Chapter 666: Primordial Five Extremities Dao!

Hiss~

Stepping out naked from the scalding medicinal bath tub, he had no need to wipe himself down; droplets of water slid off on their own.

"The Scripture Pavilion also has body-tempering spells. Once I have a stable source of merit, I can exchange for a few to take a look. Or perhaps I can try tempering my body with 'Shan Xuan Gang Heavy Water'?"

Feeling the vigorous, thriving vitality within his body, Li Yuan felt it would truly be a waste not to temper his body, given his own tough, hammer-refined physique.

Li Yuan had a deep understanding of himself.

Compared to the cultivators of Tian Shi Yuan, the magic power and spells he had initially refined were certainly not low in grade, but limited by how short a time he had been cultivating, they held no advantage — let alone compared to those Holy Land disciples at the peak of the Third Realm at the top of the 'Dou Zhan Star Ranking'.

For now, his greatest advantages were still his physique, and the Wu Gong he had painstakingly cultivated for years.

After refining magic power, his physical strength grew day by day, and his many Wu Gong had improved to varying degrees. Their power might not match spells, but if he could get close, they would surely have a strange and wonderful effect.

After all, within the Dou Zhan Platform, there were no Dao Soldiers available.

"If I could smelt the Divine Forbidden into all manner of Wu Gong…"

Li Yuan changed into a brand-new Daoist robe, put on the White Bone Human Demon hand chain, and thought to himself: "The Scripture Pavilion may well have such manuals; when I have time, I can go look for them."

Apart from those freaks of heaven-defying talent, the vast majority of human cultivators entered the Dao step by step through cultivation. Whether Tian Shi Yuan or other realms, Wu Gong existed everywhere.

Li Yuan certainly did not believe he was the only one to have such a thought.

"It's time to pay a visit to that Senior Brother Qi."

Finally wrapping the Shan Xuan Teng She around his finger, Li Yuan left the minor grotto-heaven and went straight to Qi Yun's cave dwelling.

On the way, he actually ran into a few Senior Brothers who had been auditing the lecture, but they were hurrying along. Li Yuan was somewhat curious, yet he did not rashly step forward to greet them.

In a short while, he had arrived outside Qi Yun's minor grotto-heaven. He knocked, and after receiving permission, walked in slowly.

Qi Yun's minor grotto-heaven was not large, and rather desolate — it looked even worse than Li Yuan's own minor grotto-heaven, which he had yet to develop. Clearly, he rarely returned, and had no interest in developing his grotto-heaven either.

"Junior Brother Li has come quite early."

Slight ripples stirred in the void, and Qi Yun, in a blue robe with a rather refined, scholarly air, had already arrived close at hand.

"Senior Brother Qi."

Li Yuan cupped his fists in salute, inwardly sighing in admiration.

He was wielding the Five Senses Set, and privately reckoned his perception was no inferior to any Third Realm cultivator, yet he had sensed nothing of Qi Yun's arrival.

"We are fellow-disciples of the same generation; why be so polite?"

With a sweep of his sleeve, Qi Yun made Li Yuan feel his feet grow light. In the next instant, they were ten thousand li away, before an unremarkable-looking palace.

"My humble abode is crude; Junior Brother, please don't take offense."

Qi Yun looked slightly embarrassed. He had barely lived in this cave dwelling, and naturally had not tidied it up either. While weeds had not quite overgrown it, it truly had nothing to show for itself.

"What are you saying? Senior Brother Qi is truly a true Dao-seed of single-minded bitter cultivation. This junior brother feels only admiration in his heart — where would any offense come from?"

Li Yuan shook his head and followed him inside.

The palace looked unremarkable on the outside, and was even simpler within. Apart from one quiet chamber for cultivation, everything else was empty.

But the attendant spirit puppets were not lacking. The moment the two sat down, one stepped forward and poured spiritual tea.

After a few polite pleasantries and a slight warming of the atmosphere, Qi Yun took the initiative to ask: "Junior Brother should not yet have cultivated the Green Emperor Longevity Scripture?"

"If I'm not mistaken, you've already refined the Kun Peng magic power?"

"Senior Brother's discerning eye."

Li Yuan naturally spoke the truth: "To refine top-grade magic power, the Kun Peng magic power is best cultivated alongside the Black Emperor Dark Abyss Scripture, but this junior brother truly cannot afford that great scripture…"

Seeing Li Yuan give a wry smile, Qi Yun understood perfectly, and naturally offered a word of comfort:

"Water nourishes Wood; the Green Emperor Longevity Scripture is also an excellent choice. The five great scriptures originating from the Primordial Five Extremities Dao hold the Eastern Extremity as supreme!"

Primordial Five Extremities Dao!

Li Yuan truly enjoyed conversing with these high-level cultivators. Even if he learned nothing, between the lines they might leak much intelligence very important to low-level cultivators.

"Primordial Five Extremities Dao?"

