Chapter 1166: Controllable Enlightenment of Dao-Embedded Seeds?

"Ten years?"

Xu Xiaoshou's answer was remarkably decisive. He held up a finger. Surprisingly, he wasn't playing games or suggesting a third option; he simply chose from the two answers Tears had provided.

"I choose the second one. But it won't take ten years. One year, perhaps even less than a year, will be enough!"

With those words, Xu Xiaoshou turned and walked away without looking back. He didn't need to explain, nor did he concern himself with what choice Tears would make next. Ba Zun'an believed in himself, so why shouldn't he believe in himself?

Even if Tears chose to operate covertly in the shadows, like the Five Decays of Heaven and Man, the solution was simple: eliminate the Five Decays of Heaven and Man. With his current 'Saint Emperor Lv0' state... Xu Xiaoshou didn't claim to be invincible below the Half-Saint level, but surely even a Grand Void realm cultivator would lose half their life after taking one of his whip kicks? Moreover, when combat commenced, it wasn't a turn-based affair, taking turns to strike. He could unleash all his trump cards, striking from the shadows to instantly eliminate an opponent.

"Once I entered the Throne realm, my combat power began to skyrocket by hundreds of times. This is just the tip of the iceberg!" Xu Xiaoshou scoffed, glancing at the system's red interface.

"Passive Points: 2,072,266."

He had used 500,000 passive points, leaving him with two million. Reserving some for the Dao-Cultivation Field gameplay, Xu Xiaoshou felt he could still upgrade two more skills.

"What would be good to upgrade?"

"Swordsmanship Mastery!" Without hesitation, Xu Xiaoshou chose Swordsmanship Mastery as his second passive skill to upgrade. One could say that his entire journey as an ancient sword cultivator stemmed from this passive skill. If this ability also reached 'Saint Emperor Lv0,' he would essentially become half a Sword Saint, wouldn't he? Even if he didn't currently know the Nine Great Swordsmanship, once he activated the 'Unity of Heaven and Man' state, wouldn't he instantly grasp any technique he observed?

"I won't even need to formally learn the Nine Great Swordsmanship; I'll simply need to observe an enemy's techniques during combat to master them instantly!" This thought filled Xu Xiaoshou with eagerness. He immediately began to recklessly upgrade the skill levels, without a moment's hesitation.

"Swordsmanship Mastery (Throne Lv2).""Swordsmanship Mastery (Throne Lv3).""Swordsmanship Mastery (Throne Lv4).""Swordsmanship Mastery (Throne Lv10)."

Each level up brought an immense influx of knowledge, which typically required a considerable amount of time to digest. Yet, Xu Xiaoshou remained silent, sitting steadfastly in place, grappling intently with the intricacies of Swordsmanship Mastery. He felt as if he had spent an eternity there, finally reaching 'Throne Lv10'. Only then did his composure return.

"I've upgraded nine levels; only one more to go." Xu Xiaoshou now had to consider the implications of the next potential upgrade.

According to the system's parameters, a 'Half-Saint Lv.1' level did not exist. The system was correct. Because if there were a 'Half-Saint Lv1,' then there would logically be ten minor sub-realms ranging from 'Half-Saint Lv1' to 'Half-Saint Lv10.' By that logic, Half-Saint would become a major realm, akin to Innate, Grandmaster, or Throne. However, in Xu Xiaoshou's understanding, the path of spiritual cultivation was not structured this way. The Half-Saint stage was merely a minor transition between Grand Void and Saint Emperor; at most, it represented a single minor realm. It was merely that the cultivation level of this minor realm was exceptionally high, as was the difficulty of breaking through, which made it seem particularly formidable and esteemed. But at its core, it remained fundamentally the same.

"'Saint Emperor Lv0'—this simple classification effectively grouped the Half-Saint stage within the broader Saint Emperor realm. Yet, the existence of 'Lv0' clearly indicated that it was merely a starting point, signifying 'from zero,' a beginning, rather than a specific minor realm within the ten stages of Saint Emperor. Therefore, the Half-Saint realm was still indeed the Half-Saint realm, objectively existing and accompanied by the Saint Tribulation."

Xu Xiaoshou stroked his chin, pondering that crucial point.

