In the Taichang Realm of the Qian Peak Grotto-Heaven.

Pang Zhongwang retracted his surging, ocean-like Magical Profound Light. Clasping his hands behind his back, he stood atop a peak and gazed out at the Taichang Dragon Pavilion in the distance.

As a True Inheritance disciple of Dui Feng, he studied one of the Innate Sect’s nine True Skills, the *True Skill of the Spirit-Void’s Observation of Things and Dui Transformation*.

Because of his natural affinity for water, he took the Water Element and its techniques as his foundation. By fusing Ren Water and Kui Water, he cultivated the [Water Virtue]. He had now gathered the four phenomena, and his Cultivation had reached the First Layer of Foundation Establishment.

Thus, within the Chongqing Cloud coalescing above Pang Zhongwang’s head, the Ji Water Leopard, Zhen Water Worm, Shen Water Ape, and Bi Water Yu roiled and transformed, rippling outward like a vast, misty wave.

With a single thought, he could channel his Divine Sense, calling upon all manner of water techniques with ease and naturally suppressing other [Water Virtue] Cultivators.

’My four [Water Virtue] phenomena combine into the ’Emperor’s Flourishing Water,’ which is best for nourishing the Dao Foundation and enhancing my Life Essence.’

Pang Zhongwang mused to himself.

’If I also cultivate the [Wood Virtue], using water to nourish wood would bring Da Li to my Daoist path. Perhaps I could reach the Great Perfection of the Second Layer of Foundation Establishment within fifty years.’

As is well known, after reaching the Perfection of the Qi Cultivation Twelfth Layer, a Cultivator can forge a Dao Foundation in their Inner Mansion to support their ascension to the Flying Foundation Establishment Realm.

Once they successfully enter the Dao, they are hailed as a True Master. All their Daoist Skills merge into their Dao Foundation, greatly increasing in power and giving rise to profound new abilities. This is known as one’s "Natal Daoist Technique."

Pang Zhongwang had achieved Perfection in the Water Element, so after his Foundation Establishment, he naturally manifested the [Water Virtue] and comprehended "Emperor’s Flourishing Water."

The "emperor" signifies veneration.

Blessed by the "Emperor’s Flourishing Water," Pang Zhongwang’s prosperous qi was inexhaustible, growing stronger by the day. His fortune was abundant, which was why the Pang Clan chose him and elevated him to the position of a True Inheritance disciple.

’It’s a pity that while my fortune is considerable, my innate talent is limited. I couldn’t emulate True Monarch Cunyuan Cunjing, pluck a Dao Fruit, and ascend to the main seat of the [Water Virtue].’

A trace of regret flashed in Pang Zhongwang’s eyes.

Seeking a Golden Position at the Fifth Layer of Foundation Establishment follows two paths, with no definitive hierarchy between them.

The first is to cultivate the [Five Elements], using four elements to nourish one and resonate with the corresponding Dao Fruit.

Across the Yanfu Vast Land, the techniques of the [Five Elements] are spread throughout myriad heavens. This path is the broadest, and it has produced the most Dao Fruits, resulting in a total of twenty-five verified Golden Positions.

The Daoists of the Ancestral Sects of each Daoist Lineage, or the pinnacle Dao Materials, will almost always choose this path unless they encounter a special Opportunity.

For instance, True Monarch Cunyuan Cunjing used four elements to nourish his [Water Virtue] Dao Foundation, bringing his Merit to Perfection and rendering his Life Essence flawless, thus winning the favor of a Dao Fruit.

In the end, he plucked the [Ever-Flowing Water] and successfully ascended to his position.

The second path is to perform an [Empty Verification]—opening a new path, pioneering a new road, perfecting its symbolism, and completing its intent.

This path is fraught with innumerable perils and is extremely difficult to achieve.

Many Daoists of the Ancestral Sects, seeds of True Monarchs who stood above an entire continent, and anyone with grand ambitions—all of them wanted to achieve a Dao Fruit through Empty Verification and coalesce a Golden Position.

