Li Chang’an was naturally overjoyed by this, indiscriminately and frantically devouring the surrounding Heaven and Earth Energy.
What he didn’t know was that because of his frantic devouring, a terrifying energy vortex had formed over the entire Dayan Imperial Palace. Like a gigantic funnel, it continuously poured down toward the roof of the Library Pavilion.
The first to notice the anomaly was, naturally, the old man who was closest. He first glanced outside at the phenomenon occurring between heaven and earth, then immediately returned to the fifth floor of the Library Pavilion as if he’d seen a ghost. Staring at Li Chang’an, who was sitting cross-legged on the floor, his face was a picture of utter astonishment.
Li Chang’an had mentioned to him once or twice before his plan to merge the numerous Cultivation Techniques in the Library Pavilion into one, forging his path to invincibility.
But at the time, he hadn’t believed a single word. He even thought Li Chang’an was daydreaming.
Naturally, no one knew better than him just how many Cultivation Techniques the Library Pavilion housed. It was precisely because he knew that he understood the sheer difficulty of the task.
Even if Li Chang’an was a young hero and a true Child of Destiny, trying to swallow so many Cultivation Techniques in one go should have made him burst at the seams.
Yet, he never would have dreamed that Li Chang’an would accomplish this unprecedented feat in less than five years.
The celestial vortex he was causing right now covered nearly half the Imperial City!
"Terrifying... this is simply terrifying!" the old man exclaimed sincerely, his own heart burning with excitement.
Because this celestial phenomenon was so conspicuous, almost every Martial Artist in the Imperial Palace who was attuned to the world around them noticed it.
Soon, dozens, nearly a hundred figures, appeared around the Library Pavilion. They all stared at the funnel formed from Heaven and Earth Energy, their faces filled with shock and uncertainty.
’What’s happening here? Why is there such a terrifying celestial phenomenon? Don’t tell me one of the Six Ancestors is breaking through to the Grandmaster realm?’
Just as everyone was privately speculating, hesitating on whether to approach the Library Pavilion to investigate, the gray-robed old man appeared just in time to break the stalemate.
The old man looked up at the phenomenon above the Library Pavilion, his sharp eyes seemingly able to pierce through anything. After a long silence, he slowly spoke, "Everyone, disperse. There is no enemy invasion here!"
With that, he waved his hand, gesturing for the others to leave.
Although the group of Martial Artists in the Imperial Palace remained incredibly curious, they didn’t dare act presumptuously in this man’s presence. They could only suppress their doubts and turn to leave.
After dispersing the crowd gathered by the Library Pavilion, the gray-robed old man gazed at the phenomenon overhead, looking somewhat dazed himself.
After a long silence, he walked straight through the main entrance of the Library Pavilion.
...
The celestial phenomenon lasted for about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn.
This was mainly because Li Chang’an’s body had already stored a great deal of Energy. No matter how much more he absorbed, his body’s capacity had its limits.
If he didn’t stop voluntarily after exceeding that limit, it would no longer be cultivation—it would be suicide.
After consuming a vast amount of energy, once his body signaled it was satiated, Li Chang’an finally stopped circulating his Cultivation Technique. He slowly opened his eyes, exhaled a thick, turbid breath, and couldn’t help but laugh heartily. "I did it! I’ve done it!"
During this cultivation session, he had successfully comprehended his very own Martial Arts Technique: the *Heaven and Earth Chaos Technique*!
Although it was currently just an incomplete version, judging from the power it displayed, it could likely already rival this world’s Land Immortal Cultivation Techniques!
The Heaven and Earth Chaos Technique could convert Heaven and Earth Energy into fine wisps of Chaos Qi.
And Chaos is the origin of all creation. After converting the Power of Heaven and Earth into Chaos Qi and absorbing it, both one’s explosive power and endurance would far surpass those of an ordinary Martial Artist using the Power of Heaven and Earth!
Of course, its unimaginable combat prowess wasn’t even the most special aspect of this Cultivation Technique.
The technique’s most special feature was its ability to complete itself by absorbing the strengths of other Cultivation Techniques, becoming more and more refined until, finally... it achieved perfection!
This way, not only did Li Chang’an possess the ultimate offense, but he also no longer had to worry about his Martial Dao becoming impure from comprehending other techniques. He could add any Cultivation Technique or Secret Manual he learned to the *Heaven and Earth Chaos Technique*, making it a part of the whole!
Seeing Li Chang’an’s ecstatic expression as he laughed heartily, the old man who had been standing nearby for some time couldn’t help but say sourly, "Kid, I know you’re on top of the world right now, but shouldn’t you spare a thought for us old folks’ feelings?"
Hearing the slightly resentful tone in his voice, Li Chang’an finally snapped back to his senses.
He looked down and saw that at some point, a full four of the Imperial Palace’s six Grandmasters had gathered. They were all sizing him up with incredibly complex expressions.
Li Chang’an gave a sheepish smile but spoke frankly. "I was too focused just now and failed to notice your arrival, venerable Ancestors. Please forgive me!"
The Dayan Dynasty had weakened severely in recent years, with each generation worse than the last. On the surface, it seemed to be because the younger generations were lazy, but Li Chang’an knew the root cause wasn’t that the Imperial Family’s descendants were completely useless. Rather, it was that the Ancestors were too kind and had never been ruthless with their descendants.
If the Ancestors had been willing to be ruthless and discipline them, there was actually a batch of malleable talent within the Royal Family. At the very least, it would have been better than the current situation, where there was a severe gap in talent between the generations.
Li Chang’an had asked about this before, when he was on the roof of the Imperial Palace.
The gray-robed old man, the eldest and highest in Realm, had explained that heaven and earth have their own destiny. If the younger generation coveted pleasure and lacked the ambition to pursue the Martial Dao, it would be useless even if a few old men like them tried to force the issue.
Flowers have their season to bloom, and people have their moments of fortune. In the same way, all things in the universe have their own natural course and pattern.
When a tree’s roots rot and grow fungus, even if its canopy remains lush and green, it is nothing more than an illusion—a moon’s reflection in water, a flower in a mirror. It cannot escape its fate of death.
By the same token, when a dynasty no longer has people willing to bleed, sacrifice, and strive for it, it cannot escape the cycle of prosperity and decline.
This is the Dao of heaven and earth, not something human effort can easily reverse.
It was for this reason that Li Chang’an actually had a rather good impression of them, and so he was willing to lower his head and address them as "venerable Ancestors."
Seeing that Li Chang’an’s aura was completely restrained, to the point that one couldn’t detect the slightest trace of his Martial Dao cultivation, the burly, fiery-tempered old man among the four couldn’t help but be the first to ask, "Kid, what Realm are you at now? Why can’t even I gauge your depth?"
The ancestors of the Dayan Imperial Palace were ranked by a combination of their age and strength.
Among the four present, it went without saying that the old man guarding the Library Pavilion and the gray-robed old man guarding the Imperial Palace were ranked sixth and first, respectively.
The fiery-tempered man was the guardian of the Inner Treasury; his age and strength were greater than the old man from the Library Pavilion, placing him at fifth rank.
The final person, a black-robed old man, was responsible for guarding the Armory and was ranked second. He appeared even older than the gray-robed old man, his face covered in age spots.
Though he hadn’t spoken, he was also staring at Li Chang’an with a burning gaze, clearly fascinated by his current Realm.
...