending cold wave.

The five-colored divine lights were not isolated; their vital energies interconnected, the Five Elements Dao resonance flowing endlessly, mutually generating and overcoming, faintly forming a small yet stable circulatory system, exuding a unique intent that differs from ordinary Dao arts and spells, as if it created its own heaven and earth.

Jiang Mingyuan observed silently, his gaze like a torch, seeming able to pierce the divine light's surface and directly perceive its core essence.

After a long while, a hint of approval crossed his blurred face: "Taking the Five Elements foundation as the body, integrating the essence of top-tier spiritual objects as the guide, inscribing the corresponding Dao arts as the function, forming a self-contained system that cycles without cease. The idea is excellent, the scope grand! Though this path is arduous, if one persists and continually refines it, the future is limitless. Especially this Yin Wood Divine Thunder, which is the emblem of the Azure Emperor's staff that once dominated an age, actually matches your cultivation so perfectly, reappearing in the world—truly your fortune."

He paused, his tone carrying a hint of inquiry: "Observing your five-colored divine light, it already has an initial framework; your foundation is established, so I can only give you related texts for you to comprehend on your own."

Moreover, I sense that you also possess something that resembles metal yet is not metal, with inner spirituality and a sharp sword aura; its nature is extraordinary, yet like a pearl covered in dust, its refinement method is crude, failing to unleash its due power.

Wang Ping's heart surged again; he admired the master's insight to the point of prostration. He dared not conceal, quickly producing the Vajra Pestle that had long been one of his trump cards, offering it with both hands.

"Master's discernment. This object is called the Vajra Pestle; I, the disciple, came to understand it by chance in the Lower Realm according to the method, and later, through many opportunities, it became this."

"It has accompanied me to this day; after many battles I feel its potential far exceeds this. However, my prior study of refining techniques was superficial, my knowledge limited, fearing improper reforging would damage its inner spirituality, so I have never dared to act lightly."

Jiang Mingyuan extended his hand to draw it; the dark, lusterless Vajra Pestle floated lightly into his palm. He employed no fancy technique, merely letting a trace of chaotic hue appear on his fingertips, like the primordial source qi at the dawn of heaven and earth, gently brushing over the pestle's body.

"Hum—!"

The originally still Vajra Pestle suddenly emitted a clear, joyous vibration; though the sound was not loud, it carried a power that penetrates metal and stone.

On the pestle's body, those formerly dim and blurry patterns, almost unrecognizable, seemed to have been infused with life, suddenly blazing forth in a white-gold, matchless sharp radiance! A force far surpassing before in purity and ferocity, bearing the Geng Metal Killing Qi that cuts through everything, instantly spread, making Wang Ping sitting opposite feel a faint sting on his skin, as if countless tiny needles were pricking him.

"This object's conception is indeed extraordinary." Jiang Mingyuan examined the newly radiant Vajra Pestle, his tone calm: "I have infused it with a trace of extremely pure innate immortal metal qi."

His fingertips flashed with chaotic qi again, as if striking, he repeatedly tapped the pestle: "I have aroused its inner immortal metal source, and with chaotic qi I have washed away your postnatal impurities, reforging its internal spirit channels. Now it can be considered a preliminary form of a spiritual treasure, its power surpassing what you had before by more than tenfold."

Wang Ping gazed at the lustrous divine light of the Vajra Pestle, its aura intimately linked to his own bloodline, his heart overflowing with joy beyond words. He could clearly feel that his connection with the Vajra Pestle had become unprecedentedly clear and strong, as if it had become an extension of his arm.

"Thank you for the generous gift, Master!" Wang Ping eagerly took the Vajra Pestle, unable to let go.

"No need to thank me. Treasures are given to heroes; pearls should not be left in dust." Jiang Mingyuan said lightly.

Wang Ping tightly grasped the Vajra Pestle, carefully put it away, and in his heart the path of future cultivation became clearer and more expectation.