Chapter 289: Chapter 219: Fire Element and Fire Virtue, the Foundation Establishment Examination

An abrupt silence fell over Yuanchu Palace. Pang Zhongwang’s expression stiffened, and he turned to look at the highest Dharma Platform.

"Daoist..."

"The Daoist told you to stand down. Didn’t you understand?!"

True Master Xuanmiao straightened up, its tone haughty as it barked out the rebuke.

It had often acted high and mighty by borrowing its previous master’s prestige.

Pang Zhongwang took a deep breath, fury churning inside him. ’I, a dignified True Inheritance of the Eight Peaks from an Ancestral Sect, am being openly intimidated by a wretched beast.’

But the title "Daoist" weighed heavily on him, permitting no defiance. The lesson of Luo Qingya of Gen Peak—a Grand True Master at the Foundation Establishment Fifth Layer who had utterly perished—was still a vivid memory.

’If I were to anger the Daoist, it wouldn’t be out of the question for him to strike me down on the spot.’

At this thought, Pang Zhongwang’s confidence faltered. He lowered his head, gave a Daoist salute, and slowly retreated.

In the vast and hazy expanse of the Grand Void, the True Monarch glanced sideways, his gaze falling upon Jiang Yi’s shoulder.

"Your little cat is rather brazen."

"My poor discipline is to blame. I have embarrassed myself before you, True Monarch."

Jiang Yi stroked True Master Xuanmiao’s ears to calm it down, then stepped into the air. A condensed Profound Light enveloped his body as he stood silently above.

Facing this Innate Daoist, the one who had become master of the Changming Heavenly Pool, the True Monarch’s tone softened considerably.

"Since the Daoist is still in the Qi Cultivation Realm, I will not test your Cultivation. I have long heard that the Daoist’s Dao Wisdom is exceptional and your innate talent is transcendent. How about we engage in a discourse on the Dao?"

Jiang Yi’s brow arched slightly, and he immediately cupped his hands in a salute.

"I am at the True Monarch’s disposal."

Another great sound echoed from above the Grand Void, like bells and chimes ringing in unison, the sound waves rippling outward.

The True Monarch Dongtian, ruler of Kun Peak, raised a hand and pointed. He retracted the Luosheng Treasure Mirror and summoned forth a quaint, ancient study.

"Please enter, Daoist."

Jiang Yi’s eyes flickered. This time, he didn’t need an explanation from True Master Xuanmiao to recognize the object.

Its name was the "Canghai Study," and it too was a high-grade Magical Treasure.

He didn’t know which True Monarch had created it, but its function was rather impractical.

This treasure housed an Artifact Spirit that nurtured true knowledge. Every text and scripture placed within the Canghai Study would be carefully read by the Artifact Spirit until it knew them by heart.

It was said that the Canghai Study contained over 97,000 Daoist Scriptures, encompassing the profound cultivation secrets of numerous Dharma Lineages.

After it fell into the hands of Kun Peak’s True Monarch Dongtian, he used it to test his disciples’ cultivation progress and their understanding of Daoist Skills.

’The Canghai Study... This True Monarch is incredibly wealthy, with an endless supply of Magical Treasures.’

As Jiang Yi mulled this over, he flicked his sleeves and, riding his Profound Light, flew inside.

The Canghai Study contained a pocket universe, a world within a mustard seed. The space inside was immense, several times larger than even the Spiritual Truth Abode in the Changming Heavenly Pool.

The moment Jiang Yi stepped inside, he was transported to an octagonal pavilion where a short, kind-faced old man sat.

"Please have a seat, guest."

The short old man had a humble and friendly demeanor. He pointed to a cushion beside the low table.

Jiang Yi understood. He sat down and waited for the Artifact Spirit to begin its questions.

The Canghai Study had a rule: "ask and you shall receive." Anyone who entered and passed the Artifact Spirit’s test could request a corresponding Opportunity.

"Honored guest, are you still in the Qi Cultivation Realm?"

the short old man asked with a beaming smile.

"That is correct."

Jiang Yi gave a slight nod.

"In that case, I will not make things intentionally difficult for you."

The old man thought for a moment before taking an object from his sleeve and placing it gently on the table. His tone was appraising.

"I observe that you cultivate a fire-based technique, honored guest, and your Merit is quite profound. I wonder, would you be willing to demonstrate it for this little old man to appraise?"

Jiang Yi glanced down at the table. A Jade Bowl sat there, completely empty. He couldn’t immediately guess its purpose.

