Free Web NovelChapter 339: Chapter 243: Forging a Natal Dao Foundation, a Proclamation to the World
True Monarch Guangzhao Jinghai let out a soft sigh. Among the Daoist Lineages of the Yanfu Vast Land, the Buddhist Dao and the Demon Dao were cautionary tales.
The former had been struck down by the combined forces of Immortals and Demons, while the latter had become a "Sacrificial Offering" for Ji Fuyao’s ascension to the Tai Yang Golden Position and the establishment of his worldly merit.
Clipping their crowns, trimming their feathers, slaying their dragons, and eliminating their phoenixes... all of it was about bringing the knife down on the Demon Dao of the Beiju Continent.
This left the oldest dragon in the Yanfu Vast Land, who was also the most senior Daoist Monarch, suffering in silence.
True Monarch Guangzhao Jinghai had betrayed the Buddhist Dao and defected to the Demon Dao for no more than two reasons.
First, to leverage his position to pursue the Golden Position and wisely ensure his own survival.
Second, to bet on a Daoist Lineage in order to avoid the great calamity.
The struggle between the Immortal and Demon Daoist Lineages was so far-reaching that a single action could affect the entire situation.
If you weren’t a True Monarch, you were just cannon fodder, not even worthy of being a pawn on the board.
Picking the wrong side meant damnation beyond redemption, making it difficult to even get a chance at another life through corpse liberation and reincarnation.
’Only by siding with the winner can I possibly get through this safely.’
As these thoughts flowed through True Monarch Guangzhao Jinghai’s mind, Jiang Yi, who was inside the Skandha-Loka, had already finished explaining the principles of the Five Elements.
"One and six share water’s origin. Two and seven walk fire’s path. Three and eight are wood’s companions. Four and nine are metal’s friends. Five and ten tread earth’s road... The celestial numbers are Yang, and therefore odd; the terrestrial numbers are Yin, and therefore even.
The generation and evolution of all things are encompassed within these principles."
Jiang Yi flicked his sleeve and clasped his hands behind his back. The Skandha-Loka created by the True Monarch allowed him to act unconstrained by his Realm and Cultivation level.
He needed only to channel his Great Grotto Profound Nether True Qi, and with a point of his finger, metal sprouted branches and grew into a colossal, sky-piercing tree.
Then, with a mere thought, the colossal tree transformed into dense earth and stone, which immediately erupted into a blazing inferno.
In the blink of an eye, matter cycled through its forms, perfectly demonstrating the wondrous transformations of the Five Elements.
"Magnificent skill!"
Yu Changqing’s deathly pale face slowly regained some color. He immediately cupped his fist and said:
"I am utterly convinced of my defeat! I was a frog at the bottom of a well, ignorant of how vast the world truly is!"
With that, he unhesitatingly summoned a shroud of emerald light that enveloped him.
A series of wet, piercing sounds erupted, as if a thousand arrows were piercing his heart.
A Foundation Establishment True Master has undergone Body Transformation and Essence Refining and no longer completely relies on their Cultivation Furnace. Even if they were beheaded, they could channel their Magical Power to restore themselves completely.
Their true core, their vital point, was the "Dao Foundation"!
This is the nexus where a Foundation Establishment Cultivator’s life essence integrates, and it cannot be easily damaged.
Just moments ago, Yu Changqing had declared with certainty that if Jiang Yi could prove his Dao Wisdom was on par with a Foundation Establishment cultivator, he would sever the fortune of his current life.
With the True Monarch acting as judge, going back on his word would undoubtedly bring even greater shame to the Taifu Sect.
That shroud of emerald light pierced through his Cultivation Furnace, erupting with a great RUMBLE, as if a sky-piercing tree had been felled.
The entire Skandha-Loka was suffused with a jade-green color, and a dense life force scattered in all directions.
’So this is a Dao Foundation...’
Jiang Yi stared intently, not blinking for an instant, as he watched Yu Changqing destroy his own foundation.
He had condensed supreme-grade True Qi and reached the peak of the Qi Cultivation Twelfth Layer. His Merit and Cultivation could advance no further.
The next step was to forge his Dao Foundation, allowing him to ascend to a higher plane.
But for this step, everyone had their own method; there was no fixed formula.
Observing another’s Dao Foundation would be beneficial for his later use of the "I beg the Celestial Book" technique to make deductions.
’The Foundation Establishment Realm... so it’s a "world" of its own?’
Jiang Yi’s eyes flashed, and a hint of delight appeared on his face.
After careful contemplation, he finally grasped the true nature of the "Dao Foundation."
A Qi Cultivation Cultivator’s True Qi coalesces, their Magical Power is generated, their life essence integrates, and finally, the "Dao Foundation" is formed.
It was like a key. Only by forging a Dao Foundation could one open the gate to Foundation Establishment and enter that supreme, wondrous state.
’No wonder... when I drew the essence of metal into my body, flew to the Great Void, and had an audience with the Ancestral Master, I stumbled into an unknown land that was like a celestial paradise...’
Jiang Yi had a sudden realization. Above the Qi Cultivation Twelfth Layer was the Foundation Establishment Realm.
It represented a cultivator’s steady climb, a fish leaping over the dragon gate, undergoing Body Transformation and Essence Refining, and finally, ascending as an Immortal.
Before entering the Foundation Establishment Realm, a cultivator’s Life Essence is in a chaotic state, its aspects distinct and unmixed.
No matter how vast their Magical Power or how tough their physical body, both had their limits.
One must achieve Life Essence Integration, form a complete Dao Foundation, and thereby gain the favor of heaven and earth and a response from the Great Dao.
