Translator: CinderTL
In the Profound Yellow Great World, if anyone cared more about what Dharma Aspect Li Chunjun had forged than the Wu Ji Sect, no one dared claim that title.
The moment Li Chunjun revealed his Void Storm Dharma Aspect, Sect Master Yuan Taiji of the Wu Ji Sect received the news. Before other cultivators could even offer congratulations, the information had already reached his hands.
Despite Yuan Taiji's countless millennia of experience, having weathered countless storms and cultivated a heart as still as a bottomless well, he couldn't help but exhale in relief.
Yet he swiftly sent a message to his hidden pawn in the Profound Yellow Grotto-Heaven: "Continue investigating. Confirm that the Void Storm Dharma Aspect truly represents his limit."
With the message sent, his mood lightened considerably. For the first time in two years, a faint smile touched his lips.
"Void Storm Dharma Aspect... a Top-Tier Dharma Manifestation. Excellent! Truly excellent!"
He praised sincerely.
Top-Tier Dharma Manifestation!
Not a Supreme Dharma Aspect!
This was a stroke of luck amidst misfortune.
Of course, the Sect Master of the Wu Ji Sect remained skeptical that this was Li Chunjun's full potential.
Despite his belief that Dharma Manifestations were nearly impossible to fake—and even if future advancements allowed for their reforging or upgrading, such a feat would be unattainable within a year—he remained on high alert.
In fact...
He immediately retrieved a communication orb and activated it with his mental power.
After dozens of breaths, a figure finally materialized on the orb:
Long Xingyu, the renowned Top-Tier Dharma Manifestation of the Chiyang Sword Sect.
However, aside from a select few within the Chiyang Sword Sect and himself, no one else knew that this formidable being, who had lingered in the Dharma Manifestation Realm for forty thousand years, had successfully upgraded his Primordial True Dragon Dharma Aspect to the Grand Void Ancestral Dragon Dharma Aspect a millennium ago.
Of these two Dharma Manifestations, the former was a Top-Tier Dharma Manifestation!
The latter, however, pointed directly to the ancestor of all dragons, the Grand Void Ancestral Dragon!
It was a Supreme Dharma Aspect!
Yet the Chiyang Sword Sect, preferring to maintain a low profile, had refrained from publicizing this achievement. Moreover, Long Xingyu's repeated attempts to become a disciple of a Dao Venerable had all failed, further discouraging him from boasting about his advancement.
Yuan Taiji learned of this matter from Yuan Guiyi, who recounted how the Supreme Truth Sovereign had taken him to visit a Dao Venerable when Long Xingyu happened to arrive seeking discipleship.
As Long Xingyu's figure materialized, he frowned slightly at Yuan Taiji but still spoke first: "I told you, I won't help you enter the dark horned prison to confront Li Chunjun!"
He spoke bluntly, "Li Chunjun may have only recently advanced to the Dharma Aspect Realm in the dark horned prison, but given his foundation, his combat power could easily reach 140,000 or even 150,000. To confront such a formidable opponent, even I would have to risk my life. A single piece of top-tier Dao-infused material... it's not worth it."
"If Li Chunjun truly possesses 140,000 or 150,000 combat power, I wouldn't bother you again. But what if his actual combat power is only 120,000, or even 110,000? With your nearly 150,000 combat power, facing an opponent with at most 120,000, you should have an overwhelming advantage, right?" Yuan Taiji said with a smile.
"At most 120,000 combat power?" Long Xingyu asked, surprised.
Yuan Taiji quickly transmitted the information he had just received: "While the Void Storm Dharma Aspect is formidable—a top-tier Dharma Manifestation—it's ultimately not the most devastating Supreme Dharma Aspect. Even with his deep foundation, you've cultivated for tens of thousands of years longer than him. Why fear his so-called foundation?"
He chuckled. "Besides, the Void Storm Dharma Aspect excels in group combat but lacks direct offensive power. Your Grand Void Ancestral Dragon Dharma Aspect has a significant advantage against it."
Long Xingyu studied the transmitted information, then seemed to be sending a message to verify its accuracy.
