Chapter 635 472: Sun Ascends and Rainbow Appears (Part 2)

In an instant, the clothes on Lu Jiangxian's body transformed into resplendent golden robes, circles of multicolored radiance unfurled behind him, and Spiritual Energy and Spiritual Fire cascaded like rain, spiraling around his form.

The [Shangyang Flame] of Jin Mingming, like swirling smoke and dust; the explosive, leaping [Six Sun Glories]; the [Golden Sun Radiant Origin] whose patterns flowed upon his garment... One after another, Mingyang-natured Spiritual Objects manifested at his side, fading and perishing, merging and sublimating into one another.

Though the jade pendant had not yet reached his hand, Lu Jiangxian's joy was beyond words. He murmured in a low voice:

"The greatest harvest of this journey turns out to be this wondrous spell of true transmission!"

Lu Jiangxian could nearly be certain, with these Immortal Techniques, even if he let this Mingyang Nature descend into the world, unless the bearer of the Mingyang fruit position arrived in person, no one could wrest away this Metal Nature from his grasp!

By comparison, Lu Jiangxian before was like a primitive man handed a high-tech computer—perhaps able to smash walnuts with it, and little else.

But now he was a hacker versed in electronic technology, not only able to bring forth all manner of wonders with this bit of Metal Nature, but also to channel it to glean much intelligence about the present world!

"What a pity, if only I possessed a physical body! By virtue of this Metal Nature and Immortal Technique alone, I could establish Foundation in three months, attain Zifu in six years..."

Joy rose in his heart, Lu Jiangxian's eyes gleamed brilliantly:

"Who knows if there are yet other such relics in all of heaven and earth! So long as I glance upon them once, the yields would be unimaginably rich!"

He reined in his exultation, secretly admonishing himself:

"Caution...I must remain cautious. Though with this Metal Nature I may become a chessmaster in this realm...I am yet within the Golden Core's domain, and must proceed step by step."

As he was plotting, the brooding radiance in the sky finally broke apart, a sliver of white light cascading down. Lu Jiangxian felt the power of Mirror Body slowly recovering; though his longing for the jade pendant had lessened, a trace of delight still surfaced.

"Not only have I gained three more Talisman Seeds, but [Taiyin Profound Light]'s might has reached the Zifu Level!"

Relying on the feedback from the heavens and earth, Lu Jiangxian's eyes shone faintly bright. Though he wasn't sure precisely how powerful Zifu Level truly was, by prior experience, it likely meant that a Zifu Monk struck head-on would perish instantly.

"[Taiyin Profound Light] absolutely cannot be used recklessly…"

His gaze still lingered on the Mingyang Metal Nature before him. With a mere thought, that Metal Nature began to shift and morph, transforming into a stream of light, coalescing into a human visage.

This countenance was steadfast and fierce, with a tall, straight nose, deep-set eyes, exuding an imposing masculine grandeur—yet not the brutish kind, but rather a charm of bold vitality that beguiled the heart.

His brows were broad and gentle, twin pupils gleaming with golden light hidden in the shadows cast by his nose, imbued with an added air of ruthless dominance.

"Li Qianyuan, the Great Ancestor of Wei…"

No one knew how many years Mingyang Nature had been passed down; the first image to manifest was still this earliest master. Gradually, it shifted again—now a slender, pale young man, swiftly flickering, with one countenance after another flitting by—all ancient cultivators who had once interacted with the Metal Nature.

At last, it slowly settled upon the face of a youthful boy, still innocent and fledgling.

"Chu Yi."

"It really is Chu Yi!"

Yet Lu Jiangxian scrutinized that face closely, lingering on its brows and nose for a while, and as he continued to peer, the present countenance gradually merged with the previous one.

He froze, and cried out in shock:

"Li Qianyuan!"

"Chu Yi is the reincarnation of Li Qianyuan! How could it be! How could this be! How could Luoxia Mountain…"

Lu Jiangxian's voice cut off abruptly. With a twist of the spell in his hand, the Metal Nature again began to flicker. He examined it back and forth for a long while—over the past millennium, Li Qianyuan had reincarnated no fewer than nineteen times.

The Metal Nature in his hand gradually shifted back into its original conical-radiance shape, quietly floating in Lu Jiangxian's grasp. He seated himself once more on the stone bench, his face ashen, murmuring:

"Luoxia Mountain, such ruthless Luoxia Mountain!"

Lu Jiangxian had long deduced there was a master of the Mingyang fruit position, but had not known the holder was still Li Qianyuan.

