Yefutidaolu

Chapter 456 Not enough
The Song of the Great Dao of Profound Transformation

These seven words seemed to possess some kind of magic, causing the air inside the stone pavilion to freeze instantly!

"Impossible!" the man from the Cheng family categorically denied. "This method has been banned for hundreds of years, and all related texts and traditions should have been destroyed!"

"But its characteristics are exactly the same as those recorded." Zhou Jiawenshi's voice was deep. "It fuses all methods into one furnace, incorporates all thoughts into itself, does not rely on spiritual inspiration, does not follow common sense, cultivates its own small world, and more importantly, its ability to 'open the gate' is subversive to the existing cultivation system and resource monopoly."

The elder of the Ji family slowly spoke: "This method was devised by the late emperor in his later years, with the intention of breaking the current monopoly. He painstakingly deduced it and prepared to forcibly promote it throughout the world... a forbidden technique!"

The old woman from the Li family let out a sharp, cold laugh: "Heh heh... How ironic! Back then, we joined forces and went to great lengths to thwart the late emperor's plan, declaring this evil practice 'bewitching the people and undermining the foundation of the nation,' and completely banning it. Who would have thought that hundreds of years later, it would be resurrected through this brat named Gao Jian!"

"Moreover, he's also gotten involved with His Majesty, who has recovered," the old man from the Jiang family added, his face so gloomy it could drip water. "This is no coincidence. His Majesty's choice of him is probably not solely based on his ability to 'cure illnesses'."

For a moment, the pavilion fell into an even deeper silence.

The fact that Gao Jian was cultivating the "Song of the Great Dao of Profound Transformation" fundamentally changed the nature of the matter. This was no longer merely a power struggle, but a struggle over ideology—a struggle concerning the very foundation of the aristocratic families' survival!
"This boy must not be allowed to live!" The man from the Cheng family exuded murderous intent, his law-like authority revealing naked killing intent. "The method he cultivates is inherently rebellious!"

"It's pointless to say all this now," the old man in coarse clothes from the Ji family said calmly, but his eyes sharpened. "The key is how we should respond..."

"Let's try the same method as before. If it's confirmed to be the Xuanhua Tongmen Daodao Song, then... there's no need to say more," the elder of the Jiang family said.

The others nodded in agreement.

Having said that, there's no need to say anything more.

With the plan settled, the five figures said no more. Each of them had a faint spiritual light flashing around them. Some used the scroll to take shape, some used the law to dissipate the dark light, some disappeared with the witch wind, some merged into the mirror image, and some disintegrated into nothingness by using the spinning wheel.

Inside the stone pavilion, silence returned, with only a solitary lamp illuminating the empty stone bench.

------------

The night was as dark as ink, staining a quiet corner of the Imperial Academy.

Takashi returned to his simply furnished room, which contained only a futon, a low table, and a hard bed.

Outside the window, the shadows of a few sparse bamboo stalks were cast onto the window paper by the moonlight, swaying gently in the wind.

He closed the door, shutting out all the noise and brilliance of the outside world.

No candles were lit in the room; only a few faint rays of moonlight seeped in through the cracks in the window, outlining his silhouette as he sat cross-legged on the futon. The air was filled with the scent of old wood, cool dust, and a faint, sharp divine intent that he himself could not completely conceal.

As his mind sank into his body, the "Mysterious Transformation and Path to Enlightenment" verse, which had already circulated countless times, quietly began to run again.

The essence of the technique is like an invisible stream, attempting to untangle the complex and powerful power system within the body.

This cultivation method is indeed a treasure. Its concept of "combing and transforming all methods and reaching the profound gate" is like that of a highly skilled craftsman who forcibly fused together the many charms he glimpsed from the sharp edge of a rusty knife, the profound death energy of the cultivation methods of the Netherworld, the ripples of demonic thoughts he was tainted by from the Desire Realm, and the thousands of fragments of knowledge he drew from the sea of ​​books at the Imperial Academy. These "materials" with different attributes and even conflicting with each other were forcibly fused into one, shaping his unique path of cultivation.

Without this strong inclusiveness and adaptability as a foundation, his "boat," which he haphazardly pieced together from various sources, would probably have already disintegrated and sunk in the raging waves of power.

however--

At that moment, Gao Jian clearly sensed that something was wrong.

In the past, no matter how chaotic and disordered his body was, as long as the "Mysterious Transformation and Path to Enlightenment" circulated for a few cycles, it could gradually calm the restlessness, organize all kinds of forces into a harmonious whole, and make his divine will as calm and undisturbed as a deep pool or ancient well.

