Chapter 69: The Dao-Proving Method of the Ninefold Mystic Arts

"That will do!"

Ancestor Houtu sighed. "A single strand of the Primordial Qi of Heaven and Earth, fused with the cloud of three-colored merit, can only merge with one—otherwise, its quality will drop sharply. Even now, the result is only slightly superior to the power of the three-colored or seven-colored clouds of merit."

"It doesn't matter," Ancestor Dijang declared joyfully. "If we merge one Primordial Qi with one three-colored cloud of merit, the quality indeed plummets. But if we combine five strands of Primordial Qi with a single three-colored merit cloud, the result is still nearly supreme, with only a minor difference."

Without delay, the twelve Ancestors of Wu took fourteen strands of Primordial Qi, merging four with their previous pseudo-Primordial Merit, and ten with the power of two three-colored merit clouds belonging to the Wu tribe. In the blink of an eye, they transformed fifteen strands of Primordial Qi into ninety, each with only a slight decrease in quality.

Thus, with one thousand four hundred strands of Primordial Qi, the Wu tribe could potentially evolve them into eight thousand four hundred strands of slightly lesser quality.

In this way, a thousand strands could help Ancestor Zhuyin advance further; another thousand could elevate the Heart of Pangu; even the other Ancestors, the Axe of Creation, and perhaps even the Primordial Gourd Vine might also have a chance to improve their ranks.

Where once the Wu tribe had struggled with a meager supply of Primordial Merit, they now found themselves newly rich.

Of course, transforming one thousand four hundred strands into eight thousand four hundred was no easy feat. At the tribe's current pace—three three-colored merit clouds every six thousand great kalpas, which amounts to ninety strands—it would take sixty-six thousand great kalpas to accumulate enough. Only after sixty thousand great kalpas could Ancestor Zhuyin hope to ascend with this method.

"This will take far too long," Dijang thought with a frown. "We must find a way to gain more merit power!"

The twelve Ancestors were delighted and entrusted Houtu with the Wu tribe's Primordial Merit. Partly, this was because Zhuyin, even with the Heart of Pangu, had yet to mature. Moreover, Zhuyin lacked Houtu's wisdom and discretion; there was no telling if he might fall into some scheme when entering the Zixiao Palace.

To avoid unforeseen complications and ensure the power of merit reached the right hands...

"Now, I shall impart to you the Way of the Da Luo," Ancestor Houtu smiled. "Do you know what it means to tread the Da Luo Path?"

The great Wu warrior Xingtian, a prodigy who had long since reached the peak of the Taiyi Divine Demon Realm and stood just a step away from Da Luo, was already familiar with this. Hearing Houtu speak, he replied reverently, "To command all laws, to wield the power of the heavens, to be omnipresent, imperishable, and immortal."

"Exactly." Ancestor Houtu smiled. "To attain the Da Luo Realm is to gain four attributes: to command all laws, wield the power of heaven, be omnipresent, and be immortal."

"We twelve Ancestors once attended the Zixiao Palace and heard the Daoist Patriarch Hongjun expound the way of Immortal Da Luo. Yet, for one, we feared being entangled in the karmic web of the Immortal Path; for another, our Ninefold Mysterious Art of the Wu is in no way inferior to any method of attaining the Dao in the primordial world. Therefore, I shall teach you the method of Ascension through Eighty-One Transformations!"

Emperor Cang asked in surprise, "What exactly is this method of Eighty-One Transformations?"

Houtu replied with a gentle smile, "Our tribe's Ninefold Mysterious Art allows transformation. To attain the Dao, you may transform your true form and merge into one of the eighty-one unique races within the primordial world."

"By incarnating among these races, cultivating their mysteries, and accepting their karma, you observe and analyze the world from eighty-one perspectives, with eighty-one ways of thinking. Thus, you may use your own Dao to command the laws and powers wielded by all eighty-one incarnations—thus, to command all laws."

"Ah," Emperor Cang considered. "May I ask, Ancestor, after incarnating into a new race, how many years does it take for the merits to be complete—before evolving a new incarnation?"

Houtu replied, "At least one hundred great kalpas for each."

"So," Emperor Cang murmured inwardly, "it will take eight thousand great kalpas just to gain the first attribute of a Da Luo Divine Demon?"

The great Wu archer Houyi inquired, "How does one wield the power of the heavens?"

Houtu explained, "Once you have the power to command all laws, you then draw upon the strength of all eighty-one rules, empowering your own Dao. With this, you open the heavens and earth, creating your own Da Luo Heaven within the primordial world. The scale of your Da Luo Heaven depends on the depth of your insight; the greater your understanding, the vaster your Da Luo Heaven, and the more powerful it becomes."

"But do not worry—when we twelve Ancestors refine the Twelve Golden Pills of Ancestors, all the great Wu, except for Emperor Cang, will move smoothly through this stage after taking them."

"Ah," Emperor Cang thought to himself, "so after eight thousand great kalpas, I will obtain only the first attribute of a Da Luo Divine Demon, and the second will take even longer to accumulate?"

Still, knowing that merit power could also aid in ascension, Emperor Cang felt somewhat reassured.

"The third and fourth: omnipresence and immortality."

Ancestor Houtu continued, "When a Da Luo Divine Demon creates their own Da Luo Heaven, that realm becomes the fruit of their Dao, the embodiment of their own path. As long as the Da Luo Heaven endures, so does the Da Luo Divine Demon. Drawing upon this realm, one can split into eighty-one avatars, each a Da Luo Projection. The lowest grade possesses a tenth of the true body's power, the middle a third, the high grade half, and the supreme grade up to seventy percent. Each avatar can exchange places with the true body at will; thus, one is omnipresent."

"Through our method of Eighty-One Transformations, you may divide into eighty-one Da Luo Projections. As long as one projection remains, you shall never die. Such is true immortality."

"First, master the Eighty-One Transformations; then, create your Da Luo Heaven; finally, project yourself across all realms. Thus, you become a Da Luo Divine Demon!"

"So complicated," Emperor Cang thought, frowning. Breakthrough was inevitable, but with the Zixiao Palace now open and the primordial world in chaos, there was little time to cultivate the Eighty-One Transformations and break through.

With some resignation, Emperor Cang said, "I have memorized all that Ancestor has taught about the path of ascension, but the primordial world is now in turmoil. The twelve Ancestors of Wu have not yet reached the pinnacle, nor is our tribe secure. I dare not focus only on myself and neglect the Wu tribe. I will assist Ancestor Houtu in attaining the Great Dao, and only then proceed with my own cultivation."

"Very well," the twelve Ancestors exchanged glances. They too understood: even though this was only the first lecture at the Zixiao Palace, it had already shaken the world, and any misstep could bring calamity. Having Emperor Cang's counsel was best.

In truth, even if Emperor Cang spent eight thousand great kalpas in bitter cultivation and became a Da Luo Divine Demon, what use would it be? The Wu tribe did not lack for such power—and he would only have just entered that realm! Without the Wu tribe, even if Emperor Cang attained the realm of Hunyuan Wuji Da Luo Sage in one breath, it would be useless.

Emperor Cang had made his choice. Xingtian, Houyi, Jiufeng, and the others made theirs as well. The other great Wu had little to say; their understanding of the primordial world was limited, their vision and wisdom not equal to the twelve Ancestors. Even if they offered advice, it would hardly be reliable.

Thus, for the great Wu, strengthening their own power was the first priority.