Su Yuan immediately began comprehending divine ability techniques.
Insight into the Dao's meaning served as the foundation, but to fully unleash its power required the enhancement of divine abilities.
Typically, cultivators referred to the realm where one comprehended a trace of law as the "Divine Intent" realm, meaning one's insights had touched upon divinity.
With a wisp of law serving as the general, the power of insight gained a commander, allowing it to exhibit strength many times greater, as if possessing divine intelligence.
This was also the origin of the term "divine ability."
For others, the ultimate purpose of learning divine abilities was to comprehend the underlying laws and principles during the process.
Now that Su Yuan had already grasped a trace of law in advance, creating divine abilities in reverse became much simpler.
"Divine abilities are essentially advanced spells. The difference lies in that spells primarily utilize one's own magic power, while divine abilities not only mobilize personal magic power but also harness the natural forces existing between heaven and earth, thereby amplifying one's magic power tenfold, even a hundred or thousand times!"
Once capable of executing divine abilities, a cultivator's strength would undergo a qualitative leap. This was also why the gap between Nascent Soul and Divine Transformation was so stark.
From Qi Refining to Nascent Soul could collectively be called "Transcending Mortality"!
Only beyond Divine Transformation could one truly step onto the threshold of "immortals and deities," transitioning from human to divine levels.
Why had Su Yuan initially chosen stellar laws as his target?
Naturally, it was because the Big Dipper's upper limits were high, its power formidable, and combined with the effects of his traits, it could push the power of divine abilities to extreme heights!
Inspiration burst forth in Su Yuan's mind. With stellar laws at the core and metal, wood, water, fire, earth, sword, and thunder as branches, he created the divine ability [Seven Stars Five Elements Thunder Sword]!
This was the divine evolution of the [Seven Stars Mystic Truth Sword Canon]!
Using laws as the guide, it could summon even greater heavenly might!
As he nearly completed this divine ability, his cultivation time also ended.
"Ah, this divine ability is still somewhat rough."
Su Yuan regretted that the cultivation time was too short. Five years of converted cultivation time amounted to only two and a half hours, which was simply insufficient—gone in the blink of an eye.
Only then did Su Yuan turn his attention to the system panel.
[Name]: Su Yuan
[Region]: Green Vine Continent
[Level]: Renowned (4.88m/10m)
[Realm]: Golden Core Peak (99/100)
[Trait 1]: Balance Between Work and Rest: Current rest time: 0 days
[Trait 2]: Daoist Techniques Naturally
[Trait 3]: Seven Stars Shine Bright
[Trait 4]: Mind Echo
[Trait 5]: Great Talent's Bearing
[Trait 6]: Duty in Crisis: Lifespan: 100,894 years
"Reaching Golden Core peak immediately upon breaking through?"
Su Yuan wasn't surprised. He had accumulated too much true essence, and his insights into heaven and earth were sufficient, naturally propelling him straight to peak realm.
The theoretical lifespan limit for the Golden Core realm was 800 years, meaning Trait 6 had added an extra 100,094 years—quite impressive.
Su Yuan looked inward at his dantian. An ancient golden cauldron appeared in his perception—this was the Dao foundation condensed by the [Wood-Fueled Metal Art], containing a cluster of flames within which nine golden cores continued rotating endlessly.
With a thought, the nine flying swords nurtured in his dantian flew directly to the golden cores, accompanying them.
He had ultimately transformed the Nine Stars Linked Pearl Sword into his life-bound magic treasure!
This spiritual artifact was perfectly suited to him, its spirituality largely nurtured by him—one could say it was tailor-made. Although it was still only at the spiritual artifact level, life-bound treasures could grow alongside cultivators, requiring cultivation from the very beginning.
As the nine swords accompanied the golden cores, the cores' magic power and Dao insights began continuously tempering the Nine Stars Linked Pearl Sword. Bathed in the golden cores' energy, the swords' quality slowly improved.
This was a gradual process. Once Su Yuan confirmed it was proceeding well, he left it to develop on its own.
Returning to his senses, Su Yuan focused his consciousness once more on comprehending the Virtual Gold Thundercloud.
This rare wonder of heaven and earth was not something one encountered often, and since he hadn't accumulated any rest time, comprehending it now came at no cost. Without hesitation, he continued studying the Virtual Gold Thundercloud.
When he attempted to comprehend it with his normal aptitude, his mind immediately felt sluggish to the extreme.
A transformation involving golden lightning flashed briefly in the thundercloud—something that would have been instantly clear in cultivation state now stubbornly eluded his understanding.
Failing to grasp it meant the transformation had ended, forcing him to catch the next one and abandon the previous insight.
Despite his physical talents having transformed, despite the boost from [Daoist Techniques Naturally], it still fell far short of the [Balance Between Work and Rest] cultivation state.
"Estimating at least eight years to elevate Metal Insight to Divine Intent level!"
Su Yuan frowned. While that might not seem long, compared to the trait's effects, it was unacceptable. His metal affinity was his strongest, yet it would still take eight years—and that was with the aid of heaven-earth wonders—demonstrating just how difficult comprehending laws truly was.
He tried resting for a hundred minutes to activate the trait for one minute of comprehension.
During the intervals, he didn't idle but observed the Virtual Gold Thundercloud with an appreciative mindset, accumulating material for insights.
After two such sessions.