"'Robustness' merely indicated physical strength; it didn't signify proficiency in body techniques, nor was it 'Body Technique Mastery.' Upgrading it was akin to a Spirit Cultivator breaking through and enhancing their Qi Sea, but without learning spiritual techniques, the damage they could inflict before and after would be incomparable. Therefore, 'Robustness' reaching 'Saint Emperor Lv0' meant that his physical strength barely met the requirements for a Half-Saint body in terms of physical cultivation, but when it came to the actual 'techniques' of physical combat, he was utterly clueless. In all likelihood, this was also the fundamental reason why the Saint Tribulation appeared but ultimately receded. But 'Swordsmanship Mastery' is clearly different."

Xu Xiaoshou retrieved Cang Ku. After being nourished by the Heavenly Dao enlightenment during his breakthrough to the Throne Dao Realm, and further sustained by repeated insights from the Sword Observation Art, Cang Ku had achieved a new breakthrough. Now, it was a Fifth-Rank Spiritual Sword!

"'Swordsmanship Mastery' provides me not just with knowledge of the sword dao, but also with its various applications. Regarding the path of ancient sword cultivation, I'm no longer completely ignorant; I've already gained a foundational understanding. In this scenario, if 'Swordsmanship Mastery' also reached 'Saint Emperor Lv0,' it would mean my sword dao realm would truly ascend to the Sword Saint level. Bypassing Sword Immortal and directly ascending to Sword Saint?"

Xu Xiaoshou felt a surge of excitement. However, he understood that all of this was merely superficial. Ba Zun'an's words held much truth: he had a tendency to pursue superficialities, which was unproductive. He needed to focus on the essence.

"'Sword Saint' is the realm Rao Yaoyao has only recently achieved. If my current half-baked skill level were to advance, I'd likely need to review the Nine Great Swordsmanship, Eighteen Sword Streams, and Three Thousand Sword Daos of ancient sword cultivation to truly reach that standard. However, the Saint Tribulation wouldn't see it that way. Once he became half a Sword Saint and used a sword, if the Heavenly Tribulation sensed him... Most likely, it wouldn't recede as it did with 'Robustness'; instead, it would immediately summon the Saint Tribulation, and he would perish under its might!"

This was a daring hypothesis. Xu Xiaoshou gazed up at the sky, sensing that this hypothesis had a ninety percent chance of being correct! If 'Swordsmanship Mastery' were upgraded one more level, his knowledge base might even surpass that of the current Seven Sword Immortals, yet his practical application abilities would undoubtedly remain inferior. The Saint Tribulation, however, would still descend, and he would meet a tragic end...

"Should I just go for it?" Glancing back, he saw his junior sister behind him, sulking and bickering with herself, her face flushed with exasperation. Xu Xiaoshou felt a sudden urge to act impulsively. "It's just Sword Saint, isn't it? Anyone can do it! Your senior brother will show you how it's done!"

But he quickly regained his composure.

"That's too simplistic! Even if his 'Swordsmanship Mastery' were to forcibly reach 'Saint Emperor Lv0,' attaining the Half-Saint level, thereby attracting the Saint Tribulation, and he then relied on 'Robustness,' also at 'Saint Emperor Lv0,' to survive the tribulation and become a Half-Saint... what benefit would I gain?"

He would merely gain the title of Sword Saint and a single level of power increase. However, by entering the Saint realm, he would attract the attention of external powers like the Saint God Temple, thereby losing valuable time for consolidation and accumulation. This would be a foolish endeavor! Consider Ba Zun'an and Mei Siyi; each possesses the ability to become a Saint, yet they are currently suppressing their realms. They are clearly grappling with some profound issue. As long as this underlying concern remains unaddressed, breaking through to Half-Saint carries significant risks! Given this, would rushing to achieve Sainthood simply be a death wish?

The nail that sticks out gets hammered. Making too big a stride, suddenly placing himself ahead of everyone else, was hardly a good thing. On the contrary, it could lead to a tragic end. Ba Zun'an had also advised him to be a bit more uninhibited, but clearly he couldn't be so uninhibited as to go beyond Ba Zun'an's control. If he were truly exposed and attracted ten Half-Saints from the Saint God Temple, Xu Xiaoshou felt even Ba Zun'an would struggle to protect him.

