Chapter 26: The Sumeru Ring!
When Lu Wu was at the camp, many disciples of the Grand Void Sect had already begun to pay attention to it.
Normally, they would have thought it was just a peculiar-looking, unfamiliar little insect. But after hearing that Lu Wu had slaughtered the Scarlet-blooded Young Azure Flood Dragon, their view changed.
This was a ferocious bug!
But where had it come from?
Many people were curious.
From the perspective of the mosquito, being stared at like this would be rather unsettling. Still, Lu Wu didn't care. Ever since he had revealed himself to Cang Yukong, Zhuo Ya, and Tao Ye, he had already decided to give up hiding.
Now, what Lu Wu needed to do was to become stronger as quickly as possible. If he could evolve to the Soul Flight realm in this great war, then the sky and seas would be boundless for him to roam as he pleased.
Moreover, in this war tacitly agreed upon by the Grand Void Palace and the Ten Thousand Demon Mountains, the high-level combatants on both sides would not participate. This was also the reason why Lu Wu was willing to take this gamble.
…
Grand Void Palace.
Li Daoyun sat cross-legged in meditation, his essence reverberating with the sounds of the Dao.
“Cultivating to this stage, the flesh, the soul, and the origin have begun to show disharmony.”
“The trinity must advance together to reach another level.”
The body, the soul, and true essence complemented each other. If one lagged behind, true strength would be difficult to achieve.
Beside Li Daoyun were all sorts of soul cultivation secret tomes. Over the years, he had tried many, but none proved suitable.
When Li Daoyun meditated, the world perceived by his spirit differed from that felt by his body—a sensation of his soul wandering the Grand Void.
Of course, this “Grand Void” was not the palace itself, but the boundless realm of the void.
In the hazy state between waking and dreaming, a voice sounded at his ear: “The Dao endures because it does not live for itself, thus it is everlasting. The sage endures because she does not act for herself, thus she persists.”
Li Daoyun heard this passage in a daze, turning it over in his mind, finding it strangely familiar.
Suddenly, he woke with a start, breaking out of his wandering state and opening his eyes: “This is—!”
This voice was not the Dao sound from his soul but an actual voice echoing at his ear.
It was a chapter from the “Saintly Soul Spirit.”
The “Saintly Soul Spirit” was left behind by the third-generation ancestor of the Grand Void Palace, long, long ago. So far, no one in the palace had succeeded in cultivating this soul secret art.
Yet within this voice, the flavor of the Dao lingered—clearly the realization of one who had mastered the art.
Li Daoyun looked around, then knelt directly to the ground. “Li Daoyun, current Master of the Grand Void Palace, greets the venerable predecessor!”
“Fool.” A woman’s voice sounded. “I’m not dead yet.”
Li Daoyun grew flustered: “I didn’t mean that, you are—”
The woman’s voice: “The Saintess of the Grand Void.”
“The third-generation ancestor?!” Li Daoyun exclaimed. “You’ve returned?!”
The Saintess of the Grand Void was the previous incarnation of the Celestial Saintess.
The Celestial Saintess said, “The reason you cannot cultivate the ‘Saintly Soul Spirit’ is that I composed it only after attaining sainthood—without a saint-level soul guide, it cannot be cultivated. But you are well-suited to it.”
Li Daoyun had tried many soul secret arts, all to no avail. There were countless secret arts in the world, but not every one suited every person.
Though gifted, Li Daoyun had never found a soul art that fit him. Now, he understood why.
Li Daoyun bowed reverently. “Please instruct me, Ancestor!”
The Celestial Saintess replied, “Very well.”
A red lotus blossomed in mid-air, and at once Li Daoyun felt his soul baptized.
The world became clearer than ever before.
The Celestial Saintess said, “Within the Grand Void Domain, a naturally born beast has appeared, quite extraordinary.”
Li Daoyun was startled. “Ancestor, does the rise of the Grand Void Palace rest upon this beast?”
“That, I do not know,” the Celestial Saintess replied. “But I have already taken him as my disciple.”
“!!!” Li Daoyun knocked his head on the ground. “Ancestor, your mention of this is—”
The Celestial Saintess said, “My taking him as a disciple cannot be revealed, but he needs tempering, and an identity.”
“His current plan may be to grow strong in this Moon-chasing War, then flee far away.”
“Go to him now and show goodwill.”
