I Pick up a Lost Godhood

Chapter 148 - 146: Five Elements Flame

"Wang Meng, what are your plans now?" Mingren asked. Opening a Secret Realm wasn’t easy. It would be a huge waste not to seize the time to cultivate. Besides, the grand competition was imminent. If they didn’t push themselves, they would just be lambs to the slaughter.

"The Teleportation Array’s energy can last for several months at least. Let’s all cultivate on our own for now. If you’re interested, we can spar a little too."

"Haha, that sounds perfect!"

Having found the antidote, Zhou Qian could finally relax. Although he had spoken with full confidence earlier, he had actually been extremely anxious. Still, he wouldn’t have been content to just go back like that. For him, encountering an opportunity like this even once was a blessing from the heavens.

He was used to drifting through life aimlessly. Ever since meeting Wang Meng and the others, Zhou Qian felt like he was finally living a real life. He also wanted to do something spectacular, and he had his own wish for this grand competition.

The Secret Realm was about one hundred li in circumference. Everyone went off to find a place they liked. While this ruin was decent, it was gloomy and the Torture Qi was too thick, making it unsuitable for Saint Cultivators.

Soon, everyone had left. Wang Meng stared blankly at the Evil Cultivator’s domain. This level of evil qi was nothing special, but by the standards of a Small Thousand World, it was certainly vicious.

The bodies of the Blood Soul Hall disciples had all been buried. Whatever they were in life, death returned everything to dust, leaving behind only a gloomy, silent grand hall.

Wang Meng wasn’t very interested in the cultivation techniques of Demon Cultivators. With the breadth of knowledge from his memories, he had no need for such petty things. But after his insight into the Five Elements Technique, Wang Meng suddenly developed a slight interest in the cultivation techniques of Demon Cultivators. After all, Wangtian cultivated the demonic path. ’Know your enemy and know yourself, and you can fight a hundred battles without defeat.’

The Blood Soul Technique was called a Forbidden Technique not just because of its training methods, but also because it was so effective—even more powerful than the Blast-Inducing Technique.

The sheer effectiveness of the Blast-Inducing Technique was still fresh in his mind. However, the Blast-Inducing Technique still required arduous and persistent cultivation, as it drew upon the cultivator’s own innate power.

The Blood Soul Technique, when paired with a Blood Soul Pill, was much faster and didn’t require as much hard work. This was why people found it impossible to resist. But to simply pursue Elemental Power like this while neglecting one’s foundation was truly laughable.

The cultivation technique also included magic like the Netherworld Ghost Claw. These were all spells based on Elemental Power. The Life Mark Combinations weren’t complex, but their power was great, requiring only immense Elemental Power.

Wang Meng tossed each manual aside after reading it. He had to admit, Mingren and the others were truly orthodox Holy Hall Disciples. They were all disdainful of these Demon Cultivator techniques; forget curiosity, they seemed to feel the manuals were dirty just holding them. Two hundred years ago, any cultivation technique, regardless of its usefulness, would have caused a mad scramble. They could all be used for reference.

This era was different. The Sects all had systematic cultivation techniques, paving a clear path for their disciples. All they had to do was train hard. High-level disciples would even have masters personally teach them profound magic—something that would have been a complete fantasy in the past.

The Torture Qi and deathly aura in the grand hall had lessened slightly. The fire in the Pill Cauldron had already gone out, but everyone found it so disgusting that they planned to destroy the place when they left.

Wang Meng walked around. Setting aside the Torture Qi, the entire ruin was laid out in a very wondrous pattern. The creator of this ruin was no ordinary person.

This was definitely not something a lowlife like Liu Xiao could have created. But he had a discerning eye, at least, using this Array Technique to gather Torture Qi and refine Pills.

Whether Saint, Demon, or Evil, to put it bluntly, cultivation techniques were all for killing people. The only differences were the methods, the principles, and the applications of the Array Technique. The realm of these techniques was very interesting.

In his past life’s cultivation, there was only the sword. He would occasionally pay attention to other things, but only in service of the sword, chasing that ultimate power. He had ignored so much.

At his core, Wang Meng was a stubborn and strong-willed person. Most importantly, he loved a challenge.

After walking around the entire array once, Wang Meng thought he understood it, but then suddenly found himself confused again. ’This... Array Technique...’

Wang Meng couldn’t help but walk another lap. This time, his expression seemed a bit more relaxed, and he nodded thoughtfully.

If his Godhood hadn’t been sealed, Wang Meng might never have realized what he lacked in his Five Elements Technique. But the Five Elements Body and the Five Elements Technique were the most difficult problems to solve in the Three Realms. Being born in a Grand Thousand World was a blessing; if one were born in a Small Thousand World, a Five Elements Body would likely perish young.

Even the current Wang Meng, with all his advantageous experience—truly standing on the shoulders of giants—still faced countless difficulties. It was just as with his Five Elements Body, which had, to some extent, brought the Heaven and Earth Spirit Locking Array to a state of optimal balance. If he couldn’t fully comprehend the Five Elements Technique before his ascension, all that awaited him was complete annihilation.

The Hinayana Five Elements Technique was just the beginning, not the end. Besides, he had currently only mastered one of the Five Elements Powers.

Wang Meng’s advantage was his mentality. He wasn’t just seeking power; he was seeking a challenge. He admired the kind of domineering spirit that dared to declare war on the heavens—a truly spectacular existence.

Only someone who pursues grand stages and a grand world can truly immerse themselves in an ordinary life.