Having understood this point, Xu Xiaoshou's mind settled, and he let out a slight sigh. "To think I've reached the same level as Mr. Siyi so quickly? Now I need to consider breaking through to Sainthood... Hmm, not quite yet. I still need to review all Nine Great Swordsmanship. That's right, no need to learn! I just need to step onto the Sword Dao Disc, take one glance, and I'll achieve complete comprehension! Half-Saint..."

Xu Xiaoshou gazed at the sky, where thunderclouds churned, as if envisioning headless flies frantically plunging into this perplexing dilemma. Even if they succeeded in becoming Saints, they would ultimately find themselves confined to a single bitter state.

"What are they worried about?" Suddenly, Xu Xiaoshou realized with a jolt that he, too, had reached a point where he needed answers. As soon as he entered the Throne Dao Realm, he began to touch upon the highest echelons of this world. Yet, to this day, no one had found that answer? Even the Water Ghost was assisting Ba Zun'an in its pursuit. But even Ba Zun'an...

"He hasn't even become a Saint! He could only help provide the answer, but he wasn't the answer himself—at least not yet!"

Judging from Ba Zun'an's words overheard in the Gujin Forget-Worry Tower, Ba Zun'an, as a person, would never be discouraged. His very act of concealing his swords was purposeful; how could he possibly be defeated? So, if Ba Zun'an was hiding, accumulating power, and waiting for a spectacular debut... why should he rush?

Furthermore... Xu Xiaoshou felt he had grasped a crucial blind spot. He also recalled fragmented knowledge gleaned from the souls of Grand Void cultivators he had read, as well as conversations with Mr. Siyi during their travels.

"The Ten-Stage Saint Emperor realm, it seemed, wasn't cultivated step by step, but rather achieved by a sudden, forceful push. With a deep accumulation of power and a sudden burst, one could only ascend as high as their talent allowed. From this perspective, the existence of 'Saint Emperor Lv0' was precisely a preparation for how high one could ascend later!"

With this connection, Xu Xiaoshou felt his thoughts suddenly clarify and expand. The Half-Saint realm was not to be approached lightly. Once a decision was made to charge through, it had to be done before certain individuals could fully react... a single, powerful push to the Ten-Stage Saint Emperor realm!

"The answer..." Xu Xiaoshou glanced at his 'Robustness (Saint Emperor Lv0),' suddenly wondering if it might be a curse rather than a blessing, not as beneficial as he had imagined. But the skill level had already been upgraded recklessly; it couldn't be undone, so further contemplation was pointless.

"I'll play it safe for now." He then looked at 'Swordsmanship Mastery (Throne Lv10),' realizing it had become a hidden trump card. If the situation turned unfavorable, he could directly exchange for Tier 4 skill points and recklessly upgrade, instantly summoning the Saint Tribulation to ambush his opponents. Just like when Rao Yaoyao endured the Saint Tribulation while relentlessly pursuing and attacking Grandmaster Han. A hidden Sword Saint and an openly revealed one possessed vastly different destructive capabilities!

"Passive Points: 1,622,266."

"He could still upgrade one more skill. Keeping a million for the Dao-Cultivation Field would be enough to experiment with; if it wasn't effective, he could always reinvest those points into skills." Xu Xiaoshou resumed his contemplation. Which one should he upgrade now? With 'Robustness' and 'Swordsmanship Mastery' already maxed out, the next logical step was to focus on auxiliary abilities.

"Auxiliary..." Xu Xiaoshou quickly set his sights on two passive skills: 'Perception' and 'Aura of the World.' Last time, he had been possessed by the Night Owl, and 'Perception' failed to detect it, leaving him so traumatized that he still hesitated to sleep. But if 'Perception' were at the Half-Saint level, then it would be akin to... the Night Owl possessing a Half-Saint. Wouldn't that simply be courting death?

He considered 'Aura of the World' because Xu Xiaoshou had discovered this passive state skill was far more effective than he had initially imagined. Whether for acting, combat, or daily interactions... Clashes between high-level cultivators often involved abstract elements like aura, spirit, and soul. If he mastered a Half-Saint level aura, Xu Xiaoshou could, with a mere thought, even exert powerful control over Grand Void cultivators. And if he were to combine that with Heart Swordsmanship... that single sword strike would truly possess the grandeur to cleave through galaxies! Gu Qingyi might not even be able to withstand Rao Yaoyao... Oh, wait, Rao Yaoyao is a Saint, so she doesn't count. Even Gou Wuyue might not fare well!