“Remember, do not let him know it was I who asked you.”
Li Daoyun hurriedly replied, “Ancestor, your disciple understands!”
The Celestial Saintess said, “To the outside world… say he is gifted, that he and the Grand Void Palace share the same origin, and appoint him as an honorary elder.”
Li Daoyun asked, “What kind of beast is he, exactly?”
“Dragon? Phoenix? Qilin? True Hou?”
The Celestial Saintess answered, “An insect.”
“???” Li Daoyun had thought that any beast worthy of a saint’s favor would be a legendary one. “…”
The Grand Void Palace had declined over the years, but with the ancestor’s return, Li Daoyun knew the opportunity for revival had come!
…
Amidst the army, Lu Wu continued to wander about.
After all, it was his first time openly mingling with so many cultivators.
Each of them had their own experiences and perspectives, and their conversations more or less inspired Lu Wu.
Leisurely flying, Lu Wu suddenly felt his soul shudder. He quickly checked the perspective of the Book of Knowledge.
“Grand Void Palace Master Li Daoyun detected.”
The Book of Knowledge would display the name of any target Lu Wu had already identified.
Why was the Grand Void Palace Master here at this moment?
Lu Wu was deeply conflicted.
Should he run?
He had intended to fish in troubled waters, advancing to the Flight realm during this war.
With the sudden appearance of a high-level figure, his plans wavered.
“Should I slip away before he notices me?”
However, Li Daoyun flew straight toward him.
Lu Wu shifted position; Li Daoyun adjusted his course as well.
Now Lu Wu was sure—Li Daoyun was coming for him!
Within the army, Li Daoyun waved his hand, and a barrier sprang up, enclosing only the two of them.
Lu Wu began to play dumb, landing on a blade of grass and pretending to be an ordinary insect.
Li Daoyun’s voice sounded: “Impressive—your body is completely uncultivated, yet your soul has reached the Qi Gathering realm.”
Lu Wu’s hair stood on end—he’d been found out?
Li Daoyun said, “There’s no need to hide. I’ve already discovered you.”
“You were born in the Grand Void Mountains, and the Grand Void Palace is located here as well. In a sense, we share the same origin.” As he spoke, Li Daoyun fixed his eyes on Lu Wu.
Lu Wu said nothing.
Li Daoyun smiled. “Since we share the same origin, you are one of us. With your talent, reaching the Flight realm of the ‘Ten Thousand Beasts Chart’ is only a matter of time. Why not grant you the position of honorary elder in advance?”
Lu Wu: “Are you serious?”
Li Daoyun clasped his hands behind his back. “All living things under heaven—serving as an honorary elder of the Grand Void Palace is no humiliation. At present, your strength is still low; you need protection. As an honorary elder, the Grand Void Palace will naturally shelter you. It’s a fair exchange.”
Lu Wu didn’t know what Li Daoyun was thinking, but sensed only goodwill from him. “Then…”
Li Daoyun interrupted, “Wait.”
“What is your name?”
Lu Wu: “…”
Li Daoyun said, “To appoint you as an honorary elder, I must know your name. I am the Master of the Grand Void Palace, but even I am not above all—I must answer to the council of elders.”
Lu Wu: “Lu Wu.”
Li Daoyun mused inwardly: Born of heaven and earth, yet even has a surname—could there be another story behind the surname Lu in the way of heaven?
“Very well. From now on, you are an honorary elder of the Grand Void Palace.”
“I’ll give you something, too.”
A ring-like object flew toward Lu Wu.
Lu Wu caught it with his foreleg. “What is this?”
Li Daoyun smiled. “A Sumeru Ring, similar to a spatial pouch, personally crafted by me.”
“Its unique property is that it can serve as a defensive soul artifact. Of course, for an ordinary person it provides little protection, but for you, it is just right.”
Lu Wu was overjoyed. “Such a benefit? The Grand Void Palace really lives up to its name—join for just six coins and get a gift?”
Li Daoyun: “???”
“Since you are now an honorary elder, I will formally announce this to the disciples. Moreover, in this Moon-chasing campaign, the Grand Void Palace intends to annex the Ten Thousand Demon Mountains. Are you willing to contribute?”
“Absolutely!” Lu Wu said. “If you take the palace’s gifts, you must do your part and speak no complaints. I’ll help for sure.”
At last, he could openly go forth and level up!