Chapter 699: Five-Polar Divine Light: Herding the People, Governing the People (Combined Chapter)

Hum~

Like the sun at high noon, Jin Guang blazed resplendently.

The roc spread its wings in the air, illuminating heaven and earth, and faintly, one could see a wisp of faint yet seemingly indestructible Jin Guang slowly emerge within it.

"Jin Xing!"

Li Yuan merely raised a hand, and that wisp of Jin Guang had already fallen from the sky, like a miniature sun cradled in his palm, a warm, gentle heat flowing into his heart.

Jin Xing is born at the confluence of heaven and earth within a cultivator.

In the process of cultivating the unity of the three primes, bearing Shi De Shen Jing, and practicing various spells, one also bit by bit absorbs the wonders of divine patterns; when accumulated to perfection, a wisp of Jin Xing is born.

After Jin Xing was born, Shi De Shen Jing did not transform again, but in Li Yuan's perception, a certain indescribable liveliness had been added.

Like the finishing touch on a painted dragon, Shi De Shen Jing became vivid, and faintly, gained a touch of the flavor of the present world.

"With Jin Xing achieved, one may seek Jin Dan."

Various scriptural meanings surfaced in Li Yuan's mind.

These were the various properties and uses of Jin Xing, mostly gathered by him from the scripture library, with a small portion attached to the great scriptures he cultivated.

Jin Xing, the meeting of heaven and man.

It is an essential condition for forging Jin Dan, and the uses of this wisp of Jin Xing are also extremely great.

Applied to a spirit phase, the spirit phase would be reborn, able to leave the cultivator's Shi De Shen Jing and become an existence like a natal spirit beast.

Applied to spells, the spells would transform, existing eternally within the cultivator's body, requiring no active activation and consuming no extra magic power, extraordinarily agile.

According to Li Yuan's understanding, it transforms active spells into passive spells.

Spells enlightened by Jin Xing would operate and strengthen around the clock without blind spots, spontaneously protecting the body regardless of the cultivator's state.

"Most cultivators will at least use Jin Xing to enlighten one protective spell; this way, even if they encounter a cultivator of higher cultivation launching a covert ambush, they can naturally resist."

Regarding this, Li Yuan had great personal experience.

In the seven thousand battles within the Combat Arena, he had encountered no few cultivators who had nurtured Jin Xing; for cultivators already qualified to forge Jin Dan, ambush was quite difficult.

"Theoretically, the nine heavens of the Divine Palace can nurture nine wisps of Jin Xing; if all are used to enlighten protective spells, unless one breaks through nine layers of protective barriers in an instant, there is simply no way to ambush."

Li Yuan toyed with the Jin Xing in his palm, contemplating its uses.

In all these years of combat, the strongest opponent he had encountered was still Huang Yuan; that man's Jin Xing was entirely used to enlighten protective spells, making him extremely difficult to deal with.

One must know that protective spells can regenerate once broken; if there are only two or three, one can still seize the tiniest gap, but nine protective spells flowing and interweaving is simply like an invincible Golden Body!

"Most cultivators choose protective spells; the next choice is Dun Fa — with multiple Dun Fa upon one's body, shifting and traversing becomes like instinct…"

Li Yuan deliberated in his heart.

This was also one of the benefits of the Combat Arena: with more battles experienced, one's horizons naturally broadened greatly, and one gained deeper insight into the choices and merits of various spells.

"Only sword cultivators choose killing-type spells."

Li Yuan had almost never seen any cultivator use all their Jin Xing to enlighten killing spells.

The reason was simple: for cultivators, safety comes first, balance is the minimum; those who fully invest in defense were everywhere.

Regarding this, Master Li also deeply agreed.

"Chao Ying Shan Xuan Long should only have one wisp of Jin Xing, and he enlightened the Dragon-Mountain Sword — its killing power was fierce, as if he had an extra sword cultivator assisting in battle…"

Li Yuan recalled his various opponents in combat, then sorted through the various spells he had learned, weighing choices and trade-offs.

"The uses of Jin Xing are too broad — spirit phases, spells, natal spirit plants, natal spirit treasures, even the Divine Furnace can all be enlightened…"

For a moment, Li Yuan also found it hard to choose, because he simply had too many good things on him.

