World's No. 1 Swordsman-Chapter 649: Six Apertures in Harmony, Resonating with the Dao
Vitality power, also known as the power of living beings, was closely tied to every form of life.
From what Wang Sheng knew, certain branches of the Great Dao's power grew stronger as it evolved. One such example was the Dao of the Stars.
Since the endless space kept expanding and the number of stars increased, the Dao of the Stars' practitioners were now far stronger than those from the Primal Era, even at the same realm. Ziwei's rise during the Ancient Era, when he became a peerless cultivator, was also closely connected to that Dao's evolution.
Then there was this vitality power.
Heaven and earth possessed yin and yang. All beings went through the cycle of life and death, and the Dao of Life's essence lay in "life" and "existence."
Such thoughts filled Wang Sheng's mind as he soaked in the essence of the divine tree, yet he gained little real comprehension. Simply letting one's imagination run free was not enough to yield results through cultivation, after all. As a sword cultivator, trying to comprehend the Dao of Life was far too difficult.
Hence, he used this chance to ponder his Dual-Polarity Sword Intent instead. He always felt that it had untapped potential in this regard since life and death could also be considered a form of dual polarity. They stood in opposition, yet also in unity, and could even rely on each other.
Wang Sheng naturally understood that one could bite off more than they could chew. His years on the path of cultivation were still too few. He first had to have deeper cultivation, a more advanced Daoist realm, and ample spare time before he could slowly explore such matters.
With that in mind, he quickly gave up his struggle with the Dao of Life and entered secluded cultivation, calmly comprehending the Dual-Polarity Sword Intent and the Myriad-Slaying Sword Intent while also elevating his Daoist realm.
At that moment, he came up with an idea.
Should I take a Six-Aperture Dao Comprehension Pellet?
He still had more than twenty Three-Essence Enlightenment Pills and two Six-Aperture Dao Comprehension Pellets. Though he had given the Dao comprehension pills that he had traded for to his senior sister earlier, they acquired several more Six-Aperture Dao Comprehension Pellets when they met Zhuge Lin. At his senior sister's insistence, two were left with Wang Sheng in case he needed them.
The medicinal effects of the Three-Essence Enlightenment Pills could last for several years. He wasn't completely sure if the two types of pills could interfere with each other, but it was always safer to use the rarer Six-Aperture Dao Comprehension Pellet first.
Such pills inevitably came with side effects, yet Wang Sheng was under considerable pressure at the moment. Zhuge Lin had once said that the Nine-Essence Dao-Condensing Pill could help a cultivator at the peak of the Heavenly Immortal Realm break through to the Golden Immortal Realm, and Six-Aperture Dao Comprehension Pellets were about half as effective.
If it could help him complete his Daoist realm and push him to the Heavenly Immortal Realm, he jokingly thought that it wouldn't have been wasted.
What Wang Sheng truly sought was to use the pill to bring his Daoist realm up to match his cultivation. Afterward, he would take a Three-Essence Enlightenment Pill and see whether he could break through to the Heavenly Immortal Realm before the great battle.
Once he had ascended, his combat strength would undergo a qualitative leap.
The emergence of Qinghua's Daoist heritage had drawn in countless experts, many of whom were supposed cultivation prodigies. He would blame himself for the rest of his life if his senior sister missed her fated opportunity because he was too weak to fend them off. If he was going to take the medicine, then now would be the best time to do it.
Wang Sheng opened his eyes.
Yaoyun, who was facing the bronze mirror, stopped combing her hair against her chest and looked over. She frowned slightly. "It has only been half a day. Why did you stop meditating?"
Wang Sheng admitted, "I couldn't comprehend anything."
Yaoyun said softly, "The Dao of Life is no small matter. If you cannot comprehend it, it only means you lack the fated opportunity. There is no need to feel disheartened."
Why is my sword spirit suddenly being so gentle and considerate? Is there some motif behind it?
"How's the situation outside?" Wang Sheng asked.
"Everything is fairly stable. More challengers are entering, but the major powers are still observing."