"How enticing." Xu Xiaoshou licked his lips, ultimately abandoning the thrilling prospect of such a devastating offensive move. Instead, he chose to play it safe and upgrade 'Perception.' There was no point; no matter how strong an attack was, it was useless if he couldn't even locate his enemy! Xu Xiaoshou absolutely refused to experience being possessed by the Night Owl again. While much of this might be attributed to the Night Owl's unusually bizarre abilities, Xu Xiaoshou was determined to completely eliminate the possibility of such an occurrence. He had zero tolerance for such situations! He demanded one hundred percent assurance of his personal safety!

As for upgrading other mastery passive skills... it was currently unnecessary. Xu Xiaoshou didn't even dare to upgrade them to 'Saint Emperor Lv0,' fearing he might instantly attract the Saint Tribulation. After all, mastery passive skills were distinct; their enhancements were too comprehensive. Therefore, it was better to allocate the passive points to the auxiliary ability 'Perception' first. In a word: reckless!

"Perception (Throne Lv2).""Perception (Throne Lv3).""Perception (Throne Lv4).""Perception (Throne Lv10)."

His perception range, which was originally a hundred li, had now been enhanced to nearly a thousand li. Xu Xiaoshou felt as if the entire world was within his sight, presented in a comprehensive, three-dimensional view with no blind spots. This ability was absolutely incredible! After a moment's thought, Xu Xiaoshou decided not to hold back this time and upgraded it once more. He wanted to test it.

"Perception (Saint Emperor Lv0)."

Suddenly, another bolt of lightning struck from a clear sky. Mu Zixi, who had been angrily scolding Tears while gesturing toward Grandmaster Han—as if Tears had learned how to berate people from him—was suddenly startled and turned to look at Xu Xiaoshou.

"Another Saint Tribulation?" The explosive sound she had just heard was that of a lightning tribulation. Dark clouds also gathered above Xu Xiaoshou's head, but the next second, just like before, they dispersed.

"Xu Xiaoshou, what mischief are you stirring up now?" Mu Zixi couldn't help but walk closer.

Xu Xiaoshou was startled as well, but seeing the dark clouds above his head disperse, he smiled cheerfully. "Just an experiment," he replied.

"'An experiment?' Mu Zixi asked skeptically. 'Experimenting with what? Tribulation crossing? Why would you attract a lightning tribulation?'"

"'Just an illusion,' Xu Xiaoshou chuckled, 'Am I short on strange phenomena appearing around me?' He then playfully ruffled Mu Zixi's head, tugging at her twin ponytails. His junior sister was still so innocent. Simple-minded and easy to tease. That was enough. Strategy, decision-making, and combat—those could all be left to him. If his junior sister were so intelligent that she could single-handedly dominate the world, becoming as uninteresting as Dao Qiongcang or Ba Zun'an... then what would be the purpose of his existence as her senior brother?"

"'Oh, I suppose you have a point...' Mu Zixi mumbled, nodding her head in a daze, before Xu Xiaoshou gave her a gentle push, prompting her to turn and walk away.

"So, auxiliary passive skills like 'Perception,' even if upgraded to 'Saint Emperor Lv0'—the Half-Saint level—would not attract the Saint Tribulation. This time, however, it likely happened because my 'Robustness' had also reached 'Saint Emperor Lv0,' and adding a Half-Saint level 'Perception' almost led the Heavenly Tribulation to mistakenly identify me as a Half-Saint of physical cultivation..." Xu Xiaoshou mused thoughtfully.

Fortunately, he didn't possess true physical cultivation techniques; he merely had a Half-Saint level physique akin to a body cultivator's. If he had learned even a shred of physical cultivation dao, he would likely have immediately attracted the Saint Tribulation.

'Perception' at 'Saint Emperor Lv0' was incredibly powerful; its sensing range had undergone a qualitative leap, skyrocketing from a radius of a thousand li to ten thousand li. Xu Xiaoshou had never before seen Void Island, this giant kingdom, with such clarity. Now he felt like the true giant; the vast Void Island seemed small enough to grasp in his palm. Of course, in reality, Void Island was incomparably vast. Within his ten-thousand-li 'Perception' range, all Xu Xiaoshou saw were ancient structures, nothing but ancient structures. He hadn't even reached the outskirts.