Even though he leaned toward protective spells, the Great Luo Banner also had protective abilities, and its potential far exceeded that of ordinary spells; the Refine-Demon-Slay-Immortal Sword likewise held tremendous potential.

After much hesitation, he still felt it more reliable to ask someone.

This was also the advantage of being a Holy Land disciple — there were elders who had faced such choices whom one could consult.

"Hoo~"

Returning that wisp of Jin Xing to the Kun-Peng spirit phase, Li Yuan withdrew from Shi De Shen Jing, took out the Communication Sphere, and found that Fayin Fayin Tongzi had not yet replied.

"Senior Brother Qi, this junior brother has refined a wisp of Jin Xing, and I'm somewhat indecisive about how to choose…"

Li Yuan first asked Qi Yun.

Not long after, Qi Yun replied: "Naturally, the first choice is the Mysterious Vine Tree — enlightening it with Jin Xing grants it the combined abilities of body protection, self-defense, and spirit-steadying!"

"Many thanks for Senior Brother's guidance."

Li Yuan noted his words, then asked Yu Yu Fa Huan Zhen.

"Junior brother has already refined a wisp of Jin Xing? Truly worthy of the Chaotic Divine Body — your cultivation progress is so swift it makes this senior sister envious."

Yu Yu Fa Huan Zhen's reply came even faster:

"Has junior brother received the transmission of the Refine-Demon-Slay-Immortal Sword? If so, then this sword must be the chosen one! Enlightened by nine wisps of Jin Xing, this sword breaks through everything, its killing power is utterly ferocious — no matter what myriad spells you face, one sword can break them all!"

"By the way, junior brother, don't forget to attend the banquet!"

"…Many thanks, Senior Sister."

Li Yuan noted this down, then consulted Yuan Han, Gu Shan Xuan Sheng, Fang Fang Jiuan, Tong Tong Heihu, Wei Wang Xuanying, and other senior brothers he was on good terms with.

He even consulted Huang Yuan.

The answers from the various senior brothers all differed: Yuan Han used all nine wisps of Jin Xing on the 'Dry-Gold Sword Qi'; Gu Shan Xuan Sheng used his on his natal spirit plant; Fang Fang Jiuan fully invested in a composite protective spell of his own design; Tong Tong Heihu chose a body-tempering spell.

Wei Wang Xuanying enlightened his natal sword-case — the sword-case could nurture ten thousand swords, and all ten thousand swords received the blessing.

Huang Yuan also chose protective spells.

"All very reasonable…"

Li Yuan committed all his senior brothers' answers to memory, hesitated for a moment, carefully chose his words, and consulted Master Master Fufa.

The latter seemed to be in a hidden place, and only replied after a long while:

"The Five Emperors' Temple!"

"Hmm?"

Li Yuan humbly asked for instruction.

"Golden Nature, at most nine threads; no matter what Divine Body or Saint Body, or Innate Dao Body, Golden Nature has only nine threads, so its use must be treated with utmost caution."

"The use of Golden Nature concerns the birth of the Innate Gu Gu Shentong after forging a First-Rank Jin Dan."

After a while, Master Master Fufa finally answered:

"Innate Ben Ming Fa treasures, Innate Ben Ming Fa spiritual plants, Innate Ben Ming Fa spiritual beasts, and spells all have superior and inferior grades, and will also affect the gestation of the Innate Gu Gu Shentong..."

"Using Golden Nature for the Five Emperors Temple can nourish and strengthen the various spells you have learned; this is one. It amplifies the speed at which you cultivate the magic power of the Five Emperors; this is two..."

"Though the Five Emperors Temple has five seats, it is actually only one. Golden Nature can be used to activate it nine times, doubling the cultivation speed and more; this is three..."

Master Master Fufa's answer was extremely detailed, listing the various benefits of activating the Five Emperors Temple, and the final point made Li Yuan's heart pound:

"Senior Brother Fu Long, in past years cultivated the Hunyuan Five Extremes Dao; he was quite similar to you, and his Golden Nature was used for the Five Emperors Temple. After forging his Jin Dan, he gestated a peerless Gu Gu Shentong!"

"Senior Brother Fu Long is not one of our contemporary disciples, but the Fu-generation senior brother from over eleven thousand years ago!"

"That Gu Gu Shentong of his is named 'Five Extremes Divine Light'!"

