Chapter 415: Discourse (Part 4)
"Oh? The Life Deviation Technique?" Lu Heng asked with a slight hint of confusion. "May I ask, my friend, what is the Life Deviation Technique?"
The Candle Dragon sighed and said, "The so-called Life Deviation Technique is a unique and arcane method of calculating one's present destiny and manifesting the form of tomorrow."
"This technique was cultivated by all cultivators of ancient times,"
"The Life Deviation Technique doesn't contribute to cultivation progression, nor is it complex. Even ordinary people who are new to cultivation can quickly learn it. However, only cultivators above the innate realm possess enough divine power to activate the Life Deviation Technique."
"And once the Life Deviation Technique is activated, the cultivator's cultivation, flesh, and soul will be sealed into nothingness, no longer existing in the world, essentially equivalent to death."
"But after the Earthly Catastrophe comes to an end, when all beings of the world once again reappear upon the vast land, the cultivators who have activated the Life Deviation Technique will be reborn on the earth, devoid of all cultivation, and must begin their cultivate anew."
"However, the physical body, soul, and accumulated cultivation that were sealed in nothingness by him didn't disappear; rather, they can be used in critical moments. Once the cultivator releases the restriction, all the accumulated cultivation will converge, causing the cultivator's cultivation to skyrocket instantly."
"However, after this, the cultivator will no longer be able to use the Life Deviation Technique."
"Therefore, unless pushed to a desperate situation, one will absolutely not activate the Life Deviation Technique."
"Since Lian Cangqing invented this technique, most of the ancient cultivators have been cultivating the Life Deviation Technique. With each occurrence of the Earthly Catastrophe, we 'die' once, only to be reborn in the new world."
"Accumulating countless years, only awaiting the opportune moment for the final counterattack."
As Candle Dragon spoke, he casually imparted the incantation of the Life Deviation Technique to Lu Heng, Jiu Mie.
And indeed, as she said, the incantation of this secret technique is as simple as he described. Even a novice who has just entered the realm of cultivation can easily learn it. However, the divine power required to activate this technique is beyond what an ordinary person can bear.
After Candle Dragon imparted the incantation, he reiterated once again, saying, "Both of you must remember, the Life Deviation Technique should not be used unless it is absolutely necessary. Once activated, it is akin to death, and until the conclusion of the next Earthly Catastrophe, your presence will be completely concealed from this world. The timing of activation must be approached with utmost caution."
"And if the main body is killed and annihilated by someone, then the cultivation stored within the void will also completely dissipate, ceasing to exist."
The Candle Dragon anxiously imparted a series of instructions, which Lu Heng and Jiu Mie attentively committed to memory.
After discussing the Life Deviation Technique for a while, Lu Heng sighed and said, "Lian Cangqing from ancient times truly commands respect. Worthy of the title of an ancient sage. Alas… it is regrettable to see her transformed into such a state, causing distress and bewilderment."
Candle Dragon pondered upon the mention of Lian Cangqing by Lu Heng and couldn't help but feel a headache. He said, "No one could have expected the Immortal of Martial Arts to end up in such a state… sigh… but at least she is still alive. As long as she is alive, it is a fortunate circumstance."
Lu Heng sighed and said, "Let us now discuss the matter of the World-ending Nine Cauldrons… In all honesty, dear friends, I happen to possess two of these coveted cauldrons."
"One of them, the Green State Cauldron, was a gift from Friend Jiu Mie, while the other, the Yu State Cauldron, came from the hands of an ancient being."
Speaking, Lu Heng lightly waved his sleeves and threw out two palm-sized bronze cauldrons, saying, "The ancient being who wields the Yu State Cauldron is known as the Lord of Seven Desires, a name that bears some resemblance to Luo Yujun of the Immortal Kingdom, but this Lord of Seven Desires is not a creature of the Celestial Desolation Realm."