Since the Artifact Spirit of the Canghai Study wanted to see his mastery of fire techniques for itself, he didn’t hold back. With a slight push of his Cultivation Technique, Magical Profound Light surged from the crown of his head.

Golden flames and crimson mist mingled like water, finally condensing into a beam of brilliant light over a foot long, which hovered steadily before him.

The old man’s gaze locked onto the cluster of Six Dings fire. He stroked his beard and nodded, his approval overflowing.

"Honored guest, your methods are truly extraordinary! The fact that you can perform the Combined Refining of Bingding to harmonize Yin and Yang shows a foundation in fire techniques that is incredibly rare in the Qi Cultivation Realm."

Jiang Yi was well aware that his own mastery of fire techniques was virtually unrivaled.

He had studied the Bingding Crimson Divine Light and the Red Sky Void True Qi day and night, becoming an expert in this Dao long ago. Even Feng Yuan, the True Inheritance of Li Peak who had mastered Samadhi Fire, was full of sincere admiration for him.

"Honored guest, please place this fire into the bowl."

The old man pointed to the Jade Bowl and began to explain slowly.

"This item is called the ’Fuchen Bowl.’ It was refined from the ’Qi of the Seven Luminaries’ and contains ’Tail Fire,’ which is why it is also known as the ’Dragon’s Tail Fuchen Bowl.’"

With a flicker of his Divine Thought, Jiang Yi guided the beam of fiery light to descend slowly into the Jade Bowl.

A startling scene unfolded. The Bingding Firelight leaped, directly manifesting a physical form.

Jiang Yi looked closely and saw a monster with a human body and a tiger’s head. It had whiskers, the character for "fire" branded on its forehead, and was clad in chain mail. Its aura was fierce and violent.

"When the Fuchen Bowl encounters fire, it gives birth to this fierce tiger. This is my test for you."

the old man explained in a steady, unhurried tone.

"If you can subdue it and then comprehend its intent, you will have passed this stage."

’Subdue it?’

Jiang Yi raised an eyebrow, his gaze falling upon the fire tiger. Its tail swayed back and forth, the tip as sharp as a scorpion’s stinger, and its entire body radiated a thick, savage aura.

’So it’s the ’Tail Fire Tiger.’’

Among the Spells of the Five Elements, his foundation was fire, so he instantly recognized the fierce tiger’s origin. It was one of the four phenomena of Fire Virtue.

When Qi Cultivation Cultivators study Daoist Skills, most choose one of the Five Elements to focus on.

But the Five Elements are also divided into external and internal aspects. For example, fire has Bing Fire and Ding Fire, while water has Ren Water and Kui Water.

Typically, upon reaching the Flying Foundation Establishment Realm and beginning to achieve a Perfect Life Essence, a cultivator would start to complete their Yin and Yang.

Those who cultivate fire techniques must combine and refine Bing and Ding Fire; those who cultivate water techniques must master both Ren and Kui Water.

Upon reaching this stage, one can gain complete control over the Fire Element and the Water Element.

The next step is to cultivate Fire Virtue and Water Virtue.

At that point, one must begin to "nurture their Virtue."

’The Five Elements have internal and external aspects; the Five Virtues give rise to four phenomena.’

Jiang Yi mused that the four phenomena of Fire Virtue were the "Tail Fire Tiger," the "Wing Fire Serpent," the "Beak Fire Monkey," and the "Room Fire Pig."

Among them, the Tail Fire Tiger presided over battle and slaughter, making it the most ferocious by nature.

Clearly, this test from the Artifact Spirit of the Canghai Study was meant to see if his Cultivation in fire techniques was enough to suppress the innate ferocity of the Tail Fire Tiger.

Jiang Yi’s eyelids drooped slightly, as if he were lost in thought.

「Outside the Canghai Study.」

The other True Inheritance disciples could also see what was happening inside. When they saw the Artifact Spirit pose its challenge, Pang Zhongwang couldn’t help but sneer.

"How can a mere Qi Cultivation Cultivator solve a problem meant for the Foundation Establishment Realm? No matter how profound his Dao Wisdom, it will be useless."

Gu Changling also frowned, thinking that while the Artifact Spirit of the Canghai Study claimed it wouldn’t make things difficult, it had intentionally set the bar for the test far too high.

The Tail Fire Tiger is one of the four phenomena of Fire Virtue. For the Daoist to be able to perform the Combined Refining of Bingding in the Qi Cultivation Realm, thereby completing his Yin and Yang and cultivating a proper Fire Element Spell, was already an extraordinary feat.

To take it a step further and subdue the Tail Fire Tiger—that was a task for the Foundation Establishment Realm.