For most of Ling Aotian's life, he had only looked up to one figure. A figure so dazzling in the starlight that he singlehandedly made every other expert in the Martial Grotto continent look like moon dust drifting in the wind. Ling Aotian was once the most domineering person in the Martial Grotto continent. Going around challenging all and sundry to mark his name in the books of history. By the time he was a thousand years old, he had already swept through four of the great regions, claiming the title of heaven refining Lord.
He could refine all living beings in this world. He was a spirit refiner. One who could refine artifacts with spirituality at a moment's notice, defying the heavens in it's most proud aspect. Sooner or later, he had made a breakthrough in his refining attainment, making the True jade battle armor and becoming one of the half- step supremes in all of the continent.Gaining the title of a venerate candidate and the ability to challenge the best of the best of the central continent. Those with Half- step supreme attainment, people who had taken their dao path to its peak.
Unfortunately, the moment he entered the central continent, his path collided with Gui Ying : who had also just made a breakthrough to become Half- step supreme. That being the situation, Ling Aotian challenged him to a battle. Gui Ying declined, saying " A battle with no stakes is no fun, put up a wager and I'll think about it"
Just what could interest Gui Ying? A sect master that was also the founding Patriach of a supreme sect? Aotian tried convincing him with all his treasures, but they could not move GUI Ying who had the foundation of his own sect.
" Go big or go home!! " That was Gui Ying's response whenever Ling Aotian would come to challenge him. Aotian was frustrated, just wondering what could move this old man.Then he came up with a bold Plan.
" This time old man you must accept ! "
" You sound confident . Just what treasure did you get your hands on..?"
Aotian laughed, then proceeded to take out a strange orb.
" This is my newest masterpiece ," he paused, trying to create suspense." I call it ... Heaven' s Lock !! "
" What trashy function does that have? It looks quite ordinary. Is it made from wood..?"
Aotian frowned, talking Gui Ying's words to heart. He then tossed the orb into GUI Ying's hand, scowling ." Just take a look inside old man..!!"
" This..this is..!! What is this..??"
Aotian smiled, finally getting the reaction he had hoped to see.
"You see old man, that orb's trashy function is to seal dao attainment. Its not something much..!! Not like it's heaven defying or anything... "
"Surely you jest little friend. This has moved me, I accept. If I win,you will join my sect and make these everyday. What do you say.."
Aotian scoffed, " Nah.. it's either you go big or go home old man...!! "
Gui Ying's eyes twitched. " And what do you have in mind, little friend ? "
"We bet with attainment levels as chips. Put your attainment in the Heaven's lock orb untill you regress to grandmaster. Of course I'll do the same."
" Ha ! Ha ! Ha ! This is going to be fun ! Go big or go home eeei, then you will also agree to my previous terms yes? "
"Agreed." Aotian didn't hesitate, locking his refining attainment until grandmaster. Gui Ying did the same, locking his space attainment. A battle then began.
It lasted for five days and five nights. Making the battlefield a no fly zone due to the spacial rifts and cracks that resulted from their clash.
" You win !!" Admitted Aotian in dejection. His current self was an unruly sight to see. His tattered dark green robes soaked in blood. His face swelling like an ass stung by bees. GUI Ying was doing no better, but he at least managed to protect his face.
"Take it ..!! " Aotian passed the orb with a pained heart. That was his life's comprehension he was giving out !
Gui Ying received it, then looked at Ling Aotian and said, " I can't absorb this .. " Ling Aotian's heart warmed.Thinking that he was going to return it as a favor, he was starting to warm up to this old man.
" I'll just give it back to heaven ." Aotian almost cried. He knew that if GUI Ying opened the orb, the Attainment inside would vanish. Returning to the source of all Daos.
Tears crept near Aotian's eyelids, looking at GUI Ying who didn't even pay him any heed. GUI Ying was looking at the orb like he just obtained a new toy. Tossing and scrutinizing it in depth.
Watching him was torture to Ling Aotian. So he decided to leave.
No sooner had he had the chance to leave than...
Boom !
