Chapter 23
Only having half the Breath Soil meant it couldn't control what it absorbed.
What it most wanted to absorb was Five Elements energy.
Lady Su obtained and lost Breath Soil after reaching the Thirteenth Realm. Her situation differed from Yu Sui, who possessed half the Breath Soil before beginning cultivation.
Lady Su could still suppress the constantly absorbing Breath Soil with her own strength and Divine Soul Light Core, thus using Nine Schools Arts. Moreover, she was originally an Agricultural School disciple—the Nine Schools Arts she cultivated had high compatibility with treasures like Breath Soil.
Yu Sui had nothing.
Even after having three hundred Five Elements Light Cores more than ten years later, as her Five Elements Light Cores increased and Five Elements energy accumulated in her body, the incomplete Breath Soil sensed more and more Five Elements energy and began stirring restlessly, competing with her.
Every time Yu Sui connected with Light Cores and mobilized Five Elements energy, Breath Soil would absorb it first, pulling at it. The Five Elements Light Cores didn't want to send power toward Breath Soil and began fighting.
Strange Fire observed quietly, hiding in the deepest part of Yu Sui's consciousness. Because of its world-destroying power, even Breath Soil didn't dare approach.
Having too many elements in Yu Sui's body was sometimes a bad thing.
After knowing it was Breath Soil's problem, she could look for solutions.
The question was how to control Breath Soil from competing with her for Five Elements energy.
Killing Lady Su to seize complete Breath Soil was out of the question for now—time-consuming, laborious, and risky. Her success rate was one percent. Using Strange Fire to kill Lady Su was one hundred percent, but exposing her World Destroyer identity and being hunted by the Six Kingdoms—Yu Sui had no confidence she could survive.
As for the second method.
Ask Saint Chang Gen directly!
Yu Sui rolled out of bed, greeted Zhongli Que, then ran outside.
Li Jin Shuang next door heard movement from Yu Sui's side, suddenly opened her eyes, pupils slightly shifting toward next door, her gaze somewhat hesitant. Finally, she didn't interfere and closed her eyes again.
Yu Sui ran through darkness from the residence to the Ghost Way Saint Hall. On the way, she encountered patrolling teachers who all looked at her with puzzled eyes, asking: "Where are you rushing to so urgently?"
"To the Saint Hall," she stopped to answer.
The patrolling teachers were even more curious: "Very urgent? Why not use Wind-Riding Techniques?"
Yu Sui waved: "I'm going to learn them!"
Watching Yu Sui's distant figure, the patrolling teachers couldn't help but sigh. Old Chang had finally taken a normal disciple—well-behaved, cute, diligent, and studious.
……
Yu Sui ran all the way to the Ghost Way Saint Hall, covered in sweat. Cool night breeze poured through her collar, brushing her skin. The momentary coolness quickly disappeared.
She raised her hand to wipe sweat, sniffled, steadied her breathing, then ran into the Saint Hall.
Tonight only she was there.
Saint Chang Gen wasn't there either.
Yu Sui looked at the portrait where ink showed no change, raising her hand to rub her face to wake herself up.
She took out her Wind-Listening Ruler, wanting to ask Mei Liangyu where Master had gone. But they weren't Wind-Listening Ruler friends, and though she could send messages to him, the subsequent complications weren't necessary.
Yu Sui waited patiently in the great hall.
Tonight she stood alone in the hall, able to see the golden, resplendent Saint portraits looking down kindly. Candlelight rose upward, making everything below appear brilliantly illuminated.
Outside sounds of insects and wind were blocked out. In the silence, Yu Sui could hear the sounds of blood flow, breathing, and heartbeat that hadn't yet stopped after intense running. Suddenly, she seemed to be in a wonderfully indescribable world.
Unknown power enveloped her, like the first time she saw the National Academy's communication array. Yu Sui could feel that the Saint Hall in her eyes became clearer than usual—clear enough to capture even wind passing before portraits.
Her dark pupils seemed lit by flames, faint reddish-gold emerging, becoming magnificent.
Yu Sui's vision changed greatly. She saw scenery she hadn't seen before—Five Elements energy flowing between heaven and earth.
Indescribable things, formless and shadowless, soundless and colorless, yet she could "see" them.
