Chapter 127: The Yin-Yang Crucible, The Dual Cultivation Vessel
“ The Canon of Yin and Yang— is this the inherited cultivation art of the Yin-Yang Sect?”
After a moment of thought, Lu Sheng said, “The very name makes it clear that it must be connected to the Yin-Yang Sect.
“This must be the cultivation art later passed down by the Yin-Yang Sect!”
“Yes. The Canon of Yin and Yang is indeed the sect’s inherited cultivation art.”
After confirming Lu Sheng’s guess, Lu Chunyuan revealed another secret.
“This cultivation art was derived from the Canon of Primordial Unity—”
“The core of it is the Yin-Yang Furnace, or, more precisely, the Dual-Cultivation Cauldron. It was transformed from the methods of the Primordial Unity Furnace!”
“The Dual-Cultivation Cauldron?” Recalling the records he had once read concerning such a thing, Lu Sheng’s expression turned strange. “Was this art really derived from the Canon of Primordial Unity?”
Had Lu Chunyuan not mentioned it, he would never have imagined that such an infamous art had originated from the Primordial Unity Furnace.
Emperor Jing, who had created the Canon of Primordial Unity, surely would never have imagined that his descendants would derive such a practice from the Primordial Unity Furnace.
“It truly was derived from the Canon of Primordial Unity!” Lu Chunyuan affirmed. Then he continued, “Because of what he had once lost, Lu Chuanying possessed an extraordinarily profound understanding of the Way of Yin and Yang.
“Later, when he was trapped in the Divine Ruins, he happened upon a fragment of an ancient scripture. It contained a single line:
“‘Heaven and earth are the furnace; creation is the craftsman. Yin and yang are the fuel; all things are the metal.’
“That single line enabled him to comprehend the principles of the Yin-Yang Furnace. He became a grandmaster within the Divine Ruins and created the Canon of Yin and Yang.”
At this point, even Lu Wanshan, who did not approve of Lu Chuanying’s actions, could not help feeling a measure of admiration.
To comprehend the methods of a grandmaster from a single fragment of scripture—Lu Chuanying’s insight into martial arts was truly far beyond his own.
“‘Heaven and earth are the furnace; creation is the craftsman. Yin and yang are the fuel; all things are the metal.’
“He comprehended the Yin-Yang Furnace from that one sentence alone?”
Even more shaken than Lu Chunyuan, Lu Sheng murmured to himself.
He had encountered countless similar passages in his previous life. Why had none of them ever inspired the slightest insight in him?
“Perhaps some of the scriptures I remember from my previous life may prove immensely useful.”
As Lu Sheng pondered this, Lu Chunyuan continued:
“Of course, it was not only that one sentence. Based on later deductions, Lu Chuanying must have come into contact with the power of faith at that time—
“Only a power that was nearly omnipotent could have enabled him to derive the Canon of Yin and Yang within the Divine Ruins, based on his own understanding of yin and yang.”
The theory that Lu Chuanying had used the power of faith to aid his cultivation was the prevailing conclusion reached by later scholars studying the origins of the Canon of Yin and Yang.
After all, with Lu Chuanying’s cultivation at the time, it should have been impossible for him to create such an art within the Divine Ruins, much less attain Void Refinement in a mere sixty years.
* * *
After hearing this, Lu Sheng’s own doubts were resolved.
“The power of faith can indeed be used in that way!”
Thinking of the various mystical arts he had fused together with merit, Lu Sheng had no doubts whatsoever.
For someone capable of using merit, and who had read countless ancient texts in the Martial Treasury Academy, as long as he possessed enough merit, he could likewise derive new cultivation methods based on his own knowledge.
“Perhaps I should use merit to compile some cultivation arts and build up achievements for myself.”
Caressing the two seals in his hands, Lu Sheng thought to himself.
Although his identity as the successor to the throne remained a secret for the time being, once he obtained the subsidiary seal forged in imitation of the Mountains and Rivers Seal, the fundamental fortune contained in that position had already fallen upon him.
