The Five Elements Divine Master's figure transformed, displaying the various forms of the Five Elements: metal, wood, water, fire, and earth, in Ning Zhuo's eyes, one after another.
Green wood, red fire, yellow earth, white metal, black water.
Wood embraced the Fusang Tree where the Three-legged Golden Crow perched, the Jianmu that reached the heavens, the Peach of Immortality that prolonged life, the Parasol Tree where phoenixes rested…
Fire possessed the passionately warm Southern Ming fire, the undying Samadhi True Fire, the civilizing Suiren Fire, the karmic and consequential Red Lotus Karma Fire, the Eight Diagrams Furnace Fire treasured for alchemy…
Earth bore the endless Rest Soil, the world-patching Five-Colored Stone, the ever-proliferating Houtu, the divine Kunlun Soil…
Metal featured the artifact-refining treasured Kunwu Gold, the authoritative and regal Xuanyuan Gold, the heterodox divine force of Star Meteor Iron…
Water contained the all-submerging Ruoshui, the star-bright Heavenly River, the clear Jingwei Water, the life-lengthening Penglai Immortal Spring…
All these treasures were the essence of the Five Elements taken to the extreme and a representation of the principles of their respective elements.
Because of the accumulation of too many principles, some cultivators upon witnessing these things would conceive true intent in their Divine Sea and comprehend the corresponding principles.
Of course, this was strongly related to the cultivator's perceptiveness.
Ning Zhuo browsed through the various treasures of the Five Elements, quickly mastered the Five Elements Phenomenon, and thus advanced his Five Elements Realm from a common level to great success.
The transformations of the Five Elements Divine Master were still ongoing.
This time, he no longer represented the real image of the Five Elements' treasures but various abstract and conceptual forms.
The white radiance of the metal element sometimes resembled the tip of a sword, the edge of a blade, piercing and slashing.
From this, Ning Zhuo understood the firmness of the metal attribute, its dominance in cleansing and killing.
The green gleam of the wood element spread like vines, grew like grass blades, from tiny to thick, and then to grand.
Ning Zhuo thus realized the growth in the wood attribute represented vitality and flourishing.
The ink-like flow of the water element at times turned into monstrous waves threatening to swallow everything, spread out in a calm, unruffled surface, meandered like a bubbling brook, and at times became a stagnant pool.
Ning Zhuo thus comprehended that the water attribute was pliant, primarily changeable, and could conquer the hard with softness.
The petals of the fire element transformed into lamplight, seemingly delicate and small, yet still able to incinerate moths. Into blazing flames that wildly spread, into radiance that scorched every direction.
Ning Zhuo then understood, the intensity of fire was light, heat, and unstoppable forward momentum, never looking back.
The yellow light of the earth element solidified into boulders, which when piled up became mountains. Mountains crumbled, turning into vast and boundless land, expansive and immeasurably thick.
Ning Zhuo then realized the weightiness of the earth attribute. It bore everything, and was the foundation of all things.
Blood slowly streamed from Ning Zhuo's seven orifices.
The characteristics and personalities of the Five Elements led him to elevate his Five Elements Realm directly from a common level to the master level!
His grasp of the Five Elements became much deeper.
The Five Elements Divine Master burst into hearty laughter, pointing at Ning Zhuo, "Kid, to comprehend to this extent, you are quite perceptive, a good thinker. You may continue watching."
He continued his transformations, presenting the principles of the Five Elements to Ning Zhuo in even greater depth.
The white light of the metal element turned into a pill, full and potent, indestructible as a diamond.
Ning Zhuo was struck by a revelation: "So, the metal attribute's dominance in killing is not only about slaying others but also about cutting away impurities and foreign objects from oneself, constantly refining to purity. Therefore, metal is about killing but also about cessation and contraction."
The green glow of the wood element sprouted grass that grew into a tree, which in the blink of an eye shed its leaves, withered, and decayed.
