Battle Through the Heavens: Heavenly comprehension

The temperature inside the cave gradually rose, and peach blossoms, vivid as blood, bloomed one after another, filling the simple cavern with an unusually warm and cozy atmosphere.

Xiao Yan activated the secret technique Diamond Four Truths, stirring the clouds and rain with his vajra pestle, purging and cleansing the violent medicinal energy within Yun Yun's body.

Once the medicinal effects subsided, Yun Yun regained her senses and clarity of mind.

Because the newly realized cultivation technique was extraordinary, employing it allowed both of them to experience an enjoyment hundreds—if not thousands—of times more intense than usual.

Their bodies burned like cauldrons of raging flames, waves of scorching heat radiating outward as pure fighting qi surged back and forth between them.

Just as Xiao Yan was pondering the Buddhist parable, he suddenly had an epiphany—no longer confined by the dichotomy of "gradual enlightenment" and "sudden enlightenment."

To regard all external temptations as demons, akin to mindlessly chanting sutras and reciting Buddha's name, was wrong. One could never achieve true enlightenment this way.

Conversely, indulging without restraint, adhering to the idea of "wine and meat passing through the gut, while Buddha remains in the heart," was also wrong.

After all, there was a warning that followed: "If ordinary people imitate me, they will fall into demonic paths."

Thus, the secret technique Xiao Yan had realized—Diamond Four Truths—no longer rejected all temptations outright. Yet it did not allow external influences to flood his heart unchecked. At the critical moment, there was still the step of tempering with the Heart Flame.

Of course, the true essence of this technique could not be fully explained in just a few words. Xiao Yan could only touch upon it briefly.

True teachings were not passed carelessly—even oral transmission could dilute their potency over generations, let alone his crude attempt at articulation.

With this realization, Xiao Yan's mind became extraordinarily clear. His past strength might be sealed, but that did not mean he had lost the ability to cultivate further.

Even now, under the effects of the Amethyst Seal, he could still begin practicing this technique and advance its power.

Diamond Four Truths was a later realization, incorporating some of the effects of Bodhi Three Realizations.

When cultivating this technique, it could refine bodily impurities, temper flesh, bones, fighting qi, and even the soul—its purifying capabilities far surpassing its predecessor.

At the same time, during the cultivation process, Yun Yun was fortunate enough to benefit from the polishing effect of the vajra pestle, infused with the technique's unique energy.

With each exchange of energy, not only were the medicinal forces within her purified, but her innate talent was also elevated once more.

As her fighting qi circulated, it was ground and purified by the vajra pestle, as if pressed beneath a massive millstone.

After this ordeal, the vast fighting qi within her had visibly shrunk by a tenth. However, its quality had become far more refined.

The rich cyan glow, if channeled into a combat skill, would undoubtedly unleash greater power.

Moreover, the sacred golden light emitted by the vajra pestle seemed to illuminate every meridian in Yun Yun's body.

Gentle energy crept along her delicate meridians, reinforcing them. As the golden light gradually dimmed, it seeped into her meridians.

A glimmer of golden light flowed along the meridian walls, instantly toughening the once-frail passages.

Soon after, a warm current permeated through the meridian walls, spreading to her limbs and bones, filling Yun Yun with indescribable comfort.

Though Xiao Yan's body was in a state of extreme heat, his mind was surprisingly clear.

Stranger still, what might last mere minutes for an ordinary person was entirely different for him.

Even after an hour, every time he seemed on the verge of losing control, a soothing force would surge through his body, calming and steadying him.

Within Xiao Yan's heart, there seemed to be a dazzling golden furnace, refining and purifying the wind-attribute fighting qi drawn forth by the technique.

At the same time, even the natural energy stirred by this technique was affected by this unique refinement process, becoming exceptionally pure and possessing miraculous effects—nourishing meridians, bones, and cells alike.

Thus, Xiao Yan felt as though he had tapped into an inexhaustible wellspring of energy.

In the end, this newly generated energy circulated through his meridians according to his cultivation method, becoming a stream of fighting qi separate from the sealed energy of his Dou Qi vortex.

Each time he completed a full cycle of this technique, Xiao Yan's spirit ascended to a higher plane.

Faintly, it seemed as though he had touched upon something profound—yet putting it into words remained elusive.

As the sun set and the moon rose, after a period of cultivation, Xiao Yan finally grasped a fragment of the insight that had flashed through his mind.

Regarding his current cultivation method, gathering Heavenly Flames was not merely for the sake of evolving his technique—that was only one of their functions, and a rather basic one at that.

Beyond that, nurturing each Heavenly Flame until it could develop into an independent spirit—like Little Yi—was their second function, an advanced application.

Previously, Xiao Yan had believed that for a Heavenly Flame to develop sentience, it first needed to possess strength no weaker than a Dou Zong.

For example, the mature Fallen Heart Flame trapped in the Jia Nan Academy had developed a trace of sentience within the strange magma world of the Tushe Ancient Emperor's cave.

Its strength had been roughly at the Dou Zong level.

As for the likes of the Pure Lotus Demon Flame and the Void Devouring Flame—the pinnacle of sentient Heavenly Flames—their intelligence was not merely a matter of power. Overthinking it was pointless.

Considering both cases, Xiao Yan had not dwelled deeply on the second application. Strengthening the Heavenly Flames first was the foundation for their sentience.

This was how he had thought, and how he had acted—currently, his Heavenly Flames were still in the nurturing stage.

Yet now, Xiao Yan had faintly touched upon some insights regarding the birth of Heavenly Flame spirits, which left him deeply astonished.

If he could have the Heavenly Flames assist him sooner, the number of trump cards at his disposal would multiply.

Speaking of which, Xiao Yan was quite wary of Protector Wu from the Jia Ma Empire.

A powerful enemy was not the issue—the real danger lay in an enemy who was not only powerful but also cunning.

Protector Wu Ying of the Soul Palace was one of the most successful executors of the Soul Palace's schemes.

Capturing Xiao Zhan, exterminating the Xiao family, seizing Yao Lao—his shadow loomed large over the first two, and he had personally carried out the last.

After his departure from the Jia Ma Empire, the joint invasion by the three great empires likely also had his influence, possibly through suggestions to his superiors in the Soul Palace.

Xiao Yan was well aware that his greatest trump card was Yao Lao.

After years of recovery, Yao Lao's strength should give him over a 90% chance of victory against the master of the Tian Xin Empire's Soul Palace branch.

After eliminating Protector Tie, if the Soul Palace sent reinforcements to the Chu Yun Empire, Yao Lao could eliminate them as well.

But no matter how strong Yao Lao was, he could only guard one front at a time.

As time passed, Protector Wu might also receive news. This old schemer had waited for Yun Shan to stabilize his realm—he might very well seek reinforcements from the Soul Palace.

One or two, Xiao Yan could handle. But if their numbers grew, trouble would arise.

Moreover, Protector Wu's base in the Jia Ma Empire was closest to the Chu Yun Empire. Given the death of the formidable Protector Tie, it was entirely reasonable for the Soul Palace to send someone to the Jia Ma Empire to investigate.

(End of Chapter)

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