Even through the light screen of the Universal Knowledge Sphere, Li Yuan could sense the spiritual fluctuation of Master Master Fufa, obviously having an extremely deep impression of this Gu Gu Shentong:

"The Five Elements are metal, wood, water, fire, earth; the Five Extremes are east, west, south, north, center..."

"When the Five Extremes Divine Light rises, all belonging to the Five Elements, those within the Five Extremes, whether cultivators, whether treasures, whether spells, whether Gu Gu Shentong,

can all be broken, all be destroyed, all be swept away!"

I'll choose this one!

Hearing this, Li Yuan felt his mind sway, instantly eliminating all other choices.

"Thank you, Senior Brother!"

Li Yuan respectfully thanked him.

"Gestating the Five Extremes Divine Light is not easy; there are many difficulties... Hmm, let's talk after I kill this 'Hundred-Armed Human Demon'..."

Master Master Fufa tossed over a memory image.

Inside, demonic mist churned, and a ferocious demon head with a hundred arms roared at the sky.

"Senior Brother, you are busy!"

Li Yuan did not expect him to still have time to answer him amidst a fierce battle, so he immediately ended the conversation, daring not to disturb him further.

"Five Extremes Divine Light!"

Li Yuan had already made up his mind in his heart, and immediately closed his eyes to enter meditation, preparing to activate the Five Emperors Temple, when a thought suddenly sprang to mind:

"Should I ask my Master?"

Li Dao Ye, whose skill in climbing the pole was fully maxed out, naturally did not forget to add his own Master as a friend when entering the room.

"Vroom~"

When the thought arose in his heart, he suddenly felt the blurry figure of his own Master within the thought become clear; Yu Yu Xuanji, a voice came from within the thought:

"Chaos Body."

"Ah?"

Li Yuan was startled in his heart, hurriedly rose and bowed:

"Disciple greets Master... You said, Chaos Body?"

"Fu Long was a Five Extremes Divine Body; though he gained a fortune from creation, he still needed nine threads of Golden Nature to activate, to operate the Five Elements and grasp the Five Extremes; the Chaos Body can bear all spells..."

As if knowing Li Yuan's thoughts, Lord Lord Tianyu's voice rang out again:

"Once the Five Elements and Five Extremes are gathered, when forging the Longhu Longhu Dadan, you will surely grasp the Five Extremes and condense the Five Extremes Divine Light, so there is no need to waste Golden Nature."

"Ah?"

Does the Chaos Body have such benefits?

Li Yuan was shocked, hurriedly bowed, and thanked his Master for the guidance.

"If the Chaos Body can bear nine threads of Golden Nature, and gains a fortune from creation, there is a sliver of a chance to reverse the Postnatal and forge the 'Innate Chaos Dao Body'."

At this point, Lord Lord Tianyu paused slightly:

"What Master Master Fufa said is roughly correct; even for the Chaos Body, one only gets nine threads of Golden Nature, but the Chaos Body needs the qi mechanism of Golden Nature, not the Golden Nature itself..."

"After activating the Chaos Body, one only needs to burn sufficient magic power to retrieve the Golden Nature again; at that time, if you are not confident in gestating the Five Extremes Divine Light, you can activate the Five Emperors Temple later!"

"If you have confidence, those nine threads of Golden Nature can be used to activate the Demon Sword, or activate the Daluo Banner..."

Can one do this?

In the bamboo pavilion, Li Yuan stood with his eyes wide open; Yu Yu Xuanji, he reacted, and respectfully saw his Master off.

"Vroom~"

In the next instant, he felt his heart sea churn, and a scripture came from the void, presenting itself completely before him.

It was precisely the method of using Golden Nature to activate the Chaos Body, and burning magic power to retrieve the Golden Nature again.

"Thank you, Master, for bestowing the method!"

Li Yuan was excited, bowed and thanked again, and Yu Yu Xuanji began to contemplate this scripture.

The scripture held no mystery; it could even be said to be simple and easy to understand; one only needed to follow the steps to activate the Chaos Body and retrieve the Golden Nature.

One only needs...

"Eighty-one threads of First-Rank magic power?"

Li Yuan's eyelid twitched.

Retrieving the Golden Nature requires burning magic power, and after burning, eighty-one threads of magic power will completely vanish, and this can only retrieve one thread of Golden Nature.