Su Yuan calculated that the breakthrough time could be compressed to three years.
Still too long.
Su Yuan then calculated the Virtual Gold Thundercloud's duration—seventeen days total, with Lei Yan needing to escape midway to avoid being caught by its subsequent outburst, halving the time to just eight or nine days.
What could be accomplished in that time?
Shaking his head, Su Yuan realized comprehending laws was impossible. He might as well grasp whatever he could.
Turning his attention to the spectacle of golden lightning strikes, he attempted to create a thunder technique.
Eight days passed in a flash.
Lei Yan awoke from his comprehension.
Feeling substantial gains, his Thunder Insight had improved significantly, taking a firm step closer to mastery.
Cupping his hands toward the surroundings, he said, "Seven Stars Ancestor, the Virtual Gold Thundercloud has now gathered halfway and is about to enter its outburst phase. I must depart!"
Su Yuan condensed starlight, manifesting his form as he smiled, "Elder Lei, I'm deeply grateful for this opportunity you provided—my gains have been plentiful!"
Lei Yan laughed heartily, "I too relied on your protection, Seven Stars Ancestor, to cultivate without distraction. My Thunder Insight is nearing mastery! Just one step from breakthrough, and my cultivation will advance accordingly."
Su Yuan suddenly understood, "That's excellent. How long until the breakthrough?"
"Soon. This step won't take too long—just about a hundred years to break through!" Lei Yan's face showed faint confidence.
Hearing this, Su Yuan fell silent briefly before nodding, "Then I'll anticipate Elder Lei's successful breakthrough!"
Lei Yan looked delighted—clearly breaking through the bottleneck in merely a century brought him great joy. The difference between minor and major insight was like heaven and earth.
"Until we meet again! I'll await your return at the sect!" Su Yuan nodded, his starlight avatar dissipating.
Lei Yan chose to return the way he came. The Thunder Sea held many dangers, and venturing into unfamiliar waters risked death. The path already traveled was at least safe, so returning the same way was natural.
However, halfway through his flight.
A Twin-Winged Thunder Tiger emerged from the sea, pouncing toward Lei Yan!
Lei Yan's expression changed as thunder energy condensed around him, forming a protective sphere before his body transformed into lightning, desperately dodging the attack.
But this time the Twin-Winged Thunder Tiger had lain in ambush, its pre-gathered attack terrifyingly powerful. A bolt of lightning shot from its wings, striking Lei Yan directly and hitting his body.
The destructive thunder force instantly blasted Lei Yan's body in half, his lower body obliterated by the lightning.
Fortunately, Lei Yan had transformed into lightning form, his body in a quasi-spiritual state. Retreating several miles, he regenerated his lower half.
But the cost was losing fully half his magic power and soul energy!
"Damn it!"
Lei Yan's face darkened.
Ambushed and already outmatched, losing so much soul energy and magic power made victory impossible.
"Human, who gave you the courage to covet this king's territory?" The Twin-Winged Thunder Tiger spoke in human tongue, eyes filled with icy killing intent. "By offending me, you've chosen death!"
After speaking, it waited for Lei Yan's response.
But after a moment, Lei Yan ignored it, his figure instead gradually dispersing under the beast's pressure.
The thunder tiger froze, then turned to see Lei Yan had used its monologue to escape far away!
"Despicable human! Die!"
Feeling insulted again, the thunder tiger immediately gave chase.
The wounded Lei Yan, now much slower, was caught within fifteen minutes.
Enraged, the thunder tiger filled the sky with lightning, battering Lei Yan relentlessly.
Both were thunder-aligned—the stronger could directly suppress the weaker. Lei Yan's pressure mounted.
"Seven Stars Ancestor, save me!"
Lei Yan couldn't help but shout.
His words startled the thunder tiger, which scanned the surroundings but detected no one. Turning back, it saw Lei Yan had used the distraction to flee another thousand miles!
"Deceitful human! Aaargh! Tricked me again!"
The thunder tiger's fury reached its peak.
At that moment, the Big Dipper in the sky suddenly blazed brightly!
Lei Yan exclaimed joyfully, "Ancestor saves me!"
The thunder tiger sneered but still glanced around.
Turning back, it saw Lei Yan had gained more distance, sending it into complete frenzy—its intelligence felt utterly insulted.
But Lei Yan hadn't lied.
Su Yuan's consciousness descended once more.
He hadn't expected Lei Yan to face life-threatening danger so soon after parting, initially thinking the Virtual Gold Thundercloud had erupted too quickly. Upon closer look—pursued by a demonic beast!
Su Yuan's true body stood atop his cave dwelling's mountain peak, the Myriad Treasures Heaven-Earth Cauldron transformed into a Seven-Star Magic Altar, the sixth-grade spiritual treasure Floating Light Pot stabilizing the formation's eye.
With solemn expression, he channeled magic power, activating the altar.
The Big Dipper above instantly resonated—as if no distance separated them. When Su Yuan sought to borrow the Dipper's power, it responded immediately!
Zero delay!
"Divine ability—[Seven Stars Five Elements Thunder Sword]!"
Su Yuan unleashed his newly created divine ability!
Streams of Dao-infused magic power poured into the altar, transforming into pillars of starlight shooting skyward!
These would attract multiple times—even dozens of times—the Big Dipper's stellar power. With slight adjustments to their descent points, they could achieve cross-border strikes!

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