Yes, Lu Yang couldn't comprehend it.
Even after severing his connection with the outside world, which dropped the difficulty of obtaining the [Nascent Light Sea] down to a mere one, he still couldn't comprehend it. It was like trying to scoop the moon's reflection from the water.
"There's a problem with this design!"
"It's pitch-black, so dark you can't even see your own hand in front of your face, and you want someone to comprehend things out of thin air? This isn't education at all; the key knowledge points should be detailed and highlighted."
Lu Yang couldn't help but curse out loud.
It really wasn't that he was stupid. The cultivation world's method of comprehending out of thin air was simply too outrageous. Who learned like this? Was there not even a textbook?
This rant completely stunned the voice in the void. A long while passed before it spoke faintly, "You actually can't comprehend it? I thought I saw incorrectly, but you truly have no Light of Wisdom. That's impossible. Anyone in this world born from the Light Sea should have at least a sliver of the Light of Wisdom, no matter how untalented they are..."
Hearing this, Lu Yang blanked. There was such a saying?
Anyone in this world, no matter how bad, should have the Light of Wisdom? But I'm a transmigrator! I see. I don't lack the Light of Wisdom because I'm incompetent.
It's this world's fault!
Thinking of this, Lu Yang couldn't help but continue, "Senior, seeing as I've reached this point, rounding it up, it counts as clearing the stage. How about you give me another hint?"
"Uh." The voice paused, hesitating for a moment before nodding. "Alright, but I'm worried that even if I give you a hint, you might have a hard time understanding it..."
"Just tell me first." Lu Yang was also helpless. He couldn't just restart over something like this, could he? If worse came to worst, he would just use [Supreme Dao Transformation]; he would eventually find a way out.
Thus, the voice quickly began to recite a rather profound incantation. As Lu Yang expected, he didn't understand a single word. However, as the words and phrases strung together, he gradually froze, because he realized—he seemed to have heard this before.
This incantation... I've heard the original version.
Memories from his previous life instantly flooded his mind.
"The [Method of Planar Creation]?" Lu Yang murmured.
The voice by his ear abruptly stopped. A long while later, it asked in surprise, "You've learned it? Where did you obtain this method?"
I learned it from history!
When traversing karma in his previous life, the World Honored One had discussed the [Method of Planar Creation] with the First-generation Master of Beast Taming Peak. At that time, Lu Yang had memorized it by rote.
I see... so that's how it is!
What did it mean to be [Responding to Emperors]?
"Follow the nature of things without personal bias, and the world will be comanded." The meaning behind this stage's name is that the challenger must conform to the natural changes of heaven and earth.
Therefore, I had to sever the connection with the outside world.
Therefore, I had to integrate into [Hundun].
Lu Yang's eyes grew brighter and brighter.
At the same time, beside Lu Yang, a talent suddenly lit up on the interface of [The Book of a Hundred Lifetimes]: [Colorful Talent: Vajradhatu Mandala]!
[You have comprehended the World Honored One's strictly guarded "Secret Method of Constructing the Minor Sea of Bitterness". As long as you gather enough materials, you will forge your own realm]
Two secret methods, reaching the same goal through different paths!
The Foundation Establishment Realm and the Netherworld—one is above the mortal realm, and the other is below it. Both perfectly integrate with the mortal realm. Isn't this the true meaning of [Responding to Emperors]?
Lu Yang perked up instantly.
Asking him to comprehend out of thin air was definitely useless; he wouldn't be able to grasp anything. But having a textbook and reference material made all the difference!
And now, the First-generation Beast Taming Peak Master's [Method of Planar Creation] and the World Honored One's [Secret Method of Constructing the Minor Sea of Bitterness] were undoubtedly the most perfect reference textbooks.
This time, only about half an hour passed.
Boom!
Accompanied by a loud boom like a massive bronze bell, [Hundun] split open. Endless illusory colors filled his vision, ultimately converging into a single ray of light at Lu Yang's fingertip.
Amidst the thick chaos, the light was like the first light of dawn. Carrying the boundless vitality of a rising sun, it swept away all the darkness with an unstoppable momentum. Yet, when it landed on Lu Yang's fingertip, it shrank into a ball. Bright and dazzling, like a pulsing pill, it conveyed an incredibly intimate concept.
