Chapter 513 514: True Method
Chapter 514: True Method
In the Kunming Palace of Tianwu Hall.
Lü Yang and Empress Xiao were discussing the Dao. Before their eyes, dazzling displays of divine abilities transformed into a magnificent sea of flowers, spreading out in an instant.
A delicate floral fragrance wafted through the vast palace, refreshing the mind, mingled with the clear sound of flowing mountain streams. As time passed, this sea of flowers gradually converged toward the center, ultimately coalescing into a single celestial blossom that slowly unfurled, radiating a brilliance almost too dazzling to behold.
[Glazed-Colored Mystical Celestial Blossom]!
This was an earth-element Dao method from the Four Treasuries, perfectly aligned with Empress Xiao's divine ability [Hundred Flowers Palace]. She had carefully selected and painstakingly cultivated it.
The function of this Dao method was simple.
By immersing one's divine soul into the celestial blossom, the speed of refining Metal Essence would be greatly accelerated, compressing what would normally take one or two years into just one or two days.
Back when Emperor Jiayou was still the Crown Prince, Empress Xiao had relied on this Dao method to gain his favor. Yet the [Glazed-Colored Mystical Celestial Blossom], which had once been effortlessly effective against Emperor Jiayou, now struggled to maintain its form under Lü Yang's relentless refinement.
'After all, he cultivates the Supreme Fruit Position.'
While refining Metal Essence for Emperor Jiayou had required only a few cycles of the Dao method, Lü Yang's Metal Essence remained stubbornly unyielding.
Only after Empress Xiao had exhausted her magic power, her [Hundred Flowers Palace] divine ability weakened, and her entire body drained of strength did Lü Yang barely manage to refine a single wisp of Metal Essence—as if deliberately tormenting her. The experience left her both satisfied and resentful, forcing her to repeatedly plead with Lü Yang for mercy.
Her satisfaction came from not having misjudged him.
After all, the difficulty in refining Lü Yang's Metal Essence indicated an exceptionally solid foundation, suggesting a high likelihood of successfully attaining the Golden Core in the future—and potentially bringing her great benefits.
Her resentment, however, stemmed from sheer exhaustion.
Only because Empress Xiao possessed high cultivation and profound Dao Depth could she recover after a day's rest, even when her divine ability was weakened from excessive expenditure.
This allowed her to maintain a once-daily rhythm with Lü Yang. Otherwise, her [Hundred Flowers Palace] would have long been utterly destroyed by Lü Yang's relentless cultivation over these past few days.
Meanwhile, Lü Yang paid no heed to Empress Xiao's reproachful gaze.
His focus was entirely on cultivation. Peering inward at his soul, he observed the golden light coiled around it like a small dragon, a satisfied expression crossing his face:
'A single thread of Metal Essence!'
"The Dao begets One, One begets Two, Two begets Three, and Three begets all things... Metal Essence follows the same principle—three strands form a wisp, three wisps combine into a thread."
Over the past month, he had spent nights in the imperial bedchamber, cultivating diligently without pause. Only with Empress Xiao's assistance had he finally refined a single thread of Metal Essence. From here on, any further refinement would involve directly merging strands and wisps into it, continuously strengthening it until it reached the standard required to support a Blessed Land.
'However, the drawback of strengthening Metal Essence is also evident.'
As Lü Yang gazed at the Metal Essence he had refined, he momentarily envisioned an endless mountain range and sea, with himself becoming the consciousness of this vast landscape.
Birds, fish, insects, and beasts.
Plants, stones, wind, rain, and lightning.
The harmonious and orderly operation of all things brought his mind ever closer to the so-called "Heavenly Dao," viewing all creation as mere straw dogs, detached from mortal concerns...
"Mmm~"
A moan mingled with inexplicable pleasure, resonating like a great bell, snapped Lü Yang out of his reverie. The warmth in his arms brought him back to reality.
'This is the influence of Metal Essence...'
Lü Yang frowned slightly. As Metal Essence accumulated, human nature would gradually be suppressed, eventually leading to madness—especially as one approached the Golden Core.
'Fortunately, my will is firm.'
Taking a deep breath, Lü Yang tightened his embrace around Empress Xiao, fiercely reclaiming the humanity he had momentarily lost, before finally relaxing.
"...By the way, Your Majesty."
Looking at the thoroughly exhausted Empress Xiao, Lü Yang spoke softly: "The Four Treasuries don't seem to contain any legacy of the [Heavenly Fire Above], do they?"
"Still calling me 'Your Majesty'?"
Empress Xiao's vermilion lips parted slightly, her beautiful eyes seeming to spin silk as they fixed intently on Lü Yang: "My name is Xiao Ru. Fellow Daoist, you may address me directly by name from now on."
Lü Yang chuckled lightly at her words: "I still prefer the title 'Your Majesty.'"
"Such glibness~"
Empress Xiao feigned bashful anger, lightly patting Lü Yang's chest with her jade-like hand before smoothly sliding downward, simultaneously answering his earlier question:
"Of course not. After all, the [Heavenly Fire Above] vanished when the Dao Court established the Tianwu reign. Only two remnants of this illustrious lineage remain in the world. One fled overseas during the chaos and was eventually acquired by the old Dragon Monarch of the True Dragon Clan."
"Unfortunately, that legacy is incomplete."
At this point, Empress Xiao shook her head again: "But precisely because of that, the old Dragon Monarch could obtain it. Had it been complete, it would never have fallen into overseas hands."
"What about the second one?" Lü Yang asked curiously.
"The second should be in Jiangbei, held by the descendants of Zouyu. After all, the Zouyu imperial family once had some interest in the [Heavenly Fire Above] as well."
Empress Xiao spoke with effortless authority.
Having thoroughly studied the entire Four Treasuries—which contained not just cultivation techniques but also numerous Dao texts, unofficial histories, and secrets—she naturally recounted them with familiarity.
Lü Yang's mind immediately grew active.
'Descendants of Zouyu... that faction from the Saint Sect? Then there might be a way to scheme for it. Right now, I'm precisely lacking the true method corresponding to the [Heavenly Fire Above].'
True Method—the supreme technique refined through Metal Essence.
Since refining Metal Essence, Lü Yang had prioritized this, as mastering a true method aligned with himself would undoubtedly bring tremendous improvement.
Alas, the legacy of [Heavenly Fire Above] had long been severed.
And the portion missing from the old Dragon Monarch's gift, the "Heavenly Radiance Dragon Scripture," happened to be this very part. Just as Lü Yang was worrying over this, Empress Xiao unexpectedly provided a lead.
"Speaking of which, what are your plans going forward?"
Empress Xiao's gaze burned intently: "You're not yet a True Lord, so you cannot formally ascend the throne. You can only rely on the status of [Imperial Presence] to temporarily maintain the trappings of a false court."
"That's enough."
Lü Yang smiled lightly: "Even an illegitimate court carries some authority. In this era where True Lords remain reclusive, it's practically no different from an orthodox imperial system."
Empress Xiao's delicate brows furrowed slightly: "Even so, you must accomplish great deeds to potentially gain recognition from the [Immortal Nation's Dao Statutes]. Merely internal strife won't suffice... The founding emperor of Tianwu was no ordinary figure—he had to sacrifice a living External Path True Lord to earn acknowledgment."
"Even if the standards for an illegitimate court aren't that extreme, it would still be very difficult—"
"No matter. I've long been prepared."
Lü Yang shook his head, his gaze turning toward Jiangbei and the overseas regions: "Achievements... the greatest achievement is none other than territorial expansion. The time for that should have arrived by now."
Overseas, at the Dragon Palace of the Four Seas Sect.