Chapter 723: Inquiring About the Dao

What Ye Yan sought was the pinnacle of power and control, with a nature that concealed rage and defiance.

What Xiao Fan sought was survival and Longevity.

With his perception as a Golden Core True Monarch, he naturally knew the two were speaking from their hearts.

“Your ambitions are commendable, but are you aware that the paths of cultivation in the Taihua Spirit Ruins Realm are finite?”

Xu Yunfan said, “The Golden Core Dao that all Cultivators in the world seek is rooted in this realm’s one hundred and eight Dao Fruits of the Celestial Spirits and Earthly Fiends. Each Dao Fruit represents a form of worldly authority, a direct path to the Golden Core.”

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the two of them.

“However, half of these paths are already occupied by the current Golden Core True Monarchs of this age. A Dao Fruit is unique. If a predecessor is still alive and has used it as their foundation to achieve the Golden Core, build a Grotto Heaven, and integrate the Dao Fruit into their body, then that path is completely severed. It becomes impossible for future generations to ever attain a Golden Core Fruit Position through that Dao Fruit. Unless…”

“Unless what?”

Ye Yan couldn’t help but ask, his thirst for power making him intensely concerned about this Heaven-Reaching Path.

“Unless the predecessor perishes.”

“Only then will the Dao Fruit return to the Celestial Dao, have a chance to coalesce again, and grace a successor. Or perhaps…”

He glanced at Ye Yan. “You could find a Fruit Position that is compatible with you and has not yet been claimed by a True Monarch of this realm, and with it, attain the Golden Core. However, the Celestial Dao conceals the Fruit Positions. To be graced by a new one, you must walk a path no predecessor has walked before. Such a path is naturally coveted and suppressed, making every step a struggle, to say nothing of acquiring the Dao Fruits needed for subsequent Cultivation.”

In truth, throughout the boundless ages of the Taihua Spirit Ruins Realm, every single one of the one hundred and eight Dao Fruits of the Celestial Spirits and Earthly Fiends had been attained by someone before.

How could there be any path that no predecessor had walked?

Xu Yunfan was merely speaking according to the current situation.

As of now, half of the Dao Fruits were concealed by the Celestial Dao, and the number of True Monarchs could be counted on two hands.

When those Great Daoist Masters at Foundation Establishment Perfection tried to attain their Daoist Golden Core, a Golden Core True Monarch would block their path and try to kill them.

In such an environment, with predecessors blocking the way and successors finding it difficult to advance, how could any new True Monarchs possibly emerge?

These words were like a dousing of ice water, chilling Ye Yan and Xiao Fan to the bone.

This was the insurmountable chasm that hung over the heads of all Cultivators.

One built by the hands of the current era’s True Monarchs themselves.

Ye Yan finally understood why his master had said becoming as strong as him would be so difficult. It wasn’t just about Cultivation; it was about fighting the lofty True Monarchs for that one and only path.

After all, the Fruit Position you attain might be the very Dao Fruit another True Monarch needs for their Minor Circulation.

“Master,” Xiao Fan asked after a moment of thought, “if we disciples were to cultivate your Divine Sky Thunder Dao…”

Xu Yunfan cut him off directly. “What I have attained is the Divine Sky Yuqing Nine Heavens Profound Vault Myriad Transformation Imperishable Dao Fruit. It ranks among the top ten of the one hundred and eight Dao Fruits of the Celestial Spirits and Earthly Fiends. This Fruit Position is already mine, integrated into my Grotto Heaven. Unless I die and my Dao is extinguished, and this Fruit Position returns to the Celestial Dao, no one in the Divine Sky Dharma Lineage will ever be able to attain the rank of Golden Core True Monarch through this Dao Fruit!”

He looked at the unconcealable shock and bewilderment in their eyes and continued.

“But nothing in this world is absolute. The Destiny of the Divine Sky Dharma Lineage is abundant, enough to support many disciples in cultivating the Divine Sky Thunder Skill to Foundation Establishment Perfection, and even to condense an Immortal Golden Nature. However, if you seek the Golden Core, I fear the Dharma Lineage’s Destiny will not be able to nurture the position for another Thunder Attribute True Monarch within the next thousand years. If you insist on the Divine Sky Grand Dao, you may spend your entire lives stuck at Foundation Establishment Perfection, never even glimpsing the gateway to the Golden Core.”

In short, while the Divine Sky Dharma Lineage could accommodate the grace of other Thunder Attribute Dao Fruits, for it to accommodate another Divine Sky Dao Fruit would likely require a thousand years of nurturing to accumulate enough Destiny.

