Tribulation of Myriad Races

The dao affirmation of cultural researchers involved the power of laws.

Su Yu’s eyes flickered as he contemplated that idea. He said, “I have been hearing the term dao affirmation so many times, but what does it actually mean? Also, can you speculate on the meaning of the term Daofuse?”

Liu Hong laughed awkwardly and said, “You should ask the actual Daofuses, not me.”

Su Yu smiled and said, “Why are you so modest, Teacher? You are such a smart man. How can you not know this? According to you, one can attach one’s own laws into the existing heavenly laws. In that case, let us assume that the laws are essentially the dao. In that case, isn’t the process of Daofuse the same as as the process of establishing one’s dao? Is it merely the middle point between the Eternal Realm and the realm where one achieves the great dao? As for the realm of someone capable of actually adding new heavenly laws, can I name it the Great Dao Realm?

“When a cultural researcher forms and strengthens a character, the cultural researcher is merely establishing their dao. In a way, it’s similar to warriors where they strengthen their bodies to comprehend the laws. Thus, the Eternal Realm might not exist for cultural researchers as a cultural researcher will reach the Great Dao Realm directly instead of the in-between realms?

“No, that might be wrong. For cultural researchers, they comprehend the laws through their characters. In that case, is it possible for characters to be constantly strengthened until they grow beyond the laws? If that’s the case, why are our characters stuck at the Sunmoon Realm?

“Let’s put that aside for now. The Three Body Method…involves the cultivation of the past, present, and future. It is merely a manifestation of one’s understanding of the laws. The past, present, and future represent three different laws, and the dao affirmation using this method involves the comprehension of three different laws. Upon fully fusing them, one can reach the Great Dao Realm. Is that the case? Following this line of thought, if there is such a thing as the Great Dao Realm, will one cease having three bodies upon reaching that realm?”

Wan Tiansheng said, “Liu Hong’s theory that characters are the early forms of laws gave me a new inspiration. If the so-called Great Dao Realm does exist, perhaps that is the true path for a cultural researcher to achieve dao affirmation. One needs to skip the in-between realms.”

“But most characters are stuck at the ninth-stage Sunmoon Realm…perhaps that’s because humanity has access to too little daos…”

After a slight hesitation, Wan Tiansheng added, “Perhaps we need access to more laws to enable dao affirmation for human cultural researchers.”

Su Yu nodded, “Thus, it doesn’t matter if we do it through provoking heavenly tribulations or attracting heavenly rewards. We need more laws for our own comprehension and study. I finally understand why dao affirmation is so difficult for cultural researchers. They simply lack heavenly tribulations and heavenly rewards. It’s so obvious now.”

Su Yu rubbed his chin as he reached a conclusion, “In short, you need to do more bad things, incur the wrath of the heavens, and provoke the heavenly tribulations. You might also try to form more characters through comprehending the power of laws. Characters and laws…how interesting.”

Ads by PubRev Senior Wang was also a cultural researcher, even if he was a mere dabbler. Thus, he was able to understand slightly what the two were talking about.

As for Old Man Bai, he only understood one thing: Su Yu was going to court even more disasters. He was thinking of milking the heavenly tribulations and heavenly rewards to increase his willpower cultivation.

What a lunatic!

Liu Hong sighed to himself. He was merely providing his own thought process. Why were the two lunatics taking it so far?

“Hey, calm down. I was merely giving my unfounded opinions.”

Looking at Liu Hong’s earnest expression, Su Yu nodded, “Yes. I understand you. What happens next has nothing to do with you. We are now coming up with our own conclusions. I find this very reasonable. In any case, I have previous experience with absorbing the power of laws. No wonder I grew so much after absorbing the power of laws. I must have reached a higher degree of affinity with the laws.”

Su Yu sighed and said, “It has been so long since I last engaged in research. Principal, I suggest we establish a new research center focusing on capturing and studying the heavenly laws. Naturally, I won’t be the best person to serve as the face of this research center. My teacher and the others are very suited for this. Perhaps they can even figure out the correlation between specific tribulations and specific laws. They can even try to figure out the connections between specific laws and specific characters…

“Furthermore, I suggest you gather some information, Principal. Over the years, have more heavenly tribulations appeared than heavenly rewards? Or was it the other way around?”

