Chapter 865:A Rival for the Genesis Seed (Patreon)

Unfortunately, I had to immediately rule out the first option because even though the Dragon Capillary Thicket Arts sounded incredibly cool to the comic book loving side of me that wanted to phase really badly, the technique would bring me under the scrutiny of the Heaven’s Mandate sooner or later.

Not to mention, my inner world was already looking far too demonic for my liking. When I had begun my cultivation journey, I had never imagined that I would have a lake of blood, a village of blood beings, and a throne that pumped blood qi, all sitting in my soul. At least that was all internal, if I added a blood technique on top of that, it would draw the curiosity of Heaven’s Mandate’s agent, and I certainly didn’t want to draw their wrath ever.

So, that only left two choices, yet that didn’t make things much easier. This was a difficult choice, not as difficult as choosing a cultivation method, but it came pretty damn close.

The Myriad Stars Heavenly Endowment Art sounded amazing, especially considering that I had multiple suns in my inner world waiting to be put to good use. And the biggest allure was that it focused on concepts. The reason that was important was because a concept comprehended far enough could one day give birth to a dao, and I had just witnessed what the mere aura of a dao could do to a cultivator at the same cultivation stage.

Maybe earlier on in my cultivation journey, I would have been seduced by those promises and dived head-on, but the truth of the matter was that I already had a long list of things I hadn’t brought to their full potential.

If we only mention two of them, it would be enough.

The first was the elements, and the second was the energies sitting in the thrones of the Cathedral, both were simply waiting to be used to their full potential, and currently, I wasn’t doing them justice.

If I chose this art, it would only add to the pile of things that had been neglected. But even more than that, honestly, it would be irresponsible, and maybe even foolish, of me to jump straight to concepts while ignoring the elements.

The progression of comprehension of the dao was well known to those in any of the major sects, so as an Outer Elder of the Azure Peak Sect, I was definitely aware.

A typical cultivator first began with understanding how an element worked, which usually took place in the Elemental Realm, then they moved onto laws, then concepts, and finally to dao. So, for a water cultivator, they would begin with water itself, then move on to a law related to it like flow, then a concept like change, and only after all that would they comprehend the Dao of Water.

It was possible to skip a stage, but that usually resulted in a far weaker comprehension of the dao. Although not every dao, like the Dao of Connection, had an element related to it, so for those, the progression wasn’t clear. But despite that making the path more difficult to walk, the fruits at the end tended to be greater.

However, even though my dao didn’t specifically require me to comprehend a specific element, that didn’t mean I didn’t have to build a proper foundation with the elements. The reason for that was because it didn’t matter which dao a cultivator followed, the elements all fed into it at the end of the day one way or another. This was why, at the highest level, a fire cultivator could use his fire to freeze things.

So unless I didn’t care about having a weak foundation, I couldn’t pick the Myriad Stars Heavenly Endowment Art, endow one of my celestial bodies with the concept of Connection, and charge head-on like a bull.

Now that the decision was made, I looked at the Primordial Dao Tree Scripture again.

It was a shame that this technique didn’t come with any techniques, except for the passive effects of the Main Tree, but at least it would give me the chance to reach my full potential, like access to twenty elements.

Thinking about other ways that I could use this technique, a thought came to my mind. This was a tree. The Genesis Seed was a tree, a monster of a tree, yes, but still a tree. And for as long as I had cultivated the World Tree Sutra, I had worried about it overpowering me, either devouring me or turning me into a tree. Even though I didn’t like being reminded of it, I had almost fallen prey to it, and I was genuinely worried that one day I would.

I needed to find a way to protect myself, so what better method was there to defeat a tree than with a tree that I grew myself? But this one would be the embodiment of my power, under my total control.

“Master,” Azure said. “Are you really thinking of creating a rival for the Genesis Seed?”

“Yeah, why not?” I replied. “Sure, it’s far weaker than the Genesis Seed at the moment, but the more it grows, and the more worlds I go to and bring back things to empower it, the stronger it’ll get. One day, it might be enough to stand against the Seed.”

“I suppose if nothing else, you won’t rely on the Genesis Seed as much.”

Even though I had made my decision and had Azure’s support, it was still difficult to let go of the Myriad Stars Heavenly Endowment Art. It was a real shame that I couldn’t take both of the techniques.

“Master, you might not be able to cultivate both of them, but maybe you could get a hold of the technique from the woman later on,” Azure said. “And then take inspiration from the parts you like and use it to empower the Primordial Dao Tree Scripture.”

That was actually sound advice.

Right now, I should focus on the elements and build a solid foundation.

After that, I would learn the laws, but when the time came for concepts, I could acquire a similar technique. At that time, maybe I could connect the same principles to the Main Tree, and who knows, if that worked, I would end up with my very own eldritch horror of a tree.

***

Returning my attention back to the table, I found that most of the bartering had finished taking place, and that there were only a few techniques left, with the current one on display being the Primordial Dao Tree Scripture itself.

“This old one found this scripture in the ruins in the southern marshes,” Gong Ru announced, stroking his beard. “The grade is unknown, so the price is open. I will hear offers.”

“Ha, you jest, old man,” Duan Hui scoffed. “The only reason the price is open is because not even a fool would pay for a cultivation technique that doesn’t have a single technique within it.”

“A hothead like you wouldn’t understand,” Elder Shen said, slapping the table. “Half of the disciples in the Tempering Hall have mixed spiritual roots. With a technique like this, they wouldn’t waste years forcing an element they were never born for.”

“You just lost the Nine Furnace Palm, Elder Shen,” Ma Gang snorted, “and now you want a tree to hang it on?”

The elders of the Southern Flame Peak burst out laughing, and Elder Shen’s ears turned bright red.

“My great-grandson has a strong wood affinity,” Elder Bai said, still squeezing tea out of his sleeve. “A scripture of this calibre would suit him rather perfectly.”

“Your great-grandson is at the Qi Condensation Realm,” Qiao Feiyan said sweetly without looking up from her abacus. “And from his ‘unique’ talents, this technique would be wasted on him for at least the next three centuries.”

As Elder Bai’s eyes bulged out of their sockets, Elder Gong Ru sat back with a smile, watching his fellow elders fight for his attention, pushing the price higher and higher. This wasn’t good for me because after Lin Youran had humiliated him on my behalf, I doubted he would sell me anything for a fair price.

“The Tempering Hall offers two Stellar Realm techn—” Duan Hui began.

“Three,” Elder Hou cut in. “Our group offers three, along with a jar of—”

Elder Shen opened his mouth to jump right back into the fray, but I got there first.

“I want to buy the Primordial Dao Tree Scripture.”

Silence fell on the hall as every head turned to look at me.

Elder Hou’s mouth was still hanging open. Duan Hui’s eyebrow rose high on his forehead, Elder Bai stopped squeezing his sleeve, and Ma Gang shook his head with a sigh. Qiao Feiyan’s smile thinned into something closer to pity. As for Gong Ru, the old man’s smile only grew more predatory.

Clearly, none of them were taking me seriously. In their eyes, I was just an inexperienced cultivator who had somehow lucked his way to the Stellar Realm and was now throwing himself into a discussion that he didn’t belong.

A/N

I really like the Myriad Stars Heavenly Endowment Art, so don't be surprised if it pops up later in some shape or form, because I have a lot of ideas for it.

Previous | Next