According to statistics compiled by meddlers of later generations, a full seventy percent of True Monarchs who succeeded through Empty Verification eventually ascended to the rank of Daoist Monarch.

This once ignited a trend of Empty Verification in the Immortal Dao, with the result that more than half of the Dao Materials of the Dongsheng Continent perished.

Only later was it discovered that this was the work of an unscrupulous Daoist Monarch from the Demon Dao, who had been secretly fanning the flames specifically to ensnare naive hotheads.

’Unless one is a peerless talent, the path of Empty Verification is impossible. I only seek to obtain the [Wellspring Water], and that will be enough.’

Pang Zhongwang was quite self-aware. Of the Eight Sects that governed the Nanzhan Continent, only Zhang Yuansheng, the Daoist of the Taifu Sect, had succeeded through this method.

That Prince of Mincang was of the same generation as the first [Shao Yang]. He painstakingly ground away for a thousand years at the Foundation Establishment Fifth Layer, nearly severing his Daoist path, before he finally ascended to the [Shenqi] position.

Figures like Lin Ru of the Hunlun Sect and Pei Fangxiu of the Wuxing Sect—Daoist Level cultivators famous across the continent—all followed the path of the [Five Elements].

They all ascended to their positions early, participated in the Luotian Dao Discussion, and ventured beyond the known cosmos to seek an Opportunity to merge with the Dao.

This meant that in the True Monarch Realm, they were a huge leap ahead of Zhang Yuansheng.

’The former number one Daoist of the Nanzhan Continent’s Eight Sects, hiding his fangs and sheathing his claws for a thousand years... the agony of such silent endurance is not something everyone can bear.’

Pang Zhongwang sighed with emotion. But then he thought of the first [Shao Yang] and suddenly gritted his teeth.

’To occupy the Five Great Dao Fruits by himself, and even change their conceptual representation after ascending... What a monster. If I were Ji Fuyao, I’d have been terrified too and would have had to crush him.’

The closer an Ancestral Sect’s Dao Material was to the True Monarch Realm, the more they could understand just how utterly demented Yu Shenxiu’s actions were.

The Dao Fruits produced by the path of the [Five Elements], while not as unreachably lofty as [Yin and Yang], from which it is hard to look away, were still honored Golden Positions, suspended in the great void and looking down upon all others.

Even for a Daoist Level figure, obtaining just one was a matter of great fortune.

Yet Yu Shenxiu had monopolized all five, which was tantamount to him being able to ascend to whichever Golden Position he pleased, as casually as eating a meal or drinking water.

Whenever Pang Zhongwang thought of this, he simply couldn’t understand why the [Shao Yang] position, which had been completely transformed and elevated by True Monarch Yu, would deign to accept that Daoist with the surname Jiang.

’Everyone says my fortune is good, that I have ’Emperor’s Flourishing Water’ to sustain my life. But the very thing I seek is something that Jiang kid can obtain as easily as reaching into his own bag. It’s his for the taking! It’s enough to drive a man mad!’

A cold light flickered in Pang Zhongwang’s eyes. Ever since the examination at Yuanchu Palace ended and True Monarch Cang Gui Fuming had given his highest evaluation, the voices in the clan that wanted to force the Sect Leader’s hand and depose the Daoist had suddenly quieted down.

The vast majority of the clan elders were inclined to wait and see. In any case, Juku Continent was about to open, so they might as well see what this Daoist was capable of.

If he forged a Supreme Dao Foundation, it wasn’t impossible that he could seek a Golden Position and shake the [Tai Yang].

’Useless, shortsighted fools! Allowing a disciple with an outside surname to become the Crown Prince today means that tomorrow, the various clans of the eight Innate peaks will only fall further into decline.’

Pang Zhongwang’s heart was filled with helplessness. He had the will to stand against the Daoist as an equal rival, but his clan was unwilling to openly challenge the decision, and even more reluctant to offer him any support.