Chapter 668: Devouring Dao Fruits is the Shortcut

Chapter 668: Chapter 668: Devouring Dao Fruits is the Shortcut

Every word was a pearl of wisdom, instantly clearing the fog in his mind and bringing a moment of sudden enlightenment.

This deposit was of extremely high value.

It was enough to show that True Monarch Dong Ming was serious.

Xu Yunfan glanced at True Monarch Dong Ming, a little surprised.

True Monarch Dong Ming naturally knew what Xu Yunfan was thinking, and the corner of her mouth curved into a smile.

"What, did you think I mixed some false information into this Jade Scroll?"

Xu Yunfan gave a dry laugh. He didn’t respond to her question, saying only,

"Your sincerity is immense, True Monarch. I am impressed."

Xu Yunfan put away the Jade Scroll. A plan had already formed in his mind; he understood that True Monarch Dong Ming genuinely wanted to build a relationship with him.

However, he still needed to carefully consider what kind of person she truly was.

’Heaven only knew what her true intentions were.’

He didn’t dally. Condensing his Divine Thought at his fingertip, he began to record key information about the Aitira Realm: its approximate location, the world’s characteristics, the features of the Three Great Main Gods’ authority, and traces of True Monarch Qing Yuan’s activities there, including his attempt to refine its Origin.

He meticulously inscribed all of it onto the other side of the Jade Scroll.

He very much enjoyed watching a dog-eat-dog fight.

"Although the Divine Spirits of this realm obtained their positions illegitimately, possessing authority without understanding the true essence of the Great Dao, its Celestial Dao Origin is exceptionally unique. The divine crystals condensed from Incense Fire Wish Power are particularly effective for consolidating a Grotto Heaven, refining Magical Power, and even comprehending certain specific Daoist Techniques. If you intend to go, True Monarch, you must be extremely careful. The Three Great Main Gods, when united, are no weaker than a Golden Core True Monarch."

Xu Yunfan handed the Jade Scroll back, adding a final piece of advice.

True Monarch Dong Ming took the Jade Scroll and swept her Divine Thought across it. A satisfied smile appeared on her face. "Excellent. Divine Sky True Monarch is indeed a man of his word!"

She put the Jade Scroll away and looked at Xu Yunfan.

"In that case, I shall offer you another piece of advice. The path of the Golden Core emphasizes nurturing and transforming. The Golden Core is not the end, but a seed.

"Nurturing means using the Origin of Heaven and Earth and the Great Dao Laws to temper it day and night, making it grow stronger and more condensed, as eternal as the stars.

"Transforming means using the Golden Core as a pivot and the Grotto Heaven as a furnace to evolve your own Great Dao. You must take the supreme Imagery you have comprehended—the Divine Sky Thunderbolt’s destruction of the Ten Thousand Laws and the Profound Vault Undying’s bearing of the heavens—and completely merge it into the laws of your Grotto Heaven. This will turn it from illusion to reality, transforming it from a mere prototype into a true miniature world.

"Only when your Grotto Heaven is stable and hangs high above, its laws generating on their own, able to endlessly draw upon the power of the void and chaos to nourish the Golden Core and yourself, can you be considered to have truly established a foothold in the Golden Core Realm. As for the path beyond that... it is long. When you reach that point, it will not be too late for us to make another trade."

Her words illuminated the core path from the Early-Stage to the Mid-Stage Golden Core Realm, which was exactly what Xu Yunfan urgently needed.

Although the crucial details would require a future exchange of information, this direction and framework were already priceless, showing Xu Yunfan the way forward.

Xu Yunfan bowed deeply. "Thank you for your guidance, True Monarch! I have provided the coordinates for Aitira and will await your subsequent Dharma Gates. If you have any need of me, I am willing to contribute my humble efforts, as long as it is within my power."

This was the proper thing to say, a gesture to show his cooperative attitude.

’As for whether she could actually order me around, that was another matter entirely.’

True Monarch Dong Ming chuckled lightly. "Of course. For now, Divine Sky True Monarch, you should return and consolidate your Realm. I am very interested in the Aitira Realm. Perhaps soon, we will have another chance to cooperate in that foreign Otherworld."

Hearing this, Xu Yunfan understood that True Monarch Dong Ming was eager to verify the truth about Aitira.

He took the hint, clasped his hands in farewell, and departed.

’As for whether to let True Monarch Pu Du know... that would have to wait until they had taken everything they could from Aitira.’

Now that Xu Yunfan had mastered the Divine Sky Scripture and attained his Dao Fruit, he naturally needed to take quite a few Middle-Rank and Upper-Rank Gods to fill the honored positions of the All Heaven Star Formation within his All Heaven Star Spirit Banner.

