Chapter 593: Cause and Effect of the Past, With Gain Comes Responsibility

It was an unprecedented sight: numerous cultivators of the righteous path obeying a demonic cultivator.

In the past, such a scenario would have been almost impossible. The righteous and demonic paths are sworn enemies, a truth that goes beyond mere words. Yet, under immense external pressure, this group also had their own pressing needs.

After Wang Yu obtained the four Void Steles from the others, the four keys converged and were activated with Deity Transformation stage spiritual power.

A powerful purple light suddenly erupted. In an instant, it condensed into the form of a masculine man with dishevelled hair. Despite his unkempt appearance, he exuded an air of rugged heroism rather than slovenliness. A simple black robe was casually draped over him, revealing his robust chest muscles, marred by three gruesome, unhealed claw marks where the flesh was still torn open.

It was evident that his condition was poor when this spiritual projection was recorded.

"Is this... a spiritual imprint?"

Wang Yu's heart stirred. He instantly understood why only Old Ancestor Taixu had managed to obtain the hidden information within. Such a spiritual imprint, capable of preserving itself for countless years, could only be fully replayed by a spiritual sense at the Deity Transformation stage, thereby evading the ravages of time to achieve immortality. Furthermore, only a primordial spirit that possessed a trace of divinity could activate it. This was a method capable of transcending endless eons to leave behind information, a capability even Wang Yu himself did not possess.

The masculine man's gaze remained fixed on Wang Yu.

"I am the Nine Tribulations Wanderer. It has been 19,600 years since I ascended from the Xuanhuang Realm. I was fortunate enough to survive the Dao Corrosion Tribulation and achieve the Mahayana stage. However, fate had other plans. Among the Dao I cultivate, there are five True Immortals. The Void Aspect Dao Fruit has been attained by the Purple-Eyed Immortal of the Spirit Eye Tribe. That villain, skilled in calculating heavenly secrets, foresaw a conflict between us over the Dao Fruit and thus schemed against me in advance, leading to my demise in the Unfathomable Immortal Palace. Whoever inherits my legacy must learn the Esoteric Jade Glazed Wall, a secret art that conceals heavenly secrets. Otherwise, that venomous woman will one day set her sights on you as well. I do not ask the fated one to avenge me, but only to look after... the Nine Tribulations lineage!"

With that, the image of the masculine man, the Nine Tribulations Wanderer, bowed respectfully with cupped hands before gradually fading away.

Wang Yu frowned deeply, completely unprepared for the Void Daoist Collection to be linked to such a formidable and troublesome entity.

"The Esoteric Jade Glazed Wall..." Wang Yu mused. It was likely that this secret art was the reason the Daoist Collection could subtly enter the Ice Prison Realm, making its origins and whereabouts untraceable even to True Immortals.

The Spirit Eye Tribe and the Purple-Eyed Immortal were all new information to him, making any immediate decision-making quite difficult.

Only then did the onlookers in the barracks snap out of their shock. "So, this is the origin of the Void Heaven Stele's legacy," one exclaimed. "If we learn it, won't we inherit the Nine Tribulations Wanderer's karma?"

Fairy Xingyue glanced at Qingpingzi, speechless. "Senior Qingping," she said, "do you truly believe you can reach a stage where you can contend with a True Immortal?"

"Ha... haha," Qingpingzi chuckled awkwardly. "Little Friend Xingyue, your words are a bit too sharp. I was merely discussing the possibility. I've never heard the Grand Elder mention such a risk before."

"Perhaps Old Ancestor Taixu knew that none of you had the potential to achieve immortality," Fairy Xingyue retorted. "Even if he knew, it would only lead to unnecessary anxiety, so it was better to keep it to himself, allowing you to remain at ease."

Qingpingzi's face flushed. To be humiliated by a junior in front of everyone left him seething with indignation.

Wang Yu interjected, "Enough. Why is there no information about the World-Breaking Divine Boat?" The barracks instantly returned to silence.

