Chapter 1570: Kongling Island
Having comprehended the first Truth Rule, Zhang Ruochen had officially entered the threshold. From then on, his comprehension speed noticeably accelerated.
The second, the third...
In just seven days, he had fully grasped all nine Truth Rules from the first visualization diagram.
Zhang Ruochen sat cross-legged on the ground, attempting to mobilize the Truth Rules. Sure enough, some resonance emerged.
"Thousand-Hand Dragon-Elephant." Zhang Ruochen's body suddenly leaped up, executing one of the techniques from the Dragon-Elephant Prajna Palm, and infused the newly comprehended Truth Rules into it. Instantly, the power of the palm strike surged dramatically.
Around his body, countless palm prints materialized densely, as if he had transformed into a thousand-armed divine Buddha.
"Boom."
The formidable palm force struck the wall.
The wall's surface slightly dented, then rapidly vibrated like ripples, dissipating the palm force Zhang Ruochen had unleashed. After a moment, the wall returned to its smooth state.
Mo Yin was startled awake by the immense sound of the palm technique and immediately asked, "Master, have you fully comprehended the first visualization diagram?"
"I should say I've completely grasped it."
Zhang Ruochen stood upright beneath the wall, examining his own palms. That strike had indeed unleashed double the power.
Previously, when facing a strong opponent like Wang Xu, Zhang Ruochen had to drink the Dragon Spirit Mad Bull Wine to match his strength. Now, having mastered the Truth Rules, he possessed that level of power even without the wine.
Zhang Ruochen was in the process of remedying his former weaknesses.
Mo Yin wore an expression of disbelief. This was too fast—only seven days had passed. She hadn't even comprehended the first Truth Rule yet.
In truth, the reason Zhang Ruochen's comprehension was so swift was primarily because he already had some understanding of the Way of Truth before arriving.
Continue.
Zhang Ruochen moved to stand beneath the second visualization diagram, his gaze fixed upon it.
The diagram contained two tiny dots. As Zhang Ruochen immersed his spiritual power into it, the two dots began to move swiftly like fish, making it impossible to lock onto them.
Zhang Ruochen considered focusing on one dot first, but it proved futile.
Whenever he tried to comprehend one dot, the other automatically entered his line of sight, interfering with his consciousness, preventing him from concentrating.
Thus, he kept wrestling with the two dots as time flew by. Soon, three days had passed.
"I must be using the wrong method. But how should I approach this?"
Zhang Ruochen decided not to waste more time here. He planned to return to the Mirror Fragrance Cliff Dao Field, first comprehend the Truth Way diagrams left by the Tree God, find the correct method, and then come back to tackle the second visualization diagram.
"Have either of you made any progress?" Zhang Ruochen asked Mo Yin and the Sword Spirit.
Mo Yin was somewhat disheartened and shook her head. "Too difficult. I think I'm better off absorbing others' Sacred Dao."
The Sword Spirit said, "I've comprehended four Truth Rules."
"Oh?"
Zhang Ruochen was slightly surprised. After all, if one could comprehend four Truth Rules, fully grasping the first visualization diagram was only a matter of time.
On second thought, Zhang Ruochen found it not so strange.
The Abyssal Ancient Sword was forged from Creation Divine Iron. The Sword Spirit born from it was hardly comparable to ordinary artifact spirits. Possessing such high comprehension was only natural.
"How much longer until you fully comprehend the first visualization diagram?" Zhang Ruochen asked.
The Sword Spirit replied, "At most three days."
"Good, I'll wait three days for you," Zhang Ruochen said.
Over the next three days, Zhang Ruochen didn't attempt to comprehend the second visualization diagram. Instead, he took out the Ruler Emperor Artifact and focused on comprehending Palm Dao Rules.
The cultivation chamber not only had active Truth Rules but was also highly conducive to comprehending other Sacred Dao Rules.
Zhang Ruochen's speed in comprehending Palm Dao Rules far exceeded that of the outside world. In just three days, he achieved a breakthrough, increasing the number of Palm Dao Rules within him to twelve.
"The cultivation environment is truly marvelous. If only I could always cultivate inside the Truth Temple, my cultivation would advance by leaps and bounds, and I'd soon break through to the One-Step Saint King realm."
Even Zhang Ruochen felt a desire to join the Truth Temple.
After all, becoming a disciple of the Truth Temple would grant far more opportunities to cultivate within the temple compared to other cultivators.
Of course, joining the Truth Temple had both advantages and disadvantages.
Once a disciple of the Truth Temple, one would face many constraints and have to serve the temple, often losing freedom, unlike now.
Moreover, Zhang Ruochen was currently a troublesome figure. Even if he wanted to join, the Truth Temple might not accept him.
The Sword Spirit of the Abyssal Ancient Sword had fully comprehended the first visualization diagram. Zhang Ruochen put it and Mo Yin away, then walked out of the cultivation chamber.
"My agreement with Lingxi and the others was ten days, but now thirteen days have passed. I wonder where they're waiting for me?" Zhang Ruochen mused.
