221: Fifth Incarnation: Heavenly Physician (Thirteen)

"Disciple Su Yuan pays respects to Revered Master. Having returned from outside, I have come specifically to report back to Revered Master."

Xu Yuan stepped forward and performed a respectful deep bow.

Jiang Tingyun slowly opened his eyes.

Those eyes were as clear as an ancient well containing the rotation of billions of stars, so deep that the bottom could not be seen.

When his gaze fell upon Xu Yuan, Xu Yuan felt his whole body stiffen slightly, as if an invisible force, vast as a sea of stars, instantly swept across his Physical Body, Meridians, Purple Mansion Dao Foundation, and even... touched the Origin of his Divine Soul!

The sensation at this moment was far clearer and more heart-palpitating than when he faced that Fruit Position True Person Yuwen Shang during his Late Golden Core Stage in his previous life!

This was not a malicious prying, but a natural phenomenon brought about by the absolute gap in life levels and Dao Realms.

Fortunately, this sense of insight came quickly and left just as fast.

Jiang Tingyun's gaze did not linger for long; it swept over as if it were a routine matter, and then he slowly spoke, his voice remaining calm:

"Mhm, you're back."

With those three short words, the suffocating feeling of being observed suddenly vanished. Xu Yuan felt his whole body lighten, as if he had floated to the surface from deep waters.

"Your cultivation Foundation is stable, and your aura is harmonious. It seems you did not slack off during this trip. Good."

Jiang Tingyun nodded slightly in praise.

"Thank you for the praise, Revered Master. Disciple did not dare to slack off," Xu Yuan replied respectfully.

Jiang Tingyun sized up his youngest yet most talented Disciple, a trace of imperceptible complexity flashing in his eyes.

He said slowly, "Yuan'er, since you have entered my sect, you should know that although my Zhenyan Lineage has over ten thousand Disciples, there are very few who truly inherit the core of the 'Array Deduction Dao'. Currently under my tutelage, including you, there are fourteen Personal Disciples."

"However, among them, those who truly take 'Array Cultivation' as their primary path and Foundation are but three to five people."

Xu Yuan's heart tightened.

"Do you know why?" Jiang Tingyun's tone was flat. "Fruit Positions are unique. The 'Array Deduction Dao' Fruit Position has been passed down since ancient times, with Revered Masters in every generation. That I can occupy this position is also an Opportunity. As long as this Dao Fruit Position has a Revered Master, those who Cultivate this Dao can at most reach the Late Golden Core Stage, with no hope of truly 'attaining the Dao' in their lifetime, and they will naturally be suppressed by my Great Dao."

Jiang Tingyun looked at Xu Yuan, his gaze frank and his tone calm yet carrying a hint of realistic solemnity: "Therefore, I never force my Disciples to walk the path of Array Cultivation."

"Most of your Senior Brothers and Senior Sisters choose to use Array Cultivation as a supplement and major in other Great Dao branches or Family Legacies that suit them, intending to carve out a new path to seek a sliver of hope and attain their own Fruit Position. However, this path is also fraught with thousands of difficulties and dangers, and I cannot provide much assistance."

He shifted his tone and looked at Xu Yuan: "But if you wish to devote yourself to the path of Array Cultivation, with my personal guidance and teaching everything I know, given your talent, even if the road ahead is cut off, securing you a position as a Great Immortal Master of the Late Golden Core Stage, living peacefully and freely, would not be difficult at all."

The air seemed to freeze for a moment.

The Stellar Formation Diagrams circulating around the Cloud Bed also seemed to slow down, waiting for Xu Yuan's answer.

Xu Yuan took a deep breath and raised his head, his gaze clear and firm, meeting his Revered Master Jiang Tingyun's eyes without any evasion.

"The Late Golden Core Stage is already a powerhouse of a region, a dream endpoint for ordinary Cultivators. However..."

"My heart is unwilling to stop at the Late Golden Core Stage!"

"I have been favored by heaven and earth with this Aptitude, and was fortunate enough to meet Revered Master and enter the gate of the Great Dao. If I were to settle for a corner and seek stability just because the road ahead is dangerous, my heart would find no peace!"

"I take the liberty to follow the example of my Senior Brothers and Senior Sisters, using Array Cultivation as a supplement to major in my own Dao, striving for that sliver of Opportunity to seek... a Dao Fruit that belongs to me! Even if the road ahead is full of difficulties, I am willing to hack through the thorns, with no regrets even after a hundred deaths!"

