: Enlightenment Under the Tree

After bidding farewell to Lin Shanshan, Ning Zhuo returned to his cave dwelling on Xiaozheng Peak.

He first took out a meditation cushion, sat down cross-legged, and began his daily routine of cultivation practice.

Currently at the early Foundation Establishment stage, he practiced three cultivation methods simultaneously. He needed to meditate, regulate his breathing, and refine his blood essence. Thus, the time he spent on daily cultivation accumulation was nearly three times that of others.

Every day, he underwent special training to improve his martial skills.

He also had various external engagements, such as inspecting the herb fields on the mountain, negotiating with the Ten Thousand Medicine Sect to discuss major collaborations, and, for instance, this time proactively challenging Chang Yan, a demonic cultivator ranked higher than him.

His time was extremely tight, almost calculated to the second, with every moment precious.

Even so, there were many things he simply couldn't complete.

For example, regarding mechanisms, the time he could squeeze out each day to practice his control techniques was only as short as the time it takes to drink a cup of tea.

Also, the matter of designing a mechanical body for Meng Yehu kept being delayed, and he hadn't even made a start on it yet.

Ning Zhuo wished he could split himself in two to get everything done.

Time was truly far too scarce!

"Now, I have to add comprehending the Enlightenment Diagrams," Ning Zhuo thought.

After finishing his cultivation, he took out three diagrams.

"Hopefully, I'll gain something from them."

Ning Zhuo first examined the three diagrams. They were respectively: the Ancient Tree with Entwined Roots Diagram, the Mountain Night Listening to the Waves Diagram, and the Viewing the Sky from Under a Tree Diagram.

From Lin Shanshan, he already knew the "answers" to these three diagrams—which Wood Element spells they corresponded to.

He chose the first diagram, which was relatively simpler, to attempt comprehension.

Ning Zhuo stared intently at the diagram, his expression focused.

Soon, his mind was completely immersed in the diagram, no longer disturbed by external movements.

He observed every detail of the root system, his gaze following the twists and turns of the roots. His thoughts also unfolded along with the form of the root system, carefully perceiving the interweaving of each root and the entwinement of each vine.

Gradually, he traced a kind of natural rhythm.

Ning Zhuo's breathing became steady and deep, his body leaning forward slightly as if he wanted to plunge into the world within the painting.

His heart grew calmer, sensing the profound meaning contained within the diagram.

However, just as his body and mind were gradually beginning to resonate with it, a strong sense of hunger suddenly struck, breaking his state of comprehension.

He came to his senses and opened his eyes.

It turned out that, without realizing it, he had closed his eyes. Even though his gaze wasn't fixed on the diagram, his spiritual sense had been deeply penetrating the Enlightenment Diagram all along.

Ning Zhuo's stomach growled, and strong feelings of fatigue and weakness washed over him.

He realized that "a short moment" was entirely his own misconception; he had maintained this state for a full three hours.

Even though he had taken a Fasting Pill, his body still couldn't withstand the consumption.

Simultaneously, within the Divine Sea of his upper dantian, his spiritual power was depleted, and his spirit had weakened to its lowest point.

The state of comprehending the Dharma was immensely consuming for mental power. The consumption of spirit and spiritual power was even more terrifying.

"So this is the state of comprehending an Enlightenment Diagram?" Ning Zhuo felt both tired and delighted.

This was his first time entering such a state, and he found it very novel.

Besides that, he also felt quite surprised and satisfied. After all, previously he had been worried that he might not be able to comprehend Wood Element Enlightenment Diagrams.

Now it seemed that while his talent in the Ice Attribute might not be high, he possessed considerable comprehension ability in the Wood Element.

Ning Zhuo took these insights to share with Sun Lingtong.

Sun Lingtong said, "Being able to enter the state of Dharma comprehension on the first try is actually rare. Xiao Zhuo, if you continue developing in the Wood Element, you have quite a promising future ahead."

Ning Zhuo then said, "Boss, you should try comprehending them too. After all, these diagrams are borrowed. Once the time limit is up, we have to return them."

Sun Lingtong was also interested and agreed: "You come into the Thousand-Mile Wandering Dragon first. I'll keep watch for you."

Ning Zhuo then entered the mechanical Wandering Dragon.

He first ate and drank some spirit food, then rested briefly to readjust his condition.

Afterward, he went to the storage compartment and took out a willow tree.

The willow tree had been dug up, its roots holding a large clump of soil, placed upright on the floor.

Ning Zhuo took out his meditation cushion and sat directly under the tree.

The willow tree contained hidden mysteries within, brimming with vibrant vitality. The willow branches were tender yellow, the willow leaves evergreen, like a layer of thin jade, translucent when seen against the light, almost transparent.

It was precisely the Spirit-Concealing Willow!

Ning Zhuo sat beneath the tree. The willow's fresh fragrance, reminiscent of sandalwood and orchids, was refreshing and calming, serene and far-reaching.

Even before adjusting his state, Ning Zhuo felt clear-headed and refreshed, his worries dispersed, his spiritual power stirring frequently, wisdom surging quietly.

"What a good tree," Ning Zhuo thought with anticipation. He took out the Ancient Tree with Entwined Roots Diagram again and began his comprehension.

In an instant, it was as if he had entered the world within the diagram.

He stood barefoot on the vines and roots, feeling their roughness,蜿蜒曲折, the inner strength and vitality they contained.

The Spirit-Concealing Willow, sensing Ning Zhuo's comprehension, swayed without wind. Willow leaves naturally fell, drifting around Ning Zhuo, slowly turning into emerald green points of light before quickly dissipating.

