Grand Ancestral Bloodlines

The mind often took on characteristics of one's Visualization Technique. In fact, some who followed the Mental Realm discipline even believed that one's personality could be changed depending on the technique they chose. 

While the [Immortal Sakura] was, of course, an outstanding defensive technique. It could also be used as a Visualization Technique as well. In fact, any Mental Realm technique that relied on some sort of Visualization could be used in this way. 

Ryu didn't need to think much to choose this path. Not only would he be able to cultivate his Mental Realm, as he did so, his comprehension of the [Immortal Sakura] technique would deepen. In addition, as time passed, his mind would gain inherently strong defenses due to the constant Visualization. 

'This…' After walking into the depths of the first floor, Ryu found, as he expected, an Immortal Sakura. It wasn't just a majestic tree either, Ryu felt that this might truly be the last Immortal Sakura in existence. His heart couldn't help but palpitate slightly as its golden blossom petals shimmered before his eyes. 

Ryu knew immediately that the Visualization found deep within this forest of statues were by far the best the Zu Clan had to offer, but they were also the most dangerous. Ryu felt a splitting headache just from a short glance. In addition, the tree felt ethereal to him, as though it wasn't allowing him to see its true appearance. 

What intrigued Ryu all the more was that the Immortal Sakura wasn't alone. There were four other vague representations that caught his attention. But, their images appeared so foggy to him that he couldn't even grasp their shape fully. Ryu assumed that this was because unlike the [Immortal Sakura], he hadn't practiced these techniques at all. It was only now that Ryu understood the value of a teacher. If Eska hadn't showed him the [Immortal Sakura] in its simplest form, would he have grasped it so quickly? 

'Why are there four others, though? There should only be three more Ancestors, no?' Ryu's eyes narrowed and he immediately put up his guard. The Zu Clan's legacy was important to him enough for him to risk his life for it, but that didn't mean he would give himself over to it free of charge. This was why he had yet to go and see the Zu Clan Ancestors even though he held all the leverage in his hands now. With the seal gone and the jade in his possession, he was their only chance at revival. However, this didn't mean he was free. If he went to see them, he would have to make a deal. If there happened to be a fifth one of them floating around that he didn't know about… They could easily weasel out of any contract he made. 

After reminding himself to be careful, Ryu gave the four vague figures once last glance. Something was telling him that he didn't need the Ancestors to bestow him their techniques for him to see them. As long as his Heavenly Pupils progressed, nothing would be able to hide from his gaze! 

Not long later, Ryu began to go through the Body Realm techniques one by one, but as one might expect of a Mental Realm Clan, their selection was incredibly limited. Qi cultivation was still important to a Mental Realm cultivator since a powerful soul couldn't survive without a powerful enough body, but Body Realm cultivation ceased to be important to them after the Vessel Tempering Realm. 

Mental Realm cultivation was known for its small number of realms with just six, but Body Realm cultivation had an even smaller number at just four. The Pulse Tempering Realm, Ryu's current state, the Vessel Tempering Realm, the Blood Tempering Realm, and finally, the Nine Life Revolutions Realm.

The world of cultivation was complex and intermingled, but it was generally accepted that Body Realm cultivation ceased to be important after the Vessel Tempering Realm was completed. There was a very simple reason for this. For Qi Realm cultivation, one would open Qi Pulses in the Pulse Opening Realm and Qi Vessels in the Divine Vessel Realm. Then, during the Connecting Heaven Realm, these Pulses and Vessels would be connected to form the Immortal Rings of the Immortal Ring Realm. 

The Immortal Ring Realm was the legendary realm that connected all three pillars of cultivation, the body, qi and the mind – connecting the Body, Qi and Spiritual Pulses and Vessels. However, there were no other realms past this where cultivating all three could be deemed important. As such, many cultivators usually focused on Qi Cultivation after completing their Immortal Rings, while Mental Realm Masters like those of the Zu Clan abandoned Body Realm cultivation to focus on their mind and qi. 

So, as one might expect from this reality, the Zu Clan hardly bothered with techniques that continued into the third and fourth realms of body cultivation. From what Ryu could tell, they had less than ten techniques that even touched upon the third realm and none that touched upon the fourth. 

Ryu couldn't bring himself to question their methods. After all, wasn't Eska a Sky God? That was the highest cultivation realm in all of existence. If their method was flawed, they obviously wouldn't have produced even one of these lofty individuals, let alone four of them. Even Ryu's Tatsuya Clan only had one in their history, and that was Ryu's great grandfather, his Grandpa Tatsuya's father. Though, Ryu had never met the man, nor did his family ever talk about him. 

Thinking of his great grandfather, Ryu could only shake his head. If he had been there instead of disappearing to who knows where, how could the Tatsuya Clan have ever fallen? 

'Wait…' Ryu's face lit up with a happy smile. Even if his family was here, they would be shocked. This sort of expression was one Ryu rarely, if ever, showed. His light smiles usually had a piercing coldness to them, but this was filled with absolute warmth. The technique he just came across… It was the very one his mother, Himari, used. When he saw the technique, he felt a wave of warmth wrap around him, he forgot for a moment that he was in enemy territory. 

[Phoenix Heavenly Body]. This technique can only be used by those with Phoenix Blood, those without will undoubtedly die. 

Ryu realized immediately why this technique started with a warning. Qi techniques circulated qi, but Body techniques circulated blood. One was done in the meridians, while the other was accomplished within blood vessels. Judging by the circulation patterns asked for in this book, even Ryu felt a cold shiver go down his spine. If a normal person even attempted this, wouldn't they erupt in a blaze of flames? 

Still, Ryu felt happy even though this technique was missing two of its fragments. Ryu had long since opened his Body Pulses, but he hadn't been able to begin opening his Body Vessels because his bodily strength wasn't enough to withstand it. What Body Techniques did was utilize blood circulation to strengthen the body by cultivating what was known as Vital Qi. 

Though it was called qi as well, it was fundamentally different from other energies. It was directly tied to an individual's vitality and could only be accumulated in the blood before being passed on to the rest of the body. With this technique, Ryu would be able to cultivate the first two Body Realms. As for the final two fragments… That would be left up to Fate. For now, it was time to step onto the Pedestal Plane.