Yuan Taiji remained patient, waiting for Long Xingyu to confirm the truth of the intelligence himself.
After a long moment, sensing the timing was right, he continued, "You only need to deal with a newly advanced Top-Tier Dharma Manifestation with a combat power of no more than 120,000. Moreover, you'll have a dozen or even several dozen Dharma Manifestations assisting you, probing and forcing out his true trump cards. All you need to do is deliver the final, decisive blow to ensure absolute certainty. In return... you'll receive a Top-Tier Dao-infused material."
Yuan Taiji watched Long Xingyu, who was still verifying the information, his eyes gleaming with shrewdness. "Where else in the world could you find such a favorable opportunity?"
Long Xingyu remained silent, offering no response.
"In the Profound Yellow Great World, over half the Dharma Manifestations possess Superior Dao Artifacts. Yet among the Supreme Sages, only one or two in ten wield Top-Tier Dao Artifacts. By obtaining this Top-Tier Dao-infused material, you'll have already secured one-third of the resources needed for a Top-Tier Dao Artifact. This single acquisition would elevate you above thirty percent of all Supreme Sages. How could you possibly refuse such a mutually beneficial exchange?"
Yuan Taiji continued his attempts to persuade Long Xingyu.
But...
The Dharma Manifestation seemed to have already made his decision.
He declared resolutely, "I'm sorry, but I refuse."
Yuan Taiji froze, then frowned. "Why? If Li Chunjun had condensed a Supreme Dharma Aspect, your reluctance to engage him would be understandable, given the life-threatening risks. But now that he's only formed a Top-Tier Dharma Manifestation..."
"There are many reasons," Long Xingyu said, his composure returning. "Li Chunjun possesses the profound yellow spirit lapis jade, is a supreme disciple, and dared to propose the Three-Year Dark Horned Prison Pact. He likely has even more powerful trump cards hidden."
Long Xingyu's mood settled. "In any case, I've finally cultivated a supreme dharma aspect, and my future is bright. There's no need to risk everything on such uncertain odds."
He added, "Not even for a top-tier Dao-infused material."
"One isn't enough?! What about two? Two top-tier Dao-infused materials! That's equivalent to two-thirds of a top-tier Dao Artifact!" Yuan Taiji pressed, his voice heavy. "Don't forget, Li Chunjun has a grudge against your Chiyang Sword Sect. He annihilated one of your branch sects. His history shows he's ruthless and vengeful. If he ever reaches the Supreme Sage or even dao unification, he'll never let the Chiyang Sword Sect off the hook."
"It was just a branch sect in a lesser thousand world," Long Xingyu countered. "Such sects are as numerous as grains of sand in a long river to the Chiyang Sword Sect. Should we risk everything for the destruction of one? That would make our Supreme Sages and Dharma Aspects far too cheap."
Long Xingyu said, "Besides, when we abandoned the Chiyang Sword Sect in the Azure Star Minor Realm years ago, we already demonstrated our willingness to bury the hatchet. Now that he has cultivated the Dharma Aspect Realm, sending him a congratulatory gift should convince him to let go of this minor grudge."
Having said that, he seemed unwilling to engage further with Yuan Taiji, lest it cause Li Chunjun to misunderstand. "If Sect Master Yuan has nothing further to discuss, please excuse me..."
"Wait!"
"Sect Master Yuan, there's no need to offer any further incentives. Even if you offered a Top-Tier Dao Artifact, I would still refuse." Long Xingyu spoke calmly. "After all, even the finest Top-Tier Dao Artifact is useless if you lack the life to wield it."
"If a Top-Tier Dao Artifact won't move you, what about a chance at Dao Unification?" Yuan Taiji stared intently at Long Xingyu. "Would a precious opportunity to advance to Dao Unification be enough?"
These words immediately stunned Long Xingyu.
"A chance at Dao Unification?" He looked at Yuan Taiji, then quickly realized what he meant. "You're saying Li Chunjun..."