Ning Zhuo, "within" the Enlightenment Diagram, suddenly underwent a marvelous transformation. His entire body gradually stretched upward, changing into a tree. A large number of vines grew from his body, spreading out slowly yet rapidly in all directions.

These roots and vines intertwined with the original roots and vines, entangling with each other, flexible yet firm, containing boundless power within their coils.

At this moment, within the Divine Sea of his upper dantian, flashes of inspiration frequently appeared.

He directed these vines, constantly extending them, constantly retracting them, as easily as moving his own arms and fingers.

The large tree before him was his best teacher. He imitated it, learned from it, merging himself with nature. Thus, power erupted within the entwinement, possessing both the flexibility of vines and the tenacity of roots.

He had completely comprehended it!

Wood Element Spell — Root and Vine Entanglement.

Ning Zhuo suddenly opened his eyes, a sharp light flickering deep within them.

Looking again at the Ancient Tree with Entwined Roots Diagram before him, it was now completely clear, no longer mysterious.

"Only a little over an hour has passed?"

Ning Zhuo calculated the time; it was surprisingly short. And what he had comprehended was dozens of times more than what he had gained from his previous attempt.

"Moreover, my condition is relatively better; it hasn't hit rock bottom. At least my stomach isn't hungry, and I still have about thirty percent of my spiritual power left."

Ning Zhuo patted his belly, then looked up at the Spirit-Concealing Willow beside him.

"Good tree, what a good tree!" he sighed sincerely.

At the same time, he keenly observed that one of the willow branches on the Spirit-Concealing Willow had become completely bare. All its leaves had fallen off, and the branch had become dry and yellowish, as if it had lost all moisture.

After resting for a while, Ning Zhuo took out the second diagram: the Mountain Night Listening to the Waves Diagram.

On a cliff face, there was a simple, ancient wooden hut.

The window facing the cliff was open. A cultivator leaned against the windowsill, seemingly practicing breathing exercises, or perhaps lost in thought with closed eyes, or maybe listening attentively.

It was already deep night. The mountains outside the window were dark, deep, and vast.

Only a light from the room illuminated a warm corner.

The mountain wind was strong, causing the lamplight to flicker and the cultivator's robes to flutter. Although the light couldn't illuminate far, near the small wooden hut, one could vaguely see the shadows of pine trees swaying in the wind, the outlines of their branches faintly visible.

Further out, occupying eighty percent of the entire diagram, was an expanse of darkness.

Yet this profound darkness wasn't monotonous. If one observed carefully, one could discern faint, huge arcs within the darkness, like waves connecting heaven and earth, stretching east and west.

Mountain Night Listening to the Waves Diagram!

What one listened to was naturally not the sound of water waves, but the sound of the wind through the pine forests, like surging waves.

Under the Spirit-Concealing Willow, Ning Zhuo focused his mind and spirit, once again immersing himself in the painting.

He transformed into a guest, leaning against the wooden window, eyes slightly closed, the endless sound of waves filling his ears.

The sound of waves was sometimes汹涌 like a great tide, sometimes gentle like fine rain. What incredibly澎湃 vitality, what immense natural power!

After about an hour, Ning Zhuo slowly opened his eyes, a trace of awe still lingering deep within them.

He had comprehended the Mountain Night Listening to the Waves Diagram.

Building on this momentum, he took out the third diagram.

The Viewing the Sky from Under a Tree Diagram!

The painting was full of lush branches and leaves. Dense, layer upon layer of leaves piled up into an impenetrable green canopy, almost completely遮蔽 the clear sky.

Lying on the grass looking up, one could only勉强 catch glimpses of the blue sky through the gaps between the leaves.

The sky was clear as if washed, but only星星点点 could be seen through the leaf gaps. Here, the trees, branches, and leaves were the entire world, isolated from the outside, forming a realm of their own.

Ning Zhuo, within the painting, felt the remoteness of the outside world, felt isolated from the world.

The tiny glimpses of the clear blue sky反而 highlighted the seclusion of the forest world.

However, he was not a prisoner, but the master of this forest, its king, its lord, its god!

After about two hours, Ning Zhuo slowly opened his eyes, again showing signs of fatigue.

The Viewing the Sky from Under a Tree Diagram was the most difficult and profound of the three diagrams, and he had comprehended it as well!

Ning Zhuo had mastered three new Wood Element spells. Because he had directly grasped the profound mysteries through the Enlightenment Diagrams, he saved a great deal of time and effort that would have been spent on refining the spells.

"With just these three spells of mine, if I face Han Zhou again, I will definitely prevent him from getting close!"

Ning Zhuo's combat power had suddenly risen a notch, and his confidence surged accordingly. He looked forward even more to his battle with Chang Yan.

"Boss, boss, come quickly, it's your turn now."

"The Spirit-Concealing Willow is really effective. I comprehended three spells in a row, far easier than comprehending alone."

Ning Zhuo called out to Sun Lingtong, sharing his joy with him.

Sun Lingtong giggled: "Alright, let me have a try too!"

Ning Zhuo exited the mechanical Wandering Dragon and continued his cultivation.

In the following days, he maintained his special martial arts training with Lin Shanshan.

He progressed rapidly, already achieving a balance between offense and defense, with offensive moves接近 accounting for half of his actions.

Lin Shanshan, while praising Ning Zhuo's comprehension, also asked him about his progress with the Enlightenment Diagrams.

Ning Zhuo said that he had already made good progress comprehending the first diagram, the Ancient Tree with Entwined Roots Diagram, but hadn't深入研究 the other two yet.

Hearing this, Lin Shanshan's face lit up with joy: "In just one day, you've already managed to penetrate it. Young Master Ning Zhuo, I果然 didn't misjudge you."

(End of )