"He was sealed within the Zhuxian Ancient City, with an incomplete diagram of the Heaven's Divination Nine Swords, in addition to the decree of the Human Emperor. Armed with the Yu State Cauldron, but he suffered grievous injuries and ultimately perished beneath the strike of the Heavenly Thunder Sword. I have temporarily taken possession of this Yu State Cauldron of his."
While Lu Heng showcased the two cauldrons, he also briefly recounted the events that took place in the Zhuxian Ancient City, then he asked, "Dear friends, how do you think we should handle these nine cauldrons?"
The two bronze cauldrons that Lu Heng brought out made the eyes of the Candle Dragon widen in an instant.
He grabbed one of the cauldrons, flipping it up and down for a while, and finally confirmed that it was indeed one of the nine cauldrons.
After listening to Lu Heng's narration, the Candle Dragon remained silent for a long time.
He spoke slowly, "Since the fall of the Emperor and the ancient crumbling of the Heavenly Court, the nine cauldrons have been lost for many years, completely taken away by powerful enemies from beyond the realm. They only appear when the Earthly Catastrophe descends, harvesting the lives of beings in the Celestial Desolation Realm."
"But little did I expect that my dear friend now holds two cauldrons at the same time…"
The Candle Dragon exclaimed, "The fortune of my dear friend is truly astonishing, leaving me dumbfounded."
"Unfortunately, once the nine cauldrons have been refined by the Earth Spirit Realm, they no longer obey the commands of us cultivators from the Celestial Desolation Realm… My dear friend, please hide these two cauldrons."
"They are nothing more than solid pieces of iron in our hands, unable to unleash their divine power. However, if they were to fall into the hands of cultivators from beyond the realm, they would become invincible weapons, protecting their wielder in every way."
"Now that we have retrieved two of the nine cauldrons, it is imperative to conceal them carefully, ensuring that they don't fall into the hands of enemies beyond the realm and that no information is leaked. You must understand that there are indeed numerous spies from the Celestial Desolation Realm, and not everyone is willing to resist to the end."
"In the recurring cycles of the Earthly Catastrophe, there are indeed some cultivators who are willing to submit to the enemies beyond the realm in exchange for the preservation of their lives. Therefore, my dear friend, you must be cautious and refrain from carelessly revealing the nine cauldrons to others."
Otherwise, in the next occurrence of the Earthly Catastrophe, the enemies beyond the realm will surely not spare your life! They will search the Celestial Desolation Realm tirelessly until they unearth you!"
The Candle Dragon earnestly reminded.
Lu Heng nodded and said, "I see, I have taken note of that. I will take good care of these two cauldrons and try my best not to let them be lost."
"However, aside from the nine cauldrons and the Earthly Catastrophe, my dear friend Candle Dragon, have you ever heard of the Earthly Behemoth?" Lu Heng finally posed this question.
Upon hearing Lu Heng mention this term, Candle Dragon, who was known to be knowledgeable about ancient secrets and possessed comprehensive understanding, was thoroughly perplexed.
"Hmm? Earthly Behemoth?" Candle Dragon wore a puzzled expression and asked, "May I inquire, my dear friend, what exactly is this Earthly Behemoth?"
The reaction of Candle Dragon left Lu Heng momentarily stupefied, finding it somewhat difficult to comprehend. "My dear friend, are you really unaware of the Earthly Behemoth?"
Candle Dragon felt somewhat helpless and said, "I must seek your guidance, my dear friend, regarding what exactly is the Earthly Behemoth and why I should have knowledge of its existence… Could it be that this Earthly Behemoth is also related to the extraterrestrial enemies?"
Candle Dragon, for the first time, encountered something unfamiliar, relinquishing his previous omniscience.
Upon witnessing this, Lu Heng could only sigh helplessly and say, "The so-called Earthly Behemoth is a colossal and terrifying monster that dwells on the outskirts of the Celestial Desolation Realm, constantly devouring the life force of all beings in the heavens and earth, as well as the souls of the departed…"
Amidst the increasingly astonished and bewildered gazes of Candle Dragon and Jiu Mie, Lu Heng roughly recounted his accidental encounter with the Earthly Behemoth in the alternate dimensional space.