That is to say...

"Nine threads of Golden Nature require seven hundred and twenty-nine threads of First-Rank magic power!"

Li Yuan's mind stirred slightly—so much magic power, exchanged for one chance to reverse his innate Chaos Dao Body, was it worth it?

"More than worth it!"

Having eaten his fill of the benefits of his innate constitution, Li Yuan did not hesitate in the slightest.

With the Five Extremes Temple completed, and augmented by the Chaos Body, he could now forge one Kun Peng magic power in a day and a half, and a Qing Di magic power in only half a month.

Moreover, the Chaos Body could bear all laws—such as Huo Huang magic power, Bai Hu magic power, Shan Xuan Huang Qianshan Qilin magic power—as well as his newly-formed Chi Di magic power and Hei Di magic power, which could also grow slowly.

Seven hundred and twenty-nine superior-grade magic powers were no great price for him at this point.

"As long as there are enough spiritual pills, it shouldn't be a problem." Li Yuan's mind turned, and he began to continue contemplating the scriptures, preparing for the awakening of the Chaos Body.

……

Over the next few days, while waiting for Ling Shu Fayin Tongzi's reply, Li Yuan did not neglect his daily cultivation.

The augmentation the Chaos Body brought to cultivation was truly astonishing.

Li Yuan's original cultivation speed had already been second only to Yu Yu Wangxian, who possessed the Innate Dao Body; with the Chaos Body's enhancement, he estimated he was now little different from the latter.

On the second day after receiving the Dao Lord's transmission of the law, the Mirage Baby had been sent by him to Tian Shi Yuan to purchase all manner of divine patterns, and with a grand wave of his hand, he allocated her five thousand Xiao Gong!

Carrying such a large sum, the little mother dragon was trembling all over; she was cautious every step of the way, and in less than half a day in total she had returned.

Afterwards, Li Yuan began refining laws on a large scale!

Apart from the three superior-grade magic powers, he also refined in one batch the mid-grade magic powers such as Qing Long, Jiu Ying, and Fen Xin Yuan.

Even the divine patterns needed to refine magic power from the Candle Dragon True Form Diagram, which he had yet to comprehend, he had already prepared.

Counting the still-unrefined Bai Di and Huang Di magic powers, his plan was to cultivate simultaneously the five great superior-grade magic powers, as well as nine mid-grade magic powers!

Only thus could the Chaos Body be brought to its fullest play.

Of course, he still lacked two superior-grade magic powers and two mid-grade magic powers.

Afterwards, Li Yuan purchased large quantities of spiritual pills, spiritual medicines, and all manner of dharma arts used to strengthen true forms—forty-two in total!

With this wave, he had spent nearly all of his accumulated Shan Gong.

……

Seven days later, Li Yuan, who had been wholeheartedly refining laws, received news from Ling Shu Fayin Tongzi.

"The Eight Directions Temple has already been pushed by Grandfather Grandfather Kuhai to some unknown realm; your Great Fortune Star has also been recorded into the Tian Shi Yuan star register, under your name!"

In the light-shadow, Ling Shu Fayin Tongzi looked somewhat weary; he complained to Li Yuan that the commotion after the Three Yang Dao-Accumulating Formation was broken had been too great, and even with the Martial Immortal Gate people sharing the burden, he had nearly Suffered heavy injuries.

Li Yuan naturally thanked him profusely.

"I've already become the master of the Great Fortune Star?"

After ending the communication, Li Yuan felt everything had gone so smoothly it was unbelievable.

"Master's grace and kindness—I truly can never repay it all…"

Bowing deeply toward the direction of the quiet bamboo grove, Li Yuan rose and went out the door.

After learning the news about the Great Fortune Star, he had postponed the many invitations to feast from his senior brothers; now that the matter was settled, he naturally had to attend them one by one.

First, naturally, was Qi Yun.

"Junior Brother Li."

Outside the small grotto-heaven where Qi Yun resided, Tong Tong Heihu and two others seemed to have been waiting for some time; upon seeing him arrive, they all showed smiles.

Since Li Yuan had gestated the Chaos Body, his every move had attracted considerable attention; and the fact that he came out of seclusion first to attend their banquet clearly showed that they were on the best of terms.

