The question now was: what kind of treasure had been unearthed on Dilong Star?

The messenger reported, "The treasures discovered on Dilong Star are the Primal Stone of Fear and the Primal Stone of Desire." "What! The Primal Stone of Fear! The Primal Stone of Desire! Dual Primal Stones!" Ancestor Jian Mie gasped in astonishment.

"Yes, the Primal Stone of Fear and the Primal Stone of Desire," the messenger confirmed with a nod.

Lu Yuan, standing nearby, was momentarily stunned; he couldn't grasp what was happening.

Ancestor Jian Mie explained, "Between Heaven and Earth, there exist the Seven Primal Stones of Emotion, each embodying one of the seven core sentiments. Once a Primal Stone is mastered, one might potentially grasp the extreme of that emotion, thus fulfilling the requirement for the fifth level of the World Realm: the Creation Realm. These Seven Primal Stones are exceedingly rare; it is astonishing that the Primal Stone of Fear was dug up on Dilong Star."

Hearing Ancestor Jian Mei's explanation, Lu Yuan began to understand a little; so, the Primal Stone of Fear had indeed been unearthed on Dilong Star.

Ancestor Jian Mie asked, "How large are the Primal Stone of Fear and the Primal Stone of Desire, and how many individuals can they accommodate?"

"Reporting to the Ancestor, the two Primal Stones can accommodate six individuals," the messenger replied.

The Primal Stone of Fear and the Primal Stone of Desire vary in size. Larger ones can hold more individuals attempting mastery, while smaller ones might only accommodate one, or perhaps not even one. The ones brought forth from Dilong Star currently appeared to be stones capable of supporting six users.

Ancestor Jian Mie mused, "Six individuals... Dilong Star is jointly controlled by our Sword Sect, the Imperial Fire Sect, and the Thousand Water Sect. This means each sect can secure two spots. Let Lu Yuan and Ancestor Jian Yunzhong go; both are at the Fourth Heaven of the World Realm and have yet to master the extremes of Fear or Desire among the Seven Emotions."

The allocation was now straightforward. If Ancestor Jian Xuzhong and Ancestor Jian Fengzhong were still active, dividing the spots would have been complicated. But now, Jian Fengzhong was imprisoned for his rebellion, and Jian Xuzhong, while not jailed, was effectively exiled, leaving no one to contend with Lu Yuan and Jian Yunzhong for these positions.

The matter was settled.

Departure was scheduled for the following day.

However, before setting off, Ancestor Jian Mie had a serious talk with Lu Yuan.

"Lu Yuan, I held off telling you this earlier, but now I must explain a crucial matter: your ascent to the Fifth Heaven of the World Realm will be far, far more difficult than it will be for others," Ancestor Jian Mie stated.

"Oh? Why is that?" Lu Yuan inquired, intrigued. "Logically, the Shi Family members have all mastered an extreme of the Seven Emotions; why should mine be so much harder?"

"Because of your temperament," Ancestor Jian Mie replied. "The extremes of the Seven Emotions—Joy, Anger, Sorrow, Fear, Love, Hate, Desire—actually require emotions that burn intensely. But your emotions are too mild, almost pathologically detached. Even among cultivators, few possess such emotional apathy as you."

"Mild emotions are advantageous in other cultivation realms."

"But when attempting the breakthrough to the Fifth Heaven of the World Realm—the Creation Realm—it becomes a monumental obstruction." "Therefore, the Fifth Heaven of the World Realm, the Creation Realm, will be your greatest hurdle."

"You must have heard some myths, perhaps tales of divine figures needing to enter the mortal world to undergo their mortal trials. This 'mortal trial,' like the legends of the Eight Immortals descending to the dust, involved each immortal lacking a specific emotion. They entered the mortal realm to experience that missing sentiment and achieve the extreme of the Seven Emotions. For instance, Lu Dongbin lacked love, so he descended to experience it and attain the extreme of Love. Zhang Guolao lacked desire, so he descended to fulfill the desire for sustenance, and so on. To forge the extreme of the Seven Emotions, they needed to deliberately journey to the mortal plane to complete this cultivation."

"As for you, I have observed you closely for a long time. If those famous figures like the Eight Immortals were missing just one extreme, you, Lu Yuan, are missing all seven. While you possess love, it is faint; you enjoy wine, but your desire is minimal. You can be described as weak in all Seven Emotions, a state even more exaggerated than those figures missing just one aspect."

"Consequently, your attempt to break through to the Fifth Heaven of the World Realm—the Creation Realm—will be exceedingly difficult," Ancestor Jian Mie concluded. "Initially, I hesitated to tell you this, fearing it might add undue pressure. However, since you are now heading to Dilong Star, even with the aid of the Primal Stone of Fear and the Primal Stone of Desire, mastering the extremes of Fear and Desire will be a struggle. Thus, I explain this now so you can prepare yourself mentally."

So that was it!

It turned out he belonged to the category of those deficient in the Seven Emotions, or at least weak in them. Well, truthfully, his emotional life had always been muted: love was gentle, friendship was reserved, even his bond with his sect was subdued, only erupting under extreme duress.

