Chapter 795

The Body Integration realm means the Dao and the body become one—not merely sensing the Dao as in the Dao Body realm, but fusing the Dao seed with one’s own form to awaken a great divine art, and only then can it be called Body Integration. Once the Dao seed is planted, one may be addressed as True Lord.

Li Rui’s mind echoed the words once spoken by Master Zhu of the Divine Deer Academy.

Now.

He had reached that realm.

Or nearly so.

Indeed.

The True Martial Presence had fused with him.

Before the split spirit Lu Yang was shattered, he had finally completed Body Integration, then transferred it to his main body’s Niwan Palace.

Only the final heavenly tribulation remained to make his Body Integration complete.

Even so, Li Rui already possessed nearly eighty percent of a Body Integration realm’s combat power.

It was fundamentally different from his former split spirit.

The reason those below Body Integration are called mortals is that only after fusing body and Dao seed can one nurture a great divine art, one that shares origin with immortal arts.

All divine arts below Body Integration are merely derivatives of this great divine art.

Or rather, diminished versions.

This great divine art awakens at Body Integration, reaches full maturity only when the Dao fruit is formed and one becomes a Dao Lord, and upon ascension, becomes the first immortal art.

The True Martial Presence governs destruction.

The divine art it nurtures is naturally one of destruction.

Named “Open Heaven.”

This great divine art has only one technique, inspired by the True Martial Emperor purging all demons from the world—its killing power is astonishing. If pushed to its ultimate extreme, it might truly achieve a single punch to open heaven, crushing stars.

If he had faced the Wuwei True Lord again.

The outcome might have been different.

Of course, the Wuwei True Lord was dead beyond resurrection, and due to being a fragment of the Yellow Dragon Dao Lord, he had no chance of a next life.

Of the Yellow Dragon Dao Lord’s three fragments, all except Cui He had been slain by him.

And because Cui He still lived, the Yellow Dragon Dao Lord could not nurture another fragment.

This was one of Li Rui’s goals.

As he pondered this,

a voice arose within his heart lake.

“Boy, I underestimated you.”

In the Ten Thousand Souls Banner, Zhu Yuanyong gazed at Li Rui.

Yes.

The Ten Thousand Souls Banner had returned to Li Rui’s main body, and Zhu Yuanyong now knew that Lu Yang was one of Li Rui’s Three Pure Ones split spirits.

“Truly, the young generation is formidable.”

Zhu Yuanyong couldn’t help but marvel—Li Rui had not only deceived him, but also deceived two Dao Lords.

What is it that the waves behind push forward the ones ahead?

When he ascended to Dao Lord, he was manipulated by a Dao Lord; yet Li Rui, while ascending to True Lord, dared to manipulate Dao Lords.

Turning heaven upside down!

“Senior, Yu State cannot be visited yet—it will take some time.”

Li Rui spoke to Zhu Yuanyong with great respect.

Not only because Zhu Yuanyong was the founding ancestor of Yu State, but because Zhu Yuanyong had genuinely wished to help Lu Yang.

His rapid planting of the Dao seed owed much to that dragon pearl.

Of course,

Zhu Yuanyong learned this great secret not only because his character had been tested, but because Li Rui had secretly implanted the Heavenly Court’s primordial essence into Zhu Yuanyong’s lingering soul long before Lu Yang died.

Life and death rested in Li Rui’s single thought.

Originally meant as a precaution against Zhu Yuanyong, it had ultimately become unnecessary.

During Zhu Yuanyong’s year-long slumber, Li Rui used that primordial essence to sustain his soul, granting him another century of existence.

“I’m not in a hurry.”

Zhu Yuanyong waved his hand.

He knew his own condition.

Sustaining a soul was never this easy.

He understood: Li Rui had made a great sacrifice to help him.

Zhu Yuanyong spoke earnestly: “Boy, you’re too kind. Don’t you fear I might have ulterior motives—perhaps to possess your body?”

“If I revealed your secrets, not even Baiyu Jing could protect you.”