'Senior Brother Qi Yun is a man of fortune…'

Qian Wangsun sighed inwardly.

Who could have imagined that this youngest direct disciple not only had the qualifications of a true transmission, but had even gestated the Chaos Sacred Body, and was on the verge of becoming the inheritor of Master's mantle?

"Senior Brother Qian, Senior Brother Wei, Senior Brother Tong."

Li Yuan bowed to each in turn, and entered the grotto-heaven together with the three.

Qi Yun's Dharma Heaven had just been opened; apart from the moment Master descended the mountain, he hardly dared leave the Dharma Heaven, lest he be ambushed by the strange lands.

"Junior Brother Li!"

Beneath the towering divine tree, Qi Yun came forward with a smile: "The Chaos Sacred Body—your elder brother truly envies you."

"Senior Brother's Dharma Heaven is achieved, long life and enduring vision—that truly is what this junior brother envies."

Li Yuan smiled and took his seat.

The spirit puppets had long since prepared superior spiritual cuisine and fine delicacies, no whit inferior to last time, and added several jars of Ru Wu Jing spiritual wine.

During the banquet, the others asked many questions, all concerning the Chaos Sacred Body.

The few who could refine a Dharma Realm and Dharma Heaven naturally had their innate constitutions altered; for instance, Qi Yun, relying on Shan Xuan Teng She, had already possessed a Zhao Zhao Tianxing-grade constitution at the Dharma Realm stage.

But even he was quite curious about the legendary Chaos Sacred Body.

Li Yuan did not conceal anything either, speaking of the various strengths and weaknesses of the Chaos Body; he brushed over the various augmentations in a sentence, but spoke in detail of the many difficulties in elevating the Chaos Dharma Body to a Divine Body, and further to a Sacred Body.

In years past, when he had come to attend the banquet, he had greatly envied his senior brothers' Shen Tong Fa magic powers, secretly thinking that one day when he refined Shen Tong Fa magic powers he would come and show them off.

But the Dao Body was different—the others all lacked a Dao Body; if he were to display it forcefully, it would inevitably smack of showing off.

Yet even so, the others could not help but exclaim in wonder, feeling that perhaps Li Yuan would not need a hundred years before he could break into the fifth realm.

The four had long been acquainted; although they had only gathered in small numbers a few times, they had not lacked daily exchanges through the communication spheres, so naturally both host and guests were thoroughly delighted.

The spiritual wine was intoxicating.

When the wine banquet was half over, Li Yuan was already a little tipsy; borrowing the wine's boldness, he brought up the matter of the Great Fortune Star.

"This…"

Tong Tong Heihu and the other two exchanged glances, then looked at Qi Yun; the latter was also somewhat surprised:

"This is quite the coincidence…"

"I won't hide it from you, Junior Brother—after your elder brother refined the Dharma Heaven, I intended to establish a sect in the Three Walls territory, and the one I chose was Tian Shi Yuan!"

Qi Yun did not conceal it.

He had not spoken of it before because Li Yuan had only recently joined the sect and still needed to focus on his cultivation — not because he was deliberately hiding it.

"Senior brother intends to establish a sect in Tian Shi Yuan?"

Li Yuan feigned surprise, after all he had obtained this intelligence from Ling Yin.

"This matter, to speak of it, still comes from the Master's decree."

Qi Yun set down his wine cup: "These past few years, the three junior brothers have not been idle on this matter. Though the time to establish a sect has not yet come, we have already taken control of a starfield that is not small."

"Or should I say, what a coincidence it is that we are fated?"

Tong Tong Heihu laughed heartily: "Within that starfield there are only three life-bearing stars, and the Poison Dragon Academy moved two of them away… In any case, junior brother, rest assured — your mother star can be moved over!"

"Exactly!"

Qian Wangsun was also very much in agreement, and Wei Wang Xuanying likewise nodded.

"Naturally it can!"

Qi Yun was very decisive, slapping the table and agreeing.

"Many thanks, senior brother!"

Li Yuan rose and bowed.

Qi Yun also flashed aside, declining to accept the courtesy.

"Junior brother, there is one matter that must be made clear. This time, my establishing a sect is tied to a great undertaking. Though I do not know the specifics, I fear there will be some trouble in the days to come."

Qi Yun was very candid.