“It should be the heavenly rewards, right?” Wan Tiansheng said, “Is there even a need to waste time on this? You can get rewarded just by killing in the Allheaven Battlefield. The heavenly rewards must have appeared more.”

“Did the laws originate from the Human Emperor or the ancient assembly?” Su Yu asked, “It was always said that the Human Emperor was only in charge of rewards while the assembly was only in charge of punishments. I doubt that is strictly the case. All races are eligible for heavenly rewards in the Allheaven Battlefield. Are you saying that the Human Emperor had prepared rewards for all the other races as well?”

“You mean…”

Su Yu said, “I’m wondering about one thing. Humanity has been failing to produce Eternal characters. That might be due to a lack of appearance of human heavenly laws in the Allheaven Battlefield. Meanwhile, the rate of appearance for the heavenly laws of the other races is much higher, enabling them to produce Eternal characters.”

“…”

Liu Hong sighed yet again. Amazing. These people were too good at extrapolating from a random idea he tossed out.

Su Yu did not care about Liu Hong’s thoughts. As far as he was concerned, the spark of inspiration Liu Hong provided was enough. As a cultural researcher, he naturally enjoyed seeking the truth himself. Any cultural researcher without the habit of pursuing the truth was not qualified to be called a cultural researcher.

Su Yu said, “I am only curious about one thing. Daofuse. How does the fusion of daos happen? Do you align your personal dao with the great dao? Or do you walk a new path and establish a new dao? Do you walk the path of others? Or do you follow your personal yet new path?

“I also have a little idea of how the nine-leaf skylotus works. It has the power of laws attached to it. Through the power of laws in it, one can forcefully attach one’s dao to the laws and achieve Daofuse. But what manner of a Daofuse is this? There are certainly weaker and stronger individuals among Daofuses.”

Su Yu rubbed his chin as he continued, “I don’t know much about the Daofuse Realm, but let me make a small comparison. The laws are akin to a net. Countless lines crossed each other, each representing a different law. To achieve Daofuse is to fuse one’s line with a line on the net. Some people have a fifty percent compatibility with that line. Thus, they can only utilize fifty percent of the power that law has to offer. Those with only thirty percent compatibility will only be able to utilize thirty percent of the power. But some trailblazers will walk a new path and string a new line onto the existing net.

“A human king…might be an existence beyond Daofuse, someone at the Great Dao Realm. This someone could be someone who had perfectly threaded an existing path or opened a new path.

“The Human Emperor, Culture King, and Martial King might only be so strong due to the large number of lines they had in contrast to the others. But strictly speaking, everyone operated on the same net. Thus, everyone was in the same cultivation level. For example, with eight lines, the Human Emperor would most certainly be much stronger than someone with only one line even if they were both on the same net. Meanwhile, we’re all under that net.”

Su Yu grinned, “How interesting. Yes. We’re all under that net. Thus, the net has the authority to punish us. If you dared to be disobedient, the net would drop, and the lines would transform into whips to punish you. If you were obedient, the lines would turn into backscratchers and give you a good scratch instead.”

“…”

How boorish. Wan Tiansheng was left speechless. What a boorish example.

Su Yu concluded, “Thus, our world can be split into two. Beneath the net and above the net. Those from the ancient past have either gone beyond the net or become a part of the net. Meanwhile, people like us are still trapped under the net.”

Wan Tiansheng asked, “So do you believe there are stronger existences beyond this net?”

“How am I supposed to know that?” Su Yu smiled, “This is all a guess.”

Wan Tiansheng nodded, “Your words have given me even more inspiration. I need to get closer to this net, learn more, and strengthen my own line to leave my own line on this net.”

Su Yu nodded. Suddenly, he thought of something and grimaced, “I think I know Senior Lan Tian’s dao now. He is the type to throw his net wide and hope to catch something.”

“Hmm?” Su Yu laughed and said, “He is walking countless paths at the same time. In short, he is walking all the lines and hoping that some will stick. With enough luck, he might gain incomparable strength after capturing a line properly. With bad luck, he will fail and remain stuck as a Pseudo Invincible.”

