Chapter 222 - 168: Lifebound Talent (2)

’The original owner of this Five-Colored Blood Pearl was clearly a mighty expert of the five elements. The reason I could gain insights from the leaves must have been from accessing the inherent information carried within the Five-Colored Blood Pearl itself. The Five Elements Techniques I practiced were merely a catalyst.’

’Perhaps when I reach the realm of the Divine Bird from my memories, the Five Elements Techniques I practice will no longer provide me with such insights.’

Fang Qingyuan laughed to himself at the thought. ’Who am I to even dream of surpassing the original owner of the Five-Colored Blood Pearl? I remember the scene from my memory: the Divine Bird crossing the void, its body so immense... its cultivation was definitely beyond the Divinity Transformation Realm. Its rank even transcended the four-tiered system of Heaven, Earth, Profound, and Yellow. Only the ancient divine beasts of myth could possess such might and majesty.’

Putting these speculations aside, once Fang Qingyuan understood the purpose of the leaves, he sent his Divine Sense probing upward. At the very top of the Five-Colored Tree, he saw three small twigs extending outward. Five colors flowed along them, and at the tip of each rested a small fruit.

He called them fruits, but they only had the shape of one. Upon closer inspection, Fang Qingyuan discovered that these fruit-like objects were filled with all kinds of incredibly profound Talismans. The Talismans were interlinked and as small as mustard seeds. A single fruit the size of a longan contained hundreds of millions of them. If Fang Qingyuan weren’t the master of this tree, he probably wouldn’t have been able to perceive this at all.

And yet, despite being the tree’s master, Fang Qingyuan had only taken a single, closer look—not even managing to make out a single Talisman clearly—when he felt his Divine Sense being consumed at a tremendous rate, as if it were about to be drained completely dry. Frightened, he hastily abandoned his probing of the fruit, narrowly avoiding being drained to the point of unconsciousness.

After several breaths, Fang Qingyuan finally composed himself. He realized that the composition of these fruits was beyond his current ability to comprehend.

’So this is a Divine Communication Fruit,’ he thought. ’I just wonder if the Talents of other Cultivators are also displayed in this form.’

Fang Qingyuan stopped probing the specific composition of the three fruits. He didn’t have much time. He needed to finish his investigation quickly and deal with Lechuan and the others waiting outside.

So, Fang Qingyuan reached out with his Divine Sense and touched the smallest of the three fruits. An instant later, a message flooded his mind:

"God-Slaying Intent!"

The name instantly brought a memory to mind: the flash of sword light that had forced the Five-Colored Divine Bird to retreat in a single blow. ’The bird was clearly struck by that light, and the memory of it must have been profound. That very experience was likely hidden within the Five-Colored Blood Pearl. After I absorbed it, it must have crystallized into this fruit.’

’Later, when the sword light swept up all the five-colored blood, the drop I absorbed experienced it firsthand. The combination of those two events somehow preserved the experience within the blood itself. Then, when I reached Foundation Establishment, it became one of my lifebound Divine Techniques.’

Such a fateful coincidence struck Fang Qingyuan as utterly absurd, but since it was reality, he had no choice but to accept it with mixed emotions.

Having learned about the smallest fruit, Fang Qingyuan didn’t probe its specific functions any further. He was short on time and needed to finish his investigation quickly to deal with Lechuan and the others outside.

So, Fang Qingyuan extended his Divine Sense to the second fruit. If the first fruit was the size of a longan, this one was as large as a lychee. As another stream of information entered his mind, Fang Qingyuan was once again left dumbfounded.

"Five-Colored Light!"

’This is the Divine Technique from the Five-Colored Divine Bird itself! This power reminds me of a divine bird from the myths of my past life, one that also possessed a Five-Colored Light technique—the first peacock in all of creation, Kong Xuan!’

’Thinking back, the Divine Bird did bear some resemblance to a peacock.’ At this thought, Fang Qingyuan’s heart leapt with excitement. ’The Five-Colored Divine Light is said to sweep away all things. If I can truly master it, I’m sure I’ll be able to live much more securely in this world.’

’Of course, I’ll still need to verify whether this Five-Colored Light is the same as the Five-Colored Divine Light I’m imagining.’ Suppressing his excitement, Fang Qingyuan cast his Divine Sense toward the final fruit.

This fruit was as large as an apple, about the size of an adult’s fist. It looked heavy enough to nearly bend the five-colored branch, though of course, that was merely Fang Qingyuan’s perception.

Fang Qingyuan eagerly extended his Divine Sense toward it, and an even more complex flood of information washed over him.

"Innate Qi!"

After a person is born, the Innate Primordial Qi they carry from the womb will gradually dissipate over time. When their Innate Primordial Qi is completely depleted, that person will die.

This was basic knowledge in the Cultivation Realm, and Fang Qingyuan was naturally aware of it. The Elixir Pills and Arrays available on the market that could increase longevity and replenish one’s essence all functioned primarily by supplementing a Cultivator’s Innate Primordial Qi.

Yet the Divine Technique Fang Qingyuan had just discovered could not only slow the loss of Innate Primordial Qi but also absorb external vital energy and convert it into his own.

’Innate Qi! According to the records of the Beast Taming Sect, this is a superb Talent capable of doubling one’s lifespan! With this Talent, a Foundation Establishment Cultivator can live as long as someone at the Golden Core Realm. At the Golden Core Realm, one’s lifespan would be comparable to that of a Nascent Soul expert!’

’An increased lifespan dramatically raises the chances of breaking through to the next realm. A Foundation Establishment Cultivator is best served by achieving Core Formation before they are two hundred years old, but a Cultivator with the Innate Qi Talent can do so before they turn four hundred. That’s a full two hundred years more than their peers! With that much extra time, reaching the Golden Core Realm is practically a sure thing.’

’How many brilliant Cultivators have dazzled their generation, only to be constrained by their lifespans and ultimately turn to dust? If they had just been given a few hundred more years, the influence of this realm would surely be several times greater than it is today.’