Chapter 254: Shi He Ci, Meeting Miao Yin

As they spoke, a faint fragrance rose from the teapot in the woman's hand; Lu Yang merely smelled it and felt an inexplicable comfort surge through his entire body.

"Enough."

The next second, this 【Zeng Cai Qi Luo Zhen Jun】 stopped shaking the teapot in her hand; cloud qi gathered before Lu Yang into a teacup, then filled it with tea for him. Lu Yang glanced over and saw the tea in the cup was a purple-green hue, shimmering with tiny points of faint light.

"Drink it."

The woman regarded Lu Yang with a calm expression, offering no explanation; the purple-green tea was utterly strange, looking at a glance as if something had been added to it.

Yet Lu Yang hesitated not a bit.

"Many thanks, True Person!"

He raised the teacup and downed it in one gulp; his decisive, swift action made the woman's embroidered brows lift slightly, revealing a trace of surprise.

Not even a moment's hesitation? Truly so loyal?

"In that case, it seems I was the one who acted like a petty person." The woman smiled cheerfully, then swept her sleeve, rose, and vanished silently from the spot.

Within the teahut formed of gathered cloud qi, the spiritual energy of heaven and earth surged forth spontaneously, all of it wood-attribute spiritual energy, constructing an environment utterly suited to comprehending the wood element. Lu Yang stood within it, eyes tightly shut, feeling his very soul and spirit grow stronger under the irrigation of this single cup of tea.

After a long while, he slowly opened his eyes.

The cultivation advancement of a Foundation Establishment True Person differs entirely from that of Qi Refining; in most cases, there is no peril of magic power exhaustion, and the qualitative change lies solely in the growth of innate divine abilities.

Beyond that, Dao cultivation ranks first.

Under the same realm, the level of Dao cultivation directly determines the quality of one's magical combat prowess; so-called Dao cultivation is a Foundation Establishment True Person's understanding of their own Great Dao.

The higher the Dao cultivation, the easier it is to swallow and absorb the Cheng Cheng Tian Gang and Earthly Fiends, and the faster one's cultivation advances; if Dao cultivation is too low, one cannot even find the Cheng Cheng Tian Gang and Earthly Fiends, let alone swallow them. Yet Dao cultivation's level depends solely on one's experience of heaven and earth, not on any physical object, so improving it is ethereal, elusive, and hard to grasp.

"This is the True Person's skill."

Were it not for a True Person, it would be impossible to refine the 【Ageless Paulownia】 into a pill that increases Dao cultivation; even then, it could only be done if the attributes matched.

After all, what he intends to cultivate afterward is the Earthly Fiend 【Yin Wood】.

It happens to correspond exactly with the Cheng Cheng Tian Gang 【Jia Wood】 of the 【Ageless Paulownia】; both are Yang Wood, sharing a common wonder, which allows using a stone from another hill to polish jade.

Otherwise, even if a True Person arrived, it would be like a skilled housewife unable to cook without rice.

"Yang Wood."

Lu Yang murmured softly, a look of realization appearing in his eyes; then he opened his palm, and the 【Imperial Mansion Golden Seal Dushu True Decree】 appeared in his palm.

This semi-True Treasure rotated slightly, instantly transforming into the form of a divine ability brimming with splendor—clearly 【Star-Hiding Radiance】. Yet the next second, as Lu Yang's thoughts shifted, the original 【Star-Hiding Radiance】 gradually changed its form, finally becoming a ball of Bai Guang crouching in his palm.

"Before, my understanding of 【Yin Wood】 was still too low,"

Lu Yang sighed: "【Star-Hiding Radiance】, though also 【Yin Wood】, actually integrates the Cheng Cheng Tian Gang 【Ding Fire】, which does not truly match 【City-Wall Earth】."

"【Star-Hiding Radiance】 obscures causality and hides one's form; it is the art of assassins and lone tyrants, whereas 【City-Wall Earth】 is the manifest worldly fruit-position of the former Dao Court."

"The Dao Court holds the authority of heaven and earth and establishes the Son of Heaven's enterprise; how could the Son of Heaven, whose power is majestic and upright, practice the arts of assassins and lone tyrants?"

"Yin belongs to Gen; Gen is Mountain; Mountain is hard earth, which is also the Cheng Cheng Tian Gang 【Wu Earth】."

"Therefore, my 【Bao Shou Shan】 is formed by the Cheng Cheng Tian Gang 【Wu Earth】 combining with the Earthly Fiend 【Yin Wood】; my next innate divine ability should also match this."

"So the 【Yin Wood】 I seek should match the Cheng Cheng Tian Gang 【Ji Earth】."

"Only thus, with 【Wu Earth】 combining 【Yin Wood】, and 【Yin Wood】 then combining 【Ji Earth】, can I link the entire Dao path together without confusion!"

This is the use of Dao cultivation.

Had Lu Yang's Dao cultivation been insufficient, had he comprehended the wrong direction, and had he kept using 【Star-Hiding Radiance】 to seek the Cheng Cheng Tian Gang and Earthly Fiends, the result would have been wasting hundreds of years in vain.

