novelraw Chapter 84 : Myriad Phenomena Dao Foundation (8/9)
Chapter 84 : Myriad Phenomena Dao Foundation (8/9)
Chapter 84: Myriad Phenomena Dao Foundation (8/9)
Before pacifying the rebellion in the Western Territories, Jiang Zhaoming still had several pressing matters awaiting his attention.
The foremost among them was to fulfill his Emperor Father’s promise of “Opening the Mountain and Drawing the Clouds.” Now that Anxi Prefecture fully met the conditions, it was time.
After the great battle with Great Jin, Qin Qiong, Cheng Yaojin, and Aruba had successively broken through their bottlenecks and stepped into the Myriad Phenomena Realm.
Adding to that, with Yili Army’s main general Huang Fan and Guan Ning Iron Cavalry’s commander Zhao Shuijiao, within less than twenty years—and not counting Yue Fei—Anxi Prefecture had gained five Myriad Phenomena experts.
The elite soldiers of the Tempering Bones Realm numbered well over a million, far exceeding his Emperor Father’s original requirements.
Thus, after Great Jin’s retreat, Jiang Zhaoming immediately contacted his Emperor Father to propose the matter of Opening the Mountain.
His Emperor Father, true to his word, sent a response the very next day. A mighty aura tore through the heavens and descended upon Anxi.
Jiang Zhaoming had thought they would need to mobilize the army to excavate the site, yet to his surprise, his Emperor Father directly dispatched a Divine General in person.
Southeast of Yili County, at the foot of the Burial Dragon Mountain Range.
Jiang Zhaoming, Yue Fei, and Xu Guangqi waited quietly at the mountain’s base.
Moments later, a middle-aged man in black robes descended like a meteor, crashing down with a thunderous roar that sent a shockwave rippling outward.
The newcomer was none other than the Great Zhou’s deeply rooted Divine General, Xiao Yang—
a figure so senior that even before His Majesty’s ascension, his name had already shaken the realm.
“The humble general Xiao Yang greets the Prince of Anxi.”
Xiao Yang cupped his fists, his voice resounding like clashing metal, his manners impeccable, yet his very presence exuded an unshakable majesty, like an immovable mountain.
Jiang Zhaoming nodded with a faint smile. “Thank you for your trouble, Divine General Xiao.”
“It is but my duty.”
Xiao Yang’s words were concise and firm. He then soared into the air, flying straight toward the towering peaks of the Burial Dragon Mountains.
Jiang Zhaoming and the others retreated over ten li away to watch from a distance.
Yet before the grandeur of the mountain range that stretched like a celestial barrier, that distance seemed meaningless—the mountains remained just as vast and overwhelming.
Suddenly, the spiritual energy of heaven and earth grew violent, coalescing into a massive vortex visible to the naked eye, surging madly into Xiao Yang’s body. His might shook the heavens and dimmed the winds and clouds.
Jiang Zhaoming turned curiously toward Yue Fei beside him, speaking through divine thought.
“General Yue, what do you think of Divine General Xiao’s strength?”
Yue Fei narrowed his eyes, gazing intently at the figure channeling the might of heaven and earth, his brows furrowed slightly as if searching through fragmented memories.
Unfortunately, his memories were incomplete, many things he still could not recall.
After a moment, he replied in a deep voice, “Your Majesty, this Divine General Xiao’s strength is at least in the late stage of the Profound Core Realm. As for how much stronger, it is difficult to fathom.”
Jiang Zhaoming understood at once—Divine Generals of Great Zhou were indeed unfathomable.
In midair, Xiao Yang drew a simple jade brush from his sleeve and began to write in the void.
Where the brush swept, heavy, earthen-yellow runes imbued with divine radiance appeared out of thin air, imprinting themselves onto the mountainside like glowing stars.
Buzz!
At the moment the runes landed, a deep tremor surged forth from the earth’s core. The entire mountain range seemed to come alive, emitting a low, ancient groan.
Rocks and ley lines quaked in response.
“Scholar Xu, General Yue, do either of you know what art this is?” Jiang Zhaoming asked.
Xu Guangqi’s eyes widened in awe. He shook his head. “It is entirely unlike Wu Ming’s Mountain-Moving Art. This method draws upon the very origin of the earth’s veins. I do not recognize it.”
Yue Fei also answered, “This subordinate does not know either. I have some understanding of earth-based techniques, but I am far from mastering this path.”
Jiang Zhaoming fell silent, his gaze burning as he watched Xiao Yang’s display.
The trajectories of those runes, filled with the profound essence of the earth element, and the grand Dao resonance that stirred the power of the ley lines—
They were like the most exquisite chapters of the Dao itself, engraved deep within Jiang Zhaoming’s consciousness, stirring countless ripples of enlightenment within him.
