Cultivating for a hundred lifetimes to ascension-Chapter 655 - 400 Will and Divine Thought Differ_2

In the Zhao Family’s exchange system, one merit point roughly equates to the value of one low-grade Spirit Stone. However, while merit can be exchanged for Spirit Stones, Spirit Stones cannot similarly be exchanged for merit.

Every small merit equals a hundred merit points, which is also equivalent to one mid-grade Spirit Stone.

Great merit, on the other hand, is a full ten thousand merit points, equivalent to one top-grade Spirit Stone.

The trade levels of merit points, small merits, and great merits range from low to high, and some rare treasures must be exchanged for small merits, or even great merits.

After listening, Zhao Sheng asked with a calm expression, "Subtracting these, how much merit do I still owe the Yi Character Lineage?"

Zhao Fuan blurted out, "There are still seven hundred and eighteen great merits."

Mm!

Zhao Sheng nodded and then asked, "Which Spirit Pill do you plan to refine next? Are all the required Spiritual Medicines prepared?"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Fuan immediately took out a pile of Storage Bags, placed them on the table, and respectfully said, "Our lineage’s Ancestor intends to acquire an Enlightenment Pill. We have fully prepared the needed Spiritual Medicines in threefold. I wonder if the Ancestor could refine it?"

"Enlightenment Pill?" Zhao Sheng’s brow furrowed, and he fell silent.

Seeing this, Zhao Fuan felt nervous.

To his knowledge, the Qiong Tian Ancestor had refined a batch of Enlightenment Pills three years ago, producing three pills, one of which was even of top-grade quality.

But seeing the situation now, it seemed that his own lineage’s Ancestor’s request would likely be difficult to fulfill.

"Six months is a bit long, but it’s not that it can’t be done. But..."

As he spoke, Zhao Sheng suddenly stopped and looked at the other party.

Seeing this, realization flashed in Zhao Fuan’s mind, and he immediately said, "Our lineage’s Ancestor said that one Enlightenment Pill can be worth two hundred great merits. If it is a top-grade pill of the Water Element, the owed merit can be written off in one stroke."

The Enlightenment Pill is a special kind of Spirit Pill, with a grade that reaches the fourth rank, and within fourth-order Treasure Pills, it is one of the most difficult to refine.

If it is a mid-grade or low-grade Enlightenment Pill, it can significantly improve one’s comprehension, aiding the user in grasping the Tao.

Then, a top-grade Enlightenment Pill has undergone a sort of qualitative change—not only greatly enhancing comprehension, but the Spirit Pill itself also contains natural Essence of the Tao, which, when refined, can greatly improve understanding of the Tao.

The Southern Sky Zhao Family also has one or two Alchemy Masters capable of refining Enlightenment Pills.

However, astonishingly, they have never produced even one top-grade Enlightenment Pill.

Only Zhao Sheng... had succeeded!

The top-grade pill from three years ago... leaned towards the Water Element.

At that time, Zhao Xingyu from the Shen Character Lineage, after consuming this pill, secluded himself for two years, and when he emerged, he had advanced from the fifth level of Nascent Soul to the sixth level and even faintly touched the threshold of the late-stage of Nascent Soul.

It caused a sensation throughout the clan!

Zhao Fuan’s lineage had an Ancestor who was a Water Element Nascent Soul as well and naturally coveted it, hence this scenario.

Zhao Sheng didn’t need to think to know that, to collect these three sets of Spiritual Medicines, the Ninth Ancestor Zhao Zhenhai of the Yi lineage must have spent a fortune.

In fact, both in terms of time cost and cost-effectiveness, refining Enlightenment Pills is not worthwhile at all.

But... sometimes things can’t be calculated like that.

After some thought, Zhao Sheng nodded and agreed to the request, while incidentally making a small demand of his own.

Shortly after, Zhao Fuan left Binghuo Peak with a look of joy on his face.

In the following days, a piece of news gradually spread among the upper echelons of the Zhao Family: "’That’ senior wishes to refine Enlightenment Pills again. Anyone who can gather the required Spiritual Medicines as per the Elixir Recipe may come to knock on his door."

While the Golden Core Masters and Nascent Soul Ancestors of the Zhao Family were stirred by this astonishing news, causing ripples within the clan.

Zhao Sheng had quietly left Binghuo Peak and arrived at the Martial Saint Arena in the eastern part of Divine Dragon Valley.

The so-called Martial Saint Arena was in fact a city of ten miles, enveloped by a super-large gravity Formation.

Seen from the sky, this Martial Saint City resembled a target on the ground, divided into nine concentric circles, separated by high walls from one another. From the outside in, the closer one got to the inner layers, the gravity exponentially increased, with the gravity of the central ninth layer reaching a hundred times greater.

This Martial Saint City is the holy land in the eyes of countless Martial Artists of the Zhao Family, and those who can practice here are one in ten thousand martial arts prodigies.

The Zhao Family’s eight great Martial Saints, six originated from here, which speaks volumes of the prowess of the Martial Saint Arena!

