Final Step: Ennobling The Pillars!
After a cultivator establishes his foundational pillars, then comes the most important part in breaking through to the Violet Palace realm. In this part, apart from initiating and finally stabilizing oneself, a cultivator had no control over the events that would transpire in his dantain.
Ennobling the pillars is said to be a step that was half consolidation and half supplication. The pillars erected in a cultivator's body will commune with the world and the world's will bless the pillars during this step. The level of blessing usually determines the grade of the foundation a cultivator has laid.
Duncan knew that this was a crucial step. He didn't get distracted at this moment. Obviously, the events that occurred while he established his pillars made him a little wary. But, this was not the time for him to be worried about it. So, Duncan put away all the distracting thoughts and concentrated on his dantain.
Revolving the spirit qi in his body as per the new route that had been supplied to him by his bloodline, Duncan felt a quiver go through his body the moment the qi in his body completed one cycle.
His eight pillars started to buzz in his dantain and he felt them establishing an ephemeral connection with the world in general. He also felt a heavy presence in his soul and mind. The presence seemed as if it would invade his body and dantain as well. Duncan was completely powerless to stop the invasion.
Steeling his heart, Duncan waited for the judgment of the world's will without any resistance. He had already done everything that needed to be done to establish the legendary foundation. Now, he was at the final step and it rested in the hands of some other entity. There wasn't a thing to do about it.
Duncan felt the presence invade his body, mind, soul, dantain, and every other inch of his being. He felt as if there could be no secrets before the presence at all. The presence had a weight to it that made it difficult for him to breathe completely.
Duncan felt a buzz go through his being after some time and the presence began to retreat. He looked at his soul and found that the token that had been resting peacefully so far in his soul was beginning to rotate and give off a dazzling glow.
Duncan cursed inwardly wondering what the hell was this token going to do now. The fading presence paused for a second and the next second he felt it concentrate solely on the token. It felt as if the presence was scrutinizing the token. The token also started glowing brightly.
The next moment, Duncan felt the presence slam into the token as if it was displeased with its behavior. The token struggled hard, but it was quickly subdued and made to become obedient again in his soul. The presence buzzed and retreated as if in triumph.
Duncan didn't know what the confrontation between the token and the presence was all about. He only knew that the token, that he had never paid much attention to, might not be as simple as he thought. Duncan felt a headache coming as he looked at the once more docile token.
Just as Duncan was speculating on the presence of the token in his soul and its implications, he felt his pillars starting to revolve at increasing speed. Duncan moved his concentration back to the dantain and was greeted with a bizarre sight.
The eight pillars were revolving in a strange rhythm and they were beginning to exude scarlet light all over. Patterns began forming on the pillars that Duncan had no knowledge of. Duncan tried to investigate these patterns and found them very profound.
Moreover, he could also feel the world resonating with these patterns in a mystical manner causing him to be surprised. He didn't want to interfere in such phenomena. He felt as if the world was communicating with his pillars through these patterns. So, he kept his thoughts on a tight leash and watched the proceedings in interest.
The communion between the world and the pillars in his dantain lasted for a long time. Duncan didn't know how long he sat watching those two interact through the patterns that appeared on the pillars. As time passed, more and more patterns began forming on his pillar.
With each pattern being formed, the pillars in his dantain began to visibly shine like never before. The scarlet glow they cast made his entire dantain to be dyed red. Duncan could only watch this all helplessly.
Suddenly, he felt his soul starting to resonate with the glow. More patterns began appearing as well. His mind started buzzing and the spectator mode he had been until now was forcefully demolished.
Duncan suddenly started remembering everything he knew about his martial dao cultivation. He recalled the concepts he had grasped and their uses. He recalled how he went about comprehending them and the enlightenment he had received at that moment.