Li Yuan hurriedly asked.

"The Twelve Great Daos of Mount Mount Dongxuan — Junior Brother has only recently joined, so you probably don't know."

Qi Yun did not feel he had misspoken, yet had no intention of going into depth, and instead turned to ask Li Yuan about his comprehension of the Green Emperor Longevity Scripture.

Li Yuan naturally said whatever he had to say.

"Junior Brother's comprehension is truly not bad."

Hearing Li Yuan's various insights and views on the Longevity Scripture, Qi Yun could not help but praise him. From those words alone, he could tell that in the few months since joining, Li Yuan had not wasted a single day.

'A true seed of cultivation.'

Thinking thus, Qi Yun felt it was not impossible to forge a good bond, and immediately asked him again about his views on tree seeds.

To this, Li Yuan had long had a draft prepared, and spoke one by one of the merits and flaws of the various tree seeds:

"…After many comparisons, and then reading the insights Senior Brother left in the Scripture Pavilion, this junior brother suddenly saw the light, and chose the Shan Xuan Teng She as my tree seed."

"The Shan Xuan Teng She is indeed a top-tier choice."

Qi Yun knew perfectly well the lad was deliberately flattering him, yet had to admit he was somewhat pleased by it.

But he did not critique the other tree seeds, and instead spoke of the Shan Xuan Teng She's benefits:

"The Shan Xuan Teng She's greatest advantage — others think it is mobility, but actually that's not so. This serpent's greatest benefit lies in its being half tree, half wood, half snake…"

"It belongs to three categories, and therefore can advance along three paths in parallel. Compared to other tree seeds, it has two extra nurturing routes, so it advances faster, and the feedback to us cultivators is all the greater."

"Three paths in parallel?"

Li Yuan's spirit jolted; he knew this was the real stuff.

"The wondrous use of nurturing tree, vine, and snake as a trinity lies precisely in this…"

At this point Qi Yun paused slightly, perhaps feeling words were not direct enough, and immediately snapped his fingers:

"Junior Brother might as well enter my Dharma Realm and take a look!"

"Many thanks, Senior Brother!"

Li Yuan naturally did not resist. He bowed in thanks, and by the time he rose, what met his eyes was an entirely new world.

"Is this the Fa-realm of a Fifth Realm cultivator?"

Li Yuan looked all around.

He saw an endless stretch of earth, rolling mountains, rivers cutting through every region, and among them no lack of Dao soldiers, spirit puppets, and even spirit fields and spirit beasts could be seen.

But what drew the eye most was naturally the giant divine tree at the very center of this realm — thrusting up from the ground straight into the clouds, its canopy nearly blotting out the sun!

"The true essence of cultivating the Green Emperor Longevity Scripture is to nurture the tree with the spirit, and nurture the spirit with the tree; when the tree thrives, the spirit is full…"

Qi Yun's voice rang out at just the right moment.

Hum~

With his appearance, Li Yuan keenly sensed the tremor of this method-heaven — or rather, that divine tree was trembling, lightly quivering, cheering with joy.

"This is?"

Li Yuan's gaze sharpened.

In that instant the divine tree trembled, he keenly perceived the true nature of this method-realm — it was the utmost complexity, yet sternly ordered, of countless divine patterns. "No, this is a divine prohibition!"

Li Yuan's heart gave a jolt: "A Fa-realm is a world gathered together from dharma arts!"

"Junior Brother's comprehension is truly exceptional."

Perhaps seeing Li Yuan's shock, Qi Yun was rather approving: "Fa-realm — what is a Fa-realm? A world borne by dharma, that is a Fa-realm!"

"Many thanks for Senior Brother's guidance."

Li Yuan only felt his thoughts come alive, and in a flash did not know how many inspirations burst forth.

"That can hardly be called guidance."

Qi Yun waved his hand, yet in his heart could not help a touch of envy.

The height of one's talent may seem to be the speed of one's cultivation, but at its root, the higher one's innate endowment, the closer one is to the Dao; one's understanding of the principles of heaven and earth, of divine patterns and divine prohibitions, also far surpasses the ordinary.

"Hu!"

Li Yuan stood dazed for a long while before he came back to himself.

"This tree — it is my Shan Xuan Teng Tree!"

Qi Yun pointed at that ink-jade-colored towering giant tree.

"Hum~"

At his pointing, the divine tree shuddered violently, and under Li Yuan's gaze writhed like a living thing; in the blink of an eye, it had transformed into a world-shocking giant serpent!

"The Shan Xuan Teng She, when in tree form, can take root in the earth and draw in all manner of essence from soil, stone, and water; when it transforms into vines, it can draw in the essence of ten thousand trees; in serpent form, it can devour the bone and blood of all manner of spirit beasts…"

Qi Yun spoke on.

Li Yuan gathered his spirit tightly and listened in silence.