It seemed his path to the Fifth Heaven of the World Realm would be difficult, difficult, difficult.

But whether it was hard or not, he had to break through.

The Extreme of the Seven Emotions! He would master them sooner or later.

Immediately, Lu Yuan and Jian Yunzhong departed for Dilong Star; this was not Lu Yuan's first visit. They reached Dilong Star with ease. Elder Qiu Qingshan was still guarding the planet. Having been saved by Lu Yuan once, Elder Qiu Qingshan was firmly aligned with him and welcomed them with great warmth. In truth, Qiu Qingshan was secretly relieved; had Lu Yuan been defeated by the Son of the Sword, he would certainly have been among those marked for cleansing by the Son of the Sword.

This expedition consisted of six people in total.

The two representatives from the Sword Sect were Lu Yuan and Jian Yunzhong.

The Thousand Water Sect sent Ji Qianyu and Su Yingxiu. Not long after the Elemental Tower incident, Ji Qianyu gathered seventy elemental energies and successfully broke through to the Fourth Heaven of the World Realm. Though she couldn't compare to Lu Yuan’s deep foundation, she never entertained thoughts of reaching the Civilization Realm; that level was too rare for her to aspire to. Su Yingxiu was a woman possessing graceful elegance.

Representing the Imperial Fire Sect were Zhu Liefeng and Zhu Tianrong, two individuals of considerable potential who were not overly aged—both were only a few thousand years old. To reach the Fourth Heaven of the World Realm at that age denoted remarkable potential, making them worthy of significant investment from their sect. Most sects simply could not produce figures like Lu Yuan or the Son of the Sword; the Sword Sect itself had seemingly stumbled upon such peerless talents through some inexplicable deviation.

Of the other four participants, Ji Qianyu was already acquainted with Lu Yuan, so introductions were unnecessary.

Su Yingxiu of the Thousand Water Sect, and Zhu Liefeng and Zhu Tianrong of the Imperial Fire Sect, observed Lu Yuan with palpable curiosity. They were all figures at the Fourth Heaven of the World Realm, yet none commanded the fame Lu Yuan did. Naturally, their attention focused on him, especially since he had manifested the Dao Gate of the Sword to defeat the Son of the Sword—a feat truly extraordinary.

Lu Yuan offered a slight smile and exchanged pleasantries with them.

After the formalities, the six proceeded deep into Dilong Star. Endless light emanated from the planet’s depths—all the glow of Earth-grade spirit stones. However, since they were here for a far more significant purpose, few paid them much heed. Reaching sixty thousand zhang beneath the surface, they found two obsidian seals.

These two seals contained the Primal Stone of Fear and the Primal Stone of Desire.

The first seal was immediately opened. Before the six stood a stone, roughly human height, perfectly square, and utterly black. Yet, after staring at it for a few moments, the stone seemed to shift shape incessantly, morphing into grotesque, demonic apparitions that induced a chilling shock of dread—this was the Primal Stone of Fear.

The six sat themselves around the stone, each pressing both palms onto the surface. Instantly, the Primal Stone of Fear emitted a dark radiance that enveloped them all. This signaled the commencement of their comprehension of the Extreme of Fear. Once activated by vital energy, the Primal Stone of Fear would remain potent for only three months; failure to grasp the Extreme of Fear within that time meant failure in the trial.

The six began their contemplation of the Extreme of Fear.

During this process, Lu Yuan noticed boundless waves of terror washing over him, yet he felt surprisingly little actual fear. This, he realized, was the manifestation of his emotional deficit.

Time flowed slowly.

After one month, a faint black light began to coalesce above Zhu Liefeng’s head among the six. Simultaneously, a thin wisp of dark vapor appeared above Zhu Tianrong's head—a sign of achieving some level of comprehension regarding the Extreme of Fear.

By the second month, Zhu Liefeng’s overhead darkness had solidified. With a sudden surge, he had achieved the Extreme of Fear. At that moment, the dark vapor above Zhu Tianrong’s head also began to form a definite shape, and simultaneously, two distinct black lights emerged above Su Yingxiu and Jian Fengzhong.

Three months passed. Zhu Tianrong, Su Yingxiu, and Jian Fengzhong followed in quick succession to comprehend the Extreme of Fear. In the end, four out of the six—Zhu Tianrong, Su Yingxiu, Jian Fengzhong, and Zhu Liefeng—succeeded. Lu Yuan and Ji Qianyu failed to grasp the Extreme of Fear.

This!

The result startled the other five upon emerging from their contemplation. Lu Yuan was the most renowned and possessed the greatest perceived potential among the six. That he had failed while four others succeeded under these circumstances seemed utterly bizarre. It simply should not have happened; Lu Yuan was certainly not the type to be famous without merit.

Only Lu Yuan understood his own situation. He was indeed suffering from the emotional deficiency Ancestor Jian Mie had described—the one that made grasping the extremes of emotion, and subsequently ascending to the Fifth Heaven of the World Realm, the most difficult path.

How dismal.

The current push toward the Fifth Heaven of the World Realm was, for him, an exceptionally arduous obstacle, more demanding than any preceding trial. He had to give it his absolute all.