Duncan was lost in those thoughts when his blood started boiling as well. Duncan felt as if his entire being was on fire. His mind constantly recalled a lot of his comprehensions and enlightenments, and his blood boiled at a crazy temperature. Duncan felt that his insides were being burned completely, and yet there was only the sensation and no pain.
After what felt like a long time, the communion between the world and the pillars ended and Duncan felt his brain start to slow. At that moment, his spirit sense started evolving as well.
Just as the communion ended, endless qi poured into Duncan's dantain from the surroundings. The qi that was roiling inside the defensive formations became too turbulent for the formations to handle anymore.
In the end, all the defensive formations broke with a pop and allowed more qi from the distance to rush towards Duncan's dantain. As for the obscuring formation, there was no effect from it as well.
If one looked at it from a distance, Duncan would be like a black hole sucking in the red-colored mist that was surrounding him like there was no stop to it at all. The suction power his body exhibited at this time was really very strong.
With this, Duncan truly stepped into the Violet Palace realm at last. And he had fulfilled his wish of establishing a legendary foundation as well.
At the same time, in the sky, a rare phenomenon started appearing…
*****
Walking out of Jiang Chen's residence, Envoy Ming had a gloomy look on his face.
Jiang Chen hadn't been very forthcoming with his information. If Envoy Ming had to say, he was almost cagey in his mannerisms. He didn't know what Jiang Chen was playing at, but he didn't like it one bit.
However, it wasn't in vain to come here to enquire. Right now, Envoy Ming had some basic understanding of Duncan's powers. He knew that Duncan had a very strong body that was akin to a body cultivator's. He could tank late-stage Violet Palace realm attacks with his body.
Moreover, the regeneration that was gifted to him by his body also meant that it would be hard to pin him down. Moreover, Duncan was a sword cultivator who had integrated his own concept and sword light together. That was a pretty significant thing.
Even the young geniuses in the first-rate sect were not that advanced in their martial dao cultivation. This was news to Envoy Ming. He obviously knew about Duncan's sword light and his cultivation level from Duncan's exploits in Starmist City. However, the matter regarding his body cultivation and the extent to which his martial dao cultivation had progressed was not something he was aware of.
If he had treated Duncan like an ordinary peak Spirit Sea realm cultivator, then Duncan might have escaped his clutches. The strong body Duncan had alone would pose a lot of problems to him.
Envoy Ming still felt as if Jiang Chen wasn't very forthcoming regarding the events. He had been brusque in his explanation and had also told him that he would be entering seclusion after this, so he preferred not to be disturbed regarding anything henceforth.
That was a pretty clear statement in his opinion.
Jiang Chen now wanted no part in the hunt against Duncan. He hadn't been seething and looking for revenge. He had very clearly stated that he had nothing to do with this anymore.
Why did a heaven-blessed like Jiang Chen retreat from the fun? It was almost as if he knew something that no one else knew and considered this to be a futile endeavor. Considering how Jiang Chen and his subordinate were the only ones to escape from the slaughter, Envoy Ming felt that there was some basis to that conjecture.
Frowning heavily, Envoy Ming looked towards the distance. Apart from Duncan's various cultivation levels, Jiang Chen hadn't shed any light on the kind of trump cards Duncan might possess. This made him a little wary of continuing this quest.
Still, his visit to Jiang Chen had not been in vain. He had gained some valuable information. As long as he was cautious, things wouldn't turn out too badly. If things turn awry, he could escape anytime he wanted.
He knew that a storm was brewing in the Dragon Scale Continent and didn't know if he would survive the upcoming days. Being cautious at this time was the only way he could ensure his survival. Survival was more important than any illusory favors gained.
There was a lot of stuff happening in the continent as of late. From the various skirmishes among clans and subordinate sects to the fiasco at the Greenwood Forest, things have become more and more chaotic of late. Right now, the only priority was his safety. Still, chaotic times are the best times to climb up in the world.
Letting out a deep sigh, Envoy Ming set off in the direction that Duncan had massacred the young talents of various sects…