From then on, their Daoist Techniques would gain a life of their own, allowing them to summon wind and rain, call down thunder and lightning—their methods becoming limitless.
’Therefore, Foundation Establishment is also called "Entering the Dao," which means crossing the threshold of Cultivation.’
As Jiang Yi considered this, he felt he had made a significant breakthrough in his understanding.
At the Changming Sky-Lake, he had often contemplated how he should forge his own Dao Foundation.
Supreme-grade True Qi, One Element Magical Power, a Perfect Saint King destiny... in every respect, he had already reached the absolute pinnacle!
Logically speaking, forging a Dao Foundation should have been a simple matter for him.
But the problem lay precisely in the profound depth of his reserves and the sheer weight of his foundation.
For Jiang Yi to forge his Dao Foundation, he needed to face the most difficult "Mortal Shell Barrier" in all of history.
If one cannot shed one’s mortal, Dense Qi, how can one enter the Dao and be called a true Immortal?
’Cat Master said I need to use "Zi-Wu Fire," which is why I have to go to the Juku Continent.
But even after obtaining the Zi-Wu Fire and burning through the barrier, the question of how to forge the Dao Foundation most suited to me is another obstacle.’
Jiang Yi slowly withdrew his gaze, feeling that he hadn’t seen enough.
By watching Yu Changqing destroy his Dao Foundation and forfeit the fortune of a lifetime, he came to a rough understanding: whether it was True Qi or Life Essence, they were ultimately "ethereal."
If a Qi Cultivation Cultivator wanted to climb past the Twelfth Layer and achieve the Flying Foundation Establishment Realm, they had to use a tangible object, one born of heaven and earth, as an anchor.
It was like building a long ladder to heaven, soaring straight up ninety thousand li!
’Using a wondrous object as one’s natal item to forge a fundamental Dao Foundation... Neither Cat Master nor True Monarch Lu ever mentioned this.’
Jiang Yi felt puzzled. Logically, such a crucial secret of cultivation should have been shared in advance to make finding the item easier.
’Could it be because of... the Daoxuan Slaying Sword?’
A thought flashed through his mind, and understanding dawned in his eyes.
’That’s it! The natal item is linked to the Dao Foundation. It’s critically important!’
’How could True Master Xuanmiao and True Monarch Lu have overlooked that?’
’It must be because I already have one on me, which is why neither of them ever brought it up.’
’The Daoxuan Slaying Sword. Without a doubt, it’s the most suitable item for forging my Dao Foundation.
This sword can separate Yin and Yang and divide the Five Elements. It’s unstoppable and incredibly savage... But using a sword as one’s natal item, no matter how I look at it, seems like something only a Sword Cultivator would do.’
Jiang Yi grumbled to himself. He had never claimed to be a Sword Cultivator. The Sword Dao had lost to the Buddhist Dao and was burdened by the concepts of "completing the calamity" and "answering the calamity."
This led to all Sword Cultivators being insanely aggressive, looking for a fight at the slightest provocation.
Currently, only Miss Xiaoqiao was somewhat normal. As for someone like Xuan Chanzi of the Zhongyi Sect, it was said he was already wreaking havoc across the Three Peaks and Four Waters.
’Still, Sword Cultivators and the Shao Yang are a good match. The imagery associated with the latter includes "the aspect of new birth," "the dao of waxing and waning," "the virtue of embracing all," and "the action of shining brightly."’
Jiang Yi’s expression turned a little strange. As long as you can’t kill a Shao Yang, their strength would increase with terrifying speed.
It was the same for Sword Cultivators. As long as they survived with even a single breath, they would inevitably be even more ferocious in the next Magical Combat.
’So, the Taifu Sect’s earlier plan to use Xuan Chanzi from the Zhongyi Sect to take on the Shao Yang was actually logical and in line with Daoist principles.’
How could Yu Changqing have possibly known that the process of him destroying his own Dao Foundation would allow Jiang Yi to grasp the profound mystery of the interdependence between the ethereal and the tangible, and the secret of a natal anchor?
He staggered to his feet, struggling to maintain his Magical Power, and cupped his hands, saying:
"I have forfeited the fortune of a lifetime as my apology to you, Daoist. I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me."
Jiang Yi just gave a faint smile and flew out of the Skandha-Loka.
’Yu Changqing helped me build my reputation this time. I really should be thanking him.’
’The previous story about me slaying the Thunder Core with a sword, while widely circulated, sounded too absurd for people to truly believe.’
’This Hongshui Dharma Assembly, however, will greatly boost my prestige as the Innate Sect’s Daoist.’
Jiang Yi flew out of the small realm and stood in the middle of the sky. The long wind billowed his Magical Robe, its wide sleeves fluttering, making him look just like a true Immortal.
True Monarch Guangzhao Jinghai looked over, a thought surfacing in his mind:
’Perhaps... Zhang Yuansheng of the Taifu Sect won’t be able to smoothly align the destinies of the Eight Sects after all...’
Then, a golden bell rang out nine times.
The vibrations shook the Hong Shui, causing monstrous waves to crash against the shore and sending shattered stones flying through the sky.
When the last of the lingering echoes faded, True Monarch Guangzhao Jinghai slowly spoke, announcing the result:
"In this Hongshui Dharma Assembly, the Innate Sect is the victor!"
The moment his voice fell, a pillar of golden light shot into the heavens from high above.
Within the Foundation Establishment Realm’s territory, the many long-term resident Cultivators were all stirred, their faces a mixture of different emotions.
Higher up, in the boundless Great Void, a gray-robed Daoist whose presence filled the ten directions revealed the faintest of smiles:
"Daoist Yuanzu, besides Zhang Yuansheng, your Taifu Sect doesn’t seem to have any other outstanding Dao Material."
