Cultivation: When you take things to the extreme

Chapter 88: Chapter 62: Divine Mansion 1

Translator: 549690339

Xu Yang

Race: Green Fish (Dragon Species)

Cultivation: Muscle Bone Realm

Lifespan: 5/180

Skills: Swimming, Eating, Breathing, Sleeping, Taoist Skills, Practicing Martial Arts…

Cultivation Technique: Martial Arts Scripture — Fish-Dragon Transformation.

Innate Abilities: Green Jade Scales, Fish-Dragon Form, Immunity to All Poisons, Gloomy and Severe Poison, Dragon Snake’s Molt, Thunder-Driving Lightning-Lifting.

Another change to the status panel.

First was his cultivation, which after the Fish-Dragon Second Transformation, had finally reached the current limit of the “Fish-Dragon Transformation” — the Muscle Bone Realm!

His lifespan had also increased, reaching the maximum lifespan for a cultivator at this stage: one hundred and eighty years.

But these were not the key points.

The critical addition was the new innate ability — Thunder-Driving Lightning-Lifting!

For thunder is the pivot between heaven and earth, capable of commanding all within the Three Realms and the nine regions of the earth!

The application of thunder is considered supreme among all methods, with the greatest authority, the grandest momentum, the most formidable presence, and the strongest force.

In any system or practice, thunder methods are always top-tier, synonymous with power.

Thanks to the contribution of the Electric Eel King and its species, Xu Yang “Form Supplementing Form” obtained an innate ability related to thunder — Thunder-Driving Lightning-Lifting!

Thunder-Driving Lightning-Lifting, a divine skill indeed.

Did Xu Yang’s Thunder-Driving Lightning-Lifting hold such power?

Not yet.

While divine skills are formidable, they are also dependent on cultivation. With Xu Yang’s current cultivation, “Thunder-Driving Lightning-Lifting” at best only allowed control over a small amount of “thunder and lightning” power, barely enough to stimulate some electrical energy, and that was all.

To trigger the real pivots between heaven and earth, the flashes of lightning, one must have a sufficient foundational cultivation. He was not yet capable of this.

But even so, he was already powerfully equipped. Didn’t the Electric Eel King, with its mastery over controlling electricity, rule almost invincibly within its realm? Even Xu Yang, who arrived as if with cheats enabled, was electrified to a point where he saw stars…

With this innate divine ability, plus the recently achieved breakthrough in cultivation, the increase in strength, and the supplementary boost from many skill traits, Xu Yang was confident enough to challenge the strongest being in Blackwater River, as well as its ultimate tyrant — the Giant Turtle.

Yet, he did not immediately proceed to the challenge, instead, he swam towards the “Forbidden Area.”

The Giant Turtle might be strong, but it wasn’t the critical point.

What Xu Yang truly cared about were the secrets of the “Black Water.”

What exactly was hidden within the Forbidden Area?

Why did the five tyrants occupy territories just outside of it?

What benefits did it bring them?

If there were benefits, why didn’t they just enter it completely, instead of lurking just outside?

Could it be there’s some danger inside, or even a terrifying existence?

Xu Yang decided to explore first before dealing with the Giant Turtle.

After all, the Black Water Forbidden Area was vast, not restricted to a single entry point. Previously, the five tyrants were stationed around its periphery, and now that Xu Yang had eliminated four of them, drawing near became easier. He didn’t need to engage in a fierce fight with the Giant Turtle.

Xu Yang swam swiftly, and after a short while, he reached the edge of the Forbidden Area.

Looking in, one could see that the Forbidden Area was filled with pitch-black, viscous water, rolling like sesame paste, devoid of any other forms of life. The fish and turtles of the deeper waters instinctively avoided the place. Only a few “spirit monsters” of the fish species lurked around, but even they dared not touch it directly.

The only exception was the Giant Turtle, half-submerged in the black water, the sole creature to touch the water and enter the Forbidden Area.

What mysteries did this black water hold?