They existed in the candlelight above and in the building's dome, doors and windows, stone statues. In Yu Sui's eyes, they connected into a network, marking each point where Five Elements energy gathered—these were places with spell protections in the Saint Hall.
When Yu Sui concentrated, a consciousness intruded:
"Divine Mechanism: Heavenly Eye."
She came back to herself. The abundant power dispersed, and ink flowed on the portrait before her.
"Master?" Yu Sui softly tested, fingers in her sleeves slightly clenched.
At the same time, someone approached the Saint Hall outside. Mei Liangyu, having completed trials, rushed back at midnight to ask Master about cultivation matters, but was blocked by invisible force at the main entrance.
Mei Liangyu standing at the entrance unable to enter: "?"
Inside the great hall:
"It seems you haven't realized how powerful the abilities you possess are." Saint Chang Gen's consciousness communicated with Yu Sui. Yu Sui automatically provided voice for him. "Nine Schools Arts are the Hundred Schools' arts. Anyone entering the Nine Schools can cultivate them."
"Arts are divided into two types. Heavenly Mechanism arts can be obtained through talent, enlightenment, and cultivation—superior Nine Schools Arts."
Standing in the Saint Hall, Yu Sui felt watched for the first time, but this gaze held no malice. Instead, it was gentle with comforting intent, so Yu Sui felt this was Saint Chang Gen watching her.
"One type is called Divine Mechanism arts—possessed from birth by talented individuals. They cannot be obtained through cultivation. Each is a unique existence in the world, but can be seized."
Cold sweat beaded on Yu Sui's forehead.
She really had so many things on her!
Precious, troublesome, highly destructive, constantly dangerous, power-giving things.
Having Strange Fire meant death.
Having Breath Soil meant death.
Having Divine Mechanism arts also meant death.
Mei Liangyu symbolically knocked on the open Saint Hall door, his face dark: "Master, what do you mean?"
Saint Chang Gen didn't answer him.
Mei Liangyu thought again—was Yu Sui staying up all night to cultivate again? He picked up his Wind-Listening Ruler to ask, quickly realizing he hadn't added Yu Sui as a friend.
"......"
He could only wait.
……
Inside the great hall:
Yu Sui spread her hands: "Master, I can't even mobilize Five Elements energy. How could I possibly have such powerful Divine Mechanism arts?"
She came tonight to discuss Breath Soil but was caught off guard.
Saint Chang Gen said: "Divine Mechanism arts don't require Five Elements energy."
Yu Sui: "......"
That was indeed quite impressive.
"Divine Mechanism: Heavenly Eye can see through all illusions, military formations, prophecies, and divinations, capture Five Elements energy, and see what ordinary people cannot see."
"You just saw every concealed spell defense in the Saint Hall."
"In your past decades, you must have seen more existences harder to glimpse than concealed spell defenses."
Following Saint Chang Gen's information, Yu Sui couldn't help but fall silent.
Master was right.
When she first saw the National Academy's communication array, first closed her eyes to draw three core Number Mountains in her mind, and could record all their operating character spell patterns, she knew something was wrong—some power naturally guided her.
Yu Sui knew her existence was special but didn't know what to call that specialness.
Now she knew.
Divine Mechanism: Heavenly Eye.
It sounded very impressive and powerful.
"Master, how many Divine Mechanism arts exist in this world?" Yu Sui asked softly.
Saint Chang Gen answered: "Ninety-seven recorded types."
More than she'd imagined.
That was more "affordable" than the world's only Breath Soil. Those wanting to kill her for Divine Mechanism: Heavenly Eye shouldn't be more numerous than those competing for Breath Soil, right?
Just as Yu Sui opened her mouth, Saint Chang Gen said: "Heavenly Eye ranks in the top ten among Divine Mechanism arts."
"...Im-impressive," Yu Sui stammered. "Does Master want Heavenly Eye too?"
Saint Chang Gen: "No."
Yu Sui continued: "Isn't it very useful?"
Saint Chang Gen: "I'm dead. Any Divine Mechanism art is useless to me."
Yu Sui: "......"
In her mind's automatic voice-over, Master should say this flatly and steadily, with a hint of playfulness and disdain in that steadiness.
