Chapter 431: Putting Everything to Good Use

A great harvest.

Li Yuan sat cross-legged before the archway of the Yang Sheng Sect, his heart brimming with joy!

A single eleventh-tier Wu Gong enhancement is equivalent to eighty-one seventh-tier divine weapon-tier Wu Gong effects — the result is outstanding in the extreme!

Physique Talent: Those who wield starfire as their weapon can purge their old blood; starfire is born within the blood, and thus an unrivaled body can be forged!

Cultivation Talent: One path mastered, all paths understood — any Ren He Wu Gong can be picked up with extreme speed, refined and renewed!

Longevity: One who has smelled a hundred herbs and consumed all manner of pills shall enjoy an endless lifespan!

Star Dragon-Tiger: A strange beast born of breathing in starlight, possessing boundless strength; the Yang Sheng Furnace contains a portion of the dragon-tiger's power!

A pale, mysterious light shone into his eyes!

"How long is an endless lifespan?"

What interested Li Yuan most was this one entry; the lure of longevity was truly immense to him, but just how long that longevity was, he figured he'd have to test after mastering the Wu Gong!

But he estimated that since it was 'endless,' it had to be at least a hundred years and up. "How long did Dragon Seal Ancestor and Pure Yang Ancestor live?"

As Li Yuan mulled this over, he looked toward the final Wu Gong effect, 'Star Dragon-Tiger.' This one, like the 'Star-Shifting Power' of the Rift Sea Mysterious Whale Hammer, should be the most immediately striking!

Regarding the myriad forms of heaven and earth, Li Yuan's understanding ran fairly deep; he had flipped through most of the relevant books in the Scripture Storage Pavilion!

According to the records in the Scripture Storage Pavilion, a thousand forms make a Celestial Dragon — every sect seemed to hold a similar saying. He figured it likely originated from relic sects like the Yang Sheng Sect!

After all, from ancient times to now, those who had altered a thousand forms could be counted on one hand!

As for the Star Dragon…

"According to the Mysterious Whale Spirit's account, a hundred forms make a Mirage Dragon, a thousand forms make a Celestial Dragon — by that reckoning, a star-tier Dragon-Tiger would have to be ten thousand forms?"

How much of the dragon-tiger's power is 'a portion'?

Li Yuan's heart thumped violently — this haul was a massive win!

A portion — at the very least it had to be a thousand forms, perhaps several thousand?

"Ten thousand forms are within reach."

Li Yuan even felt that, having mastered the Yang Sheng Furnace, his talent could break straight through to above the World-Shaking tier.

If so, then perhaps the Mysterious Whale Dao Child trial could be skipped? And this Yang Sheng Sect Dao Child trial as well…

As Li Yuan was calculating in his mind, a tremor rang out from the mist swirling outside the Yang Sheng Sect, along with the 'clang-clang' of iron ingots hitting the ground!

Following the sound, he saw a fist-sized pill furnace hopping and bouncing toward him, landing with a thud, trembling from time to time!

"Yang Sheng Furnace Spirit!"

Li Yuan reached out and caught this fist-sized furnace. Comparing it to the Mysterious Whale Spirit's attitude from before — hmm, he felt he was somewhat petty!

Ooo-oo!

After the pill furnace appeared, Li Yuan stood up. Within the clouds and mist, the shadows of a Cang Long and a Bai Hu moved slowly, and an ancient, desolate aura washed over him!

"Disciple Li Yuan pays respects to the two Ancestors!"

Li Yuan bowed in salute!

The Cang Long and Bai Hu within the mist were the pure wills left behind by Dragon Seal Ancestor and Pure Yang Ancestor, sustained by incense offerings down to this very day.

The reason Dragon Dao Lord, and indeed all successive ancestors, were able to activate the Yang Sheng Furnace was thanks to the lingering grace of these two Ancestors!

"Roar."

A long cry of dragon and tiger came from the mist. Li Yuan could feel the wills of the two Ancestors watching him, but they did not step out — instead, they slowly retreated!

"The protection of the two Ancestors has allowed the Dragon-Tiger Yang Sheng Furnace to endure long within Dragon-Tiger Temple, but it cannot influence the rules of a Daoist Tianyun Daoist Tianyun Xuanbing choosing its master. In fact, because too many have tried, it has grown harder and harder to acknowledge a master!"

