Chapter 563: The Yellow Dragon Son's Plot

The trip to the Divine Burial Grotto Heaven brought Li Yuan considerable gains, mainly different insights into martial cultivation.

Though Quancheng was not large, its martial Dao originated from the Yanxia Sect, the Chonghua Star, and even bore traces from the San Yuan Fa Jie realm of ages past.

This was something the Great Fortune Heaven, sealed away by the Eight Directions Temple for ten thousand years, did not possess.

"Entering the Dao makes one a True Person."

The Yanxia Sect—or rather, the San Yuan Fa Jie realm of ages past—called this barrier of entering the Dao the "Limit of Heaven and Man." Only by stepping past it did one have the right to be called a "True Person."

Only a True Person had the right to register in the lands of San Yuan; only then was one acknowledged by the various holy lands and sects, and even by the various races, as the foremost race of San Yuan.

"Among the myriad races of San Yuan, there is no lack of those blessed by heaven—talents overwhelmingly strong, races born already half a step into the Dao. Such are beyond what the human race can compare to."

Within the You Jing, Li Yuan walked slowly, his mind still turning over the intelligence he had obtained from the Zang Guan Mi Jing.

Clusters of stars gathered into realms; realms gathered into Divine Dynasties.

The Origin Divine Dynasty was vast beyond anyone's comprehension, and within its endless territories, it naturally nurtured all manner of races that ordinary folk would find inconceivable.

Compared with these alien races, the human race held no advantage—only by entering the Dao could this gap be leveled.

"After entering the Dao, the choice of Divine Realm and Spirit Phase is extremely important…"

Li Yuan murmured to himself. Based on those books' records of "Strange Sights," "Spirit Phases," "Jin Dan," and "Dharma Rings," he now had a deeper understanding of the barrier of entering the Dao.

Strange Sights and Spirit Phases were both base materials for condensing the Jin Dan and Dharma Rings.

In his understanding, it was a "puzzle"—similar to a transformation combination. No matter how complex and wondrous, at its root it was still assembling a puzzle.

The difference was that transformation combinations pieced together forms.

Jin Dan and Dharma Rings pieced together Strange Sights, Spirit Phases, Divine Patterns, and the like.

"Nine-Sight Jin Dan, Nine-Phase Dharma Ring… Though Yan Yun Jun did not mention it, clearly, even among Nine-Sights and Nine-Phases there are differences—great ones, even."

Li Dao Ye still had some ability to draw inferences and grasp by analogy.

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Strange Sights and Spirit Phases both had grades. A Nine-Sight Jin Dan assembled from Spirit-grade Strange Sights was clearly not in the same league as one assembled from Divine-grade or Saint-grade Strange Sights.

"By the Eight Directions Temple's assessment, my Long Kun Spirit Phase should be at the Divine-grade level… I wonder if the Divine-grade in that assessment refers to the final grade after I complete ten thousand forms…"

His thoughts wandering, Li Yuan arrived at Zhou Ying's small temple.

After a short wait, Zhou Ying emerged from the shadows, a smile on his face, seemingly in good spirits.

"I have not disgraced the mission!"

Zhou Ying produced a map, on which all twelve marked points had been fully indicated.

"Many thanks for your trouble, Senior."

Li Yuan took the map, not surprised in the least.

Though Zhou Ying was in a half-dead, half-alive state, he was after all a strong practitioner of the Dishida Sect level. With the experts of the imperial court and Dao Sects having entered the Eight Directions Temple, scouting the way was naturally very smooth.

Zhou Ying smiled and asked: "Which Daoist Tianyun Daoist Tianyun Xuanbing does my friend plan to seize?"

He understood Li Yuan's purpose well and offered his own suggestion: "Among these eleven Daoist Tianyun Daoist Tianyun Xuanbing, the most heavily guarded is the imperial court's, followed by the great Dao Sects…"

"These houses have deep foundations and may well have some contingency. For safety's sake, you should choose one from the 'Great Wasteland Purple Gold Spear' or the 'Dragon Sumeru Staff.'"

"Senior speaks reasonably."

Li Yuan nodded.

If he did not consider that the Xinyi Sect had just given him a great bundle of resources, the Dragon Sumeru Staff would be the best choice—it could complete his ten thousand forms and had not truly acknowledged a master.