"Congratulations, Fellow Daoist!"
The voice rang out again. Lu Yang looked up and saw the familiar black-robed man standing not far away, cupping his hands in a salute. "I leave this treasure in the hands of my Fellow Daoist."
"..."
Lu Yang didn't respond immediately. Instead, he stared blankly at the radiant light in his hand. This is a Light Sea that was reduced to a stillborn before it could even develop.
The next second, he abruptly raised his head.
"May I ask, Fellow Daoist, is this [Nascent Light Sea] the foundational cornerstone for constructing the Foundation Establishment Realm and the Netherworld?"
Hearing this, the black-robed man was also taken aback for a moment before clapping his hands and laughing aloud. Filled with gratification, he said, "Since Fellow Daoist has comprehended this point, there is no need for me to explain further."
Just as I thought!
For a moment, Lu Yang's expression was somewhat strange. A long time passed before he let out a long sigh.
The First-generation Master of Beast Taming Peak... isn't this person a bit too good?
Looking back at the trial of [Responding to Emperors] now.
Severing the connection with the outside world required immense courage.
The method to comprehend the [Nascent Light Sea] was actually the [Method of Planar Creation], and the stage-clearing reward, the [Nascent Light Sea], was the foundation for constructing a plane.
The meaning was already self-evident:
Was he hoping that if Paramita collapsed and the sky fell in the future, someone could be like him, using these things to forge planes and restabilize the mortal realm?
That was why he left all this behind.
"What a pity."
Thinking of this, Lu Yang shook his head. "I am not an idiot who sacrifices himself for others. I won't use this item to forge planes or restabilize the mortal realm."
As his words fell, the black-robed man didn't say anything, just stood quietly in place—and then, infinite Light of Wisdom suddenly surfaced deep within his eyes. It almost completely obscured his human form, turning him into a burning torch as he stared intently at Lu Yang.
A long while later, he finally let out a faint sigh:
"...It was me who was too foolish. Forget it."
As his voice faded, utter silence fell.
Lu Yang's body abruptly stiffened in place, his pupils shrinking.
Here it comes again. It's this feeling again... Did I awaken the First-generation Beast Taming Peak Master again?
Boom!
The next second, the black-robed man's body shattered, and all order returned to normal. Only Lu Yang remained standing there. The shattered fragments of the black-robed man transformed into thousands of streams of light, which then reconverged.
However, they didn't reform into a human shape. Instead, they condensed into a black-gold scroll engraved with dragon script and phoenix seal patterns.
Lu Yang took it in his hand and gave it a gentle shake. The scroll swiftly unfurled:
[Heavenly Pivot Dao-Spreading Diagram]
In the corner of the scroll, there was an annotation: "This art is what I obtained from discussing the Dao with my Senior Brother. Since you don't wish to construct a plane, you can use this to forge a supreme treasure instead."
In a flash, the world spun.
By the time Lu Yang recovered his senses, he had already returned to the empty pavilion of [Responding to Emperors], entirely unable to contact that domain of [Hundun] again.
"...Interesting." Lu Yang's gaze flickered.
Without a doubt, the First-generation Beast Taming Peak Master had awakened much earlier in this lifetime than in the previous one.
In other words, as the Lord of the Netherworld, he would also have more time to plot and plan.
What kind of variables would this bring?
Lu Yang was looking forward to it.
Thinking of this, he examined the scroll gifted by the other party once more:
"It's actually an artifact refinement method. The underlying logic is practically identical to planar creation, but instead of integrating the constructed plane into the Light Sea, it forms a world of its own... Hmm?"
Lu Yang suddenly raised an eyebrow.
Not because there was any problem with the [Heavenly Pivot Dao-Spreading Diagram], but because the principles within it had formed a connection with something completely unexpected.
Forming a world of its own, where the rules within the realm are completely autonomous and unaffected by external objects, thus often resulting in bizarre phenomena entirely different from other World Realm...
"...The Mystic Spirit World Realm?"
(End of Chapter)