Toying with the pill furnace in his palm, Li Yuan had already come to understand the predicament of Dragon-Tiger Temple — or rather, of the Wudadao Sect!

A Daoist Tianyun Daoist Tianyun Xuanbing that had been nurtured for at least a thousand years — its path to acknowledging a master was so long it was despair-inducing. Unless a disciple of epoch-defining talent appeared, later disciples would find it very hard to inherit the position of Weapon Master!

"If you leave, can the Yang Sheng Mi Jing still cover the inner sect of Dragon-Tiger?"

Li Yuan inquired!

The furnace

trembled lightly, and a stone tablet rose from the ground. The Yang Sheng Spirit's reply came smoothly: "If you stay away too long… the Mi Jing will naturally dissipate, and the Yang Sheng Qi will return to heaven and earth!"

Li Yuan had some guesses in his heart and was not surprised; instead he asked: "How long is 'too long'?"

"One day!"

"That short?"

Li Yuan frowned — he had no desire to let the Yang Sheng Mi Jing dissipate!

Dragon-Tiger Temple had been tended for over a thousand years; who knew how much spirit rice, spirit herbs, and spirit medicines had been planted within the Mi Jing. If it all collapsed at once, he suspected Dragon Dao Lord would come looking for a fight!

"Burning incense offerings can maintain the Mi Jing and prevent it from dispersing!"

The Yang Sheng Furnace Spirit's response was quick. By comparison, the Mysterious Whale Spirit was like a child abandoned in the wild from infancy — communication was difficult!

"Incense offerings… forget it, pretend I didn't ask!"

Li Yuan immediately shook his head — incense offerings, he didn't even have enough for himself!

"One day, hmm, that's not unworkable. I'll keep track of the time, pull it out just before a day is up, stabilize the Yang Sheng Mi Jing, and then I can re-master the Yi Bai Xing!"

"Hmm, not a big problem!"

Li Yuan's heart eased, but he didn't rush to try. His thoughts shifted, and he sensed Dragon Dao Lord's summons from outside!

In just this short while, Dragon Dao Lord could no longer hold back, calling out to him several times!

"This feeling is truly wonderful!"

Li Yuan closed his eyes, and through the Dragon-Tiger Yang Sheng Furnace, the entire inner sect of Dragon-Tiger Temple appeared within his perception!

However, with his current spirit, simultaneously perceiving a dozen or so scenes was fine, but monitoring over a hundred thousand Dragon-Tiger disciples at once was absolutely impossible!

But Dragon Dao Lord was naturally within his range of perception!

The old Monk was on a small hill outside the pagoda, pinching his long brows as he paced back and forth, waiting with anxious heart!

At that moment, a voice pierced through the air: "Dao Lord, enter the tower!"

This was the wondrous use of the Nourishing Life Furnace—wherever its nourishing qi covered, both sight and sound could be transmitted!

As the master of the Dragon Tiger Nourishing Life Furnace, Li Yuan's use of it was even more nimble and at ease than Dragon Dao Lord's!

Hearing the voice, Long Long Yingchan's eyelid twitched, his eyebrows nearly flying off—roles completely reversed: "What did you say?"

"Cough."

Li Tianyuan immediately backed down, releasing his restrictions on the Nourishing Life Furnace: "N-no, I didn't say anything!"

"You brat!"

Sensing the familiar qi descend, Long Long Yingchan's expression eased!

Being unable to sense the Nourishing Life Furnace made him feel like a cripple who'd lost his crutch—utterly miserable!

"Hoo."

Sensing it briefly, Long Long Yingchan was astonished to discover that perhaps because the furnace master permitted it, he could now wield it more nimbly and naturally than before!

None of the sluggishness from when the patriarch had activated it!

In the interwoven light and shadow, Dragon Dao Lord's figure vanished in an instant—Li Yuan's eyes went wide, and all he saw was a wisp of cloud dispersing!

"Great Perfection level Wind Tiger Cloud Dragon—Nine Appearances Cloud Dragon."