Ning Zhuo comprehended the true intent: "So the surface of the wood attribute is life, but internally, it is death. It is because of death that life exists. With life comes death. The cycle of life and death, just like the sprouting and declining of trees, is the cycle of birth and extinction, transmigration and impermanence."
The black stream flowed quietly, the flora along its path lush, numerous wild beasts coming to drink, people settling and breeding along its banks.
Ning Zhuo understood: "Water is about inclusion, about compassion and breadth for all beings, about unaction without contention, yet it is omnipresent."
This time, the red firelight burned into human form, with halos of wisdom forming concentric circles.
Ning Zhuo perceived: "Fire is not merely fierce destruction but also about burning one's own heart, burning away inner vexations and desires, illuminating the path of wisdom, guiding oneself and others. Thus, fire is about awakening, enlightenment."
The yellow chunks of earth shattered into countless pebbles, rolling down from mountains, merging into the ground, being trampled, worn down, and yet still a part of the earth.
Ning Zhuo felt: "The earth attribute is not just about bearing, but also about returning. No matter how high the stones fly, they eventually fall to the ground. Generosity in support, supporting generosity. Essentially part of the foundation, all things naturally return to the foundation. What we call bearing, is also burial!"
At this point, Ning Zhuo profoundly reached the foundation of the Five Elements' insides and grasped the essential principles.
His Five Elements Realm was promoted to the grandmaster level!
From then on, by following the inner foundation, the essential principles, he could create the spells and Cultivation Techniques corresponding to each element.
Ning Zhuo sat with an empty head, his stomach growling, both his physical and spiritual energy were drained to the last drop.
He was utterly spent!
The Five Elements Divine Master was surprised and let out a light "Huh": "How strange, the Spirit Hidden Willow is so close to you. Did you plant it yourself from its infancy?"
"It still wants to contribute to you, to sacrifice for you!"
"Kid, it seems your fortune doesn't end here. Keep watching, haha."
The Divine Master laughed heartily and continued his demonstrative transformations.
But this time, he no longer practiced each element separately; instead, metal, wood, water, fire, and earth intermingled and merged.
Ning Zhuo's pupils were dilated, his face expressionless.
The various principles were being illogically infused into the depths of his heart, like a deluge.
Wood Produces Fire, Fire Produces Earth, Earth Produces Metal, Metal Produces Water, Water Produces Wood.
The Five Elements are inter-promoting. Everything between heaven and earth can support and propel each other, with life, the universe, and fate consistently connected.
So, the Five Elements perpetuate endlessly!
Wood restrains Earth, Earth restrains Water, Water restrains Fire, Fire restrains Metal, and Metal restrains Wood.
The Five Elements are mutually restraining; among all things, any one element that expands excessively will be checked and adjusted by the force of another.
So, the Five Elements maintain equilibrium!
The Five Elements are categorized distinctly, yet they are also an integral whole. The myriad things are complex and vast, and all are part of the whole.
Ning Zhuo felt his entire body burning hot, as if being consumed by flames, his head felt like it was exploding, and he became incapable of thought!
The Five Elements God Master also showed an expression of surprise and delight, "Kid, it turns out you have dual innate abilities. Apart from early wisdom, there's another..."
"Ah, I see!"
He seemed to discern Ning Zhuo's innate talent and his expression became somewhat peculiar, "Did Heaven grant you this talent intending for you not to follow the Righteous Path?"
"How interesting."
The face of the Five Elements God Master became complex, he looked up at the sky and sneered, "What a world! Still blaming me for privately manipulating the Five Elements? Even when I want to find a successor, it's not allowed."
"Clearly having the innate talent, capable of catching my eye, yet I'm not permitted to be his mentor!"
"Very well, the inheritance comes first. It's alright not to be his mentor."
At that moment, the Five Elements God Master's eyes shone with divine light as he stared intensely at Ning Zhuo, and said sternly, "Boy, remember, I am not your mentor! My performance of the Five Elements' principles is not for guiding you; rather, it is what you have inadvertently witnessed and learned."
