Chapter 313 - 171: The Law of Affinity

Chapter 313: Chapter 171: The Law of Affinity

In Daoist arts, is quality truly valued over quantity?

Of course!

There are countless Cultivators in this world. Are there any who practice multiple true arts simultaneously? Naturally.

But how many are like Xu Zhuang? He possesses the wonder of the Nine Orifices, allowing him to freely convert between different types of Magical Power. His various Daoist arts don’t become entangled; instead, they complement and enhance one another, allowing him to advance on all fronts simultaneously. How many such people exist?

Taking a step back, even among the many Cultivators who dedicate themselves to a single Daoist art, following the established path step by step, how many find their journey to be a smooth one?

Forget aspiring to the Celestial Immortal Dao Fruit, achieving ultimate Pure Yang, or even attaining a Primordial Spirit and eternal life. Even the lesser heterodox arts—those that can at most lead to a Nascent Soul, or barely allow one to form a Golden Core—have stumped countless fools...

Thus, even Xu Zhuang was well aware of the principle that in Daoist arts, quality is valued over quantity.

But when the choice was laid squarely before him, he simply offered a faint smile—

In his youth, his talent was considered excellent, but he couldn’t compare to the most brilliant prodigies of his generation. Therefore, he cultivated with unceasing diligence. Like a slow horse making a long journey through sheer persistence, he achieved mastery in his arts at a young age. Without a moment’s rest, he set out to roam the Divine Continent, crossing the East Sea and traversing countless rivers and mountains to temper himself.

When a flask of Pure Yang Qi from the *Secret Records of the Three Phases, Six Seals, and Nine Orifice Condensing Pill* appeared before him, he could have formed a Six-Seal Golden Core with absolute certainty. With that flask of Pure Yang Qi, he could have lived for millennia, replenished his foundation, and slowly pursued the hope of reforging his path to attain a Primordial Spirit...

But Xu Zhuang still chose the most difficult path. Otherwise, even if the Pure Yang Qi had shored up the foundation that should have made Nine-Orifice Pill Formation impossible, he would never have been able to pass the trial of the heart to achieve a Top-grade Golden Core.

Upon first forming his Golden Core, he had already mastered the *Tai Su One Qi Scripture* and the *Tai Su Sword Qi of Form and Formlessness*. He possessed superior strength and a greater range of transformations than his peers, and could even contend with veteran Golden Core cultivators.

But he still chose to cultivate the *Tai Su True Form Scripture*. By doing so, he completed the final transformation of the Tai Su Taoist Technique and experienced a true breakthrough. Otherwise, would he today be merely accumulating the power of his Core, or would he be striving to merge spirit and qi to form a Nascent Soul?

Throughout his journey, Xu Zhuang has never halted his steps, never been content to stand still.

Perhaps his ability to practice multiple Daoist arts at once was a unique gift from his Nine Orifice Golden Pill. Perhaps his rapid progress and his effortless mastery of techniques were thanks to the supreme talent remolded by the Pure Yang Qi. Perhaps he had come this far through profound luck and fortuitous encounters...

When Xu Zhuang looked inward, he couldn’t deny it. All of these things had forged his foundation, allowing him to face his choices with composure and remain true to his heart.

Who says one cannot achieve profundity while practicing numerous arts? Who says one cannot reach the summit without dedicating oneself to a single path?

He placed a stone on the Tengen!

As he placed the stone, everything suddenly went still. Xu Zhuang realized he was now in a perfectly silent void. There was only himself, a table, a chessboard, and the stone containers. Nothing else.

Just as Xu Zhuang was feeling bewildered, a figure in green robes appeared. It was True Monarch Guangcheng, who looked like a young Daoist. He approached slowly and called out, "Xu Zhuang."

Surprised, Xu Zhuang clasped his hands in a fist-and-palm salute and bowed respectfully. "This junior, Xu Zhuang, pays his respects to the True Monarch."

True Monarch Guangcheng said, "There’s no need for such formality. Jade Longevity True Monarch and I are old friends. You can just treat me as a common elder."

Xu Zhuang quickly agreed. True Monarch Guangcheng sat down across the table from him, picked up a white stone, and said casually, "As it happens, I’m feeling inspired. I’ll offer you some pointers on Daoist arts. I’ll teach whatever comes to mind; what you grasp will be up to your own destiny."

Overjoyed, Xu Zhuang said, "This disciple thanks you for your guidance, True Monarch!"

True Monarch Guangcheng simply smiled at his words. He glanced at the chessboard, and an idea immediately took shape.

The Chess Dao in the training grounds, while called a "hand talk," was in fact a natural manifestation of Daoist arts. It was True Monarch Guangcheng’s way of tailoring his teaching to each individual’s cultivation.

Therefore, Xu Zhuang’s game was not an exposition of the Tai Su Taoist Technique, but of Yin-Yang and the Five Elements. This was especially true since he had recently been studying Yin and Yang and delving deeply into lightning techniques, so these aspects were inevitably prominent.

’Alright. Yin-Yang and the Five Elements fall precisely within my domain. I can start by broadening this greedy little fellow’s horizons.’

True Monarch Guangcheng smiled faintly and pressed a stone onto the board.

The instant the white stone landed, it was as if a thunderbolt had struck the board. A blinding flash of lightning lit up heaven and earth, bleaching the world pure white in a single moment.

Yet in that instant, Xu Zhuang felt an overwhelming sense of vibrant life, as if heaven and earth were just being born, giving rise to earth, water, fire, and wind. All of creation was growing and flourishing...

Without needing any explanation from True Monarch Guangcheng, Xu Zhuang naturally came to an understanding of this thunderbolt. His Yin-Yang Magical Power began to circulate, and he unconsciously picked up a stone and placed it on the board.

’Heaven-Opening Yang Thunder!’

An almost invisible bolt of pure white lightning flashed through the Void World, vanishing without a single ripple...

’He does have some aptitude.’

True Monarch Guangcheng’s expression remained unchanged as he placed another white stone. In that instant, a bolt of dark, boundless thunder surged past, annihilating all signs of life. Within the Void World, an apocalyptic scene unfolded: the Celestial River flooded the land, mountains crumbled, the earth split asunder, and great towers collapsed.

’World-Ending Yin Thunder.’ A barely visible bead of cold sweat appeared on Xu Zhuang’s forehead, as if he were completely immersed in the scene of destruction. His own stone followed, landing on the board...

True Monarch Guangcheng nodded slightly. This portion of his tailored lesson, however, was now at an end. He placed another stone casually, and suddenly, within the void, it was as if the sun were rising for the first time!