But now, the situation is completely different.

Having seen the "Heart Lamp Illuminating Shadows Sutra" in the Desire Realm, the "heart lamp" that ignited deep within his soul shone brightly and its meaning was clear, as if imprinting an indelible and uncontainable rune on the core of his consciousness. That light not only illuminated the smallest details of external objects, but also constantly burned and purified his own divine will.

It has been almost half a year since I returned from hell.

In the past six months, he has tried countless methods.

Immersed in the vast sea of ​​books in the Imperial Academy's library, he perused countless classic texts and secret records on tempering one's will, calming one's mind, and even suppressing inner demons. He attempted to suppress them with greater power, guide them with more exquisite methods, and integrate them with deeper insights.

But they all failed.

He had almost scoured the vast collection of books in the Imperial Academy's library, from the "Concentration and Tranquility Technique" to the "Nine Revolutions Spirit Gathering Mantra," from the "Soul Suppression Record" to the "Contemplation of Emptiness and Freedom Chapter"... He attempted to forcefully suppress them with stronger spiritual power, guide their flow with more exquisite methods of gathering, and embrace and assimilate them with deeper Daoist insights.

But all of it was in vain.

The divine will tempered by the lamp of the heart is fundamentally different. It is no longer like flowing water that can be shaped at will or ordinary iron that can be sheathed, but rather like a peerless divine weapon that has gained sentience and possesses its own sharpness, unruly and radiating its own brilliance.

This caused him to be constantly enveloped by an invisible, sharp force field, like a thorn in his back, which was difficult to completely conceal.

The "container" that the Xuanhua Tongmen Dadao Ge (Song of the Great Dao of Profound Transformation) once took pride in, which was almost limitless, now seemed to have encountered something it could not contain. It could still bear these forces and prevent them from clashing and exploding, but it could no longer make the radiance of that "heart lamp" become gentle and restrained.

Like a skilled leatherworker who can sew a bag that can hold a hundred things, but cannot stop the luminous pearl inside from shining with its inherent light.

Gao Jian slowly opened his eyes, and a few specks of light, like scattered gold, flashed and disappeared in his eyes. It was an uncontrollable manifestation of divine overflow.

He frowned slightly as he looked out the window at the cold moon, which was obscured by thin clouds and appeared somewhat hazy.

The night wind rustled through the bamboo grove, its soft whisper amplified by the absolute silence, sounding remarkably clear, even... somewhat jarring. He realized he might be standing at a crucial crossroads.

The "Song of the Great Dao of Profound Transformation and Profound Understanding," which once enabled him to dominate the world, does not seem to have truly limitless potential. When one's own divine will essence leaps to a level that exceeds its designed limits, this top-tier cultivation technique, which has made great contributions, becomes an invisible shackle.

Should we continue to work things out and find a balance?
Or... do we need to find a new path to carry this ever-brightening, ever-sharpening lamp of the heart?
As night deepened, Gao Jian sat alone in his room, and for the first time, he began to have profound doubts about the fundamental techniques that had made him famous.

The road ahead was shrouded in mist, and the faint light of divine will flickered uncontrollably in the darkness, but no matter what, it could not illuminate the unprecedented predicament he faced.

Gao Jian pondered, his fingertips unconsciously tracing paths across the cool bluestone floor, leaving faint, fleeting marks.

Now it seems that the "Song of the Great Dao of Profound Transformation and Connection" has truly reached its limit?
This is because the essence of the "Heart Lamp Illuminating Shadows Sutra" as a fourth-grade cultivation method is so profound that it has exceeded the scope of the "Mysterious Transformation and Path to Enlightenment Song" that it can be understood, just as a two-dimensional painting can never perfectly contain a three-dimensional entity.

No matter what, this is only a seventh-grade cultivation technique.

Thinking of this, Gao Jian couldn't help but smile with a self-deprecating smile. If word got out that he used "that's all" to describe a terrestrial immortal, people would probably laugh their heads off and accuse him of being ignorant and arrogant.

After all, strictly speaking, the peak of the power system that the Divine Dynasty is now publicly recognized is the seventh rank.

Rank 7, Earth Immortal.

Earth Immortals are beings who truly transcend the mortal realm, possess limitless lifespans, and are nearly immortal! Even now, despite employing all his methods, relying on the advantage of his rusty knife and the information gap with his opponent, he can only maneuver and exploit the weaknesses of a true Earth Immortal, even depending on the opponent's "letting him off the hook."

A direct confrontation? The gap is like heaven and earth, an essential chasm.

"A seventh-rank... Earth Immortal," he repeated softly, as if reminding himself of the harsh reality.