Lei Yao replied, "There is, Fellow Daoist Wang. You might try taking this unified key to the Void Heaven Stele."

"Very well."

By the time Wang Yu returned, an incense stick's worth of time had passed.

Holding the unified Void Stele allowed Wang Yu to bypass the Void Heaven Stele's regular comprehension rules, enabling him to freely choose any column of secret texts to study. The so-called Esoteric Jade Glazed Wall was the ultra-high-level secret art found in the first column. It offered no practical combat utility. Its sole purpose was to conceal heavenly secrets once mastered. Upon full perfection, even True Immortals would be unable to deduce one's origin or location, unable to glimpse the past or foresee the future.

"Regardless of whether I'll be targeted by the Purple-Eyed Immortal, this secret art is vital to me," Wang Yu thought.

Wang Yu clearly understood that while the World-Breaking Divine Boat could offer him freedom through clandestine means, he would still need to interact with other cultivators to acquire cultivation resources. The Immortal Palace, as the paramount power of the human race, had well-established procedures for ascendants. As someone with an unknown past, if he were to feign ascension from another realm, he would undoubtedly face an investigative process. While this wouldn't directly lead to a True Immortal targeting him, his origin and background would require a convincing narrative. His knowledge of other worlds was limited to the inherited memories of the Ice Phoenix bloodline, a significant vulnerability. This was where the Esoteric Jade Glazed Wall would prove invaluable. Its ability to conceal heavenly secrets didn't simply render him a mysterious blank slate; rather, it could generate a plausible, fabricated origin and background tailored to his needs. Simple concealment alone would be far below the true capabilities of this profound secret art.

Upon visiting the Void Heaven Stele, this method immediately appeared in his placement slot.Placement Slot 7: Esoteric Jade Glazed Wall (Heavenly Mystery Divine Art / Secret Art / Immortal Grade)'Esoteric Jade Glazed Wall (0/100): Twenty-four times a day, 129,600 years to reach completion.'

The completion time matched that of the Ice Phoenix's Sky-Cry Song, an immortal melody divine ability capable of freezing time and space, which Wang Yu had no desire to place. Despite being on the same level, the Esoteric Jade Glazed Wall, however, held immediate placement value.

This was because cultivating the Esoteric Jade Glazed Wall traditionally required specific timings: during each of the twenty-four solar terms annually, one could absorb their inherent power to condense the Esoteric Jade Glaze. The placement slot, however, bypassed this tedious process, allowing him to directly harness the temporal energies of the twenty-four solar terms to aid in its condensation. Even a mere trace of this substance would yield an effect. While easy to begin, achieving significant mastery was considerably more challenging, as full perfection required condensing a glazed wall large enough to completely encase his primordial spirit. Nonetheless, a minuscule amount would be enough for his current needs.

He wasn't an important figure; even if he escaped the Ice Prison Realm, his impact on the wider world would be negligible, certainly not enough to warrant a True Immortal personally apprehending him. Therefore, merely deceiving Daoist Kongkong would suffice!

Beyond the secret art, information about the entire grotto-heaven could also be acquired from the colossal stele through the Void Stele. The World-Breaking Divine Boat, it turned out, was housed within the Hall of Prayer for Blessings and Averting Disasters. Wang Yu also came to understand its origins. This hall had been constructed for the Nine Tribulations Wanderer by his closest friend, the Fortunate Heaven Venerable, designed to sever the karmic links of anything stored within from the outside world. The contingency plan Nine Tribulations had prepared years ago was hidden here, originally intended as a means to plot against the Purple-Eyed Immortal. Alas, it failed to overcome a True Immortal, leaving behind residual items that gradually led to the hall's current state. The World-Breaking Divine Boat was merely one of these remaining treasures. Leveraging the power of the four unified steles, one could directly open the Hall of Prayer for Blessings and Averting Disasters and inherit the Nine Tribulations Wanderer's legacy. The only caveat was incurring immortal karma.