"Ridiculous! How big is this Void Island exactly?" He diligently adjusted to the sudden surge of information from his enhanced 'Perception,' which felt as if it would overload his brain.

Suddenly, Xu Xiaoshou spotted a group of six. They were six Grand Void cultivators, all from the middle-aged or elder generation, with no sign of younger individuals. They appeared to have formed a small group, heading in his direction... No, more accurately, they were advancing toward the First Sin Palace. Remarkably, Xu Xiaoshou, despite being in the Throne Dao Realm, could perceive them through 'Perception.' They remained completely oblivious, not even sensing anyone ahead.

"Six unfamiliar faces. Were they drawn here by the First Sin Palace's lightning tribulation? It seems there are still many who have landed on Void Island this time. Are these the powerful cultivators who have survived since the very beginning? Hmm, I wonder what the situation is now on the Saint God Continent, with Sky City crashed onto Lonely Sound Cliff and all. If I think about it, many days have passed. The trials in the Cloud-Rolling Mountains must be over by now, right? I'm still just a minor trial participant... Damn it, how did I end up in such a high-stakes situation?"

Xu Xiaoshou shook his head, pulling his thoughts back into focus. He realized he no longer feared ordinary Grand Voids. Even six of them, he felt, could be sent flying with a single kick from his physical body. Of course, any Grand Void cultivator who had survived until now surely possessed their own trump cards. It was best not to provoke them if possible. Ba Zun'an had also advised him to be a bit more audacious.

Consequently, Xu Xiaoshou glanced behind him. A Half-Saint level ghost beast, a nuclear-bomb-wielding young girl, and himself, a mere cultivator of the Throne Dao Realm...

"'What if I became a roadblock, and established a "Xu Faction" on Void Island, one comprised entirely of Grand Void cultivators?'" Upholding Ba Zun'an's will, Xu Xiaoshou let his thoughts run wild, pondering the outrageous possibility.

As observed by 'Perception,' the six individuals walked very cautiously, glancing around nervously, worried about non-existent dangers. They would occasionally bicker, but always rationally, never drawing weapons, merely trading insults and engaging in ancestral disputes.

"They are certainly cautious..." Xu Xiaoshou watched their snail-paced progress, feeling both disappointed and a touch reflective. "True to form for old foxes, they appeared incredibly relaxed yet were subtly guarding against one another."

"Passive Points: 1,122,268."

Withdrawing his attention, Xu Xiaoshou glanced at his million passive points and then at the Dao-Cultivation Field, which was roughly the same size as the Awakening Pool. He intended to explore this new module. This item was quite extravagant; a 'Dao-Cultivation Seed' sold in the shop cost 100,000 passive points, as expensive as an Awakening Stone after its price hike. Xu Xiaoshou now congratulated himself on his foresight. Even as a Grandmaster, he had taken the time to awaken all nine extended passive skills.

"So then, let's cultivate a Dao!" Spending 100,000, he exchanged for a Dao-Cultivation Seed, and with it, Xu Xiaoshou immediately grasped the new gameplay mechanics. He was to impart the Dao he had already condensed into a Great Dao Disc onto the Dao-Cultivation Seed, then plant it into the Dao-Cultivation Field. Once the Dao-Cultivation Seed bloomed, he could enter a state of 'Dao Enlightenment,' allowing him to deepen his comprehension of that particular Great Dao.

"This gameplay perfectly aligned with the Throne Dao Realm." Xu Xiaoshou delivered his overall assessment, then began to make his selection. He hadn't comprehended many Daos that had also formed Great Dao Discs—only ten in total: The Body Dao Disc, Spirit Dao Disc, Will Dao Disc, Sword Dao Disc, Fire Dao Disc, Metal Dao Disc, Array Dao Disc, Art Dao Disc, Space Dao Disc, and Life Dao Disc.

Among these, the patterns on the 'Sword Dao Disc' shone the brightest. Xu Xiaoshou understood why. He hadn't deeply comprehended many other Daos, but for the sword dao, he had both 'Swordsmanship Mastery' and the teachings of Mr. Siyi. Even though his time studying with Mr. Siyi hadn't been long, the sword dao was now his greatest strength.