Xu Yang hesitated for a moment and finally got close to the edge of the Forbidden Area and spat out a Gloomy Poison Arrow.

The poison arrow was loosed, disappearing without a trace, eliciting no response.

The black water remained unchanged, without the slightest disturbance.

Xu Yang fell silent for a bit, then, not willing to give up, he released a golden electric current.

Still, like a clod of earth into the sea, there was no reaction.

Xu Yang frowned and reached out with his fin, tentatively touching the black water.

And then…

As soon as they connected, the black water transformed into vapor, streaming into his fin.

Startled, Xu Yang swiftly propelled himself away, shooting back several meters, and began examining his condition with uncertainty.

The result was…

“Is this black water actually pure nature’s spiritual energy?

“No, no, no. Compared to the Great Tang world, where Condensing Spirit martial artists can manipulate nature’s spiritual energy, this black water’s spiritual energy is even purer and more powerful, able to effectively enhance one’s cultivation and even change one’s physique.”

Xu Yang watched the surging Forbidden Area filled with black water, analyzing and guessing internally about the situation.

This black water was indeed pure nature’s spiritual energy.

No, the term nature’s spiritual energy was too vague.

A system should be established, with different levels defined!

The first level is the common nature’s spiritual energy, which pervades the world but is invisible to the naked eye and beyond the senses of ordinary beings. Only those at the Condensing Spirit stage can contact and utilize it by invoking their Divine Intent and Taoist Rhyme!

The second level is the refined nature’s spiritual energy, clearly distinct from the common variety. It can create visible anomalies, such as the dark water of Blackwater River, which showcases a manifestation of altered spiritual energy.

The third level consists of sentient nature’s spiritual energy or, in other words, nature’s spirit energy. Not only can it alter the environment, but it can also manifest physically in various forms. The black water in this Forbidden Area is an example of pure nature’s spirit energy.

In both the Great Zhou and Great Tang, as well as the mortal world, the prevalent nature’s spiritual energy is of the common kind.

Yet here in Blackwater River, refined spiritual energy fills the deeper areas, and within the Forbidden Area lies “nature’s spirit energy.”

This is indicative of the high tier of this world.

Nature’s spiritual energy is the source of all things. The benefits are immeasurable — residing in places with pure spiritual energy will naturally improve one’s physique, lifespan, and even one’s cultivation levels due to environmental influences.

The black water in this Forbidden Area is the third type of nature’s spiritual energy, tangible and manifest. Its benefits for living beings are self-evident. Merely immersing in it can elevate one’s level without eating, drinking, or cultivating.

With such a wonderful substance, why isn’t it being utilized?

Even the previous five tyrants only stationed themselves on the periphery, not daring to go inside and absorb it freely.

Why?

Because… it has an owner!

Indeed, this pure and substantial spiritual energy of nature had an owner.

Within the spirit energy, there was a spiritual will, not strong but definitely existent.

To absorb this spiritual energy, one must first eliminate the spiritual force within it.

If one didn’t clean it away and directly absorbed it, the spiritual will within the spiritual energy would accumulate and possibly assimilate the absorber.

This greatly shocked Xu Yang.

There’s a spirit within the spirit energy, an undying will?

What’s going on?

What secrets are hidden within this forbidden zone?

Xu Yang contemplated for a long time. Although he had some guesses, he couldn’t be sure of them.

Fortunately, there was an immortal living fossil in the Blackwater River.

Maybe he could ask it for some guidance.

Xu Yang sprung up and swished his tail to leave.

Shortly after, he arrived at another place on the edge of the forbidden zone.

Here, there was a giant turtle, three Zhang in size and like carrying a mountain peak.

Its body, massive as a mountain, was half-buried in the black water, half-exposed outside, dormant there for a long time without movement. If not for a strong, undeniable breath of life emanating from it, anyone would mistake it for a stone sculpture.

Xu Yang swam up over it, looking down to examine the other.

“You… finally came!”

At that moment, a fluctuation, a wave of a spiritual disturbance came.