Yaoyun lightly waved her slender hand and sent the bronze mirror floating before Wang Sheng. With a gentle motion of her fingers, it began to flash scenes.
Softly, she explained, "These are the ones I believe have the highest chance of reaching the inner layers. There are currently one hundred sixty-four of them. A few require special attention since powerful treasures protect them, and some will probably rise later thanks to their excellent fate. In a place like this, one's heavenly fate is often even more important than power."
In just half a day, she had accomplished so much. Wang Sheng, who had failed to gain anything from his own efforts, felt deeply embarrassed.
Half of the people flickering past in the mirror seemed young. The male cultivators were either handsome and unrestrained or strikingly talented and had extraordinary auras. Meanwhile, the female cultivators were alluring, elegant, cold, or aloof, each one a rare sight even across many stars. They were truly cultivation prodigies.
Most were already at the late stage or even peak of the Heavenly Immortal Realm, allowing them to stand out in the initial competition. They also had powerful divine abilities and artifacts. The majority entered alone, focusing solely on reaching the divine tree and entering the immortal palace to obtain Qinghua's supreme Dao of Life.
A glance was enough for Wang Sheng to tell that these people would be extremely difficult opponents.
And these were only the ones that Yaoyun had noticed. There were surely many more ruthless beings hidden from sight. To make matters worse, the great celestial sects' favored disciples were still waiting.
"So," Yaoyun said softly, "have you considered selecting a few followers? A considerable portion of the Eastern Sky Region's next generation of powerhouses has gathered here. Although most will never reach the level of great experts, choosing ten and successfully helping even just one of them unlock their utmost potential would already be a profitable endeavor."
Wang Sheng was taken aback. "Followers? For what?"
"To bolster the combat strength of Earth's cultivation world," Yaoyun replied. "If you establish your own organization in the future, you cannot possibly handle everything yourself."
Wang Sheng smiled bitterly. "Why would I have to handle everything personally? I have no interest in such matters. Earth's many senior experts can discuss and manage those affairs themselves. "
Yaoyun sighed faintly, then softly replied, "Sometimes it is not about whether you are willing to or not. People will always push you into that position. Do you truly have no desire to take in a few followers? If you prefer female cultivators, I can even help you choose some."
Wang Sheng was momentarily rendered speechless.
"I personally feel like I do not possess enough charisma to make a crowd weep and swear loyalty to me with a single show of strength." After a moment of thought, he added, "Of course, Qian Zhang is an exception. That child's mindset has been different from ordinary people since he was young, and he has always been rather lonely."
"Then win them over with virtue. If anyone refuses, beat them until they submit. Keep them by your side and train them properly. Be strict first, then lenient. Offer some benefits, and most will eventually become loyal subordinates."
Wang Sheng answered seriously, "Your Highness, that approach does not work in the mortal realms. Human hearts are inherently complex. The Immortal Emperor rose to power because he possessed overwhelming strength, had the support of many strong individuals, and created a beautiful and promising future for those who followed him. I can't do any of that."
Yaoyun pressed her lips together slightly. "I am not insisting that you revive the Heavenly Court. I am merely offering some suggestions..."
"Most of the living beings here are humans. If we encounter fiends, we can simply subdue them with fiend-controlling techniques," Wang Sheng said as he took out a Six-Aperture Dao Comprehension Pellet and examined it carefully in his palm.
A wave of refreshing fragrance drifted forth. The six apertures on the pill did not connect with one another, and the vortices within rotated in three clockwise and three counterclockwise patterns. Each vortex seemed to contain a Great Dao and an entire world.
It resembled a piece of art even while simply resting in his hand, making him momentarily reluctant to swallow it.
"Are you planning to break through to the Heavenly Immortal Realm?" Yaoyun asked.
Wang Sheng sighed. "Mm. Every one of those people we just saw will be difficult to deal with. I'll try to push my Daoist realm higher first. It would be great if I could reach the Heavenly Immortal Realm, but even if I don't, it shouldn't take too much time. As far as I recall, Immortal Cha Yue said that after taking this pill, one would resonate with the Great Dao for at least three days."
