History Has Fallen Ill

Chapter 50: Fruit of Great Divine Ability! Lineage of the Immortals and Gods

General of the Earth, Marshal of the Five Peaks,

Was the next step to be conferred as a King of the Land?

Earth Emperor?

This cultivation method was excellent in endurance, combat capability, and subsequent condensation of Law Seeds, but it was not the same path that Jiang Yan walked.

However...

Jiang Yan asked, "How is the grade of the Old Talisman classified?"

The Taisui of the Book Mountain explained, "First grade of the Old Talisman is the highest, ninth grade is the lowest. The higher the grade, the stronger the domain of the law, and the wider its coverage. The reverse is also true.

If one condenses a ninth-grade Old Talisman, then without a heaven-shaking opportunity, there is no possibility of further breakthrough. Most Old Talismans condensed are of the eighth or seventh grade.

Sixth grade already denotes a genius, fifth grade is a dragon among men, fourth grade is rare even in an entire province, third grade is monstrous, and as for second grade..."

It paused for a moment and continued, "This requires not only top-tier talent but also immense fortune and rare opportunities, and moreover, one must cultivate inheritance lineages related to scriptures of the immortals and gods.

Reaching second grade, there is a chance to nurture a Divine Ability Seed and grasp the embryonic form of divine abilities in advance, with the potential to ascend to Great Divine Ability. Every one of them is a prodigy capable of suppressing an era.

As for first grade, it only exists in legends. As long as one doesn’t perish halfway, there’s a ten percent chance of attaining the Fruit of Great Divine Ability."

Great Divine Ability, mentioned in Zhao Yinman's notes, was several grand tiers above the Old Talisman. They overlooked eternity, their very being was destiny itself.

It was the highest level that mortals could attain. Beyond that lay the realm of the Immortals and Gods.

The Immortals and Gods mentioned here were not the likes of Earth Gods or celestial soldiers and generals, but beings on the level of the Five Elders and Six Royals—main god-level existences in mythologies.

Great Divine Ability—apart from lacking true immortality—those who had mastered divine abilities were essentially gods among mortals.

Jiang Yan nodded and continued reading:

Summoning and Commanding Technique of Dongyuan Fengdu (Top-tier):

Advantages: Method of the Nether Division. Constructs a miniature ghost domain within oneself, gathers and controls a hundred ghosts, enables Night Parade of a Hundred Ghosts, allows absorption of Fengdu's Elemental Qi, and condenses the Law Seed of the Nether Mountain.

Has a chance to advance to fourth grade—Fengdu Abyss Nether Mountain Old Talisman.

Disadvantages: Requires an existing Old Talisman from the Nether Division path as a foundation for cultivation. Controlling a hundred ghosts uses the self as a medium, transforming the body into a prison, enduring constant torment, and maintaining the balance among the ghosts—truly snatching chestnuts from the fire.

Jiang Yan possessed the Dark God Embryo and could nurture perfect offspring, so there was absolutely no need to feed and manage a horde of ghosts with severe side effects using his own body.

Next one.

Mystic Capital Thunderfire Kui Ox Demon-Refining Manual

Advantages: Body refinement through thunder and fire, inscribe various thunder talismans upon oneself, produce the Law Seed of the Kui‑niu Drum, extremely firm and yang in nature.

Disadvantages: Prone to Jia Wood Mutation, frequently struck by lightning, gradually carbonizes. Requires Kui‑niu blood as catalyst. Can condense a fourth-grade Old Talisman.

Thunder methods... could be kept as an option.

Three Corpses Transforming Dragon God-Sealing Method:

Advantages: Condenses one’s own Three Corpses Gods, severs them, then assists in leaping over the Dragon Gate, transforming the Three Corpses into Dragons, sealing divinity within oneself—One Qi transforms into Three Dragons, tripling combat strength instantly.

Disadvantages: Must constantly suppress the Three Corpses Dragons. A slight lapse could lead to being possessed.

Can condense a fourth-grade Three Corpses Transforming Dragon God-Sealing Old Talisman.

A potent ability, but Jiang Yan disliked allowing his own Three Corpses to develop intelligence—who knew when the Three Corpses and Nine Insects might start a grand banquet inside his body.

Besides these,

There were also the Secret Talisman of Demon Transformation, Original Maitreya Method, Eastern Longevity Lotus Sutra of Salvation, Small Yellow Court Face God Talisman, and so on.

Each name sounded grander than the last, but upon closer inspection, most were incomplete fragments with extremely harsh cultivation requirements.

There truly was no need to worry about others coveting them...

Because they simply couldn't be cultivated!

Aside from these, there were cultivation methods from major forces like Mount Longhu and the Zhengyi Alliance, but all only contained basic chapters.

