"Taiyin and Taiyang, which is weak and which is strong? When Yin and Yang Harmonization is achieved, one reigns as emperor over all beneath heaven."
Like an ancient incantation, these words had echoed from the Primordial Era to the present, leaving the world unable to remain calm.
Since ancient times, attaining the Dao had been fraught with hardships, the path all but impassable. Besides immense perseverance and wisdom, one also needed supreme fortune. Possessing an ancient scripture alone was not enough.
For instance, immortal divine dynasties and holy lands that endured through the ages all possessed ancient scriptures, yet aside from their founders, none of their descendants had ever attained the Dao.
It was as though a path could not be walked twice. Once a predecessor attained the Dao, the way was sealed for those who followed, leaving them without hope.
Yet Taiyin and the Sun were so extraordinary that legends claimed cultivating both to perfection could allow one to attain the Dao. Mastering these two ancient scriptures alone was enough.
Even if other ancient scriptures were cultivated to absolute perfection, one might still fail to take that final step their ancestor had taken, becoming only an existence comparable to a Quasi-Emperor.
When Taiyin and the Sun worked together and advanced side by side to perfection, one could reign as emperor. How could something so astonishing not drive the world mad?
Yet over the millions of years since then, countless sages and outstanding heroes had died, and no one had ever been heard to truly succeed.
Even Dongfang Taiyi, the sole surviving Great Sage of the Primordial Era, had driven himself insane through cultivation—a god by day and a demon by night.
One could well imagine how difficult this path was to walk. How could the members of the Sun God Sect not pale upon hearing Li Wangxian's intentions?
"Divine Son, no one since ancient times has ever made it through this path. With your talent, you'll attain the Dao sooner or later by focusing solely on either Taiyin or the Sun. Why take the risk?"
Uncle Jiang's expression changed drastically. Although he had sensed this might happen when Li Wangxian insisted on going to Tianyuan City to seek the Taiyin True Scripture, now that the moment had truly come, he still could not accept him taking such a risk.
"Exactly, Divine Son. You have the makings of a Great Emperor. If you cultivate steadily, step by step, you're destined to attain the Dao. Why walk such a dangerous path with such an uncertain future?"
Elder Lin and Elder Chen were also visibly alarmed, filled with shock and incomprehension at Li Wangxian's decision.
"Little Wang!"
Even Uncle Jiang and the others struggled to understand, let alone Mother Li. She offered no lengthy arguments, merely gazing at Li Wangxian in anxious silence.
Li Wangxian remained silent. He possessed the Yin and Yang Immortal Seed, so this path should be far less dangerous for him. His fortuitous encounter in Tianyuan City had also greatly advanced his attainment of the Dao, and he had gained the Taiyin Human Emperor's insights into Yang Born from Yin's Extremity, along with his explorations of Yin and Yang Harmonization.
Moreover, having read the original novel, he knew that only by taking this path could he obtain the greatest combat strength, gaining the power to preserve the Sun God Sect during the Dark Turmoil more than two hundred years later.
Only then could he prevent the Solar Holy Emperor from having to emerge to protect all living beings when nothing remained of him but a human skin. A tattered skin and a lone tower facing the Dark Supremes-how desolate a sight that was!
How could Li Wangxian not feel resentment and fury?
Now that he had a chance to prevent all of this, how could he not strive to turn it around?
There was also the blood debt owed by the Underworld, and more. Far too many reasons compelled Li Wangxian to take this path of Yin and Yang Harmonization. Yet beneath Mother Li's gaze, he ultimately could not voice any of them.
"Mother, I..." His words faltered, but his eyes remained utterly resolute as he looked straight at Father Li and Mother Li, silently conveying his will.
Seeing this, Father Li sighed. What could stop a man who aspired to the Emperor Road from pursuing the Dao?
"Since you've already decided, then give it your all! Don't disappoint us, but put your own safety first."
"Lan..." Mother Li turned toward her husband, then back toward her son, tears spilling silently down her face.
Li Wangxian's gaze remained steadfast and confident, conveying his decision and his faith in himself to his mother.
After a long while, Mother Li finally calmed down and stopped crying. She merely held her son's hand, offering silent comfort.
Within the Sun God Sect, Li Wangxian sat cross-legged in his cave abode, considering how to achieve Yin and Yang Harmonization and cultivate them both.
The Sea of Bitterness gives rise to Yin and Yang; this profound principle is already inherent within it. Life and death, Yin and Yang-opposed, yet coexisting. Although each is far too extreme, I have the Yin and Yang Immortal Seed as a reference and to stabilize my Sea of Bitterness. This hurdle should not be too difficult to clear.
Li Wangxian examined his own interior. Within his seemingly palm-sized Sea of Bitterness, boundless sun saint power surged, illuminating the black Bitter Sea until it resembled a golden ocean. Its divine energy was inexhaustible, supplying him with endless divine power like a blazing sun.
