Chapter 1804: The Great Fissure, The Place of Yin (II)

"Not so." Li Zhouwei shook his head and smiled. "This is not a path of binding and imprisonment, so it cannot trap anyone. Its strength lies in how it flickers in and out of existence, giving rise to endless wonders. During battle, it drags and pulls opponents into its descent, while the setting sun itself can be hurled forth. It is an art, not a domain, and relies upon constant transformation. It appears differently in the eyes of every person... Its profundities are difficult to explain in words."

"Granduncle never entered the grotto heaven. Back then, Zong Chang possessed a Yin-Exhausting Art that was somewhat similar...

"As for divine abilities... Each of the five divine abilities within a Dao lineage possesses its own capabilities. Comparing only one divine ability accomplishes nothing. If we insisted on comparing them... [Valley Water] possesses [Rebirth Spring], known as the Undying Spring. Who could surpass it if we considered only a single divine ability? That is without even accounting for how these abilities reinforce and counter one another."

A complicated look appeared on Li Zhouwei's face as he continued, "Every Dao lineage possesses its own wonders. If it appears weak, it is the person who is weak; if it appears formidable, it is the person who is formidable. After all, even a Dao as unimpressive as [Capital Guard] produced Yehui."

Li Ximing crouched and scooped up a wisp of fine sand with his own hands. The sand was extremely fine, and its surface layer felt pleasantly warm against his palms. Slightly deeper down, however, it was already soaked in blood, heavy as silt.

He sighed. "It truly is real!"

He stared at it silently, having already activated his spiritual sense and connected it to the Immortal Artifact! His ability of probing the unseen had already told him that although everything before him had been condensed by a divine ability, it was not illusory. Only beyond the great hall did the distant scenery become indistinct, drifting within the continuously expanding divine ability. It appeared that one could still faintly pass through it and emerge within the formation outside.

This suddenly reminded Li Ximing of something. "[Jeweled Fang Temple]?!"

Relying solely on his intuition, he suspected that [Severed Crimson Arrowhead] before him was most likely one of the foundations of Guangchan's strange and unpredictable Jeweled Fang Temple!

Yet Li Zhouwei was not surprised to hear that. He merely inferred, "Granduncle's guess is likely correct. The two may share the same origin, except Jeweled Fang Temple has lost the ability to manifest, disappear, and transform at any moment, while [Severed Crimson Arrowhead] lacks its wondrous ability to continually draw things in and pull people deeper within...

“The Jeweled Fang Temple is most likely connected to the [Jeweled Fang Golden Land] through some profound method, merely using the [Great Fissure Blade-Breaking Wondrous Divine Ability] as a stepping stone!"

Li Ximing nodded and sighed, finally understanding. "I sensed danger that day. This must have been what I was sensing!"

He released the blood-soaked sand and mud from his hand, dusted off his palms, and returned his attention to the divine ability. Frowning, he said, "What puzzles me even more... is that this divine ability... feels as dark and oppressive as demonic Baleful Qi!"

Li Ximing was, after all, a Bright Yang cultivator and a Daoist Master who had formed a divine ability. He could be considered a great cultivator in the present age. How could he possibly fail to recognize the appearance and aura of a Bright Yang divine ability?

Still bewildered, he said, "It bears no resemblance to Bright Yang whatsoever!"

Li Zhouwei smiled faintly. "I knew granduncle would ask about it!"

He raised his head. His ink-black robes fluttered despite the absence of wind, and their golden radiance grew increasingly brilliant. The enormous setting sun within the divine ability gradually descended, while the firmament sank in the west and rose in the east. At last, several faint stars emerged above the easternmost horizon.

Li Zhouwei's black hair surged in the fierce wind. He raised his hand and gestured. "Granduncle, look!"

Li Ximing focused his gaze and saw four stars shimmering above the far eastern horizon. They formed a three-sided, northward-slanting pattern, like a squared C with its outer end narrowing and its inner side widening. The formation looked extremely familiar, and Li Ximing studied it thoughtfully.

Li Zhouwei explained, "Those are the Commanding Stars of Surging Yang!"

Realization immediately dawned on Li Ximing. "The [Surging Yang Star Command Treasure Disk]!"

This treasure belonged to the Great Xiukui Temple and had twice been lent to him. It symbolized Ning State's recognition of Wei as the legitimate dynasty and its use of the Wei calendar. Whenever the disk's mystics were activated, these four stars would appear upon it!

