After looting everything, Holy Mother of Fire Spirit's mana surged, transforming into a sky-shrouding giant hand that crashed down!
"Rumble—!"
The vast and luxurious Wei River Dragon Palace was utterly destroyed by this furious blow from a Taiyi Golden Immortal, reduced to ruins!
"Junior Brother, this matter is settled. The Wei River Dragon King is dead, and there must be deeper ties behind this!"
"I must return to Azure Roaming Palace at once and report this to our Grandmaster. I will not stay any longer!"
"Take care, Senior Sister!"
Holy Mother of Fire Spirit nodded, transformed into a streak of fire, and shot into the sky.
Jiang Yun did not leave immediately.
Instead, he sat cross-legged by the Wei River and reflected on the day's events.
It had seemed like a coincidence, but in truth...
From the Wei River Dragon King obtaining Chiyou's Profound Yin Banner, to his slaughter of living beings and Interception Sect disciples to refine it...
And finally, Holy Mother of Fire Spirit being drawn here "by chance"...
Every part of it reeked of a suspicious conspiracy!
Someone had clearly arranged matters in secret, and Holy Mother of Fire Spirit was the target!
Had it been an ordinary third-generation disciple, it would have been one thing. But Holy Mother of Fire Spirit was the Interception Sect's foremost third-generation disciple, personally designated by Tongtian.
Her status was vital. If she suffered an accident and fell, the Interception Sect's Fortune would inevitably be thrown into turmoil.
One had to know that among the four sects, only the Interception Sect possessed no treasure capable of suppressing Fortune!
"The Investiture of the Gods Calamity, the struggle among Saints, the struggle for Fortune..."
Alarm bells rang wildly in Jiang Yun's heart!
"Even a Saint's disciple risks falling in this great calamity! I absolutely cannot underestimate anyone in this world!"
"Today, I helped Holy Mother of Fire Spirit break this trap, so I have formed a good karmic bond with her."
"But I fear... I have also offended the one who plotted this from behind the scenes!"
"In the future, I must act with even greater caution!"
Heaven's will!
Karma!
Anyone who dared scheme against the Interception Sect like this could only be one of the other five among the Six Saints, excluding Tongtian.
Just as Jiang Yun comprehended Karma and his Dao heart became ever more lucid...
That profound notification rang thunderously within his mind!
[You reflected upon the Dao beside the Wei River, comprehended the causes of the past, deduced the future, and gained an insight!] [You combined the principles of Yin-Yang and Five Elements transformations with the theory of Karma and the doctrine of fate...] [You created a supreme divine ability: Heavenly Derivation Art!]
Boom!
An unfathomably profound realization flooded Jiang Yun's heart!
Heavenly Derivation Art!
As the saying went: "With profound cultivation, one seeks benefit and avoids harm!"
And also: "Without cultivation of the Dao, one dies and one's Dao vanishes!"
It referred precisely to this ability to calculate heavenly secrets and seek fortune while avoiding calamity!
The Heavenly Derivation Art was not an offensive divine ability for combat.
Rather, it used Karma and fate as its foundation to deduce matters connected to oneself!
It appeared to offer no help in battle.
Yet in a certain sense, it was ten thousand times more precious than a supreme divine ability focused solely on slaughter!
Especially on the eve of the coming Investiture of the Gods Calamity!
If one could clearly calculate Karma and determine the greater course of events, one could seize the initiative at every turn!
As Jiang Yun's cultivation deepened in the future, this divine ability would surely grow ever stronger!
At that thought, Jiang Yun felt mana surging through his body as his Dao foundation reached completion!
Mid-stage Profound Immortal, achieved as naturally as water flowing into a channel!
At the same time.
Eastern Sea, Golden Turtle Island, Azure Roaming Palace.
Within that Saint's Dao field, impervious to all laws.
Tongtian, seated high upon a cloud bed, seemed to sense something and suddenly opened his eyes.
Within those eyes, universes seemed to be born and perish, while the Great Dao endlessly flowed.
"Hm?"
He raised a hand and calculated for a moment, and a trace of satisfaction unexpectedly appeared on his face.
"Good!"
"This child's comprehension is truly extraordinary! He actually glimpsed Karma within a Taiyi's scheme and comprehended the method of seeking and avoiding!"
"In the future, he shall become a pillar of my sect!"
Tongtian nodded approvingly.
"Shi Ji has taken in a fine disciple!"
"My Interception Sect shall not lack successors!"
A Saint's Primordial Spirit was entrusted to the Heavenly Dao. His words carried heavenly authority, and he instructed all living beings on behalf of Heaven!
Though he had not formally met Jiang Yun.
