Chapter 322: Chapter 237: Sitting on the Fishing Dais, Orchestrating the Stratagem

For Jia Wood to reach the heavens, it must be tempered by fire!

Those twelve simple words were enough to bring Feng Yuan to a sudden realization.

As a True Inheritance of the Sect, his foundation in the Dao Inheritance, his perspective, and his knowledge were naturally profound.

An ordinary Cultivator might have heard this and not understood its significance, but after mulling it over for a moment, he grasped the profound meaning behind the Daoist’s words.

"Jia Wood is Yang—strong, sturdy, and reaching for the heavens. It must be refined with fire to become something of value."

Feng Yuan said in a low voice,

"Therefore, to cultivate Wood Virtue with Jia Wood as a base, one must gather the Fire Element and practice fire-type Daoist Techniques to stabilize one’s Dao Foundation."

’The True Inheritances of the Sect are truly all extraordinary, a cut above the rest,’ Jiang Yi thought with admiration.

He had only offered a single sentence as a primer, and Feng Yuan had already understood it completely.

"Fire is divided into Bing and Ding. Strong wood is best illuminated by Bing Fire, which makes it appear even more vigorous and full of life. Weak wood is best nurtured by the warmth of Ding Fire, allowing it to endure."

The deeper Feng Yuan pondered, the more alarmed he became.

’If what the Daoist said is true, then Yu Changqing of the Taifu Sect must know how to ’harness fire.’’

’Jia Wood is Yang, making it inherently strong wood that does not fear being burned by a raging fire.’

’If I were to overlook this point during the Magical Combat, I would be at an immediate disadvantage.’

’Earth moist and heavens in harmony, standing for a thousand ages... If Yu Changqing has cultivated ’Earthly Moisture and Harmony,’ then his Dao Foundation will be like Jia Wood generating fire. Its nature will be Pure Yang, towering and majestic, its substance fundamentally solid.’

A bead of cold sweat formed on Feng Yuan’s forehead. Without the Daoist’s guidance, if he had rashly fought Yu Changqing, the outcome would have been grim.

Winning or losing the Magical Combat was of little consequence, but losing a Talisman Decree and tarnishing the Innate Sect’s prestige would have severe repercussions.

"Brother Feng, your Dao Wisdom is extraordinary. You should be well aware of the Five Elements principle that ’flourishing wood, upon receiving fire, grows ever more prosperous.’"

Jiang Yi smiled faintly. In Magical Combat and contests of skill, the competition was not just about the strength of one’s Magical Power or the sophistication of one’s techniques, but also one’s talent for Cultivation.

In the Flying Foundation Establishment Realm, all True Masters seek to master the Five Elements in order to advance to the Five Virtues.

An understanding of the path of mutual destruction and the principles of transformation within the laws of the Five Elements becomes ever more crucial.

This was also the fundamental reason why Jiang Yi had gathered the Six Harmonies Great Medicine and condensed supreme-grade True Qi.

The golden Daoist lotus rooted in his Inner Mansion could transform into the Great Cavern Profound Abyss Supreme Qi, which contained the very nature of the "Five Elements’ transformation."

As long as he gradually mastered the generative numerology of the Five Elements, when he reached the Flying Foundation Establishment Realm in the future, he would not need to be like other True Masters, who had to painstakingly comprehend their True Skills to perfect their Dao Foundation.

If a conflict between the Five Elements were to arise, the lesser consequences would be slow progress in one’s Cultivation, immense effort for little gain, and a century of wasted time.

The greater consequences would be Qi deviation, a descent into demonism, frequent calamities, and no hope of ever advancing further.

"Daoist, your guidance this time has undoubtedly saved my life. The weight of this favor is beyond words."

As Feng Yuan spoke, he moved to bow low to the ground.

Jiang Yi quickly reached out to stop him, saying with a smile,

"Brother Feng, you are a True Inheritance of Li Peak, a person of distinguished status. How could you perform such a grand courtesy to me for no reason?"

"Besides, True Inheritance Gu’s defeat at the hands of Yue Ziqi from the Taifu Sect has already dealt a great blow to our sect’s morale."