"I beg Revered Master... to point out the way!"

Jiang Tingyun listened quietly, and for the first time, a visible ripple appeared in his eyes that were usually as calm as an ancient well.

Unwilling to settle for the Late Golden Core Stage? Aiming for a Fruit Position?

"Good, very good!" Jiang Tingyun sighed softly. "The path of immortal cultivation is a Heaven-Defying act, essentially fighting for life against the heavens. To have this heart for the Dao and this spirit that fears no danger is the very Foundation of achieving the Great Dao. If one doesn't even dare to think of it, how can they go far?"

His gaze became deep: "Since you have such lofty ambitions, I shall explain a few things to you."

"To attain a Dao Fruit, there are only two paths: one is to 'Seize', and the other is to 'Create'."

"The path of Seizing involves finding a powerhouse whose Fruit Position is vacant, or killing the current Revered Master of a Fruit Position to forcibly seize their Dao Fruit and take their place. This path is the most direct but also the most dangerous, requiring strength, Opportunity, and calculation—all of which are indispensable; one misstep could lead to death and the dissipation of the Dao."

"The path of Creating involves finding another way among the myriad Great Daos to open up an unprecedented branch of a New Dao and attain a Fruit Position. This path is even more difficult, requiring supreme wisdom, great Luck, and great perseverance. Successors since ancient times have been few, but once successful, the future is limitless, making one a true pioneer of the Great Dao."

He shifted his tone, which now carried an unprecedented solemnity, his gaze like a torch as he stared intently at Xu Yuan:

"However, Yuan'er, you must remember! Within my Shangqing Dao Lineage, the words 'Creating a Dao' are by no means as free and unconstrained as you imagine!"

Xu Yuan's heart tightened, knowing that his Revered Master was about to point out the most critical restriction.

"My Shangqing Dao Lineage has been passed down for eons and has a profound Foundation, the basis of which lies in seven core Great Daos!" Jiang Tingyun's voice carried the majesty of stating an iron law. "These seven Daos are the Foundation of the Dao Lineage, encompassing everything and giving rise to all things. The sixty-eight Dao Fruits currently held by the Dao Lineage have all evolved from these seven Dao branches, without exception!"

He pointed to the Stellar Formation Diagrams circulating endlessly on the surrounding walls: "For instance, the 'Array Deduction Dao' Fruit Position that I hold originates from the 'Kunlun and I Ching Dao' among the seven core Great Daos! It is a concrete branch of the 'Kunlun and I Ching Dao' in terms of deduction, layout, and Formations!"

"And if you wish to 'Create a Dao'," Jiang Tingyun's gaze was as sharp as a blade, each word striking Xu Yuan's heart, "it is absolutely not about imagining something out of thin air or starting anew! It must be within the scope of these existing seven core Great Daos recognized by the Dao Lineage, through expansion, evolution, or Fusion, to open up a new branch that has never existed before!"

"For example," he illustrated, "within the 'Kunlun and I Ching Dao', one could perhaps create a brand-new branch specializing in 'Mental Array Deployment' or 'Luck-Derived Formations' based on the existing Foundation."

"Within the 'Alchemy Cauldron Dao', one could perhaps open up unprecedented paths such as 'Poison Gu Alchemy' or 'Soul Spirit Alchemy'. Such feats, though extremely difficult, are welcomed by the Dao Lineage and may even be heavily rewarded because their Origins are clear and stem from the Dao Lineage's orthodoxy! This is because it strengthens the Foundation and heritage of our Shangqing Dao Lineage!"

His tone suddenly became bone-chillingly cold, carrying an undisguised warning: "But! If you dare to step outside the framework of these seven Daos to touch, pry into, or even attempt to create a brand-New Dao branch outside the Dao Lineage's system... that would not be Creating a Dao, but... Betraying the Dao! It would be a heretical act that shakes the very Foundation of the Dao Lineage!"

"Such behavior is regarded as a challenge and betrayal of the Dao Lineage's eternal Legacy! At that time, let alone me, even the other Fruit Position Immortal Revered Masters within the Dao Lineage will never sit idly by! Once any clues are discovered or deduced..."

A look of severity flashed in Jiang Tingyun's eyes.

"It might even alarm the Dao Lord! The end result... would be the total destruction of both body and soul, eternal damnation with no hope of survival!"