But Daoist Qun Xing had just given him Jin Shan and spirit pills, and was still about to offer incense offerings. If he turned right around and seized the man's Daoist Tianyun Daoist Tianyun Xuanbing, it would be rather unseemly.

"Of course, if my friend chooses one of the other houses, Zhou Mou is also willing to lend his full strength."

Perhaps noticing

something, Zhou Ying shifted his tone.

"Many thanks, Senior."

Li Yuan cupped his fist in gratitude and took out an Eight Directions Temple token: "With this token, Senior may enter the Eight Directions Temple."

"Just like that, one can enter the temple?"

Zhou Ying's body trembled. He took the token with both hands and bowed deeply: "My friend is truly a man of his word!"

"Senior need not be so polite." Li Yuan accepted the courtesy, tucked away the map, and said: "In that case, shall we go together?"

"Good!"

Zhou Ying had long been unable to wait. Forcibly containing his excitement, following Li Yuan's instructions, he activated the Eight Directions Temple token.

"He can enter the temple, but I'm afraid it will be very hard for him to gain any benefit…"

Li Yuan watched him vanish into the shadows and shook his head inwardly. In Zhou Ying's current state, the Eight Directions Temple might not recognize him as a living being; and even if it did, at his great age, he probably could not climb the mountain.

But this was something he had long promised, so naturally he would not go back on his word.

Hum~

Li Yuan closed his eyes. He could sense where those two tokens were; with a single thought he could recall them—of course, he was only sensing them.

"Seven hundred and eighty steps? Already…"

Li Yuan was slightly startled. Focusing his senses, he found Qin Yun still climbing the Eight Directions Mountain. Though each step was now a struggle, he had already approached the eight-hundredth step.

Hope for a thousand steps!

His thoughts turning, Li Yuan could not help but feel a touch of anticipation.

Taking out his own token, he strode back to the Eight Directions Temple.

……

……

Boom!

Rumble!

The divine blade swept across, its blade-light like a tide drowning the remaining Dao soldiers.

"The Tian Cang Blade is indeed extraordinary."

Amidst ruins like scorched earth, Wan Wan Zhuliu sheathed his blade. With a force that swept away withered stalks, he cleared the fifteenth floor of the Dao Soldier Tower, yet his face held no joy; instead, his brows were tightly furrowed.

For nothing else: upon the scorched earth after the clearing, the Dao soldiers reappeared, still on the fifteenth floor, and no new "Tian Cang Blade True Form Diagram" had been awarded.

"Still the fifteenth floor..."

Standing still and waiting for a long time, Wan Wan Zhuliu's face was as calm as water.

After his first ascent of the tower, he had entered it over a hundred times since, from a somewhat ragged start to now sweeping away withered stalks; he had mastered parts of that Tian Cang Blade True Form Diagram.

Yet he remained trapped on the fifteenth floor.

It was not only him; the others from the imperial court were also trapped at the height of their first tower ascent, except for Qin Yun, Long Long Yingchan, and others... Buzz.

He lightly tapped his brow, silver light bursting forth from his eyes, flickering and intertwining to form a figure that seemed both present and absent.

"The one who opened the temple severed the Dao Soldier Tower, intending to trap you all to death within this Dao Soldier Tower."

The silver light outlined the figure of Yun Mo; he swept his cold gaze over the surroundings, his voice low and imbued with killing intent:

"We must catch him."

"How to catch him?"

Wan Wan Zhuliu's expression was very cold: "Do you have a way?"

After Feng Yuanqing Fuxiu Daoren disappeared abruptly, he had sensed something amiss, but before he could act, Long Long Yingchan and the others had vanished together; who had acted, he naturally knew clearly.

"He is merely the temple opener, not the temple master."

Yun Mo transformed into a streak of light and merged into Wan Wan Zhuliu's brow: "The method, I have long since taught you; it only depends on whether you are willing..."

"Yun Mo..."

Pressing lightly on his brow, Wan Wan Zhuliu's brows remained tightly furrowed; after pausing for a moment, he turned and exited the tower.

Hiss~

Outside the Dao Soldier Tower, a gentle breeze blew.

The Qian Emperor sat cross-legged, his peripheral vision scanning the crowd present, his face extremely ugly.