He certainly wanted to pull Li Yuan in, but the latter's status was already different. Though he was still an inner disciple, in the eyes of all Mount Mount Dongxuan disciples he was already a true lineage disciple — one with the hope of inheriting the Master's mantle!

"Even if it has nothing to do with the mother star, if senior brother has trouble, then naturally it is Li Yuan's trouble as well!"

Li Yuan naturally understood his thoughts.

In fact, years ago when he learned of the 'great event' from Ling Yin, he had already made his calculations.

A matter that his own Master considered a great event — he did not believe that he, or Da Yun Star, could avoid it.

If some great matter truly occurred, he would naturally stand firmly behind the Master.

"Good!"

Hearing Li Yuan's words, Tong Tong Heihu, Wei Wang Xuanying, and Qian Wangsun clapped their hands and cheered, rising together and raising their cups.

"Junior brother is truly a man of sincere heart!"

Qi Yun was quite moved, and immediately drank three cups in succession, slamming the cup onto the table:

"A star that can nurture a heaven-shaking prodigy like junior brother is clearly a place favored by fortune. I believe this star can serve as the main star of the sect we shall establish in the future!"

"So long as Qi Yun lives, I shall surely protect this star's safety!"

"Senior brother speaks too gravely!"

Li Yuan felt ashamed at heart, and repeatedly raised his cup.

A banquet naturally ended with host and guests all delighted. At parting, Qi Yun presented a shed snakeskin left behind by Shan Xuan Teng She after his advancement to the Sixth Realm.

Li Yuan bowed in thanks, and invited the few of them, before going down the mountain, to visit his cave abode for a short chat.

……

For the next six days, Li Yuan was constantly attending banquets.

After several grand banquets, he had become acquainted with most of his senior brothers, greatly expanding his network within Mount Mount Dongxuan, and at the same time learning many secrets.

Six days later, Fayin Fayin Tongzi sent a reply: Da Yun Star had been moved into the starfield Qi Yun had mentioned, and he was instructed to recruit a few Herdsmen.

"Herdsmen…"

In the bamboo tower, Li Yuan put away the Tongshi Orb, and information about Herdsmen surfaced in his mind.

The so-called Herdsmen were those who herded and guarded stars on behalf of others.

This was an extremely ancient profession, traceable back to the founding of the Origin Divine Dynasty, when they herded and guarded billions of stars for the dynasty, harvesting incense offerings.

But unlike the crude harvesting method of Da Yun Star, the methods of the Herdsmen were gentle and ingenious.

First, one had to transmit the 'Cai Xiang Huo Fa'. This method had an extremely low threshold — even the most dull-witted person could master it. Those who cultivated Cheng Ci Fa could condense their own beliefs into 'Yuan Coins'!

And Yuan Coins could buy anything, whether clothing, food, shelter, transport, or Gong Fa and scriptures.

Of course, half of the harvested Yuan Coins had to go to the Star Lord.

"That Duan Yang Jian Tian Yi…"

Li Yuan thought of the fat Daoist Priest within the Blood Phoenix's belly.

That fat Daoist Priest claimed to be a Herdsman, saying that from generation to generation his family had herded over ten trillion people, and his ancestors had served as the Divine Dynasty's 'Minister of the People' among the Nine Ministers.

"He should still be alive, right?"

Li Yuan's thoughts stirred slightly, sensing the Ying Mo Shen at the other end of the Xing Xing Tongyou corridor.

……

"Hoo!"

"Hoo!"

Terrifying hurricanes ravaged the battlefield, with thunder and dragon roars from time to time, and the light from various spells and Gu Gu Shentong clashing rose and fell in succession.

"Boom!"

At the edge of the battlefield, a fierce slaughter drew to a close.

A Lei Chi, streaked with crimson and shot through with purple lightning, plummeted from the sky, and in an utterly resolute posture, slammed into a vigorous, blood-qi surging Crimson Violent Ape King.

"Roar!"

The Violent Ape beat its chest and let out an earth-shaking bellow. Its body suddenly swelled, growing to ten thousand zhang in size. It neither dodged nor flinched, charging head-on into the impact.

"Boom!"

The brutal collision kicked up a sky-filling cloud of dust.

Within the shadows, black mist wove together, swallowing the Lei Chi and the treasured ape within it.

(End of chapter)