Not long after, a streak of firelight suddenly broke through the Formation Barrier and landed on the ninth level of the Dao Field. The ground here, paved entirely with loess, had been trampled to extreme compactness and hardness, comparable to Mystic Iron of a millennium.

Zhao Sheng waved his sleeve to dissipate the firelight and glanced up, immediately spotting Zhao Jingyu lying on a rocking chair by the side of the Dao Field.

Ten years had passed, and Zhao Jingyu looked even older. His hair and teeth had all fallen out, his face full of wrinkles and dark spots, and the heavy air of death around him could not be concealed.

Of course, he might not have intended to hide it at all.

Zhao Sheng strode over a hundred yards in one step and appeared in front of Zhao Jingyu, then unceremoniously sat down on the jade couch beside him.

Zhao Jingyu didn’t seem the slightest bit surprised by Zhao Sheng’s sudden arrival; his old eyes remained squinted, pretending to doze off without moving.

Zhao Sheng looked up towards the center of the Dao Field, where six tall figures clad in Mystic Iron Heavy Armor were practicing the Grand Ancestor Long Fist with a meticulous rhythm.

He knew the Grand Ancestor Long Fist all too well since he was the creator.

After observing for a moment, Zhao Sheng casually commented, "They all have decent potential. Three of them have achieved Mastery of Divine Communication. Perhaps one Martial Saint candidate might emerge."

No sooner had he spoken than Zhao Jingyu’s hunched figure stirred slightly, his eyes barely opening, and he let out a laugh filled with helpless amusement, "Hah, they’re far from it! Their will is not pure, and even with extraordinary potential, it’s no good. Martial Saint... sigh, it’s not so easy to achieve!"

"Will is elusive and intangible, far less concrete than Divine Thought. I was just thinking of debating this Martial Arts ’Will’ again. Can impure will really not lead to the Martial Saint Realm? I don’t buy it!"

Zhao Sheng had argued with Zhao Jingyu twice already about the word ’will,’ with neither side winning. Today was the perfect time for their third bout.

From Zhao Sheng’s perspective, Martial Arts Will should be a variant of some kind of Divine Thought. If he could just grasp its spiritual frequency, with his Martial Arts cultivation, achieving the status of Martial Saint would be as easy as flipping his hand.

However, judging from the actual results, Zhao Sheng had tried thousands of times but could never draw out the force of the Primordial Cells from within the Primordial Cells. The realm of Martial Saint remained as elusive as the moon reflected on water.

When he had finished speaking, Zhao Jingyu responded lightly, "You’re right. Will is not the only way to become a Martial Saint. Our Ancestor succeeded by using the Power of Primordial Spirit to guide the force within the Primordial Cells."

The implication was clear without asking—without reaching the Divinity Transformation Realm, Cultivators shouldn’t even dream of achieving Martial Saint.

All the previous Zhao Family Ancestors had returned empty-handed, and other top forces like the Sky-splitting Sword Dao also tried with great effort, but what was the ultimate result? Only two and a half succeeded!

Those two Martial Saints with an Outer Sword Golden Core, clearly possessing the potential for Divinity Transformation, were stuck at Perfect Golden Core until death, never able to break the Core to achieve Nascent Soul.

The cause turned out to be the Elemental Force, because such alien power originates from within the cells, belonging to "Yuan Jing," while the Nascent Soul Power leans towards "Primordial Spirit."

At least below the Divinity Transformation Realm, these two vastly different extreme forces cannot coexist (unless dominated by Primordial Spirit).

Hearing this, Zhao Sheng immediately took out a piece of white paper and placed it between them.

"Come, let me feel this so-called Martial Arts ’Will’ again!"

As he spoke, Zhao Sheng’s Divine Thought burst forth with all its might, covering every millimeter of the paper.

"Ah, I’m close to death. Using will would cut short my lifespan."

Hearing this, Zhao Sheng immediately tossed over a green pill bottle, arrogantly saying, "This bottle contains an Angry King of Hell Pill. That should be enough!"

"Heh! The Sixteenth Ancestor always makes such generous gestures. With this Treasure Pill, I’m willing to die right now!" ƒreeωebnovel.ƈom

As the word "willing" fell, the piece of white paper inexplicably split in two from the middle.

Despite Zhao Sheng’s powerful Divine Thought, he had not sensed any sign of this beforehand.

This was simply inconceivable!

Zhao Sheng’s eyes narrowed slightly as his vast Divine Thought scanned the two pieces of paper inch by inch, but he found nothing.

"What exactly is ’will’?" Zhao Sheng slowly exhaled, his expression solemn, asking himself word by word.

At that moment, Zhao Jingyu suddenly replied, "Will is metaphysical, fundamentally different from Divine Thought, which represents spiritual power. If I were forced to describe its form, I could only say will is the purest unity, the focus and determination to achieve a particular goal. Only when will is at its purest can the impossible become possible."

"Moreover, you might not know that even Primordial Cells have their own ’will’?"

Zhao Sheng’s spirit was shaken upon hearing this. He suddenly understood why his Divine Thought had always failed to break through the barrier of the Primordial Cells.

So the Primordial Cells also possess a "will"!

Upon learning this astonishing secret, Zhao Sheng was momentarily speechless.