A large number of strong cultivators from the Cloud Realm were still surrounding the Mirror Fragrance Cliff Dao Field. Without Zhang Ruochen setting up the teleportation array, they couldn't return to the Dao Field.
So, Zhang Ruochen guessed they were still waiting outside the Truth Temple.
As he stepped out of the cultivation chamber, Zhang Ruochen saw a second-class disciple of the Truth Temple standing outside the door, seemingly waiting for him.
That second-class disciple, with a cultivation at the Ultimate Saint realm, smiled upon seeing Zhang Ruochen emerge. "Feng Yezi, a second-class disciple of the Truth Temple, under orders from my young master to await His Highness, Crown Prince Ruochen, here."
"Crown Prince Ruochen."
Zhang Ruochen found the title intriguing.
From this, it was clear the other party had investigated his background, knowing he was the Crown Prince of the Holy Bright Central Empire.
Zhang Ruochen asked, "Who is your young master?"
"Feng Yan," Feng Yezi said.
Zhang Ruochen wasn't surprised. He asked, "Have you seen the other cultivators from our Guanghan Realm?"
"Three days ago, the young master invited them to Kongling Island as guests," Feng Yezi said.
Unsure whether the other party was friend or foe, Zhang Ruochen grew wary. "Where is Kongling Island?"
"Please follow me, Crown Prince Ruochen."
Feng Yezi smiled faintly and walked straight down the steps, leading the way.
With no other choice—since Mu Lingxi and the others had already gone to Kongling Island—Zhang Ruochen had to go, even if it was a trap.
However, he believed that as a Truth Temple disciple, Feng Yan wouldn't act against him in the Truth Heaven Domain. If word got out, it would ruin the Truth Temple's reputation.
Kongling Island wasn't far from the Truth Temple—a floating island suspended in midair.
Standing on the island and looking toward the Truth Temple, it seemed as if the temple was right next door.
"Within ten thousand miles of the Truth Temple, the Sacred Dao Rules are highly active. To own a floating sacred island in this area, this Feng Yan's identity is no simple matter. I'll have to look into him thoroughly when I return," Zhang Ruochen thought.
At the center of Kongling Island stood a majestic sacred hall, surrounded by numerous pavilions and towers, planted with various spiritual medicines, sacred seedlings, and exotic flowers and herbs.
Additionally, some white-robed maidservants tended to the sacred medicines in the gardens. They were all young women of sixteen or seventeen, fresh and refined, with cultivation at the Saint realm.
Even to be a maidservant here was no ordinary feat. In the Kunlun Realm, only a saintess of an ancient sect would qualify.
From afar, Zhang Ruochen heard sounds of battle and grew concerned, quickening his pace.
To the east of the sacred hall was a Sacred Martial Ground.
At that moment, two figures were sparring inside. One of them was Feng Yan.
Feng Yan stood at the center of the Sacred Martial Ground, his sacred energy as vast as an ocean, while his body stood like a sacred mountain within the sea. No matter how fierce the opponent's attacks, they couldn't harm him in the slightest.
"The power of Extreme Yin Nether Ice is indeed formidable, but Miss Lingxi, the force you unleash is scattered and not concentrated, making it hard to threaten me. If you comprehend the Truth Rules, the power of Extreme Yin Nether Ice would increase by more than a notch."
"The Ice Fire Phoenix's innate Phoenix Feather is quite powerful, but you haven't yet mastered the Phoenix Dance of the Nine Heavens to its peak. Combining a perfected Phoenix Dance of the Nine Heavens with the Phoenix Feather would truly be endlessly potent."
...
As they sparred, Feng Yan was actually guiding Mu Lingxi, pointing out her shortcomings in cultivation and explaining methods for improvement.
Zhang Ruochen stood at the edge of the Sacred Martial Ground, quietly watching the two exchanging and communicating.
For some reason, even though it was a perfectly normal Sacred Dao exchange, an indescribable feeling arose in his heart.
This feeling came somewhat inexplicably.
Zhang Ruochen didn't consider himself narrow-minded, yet seeing another young man guiding Mu Lingxi in cultivation stirred a sense of resistance.
"Is it because I care too much? Or because I've lost too many times and dare not lose again?"
Zhang Ruochen closed his eyes, trying to dispel that inexplicable emotion.
Because of these distracting thoughts, Zhang Ruochen didn't notice Mu Lingxi approaching him until her pleasant laughter sounded in his ear. "Zhang Ruochen, what are you thinking? Are you comprehending the Dao at every moment?"
Zhang Ruochen reopened his eyes, looking at the stunning immortal face before him. Her smile was incredibly playful, like the stars and moon in the sky, capable of illuminating the darkest, loneliest nights.
"Xingling."
Zhang Ruochen involuntarily uttered those two words, then, before Mu Lingxi could react, he opened his arms and pulled her tightly into an embrace.
Tightly.
Mu Lingxi was caught off guard, her whole body feeling as if struck by lightning, her expression frozen.
Because Zhang Ruochen hadn't called her "Xingling" in a long time.
And... Zhang Ruochen had actually taken the initiative to embrace her. This was truly unimaginable.
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