Chapter One Hundred Twenty-Two: A Sudden Enlightenment

Truly deserving of the name “Vitality True Meaning.”

Luo Tian nodded silently. Among the elemental true meanings, the Wood element’s true meaning, when it came to offensive power, was somewhat lacking and less adept in this regard. However, cultivators who refined Wood elemental energy tended to possess stronger vitality.

Of course, saying that the Wood true meaning’s offensive power was weak was not absolute. Qin Tianyu had once encountered an exceptionally formidable Wood-element cultivator. With the same Vitality True Meaning, that cultivator could absorb the opponent’s life force to strengthen himself, becoming increasingly difficult to defeat—truly a prodigy.

This, of course, related to individual comprehension. The same true meaning could be employed in vastly different ways.

The art of application lies in the mind.

Whenever a strand of Tang Xuan’s Wood elemental energy neared exhaustion, it paradoxically grew more resilient. This was a very common method of utilization.

Luo Tian carefully felt the vitality contained within Tang Xuan’s Wood elemental energy. After a long moment, he exhaled gently and nodded slightly, signaling that Tang Xuan could withdraw the energy.

Though the time was not particularly short, the energy Tang Xuan had transmitted was extremely subtle, resulting in very little consumption.

“How is it?” Tang Xuan asked calmly, harboring little hope.

What could be seen in such a brief moment?

He did not expect to gain any useful instruction or enlightenment from Luo Tian; he was merely trying his luck. It would be good if something came of it, but if not, it was no great loss. The important thing was not to waste the time of Tang family disciples again in the future.

“Junior Brother Tang’s comprehension is quite good. Not only have you grasped the strong Vitality True Meaning within the Wood element, but you have also taken it a step further in mastery,” Luo Tian praised with a smile.

That was to be expected.

Tang Xuan’s expression remained unchanged, but inwardly he felt quite pleased. Though Luo Tian was not from one of the four great clans, his strength was nonetheless formidable. While Tang Xuan was half in doubt and uninterested in investigating Luo Tian’s claim of having defeated a Pulse Flow Realm cultivator, the foolish but somewhat strong Shen Lingfei had been soundly beaten by Luo Tian in front of a group of disciples.

No matter how much the weaker outer disciples admired and praised Tang Xuan, he would not feel anything special. But Luo Tian was a Ninth Transformation cultivator at the Qi Condensation Realm, so his words naturally carried more weight.

“However, there is still room for improvement.”

Luo Tian shifted his tone and spoke softly, “Junior Brother Tang, do you truly understand what Vitality True Meaning is?”

Tang Xuan scoffed, “I have already comprehended Vitality True Meaning; why do you ask if I know it?”

Luo Tian was utterly unfazed. “Having some comprehension does not mean true understanding. Junior Brother Tang, while true meaning is difficult to grasp, there is an even greater challenge in complete mastery. Surely you understand this?”

Every kind of true meaning was like a path. For a cultivator to find this path was already difficult, but to walk its rugged length to the end meant completely mastering that kind of true meaning.

Yet to fully master a true meaning was no easy feat.

Step by step, as one delved deeper, countless cultivators would be filtered out. Even those who reached the final stage would face the hardest bottleneck to break through.

“Of course,” Tang Xuan nodded. He wanted to see what Luo Tian could come up with.

Now that everyone was at the Qi Condensation Realm, talk of complete mastery was premature. Never mind the Pulse Flow Realm—among Nascent Core Realm cultivators, who could confidently claim to have fully mastered a true meaning?

Reaching that level would double the power of the true meaning, making one a genuine master among peers.

“The Wood element’s Vitality True Meaning and the Fire element’s Immortality True Meaning share some similarities, but remember, they are two distinct true meanings with different effects,” Luo Tian’s eyes gleamed as he said gravely, “Vitality True Meaning is about thoroughly excavating and mastering life force to achieve ceaseless renewal.”

Qin Tianyu, who possessed the Wood Elemental Spirit “Infinite Life Wood,” had extensively mastered Vitality True Meaning and naturally spoke with authority on the matter.

Tang Xuan listened quietly without comment. Luo Tian’s words were accurate but lacked profound enlightenment—merely general discussion.

“Most importantly, all true meanings serve their respective elements. This means one cannot study Vitality True Meaning in isolation; it must be integrated with the Wood element.”

Luo Tian spoke calmly.

“What do you mean?” Tang Xuan understood Luo Tian’s words but felt he had not fully grasped the principle—he only perceived the surface and had not penetrated the essence.

“There are nine elemental attributes, each with nine true meanings. The most fundamental are Control and Transformation,” Luo Tian continued calmly. “Though named differently, they mean the same: one is to command the element freely, and the other is to transform one’s own power into that element.”

“I know that,” Tang Xuan frowned in dissatisfaction. “Once a cultivator reaches the Pulse Flow Realm, they can project their elemental power externally; even more so at the Nascent Core Realm. If one fully masters the Transformation True Meaning, one’s power can truly and completely change into a particular element. Wood elemental power can transform into a towering giant tree, water elemental power into a roaring flood.”

“Junior Brother Tang speaks wisely,” Luo Tian approved. “The deeper one masters the Control True Meaning, the greater the elemental power one can command. At first, one might only control part of their elemental energy, but once fully comprehended, the entire projected elemental energy can be controlled effortlessly.”

“Why waste time with such trivialities?” Tang Xuan said impatiently. “If you can speak, then speak; if not, admit ignorance. What’s the point of wasting my time like this?”

Luo Tian shook his head dismissively. “Junior Brother Tang, don’t be impatient. Think about it: the ultimate purpose of Control and Transformation is to allow one’s power to truly become the elements of heaven and earth and control them freely. Thus, the other true meanings must not deviate but be integrated to be fully comprehended.”

“But I have only comprehended Vitality True Meaning. How can I study them together?”

Tang Xuan’s face twisted in mockery.

This fellow must have run out of tricks—why babble nonsense here?

“Vitality True Meaning, no matter how strong, still belongs to Wood. Junior Brother Tang, remember this well!” Luo Tian said earnestly. “Every true meaning originates from its element, regardless of its depth or level. Once all nine true meanings are fully mastered, the element they manifest will be indistinguishable from the natural element born of heaven and earth.”

“Vitality True Meaning originates from Wood, surpasses Wood, but ultimately returns to Wood.”

Luo Tian’s eyes blazed as he looked at Tang Xuan, generously sharing the conclusions Qin Tianyu had painstakingly reached. For the sake of upgrading the Divine Eye, Luo Tian cared little about such knowledge. Moreover, at a certain level, these truths would naturally become clear—it was only that they were not so lucid when spoken aloud.

Tang Xuan had never heard such a theory before. When his family elders explained, they never spoke of these concepts holistically.

Each true meaning was merely a fragment, a facet of the element.

What once seemed mundane words from Luo Tian now, carefully pieced together, chewed over and analyzed repeatedly, brought a faint but sudden enlightenment to Tang Xuan’s mind.

Luo Tian’s words seemed to open the true gateway to the Wood element’s true meaning for Tang Xuan. Previously, he had only glimpsed the threshold, but now, though he had not stepped forward, his vision stretched farther, his perspective broadened and deepened.

Without wasting time talking further, Tang Xuan closed his eyes and began cultivating, fully channeling his Wood elemental energy. Although the environment was not ideal for refining Wood energy or comprehending Wood true meaning, Tang Xuan had no time to care for such details. He concentrated wholeheartedly on his study.