Chapter 131: A Huge Surprise!

To gain a deeper understanding of the true meaning of the water element, one must consider its mutability and inclusivity. As the saying goes, "An army has no constant formation, and water has no constant shape." Even after making progress in her comprehension of this true meaning, Shen Lanxing’s mind remained preoccupied with the words Luo Tian had spoken.

Those simple, plain remarks, which appeared unremarkable at first glance, somehow resonated with a unique depth that lingered even after the slightest contemplation. Every word seemed to harbor a profound, hidden layer of meaning. At this moment, Shen Lanxing felt a flash of resentment. Her clansmen had always told her that Luo Tian was a charlatan who specialized in deception and trickery. Had it not been for the fact that so many elite disciples had gained genuine insights from him, she did not know how long it would have taken for her to finally decide to try. If only she had come a few days earlier, would she not have gained so much more?

"Luo..." Shen Lanxing opened her mouth, intending to ask Luo Tian for further guidance. However, as she looked up, she saw Senior Brother Luo gazing slightly upward at the sky, lost in earnest thought. For some reason, she dared not speak, fearing she might disturb him.

At this moment, Luo Tian’s heart was surging with excitement, for the Divine Eye had finally fully opened its lids! Curiously, however, the very center of the Divine Eye—where a pupil should have been—was a void, resembling an endless, boundless darkness. It appeared empty, as if the pupil were obscured or hidden by some unknown cause, remaining beyond Luo Tian’s perception. Despite his confusion, Luo Tian did not dwell on it; there would surely come a day when the clouds cleared. For now, the most important thing was to discover what new capabilities this evolved Divine Eye possessed.

The energy of the Divine Eye surged into Luo Tian’s pupils once more. The process and the familiar sensation remained the same, yet the scene unfolding before his eyes had changed drastically. Back in the servant quarters, when the Divine Eye first evolved, Luo Tian could only perceive the density of the world’s primordial energy and judge the flow of its power. But now, the intangible energy in the sky was not only clearly visible, but he could also discern the various elements contained within it.

Wherever he looked, the five elements—metal, wood, water, fire, and earth—dominated the vast majority of the primordial energy, while wind, thunder, light, and darkness were relatively scarce. Crimson, yellow, orange, green, and blue hues seemed to flood his entire field of vision.

What was the purpose of this evolution? Luo Tian narrowed his eyes slightly. While the various elemental energies were now clearly visible, this alone did not seem particularly useful. With the Fire-Origin True Fiend—an elemental true spirit—in his possession, cultivation at the Pulse Flow Realm was no longer a hurdle. Once he fully refined the external energy of this true spirit and was left with only its core flame, he could refine it in one stroke to forge a True Spirit Origin Pill. The path to the Origin Pill was already paved; why would he need to gaze upon these fire elements?

Luo Tian shook his head slightly. That couldn't be right. He didn't know what this Divine Eye truly was, but it was unlikely that its evolution would result in something as trivial as mere color-coding. Practitioners in the late stage of the Qi Condensation Realm could already refine the energy they needed, and this was even more true in the Pulse Flow Realm; the Divine Eye wouldn't perform such a redundant task. Could it be that there was a deeper significance behind this ability to distinguish elemental attributes?

As Luo Tian pondered rapidly, his eyes suddenly brightened. Although the various energies in the sky were intermingled, their colors remained distinct and striking. These energies did not exist in isolation; they had sources. No energy was created from nothing, nor did it vanish without a trace. For instance, a high concentration of green energy usually indicated the presence of forests and trees below, while that dense wood energy, in turn, nourished the trees, allowing them to flourish. This was an inseparable, symbiotic relationship. Similarly, where blue energy was vast, there was a higher probability of rivers, lakes, or seas nearby, barring any unusual circumstances.

The principle was not profound, yet it gave Luo Tian a sudden epiphany. If this was just the gathering of common elements, it would be one thing, but what if an elemental true spirit were involved? A gleam flashed in Luo Tian’s eyes. If he encountered a region where fire energy was exceptionally dense and vast, could it not only indicate a volcano but also the presence of an elemental true spirit hiding within?

While elemental true spirits lacked wisdom and consciousness, they possessed an innate instinct to seek advantages and avoid harm. Even a cultivator as powerful as Qin Tianyu, who had reached the Origin Pill Realm, found it agonizingly difficult to obtain a Wood-Origin True Spirit. Even experts at the Profound Body Realm would not dare guarantee they could find one, let alone subdue it. Sometimes, these spirits would fall into a deep slumber to conserve energy; as long as no powerful cultivators were near, they would remain dormant. If one were prepared with specific methods, it was entirely possible to subdue them. Even a Pulse Flow Realm cultivator, with the aid of external forces, might achieve this!

Luo Tian’s heart grew fiery. He longed to leave the Divine Sun Sect immediately to verify if his hypothesis was correct. If it were true...

"Senior Brother Luo?" Seeing Luo Tian dazed for such a long time, Shen Lanxing could no longer contain herself. She called out softly and waved her hand before his eyes. Her jade-white, slender fingers suddenly appeared, blocking his line of sight.

"Junior Sister Shen, congratulations!" Luo Tian said with a smile. As he looked at her, he froze. The energy of the Divine Eye had not yet faded, and the circulation of energy within Shen Lanxing’s body could not escape his gaze.

Compared to before, the situation was different. The changes in her internal primordial energy were the same, but as Luo Tian viewed them with his evolved Divine Eye, he could perceive a specific "flavor." He already knew that Shen Lanxing cultivated water energy, but now, as he watched the flow, he could see a surging, wave-like quality within it.

Was this the true meaning of fluctuation? Although he had learned of the true meaning she had grasped through their interactions, being able to see it directly with the energy of the Divine Eye left Luo Tian stunned. The utility of this was immense! To know oneself and the enemy is the path to victory. Upon encountering an enemy, one could instantly discern their mastery of true meanings while remaining a mystery to them. If used well, this advantage could go beyond mere surprise attacks; it could be the deciding factor in securing a total victory.

As Luo Tian looked at Shen Lanxing, his eyes shone with excitement. This evolution of the Divine Eye had truly brought him a tremendous surprise.

"Senior Brother Luo, what is wrong with you?" Shen Lanxing frowned. She had thought him a decent person—he hadn't acted strangely when their hands touched earlier—so why was he now looking at her as if he wanted to see right through her?