At that, Su Yu’s eyes flickered as he said, “I have noticed that his strength would vary at times. With a good clone, or a good line, to be precise, he could be very strong. With bad luck, he would be stuck with a bad line and weak strength.”

“As for the place of carrier treasures in all this…”

Su Yu sank into thought before continuing, “Each carrier treasure carries the power of laws. For the most part, only ancient enough objects can qualify as one. It’s either that or the personal belongings of some top experts. For example, the hair or the scales of a super expert. All these things might have been bathed in the power of laws for an extended period of time. Thus, the selection of carrier treasure might also determine one’s compatibility with the path one walks.”

Su Yu listed an example, “Previously, I saw a dragon using a dragon scale as the carrier treasure. The original owner of that scale must be someone who had once gotten close to the great dao. With that scale, the dragon would have an easier time affirming his dao since it was more compatible with the dao of the ancient dragons.

“I have also gotten some carrier treasures from the Luminous Domain Mansion. If I were to use them as my carrier treasures, I would likely find myself compatible with Old Zhou’s dao…”

“Old Zhou?” Liu Hong asked in confusion, “Who’s that?”

“Martial Emperor.” Su Yu chuckled, “I’m not sure. That’s a random name I gave. Those who had used the dragonbind wood as their carrier treasures these years would probably be quite compatible with Old Zhou’s dao.

“Achieving dao affirmation using the dragonbind wood is possible, but I believe transcending that is impossible. You won’t be able to reach the Great Dao Realm doing this. I believe any historical records about the ancient past can prove this.”

Old Wan frowned and said, “The Three Body Method was unpopular during the ancient past. Few would require carrier treasures…”

“Wrong.” Su Yu shook his head and said, “I believe otherwise. But perhaps they only needed one. A unique carrier treasure that could carry the power of laws…such as…”

He pointed at the floor of the ancient city they were stepping on and said, “This city is a carrier treasure. Lord Grandstar’s carrier treasure.”

Immediately, a figure appeared with a flicker.

Grandstar had appeared. He stared at Su Yu with a complicated expression. After a long while, he explained, “Correct. This is my carrier treasure. This is a relatively common yet powerful dao affirmation method during the ancient past. This is why I’m far stronger with my weapon in hand. That’s because I’ll be fighting with my dao. Su Yu…you are a monstrous genius…”

Su Yu said, “I wouldn’t dare accept that praise. I was merely expanding upon what I learned from Teacher Liu.”

With an ancient expert in front of him, Su Yu grabbed the opportunity to ask more, “Lord Grandstar, those of the ancient past don’t tend to cultivate the Three Body Method. But I believe cultivating a weapon like this probably requires a lot more resources than the Three Body Method. Am I correct?”

“Yeah.” Grandstar nodded, “The Three Body Method might be trash, but in truth…that is a cheap method to cultivate. I don’t want to comment about the ancient laws, but that is undeniable. Su Yu, I saw how you forged your Mark of Civilization. Your dao is more similar to ours. With the Mark of Civilization, you carry the power of laws. But you understand well how expensive this is.”

Yes. It was massively expensive.

Terrifyingly expensive.

Su Yu nodded, “I understand. The appearance of the Three Body Method might not be a ploy targeted at anyone in particular. Rather, it had appeared out of desperation. It is cheap to cultivate, requiring only some trashy carrier treasures. Meanwhile, walking the path of Lord Grandstar and the others might require one to forge a weapon worth at least five carrier treasures in value.”

Grandstar smiled bitterly and said, “More than that. Double your estimation.”

Wan Tiansheng and the others inhaled in shock. This was indeed not a cost a regular person could bear.

Grandstar said, “But with this method, one will be a lot stronger than those using the Three Body Method. Even in our current sealed state, we are still stronger than those in the same cultivation level. This is applicable even when we’re not fighting with our weapons. I am an eighth-degree Eternal. I have been sealed, and my strength has dropped over the years. But even without my weapon, I can still defeat three body cultivators of the same cultivation level.”

This was the greatest example of a different cultivation path.