However, the reality is that this seventh-grade cultivation technique, which he once regarded as the foundation and helped him overcome all obstacles, can no longer allow him to fully integrate the power of the fourth-grade technique. His divine will is like a restless wild horse, overflowing uncontrollably. This is not just a problem of not being able to perfectly control the power, but also like holding a torch in the dark, constantly revealing his position to potential enemies.

This is a big problem.

Gao Jian's gaze sharpened. He could foresee that today, standing beside the imperial steps on the Purple Palace, he was practically thrust into the spotlight of all his adversaries by the emperor. Too much prominence invites trouble. Those deeply entrenched aristocratic families, those hidden forces connected to the "Star Rift," would not stand idly by and allow such a massive variable as him to grow unscathed.

An attack could come at any moment.

Under these circumstances, improving one's strength is the only hard truth. But now, even maintaining the smoothness of one's current cultivation level is impossible. There are always stagnations and uncontrolled leaks of sharpness in the flow of power, as if wielding a nicked blade that could injure oneself at any moment. How can one talk about advancing further or dealing with powerful enemies?

No!

Gao Jian suddenly stood up and paced around the small room. The moonlight cast his shadow on the wall, making it long, distorted, and somewhat anxious.

This problem must be solved as soon as possible!
Should we seek a higher-grade cultivation method to replace it? Or should we risk modifying the "Mysterious Transformation Path Song" to break through its original framework? Or perhaps... we should look for opportunities from the rusty knife, from the life-and-death tribulation, or from other sources?

Countless thoughts raced through his mind, flashing with dangerous yet alluring sparks. He knew that his time was running out.

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The nights in the capital city are never peaceful.

Especially in the corner of the Imperial Academy where Gao Jian resides, undercurrents are surging, and countless eyes are peering at the simple house that emits a faint glow of cultivation light from all directions.

Above the clouds, at an extremely high altitude that is difficult to see with the naked eye.

A miniature shuttle, no bigger than the palm of a hand, made of neither gold nor wood, with a surface that shimmered like mercury, hovered silently, shrouded in clouds and night. Inside the shuttle were no living beings, only an extremely faint spiritual link, traversing vast distances to transmit in real-time the energy fluctuations and figures entering and leaving the surrounding buildings to a hidden location.

Outside the courtyard of Takashi, among the branches of an ancient tree that appears ordinary.

Several dim, dark spots, almost the same color as the bark, clung tightly to the deep folds of the rough bark like sleeping ladybugs. They emitted no scent, yet they could transform sounds, images, and even the slightest changes in airflow within a radius of hundreds of feet into unique ripples that traveled far away.

In the shadows of a street corner further away.

A ragged, vacant-eyed vagrant was chewing on scraps he had scavenged from who-knows-where. His movements were perfectly natural, yet occasionally a glint of insight, utterly incongruous with his state of being, would flash deep within his eyes. If a master of witchcraft were present, they would know that this man's soul and spirit had long since been extracted, leaving only a remotely controlled "puppet" shell, silently recording everything from its unique perspective.

Inside the Imperial Academy, a window on a certain floor of the library.

A young student dressed in the robes of the Imperial Academy is gazing out the window, holding a scroll of Daoist scripture in his hands, seemingly immersed in an ocean of knowledge. However, upon closer inspection, one can see the rhythmic tapping of his fingertips on the pages, and the direction he is looking in is precisely where he can see through the layers of eaves to a corner of the Gaojian Courtyard.

Even deep underground within the Takami-in compound.

Several thin, almost transparent spiritual roots, as if they possessed life, slowly wriggled and extended upwards, attempting to penetrate the restrictions of the soil and foundation, and sense the energy flow within the house above.

These roots emit an extremely faint aura, originating from the same source as the earth's spiritual veins, making it impossible to distinguish them from the natural spiritual energy. This is the application of the "Earth Listening" technique from the Ji family's "Hundred Arts Connecting with the Divine," using plants, trees, soil, and stones as eyes and ears, making it virtually impossible to defend against.

Besides these, there might be even more subtle methods: perhaps a fleeting, unusual glint in the eyes of a bird soaring across the sky; perhaps a wisp of scent carried on the night breeze—

Every gaze carried a different purpose: fear, curiosity, murderous intent, assessment...

Gao Jian sat cross-legged indoors, perhaps fully aware of this, or perhaps completely unaware. But the faint, uncontainable divine light emanating from him, within this invisible net, acted like a lighthouse in the dark, clearly marking his location for all those who were watching.

A storm is brewing in the silence.

(End of this chapter)