It also demonstrates the profound mystery of the 【Imperial Mansion Golden Seal Dushu True Decree】: it can pre-evolve innate divine abilities; once the right direction is found, it can help you test for errors in advance. Under Lu Yang's manipulation at this moment, this semi-True Treasure immediately bloomed with a divine ability splendor utterly different from before.

"Its name is—【Shi He Ci】!"

Looking at this brand-new innate divine ability in his palm, Lu Yang felt it suited him even better than 【Star-Hiding Radiance】, and its use was even more effortless.

"Yin is Yang Wood; Wood generates Fire Qi."

"【Yin Wood】 stationed in 【Ji Earth】 means Wood and Fire hold authority, tempering Ji Earth, thus forming a lodestone, diminishing its neutralizing Qi, causing the pure, turbid, and three powers to all fall into disorder."

In short, 【Shi He Ci】 can manifest a divine ability light called 【Primordial Magnetism Separation-Union Divine Light】, which specializes in breaking divine abilities and spiritual treasures and magical artifacts, causing them to lose control and backfire upon their masters. No matter what divine ability or spiritual treasure you wield, one sweep of this divine light leaves you helpless, able only to gaze up and sigh.

"Much smoother!"

Lu Yang's eyes brightened; knowing that with his current Dao cultivation, he could now seek his next innate divine ability, this was the greatest gain of this entire endeavor!

"Speaking of gains... oh, right."

At this thought, Lu Yang retracted his divine ability, then drew from his storage bag a long sword covered in dense cracks, nearly shattered, and still permeated with demonic Qi.

【Nine Sons Mother Heavenly Demon Sword of Executing Immortals】!

This was Ye Guyue's life-sword, obtained by gathering Qi using the 【Divine Refinement Weapon-Dissolution Sword Art】; previously it clashed with Lu Yang's A-Bi Sword, resulting in mutual devastation.

Since then, it had used the Heavenly Demons within the sword to avert disasters and substitute calamities; all nine Heavenly Demons were shattered by Lu Yang. Now that sword, with no Heavenly Demon standing guard, was merely the blade itself, its wonders reduced by seven or eight-tenths. Yet even so, by killing people to sacrifice to the sword once more, the Heavenly Demons could be re-manifested.

"Truly orthodox demonic path."

Lu Yang shook his head, took the 【Nine Sons Mother Heavenly Demon Sword of Executing Immortals】 into his hand, and began pondering what method could make this sword useful.

"I already have the A-Bi Sword and the Formless Sword guarding me; I actually do not need a third magical sword."

Compared to the power of the 【Nine Sons Mother Heavenly Demon Sword of Executing Immortals】, what Lu Yang valued more was actually its ability to avert disasters and substitute calamities; he simply did not know how to utilize it.

"Perhaps I should go to the Xian Fa Pavilion again."

Just then.

"Whoosh! Whoosh!"

A beam of escape light descended from the sky, finally landing steadily within Mount Luofeng Mountain. Soon, a dignified, graceful, and noble beautiful woman stepped out from within.

Seeing this, Lu Yang's eyebrows immediately lifted.

The next second, the beautiful woman parted her lips and teeth, exhaling a persistent orchid fragrance, and said softly: "This humble one greets the Daoist Friend; I apologize for disturbing your cultivation."

"... No harm done."

Lu Yang sheathed the magical sword and smiled slightly: "I simply wonder, Lady, with your myriad daily affairs and naturally busy schedule, what brings you to take time out to visit my Mount Luofeng Mountain?"

Having spoken, he glanced once more at Miao Yin Zhen Ren, only to see she had long since changed out of the white mourning clothes; she wore a grand red-sleeved robe over a translucent outer cloak, through which snow-white skin could be easily seen. On her flower-like face and moon-like countenance sat the dignified aura of one who has long held high position.

This was a very special aura.

Dignified and soft, yet not without charm; it would make one feel the urge to protect her, yet also make one unable to resist wanting to ruthlessly defile her until she begged for mercy in sorrow and resentment.

Intentional.

Lu Yang narrowed his eyes slightly; without a doubt, True Person Miao Yin had deliberately dressed up to come here, presenting a completely different appearance compared to her previous attire of mourning clothes.

"Naturally, it is for the matter of 【Gathering Qi】."

True Person Miao Yin covered her mouth with a light laugh, her eyes shifting: "Daoist Friend and my husband are close confidants; you must have already obtained the original version of the cultivation method from him, correct?"

"However, the 'Qian Tian Yi Yuan Tong She Zhu Tian Shen Fa' is extremely profound; regarding the corresponding 【Wan Wu Jie】, apart from this humble wife, I fear few True Persons possess any understanding of it."

"Moreover, since Daoist Friend obtained the cultivation method from my husband, are you not afraid there might be problems?"

"By coincidence, this humble wife also possesses a copy of the same cultivation method. If Daoist Friend is willing, I can hand it over for you to compare carefully."

As she spoke, True Person Miao Yin had already walked to Lu Yang's front.

Facing this scene, although Lu Yang's face outwardly displayed a smile, there was not the slightest desire in his heart; instead, the chill deep in his eyes grew increasingly heavy.

This woman is not right!

(End of this chapter)