At this very moment, a single sentence established Jiang Yun's standing within the Interception Sect!
As those words were spoken, Jiang Yun's Fortune became more tightly connected with the Interception Sect's vast Fortune!
His status had already become more important than that of an ordinary registered second-generation disciple!
"Hmph, using such disgraceful tricks behind the scenes... Do they truly think my Interception Sect is made of clay?"
As his tone shifted, Tongtian's voice became sharp once more!
Naturally, Jiang Yun knew nothing of the Saint's attention.
After breaking through, he did not hurry away.
Instead, he built a hut by the Wei River and settled there.
While consolidating his Mid-stage Profound Immortal cultivation, he began refining the nine Profound Yin Banners and the Mountain River Pearl.
There was no need to say much about the Mountain River Pearl. Xiantian Spiritual Treasures were all born of the primordial heavens.
They contained a trace of Innate Undying Spiritual Light!
If one could comprehend it, there would be a chance to comprehend the laws within.
Their grades were determined by the number of Xiantian Divine Restrictions they contained!
Those with fewer than eighteen were Lower-grade Xiantian Spiritual Treasures!
Those with nineteen to twenty-seven Xiantian Divine Restrictions were middle-grade Xiantian Spiritual Treasures!
Those with twenty-eight to thirty-six Xiantian Divine Restrictions were upper-grade Xiantian Spiritual Treasures!
Those with thirty-seven to forty-five Xiantian Divine Restrictions were top-grade Xiantian Spiritual Treasures!
Beyond that was the domain of Xiantian Supreme Treasures.
For the Great Dao numbered fifty, while Heavenly Derivation numbered forty-nine, leaving one incomplete.
Thus, a Xiantian Supreme Treasure could possess at most forty-nine Xiantian Divine Restrictions.
After initially refining the Mountain River Pearl.
Jiang Yun transplanted the Innate Purple Sun Bamboo, Innate Wu Earth Essence, and all the immortal ginseng, spiritual herbs, vermilion fruits, and rare treasures he had previously gathered into it, allowing them to grow on their own within the Mountain River Pearl.
As for the nine Profound Yin Banners...
The Primordial World did not count years.
In the blink of an eye, two years passed!
Twenty years were but the flick of a finger to cultivators of the Primordial World.
On this day, sinister winds surged within Jiang Yun's hut!
[While refining the Witch Race treasure, the Profound Yin Banners, you deeply felt that the Wei River Dragon King's previous refinement methods were crude and an insult to the treasure!] [You combined the profound essence of the Nine Palaces Eight Trigrams Fire Cloud Formation and comprehended the meaning of Xuan Yin...] [You comprehended a formation—the Lunar Dark-Baleful Grand Array!]
Boom!
Jiang Yun opened his eyes, and the nine Profound Yin Banners endlessly circled before him!
Lunar Dark-Baleful Grand Array!
This formation was arranged with nine Profound Yin Banners. Killing intent billowed, and Taiyin Qi filled the air!
Not only was its killing power terrifying beyond compare, but its Taiyin Profound Baleful Qi could also corrode an enemy's Primordial Spirit and defile their magical treasures!
"The Nine Palaces Eight Trigrams Fire Cloud Formation specializes in trapping and killing. It is supremely firm and supremely yang!"
"The Lunar Dark-Baleful Grand Array specializes in corrosion. It is supremely yin and supremely wicked!"
"If the two formations are overlaid... one yin and one yang, one fire and one water—how could their power merely double!"
Brilliant light burst from Jiang Yun's eyes!
With the two formations overlaid, if he fought using formations!
Even among Taiyi Golden Immortals, Jiang Yun would absolutely rank among the very best!
His strength surged once more!
After calming himself, Jiang Yun dismantled his hut and resumed his aimless travels.
In the blink of an eye, another half year passed.
On this day, Jiang Yun arrived before a beautiful mountain brimming with spiritual qi.
Just as he was about to ascend and investigate, he suddenly saw a burly man dressed as a hunter walking toward him.
The hunter had:
A leopard's head, round eyes, and a face full of beard.
His hair was tied in a topknot, and he wore a tiger-hide coat, a lion-head belt around his waist, and musk-deer skin boots on his feet.
He stood nine feet tall and held a precious bow in his hand!
Before he even drew near, an incomparably fierce aura rushed toward Jiang Yun!
Jiang Yun's pupils suddenly contracted!
This hunter clearly had no trace of mana fluctuations around him. He was merely a mortal!
Yet his newly formed Heavenly Derivation Art divine ability was frantically sounding warnings!
The intense sense of danger made Jiang Yun's hair stand on end!
This man was extremely dangerous!
Before you continue