"If you, Brother Feng, were to carelessly fall for Yu Changqing’s scheme, then only Senior Sister Qu of Kan Peak and True Inheritance Yuan of Zhen Peak would be left. Our situation would only become more precarious."

Feng Yuan slowly straightened, his eyes blazing as he stared at this avatar of Jiang Yi, his heart filled with amazement.

’Although the Daoist’s Realm and Cultivation were somewhat lacking, making it difficult for him to stand out among the True Inheritances participating in the Hongshui Dharma Assembly... but this strategic mind, capable of seeing the whole picture and planning moves in advance, was in no way inferior to that of a Lord True Monarch!’

"Now that I’ve received the Daoist’s guidance and seen through Yu Changqing’s hidden strategies, the outcome of this Magical Combat is no longer in question."

Feng Yuan raised an eyebrow, his fighting spirit flaring.

"He foolishly thinks he can use Jia Wood to harness fire, but how could he know that I possess the ’Wood Incineration’ Spell?"

"In the heavens, Jia Wood is thunder and dragons; on the earth, it is the beams and pillars of great halls."

"Daoist, please rest assured. Watch as my Samadhi Fire burns his roots and severs his branches, drains his life force, and turns him into dead wood!"

...

...

DONG! DONG! DONG!

A golden bell tolled of its own accord, its sound waves exploding and echoing across the long sky.

From the Taifu Sect’s encampment, Yu Changqing transformed into a streak of rainbow light, soaring through the air and vanishing into the ’Heaven of Perception.’

For a True Inheritance of the Sect like him to unleash the full extent of his Daoist Techniques, it would be no exaggeration to say he could turn the surrounding land for hundreds of miles into dust.

That was why True Monarch Guangzhao Jinghai had created a separate realm to serve as the dueling stage.

Yu Changqing surveyed his surroundings and announced proudly,

"I invite the Innate Sect’s True Inheritance of Li Peak, fellow Daoist Feng Yuan, to battle me."

His words were like a stone cast into a calm lake, sending ripples of discussion through the crowd.

At the Gen Peak encampment, Gu Changling’s eyes flickered.

’The Taifu Sect wants to avoid Junior Brother Yuan and snatch as many Talisman Decrees as possible? But Yu Changqing cultivates Wood Virtue. Where does he get the confidence that he can beat Junior Brother Feng?’

According to the rules of the Hongshui Dharma Assembly, the victor could choose any True Inheritance from the losing side for the next match.

If Yu Changqing defeated Feng Yuan, there was a high probability he could win three Talisman Decrees in a row.

Although Yuan Xiao of Zhen Peak was their anchor, ensuring the Innate Sect wouldn’t go home empty-handed... but out of a total of six Talisman Decrees, and with the Daoist already holding one, the Taifu Sect would still have snatched half of the total.

This Dharma Assembly would undoubtedly end in defeat for the Innate Sect.

"Why is no one willing to choose me?"

At the Zhen Peak encampment, Yuan Xiao sighed softly. He had eagerly come to the Hongshui Dharma Assembly for the express purpose of testing his Daoist Techniques against the True Inheritances of the Taifu Sect.

For a Gold Virtue Cultivator, there was nothing more thrilling than Magical Combat and slaying foes.

"Please, Senior Brother Feng, boost our sect’s morale!"

"Fire Virtue versus Wood Virtue! Senior Brother Feng will definitely return victorious!"

"Show the Taifu Sect the power of Samadhi Fire!"

At the Li Peak encampment, numerous Disciples gazed up at Feng Yuan, who stood atop the mountain peak. They hoped this True Inheritance, the master of the Hall of the Central Axis, would put the Taifu Sect in its place.

After all, the Innate Sect was hosting the Hongshui Dharma Assembly; they were the home faction.

If the Taifu Sect ended up stealing the show, what would the various Dharma Lineages and sects from the thousands of miles around Hong Shui think?

Feng Yuan remained silent. He simply clasped his hands in a salute toward the Grand Wei Treasure Palace, then stepped onto a cloud of fire and soared into the air.