Chapter 144 of Volume Three: The Nine-Dragon Heaven-Subduing Seal (Please bookmark)

Jiang Jialang continued, “If it weren’t for this recent upheaval, with this technique alone, the Jiang family could proudly stand as the foremost among the Dragonfall's eight factions. How could we have fallen to the bottom tier as we are now?”

“Since it’s a fragmented technique, does the Jiang family still rely on it to uphold its legacy?”

“Of course! Originally, it was a Saint King-level Dao technique. Even in its incomplete state, its power was enough to secure the Jiang family’s place among the Dragonfall’s elite.”

‘Saint King-level!’ Yu Mu was both surprised and delighted upon hearing this. The Nine-Dragon Overturn Seal was actually one tier higher than the Rejuvenation Art, Ghost King Body, Immortal Path Record, and the Ancient Bear Transformation Technique!

His understanding and expectations of the Nine-Dragon Overturn Seal deepened.

“As a member of the family, even our branch line cultivates it, though we only scratch the surface,” Jiang Jialang said with a trace of melancholy.

“Oh? Just the surface!” Yu Mu sneered coldly. “I noticed your Nine-Dragon Seal has at least two layers. You broke through my barrier quite effortlessly earlier.”

Jiang Jialang hurriedly explained, “It’s not what you think. Achieving the second layer is no easy feat. I’ve only mastered two sealing methods separately and haven’t fully fused them.”

“Fused?” Yu Mu recalled having tried a similar approach with An Shu.

“You probably don’t know because you haven’t practiced the Nine-Dragon Seal long enough. Cultivating each attribute’s seal is not difficult. The challenge lies in fusing them to create an overlapping effect. Each complete fusion counts as one layer, doubling the power. The more you fuse, the harder it becomes, but the greater the power. If all nine layers are fused, one would surely be a Saint King. Our family’s ancestor reportedly reached only the seventh layer, well into the late tribulation stage.”

Yu Mu thought silently, ‘So, what An Shu and I tried was barely a true fusion, more like an overlapping state, just like Jiang Jialang.’

“Moreover, beyond fusion, balancing the energies of each attribute is even harder. The overlapping effect depends on your lowest spiritual cultivation among the attributes. This ‘weakest link’ effect means that even if you master all nine, you can’t fully utilize them. For example, I have cultivated not only the Spatial and Wood Spirit seals, but also the Earth Dragon Seal. But my mastery over the Earth Spirit is just beginning. Even if I fuse it, the sealing effect only stacks based on that baseline. Think about it: with such a level, even if I reached the third layer, how powerful could it truly be? To reach a genuine tier, each fused attribute must not lag far behind your main attribute.”

‘No one has infinite energy in a lifetime. Who could cultivate nine attributes simultaneously and to equal levels? This technique is extraordinarily difficult. No wonder it’s Saint King-level.’

Hearing this, Yu Mu’s earlier excitement faded. Cultivating multiple attributes concurrently was indeed extremely challenging.

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To become a cultivator in this world, one must have a dominant attribute comprising over fifty percent of their body to activate the Dao foundation. The higher this ratio, the easier it is to attain the Dao; this is what is called talent.

Everyone has some proportion of secondary attributes apart from their main one. Thus, some cultivate secondary Dao methods alongside their primary attribute, usually those with higher ratios. For instance, Ye Yun’s family’s main attribute is darkness, but they also have significant fire attributes, making their lineage renowned for the Fire Poison Dao.

Lower ratio attributes don’t mean one cannot cultivate them as main attributes; it’s just much harder the lower the ratio.

Some cultivators abandon their main attribute for personal preference or opportunity and focus on others, though such cases are rare.

Apart from wood, Yu Mu himself cultivated several other attributes. In the Saint King’s tomb, after drinking wine gifted by Qingtian, he inexplicably activated the Fire Spirit Dao.

The gourd fused with him, granting spatial abilities. Cultivating the Ghost King Body gave him dark attributes.

Xiao Mi’s tear granted him water spirit power unconsciously. Even the Bear Breath technique taught by the Earth Bear contained some earth attribute power.

Though these Dao foundations were opened, cultivating them all fully was immensely difficult, demanding great time and effort.

Like Jiang Jialang, Yu Mu’s earth attribute was just at the beginning stage. Currently, only his Ghost King Body and main body were at the same level; water, spatial, and fire spirit Dao reached late Nascent Core stage.

This was because the gourd grew alongside his main body, requiring no special cultivation for spatial Dao. The water spirit also grew steadily as long as the tear remained inside. The fire spirit Dao started at a high base, but only advanced one rank over a long time. The Ghost King Body relied entirely on absorbing others’ magical power to reach its current level.

Without external help, it would take more than a century to reach such achievements. Moreover, his metal and light spirit Dao had yet to be opened.

Feeling disheartened, Yu Mu asked, “Can multiple people combine to use this Dao technique?”

“Possible, but difficult. First, you need partners with comparable strength. This lessens the weakest link effect, but coordinating multiple people makes fusion even more challenging than solo cultivation.”

Yu Mu nodded quietly. Though equally difficult, at least this was a feasible approach.

For one person alone, it’s hard just to open all nine attribute Dao foundations, let alone cultivate each to a high level.

“Has anyone in your Jiang family achieved the Nine-Dragon Fusion?”

“No.”

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“Wait—didn’t you say this Dao technique was passed down by your ancestor? He even guarded the Dragon Seal. Has he not mastered it?”

Jiang Jialang smiled bitterly, “As a vassal, our ancestor’s emperor naturally held back some power.”

‘So I was excited for nothing. If even the Jiang family ancestor didn’t succeed, then I’m even less likely,’ Yu Mu thought, greatly disappointed.

Still, he couldn’t help but ask, “Has no one ever fully mastered this technique? How do you know it’s truly a Saint King classic?”

“That I don’t know. But according to the ancestor’s legends, someone once achieved the Nine-Dragon Fusion. Yet throughout history, no one in the Jiang family has passed the eighth layer. After much ancestral deliberation, it was concluded that to fuse the Nine Dragons fully, one must possess the Dragon Seal. But this remains speculation without proof.”

Yu Mu’s mood plummeted, silent for a long moment before changing the subject: “You haven’t told me how you broke my seal so easily.”

“Simple. It’s because of these ankle cuffs I wear. My primary secondary attribute is wood spirit. Having practiced the same attribute seal technique, I could naturally dissolve it with ease.”

“Oh, so that’s it.”

Jiang Jialang’s eyes sparkled with a sudden idea, feigning mystery: “You don’t know, since this technique became incomplete, every generation of our family has spared no effort searching ancient ruins. Any related information is treasured. So if you’re willing to offer this technique to the Jiang family, there would surely be immense benefits.”

Yu Mu sneered coldly, “I’m not one to bargain with a tiger for its hide. Don’t try any tricks. Tell me, where have you hidden Shi Dali?”

“How do you know he’s with us?” Jiang Jialang was shocked.

Yu Mu, secretly pleased, knew nothing of this—it was pure bluff, but it had drawn out the whereabouts of Shi Dali.

Yu Mu said nothing, merely looking coldly at Jiang Jialang, waiting for his answer.

Jiang Jialang stared back, then suddenly had a flash of insight and exclaimed, “Could it be that you and that lady conspired with Shi Dali to murder my fourth uncle?”

This time, Yu Mu was the one startled. “How do you know such things?” he asked.