Chapter 1067: Chapter 452: Another Seizure of Fate (2)

"Buzz!"

It was as if a great bronze bell and jade chime rang out in the depths of his soul, and also like the very first strand of Dao-sound at the dawn of heaven and earth.

Xu Ping’s entire being sank into that unfathomable ocean of Dao-rhyme.

His Divine Sense, under the nourishment and scour of this Dao-rhyme, was like refined iron thrown into a divine furnace, being hammered again and again, tempered, and expanded.

The sea of Divine Sense surged vast and boundless; the realm barrier of Early-Stage Divinity Transformation was easily shaken, expanding toward deeper, more immense territory. The very nature of his Divine Sense grew more condensed and agile, its range and finesse once again soaring.

His Mana roared through his meridians, being washed, compressed, and sublimated by the power of Dao-rhyme. 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

His Mana, already far purer than those of the same realm, now became even more solid and weighty, its color growing increasingly profound, faintly tinged with a trace of pale violet. Its quality underwent a startling metamorphosis; both its might and endurance could no longer be compared to before.

His Nascent Soul sat cross-legged at the center of the Violet Palace, solemn and dignified in bearing.

Bathed in Dao-rhyme, the Nascent Soul’s form grew more solid and distinct at a speed visible to the naked eye. Its brows and eyes were vivid, its skin like jade, and the hazy violet mist coiling about it grew ever denser, as if it were an innate deity on the verge of turning from illusory to real.

The spirituality and essence of the Nascent Soul were reinforced and elevated on all fronts.

His cultivation foundation—that root which determined how far his future Dao-path could reach—was, under this stroke of fortune, once again strengthened and widened.

It was like laying an even deeper and sturdier foundation for a skyscraper; in the future, bearing the power of Divinity Transformation and even higher realms would be far more effortless.

...

He did not know how much time had passed.

It seemed but a single instant, and also like undergoing ten thousand cycles of samsara.

Xu Ping’s consciousness, which had been immersed in endless Dao-rhyme, slowly rose to the surface, returning to clarity once more.

Even with his Divine Sense, which had already skyrocketed to the Divinity Transformation Level, when his awareness returned he still froze for a full instant before fully recovering.

Xu Ping’s gaze, at the first possible moment, fell upon the Profound Celestial Embryo by the spirit pool.

The embryo had likewise undergone no small change.

Its tender leaves were even more lush and dripping green, like the finest top-grade imperial jade; upon them, those naturally formed, unfathomable Dao patterns that seemed to expound the supreme principles of heaven and earth...

Yet the most striking change was the jade gourd at the top that had previously been a mere prototype.

Now it had fully taken shape, its whole body warm and moist like jade, verdant light within, as if it condensed the purest Essence of Wood under heaven.

Even more wondrous, through the semi-transparent gourd wall one could faintly see hazy violet streams of air slowly rising and coiling within.

And at the core of that violet qi, it seemed to have condensed into a tiny, yet sharply outlined sword shape.

"A sword?"

Xu Ping’s brows knit slightly.

This form instantly made him recall the records concerning Emperor Xuan in the jade slip: that Divinity Transformation Cultivator who rampaged across the realms wielded a Profound Celestial Spiritual Treasure—a sword—as his tool of domination.

At this moment, Xu Ping’s heart grew even more certain that this Profound Celestial Embryo was very likely the core origin of that very Profound Celestial Spiritual Treasure Emperor Xuan had self-detonated in years past.

It might even be the backhand or vessel for resurrection he had deliberately left behind.

"However, so what?"

Xu Ping’s gaze was dark and cold. "This treasure has long since been branded with my mark and has no further connection to that Emperor Xuan!"

"No matter what earth-shattering schemes Emperor Xuan had in those days, no matter what backhands he left behind... so long as he dares to show himself, dares to seize what is mine..."

A peerlessly sharp killing intent flashed through Xu Ping’s eyes. "I will surely behead him beneath my sword."

Suppressing the ripples in his heart at the thought that Emperor Xuan might not be dead, Xu Ping began calmly reflecting upon this sudden stroke of fortune.

"This acceleration of growth, this baptism by Dao-rhyme, is clearly identical to the previous time."

"There is no doubt it was again caused by the embryo plundering some enormous strand of fate."

"Again... the Star Palace Saints?"

Xu Ping’s brows rose ever so slightly, and he locked onto the target almost instantly.

Within the entire Wind Origin Realm, those who could possess such vast fortune and trigger an anomaly in the Profound Celestial Embryo, besides the Dual Saints who presided over the Star Palace and had ruled the Inner Sea for so many years, he truly could think of no second candidate.

Moreover, Xu Ping suspected this matter might also be related to that ancient Divinity Transformation demonic cultivator, the Old Demon of Joy.

He merely did not know what exactly the Dual Saints had done.

"Forget it. Whatever they did, the current Star Palace can no longer threaten me." At this thought, the corner of Xu Ping’s mouth could not help but hook into a cold, steep arc.

If it had been before, he might have felt deeply ill at ease.

But now, his strength had soared, and his trump cards were many; his mindset was entirely different.

At this moment, his heart was utterly unruffled, and he even felt a hint of gloating.

Their fate being plundered might well have accidentally ruined some important plan of the Dual Saints.

For Xu Ping, that was naturally all to the good.

...

Xu Ping’s gaze once more returned to the jade gourd, sensing the even tighter connection to it—an intimacy almost like the extension of his own body.

"If... I can obtain a few more such nourishments of fate, this Profound Celestial Embryo will most likely truly complete its gestation, break the cocoon and become a butterfly, and officially be born."

A trace of searing anticipation could not help but stir in Xu Ping’s heart.

What sort of might would a complete Profound Celestial Spiritual Treasure that recognized him as its master possess?

Just the thought was enough to set one’s blood surging.

"It’s just that opportunities to directly plunder the fate of a Divinity Transformation Cultivator, even the overlord of a region, are not so easily realized." Xu Ping quickly calmed down.

"However, it’s not as if there is absolutely no chance."

A sword-like glint flashed through Xu Ping’s eyes. "For instance, after I behead that Cloud Thunder Celestial Venerable of the Heaven-Suppressing Sect."

"When a Divinity Transformation Cultivator falls, the turbulence and dispersal of his lifetime’s fate before it returns to heaven and earth will surely be far more vigorous than this portion I have plundered from afar today."