"Divine Mechanism arts are personal arts. I cannot teach you related knowledge—you must explore on your own." Saint Chang Gen continued: "You came tonight surely with other questions."
Yu Sui's hands hidden in her sleeves relaxed slightly. She asked: "Master, will you tell others about my Divine Mechanism: Heavenly Eye?"
Saint Chang Gen: "No."
Otherwise, he wouldn't have blocked his eldest disciple outside.
"Thank you, Master," Yu Sui said sincerely.
"Previously, when Light Cores couldn't extract Five Elements power, I had a guess tonight: half of the Agricultural School treasure Breath Soil is in my body, coexisting with me since childhood. A Medical School practitioner once said this half Breath Soil would absorb everything it could sense. I think the problem lies here."
Yu Sui paused, humbly seeking guidance: "Breath Soil is absorbing Five Elements power from my Light Cores, so I cannot cultivate Nine Schools Arts. I wonder if Master has any solution."
Saint Chang Gen almost without thinking gave a response: "Very simple. Retrieve the other half of Breath Soil."
Yu Sui made a gesture, looking somewhat troubled: "The other half is with my mother. I can't defeat her."
Previously, her concept of Lady Su's strength was vague. Now thinking about it, Lady Su was ruthless—while suppressing half the Breath Soil with old injuries unhealed, she could still kill Thirteenth Realm experts who came to Luo Mountain.
Such a high-quality tool person—no wonder Nangong Ming wouldn't let go.
Saint Chang Gen continued: "Also very simple. Seal the power belonging to Breath Soil's lineage."
Yu Sui was stunned—an approach she hadn't considered: "Seal it?"
"However, after sealing, until you obtain complete Breath Soil, you cannot cultivate any Nine Schools Arts close to Breath Soil's attributes—any arts generated by Kun and Gen trigrams." Saint Chang Gen asked: "Are you willing?"
Willing?
Yu Sui carefully considered. When she'd kill Lady Su to obtain Breath Soil was unknown.
How could she become stronger without seizing the other half of Breath Soil?
How could she become stronger without extracting Five Elements power to learn Nine Schools Arts?
She didn't have many opportunities or much time.
Between wanting a stupid, talentless daughter or Thirteenth Realm expert Lady Su, Nangong Ming wasn't foolish—he'd definitely choose Lady Su. When the time was right, Nangong Ming would have Yu Sui return this half of Breath Soil to Lady Su.
These years, Yu Sui's life and death actually lay in Nangong Ming and Lady Su's single thought.
While they hadn't noticed or become vigilant, she could learn as much as possible.
Yu Sui said: "I'm willing."
Eight Trigrams appeared beneath her feet, spinning rapidly.
But Yu Sui didn't look down, instead gazing at the portrait: "Master, you knew I had Breath Soil long ago, didn't you?"
Saint Chang Gen didn't hide it, answering straightforwardly: "Yes."
Yu Sui asked again: "You also knew where my cultivation problems lay?"
Saint Chang Gen: "Yes."
Yu Sui was puzzled: "But you never said anything."
Saint Chang Gen said: "Some problems need you to discover yourself. Others interfering makes you dull."
"Your future will be more difficult than your Senior Brother's. Before then, you will gain some things and lose some things."
Yu Sui listened in confusion, not daring to ask if Master also knew she possessed Strange Fire. She felt the future would be very difficult even without Master saying so.
From the first day she arrived in this world until now, every step had been difficult.
The rotating Eight Trigrams slowed. When the Kun character aligned with Yu Sui, it quietly disappeared. The trigrams rotated again, and when Gen aligned with her, it also vanished.
With Breath Soil sealed by Saint Chang Gen, Yu Sui closed her eyes and reconnected with her Five Elements Light Cores. When she sent information needing Five Elements power to the Light Cores, three hundred cores responded and lent her power.
Mei Liangyu, waiting at the Saint Hall entrance and playing with his Wind-Listening Ruler, suddenly felt Five Elements energy fluctuations. He looked up thoughtfully toward the Saint Hall.
Seeming to think of a possibility, he couldn't help but smile lazily.
It seemed his all-night, sleepless Junior Sister wouldn't die of exhaustion anytime soon.