Now that he thought of it, as perhaps the first Emperor to realize the Mingyang Nature, Li Qianyuan founded an unprecedentedly centralized and feudal Da Wei; by all that Lu Jiangxian now understood, so long as he lived, none could usurp the Mingyang fruit position from him.

Yet the Perfected Lords of Luoxia Mountain coveted Mingyang. Alas, Golden Core in this world is nigh immortal, able to reincarnate endlessly. The only hope was to repeatedly force Li Qianyuan's reincarnation, again and again to cut short his life, time after time watch him rise again from the dust—thereby whittling away his fate and Divine Skills, and at last finding hope to ascend to the fruit position!

And for reasons unknown, Li Qianyuan had already forgotten his memories; through each reincarnation he never recalled his past, thus falling, time after time, into Luoxia Mountain's hands…

"Everyone thinks that Chu Yi bears destiny upon his head, peerless and unassailable…all envy him for playing amidst mortal dust, returning north to Luoxia, believing the Perfected Lord is only toying with the world…"

Lu Jiangxian closed his eyes ever so slightly:

"But who would know…who would guess…behind it all, with Wu, Yue, and Zhao as the chessboard, Mingyang's fruit position is muddied again and again… Perhaps every time, there are several Perfected Lords watching on in the Great Void…"

"No wonder…Chu Yi is so destiny-blessed, so unmatched, and even the other lucky scions touched by Mingyang's descent are each so formidable! It is all for the greatest possible grinding away of his fate and Divine Skills!!"

"Such ruthlessness from Luoxia Mountain!"

Lu Jiangxian exhaled lightly, and his thoughts jumped quickly to the fall of the Eastern Fire Cave Heaven.

"When the control over Mingyang's fruit position is sufficient, then the fall of the Cui Family's Eastern Fire Cave Heaven is enacted, vastly multiplying Mingyang Taoist Lineage both within and without the seas… Why deliberately let such inheritances escape outside…"

Staring at the speck of Metal Nature floating in his palm, Lu Jiangxian bowed his head slightly. Though with Immortal Technique he had gleaned some mysterious insight into the Metal Nature and fate, he still understood little about the fruit position itself, and could only surmise:

"Outwardly, it is to remunerate the various sects… but judging by their constant sealing away of cultivation techniques and my previous inferences, it can't possibly be so simple! In other words… Luoxia Mountain wishes to see Mingyang cultivators arise throughout the world—very likely, this furthers their own schemes…"

In the next instant, Lu Jiangxian suddenly recalled the sight of those five Perfected Lords gathered at the edge of Qing Song Temple. His heart constricted; he exhaled softly to quell his anxiety, and comforted himself:

"I've already chosen Mingyang, and now hold the Mingyang Metal Nature in hand… I have walked this far."

He waved his hand lightly, and picked up an object from the desk.

This was precisely what he had spent years crafting, utilizing that fragment of Metal Nature and by consulting myriad cultivation techniques—a Fifth Grade Zifu Cultivation Method. Now, with Immortal Technique in his grasp, after rigorous deduction, he found no major flaw. At last, his mind was set at ease.

It was a golden Jade Slip, intricate with winding patterns and inscribed with tiny characters:

"Bright Splendor Radiant Origin Scripture"

Having tidied everything, a bold idea rose in Lu Jiangxian's chest. His gaze swept downward, Divine Sense piercing forth, quickly scanning the whole expanse of Wangyue Lake.

Pausing momentarily upon the direct lineage of the Li Family, Lu Jiangxian found nothing he sought, his search spanning the small town. There, a spirited young man stood proudly in his courtyard, his glance warm as he regarded those around him.

This youth's brows were broad and handsome, his bearing generous and noble, draped in brocaded robes, with a gentle smile—none other than Li Chengliao!

Li Chengliao had handled matters wisely in the affair with Xu Xiao and won the favor of all his elders. Lately, fortune smiled on him—he had taken a new wife, broken through Qi Cultivation, and all prospects bloomed before him.

Yet Lu Jiangxian's Divine Sense did not tarry upon him, but drifted lightly past, settling instead upon someone at his side.

Seated there was a gentle lady, her smile sweet and bright. Though not as beautiful as Liu Lingzhen, every move she made was poised and unforced, her clear gaze shining as she gently cradled her belly. Lu Jiangxian's Divine Sense flickered—he had already sensed the fetus within her womb.

He lightly formed a spell gesture, Metal Nature flowing forth, tracing a hidden and subtle connection through the Great Void. Lu Jiangxian whispered softly:

"Since Mingyang has descended, destiny is scattering, and Heaven's chosen are born in profusion, why shouldn't it be my Li Family's turn!"