Chapter Ninety-Two: The Floating-World Contemplation Method

A method of cultivation for the soul, similar to the Soul-Nurturing Art he had obtained from the White Crane.

In essence, however, it was of a far higher grade and carried a much deeper conception.

Among all the techniques in his possession, it was perhaps the most profoundly elevated in its intent.

It drew upon the idea of spirit possession: with a mere thread of thought, one could seize control of a mayfly or some other ordinary creature with a short life and no extraordinary power, observing the myriad faces of the world from a different perspective.

As for the beings it could inhabit, they were limited to small insects and small animals; with a single thought, one could witness the course of an entire life.

It touched upon the unfathomable rules of time.

Each time he underwent such possession, his soul power would erupt into explosive growth, depending on what he gleaned from the experience.

This cultivation art, both familiar and strange, brought to mind the Guanyin of legend from his previous life.

Was Guanyin not one who beheld the countless conditions of sentient beings and heard nothing more than the filthy clamors of the mortal world?

Through countless reincarnations, one could see through the red dust and attain the fruit of a bodhisattva.

To wander the world through the eyes of a mayfly and experience existence from another angle was a step beneath Guanyin, perhaps, yet its conception was unquestionably lofty.

What purpose did the Yin-Yang Daoist have in granting him such a soul technique?

After skimming it over, Cao Chengyu understood. Although the art was excellent, it was merely a method of observation at the Dao-Body level.

There was no subsequent part, and not even the preparatory stages corresponding to the Spirit-Refining and Vitality-Nurturing realms. If he truly cultivated according to the record, there was a ninety-nine percent chance his soul would be backlashed and his sea of consciousness damaged.

And then what?

If his sea of consciousness were damaged, what was the point?

The usual sort of motive. Cao Chengyu shook his head and left the place with light, easy steps.

He possessed the Derivation Divine Power that accompanied the Yellow Court Scripture; working backward from later stages might be difficult, but filling in the earlier ones was simple enough.

With this method to assist him, the power of his soul would rise yet another level.

One could hardly describe the Yin-Yang Daoist's scheme more aptly than as stealing a chicken only to lose the rice as well.

Besides, he had concealed his cultivation realm just now, and the Yin-Yang Daoist, unwilling to arouse his suspicion, had not forced a probing inspection.

In a few days he would reach the Purple Mansion realm. If things continued at this pace, by the day that old man intended to seize his body, he might already be nearing the Golden Core realm.

Having guessed his opponent's intention, Cao Chengyu naturally felt much more relaxed.

This also explained why no senior from the Five Elements Sect had come looking for him to cultivate a sense of belonging to the sect.

The old fellow was simply coveting his talent, hoping to borrow the aptitude of his body, and with the insight of one who had already walked the path, make one final charge at the Golden Core realm in the last decades of his soul's life.

Pitiful, and laughable.

After leaving the Yin-Yang Courtyard, he found that the central expanse of Mount Bow had been arranged with a great many floating isles of all shapes and sizes.

One of them belonged to the Yin-Yang Daoist.

The more than a hundred nominal disciples under his name usually stayed there to cultivate.

The Red Dragon that Cao Chengyu had come to find was no exception.

Upon learning of his visit, the Red Dragon gave him the highest standard of hospitality, with spirit food and fruit laid out in abundance, along with several singing and dancing women from the Vitality-Nurturing realm.

Murmurs and airy song rose and fell in waves. This prodigal royal-born spendthrift truly knew how to enjoy himself; while others endured bitter cultivation, he reveled in luxury.

After dipping into the spirit wine, the Red Dragon asked impatiently,

"Senior Brother Cao, has Master sent any word?"

Cao Chengyu shook his head.

"I've only been apprenticed for a short time, so my influence is limited. However, my senior brothers and sisters are all away from the sect, and only I remain by Master's side. If you can endure a few more years, you may yet have a chance."