Li Yuan clicked his tongue inwardly. With such skill, if Dragon Dao Lord joined the Star-Plucking Tower, he'd surely be the number one assassin under heaven—appearing without a shadow, vanishing without a trace!

A wisp of cloud dispersed, and Long Long Yingchan strode forth!

"Master!"

Li Yuan obediently bowed!

"Good lad!"

Long Long Yingchan tugged at his long brows, his heart a tangle—gratified, yet also a touch lost!

He was not one to cling to power; he'd previously considered gradually passing on the burdens on his shoulders, but this was truly too fast—in the blink of an eye, he'd been kicked out!

This wretched furnace was simply cold and heartless!

Fortunately…

"This disciple truly didn't expect it either!"

Li Yuan was slightly embarrassed!

"This is a good thing!"

Long Long Yingchan patted his shoulder: "Don't mind it. This old man's heart isn't that narrow!"

"Bring me that Ink Dragon's remains!" Dragon Dao Lord ordered.

"Yes!"

Li Yuan hurriedly agreed. With a thought, the nourishing qi rolled forth—

—and when the mist cleared, the Ink Dragon's battered corpse had already fallen beneath the Nourishing Life Sect's archway!

"That fast?"

Long Long Yingchan's eyelid jumped. This was countless times faster than when he'd activated it before!

Glancing at the small furnace in Li Yuan's hand, Dragon Dao Lord suddenly felt a twinge of envy. This wretched furnace was simply a petty thing—performing "arrogant before, respectful after" to perfection!

"What do you want his corpse for, Elder?"

Li Yuan had rich experience activating the Daoist Tianyun Daoist Tianyun Xuanbing—once in hand, he was already quite skilled!

"This Ink Dragon, between solid and void, is fused from the flesh and blood of the Demon-Subduing Dragon God Form, Dragon God True Gang, and Wan Wan Zhuliu!"

Long Long Yingchan didn't hide his purpose either: "This old man wants to try whether he can fuse this Demon-Subduing Dragon God Form into the Wind Tiger Cloud Dragon. If it works, the Wind Tiger Cloud Dragon might break through its shackles—perhaps even attempt to pierce through that final move!"

"You're going to break through to Divine Palace?"

Li Yuan's spirit jolted!

"Far from it!"

Long Long Yingchan glanced at him, inwardly amazed—the Star-Plucking Tower Lord really tells you everything!

"Whether the Divine Palace is a realm, that remains to be said!"

Long Long Yingchan deliberated slightly. Things he wasn't certain about, he normally didn't wish to pass on to his disciple, fearing it would mislead.

"Since ancient times, records show that altogether only four or five people have cultivated above the He Yi Jing. Pure Yang Patriarch reached this step; Dragon Seal Patriarch was half a step short…"

Dragon Seal's voice came from within the clouds!

Long Long Yingchan hurriedly coughed. When he spoke again, it shifted to transmitted voice: "These few are called Supreme Grandmasters by the jianghu, and each left their understanding of this realm—but it's all mysterious and murky, the only thing one can grasp is 'Divine Palace'!"

Dragon Dao Lord spoke very vaguely!

Li Yuan noted it all down—understood or not, write it down first!

"Above He Yi, with no one to guide, one can mostly only grope one's own way—therefore, extremely difficult!"

Long Long Yingchan sighed inwardly. This move, he'd pondered for who knows how long—even unsure whether his own comprehension was correct!

Seeing Dragon Dao Lord somewhat wistful, Li Yuan hurriedly changed the subject: "Can you comprehend the Demon-Subduing Dragon God Form from this Ink Dragon—"

"Once I comprehend it, I'll give you a copy!"

Long Long Yingchan knew his disciple too well and didn't beat around the bush. As he spoke, he raised his hand and grabbed at the Ink Dragon's remains!

"Swoosh."

Li Yuan heard the sound of tides!

Long Long Yingchan's grab was like plunging into the great sea, stirring up wave after wave of tides. As he raised his hand, black mist enveloped it, and a faint, half-real azure dragon was already clutched in his palm!

The Ink Dragon's remains instantly crumbled, dissolving into drops of blood that rolled down!

"A Grandmaster's blood contains intense will. The Xieshen Sect has methods to refine it into pills, but that's the unorthodox path!"