Of course, fantasies were just fantasies.
Becoming a Great Perfected Lord or the like was still a bit too early for him right now.
Lu Yang quickly reined in his thoughts and focused on reality, specifically on the [Past Life Aspect] that had changed after just devouring [Wellspring Water].
Looking up again, he saw Patriarch Nether Whisper also looking at him.
"How is it?"
Lu Yang nodded upon hearing this. "I've made some gains. This gains incorporates the wonders of [Wellspring Water]. If I were to name it, it should be called [Shared Drink Inexhaustible Spring]."
"Oh? What is the explanation?" Patriarch Nether Whisper asked curiously.
Lu Yang was happy to explain and immediately smiled:
"The water in the wellspring changes its nature according to the earth and its quality shifts with objects; thus, it is not fixed. When this concept is applied to me, it manifests as nurturing three types of profound spiritual water."
As his voice fell, Lu Yang's thoughts moved slightly. The [Past Life Aspect] behind him exhaled in response, extending its hands and spreading its ten fingers. Each side displayed a different divine wonder. On one side was a lamp flame, flickering and translucent, drawing the eye. On the other side was a mass of water light, splitting into three colors, its aura magnificent and variegated with a myriad of beauties.
"Three types of spiritual water?"
Patriarch Nether Whisper was somewhat surprised to hear this. Even Suo Huan, who had just recovered, leaned in curiously. Seeing this, Lu Yang didn't hide anything and explained directly:
"Wellspring Water is born of Metal and emerges from Wood. Therefore, the color of Water is called Black (Xuan), the color of Wood is called Azure (Cang), and the color of Metal is called Yellow (Xiang)."
"Black Spiritual Water, although water, can fuel the momentum of [Overturned Lamp Flame]. This is because [Overturned Lamp Flame] uses wellspring water as its true oil. Adding this is like giving a tiger wings."
"Azure Spiritual Water has an effect similar to the fundamental wonder of the orthodox [Wellspring Water], [Shared Nourishment]. Nourishment. It can dissolve injuries and receive harm in another's stead. If it encounters a conceptual technique, as long as it doesn't belong to the Earth element, meeting it with this water will mostly cause it to collapse upon contact, rendering it ineffective."
"As for Yellow Spiritual Water, it is the exact opposite."
"Opposite?"
Patriarch Nether Whisper listened with relish, and Lu Yang chuckled softly:
"That's right. If Azure Spiritual Water merely dissolves weapons, then Yellow Spiritual Water can make weapons turn against their wielders, damaging others without wearing down itself!"
"When using this in combat, one only needs to first wash one's own injuries or another's conceptual technique with Azure Spiritual Water. Then, circulate the color and form to transform it into Yellow. It can then be used as a curse. Through causal connection, all the washed injuries, techniques, and concepts will be turned back against the enemy's dharma body."
Suo Huan immediately revealed a look of amazement upon hearing this:
"Although [Shared Nourishment] can achieve similar things, it requires a certain level of Dao comprehension and is no trivial matter. My Lord can actually use it directly..."
"Otherwise, why call it devouring a Dao Fruit?"
Lu Yang smiled. "After the Dao Fruit is devoured by me, all its wonders and concepts are under my control. How could there be any more concealment? This is only natural."
For ordinary Perfected Lords, controlling a Dao Fruit was more of a symbiotic relationship. Once the Dao Fruit was lost, their Stature would immediately drop. Their control over the Dao Fruit's wonders was naturally incomplete as well, requiring step-by-step improvement in Dao comprehension and consideration of the Dao Fruit's acceptance. However, devouring a Dao Fruit avoided all this trouble.
Immediately after, he looked at Patriarch Nether Whisper:
"Patriarch, we shouldn't delay. Why don't you come with me to the [Nourishing Life Master] first? I'll take you to comprehend Mu Changsheng's [Wu You Heaven] Dao Fruit book!"
Patriarch Nether Whisper naturally wouldn't refuse and nodded slightly.
Soon, Lu Yang retrieved the Righteous Dao Banner. With a thought, he enter the [Nourishing Life Master] again, then took out the [Wu You Heaven] Dao Fruit book.
Then, there was nothing left for him to do.
Patriarch Nether Whisper beckoned with his hand, and the [Wu You Heaven] Dao Fruit book immediately floated before him. He quickly immersed his mind in it, a look of contemplation appearing on his face.
Lu Yang liked this expression the best.
It highlighted reliability!