In truth, Jiang Zhaoming had already reached perfection in the Divine Power Realm for four years now.
With his accumulation, stepping into the Myriad Phenomena Realm would be but a single thought away.
Yet he had restrained himself, refusing to take that step.
The reason was twofold:
First, the situation in Anxi had just stabilized; there was no need for him to advance immediately to maintain order through sheer force.
Second—and more importantly—he wished to forge a Myriad Phenomena Dao Foundation of absolute perfection.
In the path of cultivation, the Dao Foundation was the root.
The phenomenon formed upon reaching the Myriad Phenomena Realm not only determined one’s combat strength in that realm but also profoundly influenced one’s future path toward the Golden Body Realm, the Profound Core Realm, and beyond.
If the foundation were shallow and unstable, then even should one climb higher later, immense effort would be required to mend what was lacking, yielding half the results for twice the effort.
It was like constructing a thousand-zhang tower—if the foundation was weak, no matter how tall it rose, it could not bear its own weight and would inevitably collapse.
Thus, over the past four years, Jiang Zhaoming had calmed his mind and studied tirelessly, consulting countless generals and capable ministers beneath him,
absorbing the strengths of all schools, tempering his foundation, striving to refine every ounce of his potential to the utmost.
Now, watching Xiao Yang—a Profound Core Realm Divine General—move mountains and stir the earth’s veins with divine power,
this was the perfect opportunity for him to comprehend the true essence of the earth element and complete his own Myriad Phenomena Dao Foundation.
With that realization, Jiang Zhaoming hesitated no longer.
He immediately sat cross-legged, five hearts facing the sky, sinking his consciousness deep into his spiritual sea, entering a wondrous state of enlightenment.
“Buzz!”
As he entered meditation, Dao resonance began to flow around him. Behind him, the majestic silhouette of a golden palace slowly emerged.
The palace radiated boundless splendor. At its center stood a towering golden sword phantom, emanating the fierce metallic aura that could cut through all things and command the four directions.
That golden sword was the manifestation of his Dao Seed—the metallic foundation of his Myriad Phenomena Dao.
At each corner of the palace, four elemental manifestations—Wood, Fire, Water, and Earth—began to take shape.
In the east, at the Wood position, azure light shimmered with endless vitality.
A majestic Azure Deer Spirit manifested, its antlers spreading like branches, radiating infinite life energy.
Illusory greenery bloomed and faded around it, weaving a cycle of eternal spring.
In the south, at the Fire position, scarlet clouds filled the heavens, and flames burned the sky.
A blazing Fire Tiger Spirit crouched and roared, its body wreathed in the flames of Southern Radiant Fire.
Molten light flickered within its eyes, exuding the fierce Dao resonance of destruction and rebirth.
In the west, at the Water position, the image remained indistinct.
Yet amidst the swirling light and shadow, waves churned, and faintly, a lithe Sea-Overturning Serpent Spirit could be seen gliding through the depths.
Though still formless, it already exuded the boundless intent of mastering all waters—gentle yet unyielding.
In the north, at the Earth position, golden light pulsed heavily as the ground itself throbbed.
As Jiang Zhaoming fully immersed himself in comprehending Xiao Yang’s earth-element Dao, this direction shone brightest.
A colossal Black-Tortoise Spirit, bearing mountains upon its back, its shell inscribed with rivers and ranges, slowly emerged from the chaos of Dao resonance.
Its head rose high, limbs like heavenly pillars, radiating the will to bear all things—unyielding and eternal.
Jiang Zhaoming’s mind was wholly immersed in the rune patterns stirring the earth’s veins, his spiritual sea rapidly deducing every earth-element technique he had ever learned.
The northern Black-Tortoise phantom quaked violently, its form gradually growing clearer.
That aura—deep and vast as the earth itself—became ever more solid and immense. Though not yet fully formed, its potential was already awe-inspiring.
Watching this scene, Yue Fei sighed in admiration. “His Majesty’s talent is extraordinary. His future achievements will surely surpass even the Golden Body Realm.”
Xu Guangqi stood beside him, unable to fully understand Myriad Phenomena cultivation, yet still feeling a deep, instinctive reverence.
Before the Burial Dragon Mountain, Xiao Yang—who was channeling the vast power of the earth’s veins—
keenly sensed a faint yet resilient and spiritual presence attempting to resonate with him, drawing upon a trace of the earth’s origin.
His eyes flashed sharply as lightning, instantly locking onto the source of that aura—
it was none other than Jiang Zhaoming, sitting cross-legged in deep enlightenment.