Li Zhouwei continued solemnly, "Granduncle has surely heard of Heavenly Radiance and Yang Apex... But do you know where they come from? Heavenly Radiance is the first of these four stars, while Yang Apex is the last. This is the principle behind the so-called upright and inverted positions!

"As these four stars revolve and transform, each represents one of Bright Yang's five divine abilities!"

Li Ximing fell silent for a moment before half-asking, half-stating, "One is missing."

"Precisely!" Li Zhouwei's eyes shone brilliantly. "I once trained in the Heavenly Radiance Ultimate Profound Dharma Body Divine Ability, which is now [Sovereign in Peril]. In its cultivation method, I encountered these words: [When Six and Nine descend, one reaches the state of awakening to regret, whereupon arises Broken Arrowhead Heart and the Clear Manifest Will]. There was also this line: [A treasured vessel is made whole through a fissure].

"I did not understand their meaning back then. Now that my cultivation has advanced and I have mastered [Severed Crimson Arrowhead] from the [Imperial Book of Radiance-Slaying for Myriad Chariots], I finally comprehend their profundity! The one divine ability not included among those four is [Severed Crimson Arrowhead]!"

He explained, "Among Bright Yang's five divine abilities is the Descent of Six and Nine. It refers to flourishing Yang turning into Yin and extreme Yin giving rise to Yang. It first places the sovereign in peril, and once his endeavor succeeds, leaves him with one regret. That regret lies in the Broken Arrowhead Heart!

"Thus, a treasured vessel is made whole through a fissure. A fissure is formed when a vessel cracks but does not break apart. [Severed Crimson Arrowhead] is precisely such a fissure upon the vessel of Bright Yang, the place of Yin within Bright Yang!

"Only by possessing this place of Yin can an emperor allow flourishing Yang to turn into Yin and thereby find room to calmly rise again. Only by possessing this place of Yin can a crown prince defy imperial authority and walk the path of Yang Apex. Only by possessing this place of Yin can Bright Yang retreat into second place and gain an opportunity to preserve itself before the true foremost manifestation, [Supreme Yang]. Hence the word 'Severed'!

"In all the world, only [Supreme Yang] dares to illuminate all five divine abilities, and only [Supreme Yang] is capable of doing so! Of Bright Yang's five divine abilities, four are luminous and manifest as stars, while this one alone belongs to Yin!"

His eyes shone like gold, resembling a fifth star between heaven and earth, as he said softly, "This is one of the great secrets of the Bright Yang Dao. Even in ancient times, there were likely few who knew of it! Only after I formed this divine ability, received the accumulated cultivation feedback from many years of talisman qi, and connected with the destiny of the White Qilin was I able to sense it!

"But precisely because [Severed Crimson Arrowhead] is the place of Yin within the Bright Yang Dao, it can be cultivated not only by Bright Yang cultivators, but also by cultivators of [Lesser Yang], [Baleful Essence], and even [Hengzhu] to complete what their own Daos lack!"

Li Ximing was profoundly shaken by what he heard and remained speechless for a long time. The fierce winds between heaven and earth, however, grew increasingly violent in response to Li Zhouwei's words. Just as a phenomenon was about to arise, all the colors suddenly contracted inward and dispersed like a fleeting dream.

Both the setting sun resembling a crouching colossal beast and the vast desert within that endless realm of blood disappeared. The dimly lit great hall reappeared around them, and Li Ximing stood within it for a long time, lost in thought.

Li Zhouwei silently watched him. He could tell that Li Ximing had made little progress in cultivating [Radiance Under Heaven]. This Fate Divine Ability was already difficult to cultivate, and Li Ximing had reached a point where further advancement seemed even more arduous. The balance between effort and reward had changed considerably. If the clan's interests were the priority, devoting his time to alchemy would yield the greatest benefit.

Yet while Li Ximing was thinking of the Li Family, Li Zhouwei was making plans for him.

If granduncle can complete [Radiance Under Heaven], then to preserve himself in these troubled times, the next divine ability he should cultivate must be [Sovereign in Peril]... With these three divine abilities, he can reach the middle stage of the Purple Mansion Realm!

[Imperial Observation Origin] is too difficult, while [Everbright Platform] is too inferior. The one preventing him from crossing the Purple Mansion Threshold is most likely [Severed Crimson Arrowhead].

As he watched Li Ximing contemplate in focused silence, a hint of hope appeared in his eyes.

Granduncle...

The old elder often said that granduncle is a man blessed with great fortune... If he truly possesses such great fortune... then whether he can preserve himself after my death and cross the Purple Mansion Threshold will depend entirely upon these words of mine...𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