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"Constructing a world isn't merely about the accumulation of power; it requires technique."
Su Wen channeled the elemental energy within his hands. Having observed the Six-Absolute Heaven Dao Array, he seemed to have immediately grasped its underlying principles. He selected six types of elements from the ones he had mastered: Earth, Fire, Water, Wind, Light, and Darkness. These were the exact six attributes mastered by Long Shiya. Using the elemental power of these six attributes, Su Wen quickly mimicked the formation.
Long Shiya paused, maintaining his own Six-Absolute Heaven Dao Array while crossing his arms, curious to see what Su Wen intended to do. The Six-Absolute Heaven Dao Array required the coordination of Intent Beads; could this fellow really replicate it without even releasing his?
Su Wen felt helpless. It wasn't that he didn't want to provide an authentic reconstruction, but he truly had no other choice. Twenty days ago, he had cultivated his Heavenly Power to the twelfth level of the Heaven Spirit Realm. While continuing to refine the second layer of the "Heavenly Bead Transformation" technique, he had also been cultivating his Heavenly Power. He had now reached the third level of Heavenly God Power, but he possessed only four pairs of Heavenly Beads, making it impossible to perfectly replicate the Six-Absolute Heaven Dao Array.
Intent Beads were, in essence, a foundation. Long Shiya was able to channel the Heaven Dao not just because his Six-Absolute array aligned with the path of the six harmonies—encompassing the four corners of heaven and earth—but specifically because of the existence of the Intent Beads. A Heavenly Bead Master's beads were peculiar; they contained special rules and held a profound connection to this plane, acting as the key for a Heavenly Bead Master to communicate with the world. Without the participation of Intent Beads, Su Wen's imitation using only elemental force naturally could not achieve a flawless deployment of the array.
However, as the six elemental powers began to circulate and take shape, a spatial fluctuation emerged. Su Wen had begun to construct a Domain by combining spatial force with the six attributes. The six attributes operated in the form of the Six-Absolute Heaven Dao Array, and as spatial power fused into it, a Domain began to take form.
Yet, this Domain lacked the blessing of the Heaven Dao found in Long Shiya's true array and seemed to have no functional utility beyond aggregating the elemental energy of the six attributes for easier manipulation. Just as Long Shiya felt puzzled, Su Wen began to demonstrate what true Domain construction meant. The operation of the six elements began to change.
Long Shiya's gaze sharpened. He realized that this was the true crux of the matter. Su Wen was modifying the array based on its existing movement. Using Earth, Fire, Water, and Wind as a foundation for the outline, and keeping them in close association with spatial power, the space enveloping Su Wen and Long Shiya gradually grew solid, and the Domain became increasingly realistic.
Long Shiya deactivated his own Six-Absolute Heaven Dao Array to prevent his formation from interfering with Su Wen's evolution. He focused all his attention on observing Su Wen's manipulation of elemental energy. Unfortunately, the process was incredibly complex; before he knew it, the surrounding space had become remarkably solidified, and the elemental energies began to grow exceptionally nimble. The Domain began to attract and transform the surrounding Heaven and Earth Vital Energy, and the elemental concentration within the Domain reached a peak.
Before he could process the previous step, Long Shiya noticed that the elemental energies within the Domain had begun to fuse! His expression shifted; he hadn't understood the process that just occurred. Naturally, Su Wen could not stop to re-enact it. The elemental energies continued to intertwine, sketching out what looked like underlying code for this space, perfecting the structure of the entire Domain.
Long Shiya's breathing grew rapid. Looking at the finished Domain surrounding him, he found it hard to believe. It had evolved from the operational principles of his Six-Absolute Heaven Dao Array into a Domain—so realistic, and so complete in its effects. It drew in external energy to convert it into internal power, and it allowed for the relatively easy fusion of different elemental forces. Furthermore, it possessed a suppressive effect. It was indistinguishable from a true Domain-type skill.
This was the true construction of a Domain.
Long Shiya's Six-Absolute Heaven Dao Array was, ultimately, a shortcut—it relied on the presence of the Heaven Dao to achieve many of its effects. For example, the ability to replicate any skill of the same level among the six attributes was actually a process of copying under the assistance of the Heaven Dao, effectively magnifying the power of his Intent Beads to infinity. Under the Six-Absolute Heaven Dao Array, Long Shiya's specific Intent Bead skills could not be cast; he could only mobilize the energy within the array to launch attacks by combining them himself. However, this did not mean his Intent Beads were useless; rather, under the assistance of the Heaven Dao, his bead skills were "cleared," and that state was preserved throughout the entire array Domain. It was equivalent to magnifying his Intent Bead abilities into an infinite, copyable array structure.
Su Wen's method was indeed different. He was truly using the formation to circulate elemental energy into a fixed structure, thereby completing the construction of the Domain. This was what a true formation should be.
"This is the true construction of a Domain: changing the internal structure, perfecting the effects, and thereby making the Domain's capabilities increasingly complete and powerful."
"The Emperor's Six-Absolute Heaven Dao Array might benefit from being perfected around the concept of the Heaven Dao. By refining the power of the six elements beyond just the Heaven Dao, and by completely isolating the Domain from the outside world to form a true 'world,' one could say that you have perfected your Domain to the level of a world."
"This is actually the advantage of the Six-Absolute Heaven Dao Array: it can directly draw upon the power of the Heaven Dao. One only needs to make repairs and patches to have a chance to achieve this step."
Su Wen held the Six-Absolute Heaven Dao Array in high regard. By utilizing the power of the Heavenly Beads and the power of the formation, it could channel the Heaven Dao—for a small world, this was equivalent to providing it with an immediate core or "backbone." If any other Heavenly Bead Master tried to replicate Su Wen's technique, they wouldn't know how much "underlying code" they would have to write just to create a complete framework capable of supporting the existence of a world.
To completely isolate oneself from the outside world, to operate independently, and to sustain itself—that is what constitutes a small world. Achieving this requires the architecture of the world itself to be extremely complete. Like the Domain Su Wen had just evolved, if one were to truly isolate it from the outside world and replace the heavens and earth in seizing control of that region, it would certainly fail under the pressure of the real world.
"Insights regarding the cultivation and perfection of Domains will all be made public within the Academy. Perhaps the Emperor would like to consider it?" Su Wen looked at Long Shiya and persuaded him. On his own, he didn't possess much deterrence. Although he had the power of a Heaven Emperor, Su Wen's all-out attack was merely at the early Heaven Emperor stage—equivalent to the strength of a fifth-level Heaven Dao Power powerhouse. This was far below Long Shiya's level. If he had Long Shiya sitting in the Academy, they could declare their ambitions with much greater confidence, rather than Su Wen having to play mind games with the Haomiao Palace, using their hands to build the Academy first before independently establishing a holy land.
(End of Chapter)