A long time ago, Lu Yang had heard this saying:
Cultivation techniques under heaven are divided into nine grades from highest to lowest. Those below the sixth grade have no affinity with Foundation Establishment. Those below the third grade have no affinity with the Golden Core. Only first-grade techniques have the hope of the Nascent Soul.
Later, in the Jade Pivot Sword Pavilion, he saw the first first-grade technique he had ever seen in his life.
[Sword Lord's Profound Discourse on Metal Mastery Secret Chapter]
However, it was later proven that the purpose of this first-grade technique was to sacrifice the cultivator to attain the Sword Dao through void attainment. Essentially, it was a scam technique.
So here comes the question:
At the time, I thought this was just the Sword Pavilion's style of creating sword seeds, specifically to scam people... But looking at it now, perhaps there is a deeper reason behind it.
First-grade techniques might originally be intended for void attainment. Void attainment is one of the cornerstones of the Nascent Soul, and the other cornerstone is the supreme dao fruit. If nothing else, at least that Immortal Venerable Taiyin of the [Celestial Court] is like this: one Taiyin dao fruit, plus one Money dao fruit attained through void attainment...
Thinking of this, Lu Yang suddenly raised his eyebrows slightly:
[Sky-Shrouding]...
If Immortal Venerable Taiyin of the [Celestial Court] was extremely likely to have attained a dao fruit through void attainment, then what about [Sky-Shrouding]? Could this number one perfected lord of the Immortal Nexus not be able to do it?
...Unlikely.
Lu Yang had great confidence in [Sky-Shrouding]. Something that a mere outer heaven cultivator could do, [Sky-Shrouding] couldn't possibly fail to do. He should be able to do it too!
Think about it carefully. How did he reverse the Chen Earth back then? Although [Great Forest Wood] is powerful, its profound wonder shouldn't touch the edge of reversing Yin and Yang. If it were [City Rampart Earth], or my [Heavenly Fire], that would be more like it... For him to reverse the Chen Earth, he must have relied on other means.
What means?
It couldn't be purely dao arts; the stature isn't enough. If it were the profound wonder of a dao fruit, that would be more like it... That's right! [Sky-Shrouding] should have another dao fruit!
A dao fruit attained through void attainment!
It was precisely with the profound wonder of that dao fruit that he reversed the Chen Earth and completed his layout... Good heavens, this old thief was secretly holding back some wicked tricks!
For a moment, Lu Yang recalled that in previous lives when [Sky-Shrouding] came to find him, he had even proactively offered to teach Lu Yang the method of reversing Chen Earth. Lu Yang had been a little tempted at the time. Now it seemed... the other party was clearly using his own dao fruit as a promise, wanting to scam him!
Simply a bastard! Just you wait!
Lu Yang cursed under his breath, adding another mark against [Sky-Shrouding] in his mental notebook, then turned to think about another puzzling point:
How did [Sky-Shrouding] and Immortal Venerable Taiyin achieve void attainment?
Purely because high cultivation realm?
Impossible. Perfected Lord Qingcheng Feixue and Perfected Lord Gangxing Budao are also at the Late Stage of the Golden Core, but they couldn't attain a dao fruit through void attainment.
Could it be the supreme dao fruit?
Only with a supreme dao fruit as a foundation could one refine enough concept and profound wonder to attain a dao fruit through void attainment? Lu Yang felt this guess was the most likely.
But in that case, there was a new problem.
The Sword Dao.
If attaining a dao fruit through void attainment requires a supreme dao fruit, then what about the Sword Dao? Master Vanquishing-Demon was only a Foundation Establishment Perfected One at that time.
It didn't make much sense!
No, not necessarily. The method for attaining the Sword Dao through void attainment was passed down by the Sword Pavilion Dao Lord after all. The restriction of a mere supreme dao fruit is nothing to a dao lord. Perhaps there is a deeper scheme of the other party behind this. The uniqueness of the Sword Dao is probably extremely important to the Sword Pavilion...
Lu Yang's thoughts gradually became clear.
At the same time, his gaze also gradually brightened: I also possess a supreme dao fruit. In that case, can I also attain a dao fruit through void attainment?
After all, the relationship between a perfected lord and a dao fruit was too subtle.
Holding, but not occupying. In a strict sense, a perfected lord only had the usage rights of the dao fruit, not true control. This point alone made Lu Yang wary.
Although I already have the Sword Dao.
