Chapter 317 - 4: Rebirth of the Origin as the Seasons Turn, a Dragon Coils in the Dantian Witnessing Wither and Flourish
Chapter 317: Chapter 4: Rebirth of the Origin as the Seasons Turn, a Dragon Coils in the Dantian Witnessing Wither and Flourish
As his body and mind merged with the Dragon of the Morning Star, Heaven Rewards Diligence also played a role.
[You have merged with the Rings of the Morning Star Dragon. You have gained a glimpse into the mysteries of the Dragon of the Year Rings. You have comprehended Spring Vitality. Cultivation Technique Progress +879]
[You have reached Initiation in the "One Origin Rebirth·Chronological Tree Diagram." Current level: First Realm (879/6400).]
Previously, Zhong Ming already possessed an extremely deep understanding of the Dragon of the Morning Star and the five elements—Gold, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth. All of this constituted his profound foundation.
Now, as he worked to comprehend the "One Origin Rebirth·Chronological Tree Diagram," this foundation acted as a driving force, boosting his progress by 879 points the very first time he grasped the Array.
Of course, the wonders of Mind Reading and Immersion also played a part—they allowed Zhong Ming to comprehend an even more profound artistic resonance.
"Continue the rotation!"
Harnessing his power as the Dream Dominator, even after merging with the Dragon of the Morning Star in the Dream World, the great dragon’s rotation did not cease. On the contrary, guided by Zhong Ming’s Thought, its rotation speed accelerated.
Soon, as the Ring Beast continued its rotation, the environment of Zhong Ming’s Dream World cycled once more through the scorching fires of summer, the grim reaping of autumn, the silent annihilation of winter, and the return of life with spring... After one complete rotation, Zhong Ming had gained even greater insights.
[You have gained new insights into the Dragon of the Morning Star and summer (the symbiotic relationship of wood and fire). Your Cultivation Technique progress has increased by 1176.]
[You have grasped the principle of autumn’s grim reaping. Your Cultivation Technique progress has increased by 963.]
[You have comprehended a sliver of the Dao of life hidden within winter’s annihilation. Cultivation Technique progress +912...]
[You have experienced a complete cycle of the four seasons. Your Cultivation Technique progress has increased by 3379.]
[Your Cultivation Technique has advanced. Current level: Second Realm, Insight.]
By leveraging the tangible simulations of Great Dream of Thousand Years, the profound insights from Mind Reading and Immersion, and stacking them with the bonus from Heaven Rewards Diligence, Zhong Ming managed to comprehend the "One Origin Rebirth·Chronological Tree Diagram" all the way to the Second Realm in the short time it takes for an incense stick to burn.
Such a cultivation speed was simply heaven-defying!
And that was in dream time. In reality, it had only taken the time to drink a cup of tea.
’Great Dream of Thousand Years stacked with Mind Reading, and then Heaven Rewards Diligence on top of that... it’s just too overpowered.’
After that brief moment of reflection, since he still had plenty of time, Zhong Ming did not stop. He had the Ring Beast continue to cycle within his Dream World.
Spring, summer, autumn, winter... Once, twice, three times... Soon, in the Dream World, the Dragon of the Morning Star that was Zhong Ming had cycled thirty-three times.
The trees born of this great dragon also blossomed thirty-three times and bore fruit thirty-three times.
During this process, Zhong Ming’s understanding of the cycle of the seasons, of life and death, of flourishing and decay, grew ever more profound.
This was reflected on his status panel as the progress for this Cultivation Technique once again rising by a full level.
[Your Cultivation Technique has advanced. Current level: Third Realm, Refinement.]
At this point, Zhong Ming no longer hesitated. With a single thought, he pulled his consciousness from the dream and focused it on his Dantian.
The next moment, as Zhong Ming’s consciousness stirred, the scene within his Dantian began to shift.
The Dragon Pearl, formed from the Great Sun Star Core, still hung high above, while the other Star Cores continued to revolve around the Great Sun.
This Planetary System, which conformed to the supreme principles of the Celestial Dao, underwent no fundamental changes.
’Luo Zhiwei is truly capable. The Array she deduced for me had already taken this into account.’
The fundamental system of rotation remained unchanged, but the orbits of the Star Cores revolving around the Great Sun—their paths and distances—had shifted.
—This was a mutable aspect; after all, even the solar system’s planetary configuration has changed over hundreds of millions of years.
Clouds of starlight billowed from the Star Cores, weaving between them on their new orbits and forming an illusory, colossal dragon of stars that coiled restlessly within his Dantian.
As the colossal dragon rotated, the Star Cores within Zhong Ming’s body released their energy in sequence, allowing the Dao Rhyme of the four seasons to circulate endlessly within his Dantian in a self-sustaining cycle.
’The rotation has begun... The only problem is, I only have five Star Cores in total. If you subtract the Great Sun acting as the Dragon Pearl, that leaves only four... Fortunately, the One Origin Rebirth·Chronological Tree Diagram is a Golden Core-level Array. Four Star Cores are just barely enough to construct a prototype. The rest can be added slowly over time.’
—Most high-level Arrays have simplified versions. Take the Array of All Heaven Stars, for example. The complete grand array requires three hundred sixty-five major stars, fourteen thousand eight hundred minor stars, and the sun and moon to act as its core. Furthermore, each of these major and minor stars must have a Star Monarch presiding over it.
Beyond the full Array of All Heaven Stars, there are also the Twenty-Eight Star Constellations and the even simpler Seven-Star Spirit-Gathering Array. These are all progressively simplified versions of the original.
Zhong Ming’s One Origin Rebirth·Chronological Tree Diagram was no different. Four Star Cores, serving as the hearts of spring, summer, autumn, and winter, were enough to successfully establish it.
Of course, to unleash its full power, he would need to gather a total of twelve.
’I can wait until Foundation Establishment to form the rest.’
’The Array is formed, and the Magical Power of the Star Cores has merged. I just need to adapt for a while longer, and my qi should achieve Breaking the Norms. When that happens, it will be time for me to advance to Foundation Establishment.’
’It won’t be long now. If I’m lucky, I could break through as soon as tomorrow!’
...
Zhong Ming achieved Initiation in the Array with incredible speed. However, to be thorough, he had the four seasons cycle thirty-three times in his dream. Each time, he activated Mind Reading and Immersion to deeply comprehend the mysteries of the seasons and the world’s transformation following the Rebirth of the Origin. This inevitably consumed a great deal of time.
Even though time in his dream flowed three times faster than in the outside world, by the time he finished everything, it was already late at night outside.
But at this late hour, the people waiting outside showed no intention of leaving.