Ye Yan’s face instantly paled, and his fists clenched tightly.

Xiao Fan’s expression also grew heavy.

“Then… then what path should we disciples cultivate?”

Ye Yan’s voice was hoarse with a trace of unwillingness.

Xu Yunfan’s gaze scrutinized the two of them once more.

‘True Monarch Pu Du has already completed his Minor Circulation, condensing at least three Dao Fruits of Five Elements Yin and Yang Mutual Generation. His Imagery is that of Universal Salvation and World-Purifying Lapis Lazuli. To advance further, he needs Earth and Wood Attribute Dao Fruits to perfect his Grand Circulation and ascend to the higher Late-Stage Golden Core, or even the legendary Nascent Soul Realm…’

‘Pu Du forced me to take on disciples. His intention is likely related to his plans for his future path.’

His thoughts raced. Considering the natures and desires of Ye Yan and Xiao Fan, as well as his own faint premonitions, he slowly began to speak.

“Ye Yan, your nature is like fire. You seek supreme power and are tough and unyielding. I will bestow upon you the Thousand Mountains and Ten Thousand Peaks Technique. This technique cultivates the Immovable Profound Mountain Dao Rhyme, nurturing the earth’s virtue of supporting all things, and can also suppress the power of the eight wildernesses. At Great Success, your body will be like a divine mountain, unshakable, with the strength to hold up the heavens. This Dao Fruit Position is of the Earth Attribute. Among the one hundred and eight Dao Fruits of the Taihua Spirit Ruins Realm, it ranks in the middle-to-lower tier. Although not top-tier, if you have the right opportunity, it is a viable path.”

He pointed a finger, and a ray of Profound Yellow Radiance containing a thick earth element true meaning shot into the center of Ye Yan’s brow.

Ye Yan shuddered as countless abstruse spells and mountain imagery flooded his mind. The feeling of immense, solid power that could bear all things was like a foundation for the fire in his heart, and hope rekindled in his eyes.

Xu Yunfan watched this, his expression unreadable.

‘He’s not the only one cultivating the Thousand Mountains and Ten Thousand Peaks Technique to seek the Immovable Profound Mountain Dao Fruit. The current frontrunner on this path is, of course, Chu Chengnan. Since True Monarch Pu Du treated me this way, I don’t mind setting a little trap for him.’

“Xiao Fan.”

Xu Yunfan turned to the other young man.

“Your nature is calm, and you seek Longevity and self-preservation. Your constitution contains a Vitality Origin. I will bestow upon you the Cyan Emperor’s Longevity Sword Manual. This manual embodies the Wood Element Life and Death Path, transforming Sword Intent into endless vitality, but it can also become a killing intent of Nirvana. Cultivating this manual will nourish your Origin and extend your life. When the sword is drawn, vitality flows, but it can also bring Nirvana to all things. This path connects to the Wood Attribute and aligns with your desire for Longevity and self-preservation.”

A similar ray of verdant green light, filled with vibrant vitality yet hiding a sharp Sword Intent, entered the center of Xiao Fan’s brow.

Xiao Fan closed his eyes to feel it. A torrent of vitality and a refined Sword Intent flowed through him, faintly resonating with the mysterious Vitality Origin within his body, making him feel incredibly comfortable.

With the techniques imparted, Xu Yunfan watched the two as they closed their eyes to digest the information.

“The techniques have been passed down; the path is at your feet. Within the Primordial Sect, the law of the jungle is absolute. Although the Divine Sky Dharma Lineage has abundant resources, you must fight for them yourselves. Every three months, you may come here, and I will answer your questions. You are dismissed. Cultivate well.”

“We will obey our master’s teachings!”

Ye Yan and Xiao Fan suppressed the excitement and the heavy sense of foreboding in their hearts, bowing respectfully.

Xu Yunfan waved his sleeve, and a Daoist Child appeared to lead the two new Direct Disciples to their exclusive residences on Divine Sky Mountain.

Deep within the Divine Sky Palace, silence returned once more.

Xu Yunfan sat alone on the Cloud Platform, his gaze fixed on the churning sea of clouds outside the palace.

‘Taking these two on fulfills my obligation to True Monarch Pu Du. As for whether they can grow in the cruel quagmire of the Primordial Sect, whether they can be of use to me and the Divine Sky Dharma Lineage in the future, or even—as True Monarch Pu Du implied and I myself faintly sense—whether they will form a connection with some unclaimed Earth and Wood Attribute Dao Fruits… that remains to be seen.’