Chapter 315: Crimson Sun Great Art

"Report to my master, this disciple has devoted all his efforts these past years to Foundation Establishment and has little understanding of the Foundation Establishment cultivation method, nor has he diverted his attention to the Profound Armor Scripture." After rising, Wang Yu replied humbly.

Indeed, to achieve Foundation Establishment as soon as possible, he had focused primarily on the Fire Spirit Art and alchemy over the past decade, leaving nearly all other spells and secret techniques unpracticed.

Though the Profound Armor Art is a second-rank body cultivation technique, it still requires substantial external aids and considerable expenditure—impossible to further dilute already scarce resources meant for Foundation Establishment.

"You understand well—you know what you want."

"Correct. One day without Foundation Establishment means falling one day behind others on the cultivation path. Only after achieving Foundation Establishment, when your lifespan greatly extends, can you hope to walk farther on the Dao."

"In my time, many of my fellow disciples at the Qi Condensation stage were far stronger than I was—I didn't even rank in the top ten then. But so what? Of that entire cohort, only I became a Golden Core."

"Master speaks truly. I humbly beg your guidance," Wang Yu said at once, bowing deeply.

"As for main cultivation methods, after Foundation Establishment, choices are far fewer than in the Qi Condensation stage—each of the four lines has only two or three methods available. Fortunately, since all four lines share the same body, though you are already a disciple of the Black Tortoise Line, learning methods from other lines isn't difficult—only less convenient than studying your own line's methods."

"What do you mean by 'less convenient'?" Wang Yu asked, puzzled.

"It's simple. For example, if you wish to learn the Vermilion Bird Line's Vermilion Bird Separating Fire Art, you need their treasured artifact—the Separating Fire Lamp—to even begin."

"If you wish to learn the White Tiger Line's Heavenly Calamity Golden Gang Scripture, you must first use their inherited 'Melted Gold Pool' to alter your meridians before you can cultivate it."

"Even our own line's Black Water One Qi Art requires the treasure 'Heavy Water Cauldron' to break through each minor realm."

"Foundation Establishment methods involve the sect's very foundation. Without the lineage's treasured artifacts to assist, you cannot even dream of cultivating them. This is the very foundation of our cultivation sects," Tian Chan Lao Zu explained.

"I understand. But besides the Black Water One Qi Art, what other methods does our Black Tortoise Line offer?" Wang Yu said, suddenly enlightened.

"Our line is named after the Black Tortoise, so naturally we focus on water-based methods. Of our three Foundation Establishment methods, besides the Black Water One Qi Art, there is the Azure Waves Thousand Swells Art and the Golden Light Illusory Spirit Scripture. The first two are water-based; the last is metal-based—this was the method I cultivated when I reached Foundation Establishment. I recall your fire elemental affinity is the highest—these methods likely won't suit you."

"My fire elemental root is indeed vastly superior to my others. I'll learn a fire-based method," Wang Yu replied without hesitation.

"The most famous fire-based method in our sect is naturally the Vermilion Bird Line's Separating Fire Art—when perfected, it summons Vermilion Bird fire. But aside from your Separating Fire Master Uncle, no one else in our sect has ever cultivated it."

"Why is that?" Wang Yu exclaimed, asking instinctively.

"The Separating Fire Art is easy to learn but hard to master. Once you reach a certain level, you must endure severe backlash. One misstep and you'll be reduced to ashes. Besides a fire elemental root, the best practitioners should also possess a special fire-type spiritual body."

"Your Separating Fire Master Uncle possesses the legendary 'Yin Flame Spiritual Body,' which allowed him to cultivate the Separating Fire Art to the Golden Core stage. Even so, he barely suppresses the backlash now. As for our sect's other two fire-based Foundation Establishment methods—better not bother with them," Tian Chan Lao Zu shook his head.

"Ah."

Wang Yu let out a surprised exclamation at the end.

"Because the other two fire-based methods are weak, and can only take you to Foundation Establishment's peak—they cannot lead to Golden Core. If you have no ambition for Golden Core, you might Mianqiang cultivate them."

"Moreover, fire-based methods are inherently brutal. If their power fails to impress, what's the point of cultivating them?" Tian Chan Lao Zu said coolly.

"Then what is your meaning, Master?" Wang Yu asked cautiously, truly confused by his master's intent.

"Actually, the most renowned fire-based method in Great Ming isn't the Separating Fire Art—it's the Sunset Sect's Crimson Sun Great Art. The Crimson Sun True Fire it cultivates is even more brutal than the Separating Fire Art, and it contains special secret techniques to neutralize the backlash. It is one of the Sunset Sect's three foundational methods."

"Master wants me to learn the Crimson Sun Great Art? Do you possess its cultivation incantations?" Wang Yu was stunned.

"Of course not. Even if I did, it would be useless—without the accompanying secret techniques and auxiliary treasures, how could you learn it?"

"But recently, the four sects are expanding exchanges further. I can arrange for you to study this method at the Sunset Sect. Your only concern is whether you can accept the Crimson Sun Great Art's drawbacks."

"Drawbacks? I humbly ask Master to clarify," Wang Yu blinked, pondering.

"The Crimson Sun Great Art is a method that directly leads to Golden Core—its power is immense and its cultivation speed is fast. But it has only two drawbacks: it consumes enormous resources—during cultivation, the amount of spirit stones required is several times greater than other methods—and the mid-to-late Foundation Establishment bottlenecks are exceptionally hard to break through."

Several-fold consumption!

Extremely hard to break through!

After hearing this, Wang Yu's expression shifted several times.

"Had you not been an artificer and learned some alchemy over the years, I wouldn't have recommended this method. After all, its cultivation speed is nearly proportional to its resource consumption—the more resources you spend, the faster you progress."

"Master knows I've studied alchemy?" Wang Yu's heart skipped.

Though his alchemy had long reached the qualified level, to avoid drawing attention, he had never applied for official alchemist certification at the General Affairs Hall.

Had his master long known about his sales of Nourishing Pill in the marketplace?

"Do you think I've ignored you these past years? Every alchemy ingredient you bought from the General Affairs Hall—once you pay attention, who could possibly hide it?" Tian Chan Lao Zu smiled faintly.

"Master sees clearly."

Wang Yu could only force a smile in reply.

"Fortunately, whether in alchemy or artifice, both greatly aid your resource accumulation—that is your greatest advantage in cultivating the Sunset Great Art."

"As for the difficulty of breaking through in mid-to-late Foundation Establishment, that's merely a matter of opportunity. In my day, I never considered myself exceptionally gifted. Yet when fortune arrived, I too broke through to Golden Core."

"Most importantly, how could any disciple of Tian Chan Sect settle for mediocrity and learn ordinary methods?" Tian Chan Lao Zu said to Wang Yu with deep meaning.

"I understand. Then I will learn the Crimson Sun Great Art," Wang Yu thought rapidly for several moments, then declared decisively.