The situation Wang Yu faced today was likely one Old Ancestor Taixu had also encountered back then. Opening the hall and taking its contents would inevitably lead to the Purple-Eyed Immortal noticing one's growth at a certain point. There was a ninety-nine percent chance of being completely eradicated. Of course, if one could fully master the Esoteric Jade Glazed Wall before reaching the Mahayana stage, this tribulation might be avoided. However, when it came to condensing an immortal Dao Fruit, no matter how profound the method, it couldn't conceal the signs of becoming an immortal. These matters were far too distant for Deity Transformation cultivators. Old Ancestor Taixu might have abandoned it for this reason, or perhaps for others. Wang Yu, however, decided to first open the palace's restrictions and explore its treasures before making any further decisions.

After reassuring the others, Wang Yu departed once more, believing some matters were best kept private.

A short while later, Wang Yu stood before the Hall of Prayer for Blessings and Averting Disasters. Holding the small stele, he pushed the doors open and entered. This hall possessed profound power, capable of severing karmic ties. In the future, he might choose to stay here longer while recovering from injuries. It was a pity he couldn't take the entire hall with him, a thought that made him sigh with regret.

The hall's interior was quite simple. Twenty-eight bronze pillars, each capable of nourishing a qi sea, stood within. Twenty-six of these were empty, their treasures evidently already used by the Nine Tribulations Wanderer. Of the two remaining treasures, the World-Breaking Divine Boat was one. Wang Yu approached its bronze pillar and was startled to find the palm-sized boat covered in dense cracks, its artifact aura extremely unstable. He realized that if he were to rashly remove it, it would likely shatter instantly once separated from the bronze pillar's nurturing effect.

"No wonder... no wonder Old Ancestor Taixu chose not to inherit this," Wang Yu murmured, his confusion finally resolving.

After all, the dangers of inheriting such karma might never manifest in his lifetime. Old Ancestor Taixu certainly didn't possess Wang Yu's confidence in becoming an immortal ancestor. For him, escaping the Ice Prison's confines to pursue a broader path would have been a more immediate benefit. However, the World-Breaking Divine Boat's condition was too unstable; repairing it would be incredibly difficult. Without the hope of escaping the prison, inheriting the karma would have been meaningless. Even Old Ancestor Taixu, a cultivator with the profound background of the Taihu First Sword Sect, couldn't repair the World-Breaking Divine Boat. Though Wang Yu had considered using his amassed Cosmic Rings as materials to attempt repairs, his knowledge of artifact refining was rudimentary, mostly limited to flesh-and-blood forging, with little to no mastery in metal and stone forging. In a field where he was so unproficient, if Taixu couldn't achieve it, neither could he. "The World-Breaking Divine Boat path is probably a dead end," Wang Yu sighed bitterly.

Wang Yu gave a bitter smile, then turned his gaze to the treasure being nurtured by another bronze pillar. His spiritual sense probed it, and he quickly received information. "Nine-Yang Immortal Grass?" he exclaimed inwardly.

Wang Yu quickly pondered. This treasure was an immortal herb, primarily serving as a core material for forging a physical body during the resurrection of the deceased. It was likely a resurrection method the Nine Tribulations Wanderer had prepared for himself, but clearly, he hadn't managed to use it, dying mysteriously. To refine a suitable physical body, providing immense vitality was a fundamental requirement. It also needed to nourish the primordial spirit, ensuring a perfect match between body and spirit, thus enabling the resurrection of beings whose souls had not dissipated. The Nine-Yang Immortal Grass, however, could even restore fragmented souls. Its properties perfectly aligned with Wang Yu's current needs. If he consumed and refined it, his physical injuries would undoubtedly heal completely, and his primordial spirit would recover significantly. Combined with two primordial spirit secret arts, the time required for him to return to full strength would be even shorter!

However, Wang Yu found himself puzzled. "Not taking the World-Breaking Divine Boat is understandable, but not even this immortal-grade rarity like the Nine-Yang Immortal Grass? Was he truly that fearful of karma?" He couldn't comprehend it. After all, the risk of Old Ancestor Taixu cooperating with Refining Heaven was extremely high; possessing this item was akin to having a second life. Theoretically, he should not have abandoned it.