But I am not a true sword cultivator after all. I cannot unleash the true power of the Sword Dao. Moreover, Master needs the Sword Dao fruit more than the current me...
Thinking of this, Lu Yang's eyes shone slightly.
Yes, as early as when Perfected One Vanquishing-Demon appeared at the critical moment to block Perfected Lord Gangxing Budao and severed his dao to commit suicide for it, Lu Yang had decided—
He wanted to return the Sword Dao in his hand to Perfected One Vanquishing-Demon!
Anyway, Master Vanquishing-Demon has now joined my [Righteous Dao] family. I'm also assured letting him use the Sword Dao. On the contrary, he can unleash its effect better than Iam.
Lu Yang felt this clearly.
Even with the same sword dao fruit and the same level of cultivation, in his hands, although stronger than an unorthodox perfected lord, it was still difficult to contend with an orthodox perfected lord.
However, in the hands of Perfected One Vanquishing-Demon, there was almost no difference from an orthodox perfected lord.
This gap made Lu Yang even more determined in his thoughts—the sword dao... is ultimately not mine. What I need is something that truly belongs to me!
The sword dao could be an aid, a tool, but it absolutely could not be the foundation!
With this thought, Lu Yang suddenly felt enlightened. He felt as if a layer of haze had been wiped away from his heart-mind. His thoughts were clear and bright. Only after a long time did he gradually collect his thoughts.
Just then, a burst of noise suddenly spread:
"Passed! Passed!"
Lu Yang came back to his senses, only to see countless divine senses suddenly emerging inside and outside the entire [Mengwei] City. Each divine sense was brimming with intense greed and joy:
"Passed 50! The exchange rate of Carefree Talisman to Unorthodox immortal talisman is 1:50!"
"Its finaly surpassed the [Daoyan] Immortal Talisman... Although there is also the factor of the other party's recent plunge, regardless, this is the first time it has surpassed an Orthodox immortal talisman!"
"It can still rise! It will definitely rise to 100!"
"I'm buying more!"
Celebratory sounds resounded through the heaven, making the concept symbolizing [Money] increasingly dense. It landed within the Unorthodox Alliance, making even the spiritual qi jubilant.
At the same time, a streak of light descended. It was Banshan, the leader of the Unorthodox Alliance. At this moment, Banshan's face was also brimming with an excited and fanatical smile. He cupped his hands and said, "Fellow Daoist Ming He has extraordinary means. To achieve this step in just a few short months... I truly admire you greatly."
"This counts for nothing."
Lu Yang shook his head. "We've only breaking 50, barely catching up to the trashiest Orthodox immortal talisman. Fellow Daoist, the days of the Carefree Talisman rising are still ahead!"
After saying that, Lu Yang looked down below again and nodded slightly:
"The atmosphere is just right. We can issue new Carefree Talismans. It's perfect to further stimulate the market and give those who want to enter a chance to make money."
"Oh? Additional issuance?"
Banshan's eyes lit up upon hearing this. His expression remained unchanged, but he calculated in his heart: The growth trend of this Carefree Talisman is even more exaggerated than I expected.
According to this trend, before reaching 100 and touching those Orthodox immortal lords above the sixth layer, it definitely won't fall... In that case, why don't I buy some too? I was too cautious before and bought too little. This is the perfect time to buy heavily and take this opportunity to make a huge profit!
Soon, the atmosphere heated up further.
While the Carefree Talisman was popular, the [Righteous Dao] also stepped on the wind and began to blossom everywhere below the sixth layer of the [Celestial Court], expanding crazily.
Of course, Lu Yang was not some demon.
It was impossible for all disciples joining the [Righteous Dao] to be directly taken into the [Righteous Dao Banner]. After all, there were always some people whose potential was exhausted and who had no value in the immortal dao.
Disciples who could enter the [Righteous Dao Banner] must be the best of the best.
And in this process, Lu Yang's [Disciple Becomes the Master's Standard] talent was also playing a role. A large amount of dao comprehension based on the [Celestial Court] was constantly being absorbed by him.
"Not enough, still not enough!"
Lu Yang's eyes burned as he looked up at the sixth layer of the [Celestial Court] overhead: ...These are all dao comprehensions below the perfected lord level. They aren't useful enough for me.
I need dao comprehension at the perfected lord level.
I want to cultivate an Orthodox perfected lord in the [Celestial Court]!
(End of Chapter)