"Your main Dao are the Dao of Pure Yang and the Dao of the Stars," Yaoyun reminded. "However, although Emperor Ziwei's Daoist heritage is extraordinary, your foundation still lies in the Dao of Pure Yang. After taking the pill, you should primarily focus on comprehending that one."
"I know," Wang Sheng replied as he glanced around. The surroundings were quiet and secluded, eliminating the need to move elsewhere.
He opened his mouth and swallowed the Six-Aperture Dao Comprehension Pellet. Before he could taste anything, it melted at the tip of his throat, and waves of cool energy spread throughout his body.
It's already taking effect?
Wang Sheng immediately closed his eyes, feeling the comfort coursing through him. He suddenly felt drowsy, as if he were about to fall asleep.
Yet a voice within his heart reminded him not to drift off. It urged him to relax and calmly comprehend his own Dao.
He followed its guidance and loosened his focus. His consciousness instantly blurred, and his Primordial Spirit seemingly melted away. A dense surge of Pure Yang Energy rushed toward him, and a blazing orange-red sun appeared before his eyes.
This is... Earth's Sun?
Wang Sheng then heard the tolling of a bell. From within the sun, a massive bronze bell emerged, and two Golden Crows radiating imperial might circled beneath it. He did not understand the precise meaning of what he was witnessing, yet the sight caused insights to pour forth unceasingly.
The principles he had long struggled to comprehend, such as "Pure Yang returning to nothingness" and "yang rising as yin receded," suddenly became clear, revealing countless answers.
The great bell trembled lightly, and the scene before him drew closer. Wang Sheng felt as though he passed through the bell and plunged into the blazing sun itself. He crossed seas of fire, soared through searing true flame, and rushed into a realm filled with flowing warmth.
Finally, he realized what this place was.
In the Primal Era, when heaven and earth had just been formed, and the endless space had yet to contain any stars, all existence was concentrated within the Immortal Saint Realm.
The first two great stars to be born were named Taiyin and Taiyang. Taiyang was the dwelling place of the ancient fiend emperors Donghuang and Dijun. What he had just witnessed were those two sovereigns.
The Dao of Pure Yang originated from this "primordial sun." 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝙬𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝒎
He dared not linger on these thoughts. After all, excessive reflection could cause him to miss this rare fated opportunity. Since a Six-Aperture Dao Comprehension Pellet could only be taken once in a cultivator's lifetime, this could be his only chance to experience what the Dao of Pure Yang truly was.
Wang Sheng closed his eyes, soared freely, and let his consciousness expand outward until it almost merged with the surrounding warmth. He comprehended the flames of Pure Yang and the principles of Pure Yang. Afterward, he felt a bone-piercing chill and discovered a trace of extreme yin hidden deep within the very core of ultimate yang.
Yet Wang Sheng had no time to comprehend more. In what felt like a single instant, although his Daoist realm advanced repeatedly, the surrounding scene vanished.
Is it over?
Just as a sense of loss rose in Wang Sheng's heart, a brilliant light flashed before him, and his consciousness was once again drawn into a sea of flames.
This time, within the blazing light stood a seven-colored divine bird, its wings spread as if ready to soar.
It's the Heavenly Phoenix!
Like a comet, Wang Sheng circled the divine bird once before crashing into the next stretch of space. An invisible Great Dao wrapped around him, guiding him through the bearing and splendor of one mighty expert after another who had once mastered the Dao of Pure Yang.
***
On a desolate planet at the extreme northern reaches of the Northern Sky Region.
As Wang Sheng comprehended the Dao of Pure Yang, a white-robed figure sat atop a glacier with a troubled expression. He raised his eyebrows.
"Mm? Who is resonating with my Dao?"
The white-robed man set aside his worries, formed a sign with his fingers, and did a quick calculation. His face instantly lit up with joy.
"This little fellow is remarkable, truly remarkable! Although he relies on a pill for guidance, to directly enter my Dao is no small feat. Very well. I shall lend you a hand. May you soon rise with the winds!"
The elderly man swept his sleeve, and within the vast cosmos, successive tremors rippled forth.