Tribulation clouds form and struck the orb into smitherings. Releasing a jade essence liquid that floated up into the clouds.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Four booming streaks of light constricted the attainment essence. They came from four formation flags which were circled with hundreds of formation disks illuminating and materializing a grand formation. This sight left Aotian in shock. Just what was this old man attempting to do ? Did he want to incure the wrath of heaven..?
A resounding doom then occured in the heavens, chanting coming from GUI Ying as he ascended towards the tribulations eye.
"The heavens are impartial. Heavens gift befall those with equal value. Returning essence for heavens treasure ..." GUI Ying chanted.
An incence sticks worth of time later, GUI Ying emerged from the tribulation cloud as it dispersed. The formation released the attainment essence.
Descending like a god of thunder, with tribulation lightening on the background, GUI Ying held a miniature size pagoda. Aotian was stunned. The pagoda was a top green grade spirit treasure, something on par with late stage heaven merging cultivators. He was in awe thinking.." just what did I just witness..?"
***
Presently though, Ling Aotian sat on the top floor of his Auction house. He was reminiscing about that specific thing after coming to a certain conclusion.
After the duel with Master Yun, he had noticed that the sword master comprehension he had was not suited for him. This was because, this comprehension belonged to one of the Pinying Elders of the Ghostly Shadow sect : Elder Ye mingyuan. It did not belong to him. When he use this comprehension, the sword in his hand had regected him. If he did not use his own will to force it to bend, he would have been defeated.
"Maybe I should perform the Heavens Ritual and exchange this attainment for a treasure ? " He thought out loud. It was already useless to him. He could also not give it to Ling Luo, since it could hinder his growth and not allow his to transcend the master realm. It was his best choice.
It was also a reminder that he needed to start his cultivation. Making him affirm his belief that only ones own strength is sufficient.
After making his conviction, and deciding to put the heavens ritual in his plans, he finally locked eyes with Cui Long. Although he knew that he would still need to prove his power to her, he was still disappointed. What if he had died ? Wouldn't he be the greated fool in this world..? Dying to his own woman's scheme..
His eyes turned murderous, locking at Cui Long's whole being like a judge holding an impreal hammer. Fealing this, Cui Long suddenly knelt. Her face facing the ground in shame. She did not talk.
"Stop acting ! I know you know I won't kill you." He sighed then retracted his lock and said, "I won't make things hard on you but that should not happen again. You should also be aware ! I don't forgive the same mistake twice."
Cui Long, finally raised her head, tears rolling down her face as shame washed all over her. She comforted herself by saying it was all for her family. Trying hard to show her strength and determination by forcing the tears to stop.They did not.
Aotian was finally moved, feeling her shame and regret. To him this was no big deal since he was already immune to such nonsense. To Cui Long however this was a big deal. She couldn't assertain how Ling Aotian would view her after this. After all what she did was an impulse. A spur of the moment with her family in thought.
"Raise your head. Your little thousand year feud is not something big to me. This matter is too minor. Forget about it ."
Cui Long was relieved, her face soaked as she swore not to go against him anymore. She even swore against four colored lightening, which was a taboo for cultivators to break such an oath. If she dared, she would instantly die when she undergoes tribulation.
Aotian of course didn't even care, he just sat in his chair drinking tea as he ordered a maid at the auction to run errands for him. He took out a spacial ring with1000 mid grade spirit stones and gave a list to the maid.
In the list was, formation disks and flags, hundreds of different talismans,some ordinary pills, swords and alchemical ingredients. The most important thing though was, beast cores. He needed thousands of them.
It was time to awaken his spirit. He had everything laid out with the crux of his spirit awakening being the Qi concentration grand formation.
This formation was used to concentrate Qi at a single point. He however wanted to adjust the formation and make it concentrate Qi pressure strong enough for him to remove heavens seals on his spirit body.
He stood from his seat and told Cui Long he was going to seclusion. He wanted to collaborate and corelate his formation grand master attainment to allow him to adjust the Qi concentration formation to what he needed.
Looking at Cui Long,he gave out instructions and went to closed seclusion. Only coming out after five days.