It wasn’t that the officials wanted to make the cultivators into food sources—they didn’t have the guts for that.

"This is clearly using the officials to hatch eggs!" Jiang Yan mocked in his heart, temporarily dazzled by the choices.

His primary cultivation method was the Lamp-Igniting Hell Visualization Method, a true inheritance of the Immortals and Gods, directly pointing to the path of the soul’s eternal life.

Originally, it was a good thing, but now that he knew cultivation paths could devour one another—and with the subtle changes that had recently occurred in his body—

Jiang Yan, who had originally intended to casually pick a transitional method, began taking it seriously.

The new method had to possess sufficient potential, and preferably suppress the Lamp-Igniting Method, therefore it could not be related to the Buddha Followers.

Otherwise, it would be like making himself into a little Buddhist sponge cake, constantly giving off the aura of “Master, I smell delicious.”

"A single method is either mismatched or just an incomplete fragment, and the disparity in levels is vast. What should I do?"

Jiang Yan frowned unconsciously. He recalled that Ba Lie had previously hinted he could choose three cultivation methods as reference, and a flash of insight sparked in his mind.

He turned and asked, "Director Ba, can the original technique be brought along?"

"You must be dreaming!"

Ba Lie rolled his eyes and replied, speechless, "Manuals are the manifestation of extraordinary power, storing the Dao resonance imbued by their founders at the time of writing. Through them, one can comprehend different realms and gain insights into techniques. Even if the Patriarch himself came, he might not be able to reproduce it.

Normally, you’re only allowed to transcribe onto a jade slip. You touch it with your forehead, the information transmits, and then it disappears. You must also sign a vow not to leak it, and everything depends on your own diligent training.

But you're Grade A Plus talent. Headquarters made a special exception and granted you an extra thread of Dao resonance. Though it also damages the original copy, within the Book Mountain Book Sea Law Domain of the Taisui of the Book Mountain, you can slowly nurture it back with the knowledge aura of billions of books. It’ll take decades to restore."

A thread of Dao resonance!

Stable!

Jiang Yan made his decision, tapped several times on the tablet, and said:

"I’ve made my choice."

"You brat, you’re choosing three techniques at once—and one of them is even suspected to be a remnant of an Immortals and Gods inheritance. Even if we can locate the corresponding knowledge, it’ll be filled with obstacles, a huge waste of time, and a misstep could mean death.

Are you sure you won’t reconsider? It’d be better to just choose one first. If it doesn’t work out, you can always come back and change—it won’t cost you anything." The voice of the Taisui of the Book Mountain rang out, surprised.

This was just... too confident.

Jiang Yan shook his head and said seriously, "No need to reconsider."

As long as it didn’t involve his secrets, there was no reason to hide his talent.

In the official system, only by showing himself to be a peerless genius could he gain more attention and resource prioritization.

Ba Lie looked at Jiang Yan and asked seriously, "Are you sure?"

Receiving a definite answer, he said no more.

He knew Jiang Yan was not a reckless person. Since he had made the decision, he must have his reasons.

Ba Lie said, "Taisui of the Book Mountain, let’s proceed."

"Young people these days really don’t heed the words of elders. They’ll shed tears after learning their lesson." The Taisui of the Book Mountain snorted softly.

Buzz!

The vast sea of books turned, and three blurry light clusters floated out and landed in Jiang Yan’s hands.

Then, the two of them were flung out.

The Book Mountain gradually vanished, leaving only a voice echoing, "As long as the Dao resonance hasn’t been used, you may return to exchange it."

‘So it’s a prideful old man after all.’

Jiang Yan sneered inwardly, then followed the guidance of his badge and returned to the real world.

After bidding farewell to Ba Lie, he returned to his room.

In his mind, the three light clusters gleamed. Even though they were only basic transcendent chapters, they still emitted miraculous phenomena and the sound of scripture recitation, profound and mysterious.

The first was the Yellow Court Returning Store Shape Refining Scripture, which refined the five internal organs, accumulated the five elements, cultivated the Blossom Pond, ignited the Life Lamp, constructed the Yellow Court Dao Palace within the body, and internally nurtured one billion eight hundred million gods.

Cultivating the Returning Store Yellow Court Foundation allowed for the nurturing of any Law Seed among the Ten Heavenly Stems, with a constant flow of true qi.

It was considered a jack-of-all-trades foundation.

The second was the Celestial Ruin Purple Star Emperor Qi Absorption Scripture, which observed fortune, sensed calamity, and cultivated the path of destiny. It also corresponded to the Ten Heavenly Stems, condensed the power of the stars, and commanded all qi.

And the one the Taisui of the Book Mountain had mentioned, suspected to be a remnant of an Immortals and Gods scripture...

The Eastern Longevity Lotus Sutra of Salvation.