"If Venerable Long is interested, I invite you to visit the Wu Ji Sect for a discussion. Alternatively, name a place, and we can meet there. However, any conversation must be bound by a Great Dao Oath, forbidding the slightest disclosure!"
Yuan Taiji had come to terms with the situation.
He understood perfectly: an opportunity in hand was the only true opportunity.
If they failed to seize Li Chunjun during this dark horned prison battle, and Li Chunjun retreated to the profound yellow grotto-heaven to cultivate into a Supreme Sage before emerging again, all their elaborate schemes would be rendered futile.
Rather than watch the opportunity slip through their fingers, it was better to cooperate with others and secure it first.
Even if they had to share it later...
That was a problem for the future.
With these thoughts, he continued speaking to Long Xingyu: "Venerable Long, surely you don't believe Li Chunjun reached this level solely through the Profound Yellow Sect's support and the rewards from the Profound Yellow List?"
He paused, then rephrased his question: "Or perhaps, what reason could the Profound Yellow Sect or the profound yellow spirit have to favor Li Chunjun so exceptionally?"
Long Xingyu stared at Yuan Taiji, his heart torn by conflict.
He knew the decision he made now would directly impact his fate and that of the Chiyang Sword Sect behind him.
One wrong move could lead to eternal damnation.
But...
This was an opportunity for dao unification!
For such a chance, he would risk everything—even his life!
Moreover, Long Xingyu had never considered himself inferior to others. Otherwise, he would never have possessed the unparalleled determination to forge his top-tier dharma manifestation into a supreme dharma aspect.
"Though you've cultivated the Supreme Dharma Aspect, after visiting so many Dao Venerables, not only have none been willing to accept you as a disciple, but even those willing to grant you an audience have been few and far between. That must have been a bitter experience, wouldn't you say?"
Yuan Taiji delivered his final strike with perfect timing: "Wouldn't you want to cultivate into a Dao Venerable yourself one day? Just as you transformed your Top-Tier Dharma Manifestation into the Supreme Dharma Aspect, turning the impossible into reality? Then, as a fellow Daoist, you could stand before those Dao Venerables who once rejected you, making them regret their shortsightedness?"
These words struck Long Xingyu's vital point with devastating force.
This past millennium had been the most humiliating and powerless of his life.
Despite having cultivated the Supreme Dharma Aspect, which should have filled him with pride, shaken the Profound Yellow Great World, and earned him universal reverence, his visits to Dao Venerables had been met with closed doors.
That cold rejection...
He never wanted to experience it again.
At this thought, Long Xingyu's eyes turned icy. He spat out an address with heavy deliberation: "One month from now, Creation Immortal City, Nine Heavens Pavilion!"
"Excellent!"
Yuan Taiji rose abruptly. "I will await Venerable Long's esteemed presence at the Nine Heavens Pavilion, bearing a Top-Tier Dao Artifact as a token of respect!"
Profound Yellow Grotto-Heaven.
After Li Chunjun appeared, he briefly greeted the congratulatory guests before declining further invitations, citing the need to enter seclusion to prepare for the dark horned prison battle a year later.
While dealing with most guests was straightforward, he made an exception for Jiang Zuohe, the highest-achieving member of the Blazing Phoenix lineage from the Taixu Sword Sect.
"Congratulations, Venerable Li," Jiang Zuohe said, cutting straight to the point in the reception hall atop the mountain peak. He presented a box inscribed with intricate Array Formation runes. "I won't waste words. This is a congratulatory gift from the Taixu Sword Sect, hoping it will assist you in the dark horned prison battle."
Li Chunjun swept his mental power across the box...
A scorching, familiar energy surged forth from within.
The sheer purity of this power, even through mental contact alone, caused the Undying Flaming Phoenix Power within him to stir, as if on the verge of breaking through to the seventh transformation.
"This is..." he murmured, surprised.
"The supreme treasure of our Blazing Phoenix lineage—a Flaming Phoenix Feather shed by the Undying Flaming Phoenix itself!" Jiang Zuohe smiled. "To us, its value rivals that of the finest Dao-infused materials!"
(End of the Chapter)
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