Although he currently had three Golden Core Banner Spirits, failing to complete the Star Monarch positions of the Grand Array would create flaws when he later tried refining it into his Lifebound Spiritual Treasure.

Leaving the gloomy daoist ground of Profound Evil Mountain, which was shrouded in the probing Imagery of the Nine Nether Profound Evil, he stepped back into the sunlight, but his heart did not relax completely.

The trade with True Monarch Dong Ming was one of mutual benefit, but this woman was profoundly cunning and her methods were secretive, far beyond what True Monarch Qingyuan could compare to.

’If True Monarch Dong Ming had truly made a move, True Monarch Qingyuan would never have lived this long.’

A chill went through Xu Yunfan’s heart. ’This woman... she’s probably using True Monarch Qingyuan as bait.’

’With her stirring the waters of the Aitira Realm, it’s impossible to know if it will bring fortune or disaster.’

’Still, at least I finally have a clear direction for my first step after reaching the Golden Core Realm: Nurturing Heaven!’

Nurture the Golden Core, and transform it into the heaven of one’s own Great Dao.

He transformed into a streak of Purple Gold Thunder Escape Light and returned to Divine Sky Peak.

Next, he would focus on absorbing the "deposit" from True Monarch Dong Ming. He would combine it with his own Divine Sky Dao Fruit to stabilize his Golden Core Realm and begin the cultivation of nurturing his core and the preliminary steps of transforming his heaven.

As for Aitira, Xu Yunfan had no plans to go there for the time being.

After reaching the Golden Core Realm, all sorts of wonders began to manifest.

"Name: Xu Yunfan

Daoist Cultivation: 1087 (Golden Core)

Skills: Divine Sky Nine Heavens Profound Vault Undying True Scripture (Perfection), Profound Capital Eight Sceneries Celestial Refining Creation Cloud Scripture (Perfection), Array Dao (Great Success)..."

Xu Yunfan summoned his Attribute Panel and examined it carefully. Under the divine mind of a Golden Core True Monarch, all the laws and true scriptures he cultivated had reached Perfection. Even those that hadn’t been at Perfection before were rapidly pushed to the Perfection Realm in just a few short days, thanks to the vast Divine Thought of the Golden Core Realm and his deepened understanding of the Great Dao Laws.

The divine mind of a Golden Core True Monarch compared to that of a Foundation Establishment Cultivator was like the difference between the clouds and the mud. It was like comparing an old computer from the 1980s to a supercomputer—the gap was unimaginably vast.

His thoughts moved like lightning, and his mental calculations could deduce the most subtle veins of the Heaven and Earth Laws. No wonder it was said that all those below the Golden Core Realm were ants; only upon reaching the Golden Core did one earn a seat at the table.

Only Golden Core Realm Cultivators, after merging with a Dao Fruit, could truly touch the core of this world’s power.

However, the path to Longevity had only just begun.

The Early-Stage Golden Core was merely a new starting point on the path of the Dao.

To achieve Longevity, one had to elevate their Dao Fruit Grotto Heaven, making it stable, suspended high above, and indestructible.

At that point, even if one’s physical lifespan was nearing its end, they could rely on their close connection to the Grotto Heaven to have their True Spirit escape into Reincarnation with their Innate Wisdom intact.

Then, using their Grotto Heaven as a foundation, they could absorb and accumulate power, instantly recovering their past life’s Dao Foundation and strength, thus achieving an alternative form of Longevity.

As his thoughts reached this point, Xu Yunfan’s brow furrowed slightly.

’So, how do I break through to the Mid-Stage Golden Core?’

The direction True Monarch Dong Ming had given him was Nurturing Heaven.

Nurturing meant using the Origin of Heaven and Earth and the Great Dao Laws to temper the Golden Core day and night, making it grow stronger and more solid, as eternal and undying as the ancient stars.

And in this Taihua Spirit Ruins Realm, the most direct and superior manifestations of the Origin of Heaven and Earth and the Great Dao Laws were the one hundred and eight Celestial Spirit and Earth Evil Dao Fruits that formed the foundation of the world’s Celestial Dao.

’In other words, devour other Dao Fruits and use multiple Dao Fruits to elevate my own.’

Xu Yunfan performed Introspection, looking into his Dantian.

The Golden Core, formed from the fusion of his Divine Sky Dao Fruit and his Grotto Heaven, was slowly rotating. Ninety-nine Purple Gold Divine Dragons coiled around it, their roars accompanied by the boom of thunder. It contained the prototype of an endless Thunder World, pulsing with the majestic power to destroy the Ten Thousand Laws and bear the Imagery of heaven and earth.