He added inwardly, By then your master will probably be about ready for his final farewell, and when I, Elder Cao, come online, of course I will cover for you.

The Red Dragon clicked his tongue in disappointment, but he was not discouraged. With Cao Chengyu, this fellow countryman, helping him, he felt that when their master eventually accepted a direct disciple,

his chances would surely be much greater than everyone else's.

In his youth, he had once been fortunate enough to inherit a cave abode legacy. Young and ignorant, he had assumed that the rarer something was, the stronger it must be.

So with his father's help, he acquired a pair of second-rank Yin-Yang Primordial Qi Pearls and used them to forge an extremely rare ancient Dao body.

The Yin-Yang Harmonizing Dao Body!

As just said, a Dao body was not necessarily stronger just because it was rarer. In the realm of Great Yue, there had not even been a single Purple Mansion cultivator with an Yin-Yang attribute Dao body.

Techniques corresponding to such attributes were likewise exceedingly scarce. Fortunately, he had managed to puzzle out some from the cave abode inheritance.

With no choice but to come to the Five Elements Sect to study, he had entered under the Yin-Yang Daoist, only to find himself held in low esteem. To receive even one point of guidance a year was something that called for burning incense in gratitude.

With no hope for the path of cultivation, he had grown fixated on enjoying life, until the news of Cao Chengyu reached him and a faint spark of hope rose again in his heart. However tiny it might be, it was the only light in the darkness.

He had to seize that light!

"Senior Brother Cao, what brings you to seek out this junior brother today?"

"I just wanted to ask about Great Yue over the past year. Oh, and about Xiao Yan as well. I heard he has returned to Great Yue again. Do you know the details?"

"Xiao Yan..."

At the mention of Xiao Yan, the Red Dragon's expression became complicated, tinged with envy and jealousy.

"Xiao Yan has become a figure of great renown this past year."

"Oh? Then junior brother may as well tell me about it."

"That would have to start from last year..."

"After Xiao Yan returned to Great Yue in April, he slaughtered commoners across the countryside, leaving the two regions of Luo Prefecture and Li Prefecture nearly empty of people."

"A thousand-mile slaughter of blood, and the common folk had no way to survive."

How could that be! Cao Chengyu instinctively wanted to refute it. Li Prefecture was his true hometown, and two of his best childhood friends were still in Immortal Pavilion City!

More than that, how would Xiao Yan dare do such a thing? Did he not fear being cast down as a demon and hunted by all?

Sensing his reaction, the Red Dragon quickly explained,

"Of course, it probably was not Xiao Yan himself. If it were truly him, such a great demon would be condemned by all, and the Five Elements Sect would have stripped him of his disciple status long ago. So it should not have been him."

"A reasonable deduction."

Cao Chengyu clenched his fists so tightly they went rigid. If it was not Xiao Yan, then the culprit had already come into view.

"The Observatory Tower!"

"Exactly. It was the Observatory Tower that did it."

The Red Dragon said with a bitter smile,

"I don't know why they would do such a thing. Ever since Great Yue reformed three hundred years ago, this was the first time mortals had been slaughtered by cultivators.

"Of the five prefectures of Great Yue, the population in two of them almost vanished completely. This nearly severed half the dynasty's foundation. When the Empress Dowager learned of it, she flew into a furious rage, and all three Golden Core cultivators of the Observatory Tower were implicated and imprisoned.

"But they were confined for less than two months before the current emperor, Chi Jiuxiao, released them again under the pretext of atoning for their crimes. Now they are active all over Great Yue, claiming to be investigating treasonous elements within the Observatory Tower.

"After this incident, Xiao Yan was denounced by Chi Jiuxiao as a traitor, and the blame was pinned on him as well. A nationwide warrant has been issued for his arrest.

"Anyone with even a little discernment can see that Xiao Yan is nothing more than a scapegoat, and that the Observatory Tower is merely a blade in the emperor's hand."