The Extreme of the Seven Emotions! He would master it eventually.

Immediately, Lu Yuan and Jian Yunzhong traveled to Dilong Star; it was not Lu Yuan's first journey there. They reached the planet with ease. Elder Qiu Qingshan was still guarding Dilong Star. Having been saved by Lu Yuan once, Elder Qiu Qingshan was firmly aligned with him and welcomed them with great warmth. In truth, Qiu Qingshan was secretly relieved; had Lu Yuan been defeated by the Son of the Sword, he would certainly have been among those marked for cleansing by the Son of the Sword.

This expedition consisted of six people in total.

The two representatives from the Sword Sect were Lu Yuan and Jian Yunzhong.

The Thousand Water Sect sent Ji Qianyu and Su Yingxiu. Not long after the Elemental Tower incident, Ji Qianyu gathered seventy elemental energies and successfully broke through to the Fourth Heaven of the World Realm. Though she couldn't compare to Lu Yuan’s deep foundation, she never entertained thoughts of reaching the Civilization Realm; that level was too rare for her to aspire to. Su Yingxiu was a woman possessing graceful elegance.

Representing the Imperial Fire Sect were Zhu Liefeng and Zhu Tianrong, two individuals of considerable potential who were not overly aged—both were only a few thousand years old. To reach the Fourth Heaven of the World Realm at that age denoted remarkable potential, making them worthy of significant investment from their sect. Most sects simply could not produce figures like Lu Yuan or the Son of the Sword; the Sword Sect itself had seemingly stumbled upon such peerless talents through some inexplicable deviation.

Of the other four participants, Ji Qianyu was already acquainted with Lu Yuan, so introductions were unnecessary.

Su Yingxiu of the Thousand Water Sect, and Zhu Liefeng and Zhu Tianrong of the Imperial Fire Sect, observed Lu Yuan with palpable curiosity. They were all figures at the Fourth Heaven of the World Realm, yet none commanded the fame Lu Yuan did. Naturally, their attention focused on him, especially since he had manifested the Dao Gate of the Sword to defeat the Son of the Sword—a feat truly extraordinary.

Lu Yuan offered a slight smile and exchanged pleasantries with them.

After the formalities, the six proceeded deep into Dilong Star. Endless light emanated from the planet’s depths—all the glow of Earth-grade spirit stones. However, since they were here for a far more significant purpose, few paid them much heed. Reaching sixty thousand zhang beneath the surface, they found two obsidian seals.

These two seals contained the Primal Stone of Fear and the Primal Stone of Desire.

The first seal was immediately opened. Before the six stood a stone, roughly human height, perfectly square, and utterly black. Yet, after staring at it for a few moments, the stone seemed to shift shape incessantly, morphing into grotesque, demonic apparitions that induced a chilling shock of dread—this was the Primal Stone of Fear.

The six sat themselves around the stone, each pressing both palms onto the surface. Instantly, the Primal Stone of Fear emitted a dark radiance that enveloped them all. This signaled the commencement of their comprehension of the Extreme of Fear. Once activated by vital energy, the Primal Stone of Fear would remain potent for only three months; failure to grasp the Extreme of Fear within that time meant failure in the trial.

The six began their contemplation of the Extreme of Fear.

During this process, Lu Yuan noticed boundless waves of terror washing over him, yet he felt surprisingly little actual fear. This, he realized, was the manifestation of his emotional deficit.

Time flowed slowly.

After one month, a faint black light began to coalesce above Zhu Liefeng’s head among the six. Simultaneously, a thin wisp of dark vapor appeared above Zhu Tianrong's head—a sign of achieving some level of comprehension regarding the Extreme of Fear.

By the second month, Zhu Liefeng’s overhead darkness had solidified. With a sudden surge, he had achieved the Extreme of Fear. At that moment, the dark vapor above Zhu Tianrong’s head also began to form a definite shape, and simultaneously, two distinct black lights emerged above Su Yingxiu and Jian Fengzhong.

Three months passed. Zhu Tianrong, Su Yingxiu, and Jian Fengzhong followed in quick succession to comprehend the Extreme of Fear. In the end, four out of the six—Zhu Tianrong, Su Yingxiu, Jian Fengzhong, and Zhu Liefeng—succeeded. Lu Yuan and Ji Qianyu failed to grasp the Extreme of Fear.

This!

The result startled the other five upon emerging from their contemplation. Lu Yuan was the most renowned and possessed the greatest perceived potential among the six. That he had failed while four others succeeded under these circumstances seemed utterly bizarre. It simply should not have happened; Lu Yuan was certainly not the type to be famous without merit.

Only Lu Yuan understood his own situation. He was indeed suffering from the emotional deficiency Ancestor Jian Mie had described—the one that made grasping the extremes of emotion, and subsequently ascending to the Fifth Heaven of the World Realm, the most difficult path.

How dismal.

The current push toward the Fifth Heaven of the World Realm was, for him, an exceptionally arduous obstacle, more demanding than any preceding trial. He had to give it his absolute all.

The Extreme of the Seven Emotions! He would master them eventually.