Thinking of this, he immediately waved his hand. The [Past Life Aspect] stepped out from behind him, manifesting wonders in both hands. With a clap of its palms, it instantly invoked the wonders.
In a flash, a lamp flame lit up, yet it didn't reveal light. Instead, it illuminated a profound darkness. At the same time, a stream of Black Spiritual Water rippled within it, making it even deeper. It enveloped both Lu Yang and Patriarch Nether Whisper, masking their figures and auras.
[Driving Night] + [Black Water]!
Black Water was the true oil for [Overturned Lamp Flame]. With its enhancement, the concealing wonder of [Driving Night] climbed to a new level, its power surpassing before.
This was also to act as a guardian for the Patriarch.
Time flew by; in the blink of an eye, another two and a half years passed.
The disturbance caused by the devouring of [Wellspring Water], where the Dao Fruit remained but its wonders vanished into thin air, gradually calmed down during this period.
Until one day.
Patriarch Nether Whisper suddenly snapped back to reality, realizing the time wasn't right. He subconsciously looked around, only to see Lu Yang guarding by his side at a glance.
"This..." A look of emotion instantly surfaced in Patriarch Nether Whisper's eyes.
Immersed in comprehending the book, he had completely forgotten himself. Originally, it was very easy to be disturbed, and he had long been prepared for interruption.
However, in reality, he had comprehended until he naturally woke up.
Did no one enter the [Nourishing Life Master] during this time? Of course that was impossible. It was just that Lu Yang had been guarding him, preventing anyone from disturbing him.
"How is it, Patriarch?"
Lu Yang's expression was normal, showing no intention of claiming credit. He just looked at Patriarch Nether Whisper expectantly: "Do you have the confidence to go further now?"
"...I do."
Patriarch Nether Whisper sighed with emotion: "[Nourishing Life Master] is indeed a good place. It allows for constant trial and error. Without this book, I fear I would have achieved little."
Before this, his plan had always been to add new concept shells to the foundation of [Wu You Heaven], thereby creating a larger composite Dao Fruit. But in reality, every attempt failed due to the limitations of [Wu You Heaven]'s own weak foundation.
Yet he dared not alter it without authorization.
Because he only had one chance. Once [Wu You Heaven] was deconstructed, if he failed to reconstruct it and an accident occurred, the Dao Fruit would be destroyed directly.
However, the Dao Fruit book provided by Mu Changsheng solved this trouble.
Because Mu Changsheng's [Wu You Heaven] had already undergone countless trials and errors through the [Nourishing Life Master], helping Patriarch Nether Whisper eliminate the vast majority of options.
This was enough.
"With this [Wu You Heaven] as a reference, I am confident in reconstructing [Wu You Heaven], allowing it to birth wonders and officially ascend to the ranks of the Orthodox!"
Patriarch Nether Whisper's words instantly brought joy to Lu Yang's face.
Immediately after, he directly circulated his spiritual power. A heavenly eye seemed to open at his glabella, and a bright light that seemed both real and illusory emerged, reflecting overlapping scenes.
It was [Wu You Heaven]!
The comprehension of the past two and a half years came to fruition at this moment. Patriarch Nether Whisper's ten fingers flicked, forming seals and mudras, beginning to directly modify the Dao Fruit!
The entire process was incredibly fast.
After all, with the precedent of [Wu You Heaven], it saved him a massive amount of energy in deduction. He had already completed the remaining parts during these two and a half years.
The next second, [Wu You Heaven] radiated light!
Layers of illusory light and shadow circled around Patriarch Nether Whisper, reflecting a glittering brilliance, demonstrating infinite changes, and manipulating heavenly secrets, causing Lu Yang to sense it:
Dao Fruit Wonder!
Unlike Mu Changsheng's [Wu You Heaven], which focused on the change between truth and falsehood—essentially just a step further in the change between void and reality.
However, the Patriarch's... is different!
This could be seen from the name. The change between truth and falsehood in [Wu You Heaven] lacked a definitive name, indicating its Wonder was actually incomplete.
A name was a symbol in a certain sense.
Whether it had a name played an indelible and crucial role for cultivation methods, divine abilities, wonders, Dao Fruits, the Great Dao, and all things in heaven and earth.
At this moment, Lu Yang sensed the heavenly secrets and traced the karma, quickly learning the name of [Wu You Heaven]'s Wonder. This was the proof of its ranking among the Orthodox.
The Wonder was named—
[Ruyi Heart]!
Translator's Note:
Ruyi (如意) = literally means "as one wishes" or "according to one's desires".