Wang Yu pondered for a long time. He wouldn't abandon the numerous spatial secret arts recorded on the Esoteric Jade Glazed Wall and the Void Heaven Stele, so why should he fear the karma associated with the treasures in this hall? Even if such karma existed, he had already incurred it by entering. Taking the Nine-Yang Immortal Grass would merely deepen this connection, and what was there to fear in that?

Ultimately, he gritted his teeth and took out the Nine-Yang Immortal Grass. He swallowed it whole and sat cross-legged to begin refining it.

The vitality of this immortal-grade marvel was truly terrifying. In an instant, it transformed into nine blazing suns, rampaging through Wang Yu's body, relentlessly destroying his flesh and meridians. The overwhelming vitality created an illusion of searing heat. Cracks appeared all over his body, and a faint charred smell began to emanate from him.

A sudden realization dawned on Wang Yu. "So that's how it is..." He finally understood why Old Ancestor Taixu hadn't taken the immortal herb: his body couldn't withstand it! Even Wang Yu's robust physique was instantly heavily damaged; an old, decaying body like Old Ancestor Taixu's would likely have exploded from the Nine-Yang Immortal Grass in an instant. No wonder he didn't take it; the man possessed considerable self-awareness. Knowing he couldn't refine it, leaving it here served as another contingency. After all, Old Ancestor Taixu had actively gifted Wang Yu the Void Stele, requesting him to look after the Sword Sect's disciples and ensure its legacy continued. Since Old Ancestor Taixu knew the secrets of the Daoist Collection, this action was tantamount to granting Wang Yu this fortuitous opportunity in exchange for his care of the Sword Sect disciples. It was probable that encountering Changxi, Xingyue, and Lei Yao was also within his expectations, and the fact that the Moonlight Fairy was his pawn likely didn't escape him either. Such an intricate arrangement ensured Wang Yu would uncover the hidden truths. What grand foresight, what a brilliant overt scheme!

Wang Yu sighed inwardly. The Yanluo Heavenly Son Sword appeared above his head, its blade rapidly spinning, releasing boundless Yin and Corpse Qi that was absorbed by his body. "Undying Nether Dragon Technique, coalesce!" The scorching heat from the vitality and the chilling Yin-Corpse Qi created a dualistic reaction, causing Wang Yu immense pain. Yet, his spine continuously vibrated, and his golden blood divine marrow steadily recovered as the medicinal properties took effect. Under the dual stimulation of extreme heat and cold, his weakened physical body rapidly gave birth to immortal light, which then condensed into a "black membrane" through his body refining technique, re-enveloping every part of him. The hundreds of years of lifespan lost due to severe damage to his origin were also swiftly restored by the immortal herb. This cycle of destruction and repair toughened his meridians and strengthened his physical body! Great danger often harbored great fortune. Surviving Daoist Kongkong's deadly tribulation meant that, upon recovery, Wang Yu would also experience a breakthrough. The saying, "great opportunities arise from life and death," precisely referred to such circumstances. The Nine-Yang Immortal Grass amplified this benefit and significantly reduced the recovery time, truly living up to its immortal-grade designation.

As time passed, an undying nether dragon, condensed from the vital energy and blood of the Nine Heavens, coiled around him. An immensely powerful aura was uninhibitedly unleashed within the hall. After an unknown period, Wang Yu, his body fully restored to its peak, opened his eyes with satisfaction and murmured, "Late-stage Fifth Tier Body Refining, equivalent to the seventh layer of Deity Transformation... Is this what 'no breaking, no building' means? What a tremendous stroke of fortune!"

Not only had his physical body recovered to its peak and made a breakthrough, but his primordial spirit had also gained significant benefits, becoming vibrant and nurturing his divine consciousness. This was further enhanced by the immortal herb's inherent profound nourishing effect on the primordial spirit. After closing his eyes to sense it once more, he murmured, "This is..."