Together with the Commandery Prince’s Golden Seal he used as a disguise, the additional fortune attached to Lu Sheng had reached the astonishing figure of three hundred and sixty thousand points.
“With three hundred and sixty thousand points of additional fortune, normal replenishment would allow me to convert one thousand points of fortune into merit every day—
“That would amount to a full one hundred thousand points of merit, day after day!
“With so much merit, I should accomplish something significant and prepare for a smooth succession in the future!”
Although Lu Sheng had already become the heir to the throne and enjoyed the support of a grandmaster, so long as he could reach the Martial Ancestor realm, ascending the throne would pose no problem at all.
However, to dispel the suspicions of certain people, he felt that he should still accomplish something extraordinary and earn great merit for the Lu clan of Great Jing.
Given his current status as a Sixth-Rank Compiler, organizing and refining martial arts was clearly one way to rapidly advance in rank.
“Compiling martial arts—especially those related to Primordial Unity Arts—will inspire gratitude throughout the entire Lu clan of Great Jing.
“Moreover, since I can comprehend the True Intent of Primordial Unity, few people will suspect me when I compile related martial arts and techniques.”
As these thoughts crossed his mind, Lu Sheng had already decided to convert that day’s fortune into merit, then spend the merit on compiling martial arts and techniques.
With a stable source of merit, he no longer needed to proceed as cautiously as before whenever he used it.
While listening to Lu Chunyuan describe how Lu Chuanying, after emerging from the Divine Ruins, had concealed his identity and infiltrated the Heavenly Shadow Pavilion before destroying the entire assassin world, Lu Sheng concentrated his mind and ordered Ruyi to convert his additional fortune into merit.
* * *
“What? It can convert only seven hundred and eighty points?”
“Ruyi, what is the meaning of this?”
Looking at the eighty-seven thousand eight hundred points of merit he had gained, Lu Sheng questioned Ruyi. He had clearly ordered it to convert one thousand points of fortune.
Then he saw the answer Ruyi provided, and his heart sank.
“A living being’s daily consumption of fortune cannot exceed the fortune of its own origin.”
“My fortune of origin is currently seven hundred and eighty points. Therefore, I can convert only seven hundred and eighty points of additional fortune into merit each day!”
Because of this restriction, not only had his plan to obtain one hundred thousand points of merit every day collapsed, but his intention to convert fortune into merit freely after becoming emperor had also become impossible.
“An emperor possesses a far greater total of fortune and can control the Mountains and Rivers Seal, replenishing it at any time after expenditure.
“I had originally planned to become emperor and convert fortune as freely as I pleased without harming the nation’s fortune—
“But now it seems that was nothing more than wishful thinking!”
This sudden limitation had shattered his carefully laid plans, forcing Lu Sheng to reconsider many of his previous arrangements.
His original intention had been to become a Martial Ancestor as quickly as possible, then ascend the throne as emperor.
Now, however, it seemed that until his fortune of origin became sufficiently powerful, he would be better off improving his strength and increasing that fortune, so that he could make better use of the nation’s destiny in the future.
“Additional fortune is like a pond, while fortune of origin is like a water pipe—
“If the pipe is not large enough, no matter how much additional fortune there is, it will be difficult to make full use of it.”
Feeling somewhat dejected, Lu Sheng heard Lu Chunyuan continue:
“After destroying the entire assassin world and taking possession of its cultivation arts, personnel, and industries, Lu Chuanying used those people as his foundation to establish the later All-Beings Sect.
“The Canon of Yin and Yang was the first art he passed down to them.
“As for the Canon of Seven Fiends, he used the power of faith to integrate the cultivation arts of the assassin world, along with several methods recorded in the Secret Essentials, and derived it through fusion.
“These two cultivation arts form the foundation of the Yin-Yang Sect and the Seven Fiends Sect as they exist today.”
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