Originally, the Fire Dao Disc should not have lagged, possibly even far surpassing the other Great Dao Discs. After all, he had 'Culinary Mastery' and his former master, Old Sang. However, ever since Old Sang was imprisoned, Xu Xiaoshou had largely put aside this fire-related craft. Below the Throne realm, his application of fire primarily manifested as various spiritual techniques from the Jinzhao lineage, self-created spiritual techniques, and the Jinzhao Condensation Pill Art. As for his insights into the Great Dao of Fire above the Throne realm...

"How to put it..." With Old Sang gone, everything related to fire had become about 'culinary arts.' If the old man were to reappear, he'd likely die of anger on the spot.

"'Since that's the case, I'll cultivate the Fire Great Dao. It's the foundation of spirit refining, so I can't neglect it.' 'Constantly upgrading Culinary Mastery has completely skewed my focus.'"

Driven by a desire to experiment, Xu Xiaoshou didn't overthink it. He mentally prepared himself for these 100,000 passive points to be wasted; after all, a single session in the Awakening Pool also involved considerable expenditure. With his mindset adjusted, he felt incredibly relaxed. He imparted 'Fire' into the Dao-Cultivation Seed, then with a soft *plop*, he planted it into the Dao-Cultivation Field. Xu Xiaoshou then settled back, leisurely awaiting the outcome.

Time passed swiftly. Before long, the Dao-Cultivation Seed took root and sprouted in the field, eventually nurturing a small flower bud. Xu Xiaoshou was captivated by the beautiful, fiery-red flower bud.

"Puff!" Just then, the flower unfurled, blooming into a white spark before utterly vanishing. Xu Xiaoshou froze for a moment, thinking, 'Is that all?' The next moment, he felt a floral scent lingering at his nostrils, his spirit and soul stirred awake as if cleansed, and his entire being entered a profound, mystical state.

"Buzz!" Mu Zixi, who was petting a weasel nearby, suddenly felt a strong fluctuation of Dao charm. She couldn't help but turn to look. Grandmaster Han also suddenly stood up, turning his head to look in Brother Chen's direction; he had, in fact, been observing Brother Chen all along.

"An epiphany?" How long had he been sitting there? The young couple had just had a minor disagreement, and now, as soon as he sat down, he was experiencing an epiphany? Was this the capability of Ba Zun'an's successor? His mindset adjusted so rapidly?

"'An epiphany?' Mu Zixi was momentarily stunned. 'What is he comprehending?'"

"'I don't know, but the Dao charm is so rich, he's likely comprehending something profound—and it's an epiphany right after breaking through to the Throne Dao Realm... This is fantastic! Is he often like this?'" Grandmaster Han casually set up a barrier to prevent Brother Chen from any external interference.

Mu Zixi thought back carefully, realizing that Xu Xiaoshou hadn't seemed to have many epiphanies before, and she herself had never experienced one. Epiphanies were indeed... Truly marvelous! And incredibly rare! Some individuals never experienced one in their entire lifetime. Others, with strong comprehension, might occasionally experience one, and that single experience would benefit them for a lifetime. An epiphany below the Throne realm wasn't particularly impactful; it merely served as accumulation. However, after reaching the Throne Dao Realm, each epiphany almost invariably deepened one's understanding of the Dao, leading to terrifyingly rapid realm progression.

Seeing Mu Zixi's bewildered gaze, Grandmaster Han began to explain: "'Throne Dao Enlightenment! Based solely on human experience, it's practically impossible to comprehend profound mysteries at this level. Even someone like Yu Lingdi, whom you've met, required extensive external aid and frequent entry into states of epiphany to eventually break through to the Profound Mystery realm. Therefore, this state is entirely beneficial for Brother Chen right now, with no drawbacks whatsoever!'"

Mu Zixi nodded. "'How long does it usually last?'"

"'It depends on individual talent. It could be as short as ten days to half a month. If one's talent and comprehension are high, it could last for half a year or even a full year! The longer it lasts, the more one comprehends!'"

"'It takes that long?'"

"'Yes! And that's just a normal situation. For a genius like Brother Chen, it might even take three to five... Er?'"

Grandmaster Han hadn't finished speaking when Xu Xiaoshou, beside him, had already opened his eyes, stood up, and looked over with a puzzled gaze.

"What's going on? Why did you put a barrier on me?"