Chapter 172: Chapter 145: The Fire Virtue Body Is Finally Achieved, the Daoist Monarch’s Scheme Is Revealed (Part 2)

The handsome youth produced a folding fan from thin air and waved it gently, a look of admiration in his eyes.

"As expected of a senior with the Yin Celestial Emperor Life Essence."

The man in black robes thought it was only natural, yet couldn’t help but feel a pang of envy:

’The Wind and Fire Cushion... It’s said to be a wondrous object that can alter one’s innate constitution and elevate one’s meridians, a replica of a True Treasure belonging to some Great Power of the Immortal Dao.’

Although Dao Materials from Ancestral Sect Dharma Lineages are certain to use a Spiritual Object as a catalyst during the Opening Meridians stage of the Qi Cultivation First Layer, ensuring their quality is never low, one’s foundation is like money—no one ever thinks they have too much. Every little bit one can add increases their chances for a future Flying Foundation Establishment, or even for attaining a Golden Position.

Jiang Yi, paying the two onlookers no mind, calmly sat down, closed his eyes, and entered a state of meditation.

In an instant, the cushion’s wind and fire swirled, wrapping his entire body tightly within.

"It’s... it’s increased to eighty-four life patterns..."

Before long, the handsome youth raised an eyebrow in astonishment. ’Can the Yin Celestial Emperor Life Essence be advanced even further?’

"This number, eighty-four... it’s blessed by the four concepts of purity, light, great strength, and wisdom. Could this be the Great Luminous Sovereign Life Essence, one of the top three supreme Life Essences of the Buddhist Dao?"

The man in black robes, however, lacked the handsome youth’s broad perspective. He only saw the raging golden flames close like a lotus flower, enveloping Jiang Yi on the Wind and Fire Cushion. His entire body shone brightly, transparent inside and out, as if sculpted from crystal.

’If I had such a heaven-sent fortune, my chances of achieving Foundation Establishment would be at least fifty percent.’

The man in black robes was endlessly envious. If not for the fact that the other man’s background was a complete mystery, and he was very likely a Dao Material from an Ancestral Sect Dharma Lineage, he would have captured him on the spot and forced him to hand over the Wind and Fire Cushion. As it was, he wouldn’t dare entertain such a wicked thought.

’There was a time when I didn’t even know you could use a Spiritual Object for Opening Meridians at the Qi Cultivation First Layer.’

Jiang Yi, whose luck was being bolstered by the Wind and Fire Cushion, was filled with emotion:

’Who would have ever thought that one day I would be able to use an Immortal Dao Magical Treasure like the Wind and Fire Cushion to mend my foundation and re-Open my Meridians?’

The wind fanned the flames!

That pure Fire Life surged like an underground spring, pouring endlessly into his Life Essence. His Divine Sense, like a seedling in a long drought finally touched by rain, grew unceasingly.

Outside the great hall, within the Stove Lord’s Temple, the Copper Chime rang out twice more. The sound was clear and resonant, so powerful it seemed to stop the clouds in the sky.

"I have heard that six is the apex of yin numbers, and nine is the apex of yang numbers.

"For this ’Great Luminous Sovereign’ to have already reached the number eighty-four... it’s truly incredible."

The handsome youth’s fan-waving grew more vigorous, his eyes filled with unconcealable astonishment.

’To think, before he left his mountain, his only intention had been to treat some Daoist Lineage’s public search for a husband as a bit of fun and come see the spectacle.’

’He never expected to encounter a figure of this caliber!’

One must understand that while Luck might not seem as tangible as one’s Cultivation, and it may not play a decisive role in Magical Combat, when it comes to the blessed lands of True Masters, the grotto-heavens of True Monarchs, or even the legacies of Daoist Monarchs that appear throughout the Yanfu Vast Land, the first and foremost factor is one’s own "Luck."

Those with meager blessings and shallow fate have absolutely no chance to even enter and explore.

That widely circulated saying—"One with a weak life and exhausted luck cannot attain the Dao"—was, in fact, a lesson paid for in the blood and tears of countless Foundation Establishment True Masters who fell one after another on their path to the Dao.

"An eighty-four-count Great Luminous Sovereign Life Essence is manageable on the Nanzhan Continent, as there aren’t that many compatible ’Opportunities’ here. 𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎

"But if he were on the Ximizhou Continent, I’m afraid Magical Treasures and True Skills would be vying to find him, and Spiritual Objects and Spiritual Materials would practically fall from the sky."

SNAP—the handsome youth snapped his folding fan shut and tapped it against his palm.

"I wonder which Ancestral Sect Dharma Lineage this fellow Daoist hails from. I’d love to befriend him, just to bask in some of that Luck."

The man in black robes grew even more awestruck, even beginning to suspect this senior might be a True Inheritance candidate with one foot already in the Foundation Establishment Realm.

’A True Master’s Life Essence is already set, so they don’t place much importance on these things. Such a weighty destiny... I’m afraid only someone from an Ancestral Sect Dharma Lineage could possibly bear it.’

The hall began to shake more violently, the clashes of golden flame sounding like thunder and lightning, forcing the handsome youth and Ying Xingzi to retreat.

The violent turmoil continued for several minutes.

The handsome youth, with his extraordinary background and remarkable bearing, knitted his slender eyebrows tightly together.

"An eighty-four-count Life Essence, and he still hasn’t reached the limit? He wants to use the Wind and Fire Cushion to forge the number ninety-nine?! How is that even possible!"

...

...

Inside the great hall, only Jiang Yi remained.

The luck flowing from the Wind and Fire Cushion gradually thinned, as if it had been wrung completely dry.

The eighty-four life patterns above his head glowed, their iridescent colors interweaving to create a truly magnificent sight.

’I can still handle it, but the amount of luck required to take that step from "eight" to "nine" is simply unimaginable.’

While people like the handsome youth and Ying Xingzi had to worry if their own luck could support their Life Essence, Jiang Yi had no such concerns.

He had already become the new master of the Yang Qi Taiyin Heaven; he could bear even the most precious of Life Essences.

After all, a True Monarch of the Yanfu Vast Land is a supreme sovereign who rules over a portion of heaven and earth.

Nothing in all the world could surpass the Golden Position, which embodied the imagery of the Great Dao and received its mandate directly from the Celestial Lord.

But the growth of one’s Luck was not like Cultivation, which could be improved simply by consuming Spiritual Objects and Treasure Medicines.

To advance it, one had to elevate their origins, earn the admiration of the masses, lead great conquests, and win victory after victory—accomplishing many great deeds beyond the reach of ordinary people.

’If Cat Master were here, maybe I could ask it.’

Jiang Yi slowly rose to his feet, no longer fretting over the ultimate sublimation of his Life Essence.

He was but two steps from the incense altar. Taking a light step forward, he plucked three incense sticks from the mountain-heavy Life Qi.

WHOOSH—a golden flame ignited them.

With utmost reverence, Jiang Yi was about to pay his respects to the Stove Lord, whose peeling, mottled clay statue stood behind the altar.

But before he could bow his head, the violently shaking hall fell utterly still, as if frozen in place.

"What’s this?"