For example, if people like Zhao Guang or Ma Wanliang obtained a Godhood, they would probably only think of dominating the Holy Hall. That was the limit of their ambition.

And that was something Moo Shan would never allow.

Wang Meng had already circled the array five times, at times understanding, at times confused. He had read some basics on array techniques and had experienced some heaven-shaking, god-moving Grand Arrays in his past life. But that was merely knowing what they were, not why they were. What Wang Meng wanted to understand now was not just the principles of the Array Technique, but also what kind of creative spark led to its creation.

’That process is the most precious and wonderful part.’

Outside the ruins, Zhang Xiaojiang and Suo Ming were having a barbecue.

"Can you really stomach that?" Suo Ming couldn’t understand. He felt a little like puking.

"What’s not to stomach? Medium rare is perfect. Delicious rabbit meat like this needs to be a little bloody to have the right feel."

Suo Ming’s face was a little pale. In certain aspects, this fatty was truly beyond human. Anyone who saw what was in the Blood Soul Hall would probably lose their appetite for meat for months, yet Zhang Xiaojiang was eating with relish.

"Brother Jiang, what do you think the boss is doing? He’s been circling for ages. What’s there to study about a Demon Cultivator’s stuff?"

Suo Ming was very worried, afraid that Wang Meng would be led astray. Demon Cultivator techniques offered a shortcut to power, but they could cause one to Fall into Demon.

"Relax, relax, don’t worry. There’s nothing in this world he can’t handle. I bet he’s definitely comprehending something new."

Zhang Xiaojiang took a bite of meat. It was unbelievably fragrant, and his mouth was watering.

Suo Ming nodded.

"Besides, Brother Meng is a dragon among men. Sooner or later, he’s going to soar to greatness. But no matter where he goes, he’ll always take me with him. So as long as you stick with me, you can’t go wrong. Keep working hard."

"Yes, Brother Jiang! I’ll cultivate hard and protect you, Brother Jiang!"

"That’s the spirit. Let’s roast another one."

’Safety first when you’re out and about. With a durable Body Cultivator like Suo Ming for protection, combined with my Invincible Arrow Technique, I’ll be safe anywhere I go.’

Hu Jing had already begun to cultivate her own technique. The Elemental Qi here was indeed abundant, and the feeling of fullness was wonderful. The strength of Wang Meng and the others had certainly pricked Hu Jing’s pride, and she was trying hard to catch up. ’We both entered the Holy Hall at the same time, so how did the gap between us get so wide?’

Meanwhile, the folks from Lingyin Hall were following their usual routine. Li Tianyi had run off somewhere, while Mingren and the others cultivated together.

After a few more laps, Wang Meng sat back down in the grand hall. The hall was gloomy and ominous. The moving air would occasionally create wailing sounds, which was truly frightening. Even the bravest would feel uncomfortable, but Wang Meng felt nothing at all.

The grand hall was located at the core of the Array Technique. This Array Technique was quite interesting; it seemed to be connected to the entire Secret Realm.

An Array Technique that could connect to a Secret Realm was extremely sophisticated. This meant its creator must have been an exceptionally skilled person, someone who could comprehend the Power of Laws within this Secret Realm in order to create it.

The Cultivation World was full of crouching tigers and hidden dragons; there were all kinds of masters. This was a real eye-opener for Wang Meng.

This Array Technique was fused as one with the earth itself, but while Wang Meng could see the result, he couldn’t perceive the profound mysteries within.

Night fell. Wang Meng cultivated his Hinayana Five Elements Technique as usual. The Five Elements Powers of Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth flowed along his Life Mark. What others saw as simple, singular Elemental Power was, in Wang Meng’s meditation, actually five circulating forces that both generated and overcame one another, continuously narrating the profound mysteries of power between heaven and earth.

However, one thing was very clear: the Five Elements Flame held a special affinity for Wang Meng. He had preliminarily grasped the true meaning of the Five Elements Flame. The Metal of the Five Elements was second, also willing to draw near him. But the other elements—Earth, Wood, and Water—continued to operate by the book. Wang Meng could feel them, but he couldn’t use them.

Gradually, Wang Meng seemed to quiet down. His Elemental Power slowly seeped into the winding grooves on the floor. The grooves began to emit a faint glow. The Array Technique had been triggered.

But outside the ruins, it remained perfectly silent, as if nothing had happened. The sky was still dim.

Wang Meng’s senses were being amplified. He felt the Five Elements within his body being magnified, as if they had come alive. Gradually, he sensed an even greater power outside himself. This power’s fire could incinerate the heavens and extinguish the earth; its metal was incomparably hard and untouchable; its earth was thick and boundless; its water possessed an all-encompassing heart; and its wood was filled with a rich life force.

This was the Heaven and Earth Five Elements.

Suddenly, a fire that could burn through anything enveloped Wang Meng. He instinctively wanted to resist, instantly mobilizing his own Elemental Power to counter it, but he was overwhelmed in an instant. Without his Godhood, his meager strength trying to fight a force of nature was like a praying mantis trying to stop a chariot.

But when the all-consuming flames merged with his body, they were merely warm, as if they were cleansing Wang Meng’s body, burning away the impurities of the mortal world.

The fire spread outward from Wang Meng’s body. Anything that came into contact with these red flames immediately burst into combustion. The first to go was the great cauldron, which was instantly reduced to ash. It seemed the more evil and filthy something was, the more fiercely the flames burned it. Before long, the entire grand hall was ablaze, with flames soaring into the sky.