As Qi Yun explained, that giant Shan Xuan Teng tree now and then became a serpent body, now and then became giant vines, demonstrating all manner of Miao Fa, drawing Li Yuan deep into it.

"Hu!"

By the time Li Yuan awoke from his immersion, he did not know how long had passed — he had already returned to the palace.

"Senior Brother is already close to Shen Qi Zhi Jing!"

Li Yuan bowed again and again in praise, feeling that this Senior Brother Qi was truly generous. Though it did not touch on specific cultivation, after this discourse on the Dao, his gains were truly enormous.

His understanding of the Green Emperor Longevity Scripture, of planting trees, and of the Shan Xuan Teng She had all greatly improved.

"The Fa-realm may seem but a single step from the method-heaven, but in truth the gap is vast; I still fall far short…"

Qi Yun let out a long sigh.

'If I hadn't heard in the Listening Sound that you were going to condense a method-heaven, I might really have believed it…'

Li Yuan could not help a private grumble in his heart, feeling he had learned yet another thing.

"Does Junior Brother still have any questions?"

Qi Yun asked.

Li Yuan knew this was a hint to take his leave, and hurriedly asked: "Senior Brother Qi, the Shan Xuan Teng She is half tree, half vine, half serpent — so, would there be serpent slough?"

"The slough of the Shan Xuan Teng She is also a top-grade spirit material; whether for refining treasures or pills, it can be put to use."

Qi Yun smiled: "What, Junior Brother Li is interested?"

"Is this serpent slough also of use to the Shan Xuan Teng She itself?"

Li Yuan did not conceal his interest in the slough, nor did he think he could hide it from Qi Yun.

"Naturally it is."

Qi Yun saw through his thoughts, yet grew interested: "Is Junior Brother looking to buy?"

"If it is the sloughed skin of Senior Brother Qi's Shan Xuan Teng She, this Junior Brother truly wants it."

Li Yuan was very candid.

Though his purse was thin, whether it was the Shan Xuan Teng She slough or the discourse on the Dao Qi Yun had just given, he was willing to pay the price.

"Good."

Qi Yun was slightly surprised.

Judging by Li Yuan's earlier performance, he did not believe this lad did not know that once those words left his mouth, he might very well be fleeced.

'Is it because of my earlier discourse? There is some sincerity here…'

A thought turned in Qi Yun's mind; with a stretch of his hand, he had already taken out several sloughs:

"The sloughed skin of the Shan Xuan Teng She is not scarce — I have quite a stock. Among them, the skin sloughed at Yi Er Jing I can give you a few pieces for free,

the slough of the Third Realm costs one Xiao Gong, the slough of the Fourth Realm is Er Shi Xiao Gong, and for the slough of the Fifth Realm, five hundred Xiao Gong. Which would you like?"

【Shan Xuan Teng She Slough (Ninth Grade)】

【... The shed skin of the spiritual plant-turned-snake used by Mount Mount Dongxuan disciple Qi Yun to cultivate the 'Dongji Green Emperor Longevity Scripture' as his bonded spirit plant... Although the residual divine prohibitions have been stripped away, it still retains some of the aura from Qi Yun's refining method, and can be used for alchemy and treasure refining...】

【Control Requirement: Entry-level Green Emperor Longevity Scripture】

【Control Effect: First Layer of Green Emperor Longevity Scripture, Shan Xuan Teng She Form】

Feeling the light surging in his eyes, and hearing the noticeably discounted price from Qi Yun, Li Yuan gritted his teeth:

"Give me one shed skin for each of the third, fourth, and fifth realms!"

……

……

【Shan Xuan Teng She Shed Skin (Thirteenth Order)】

【Control Requirement: Fourth Layer of Dongji Green Emperor Longevity Scripture】

【No divine prohibitions within, thus none to control...】

【Control Effect: Fifth Layer of Green Emperor Longevity Scripture, Shan Xuan Teng She Form】

In the bamboo tower, Li Yuan sat cross-legged, the various characters flowing like a waterfall beneath his eyes.

"Senior Brother Qi really stripped it clean."

Among all the thirteenth-order divine weapons and spiritual treasures Li Yuan had ever seen, this fifth-realm Shan Xuan Teng She shed skin was among the thinnest, falling far short of the Nightmare Nine-Headed Snake shed skin.

But for him, its usefulness was tremendous!

"Shed skins of the first, second, third, fourth, and fifth realms, controlled together, perfectly fulfill all the conditions. Attaining entry into the Longevity Scripture is not difficult for me—I only need to wait for my Shan Xuan Teng She to enter the Dao!"

Li Yuan's eyes shone brightly; spending five hundred and twenty-one Xiao Gong in one go no longer felt so painful.

With the blessing of this set of Shan Xuan Teng She shed skins, his cultivation of the Green Emperor Longevity Scripture was bound to advance by leaps and bounds, with no bottleneck whatsoever before the sixth layer!

(End of Chapter)