First Feng Yuanqing Fuxiu Daoren, then Long Long Yingchan and the others; after that spiritual turtle fled and became trapped here, only Yan Yan Tianxiong, Huang Huang Longzi, and a few others remained.

Wooo~

A soft sound rang out as Wan Wan Zhuliu walked out from within the tower.

"How is it?"

The Qian Emperor rose.

"Still the fifteenth floor." Wan Wan Zhuliu glanced around at the crowd, his gaze landing on Huang Huang Longzi:

"Does your lordship have a way to leave this place?"

"The Eight Directions Temple is not an absolute dead end; if we are willing to abandon this opportunity to enter the temple, we can withdraw calmly on our own."

As his peripheral vision swept over the Qian Emperor and others, Huang Huang Longzi sneered inwardly; if not for this group, he would have already captured that old turtle, so how could he be trapped here?

"Impossible!"

The Qian Emperor's face darkened: "This entry into the temple cost so greatly; how can we withdraw easily?"

The others also frowned; no one was willing to withdraw, for according to what the God-Peeping Sacrifice revealed, this might be the only opportunity to enter the temple.

"Though the cost was great, you all have broken the Eight Directions Temple's constraints and gained a thousand years of life..."

Huang Huang Longzi's face was expressionless.

Wan Wan Zhuliu frowned slightly, and invisible killing aura rose up.

Shen Shen Qisheng coughed lightly and said:

"Does your lordship still hold a grudge against us for stopping you from capturing that old turtle?"

"And if I do?"

Huang Huang Longzi sneered: "If not for you believing him, how would you be trapped here?"

"Regretting not listening to Daoist brother's words."

The Qian Emperor looked at Wan Wan Zhuliu and sighed lightly: "But since matters have come to this, regret is useless; let us first find a way to break the deadlock. Once we exit this place, I will surely give my full strength to assist in capturing this turtle!"

"Correct!"

Shen Shen Qisheng and Yan Yan Tianxiong also clasped their hands.

Huang Huang Longzi remained silent, merely looking at Wan Wan Zhuliu; the latter retracted his killing aura and nodded:

"If your lordship can break the deadlock, this prince will surely capture this turtle."

"In that case..."

Huang Huang Longzi's brows relaxed: "Since that is so, this Daoist does have a method, but you all may not be willing..."

"Daoist brother might as well speak it."

The Qian Emperor spoke, and the others all looked at him.

"The Eight Directions Temple is a cosmic wonder, containing boundless great power; ordinary means simply cannot break the deadlock; I suppose you all have tried."

Huang Huang Longzi walked slowly, scanning the crowd:

"The Eight Directions Temple contains the laws of heaven and earth; relying solely on us to break this deadlock is absolutely impossible. This Daoist has pondered for many days; to break it, there are only two paths!"

"Which two?"

The Qian Emperor asked.

"The first is to follow its rules and break the trial."

Huang Huang Longzi did not hide it, speaking frankly: "Whether it is that Mountain Climbing trial or this Dao Soldier Tower, if we can break them, the deadlock will naturally be resolved."

"This path is blocked."

Shen Shen Qisheng shook his head: "The Dao Soldier Tower has been severed by others; it can no longer be climbed."

"Second is to borrow external force."

Huang Longzi narrowed his eyes slightly, his gaze falling on Wan Wan Zhuliu. The latter frowned: "The external force Your Excellency speaks of—could it be the Poison Dragon Academy?"

"Precisely!"

Huang Longzi nodded.

"Impossible!"

The faces of everyone present changed. The Dry Emperor flatly refused; he would rather abandon this opportunity to enter the temple and perform the ritual again than agree to invite the Poison Dragon Academy.

Huang Longzi saw the crowd's opposition but paid it no mind, looking only at Wan Wan Zhuliu:

"Apart from this, there is no other way."

"This method will not work." Wan Wan Zhuliu shook his head; this was even harder for him to accept than the Cloud Demon Daoist's plan.

"Then, this humble Daoist has no solution."

Huang Longzi paid no heed to the hostility of the crowd, merely shaking his head and sitting back down in his original spot:

"Still, since the Eight Directions Temple has opened Tian Shi Yuan, the gods must have sensed it; their arrival is only a matter of time..."