My cultivation is just right now, neither too high nor too low. Any higher, and the conflict between Yin and Yang would be too intense. Any lower, and without sun saint power to protect me, I'd probably be frozen into scraps by lunar saint power.
Li Wangxian was quite satisfied. Having sorted out his thoughts, he hesitated no longer. Within the Life Spring of his Sea of Bitterness, a golden-black Immortal Seed the size of a pigeon's egg rose from the bottom of the golden "Divine Spring."
Then the Immortal Seed trembled lightly, releasing a cloud of black mist, utterly Yin and utterly cold, with the mighty power to freeze all things. This was lunar saint power. The instant it emerged, Li Wangxian felt cold throughout his body, down to his marrow and soul. His expression changed, and he swiftly circulated the sun saint power within his Life Spring to envelop and temper the lunar energy, dissolving the chill brought by the lunar saint power.
Taiyin inherited the ultimate power of Yin from the dawn of creation. Filled with boundless killing intent, it could not be controlled and was almost impossible to refine, much less use to temper one's body.
Since ancient times, those who had truly cultivated the Taiyin Ancient Scripture to perfection could be counted on one hand. This meant contending with the universe and the heavens for fortune and the wonders of creation.
Now, Li Wangxian used sun saint power to temper and resist it. He finally avoided being refined alive and frozen into a mass of lunar energy, but a new problem arose.
He had cultivated the Sun Scripture, and now he was refining its opposing lunar saint power. The two clashed violently and could not merge at all, nearly shattering his Sea of Bitterness.
What Yin and Yang Harmonization, what two forces giving rise to each other—none of it could be achieved. There was only conflict and self-destruction. Golden-black waves thundered within his Sea of Bitterness as the Sun and lunar saint powers fiercely opposed and collided with each other.
Taiyin, Sun—how can they advance together?
Li Wangxian pondered the problem, employing every means at his disposal. He used the Yin and Yang Immortal Seed to stabilize his Sea of Bitterness so that the conflict between the two would not shatter it.
Then he used the Wheel of Life to hold the Sun saint power and the Bitter Sea to contain the lunar power. One above and one below, the two overlapped and gave rise to each other. This was already one of the profound principles of the Sea of Bitterness realm. Evolving them this way accorded with the Dao Resonance of Yin and Yang, life and death. In Li Wangxian's view, it should have resolved the conflict.
Yet even so, he suffered injuries. The two diametrically opposed forces nearly pulverized his Sea of Bitterness into a mass of chaos. Had the Yin and Yang Immortal Seed not released a wave of yin and yang qi in time to stabilize it, he would have been left half-crippled.
Li Wangxian persevered, pondering in silence as he sat cross-legged in his cave abode and once again began comprehending the Dao.
"The Dao of heaven and earth uses yin and yang qi to create all things. The principle of human life uses yin and yang qi to nourish every bone. Within the body, nothing fails to accord with the principles of Yin and Yang."
Li Wangxian murmured to himself, carefully contemplating these principles as he circulated the Taiyin Ancient Scripture within his body and began another attempt.
"One Yin and one Yang are called the Dao. All things bear Yin upon their backs and embrace Yang, blending their energies to achieve harmony."
The Sea of Bitterness gives rise to Yin and Yang, containing the profound principles of intertwined life and death, of bearing Yin and embracing Yang. I should begin here.
With his mind free of distraction, Li Wangxian worked through the process step by step. Combining the Yin and Yang Immortal Seed with the mysteries of the Sea of Bitterness, he evolved Taiyin and the Sun, making them overlap and advance together, blending water and fire.
He regarded himself as the Dao, dividing Yin and Yang within his Sea of Bitterness, intent on making Taiyin and the Sun work together, depend on each other for existence, and restrain each other through opposition.
More than half a month passed in this fashion. From time to time, the collisions between the two shook Li Wangxian so violently that he coughed up blood, while his Sea of Bitterness secret realm was tempered until it teetered on the brink of collapse.
Yet by observing the Yin and Yang Immortal Seed, comprehending the mysteries of the Sea of Bitterness, and studying the transformations of Taiji, he drew upon these supreme principles to cultivate the Taiyin Ancient Scripture and Solar Ancient Scripture. At last, he achieved a breakthrough, making crucial progress.
Of course, this did not mean he had truly fused Taiyin and the Sun. He had merely become able to cultivate them at a preliminary level. Cultivating the two scriptures together was simply too difficult.
That he could achieve even this small step was due not only to his talent, but also to having the Yin and Yang Immortal Seed as a ready-made reference, as well as the far too many things he had gained during his last visit to Tianyuan City.
This chapter was really hard to write. Just thinking about the next chapter gives me a headache. I really want to gloss over it in a single sentence.
Before you continue