There were no words, but there was a voice, an elderly voice echoing in Xu Yang’s mind.

It was the giant turtle!

Spiritual transmission?

Condensing Spirit Realm!

This giant turtle had reached the “Condensing Spirit” level, even the limit of Condensing Spirit, a grandmaster with a fully realized heart and soul.

In this way, it could use the spirit to directly transmit thoughts.

Xu Yang’s mind stirred, and his consciousness responded, “You know me?”

“Of course, I know. That peculiar little green fish, when you were spying on the Divine Mansion, I discovered your existence along with your uniqueness, your magic…”

The giant turtle’s elderly voice came through, “Now it seems I didn’t see it wrong. Those few spiritless fools have already become your food, huh, despite them cultivating near the Divine Mansion for so long!”

“Divine Mansion?”

Xu Yang didn’t prolong the small talk, getting straight to the point, “What

Divine Mansion?”

“You don’t know?”

“It seems you’re innately intelligent!”

The elderly laugh resounded, “There’s a Divine Mansion within this Black Water, which is the residence of the Blackwater River God. To enter it and find the Blackwater Divine Seal, one can become the new Blackwater River God!”

“Blackwater River God?”

“Blackwater Divine Seal?”

Xu Yang’s gaze became focused as he continued to ask, “Then what happened to the original Blackwater River God?”

“Naturally, he’s dead!”

The giant turtle chuckled, “Otherwise, how would the Blackwater River be as it is now?”

“Dead?”

Xu Yang murmured and then asked, “How did he die?”

“I don’t know.”

The giant turtle shook its head, “But he’s most definitely dead.”

After speaking, it lifted its head, “You can feel it too, right? That undying spiritual will scattered among the spiritual energy in the Black Water, that’s the divine awareness left in the Blackwater Divine Seal by the Blackwater River God.”

“Because of this divine awareness, we creatures cannot directly absorb the Blackwater Spiritual Energy; otherwise, we would be seized by it and assimilated into part of the Black Water.”

“Only those of us who have developed intelligence and cultivated a divine soul may purify the divine awareness in the Black Water and absorb the Blackwater Spiritual Energy to enhance our own cultivation.”

“But the speed of such absorption is just too slow.”

The giant turtle looked at Xu Yang with a hint of indescribable brilliance in its eyes.

“Do you want to become the new Blackwater River God?”

“Blackwater River God?”

Xu Yang, upon hearing this, revealed no stance, simply asking, “How to become one?”

“Explore the Divine Mansion with me. Whoever finds the Blackwater Divine Seal will become the Blackwater River God!”

The giant turtle looked at him, transmitting its thoughts, “With our current cultivation, we are entirely capable of withstanding the spiritual will within the Black Water. As long as we do not get immersed for too long, there’s no danger. Let’s team up, explore together, find the location of the Divine Mansion—that’s where the Blackwater Divine Seal is.”

“Once you refine the Blackwater Divine Seal, you can become the new Blackvvater River God. If I find it first, after I become the River God, I can appoint you as General Qingyu and we’ll both enjoy the spiritual energy of the Divine Mansion.”

“Conversely, if you find the divine seal first and become the River God, I hope that in return for telling you all this, you won’t drive me away. I could serve as your Turtle Prime Minister, how about that?”

The giant turtle looked at Xu Yang, awaiting his answer.

Xu Yang stayed silent, then responded, “Agreed!”

“Good!”

The giant turtle nodded, an almost humanlike smile on its aged turtle face, “Then let’s get going. I’ve grown quite impatient,”

With that, it heaved its body up, flipping over a giant stone from the riverbed, “This is the area I’ve explored over the years, now mapped out. We need to explore these regions next…”

Xu Yang didn’t say much, swimming forward to inspect the map.

At that moment…

“Roar!!!”

The giant turtle’s eyes blazed with brilliance as it opened its mouth to emit a roaring bellow, sending out waves of ripples charging towards Xu Yang..