Ning Zhuo was already listless and exhausted, no longer able to hear the words of the Five Elements God Master clearly, but his left arm began to burn and glow with heat.
The Five Elements God Master's face turned solemn, "Next, I will reveal the profound meaning of the 'Five Organs Temple Spirit Divine Skill' I have created."
"Heaven has Five Elements, and so does man!"
"Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, Earth; Liver, Lungs, Kidneys, Heart, Spleen; Grief, Anger, Fear, Joy, Worry!"
"As the Five Elements circulate, the five organs wax and wane, thus regulating nature and transforming all things, allowing the Five Elements to be absorbed into the body..."
The Five Elements God Master had created such a Divine Skill and in former years directly rose to become a Supreme Grandmaster.
There were none before him, and successors have since emerged. Even if he were alive today, he might not be deemed 'Supreme,' yet he had reached an extremely profound and subtle level.
The words Ning Zhuo heard were simply deafening.
Each phrase, each word from the Five Elements God Master, transformed into divine sounds of heaven and earth. These sounds were both loud and soft, inherently contradictory.
What Ning Zhuo could comprehend seemed grand and boundless; what he couldn't comprehend became whispers that nearly faded into inaudibility.
Ning Zhuo felt like a solitary leaf on a boat amidst a tempestuous tsunami, drifting and dazed.
The Spirit Hidden Willow finally gave in, not a single leaf remaining on its branches, resembling a dried-up corpse devoid of luster, its vitality barely perceptible.
Ning Zhuo relied solely on his mysterious innate ability and the boost from the Spirit Hidden Willow.
Once missing a great power, he suddenly spat out a mouthful of fresh blood, and like a flimsy boat in the tsunami, disintegrated and was smashed and swallowed by a colossal wave.
Ning Zhuo fainted on the spot.
Who knows how long had passed, Ning Zhuo slowly opened his eyes.
His head was splitting with pain, his vision blurry and unclear, barely able to make out indistinct figures.
Though the face was not clear, Ning Zhuo recognized Sun Lingtong at a glance.
He was too familiar with Sun Lingtong.
Sun Lingtong had been waiting by the bedside; seeing Ning Zhuo open his eyes, she joyfully clapped her hands, "Good, Little Zhuo, you finally woke up!"
"When I saw you enter the Spiritual Plant Cabin and it took too long, I went to check and found you had fainted."
"I used the Ten-Thousand-Li Travelling Dragon healing chamber to stabilize your vital forces. You've been unconscious for three days and nights."
"What on earth did you do?"
Ning Zhuo forced a wry smile, "The opportunity was too great, too much to swallow, nearly bursting me."
Sun Lingtong: ?!
Ning Zhuo, weak in his voice, explained the situation in detail to Sun Lingtong.
Sun Lingtong scratched her head, "The Five Elements God Master took an interest in you? Wants you to act as a successor across generations! No wonder the Spirit Hidden Willow looks for all the world like it's dying."
"What? Boss, what did you say about the Spirit Hidden Willow?" Ning Zhuo, startled and anxious, tried to sit up.
But Sun Lingtong was quicker, pressing him down firmly.
"Just lie down properly."
"Your condition is still not good; you need to rest."
"I have bad news for you, don't get too worked up... The Spirit Hidden Willow is dying."
Ning Zhuo struggled vehemently, "Boss, the Spirit Hidden Willow is a vital legacy; we can't afford to lose it."
"Help me get over there to check on it!"
Sun Lingtong couldn't argue with Ning Zhuo, so she helped him up and once again, they entered the Spiritual Plant Cabin.
Ning Zhuo circulated his energy to digest the medicine, and his vision cleared somewhat.
"Terrible!" Seeing the Spirit Hidden Willow, his heart instantly plummeted to the bottom of a valley.